Palm hires ex-Apple designer, puts iPhone in its sights
Even though Palm's Ed Colligan may not like it, Apple did go and "just walk in" to the mobile phone space when it announced the iPhone last month: fortunately for consumers, the company is starting to change its attitude towards the "Mac guys," thanks in part to the innovative software that makes up a significant proportion of the iPhone's appeal. So what exactly is the company doing to respond to this threat? Well, for one thing, the company recently hired Paul Mercer, a former Apple computer engineer with an extremely impressive resume. An Apple employee whom was the lead designer on the Finder team for Mac OS 7, Mercer also worked on the Samsung Z5 range, and founded Pixo, a company that original iPod owners may remember from the copyright section of that player: Pixo provided tools to develop the iPod's user interface. That sort of CV is exactly the type that Palm needs in order to tackle threats like the iPhone -- not least because of the guy's knowledge of the inner workings of Apple -- although it'll take more than just one clever mind in order to turn Palm around. Not that Palm has any choice in the matter: it either turns itself around [insert ultra-thin WiMAX phone here], or else.
Ummm, what's so "innovative" about the iPhone's software? Everything I've seen has been done before just with more pretty added in.
The problem is that many people think features when they hear the term
"innovative". I agree that most of the appeal of this phone is not in
the features you'll see on the spec sheet. Where Apple innovates best
is in the ease-of-use.
I have a Windows Mobile Treo for work. To mute a
call, I have to select Menu (hotkey or stylus) > Down (dpad) > Mute
(action key or stylus). 2 steps at least, but 3 if I don't want to
use the stylus. Most of WM is like that; too many steps to do the
most common tasks. I expect Apple has solved for most of this in
their UI. They will have mute too--not a new feature--but
implemented better. (I know Palm has a mute button on screen like the
iPhone will, that was just the first example I could come up with.)
It'll be reliable. That's fairly revolutionary in and of itself.
@ rick, I'm sorry, but what phone software has not been reliable? Let me guess, a random stab an Windows Mobile? I assume that you have extensively used and compared this phone to others of similar nature...right...
""Ummm, what's so "innovative" about the iPhone's software? Everything I've seen has been done before just with more pretty added in."
now, i bet your the sort of person that doesnt see osx's ease of use and general satisfyingness as any better than windows, if your ignorantly happy with your phones os, then save ya money, me - im just thanking god this came along.
iPhone interface has NEVER been done before! So Chris, it is innovative, since it hasn't been done before.
Previous ( failed )attempts at mimicking Apple design by stuffy "business oriented" companies?
Windows 3.1 thinks its OS7
The Zune thinks its an iPod
Any others?
"An Apple employee whom was the lead designer on the Finder team for Mac OS 7"
Ouch. I don't know if I'd put "Designed Finder" on my resume given the popularity of the acronyn, "FTFF."
Umm, Barry, the OS 7 Finder is fantastic and innovative. FTFF refers to the OS X Finder and actually means "make it more like the OS 7 Finder."
I wouldn't say the 7 finder is that innovative at all actually. It's basically just a newer version of the system 6 finder. There are some differences, but overall, it's pretty much the same in functionality. There are some additions. That's about it. I'd say it's less innovative and more like the natural process of evolution.
Yesterday my Treo's battery just up and died. Then I got home and my Powerbook's hard drive bit the dust.
Suffice to say at the moment I'm not feeling particularly charitable to either company, and I'm seriously considering getting a Toughbook and something from HTC.
@Eli - Apple doesn't make hard disks, enough said.
@omegamerc - I have extensively used Windows Mobile and it is exceptionally unreliable, especially it's poor memory management. To be fair, most smartphone OSs are. Blackberry OS and S60 are the best that I have used. S60 is more user friendly and Blackberry software seems more powerful, and they both run great.
Why is the iPhone being given any crediblity by other handset manufacturers? Just because the iPod is a consumer-electronics star has no bearing on the iPhone and its quality and/or place in the market.
Its already been determined that for a smartphone its pretty dumb, and for a regular phone its pretty large.
The interface should get no points for anything at this point because it hasn't been released to the public and thoroughly tested/hacked/tweaked en mass.
How slick an Apple presentation MAKES the interface look and how slick it actually is to USE can be two very, very different things.
The iPhone was announce two months ago, not one month.
Engadget: Hey Apple, I see you're awake, wanna kiss good morning? *plink* *zip*
Apple: Oh baby you know it! yyyeeaaaaahhhh ^_^
Oh crap not again...get a room guys...
@Kevin,
Haven't use a Treo, but I've used 4+ Windows Mobile phones and have never had to press more than a single button to mute. It's always been designated to the left 'soft' key while in a call.
Now, maybe Palm tweaked it with a custom call app like they did with their home screen, but that's Palm's fault, not Windows. And at least with Windows Mobile you can replace the call app/screens with your own. With the iPhone you won't be able to put anything on it that Apple doesn't approve.
does this mean we will get a mobile with Mini-OS7? that would be awesome
Wow...nearly 20 comments and not a single one is actually about the story. Amazing what a single mention of 'iPhone' will do to you people.
Now, back to the post: I thought I read somewhere that Mercer came on board last year (making "recently" a stretch); do we have an actual hire date?
More broadly, I'm glad to hear Palm is still working on new products. Even if it's just to maintain its curb appeal while the For Sale sign is out, at least we long-time users may get a new product or two out of it before Motorola swallows Palm up.
One designer does not an Apple-caliber product make. It takes the creative effort of dozens.
Also, It was called "System 7", not "Mac OS 7". The first version to sport the modern moniker was Mac OS 8.