Palm's webOS gets a couple more apps -- are the floodgates opening?
By Darren Murph 
posted July 29th 2009 3:27AM
posted July 29th 2009 3:27AM
posted July 29th 2009 3:27AM
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i hope so
Palm is flooding in red every quarter! :) Seriously, is Palm really going to survive before developer could ship their app? I suppose this is a 64K question?
That's what investors are there for, as long as Palm keeps showing progress anyway.
@Sharkims
I think you would be hard pressed to find willing investors out there that would keep investing so long as you show progress. *Any company* and *any project* can show progress; the real important detail is the potential for ROI. If, at any point, investors lose faith that their investment is worthy, they'll pull out.
I had not realize that Palm was doing badly, but I suppose I should have realized it. A new product with a new OS is bound to need some time to gain more sales. I hope Palm finds more success in the future, though.
@MarioSpitza , I will agree with you on that one. I am just basing my thoughts on the fact they were failing well before the Pre, someone keeps investing.
I think Engadget is trying to not like the Pre. They are kind of being Pessimistic, as this is good news.
But you guy only start giving a Damn if it is an apple product.
I disagree, I think Engadget is at least objective to both products equally. Try out Gizmodo if you want to see some Pre hating, and Apple love. -.-
Are you serious? Engadget's been hyping the Pre like mad since it was announced.
> I think Engadget is trying to not like the Pre...
I think "Engadget" has become blinded by appearances on Fallon and can find no wrong with the Pre to the point that they are publishing major articles whenever Palm burps, in this case a burp amounting to no more than a couple more applicaitons for the Pre.
What's with the capitalisation of "Pessimistic" and "Damn"?
I think they are being pretty fair. They seem to know what Palm is working from and at least giving them time to produce.
Some other subgroup of folks on the other hand are really fighting tooth and nail to try to paint it as a failure, for god knows what reason.
I think Engadget is being rather generous in regard to the Pre.
Not only has Engadget been rather nice to the Pre of late (you know, instead of making jokes about how few apps there are, they make optimistic posts ... like this very article), but if you cared to read Engadget's Apple articles of late, you'd know that the writers have gone all-out trying to outdo each other with snide quips about the big fruit (c.f today's post by Nilay Patel about the unofficial GV app for Pre).
So, that makes 32 apps? 40?
I hope so, although the homebrew app world is advancing tremendously fast, we need the actual app development from the phone's actual company to do the same..
I love my pre, and I expect there will be a great deal of applications... so far everything on my phone is fine as is though...
I expect later this year palm will take the app catalog out of beta, and then submissions to it will be a daily thing.
Lets hope palm can handle it :)
Hahaha, 2 new apps = floodgates?
Do you know how to read? They are saying hopefully the 2 apps are the start of a floodgate. Meaning, apps hopefully will finally start coming in on a regular basis.
Reading comprehension...FAIL.
in the meanime we need more RTS for the Iphone godammit!
GALCON
I actually returned my Palm Pre today after 29 days. There were a lot of things I loved about it, but in the end there were some major failings that it just couldn't overcome that my old nextel phones from 5+ years ago could do.
1) No tethering, either cable or bluetooth (though i saw a few workarounds, it shouldn't be THAT complicated)
2) No classic or released irc app worked
3) I couldn't get a single music/radio stream to work, which was a common problem from the forums.
4) No messenger apps for anything but Aim
5) No VNC app
6) Battery life was dreadful. I was barely getting 6 hrs if that. A day out hiking or running around and it was useless.
7) Ringer and SMS volume. Not being able to customize txt msg ringers was a major killer since I use my phone as a pager more then anything else and I had to keep it on vibrate since I just couldn't hear that sound.
8) no removeable storage or usb host. Since I cant tether, I'd have at least liked to be able to slide my cameras card in it and upload pics or attach a usb card reader!
plus other little things here and there, like not reading the album art of many of my songs, it just wasn't quite what I needed. It was a good phone, had a good mp3 player, pandora always worked well, and browsing the web was a great experience. But in the end, compared to a dumb phone with java apps, or winmo, it just couldn't do what I needed it to do. Maybe in the future it'll get there, but for now, I'll probably grab a touch pro2 when it comes out and see if that meets my needs.
Lol no you didn't. First of all more than half the things you mentioned work fine, sounds like you had a defective phone if you actually had 1. Which you didn't because on a diff pre story here at engadget you said you would never get a pre because you love the iphone. TROLL
Care to show me where that post is? The only post I have made regarding the iphone was bemoaning the fact that it couldn't tether which has always been a deal breaker for me, regardless of OS. The rest of my phone related posts have been about winmo which has been my OS of choice since the HP2215 (which I mention in other posts).
Please feel free to elaborate on how to
1) Easily and legally tether
2) an IRC app that works
3) get any of the LAPD or Fire streams on radioreference.com to work
4) have a native app for yahoo msgr instead of their horrid mobile msgr webpage or msn
5) a VNC app, any vnc app!
6) the battery life has been well documented on every blog, forum, and webpage
7) how to change SMS ringers and improve the volume
8) add a usb card reader drive or some form or removeable storage.
I'd love to know, but at least I got my credit back and aug 12th the TP2 will be out on tmobile, so that is something to look foreward to.
I find it amazing that American companies allow returning something after being used for 29 days.
I find it stupid, actually.
I've never known ANY company to take back a product after a month of use...what magical store do you shop at?
30-day return policies are common here in the States, some even offer 90. Smaller local stores are more likely to have shorter return periods, however.
I should add that most electronics retailers charge a 10-15% restocking fee (to cover the costs of repackaging the item for sale) if the item has been opened and then returned.
To everyone who is unable to use google.com, you could find out easily that sprint offers 30 day trials for both service and phone.
I guess you guys don't have Costco or Nordstrom in your area. They have a very liberal return policy...
I don't know about you guys, but the last 1.1 update seem to have really improved my battery life. Not sure if it was just conditioning or there was an update for it. I am a light user, but before the update it seemed like my battery would drain when I barely used it, but now it will last a couple of days with light use.
Thinking more on this return policy; years ago I returned to Costco opened software/game I got for free and they did not even stock it anymore, but gave me a full refund for it :D
They have tightened up their return policy, but all you need is a receipt and as long as it is not electronics they will take it back even if you have had it for a year (unless they changed it again).
I am sure this is an urban legend, but Nordstrom took back used tires in the past... It gives you an idea how open their return policy is.
Did anybody else see Apple's keynote?
(Phil Schiller, while looking at apps availible on each mobile platform on a bar graph, refering to Pre's dismal app count)
"It's so tiny. Can't read it."
That was great!
But seriously, all those Pre users need something that is up to par with iphone standards, save multitasking and mms and any other feature I may be forgetting about. They need more things to brag about! How about getting with the program, Palm? You promised an iPhone killer and, while you have delivered for some, you didn't for many. I had really high hopes for you, but you kinda let me down... shame, I probably wouldn't have bought my 3G S if your device had a keyboard I could use, more apps, and better battery life. The monthly pricing couldn't even make me switch! I really hope you guys are around in 2 years when my contract is up, because if your product matures well, I may buy it.
Palm, I love you guys, you have a great history, but my iPhone won me over for now.
I see what you did there; an honest, subjective comparison of two devices you have OWNED. Why can't more people do this?
Meh.. maybe you didn't own a Pre (oops), but at least it wasn't a this rules/that blows comparison. Still ahead of curve, my son.
"They need more things to brag about!"
Nope, not in by book. One is all it took to sell me on the pre being the superior device and I'll present it in a simple question.
Got Root?
I grew up in a time when commercials didn't mention rivals by name and were respectful in comparisons. i long for those days. i think that Apple has a pride problem.
______________________________________
Did anybody else see Apple's keynote?
(Phil Schiller, while looking at apps availible on each mobile platform on a bar graph, refering to Pre's dismal app count)
"It's so tiny. Can't read it."
That was great!
I agree with MastrCake. The Pre already has much potential to leapfrog ahead of the iPhone, but keep in mind it is in its 1st gen, and its app store is very young compared to Apple's. Give it 2 years, and the app store will have great apps and stupid apps, just like Apple's. The hardware will only get better, maybe with a wider keyboard/bigger screen, better battery life, 5MP autofocus camera, video recording, etc. Also, webOS 3.0 will probably fix all of the issues people have with it. I can't wait for it, my iPhone's shortcomings are becoming unbearable. (POS camera, no video, annoying complete lack of multitasking, lack of customization, low-res screen, reception issues, crappy battery life, all the good apps blocked by Apple).
Come on Apple and Palm, I REALLY don't want to jump ship to an N97!
Simon - Are you dense? APPLE has a pride problem?
Have you not seen any of the Microsoft laptop hunter ads, where they do specifically what you're complaining about? Second, Apple doesn't mention the Pre in their ads. That was a KEYNOTE. If you're going to complain about that, then you should also be complaining about how vocal the people at Palm have been about their "iPhone killer". There is no possible way this is as one sided as you think it is.
You know what? I totally hate how people diss a product and give it shit, and then say they have the damned device or another product from the same company.
Example: 'iPhone sucks ass go the Pre
I own a Mac'
'Go Windows! STFU Snow Leopard
Oh and I like both platforms and love my iPhone'
F off, get a life and stop adding your bloody 2 cents in every damned post about a product you want to take a dump on.
Cheers.
By and large I agree with the sentiment. However, it seems to be the result of people not being taken seriously (or rather, being taken as being a "troll") unless they say something nice about other products made by the same company, i.e. if you say something bad about a Microsoft product then your opinion does count because you are a "Microsoft hater" unless you say that you like something that Microsoft has done. Frankly, however, I honestly don't care if people accept my opinion or not. Those who are capable of rational thought should be able to see the validity of my arguments for/against a product/company/concept (unless I am wrong, of course) without me needing to try and prove that I am coming from a non-partisan position. Those people who are incapable of rational thought because they are partisan will not be convinced that my argument is valid no matter how much "proof" is provided that I am not partisan, so why bother?
Just say what you have to say with the appropriate reasons to back up your opinion and leave it at that.
There are a myriad of homebrew apps not appearing in the Pre "app store." Notice Engadget fails to mention this above. Many of them are quite significant. For instance, I have a Linux shell prompt on my Pre, solitaire, usb/bluetooth tethering, animated weather radar, language translator, checkers, chess, and tetris games, even a gui homebrew app downloader/installer. The Pre is nothing like the iPhone, where anything and everything must go through Apple. This is Linux, and that means prepare for distributed development. If you know anything about tech you'll understand and value it.
I'm sorry but isn't "homebrew" just another term for "unofficial" and therefore unlikely to be touched by your average user? Surely this defeats the whole benefit of something like the App Catalog, namely a single source of applications for the device. Besides, if these homebrew applications are so good, why aren't they available via the App Catalog?
Sure, no hacking is apparently necessary to install homebrew applications on the Pre but I honestly don't see that much difference between obtaining applications this way and jailbreaking an iPhone. I just don't see them being widely adopted unless homebrew becomes the accepted way of getting applications on the Pre and Palm officially endorses it.
To be honest, I'm not as excited by distributed development as you are. Open-source delivers some great code but often seems incapable of delivering good end-user applications where you need more skills than simply how to write good code.
I think accessibility is a major issue here. Apple's model is nice for developers because they offer 1 place for consumers to find apps easily, and it essentially eliminates piracy, both of which should lead to higher sales. The trade-off is Apple controlling distribution and the associated aggravation. Can developers make money off homebrew distribution? How do they market their product effectively? How will piracy affect sales? I don't know, but I think at least some developers will want the answers to these questions before they invest in developing a product on this platform.
1) For your average customer side loading apps is never ever ever going to happen. You can love it all you want but its not going to sell Pre's.
2) Security. Good luck with it. Even the android store with its open walls has had malicious apps. Reverting to the way windows mobile has been–unsuccessfully i might add–for years is not going to bring you customers. Do you think soccer moms are going to go to some shady site with porn ads to get apps? No they arent, nor are they going to peruse forums for them or buy them from a vending machine.
For about 99% of the customers; if its not in the app store on the phone, it doesn’t exist. That’s just a fact. Blindly ignore the truth until you are blue in the face, but it wont change anything.
and they both suck! Come on Palm lets get some actually interesting apps out there, say one to changenotification tones i.e.txt messaging??
I think there are different approaches, each has its strengths and weaknesses. While full control by Apple, packed will skilled and dainty marketing, complete with half truths and catchy themes, will have vast appeal on the consumer side, we are also talking about -gadgets- here. And if you remove the consumerism to focus on the gadget, there is very little not to like about a linux based platform harnessing distributed development to put a shell prompt on your Pre within a month of its release. I do not deny that the strengths of Apple's approach, after all, they are the market leader. But notice engadget, and many commenters, absolutely ignore other sides of the gadget spectrum.. sides that are extremely appealing to tinkerers worldwide.
Tinkerers? You mean .01% of the phone-using population? Yeah, you are not anything close to being a significant blip on anybody's radar, and there are not nearly as many of you, relatively speaking, as you think there are. Nobody is going to cater to your needs.
And please, complaining about half truths in Apple's ads, but not the ones in anybody else's ads? Have you even seen any of the laptop hunter ads? Come on.
Well, we're on "engadget" so I think we have a few "tinkerers" here. I think you need some perspective: there is plenty of space for WebOS, it is a pretty exciting development in the mobile world despite what the Apple fanboys and their sites will say, and comparing the Pre to the iPhone based on their apps right now doesn't do either platform justice. I just expected more from engadget that's all; maybe they'll come around as the OS evolves. I also expect more from Apple, the powerhouse company that they are, than the tiny crew over at Palm, who have just unloaded such a bomb that the iPhone crowd is lining up to insult it.
I really like my Pre - it's the phone I like the best from the carrier I like the best. I am very disappointed in Palm. I think they have a great device but the apps are just not there - I don't need another app to find a restaurant. Lots and lots of things i would like improved in the os but that's what i expected when going the route of a brand spanking new mobile os. I'm sure the os will be updated many times over the next two years (length of my current contract) but if they don't make some major strides I'll probably switch to something else - unless Sprint continues down the path of very weak phone offerings.
Ballmer said it best "Developers, Developers, Developers!" This is a serious issue for the Pre. This has kept my company from converting all existing smart phones to the Pre. Support for Hebrew would be big for us, but that will probably come as a 3rd party app as it does for the previous Palm OS. It just seems that no one is out there developing apps for this phone.
Maybe after the Pre shows up at Verizon and a webOS phone shows up at AT&T there will be more of a push to develop apps.