Palm Developer Day reveals interesting bits on the webOS 2010 roadmap

It's hard to mention the word "Palm" without also mentioning either "takeover" or "shakeup" in the same sentence these days, but the company was able to change the subject -- rather refreshingly, may we add -- to the more pleasant topic of new webOS features coming down the pike at its Developer Day conference in Sunnyvale this weekend. It doesn't look like we'll see anything Earth-shattering this year, but devs will be getting their grubby paws on some oft-requested features including direct API access to the microphone and camera, new security and cryptography features, some sort of "media indexer" that'll make life easier on folks trying to make media apps, and support for Bonjour, zero-config networking, and the Bluetooth Serial Port Profile, a rather generic profile that should open up the door to new categories of accessories that we haven't seen paired to a Pre before.

They'll also be adding support for asynchronous background services written in JavaScript, which should theoretically allow data-intensive apps to be more responsive while they're hard at work; a redesigned App Catalog (pictured); and a new set of developer extensions called Mojo Core that promises to let folks with existing web apps convert them into webOS apps way faster. Palm's being coy about when exactly we'll see this, but the official word is that everything they're discussing this weekend should be in users' hands by Fall. As far as we know, they didn't append "come hell, high water, or acquisition" to that timeline, but we figure it was implied.

[Thanks, David R.]

[EliteOfficer Posted Apr 26th 2010 1:35AM]

Looking good Palm.. Android on the iPhone 2G no thanks, how about WebOS on the 3GS, that way it could really "multi-task".

[bulls96 Posted Apr 26th 2010 1:52AM]

Palm and WebOS is where the real "magic" is....

ask the developers who attended... they learned more than your engadget post suggests...

WHo's joining me in this Palm Cheering Squad?

[silkyjohnson Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:55AM]

I just traded my Droid for a Palm Pre and I don't regret it one bit. Maybe because I also bought an iPod Touch that I can freely tether using Mobile Hotspot for free, but that's besides the point :P

Anyway, all I ask for is for NFL Mobile and some bigger and better hardware in the future! WebOS is the OS for me.

I mean seriously, take the Palm Pre, flatten it out, make the screen size larger, add a fast processor, up the RAM, up the storage, get the touch responsiveness to be as smooth as possible, make two versions, one with a touchscreen keyboard only and as slim as possible, and one with a slide out keyboard (like the pre) and might as well throw in an optional touchscreen keyboard... and BAM! you got a phone that's worthy of the title of "iPhone killer", even though, let's face it, there's no such thing.

[shacker Posted Apr 26th 2010 7:15AM]

@silkyjohnson Folks have been asking for a flatter form factor with a virtual keyboard and more screen real estate about a month after the phone was launched. Everyone thought they'd see it with Verizon but no luck. Palm's got so much backed up inventory that will burn through their cash supply in a day if they were to ditch it and make new hardware (which they deparately need).

[Sean76 Posted Apr 26th 2010 4:19AM]

Honestly RIM should just buy Palm! If they can put a sick ass screen together with a RIM stlye keyboard, running some sort of BB server enterprise married into web OS, coupled with a really nice shooter and some goodies, well.. u get my drift! It would deff be a worthy addition to what Apple and Android are putting out. And maybe even more appealing! Just think, beautiful devices, all the simplicity of BB with awesome email, bbm, etc, on top of a great OS with wonderful media, and flash, and so on and so fourth. I'd most likely buy.

[Freakin Ijit Posted Apr 26th 2010 6:19AM]

Fall?

Fall?

Fall?

Fail.

[mahootzki Posted Apr 26th 2010 6:32AM]

@Freakin Ijit yep, don't understand that either :(

[emeraldayotte Posted Apr 26th 2010 9:14AM]

As a Palm Pre owner this news is meh. A little to late as the hype is now with Android and the Incredible/Evo. Hell, I'm trying to trade mine just to get a Sprint Hero to hold me over.

Palm really needs to address it's hardware and software shortcomings.

[LogMonkey Posted Apr 26th 2010 10:54AM]

The roadmap took a turn right in the middle of a freeway, much like Google maps.

[nageco Posted Apr 26th 2010 6:42PM]

Here's hoping Palm has something awesome to release this summer. They literally need a miracle phone at this point. ie. Something with the keyboard of the HTC Touch Pro2, build quality of the iPhone, screen resolution of the HTC EVO... etc etc. :)