Switched On -- PDAs, a multiple murder mystery
posted February 9th 2005 7:27PM
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a weekly column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:The consensus diagnosis of the ailing PDA market is that smartphones have been responsible for the demise. Indeed, future smartphones and even lower-end feature phones will likely become the dominant mobile platforms with which we check the contacts and calendars that were the killer apps of the original Palm Pilot. Furthermore, smartphones are theoretically better PIMs than PDAs were because of their wireless connectivity. Smartphone users can take advantage of live remote synchronization or check off a to-do item by, for example, scheduling an appointment in the field or following up on something via a phone call.
But looking at the current crop of high-end smartphones hardly reveals a murderers' row off handheld punishers. While such devices continue to improve, handsets such as the Treo 650, Sony Ericsson P910, and HP iPaq h6315 are fraught with compromises and high prices even after carrier subsidy when compared to their closest competitors. As a result, their penetration is low. Many more moderately-priced phones have basic calendar and contact functions, but carriers do a miserable job of helping consumers synchronize those phones with the computers that manage them today.
A strong argument is that the PDA is dying of natural causes; there were only so many people with so many appointments that they wanted a PDA, at least at the cost of fiddling with a foreign script such as Graffiti. If that�s the perception, handheld makers haven�t done enough to expand their market. Sure, anyone can build a low-cost monochrome PDA, but what about one that a busy technophobe mom could use. Simply speaking �Next Thursday is Jimmy�s doctor�s appointment) would at least block out some time with a voice note. It�s mixing the default �foreign input� principle of Tablet PC ink-handling with some basic routing intelligence from the Newton or Lotus Agenda.
The PDA paradox is that, ignoring cell phones for a moment, consumers should be more willing to gravitate toward a multifunction portable device than a dedicated one due to the space constraints of mobility. But since the introduction of the original PDA, there�s been a mini-explosion of portable devices free from carrier oversight. But for a hard drive, PalmOne could have developed the iPod or Portable Media Center. Instead, we see companies such as Archos taking portable video players and co-opting PIM functionality.
GPS software companies such as TomTom and Pharos that have done well on Pocket PCs are breaking out into their own dedicated devices now. And companies ranging from tiny Magpix to giant Kodak are developing portable picture frames that can fit in a wallet or on a pendant for mobile photo display, a task that a PDA can handle easily,
Perhaps, beyond the PIM features, PDAs have simply suffered from the jack-of-all-trades problem. Take TapWave, for example, which produces the Palm OS-based Zodiac handheld showed initial promise. Its hardware�s aesthetics could pass for a PSP prototype. Its pure pixel-pushing power, though, while outstanding for a PDA, certainly won�t compare favorably to a PlayStation Portable that will retail for significantly less, Tapwave is now looking to reposition the device toward multimedia such as video applications.
But the PSP itself is quite adept at handling multiple kinds of media. If it succeeds in that role, PalmOne may wind up looking like Xerox � a company that pioneered but ultimately could not capitalize on its innovations.
Ross Rubin is director of industry analysis at NPD Techworld, a division of market research and analysis provider The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On, however, are his own. Feedback is welcome at fliptheswitch@gmail.com.
I think a big part of the problem with the adoption of PDAs is that people as a majority just don't understand the concept. I was showing my Axim x50v to a client of mine and explaining some of my upgrade plans for it (bluetooth frogpad, microdrives, cf usb host adaptors, looking at monacle displays, etc..), and he thought it was a small computer more like an OQO. When I explained that no, this would not run Windows XP, and the hardware's completely different, he was quickly deflated. On top of that, the software that comes with Windows Mobile devices is destinctly not anywhere near close to the capabilities of their full desktop counterparts.
I can't speak for the palm platform as I've had one visor and a m105, and I wasn't fond of either device, but I've gone through 4 windows ce devices, and a zaurus, and the more full-fledged devices are just that much more pleasant to use for things besides keeping track of my address book.
This is the other problem. If it's not seen as a severely underpowered computer, it's seen as a severely overpriced address book that will never be used as anything but.
I'm looking forward to magneto, but unless microsoft makes the platform a lot more robust(ie: bundled apps that may not have all of the features, but at least something more than the bare minimum), I see the Windows Mobile platform going the way of the newton.
As for Palm, they've made some great acquisitions, and just need to start flexing them. Example: BeOS. They bought a media OS company to give PalmOS a facelift, and it looks the same, really. Only now it's got color. That's like buying SGI so you can have a purple refrigerator!
And Linux Devices? Sorry ... Niche market. The only exception being the Zaurus in japan. I had a SL-5600, which was stolen with all of my CF and SD cards, and I pretty much lived out of that thing. Now I'm looking at importing a SL-6000W, just because it's so damn cool, but I don't expect my mother to ever understand it.
Sorry about the rant ...
RE: Cell phones and synchronization. I really wish consumers would start to stand up to the carriers. If the carriers had their way we would pay for EVERY BUTTON PUSH. While airtime is now commodotized, data transfer is still premium. Crippling Bluetooth on phones is a great example of how they seek to limit data transfer. I would gladly pay more for a phone, or even a bit more for the service, if I could just SYNC my PHONE with ANYTHING! Imagine a .Mac-style online sync service. Hell, you could pay a yearly fee for the damn thing. But this nickel-and-dime garbage the carriers are playing reminds me of the old AOL/Prodigy days... and let's hope those days are numbered too.
As for single-purpose devices I think this is where consumers have really voted. Most people just use their iPod for music. Most just use their phone for calls. Most use their camera for pictures. Get it? It's called a la carte, and we (I mean in the general sense, as I'm a lunatic geek fringe power-user) like it just fine.
Oh, and all those phone numbers? We store them in our head-- go figure.
Last year, I bought a SonyEricsson T616. It has all sorts of nifty features including some basic PDA stuff, a camera, and a nice screen. The problem is that it is the absolute least user friendly device I have ever used. Some functions were easy, like the camera, but the pix were horrible and I found I really never used that feature anyway. The phonebook was rather needlessly complicated, the calendar wouldn't sync correctly and was likewise complicated, and the overall documentation for the device was horrible. Trying to set up email retreival was a pain and I could only check one account at a time, which was more trouble than it was worth after having to navigate the screens.
I gave up and bought a Blackberry. All I really needed was email and my address book. This fits the bill and has finally come down in price. Data rates are also becoming more reasonable, besides, after paying data charges on my other phone, it's pretty much a wash here as far as pricing goes.
My feeling is until the interfaces are stupid simple, these things will be the domain of power users. My cellphone was needlessly complicated. My Blackberry is relatively simple. Simple wins.
What is this? A contest of who can post the longest here????
I've used Palm OS devices since I bought a PalmPilot back in 1998. People knock PalmSource because the basic four applications (Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, Memo Pad) haven't changed appreciably since then. Microsoft's offerings are much more featureful but less easy to use in my opinion. What really irritates me is that there is no cell phone that implements all of these for less than $400 or so!
My Treo 270 recently broke and I got a Motorola v180 phone to serve as my phone until my Treo came back from repair. The v180 is a great phone (small, light, lasts forever on a battery) but it is a terrible organizer. Of the four basic apps, it only handles two (Contacts and Date Book) and it's not very good at either one. I paid $80 cash for my v180, but I saw T-Mobile phones that cost $200 and have equally crappy organizer features.
It annoys me that smartphones are still too early to be mainstream. They're too bulky and brittle to be portable, they're too expensive to be popular, and some (such as the Sidekick) require a $20/month or higher data plan just so that I can use them as an organizer!
Sigh... maybe someday there will be a better device out there. I have high hopes for Palm's reported folding-screen phone (http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7576).
PDA makers must make their devices perform other functions as easily as they do PIM. Jeff Hawkins should concentrate on designing great PDAs instead of writing papers on esoteric subjects.
I for one have fallen in love with my i-mate sp3 (c500, smt 5600 etc) It can do alot of the functions a normal PDA can do and is an awesome phone to boot. I can synch with my desktop via usb or bluetooth and listen to mp3s and watch full length movies. My calendar and mail are always with me this phone is heading in the write direction and I think the smartphone platform has a good future.
Can you sync music with a PDA as easily as with an iPod? No
Can you watch a movie on a PDA as easily as with a DVD and portable DVD player? No, you must rip a DVD on a computer first. For me it's more trouble than it's worth. If the movie and tech industries have their way you soon won't be able to do that anymore.
In terms of bang for your buck, it's pretty hard to beat a low end Palm Zire and a small cellphone. I reccomend that to all my non-tech friends who are after PDA functionality.
2nd hand Zires are dirt cheap. Why do you need all the fancy features? Dedicated devices will always (well in the short term) be better.
I don't want a PDA to take phone calls. My cell phone is better for that.
I don't want a PDA to listen to music. My ipod is better for that.
I do want a PDA to take notes, appointments and contacts.
Totally agree with #2 about a la carte.
I have owned a Sony Clie and it has done all I ask of it. I don't do word processing on it, I have a computer which has a keyboard and programs which work. The Palm OS has "matured" and got itself stuck trying to emulate MS Pocket nonsense. If I wanted to watch movies it would not be on a cell phone or a PDA! A cell phone should be for talking and a PDA should give you the "reminders" that a cell phone can't, niether should either be a camera or a music system! Other devices do each so much better! To try to be all things to all people
is bull. No one can make a device that will.
You end up with something that does it all very
poorly.
I used to have multiple Palms and PocketPC's and even Symbian phone in the past. My current choice is BB 7230, which I use as phone + light PDA (sorry no email, BB email will start on may this year in Poland).
What I like about BB is:
- it was cheap
- it is solid
- it is power efficient
- data input is fast
If it only had more apps, it would be the perfect device...
I just got a Treo 600 (i'll wait on the 650). I had a Zire 72 and a Nokia phone and I decided that it was retarded to carry around two devices. Let me just say that my Treo has surpassed any expectations that I ever had before getting this phone (and trust me i read every article i could get my hands on.) my favorite part about this phone is being able to record people while i'm talking to them (sales calls, cingular telling me one thing and then doing the other) and having the ability to send it to them immediately afterwards.
It's one device. and it does EVERYTHING. i'm not that into the whole movie thing, but I got some awesome Shure headphones from Palmone.com and this things works great as an Mp3 player. I don't have a gazillion mp3's to load onto it, just whatever i rip from shoutcast the night before - it's pretty f'n cool. the battery life will easily last me 8 hours playing mp3's. i absolutely do not understand what the "nightmare" is about using this as an mp3 player. honestly, i wouldn't trade this for a COLOR ipod no matter what you offered me. all my friends have them and i could really care less.
one last thing. i work in a special effects office (film tv) in SoCal, and everyone has a bluetooth something or other and not one single person uses the damn thing. it sucks power and it's just whatever. everyone that i know and work with uses blackberry/treo email.
in my humble opinion, the smartphone is the best investment i've ever made. my productivity at work and at home has substantially improved.
I just got a Treo 600 (i'll wait on the 650). I had a Zire 72 and a Nokia phone and I decided that it was retarded to carry around two devices. Let me just say that my Treo has surpassed any expectations that I ever had before getting this phone (and trust me i read every article i could get my hands on.) my favorite part about this phone is being able to record people while i'm talking to them (sales calls, cingular telling me one thing and then doing the other) and having the ability to send it to them immediately afterwards.
It's one device. and it does EVERYTHING. i'm not that into the whole movie thing, but I got some awesome Shure headphones from Palmone.com and this things works great as an Mp3 player. I don't have a gazillion mp3's to load onto it, just whatever i rip from shoutcast the night before - it's pretty f'n cool. the battery life will easily last me 8 hours playing mp3's. i absolutely do not understand what the "nightmare" is about using this as an mp3 player. honestly, i wouldn't trade this for a COLOR ipod no matter what you offered me. all my friends have them and i could really care less.
one last thing. i work in a special effects office (film tv) in SoCal, and everyone has a bluetooth something or other and not one single person uses the damn thing. it sucks power and it's just whatever. everyone that i know and work with uses blackberry/treo email.
in my humble opinion, the smartphone is the best investment i've ever made. my productivity at work and at home has substantially improved.
Death to the Palm Pilot!!!
YYYyyARrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!
I've got a question - why are there so FEW pdas and smartphones on the market? Why do they come from such large corporations?
Why aren't there small business dedicated to producing "gourmet" smartphones, tailored to niche users? In my opion, PDAs are dying because they try to appeal to everyone - when people (realtors, students, businesspeople) have wildly different needs.
I want a smartphone with a VGA browser, some calendar/task apps, space for some MP3s, easy voice/handwriting recognition, and a VNC client.
How difficult/expensive is it to build those in smaller runs (like 10k units, as opposed to millions)? How hard is it to get it on a carrier's service?
Is it a cost thing, or is it that nobody has tried it yet?
PDAs would have done much better if the were stylish, interesting, individual, and if they could do more based on the NEEDS of the person using it.
I think the pda devices fail because they lack the functionality, and yes try explaining to non-geeks about Microsoft Mobile Edition.. ;) To me I do want everything, bluetooth, wi-fi, mp3 capability etc. But, I think the prices are exhorbitant.. I have a V551 and it does "just enough" so I don't need a second device. I think Treo 650 and similar is the way to the future, but needs 10 gig drives, bluetooth and cell phones, with attorneys general going after the pricing structure of the cell companies to eliminate the highway robbery on the data fees.
I also have owned about 10 PDA's over the years and rarely used their full features. Just this last week I switched from a phone and a Toshiba PPC back to the palm platform and bought a Treo 650.
Compared to all the other smart phones I have seen in the hands of my friends this one really fufills the promise of an integrated solution. Despite the rather skimpy storage ( have to buy a few SD cards ) and a few difficulties in setting up automatic email with multiple accounts, I love this thing. It will easily pay for itself in better organization. And the comment above about being able to record calls is a pleasant suprise.
Now when i travel its my treo and an Ipod and a notebook, I've condensed the gadegets down to three.
"Can you sync music with a PDA as easily as with an iPod? No"
Actually, yes you can. I can dock my Axim, click "sync" in WMP10, and off it goes.
I just had to previously tell WMP to sync with the storage card in my Axim.
I'd rather have a small flash player for music, though. Much smaller and more durable; no huge screen to shatter!
"Can you sync music with a PDA as easily as with an iPod? No"
Like #16 said, you can if you're not using iTunes.
Apple should open up iTunes to support mass storage devices so those who are bound to iTunes could sync many other players besides the iPod.
I personaly just don't care to lug around yet another gadget. I'm not paid well enough that I can afford a Treo, my iPod has all my contact info (though that's not exactly a secure way to carry it), and I just don't have the desire to look at pictures or movies on a tiny screen.
Accuse me of trying to be down with the kids, but I'm all for the hipster PDA (http://merlin.blogs.com/43folders/2004/09/introducing_the.html) that Merlin started. Granted that my handwriting looks worse than palm's graffiti, it's still working well for me. I never have to worry about batteries dying anymore, and it's smaller than my old Palm IIIe that I used to tote around way back in the day. Sure it's a pack of dead tree's, but they're a lot more recyclable than my old palm and it's batteries.
I ain't dissin' pda's, just sayin' they ain't all that for me anymore. I'd rather spend $5 on note cards then $500 on a PDA now is all.
Having been an early supporter and user of the Newton MessagePad (back in 1993) I understood then the vision the designers were trying to convey to the user; to free us from the shackles of a desk. Since then I've been reading & composing email on the road, reading e-books, sending faxes, writing digital notes, and with the arrival of the 2100 in 97/98 watching movies anywhere I want to. I've also been lugging around a phone for roughly the same time.
For many years this was the purview of geeks. Everyone else just stood on the technological sidelines. Back then our expectations were low and the payoff was high. Today, because the novelty of it all has lost its gloss, the inverse is true. Perhaps that's why pundits foresee the death of the PDA. Today's newest smartphones definitely have some catching up to do with PDAs but the gap is narrowing rapidly. For the first time in 12 years I no longer carry around a PDA everywhere I go. Why? Because the Sony-Ericsson P910 is such an excellent phone/PDA hybrid (SE calls it a communicator) that I can. The latest batch of high-end smartphones are enabling us to leave the PDA behind because they do all a PDA can (some more or less successfully). Why do you think HP is pushing more and more in to the field of smartphones? It's because that is where the future lies. It's called convergence.
I admit that I am not prepared to totally divest myself of my PDAs but the fact that they are collecting dust @ home most of the time is, for me, a sign of things to come.
Hey #4 Artsy Fartsy Ugly Chick was that long enough for ya?
I think that the death of the PDA is greatly over-reported. Within my realm of contacts the PDA reigns. The people I know and see all use both PDA and a cell phone and all carry both. At times just the phone is carred and at times just the PDA is carried and of course at times both are carried. The smartphone is in the early stages of development, I think that it will one day rule the stage of mobil electronics but it is still not robust enough and costs too much.
"Can you sync music with a PDA as easily as with an iPod? No"
The correct answer is YES. Even easier. Wonderful thing in most computers. It's called "My Computer" Drop any file from that into "Pocket PC my documents" while sync'd.
Why does somebody always destroy any intellectual techie post with the word "IPOD."
Seems like a contradiction.