14 DAY TRIAL // Apparently, HP was actually set to make the new webOS 2 platform version available for users of a Pre Plus handset after all, although it initially said that this might never happen. Following a series of reports regarding the availability of this software update for Palm Pre Plus smartphones on O2's airwaves, the actual software landed on handsets.
The new software update was made available via Palm's support website, and those Pre Plus owners on O2's network can now download and install it via a desktop PC.
As it usually happens with software updates for webOS devices, users have at their disposal the webOS Doctor, which installs on the desktop, and which would upgrade the OS on their handsets.
The Doctor for webOS 2.1 is what users can download for the German flavor of the Palm Pre Plus.
Those who would like to give it a try will find the actual software available for download here, and the release notes here (via PreCentral).
Unfortunately, there is no info for the time being on whether the software update will be released for other devices too.
Hopefully, HP / Palm will push the webOS 2.1 OS flavor to more Pre Plus devices out there, including those available in the United States.
Apparently, this should not be too hard to achieve, since some reports of webOS 2.1 loaded on other Pre Plus smartphones also emerged.
For those who might not know, we should note that the new webOS 2.0 platform version was released last year on the Palm Pre 2 smartphone, which landed on the market in France at the time.
HP promised then that the new OS would be delivered to other handsets as well, changed its heart this year, and said that it won't make the move, since those handsets pack lower hardware specs than recommended for a great user experience.