Palm Releases WebOS 1.4 To Sprint And Verizon, Adds Video Recording

Google's Android and Apple's iPhone OS are easily the leading two mobile operating systems in terms of sheer mindshare, but the coemption is heating up. Microsoft has just launched Windows Phone 7 Series (slated to ship later in the year), and Palm has just released their latest version of the multi-tasking webOS. Both the Pre and the Pixi are receiving the update, which has been distributed to both Sprint users and Verizon users (the latter of which own the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus).

WebOS 1.4 is the first major update for Palm's mobile smartphone operating system in quite some time, and the changes are fairly significant. The list of fixes include a time zone bug that has been squashed, a network time sync error that has been sealed up and a solution that does away with random browser formatting quirks and a bug that incorrectly displayed Sprint when actually was Digital Roaming.


The list of enhancements is even more robust, with video recording (and in-phone editing) being the highlight of the bunch. There's also the ability to upload videos to YouTube or Facebook, new export options from the address book, new e-mail sort options, a new application launcher and a new "Blink" option in Notifications. The full list of changes are below, and if you're an owner of one of these phones, you'll need to follow the instructions once Sprint or Verizon sends you an alert to say that the 39MB (Sprint) or 43MB (Verizon) file is ready to be downloaded onto your device. And then you can shoot a video about just how happy you are--imagine that!

Fixes:

• Time Zone bug fixed
• Network time sync bug fixed to reflect accurate Network time
  
• Bluetooth car-kit transition to device corrected
  
• No EV icon bug fixed (random)
  
• Random browser formatting bugs fixed
  
• Fixed bug that incorrectly displayed Sprint when actually was Digital Roaming
  
• Missing Contact issue specifically with swap down to 1.2.9.1 or less
  

Feature Updates:

• Phonebook Transfer (import & export)
• Adds Video Capture capability & edit
  
• Calendar Enhancements
  
• Messaging Enhancements
  
• Improved Performance (Phone & CAL)
  
• Email Enhancements
  
• Notification Enhancements
  
• Adds Adobe Flash 10.0 (Pre Only)
  
• NOTE: The 1.4 software adds the ability to use the Flash 10.0 Adobe plug-in which will be available shortly from the Palm Appl Catalogue.

Never miss a thing

Your phone can now record, edit, and share video. Record video, edit the clip on your phone, and share it directly on YouTube or Facebook^®—or through email or messaging. Just launch the Camera app and tap the video icon. We’ve also added a notification light that shows when messages, appointments, and other notifications have arrived—even when the screen is off. And now you can customize email, messaging, and calendar notifications by selecting new sounds. Find them in Preferences for each app.

Easier everywhere you look

Missed a call? Get back in touch quickly and easily with any number you choose. View and dial additional numbers for a contact right from the call log. We’ve created other shortcuts, too. Make a call directly from a messaging conversation. Press and hold on any highlighted number in a web page, email, or message to call or text that number. And forward a text message directly to an email address without having to cut and paste. Turn a text chat into a phone call. All it takes is a touch. Have corporate contacts on a Microsoft^® Exchange server? They’re now accessible through universal search, just like Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, and Twitter. And in Calendar, you can see the current time plus a new a.m./p.m. indication in the day view.

Better performance

Apps load and respond to gestures faster. Launch apps faster while experiencing increased performance and responsiveness within a variety of apps. And do it all with improved battery life.