Odds are you're going to have the phone to your ear nine times out of ten when this screen's showing, but it's still somehow interesting -- nay, mesmerizing -- so we're happy to see that a recent build of Palm's
webOS emulator for developers has a polished version of the call screen included. Other goodies in
PreThinking's new gallery include options for adding Google, Facebook, and Exchange calendars, the pop-up battery / WiFi / Bluetooth status display, Google Maps shots, and a bunch of miscellany that only true Pre aficionados could appreciate (you know who you are). Follow the break for another shot -- and let's hope the next time you're cycling through screens, it's on a Pre of your very own.
posted Apr 29th 2009 2:40AM
i dont like having to click "keypad" when i'm in a call. there's enough room, why cant they have a keypad and those 3 other buttons
they wanted to make it pretty
Well, unlike an iPhone, you can slide out the QWERTY keyboard and use the numeric keys on there if you think the touchscreen is too slow. I think the reason that empty space is so big is that during a real call they show your contact's portrait (which can either be set on device or, very coolly IMO, downloaded automatically from their Facebook or Gmail Contacts entry), and that space is also split up if you have multiple calls active.
Trust me, it's basically a prettier version of the Palm OS Phone app, and that thing more than gets the job done in my experience. My only phone-related feature that I'm worried got the boot was the ability to ignore an incoming call and immediately launch an SMS conversation with the caller, all with a single button press - incredibly useful in class or meetings.
@ Libb
don't set them off by starting your comments with "unlike an iPhone..."
Hotness!
From what I've seen, if it's someone in your contact list, a large picture of whoever you're calling appears there.
iRony anyone?? Palm Sim running on Mac OS X LOL!
Eh, considering Palm doesn't own a desktop operating system, it's really no more ironic than running such an emulator on Windows... (Windows being made by Microsoft, which also makes Windows Mobile)
It likely shows other information in that window on the actual phone
And unlike the iPhone.... sales will be lackluster for the Pre. To be known as the handset that everyone wanted yet almost nobody bought. Let's hope Palm and Sprint stay solvent long enough to give this puppy a chance of survival.
I think its so our face doesn't accidentally hit any keys while youre calling. That can be a problem on capactives
@ iphonerulz
Every time you post you make me want to cry, you're like Debbie Downer! Wah Waaah!
also like on other phones, when you're in a call you get some moderation options. start a conference, go to another line, remove a person from the conference, mute, hold. etc.
@ale
I think they said something about a proximity sensor to prevent those kind of blunders. Who knows how it will work though.
moush - probably the exact same way the iPhone's touchscreen-disabling proximity sensor works.
so you dont hit the keypad with your face...
Aeroplane ! put the damn O in it!
and change that nasty i to an E?
Agreed!
This might be a dealbreaker for me. :(
You Brits are should be able to get your localization, but on your own devices. Don't get your knickers in a twist when an American company spells an American invention with an American spelling.
@Colonel Kernel
Whilst i agree that an American company has every right to use the American spelling of a word, can we please understand that the Wright brothers did not invent the "airplane" or the "aeroplane"; they were just the first to fly one in a controlled flight
@ Tid
as opposed to what? being the first to fly one in an UNcontrolled flight? while i can appreciate the theory of an invention, if the prototype doesn't work, then its not really an invention. in fact, isnt that how patents work? dont they need a working prototype?
Pre, Iphone, G1 Competition is so sweet. Pushing innovation.
yep...aaand then there's slow old grandpa Microsoft
Uh oh James, you just mobilized the Engadget Microsoft Defense Force...
uhm, maybe. I do have to say that I'm disappointing with all my fellow Microsoft fan-boys out there lately, everyone always seems to have so many negative connotations about us. this si one little reason.
I'm also sad to say that Microsoft's mobile software has let me down so often, I'm glad that I've stayed with sprint all these years cause now when the pre comes out and everyone is walking around with a G1 or an iphone, their all gonna be like "Damn son, that's a sweet phone"! sorry Microsoft, your mobile stuff just doesn't cut it. maybe next year, I'm not gonna give up on you, I'll still try everything you guys release, I just don't like the mobile stuff you guys have right at the moment.
The UI refinements are nice, now we need how well it runs on the device.
I get all tingly when I see new Pre stuff- it's like the iPhone, but better somehow. Maybe it's because I can't wait to get rid of mine... yeah, that's probably it. And look- it's so shiny!
Ha, I know exactly what you mean
though if palm follow a similar release schedule to the G1 and the iPhone we are not going to see one in Australia for ages
Careful with that Kool-aid.
oh, dude that really kinda puts a downer on anyone's day. I'm sorry we American's are so greedy that we like hogging release dates.
@Kyle Brandes:
RE: American's
God, would you people learn how to write? I have no idea why contractions are so challenging. If you can't be bothered, at least don't label yourself as from the US so it doesn't imply that the rest of us are equally stupid.
LOL@ Peter
I'm with you, and applaud your decision to tell him about it. For me, I've gotten sick of correcting people- I could literally spend all day and night doing it.
i dont unnerstand y people cant fugure out why to spell correct; or use correct grammer.
Maybe it's all the ads that encourage and promote them: "Think Different", instead of "Think Differently". "The funnest iPod ever". Shit kills me, seriously.
THEY STOLE FROM APPLE! Look at the Close/Minimize/"Maximize" bar in this screen grab! It's TOTALLY ripped off from OSX! Man are Apples Lawyers going to have a field day with this!
P.S. Yes. I am kidding.
Haha yeah I was going to have to rebuke that by saying its just the emulator running, not on the actual phone. Oh well, I hope we all had a good laugh.
It's a damming indictment of society today that you have to point out a gag like that.
I chuckled. Even before I read that it was a joke ;)
im just surprised you didnt leave the "yes I am kidding" bit off and watch the melee ensue, whilst quitely laughing to yourself at the idiots readily jumping to the bait.
Very crisp and good looking. Android, was it so hard?
More Pre stuff?!
STOP TORTURING ME! GIMME THE PHONE!
What's the font in those screenshots, Gill Sans or something?
Actually, it looks like 'Avenir'.
It's nice. Ideally it would probably should have a slightly looser kerning for an interface font (although as is it'd be perfect for block text).
If this is an emulator... why does the battery show 89%? Added realism? Or is it using the host's battery meter? Ou quoi?
They just started up the emulator fresh for this and wanted to make it as realistic as possible, thus the 89%. In a few more minutes it would have shown 49%.
@freakin ljit
Wow, how did nobody get that joke. I thought it was hilarious. Attention spans of gnats. lol
ps.... LMAO, apparently I've got the same attention span seeing as how I responded to the wrong comment feed.
PreThinking is also reporting a 7th June launch date... as a rumour... i.e. a day before Apple's WWDC. If true... too much of a gamble there Palm? Surely they can't think that's a good strategy?
I hope thats true, my contract ends on the 6th and I can upgrade!
@freakin ljit
Wow, how did nobody get that joke. I thought it was hilarious. Attention spans of gnats. lol
WHY IS NO ASKING THE IMPORTANT QUESTION?!?
Where can I get the virtualbox image so I cal play with the sdk?????
These bits and pieces of pre news is totally rigged. Palm knows how much of a cock tease this is.
It is a cock tease for early-adopters, already-convinced early-adopters, only.
No one else even knows about this device other than as a rejection by Howard Stern and a "It scratches easily" by the fake Jolie.
Interesting it's running in Sun xVM VirtualBox, an x86 virtualiser. So WebOS must be compiled for x86 in the SDK.
WebOS Netbook time!
Hmmm, I wonder how long I'll have to wait until I can get a webOS UI skin for my iPhone?
Nothing against the iPhone's UI, but Palm has got something good going here...
It's funny to hear of Apple being beat in the design department, but, from day one, the cheese grater dock on the iPhone has been a major eye sore for me. I liked the glass dock on the first iPod Touch and hoped Apple would move to that style on the iPhone. No luck, though. The only reason I jailbroke my 3G was to get rid of the cheese grater.
Someone put this on ThePirateBay or something already, damnit.
I agree with everyone. PLEASE, can we have the phone now. I'm nearly out of my contract and I need something awesome in my life.
I think Palm slowly but surely gambles away its chances of the Pre being a big success with waiting so long with the release. I for one am not that excited about it anymore and probably gonna buy another phone.
Or is this just me?
It's just you.
> ...Or is this just me?
After the "leak" of that Sprint Customer Service talking about tethering, copy-n-paste, etc etc etc = or the lack thereof = you are not the only one.
I'm not as excited as I was and this information blackout is ****ing uncalled for. If Sprint had an Android phone, I would get it and hop off the Pre train, but Sprint's Android comes months after the Pre so I guess I'll wait for it. It wins by default, versus a month ago when I needed to own it due to it's awesomeness...that is fading.
I agree. When you've got the Palm Eos in the works all of the sudden, plus have tons of info about that phone already being dished out, it almost makes me wanna take the 'wait and see' approach now. I was gonna jump in line at first, but now the idea of a 'Centro like' Pre phone with a larger, 'touch capacitive' screen than the Centro...... that sounds pretty interesting. I'm all for the smaller form factor. I'm a business man who's on the go and needs a smaller device to resist drop and scratch damage.
Now that they have the Web OS on a phone, how about a version of the web OS on a netbook? And Palm should make their own netbook! The Web OS is intuitive and easy to use, and doesn't need that many resources to run smoothly. It would be a great idea!
Yeah, but maybe it should be released officially first... And where do you happen to know from that it is easy to use, since it's not even released yet?
Pip Boy 1000?
where can i download this emulator for my laptop? i want a pre on my laptop!!!
I wish sprint didnt have a 90 exclusivity deal. I want this to land on verizon so i can get rid of my blackberry
I have a Storm, and I am thinking the same thing. If this thing rocks out like it's cocks out, then i'm gonna jump ship on Blackberry.
Unfortunetly sprint has not advertised this phone enough. I've seen two commercials with this phone on tv and it has not been really for the pre. Its the random commericals sprint has launched where it gives you random info and than at the end the pre appears thats it! Sprint needs to advertise this phone more if they want it to sell. The Instinct was advertised so well and is no where near the phone the pre is. Instinct sold a lot for sprint, it seems i see that phone almost as much as i see the iphone. (i work in retail i see many people with there phones on a day to day basis not a tech or anything just from what I see.) if sprint wants this phone to be a sucess they need to start advertising this phone a lot more and advertise the capabilities of this phone on tv. Not everyone is tech fan that looks at engadget or any other tech page. the only reason we know of this phone is pretty much because of engadget and we are more aware of new electronics than the average joes.
They aren't advertising it because it isnt close enough to the release date (whatever it is). Be prepared to see massive advertising, more than verizon with the storm. I think I read somewhere they are going to spend $150 mil on advertising.
How hard is it to come up with your own icons for mute, add call, and keypad? I bet I could come up with 10 separate, unique icons right now, and Im not creating a phone that will possibly be looked at by apple's lawyers!
sry, just mute and keypad
"Uh oh James, you just mobilized the Engadget Microsoft Defense Force..." That was the funniest thing I've read all week.