Can multi-tasking be achieved on the Palm OS?

Question

I read on the PC magazine website that on the Palm OS first a program is closed and then a second one is opened once the first is closed!! is it true?

Answer 1

This is correct. Palm OS 5 does not multitask in the true, traditional sense of the word.

When you access a program from Palm, whatever program you are on is closed. To get back to that program, you have to go re-open it (this is generally true, though there are a few exceptions. You can play music on a Palm, for instance, and do other things, like type a paper. This is far from true multitasking, however).

Palm OS differs from, say, Windows Mobile in this aspect. When you "close" a program on a Pocket PC, it doesn't really go off in ther conventional sense; it is kinda put on hold in the background. Eventually, if there is no action, the system then turns it off.

The disadvantage here is that a lot of times, all those open programs eat up memory, and create the "lag" you hear about so often in WM devices.

Answer 2

Not entirely true; to keep it running an API call is made, the overall effect is like DOS TSR type of program in modern system. Or you can think of as DAs running in Mac OS 6, very convenient

If you do hold a Palm OS 5 device, one typical program is Real One Player that runs at background.

As opposed to Windows Mobile, the default action for them with X button is not to shut the program but to close the window and achieves the same effect as DOS TSR/Mac OS 6 DAs by default. But the program is actually running just think desktops without the taskbar on PDAs. So one problem for them is running out of memory and you see it; in addition to a performance problem.

Answer 3

actully its not closed its this way round that half of the applications are still running in the background so u better check that out !!!!