Palm has released the much-anticipated next version of its webOS operating system, webOS 1.2.0.  This new version, which was leaked accidentally weeks ago, includes a few new features, some speed improvements and support for purchasing apps from the App Catalog.  If you can’t wait to for the download to complete, here’s a YouTube video showing off some new features.  Agonizingly, Sprint posted the version notes weeks before the official release was available.  Then, rumors indicated it would be released last week, as we reported Wednesday.

New Features

No new apps were added to webOS 1.2.0.  However, a number of new features were added to the existing applications.  First and foremost was the addition of cut and paste from the Web browser and other apps.  To activate the copy feature hold the shift key down and tap/drag on the browser.  Also, you can quickly select the entire document using the new Edit menu option ‘Select All’.

The App Catalog app has been enhanced to capture credit card information.  This paves the way for the opening of the App Catalog on Thursday.  Expect to see a flood of paid applications appearing now that Palm has laid into place the infrastructure for collecting payments.

In addition, downloading files from the browser is now possible.  For certain file types just clicking on the file in the browser will initiate a download and, if supported, the file will be opened by its application.  To download images from the browser press the Orange key then tap on the image.

Enhancements

Quite a number of applications and features were enhanced with this update.  Early testers have indicated that the OS seems ’snappier’ now, particularly the phone app.  Here’s a quick list of some of the enhancements:

• Browser auto-zooms to forms
• Improved global search (including being able to paste into global search)
• Searching in the e-mail app (start typing to search messages)
• Setting e-mail to Manual actually makes it manual
• Bluetooth support for car kits (download all contacts)
• Copy conversations within Messenger
• Enhancements to LinkedIn and Facebook
• Support for photo albums during Media Sync
• Backup/restore of browser bookmarks
• Ability to pause podcasts and resume where you left off
• A number of bug-fixes

You can read Palm’s official version notes for the full list of enhancements and bug fixes.

Concerns

While nearly everything in the update is an improvement over what’s come before there appear to be something that could be of concern to some:  the appearance of code to allow remote deletion of apps.  However, not everyone is as concerned.  Palm needs to have the ability to recall applications that are either a threat to the phone or are found to be unacceptable in protect to police the App Catalog.

Also of concern is the report that 1.2.0 does not increase the limit on the size of downloaded applications.  Most people who have been installing applications have run into the limit on the size of installed applications.  This limit is currently 32 MB.  If this is not addressed soon then I suspect that the App Store will not be as successful as it could be for the simple reason that people will not be able to download apps.

Final Thoughts

It’s been about two months since version 1.1.0 of webOS was released.  Many people were hoping for new applications and enhancements that did not make it into this version (particularly increasing the meager size of the application partition, as mentioned above).  However, Palm has shown that they are polishing webOS and that they are focusing on the usability and responsiveness of the Pre.  How 1.2.0 affects battery life is still to be seen.  Also, there is nothing yet available to developers to know what new features have been added to Mojo framework. Here is the Palm announcement of the Mojo SDK 1.2. If you like, PreCentral has set up several message groups to cover the release:

• Official webOS 1.2.1 New Features & Changes Found
• Official webOS 1.2.1 Issues
• Official webOS 1.2.1 Discussion

Tell us below what your thoughts are on the 1.2.0 release.  Did you get everything you wanted?

Update 1:  Added link to the new webOS 1.2 SDK release notice.