Good news, Palm fans! If you’ve taken a break from jamming on the “Update” button, it’s time to go tap it one last time: the rollout of webOS 1.4 has just begun. The catch: it seems that it’s only for Sprint handsets right now (Update: In the US, that is – it’s also available on O2 UK, O2 Germany, O2 Ireland, and Movistar in Europe), with the Verizon Pre Plus and Pixi Plus still reporting that 1.3 is the latest release.
We knew it was coming in February thanks to Palm’s announcement at CES — and thanks to the rumor mill, we were all lead to believe it was coming a few weeks ago. All false starts and false hopes aside, it’s available now. We’re seeing reports (thanks Twitter!) that it has gone live on Sprint handsets.
Curiously absent, however, are any reports of the update hitting Verizon Pre/Pixi Pluses. With the update going out this late in the evening (a bit after 10:30 pm PST), I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there were some last-minute snags; might the Verizon update have been held at the last minute?
The biggest new feature in webOS 1.4 — at least, of those available right this second — is its new found ability to record and edit video. webOS also lays all the necessary foundation for Adobe Flash support, though that bit will come as a download from the App Catalog at a later time. There are other smaller features and bug fixes throughout — for those, check out the full change log below. (Update: Palm has just released an even bigger, more in-depth change log here)
Changelog:
Enhancements:
- Updated SMS and chat features.
− Tap and hold on an email address to send an email or add
to contacts.
− Forward SMS messages to email.
− Dial a number from chat view without opening a contact card.
− Press and hold a phone number (identified via smart text) to get
more options for calls and SMS.
- New camera support for video capture.
− Record and edit videos right on your device.
− Upload videos to YouTube® and Facebook®, or send them to friends via email or MMS.
- Expanded calendar and task functions.
− Set custom alert sounds for calendar events.
-View times with added AM/PM and Now indicators. − Dial phone numbers shown in the appointment subject.
- More email options
− Customize your email alerts by specifying a distinct ringtone or
selecting mute or vibrate.
− Tap and hold on a phone number or email address to either dial or
send an email or add to contacts.
− Once emails are sent, you’re taken back to the inbox view.
− More sort options for messages, including by date, sender,
and subject.
- Mobile Hotspot application is now preloaded on the device.
– Enhanced universal search now includes Global Address Lookup, i.e.,
corporate address book.
- The light bar in the gesture area now blinks whenever there are
pending notifications.Improvements:
- Better MMS functions and support.
− Support for sending an MMS message when connected to Wi-Fi
now included.
− MMS messages with multiple audio and picture attachments now
allow you to open all attachments correctly.
− MMS display updated so messages no longer appear to overlap
each other.
- Faster performance in several areas of the phone and calendar applications-
Literally TENS of people will be excited about this!
Palm regularly adjusts its product manufacturing levels to manage inventory. In anticipation of the Verizon Wireless launch and Chinese New Year, we increased production levels prior to February, and anticipate ramping production back up after the Chinese New Year ends
Details about Palm Pre plus pixi: http://bit.ly/palm-pre-plus-pixi-plus-details
The video features should have been on the phone at launch, but better late than never. And Now I can have a mobile hospot to connect my laptop to when I’m on the road!
I’m not excited, but I am happy, YAY!
I just installed and am rebooting now. I got it for my palm pre and im located in Pittsburgh. Now i have flash and some video editing. I cant wait. This phone is amazing and pretty soon ppl will recognize.
actually yeah about a million people will be excited. so your math is pretty close. did you use an iphone app to come up with that number? lol
on another note.. i have flash now and some good quality video recording/editing. I am excited.
When Palm declares bankruptcy due to Verizon and other partners not wanting to carry this phone, let me know. Palm is distant in the marketshare and the Pre hasn’t sold as well as expected. I like the concept and had a Palm VII in the day, but a Pre in my hands won’t happen anytime soon.
If they didn’t want to carry it then … why are they carrying it? Were they forced into carrying it and were they also forced into promoting it?
Just curious, please enlighten me.
Since the iPhone coming we have lost our patience about mobile phones, smart or not, and its OS’s. Tha lt was an incredibly success but it had three hardware updates and 6-7 software updates to achieve what we expect for any other gadget out-of-the-box today…
i soiled myself
Hi, very very thanks, this website is helpful.
Just finished messing around with it. Video works great. Lots of nice little changes to phone apps call log. New options for e-mail alerts. Apps open up differently. It feels a lot quicker. I love Palm. They make great products. It’s nice having a phone that can multi task so well. I can’t wait to see what else they have in store. The iPhone is nice, but the reality is that it’s not a great phone. It’s a good phone but not a great one. I love apple. I’m using a macbook right now. I just don’t like how locked down the iPhone is. Palms WebOS is great and they seem to care about their developing community. Apple keeps coming up with new rules about what is and isn’t allowed and changes them when it feels. In the end that will only hurt the iPhone and help WebOS and Android.
About f**king time with the video.
I can only hope that the apps get better.
WOW — video recording, Flash, faster Calendar app? Thanks Palm! Best update yet.
I wonder if Palm will realize that they could make so much progress by offering more robust features with their business apps? Business users originally wanted the keyboard over the iphone.
With WebOS right now, the email is painful. They just need to allow you to sync folders of your choice, other than the inbox. Also, the calendar is close to useless in that you can’t invite other people to a meeting or anything. Fix those 2 things for business users and they go a long way towards keeping people on the WebOS platform over other options.
Great update however still lacking in 3 areas:
1. Ability to search emails
2. Ability to cut and paste non-editable text
3. Someone to develop a SatNav application. The device comes preloaded with one in USA however not in Europe! This must be a decent opportunity? Hint: even a $100 tomtom app would sell…
Finally it begins… Now the World starts to see Flash on Mobile devices…
Now the World starts to see how insignificant iDevices are in comparison with a web standard like Flash…
Now we start to see Palm’s resurgence. And Apple’s retreat. Finally!
Downloading, sweet!
I’m downloading the 1.4 update to my Pre right now as well. Can’t wait to try out the video recording and editing, as well as Flash (if it’s there yet!).
i love the update! feels super fast, i hope there next update they add a virtual keyboard! i would actually rather have that than video recording!
they been had virtual keyboard I didn’t care for it
Thanks for the update Palm, to bad it bricked my Pre :(
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How do you get to the new video function
go into the camera app, there is a video link there to switch
Hey Pre-users, how do I get flash to work with the new update?
you have to wait for Adobe to send the flash plugin to the App Catalog, and Palm to approve it :P
and what is flash gonna do
Ok I had to update first. Took about 30 minutes, but it was worth it to finally have VIDEO
~The Lack of Credibility~W/Palm & Verizon & Sprint~
By Common Knowledge, as Expressed, By The Global Tech, Community~The Palm Pre Was Launched Prematurely on June 6th, 2009 & The Building Blocks to a Successful Palm Pre Product Line~Would Have Been, Having This New Webos1.4, Coming Out on June 6th, of 2009, & or Another Date, as Opposed To This Current Upgrade, Which By All Preliminary Accounts is Fantastic in a Pragmatic Fashion & @ Multiple Levels~on Feb~27th…
This is Where, Corporate & Internal Fear & Apprehension & Pressure & Anxiety~Sway Good Judgement…
This New Virtual Experience, Would Have Been Awesome For The Initial Consumer & The 1.4~Update~Enables The Customer To “Actually” Feel The Acute Responsiveness of the Machine.
It is Quicker~Faster~More on Point With The Assured Commands & The App Launching & Driving Their Internal Content, That is Inclusive, With The Work, They Actually Facilitate & Accomplish & Master For The Customer…in Rapid Fire Succession….
This Current, 1.4 Update, is True & Didligent in its Purpose in Developing This Product Line, of “Internal Function”, Over, 150 Million Ludicrous Apps…which Can Always Be Leveraged, Once The “Machine” Becomes Operationally, “Stellar” in Nature…..
This Pre~Cell Phone Now, Has a Certain Snappiness & Executes, with Authority, Which, Brings This “Machine” a Great Deal More, Authenticity, Integrity, in Its Compelling Competency & Maturity & with a Sense of “Internal” Accomplishment & The Integrity of Those Accomplishments, Bleeds Right into The Domain of Positive Self Esteem, in Humanistic, Tech Talk~lol~Regarding The Greater Good, The Development of This Palm Pre & of Course~For Every~One Associated With This Global Project…
It Brings all of Us, a Chance To Bear in Mind a Need For a Complete & Thurough Game Plan, From Hard & Soft Ware Development To Pre~Launch, Then Launching & The Immediate Tech Support & Follow Thru..& @ All Levels of The Bureaucracy From Palm & Sprint & Verizon..
..As We Can See, The Big Three Are Playing Catchup, To Multiple Levels of The Pre~Teen, Anxiety & Latency & The Lack of “Mangaement By Objectives”…That Are Thoroughly Thought Out With The Contractual Agreements Between Palm & all of Their Carriers…
This is Very Shoddy Execution..in Terms of their Over All Business Goals & Objectives, Regarding, Development & Planning, Execution in The Internal Phone Development & in Marketing & Business Development..Arena’s….
Palm, Sprint & Verizon, Should Take This in to Consideration, Before They Blunder Their Way Through individual Launches & The Business Develpoment & Marketing Efforts, That Need To Be Synergized For The Greater Good of the Project, Rather Than Splintered & individual & Home Boy Corporate~Wants & Needs…That Fracture, The Very Core of Ones Corporate Existence….
Respectfully Submitted~E. Patrick
It is available for verizon as of yesterday.
1. Recording and editing video
2. Forward SMS messages to email
These features will attract new customers and allow existing customers with a new update that is exciting to the core.
web OS ROCKS !!!
Everything seems to be working great since my update, however, after installing the update my phone doesn’t ring. I checked the settings to make sure the volume wasn’t turned down or the phone wasn’t muted. The text message alerts and other sound effects work fine. Anyone else having this problem!?
No problems with the phone ringing or any other function. I notice how much faster everything is now, and I love the video/edit/send feature!
However, my main issue has always been, and still is, that I can’t customize my ringtone for my text messages. I’m thinking that is an EASY upgrade, but overlooked every upgrade.
I had a problem with my pre when I updated it to 1.4, the ringtone stop doing playback and most of the apps that playblack music won’t playback any music! It f’ed up for me becuse I do music and it’s also way I got the phone! I’m upset because it worked fine before the update! Hope the fix that problem quick but I will be calling palm later tody and give them a real holla about that stupid problem! Spent to much and this phone to have this problem! I am disapointed in palm for this screw up!
I am also having problems with my Pre not ringing ever since I downloaded the update this morning.
you think they will add zoom to the video camera
Ryan, I am having the exact same issue. I have the similar issue of not being able to play music from the hard drive or Pandora…yet text and other systems sounds still work.
Have you found any solutions?
Using the WebOS doctor i was able to resolve my above issue.
How do you get to the new video function ?
You simply go to the “camera” app, and on the bottom right you’ll see what looks like a video camera icon. Push it and you will have video. Once there, if you select the middle button (camera) you can go back and forth from the camera function to the video if you want. I hope this helps. :)
I too am having the same issue of the ringtone playbacks not working and the Sprint Navigation no longer working AFTER I installed the update. Sprint even gave me a new phone and the 2nd phone has the same problem. Now I realize it must be a Palm issue and not a defective phone. Has anybody figured out how to fix this? It’s so annoying to have basic functions and features not working!!!