The Rise and Fall of the Palm Pre Plus: A Memorable Legacy

In 2010, the tech world was buzzing with excitement over the launch of the Palm Pre Plus. This highly anticipated smartphone promised to revolutionize the mobile industry with its sleek design, innovative features, and user-friendly operating system. But sadly, its time in the spotlight was short-lived, and it quickly became just a mere footnote in the history of smartphones. So, what happened to the Palm Pre Plus? Let's take a closer look.

Revolutionary Launch

The Palm Pre Plus was first announced in March 2010, with its release scheduled for May of that year. Its sleek design, compact size, and QWERTY keyboard instantly caught the attention of tech enthusiasts. But what really set the Palm Pre Plus apart was its operating system – Palm webOS 1.3.5. This was a major selling point for the device, as it offered unique features such as multitasking, a unified messaging system, and an intuitive user interface.

Short-Lived Status

Despite the initial excitement and positive reviews, the Palm Pre Plus was met with a surprising fate. Just a few months after its release, the device was discontinued by the company. This came as a shock to many, as it seemed that the Palm Pre Plus had all the ingredients for a successful smartphone. So, what went wrong?

One major factor in the downfall of the Palm Pre Plus was its lack of marketing. Despite its advanced features and sleek design, the device failed to capture the attention of the mainstream audience. This, coupled with stiff competition from other popular smartphones at the time, ultimately led to its downfall.

Impressive Platform and Memory

One of the standout features of the Palm Pre Plus was its impressive platform and memory. Powered by a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU and PowerVR SGX GPU, the device offered a smooth and efficient performance. It also came with 16GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM, making it a great option for those in need of a reliable and capable smartphone.

TFT Display and Compact Body

The Palm Pre Plus featured a 3.1-inch TFT display, with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. Although its screen-to-body ratio of 47.9% may seem small compared to today's standards, the device was praised for its compact and pocket-friendly size. With dimensions of 100.5 x 59.5 x 16.9 mm and a weight of 138g, it was comfortable to hold and easy to use with one hand.

Capturing Memories and Staying Connected

The main camera of the Palm Pre Plus was a 3.15MP single camera, accompanied by an LED flash. While not the most impressive in terms of resolution, it still allowed users to capture special moments and memories on the go. The device also had no front-facing camera, which was a common feature in smartphones of that time.

In terms of connectivity, the Palm Pre Plus offered 3G capabilities, with speeds of HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps. It also had Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS for staying connected and navigating the world.

Wireless Charging and Other Features

The Palm Pre Plus came with a removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery, which could be charged wirelessly. This was a unique and convenient feature, but unfortunately, the battery life was not as impressive. The device had a standby time of up to 350 hours on 2G and a talk time of up to 4 hours on both 2G and 3G.

Other features of the Palm Pre Plus included an accelerometer for screen rotation and a browser that supported WAP 2.0 and HTML. It also came in just one color – black – and had a price tag of about 170 EUR.

The Legacy of the Palm Pre Plus

Although the Palm Pre Plus was short-lived, it left a lasting legacy in the mobile industry. Its innovative features and user-friendly operating system paved the way for future advancements in smartphones. It also served as a reminder that beyond the hype and buzz of new releases, marketing and timing can ultimately make or break a product's success.

In conclusion, the Palm Pre Plus may have been a discontinued device, but its impact and legacy are still remembered by tech enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. It will forever hold a special place in the history of smartphones as a device that dared to be different.


Latest Palm Pre Plus Specs and Prices

LAUNCH

  • Announced:  2010, March. Released 2010, May
  • Status:  Discontinued

PLATFORM

  • Operating System:  Palm webOS 1.3.5
  • CPU:  600 MHz Cortex-A8
  • GPU:  PowerVR SGX

MEMORY

  • Card slot:  No
  • Internal:  16GB 512MB RAM

DISPLAY

  • Type:  TFT
  • Size:  3.1 inches, 28.6 cm2 (~47.9% screen-to-body ratio)
  • Resolution:  320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~186 ppi density)

BODY

  • Dimensions:  100.5 x 59.5 x 16.9 mm (3.96 x 2.34 x 0.67 in)
  • Weight:  138 g (4.87 oz)
  • Keyboard:  QWERTY
  • SIM:  Mini-SIM

MAIN CAMERA

  • Single:  3.15 MP
  • Features:  LED flash
  • Video:  Yes

SELFIE CAMERA

  • -:  No

BATTERY

  • Type:  Removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery
  • Charging:  Wireless
  • Stand by:  Up to 350 h (2G) / - - (3G)
  • Talk time:  Up to 4 h (2G) / Up to 4 h (3G)

CELLPHONE NETWORK

  • Technology:  GSM / HSPA
  • 2G bands:  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
  • 3G bands:  HSDPA 2100 - HSDPA 850 / 1900 - - for AT&T
  • Speed:  HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps

SOUND

  • Loudspeaker :  Yes
  • 3.5mm jack :  Yes

COMMUNICATIONS

  • WLAN:  Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
  • Bluetooth:  2.1, A2DP
  • Positioning:  GPS, A-GPS
  • Radio:  No
  • USB:  microUSB 2.0

FEATURES

  • Sensors:  Accelerometer
  • Browser:  WAP 2.0 / HTML

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Colors:  Black
  • Price:  About 170 EUR

Disclaimer: Specifications shown may be different from the actual product. We cannot guarantee that the information provided on this page is 100% correct. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.

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