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BGR has confirmed this with one of their ninjas: the rumor of Verizon Wireless passing on adding the Palm Pre to its line-up is totally and 100% bogus. We don’t have any other information to share at this time but hopefully those analysts stay where they belong — regurgitating the information we exclusively break.
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It is easy and even fun to make ringtones for your Palm Pre from your existing MP3's.
The Pre can make a ringtone from any song on the Pre. Just tap Launcher>Sounds>Ringtone Add in the lower-left and choose a ringtone.
The problem is the the ringtone will choose the first 30 seconds of the song. You invariably would not choose that part and it is often fading up so the first part can't be heard.
But you can easily choose just the part of the song you want and set the volume you want if you know the tricks!
Here are the key things you need in an audio file editor to do this: 1. An easy way to cut out just the right section, about 30 seconds long 2. An easy way to fade-in or fade-out, adjust loudness, etc. 3. It should be free and easy with no learning curve.
For Windows or Macs, Audacity is all of the above. Here is how easy it is to customize MP3's into good ringtones.
Let's start with an easy one. Take the Older Phone ringtone that came with your Pre and make a new version that is loud enough to hear. The first thing is to find and edit the Older Phone mp3 file.
1. Connect your Palm Pre to your computer as a USB device using the USB cable. 2. Use Windows Explorer or an equivalent to find files in your Pre. 3. Open the Subdirectory "Ringtones". 4. Right click on Older Phones and click copy. 5. Go to your computer's hard drive, right click a subdirectory you want to use and choose paste. 6. Open Audacity and choose the Older Phone file to edit.
Editing the file is easy. For instance the installed Pre ringtones are too soft. To make "Older Phone" louder, click Effects>Amplify. Try a level and listen to it. Click Edit>Undo if you don’t like it. Try highlighting just sections and making changes. When you are done, save it as "Older Phone 2" so as not to confuse the two.
Safely remove the USB device and you should have a new ringtone, Older Phone 2, on your Pre. Check out your new ringtone on your Palm!
You can do the same with any mp3 that you have on your computer. Just use your audio editor to find your music subdirectory on your computer and choose one of your songs. If you imported your music using iTunes they may be hidden. (Real or others programs let you keep your own music.) You want to clip out about 30 seconds to make your ringtone. Then copy the new ringtone you create using the USB Drive feature above to the Pre ringtones subdirectory.
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Seinfeld producer and writer Peter Mehlman’s latest entertainment venture just launched with Melham interviewing athletes like Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkillis, and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Running exclusively on YouTube, the amusing Narrow World of Sports is sponsored by our friends at Palm, and it’s good to see they’ve got the guts to put money into something as off-beat as this, and presumably the sense of humor to appreciate it.
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Unofficial Google Voice client for the Palm Pre. This app lets you choose contacts from your device or dial a number and call or text them using your Google Voice number. This app is currently under development, and it has a lot of bugs. See the screen shots and my blog (in signature) for more information.
View the entire changelog in the forum thread.
EDIT 8/6 (v0.5.0):
add cancel button to voicemail/reply
blue dialer/sms backgrounds
shorten splash screen time
use 64x64 icon instead of 48x48
catch "back" gesture on popups so doesn't freeze
add "type a number or choose contact..." text to dialer
added google voice mobile website view
voicemail reply actions call/sms/cancel
clear text message after being sent successfully
set numeric on sms, few fields on options screen
fixed return from mobile view bug where does not update the nav bar
data saves automatically without button press on options screen
call voicemail button to listen to messages
options screen organization
refresh button for history/voicemail
customizeable pause time (1 to 3, default 2)
minor SMS GUI changes
new manual refresh button for history/voicemail
screen goes blank when return from options screen
KNOWN ISSUES:
BUG: always uses voice dial, dialType radio button does not work
lack of error checking on options screen
missing confirmation boxes on web dial and sms sent
large voicemail transcript does not scroll
License: this application is NOT open source. Do not distribute!
Go into your inbox and pinch out on a message (like the zoom in gesture). This will expand the message without having to open the message. You can do this on multiple emails at once also. or An easier method is to perform the gesture _across_ the message. That is, start in the middle of the message and pinch out to the edges. Pinch in from the edges to minimize. That seems to work better than trying to pinch up-down or diagonally.
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Keep calm, Verizon lovers: despite Sprint's huffiness about the length of their exclusivity, Verizon is stalwart in maintaining that the Pre will hit their network. Digital Daily listened in to a big V quarterly financials conference call in which the executives state that "they plan to carry the Pre 'early next year.'"
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Sprint CEO Dan Hesse sat down at the Fortune-sponsored Brainstorm: Tech conference in Pasadena, California this week to talk about the future of mobile computing. And of course, the Palm Pre came up (would we be talking about it if it didn’t?). On the device, Hesse said that the launch was a success, but sales numbers were until recently very constrained by supply issues, not a lack of demand. And because of the initial limited launch, it’s going to take a while before they can declare the Pre a smash hit or not: “You won't know if we have a real hit on our hands until its been out three months, four months, five months ... It's too early to tell.”
Hesse also took up the defensive against claims of inordinately high return rates, taking the analysts to task for their speculation, “Most of the speculation I read is wrong.”
Lastly, there’s that other Linux-based mobile phone operating system: Android. Hesse commented that Android was not ready for prime time when it was released, and it’s taken to the latest 1.5 iteration and HTC’s fancy new UI for it to be up to snuff for Sprint. At least one new Android model will land on Sprint this year.
Big Big news today: there are now two new ways to install homebrew apps on your Palm Pre!
Hit the Jump for more Details...
First up, the aptly-named "WebOS Quick Install", from Jason Robitaille.nbsp; It's a simple desktop Java-based app that you can download and install on a Mac, PC or Linux machine. First, install the webOS SDK (Update, version 1.1 has just been released and it uses the Recovery ROM - take a quick look at the notes on the linked post), then you just need to put your Pre into Developer Mode and then run the app on your desktop (Mac users note the small caveat in the readme file). You can drag and drop files downloaded. NOTE FROM JASON ROBITAILLE:
WebOS Quick Install v1.1
This program is intended for use with WebOS applications that are in-testing, which under section 4.2 of the Palm SDK License Agreement allows for such unapproved applications to be installed on Palm devices. Applications installed with WebOS Quick Install have not be tested by Palm and are installed at your own risk.
This program is freeware, but not opensource. Feel free to share it with other testing forums.
For Mac OS X, once you've installed Java 1.6, run /Application/Utilities/Java/Java Preferences. Then click and drag Jave SE 6 to top of both list, and exit the program. This will set Java 1.6 as the default version to use.
Novacom - As of v1.1, this now gets setup through WebOS Quick Install.
This can be done by typing "upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart", opening the DeveloperMode app, and enabling the feature.
Lastly, when you plug in the device, if you want to use WebOS Quick Install, choose the "Just Charge" option on the device.
Running WebOS Quick Install
Simply double-click WebOSQuickInstall.jar and (as long as Java is installed properly) it will launch
Features
Stylish easy-to-use GUI.
Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux).
No Linux knowledge required.
No rooting required (or whatever getting-access-to-root setup is now called).
Support for multiple ipk file transfers.
Support for adding files both via filechooser popup and by dragging and dropping files onto the transfer queue.
Works with both USB-connected WebOS devices and the WebOS emulator.
Ability to hide/make visible the DevMode application in the launcher.
Full device information section.
Management of user-installed applications. Lists all user-installed applications and gives the option to uninstall those applications.
Custom file transfer. Transfers any user-chosen file to any directory on the Pre. Also supports drag and drop of a file from your computer to be transferred.
Quick-access link to the PreCentral homebrew forums.
Handy usage panel that explains the earlier-mentioned requirements.
Also new: Brian Jost has created an on-device file download and ipk install tool! It's called "fileCoaster"and it works pretty well. All you need to do here is browse to the PreCentral.net Homebrew App Forums on your Pre. If you're logged in, there will be a text field box next to every .ipk attachment - just tap that, copy it, and paste it into this app. Voila - you are downloading and installing homebrew applications without needing the desktop. It works on both the full forums and the mobile version.
NOTE FROM BRIAN: ---------------------- INSTALLATION ----------------------
First all you need to do is install the .ipk with the SDK (if you already have it and are familiar with the palm.bat files) or WebOS Quick Installer (if you do not have the SDK and like GUI's). I STRONGLY RECOMMENDING INSTALLING fileCOASTER with WebOS Quick Installer!!!
---------------------- HOW TO USE ---------------------- 1. Login to the homebrew forums from your pre (currently it is not set to use the mobile site as there is a bug that is preventing the viewing of the mobile homebrew-apps section from the pre browser). 2. Select the application you want and copy the download link from the textbox on the forums (To copy tap the textbox on the forums until it turns yellow, once yellow hold the GESTURE area until the LED lights up. Once lit press c) 3. Paste the URL into the application. 4. Click download. 5. After the download is complete it will begin the install process if the file is an .ipk
---------------------- FILE STORAGE / TYPES ---------------------- You can also download any other file you want on the net including mp3's.
The files get stored into /media/internal/downloads and after you install the IPK it gets deleted to save space.
Images (jpg,png,jpeg,gif - get saved to the /media/internal/wallpapers folder or if you connect as usb drive the /wallpapers folder.) ** The files are not able to be seen in photo's application so I am trying to find out why **
MP3's and everything else get stored in the /media/internal/downloads folder (or if you connect your pre as a USB drive it will be in the /downloads folder) ** I have tested this successfully and was able to have the Music player recognize the new mp3 download **
--------------------- MISC / LICENSE --------------------- This was built using palms libraries however I had to trick the services into thinking this is a palm app by changing the appId so that we could use their services.
This application is AS IS and is only intended to be used to download beta applications from precentral.net. This is not an app catalog and you should use Palms App Catalog to sell your applications.
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Changed sound for notifications - You still can't change them yourself, but the new sound is much richer, if a little quieter
Animated drop down menus - they look really slick and really change the experience. The Context menus also have some nice animation.
Additional photo upload options - you can now upload a photo to either Facebook or Photobucket (not new - thanks commenters!)
Lots of Photo app improvements. A more distinct bar between all photos and your albums in the photo app, plus they're calling the Screenshot album "Screen Captures." The preview thumbs also slide in from the right. Faster photo rendering. Overall the Photos app feels much more fully baked.
Emailing Memos - The memo app now has a menu option to email a memo.
A new font for the Browser - uses Palm's system font and, truly, it looks fantastic.
Disabled the key combo in browser to open in a new card. Boo-urns.
Javascript interpreter Performance upgrades - this will speed up virtually everything and is great news
Sporadic reports of speed improvements both in the browser and system-wide, but it's always tough to know if these are real or just perceived
Seems to have better Gmail handling - not failing when you tap on a notification for an email you'd already archived on the desktop
A new icon for AIM
more more more! If you find some, post in this thread and we'll update this list as they come in.
More auto-complete / auto correct entries in the dictionary.
With the slider open, the Center button now turns on the screen, where as before you had to hit a keyboard key or the power button.
Of course, the wish-list of stuff that wasn't added is still a mile long, but hey, we're at 1.1 less than 2 months after launch - this is tasty stuff, Palm. Keep 'em coming.
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For being a third generation device and operating system, you’d think Apple’s iPhone 3GS would be able to manage greater than a 0.06 winning margin over the 1.0 Palm Pre and webOS in CNET's prizefight, eh?
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Device wipe after a certain number of failed PIN attempts
Auto-lock
Improved digital certificates
More interesting, we had also heard tell that there would be a smattering of other bugfixes, battery performance improvements, and UI enhancements. Palm's knowledge base has a list of fixes, which we've included after the break, but there might be some subtler stuff around. So we've started a thread in our Palm Pre forums, "webOS 1.1 is out! What have you noticed?" to track all the updates - After you update your Pre, get to poking around and report back with your findings there!
Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync.
There's only one way to describe such brazenness: BOOM!
Hit the Jump for more Details...
Version information
Version: webOS 1.1.0
Release date: 23 July 2009
Configuration: Sprint 1.7
New applications
NFL Mobile Live from Sprint
Watch or listen to live NFL games right on your phone.
Feature changes to existing applications
Calendar
For Calendar accounts you create on your phone, the default reminder intervals are 15 minutes for timed events and one day for all-day events. A few notes:
This change applies only if software version 1.1 was on your phone when you bought it, or if you did a partial or full erase on your phone and signed in to your Palm profile again after updating to version 1.1. If you simply update your phone to software version 1.1, the default reminder intervals in Calendar do not change.
This change applies only to Calendar events you create on your phone, not to events that are synchronized to your phone from an online account.
Camera
The Photos application opens more quickly when launched from the camera.
Clock
Enhanced support for time zones in Clock.
When you set an alarm in Clock, an alarm icon appears in the notification area at the bottom of the screen. Tap the icon to display alarm details. Alarm details include the following:
If the alarm is set for the current day, the alarm time appears.
If the alarm is set for tomorrow, the alarm time and "Tomorrow" appear.
If the alarm is set for any day other than today or tomorrow, the day of the alarm appears.
Contacts
Friends added and deleted in Facebook on the web are now correctly added and deleted in the Facebook account in Contacts on the phone.
As soon as you create or makes changes to a Google contact on the phone, the phone begins a sync to reflect those changes in Google on the web.
Email
When you set up an Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) email account, you can enter the mail server name as an IP address.
Support for self-signed certificates with multiple common names has been added.
When you reply to an email in HTML format using an EAS account, the formatting of the sender's original message is now retained in the reply.
Palm's EAS implementation now supports several Exchange ActiveSync Policies, including the following:
PIN/Password Required. IT administrators can ensure a password is assigned to the phone. Administrators can also specify the minimum length of the password.
Inactivity timeout. IT administrators can ensure that an inactive phone goes into a locked state after a certain time period. You cannot set a higher timeout interval for your phone, but you can set a shorter interval.
Remote Wipe. IT Administrators can remotely erase all data on a phone from their Exchange console. IT administrators can also have the device wipe itself if an incorrect password is entered more than a specified number of times.
Messaging
You can enter emoticons in new text, multimedia, and instant messages. Emoticons also display in incoming messages.
If you set the phone to use a 24-hour time format, the message times shown in a conversation appear in 24-hour time.
If you go into an IM account's preferences, all the options are available even if you are signed in to the account. You can tap Remove Account to delete the account, enter a new password to update the password, or tap Sign In to sign in with your updated password. Previously, you needed to sign out of the account before you could use these preferences.
When you delete an IM account, a message now appears asking you to confirm that you want to delete the account.
Phone
When multiple missed call notifications are displayed on the dashboard, the time of the most recent missed call is shown.
When you slide the ringer switch off, a bell icon with a slash is displayed. Previously, the icon was a speaker with a slash.
In Phone Preferences, the Show Contact Matches preference is now turned on by default. When typing on the keyboard in the phone app, the phone automatically displays both the numbers being entered and any contact matches for the characters entered.
System
Improved functionality of person reminders. A person reminder is a notification that you create in a contact entry. The notification appears when you have a call or exchange an email, text, multimedia, or IM message with a contact.
Resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (8.2.1).
When you enter a search term in Card view or the Launcher to perform a universal search, if you select the Wikipedia web search option, results are shown in the Wikipedia Mobile site instead of the Desktop site.
Web
You can now use symbols from the symbols table (Sym + key) when you enter text into a web page dialog box.
If you have a page open at a certain zoom level, leave the page, and use the onscreen Back button or the back gesture to return to the page, the zoom level is restored right away.
A new gesture is now available that works the same as the onscreen Forward button. To move forward through open web pages, make a short swipe left to right in the gesture area.
When using the Wikipedia drop-down search feature in the address bar, results are shown in the Wikipedia Mobile site instead of the Desktop site.
When you tap a link, the link appears highlighted to indicate it has been activated, even if it takes a moment for the linked page to open.
YouTube
After you enter search text, you can tap the Search icon to perform a search. You still have the option of pressing Enter to perform the search.
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We imagine all the die hards and overly-excitable types have already gotten their Palm Pre fix, but those of you who haven’t yet should know that you’re running out of excuses. As of today, the Pre is finally up for grabs through Sprint’s website, meaning not only is it possible to get a cutting-edge smartphone without having to put on a pair of pants, but you’ll also have successfully avoided contact with a human being in doing so. That is, until it comes time to mail off that $100 MIR but it’s all about the short term, right?
Mitch Allen, Palm's Software CTO, gives a preview into application development with the Mojo SDK. Hear an insider's perspective on webOS development and get a glimpse into the development environment and toolset for this breakthrough mobile web platform. Interested in developing? Visit http://predevcamp.org or register at http://developers.palm.com.
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We have some really good rumblings in the Homebrew scene. The most exciting is that forum member greg_roll is currently rolling up a desktop installer for Windows for installing apps directly. It's on version 0.8 now and coming along quite well. You'll still need to put your Pre into Developer mode to use it, but stay tuned as this one progresses.
Also progressing: Active Home Screen for the Pre. Forum member mapara, like many of us, wished the Pre had a Today Screen like Windows Mobile and Android. So he's started putting one together. There are currently Weather and News Widgets, links to apps, and a small Task widget working. This is still alpha, so no downloads yet, but the idea of making an app/card into a homescreen with its own widgets doesn't seem to shabby.
Catch some screenshots of Active Home Screen after the break!
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+ key) when you enter text into a web page dialog box.
button or the back gesture to return to the page, the zoom level is restored right away.
button. To move forward through open web pages, make a short swipe left to right in the gesture area.
icon to perform a search. You still have the option of pressing Enter 
to perform the search.
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