I love it simply because its the best SSH experience of all of the smartphones. One click gets me the phones real terminal and then "ssh -l me whereever.com". No bogus setup screens, with each server requiring a 5 minute fill in the blank session to connect to, no menus full of special keys to transmit (most covered with the orange key), just pure .ssh/id_dsa public key in my home-dir win.
Its 10x easier than the best thing on my ipad and its with me 24/7 because it also happens to be my phone. Other problems with WebOS and Pre? Sure there are. This makes up for all of them. Smartphone makers: rent-seek my terminal, you lose.
Have you tried Maemo? With Maemo, I can just launch an xterm and ssh to my heart's content. For that matter, I can also set up an SSH server and ssh into the device. I'm guessing Meego probably has the same support.
In my experience, it's the closest experience to have a full Linux box that I can stick in my pocket.
Is Prompt already the best thing on your iPad? If not, I'd be curious to know how it stacks up. (Prompt costs US$5 for an iPad/iPhone version. Nobody get the vapors.)
Just tap on the “Just Type” search bar and enter “upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart” (the classic NES Konami code!); an icon appears that lets you toggle this mode on and off.
Wait, really? If that's not a joke, then it's kind of cool.
Yep, the konami code to get into dev mode has been in webos since the very beginning. I am talking webos 1.0.
Also, WebOs is great. I really like it and the UI but so far the devices have been fairly unimpressive. The original Palm Pre was good for about 3 months. After which android and iphone have gotten so many updates.
If the Palm Pre 3 lives up to it's ideal, it would definitely be worth a look but unfortunately, as cool as the OS is, the hardware just doesn't match.
..yet they haven't actually optimized the site properly for a small display, meaning it's not actually possible to scroll/zoom to see any full line of text (tested on iPhone).
I've passed this on to our dev portal design team. I hope we can get a fix for the blog theme soon; the scaling broke as part of a portal redesign back in March.
I remember getting excited when the Pre first came out. Sadly, it wasn't available in India. It still isn't. This is why Android will take over the mobile world: it's ubiquitous. Also, Samsung and HTC, the two largest players in the Android market, actually care about markets other than the USA and Europe. The Galaxy S II, for example, will launch in 120 countries.
True, why would I want to get an iPhone when I know it won't be serviced in India. India is a very smartphone hungry market, and Apple is doing itself a great disservice by not selling here.
PS:- Apple does sell, iPhone 3GS and iPad 2 in India. Except the iPhone, every other product is available within a week of the US launch. So the iPhone situation is quite strange.
I was hoping Palm would eventually license WebOS to companies that could make better hardware and offer more desirable form factors. WebOS is nice but the original Pre was just truly awful hardware. Under powered, fragile, terrible keyboard, screen was too small, etc. It doesn't look like the other WebOS devices released since have really improved on this much. Unfortunately HP would never consider licensing so hopefully they at least look at the SmartPhone market and realize people seem to like slim devices with high resolution screens. Big fat sliders with small low resolution screens have a very limited market these days.
I agree, but this is a problem that plagues Android too, though it's slowly getting better.
Even now though, hold an iPhone 4 in one hand, and hold the Nexus S in the other. Both are fine, fast phones with a wide array of features... but one feels plasticky and cheap, while the other feels solid, almost as if it was hewn out of a solid piece of glass.
Samsung, LG, et al really need to get their shit together. Apple sets a very high bar for manufacturing precision, materials use, and industrial design. I feel like the OEMs are slowly getting the design aspect sorted out, but every time I see a new Android device I can't help but be disappointed at the cheap materials and generally good-but-not-great assembly.
If HP made an iPod Touch competitor, I would buy one in a heartbeat. I don't want to buy another phone, but I'd love to have a WebOS device to play with.
Agreed - been saying for years that Palm screwed themselves over by trying to get in to the phone market with the Pre. They should have gone after reinventing the "PDA" market which they'd invented years earlier. Something like ipod touch with webOS 2 years ago would have, imo, allowed Palm to be a much different beast today.
I get the feeling that HP does not care about the phone market too much. However, the table market is something they are scared will eat into their PC business. So, I expect HP to push the TouchPad with all its might. If that happens, an iPod touch device seems the next thing they will release. I am looking forward to that too!
You know what's lacking from this list? A killer feature that both Android or iOS lacks. And that doesn't just have to be software, it can be the backing of other high profile manufacturers or a super low price point. The problem is that when you don't have market share you have to have bells and whistles the get geeks excited. I love HP as a company, and they're great as making stuff — but making an operating system is a different ball game of sorts.
The killer feature for me is that you can patch the builtin apps. The WebOS OSS community is actually pretty cohesive and have their own market with a subcategory for system patches. You install it like any other app and it runs patch in the background, restart the phone and the patch is applied.
After owning an android device for a year, I've come to realize the only features I use are directions, web, mail, and Kindle. I regularly dislike/want one particular feature in these apps and feel that I can get them to work how I want if I can patch so I'll be switching over when I get a new phone.
I'm in the early access program and I've spent a couple weekends on it. Waiting on clarification on Enyo's licensing (i.e. can I use it as a baseline for cross platform apps) which has not been forthcoming before actually investing in the platform. I've been asking about Enyo licensing at events since January and nobody will say.
Good point... if I was writing this again, I'd mention the Synergy system that ties in data sources from email, contacts, and calendar sites online into the core webOS PIM apps, giving you a unified view of everything. I didn't list it because it's a bit hard to build on, but I feel like it's the stand out feature.
Oh, and really nice multitasking. Effortless app management... but those are more user concerns.
If HP really wants developers behind it, they should consider giving away these devices to the developers. Even a $500 phone is a cheap investment with high returns, when made on a developer who's going to invest time (and money), is going to learn mostly by herself, and release an app in the market, even if in the hopes of making money for herself.
With Android already doing well, I don't see a developer risking her time as well as money on Palm, when it's uncertain how much success she'll achieve.
I really want to like WebOS. I did when the original Pre came out, but the hardware was only so-so and the marketing was too little.
Now, the new hardware looks really slick and the Enyo framework is super powerful. Again I was happy... Until I tried to sign up in their dev center. It's a many step process during which you have to register with the IRS, for example. Then you have to email them and ask for access to the Enyo SDK. Then they send you a form letter back.
I have lost almost all interest by now.
Palm... I really want to like you. Don't make it so hard.
You need to fill in the tax crap if u want the developer access and the Enyo early access. In other words if you are hoping to get any revenues from your apps. You also need a paypal account. Just for the SDK you can stick to the community member level.
You only have to do that for the Enyo early access program. If you just wanted to check it out, you could register without having to provide IRS information. You can enter your IRS information later when you want to upload apps.
Also, if you just want access to the current SDK and emulator, you wouldn't even need to register. You just need to go through the extra steps for Enyo because it is currently under NDA.
Having had a Pre since the day Sprint launched it in 2009, it's truly a hackerphone for those that want to customize their experience, and one of the primary reasons I've evangelized the platform and my experience developing for and tinkering with it to all the developer friends of mine that'd listen.
They got it right from the start. No bootloader crap or jailbreaking necessary. Preware from webOS Internals is just icing on the cake.
I loved my Pre when I was still with Sprint. By far the most enjoyable to use out of all the phones I've had. My biggest complaint was (and still is) the lack of applications. If HP is able increase their app library, they will quite possibly find me buying another WebOS device.
I really hope they succeed if only because of the openness of their phones. It feels amazing to have full access to your device out of the box without having to jump through 1.5 million jailbreak hoops.
Only one recent device (at the moment) and it is carrier exclusive in most countries (for me, in germany). I like the new devices and the operating system, but sadly, I also have a good contract with a different carrier.
So: sorry HP, but i'll pass. I never bought a locked phone and I will not start because of your hypergeeky operating system.
WP7's suffering from its own developer adoption woes. The only problem with webOS' adoption, from my perspective as a webOS dev, has been marketing and hardware. Developing for webOS has been fun from Day One and continues to be nearly two years later.
The hardware part they look to have taken care of based on the Pre 3, Veer, and Touchpad I got to see and mess with back at their Dev Reception in February, and I'm pretty sure they have the money to market the product line now.
I think WebOS is great. But all the Palm devices are sliders which kinda sucks. I wish they'd come up with something comparable with Nexus S or iPhone 4. A simple, but cool nice little piece of smartphone. But, that's just me.
Maybe if they made a good device that was available for my carrier of choice I'd be more willing to consider it.
As it stands I have half a dozen android phones to possibly choose from and the venerable iphone. I'd love to have a webos phone if it was closer to the iphone in terms of form factor, resolution, speed, battery life etc but from what I've seen its not even close.
Top it off with the fact that it seems like HP hasn't advertised a penny for the thing compared to verizon's droid adverts plastered everywhere.
Honestly HP needs to team up with a carrier and make it happen in terms of marketing. Windows Phone 7 might beat out webos in terms of mindshare at this point.
I doubt WebOS can overtake Android or iOS at this point, but it should be a solid third place in this market (I don't think other competitors like WP7 or Bada can make it).
Nokia makes WP7 #3 by default. A respectable #4 by volume would be fine if WebOS has a shot at #2 in quality.
#1 in quality is, I trust, sewn up for practically everyone reading this, though with disagreements at great length and volume on which name to fill in.
Is there any way that WebOS could be ported to Android? If they're both linux then the drivers should be fairly compatible with the respected kernel mods, right?
[+] [-] noonespecial|15 years ago|reply
Its 10x easier than the best thing on my ipad and its with me 24/7 because it also happens to be my phone. Other problems with WebOS and Pre? Sure there are. This makes up for all of them. Smartphone makers: rent-seek my terminal, you lose.
[+] [-] daniel_solano|15 years ago|reply
In my experience, it's the closest experience to have a full Linux box that I can stick in my pocket.
[+] [-] antihero|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] irons|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hessenwolf|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] brianwillis|15 years ago|reply
Wait, really? If that's not a joke, then it's kind of cool.
[+] [-] gkatsev|15 years ago|reply
Also, WebOs is great. I really like it and the UI but so far the devices have been fairly unimpressive. The original Palm Pre was good for about 3 months. After which android and iphone have gotten so many updates.
If the Palm Pre 3 lives up to it's ideal, it would definitely be worth a look but unfortunately, as cool as the OS is, the hardware just doesn't match.
[+] [-] unknown|15 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] ortatherox|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] modernerd|15 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] unknown|15 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] benjoffe|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unwiredben|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lukifer|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] GeneralMaximus|15 years ago|reply
I remember getting excited when the Pre first came out. Sadly, it wasn't available in India. It still isn't. This is why Android will take over the mobile world: it's ubiquitous. Also, Samsung and HTC, the two largest players in the Android market, actually care about markets other than the USA and Europe. The Galaxy S II, for example, will launch in 120 countries.
[+] [-] rrrazdan|15 years ago|reply
PS:- Apple does sell, iPhone 3GS and iPad 2 in India. Except the iPhone, every other product is available within a week of the US launch. So the iPhone situation is quite strange.
[+] [-] jsz0|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] potatolicious|15 years ago|reply
Even now though, hold an iPhone 4 in one hand, and hold the Nexus S in the other. Both are fine, fast phones with a wide array of features... but one feels plasticky and cheap, while the other feels solid, almost as if it was hewn out of a solid piece of glass.
Samsung, LG, et al really need to get their shit together. Apple sets a very high bar for manufacturing precision, materials use, and industrial design. I feel like the OEMs are slowly getting the design aspect sorted out, but every time I see a new Android device I can't help but be disappointed at the cheap materials and generally good-but-not-great assembly.
[+] [-] rsanchez1|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mdiep|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mgkimsal|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] p1itopre|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] michaelpinto|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] grayrest|15 years ago|reply
After owning an android device for a year, I've come to realize the only features I use are directions, web, mail, and Kindle. I regularly dislike/want one particular feature in these apps and feel that I can get them to work how I want if I can patch so I'll be switching over when I get a new phone.
I'm in the early access program and I've spent a couple weekends on it. Waiting on clarification on Enyo's licensing (i.e. can I use it as a baseline for cross platform apps) which has not been forthcoming before actually investing in the platform. I've been asking about Enyo licensing at events since January and nobody will say.
[+] [-] unwiredben|15 years ago|reply
Oh, and really nice multitasking. Effortless app management... but those are more user concerns.
[+] [-] slowpoison|15 years ago|reply
With Android already doing well, I don't see a developer risking her time as well as money on Palm, when it's uncertain how much success she'll achieve.
[+] [-] rsanchez1|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] moeffju|15 years ago|reply
Now, the new hardware looks really slick and the Enyo framework is super powerful. Again I was happy... Until I tried to sign up in their dev center. It's a many step process during which you have to register with the IRS, for example. Then you have to email them and ask for access to the Enyo SDK. Then they send you a form letter back. I have lost almost all interest by now.
Palm... I really want to like you. Don't make it so hard.
[+] [-] deepGem|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aidenn0|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rsanchez1|15 years ago|reply
Also, if you just want access to the current SDK and emulator, you wouldn't even need to register. You just need to go through the extra steps for Enyo because it is currently under NDA.
[+] [-] comex|15 years ago|reply
As an iOS jailbreaker, <3
I mean, it removes a bit of the fun, but still.
I ought to get a Pre.
[+] [-] jackson71|15 years ago|reply
They got it right from the start. No bootloader crap or jailbreaking necessary. Preware from webOS Internals is just icing on the cake.
[+] [-] zcid|15 years ago|reply
I really hope they succeed if only because of the openness of their phones. It feels amazing to have full access to your device out of the box without having to jump through 1.5 million jailbreak hoops.
[+] [-] Argorak|15 years ago|reply
Only one recent device (at the moment) and it is carrier exclusive in most countries (for me, in germany). I like the new devices and the operating system, but sadly, I also have a good contract with a different carrier.
So: sorry HP, but i'll pass. I never bought a locked phone and I will not start because of your hypergeeky operating system.
[+] [-] jallmann|15 years ago|reply
edit: I actually think wp7/silverlight might fare well too from a dev perspective, but i haven't spent time with it yet.
[+] [-] jackson71|15 years ago|reply
The hardware part they look to have taken care of based on the Pre 3, Veer, and Touchpad I got to see and mess with back at their Dev Reception in February, and I'm pretty sure they have the money to market the product line now.
[+] [-] lukifer|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] plainOldText|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rbanffy|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] DaveBowman|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] treorock|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bfrog|15 years ago|reply
As it stands I have half a dozen android phones to possibly choose from and the venerable iphone. I'd love to have a webos phone if it was closer to the iphone in terms of form factor, resolution, speed, battery life etc but from what I've seen its not even close.
Top it off with the fact that it seems like HP hasn't advertised a penny for the thing compared to verizon's droid adverts plastered everywhere.
Honestly HP needs to team up with a carrier and make it happen in terms of marketing. Windows Phone 7 might beat out webos in terms of mindshare at this point.
[+] [-] azakai|15 years ago|reply
I doubt WebOS can overtake Android or iOS at this point, but it should be a solid third place in this market (I don't think other competitors like WP7 or Bada can make it).
[+] [-] irons|15 years ago|reply
#1 in quality is, I trust, sewn up for practically everyone reading this, though with disagreements at great length and volume on which name to fill in.
[+] [-] antihero|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] blinkingled|15 years ago|reply