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'Palm Pre' Smartphone Announced: WebOS, Wireless Charging, App Store

Don't get me wrong I have an iPhone but Sprint's plan rates blow away ATT and Verizon. $100 on Sprint for unlimited minutes, messaging, and web, while the same costs you $150 a month on ATT. That's $1,200 difference over the 2 year contract.
Even still with just the basic 450minutes (with data and messaging) it's $70 vs $90, or $480 difference over 2 years.

I know where I am going to take my business once Unicel stops covering me and my iPhone.

The biggest thing the iPhone has over the Pre, for me, is the fun factor. There are some amazing games available for the iPhone and the integration with iTunes makes it really awesome. But hopefully that will come soon enough with the Pre, it's not like their is any other phone that can play games like the iPhone can so I am kind of out of luck being Unicel is the only GSM carrier here anyways.
 
reallynotnick said:
Don't get me wrong I have an iPhone but Sprint's plan rates blow away ATT and Verizon. $100 on Sprint for unlimited minutes, messaging, and web, while the same costs you $150 a month on ATT. That's $1,200 difference over the 2 year contract.
Even still with just the basic 450minutes (with data and messaging) it's $70 vs $90, or $480 difference over 2 years.

I know where I am going to take my business once Unicel stops covering me and my iPhone.

The biggest thing the iPhone has over the Pre, for me, is the fun factor. There are some amazing games available for the iPhone and the integration with iTunes makes it really awesome. But hopefully that will come soon enough with the Pre, it's not like their is any other phone that can play games like the iPhone can so I am kind of out of luck being Unicel is the only GSM carrier here anyways.
Click to expand...

this is the first highly interested device in years from sprint. you have no idea if there is going to be an extra charge just to use this product. this is not coming out for another six months. let's just see how everything plays out.
 
jhande said:
Just the other day I was looking at my old Palm Pilot, Palm Vx, Treo 650.

Let's just stipulate that what follows is a personal preference, hmmm ok :rolleyes:

I'm really impressed with the Pre. While I have the 3G (paid for, unlocked), I must admit if the Pre lives up to the demos and specs, then the iPhones future in my pocket is threatened. Apart from the obvious tech specs, here are a couple of points I've been mulling over:

Does anyone remember how quickly PalmGear grew? It was actually the first real app store online. Yeah Palm fubared it well and good with their shenanigans, but I've bought a lot of apps there, and it basically worked really well. If done right, and more liberally than Apple does, it might just work better.

With DRM disappearing from iTunes, I have no problem wrt my music library (only about 10% is DRMed in any case). I can't remember the name of the god-awful music player the 650 had, but they won't repeat that disaster. So media looks good. Screen size doesn't bother me. I've read hundreds of books on the Vx and 650. If I could watch movies on the classic, I can watch it on the Pre.

As far as the whole webapps contra compiled apps business is concerned, unless you are a developer who actually understands how hooks into the systems libraries work, please, please do not comment on this aspect. If done right, this is actually a really big deal, and pretty cool.

Just one final point: Mr. Jobs, I'd really, really appreciate the ability to copy a snippet of text from, oh say, my address book and paste it into an email. Non-hacked landscape typing would be nifty too, but hey, no pressure.:p

Way to go, Palm

Just my .02
Click to expand...

+1

My first Palm was a 505, then a 515, TT, Zire72 and TX. I now have a touch 2G.

I've been using Palms for a long time and I really like their concept of what a PDA should be. But the OS is (was) pretty old and I decided to migrate to a touch. And I didn't regret it. I waited for the App Store, hopping that the apps that I need for my daily use would be ported to the iPhone/touch. I don't use a telephone that much so I don't need a phone but a PDA (or sort of). After seeing some of my favorite apps ported (SplashID, HandBase, etc) I made the jump. And a right one. Back to the topic (my humble and honest opinion):

I think the touch is a great device, Safari works like a charm as does mail and many others. Having a great iPod, Video player and Network access in one device is a great thing. The UI is also great. However I do find that the basic functions of a PDA (ToDos, Calendar, Contacts, Notes...) are better implemented in my Palm 515 from 1999 (I think) than on my touch from 2008. I really do. I guess that's because of the difference in philosophy between the two companies. I also liked the stylus input, mainly for drawing and sketching, although I prefer the touch input. I don't know how many of you have used Palms in your life, but I've used them extensively, and became highly dependent of them as I use(d) them for just about everything (for 10 years). I have repeating ToDos that I inputed once in 1999 and still use them today, as I transfered them from Palm to Palm (taxes return reminder and monthly duties that still apply today, for example). That's 10 years without having to bother with those and with a single input. And the list goes on and on. That's why I became so dependent of them, they make my life much, much more organized and simple. All of this is done "Out Of The Box" with a Palm, not the same with my touch. I can't send a file via wifi "OOTB", I don't have BT, I can't edit Excel files, I don't have repeating ToDos, etc. I'm not being negative about the touch (I was aware of that when I bought it and I really like it), I'm just stating that I think there is a lack of functionality in the touch as a PDA (maybe that's not it's main purpose), due to two different philosophies about similar devices. But the one thing that I find absolutely bizarre is the lack of Copy/Paste. My Palm from 1999 had it! Yesterday I was entering my 8 email accounts data in SplashID (with similar POP and SMTP) and I had to write them 16 times!!! With all due respect, you can all say what you want about the importance, or lack of, that it does to you. To me it's absolutely BIZARRE!
So, resuming, and apologizing for the long post, I really hope that Palm will come back with their original philosophy, in a form of a new device and OS. Or Apple upgrades the iPhone/touch. Whatever. The more good devices in the market the better. I'm a Mac user since 1997 but I'm certainly not a fan (no pun intended). In fact, I'm not a fan of any brand, as I find that statement irrational and surreal. If I'm a fan of anything, that would be my family, as no matter what they do I stick with them :)

Once again, sorry for the long post and possibly my english. I'm Portuguese.

Trico
 
theGoodLife said:
...I enjoy syncing with iTunes, MobileMe pushing all of my contacts, calendars, ect. over to my iPhone, and I enjoy the fast, responsive native applications. The iPhone is a lot more then a pretty UI to me...
Click to expand...

Seems that with the Palm Pre you'd avoid being a virtual prisoner of iTunes, and MobileMe type applications may be unnecessary (doesn't that require an ongoing paid subscription?).
Why? The Palm is treated just like any other storage device, and it will have an app store:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/156861/handson_a_closer_look_at_the_palm_pre_and_webos.html

It's sales may suffer, however, if it goes to Sprint.
 
geister said:
Seems that with the Palm Pre you'd avoid being a virtual prisoner of iTunes, and MobileMe type applications may be unnecessary (doesn't that require an ongoing paid subscription?).
Why? The Palm is treated just like any other storage device, and it will have an app store:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/156861/handson_a_closer_look_at_the_palm_pre_and_webos.html
Click to expand...

How does using good software that is easy to use make you a prisoner?

There are many ways to do the same thing with technology, lots of people like that apple ties it together in an easy to use way.
 
geister said:
Seems that with the Palm Pre you'd avoid being a virtual prisoner of iTunes, and MobileMe type applications may be unnecessary (doesn't that require an ongoing paid subscription?).
Why? The Palm is treated just like any other storage device, and it will have an app store:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/156861/handson_a_closer_look_at_the_palm_pre_and_webos.html
Click to expand...

Virtual prisoner of iTunes, and MobileMe? If you don't like doesn't mean all must feel that way. I also like iTunes, don't use MobileMe though, i don't need it, but it's fine service. I have Mac for two years and iPod Touch 2G for month, but even before switching i was hearing that bs that iTunes is evil, that you're Apple's slave and so on. I switched, use iTunes since that day, for almost two months i sync my iPod and i'm happy and how Apple is evil empire or iTunes is evil if you have a choice use it or do not use it, buy iPhone/iPod or don not buy it, buy from iTunes or buy a CD -> RIP it -> enjoy. There is a choice. You feel you're are being controlled? Don't use it.
 
jhande said:
Does anyone remember how quickly PalmGear grew? It was actually the first real app store online. Yeah Palm fubared it well and good with their shenanigans, but I've bought a lot of apps there, and it basically worked really well. If done right, and more liberally than Apple does, it might just work better.
Click to expand...
Yea, I remember PalmGear. When I used my Treos freewarepalm was better. PalmGear reminds me of the app store, it's not the size of the store but what's in the store. There was a lot of crap in PalmGear, a lot of buggy crap too. It's funny I remember this but out of all the apps I wasted money on in PalmGear only 2 or 3 stayed on my phone. The freeware apps were just much better and I eventually stopped going to PalmGear.
 
Lara F said:
...multitasking.
...
I understand the iPhone probably simply can't handle it at this point,
Click to expand...

False. The iPhone can easily handle multitasking (check the jailbreaker's forums). But most users can't manage it properly (making sure the apps don't run out of memory, etc.). So Apple doesn't allow it. Except for their own apps.

.
 
paja said:
No MMS and No Copy and Paste is killing the iPhone for many.

Is anyone at Apple listening to what the users want.
Click to expand...

All ten thousand of you? No way. They're too busy selling to millions and millions of other paying customers, for more than 100X greater sales revenue.

.
 
bloodycape said:
Yeah my HP only had like 64mb of ram with like only 50mb free after the os install and such after a soft reset?
Click to expand...

First, what where you trying to get across in that post?

Second, installing the OS doesnt take up ram, are you sure you're talking about ram and not Hard Drive space?
 
Ya it looks pretty good and why? Because they had a bunch of former Apple employees working on it haha :)

Anyway, the keyboards on these phones really do add thickness and I am sure Apple won't be doing that, but I am glad that this has some features that will push Apple to give us more to remain the best.

No matter what features phones have though, the iPhone is simply the best user experience and interaction hands down!

I LOVE my iPhone :D Can't wait to see what iPhone OS 3.0 has in store!
 
geister said:
It's sales may suffer, however, if it goes to Sprint.
Click to expand...

Right, because NO ONE wants cheaper cell plans that actually offer insurance for expensive smart-phones. Or a fast network....

leishan said:
I'm curious to see if they charge extra for people to use this device...
Click to expand...

They won't. They DO need the subscribers and charging more for a phone like this would be a very Apple AT&T thing to do. Sprint has the edge in their data/text/tethering plans because they are half of what AT&T and VZW charge, not to mention that $7 a month gives you insurance and free phone replacement.

The Pre, being touted as the possible true competitor for the iPhone, would fly for those not tied to Apple in any way, or those wanting more options and cheaper plans that offer the same thing and in many cases more.

firewood said:
And vaporware always seems better than any similar category product actually available in stores. If not, the marketing people involved should be fired!

.
Click to expand...

I find it frustrating that no one said the same thing when the iPhone was 6 months out.....

Oh yeah! It's Apple, they do no wrong, and even when they do, just ignore it. When someone brings it up, they are trolls and should get flamed right? :rolleyes:

I bet if Apple releases the iPhone OS 3.0 with some of the features that were debuted on the Pre NO ONE would mention that Apple stole from Palm. Just like no one remembers how they stole from Sony's hardware design so long ago.
 
Digital Skunk said:
Oh yeah! It's Apple, they do no wrong, and even when they do, just ignore it. When someone brings it up, they are trolls and should get flamed right? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Funny, (disregard the sign up date, I was a big lurker for a while), I seem to remember a fair amount of "well it sure looks nice, but lets see how it functions in the real world" mixed in with ZOMG!!?!'s
 
NT1440 said:
Funny, (disregard the sign up date, I was a big lurker for a while), I seem to remember a fair amount of "well it sure looks nice, but lets see how it functions in the real world" mixed in with ZOMG!!?!'s
Click to expand...

No problem. You've proved your mettle in many a thread. :)

I do too. The big one being the touch keyboard. Which wasn't an Apple pioneered thing even in the Newton AFAIK.

No one thought it would catch on, but look how many people love it and have now sworn off real keyboards... next, Apple removes the keyboard and puts in a giant wheel. :D
 
Digital Skunk said:
No problem. You've proved your mettle in many a thread. :)

I do too. The big one being the touch keyboard. Which wasn't an Apple pioneered thing even in the Newton AFAIK.

No one thought it would catch on, but look how many people love it and have now sworn off real keyboards... next, Apple removes the keyboard and puts in a giant wheel. :D
Click to expand...

That's where Apple should be going. A wheel is a big productivity booster, especially on a laptop. All you do is guide to the letter you want, click once to capitalise, click again to select, then repeat. Several hundred clicks later and you've got a sentence. What could be simpler?

:D...
 
Digital Skunk said:
No problem. You've proved your mettle in many a thread. :)

No one thought it would catch on, but look how many people love it and have now sworn off real keyboards... next, Apple removes the keyboard and puts in a giant wheel. :D
Click to expand...

Well thank you for that skunk.:)

I for one already have my Wheel pre-ordered:p
 
ZiggyPastorius said:
That's where Apple should be going. A wheel is a big productivity booster, especially on a laptop. All you do is guide to the letter you want, click once to capitalise, click again to select, then repeat. Several hundred clicks later and you've got a sentence. What could be simpler?

:D...
Click to expand...

HEHEHEHEHE!

The only thing simpler is the automatic sentence completion! :D
 
ZiggyPastorius said:
I know it's easy on these forums to assume everyone is an Apple fanboy who believes Apple invented everything, but I'm not one of them, so I'd prefer it you'd take your Apple Hate-boy attitude and do something with it besides make snide remarks to me. Hell, in this own thread I've stated that I like this phone and that I'll be considering it since I'm on Sprint when my plan runs out, so that alone kills your theory that I'm a blind Apple-devotee.
Click to expand...

Can you quote where did I say all this about you specifically?
 
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