One of Silicon Valley's best loved engineers, Steve Sakoman, has left PalmSource.

Sakoman was the de facto engineering chief for Palm's software division PalmSource, and led a team of forty-odd engineers from Be Inc who are writing a new OS for the PDA pioneer. Sakoman was formerly at Apple and served as CTO during Be's roller coast ride through the 1990s.

Remarkably for a takeover, almost all the former Be staff have remained at PalmSource, and personal loyalty to Sakoman was cited as a key factor. And that's been enough to revive interest in the platform, which had neglected its technical obligations for some time.

PalmSource has cut twenty per cent of staff across the board, according to the San Jose Mercury.

PalmSource could not be reached for comment at press time. (But we hope to find someone soon, as there's a PalmSource yacht bobbing a few away from your reporter in this chilly Cannes harbor). ®

Related Stories

Nagel, Sakoman map Palm's future
PalmOS 6 details emerge
Be Inc. completes takeover of Palm
A Silicon Valley funeral for Be Inc