Palm Pre Plus

Palm's CES 2010 press conference didn't offer nearly as much fanfare as last year's event, where the company unveiled the Palm Pre. But Palm did announce new phones, a software update, and new partnerships, proving that this once-struggling handset company is not just a one-trick pony.

The biggest announcement at today's event was one that has been rumored for weeks: Palm confirmed that it is launching updated versions of its two webOS phones. The new phones, the Palm Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus, have not been redesigned in any major way, but both received vital updates. Both handsets will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on January 25. Pricing has not been announced, but considering that the Pre and Pixi are currently available on Sprint for $150 and $100, respectively, I expect the Pre Plus will cost a little less than $200 and the Pixi Plus will be close to $100.


Pre Get Subtle Updates

The Pre Plus looks almost identical to its predecessor, except for one subtle difference: the hardware button for closing applications has been removed. Palm didn't give a reason beyond saying that the change gave the Pre Plus a more refined and elegant look. I predict closing apps on the Palm Pre Plus will work similarly to the Pixi; you simply tap the gesture bar and the app closes.