[ youtube link ]
Above, a rough and ready, very short video of the Pixi. Honestly, Palm has never let us take photos or videos of devices at briefings like this before, so I came a little unprepared. Flip MinoHD: Thank you.
After the break, my stream-of-consciousness first impressions after an hour with the Pixi
Hardware & Aesthetics
First off: the Palm Pixi is thin, so thin you want to bite it. It's light, too, clocking in at just under 100 grams with the standard back cover, just over with the touchstone cover. It's so thin and light it floats in your hand. If the back cover weren't a slightly grippy, soft touch plastic, it would float right out of your hand. It's thinner than the iPhone 3Gs. Thinner than any BlackBerry by a noticeable margin (Palm says 20%). It disappears in your pocket, I mean you put it in there and it's solid gone.
So yeah, I like that aspect of the Pixi.
Overall, it's a little narrow and a little tall, but not too bad. I was initially worried that I would find the screen too small - it's 320x400 instead of 320x480, but in practice it really doesn't matter too much for most apps - the webOS is all HTML anyway, so it can handle multiple screensizes just fine. Screen responsiveness is just like you'd like it to be on a capacitive screen: great.
Build quality on the units Palm had on hand was great. The plastic on the front is hard and glossy - essentially the same feel as the front of the Pre. The overall look of the front of the device does feel a bit off, but a large part of that is my smartphone-center wondering where the main buttons between the keyboard and the screen are. Does the Pixi look high-end? Not really, but it doesn't look especially cheap either. With a classy custom back cover, it can turn heads.
Speaking of the gesture area - mark me down as ok with the jettisoning of the center button. You can still tap there if the phone is on for the same action, but the whole thing feels much more fluid without it. Replacing the circular leds with a single, thin band of light also classes the rig up a bit.
The Keyboard: passable, but very small. It's slightly narrower than the Pre's keyboard, but still larger than the teensy keyboard on the Centro. Size aside (and I know that size will be an issue), the keyboard feels much better than the Pre's keyboard. The keys click in much more satisfyingly and much more responsively.
Removing the back cover is an exercise in frustration, so hopefully the battery life is good - it uses the exact same battery as the Pre, so we'll see.
Responsiveness, Performance, & Speed
- Palm Pixi Review
- Palm Pixi Photo Gallery
- What's New in webOS 1.3.1
- Facebook App Review
- Pixi to get 1.3.1 Right Away, Pre "Shortly Thereafter"
- Pixi Artist Series Covers
We don't know just how much RAM is in here nor do we know how well the Pixi's Qualcomm processor will handle under stress, but basically as long as you keep it to three to four cards, you're going to do just fine. More than 5 or 6 and you're asking for heaps of trouble. Fact: the Pixi isn't as powerful as the Pre.
It's EVDO Rev A, so speeds are as good as Sprint is in your area, I certainly didn't notice it taking any longer to render web pages than the Pre does. The removal of WiFi feels like a classless move - I don't know what a WiFi chip costs or how much it would cost to make it work well with the new Qualcomm chipset, but somehow it feels like they're just making sure that everybody knows that the Pixi is low-end.
Overall
I tell you: I am sorely tempted by the Pixi. Yes, it's not as powerful as the Pre. Yes, it lacks WiFi. Yes, it has a smaller screen. But the always-there keyboard and the blissfully tiny size are compelling. I probably won't switch because of those three issues, but honestly I don't envy the decision a future buyer will have to make if he or she doesn't care much about one of those three things.
Centro owners will flock to this thing like you won't believe.
Comments
The video is not viewable. :P
First! Video doesn't play -- seems to require an invite. Wow, you guys got a ton of information up with the quickness!
how can you "publish" a private video on your front news page? that is decidely not in the spirit of openess...
No comments on the name? Everyone was so sure it was going to be called the Eos and that the code name was Pixie. I actually conjectured that maybe the name really was Pixie. LOL
"BTW, a reminder to really screw with everyone's game here. The original code name for the Eos is Pixie, supposedly. What if Pixie is the real name and Eos the code?"
http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pre/200949-what-might-mean-c40.html#po...
It adds to intrigue of the new Palm phones in both Sprint and Verizon's pricing sheets.
8 gigs of ram!? sign me up!
8GB RAM? You sure about that one? haha
Wow...now I know why the site was down! This was worth the wait..I am a Centro owner, but ready to move up beyond the 8gb user memory constraints of the Pre, so the Pixi won't do. It is a bit tempting in itself though. I like the Centro form factor. A bigger keyboard than the centro is a good call..but still, no MicroSDHC? Puhleeze..
i guess this is why pre's 1.2 has the ability to get amazon over evdo.
I was thinking the same thing, too. I don't think enough of a big whoop has been raised for downloading music on the fly. That's HUGE! In fact, I think Palm's entire "cloud think" will be all amount moving storage to the cloud. The thing about Amazon is that it stores every digital thing you own on their servers in your account. With Amazon video you can either download or watch directly from their servers or download it to one device and watch it on their servers on another device.
What IF they do the same thing with MP3s? Wouldn't this also justify the size of the Pre and the Pixi's memory without expansion slots?
This is possible. There are already several smart phones capable of viewing Amazon videos. Why not, eventually the Pre and the Pixi? I think the cloud thing is bigger than most people realize. I think there's more to come. And I think WAN downloading is the beginning.
agreed. but if anyone criticizes anything the palm can do no wrong types come out of the woodwork. i'm of the opinion short of an itunes clone everything is there for palm to do all that the iphone/itunes/itunes store/itunes app catalog do and just as well.
thanks man... I was freakin jonseing, as you could tell. I wonder if I can get one for all my nephews and nieces (3)
It look way better than the first pics dat was shown
ok i saw it and doesn't it have 4gbs instead of 8gbs? the pre has 8. looks good but grainy. nice job as always!!!
It look way better than the first pics dat was shown
It look way better than the first pics dat was shown
It look way better than the first pics dat was shown
WiFi chips are thick and can add considerably more width to a device. I'm sure they left out WiFi to keep the device thin.
I don't understand the lack of WiFi on this device. Sprint is mandating WiFi on all "PDA Equipment" starting next year. Why make the Pixi without WiFi now and then have to add it in the future? The WiFi BB Tour will be coming out early next year.
No WiFi really hurts unless it gets phenomenal battery life compared to the Pre. Right now I can go almost 2 days on my Pre forcing 1X coverage and using WiFi for data. With EVDO Hybrid enabled I can only get about 10 hours before it's down to 10%.
How do you force 1x?
Go to the phone app, type in ##EVDO#. That will bring up a screen where you can select what mode you want the phone to be in. Choose either 1X or EVDO Hybrid. DO NOT PICK EVDO ONLY. If you do that, you will only have access to data - no texts or phone calls will come through.
Enjoy your improved battery life.
If the Pre could take videos, you'd have been just fine...
Wow, its more impressive than I thought it would be, at least according the specs listed. I was thinking it was going to have maybe 4 gig, and lack a bunch of other things but still basically use the web os basics. Looks like it will be a great addition to palms line of devices. Its good they are doing this because it will also help push the app store. People who may not want a slider phone or were really into the centro and treo may get on board with this little guy.
perhaps the hand model has small hands, but this phone looks enormously long. gargantuon
Doesn't a 8GB Pixi virtually assure us of a 16GB Pre by the holidays?
Not necessarily. The price drop does though, as far as I'm concerned.
No WiFi - What the freak?
How about a GSM and a SIM slot?
Looks like the edges not rounded much. Are we going to get the dreaded "cheese cutter" moaning about the Pixi as well?
no thanks. I'm stickin with my pre
No WiFi? My wife almost jumped to this but then backed off. And this would be her first smart phone. She is not sure how she'd use WiFi, I bet, but she certainly knew that the Pixi was compromised without it. And, I agree.
Should we rename the site now palmcentral?? It would fit better
That'd be a little hard, as PalmCentral.com was once a Palm online software store and the domain still routes to....
http://www.handango.com/homepage/Homepage.jsp?storeId=2218
Odd footnote in history, considering Apple invented the "app store" shortly after inventing the touchscreen phone interface and right around the point they introduced the world to "cutting edge" 3G smartphone data service.
Looks like Dieter was smart and already registered pixicentral.com :)
http://who.godaddy.com/WhoIs.aspx?domain=pixicentral.com&prog_id=godaddy
size: don't care
little bit less power: don't care
no wifi: broke my heart
i agree, classless move. it needs to come with wifi. please. pretty please. with a cherry on top.
The Good:
+The useless center button / dot is gone
+Great Form Factor
+THIN!
The Bad:
-No Wifi? Hopefully they can squeeze it in this form factor
-Sub-HVGA display
-No external memory
Palm, what are you thinking? Even while you clowns went to sleep for several years at the wheel of PalmOS, the Treo form factor sold enough to keep you afloat. So, what do you do? Ditch PalmOS and not look back for a Linux based system- OK, I am kind of with you, I would still like Kinoma to work though... And then Abandon the form factor that made you a success? Partially realize your mistake and decide to revisit the Treo form factor, BUT dumb it down for entry level users?
Excuse me? Entry level users are the kids with their Sidekicks that act like they are autistic when they flick open their clamshell phones to pound out a text message.
Why alienate your loyal fans who want to DO WORK on your phones? Why is there a flagship model? Why not make the Pre = Pixi? What is the logic behind that? You appear to be planning to charge the same for the Pixi, why not let the people chose? I guarantee there would be more interest in the Pixi form factor than the Pre.
I was surprised how much I actually like the Pre, but come on. Who wants to slide the keyboard out all the time? Oh, you do, eh? Well you can purchase the Pre and get all the functionality I have on my Pixi... WAIT, Palm! Where is my functionality?
That's what happens when Apple takes over, I guess
I agree. Ruby team is still in the apple mindset and darn it...I hate that! Come on, the old palm we once knew would have giving us Expansion cards, most likely would have left the 5 way navigation alone because it just worked. Oh well, can't stop living in the past I guess :(
It's a shame that Apple thinks good looks and functionality are mutually exclusive. Mayyyybe the P120 will fix this but I somehow doubt it. Is this the C40 probably?
I am hoping this is the C40 because the P120 sounds like something that is better/faster than the Pre and the Pixie isn't that. I'm just confused on why the C, I was thinking that C would stand for a new charger for Palms. Palm Pixie down, waiting for the next new Palm device.
The whole idea behind the Pixi was to appeal to a broader demographic and use the concept of the Centro. A great experience and a great value. Granted it's missing a few things, but the Centro did extremely well in the market; especially in Palms position.
Except that the Centro evolved the Treo line and was faster and had more features in a smaller, cheaper form factor.
The Picksie drops features and costs about the same. Is the target audience really that different between the two? Most teenie boppers i know love their landscape kb texting dumbphones.
Man oh man, videos of the pixie and later on apples music event. I'm going to be stuck in my chair for a while lol.
not to refer people to a different site... but engadget.com 'who is not dedicated only to the Pre, like Precentral is. Has a very good video of it in action and it shows 2 new apps 1 being FACEBOOK and the other being AIR HOCKEY!!!!!! Check it out www.engadget.com
Daniel
How come Engadget gets an extended hands on review and PreCentral didn't?
I don't understand interest in this device (Pre yes, this no). There are probably 349 million other phones out there that are as or more desirable and at LEAST as functional. By the time this one becomes available there will be 483 million...and half of those will be "free with contract".
As a former Centro user I think this seems great.
I got tired of flipping the lid on my Treo 180 back in 2002 so the Pre is not an option. I will probably wear out just as the wires in the hinges on the first Treo's did. ;)
If the Pre didn't appeal to women, then the Pixie should as it looks to be geared towards no-so-power users looking for something thin, light and "purse-able". "Roger...where's the mirror???"
Palm just can't get it right to save themselves. No wi-fi and a keyboard smaller than the already cramped Pre-board? This is a non-starter for me.
I've been using Palm devices for better than 10 years, but I may have to start looking seriously at alternatives.
Palm, wtf. Strip Wifi, really? if you do that, at least make it near as powerful.. wifi is extremely useful.
Sigh, looks good, but I feel like they haven't learned a thing to try and get users. The reduced screen was a huge concern for me because of consistent app development. Looks like it'll happen, and we'll see how much trouble that gets them into.
They didn't include wifi ONLY to differentiate it from Pre distinctively.
The other day I was on Precentral.net, after lunch, when I saw this Pre. It was very good. The weird thing was, the more devices I saw getting announced on Sprint, the more frustrated I got. It was a feeling I knew, like deja vu.
Paul in UK. (9 months up still waiting)
lol
Centro users WON'T flock to this since it seems to require the same $70 as the Pre. Yes, the phone is $50 less than the Pre, but you'll more than make up the $50 after two months paying for service.
Centro users != SERO users. I know that yes, there are still a ton of SERO users, and that some of them might be using the Centro, but most Centro users are already paying the $70 per month.
Thanks for the video preview and the write-up Dieter. Let this be an object lesson to "expect the unexpected" and be ready for it. The Flip Mino is OK in a pinch but it obviously doesn't have the close focus capability you needed. Maybe something like the Kodak Zi8 would work better for you? It has a macro (close focus) mode and image stabilization plus it shoots full 1080P video... In your defense you're certainly not the first person to put up a blurry product video and circumstances being what they were, you did the best you could with what you had.
The lack of WiFi is a deal killer for me. I actually don't understand this push to make everything thinner. I mean, you still have to be able to grip the thing. Steven noted in his post above that the WiFi chip would probably widen the form factor. Is that really that big of a deal? A slightly wider phone would have made for more real estate for the keyboard. It's already cramped on the Pre. I can't imagine typing on the Pixie would be very comfortable except for the shortest messages.
I guess overall I'm not impressed. Were I a non-power user in the market for a new phone I might consider it, but as it is the Pre offers more options that I'm interested in. I understand that Palm needs to have multiple products to appeal to the full spectrum of buyers though. It will be interesting to see how Pixie sales compare to the Pre's, and to other low-end smartphones against which it will be competing.
I am a Sprint user looking to get into a PDA-type phone. I am considering the Pre and the upcoming Hero. I am not sure of the slider on the Pre. This could have been in the running, but No WIFI = No Buy!
Dieter, Thanks for the initial impressions. Do you happen to know if Classic will run on this baby?
Just speculating here--I would imagine that an updated version of Classic will use keys on the keyboard for button input. It's hard to envision another way to do it without cutting into the screen space.
Of course, they'll have to find a way to differentiate between "push this key to simulate a button" and "push this key to type the letter on it"... Still, MotionApps will want to offer something for all the Centro-to-Pixi upgraders.
Dont Knock The Phone, People Will Buy It. Its All About People Preferences. For Example, My Mom Loves My Pre And Wishes She Had Something Similar. Shes Not The Brightest When It Comes To Technology So The Pixie Might Be A Way To Go For Her. She'll Never Use The Wifi Anyway So The Non-Wifiness (lol) of the Pixi Really Doesnt Matter. No Flipping The Phone For a Keyboard Is Something She'd Love. So A Watered Down Pre Might Actually Be Good For Some People Who Want To Keep Up Wit Times, But Arent Probably Gunna Used Some Of The Features Anyway. People Like Us, We Love The Pre Cuz The Possibilities CAN BE Endless. People Like My Mom, Will Love The Pixie To Be Simple But Modern.
+1
++1 for wife (and kids if we don't have to give up sero.)
I'm disappointed, I was looking forward to the Pixi to replace my aging T|C, but the lack of WiFi on it is a deal breaker. There are several places where I don't get crap for reception in buildings I'm in and WiFi is the only way to get anything done on my current smart phone.
They have stated that it is for a more entry level market. The Centro did not have wi-fi, and it became a huge seller for Palm. This looks very much like a Centro replacement and is intended for that particular market. If you want wi-fi, go with the Pre. If you don't want the slideout keyboard, then it is not available. I have used the Centro with Sprint for two years and love it. Just wish the net surfing experience and screen resolution was better, so I am ready to move on. I would take the Pre or BB tour or the upcoming Hero, but that would require a data plan change. I don't want to pay more. I tried out two WinMo recently (Treo Pro and HTC Touch Pro), it was slow and synchronizing with Outlook did not pick up my memos from PalmOs correctly. It ported over but I could not search for my memos. Microsoft, why can't you make the Outlook's Notes sync its category correctly to your Windows Mobile device since you build the darn thing.
I look forward to the Pixi and going back to a Palm. Hopefully, it doesn't require an Everything plan. The Pixi has EVDO, so it will be quick. I wish that Palm will give you the option to Hotsync to its Desktop with the WebOs. I don't like having my personal data on a cloud server. People can hack into it (aka. South Carolina governor mistress' email).
I just bought my partner a Pre for his birthday. He has developed a love/hate relationship with it. It is an upgrade from his Centro. I have a treo 755 and looking for an upgrade, but the Pre's slider feature I detest as well as it's inept ability to wonder off dialing and texting people on it's own. I glanced at the Pro, but didn't like the look, and I would so miss the WebOS platform. Palm heralds in the Pixi...if I weren't metro man, the name Pixi would simply never do, but at least it's not called the fairy friend. Although I am sacrificing the Palm desktop calendar which is my ultimate favorite feature of the treo, I want the Pixi, and I want it NOW!
Never heard of the Pre dialing/texting on its own. Are you sure that wasn't your partner's excuse for calling someone they shouldn't have? I kid, but truly, I never heard of that problem. I mean, the keyboard is hidden most of the time.
Palm left off the ringer switch at the top on the Pixi? Such a useful feature of Treos and it's on the Pre. I love that feature even though it seems like no big deal.
Also, hopefully they put a good LED alert system on the Pixi. Why all phone manufacturers don't get the fact that a lot of people want to know when they miss a call/text/email without having to "turn the phone on." A good vibrate/LED alert system shouldn't require 3rd party software on such advanced devices.
dtreo.
@dtreo, it has the mute switch, just on the side rather than the top.
Supposedly webOS 1.2 has the code for using the gesture area LED as an alert light, but I seem to remember it being reported as "not enabled yet". We know it can do it, it is just a matter of time for Palm to get the behavior just right.
I REALLY like the light bar instead of the round button on the Pre, but I didn't see it indicate a back-gesture in the videos. Did I miss that? Does it have 3 segments or some other way to indicate which gesture you gave it? I like that feedback on the Pre telling me I correctly did a back, forward or full-swipe gesture in case the app I'm using doesn't respond the way I was expecting.
I went to a concert tonight, and I went to update my facebook/twitter real quick at one point to mention something about the show, but I couldn't because I couldn't see the keys for crap. I looked around and the guy next to me was facebooking on his G1, and the guy on the other side of me was texting on his blackberry, both of which had lit keys which were easy to use in the dark. I suddenly realized that I never even thought about the keys being lit on my old Berry, but what an obviously useful feature. I used it in the dark all the time, I guess I only would have noticed if I couldn't see them, which only became a problem the first time I tried to use my new Pre in a low-light situation, which was tonight.
Take note Palm. If you can get an LED behind those keys before you go to retail, do it! And find a way to light up the keys on future versions/releases of the Pre, so simple things like using the phone in the dark aren't impossible.
Dude I think your phone might be broken. The keys on the Pre ARE back-lit.
Amazon MP3 download through network in 1.2/1.2.1 anyway so Wifi isn't such a big deal as I would expect...except being able to tether.
No sync with desktop and no graffiti. No way.
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