This week saw the rollout of webOS 1.3.1, and it was largely a rollup of fixes and minor tweaks. One of the most significant changes in the new release, to me anyway, is the inclusion of browser cookies in the backup. That means your browsing information survives a rebuild and restore, which is great news. Yahoo! users will now love the synchronization with webOS as it was added to the mix. The change in webOS 1.3.1 most discussed is the one that isn’t there, Palm apparently decided to throw in the towel in the wrestling match with Apple over iTunes compatibility. This update is the first by Palm that didn’t reverse the most recent iTunes update to block webOS phones from syncing with iTunes.

In happier news for Palm, the Pre was named by Consumer Reports as one of the top products of the year. The Pre placed eighth on the CR list of top smartphones, behind the iPhones (3GS and 3G) and the BlackBerry Bold.

• Support for Yahoo! in Synergy, Calendar, IM and Mail
• Ability to forward text messages
• Palm Backup now includes browser cookies
• Google Contact sync only includes records in My Contacts, not all contacts
• Music app now has a playback slider for faster in-song navigation
• New Secure Unlock feature
• Tapping a YouTube video in the browser automatically opens a YouTube card

My installation is still in progress, so if I see anything else worth mentioning, I’ll add an update.

Backup

• Backup now includes browser cookies, so that after a restart, for example, if you stored your username and password on a web-based email site, you can continue to access the site without needing to log in.
• Backup no longer saves online account passwords. If you perform a partial or full erase or buy a replacement phone, after signing in to your Palm profile, you are prompted to enter the password for each of your online accounts. If you choose to skip this step, to continuing synchronizing this account, you must open an app that syncs with the account (Calendar, Contacts, Email) >application menu > Preferences & Accounts > tap the account name > enter your username and password.

Calendar

• Yahoo! now appears as a Calendar synchronization account. You can synchronize Yahoo! calendar events by opening Calendar > application menu > Preferences & Accounts > Add An Account >Yahoo!
• An event’s location now appears with the same formatting in Day view and in the event notification.
• Calendar notifications no longer reappear after being dismissed.
• All-day events that span more than one day now appear correctly in all Calendar views.
• If you create a Google calendar event on the phone and the event location contains an apostrophe, the event now correctly synchronizes with Google online.

Camera

• After taking a picture, if you tap the picture thumbnail in the lower-left corner of the camera screen, the picture now opens in full-screen view, not Thumbnails view. Making the back gesture returns you to the camera.

Contacts

• Yahoo! now appears as a Contacts synchronization account. You can download contacts from Yahoo! online to the phone by opening Contacts > application menu > Preferences & Accounts> Add An Account > Yahoo!
• Automatic contact linking based on name matches occurs only if the first and last name fields are populated with the same names. If either field is blank, the Contacts app no longer links the contacts. In addition, the Contacts app no longer automatically links contacts with the same name but with different suffixes (such as Jr. and Sr.).
• Contact phone numbers in an Exchange account display the same label that is used for the number in Outlook.
• If you set up Contacts to synchronize with a Google account, the account synchronizes only entries in Google’s My Contacts, not all contacts.
• If a contact entry includes a linked Google instant message that contains a special character (such as an apostrophe or ampersand), the special character now displays correctly.

Device Info

• If you copy a music file to the phone and then delete it, Device Info now shows the correct amount of available memory after the deletion.

Email

• Forwarded and replied-to messages include improved formatting, such as the original sender’s email address in forwarded messages and correct inline image display in replies.
• The list of mail types available in manual setup now includes Google Apps (Hosted Google Domains) and Yahoo! Small Business Domain email accounts. Selecting one of these types automatically enters the correct settings for these accounts.
• If you have multiple Exchange accounts, doing a Global Address List (GAL) contact lookup searches all the accounts.
• When you set up more than one email account from the same provider-for example, two Gmail or two Yahoo! accounts-in Account List view, the account names display the associated email address so that you can distinguish them.
• A new Select All menu item selects message body text so that you can cut or copy it. A new Copy All menu item copies the entire message contents-sender, date, recipient, subject, and body text-so that you can paste it elsewhere. These menu items appear only when a message is open.
• If you turn the All Inboxes preference off, email notifications now show how many new messages are in each of your email accounts.
• Performing a message search in the All Flagged folder returns flagged messages only.
• If an Exchange 2003 implementation requires a password, you can select an alphanumeric (strong) password even if the server does not require a strong password.
• If an Exchange implementation allows use of a simple PIN (numbers only), the phone supports entry of a PIN that is longer than four characters.
• If a notification appears for an incoming email message whose subject line contains an ampersand, the ampersand appears correctly in the notification.

Messaging

• Yahoo! IM is available as an instant messaging account.
• You can select a unique ringtone for new message alerts: Open Messaging > application menu >Preferences & Accounts > Sound > Ringtone.
• You can forward a text or multimedia message by tapping the message > Forward.
• You can copy the text of a text or multimedia message by tapping the message > Copy Text.
• If you receive a message from an email address, the sender’s name (if in Contacts) or email address (if not) shows up correctly on the new message notification and on the open message in Messaging.
• If you copy a conversation using the Copy All menu item and then pastes the conversation text, the pasted text now appears correctly as plain text, without any HTML tags.
• Messaging notifications now show the number of senders and the number of conversations.
• If you enter a message and start it with a standalone letter-for example, “R” or “r” for “are”-when the auto-correct feature expands the letter to a word, the word is correctly capitalized (“Are”).

Music

• While listening to a song with album art displayed, you can tap the screen below the art to display a playback slider. Dragging the slider jumps forward or backward in the song.

Phone

• If the you are on a call, calendar notifications no longer partially cover the End Call icon.

Screen & Lock

• A new Secure Unlock preference allows you to set the time interval the phone is idle before the phone locks, requiring you to enter the PIN/password to unlock the phone. This can be the same as or different from the interval after which the screen turns off. To set the preference: OpenScreen & Lock > Lock After.
• If you select the Simple PIN Secure Unlock option, you can now enter a numeric PIN of more than four digits.
• If you press power to turn off the screen, the screen locks at the same time. Previously, there was a gap of a few seconds before the screen locked.

Sounds & Ringtones

• If you select a new ringtone and throw the card off the screen, the phone saves the new ringtone selection.
• If you set the Ringer Switch Off setting to Mute and turn the ringer switch off at any time, the ringer is muted and the phone does not vibrate, regardless of any other Sounds & Ringtones settings.

System

• The application information dialog box (accessed by pressing and holding the orange key/Optionand tapping an app icon) displays the total (uncompressed) size of the app, including the amount of storage the app requires. For apps you installed, this number represents the amount of memory you free up on the phone by deleting the app.
• If you change the apps in Quick Launch, after a backup and partial erase, the new apps still appear in Quick Launch. Previously, Quick Launch reverted to the default apps.
• You can access USB Drive mode by pressing and holding the orange key/Option + Sym + U after connecting the phone to the computer. This enables you to access USB drive mode if the screen is broken or stops responding to taps.
• A new option is available for restarting the phone: press and hold power > Power > Restart. The prior restart method (Device Info > Reset Options > Restart) is still available.
• You have two options for shutting down the phone completely: 1) press and hold power > Power> Shut Down/Swap Battery > Shut Down; 2) open Device Info > Reset Options > Shut Down >Shut Down.

Tasks

• If a task notification shows a single task, tapping the notification now opens the details screen for that task, not the task list screen.

Videos

• Widescreen videos now display in widescreen mode on the phone by default, instead of being cropped.

Web

• Backup now includes browser cookies, so that after a restart, for example, if you stored your username and password on a web-based email site, you can continue to access the site without needing to log in.
• If you tap to play a YouTube video embedded on a web page, the YouTube application launches and the video plays in the app.

YouTube

• Widescreen videos now display in widescreen mode on the phone by default, instead of being cropped.
• If you tap to play a YouTube video embedded on a web page, the YouTube application launches and the video plays in the app.

I am no professional photographer, and while I’m sure I could have tweaked the settings on each of the phone cameras, I wanted to simulate the way most people use their camera phone. You see something interesting, grab the phone and snap a pic. That’s all I did here, so each of the photos reflects the default settings for each camera. The photos were taken one after the other, and the camera was the same distance from the subject in each.  Here are the three photos taken and some that show the sizes of the three phones:

Palm has done a good job updating webOS, although a company can never do that fast enough to keep owners satisfied. We’ve only been sitting at version 1.2.x for a short while but a sharp-eyed observer noticed something about the Pixi that indicates version 1.3.1 will be out in time for the Nov. 15 launch. A video of the Pixi posted on YouTube shows the status screen and it clearly notes that the version of webOS on the Pixi is 1.3.1. It also indicates the “configuration” is Sprint 2.0, whatever that means. If the Pixi is launching with a new version of webOS, it only makes sense that Pre owners might find an update in the next few days.

We’ve known that Flash 10.1 will be coming to webOS, but we know for sure it will be in the first half of next year. Pre users who click on a flash video link get an official message from Adobe that the “Adobe Flash Player 10.1 is coming to Palm WebOS in the first half of 2010.” Flash 10.1 is the anticipated update that will enable viewing videos in the web browser.

PreCentral doesn’t think that Pre owners have any reason to switch to the Pixi, although that’s not surprising. Pixi has no Wi-Fi, a smaller display and a slower processor. The lagginess of webOS may have something to do with the chosen CPU, in fact. Also not too hot in the review was output from the 2 megapixel camera. On the plus side, the device lasts longer on a charge, has a thin and small form factor and offers a solid keyboard, something that not every Pre owner can say.

Engadget also loved the Pixi’s keyboard, but wasn’t too keen on performance in general. Their video demo shows a lack of response by the phone as it tries to load a web page over EVDO. Engadget also struggles to see who will buy the Pixi when the Pre is now only $50 more expensive. I’m in agreement although I anticipate folks that want a thinner device will overlook or not see the differences between the two devices as a wide gap. Had the Pixi come out three or four months ago, it might have been a different story.

PC Mag’s Sascha Segan sees some of the Pixi’s perceived gaps as a plus — in the hands of the right person.”The Pixi raises the bar the same way the Centro and Pearl did when they first came out, saying that you don’t need to be a “smartphone buyer” to use a little bit of smarts in your phone.” Based on his view, is the Pixi appealing to a current smartphone user? Probably not. But there’s a large number of consumers that are on the fence between featurephone and smartphone. Could Pixi get them to fall on the smartphone side?

Of interesting note in all of the reviews — that Facebook app that’s hitting webOS with the updated firmware? It’s not the Facebook you (or I) was looking for. The application seems focused around the status timeline of your friends and not so much into the other useful features of Facebook. That’s personally disappointing because as an early partner, Facebook has had insights to webOS before the Pre was even announced. This doesn’t bode well for one of the biggest gripes I have with the Pre and it fits in with the reason that my Palm Pre may only have a few months left.

The enterprising individual has detailed the process and explained the whys and wherefores of the components chosen for the project. The Pre sits on the Touchstone charger by magnetic connection, and according to the hobbyist, the phone sits firmly on the mount. If you decide to tackle such a project yourself, bear in mind that tinkering with the car’s electrical system can be dangerous, and you could have horrific consequences if proper care is not exercised. Pretty cool, though.

The most glaring deficit is in the available applications. It’s not a question of needing 100,000 to choose from — it’s simply a matter of not having major titles available in the Application Catalog. I realize that Palm hasn’t yet opened up the catalog to everyone, so I don’t entirely blame developers. And I knew in advance that development would be slow for this reason. But I’m getting antsy and tired of waiting. Look at this way — can you name five webOS software titles from major third-party developers? I’m struggling to do so. Even lesser known “brand names” or “web brands” aren’t in the catalog yet. It seems that as each day passes, I hear about a great new app for iPhone or Android, but not for Palm. Recently we mentioned a few of these: Slacker, Photoshop, Remember the Milk to name a few just in the past week or two.

In many cases, I can use the Pre’s web browser to get things done without using a mobile application. Much of my online time is with WordPress, since that’s where this site is hosted. I’m not creating posts on my phones, but I’m reading — and responding to — comments, checking stats, scheduling posts and more. That’s doable in a small browser, but the WordPress iPhone client has me constantly carrying my iPhone in addition to my Pre. And that’s just one of many examples. The few Twitter clients for webOS are usable, but the ones for iPhone and Android are far better in terms of the user experience. Facebook is the same way — in fact, that’s a prime example. Until recently, the limited Facebook web client for mobiles was abysmal to use — I couldn’t even respond to a wall post or comment. It’s much better now, but Facebook on iPhone is where it’s at.

And about that webOS browser — it’s good, but it still needs work. Some of the basic functionality that didn’t work on day one still isn’t there. I still can’t tell where I am on a page because there’s no indicator. And when I try to read a reader comment here on the site, tapping the link to it doesn’t take me to the comment — it simply takes me to the post page where the comment is. I have to manually go and find it myself. Is it any wonder I just use the WordPress client for iPhone?

In any case, I’m committed to give my Pre a fair chance, given the known schedule and constraints. And I do love the hardware as well as the webOS UI. I’ll probably give things until February to sort themselves out. If I don’t see enough progress, I’ll very likely look at what Android 2.0 devices are available at that time. I doubt it will be a Droid though, as I expect even better devices in the first quarter of 2010. Android is far from perfect, but its maturity is happening far faster. And it’s a vicious cycle that puts Palm at a disadvantage — as Android gains market share and features, developers are far more likely to invest their resources in a bigger platform.

Think I’m being to hard on my Palm Pre? Let me know in the comments — just keep in mind that I’m speaking about my own needs. If a webOS device is meeting all of your needs, then you should be happy with your device. I’m not trying to convince you otherwise, nor is this a “jumping on / off the bandwagon” approach. Every one of us should be evaluating the mobile tools we use. If they don’t work, then seeking alternatives is what we should be doing.

Pre owners who are looking for tips and tricks available on the phone may want to check the Palm Pre Made Simple. The authors aim to show Pre owners how to maximize the benefits that the capable phone offers. The book is a complete guide to the Pre for both Windows and Mac users.

Sprint disappointed quite a few customers with its recent statement that tethering would not be an option for customers any time soon (if ever). While it has been possible to tether the Pre to laptops to share the 3G connection, Sprint reiterated that those doing so are violating the contract for service. Sprint customers are reporting that the carrier is now blocking tethering.

Palm’s big push was that it’s easy to code webOS apps, so the thought was that developers would jump on it. Unfortunately, lower sales than that of its competitors isn’t giving devs the incentives they need. Oh well, there’s still some good apps in there and more on the way.

I’m now trying to decide if I need a dedicated RSS reader for my Pre, because I saw Scoop for $0.99. The screen shots looks decent and the app works directly with Google Reader, which I use. Scoop supports the “starring” feature of Google Reader, which is handy for saving interesting reads. Article sharing works too, so I have to figure out if I want a client for RSS or if the mobile Google Reader site is good enough. I’m not thrilled with how the Google’s mobile RSS works in landscape, so Scoop is probably worth the buck. I spent more than that on my cup of WaWa coffee this morning, so I’ll probably spring for Scoop.

Sprint doled out its latest financial information this week and the pictures wasn’t exactly rosy. The carrier still saw a big drop in contract subscribers, and is trying to offset that with prepaid customers. GigaOM is asking if Sprint didn’t back the wrong horse in the Pre, as sales numbers have obviously not brought Sprint back into the black.

Palm and Sprint are also getting ready for the launch of the Pixi, the next webOS entrant. The Pixi is a candy-bar handset that is thinner and cheaper than the Pre. Gear Diary has taken a look at the Pre and Pixi, and have published a good comparison of the two phones. It sheds light on exactly how the two phones differ, and makes it easier to determine which will fit a given need better.

The Pixi will be available through Sprint directly, as well as Best Buy, Radio Shack and Walmart stores nationwide. Palm is excited about the addition to their new phone line.

“We are excited to offer the new Palm Pixi to our customers in time for the holiday season, and it’s a great addition to Sprint’s industry-leading device portfolio,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “Simply put, this phone is fun and easy to use; with its multi-touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard, it’s a great device for messaging and social networking at a price everyone can enjoy, and delivers so many of the great features people love about Palm Pre™ in a fantastic new form factor, making it a huge hit for consumers.”

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.

Contrary to previous rumors that Verizon Wireless wouldn’t carry the Palm Pre, a simple tweet confirmed the opposite, says BGR. The official Verizon Wireless twitter account posted the update on Friday morning, stating that the Pre is coming “early next year.” That info pretty much jives with the assumed six-month exclusive deal that Palm has with Sprint, as the Pre launched in the U.S. back in June. I remember sitting in line early on a Saturday morning with Tyler and then posting early impressions.

After sitting on the superphone sidelines for nearly a year — the BlackBerry Storm was probably the biggest launch for VZW in the last 12 months — the landscape is about to change. With what’s arguably the best network in the U.S., Verizon is about to bring some top handsets into play: the BlackBerry Storm 2, the Motorola Droid, and now the Palm Pre. This situation reminds me of something my math teacher used to tell me: Good handsets plus a good network equals great sales and increased market share.

All jokes aside, I’m looking forward to what a Verizon Palm Pre will do for sales. I’ve said before that from an application standpoint, the Pre is a chicken-and-egg situation that needs quick resolution. Developers are targeting devices and platforms with a larger audience. If a handset is selling like hotcakes, you want your app on it because your potential audience is larger. But consumers may pass on devices with a limited application catalog, so the cycle continues. My hope is that with the Pre on Verizon, as well as other carriers around the world, sales cross over the 2 million unit mark by mid-2010. I think that’s the point we’ll start to see a strong interest in webOS from developers.

That limit is affecting more Pre owners than ever, with the word from Palm that over 8 million apps have been downloaded since the phone launch. That number is significant, not only because the Pre has only been out for a short while, but also due to the scarcity of apps in the Catalog. It shows that as the number of apps go live in the Catalog, downloads will ramp up quite a bit. The launch of the Pre outside the U.S. will also play a big role in app downloads.

The book Palm Pre for Dummies by Chris Ziegler from Engadget Mobile is now available for those wanting to know everything about the Pre. I had the pleasure of meeting Chris at the Mobilize 09 conference recently, and he’s a nice guy, so buy his book. If you want to, of course. There is a Kindle version for the geeks among us.

In a “duh!” moment on the podcast, I finally found the data roaming settings on the Pre. I’m sure many of you have already found them, but neither James nor I knew where to look. Now we do! To enable data roaming — which is off by default:

• Open the Phone application
• Tap the Preferences option in the top left menu.
• Scroll down to the Network preferences and choose “Enable” or “Disable” as needed on the Data Roaming option.

I wish I had known where to find this in July, when I needed it, but better late than never! Bear in mind that Sprint’s data roaming with Verizon is limited. You’re generally allowed up to 300MB of off-network data roaming per month, according to Sprint’s FAQs on its web site. That might explain why this setting is off by default. Now the only question remaining is, will Matt add a Sprint device based on this info?