HP Pre 3 webOS smartphone
Palmed off
Review So it’s come to this. After a potentially brand-saving buyout by HP and the launch of a well-received – at least critically, if not commercially – operating system with webOS, Palm is finally on the way out.
End of the line: HP's Pre 3
Recently, HP announced that it is discontinuing webOS and besides the Touchpad, the other casualty is its brand new top-of-the-range Pre 3 smartphone, which never really hit the shelves big time here in the UK.
Indeed, reviewing the HP Pre 3 initially seemed a daft idea if you couldn’t buy one, but sources are appearing, in particular, Carphone Warehouse. So if you fancy a really rather exclusive smartphone and a piece of history, the HP Pre 3 has it all, and it turns out to be a pretty good all-rounder too.
Bigger than its predecessor, but 1mm slimmer
The new model looks like a slightly stretched version of the Palm Pre 2, with a bigger keyboard and larger screen. It retains that cute, curved design with rubberised plastic casing, and though it’s a little larger than its predecessor, it’s also ever so slightly thinner, measuring 64 x 111 x 16mm and 156g.
Around the sides are a volume rocker and micro USB power/sync slot, with a power/sleep button, mute switch and 3.5mm headphone jack on top. The touch screen has gone from 3.1 to 3.6in and the resolution’s been upped to 800 x 480 pixels from the PRe 2's 320 x 480. It’s sharper and bigger, all the better for viewing websites and movies – what’s not to like?
The feel of the rubbery keys might not suit all users, but hit the spot all the same
The slide-out Qwerty keyboard has a touch of the Marmites about it – not everyone likes the feel of the sticky, rubbery buttons. On a practical level though, it’s fine. There are 35 keys in all, larger than on the Pre 2 and well spaced. They offer a satisfying amount of feedback with a reassuring click when you connect, and the number keys are arranged in standard keypad layout, which makes it easier to reach them with one thumb.
Next page: On the cards
COMMENTS
and once again
and once again, the short-termism inherent in a stock-market driven economy that only cares about quarterly results has grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory.
I am immensely saddened by the whole sorry fiasco
At least Leo is consistent!
He's ruined SAP before getting the boot, now he's going to do the same to HP. LOL That's what they get for firing Hurd. I mean I didn't necessary like Mark Hurd either, but at least he knew how to run a company. Now that I think about it, Leo is about par for the course as far as CEOs go. There's something wrong with them if they aren't running a company into the ground seems to be the general concensus among large companies.
Guess that's why so many get paid millions while the company they're managing go bankrupt.
Great phone :-)
I just wanted to say that the HP PRE 3 is one of my favourite phones to date. Being a long time PC and OS X/iPhone developer, I was a total Apple fanboy. When the HTC Desire arrived I thought I would get one to see how it compares to the iPhone. After a couple of days it went back in the box and sits in the cupboard. In the recent HP Touchpad fire sale, I managed to get hold of one. My wife uses my iPad so I wanted to get another tablet and the HP looked interesting. For some reason I just love WebOS and enjoy using the tablet so I thought I would go get a Pre 3 to see if it is just as good and I have not been disappointed yet. Now my wife has my iPhone 4, my 3GS is a backup phone and the Pre 3 is my pride and joy. Its fast, multi tasks and the card system is a joy to use.
Amazing phone especially for the price
Mine just arrived today. Had a Pre2 and Pre before that. What a shame HP couldn't give this phone a chance, it's really great.
I know there's some concern over the future of webOS BTW HP have promised to keep going full steam ahead on the software. If theyh can't find a licensee I expect them to abandon it quickly.
That said, and remember this phone is FREE even on a very cheap plan with Vodafone. There is no better 'out-of-the-box' smartphone available. Honestly it can run rings around the iPhone and Android. Even if it never gets another app published, it's still an incredibly productive phone. And on the current Voda deal just look what the alternatives are.
Skype works perfectly so far. Like so much else with webOS, you don't need an app. Just sign in to your account in er... accounts.
Did you guys mention the autofocus in the camera? And it does touch to focus also.
Skype is integrated
" There’s also another camera on the front for video calling, however, the promised Skype doesn’t seem to have appeared in the App Catalog."
The Skype is integrated into the phone app. It's rather slick actually.
Try adding a Skype account in the accounts preference app.
