Details Emerge on Possible Pre Followup

Posted By: Kris Keilhack Thursday, October 7, 2010 2:41:31 PM

Following up on our story from yesterday, a number of sharp-eyed WebOS fans have been analyzing the FCC filings on the upcoming Palm P102UEU device. After much analysis, the general consensus is that a device very reminiscent of the existing Pre Plus is imminent in non-AT&T (that is, not USA GSM bands) GSM form. Presumably, a similar "NA" version for North America will also be offered at some point in time.

As I mentioned in my retail report last month, Palm-branded Pre and Pixi accessories are now almost entirely absent from both brick & mortar and carrier retail shelve. This would suggest that a widespread packaging refresh (possibly HP/Palm co-branded) is in the works if Palm's latest device will be compatible with the many existing Pre peripherals.

In a nutshell, the P102UEU uses the same part number as the soft-touch Touchstone-compatible battery cover as the existing Pre and Pre Plus, so that would certainly guarantee a carbon copy of the existing Pre form factor. It also uses the same undersized 1150mAh battery seen in 2007's Centro, so this is another carryover part. The processor is said to be a 1Ghz TI OMap 3630, a part commonly found in higher-end Android phones, so both performance and power consumption should be considerably better than the current Pre. This would also enable, assuming Palm has fitted this device with the proper hardware, a few more spec bumps such as 720p video recording and an 8 megapixel camera.

Presumably, the Pre Plus' existing RAM will stay at 512mb, though storage may be boosted to 32GB to counter the latest crop of iPhones and microSDHC-toting BlackBerry and Android devices. Otherwise, the existing Pre and Pre Plus specs will remain unchanged, making this a fairly conservative update that can nicely entrench the Pre as a solid midrange device while making room at the top for the rumored "Mansion" large-screen device rumored for 2011.

With Sprint having passed on the Pre and Pixi Plus, that carrier would seem to be the most likely destination for this mildly refreshed Pre successor but right now only Verizon has been rumored as a destination for a CDMA "Pre 2".

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Darn it!

Tuckermaclain @ 10/10/2010 5:40:50 PM #

I am always interested in a new Palm release. Unfortunately I'm locked into an EVO for 2 years.

RE: Darn it!

Gekko @ 10/10/2010 5:44:40 PM #

Day late and a dollar short. Nobody wants a Palm.
Tuckermaclain @ 12/16/2008 11:38:48 AM #
Who is Palm? They make those cheap little toy-looking Centro thingies that you can get for free. That pretty much sums up what they are today. Nova is going to fizzle just because Palm is launching it. Nobody will pay top dollar for a new OS from Palm. Just as nobody will buy a $80K luxury car from Kia (no disrespect to Kia intended.) If Nova is decent and Apple launched it sales would go to the moon. Palm is merely a name to be put onto a generic device-like Magnavox, Curtis Mathis, and Craig. Their Palm-branded junk will be sold cheaply as doorbusters at Wal-Mart and Best-Buy to get people to look at the new profitable brands people want. So sad. Nova doomed before it is launched.

RE: Darn it!

gmayhak @ 10/10/2010 7:43:57 PM #

Too much time spent finding a cool name for a shitty OS.

Like I've said before.. HP now has rights to Palm OS and access to thousands of good apps and Palm OS developers if they just have the brains to include full Palm OS compatibility in their next release.

Gekko, you're calling the Centro a cheap toy now but you spent a lot of time defending it on the forum in the past?

Palma Nova
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Palma Nova (literally "New Palm") is a town on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca, in the municipality of Calvià.

Gary
Tech Center Labs
www.talestuff.com
www.iTalentProductions.com

RE: Darn it!

Gekko @ 10/11/2010 3:56:25 AM #

the above was a quote from tucker from 2008, grandpa. try to keep up.

RE: Darn it!

Tuckermaclain @ 10/11/2010 5:27:25 AM #

I'm flattered that you cared enough to look it up and repost it! Yup, that's what I said. I still look forward to the release of new Palms. Nostalgia--you can only experience it when you're old.