Palm moving to Android to stay alive? Not according to Palm
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted March 23rd 2010 10:16AM
posted March 23rd 2010 10:16AM
But guess what? Not only did the memo not appear at the stroke of 12, but when we picked up the phone and actually spoke to Palm, they had a pretty quick response. Their answer? Our sources at the company essentially laughed when they heard this news, and they emphatically stated that there was no memo, and no move internally towards Android. Furthermore, many of the reports are citing a bunk piece of news from Monday which erroneously stated that Palm had halted production -- that news has also been refuted by the company. Admittedly, our minds reel at the concept of Android with a webOS UI, but until we get some real, verifiable evidence of that (and not just a random email), we're going to assume it's not happening. You should do the same.
Oh please God no.
"The anonymous emailer went on to say that the full memo would be made available on Wikileaks at midnight last night."
. . . he then died.
@werty1432k This is just a stupid story, don't even listen to it. Even the original rumor is stupid when analyzed? Besides the droid, name a really successful device, maybe the Motoroi? The point is, you need a proper roll out with proper hardware to succeed in any realm, they would lose marketshare by trying to drop an exclusive, crapware device bolstered by nothing but software on to an under-performing service-provider.
@juanvaldez It's funny because everyone else knows how to fix palm except for palm themselves.. Open your ears palm!
@werty1432k I agree!
This would be yet another stupid decision if it has any truth. Almost as bad as switching to WinMo.
If things really get so desperate, I would rather see Google buy WebOS and replace Android with it ;)
I'm still waiting for a GSM Pre Plus... Palm.. Hurry up! Before those new HTCs coming to Vodafone tempt me too much!!
@werty1432k
Another day.. another Palm fail article. As nice as Android is, this wouldnt address their much needed hardware upgrades.
Do like MS and license out your WebOS
@Alex I recommend an iPhone for all the idiots considering getting a Palm Pre. See, I can post biased bullshit just like you. Let see if this gets down ranked.
@Smart People Play Tuba
lolzzzzzzzzzz, i think herbiederb tried to spread the rumor after he got destroyed yesterday on the article about AT&T getting the Palm Pre and Pixi Plus
@pbp8ntballer
How did I get destroyed when youre the one refresh/downranking my comments. Youve been exposed liar. You state you have the Iphone yet you adamantly defend the Pre. Truth is you have the Pre and are embarrassed of it. BUSTED kid
@werty1432k
I'm an iPhone user and very happy with it, but if I had to switch to a diff carrier, a Palm Pre is at the top of my list simply because of the Web OS, besides more competition is good too.
@werty1432k
Hardware, hardware, hardware. In today's market the problem is that so many phones are similar (especially in the Android space). It's hard to distinguish between them. Palm has a great opportunity here because they are different.
I really liked playing around with the Pre. I would have considered it. Unfortunately, the hardware just isn't that great. Improve the build quality, improve the keyboard, and get a screen that is 3.6" or bigger THEN you will have a winner. Moving from Sprint to all carriers should help with sales as well.
@werty1432k
have to agree. WebOS is a very clean and slick UI with awesome multitasking.
I loved the phone when I had one. only things that bugged me were the lack of Apps, and scratch resistant screen.
@Alex Yeah, because it's just so mature and intelligent to assume that anyone interested in a phone you don't happen to like are "idiots".
You are asinine.
@werty1432k
So people who buy iPhones are idiots now...
Android fanboys act all high and mighty for no reason at all. Enjoy your fractured OS and your non multitouch devices....
@bjsguess
Agreed... put a larger screen on the device and people will buy it... that is unless you have small girly hands like pbp8ntballer.
@werty1432k
We've seen Pam do this before after recognizing that the Windows Mobile OS was a superior product.
@HerbieDerb
my epeen is bigger than your epeen :P
(your mentality, not mine)
@HerbieDerb
lmao how on earth did you expose me? you're just pulling accusations out of thin air =)
so hush before someone else downranks another dumb comment of yours. i dont believe you understood me the first time, but you DO UNDERSTAND that refreshing the browser screen doesn't do anything at all. It kinda works on your I.P. address, thus preventing trollies like you from downranking everyone who thinks you're an idiot ;)
@werty1432k
And blockbuster is only "looking for ways to build capital"
This would be one of the worst ideas ever. WebOS is Palm's biggest selling point. What they need is more/different hardware, not a new OS.
@telepheedian WebOS is good enough that it got Apple implementing some form of universal search on the iPhone, and some form of card view on Android 2.1 Agreed with everyone about Palm needing new hardware.
@telepheedian I agree 100%. They need HTC to make the hardwre
@JoeS WebOS + Touch Pro 2 would be a match made in heaven.
@telepheedian
they should contract HTC to build their hardware... that would be interesting no!?
a high end palm device with a snapdragon and 4 inch screen would be mouthwatering!
@newjaruz
they've already done that, it's called the Palm Treo Pro, but obviously it was for HTC's experience with WinMo, though one webOS device couldn't hurt
@telepheedian agreed. they need to open the OS up and let other manufacturers use webOS on their devices. They have a gold mine with the OS, but their hardware is a dud. Something else needs to spark the explosion.
@Pookiewood
web os + HD2 = match made in heaven
@newjaruz hell yeah it would. WebOS is a great OS. They also need to advertise and not to women.
@snowrid3r Love the HD2 but gotta have the Keyboard man. I went 2 years with a Vogue! I'm never doing that again. maybe TP3 will be HD2 Screen plus a slide out KB that slides down vs sideways.
I cant even consider getting a palm pre because i hit like 4 keys at a time when trying to type. definitely needs new hardware
@NYYstateofmind
"The Biggest Loser" is accepting applicants for their next season :)
@NYYstateofmind
The fingers you have used to dial are too fat. To obtain a special dialing wand, please mash the keypad with your palm now.
@cjschrissouth
+1
Lol, not bloody likely
A more logical move would be to license Web OS to other handset vendors. WebOS is Palm's best asset, not their hardware.
@crescentmage THANK YOU! I currently have an android handset and used my girlfriends Pre once because I was considering getting it. WebOS is badass but the damn thing feels like a new gen Gigapet/Tamagotchi. Better hardware is the answer -- anyway as someone stated above this is highly unlikely, i doubt palm would piss on themselves like that.
@ThatDudeSolo Yes, to me, death is much preferable than pissing on myself daily. However, people, and businesses moreso, like the thought of survival. With the price targets of $0 in their future, this is not pissing on one's self, this is doing the most with what you have.
@crescentmage
True, but their Touchstone charger and replaceable/swappable rear case (case, not cover) are a couple of cool hardware design points.
@crescentmage
Even more logical would be to run a dual strategy like before ie Palm OS and WM.
Why not run WebOS and Android now, make some cash while WebOS catches up.
@feelings
definitely agree, touchstone is just effing cool
I'll throw my Pre in the garbage if this would happen.
sent from my Palm Pre via engadget app.
That would be horrible.
If anything Palm should just focus on WebOS and develop relations with hardware partners.
@Brother Unit No 4 agreed!
What a ridiculous rumor. If anything, Google would be more likely to buy WebOS and abandon Android.
@sweet greggo
And why exactly would they abandon the fastest growing mobile OS for one that has failed in the market?
Palm sold 500k Web-OS devices in total on Sprint and Verizon.
HTC sold 660k G1's in 2008 (only being available for just over 2 months) on T-Mobile.
http://www.canalys.com/pr/2010/r2010021.html
Android had worse hardware, a considerably smaller carrier, and no advertisement, and still it beat WebOS.
@Theli "And why exactly would they abandon the fastest growing mobile OS for one that has failed in the market?"
Because WebOS is better. Duh.
The Palm-Android lover is played Michael Scott, webOS is played by Toby - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEc9W2-NPVs&NR=1
It would be awesome if Palm keeps WebOS and partners with HTC... maybe an HD2 with WebOS? I'd buy that.
Wow...dumb rumor.
WebOS is actually a great platform, it just needs some more (and better) devices, and it would be good if they got more software, and maybe even hardware partners to help move it along to increase it's popularity.
It's not the software. It's the hardware. Pre is old and has an awful form factor. Pixi has a great form factor but terrible hardware components.