Palm's taking its App Catalog in a distinctly new direction today on news that it's opening access to the Catalog database, letting third parties view, show, and remix the available apps in various ways. Users will be able to visit third-party sites and download apps straight to their webOS-based devices -- possibly an interesting option for themed sites that want to give users quick access to a certain category of apps quickly. On a related note, Palm introduced its Hot Apps program that rewards devs for creating popular apps -- the nature of those "rewards" isn't yet clear, but we would imagine they're gonna make it rain on these cats.
Update: And make it rain they will. $100,000 each will go to the developer of the top free and paid apps through May 31, 40 will get $10,000, and another 400 will snag a cool grand.
posted January 7th 2010 2:20PM
Sweet.
This is a nice open alternative to some more..::ahem:: controlling platforms.
@Riz
Unfortunately, I don't think this means that third parties will be able to distribute their apps outside of the Catalog. Based on the article, it seems that Palm is simply allowing third parties to develop custom views of the existing Catalog, hence the comment about themed sites featuring certain kinds of apps and allowing users to download straight to their device from those sites (as opposed to then going to the Catalog). But it doesn't sound like they'll be able to offer apps that aren't already in the Catalog database.
@John H AFAIK, Palm leaves the option to the developer already today. You can install apps using other installers already today... no need to rely on the official appstore.
@Riz So the more open the more consumers want it? Hmm maybe not.
Meanwhile at Infinite Loop...
Steve Jobs: What he F***ING F*** are they F***ING doing?!? those stupid F***ING sons of B****ES don't know what the F*** they're F***ING getting into! They're taking my original glorious idea of apps and letting other people have all the F***ING control, this isn't open sourced anarchy, these are F***ING apps!
@yulebellow loled hard :)
No, seriously, this is why I sold my first gen iPhone and now posses a first gen Pre (Pre minus?!). Hate how apple restricts you in how you use what you own...
@yulebellow Jobs is just probably just lightly chucking at the whole thing. Palm can do what they want as they try to replicate Apple's success and good luck to them for it. But while some people claim to dislike the iPhone on self-imagined political ideology, consumers continue their massive preference for the iPhone.
not a bad move palm, this could get you some more apps, what you really need to do is launch your phones in more countries and on more carriers. go china and india, iphone hasnt been a success there for obvious reasons
Are they doing their dog and pony show on a mac? Seems like they should have shown it on a compiz desktop to not throw more business apple's way.
@sporkinum
Try BeOS instead. :)
Fantastic, I guess. Strangely, the immediate people I work with either have Android-based phones or the iPhone, yet I don't know anybody that owns a Pre. I guess more interesting GSM handsets (unlocked) might make a difference. Or not.
@Student Driver Not sure where you're posting from, but here in Germany, you get the Pre on O2 without any locks (no netlock, no cardlock, no contract or anything) from release. By now it goes for about 300 euros via ebay (200 less than the initial price at O2).
Not a bad deal if you ask me :)
"Users will be able to visit third-party sites and download apps straight to their webOS-based devices"
does that mean canadians will finally have a way to buy apps or do we still have to wait who knows how long for our ability to purchase apps through the catalog?
@smatts
I think you'll still have to wait. As I mentioned in a previous comment on this article, it seems the third parties will simply become portals to the Catalog. Visitors to those sites will be able to download apps directly from that site, but it sounds like the apps they're downloading will still have to exist in the Catalog, as opposed to third parties offering non-Catalog apps on their sites. The sites instead will be custom views of the Catalog, apparently.
How about a speed boost? Will webos 1.4 get a speed boost? Will us enable the GPU?
@Jon Rubinstein Where did you get the info on RAM?! I knew ROM was doubled. No word about RAM though....
@Jon Rubinstein
you're a cool guy man.
I live in Asian and i got my pre hehe, i am so willing to help you guys promote and market it, look me up in singapore if you do come over! I am looking to develop applications on pre for my business. I am with herbalife. We have 1.5 million distributors. I am developing my own webportal currently!
@Jon Rubinstein Thanks Jon! Will the GPU also be enabled for general navigation/menu actions or just Games/Apps for now?
I think Pre is a pretty cool guy. eh doubles RAM and ROM and doesn't afraid of anything.
@Jon Rubinstein lol. Didn't have a look at the name/avatar of you up to now... And didn't even think the CEO of palm would directly post at engadget after the show. Ok, so maybe thatLs enough reason to trust you. Btw, now that i got your attention, i'd really like to congratulate your team to that great platform and hardware released. Keep up the good work. Got a loyal customer in me.
btw, i gave feedback to palm with suggestions for improvements about webos. Do you guys ever get in touch with the persons suggesting things or is it just a one way kind of thing?
I love Palm right now.
Really, I haven't liked a company this much since Apple introduced the iPhone (and then slowly updated it, to get as much profit).
I think Palm's back just in time.
@Jonathan K
Just got my Pixi in the mail today. Hard not to love this thing, especially when it's replacing a Helio Ocean.
PreCentral Launched an App Gallery using Palm's feeds during the event this morning :)
http://www.precentral.net/app-gallery
- Dieter