Palm's webOS does not support legacy Palm OS software. So Palm Pre, and soon Palm Pixi, users must turn to a third party, MotionApps, to run the thousands of Palm platform legacy programs available. The name of MotionApps' software is, fittingly, Classic. The Palm OS emulator for the webOS now includes Toffa's GooSync client as a standard feature.

This is significant because GooSync, which ties in with original Palm OS personal information management applications in Classic, lets users sync (including over-the-air) their Google Calendar, tasks and contacts with their webOS smartphone. Users set up a GooSync account through the official GooSync site here.

“It’s great news for users of Classic,” asserted Toffa CEO Chris Jukes on a statement. “Being able to Sync with Google straight out of the box is an invaluable business service.

GooSync comes in Lite and Premium flavors and is available as a subscription.

“So while GooSync’s Lite service enables you to sync the default Google Calendar, the Premium service lets you sync multiple calendars up to 365 days in advance, contacts directly with Gmail, and tasks to the GooSync inbuilt tasks application," added Jukes.

GooSync also brings autosync and multiple device support to Classic. Also included are new GooSync features added with version 2.1, such as Google contact group synchronization.

GooSync works on any device that is SyncML compliant, including the most recent Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola phones. It is also compatible with Windows Mobile, the Palm OS (of course) ,RIM BlackBerry and Apple iPhone by installing a SyncML client.

For more on GooSync, including pricing, see here.

A couple of weeks ago, MotionApps updated Classic to version 2.0. The upgrade added a host of new features, including the addition of HotSync support for webOS smartphones. This allows users to synchronize personal information, including contacts, calendar, notes, and tasks, and other data to and from their desktop and handset.

According to MotionApps, Classic runs side by side with other webOS applications on your Pre. It is not a replacement for webOS and does not put webOS into a "classic" mode limiting its features. Instead, Classic runs the Palm OS applications inside the webOS environment without affecting other apps.

Below is a comprehensive list of improvements and additions to Classic 2.0, which goes for $29.99:

HotSync support over network

Power consumption reduced considerably when device is idle

"prefTimeZone" preference value correctly set in Palm OS enviroment to match the one from webOS

Palm OS storage heap memory moved to flash memory

Migration of existing data stored in the storage heap is performed on the first run on new Classic, if enough space is detected. Proper form is presented to the user during the process of migration

Virtual storage card is named "VirtualCard"

Total and occupied size on storage card is correctly reported in Palm OS. If the total/occupied size exceeds 4GB, 4GB is reported to Palm OS due to its limitation.

Similarly, storage heap size is reported correctly, maximum reported size 128MB

Classic wakes up 45 seconds before Palm OS alarm time

Full screen mode

Quick keyboard mode switch

Improved reset functionality

Classic 2.0 is available through the on-device Palm App Catalog. See here to learn more about the software.