AppleInsider Staff
One major new feature in webOS 2.0 is "Stacks," which Palm has dubbed the "next-generation of multitasking." Expanding the cards concept from the first version of webOS, found on the Palm Pre, the new feature will group related cards in stacks, reducing clutter.
"webOS 2.0 automatically stacks cards for you when it makes sense, and you can also drag and drop cards to manage stacks for yourself," the company said.
webOS 2.0 is Palm's response to Apple's iOS 4 currently available for the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as Google's Android 2.2. It's also the first major update to the webOS platform since HP acquired Palm for $1.2 billion earlier this year.
In addition to competing with Apple's iPhone in the smartphone market, webOS 2.0 is expected to appear on an HP-built iPad competitor in the near future. Officials at HP have indicated their interest in using the webOS platform to build its own touchscreen tablet.
Photo via Engadget.
The Universal Search in webOS has been renamed to "Just Type" for version 2.0. The expanded functionality allows developers to enable users to search within an application. Programmers can also define their own "Quick Actions," allowing users to complete tasks like updating their social status or setting reminders quickly.
Other features highlighted by Palm include:
- HTML5 features and enhancements: enhanced canvas support, support for Web storage, geolocation features and application caching.
- Exhibition: An application that launches when a phone is docked with the Palm Touchstone charging dock. Developers can add slide shows, news content, social network updates and more.
- Contacts, calendar and messaging: Developers now have access to Palm Synergy, which allows them to access data such as contacts, calendar and messaging.
- JavaScript Services: Developers can now create webOS apps and services in JavaScript using the Node.js runtime environment built in to webOS 2.0.
- PDK Plug-ins: Developers can now mix Web technologies and C/C++ components in a single app, allowing applications with logic easily ported from other platforms.
Palm has teased that its reveal on Wednesday is not "all there is to webOS 2.0," with more information to come. The company also reaffirmed that webOS 2.0 will be released later this year.
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Charles Martin
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64 Comments
... One major new feature in webOS 2.0 is "Stacks," which Palm has dubbed the "next-generation of multitasking." Expanding the cards concept from the first version of webOS, found on the Palm Pre, the new feature will group related cards in stacks, reducing clutter....
This seems like an awful UI idea for a phone. It *might* be useful on the tablet though so I suppose that's what they will focus on, but it seems like extra work for the end user to me.
I'm ready for my HP tablet running Web OS...
This seems like an awful UI idea for a phone. It *might* be useful on the tablet though so I suppose that's what they will focus on, but it seems like extra work for the end user to me.
It certainly doesn't sound like anything that the Apple target customer would want.
Indeed, it sounds like almost the opposite of the Apple "App" approach. Palm's approach seems to group stuff based upon the object of your desire - if you have a document with a separate graphic embedded int it, the two objects will be stacked. Apple seems to group stuff based upon the app that they recon should be assign to the object.
Very different approaches. Palm's approach is very Microsoft-like.
Some interesting ideas. I would think it would give the Android folks a new place to get ideas from since they don't mind things being a bit disjointed. But really, all in all a nice dog and pony show for Beta-ware.
Also find the timing very interesting as Palm has always tried to one-up Apple. I don't think anything revealed here will steal the thunder from the Apple showcase tomorrow. I suspect Apple has a few tricks up it's sleeve. If the damn parts and case suppliers would keep their mouths shut it could even be an exciting event.
If the damn parts and case suppliers would keep their mouths shut it could even be an exciting event.
The parts and case suppliers could scream secrets like banshees and you would never know. Not unless AI reports it.
If you don't like it, you should be blaming Apple Insider and their ilk in the media.
But I usually like product news better than I like rich megacorporations having unstated understandings with complicit media, so the current situation seems to me to be the lesser of the evils.
The guys who work at Chinese plastics factories are not the villains here.