With the release of Palm's latest smartphone approaching fast, it's no surprise that competitors including Apple, Microsoft, and Google, have taken notice. Rumors of new Pre-like features and functionality for each platform have recently surfaced; below are a few of these proposed features:
iPhone 3.0 to get push notification, background applications?
With the Apple WWDC coming just days after the Pre's release, Apple may be getting serious about allowing background applications, TechCrunch reports. Dan Frommer of Silicon Alley Insider and John Gruber of Daring Fireball suggest that Apple is attempting to allow background support for third-party apps. While there's no assurance that this functionality will be announced at WWDC, this is an indication that they are listening to the community's desire for background apps, which the Pre has already received widespread praise for.
Potential downsides to adding limited multitasking to the iPhone would be reduced battery life and processing power, reduced stability, and possibly only allowing select apps to run in the background. However, with the possibility of new, more powerful hardware being announced (enthusiasts are already predicting possible new features of the next iPhone), and an upcoming push notification system for iPhone 3.0, this could neutralize many of the supposed advantages of the Pre and webOS. To see how the current iPhone stacks up against the Pre, check out these articles. More info on WM and Android after the break.
Windows Mobile 7 to implement Contacts Synergy?
The much-touted Synergy feature of webOS has Microsoft taking notice, reports wmpoweruser. A recent job ad from Microsoft includes a description of "unified storage models and connectors that power all the social & communications experiences for WM7...driven by the rapid shifts in social networking - Live wave 4, Facebook, Twitter, etc.". This suggests the next version of Windows Mobile could have Pre-like contacts functionality, aggregating all of your contacts from social sites like MySpace and Twitter. Also described is contacts integration with Outlook Mobile and Zune. Of course, Palm will still be producing Windows Mobile devices for the enterprise market, so this could end up working out to their benefit.
Android to offer "predictive accelerometer" functionality?
Another great feature of the Pre is the ability to predict where you will be and what you will be doing, such as automatically downloading maps for upcoming destinations, and notifying friends and coworkers if you're running late for an appointment. Palm investor Roger McNamee has spoken out on several occasions about this unique new feature. However Google could go even one step further with predictive accelerometer data, reports Unwired View. Google's latest patent app, "Activating Applications Based on Accelerometer Data", could allow your handset to differentiate between your activities such as jogging, sitting at the office, or driving your car in traffic using accelerometer and GPS data.
After a training period of a few days or weeks, it could perform tasks such as opening your music player when you start your jog, launching podcasts over speakerphone while driving, or getting the latest news while you sit on a train. Pretty cool stuff, but it probably won't move past the R&D department while the Pre hits store shelves.
Android devices are also known to have the hardware to implement multitouch functionality, which would further level the playing field with Apple and Palm. Which of these proposed features do you think would most take away from the competitive edge of the Pre?
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