Suggestions: What Palm should do to overpass competition? - Page 3

preKY · 10-31-2009, 04:15 PM

To be honest, I feel that Palm needs to stop worrying about dumbed down versions of the Pre (Pixi) and whether or not if the Pre can sync with a piece of crap Apple software. It seems the priorities are mixed up... Since the new WebOS update, I refuse to even e-mail clients from the Pre since some genius thought Verdana 12 was a professional font. I've been a huge fan of the Pre from launch day, but the patience is running out.

monkee82 · 11-02-2009, 04:08 AM

A few of my biggest wants:

* Video!
* Visual Voicemail
* micro sd card
* ability to have as many apps as I want on my phone!
* txt fwding!

besides the sd card, all are possible on my current Pre, and I'd be happy as pie!

monkee82 · 11-02-2009, 04:09 AM

and yes I realize there are some homebrews on these, but I just don't have the time to be fussing with them. I'd much prefer them just be there. Imo.

chris · 11-02-2009, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by monkee82

and yes I realize there are some homebrews on these, but I just don't have the time to be fussing with them. I'd much prefer them just be there. Imo.

There is entirely too much reliance on homebrew right now, to the point where I think it's damaging. Great for hackers, tweakers....not so great for the average smartphone buyer. You know how many times I've seen somebody ask about a particular feature and the response is "you need to put your phone in developer mode, download webOSQI, get PreWare and there are patches". To me, that's not an ideal user experience, but it's certainly happening.

Then you have people like this, who get messages about having to update to 1.2.1, even thought they've updated. Palm reps visiting forums offering support for people who root their phone, install unauthorized apps and end up with problems.

I think they are catering to a niche audience right now. I'd venture to say the Pixi audience is "less techy". It will be interesting to see how they manage the customer experience going forward.

AKITAYO · 11-02-2009, 08:56 AM

totally agree with Chris I have seen all homebrew apps users that have to update and fix most of HB apps, with updates of those installers and get more patches, when a new official webos update comes. That is not a normal user smartphone life.

dingleberry dewdrop · 11-02-2009, 03:52 PM

Screw the pixie make a sideways slide out qwerty instead of this tiny keyboard.. Bigger screen .. More storage space... More scratch resistant case ... And tou would win the os is the best os out

dingleberry dewdrop · 11-02-2009, 03:53 PM

Basically the droid hardware with the pre web os would be the winning formula.

Shaun0207 · 11-02-2009, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by dingleberry dewdrop

Screw the pixie make a sideways slide out qwerty instead of this tiny keyboard.. Bigger screen .. More storage space... More scratch resistant case ... And tou would win the os is the best os out

I said the samething. Hopefully that's what they have in the pipelines for for CES in Jan.

chris · 11-02-2009, 06:11 PM

With all the hype surrounding Android, I decided to dust off my G1 this weekend. I realize 2.0 is an improvement, but it's going to run the same apps that are available to 1.6.

When it comes to apps, it all depends on what's important to you, but for me it's Twitter and Facebook. I have plenty of other apps, those are the first two I install when moving to a platform. On the Pre, I don't use Facebook as much, since it's not an app. Not sure why, but I don't. Tweed is my Twitter app of choice for webOS right now.

On Android, there is a native Facebook app and Twidroid appears to be the most popular Twitter client. Both were very disappointing.

I'm hoping to give the Droid a try before forming any opinions of it, but I think the hype train surround that platform needs to slow up a bit.

sf_basilix · 11-02-2009, 10:58 PM

I've been a big Pre fan for a long time. I've owned many of the palm based devices over the course of my career and really enjoyed the stability of them. I do feel, however, that while I await for this phone to arrive on Verizon (I cannot leave Verizon at this time), I am becoming skeptical as well, regarding what they will come out with and when. For Palm to win back a huge fan base again, they would need to *surpass* the latest and greatest phone and capabilities out there. Simply re-creating the same hardware that is out there is not going to do the trick. Many people want the iphone and many are now gearing up for droid, all because their hardware is better (or at least their marketing teams convey that very well).

For Palm to win - they would need to create a new Pre (and I mean fast - like the next release in early 2010 for Verizon fast) that has a much larger screen, slightly larger keyboard (I actually prefer this keyboard layout rather than the wide sideways one, but it needs to be slightly larger), 8MP camera with 720p video recording and playback! Yes, I'm not exaggerating - this is possible with the hardware they have in that phone! If you think I'm kidding - do research on the Omnia HD in Europe - a phone that won't come to the U.S. in it's prime. (the version the U.S. received was a windoze mobile version with stripped down features, called the Omnia II) That phone has the same OMAP processor and it's been an eye catcher!

I actually think Web OS is very nice, but it's not just the OS. If I have a phone in one hand with a 5MP camera and another in the other hand with 3MP camera - which phone do I want to buy? Did I even look at the OS? (as a consumer - I'm going with 5MP, especially when it's at the same price - why shouldn't I?)

Look, Palm, I hope you are reading these forums. I want to see your product succeed like no other. Heck, the iphone is great, but I know that of all companies right now, you are actually the closest to creating a pda/phone that could compete with the iphone. I still think that while the droid hardware is going to be more powerful (or capable), I don't like the interface for Android - it's just not as polished as webos or even the iPhone.

Palm, I see you're hiring many people to really make this thing better, but believe us when we say that you should not release a device that ends up just matching some other hardware - you must surpass it completely. If you don't, then it's just a few weeks away before someone leap-frogs you. I still think you have a shot, but this upcoming year may be your last one. Scrap the Pixi - stop wasting money on a phone that has less capabilities than the Pre. Let the Pre be the Pixi with smaller hardware/size/etc. Create the Pre II (2) that's larger, more powerful and will have more features than any other phone out there. It's the only way you're going to win.

Oh... and if I have to pay a little more for a phone that does alot more, I'm still interested. People paid more (and still do - with the AT&T service plan) for the iPhone because it rocked (and still does). Consumers will pay a little more if it's the best phone out there. You come out with a phone with better hardware all around for even $100 more, I believe that's going to win! Lower the price once everyone has the 1st version, so you can release the 2nd version. Oh, and don't ever release a new phone on Sprint again. Are you kidding? Did you really think that was going to be as successful as releasing it on a network like Verizon?

Good luck!