By now it should be clear that the Palm Pixi will be shipping with a new version of webOS. It includes a new Palm-sourced Facebook app and Synergy integration with Yahoo, why wouldn’t it be new? What we were unsure of was what version of webOS we were going to be looking for, and it turns out that it may be the 1.2.9 version that we saw when Dieter got his hands on a Pixi.
The evidence? The internet. DSL Reports logs what devices access their system for speed and other tests, and sharp-eyed reader taharka spotted something interesting: a device called the Pixi, running webOS 1.2.9 (Note that the link in this paragraph is the general report, you'll have to page through to find the Pixi.).
Now, we've finally heard some reliable rumblings that webOS 1.3 proper is in the works, but what the featureset it will gain (and whether it deserves a full point-update) remains to be seen.
All we know is that the last thing we want is three different versions of webOS out there on November 15: webOS 1.2.1 on the Pre on Sprint and Bell, webOS 1.1.3 on the Pre on O2, and webOS 1.2.9 on the Pixi. That’s got to be a technical support nightmare. Instead, Palm promised 'parity' between the CDMA and GSM versions of the Pre, so hopefully they'll be able to pull off an update here in the next week or two that brings all three devices up to the same level.
Comments
+1 on technical support nightmare.
we're already supporting two different versions of Classic for our US and our European customer base, and if our European crew had any less understanding …
Maybe 1.2.9/1.3 will be delayed a few more months as they waste time trying to re-enable iTunes yet again :(
Is it really so hard to mount the Pre and drag mp3 files to a folder/directory then unmount it? It works on all platforms, all operating systems, all devices, costs nothing, has no dependencies or minimum requirements, and is done without any proprietary software or protocols.
Why would it be delayed, it takes them only a couple hours to do it each time. Single digit hours. The delay for the last update was from Sprint.
>Why would it be delayed, it takes them only a couple hours to do it each time. Single digit hours.
Well, we don't know that for sure. Besides, just because it might have only taken "single digit hours" in the past, doesn't mean it will this time around.
I think the issue with Itunes is more about convenience at automatic syncing than anything else. I don't use Ituness, but one thing I really wish I had on my Pre is the ability to create playlists and I would almost install Itunes just for that ability alone. It sucks to be at the gym and not have a group of songs that keep me motivated without having to skip 5 songs to get to one more good one. And, Doubletwist takes way too long to transfer files and I have not tried to do a playlist on that app yet....
Ah, but you can already use playlists in the Pre's music player. Just make them on your computer and copy over the m3u files. Done.
AND, you create playlists on the Pre, itself, by installing "Music Player Remix". See this recent article:
http://www.precentral.net/music-player-remix-offers-25-key-upgrades
I would much rather Palm concentrate on adding those kinds of features than worry about iTunes.
I don't use playlists, myself- I always listen to everything in random mode and just "tilt" if I don't like the song.
Prolly Apple just released the new itunes to see if they can delay the Pixi release after peek holiday time but that wont work, haha take that Apple!!! Makes no sense to delay release due to this.
Prolly = Probably?
I seriously doubt Apple feels much threat from the Pre and/or the Pixi. They might have some concern if a lot of other devices, combined, suddenly erode their iTunes lock-in, though.
The link to DSL Reports is no longer valid, nor am I able to find any references to a Pixi on any of the log pages anymore.
Well, okay, the last twelve. But that's pretty far back I'd think.
copied DSL reports into excel and did the search... no pixi found
Hope facebook is better then that crappy touch facebook.
Recently, I got my 4th Palm Pre after showing the Sprint repair store that my screen was starting to delaminate in the lower right hand corner. So, I've been contemplating dropping the Pre and replacing it w/an HTC Hero.
But I'm hesitating on this decision, in large part because I started reading the HTC Hero forums, and in particular, the number of people hoping for updates. Meanwhile, the Pre has already had 6 software releases. 1.2.9/1.3.0 would be #7.
The optimist in me says that Palm is more responsive and growing faster. The pessimist in me says they had more problems.
The realist in me says i'm losing patience for basic functionality.
You should peruse some of the HTC Hero forums. There's plenty of fanboys and hyper-critics there, too.
Yeah, i've been meaning to do that, but i can't tear myself away from *this* site. Lol, I feel like I know everybody here.
Ya I also picked up the Hero but only had it for a short time and exchanged it back for the Pre.
How did you do this? Did you do it w/in the 30 day window? I'd like to exchange my Pre for a Hero for a week to see which one I like better. But if I dislike the Hero, I want to go back to the Pre. But, as the first person in line on June 5, I'm well outside my 30 days.
I'm not sure if I'll like the Hero. I'm not a big fan of virt keyboards. But maybe I'll get used to it. Maybe it'll be less laggy than the Pre. Maybe it won't. I'd like to experiment w/out risking a $200 ETF.
I can't understand why Palm is with holding features. Yahoo IM has showed up on replacement Pres. The App space bug was rumored to be available this month. The Calendar App is in need of a major overhaul. API development has seemed to stall.
Palm is delaying while the completion is extending its lead.
VERY DISAPPOINTING !
Unless you hacked (read: are using Greg's package) your phone to support Y!IM and MSN, the Yahoo support mentioned before is probably running the old and buggy Yahoo from last January. If you tried to use it you'd run into some... problems.
1.2.9 in linux speak usually refers to an early alpha of 1.3. Often if you download nightly builds of software, lets say a prealpha of version 3.5, the version number will be something like:
3.4.9999.MMDDYY
The linux kernel itself (used to?) has even numbers as stable releases and odds as testing versions. So Kernel 2.5.xx is the testing version of 2.6. I'm not sure if they still do that though.
Linus typically opens up a development version when he's got something that needs to be completely reworked to implement, and can't be done in the current non-dev release. Linus has stated a couple of times, that the reason there isn't a 2.7 of the kernel is that he hasn't found anything that he wants to do that can't be done in the 2.6 branch.
I for one cannot wait for whatever is next. 1.1.3 is fantastic so 1.3 or whatever they name it shoud be utterly brilliant. Bring it on Palm!!!
I Wonder if this means that another WebOS Update is around the corner for us Pre users who have 1.2.1?
If so I hope it includes Yahoo IM, fixes the App memory limit, upgrades the facebook App., Adds voice and video to the text messaging.
Hmm....just some of my wishes. Hopefully with the holidays only weeks away and the Pixie release date, this will pressure Palm to get these updates out!
:-) Palm.. if your reading this..pretty please...
Thanks.
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!