We like Palm, and we like HP. We’re even partners with them on some levels. However, the failure to properly follow through on their commitment to deliver webOS 2.0 for all webOS devices keeps getting worse. We can only bullet-point the chain of events at this point, in “graphic” detail below:
* Palm commits to webOS 2.0 for all devices. Notes that original Pixi on Sprint won’t get Flash.
* HP acquires Palm.
* HP announces new devices and announces webOS 3.0. Later that night, HP says Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi, Pixi Plus won’t get webOS 2.0 as previously promised.
* HP explains the next day that the devices couldn’t handle webOS 2.0 well, promises “something special” to make up for it down the road.
* O2 issues Palm Pre Plus update to webOS 2.1 in Europe. Flash and Voice Dialing are missing from the update.
* HP changes position to saying that “some devices” will not be updated to webOS 2.x. HP tacitly acknowledges the O2 European Pre Plus has been updated to webOS 2.1.
* HP changes position again, saying that it is up to carriers to decide if their Palm Pre (Plus) will be updated to webOS 2.1.
* AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon all fail to respond to PhoneNews.com requests as to if they will offer webOS 2.1 on their Palm Pre (Plus).
And now, you’re up to date. User pressure will likely determine if HP will offer a webOS 2.1 upgrade for the Pre and Pixi family in the United States at this point. The code base is clearly there to do it, however, the lack of Flash, Voice Dialing, and some apparent wish to treat the software as unsupported have HP and carrier relations strained. Clearly, HP wishes to devote carrier testing time to new devices, and not exhaust it on old devices that sell for $49 on Woot-style sites.
Considering the PR blunder that HP has run into with this experience however, and customers whose first impression of webOS may be a $50 Palm Pixi Plus, it is our opinion that the best thing HP could do is offer an unofficial webOS Doctor on their web site… and let the users decide which webOS to run on their devices.
It is unlikely, again, in our opinion, that carriers would cry foul over such a resolution.
Is a timeline without dates really a timeline?
Yes, because they are timed in sequential order. If we just jumbled them up and offered them as a grab bag, then you might have a better case.
It’s been just over a year now since Flash was demo’d on a PrÄ“- at CES 2010. Now I’m seeing what appear to be HTML5 embedded YouTube videos – they act like they’re going to play something, but they won’t link to the YouTube app.
I do NOT want to use Android (for some of the same reasons you discontinued their advertising), yet to stay with Sprint’s generous data plans…
HP did nothing to tamp down expectations before February, without a single commitment from a carrier. I feel like I did during the Gil Amelio era at Apple. Maybe that just shows I’m a masochist? I wish I knew…
Looks like my long line of iterations from my original Handspring has to come to an end.
Excuse me for not knowing how all of this stuff works, but I have to ask: If it’s up to the carriers what is it going to take to make them decide to give it to more people? Does allowing us users of, say, the Palm Pixi Plus benefit them overall or do they want to surpress it to add appeal to the newer devices?
But it kind of lacks perspective without dates.
[…] presentation last month, but a more complete changelog has yet to be posted. This follows the lack of responses from US carriers on the availability of webOS 2.1+ on the Pre/Pixi Plus, despite European carriers […]
I wonder if they’ll explain why we shouldn’t expect them to abandon the Pre Plus 2, etc. within the next year just like they’ve abandoned the Pre Plus, etc. now. Does anyone else feel the words “death knell” might be appropriate here?
Well for one Tim the Pre 2 has enough power to actually handle the aforemented flash(Voice dialing is just held back as video recording is on. The iPhone and 3G models without jailbreaking.) and the fact that it can run more then one thing without that single or whatever other apps are running having used up all the memory(Aka non Plus phones. Most users have the original Pre.) Plus these are the first phones actually responsible by HP. HP is a brand I trust as a small business owner and their products are well supported. I suspect an ‘Oprah Moment’ might occur for those left without an upgrade. Can’t complain if you get a new phone or even $100 credit to either your bill or next phone as currently Pre phones are practically worthless. Even if we did get the upgrade most people would be unhappy with the end result. This wy the customer will gain the most. And lets face it people threatening to leave. WebOS currently barely has any marketshare. Consider: Worse than Windows Mobile/WP7. Technically they could care less about current customers and move onto uh…..99% of the remaining markets customers. I’m glad the outrage and HP/Palm feeling a little afraid is going to benefit us all though. Us consumers deserve it.
[…] other first-generation devices) to webOS 2.0, they later backtracked from that commitment, despite mistakenly updating the Palm Pre Plus later.As such, we suggest this is a good GSM backup device, but not for daily use […]