Stefan aka Noneus

I sort of got upset with Android. A side from the usability issues there were two major problems, which made me a Palm user:

• The web experience on Android is horrific. After watching the browser comparison on Engadget’s Nexus One review, I was surprised. The 1GHz Snapdragon wasn’t any faster then my G1 in webbrowsing. Seems like Google has a major problem with browser-performance. I guess the problem is network related.
• The Android-Market is a mystery. Just google for android market problems. Some phones weren’t authenticated devices after a OTA-Update. As a result all copy-protected apps wouldn’t show app in the market.

I put my eye on the Palm Pre for some time now. It’s quite similar to Android. Linux-based, hackable, easy to develop, multi-tasking and perfect Gmail integration. After playing with the palm-emulator (it’s in the webOS SDK) for a while I decided to buy a Pre. That’s one and a half month ago.

I won’t write a full review. There are plenty in the internet. However I will list my major up’s and down’s with the Pre.

Up’s:

• Exchange and Gmail synchronisation are flawless. It was never that easy to handle appointments for work and private life. And the most important part: It all syncs automatically via internet. No manual sync required.
• Really easy to hack. Just check out webos-internals and PreCentral. Way easier than on Android. No flashing of custom system-images required.
• Touchstone Charger: After I got my Pre I ordered a Touchstone charger. I just love wireless charging. Much easier than stupid cables.
• UI is pretty and constitant: Overall the whole UI looks much nicer than Android’s UI. It’s very smooth!
• The use of gestures is amazing. No UI is clonked up with buttons. The gesture-area helps with that.
• MyTether: MyTether is an app that requires root access to your Phone. But tethering never was that easy. And I love USB-Tethering. It just works!

Down’s:

• No navigation solution for Europe. Google Maps is ok. But a full fledge navigation software with offline maps would be great.
• App Catalog looks so empty in Europe. This will be fixed in March, when Europe will get payed apps.