Palm offering Free Pre Plus to 'Qualified Developers' 43
by Jonathan I Ezor Sun, 26 Sep 2010 9:11 am EDT
Alongside what may be a rebranding from Palm webOS to HP webOS in Palm's missives to developers is another intriguing tidbit: a free device program for developers.
Free Pre Plus to Qualified Developers, through October 31, contact us now at pdc@palm.com.
While we don't yet know how Palm defines "qualified developers," it's certainly worth it for developers to e-mail to find out. For the rest of you not-yet-developers, don't forget that joining Palm's Developer Program is free and easy--you too could be a "qualified developer" and not even know it!
Source: Palm Developer Newsletter
43 Comments
WebOS internals should get all over this offer.
Time to start some new rumors around that Oct. 31st date.
This could mean that WebOs 2.0 will run on the PrePlus...
If it does not run on the Sprint Palm Pre, I am going to be almighty pissed. If there is not new hardware or even an OS update there is nothing to look for as a Palm User.
I swear new phone must be only few weeks away, I say it should be out in next 5 weeks
Definitely
who would give away phones unless they were soon to be outdated.
webos internal should get on this, heck! they should get one anyways with all the patches and apps they produced over the years..
In the forums, one of the "official" Palm reps said that WebOS 2.0 will run on all current hardware. I would assume that means the current Sprint Pre Minus also. It would be cool if there was an "exchange" program for sprint customers to get a Pre Plus. Especially us Day One owners.
i agree although i know it is completely unlikely. it would be a nice gesture to us palm pre loyalist. a pre plus would make me fall in love with my pre all over again. surely all of the broken pres they have received could have been upgraded to the plus model fairly easily like some homebrew people are doing to upgrade at home. like i've read in other posts sprint probably has such a backlog of palm pres that it is an unlikely scenario. i hope they keep the pre form factor when they start releasing new hardware. i like the idea of large phones but i'm a practical person and realize my phone needs to be a phone first and entertainment hub second. i would love sprint to get an upgraded build pre plus as the lower end phone price wise and then start releasing the evo and epic killers. if 2.0 is as bad ass as i believe it will be then it would be great to get as many versions (and price points) out there for everyone. i realize the pixi is that supposed lower end phone but i want it to not be crippled with now wifi and inability to keep up with the pre in certain areas. and the name pixi as much as i like the form factor of that phone is aimed at women. most me do not want a phone called a pixi...
if webos 2.0 doesn't come for sprint am getting an evo
+1
Where is the source on this? I do not see it on developer.palm.com
A newsletter was emailed to the developers that included this information.
@OCBill Would be nice to have a new device in the next 5 weeks but we still have not even seen anything going through the FCC.
I think they can ask the FCC to keep filings confidential.
They can, but IIRC we would still see something pass through with PALM or HP on it, just no details (such as radio type, dimensions, etc.)
besides, somehow, thru mr. blurry cam, and other hackers and what-not, we always hear of FCC filings that aren't yet approved thru sites like gizmondo, engadget, etc.
if the dev phones are free, WebOS internals can use our donations for servers and other expenses. Glad palm is finally waking up.
great way to get rid of all those unsold phones!
New phone needs to happen soon.. I've been holding out because I love webos, but I'm done with this version of the hardware. One of our phones is scratched to ***bleep*** from being dropped (not the phones fault) but I haven't wanted to use the insurance to replace it in hopes that a new phone would soon be out and so far that hasn't happened. So, if they want to keep current customers they better start letting some time-line rumors fly.
Correct me if I am wrong, but anybody with a Palm dev account can download WebOS 2.0 SDK. Right?
You are wrong, you have to apply and get accepted. I don't know what the policies are now, but it used to be that you had to have an app in the app store, and theyve cracked down even more after all those leaks.
Are these going to be just dev phones or full pre pluses? If they are going to be full phones, do sprint customers qualify? Has anyone receive one of these phones to confirm this?
I applied, but i havent got a response yet. Based on the information i got, i think its a pre plus.
I wish I knew anything about developing for webOS, would give me something to do and get me in on some fun stuff.
I have no clue if any of this is related but I just left Verizon store in Orlando_ FL and the customer service rep said that they were no longer selling Palm Pre Plus. I know they are offering the BOGO for the new Samsung phone, but I didn't realize that they stopped selling them all together. I did a sweep of the store and could not locate a Pre anywhere, although on the TV sets they were playing clips off the Pre Plus features and Wifi Hotspot function.
I would find it very odd for the top retailer to stop selling the Pre altogether and there not be another version soon to be announced.
I would say he's wrong unless they are only selling the phones online now, but I don't see, "Online only" anywhere.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&acti...
The Verizon store near me had the Pre Plus on display along with their other smart phones. No "clearance" or any other special displays, just on the wall along with all the other phones. BTW, this is a pretty new Verizon store, so the display isn't something that's left over from last year.
I would also agree that a new phone is on the horizon IF Verizon is truly phasing out these phones. If they are phasing them out, they would only be doing it under Palm's direction due to contractual obligations if I am not mistaken. If Palm did order them to phase these phones out, it would only be to release another phone since Verizon (speculation) was where they made the most money and they would be wanting to launch on Verizon this time rather than Sprint. I would assume Sprint would be a month or so later (sadly).
This is all just an educated guess though :D
Verizon only made one order for Pre Pluses and that was for 700,000 IIRC. Sprint has sold something like 2 million Pres.
Sprint has made Palm the most money by far. The marketing is why they had such horrible numbers though.
Just went to my verizon store today since my pre + microphone died and I need a replacement. They had to order one for me so it looks like they're not stocking them in stores. (i thought they would have a few in the back somewhere) Either there's going to be no palm/hp device in verizon lineup for a while (more likely) or there's a new webOS device coming. Verizon stores look like android central these days! The planned EOL date for Pre + was 10/31 so this seems early to get rid of all inventory.
I don't know about Verizon, but I have Sprint and they have always had to order "replacement" phones. They won't give you a new one in-store unless you've had 3 or more replacements.
I haven't seen a Pixi in my local VZ store in months, but they still have the Pre. They never plug it in and let it run demo style, so its just a dead looking soap-bar shaped black stone.
They reserve about 60% of the display space for droid products. But 2/3rds of what they seem to be actively selling and handing off to customers are Blackberrys.
If I were Apple, I'd take note of how VZ treats non-Droids and gear any supply agreements to guarantee that they have a vested interest in selling units.
Random thought, maybe Sprint is pushing HP/Palm to make the next webOS phone 4G-capable. Sprint seems like they want all their higher-end phones to be 4G. Same thing may be holding up ATT and Verizon versions since both of those companies are looking to roll out 4G before too much longer...
Verizon is set to release LTE in about 4 months, so that wouldn't make sense. I believe it's the same for AT&T.
I asked someone on Palm Chat about their next device, and they said that it would be 'soon', but wouldn't give me a better date to 'not create false expectations', so for it being released in the next five weeks doesn't seem all that unlikely. What's better, it would be released in the Asia/Pacific region, so that I can finially replace my Treo Pro (I have been thinking of importing a Pre for a year, but I really need a decent data plan, so no pre-paid). He finished by saying that you'd really enjoy using the new os and hardware. I really hope that the hardware is up to scratch, because my treo, and even the pre looks terrible next to my brothers Porsche Design p'9521 and the new iPhone.
What is the likely hood that WebOS 2.0 will be an option for The Sprint Palm Pre?
Or new hardware from HPalm on Sprint?
I don't want to go to Verizon or ATT. And if I don't get new hardware I at least want WebOS 2.0. Without WebOS 2.0 or new hardware on Sprint I may have to switch OS's.
Just a guess, but considering the new functionality and figuring that the WebOS 2.0 developers are anticipating new, more high-powered hardware, I would think that although the new OS might run on the Sprint Pre, it would probably be not-so-great. Probably like running Windows on the minimun configuration. Just a guess, though.
I posted this in another forum but it stand relivent on this topic as well.... I was told today by a sprint rep who 'just talked to his Palm rep the other day' that Palm will not be putting out another phone till next year & as it looks it also will not be on Sprint! If that's true what a slap in th face to Sprint.
This is a good reference
http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pre/261202-official-webos-2-0-anticipa...
page not found @ Juanus
I know... the URL is too long. Put these two together.
http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pre/
61202-official-webos-2-0-anticipation-thread-10.html#post2647571
I gota an email back! From the email it seems like its for development only, but I'll see when I get it :)
I emailed Palm a 2nd time with my developer info and still haven't seen a response. Anyone have any idea what's needed to qualify for the free device program?