Totally Palmed

Totally Palmed has MOVED to ... webOSroundup.com !

2010-02-15T21:31:00.003-06:00

I'll keep this short and sweet: because my readers had a hard time reading this blog on their mobile phones, I decided to move Totally Palmed over to WordPress, another blogging service. The new address is simply: http://webOSroundup.com

The bad news: you won't be seeing any more articles posted on this site.

The good news:
1) I'm still writing articles quite regularly
2) You'll be able to read these posts on your mobile browsers much faster and easier.
3) The new site is easier to remember: webosroundup.com is all you need to know!

Thanks for reading my stuff, everyone. See you at the new site! What site? http://webOSroundup.com!

For RSS subscribers, the address is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/webosroundup

Tips & Tricks Every webOS User Should Know! (Part 4 of 5)

2010-02-02T14:55:00.008-06:00

We're rolling right along in our "Tips & Tricks" series, and we're about to serve up a trifecta: three very important aspects of webOS ... the calendar, browser, and camera!

Just joining us? Then do your homework first! Check out Parts 1, 2, and 3. Then come back. No worries, we'll all be here waiting patiently for you. Here's what we've covered so far:

As you can see, we've covered quite a bit. Let's keep this ball rolling, shall we? Read on after the jump!

CALENDAR

Having used the iPhone calendar and the calendar on my wife's (former) HTC Hero, I can say with confidence that Palm's calendar remains the best mobile calendar to date. There's missing features and occasional bugs here and there (I'm looking right at you, Outlook), but overall? You won't find a better calendar. Palm has made great improvements to make it faster, more powerful, and easier to use. (Getting off soap box) ... Okay, let's dive into it:

1) Google Calendar. Use it. Love it.

Some people are more than content to use the Palm Profile as their sole calendar. That's fine. But remember, this calendar is made to handle all facets of our life: business, personal, sports... and it does it very well. I'm a big fan of Google calendar. It's easy to use, updates quickly. I won't go into how to use it, but if you have a Gmail account, you already have a Google Calendar account. All you need to do is activate it. The next time you log in to Gmail, look at the upper left-hand side of the page. You'll see "Gmail, Calendar, Documents..." Click on Calendar and away you go.

What if I use another calendar like Outlook or iCal for Mac?
You can import all your info into Google Calendar from these accounts, if you like. My wife did that with iCal and it works great for her. If you want to learn how to sync iCal to Google, click here.

If you'd rather not mess with all that and would rather sync your iCal directly, check out The Missing Sync by Markspace. If you prefer to sync Outlook calendars, try Pocket Mirror for Microsoft Outlook by Chapura. (Note: these both cost $$$.)

2) Quickly delete an event

Want to delete an event you just entered? Hold down the orange key and tap the event. That's all there is to it.

3) Compress your calendar into one view

Here’s a fun trick I learned a while back on jkontherun.com. You can compact your daily calendar by “tricking” the Pre’s “accordian effect” to scrunch your daily view into one easy-to-see view. Here’s how:
a. Create a “Start Day” event from 12:05 am – 12:10 am every day
b. Make it recur daily.
c. Create an “End Day” event from 11:50 pm – 11:55 pm every day.
d. Make it recur daily.

You’re done! Your Pre/Pixi will compress your all your free time so appointments will stand out with far less scrolling, as shown. (Thanks, @jjshore!)

WEB BROWSER

1) To access the URL, scroll ALL the way to the top
Many people ask me how they can copy a URL from a browser. There’s several ways to do that. If you’re ON the page that you want to copy, just scroll ALL the way to the top of the page. When you do that, the URL will pop down. Just tap the top bar once and you will see the web address highlighted in yellow. All that’s left is copy and paste! :)

2) Copy a URL from a link
Well, what if you want to copy a link? That’s easy, too. Just hold down the ORANGE button on the Pre (it’s gray on the Verizon Pre) and tap the link. You’ll get the menu as shown in the picture. Just choose what you want.

3) Download a picture from a web page
Apply what you just learned with copying URLs from links, and do the same thing with pictures! When you do, you will see the menu as shown in the picture on the right. You’ll notice that you can even share photos directly from a webpage.

By the way, you can share entire web pages by tapping the main menu (upper left corner) in any webpage and tapping “Share.” This will send you directly to the e-mail app, so you can send someone a direct link to that webpage.

4) Copy text in a web page
There's a way to copy text from a web page, though I admit it's a little... janky. You can only copy whole paragraphs of text at a time, rather than just one word. Hopefully Palm will refine this, but until then, this is how you do it. Hold the "Shift" key and tap the text you want to copy. If you want to copy several paragraphs, scroll down (still holding the shift key) and tap the bottom paragraph. You should see a bunch of text highlighted. After that, just copy and paste!

4) Page scroll while in landscape
If you like reading your web pages in landscape mode (sideways), know that you can do quick scrolling using the gesture area… just flick your finger across half of the gesture area up or down, depending on where you want to go. It’s more convenient than regularly flicking the screen line-by-line… I use this feature pretty frequently.

CAMERA

I have just one tip here, but I couldn’t resist throwin’ it in… not only does the spacebar work to take pictures, but if you hold the spacebar down, it acts like a quick shutter, taking pictures as fast as one second apart! You’ll usually have to have the flash turned off in order to get the fastest effect.

That’s it! Part 4 of 5 is now concluded… Tune in next time for the GRAND FINALE of “Tips & Tricks Every webOS User Should Know…” Trust me when I say I’m bringin’ the big guns next time. You won’t wanna miss it.

Tips & Tricks Every webOS User Should Know! (Part 3 of 5)

2010-02-01T21:46:00.017-06:00

Welcome back to possibly the most important "Tips and Tricks" entry in our series: e-mail and messaging!
If you’re just joining us … where the hell have you been? Heh heh. No worries. We’re just getting warmed up. Here’s what we’ve covered so far:

Today, we’ll cover possibly the most important tips and tricks for many people… e-mail and messaging. Let’s get right to it.

E-MAIL

1) “All Flagged” Folder
This is a really cool feature that a surprising number of people don’t know about. Certain messages are more important to me than others, and that’s why I “flag” them, so I don’t lose them in the flood of emails I get every day. Not only Palm has conveniently incorporated an “All Inboxes” folder in the email app for viewing multiple email accounts all in one folder, they’ve also included an “All Flagged” folder, which lets you see all your important messages from all accounts. This has been an indispensable tool for me. I thought everybody knew about it, but when I recently showed my cousin that she could do it with her Pre after owning if for six months, I figured I’d let you know about it, just in case.

2) Gesture Area shortcuts!
Just as we use the gesture area to cut, copy, and paste, we also use this for really cool shortcuts in the e-mail app. These consist of holding one finger on the gesture area and one finger to tap a letter key. These shortcuts apply to both reading and writing of emails…

a. READING an email:

Gesture area + K = “Mar(K) as unread”
Gesture area + G = “Set Fla(G)”
Gesture area + M = “(M)ove to Folder”
Gesture Area + S = “(S)how Recipients”

Note: You can also access these commands via the menu (as shown) if you don’t want to use the keyboard.

b. WRITING an email:

Gesture area + J = “Set As High Priority”
Gesture area + D = “(D)iscard Message”
Gesture area + S = “(S)ave as Draft”

Note: You can also access these commands via the menu (as shown) if you don’t want to use the keyboard.

3) Type Using Italics and Bold face!

Yes, you can type in bold, italics, or both when typing an email.

Here’s how:

SYM + B = bold … (It will want to type ~. Delete and resume typing.)
SYM + I = Italics … (It will want to type í. Delete and resume typing.)
SYM + B, then SYM + I = both … (Yes, it will type ~ and í also.)

4) Delete whole words at a time
Here's a quick way to delete a bunch of mistakes: hold down the "Shift" key and press backspace. You'll delete that entire word. Make sure there's a space in between the word in front of it. Sometimes it deletes that word, too. ~~I make plenty of mistakes.~~ I use this feature pretty darn frequently.

5) Check email less often to save battery life!
In Palm’s words from their website:

“How much power checking email uses depends on a number of variables, including the type of account, how many email messages you receive a day, and whether you are downloading a lot of attachments. These guidelines may help you:

Using an Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) account that is set to receive email as it arrives is generally efficient. However, if you receive many email messages each day, you may be able to reduce power consumption by using an interval such as every 15 minutes or longer.
Using a web-based email account that is set to receive email as it arrives is not as efficient as using an EAS account. This is true even if you are not receiving a lot of emails. You can reduce battery consumption by using an interval such as every 15 minutes or longer on web-based accounts.”

MESSAGING

1) Emoticons!
It amazes me how many times I’ll send a text to a fellow webOS user, and they ask me “how did you do that smiley?” … So for your viewing pleasure, I joined together the screenshots of ALL the emoticons available for webOS. Learn ‘em. You're welcome. Go nuts.

2) Change the alert sound for texts
Many users are a little sick of the alert sound the Pre and Pixi make. I don’t really blame ‘em. Palm has made this easy enough to do: just open the menu and select “Preferences & Accounts.” There, you will be able to select from System Alert, Ringtone, or just mute texts altogether. You can even shut off text notifications entirely if necessary.

3) Quickly find the person you are texting
Since I'm such a popular guy (*snort*), I text a lot of people. Finding a conversation you've had with a person can be a pain if you text a whole bunch of people in a day. The solution? Just start typing the recipient's name. In the example pictured on the right, I wanted to find the conversation I was having with my friend Ericka. So, I just typed "e" and boom, there she was! Now I can read the conversation we had or text her again.

(Of course, another method of quickly finding someone to text is using Universal Search. Just type someone's name and their numbers will pop up, with a tiny "SMS" button.)

4) Delete whole words at a time

Yeah I know I already mentioned this in e-mail, but it applies to texting, too. Just hold down the "Shift" key and press backspace. ... Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. ;)

5) Delete parts or a whole conversation
By swiping from left to right, you can delete parts of a conversation, or entire conversations. Totally up to you. (Note: Rarely, some people have had problems with future conversations displaying properly when deleting conversations. This has happened a whole lot less since Palm fixed this bug, but I've read the occasional complaint. If this happens to you, it’s really no big deal. Just check out my simple fixes article on how to deal with it and you’ll be just fine.)

6) Log off IM to save battery life!
We all know the Pre’s Achilles’ heel is battery life. Unfortunately, being continuously connected to the web for Instant Messaging eats up battery life like crazy (this is particularly true of AIM).

This tip should be obvious to most of you. Tap where it says “Buddies” on the upper right hand corner of the messaging app. (Why it says “buddies” and not “IM” is beyond me.) Then, tap the green button where it says “Available.” Your options will be “busy” and “Sign Off.” Tap “Sign Off.” Bear in mind that even if you have your account set to “Busy,” you are still online, and battery is draining.
Don’t have an IM account? Just open the menu and set one up. :)

That’s it for e-mail and messaging! Want some more? Check out Part 4 out of 5 of my Tips and Tricks series: Calendar, Browser, and Camera!

Tips & Tricks Every webOS User Should Know! (Part 2 of 5)

2010-01-30T23:01:00.021-06:00

Back for more, eh? Can’t say I blame ya. Learning all the cool things you can do on the Palm Pre and Pixi can be kind of fun. If you’re just joining us, feel free to read my first article in this five part series, which showed you just a few tricks you can apply to the overall phone (system) and the launcher. Let’s cover the phone and contacts next…

PHONE:

1) Useful phone codes!

a. Find out if your phone is refurbished.
Type ##786# in your phone app, and you’ll see the picture on the right pop up. Look where it says “Recond status.” If the answer is “no,” then your Pre is new, not refurbished. If it says “yes,” look above at the “Recond date.” That tells you when your Pre or Pixi was refurbished.

b. Get a GPS Fix.
Type ##477# in your phone app and you will be presented with a dialogue that says “Get GPS Fix.” Tap it, and you will get the following info: latitude and longitude, speed, elevation, and GSP accuracy. I’ve read in some forums that if the GPS in your webOS device does not seem to be working well, this may fix the issue.

c. Force your phone into broadband or 1x speed
Typing ##3836# in your phone app gives you the option to force your phone into EVDO (broadband) or 1xRTT ("slow" ... think Edge for AT&T). Most phones will be in "Hyprid Rev A" by default, which means the phone automatically detects when a broadband signal is available. Make sure to take note which default setting is on your particular device! You can always switch back to it if needed.

EVDO only: For those who live in an area without EVDO coverage, life can really suck when trying to do anything data-intensive, like browsing or tethering. Switching to "EVDO only" can give you broadband data speeds! Bad news: you lose voice calling. So make sure to switch back when you are done.
1xRTT only: So why the heck would you wanna select a slower speed? Easy: conserving battery life. Broadband connections (even when not actively in use) consume battery life much faster than 1x. So, if you don't plan to use your phone or are in an area of poor reception, you might want to consider switching to 1x. You can always switch back to your default.

2) Erratic phone signal? (SPRINT ONLY)

Try this. Open the menu in the phone app. Tap Preferences. The picture on the left will pop up. First, tap “Update Network Settings.” This will make your Pre lock in to the nearest cell tower for optimal signal. After you do this, tap “Update PRL.” This makes sure your phone is up to date with your provider’s preferred Roaming list. I check this maybe once a month or so. (You also don’t necessarily have to do these things in the same order as in the picture, it’s just the habit that I’ve gotten into.)

Another thing: in this pic, Data Roaming is turned off: if you are roaming, you’ll be able to use your phone for voice only. Mine is usually on. If you have Sprint, no worries: you can use voice and data roaming pretty much all you want (up to 5gb data.)

3) Dialing Shortcuts!
Work in a hospital or office and you wish you could just dial the extension instead of the WHOLE NUMBER? You can. Many phones have this feature, but I didn’t realize the Pre/Pixi had it until I discovered it recently by accident. In Phone prefs, just tap “Add New Number” where it says “Dialing Shortcuts.” Pretty sweet.

4) Maximize your phone's signal: open the slider!
Most people don't know this, but the Palm Pre's phone radios are located in the bottom portion of the phone, where the keypad is located. So, sliding the phone open effectively acts like extending an antenna! To optimize your signal, especially in an area where it is weak, make sure to keep your slider open. (Same goes for wifi and data, by the way.)

4) Ignore call and send caller to voicemail:
Tap the power button twice to send an incoming call to voicemail. It’s that simple. :)

5) Mute ringer WITHOUT sending caller to voicemail:
While the phone is ringing, tap the power button or one of the volume keys once. Ringer will stop and caller will go to voicemail after four full rings.

CONTACTS:

1) Send your contacts to various places:

a. Send contacts to car via Bluetooth. If you own a car that allows for hands-free Bluetooth calling, you can export your phonebook to the car via Bluetooth. If you want to send all of your contacts in one go, just tap the menu in the upper right hand corner of the main contacts screen and select “Send All To Car Kit.” If you’d rather send just a few contacts, select the contact you want to send, open menu –> Send Contact –> Send To Car Kit.

b. Send contacts to Launcher. If you want instant access to a contact, tap “Add to Launcher” and it will do just that. No need to use Universal Search or open your contacts anymore. Just open your launcher and there’s your contact.

c. Send contacts to someone else via MMS or email. You can send an individual contact as a .vcf file to someone else via email or MMS, as shown on the left. Anyone with a phone able to read .vcf files (like webOS phones) will be able to see your contact information as though it was included in their contacts. To add it in their phonebook, all they’d have to do is tap “Add Contact.” This is a great tool for sending your personal business card, like old Palm phones used to do.

2) Add Contact Reminders:
This is an especially handy tool. If you have an important message or question for a contact, you can enter a reminder on your webOS device. The next time you and the contact are in touch (by phone call, email, or text message/IM) the reminder pops up as a notification! Kinda cool, huh? The quickest way to do this is to type the contact’s name and find them via Universal Search. At the very bottom, you will see a selection that says “Add Reminder.” Away you go!

(No I don’t really know the Hollywood actress Shannon Elizabeth... but she does happen to own a Palm Pre Plus, in case you didn't know!)

3) Set speed dials:
Every single letter key on your webOS device can be programmed as a speed dial. That’s 25 options, when you take away the “E” key, which is taken up for voicemail. All you have to do is tap the menu button when you are displaying a contact. This makes dialing a whole lot easier. :)

4) Back up your contacts to your computer:
People are understandably nervous about trusting their contacts to "the cloud." Former owners of Palm OS devices have complained that they no longer can "Hot Sync" their contacts to their computers. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get a local backup of your contacts. I won't go into all of them here (Chapura Echo, The Missing Sync, etc. are available in the App Catalog), but I do want you to be aware that, if backing up your contacts (as well as memos, calendars, etc) is what you want, there is a way to do it rather easily.

Take Google for example, which is the main "cloud" to which I sync my contacts and calendars. To save a copy of my contacts, all I need to do is:

a. Log in to Gmail

b. Click on "Contacts" in the left column

c. Click on "Export" in the upper right hand corner of the resulting screen. (see below)

I have several file types to choose from, and Google explains them all to you. Should any catastrophic event occur and Google (or Palm) loses your contacts, you can import these contacts into your Google account and sync them right back to your webOS device. See? easy!

Update: for those wanting to sync their Palm Profile, Outlook, and Facebook contacts, there are options available. Unfortunately, there is no one way to do this right now. But there's good news: word from Palm is that there will be, in their words, "full phonebook transfer" capabilities added with the next 1.4 webOS update, which launches this month. In the meantime:

For Palm Profile: Try the 3rd party app Echo for Palm by Chapura. (Syncs with Palm Desktop!)
For Outlook: Try PocketMirror for Microsoft Outlook by Chapura.
For BOTH Palm Profile and Outlook: Try CL USB Sync by CompanionLink Software.
For Mac Address Book: Try The Missing Sync by Markspace.
For Facebook: There's no formal sync option but this article shows you how to sync these contacts with Google so you can then sync them to your computer. (Thanks, @jjshore)

Again, Palm has indicated that "full phonebook transfer" (whatever that means) is coming with webOS 1.4 ... so if you're not desperate to sync this information just yet, I'd wait.

That’s basically it for Phone and Contacts! Check out my next and possibly most important installment: Messaging and E-mail! You won’t wanna miss it. Psst! Shannon Elizabeth? Call me! LOL…

Tips and Tricks every webOS user should know! (Part 1 of 5)

2010-01-28T01:04:00.015-06:00

Since I first started this blog, we’ve covered a lot of ground:
… we’ve talked about the very basics of the Palm Pre.
… we’ve talked about some cool tricks for adding ringtones to your Pre or Pixi.
… we’ve talked about simple fixes that might prevent a trip to the repair shop or retailer.
... we've even talked about how to erase your webOS device when push came to shove.

My next goal is to turn you into a power webOS user! You can handle that, right? So let’s get started! This is my very first installment out of five in my “Tips and Tricks” series. Hopefully you will find these articles very helpful. Some tips you probably know, while others are less well-known.
Read on after the break, where we cover system tricks and tips for using the launcher.

SYSTEM:

1) Quick Reset:
There’s different ways to make your Palm Pre reboot, but here’s a quick way: press these three keys at the same time: ORANGE, SYM, and R! Boom. Your Pre is now rebooting. (Better go make yourself a sandwich. This doesn’t make it actually boot faster! Just an easier way to do it.)

2) Take a screen snapshot:
Here’s a cool trick! (Even the Motorola Droid can’t do this.) All you need to do? Press ORANGE, SYM, and P at the same time. In your pictures app, you will find a new folder was created, called “Screen captures.”

3) Easily wake up device:
When I first got my Pre, I would always try waking it up with the power button. When the slider was open, this presented a challenge as the button is hard to access. I discovered I could wake up my Pre by pushing any key on the keyboard. I default to the spacebar.

When the slider is closed, the easiest way to wake the device? OPEN the slider! It skips the "slide to unlock" step.

4) Turn your phone into a FLASH DRIVE!
You no longer have to carry around that dorky flash drive tethered to a shoelace around your neck! Just connect your webOS device to your computer and select "USB Drive" from the options. You will now be able to access your phone's files directly. This is great for quick transfer of files, music, videos... you name it.

This came in really handy for me: one day, I was in an area with no wifi and I had to send a file to my boss from my laptop. Using my quick "McGruber" thinking, I connected my Pre to my laptop in USB mode, transferred the file to my phone, and then sent the phone using Sprint's network. It took me all of thirty seconds.

5) View active card information:
Want to know extensive details about a particular app you are using? There's a way to do that. While in an open card, just hit ORANGE, SYM, and I. Detailed information will pop up in the upper left hand corner, as pictured. If you do this in card view, detailed information will pop up in the launcher. Repeat the keystrokes to switch it off. Is it useful for the average user? Nah, not really. Just nerdy fun. Sorta.

6) Want a better signal? Open the slider!
Quick anatomy lesson of the Palm Pre: the wifi and network radios are in the keypad portion (not the top) of the phone! So, opening the slider works much like extending an antenna. Whether I'm talking or web browsing, I almost always have the slider open on my Palm Pre to maximize the signal. I think you'll find a noticeable difference. I'm always on my wife about this, who for some reason has the habit of chatting with the slider closed.

6) Advanced Gestures... turn 'em on!
Here’s a cool trick… Normally, to switch from card to card, you have to zoom out into card view and flick your cards around. With Advanced Gestures activated, you can directly slide between apps by dragging your finger across the full length of the gesture area. This is particularly useful for copying something in one card (say, email) and pasting in another, like SMS or Twitter. I leave it on all the time. In order to activate this…
a. Go to “Screen and Lock”
b. Find where it says “Advanced Gestures”
c. And turn ON "Switch applications."

7) Force Reset:
In the rare event that your Palm Pre crashes and your screen becomes unresponsive, you can force it to do a soft reset (a basic reboot). Just follow the directions in the picture. Then go make a sandwich.

LAUNCHER:

1) UNIVERSAL SEARCH!
Your launcher does more for you than just show off your cute app icons. It’s actually a powerful search engine built into your phone. The folks at Palm were the pioneers in this feature, beating Android and even the famous iPhone to the punch. So… Here’s a hot tip for beginners: learn to use Universal Search… all the time! I can’t stress that enough. It will really speed up everything you do. Seriously. If I catch any of you flipping through your contacts or opening the browser to do a Wikipedia search, I’m gonna slap you upside the head! Below is a video on how this works.

Universal search: live it, love it.

But wait! There’s more!

Palm recently baked some extra keyboard shortcuts into Universal Search:

Typing “store” takes you to the App Catalog
Typing “pic” takes you to Photos
Typing “sms” or “text” takes you to Messaging
Typing “time” takes you to Clock and Date & Time
Typing “add” (as in address) takes you to Contacts
Typing “todo” takes you to Tasks
Typing “eve” (as in events) takes you to Calendar
Typing “note” takes you to Memos
Typing “net” takes you to Wi-fi settings

Update: For those asking, no... you cannot use universal search for calendars, tasks, or e-mails. However, emails CAN be searched within the email app, and there is a FREE app called Google Calendar Search that allows you to search your Google calendars. It's slick and easy to use.

2) Change your Quick Launch icons:
Your Quick Launch icons are for the apps that you use the most frequently. Or, you could do what I do: leave the apps you use most frequently open as a card… then you have four more options quickly available to you in the Quick Launch bar! How do you customize it? Like this:
a. Open your launcher
b. Tap and hold an icon in the Quick Launch bar. It will light up.
c. Drag it to wherever you want in your launcher
d. Drag an icon from the launcher to the Quick Launch bar. You’re done!

3) View app info or delete an app:
Easy. Open your launcher, then hold down the orange button on your keyboard, and tap the icon of an app. This will allow you to see the app version, its developer, and file size. You will also be given the option to delete the application.

That was just a taste! Want more? Stick around. Next up? Part 2: Phone and Contacts.

The Missing Palm Pre User Guide... it's Here!

2010-01-17T12:28:00.003-06:00

Got a new Palm Pre? Have you been searching high and low for that user manual that never came with it? Well once again, Totally Palmed has got your back. Click here to get the official user guide from Palm.

You can also check out the following articles:

Click here for helpful video tutorials for beginners to the Palm Pre or Pixi
Click here for tips on adding new ringtones for your Pre or Pixi
Click here for simple and easy fixes to common problems found on the Palm Pre.

First Six Months of Palm’s App Catalog… How’s Palm Doing?

2010-01-13T18:08:00.016-06:00

It’s been six months since the birth of Palm’s resurgence, and here at Totally Palmed, the numbers are in. We all know how important apps are in the smartphone race. Despite being only six months old, Palm’s BETA App Catalog provided us with some very decent apps, top-notch Twitter clients,and fun games. Thanks to continued tabulations of Palm’s App Catalog counts by Palm Real Reviewer Craig Froehle (@CRA1G on Twitter) and yours truly, we have some real interesting data to show you. (After you’re done with our blast to the past, check out Mr. Froehle’s article from GearBits.com for a look at the future!) … Here’s the basic breakdown:

- After exactly six months (1/6/10), the U.S. app catalog reached 1023 apps
- About 2/3 of those are paid, and the other 1/3 are free
- After six months of being in public beta with only select webOS developers, Palm officially launched the App Catalog and formally opened it to all app developers.

So, the question begs… how are they doing? We’ve got all of that, including a really interesting comparison to the Android Market’s numbers, after the break.

Let's have a look at a slightly more detailed timeline of Palm’s App Catalog, shall we?

(click to zoom in)

If you saw my list of standout webOS apps from this period, you'd see why, despite the fact that these are high quality apps, some users have bemoaned the absence of some of the “razzle dazzle” seen on other platforms, like augmented reality apps and 3D gaming. The main reason for this was the limited API’s (Advanced Program Interface) that Palm had included in their SDK (Software Development Kit) for developers. This is why we don’t have Shazam for webOS, yet: no access to the mic in the SDK!
Now… FORTUNATELY, this is all changing. During Palm’s keynote presentation at CES last week, some very cool stuff was demonstrated to us, like 3D gaming, video recording, Flash 10.1, and more. So don’t do any face-palms, because some very exciting things lay ahead. (If you wanna see 3D gaming in action, go to webOSroundup’s review of Asphalt 5 for webOS… cool stuff!)

How does this stack up? Comparison, please!

Versus iPhone’s App Store?
Those of you expecting a comparison to the iPhone App Store, puh-leez. Forget it. With a non-existent consumer app market for mobile phones, Apple was in a class of its own. The App Store launched with 500 apps a year after the iPhone was released. It is also worth noting that the lion’s share of these applications were more web-based and not so much on-device apps. So, just like comparing the Palm Pre’s launch vs iPhone’s launch, we’re talking apples and oranges. So sorry… na-ga-da! (Any Dana Carvey fans out there?)

Well okay, what about Android?
Now there’s a much better comparo, in my opinion. Like Palm’s webOS, Android is Linux-based, and comes from rather humble beginnings, having launched on a single device (the G1) on a single carrier (T-Mobile). By the time Android made its debut, just about everyone and their mother knew what the iPhone was, and the importance of mobile software. Android has come a long way since then, and as recently as last month, Google announced that Android Market had reached 16,000 apps. Impressive, to be sure, but what about the first few months? How do they compare to Palm’s? Below is a chart that I was able to compile based on the limited data I found. (My data is from Wikipedia, Android Central, AndroLib, and AndroidFeeder. Got a problem with my numbers? Blame them! Heh heh.)

(click to zoom in)

After six months, Android Market totaled 1,438 apps. From the start, Google had baked in a pretty robust set of API’s in their SDK, allowing for cool apps such as Shazam and Shop Savvy right out of the gate. And now, time for the “money shot…” the number of webOS apps superimposed on the number of Android apps, over equivalent timeframes:

(click to zoom in)

Summarized? By this point, Android had 415 more apps than webOS after six months. Android Market launched with more apps and a more robust SDK. It took Android two fewer months to exit their beta stage, though it took Palm two months less to introduce paid apps. There were also arguably more bumps along the way for Android (including some malware), but that’s a discussion too lengthy to address here.

So… how do we interpret all of this?

I’ll leave you to your own conclusions... feel free to leave a comment below. For those interested in my opinion (haha), here’s my take: Do I think Palm should have done anything differently? Yes. They should have been quicker about providing API’s to developers, and the app limit problem was an embarrassment… possibly even a delay on app releases from October to December. I also wish the App Catalog’s proportion of free apps (33%) would mirror Apple’s less (30% free) and Google’s more (60% free). Finally, as Precentral.net rightfully pointed out, Palm needs to provide access to developer phones for select developers.

But ultimately? I think Palm is on the right track. By the time Android reached six months of age, its OS was (and in my opinion still is to some degree), quite clunky. If you ask me at this point whether I’d take an advantage of 415 apps or webOS? I’d take webOS every day of the week and twice on Sunday. In the grand scheme of things, these numbers won’t matter: Android’s apps number 16,000. By this point next year, I expect webOS apps to reach a similar (some would argue higher) number… so it’s all academic. In terms of quality of applications, there are those like Precentral.net’s Dieter Bohn who feel that the caliber of webOS apps has already surpassed that of Android. I’m not sure webOS is there quite yet, but it’s darn close… much closer than one would think for an OS in its infancy.

Let’s not forget: webOS, being based on CSS, HTML, and Javascript, does not require developers to learn any new programming languages. Palm has only now opened the floodgates for all developers, and with the help of a million dollar cash incentive, new developer interest has been high of late. In addition, Palm has made some big changes in the way apps can be developed by launching Project Ares, a browser-based tool for developing webOS apps. Finally, Palm has enhanced the way webOS apps are distributed: rather than having just one hub for browsing, purchasing, and downloading apps, Palm has allowed opened webOS apps for open web distribution. How much this changes the landscape remains to be seen.

One thing’s for sure: this fun little exercise of looking back into the past for webOS has made looking forward to the future that much more exciting. For a look at what this future might look like, check out Craig Froehle's awesome forecast. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Just the Facts: Palm's Keynote at CES 2010

2010-01-08T13:57:00.006-06:00

For those wanting to know the low-down on what Palm's keynote speech was about, I highly recommend you mosey on over to precentral.net for all of the juicy details. Or... just watch the video posted above! If you want "just the facts," here's the scoop:

- Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus are launching on Verizon January 25th.
     ..... For details on the Pre Plus, click here
     ..... For details on the Pixi Plus, click here
     ..... No word on when Sprint will get them (can't imagine it'll be later than summer 2010)

- Both phones get a 1.4 update in February, which will include:
     ..... Video recording! Includes editing and direct posting to Facebook and YouTube
     ..... Flash 10.1! "Flash" allows for richer browsing and watching embedded videos
     ..... Faster performance, better battery life

- Oh yeah, and the Palm Pre (not Pixi) has 3D gaming NOW! Get 'em while they're hot!
     ..... Need for Speed Undercover
     ..... Asphalt 5
     ..... Sims3
     ..... Let's Golf
     ..... Monopoly
     ..... Scrabble
     ..... Oregon Trail
     ..... Glyder 2
     ..... X-Plane

If you're still aching for more info, you can check out the info that was teased out of Palm CEO Jon Rubinestein by tech journalist Kara Swisher (from AllThingsDigital)... Among them? He's never used an iPhone... as in, ever! Video is posted below!

My Favorite webOS Apps for 2009

2010-01-05T23:10:00.072-06:00

Well folks, it's been six months since webOS launched, and we now have 1,000 total apps in the U.S. App Catalog! But which are worth downloading? I recently did a blog on the my favorite webOS games for 2009, but hey, we buy don't just buy these phones to use as toys, right? They're tools.

UPDATE! I should add that on 1/7/10, Palm launched some awesome 3D games for the App Catalog, which completely changed the landscape of webOS gaming! Check out those new awesome apps in the App Catalog now.

While the App Catalog has nowhere near the number of apps as other platforms just yet, there's still quite a few jewels you should pick up. You just have to know where to look, and that's why Totally Palmed is here to help! I've watched the catalog closely since I first got my Pre in June and have downloaded tons of apps. After the break, fire up your Palm App Catalog and follow along with me as we go through which apps are, in my opinion, worth downloading. No, I don't get any kickbacks or free downloads for doing this! Hey, I'm just a nice guy, what can I say.

Much, much more after the break!

Before I start, yes, I'm fully aware that the folks at Precentral.net have already listed their favorite webOS apps for 2009 ... hey these guys are my idols when it comes to all things Palm. But I was already halfway done with writing this piece when I saw their piece, so I decided "ah, screw it," and finished my own list. I definitely recommend you also give the Precentral article a look for another point of view. Also, Palm recently launched their website "Project Appetite," where you can browse, purchase, and download webOS apps directly to your phone. You can see which are the top grossing apps, their file size, ratings, and which have grossed the most money. (It's a beautiful open ecosystem... hats off to Palm for that.)

This list is more comprehensive and detailed (read: long) but hopefully will be of some use to you guys. So let's do it like this...

1) Open up your App Catalog.
2) Tap "Explore"
3) Follow along with me in each of these categories as I go through them!
4) ... Or you could just sit there and do nothing. :)

Ready kids? Buckle up! Heeeeeere we go!

BOOKS:

Free Books 23,469 Classics to Go by Spreadsong, Inc. (FREE)
As the name implies, this free app lets you download thousands of classic books for your enjoyment, free of charge. The search function works efficiently, and you actually download the books to your phone, which means you won't need an internet signal to read them. The reader itself is rather basic, but the text is large and very legible, and at least the reader marks your place when you close the app or move on to another book... Hey - what do you expect for access to tons of classic books... for free?

ShortCovers by Shortcovers (FREE)
Shortcovers is another free book reader app that was released shortly after the Pre launched. You can purchase and download books to your phone for reading, or download a good number of classic novels, plays, and short stories for free. The reader is basic, but more advanced than that found on Free Books, incorporating gestures and flicks rather than mere tapping. Recent updates incorporated a "night mode," which is nice for reading next to a light sleeping spouse. The app has gotten faster with updates, but still hangs for longer than I would like.

For those looking for an eBook reader, you might want to check out the Popelli Reader ($4.99). I have not downloaded this app, but it has mixed reviews. Plus, I use the homebrew app pReader, which I find suits my needs just fine. (Homebrew app recommendations to come in another article.)

BUSINESS:

I haven't downloaded any apps from this category that are worth much discussion, though I just might pick up the rich text editor textPress! by r media inc ($1.99). If I do, I'll let you know what I think of it.

EDUCATION:

Flash Cards by James Harris ($4.99) A free "lite" version is available.
As a physician having done years of training and now doing my fellowship in allergy/immunology, I'm no stranger to study aids. This one does NOT disappoint. This app allows you to create your very own flashcards from scratch, or download flashcard sets from a massive (and growing) library of flash cards. After downloading a flash card set, you can edit them individually, even inserting images and sound using HTML (open and edit the Children's Alphabet flash card set to see what I mean). Audio is slightly laggy, but that's more of a function of webOS than the app itself. With further updates I'm sure this will be fixed. Highly recommended.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Break Videos by Break (FREE)
If you're familiar with websites like killsometime.com that feature videos of random human tricks and bloopers, then you pretty much know what Break Videos is all about. The app is great for a random laugh (while killing a few brain cells in the process). Hey, did you know that somewhere in China they made a huge snow sculpture of Santa Claus and that it's the biggest in the world? No? Well, if you had seen it on Break Videos, you would have known!

Adam Carolla Network by Hidden World Hut (FREE, ad-supported)
I've always been a fan of Adam's raw humor. If you are too, then this app is a great time killer and very well done. It gives you access to his podcasts which feature many other celebrities, including a separate channel for Mr. Carolla's CarCast podcasts. You can also have a direct link to all of his tweets, and if you are so inclined, have a direct link to the message boards on his website. It's a very well-executed app, with navigation reminiscent of the Twee Twitter app (see below). If you're even a casual Adam Carolla fan, I highly recommend picking up this app. It's a great time killer for long car rides.

Magic Fortune Ball by Innovative Odyssey ($0.99)
This isn't your average Magic Eight-ball app... sure, it's got the standard answers, but the cool part about this app is that you can make your own categories and edit your own answers. How many times has this happened to you: you and your significant other are arguing about where to eat on a Saturday night? Well I settled this with my wife. I'd say "let's let FATE decide." I select my previously programmed "Restaurants" category with answers that we both contributed (hey, I'm not a jerk), and gave my Pre a shake. In a second, it tells us where to go eat. Neither of us can dispute the Magic Fortune Ball. It is the will of the Gods! LOL ... You can of course find more eh... creative ways to use this app!

Flixster by Flixster, Inc. (FREE)
Flixster is one of the oldest webOS apps, and it's a must-have. Not only do you get movie times, synopses, reviews (via Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes), and movie preview videos for new movies... you also get synopses, reviews, and preview videos of tons of older movies. This is perfect if you're at Blockbuster or are trying to decide which movie to rent online. If you select a movie to see in a movie theater, the time can be synced to your phone's calendar so you don't forget. The only thing this app does not do is actually purchase tickets, as seen on the movie app Fandango (also free). But Flixster's inclusion of rental movies makes it a winner in my book.

Backgrounds by Stylem Media (FREE, ad-supported)
This one is simple. TONS of background images free for download. The app is updated regularly.

Wooter! by Binary Idiot (FREE)
Why this app is under "Entertainment" is beyond me, but I digress. If you don't know what Woot! is, you probably should. It's a website that sells one thing a day at a massively discounted rate. Once the day is over, your chance is gone. The standard fare of Woot! sites (sellout.woot, shirt.woot, kids.woot, and wine.woot) are there as well. One thing I really like about Wooter! is that it includes customer discussions about the product being sold. In other words, you can see if people think it's a piece of crap before committing to a purchase. Another free Woot! app called WootOn! by Delicious Morsel is also available, which gives you live notifications and does autorefreshes doing a Woot-off, but doesn't include discussions. Choose between these apps depending on what matters more to you.

FINANCE:

Checkbook by GlitchTech Science ($1.99)
Want to see how much money you are making vs. how much you are spending? This app is a MUST. I ignored this app at first, thinking "I don't need some useless expenses app!" But after reading all the raving reviews, I downloaded it, and have not regretted it one bit. You can track multiple accounts, and log recurring income (like paychecks) and expenses (taxes, rent, bills, etc). This app crunches the numbers for you and tells you how much money you have left to spend/save in the end. Not only that, you can also import and export your data using Google documents! The developer responds very quickly to customer concerns and has improved on this app immensely. Checkbook is an awesome budgeting app. I can't think of a reason why anyone wouldn't spring two bucks for it. It's that good.

Dealert by Kevin Foreman ($1.99)
We all have become experts at sniffing out online shopping deals. Unfortunately, sometimes finding these deals can be pretty hairy. I downloaded this app prior to the Christmas holidays and can tell you: this site is plain, freaking awesome. You basically tell Dealert what it is you are looking to buy, and it scours the Internet using eleven deal-searching portals for any low price alerts. You can have Dealert look for online deals as frequently as every 30 minutes if you like, or not at all. If it finds an alert, it will give you a pop-up notification to let you know that a deal has been found! Sometimes the feeds take a while to load if you do it manually, but after I got a really good high-speed wireless N router at a ridiculously low price, I became a believer. This app ROCKS!

Cool Tip Calculator by MyAppCatalog.com (FREE)
Yes, there's a crapload of tip calculators available for webOS, but this one does something none of them can: it makes adjustments to your bill!  Let's say you're at a pizza parlor with ten friends, but two of them already ate beforehand and just had a drink instead... you can adjust the bill to reflect that, in addition to calculating the tip that everyone pays! You can also save the bill for future viewing (great for corporate meals and such). ... This has been so useful that I've become the go-to guy when it comes to calculating the bill for big groups. The styling is a bit... well, different. But this app gets my full recommendation as a tip calculator.

FOOD:

Taste Spotting Today by Jiyer ($0.99)
The founders of Tastespotting.com describe the website as a "visual potluck" of recipes. The webOS version of this site is perfect for people who use pictures in recipe books in order to decide what to make. This app downloads multiple popular recipes daily. Just look at the picture, decide "oh, I/my family/whoever would LOVE that," and then cook the attached recipe. The recipe details are a bit on the sparse side, and the daily downloads of recipes are nowhere near as extensive as what you get with the actual website, but this app is well done and definitely worth $0.99 if you plan to use it.

What's for Dinner by Snazzy Software (FREE)
Although this app doesn't have any pictures of recipes (at least, I haven't seen any), it's a far more comprehensive collection of recipes. Just type in anything you want to make... asopao, chicken ala king, cinnamon rolls... and boom! It searches multiple online recipe sites like AllRecipes.com, FoodNetwork.com, and Epicurean, and pulls up their ingredients and cooking instructions! It also allows you to create a shopping list of ingredients from any recipe. You can even email recipes. This is great for people who need recipes on the go or don't want to keep lugging a recipe book to the grocery store. The hardest thing is deciding on a good recipe... there's so damn many of them! Awesome app. I'm amazed it's being offered for free. It's that good.

GoodFood - Restaurants Near You by Goodrec (FREE)
I know, I know. This app isn't listed under "Food," but I'm going to list it here because this is where it belongs (ahem, Palm! It's listed under "Lifestyles!" Hello???). Basically, this app uses Google Maps to list any and all restaurants in your immediate area. You can then narrow your search by price or type of food. My wife and I use this app whenever we're in an unknown city or are just in the mood to explore. Best of all, you can access reviews of restaurants and even inform GoodFood if a listed restaurant is no longer open or if the posted information is incorrect. I love this last feature and hate that other mobile search apps like Yelp! have not incorporated this. This app used to be slow as molasses (hence the mixed reviews) but subsequent updates have really sped it up. One thing I don't like is that the map doesn't reload automatically (ala Google Maps) when I'm on the road, which means I have to keep refreshing the map. Anyway I recommend you check it out and draw your own conclusions.

OpenTable by OpenTable (FREE)
A mobile app of the online restaurant reservation service. I have used this app several times now, including a romantic reservation for my wedding anniversary. Using only my phone, I was able to book a reservation, request a seating location, and have flowers waiting for us at the table. She was very impressed! The downside is that this app does not list all of your local restaurants, particularly if you live in a smaller town. But hey, this app is free, and it works very well. I highly recommend it.

Honorable mention: GetMeVino by Mteck Mobile... a powerful wine guide. UI is slightly clunky and search function could use some work, but it is currently the only wine enthusiast app for webOS.

GAMES:

For a list of my favorite webOS games, you won't have to go far! Just click here!

HEALTH AND FITNESS:

Workout Tracker by OSG ($3.99)
I've been using this app since it was in beta, and like it a lot. You can use this app to track your jogging with GPS, as a stopwatch, or to log your workouts (reps, weight used, muscle group exercised).  You can then look back at previous workouts and even make graphs to chart your progress. You can then email these results to yourself so you can keep track of your workouts on computer. This app is not without faults, however. For one thing, the UI is pretty basic. If you've ever used iFitness for the iPhone, this app doesn't reach that level of sophistication. Fortunately, the developer is very responsive to feedback and is continuously improving his product. Another fitness app called iStayFit by Looti Inc. ($4.99) was also released. Reviews are overall very positive and the app shows a lot of promise, but since I have Workout Tracker already, I haven't bought it. You'll have to decide for yourself.

Honorable mention: Although I haven't downloaded it, my wife recently bought Conmigo by ConmigoLife ($5.99).  "Conmigo" means "with me" in Spanish, and it's appropriate: this app essentially finds you a "GPS workout buddy" to fit your schedule. For example, if you go for a run (no matter the time), you can log into Conmigo and find someone else who is also running your same distance and pace. You can then track their progress in addition to yours, which gives you that added motivation. I've never used it, but from what I can tell, the app is put together very well.

LIFESTYLE:

WHERE by where.com (FREE)
This app was one of the very first to launch with the Palm Pre. A few caveats aside, I love it. It's several apps in one: news, reviews (via CitySearch), local deal finder, Yellow Pages, movie times (with reviews and previews), low gas price finder, and nearby Twitter postings. The local deal finder is hit-or-miss, and the Yellow Pages don't have the most comprehensive or up-to-date listings in my town, but despite this, WHERE is a useful app to have. And hey, it's free.

MUSIC:

Pandora Radio by Pandora (FREE, ad supported)
If you don't know about Pandora, then you've been living under a rock for the past several years! This is an awesome internet radio application... just tell the station which song or artist you like, and it will fetch songs and artists that sound similar. If you don't like a song it chose, give it a thumbs down. The coolest part about this app is that it works well with Palm's background notifications. Download the app to see what I mean.

Accuradio by Accuradio LLC (FREE)
The one problem I have with Pandora is that sometimes I'm just in the mood to listen to a genre of music. If you're more of a "genre listener," then Accuradio is your app. It has tons of genre stations. For example, let's say you like Celtic music. Find the RadioCelt station, and it pulls up six different stations for your listening pleasure (Celtic Rock, Progressive Celtic, Traditional Celtic, etc.) Accuradio also loads quite a bit faster than Pandora, which is nice. I highly recommend this app for just about anybody who's even just a casual music fan.

RadioTime by RadioTime Inc (FREE, ad supported)
RadioTime is bad-ass. Why? Because it is quite possibly the biggest collection of internet and terrestrial (FM) stations that I've ever seen in a mobile app. The search function is slightly finnicky, but if there's anything you want to listen to - be it your local radio station or NBA Radio - this app has got it. Love it, love it. Would gladly have paid money for this app. It's that good.

Concert Finder by Epic North ($1.99) A free "lite" version is available.
Powered by the online concert-finder site preAmped.com, this app is perfect for tracking your favorite band or seeing what shows are coming to your town. You can even get directions to venues, purchase tickets, and add events to your calendar. In my opinion, it's better than the other concert-finding app, called Local Concerts by iLike (FREE), but it's also a great app and you may think differently. My complaint of Concert Finder is that it's not the best for finding lesser-known artists. I also don't like how it creates a new calendar account without asking me first, but I'm nit-picking, here. Otherwise. I highly recommend it.

NAVIGATION:

Trapster by Trapster.com, Inc. (FREE)

This app is simply awesome. Based on the huge worldwide database of speed traps and cameras found at trapster.com, this has been an indispensable tool for me on long road trips where speed zones trap an unsuspecting traveller. All you have to do is leave this app running while on a road trip (make sure you have your phone charging!). You can see your heading on a Google map, and icons for speed traps or intersection cameras. This "intel" is based on past reports from other users, and varies from expired to "high confidence," so you know when to really be careful. It even has optional audible notifications whenever you are within a specified distance of any of these traps. I'm not condoning speeding by any means. But if you're like me and have ever been caught unawares, then don't leave home without this app.

NEWS:

Engadget by AOL Inc. (FREE)
If you are into tech at all, then you probably know all about Engadget.com. App number 1,000 in the Palm's App Catalog, Engadget by AOL Inc. provides you with easy mobile access to all of their latest posts (on Engadget.com AND Engadget Mobile), access to all webcasts of the Engadget Show, and picture galleries. There are occasional bugs in the software, but they're minor and hey, it's free. A must-have for tech geeks (ahem, like me).

Los Angeles Times by The Los Angeles Times (FREE)
I've tried just about every news app for webOS, and this one is my favorite. Why? Because it's FAST. Plain and simple. The others take time to load and sometimes even bog my phone down. Not this app. My only complaint is - as can be expected from the LA Times - you usually only get one side of an issue... but then again there's no such thing as unbalanced media, is there? (Newsweek suffers from this same affliction.)

Stitcher Podcast Radio by Stitcher (FREE)
There are currently two podcasting apps available for webOS in the Palm App Catalog, and this one is the better one, in my opinion. It's fast, it's very easy to use, and it has an extensive list of searchable podcasts. Developer support is also outstanding: they really listen to your feedback and get back to you quickly. There are a few key features that are missing however, such as the ability to "bookmark" your position in a podcast after closing the app, and the ability to download podcasts for offline listening. If you need those features, there is an excellent homebrew podcasting app called DrPodder by drnull that is available for download at the Precentral.net homebrew app gallery.

RSS Reader FACE-OFF!

There's four Google Readers available for webOS, and I've purchased three of them (I know... I'm nuts). All three have their advantages. In my opinion, they are ranked as follows.
THIRD PLACE: Feeds by Delicious Morsel ($4.99): This full-featured Google reader has two advantages. First, this is the only reader that sports an "offline mode" which downloads all your unread feeds for reading offline (i.e., on a plane, etc). This feature can be painfully slow at times but usually works well. Second, Feeds features real-time notifications of new articles, even when the app is closed. Problem is, it does this for ALL your feeds, not just some, so the advantage is rather weak. Price is quite a bit steep, too.

SECOND PLACE: Newsroom by Trileet ($4.99): If this were a beauty pageant, then Newsroom would take the crown by a country mile. The interface is absolutely sexy, and navigating around the app with gestures and flicks is very webOS. It also supports notifications only on feeds that you choose. Outside of that, however, it's not a very high-powered RSS reader. For one thing, it's not a true Google Reader, so rather than merely logging in to fetch all your feeds, you have to add them all, and it won't know if you had previously read a story using another Google reader. You also can't do more than email an article, so texting or tweeting an article to someone else is out.

FIRST PLACE: Scoop by Pivotal Labs ($0.99) Of the three readers, this one gets my top recommendation. Why? Because it's the cheapest, it's the fastest, and it still manages to be a full-featured, powerful, no B.S. RSS reader. What more could you possibly want from a Google Reader under a buck?

... But between you and me? Newsroom is the reader I use the most. Why? I love a pretty face! Hey, I'm just a man.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

I haven't downloaded or purchased any photography-related apps. Would love to see a full-featured photo editor, though...

PRODUCTIVITY:

ZIP Code Tools by James Harris (FREE)
This free app is pretty sweet if you're hunting for a home or just wanting to know about your own zip code. It's simple: punch in a zip code, and you're given access to all kinds of details like number of people per household, median income, population estimates, and other demographics. Don't know what zip code an address is in? Type in the address that you have and it will find the zip code for you. Don't know which zip code you are in? It can find it using your GPS location. It also features an area code lookup and post office finder. Great little tool, and it's free. I would've gladly paid $0.99 for this.

Geostrings by Hedami ($2.99)
Geostrings is one of the newer and more exciting apps for webOS. Basically, this app is kind of like your tasks app, but with location-based reminders. Many of our tasks, as the developer rightfully points out, are location based. For instance, I might want to pick up some cereal and milk on the way home from work for breakfast the next day. That's where Geostrings comes in... when I get close to the store that I programmed into the app, it reminds me. At first, I thought this was a gimmick. But if you run a lot of errands (or are scatter-brained like me!) this app turns out to be a lifesaver. This program is so powerful and customizable that it can be a bit daunting to master initially, but the support from the developer is outstanding. If you'd like to see his YouTube videos teaching you how to use this app, just click here. Once you get the hang of it, you just may find yourself using this app daily.

Google Calendar Search by VivaLV Software (FREE)
The name of this app speaks for itself. If you have a Google Calendar on your Palm Pre or Pixi, then you owe it to yourself to download this app... at least until Palm decides to incorporate calendar searching themselves! It works quickly and flawlessly.

Speed Dial Plus by 8-bit development ($0.99)
There are several speed dialing apps available for webOS, and they're all good at what they do. I previously used Quick Contacts (by Silver Spoon Software), but wanted a no-nonsense app where SPEED was the first priority. Speed Dial Plus fits that bill very, very well. This is the one app that I can have open all day for quickly calling/texting my contacts without slowing down my phone's performance. Once we get past all the fluff, isn't that the point?

Pack 'n' Track by Syntactix LLC ($7.99)
I initially did not buy this app because of the high price, but was lucky enough to scoop it up when it was sold at half price for Thankskiving. After having used it during the holiday shopping season, I definitely see the merits of this app, but still think the price is a bit steep. Still, this is a top-notch package tracking app, complete with real-time notifications and even maps showing the itinerary of your incoming (or outgoing) package. If you do a lot of online shopping or shipping of packages (business or personal), then this very professionally-executed app is well worth the price.

Honorable mention: Although this app is very controversial, I feel compelled to mention Classic by MotionApps ($30 for full version). While I wouldn't necessarily call Classic a "favorite" app, I use this PalmOS emulator almost daily for my old medical apps, and think it's cool to have "a phone within a phone." People knock Palm for not including this for free, but what many don't realize is that Palm had neither the time, people, or resources to do backwards compatibility with PalmOS and simply had to outsource it to someone else. MotionApps has for the most part released a great product with Classic and continue to improve on it. If you relied heavily on PalmOS applications, perhaps this app is for you.

REFERENCE:

wikiHow by wikiHow (FREE)
Where else can you find a free app that tells you how to do... just about anything? If you want to learn about all kinds of cool how-to's, then give this app a look. It comes bundled with a survival kit which can be read offline, so you'll have the answers to "how do I calculate the distance on the horizon?" or "how do I build an igloo?" right at your fingertips. But if you have a how-to question on anything else, just type it in the search bar and you can find it online. The one thing I wish this app had was a way to download other articles, but hey you can at least bookmark it and hey - for free I won't complain too loudly. At the very least? This app makes friggin' awesome bathroom reading! :)

SOCIAL NETWORKING:

Friendsbook by SICI Software GmbH (FREE)
Precentral.net listed Palm's version of Facebook as the best Facebook app, and I respectfully disagree. Yeah, Friendsbook ain't pretty... but it's much more powerful than Palm's crap version of Facebook. For example, unlike Palm's Facebook app, you can actually view your friends' wall! Unlike Palm's Facebook app, you can actually post pictures, with captions, on the fly! Precentral's argument is that the UI of other Facebook apps "lack polish and long-term potential to compete." Umm, yeah... that may be true. But respectfully? Right now? Palm's Facebook app sucks! Friendsbook is better.

Twitter App FACE-OFF!
I've gone back and forth between different Twitter apps, and can't decide on one to use permanently, which speaks volumes of the choices available. If you want to read my detailed review of all webOS Twitter apps, then click here.

But at the end of the day? I gotta say it... I keep comin' back to Tweed by Pivotal Labs ($2.99).

For those asking "what about the Foursquare App?" ... Sorry, I still don't even understand what the hell the point of that app even is. But then again I felt the same way about Twitter six short months ago...

SPORTS:

Sports Calendar by Unnamed Applications, Inc. ($1.99) A free "lite" version is available.
Ever since the Palm Pre launched with its unparalleled synergy capabilities, I longed for a way to easily incorporate the game schedules of my favorite teams. This app does just that. It includes just about every professional sport that you can imagine (professional, college, even stuff like mixed martial arts, English Premiere League, Serie A, La Liga)... and in the paid version, you can follow an unlimited number of teams. It even has optional reminders to let you know that the game is about to start. A nice touch.

Are You Watching This?! by RUWT? Sports ($0.99)
This app is based on the website AreYouWatchingThis.com, which is an awesome website that tracks close games. As a sports nut who hates missing out on potential classic games, I just had to download this app. A few UI issues aside, this app is plain freaking awesome! At any given moment I can see which games are highly rated by other spectators in real-time. The higher the rating, the more people are saying "you gotta see this!" The app even has a feature that tells you what channel the game is on once it acquires your location. Really, really cool.

Honorable mention: I used the "lite" version of Golf Caddie by DTW Consulting once when a friend passed through to play golf with me. Amazingly, this app had my crappy golf club in Shreveport in its database! It worked very well keeping our scores, measuring the distances of my drives (Ugh! Don't ask.), and distances to the green. Nice.

TRAVEL:

Translator by MojoJungle (FREE)
One of the first homebrew apps I ever downloaded, "Translator" is the highest-rated translator app for webOS. It sports a very simple, easy-to-use interface with support for tons of languages via Google Translator. Translate a word or phrase, and then send the translated text via email or SMS.

Mezzoman by Mezzoman Studios, Inc. ($0.99) A free "lite" version is available.
This app is incredibly useful for setting up a meeting point between up to three people. Just input the location of up to three people, and Mezzoman finds a meeting place based on your criteria (i.e., "coffee" or "sushi"). It's pretty darn accurate and has come in handy more often than I anticipated. I'd like to see the ability to send destination addresses to the GPS navigation app, or the ability to text the destination addresses to the people I'm meeting with, but hey, for 99 cents? This is a darn useful app.

WEATHER:

...

Ah, c'mon, do you REALLY need me to tell you which weather app is the best? Look 'em up yourself! ;)

P.S. They're almost ALL free...

THAT'S IT!

There you have it! My top recommendations for the first 1000 apps in Palm's App Catalog! Of course, there are other apps you might find awesome ... if so, leave a comment! Granted, the App Catalog still has a ways to improve, and in my opinion there are some apps that I are woefully lacking on the Palm Pre and Pixi. The most important of these is a document editor such as Docs2Go that my Palm Treo had. Also, due to the lack of various API's (Advance Program Interface), functionality for programs like Shazam and augmented reality apps are still a ways off. But these are coming! Hang in there, and enjoy these apps in the meantime. I know I am.

My Favorite webOS GAMES for 2009

2010-01-01T00:01:00.014-06:00

So... you have a Palm Pre or a Pixi, and you're ready to spend a little of your hard-earned cash on games to pass the time. After all, Palm has finally lifted their app limit, right? Let the shopping spree begin, right?

... But which games are actually worth your money?

As of this entry, there are 1000 apps in the Palm App Catalog. Of those, 229 are games. While the App Catalog currently doesn't offer famous games like Bejeweled just yet, there are still some "jewels" to be had in the gaming department.

Of course, nobody wants to get stuck with a crap game after paying for it, and Palm's lack of a refund policy doesn't help matters, either. That's where Totally Palmed comes in! After the break, read my opinion on which games I think are worth their price. (Bear in mind I haven't downloaded all webOS games... just a bunch more than my wife should know about.) If you feel any other games deserve mention here, please share it with us it in the comments section below!

[UPDATE] Well, this is embarrassing! At CES 1/7/10, Palm released awesome 3D games for the Palm Pre which totally changed the landscape of webOS gaming. So I guess this entry is sorta/kinda moot. However, these games are not available for the Pixi, and are more expensive ($6-10), so this post may still be of some use to you!

Wait... what about FREE games??

Oh, alright... you twisted my arm hard enough.;) ... I have like 4 or 5 free games on my Pre, but my favorites are none other than the two offerings by Self-Aware Games: Card Ace and Word Ace!

Card Ace by Self-Aware Games (FREE)

I've been a Zynga online poker fan for a while now, and was thrilled to see online poker come to webOS. For the most part, this app delivers on a fun gaming experience, though it can feel slow when other players aren't paying attention to the game (ahem, people!). The game is also woefully lacking sound, but the developer has indicated that as soon as Palm makes adding sounds easier in webOS games that this functionality will be added. (As evidence, this app for the iPhone DOES use sound.) I would love it if the developer would consider a landscape mode for this app, but hey... we're talkin' free here.

Word Ace by Self-Aware Games (FREE)

Word Ace is like Card Ace, but with a twist... think of it like Texas Hold 'Em and Scrabble thrown in, and you'll get a good sense of what this game is all about. I actually enjoy this game more because of its unique concept and the added challenge. I do wish the game would have a system in place to warn you if the word you are attempting to use is in fact not a word, but again... free. CAUTION: some of the people you play against are vicious word nerds! ... Don't worry, I'm not one of them. (See pic... "neaty" is a word... isn't it???)

... There! You happy?? Now let's move on to the PAID apps!

MY MUST-HAVES

Wobble Words by Gobico Games ($2.99)
This game has been a featured app in the App Catalog for some time, and with good reason. Of all the games on my Palm Pre, this is the one I play the most. It's kind of like Boggle on steroids. Basically, you try to make as many words as you can in a limited timeframe. I'm hopelessly addicted to it in my futile attempts to beat my little sister's high score. Occasional lag issues aside, this is a great example of a webOS app done right. Definitely worth the $2.99. Watch the video below to see how the game is played. (P.S. I'm soooo much faster than the example on the video! ... But my sister is even faster. Arrgh!)

Topple Ball by Josh Bilderback ($1.99) A free "lite" version is available.
My wife's iPhone had the famous Labyrinth game, and when this app first came out I was skeptical that it would be worth anything. Turns out I was wrong! With very smooth gameplay, challenging levels, and great use of the Pre/Pixi's accelerometer, Topple Ball is a fantastic app that, while not quite up to the iPhone's level of sophistication and smoothness, is still highly entertaining. I'm sure as Palm enables GPU support for the Palm Pre this game will run even smoother. Mr. Bilderback also has another app called Tilt-A-Maze ($0.99), which I haven't gotten around to buying yet. But judging by how much work he puts into his games (as seen in his video below), it's a pretty good bet that it's a pretty good game as well.

Paratrooper by 185vfx.com ($1.99) A free "lite" version is available.
This is a very entertaining game! Using the Pre/Pixi's accelerometer, tilt left or right to guide your brave paratroopers to their target. This game is oozing with personality and fun, but can get quite challenging to the point of frustration (much like Topple Ball!). It also doesn't have sound yet, but I think that's due more to the current limitations of webOS than the game itself. I love this game, and look forward to further updates. Thumbs up. Below is a cute preview demo that shows you the gameplay:

WORTH CHECKING OUT:
(click pictures to zoom)

Crosswords by Stand Alone, Inc. ($9.99) A free limited version is available.
If you are a crossword puzzle nut, then this app is a must-have (I'm not, which is why I don't have it listed in the "must-have" section). At first glance, the $9.99 price tag seems steep, but bear in mind that a) this is the same price for the app as found on the iPhone and b) you can download crossword puzzles from numerous sources daily, which basically means these puzzles are in UNLIMITED supply. Not only that, the game is well-done and is fully playable on the Palm Pre's screen. (I cannot speak for the Pixi, though.)

Zombie Invasion by Conniption Entertainment ($0.99)

This game is more action-based than your average crossword puzzle app. The premise of the game is simple: shoot the zombies before they get to you, or you're dead. It's priced at $0.99, which is good because it woefully lacks the sophistication of similar games on other platforms (ala Zombie Nazi for iPhone). It also has limited sound capability, but again both gameplay and sound should improve as Palm continues to upgrade their OS. Plus, nothing kills time better than blowing away a half dozen zombies at a time with a shotgun!

Wumpus by Inspiring Apps ($1.99)
Wumpus is a cute game which requires deductive reasoning (which is probably why I suck at it) and a little bit of luck. In this famous game ported over to webOS, you are a zoologist assigned the task of exploring caves to seek out the legendary Wumpus, armed with a single tranquilizer dart, dynomite sticks, and a canary... (hey, if you wanna know what the canary is all about, get the game and find out for yourself). Gameplay is basic, but well-executed. If you manage to catch more than three Wumpuses, you're already doing better than me!

Word Whirl by SacherSoft, LLC ($2.99) A free "lite" version is available.
If you've ever played the famous game "Text Twist," then you'll know what this game is all about. Gameplay is slightly clunkier than Text Twist, but was great for me to pass the time in long lines. It sports thoughtful features like detailed instructions on how to play, as well as two game modes: timed, and puzzle. It also saves your game if you close it in the middle of a puzzle. It currently does not have sound, but I think that's more a function of the limited capabilities of webOS to produce sound. This app has improved by leaps and bounds since it first launched, which says volumes about its developer. Worth a look.

Tilt GT by Under Clouds Games ($1.99)
This is the first racing game available for webOS, and it's a pretty fun one, once you learn to master the sacred art of "accelerometer driving." In this game, you tilt the phone to guide your race car around tracks of increasing difficulty. There are several modes of play, including time trial, ghost race (where you race your best lap), and then vs. races where you race ghosts of other users. A nice touch. It has only very basic sound and it can be a little frustrating to master, but you can tell a lot of attention went into the creation of this game. Best indication that this game is any good? My wife's 6 year old cousin put down his Nintendo DS to play this game. P.S. Don't forget to use your nitro boost! :)

Ditto by Revision X Games ($0.99) A free "lite" version is available.
Like playing Simon Says? Then this game is worth plunking down a buck. There's a couple versions of this game for webOS, but this one is my favorite. It uses phone dial tones as sounds, and gameplay is smooth with no lags. Even my wife, who used to play this game on her iPhone, found this app enjoyable. You can track your high scores and even liked it.

DeadMan v1 by Fusion Creative Studios ($0.99) A free "lite" version is available.
If you want to see another example of a webOS app done right, then look no further than DeadMan. This is like hangman, but with a twist: you are trying to diffuse a bomb by punching in the right code. Meanwhile, the bomb's timer is ticking away. If you don't solve the puzzle in time or if you take too many guesses, KABOOM. Just so you don't accuse the game of making up words, you can look up the word's definition after you are dead. Features single player, pass and play, and versus versions. Lots of fun, great animations and sounds.

Honorable Mentions:

Blocked by Brandon VanBelle ($1.99)
Block Breaker by Invasive Bamboo ($1.99)
Tap Flick Slide by My Company ($1.99)
Roll Quest by Under Clouds Games ($0.99)
Scatter by Caldantech ($0.99)

There you have it! My first entry of the webOS games that I think are worth the money. Bear in mind that as webOS continues to mature, the quality of the games will only improve with richer graphics, sounds, and gameplay. None of these games (except Wobble Words for me) are a fully immersive experience, but for now, they fit the bill as time killers quite nicely. UPDATE! On 1/7/10 Palm took the next step in webOS gaming by incorporating 3D games! These are more expensive ($6-10), but are truly a much more amazing gaming experience. Take a look at the App Catalog now if you haven't already!

Have anything to add? Please leave a comment! Be sure to read my next installment ...
"My Favorite webOS Apps for 2009!"

Palm Pre and Pixi for TOTAL Beginners!

2009-12-22T23:40:00.009-06:00

A while back, I wrote an article titled "How to: Get Ringtones on your Palm Pre." It had a lot of good stuff on there about... well, setting up ringtone! I also wrote about simple, safe, and easy fixes for the Palm Pre's most common problems. But as I helped beginners with their Palm Pre's, I noticed how lot of people felt TOTALLY LOST on doing even the most BASIC functions (like copy/paste... hello?), even after having owned it for a while!

Fear not, friends, because TOTALLY PALMED is your mejor amigo. ... That's "best friend" in Spanish...... never mind. Read on after the break to learn how to do the most basic things with your Pre. (P.S. These lessons can apply to the Pixi as well!)

Okay, so let's get started. These videos are pretty self-explanatory and won't require any of my commentary. Before I go on, guess what! A lot of these videos (the last three, specifically) are already on your Palm Pre! Just as Dorothy needed just to click her heels three times to go home, all you had to do was tap the "HELP" icon and watch these videos for yourself on your phone. These videos are streamed to you, so you'll need an internet connection to view 'em.

For those wondering, "where's the stinkin' user manual?!" ... Here it is. You're welcome.

So let's get right to it!

In order, here are the help topics below:
1) Very basic overview of the Pre, courtesy of Sprint
2) Basic tutorial on using the Palm Pre with gestures
3) Basic tutorial on setting up and using email
4) Basic tutorial on setting up calendars and contacts
5) Basic Messaging/IM Tutorial
6) How do I... use Universal Search?
7) How do I... do multitasking on my phone?
8) How do I... move my cursor around and highlight text?
9) How do I... COPY/PASTE?
10) How do I... remove the back cover to switch out the battery?
11) How do I... make a conference call on the Palm Pre?
12) How do I... learn everything ELSE there is to know about the Palm Pre?

1) Very basic overview of the Pre:

2) Basic tutorial on using the Palm Pre with gestures:

3) Basic tutorial on setting up and using email:

4) Basic tutorial on setting up calendars and contacts:

5) Basic Messaging/IM Tutorial:

6) How do I use Universal Search?

7) How do I multitask on my phone?

8) How do I move my cursor and highlight text?

9) How do I copy/paste?

10) How do I remove the back cover to change the battery?

11) How do I make a conference call on the Palm Pre?

12) How do I... learn everything there is to know about the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi?
Why, by reading TOTALLY PALMED, of course! ;)

Also, make SURE you check out Precentral.net. This place is THE AUTHORITY on all things Palm. There are other great websites as well:

Pre101.com
Prethinking.com
Everythingpre.com
PalmInfocenter.com

That's it! I hope these videos help some of you. Mad props to akitayo for posting all these videos on YouTube... it made my job a whole lot easier! :) Stay tuned for more tips!

How-to: Erase Your Palm Pre and Palm Pixi

2009-12-22T01:13:00.014-06:00

Sometimes in life, you just gotta go back to a fresh start... a clean slate... a new beginning... square one... tabula raza... you get the idea. Being a Palm Pre owner since June 2009, I can tell you that this certainly applies to webOS devices. Those of you "in the know" are aware that you can do many cool things with webOS homebrew... you can make the Pre look like a Blackberry, for example. You can patch the Pre to hang up when you close the slider. All very cool stuff, but I noticed that after getting carried away with patches (I used upwards of 30!), my "Precious" was really starting to slow down.

Many of you have noted that your Palm Pre has slowed down dramatically since Palm's infamous 1.3.1 update. While this update provided us with cool things under the hood (laying the groundwork for Flash, video recording), on the surface many felt like they were robbed of some of the Pre's snappiness and stability. And we can't have that!

Fear not friends, because TOTALLY PALMED is on the case! More after the break...

Note: this is a fix that's recommended for people as at least a third resort... if you're having any problems with your Palm Pre, there may be a simple solution you may not be aware of. Hey, maybe one of those solutions can be found here! You may also want to consider applying Palm's WebOS Doctor tool to your Pre/Pixi, which essentially restores the Pre's OS back to spec. Click here to read more about it.

That having been said, few things clear the Pre's software of junk and give you that fresh start you were looking for than wiping the Pre's memory. You can do this one of two ways... a partial erase, or a full erase.

A partial erase will (temporarily!) delete:
- All your apps and data associated with them
- All contacts
- Calendar appointments
- Bookmarks
- Memos
A partial erase WILL NOT touch your USB partition where you have all your music, photos, documents, and videos!

A full erase will delete:
- Everything a partial erase deletes (above). This stuff is all restored.
- Everything on your USB drive... photos, music, documents, videos... all gone. This part is NOT restored by your Palm Profile.

"DUDE ARE YOU NUTS?!!!! I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS TO MY PRE," you say.

Stay with me, now!

For beginners, this all may sound a little scary, but trust me when I say it's really not a big deal. Why? Because the good folks at Palm have your back. Literally. As in, everything that a partial erase deletes is backed up to Palm on a daily basis. After wiping your Pre/Pixi and restoring, you'll find everything will be as you left it. Well... almost everything... and remember this doesn't include the USB partition. Different animal. Let's begin, shall we?

THE PARTIAL ERASE:

Who should do it?

Anyone who needs a "system reset" of their Pre's OS for fixing small bugs... one such annoying bug is when entire conversations on SMS/MMS completely disappear. There are simple fixes for this, but some people have had to resort to a partial erase. Anyone contemplating a full erase (i.e., to boost speed, etc) should probably try a partial erase first. If a partial erase doesn't work, move on to the full erase.

Anything I should know before I start?

Yes. I learned all these things the hard way, but fortunately you won't have to. After doing a partial erase:
... Any homebrew apps will be deleted, including Preware. These are not restored.
... Any linking of contacts you did will be undone, and not restored. A nuisance.
... Any picture you linked with a contact on your device will be forgotten. You'll have to do it again.
... You'll have to re-enter your wifi password. Make sure it's written down somewhere!
... Speaking of passwords, make sure you remember your Palm Profile password! You set this when you first activated your Pre. You can verify that it works by clicking here.

... Another thing about passwords: any password or private info saved on apps such as Splash ID will be wiped and NOT restored. (This is a pain, but the developers have indicated they're coming out with a backup solution.)
... You will need a good carrier connection to restore your profile. You cannot set up your wifi until later. (Trust me, I tried.)

Okay, I'm ready! Let's do this!
1)  Tap the "Backup" button in your launcher. Select "Backup Now"
2)  Email important memos to yourself. Just in case...
3)  If you use Google contacts, why not take this time to streamline them? My Pre's Universal search has been much faster since I streamlined mine. Click on "Contacts" in the left column of Gmail. Then click the button that says "Find Duplicates" (see pic)

4)  Find "Device Info" in your launcher. Scroll down to the bottom where it says "Reset Options."
5)  Find where it says "Partial Erase."
6)  You're done! Let the Pre do its magic. Restoring your profile takes about 5-10 minutes with an EVDO connection. A 1x connection takes 10-15 minutes.

THE FULL ERASE:

Who should do it?
People with very unstable or slow Palm Pre or Pixi that has not responded well to conventional methods or to a partial erase.

Anything I should know before I start?
Everything I said in the partial erase applies here.
In addition, it is very, very, very, very, very, very important that you back up your USB portion on your Pre!!!! (See below)

Okay, I'm ready! Let's do this!

1) Plug your Pre into the computer in "USB Drive Mode."

2) Make a folder named "Palm Pre USB Backup" on your computer.

3) Copy your most important USB files to your computer. If you want to be safe, just copy EVERYTHING into this folder and you can always sort it out later. The point is, you don't wanna LOSE this stuff.

... The remainder of the steps are exactly like a partial erase. The only difference, of course, is you're tapping where it says "FULL erase." After this happens and your non-USB stuff is restored by Palm, copy back only the most important files to your Pre. Why? Well, this is based on anecdotal evidence, but I've seen my Pre goes much faster when not filled with music, videos, and documents.

... That's it! See? Nuthin' to it! :)

Since some lawsuit-happy morons are suing Palm for loss of some of their Palm Profile data, let me clear myself of any blame should the rare even occur that the above steps damage your Pre somehow or lead to the loss of important data. These procedures have worked wonders for my Pre, especially after the 1.3.1 update... but that's no guarantee it will work for you and your mileage may vary.

In any case, it's always nice to know that you can easily go back to Square One when needed.

"The Palm Pre is no iPhone Killer..." Blah, blah, blah.

2009-12-11T20:12:00.014-06:00

The moment Palm birthed the Pre into this world, it was immediately thrust into the shadow of a giant. Much like David facing Goliath, Palm's Pre stood toe-to-toe with Apple's colossal iPhone. Although this analogy has been used time and again, people - including those who should know better! - expected the Pre to be a Goliath from the outset.

Well, it's not. Try a pre-pubescent David with zits, and you wouldn't be far off. Tired and seemingly hopeless biblical references aside, I think that Palm is in pretty good shape.

Allow me to explain my logic here... after the break!

I've had to field the endless barrage of people saying "the original iPhone sold 500,000 units in the first weekend, while the Palm Pre has sold only 50,000!" Well yes, that's true: in terms of raw numbers, the Pre's launch weekend paled in comparison to the iPhone's gang-buster launch. In fact, the iPhone 3G sold one million units in its first weekend, while the Palm Pre hadn't quite reached a million even after a full quarter of sales. To those who say the Pre is therefore a failure, I say this: you're comparing apples to oranges. Here's my answer to all that "#palmprefail" nonsense:

Think back to July 2007...

When the iPhone originally launched, these were its competitors: aging Palm OS devices, boring Blackberries (no disrespect), and a smattering of feature Nokia phones, most of which weren't subsidized on most U.S. carriers. Plus, the economy had not yet been hit by massive bailouts and layoffs. On top of all that, Apple was riding on the wave of their hugely successful iPod product line and massive existing user base. The iPhone had also been heavily advertised and rumored up to a full year prior to its launch, and even got a sweetheart promotion during the Academy Awards. Apple was also enjoying a comeback in the computer world, releasing their eye-candy systems and matching peripherals. Put together the ingredients of: 1) a non-existent competing market 2) awesome advertising, 3) good economic times (compared to NOW, anyways) and 4) a known product name, and you suddenly have the makings of an explosive device launch. With the planets aligned, Apple timed and executed their launch perfectly. The iPhone sold for $600, and still it was a smashing success.

... Notice how in that entire discussion there is no mention of an App Store? None. Because it didn't matter.

Fast forward to June 2009...
iPhone is king, with 60,000 apps, about to launch its third generation device, the 3GS. Blackberry has the Storm, Curve, and Bold, with their App World. Google has the G1, with a growing Android Market. On the lower end, a smattering of touchscreen feature phones... the landscape has totally changed. Oh, and by the way: the economy's in the tank.

Meanwhile, Palm is but a shadow of its storied past (we're talking under two bucks a share, people!). They have a great idea (webOS), secure some start-up capital, swipe a few rogue Apple engineers, and design the Palm Pre. But Palm has nowhere near the resources, advertising budget, and -- as is becoming painfully clear -- the marketing know-how of the Apple Machine. They launch the phone in one country, on one carrier. In its first weekend, the Palm sold an estimated 50,000 Pre units. In the first quarter of sales, it was estimated Palm sold about 800,000 units.

Despite the history I've just described, many people (especially blind iFan "journalists") have dismissed the Palm Pre as dead in the water because it did not "kill" the iPhone's sales numbers. ... My answer is... and pardon the necessary vulgarity: "are you f***ing kidding me?!"

Folks... let me make one thing very, very clear:

There is no such thing as an iPhone killer.

Not the Palm Pre, not the HTC Hero, not even the highly vaunted Motorola Droid. Not anytime soon. Why? Because the iPhone is much more than a phone: it's rightfully achieved pop-culture status... the "Kleenex" or "Windex" of the consumer smartphone market, if you will. Now, that's not to say that Kleenex is the best brand... because phone versus phone alone? There are many who would say the Palm Pre is superior to the iPhone. But an iPhone killer? None exists.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse recognized this. When he was asked if the Palm Pre was making a dent in iPhone sales, he naturally balked: "... you can almost put the iPhone, to be fair, in a separate category. The Apple brand and that device have done so well, it’s almost not… it’s like comparing someone to Michael Jordan." ... Perhaps not the wisest choice of words (iSheep "journalists" had a field day with that one), but in essence he merely stated the obvious, and gave Apple their proper credit... basically everything I've said here in a nutshell! As for Palm? They no doubt were cognizant of this long ago.

Still not sinking in?

Let's try a more appropriate comparison to bring it all home...

Putting it into perspective: Palm Pre vs Google G1

Google's G1 phone launched with considerable fanfare less than a year before the Palm Pre on T-Mobile. Even in this matchup, Palm is still at quite a disadvantage: when the Pre launched, they certainly didn't have the name recognition or the resources that Google had when they launched their G1! And yet... and yet... The Palm Pre beat the G1 in first quarter sales. The G1 didn't reach a million units sold until six months after launch. It's estimated the Palm Pre reached a million units as early as four months after launch.

Google's second generation devices (myTouch, HTC Hero, Motorola Droid) are doing considerably better. The Droid, riding a heavy advertising blitz after being launched by THREE companies (Verizon, Google, AND Motorola) reached a million sales in 4 weeks. Not too shabby, but that's with a year's headstart, and again, with considerable backing from three big companies. So before you're tempted to compare the Pre's sales to the Droid, it's crucial to remember the Google phone's humble beginnings. By all accounts, if one were to extrapolate that Palm could duplicate Google's success (assuming they play their cards right), then they're off to a darn good start.

So where does this all leave us?

I'm not sure. ... Let me explain myself: I'm not making excuses for Palm, here. The world of business lives in the NOW (how appropriate, @Sprint!), and doesn't care about sob stories. However, taken into appropriate context, Palm Pre sales have done well and actually exceeded many expectations. Whether or not all this is enough to keep Palm afloat (they dug themselves a deep hole long before the Pre came around), I cannot say. Dammit, I'm a doctor, not an economist.

All I'm saying is that people who gauge the Palm Pre's success or failure based on its relative sales versus the iPhone or now-more-mature Android OS devices are using really myopic, flawed logic. It's a shame that tech journalists/analysts don't recognize this, and an even bigger shame that many investors take what these clowns say at face value. The only metric that truly matters is the financial reports from Palm. Period.

Which is the BEST Twitter App for the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi?

2009-11-20T01:16:00.066-06:00

If you like using Twitter and have a Palm Pre or Pixi, you're in luck: there are currently SIX full-featured Twitter apps available for webOS. They are all very different, and suit different needs. These choices can be a bit overwhelming, but fear not! Totally Palmed has got your back. I own and have used all of these apps extensively, so I can pass my impressions on to you. Hopefully it helps you make a decision, based on your needs. These apps are listed in the order that I downloaded them. Have a look, after the break!

1) "Tweed" by Pivotal Labs: Currently the most popular webOS Twitter app, Tweed gives you a clean but very powerful interface. It's not the sexiest looking app out there, but is certainly one of the most powerful apps available, giving you the ability to do multiple card searches (ala Tweetdeck), direct posting of pictures (paid version), conversation view, saved searches, multiple accounts, landscape mode, shake-to-refresh searches, URL shrinking, live notifications... with few exceptions, if you name it, Tweed does it. One feature I've come to love: Tweed is the only app where you can STOP a connection, should it get "stuck."
Full version: $2.99

PROS:
- Tons of powerful features. Supports lists.
- The ONLY Twitter app that allows you to edit your followers
- Live notifications even with app closed
- Multiple card searches
- Screen still accessible while connecting
- Can CANCEL connection if it gets stuck
- Free trial version available

CONS:
- Saved searches don't save to Twitter, only within Tweed
- Notifications buggy for some users

2) "Twee" by Delicious Morsel: The folks at Delicious Morsel have indeed cooked up a delicious Twitter app that has been a huge hit with many users. Sporting a sexy interface with a scrolling bottom slider, Twee is not short on powerful features, either. It does pretty much everything that Tweed does, but does not do multiple card searches (yet). Still, it does other things that Tweed doesn't, such as thumbnail previews of pictures so you don't have to tap on a picture link to see it. Some people have complained Twee can have lag issues.
Full version: $2.99
PROS:
- Beautiful interface
- Live notifications even with app closed
- Remembers your place in timeline
- Powerful features with extra goodies. Supports lists.
- Searches save to Twitter
- Free trial version available

CONS:
- Occasional lag issues
- No multiple card searches
- Can't see original message when replying to it
- Some tasks require more taps than they should

3) "Spaz" by Funkatron Productions: Spaz is the only open-source Twitter app for the Palm Pre, and currently the only one that is FREE. Spaz sports a very attractive face and a unique browsing experience: your entire timeline and replies to you are shown in one window, which is nice if you don't like switching from page to page. Spaz also supports powerful functions like multiple card searches (like Tweed) and thumbnail previews (like Twee). A recent update brought direct photo uploading, saved searches, and cool features like sharing of tweets via SMS and email (the only client to support this). Funkatron Productions has also promised a "skins" feature with future updates. The UI is nice but can be choppy, and some have complained of lag issues if the app is left open for a long time.
Full version: FREE (limited time)
PROS:
- FREE!
- Multiple card searches
- Share tweets via SMS and email (unique to Spaz)
- Searches save to Twitter
- Timelines, direct messages, and replies in same window (if desired)
- Thumbnail previews of posted pictures
CONS:
- Lags if timeline is long
- Memory leak issues
- Accidental backswipe takes you to the account login screen (minor gripe)
- Can't see full-size user profile pics (you know you want to!)

4) "TinyTwitter" by Tiny Byte Software: If you feel the need for SPEED, then TinyTwitter is your app. This app is easily the cheetah of the animal kingdom of webOS Twitter apps, with incredibly fast loading/posting times and scrolling speeds. No lag issues here! Unfortunately, TinyTwitter is fast because it packs light: it's just a bare-bones Twitter app without fancy features, even some basic ones like searching!
Price: $1.99
PROS:
- Fastest Twitter client for webOS
- Consumes very little resources
- Can be left open all day without any lag issues
CONS:
- Very bare-bones Twitter client... can't even SEARCH!
- No photo uploading. At all.
- No free trial version available

5) "Yak" by JM Productions: Yak is a pretty standard Twitter app, which provides all of the important features you would expect a full-featured Twitter client to have. It’s fast, supports lists, and is easy to use. A recent update made it even easier to use. However, when compared to the other powerful webOS Twitter clients, nothing makes app truly stand out, and the price seems a bit high. Still, if simplicity and all the basic necessities are what appeal to you, you may find the cost justified.
Price: $2.99

PROS:
- Very easy to use
- Fast and smooth scrolling
- All the basic functions most people need
- Small memory footprint
CONS:
- Access to searching unintuitive (have to click "trends")
- Slight lag switching between timelines
- No free trial version available

6) “Bad Kitty” by Superhuman Industries: Bad Kitty is the newest entrant into the wild world of webOS Twitter clients, and it’s a breath of fresh air. I had the privilege of beta-testing this app, and was very impressed by the commitment of its developers: they’re really energized about their product. Bad Kitty offers the user a unique interface, is full-featured, and fast… I’m talking Tiny Twitter fast! However, the app is still a bit raw: there’s no trending topics, nearby tweets, native picture viewer, or notifications, and navigation is a bit… janky. Still, of all the Twitter clients, this one seems to have the best feature:speed ratio I have seen to date. If you want a well-established Twitter client, perhaps you should steer clear of this one, but not forever: while it currently has a ways to go in development, it’s getting there fast.
PROS:
- Very fast
- Unique interface
- Conversation thread
- Thumbnail previews of posted pictures
- Searches save to Twitter
CONS:
- Still a bit green
- A couple navigation miscues
- No multiple card searches
- No free trial version available

---------------------------------------

6) "Fleet Tweet" by 8-bit development: Don't care what other people have to say? Do you want to be the one who does all the tweeting? Meet Fleet Tweet, a very basic FREE (read: ad-supported) Twitter client that does one thing: tweet! No loading feeds here. Curiously, this app DOES include features like direct photo uploading and buttons for exclamation marks and hashtags (#). This app is nice for those who need a tool to post frequent updates: tweets from a convention, concert, etc.
Price: FREE

PROS:
- FREE
- Fast
- Direct photo uploading

CONS:
- Ad-supported

7) Picture Tweet by Boa Pro Solutions: Like Fleet Tweet, this is another FREE (ad -supported) app that allows you to tweet only and send pictures too. The look and polish is nicer than Fleet Tweet, but Picture Tweet does lack Fleet Tweet's "advanced" functions of hashtag (#) and exclamation mark buttons (tongue in cheek). The same pros and cons apply.
PRICE: FREE

PROS:
- FREE
- Fast
- Direct photo uploading
CONS:
- Ad-supported

-- That should get you started! Best of luck and see you on Twitter!

HOUSE DIVIDED! Palm Pre vs. HTC Hero!

2009-10-14T22:52:00.013-05:00

Those who follow me on Twitter know... I'm a Palm Pre fanboy.

My wife? A bonafide iPhone fan. Try as I might to explain to her why the iPhone is worth leaving, ultimately it was Benjamin Franklin who made the strongest case: thanks to Sprint's low rates and their Any Mobile, Anytime feature, we were able to dump our landline for good and save over two grand over two years. Not chump change.

Casting aside my strong recommendation that she get a Palm Pre, my wife instead opted to get the HTC Hero. The reason? She actually wanted a virtual keyboard, because it would be the closest thing to her precious iPhone. The Palm fanboy in me was disappointed, but the geek in me was overjoyed. And hey, with Sprint's 30 day return policy, if she didn't like the Hero, she could switch to the Palm Pre, a phone she already knew well... thanks to yours truly never shutting up about it!

So how did the HTC Hero fare against "The Pre-cious?" Read on to find out.

THE STAREDOWN:

A few days in, and I can already tell you: these are two *very* different phones, each filling a different niche. On one hand there's the HTC Hero, running on an already established, maturing Android platform. Much like the iPhone, it's essentially a platform for running apps (though unlike the iPhone, in an open, unrestrictive way).

On the other hand, there's the Palm Pre, with its revolutionary, yet unproven webOS. The apps aren't there quite yet, but at its core is an already robust operating system that allows for running multiple processes simultaneously in real time.

HTC Hero gets in the first few punches

Having played with the HTC Hero after a couple days I can tell you I'm very impressed. I had a reeeeeal strong bias against it from the outset because of my loyalty to Palm, but it certainly made me a little green with envy on multiple occasions...

Build Quality
While I think the Palm Pre may be a smaller, more attractive device, but there's no question the HTC Hero is built better. There's no moving parts, it has a glass screen (that's supposedly smudge resistant but it ain't all that great), and generally better quality feel to it.

Features the Pre doesn't have ...

I'm not talking about little things. I mean BIG things like visual voicemail, video recording, voice memo, and expandable memory (up to 32 gb... it comes with only 2 gb, though. Pre has only 8gb). Palm has publicly stated the Pre will get both video recording and visual voicemail in the future, but seeing them on my wife's phone really made me want them NOW.

Apps, apps, apps...
The Android OS has had time to cook... over a year now. So it's had time to build a sizable app store... almost 10,000 apps! And good ones, too. There's an app called "Barcode Scanner" which allows you to scan the barcodes of things in the store so you can look up online reviews of them, etc. Just tonight, I played fuckin' DOOM on her phone. Just like on the PC! Remember that game?! I was overjoyed to see RoboDefense, a game much like the iPhone's Field Runners. Let's not forget they have a fully functional DataViz Documents to Go app for editing Microsoft Office files. Really, really cool stuff! ... Except for one thing... no screen shots of apps in the Android Market. What's up with that?!

Meanwhile, the Palm Pre's App Catalog is still in beta, with about 150 apps. I know the apps will come because webOS is so easy to write for, but I was kinda jealous.

BUT... even with all of that said, I'm not giving away my Palm Pre anytime soon. Why?

Palm Pre responds!

** WebOS: **
This is by far the best operating system I've ever seen on a phone. While HTC did their best to make the Hero display multiple widgets, (EDIT: and holding the home button DOES pull up a list of active apps), it's still nowhere NEAR as elegant or effective a solution as on the Palm Pre. Now... webOS DOES take some getting used to: you actually have to TRAIN yourself to use Universal Search and leave multiple apps open at the same time (your initial instinct is to close 'em when you're done). But once you do that, you'll swear by it. Nothing comes close. Not the iPhone, not Android. To ME, this is the most important thing because no matter what I'm doing on my phone, I use this OS all the time. Put simply, it just WORKS.

Keyboard:
I always HATED the virtual keyboard on the iPhone. HATED IT! I could never hit the keys right, and the autocorrect was way too intrusive. The Palm Pre has a REAL keyboard. Reviews complain that it's small and cramped... and this was my initial reaction when I first got it. But after 2 weeks or so, I got really fast and accurate... more so than I ever could on the iPhone. That said, the HTC Hero's virtual keyboard isn't bad... in fact I think it would be slightly BETTER than the iPhone's if it wouldn't lag from time to time. But... after I got back to typing on my Pre I arrived at the same conclusion: fuck virtual keyboards! Nothing beats tactile. (** And by the way, someone's already made a virtual keyboard for the Palm Pre also... so you get BOTH kinds now, whereas iPhone and Hero are always stuck with virtual only.)

Faster processor:
Burden the HTC Hero with too much stuff, and it'll lag on you. The Pre can get quite laggy too, but overall it's definitely snappier, and updates have made it faster and more stable. ... And that's running MULTIPLE things at once.

Screen:
The Hero's screen may have 0.1" on the Pre's, but 65,000 colors vs the Pre's 16 MILLION? Child, pleez.

Browser:
Both use Webkit browsers like the iPhone, and while the Android browser has the great text re-wrapping feature when zooming in and out, the my Pre's browser is simply smoother and faster than my wife's Hero. In the browser games, speed and smoothness are the trump cards.

Touchstone charger:
This is just an accessory, but the fact that I can just set my phone down on the charger without fumbling with wires is much cooler than I ever anticipated. Really. If you get a Pre, get one of these things.

No Knockouts... Judge's decision!
I'll sum it up like this: all the cool stuff I liked about HTC Hero reminded me how young the Palm Pre is. Clearly, webOS needs to continue to grow and more apps need to come out. Buuuuuut, playing on the Hero reminded me of how amazing the Palm Pre ALREADY IS. Being used to the Pre's fluid multitasking abilities, the Android OS seemed primitive to me, despite HTC's bang-up job with their Sense UI. It really comes down to this: what kind of smartphone customer are you? What would you prefer... a phone with a more mature app store but primitive (IMHO) OS, versus a phone that's a little green in the apps/features department but has an OS that blows all other phones out of the water?

For me, I chose the latter. As I said, webOS just works. The apps and features are coming in, too. As of this writing the Palm App Catalog is nearing 1000 apps. Is the Pre perfect? Hell no. Battery life sucks, and I really do miss some features like visual voicemail, etc. But I've enjoyed the hell out of the Palm Pre, and I love how Palm has continued to update it regularly.

... You'll make the right call. ;)

***********************************************************

For your reading pleasure, I archived my tweets about the Hero when I was first playing with it... just like on Twitter, the oldest tweets are at the bottom. (Sorry, I ain't reversing 'em!) Enjoy!

Having owned a Palm Pre tho I can really tell a difference... WebOS UI is so much easier and more fluid than Android at this point.

This keyboard is driving me crazy, tho. Gave me flashbacks to when I had the iPhone! LOL

Finished setting up wife's calendars on HTC Hero. Shows mult calendars like Palm Pre, syncs slightly faster. But no week view or attendees.

Gotta say... the Flash integration in my wife's HTC Hero's browser is pretty sweet. Can't wait 'til Palm Pre gets it!

Setting up my wife's calendar on her HTC Hero. Functional, but rather limited and cumbersome. Already appreciating my Palm Pre more and more

IMO, I gotta say: OVERALL, I'm liking this HTC Hero. Would I recommend it over the iPhone? Absolutely. Over the Palm Pre? Not so fast.

Yep! But no true multitasking and this darn virtual keyboard on HTC Hero are the deqlbreqkers. For ME, it's a Palm Pre! ;)

Twitter widget on HTC Hero doesn't seem to have conversation tracking. Missing Tweed already. ;)

Playin on my wife's HTC Hero. Very nice device, but the keyboard would drive me bananas. Wife's not so sure about it, either. Growing pains.

HTC Hero Android 1.5 is awesome... but Palm Pre webOS 1.2 is even better. ;)

I still favor Palm Pre's REAL keyboard, but for a software kb, I think HTC Hero trumps iPhone: less intrusive w customizable autocorrect.

Another observation: HTC Hero's 65,000 colors are no match for Palm Pre's brilliant 16 million colors.

One last point: HTC Hero DOES do background processes, but doesn't multitask nowhere NEAR like Palm Pre. Still have to close out of apps.

I'm appreciating my Pre's UI more. The Hero's UI can get quite busy.

ARRGH!! HTC Hero has Shazaam. Dammit I wish webOS had that app!

Scroll speed in HTC Hero's browser absolutely spanks my Palm Pre and wife's old iPhone 3G. But again, load time can be slow.

RT @SandynLos: I would definitely get an Android phone if I didn't have the Palm Pre. I love webOS. <-- AGREED!

HTC Hero doesn't seem to have all the lag I'm reading about. But we haven't loaded any apps or songs on it yet. ;)

Ugh. My wife has duplicates, triplicates, and QUADRUPLICATES of some of her contacts on her HTC Hero. Eesh... :-/

After several tests, it's clear my Palm Pre's browser is faster than wife's HTC Hero, BUT I LOVE how her Hero parses text w zoom in/out!

My wife's 7 pages of HTC Hero's Sense UI are completely full now and I must say it's lookin' cluttered. Where the hell is universal search?!

HTC Hero's OS much more utilitarian and "tech" rather than simple and fluid like the Pre's. I'm favoring the latter right now.

HTC Hero's contact handling NOWHERE NEAR matches Palm Pre's synergy for linking accts / ease of use, BUT... it lets u choose which Facebook friends 2 add.

One thing's for sure: my Palm Pre's web browser runs circles around my wife's HTC Hero... more to come. This is a geek's dream come true LOL

HTC Sense UI on Hero is nice, but I can tell you right now the Palm Pre's UI and multi-tasking is WAY more elegant and easier to use.

Thus far I'm seeing my wife's HTC Hero very different from Palm Pre. Pages of widgets not quite multitasking, but cool nonetheless.

Didn't like the haptic feedback on the HTC Hero's virtual keyboard, though: vibration was delayed. Pretty sure it can be shut off. (Edit: It can!)

My wife does not like the Sprint HTC Hero's brown/bronze color at all. Wanted the white color seen on Euro Hero.

Very 1st impressions: HTC Hero feels good in hand, virtual keyboard is actually pretty nice: very smooth, with great unintrusive autocorrect.

Holding them side-by-side, HTC Hero feels more solid than Palm Pre, but slightly clunkier, definitely non-descript appearance.

Awesome! My wife dumped her iPhone for the HTC Hero! We decided to check it out for 1-2 wks. If not all that, she'll go Palm Pre.

So my wife checked out the HTC Hero. It's VERY nice but I still think my Palm Pre wins the day. Details to come.

About to head to Sprint to check out Palm Pre vs HTC Hero for wife. But I'm still clutching to my "Precious," the Palm Pre!

TOTALLY PALMED INTERVIEW: Does Developing for the Palm Pre Really Suck?

2009-09-29T20:28:00.012-05:00

If you've been following any of the daily Palm Pre gossip, you may have caught wind of a brewing controversy surrounding a certain developer named Jamie Zawinksi (jwz). Mr. Zawinksi has an accomplished history as a developer, and was one of the first on the homebrew scene developing a tip calculator and a Dali (morphing) clock for Palm Pre's webOS. (I personally used his tip calculator and liked it.) But suddenly, things turned sour... he had become so upset for some reason that he announced on his blog that he would no longer develop for Palm's webOS. Wow! Where did all this come from? You can read his blog here.

So I got curious. Are other developers having these same misgivings? I went right to the source and struck up an IM chat with a webOS developer, Jordan Gensler (kesne). Mr. Gensler is the founder of Keen Studios, an upstart software development group. After the break, see what he had to say about the whole situation...

TOTALLY PALMED: When did you start developing for webOS?
GENSLER: I started developing webOS basically when the SDK was released. I downloaded the SDK the day it came out and hopped on the development boat. I had plans to develop for it ever since I heard of its launch.

TP: Is there anything about webOS that's appealing to you as a program developer?
GENSLER: Well, a few things, but most of all? No new languages. I love the idea of using web coding for everything. It really speeds up development. Because I already knew these languages, I thought developing on it would be perfect.

TP: Have you developed on any other platforms in the past?
GENSLER:  Oh, sure. I've developed web applications and websites. I've also developed applications for windows.

TP: Recently, a controversy has erupted concerning submission of apps to Palm by Jamie Zawinksi. He had several key complaints that he said have led him to seek other platforms for development. First, let me ask you: what's been your overall experience developing for webOS?
GENSLER: Getting my webOS app developed and approved for submission was great. Working with Palm has been a totally easy and seamless process. Of course, they ask you to change things, but within reason. I won't go into detail about it so as not to jeopardize my disclosure agreements... but basically their aim is keeping all the the apps in webOS consistent.  If every app navigates the same way, the user experence is way better.

TP: Mr. Zawinksi's biggest problems were: 1) with Palm's indication that they want to be the "primary gatekeepers" of app submissions (ala Apple)... which could fly in the face of homebrew? Who knows? 2) That developers are required to have a verified PayPal account to develop for them and 3) That developers are charged $99 charge to develop for Palm. Your thoughts on these?
GENSLER: As Precentral has indicated in their article about this, the $99 charge is becoming the industry standard.

TP: Really? I did not know this...
GENSLER: Oh, yeah. Apple has the exact same fees, and Microsoft imposes similar fees... even for free apps.

TP: But isn't Mr. Zawinski right to be upset about a fee when he merely wanted to submit FREE apps? Why should he have to pay?
GENSLER: It may sound funny, but it actually makes sense. Say you develop an app for webOS - a free app. But there is a bug in it... a big one that causes the webOS phone to stop accepting phone calls. Palm can do one of two things: tell the developer to fix it, or just plain pull it. The $99 fee is, if you will, insurance. It keeps the developer from ditching the app. Make sense?

TP: Okay that's all well and good, but another thing that I've heard about is Palm's response times with developers. What's been your experience?
GENSLER: In my experience, Palm has been nothing but prompt with responses to my inquiries. Not only that, but their responses are usually full of constructive criticism and information.

TP: No canned responses, etc?
GENSLER: None whatsoever. Everything really feels individualized and personal. I've never come across an instance where Palm hasnt answered my questions to my satisfaction.

TP: Do you know any other webOS developers? What has been their opinion on submitting apps to Palm?
GENSLER: I'm in contact with many developers, all report similar experiences as mine.

TP: Do you know any developers on other platforms? If so which ones and what has been their experience?
GENSLER:  I know some iPhone developers. They're mostly satisfied. Their main complaint centers around Apple's submission process. They describe it as "uptight" and "very impersonal."

TP: Do you happen to know Jamie Zawinksi?
GENSLER: I do not, nor have I ever conversed with him online.

TP: Any opinions on his stance?
GENSLER: Well, I sort of understand his dislike for the PayPal requirement. Palm could offer a few more options there. But my main misgivings about this whole spectacle is that Mr. Zawinksi is in effect misrepresenting the webOS developer community as a whole. The vast majority of webOS developers are actually very happy and enthusiastic moving forward.

TP: Do you plan on developing more apps for webOS? Care to plug any current projects?
GENSLER: Sure! I can tell you a few things are in the pipeline. Checkers Pro, of course, but past that, a series of games called Wellow and Chess are coming.

TP: What future do you see for webOS?
GENSLER: I see a very bright future for webOS. The platform has such great potential, and is backed by a great company.

TP: Do you own a Palm Pre? What do you think of it so far?
GENSLER: I own a Palm Pre, yes. Love it. I've been answering your questions from my Pre pretty much this whole time.

* * * * *

Palm has since released a response to Mr. Zawinksi's rant:

We’ve seen some folks assert that Jamie’s case indicates a general pattern at Palm that we don’t really care about developers and aren’t operating in a developer-friendly manner. While we undoubtedly have some work to do here, we hope that people do notice how we treat the “homebrew” community (e.g. PreCentral) and how our current SDK agreement calls out the inspectability and reusability of our own Palm applications. (By the way, several applications from the homebrew community have already made it into our App Catalog.)

While we have yet to finalize and announce our developer program, we hope these points demonstrate our general attitude of embracing developers and empowering them. We’re trying to strike the right balance between locking down our device and making it a free-for-all. Like all great things, this will be an iterative process and we are eager and open to your participation and input to make it better for everyone.

In closing, decide for yourself. Me personally? I think Mr. Zawinksi needs to have a Coke and a smile and relax. If he'd rather program for the vultures over in Cupertino, then he's more than welcome to do so. Good riddance. (Oh and BTW? I'm using a new tip calculator as we speak.)

How To: Add Ringtones to your Palm Pre

2009-09-29T07:42:00.012-05:00

So you just got a brand-new shiny Palm Pre! Congrats! What the hell do you do next?! Fear not, dear Palm Pre friend, for there's answers! Keep in mind: it took ME a good 2 weeks to get really comfortable with this phone's operating system (OS)... so be patient! It will come, and the short learning curve is well worth it. After all, you don't want to be some iPhone simpleton, do you? You're better than that! (Totally joking, iFans... relax.)

My sister recently got her Pre and I've been jotting down the stuff I've taught her... the first thing she asked me was how to customize ringtones! I've gotten this question a lot from others as well, so I'll now pass this info on to you. Why? Because that's the kinda guy I am. Now pay attention! ;)

1) WATCH THE FRIGGIN' HELP VIDEOS!!!!!!
On Twitter I see people asking all sorts of basic questions and complaining that the Pre doesn't come with a manual. For cryin' out loud, people... there's help videos built into your Pre! This is as easy as it gets! Play around with your Pre for a while, and you'll find that most stuff is pretty intuitive. But for just about everything else (i.e., "how do I copy/paste?"), the videos and how-tos should help you out tremendously. (Note: since these videos are streamed to your Pre, you'll need an internet connection in order to view 'em.)

2) GET LOUDER RINGTONES!

Unfortunately, many find that the Palm Pre's ringers aren't loud enough out of the box. But I promised I'd take care of you, didn't I? Luckily our friends over at Precentral.net have hooked everybody up with the Pre's ringtones, only louder! You want 'em? Okay! Here's what you do...

- CLICK HERE to download the Pre's ringtones (via Precentral.net)
- Plug your Pre into your computer.
- Select "USB Drive." Your Pre now acts like a flash drive.
- Find the files that you downloaded to your computer.
- Drag these ringers to the Palm Pre's folder called "Ringtones"
- You're done! Safely disconnect your Pre from your computer.
- Go to "Sounds and Ringtones" in your launcher. If you did this right, you should see the screen to the left.

EDIT: After my wife dumped her HTC Hero for a Palm Pre, I promptly snatched it up to upload louder ringtones. To my surprise, the stock ringtones were just as loud as the "louder" ones! I guess Palm fixed this issue with newer builds. But if you find your ringers are not loud enough, you still might want to look into this.

3) USE YOUR OWN RINGTONES!
This is usually the next thing people wanna know. If you have already transferred your music to your Pre, you can do this easily by clicking on the little icon to the bottom left of the "Sounds and Ringtones" folder. (You can see it in the picture for #2).

4) DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN RINGTONES!
Any ringtone that's an MP3 file will work with the Pre. So pretty much any of your favorite download sites will work. Just download them to your computer, and transfer them to your Pre while in "USB Mode" to the "Ringtones" folder on your Pre. You're done. Follow the steps in #3 to choose that ringer.

One cool site for free ringtones that I've found is Myxer.com. Read their detailed instructions on how to download their free ringers to your phone. It shouldn't surprise you that their instructions are almost exactly like mine! ;)

5) CREATE YOUR OWN RINGTONES!
Okay, so you want to do more than just add a song as a ringer... you want the phone to start ringing RIGHT when Juvenile says "Back that Ass Up!" ... Fine. This is pretty easy, too, but may take a slight bit of time to get set up...
- CLICK HERE to go to the download site for a program called "Audacity." No worries, it's free.

- Open your favorite MP3 with Audacity, and edit it. (Recommended ringtone song clips are ~30 seconds)
- When you're finished, connect your Pre to the computer in "USB Mode."
- Under the file menu of Audacity, click "File", then "Export as MP3."
- If you get some message about a missing "lame encoder" that needs to be downloaded, don't fret... the folks over at Audacity explain how to do it (and why it's necessary). It's easy, just one extra step. You'll only have to do it this once! Click here to download the lame encoder.
- Okay... now export the MP3 to your Palm Pre's "Ringtones" folder. You're done! :)

THAT'S IT FOR NOW! TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR LOTS MORE GOOD STUFF... If you have any more questions drop me a tweet! ... @vara411

ROAD TRIP! I Push Palm Pre's Multitasking to the Limit...

2009-09-19T00:01:00.010-05:00

Road trip! Well... not exactly one I was looking forward to. For several reasons. First, I would be riding with my boss on our way to a boring convention. Second, our trip would take us right through the rural heart of Louisiana... a state not known for its great Sprint coverage (hardly any 3G at all... what the hell is that all about??). Finally, my boss owned an iPhone and was poised to give me all kinds of grief about it, should my Pre not measure up to my glowing praise.

Read on to see if "The Pre-cious" made the cut...

The drive from Shreveport to New Orleans is a six hour trek, which is a long time when you're sitting shotgun next to your boss. On top of all this, my grandmother in Puerto Rico had just had a stroke, and my wife was on a flight to Dallas to meet up with my parents en route to the island. Needless to say, I really wanted to be somewhere else. Fortunately, I had my trusty Palm Pre on hand to keep me occupied, while keeping me in contact with my family... and showing my iPhone-toting boss what this baby could do. Below is a list of things I did on my Pre, all at the same time, during our trip.

GPS NAVIGATION:

To keep us on the right course, I fired up Sprint's TeleNav GPS navigation app, with guidance playing through the car's speakers. Sprint bundles this program with pretty much all of their phones, and includes the service with all of the Palm Pre's data plans... nice. On the Pre, this app is especially cool because, as you'll see later, multiple things can be done at the same time while nav guidance takes place. The app itself looks rather basic, but important functionalities are there: spoken street names, saved addresses, route customization, sharing addresses via SMS, and route correction for traffic. Thus far, it had not let me down. But on this trip, I was worried about the signal...

Turns out I was only half right to be concerned. First of all, we Sprint users are lucky to roam on Verizon's extensive roaming network. When roaming, the Pre's guidance and map refreshing didn't skip a beat. When we hit areas of NO signal at all, the maps stopped refreshing, but at least audible route guidance continued. I learned later on that the Pre's Telenav app pulls MAPS from Sprint's towers, but it's the GPS satellites that keep a bead on you, even when you are out of signal range.

TUNES FOR THE ROAD:

The radio stations in middle Louisiana are nothing to write home about. Because my Pre was already plugged into the car speakers, I opened my MP3 music player. It worked seamlessly with the Telenav app: music would diminish when route guidance kicked in, and then resume at the previous volume when guidance was finished.

The last couple hours of the drive were a real treat: with 3G service available as we approached New Orleans (finally!!!), I fired up Pandora which, just like the MP3 player, worked very well with Sprint's Telenav app. I was expecting there to be some lag in the connection due to the heavy data demands my phone was making, but it worked 100% without a hitch.

TEXTING WITH MMS AND INSTANT MESSAGING:

I'm a hardcore SMS/MMS user... While navigation and music apps were running, I was texting and receiving pics via MMS, and later had an instant messaging session on GTalk with one of my colleagues about our upcoming presentation at the New Orleans meeting. The Palm Pre's keyboard is small and takes some getting used to, but once you do, it's easy to type on even in the car. I'm far more accurate on the Pre than I ever was on my old iPhone, though I would eventually like a better autocorrect system. I'm confident that with time the Pre will get it. (Ahem... Palm?)

FLIGHTVIEW:
While the music was playing and "The Pre-cious" told us where to go, I opened up FlightView, one of the "original 30" apps that launched with the Palm Pre's beta app store. This app allows you to track flights in real-time, with updates on flight status. This app has only worked for me so-so, to be honest. I've often received a text from Orbitz about a flight delay looooong before FlightView alerts me. The app has also fudged expected arrival times in the past. Luckily, this time, it worked like a charm. With the card kept open the whole way, I was able to see, in real time, my family's flight to Puerto Rico throughout my trip. It was great.

(Yes I know the pic doesn't match the route! Just go with it, okay?)

THE QUEST FOR BOUDIN:

On the way down to New Orleans, my boss had been told by one of his patients to try some boudin on the way. Ever had this stuff? Up until that day, me neither! ... With navigation, music, SMS, and Flightview running, I simply typed "boudin" using Universal Search (didn't need to open my browser) and looked it up on Wikipedia. I took a screenshot of the boudin picture up close and sent it via MMS to my Dad's Palm Centro. I found a website dedicated exclusively to reviewing boudin throughout all of South Louisiana! Finally, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the boudin with the Pre's awesome camera... looks delish, doesn't it?

EMAIL:
Because my wife's iPhone could not send MMS (ahem), she'd email me pictures of her with my folks when they met up in Dallas en route to Puerto Rico. I also emailed my PowerPoint presentation to my colleague... mind you, all the crap I've talked about so far has been going on pretty much at the same time.

TWITTER:
I didn't know what Twitter was before I got my Palm Pre. And now? ... Well, let's just say I'm two levels shy of addicted (and in denial!). So yeah, when we were on Sprint's network, there was quite a bit of tweeting, too.

SUMMARIZED:
GPS Navigation. Pandora. FlightView. Texting. Email. Web browser. Twitter. I ran all of these at a time. Only when I opened my camera on top of all this did things start to lag a bit, forcing me to close my web browser and Twitter.

It was late when we got to New Orleans. Still, my boss did manage to swallow his pride for a second and say: "so... how much does the Pre cost? Great little device."

Call me a fanboy, but I'd say he's right. The Pre is just a joy to use and, while not perfect, it's the best phone I've ever owned. I highly, highly recommend it.

DON'T RETURN IT! Simple and Easy Fixes for the Palm Pre

2009-09-18T22:35:00.113-05:00

In my readings of Palm Pre forums and Twitter posts I noticed several common issues kept popping up, leading many people to return their Pre's as "defective." This is a shame, because many Pre's are returned when in fact they don't need to be. With just a little bit of research you'll find the majority of the Palm Pre's "little gremlins" can be sorted out quite easily.

Plus, rest assured because Palm seems to have listened to its customers and is making improvements to the Pre's hardware.

Read my list of several of these common problems and their fixes after the break...

1) PRE SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY!

This is probably the most common issue that I saw. Fortunately, it's a very simple problem, one that can be easily fixed. It is due to a "battery wiggle" issue. A minor manufacturing "snafu" was made when the battery was designed... it's juuuuust small enough that when the Pre is jostled, or if the slider is open or closed, the battery may come off of its contacts momentarily. This can cause the Pre's screen to flicker, shut off, or even shut the Pre down completely. Another problem that comes from this is that this "battery cycling" actually causes the battery to wear down faster!

The solution? I've been telling owners to cut a small piece of double-sided foam tape and install it at the area of the phone where the top edge of battery makes contact. Others have resorted to business cards and stuff, but I don't find that it's ideal. Not surprisingly, Palm has addressed this issue on newer builds by ... *gasp!* installing a small piece of foam in exactly the same place. (I swear when I saw that I felt like such a genius! ... I know... geek is more appropriate!)

Palm also redesigned their stock battery, presumably for a better fit. (The old battery is the one on the left with the grooves, the new one is on the right.) If the above fixes don't work for you, then you can march right up to your Sprint store and demand a new battery. I've been reading that they've been generous in exchanging them. Our Canadian friends to the north should have the newer builds, so this is hopefully a non-issue for them.

2) THE OREO EFFECT!
Many people have noticed that when the Pre is closed, it seems to have a little wiggle if you twist it like an Oreo (hence the name). THIS IS NORMAL: the vast majority of Pre's do this to a negligible degree. But some report that their Pre gets little too loose for comfort. It happened to me once and I discovered an embarrasingly simple fix. See if it works for you.

First, squeeze the two halves of your Pre together, placing gentle but firm pressure at the corners (you don't wanna crack your screen!).

Next... keeping pressure, slowly open and close your Pre about once or twice.

Keep the pressure focused at the points as shown in this pic. It might help. Remember that you will always have some wiggle, and will likely need to do this fix again sometime. If results aren't satisfactory, you could try pressing a little harder. Again, be careful.

UPDATE: oasis9389 on the precentral.net forums has noticed that if you close your Pre from an upper left to bottom right fashion, that it has the same effect as the fix above. This is likely due to the asymmetrical design of the original rail system for the slider. I've read that Palm is fixing this with newer builds as well. Thanks! Final tip: don't fiddle with your Pre after you do this maneuver. If with minimal pressure you notice your Pre is tighter, leave it alone... or you'll go blind! :)

3) EARPIECE AND PROXIMITY SENSOR NOT WORKING!
After a long road trip listening to Pandora, Sprint TeleNav, and taking calls by bluetooth, I let my Palm Pre go to sleep mode, unplugged the AUX wire out of my Pre, and went up to my hotel. I tried to call my wife to let her know I had arrived safely, but to my horror I couldn't hear anything on the other side. I also noticed the proximity sensor (the sensor that shuts off the Pre's touchscreen so your cheek doesn't inadvertently hit a button during a phone call) wasn't working anymore. I did notice, however, that my speakerphone was working just fine. ... And then it hit me: my Pre still thought there was a wire plugged into it! All I'd have to do is plug/unplug any standard headphone into the jack! (Funny part was, I had left the AUX wire in my boss' car... it wasn't until the next day that I sheepishly asked a total stranger at the airport to borrow his headphones... after plugging/unplugging my phone, I was in business!)

So... the solution? Don't unplug your headphones while the Pre is OFF or in sleep mode!

Others have said that if that doesn't work to try this trick while your music player is ON. I didn't need this trick, but maybe it'll work for you. ... It's worth noting that this problem existed on the iPhone when it first launched. Hopefully this will be corrected by our friends at Palm, too. ... But I wouldn't mind visual voicemail, first! ; )

For those with more resistant problems, and if the above fix doesn't work for you, then try this:
a.   Shut off your Pre. To be safe, I'd take out the battery, too.
b.   Take a Q-tip
c.   Remove some of the extra fluff
d.   Wet the tip with alcohol
e.   Insert the tip into the headset jack and clean it really well.
f.    Let it dry
g.   Turn your Pre back on
h.   Go to "Device Info" in your launcher
i.   Open the menu and select "Interactive Tests."
j.   Select "Audio" self-test. You should be done! Try it now...

4) MY KEYBOARD IS ALL CREAKY WHEN I TYPE ON IT!

I hadn't seen this for myself until my wife got a brand-new Palm Pre. It didn't creak out of the box but when I replaced the back-cover on it, the creaking started and wouldn't stop no matter how I installed the backplate. Luckily, there's a simple solution for this as well: just apply electrical tape to the inside portion of the backplate, as shown here...

5) I CAN'T SEE MY MESSAGING CONVERSATIONS!
This problem probably occurs more commonly than it should. Essentially, this is caused by the awesome "Synergy" feature on the Pre that links profiles (Google, Facebook, Yahoo, LinkedIn) of people all together. Problem is, it can cause a glitch in the messaging app: for some reason, the Pre gets confused and can't find the contact associated with that conversation. There's a few solutions for this...

a) Unlink your contact. Say you've lost the conversation with your mom. Go to her contact, and tap at the top of her contact to see all her profiles (see pic on left). If she has only ONE profile (my mom has 3), skip to the next step. Once all the profiles pop up (see second pic on left), tap one of them. This will pull up a menu (see third pic on left). Tap the "Unlink This Profile" button. Repeat this for all of the profiles in Mom's contact listing. Reboot your Pre. (A quick way of rebooting: hold the orange, SYM, and R keys.)

b) Delete your contact. Pretty self-explanatory. Find Mom in the contacts, and tap "Contacts" in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Delete Mom's contact (sorry, Mom). Reboot your Pre. Go make a sandwich. After the Pre finally loads up, re-enter mom's contact. Finally, try an SMS or IM conversation with her again and see if it shows up in the messaging app. If all went well, it should work. If not, proceed to the final step.

c) Do a PARTIAL ERASE.

6) MY SCREEN FLICKERS / GOES BLACK WHEN I TRY TO USE THE PHONE!
This is a problem I found on my wife's brand-new Palm Pre: when I'd open the phone app, the screen would flicker on and off and wouldn't stop until I closed the phone app. It was very worrisome, but turned out to have a very simple fix: take off the screen protector! Normally, the proximity sensor on the Palm Pre and Pixi deactivate the screen when your face comes close, to avoid accidental pushing of buttons while on a call. In my wife's case, the screen protector was "fooling" her Pre into thinking that her face was close to the phone. After removing it, cleaning the screen really well, and replacing the screen protector, the problem never returned.

7) MY KEYBOARD STOPPED WORKING!

This happened to me one morning and scared the hell out of me. I had just switched out the battery when this occurred. So, I powered the phone off, pulled the battery out and placed it back in, and voila! My keyboard was working again. I have no idea what caused it, but at least there's a simple fix for it!

8) MY TOUCHSCREEN STOPPED WORKING!
This has not happened to me, but I have read in a couple forums that some people were able to get their phone working by doing a battery pull, just as in solution #4 above. It didn't work for everyone, but hey it's so simple it's worth a shot.

9) MY GPS ISN’T WORKING RIGHT! (VERIZON AND BELL)
There seems to be a small bug on the Palm Pre Plus where the GPS fix isn’t accurate at all, even with GPS turned on. It’s an issue being investigated, but for right now, there seems to be a fix that works: open the VZ Navigator app, even if you haven’t paid for the service. This supposedly fixes it. No idea why.

10) MY PHONE WON’T SEND MMS MESSAGES! (VERIZON)
For some reason, the Wifi on the Palm Pre Plus does not play nice with MMS. I’m sure this will be fixed soon, but in the meantime, there’s a simple fix: turn wifi OFF when sending an MMS.

There you have it. Ten simple problems with simple fixes for the Palm Pre. I'm not claiming these fixes will work for everybody, but heck they're so easy it's worth a shot before running back to your Palm retailer. If you have any other simple fixes that you'd like me to feature in this blog, leave a comment! Thanks.