iPhone vs. Palm's Pre: IT'S ON
So, during this year's Macworld Expo, I mostly ignored the biggest story out of CES, which was Palm's introduction of the new Pre phone because, you know, eh. It looks very nice, and I'm sure it will help revive Palm's fortunes. Yes, it's very iPhone-y, but frankly since the iPhone pretty much defined a new standard for smartphones, it's to be expected that new smartphones are going to look more and more like the iPhone from here on out. Competition is good, and all that.
Except maybe Apple doesn't feel that way? During Wednesday's earnings call, COO Tim Cook answered a more or less innocent question about the new phone and its multitouch interface with a rather huffy diatribe about Apple's many iPhone-related patents. "We will not stand for having our IP ripped off," he said, though he then followed up with "I don't want to talk about any specific company" (so why'd ya say it in response to a question about Palm, Tim?).
Palm laughed off the prospect of such a legal challenge, and perhaps with good reason. "Palm has a long history of innovation that is reflected in our products and robust patent portfolio, and we have long been recognized for our fundamental patents in the mobile space," said a Palm spokesperson. Since Palm was one of the very first PDA companies, and knowing how tech patents work, presumably Palm has patented virtually every possible aspect of an electronic dealie you hold in your hand and can thus defend itself easily enough. Still, this could well be a popcorn-worthy struggle.
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Pre
It's Intellectual Property snobbery like Timmy's that's going to steer me away from the Mac for a while longer.It was Apple who used the name iPhone before Apple had paid another manufacturer for legal use of the name.
Typical of Apple that those costs get passed to the consumer!
Go Pre!
iPhone vs Palm Pre
When the iPhone with all its "wonderful" innovations can't even produce a phone with simple "cut and paste" and "universal seach" functionality---the Pre is a slam-dunk winner! (And it has a replaceable battery, something the iPhone folks refuse to offer (because it will cut into its after-sales profits since you have to return the iPhone for "repair" when the battery goes! Good thing Apple doesn't make flashlights!!).Actually...
The cut and paste is missing from the Iphone. Hopefully it will show up at some point, but don't get all gaga yet.The battery not being replaceable allows the Iphone to be as thin as it is. Since they don't have to worry about consumer safety they can fit it in nicely. This is a design choice, one way or another it's an issue, but it has more to do with design than with getting the customer.
The Pre itself looks kind of gaudy to me. I had the first 3 decent palm devices, and honestly I was never happy with any of them. While they had the innovation to actually make a PDA, they were never really good at it. Hand spring, Black Berry, Dell/HP all came out and did it better. Now suddenly they have something that's half way decent, and compared to their previous product line it's awesome, but still not awesome.