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Analysts turn sour on Palm stock, cite weak sales on Verizon
It's unclear how the data's being collected, but a handful of analysts have started backing away from Palm this week on some information that the phone's webOS debut on Verizon has proven something less than bombastic at the sales counter. Of course, it's no secret that Verizon has poured less money, time, and energy into its marketing of the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus than Sprint has with the original versions, but Palm and the market analysts following its progress may have been banking on the unspoken "if only this were on Verizon" factor to counteract that a bit. The biggest concern seems to be that Palm's on the cusp of being washed into irrelevancy by a massive Android push, with a couple stock downgrades and price target cuts making their way into the hearts and minds of the market makers. Again, it's not clear exactly where the Verizon sales figures are coming from -- and we'd be remiss in thinking that analysts always (or even usually) know what they're talking about -- but this could be an early sign that the tide is turning. Come on, Palm: more carriers, more hardware, more features.
Debunk: Palm not halting Pre / Pixi production, just on hold for Chinese New Year
Oh boy. Research firm OTR Global is making some waves today with a report claiming that Palm ordered all Pre and Pixi manufacturing to be halted, but apparently they didn't look at a calendar -- or, you know, call Palm. We just talked to Palm and here's the real deal: Pre and Pixi orders were halted for the Chinese New Year on the 14th, and production will go back online at the end of the month. That's the whole story -- Palm also told us that production for Verizon was ramped up early in the year to cover the downtime, so there shouldn't be any effect on availability. We'll be getting an official statement soon, we'll update as soon as we get it. Update: Here's the official word from Derick Mains, Palm's director of corporate communications: Palm regularly adjusts its product manufacturing levels to manage inventory. In anticipation of the Verizon Wireless launch and Chinese New Year, we increased production levels prior to February, and anticipate ramping production back up after the Chinese New Year ends. Move along, nothing else to see here.
webOS 1.4 hitting Sprint's Pre and Pixi on February 15th?
Good news for nonplussed (in more ways that one) Pre and Pixi owners: come the day after Valentine's, it looks like you'll be able to capture your loved ones in moving pictures format! This comes from an alleged Sprint technician who reportedly took the above screencap promising a firmware update with all the features we've heard debuting as webOS 1.4, except for Flash support on the Pre. Note our use of "alleged" and "reportedly," though -- we can't independently confirm this image, so take it with a grain of salt. Still, February was the previously-mentioned release date, and when better to release than just after the halfway mark of the month?
WebOS homebrew MyTether app updated, brings WiFi hotspots to Verizon Palms w/o the extra subscription
Since the last time we mentioned it, the MyTether app for WebOS phones has gone up in price from a requested $10 donation to $14.95, but that's still considerably cheaper than Verizon's $40 per month Mobile Hotspot plan. We're still leery about what usage/overusage could mean for your contract & bill, but a new beta version has been posted that officially supports the Pre Plus and according to the developer "makes use of the API calls behind MHS" to let it work more smoothly. Even with the Pre's openness to hackery we had some issues getting the beta installer to operate on our Windows 7 machine but once it was installed it worked as promised, giving comparable speeds to a dedicated EV-DO card on the same network. Other new features include automatic tracking of data usage and the ability to manage connected devices directly on the app. Other than some compatibility issues with WebOS updates there hasn't seemed to be any blowback from Sprint or Palm on this app so far, we'll see if Verizon has any issues with its premium priced turf being encroached upon. %Gallery-84629%
DirecTV DVR Scheduler quietly arrives in the WebOS App Catalog
Just a few days after making debuting on the Android Market, DirecTV has unleashed its DVR Scheduler app for WebOS phones. No surprises here, the usual program guide searching (for everyone) and remote DVR scheduling features (DirecTV customers with the right set-top boxes only) are in effect for the rock bottom price of $0. We've got a few additional pictures of the app here, but it's just as simple to get on your Pre or Pixi so why not roll over to the App Catalog and hit that download button? %Gallery-84325%
VisualBoyAdvance turns your Palm Pre into a Game Boy emulator
A certain UK bank operates a delightfully dorky advertising campaign whose slogan is "we give you extra." Well, in the case of mobile software communities, that's exactly the case. From jailbroken iPhones to PS One-emulating HD2s to multitouch-enabled browsing on the Nexus One, the one group of people we know we can truly rely on are other geeks. So let's salute those heroes once more, in recognition of the VisualBoyAdvance -- a webOS-based emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games. The former two categories are said to play smooth as you like, whereas the Advance stuff suffers from slight slowdown at present. We've only seen it playing on a Pre, but there should be no reason why your Pixi wouldn't be allowed in on this party. A quick video demo awaits after the break, and the source link has all the installation details you'll need.
Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus now on Verizon's site
Congrats, Palm, you're now officially on a second US carrier. Yep, the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus are now up for sale on Verizon's website -- you've read the review, are you taking the plunge? Update: Just noticed that the limited time, buy one get one offer that promised a free Palm Pixi Plus with your purchase of a Pre Plus isn't active -- it's only being offered along side the Pixi Plus. But let's give VZW a few hours to get their system up and running before burning down the village. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Palm's Pre Plus and Pixi Plus slipping into Best Buy locales everywhere
Officially speaking, the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus still have a weekend ahead of 'em before they can be sold, but if you know the right person in your local Best Buy, you could very well be playing with one hours before your contemporaries. An anonymous tipster beamed over the image you see above via our handy iPhone app, noting that both of Palm's first entries onto Verizon's network were in stock. Granted, neither are for sale per se, but what's stopping you from moseying on down and giving it a shot? Nothing, that's what. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Verizon prices Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus -- offers a free Pixi Plus for limited time
In case you missed it in our review, Palm has gone and spilled its Verizon pricing info on its official blog. The Pre Plus is hitting shelves at a cent under $150, closely followed by the Pixi Plus at $99.99 -- both after $100 mail-in rebate and on two-year commitments. Available to buy from this coming Monday, the new handsets are also incentivized with a free Pixi Plus coming with every purchase -- a limited offer running until February 14. That's after yet another mail-in rebate, meaning you'll probably be shelling out a cool $450 to get your webOS fix on Verizon, but we can't argue with the final tally after all the paperwork has been done, filed, triple-checked, lost, recovered, and your money's finally reimbursed.
Engadget Podcast 177: CES 2010 Day 3 - 01.08.2010
It took every bit of geeky fortitude we had left in our bodies to tear ourselves away from @LadyGaga's tweeterfeed for an hour and produce this podcast for you, but we did it. Feel appreciative?Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul MillerProducer: Trent WolbeSong: Bad RomanceHear the podcast01:40 - Live from Palm's CES 2010 press event03:25 - Palm swings open doors to App Catalog's innards03:35 - Palm gets serious about 3D gaming on webOS04:00 - Video recording coming to all webOS devices in February (updated: Flash, too!)04:10 - Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus first hands-on (video)!04:40 - Palm introduces Palm Pre Plus: 16GB, coming to Verizon on January 25th06:30 - Palm Pixi Plus: WiFi-equipped and heading to Verizon23:10 - Palm intros Mobile Hotspot app, guaranteed to make your router jealous25:47 - Live from Dell's CES 2010 press event26:42 - Alienware M11X netbook gets official, costs less than a grand26:55 - Alienware M11x hands-on27:20 - Dell teases the Streak?29:00 - Dell slate (secret) hands-on30:00 - Dell 5-inch slate press pics want you to study them30:30 - Dell Mini 3 lightning hands-on33:17 - Live from NVIDIA's CES press event33:35 - NVIDIA announces Tegra 2, tablets en route35:00 - Plastic Logic QUE proReader in-depth video hands-on38:20 - Live from Paul Otellini's Intel CES keynote39:50 - Intel launches AppUp Center app store for Atom-powered devices (updated with hands-on impressions)40:25 - Intel announces WiDi HD wireless display technology43:27 - LG GW990 hands-on video48:12 - Spring Design announces partnership with Borders, lowers price on Alex reader49:35 - Notion Ink Adam prototype hands-on: it looks nothing like the render, but it's still pretty wild52:32 - Boxee Box confirmed to have Tegra 2, Boxee Beta now open to all Subscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)LISTEN (OGG)Contact the podcast1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Engadget Mobile Podcast 030: Friday @ CES 2010 - 01.08.2010
Chris Ziegler. Sean Cooper. Together, again, at last - and this time, even in the same goshdarn room! Get the raw, uncensored take on new mobile communications technology developments from companies like Palm, LG, Samsung, and Sony! Almost live and direct from the showroom floor: It's the Engadget Mobile Podcast, CES Edition 2010, Volume 1.0. Live it, breathe it. Get inside that new-phone smell. Become your mobile dream. Hosts: Chris Ziegler, Sean CooperProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Solvent - Devices and Strategies (Ghostly International)01:55 - HTC Smart hands-on10:43 - Motorola Backflip hands-on17:17 - Live from Palm's CES 2010 press event18:30 - Palm Pixi Plus: WiFi-equipped and heading to Verizon19:17 - Palm introduces Palm Pre Plus: 16GB, coming to Verizon on January 25th25:24 - Palm gets serious about 3D gaming on webOS27:57 - Palm swings open doors to App Catalog's innards30:37 - Rogers and HTC give up: Magic will see Android 2.1, but Dream gets a pass32:25 - Sony Ericsson's 'Robyn' pops into the limelight -- an X10 mini?37:50 - Samsung Bada S8200 and Galaxy2 may match Nexus One's specs40:10 - Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us41:30 - LG Rumor Touch launches for Sprint41:40 - LG Lotus Elite hops from a Las Vegas billboard right to Sprint retail44:00 - Sprint Overdrive 4G mobile hotspot unboxing and hands-onSubscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)Contact the podcastpodcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.
Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus first hands-on (video)!
We just had a chance to play around with the new Palm Pre Plus (and Palm Pixi Plus), and we must say -- they've made some solid improvements to these devices. We're going to focus on the Pre, since it's really had the bulk of the changes. Firstly, it's now a Verizon branded (and bound) phone, which should bump the status of the device in many people's minds. The company has also improved the action of the slider mechanism, which is now way, way snappier, and clicks into and out of place with a confidence-stoking solidness. Palm has also changed the keyboard a bit, getting rid of the orange coloring, and revamping the action of the keys, making them far clickier (and maybe a bit more raised). The feel is closer to the Pixi, and that's a really good thing. Of course, they've added an additional 8GB of storage, making the internal capacity 16GB, and Palm is going full steam ahead with gaming on the device thanks to its PDK. Check the video and gallery below for the full story. Update: Video is up! %Gallery-82029%
Palm Pixi Plus: WiFi-equipped and heading to Verizon
Good ole' Jon Rubinstein, live on stage just announced the Palm Pixi Plus. Looks like the only difference here from its predecessor is that it's got WiFi -- and it's bound for Verizon Wireless' network. Coming January 25th, just around the corner. No price, but you'll know when we do. Update: Full specs are down in the source, and the press video is just past the break! %Gallery-82065%
Video recording coming to all webOS devices in February (updated: Flash on the Pre, too!)
High on the list of conspicuously-missing features for the Pre and Pixi has been video recording -- but happily, Palm's looking to close that gap shortly. Both devices will get hooked up next month with the goods, including integrating editing (that admittedly looks a bit like the iPhone's setup) and uploading to YouTube, Facebook, email, and MMS. We're not sure what actual webOS version this'll be launching in, but hey, who cares? Important thing is that it's hitting very, very soon. Update: So it turns out it'll be part of webOS 1.4, which also includes beta support for Flash 10 on the Pre (sorry, Pixi owners). We know which one we're more excited about!
Pink Palm Pixi spotted on Sprint system, Cupid is like 'boomshakalaka'
You know what's in just over a month? We'll tell you: Valentine's Day. You know what's coming up this Thursday? Something "new" from Palm. Now, we won't go so far as to say that a pink Palm Pixi is definitely in the cards for a CES unveiling, but a pink Palm Pixi is most definitely showing up in Sprint's internal systems (according to this graphic, anyway). So, what say you, readers -- is a new hue of webOS just around the bend, or are we just lovestruck? [Thanks, Anonymous]
Palm's Jon Rubinstein named a 'Geek of the Year'
Just to clarify right out of the gate, the "year" Fast Company is referring to is 2009, but nonetheless, it's an award we're sure Jon is happy to have. 11 geeks were found worthy of the "Geek of the Year" award in '09, with the likes of Evan Williams and Biz Stone (Twitter), David S. Goyer (the creator of Flash Forward on ABC), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and Neill Blomkamp (the writer of District 9) joining him. The justification for Jon making the cut? "He came on board as the new chairman of Palm and brought about the Web OS and the Palm Pre, the start of a line of products that is the best hope for reintroducing the geek masses to Palm." After speaking with him on our first-ever Engadget Show and falling head over heels in love with webOS, we can't help but agree. And yes, after last year's introduction at CES, it's all we can do to contain our excitement for this Thursday.
How would you change Palm's Pixi?
Palm's second-ever webOS device wasn't exactly worthy of its initial $99 (on contract) price, but considering that it's darn near free in many instances these days, many of our gripes have less relevance today. Still, the Pixi is up against some seriously stiff competition these days, and it's not enough to simply shove the Pre in a different form factor and call it a day. To that end, we're wondering what you'd do differently if you had the keys to the Pixi design lab. Would you tweak the display? Is the keyboard in need of an overhaul? Would you shove a WiFi module in there somehow? Produce a version for AT&T? What else would you re-engineer if given the chance? Holler down in comments below, and we'll be sure to FedEx the final list to Mr. Rubinstein.
Engadget now available for Pre and Pixi: the first webOS app of 2010 (and 1000th in the Catalog)!
That's right folks. Hot on the heels of our iPhone app release (which has since skyrocketed up the App Store charts to #1 in News), the webOS version has officially landed. You'll see that the experience is shockingly, wonderfully similar to the iPhone / iPod touch version, but of course there are a couple of webOS flourishes to be found. You can download the application right from your Pre or Pixi by simply popping open the App Catalog and, you know... downloading the thing. This is the 1000th application in the Catalog -- a piece of info we feel pretty psyched about. We've got even more on the way (like BlackBerry and Android versions), so keep it tuned here, but for now... webOS fans, go get your fix! For those viewing this on a Palm device, here's your direct link: Download Engadget for webOS
Palm likely calling its new Verizon models Pre Plus and Pixi Plus
We've alluded to this a couple times already, but Boy Genius Report is coming out today and saying that Verizon's webOS launch devices early next year will indeed be called the "Pre Plus" and "Pixi Plus." We're able to independently confirm that this is the intel out in the field right now -- so unless Big Red calls an audible, these are the names you should be keeping an eye on as you're scanning the shelves. The report goes on to say that Verizon's models are the same size as Sprint's, but as we've already seen in the FCC, these new versions are going to be supercharged in one way or another -- at the very least, the Pixi should have WiFi on board, a welcome boost. Any way you slice it, it sure looks like Sprint got the short end of this stick, doesn't it?
Verizon loading up on 600,000 Pixis soon?
Verizon's intro of webOS equipment is probably going to come out as one of Big Red's most ballyhooed moves of early 2010 -- but to support a launch of that magnitude, you need phones ready and waiting to go. To that end, Palm had been rumored to have 800,000 Pixis (or Pixi Pluses, depending on how these things are going to be marketed) on order from ODM Compal for delivery this quarter, but that number has apparently been revised down to 600,000 for delivery in the first quarter of next year on news that the units had failed some of Verizon's tests. Considering the carrier's famously brutal equipment certification process, we wouldn't doubt it -- let's just hope this doesn't delay the launch by much.
