Running Palm software on Nokia N97, Review of StyleTap
StyleTap is a software to emulate the Palm OS on Windows Mobile, Symbian S60 V3/V5, or UIQ phones so that users can run Palm software on these three platforms.
Though the Palm Pre are running WebOS, which is considered as the new hope of Palm, there are still plenty of classic software running on old Palm OS. Many previous users of Palm devices claim that even there are already Windows Mobile version of some classic Palm software, the Palm versions are still much better than their counterparts. And there are also some excellent Palm software don’t have good replacements. That is why StyleTap has been developed.
However, since the Symbian UIQ is already be given up and there are already more than enough software on Windows Mobile software, Symbian S60 V3/V5 will be the most valuable platform for StyleTap. There has been a plan to release StyleTap on iPhone/iPod Touch for a long time, but I am doubting it will happen. Since App Store is so important to Apple to have software developed for iPhone platform. If StyleTap is ported to iPhone, then thousand of Palm software can run on iPhone but Apple cannot make money from them. So I believe that Apple will not prove StyleTap to be sold in App Store. In general, StypleTap will be welcome to platforms without enough software. Thus WebOS and Android are more likely to be the next platform of StyleTap than iPhone.
Between Symbian S60 V3 and V5, S60 V5 is a more suitable platform for S60 V3 since a touchscreen is important to Palm software. Full keyboard also make it much easy to use Palm software via StyleTap. That is why I think Nokia N97 is the best phone to use StyleTap. Except the touch operation and full keyboard, another issue has influence on the user experience to use StyleTap on Nokia N97 is the screen size. Since the resolutions of Palm software are 240×240, 320×320 or 480×480, which are not compatible with the 640×360 resolution of Symbian S60 V5, StyleTap cannot use the full screen of Nokia N97 and the screen needs to be rescaled.
Another limitation of StyleTap is the integration with system. A very important aspect of PDA software is to sync data between with different software and with PC. StyleTap already can allow data sharing between software running within its environment, but sync data with native applications of the phone, such as the address book or the calendar, is still a problem. Sync with PC is also not well implemented.
Moreover, StyleTap is still not so stable on Symbian platform. It often gives “Memory full” message when running a Palm software via StyleTap for a while. The only choice for users is to stop StyleTap by using delete key in the task manager menu. And the unsaved change of Palm database made by users will be lost.
Anyhow, if you are a big fan of some classic Palm software, which don’t have replacement on the Nokia N97 or other Symbian S60 V3/V5, Windows Mobile phone you are using, StyleTap is something worth to try.
What version of StyleTap Platform for Symbian were you using on the N97? I ask because the memory issue that caused many of the “Memory full” problems was fixed, and should be fixed in the latest version (v0.9.023).
If you are using the latest version and still encountering this error, please submit a bug report or email to sales@styletap.com.
- Kevin (StyleTap)
Thanks for your reminder. The version I tried is v0.9.018. I will try the new version when I have time.
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