The Treo 670 is real and does run Windows Mobile

Dudes, we were skeptical, but now we're convinced: roc a fella himself just emailed us a video of a Treo 670 running on Windows Mobile. Yeah, it's a little blurry, but there's no mistaking that this is the real deal. Everything just got very interesting.


WATCH VIDEO 1
WATCH VIDEO 2
WATCH VIDEO 3 [Right-click and download]

P.S. - Peep these earlier stories, it looks like it's this phone in the videos: New Treo 670 pics? & The Treo 670?

[jg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

PERFECT COUNT ME IN!!!! this is what i've been waiting for. when can i pick one up is my question.

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

o shitttt its real

[brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Hell has just frozen over...

[robc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

that is so cool! im a fan of ms software but tired a treo, and loved the form factor just hated the os! cool!

[clint @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

well, now i have to wait another three to six months to replace my already in the grave phone. we need this asap palm.

[Blurrz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

What is this? Treo 650 for another provider, or a completely new phone?

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

First Apple goes x86...
Then a two-button mouse...
Now Treo running Windows Mobile...

THE APOCOLYPSE IS UPON US PEOPLE!

(when I see Duke Nukem Forever, then I'll know the end is nigh.)

[Sean @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I think its a little early to declare this a fact.This could easily be a video running on a normal Palm Treo. Notice how they never actually touch any of the hardware buttons or the screen in the video, and how the picture they provided earlier is in the same menu as the video. It could very well be true that there will be a windows mobile treo, but I hardly call this blurry video definitive.

[Grandpa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

For the super hackers out there who don't want to wait, just get the demo version of Windows CE platform builder and make it yourself:

http://www.windowsembeddedkit.com/RegPage.aspx

[ian spain @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

i friggin told you rox was reliable

[roc a fella @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

its for verizon and "sean" with the comment up top is a moron

[Sean @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Ubur.
I've been waiting a long time for Palm to switch over.
Palm + Windows Mobile = :)

[Eli Hodapp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

"First Apple goes x86...
Then a two-button mouse...
Now Treo running Windows Mobile...

THE APOCOLYPSE IS UPON US PEOPLE!

(when I see Duke Nukem Forever, then I'll know the end is nigh.)"

GAHAHA... No crap. I can't believe it, a Treo running a non-Palm OS. WOW. My Treo 650 feels like a piece of junk now. :(

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

YESS please again like i said with the first photo. The BEST hardware with the BEST software make and amazing product!!!

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

could someone PLEASE explain to me how to watch a .3g2 file? i must see this!

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I love this thing! Does this mean they will be switching all of their products to Windows? I wouldn't mind my Tungsten C to have Windows.

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

download quicktime dummy

[Eli Hodapp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

.3g2 files open in Quicktime for me.

Anyone else disappointed that the 670 looks just as thick as the 650? The Motorola Q has me drooling with how thin it is...

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

# 15 I used Quick time to view the file

[leon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I'm only interested if it has WiFi built in...

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

well #18 i am drooling over the razerryberry also, but i have verizon wirless so, i need this one, or is moto could please make a motorola Q for CDMA tha'd be sweet

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I'm having trouble wrapping myself around the idea thatonly Verizon is going to have this phone though. Wasn't the 600 + 650 GSM phones BEFORE they went the likes of Verizon and Sprint?

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Um, those videos don't prove anything. You people do realize that the Treo could simply be displaying a full screen video of the Windows Mobile interface, right? I'm not saying that this is fake, I'm saying that it could *easily* be faked. I could post a video of my iPaq 5550 "running" Palm OS 5 if you want proof how easy this is to fake.

[Kirk Sandall @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I don't get it; is Windows CE that much better than Palm OS? Can someone explain why this is such a big deal? Or are there just a bunch of people looking for an excuse to buy a trick new gadget and this is it?

nutin' wrong with that of-course, although I'd go for the net-gun that was on engadet a few days ago.

[leon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

@23

Didn't one show him pushing a button and a file opening on the screen?

[Evan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

In order for this to be a hoax, the hoaxer would have to:

(a) Replace the front faceplate and buttons on a Treo. Those are not Treo 600 or 650 buttons, folks!
(b) Play a full screen Windows Mobile mpg/avi on power up

I'm sorry. I hate to believe it (because I think this is going to kill PalmOS although Palm may go on) but this looks legit...

[Scoobydoo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Something isn't right. It is still showing the "old" PalmOS style keylock warning over the windows screen.

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

guys who are doubting this source, be nice to him he probably shouldn't be showing this to any one be he is nice and brave enough to show us, so enjoy dreaming about your new Treo 670 like i will be doing and shut your motuhs.

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#22 - No, in fact the 650 was CDMA long before the GSM version was released. Verizon was the last major carrier to adopt Treos though only beginning to carry the 600 just before the 650 was released.

It is sad that everyone sees Windows Mobile as the gold standard in mobile OS. I have always found it buggy and slow.

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

hey source can you tell us if it has wi-fi and when do you think we can get one? i believe you that its real.

[leon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I don't care if it kills Palm to be honest but it must have WiFi, also decent Bluetooth would be nice...they could even up the camera to two megapixels if they wanted to be extra sweet!

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

dummy #28, this is windows mobile 5, you haven't even used it yet, shut it, its amazing i saw a tech demo, and peter rojas and the other editors have used it and say its great

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#28, windows mobile is the lesser of two evils. You can't even multitask in palm! It's gaaaaaaaaaaaarbage

[Desert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Wow, why doesn't it surprise me that the people who think this is fake are the ones who like PPC?

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

wuts PPC?

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#s 32 & 33 -

I can only assume you are referring to me. Especially aj, who by my page is #28.

Anyway, I agree that PalmOS has taken a wrong turn. My 650 is rather unstable and often annoys me with crashes and reboots - much like Windows Mobile.

Maybe Windows Mobile 5 is great and maybe you find yourself needing to multitask on your phone (I don't and actually own a Treo) but I would venture that most people who are posting their excitement about a WM5 Treo have never used a Treo or experienced WM5. Relax.

[Zeno Crivelli @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

ops, sorry for my too long "NOOOO..." @#33
you might have to fix your css...

[Rened @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

This guy has got humor: "that's Windows isn't it, uhum". Even if it is fake (I doubt it), I had a good laugh.
Palm lives forever. Oh well, at least for a little while.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Arrrggg! I went with the Treo because it was Palm OS.

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

what are you talking about harrier?1 your crazy

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I don't see how anyone could LIKE Windows Mobile over PalmOS. Oh, but Windows Mobile is so PRETTY.. blech...

What advantages does it have? OOh, it syncs with crappy bloated ass Outlook. Big friggin deal.

Oh, I get DLL's on my phone! What fun! Wait, I get BIG ASS FONTS that take up TOO MUCH SPACE on a PDA/phone!

Wait, there's more! Yes, I get to navigate a Start Menu instead of hitting a simple icon! Yessiree folks, you too can have a bloated crap ass operating system on your phone!

For those that think Palm is going to die overnight, remember that Palm has about 5x the number of apps and has way more FREE apps than Windows Mobile, thanks to the fact that Palm's dev tools are FREE, while M$'s cost $$$.

Nothing to see here, move along...

[aj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

everyone is arguing with wrong ppl because the numbers keeping changing spots its anoyying it should be when you click the link form your email you are last on the list or you shouldnt have to open your email it shout just be posted this anoyiing please fix this ENGADGET, it will pry save you some money so you dont have to use the weblogs service

[Backstabbed ex-Palm fan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Palm Inc. are a bunch of betraying backstabbing bastards. I am permanently moving on to WM (and NOT a Palm made one).

[Dee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#39 I believe you're right on one account, the vids are different. I believe the user and vid shooter realized that they needed to cover up the id numbers with something before they are "fired" or "sued" for releasing info too soon to the public.

We'll see. Look legit though...

[treo007 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

This makes the "Cobalt" portion of the rumor much more credible. Please let that be true and let it come with EV-DO. It becomes darn near the ultimate mobile device.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Third video is funny:

"Let's see here now... Press the power button... Oh, what the hell is that, Verizon Wireless? Oh, that's Windows, isn't it? Mmm, hmm."

[Tyler Cooper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I think we've got a fake on our hands. Looks to me like that is one of the 650 engineering samples. I just dont buy it, if you are going to the trouble of making a video at least launch Solitaire and show a staple of the Windows Mobile OS.

[R @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I've had the 650 for six months, no problems whatsoever and best phone I have owned. I would buy the form factor in either OS. If it runs EV-DO all the better.

[Chris Paddock @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Why do you guys dismiss the possibility that this is fake, there are some people out there who would in fact go through all that trouble and change the buttons and face plate to fool us, and it may be 670, but comon, it is so so easy to fake anything running on that, and its entirely possible to start a vid playing on start up, its not like it was soft reset or something, as its playing just turn it off, then get the camera ready, turn it on and there u go, u got a wm 5 device, i don't think so. its not that difficult to use photoshop and at a verizon logo to the movie either , you guys are very narrow minded, and whats this crap about the people who believe its fake like ppc? wow there really are some very narrow minded people around here

[Dave S @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Well, I still have my doubts. The resolution of the screen seems to be much lower than that of the Treo 650, which could be due to OS constraints, but does seem strange.

Either way, I hope this is not the end of PalmOS-based Treos (whether that be because Palm stop doing them or the carriers stop selling them, which is the greater risk, I think). I for one would never buy a Windows Mobile device after having had the "pleasure" of using an Orange SPV.

However, a Linux-based one would be another thing, especially if it comes with the Cobalt interface.