Brian said: >If you were a PC software vendor, would your customers expect you to know >all the details of Intel's newest chip? Yes. Intel releases info on chips that are 2 years out, while they're still in R & D mode. >If you were an auto salesman, do >you think it's reasonable to think that they would know all the specifics >of a new line before it was announced? Yes. You can ask a car salesman when the new model is coming out, and whether or not it will have more horsepower, larger interior, etc. >How about a biotech company? Got me. >I guess I don't understand why people expect Palm to release internal >information to *anyone*. As long as you've decided to label it "internal information", you're right. If you label it "information that developers need to do their jobs" then you're wrong. :-) [...snipped stuff that other people have responded to...] Clearly, this type of announcement is disastrous for hardware developers who rely on device form factors. Basically, I'm of the opinion that more information is better. Palm can say "we think your software will work", but having to run to a store with every Tom, Dick and Harry to buy a device to find out is not a good use of developer time and money, IMHO. In this case, the machines are already shipping. This means that the ROMs were burned how many weeks ago? And that means that the ROMs were finished in development and testing how long before that? Palm could have easily released a new ROM image to developers saying "here's a new ROM with such-and-such changes. This ROM may appear in a product in the future." That would have given developers tons of time to ensure compatibility, with no risk to Palm that I can see. Beyond that, I see no real harm in Palm saying to developers, "we're releasing some new devices on 7 August 2000. They will have slightly different ROMs, and wildly different form factors." That would provide a heads-up without compromising the introduction. My two cents. Spend them as you'd like! Lee -- For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe, please see http://www.palmos.com/dev/tech/support/forums/
