Palm webOS SDK Coming, No Legacy App Support
Posted by: Christopher Meinck
on Jan 8, 2009 
Palm has confirmed they will release an SDK for webOS. Application development is done using HTML and CSS. According to Palm, developers will find it "easy to create apps". Developers created a Twitter app in less than 3 days. The company has partnered with a few long-time Palm OS developers in effort to get their apps on the Palm Pre.
Palm has not built-in backward compatibility for Palm OS applications. The company has no plans to do so, but instead will rely on a third party developer. StyleTap was able to port Palm OS apps on the iPhone, so they are most likely the developer who will look to create an emulation app for webOS and the Pre. The company never released their Palm OS emulation for iPhone, but rather showed it as a "proof of concept". Anyone from StyleTap want to comment? Plenty of Palm OS owners looking to make the jump to webOS will be looking to keep their old apps.
Comments (12)
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written by Christopher Meinck, January 10, 2009
written by Christopher Meinck, January 10, 2009
Palm definitely would welcome emulation software. Would love to see StyleTap build webOS emulation for Palm OS.
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manager
written by francel, January 11, 2009
written by francel, January 11, 2009
Will I be able to install the Palm WebOS on my Palm Centro
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written by Jurij Beklemisev, January 11, 2009
written by Jurij Beklemisev, January 11, 2009
Could sell lots of Palm Pre for showbiz users, but can't: no Styletap for WebOS/no WebOS SDK to recompile old app.Please help either way.
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written by Ken Bagby, January 12, 2009
written by Ken Bagby, January 12, 2009
I have many Palm OS apps which are preventing me from leaving the Palm world. With the Pre announcement, and the ability to port my existing apps, I am ready to buy! Please, please do so. I suspect there may not be full functionality but at least some way to make my current apps work on the Pre! Hopefully, these developers will develop Pre-apps of these same Palm apps in the long run...
Go get 'em, I say!
Go get 'em, I say!
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written by JMR, January 12, 2009
written by JMR, January 12, 2009
Love the new Palm Pre, I've been using palm since palm pilot, I have waited long long long time, but I need my old apps in the new palm pre, I run all my business with many palm OS apps, so NO PALM OS APPS IN THE NEW PALM PRE, AND I WON'T BUY IT, I CARE HOW GOOD IT LOOKS, what kept me with palm all these years are the apps. So I'll be waiting in faith that in will be done.
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written by tyang, January 13, 2009
written by tyang, January 13, 2009
My must have PalmOS app just announced that they are porting to the iPhone next. If webOS will not support old apps, or 3rd party developers step up to offer an emulation version in a reasonable time (~6 months), my next phone will be an iPhone.
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Palm Pre keyboard
written by JMR, January 13, 2009
written by JMR, January 13, 2009
I'm wondering if the Palm Pre keyboard is the same as my Treo 680, I love it, the best keyboard, I'm a writer, my first language is spanish and I love how easy is to use all the accentuations and symbols, not like the iPhone or other phones, I tried them all, is crazy, it takes for ever to write á or ñ, for me it's a must, I have written 4 books, I'm on my fifth book, and believe it or not I do 90% of my writing on my Treo 680, the keyboard is fantastic, I fly on it, I just hope is the same keyboard, because none of the rest of the keyboards out there makes it so simple for spanish writing like palm Treo 680. So Palm Pre get your act together and don't forget us, the people that walk with you since palm pilot, we are millions.
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Where's the Beef?
written by Elmo409, January 14, 2009
written by Elmo409, January 14, 2009
So far as I can tell, WebOS is vaporware. I got a Centro last year because it was -- finally -- a well-crafted combination of phone and PDA with the ability to use Palm HotSync to keep applications on the desktop updated on the phone. Docs2Go? Yes. Works with IntelliSync to keep office GroupWise calendar in sync with home Outlook calendar.
Now they're going to kill all that to come up with something that is fluff, glitz, and won't do what the Centro does. And they won't release the SDK -- only talk about how web developers will have no trouble with it. Palm developers can apparently take a hike.
Pfui!
Now they're going to kill all that to come up with something that is fluff, glitz, and won't do what the Centro does. And they won't release the SDK -- only talk about how web developers will have no trouble with it. Palm developers can apparently take a hike.
Pfui!
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3 questions about the pre?
written by Martin L, January 28, 2009
written by Martin L, January 28, 2009
1.) Will you be able to use the camera as a video camera? (Palm had got to have that at least, even if it's only 15 frames a second!)
2.) Will the Palm Synergy synch with the Apple iCal and Address Book as well? (I am a Treo fan, especially after, when after 10 years, I had to do my first restore, including coordinating with the Mac iSync, and it worked GREAT!) Until that point, I wasn't thinking about Palm, but now I'm a fan.
3.) Will you be able to flawlessly import your Palm Treo data into the Pre?
2.) Will the Palm Synergy synch with the Apple iCal and Address Book as well? (I am a Treo fan, especially after, when after 10 years, I had to do my first restore, including coordinating with the Mac iSync, and it worked GREAT!) Until that point, I wasn't thinking about Palm, but now I'm a fan.
3.) Will you be able to flawlessly import your Palm Treo data into the Pre?
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Palm Pre Q&T
written by Christopher Meinck, January 28, 2009
written by Christopher Meinck, January 28, 2009
From what I understand, there is not video camera app, but I'm not 100% sure. If you use iCal and Address Book, there are still questions over Mac support. Address books are easily moved to the Pre by syncing with Google. Just go to Address>Preferences> Sync with Google. Palm execs confirmed that the best way to prepare for the Pre is to everything up and running on Google. I too use iCal and haven't figured out how I'm going to move to Google Calendars. I currently sync my contacts with Google, so that's not an issue.
Palm has confirmed they will have a tool to move your existing data to the new Pre.
Palm has confirmed they will have a tool to move your existing data to the new Pre.
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Write comment
diverse library of mobile applications to the largest
number of mobile device users. We currently have a product
for Windows Mobile/CE, a beta version for Symbian
(Series 60 and UIQ)and are working on a beta version for
jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches that we hope to have
available soon.
StyleTap constantly monitors the potential offered by new
platforms that we don't yet support, and we will most
definitely be looking into the new webOS platform
introduced by Palm.
As part of our evaluation, we would be interested in any
feedback from your readers which they can send to
sales@styletap.com.