"Insider" Sprint doc details the Palm Pre for new users, other boring minutiae
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted April 27th 2009 11:55AM
posted April 27th 2009 11:55AM
- Palm / Sprint will provide a "Palm profile," which will allow for OTA updates of software, App Catalog downloads, and online backups of contacts, calendars, apps, and preferences. Interestingly, this sounds like it could be related to web services we've seen mentioned in Palm's SEC filings.
- There will be some kind of PC-based "Data Transfer Assistant" which will allow users to migrate old Palm OS data to the phone -- but it appears to be a one-way street.
- The Pre will require a Simply Everything / Simply Everything data plan, or a Business Essentials Plan.
- Highlighting text (for copy / paste) duties in web pages won't be possible -- which is kind of a huge bummer.
- The Pre won't support Sprint services such as Sprint Music, Sprint PictureMail, or Sprint Digital Lounge.
Finally, one of the more interesting components of this post is pictured up above -- a guide for managing cards (and memory, consequently), and a walkthrough of how to reset or hard reset the device. Okay -- we know, not exactly the juiciest scoop in the world here, but Palm isn't giving us much to work with. You guys about ready for this thing to drop?
Update: People, if it wasn't clear enough (or if you didn't take the time to read the post), we don't have confirmation of this being an "official" document -- it looks like a very convincing leak, however. Don't start selling off your stock just yet.
[Via PreCentral]
Highlighting text (for copy / paste) duties in web pages won't be possible
crappy !
Forget pre (madonna) where is my HTC touch Pro2?
Wow... Everyone calm down! A few things:
1. Yes, the Pre has copy and paste. This doc is claiming that it doesn't have copy and paste *within the browser*. That still stinks, if true, but copy and paste is everywhere else (you can even see the demo of copy and paste on this page: http://www.precentral.net/new-palm-pre-features-revealed-manipulate-text-pro)
2. The Pre does have MMS, it just doesn't use Sprint Picture Mail to do it. MMS has been talked about since day 1 back at CES, and apparently there is a demo of it, but I haven't seen it.
3. As for the other Sprint services listed as "unsupported," its not that the Pre doesn't/can't support them, its that the Pre has its own was of providing those services (Amazon MP3, its own MMS functionality, etc.). Therefore, the Sprint-branded services are not needed.
Sorry... just saw a lot of overreaction to this post...
@onelove:
You mean prima donna, right?
i see no overreactions here .. just justified reaction to disappointing news
No copy paste in web browser?
add another bullet point to the AT&T rap-sheet.
WAIT A MINUTE!
How come they don't have copy-n-paste!?
Don't they know how to implement it!?
[;-)]
"Not confirmed official document"
No copy/paste? This really stinks.
looks like no SERO for the Pre
No SERO will really hurt them. Plenty of SERO customers would have jumped on the Instinct last year but were denied. In retrospect SERO customers should be thanking Sprint for that decision.
I was ready to jump on the Pre but there is no way I'm giving up my $30 500 minute, unlimited text/data plan for it.
You'll probably be able to get the New (AKA Far Less Awesome) SERO, which is 500 minutes + Unlimited Everything Else for $59.99 or $110 for 2 lines.
I'll be trying to negotiate a switchover from the awesome old SERO to New SERO + %Off Loyalty Discounts. We'll see.
How not allowing SERO users to get the Pre hurt Sprint? SERO users themselves hurt Sprint, they want them off that plan.
A few SERO custumers claim that they've been able to hook up their old SERO plan to the Instinct. It is just a matter of negotiating with a Sprint rep, and having time on your hands. Unless the CEO of Sprint himself is steadfast about not letting the Pre on any other plan, it should just be a matter of harassing a Sprint rep in the activations dept. until they agree.
As they are still being pretty silent about everything that we really care about *cough official date* I guess this will do.
Can't wait to pick mine up the day it comes out.
A local Sprint rep told me over the weekend that they're looking at May 30th. When asked if that date is pretty solid, he said yes, and that they're trying to beat the iPhone launch.
Just remember it's still version 1.0. Apple won't get copy and paste until their version 3.0. Their OTA feature means that updates should be relatively seamless.
Yea, one of the things that makes this phone so great.
Yes but WebOS 1.0 and iPhone OS 3.0 are coming out at the same time. A rather weak argument, especially when you compare iPhone to other OSes instead.
It will have copy and paste....just not from web pages
It's probably the most important thing. Do you want to type the link below with your thumbs.. http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/27/insider-sprint-doc-details-the-palm-pre-for-new-users-other-b/#commentform
Maybe there's a "share" option in the browser?
@Platinum_Skeet
hopefully you'll be able to *click* on links rather than type them into the address bar manually ;)
@shapey
I copy and paste links all the time to websites and videos to send to my friends. Even take the embed codes from video files to add to bulletins for myspace. I have the storm and even though there's a few bugs that's one essential I love about the phone. You can copy & paste in all apps including internet and even the apps not made by blackberry.
wow you guys are dim....
you can attach links, etc (go watch the pre commercials... ) - but according to this RUMOR you cant select text from webpage content.....
there is a share option in the browser...I saw it demoed in a video somewhere...don't remember where and don't feel like looking it up right now...but it's there
Copy and paste in the browser is absolutely essential... my iPod touch drives me insane when I'm typing a comment on a blog or forum and I can't rearrange text...
woah woah woah
no copy-paste in the web browser, and no pic mail?
What is the, the iphone?
No copy paste? Damn, I was really considering getting one, but this is a huge minus. Well, at least this will save me the money of a more expensive plan.
"The Pre will require a Simply Everything / Simply Everything data plan, or a Business Essentials Plan."
Ugh. If I can't re-up my awesome SERO plan ($30/month for 500 mins, unlimited data, unlimited SMS) I'm going to be buying a new iPhone rather than a Pre.
Uh, you do realize that the equivalent plan on AT&T will still cost more than switching to one of Sprint's Everything plans?
Here to second your lame decision. The everything plus plans, the sero replacements, are still the best deal out there for feature phones. My brother pays $90 for some minutes, texting and data and I pay $60 for everything he has and more.
Also the fact that Sprint's 3G network is superior to AT&T's in every single way.
"Also the fact that Sprint's 3G network is superior to AT&T's in every single way.**"
**If you happen to live somewhere where you actually have full coverage, that is.
Personally at one time or another I've had Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. Where you live and where you travel is the biggest factor in which is best. I currently have AT&T and live in Scottsdale. I have excellent coverage everywhere I typically go, and I can make a call and get data all the way from Phoenix to LA on the 10 with no problems
I had lots of coverage issues with Sprint, and some people here in Scottsdale dumped Sprint for AT&T because of dead zones. Verizon was OK, but I hate the crap they do to their phones. I like AT&T better than Verizon, but if Sprint had decent coverage where I live I'd consider it. The best device in the world isn't worth shit if you can't get on the network from your office and home...
You may still be able to get it if you talk to the right person... Sprint posted on one of their official twitter accounts that Simply Everything wasn't a requirement: http://twitter.com/sprintnews/status/1317511959
Your logic doesn't make sense.
They won't let you keep your $30 plan with the new phone (they want you to use a $70 plan)...so obviously money is important to you. So instead you will go to Att and pay $100...
Wait what?
@CraigJ
I am not saying you aren't telling the truth about coverage, but...
There is a nationally broadcast radio program (out of Phoenix) about computers and gadgets called the Kim Kommando show and I have heard her on more than one occasion complain about the horrible service she gets on her iphone. She says she loves the phone when she can use it but it is no secret to anyone that has ever listened to her show that the at&t coverage in and around Phoenix sucks ballz. I have Sprint and anywhere I have been in the last few years (including Phoenix) that is close to an interstate or is a nice size city has great coverage (including 3g coverage), heck my dad lives in a very rural area of Mississippi and I still get coverage there (not 3g coverage but I can still make and receive calls). I'm not bashing you personally, I just don't like at&t. I live right off a major state road that leads to a pretty popular beach and my friends w/at&t don't get any service at my house or most of the way to the beach where as my phone works almost all the way there (only dropping service once or twice for a short while). Not to mention the fact that at&t's plans are way more expensive than comparable sprint plans...ok I'm stepping down off the soap box...now.
Im not normally rude, but that has to be the dumbest comment I have read in a long time! Do I need to explain, no. I think people will get it, unlike you. Have fun with your cheaper-than-simplyeverything-att-plan and your cheaper than Pre iPoop.
It's not that difficult to understand but since everyone is so concerned with my buying decisions, here you go:
1) I like the iPhone. I know this for a fact. I think I'm going to like the Pre but can't be sure until I get my hands on one.
2) I don't like the iPhone enough to justify paying $60/month more than I'm currently paying ($30 for SERO vs. $90 for equivalent AT&T plan). I do like the iPhone enough to justify paying $20/month more for it ($70 Simply Everything vs. $90 AT&T plan).
3) AT&T's network is pretty damn good in/around Atlanta; my fiancée's iPhone has very few problems with no coverage/dropped calls.
Hopefully, once the Pre is officially announced, I can get someone from Sprint on the phone and convince them to let me keep SERO if I buy a Pre and re-up my contract for 2 years. If the alternative is that I cancel my account and move to AT&T, they may be willing to work something out.
Before the comments come flooding in, I too am bummed about not being able to copy text off a website... but, the phone still does have copy and paste - it's only in places where you can type (e.g. notes, email, text field on websites, etc).
Hopefully Palm will fix this quickly with an update.
WAIT WAIT WAIT, you can't send MMS (or at least a picture)????
Yes, you can do MMS.
What it doesn't do is Sprint Picture Mail, which was dumb as hell anyway.
Oh, thanks for clearing that up for people confused, like me.
Ok, so I guess none of this is a bummer after all.
well thats good... I don't have sprint and am considering this phone... and I have no idea what all of these Sprintisms mean
Don't worry I've had sprint forever and the picture mail thing is the dumbest thing ever. With the pre we can upload to facebook(etc...) so no real loss. It's actually for the best they removed sprint music it isn't that great either.
Before all the fanboys make some wise comments about the cut/copy it is there read this:
http://www.precentral.net/new-palm-pre-features-revealed-manipulate-text-pro
Its always been there its probably just relating to how the web browser works. Seriously guys just let go
No copy'n'Paste for web pages. Not no Copy'n'Paste.
[Warning-apple fanboy] I like that one of the biggest features is background tasks/multitasking, and the support docs say that if you pre is slowing down, try quitting some apps. Brilliant
Pretty good advice if you ask me.
Are you trying to say that it's biggest feature is weak or some kind of false advertisement? Palm said there's no limit to how many you can run, so obviously if you're running 15, there's chance of slowdown. I don't see why this is anything to be entertained by. It's like a computer, it can run a lot of programs but it'll slow down when there's a lot. Unlike the iPhone.
People coming from the iPhone will need basic multitasking sense training.