Palm Pre Shortcuts
Besides a brief stint with the Samsung Blackjack (returned within the first 30 days), the Palm Pre is my first smart phone. Despite that, I’m finding it very easy to use and intuitive. Here is a list of all the things I had to go look up though. Of course, if I had read the Palm Pre User Guide (PDF), the list would have been shorter.
To make sure we’re speaking the same language, here’s a diagram of the Pre’s keyboard so we can keep terminology consistent. (Click the image to make it bigger.)
Arrow keys/Move the cursor:
Hold down the Orange button and drag along the touch screen (left, right, up, or down) for an arrow keys-like ability.
Tab:
To tab from one field (user name) to another (password), isn’t possible… yet. A lot of people claim hitting the Enter button will work, but it doesn’t for most web forms.
How to highlight text:
Insert your cursor where you want to start highlighting. If necessary, follow the Arrow keys instructions above for easy cursor placement.
Hold down shift and drag your finger on the touchscreen along the direction you want to highlight until you have selected everything you want.
How to Cut and Copy text:
Highlight the text you want using the above steps.
Hold your finger against the gesture area to the right or left of the middle button so that the middle button glows.
Press the letter C on the keyboard (to copy) or the letter X (to cut).
How to Paste text:
Insert the cursor where you would like the text to be inserted
Hold your finger against the gesture area to the right or left of the middle button so that the middle button glows.
Press the letter V on the keyboard.
Delete an Application you installed:
In the Launcher menu, hold down the Orange key and tap the application. You’ll then have an option to Delete or Cancel. Press the on-screen Delete button.
Delete a built-in application (like Nascar):
You can’t. You’re stuck with Nascar, Amazon MP3, and a few others.
There is an advanced solution to this by rooting into your phone.
Delete bookmarks (like MySpace and Facebook and ones that you added):
Click on the Brower application Menu and go to Bookmarks.
Find the bookmark you want to delete.
Swipe it to the side.
Press the Delete button that was “under” the bookmark.
Perform a Soft Reset:
Hold Orange Button, Sym Button, and press the letter R
Take a screenshot:
To snap a quick screen grab of your Pre’s display, simultaneously press the Orange key, SYM and the letter “P.”
The screenshot will then show up in your photos in a new folder called screencaptures. (This picture ironically taken on my Pre using the screenshot instructions above.)
If something goes wrong during an update, use Palm’s WebOS Doctor.
Do you know of anything else worth adding? Please share it in the comments!
