Palm has finally given in to the idea that open development is the way to go on the Pre. At a conference today where the prime topic was the future of WebOS, the company announced that it would be allowing developers to distribute free apps over the web.

I would call this the Pre’s saving grace if it weren’t coming so late in the game, because it’s an incredible idea. Developers simply submit the apps to Palm on a review-/censor-free basis and receive a URL back for full distribution. On top of that Palm is waiving the $99 fee for developers using the free distribution method. Regular app submission for the App Catalog will still cost $50. The last brilliant stroke in Palm’s terribly tardy plan was giving each of the developers at the WebOS conference a free Pre with a month’s service and a Touchstone dock. The whole thing is really a great idea…3 months ago.

At this point developers are working with such a small user base that even free phones and unbridled distribution may not be enough to win them back. The Pre needed to see healthy app growth at launch. Instead the store was stagnant as Palm struggled to get the SDK out on time. This new program could have fostered explosive growth then, but now it will probably look more like Palm’s last flash in the pan.

Source: TechCrunch

In its bid to compete with Apple, it looks like Palm will be embracing even the worst of business practices. Despite an already meager offering in the App Catalog, Palm has banned its first application, NaNplayer.

The problem came when Palm noticed the app using an undocumented API call. It’s actually a call already used by the integrated music player to create playlists, but its not something Palm wanted to see in third-party apps. In a response after the media got wind of the story, Palm’s Developer Community Manager said the API was scheduled to change in future versions of WebOS so current apps shouldn’t rely on it.

I suppose that makes some sort of sense, but why not let the developer know and encourage them to make the switch instead of enforcing the change through rejection. If the API is going to break playlists, wouldn’t it do the same in Palm’s current app? And if Palm can write a way to migrate those playlists couldn’t NaNplayer’s developers do the same?

Regardless of the what-ifs, NaNplayer’s developers have said they’ll be going the homebrew route with their app, a decision Palm apparently supports. I suppose that’s better than suggesting homebrewing is illegal.

I hesitate to even post this, as it does little to assuage any of the app deprived pain you Palm Pre users are experiencing. It’s a step, albeit just one little step, toward getting some new functionality out of your phone, so I suppose it’s worth mentioning. Palm has finally released the Mojo SDK for WebOS to the general public.

That’s great news, right? Well, kind of. Unfortunately Palm won’t be releasing any of those nifty new apps being developed until the fall, which means more waiting for an already bored Pre population. Sure, you guys have downloaded almost 2 million apps, but they’re the same 30 apps. Meanwhile other mobile catalogs continue to grow at alarming rates, leaving you Palm purists wondering when it will be your turn. Not yet, my friends. Not yet.

Personally, I’ve not spent a lot of time with the Pre, but the guys at Ars Techica have, and Jon Stokes has some interesting suggestions for fresh apps. It’s funny he mentions the dialer issue, because every Pre user I’ve talked to has the same problem. Could be a gold mine if one of you developer types found a way to replace it.

Oh, by the way, Palm hasn’t issued a date for app release. September’s probably the earliest we’ll get anything.