The written musings of a long-time Apple //e and Macintosh tech nerd. Opinions are my own.
I just saw that Jimmie posted this over on GadgetsOnTheGo.net:
After Palm’s latest fix to re-enable Palm Pre syncing with iTunes, Apple has issued a statement regarding it.
“As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.” “Presumably, iTunes 9.0.2 will disable Palm’s latest fix.”
Read the full All Things D article…
[Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]
Last week Palm spoiled their Palm Pre customers on the Sprint network with not one, but two Palm webOS updates.
Last Tuesday’s webOS 1.2.0 update had more enhancements and fixes in it than you could shake a stick at. Saturday’s update to webOS 1.2.1 was also welcomed because it not only addressed an annoying sync issues with Microsoft Exchange email servers, but also re-re-enabled native sync support with Apple’s iTunes 9 jukebox software.
What I was really looking forward to was the updates to the Bluetooth stack and enhanced compatibility with factory installed Bluetooth car kits. A number of customers, myself included, had reported Bluetooth pairing and connection issues with previous editions of Palm webOS.
The good news is that Palm webOS 1.2.0 (and by extension, 1.2.1) address Bluetooth pairing and usability issues with factory installed car kits. In short, I can now more safely use my Pre while I’m driving in my car. (I’m still looking for a voice dialing solution for webOS.) I’ve also noticed that after applying the updates, I can now send contacts to my Bluetooth car kit (very nice!), a MMS message, or to an email message.
The one thing that I was hoping would be fixed in either Palm webOS 1.2.0 or 1.2.1 was the static in a Bluetooth audio stream from the Pre to the car’s stereo system. While I can make clear phone calls, when I stream music to my car’s radio, over Bluetooth, there is still static and pops in the stream. It isn’t a big deal, but on those days when I leave my iPod at home, my ride to and from work will be filled with lots of snaps, crackles, and pops.
All-in-all, I like the enhancements and fixes that Palm has provided in last week’s updates to Sprint customers. Bell Canada customers, I’m sure, are anxious to get these updates also. (There are carrier testing and certification issues that need to be coordinated for each carrier before a handset vendor like Palm can release a new OS to their customers.) The next big hurtle for Palm’s Pre and soon to be Pixi customers, is to get their on-device software store, the Palm App Catalog, out of beta.
On Friday afternoon, Palm released the Palm webOS 1.2.1 update for the Sprint edition Palm Pre. The following is the list of fixes that 1.2.1 brings. Note that there are no new applications installed by the 1.2.1 updater.
Feature changes to existing applications
Resolved an issue where after installing the 1.2.0 webOS update some customers running Exchange 2007 could no longer synchronize with their Exchange account for Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks.
System
Web
Resolved an issue where if a user tried to play streaming music or video, the media stream might drop out or have a long delay before starting.
Security
Addresses a security issue encountered by webkit developers. This issue did not impact end users.
You can learn more about the Palm webOS 1.2.1 update on the Palm website.
As a fan of both Palm and Apple, I’m glad to see that Palm has once again given their customers a way to sync naively with Apple’s iTunes jukebox software.
The webOS 1.2.1 update is about half the size of the webOS 1.2 update (38MB vs. 79MB) that was released earlier in the week. My upgrade took about 6 minutes to install after downloading and validating the update file.
All-in-all, a nice surprise for a rainy Saturday afternoon! Now I have an excuse to take a spin in my car to make sure the Bluetooth features are working. 😉
UPDATE:
I just tested the Media Sync feature with Apple iTunes 9.0.1 (9) and everything appears to be working normally again!
Earlier this afternoon Palm released the Palm webOS 1.2.0 update for Sprint branded Pre smartphones. webOS 1.2.0 is an 80MB update that delivers 69 software enhancements or fixes.
The following are just some of the updates that Palm webOS 1.2.0 delivers to Sprint customers:
App Catalog
Backup
Bluetooth
Contacts
Phone
The full list of enhancements and fixed, 69 in all, provided with the Palm webOS 1.2.0 update can be found on the Palm Pre support website. The Palm webOS 1.2.0 update can be installed on Sprint edition Palm Pre smartphones by using the Update application found on the “utilities” launcher page.
While I did have trouble downloading webOS 1.2.0 late in the afternoon, I was finally able to download and install the update at around 6:30pm (Eastern time) and the upgrade process to about 10 minutes to install.
iTunes and Media Sync
For some folks the Media Sync option is a burning question with iTunes 9.0. After applying the Palm webOS 1.2.0 update and then trying to sync with iTunes 9, I noticed that the Pre did not mount in the iTunes source list. When I attempted to use the Media Sync feature a second time, the option was removed from the list of USB options. (See screen capture.)
At this point, Pre owners, we have a few options. We can use DoubleTwist (free) or use Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm Pre ($39.99). Or just not upgrade past iTunes 8.2.1, which should still work – however, that is a really hard pill to swallow as I am almost as big a fan of Apple’s products as I am of Palm’s. Almost. The bottom line, for me anyway, is that I would rather have the new features of iTunes on my Mac, iPod touch, and Apple TV, so it was a no brainer to upgrade to iTunes 9 for me. I’ll be copying my media over to the Pre manually if Media Sync does not return in a later Palm webOS update.
Bluetooth Hands Free Car Kit Support
Since I installed the webOS 1.2.0 update so late in the day, I haven’t had a chance to test out whether or not Palm has addressed the Bluetooth issues with recent Acura model vehicles. Actually, Bluetooth support with factory installed car kits go well beyond Honda and Acura car kits. We’ll have to keep an eye on how well Palm webOS 1.2.0 works with hands free Bluetooth car kits over the next few weeks as more people apply the update to their phones.
Have you installed the update yet? Let us know how the update is working for you by clicking the Comments link below.
After having used Palm OS 5 day in and day out for many year, the arrival of the Palm Pre and webOS was like a breath of fresh air. For the most part, all of the Pre owners that I have talked to have had an easy transition to the new operating system. Want to take your game to the next level? Master using the Universal Search feature.
Universal Search is an easy way to find a contact or application on your Pre. To use Universal Search, simply switch to Card View mode (press the Center button to reveal your open cards) and then start typing your search string. Palm webOS will begin searching your Contacts database and the names of the installed applications for a match. Search results are shown in real-time and the results set narrows as you continue to type more specific information. When you see the contact or application you want to use all you need to do is tap the object on the screen.
When you are searching for a piece of information that is in a contact record, when that page appears, you can tap on a phone number to initiate a phone call; tap the SMS balloon icon to initiate an instant message; or an email address to start an email.
But what happens when what I’m looking for isn’t available on your device? If Universal Search can’t find what you are looking for on the Pre, it offers to search online resources. So for example, if I type in “Sh” on my Pre, I will see all of the contact records for all of the people whose name starts with the letters “Sh” and the homebrew application “Shopping List”. When I change my search term to “apple pie” (it is September after all) Universal Search offers to search for “apple pie” on Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, and Twitter.
If I happen to be in an application, let’s say Memos for example, if I started typing “apple pie” while in the list view (cork board and sticky notes view) and I just happened to have a memo called “Apple Pie Recipe”, Universal Search will filter the list and show my just that memo.
Universal Search could stand some improvements. For example, it can’t search my calendar or email messages meaning that there is no quick way to use the search term “sales meeting” to find out when the next meeting is being held or the email that had the Excel spreadsheet attachment that I might need to review before going to the meeting. As time goes by, Palm will no doubt refine and enhance the Universal Search engine in webOS, knowing today’s limitations will prevent hours of aggravation later on.
Yesterday, the world got it first look at Apple’s new jukebox software, iTunes 9.0. Yesterday Pre owners also learned that the Apple/Palm cat and mouse game with iTunes and Media Sync is still very much alive and well.
So, Pre owners, what are you going to do? Are you going to stick with iTunes 8.2.1 and Media Sync or are you going to make the jump to iTunes 9.0?
After watching Apple’s keynote presentation last night, and yes, Steve Jobs did take the stage, I’ve decided to make the jump to iTunes 9.0 and iPhone OS 3.1 for iPod touch. In my opinion, there where just too many cool new features in Apple’s new software that I wasn’t going to hold back.
Take for example, the new sync features for iPod touch and iPhone. I welcome the expanded sync controls over what content lives on my Mac and on my iPod. It becomes super easy to make sure that I have some of my favorite movies (Iron Man) and TV shows (Looney Tunes, Mythbusters, Law & Order) always with me without having to keep marking them as new.
I also like the new control of your applications for the iPod touch. I have some 60-70 apps on my touch and the newly redesigned applications tab will greatly help my quickly add new apps and reorganize the ones I already have.
And let’s not forget the new Home Sharing feature in iTunes 9.0. If you have more than one computer in your home, this is going to be a great feature to have. I’ll be able to quickly keep my MacBook and Mac Pro iTunes libraries in sync so I always have all of my music with me when I’m at home or traveling for work and play.
With brings me back to my Palm Pre and the Media Sync feature. I was really surprised when Palm announced the Media Sync feature and I quickly started syncing content to my Pre from iTunes. With iTunes 9.0, Apple has chosen to close the door to the webOS Media Sync feature. I’m sure Palm or someone from the webOS homebrew app community will figure out a way to re-enable native syncing with iTunes. The bottom line for me is that my iPod touch, combined with iTunes, still represents the best over all user experience for purchasing content, loading it on my device, and interacting with it on the go.
So for now, the iPod wins, and iTunes 9.0 is on my MacBook. The good news is that I can still sync the Pre with my Mac Pro which I’ve left back at iTunes 8.2.1. Sure, I can’t use the Home Sharing feature, but at least I can get my iTunes Plus tracks synced down to my Pre easily.
Today, Palm announced their next webOS-powered smartphone, the Palm Pixi, for the Sprint wireless network.
Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today introduced the Palm® Pixi™ phone for faster, more intuitive and personal communication in a compact and customizable design. With the instinctively useable Palm webOS™ platform, strikingly thin design, a visible full keyboard and fashionable personalization options, Palm Pixi lets you express yourself in amazingly useful ways. It’s scheduled to be available exclusively from Sprint in time for the holidays.
“With Palm webOS, we’re creating a new, more intuitive smartphone experience defined by unmatched simplicity and usefulness,” said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and chief executive officer. “Palm Pixi brings this unique experience to a broader range of people who want enhanced messaging and social networking in a design that lets them express their personal style.”
“Palm Pixi continues Sprint’s leadership in providing useful and innovative devices on America’s most dependable 3G network,”(7) said Dan Hesse, chief executive officer at Sprint. “We are pleased to be the first carrier to bring this device to market and offer both devices in the growing Palm webOS family. Sprint’s Everything Data plans, which provide unrestricted access to the Internet, mobile content and applications, and our Ready Now retail experience make for a perfect combination with these new Palm products.”
Palm Pixi Features
Pricing and Availability
The Palm Pixi phone is scheduled to be available from Sprint in time for the holidays. Pricing for the phone, as well as the limited-edition Palm Pixi Artist Series covers, will be announced closer to availability. Customers who would like to register to receive additional information about Palm Pixi and be notified when it’s available can register at www.palm.com/pixi.
Additionally, starting today, Palm and Sprint will be lowering the cost of the Palm Pre from $199 with a new two-year service agreement by $50 to $149 after an instant $150 rebate and a $100 mail-in rebate.
The full Palm Pixi press release can be read on the Palm website.
If there was any doubt that Palm is on the cusp of releasing webOS 1.2 for the Sprint Pre, PreThinking.com has posted Sprint’s release notes for webOS 1.2.
Based on the full release notes that PreThinking.com has on their website, if correct, Palm webOS 1.2 is shaping up to be a very feature rich update to further refine webOS and to fix some really annoying issues, like the Bluetooth car kit support.
At the time of this writing, the webOS 1.2 update is still not available via the Pre’s Updates application.
Check out the full list of features, fixes, and enhancements on PreThinking.com.
Not wanting to give up on all of the as-yet-released-Palm-webOS-1.2 update fun, a video of webOS 1.2 has been uploaded to YouTube.
The only question that I have at this point is when is Palm going to release the 1.2 update for webOS?
The folks at PalmInfoCenter.com have done some more sleuthing around the recently leaked Palm webOS 1.2 update for the Palm Pre.
PalmInfoCenter.com is reporting the discovery of two new features: blinking notifications and remote application removal.
“Good news first: LED notifications are on the way! The much-requested feature has been discovered within the “securityconfig-scene.html” file, which contains the following info-text: The gesture area blinks when new notifications arrive.”
“And now the other, not-so-good thing: apparently webOS 1.2 will give Palm the ability to remotely remove apps from your device, and you won’t have much of a say in the matter. In the file “usr\lib\luna\system\luna-systemui\app\controllers\apprevokedalert_scene.html”, we can see this info-text: ‘Palm had to delete this application from the App Catalog and your device. If you paid for this app, your money will be refunded.'”
I’m not so sure that the app removal function is completely a bad thing. Apple has implemented it. Palm appears to be ready to implement it. I’m sure Microsoft, Google, and Research In Motion have the feature in their phones as well. And with the recent George Orwell 1984 Amazon Kindle disaster, people are more than little bit sensitive over the issue. It is kind of ironic that Amazon deleted the digital version of 1984 from people’s Kindles.
There are some benefits to having the app removal feature on the Pre. Consider what would happen if a really poorly functioning application gets into the App Catalog and starts causing Pre’s to crash to the point of not being able to be used. It would be kind of hard to use the Pre as a “business tool” if the phone can’t connect to a corporate Microsoft Exchange server. What happens if a virus or other web-bases malware gets injected into webOS. Not good.
If the app removal feature is used for the greater good, not to the benefit of Palm or one of their carrier partners, it can be a good thing. The same is true for Apple and Amazon.