We're still not 100 percent clear what Apple's next move is, but we do know they're a little more than nonplussed about Pre's ad hoc iTunes syncing methods. Despite Cupertino's update to its support site last night, Palm seems unconcerned, as relayed by a spokesperson to Digital Daily. In a statement, the company said disabling the sync "will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience" and that "there are other third-party applications we could consider." In other word, it'd be Apple's loss. We're not quite sure we agree there, nor would we really think "stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre" method is really the best suggestion, but hey, we're not the multimillion dollar phone manufacturer here. We anxiously await to see if and when this cold war is turned up a few notches.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Pre hackery brings some fancy VNC action
They certainly weren't kidding when people declared the Pre a very hackable OS. Nebula from the #webos-internals IRC channel has done it again. Not too long ago he mad history by porting running a native linux Nintendo emulator on the Pre, full controls and all. Well, he's back and this time he's gotten a native linux VNC application running on the Pre. (That's Virtual Network Computing, if you're unfamiliar, which basically means the Pre is can view and control your desktop.)
This is merely a proof of concept, like running the NES emulator, though this one has much less functionality (due to the lack of a mouse, etc.). Nebula has written up a handy guide if you have a rooted Pre and would like to try it yourself. If you have any questions about setup, feel free to pop on by #webos-internals on freenode IRC. One thing that should also be noted is that the VNC app (like the NES application) is ran from your SSH connection and is not in any form integrated into the WebOS interface, though that could change in the future.
Still, it's a very impressive feat and really helps to show the strength and versatility the WebOS and Pre can come to represent.
From precentral.
This is merely a proof of concept, like running the NES emulator, though this one has much less functionality (due to the lack of a mouse, etc.). Nebula has written up a handy guide if you have a rooted Pre and would like to try it yourself. If you have any questions about setup, feel free to pop on by #webos-internals on freenode IRC. One thing that should also be noted is that the VNC app (like the NES application) is ran from your SSH connection and is not in any form integrated into the WebOS interface, though that could change in the future.
Still, it's a very impressive feat and really helps to show the strength and versatility the WebOS and Pre can come to represent.
From precentral.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Palm Pre to take Europe by storm this September at around 400 euro
Palm have been pretty secretive about their European domination plans obviously aiming at getting us by surprise with the Pre embarking on our shores out of the blue one sunny day. While we like that idea, we're glad that information about the actual availability is already leaking out.
The Palm Pre WebOS is one of the most exciting mobile OS lately. If you haven't seen a demo of it, you've missed so many things. Fans of Palm's latest device are already able to get it via the CDMA-operating Sprint network carrier. However, the European availability of a GSM-enabled Palm Pre is something that has not received due attention by the Palm PR.
Yes, we know there is a GSM version of Palm Pre, since we saw it ourselves at this year's Mobile World Congress. We even know that O2 is getting it as a part of an exclusive deal for the UK. But how about a timeframe - why not something more substantial on actual availability dates and pricing?
As it seems the Romanian newspaper Ziarul Financiar is that one of the Romanian Palm importers I.R.I.S. have shared juicy details on those two things that we have been missing on.
According to Palm distributor I.R.I.S., Palm Pre should be hitting the Romanian market (as well as the rest of Europe) in the end of this September for a price that's pretty much the same as the one in the USA (around 550 US dollars or 400 euro) without a contract.
That's a bit of really nice news there and we really hope that Palm people would step up and announce the release schedule themselves.
And if you've really missed out on seeing the Palm WebOS in action, here's the full demo on video (quite long, we know, but it's worth it):
[Originally Posted at gsmarena.com]
The Palm Pre WebOS is one of the most exciting mobile OS lately. If you haven't seen a demo of it, you've missed so many things. Fans of Palm's latest device are already able to get it via the CDMA-operating Sprint network carrier. However, the European availability of a GSM-enabled Palm Pre is something that has not received due attention by the Palm PR.
Yes, we know there is a GSM version of Palm Pre, since we saw it ourselves at this year's Mobile World Congress. We even know that O2 is getting it as a part of an exclusive deal for the UK. But how about a timeframe - why not something more substantial on actual availability dates and pricing?
As it seems the Romanian newspaper Ziarul Financiar is that one of the Romanian Palm importers I.R.I.S. have shared juicy details on those two things that we have been missing on.
According to Palm distributor I.R.I.S., Palm Pre should be hitting the Romanian market (as well as the rest of Europe) in the end of this September for a price that's pretty much the same as the one in the USA (around 550 US dollars or 400 euro) without a contract.
That's a bit of really nice news there and we really hope that Palm people would step up and announce the release schedule themselves.
And if you've really missed out on seeing the Palm WebOS in action, here's the full demo on video (quite long, we know, but it's worth it):
[Originally Posted at gsmarena.com]
Sunday, June 14, 2009
No Skype For Palm Pre Yet
Palm's Pre smartphone has received generally positive reviews since its June 6 launch, but one complaint is that its application store lags behind the competition. It's unclear how quickly developers will embrace the webOS platform, and the VoIP-calling company Skype said it will be taking a wait-and-see approach.
Skype has been trying to expand its presence beyond the desktop for years and has developed applications for Windows Mobile-, Android-, and Java-powered phones. The recently released version for the iPhone and iPod Touch rocketed up the most-downloaded list of the App Store as well.
"If someone has a cell phone, we want them to be able to use Skype on it," a Skype spokesperson told GigaOM. "As things are evolving quickly in this space, we will continue to keep our eye on Palm's Pre and webOS platform, which seems to be getting good traction in its first weekend. But we have nothing to announce at this time."
Palm's App Catalog is hoping to replicate the success Apple has had with its App Store, which has seen more than a billion downloads in less than a year. Palm may be facing a chicken-and-egg situation, though, as developers will flock to platforms with large audiences, but audiences like platforms with lots of applications.
To alleviate some of these problems, Palm has made it easy for content creators to make software for webOS using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other standard Web technologies. Palm said this means Web developers can quickly make programs for the Pre, even if they don't have experience in the mobile app space.
[Originally Posted at informationweek.com]
Skype has been trying to expand its presence beyond the desktop for years and has developed applications for Windows Mobile-, Android-, and Java-powered phones. The recently released version for the iPhone and iPod Touch rocketed up the most-downloaded list of the App Store as well.
"If someone has a cell phone, we want them to be able to use Skype on it," a Skype spokesperson told GigaOM. "As things are evolving quickly in this space, we will continue to keep our eye on Palm's Pre and webOS platform, which seems to be getting good traction in its first weekend. But we have nothing to announce at this time."
Palm's App Catalog is hoping to replicate the success Apple has had with its App Store, which has seen more than a billion downloads in less than a year. Palm may be facing a chicken-and-egg situation, though, as developers will flock to platforms with large audiences, but audiences like platforms with lots of applications.
To alleviate some of these problems, Palm has made it easy for content creators to make software for webOS using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other standard Web technologies. Palm said this means Web developers can quickly make programs for the Pre, even if they don't have experience in the mobile app space.
[Originally Posted at informationweek.com]
ARM A9 Dual Core Arm Chipset Coming to Palm Soon
ARM the makers of smart phone chips said they will deliver the new chipset which contains more than one core, will be delivered in the next generation devices very soon. We are speculating that this could be in the next version of Palm's webOS handset and may soon also contain the same design for iPhone. Who will see the chipset in the first handset remains to be seen. But from Palm's aggressive strategy with Palm Pre and working with app developers which I met Friday night in San Francisco, Palm is certainly moving in the right direction, as their stock price had indicated.
"The A8 is just a single core while the A9 will be dual-core, all the way up to quad-core to give smartphones an even bigger performance boost," Bruce said.
He said the move to dual-core phones should happen relatively quickly. "It's very aggressive. It's only going to be in a year's time that you're going to get these phones," he said.
"You'll definitely see handsets shipping with a dual-core A9 in 2010," James Bruce, wireless segment manager for ARM, said in a phone interview earlier this week, referring to the next-generation Cortex-A9 processor from ARM.
"You're getting a 2X increase (over the previous ARM design). "And actually the A9 takes that even further, It's a superscalar design but it's also an out-of-order design as well. There is some out-of-order aspects with the A8 but the A9 is a very aggressive out-of-order processor," he said. The ability to process instructions using an advanced out-of-order architecture typically results in better performance.
And graphics will follow suit. The upcoming multi-core OMAP 4 processor from Texas Instruments (the OMAP 3 is used in the Palm Pre) is based on the ARM Cortex-9 and will boast graphics that support 1080p video and high-definition record and playback, larger screen resolutions, and "digital SLR-like performance with 20 MP (megapixel) imaging," according to TI documentation.
[Originally Posted at prethinking.com]
"The A8 is just a single core while the A9 will be dual-core, all the way up to quad-core to give smartphones an even bigger performance boost," Bruce said.
He said the move to dual-core phones should happen relatively quickly. "It's very aggressive. It's only going to be in a year's time that you're going to get these phones," he said.
"You'll definitely see handsets shipping with a dual-core A9 in 2010," James Bruce, wireless segment manager for ARM, said in a phone interview earlier this week, referring to the next-generation Cortex-A9 processor from ARM.
"You're getting a 2X increase (over the previous ARM design). "And actually the A9 takes that even further, It's a superscalar design but it's also an out-of-order design as well. There is some out-of-order aspects with the A8 but the A9 is a very aggressive out-of-order processor," he said. The ability to process instructions using an advanced out-of-order architecture typically results in better performance.
And graphics will follow suit. The upcoming multi-core OMAP 4 processor from Texas Instruments (the OMAP 3 is used in the Palm Pre) is based on the ARM Cortex-9 and will boast graphics that support 1080p video and high-definition record and playback, larger screen resolutions, and "digital SLR-like performance with 20 MP (megapixel) imaging," according to TI documentation.
[Originally Posted at prethinking.com]
Indications of Pre coming to Telstra and Optus in Australia
Crikey mate, that ROM is chock full of interesting stuff! Edoan on our forums uncovered something quite interesting for our Australian friends: evidence that the Pre will be landing not just on Telstra as we reported last month, but that it may very well also be coming to Optus (via Singapore-based parent Singtel):
wap.cingular?ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
10.1.1.180http://mmsc.telstra.com:8002
http://mms.singtel.com:10021/mmsc#
wap.voicestream.comyhs_nullhs_null
10.128.1.69http://mms.gprs.rogers.com
At this rate, it looks like everybody’s going to be getting the Pre at some point, which can only be a good thing for you and me (more users equal more apps) and for Palm. It is worth noting that the iPhone is also available on Telstra and Optus (and Vodafone and Virgin Mobile) in Australia.
[Originally Posted at precentral.net]
wap.cingular?ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
10.1.1.180http://mmsc.telstra.com:8002
http://mms.singtel.com:10021/mmsc#
wap.voicestream.comyhs_nullhs_null
10.128.1.69http://mms.gprs.rogers.com
At this rate, it looks like everybody’s going to be getting the Pre at some point, which can only be a good thing for you and me (more users equal more apps) and for Palm. It is worth noting that the iPhone is also available on Telstra and Optus (and Vodafone and Virgin Mobile) in Australia.
[Originally Posted at precentral.net]
How to: Rearrange and Delete Apps in your Launcher, Plus Shortcuts
The Palm Pre’s launcher is good, and it’s also okay. The best description is a melding of the iPhone and Palm launchers, giving you a scrolling application list like Palm, but with no categories or auto-arranging - just like the iPhone. Granted, with Universal Search you probably won’t be visiting the launcher often, but for those of us engrained in the ways of Palm OS and the iPhone, it’s going to be a hard habit to break. So that leaves us with how to manage your launcher.
First up we’re going to cover rearranging the icons in your launcher. If like me you’re obsessive about the organization of your digital information, or like others simply want this app and that app at the top of the list, you’ll want to switch up the order of your launcher icons. To move an app, all you have to do is tap and hold on it until glowing rings appear around it, and then drag it to where you want and release. Thankfully due to the scrolling nature of the launcher it won’t be nearly as frustrating as the iPhone (where apps seem to randomly switch pages when you try and move something). If you want to move the app to a different one of the three pages (Three? Come on Palm!), all you’ve got do is move it to the edge of the screen and wait a second for the page to slide over. You can quickly gauge which page you’re on by the little white bars at the bottom of the launcher - they indicate how many pages are to your right and to the left.
One of my favorite applications from the Palm OS days was SharkLinks; it let me add websites to my launcher as if they were applications. You can do the same in your browser, just open the menu, click on Page, and then select Add To Launcher. Just like in Bookmarks you can rename the site, change the URL, and reposition/resize the icon snapshot. Once you click the Add To Launcher button it will throw a link onto your launcher at the bottom of the first page (and then you can rearrange it to wherever you like).
You can do the same in Contacts. Just open the contact you want to add to the launcher, open the menu, and then click Add To Launcher. They’ll appear just like an application, and clicking on the icon will open that contact. Using Universal search any links or contacts you’ve added to the launcher will appear as applications (at the top of the list) and as the original contact (or not at all, in the case of web bookmarks). To remove a contact shortcut from your launcher, just open the contact and in the menu select Remove From Launcher (which will have replaced Add To Launcher).
But what about removing a web page? Since they aren’t technically applications, nor are they bookmarks, you can’t delete a web page link through the List Apps option in the Launcher menu, nor can you get rid of it through the Bookmarks menu in Web. To delete a launcher web link, or any third party application for that matter, all you have to do is hold down the Orange/Option key and tap on the icon. This will bring up a dialog with the app name and version, plus the option to Delete or just hit Done and get out of there. Tapping Delete will give you a Delete or Cancel confirmation and then you’re done. Easy as pie, and if there’s anything that we at PreCentral like, it’s pie. And webOS.
[Originally Posted at precentral.net]
First up we’re going to cover rearranging the icons in your launcher. If like me you’re obsessive about the organization of your digital information, or like others simply want this app and that app at the top of the list, you’ll want to switch up the order of your launcher icons. To move an app, all you have to do is tap and hold on it until glowing rings appear around it, and then drag it to where you want and release. Thankfully due to the scrolling nature of the launcher it won’t be nearly as frustrating as the iPhone (where apps seem to randomly switch pages when you try and move something). If you want to move the app to a different one of the three pages (Three? Come on Palm!), all you’ve got do is move it to the edge of the screen and wait a second for the page to slide over. You can quickly gauge which page you’re on by the little white bars at the bottom of the launcher - they indicate how many pages are to your right and to the left.
One of my favorite applications from the Palm OS days was SharkLinks; it let me add websites to my launcher as if they were applications. You can do the same in your browser, just open the menu, click on Page, and then select Add To Launcher. Just like in Bookmarks you can rename the site, change the URL, and reposition/resize the icon snapshot. Once you click the Add To Launcher button it will throw a link onto your launcher at the bottom of the first page (and then you can rearrange it to wherever you like).
You can do the same in Contacts. Just open the contact you want to add to the launcher, open the menu, and then click Add To Launcher. They’ll appear just like an application, and clicking on the icon will open that contact. Using Universal search any links or contacts you’ve added to the launcher will appear as applications (at the top of the list) and as the original contact (or not at all, in the case of web bookmarks). To remove a contact shortcut from your launcher, just open the contact and in the menu select Remove From Launcher (which will have replaced Add To Launcher).
But what about removing a web page? Since they aren’t technically applications, nor are they bookmarks, you can’t delete a web page link through the List Apps option in the Launcher menu, nor can you get rid of it through the Bookmarks menu in Web. To delete a launcher web link, or any third party application for that matter, all you have to do is hold down the Orange/Option key and tap on the icon. This will bring up a dialog with the app name and version, plus the option to Delete or just hit Done and get out of there. Tapping Delete will give you a Delete or Cancel confirmation and then you’re done. Easy as pie, and if there’s anything that we at PreCentral like, it’s pie. And webOS.
[Originally Posted at precentral.net]
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