webOS is moving up to version 2.0 and bringing along with it a whole host of new features sure to please even the most jaded of webOS users. There’s the stuff that we’ve already covered: card-grouping Stacks, enhanced and more capable Just Type with search and Quick Actions, Exhibition Touchstone dock modes, and expandable Synergy plug-ins.

That’s a lot, but if you ask us, not quite worthy of bringing the big 2.0. Here’s what else Palm didn’t let slip until today:

webOS finally supports Adobe Flash Player 10.1 (beta), and it comes baked right into webOS 2.0. Flash support is limited to the browser, but by and large it’s a rich and fluid experience, and one that we’re glad we can stop wondering if we’ll ever get.

You can now tag contacts as a “favorite.” Doing so has two consequences. One: the contact will show up under the new Favorites view in the Phone app. Two: contacts tagged as such will appear at the top of searches in Contacts, Email, Messaging, and Phone.

As glimpsed in earlier leaks, webOS 2.0 comes along with Text Assist. The new app and service build upon and greatly expand the auto-correction capabilities of webOS, including general spell checking, dictionary customization, and the ability to set your own macros (custom text strings with a short typed trigger).

Skype Mobile is coming to webOS, so long as you’re on Verizon. This leverages that exclusive Verizon deal, so don’t count on seeing Skype calling on any other webOS devices any time soon.

The new Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite is included from the start, displacing DataViz’s abandoned Documents to Go package. But the only thing you’ll get by default in webOS 2.0 is the Quickoffice viewer, which lets you read Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. There’s no editing just yet (we suspect Quickoffice wants to charge for that, which is reasonable, albeit disappointing), but the included app does sync with online services like Google Docs and Dropbox.

The Facebook app is also getting a bump to 2.0, which brings along support for Facebook Chat in Messaging, through the magic of Synergy. The new Facebook app also leverages the other new webOS tools, like Stacks, Quick Actions, and Exhibition.

And that’s just the beginning – explore the world of webOS 2.0 updated features after the break.

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We’ve waited, we’ve asked, PreCentral forum members have lobbied, and now we’re officially being rejected: DataViz announced today on its Facebook page that it "made the difficult decision to cancel development for Docs To Go for WebOS":

We regret to announce that we have made the difficult decision to not produce a Web OS version of Documents To Go. We understand that our delay in this area has caused much disappointment to our current and very loyal user base. We would like to explain in more detail the reasoning behind our decisions thus far.

Our intention had been to replace the Palm Viewers, which were based on the Documents To Go technology, with a full editing, aftermarket version of Documents To Go. In order to do this in a way that we felt would be most intuitive to users, we wanted to have the full version seamlessly replace the built in viewers. To do this, we needed some technical help from Palm. Because Palm was focusing on other areas at the time (including their very survival), and there was no official information available allowing developers to help ourselves, i.e., an SDK, there was a delay in getting us this information. Rather than do a substantially larger project that would result in a "sub-optimal" user experience, we decided to wait. This wait was much longer than anyone at DataViz expected. During this wait, we focused our efforts on other smartphone platforms, not because we were not loyal to Palm, but because it made "business sense" to do so. We have now come to the realization that it is not in DataViz’ nor our users’ best interests to continue the wait and produce the full version. We understand that another developer has chosen to create an editing Office product for webOS and we wish them the best. Again, we apologize to our users for taking this long to reach, what is for DataViz and many of our users, a disappointing conclusion.

This decision is both disappointing and irritating for many within the webOS community, especially those who have been loyal Dataviz customers since the original Docs To Go came out for Palm OS. Its rationale is also a bit suspect, given the ready availability of Palm’s PDK for months, as well as the fact that the HP acquisition closed more than two months ago, with many, many PDK-based apps being developed and released, some quite sophisticated, since then.

Here’s hoping that we get an editing solution in short order, possibly from "another developer" with the interest in webOS users’ business that DataViz apparently lacks.

Source: DataViz; Thanks to BruceBradford in our forums for the heads-up!

UPDATE: Oh, well that might explain it. DataViz has been bought by BlackBerry maker Research in Motion for a cool $50 million. So it’s not just webOS that’s about to be left out of the loop; we wouldn’t be surprised to see all non-BlackBerry OS DataViz products discontinued or left to waste away in the land of no updates. Read all about it over at CrackBerry.com.

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This hurts: DataViz has come right out and said that DocsToGo for webOS is no longer under active development, which is to say we have no idea when or if we might expect it happen on webOS. So writes Kathleen McAneany of DataViz:

We are continuing our efforts to work with Palm to clear the path for a full editing version of Documents To Go. However, given the current environment at Palm, as well as the necessary collaboration with the device manufacturer that is required to bring an app like ours to a platform like webOS, our Documents To Go editor product for webOS is essentially at a standstill.

As soon as we have any additional information, we will inform you immediately.

Thanks for your passion surrounding our solution.

We’ve gone from hope, to hoping for Early 2010, to ‘no ETA,‘ to a ’standstill.’ This is a big blow for Palm, since true document editing was one of the missing pieces for making it a true business phone. We don’t want to parse words too closely here, but when we read ‘given the current environment at Palm,’ we’re not exactly filled with warm feelings. Pretty hard to see this as anything put DataViz putting the ball in Palm’s court.

DataViz makes it a little clearer on Twitter: "[...] we can only work so hard without help from the manufacturer. Tough to write an robust office suite all in javascript."

If nothing else, this news puts an exclamation point on the interest in X-Server/Open Office and other community-based attempts to build an office suite for webOS.

Update 4/27: Not sure if DataViz is just looking for more attention, making sure that their email-only customers are up-to-date, or just trying to set our tipline on fire from folks who missed this post five days ago… but they’ve emailed the same text from the above blog post out to their email list of people waiting for webOS. In other words – they’re pretty serious about this here work-stoppage.

Thanks to miles4000 and Colonel Kernel for the tip!

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There’s a real vacuum when it comes to document editing software in the App Catalog (we’re looking at you, Dataviz). Sure, Google Docs allows you to do some basic editing to spreadsheet documents via the Web using Google Docs, and there are some rudimentary text editing programs available to webOS users, but until Scratch ($5.00 in the App Catalog) came along, there hasn’t been a way to edit text documents with rich markup while also smartly utilizing the cloud.

Scratch is a word editing program that offers full document editing with a wide array of text formatting options. In addition to supporting true paragraphs, Scratch allows you to bold, italicize and underline text as you’d expect, and you can format blocks of text with bulleted lists, numbered lists, and heading sizes. Enhancing this feature set, nearly every formatting option has a keyboard shortcut associated with it (gesture area + L will, for example, create a bullet list from selected text), allowing for surprisingly efficient document editing. There’s no question that the $5 asking price is a tad steep for those features alone, and the program sweetens the pot by adding the ability to import and export text documents directly from Google Docs. 

This program is solid enough in its own right, but what would make this blogger especially giddy? If the folks behind Scratch and the folks behind the Wordpress oriented app Poster combined forces and, with a little bit of PDK magic, created one of the more robust cloud oriented pieces of content creation software available to any mobile platform.   Think about it, guys.

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 Here’s some of the latest discussion in the forums:

• The PreCentral forums are a great place for debate, but there’s one thing almost universally agreed upon by webOS users everywhere: the need for Docs To Go.  Forum members are getting fed up with the lack of this essential productivity suite, and have crafted an open letter to DataViz, the company behind the product.  Go ahead, give ‘em your two cents.

• Paid apps are available everywhere the Pre is sold!  Now it’s time for you  developers out there to get your applications properly translated for the various regions you plan to sell your wares in.  A daunting task to be sure, but there’s good news:  number of forum members are offering their assistance to that end.

•  We had waited (and waited!) for video recording to hit webOS.  Now that we’ve had it for a little while now, member storino03 asks an interesting question: just how often do you actually use it?  I use mine at least a few times per week.

• Speaking of the full App Catalog going international, webOS users outside of the US of A are checking in to let us know which app they bought first.  User amjb71’s first purchase was Gameloft’s Modern Combat: Sandstorm.  You?

We look forward to seeing you in the forums!  Not a member? Remember: registration is free, and the benefits are plentiful indeed.

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Bad news for those of you who need to edit and create Microsoft Office documents while on the go and were hoping for a native webOS solution before years end. DataViz, developer of the popular Documents To Go suite of software (and the company responsible for Doc View in webOS) have confirmed on their website what we were speculating about last month: that they won’t be releasing the webOS version of their software until "early 2010":

As Palm’s document solution of choice for over 10 years, DataViz is happy to tell you that we currently plan to release Documents To Go for webOS in early 2010, allowing you to edit and create Microsoft® Word, Excel® and PowerPoint® files on your Pre!

Their website had previously stated "later this year" for a release date.  Not all hope is lost for those who still need that functionality, however.  While this solution may not be as elegant as a native webOS app, remember that you can still use the PalmOS version of the document editing software in Classic to tide you over until Docs To Go is finally released sometime next year. 

This makes webOS the only major smartphone platform currently not supported by Documents to Go, which can’t be a good thing if you’re a small, struggling smartphone maker trying to gain traction in the corporate market.

Thanks to mwchambers7 for sending this in!

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According to a recently published report on Palm Infocenter, the much-anticipated webOS version of DataViz’ Documents To Go, an expanded version of the Doc View program bundled with the Pre that will allow for editing as well as viewing of Microsoft Office documents, may be delayed until early 2010. DataViz’ Web page for the product still states that the company "will be releasing Documents To Go for webOS later this year," meaning 2009, but this latest report suggests that "coordination with Palm on a potentially-necessary ROM update for WebOS may hold up the whole shebang." 

Even if it’s true, this does not mean that Pre (and soon Pixi) users will not be able to edit their documents until and unless Documents To Go for webOS is finally released. First, the PalmOS version works under MotionApps’ Classic (see this thread in the Official Classic forum for instructions on installation; the HotSync conduit works with the new Classic 2.0), so Classic owners have this functionality now. Second, Documents To Go isn’t necessarily the only possible solution; other developers have written Office editing programs in the past for Palm devices (notably Blue Nomad’s Wordsmith for PalmOS, which unfortunately does not work for now under Classic), and Pre users have had varying success editing via Google Docs in the Pre’s Web browser.

Still, the relationship between Palm and DataViz (evidenced by the bundling of the reader apps with the Pre) and Documents To Go’s overall sophistication across platforms made it the best and most likely tool for webOS users who need (or wish) to edit MS Office documents. The sooner it can come out, the better it will be for the Pre’s prospects for business and educational sales.

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Certainly one of the more anxiously awaited apps for Palm’s new webOS is without a doubt DataViz’s DocumentsToGo. Having been a longtime (read: 5 months) Crackberry user, I can see why. It was incredibly useful! …

Related posts:

1. Classic HotSync for Palm Pre Coming Soon
2. Homebrew Apps Grow in Number… More Than Official Apps
3. Mojo SDK Available to All – Right Now!

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DocsToGo creator DataViz has revealed what we already expected: full DocumentsToGo is coming to webOS. Before it launches, though DataViz is looking to hear from us, the Palm Pre community.

Our first hints at a DocumentsToGo for the WebOS came way back at the original CES when DataViz was listed as a launch partner.  Since then, we’ve seen the icon pop up in demo videos (with a noncommital response from DataViz), DataViz appeared on a document listing companies with WebOS apps at or near launch, and on June 8th they confirmed to the world that DocView on the Pre is powered by DataViz. Felipe also reminds us in the comments that the software has had some attention in our forums. Then things went silent.

That seems to have changed, as DataViz has recently began talking about the Pre and WebOS.  On their Facebook page, they’ve asked:

Any Palm Pre users out there? Would love to hear your thoughts/experiences so far!

Further, they’ve launched their official "Documents To Go® for palm webOS" page.  They’ve setup a handy email signup option for email updates on product availability.  They haven’t set any specific release date or price, but chances are it’ll be a paid upgrade.  Given the quality of their recent iPhone and Android ports of DocumentsToGo, the possibilities of synergy integration and the existing quality shown in DocView, color us excited.

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There are two things that Pre-fanatics like myself have been wondering since the reveal way back in January. The first is the release date, and frankly, it’s hard to speculate about that. But the second, it’s what is the deal with all the secrecy? If you’ve been following Palm’s Twitter feed, you’ve likely seen the multiple instances of “we’ll have more details closer to launch” line in response to questions about features that Palm has not yet discussed. We’ve even heard that line from Palm employees doing demos for the press, leaving all of us hanging and wondering what’s going on here.

We are pretty sure we know as much as it’s possible to know about the Pre without holding it.  Yet we’ve also heard rumblings that there’s "one more thing" – some big feature hidden away in there that we haven’t heard about yet.  Crazy?  Probably, but if there is some other new feature, we wonder what it could be.

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Office compatibility

We’ve caught glimpses of the Document Viewer application on the Pre, but we don’t know whether that means it’s a viewer (Palm has told us in person that document viewing is a go at launch) or an editor. Throw into the mix the fact that DataViz, the creator of the fantastic and popular Documents To Go document editor and synchronization suite for Palm OS, Blackberry OS, Symbian OS, and even Windows Mobile, was shown as a launch partner at the CES unveiling, and maybe, just maybe, Documents to Go will be on the Pre at launch.

This is one of those things about which Palm has said, “We’ll talk about that later.” While it’d be easy to imagine how document editing would work on webOS (it works surprisingly well on Palm OS), the hard part is synchronization with a phone that’s not designed for syncing with the computer where your documents are right now. Which brings me to the next point…

Local synchronization

If there’s any one thing that people have been clamoring for more than a release date, it’s local synchronization capability. Many either don’t want the cloud, or want the option to sync their phones to the computer and keep their data to themselves, which is an understandable desire. But Palm has stated that there is no desktop sync client like the dated-but-functional Palm Desktop, the only thing that happens when you plug the Pre into your computer is that it turns itself into a USB drive so you can drag and drop files between the phone and your computer.

But what about your address book and calendar and memos and everything else you sync right now with Palm OS. Sure, Palm is going to have their over-the-air Palm Backup service that will secure all these things on their servers should your Pre kick the digital bucket, but that doesn’t help you get them onto your computer. Just like the computer was supposed to remove paper from the office (that worked out well), the Pre isn’t going to sever the user’s desire to manage their contacts and calendar through something other than their browser.

We know for sure that Palm will have a web-based Data Transfer Assistant for moving your PIM data over to the Pre the first time, over the air.  We also know that Chapura is working on a sync client for the Pre, but currently it seems as if that will work by syncing your stuff to Google and then down to the Pre.  Finally, we do know that the Pre works as a USB drive (and can’t take calls when it does that) — but a real, tethered sync option for files and data is something that is useful despite how antiquated it feels to some.

Video capture

Treos have had it for years now, the iPhone will be getting it with the 3.0 update, and the Pre doesn’t have video recording capabilities? While Inside Sprint Now’s first Pre FAQ said that the Pre would not have video recording at launch, they did say that such a thing could be fixed easily with an over-the-air software update. Presumably the later and later release date rumors (and the current lack of a defined launch date) are because Palm is/was still refining the software and having enough built so that there more than two Pre phones on hand per store at launch. But what if that last-minute software refinement is the addition of new features, like video recording? Additionally, the leaked spec sheet for the lower-end Palm Eos included a mention of video capture, which implies that it is at least in the works.

Flash

Not the camera type, we know it’s got that, but the browser type. Palm has signed on as a partner with Adobe’s Open Screen Project, which is destined to bring real competent Flash support to mobile devices across a wide spectrum of operating systems (other partners include Intel, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson). Not only will this result in in-browser Flash for webOS, but it could also mean Flash for applications in webOS, which would make development of things like games much easier and faster given then extensive Flash experience that online game developers have cultivated over the years.

Current expectation based on Palm’s own statements is that Flash will get added by the end of the year.  That’s what we expect too, but maybe some early support could happen at launch?

The late game hardware surprise

Palm has claimed that their don’t touch policy with their Pre demos has been to avoid the appearance of favoritism with the press, even though it has been derided by tech luminaries such as Bonnie Cha of CNET. Clearly, Palm’s demo people don’t like to stray too far from the demo script, nor are they permitted to let people handle the Pre for more than a second, and they sure can’t touch things you say they can’t touch. Of all things, this is where we have to ask, what is Palm hiding?

Obviously, they want to make sure the press doesn’t trigger something that will crash the pre-production Pre phones they’ve had out for the demos, but could there be something in the hardware that they’re hiding? While there’s been no credence to the wishing, with the next iPhone likely to have increased storage, for a competitor that the Pre is going to be inevitably compared to, every comparison is going to note that the iPhone is available at the very least with twice the storage of the Pre (16 GB iPhone 3G vs. 8 GB Pre), or if the rumors are to be believed, four times the storage (32 GB vs. 8 BG).  Could Palm surprise us with increased storage?

Frankly, it’s not likely. But given Palm’s move towards ‘the cloud,’ it is feasible that webOS and Palm could come with online cloud storage to compensate for the Pre’s perceived-to-be-anemic on-device storage. Such cloud-based storage would not only reduce the cost of the physical Pre, but would allow for greater versatility (you could load music or movies off your computer through your faster hardline connection, and then access it remotely with the Pre). This, of course, makes the Pre dependent on Sprint’s network coverage. If you find yourself in a subterranean parking garage, you can kiss your cloud-stored music goodbye.

Lastly, there’s one late game hardware surprise that actually has some support: WiMAX. Palm has been rumored to be working on a 4G WiMAX device since May 2007, but we haven’t seen anything fron it, and Sprint’s roll-out of WiMAX with partner/quasi-subsidiary Clearwire (Sprint owns 51% of Clearwire) has been slow and tortured for years. While Sprint and Clearwire have managed to get their Clear service up and running in Atlanta and Portland, and Sprint’s Xhom (soon to be merged with Clear) is up in Baltimore, they’re still ahead of Verizon and AT&T’s plans to launch LTE as their 4G service.

So, what about the Pre? While multi-tasking and unobtrusive notifications are the really nice things about the Pre, they aren’t exactly buzzword features that will put it head and shoulders in the public’s eyes over the next-gen iPhone. What makes this interesting, is that Sprint’s ‘Now Network’ commercials have all had uncredited cameos of the Pre, immediately following the following line: “America’s most dependable 3G network, bringing you the first wireless 4G network. Sprint, the Now Network.” Of course, it’s likely that Sprint is just trying to promote their network as being more advanced than their more popular competitors, but it’s also possible that the Pre will indeed have WiMAX. Possible in the same way that unicorns are possible.

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So there you have it — if there’s a late-game surprise with the Palm Pre, we don’t rightly know what it is and don’t even really know if we’re expecting one.  Do you think Palm has one more thing up their sleeve?

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