Putting aside the fact the above is a rip-off, not even such nice interface will save Palm, or Treo, etc. Note that one of the handsets that I own is a Treo 650, and while the handset per-se I like (it's form-factor, touch-screen, keyboard, etc), every time I think about the Palm and its past vs. future, I am reminded about their missed opportunity – a management blunder.
The difference between Apple, and others, is how Apple has no fear from breaking away from tradition, from breaking away from the traditional mold – no fear to innovate and bring such innovation to market… that is what sets Apple apart – even the Newton (which was created by Apple without Steve Jobs), and which back in 1994 was ahead of its time, represented Apple's essence.
Kind of related to this, see Palm OS's future looks bleak (Abiro)
[Via Brady Forrest, O'Reilly Radar]
ceo
You are completely wrong about Apple. Apple is not Bold, it’s just that Steve jobs is cocky. Apple’s success stems back because of the Hippie era. Us vs Them. The little guy against the Big guy. Steven Wozniak building a personal PC and HP laughing at the idea. Big Blue against small little Apple. In the early days of Apple when they were still working out of a garage they pretty much got a cult following of eager technically inclined hobbyist and sorts. Jobs, being the wanna be rock hero he wished he was saw an opportunity to make money from the talent of Steven Wozniak and from the local hobbyist. He could of just as well been selling women’s shoes, I personally don’t believe it mattered to Jobs. He cleaned up – layed low on the dope – and became the front man and marketing muscle for Apple the only way the uneducated college drop out knew how too – by being cocky. As the word spread about Apple’s new personal computer (which was the first of it’s kind available inexpensively to anyone who wanted one – thanks to Steven Wozniak) the local hobbyist deemed Apple as the savior and a cult of loyal following technically inclined hippies and other sorts swore their elegant and began following Apple from which their influence spawned many new customers the world over. The GUI on the MAC was only a bold move from Apple because Jobs stole it from Xerox. The Cult was already there. Everybody remembers the feel good feelings. Apple could do no wrong. It has nothing to do with being a genius and Steve being a “doped” street learned kinda of guy from his earlier day understood this – thus grew Apple’s success. The iPhone is the future of what the Newton would of been which was developed by CEO that Booted Jobs out of the Company in the 80’s. Jobs has worked very hard to make sure the iPhone isn’t called a PDA – even though in every way it still is. Welcome to the REAL History of LIFE!
I see what you are saying. I stand by my opinion. It is OK to dissagree. :-)
ceo