Folks who had their fingers on the pulse of the internet last Wednesday couldn't help but notice that just before the Sprint/Palm Webinar, Palm was forced to share the spotlight with Apple by dint of the fact that they announced they'd be detailing some iPhone 3.0 software upgrade (TiPb will be meta-live-blogging the Apple Event). As pretty much always happens when Apple has something coming, Digg founder Kevin Rose popped up claiming he has inside info on what's coming. On the list of rumored features so far:
- Cut and Paste support
- "Palm Pre features"
- Improved "springboard" homescreen
- NO video recording
- MMS is a big fat question mark
Obviously the X factor here are these "Palm Pre features," which most are taking to mean some sort of wannabe Synergy, but could also be unified messaging, universal search, or -- heck -- it could be multitasking (Update: according to the video, likely not). One thing we're pretty sure it won't be catching up on: a physical keyboard.
What do you think? Will Apple out-Pre the Pre before the Pre is even released? Will Apple be able to make good on their new features in short order, or will they indefinitely delay some of the as they did with their background notifications?
Update: The relevant Diggnation video after the break, via engadget.
Comments
In apple's dreams. Not in 2 months. Not without new hardware and some intensive OS rewriting.
More like in Palm's likely to come true nightmares. They don't need to do it in two months, they need to do it in four months. Considering that Apple has 50x the money and much deeper resources it is a good bet they will do it.
I hope they do provide some "Palm Pre features". I mean why not? The iPhone did provide some very nice features that are now part of the Pre. I really hope both companies keep trying to 1-up each other because in the end, I get a better device.
Right now, I think the Pre is better for my needs. But so was the Treo for a long time. We all saw what happened when no one really challenged the Treo in its space.
So Apple, Palm, Google, whomever; do you want my money? Yes? Then make me a better phone.
Apple's hardware is 2 years old. They can optimize like crazy and add some new functions (ie copy and paste). But it's still not going to be able to handle multiple things running, at least not with the fluid motion that iPhone users are use to.
Synergy, unless they've been working on this forever and just decided to hold this back i don't think it's going to be very impressive. Apple is a little to smart to release something unpolished when they still have more time before the pre is released.
Though i think it's great that one of the expected or many of the expected features is "pre like" that means the pre is getting some major traction against the iPhone and apple is getting nervous. Maybe this time next year apple will be the one loosing market share not Nokia.
I agree. Apple has got to hate their little fanboy (Rose) even mentioning the Pre. If you're Apple, you ignore Palm. He only gave the Pre free PR and acknowledged that the Pre has desired features.
If i had no knowledge about the Pre whatsoever but i was researching the iphone and see this. I then think..hmmm...iphone is getting palm pre like features?..i'll have to check out the Pre then to see what that is all about.
but you cant check the pre out... it's simply not out to be checked out...
Wow...you are stupid.
Even if they match some of the Pre's features, I still believe there are people out there that will not buy an iPhone. Reasons - no physical keyboard, only on AT&T, replaceable battery, and its Apple.
The last one is more to do with wanting to see other options in this area. I dont mind buying an ipod but I just dont want to buy an iPhone also.
I really really think that apple is going to announce a new phone during the webcast. I don't think it's even close to being finished. I think they do this for protection, some people won't buy the Pre in anticipation of the iPhone 3.
At the same time it's pretty precarious that Apple could release these Pre-like functions before the Pre and steal all the limelight away.
I think Pre is the only thing currently that's even remotely close to the level of innovation that the iPhone achieved 2 years ago. I hope Palm releases Pre soon enough so that it has the chance to bask in well-deserved glory before the behemoth that is iPhone comes.
After seeing what TealPoint was able to accomplish with TealOS on Garnet in a month, I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple produce a slick new UI in 3.0. I predict that instead of cards, they'll use CoverFlow to switch between active apps...
I think that it is very possible that iPhone OS 3 could make the iPhone very much like the Pre. Granted, they might not have the Synergy like the Pre but multi-tasking and an update launcher is very realistic! Chances are very good that they have been working on background aps and multitasking for some time - even if just to hold onto the feature in anticipation that someone would try to take on the iPhone.
This also seams to line up with the possibility of Apple using the new dual-core ARM in their upcoming iPhone too as it would be a beauty for multitasking and easily take on the Pre.
However, I can't see Apple out-preing the Pre simply because their are features - even if they now are simply user-preference - that Apple hasn't duplicated. Especially when it comes to Hardware!
Also, Apple's closed system and harsh development rules will give the Pre a fighting chance (hopefully, this will change though once the Pre comes out!).
The bottom line, as mentioned earlier by another commenter, is that competition will help everyone - especially the consumer. :) With that said, I hope Palm and Apple battle it out for years to come!
That was my 1st reaction too....unless they're adding a keyboard, they're not matching.
Sprint and a real KB make this a non-issue for me on the phone side, but it's good to see them push each other! Plus my Touch will get the benefits too...for another $20, I'm sure.
Multi-tasking is a much have. Any announcement that doesn't include true multi-tasking or at least the Push Alert service leaves the iPhone a step behind no matter what else is added. The inability to have IM messages pop-up on my iPhone makes IM almost pointless. And how fun are games that restart whenever you receive a phone call or text.
multitasking is a total non issue. 99.99% of people won't know what that is about. And what games do you think pre is going to have?
mmm, I'm in email and now I want to check the web but need to go back to that email.
I think more people know what and how to use multitasking.
While I do think multitasking would be nice to have with certain apps (Ex. Instant Messaging while listening to streaming radio), what you are describing can be done without multitasking. When you exit the mail app, it instantly and automatically saves whatever you're doing, go check out that website you want to check out, when you're done exit the browser (which can automatically also save whatever you're doing), and get back to that saved email instantly. The user cannot tell the difference. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you really don't "need" an application constantly taking up cpu and ram resources by constantly staying on.
for business people (palm's audience) this is certainly an important issue
Did you know that 90% of all statistics are made up? I think 47% of people know what multitasking is, and the remaining 53% will use it, even if they don't understand it. 72% of people are waiting for the Palm Pre, with only 40% even interested in the new iPhone
- how's that for statistics?!?!?
According to Engadget, iPhone's 3.0 will not enable functionality of background applications...score one for the Pre.
2:10, that guy is full of sh*t.
Its funny to see these fan boys get so upset at the thought of other phone's being better than the iPhone.
iphone is the best media player centered cell phone. but the WORST phone ever.
BTW kevin rose is a tool, also homosexual with ashton kutcher.
Agreed ...
OMG, can't wait for iphone multitasking, iwill be able to remote dart while drinking a virtual beer AT THE SAME TIME, eat that palm
I meant remote fart not dart
It doesn't matter if the iPhone has a v12 engine or whatever.... at&t suckkkkkkkk big time when you compare their data service vs sprint. And let me now even get to compare at&t price vs SPRINT.
btw is there any reason why my wifes iPhone keep dialing random numbers on the middle of the night? true story.
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