Palm Pulling an Amazon with webOS 1.2 Update?

Palm is reportedly working on an update to its webOS that will enable it to delete applications from a user’s Palm Pre. The feature, likely meant as malware-protection, nonetheless brings to mind Amazon’s recent misstep in reaching into users’ Kindle devices.

Palm has reportedly leaked an early edition of an update to the operating system run by the Palm Pre. According to reports by Pre users who say they’ve received the update, called webOS 1.2., there are two particularly interesting changes.
 
One likely change is that LEDs built into the Pre will now notify users of new emails, and other events.
 

Resource Library:

“With this feature, the LEDs that are on both sides of the Gesture Area will blink to notify users of events. Users will have the option to turn this on or off,” reports Brighthand.com, which offers a video demonstration said to be made by one of the recipients of the "leaked" OS update.
 
The other new feature is less likely to be as universally welcome as the first. It’s the ability for Palm — somewhat like Amazon reaching into those Kindles to remove, ironically, copies of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and “1984” — to remove applications from a user’s device. Presumably, the feature is intended for Palm to protect users from malware or bugs.
 
According to the Palm Info Center, when this happens, users will receive a notice stating: “Palm had to delete this application from the App Catalog and your device. If you paid for this app, your money will be refunded.”
 
The Palm Pre, the first device to use webOS, arrived on June 6, and by July 23 Palm had already pushed out webOS 1.1, which offered several enterprise-friendly enhancements, as well as the ability for the Pre to sync with iTunes, Apple’s proprietary music app. On July 15, Apple had updated iTunes to block this functionality. The cat-and-mouse game has since resulted in Palm filing a complaint against Apple to the USB Implementers Forum.
 
When Palm will release webOS 1.2, which Palm Info Center reports will additionally offer 9,000 other modifications, is still unknown.

 

Reader Comments: Palm Pulling an Amazon with webOS 1.2 Update? >>> Post your comment now! Come On Scott Yea Scott "enterprise" friendly updates were made. For example, allowed Outlook syncing to servers that have PIN enforcement and remote wipe policies... Posted At: 09-16-09 By: LG Proofreading / editing? Did you read what you wrote before you posted it? Did anyone else? How is iTunes support an "enterprise-friendly feature"? Posted At: 09-10-09 By: Scott Umm no Your still full of FUD Many users are still using tethering software that was accidentally approved. It still works, its not deleted and not deleted from their iTunes... Posted At: 09-08-09 By: slappy A user comment on this article Yes Apple does have the ability to disable any application on an iPhone. We don't know whether it can actually remove the application or not yet, but... Posted At: 09-07-09 By: Anonymous Your full of FUD Apple can remove the availability of an app at the App store. Apple cannot remove thee application already installed on your iPhone or iPod Touch.... Posted At: 09-07-09 By: slappy Amazon? Ok, Amazon made the mistake of playing Big Brother to Kindle users. Palm is giving indication that it might do the same. Apple has had that control... Posted At: 09-07-09 By: theillien >>> Post your comment now!

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