We're big fans of Palm Pre phone's universal search feature. Just start typing a query from the home screen (no need to launch the browser). If your query doesn’t match any contact info or the name of an application on your phone, you’ll be prompted to search either the web with Google, local places on Google Maps, articles on Wikipedia, or Twitter.
What's neat about launching Google Maps in this way is that it will use your location to conduct a search for nearby businesses and points of interest (if you choose to allow Location Services, of course). Similar to some other mobile phones, Google Maps is built into Palm Pre phone's operating system -- you'll notice a Google Maps icon amongst the phone's built-in applications. However, the implementation of Google Maps on Palm Pre is actually very different from how we built Maps on platforms like Android or BlackBerry. Palm is calling its operating system webOS for good reason -- all applications running on webOS leverage a WebKit-based rendering engine for content, which made it easy to port Google Maps to the platform. You can use familiar Google Maps features such as My Location, local search, driving directions, and traffic.
Palm Pre also includes a YouTube application that Palm built using Palm’s Native application MoJo SDK, and much like a web app, it uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. YouTube on Palm Pre makes it easy to watch your favorite videos. When you play a video, it auto-rotates to landscape orientation to take full advantage of the phone's screen.
Palm Pre wouldn't be complete without productivity functions and we're happy to report that Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Contacts work well on the device. Simply enter your account name and password and Palm Pre will sync your email, calendar events, and contacts to the device. Palm Pre supports the IMAP IDLE protocol so you can enjoy push Gmail.
This is just the beginning for Google applications on Palm Pre. The good news is that since our applications are built using web standards along with Palm's MoJo SDK, we can iterate quickly and provide new functionality, often without requiring you to install anything new. We look forward to rolling out new features for our mobile applications at a rapid clip.
Update 6/8/09, 05:04pm - If you're interested in learning how to set up your Pre with your Gmail, Google Mail or Google Apps for Your Domain account, please visit our help center to learn more.
Posted by by Stefan Haustein and Mat Balez
Will there be public transit directions like on the iPhone?
ReplyDeletedoes this version of googlemaps have Streetview?
ReplyDeleteHow about Google Latitude? I hear the iPhone will be getting it soon, so it would be sad if the Pre doesn't have it!
ReplyDeleteGoogle Voice please!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Google Reader? Does it work well on the Pre?
ReplyDeleteThe Pre does not support Streetview for the time being.
ReplyDeleteplease bring push Gmail to the iPhone...
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for Google Wave on the Pre. That will be awesome
ReplyDeleteAn optimized (for the Pre) Google Reader app would be spectacular. Is that in the works?
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that I'm worried about in switching to the Pre (from a generic J2ME capable, non-smartphone) is that I'll be losing out on my gmail features. My generic flip phone, with the gmail app, supports threaded emails, labeling, gmail search, stars and archiving. Apparently the Pre's email client doesn't support any of these things I've gotten so used to using on my phone and on gmail's webpage. Is there any hope for an update to the Pre's email app and for Gmail to release their own Pre email app?
ReplyDeleteI am all for Google Reader too. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat about being able to edit Google calendar entries on the Pre....like delete, change times, etc.???
ReplyDeleteSince you're taking suggestions, let me agree: I very much want to see Google Voice, and Google Reader on the Pre.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Employment Office would also be a nice app along with Google Craigslist.
I'd love to see a background processing version of Google Maps which figures out from my speed and other clues when I am driving, when I am walking, when I am *parking*, and does interesting things with that knowledge, for instance, remembers where I parked today....
ReplyDeleteGoogle Latitude plz
ReplyDeletePlease answer me, I have been asking anyone that has had access to anything PRE.. Does it sync with Google Apps accounts? For those of us that have are own domains with google and use it for work!
ReplyDeleteditto on jkadin's concern;
ReplyDeletewhen will a hardy gmail app be available for the PRE. Threading, labels, search, star, archive etc.
I have a treo 650 that I cant wait to retire for the pre. it will be like going from windows 98 to Vista w/o BLOAT or BUGS. What an upgrade; what a country! Actually popped for the I(ch) phone but with no aps and no copy/paste/pointer my wife and I returned them to apple store and waited. Blackberry? Great for pie and jam but NOT phone/pda ... only an imposter. Peace out. Pre In!
ReplyDeleteI'm all for Google Voice, Public Transportation, RSS Reader, and Latitude!!! Yes please! ;)
ReplyDeleteLoving my new Palm Pre (not yet 2 days old!).
ReplyDeleteBut am super excited to see further Google innovation, including Maps: Latitude and Street View.
Gmail: fully threaded views
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ReplyDeleteI would really like to see Google Traks on the PRE.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being an open solutions company! Thank you for supporting non-Android phones!
ReplyDeleteIt does work quite well, but I like in New York, so public transit directions are a must.
ReplyDeleteIt's also very difficult to go to a spot on the map and get directions to or from there -- you have to translate that spot to a street address to get it working.
Zoom mostly worked, but it was easy to get the Pre confused about how many fingers were touching the screen... a quick on/off cleared that up.
I am another Google voice user, who would love to see a Google voice application on this phone! :-)
ReplyDeleteWould even build it once the Pre SDK comes out, and when google voice comes up with one.
Gald you all are so excited. I'd love to echo the above requests for a pre-optimized reader, gmail, and add tasks to the list!
ReplyDeleteI was just starting to love tasks, but now there is no solution to even view on the pre. I'm sure you guys are aware and working on it, thanks for the hard work!
Please add a "save to contacts" button in the maps application. the omission of street view is also suprising!
ReplyDeleteGoogle Reader and Google Docs, please!! thank you!
ReplyDeletePlease figure out how to get tasks to "synergize" with the Pre
ReplyDeletePLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add Google Voice!!
ReplyDeleteGoogle voice application for the Pre, Please!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can make do with the current mobile versions on some, but I'd really like to see Voice, Tasks, and Reader, as well.
ReplyDeleteFor those that asked, the google reader app for the iphone works really well for the pre (web app).
ReplyDeleteI assume that Google is working on a suite for the Palm Pre which would include, reader, documents etc. as well as ability to search within the calendar application. Is my assumption correct? Release to be______________?
ReplyDeleteThanks
cg
Google Latitude would be awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThings I want from Google on my Pre:
ReplyDelete1) GMail in the browser to work just like on the iPhone. It's close right now, but not all the way there. For example, that new hovering bar that appears on the iPhone when you select a mail that allows you to label them...that would be SWEET on the Pre
2) Google Reader to work as well or better than the iPhone. When you select a story, it doesn't always snap to the right place to read the story. Sometimes it scrolls all the way to the bottom of the page.
3) Google Voice application
4) Google Latitude and StreetView on the Google Maps app