Who says that being an app developer for the webOS platform doesn’t pay well in the long run? Well there is good news for those same developers that have stayed put because Palm’s Hot Apps programs has just started – with $1 million waiting to be grabbed up for the taking. Palm’s Hot Apps Programs rewards the most downloaded free webOS apps and paid webOS apps generating the most revenue. This is going to start today and will go through until May 31, 2010 – where cash prizes will be awarded to the developers that earn it. That’s a lot of money going into the pockets of these successful developers and broken down to the following:

• #1 most downloaded free app: $100,000
• #1 highest revenue paid app: $100,000
• #2 – #21 most downloaded paid apps: $10,000 each
• #2 – #21 most downloaded free apps: $10,000 each
• #22 – #221 most downloaded paid apps: $1,000 each
• #22 – #221 most downloaded free apps: $1,000 each

source: Palm via PreCentral

It seems that some of those who have purchased the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon are having trouble knowing where they stand. On the phone, that is. Ok, enough puns for now, this is a serious matter. The GPS on the Pre Plus is showing the user to be several yards to several miles away when using Google Maps as the phone seems to be using aGPS instead of the more precise satellite version. Some users have been able to fix the problem by turning on VZ Navigator and then closing it before agreeing to pay the monthly service charge. This suggests that the Verizon app is able to get the satellite-GPS connection going. And before Big Red takes the blame for this (they are locking down the GPS again!) , be advised that the same issue is happening to Pre Plus owners on Bell, up in Canada. Sprint Pre owners have not had this problem nor have those Pixi and Pixi Plus users. Have you had problems with your Pre Plus GPS tracking you in an inaccurate fashion?

Another problem that Pre Plus users have been dealing with is the handsets refusal to send MMS via Wi-Fi. Again, not a problem for Sprint users. For those using the Pre Plus over Verizon’s network, the answer is easy if not somewhat a royal pain-turn off Wi-Fi before you send the message and let it go over Verizon’s Ev-Do pipeline.
source: precentral via BGR

It’s the middle of the day and in the back of your mind, you have that nagging suspicion that you forgot to do something. Suddenly, it hits you. You forgot to tape the new episode of Law and Order and you know that you want to see where this week’s body is discovered. You could call the cleaning lady-but it’s her day off. Wait, you gave a set of your keys to that odd old guy across the hall. Forget it. He’s in the Bronx House of Detentions for the rest of the month. What can you do? Recently, an app was added to the Android Market that allowed for remote setting of a DirecTV DVR over an Android phone. But, as luck would have it, you have a webOS device. Good news at last! The webOS App Catalog has now added the DirecTV DVR schedule app and it is free. The one catch is that you have to have the specific set top box that will allow you to schedule your DVR from your Pre or Pixi (Plus models, too). The models that work are the DirecTV Plus DVR (models R15, R16, R22), DirecTV Plus HD DVR (models HR20, HR21, HR23) or TiVo Series 2 receivers with 6.4a software registered to DirecTV.com. The app will work on Wi-Fi, 3G or EDGE. So if you’re a DirecTV customer with the appropriate box and a webOS phone, start taping your favorite shows from just about everywhere.
source: DirecTV via Engadget

Gaming on the webOS platform is continually growing from what we’ve witnessed so far, but a recently developed Nintendo Gameboy emulator just adds to the platform’s aggressive stance. VisualBoyAdvance is an open source Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance emulator started back on January 14 for the webOS platform. With the collaboration between DtzWill and the folks at WebOS-Internals, they’ve successfully ported and enhanced the emulator for webOS – although there are still some speed issues with Gameboy Advance games. If you can live with that, then you can go ahead and kill some time playing Gameboy and Gameboy Color games during your free time. It’s recommended to enable auto-save so that the game will continue where you left off when an unexpected crash occurs.  We know that gamers out there will like how the QWERTY keyboard can be used to play the games – so it’s not restricted to just on-screen controls.  So if you have yourself any of the latest webOS powered handsets, preferably the “plus” models, you can fire up this emulator and start reliving those games from long ago.
via PreCentral

The onslaught of 3D games continues on the webOS platform with its latest offering coming out of the first person shooter category. Gameloft has been busy pushing out their latest creation for webOS – Brother in Arms: Hour of Heroes. It’s your typical World War II FPS game that lands itself in the hands of eager webOS users – you play a soldier in the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division and fight your way, with a variety of weapons and vehicles, through Africa and Europe. There’s a nice balance of FPS elements mixed in with a variety of vehicles – such as taking control of a heavily armed tank. It’s available right now through the App Catalog and will only cost you a mere $4.99 – which will make up its cost thanks to its extraordinary visuals and gaming elements. Palm is really starting to heat up the mobile gaming market with recent launches that will hopefully garner some attention to the platform.
via PreCentral

Now that Verizon is selling the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus, Palm has updated its online store and is now offering the same two webOS devices directly to you. Being sold by Palm without a contract or credit check,. the Sprint version of the phones is being offered for $549 (Pre) and $399 (Pixi). The Plus size versions of the Pre and Pixi are offered for $599 and $399 respectively. And there are third party tools to skip the usual activation process.Meta Doctor from webOS Internals will allow you to bypass the “First Use” application and activate the phone without going to a cellular network. Besides purchasing the phones directly from Palm, the pages now show other retailers like Amazon, that are offering the duo and Palm will even provide a link to their site. So if its a webOS handset you want, there are many different ways to get hooked up.
source: Palm via Palminfocenter

We´ve got good news for all fans of mobile gaming who own the Palm Pre (Plus), because Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles is now available at the App Catalog at a price of $6.99. What you get for your money is an interesting adventure that remains true to the spirit of the computer edition of the game (a proper blend of sneaking and fighting), cool graphics and lengthy gameplay. The developers at Gameloft seem to know their job pretty well, since the iPhone version met with quite an enthusiastic acclaim when it rolled out some time ago. The feedback coming from Palm Pre owners has been positive this far, but sadly, the game won´t run on the Pixi and Pixi Plus. Please, do share your opinion on Assassin’s Creed in the comments below.
source: PreCentral

The Palm Pre Plus and the Palm Pixi Plus are now available from Verizon. The nation’s largest cellular company has improved the specs by adding some memory, removed a button on the Pre and added Wi-Fi to the Pixi. Verizon now becomes the second U.S. carrier after Sprint to offer webOS handsets. After a $100 mail in rebate, the Pre Plus is $149.99 and the Pixi Plus is $99.99.

Launched amid great fanfare last June, the Palm Pre had a brief exclusive period at Sprint that resulted in disappointing sales. When originally announced to the public about 12 months ago, the handset was considered to be a strong challenger for the Apple iPhone. Whether it was too few apps readily available at launch, or a ad campaign that was avant-garde at best, the original Pre did not catch on as expected, despite mostly positive reviews-especially about the webOS operating system. Some reviewers did complain that the product build made the Pre feel like a Fisher Price toy and Verizon has tightened up the quality of both devices.
source: Verizon

Hard to believe it was a year ago when the Palm Pre and webOS threatened to take down the iPhone, rejuvenate Palm and send customers to Sprint with pocketfuls of cash. In August, up in the land of maple syrup and hockey, Bell offered the Pre for $199.95 with a 3 year contract (which is customary in Canada). Things never turned out like Palm and Sprint wanted. Tomorrow, Verizon launches the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus with better specs than the original model.  Caught with an inventory of the older models, Bell could either come up with an offer that couldn’t be refused, or start a heck of a bonfire for warmth on those cold, cold Canadian winter nights. Choosing the former, Bell is now giving the Palm Pre away for nothing.  The iPhone killer can be yours for free from Bell as long as you sign your John Hancock on a 3 year contract for a plan with a minimum cost of $50 Canadian Dollars a month (approximately $47 U.S. Dollars). Makes you wonder what Sprint is going to do with all of their suddenly obsolete-looking inventory of the Pre and Pixi.
source: BellMobility via EngadgetMobile

We know that AT&T is going to offer two webOS models from Palm by the first half of this year. It is obvious to expect the two to be GSM versions of the Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus. And now we have a European testing and certification company, TUV Rheinland, that appears to be testing two models-the P101UNA and P121UNA. We have already cracked the code in the past with the P101 representing the Pre Plus and the P121 standing for the Pixi Plus. The UNA represents the GSM version of the phones. Thanks to the lab, both devices now have their US + Canadian NRTL Certificate which means that the GSM models meet OSHA and SCC (Standards Council of Canada) requirements. No, it is not the FCC so there still are some other “t’s” that have to be crossed and “i’s” to be dotted before we can feel comfortable with saying that the webOS duo are coming to AT&T. But knowing that GSM versions of the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus are out there is a necessary first step in the journey to the carrier and Luke Wilson.
source: TUVRheinland (P101UNA), TUVRheinland (P121UNA) via Engadget