“Palm, Inc. has just made an announcement that will significantly change how many people look at the Palm Pre: an emulator from MotionApps to allow Palm’s upcoming webOS smartphone to run legacy Palm OS applications will be available soon.When Palm unveiled the Pre earlier this year, the company stunned long-time Palm OS users by dropping its original plan to allow this device to run software written for previous models. Everyone knew the Pre would use a new operating system, but the company had promised an emulator for legacy applications. Palm changed its mind, but MotionApps is stepping into the breach. It is working on just what many have been hoping for: an emulator that will allow most Palm OS applications to run on webOS devices.The application, called “Classic,” will be available for purchase when the Palm Pre becomes available from Sprint in the first half of 2009.Since Palm OS software running in the Classic emulator won’t be able to leverage core webOS functionality, Palm is working with developers to get popular Palm OS applications made available for the webOS.Still, MotionApps Classic will allow many who have Palm OS applications they depend on to use them on a new webOS device.
An Overview of the Palm Pre
The Palm Pre will be the first device to use Palm’s just-announced webOS. This will be a multi-tasking operating system able to wirelessly synchronize a wide variety of data with online services like Google and Facebook.The Pre itself will feature a sliding keyboard as well as a multi-touch-capable 3.1-inch display. This device will also be equipped with 8 GB of on-board storage, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 3.0 megapixel camera with LED flash. In the U.S. the Pre will be available first from Sprint, who will add its mobile broadband service EV-DO Rev. A. The GSM version for Europe and Latin America will have the 3G standard HSDPA.” via brighthand.com