You get the feeling that Palm had something to hide today. On the surface that makes no sense, considering it officially announced the Pixi, the company’s second webOS-based phone, this morning. (The company’s first webOS phone, the Pre, launched to much fanfare last June, owing to an almost Bill Goldberg winning streak-like level of hype.) But as you’re already aware, Apple had an announcement or two of its own today, including the inclusion of a digital camera on the iPod nano. It’s unfortunate, but Apple events are really the black holes of this industry: on Apple event days, no other tech news can escape out into the wild. That is to say, unless your company name is Apple, Inc., you’d be better served laying low for the day, and make any announcements later in the week.
So what is the Palm Pixi? It’s a phone, yes, and one that will be available on Sprint, and only Sprint, before the Holidays. (Whether or not Pixi eventually makes its way to other carriers in unknown right now. Palm’s keeping mum on that type of talk.) Like the Pre (and iPhone), it uses a multi-touch touchscreen interface. Also like the Pre (and also unlike the iPhone), it has a physical QWERTY keyboard. What you prefer is just that, a preference, but let the record show that I do, indeed, fancy a physical keyboard over a virtual one. There’s nothing wrong with buttons, no matter what Steve Jobs would have you believe. The Pixi also supports EVDO Rev. A, so it should be plenty fast for you guys. (Unless, of course, you live in a modern country, with an equally modern infrastructure, and laugh at us poor Americans who have to put up with 3G/EVDO!) It also runs webOS, the same not-too-shabby-at-all operating system found on the Pre. So it’s safe to say, in my brief time with the phone this morning, that if you like webOS and/or the Pre, you’ll probably like the Pixi.
That’s where the similarities between the Pre and Pixi end. And to be fair, those are huge similarities: both use the same operating system (which is a nothing it not functional) and similar touchscreen wizardry, the two most noticeable character traits of a phone, aside from carrier and coverage, something which Palm has little control over. (It can’t help it if Sprint stinks in your area, just like how RIM can’t help that T-Mobile stinks in mine.) The most immediate difference, obviously, is the overall shape of the device. The keyboard doesn’t slide out this time around, but rather is ever present. It definitely feels less, I don’t know, “fancy” to have an always exposed keyboard. It’s sort of like those crazy sports cars that have front lights that recess into the body, versus a standard family sedan.
The Pixi is longer than a folded-up Pre, but not as wide. It’s also lighter by a few grams. So, yes, smaller.
Where did it loose all that girth, if you can even call it that? Well, the screen is smaller than the Pre’s by 80 pixels. In practice, this means that, for example, fewer names can be displayed on a contact list, which translates into one or two more finger swipers per round trip, if you know what I mean. Some aspects of the UI have also been tweaked to accommodate the smaller screen. It’s not something that the average person is going to notice and freak out over, but I’m sure it’ll make a bullet point on some silly cellphone message board argument.
That’s who this phone is targeted at, by the way, more everyman than tech addict. The reason why there’s no fold-out keyboard is to give people immediate access to text messages, Twitter updates, Facebook silliness, etc. (That was one of the complaints I saw during the first round of Pre reviews, that since the keyboard was always recessed, the phone didn’t feel as “immediate” as people would have wanted. The things people complain about, I tell ya.) In a sense, it’s a very capable first smartphone that you might give someone, or recommend they buy. What kills me, though, is that there’s no Wi-Fi.
I repeat: there’s no Wi-Fi. That’s right, a would-be smartphone in 2009 (nearly 2010!) doesn’t have a feature that’s become so commonplace that now even Verizon Wireless phones support it. (Oh, burn!) Does the lack of Wi-Fi kill the experience? No, of course not, but using the debate skills I learned on The Simpsons: Come on. Come on! You cannot market a whiz-bang, golly gee phone today and expect to get away with not including Wi-Fi. At least not from the likes of us. That said, I doubt too many of the everymen who this is targeted at will give a damn, to be honest.
So why did I open this with an ominous phrase? Two reasons. One, there’s nothing really new here, per se; it’s the Pre, just parred down. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but we’re all so damn conditioned to appreciate only the shiniest and newest that maybe Palm wasn’t so smitten this time around. Two, as all the Apple haters know, today is unequivocally Apple Day. If Palm was so confident in the Pixi’s ability to “wow” you all, then why would it wait to this week to make any sort of announcement? Push the announcement back a week, and you have the whole tech press devouring every morsel of Pixi news.
As it stands, we’re currently working on post 9 billion on What the iPod Means in 2009, so to say that the Pixi may initially get lost in the shuffle is a bit of an understatement.
So, again, if you like webOS, there’s no real reason why you wouldn’t like the Pixi. And if you don’t like the lack of Wi-Fi or always visible keyboard, that’s why there’s the Pre, which is now $149. Pricing for the Pixi will be revealed as we approach the actual release date, which is currently penciled in for the Holidays.
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I have a Pre currently and I can’t say I have ever used wi-fi on it. I haven’t noticed any difference in speed so I find it easier to be connected via Sprint’s network 24/7.
Obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone (I guess I have pretty much been spoiled with 3-5 bars everywhere I go) but for me its not a feature I care about currently.
Not having wifi is huge. That you don’t take advantage of it (which is bizarre, but whatever) doesn’t change that.
Without “3G Roaming”, when you travel: how do you use Internet?
Uhmm, if you care about your battery you should use wifi, and unless you’re on some crappy DSL connection you should notice a huge speed increase.
The Pixi is so amazingly small, it actually looks bigger than the Pre. I’m sure it’s just the marketing.
Apple get all the attetion because it usually introduces amazing prodcuts… Added a camara and more memory, Really a big deal?
Whether the features added are a big deal or not doesn’t matter.
It’s Apple.
No company in the word – apart, maybe, Google, but since their marcom planners are good, we shall never know that – can hope to get any sort of attention if Apple is making an announcement.
As said, Palm should have timed its annoucement lil bit better…
You forget FM radio, Nike+ receiver, great new iTunes features for everyone (which the press hasn’t even digested yet), and lower prices, all from the leading brand in music distribution.
Yeah, you’re right, no biggie.
Love the Bill Goldberg reference. lol
I’ve had two smartphones now and I can’t say I’ve really had the need to use WiFi. For one, it drains the hell out of a device’s battery because the standard just not designed for phones. For two, EvDO Rev.A is fast enough if your TCP/IP settings are correctly setup.
Maybe Palm will turn the tables on Apple and do a surprise unveiling of a EvDO/WiMAX device in the near future. It’s been known that Sprint is planning on having a 3G/4G handset out before the end of the year; nobody knows specifics, but I’ve heard rumors of a Linux-based phone. This leaves the possibility to Android or WebOS.
I would love to see Sprint slap the smug off of iPhone uses’ faces with something like that. Seeing as how Apple stole the Pre’s thunder on launch day, I really wouldn’t be surprised if Palm returned the favor.
Thanks for the article about Palm Pixi.
The great thing about TechCrunch is that it makes me as smart as all the guys in the office!
Thanks for keeping me up-to-date on everything!
For the life of me–and especially considering that the Pre, at $149, is pretty affordable for a smartphone–I can’t find one reason why I’d buy the Pixi over the Pre.
This phone is for young people who use their phones to sms.
This should definitely be a contender for anyone shopping for a new phone.
Another voice from a Pre user who does not use the smartphone’s wifi. No need to run down the battery when there’s good, fast Sprint coverage! But I might miss it on the rare occasion that I’m out of range and an unsecured network just happens to be available (reiterate: rare).
Not having Wi-fi might be a big deal if u have att or t-mobile but Sprint coverage is another story. 3g is there when u need it most. Can’t think of one time when there was wi-fi when i didnt have good 3g coverage avaliable. Not to mention Sprint is expanding there 4g network. Notice how the ones who need wi-fi have another carrier. Check PcWorld’s Network 3g coverage Sprints was the most reliable @90% compared 2 Verizon and att. Left from the on screen keyboard of my Palm Pré~Dont believe me google it
the absence of wi-fi is a marketing ploy. palm can now throw a big event next year and have rubinstein close with, “And one more thing: the Pixi now has Wi-Fi!”
*standing ovation*
The confidence of Palm is sure to be appreciated as it feels itself strong enough to run parallel with Apple’s event. The design looks good, but availability only on Sprint network and not having a WI-FI is making it bad. This would be a gift for those who buy phone in lower budget.
Such products are still far away from India.
Waiting for such handsets. M at present using Nokia N85, however looking forward to some new HTC phone or iphone 3gs..
would love to give this as well a look!!
Nowadays allone are purchasing the window based mobile because of only the one reason and the reason is wifi, if wifi is not in this phone then no one going purchase. In today’s all guy wants the internet easily and also in hand so that wifi is very important..
I love the size and “always there” keyboard on the phone, but the lack of wifi is a HUGE deal breaker for me. I am an iphone owner, but have been curious about this device since I first heard about it. I like the multi-tasking abilities of the Palm Pre, but do not like was the sliding keyboard; it is just one more moving part that can wear out or get broken. So this Pixi is almost what I want, but without the ability to use wifi when available (and from my experience, wifi does increase performance), I will have to wait and see if they release a Pixi 2.0 with wifi before I make the switch to Palm.
I have a Palm Treo Pro that I got here: http://www.computersncs.com/rd_p?p=191614&t=9544&a=28806-spalm&gift=28806
I really like it. I like it better than my old blackberry that I had. It has a nicer design and I think it all around works better for me, at least.
“Where did it loose all that girth…”
I see this mistake dozens of times on user comments, but from a professional blogger?
It’s lose, not loose.
I love you, Oh lovely Grammar Police person! I, too, am amazed at the lack of spelling and grammar skills in today’s world. It’s everywhere -even in “professional” publications! Keep up the good work, whoever you are! (or is it whomever? I forgot!) ;-)
Okay, no wifi – here’s my reaction.
I’m in the UK. I would have imported the phone through amazon or through a friend for $400.
Wi-fi is a NEED. I really don’t understand why there was no wifi.
Also some people who were saying that they had sprint and it was all fine are undoubtedly STUPID for they understand the difference b/w WIFI and 3G services with respect to speeds and battery life.
Palm Pre – I would have bought the phone if it had no slider.
Palm Pixi : I would have imported the phone right now if it had wifi. TRULY.
I use an iPhone and I’m pretty happy with it, but I have always wished to experiment and Pixi rules it for now. I really hope it gets wi-fi asap.
I’ll import it before the UK release.
And thanks for the article.