Let's discuss multitasking.

[Bokkie]

As I understand it, Palm OS5 is not a multi-tasking OS and that will only come into play with devices that run on OS6. Is that a correct assumption?

Assuming it is, let's say I am in GPS mode, navigating, which I will in exactly 15 minutes when I go to pick up my sweetheart from the hospital! Anyway, let's say I tap another application like MegaClock or whatever. From what I understand about Palm apps, is that there is a launch code associated with the app. That lets the app being suspended, know it is being suspended, and that the app being started know it is being started. The idea is to allow the apps to know their current state and if necessary, a started app can reload internal data with whatever it had last time. I hope I'm still on track here?

I have some ideas for apps but it is important I know the current state at the time of exit and can take remedial steps when it restarts. Is this possible with OS5? Sorry all, I don't want to get into a non iQue discussion, but I'm famous for that anyway, so accept me, warts and all.

Going further, when OS6 is used by Garmin which it surely will be, how does that affect us on OS5? Would we just load a new version like we did with R3 for example, or would the puppies have to be sent back to the factory? Some of you might have flashed BIOS on mobo's in the past, so you'll know where I'm coming from.

[vipros]

Originally posted by Bokkie
As I understand it, Palm OS5 is not a multi-tasking OS and that will only come into play with devices that run on OS6. Is that a correct assumption?

What I understand is that OS5 has some but limited multi-tasking capabilities.

Assuming it is, let's say I am in GPS mode, navigating, which I will in exactly 15 minutes when I go to pick up my sweetheart from the hospital! Anyway, let's say I tap another application like MegaClock or whatever. From what I understand about Palm apps, is that there is a launch code associated with the app. That lets the app being suspended, know it is being suspended, and that the app being started know it is being started. The idea is to allow the apps to know their current state and if necessary, a started app can reload internal data with whatever it had last time. I hope I'm still on track here?

How does background MP3 player get implemented ?

I have some ideas for apps but it is important I know the current state at the time of exit and can take remedial steps when it restarts. Is this possible with OS5? Sorry all, I don't want to get into a non iQue discussion, but I'm famous for that anyway, so accept me, warts and all.

Going further, when OS6 is used by Garmin which it surely will be, how does that affect us on OS5? Would we just load a new version like we did with R3 for example, or would the puppies have to be sent back to the factory? Some of you might have flashed BIOS on mobo's in the past, so you'll know where I'm coming from.

I don't believe current H/W can load OS6.

[Moose Man]

Bokkie,

OS5 is capable of multitasking in a sense. You can run applications such as alarms and clocks in the background and they will trigger based upon the internal clock of the Palm processor.

It is highly unlikely that Garmin will use OS6 in the short term because OS6 will be primarily used on devices that need multithreading and multitasking such as a smarphone - Cobalt (OS6's true name). OS6 will be able to handle WIFI and Bluetooth and Palm processes without closing down each subsequently launched program - you can envision multiple windows such as on your PC - gawd forbid the reference to Windows but that's the best analagy I can give you at the moment based upon my readings and history.

Why will Garmin be unlikely to use Cobalt - because they probably won't market a device that is phone, wifi, bt, Palm and GPS built into one. There will be no reason for them to make available a "flash" update to cobalt for the Que 3600 because of system demand on the processor and hardware won't require it.

There is some decent info here at PIC you can read till your heart's content but until the devices are out - my guess early 2nd quarter- you'll just have to wait.

[vipros]

Originally posted by Moose Man
Bokkie,

OS5 is capable of multitasking in a sense. You can run applications such as alarms and clocks in the background and they will trigger based upon the internal clock of the Palm processor.

It is highly unlikely that Garmin will use OS6 in the short term because OS6 will be primarily used on devices that need multithreading and multitasking such as a smarphone - Cobalt

Actually Garnet (OS5) will be targeted on low-end devices such as a smartphone.

(OS6's true name). OS6 will be able to handle WIFI and Bluetooth and Palm processes without closing down each subsequently launched program - you can envision multiple windows such as on your PC - gawd forbid the reference to Windows but that's the best analagy I can give you at the moment based upon my readings and history.

Why will Garmin be unlikely to use Cobalt - because they probably won't market a device that is phone, wifi, bt, Palm and GPS built into one. There will be no reason for them to make available a "flash" update to cobalt for the Que 3600 because of system demand on the processor and hardware won't require it.

There is some decent info here at PIC you can read till your heart's content but until the devices are out - my guess early 2nd quarter- you'll just have to wait.

[Moose Man]

Palm OS Cobalt
PalmSource CEO David Nagel called Cobalt, "the most important piece of software [PalmSource has] ever delivered, a revolutionary OS that will have as big an impact as the original Palm OS." The new operating system was built focusing on next generation technologies, while maintaining the hallmarks and ease of use the Palm OS is well known for. It has all the advantages of Garnet, plus a new foundation for advanced telephony, multimedia and enterprise applications. Cobalt makes it much easier for companies and developers to create new classes of mobile devices, software and innovations.

Previously known by its internal code names of Atlas and Sahara, Palm OS 6.0 is now formally known as Palm OS Cobalt. The OS has been completely "re-factored" (to use CTO Larry Slotnick's wording) at the foundation, with more than 80% of the source code being rewritten. It is a 32-bit, fully ARM native Operating System. Palm Inc started the work on the new OS and developed the core microkernal. Following that, the team of Be engineers contributed heavily to the development of Cobalt along with the talented folks at PalmSource.

[PFflyer]

OS6 will be needed. Having a cellphone in your iQue. (or iQue functionality in your cellphone depending on your opinion) will be fantastic. The cellular FCC E911 mandate is going to force all new phones to have GPS in them. The cellular system will provide two benefits to GPS operation. 1) A highly accurate frequency timebase. 2) cellular system downloaded empheris data.

This means near instant satellite lock and better ability to hold the satellites during signal strength fluxuations.

[Moose Man]

I believe that the 911 regulation will not be GPS but triangulation based upon 3 towers.....those towers would be the cellular towers for a specific provider.

[Bokkie]

Righty-oh.

So OS6 is not an option, but I still don''t know why we cant have it? We use an ARM processor and I guess the OS is smart enough to detect what is and what is not present on the device. True, it would be really awful to use the Windows analogy, but multitasking and multithreading are such universal concepts that I can't actually envisage doing Win**ws development without it.