The original Palm mobile operating system, known as the PalmOS, incorporated simple graphics and basic application support. They're calling the new operating system the Palm webOS. The first device to offer it will be the Palm Pre, which at one point was due to hit stores in February but now has no firm release date.
Like the iPhone, the Palm webOS offers a versatile graphical interface, but unlike the iPhone, the Palm Pre will include a retractable qwerty keyboard. According to Palm, the Pre will also include the ability to switch between applications with greater ease than the iPhone — a feature that Google has touted in its mobile OS, Android.
Palm also plans to open an app store for the Palm webOS, and according to the latest reports, they have no plans to restrict it in any way. That means adult apps should be able to find a home on the new Palm Pre.
Despite the Palm webOS's similarity to the iPhone OS, the company's not worried about any claims of copyright infringement from Apple.
"Luckily, Palm has 1500 patents up its sleeve and sees little problem in implementing multi-touch in the new OS," wrote tech pundit John Biggs for CrunchGear.com.
To get updates about Palm new products, sign up for updates at Palm.com. A video of the new OS is also available at their website.