Official webOS 1.2.1 New Features & Changes Found

[milominderbinder]

128 Improvements Found So Far!

Since webOS 1.2.1 adds just a few updates to 1.2.0 from earlier this week, webOS 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 notes will be combined.

Please post your feedback about webOS 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 into the appropriate thread:

• webOS 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 New Features & Changes Found (This thread.)

• webOS 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 Issues

• webOS 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 Discussion

• webOS Patch Discussion

Before upgrading to a new webOS, make sure that you remove all patches and themes. The fastest way is intall the Emergency Patch Remover patch and restart your Pre. Do a manual backup (Launcher->Backup->Backup now). Also do one last backup and sync. To remove all tweaks and restore without losing data after a new webOS is installed, use the webOS Repair Utility with Options->Compatibility Override checked. Homebrew Apps do not need to be removed and reinstalled.

Here are the 70 Expected Improvements, a Leaked webOS 1.2 Video, and another and Palm's 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 Release Notes. Note that webOS Quick Installer 2.7 works with webOS 1.2.1.


Improvements Verified By PreCentral Members:

•• Double dots indicate a features found since webOS 1.2.1 was released.

Amazon MP3
• Downloads - Support Amazon MP3 over a phone connection - WiFi is no longer required
• Reboot Error Fixed - Device will no longer reboot while attempting to download music when there was not available user memory.

App Catalog
• Purchases - App Catalog supports purchasing apps under Preferences
• Reinstall Deleted Apps - Tap the App in the Catalog and tap Download again for free.
• Share - Tap Share to send a link to the app via email or text message.
• You must accept an end-user license agreement to use the app catalog.
• Homebrew Apps - are include along with Palm Apps in the App Catalog - tap the bag on the lower right.
• Delete - To delete Homebrew or Palm apps, swipe them left or right.

Bluetooth
• Car Kit Support - There is a "Send all to Car Kit" option in the Contacts Application now
• Improved Reception - Static and crackles reduced: 2008 Infinity, Sony Headset
• Better pairing - Many Bluetooth pariing issues are fixed
• While on the phone if you turn on your car with a previously paired car kit, you have the option to continue talking into the phone or transfer the call to the car kit.
• More types of car kits to will can transfer contacts has increased, including Toyota and Lexus.
• You can make a Bluetooth connection to a computer even if the device name field is blank.

Calendar
• Colors - Calendar now has preference setting for "Calendar View Options" to set the color of your calendars and to show them in the "All Calendars" view.
• Dial Phone - Tap a phone number to dial it from a calendar notes field.
• Dup Fixed - When editing or creating a calendar event and toggling to another application before saving the event, the event will no longer be duplicated.
• Google Sync Fixed - On Google calendar, all day events that are changed to timed events on a computer are now properly updated.
• Remove Fixed - If a cancellation is received for an event and the user selects "Remove from Calendar", the event is now removed from the device and desktop.
• Snooze Fixed - If a calendar event is snoozed then moved to a future time, the event notification will now appear at the proper time.
• Event Location - In event details, tap Event Location for Show On Map or Get Directions.
• Delete Event - In Day view, press and hold the orange key and tap an event to delete the event.
• 7th Day Fixed - Repeating events can now be correctly set for the 7th day of the month.
• Untimed Events - Now correctly appear in the Calendar.
• All-Day Fixed - All-day events continue to display correctly when you change time zones.
• Birthdays Fixed - All birthday months now display correctly.
• Responses Fixed - Meeting invitation responses are correctly sent back to the organizer.

Clock
• SMS Fixed - If the device receives a notification alert (for example an SMS), a clock alarm would not play unless the notification alert was dismissed.
• Turn Off Alarm - "Play Alarm Anyway" On/Off when mute switch is on - under preference under "Ring Switch Off".
• Volume - Alarm volume now matches ringtone volume.
•• Landscape - The Clock App now supports a very nice fullscreen landscape mode.

Contacts
• Auto-linking Fixed - Improved auto-linking of contacts
• Find Linked - When two contacts were linked you can now find them in SMS and email.
• Send Contact - Send options are now Car Kit, vCard, and multimedia when a contact is open.
• Copy All - On a contact details screen, Edit submenu, Copy All copies the entry as plain text.
• LinkedIn - Download LinkedIn contacts but not create or edit LinkedIn Contacts.
• Automatic Buddy - Contacts with instant messaging address are linked to the IM buddy entry.

Email
•• Exchange 2007 - Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks synchronize issue.
• Select Paragraph - Pre and hold Shift and tap to select text: will be highlighted in yellow
• Copy Text - Gesture area-C copies any text or photos, etc. that are selected
• Dups Fixed - If large attachments are sent in an e-mail, the e-mail is no longer sent twice
• Manual Sync Fixed - Manual sync POP accounts will not automatically sync the email account
• Play audio - WAV's now play directly from email (if recorded with certain CoDec's)
• Share Image - Share JPG, BMP & PNG images - Hold the Orange key and tap the image
• Copy Image - Copy image to your photos - Hold the Orange key and tap the image
• Filter - Email Search Filter, though it only searches subject and sender right now
• Search - Find-as-you-type - Open a folder and type to find matches in subject, from, to, or CC.
• Find Initials Only - Search will now find contacts with only initials as last name (such as John S.).
• Meeting Accept fixed - When you accept a meeting invitation, the response is now correctly sent.
• Exchange policies - You can now use multiple Exchange accounts
• Forward Fixed - Forwarded messages now correctly show original text and formatting.
• Attachments Fixed - Save attached files save with correct name now.
• Mailbox Full - An error message appears if you cannot send if the Exchange mailbox is full.
• EAS security policies - such as passwords are now enforced when accessing Exchange accounts

Memos
• Single Tap Fixed - Single Tap in memo text moves the cursor to the point that was tapped.
• Email formatting - When using the Email Memo option, memo formatting is maintained.

Messaging
• Contacts - AIM contacts automatically link to contacts
• Copy All - Option in Edit submenu to copy entire conversation (but not just a part).
• Online Status - A buddy’s online status and custom message display on the conversation screen.
• Find Initials Only - Search will now find contacts with only initials as last name (such as John S.).
• Automatic Contact Linking - Contacts with IM address are linked to the IM buddy entry.
• vCard Support - You can receive vCard contact entries as part of a multimedia message.

Music Player
• Notification Dashboard - Music playback controls on the dashboard even if the screen is locked
• Resume - If playback is interrupted, playback resumes where it paused if the Genre is podcast, speech, spoken word, netcast, or audiobook.
• Ringer Off - If the ringer switch is off, music playback is not interrupted by an incoming call.

Notifications
• Picture - Text Notifications now include a contact picture
• LED Notification - Disabled - Center button can flash on alert but is disabled. Description - see video
• Notifications (calls, email, text, etc.) are above the lock icon so they show if keyboard is locked.

On Screen Keyboard
• The On Screen Keyboard has been updated to work with webOS 1.2! Download with Preware.

Phone
• Notification Sounds - Play softly when you are on a call regardless of the system sounds setting.
• Data Usage - Preference menu now has a Data Usage on/off switch
• Better Layout - Speaker, Mute, Key Pad, and Add Call buttons moved away from Hang Up button when notification dashboard is not displayed
• Number Displays - During a call, phone number is now displayed along with extension type (Work, Home, etc.)
• More Call Log Detail - Contact entries in the call log now show both the phone number and type.
• Faster - Dialer response is much faster with minimal to no lag on anything
• PRL fixed - Update PRL in Phone Preferences now displays "updating PRL" correctly.
• Ringtone Volume - Default ringtone volume has been increased.
• Call Volume - can be adjusted even if the screen is off.

Photos
• More formats - The Photos app can now display photos in JPG, BMP, and PNG format.

Security
•• Security - Several security fixes, including an issue encountered by webkit developers.

Syncing
•• Music - Media sync works with iTunes 9.0.1. (Hint-You might want to save 9.0.1, turn iTune Updates off)
•• Photos - Photo Albums now sync via Media Sync without requiring full-resolution
•• Photos - Media sync now synchronizes photo albums and album structure in the Photos app.
• Fixed - Syncing issue with personal accounts has been resolved

System
• Enhanced Copy - Added to browser and email (Shift key + tap and drag to select text).
• Faster - Speed increases across the board, notifications are much snappier - Updated Mojo framework (200.18) on 1.1 it was 191.15
• GPS Location Services - expanded to include Google Services
• Reboots Faster - Reboot time seems to have improved though it is still slow to reboot.
• PNG Images - Supports PNG as well as jpg images
• Lock Screen - When you get an incoming call the number now shows up at the top of the locked screen instead of the bottom (so it's not hidden by the "slide up to answer" button anymore.)
• Select All - Select All option in Edit menus
• Battery Indicator - While charging, the battery indicator is now green only at 100%.
• Open an app menu - by either tapping or dragging down from the upper right corner.
• Fast Cursor - Press & hold Orange key and drag on screen to move one word at a time in text.
• LED Flash on Off - Center button and two side LED's blink when the screen shuts off.

Tasks
• Categories - Categories, start date, status, reminders, etc. now sync with your computer.
• Sort Options - Now sort in "My Order" (how things were entered), by due date, or priority.
• Hide Completed - New menu option makes completed task disappear from the current view.

Universal Search
• Paste - If you are on the main screen or launcher, Gesture area -V pastes & opens search.
• Synonyms - Synonyms added. For example, "Movies" brings up YouTube and Videos.
• Contacts - Contact match option to Add Reminder to a contact that is found.
• Alternate Characters - Tap Orange key + a key for the alternate character (for example, 5 for F)
• Keywords - Enter keywords to search applications such as “addresses” for Contacts, “SMS” returns Messaging, and “pictures” returns Photos.
• Symbols - Universal search can start with a symbol like " or '. Before " was converted to o.

Web
•• Streaming music or video start more quickly and drop out issues are resolved.
• Bookmarks Backup - Automatic Backup & Restore of web browser bookmarks
• History Backup - Automatic Backup & Restore of web browser history
• Download files - To download files in browser including PDF's tap the file name.
• Forms Field Zoom - Web Browser auto zooms to fit form fields
• Form Capitalization Error fixed - First character typed in a form field is no longer capitalized
• Links - New Orange-tap link options: Open in New Card, Share Link, and Copy URL
• Save Images - Orange+Click on an JPG or PNG image for options to Open in New Card, Share Link, Copy URL, Share Image, or Copy to Photos
• Smoother - Selecting text and scrolling through text boxes is smoother, more accurate, and selects full words now
• Select Text - Shift & Tap and drag over text or tap another area to expand selection
• Select Image - Shift-Tap select a JPG, BMP, or PNG image - option to copy to Photos.
• Copy Text - Gesture area-C copies any text or photos, etc. that are selected.
• Copy Notification - If you copy text, a notification appears stating that the text was copied.
• Certificate - You can accept self-signed certificates through the browser.

WiFi
• Instead of EvDO - Can now disable Data(EVDO) and use WiFi in conjunction with standard voice service (Major battery saver)

Apps
• Classic - MotionApps has stated the HotSync will be enabled with webOS 1.2.
• Facebook - The full Facebook page now saves your login info and auto zooms to text boxes.
• Google Maps - Transit and Walking Directions added.
• LinkedIin - LinkedIn enhancements claimed by Sprint but not found yet.
• Sprint Navigation - Option to view driving instruction list.
- • Sprint Navigation now finds contacts from Google Contacts, Exchange and Palm profile.
• Yahoo Finance Real-time updates on Yahoo Finance now work properly.

Lost Features
• Email Preview - Previously, pinch out on email list to preview an email - feature removed.

Please post confirmations and detail new features found in this thread. Please include screenshots if possible.

Thank you to these users for originally posting in these threads:
Sprints List of Upgrades in webOS 1.2 As of 9/8/09
Features Users Found in the Leaked webOS 1.2
WebOS 1.2 already out?
as4life, awrnsmn, Beknatok, bobvr, bpdamas, cwgtex, d2globalinc, dhMassacre, Ehsan, Elysian893, emoney_33, go4craig, hellion850, jack87, Jason Robitaille, jhoff80, kmehr, Leathal, michaelw9, onlinespending, pogeypetey, qitupx, Rennat, rwhitby, SMKOUT333, theoottesen, tozfeekum, and wkalam2

[windzilla]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy

LED notifications option not available

all of the applications, including homebrew, show up in the appcatalog when you select the bag icon and go to the installed apps tab.

you can delete apps from this as well by sliding them away and hitting delete. it also has a separate updates function within the app catalog

the test application has been modified, in self tests, when checking the screen tap for colors, the bottom of the screen now fades to white instead of retaining the color as in the previous version.

If i were to editorialize, I wonder if this is a software fix for a hardware problem. IE the blotches that would happen at the bottom of the screen, especially when hot.
My very first pre had this problem, but I noticed it especially when running the test on green. I brought it into sprint, showed the tech that, during the built in screen test, it was clearly a problem. If i were to have viewed the screen using this test, the blotch would not be nearly as obvious, and they might have saved themselves some money.

or they could have just changed it for to make it prettier or something.

[scoobdude]

Palm Support : Palm Pre Sprint - Software update information for Palm Pre Sprint p100eww

Plam's site has been updated

[Sukiyaki]

The feature to show the actual number in the phone app went back retroactively to all previous calls in the call log.

[Sukiyaki]

prl update didnt error out or go to airplane mode... and I think it updated too...i had 60652 before, now I have 60654. I don't know if that is a result of the 1.2 update or the prl update request.

[DogEars]

I know it's a fresh install and I will reserve final judgment for a few days, but the OS in general is MUCH snappier. Especially the email application, HUGE improvement there.

If this holds up, my main issue has been resolved

[meangreengdub]

Photos now dissolve in from top to bottom rather than slide in from right to left.

[Eckless]

Favorite new feature: the web browser behaves better with Google Reader. Under 1.1, Google Reader would often get lost and you'd have to "scroll up" to see the articles...the web browser now puts you in exactly the right place. Yay!

[Mike Cerm]

Found a new feature: When using Google Reader, the browser automatically scrolls to the top when you change feeds. No longer are you presented with a white page, and forced to scroll, scroll, scroll to the top. (New in 1.2)

[bjmacke]

The LinkedIn sync did get included with this release and it works perfectly. Now I have all my professional contacts as well my personal ones. Awesome!

[Yankees368]

My Pre now interacts properly with my Mitsubishi Outlander. It now correctly hangs up the call when the button on the car is pressed. YES!

[Stake]

My biggest complaint is just about fixed. The transitions and multitasking is far smoother and faster especially with music playing. No more stuttering of the GUI when going back and forth from card view. YAY!

[Elysian893]

So one thing I've noticed having just run the WebOS Doctor again to get the official 1.2, the Facebook/Gmail syncing actually works now. Before(with the leaked 1.2), I had to remove all accounts and re-add them, otherwise it'd never sync, and a friend of mine had also had the same issue. It also remembered that I only wanted it to set up 1 email account, instead of both my gmail accounts.

[j0sh097]

Originally Posted by cheryltomlin

I just finished dl'ing 1.2, but I'm not seeing the option to turn on "Blink Notifications" under Screen & Lock. I was really looking forward to having the white button light up to notify me of texts, etc. Has anyone been able to activate it since downloading 1.2?

Thanks

See: WebOS 1.2 Brings LED Notifications - But They're Not Enabled by Default | PreCentral.net

[RanGT]

Originally Posted by tribert73

I open precentral.net and tried to copy a paragraph or word and no go.

hold shift, tap paragraph....a yellow dot show up and tap again.

i tried drag, but didn't get that....u can then take off shift, scroll down, do same process to copy more text.

[kmehr]

Originally Posted by lstrike

Ugh same except when I ran WebOS Doc the Palm logo went away and now I have zero boot. Straight black screen and the phone does not appear to want to power up. Performed battery pull and tried Power button and switching the volume toggle 3 times. Nothing.

Any suggestions?

**After 6 more battery pulls and and getting myself dressed to go to the local Sprint store it decided to turn on again. Running the Doc right now - that was scary...**

1) Remove the battery
2) Press and hold the volume up button
3) Plug the USB charging cable into the wall charger, and insert the USB cable into the Pre.(you will see a picture of a battery and a question mark at this point)
4) Insert the battery.
5) Release the volume up button.
At this point, you will see a full-screen "USB" symbol, instead of the normal small USB symbol over a picture of the Pre. DO NOT CONNECT THE PRE TO YOUR PC YET. Once the webOS Doctor asks you to plug in the Pre, take the USB cable out of the wall charger, and plug it into your USB port on the PC. The "Found New Hardware" wizard will run, installing "Novacom" drivers. After that completes, the "Next" button will light up in webOS Doctor, and allow you to finish repairing your device.

Sources: Can't get WebOS Doctor to recognize Pre & WebOS Doctor Issues

Hope this helps

[mu7efcer]

Originally Posted by jordan23945bulls

The notification sound is really low and if u change them using my notification they still sound low its sucks i dont like it

Go into "Sounds & Ringtones" app and turn up the "System Sounds" volume.

[Conceyted]

Every time my screen goes off the center button and two side leds blink as the screen goes off. This is new and distracting and useless.

[mu7efcer]

Originally Posted by le_seus

when you go to location services the option to turn on and off GPS is gone. whats up with that....i used that to save battery when i didnt need it.

I think the feature is still there, it's just in the menu under "Locate Me Using..." I'm guessing that if you turn off "GPS" that will disable the GPS chip, and save battery.

That said, in my testing with Battery Meter, keeping the GPS on (at least in 1.1) had hardly any impact on battery life. YMMV.

[mu7efcer]

Originally Posted by wdesigns

Ok. I'm new at this. I don't understand what they mean by uninstall the "tweeks"

The only thing i have downloaded is the app file coaster and a few games. Do i have to uninstall that before i can install the update?

Sorry! I'm a newbie!

In WebOS Quick Install, there's Tools -> Tweaks menu. If you turned any of those on, you have to turn them all off before you can do the update.

Additionally, if you've installed PreWare, you have to uninstall any patches.

Finally, if you've logged in to root on your Pre and installed patches via Quilt, you have to undo those, too.

If you are uncertain of what you've done, I highly recommend WebOS Quick Repair *BEFORE* you do the update.