Pair of Palm ISVs promise Foleo ports

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Jun. 18, 2007

Two ISVs (independent software vendors) have announced plans to port their commercial applications to Palm's forthcoming Linux- and ARM-based miniature laptop. Astraware will offer Sodoku and Solitaire applications, while MotionApps will port its mDayscape PIM (personal information manager) to the Foleo, the companies said.

Palm unveiled Foleo in late May, saying the device would ship by summer's end. Described as a "revolutionary" class of device that adds a full-size keyboard and screen to mobile phones, the Foleo looked to many observers more like a small laptop -- albeit one based on the ARM architecture, with all the power management advantages -- i.e., instant on/off -- that the use of an ARM processor implies.

Days after unveiling Foleo, Palm announced plans to sell off about a quarter of the company to Elevation Partners, an investment firm run by Fred Anderson, and associated with corporate housecleaning. As CFO, Anderson helped engineer Apple's most recent turnaround.

Palm also said that if shareholders approved the Elevation deal, it would hire Jon Rubinstein, whose experience as lead engineer on Apple's iMac and iPod projects presumably taught him how to say "revolutionary" in the language of industrial design. With the sell-off awaiting shareholder and regulatory approval, Palm has not yet announced any major RIFs (reductions in force) or other drastic measures. Instead, it appears to be working to sell its massive Palm application development community on the Foleo concept, with Astraware and MotionApps two early takers.

The Palm Foleo was conceived as a "companion" device for smartphones. Much smaller and lighter than a traditional laptop -- and with longer battery life -- it nevertheless adds a full-size (ISO-standard) keyboard and 10-inch display. Built-in applications include a Web browser and an email client that automatically synchronizes with the email client on supported smartphones (Palm's Treo models will enjoy support first). More details about Foleo are available in our earlier coverage, here.

Other recently announced miniature Linux-compatible laptops include the Via NanoBook and the sub-$200 Asus 3E PC. Additionally, Intel appears to be working feverishly on MID devices (mobile Internet devices) mid-way between mobile phones and laptops in size, performance, and price, and with many characteristics in common with Nokia's 770 and N800 Internet tablets.

--Henry Kingman

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