So the good folks at O2 Germany are the only people selling the GSM Palm Pre without a SIM-Lock on the phone. As of now, if you want an unlocked GSM Palm Pre in the US (or anywhere else for that matter), they're your only option. One problem: the German Palm Pre has the QWERTZ-style keyboard, not your standard English QWERTY. How dare people speak and use other languages, right?
Right, well if that layout is keeping you from importing, Rod Whitby of WebOS Internals has the solution coming soon. It uses the WebOS Internals Meta-Doctor (which coincidentally can be used to get any Pre working without a data plan, should you need a WiFi-only Pre) but the entire process takes some Linux knowledge, a Linux desktop, and a healthy dose of gumption.
Technical details to follow tomorrow, but the good news is that the technique persists across OTA updates and most resets. The bad news, again, is that it's a pretty non-trivial hack. Still - anybody who's hard-up for a GSM Pre outside Europe take note: the details will be posted in our forums, right here.
Comments
Tell Us now !
Details have been posted in the thread (it's already tomorrow in Australia).
-- Rod
Shouldn't the title of the post be "QWERTZ Keyboard Layout a German Palm Pre"?
I initially thought the same thing, but I think he's using 'QWERTY' as a verb -- as in, "this is how to make it QWERTY". Kinda confusing though.
/Kevin
I will take any keyboard that gives me an unlocked device with no contract.
Qwertz/Qwerty you swap two letters big deal. I'm a Dvorak typist.
http://www.typematrix.com/ordernew/view_2030dv.php.
I doubt there will every be a Dvorak for mobile devices. Then again, 10 finger touch typing will probably never come to pocket mobile devices either. One thing I did notice about the pre keyboard is that the finally realized there is no need to stagger the keys. This puts a lot of unnecessary strain on the fingers in normal typing and manual typewriters have been obsolete for over 30 years. That is the only reason they were staggered.
still has the (,/_) key... I freaking hit underscore like every single time i want to hit comma. I figured I would get used to it after awhile, but nooo.
this is probably due to the comma being in roughly the same place as it was on the treo700 and on that phone I had to hit the function button for comma (i just looked and its that way for like, ALL the other treo keyboards :-/ and yes I know this isn't a treo)
that's my only gripe about the keyboard really.
how can i get the pre from german?
anyone has any idea?
i try to look through the o2 german site
but it all german (ofcourse!) and it all flash so no translation possible!
will they ship it to aus?
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