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The Palm Pre (styled palm prē, pronounced as the English prefix pre, /ˈpriː/, known internally as the Castle) is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm with a multi-touch screen and a sliding keyboard. The phone was launched on June 6, 2009, and is the first to use Palm's new Linux-based[2] operating system, webOS. The Pre functions as a camera phone, a portable media player, a GPS navigator, and an Internet client (with text messaging, e-mail, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity).[3] The Pre has received positive reviews from technology critics, winning CNET's Best in Show, Best in Category: Cell Phones & Smartphones,[4] and People's Voice for CES 2009.[5]
[edit] History and availabilityPalm debuted the Pre at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, as the first mobile phone to use the Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 processor, as well as its initial US exclusive carrier agreement with Sprint, which operates a CDMA network. The Pre's incorporation of features similar to Apple's iPhone, specifically elements of the user interface, has led to speculation of possible patent infringement litigation, with Apple COO Tim Cook stating that "we will not stand for people ripping off our IP" and Palm responding that they "have the tools necessary to defend [themselves]", hinting at Palm's large portfolio of patents.[6][7] On May 19, Sprint and Palm announced the Pre would be available beginning June 6, 2009[8] in the United States. The Pre retails at Sprint stores and other locations, including select Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy stores in the United States — as well as locations in Europe. On May 28, Verizon Wireless announced that it would also carry the Palm Pre in "about six months."[9] A later comment from a Sprint spokesperson indicated that the launch carrier would have US exclusivity rights to the Pre "through 2009."[10] Sprint's CEO, Dan Hesse, commented that his company and Palm had agreed not to discuss the length of the exclusivity deal, but remarked that "it's not six months."[11] On July 7, Telefónica announced that they would exclusively carry the Palm Pre in the UK, Spain, Ireland and Germany on their O2 and Movistar networks, with availability "before the winter holidays".[12] On July 27, during the company's second quarter conference call, Verizon chief operating officer Denny Strigl announced that Verizon Wireless will begin selling the Palm Pre in early 2010.[13] News coverage of the launch noted that the sales quantity was a record for any Sprint phone launch, and estimated sales of approximately 50,000 units for the day, and up to 100,000 for the week.[14]. However, reports stated that sales of the Pre in July and beginning of August were much lower than expected[15][16][17]. On November 11, Palm announced that the Pre would be available in Mexico being the exclusive carrier Telcel. It will start being sold on November 27.[18] On August 27, Bell Canada has the Palm Pre available. Bell will be supporting the Data services on the EVDO Network [edit] HardwareThe Palm Pre's CPU is a 600 MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 (ARM Cortex A8 + PowerVR SGX) underclocked to 500 MHz. [edit] Screen and inputThe Pre features a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen over a 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA liquid-crystal display. The touchscreen allows for manipulation of the UI with fingers instead of a stylus, commonly used with older Palm phones and PDAs. Below the display is the "Gesture Area", a touch-sensitive area with LED underlighting that permits additional touch commands. Like other recent Palm phones, the Pre features a full QWERTY keyboard. On the Pre, the keyboard slides out and is curved for ergonomics. In addition to the keyboard, the device features a single button in the center of the Gesture Area, a volume rocker switch on the side, and a ringer switch on the top. The Pre features three input sensors that allow it to respond to its surroundings. An accelerometer automatically changes the orientation of the display between landscape and portrait when the device is rotated in the user's hands. An ambient light sensor allows the Pre to automatically adjust the brightness of its display. A proximity sensor allows the Pre to disregard touch inputs when the phone is held close to a user's face during a call. The Pre also has an integrated 3.2 megapixel digital camera with LED flash.[19] [edit] ConnectivityThe Pre will be available with high-speed connectivity on either EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA, depending on location. The Pre also includes 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headsets. A-GPS with support for turn-by-turn navigation is also included. For charging and data-transfer, the Pre uses a microUSB connector with USB 2.0 support, and audio output is supported by a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack.[19] While the phone reports support for the Bluetooth DUN protocol, Sprint is not permitting use of the Pre in tethered (or "Phone as Modem") mode, and has made no announcements that this mode will be offered in the future. [edit] Storage capacityThe Pre has 8.0 GB of internal flash storage (approximately 7.4 GB of which is user accessible). The Pre does not have a flash memory card slot.[19] [edit] ChargingThe Pre is one of the first smartphones to feature wireless charging, using electromagnetic induction through an optional wireless charging dock (dubbed the "Touchstone Charger") and a special back cover, which also is sold separately.[20] Users can still charge the phone using the supplied MicroUSB cable. [edit] SoftwareMain article: webOS The Pre is the first Palm device to use webOS, the Linux-based platform that replaces Palm's previous Palm OS. Developed from scratch for use in mobile phones—whereas Palm OS was originally designed for PDAs—webOS is capable of supporting built-in first party applications, as well as third party applications. [edit] InterfaceThe webOS interface is based on a system of "cards" used to manage multitasking. Applications can be launched from either the "Launcher", which displays a default of three pages of applications icons in a scrollable grid, or the Quick Launch bar, which displays five icons inline horizontally. The user switches between running applications by clicking the front-face button to bring up the "cards" and then flicking left and right on the screen. Applications are closed by flicking a "card" up—and "off"—the screen. webOS also supports multi-touch gestures, enabling most navigational input to be made using the touchscreen. Unlike other touchscreen smartphones, the Pre does not include a virtual keyboard as it includes the slide-out keyboard. [edit] SynergywebOS includes a feature called Synergy that integrates information from many sources. webOS allows a user to sign in to accounts on Gmail, Yahoo!, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Microsoft Outlook (via Exchange ActiveSync). Contacts from all sources are then integrated into a single list. Calendars from multiple sources can be viewed together or one at a time. For messaging, Synergy combines all conversations with each contact into a single chat-style window. For example, instant messages and SMS text messages are viewed together.[19] [edit] Web browserThe webOS web browser is WebKit-based and, thus, pages render similarly to other WebKit-based browsers such as Safari, the iPhone browser, Google Chrome, the Android browser, and Nokia Web Browser for S60. The browser can be viewed in either landscape or portrait orientation, switched by rotating the device. Specific features of the web browser include the ability to play .pls file types without the need for an additional application. In addition, on February 16, 2009, Adobe announced that it will be developing a version of Adobe Flash Player for webOS.[21] [edit] SyncingThe device makes use of the cloud based services model, but uses no desktop sync client (in the style of Palm's HotSync synchronization method).[22] Palm has referenced a number of solutions for users who need to sync with their desktop software like Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, or IBM Lotus Notes. Additionally, Mark/Space, Inc. has announced Macintosh desktop sync software, and Chapura such software for Windows.[23] Palm has offered an online guide to help customers. [edit] iTunes syncingPalm has announced that the Pre will be capable of "seamlessly" synchronizing with Apple's iTunes via its Media Sync feature.[24][25] After Apple's first attempt to disable this feature the Pre achieved this by switching its USB Product and Vendor IDs to those of an Apple iPod, thereby mimicking or "spoofing" the Apple device.[26][27] The update to iTunes 8.2.1 reportedly disables syncing with the Pre.[28] WebOS update 1.1.0, released by Palm on July 23, 2009, restores iTunes syncing natively, but third-party applications can still be used to sync iTunes with the device with previous versions of WebOS.[29] At the same time, Palm reported Apple to the USB Implementers Forum for what it felt was Apple's misuse of the Vendor ID to identify devices linked through the USB interface.[30] The USB Implementers Forum however responded back that Palm was the one misusing the USB vendor identifier and that Apple was correct. Apple responded again on September 9, 2009 with its release of iTunes 9 during their 'It's only Rock and Roll' event. The new version of iTunes effectively re-blocked the Pre from syncing with iTunes.[31] On September 22, 2009 the USB Implementers Forum found no wrong doing on Apple's part and instead asked Palm to explain its apparent violations of USB policy by mimicking Apple's USB Vendor ID.[32] [edit] Third-party applicationsThird parties are able to develop web apps that run within webOS. In addition, Palm has announced that they have partnered with certain trusted third-parties that have been given greater access to Pre functionality. At launch, 18 applications were available in the Palm App Catalog. As of November 29, 2009 there are 476 official Apps. One of the apps, available at launch, is "Classic", a Palm OS emulator (for $29.99) that can run a large number of the roughly 50,000 apps for the Palm OS. [edit] Homebrew AppsThere is another popular way to install 3rd party applications outside of the official App Catalog known as the Homebrew app catalog. Unlike the 'jailbroken' apps of the iPhone, this method of installing apps is not prohibited by Palm as there are no exclusions arising out of 3rd party software in their warranty ([1]). Palm has announced that they are going to open up this model to make it official come December 2009 by letting developers obtain Palm generated URLs to distribute their apps without having to go through the official App Catalog approval process, just a self-certification process ([2]). This Homebrew community has created not only applications but also patches and themes. Patches (a.k.a. 'tweaks') make modifications to existing Palm applications to add/enhance functionality (e.g., view email in landscape mode, view battery level as a percentage, increase number of app icons displayed per page, etc). Themes change the skin of WebOS background and icons to match a particular theme. The source of these Homebrew apps can come from a number of different feeds. Thankfully, the Homebrew community has standardized on a single feed and installation process so that installing applications, patches and themes can be done through multiple independently developed installers that work interchangeably (e.g., WebOS Quick Install, Preware, FileCoaster, etc). This means you can install an app/patch with one installer and uninstall or update it with another if you so choose. [edit] Information gathering by PalmAccording to Debian developer Joey Hess, Palm Pre phone is periodically sending users' information to Palm. Palm is gathering users' GPS information, along with data on every application used, and for how long it was used. This information gets uploaded to Palm on a daily basis.[33] [edit] Reception
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