Palm, the sequel
Computing giant HP has launched the first major revision to webOS - the mobile operating system it acquired with Palm. Versin 2.0 features a bunch of improvements which HP will be hoping keeps the OS competitive and will be launched on a new handset - the Pre2.
"With webOS 2.0, we're advancing the innovations we introduced 16 months ago, expanding the features that make webOS great for consumers, enterprises and developers," said HP SVP and GM of Palm, Jon Rubenstein.
"We've made tremendous strides since the platform launched, and now we're taking our biggest leap forward with powerful new features that make it easier to get more things done with your webOS device."
Among the highlighted new features of webOS 2.0 are:
- Multitasking enhanced with ‘Stacks'
- Enhancements to ‘Just Type'
- HP Synergy social networking
- ‘Exhibition' apps designed specifically for when the phone is recharging
- Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta
The handset will be available in France on Friday (this is turning out to be a pretty big week for new smartphones) and then in the US and Canada in the coming months. There was no word about the rest of the world; was it something we said, HP?
Here are some more specs. The Palm Pre 2 will have a 1GHz processor which HP hasn't specified. But if we assume it's an OMAP, as the first Pre had, we're probably looking at an OMAP 3640.
- 3.1-inch multitouch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color, 320x480 resolution HVGA display
- Slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard
- GPS
- 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, extended depth of field, geotagging, and video capture
- Accelerometer, ambient light, and proximity sensors
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Wi-Fi router functionality for up to five devices using Palm mobile hotspot
- 16GB storage (~15GB user available)
