 HP webOS Home Screen on the Palm Pre | |
| Company / developer | Hewlett Packard since 2010, previously Palm |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux |
| Source model | Closed Source, with some open source aspects released under GPL |
| Latest stable release | 1.4.5 and 2.0; see version history table |
| Latest unstable release | none as yet. |
| Supported platforms | ARM |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Default user interface | Graphical |
| License | Palm EULA, GPL for open source components[1] |
| Official website | Palm Developer Website |
Background
webOS was introduced to the public at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 8, 2009, along with the Palm Pre smartphone. The Palm Pre and webOS were commercially released on June 6, 2009. webOS version 1.4.5 runs on the majority of webOS phones: Palm Pixi, released on November 15, 2009, as well as the Pre Plus, Pixi Plus and Pixi Plus.
HP purchased Palm in April 2010, with the purchase finalizing in June of the same year. HP webOS 2.0 was officially released in October 2010, and is used on Pre 2 handsets available for purchase from local carriers in France and Canada as well as directly from the manufacturer worldwide. Although a device version for the U.S. carrier Verizon Wireless has been mentioned since the Pre 2 was first unveiled, it is currently (January 2011) unclear when the device will actually be available from that carrier. It is also unclear when a webOS 2 version will be released for existing last-generation models (i.e. the Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi and Pixi Plus), although several sources have suggested March 2011 as a likely date.[4]
[edit] Features
Devices
The Palm Pre, released June 6, 2009 on the Sprint network, was the first device to run webOS. Devices running webOS version 1.4.5 include the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi on Sprint, "Plus" versions on Verizon Wireless and AT&T, and some international carriers.[5] webOS version 2 has been announced[6] and its features outlined[7] but is not yet available for these consumer devices. Release of webOS 2 for the consumer devices presently running webOS version 1.4.5 was earmarked on HP websites as "available in the coming months" in 2010 October.[8] Pre 2 phones with webOS 2 were released to consumers in 2010 October in France by SFR[9] and 2010 December by Rogers in Canada.[10] Unlocked phones intended for developers using webOS version 2 are available from HP.[11][12]Interface
webOS's graphical user interface is designed for use on devices with touchscreens.
webOS uses multi-touch gestures to navigate on the touchscreen. webOS 1.4.5 does not natively include a virtual keyboard application as it includes a slide-out keyboard, but users can enable a virtual keyboard through patching.
Synergy
webOS uses a feature, Synergy, to integrate information from many sources. Users can sign in to accounts on Gmail, Yahoo!, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Microsoft Outlook (via Exchange ActiveSync) and integrate all these sources into a single list. Calendars from multiple sources can be viewed together or one at a time. For messaging, Synergy combines all conversations with each contact into a single chat-style window. For example, instant messages and SMS text messages are viewed together.[13]Web browser
The webOS web browser, simply named "Web," uses the WebKit layout engine and accordingly renders pages in a similar way to other WebKit-based browsers such as Apple's Safari, Google's Google Chrome, and Android browsers. The browser can be switched between landscape or portrait orientation by rotating the device. Specific features of the web browser include the ability to play .pls file types without the need for an additional application.Synchronization
webOS uses a cloud-based services model rather than utilizing a desktop sync client in the style of Palm's HotSync synchronization method.[14] However, a number of solutions are available for users who need to sync with their computer desktop. One approach, Wifi Media Sync[15] a software utility released 2010 Nov 30, has active developer updates, and a stated commitment to availability for the webOS 2 upgrade.[16]Default Apps
The webOS launcher bar and launcher pages include these default apps:Name | Usage |
|---|---|
| Phone | Telephone |
| E-mail client | |
| Web | Web browser |
| Music | Music player |
| Name | Usage |
|---|---|
| Messaging | Text messaging, MMS, IM |
| Calendar | Calendar |
| Camera | Camera - to take pictures and video |
| Photos | Photo viewer |
| Video | To view Video already present on the device |
| YouTube | YouTube video streamer |
| Google Maps | Google Maps (does not feature turn-by-turn navigation) |
| Memos | A simple note-taking program |
| Clock | Alarm clock, digital/analog clock |
| Calculator | Calculator |
| App Catalog | To buy webOS apps or download free ones |
| Amazon MP3 | To buy music from Amazon |
| Doc View | Document viewer from DataViz |
| PDF View | PDF Viewer |
| Tasks | Used to input and be reminded of tasks |
| Contacts | Address/phone book |
Phone settings include:
- Help
- Sounds & Ringtones
- Screen & Lock
- Wi-Fi (on supported models)
- Bluetooth
- Location Services
- Device Info
- Date & Time
- Updates
- Regional Settings
- Backup
- Mobile Hotspot on selected Pre Plus, Pixi Plus, and Pre 2 models. The HP Palm website asserts Wi-Fi router functionality for up to five devices using Palm mobile hotspot, indicating that this setting is only available for Verizon Wireless, and that 3G Mobile Hotspot is a separately purchased feature added to a voice and data plan.[17] In contrast, ATT states that Pre Plus and Pixi Plus come with an AT&T Wi-FI Hot Spots application, with free connection to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots around the US, and asserts this is the only US system for webOS that support simultaneous voice and data.[18]
Version history
| Version | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.2 | 5 June 2009 | |
| 1.0.3 | 19 June 2009[19] | |
| 1.0.4 | 29 June 2009[20] | |
| 1.1.0 | 23 July 2009[21] | |
| 1.2.0 | 28 September 2009[22] | |
| 1.2.1 | 2 October 2009[23] | |
| 1.3.5 | 28 December 2009[24] | |
| 1.3.5.1 | 4 January 2010[25] | |
| 1.4.0 | 26 February 2010[26] | |
| 1.4.1.1 | 31 March 2010 | |
| 1.4.5 | 14 July 2010 | The update was made available for different devices over several months starting 2010 July[27][28] with the last device, the ATT Pixi Plus, receiving the 1.4.5 upgrade in 2010 October 12.[29] |
| 2.0 | 22 October 2010 | This is an RTM only release, not a general availability (GA) release. Most webOS phones still use 1.4.5. The time between RTM and GA can be lengthy. |
Third-party applications
Third party developers have released apps that run within webOS. This section needs expansion.Platform
Underneath the graphical user interface sits a software stack that has much in common with mainstream Linux distributions for desktop computers. webOS uses — among other components — the Linux kernel 2.6.24,[30] Upstart, GStreamer as a multimedia framework, libpurple for instant messaging, Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) for game programming, PulseAudio for audio management, and WebKit.[31] Applications for webOS are written in JavaScript, HTML, AJAX, and some other common 'web' technologies, which is handled by WebKit, as well as C and C++. It supports streaming video in RTSP, H.263, and H.264 formats.[32]Although some applications available on webOS version 1 devices were visually similar to applications that had been available on Palm OS, webOS was a completely new platform. Palm commissioned a developer, MotionApps, to code a Palm OS emulator called Classic for webOS version 1. PalmOS emulation is reportedly discontinued in webOS version 2.0.[33]
The current webOS software development kit (SDK), Mojo, was released July 20, 2009. Developer mode can be accessed from phone launcher screens by typing the phrase "upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart" (well-known as the Konami code)[34] or "webos20090606" (the United States release date for the Palm Pre).
Criticism
The downloadable application library has grown gradually, finally reaching 5000 for the Sprint Pre in the US in 2010 December.[35] Developers do not always enable applications for the Pixi or Pixi Plus, which thus have about 600 fewer. A notable proportion of downloadable applications are wallpaper, picture library, or game applications. The rate of release of new applications has been appreciably slower than other smartphone platforms.[36]The consumer public has been unenthusiastic about webOS phones as indicated by modest overall sales, even with the initial U.S. launch on the Sprint network.[37] Worldwide, webOS had a 0.7% of smartphone OS marketshare at the end of 2009[38] and even in the US, where exposure has been much greater, a survey found that webOS accounted for only 1.3% of smartphone use in 2010 October,[39] decreasing appreciably from about 4.9% earlier in 2010.[40] Users have been concerned about the slow pace of webOS upgrade releases, the absence of substantially improved hardware, and the small customer base that works against successful evolution of the OS itself or third-party affiliated applications.[41] The underlying technological or business reasons for the slow release of webOS upgrades are ambiguous, without clear explanation from HP.
Media reports in 2010 December alluded to the adverse effects of small market share.[42][43] As a further example of this phenomenon, citing its small number of webOS users, the webOS Epocrates application received its last update in 2010 December, is to be withdrawn from the application catalog in early 2011, and is to be completely decommissioned in 2011 May.[44][45] Although accessible on the web directly rather than as an application, that version of Epocrates is unsatisfactory on current webOS devices.[46] This decision has added significance given the importance that was attached to having an Epocrates application in prelaunch Palm presentations.[3]
Some users have experienced screen insensitivity, with impaired touch input and gesture recognition, that has been associated with system slowing; it is however unclear whether this really stems from webOS itself or from hardware problems.[47]
The Contacts application has sometimes "lost" data for days at a time, and has required escalated technical support for remediation.[48] However, this seems to have been an idiosyncratic phenomenon for a small number of users after a system upgrade.
Restrictive microphone policies, including failure to release to issue a microphone API until webOS version 2,[49] significantly impaired application access to the device's microphone. Voice recorder applications and voice search tools were slow to emerge as a result of these issues. A popular Google Voice application for webOS, gDial Pro, was discontinued 2010 February, with some debate as to whether this was caused by either Google API policy or by abritrary limitations imposed by Palm, rather than from technological limitations of the webOS itself.[50] However, a new application, Voogle, eventually addressed the Google Voice criticism in 2010 November.[51] Although beta software approaches such as zcorder[52] are available, these functionalities should finally become mainstream with general availabilty of webOS 2.x if this includes the anticipated microphone API.
Video capability was not enabled at initial webOS launch, arriving in early 2010. No zoom feature has been enabled for the camera. Development of applications such as 2D barcode readers, a feature of other smartphones, was slow, seemingly impaired by HP policies that limited developer's applications being able to easily access the camera features on the device. Applications like TweetCam[53] have now been made available but uptake has been slow, with only 190 downloads in a month.[54] The current installed user number is withheld[54] and referenced applications such FlickrCam are unretreivable.[53]
Erratic document handling has been a longstanding problem that has become even more significant in the 1.4.5 version; the PDF View application frequently has Render Failures on attempting to launch files, or crashes on attempts to zoom.[55] PDF issues have been provisionally reported as persisting in the webOS version 2.0 release on the Pre2.[56] The PDF View application also fails to respond to rotating between portrait and landscape mode; user installed patches for this problem have been version specific as the native application continues to exclusively use portrait mode by default.[57] webOS has no native or third-party applications for PDF file manipulation and handling capabilities, for example webOS is not properly enabled for copy or cut and paste from web pages or from PDFs, nor has file convertibility to and from the PDF format been implemented. Similar problems with application crashing and dysfunctional scrolling have been seen with the Document Viewer application. Technical support at HP Palm has been aware of these challenges since the 1.4.5 release, and in 2010 July responded, "Re: Word viewer bug/ v.1.4.5. This is related to the PDF issue that is not resolved iat (sic) this time. This issue has been forwarded to our engineering department, however we have no timeframe for when it will be resolved."[58] Palm was also aware of the problem with failure of PDF View rotation, and of non-conforming behavior on using the backswipe feature in the application.[59] The document problems remain unaddressed.[60] The HP Palm website connections for solutions for document problems were actively disabled in 2011 January.[61]
Data tethering capability was initially included in the prelaunch device description on the Sprint website[62] but was soon removed.[63] Although receiving occasional official Sprint support,[64] unofficial approaches[65] have been developed.[66] Mobile Hotspot capabilities for Verizon and ATT are discussed in this article's Features section.
Adobe Flash capability was continuously promoted in several forums through 2009.[67] Palm web sites in early 2010 announced a "free Adobe Flash Player 10.1 plug-in to be posted to the Palm App Catalog in the coming months" thus meeting Palm projections that webOS would be "one of the first mobile platforms to support the full Flash Player in the web browser."[68] Palm demonstrated Flash content in the browser in 2010 January[68] and Adobe demonstrated an Adobe Flash Player for webOS in 2010 February.[69] Nonetheless, after a lengthy unexplained delay, Flash Player has never been released for webOS version 1. Possible Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta functionality now awaits release of webOS version 2 for the consumer phones already in use. Although webOS version 1 devices may be technically capable of being upgraded to webOS version 2, the Pixi and Pixi Plus, because of an older processor architecture, ARMv6, will not run Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta [70] which will run on Pre, Pre Plus and Pre 2 only.[71]
It is unclear whether webOS version 2.x when it eventually is ready for general availability (GA) release will retain emulation compatibility with the over 30,000 Classic accessible applications for PalmOS, as the developer decided to hand over the entire source code to HP Palm, citing HP Palm support as disruptive.[72] It has been possible so far to work around this issue by using community developed patches, and version 2.1.2 of the application, Classic, was released in 2011 January.[73] Another challenge stems from HP Palm policy that does not provide access to Classic applications from the application marketplace in many countries, although this is not immediately apparent in HP Palm website advertizing.[74]
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