A Palm Desktop Makeover

In 2008 Palm will be working on three projects: redesigning the Treo smartphone; completing the re-write of Palm OS; and the redevelopment of the Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager.

While re-writing the Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager software isn’t as glamorous as designing the next Treo smartphone or working on the ultra-secret Palm OS II/Nova project, it is an important component to complete the end-to-end solution Palm has been working toward.  Palm controls the hardware, and the operating system software, and now needs to develop a new synchronization engine.

When Palm spun off their software division, PalmSource, Palm not only gave away their home-grown mobile operating system, the Palm OS, they also lost control of the Windows desktop synchronization software, Palm Desktop and the HotSync Manager.  (From here on, I will refer the Palm Desktop and the HotSync Manager collectively as “Palm Desktop.”)  While Palm has the option to purchase the source code for Palm Desktop from ACCESS, I don’t think they will.  It is time to replace it with something else.  After all, the Treo and Palm OS are getting makeovers, shouldn’t Palm Desktop get one also?

As Palm’s traditional handheld business continues to wind down, so does the need for Palm Desktop.  All of Palm’s new devices will have at least one method to establishing a connection to the Internet.  I’m envisioning three: a cellular EVDO or EDGE connection; a Wi-Fi connection; and a wired pass-through connection using the PC or Mac’s Internet connection.  And why would an Internet connection be required?  Because the Palm Desktop software will no longer reside on your computer.

On May 9, 2007, Palm started a little beta program called MyPalm.com.  MyPalm is a Palm smartphone centric portal that helps customers maximize the use of their device.  MyPalm offers some interesting benefits to Palm’s smartphone customers.  First, the service is free and so is the 24/7 technical support hot line.  Secondly, the software offered on the site (freeware and commercial software) is downloaded directly to your smartphone wirelessly over the air (OTA).  Lastly, MyPalm is a place you can keep a record of your smartphone, it’s accessories, alerts (for free software, or software updates for your phone), and how-to articles specific to your device.  At least, that is what is offered today.  In the future, I expect the MyPalm customer portal to replace the Motricity powered Palm Software Connection online software store and, the Palm Desktop.

Think about it.  People are already using free online email services like GMail, Yahoo! and HotMail.  Both of those services allow you to create an online address book for your contacts.  GMail also provides you with a free calendar application, among other things.  The benefit of web-based email is that it is available from anywhere you have an Internet connection on your computer or smartphone.  It would not be difficult for PIM data to leap from the desktop computer to an online server accessible from all of the computing devices you come in contact with on a daily basis.  By using a server based solution you store your PIM data in a central location and then make that data available to all of your devices: your home PC, your work PC, your smartphone, and your spouse’s PC or smartphone.  This approach isn’t new.  In the corporate world, PIM data has been shared across workgroups and departments for years.  By using a public server, like the one I’m suggesting MyPalm.com might become, we can all gain the benefits of a large organization on a personal level.

There are three reasons why I believe that Palm would be in favor of moving Palm Desktop to the web as part of the MyPalm portal.  My top reasons Palm would migrate to the web are:

• Palm no longer controls Palm Desktop; ACCESS does.
• Customers have trouble installing and/or upgrading Palm Desktop on Windows.
• Palm Desktop for the Mac platform needs to be tossed out and re-written.
• Missing 64-bit processor, and multi-processor support for Windows.

After ACCESS failed to deliver a new Linux-based mobile operating system to replace Palm OS 5, I seriously doubt that Palm will be looking to deepen their relationship with the former PalmSource to license or co-develop future versions of the Palm Desktop application.

The majority of computer users don’t read the manual.  As a result, installation and configuration problems are a major headache for the support center.  A visit to the Palm Community Help forums is proof of this situation.  There are no two computers configured the same way, and by channeling customers to a single web-based application, Palm can be assured that at least a part of the equation will be the same across the customer base.

Similarly, Palm Desktop for the Mac platform is a mess.  Transport Monitor errors, connection could no be established errors, and locked volume errors often send novice Mac users into places they don’t belong in to try and clear up HotSync issues.  Many Mac users just avoid Palm Desktop all together and spend another $50 on top of the Palm’s purchase price to use Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS.  Many users who find themselves unable to sync are angry that Macs and Palms have so much trouble talking to each other.

Like it or not, 64-bit processing and multi-cored multi-processor computers are coming.  Palm Desktop runs fine on a PC that has a single processor with one or more processing cores.  Before long, computers from Best Buy, Circuit City, and office supply chains will ship with Windows Vista and will have multiple CPUs with two or more processing cores.  Within two years I expect the majority of those computers to be 64-bit.  Today, Palm Desktop supports neither computers with multiple CPUs or 64-bit processors.  Furthermore, Palm has no plans to develop the required 64-bit USB drivers to enable Palm Desktop to talk to a Palm handheld or smartphone on a 64-bit system.  If 64-bit, multi-CPU systems are to be the norm before long, why is Palm dragging their feet on delivering 64-bit USB drivers?  Something is up.

In conclusion, I believe that the Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager software as we currently know them are going to be changed before the end of the first quarter of 2009.  In the future, we will sync to a web-based version of Palm Desktop and our computers and devices will sync across the Internet to a single personal information repository.  Additionally, all of Palm’s devices will ship with some form of wireless networking, either cellular or Wi-Fi, that will sync with the information portal.  For as long as Palm continues to sell wired-only devices like the Tungsten E2 and the Z22, Palm Desktop will still be around for local PIM management or for regions that have prohibitively priced unlimited cellular data plans.

What do you think?  Are Palm Desktop’s days numbered?  Let us know in the 1SRC forums by clicking the Discuss this article link below.