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Palm Pre

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Palm Pre
ManufacturerPalm, Inc.
Compatible networksCDMA
Availability by regionJune 6, 2009 (Sprint Nextel)
Late 2009 (Bell Mobility)
Late 2009 (O2)
Form factorSlider
DimensionsClosed: 100.53 mm (3.958 in) (h)
59.57 mm (2.345 in) (w)
16.95 mm (0.667 in) (d)
Weight135 g (4.8 oz)
Operating systemPalm webOS
CPU600 Mhz Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 (ARM Cortex A8 + PowerVR SGX)
Memory256 MB RAM
Storage8 GB
Battery1150 mAh Lithium-ion
Display3.1 in (79 mm) HVGA (320×480) 24-bit color capacitive touchscreen
Rear camera3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash, "extended depth of field", and geotagging
ConnectivityEV-DO Rev. A
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with A2DP
MicroUSB
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, 802.1X authentication
A-GPS

The Palm Pre (styled palm prē, pronounced as the English prefix pre, /priː/, known internally as the Castle) is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm, Inc. 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[1] operating system, webOS. The Pre functions as a camera phone, a portable media player, a GPS navigator, and an Internet client (with text messaging, email, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity).[2]

The Pre has received very positive reviews from technology critics, winning CNET's Best in Show, Best in Category: Cell Phones & Smartphones,[3] and People's Voice for 2009.[4]

History and availability

Palm 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 exclusive carrier agreement with Sprint, which operates a CDMA network in the United States (a 3G UMTS/GSM version of the Pre is in the works for other markets).[5]

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 will retail at Sprint Stores and select Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy stores in the United States.

On May 25, The Guardian reported to have sources inside O2 who claimed that the carrier would have exclusivity of the Palm Pre handset in the UK.[9]

On May 28, Verizon Wireless announced that it would also carry the Palm Pre in "about six months."[10] A later comment from a Sprint spokesperson indicated that the launch carrier would have exclusivity rights to the Pre "through 2009."[11] 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."[12]

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"[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]

Hardware

Screen and input

The 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 so-called "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 to follow the contour of the human face. 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 megapixel digital camera with LED flash.[15]

Connectivity

The 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.[15] 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.

Internal Storage Capacity

The 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.[15]

Charging

The Pre is one of the first smartphones to feature wireless charging, using electromagnetic induction through an optional wireless charging dock (dubbed the "Touchstone") and a special back cover, which also is sold separately.[16] Users can still charge the phone using the supplied MicroUSB cable.

Software

Main 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.

Interface

The webOS interface is based on a system of "cards" used to manage multitasking. Applications can be launched from either the "Launcher", which displays up to 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.

Synergy

webOS includes a feature called Synergy that integrates information from many sources. webOS allows a user to sign in to accounts on Gmail, Facebook, 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.[15]

Web Browser

The webOS web browser is WebKit-based and, thus, pages appear the same as they do in other WebKit-based browsers like Safari, the iPhone browser, Google Chrome, and Nokia Web Browser for S60. The browser can be viewed in either landscape or portrait orientation, switched by rotating the device. In addition, on February 16, 2009, Adobe announced that it will be developing a version of Adobe Flash Player for webOS.[17]

Syncing

The device makes use of the cloud based services model, but uses no desktop sync client (in the style of Palm's HotSync synchronization method).[18]

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 Software has announced Macintosh desktop sync software, and Chapura such software for Windows.[19] Palm has offered an online guide to help customers.

iTunes syncing

Palm has announced that the Pre will be capable of "seamlessly" synchronizing with Apple's iTunes via its Media Sync feature.[20][21] The Pre is believed to achieve this by switching its USB Product and Vendor IDs to those of an Apple iPod, thereby mimicking or "spoofing" the Apple device.[22][23] The update to iTunes 8.2.1 reportedly disables syncing with the Pre.[24] 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. [25]

Third-party applications

Third parties are able to develop web apps that run natively 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. One of the apps, available at launch, is "Classic", a Palm OS emulator that can run a large number of the roughly 50,000 apps for the Palm OS.

See also

References

  1. ^ Carrol, Tim (2009-01-19). "TealPoint & Normsoft on webOS: It's Great, But We Want C". Palm Info centre. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  2. ^ Keilhack, Kris (2009-01-08). "Palm Announces the Palm Pre Smartphone". Palminfocenter.com. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  3. ^ CES 2009 - Consumer Electronics Show - Best of CES Awards: Nominees - CNET.com
  4. ^ Palm Pre Wins CNET Best of CES Awards Posted By: Kris Keilhack Saturday, January 10, 2009
  5. ^ There will be a GSM-friendly 3G Palm Pre - by Chris Ziegler, posted January 8, 2009
  6. ^ Hachman, Mark (January 21, 2009). "Will Apple Sue Palm Over the Pre?". Opinion/News/Comentary. PC Mag (magazine). p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  7. ^ Apple vs. Palm: the in-depth analysis - by Nilay Patel, posted January 28, 2009
  8. ^ 2 weeks ago (2009-06-05). "Palm Pre's coming out party: June 6th". Wealth Alchemist. Retrieved 2009-07-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "O2 follows iPhone success with deal for next must-have gadget | Business | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  10. ^ Verizon to sell Palm Pre, new Blackberry Storm - By Sinead Carew and Franklin Paul of Reuters, posted May 28th 2009
  11. ^ Cheng, Roger (May 28, 2009). "Sprint Has Palm Pre Exclusive Through 2009". Opinion/News/Comentary. Smartmoney. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
  12. ^ Reardon, Marguerite (June 5, 2009). "Sprint CEO says Pre deal is longer than six months". Cnet. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  13. ^ Palm Pre launches with Telephonica O2 in Europe - TechCrunch
  14. ^ Palm Pre Sells Briskly at launch |Posted By: Roger Cheng |June 9, 2009 |Accessed on July 14, 2009
  15. ^ a b c d "Palm Unveils All-new webOS" (Press release). Palm, Inc. 2009-01-08. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  16. ^ Palm Pre - Touchstone Charging Kit - Palm.com Shop
  17. ^ Tricia Duryee (2009-02-16). "mocoNews.net - @ MWC: Adobe Creates Fund With Nokia For Open Project; Palm Pre Will Support Flash". Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  18. ^ Stokes, Jon (2009-01-11). ""Synergy" means no need to "save" or "sync" on Palm's pre". arstechnica.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  19. ^ "Several Companies Bringing Desktop Synchronization to Palm Pre". Brighthand.com. 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  20. ^ "Palm, Inc. - Palm Unveils More webOS Details: Palm Media Sync, Twitter Integration, App Catalog". Investor.palm.com. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  21. ^ Fried, Ina (2009-05-28). "Palm shows Pre at D". cnet.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  22. ^ "Blog Archive » Syncing music and video to the Palm Pre". nanocr.eu. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  23. ^ "Palm Asking For Trouble With Pre iTunes Sync?". The iPhone FAQ. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  24. ^ "Apple Blocks Palm Pre iTunes Syncing". Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  25. ^ "Palm Support Page for WebOS Updates". Palm, Inc.
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