Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 35

What do you think will happen to all Palm OS devices in the next 10, 20, 30 years? This can include Visors, and thoughts can be as goofy or unrealistic as needed. This also can be a list of what you want to see in Palm OS devices in years to come.

2001
Color screens standard
Memory up to 16mb

2002
Wireless Access standard (palm 7)
At least 10 manufacturers of Palm Devices
Palm OS being used as a desktop OS

2003
Windows CE gone, Palm OS prevails

2004
Palm OS in different forms (like CE, but with the palm o.s. simplicity)

2010
Palm O.S. used in embedded applications
First 100MHz processor (Pilot speed)

2020
Palm O.S. used in cars

2023
Microsoft licenses MS Apps for Palm

Just my thoughts...



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Signing off,

C. Russell
[email protected]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: East Lansing, MI, USA
Posts: 126

I think you're looking too far. Computing tech changes monthly. 16 megs ram will be end of 2000, Palm OS in different forms is current, 100 Mhz processor is probably going to be 2003 or earlier, Palm os in cars...I think 2010, MS useing palm...never.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Beaverton, OR USA
Posts: 87

I would guess that the Palm OS as it is known today will not exist in 5-8 years, except on legacy devices. As we progress in technology, systems will become more and more transparent. While true, widely available system-level human/machine integration is a long ways off, general system use-effort is decreasing dramatically. Five years ago we had Sharp organizers and watch calculators. Now it's Palm OS and devices. Within the next decade, PDA devices will have advanced to voice-recognition stages with full recognition accuracy and no "manual" (stylus/clicking) tasks. They will not be separately-carried items, but will be integrated into wrist-wearable or other wearable-type packages. Palm OS will most likely lead in this path, as it is already far beyond anything else in ease of use, reliability, size, speed, etc.

Just my mile-high-perspective thoughts. What a cool question to think about.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Enumclaw, Wa
Posts: 268

You guys, this is a very interesting topic and is very fun to think about. Although Russel. You are thinking to slow. There will be a Gigahertz computer processor by the second quarter of 2000. So a hundred megahertz palm is most likely just around the corner.

Now for my prediction on what the palm will be like. I think anywhere from 2005-2010 there will be a total life organizer. Such as if you buy a movie ticket you can simply buy it at home VIA-Wireless Internet. Find the movie theater with the installed GPS on Palm. Get there show them your palm and you can go in. During the movie your Palm has a vibrator alarm go off. you walk outside, and someone is calling. So you open the receiver and find out that a stock went up. So right then and there you sell. Then You go back in and enjoy the movie.

In about maybe another five years it will control most things in you house. Be extremely powerful. You are traveling into a country in Europe. With your palm you are monitoring your heart and weight and how fast you are going. Then you decide to take a rest in a hotel. You walk in and try to speak with the clerk, but he speaks a different language. So you pull out your palm. Take two pair of headphones out of your back pack (or maybe embedded in the palm...who knows) You and him both put one on and speak into the microphone on the palm. The palm translates what you are saying in a monotone voice to each other. You have it all arranged you are paying by credit card. So you take out your palm, press your finger against it to enable the credit card system. Pick the credit card you want and give it to him. He scans it and gives you a fine room. While up there you access the hotels service through a powerful bluetooth and order room service and a movie wirelessly. You eat your meal watch your movie (all translated for you by your palm). Listen to some relaxing MP3's. And fall asleep.


In maybe another five to seven years. Palm buys out windows. Replaces all desktops. All computer companies make palm-clones. Same size, even smaller. Has a built in projector so whenever there is a flat surface in front of you you can project the screen and it is bigger than a monitor ever was. Has full color...Imagine the possibilities.

Well, you guys...That was fun.I thre it together fast. It is 1:25 here so it probaly wont make much sense.Please respond and tell me what you think of my predictions...Thank you.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 35

About the 100 MHz processors:
If they're only at 33mhz (and they've had about 3 years of palms) and the 33MHz isn't even being used, then by Q4 2000, they should have a 50+ MHz processor, by 2001 75mhz, and by 2002, Q4 they should have 100MHz processors (yes, I changed my mind)



------------------
Signing off,

C. Russell
[email protected]

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Enumclaw, Wa
Posts: 268

Well for the 100mhz processors I think they will be even sooner than that. Because of the immediate popularity of the palm a 100 mhz processor will be extremly quick to come to us.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Enumclaw, Wa
Posts: 268

Dont you think?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Enumclaw, Wa
Posts: 268

Dont you think?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 27

I'm going to be a pesimest on the clock speed.

Seeing how PalmOS has been at 16Mhz for years, and Mot doesn't make any CPU32+ cores faster then ~40mhz (they make some similar ones at 66Mhz, or maybe 80mhz, but with very little integration).

I'm going to have to go with battery life and low cost keeping the clock low.

Even if all future PalmOS devices come with built in rechargers, there is a upper limit of about 66Mhz with 100% binary compatalbe CPUs. With highly compatable CPUs (the ColdFire line) you can get to about 200Mhz (which will feel over 10 times as fast as a 20mhz DragonBall, the CF uses way fewer clock cycles per operation).

To get past 200Mhz you have to go with a non-binary compatable CPU. So either recompile the world (and that's not allways goning to be possable, some PalOS programs are writen in 68000 assembly), or emulation (which kind of doesn't make things faster).

So I see a hard limit well below 1Ghz in PalmOSs future.

On the other hand I see more memory coming sooner. As Visor people show people with 8M will buy extra memory, Palm cloners will start introducing 16M and 32M units. next year maybe even.

There is the chance bluetooth doesn't die the same half-death that IRDA did, and it becomes the "new" way to sync PalmOS machines, to beam stuff, and to control low-ish speed perphrials (GPSes, Printers, Cell Phones).

I don't see PalmVII-like wireless integrated in all PalmOS devices. It doesn't seem to be popular enough for that. I do see more cell phone componies making sure they can work with an external PalmOS unit to being PalmVII-like stuff to "regular" palms.

I think that if the Springboard platform fails, a similar idea will take it's place.

Then again, i htink odds are good the springboard will live, even if Handspring fails as a Palm-clone seller (i.e. can't clean up it's order fullfilment).

In fact I'm going to bet that a future (2000, or 2001) PalmOS product has not just a "normal" springboard slot, but also a "memory springbord" slot (just like the normal slot, but things that go in it have to be smaller then a certon size).

You might be able to use both at once, or maybe just flip from on to the other very fast (I don't know if the DragonBallVX has more chipselect lines, and we are all out on the DragonBallEZ).

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: East Lansing, MI, USA
Posts: 126

I like the wireless internet idea. My vision is that the government sees the need for an integerated computer network for information sharing and shoots up a few dozen LEO satelites. All palm organizers will then come with a built in transmitter/reciever that can connect to the internet and get information/check stock/turn off house lights. That would be sweet. If everything was networked together.