First things first, let's look at the webOS application compatibility between Palm Pre and Palm Pixi. As far as applications are concerned, there are only a couple of differences between these two phones - Pre had a resolution of 320x480 while Pixi has 320x400 and Pre had WiFi while Pixi doesn't have WiFi.  So, unless your webOS applications are resolution sensitive or use WiFi functionality, be rest assured that your Pre applications will work like a charm on Palm Pixi as well.

However, if you have applications which fill up the whole display screen and do not use Mojo widgets, you'll need to make some changes to get them working perfectly on the new phone.  Thumbs up to Palm for starting early enough on this issue and publishing this document to make all developers easier. Palm also provides instructions on how to configure the Emulator to test your webOS applications at resolutions compatible with both phones. Good going! Nothing pleases a developer more than clear instructions and some easy to use tools for testing

If you are a WiFi freak, there's not much good news for you. WiFi webOS applications which worked flawlessly on Palm Pre will need to be developed in a way to work using an alternative communication mechanism other than WiFi. It's tough from a developer's perspective as you have to virtually re-write most part of the application. Most mobile experts believe that it's a matter of time before Palm rolls out another variant of Palm Pixi with WiFi capabilities. Much will obviously depend on how the WiFi-sans version does to attract consumers.

Like many of it's peers, Palm is a latecomer in the online application market place. However, the good part is that the Palm developer community has become very active in a very short span of time and is churning out one useful application after another. Let's face it, Palm is no Apple and the webOS is not even a distant competitor to macOS in terms of application development. Though Palm initially offered plans for free webOS applications, Air Hockey for webOS marks the launch of first paid application from the Palm Developer World. The response from customers has been pretty amazing for this first paid application and surely sets the bar higher for all future paid Palm Pixi applications.

Related posts:

1. Testing webOS Applications on the Palm Pixi
2. Developing A Palm Pixi webOS Application in Three Weeks
3. Palm Ares: Simplified WebOS Development