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webOS skill level: Beginner
Technologies covered: SQL
Prerequisite knowledge: None

Palm has recently revealed that the webOS Mojo toolkit will support the creation of local databases on the Pre (and future webOS devices) for storage of local data.  To make use of this feature, you will need to understand SQL, or Structured Query Language, the language used ubiquitously for interacting with all types of databases.  Using SQL, you can save, retrieve, update, and delete information on the Palm Pre—things that you probably want to do with your webOS application.

webOS skill level: Beginner
Technologies covered: HTML5, SQL, Javascript
Prerequisite knowledge: Intermediate-level HTML, CSS, and Javascript

With the release of Chapter 1 of Palm webOS by O'Reilly, Palm has confirmed that local storage will indeed be handled by HTML5's new local storage functionality.

If you haven't been able to find any tutorials on HTML5's storage capability, you're not alone.  After looking around, we realized that the HTML5 spec is still at such an early revision that there are few resources out there that describe how it should be used.  But with a little digging, we found this excellent little HTML5 database application over at webkit.org.  We eagerly grabbed the source code, deconstructed it, and we're proud to bring you the first webOS / HTML5 database storage tutorial!  

While we (obviously) haven't tested this application on an actual webOS device, we feel that there's a good chance it would work as-is in the Pre's web browser, as the Pre's browser is webkit-based (although whether the drag & drop functionality would work without modification is unclear at this point).  Check out the end of this article for notes on how we might turn this web-based application into a native application that you could launch from the Pre's launcher screen.

Just this week, photos of a Palm Centro apparently running webOS made waves in the headlines. These rumors have since been proven false, however what we saw was more than just a fancy Photoshop job.

The cool webOS theme that the Centro is running is actually TealOS, a new program by TealPoint Software designed to run on current PalmOS handhelds. From the video we saw of TealOS in action, it's actually quite impressive in emulating several UI features of the new platform. Engadget also posted a video that further demonstrates features of the software.

Looks like comments from Palm made at MWC 2009 in regards to a European version of the Pre have some backing to them. Just today, Palm unveiled the webOS-enabled Pre on their UK website, with the slogan "Coming soon!" in bold and a picture of the sleek new handheld. While it's merely at teaser page at this point (with the only option to sign up for news on the Pre's availablity), the new site should be met with plenty of anticipation from the other side of the Atlantic.

Right now, it's anyone's guess as to which carrier will be the first to have the Pre outside of the US, although sightings of a Pre with a Vodafone SIM card have been made at the MWC 2009. Engadget is quick to point out though, that the stock image on the new site is not that of a GSM Pre. Meanwhile, Palm has confirmed development of a UMTS version of the phone to be used in Europe, although no decision has been made in regards to a carrier.

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Just last week, Sprint posted technical specifications on their Palm Pre pages, which confirmed tethering support via bluetooth and USB 2.0. However, Sprint has recently pulled the "phone as modem" spec, meaning that this feature may not be available to power users who may want to hook their handset to a laptop computer for an internet connection.

Mitch Allen, vice president and software CTO for Palm, Inc. has scheduled an hour-long webcast for Wednesday, February 25 titled "Developing Applications for webOS: A Preview". 

As the principle architect of Palm's new OS and application development framework, Allen wiill go over the material included in the first chapter of "Palm webOS: Developing Applications in JavaScript Using the Palm Mojo(tm) Framework", by O'Reilly. The webcast is designed to give a preview into application development with the Mojo SDK.

This is a great opportunity to hear an insider's perspective on webOS development and get a glimpse into the development environment and toolset for this breakthrough mobile web platform.

The event takes place on Feb 25, 2009 at 10:00 am PST / 1:00 pm EST.

You can register for the webcast here.

 

Slightly delayed but still incredibly useful, here is part 2 of our summary of Palm webOS: Rough Cuts by O'Reilly. (Go here for part 1.)

Mojo application framework

• Apps are run within UI system manager
• UI system manager built on standard browser technology:
  • renders display
  • assists with events
  • handles Javascript
• webOS APIs delivered as Javascript framework called Mojo
• Supports common application-level functions:
  • UI widgets
  • access to built-in apps and data
  • native services
• Can also leverage HTML5 features such as video/audio tagging and database functions
• Prototype JavaScript framework "not formally" part of Mojo framework, but is included to assist with registering for events and DOM handling
• Framework provides structure based on standard MVC architecture.
  • Better separation of business logic, data, and presentation
• Framework includes:
  • Application structure:
    • controllers
    • views
    • models
    • events
    • storage
    • notification
    • logging
    • asserts
  • UI widgets:
    • single and multi-function widgets
    • integrated media viewers
  • Services
    • access to app data
    • cross-app launching
    • storage, location, cloud services
    • accelerometer data

CNBC reported today that a "person familiar with the matter" has said that Sprint Nextel has exclusive US rights to Palm's new Pre handset until the end of 2009. This comes at the heels of Sprint recently posting a loss of $1.62 billion and 1.3 million subscribers, as well as a narrower-than expected quarterly loss. After the news, shares leaped up almost 20 percent, while Palm shares were down 2 percent for the day.

Officially, neither Sprint nor Palm have announced how long the exclusivity period would be for the Pre. If this is true, looks like Sprint may be recovering some of their lost subscribers, who will have to switch back to be one of the first to own the fancy new handsets.

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