Palm Pre Singapore release date – 2010: UPDATE

We have some exciting news here at TECHNOMETRY.

Image via Wikipedia

But we’ll tell you that at the end of this post. Before we do, let me set the scene.  I sent another email to the Palm chap last week. It went as follows:
_______________________________________
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 9:38 AM
To: ‘[xxx]‘
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Hi [xxx],

I hear the Palm Pre or Pixie may be coming soon to Singapore.

Is this true? If so, what are the details? Looking forward to hearing from you.

*************************************

I havent gotten a reply back from [xxx] yet.
You may recall that my last email to [xxx], with his reply, went along these lines:

________________________________________
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 6:13 PM
To: [xxx]
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Hi [xxx],

Thanks for the reply, and understand the situation. No worries.

Image via Wikipedia

If in the near future, you are able to release some details, would you be able to drop me a line?

Thanks again for your patience, and I hope to hear from you.

*************************************
________________________________________
From: [xxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:14 PM
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Sure

*********************************
The reason why we sent another email to [xxx]?

We have managed to get ahold of a Palm Pre and are testing it for Technometry review as I TYPE.

This means launch is imminent.

Oh dear [xxx] why did you not tell us?? You still have a chance to give us some info….. [xxx]?

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Palm Pre; Release in Asia – STILL ZILCH.

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I’m kinda sick about how Apple and the iPhone are dominating.

Apple products are innovative, but the consumer benefits best when there are two top shelf competitors going at it. But my pleas for the Palm Pre as a suitable counter balance seem to be lagging further and further behind as the release date in Asia for our first glimpse of the Pre in Singapore are still lost in the murky midst.

Image by zoovroo via Flickr

Once again I took to hounding the USA PR reps for Palm. The email to them proceeded along the following lines, – pardon the “sucking up”…

**************************************

Hi [..........],

Thanks for your replies.

A lot of people are anxious to know when the Palm Pre is being launched in Asia/Singapore.

Any idea of a time frame? Every day delayed is another iPhone customer gained!

As mentioned previously, we use to have the old early palms with stylus when we were in our early 20’s.…would be interesting to see just how far palm has come!

Thanks again,

The reply from the Palm chap was as follows;

**************************************

Hi Clifford,

Unfortunately, I can’t even estimate at a time frame. I’m sure you understand.

-[..........]

**************************************

Well, I understand kinda.

Of course Mr PR Palm chap aint going to leak precious release details to a little nobody like me. However, his response sounded a tad smug? evasive? condescending?

Technometry readers, I promised to continue hounding him. The hounding will continue.

More recent Palm news, is the launch in the US of the next Palm Smartphone called the Pixi. Link to cNet here.

Its mentioned to be unlikely to make it over to Asia. I’m relieved….why? It doesnt have wi fi (which should be mandatory) and any phone called the Pixi doesnt sound too smart or executive or masculine. One for the ladies?

Ghosts of Phones Past

Ive had a few phones in my time.

Image via CrunchBase

In no particular sequence (due to poor memory recall) Nokia Blue, Motorola V690, Motorola Razr2, LG Chocolate KG800, Nokia 6700, Apple Iphone, Blackberry Curve 8230.

Quick Impressions:

Nokia: most reliable. Best predictive texting system, like riding a bike – once you use one, very easy to use others, despite much lapse in time. Intuitive and menu friendly. Aesthetically pleasing.

Image via CrunchBase

Motorola: Poor interface. Razr was very stylish, but buttons became less responsive quickly. Bad customer service. The V690 was like a robot from Doctor Who. Looked makeshift and was makeshift.

Palm Pre – Release Date in Asia?

Palms latest offering and so called salvation for a reportedly struggling company, the Palm Pre has generated alot of discussion and hype.

Whispers of “iPhone killer” ring through the hallowed halls of blogdom and gadget geekery.

Image via CrunchBase

The Palm Pre has promised alot of refinements and one upmanship to the current top-of-the-pack functionality and stylings of the Apple iPhone. Its features, can be found at the ever reliable CNet.

However, recent reports since the Pre’s release stateside on 6 June 09(e.g. USA) say sales have been ok, but nothing serious that challenges the iPhone…MR. iPhone (Article on this here).

The blogosphere has also been replete with reports of bugs and technical issues with the Pre. See Engadgets nice summary here. Heres hoping that these are all solved before roll out to Asia Pacific and Europe.

At time of writing, (6 Aug 09), in Singapore at least, there is no word of the release of the Palm Pre, though the Singapore website has it prominently displayed on its homepage and here.

Can you hear us Palm? We want Pre-view, Pre-view!

We here at Technometry managed to get a carefully worded reply from a representative of Palm in America. The exact wording:

“Palm hasn’t made any announcements regarding the Pre in Singapore”.

You heard it here first.

And fair enough.

Guess we have to sit tight like the rest of the great unwashed to see whether the Pre is the iPhone Killer, or at least the iPhone Bully or even the iPhones b*tch…but as always, I root for the underdog. I am salivating for that next gadget that takes us one step closer to the future.