[Editor’s Note: We have been contacted by MotionApps to let us know they are not closing down the company.]
MotionApps, the developer behind Classic, the Palm OS emulation layer for HP webOS 1.x devices like the Pre and Pixi, has halted sales and turned over the source code and the intellectual property (IP) over to HP’s Palm unit.
MotionApps has posted the following note to the Palm user community on their blog:
“We are sad to announce that Palm has removed Classic’s ROM from the new webOS 2.0 device ROM which will result in Classic not working if utilized with Palm’s new webOS 2.0.
This is contrary to our agreement with Palm and was done without our approval or consent. Based on this action, MotionApps will immediately stop selling Classic. However, as a courtesy to our clients, we will continue to support existing Classic customers on webOS 1.x for the immediate future.
Be that as it may, we believe in PalmOS and we want to do what we can to help Palm succeed in their future endeavors. So we decided to hand over the entire Classic source code and all of our accompanying IP to Palm so that Palm can do what they want to do with Classic and make it available with webOS 2.0.
Palm now has all the pieces to manage and control Classic’s future.
Thank you all who supported us along the way and who love PalmOS the way we do.
MotionApps Team”
A similar message appears on the MotionApps main website that simply reads:
“With the release of Palm webOS™ 2.0 MotionApps will no longer sell or support future versions of Classic.
We have decided to hand the entire source code and all accompanying IP over to Palm so Palm can assume full control of Classic’s future life and shape.
We had great time building Classic and supporting its vibrant community. Palm’s way of supporting MotionApps has become too disruptive for us and we no longer believe that we are in a position to provide our customers with the best product and service.
Our work is who we are so we respectfully choose to exit.”
So it appears that MotionApps, as a company, closing down along the decision to halt sales of Classic as a third-party application.
As a Classic owner, I’m sorry to see it go, however, I have received little or no utility out of Classic recently. This is mostly to do with the fact that I am no longer using Palm OS apps on my original Sprint Pre. I’m willing to bet that HP thinks that most of their customers will be in the same boat as me or, simply, they may just want to the cord with Palm OS. Either way, it doesn’t matter, what’s done is done.
The interesting thing that will happen sooner or later is that all of us who purchased Classic for $30 will be forced to HP webOS 2.0 when is gets pushed out as an over-the-air update to our Pre and Pixi smarphones once our wireless carriers certify the new software. What remains to be seen is whether or not a customer can decline the receipt of a major HP webOS upgrade like 2.0 and continuing using webOS 1.x and Classic.
Update:
MotionApps has contacted informed me they are not closing down, but, rather, simply halting the sale and further development of Classic.
“MotionApps, as a company, is not closing down along the decision to halt sales of Classic as a third-party application.
We are simply shutting down Classic as a product only to focus on other products and services that we are working on, some of which are public and some of which are yet to be released in the future.”
I’m glad to hear that MotionApps is staying in the software game and look forward to their new projects.
