Based on demonstration videos and reviews, WebOS is a landmark mobile operating system. Some of WebOS's features are so useful that it will surely influence other operating systems and applications.
As a consumer OS, it makes Nokia's Symbian, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and Research in Motion's BlackBerry OS look like yesterday's news. It even gives Apple's mobile OS X and Google's Android a run for their money.
Granted, Palm hasn't broken new ground in everything WebOS does, and the influence of OS X and Android is obvious. But Palm has created a superb, integrated package that offers ease of use combined with power. Just as importantly, WebOS integrates information stored on the handset and on the Web in a way not seen in a cellphone.
To understand the basics, check out detailed reviews by Mobile Crunch, Gizmodo, and last100. Make sure to watch Gizmodo's videos, especially the "Palm Pre official video tour."
Here’s my view on why WebOS will help advance wireless Internet:
It employs multiple applications with background processing. How many times have you used your phone to browse the Web and received a phone call, which dumped you out of your browsing? Or what about getting a calendar alert that then closed another application you were using? With WebOS, multiple applications can work in the background. For example, calendar alerts can be displayed at the bottom of the screen while other applications are running.
It integrates phone data with Web data. Many of us store contact information and calendars in several places -- including our phone and the Web -- using Microsoft Outlook, Google (Gmail and Calendar), and Facebook. WebOS displays similar information in a central location.
It integrates multiple messaging methods. Have you ever first used SMS to contact someone and then switched to instant messaging or email? With WebOS the different messaging formats are combined to form a single thread.
"Universal search" is offered on the handset and the Web. When searching for specific information, the software first looks for data on the handset. Then it can search the Web (e.g., Google, Wikipedia), without having to open the browser.
It offers multiple navigation methods. In addition to the traditional touch screen, the Palm Pre includes a navigation bar below the screen so your finger doesn't have to obscure the LCD. Then, if you touch that navigation bar and push your finger up the screen, a curved "wave" bar appears with more navigational choices.
The 3G (CDMA 1xRTT EV-DO) Rev. A phone includes a 3.1 inch (480x320) display, 8 megabytes of internal memory, a 3.2-megapixel camera (no video recording -- boo!), an accelerometer, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi (802.11b/g), and a wireless charger. It will be available in the U.S. in the first half of this year exclusively on Sprint's network, although Palm is working on a WCDMA version. Neither Palm nor Sprint is discussing the price of the phone or airtime.
It's important to understand that Palm's success isn't assured. Palm (and Sprint) must contend with a huge number of variables, such as convincing enough developers to write applications, providing good support to developers, creating an easy-to-use online apps store, and producing great marketing/advertising campaigns.
However, regardless of whether Palm is successful, the WebOS's features will spark wireless Internet development. Savvy consumers will ask other handset vendors and software developers to provide similar functionality.
Palm's success hinges on multiple "ifs," as I've tried to discuss in my blog and comments. Even "the best" products don't necessarily succeed in the marketplace. There are multiple components required for success in the extremely competitive wireless business.
I believe Palm's webOS is evolutionary, not revolutionary. It builds on other mobile operating systems, especially OS X and Android. That doesn't mean it isn't useful or couldn't offer significant value/fun for users to purchase Palm devices.
I think webOS will have sufficient tools to enable developers to write interesting, innovative, useful applications. However, Palm has to convince a sufficient number of good developers to write for webOS.
Over the years, as Palm failed to deliver a new OS, many developers switched to iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian. Some developers will try webOS because it's "cool," but most developers need to be convinced it's going to make them money!
This does sound like a welcome development, but it hinges on a couple of "ifs":
- IF the new OS can deliver significant improvements in functionality; and
- IF the system can offer opportunities for third party developers to come in and provide additional functionalities to mold the device to fit specific markets
You're one of the handful of people who remember the Rex, which was an offshoot of Philippe's Starfish Software that create synchronization software and was eventually purchased by Motorola.
Yes, it was basic. But I still like the idea of a credit card device I could slip into my wallet.
I would be interested in knowing how many people still use Palm PDAs. But Palm saw the proverbial handwriting on the wall and realized the cellular phones would be the future of PDAs.
My non-wireless PDA "love" was a product few people used and no one knows about. It was the Rex, a credit card-sized device that could fit in your wallet. It had a monochrome screen and a few navigational buttons on the side. Data was transferred from a computer; there was no way to enter data on the device. It was one of the greatest PIMs I ever had.
A second version offered a way to insert data, but it was clunky at best.
The Rex was developed by Philippe Kahn, of Borland International, Starfish Software, LightSurf Technologies and, now, Fullpower (which I discussed in my column about accelerometers) fame.
Believe it or not, there's still a place for pen and paper, which have some major advantages over electronic PIMs. I love Mont Blanc pens, including some of their limited editions, and engraved stationery -- the mark of a true gentleman!
However, I don't have any more of my stationery, I write 95 percent of my communications and notes electronically and can't remember when I last used a paper calendar. I still, however, take paper notebooks and pens when I'm doing interviews -- because paper doesn't run out of battery power! -- although I prefer to use my Tablet PC for note-taking, and it was bundled with a Franklin Covey program (which I don't use).
The BlackBerry remains the product for e-mail fanatics. The BlackBerry Bold is the first phone I take with me, although I usually have one or two others that are high end multimedia devices, such as Nseries Nokia phones. The iPhone remains the fun phone.
I'm afraid I disagree about the Treos that "simply worked." I found they were the buggiest phones I ever used. And I wasn't the only one who thought that. Treos crashed all the time, even when they weren't loaded with dozens of programs. But the touch screen, easy to use OS, thousands of programs and keyboard were brilliant. I loved the Treo concept, but hated the crashing OS.
I think people see that RIM has offered multiple updates to its OS, with incremental improvements, and consider that it's "enough." RIM has slowly but surely improved the multimedia aspects of the phone so that they range from good to good enough, whether it's the camera, video recording or music/video player.
Nokia's Nseries blows away RIM from a multimedia standpoint and number of available programs, but it still doesn't have the RIM keyboard, which I prefer.
As for Sprint being the best and most affordable data service, I think you are biased. Verizon Wireless has the best overall coverage in the U.S. Obviously, there are pockets of coverage where different cellular operators are much better. But, overall, Verizon Wireless should be the choice for U.S. road warriors.
As for pricing, I'm not an expert on every plan, but it seems that Verizon and Sprint data prices are pretty much the same. (Perhaps corporate accounts are much different.) In addition, several months ago Sprint switched from offering "unlimited" data modem/tethering service to a 5GB monthly cap. I have found Sprint's 1xEV-DO service, including Rev. A, to be on par with Verizon's, and have no problem at all recommending Sprint 3G, technologically.
But with Sprint's pricing and data cap being comparable to Verizon's, and Verizon offering superior nationwide coverage and better customer service, I see no reason why people would use Sprint -- if their main concern is 3G data service.
I do like Sprint's mobile TV service.
No one has publicly reported the official prices for either the Palm Pre handset or airtime. Some reports quote Palm/Sprint executives as hinting that the Pre could be more than $200 and the airtime plan similar to the Instinct's. My gut reaction is that Sprint sees the Pre as its flagship product and will charge at least $200 with a two year contract. Frankly, I don't think that's unreasonable, but given the competition, many analysts think it could be too expensive.
There are two serious flaws with the Pre -- at least from my perspective as a data-holic: No video recording and no microSD slot. No video recording in a flagship phone? Ridiculous, especially because camera chipsets typically include recording capability as a matter of course.
Yeah, the Pre includes 8GB internally -- "which should be enough for anyone" -- but that's not good enough for a flagship multimedia device.
I haven't heard any discussions about the Pre working on WiMAX, and that's no surprise. Based on the slow rollout of Clearwire/Xohm and the good, but not great WiMAX data pricing, I wouldn't think the Pre would/should have WiMAX to add to its bulk (maybe), price (definitely) and complications (possibly).
Wireless policy wonks have been discussing wireless broadband incentives and I'm on several news lists where discussing are occurring. The major comments seem to be that if there is a wireless broadband incentive, it is likely to be gobbled up by exising telecom companies -- which have received huge tax breaks while often not making good on their promises to dramatically increas coverage and data rates, and which will not provide the type of innovation that smaller, hungrier players could offer. I generally agree.
However, if Clearwire/Xohm is able to provide solid competition to HSDPA/EV-DO in the U.S. -- with great devices, great (not simply "we're a little cheaper) prices and good nationwide coverage -- that would be good for the country.
i couldn't agree more - i am very happy to hear that palm is waking up, albeit late. at the start they were so on the bleeding edge of the pda technology and beyond. then - it seemed - they fell asleep.
i have 2 palms in extinction - first is the Original Palm Pilot/3com. Second is a crushed version (courtesy of a careless friend) of a more recent palm. And finally, it's replacement - my Tungsten E2.
call me sentimental - but the original PalmPilot serves as an "old school" home only address creature.
Lots of people who used Palm PDA's and Treos have a soft spot in their hearts for the company. I have one or two Treos in a draw. I loved the ease of use and huge number of programs. However, I hated that Treos crashed much, much too frequently, especially compared to other phones.
Yes, Palm is late to the party. But if it is able to correctly manage all the ingredients necessary for success, it could do well.
Why, kids, you may not believe it, but there was a day when Palm was all that. In fact, Covey planners were all that and Palm started killing that market by having electronic version of calendars. Yes, people used to write things down and check paper calendars when arranging a meeting.
When the Treo 300 came out, the Blackberry was the clunky alternative. I agree that Blackberry is the in product now, more so than the iPhone in my opinion, because the Blackberry has a cousin on every wireless network. And, we've all been inundated by the Obama Blackberry factor.
So, where does that leave Palm? One of the good things about the Treo versions has been that they simply worked. Blackberrys do, too, for the same tried and true reason. Why is it that Palm needed a new operating system but RIM doesn't? There are lot of persons a rung below techno-geek who feel very comfortable with the Palm brand--I think it has a lot more smartphone brand power than Google.
I know I'm biased a bit, but I think Sprint has the best and most affordable data service. If the new Palm is priced in the $100 range, I think they have a chance to explode. If $200, not so much. I know Sprint has the exclusive rights to the device but when the device appears on other networks in slightly different versions, Sprint would best be served if the device price point was already so low the real question came back to who has the better and more affordable data network.
By the way, Alan, was there any talk of the device working with Wimax? And, speaking of Wimax, any legs to the possibility that the new economic stimulus plan, which is expected to incent companies to build out broadband, will extend to Wimax? Sprint's stock is going against the DOW grain right now, in part because they've been on an investor roadshow, but I'm wondering if this tax incentive possibility is also behind the surge.
All I can say to Palm is - well it's about time! I still have my very first Palm, after working with them and research teams to develop this years ago - it works and much in the same way that, until now, the current Palms do. With this initiative Palm finally joins the party -- very very late but about time!
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