We’ve heard rumors of the webOS 2.0 release date ever since the last 1.4.5 launched in mid July, now the big boy is here and is bringing new cards to the table. WebOS is the operating system running on the Linux kernel and designed by Palm, company now owned by HP, and first appeared on the Palm Pre smartphone and later it was introduced to the Palm Pixi. It includes significant online social networking and features like HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, and an interface based on a system of “cards” for great multitasking. In the following we will talk about the webOS 2.0 release date and webOS 2.0 features.
HP purchased Palm in April for $1.2 billion, and ever since it promised to maintain the webOS and to expand it to other platforms, other than smartphones, like tablets computers and printers. The general opinion is that they bought Palm mainly for this OS. Rumors were going along saying that the HP Slate will go from Windows 7 to this webOS, but now we know that the Slate will surely be running on W7, although it is believed that HP will make tablets running on both.
webOS 2.0 Interface
Well that’s enough about the history lesson. The webOS 2.0 release date has been official for a couple of days, since the 19th actually. The downer of the story is that it will first appear along with the new Palm Pre 2 model sometime “in the following months”, for the US with Verizon Wireless, and also speculated to appear later on tablets. The Pre 2 will first appear Friday in France, with SFR, afterwards the US and then Canada. It’s said to include a 3.1-inch HVGA multitouch display, GPS, 16GB, proximity sensors, an accelerometer, ambient light, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and other features.
Screenshots
So, you still have to wait before you can check out the “feel” of it all. Until then however, you luckily have us at MDG to thank, for showing you what the new webOS 2.0 features will be:
Palm WebOS 2.0 features and details
Synergy
Synergy
This feature integrates information from many sources, such us allowing users to sign in to accounts from Gmail, Yahoo!, Facebook and others and make the contacts all appear in a single list. This version of the webOS has made great improvements in account management. A centralized control panel has been added where you can tweak accounts, more control over calendars, messaging and contacts at will. The best news is that you can now connect to other services other than email and IM, such as YouTube and LinkedIn accounts.
Stacks
Stacks
If this doesn’t seem like much, I’ll let you know this makes the difference when navigating the phone. It makes it possible to stack cards that you are using, automatically. When a link from a message or an email or even a preference pane from an app is opened it will be brought on top of the card you opened it from. Pretty neat. Stacks can be made by yourself as well by dragging them together at will. It’s organization at your fingertips.
Just Type and Quick Actions
This version goes one step further with this feature, allowing you to create a message, start an email, search for websites and all before you even open the app, and now it is opened to developers as well, so other people can plug in for the search. Even more, it auto-detects when a compatible search engine is present in a page you are viewing. You can move more, add more, and even remove sections of the searches. To clear things up, you start to type something and get full searches of your email, apps, phone numbers etc. Quick Actions is the jewel of the new OS, or at least combining this with Just Type makes the whole thing a lot more interesting. Type something and then use Quick Actions to have instant access to a calendar event, memo, email, SMS or anything you can think of actually, even giving a Twitter feed without all the intermediary steps is now possible.
Flash 10.1
Flash
After lots of promises, the beta version is finally supported by the webOS. It’s limited to the browser, but it’s a rich and fluid experience by its own. You are given the choice to either let Flash run or selectively load pieces of content on a case-by-case basis. The choice is given, mainly because this still is a beta version and improvements could be made and will be made, it’s up to you.
Text Assist
The new webOS 2.0 comes along with this feature. It is a service built into the auto-correction capabilities of the webOS, including spell checking, dictionary customization, and setting your own macros.
Favorites
Tag your favorite contact and they will appear as favorites in Phone and Contacts view. It makes it simple to get in touch fast by instantly showing a name you searched for on top of the Contacts, Email, or Phone apps.
Others
Others
Among all these the webOS 2.0 features comes packed with all kinds of stuff like Facebook 2.0, Bluetooth keyboards, Skype Mobile, QuickOffice Connect Mobile Suite, Browser, Messaging, VPN, App Catalog and others. This about raps it up, so if you have an opinion do tell us, was it worth the wait? Until next time I’ll leave you with a video showing a more “hands on” preview of what the new OS brings:
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Obviously these are some nice needed features. Some of the search options concern me. With 1.4.5 there is the very nice transparent drop down box. This seems to have been changed to the blocked scroll format that is the seen to obstructive and does not conform to the rest of the phones standards texture.
I am still looking for Bluetooth file transfer as well as some more advanced applications. Facebook 2.0 looks little different. Remember, with android as well as apples 2.0 there are much higher expectations. WebOS 2.0 looks like several additions are thrown on the phone. The integration with synergy is nicer to have more, through I am still concerned with actual integration. The need for a full feature version of Google Maps is still needed. I believe some the blocked and gray-scale buttons are still being designed in an old software format. Reflection and mirrored shadowing should start to be present. The phone is unique in design, the platform is unique as well as some of the other features. If some of the mainstream features of apple, blackberry, and android are incorporated into the phone as well as the much needed customized preferences (font, formatting, etc) this could take the market by storm in its third generation of phone. I would stress less junk applications and the concentration of on quality usable apps. Beatbox is a perfect example of an independent party really taking advantage of the platform, though first party application needs to really be the prime focus by integrating as well as android has.
The platform OS for Palm is seemingly advanced in its used of layering and transparency, This raises a high expectation for developers, and since apple and android applications have done so well there is a standard being missed. I can only hope someone from another level takes on the task of HP Palm. To know it is nearly one major software developer away from being excellent is exciting and having all that can be done in most other device in a compact design make the Pre quite unique. In part the lack of quality application can be seen as a fault on Palms part as allowing old software design capability on the Pre. Some applications simply look like data feed boxes. Hopefully through 2.0 – 3.0 we see better loading integration that really integrates into what the phone is doing.
I believe using the area around the phone more resourcefully to increase the screen size to 3.3 inches without increasing the size of the phone is obviously able at this point with AMOLED screens and would have made users much happier with their experience. Again, the Hardware is here as is the platform,. I am really looking forward to seeing some real development of the actual applications rather than additions. For instance, the use of native WebOS buttons on the Facebook application using transparency and 3d form and native drop down boxes as well would really improve all the applications. I also hope they have changed the format of sending messages on Facebook as this was really kind of confusing as it sends the user to an email card where the user must re-enter their predicated information again, regardless of who’s profile they entered from.
I’m sure there are others, I could mention but if these issues are handled the time anything lacking should become apparent quickly. Its funny, allot of us come on, we know what to expect , we know what isn’t there, what needs to be done, but what makes companies move. Obviously they need money, in part though if their going to make great products that sell at this level their going to make it back. I mean, what makes a company add Bluetooth file transfer , Everyone wants it, its up-to to date technology, its practically already in the phone. It could add enhanced applications, its on all new PCs for last 5 years, but what stops them? And this goes without saying a ton of other features I could or have mentioned, that are basically standard in the smartphone bracket. My razor had Bluetooth file transfer in 2005 as did my Sony – Walkman phone. What makes them move, it obviously isn’t more money, maybe riots in the forums and on the streets? At this point I conclude their actually doing the easy parts and not really digging in. From our point of view should you be able to have two guys one on top doing what their doing now and one in the middle developing mid-ware?
Before I start Nicholas, let me congratulate you for the longest comment I have ever seen. And believe me, I have seen plenty. I even checked it, because I thought it was spam.
Regarding your thoughts about the webOS 2.0 features, I must say there is always room for more. Why don’t they listen to costumers and implement features highly requested? Well, first of all, they don’t realize how important they are to some people, who are more anxious about a new OS version for their cellphones than the developers themselves. It is easier to hear from software reviews than from users. They trust critics more than costumers. Sometimes that is bad.
But, as any software platform, it can suffer modifications until the release date. And even afterward. Hope they will hear us then.
Well all I can say is that if Web 2.0 doesn’t increase app production, I will probably be jumping ship. It’s not really Palm anymore anyway and I’m tired of going to my favorite websites and seeing apps for Android, iPxxx and even Blackberry, but not for Palm…
I hope this is released soon, as I, too, am tired of seeing my wife’s Samsung Fascinate run circles around my Pre. I can’t believe we STILL don’t have full functionality of document editing, and pdf files crash about half the time, too. Not really effective for a business tool, which despite all the bells & whistles is why I actually have a smartphone.
I’m typing this on my iPhone that is no longer my phone, but my iPod. I jumped ship from AT&T since my 3G iPhone was always a problem with os4. I went with the pre since it looked promising. If os2 isn’t here soon I’ll just go back to the iPhone.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
I usually do not write a great deal of remarks, however i did some searching and wound up here WebOS 2.0 Release date and features. And I do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Is it just me or does it look like some of these comments come across as if they are left by brain dead folks?
And, if you are writing on additional online sites, I would like to keep up with anything fresh you have to post. Could you list of the complete urls of your community pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.
Bardzo dobry artykuł!
Miałam ostatnim razem podobny problem, także bardzo dobrze czaję, co miał na myśli autor… Ekstra sprawa, zacznę tu zaglądać regularnie 