My Palm Pre

Craig James Johnston has been involved with technology since his high school days at Glenwood High in Durban, South Africa, when his school was given some Apple 2 Euro Pluses. From that moment, technology captivated him, and he has owned, supported, evangelized, and written about it ever since. Craig has been involved in designing and supporting large-scale enterprise networks with integrated email and directory services since 1989. Craig has held many different IT-related positions in his career, ranging from sales support engineer to mobile engineering a 35,000-smartphone infrastructure at a large bank. In addition to designing and supporting mobile computing environments, Craig writes about them for Smartphone Essentials and CrackBerry.com, a leading BlackBerry blog. Craig also co-hosts the CrackBerry.com podcast and his own Mobile Computing Authority podcast.You can also see Craig’s previous published work in his books Professional BlackBerry and My BlackBerry Curve. Craig enjoys high-horsepower, high-speed vehicles and tries very hard to keep to the speed limits while driving them. Originally from Durban, South Africa, Craig has lived in the United Kingdom, the San Francisco Bay Area, and New Jersey, where he now lives with his wife Karen and a couple of cats.   Joe Hutsko is the author of Green Gadgets for Dummies and Macs All-in-One for Dummies, Second Edition. For more than two decades, Joe has written about computers, gadgets, and video games for numerous publications and websites, including The New York Times, Macworld, PC World, Fortune, Newsweek, Popular Science, TV Guide, The Washington Post, Wired, Gamespot, MSNBC, and Salon. Joe’s first novel, The Deal,was recently rereleased in trade paperback with a new foreword by the author (tinyurl.com/hutskodeal), and you can find links to Joe’s stories on his tech blog, JOEyGADGET.com. As a kid, Joe built a shortwave radio, played with electronic project kits, and learned the basics of the BASIC programming language on his first computer, the Commodore Vic 20. In his teens, he picked strawberries to buy his first Apple II computer. Four years after that purchase (in 1984), he wound up working for Apple, where he became the personal technology guru for the company’s chairman and CEO. Joe left Apple in 1988 to become a writer and worked on and off for other high-tech companies, including Steve Jobs’ one-time NeXT. He authored a number of video game strategy guides, including the bestsellers Donkey Kong Country Game Secrets: The Unauthorized Edition and Rebel Assault: The Official Insiders Guide. All comments, suggestions, and feedback are welcome, including positive and negative.

Prologue: Getting Started with Pre

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Touring Your Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Reviewing Your Pre’s External Controls and Features . . . . .4

Identifying Status Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Getting in Touch with Pre’s Touchscreen Gestures . . . . . . .10

Mastering Pre’s Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Tapping into Universal Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Using this Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

 

1 Transferring Your Data, Docs, and Media to Pre . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Copying Pictures, Audio,Video, and Documents to Pre . . . . .32

Using Your Palm Pre As a Thumb Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Understanding Pre’s Always-in-Sync Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Understanding Synergy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Adding Contacts, Calendars, and Tasks to Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Adding Data Using Online Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Adding a Google Gmail Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Transferring Your Data Using Palm Data

Transfer Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Backing Up and Preparing Your Data Before You

Transfer to Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Backing Up Microsoft Outlook Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Exporting Palm Desktop for Mac Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Importing Palm Desktop Data into iCal and

Address Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Running Palm Data Transfer Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

 

2 Making, Receiving, and Managing Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Configuring Phone Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Setting Phone Ringtone and System Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Adjusting Other Phone Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Adjusting Screen Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Making Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Dialing with the Dial Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Finding and Calling Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Dialing Contacts with Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Dialing Contacts from Launcher or Card View . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Dialing with the Contacts App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Assigning and Dialing with Speed Dial Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Saving and Dialing with Launcher Favorites . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Dialing with Call Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Dialing from Messages and Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Handling Incoming Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Managing Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Entering Numbers During a Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Making and Managing a Second Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Sending Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Saving Caller Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Using Apps While on a Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Using a Wired or Bluetooth Hands-Free Headset . . . . . . . . .81

Managing Your Phone Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

 

3 Managing Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Synergy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Adding Synergy Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Adding Corporate Email on your Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Using Contacts on Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Searching for a Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Launching the Contacts Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Adding Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Adding a Contact Manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

Adding a Contact from an Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Changing or Deleting Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Deleting a Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Changing a Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

 

4 Working with Date and Time, Calendar,To Do, and Memos. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . 100

Date and Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Setting Up the Date and Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103

Creating a Task List and Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103

Marking a Task As Complete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Deleting Completed Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Viewing Your Calendars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Configuring the Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Adding a New Event (Appointment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Viewing an Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Working with Google Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Adding Google Weather to Your Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

Event Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Memos (Notes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Creating a Memo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

Emailing a Memo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119

 

5 Connecting to the Internet,Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Devices. .. . . . . . . . . 120

Connecting to Wi-Fi Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

Setting up a Wi-Fi Network Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

The Web Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Using the Web Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Adding a Web Page to the Launcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Browsing Multiple Web Pages at One Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128

Sharing a Web Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129

Accessing Your Browsing History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

Configuring your Palm Pre Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131

Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

Pairing Your Palm Pre with an Accessory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

Pairing Your Palm Pre with a Computer, Phone, or Car Hands-Free System . . . . . . . . .134

 

6 Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Understanding Email on Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138

Configuring Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Adding an Automatic Personal Email Account . . . . . . . . . .140

Adding a Manual Personal Email Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141

Adding a Corporate (Microsoft Exchange)

Email Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143

Editing your Mail Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145

Using Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146

Using the Mail Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147

Composing an Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148

Attaching Files to Your Emails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150

Reading and Managing Emails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150

 

7 SMS, MMS, and Instant Messaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Adding Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154

Adding an IM Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154

Using Messaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156

Contacting Buddies and Managing Conversations . . . . .156

Sending a Standard Text (SMS) Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159

Sending Multimedia Files (MMS) with Your

Text Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160

Receiving Text (SMS) and Multimedia Files (MMS) . . . . . .162

Configuring Messaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163

 

8 Listening to Audio and Watching Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Getting Music and Video onto Your Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165

Using iTunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166

Synchronizing Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167

Synchronizing Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168

Using doubleTwist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169

Installing doubleTwist on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170

Installing doubleTwist on Mac OSX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Creating a doubleTwist Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Using doubleTwist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172

Synchronizing Music Using doubleTwist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172

Synchronizing Video Using doubleTwist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174

Using the Amazon MP3 Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175

Purchasing Music Using the Amazon MP3 Store . . . . . . . .176

Getting Amazon MP3 Music into iTunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178

Using the Palm Music Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179

Finding Music to Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179

Controlling a Song While It’s Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180

Listen to Podcasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181

Searching YouTube for Related Material While

Listening to Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182

Watching Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183

Synchronizing Videos using iTunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183

Playing Videos Transferred to Your Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184

Playing YouTube Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184

 

9 Shooting, Storing, and Viewing Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Shooting Your World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187

Taking Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188

Viewing and Sharing Your Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189

Viewing Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189

Sharing and Using Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190

Assigning a Photo to a Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191

Setting a Photo as your Palm Pre’s Wallpaper . . . . . . . . . . .192

Send a Photo to Someone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192

Upload a Photo to Facebook or Photobucket . . . . . . . . . . .193

Configuring the Photos Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194

Removing an Account or Changing its Password . . . . . . .195

Synchronizing Photos Using iTunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196

Getting Photos Off Your Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197

iPhoto in Mac OSX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197

Disk Mode in Mac OSX and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198

Let Windows Import Your Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199

 

10 Working with Palm Pre Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Using the Palm App Catalog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Setting Up an App Catalog Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Finding Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204

Purchasing Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205

Keeping Applications Up to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206

Deleting Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

Organizing Your Applications in Launcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208

Changing the Quick Launcher Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

 

11 Customizing Your Palm Pre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

Using Your Palm Pre While Flying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212

Toggling Airplane Mode On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212

Changing Your Pre’s Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213

Set Language and Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213

Changing the Country or Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214

Screen and Lock Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215

Password Protect Your Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217

Sounds & Ringtones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218

 

12 Maintaining Your Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Keeping Your Palm Pre Clean and Scratch Free . . . . . . . . . . . . .221

Getting the Most Out of Your Palm Pre’s Battery . . . . . . . . . . . .222

Keeping Your Palm Up to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222

Updating WebOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223

If Your Palm Pre Update Fails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224

Running Through First-Time Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227

Getting Help with Your Palm Pre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229

 

13 New and Notable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

The Palm Pre Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232

The Palm Pixi and Pixi Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233

The Palm OS Emulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234

Using Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234

Installing Your Palm Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235

Using HotSync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236

Manual Application Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .239

 

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240