Features and Benefits

One-Tap Ease of Use When you're on the go, you don't want to get bogged down in dialog boxes, nested menus, and scroll bars. The Garnet™ OS is designed to make it incredibly easy and fast to do the most common tasks. Check today's appointments with a single button press. Create a new meeting with a single tap. Send your business card to someone else with a single step.
The Most Software Many Garnet OS licensees add more software to their systems, and you can choose from tens of thousands of other programs online—ranging from databases and word processors to maps and language translators to e-books and games.
Work With Your PC Garnet OS handhelds are designed to communicate with a PC. Software programs included with many Garnet OS systems work with Microsoft® Word™, Excel™ and PowerPoint™ files. You can also exchange information with Microsoft Outlook™ and other popular PC-based information management programs1. The Garnet OS HotSync software also lets you make backup copies of your handheld information. With a press of a single button, your handheld's information is automatically backed up on the PC, so it can be restored if the handheld is ever lost or broken2.
Wired and Wireless Communication If you want to communicate with others, or pull information from the web, there are a wide array of options for the Garnet OS. Wired modems are available for many models. Add-ons support the 802.11b, and Bluetooth wireless network standards. Some Garnet OS systems include mobile phones supporting the CDMA and GSM networks. Or you can use infrared or Bluetooth to let your Garnet OS handheld communicate through a mobile phone3.
Choose the Hardware that You Need Every person is different so every person's information needs are different too. That's why PalmSource works with its licensees to offer a wide range of hardware designs and features. Garnet OS handhelds give the widest choice of any handheld system, ranging from basic handhelds costing under $79 to high-end multimedia machines, smart phones, and industrial handhelds. We don't force you to buy features and software that you don't need, but we do keep the OS consistent across all products—so you are free to choose the add-on software you want.
Security Just because your data is mobile doesn't mean should walk off if your handheld is stolen. The Garnet OS lets you assign a password to make your handheld inaccessible to others. You can also make selected records invisible to any unauthorized eyes.
Built-In Applications Every Garnet OS handheld comes with the famously easy to use Palm software suite, including calendar, address book, alarm clock, memo pad, calculator, and email. (Download the Palm Desktop.)
Share Information with Others An infrared "beaming" feature in most Garnet OS hardware makes it easy for handheld users to exchange information. Using the same technology built into most TV remote controls, you can "beam" a business card, memo, or even a software program to another handheld user. And yes, you can get software programs that let you use your handheld as a TV remote control as well.
An OS Optimized for Travel Garnet OS is designed specifically for the needs of handhelds and smart phones. Because it's more efficient, it can give you great performance with more efficient use of memory and processing power. That makes the batteries last longer (so you can go on a short business trip without a recharger), and makes the handheld smaller and lighter (so you can be comfortable carrying it with you anywhere)4.
1 Software to work with PC files is bundled with many Garnet OS handhelds, but requires a separate software purchase for some models. Check with the manufacturer.   2 All user data on the handheld is automatically backed up, unless a software developer has specifically disabled backup for his or her program.   3 Although the Garnet OS can work with a wide variety of wireless standards, obviously no single hardware system can contain all of them at once. Some handhelds have wireless features built in, some have them available as add-ons for extra cost, and some do not have wireless features. Wireless service plans generally cost extra, and wireless coverage is not available in all places. Check with the hardware manufacturer for details.   4 Battery life can vary tremendously depending on the design of the handheld and what you do with it. Check with the manufacturer.