Access Linux Platform Demoed

The Access Linux Platform has finally been demoed at the 3GSM conference. Edited highlights include: Running Palm OS binaries (including OS5), a full Java virtual machine, and the ability to run GTK applications (should make porting the Nokia 770 work easy).

Framework

The ALP works on a Linux 2.6/GTK/Gstreamer base, and has the ability to run GTK applications from the desktop with a recompile. I note with interest that they have separated the DRM level from GStreamer, a media framework that is specifically licenced to allow DRM in their media format plugins. I do wonder if they found it difficult to get a licence for Windows Media files for anything that would be partially open source. They also support old palm apps, via an emulator (see below). It offers Java, but frankly J2ME on Linux is old news, and really required for a modern phone. The fact that it runs SQLite for data storage makes me think that the data should be easy to access for 3rd party applications, and I think that a fully Free stack for the OS should be availible in very short order. I am ogling a little at the prospect of a phone with mplayer on it. Also, I shake my head at the person who thought that POS was a great marketing choice for the Palm OS logo.

Palm Application Compatibility

The OS runs Palm OS apps, with both older 68K and ARM OS5 applications supported. This would indicate it is almost certainly running POSE, as this originally ran on a Linux base on the desktop anyway. POSE is already developed, and a similar technology (PACE) was actually used on OS5 Palms to run older apps anyhow. As someone who has used POSE on the desktop, I'd say I have found it fairly reliable. One of this interesting outcomes of this is that it would be possible to run a complete Palm OS 4.0 rom for development work, should you wish to do so.

GTK Application Compatibility

Fundamentally running on a GTK/GStreamer base, the OS of course offers the ability to run GTK apps (with a recompile). This means that applications like the GPE enviroment can be easily installed, as well as all of the ported Nokia 770 work. A neat thing about this is the fact that there is a growing support of GTK as the toolkit for handheld linux, with the fact that Nokia is apparently to use the toolkit in upcoming phones combined with statements of support for ALP from LiPS, OSDL, Freescale, Intel, NEC, Samsung and TI on the hardware side combining with Telefonica and NTT DoCoMo on the telecoms side. NTT are particually important, as they also often manufacture custom phones for their network.

Java Application Compatibility

Yes, it runs Java apps, on a J2ME VM. Meh, meh, and meh again. Were there actually a single reasonable app that ran on J2ME I might be more interested.

Summary

A mighty step up for Palm Source, especially as Palm OS5 is fairly unreliable on all devices. The fact that there are already non-Palm licencees is promising, as is the fact that the frameworks are LGPL and so it is easy to build compatibility layers for other linux devices. The possiblity of GTK offering full screen POSE is particually interesting to me as a Zaurus user. For the commercial market, this is quite a step forward in freedom. For me? I currently ogle over Familiar Linux on the Treo 650. I'll blog if I get it up and running.