Palm's Pre boxed

While wandering Palm's lounge of poor lighting and heavy shadow, we bumped into the retail packaging for the Pre. While not likely the final design, it certainly follows Palm's recent packaging aesthetic.

[ILoveApple @ Jan 9th 2009 3:45PM]

iPhone box clone.

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 3:47PM]

I fear for the Pre. By the time they get it released (June? July? I clicked on the Engadget ad and still couldn't get a date) Apple will have out another phone. There is already some rumors that the next iPhone will be multi-core.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/08/new-multi-core-iphone-with-firmware-3-0/

Palm has the former head of the iPod division working for them, so it's no surprise that the design of the Pre came out so well, but I'm sure the underwhelming nature of the MacWorld Expo was intentional.

Apple wants to break out of the cycle it's created where expectation of new product announcements in January causes a slump in December/holiday sales. There's also a clear negative stock price impact pre- and post- expo. So, they announced that they were discontinuing expo attendance, threw in Phil Schiller instead of Steve, and purposely failed to announce any significant products. Perfect.

Apple has doubtless got lots of exciting products in the pipeline that will make consumers' and analysts' mouths water. Watch for them in the coming months. Buy Palm stock while it's still hot.

[OneLove @ Jan 9th 2009 3:51PM]

Paul the new iEyE

[Kris120890 @ Jan 9th 2009 3:52PM]

Paul chapel. We get that you're an apple fanboy but why do you feel the need to keep reminding us.

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 4:02PM]

When Jesus was accused of being a blasphemer and heretic by the ruling religious class of his day, the Pharisees, he said nothing in defense of himself.

[Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 4:09PM]

Paul. Please desist.

Anyone else think that box must have been thrust into the table at tremendous force for it to have pierced it in the manner that it has?

[Graham Wellington (formerly tyrone washington, or marsha goldberg) @ Jan 9th 2009 4:16PM]

wow, i compare myself to the Messiah all the time too paul. some would think we just have big egos though

[Saad Rabia @ Jan 9th 2009 4:17PM]

Actually Paul Chapel, you should actually fear for the iPhone. By the time they get the 3ed generation iPhone released (June? July? I clicked on the Engadget ad and still couldn't get a date) Palm will have out the Pre. There is already some real facts that the Pre will include multi-tasking, copy and paste, video recording, bluetooth file transfer, and MMS.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/palm-pre-in-depth-impressions-video-and-huge-hands-on-gallery/

Palm has the former head of the iPod division working for them, so it's no surprise that the design of the Pre is better than the iPhone, but I'm sure the underwhelming nature of the MacWorld Expo was the best Apple can do.

Apple wants to cover the bad health Steve Jobs is facing that caused a slump in December/holiday sales. There's also a clear negative stock price impact pre- and post- expo. So, they announced that they were discontinuing expo attendance, threw in Phil Schiller instead of Steve, and purposely failed to announce any significant products. Sad.

Palm has doubtless got lots of exciting products in the pipeline that will make consumers' and analysts' mouths water. Watch for them in the coming months. Buy Palm stock while it's still hot.

[Mike10010100 @ Jan 9th 2009 4:19PM]

Paul, in case you haven't noticed, that's not how the world or the internet work any more. You have to have logic and reason behind every argument. Also, you must be able to defend your own words with said logic and reason.

Whatever happened to the larger display screen? And the battery life on either a larger or multi-core iPhone or iPod Touch would be about half an hour with so much power going through it.

You claim that when a company (Palm) releases an amazing and commercially viable product, that they are too late. When a company (Apple) DOESN'T release a new product, you say that it was planned that way. Could it be possible that Palm might have that planning, and not Apple?

And in case you haven't noticed, you're not Jesus.

[soobin27 @ Jan 9th 2009 4:23PM]

Hmm I would say Paul is very insightful on this.
He's right on all those things, timing is everything and Palm better make it so that the consumer doesnt have to wait only a month to compare next gen iphone with Pre.

Most people with 2 year contracts are willing to wait a month or more for a good device to sign the next 2 years with.

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 4:38PM]

@Mike10010100

First of all, let me ask you this. Do you really think it's possible that Apple has just been sitting on their hands while knowing that every other company in the cell phone universe are eagerly trying to catch up with them? Your assertions defy everything we know about Steve Jobs. He's already stated on a number of occasions that they already have plans for the third, fourth, fifth version of the iPhone.

And more to the point, no company is going to defeat Apple by copying, and no matter what people say or how good the Pre is, this is a copy of the iPhone. A darn good copy, but a copy nonetheless.

Honestly, it would be great to see some real innovation out of other computer, phone and tech companies besides Apple. It would be a refreshing change though that instead of copying the iPhone and adding a couple of things it doesn't have (i.e. battery, MMS, etc), that the companies competing with Apple would actually create a form factor that has nothing whatsoever to do with Apple or the iPhone. Give me some that doesn't sport multi-touch or large touch screen.

Why hasn't any of these companies come out with a phone that's 100 percent voice activated or an OS controlled by hand gestures and tiny cameras or an ecosystem that rivals iTunes. iTunes is actually how you defeat Apple. As Microsoft demonstrated in the eighties and nineties, it's not so much having a better product, but a better distribution model. Businesses adapted Windows to their environment and set it as a standard.

[Mike10010100 @ Jan 9th 2009 4:53PM]

You're saying that somehow Palm releasing the Pre doesn't even phase Apple because they expected it? If I wasn't mistaken, everyone thought that Palm's press conference was going to be dull and dry, just like most of the other tech companies. However, without any notice or rumors, Palm popped out an amazing phone. Don't try to say that this phone isn't a game changer.

Copying? Having a physical keyboard and a completely different styled operating system is NOT copying. And when someone does come out with a perfectly decent phone that doesn't have multi-touch, all you apple fans yell DOESN'T HAVE MULTITOUCH = SUCK! Large screen is a given, unless you like squinting.

As to the 100 percent audio controlled, most phones already have voice dialing. However, most people still want to be able to read things and not have things read to them, as it would certainly limit the environment which you can use the phone in (way too loud).

Also, Apple has patented the hand gestures to control a computer interface. Nice try.

[Smccullo @ Jan 9th 2009 4:54PM]

Why is it that EVERYTHING has to be compared to THE iPhone?
As soon as a company releases a touchscreen mobile device it's immediately compared to the iPhone to reassure all the iPhone owns (notice the lack of fanboy hate!!) that they all still have the shininess phone? The Pre is what it is, a small smartphone solution that does it's own thing with a decent solution for a mobile OS and hardware. I haven't seen anything iPhonesque about the Pre on youtube so whats the deal with comparing it? Because it's touchscreen? Because you can use facebook on it?

The only thing I am glad the iPhone did to this mobile industry was create more buzz and excitement around the creation of useful apps. Now look, we have more developers, more jobs and companies created from these apps. Now we have another new entry to the open source mobile OS market, webOS. I say good job Palm keep up the good work and don't worry about iPhone let them go down the mobile game path and leave the business world as being a distraction instead of a productive tool. The iPhone & iPhone 3G are old news, buy one, use it then move on!

[Sebastian Sauced @ Jan 9th 2009 4:56PM]

because apple invented the box

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 4:59PM]

@soobin27, who said: "Hmm I would say Paul is very insightful on this."

Well, thanks, man, at least there is one guy on this site who isn't a hyper-paranoid.



@Mike10010100

You know, you guys don't have to like what I say, but at least admit that what I say is in the realm of possibility, based on prior evidence. And by prior evidence, I'm thinking back to what happened when Microsoft was trying to catch up with the iPod.

Microsoft did the same thing that Palm is doing. They copied the iPod form factor, but added a few things the iPod didn't have at the time: a radio, WiFi, a bigger screen. And what does Apple do? They knew Microsoft was coming out with something. They completely changed the entire form factor with the iPhone and later the iPod Touch and Microsoft is still playing catch up.

And if you don't like me mentioning MS in the same sentence as Apple, think about what happened to the Instinct. Bam, like a month later, Apple has everything the Instinct had and a lot more.

[smccullo @ Jan 9th 2009 5:02PM]

Yes, and they also inverted cardboard too....as well I think Apple owns intellectual properties on the idea of THE BOX!! :o

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 5:05PM]

@Smccullo

Dude, I saw the demo, on Engadget and Gizmodo. The Pre has a full internet browser that you can enlarge by pinching and it goes into a landscape mode when you turn it on the side. Remind you of something? They have a photo app with pictures which you can swipe across the screen. Who do you think they got all those idea from?

If you really think they weren't copying Apple... You. Are. A. Moron.

[Mike10010100 @ Jan 9th 2009 5:07PM]

My problem is that you seem to be saying that Apple knew that Palm was coming out with something. Microsoft was very open about coming out with the Zune. This is completely out of the blue, a game changer. Are you trying to say that Apple knew about this brand new phone and brand new OS without anyone else knowing?

[SMccullo @ Jan 9th 2009 5:16PM]

@Paul Chapel

Your funny, sorry though Apple hasn't invented much on the iPhone.... Intergrated yes, invented... no!
Don't vent your angry on me by calling me names just because people don't like what you have to say.
I'm not here to judge, nor should you.

[Mike10010100 @ Jan 9th 2009 5:16PM]

Woa Woa Woa....
"The Pre has a full internet browser that you can enlarge by pinching and it goes into a landscape mode when you turn it on the side. Remind you of something?"

So you would rather push more buttons for the zoom and landscape mode?

"They have a photo app with pictures which you can swipe across the screen. Who do you think they got all those idea from?"

The pictures naturally flow. Unless you'd like more buttons. But you don't. Because you like the iPhone.

"If you really think they weren't copying Apple... You. Are. A. Moron."

My friend, when someone uses a method of presenting data that was originally debuted by another company, it is obviously because it is the clearest and easiest way to show that data. Or maybe it's just coincidence that almost EVERY online email website has a bar on the left with folders (just an example...think about it).

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 5:21PM]

@Mike10010100, who said: "...you seem to be saying that Apple knew that Palm was coming out with something."

Oh, Jesus Christ! Yes? Oh, wait.

No, no, no, I'm not saying that, Skippy. What I am saying is that Apple is not waiting for someone to catch up with them, no matter who it is. They are moving forward at all times. They are IMPROVING.

My only point above is that there will probably be a new iPhone in June and July. That's the pattern that they've set for the iPod (that is, yearly refreshes) and so far, that's what they have done for iPhones. The next iPhone will be better than the current one. Apple has to do this because everyone copies them. Haven't you noticed a SURGE in touch screen phones since the iPhone debuted? Yeah? Don't you think Apple has noticed this too?

I know that there were touch screen phones before the iPhone (although not multi-touch phones), but when companies like RIM come out with a touch screen phones, when all their other phones had keyboards up to that point, it might be because they were trying to compete with a certain Fruit company. The Fruit company sees this and plans ahead.

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 5:28PM]

@Mike10010100, who said: "My friend, when someone uses a method of presenting data that was originally debuted by another company, it is obviously because it is the clearest and easiest way to show that data."

Yeah, RIGGHHHT!

In most cultures we call that "COPYING." But if it helps you with the cognitive dissonance that you feel when Apple succeeds, they okay, you're right. You're completely right. NO ONE copied Apple. It is absolutely positively impossible. Okay? Happy now?

Holy crap, you guys really, really do hate Apple.

[Mike10010100 @ Jan 9th 2009 5:34PM]

I think it's clearly obvious that I don't hate Apple. I love that fact that you can read half of the sentence and yet not read the rest. I then go on to say that most web sites lay their content out in a similar manner. Does that mean that each website is copying each other? Or does that simply mean that the first person discovered a really intuitive way to display data, and everyone liked it?

In a similar manner, did the iPhone copy other phones when it decided (after a first generation) to include a GPS chip? If anything, that was Apple catching up.

[iKurt @ Jan 9th 2009 6:06PM]

Why does everything have to be compared to the iPhone? Simple, iPhone is the best smartphone out there.

"If you can't innovate you'll have to imitate, but it will never be as good as the original"
- Bertrand Serlet, Apple SVP Software Engineer

[gutier @ Jan 9th 2009 7:04PM]

BOX IS FAKE. why using an image of the phone with the dialer instead of a home scree? that image we've seen it 100 times on the internet. it is everywhere. and doesn't it looks like a small box of shoes?

[V Langs @ Jan 9th 2009 7:17PM]

Paul, I own an iPhone and even I can't agree with you...

of course apple isn't sitting on it's laurels, neither is sony or samsung or nokia or lg or htc....etc.

everyone (including myself) thought palm was dead, or dying atleast. in tough economic times it's great to see a company pick itself up.

as for multi-core and what not, it's from macrumors.com it's just a rumor, there were rumors the 3G would have mms, no it didn't i needed to get an app to do that. there were rumors the 3g would have copy paste and be able to put out small fires, it does neither. until an actual product is released, you can't believe a thing

your apple fanboyism is outrageous, i own a mac and a windows (i'm running windows 7 beta and leopard if you must) i love both of them, they both have very useful features, why must you bash anything that is non-apple? and even though i will recognize that you did it in a very eloquent way: Bullshit is bullshit my friend whether it's a silver platter or a paper bag.

your a consumer; the type companies love, the loyalist. you'll by anything from that brand if you can afford it, which is why you bought a macbook pro, i doubt you do anything remotely necessary of a computer that powerful and since you didn't even know that emulators were originally written for windows and linux OSs before OS X, it's hard for me to believe that you have boot camp installed for a windows partition either.

you should be more open minded and buy great products regardless of the company; that's a smart consumer one who gets excited for new products to potentially spend money on. not one that can't look past a particular fruity brand.

[TareX @ Jan 9th 2009 10:26PM]

I'm actually backing PAUL on his Low Ranked argument.

Remember how we drooled over the Xperia X1 1 year ago, when it was announced an demoed at the MWC? But the question is, what happened between that and the actual release?

iPhone 3G
G1 and Android Debut
HTC's Diamond family
Touch HD
Omnia...

a lot of things happened. So if Palm gets this baby delayed, here are the possible contenders:

TEGRA-powered phones
G2, G3
iPhone HD

And believe me, when a company announces a phone early, they do it for a reason. The same reason SE announced the Xperia X1 a year early: THEY KNOW STRONG COMPETITORS WILL COME.

[Mobius_1 @ Jan 10th 2009 6:51AM]

Stop feeding the goddamned troll! It's forcing me to scroll all the way down to look at the other (more worthwhile, hopefully) comments!

Paul, STFU, if it weren't for fanboys like you who hype up everything Apple makes Apple would just be another company, you have all been brainwashed. (Like religions, lol!) (And that Jesus Christ comment was totally inappropriate)

I just fed the damn troll didn't I? Sorry, just had to get it out.

[joey @ Jan 9th 2009 3:46PM]

looks quite similar to the white iphone packaging no?

[AutumnBringer @ Jan 9th 2009 4:19PM]

Yeah, I suppose, but we all know apple just stole that packaging from Pathmark's old packaging for their no frills cereal. Those used to be just boxes with a plain white background and the name of the product, sometime a simple picture. Apple is totally ripping off Pathmark's design aesthetic, sheesh.

[anthony @ Jan 9th 2009 3:47PM]

I'm buying this the first day it comes out.. I've been using my treo 650, 750 and now 755p for the past 5 years or so and waited patiently for an update like this.

[k2snowboards88 @ Jan 9th 2009 3:51PM]

Their new asthetic style is to mimic apples style.

[required @ Jan 9th 2009 5:12PM]

Which, bondi blue, platnum grey or lime?

[Andy @ Jan 9th 2009 3:53PM]

good grief...i've seen 100 blog posts on this phone already. Give it a rest y'all.

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 9th 2009 4:08PM]

no no no no no no no no no no no no no no

more more more more more more more more more more more

[required @ Jan 9th 2009 5:05PM]

They could post one every minute of every day for over a month and still not match the amount of posts they've made about Apple's phone pod.

[DBrim @ Jan 9th 2009 5:07PM]

I never thought I'd agree with A Ham Sandwich, but...

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 9th 2009 5:26PM]

@DBrim

am i really that hard to agree with? :(

[Jeremy K. @ Jan 9th 2009 3:55PM]

Giggity

[moo083 @ Jan 9th 2009 3:56PM]

I think the Pre looks really neat and exciting (a first for post Y2K Palm), but I think the phone itself is too rounded. It looks to me a little bit like a toy. This has nothing to do with how well the phone is built or how well it works. I just think they hired the former head of the iPod division, but Apple still has one of the most important people, that being Jon Ive. He has made so many sexy pieces of electronics, its amazing. And no one else has really beat him yet. If Apple ever loses him, it would be a sad day for Apple.

[joe23521 @ Jan 9th 2009 3:57PM]

I want this NOW.

[webon @ Jan 9th 2009 3:57PM]

wow its a box... RIPPOFFFFFF

[webon @ Jan 9th 2009 4:00PM]

Hope no one took that 4 a real post...


can someone tell me if they think they can develop an app to make WebOs back compatible with previous palm OS?

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 9th 2009 3:58PM]

ZMOEGHAOEKTEA!@@#!@ they stole the zunes packaging idea!@! ooooh microspft is gonna beat them down fo shizzle!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2863317987_a0c53b1e42.jpg?v=0

GTFO. Apple didn't copyright a white box with a product on it. It's called modernisim, sleek simple design the product, that's it. Get over yourselves.

[OGHowie @ Jan 9th 2009 4:09PM]

At least post a good example.

And if you don't see the similarities between the new Palm boxes and the iPhone boxes, your Apple hate has made you blind.

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 9th 2009 4:22PM]

I don't hate apple. all i'm saying is that the box is simmilar because it's generic. The box is as small as possible so the face that you see when you look for it on the shelf isn't much bigger than the actual phone. So it kind of makes sense that since a black phone will stand out on a white background that's whtat the packaging would be. The average consumer doesn't give a damn what the name of their phone is they think, hey that looks like a smooth phone ill pick that one up.

[Jubei @ Jan 9th 2009 3:58PM]

As I have mentioned before. Palm is now the second biggest "me too" Apple copy cats next to MS. The difference is that the hardware for this Iwannabe iPhone looks like a cloned HTC piece of plastic. Fat and small screen surface.

[Freakin Ijit @ Jan 9th 2009 4:03PM]

> ...looks like a cloned HTC piece of plastic...

Rumor has it that it's not an HTC piece of plastic, but a Foxconn piece of plastic.

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 4:05PM]

Yeah, there is only so much you can do with Javascript, but I do think that the Palm Pre will probably kill off Android. It definitely won't kill the iPhone. Apple's ecosystem is too large and entrenched. However, the Pre is what the G1 should have been from the beginning. Google lost a lot of potential hype by releasing Android on such a inadequate phone and now Palm has picked up the ball and ran with it.

The OS on the Pre makes Android look like Windows 95 by comparison.

[anthony @ Jan 9th 2009 4:15PM]

apple is actually the ones saying me too, because they wanted a piece of the cell phone industry and came late in the game (to their credit though, it was a home run). palm has been in it for a little while longer and this product fits perfect with their vision of what a palm device should be like. yes, the phone could be a little less shiny and pebble shaped but that's easy to get over if the phone functions as well as its been made out to.
and, did you really just expect palm to go under and drop everything? or make a device device that couldn't compete with current smart phones and look dated..
just like most apple consumers, people will buy anything that is bright and shiny.