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Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

developer.palm.com

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Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#121

Post by yardie »

jackson71 wrote: post #94
rsanchez1 wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They were giving away Pre 2's. They probably still are giving them away if they still have them in stock.

According to the HP webOS Developer Forums' Hardware Section, the offer's done. In fact, a lot of developers who took part are still waiting for theirs from back in February/March. The Pre 2 giveaway to developers really could have been executed better, IMO. Some folks who were approved back then don't even know if they'll still get one, which is disconcerting. Google can drop 5,000 special-edition Samsung tablets in…

This is just anecdotal, but I signed up and received my developer Pre2 in about 2 weeks. I assume I must have gotten in before the rush because I signed on as soon as I heard about it.

On the other hand, I've been waiting 4 and 6 months to get a Cr48 laptop from Google and not a peep. So its not like only HP is the only one bad at communicating.

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#122

Post by trezor »

potatolicious wrote: post #91
jsz0 wrote: post #64

I was hoping Palm would eventually license WebOS to companies that could make better hardware and offer more desirable form factors. WebOS is nice but the original Pre was just truly awful hardware. Under powered, fragile, terrible keyboard, screen was too small, etc. It doesn't look like the other WebOS devices released since have really improved on this much. Unfortunately HP would never consider licensing so hopef…

I agree, but this is a problem that plagues Android too, though it's slowly getting better. Even now though, hold an iPhone 4 in one hand, and hold the Nexus S in the other. Both are fine, fast phones with a wide array of features... but one feels plasticky and cheap, while the other feels solid, almost as if it was hewn out of a solid piece of glass. Samsung, LG, et al really need to get their shit together. Apple s…

Even now though, hold an iPhone 4 in one hand, and hold the Nexus S in the other. Both are fine, fast phones with a wide array of features...

But one feels dated, awkward and like it belongs 5 years ago with some light finishing polish to cover it up. Seriously dated. Do. Not. Want.

Samsung doesn't need to get their shit together. Just look at the Samsung Galaxy S II preorders. They are the highest ever recovered for any device. I think Samsung is doing just fine with their so-called "cheap-feeling" phone.

So sure. If things like the physical finish matters more to you than the actual capabilities of the device, then sure, continue buying Apple stuff. In a world where every competitor is cheaper, more open and offers more choice, this is really the only reason one could possibly have for choosing Apple these days.

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#123

Post by yardie »

raghava wrote: post #120

> There’s no cost to become a developer. But there is, to submit (signed) apps? https://developer.palm.com/index.php?option=com_register&#38... says "Benefits include: Enroll in the webOS Developer program ($99/year; covers up to xx application submissions) Submit you webOS application(s) for review and approval by Palm" Am sure am missing something. Also, these devices are too costly for geeks on other side of plane…

Enrollment is free for the time being. I guess this is just an out of date page. They make it very clear that you don't have to pay anything, but this may change in the future (I assume once they get enough developers to justify having to pay full-time app reviewers). If you go through the registration process the checkout is $.00.

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#124

Post by yardie »

p1itopre wrote: post #59
mdiep wrote: post #44

If HP made an iPod Touch competitor, I would buy one in a heartbeat. I don't want to buy another phone, but I'd love to have a WebOS device to play with.

I get the feeling that HP does not care about the phone market too much. However, the table market is something they are scared will eat into their PC business. So, I expect HP to push the TouchPad with all its might. If that happens, an iPod touch device seems the next thing they will release. I am looking forward to that too!

It's not that they don't care but I get the feeling that they have conceeded the phone market to Apple and Android. All the information I've been getting lately is they are going to push into the tablet market really hard. It's still relatively untapped and (except Apple) the competition has been very slim.

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#125

Post by mahrain »

rsanchez1 wrote: post #81
daniel_solano wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried Maemo? With Maemo, I can just launch an xterm and ssh to my heart's content. For that matter, I can also set up an SSH server and ssh into the device. I'm guessing Meego probably has the same support. In my experience, it's the closest experience to have a full Linux box that I can stick in my pocket.

Yeah, I can do all of that with my Pre 2 as well, and I had been doing it on my Pre for a while. Heck, with xterm on my Pre 2, I can run a Debian or Ubuntu ARM rootfs and actually have a full Linux experience in my pocket.

Is there any way to connect a display/keyboard/mouse (the input devices perhaps over bluetooth) so it can even be a desktop?

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#126

Post by EwanToo »

nodata wrote: post #110
daniel_solano wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, and it's open source too. In fact I am currently working on getting it to work well with the full keyboard on my new Android tablet/netbook.

Can you exclude your private ssh key from being synced with google?

Why do you think the private ssh key would be sync'd with Google in first place?

There's no background sync of your Android phone's contents to Google, just things like Contacts and Email (which are optional)

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#127

Post by rrrazdan »

GeneralMaximus wrote: post #92

sigh I remember getting excited when the Pre first came out. Sadly, it wasn't available in India. It still isn't. This is why Android will take over the mobile world: it's ubiquitous. Also, Samsung and HTC, the two largest players in the Android market, actually care about markets other than the USA and Europe. The Galaxy S II, for example, will launch in 120 countries.

True, why would I want to get an iPhone when I know it won't be serviced in India. India is a very smartphone hungry market, and Apple is doing itself a great disservice by not selling here.

PS:- Apple does sell, iPhone 3GS and iPad 2 in India. Except the iPhone, every other product is available within a week of the US launch. So the iPhone situation is quite strange.

Re: Why Geeks Should Love HP WebOS

#129

Post by davidw »

windsurfer wrote: post #93
superppl wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maemo is brilliant, except it's a dead end in favor of Meego, whose future is uncertain.

What's wrong with a dead end? Isn't SSH a dead end, since we haven't seen any major modifications ina while? Maemo still has SSH, it's still linux, and it's still debian. There are community projects to update software and fix bugs.

> What's wrong with a dead end?

No new phones, obviously.

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