WebOS is looking to take back some of the spotlight that the Android platform has been steadily receiving with their continuous release of handsets. Palm may not have struck gold with the Pre over at Sprint, but they’re looking to gain more exposure through Verizon Wireless. With that in mind, Palm has amassed roughly around 600,000 Palm Pixis slated for delivery in the first quarter of next year. That figure is down from the rumored 800,000 that was on order from ODM Compal – it seems that some units have failed Verizon’s rigorous equipment certification process. As for Big Red, they’re embarking on a journey that will place them in a perfect spot with having one of the best handset offerings – the addition of the Palm Pixi clearly shows their competitive nature. Even though a decent chunk of units failed testing, we’re hoping that it does not push back the release date of the Pixi.
source: DigiTimes via Engadgetmobile

Finally, the next version of Palm’s young operating system, webOS, is about to become available for Palm Pre users (as CEO John Rubinstein promised) today, according to Sprint’s support site (guess that’s a source we can trust, right?). What webOS 1.3.5 should bring is an improved battery life while in low-coverage areas, better performance, removed app storage limit and the usual set of bugfixes. The update will surely be well-received by Palm Pre users, who want to get the most of the App Catalog, even if “most” in this particular case doesn’t really mean “a lot”. So, how’s that webOS 1.3.5 running Palm Pre of yours?
source: Sprint via Engadget

One of the nice features of using a webOS-based handset like the Palm Pre or Pixi is that it is always connected to the “cloud”, keeping your data safe and backed-up via the Palm Profile. Connecting with the “cloud” is effective for those pesky times when you accidentally run over your Pre or Pixi with your car or someone is enjoying your new device via a “five-fingered discount.” What happens, though, if Palm’s server goes down and you no longer have access to the cloud and your Palm Profile?

Thanks to the folks over at Pre Central who asked this important question, we have a good idea about what will work and what won’t work. If Palm’s server crashes or there is some other interruption, the things that won’t work include: over-the-air backups and restoration, first-time setup, remote wipe, and app purchasing. Otherwise, you will be in good shape. You should have access to your phone data because it is stored locally on your webOS device. Email is also safe because you receive it to your handset via Exchange or IMAP Idle.

Next time your BlackBerry-toting buddy has email problems due to BlackBerry Internet Server (BIS) outages, try hard to suppress your smirk as you know that your webOS-powered Pre or Pixi will still deliver the goods even if Palm’s server can’t.

source: PreCentral

It’s been a little while since we reported on the happenings in the App Catalog. Recently, Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein said that “several thousand” new webOS apps would be coming with the release of the Ares development platform. As of Friday, the App Catalog stands at 843 apps — dwarfed by the iPhone and even the Android app stores, but steadily moving forward with more apps for Pre and Pixi owners.

Although there are no new apps as of December 21, there are several app updates. The updated apps are: Air Hockey ($0.99), Bible Reader ASV ($2.99), Classifieds2Go (Free), Color Puzzle ($0.99), Crosswords ($9.99), EZ Sketch ($0.99), Mine Search ($0.99), MoreStocks ($2.99), Send My Location for webOS (Free), Soccer Shots ($1.99), Space Alarm (Free), Speed ($0.99), Swap & Drop ($1.99), The Surprise ($0.99), Tic Tac Toe ($0.99), Top Stocks ($4.99), WallRevolve ($1.49), WingedCurator (Free), and Yule Log ($1.43).

source: PreCentral

Palm reported another losing quarter as the company shipped 783,000 smartphones in the period, up 41% from last year’s second quarter but off 5% sequentially from Q1. The three month period ended November 27th and profits and revenue were under Wall Street expectations. 573,000 Palm units were sold in the three months, off 29% from the first quarter and 4% below the 2008 second period. The sell-through rate gives evidence that Palm phones are not selling like hotcakes. The company lost $85.4 million in the three months compared with a loss of  $508.6 million last year. The 2008 numbers are skewed by a charge for a tax provision. “We’re still in the early stages of a long race,” Jon Rubinstein, Palm’s CEO said.

Palm’s last chance at survival might depend on how well the Pre and Pixi sell on the Verizon network. With the emergence of the Motorola DROID, the nation’s number one carrier finally has a device that can stand next to the iPhone and while it looked like Big Red would need the Pre earlier in the year, the excitement that once greeted the rumors of a Verizon branded Pre is now gone. All of the praise that Palm had received early in the year is now being said about Motorola and all of the analysts who jumped on the Palm bandwagon early in the year have been jumping off.
source: NYTimes

During Palm’s investor conference call, CEO Jon Rubinstein confirmed the imminent release of the webOS 1.3.5 update and then outlined the improvements that we can expect. The 1.3.5 update will offer the following:

• Increase the limit for more app installation
• Improved battery life
• Increased speed for the Pixi
• Improved WiFi and app performance

Also, Mr. Rubinstein emphasized that Palm will showcase the Ares development platform at CES 2010 and that developers will receive more support and initiatives as “thousands” of webOS apps are expected soon. This is exciting news — particularly the “thousands” of apps part — that we hope will come to fruition sooner than later!

source: Pre Central

Currently, Sprint is the only US carrier that offers Palm´s webOS-based handsets the Pre and Pixi. A rumor that appeared at the beginning of this fall had it there was a pretty good chance that Verizon would release the Palm Pre in 2010. Yesterday, FCC approved the CDMA version of the Palm Pixi equipped with Wi-Fi, the Palm 121 EWW that would allegedly roll out through Big Red. Until now, there wasn´t any proof about the intentions of the carrier and everything that we knew was, more or less, based on rumors. Fortunately, one of our trusted tipsters has just sent us a document that makes us hope the rumors about Verizon´s webOS range might be true indeed. According to the information, Verizon has embarked on a 20-minute long training to re-introduce Palm and webOS to its personnel that will be ongoing until January 4, 2010. Fingers crossed the information gets confirmed soon.

Thanks, striker!

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will be the venue for another Palm-hosted event to be held on Thursday, January 7th at 11 a.m. Palm has extended invitations to the media to attend and learn what Palm has to offer in 2010 and beyond. Attendance of the event is by invitation only. It is unlikely that there will be an announcement that is quite as monumental as the webOS and Pre announcement made at last year’s event, but as we learn more we will share.

source: Palm Infocenter

When the Pixi was first released on Sprint, one of the big drawbacks when compared to the Pre was lack of WiFi. Evidence from the FCC suggests that those wanting a WiFi’d Pixi may be in luck very soon.

A CDMA Palm Pixi has been tested for 802.11b/g WiFi by the FCC and given Verizon’s gearing up for Palm webOS-based handsets for early next year, it’s likely a Pixi with WiFi capability will show up on Verizon. Are you headed to Sprint for a Pixi now, or are you willing to wait a little longer to see what shows up on Verizon?

source: engadget

A reliable source has told PreCentral that they spotted an AT&T-branded Palm Pixi out in the wild, more specifically on San Francisco mass transit. There is no picture available to make visual confirmation, so the existence of an AT&T Palm Pixi will have to be taken on faith. Of special interest is the branding of the device with AT&T – branding is usually not a practice performed well in advance of a phone release so if this phone is already branded, then the release may be mere months away.

source: precentral