OK.  So, it isn’t WebOS 1.2.  Heck, it isn’t even the all new and improved App Catalog, or the flood of apps we were expecting.  But there is a little love from Palm as the trickle of new apps continues with 14 news app finding their way into the catalog today. 

What impressed me the most was how many of these apps came through the Homebrew App Catalog.  There were a lot of familiar apps here, and I think it is fantastic to see some of these developers getting the recognition they all deserve.

The new apps include:

• m:Vampire
• m:Mafia
• Golf Pin Finder (Demo)
• Guitarist’s Reference
• YPmobile
• Greeting Card Messages
• bWeather
• snake
• Go To Tool Lite
• Tic Tac Toe
• FreeWeather
• Photo Fun – Spot the Missing Pieces
• Photo Fun – Spot the Differences
• TMaps-Philly

For the record, according to PreCentral, the new WebOS and App Catalog updates should be here next week.  As an added bonus, it looks like the new WebOS 1.2.1 will also fix the iTunes sync problem.  So…at least you all have that to look forward to.

Sony Digital Reader - Touch Edition

You would?  Well, that’s not surprising.  This reader is one of the newest members of Sony’s digital reader family, the PRS-600.  It has a 6 inch touchscreen and the ability to let you carry up to 350 books.  Plus, you have the bonus expansion memory slot.  So, how do you win this prize?  You need to check out author Ilona Andrews interview at Bitten By Books on Monday September 28th.  All of the details for the contest will be revealed during the interview.  Bitten By Books is a site that covers interviews and reviews of books in the urban fantasy, paranormal romance, horror, and sci-fi genre.  You can RSVP now for the event, and earn some extra entries for the contest.  Tell them Heather sent you.

To paraphrase a often quoted film line from Cool Hand Luke, “well he wants it, well he gets it”.  And so AT&T has finally delivered (as reported by ComputerWorld) on the promise of MMS support for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS users.  However, as expected by many, myself included, AT&T did little if anything to prepare their network for millions of people adding to the taxing of the service by sending pictures, videos, sound clips, etc.

So I ask, what will it take for AT&T to address their serious network issues?  Being unable to support the bandwidth for successful MMS transmission is poor planning, especially since they established the target date.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.  Are you an iPhone 3G / 3GS user that is happy to have MMS, plagued by network issues or a regular non-iPhone’r that is reaping the poor service inflicted by all those pics of Little Johnny being sent?

[image:  AT&T]

Palm Pre

According to reports, Verizon has decided to pass on the Palm Pre.  They are siting underwhelming sales.  As a Verizon customer, all I can say is, “Are You KIDDING Me?’.  Hmmm…sales could be low due to the fact that Palm picked a smaller carrier with Sprint.  Plus, there have been lots of comments that people will get a Pre once its available on Verizon or AT&T.  Everyone I know that has tried webOS just loves it.  So, I am hoping that Verizon is JUST saying no to the Pre, and might get the Pixi or another webOS device.  If that’s not the case, then I am officially putting Verizon on notice that I am switching carriers come the end of my contract.  They have no appealing phones, as I have no interest in Windows Mobile.  I have always supported Verizon, but its time to get with the future. 

Via MobileCrunch

UPDATE - It looks like the rumors of a Pre death for Verizon has been much exaggerated.  Today two more reputable analysts have said that the Pre, or even better, an updated Pre is definitely headed for Verizon in Q1 2010.  I have breathed a huge sigh of relief.  I do hope we see the Pixi as well. 

Via IntoMobile

If you are evaluating an Android device or you want to give a look at the new HTC “Sense” UI, I recommend you the videos shot by MobileBurn.com, starring the first Android smartphone for Sprint, the chinless version of the HTC Hero.

Image courtesy of MobileBurn

The folks at MobileBurn posted a three parts video “HTC Hero for Sprint”, where they review the new Sprint device and show us the interaction with the “Sense” UI.

The video is divided in three:

• part 1 gives a look at the physical design and at the basic user interface features, including the customizable Home Screen;
• part 2 makes a tour of the contacts system and of  the various messaging functions of the device, including Facebook, Twitter, Exchange email, Gmail, visual voicemail, and instant messaging;
• part 3 (currently only on YouTube) gives a look at the Applications loaded on the device and on the application installer, and draws the conclusion about the device.

The reviewer is pleased with the Hero which he considers to be a very solid piece of hardware. The UI is generally good, even if laggy at some time, and he liked the Home Screen functionality and the multitouch enabled web browser. Only the camera application wasn’t that good, with a focus problem that could be hopefully fixed by a firmware update.

After looking carefully at the video, I’d be tempted to give Android a chance and to buy the HTC Hero, which is already available in Europe and comes with the sexy chin, too!  Tempted, but not quite as much as the Palm Pre and its physical keyboard, which is soon to be available in Europe.