• pre

    How Many Times Have You Used Your Slider?

    July 21, 2009 /

    I was talking to a fellow Palm gearhead the other day and we were talking about how well the slider on my Palm Pre was holding up. The answer was “very well.” The next question, as you can probably guess, was: “How often to you use it?”

    I didn’t know. So I started searching the Internet for an answer to this question. I didn’t have to wait long as PreCentral.net forum member furreverdad posted a way to find the answer.

    Open the Device Info application on your Pre and tap the More Info button at the bottom of the page. Once you do, tap the Preferences pull down menu, and select Interactive Tests. Run the Hardware buttons test. Skip the keyboard test. The next test, Keyboard Slider, will show you how many times the slider has been cycled, or opened and closed. At this point, you can press the center button and dismiss the Device Info application.

    So, how many times have you used your Pre’s keyboard slider?

    UPDATE: the Hall sensor refers to the number of times the slider was fully extended and closed. The Optical sensor refers to the times the slider was not opened fully.

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  • pre,  rumors,  web os

    Rumor: Palm Preparing webOS 1.1 Update

    July 13, 2009 /

    PreCentral.net is reporting that Palm is working on the next update to the Pre’s operating system which will bring webOS to version 1.1. The updates to webOS that Palm has released today have been bug fixes and security updates targetted at fixing specific issues leading up and immediately following the commercial release of the Pre in the United States on June 6th.

    UK website Palm webOS Blog is also reporting that they have looked at a Pre running web OS 1.1, further confirming that Palm is currently working on this update.

    What is not entirely know, aside from the information about Microsoft Exchange specific information in the slide that was obtained by PreCentral is what, if any, other software updates will be included in the webOS 1.1 update.

    We’ll have to wait until this update gets official to see what other goodies Palm might add to the update.

    [Via PreCentral.net…]

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  • pre,  seidio

    Seidio Pre Screen Guards

    July 13, 2009 /

    At some point this week, smartphone accessory maker, Seidio will begin selling a 2-pack version of their Ultimate Screen Guard for the Palm Pre.

    Our Ultimate Screen Guard is usually a one time purchase for many of our customers. Because of its quality, most people find themselves replacing their device before their screen protector.

    • Designed precisely for your device for a perfect fit
    • Made from high quality materials that won’t scratch or tear easily
    • Protects the screen without hindering touchscreen capability
    • Very clear and barely noticeable once applied to your phone
    • Simple peel and stick installation – no messy liquids or glue required
    • Two pack for backups, or share with a friend!

    I’ll be ordering the screen guards for my Pre later this week. If you want to order a set for yourself, check out the Seidio website for more details. In the past, I have used Seidio’s OEM-sized extended batteries and screen protectors with my Treo 700p and 755p and I have been very happy with their performance over the years. I’m expecting the same high quality products for my Pre.

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  • pre,  sprint,  web os

    Palm Releases Security Update for webOS

    June 29, 2009 /

    Earlier today, Palm released Palm webOS Update 1.0.4 which addresses security issues in the new mobile operating system.

    Palm webOS 1.0.4 does not add any new applications or features to the Pre, but does raise the Sprint configuration to version 1.6. The nature of the security issues that are being addressed with the 1.0.4 update have not been specified.

    You can download the Palm webOS 1.0.4 update over the air to your Pre by using the Updates application. For more information, visit the Pre software update page.

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  • apple,  dataviz,  iphone,  motionapps,  palm,  pre,  splashdata

    iPhone OS 3.0, webOS 1.0.3 and New Apps

    June 20, 2009 /

    I’m a fan of both Apple and Palm. That is why I’m using a MacBook to write this blog and record my 1SRC Pre|Switcher podcasts. My phone of choice is the Palm Pre smart(er)phone.

    This weekend looks like it is going to be a busy one. Just in the last few days, I’ve gotten my hands on new software for both my Apple iPod touch and my Palm Pre.

    On Wednesday, Apple released the iPhone OS 3.0 update for existing iPhone and iPod touch devices. I also received copies of DataViz Documents To Go and SplashData File Magic. I’ll have reviews of iPhone OS 3.0 and both both applications soon.

    Palm Pre customers will also want to download and install the webOS 1.0.3 update to their phones using the Updates application. If you also use MotionApps Classic on your Pre to run all of your old Palm OS applications, you should read the Classic FAQ before performing the upgrade.

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  • centro,  pre,  treo,  web os

    People Love Their Pre Smartphones

    June 18, 2009 /

    We tend to get a little fanatical about mobile technology around a site like Smartphone Fanatics. That said, people really love their new Pre smartphones! One example is a review from Jenny Levin, a librarian in Chicago, IL.

    Ms. Levin has posted a review of the Pre on her blog, The Shifted Librarian, which has been written from the point of view of a Palm Treo or Centro owner who is considering the jump from Palm OS 5 to webOS.

    “When I picked up my new Palm Pre smartphone last week, one of the store employees said, “You must have been waiting for this phone for a long time.” He could tell I was excited about it. I told him I’d been waiting for this phone for nine years, six of them on Palm Treos and a Centro, waiting for the next leap.

    And now that I finally have it, I can say that while it’s quite clearly a first generation device, I love it. This post will explain why, but it won’t be a comparison of the iPhone versus the Pre. I’ve only played with an iPhone a couple of times, so it wouldn’t be fair, plus everyone knows I’m not a fan of Apple, so I can’t really be objective about this. So instead, this will be a review of the Pre from the perspective of a Treo/Centro owner wondering if she should upgrade, because that’s the question I’m getting asked the most. Back in 2003, I started a popular page called What’s on My Treo 600 that listed all of the apps I used and as a result, I heard from Palm owners for years (and occasionally still do), so this is an area I know well.

    In fact, a lot of my issues with the Pre come from features the Treos/Centros did better, but I’ll also describe what’s new, both the good and the bad. As a result, this will be a long review, so skip this post if you’re not interested in smartphones or the Pre.”

    Keep reading…

    Ms. Levin and I share many of the same views about the Pre. Long time Treo users will find that some of the nice little refinements from Palm OS 5.4.9 didn’t make it into webOS 1.0.2; however, the big wins like multitasking and Synergy really make it all worth while. And yes, there have been issues with webOS 1.0.2 and the Pre including the erratic signal strength issue, weirdness with the Touchstone charging base, and Exchange and Gmail syncing issues. The good news is that Palm is aware of all of these issues and is working to resolve them. (There are some perks to be a Palm discussion forums moderator.)

    You can read the full review over at The Shifted Librarian website.

    Thanks to Geri for this tip.

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  • apple,  iphone,  itunes,  pre,  web os

    Palm Responds to iTunes Third-Party Support Note

    June 18, 2009 /

    Yesterday, John Paczkowski of the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital blog, reported that Palm has issued their own statement about the Pre’s ability to use the webOS Media Sync feature to sync with Apple’s iTunes jukebox software.

    “Palm’s media sync works with the current version of iTunes,” Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox told me. “If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we could consider.”

    I really hope this doesn’t turn into a battle of wills. Once the technology is put out there, the hacker community is going to find ways around whatever road block that Apple tries to throw up to defend the walled garden that is iTunes.

    In my opinion, it is clear that Apple will end up fighting a cold war with Palm or the hacker developer community similar to the one that pits Apple against the hacks that have been jailbreaking iPhones since 2007.

    The long and short of it, if Apple’s iTunes users and iTunes Store customers want to sync media to the Pre smartphone, someone is going to cook up a way to do it. So why not just let Palm’s customers sync up with iTunes.

    Besides, Apple doesn’t think that the Palm Pre is a real threat to iPhones sales. Or do they?

    [Via AllThingsD.com…]

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  • pre,  web os

    Capturing Palm webOS Screens

    June 16, 2009 /

    Sometimes a picture really is worth 1,000 words. I just found out that you can capture a screen image of what is being displayed on your Pre with a simple keystroke command.

    If you press the following keys in order, a picture of the screen will be written out to the Photos application on the Pre. The command is:

    Orange key + Shift key + P key

    To execute the command press and hold Orange, Shift, and then P. When you do, a new category will be shown in Photos called “screencaptures”. From there, you can do whatever you want with the photo. The above photo was taken on my Pre as a test.

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  • pre,  touchstone

    Pre Journal: Leather Side Case, Touchstone

    June 14, 2009 /

    Just a few days ago, I was talking about accessories for my new Palm Pre. A week later, I now have two.

    First up is the Palm leather side case. This is the belt clip case for the Pre. (Palm also has a leather slip case.) So far I like the case. The Pre fits snugly in the case and Palm has included a little ribbon to help lift the Pre out of the case, reducing the risk that you will drop the Pre while removing it from the case. That is a really nice touch as I had almost dropped my Treo 755p a few times while using the older Palm leather Treo case.

    The second accessory that I purchased was the Palm Touchstone. This is the super cool, if not super expensive, wireless battery charging dock for the Pre. (I purchased the cheapest of the three Touchstone kits.) There where two reasons that helped chanage my mind about Touchstone.

    The first is the microUSB door on the right side of the Pre. There is this tiny little piece of plastic that holds the door to the body of the Pre. I had visions of accidentally snapping that thing off the phone while I was fiddling with the USB cable to either charge up the phone or sync media of files on to the device in Drive mode or Media Sync mode.

    The second reason has to due with my complaint that Palm chose to go with the glossy finish on the Pre over the matte soft touch paint that was used on the Palm Treo 750 and 755p. You see, the Touchstone requires that you use a different back plate than the stock Palm back plate that comes with the Pre. The replacement Palm back plate that ships with the Pre has that soft touch paint that I like so much. So the phone is, in my opinion, easier to hold and feels nicer too. Oh, and the matte finish doesn’t pick up fingerprints like the glossy version does.

    I could have lived without the matte finish on the Pre, but I would have gone nuts if the microUSB door had broken off my Pre. If that had happened, I would have had to file an insurance claim with Sprint because it would have driven me nuts to have the port exposed.

    All in all, I’m happy with my purchases, and I hope you will be too. Both accessories, the leather side case and the Touchstone charging base are available from Sprint (retail location and online) and at Palm’s online store. As I understand it, both Palm’s and Sprint’s warehouses have ample supply of both accessories at this point.

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  • apple,  mac os x,  markspace,  pre

    Missing Sync for Palm Pre Beta

    June 12, 2009 /

    Mark/Space has announced that there is a new public beta build for The Missing Sync for Palm Pre available.

    The Palm Pre is now available. For those who are proud owners of this wonderful smart phone, we want to let you know that The Missing Sync for Palm Pre will make your Pre and Mac close companions. We even have a version for the PC on the way.

    For a short while, The Missing Sync for Palm Pre is available as a fully functional Beta version, free to download for a limited time. Give it a try and find out how easy it is to take your stuff with you – from your Mac, onto your Pre.

    Sync Address Book and iCal or Entourage – from your Mac to your Pre, and vice-versa – over Wi-Fi. Sync happens even when Pre is sitting on a Touchstone charger. Plus, transfer music, bookmarks, ringtones, videos and photos fast over the Pre’s USB cable. And, bring documents and files with you – like Word, Excel and PDFs – to view on your Pre too.

    To learn more about The Missing Sync for Palm Pre, or to download the free demo, head over to the Mark/Space website.

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