Anyone with a valid email address ay now download the Palm Mojo SDK at http://developer.palm.com.

“This is one more step in delivering webOS to all developers and providing the tools they need to build great applications for Palm phones,” Chuq Von Rospach, Palm’s Developer Community Manager, said in a blog post.

Meanwhile, Motion Apps has announced that its Classic Palm OS emulator for webOS devices will soon be able to run HotSync.

As this developed, Apple released an iTunes update that update “disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre.” Thus, Palm Pre users will no longer be able to sync their music files with iTunes.

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I see links to Palm Pre news, reviews, and unboxing videos; countdowns from excited fans (@Hartman: Palm Pre Launches in 4 hours and 22 minutes =) =) ); and updates about Palm Pre apps (@joshh347 Pandora for Palm Pre is now live on the @pandora_radio website! http://www.pandora.com/palm).

At the rate that it’s going, I’m sure Palm Pre will hit Twitter’s Trending Topics a few hours from now — opps, it just entered the trending list.

While browsing the updates, I also found out that there are now at least three Twitter apps for Palm Pre — the good old MoTwit (formerly known as TreoTwit), which will work through the Classic emulator; Spaz, a cross-platform Twitter client; and Tweed, described on its website as “the next-generation Twitter client designed from the ground up for the Palm® Pre™ and Palm webOS™.”

Twitter users here, however, still have to wait as there is no announcement yet about the availability of Palm Pre in the Philippines. The Palm Pre launching in the US today runs on CDMA networks, while Smart, Globe and Sun operate on GSM wireless technology.

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Access website says release version 1.03b of Garnet VM Beta 4, released on May 29, 2009, has improved stability.

Garnet VM enables users of Nokia tablets — N810, Nokia N800, and Nokia N770 — “to run thousands of Garnet OS (formerly Palm OS®) applications.” These apps include Google Maps™, Snappermail®, DateBk5, as well as games like Bejeweled®, PacMan and Sudoku.

Palm Pre will also have its own Palm OS emulator, the “Classic” emulator, from a different company called MotionApps.

(Via AppScout.com)

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MakaPalm learned about the announcement in an entry on the official Palm blog, which said the highly anticipated webOS-based phone will be available in the US in Sprint stores, as well as at Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores.

More info are available at Sprint’s Palm Pre page. We wonder when will Palm release a GSM version that can be used here in the Philippines.

Palm Pre is the first phone to run on Palm webOS, the handheld computing pioneer’s new operating system. Palm introduced the webOS and its first phone on January 8 (US time) at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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The device, dubbed Palm Eos, will supposedly be Palm’s next webOS phone. Engadget reports that it is codenamed “Castle”, while MobileCrunch also calls it “Pixie”. Other bloggers give it the nicknames Mini Pre, Palm Pre Mini, and Pre Lite. Can we also call it Palm Pre Nano? :p

While the yet-to-be-released Palm Pre will initially be sold exclusively by US telco Sprint, the Eos will supposedly go to rival AT&T.

Engadget posted these specs:

* 4GB storage
* Price: $349 (pre-rebate)
* Camera: 2 megapixel fixed focus digital camera and flash / video capture
* Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP and EDR, USB 2.0 via micro USB
* Removable 1150 mAh battery (4 hours 3G talk time)
* Messaging: SMS, MMS (picture and video only), integrated IM client
* Contact sync with AT&T Address Book
* MediaNet
* Cellular Video
* Email: POP3, IMAP4, and EAS support
* A-GPS
* Audio: WAV, MP3, AAC, AAC+ ringtones
* Video Playback: MPEG4, H.264, H.263

Engadget readers’ reactions to the reported device vary. User oghowie says “Pre looks better and is better spec wise. This looks like a lower end Pre.” On the other hand, reader Reality Check noted that this rumored device has no Wi-Fi, has only 4 GB of storage, and is more expensive than the iPhone. He concludes: “Pre wins.”

Of course, actual pricing may still change, but for now , I tend to agree that the Pre is better. The wait for the Pre continues, and Palm fans on our side of the world are on the lookout for any mention of a GSM Pre.

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I immediately transferred the data from my battered Treo 650 to my new phone. As was always the case with Palm OS devices, the data transfer was completed without causing me a headache. With the Centro, it was still like having my old Treo 650, only with a lighter pocket and more space to install new apps. I missed Treo’s keyboard, though.

Like the Treo 650, my Palm Centro is still “a cellphone, personal digital assistant, portable MP3 and video player, digital camera, ebook reader, and ‘game and watch’ in one device.”

With the Centro, I can still enjoy my favorite apps: the good old AvantGo, eReader (which contains my mobile library), the classic Bejeweled, FunSMS, Card Export, eWallet, Bible, and ptLyrics, among other software. I also discovered new ones like ComicGuru (creates Palm version of comics) and purchased new games like GTS World Racing and Cake Mania (for M).

I was also able to install and set up relatively stable Opera Mini to still enjoy the new Yahoo! Mobile and post on my blogs while on the go — even if the app crashes from time to time.

I read ebooks while listening to the music on my Centro. Sometimes, I also take pictures. Its battery supposedly has a four-hour talk time and up to 300 hours standby time. But obviously, I’m a heavy user so I need to charge it always. Good thing that the hotsync cable, aside from allowing me to synchronize and backup my data on my laptop, also doubles as a charger.

Palm’s suggested retail price for the Centro is P 18,490 without plan. See the complete details and specs on Palm Philippines.

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Still, here are some comments that I managed to dump on a WordPress draft, as well as those I recently saved while browsing old blog entries:

“I like the hardware, the new OS looks pretty solid and the demo of the integrated contacts/phonebook thing that looks like they actually got syncing right! It looks really sweet. The only gripe I have is I dont like the way they designed the icons. Hahaha.”

-Jeff of Teknostik.com

“Nope! Not an iPhone killer! Hahaha.”

- Angel, Steve Job’s no. 1 fan in Manila

“Think iPhone, but flashier.”

– Mobileshop.com

“As a proud card carrying member of the iPhone club, I pride myself on being ahead of the curve in mobile device land. Well, this little gleaming slickster, might give me a bit of competition with the Palm users.”

– The Daily Marauder

“There are no downsides to this phone!”

– Cris, an Engadget reader

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It was a highly anticipated launch. Critics expected it to be Palm’s last attempt at fighting what they thought was an inevitable final slide to oblivion. On the other hand, Palm addicts — including Filipino makapalms who fought sleep to watch live streams of the presentation — must have prayed too hard that it would pave the way for Palm’s grand comeback.

We now know that what the world witnessed was a sweet surprise that, for Palm’s loyal fans, felt like a reward for sticking it out with their beloved brand even if most of their friends had already moved on and embraced apples and berries. In Las Vegas, cheers and applause welcomed Palm’s new OS and its first phone.

Palm webOS is for people like me — cybercreatures who live on the Net and throw their stuff in the cloud. It is “the first mobile platform to automatically bring your information from the many places it resides — on your phone, at your work or on the web – into one simple, integrated view,” says Palm. Its applications are built using standard web technologies like CSS, XHTML and JavaScript.

The lovely phone that runs on webOS — and got a general nod of approval of mobile users on the Web –  is called Pre (which rhymes with tree). It must be because both the OS and the phone, according to Palm, “are designed to be so in sync with your needs that it feels like Pre is thinking ahead for you.”

The Pre consolidates contacts and calendars from Google, Facebook, and Outlook. I just hope it could include my  Yahoo! messages and contacts.

The list of Pre’s features is like a fulfilled wish list from Palm fans and observers (and it  reminds me of Engadget’s 2007 open letter to Palm):

• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA)
• 3-megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field
• Bluetooth with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
• standard 3.5mm headset jack
• pictures, video playback, music
• multitasking
• Integrated GPS
• 3.1-inch touch screen, 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA display
• Gesture area
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• Email (Outlook EAS, POP3, IMAP)
• IM, SMS and MMS capabilities
• High-performance, desktop-class web browser
• Removable, rechargeable battery
• 8GB of internal user storage (~7.4GB user available)
• USB mass storage mode
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• Proximity sensor and light sensor
• Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your perspective
• the classic Ringer switch

The Pre weighs around ~135 grams (4.76 ounces) and its dimensions are: 2.35 inches (W) x 3.96 inches (L, closed) x 0.67 inches (D).

Its downsides, for me, are the lack of memory expansion slot and of backward compatibility with old Palm OS apps. But then again, the 4 GB microSD card currently on my Centro is more than enough for my multimedia needs, and a third party emulator may eventually let me to run Bejeweled and FunSMS on the Pre.

Pre will initially be available only to US users on CDMA networks, so Pinoy makapalms like us will have more time to save for this.

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It’s almost midnight here in Manila, Philippines, and by the time we wake up tomorrow morning, the World Wide Web would probably be full of reports and comments on the new operating system that Palm is expected to announce at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Earlier reports from CrunchGear and other blogs say a new “iPhone-like” device running on the new OS called Nova will also be announced at the event. “The new phone will have a full QWERTY keyboard that will slide down under a portrait-oriented touchscreen,” the report says, adding that it could also play media and would of course have Palm’s calendar, email, and contact function.

I love my Palm Centro –  I got one while I training in Singapore for my new job with Yahoo! Philippines — but I wish it had WiFi capability and a better camera. It looks like “Palm’s newness” would satisfy such desires.

Mobileburn says the Palm Nova phone could also feature a high-resolution camera, which, along with Wi-Fi, is on the top of my wishlist for new features.  Hopefully, the new Palm phone would also be able to run old Palm programs and databases.

I’m one of those loyal Palm fans who would really be happy to see it on the top again with its long-overdue OS upgrade. I believe Matthew Miller of ZDNet is correct in saying there are “a ton of people that want to see Palm succeed.”

Palm is, after all, the brand that brought us the wonderful little handheld computer called PalmPilot, which eventually evolved into what I call an all-in-one device: a cellphone, personal digital assistant, alarm clock, portable MP3 and video player, digital camera, ebook reader and ‘game and watch’ rolled into one. And with the new OS, I hope Palm would resurrect Foleo.

With tomorrow’s announcement, I hope Palm could prove that it is, as I’d been insisting, “not a dying platform.” It’s Palm’s time to shine again.

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With its modern look, Treo Pro is now the sleekest device from Palm. Mobility Mind says it’s “arguably the best-looking Treo smartphone so far.”

But it’s powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, so Palm OS fans would have to settle with Centro or wait some more. Also, the Treo Pro primarily targets corporate users. It is “for businesses that want to simplify their IT infrastructures and lower costs,” according to the official press release.

Its unique features include built-in WiFI and GPS, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, and MicroUSB™ 2.0 for synchronization and charging.

For complete details, read the full press release from the Palm website:

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug 20, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) today introduced Treo(TM) Pro, an effortlessly usable smartphone for businesses that want to simplify their IT infrastructures and lower costs, and for users who want to stay on top of their professional and personal lives. With its streamlined design and Palm(R) shortcuts layered on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Treo Pro is a unique combination of sleek simplicity and robust productivity — including email, Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities(1) — that meets the needs of businesses and end users alike. Treo Pro, which will be available from Vodafone and O2 in Europe(2) and from Telstra in Australia, also will be available in an unlocked version in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.

“Businesses want the control and savings that Windows Mobile affords, in an innovative and elegant package that keeps their users happy. That’s where Palm comes in,” said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer, Palm, Inc. “Everything about Treo Pro — from the hardware design to the packaging and accessories — embodies the elegant and simplified end-to-end experience that our customers expect from Palm.”

The Treo Pro smartphone lets IT managers support an increasingly mobile work force with the ease of use and robust feature set business professionals demand. Besides the benefits of lower costs and increased productivity, Treo Pro can deliver the increased security, easier device management and access to information on the corporate network that Windows Mobile 6.1 provides.

Users can quickly respond to business and personal email, access the web, stay on top of appointments and contacts, and use Wi-Fi or GPS on the go.(1) Treo Pro’s thin design blends a flush, high-resolution color touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard with a removable battery that packs up to five hours of talk time and enough strength for the business user’s needs, offering a powerful yet effortless mobile experience.

“I’m really happy with Treo Pro — it’s a technology leap from a device design and capability standpoint, enhancing Palm’s presence in the Windows Mobile realm,” said Wasif Malik, senior systems consultant, Student Educational Services & Mobile Solutions, Ohio State University Medical Center. “It’s cleverly designed for Windows Mobile, with a large touch screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and all the productivity applications for Windows Mobile 6 in a much thinner design.”

Palm Experience on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

The Treo Pro smartphone, based on the popular Windows Mobile platform, helps optimize business processes by effortlessly mobilizing users with enhancements to the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform, including:

– One-touch Wi-Fi button — Easy, fast Wi-Fi connection experience (802.11b/g).(1)

– Today screen enhancements — Web search directly from the Today screen.

– Ringer switch — Silences the device immediately.

– Screen saver — Lets users know at a glance — without turning on the device — what time it is and whether they’ve missed a call or have a new SMS/MMS message.

– New voicemail indicator — The center button flashes to let users know that a voicemail is waiting.(3)

– Dedicated email and calendar buttons — Fast one-button access.

“Windows Mobile is delivering mobile solutions that help businesses address the changing competitive landscape,” said Andrew Lees, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business. “The Treo Pro smartphone brings together a powerful combination of Palm’s feature innovations and Windows Mobile 6.1, providing access to the information people need when away from the office.”

Lower Costs, Increased Productivity

With Treo Pro, businesses can quickly and easily deploy a secure, low-cost and compatible infrastructure for their mobile workforce by taking advantage of a tightly integrated Palm and Windows Mobile 6.1 solution, including:

– Microsoft Direct Push Technology(4) — Direct connection to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or 2007 gives users up-to-date email, contacts and calendars.

– Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 — With the deployment of Mobile Device Manager, the Treo Pro can deliver increased security, easier smartphone management, and access to information on the corporate network. IT professionals can confidently manage large Treo Pro deployments.

– Thousands of applications available for Windows Mobile — Businesses can extend mobility beyond email to optimize business processes.

– World phone — With high-speed UMTS/HSDPA network capabilities(5), Treo Pro is a sleek world phone that’s ideal for companies with an international work force.

– Integrated GPS — Users can access maps, turn-by-turn directions and point-of-interest (POI) searches.(1)

– Support and training — Palm shortcuts make Treo Pro so easy to use, businesses can spend less on training and support for their users. End-to-end enterprise support means companies can expand the scope of their mobile deployments without putting a strain on internal support personnel.

– Familiar Windows experience — Users can browse the web with built-in Internet Explorer Mobile; open, view, and edit Word and Excel compatible files; review PowerPoint presentations and PDF files; and open ZIP files remotely.

Pricing and Availability

Treo Pro will be available in September in Europe(2) through Vodafone (from free to EUR 399 with contract) and O2 (pricing is available from O2 direct sales and online business stores), and in Australia through Telstra (from free with contract). It will be available in the United States in the fall through the Palm online store (http://www.palm.com/store) as well as select Internet, retail and enterprise resellers for a suggested retail price of $549. The U.S. version is unlocked and unsubsidized, giving end users the flexibility to simply insert their existing active SIM card and immediately start using their Treo Pro without a new contract.

Detailed regional pricing is available from local resellers and distributors. Additional Treo Pro availability is scheduled to follow worldwide.

The Treo Pro smartphone comes with an international power charger, microUSB cable and a stereo headset (3.5mm). Other accessories designed exclusively for Treo Pro (sold separately) include a vehicle power charger, leather side case, travel microUSB cable, cradle, extra battery, TTY audio adapter, and replacement styli.

More information about the Treo Pro smartphone is available at www.palm.com/TreoPro

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