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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 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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If there’s an old Palm OS app that you absolutely must have, and thusly need Classic for it to work on your Pre, then there’s probably one very distinct feature you’re tired of Classic not having: HotSync. Have no fear, for MotionApps has heard your desperate cries for a solution and is hard at work getting HotSync to work, as seen to the right.

HotSync comes with a variety of built-in benefits, including getting your calendars and contacts into Classic, data migration from your old Palm apps, easy installation of new-old Palm OS apps, and – of course – local back-up of your Palm OS files.

MotionApps doesn’t have an ETA for the HotSync capability, but it will be added to a future update of Classic at no cost to current owners. Now, this will require WiFi or Bluetooth on your computer, as the sync will be a network HotSync, but that’s better than nothing. MotionApps is confident that HotSync will work without fail whatever your applications and is currently testing third-party conduits (e.g. Documents To Go) to ensure full compatibility.

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Palm Pre owners have been limited with apps and most likely downloaded all 30 that are available on the App Catalog. Business users like the ability to view Office files such as Word or Excel directly on their handset, but the lack of being able to edit them can limit their productivity on the go. [...]

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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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Thanks to the eagle eyes of the PreCentral.net forum membership, that latest Palm Pre Podcast video revealed more than just the back gesture and double tapping. We quickly glimpsed the YouTube app that we saw earlier, but before that was opened, we got to see something even more fun: icons for the Pre NASCAR app, App Catalog, YouTube, Documents to Go, Adobe Reader, and a generic "Sprint" app that we suspect might be some sort of Account management app ala T-Mobile’s Android app. While we knew that App Catalog and YouTube were going to be there anyway, it’s still nice to see them actually in place.

But those other two: Documents To Go and Adobe Reader. While we can’t read the labels for those icons, the former should be recognizable to any Palm user from the past five years, and the latter, well, we all know that one as the PDF icon. Presumably, this means that the Pre will have the full document editing support that was hinted at by Inside Sprint Now, as well as the ability to natively view PDFs.

Thanks to miles4000 and Kyusaku for the spot!

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So, those crafty buggers behind Inside Sprint Now have done it again. This time, it’s a second set of frequently asked questions, though this time it appears that the questions have not been lifted from the support documents, but are instead those that Inside Sprint Now has received from readers.

There are some mundane questions, like if you can receive calls during USB mode (no), disable browser cookies (yes), choose your calendar colors (yes), run multiple IM conversations (yes), set your music as a ringtone (yes), and so forth. But there are interesting questions too, like how much does this Palm Backup service cost? Nothing, at least out of your pocket. Apparently video capture will not be in the mix at launch, but ISN says "hang in there as great things are on the way, and as the Palm Pre uses the webOS, updates are just a gesture away!"

Oh, and here’s an interesting little bit, though how to interpret it is not exactly clear:

Office 2007 – Any issues?
Nope. Go ahead, tell your boss about it, and bring it to work. Welcome to life with the Pre – it just works!

Huh. Is that referring to the Doc Viewer application icon that we’ve glimpsed before, or is this something more sinister, perhaps DataViz’s (launch partner!) superb Documents to Go software will be on the Pre at launch. Either way, we’re now in the less-than-two-months-left window, so keep you ears to the ground for more news.

Thanks to Peter and Mahootzki for the tip!

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