HP and Palm are set to launch next version of the WebOS mobile operating system soon. The SDK for WebOS 2.0 is already available for some developers. Now a Chinese site has posted a series of photos showing the user interface for WebOS 2.0 beta.

Among other things, it looks like there will be support for QuickOffice for viewing and editing documents. There will also be new options for instant messaging including MySpace and Skype, and a number of features we had been expecting including a new “stacks” feature which lets you group together running programs making it easier to flip through cards while multitasking.

You can read more about some of the changes at PreCentral and find more images at Wibozi.

Documents To Go from DataViz is a mobile application that lets you view and edit office docs including spreadsheets, text documents, presentations, and PDF files on mobile devices. DataViz makes version of Documents to Go for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, iOS, Android, and Palm OS classic, as well as Maemo. The company had planned to launch a WebOS version for newer Palm phones as well, but today announced that it has canceled WebOS development.

WebOS actually ships with apps for viewing office documents, which are based on Docs To Go technology, and DataViz had planned to simply replace the default viewers with more powerful versions for users who purchased the app. But the company got tired of waiting for Palm to provide the tools necessary to make those changes and has decided to simply focus on other platforms.

DataViz also notes that another developer is apparently working on a fully functional document editing suite for WebOS, so hopefully users won’t have to wait too long to get similar functionality. According to PreCentral, it looks like QuickOffice could be the company developing that app.

via PreCentral

Palm is releasing the software developer kit for WebOS 2.0 to a limited group of developers starting today. Today, the company is spilling the beans on some of the new features you’ll find int he SDK, which build on the things that makes the WebOS mobile operating system special.

There’s a Stacks feature, that builds on the “cards” feature WebOS uses for multitasking. Previously you could flip through “cards” showing which apps were running, and you could close an app by flicking its card up the screen. The new Stacks lets you create piles or groups of related apps on your home screen.

It’s not quite as simple as the folders option offered by other mobile operating systems, because stacks work with running apps, not just icons that you use to launch apps. For instance, if you click a link in an email message and it opens a browser window, then the cards for your email and browser apps will be stacked.

The Universal Search function has been renamed as “Just Type,” and the API is available for developers to incorporate with their apps.

Other updates include improved support for HTML5 and Javascript, and a new feature that lets developers code apps to work with the Touchstone charger. For instance, you can create an alarm clock or weather app that will only open when the phone is docked.

Palm is also opening up its “Synergy” service to developers, Synergy is the feature that lets WebOS pull in information from services including Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Facebook, Exchange, and other services. Now developers will be able to add their own services to the mix.

WebOS 2.0 is expected to launch later this year. You can read more about the new features at the Palm Developer site.

via PreCentral and Engadget.

Palm App Catalog

There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps available for the iPhone. Google’s Android Market list is approaching 100,000 apps. Palm’s WebOS, on the other hand, has only about 3400 apps. But that number is about to get a major boost, thanks to HP’s engineers.

HP recently acquired Palm, and HP CTO Phil McKinney challenged the company’s employees to start developing apps for the platform. According to a recent Tweet, McKinney says that about 500 apps came out of the challenge and the company is in the process of selecting the “best apps.”

It’s not entirely clear whether all 500 apps will be added to the Palm App Catalog, but it looks like there are a lot more people developing for the platform now than there used to be, which is always a good thing.

via PreCentral and Download Squad

Sprint customers with Palm Pre and Pixi phones are starting to report that the carrier is pushing out a minor software update. WebOS 1.4.5 doesn’t include any major new features, but it does have a number of tweaks, bug fixes, and other updates, including:

• Web podcasts should now download correctly
• Power use and battery optimization
• Send video via multimedia messaging fromt he video app
• Video trim feautre now works to send in a message
• SprintTV upgrade with enhanced parental controls
• Correct entry of text on the web
• Security updates

Pixi users will also now be able to run games and apps developed using the WebOS PDK.

It sounds like not all users experienced problems entering text or download podcasts all the time, but the update should address issues that were causing those errors under some conditions.

There’s no word on when WebOS 1.4.5 will be available for Verizon or AT&T customers.

via PreCentral

Facebook has rolled out an update to its mobile web page that lets you control your privacy settings on mobile devices. Up until now, you could only adjust your privacy settings using a desktop browser.

In order to access your mobile privacy settings, you have to visit m.facebook.com/privacy on your phone. You won’t find the link if you just go to m.facebook.com.

But once you do find the page, you can adjust your settings to allow everyone, friends, or friends of friends to see information you post from your phone. You can also create custom settings. For instance, you can allow everyone to see your website and bio information, but only allow your friends to see posts, contact information, family, or relationship status.

Unfortunately, the settings only apply to the Facebook mobile web site. If you use the iPhone, Android, WebOS, or other mobile apps for Facebook, there’s still no way to adjust your privacy settings — although I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw that feature in future updates.

via ReadWriteWeb

Google has launched a new feature for its mobile search engine that might not seem all that exciting, but which can actually be quite handy. When you visit google.com in a mobile browser, you can now click on the “history” link near the bottom of the screen to bring up a list of your recent searches — and not just searches from your phone, but from any machine you’re logged into.

In other words, say you’re trying to remember the name of that restaurant you looked up before you left the house. Just grab your iPhone or Android phone, go to Google.com and hit the search history button and you should see a list of recent searches you made from your desktop browser — which could help you find the right place.

If you actually visited a web site in your last search, you’ll even see thumbnail images of that web site next to the search history results.

You can remove history items by tapping the edit button at the top of the page. You can also see results that you’ve starred, either on your desktop browser or your phone.

If the whole thing seems kind of spooky, you can disable search history by selecting “do not save searches” under the settings menu.

If you were worried that HP’s acquisition of Palm would mean the end of Homebrew application development, it looks like you have nothing to worry about. HP CTO Phil McKinney says the company supports homebrew and encourages users to hack or unlock their phones if they want to customize it.

Of course, there’s a difference between encouraging users to install officially unsupported software or tinker with source code and actually covering damage inflicted during a hacking session under the official warranty. But it sounds like HP doesn’t plan to lock down new WebOS devices too much.

A few months ago SPB launched a free, ad-supported version of SPB TV for WebOS phones such as the Palm Pre and Pixi. Now SPB TV is also available as a free download for Windows Mobile and iOS devices including the iPhond and iPod touch.

SPB TV is an app that lets you watch live TV broadcasts from more than 17 countries. You’re not going to find major networks like NBC or Fox here. But you can get news from AFP or France 24, and a variety of regional content from around the globe. Other highlights include NASA TV and Sci-Fi TV, a channel that shows old science fiction movies. There are also some music video channels and the Spanish language CNN Plus.

The apps also have built in program guides and brief descriptions about each channel. And there’s a picture in picture feature that lets you view a snapshot of a channel before flipping away from the video stream you’re currently watching.

You can download SB TV for iOS for free from the iTunes app store. The Windows Mobile version is available for download from the SPB web site, and supports Windows Mobile 5 and up. There are also apps for Android and BlackBerry, but those versions run $9.95 each.

You can find a few more screengrabs of the iPhone and iPod touch version of SPB TV after the break.

via Just Another Mobile Monday

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Palm has been running a promotion that lets Pre and Pixie users purchase almost every WebOS app available in the Palm App catalog for half price. The promotion started June 9th, and was supposed to run through July 9th… but Palm has decided to extend the promotion by another two weeks.

That means that almost any app you purchase from the Palm App Catalog between now and July 23rd will be half price.

via PreCentral