I'm a Windows Mobile guy and love my Samsung i760 but my dad wants a PDA and wants it free with New Every Two, so we're looking at BlackBerries and the Centro.

I didn't really read about it but I remember the Palm CEO saying something about a new Palm OS coming out soon. Can current Centros be upgraded to this? Specifically the Verizon one..

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Highly unlikely. At a minimum it would not support multi touch. But give that the new OS will not (from what I have heard) run existing apps, I think they are starting fresh.

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Mark
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I would think not. The hardware on the new phone is light years ahead of the Centro. The new OS probably takes way more resources than what is available on the Centro. The screen types are different so I don't think the gesture navigation in the new OS will work either.

Having said that, the current Palm OS is extremely capable and I don't believe the new OS would get you anymore functionality even if it could be ported (still no GPS, WIFI, etc).

Remember this, if the new OS is so great, why are so many people on Palm forums concerned about backward compatibility. Its because the current OS has so many useful apps already written for it that people don't want to give them up just for a little more pizazz.

According to a source, the Centro 2 is a WebOs based phone rumored to be being released shortly after the Pre. While the source said Fall 2009, early sources also said the Pre would be Late April or May, but now sources hint that the Pre rolls out as early as February. It seems that Palm is trying to hit the ground running with this new WebOS.



Palm Centro 2 to follow shortly after Pre release? : Boy Genius Report

Maybe I am misreading you, but are you trying to say that the New Palm will not have GPS and Wifi? According to the article cited below, the Pre comes with sports EV-DO Rev. A and 802.11b/g, as well as Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR and A2DP. Not only does it come with GPG/AGPS but it "looks like it will come with dedicated navigation software on-board (if Palm's official UI pics are any indication)".

The GPS is very tightly integrated into the contacts and even the calendar. According to one interview, it has a "lateness notifier -- the phone uses GPS to determine where you are, compares it to where you're supposed to be at the moment, and if it figures out that you're screwed, it'll let you know. What's more, it can automatically email people to let them know that you've screwed up (just blame it on the traffic -- we always do)". The interview went on to say it will even figure out from your schedule what location you need and bring up the map and route.

As far as application development (being a software developer myself), I'm rather excited, with a touch of aprehension. The entire OS is essentially a big browser, and applications (right now) are a combination of HTML, CSS and Javascript. There are a LOT of things you can do with just those 3, but on top of that you are given lots of access to features like GPS and messaging and "it has direct access to local files and UI elements". The SDK hasnt come out yet to the general public yet, however. But apparently Palm mentioned somewhere (cant find the article tho) that the SDK may include tools that help transition source code from PalmOS to WebOS, so it wont be a straight port for a lot of apps but who knows at this point.

The part that makes me apprehensive is that there has been no word yet on whether it has Java or Flash supoprt. It is something you almost take for granted nowadays, but sometimes it helps to hear the anouncement to feel at ease. If both of those come with the phone then there isnt a lot that cant be reproduced. May not be the same applications you used to use, but these are times of change.

You mentioned why people would be so worried about backwards compatibility as a reason to question how good this OS must not be; well people don't like big changes like this. Palm already stated that this is their new OS to be used on all their products going forward, so they have a lot riding on this. Apps that have active developer support will probably get converted, and who know it might be a free upgrade or small upgrade fee. Apps that have been abandoned by their developers will die, just like always.

Anyway, we all may find out soon. An unverified rumor is that both Sprint and Palm want to accelerate the US release as quickly as possible, and may be pushing for a February release. Sprint was about to release their version of the Treo Pro and pulled that, and apparently preorder cancelations for the Treo Pro have been coming in droves as people are getting poised to snag a Pre at the soonest opportunity. Both Sprint and Palm put a "Click here to be notified when the Pre is available" link on their sites, and both reported having to pull the links off do to overwhelming hitcounts. Upon the anouncement at CES, Sprint stock alone rose 30% that day and about 70% by the end of the week. Both companies NEED this phone to be a success, and I bet you will see a LOT of support for it.

Incidentally, I do not work for either Sprint or Palm, but my roomate does work at Sprint Tier 3 support. He has not see the phone yet but has seen several videos on the OS features. I used to be a WM phone dude, but this phone will make me jump ship.

Palm Pre: everything you ever wanted to know - Engadget

Palm investor McNamee details Pre's neat location-based features - Engadget Mobile

Pandora's CTO talks about Pre, webOS development, gaming, and small children - Engadget Mobile

OP asked if WebOS could be ported to Centro and I was merely pointing out you would still have the Centro hardware which doesn't have GPS or Wifi.

Also the current Centro hardware will not be conducive to multitouch since the resistive touch screen won't support it. It would seem to be waste of WebOS to put it on the Centro or even a Centro like device. The Centro isn't really smaller than the Pre and if WebOS worked really well on the Centro it would really cannibalize Pre sales assuming the Pre would be priced much higher.

Finally, your comment about being a WM person shows the audience. Palm OS folks will not be quick to convert because Palm OS is very capable and most of us have a great deal invested in the OS. If I have to start again on another platform then I need to look at iPhone and WM also.