The beez world of phones (News, Tips, Information)
WebOS
Palm releases WebOS 2.0 SDK beta to limited developers
Sep 1st
While we are still wondering how WebOS’s development will be moving forward after HP put in their money, Palm has just released the beta version of the WebOS SDK 2.0 to limited developers.
From the features made available to the developers, we can see some new features of the upcoming WebOS 2.0. There are things like Stack, an improved Card feature for the multitasking capability of WebOS, which stacks similar card together. Palm also opens the Synergy so that third party developers can add services to other IM and messaging services to the famous Synergy Unified Communication feature . The HTML5 and Java script functions have been improved as well.
Well, I am actually quite excited to see whether Palm will release new improved devices based on the new OS and sell them to the rest of the world.
[via Palm developers Center]
Martias Duarte, the UI guru behind WebOS, joins Android team
May 28th
Martias Duarte, who is the master mind of the WebOS UI, has left Palm to join Google’s Android team.
He is now the User Experience Director for Android. And he is no stranger to the Android leadership because he worked on the Sidekick with Andy Rubin when they were both still with Danger.
So are we going to see a major overhaul for Android user interface? Some of you may still like the stocked Android interface, HTC Sense, Motorola Motoblur and many others. I believe we will see a big change for Android stocked interface in the near future.
HP buys Palm for 1.2 billions
Apr 29th
Surprise! Surprise! HP buys Palm. And it costs HP 1.2 billions USD.
We knew Palm was looking for people to buy them but HP was never in the picture. However, this is a deal now and HP is looking to complete the deal by 31st July.
“Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “And, Palm possesses significant IP assets and has a highly skilled team. The smartphone market is large, profitable and rapidly growing, and companies that can provide an integrated device and experience command a higher share. Advances in mobility are offering significant opportunities, and HP intends to be a leader in this market.”
Accordingly, Palm’s CEO, Jon Rubinstein, will stay as well as most of his team in Palm. But it is not clear that Jon will remain at his current position. The current road map of WebOS will stay and HP is hinting there might be more different type of devices in the future based on WebOS (WebOS based tablet?!).
The full press release is after the break.
Palm project Ares hit 1.0
Apr 20th
The web based development platform – Project Ares – from Palm for WebOS application development is out of beta now. It is labelled as 1.0 at the moment.
Besides ironing out bugs and issues, Palm event adds more functionalities to it: ‘Components, which are widgets that provide functionality, but without any user interface. The palette now contains the service calls, sensors, etc that are in the webOS SDK’.
If you are a developer wanting to writing applications for Palm WebOS platform, the Project Ares is a good tool. Check it out here.
Palm is up for sales
Apr 12th
Although this may not be a big surprise to many of you, it is still a surprise because Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein has been advocating that Palm has plans to return to profitability.
According to Bloomberg, Palm is working with Goldman Sachs and Qatalyst Partners to find a proper suitor. As early as this week, Palm will receive bids from the bidders. And it is said that HTC and Lenovo are among the bidders.
However, all parties involved in the news had declined to comment. If the news is true, Palm will end itself as an independent company and whoever bought he company will enjoy a long list of patents that Palm has acquired during the long history in the smart device market.
WebOS 1.4 coming today, with a long list of changelog
Feb 26th
Yes, it has been reported that Palm will release the version 1.4 of WebOS to the Pre and Pixi owners by today. And we have a long list of have been fixed and addedd:
Fixes
- Time Zone bug Fix
- Network time sync bug fix to reflect accuratenetwork time
- BT car-kit transition to device corrected
- No EV-Icon bug fixed (random)
- Random browser formatting bug fixed
- Fixed bug that incorrectly displayed Sprint when actually was Digital Roaming
Enhancements
- Phonebook Transfer
- Supports Video Capture Capability
- Performance enhancement within phone and calendar
Apps
Calendar
- Dial phone # from within a meeting event
- Allow custom Alerts sounds for Calendar event and reminders
- Added AM – PM detail within Calendar events
- Embedded phone $ or email address (embedded inemail) can be easily added to Contacts app
- New email sort options (date, Sender, Subject)
- Return to inbox view after send – email
Messaging
- Ability to forward SMS to email
- Ability to dial phone # from SMS chat session (No need to open contact any longer
- Press and hold on a phone # to get more options( Call, SMS)
Universal Search now includes EAS (outlook Exchange) GAL corporate address look up.
Application Launcher – Easier user interface providing usermore feedback during an application launch
Pre Button in gesture area blinks when notification pending
Added Adobe Flash 10 Beta – Palm Pre only
Supports Flash 10 Beta – download available in Palm AppCatalog
[via precentral]
Palm starts the 1 million dollars Hot Apps challenge
Feb 2nd
In order to attract more quality apps to its App Catalog, Palm has started a Hot Apps program.
Running from February 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010, Hot Apps will award cash prizes to the developers with the most webOS app downloads during that period.
And here are the prizes:
- #1 most downloaded free app: $100,000
- #1 highest revenue paid app: $100,000
- #2 – #21 most downloaded paid apps: $10,000 each
- #2 – #21 most downloaded free apps: $10,000 each
- #22 – #221 most downloaded paid apps: $1,000 each
- #22 – #221 most downloaded free apps: $1,000 each
There are 2 categories, free and paid apps. And the top 221 apps from each categories will be rewarded. For WebOS developers, that’s something to look forward.
[via precentral]
