Palm isn't hot on Pre overclocking, indicates warranties are at risk
By Tim Stevens 
posted March 29th 2010 12:03PM
posted March 29th 2010 12:03PM
Frankly you can't be surprised that Palm isn't thrilled about users cranking up the clock multiplier on their phones, nor can you think less of the company for indicating that those doing so might face some warranty issues going forward. And, as we've said before, despite all data that these mods are safe users should exhibit caution before dialing up the megahertz. After all, you wouldn't put a manual controller on your turbo'd car, double the PSI, and then try to get your blown headgasket warrantied... right?While we appreciate the effort the webOS community has put forth to try and help us along that path, the use of this application is neither endorsed nor recommended by Palm and will likely result in a voided warranty.
DUH.
@Leindurstit
Damn you beat me to it
@Leindurstit Palm should probably stick to worrying about things like "Are people buying our phones?"
The fact of the matter is, Palm should be EMBRACING the enthusiast community, because they're the ONLY ones that will drive sales in the mainstream. If you don't have hackers out there, screwing around with your phone and picking it above things like the iPhone, then you're screwed.
@Hexydes The community who might unexpectedly blow up their devices? Palm IS trying to embrace the community by prohibiting this, so that they don't have to embrace the community's next-of-kin.
Ok, that's a little exacerbated, but still.
@Hexydes
Palm has been embracing the community (e.g. homebrew apps, etc.) for quite a while now. Haven't you been reading Engadget?
@Hexydes
They *have* embraced the home brew community. They left in a back door to get root access...and never closed it. Everyone is aware of it and they know it...and it stays open.
They also had an SDK out in record time, which also supports home brewing...and direct app install. They built the Mojo framework using a JS-based MVC framework in which the source code is on the phone...and they have not complained once about all of the versions of the launcher or Palm-provided apps that folks have modified and extended. The Web OS Internals website is a study in IP violation and Palm doesn't say a word. In fact, they have spoken up only twice in the last year:
1) Tethering...and all they said was that if Sprint complained, they would need to shut down that activity. BTW, it is still supported.
2) This overclock mod...which is far from home brew. It is overdriving a hardware architecture to clock cycles and heat stress for which the packaging is not designed...and Palm is stating the obvious -- it's probably a bad idea for folks to do it...and if you do, we may not honor your warranty.
Look at that last line. They didn't say we *will* void your warranty...they just said it was likely...and they almost certainly should void the warranty for someone who pushes the phone to this extreme and then experiences a related heat-stress permanent failure.
Palm couldn't be much more accommodating to the WebOS community. WebOSQuickInstall and Preware provide means to bypass the Palm app catalog and install apps and patches to core Palm-provided source code directly...without going through the App Catalog...and Palm has not issued a single cease and desist letter.
I won't even bother contrasting these positions with those of Apple. Just pretty much "Boolean not" every single verb above.
@ScubaSteve
I agree on all point except one. The WebOS programming book is by far the WORST book ever written to teach a programming language.
Literally put the thing down and said "WHAT!?!?! Am I just stupid?"
Then I looked up reviews on the book. It is just horrible.
http://www.amazon.com/Palm-webOS-Mitch-Allen/dp/0596155255/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269883165&sr=1-2-spell
This does negate the chance that I am incredibly stupid.
@ScubaSteve
I agree on all the IP stuff. I have seen numerous apps in the app catalog that are just modified versions of Palm's sample apps included in the SDK. All of the sample apps say "copyright 2009 palm inc." but palm doesn't seem to care since more apps = more attention.
@ScubaSteve
Internals is EXTREEMLY strict on what patches they allow into the preware app catalog. If you pop over to there site they list the rules very clearly. The last time I read the list, the patches are not allowed to contain Palms code. The patches install and change the existing code but does not contain Palms code. They are also very strict in the sense that ALL patches and apps are not rip offs of Real App store apps. They take pirating very seriously and do not condone any such action. compared to the iPhone, WebOS has a much better community for growing developers because of the tight piracy restrictions put in place by the homebrew community and Palm.
@Honis
I have authored patches on that site...so I know and fully support their rules...just as I know that there are many instances on their site where Palm code is reproduced. here is just one example:
http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Patch_Launcher_Reset_to_Middle_Page
That is Palm code on that page. There are many other examples of their source code posted on WebOS Internals...and many examples of apps that are based almost entirely off of Palm's apps. Example -- Check out "Music (Remix)". It's a great free media player that is built directly off of the source code of Palm's Music Player...and the author freely admits the fact:
http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/199607-music-player-remix.html
...and the situation is as I have stated it -- Palm let's it fly. That was my original point. They couldn't embrace the development community much more than they do now.
@ScubaSteve
can you honestly say you're satisfied w/ what palm has done to date? I certainly can't.
@ihazey420 That wasn't his point; the point is that Palm has embraced the Homebrew community. Go back to your cave.
They had to release this statement to cover themselves legally, but so far there hasn't been any real complaining from overclocking. I've had mine running @ 800mhz for about 5 days with no problems whatsoever.
My Pre runs wicked fast now, btw... the way it should have always run.
@sweet greggo
I've run the patch since it was released and have had no problems either. I haven't had a "too many cards" error since I've installed the patch .....don't know if its somehow related. I'll definitely keep running the 800mhz patch on my pre voided warranty or not. Besides, a pre is cheap on craigslist if i do happen to blow mine up.
@sweet greggo
I'm going to agree with both the posters in this thread. Been running the 800 patch since it was released. No problems, only improvements.
The Palm user community really is the best!
@Kamalot
Been running the 800MHz patch since it was released... ZERO problems, almost no battery life difference, blazing fast... now if we can just get better hardware for the awesome webOS!
@sweet greggo
No they don't have to release any press release since the wording of their warranty should specifically forbid any sort of modification that changes the functions of the underlying hardware in anyway. If it doesn't then this press release can't make this modification a warranty breaking mod. In either case it's a waste of time and money to release a press release since it doesn't change anything.
@sweet greggo Same here...800MHz patch for 3+ days and no problems at all. Actually makes the Pre a delightful experience, compared to the lag that cropped up now and then before.
@sweet greggo
I have my pre running at 800mhz. This is how it should have been. I would buy a webos superphone in a heartbeat!
Also, it eats more battery when it is in use (thats to be expected) but idle battery life is about the same.
@MacBandit The only thing it changes is how much attention is being brought to this mod. I think Palm knows what they are doing here.
@sweet greggo
The issue with overclocking the OMAP3 isn't short-term stability, it's long-term SoC reliability due to overvoltage (not an overheating issue). TI has some average lifetime estimates somewhere on their website somewhere, but, basically, knocking an OMAP3430 up to 800MHz can potentially bring your mean time to failure down to under 12 months and potentially much less than that it you're unlucky.
In fact, running it at 550 or 600MHz constantly has an impact on long-term reliability as well (just geometrically less than at 800MHz), which is why everybody shipping the OMAP3430 (Palm, Motorola, Nokia, etc.) has CPU throttling to prevent it from being locked in the top two frequency slots for long periods of time (well, that and battery life ;)).
But, if you're OK will potentially having to replace your phone in a much shorter period of time than is, perhaps, normal, then by all means let 'er burn! ;)
well, you can't exactly be surprised by this.
and if you are mad about this, just remember that Palm has done a good job supporting moders.
Well this is pretty obvious. They're basically saying "we like that you're doing it, but don't run to us when you burn out your phone". That's a lot more positive step than certain other companies would take.
@DeekoVB5 Totally. Of all the major smartphone platforms, only webOS and Android seem to be run by people who love technology as much as I do.
@DeekoVB5
Yeah Apple would call you a criminal and probably try to put you in jail.
Better luck next photoshop.
What's wrong with that Photoshop? Is it because it says "AT&T?"
I applaud Palm for their pro-Developer and pro-Consumer attitude, and I understand that they legally have to cover their own butts. This seems entirely reasonable and fair.
Alright Palm.
Then make a device that isn't laggy and sluggish.
@thrash1256 And then let's overclock that one 2!
@Edobe
I like where your mind's at.
That fire reminds me of Nine Inch Nails' Broken album.
Duh.
I'd like to point out that in the same warning, Palm links directly to the patches in question.
Yes, they point you right towards where you can get your own overclock mod.
@roneyii
and that's why Palm rules.
@sweet greggo ...rules at what? supplying a shitty phone w/ their os? then ya :P
@webmastir
I've got a day one Pre and haven't had any problems. I know other people have but I don't know what percentage of phones have to fail before something is a "lemon". I don't think the Pre qualifies, though.
@sweet greggo
I guess I will not be overclocking mine because I need to replace my launch day Pre.
Mine has started cracking where the USB cover used to be. Seems like it's happening to a lot of them. Crappy hardware. Good software. Great potential.
See:
http://forums.palm.com/t5/webOS-Hardware/Pre-Usb-Door-Cracks-PreCentral-Poll/td-p/254728/page/3
@busdriver71 Touchstone FTW!
@Phenom
Happens to those who've only used touchstone.
Anyway, touchstone should have come standard with the phone.
Hmmm... I wonder how long will it take for Giz to rip into Palm for this... "Palm being assholes for not honoring warranties!"
@mrkalel
I was wondering the same thing. Those punks will spin any story to bash Palm and make Apple look good.
I think Palm will update the clock speed themselves in a future firmware update when they deem it "safe". I've been running @ 800mhz for 3 days now and can't imagine going back to 500mhz - it's just too fast now!
Now if only we didn't have to do this and Palm had some newer devices with better specs...
The overclock solved my only remaining issue with the Pre - speed. I've not overclocked my own device but have seen videos on YouTube of the difference it makes. Very fast.
totally worth it. you can pick up a new pre anyway pretty cheap these days. the speed bump is huge. it's like i've gotten a harddware refresh and my phone regularly site at 32 degrees C. battery drain actually seems less than before because it gets the work done faster.
The Precentral community has been nothing but help and truly kept me with this phone. Without Precentral I would have jumped ship months ago. I've had the 800 patch running 4 days now and it's so much faster! No overheating yet and it is like having a new phone. Hell, even if it did blow up or what not, my sprint plan lets me upgrade every year. My year is almost up ;) Precentral and Engadget ROCK!
Yeah, really.
Palm has enough trouble keeping the non-hacked ones from imploding in some fashion!
@stridermt2k troll is troll
Note that there have been cases of OMAP3430 failures on other phones using it even at 600 MHz, their rated speed (well, there are the 720 MHz parts now) - which is why Palm's running at 500. So, this is actually a very valid thing for them to say.