Palm Pre webOS 1.2.0 Released

The latest update to the Palm Pre firmware, webOS 1.2, has been announced and will be automatically pushed over the air to users over the next few days. No new applications are included, but there are many changes to existing applications. One of the bigger features is that the Pre now lets users cut-and-paste content from Web pages or e-mails, like on the iPhone.

The Contacts application has been extended to support LinkedIn contact syncing; profiles are shown in the Pre contacts. When surfing the Internet, files can now be downloaded from the browser. Users will receive a notification message and be prompted to install the update once it has downloaded. Installation takes about 15 minutes, and you wont be able to use your Pre during that time, so pick a convenient time to install.

Other improvements include the ability to enter a phone number in a calendar note and later dial it from there, display photos in JPG, BMP and PNG format, download Amazon MP3s via WAN and Wi-Fi, and filter e-mail results in a folder by typing in a search term. Because of an ongoing disagreement with Apple, webOS 1.2 will no longer sync with iTunes.

Every time Palm releases an update to reestablish sync support, Apple has followed with an iTunes update to block compatibility, so it looks like Palm has lost this battle. Palm has complained to the USB Implementers Forum that Apples blocking of third-party devices is an abuse of its USB-IF membership. But the USB-IF, did not agree with these allegations, and even accused Palm of intentionally using Apple's Vendor ID (VID) to fool iTunes into thinking the Pre is an iPod or iPhone. How Palm will resolve the issue remains unclear.

Update: Palm has released webOS 1.2.1, which once again allows the iTunes synch. Expect iTunes 9.0.2 soon.

Update 2: Yes, iTUnes 9.02 has been released, and as expected, once again disables Palm Pre synching. Your move, Palm