Palm Pre interface tour
By Sean Cooper 
posted Jan 9th 2009 5:08PM
posted Jan 9th 2009 5:08PM
We've taken a mountain of shots of the new Palm Pre, but we thought a proper tour of the the apps and interface was in order. So with that in mind we banged together a gallery of shots from messaging, web browser, camera, photos, music, videos, notes, tasks, maps, and calculator. We have to say, the more we check this phone out, the more we like it; we're all pretty much gushing over here. Follow the read link to head over to Engadget Mobile's gallery
Very Nice! How much?
Yeah, like you care.
But seriously. How much? (Without the douchebag undertones)
i like how everyone moaned at iphones web apps lack of power on release, now everyone wants a phone thats whole ui and apps are just local web apps lol power and performance will not be seen here
Palm needs to sell this cheap so they can establish market share again.
@bob
I'm shocked that everyone was so in love with Android and now, everyone has forgotten Android in less than a day. People are so cold.
Palm needs to sell this cheap because I'm broke-ass broke.
And as usual, the anti-Apple fanboy trolls' response to fanboy Paul demonstrate who the real douchebags are.
"OMG this guy who we know is a fanboy asked how much the Pre was!"
"What? He actually asked how much it was? HOW MUCH? He must be being a douchebag!"
"Yeah, and after I call him a douchebag for asking how much it is, I am going to ask how much it is."
"Oh, good question, you should definitely ask that. It won't make you look like an even bigger douchebag, asking how much it is, after you've called someone a douchebag for asking how much it is. Not at all."
Douchebags.
Hopefully this will be "teh sex", because I really don't want to see Palm disappear. They're a dinosaur, but one that I want to turn it around. Call me sentimental.
I still have my USR Palm Pilot and a couple of handsprings kicking around in one of my old electronics milk crates.
that's what I call user friendly
Looks great. I pre-fer it over Apples phone pod thing.
Yeah, it's pre-ttier.
Everyone on the CES floor is creaming their pants over the Palm Pre and that is no joke. I've never been a fan of Palm before and considered it a dying brand until today. It maybe a little ugly but damn it has it where it counts. (That's what she said)
@CraigJ:
Are you really questioning how well syncing works? On a Palm device? did you start following gadgets when the iphone was announced or something?
based on your ability to use the reply button, I'd ask the same of you...
But to the point, I have had 3 palm devices, and hence my original comment above, I've had palm products pre 3COM, and yes, I've had issues, historically, with syncing, duplicate appointments, etc, and based on my wife's experience with the TX I'd have to say it's pretty good, but not perfect, and also, what is the experience like given this is an entirely new OS.
I think a lot of you are taking this way too personally...
iready to ditch my iphone 3g....
Really? You say that based on a lot of pictures and some controlled environment tests? I have a lot of questions. For example, how well does the sync work? It's pretty, but other than a physical keyboard, if that's important to you, from the screen shots I see a number of things that look equivalent to the iPhone, but nothing that seems better - that will be in the actual testing and usage. It does have a better camera based on the specs, yes it has MMS, and I'm sure it has copy and paste, which is the one I personally care about and then only rarely. I also note that they do not list Flash as a supported media format on their web site, though maybe that's implied.
Honestly I don't see anything here that would make me consider switching. If I was newly in the market, I'd definitely wait for this device and test it, but so far this looks like a solid addition to the iPhone / G1 / Storm market segment, not an iPhone killer. The real meat is yet to be disclosed.
Can your iphone copy and paste? CAN IT? Go back to your corner and don't come out till you're sorry for what you did. *goes back to his soap operas*
let me list my reasons...
*removable battery
*wireless charging
*real keyboard
*mms
*copy & delicious pastnicous
*love the "deck of cards" look with multiple apps
*easier for web guys to develop apps for
*browser is just as slick as iphone, possibly faster??
the list could on.
OK here we go...
*removable battery
I don't care about this at all. I've had BBs, I've had nokias, Motorola's, Sonys, etc. All of them had removable batteries. I always ended up replacing the phone before the battery needed to be replaced, and I never used a spare. Most people really don't care about this, and of the small amount that do, not may of them actually use this "feature", and most of those people are probably on Engadget. I work for a large company. Lots (and I mean lots, like hundreds) of people here have BBs, and travel a whole lot. According to my contact in IS, only a couple of them have spare batteries.
*wireless charging
Very cool, but the requirement to place your phone *ON* a thing is almost as much trouble as needing to plug it in. Still, a nice feature. Does it wireless sync too?
*real keyboard
My typing sucks, and I type no better or worse on my iPhone than on my old blackberry, still great if that's how you roll.
*mms
I use e-mail. I've never had MMS and I don't miss it. I can see where people would miss it, but I just don't care.
*copy & delicious pastnicous
fuckin' a. C'mon apple...
*love the "deck of cards" look with multiple apps
Looks nice. Can't really comment until I've tried it.
*easier for web guys to develop apps for
Why do you say that? Web apps for the iPhone are very easy to develop. All you need is notepad and a program to make graphics.
*browser is just as slick as iphone, possibly faster??
sounds like a wash. until I can actually try it I can't comment.
Sure it has a removable battery, but the battery also looks a bit small.
Bad battery life could really sink this thing, and it's one of the unknowns at this point. The UI looks slick, but I agree... there is nothing about it that seems that much better than the iPhone.. but for Palm to come out with something that is just a good as the iPhone would be a feat in itself.
@ Craig J:
You certainly don't remember that exactly those words of incredulity were said of the iPhone. (New to the market, Apple did not have experience with phones, etc) As people who have had the pleasure of owning a Palm in various flavors, and currently as a work tool, this is lust worthy. iPhone is going to be the next Razr (Already on it's way). Developing for Palm was always there strong point, but since too much time has passed since Garnet, palm needed to entice developers to "return to palm". And that is where Palm will regain it's glory. You can keep your iPhone 3g. It has movements, it's bright and pretty. Let us who NEED the Pre get ours, we have been waiting for it a long time
CraigJ,
Why do you have to judge all his reasons for switching? The iPhone is not perfect for everyone. It's one phone. Let it be.
@Priper
Next RAZR? No wonder I never got excited over it. Its not a smart phone, its just a locked down feature phone.
@Priper,
I've had a number of palm products in the past as well, and I think your are reading criticisms into my post that aren't there. This looks like an awesome device, it really does. However I don't think that most of the reasons posted by Apetruck are what makes this device "better". What will make this device better is the user experience and how well it actually works, which is hard to tell from screenshots and limited usage thus far.
I've had palm and winMo and blackberry stuff in the past, and personally, the iPhone is the first mobile device I've had that actually helps me work better. (the BB was unsurpassed at e-mail, but that's all it really did for me) I think this device has the potential to match or exceed the iPhone, depending on how the software is implemented and since the device is months from shipping, it's really difficult to tell at this point if it will live up to the hype. I hope it does.
I'm heavily invested in the iPhone / iPod ecosystem, but the benefit to me will be if this forces Apple to step it up a bit. My wife doesn't really like the iPhone and she already has a TX. I just found her birthday present, as long as it works on AT&T sometime soon.
It's gonna be Sprint, at least initially. And only works with their "everything" plans.
@joe: you have a source on that "Everything Plan" comment?
Craig, can you adopt me and get me this for my birthday? PLEASE?!?
@sndmn23:
I was told that by a Sprint customer rep. How reliable is their info? I can't really say for sure, but certainly wouldn't surprise me if it turns out to be the case.
Here is the skinny, Sprint will be the only American carrier with their branding on the "American version" Pre, Verizon will not be getting the Pre because of their history of crippling devices that is one of the main reasons Palm went to Sprint, actually Palm always goes to Sprint off the bat. Those looking for it on ATT don't hold your breath, Palm said after Sprint there will only be a Euro GSM world ready device which translates into serious change for American GSM users wanting the Pre.
This isn't the death of the iPod, this is the death of the netbook.
Absolutely, just hook it up to a Folio.
No videos of it? :(
I saw a video of it on youtube.
Crackberry has a 25 minute video on this thing playing movies, music, using the internet, multi-tasking...worth the watch!
thanks for the tip. watching the video now. You're my new hero!
man, thanks for that tip about the video on crackberry. probably the most detailed vid out there right now
Why does this get shoved to Engadget mobile when every little thing related to the iPhone is posted here and gets "BREAKING"?
Actually, it' is also on Engadget main, Homeboy. Which is where I'm reading the post right now.
I'm capable of (*gasp*) jumping to Sprint to get my hands on this baby. Must...resist. Must...wait...for AT&T availability...
Agreed. I'm currently using a Palm Tungsten2 (I'm the only person I know still using an actual non-phone Palm) and a Samsung Sync for calls. If Palm would come out with a Pre for AT&T, I could ditch them both and compete with my wife's iPhone for awesomeness.
blur the phone numbers in the pictures
Yep...I wonder how many calls has Ms. Acosta gotten so far...
Engadget needs to stop making me want this. It's not going to be out for months and I'm already dreaming about what it's going to be like on the day we are finally united. >sigh
You are not alone, my friend.
The storm, Iphone, G1, that new Sony and Nokia and the the plathora of HTC phones aside. This is the phone that seems to most closely hit all the sweet spots. Indeed this is the phone that will finally make me move from a phone that makes phone calls to this (I hope) first truly sub-netbook worthy phone.
do want.
Seeing the email screen shot & owning a blackberry and not having watched the 25 minute presentation in its entirety ...
how does it handle email? Is it instant like the blackberry or are we send/receiving like on the windows mobile?
Windows mobile has push, actually... (instant)
but anyway. Judging by the "always connected" thing, I'm guessing push.
The contrast level for this thing must be off the charts. I thought the screen had round edges but the round edges are being displayed on the LCD. If the signal wasn't displayed above it I wouldn't have a clue.
D.
That is the first Mobile UI I have seen which both looks nicer than the iPhone AND looks more finger friendly, the only downside is that not much can be displayed on the screen due to large amounts of padding on some of the elements.
@ joe
no the everything plans will NOT be required...sprint is going to be pushing them but as long as you have an unlimited data plan, everything will be fine.
I think the "unlimited data" plan you're talking about is called "Everything Data" or something to that effect... That's what I meant by "everything." It's really a stupid and confusing way to name the plans.
If they release an unlocked GSM version this might become my second phone. I love my iPhone but I was a happy Palm user for years before. This is a great piece of hardware and the look and feel of the OS is just great. I hope it ends up being as good in real life as it looks in the photos and demos we've seen so far.
Isn't that the old outlook express icon? :D
Well photos are lovey and all but here is a hd video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRnlzbuLRwM
Wow, already impressed. I don't need to see the 25 minute video either.
I'd love to see what the text message/SMS interface is like, and if it supports MMS.
I shoulda' looked first... YES to MMS (finally!) and the gallery on Palm's site shows the text interface.
ref: http://www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre/index.html
The interface is great, but I'm not liking the the hardware at all, it's so old-school.
Wot old school about it?
You're kidding, right?!
Where should I start - it looks like every palm they ever released just turned into a slider. Here - http://www.unwiredzone.com/images/Banner-Slider.jpg - take that, make it bigger with slightly sharper corners, give it a big screen and a keyboard and you got Pre.
I really don't like those overly-rounded corners, they make it look chubby, instead of sleek. In fact, they're a waste of space - how much electronic components you think can fit in there. You open this baby up and I guarantee you at least a few millimeters of empty space on all sides of the phone just so that they can make rounded corners.
And what's with the rounded corners of the screen? Once again, it's a waste of space - you might think it's not a lot but it's enough. I wouldn't mind if it was software-based, like a theme for OS, but it's hardware, and you'll forever be stuck with those wasted potential pixels. Not to mention that it "messes" up the wallpaper. Sure when it's just a picture it's fine, but what if your wallpaper has borders (like a frame of a painting) and they are part of the design - i.e. somebody created an image that incorporates borders as part of its design, and when you put it up as the wallpaper on this phone the corners of the border get cutoff.
Those are small things sure, and in fact, if it turns out to be a great phone for a good price I might even end up using it - but all those rounded corners give me, for one, that "old school" impression, and secondly make me think they didn't think through the hardware design.
And I'm gonna be flamed for this, but I like (albeit barely) G1's look better.
I want them to lower the keyboard 3 millimeters so that it does not interference with the slider. Add the video function to the camera, a flash player to the browser. A microSD slot, and a garnet compatibility layer to play my old palm apps, such as my 70 dollar dictionary and encyclopedia set.
CraigJ - your house sounds charming, milk crates and all. Who's your decorator?