Here's some news tidbits for today to keep you on top of all the latest for webOS and the Palm Pre:
webOS book for Preorder
For eager developers waiting for the revised print edition of the Palm webOS book (currently Rough Cuts), now may be a good time to secure a copy. Amazon is now taking preorders for Palm webOS, written by Palm CTO Mitch Allen. The book is an official guide to building native applications for Palm webOS, offering a complete webOS tutorial using established web development standards including HTML, CSS and JavaScript. If you can't wait, start by reading our summary of Palm webOS chapter 1 and chapter 2 of the Rough Cuts edition.
Mobile App Stores
Gizmodo has written an article on the current state of all the competing Mobile App stores, complete with an informative chart. It's hard to believe its been less than a year since the iPhone App Store was launched. Surprisingly, most stores have an uncannily similar feature set for both users and developers. Palm's store is still in development so most features are TBD; other articles discussing Palm's webOS App Catalog can be found here and here.
webOS to support Google Sync
CompanionLink announced on Friday that the Palm Pre would offer standalone MS Outlook two-way sync at launch. The program allows for syncing of Palm Desktop, Outlook, and other PIM data from desktop to handset. The sync is handled from Outlook to Google, and Google to the Pre, allowing users to benefit from syncing contacts, calendar and tasks to Google as well as the Pre. Another useful app expected to launch with the Pre is MotionApps Classic, a Palm OS emulator for webOS.
Pre keyboard similar to Centro?
Matthew Miller of ZDNet is unimpressed with the keyboard on the Pre after trying it out at CTIA, he writes in a blog. "The experience and some of the functionality look quite amazing. However...I find the onscreen keyboard on the iPhone to be much better." He goes on to state that the Pre keyboard is similar to the Centro rather than the Treo. "The keyboard felt pretty cramped, and Palm was always known for excellent Treo keyboards...I am sure I could get use to it over time." For those who may have trouble adapting to the smaller keys, Freedom Input has been aiming for webOS external keyboard drivers for some time now.
Pre to sell only half as well as iPhone?
Bloomberg reported on an analysis last week that predicts the Pre will ship 2.6 million units in the first year of launch, compared to Apple's 6.1 million iPhones sold within the same time frame. "As a brand, Palm is a little dusty. Coming from behind, it's going to have to do an awful lot", states Andy Bateman of Interbrand. Palm spokeswoman Lynn Fox states it's too soon to judge how many Pre phones will sell in year one. Despite some recent negative market developments and trouble securing an endorsement with talk radio host Howard Stern, Palm shares closed at $9.57 today. This beats out last Friday's close of $9.42, the highest in 18 months.
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