This should have been done BEFORE the Pre was released. Even more, they should have PAID another $25-50 for each developer to port their existing Palm OS apps to the new WebOS. That would have created an instant library of apps to rival the iPhone and even more than the then modest Android app library. And give away the SDK for WebOS (not sure if this is already the case or not) while making internal developers available for support of third party developers trying to port existing apps or write new apps.
They really blew it this time. I'm a 10 year PalmOS user and was HAPPY with my Palm devices. The last device was the Centro that I used HEAVILY on the Sprint network. When it came time to replace the Centro, I couldn't consider the Palm Pre or Pixi. Not seriously. No apps, terrible reviews, complaints from here to kingdom come and no other carrier using their phones and no other manufacturer using their OS.
I eventually went with the HTC EVO and after a week or two to get used to the new interface I'm a happy user. So, I'm sorry for Palm and the botched rollout and terrible follow-through, but I'm done.
So long Palm, it was really nice nowin' ya. I'll miss you and remember you fondly, always. I'll always think of what could have been.
Any webOS developer who paid Palm a $50 program submission fee in the past should be checking their PayPal accounts very soon as that cash is about to be refunded.
Not only are those payments being refunded, but developer submission fees are being eliminated altogether. Palm hasn’t specified when the refunds will be dropped into accounts, except that it will be in the “near future.”
It is slightly surprising to see Palm fork over so much cash, especially considering its tumultuous recent history. And with thousands of apps in the Palm App Store, a lot of developers were obviously willing to fork over the cash.
Do you think this was a smart PR move for Palm to attract more developers? Or should they have just left things alone?
