Behold the new HP webOS device line up that will be arriving this summer: the HP Veer, the HP Pre, and the HP TouchPad.
For more details, visit HP’s Palm website.
HP Introduces New webOS Device Line Up, Summer 2011
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HP webOS Event Scheduled for Feb 9
HP has sent out invitations to a press event they will be holding on February 9 to talk about the new things, big and small, that are coming to the webOS platform.
The text, “Think big. Think small. Think beyond,” is being taken by some to believe that HP’s Palm unit is getting ready to introduce the world to their next devices: the PalmPad and Pixi 2. The HP Pre 2, running webOS 2.0, is already been launched so it makes little sense to hold an event like this to talk about the coming soon Verizon edition of the Palm Pre 2.
So there will be no love for the Palm fanatics this year at CES, however, webOS maniacs will be able to get their freak on in just 35 days.
[Via BoyGeniusReport.com…]
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Palm Updates (Beta) Facebook Client
The other day I posted that new mobile Facebook clients for iOS, BlackBerry OS, and Google Android had popped up in their respective app stores. On Friday evening, Palm posted their v1.4.5 update to the beta Facebook client which now includes support for the Facebook Paces feature.
To learn more about how to install Palm beta applications on your webOS phone, hit the “Read more” link for some helpful information on how to get started.
Since this is a beta application, it doesn’t show up in the App Catalog – version 1.4.0 shows up there, which introduced support for multiple webOS cards for Facebook. (Think of webOS “cards” as separate browser windows or tabs.)To install the beta version of the Palm Facebook client, you must first install two pieces of software: WebOS Quick Install on your PC, and Preware on your Palm webOS phone.
If you are unfamiliar with Homebrew apps, or installing WebOS Quick Install, then head over to PreCentral.net where you can read all about Homebrew apps and for the download and directions for installing WebOS Quick Install (free PreCentral forums registration is required.)
Once you have WebOS Quick Install loaded on your Palm webOS phone, you are ready to install Preware, which is a fairly easy task when you use WebOS Quick Install.
After you have installed Preware and launched it on your webOS phone, you can search for Facebook and find the beta client. You install apps in the Palm beta channel the same way you install applications in Palm’s App Catalog and you’re ready to rock-n-roll. To check for future updates to the beta Facebook client, launch Preware on your Palm every now and again and check the Updates section of the Preware screen.
Sure, this all sounds really geeky and strange if you haven’t played with Homebrew apps on your Palm Pre or Pixi before, but it is really easy to do and opens the door to hundreds of great app that aren’t available directly from Palm.
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Palm Pre Reaches EOL Status at Sprint
According to a PreCentral.net article posted today, the Palm Pre, the original HP webOS device, has reached End of Life (EOL) status on the Now Network.
“Today we’ve received word from a trusted Sprint source that the end is here for the original Palm Pre, with Sprint marking the device as EOL (End of Life). It’s not a surprise after it already disappeared from their site, but it’s still a blow: we still find that the largest and most loyal webOS contingent lives on Sprint.
Quantities of new Palm Pre phones in Sprint warehouses are very low (we’re talking hundreds of units here), so it shouldn’t be too much longer before the phone is completely sold out.”
With the Palm Pre gone, Sprint customers will only have the option of the original Palm Pixi should they want to use a Palm phone and stay with Sprint. There has been no word as to whether or not Sprint will pick up the new HP Palm Pre 2 that has already gone on sale in O2’s network in France, and will be headed to Verizon and AT&T in the near future.
Personally, without a new high-end HP Palm or Apple iPhone on Sprint’s Now Network, I’m not sure how long I’ll be sticking with Sprint past the end of my 2-year contact that I signed when I purchased my Pre. Sprint, you have until April, 2011 to pick up either the HP Palm Pre 2 or newer device or an Apple iPhone. If not, I’m heading for Verizon or AT&T.
[Via PreCentral.net…]
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Astraware Releases Tradewinds 2 for HP webOS
Whether you are new to gaming on your smartphone or have been around for a long time, you owe it to yourself to check out the games that Astraware releases. These guys make some of the best mobile games around.Staffordshire, UK – November 11, 2010 – Astraware® and Sandlot Games® are excited to announce they are bringing the highly-acclaimed adventure trading game, Tradewinds® 2, to Palm® Pre™ and Pre Plus smartphones.
Astraware has recently released its first games for webOS™, and is delighted to work with long-term partner Sandlot Games to add to the range of quality games on the App Catalog by bringing one of its most popular franchises to the platform.“Astraware continues to be a fantastic partner on a variety of platforms, bringing the best of our franchises to new users worldwide,” said Daniel Bernstein, CEO of Sandlot Games. “We look forward to the success of Tradewinds 2 on the webOS platform.”Based on the PC game of the same name, Tradewinds 2 is an adventure trading game set in the Caribbean. Players are invited to navigate a fascinating new world and discover uncharted ports teeming with friends and foes alike. They can be a master commander, defeating pirates and plundering their vast hordes of booty, or they can play it safe by trading exotic island goods, gradually amassing untold wealth, power and influence.“We’re delighted to work with Sandlot to bring Tradewinds 2 to webOS smartphones,” said Howard Tomlinson, CEO of Astraware. “Many long-time Palm users will know and love the Tradewinds games and we’re sure they’ll love the hours of in-depth game play, trading in goods, battling pirates and completing missions”.Tradewinds 2 is available now for Palm Pre and Pre Plus running webOS 1.4.5 from the App Catalog on device. For more information about the game, visit http://www.astraware.com/webos/tradewinds2. -
MotionApps Halts Sales of Classic, Turns Source Over to Palm [UPDATED}
[Editor’s Note: We have been contacted by MotionApps to let us know they are not closing down the company.]
MotionApps, the developer behind Classic, the Palm OS emulation layer for HP webOS 1.x devices like the Pre and Pixi, has halted sales and turned over the source code and the intellectual property (IP) over to HP’s Palm unit.
MotionApps has posted the following note to the Palm user community on their blog:
“We are sad to announce that Palm has removed Classic’s ROM from the new webOS 2.0 device ROM which will result in Classic not working if utilized with Palm’s new webOS 2.0.This is contrary to our agreement with Palm and was done without our approval or consent. Based on this action, MotionApps will immediately stop selling Classic. However, as a courtesy to our clients, we will continue to support existing Classic customers on webOS 1.x for the immediate future.Be that as it may, we believe in PalmOS and we want to do what we can to help Palm succeed in their future endeavors. So we decided to hand over the entire Classic source code and all of our accompanying IP to Palm so that Palm can do what they want to do with Classic and make it available with webOS 2.0.Palm now has all the pieces to manage and control Classic’s future.Thank you all who supported us along the way and who love PalmOS the way we do.MotionApps Team”A similar message appears on the MotionApps main website that simply reads:“With the release of Palm webOS™ 2.0 MotionApps will no longer sell or support future versions of Classic.We have decided to hand the entire source code and all accompanying IP over to Palm so Palm can assume full control of Classic’s future life and shape.We had great time building Classic and supporting its vibrant community. Palm’s way of supporting MotionApps has become too disruptive for us and we no longer believe that we are in a position to provide our customers with the best product and service.Our work is who we are so we respectfully choose to exit.”So it appears that MotionApps, as a company, closing down along the decision to halt sales of Classic as a third-party application.
As a Classic owner, I’m sorry to see it go, however, I have received little or no utility out of Classic recently. This is mostly to do with the fact that I am no longer using Palm OS apps on my original Sprint Pre. I’m willing to bet that HP thinks that most of their customers will be in the same boat as me or, simply, they may just want to the cord with Palm OS. Either way, it doesn’t matter, what’s done is done.The interesting thing that will happen sooner or later is that all of us who purchased Classic for $30 will be forced to HP webOS 2.0 when is gets pushed out as an over-the-air update to our Pre and Pixi smarphones once our wireless carriers certify the new software. What remains to be seen is whether or not a customer can decline the receipt of a major HP webOS upgrade like 2.0 and continuing using webOS 1.x and Classic.Update:MotionApps has contacted informed me they are not closing down, but, rather, simply halting the sale and further development of Classic.“MotionApps, as a company, is not closing down along the decision to halt sales of Classic as a third-party application.
We are simply shutting down Classic as a product only to focus on other products and services that we are working on, some of which are public and some of which are yet to be released in the future.”
I’m glad to hear that MotionApps is staying in the software game and look forward to their new projects.[Via MotionApps blog…] -
Palm Pixi Free on Sprint (Online Only)
The other day I reported that the original, non-plused Palm Pixi would be free on Sprint after a $100 mail in rebate. I was on the Sprint website and noticed that there is an online only offer to receive the Pixi free.
To get the Pixi free, you must order the phone online with an accompanying new line of service or qualifying service agreement upgrade (read: extension).
If you are looking to make the jump to a webOS powered Pixi, now is the time to do it. For more details, visit the Sprint website.
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Astraware Releases Casino, Police Range for webOS
Astraware has released another pair of their popular games for webOS this past week. Joining Suduku and OddBlob is Astraware Casino and Police Range.
Astraware® is excited to announce the release of 2 new titles for the Palm® Pre™ and Pre Plus. Astraware Casino and Police Range follow hot on the heels of Astraware’s debut webOS™ releases, Astraware Sudoku and OddBlob, which received an excellent reception from the webOS community on their release.
“It’s great to be launching these extra titles for the Pre,” said David Oakley, CTO of Astraware, “and the great feedback and interest we’ve had from the webOS community makes it exciting to be so connected with our userbase and their requests.”
Astraware Casino, already Astraware’s best-seller across a range of smartphone platforms, features 11 of the most popular casino games in 1 easy-to-use pack including Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, Craps, Roulette, Slots, and Blackjack. The game includes instructions on how to play each game and has a fun awards system – the Souvenir Suitcase – with awards unlockable in each of the games!
Police Range is a fun target practice range where players can put their skill and accuracy to the test as they train on 2 different types of police practice range – Crime Alley and Target Practice. Online high score leaderboards add to the challenge as players compete against their friends and other players worldwide.
Both games, built using Palm’s PDK, require the 1.4.5 webOS upgrade to be able to run. Astraware Casino and Police Range are available now, priced $2.99, from Palm’s App Catalog on device. For more information and screenshots, visit: http://www.astraware.com/webos.
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DataViz: No Documents To Go for webOS, Acquired by Research In Motion
Today, DataViz, the makers of Documents To Go, has officially announced that they will not be developing a version of Palm’s webOS platform.
Announced on Facebook, and posted on the DataViz website, the company claims that creating a version of Documents To Go for webOS would be a much larger job than they expected and that the performance of such an application would not be an optimal solution.
“We regret to announce that we have made the difficult decision to not produce a Web OS version of Documents To Go. We understand that our delay in this area has caused much disappointment to our current and very loyal user base. We would like to explain in more detail the reasoning behind our decisions thus far.
Our intention had been to replace the Palm Viewers, which were based on the Documents To Go technology, with a full editing, aftermarket version of Documents To Go. In order to do this in a way that we felt would be most intuitive to users, we wanted to have the full version seamlessly replace the built in viewers. To do this, we needed some technical help from Palm. Because Palm was focusing on other areas at the time (including their very survival), and there was no official information available allowing developers to help ourselves, i.e., an SDK, there was a delay in getting us this information. Rather than do a substantially larger project that would result in a “sub-optimal” user experience, we decided to wait. This wait was much longer than anyone at DataViz expected. During this wait, we focused our efforts on other smartphone platforms, not because we were not loyal to Palm, but because it made “business sense” to do so. We have now come to the realization that it is not in DataViz’ nor our users’ best interests to continue the wait and produce the full version. We understand that another developer has chosen to create an editing Office product for webOS and we wish them the best. Again, we apologize to our users for taking this long to reach, what is for DataViz and many of our users, a disappointing conclusion.”
Back in April, DataViz posted that they were unable to get the support from Palm that was required to properly develop Documents To Go for webOS. On the surface, it would seem that DataViz has tired of waiting for Palm to get it’s act together. Personally, I always felt the delay of Documents To Go for webOS was retaliation for the lost of time and money for the late stage cancellation of the Palm Foleo and Documents To Go for the Foleo platform. The good folks at CrackBerry.com have a better reason: DataViz was acquired by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion!
“More interesting than [canceling Documents To Go for Palm webOS is the] news from DataViz…they didn’t announce….. they were bought by RIM!! Though neither company has publicly announced it (yet), multiple sources have confirmed to us that RIM recently acquired DataViz for a reported $50 million cash (not material to RIM, so they didn’t have to disclose it publicly as they have done with other acquisitions like the QNX one). Jump on to LinkedIn and you can also quickly find that lots of former DataViz employees have recently switched up their profiles to Research In Motion as their current employer.
Yet another interesting acquisition by RIM.”
That leaked screen shot from August 19 showing the QuickOffice icon in a webOS 2.0 screen shot kinda makes a whole lot of sense right now. I’ll have go dig up my old Palm OS QuickOffice serial number. I wonder if I am eligible for upgrade pricing?!
You can read the Documents To Go for webOS statement on the DataViz website.
[Via CrackBerry.com…, PreCentral.net…]
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HP Palm webOS 1.4.5 Update Available For Verizon Pixi Plus Customers
It looks like Verizon rolled out Palm webOS 1.4.5 for their Pixi Plus customers yesterday.
The webOS 1.4.5 change log for the Verizon branded Palm Pixi Plus is listed after the jump.
Verizon Pixi Plus customers can download the webOS 1.4.5 update by running the Updates application on their phone.
The wait continues for Verizon’s Pre Plus customers and all of AT&T’s Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus customers. Sprint customers received their Palm webOS 1.4.5 update on August 11.
New applications
NONE
Feature changes to existing applications
System
- Palm Pixi and Palm Pixi Plus phones can now run 3D games and other apps developed with the webOS PDK. Check App Catalog for titles that are compatible with your phone.
- This release includes minor fixes and enhancements to support the public release of the webOS PDK.
Web
- If a user enters text in a field on certain websites, the screen focus now remains on the text being entered.
- This release fixes a rare problem so that podcasts now download correctly.
Security
- This release addresses several security issues with the Palm webOS software.
