TechCrunch claims to hear from one of their sources that Palm is already getting ready to launch another webOS device:
One of our better sources indicated to us that Palm is “very far along” on a second Pre-like device and currently has plans to put it on the market in the late part of 2009, possibly as early as the Fall.
The device is apparently meant to aim at another segment of the market not covered by the Pre, but it's possible that this device will not have a physical keyboard. The only other corroborating evidence we can conjure up is that Palm recently changed the gesture behaviour of the Pre. The "full swipe up" gesture now opens Card view first before opening up the launcher. The reasoning we've heard behind this: it allows Palm more flexibility for future devices, since they may someday want to have a webOS-based device that does not have a center button, they needed the Up-Swipe gesture to mimic the effects of it.
We've heard yet more crazy rumors ourselves that Palm has "one more thing" webOS-related in store for us that hasn't been revealed yet. We assumed that, if true, it would be Pre-related. Perhaps not?
Update: BGR posts the fuzzy pic at right, suggesting a candy-bar form factor and Centro-inspired styling. Perhaps Palm is developing different form factors for different carriers?
Comments
6 articles today? very impressive.
Cant wait to see how webOS develops across different devices.
Considering it's all basically style sheets, should be incredibly easy to change font sizes etc to make them fit different devices better.
Different devices made by the same maker are no problem.
I'd like to see larger screen with horizontal slider keyboard
just keep any pre-related news coming!! it's been a good day for us all but when THE day comes, i'll be like a kid in a candy store.
CAN I HAZ PRE NOW?
Props on the mini-me pic... perfect
I bet the third device will be a small netbook-phone, which with lots of Open-source software for Linux could make a big splash!
So when does the new I-pre come out?
THAT IS HILARIOUS!!!! "and I will call it.......... Mini Pre. HAHAHAHHAHAHA!
Anyone got a spare time machine? This is killing me!
I read recently that one is due on the market soon, but the actual release date has not yet been specified. Stay Posted!
You were going to take Pre over 2.0 just to get cut/paste, but not take Pre over 3.0 to ge true multitasking?
Good riddance.
Sorry, wrong replay button.
Hey
Its a bit of a joke isnt it. What about just getting the PRE on the market.
I must say that as a potential customer the Pre has allready blown it. It makes a big surge at the presentation and then.....NOTHING.
Now the Iphone 3.0 adresses almost all the reasons why I would want something else than an Iphone, and the Pre keeps on sleeping in its secret cave.
Wow it seems Palm has done it again, blown it again. That company is incredible at wasting oportunities.
Jakob
No one really cares about the IsuckPhone and At&ISuckEvenMoreT. People will wait and soon we will be basking in the sunlight sipping on mimosas and twitting about our Pre.
You were going to take Pre over 2.0 just to get cut/paste, but not take Pre over 3.0 to ge true multitasking?
Good riddance.
It seems you havent looke into what that update is about. Its quite substantial and adresses most of what was/is wrong with the iphone.
I have been a palm user for many years, I know have a useless TX talk abut wasted money. Its was outdated when i hit the streets, I was just to trusty a customer.
And sorry, multitasking in it self is absolutely not enough to go for a Pre. What about apps ? Iphone has a HUGE advantage there allready.
Jakob
If the buzz has moved on from a product you haven't released to a product that is rumored you may have missed some opportunities.
I've been thinking how great it would probably be to have WebOS on my wife's mini 9 netbook computer. Hopefully, Palm will put out a netbook of their own. That would be nice!
Folio?
Yikes!
The non-product that put Palm in Intesive Care with a DNR order.
Umm... if the Folio had WebOS, the story would have been different.
In fact, imagine for a moment the Lifedrive with WebOS. Then throw in Apple's monster marketing machine.
The products didn't put Palm in ICU, the lack of a new OS did. The products seemed to be ahead of the curve, but Palm's timing was off without WebOS.
I have never followed any device as intensely as I've followed the Pre, and even though I hate waiting, I will continue to do so with little complaint. I can't wait to come back here post release date, and talk about all the things we knew about and like, and all the possible little suprises we love, because my husband just doesn't understand my Pre-Love. Hater!
"possibly as early as the Fall."
So July 26 would most likely be the target date.
Why is Sprint holding back this device?
Palm is just letting it sit to build up publicity and anticipation.
They should release it early, but without bugs.
If Palm doesn't release it by lunch, they wont be in business at the end of the week.
I have a Friend that works for Dairy Queen and they have a working demo sample and promo posters in the back and will be the exclusive ice cream distibutor outlet of this GSM device. A yogurt device is expected, but not CDMA.
Talking to a CSR in Mumbai, he says the miniPre is well ahead of schedule and I know he has good info because he knew the July 26 date and helped me fix my email.
Palm is holding back this device to see if GM releases a phone at CES next year.
If I can't get one by this weekend, I'm going to ATT/iPhone. Get a clue Sprint.
I know marketing and technology better than all of you and I think Palm should dump Pre and just go with this newer phone.
If miniPre doesnt accept SD cards and Atari 2600 cartridges, they're just not keeping up with their target market.
I hope the screen is scratch restistant, I'm gonna scratch my Pre screen with a box cutter and be very disappointed Palm didnt address on a later product. They stink.
Another product with a QWERTY keyboard, when will someone wake up and offer an ABCDE keyboard?
I have an official Sprint memo that says this phone will be given free with a $10 rebate and no contract required. Although the memo could easily be faked by stealing a couple of logos off their website and importing into Excel, I think its genuine because it makes so much sense since Apple could never compete with that offer.
Bad handling of marketing and message is what leads to the rumors and criticisms you are trying to skewer. Information vacuums lead to this.
So your message message kinda falls flat.
Blaming the customer, bloggers, commentators, press, potential customers here is a misdirection. Palm has what looks to be a good device coming -- but their messaging and message control is a a full out botch.
Palm should keep the tech, OS and design departments -- but fire whatever total morons are handing the public relations.
Gotta say, I agree with Anonymous on this.
Just a dig at all the Pre-Menstrual people with sore man-ginas whining about a phone that is not late and has not lost any functionality on development so far.
Sprint and Palm have both made regular updates about the phone and service. To date, all things point to a potential on-time release with most or more of the features that they initially promised. They've also put the phone out there for publicity plays with no ill result and begun formal promotions.
However, the Pre-Menstrual whiners want to put Sprint and Palm in a pine box and go buy an antiquated competitor. And now YOU want to fire their PR firm! LOL.
Have a Midol or Pamprin, go lay down in a cool shady room and cuddle a fuzzy kitten. You'll be fine, the phone will come.
I think we all agree with ML that Palm's PR handling has been about the worst seen on a modern launch it will probably be used as a case history in what not to do.
The good news is the device makes up for it.
> If miniPre doesnt accept SD cards and Atari 2600 cartridges,
> they're just not keeping up with their target market.
ROFL!!! I love it!
dude the blurry phone looks like a damned isuckphone. WTF Palm.
I'm I missing something, but the iPhone doesnt have a keybd.
Don't forget the general public doesnt even know about this device. So as far as they are concern, there is no problems and they are not going crazy like us waiting for it!
FUZZY PRE? A smarter might be to place the sliding keeboard underneath the screen so user can type landscape. Add a glass screen (to satisfy Ms Jolie and the rest of us who prefer btter scratch resistance.)
Looks like a Blackberry Bold that has been stretched out.
I believe that a smaller Pre (or different WebOS device) will be out this year...But I don't think this image is it.
WebOS, and any other touch screen UI, needs lots of screen real estate to be usable. If this supposed new phone has a screen not much bigger than a Centro's I can't see how you could operate it, plus the cards would be tiny!
Forget about Techcrunch and BGR, my question is, has Palm confirmed this? Has anyone thought that maybe someone (cough-Apple) is deliberately putting out misinformation? Remember the recent news of Palms current products not selling well after the announcement of the Pre? It is possible someone is attempting to do the same thing against the Pre. Raise speculation of an unheard of product which supposedly will run webOS, with the hope it will potentially make folks hold off on purchasing the current Pre.
Palm did a very good job at keeping webOS a secret for 2 years, why would they let out info on another Pre like device?... Especially since the Pre hasn't even launched yet. That is the equivalent to suicide for shareholders. If this is only a rumor, Palm and or Sprint need to squash the rumor quickly. Come to think of it, I vaguely remember a Palm official saying, the next device to run webOS will be a NetBook type device.
"Palm did a very good job at keeping webOS a secret for 2 years,"
More like six months
Just say Verizon.
The blurry picture clearly is a horrible picture of the Pre with the keyboard slid out:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3488540703_fcc94a7080_o.jpg
Clearly identical,
If yow ignore the trimmed edge, different shaped and sized screen and size aspect of 2.1 vs 2.4 as well as lack of blurry depth down to keyboard,
But aside from those minor details, indistinguishable.
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