Palm
Homebrew hit DrPodder, hits the App Catalog
Mar 10th
DrPodder has been one of the most well-known and feature-rich podcatchers in the webOS homebrew scene. After much feedback and subsequent updates of the application, PreCentral reports that DrPodder has been released into the App Catalog for the modest price of $0.99. The application does everything you would expect from streaming podcasts over the air and allowing you to download them and listen to them later.
If you have been too timid to join the homebrew community and are in the market for a great podcast app definitely check out DrPodder, and even if you already have the homebrew version, throw down a buck to support the awesome work that’s been done to create it.
Do we have any DrPodder users out there? Have a different podcatching application? Let us know in the comments.
webOS 1.4 finally drops
Feb 26th
Well the day has finally come for all your patient Palm Pre lovers, Pre Central is reporting that screenshots of this elusive update have been spotted. This comes just a day after the rumored drop and boy does the new information look great.
Some of the most notable updates are: improved video recording, improved phone reset options, a vastly improved call log screen that offers plenty more options than its predecessor, media sync is turned off by default (which can obviously be easily changed), and blink notifications come activated right out of the box.
Check this crazy video of the Video recorder in action
Have you received your update yet? Leave us a comment and let us know your findings!
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Palm updates stock guidance due to “slower than expected consumer adoption of the company’s products.”
Feb 25th
Just a day after we posted about analyst’s concern for Palm, Palm put out a press release with new investment guidance information. The press release confirms the rumors that Palm’s handsets are not selling as well as they were expected to.
Palm had this to say to account for their poor sales numbers:
“Palm webOS is recognized as a groundbreaking platform that enables one of the best smartphone experiences available today, and our work to evolve the platform and bring industry-leading technology to market continues. However, driving broad consumer adoption of Palm products is taking longer than we anticipated,” said Jon Rubinstein, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our carrier partners remain committed, and we are working closely with them to increase awareness and drive sales of our differentiated Palm products.”
I am not counting Palm out of this race just yet, but things are looking a little rough in Sunnyvale. There has been a lot of talk about companies such as RIM and Microsoft needing to make the move to buy out Palm. This still seems premature, and I think that Palm can still compete in the smartphone market. The webOS brings an experience that is unique from other smartphone offerings and isn’t going to be dismantled just by some poor sales numbers.
What do you guys think? Is Palm on the way out? Do they need to get bought out by someone? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
To 1.4 or not to 1.4, that is the question for Palm’s webOS
Feb 25th
Well, today is the day Pre users have been waiting for..or so they hope. According to Pre Central an anonymous tipster sent in a change log of all the updates one can expect to receive if deployment starts as expected today.
Click more to get the info!
Fixes
- Time Zone bug Fix
- Network time sync bug fix to reflect accuratenetwork time
- BT car-kit transition to device corrected
- No EV-Icon bug fixed (random)
- Random browser formatting bug fixed
- Fixed bug that incorrectly displayed Sprint when actually was Digital Roaming
Enhancements
- Phonebook Transfer
- Supports Video Capture Capability
- Performance enhancement within phone and calendar
Apps
Calendar
- Dial phone # from within a meeting event
- Allow custom Alerts sounds for Calendar event and reminders
- Added AM – PM detail within Calendar events
- Embedded phone $ or email address (embedded inemail) can be easily added to Contacts app
- New email sort options (date, Sender, Subject)
- Return to inbox view after send – email
Messaging
- Ability to forward SMS to email
- Ability to dial phone # from SMS chat session (No need to open contact any longer
- Press and hold on a phone # to get more options( Call, SMS)
Universal Search now includes EAS (outlook Exchange) GAL corporate address look up.
Application Launcher – Easier user interface providing usermore feedback during an application launch
Pre Button in gesture area blinks when notification pending
Added Adobe Flash 10 Beta – Palm Pre only
Supports Flash 10 Beta – download available in Palm AppCatalog
Follow me on twitterAnalysts turning their backs on Palm due to lackluster sales on Verizon.
Feb 24th
Despite all the optimism that came with Palm’s choice to bring WebOS to Verizon, hopes are now fading among analysts. These analysts claim that the sales numbers for the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on Verizon are not as glorious as they had hoped and that Palm may be on the way out if they keep this up. Verizon didn’t launch the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus with much advertising heft, that is unless you count the “Smartphone Smart Enough for Mom” campaign hefty. Granted, there was the BOGO deal right out the gate, but apparently even that couldn’t spark enough sales to satisfy analysts expectations. Perhaps if Verizon hadn’t been so head-over-heels for the DROID series at the time, then the WebOS devices would have shined a little brighter.
What is it going to take for Palm to turn things around? New hardware? New carrier support? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
WebOS 1.4 supposedly hitting on the 25th.
Feb 22nd
There were rumors that Palm’s next software update for the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi (and their Plus counterparts) would hit on the 15th of February. While Sprint may have been ready on the 15th, Verizon may not have been prepared to release 1.4. Precentral is reporting that the release date is now going to be the 25th of February, exactly one month after the release of the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on Verizon. It’s just a rumor, but Palm promised 1.4 in February and they don’t have a lot of days left to do this thing, so it isn’t unrealistic.
WebOS 1.4 will bring new features and enhancements such as video recording with video editing, a slightly modified way of launching cards, performance improvements, and it will finish the groundwork for Flash 10.1. Flash itself will not be included in the update but it will prepare devices for Flash when it is released later in the year. The update will also include messaging and calendar enhancements and phonebook transfer capabilities. There is also hint that LED notifications may finally get turned on in the update. Overall, it should be a fairly significant update for WebOS users and we’ll gladly take what we can get.
We’ll let you know when it drops and all the changes included in the update so check back soon.
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