New Palm OS touts constant connection to web

Palm finally introduced its long-awaited next-generation mobile operating system, officially named webOS. According to Palm, the platform--unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show event in conjunction with the first webOS-powered device, a Sprint-exclusive touchscreen smartphone dubbed Pre--was developed expressly for mobile use, promising users a constant connection to the web. The signature feature of webOS is Palm Synergy, which Palm says automatically brings together user information like linked contacts, layered calendars and combined messaging into one single, integrated view. In addition to always-on web-connected applications, webOS offers toggling between multiple open applications, customized, "intuitive" alerts and a multi-touch UI that Palm says "lets you move easily between activities like flipping through a deck of cards and rearrange items simply by dragging them."

Palm notes that webOS (which leverages standards including CSS, XHTML and JavaScript) was designed to enable its ecosystem of partners--including developers, hardware vendors and accessories manufacturers--to develop core solutions to complement the platform and product line. In particular, Palm promises the developer community a rich open environment enabling more efficient application creation--in addition, webOS will enable coders to distribute their apps over-the-air via an on-device Palm application store. In late December, the company launched the Palm Software Store, enabling consumers to download applications to devices running both the existing Palm OS as well as Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform.

The official launch of webOS signals the conclusion of a long and winding developmental road: Palm first announced it was working on the Linux-based operating system in April 2007, initially promising to release the platform (often referred to as the Palm OS II, or "Nova") by the end of that year. The first in a series of delays followed a few months later, when Palm said the platform would not appear until sometime in 2008. As recently as late May of 2008, the firm still insisted that webOS remained on track for release by year's end--during an appearance at the JP Morgan Tech Show in Boston, Palm CFO Andrew Brown admitted the project had been in the works for close to three years, adding "it has not been an insignificant investment." But in September, Palm finally acknowledged the operating system would remain under wraps until 2009, and now says that Sprint is scheduled to release the Pre sometime prior to mid-year.

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