Palm Pre review

The Palm Pre. It's not just a phone, it's a myth, an idea, possibly a legacy... and a really, really long time coming. It's almost impossible to believe, but the crew at Engadget has been talking about a Linux-based Palm phone since way back in 2004. Through the now-distant years that followed, we were speculating, pontificating, and wishfully-thinking about a new device from a company that we'd come to expect innovation from. But we waited. And waited. And waited. We waited so long, in fact, that we actually penned a lengthy open letter to Palm, pleading for the company to get back on its game. Only when the picture looked really, truly bleak for the folks in Sunnyvale (you know, like $2 a share bleak) did we actually see a spark of hope -- two sparks, in fact -- called the Pre and webOS.

Yes, this is epic stuff. The Pre (and its accompanying operating system) could likely decide the fate of the company largely credited with ushering in the age of the do-everything phone. Since Palm's announcement at CES this year, news surrounding the Pre has been a veritable whirlwind of activity: rumors, half-truths, hate, love, fear-mongering, fanboyism, rampant gadget-lust... and even a little late night celebrity for the pint-sized phone. Finally the time has come to put rubber to road and get into the guts of this thing once and for all. Can the Pre and webOS live up to the hype -- the kind of hype we haven't seen since the launch of the original iPhone -- or do they snap under the pressure? Read on for the full review.

Part 1: Hardware, webOS / user interface
Part 2: Synergy, phone, media, applications
Part 3: Data speeds, backup, battery, Bluetooth, pricing, wrap-up

[gonintendo @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:16PM]

OMGBBQWTF?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

[blackmasterpiece @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:20PM]

I only have 2 questions.

#1 Will it outsell iPhone and iPhone 3G

#2 Will apple end up suing the sht out of palm for any copyright infringements?

[coolpal @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:23PM]

now we know blackmasterpiece and Quantumphysics are one and the same...

The pre looks really small in that picture.. I need to play with one before I decide to upgrade my phone...

pal :)

[Zach @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:03PM]

yeah. omfg.

[chazz @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:38PM]

can't wait. thx for reviewing.

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:43PM]

coolpal

Don't blame me - this stupid thing told me "You Did it" and sent an email to me prompting me to restate my comment. When I saw it again later only then did I realize it posted.

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:55PM]

why post here if you knew you were going to hate it?

douche.

[Fernando @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:02PM]

As an iPhone user since the first gen. I can honestly say that we finally have competition. This is by far the best looking OS I have seen since OSX Touch. MS, Samsung and others have better start getting their shit together cause Apple and Palm are about to shut the game down on their asses fast.

[Laughing Man @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:15PM]

I only have two answers.

1: Yes, it will be.

2. No because they stole the idea too. They copyrighted what the could and that was mostly animation crap, hince Pre using "cards".

P.S. I own an iPhone and the Pre is freaking pimp. So just bask in its glory!

[DirtyVegas @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:42PM]

Josh,

Excellent, excellent review.

Looks like a great device, can't wait to get my hands on it.

[MBN @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:48PM]

Schwing!

[iDavey @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:05PM]

Clearly if Apple was going to sue...they would've did it.
You lamewads forget that Palm has been in the mobile business FAR longer than Apple. They have patents that could most likely shut Apple down. Hence why nothing is being said.

So quit the "Apple is going to sue"...because it's not happening. Apple has trademarks and patents. But Palm has them too. So keep that in mind.

[yokken @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:28PM]

Great review. Made me want a Pre again. Might even do a 30-day trial and try out the service on my college campus.

[Quix @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:39PM]

Beautiful phone, beautiful interface. Not enough to pry me from my iPhone (software ecosystem rules and is just starting to accelerate), but a stellar effort from Palm to be sure. Too little too late? I hope not.

Here's my question: why can't Microsoft and Google understand the importance of beautiful fonts in computing? Apple and Palm nail this - Google and Microsoft's interface fonts look antiquated and amateurish in comparison.

[nerdtalker @ Jun 4th 2009 12:03AM]

Engadget, this is the best review out there. You guys owned BGR, you owned Gizmodo, you owned everyone. Color me very impressed with the depth and breadth of the review, and the videos, photos, and screenshots. This is *the* review.

I only wish I was in the country for launch.

[d889 @ Jun 4th 2009 12:22AM]

i am loving the attention this phone is getting, it is really looking to be a killer device.

i also love the utter hate that is being given to it because its not an apple device, therefore it must be a 'clone' and by lesser definition a piece of shit.

CDMA FTW!

[utahnkid @ Jun 4th 2009 2:11AM]

d889 - I like to think I check a pretty wide array of news outlets from television to printed media to the internet and I can say without any shadow of a doubt that the ONLY outlet giving the Pre anything close to the amount of attention Engadget is, is Engadget.

The Pre is obviously a very capable device (at LEAST as much as the very first iteration of the iPhone) and I don't know if it's a lack of marketing genius, the slow economy, or the fact they're VERY late to the game, but there simply isn't ANY mass appeal for this cool little device. This close to iPhone 1's launch there was already lines of people camping in front of every Apple store throughout the entire country and it was covered on a daily basis by every major news outlet. Even iPhone 2 (an evolutionary device at best) had more excitement surrounding it than the Pre does now.

I guess no matter how much attention a handful of tech blogs give a device, it's just not quite enough to create the undefinable "buzz" that puts people in a spending frenzy. IF, and that's a big if, Apple releases another breathtaking device, Palm can kiss any chance of a quick revival goodbye. They need a genuine home run to even stay in the black, let alone become a successful company again.

[Bren @ Jun 4th 2009 5:29AM]

I noticed a similar wallpaper on the phone in engadget's Blackberry Storm review.

Anyone have any idea where these wallpapers come from? I've looked all over for them. Originally I thought it was a default storm wallpaper, but a similar wallpaper on the pre I'm guessing it isn't.

[Patriks7 @ Jun 4th 2009 3:30AM]

"I only have 2 questions."
Not only did you fail with your username, but you can't even count! Those are 4 questions buddy.

[dishbreak @ Jun 4th 2009 4:16AM]

This was a great review. I was half afraid that it was going to be another Storm.

I especially liked when you broke down the cost of ownership for the device on all the carriers. Very useful. =)

[Jonas @ Jun 4th 2009 5:05AM]

"One of our favorite features is the ability to jump to an artist or song search via YouTube, or an artist search in Amazon's MP3 store while browsing or playing back music. It's a really smart little perk that makes it way easier to go deeper on something you're enjoying -- and it's the kind of 'why didn't anyone else think of that?' concept that makes webOS so enjoyable to use."

Someone else has thought of that... It's been on Android from 1.0... Long press, album, artist, or song to search with Youtube, Amazon MP3, or any Browser installed...

And it's an alright feature... You already have the song on your device? Shouldn't you not have to open it Amazon MP3 for purchase?

[NickNick @ Jun 4th 2009 6:46AM]

now we know blackmasterpiece and Quantumphysics are one and the same...

The pre looks really small in that picture.. I need to play with one before I decide to upgrade my phone...

pal :)

[TheLionOfAzzalle @ Jun 4th 2009 9:03AM]

It's NOT going to outsell the iPhone.

So in that sense it's not really going to be competition...like at all.

So all the anti apple haters can continue to delude themselves with that fantasy.

However that aside the Pre is a very nice device and does represent competition in the sense of features and providing a phone that provides an excellent experience for its users.

[Skeezle @ Jun 4th 2009 11:35AM]

@iDavey
"You lamewads forget that Palm has been in the mobile business FAR longer than Apple"
*cough* Newton *cough*

Although I do respect Palm, I used to love my Handspring Visor with the Palm OS 10 years ago. I thought Palm was going to dominate that market back then. I certainly would like to check out a Pre.

[Ryan @ Jun 5th 2009 12:32PM]

@Bren: I think Josh Topolsky consistently uses these types of wallpapers in his reviews. Judging by his Twitter page, he must be fond of it...

http://twitter.com/joshuatopolsky

[John @ Jun 5th 2009 7:30PM]

@iDavey critics:
No, iDavey is correct. Sure, the Newton was earlier (if only by a short time if you consider the Zoomer), but he never said they were the first.
But regarding the time Palm's in business vs. Apple's:
Palm: starting with the Pilot - ~13 Years (1996-2009), starting with the Zoomer: ~16 Years (1993-2009)
Apple: ~8 Years (Newton: 1993-1998, iPhone 2007-2009)

[H82BQuiet @ Jun 9th 2009 6:45PM]

If IPhone sues Palm, that would mean that HTC would have to sue IPhone since they worked from the ORIGINAL HTC idea. Things that make you go hmmmmm.

[wtf?yo? @ Sep 1st 2009 11:46AM]

@H82BQuiet:
"If IPhone sues Palm...."
ok ecuse my ignorace but is'nt i company apple not iphone...serviusly i was talking to some one about ipods and when i said that apple makes them i swear they nerly had a heartattack because they thiught the company was named ipod

wtf people do reaserch befor posting

oh ya the grammer police can suckit

[Irfan @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:16PM]

eeek!

[rcarm @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:30PM]

@ haX0r

EPIC FAIL!!

[Kamil @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:35PM]

PWNAGE!

[Mitch @ Jun 4th 2009 1:31AM]

@KFD

Nope, the palm was on Adam at the beginning of time, Eve had one too. If you don't do religion, Apes had palms too.

I fail to see how the Newton being around before Palm, not the Palm, would put Apple in the mobile business before Palm, iPhone was definitely Apples first mobile phone.

[MeanSpyvie @ Jun 4th 2009 12:32PM]

The Newton is but a failed and functionless footnote.

Palm invented handhelds like Apple invented DMPs...

[Irfan @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:00PM]

eeeeek!!

[arcticpenguins @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:18PM]

I'll take 2

[AllMightyDollarama @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:44PM]

That's what she said!

[Yevon @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:10PM]

Save the stupid comments for YouTube, people...

[CharlieX @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:19PM]

Man I wish this thing wasn't Sprint - I'm stuck in contract with the gold old boys....

awesome phone though. love my iphone but want physical qwerty keys please.

[Taylor @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:28PM]

I just want confirmation about the Pre not being able to do data and voice at the same time over Sprint's network.

Considering what this phone is being touted as, as a "multi-process" platform, that seems to be highly limiting and no one else has mentioned this as far as I can tell.

[s.tam @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:07PM]

its not the Pre it is sprints network. The use EV-DO which can only do voice only or data only. Other countries have a slightly more advanced EV-DO and EV-DV which can do data and voice simultaneously. When the GSM version comes out in Asia and Europe the Vocie and data problem will be solved

[CharlieX @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:21PM]

Dear Engadget, is there a way to boot "replies" that have nothing to do with your post? Rather than a cheap ploy to get on the first page?

Is there a term for these people we can use?

[MrNuclear @ Jun 4th 2009 3:47AM]

I agree this phone looks awesome, but I really don't understand you wanting the tiny, physical keys. I had a Treo Pro and after getting used to it, I became quite quick at typing. But honestly, nothing comes close to the speed & accuracy of tap-typing on my iPhone. I mean, you can use the lightest touch to get a letter on the iPhone, you can't tell me that physically pushing/clicking a key down can be that quick?

[nxp3 @ Jun 4th 2009 9:19AM]

Some people prefer some tactile feedback. You cannot touch type without looking at the keyboard on the iphone. Although I suck at messaging...my gf can type on a little keyboard almost as fast as a real keyboard. I'm not kidding, and she does the 3 letter per key as quick as I can do the separate letter per key. That is insane. She tried out the iphone...just did not get used to typing on a screen that has no feedback.

[CharlieX @ Jun 4th 2009 10:54AM]

MrNuclear you must have dainty fingers. I have brutish fingers from wielding a battleaxe and strangling kittens..... iphone typing isn't bad, but sometimes it feels like a mush of incorrect letters. I just prefer a tactile button for typing.

[MrNuclear @ Jun 7th 2009 9:10PM]

Definitely not dainty, 6'5" with fingers the size of bananas, perhaps why I don't like those little buttons. And I do hit a lot of incorrect letters on the iPhone, but 9 times out of 10, the predictive text takes care of it. I get your point about personal preference, strangling kittens also.

[illdoanything @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:19PM]

god, if you are reading this, please send me 200 dollars.

[artissco @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:35PM]

ok

[XGM @ Jun 4th 2009 1:10AM]

If your reading this send me a Pre, seeing as us Canadians still have to wait.

[DP @ Jun 4th 2009 1:38AM]

You could give at least give Him the proper respect--God.

[knuckifyouchuck @ Jun 4th 2009 12:26PM]

Yeah you're definitely not getting $200 without the capital G....