Palm Press — There’s a Site for That, Pre Storms UK
It is Windows 7 launch day but more importantly it’s time for another Palm Press. Palm Press is our weekly look at the world of Palm. The Palm App Catalog is getting more stock quickly, now that paid apps are getting approved by the company. As good as the Pre is at accessing the store, Palm has wisely seen clear to open a web site to showcase the Catalog. The site is nicely put together, and makes it an enjoyable experience to visit and check out the wares. It’s pretty easy to find that perfect app for the Pre using the site.
The Palm Pre was successfully launched in the UK, and O2 claims a lot of the phones were sold immediately. They refrain from clarifying how many Pres were actually sold, but did say that they “sold more Pres on Friday than it normally does all other phones.” O2 stated that most customers also bought one or more Touchstone chargers with the Pre.
A tweet from Verizon “verifies” the Pre will be coming to Verizon early next year. Verizon officials stated they would be carrying the Pre after the Sprint exclusivity ended around the end of this year. Rumors appeared recently that Verizon would not in fact be dishing up the Pre for their customers. This tweet has now laid the issue to rest, as you can’t get more official than Twitter. That’s as official as it’s going to get until we see the Pre in Verizon stores.
I wouldn’t say the Pre is storming the UK. There’s been very little advertising over here and most people seem to be upset that O2 have delayed the release of the HTC HD2 to give the Pre a chance. The general consensus seems to be that the Pre is outdated hardware that shouldn’t be holding up better phones.
Curious — what’s outdated about the Pre’s hardware when compared to the mobile market in general?
I presume they are referring to the small screen and slower processor when compared to the HD2. They may also be referring to the build quality issues that have haunted the Pre in the US.
I was very interested in the Pre when it was first released in the US but Palm have taken far too long to release it elsewhere. They should have got it out early on when it was getting most of its buzz and I think this will harm its chances here in the UK.
I’m in the UK and I think the Pre is invisible but not sure about the HD2 claim, as a my recent departure from WM means I don’t focus there to much. However the hardware of the HD2 looks impressive just couldn’t live with WM anymore.
This was reported on Daring Fireball earlier in the week and I would be interested to know if it is the experience others have as the Pre does look pretty, but can it hack it.
http://jwz.livejournal.com/1108212.html
Ian
I have been developing on a US version of the Pre that had been shipped over to the UK. When the time came to get my UK Pre, I was verily excited. While everything is good, there were a couple of flies in my ointment.
The version for “Rest Of World” Pre’s is 1.1.3 and not 1.21 as users in the US enjoy. This means you can’t swipe down on the pull-down menus at the top and have to jab a couple of times at the tiny (it seems) spots that activate them.
The second is that O2 have contributed absolutely nothing in the way of apps for the Pre…. I didn’t expect TV, or navigation (except GoogleMaps) but something from the carrier if we have to sign up for a year and a half contract was something I would have expected.
Still they are just frills and the core features are what makes it an extremely user friendly phone.
just got my Pre last week. Replaced my iphone 3G. Did not know about the swipe down on the menues. Thanks for the tip.