[Pre] Compatibility with PalmOS Applications & Games?

[laravia18]

I have a few apps and games that I have brought from Sprint's application store for my Treo 700p. Does anyone know will they be able to work on the new Palm Pre? I know sometimes when I switch devices the applications and/or games are incompatible.

[d12a60n]

I have a few apps and games that I have brought from Sprint's application store for my Treo 700p. Does anyone know will they be able to work on the new Palm Pre? I know sometimes when I switch devices the applications and/or games are incompatible.

Sorry to break the news to you, but so far everything I've read about compatibility with older OS applications point to "NO". On this FAQ:

http://i.gizmodo.com/5133554/palm-pre-the-definitive-faq

"Will apps from the older Palm OS (aka Garnet) work on WebOS?

No. This is a completely new platform designed from the ground up, so apps will not run natively. It might be possible with emulation, but there's been no talk of that so far."

[Dronak]

Having a new OS that isn't backward compatible with the previous one doesn't seem like a great idea to me. If it's true that old apps won't run except possibly in emulation (which "there's been no talk of"), then everyone switching to it will lose all of their existing Palm applications and data in them. That alone could prevent people from upgrading because it's going to take developers time to create new versions of their software for the Pre's new OS, and until that happens, purchasers of the Pre will be stuck with a device they can't customize much if at all. Palm may want to reconsider the emulation option, and find some way to put it in the new OS so old apps will work on it. Chances are I won't get the Pre or any Palm device with the new OS until the applications I use all the time will work on them (one way or another).

[laravia18]

Sorry to break the news to you, but so far everything I've read about compatibility with older OS applications point to "NO". On this FAQ:

http://i.gizmodo.com/5133554/palm-pre-the-definitive-faq

"Will apps from the older Palm OS (aka Garnet) work on WebOS?

No. This is a completely new platform designed from the ground up, so apps will not run natively. It might be possible with emulation, but there's been no talk of that so far."

Thanks d12a60n! I agree Dronak. For me, someone who really wants this phone I am greatly disappointed that the new OS will not be backwards. Knowing me I will still get the phone because I don't have too much to replace but this makes me think twice about buying any more applications for my phone.:crying::realitych

[d12a60n]

Thanks d12a60n! I agree Dronak. For me, someone who really wants this phone I am greatly disappointed that the new OS will not be backwards. Knowing me I will still get the phone because I don't have too much to replace but this makes me think twice about buying any more applications for my phone.:crying::realitych

I know this may sound kind of lame but I added another line to my plan (which is free) just so I could keep 2 phones that I really love. So now I share minutes between 2 phones (one's my palm 755 and the other is a moto Q with Win-doze) and I have pretty cool programs for both. When I get the Pre - I'm thinking of keeping my 755 because of the programs and use it as a backup. Just a thought...

[GolpherZX]

If all the phones continuously need to have backwards compatibility where will the development come from? It is just something that people will have to move on with and take in the new.

How is it that the PC world is still operating in a primarily 32-bit platform? Because everyone wanted backwards compatibility. Let's move on and there will be another application out there to do the same thing.

[parazitu22]

If all the phones continuously need to have backwards compatibility where will the development come from? It is just something that people will have to move on with and take in the new.

How is it that the PC world is still operating in a primarily 32-bit platform? Because everyone wanted backwards compatibility. Let's move on and there will be another application out there to do the same thing.

Exactly! I am so sick of people shouting backwards compatibility. Lets move on people, the WebOS looks amazing, it will only be a matter of time before new apps are being written for it that do the same things (a lot better and smoother though) and not to mention the new ideas that will come up that this system is capable of doing.

If people hold back and don't upgrade because old apps wont run on the Pre, then the development of new apps will be slower because the demand won't be as high. If you need the apps for work then it's understandable, but if you're holding on because of some launcher program or game then it's time for an upgrade :lol::lol:

[Dronak]

In case you didn't notice, I did say "one way or another" -- that allows for the possibility of brand new programs that perform the same functions as current programs or new versions of the existing programs. I was not limiting myself to current programs must work in their current form. However, initially the new OS is going to be extremely limited in terms of available applications because it is totally different from the current OS. Until it gets the same kind of stuff that I use regularly now, I'm not switching to the new OS. I'd lose too much needed functionality if I switch too early. And yes, I am talking in relation to work purposes. Losing fun stuff isn't a big deal, but losing functions I need for work is.

Palm is going to have to expect some (many?) people not to upgrade to a brand new OS that at least initially doesn't provide all of the same functionality as the current OS with its years and years of application development behind it. They're making the choice to cut that off and start new, and that's going to hold some people back. If new development is slow because of smaller demand and less people switching, so be it. Palm should expect that because not everyone wants to be a cutting edge early adopter. To go from a relatively small number of early adopters to a larger, early majority, I think we're going to need apps on the new OS that do the same sort of stuff as apps on the current OS, and that's going to take time. If you want to be an early adopter, great, go for it. Me, I don't, so I'm going to wait for a while.