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Palm just announced their new phone, the Palm Pre, and their new WebOS. I’m actually really excited about this, and proud of Palm. I’ve been a fan of Palm ever since I had a Palm V in high school. Back then it seemed way ahead of it’s time, and was the only thing stopping me from forgetting my homework and assignments. The syncing capabilities were great, and AvantGo always kept me from getting bored on the bus home.

But then they just stayed the same for a while, while everyone else was racing ahead. Until today. And here are some of my first impressions:

1. Awesome form factor.  The physical keyboard was a no-brainer for a Palm, and I’m happy they were able to pack it in into a slim package.  I think it looks like a great synergy of touch screen and physical keyboard.  Interesting how they went with portrait and not landscape… They seemed to have really gone all out on the design and UI.  Which is extremely important.  These days, you can’t impress people with functionality alone.  Design matters people!
   

   Photo credit to Engadget

2. I’m very excited about the WebOS.  If it’s going to be as easy as Palm claims to write an app for this OS, just with HTML/CSS/JS, then I’m really excited.  However, if they make it so that a developer can write such an app, AND have access to core funcionalities (like GPS, phone book, etc.), then that will be killer.  I mean KILLER.  But it probably won’t end up being that good, and it’ll just be for web apps.
3. The lack of Wifi kind of stood out.  Maybe Sprint did it to toot their 3G horn?  Personally, the 3G coverage in Israel is amazing, but I can see why in the US it would stick out like a sore thumb. (UPDATE: After the official specs were released, I realized I was wrong.  The Palm Pre does indeed have Wifi.  I guess that’s what happens when you base your initial thoughts on tweets and live blogging.  I pasted the official specs below.  Also, now that I see the official specs, very big thanks to Palm for the 3.5mm headphone jack.  That’s always a biggie for me.)

   

4. Peter Ha – “Symbian and WinMo are done. This is an iPhone, Android, Palm race now.” http://is.gd/eTMYI almost agree with this.  I would say WinMo is done, but Symbian is far too big to call it a day.  However, as excited I was about the N97, I think I’m a tad more excited about the Pre.  Symbian’s biggest mistake was not overhauling the UI.  That’s always been their Achilles heel, and I guess they are too stubborn to learn?
5. Simultaneous running of apps seems like a no-brainer.  Why can’t the iPhone do this too?  It’s a mobile device people, why should you have to open and close every time?  Kudos to Palm on this one, especially with the notifications like on Android.
6. I just hope the media integration is done as well as the iPhone/iPod.  That could really make or break the Pre in certain demographics.

Which brings me to my last thought.  I originally thought Palm should have just embraced Android, stick it on a slick piece of hardware and call it a day.  The OS fragmentation in the mobile space has become the bain of my existence.   Even though I’m really stocked about the Pre, as a mobile development company, I cringe at the thought of yet another OS.  However, if they have actually implemented their “web development” properly, and allow developers to actually create apps with rich functionality with only HTML/CSS/JS, then this could be their saving grace.  Either way, nothing like a hot new phone, eh?

We’ll no doubt be discussing this in more detail on our next podcast episode, LikeMob Episode 4, airing this Monday, January 12th. Feel free to write in at wtf@likemob.com, and the best emails will be read on the podcast

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The Palm® Pre™ phone is available on the Sprint network.