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Palm Pre is the new slidingkeyboard, multi touch screen phone, that Palm, Inc has to offer. It was launched in June, and it uses a Linux based operating systemcalled the webOS. It has been much appreciated by both critics and users, which is evident from awards like People’s Voice of 2009 and CNET’s bet in Show.

The Features
It has a 3.1-inch touch screen with a 24-bit color 320×480 resolution and HVGA liquid-crystal display. The screen is designed to curve towards you, which are done in order to reduce glare and provide a comfortable user experience. In older versions a stylus was used, but in this version you can maneuver around with your fingers. Additional touch commands are available with a touch sensitive area with LED under lighting.
Palm Pre comes with three sensors that enable it to respond to its surrounding. Display orientation between portrait and landscape changes automatically with an accelerometer when the device is rotated in your hands. If you are holding the Pre close to your face, a proximity sensor will allow pre to disregard commands. The display brightness is adjusted automatically with the help of an ambient light sensor.

The overall sound quality over Sprint’s 3G networks is very good. The Pre connects to either UMTS HSDPA or EVDO Rev. A , depending on location. 802.11b/g WiFi is also present and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headsets. At the top right corner there is the power button and, next to it, a switch that can be used to activate ring and silent modes. A 3.5mm stereo headphone jack is present at the top. The volume buttons are on the left side; the right-hand side has the micro USB input. The thin plastic tether that’s attached to the USB door can be easily damaged.
The Linux based webOS interface is built on a system of “cards” used to handle multitasking. You can launch the applications from the Quick Launch bar, which shows up to three pages of icons in a grid that is scrollable. In order to go from one application to another you have to first bring up the “cards”. Applications are closed by flicking a “card” up – and “off” – the screen.
One of the most vital components of webOS is its ability to synthesize info from various sources into one integrated view. Palm calls this concept “Synergy” and it is incorporated into the e-mail, contacts and messaging applications. For example, you can sync the Palm Pre to your Facebook, Google and Microsoft Exchange accounts; it will take your contacts from those accounts, and all of them will appear in you contact applications.
The Flaws
The keyboard usability is given second place behind compactness, it seems. The keys are slightly recessed and feel gummy, and the bezel lip on the bottom and sides often interfere with the typing. Furthermore, the keyboard is a touch(no pun intended) too close top the slider screen, so you have to angle your fingers to press those keys. Though the keyboard slides out smoothly, but it also feels a bit shaky, as if it could snap off if used too much.
Battery life, unfortunately, is not that great. The average battery talk time is 5 hours and 17 minutes. The Pre also does not have video recording. The camera has no shutter which can be the cause of blurriness in pictures, but this can be countered by steadying the phone by keeping the keyboard out.
Palm Pre is one of the most eye-catching devices that you will find. The design is very good and its functions run smoothly. dcellphone