3 major problems for the Pre
 

Well, the newness has worn off. I'm still really enjoying the device. I have, however, seen 3 major issues emerge as I have read over the Pre news and forums. Here they are, as I see it...

1. Delay in the SDK release. This means no 3rd party apps until the fall at the earliest.

2. No new official apps in a week. They really need to keep their momentum going with new apps to show people what the device can offer.

3. Hardware defects. There are several serious hardware defects that have emerged... not present in all units, but with it being so difficult to score a replacement right now, the 30 day trial period may actually not be enough for people who are having to do multiple replacements to get a good unit (like me).

Just wanted to throw this out on the table for discussion. No fanboys, please... objective comments only.

Thanks. :)

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

+1 on these two. I know this is a new device with a new OS but Palm should have seen the popluarity of this device coming. This is a great phone but as of now I can't do alot of the cool things that I could do on my WinMo phone and I can't show it off to ppl I know with iPhones because they have way more apps than we do.

I can't say anything for you hardware issues because I've been lucky enought not to have issues.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

lack of apps are killing the momentum unfortunatlly, they need to do something about this

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Its problem is Apps and the SDK kit. I still think things will get better, because I remember my friend when he first got his IPhone (1G) apps was very limited.

About the hardware problems, that usual always happens with a first time roll out, but they need to get the defectives out.

Great points bro

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

well, apple took a year to release its sdk. i think the iphone was released in june 07 and then the sdk hit july 08.

it's hard for me to hate on them too much considering the fact that this is the very first OS of its kind. it has to start somewhere and i think what they have out is a decent start. does anyone know how many apps were available at launch for any of the other major OSes?

with that being said, for something that's supposed to be relatively open source, you would hope that the sdk would have been released immediately. the whole secrecy thing preceding launch seems to be continuing. i would think that since it's already out, they would release the floodgates instead of letting things trickle out.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Well, I don't think anyone is hating on them... but you have to consider the rapidly shrinking life span of these devices. My Diamond didn't go a year before it had a replacement model... and with each generation of devices that lifespan gets shorter and shorter as the competition in the market rises.

So, basically, if we don't get an SDK until later in the year, that very well may be half the life span of this device. That's a problem.

We can't keep comparing everything to the first gen iPhone. That device is ancient history.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Excellent point. The SDK I think should have been released the first week of the device release. Palm needs to realise that although they appear to have a great device they need the third party apps made available to catch up with Apple.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

i personally would like to see the sdk out ASAP, or rather, at launch, but the business reality of it is that Palm is likely delaying the SDK to generate more interest for the second wave of buyers. the early adopters are going to do it for the new tech, excitement, buzz, etc. but after that initial frenzy is done, they likely want a backup plan to build excitement which would be the release of the sdk.

but who knows, maybe palm has a less capitalistic reason. maybe they just want to refine the OS as much as possible and work out any kinks before letting the device get blown up with apps. coming from WM and garnetOS, certain apps did not play nice with the phone. maybe they're just trying to regulate things so as to avoid any harrowing missteps?

but again, with all that being said, i want the sdk out now. i'm sick and tired (even though it's just been a week, haha) of reading hacks that will require me to root the phone because, hey, i'm lazy and don't want to do it. if they can just get an installer going (which it looks like the homebrewers are working on), i think that will help quell some of my app anxiety.

as for comparing to the iphone, i just brought it up because of the person i quoted. but i still wonder about the availability of apps for all major OSes in their first incarnation. i'm sure android had a sizeable amount, but i couldn't find any real data to show how many were available at launch/after one month. anyone here used to have a g1?

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

I tried out the pre today for about 25 minutes at the sprint store and I gotta say, its a lot smaller than I imagined! lol

A few things I noticed that I didn't like were things that had to do with general navigation. I guess if I owned one, I'd get used to it. When I would bring up the main menu er whatever by dragging my thumb from the bottom upward, it would always open the keyboard slightly. Maybe the display model was getting worn out, but it seems like they need a stronger spring there.

Also, I couldn't get the camera to work for some reason.

All in all, I think I'll stick with my touch pro, but if I still had my Instinct, I'd take this over that any day.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

One of my biggest let downs on the pre is that you can't download files wit the web browser. My old diamond did this with ease. Im not dying to download stuff ota but I do miss it. Also a file explorer.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

I took a look at the PalmPre at the Sprint store the other day just to see it, as I am not interested in a physical keyboard.
Seemed like a nice device but from what I am reading, it appears that the owners of these new devices will be integral in getting it off the ground regarding tweaking, applications, etc. etc.
But the question is whether people have the time to develop this device and OS from ground zero especially when the manufacturer and carrier are holding things up at the moment.
I have only had my Diamond since October and it was my first PPC.
I am sure it took a lot of time and effort to get to the point where WinMo devices are where they are now and there is still alot to do.
It appears that many customers will have to have alot of patience regarding Palm and Sprint. But that is the way it is with things that are new but as was mentioned before, things move fast in the PPC environment of today.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Nah... nothing like that. Notice the timing of the device coming out just a couple weeks before the new iPhone. The whole cell market is a race... and they pushed this phone out to beat the new iPhone. That's why the SDK wasn't ready, the phone is video capable, but it won't be in place until there is an update for it... etc.

They gain nothing by not having these features ready at launch, except bad exposure... but Sprint gains everything by pushing a hot new phone out before the new iPhone... specifically, warm bodies in contracts.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Yeah, this holds high for me above all else. I do download more frequently now online from my Diamond and I'm in Resco Explorer faithfully.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Well i love the phone but the hardware is a tad on the fragile side. I let my GF play with the phone and she twisted the front face trying to slide out the keyboard sideways like the touch pro. Now my front face has a couple millimeters of play in the clockwise direction. :(

I still love the phone.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

i think it's too earlier say that pre has - or +. We need time ti find out. I have Touch pro and i love it.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

well, i figured they would push the launch of the device to beat the iphone, but it looks like the SDK is ready to go. all of the developers who have had it seem to praise it, saying that it's dead simple to write for and a great platform. seems to me that it's probably ready for a wider spread release. just looking at the preliminary hack work seems to point to a superbly organized system. the good thing is that palm seems to be working closely with these homebrewers, so maybe that will help speed up a public sdk.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

A delayed SDK kit isn't that big a deal since it's only another couple of months (hopefully), but didn't they hand out about 1,000 beta SDK kits? At the very least we should be seeing at least an app a week.

A few software issues I would like to see resolved soon are not being able to forward text messages, not being able to download from the browser (which is a shame considering how fantastic the page rendering is), and not being able to copy text that isn't editable or a URL. Those are the main ones for me.

The hardware issue is kind of a big thing too. You tend to expect defects when you're an early adopter for any device, but the fact that there is a shortage in Pres makes this a problem. It reminds me of the Wii (but on a smaller scale), when there was such a huge shortage and a high demand when it first came out. I don't remember reports of defective hardware on the Wii, though. Of course, Nintendo is a much bigger company than Palm, and more than likely have a much larger quality control department than Palm.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

I happen to work for the blue and yellow electronics retailer... it was a problem with the Wii. "Oh, you happen to have gotten a defective one? Well, we may have another in about 2 weeks. Check back with us."

Honestly, right now thats about the only thing keeping me from going to a sprint store and getting the pre.... I mean going to a sprint store and getting on the waiting list for a pre. Altho with how badly my TP is pissing me off im about to just deal with it and hope i dont get a defective unit.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Hope the SDK gets released soon, beta members are praising it.

Well they are going to be releasing it to thousands of developers throughout the weeks, so thats good.

From Palms blog:

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Well so far my biggest gripe is the keyboard stinks. Unless I am doing something wrong, it seems the only way to text is to use the little keyboard that is underneath. I have the touch pro and the keyboard is phenomenal for texting. I have big hands and it is very tedious now to text. Now unless it has a feature like the instinct where you have your keyboard on the screen this phone will be going back.

Also it seems there are some software issues with the phone synching with servers that have security settings. I dont mind this so much as I know it is a new phone but I find it strange they can not get it to work when the same concept works on the Treo Pro and Palm Centro.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Okay, I had a Diamond and got a Pre under some duress. I love my Diamond but Wifey got a Pre and got me one so she could adjust her learning curve, if you know what I mean...( I figure stuff out and tell her rather than her figuring it out for herself!!)
First off: I love the Pre. Great UI, nice form factor, unbelievable screen. That said, let me tell you why my Diamond will be re-activated tomorrow.
- Limited Apps
I need my Flash, SlingPlayer, MobiReader, games, etc. I know it's too early to ask for every app, but with the SDK delay, who knows when I will see any progress. I love that Palm is releasing updates already, but what good is an update if I can't run the apps I want and need?
-Tethering
I don't want to have to "root" my Pre for tethering, especially if it's only BT. Sprint is stupid for not including this out of the box but who am I to complain? Tethering is very important to me and to not have it is a huge minus for the Pre.
-'Classic' sucks
Classic is the app that lets you run Palm apps on WebOS allegedly. Not on my Pre!! Nothing works 100%. Granted, it's a new OS and there are going to be problems but no sound? No ebook reader? How simple is an ebook reader? If Classic worked well (if it worked with SlingPlayer, MobiReader, SkyFire, and half of the games I already bought for Palm) then I would be okay with buying it for the outrageous $30 they're asking for it. But when I get a BSOD on PAlm apps I'm trying to run.... No way!!
Like I said the Pre is a beautiful device and I really do like it. But unless/until they get some working apps for it, my Diamond is forever!!
Hope my rant helps some people out and if you agree, tell me so I know I'm not crazy!!

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

Why did you post this twice?

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.p...4&postcount=45

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

I tried a quick reply here and it looked like it didn't go thru. I guess it eventually did. Sorry. I will delete one even though it's relevant it both threads.

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

^^^^I wouldnt delete man. Not everybody looks at the same threads. And as you said there is relevance for it to be in both. Kudos to the guy who noticed it though. At least we know he is doing his job. :)

Re: 3 major problems for the Pre
 

DB is for sure on the job in the Palm Forum.

late,
Coz