There’s been a lot of hype about the Palm Pre, and as we get closer to June the questions about it get more frequent. Here’s some of the more popular questions that I’ve encountered and am able to answer.
The backup feature, does it cost anything more?
Nope, it’s all included for free as a part of the service provided by Palm included with your Pre.
What happens to my phone when it’s in USB Mode?
All calls are routed to voicemail when the Pre is in USB Mode. Slight downer, I know – but how often are you really gonna have the Pre in USB Mode? And even then, not more than a couple minutes @ a time.
What IM services will the Pre support for real-time status indicators?
Google Talk (GTalk) and AIM at launch. Do you really know anyone without a Gmail address?
In the Calendar, can I choose my own colors for the appointments?
Yes! it’s easily selectable, or can sync with your Outlook category colors with Exchange.
What about the web browser, can I disable cookies?
Yep, it’s an option in the Web Preferences.
How do I get the calendar to do the cool ‘compress’ when displaying?
Simple! it just has to be a block of time that’s 2 hours or more.
Can you have multiple IM conversations going at the same time?
Yes, the possibilities are limitless – talk to everyone, share the Pre love!
Office 2007 – Any issues?
Nope. Go ahead, tell your boss about it, and bring it to work. Welcome to life with the Pre – it just works!
Can I use Pictbridge (wirelessly sending pics to a printer)?
There’s not a profile for it yet. Hang in there, grasshopper.
With the new webOS, what about virus protection?
The core is not open, and isn’t subject to any viruses, in other words, you’re covered!
What about Calltones?
Would you expect any less? It’s a network feature, so they’re 100% supported, no problems.
Can I save music as a ring tone for my Pre?
Sure, customize it all you want.
Family locator – can I track my son with his Pre?
While it’s great you’d get a Pre for your son (umm, sure!, lol), you won’t be able to track lil Timmy with it just yet using Family Locator.
Can I take videos with my Palm Pre?
Not at launch, but hang in there as great things are on the way, and as the Palm Pre uses the webOS, updates are just a gesture away!
Can I send pictures as a text message?
Using MMS, of course. You can’t however crop pictures yet, so be aware of any size limitations the receiving person may have with their device or carrier, or adjust the camera settings.
That’s all for now! Don’t forget about the folks over at SprintGurus, where you can discuss not only these Palm Pre FAQs, but anything Sprint related. I do monitor and reply to the comments here on the blog as time permits, but there’s a great community of people there that are very knowledgeable, and if you’re looking to discuss Sprint or the Pre, it’s the place to be!
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Can you confirm or deny Visual Voicemail?????
Uh oh, now you have to define “USB Mode”. Is that just when you’re accessing the Pre as a mass storage device, or any time it’s connected to a computer via USB? If it’s the latter it’s a problem because some people may not spring for a Touchstone charger (especially since it’s rumored to be expensive) and leave it connected to their computer to charge.
Hopefully when you connect via USB it will give you an option to mount the device. When I had a G1(mind you it was only for a week) whenever I plugged it into my computer it gave me that option. Or to not mount it and all it did was charge.
just when it’s mounted as a mass storage device. you can get phone calls if it’s charging over USB but not mounted.
But what’s important is if it works the way Paul describes or not. Some devices automatically mount when connected to a computer that’s turned on.
this device doesn’t automount. you get prompted when you plugin whether you want to mount it or charge it.
Office 2007 – Any issues?
Nope. Go ahead, tell your boss about it, and bring it to work. Welcome to life with the Pre – it just works!
Does this mean it has Docs, Excel ect. installed at launch???
Just get my Palm Pre there is NO OFFICE ON IT AT ALL!!!! If you want to use pocket quicken you better get another phone will not be able to install on this phone at all!! I called palm and they said they do not have anything to do with this app. and have to go through a third party to get pocket quicken running web os.
I’ve had a Treo since the 600, and now I am at the 755p.
I am dazzled by the Pre, but I may hold out for an Android (or iPhone) if:
a) no tethering with the Pre
b) no syncing my classic apps like Splashshopper, SplashID, Pocket Quicken,
c) no flash based web
If you’re going to break compatibility with how I work with my phone now, well, you’re inviting me to go somewhere else.
If you’re not going to give the the web, ALL the web, then you’re inviting me to go somewhere else.
Regarding tethering: I purchased a broadband card about a year ago. The speeds never were what they were claimed to be. Wimax did not roll out on the timeframe that was published, and now, my city isn’t even in the 2010 wimax rollout list. I gave up the broadband card and went back to tethering, which I now use once or twice a month, and find incredibly useful, but not worth the $59.95 per month of a broadband card.
So I encourage Sprint to openly discuss what happens to syncing classic apps, flash on the browser, and tethering. (And do some rethinking….)
@Anon
So to make up for your frustration about inperfect app migration and lack of tethering, you are going to switch to phones which also won’t migrate your apps and won’t tether? How does that make sense? I understand your frustration that you won’t get everything you want, but there isn’t a single carrier that allows free tethering as part of the normal phone data package. It only works on Sprint because people can hack the phones to allow it.
It’s not a question of it making sense, per se’. It’s a question of Sprint/Palm’s lowering the barrier to switching.
I have invested $$($) in PalmOS apps and techniques, and right now I face a choice, where’s the best direction forward. If the Palm Pre allowed for tethering (I use PDANET), and synching of my data, then my investment in PalmOS apps would continue to pay off on the Pre. Instead, I am getting the impression those apps are dead. No synching, no tethering. (According to my impressions of ISN, it’s not pay for tethering, but NO TETHERING.)
On top of that, I do want flash in my web (though I actually usually surf the web with NoScript and no flash). But since I do want flash in my web, I have to decide,
What’s the best way forward?
It may not be Palm. It could be an iPhone (apparently a hacked iPhone does allow PDANET to work). It could be an Android phone (lots of androids coming out, one of them will support flash and perhaps an android carrier will be more lenient regarding tethering.)
I wish Palm well, but my guess is the momentum towards flash and other features will be either with the much larger Apple developer world or the more modern, more horizontal, more open sourced Android World.
So it’s not a question of my acting out in frustration in any manner. It’s a question of not having a contract with Sprint, looking for the next phone, and seeing Palm and Sprint ditching much backward compatibility, and with that their backwards customers.
Actually peter rogers in Canada allows free tethering:D
@Anon
Palm OS apps will be supported through MotionApps Classic Palm OS emulator. How well it works with your specific apps remains to be seen, but your investment, just like my also substantial investment, is absolutely not dead. If your specific issue is the automatic syncing of those apps and that data to the “cloud” the answer is probably not. But until someone gets around to writing a program to do just that (quickly I bet) you could still just drag-and-drop through USB Mass Storage mode.
Regarding Flash in the Pre’s browser: they announced in March that it will be coming later this year, but, no, not right at launch. As of now, I don’t know of ANY mobile device that displays Flash inside its browser. If I’m wrong, then please point me to it. And if anything, the iPhone will be one of the last to get Flash.
I have no comment regarding tethering. If there’s no getting around that then there’s no getting around that.
i was able to tether my 755p w/o hack. i just used a b/t manager. pre only allows b/t to handsfree devices.
I agree with Peter, this makes little sense. With the exception of tethering (which will likely have an app anyway) you seem to be wanting to cut your nose off to spite your face. Flash is coming to the Pre later this year. Good luck getting it with the iPhone.
Innovation requires change. If upset with Palm that’s one thing, but you’re going to have to break compatibility regardless of your choices, so what’s the big deal?
anon,
tethering will not be available initially, but eventually it will. the first palm and sprint docs for the pre mentioned tethering, but these were removed. i suspect they are bracing for the initial network load before allowing this (same goes for video).
there is a classic emulator that will allow you to use all of your classic apps. do a google search for palm pre classic apps and there are plenty of videos.
if you want flash in your browser, skyfire is the only browser i am aware of that has this presently. no flash on iphone, android, or rim. skyfire works for symbian and winmo handsets, is VERY fast, but renders on server farms and sends images so it can be quite laggy when scrolling. palm and adobe have announced their intention to have flash available on webos by the end of the year, which is as quickly as anyone (unless this is part of apple’s 3.0 update).
[...] you want to read the full responses head on over to InsideSprintNow for the [...]
@anon
a) (no tethering with the Pre)
phone supports it, but sprint’s plans says they don’t but people have donne it anyways, so im pretty sure it ill work with the pre
b)( no syncing my classic apps like Splashshopper, SplashID, Pocket Quicken,)
they already confirmed an app emulator.
c) (no flash based web)
its already confirmed that flash is coming out shortly after launch….
Thanks nimer.
If it has flash and that has been confirmed, that’s great news. I guess what I want is a commitment to the full web.
We’ll see about tethering.
Regarding synching, MotionApps is apparently looking into it, but no promises. I’d like to hear that the MotionApps emulator is done in partnership with Palm and supported by Palm, and frankly Palm and Sprint should include it with every phone or make it available for a free download.
Which reminds me: visual voicemail. The phone better have visual voicemail. And as importantly, they should partner with shsh and make a version of 2dial available for the phone. 2dial is a very important app when dealing with voicemail systems that don’t have any sort of visual voicemail.
Sorry, ISN, if this is going offtopic. I would like to see the Pre be very successful and beat the Pilot and especially the blackberry. Not sure if that’s what I see happening though.
@Anon
MotionApps is not merely “looking into it,” they’ve already done it.
MotionApps’ own words -
– http://www.motionapps.com/classic/
– http://motionapps.blogspot.com/
Palm’s own words -
– http://blog.palm.com/palm/2009/04/the-webos-developer-community-leaps-ahead.html
NOTE: Scroll to the bottom and select the name: Nebojsa
In the blogosphere -
– http://www.precentral.net/precentralnet-interviews-motionapps-classic-app
And in Videos -
– http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/palm-pre-classic-emulator-demoed-on-video/
– http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/new-pre-classic-emulator-video-shows-off-3d-gaming/
Anon … you’re taken care of.
When you say you can send pictures using MMS do mean REAL MMS or the Sprint link that you have to click on that launches a web browser and then finally goes to the pic?
It’s Real MMS, not Sprint PictureMail. I think they said that in FAQ part 1.
The Pre ONLY supports true MMS. It has already been stated that the Pre does NOT support Sprint’s usual PictureMail, which is what you just described above.
With the new webOS, what about virus protection?
The core is not open, and isn’t subject to any viruses, in other words, you’re covered!
What? The core of webOS is the Linux kernel. The Linux kernel is quite open. Furthermore, open or closed, _any_ operating system is subject to viruses. How can anyone claim otherwise?
It’s not a question of whether the kernal source is open to review and alteration or not, it’s a question of how code is executed. Palm is saying that applications don’t have access to core OS functionality the way they do on a PC. Limited access means higher security and stability, but also less functionality. It’s a similar tradeoff for the closed proprietary unnamed OSs on most phones that only allows for little java applets.
I don’t think calling the core “not open” necessarily implies that but if that’s what the author meant.. It’s just frustrating to see the market respond so well to these crippled devices. I really like freedom.
basically it means that all programs run as a user, not as root. When’s the last time you got a virus on your linux box anyways :) ?
Will the Pre be able to pull in iCal and Addressbook info from a .mac account?
What about syncing the internal contacts and calendar with the Synergy accounts for use when out of the service area?
Zevvle, they’ve said before that the Pre will, in fact, sync so that when you are out of your service area, you’ll still be able to view your local copy of your contacts, calendar, etc..
Yes, the only limitation when out of service(i.e. airplane) would be that you cannot add new contacts or calendar appointments, for instance, however you can view any that already exist.
[...] More Palm Pre facts!! I just found this article…looks nice! Palm Pre FAQ: Round 2 Inside Sprint Now [...]
[...] Sprint have rounded up a few more frequently-asked questions about the Palm Pre, and funneled them into a post at their Inside Sprint Now blog. On the table are some upfront clarifications about whether the [...]
[...] to the InsideSprintNow blog, we have few more tidbits of information about the soon-to-be-released Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre. [...]
Would really like to hear more info on how “Mac Friendly” this device will be. Basically wondering what the options will be for using Synergy with Mail, iCal, Address Book, Notes, To Do’s, etc? I don’t have a MobileMe account and currently sync my Treo755P with Missing Sync & leave mail on the server with POP. Haven’t really seen any info on Mac compatibility out there. Hope you can shed some light. From what I can tell, seems the only option would be to set up hosted Exchange or sync my data to Google. Not too keen on Google, as I understand there are some compatibility issues. Also getting hosted Exchange for my phone seems like a lot to bite off just to get my phone to sync.
“All calls are routed to voicemail when the Pre is in USB Mode. Slight downer, I know – but how often are you really gonna have the Pre in USB Mode? And even then, not more than a couple minutes @ a time.”
- Actually I found myself using USB sync. a lot on my Palm centro for MS documents & Outlook calendar. I do feel that not being able to receive “unexpected important” phone calls while the pre is on USB mode IS a problem for business. Personally, I wouldn’t pick Pre for this reason.
If I’m not mistaking when charging/syncing the Pre on the Touchstone you should be able to receive calls- via device becomes a speakerphone.
Touchstone is only for charging, not syncing.
[...] are still avoiding details of release and price on the Palm Pre, however thanks to a guy over at insidesprintnow, we have a Palm Pre [...]
Will it sync. with new Lotus 8/8.5?
[...] Palm Pre FAQ: Round 2 [Inside Sprint Now via The Reg] [...]
[...] Palm Pre FAQ: Round 2 [Inside Sprint Now via The Reg] [...]
will it have sprint tv and music will it support flash
I’m a little disappointed that the Sprint Family Locator will not be supported. My son and I currently have it on our motorola KRZRs. It made a great theft recovery or loss prevention mechanism for our phones. Some kid at my sons school stole his phone in gym class. After school i was able to track it to his home and paid a friendly visit to his parents. Needless to say, the kid was in shock and immediately returned the phone. I simply let the fear and his parents deal with it from there. I doubt that kid would ever steal again.
Anyway I was hoping the Pre would also have this ability. [img]http://www.kingplus.com/images/emoticons/tantrum.gif[/img]
This weekend I was driving my daughter and an older student to a play they were both in. The older student (freshman in high school) told me absolutely the same story: phone stolen from locker during gym. But she didn’t have the location service and wanted to get it on her next phone.
So perhaps it’s more a problem than I thought.
[...] has been publishing the FAQ for the Pre and enthusiasts have been eagerly lapping up that information since they can’t [...]
Does the Pre support multi language out the box like the iPhone? Including different Input methods for foreign languages.
Does the Pre connect to Microsoft Exchange servers through Direct Push or Outlook Web Access like many RIM phones connect? Also does Sprint have a email sync service like AT&T has with XPress Mail?
Will the Pre support “tethering”?