Palm Pre

I’ve been playing with the Palm Pre for about a full day now and it is an impressive phone. In many ways, it is as if Palm is giving the single finger salute to Apple with a product by quite literally rubbing Apple’s face in the things that should have been in the iPhone but weren’t. Neither phone is truly enterprise ready, but that hasn’t slowed the iPhone down that much. And while I expect the Palm Pre, due to its Treo roots, will move faster here (and starts out ahead), I wonder if it matters. Right now, this is the hottest market segment going. Here are my impressions of the phone that is so much better than the current iPhone. 

Touch and Feel

The Palm Pre, particularly with the optional inductive charging back, feels good in the hand, just the right weight and nicely balanced. Like the iPhone, it is vastly different from BlackBerries, Windows Mobile, or Symbian phones, but is easy to learn. Once you’ve learned, you tend to wonder why you put up with the other, more difficult user interfaces. The iPhone and Palm Pre went down different paths to solve a problem with multitasking phones. The iPhone limits multitasking to downloads and cell phone functions, blocking multiple applications from loading to keep the experience simple and to keep the apparent phone performance up. The Palm Pre has improved the user interface so it is easier to move between open applications and shut them down if they degrade performance. Apple is rumored to be doing something similar in the next version of the iPod, due out shortly. 

One of the best features is the inductive charging dock, which doesn’t require a cable and turns the phone automatically into a speakerphone/desk accessory. I’m not missing having to plug the cable in at all and, so far, this has worked flawlessly. Overall touch and feel is in every way better than the current iPhone. One interesting aspect is that there is a touch bar at the bottom of the phone, which helps reduce the fingerprinting on the screen or the need to put your finger in front of what you are trying to look at. The phone trains you to use it initially when you first boot it up. 

Battery Life 

Battery life, as with most 3G phones, is far from great, but unlike the iPhone you can replace the battery. And with the inductive dock, at least when you are around the office, you shouldn’t have problem. It will be nice when one of these firms goes to one of the newer, longer-lasting battery formulas but, for now, they are largely buying on price. This does create an opportunity for a better after-market offering. 

Camera 

With 3 Megapixels and a bright LED light source, you could probably live with this camera for most things. This is much better than the iPhone’s 2 Megapixel camera, and the few pictures I took were very nice. It is easy to e-mail or transfer the picture to another phone from the device, though an application that would automatically batch them back to a computer or the Web, like EyeFi, would be an improvement. I expect an application like that, which exists in the iPhone’s application store, to eventually show up for the Palm Pre. 

Email – Enterprise Advantage 

The Palm Pre uses a mobile version of Outlook and Active Sync, making it easy to set up with an Exchange Server (they’ve changed the menus a bit but this isn’t hard for someone who had done it before). Exchange native support without going through an intermediate service like MobileMe is generally preferred because you don’t have to worry about the security or reliability of the Apple cloud offering.  With the setup, as it is with Windows Mobile phones, Calendar and Exchange contacts move to the new phone, and if you live on Exchange your phone is mostly configured this way. Tools for centralized management will undoubtedly come later as one of the expected applications. 

Keyboard 

What really causes this phone to stand out from the iPhone is the keyboard. It is tight, which means most will likely learn to type with their fingernails. When it slides down, it exposes a mirror for pictures you take of yourself and future video conferencing (not currently enabled in the phone). I can’t live without a keyboard myself and this feature, or the lack of it, is what has kept me from an iPhone (or any screen phone). 

Negatives 

First, this is a young phone and will likely improve a great deal based on user feedback over the next six months; most of this will come to phone owners via updates. Same with the application store, which appears to be in beta. It will improve significantly over the next six months and those that have the phones will see those benefits as they arrive. Sprint remains one of the more risky carriers, but Verizon and others are expected to pick up this phone in the New Year, allowing you to use a non-Sprint preferred carrier. 

Could This Be Your Next Smartphone? 

If you really wanted an iPhone but found a number of things annoying about the device, like the built-in battery, lack of a keyboard, uncomfortable feeling when you had it next to your head, the fact you could only launch one application at a time, and particularly if you don’t care for Apple and use Exchange and don’t mind Sprint  — you’ll love this phone. It is almost as if they built it with me in mind! Unless you want to be one of the first to have this phone, and it is a ball to be one of the first to showcase a device like this, I’d wait until after it shows up on other carriers so they are competing for your business and any initial hardware problems are fixed (there are always issues with the first run of any new phone). 

You’ll also want to check out the new Android and Apple phones due out shortly so you know what you are giving up. Having said all of that, this is clearly the best phone I’ve ever had the privilege to use and while there are critical parts, like the application store, still not cooked yet, I have no problem recommending it in its initial form to those that like to be first with cool products.

In a world where the interface is increasingly becoming THE big selling point for mobile phones, let’s take an in-depth look at the upcoming Palm Pre, and see what makes it so special, compared to two of its rivals.

The contenders – Palm Pre, Toshiba TG01 and HTC Magic

Facing off in this article are the three newest phones to use their respective interfaces. Representing WebOS, we have the Palm Pre, the only phone in this challenge to be equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard. Backing up the sleek looks, the Palm Pre also comes complete with some genuinely compelling hardware, with a 3 megapixel camera, and 8Gb of integrated memory. Representing Windows Mobile, we have the Toshiba TG01, the most powerful phone in this challenge, with a 4.1 inch screen and a processor that runs at an astounding 1GHz, making it the fastest phone on the planet. Finally, there’s the HTC Magic, which incorporates Google Android, the open source contender in this comparison, complete with a sexy, slim body, and the best online download store of all three.

Let’s see how they get on against each other…

Usability – where sleekness counts

The first thing to consider is how easy, and pleasant, it is to use each phone. Starting with the Toshiba TG01, that phone comes with a 3D front end, that’s optimised for touch controls, and it is a real joy to use. However, the Toshiba TG01 does fall down, somewhat, when it comes to the deeper menus, where you’re forced to go back to standard Windows scrollbars and icons, which are, unfortunately, far less easy to use. Google Android proves to be far more user-friendly, in the HTC Magic, with touch control prevalent throughout the entire device, not just the front end. Also, the HTC Magic makes far better use of gesture controls, with things like swiping your finger down from the top of the screen bringing down your alert bar. Using Google Android proves to be a far more rewarding experience.

However, the Palm Pre, and its WebOS interface, takes usability and sleekness to an entirely new level. Gesture controls rule the day, with everything on the interface being achieved by finger swipes and pinching motions not unlike the iPhone. But the Palm Pre has another trick up its sleeve, with a touchscreen that actually extends below the screen itself. It’s incredibly easy and intuitive to use, and not even the touch-friendliness of the HTC Magic can come close to the experience of the Palm Pre.

‘New-ness’ – the final deciding factor

Finally, we come to innovation, and new features inherent within their respective interfaces. The Toshiba TG01 doesn’t do well in that respect, as aside from the unique front-end, it’s standard Windows Mobile, through and through. That’s not to say that the Toshiba TG01 is bad, as it’s still awesomely powerful, but in terms of innovation, it brings nothing new to the party. Meanwhile the HTC Magic does, thanks to two things: the Android Market, for downloading extra software to make your phone into, well, anything you want it to be; and the tight integration with Google services like Mail and Maps that you’ll find within the HTC Magic. Again, though, the Palm Pre emerges victorious, thanks to features that make it seem as if the phone is thinking for you. Things like aggregating multiple contact sources into one single contacts list, and universal search (which includes the internet, not just on-device searching), making your life so much easier. The Palm Pre combines the sleekest interface, and the most innovation, to come out ahead of its competition. The only word to describe it is magnificent!

The Palm pre is a smart phone of one-of its- kind that represents Palm’s reemergence into the cutting edge, forefront of mobile technology. Via accessorizing it you can decorate, protect and enhance your new Smartphone. Palm has packed the Pre with just about every mobile capability available, its hardware accessories range from wide selection of Palm Pre Batteries, Palm Pre Bluetooth Car Kits, Palm Pre Cables, Palm Pre Cases, Palm Pre Chargers, Palm Pre Cradles, Palm Pre Headphones, Palm Pre Headsets, Palm Pre Memory Cards, Palm Pre Miscellaneous, Palm Pre Phones, Palm Pre Screen Protectors, Palm Pre Speakers, Palm Pre Vehicle Mounts, Palm Pre WiFi Networking and more. A few palm pre fashion accessories are mentioned below

This Smartphone is a high precision technical device which demands high precision technical protection. An exceptionally clear and virtually indestructible screen protector will protect its multitouch screen without distorting the dimension or design of your device, you can show off your gadget and use it without fear of scratching keeping it as pristine as the day you took it out of the box. These protectors are tough and durable and they adhere to the screen and giving you a crystal clear view while reducing glare, you won’t even notice it’s there. All in all, this full body screen for Palm Pre was easy to install and goes a long way in terms of protecting your Palm Pre. A trendy protective case, also shields your Palm Pre from bumps, scratches, and moisture in a feature rich style. A stylish case is the perfect choice for carrying your Palm Pre. Phone case is a little more sturdy among palm pre accessories, like the leather Case ranging from skin cases, pouch cases, organizer cases and more, is a worthy investment. These cases will help protect your phone from everyday wear and tear, and allows for easy insertion and removal from your pocket or purse. Cases have cut-outs for the speaker, camera, headset port and the front of the phone is left uncovered for quick accessibility and easy keyboard slide out.

Don’t want to stick with the boring old wall charger, the Touchstone dock is a really cool way to charge your palm pre device. Simply place your Palm Pre on the Palm Touchstone, and magnets quickly align your phone in the correct position for charging. No cables or connectors required to attach your Palm Pre phone to the dock as it fully charges the phone in same amount of time as wall charger. A Micro USB Vehicle Power Charger will keep you and your devices connected at all times, as it fits with most vehicle power port sockets. Micro USB Retractable Sync & Charge Cable and Ultra-slim international charger for 100-240 voltages with automatic voltage and frequency adjustment charges your phone in a more sleek way, whether you are at home or abroad. 5-foot cable detaches from cylindrical travel charger and international plug adapters for easy travel and storage, including four removable plugs–for use in the U.K., Europe, Australia, Argentina, and the U.S. Another way of getting more out of your Palm Pre phone is by keeping an extra battery on hand. Spare battery will fit in the existing space so you will not need a replacement door and will pack more power than the original battery so it will give you more texting time. Just pop it in your bag and you’re good to go that extra mile at work, chatting with family & friends, or while traveling.

Moreover there is no need to worry about overcharging as it comes with built-in overcharging protection.

Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth earpiece and Jabra SP700 are eligible to qualify as an essential conversation piece for your palm pre device especially for the drivers. Driver friendly- they offer a new level of usability and safety for Bluetooth speakerphones. They eliminates real world background noise from your phone calls by detecting when you are speaking and precisely separating your speech from noises with military-grade NoiseAssassin technology. These headsets combine great features and a sleek look all in one great package. Ergonomically designed to booth so no aches and pains from wearing. Jabra also offers the latest in speakerphone technology – the SP700. This stylish, versatile new speakerphone can be used on its own or to transmit the calls to your car’s audio system with no installation necessary.

Now get more mileage out of the Pre with just a few additional accessories. Wirelessphonegallery.com is the only online store dedicated to upgrading, protecting and personalizing the Palm Pre with our selection of accessories.

Palm

Just to cover some quick specs: the Pre offers integrated Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev. A, Bluetooth 2.1 (A2 support stereo Bluetooth), and GPS. There’s 8GB of storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and high-speed USB 2.0.

As a fully featured Smartphone, the Pre includes voice connectivity, text messaging, email functionality, an integrated 3 megapixel digital camera, 3G internet access powered by a full mobile web browser, as well as support for third-party applications. Recent advertising suggests that the Pre will operate as a 4G device once Sprint’s 4G network is up and running.

Palm decided to incorporate a completely original operating system called webOS which makes multitasking easy with the Deck of Cards like feature that lets you scroll through various applications and toggle between them without having to open and close windows.

The Palm Pre is a lot smaller than one might assume considering all the features packed into this Smartphone. A reasonable size comparison would be an iPod classic. In terms of thickness, it’s definitely not as thin as the iPhone, or even the bold, but it’s an acceptable size considering it’s a slider.

The Pre has what’s called accelerometer that works with apps like the web browser and photo viewer, which automatically rotates the screen depending on its orientation. It’s the same as what’s on many other phones, but it’s worth noting that the accelerometer works quite well.

The multi-touch screen and a sliding QWERTY keyboard look and feels the same as previous Palm keyboards, and works well enough. Any huge texter can appreciate physical buttons, so we were more than delighted when we saw that the Smartphone had a keyboard. Like mentioned the Pre’s keyboard is similar to that of the Palm Treo Pro; the buttons are a little on the smaller side, but there is a good amount of space between them to reduce any problems. Attention to details is what defines the Palm Pre.

The screen is half-VGA (320×480) resolution and is really beautiful; it really shows when looking at photos, which are extremely bright and colorful; I’d say overall the screen was sharp and easy to read.

Along the left side of the phone are volume buttons, and up top there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack and ringer on / off switch. In terms of music, like the T-Mobile G1, Palm has partnered with the Amazon Music Store, so you will be able to purchase songs over the air from your Pre. On the backside of the device is a large speaker comparable to previous Palm models.

A MicroUSB port lets your charge the phone or work with files for the device, though Palm is also somewhat psyched on its Touchstone, an inductive charger that lets you just place the phone atop it for power. Most likely to be sold separately but a neat add on. The phone also has an AGPS chip, and looks

’s debut of the Pre at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show was a spectacular. This is where we heard that this is the first mobile phone to use Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 processor and under its initial exclusive carrier: Sprint CDMA network in the United States

In a few days, the biggest event of the mobile calendar will begin: the Mobile World Congress. Let’s take a look forward to 2 of the superstars that will be on display there: the Toshiba TG01 and the astonishing Palm Pre.

Toshiba TG01 – Windows Mobile evolves

Windows Mobile phones have had a tendency, in the past, to be a bit clunky. The interface wasn’t the best, and that ruined all that power they had. Nowadays, though, a raft of phones have appeared that put the ghost of old Windows Mobile phones to bed, phones like the Sony Ericsson X1 and HTC Touch HD… and now, the Toshiba TG01, the most powerful mobile phone EVER made. That’s not an exaggeration, the Toshiba TG01 is the first phone in history to have a 1GHz processor, taking its performance way beyond any mobile phones before, into laptop territory. Combine that with a unique 3D interface on top, and at 4.1 inches, the biggest screen of any mobile phone, and the Toshiba TG01 is all set to take its rightful place as the most powerful and best Windows phone that’s ever been released.

Of course, Microsoft themselves will be announcing something new at MWC 09, and that’s a whole new version of Windows Mobile, version 6.5. This is designed to take the power that phones like the Toshiba TG01 have in spades, and fix on top of it Microsoft’s own, new interface, that far surpasses their previous efforts, and aims to make Windows Mobile as user friendly as something like the iPhone.

Palm Pre – you’ve NEVER seen a phone like this before…

Meanwhile, while Windows Mobile phones are going for raw power, another phone is set to make its debut in the flesh, and it’s one that goes down a different route, having less power than the TG01, but being far more elegant. It’s sleek, it’s innovative… it’s the Palm Pre, and it’s possibly the most exciting mobile phone that’s ever been released…

Where the Toshiba TG01 has gone for a recognised operating system and piled on the power, the Palm Pre has taken a different route, looking more at how the operating system should work, and then building both hard ware and software (called WebOS) from the ground up; believe me, the end result is a massive achievement! It has even more user friendliness and slick graphics than the iPhone, it’s as modifiable as Google Android, and it’s not far off the power of Windows Mobile. True multitasking is handled in style, and everything is accomplished with sweeps and swipes of the fingers, making the interface on the Palm Pre a real gem. It always feels fluid, and accessing apps and software is handled in such a natural, flowing way, that it’s hard to imagine any other phone topping the Palm Pre for sheer usability. It is, quite simply, astonishing, and since it and the TG01 will make the other manufacturers sit up and take notice, you can be sure that others, like Nokia, or Sony Ericsson, will be bringing their A-game to the party, at MWC 09.