EVO 4G launch bests Palm Pre 145
Our pals at Android Central are doing a little snoopy dance over the EVO 4G's launch day last week, which made the black slab Sprint's biggest 1-day seller. The record had been held by the Palm Pre for the past year. Though there aren't official numbers, estimates are in the 50,000 range for the day.
In other words, when it comes to marketing and buzz from the carriers, plan for a relatively quiet time for webOS. Both Verizon and Sprint are smitted with Android, AT&T will have the new iPhone to croon about, and T-Mobile, well, webOS isn't on that little network that could.
We've already asked the Pre to EVO switchers to fess up, so here's a question for the Pre loyalists: are you worried about what we suspect will be a lack of carrier attention in the near future?
Source: Android Central
145 Comments
No. Not now with HP behind palm. Although I think they need to come up with something really really good within the next year if they plan to stay in the smartphone business. I'm I first?
Within the next year? Man, they need a buzz going within the next month, or so. This business they are in is not a game. They have the OS already, now they need the hardware. I'm not going anywhere either. A big part of that is webOS, but another big part is the fact that I dont have the money to throw around. Palm does not have time for another rebirth. We need to see something big as soon as that vote goes through on June 25.
i wouldn't count on any news about a hardware release while AT&T customers are still within the original 30 day return period of either the pre or pixi on that carrier and probably not for awhile after.
it would be a dick move by palm to do so prior to that, and would likely ensure AT&T has no interest in future devices.
Carrier contracts make your point moot. No one has to rush anything. Most people have to wait until there contract is up and they will either buy the best phone out there or the one that fits there budget.
You guys seem to forget that most people don't care about the biggest or the best. They care about what fits with their wallet.
This is why Samsung is the biggest cell phone company in the US. Dumb phones still control the majority of the market. Most people could care less about iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm, or Android. Its changing slowly, but when people look for a phone for their kids, their first words are "whats free!"
They have until Feb of next year for me. I have high enough hopes there will be a new WebOS device than, and if one is not released or even announced... I hate to say it I might move onto the next big thing. But like I said I have high enough hopes that I really doubt that will happen so worst case. I get an android phone. Best case WebOS all the way !
yep yer first. I think that android has a lot of mindshare right now. The new iphone will probably steal some of that. I am worried that webOS will slip into obscurity. I hope that isn't the case though, because there isn't an OS that even comes close to such an awesome UI. I suppose apple iphone comes close. I am not a loyalist, I use what works the best and honestly I tried the iphone, and evo 4g and you will have to do a lot better than that for me to give up my pre.
Is it just me or is the new iPhone not getting the traction it has in the past. Of course the Apple fanboys are banging their drums. It seems like the iPad, Android, the leaked phone, AT&T's treatment of their customers, and lackluster performance by Jobs, seem to have tempered the excitment. When you think about it, the iPad could be the new iPhones biggest competitor.
In order to replicate the success of EVO, palm pre-2, should have 1) atleast a 3.7 inch screen
2) Dual cortex A-9 processor underclocked to save battery
3) Better keyboard w no miss or extra strokes, and no oreo
4) Super-amoled screen
5) Quadruple resolution
6) Have 4G
7) Video chat
8) digital compass
9) WEb-OS -2
10) Released this year.
11) 1500mA battery
If most of these specs are there, pre-2 will have so much hype that carriers wont even need to advertise. With these specs, pre-2 can and will best EVO. But I have heard super-Amoled is very expensive and even simple AMOLED is running short on supply.
Make it a 4 inch screen , if not 4.5 inch and throw in a nice slider keyboard.
4 inch screen? Have you held an EVO, it is like a mini-tablet more than a smart phone. I would hate to have to carry that massive device around. Perfect form factor for me is Pixi with 320x480 screen (so 80 pixels longer) and as thick as needed to get 2.5x runtime it currently gets.
Any bigger than that, and I'm not interested. I'll get the WebOS tablet when I need that much screen size.
I held the Evo, its perfectly "pocketable". The current 3.2 inch Pre screen is small. Period.
The next version should/must be 4 inch without increasing the overall dimensions. May be the width can be increased a bit and the gesture area can be shrinked a bit.
I guess it is a matter of preference. I found the EVO too large and (partly due to Android) nearly impossible to operate with one hand. The Pre, on the other hand, is a one hand dynamo.
I don't pocket phone, I wear a holster. The EVO is huge on the belt. Of course, so is the iPhone.
The only thing that Android phones have that I want is a d-pad.
Most people don't want a large screen. I want a phone that's useful, not something to watch Ben Hur on.
I would not buy a Palm phone that had a 4 inch screen. I would move on.
just under 4in...or 4in sounds perfect to me. Big is not always better. Only those that are not insecure are aware of this. Webos is about performance. Just because evo has a big ass screen... Doesn't make me want to run out and get it. I like the position palm is in... Iphone 4.0 is out. Now, lets kick it's ass for good. No looking back. I want a device that will make iphone4g users have buyers remorse. I want a device that will make people say... Damn, I wish I waited for that. I'm patient...but this time... It's got to get knocked out of the park. Then, webos will get the attention it deserves. And a big screen is not going to accomplish all of that. I like the other specs mentioned!
sounds like Palm needs to release TWO devices in the next couple of months, a small little bit bigger UPDATED Palm Pre phone for the people who like small phones (ME). and a big updated (same power as the updated Pre) Pixi (renamed) phone for those who need big screens in the NEXT few months (b4 Fall) to stay in the game!!
+1 a 3.3 in and a 3.8 - 4 in...
+1. The EVO's just a bit too big for me. I could go with something a bit larger than the Pre, but I love the ability to use my phone one-handed. I love the Pre's physical keyboard & initially I liked the slider design, but the oreo effect bugs me. If they could fix that I'd say stay with the same general form factor, just upsize it a little. I wouldn't scoff at a landscape slider either, if it was a solid design. If not, then I'm with you; the fewer moving parts, the better.
Nothing personal, as this isn't aimed at you at all. But I'm kind of amused at the fickle nature of consumer desire. When the the Treo was Palm's latest and greatest, everyone complained about how big it was, and hopec the replacement would be smaller. And Palm listend, and the Pre is.
Now the Evo comes out with a screen the size of an HD TV, and everyone (exageration) is complaining about how small the Pre is.
The Evo is a brick, albeit a thin one. I've played around with one, and it's not really a problem for me, and fits into my pocket OK. But I think I would probably prefer it slightly smaller. To each his own, though. It's nice to have lots of choices. If you don't like today's choices, wait a few months and you'll have more.
My prediction is that the next WebOS phone will have Texas Instrument's OMAP4. It only makes sense since the Pre has TI's OMAP3 processor.
If this is the case - then we're in for a treat.
Can't be most it has to be all
don't forget at least 512 ram. That made a very big diference between the pre and the pre plus.
well the iphone is slightly under 4in so max size I would say for the new pre should be 4in.. The screen size is one of the factors that went against it. A slider like the new Black Berry slider would be nice too. (still think the BB slider looks too similar to the Pre..funny)
secondly as for an annoncement of the new device which I have been informed by numerous people within Sprint is coming. I would say they will hold out for the announcement when the Palm/HP merger is complete. For 2 reasons.
1) that gives it some time after the new iphone is out..(do to apple what apple did to Palm last year. Waited a week after Pre launch and announced 3GS)let that cool down a tad
2) Make this announcement.. "HP is proud to announce the acusition of Palm is complete. Welcome Palm to our family!(applause) Also we are proud to announce the future of the HP/Palm division is going to move forward and have wonderful devices. With this we give you the first of many new WebOS devices the HP/Palm (enter clever name here)4G! (standing applause just like at CES)"
that right there is a marketing dept. Dream come true to a division that has dropped the ball on marketing.. Then pull an HTC and release it 1-2months after the announcement making all other companies try to figure out what happened and how they need to play catch up on this new device that would have similar specs to the HTC Evo4G with the differences being WebOS, slightly smaller screen and a verticle slide out keyboard.
if I am partially right you all heard me say it here. Lol
but that would be a good business plan. And boost hype and do the shock and awe to a new device on a new company. HP then would be back in the Smartphone game. Boost WebOS so they can add it to other devices quickly and Android rush the market. Leaving only 3 mobile OS's on top that people can better choose what's best for them.. Apple, Google or HP/Palms WebOS!
+1.. Love the enthusiasm!
webos ... Lets kicksome ass... Elegantly.
I am actually against 4G just because of the fact you have to pay more a month that chances are in your area unless you are one of the current select cities do not have. I could never justify paying more for something I can not use.
although I agree, ATT & Verizon users still pay more than what the 4G 10$ increase would be, and they justify the increase by the increased amount of data the 4G Evo uses even when its not on 4G :)
I agree to a extent. I live in Houston, so I would have no problems paying the $10. I use to live in the country and could never get a signal at all. My cell phone was basicly for when I was on the road only. So understand. However, Sprint has pointed out the $10 dollars is for more than 4G. Not sure what, but that would be my first question if I was getting one.
yea.... it goes to 4G access, and TRUE unlimited 4G and 3G data... no more invisible 5GB data limit. And Shoutout to Sprint for doin so, with those BS-a$$ new AT&T dataplans... 2GB data caps now? ~ GTFOH!!!!!
AMOLED is good for battery use, but suffers in bright light. The current Pre isn't fantastic in full sun, but at 100% brightness I can usually see what I'm doing. I'm outdoors enough that I'd hate to go to a dimmer display.
... or use the MUCH easier approach and launch an EVO running WebOS.
That's what should have happened six months ago. Palm would never have been in the position it found itself in.
For the record, yes, I'm very close to making a decision regarding the EVO. Yeah, it's running Android. I get that. Yeah, WebOS is the far superior mobile OS (miles ahead of Android, iPhoneOS and WinMo 6.x/7). But we need a better form factor and the EVO is that form factor.
Either that, or get Jobs to ship an iPhone with WebOS (commence uncontrollable laughter.... now).
When Palm releases the next phone, as long as it has a ton of competitive features and they advertise the heck out of it (and effectively), it will reignite both the tech press and consumers...
not worried.
just patiently awaiting a palm pre 2.
android devices become more alluring by the day
but the OS is just ugly. i couldn't handle it.
webOS is love and i'll wait.
I am worried. My year is almost up and it's time to get a new phone. I WILL get a new phone, that's why I'm on the plan I'm on
Anyone who knows when the new Palm phone will hit cannot say. Personally, I'm waiting until at least the end of July before starting to make any decision.
I'd be perfectly happy with a Pre on Sprint if I could double my RAM. But then, I don't look at other phones and get envious. Life is to short, I've got crap to get done. Pre lets me.
Only phone that can top the Evo sales is a WebOS phone in Evo Shell.
Only phone that can top the Evo sales is a WebOS phone in new shell.
if Palm just makes a phone that is equal to what's on the market, they'll not get any new users. the reason why the iphone, evo 4g and others are gaining recognition, is because they're SURPASSING the competition, not coming out with equivalent hardware. Palm keeps sitting behind watching what others come out with and replicate near identical hardware specs. This is not going to do anything for them but appear to be a "clone" phone. They need to start blazing the trail with hardware like they did with webOS.
On another note, I think apple let the iphone 4g leak on purpose. anyone notice how the iphone 4g looks almost identical in frame to this phone (evo 4g). I think apple wanted everyone to see their design first, before others saw this. again, perception on who came to market first with the design wins.
Not sure what you meant. iPhone is now catching up with rest with multitasking. Apple was way behind other in features such as Bluetooth stereo, voice dialing, Camcorder ..... to name few. They still haven't given the customer a SD card slot.
Unfortunately this was a failing of the Pre from day one. They didn't try to exceed the iPhone, and so the Pre was a decent phone with a great OS. Unfortunately the iPhone is a very good phone, with a very good OS and an outstanding app catalog.
I knew the iPhone that would be announced in June 2009 right after the Pre was released would come with 16gb standard. That's what Apple does, they double the base memory with each new release. I expect that the iPhone 4 will come with 32 standard.
But the question at the end of the article was am I afraid of carrier neglect? No. Carriers 'carry' phones. Manufacturers design and build them. I am afraid that Palm is neglecting me.
I would rather have a webOS device. But if Palm thinks I will wait another year for a big screen and more internal memory they are sadly mistaken.
I'm not worried, lets do an apples to apples when Palm has been out as long as droid and Palm releases their 4G mac daddy of a phone, then we can talk
Pre has been out a year and still winning accolades. Will anybody even remember the "Evo" name in six months? There will be droids with bigger screens and 10% more CPU speed and for an o/s that relies on hardware for it's thrills, that will make Evo very aged and uninteresting.
WebOS is the best OS in my view, but it's a long shot if HP doesn't double down on a WebOS smartphone. I am trying to stick it out with my Pre but I need new features, hardware and to stay interested.
Yes, I am worried because there's not much to be hopeful about. No good news from HP, return rates continue to be high, even the people that have the phone (like me) don't rate it as high as iPhone/Android users on their respective phones. Like most Pre owners, I love WebOS, but don't like the hardware. I have looked at the EVO and it has some serious game. If Palm doesn't get out new hardware soon, I just might be jumping ship too. I want to be a loyalist, but seriously, what's HP/Palm given us to be hopeful about? Even the news from Adobe regarding Flash support seems less than promising...
Seeing them side-by-side, the EVO is fugly! I like the specs of course, but that size...
I Aint Even Trippin ... The Underdog Will Be Back On Top...
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/07/htc-evo-4g-blows-away-sprints-fir...
This article says they sold out in 22,000 locations so 50,000 seems liek a very low estimate. My Sprint store said they had around 100 in their shipment.
It also says the Evo sold on launch day 3 times what the Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre (previous record holders) sold their first 3 days combined.
I doubt it. Like all android phones the buzz will die in 2-3 months and the next big thing will be out there. Does anybody even hear about the original Motorola Droid ? But PALM needs to come out with new models, which they will announce after the merger is complete. Till then save ur money... the recession is upon us
My friend has one & he said it's worth the switch. You will have a home screen, better battery, voice command, PTT capabilities, bigger screen, more apps, opens apps faster, no "sorry too many cards" message, visual voicemail, 4G (I think you can talk & browse the same time while on 4G), video chat, fm radio.... & the list goes on.
Here in a unofficial Pre country its been dead silent regarding webOS so im used to it.
Palm messed up the international marketing and its a big shame that webOS aint available in just but a few markets but ive stopped worrying and caring a long time ago.
That pic of the Evo and Pre next to each other just made me like my Pre even more. Why on earth would I like to carry such a huge device with me.
"What me worry?" I think Dan Hess and other carrier CEOs are worried about the 1million+ Pre owners (us..), and where they will go when 1st yr is up (are you paying attention Dan?). the Sprint Pre/Pixi owners on Sprint can make or break Sprints Stock price for this current Quarter if we all move off Sprint to a Pre Plus on VZ or ATT. Think about what makes a Carrier these days... Churn and ADDs. So if you churn a million Contract users you have to add 2 Million to make it look good. So SPRINT adds 50,000 new 4G contract users and investors sell Sprint stock cuz 100,000 PRE users left to Vz/ATT! Net is that we have in our hands the ability to control SPRINT Stock value this Quarter? One PRE at a time.
So everyone write Dan@sprint.com an email asking him what is next for us SPRINT PRE/PIXI users??? or given we are not moving off WEBOS to anyother platform, our only choice is VZ or ATT to a Palm PRE+/PIXI+.
Write him quickly, and maybe he will get Palm to leak an announ
I don't think he has too much to worry about. I would think that of those that will want to upgrade and are willing to jump carrier will need more than memory and storage for a jump.
If the next HPalm device comes out on another carrier first that's a different story, but if it doesn't come out by the end of the year it might not matter either as people will begin their migration to another device.
Dan,
You do not know me, but I am one of the 1,000,000 happy Pre users that love the WebOS. I am close to have had the Pre for a year, it has been a good year, but I need to upgrade. So tell me why I should (a) wait for the new Pre 2, (b) tries something else with Sprint that is not WebOS or (c) jump carrier to get to the Pre Plus and some of those feature.
Save Sprint and guide the millions of WebOS lovers, you owe the shareholders that much ;-))
Bjarne
Hess can't sell you what Palm won't give him.
But Dan can put pressure on HPalm, like we are putting pressure on him!
Thank you for taking the time to write. We review all the ideas and
feedback we receive. A representative from my office will be contacting
you very soon.
In the meantime, I encourage you to visit www.sprint.com to learn more.
Sprint offers the best value in the industry and makes using wireless
simpler and more worry-free through our Simply Everything plans. Our new
Any Mobile, Anytime feature on our Everything Data plans helps you to
break free of restrictive "calling circles." And, our Ready Now program
allows you to make an appointment with a store representative to become
an expert on your device.
Once again, from all of us at Sprint, thank you.
Dan Hesse
CEO, Sprint
So Depadilla, where are they going to go at the end of a year? Sprint doesnt write one year contracts. At one year, you can upgrade your phone and write a new two year deal. If you want out at one year, you're paying an ETF, and you didn't have to wait twelve months for that option.
Big talk, now walk.
Though everyone's all excited about Android and Iphone, as I listen to gadget podcasts I think they want to like Palm, but don't like the hardware. It seems relatively clear that webOS is the best UI by far, but the phones need to be bigger and better. And the app catalog needs to grow exponentially. I love my Pre - since launch - but the Evo is pretty cool. I played with one at the Sprint store and would buy one in a second if it had webOS. But I wouldn't buy Android. It's just terrible to use. Palm, come out with something compelling and new and everyone will jump on board. I'm waiting and holding out hope.
Guys, don't forget, Apple has a little event today.
Things will be quiet for the Pre and that's a good thing. If they have a new device, they need to release it at a quiet time, without other phones stealing the limelight. To release within the next 60 days would be futile.
Ha-Ha! the ironic part is,those EVO ship-jumpers that left palm for Andriod,is now complaining.At first it seem cool & interesting,because of the big form-factor & "wow",hardware.After a day & two,ex-Preowners are now experiencing something totally different.My brother & his friends are homebrewers from the hacking Pre community.They got all the preware,themes,on their pre.The excitement of the EVO was,duplicating the same with Andriod,but they've realised that,hacking is not as easy on Andriod,as is it on the Pre.They also have to root their EVO to be able to get froyo 2.2 to work,which is a risky thing,compare to Homebrew on the Pre which is partially supported by Palm them self.They also complaining that Android doesn't have mutiple exchange email account,hate the drop-down notifications from the top,which always interrupt.Battery life is slightly different from the Pre,no real-time mul-titasking.They missed the gestures area,EVO screen is being wasted,with few icons on it,but the rest could've been more spread out.Overall,my brothers & his friends love the EVO hardward,but just hate Andriod.They gonna have it for 30days try-out,than return it.
i'm doing the same thing. testing the evo on a separate line before considering a switch. i'd say it's about 50/50, and if palm even mentions new hardware for this year i'll hold out. i'll still develop for palm, but i love the video chat feature (which i already use quite a bit with long-distance family), the size is a plus for me, and the SPEED!!! the 1ghz processor and 4G make this thing snappy. haven't had a single lag yet, compared to the pre's plague of lagging and glitchiness. i do love webOS, and still claim it's the best mobile OS ever built. we'll see in 26 days...
This is totally their opinion...Lol because this phone plays the PRE away in every category imaginable. If your logic correct then why is the PRE the most returned out of any other smartphone? It has a return rate of 36%.. We know you are loyal but my friend..The PRE has absolutley nothing compared to the EVO. P.S. Used Palm products since Treo 600!!
Thanks
pre is the best phone ... but where is my flash !!!
what i fail to understand, is there are people that will defend the pre no matter what the complaint. it is like the iphone. i wont buy an iphone because it wont function, as a phone (and the att is brutal). my brother and cousin both have an iphone, and drop calls with me regularly, but wont admit it is a problem-just a for instance).
i see the same type thing on here. like hardware isnt a problem, i only had to return my phone 4 times, and now i have a good one. speed isnt an issue, size isnt an issue, battery life can be fixed...blah blah blah
people are leaving palm or not coming for two reasons, hardware and speed. the OS is far and away better than the rest. but people want it to work out of the box. i dont mind installing patches, but i would much rather not have to jack with it, most people wont even consider it. i am telling you right now, put webos on the evo4g hardware and that sucker would be sailing off of shelves and being hailed as the iphone killer, the webos is just that much better.
why they are waiting around is beyond everyone. why not make an announcement at least to get people anticipating the new device, they just dont seem to care at all.
Pretty much. Palm HAS to announce something soon... they don't have a choice if they want to remain relevant. Yes, most people agree that their OS is better than the rest, but that doesn't matter if people hate the hardware and think it's junk.
They took far too long to launch on AT&T, and it's really going to screw them over. They can't announce anything soon now because it really slaps AT&T in the face. But now that the one year upgrade has come and gone for launch Pre owners they need something to keep their attention. Either a new phone, or WebOS 2.0. Something big needs to happen, and soon, or they'll loose even more users to Android than they already have with the Evo. Not to mention the new iPhone. If that comes out on AT&T within the next 30 days, anyone that bought a WebOS phone might as well be considered a lost user.
Oh, and they really have to promote how easy it is to port over apps from iPhone and Android to WebOS and how easy it is to develop for WebOS. They need apps, desperately. Without apps, people won't even give WebOS a chance, even if it was on hardware like the Evo. Next to terrible hardware, app selection is the second biggest complaint I hear about.
I love WebOS, but I hate the Pre hardware. If they don't announce something within the next few months, I'm switching to an Evo.
In a few months the Evo will be old news. That's the nature of smartphones and especially Android.
.
I jumped to the EVO on Friday morning and feel like someone who's just realized how abusive their old relationship was when they meet someone who doesn't beat them constantly. To see the snarling hatred from the Pre loyalists here indicates stubborn contrariness and basic ignorance as to what the EVO actually is.
Yes, webOS was very nice and elegant, but the PIM was crap and app development was too slow. I seem to be one of the lucky ones who had the same handset he got a year ago, but it was at war with the OS because Palm went cheap and underspeced the original Pre compared to the Plus. When you only have email open and clicking a web link triggers a Too Many Cards error, you don't have a multitasking phone. When scrolling thru your email list freezes for 5-10 seconds and it's the only thing open, you don't even have a functioning phone. And before you plead that installing UberKernel and 30 Preware patches fixes most of those problems, ask yourself, "Why is it even necessary to hack, patch, and overclock the phone to make it usable in the first place and why is this acceptable?"
Using the EVO has been revelatory. That big screen you're poo-pooing? It makes stuff easy to read! Web pages fit better in a 800x480 window than a 480x320 peephole. Hitting a link fire up a browser that renders the page in a few seconds that would've taken much longer on the Pre. You aren't waiting and praying, you're just using and doing stuff. I'm still getting the hang of the virtual keyboard, but the autocorrect and prediction are really good and I'm much faster than I was on the Pre. Twice the MHz and RAM makes it BLAZE compared to the Pre.
I understand the desire to root for the underdog and to be loyal to your preferred OS, but there's a time for rational folks to face facts and the facts are that all of you who are praying for a magic bullet Pre 2 probably have a long wait ahead. HP doesn't really care about smartphones, hasty corrections aside, and there isn't even a hint of new hardware coming anytime soon. Waiting for the Pre 2 is like waiting for Godot. Palm's botching of webOS by chaining it to sketchy hardware and the worst tech marketing campaign possible - "It's reading my mind. Bing. Bing. Bing." - is something that should make you believers angry, not inclined to hug them tighter, but whatever.
excellent post!
and to your last paragraph, they are no longer the underdog when they are part of the biggest tech company in the world.
It doesn't matter if they're part of the biggest company in the world if that company has little (or only grudging) interest in making phone products. While it may be nice to have webOS on tablets, printers and toasters, if it's not on PHONES then what is the point? It'd be like marrying a supermodel, but not wanting to go out with her in public and restricting her activities to answering emailed questions about proper knitting techniques.
I want better hardware, but I just won't give up the WebOS goods to get it.
WOWW!!! lol! You just told e'm like it is. the truth hurts sometimes
Nice post!
I'm a Palm webOS fan but I'm with you on many, if not all of your points. Bagging on the EVO is a futile proposition (as it was with the Droid and the Incredible). Android phones are and have been worthy contenders for anyone looking at smartphones. Maybe not be for everyone, but certainly worth a look by everyone. The addition of the EVO, specked to the gills with resolution, ram, memory and screen real estate, has upped the ante for every phone including whatever Palm brings to market next.
I just saw the new iPhone 4 video and hell, I used to think HTC was the devil. Now I'm not so sure. I think Apple is the devil now. The new iPhone looks amazing. I can't believe I'm saying that but the EVO and iPhone 4 are going to make EVERY phone from this day forward earn their patronage.
I hope this means we all win in the end with choice, choice, choice... Palm users or not.
DirkBelig,
Your post is one of the best posts I've seen on this matter. Thank you.
@DirkBelig - great post...and I've been a fanboy of Palm...but I don't see anything new and improved to be a fan of.
The question at the end of the article asked: are you worried about what we suspect will be a lack of carrier attention in the near future?
I ask: is there a near future for Palm whatsoever? I'm on Sprint, and at a minimum you would think there would be a Pre Plus announcement for those who started it all a year ago.... There is no hint of a product roadmap right now for the short or long term. Are there no prototypes for a Palm employee to accidentally leave behind in a bar somewhere? Nada. There is no mill to rumor. (I think I've stayed current on this...correct me if I'm wrong.)
I like webOS, and I really like the things that WebOS Internals have done to make webOS really functional, but I ...................... ....................
(comment is unfinished purposefully, reflecting the nature of Palm's webOS and the devices one can only dream about after they have watched what cool new hardware and OS enhancements that everyone else is coming out with......)
"Why they are waiting around is beyond everyone"
Nope, only beyond those who are oblivious. For Palm to announce new hardware before or immediately after their launch on ATT would be a HUGE slap in the face of ATT.
Secondly, Palm is still just Palm, they're dealing with very limited funds until the HP sale is complete and any new device will be an HP device. They can't announce an HP device while they're just Palm.
Honestly, take some time to think before you spew stupidity all over the floor.
keep on making excuses for palm, instead of just admitting what we all already know. no longer does anyone want the pre. it is tired and people are and have been over it since about month 6.
just as the person above said, they screwed webos by putting it on this POS device. nice job fucking up your brilliant software palm, and way to correct your mistakes by letting it lay there and die for a year
keep on making excuses for palm, instead of just admitting what we all already know. no longer does anyone want the pre. it is tired and people are and have been over it since about month 6.
just as the person above said, they screwed webos by putting it on this POS device. nice job fucking up your brilliant software palm, and way to correct your mistakes by letting it lay there and die for a year
"For Palm to announce new hardware before or immediately after their launch on ATT would be a HUGE slap in the face of ATT."
I don't buy that. Does AT&T carry the Droid or one of the similar top tier Andoid iPhone competitors? No. You know why? Because THEY don't want to piss off the goose that laid the golden egg, Apple.
AT&T picked up the Pre and Pixi after it was well established that they are niche devices that are in no way competitors for the flagship device. I guaranty you that if Palm introduced a credible competitor to the iPhone that AT&T wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
With today's introduction of the iPhone 4, time is ticking and Palm needs to respond quickly. The last thing they should worry about is pleasing a company that is married to the iPhone.
If they have a phone ready to go then they need to announce it NOW. Doing anything else is foolish.
I love My Pre and will even more with the updates and newer phone specs. Everyone has pouring out really wonderful wish lists and I hope they come true and I hope its gorgeous. It is without a doubt the best OS out there. I have faith in it and will stand behind it.
Guys just get the evo4g,great phone I coolant wait all year for palm. try new things like I did .then wait for palms new phone next year. By then they will have their shit together or not.
Battery life great..6hrs more than normal use of my then palm pre....DAMN
Why would anyone want a phone that big? who has a pocket big enough to fit this in. The beauty of the Pre is the form factor it fit nicely in the hand and is easy to use.
I for one will be waiting patiently for a new Palm device.
To me, the bigger story is not that EVO outsold the Pre on launch day, it's that it outsold the Pre and Instincts' opening weekend combined by a factor of 3 on Luanch day. I calculate that to mean that Sprint sold at least 275,000-300,000 EVO's on day 1. That's iPhone-esque. And this is with the new iPhone announcement around the corner, just like with last year Pre launch. Pretty clearly, Sprint was not the problem with the Pre launch, nor was the iPhone. Palm just missed their mark about what the smartphone market wanted.
Can they fix that? Not if what the smartphone market wants is Android.
Sprint sold 320k Evo 4G's on the launch day alone, according to Business Week.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-07/sprint-says-evo-4g-phone-bre...
much has changed in the past year in this market. I think all of the droid marketing that was crammed down consumers throats got a lot of newbies on board. I dont think you can compare a launch in summer of 09 with summer launch 2010...
palm seems to be taking their time... and working on a killer device. thats what will fix that. android and iphone users will have buyers remorse... best advertising possible.
is it just me or does this new EVO seem too big! Not only that, it is heavy. I like to keep my phone in my pocket and, even though this is a beautiful phone, it is much bigger than I would like to carry around. Big is not always better.
I have say that I am worried it just doesn't look good for the webos platform I have an EVO ON ANOTHER LINE TO TEST IT OUT RIGHT NOW I LOVE THE PHONE BUT I DON'T LIKE ANDROID JUST YET IF I DON'T USE IT FOR A MAIN PHONE I WILL PROBABLY KEEP IT AND USE IT AS A HOT SPOT FOR MY IPAD BCUZ IT'S CHEAPER THAN HOT FROM SPRINT ALONE AND UNLIMITED DATA EVEN FOR AN EXTRA LINE IT'S A TOTAL OF $30 DOLLARS AS AN EXTRA LINE THAT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!! BUT I'M PROBABLY GONNA GIVE WEBOS 6 MORE MONTHS
The Sprint store by me really doesn't even support the Palm products anymore. I was there to get my Pre exchanged (no sound due to headphone plug failure again) and someone was asking about the Pixi and they talked them out of it and suggested the BB curve or the Samsung Moment. I returned to the store to pick up my replacement a few days later (as they didn't have one instock to replace it with) and there was no one else there and I was asking if they sell many Pre/Pixi's and he said no. He said they see a lot of returns and generally will not push the device unless someone is really deadset on getting it.
I do not see Sprint supporting the Pre anymore. I think this maybe their biggest downfall. The carriers really aren't supporting it because of the numerous hardware issues. Why would they support a device they need to exchange every two months? I occasionally use my headphones at work as I don't bring my stereo bluetooths to work very often and I am on my third Pre because of the headphone failure issue.
On a side note - I cannot believe we didn't get any apps on the year anniversary of the Pre being released....disappointing.
it is also very difficult for sprint to push the pre, when if i were new to buying one and had done my research, i would be asking why they dont have the pre plus. i tell people that the OS is better and that is it, if i were working there, i couldnt say any more than that. plus it is dated, in the smartphone market, 1yr old is stone age times.
I want more memory built in for app space and working RAM. This would help in a lot of areas.
I want a slightly larger screen. (I really like the size of the Pre. It feels good in the hand to use as a phone. Remember, that is what this thing is first off!)
I want a sharper screen that is GLASS so we don't have to worry as much about scratches.
I want a REMOVABLE MEMORY CARD SLOT! It's not that hard to do MicroSD, people!
The 1500mah battery sounds about right.
I love the touchstone. I love it so much I own 3 of them! one for work, one at home and one in my car! Owning the touchstones has actually kept me from wanting to "jump ship" to the Android phone.
Faster processor and tweek the OS where it boots a LOT faster! More memory would probably assist here, but it's just crazy how long it takes this phone to get to a "ready" state.
I want an app that I can use on my PC or Mac to sync playlists from iTunes easily. It doesn't currently exist. Yes, iTunes isn't the darling, but for those of us who use it because we've bought tons of digital music, it's what we have! Make it easier for us to leverage this, please!
I believe they package double twist now and suggest using that. Double twist is also the preferred media manager for Android too.
I prefer using media monkey myself though. I really haven't used Double Twist a whole lot. Media monkey is pretty nice though.
The evo is a very cool phone, however it's incredibly hard to throw away my pre. I think WebOS is def the cleanest and easiest to use UI so far. I say people should hold tight to their pre and wait for the next WebOS phone. Yes, the pre has it's issues but how often am I gaming on my phone to where the "too many cards" error really gets to be a bother? Sure, my phone randomly shuts off from time to time, but that's probably my fault with all the tweaks and bs. Wait for the next one guys! Plus the evo is a giant, I like phones in my pocket not a case or my girls purse. The pre has come a long way since it's release and hopefully a new WebOS device services in the near future.
The Pre is the WebOs' butt phone. I can't even tell you how many times I have read "I love WebOs buuutttt...". For all the features mentioned above I'm switching (for now). When HPalm comes out with their next phone I might switch back. I just want to make sure it's not another butt phone. In the meanwhile I still support Palm and its devs through my son's Pre and daughters Pixie. Just a shout out... love the palmcasts! I'll still watch/listen, thanks.
The evo is a very cool phone, however it's incredibly hard to throw away my pre. I think WebOS is def the cleanest and easiest to use UI so far. I say people should hold tight to their pre and wait for the next WebOS phone. Yes, the pre has it's issues but how often am I gaming on my phone to where the "too many cards" error really gets to be a bother? Sure, my phone randomly shuts off from time to time, but that's probably my fault with all the tweaks and bs. Wait for the next one guys! Plus the evo is a giant, I like phones in my pocket not a case or my girls purse. The pre has come a long way since it's release and hopefully a new WebOS device services in the near future.
I'm not worried because there's nothing for anyone to pay attention to. Pre is a year old already.
If Palm wants attention again, they need to announce a NEW PHONE ALREADY. And start paying big time developers to make apps for the phone, like Apple "convinced" websites to use HTML5.
I feel that WebOS is indeed the best mobile platform available, but like most others here, Palm has screwed the proverbial pooch on the hardware front. Other than the vague C40 rumors, there are absolutely no rumblings about any new Palm device, while Apple, Moto, HTC and Google are churning out new bits and pieces at break neck speeds. Why stay with the Palm?
I am a loyalist as much as I can be, but when my coworkers are screaming through attachments, websites and other fun phone based work, and I am rebooting due to 'too many cards' errors....what's the point? I don't feel that we as users should be made to suffer because we try and back a company. If the company was paying us, sure, but we are paying THEM. (or paid them....however you view it). We are the customers and should expect our vendors and carriers to support us. We get none of this. I will most likely be jumping ship back to an iPhone in the Fall. I shudder at the ATT idea, but even with a poor network, I can still get more done that I can on my Pre.
I defected from att to Sprint for the Pre, and the monetary value of the smartphone Sprint family plan. Our family really can't afford unlimited plans on any other network, so we are staying with Sprint as long as the price is right for smartphones and the cellular network maintains decent quality of connectivity. I like WebOS, and plan to remain a loyal consumer of WebOS products as long as the price is right, and there is no significant disadvantage in user friendly modern communication features among other operating systems/hardware.
I'd like to see some HP hand calculator emulators (I have The Marco's emulator) and some engineering related tools/software on future Palm devices. I'd also like to see the phone hardware have world band radio frequencies available for use on multiple networks--unlocked.
They need apps. Smart phone are going to be driven by how many apps people percieve they can get on the platform. Whenever I want an app, it's always released on iPhone, Blackberry, and Andoid. The Pre will suffer a slow death unless they can exponentially grow their app catalog.
Oh yeah, here's another freakin idea. SPELL CHECK! My old non-smart phone had a better spell check. How can any company honestly release a product that they intend business people to utilize without providing a robust spell check? There is a very good reason my business phone is a Blackberry.
I don't think so...If some one is too stupid to spell then they should not have a smart phone... Besides There is a patch to ad auto-replace 3000 words anyways
How's this for a catch line for ANY new phone. "Life moves fast, slow down or you'll miss everything" (that matters)
So there we go.... Dan Hess responded to Bjarne, (Pre User, see above post), and Dan was very non-commital on what is next for PRE Users on Sprint, except to go to the Sprint site to see what they have to offer.
To all the Pre users and lovers on this site, not you haters...
we have two options:
Wait it out a bit or
Move now to another carrier to get a PLUS Palm phone, or move to another phone on Sprint to keep great plans, lousy phone.
I just sent my cousin to ATT to get a Pre+ vs a Sprint EVO.
She is happy spending a bit more for a user friendly phone that DOES WHAT SHE NEEDS VS. all the great things it can do that she does not need or want.
Worried about the OS going to waste.
My friend switched to the EVO, and I played with it, from OS to OS, hands down webOS is more intuitive and user friendly.
Keyboard on Evo, nah still Real keyboard works better, even the Pre's that people said is not so great. (Not me not many problems with it)
Without special apps going from email to web or to any other app and coming back is like OLD times, back to Home and then opening it. Although Android keeps some apps open, as it comes in the box you can hold the Home key and see 6 of them, but U can't close them .
As I use what I need and left open what I need on the Pre.
Also you can't open more than 1 Browser window at the same time. yes you can install firefox but, still Pre Does, droid Dosen't ;-)
I will LOVE to see a piece of hardware like the EVO with a WebOS and then I will buy an EVO. So far, I'm waiting, Android doesn't convince me yet.
I hope HP moves on, it will be a waste to let webOS slide, although we can see that consumers are not very intelligent, they still buy Apple products just because they are ... cool.
+1. i agree wholeheartedly. and yep Android still doesn't impress my picky tastes as an OS.
Well, thank God.
Hopefully this means, we now are riddded of the play-kids and fan boys, who annoy everybody with their constant wailing for more - more apps, more mega-this, more giga-that. And a new phone AT LEAST once a month. Here is your chance to move along, go get an Evo - and get lost. I'm not gonna miss you.
Actually I am very happy, that H/P refrains from trying to get into this stupid "smartphone war", don't waste money on that. Evolve the platform, evolve WebOS and give us a nice Pre++ in 2011. A phone for people who want to GTD and not need a useless toy to boast about in the college dorm.
This is quite the short sighted and haughty reply. I want to get things done, too, but I want to be UP TO SPEED of competing products as I get them done. I am an IT professional and am not trying to impress anyone with what phone I have...except myself. I want to be impressed with a platform that has significant developers working on applications that allow me to perform my job at a level on par with people who choose a different platform.
And 2011? Regardless of whether you feel it is smart to engage in the "smartphone war" as you put it, a two year cycle for hardware releases is asinine and shows your obvious lack of understanding of how dire the situation is for the WebOS you so love. Unless Palm hits the market with a handset that is able to compete, and does so within the next few months, there will be no one left to support them when they finally drag their new product to market. The Pre has obviously, as much as we love it, been a failure of a device. Even if every current and former Pre owner converted to the 'new' Palm device in 2011, that is still not a significant install base and could not be seen as a success. Palm must not only keep us diehards from jumping ship, but also convert mass amounts of currently satisfied iPhone, BB and Android users. No easy task.
Time is of the essence.
Yes I am nervous for one because I am loyal to Palm but the Evo is making me salivate. The fact is is that Palm has struggled with carrier support this whole time. The fact that Sprint was the only carrier that revered the Pre as a premium smartphone has jumped off the band wagon is bad. Another reason I'm worried is that HP has said that they didn't buy Palm to get into the smartphone business, and that they are doubling down on WebOS not on the Pre. To me this means that if we get a new pre at all its going to be a long way out. Sprint and Clearwire also made a statement that they do not expect a 4G WebOS device this year. Please please please Palm get on this new hardware!
Some features I want on the next Palm device:
1.5ghz processor
8-10mp camera
front facing camera
visual voice mail
voice command search (One feature I miss from my Instinct)
HDMI out
4"+ screen
maybe even a kick stand like the Evo
I also think they should launch three devices
the Pre 2
the Pixi 2
and the Pre 2 Horizon with a horizontal keyboard
"The fact that Sprint was the only carrier that revered the Pre as a premium smartphone has jumped off the band wagon is bad."
Agreed...though they never really seemed fully on the band wagon to me.
I LOVE my PRE!!! However, I would like a bigger screen to play all the fun games. I'm an app guy and the the Pre is absolutely sucking with cool, fun apps right now. I recently gave my mom my ipod classic and went out and bought an itouch. I'm having so much more fun with my itouch than with my Pre with all the cool apps that are available in the app store.
As of right now though, I cannot switch phones because the Pre is able to handle multiple exchange accounts and I need that for my business. I've been told that no other phone is capable of that right now. Come on HP/Palm, I want a bigger screen (slightly smaller then Evo and maybe slightly bigger than iphone would be my preference), better camera, more speed (one of the only reasons I haven't chucked my Pre is because I use the 800MHz kernel...) Give me some good news soon!!!
Well folks, it has been a year of up and downs, kind of like a rollercoaster ride with Palm and the PRE...
I just experienced the new Iphone and I am getting on board.
I am just too connected to my smartphone and what it needs to do for me vs. what I have to do for it...
So this is my last gasping post on this board.
Best of luck to all and may your next phone come soon....!!
"are you worried about what we suspect will be a lack of carrier attention in the near future?"
I think Pre loyalists should be more worried by Palm's inability to deliver significant new features and functionality, and up-to-date hardware, in a timely manner. Doing that will get the carrier's attention. Along with the attention of technology web sites, blogs, magazines and newspapers. More of the same-old, same-old, will not.
I have an HTC Evo Palm Pre and Palm Pixi selling the pixi but keeping the pre on my main line... just playing with the HTC EVO
to me, palm was the innovator for smartphones, before the iphone came into play. I owned a treo, lifedrive and now the palm pre. I still use my treo for some of the apps I have loaded on it that is not available for the palm pre.
I am thinking about switching to EVO why because it doesn't look good for palm. HP wants to compete with Apple of course, and they probably going to stick with their strongest product, computers not smartphones. Palm should have another WEBOS phone in development now maybe even two models. But they put all their eggs in one basket, the palm pre.
My pre the power button is disabled, I have to use a sharp object to turn it off and on. When I talk on the phone receiver, my friends can hardly hear me, so I walk around with earphones to use when someone calls. And only one earphone works. Palm should of focused on getting webos out there more. Partnered up with someone who had the hardware to put it out there.
Well, I would equate being a Verizon Palm Pre Plus customer with the "red-headed step-child" category already. ;)
I'm not loyal to any cell phone so i guess i won't answer the question.
"smitten" is the word I think you were looking for, D.
Man, look at the size of that thing! Is that even pocketable?
Webos is indeed the best platform maybe in its 2.0 stage. I am a Palm fan but after getting disgusted with Palm I had to make a change. Palms CEO has no business with a job at this point he should be FIRED. He failed Palm with approving the production of product with an OS at 30% operating correctly and hardware to go along that had no foresight on the future. The hardware on the PRE was and is nothing revolutionary like the EVO.
If me and you are running a 5 mile race and your started 2 miles before me I could never possible catch you if we are running the same speed. The only way I can possibly win is if I run double your speed. Get my drift?? Palm should have thought about the future and not what was out at the present!! For this failure to look beyond and big box I fault no one but John R.!!
Utter Failures of the 2009 "Smartphone"
1. No notification LED
2. No Voice call.
3. Low megapixel camera
4. No text forwarding
5. No video recording
6. Poor custimization ( regular users)
7. No voice record
8. No picture editing
9. No HD recording
10. Very small screen
11. No apps
12. No USEFUL apps
13. Horrid battery life
15. Defective hardware
The are just a few point on where Palm failed!
what you're not thrilled to see more bible apps, tic tac toe, quotes and other stuff nobody was asking for? Me when i bought my pre i was like, "i can't wait to have a phone with basically mediocre novelty apps and no mainstream support." Yippee! Oh that was supposed to be sarcasm on my part.
do you not know that you are not allowed to speak unkindly about the pre on here?
I saw the EVO 4G at my local radio shack. was unable to play with it. sales rep ask if i was ready to switch. i said no. i have confidence in PALM. i mean they have to be seeing all this. they have the best OS with the most potential IMO. however they need to make a great phone hardware wise.
what do consumers want. what demographic are they shooting for. do the research and just get the damn job done. i mean Android is great looking. but it is no webOS. and they don't have to build a brick either. get the hardware right. folks i think want a multimedia/phone/mini-pc device in their hands. that is what things are trending to. build a device with the things people want right out of the box. don't half ass bake it either.
i agree with a lot of folk in this forum they are running out of time it is now or never. and if not PALM i know Android is not a choice for me. and when they send the new device skip the esoteric commercials. go right for the jugular.
I think one reason Pre did not seell that many units opening weekend is that they didn't release that many units. No store I checked with (Sprint, Best Buy or otherwise got more than 5 phones). I was hyped to get mine before anyone else, but had to wait 3 weeks to get mine. I love it. I think the size is great, it's sleek and sexy...i will stick with HPalm as long as they continue to develop. I think they will get more competitive...just have to be patient.
sorry palm but iphone 4 is SHITTING ON YOU right now. I might have to switch even thoug I love sprint and their plans. Coverage is ok but yea. I havnt even heard of a preview or palm indicating a release of the next webos device and it's already been a year. Step it up or this smartphone market will swallow you
i am not only eligible for upgrade in two months but contract as well. if there is not a new palm device mentioned i more than likely will be switching to att for the iphone 4. this is way more interesting than the evo 4g
I'm a Palm webOS fan but I'm with you on many, if not all of your points. Bagging on the EVO is a futile proposition (as it was with the Droid and the Incredible). Android phones are and have been worthy contenders for anyone looking at smartphones. Maybe not be for everyone, but certainly worth a look by everyone. The addition of the EVO, specked to the gills with resolution, ram, memory and screen real estate, has upped the ante for every phone including whatever Palm brings to market next.
I just saw the new iPhone 4 video and hell, I used to think HTC was the devil. Now I'm not so sure. I think Apple is the devil now. The new iPhone looks amazing. I can't believe I'm saying that but the EVO and iPhone 4 are going to make EVERY phone from this day forward earn their patronage.
I hope this means we all win in the end with choice, choice, choice... Palm users or not.
I'll say it again. I just saw the iPhone 4 video. It is a sad day for me... but I think I'm starting to drink Steve Job's kool-aid. The iPhone 4 looks incredible... on par in many and maybe superior in other ways to the EVO 4G.
Apple is the devil. I'm almost certain of that. Now having said that, Palm has 3 things going for it:
1. Sprint / Sprint pricing (assuming next gen Palm device is on Sprint (which I'm partial to for pricing reasons alone).
2. Vertical slider and physical keyboard form factor. Still my form factor of choice.
3. WebOS. I am and will always be a fan of webOS... but as the other OS's improve I see that OS gap narrowing.
Come on Palm... spill the beans on new devices. Please.
I really think Palm, or HPalm, or whatever, should release a couple of new phones in the next months, being September the later... Iphone 4G is coming out and we all know Apple will sell millions just the first month, and that they will keep selling millions the next months... There
I really think Palm, or HPalm, or whatever, should release a couple of new phones in the next months, being September the later... Iphone 4G is coming out and we all know Apple will sell millions just the first month, and that they will keep selling millions the next months... There
also I would try to improve a little WebOS, it might still be the best smartphone OS out there, but I think there still is room for improvement
can somebody tell me please what webos does that the iphone 4 or the evo 4g cant?? cause i dont think theres much... i think i can list more of what the iphone 4 and the evo 4g CAN DO that webos only dreams of doing...?!!?! list it out for me ppl!! webos is getting old
like others I exchanged my air card line for a EVO, I use the hot spot and have all the other features for the same price. I love me pre but they need to add some quality and features if they really want a piece of the smartphone pie. I will wait and hope but when I order apple pie I want some apples not just crust. EVO and iphone 4 has apples.
I just visited a Sprint store to get some play time with the EVO. The store manager noticed my Pre and her comment to me was: "I see you have a Pre. How much do you hate it?"
Back in the day (closer to June 6th, '09) I would have defended the device. Now that I'm on my 4th Pre (this one already has the dang charging-door-crack-spreading-to-the-screen defect), I simply said, I like the OS but the hardware sucks. That's why I'm even considering the EVO. We talked a bit about the Pre, how it sold, the too many returns, the issues and her main message to me was that the Pre was just bad for business at Sprint with all the returns and issues (her words, not mine).
Anyway, I need something like Mifi for the work that I do, but couldn't justify the price of the plan (in addition to my 4-line family plan) when I tried it. Maybe adding $30 to my line won't be too bad to do the same thing with an EVO. Not sure yet. Verizon is simply not an option for me and AT&T is even less of an option. So I'm shopping, and I'm only shopping at Sprint since that's my carrier of choice. At Sprint, the EVO is the only phone that seems to fit my needs (with a few bonuses) besides the Pre.
Now, I'm not yet 100% convinced that the EVO is for me; I'm still evaluating it. What I am 100% convinced of is that I am not getting a 5th Pre.
While I would love to think that the success of the EVO and the announcement of the Iphone 4G would have some wheels slowly turning into motion at Palm, I'm convinced that the inevitable future of webOS stands with what my first thoughts were when I first experienced webOS: It's a great IU and OS, to bad its just on this phone. HP recognizes the potential of webOS as a mobile entity and will focus its resources into webOS as that. Will it be on smartphones? Yes, but nothing close to what we are seeing from Apple, htc and others right now. Tablets, printers and mobile connected devices will be the future for webOS, sadly top of the line smartphones will most likely be an afterthought until HP can extend webOS to those devices first.
In short, I can't see HP focusing any immediate resources on a new webOS smartphone unless Palm has something deeply invested in already in the works.
I have been fairly disgusted by how the cell phone carriers here in the USA have been ignoring the Palm devices. Can they really expect sales when the most they do is put them in a display case, but never show the phone to prospective customers?
Honestly, if you were to walk into a car dealer and the sales people only showed you the SUVs but skipped right over the smaller cars, how many smaller cars would be sold? What if there were no commercials, and the web pages make no mention of many models?
Verizon and AT&T sales people have not even seen a Palm Pre in many stores, even when they sell them. The next time you call customer service, ask them if they have ever seen the Palm Pre Plus in person.
So, I am not really worried about the cell phone carriers ignoring the Palm phones, because they have already been ignoring the Palm phones from day one. AT&T is the worst because they keep pushing the idiotic iPhone, even when people want a physical keyboard!
Well, I'll say this:
I really...I mean REALLY love WebOS. I'm concerned about the fact that here's the OS with all the hype and a handset that just doesn't quiiiite cut it. Developers are giving up I think mostly because of a lack of users. Why bother creating or even porting an app to such a niche market?
Hopefully, with the acquisition by HP, Palm will develop better hardware and run WebOS on several different devices. I think that's pretty much the plan.
As far as switching, I think I'll most likely purchase the EVO but I'm really looking forward to a next-gen Palm device. 1 gig processors are becoming more common with smartphones. I'm thinking it would behoove Palm to use a bigger or dual processor. Imagine how sick WebOS would be THEN!?!?
Question for the owners of the EVO...I've noticed my pre gets FIRECRACKER hot! I'm not sure why...but I hate it. It could be in my pocket practically BURNING me and I don't overclock the processor. Have you noticed anything like this with the EVO? I kind of write it off to, more powerful device, using more energy, no fan....it's going to get hot!
It's caused me to restart the pre quite a few times.
My main reasons for wanting to switch, the pre is glitchy, slow, takes over 4 minutes to start up (and sometimes luna restarts after I drop a call...so I can't call BACK for over 4 minutes) and the damn thing is just really quirky!!! There are certain people I can't text...and I don't know why. Their number is correct, it's a cell phone, but the phone just doesn't LIKE them. Just too many reasons to NOT be upset with the phone...and trust me, I've boasted about how cool this thing is for over a year now...but as it turns out...it's meh.
Until Palm releases a second gen with increased capabilities and better hardware all around, I think I'm going to have to reluctantly move on. Can't say I didn't give it the ol' college try!!
I switched from the Pre to the Ultimate Evo! I can care less about 4G, that's just the icing on the cake for me. The phone without 4G is still kickazz. It's just a bullet point for features IMO. I have it in my city, but the 4G area is so limited. If HP/Palm brings new hardware by June of next year, then I will consider the device. That's the great thing about Sprint, you can get a new phone every year. Last year it was the Pre and this year it's the Evo. Web OS is awesome, but the feature side of the phone was a huge letdown. We didn't get video recording until the end of the year, It took 6 months to get 3D games, they have yet to add voice recording, and the app market is paltry! Palm failed the Pre! They released a product that was unfinished. I felt like I had a Beta product. The OS is awesome, but the Pre was a huge disappointment. Then they gave Verizon and AT&T a better version, but didn't upgrade Sprint version of the Palm Pre. I don't see how any smartphone geek can stay with the Pre, when the Evo is available. Besides the size of the phone, what is not to like? Android layered with Sense is awesome! Webos has swipes and Android has holds. I miss being able to delete all of my emails at one time. I got tired of freaking swiping every email. WebOS currently doesn't support voice recongnition. Using your voice to text, call, and search google is awesome! Over 30K Apps!!! WebOS is great, but it's still can't compare to what Android 2.1 offers. Multitasking and Cards are the only advantage IMO. They both do notifications extremely well. Regarding the size, I don't have a problem with it. Unless you wear tight or fitted jeans all the time, fitting the phone in your pocket is not a problem. I like a holster to protect the phone. I just don't understand why anyone would put a phone with that type of screen in their pocket. I'm giving my Pre to my mother. She saw my Evo and thought it was awesome, but she can't turn down a few phone. Plus I just got it replaced a few weeks ago, so it's brand new.
Palm should wait for the 4G market to refine a bit before busting it out. I wont switch to Sprint to buy the first of next gen radio phones and I have no need for Android OS anytime soon either. As others have said size is key. The Pre is a highly functional device which actually fits in a small space. These big screen billboard devices are something I find disgusting functionally and aesthetically. Keyboards and pocketability are key.
@pantiko
1) Full social networking integration! Ex. 1 contact linking to Facebook and Twitter
2) Voice commands!
3) Delete all emails at one time! (that was so annoying)
4) Video calls
5) Flash
6) The ability to send specific numbers directly to voice mail!
The EVO is a frickin tank!! And Android?? Give me a break!
Sure the hardware is impressive, but Android is....well, not WebOS.
What do you need big a** screen for anyway? Are you really watching movies on your phone? I understand some of us are on the north side of 50 and reading the Pre's screen is a bit of a challenge, so bigger makes sense. I get that. But for the rest of us...texting, emailing, FB'n and even surfing the web, the Pre's screen does a decent job (bump it up to 3.5 w/o increasing the form factor and we're golden).
Plus, with such a big screen/phone, you can't one hand it anymore. That coupled with the multitasking (AND Uber patch) makes using the Pre fun AND easy to use; grab phone, power on with index finger, swipe up w/ thumb to unlock, flick the cards til you get to the desired app and off you go. Go ahead and try it!
The EVO is a great piece of hardware. If I lost my Pre and somebody just gave me the EVO, I'm sure I'd make do and probably get used to, and possibly like it.
WebOS is just too awesome! But I too will be waiting to see what WebOS device HP/Palm comes out with next. The Pre is a year old now, so I hope we hear something soon!! Once 4G hits my area and the next round of devices come out...I dunno = )
Why does someone need a big ass screen?
Well, why does anyone want a 400hp car? Why does anyone want a $500,000 supercar?
I think that if you had a larger screen device, you would not want to go smaller. The 4.3" screen is great for surfing and watching videos.
yes .. I bought a pre on payandgo o2 in the UK at the start of the year .. And even after so long, its not even fully supported! I can't even send/recieve MMS with my pre!? And had to find internet settings myself.. Its so frustrating.
i wish mobile carriers would start supporting palm, its not that big of an ask is it?
Lest anyone forget, the man who designed the webOS UI is now working for Google.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/05/27/palm-loses-their-lead-webos-desig...
Android will get a dose of UI goodness from Matias Duarte and his team, guaranteed.
So with that, if Android gets a card-like metaphor for multitasking (of course not infringing upon Palm/HP intellectual property), it could be the contender the Pre/webOS was supposed to be.
I'm still a big webOS fan, but also a realist. Palm needs to release new hardware post-haste, else cede the race to iPhone, Android and remain a niche device.
I know most here love the Pre an its small form factor but lets face it with so much media, web, social networks and now video chat the future is bigger screens whether you like or not.
If Palm wants to compete they need at least a 3.7" screen and different form facters or a physical & non keyboard or both to satisfy the masses.
Yes, the Iphone kept the same dimensions and form factor but with all the after market accessories it needed to be able to still fit them or people would be pissed.
The Evo is a awesome device and it fits the pockets nicely and the stock web browser is something the small screen of Pre needs where no matter how much you zoom in the text adjust to fit the screen and it also supports flash.
Now people were hoping the Iphone could of put in a bigger screen rather than more pixles, it does have a lot of wasted space that could've fit at least a 3.7" screen.
Here's a picture Evo next to the new Ipone 4.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/06/iphone-4-evo-fight...
I didn't know the Pre had so many loyal followers, but I guess if you still have a Pre today, then you have to be a loyal. I kept my Pre for 1 year! It was straight hell! Waiting 6 months to get standard features like video recording! WebOS has potential to be great, but it's just not a finished product. It's been a year and it's still not finished. I got so annoyed having to swipe every damn email when I wanted to delete it. They didn't have a select all feature. Let's not forget that this isn't a new phone company. Palm has made phones for years, so why would they skip on basic features. It made no sense! The Palm Pre failed because Palm didn't deliver the goods! Simple! The phone had so much buzz when it was introduced and they didn't capitalize on that buzz. They took over 6 months to release and they still left off basic features. I had the Palm 755P, so I know they features they had on their previous phone. I'm loving my EVO right now. I'm learning something new everyday! I now feel like I have a complete phone, not some Beta product like the Palm Pre. Palm needs to just release a new product during the holidays with some kickazz specs. Polish up the WebOS, so it's complete! HP should release a sic tablet with WebOS before the release a new phone. This will force developers to support WebPS if the tablet is a success. They still have time to recover, but time is running out.
let me preface my comment by saying the i have the EVO and kept my pre as a second line. Now i will proceed: i'm sick of hearing the comment that the EVO is too big. That is insane. Has anyone that has stated this done a comparison to the size of the iphone. I don't have an iphone but i do have an ipod touch (same dimensions as the iphone, except thickness). Anyone can do this comparison it's really f**king simple. Take an ipod touch or an iphone and set it right on top of an EVO, if you then tell me it's too big, i will tell what the five fingers said to the face.