Pro Foleo

Palm Infocenter just posted an interview with Tealpoint's Vince Lee in which he discusses the Foleo cancellation. (You'll remember that Tealpoint is the company that understands the potential of the Foleo more than Palm.)

…the Foleo team had been working very hard to get the product to market, and many features had to be set aside due to the tight schedule. It's no secret that the Foleo had shortcomings in some key areas, but it was hoped these could be addressed in software updates after the initial release. The decision to cancel the Foleo is a smart one, however, if it means that the Foleo can return sometime in the future as a much stronger product. …

Our sincere hope is that the next gen platform is some flavor of Palm OS running on top of a Linux kernel, and that the Foleo would return as the current Foleo-1 hardware running this new operating system. Not only would this allow developers to write apps for the next gen platform, Palm OS Garnet, and Foleo-II simultaneously, but it would capitalize on the existing library of PalmOS apps to fill in many of the software gaps that were missing on the Foleo-I.

The more I think about it, the more comfortable I am with the cancellation of the Foleo-1, but not for all the reasons the gadget fans give. I want a finished product, one that has a bright future of third-party applications. Let's hope the Foleo can indeed rise from the ashes as a stronger product.

Nothing terribly new here, just a nice reminder that the Linux community is eager to get their hands on the Foleo.

Palm is definitely where the mobile Linux action is. Its Foleo “mobile companion” is everything you could want in a sub-sub-notebook clamshell: An efficient Intel Xscale 32-bit ARM CPU, five hours of battery life, a 1024 x 600 display, support for an external display, storage expansion through SD and Compact Flash memory cards as well as USB, Palm, and Windows Mobile sync, wi-fi, and an Ubuntu Linux development environment.

You can hack Foleo and flash your code directly to the Foleo’s non-volatile memory. You do so at your own risk but also, likely, to your delight.

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what the Linux coders come up with. If the Zaurus is any indication of how much support mobile Linux can get, Foleo could have quite a nice cult following.

Tealpoint is one of the third-party software vendors on board for the Foleo. I've not used a lot of their applications, but PDA folks seem to like them. What I do know, however, is that whoever wrote the Foleo overview on their site clearly understands the potential the Foleo has to bring us truly mobile computing.

[The Foleo] concentrates on the tasks most people need 90% of the time, such as web browsing, word processing, presentations, and email. By doing so, it can give a better experience while avoiding a lot of the pitfalls of lugging around a full-blown laptop.

One thing you'll notice is that not once on their page do they describe the Foleo as a companion to your smartphone.

Anyhow, the full article is worth a read. Very clear.

I mentioned in a previous post that I was hoping Blue Nomad would port their excellent word processor WordSmith to the Palm Foleo. I got a response from Bobby Genest this morning with some unfortunate news for WordSmith and Foleo fans: Blue Nomad has no plans to bring WordSmith to the Foleo.

Totally makes sense, I suppose. The Foleo comes bundled with DataViz's Documents to Go, so any additional word processors would have to compete with a free and very good program. Reminds me of when Adobe said back in 2003 that Premiere wouldn't be offered for OSX anymore, since Apple was giving away the excellent Final Cut program. (That changed, of course, when the Mac market exploded and Apple switched to Intel processors.)

Also, there will likely be a number of free, lightweight word processors made for the Foleo, if the current software in the Linux world is any indication. Blue Nomad would really be draining away resources on a program that wouldn't have much of a market.

We'll miss you, WordSmith. You're one of the most effecient chunks of code out there. (Great name, too. Rolls off the tongue so much better than DocumentsToGoWord.)

Palm Infocenter has a few more details on Normsoft's Pocket Tunes for the Palm Foleo. According to PIC, Pocket Tunes for the Foleo will have most of the handheld version's best features but will add a couple more useful functions like background playback and support for streaming mp3 Internet radio stations.

Apparently the player will use SD cards for the storage of music files. Let's hope they also add support for the CF card, which I plan on using as my main "hard drive." Normsoft's advertisement for Pocket Tunes says that the API will be accessible to third-party developers, allowing them to repurpose the audio capabilities for their own applications.

I know of several writers who use their laptops for exactly three things: writing (duh), Web mail/research, and listening to mp3 files while they write. If the Linux Pocket Tunes is anywhere as good as the Palm OS version, then the Foleo just edged its way into another niche market.

Palm's official blog has put together a list of the 3rd party applications currently in development for the Foleo. If you've been following the Foleo news lately, there aren't too many surprises here, but it is nice to see all of the developers that are coming on board.

Full list of 3rd party applications:

-Astraware Limited provides two games for the new Foleo - Sudoku and Solitaire - with additional games to follow.

-Avvenu has created the Avvenu Access 'n Share service for the Foleo so users can access, enabling users to share digital content stored on their work or home PCs, untethered and over-the-air.

-Bluefire provides Foleo customers security for mobile data-in-transit. The VPN software client easily fits in with existing network infastructures and configurations, and functions across Wi-Fi, LAN and cellular networks.

-DataViz is providing the latest addition of Documents To Go, giving Foleo customers the ability to create, view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible files on their Foleo mobile companion.

-LogMeIn is bringing remote PC access capability to the Foleo, providing instant, secure connections between remote PCs over the web - enabling easy desktop remote control, data backup and file sharing.

-MotionApps' mDayscape Personal Information Manager applications lets Foleo customers manage calendar, contacts and tasks on their devices and synchronizes with a Treo smartphone.

-Opera provides Foleo customers with the user-friendly Opera web browser, offering intelligent navigation features and support for advanced Web 2.0 applications using Ajax.

-SixApart gives Foleo users access to SixApart's wide range of blogging services including Vox, LiveJournal, Typepad and MoveableType.

-TealPoint offers Foleo customers a full suite of new security, entertainment and productivity applications including TealSafe, TealPaint, TealDiet, SudokuAddict and ShortCircuit, with more applications to follow.

I think the software available now covers about 90% of what I use a laptop for, maybe more. I'm holding onto the hope that Blue Nomad will bring a port of Wordsmith to the Foleo, but I'm sure there will be other Linux word processors that come along soon. In the meantime, Docs2Go works fine.