Tuesday, November 13, 2007

ACCESS Garnet for maemo - First Look


The ACCESS Garnet VM is the familiar interface for Palm devices, so there are already stacks of applications available for them. When I put up my last post moments ago, I didn't realize the downloads were already available.


For an example of the interface and functionality, take a look at the video above.


Installation was simple: Visit the site, enter in your name and Email address, and submit it. Instantly, an Email is dispatched with the EULA and download link. The download itself is a .deb so it can go right to the tablet. The .deb is about 1.4 MB. Installation reports at 3.9 MB. The package name is garnet-vm and installed on the N810 without errors.


The first thing to remember is that it is a virtual machine. It isn't a simple Garnet OS application base and installer. The Virtual Machine has dedicated storage and does not interact with the rest of the tablet.

Just as I was waiting for the video to finish YouTube's processing, reader "Andrew" posted a comment in the last post on the subject:
Looking at the whitepaper, it seems to be a technology demonstration for their Linux platform; targetting ISVs, OEMs and other third parties.

Selling to end-users seems to be a piffling triviality compared with what their business model actually is.
Andrew has a point. This first release is a good step forward for Internet Tablet enthusiasts and Garnet developers. There is a great deal of potential for improvement in the future. I hope future releases of the VM allow for full screen use and rotating modes as well as the desktop sync client and companion software. For now: It's an interesting toy.

Two reminders: My next live show is this Thursday morning and the video entries to the Nokia N810 Giveaway Contest are due Friday night at midnight.

14 comments:

Eismaus said...

I installed the gvm a few minutes agon, the i downloadet the Palm Desktop version 4.1.4E (for a treo 650) installed this too, and was sucsessfully able to sync my outlook with my tablet!

Nice Ap!

Anonymous said...

Very interesting but a toy unless you can get fullscreen implementation. The usable screen area looked very small in the demo. It needs to be rotated at least to use the full Nokia screen.
Also what about legal rights to to use Garnet? That is not public domain.

Eismaus said...

From the FAQ..

How can I change Garnet VM's screen orientation to landscape mode?


Garnet VM can be executed either in portrait mode or in landscape mode (full screen).

On the Nokia Internet Tablet
Open Garnet VM Launcher (Main Menu => Extras => Garnet VM).
Open the Settings dialog.
In the Display section, check the Fullscreen option.
Hit the Save button.
The next time that you launch a Garnet OS application it will be displayed in landscape mode. Note that to come back to the Nokia Internet Tablet environment you must press the Back hardware button.


But probably a toy nontheless..
What would we be without our toys?

Anonymous said...

anonymous...

Access owns the Palm Garnet OS! They bought it from Palm a while back.

Anonymous said...

So can this get installs from an exe file? If you can only install prc files by dragging and dropping, it might not be too useful for more complicated programs, like ePocrates for med stuff.

el_kin said...

Only usefull with the N810 if you can't use the software keyboard, handwriting input s*cks!

Kevin said...

Can you test if Slingmedia player can run on this virtual Palm? if you have a slingbox that is. Thanks,

Anonymous said...

mobipocket? possible?

i would like to be able to read drm'd books.

VimS said...

On my 770 with os2007 had to download the n800 version.

It runs very slow!
I think I neet to buy an N8** ;(

Anonymous said...

I'll stick with my 770 and T|X thanks. Seems to be a typical case of implementing something without it actually be usable in the real world.

John said...

Lack of PIM and sync functionality was what was holding me back from retiring my clie and buying a Nokia n8x0. This probably seals the deal if it can hotsync.

Anonymous said...

trying to get epocrates to work w/ the garnet vm, its a medical program. Need to have a good palm web browser too. Anyone familiar w/ this program? and running it on the nokia n810?

Anonymous said...

OK, it works - on the 770
Sync worked fine
However, none of the Apps I had saved work. Only the ones supplied with the VM install work.

Just a demo as far as I can see

Jon said...

Anyone like to give a try with Flightmaster on Garnet VM. I don't have a nokia?

It requires bluetooth communications and I'm not sure if it will work.

you can download it at http://www.flightmaster.aero

Jon