Archive for April 28th, 2010

HP to buy Palm!

HP and Palm today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase Palm, a provider of smartphones powered by the Palm webOS mobile operating system, at a price of $5.70 per share of Palm common stock in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. The transaction has been approved by the HP and Palm boards of directors.
The combination of HP’s global scale and financial strength with Palm’s unparalleled webOS platform will enhance HP’s ability to participate more aggressively in the fast-growing, highly profitable smartphone and connected mobile device markets. Palm’s unique webOS will allow HP to take advantage of features such as true multitasking and always up-to-date information sharing across applications.

Nokia E72 gets update and is also now available in white

With free satellite navigation rolling out to Nokia devices the E72 is the latest to get OVI Maps with free voice guided navigation.

Today’s update also includes improved overall performance for email, contacts, calendar and browser and Nokia E72 owners will also be able to listen to internet radio.

The OVI Maps Sat Nav is not something I have tried but I will be reviewing it shortly so watch this space.

Nokia have also announced that the E72 will now be available in white and this new edition will come with the above update pre – installed.

Not sure when we will see the white version here in the UK as at present it is only showing on the Nokia Asia website.

If you have an E72 please use your Nokia software updater to grab the update and enjoy.

Posted by: James

Palm Pre sales a ‘disaster’

Store staff in Carphone Warehouse and O2 shops claim sales of Palm Pre device have been terrible.

Palm Pre sales have been a disaster, claim staff in O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores. This follows news that Palm is to be put up for sale. Many stores have registering zero sales.

An O2 spokesperson said: “Palm Pre sales are in line with our expectations.”

But one store manager said “Our store has sold hardly any Palm Pres, It never stood a chance against the iPhone and they both advertise themselves as doing the same things”.

A Carphone staffer added: “It is a good device but it doesn’t really have a place in the market. No one knows who Palm is.  So Nokia, Sony Ericsson and the iPhone will always be preferred.”

The Pre is available exclusively on O2 contracts. It was also launched on a premium £35 per month tariff but has since become free on all tariffs to “shift stock” staff claim.

According to O2 forums, sales were so low many smaller stores stopped selling the Pre. Other shop staff have reported software and hardware issues including freezing, poor battery life, and faults with its slide track.

I am certainly not surprised by this news. When I reviewed the Palm Pre I thought much the same as most people that the New Web OS was great but sadly let down by the cheap feeling hardware. Will Palm get some good news one of these days?

Posted by: James