It used to be that you had to pick which phone best suited your needs. Now with the free Homebrew apps, patches, and themes, you can make your Palm Pre or Pixi work the way you want! You can be up and running with WebOS Quick Install in a matter of minutes. Come join the 300,000 PreCentral members already in on the secrets!
You can make the LED light up when you miss a call, email, or text. Email and Messaging can work in landscape. You can fix the clock, save your battery, add a Virtual Keyboard, make websites readable, and get a real music player. And that is just the beginning...
- Homebrew Apps are applications in the last stage of development ("beta testing"). Try them out and give your feedback.
- Patches add missing features to the Messaging, Email, Calendar, Phone, Browser, and other apps.
- Themes customize your screens and icons for hundreds of your favorite teams, games, logos, and more.
The usual warnings apply. These apps, patches, and themes are under are not from Palm and are development - use with care. If you have any problems, see the Help section.
In a matter of minutes you can be in on the fun...
Setup
To install apps, patches, and themes, you need to be a PreCentral member, set up your phone, and install some software on your computer. Please carefully follow each step.
1. Setup your phone - Go to the main (start) screen on your Palm Pre or Pixi:
Just as if you are performing a Universal Search, start typing "upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart" without the quotation marks.
Tap the Developer Mode icon and turn Developer Mode on. If you're having trouble getting it right, you can also enter "webos20090606" (though if you ask us the Konami code is much more fun.)
Set Developer Mode to ON.
When asked, tap Reset The Device. Your phone will restart. This is just a restart. (Nothing is erased.)
Connect the USB cable to your PC, Mac, or Linux computer and select "Just Charge" when the phone prompts you.
You just turned on the hidden Developer Mode! Some leave Developer Mode on all the time, but technically it's a security risk, so we recommend that you reopen Developer Mode Enabler and turn it off when you're done.
Now is also the time to make sure that your webOS is up-to-date. Tap Launcher then Updates and Update as needed.
2. Update Java - On your PC, Mac, or Linux computer, click here to Verify Java. Let it update Java as needed. Mac OS X users need to run /Application/Utilities/Java/Java Preferences and drag Java SE 6 to top of both lists, and exit. Windows 7 users may need more help more help.
3. Install WebOS Quick Install - On your computer, download the WebOS Quick Install program by PreCentral member Jason Robitaille. Open the WebOS Quick Install thread and verify that it is current with your webOS. Right click on the Download Here link then Save Target to a subdirectory you will remember, maybe create a subdirectory named "Palm".
After the WebOSQuickInstall.jar file downloads, click Open Folder (highlighted in yellow) then right-click the WebOSQuickInstall.jar file and click Open With and make sure that the default program is Java. Now run WebOS Quick Install.
The first time WebOS Quick Install runs will take a while as it downloads and installs Palm's webOS Doctor and Novacomd software on your computer. You will need to restart the WebOSQuickInstall.jar file each time it automatically exits to install software for you.
When asked to install WebOS Doctor, click Yes (highlighted in yellow below) so that WebOS Quick Install can use those files. Never run the WebOSDoctor.jar file yourself unless you want to erase everything on your phone and start over.
When asked which webOS Doctor version, if your carrier is not listed, choose Sprint.
Then make sure you choose USB Device.
You will be prompted to Connect Your Device even though it is already connected. No worries. It just needs to install Novacomd so that it can see your phone. Just click OK (highlighted in yellow below).
Now it installs Novacomd.
Once Novacomd installs, you will need to start WebOS Quick Install again. This time it should see your Pre or Pixi. If not, click Tools then Options then Attempt Novacom Reinstallation. Note the Panic Button in case you ever want to restore your phone to factory settings.
Homebrew Applications
Homebrew apps are free applications in the final stages of testing. Hundreds of free titles cover battery life, podcasts, ebooks, GoogleVoice, comics, the Bible, plus dozens of games and utilities.
Let's start by installing the most popular Homebrew app: Music Player (Remix). Double-click the WebOSQuickInstall.jar file you saved in step 3 above to open the WebOS Quick Install program on your computer. You will see this screen:
You can click the Homebrew apps button (bottom left) to browse through the PreCentral Homebrew Gallery. When you find an app you like, click the third button down on the right (highlight with the arrow) to open the repository viewer.
Option: click on the App title, Music Player (Remix), to learn more about the app (below) and then click Close (highlighted in yellow below) when done.
Check the box next to Music Player (Remix) and click Download. (highlighted in green below) You can check off and download several apps at once if you so desire.
Click Close (highlighted in blue above) when the download completes and then on the main screen click Install (highlighted in yellow below).
You have just installed Music Player (Remix)! Tap the Launcher button on your phone and Music Player (Remix) will be the last app on the first page. Remix has 25 features the basic Music Player is missing! Repeat these steps to add more Homebrew Apps. You remove a Homebrew app just like a regular app: press and hold the orange key and tap the app's icon in the Launcher. Then tap Delete.
Before we move on, you might want to try a few other free apps. Battery Saver lets you set times to automatically turn your phone off and on so that a text or email does not wake you in the middle of the night. The LED Torch turns your camera strobe into a bright flashlight. Presteroids and Preopoly are some of the fun games.
Patches
Patches let you add or change more than 100 features in webOS. The best part is that they are as just as easy to install as a Homebrew apps. Dozens of patches were featured in the There's a Patch for That series on PreCentral (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). Here is a full list of patches. Also note that the feature you want may just be undocumented.
In WebOS Quick Install, click Tools menu and select Tweaks.
The first time you install patches you will see a warning and need to install some more software. Just keep clicking OK or Yes when asked. You may need to restart WebOS Quick Install and again click Tools then Tweaks.
From now on when you click Tools then Tweaks, the the first screen (System Mods) will come up. In a minute you will see that some of these patches actually have several options. For now check iPhone user agent spoof (highlighted in yellow below) to make thousands of popular websites legible. Click Restart Luna (highlighted in green below). You just installed your first patch!
Click Restart Luna to Restart your phone after adding or removing patches. Luna is the webOS user interface and must be restarted for patches to be applied. A Luna Restart is quicker than a normal restart. Nothing is erased. Do not click the Run EPR button (highlighted in red above) unless you want to remove all patches with the Emergency Patch Recovery app.
Most patches are in the Online Repository tab (highlighted in yellow above) so click that and we will install the most popular patch, the Virtual Keyboard.
Scroll down to select the Virtual Keyboard then click Install Patch (highlighted in yellow below). See There's a Patch for That (Part 1) for more on the amazing Virtual Keyboard.
A patch is installed with a script and so you will be asked if it is OK to run the script. Click Yes (highlighted in yellow below) or Yes, always if you prefer.
Before leaving the patches, try out some of our favorites. For your App Launcher, try the 4x4 v3 for 16 icons on-screen instead of 9! And they are just as big! Maybe try the Add MM/DD Date and Battery and Percentage in the Top Bar and put the Brightness slider where you can get to it quickly. The Launcher Auto-Popup patch makes your Launcher popup like a homepage when you turn on your phone. There is a world of great patches for the Email, Messaging, Phone, Calendar, and more.
Remember to click Restart Luna after you have installed patches. You can also install the latest patch files from the PreCentral Patch Forum using these instructions.
While a patch or theme is being installed or removed consider putting the phone in Airplane Mode and do not use the phone, messaging, or email and turn off other apps.
Themes
Themes customize your screens and icons for your favorite teams, games, or other interests. More detailed instructions are here: How To Install Themes.
Let's try a theme just for fun. The iPhone Black Launcher's background blends perfectly with your phone. The big iPhone style icons are so clear that you may need to turn down the brightness. Friends will be asking you "Is that a new iPhone?"
Here's all it takes. Click the PreCentral Themes Gallery and click on the theme you want, in this case click the iPhone Black Launcher. Right click on the Download link and choose "Save As..." to save the zip file to a subdirectory you will remember (maybe "Palm"?). In WebOS Quick Install, click Tools and then Themer.
In WebOS Quick Install, click Tools and then Themer.
Click Load Theme (highlighted in red above), select the zip file you just downloaded. Click Set Theme, and then Close. Done! You can also download thousands of other theme zip files from PreThemer. If you want to go all-out with the iPhone look, try the iPhone Theme. While a patch or theme is being installed or removed consider putting the phone in Airplane Mode and do not use the phone, messaging, or email and turn off other apps.
If you installed a theme using WebOS Quick Install, use only WebOS Quick Install to remove it by clicking Tools then Themer and then Revert to Default (highlighted in yellow above). If you installed a theme with Preware, remove it with Preware. The programs work differently.
NOTE: Always uninstall your old theme before you install a new theme. Failure to do so can result in ugly. Once the theme is removed, exit and then restart WebOS Quick Install to reset before installing another theme.
That's it! You can now download Homebrew Apps, Patches, and themes using your computer. Check out the Preware Guide to be able to download most content directly to you phone without needing a computer or USB cable.
Removing Apps, Patches, and Themes
You can remove Homebrew apps or patches just as easily using WebOS Quick Install. This time, open the Tools menu and select Device Management.
Click Applications or Patches and then check each application or patch that you want to remove and click Uninstall. When you click Close, your phone will automatically restart if needed. See above for removing a theme.
webOS Updates - Before you update to a new webOS, first remove themes and patches. Homebrew Apps do not have to be uninstalled before a webOS update.
Remove all Patches - Click Tools, Tweaks, Run EPR, Yes, then Luna Restart.
Remove a Theme - Click Tools, Themer, and then click Revert to Default .
Stuck Patches - If you have a patch or theme that just won't uninstall, you can always use the WebOS Repair Utility. Click Option and then Override Compatibility. Or you can use Preware. You can also restore factory settings by using the WebOS Doctor to remove all personal data. And by all, we mean all.
Getting Help
PreCentral member Mortisemaker has put together an excellent Installing and Getting Started with WebOS Quick Install guide with 45 pages of detailed help. In addition, more forum members are always available to provide aide in the PreCentral forums. In particular, Windows 7 and Linux users may need some extra support.
- WebOS Quick Install - the main forum for help (try rebooting your PC first).
- WebOS Quick Install Installation and Usage Guide - has more details
- WebOS Quick Install Troubleshooting Guide - has great help if you hit a bump
- WebOS Repair Utility removes all patches and themes. Click Option → Override Compatibility.
- How To: Restore a Seriously Ill Pre may help if your phone stops working.
If you ask for help in a forum, please explain the problem and what you have done. If possible, take a phone screen shot by pressing Option (orange) + Sym + P at the same time. Connect your phone to your computer using the USB cable and select USB Drive - your phone will appear to your computer like a USB drive. When you make your post on the forum, click Manage Attachments to add the screen shot from the phone's screencaptures subdirectory.
Craig Lincoln, aka Milominderbinder, is a moderator on the PreCentral forums and the developer of the Palm Pre Tips and Tricks. View Craig's recent articles.
This Getting Started Guide is offered "As-Is" and without warranty of any kind. In no event shall the author or PreCentral be liable for any claim, damages, or other liability which may arise.
Please post requests for installation help in the webOS Quick Install or Preware forums.
Special thanks to Jason Robitaille, rwhitby, bpdamas, cas_esq, Colonel Angus, dBsooner, emoney_33, grndslm, Irish, jimhuff, maxima2k53, MortiseMaker, oil, pixielee, rlanza1054, Shadavis08, SirWill, smkcpa, stubbs, Templarian, wcarlson, west3man and so many others for your continued support for new users.
Comments
Questions or help with WebOS Quick Install
Questions or help with Preware
Questions or help with Music Player (Remix)
- Craig
Is it supposed to take a long time to install the webdoctor?
Thanks for this post! Is there a way to install a patch directly via the Pre's Terminal app (for those times when I'm away from my computer for long stretches of time)?
Getting Started: Preware
- Craig
Thanks. I meant patches that are under development or not published via feed that's picked up by Preware. For instance, the earlier version of the "Delete Email from Notification" patch (with the trashcan in the middle) does delete emails from the notification bar rather than the current version (which does not delete, unfortunately). Was wondering how to install that without using a computer or Preware ...
Use Preware.
If not for Homebrew, I wouldn't have stuck with my Pre. Thank you Homebrewers
+1000! Thank you!!
does anyone know if they will ever find a way to make voice dialing or voice recording? If they can do video, wouldn't this be easier? I really miss my voice dialing/recording. But yes, way to go Homebrew! I definitely would have bailed a long time ago with them.
The hardware is there. No one outside of Palm knows for sure when the Software Developer Kit (SDK) will include the functionality (API's) that the developers need for voice recognition. But the Precorder does include voice recording!
For anyone who missed it, webOS 1.3.1 added the functionality needed for video and audio recording, The first homebrew app is now in initial testing:
Precoder Video Recorder
- Craig
Great write-up. Keep these coming to help more peeps embrace the homebrew. When I first started using quickinstall it was a little nerve-wrecking. But really, once you get started with Patches, as well as other apps, it's fantastic.
A few of my fav homebrew patches / apps:
1. Horizontal E-mail
2. Vibrating phone buttons
3. PRECORDER!!!!!
I'm a fanatic of the blink notifications. Unbelieveably useful when I have audio alerts turned off, and I don't see the screen light up when something comes in. I absolutely love it.
I'm hesitant to try Precorder just because it's so early in the game for them, but at the same time I'd love to see what it can do. I'll be very excited about it when it comes out in a more stable package, but great work so far.
The list of the currently available patches is here:
Patch Discussion
- Craig
The LED thing is completely silly (and mostly useless) compared to the REAL deal, which is the Notification Repeat patch. There is one for phone, sms, email, and calendar notifications!
See these: http://forums.precentral.net/webos-patches/215150-patch-phone-notificati...
http://forums.precentral.net/webos-patches/215146-patch-messaging-notifi...
(and others)
I was so excited I nearly peed on myself :) And they work!!!
or you can stop about halfway through and just install preware and do everything from the phone without having to start dev mode every time you wanna do something
Getting Started: Preware
- Craig
Thank you very much for all of the tips and help. Excellent work. Palm and Sprint should also be very appreciative (and I bet they are) for all of the unpaid support this site saves them.
You make a very valid point there. I come here to daily to check up on news and info on the Pre, as I'm sure is the case for many other people. I'm sure not all the users are as tech-savy as I am (just recently getting into phone tech when I bought my Pre), and there's a wealth of helpful information here to avoid support calls. It's all good stuff.
THERE IS VIRTUAL KEYBOARD(VK) FOR A WEBOS 1.3.1 WITH THE NEW PREWARE 0.9.12????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Yes, there is a very good Virtual Keyboard patch available with either webOS Quick Install or Preware.
Please see the instructions above for webOS Quick Install.
- Craig
Sweet guide!!
Here's another that would most likely take less time to get you where you want to be...
http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pre-tips-information-resources/214451-...
I'll probly add a section or two later today, especially the Device Management bit.
I've installed a bunch of patches and tweaks such as the virtual keyboard, 4x4, squared viewing screen, date time and a few others. One problem I have is that now I can only open a few cards at once. Does the Pre recognize those patches/tweaks as programs running? I can only open about 4 cards at once right now!!? :( Any thoughts? Please help if you can.
Installing Preware may help though:
Getting Started: Preware
Also try the Lower Swap Threshold Patch.
- Craig
Or, you could use use Preware instead and do it all from the phone...
And, as usual, despite the lack of mentioning anything about Linux in this article regarding webos quick install, the app does work on Linux too.
crxssi,
The article states: "Connect the USB cable to your PC, Mac, or Linux computer and select "Just Charge" when the phone prompts you."
What else other than specifically mentioning Linux can it do?
- Craig
:) I did notice that, I expected more in 2 since that is really the only platform-specific issue. But you are right, it is mostly java, so it should operate the same otherwise. I retract my posting! Sorry. Oh, and thanks for your article!
Im having trouble installing installing it on Windows 7. The link to the windows 7 page is not working on this page. where should i go? thanks!
Sorry about that. "Windows 7" in the artcile no longer had its link but it does now. Here it is as well:
http://forums.precentral.net/web-os-development/195043-setting-up-novaco...
- Craig
I have the Pre connect to my MacBook and have the WebOS Quick Install program open but it's giving me a "No Device Detected" error message. I'm running version 1.3.1webos. Has anyone else experienced this?
Questions or help with WebOS Quick Install
Questions or help with Preware
Questions or help with Music Player (Remix)
- Craig
This is an excellent guide, thanks for putting it together. Will it work for the unlocked European GSM Pre as well as for the US version?
-Robert
Questions or help with WebOS Quick Install
Questions or help with Preware
Questions or help with Music Player (Remix)
- Craig
I need some help please. Im a first time user here at pre-central and i was doin the steps to instal homebrew apps. Everything was goin fine until i needed to download Novacomd. After i was asked which carrier i was using... it didnt ask me which device i wanted to use(usb cable). Then it never istalled Novacomd. Can someone please help me?
I need some help please. Im a first time user here at pre-central and i was doin the steps to instal homebrew apps. Everything was goin fine until i needed to download Novacomd. After i was asked which carrier i was using... it didnt ask me which device i wanted to use(usb cable). Then it never istalled Novacomd. Can someone please help me?
Questions or help with WebOS Quick Install
Questions or help with Preware
Questions or help with Music Player (Remix)
- Craig
finally updated - thanks - great screen shots and much better walk through setup instructions - great job
I've done everything to a T on this page and I am getting the "ERROR: No device detected" msg. I have followed everything in the troubleshooting guide (http://forums.precentral.net/1946234-post3.html) Made sure Dev Mode is on (switched it on/off numerous times), made sure that Java is up to date, made sure I've selected USB and not emulator, made sure that I have hit "just charge" on my phone, made sure Novacom is installed and running, hit the "Attempt Novacom (re)installation" button, tried 3 different USB ports.. I've been wasting time on this all day!! I'm ready to throw in the towel. Anyone have any possible insight out there??! Thanks in advance...
There needs to be more games that are on the iphone like gangstar and zombie land usa
Wow these are some great patches! Roam-Only, GPS shortcut, Data features! Really nice!
So much of the things, palm should have already done. Hope that they raise theyr update frequency.
good apps and very good instructions!
did you get an answer I cannot download it either and am frustrated
can't download webos quick install. need help!!!!!!!!!!!!! asap
can't download webos quick install. need help!!!!!!!!!!!!! asap
Thanks guys
Nice work on all the homebrew apps!! I'm on my third pre in three weeks. The tec at the sprint store says i just have bad luck. Bad volume buttons, then a touch screen with a mind of it's own. If it was not for all the options here I'd have a different brand of phone after the first brake down. Palm owes you big time for all that has been put in to this site.
I'm having a little trouble getting webos doctor going this time after the palm up date. I hope it's nothing to difficult.
so,I am trying to get this to work on my Pre. i have installed the WebOS Quick Install application, folllowed all of the steps, updated my Java, yada yada yada, it still comes up with an error message when i am trying to get it to see my Pre, i tried reinstalling the novacomd, and anything else I can think of. Any help that anyone can give would be much appreciated, thank you.
when i try and reinstall novacomd, the command promt type window pops up and says "service removed" then promptly closes, is this normal? If not how can I fix this?
the install was very nice and i first installed like i wanted the music player..the problem is all the time when i start the web os installer it want to download webosdoctor..please give me some help...
thanks in advance
did you ever get a answer to your ? if so what they say
i have downloaded quick install and have the doctor and everything, but when i go to run the doctor i plug my phone in and it says "charging phone" and starts charging as if i had plugged it into the wall. it does not give me the prompts, i have tried rebooting my phone and my macbook but it does not do anything. if anyone had any suggestions as to what i could do it would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, I am from India. I am using Palm Pre Unlocked GSM phone. I am using Indian SIM. Can I download Homebrew and run Doctor.
Umang V
Mumbai, INDIA
ok im so lost im on quickinstall and whatever i click it doesnt do anything ..HELP..
when i try and reinstall novacomd, the command promt type window pops up and says "service removed" then promptly closes, is this normal? If not how can I fix this?
just did it on my macbook and it worked great...just like the PC
on a mac a few things
the java is set by apple software update and does not indicate the version show here (1.6)
after DL webos quickinstall.jar I get the request re webdoctor say yes and get nothing waited a while but does not seem to download anything or follow your instructions - are these the same instructions for the mac as the pc?
really want a horizontal v key and customization on my pre
so please fill me in ASAP and Thank you for the work developing these apps!
Please let us know ...
HI! i live in Mexico im triying to do this but im getting the error No divice detecte and im wondering that if that is because im not a Sprint o Bell user coz my companys name is Telcel so can you help me please!!!!
when a web os update comes out and gets installed......do all the tweeks, themes, and homebrew have to be re done??
Im loving all these added features but why is my screen not locking i press the button it comes on with no swipe up
everything was going exactly the way it was supposed to until i clicked install to install the app music player remix (first install) it says error 0 blocks available???
this shit do not work i try to ryn the webosquick install and nothing happend i have windows vista
Is anyone else having major problems with homebrew tweaks after the most recent WebOS update (1.3.5.1)? I'm getting this message any time I try to apply my tweaks.
ERROR: An error occurred while attempting to run /tmpipkgScript.sh
/media/cryptofs/apps/usr/lib/ipkg/info/org.webosinternals.patches.app-launcher-enable-add-delete-pages.postinst: line 24: /var/usr/bin/Isdiff: not found
ERROR: Cannot find /var/usr/bin/Lsdiff
I've uninstalled - re-installed, reformatted, completely wiped the Pre, but I get the same thing every time. I'm frustrate, because I really miss my tweaks! Any help would be much appriciated!
I was having major problems with tweaks. But, I could install Homebrew programs. I just installed Luna Manager, and hit "Rescan". Now my tweaks are there and working.
Restarting "Luna" from webOS quick install, on my computer, did nothing; But the "Rescan" button in the "Luna Manager" program, on my Pre, did the trick.
Go fiqure.
I hope this info helps.
Good luck.
Everything works great on my pre including Homebrew apps, patches and Palm store apps. BUT, BUT, BUT!!!! - I just got a notice that I need to download new updates to a few applications i got through the palm app store. When I try to download the updates to the existing applications, I'm told that the installation failed and the phone must restart to fix an issue. Once the phone has restarted however, the same issue is still there (it can't install the update). It is also unable to download any new applications.
Any help would be appreciated.
Im getting the same errors as above -
Ive rebooted, restarted novacom and nothing is working, cant even get a theme to load completely and cant revert to the default because its jacked up. Can any one please advise ?!??!?!
Thanks -
ERROR: An error occurred while attempting to run /tmpipkgScript.sh
/media/cryptofs/apps/usr/lib/ipkg/info/org.webosinternals.patches.app-launcher-enable-add-delete-pages.postinst: line 24: /var/usr/bin/Isdiff: not found
ERROR: Cannot find /var/usr/bin/Lsdiff
Hi,
I was experiencing the same problem, I updated webOS quick install and it solved it.
Cheers
Want to leave a comment? Register for free!
In an effort to reduce comment spam, you need to log in to comment. Registration is fast, free, and easy and gives you access to comment, discuss the Palm Pre on the largest Pre forums on the 'net, enter contests, and much more. Join now!