Palm Blog Hints at Web 2.0 Announcement

In what looks to be the first genuinely solid bit of Pre-related information directly from Palm since CES, a new Palm Blog post has appeared hinting at a substantial bit of new WebOS or Pre-related info from the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco. While I would assume Palm will announce a semi-firm release date, the device's pricing or even the announcement of the SDK availability (see our earlier story on the August arrival of Palm's new WebOS book) could be in the works. To date, no Pre release date has been given other than the usual "first half ‘09" heard since CES. Entitled "Watch this space: No foolin" Palm basically squashes any chance of the announcement being an ill-timed April fool's joke. Ironically enough, Palm also suggests following their Twitter updates (@palm_inc) for the latest breaking news.

As covered yesterday, Palm will have a presence at Web 2.0, as evidenced by a keynote given by Palm's very own Michael Abott later today. Given that most of the mobile press is likely at CTIA and would seemingly make for a more appropriate venue for Palm to make any kind of an introduction, the Web 2.0 Expo is also a logical venue, given Palm's newfound focus on cloud computing with the WebOS. Other unsubstantiated rumors circulating online this week have suggested that the initial batch of Pre hardware is packaged and ready to go but awaiting a final firmware update and Sprint's confirmation.

Palm's Web 2.0 keynote begins at 5:10 PM PST. PalmInfocenter is also attending CTIA and will be posting coverage and updates from the show throughout the week.

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Substantial?

SeldomVisitor @ 4/1/2009 11:11:39 AM # Q
I literally see nothing substantial nor even mildly exciting about Palm's blog's words.

What did I miss?

Or is some other blog being referenced?

RE: Substantial?
hkklife @ 4/1/2009 11:18:55 AM # Q
Palm's blog is basically saying that they are going to announce SOMETHING news-worthy at the Web 2.0 conference later today. That's all.

I would ASSUME they will either narrow down the release window ("mid-June: or "sometime between April 30th and june 30th" etc) at Web 2.0 OR announce when the SDK will be available. Making the announcement ag Web 2.0 will get everyone buzzzing today & tonight and that will carry into CTIA. My guess is that the news straight from Palm (webOS related most likely) will come today at Web 2.0 and then Sprint will be handling the CTIA propadanda concerning the Pre. Sort of a 1-2 punch.

Since the Palm blog is usally filled little more than self-congratulating propaganda or silly drivel about C-list celebrities or social networking sites no one cares about, I deemed this one to be news-worthy.

The exact text from the blog post: "But instead, we thought we'd give you a heads-up (for reals) to check back later today (or follow palm_inc on Twitter) for an update direct from the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco. "
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

RE: Substantial?
SeldomVisitor @ 4/1/2009 11:44:45 AM # Q
> Palm's blog is basically saying that they are going to announce
> SOMETHING news-worthy at the Web 2.0 conference later today. ..

Uh...not that =I= can see.

No kidding.

RE: Substantial?
hkklife @ 4/1/2009 12:18:09 PM # Q
Rememer RIGHT before the Pre & WebOS were announced? The Palm Blog said something to the effect "Watch this space for some exciting Palm New-ness!"

I'm taking this to mean something similar is in the works, albeit considerably less hype worthy. See the mention below of possible Palm OS emulation support (Personally, I remain highly skeptical of Palm supporting ANYTHING other than "webOS" web apps, especially anything Garnet-related)

http://www.precentral.net/webos-support-palm-os-emulation
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

RE: Substantial?
palmit @ 4/1/2009 12:24:35 PM # Q
I think you are wrong again.
RE: Substantial?
SeldomVisitor @ 4/1/2009 12:49:11 PM # Q
@palmit: Your "you" is ambiguous,.

Note that not seeing anything exciting in Palm's minimal words (*) does NOT mean nothing exciting is going to be announced.

===============

(*) I simply see Palm saying "We'll update you on what we did at Web 2.0".

RE: Substantial?
palmit @ 4/1/2009 12:52:21 PM # Q
I'm just saying that its a good possiblity that they will support POS based apps. I guess we will see soon enough.
RE: Substantial?
SeldomVisitor @ 4/1/2009 12:57:49 PM # Q
There is no mention of PalmOS in Palm's words. How could anyone either in this thread or as the author of the article this thread is a comment to thus be "wrong"?

RE: Substantial?
palmit @ 4/1/2009 1:10:03 PM # Q
I remain highly skeptical of Palm supporting ANYTHING other than "webOS" web apps, especially anything Garnet-related)

Garnet related = POS

RE: Substantial?
hkklife @ 4/1/2009 1:16:08 PM # Q
@SV:

http://www.precentral.net/webos-support-palm-os-emulation

The latest piece of over-eager speculative reporting from Precentral, which is what Palmit is speaking of. Saying in a bold headline "WebOS to support Palm OS emulation!" makes it sound quite definitive. Then a few lines down they say "Palm looks as though...". Unless, of course, , ahem, "certain" sites are in cahoots with Palm and privvy to all kinds of insider info and operating in a semi-constrained fashion under NDA.

I think that what is on there is a Palm OS PIM data import/converter utility. Remember, I personally asked at least 3 Palm reps at CES how they would handle users may have up to 3 years' of irreplacable Palm Desktop & Palm OS PIM data. I asked if all fields through the various Contacts/Memos/Calendar versions would be supported under WebOS. They all said something along the lines of "Don't worry, you guys'll be completely taken care of" and then suggested that I wouldn't have to go through some elaborate multi-step Palm Desktop to Outlook to cloud to Pre then back to cloud process.

@Palmit;

At this stage of the game, backwards compatibility is probably more trouble than it's worth for Palm. They need to focus all of their energies & resources on getting the Pre launched, debugged, and drumming up developer support. PLENTY of new & used Palm OS handhelds and smartphones remain on the market for users with legacy needs.

Besides, look at the relatively unchanging nature of Palm OS-based devices over the years. Many apps (primarily games) rely on hard button or d-pad or very prcise stylus input or even the presence of Graffiti libraries. Some need IR. Others require the presence of an external card slot, and trying to partition off a chunk of the Pre's internal memory as a virtual expansion card slot could be a huge pain in emulation. I've had enough problems trying to run an OS4-era app in OS5 or even an OS5 app written circa 2003 on a post-NVFS OS5 device.

If the Pre is a hit, I am sure enough "new" WebOS apps will be written to replace many of the specialized Palm OS apps & utilities. If I am wrong, then big deal. I have plenty of Garnet devices on hand to last for years. As you stated, we will see soon enough.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

RE: Substantial?
hkklife @ 4/1/2009 1:20:48 PM # Q
More "insider" info to take with a grain of sale (they are claiming there's a microSD slot on the Pre, for example):

http://mypre.com/pre-questions-answered-video-coming-soon-2009011063

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

RE: Substantial?
palmit @ 4/1/2009 1:21:05 PM # Q
I agree that they need to at least do the data converter utility from old POS contact\calendar data to webOS. To me its not a big deal regarding the POS emulator because I'm ready to move on with the new system.
RE: Substantial?
palmit @ 4/1/2009 1:24:12 PM # Q
"Music is synced by drag and drop. The MicroSD card is like any other removable drive."

I think he should of said that the Pre connected via usb is like any other removable drive.


RE: Substantial?
BaalthazaaR @ 4/1/2009 2:10:33 PM # Q
Technically supporting GarnetOS on WebOS is not entirely unfeasible. Access does have it running on a Linux based system. There is a VM that runs on Nokia's Linux based systems. And WebOS is a GUI layer that runs on top of a Linux based system. It shouldn't be too hard to port it to WebOS's underlying Linux based OS.
RE: Substantial?
2klbs @ 4/1/2009 3:57:47 PM # Q
SD Card comment clarified- it was too good by true, but it was fun to dream for a while: (From MyPre.com)

"Ah, I mistyped. On board storage operates LIKE a MicroSD card, removable storage, etc. by steven "
End of Contract with Sprint- to become a "Pre-vert" or go Android?

RE: Substantial?
twrock @ 4/1/2009 10:29:35 PM # Q
SeldomVisitor wrote:
I literally see nothing substantial nor even mildly exciting about Palm's blog's words.

What did I miss?

Or is some other blog being referenced?


Sheesh SV, will you please just give it up already?!!

One by one Palm is "answering" your "questions" by doing the very things you "suggested" they wouldn't/couldn't. You should have just waited to see, and then you wouldn't have been wrong about some many things. Of course it was way more fun to try to spread the FUD around, wasn't it? ;-)


"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)

RE: Substantial?
SeldomVisitor @ 4/2/2009 2:40:40 AM # Q
There WAS nothing substantial about Palm's blogs words.

Nor the "announcement" that never came to pass.

Palm announced they needed a few more betatesters for their admittedly-not-ready-for-prime-time SDK.

Gosh.

Palm announced - a-GAIN - that some third-party company would be making an extra-cost PalmOS emulator.

Gosh.

And Palm noted that their WebOS cloud-based services, already mentioned on THIS message board by...ME!, aren't going to be there when the Pre launches.

Gosh.

Maybe it's time you sat on your hands, forgto about me, stopped fawning over Palm's marketspeak, and started doing some thinking on your own kid.

Gosh.

RE: Substantial?
twrock @ 4/2/2009 4:56:55 AM # Q
"Kid"? How young do you suppose I am? Even my "kidlets" are grown and gone. Get a clue.

Yep, the irritation is clear. Palm is actually going to make a run for it, and you just can't stand it. Why the hate, SV? Show Palm some love. Was it the whole company or just Jeff that treated you so badly? Spill your guts; we're here to help.

"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)

RE: Substantial?
SeldomVisitor @ 4/2/2009 5:12:52 AM # Q
> ...just Jeff that treated you so badly? ...

Oh, I see...you swallowed that one. Too.

Figures...

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POS emulation in webOS

palmit @ 4/1/2009 11:53:51 AM # Q
Looks like Palm could be supporting old POS apps via emulation in webOS.

http://www.precentral.net/webos-support-palm-os-emulation

RE: POS emulation in webOS
Ryan @ 4/1/2009 1:46:03 PM # Q
Looks like Dieter beat me to posting it, but I just left the Palm VIP lounge and spotted the same thing... I'd expect more news on this later today and perhaps I can get a demo tomorrow or later this evening.

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9719/classic-palm-os-garnet-emulation-coming-to-webos/

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