With almost a year and a half under its belt, the once fresh and relevant Palm Pre is clearly beginning to show off its age as we’ve seen it slowly becoming more of a distant memory than anything else. Happily, HP Palm recently unveiled their followup successor with the Palm Pre 2 which has some notable improvements under the hood with its updated webOS platform.

On the surface, the Palm Pre 2 doesn’t differ too much from the original’s design and feel – which is honestly the safe approach with any succeeding device. Compact by default, this portrait sliding QWERTY handset boasts some minor elements, like its Gorilla glass display, that make it feel slightly more solid in the hand. Although it might not retain the original’s polished stone look, the handset employs more of a flat surface with its touchscreen and is hugged with a bezel – both of which give off a distinct look to the somewhat unchanged handset. Another notable change is that Palm removed the plastic cover for the microUSB port and now keeps it exposed.

The sliding mechanism feels fairly responsive and reveals the all too familiar cramped Pre keyboard. Thankfully though, Palm improved the tactile feel of its buttons, but it still doesn’t feel as good as the one found with the Palm Pixi or even Palm Treo Pro. Regardless, existing Palm Pre users won’t have too much concern when adjusting to the keyboard on this device.

In the rear, Palm decided to increase the camera from a 3-megapixel shooter to a 5-megapixel one. From what we were shown, it still retains that lightning quick response in taking consecutive photos without much pause in between shots. However, it should be noted that it’s not an auto-focus camera, but simply, a usual fixed focused one.

Under its plastic housing, the Palm Pre 2 is powered by a 1GHz processor which makes everything you do in webOS 2.0 pretty responsive and without much slowdown. Some of the notable new features found with the updated platform include the ability to stack several cards on top of one another which makes for some improved organization. For example, you can launch the email app and click a hyperlink within it, but instead of opening up a separate card, it’ll stack it on top of the email app so you can quickly navigate between them. Obviously, it’ll greatly improve the usability of the platform when you’re trying to juggle around multiple items at once. Additionally, webOS 2.0 also exhibits an improved search function which can be accessed instantly by typing on the keyboard. Naturally, it’ll search for relevant content on the handset, but it’ll even include other noteworthy suggestions from various searching engines.

All in all, the unit that we checked out, which is still a prototype and not a final production unit, follows accordingly to what a successor should do. Although it’s gong to be available shortly through SFR in France, there is no indication on a time frame when Verizon will launch the model.

Canadian cellular carrier Rogers has not yet introduced the Palm Pre 2, but word is that a November 9th launch date has been set. From the 1GHz processor, webOS 2.0 and the new flat display, there really could be enough changes in the Palm Pre 2 to satisfy those who were not pleased by the first-gen version.

In Canada, where 3 year contracts are the norm, the Palm Pre 2 is expected to go for $99.99 with a 3 year deal. For those in the States waiting for this device, we reported that Verizon is expected to make the Palm Pre 2 one of of a large number of handsets it is launching on November 11th. No pricing information has been released.

source: mobilesyrup

The Palm Pre 2 will launch with webOS 2.0 under the hood

Having money sure makes a difference as Palm is finding out. With the backing of $1.2 billion from Hewlett Packard’s vault, Palm expects to offer 5-6 webOS devices in the coming year. Contract manufacturer Foxconn is expected to produce 4-5 of these new products with Compal responsible for the balance.

One of the devices planned for next year is the PalmPad webOS tablet, which appears to be on Foxconn’s “to-do list”. Now that the Palm Pre 2 has been introduced, as we reported, a follow-up to the Palm Pixi is expected to be put together by the manufacturer. Another speculation is that Palm and HP will announce the former’s first all-touch smartphone, the Palm Roadrunner HD.

Hewlett Packard has announced that it will expand the use of webOS into other products such as printers, to take advantage of the software’s finger friendly, internet centered approach.
source: CENS

The smartphone industry’s rapid adoption seems to be going on and on and, at least for the time being, the end of this growth is not on the horizon. This is not much of a news itself, but taking a closer look at the picture reveals some impressive stats that give a hint where the industry as a whole is going. According to ABI Research, the raw figures are as follows – of all mobile devices shipped in Q2 of 2010, 19% are smartphones and that in turn means this is a 12% growth compared to Q1 of the same year and 50% increase between Q2 2009 and Q2 2010. Michael Morgan, a senior analyst for mobile devices at ABI Research, states that this is only the beginning: “I am predicting an all-time record high for the third quarter numbers.” Impressive stuff indeed.

But that’s not all. With the mini-revolution that’s slowly unfolding right before our eyes in the hardware sector and with all the software improvements going on, things are bound to go up and up. That’s without mentioning some major factors – like Microsoft spending a billion to stage their comeback Windows Phone 7 platform or the persistently-rumoured Verizon-branded Apple iPhone that’s expected some time early 2011.

Why is that so important?
It’s of paramount importance, because there is no place for everyone and the battle of the mobile operating systems will be a matter of life and death for most of the companies in the smartphone business. Most of the observers tend to agree that “it needs to boil down to three or perhaps four key operating systems.”

Where the things stand at present with the mobile operating systems?
In the USA, the leading smartphone platforms at the moment are Research in Motion’s BlackBerry OS with 37.6%, followed by Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android with 24.2% and 19.6% respectively. The momentum is with Android, while Apple continues to make quite a few dollars with their devices and these two operating systems are seen by Mr. Morgan as major players: “Right now there are two key platforms: iOS and Android.”

However, it would be naive to underestimate the other potential players. The fact is that Microsoft poured a billion into their newly-released Windows Phone 7 and recently HP acquired Palm with the Palm Pre 2 and webOS 2.0 soon to hit the market. Only time can reveal how Windows Phone 7 and webOS 2.0 will fare, but one thing is certain – they will be in the OS race.

Apple was firing on all cylinders in Q2 of 2010 with 8.4 million shipments, of which 3 million were iPhone 4 units released only a few weeks prior to the end of the quarter. Even more unbelievable is that they managed to record a growth of 68% in Q3 compared to Q2.
Another manufacturer who is doing quite well is HTC. So well, actually, that the Taiwanese-based vendor is now among the top 10 biggest cell phone makers. This is a fairytale story of a far-off land manufacturer creating devices for other companies that nowadays impresses the world with its stellar-looking devices.

The obvious conclusion is that we’re in the middle of a revolution with smartphone shipments increasing on a daily basis. That growth is sure to expand and with all the advancements going on in the hardware and the software departments, things look certain to get only better and better both for regular customers and from a technological point of view.

What are your thoughts on the smartphone industry’s path? How far it will go in the next few years and what technologies you would like to see most in the new smartphones? We here at PhoneArena would love to hear what you think on these fundamental for any smartphone-lover questions.
source: Mobilemarketer via Mediapost

It’s been quite a journey for Palm. When the Palm Pre was released in early January 2009 many people thought this is the device that will be able to knock Apple’s iPhone from the top. Now, we all know that things didn’t turn up that well for Palm, but now we’re edging closer to their second attempt.

Now owned by HP, the first commercial aimed at advertising the new Palm Pre 2 is already here with HP indicating that the fact they are a much bigger company compared to how big Palm were back in 2009 will allow them to splash more funds for advertising the new device. As for now, it’s not known how many outlets will show the ad.

As for the commercial itself, it’s 34 seconds in length and is aimed at emphasizing all the advantages of the Palm Pre 2 – the device’s speed, the new webOS 2.0, Just Type, the cool applications and the true multitasking.

Check it out for yourself below and don’t forget to comment what are your first impressions of the device – is it going to make it to the top or its future is to be lagging behind the competition. The rumoured release date for Palm Pre 2 is 11th of November and its first carrier will be Verizon.
source: Electronista

The Palm Pre 2 now has a 1GHz chip under the hood

Not exactly a surprise, HP has introduced the Palm Pre 2 powered by webOS 2.0. Despite the difference in reception from the introduction of the original model of the handset and the OS, there are some real changes here that could make the Palm Pre a competitor in the smartphone wars. The device now has a 1GHz processor under the hood, and while those who see the glass half empty might say that Palm should have just waited to launch with a 1.2GHz chip, the glass is half full guy would note that there is a holiday shopping season to be concerned with. The Palm Pre 2 will launch this Friday in France by SFR, with Verizon getting the honor of kicking off the U.S. release “in the coming months”.

Other features of note include a 5MP camera on the back with LED flash and video capture. The Pre 2 now features a smooth glass touchscreen, which unfortunately still measures only 3.1 inches with resolution of 320 x 480 pixels (apparently Palm designers didn’t read the reviews on the BlackBerry Torch 9800). The Palm Pre 2 will support up to 16GB in microSD storage in a “sleeker” package.

The changes to webOS 2.0 include the capability to have true multitasking. You will be able to easily switch between apps without having to shut anything. Related apps are stacked together to help things run smoothly. “Just Type” allows you to start an e-mail, create a message, head to a web site before you even open an app on the phone. All you need to do is… just type. Exhibition is a program that runs automatically when you use the Touchstone charging dock. While your phone is charging, you will be able to see your calendar, view a sideshow, or use any app designed for use while the phone is getting powered up. Finally, what you webOS fans have been waiting for, the new build comes with a beta of Adobe Flash Player 10.1 in the browser. For more information, and to sign up to receive details from Palm as the phone draws closer to a U.S. launch, visit the source link.

The million dollar question is, has HP and Palm made the changes required to get the Palm Pre 2 and webOS2 back in the game? Certainly the software seems much improved, but since the introduction of the original Pre back in January 2009, screen sizes and resolution have improved greatly. Can the handset’s 3.1 inch screen cut it in a world of 4 inch Super AMOLED displays?
source: Palm

Yesterday we showed you some pictures supposedly of the new Palm Pre 2.0. from French carrier SFR. Today, MobiFrance has revealed some new pictures of the phone that shows a few things in the way of cosmetic changes from the original version. Most of what is new in the handset is under the hood and are things we reported on Monday.

Will the total package be enough for this phone to survive? If you had taken a poll in early 2009, webOS and the Palm Pre would have hands down been considered the most likely model to challenge the Apple iPhone. No one could have predicted what eventually happened with the birth of Androidmania this past November. Now with the OS and the hardware considered practically an afterthought, can an amazing comeback happen?
source: MobiFrance

Out of the blue the possible first device from Palm after HP acquired the once glorious, but embattled smartphone pioneer, slid through the cracks to appear on the website of the French carrier SFR. Called the Palm Pre 2, it doesn’t break radically with the tradition, but instead enhances it where it had to.

The Palm Pre 2 will enter the world of modern smartphones with a 1GHz processor, possibly Texas Instrument’s OMAP3630, coupled to 512MB of RAM, which has reduced the boot time, and will undoubtedly improve performance.
The design is more streamlined than the previous Palm Pre phones, and the screen is listed as “flatter”. There is a regular microUSB port, and the overall finish beams quality, compared to the pre-acquisition versions. Sporting not only hardware enhancements, but also a brand spanking new webOS 2.0, its major innovation is touted as push Facebook. We suppose that means real-time feed from the all-important social network, with all its status updates, wall postings, calendar sync, and chat. Not something a dedicated app would not do, but knowing Palm, they have probably nailed the “push” feature seamlessly in webOS 2.0.

All in all, it seems like a noble next addition to the Palm stable, without breaking completely with the root looks, while giving the already excellent webOS the hardware it deserves. Are you liking the direction Palm is taking with its new device?

via PreCentral

Just when it appeared that time was slipping away for a new webOS phone for this year, the FCC has given the green light to Palm’s P102EUE. The handset appears to be equipped with a physical QWERTY slider, a 1GHz processor under the hood and it is Touchstone compatible. Before those in the 50 states and territories start getting excited, the model number hints at a unit destined for an overseas launch.

For those with good memories, you might recall that the P100 was the Palm Pre and the P101 was the Palm Pixi. The P102 would seem to be another Palm phone in the webOS lineup. The EUE means that the phone is a UMTS 3G model headed for the EU. FCC approval is still required for such a device if it has the capability to roam on U.S. soil.

Still, all is not lost as recently the P102UNA and P102EWW showed up on the computer screen of certification provider TUV Rheinland. ‘UNA’ stands for North American UMTS support while ‘EWW’ is a code for North American  CDMA service.
source: FCC, Engadget

It’s hard to say concretely as to what is Palm’s strategy for the upcoming holiday season, but from the looks of it all, the Palm Pre Plus might not be making itself presentable in a couple of markets for this crucial time period.

Reports are coming in that O2 UK has removed the webOS powered smartphone off its web site and is in the process of pulling it out of stores – with the intention of not selling it anymore. Quite interesting to see that it’s looking to get the boot quickly, but the Palm Pixi Plus is still readily available.

In addition, it seems that SFR France is in the same mindset since the Palm Pre Plus is also no longer being sold on their web site. Speculations hint that this is happening due to the eventual arrival of a successor, which has been heard to be the Palm Pre 2 or P102UEU which was passed by the FCC not too long ago.

Even though the Pre Plus is not being offered online, it could be just some kind of temporary thing, but then again, it could seemingly signal something entirely different.
source: PreCentral