PalmSource shows off new ALP Linux Platform

[Bob Russell]

PalmSource seems to have a jump on the competition for a robust mobile device Linux platform, and has shown it off to developers at LinuxWorld in San Francisco. David Beers reports that "While other mobile Linux vendors like TrollTech and a la Mobile had announcements about upcoming reference handsets for developers or new Linux phone platforms, PalmSource was the only one to demonstrate their new operating system on real handsets. They were also the only one to give developers a full day of hands-on tutorials in which they built and debugged native applications for mobile Linux."

There is a developer tool suite now available, based on the popular Eclipse platform. The OS supports applications based on Palm OS Garnet, GTK (Gnome Toolkit ) and the Access MAX framework (Mobile Application eXperience).

Typical target devices for the operating system are "QVGA (240 x 320) screen resolution, a standard phone keypad, and preferably a touchscreen."

Goodies include a familiar PalmOS feel, multitasking, and similar PIM applications.

Check out the full article at PalmInfocenter for more complete information on this encouraging development.