CES: Palm unveils Pre, new smartphone
Handheld computing veteran Palm has unveiled its Pre smartphone at CES. The touchscreen handset runs a web-centric operating system that aims to help people organise and manage their many online contacts and identities. The device is widely seen as a competitor to rival smartphones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry, N97 and G1. The gadget will be available on the Sprint network in the US before June 2009. Palm has not said when it will debut in other nations. Palm showed off the Pre at a lavish news conference at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Introducing the Pre, Jon Rubinstein, executive chairman of Palm, said the rise of the smartphone signalled a significant “transition” in what people expected from their handset.
Rather than just take and make calls, he said, people wanted their phones to act as a co-ordinating centre for their online lives. As well as a touchscreen that lets owners scroll through lists, zoom in on pictures or control media with a finger touch, the Pre also has a “gesture area” below the screen on the lower part of the phone. Performing gestures, such as a thumb swipe, on this area owners perform other tasks, such as bringing up a main menu, without having to obscure what is on screen. The device also has a slide out Qwerty keyboard, removable battery, three megapixel camera and 8GB of memory on board. The Pre also comes with a “touchstone” so it can be recharged wirelessly. Palm CEO Ed Colligan scoffs at critics who think the Pre arrives too late to compete against BlackBerry, iPhone and other competitors. “I don’t even remotely feel like it’s too little too late. It’s a big, big space.”
Source: USA Today, BBC
Comments(21)
Everything palm does these days is "too little too late".
Has CSI S09E10 been released yet?
nobody cares .
check the webOS it's so much better than the iphone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsFTaY66YKo
TIS SEX
and it's using Linux
It looks like a sextoy with a screen on it. I guess women would like it…
looks like the head bosses finally listened to costumer requests on all aspects watch the demo 1-5 by the 1st clip you already want it bad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6l0birqeig&feature=related. wish it gets insured with cingular. Martin thanks for the post
The demos are truly impressive. But its locked to sprint, i wouldn't trade a G1 for this.
This is no where near too late … compared to most other phones like the Iphone and HTC Diamond or HD this phones OS leaves the rest behind. Windows Mobile is slow and sluggish and has no chance whereas the iphone has too many limitations. This will be a best seller and is more for the tech or business minded person rather than the showoff who likes carrying an iphone. Early testing of the phone shows that the browser renders much quicker than the safari browser. The OS also is alot alot quicker. It does everything the iphone and WindowsMobile do, but it just does it quicker and better
This phone is the new standard in touchscreen phones so enjoy.
i dont see full real detail specs.
any body see something.
its still too early this may go to other providers too. this cell deserves a great life sprint is not as huge as it was.
palm do they still exist lol ? diden't know that
end 10 secs did she say a wireless charger that automatically charges it self that comes with the cell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TymV4Xf-024 yess i think she did
Here's a quick rundown of everything you need to know spec-wise:
* TI's new OMAP CPU
* High-speed wireless (EV-DO Rev. A or HSDPA, depending on version)
* 802.11b / g WiFi
* Integrated GPS
* 3.1-inch 24-bit color 480 x 320 display
* Dedicated gesture area below display
* Slide-out portrait QWERTY keyboard
* Exchange email support in addition to POP and IMAP
* IM, MMS, and SMS messaging
* High-performance browser
* 3-megapixel camera with LED flash and "extended depth of field"
* 3.5mm headphone jack
* Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP
* 8GB of internal storage
* USB mass storage mode
* MicroUSB connectivity with USB 2.0
* Proximity sensor for detecting when phone is near face
* Light sensor to automatically dim display
* Ringer mute switch
* Removable rechargeable battery
* 59.57 x 100.53 x 16.95mm closed
* 4.76 ounces
never ever again will i subject myself to palm os.
a f-ing catastrophe!
not bad. but is there any aditional memory slots???
also, i don't like sliders, they're looking cheep and every kid on the bus have one by samsung or lg. sliders and bussines suits looks funny to me…
i'd be thinking about if it shows up in the form of palm treo pro or something like that. i think for a full success palms should come to ces with at least 2 models, one candy bar and one slider, this way it looks like limited apeal to me…
charge wirelessly lol why arent we using this technology in space to boldly go where no man has gone b4 lol
You dont get this do you?
… Try using the Android OS and WindowsMobile… you'll notice how they all lag alot. Now the only reason people like the iphone is because its OS is soo smooth and works quick and great. However the battery life is awful and the fuction is very limited by Apple. And for the Tech people or Business minded people the iphone is useless.
Now the OS for the Palm is the fluent and smoothness of the iphone, actually its quicker the browser already renders quicker than Safari and its still being improved. The OS is much better in terms of touch functionallity and it comes with a keyboard
This phone is like no other Palm that has been out. Trust me I aint a fan of Palm, I have actually hated every phone they've had so far. But this phone is revoloutionary.
And for the slider question. It has a full keyboard on it. So I dont think you'll see many kids carrying this slider around
its not a phone oriented towards kids. And by the way I aint a fan of sliders either but this one looks just fine 
Here's some more pics for you:
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-23.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-82.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-67.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-22.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-05.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-81.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-48.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre-first-hands-on-43.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/palm-pr-2009-01-08_116.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre_10.png
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/pre_12.png
rk3 you seem to know a lot about this.
i want to get an idea whats this worth when it hits the public market. how deep would we dig in our pockets for this lil miracle?
the palm looks like the atom (WM6) executive pdas made by quanta a few years ago. as for the OS, if Palm is still burning 3rd party vendor sponsored software into their OS image i have no interest in it even if they give it away free with a 2 yr subscription.
Compared to the iPhone it has a faster rendering browser, MMS, bluetooth, 3Mb pixel camera.
Sorry, still not good enough.
I'm a former Palm employee and worked there during the last couple of years when Palm made truly great products. Mismanagement, idiots at the c-level and marketing buffoons were the downfall of the company. Needless to say, I'm not there anymore. And, I'm amazed they're still around.
But this webOS is a fierce entry and just what Palm needs. The Treo's were cool phones years ago. Now, they're just dinosaurs. RIM is the real player in the corporate space and now Palm just might be able to play too.