Editing Palm OS (section)

=={{anchor|VERSION-HISTORY}}Version history and technical background==
Manufacturers are free to implement different features of the OS in their devices or even add [[#Third party OS enhancements|new features]]. This version history describes the officially licensed version from Palm/PalmSource/ACCESS.

All versions prior to Palm OS 5 are based on top of the AMX 68000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kadak.com/html/kdkp1620.htm#Palm,|title=Technology Partners for KADAK RTOS, TCP/IP Stack|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012084911/http://www.kadak.com/html/kdkp1620.htm#Palm,|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] licensed from KADAK Products Ltd. While this kernel is technically capable of multitasking, the "terms and conditions of that license specifically state that Palm may not expose the [[API]] for creating/manipulating tasks within the OS."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kb.palmsource.com/cgi-bin/palmsource.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=72 |title=Palm OS is a multitasking operating system. How can I create a task? |website=ACCESS Palm OS Developer Knowledge Base |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017151559/http://kb.palmsource.com/cgi-bin/palmsource.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=72 |archive-date=2007-10-17}}</ref>

===Palm OS 1.0===
Palm OS 1.0 is the original version present on the [[Pilot 1000|Pilot 1000 and 5000]].  It was introduced in March 1996.

Version 1.0 features the classic PIM applications ''Address'', ''Date Book'', ''Memo Pad'', and ''To Do List''. Also included is a calculator and the Security tool to hide records for private use.

Palm OS 1.0 does not differentiate between [[RAM]] and [[file system]] storage. Applications are installed directly into RAM and executed in place. As no dedicated file system is supported, the operating system depends on constant RAM refresh cycles to keep its memory. The OS supports 160x160 monochrome output displays. User input is generated through the [[Graffiti (Palm OS)|Graffiti]] [[handwriting recognition]] system or optionally through a [[virtual keyboard]]. The system supports [[Synchronization (computer science)|data synchronization]] to another PC via its HotSync technology over a serial interface. The latest bugfix release is version 1.0.7.

===Palm OS 2.0===
Palm OS 2.0 was introduced on March 10, 1997 with the [[PalmPilot|PalmPilot Personal and Professional]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=335827 |title=U.S. Robotics Announces Two New Models of the Best Selling Pilot Connected Organizer |date=March 10, 1997 |publisher=U.S. Robotics/Palm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040249/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=335827 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> This version adds [[TCP/IP]] network, network HotSync, and display backlight support. The last bugfix release is version 2.0.5.

Two new applications, ''Mail'' and ''Expense'' are added, and the standard PIM applications have been enhanced.

===Palm OS 3.0===
Palm OS 3.0 was introduced on March 9, 1998 with the launch of the [[Palm III]] series.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=336734 |title=3Com Delivers the Palm III Connected Organizer, the Third Generation of the Industry-Leading PalmPilot Handheld Computer |publisher=3Com/Palm |date=March 9, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040254/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=336734 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> This version adds [[IrDA]] infrared and enhanced font support. This version also features updated PIM applications and an update to the application launcher.

'''Palm OS 3.1''' adds only minor new features, like network HotSync support. It was introduced with the [[Palm IIIx]] and [[Palm V]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=338042 |title=3Com Unveils the Palm V and Palm IIIx Connected Organizers |publisher=3Com/Palm |date=February 22, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040259/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=338042 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> The last bugfix release is version 3.1.1.

'''Palm OS 3.2''' adds Web Clipping support, which is an early Palm-specific solution to bring web-content to a small PDA screen. It was introduced with the [[Palm VII]] organizer.

'''Palm OS 3.3''' adds faster HotSync speeds and the ability to do infrared hotsyncing. It was introduced with the [[Palm Vx]] organizer.

'''Palm OS 3.5''' is the first version to include native 8-bit color support. It also adds major convenience features that simplify operation, like a context-sensitive icon-bar or simpler menu activation. The datebook application is extended with an additional agenda view. This version was first introduced with the [[Palm IIIc]] device.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=339196 |title=Palm, Inc. Introduces The Palm IIIc Product Industry's Smallest, Lightest Color Handheld Computer |publisher=Palm |date=February 22, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040306/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=339196 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> The latest bugfix release is version 3.5.3.

As a companion, Palm later offered a ''Mobile Internet Kit'' software upgrade for Palm OS 3.5.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=339878 |title=Palm Mobile Internet Kit Ships, Links Palm Handhelds With Mobile Phones To Connect Wirelessly to the Web |publisher=Palm |date=November 13, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040316/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=339878 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> This included Palm's Web Clipping software, MultiMail (which was later renamed to VersaMail) Version 2.26 e-mail software, handPHONE Version 1.3 [[SMS]] software, and Neomar Version 1.5 [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] browser.

===Palm OS 4.0===
Palm OS 4.0 was released with the new [[Palm m500 series]] on March 19, 2001.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=344698 |title=New Sleek Palm m500 and m505 Handhelds Add Expansion, Mobile Connectivity and Vibrant Color |publisher=Palm |date=March 19, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040324/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=344698 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> This version adds a standard interface for external [[file system]] access (such as [[SD card]]s). External file systems are a radical change to the operating system's previous in-place execution. Now, application code and data need to be loaded into the device's RAM, similar to desktop operating system behavior. A new [[Palm Universal Connector|Universal Connector]] with [[USB]] support is introduced. The previous optional Mobile Internet Kit is now part of the operating system. Version 4.0 adds an attention manager to coordinate information from different applications, with several possibilities to get the user's attention, including sound, LED blinking or vibration. 16-bit color screens and different time zones are supported. This version also has security and UI enhancements.

'''Palm OS 4.1''' is a bugfix release. It was introduced with the launch of the [[Palm i705]]. The later minor OS update to version 4.1.2 includes a backport of [[Graffiti 2]] from Palm OS 5.2.

'''Palm OS 4.2 Simplified Chinese Edition''' is targeted especially for the Chinese market with fully [[Simplified Chinese]] support, co-released with Palm OS 5.3. No device has been manufactured with this version up to now.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/1575471/palm-os-goes-to-china-hong-kong.html|title=Palm OS goes to China, Hong Kong|date=Dec 11, 2002|publisher=Computerworld}}</ref>

Around this time, at least two emulators of the Palm OS surfaced for its competing platform, [[Windows CE]] (later [[Pocket PC]]). The first was [[Palm OS Emulator]], known prior as CoPilot, created by Conduits and a community of professional developers. The second, PocketPalm, created by an independent developer named George Andre and presented by Elad Yakobowicz, former Senior News Editor of [[Pocketnow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/developers-squeeze-palm-inside-pocketpc|title=Developers squeeze Palm inside PocketPC|date=Jul 25, 2001|publisher=ZDNET}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pocketnow.com/html/news/articles.7.g9q23t.pocketpalm.html |title=PocketPalm - Our Weapon in the Pocket PC/Palm War! |date=Jul 20, 2001 |website=Pocketnow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010801191448/http://www.pocketnow.com/html/news/articles.7.g9q23t.pocketpalm.html |archive-date=August 1, 2001 |editor-first=Elad |editor-last=Yakobowicz |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idnes.cz/mobil/aplikace/pocketpalm-palm-v-pocketpc.A010721_0037059_ostatni|title=PocketPalm - Palm v PocketPC|date=Jul 23, 2001|publisher=iDNES.cz}}</ref>

===Palm OS 5.0===
Palm OS 5.0 was unveiled by the Palm subsidiary PalmSource in June 2002<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2002/061002_1.html |title=PalmSource Ships Faster, More Powerful Palm OS 5 |publisher= PalmSource |date=June 10, 2002 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604150634/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2002/061002_1.html |archive-date=2012-06-04}}</ref> and first implemented on the Palm [[Tungsten T]]. It is the first version to support [[ARM architecture|ARM]] devices and replaced the Kadak AMX68000 kernel with the custom MCK kernel, named for its developer, that was written in-house by Palm.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://mobile.osnews.com/story.php/26838/Palm-Im-ready-to-wallow-now/page4|title = The Palm operating system|date = 2013-03-11|last = Holwerda|first = Thom|website = OS News|access-date = 2014-04-18|archive-date = 2014-04-19|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013531/http://mobile.osnews.com/story.php/26838/Palm-Im-ready-to-wallow-now/page4|url-status = dead}}</ref> Applications written for the prior OS versions use the older [[Freescale Dragonball|DragonBall]] 68K instruction set and are supported via the ''Palm Application Compatibility Environment'' (PACE) emulator in Garnet. Even with the additional overhead of PACE, Palm applications usually run faster on ARM devices than on previous generation hardware. New software can take advantage of the ARM processors with small units of ARM code, referred to as ''ARMlets''.

With a more powerful hardware basis, Palm OS 5 adds substantial enhancements for multimedia capabilities. High density 320x320 screens are supported together with a full digital sound playback and record API. Palm's separate Bluetooth stack is added together with an [[IEEE 802.11b-1999|IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi]] stack. Secure network connections over [[Transport Layer Security|SSL]] are supported.  The OS can be customized with different color schemes.

For Palm OS 5, PalmSource developed and licensed a web browser called ''PalmSource Web Browser''<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2002/091702.html |title=First PalmSource ARM-Native Proxy-less Web Browser Ships to Licensees |publisher=PalmSource |date=September 17, 2002 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604150634/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2002/091702.html |archive-date=2012-06-04}}</ref> based on ACCESS' [[NetFront]] 3.0 browser.

'''Palm OS 5.2''' is mainly a bugfix release, first implemented in the [[Samsung]] SGH-i500 in March 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Samsung reveals feature-packed SGH-i500|url=http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3238.html|website= infoSync World|date=March 13, 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030604041505/http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3238.html|archive-date=June 4, 2003|access-date=2007-09-11}}</ref> It added support for 480x320 resolutions and introduced the new handwriting input system called [[Graffiti 2]]; the new input system was prompted by [[Xerox]]' [[#Legal issues|lawsuit win]] against Palm. Graffiti 2 is based on ''Jot'' from CIC. The last bugfix release is version 5.2.8.

'''Palm OS 5.3 Simplified Chinese Edition''' released in September 2003, added full [[Simplified Chinese character|Simplified Chinese]] support,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2003/091003_chineseEd.html |title=PalmSource Ships Palm OS 5 Simplified Chinese Edition |publisher=PalmSource |date=September 9, 2003 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604150633/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2003/091003_chineseEd.html |archive-date=2012-06-04}}</ref> further support for [[QVGA]] resolutions, and a standard API for virtual Graffiti called ''Dynamic Input Area''. This version first shipped on [[Lenovo]]'s P100 and P300 handhelds.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2003/120803_lenovo.html |title=PalmSource Welcomes First Palm OS 5 Simplified Chinese Edition Handhelds from Lenovo |publisher=PalmSource |date=December 8, 2003 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604150634/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2003/120803_lenovo.html |archive-date=2012-06-04}}</ref>

'''Palm OS Garnet''' (5.4) added updated Bluetooth libraries and support for multiple screen resolutions ranging from 160x160 up to 480x320. It first shipped on the [[Treo 650]] in November 2004. This version also introduced the ''Garnet'' moniker to distinguish it from Palm OS Cobalt 6.0. The last bugfix release is version 5.4.9.

'''Garnet OS 5.5''' dropped the ''Palm'' moniker<ref>{{cite web|last=Blass|first=Evan|title=Whatever Happened to Access Linux Platform?|url=http://pocketnow.com/webos/whatever-happened-to-access-linux-platform|publisher=PocketNow|access-date=22 April 2014|date=2010-08-24|quote=As for PalmOS Garnet, the last version of the operating system shipped on consumer devices, it was renamed simply to Garnet OS in early 2007, eliminating the final traces of Palm branding from the dying platform.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053234/http://pocketnow.com/webos/whatever-happened-to-access-linux-platform|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and, {{as of|2007|lc=on}}, is the current version developed by ACCESS. This version is dedicated for use inside the ''Garnet VM'' virtual machine.

'''Garnet VM''' was announced and released by ACCESS in November 2007<ref>{{cite web|last=Kairer|first=Ryan|title=Palm OS Garnet VM Released for Nokia Internet Tablets|url=http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9526/palm-os-garnet-vm-released-for-nokia-internet-tablets/|publisher=Palm Infocenter|access-date=22 April 2014|date=2007-11-13|quote=Access has announced today that it is releasing Palm OS Garnet VM software for the Nokia series of Internet Tablet devices.}}</ref> as a core part of the [[Access Linux Platform]] and as an emulator allowing [[Nokia Internet Tablet]]s to run applications written for the Garnet OS. In June 2010, ACCESS release Garnet VM version 6 (a.k.a. Garnet VM Beta 6 1.05b).<ref>{{cite web|last=Keilhack|first=Kris|title=Updated Garnet VM for Nokia N900|url=http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/6416/updated-garnet-vm-for-nokia-n900/|publisher=Palm Infocenter|access-date=22 April 2014|date=2010-06-16}}</ref>

===Palm OS Cobalt===
Palm OS Cobalt (6.0) was the designated successor for Palm OS 5. It was introduced on February 10, 2004,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2004/021004_cobalt.html |title=PalmSource Introduces Palm OS Cobalt |publisher=PalmSource |date=February 10, 2004 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604150634/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2004/021004_cobalt.html |archive-date=2012-06-04}}</ref> but is no longer offered by ACCESS (see next section). Palm OS 6.0 was renamed to Palm OS Cobalt to make clear that this version was initially not designated to replace Palm OS 5, which adopted the name Palm OS Garnet at the same time.

Palm OS Cobalt introduced modern operating system features to an embedded operating system based on a new kernel with multitasking and memory protection, a modern multimedia and graphic framework (derived from Palm's acquired [[BeOS]]), new security features, and adjustments of the PIM file formats to better cooperate with [[Microsoft Outlook]].

'''Palm OS Cobalt 6.1'''<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2004/092804_cobalt.html |title=PalmSource Introduces Palm OS Cobalt 6.1 |publisher=PalmSource |date=September 28, 2004 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604150635/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2004/092804_cobalt.html |archive-date=2012-06-04}}</ref> presented standard communication libraries for telecommunication, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. Despite other additions, it failed to interest potential licensees to Palm OS Cobalt.

===Third-party OS enhancements===
Several licensees have made custom modifications to the operating system. These are not part of the official licensed version.

* Palm developed a [[Bluetooth]] API for external Bluetooth SDIO Cards for Palm OS 4.0 devices. The Bluetooth stack was later included in Palm OS 5<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=341039 |title=Palm Delivers SIG-Compliant Bluetooth Software to Massive Palm OS Developer Base |publisher=Palm |date=January 14, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715040352/http://investor.palm.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=341039 |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref>
* Palm added a virtual graffiti input area API especially for their [[Tungsten T3]] device. This API was later superseded by the official Dynamic Input Area API in Palm OS 5.3.
* Palm added the [[Non-Volatile File System]] in Palm OS 5.4, and used Flash for storage instead of [[DRAM]], preventing data-loss in the event of battery drain. However, this fundamentally changed the way programs were executed from the Execute-in-Place system that Palm OS traditionally used, and has been the source of many compatibility problems, requiring many applications to add explicit NVFS support for correct operation.
* For their camera-equipped devices, Palm added the CameraLib API.
* Sony added a library to support JogDial input available on their [[CLIÉ]] organizers.