webOS posts

Filed under: Palm

Calling all WebOS Developers: Tell us about your Apps!

by Nik Fletcher Nov 17th 2009

In early December, Palm is set to launch its App Catalog to showcase third-party applications for its WebOS devices (the Pre and recently-launched Pixie). Whilst the App Catalog may be later to the party compared with Apple's all-conquering App Store, we're on the lookout for the latest and greatest WebOS applications for your Pre and Pixie handsets.

So, if you're a WebOS developer working on an application, we want to hear from you! To get in touch with us about your apps, simply drop us a note via our Tips form -- or send press releases to the address listed on our About page.

Tags: Palm Pixie, Palm Pre, PalmPixie, PalmPre, WebOS

Filed under: OS Updates, Palm, Mobile Minute

Mobile Minute: Palm WebOS 1.3.1 is out!

by Nik Fletcher Nov 16th 2009

If you're one of the folks sporting a Palm Pre, it's time to check for updates as you'll want to grab the WebOS 1.3.1 update that dropped over the weekend (at least for Sprint customers in the US).

Whilst there's no new applications, the update (which weighs in at 126MB) packs a tonne of features and improvements that you'll probably want add, including support for Yahoo! as a synchronization account.

That's not all, either, as PreCentral has discovered a list of extra undocumented changes that are included in release - and Facebook have launched an embarrassingly barebones application for the Pre that requires the 1.3.1 update.

If you're elsewhere in the world, the launch of the 1.3.1 update will depend on your carrier - in the UK, where I'm based, O2 are reported to be launching the update towards the end of the month.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: Palm-Pre, Web OS 1.3.1, WebOS, WebOs1.3.1

Filed under: Palm, iPhone, Mobile, Android

Ibis eBook reader aims to get around iPhone app store

by Jay Hathaway Nov 2nd 2009

By now, iPhone users who haven't jailbroken their devices have learned that they can't get an app unless it goes through Apple's approval process and reaches the iTunes App Store. A new eBook reader called Ibis, planned for iPhone, Android and Palm's WebOS, plans to get around Apple's restrictions. How? Simple: it's a web app. You can access the reader from your browser, and your books are stored offline using HTML5.

It doesn't seem like there's much Apple can do about that, unless they want to start blocking web apps on their device. Unlikely. So, you can enjoy your DRM-free books in ePub format to your heart's content, and even buy new ones from Ibis' bookstore. You'll be able to sync books and bookmarks across devices via the cloud, too. Ibis isn't launching for "several months," but it could be a real winner if it looks as good as it sounds.

[via Daring Fireball]

Tags: android, books, ebook, epub, ibis, iphone, mobile, reader, webos

Filed under: Mobile Minute, Mobile

Palm makes WebOS app catalog browseable on the web - you know, like Apple's should be

by Lee Mathews Oct 21st 2009

Sometimes I'd like to see what new apps are available for my iPod Touch on the App Store on a system that doesn't have iTunes installed. In their infinite wisdom, however, Apple has decided that this just isn't the way things work on the desktop. You'll use iTunes and you'll damn well like it, buddy.

Palm Pre owners (and curious types) can now enjoy a bit more open experience. As it turns out, Palm thinks it's a great idea for people to be able to see what apps are out there. Not on some new-Pre-app blog. Not in some bloated desktop app. Right on Palm's web site.

What an amazingly simple idea! Now, prospective (and current) Pre and Pixi owners can take a look at all the cool apps they can install on their devices. It's not perfect by any means - I'd love to see a bit more detail about the apps and some more screenshots - but at least it's there for all to see.

Apple, you're paying attention, right? Enough with the "iTunes link" stuff. It's annoying. And not everyone wants to install 100+Mb of software just so they can browse your virtual shelves. Palm beat you to the punch, but you can still prove you're the king of the app store and get something similar online for us.

After that earnings report, you should be able to pay one or two extra web devs to get to work immediately. We'll expect results soon.

In the meantime, well done, Palm!

[via PhoneScoop]

Tags: app store, AppStore, palm pixi, palm pre, PalmPixi, PalmPre, webos

Filed under: BlackBerry, Mobile Minute, Mobile, Web

Mobile Minute: Palm paid apps coming, BlackBerry App World on the web

by Brad Linder Aug 18th 2009

Palm has begun accepting applications for third party applications for WebOS that could eventually end up in the Palm App Catalog. The program is still in the early stages, but here are the details for the beta program:

Developers can submit free or paid apps
Developers will get 70% of any revenue from sales
The program is only open to the US for now

Palm reserves the right to reject applications for pretty much any reason. Officially, apps need to have "acceptable performance and response time" and be written for WwebOS, and the web browser. But what exactly is "acceptable?" And Palm also says applications should be "useful and engaging to users," which seems pretty subjective. My favorite requirement? Applications need to have an "appealing design."

Still, it seems likely that the Palm App Catalog will start looking a bit more substantial soon.

In other news, RIM is making it easier for BlackBerry users to find an download programs from the Blackberry App World store. In addition to using the application on supported BlackBerry devices to find and download applications, you can now visit a web-based version from any browser.

In order to actually download applications, you'll need to enter your email address and the store will send a download link to your mobile device.

[via Gizmodo]

Tags: blackberry, blackberry-app-world, palm, palm-app-catalog, webos

Filed under: OS Updates, Palm, Apple

Palm restores iTunes sync for Pre, adds new webOS features

by Jay Hathaway Jul 26th 2009

Not even two weeks after Apple's iTunes 8.2.1 update removed iTunes syncing capability from the Palm Pre, Palm has announced an update to webOS that adds several features and restores syncing. A few of the new features are business-oriented, including improved Exchange AccessSync support (remote wipe, PIN/password improvements, and better certificate handling). webOS 1.1 also includes "person reminders" that pop up a message when a person calls you, making sure you remember things you wanted to talk to them about.

Of course, the main thing that's going to be reported about the webOS update is the ongoing tussle between Apple and Palm over iTunes sync. Pre owners and Apple fanboys are now waiting to see when the other shoe will fall and Apple will disable syncing again. Just in case that happens, Pre owners might want to check out a third-party app that can handle syncing for the device.

Tags: apple, iTunes, palm, palm-pre, sync, webOS

Filed under: Palm, Mobile Minute

Mobile Minute: Palm Pre syncs with iTunes again... for now

by Victor Agreda, Jr. Jul 23rd 2009

In what will no doubt become another game of device authentication tennis, Palm webOS 1.1 fixes what iTunes 8.2.1 tore asunder: sync with the Pre. Yep, 1.1 is hot off the networks and ready for a hefty 87MB download. I like how Palm's notification states "We'll download it over the next couple of days when your device is idle and a high speed network is available." There's that background magic at work! Your move, Apple.

Oh, apparently there are bugfixes and fancy things like remote wipe and auto-lock added in this update. Like you care while syncing all those torrented episodes of The Office, right?

[via PreCentral and Engadget]

Tags: itunes, mobile, palm, pre, sync, update, webos

Filed under: Developer, Palm, Mobile Minute

Palm finally unleashes Mojo SDK so you can make webOS fart apps for the Pre

by Victor Agreda, Jr. Jul 16th 2009

Yep, time to fire up the code editor of your choice and get crackin' on that explosive "app market" the mobile space is all abuzz about. It seems Palm finally had enough of the paltry offerings in their App Catalog for the Pre and opened the SDK and documents to any fool crazy enough to write a list app, tip calculator, etc.

Palm's blog post about this momentous occasion offers some dates for webOS meetups and conferences, handy if you're trying to get up to speed fast. Or, you can go straight to the Palm developer center, cleverly called webOSdev (camel caps, radical!) and get the SDK and documents yourself.

While I am clearly dubious of Palm's efforts, coming late to a party they practically started and having failed so many times before (and in some of the most spectacular ways ever seen in consumer electronics), in the end I really am hoping they can nurture a strong application environment. Choice is good, and Palm still has a lot going for it. I also hope the developers for Pre find what they are looking for. Will their app catalog burst with over 50,000 apps in a year? Time will tell.

What apps would you write for webOS?

Tags: developer, palm, palm pre, PalmPre, sdk, webos

Google announces multi-platform Chrome OS, shipping in late 2010

by Grant Robertson Jul 8th 2009

Whoa. After long periods of speculation, Google enters the operating system space, for reals.

Chrome OS will be "fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds." Targeted at Netbooks, Chrome OS will be available on new systems by the second half of 2010. "The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web", according to the Official Google blog.

And, lest you think "Chrome OS" to just be fancy rebranding of Google's Android mobile OS, Google's VP of Product Management makes it abundantly clear in the release, "Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems."

Corporate espionage being what it is these days, there have likely been some sleepless nights around Redmond recently. With the full faith and credit of Google behind a radically new "cloud" OS -- relieving users of tedious things like backing up files, or installing applications -- Microsoft's quest to tie up the netbook market, without allowing it to compete for the low end of desktops, could face significant challenges in the years ahead.

Tags: chrome, google, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, web os, WebOs

Filed under: Palm, Mobile

Palm WebOS features previewed thanks to a leaked emulator - Video

by Brad Linder May 26th 2009

The Palm Pre smartphone featuring Palm's new WebOS operating system may not be available to the public just yet. But the company released an emulator to select developers working on applications that will run on the operating system. And the internet being what it is, said emulator wound up in the hands of some folks who have been willing to record demos of various features in WebOS and post them on the internet.

Over the last few days, a member of the PalmPreForum going by the name of "invisible man" has posted more than 20 videos showing everything from the WebOS web browser to the built in PDF viewer. You can also get an overview of the contacts, calendar, search, and phone applications as well as a first look at applications like YouTube, Google Maps. There's even a video dedicated to the copy & paste feature.

You can check out a few videos after the break or check out more videos at the PalmPreForum YouTube channel.

[via Engadget]

Tags: palm-pre, webos

Filed under: OS Updates, Palm, Mobile

Palm Pre and WebOS gets emulator for older PalmOS apps

by Brad Linder Apr 2nd 2009

Palm did an interesting thing with the upcoming Pre smartphone: The company scrapped its old operating system and started from scratch. The new webOS is prettier, easier to use, and more focused on modern apps like web browsers than PalmOS.

The problem is, there are more than 30,000 PalmOS apps already out there. And by building a new operating system from the ground up, Palm was kind of telling loyal fans of some of those programs not to bother upgrading until (or unless) the develoeprs of those apps issued updates. Because webOS wasn't going to run them.

But now Palm has announced that MotionApps is developing a program called "Classic" that will allow WebOS users to run older PalmOS apps. The software isn't part of the operating system, and customers will have to buy it separately. But it should be available for purchase as soon as the pre launches.

Because Classic is an emulator, older PalmOS programs won't be able to access the core webOS functions. I assume that means if you decide to that you prefer the classic contact application to the new one, you won't be able to use it to initiate phone calls.

PalmOS emulation company StyleTap has also said that it's considering developing a version of its software for webOS.

[via Uneasy Silence]

Tags: classic, emulation, emulator, motionapps, palmos, webos, webos-classic

Filed under: OS Updates, Palm, Mobile

Palm pulls the plug on PalmOS

by Brad Linder Feb 11th 2009

When Palm announced that the company's next phone would run a new operating system called WebOS, it probably should have been pretty clear that the company was severing its ties to the now-antiquated PalmOS. But just in case it wasn't, Palm CEO Ed Colligan made it official today: The company will not be releasing any more devices with PalmOS.

The mobile operating system may have been hot stuff back in the days when people routinely carried around PDAs that didn't double as cellphones. But Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Apple's mobile version of OS X all outperform PalmOS in key areas.

Moving forward, Palm will be focusing on WebOS development. What does that mean for the thousands of free and commercial applications that were developed for PalmOS? It means they won't run on newer Palm devices unless the developers issue updates or you use an emulator like StyleTap.

[via Techmeme]

Tags: palm, palmos, webos

Filed under: OS Updates, Palm, Commercial, Mobile

StyleTap could bring PalmOS apps to Palm's WebOS

by Brad Linder Jan 15th 2009

If you haven't been hiding under a rock (where there's usually pretty poor mobile reception), you probably know that Palm announced a new phone and a brand spanking new operating system at CES last week. The company's new WebOS shocked a lot of folks by actually looking pretty awesome.

The new OS is based on Linux, has an entirely new UI, and includes some nifty zoom, transition, and fade effects. And unlike OS X on the iPhone, WebOS allows you to do basic things like copy and paste or cycle between running tasks without closing one.

But there's one thing that WebOS won't do: run older PalmOS applications. Since WebOS was built from the ground up as a new operating system, it's not backward compatible with earlier Palm operating system. And that means that instead of having thousands of applications ready to go on day one, Palm will have a few dozen.

But there may be a solution for folks who are addicted to older Palm apps. StyleTap is a company that makes a $50 PalmOS compatibility utility for Windows Mobile devices. The company has also expressed interest in developing a version for the iPhone and for Symbian phones.

Now Brighthand reports that StyleTape could be headed to WebOS as well. According to one of the company's founders, building a WebOS version of StyleTap is certainly doable, but he says that Palm will first need to rlease a set of C/C++ APIs as part of its SDK. That hasn't happened yet, but if those APis become available, StyleTap could provide access to thousands of older Palm apps on newer Palm devices.

Tags: palm, palmos, styletap, webos

Filed under: Internet, OS Updates, Web services, web 2.0

Glide unveils new version of web OS

by Brad Linder May 30th 2008

Glide has launched an updated version of its web-based "operating system." Like its predecessors, Glide OS 3.0 provides users with a desktop-like space within a browser window. You can use Glide's web-based applications to create Word documents, spreadsheets, or presentations. You can also play music, manage photos and videos, and send and receive email. In other words, you can do many of the same things you'd do with a desktop operating system, but in a web browser.

What sets Glide apart from many of its competitors is that Glide offers a suite of tools that let you synchronize your files with a Windows, Mac, Linux, or Solaris machine. There's also Glide Sync software for a number of mobile phone models. Free account holders get up to 5GB of web space, and if you need more, you can shell out a few bucks a month for additional storage.

One of the new features in Glide OS 3 is a Glide Group tool that adds social networking features. You can communicate with other Glide users by sending messages or sharing media files.

[via WebWare]

Tags: glide, glide-os-3, synchronization, webos, webtop

Filed under: Features, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Productivity, Web services

Desktop on Demand: Nice, but worth the cost?

by Kristin Shoemaker Mar 13th 2008

Back in prehistory (or January, thereabouts) we talked a bit about webOSes, and the migration of Ewedrive to Desktop on Demand. This week we got a chance to play around with Desktop on Demand in more depth.

Desktop on Demand (DOD) is a true networked OS. It's a Linux based system, with a clean, clear GNOME interface. There is online storage, and a good mix of open source apps. Our little issue about using a browser to access a webOS to surf the web in its browser has been addressed in an innovative way: launcher clients.

Yes, DOD offers clients to launch the service. Truthfully, we heard this and got a little annoyed. But trust us when we say that this is actually a freakin' huge advantage over the old time webOS set ups. The clients are available for Windows, OS X, and Linux. They are small, and can be installed on a flash drive. If you want to keep one on a hard drive on a given computer, it runs from the downloaded location. Very easy, very unoffensive -- very personal, and very secure.

When the desktop opens, it doesn't open in a browser. Maybe this shouldn't sit better with us, but for some strange reason, it just does. It feels much more natural. There is less clutter and we could forget that we were using a completely different operating system underneath it all.

Tags: desktop on demand, DesktopOnDemand, ewedrive, GNOME, Linux, Mac, productivity, web, webOS, Windows

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures

Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party

Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

Download Squad bloggers (30 days)

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Jay Hathaway	108	5
2	Lee Mathews	76	23
3	Sebastian Anthony	67	248
4	Brad Linder	35	4
5	Jason Clarke	23	0
6	Dolores Parker	7	2
7	Grant Robertson	6	2
8	Nik Fletcher	5	0
9	Victor Agreda, Jr.	5	1
10	Matt Heerema	3	2
11	Paul O'Brien	2	0
12	John Burke	2	0
13	Download Squad Staff	1	0

More Tech Coverage

Control Shift It's all about the experience
Somewhat Frank Perspectives on tech as it fuses in everyday life
Switched Gadgets, web news and commentary
Urlesque Exposing bits of the web

Download Squad