It was just a few days ago that we welcomed 13 new apps into the Palm App Catalog. Palm seems to be on a roll, since last night, the App Catalog got 10 more apps. Not only that, but a few are graduates from the homebrew arena. So now we have 68 apps, and to think there’s people out there that say the Pre is not good because it does not have any apps at all. Glad to prove them wrong.
On this new batch of apps, Palm gave the world a big surprise with gDial Pro, an app that had a humble, but sure footed start as a homebrew app. gDial Pro is a Google Voice app that works great with synergy on the Palm Pre. With gDial Pro you can manage voice calls and SMS, choose which numbers Google Voice redirects to, and there’s even a dialler to make calls from the Pre itself. I been using it since last night, and it works great, it will be my “house number” from now on, that way only friends and family will have my cell number. Take that, Apple/AT&T.
The other apps are:
* AccuRadio: Offers hundreds of radio stations for the U.S. and Canada.
* Local Concerts: Provides you with personalized concert updates from your favorite artists based upon your location.
* Simple Bible: Includes the full text of the Bible with a range of ebook features. This one is another app that started as homebrew.
* Currency Converter: Provides conversion rates for popular international currencies. Another app from Janni Kovacs.
* 420 Wallpaper: Brings a selection of poster artwork from San Francisco to give your Palm Pre a new look.
* Forbes: Provides financial data and stock quotes.
* Video Poker: Ad supported game of poker that is sure to be a great time killer for poker fans.
* Checkers: The classic boardgame, on your webOS device. And it is another graduate from the homebrew gallery.
* Lights Out: A puzzle game where the goal is to turn off all the lights.
Out of those new apps, I’ve used three so far, Checkers, which I enjoy playing, alone or against my daughter. AccuRadio, which I have to say, it beats Pandora mainly in two things; one is the unlimited skips – that alone beats the heck out of Pandora in my book – and it has no limit on how many hours per week we use it. And as I mentioned above, gDial Pro, which is a great app to use with my GVoice account.
