The Palm Pixi is official, headed to Sprint this holiday season -- we've got hands-on and video!
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:02AM
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:02AM
Along with the new handset, Palm will offer five artist-designed back covers in the "Palm Pixi Artist Series" -- similar to Zune Originals and Dell's Design Studio laptops -- which can be purchased separately... of course. Touchstone owners take heart: those backs, as well as a separate black backing that you'll also pay extra for, are all compatible with the accessory. In addition to the hardware, Palm will be introducing a native Facebook app when the Pixi hits, as well as new Yahoo! and LinkedIn integration for Synergy. Right now no date for launch has been set, though Palm says the phone will be ready in time for the holidays. The company is also mum on price, but coupled with the news that Sprint will be slimming the Pre's entry point down to $149.99, we have to assume it's going to be in the $99-or-less ballpark. We had a chance to play around with the new phone, so read on after the break for our initial, early impressions.
Palm is still tweaking the device, so we aren't making any final judgments on the Pixi -- though what we saw is mostly heartening.
For starters, the phone is really quite handsome. In terms of industrial design, the clean lines and smart choices in materials belie the Pixi's likely price-point. In your hands it feels solid, though it's shocking just how tiny it is. The standard backing is a soft-touch material (not unlike the Touchstone back for the Pre), and perhaps due to the lack of moving parts here, the phone feels really well put together. Just as with the Pre, the Pixi includes a ringer on / off switch and 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as a removable 1150mAh battery.
The body of the phone is -- as we said -- very small, but the thickness is where it really struts its stuff... or lack of stuff. The Pixi is just 0.43-inches thick. To put that in perspective, the iPhone 3GS is 0.48-inches -- which means anyone who has complaints about sliding a handset into their pocket should be swooning.
Instead of a center button, Palm has made the middle of the gesture area (part of its capacitive coating) take on the duty. The target is represented by a small, white slit, and the same gestures that webOS is known for seem to work flawlessly around it. While the screen gets 80 pixels lopped off compared with the Pre (and the iPhone, G1, Hero, and Storm, to name a few), it looked clean and crisp to us. The responsiveness on the main part of the display was just as tight -- if not tighter -- than the Pre, and that's a plus. Of course, webOS makes clever use of the cramped space by squashing card and app sizes down to fit. It's a tremendous example of the UI's literal scalability.
The QWERTY keyboard on the Pixi was also a bit of a shocker -- even though the keys are tiny and tightly spaced, it's definitely usable. The reps we spoke with noted that due to the candybar form factor and lack of a sliding mechanism, they were able to get more height on the keys. Besides the more pronounced buttons, the Pixi's keyboard seemed to have a more tactile click than that of the Pre, and honestly, we might have liked the Pixi's variation better.
Inside, the phone is powered by a completely different CPU than its big brother. In this case, Palm chose to use the Qualcomm MSM7627, a smaller chip which enabled them to mint the micro form factor. The CPU itself isn't dramatically different than the 7200 series, though it is noticeably less charged than the TI OMAP3 chip in the Pre. Regardless of what's cranking the gears, the phone seemed pretty snappy when it was demoed for us (you can see it in action in the videos below). We did notice a few hangups during big image scaling and heavy webpages, but again, this is early software on an early device.
All in all, we walked away impressed by the Pixi, but a little bummed that Palm has chosen to bring another webOS device to Sprint. Here's hoping that this proliferation means the Pre will be finding its way to other carriers soon -- part of Palm's strength right now is that it's not locked into a long term Apple / AT&T situation, and it would be a shame not to take full advantage of that. Still, it's always nice to see a quality handset joining the smartphone ranks, and if this pans out to be as cheap as we think it should be, Palm could find themselves making a lot of new friends... Centro style.
I like it. Very simple. Too bad I don't have Sprint.
That original post from May 2009 said AT&T, not Sprint. So what's going on? Is it not enough that Sprint's already got the Pre? They have to hog ALL the Palm devices?
Palm or whoever needs to get that Web OS app library kickin.
hmmm... this looks way better than the pre.
leave it up to palm.... better phone, less profit..
How can you possibly think this looks better than the pre? I think you just hate Palm...that's fine, go spank it with your iphone...
Very nice, Palm. I was drooling over the Pre before, but now I want this... or maybe I shoould get the Hero. Decisions, decisions...
awesome stuff
Great to see Palm is keeping their momentum up with webOS devices. A little perplexed that Engadget would complain about Palm choosing to launch another webOS device on Sprint, and in the same paragraph extol the virtues of low-end pricing. I mean, find me a post-paid carrier in the US with better data pricing and a footprint as good or better than Sprint's.
Anyway, once again it's fantastic to see the Pixi announced so soon after the Pre's launch, and I'm looking forward to the added functionality of Yahoo with Synergy, as well as a native Facebook app.
It reminds me of my Pre after the oreo effect kicked in...but I like it. Its simple.
lol
Finally, I will have some options, and not have to settle on my next upgrade. I've been dying for a difficult decision from the Sprint store for a while now :P
2,6" only ? Isn't this a mistake ? I mean it would be really really small !
if this has wifi,it would be even better..but i hope this comes to the uk soon,
...which brings me back to my "AT&T is keeping iPhone competitors out of their store" theory. This phone might actually have been developed for deployment through att, but their renewed commitment to move as many iPhone's as possible incentivizes them to keep competitors off their network. Sound silly?
A "FamilyTalk" plan can cover unlimited data and messaging for up to 5 phones for $65/mo total. The iPhone, however, does not qualify and requires data and/or messaging plan for each phone (no group discount). Covering 5 iPhones for "unlimited" data & messaging is $250/mo, regardless of whether they're on one plan or 5 separate plans. Since att makes potentially 400% more monthly revenue per iPhone, they'll stop milking the Apple cow when hell freezes over (or the teets dry up).
The closest competitors att offers are the HTC Fuze (Touch Pro 1) and the Blackberry Bold, both at a 50% higher cost than the iPhone 3G(S) 16GB. There are units similar to the Pixi (Samsung Jack, Propel Pro, Blackberrys), but in form factor and style, none compete directly with the iPhone, nor have the buzz or marketing to compete. You can bet a red phone call was made from Cupertino to Dallas once this puppy (err... Pixi) starting getting attention and admiration.
I thought Sprint had first exclusives over the Pre as well as this particular handset. I think Sprint has a special deal going with Palm.
That original post from May 2009 said AT&T, not Sprint. So what's going on? Is it not enough that Sprint's already got the Pre? They have to hog ALL the Palm devices?
Im sorry, but palm needs to hire a few of HTC's designers. The pree's style wasn't my personal fav, but it had less to do witht he design and more to do witht he size. This thing just looks one of the laziest phone designs I've ever seen.
The screen really isn't that small. Every heard of those phones named after berries? Blueberry? Or no Strawberry that's it!
It's just a different kind of device than the pre or iphone. It does seem like a slightly lower-end device than the pre even though it still looks nice. No Wi-fi, smaller screen, similar keyboard. I'm not quite sure what this brings to the table that the pre didn't. It's sort of like an always-opened palm pre. Such a slight difference in form factor. Whatever WebOS is sick either way.
Well, to be fair the Blackberries with a similar screen size are not touch screen devices. The one Blackberry that does have a touch screen has a much larger screen. P.S. I love my Pre, and I definitely think it is superior to the Pixi.
I thought sprint said that all smart phones must come with wifi.... so whats the deal with this?
Looks great. Shame I won't be able to even have the choice of owning it any time soon. The Pre hasn't even launched in the UK yet... I think it will be some time until we see the Pixi released.
Looks awesome. It seems like such a connected multitasking device would really hit the wall since Sprint doesn't do data and voice at the same time. Here's hoping for ATT sometime soon.
Awesome to see another WebOS Device breaking cover so soon after the Pre. For anyone who wasn't feeling the vertical slider on the Pre (for whatever reason), this one's for you. Also, it looks like they're keeping their noses to the grindstone expanding Synergy, which is great.
Here's hoping the blogs are right with the below $99 predictions...
It looks pretty slick. It reminds me of an iPhone, but with a physical keyboard.
sprint/palm better put the expanded synergy features and native facebook app in the pre, when the pixie luanches.
yes i agree the phone looks very cheap and for i can see from the video the touch screen is not that good
as from the pre
made of the chepest material that sucks
tought palm was getting up but now am staring to have doubts about it
This phone needs to come to AT&T the iphone is old news!
Very nice! Looks better than the iPhone and more affordable. Here's hoping we can get it unlocked.
This phone is gorgeous. Apple, time to show a phone with a different form factor. You do like money don't you, Steve?
And an EPIC FAIL for HTC CEO who allowed that lousy comment on capacitive screens. Just imagine the next board meeting Mr Resistive Screen. Think before you speak.
If you had the choice of Pixi or Dixi ... which would you choose?
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa125/livefaith/PixiDixi.jpg
This is the kind of design that I keep looking for.
Dixi
It looks as good as the Pre if not better. Only problem I had with the Pre was battery life so I am hoping that they have addressed that issue. I think it will do great. Palm please have a phone coming out with a sideways slide out keyboard. So many many would want that phone as it is so much easier to type on the sideways slide outs. I loved the Web OS. I would never get an iphone on AT&T as they suck and charge too much. I hope Palm and Sprint keep working together have atleast 1-2 year exclusive rights before the big red and att can get their hands on anything good and along with the new pricing on the any network calling plan for $70 can't get any better. Come on people pay the $150 early term and support Sprint in bring goodness to the phone world.
Palm Pixi has my favorite form factor (like Palm Treo 650). I don't like sliders. IMHO, movable parts in Palm Pre is his main vulnerability. So now I'm waiting for GSM version in Europe. But really I don't think I'll be able to wait for starting official sales here in Russia. Palm Pre is not sold even in Europe. So I'm afraid Palm Pixi sales can be started in Europe in about one year ;(
This puts me back in the Palm camp. Well, as soon as it comes to T-Mobile. This is what the later Treos should have looked like years ago instead of being the chubsters they were.
I wonder how well the Palm OS emulator will run on this size screen.
I don't understand why people are not happy with this device being on Sprint. Sprint's network has been very reliable for me for the past 10 years I have been with them. Additionally, I will then point the question to the iPhone, why have that only on at&t? Good for Sprint, they will now create draw for webOS, at least until their exclusivity runs out.
I don't understand how people are saying this phone is ugly when it looks like an iPhone and a Blackberry had a baby. I think this device is pure genius.. it is simple, it has a PHYSICAL keyboard, a MULTI-TOUCH screen, and WEB OS for god sakes how could that not sound delicious to you? I understand if you want to hate on Sprint for their past woes but do not hate on progression. Sprint is getting better and better every year with their cheap plans and growing customer service support.
I agree with many people saying that one of the Pre's main problems was its CHEAP slider mechanism. No matter which way you swing it that slider sucked. But in my personal opinion the Pre made up for it in every other category. With the Pixi you won't have to worry about sliding it up, or the keyboard being too flat because its right there in your face. And the screen is not that small Jesus Christ you people need to stop finding reasons to hate on something that's not the iPhone and just accept that someone else can make a great phone. And Palm did that already and has another one on the way.
I think the lack of wifi is the most ridiculous thing in the world, the whole globe runs on freakin' wifi but that is not Palm's fault. Sprint is the one that made the decision on no wifi, I guess to differentiate the two devices or something..very stupid.
This phone (besides the lack of wifi) is exactly what I have been waiting for and I will be picking it up for the holidays. And if you have half a brain YOU should jump on the Palm train too cause that Web OS is the BEST!
Web OS sucks.
It's laggy and crashes.
This phone is weak.
2MP Camera?
HTCs had 2mp cameras 3 years ago.
Just another "ho-hum not this again" device.
When are we going to start getting decent spec'd phones in the USA like the OmniaHD or crap even the new N900, or the Omnia pro. The omnia Pro (samsung lourve) destroys this phone by far...but will we ever see it here? nope!