Own A Palm Pre or Pixi Get A $50 Rebate On The 32GB TouchPad

For those of you that own a Palm Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi, or Pixi Plus now through July 31 you can get a $50 rebate on the purchase of a new 32GB TouchPad.

The deal is initially pen in the US or Canada only and there is no mention of any other phones being accepted into the rebate program. Palm also says "proof of ownership" is required, however the details of how to provide that proof are missing. According to a few tweets you won't need a receipt to claim the rebate -- for most people, a serial number will do the trick.

A bit surprising is the fact that Palm/HP seems to only be accepting some of the older phones for the program and none of the company's newer phones. I'm sure Veer owners would love to be apart of the offer!

You can read more at The Official HP Palm Blog: Early adopters: your new TouchPad just got $50 closer

AT&T's Cup Runneth Over With Smartphones

AT&T may have exclusivity to sale the iPhone, which is one of the hottest phones on the market, but that's not keeping the company from adding even more hot phones to their line-up.

Last month the company made the move to Google's Android platform when they added the Motorola Backflip, the companies first Android powered device. Then they continued adding to an already packed line-up when earlier this month they added four new smartphones, the Pantech Link and Pursuit as well as the Samsung Sunburst and Strive.

This week the company made slightly bolder moved when they added the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus and their second Android-based smartphone the Dell Aero. Add to that the announcement from Google that they have released a 3G ready Nexus One that is compatible with AT&T's network and it looks like AT&T customers might have a tough decision to make when it comes to buying that next phone.

Palm Introduces The New Palm Pixi

Palm has introduced a smaller, cheaper handset, webOS-based handset called the "Pixi," due to arrive at Sprint in time for holidays buyers. The new handset has a smaller touch screen than the Pre, an exposed QWERTY keyboard, and a two-megapixel camera.



"With Palm webOS, we're creating a new, more intuitive smartphone experience defined by unmatched simplicity and usefulness," said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and chief executive officer. "Palm Pixi brings this unique experience to a broader range of people who want enhanced messaging and social networking in a design that lets them express their personal style."

Along side the launch of the new phone Palm is introducing the Pixi Artist Series, a selection of limited-edition back covers in a range of eye-catching designs. You can find all the designs in the first Artist Series here, and you can find more details about Palm Pixi here. Neither Palm nor Sprint have commented on pricing of the new Pixi however following the latest price drop on the Palm Pre which is now available from Sprint for as low as $149.99 with contract speculation puts the new Pixi in the $99 price range.

Palm Pixi Features

• High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A)
• 2.63-inch multi-touch screen with a vibrant 18-bit color 320x400 resolution TFT display
• Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
• Exposed QWERTY keyboard for fast messaging
• Robust messaging support (IM, SMS and MMS capabilities), including Google Talk, AIM and Yahoo! IM
• High-performance, desktop-class web browser
• Integrated GPS⁽⁸⁾
• Multimedia options, including pictures, video playback and music, and featuring a 2-megapixel fixed-focus camera with LED flash, and a standard 3.5mm headset jack
• Email, including Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers), as well as personal email support (Google push, Yahoo! push, POP3, IMAP)⁽⁹⁾
• Bluetooth^(R) 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
• 8GB of internal user storage (~7GB user available)⁽¹⁰⁾
• USB mass storage mode
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• The first handset to launch with Qualcomm's high-performance MSM7627(TM) chipset
• Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear
• Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark, such as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage
• Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your perspective
• Ringer switch, which easily silences the device with one touch
• Removable, rechargeable 1150 mAh battery
• Dimensions: 55mm (W) x 111mm (L) x 10.85mm (D) [2.17 in. (W) x 4.37 in. (L) x 0.43 in. (D)]
• Weight: 99.5 grams (3.51 ounces)
• Sprint services, including Sprint TV(R) and Sprint Radio, Sprint Navigation, Sprint's exclusive NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Live

RapidRepair Strips Apart The Palm Pre

The fine folks over at RadidRepair got their hands on the new Palm Pre and like the good gees they are they immediately tripped it down and setup a nice little Palm Pre Repair Guide.



The guide is packed with several great shots of the inner workings of the Pre as well as a brief walk through for anyone else that wants to tear into their new phone.

Palm Pre Releasing June 6th Priced At $199 AMIR

Sprint has officially set the release date for the much anticipated Palm Pre today announcing that that Pre will be available on June 6. Sprint announced that it will be available nationwide in Sprint stores, as well as at Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores. The webOS-based phone will retail for $199 after $100 mail-rebate and 2-year contract.

For more details checkout Sprint's Palm Pre page

Palm Wants "Real Reviewers"

If you are into social networking then Palm might have an opportunity for you. Palm has announced a “Real Reviewer” program , where real geeks (like us) will be selected to share their opinions about Palm phones across the blogosphere, Twitter, FaceBook or other social networks.

If selected Real Reviewers will be provide with a current-model phone and data-plan service for six months. All you'll be asked to do is share your thoughts about your experiences with your new Palm phone on whatever blogs and social networks you frequent. Lucky participants might even be invited to guest blog about their experiences on Palm's Official Blog or host a discussion board on their Facebook page.

If you want to check it out you can apply here, its a short survey asking about your social networking habits as well as a few questions about yourself. There are a couple of restrictions, you must be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old. Anyone luck enough to be selected will be on May 8.

And yes the Palm Pre has been confirmed to be one of the phones that "select" Real Reviewers will receive.

More Palm Pre Release Rumors Popping Up

Several online sources have allegedly got their hands on internal Sprint memos talking about the new Palm Pre, training programs and the forbidding of vacation time to its retail store employees during the month of May. All this had led to a new crop of rumors about the phones potential late April or early May release date.

Phone News was one of the first sites to break the details of the memo. The sites states that there are two possible release windows.

The first window involves Sprint receiving retail units of the Pre around late April to early May in preparation for a preliminary May 17th launch.

The second window involves Sprint receiving the same units in the aforementioned timeframe, but depending on the unit level received for stocking and sales, the launch would then be postponed to June 29th if the initial shipments are deemed too low to begin initial sales in May.

As it stands its still all a bit speculative. Palm promised the phone would hit shelves by the end of June and I'm sure they don't want to disappoint. Pricing details are still a bit fuzzy however Gizmodo has already confirmed some of the details of Sprint's calling plans. Sprint Plans to offer Pre owners their "Everything" line of plans.

Individuals can choose from 450 minute ($69.99), 900 minute ($89.99) or unlimited plans ($99.99). Families can choose from 1500 minutes ($129.99), 3000 minutes ($169.99) or unlimited plans ($189.99). Business customers will also be able to pool their minutes together using about 5 different plans. They don't want people signing up for voice-only plans because they don't want people incurring extra charges they're not entirely aware of.

Either way you look at, if its May or June consumers have a lot to be excited about. We can almost be certain the Pre will be here sometime soon and Apple will likely announce a new iPhone at its Worldwide Developers Conference on or around June 8. Add-on reports that RIMM is planning to launch a new BlackBerry and the potential of a new Android device before summers end and we could see a plethora of great smart phones.

Adobe and Nokia Announce $10 Million Open Screen Project Fund

New Fund to Accelerate Creation of Rich Mobile Content, Applications and Services

BARCELONA, Spain. — Feb. 16, 2009 — At the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Adobe Systems Incorporated and Nokia Corporation today announced a $10 million Open Screen Project fund designed to help developers create applications and services for mobile, desktop and consumer electronics devices using the Adobe Flash Platform. The new fund is a result of the Open Screen Project, an industry-wide initiative of more than 20 industry leaders set to enable a consistent experience for web browsing and standalone applications. Additional Open Screen Project partners are expected to join the fund in the future.

“We are excited about the Open Screen Project Fund and the possibilities it offers to designers and developers worldwide,” said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president, Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “With close to 40 percent of all new mobile devices shipped with Flash Lite in 2008, the fund will enable more developers to bring their rich content and services to a large number of mobile users.”

“The Open Screen Project Fund encourages the use of Adobe tools and existing developer skills to create exciting and unique Flash applications for millions of Nokia devices,” said Tero Ojanpera, EVP, Nokia Services. “Our end goal is to support these developers with resources, build awareness around the creative possibilities with Flash and help bring these innovative experiences to market through Nokia distribution channels.”

Developers are invited to submit concepts for applications that are based on the Adobe Flash Platform, will run on Nokia devices, and will work on multiple screens, including mobile, desktop and consumer electronics devices. Applications will be reviewed for how innovative and compelling the user experience is, how robust the application or planned implementation is, and how well it exploits the capabilities and features of Nokia devices, Adobe Flash and Adobe AIR™, which enables developers to use proven web technologies to build applications that extend outside the browser.

Projects submitted for development will be reviewed by a group of multi-screen application and services experts from Open Screen Project partners including Adobe and Nokia. Focus areas include: entertainment; social networking; productivity; gaming; news and information. Developers retain all rights to their applications while Adobe and Nokia have the right to evaluate, test and promote the content. For more information and details on how to apply, visit www.openscreenproject.org .

Announced in May 2008, the Open Screen Project is designed to enable a consistent runtime environment across screens. The initiative is dedicated to enable web content, standalone applications and full web browsing across televisions, set-top boxes, mobile devices and other consumer electronics that take advantage of Adobe AIR and Adobe Flash Platform capabilities.

The Adobe Flash Platform is the de facto standard for delivering breakthrough applications, content and video on the web. Flash Player content reaches over 98 percent of Internet-enabled desktops, and over 80 percent of online videos worldwide are viewed using Adobe Flash technology, making Flash the number one platform for video on the web. Adobe Flash Lite delivers rich experiences across mobile devices and other consumer electronics. Adobe Flash Player is a key component of the Adobe Flash Platform, a complete system of integrated tools, frameworks, clients and servers. For more information, visit www.adobe.com/flashplatform.

In a second separate announcement(pdf) Adobe announced that Palm will be joining the Open Screen Project.

The work of the Open Screen Project will help deliver Adobe Flash Player for smartphones on the new Palm webOS platform. The unique capabilities of the web-centric Palm webOS, combined with Flash Player, will enable webOS device users to benefit from the huge amount of Flash based web content for a richer, more complete Internet experience.

“We’re excited that our customers will benefit from the creativity and broad range of Flash content and applications created by the millions of designers and developers using Adobe’s popular tools and technologies,” said Pam Deziel, vice president, software product management, Palm, Inc.

“As an industry innovator Palm will be an important contributor to the Open Screen Project,” said Michele Turner, vice president for Product Marketing, Flash Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “We’re aiming to bring a rich, Flash technology-enabled browsing experience to Palm’s impressive web browser.”

Source: Adobe Press Release

Rumor: Palm Pre Might Launch As Early As March 15th

The Palm Pre is definitely one of the most anticipated new smarthphones of 2009. Since its debut at CES everyone have been drooling over the new phone and eagerly awaiting its release. Well according to the Boy Genius Report (BGR) you might not have to wait too much longer.

The site has reportedly got their hands on Sprint's latest End of Life (EOL) list. This list features the EOL dates representing the target death of the EOL handset (in the warehouse, existing store inventory will still be sold) and the target in stock-date at Sprint’s warehouses for its replacement.

The sheet shows a target in-stock date of 3/15 for the Palm Pre which will be replacing the Palm 755P which has a projected EOL in late May.

BGR says, "This could indeed put the Pre launch on or around 3/15, but we wouldn’t bet on it. Sprint wants to move their stock of Treo 755Ps before they get to the Pre, and if we were a betting bunch, we’d peg the Pre release closer to May/Early June than Mid-March. "

BGR is usually pretty accurate with their predictions, May/June might sound a little far off considering the anticipation factor for the Pre. But a late May release would make sense, hitting shelves just in time for the Memorial Day holiday.

Here is the full list as reported by BGR:

Device Name - Projected Warehouse EOL - Replacement (if available)

• Sierra Compass 597 USB - Early February - Sierra 598 USB
• Motorola ic602 - Early February
• LG 160 - Mid-February - Samsung M220
• LG Rumor (blue) - Mid February - LG 265 Rumor II (target in-stock 2/15)
• Motorola i325IS - Mid February - Motorola i365IS
• LG Rumor (green) - Mid March - LG 265 Rumor II (target in-stock 2/15)
• Franklin Wireless U680 USB - Early April
• Palm 800W - April - Palm Treo Pro (target in-stock 2/15)
• LG Rumor (black) - Mid April - LG 265 Rumor II (target in-stock 2/15)
• Motorola i615 - Mid April
• Samsung M520 Lumina - Mid April - LG LX370 (slider)
• RIM BlackBerry Pearl (red) - May
• LG LX400 - Late May
• Palm 755P (blue) - Late May - Palm Pre (target in-stock 3/15)
• Sanyo 6750 Eclipse (pink) - June
• Palm Centro (berry) - June
• Motorola Q9C - Mid June
• Sierra 597E - July - Sierra 2-in-1 Aircard
• Palm Centro (green) - July
• Palm Centro refresh (black) - July
• Motorola VE20 - July
• HTC Touch Diamond - July
• RIM BlackBerry 7100i - August - RIM BlackBerry 8350i

There is still no word yet on pricing for the Pre however rumors we reported on last month suggest the Pre might be sold exclusively at Best Buy and could potentially be priced as low as $399 for an unsubsidized phone, and between $149 and $199 for a subsidized phone.

Rumor: Palm Pre Exclusively At Best Buy

The new Palm Pre was one of the biggest hits at this years CES and while there has been no official world on the phones release date rumor has it the phone is going to be sold exclusively by Best Buy mobile and Sprint.

According to WebOS Arena, a site specializing is Palm Pre news and information, "credible source" are saying, "Best Buy Mobile will be getting an exclusive deal with Sprint for the Palm Pre release. For 60 days the number one consumer electronics retailer will be the only place where you can get your hands on the Palm Pre, besides Sprint of course."

Unfortunately there are no other details, like pricing or availability dates, however the Pre is rumored to cost less than the 3G Applie iPhone. Eldar Murtazin of Mobile-review.com recently reported the Pre might be priced as low as $399 for an unsubsidized phone, and between $149 and $199 for a subsidized phone.

Palm Intros Palm webOS And Palm Pre

Earlier this week Palm introduced their new mobile platform operating system webOS as well as the first device slated to run the new system the Palm Pre.

Web-Centric Platform and New Palm Pre Phone to Debut Exclusively on Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network in First Half of 2009

LAS VEGAS, Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Jan. 8, 2009 - Palm, Inc. today unveiled its groundbreaking Palm webOS mobile platform, built from the ground up to be constantly connected to the web, and the new Palm Pre, the first phone based on the new platform. Pre is scheduled to be available exclusively from Sprint in the first half of 2009.

Palm webOS is a brand-new kind of platform, invented exclusively for mobile use. webOS recognizes that you want your people, calendars and information to move with you, wherever you are, wirelessly, as opposed to being bound to a personal computer. Palm webOS is the first mobile platform to automatically bring your information from the many places it resides - on your phone, at your work or on the web - into one simple, integrated view. The new Palm Pre and webOS are designed to be so in sync with your needs that it feels like Pre is thinking ahead for you.

"Palm products have always been about simplifying lives and delivering great user experiences," said Ed Colligan, Palm president and chief executive officer. "webOS and Pre bring game-changing simplicity to an increasingly mobile world by dissolving the barriers that surround your information. It's technology that seems like it's thinking ahead to bring you what you care about most - your people, your time, and your information - in the easiest and most seamless way."

"Pre continues Sprint's leadership in open access to the content customers want for a great web-connected experience," said Dan Hesse, Sprint chief executive officer. "We look forward to bringing this remarkably innovative device to our customers on America's most dependable 3G network.

Palm's new OS is the first mobile platform to be built from the ground up to combine standard technology, innovation and integration. At its core, webOS leverages several industry-standard technologies, including web technologies such as CSS, XHTML and JavaScript. On top of that, Palm has included creative and innovative advancements to enhance the overall user experience and provided a deep integration of all elements within the platform.

The new platform was designed to allow a vast ecosystem of partners, including developers, hardware suppliers, and accessories manufacturers, to develop core solutions to complement the platform and product line. For developers, webOS shatters traditional barriers to mobile-application development by offering a rich open development environment that's familiar to tens of millions of web developers. More people can develop for the platform and can do it faster than ever before. The platform's flexible environment will also allow developers to distribute their applications over-the-air via an on-device Palm application store.

Your Life, Brought Together

The new platform introduces Palm Synergy, a key feature of webOS that brings your information from all the places it resides into one logical view. You don't have to worry about tracking multiple calendars, contacts and messaging applications - Synergy brings it to you for a more comprehensive and truly representative view of your life.

• Linked contacts - With Synergy, you have a single view that links your contacts from a variety of sources, so accessing them is easier than ever. For example, if you have the same contact listed in your Outlook, Google and Facebook accounts, Synergy recognizes that they're the same person and links the information, presenting it to you as one listing. And if you update a contact on your webOS device, it also will be updated in your various accounts, whether on a personal computer or on the web.

• Layered calendars - Your calendars can be seen on their own or layered together in a single view, combining work, family, friends, sports teams, or other interests. You can toggle to look at one calendar at a time, or see them all at a glance.

• Combined messaging - Synergy lets you see all your conversations with the same person in a chat-style view, even if it started in IM and you want to reply with text messaging. You can also see who's active in a buddy list right from contacts, and start a new conversation with just one touch.

Your Information, Effortlessly

By smartly integrating your information, webOS is designed to think ahead for you and keep you on top of the things that happen in your life, but that's just the first step. The platform's unique interface brings your information to you with the ease that only Palm can offer.

• Web-connected applications - Applications are seamlessly connected to the web and always active, ensuring you have the most up-to-date information.

• Run multiple applications at the same time - Palm's revolutionary webOS lets you manage multiple activities more effectively than any other mobile platform today. It lets you keep multiple applications open and instantly flip from one to another.

• Instinctive user interface - With its multi-touch interface, webOS lets you move easily between activities like flipping through a deck of cards and rearrange items simply by dragging them; when you are done with something, just throw it away. And finding what you need is easy with universal search - as you type what you're looking for, the OS narrows your search and offers results from both your device and the web.

• Intuitive and unobtrusive notifications - When important things come up or new updates arrive, you'll receive notifications with a diplomacy that's a radical departure from other mobile platforms. For example, if you receive a text message or email, a scrolling notifications bar at the bottom of your screen lets you address it right away or leave until later. webOS alerts are one step ahead, ensuring that you never miss a thing, but never lose your place or train of thought.

Palm Pre: The First webOS Phone

Pre has a breakthrough interface and hardware design that makes it the most integrated and user-friendly phone for mobile users. Featuring a smooth, rounded ergonomic design and a physical keyboard that slides out only when needed, Pre is engineered to feel natural in the hand and comfortably small in the pocket. When closed, the phone is ideal for phone calls, web browsing, music, photos and videos; when open, Pre is optimized for email and text messaging. With its curved slider and gesture-controlled touch interface, Pre fuses exquisite design with the revolutionary webOS software for fast access to anything on the device or web. It's an instinctive user experience that seems to anticipate your needs.

"As our lives revolve more and more around the web, devices like Palm Pre that transform how we interact with the web will lead the way," said Hesse. "We are focused on bringing our customers a superior experience that includes easy-to-use devices, simple pricing and value with Simply Everything all-inclusive offerings, plus Ready Now, our exclusive retail program that helps customers leave the store feeling comfortable and confident they know how to use their new device."

Pre will support a variety of differentiated on-device Sprint services, including Sprint TV, offering an extensive selection of live and on-demand programming. Sprint Navigation provides GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings. Sprint also offers more than a dozen streaming-radio applications, including Sprint Radio with more than 150 channels.

Palm Pre features include the following:

• High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA)
  
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
  
• Integrated GPS
  
• Large 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320x480 resolution HVGA display
  
• Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
  
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
  
• Email, including Outlook EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers), as well as personal email support (POP3, IMAP)
  
• Robust messaging support (IM, SMS and MMS capabilities)⁽⁴⁾
  
• High-performance, desktop-class web browser
  
• Great multimedia experience and performance (pictures, video playback, music), featuring a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field, and a standard 3.5mm headset jack
  
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
  
• 8GB of internal user storage (~7.4GB user available)
  
• USB mass storage mode
  
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
  
• Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear
  
• Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark, such as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage
  
• Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your perspective
  
• Ringer switch, which easily silences the device with one touch
  
• Removable, rechargeable battery
  
• Dimensions: 59.57mm (W) x 100.53mm (L, closed) x 16.95mm (D) [2.35 inches (W) x 3.96 inches (L, closed) x 0.67 inches (D)]
  
• Weight: ~135 grams [4.76 ounces]

An array of compelling accessories also will be available for Pre, including the first inductive charging solution for phones (sold separately). Simply set Pre down on top of the elegantly designed Palm Touchstonecharging dock without worrying about connection, orientation or fit. Pre is active while charging, so you can access the touch screen, watch movies or video, or use the speakerphone.

Availability and Pricing

Palm Pre is scheduled to be available first in the United States exclusively from Sprint in the first half of 2009, and will be followed by a world-ready UMTS version for other regions. Sprint's pricing for the phone has not yet been determined.

Customers who would like to register to receive additional information about Pre and be notified when it's available can register at www.palm.com or www.sprint.com/palmpre.