WebOS HomeBrew Apps List at Pre|Central

The Palm PRE is quite popular but for quite some time there was no support for paid WebOS applications on the WebOS Apps Store. This has caused the HomeBrew crew to find their own solution. The most popular solution I know of is the HomeBrew Apps on-line at Pre|Central:

Homebrew Apps
285 Apps in the Gallery
3,298,498 Total Downloads since August 19th

Welcome to the Homebrew App Gallery at PreCentral.net! Like the gallery itself, the apps you'll find here are all beta and are for testing purposes only. They are all under development - use with care.

Click on any header to re-sort the apps, filter by category below, or search by tag by clicking the links in the sidebar. Don't forget to rate apps!

"Palm Pre is Fab" says WPG-SUN

In a Winnipeg Sun article entitled: "Pre is fab: Latest smartphone does it all elegantly" Steve Tilley gives quite a good (in my opinion) review of the Palm Pre which just recently became available here in Canada. Steve says "The Palm Pre smartphone is an attractive alternative to a BlackBerry or iPhone" and, in his 'verdict' at the end of the article, warns that "the Pre could cause gadget love at first sight".

The folks who ushered hand-held organizers into the collective consciousness have come a long way, baby. Heck, I remember when we used to call these things Palm Pilots.

-={snip}=-

It's the latest phone to be saddled with that tiresome "iPhone killer" label, but it's also one of the few that really can stand up to Apple's beloved little slab.

A chunky, squat black number, the Pre (pronounced "pree" and not "pray") lands in the crowded uber-phone market with a few secret weapons. One, it combines a very sharp iPhone-like touchscreen with a surprisingly functional BlackBerry-like keyboard, revealed by sliding the screen up. Best of both worlds right there, eh wot?

And two, it's a built-from-the-ground-up marriage of hi-tech silicon guts and cool, intuitive software. From e-mail to web browsing to memos to maps, the Pre does everything you'd expect a high-end 3G smartphone to do, and it does it with what can only be described as elegant grace.

-={snip}=-

When using the Pre, I felt like the folks at Palm didn't just sit down and cobble together a device with a touch-screen and a handy slide-out keyboard. It feels like they reverse-engineered the thing from the perspective of you, the user, to make it easy and fun to use. And it's even pretty decent at making phone calls.

-={snip}=-

Despite its faults, the Pre is an elegant device that doesn't try to mimic an iPhone or a BlackBerry, even though {it} offers some of the best features of each. It reminds me of how I felt the first time I used a Palm Pilot, way back in the day: An exciting, albeit not entirely perfect, glimpse at the future of gadgetry.

But hey, the Palm Pilot evolved, and so will the Pre. Stay tuned.

-={snip}=-

Verdict: While it has a few flaws and the battery life is mediocre, the Pre is packed with features that make it an attractive alternative to a BlackBerry or iPhone. And if you've never used either of those devices before, the Pre could cause gadget love at first sight.

Be sure to follow the link above (or this one) to read the whole article. It's definitely worth your time.

I have a couple of personal comments. Steve states that the Pre has an "iPhone-like touchscreen" -- when, because the Palm Pilot was the first commercially successful PDA with a touchscreen, it should say the iPhone has an improved Palm-like touchscreen. He also says that it includes a "surprisingly functional Blackberry-like keyboard", yet that style of keyboard was pioneered by the Treo smartphone, again made by Palm. In fact, it is widely acknowledged that RIM's Blackberry's (and most other PDAs for that matter) "acquired" their keyboards by openly emulating the Palm Treo.

However, all those personal nit-picky points aside {grin}, the review is a good one and well worth reading in it's entirety.

Palm Unveils More webOS Details

CARLSBAD, Calif., 28 May 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today at The Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital conference, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) introduced attendees to the latest features of the Palm(R) webOS(TM) platform, including Palm media sync, the integration of Twitter in universal search, and a beta version of its App Catalog. Jon Rubinstein, Palm executive chairman, and Roger McNamee, Palm director and co-founder of Elevation Partners, debuted the new webOS features, which will be available on the new Palm Pre(TM) phone when it launches June 6 on Sprint's mobile broadband network.(1)

Palm Media Sync

Palm media sync is a feature of webOS that synchronizes seamlessly with iTunes, giving you a simple and easy way to transfer DRM-free music, photos and videos to your Palm Pre.(2) Simply connect Pre to your PC or Mac via the USB cable, select "media sync" on the phone, and iTunes will launch on your computer desktop. You can then choose which DRM-free media files to transfer.

"We designed Palm media sync to be an easy and elegant way for you to take the content you own and put it on Pre, and it's just one of the ways we think you'll be amazed by webOS," said Rubinstein. "We've had an overwhelming response since we introduced Pre at CES, and with availability just days away, we can't wait to let everyone see firsthand what the excitement is all about."

Pre also acts as a mass storage drive, letting you side-load your media content. Once connected to a computer using the USB cable, Pre will appear as a drive on the computer desktop. You can drag and drop music, photos or video files onto your Pre, or drag files from your Pre to the computer. And, just like a digital camera, Pre works directly with your computer's default desktop photo software to seamlessly import photos captured with Pre's built-in 3-megapixel camera.

In addition to listening to music transferred from your desktop, you can use the on-device Amazon MP3 store to purchase individual songs or full albums over-the-air. You can search by artist, song and genre, and preview and purchase music files. You can then download purchased tracks when you're connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Twitter in Universal Search

Palm also announced that Twitter search is integrated into webOS universal search.(3) Universal search is about finding what you want quickly, whether it's an on-device contact to call, a place you're trying to get to, or a Wikipedia article for encyclopedic information. Just start typing and Pre will figure out if you're looking for a contact, an application, or even let you search the web via Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia and now Twitter. Universal search uses Twitter's search service to sort through real-time current events and news, so universal search now covers every aspect of search on the web: general info, location, encyclopedia, and news.

Twitter's ability to show what's going on right now is a perfect fit for what universal search and Pre are all about. You don't have to be a Twitter user to benefit from Twitter in universal search. It's available for all users, even if they don't have an account, so anyone can keep on top of real-time news and the latest trends.

App Catalog

Rubinstein and McNamee also gave conference attendees an advance look at the beta version of the App Catalog, which will be available on Pre at launch. The beta version will feature applications from developers such as AP News, Citysearch, Fandango, Pandora and uLocate.

"We've received excellent feedback from participants in the Mojo SDK early access program and look forward to the SDK's public release. Developers are very enthusiastic about the platform's ease of use and industry-standard development model," said Rubinstein. "We're excited to launch Pre with the beta version of the catalog, which will give a taste of how the overall webOS ecosystem will work."

The App Catalog was demonstrated at the conference using Fandango's webOS application, which takes advantage of Palm Synergy(TM), a key feature of webOS. It also uses Pre's location-based services to find theaters near you, and lets you watch trailers, buy tickets, add showtimes to your calendar and get directions to the theatre.(1) Also included in the beta App Catalog will be Pandora, which makes use of the platform's multitasking capabilities, running elegantly in the background while you're using other applications. It highlights a unique aspect of the notification bar that lets you know what song is currently playing, and control pause and play without having to go back into the application.

The Palm Pre phone will be available from Sprint on June 6 for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and $100 mail-in rebate. More information is available at www.sprint.com/palmpre and www.palm.com.

Palm Unveils All-new webOS

We just received the following press release from Palm at CES


Palm Unveils All-new webOS

Web-Centric Platform and New Palm Pre Phone to Debut Exclusively on Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network in First Half of 2009
LAS VEGAS, 08 Jan 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM) today unveiled its groundbreaking Palm^(R) webOS(TM) mobile platform, built from the ground up to be constantly connected to the web, and the new Palm Pre(TM), the first phone based on the new platform.⁽¹⁾ Pre is scheduled to be available exclusively from Sprint in the first half of 2009.

Palm webOS is a brand-new kind of platform, invented exclusively for mobile use. webOS recognizes that you want your people, calendars and information to move with you, wherever you are, wirelessly, as opposed to being bound to a personal computer. Palm webOS is the first mobile platform to automatically bring your information from the many places it resides - on your phone, at your work or on the web - into one simple, integrated view.⁽¹⁾ The new Palm Pre and webOS are designed to be so in sync with your needs that it feels like Pre is thinking ahead for you.

"Palm products have always been about simplifying lives and delivering great user experiences," said Ed Colligan, Palm president and chief executive officer. "webOS and Pre bring game-changing simplicity to an increasingly mobile world by dissolving the barriers that surround your information. It's technology that seems like it's thinking ahead to bring you what you care about most - your people, your time, and your information - in the easiest and most seamless way."

"Pre continues Sprint's leadership in open access to the content customers want for a great web-connected experience," said Dan Hesse, Sprint chief executive officer. "We look forward to bringing this remarkably innovative device to our customers on America's most dependable 3G network."⁽²⁾

Palm's new OS is the first mobile platform to be built from the ground up to combine standard technology, innovation and integration. At its core, webOS leverages several industry-standard technologies, including web technologies such as CSS, XHTML and JavaScript. On top of that, Palm has included creative and innovative advancements to enhance the overall user experience and provided a deep integration of all elements within the platform.

The new platform was designed to allow a vast ecosystem of partners, including developers, hardware suppliers, and accessories manufacturers, to develop core solutions to complement the platform and product line. For developers, webOS shatters traditional barriers to mobile-application development by offering a rich open development environment that's familiar to tens of millions of web developers. More people can develop for the platform and can do it faster than ever before. The platform's flexible environment will also allow developers to distribute their applications over-the-air via an on-device Palm application store.

Your Life, Brought Together
The new platform introduces Palm Synergy(TM), a key feature of webOS that brings your information from all the places it resides into one logical view. You don't have to worry about tracking multiple calendars, contacts and messaging applications - Synergy brings it to you for a more comprehensive and truly representative view of your life.

• Linked contacts - With Synergy, you have a single view that links your contacts from a variety of sources, so accessing them is easier than ever. For example, if you have the same contact listed in your Outlook⁽³⁾, Google and Facebook accounts, Synergy recognizes that they're the same person and links the information, presenting it to you as one listing. And if you update a contact on your webOS device, it also will be updated in your various accounts, whether on a personal computer or on the web.
  
• Layered calendars - Your calendars can be seen on their own or layered together in a single view, combining work, family, friends, sports teams, or other interests. You can toggle to look at one calendar at a time, or see them all at a glance.
  
• Combined messaging - Synergy lets you see all your conversations with the same person in a chat-style view, even if it started in IM and you want to reply with text messaging. You can also see who's active in a buddy list right from contacts, and start a new conversation with just one touch.

Your Information, Effortlessly
By smartly integrating your information, webOS is designed to think ahead for you and keep you on top of the things that happen in your life, but that's just the first step. The platform's unique interface brings your information to you with the ease that only Palm can offer.

• Web-connected applications - Applications are seamlessly connected to the web and always active⁽⁴⁾, ensuring you have the most up-to-date information.
  
• Run multiple applications at the same time - Palm's revolutionary webOS lets you manage multiple activities more effectively than any other mobile platform today. It lets you keep multiple applications open and instantly flip from one to another.⁽⁴⁾
  
• Instinctive user interface - With its multi-touch interface, webOS lets you move easily between activities like flipping through a deck of cards and rearrange items simply by dragging them; when you are done with something, just throw it away. And finding what you need is easy with universal search - as you type what you're looking for, the OS narrows your search and offers results from both your device and the web.⁽⁵⁾
  
• Intuitive and unobtrusive notifications - When important things come up or new updates arrive, you'll receive notifications with a diplomacy that's a radical departure from other mobile platforms. For example, if you receive a text message or email, a scrolling notifications bar at the bottom of your screen lets you address it right away or leave until later. webOS alerts are one step ahead, ensuring that you never miss a thing, but never lose your place or train of thought.

Palm Pre: The First webOS Phone
Pre has a breakthrough interface and hardware design that makes it the most integrated and user-friendly phone for mobile users. Featuring a smooth, rounded ergonomic design and a physical keyboard that slides out only when needed, Pre is engineered to feel natural in the hand and comfortably small in the pocket. When closed, the phone is ideal for phone calls, web browsing, music, photos and videos; when open, Pre is optimized for email and text messaging. With its curved slider and gesture-controlled touch interface, Pre fuses exquisite design with the revolutionary webOS software for fast access to anything on the device or web. It's an instinctive user experience that seems to anticipate your needs.

"As our lives revolve more and more around the web, devices like Palm Pre that transform how we interact with the web will lead the way," said Hesse. "We are focused on bringing our customers a superior experience that includes easy-to-use devices, simple pricing and value with Simply Everything all-inclusive offerings, plus Ready Now, our exclusive retail program that helps customers leave the store feeling comfortable and confident they know how to use their new device."

Pre will support a variety of differentiated on-device Sprint services, including Sprint TV^(R), offering an extensive selection of live and on-demand programming. Sprint Navigation provides GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings. Sprint also offers more than a dozen streaming-radio applications, including Sprint Radio with more than 150 channels.

Palm Pre features include the following:

• High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA)
  
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g⁽⁶⁾
  
• Integrated GPS⁽⁷⁾
  
• Large 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320x480 resolution HVGA display
  
• Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
  
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
  
• Email, including Outlook EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers), as well as personal email support (POP3, IMAP)
  
• Robust messaging support (IM, SMS and MMS capabilities)⁽⁴⁾
  
• High-performance, desktop-class web browser
  
• Great multimedia experience and performance (pictures, video playback, music), featuring a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field, and a standard 3.5mm headset jack
  
• Bluetooth^(R) 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
  
• 8GB of internal user storage (~7.4GB user available)
  
• USB mass storage mode
  
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
  
• Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear
  
• Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark, such as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage
  
• Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your perspective
  
• Ringer switch, which easily silences the device with one touch
  
• Removable, rechargeable battery
  
• Dimensions: 59.57mm (W) x 100.53mm (L, closed) x 16.95mm (D) [2.35 inches (W) x 3.96 inches (L, closed) x 0.67 inches (D)]
  
• Weight: ~135 grams [4.76 ounces]

An array of compelling accessories also will be available for Pre, including the first inductive charging solution for phones (sold separately). Simply set Pre down on top of the elegantly designed Palm Touchstone(TM) charging dock without worrying about connection, orientation or fit. Pre is active while charging, so you can access the touch screen, watch movies or video, or use the speakerphone.

Availability and Pricing
Palm Pre is scheduled to be available first in the United States exclusively from Sprint in the first half of 2009, and will be followed by a world-ready UMTS version for other regions. Sprint's pricing for the phone has not yet been determined.

Customers who would like to register to receive additional information about Pre and be notified when it's available can register at www.palm.com or www.sprint.com/palmpre.

About Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc. is a leading mobile products company, creating instinctive yet powerful mobile products that enable people to better manage their lives on the go. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm^(R) Treo(TM), Pre(TM) and Centro(TM) phones, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.