Installing Pre homebrew apps: now even easier

While Palm is busily engaged in a game of domination with Apple to see which one can keep iTunes sync working or broken the longest, the Pre homebrew community hasn't been sitting idle, introducing two new and painless ways to get homemade software up in your handset. The first is a desktop app called WebOS Quick Install that works on Mac, PC, and Linux, allowing installation with just a drag, a drop, and a click. The other is called fileCoaster, enabling users to download and install IPKs right on the phone itself, plus other files too. Two great apps for fans of unofficial softwares and good tidings for a warm future of basement innovation -- only a month after the first custom apps came to light.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:13AM]

This has been known for some time :/ I wonder why only announcing it now here.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:19AM]

these programs that make installing homebrew easier than a cheerleader after a friday night win are relatively new. i'm using fileCoaster and its awesome. i can install any new homebrew on my phone instantly without tethering to a computer; also you do not need to root the phone, which is great for everyone.

[sharkimz Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:35AM]

At the very least the on phone installer is new from over the weekend, I think the desktop installer is new for cross desktop as well. It used to be just windows.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:59AM]

Palm saying "There's an app for that" for the Pre. Don't make me laugh. I think they'd have to have at least 1000 apps ready (non-fart and flashlight apps) to start crowing about apps. Right now, it's more like "There's an app for that, but not on our platform."

Is there any real need to load a normally dependable cellphone with contraband software? Wouldn't it make the device a bit unstable?

[R V Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:03AM]

This has only been out since Saturday. What are you talking about?

[One Love Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:05AM]

HTC touch pro 2 FTW!!

[enhuman Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:14AM]

Homebrew rocks.

[Templarian Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:33AM]

Yep, also with the Terminal there is no real limit for the users that want to explore.

webOS-Internals is getting constant updates there is a lot going on right and and I don't see it tapering off any time soon. So many developers and projects going on right now. Strong user demand for this stuff.

[enhuman Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:37AM]

The only thing holding back the development (and widespread use) is the availability to the average consumer; once you don't have to get into Developer Mode to install apps everyday people will be all over it (not that they aren't now).

[KGBSmurf Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:21PM]

Absolutely does!

Here is a screenshot of WebOS running in 1024x768 mode. Future WebOS netbooks to follow?

http://forums.precentral.net/web-os-development/192128-sdk-problem.html#post1774385

[Khav Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:25AM]

"works on Mac, PC, and Linux"

I'm convinced Engadget has a quota they have to meet for errors in articles. Or the editorial staff just likes to troll people who notice things like that.

[ash chapman Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:21AM]

Oxford comma?

[Khav Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:42AM]

"PC"

It should be "Mac, Windows and Linux" or "Mac and PC" (although in the latter case there isn't really a distinction).

[ash chapman Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:46AM]

Ahh, I follow you.

[owdee Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:54AM]

yes i never quite understood how a Mac was ever NOT a PC. after all, a PC is a "Personal Computer." a Mac is a personal computer...so why the annoyingly irrelevant distinction?

[jp99 Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:19AM]

@ owdee:

"PC" today is a shortened term for "IBM compatible PC" from years ago. I agree, PC fits everything including Macs, but over the years the "IBM compatible" part got dropped when nearly everything sold was that type (and Apple was not doing so well). Even though Apple has recovered, the generic term stuck in most minds.

Different story today, especially with Linux, OS X, MS Windows - and most computers are PCs, with few minis/mainframes left. Clusters have displaced most of them.

[mbentley Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:03PM]

what's the big deal? i understood perfectly what they meant by "works on Mac, PC, and Linux" without having to put any thought into it. sure it may not be the best wording they could have used but i understood what they meant.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:56PM]

Try to tell Steve Jobs a Mac is a PC to his face and see how fast you commit suicide from "jumping" off of a 12 story balcony.

[Phen Posted Jul 27th 2009 3:03PM]

@ sweet greggo

umm.... go ahead and google PowerPC and see what you come up with....

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 7:20PM]

I know what a powerpc is. you win no prize today. good luck tomorrow.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:39AM]

these programs that make installing homebrew easier than a cheerleader after a friday night win are relatively new. i'm using fileCoaster and its awesome. i can install any new homebrew on my phone instantly without tethering to a computer; also you do not need to root the phone, which is great for everyone.

[groovedafied Posted Jul 27th 2009 8:14PM]

I second this!

[Sweet Dude Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:23AM]

Does it run as root though? To install tethering and the enable roaming hack, you have access Linux and install it as root. I'm not sure if that's the only homebrew you have to do it for, but it's pretty easy just a little inconvenient when you can install everything else way easier.

[sharkimz Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:36AM]

The Tethering App, and a flash light app both require rooting. Nothing else does. The roaming hack is a hack as you said, not a homebrew app. The installer just requires you to turn on Dev Mode(upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart), and "There's an app for that!".

[electrobrains Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:04AM]

Everything is running as root as it is now anyway -- your browser app, phone app, apps you download, everything.

[JayCanuck Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:33PM]

I'm the developer of the desktop installer. YES, non-standard apps like MyTether, Flashlight, Terminal, etc. WILL be able to be installed in the Pre with WebOS Quick Install. Slightly different install method, but I will be writing a guide on how to install those programs in a day in or so. :)

[joe23521 Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:23AM]

This is all pretty exciting...

[stridermt2k Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:28AM]

Just when you thought that tip calculator was out of reach. ;)

[Phen Posted Jul 27th 2009 3:04PM]

I realized that for a 20% tip, I take 10% (if you cant do this mentally - you're a damn fool) and double it.

you want 18%? just shave a bit off of it - not like the waiter's going to go nuts that you only tipped him 17.667%......

[sharkimz Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:33AM]

The Tethering App, and a flash light app both require rooting. Nothing else does. The roaming hack is a hack as you said, not a homebrew app.

[Gi Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:51AM]

There are a buncha apps that don't need a root, good stuff

[R V Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:05AM]

I have used this, its pretty quick. I just want to enable tethering w/o rooting. I may root later for the amount of stuff you can do with it, though,

[Sweet Dude Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:16AM]

LOL LIKE OMG TOTALLY

[mojo817 Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:19AM]

I care... and obviously everyone else who posted on here cares as well.

[GeekGirl Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:21AM]

it was the worst phone since the razr....enjoy

[ericmn1 Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:28AM]

Apparently you care, at least enough to take the time to voice your opinion. You have have obviously never used the Pre or any length of time, but thanks for contributing your total d-bag comment..

[GeekGirl Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:34AM]

I spent a hour using it, that was enough for me felt cheap and plastic, no wonder Best buys geting rid of them for 99 bucks....

[krische Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:44AM]

That's funny, I said the same thing about your mother last night.

[whiteasianrose Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:26PM]

best buy isn't getting rid of them for $99 you moron, ceo himself said it was a misprint
your icon tells that you wouldn't like it anyway so go use that dildo on yourself while visualizing steve jobs and keep it movin

[spacemanspork Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:38PM]

You know why there's so many Apple haters?

Because of people like you.

I really like Apple products but when I run into people like you and the countless Apple fan boi drones I just want to vomit. Every group unfortunately has their collection of fan bois definitely, but from what I notice a lot of the "other fan bois" aren't really fan bois but people trying to counter act the idiocy of Apple fans (but being fans of anything non-Apple, which in itself is pretty dumb). I find myself almost doing it myself.

I have a Pre. It definitely needs work when compared to the iPhone. Why didn't I get the iPhone? Simply because of value. (Of the carrier not the phones itself). I'm paying $20 less/month for MORE stuff (service wise) than I would've got with the iPhone. Of course there's the bonus of a physical keyboard and multi tasking (!!!). If the iPhone service was actually reasonably priced (c'mon an additional $20/month for unlimited Text?), I'd most likely have an iPhone.

On the downside, the hardware feels a bit cheaper, the OS doesn't run as smoothly. The battery life sucks. There's no apps (yet). Apps will come so I'm not too worried about that yet. Hardware feels cheaper but it's not too bad at all. And the OS hiccups are many compared to the iPhone but it's still very nice and I'll still give that up for multi tasking easily.

[whiteasianrose Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:55PM]

spaceman, well said (even pointing out the Pre's relative shortcomings - as anyone honest will do)
have you checked out the forums at precentral.net for the tips on how to improve battery life?

[Harrison Posted Jul 27th 2009 5:13PM]

Wow! You used a (probably non-working display) device for an hour and made a conclusion! There's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

[kurisutofu Posted Jul 27th 2009 10:34PM]

GeekGirl, let me introduce you to Paul Chapel ...
Paul, this is GeekGirl. Ok, make babies now, hopefully, in 9 month we'll get an Apple fanbaby.

[GeekGirl Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:36AM]

This i guess is for the people who cant get iPhones........LOL

[R V Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:37AM]

LOL BECAUSE NO ONE CAN GET IPHONES LOLOLOLOL

[PedoJokerBear Posted Jul 27th 2009 11:44AM]

how does it feel that you will never look like your avatar?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:04PM]

hey guys i am really looking to buy a Pre but i am just not sure.. should i get it or just wait for the Pre 2

[GeekGirl Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:09PM]

wait....

[whiteasianrose Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:27PM]

as someone who actually ownes one, get it.

[GeekGirl Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:29PM]

what can't spell go back to school.....James rosie :) lol