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The '''Access Linux Platform''' (ALP), sometime referred to as a "next-generation version of the [[Palm OS]]" is an open source-based [[operating system]] for mobile devices developed and marketed by [[Access Co.]], of [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. The platform includes execution environments for [[Java (programming language)|Java]], classic Palm OS, and [[GTK+]]-based native [[Linux]] applications. ALP has been demonstrated in devices<ref>[http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9247878814.html Reference design targets Linux mobile phones], Linuxdevices.com, [[August 7]], [[2007]].</ref> at a variety of conferences, including [[3GSM]],<ref>[http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/12/access-linux-platform-on-display-at-3gsm/ Access Linux Platform on Display at 3GSM], [[Engadget]], [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref> [[LinuxWorld]],<ref>[http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8921/access-linux-platform-at-linuxworld-sf/ Access Linux Platform at LinuxWorld SF], Palminfocenter.com, [[August 20]], [[2006]].</ref> [[GUADEC]], and Open Source in Mobile.

The '''Access Linux Platform''' ('''ALP''') is a discontinued [[open-source software]] based [[operating system]], sometimeonce referred to as a "next-generation version of the [[Palm OS]]," is an open source-based [[operating system]] for mobile devices developed and marketed by [[Access Co.]], of [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. The platform includesincluded execution environments for [[Java (programming language)|Java]], classic Palm OS, and [[GTK+]]-based native [[Linux]] applications. ALP has beenwas demonstrated in devices<ref>[{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Reference design targets Linux mobile phones|url=http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9247878814.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303084304/http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS9247878814.html|archivedate=March Reference design targets Linux mobile phones]3, 2009|access-date=|website=Linuxdevices.com,\date= [[August 7]], [[2007]].}}</ref> at a variety of conferences, including [[3GSM]],<ref>[http{{cite web|last=|first=|date=February 12, 2007|title=Access Linux Platform on Display at 3GSM|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/02/12/access-linux-platform-on-display-at-3gsm/ Access Linux Platform |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206191044/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/12/access-linux-platform-on Display -display-at-3gsm/|archivedate=December 3GSM]6, 2012|access-date=|website=[[Engadget]], [[February 12]], [[2007]].|df=mdy}}</ref> [[LinuxWorld Conference and Expo|LinuxWorld]],<ref>[{{cite web|last=|first=|date=August 20, 2006|title=Access Linux Platform at LinuxWorld SF|url=http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8921/access-linux-platform-at-linuxworld-sf/ Access Linux Platform |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209183903/http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8921/access-linux-platform-at-linuxworld-sf/|archivedate=February LinuxWorld SF]9, 2014|access-date=|website=Palminfocenter.com,|df=mdy}} [[August 20]], [[2006]].</ref> [[GUADEC]], and Open Source in Mobile.

The Access Linux Platform was first announced in February 2006.<ref>[http://www.access-company.com/news/press/Access/2006/021406.html Access and PalmSource Announce the Access Linux Platform], [[Access Co.|Access]]/[[PalmSource]] [[press release]], [[February 14]], [[2006]].</ref> The initial versions of the platform and software development kits for the Access Linux Platform were officially released in February 2007.<ref>[http://www.access-company.com/news/press/Access/2007/20070212d_alp_pdk.html Access Releases Access Linux Platform PDK and SDK to Licensees and Developers], [[Access Co.|Access]] [[press release]], [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref> As of November 2007, the Access Linux Platform has yet to ship on devices, however development kits exists and public demonstrations have been showcased. A handset based on the Access Linux Platform will reportedly be released by the European carrier [[Orange (brand)|Orange]]<ref>[http://www.ovum.com/news/euronews.asp?id=6472 Will Access become DoCoMo's Linux platform?], Ovum Research ''Telecoms and Software News''.</ref> in the first half of 2008, and there is a current effort between Access, [[NTT DoCoMo]], [[Panasonic]], [[NEC]], and Esteemo to use the platform as a basis for a "shared platform" implementing a revised version of the [[i.mode]] [[MOAP]](L) APIs, as well as conforming to the specifications of the [[LiMo Foundation]].

The ALP was first announced in February 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.access-company.com/ |title=Access and PalmSource Announce the Access Linux Platform |work=[[Access Co.|Access]]/[[PalmSource]] [[press release]] |date=February 14, 2006 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901134714/http://www.access-company.com/ |archivedate=September 1, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> The initial versions of the platform and [[software development kit]]s were officially released in February 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.access-company.com/ |title=Access Releases Access Linux Platform PDK and SDK to Licensees and Developers |work=[[Access Co.|Access]] [[press release]] |date=February 12, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901134714/http://www.access-company.com/ |archivedate=September 1, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> There was a coordinated effort by Access, Esteemo, [[NEC]], [[NTT DoCoMo]], and [[Panasonic]] to use the platform as a basis for a ''shared platform'' implementing a revised version of the i.mode Mobile Oriented Applications Platform ([[MOAP]]) (L) [[application programming interface]]s (APIs), conforming to the specifications of the [[LiMo Foundation]]. The first smartphone to use the ALP was to be the ''Edelweiss'' by Emblaze Mobile that was scheduled for mid-2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edelweiss-mobile.com/ |website=Edelweiss-mobile.com |date= |accessdate=October 20, 2009|title=Edelweiss}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kairer |first=Ryan |url=http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/7367/edelweiss-the-first-alp-powered-smartphone/ |title=Review of the Edelweiss mobile phone at Palm Infocenter |website=Palminfocenter.com |date=October 13, 2008 |accessdate=October 20, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220240/http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/7367/edelweiss-the-first-alp-powered-smartphone/ |archivedate=October 4, 2013}}</ref> However, it was shelved before release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9906/alppowered-emblaze-edelweiss-shelved-in-favor-of-monolith/ |title=ALP-powered Emblaze Edelweiss shelved in favor of Monolith? |first=Kris |last=Keilhack |date=September 19, 2009 |website=PalmInfocenter}}</ref> The First Else (renamed from Monolith<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The First Else (aka The Monolith)|url=http://www.behance.net/Gallery/The-First-Else-(aka-The-Monolith)/359239|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206211823/http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-First-Else-%28aka-The-Monolith%29/359239|archivedate=December 6, 2013|access-date=|website=}}</ref>) smartphone, that was being developed by [[Sharp Corporation]] in cooperation with Emblaze Mobile and seven other partners, was scheduled for 2009, but was never released and officially cancelled in June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Monolith Project|url=http://www.emblazemobile.com/project.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303181006/http://www.emblazemobile.com/project.html|archivedate=March 3, 2011|accessdate=October 20, 2009|website=|publisher=Emblaze Mobile}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ricker |first=Thomas |title=RIP: Emblaze kills First Else |date=June 30, 2010 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/rip-emblaze-kills-first-else/ |publisher=Engadget |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203194340/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/rip-emblaze-kills-first-else/ |archivedate=December 3, 2013}}</ref> The platform is no longer referenced on Access's website,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Access|url=http://gl.access-company.com/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701101459/http://gl.access-company.com/|archive-date=July 1, 2014|access-date=August 10, 2014|website=}}</ref> but Panasonic and NEC released a number of ALP phones for the Japanese market between 2010 and 2013.

== Look and feel ==

The [[user interface]] iswas designed with similar general goals to earlier Palm OS releases, with an aim of preserving the ''Zen of Palm'', a design philosophy thatcentered revolves aroundon making the applications as simple as theypossible.<ref>{{cite canweb|last=|first=|date=June 13, 2003|title=Zen of Palm|url=http://www.accessdevnet.com/docs/zenofpalm/ZenFront.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310232907/http://www.accessdevnet.com/docs/zenofpalm/ZenFront.html|archivedate=March 10, 2013|accessdate=October 20, be2009|website=|publisher=Accessdevnet.com}}</ref> Other aspects of the interface includeincluded a task-based orientation rather than a file/document orientation as is commonly found on desktop systems.

The appearance of the platform<ref>[http://www.mobilelinuxinfo.com/392/access-linux-platform-screenshots/ New Access Linux Platform Screenshots], Mobilelinuxinfo.com, [[August 9]], [[2007]]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104022347/http://www.mobilelinuxinfo.com/392/access-linux-platform-screenshots/ |date=January 4, 2011 }}</ref> iswas intended to be extremelyhighly customizable to provide differentiation for specific devices and contexts.

In the last releases, they went for a much more modern look with gesture support, and were no longer close to the Palm OS.

== Base frameworks ==

Similarly to [[maemoMaemo]], (Nokia's internet tablet framework), ALP iswas based on components drawn from the [[GNOME]] project, including the [[GTK+]] and [[GStreamer]] frameworks. A variety of other core components arewere drawn from mainstream open source projects, including [[BlueZ]], [[Matchbox (window manager)|matchbox]], [[cramfs]], and others. These components arewere licensed under the [[GPLGNU General Public License]] (GPL), [[LGPLGNU Lesser General Public License]] (LGPL), and other [[open source license]]s, meaning that ALP iswas a "''free"'' or "''open"'' environment on the software level.

A number ofSeveral components from ALP have been themselveswere released under the [[Mozilla Public License]] as The Hiker Project.<ref>[{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Framework aims to commercialize mobile Linux apps|url=http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6832325233.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603003603/http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS6832325233.html|archivedate=June Framework aims to commercialize mobile Linux3, apps]2009|access-date=|website=}}, Linuxdevices.com, [[December 22]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>[http://www.access-company.com/news/press/ACCESS/2007/20061221_hiker.html Access Releases Hiker Application Framework to Open Source Community], [[Access Co.|Access]] [[press release]], [[December 12]], [[2006]]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205103947/http://www.access-company.com/news/press/ACCESS/2007/20061221_hiker.html |date=February 5, 2012 }}</ref> These components addressaddressed issues of application life-cycle, intertask communication, exchange and use of structured data, security, time and event-based notifications, and other areas common to the development of applications for mobile devices.

== Application development ==

AsThe aALP fairly standard Linux/open source-based system, the Access Linux Platform presentspresented standard APIs for most common operations, (as defined by the POSIXstandards andfor LSBPortable standards).Operating SinceSystem neitherInterface ([[POSIX]]) norand [[Linux Standard Base]] (LSB). addressHowever, areasneither suchstandard asaddresses telephony, device customizationcustomizing, messaging, etc.,or thereseveral areother atopics, numberso ofseveral additionalother frameworks and APIs were defined by Access for these areasthose.

Applications for ALP cancould be developed as Linux-native code in [[C (programming language)|C]] or [[C++]], as legacy [[Palm OS]] applications (which run in the ''Garnet VM'' emulation environment), or in [[Java (programming language)|Java]]. AdditionalFurther execution environments can bewere supported via the development of a "''launchpad"'' utilizedused by the Application Manager (part of the Hiker framework).

The ALP SDK usesused an [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]]-based [[integrated development environment]] (IDE), with additionaladded plug-ins, as did its predecessor Palm OS development environment. The compilers used arewere embedded [[EABIapplication binary interface]]- (EABI) enabled [[ARM architecture|ARM]] versions of the standard [[GNU Compiler Collection|gcc]] (GCC) tool chain.

== Security ==

The Access Linux PlatformALP utilizesused a combination of a user-space policy-based security framework and a kernel-space [[LSMLinux Security Modules|Linux security module]] to implement fine-grained access controls. The components for ALP's security implementation have been released as part of the Hiker framework. Controls arewere based on signatures and certificates; unsigned applications can be allowed access to a pre-definedpredefined set of "''safe"'' APIs.

==See alsoDevices ==

Panasonic cellular phones with ALP:

* P-01E,

* P-01F,

* P-01G,

* P-01H,

* P-02B,

* {{ill|P-03C|ja|P-03C}}

* P-03D,

* P-04C,

* {{ill|P-05C|ja|P-05C}}

* P-05B,

* P-05C,

* P-06B,

* P-06C,

* P-07B

NEC cellular phones with ALP:

* N-01B,

* N-01C,

* N-01E,

* N-01F,

* N-01G,

* N-02C,

* N-02D,

* N-03D,

* N-04B,

* N-05B,

* N-05C,

* N-06B,

* N-07B,

* N-07E,

* N-08B

== See also ==

* [[Moblin project]]

* [[Palm webOS]]

* [[Ubuntu for Android]]

== References ==

{{reflistReflist|30em}}

== External links ==

* {{cite web|url=http://www.access-company.com/products/platforms/linux/alp.html |title=Archive of Official website |accessdate=2011-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102161909/http://www.access-company.com/products/platforms/linux/alp.html |archivedate=November 2, 2011 |df=mdy }}

*[http://alp.access-company.com Official Access Linux Platform site]

*[http://www.hikerproject.org The Hiker Project]

{{Table Mobile operating systems}}

{{Linux kernel}}

[[Category:Discontinued operating systems]]

[[Category:Embedded Linux]]

[[Category:Mobile Linux]]

[[Category:Palm OS]]

[[Category:Desktop environments based on GTK]]

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