Hands-on with the Treo 680

It was a total mob scene after Palm's DigitalLife press conference, but we managed to fight the crowd and get our hands on the new Treo 680. Click on for a bunch of jumbo pics!

Side-by-side with the Treo 700p.

[DiRTyBuNNy @ Oct 12th 2006 2:42PM]

I'll take the orange one...anyone know the MSRP or carriers yet?

--Mr. DB

[John @ Oct 12th 2006 2:42PM]

I love the orange color, but... palm os. I'll pass.

[Sparty @ Oct 12th 2006 2:46PM]

Couldn't they shrink the size a bit! still to fat. The only difference seems to be colors and no stub! who cares. i could just cut my stub of with a hacksaw and call my 700 a 680!

[Darren @ Oct 12th 2006 2:46PM]

Nice Apple logo on the phone function in the next to last picture :-)

[Darrell Lucas @ Oct 13th 2006 10:11AM]

What are you talking about?

[Brad D @ Oct 12th 2006 2:46PM]

Hotness

[Kevin @ Oct 12th 2006 2:53PM]

As great as the device does look, it's still running that clunker of an OS. Just put my 700p up on eBay today to get myself a TMo Dash.

[A Gupta @ Oct 12th 2006 3:06PM]

Mmmm... that orange one looks like my SE W600. Me likes. Maybe this will be my next phone, in like a couple of years, when it's cheap and outdated.

[apeguero @ Oct 12th 2006 3:07PM]

How much? Still running that old Palm OS?

[jalapeno @ Oct 12th 2006 3:09PM]

WSJ says they will be approx. $199 with a contract.

[Johnnyg0 @ Oct 12th 2006 3:12PM]

Go PalmOS!!! I have both Palm and Windows Mobile devices and I just HATE Windows Mobile (in fact I broke my Ipaq last week in anger, it had resetted for the last time, I'm not getting a new one...). I NEVER EVER had to use a "task manager" to force a program to crash on a PalmOS because it stopped responding (it would happend every week on WM), and I never had a "you can't uninstall this application because a file is being used (even after resetting) on a PalmOS, my Palm also has never shut down while playing music (something that happened frequently when I would change the volume on WM). But THE thing I hate about WM is that you just can't go from one program to another without really closing them because after 4-5 different programs opened, the WM device start slowing down until you close those programs, I never do that on Palm devices, I just go from one software to another (and it can be 20 different ones), it just always works.

Sure the future seems to be with WM, but it has a looong way to go before its as efficient as PalmOS, I hope it will never disappear, or that WM will really get better (I don't want to manage Processes on a mobile device, do you?).

[Marvin Chery @ Oct 13th 2006 1:43PM]

Im with you on that.
You just inspired me, i have been wondering for the longest PALM or WM

[AungSweOo @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:29PM]

Thats right, i totally agree with Johnnyg0.

[Edgar Cisneros @ Oct 12th 2006 3:21PM]

is it me or does the keyboard on the 680 look a little bit more spaced out than the the Sprint one(2nd to last picture)??

[Aron Trimble @ Oct 12th 2006 3:21PM]

No pictures of the new phone UI?

[Vidar @ Oct 12th 2006 3:32PM]

What are they running on the Sprint Treo that has the Apple logo?

[Dan S. @ Oct 12th 2006 3:33PM]

yeah what's up with the Apple logo on that one phone screen?

i don't understand the hate for Palm OS. i've been using palm since my IIIx long ago and have loved them ever since. now using a 650 and am considering an upgrade to this... Palm OS is simple, fast, and as others say, it simply WORKS. no crashes, no hang-ups... guess that's why i use a Mac too :P

[kiz_ @ Oct 12th 2006 3:34PM]

how did they change the theme to that apple one? is that a 700p if so, anyone got any tips on how to do htat?

[apeguero @ Oct 12th 2006 3:34PM]

Hey Peter, you're a big Treo fanboy :) What did you think about this new Treo? Did they lend you one long enough for you to give a quick assestment of it?

Thanks.

[asv @ Oct 12th 2006 3:36PM]

When will the release something running Linux? PALMOS is outdated, and Windows Mobile is a POS.

[James @ Oct 12th 2006 3:40PM]

Orange is the new black. I knew the color would catch on for everything.... cars, computers, etc.

[Korpil @ Oct 12th 2006 3:57PM]

Wow! How long have you had with the orange phone, and you already have Google Maps on it? Or it came pre-loaded?

[Grendel @ Oct 12th 2006 3:58PM]

Gotta stand behind Palm OS despite it being long in the tooth. I have a Cingular 8125 and WinMo5 sucks. It's slow and buggy, not to mention that Palm with Docs to Go is a much better Office platform. How is it Microsux can't even support a truly native word document or spreadsheet on it's own platform.

[Steven Kampen @ Oct 12th 2006 3:59PM]

Yeah, whats with the Apple Logo?

[Korpil @ Oct 12th 2006 4:11PM]

I guess the Apple logo stuff is just a skin or theme for the Phone...

[josh @ Oct 12th 2006 4:16PM]

I'd love some carrier info!

The apple logo is just a skin, you can skin a lot of different apps if you want.

For more info on skinning and themes etc. check out http://www.pdaphonehome.com

[Kenny @ Oct 12th 2006 4:19PM]

I like the Palm OS very much, but I don't use my phone/PDA for many advanced features. I think Palm does the basics very well. On the other hand, my firm only supports WinTreos, so I'll be waiting for the 750 on Cingular.

[TJ Wasik @ Oct 12th 2006 4:25PM]

Am I the only one that hopes palm will release a Treo that is more Palm like than Phone like. I dream of a Treo that completely does away with the number pad for a larger screen in favor of graffiti 2. Something that is more like a Palm Tungsten T5 or Palm Lifedrive that can make phone calls than a phone that has palm os forced into it.

[Nick @ Oct 12th 2006 5:17PM]

I don't get it. This is basicaly a newer Treo 650. Whats the point? And after working for Sprint for 6 month and selling Treos. I would A) never recomend one and B) never own one personal. Nokia S60 N seriers phones are where its at!

[Mark @ Oct 12th 2006 6:00PM]

OMG secks. So sleek, the colors are pretty nice and just ...woa, beautiful product. Any idea when more word will come on pricing/availability? Carrier?

[Ifte @ Oct 12th 2006 6:34PM]

Let me know why shouldn�t I be disappointed with 680 and to some extent with 750 too?
**Same OS?
It�s like I am using windows 98 again and again.
**No Wi-Fi?
Why should I miss Skype, MSN Messenger, download music where-ever Wi-Fi signal is available?
**VGA Camera?
You got to be kidding me. No comments!!
**No Built-in GPS? Not even in 750? Who doesn�t have wireless internet at home? You get Wi-Fi at school, university, work, home, airport, coffee shop and even in train.
Have you guys seen HP IPAQ 6915 or 6955? No? You should. I am not promoting that device, but because they have implemented WiFi and GPS both with reasonable battery life. I might not use it all the time, but it feels good that I have the option and I don�t have to carry around an additional receiver to use it with Treo. With $600 or less IPAQ even add one desktop cradle.
**No Windows Mobile like Graffiti? How about some MS Mobile soft instead?
How much you paid for a Graffiti soft to use on Treo? Guess what, it is free with Windows Mobile. Not to mention theirs one is ever better in terms of responsiveness.
**64 MB of accessible memory?
Well, I guess you can always add some extra with some $$$.
I have used Treo 650 for long time. Like the form factor, but its time to move. The amount of money we spend on Treo�s adds up at the end of the day. Palm had their market share because no other manufacturer, other than Blackberry, had a good product in the smart phone segment. How about now? HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry, HP IPAQ, to name a few, are in this smart phone business. Palm has to abandon their OS 5.4 and then? The answer is Windows Mobile or Symbian. Now the big question is, how palm would differentiate their product in the Windows Mobile segment? You know where I am going with this? Right? I thought so. Thanks Everyone.

[PEZ @ Oct 12th 2006 6:35PM]

Im thinking these are going to be in the $150-200 range. Either way, this should really shake up the Palm stock :)

[Zac @ Oct 12th 2006 10:10PM]

Yeah, I think you guys are looking at this the wrong way. This isnt trying to be a cutting edge smart phone, and I think the price will reflect that. This is trying to bridge the gap between phone and smart phone. With the increased use of text mesasges, emails, and web use on regular phones, I think this will be a huge hit.

[Kenneth H. @ Oct 12th 2006 7:20PM]

As an owner of this stock...nice to see the nice movement today. These are coming in some nice colors...but I can't help but to think that this will not be enough. Obviously, they are targeting a different demographic than many of us tech heads. But really...how is this different than say a Sidekick?? Palm had better get their asses in gear and start thinking outside of the box and change fundamentally how they put these phones together or it's a wrap for them. There's just too much competition out here...and sum companies are really bringing the heat...most notably HTC and RIMM targeting their respective demographics.

[paolo @ Oct 12th 2006 6:56PM]

"PALMOS is outdated, and Windows Mobile is a POS. "

yes you are very very correct. SYMBIAN 60 ALL THE WAy

[NicleT @ Oct 12th 2006 7:18PM]

@ Nick

Nokia S60 N seriers phones aren't A) PDAs, and B) QWERTY.

[AyAn4m1 @ Oct 12th 2006 7:26PM]

pTunes... What an original name for an application.

[Matt G @ Oct 12th 2006 9:17PM]

Palm has taken all of the glitzy shinyness out of the Treo's after the 650... I think i'll hang onto my 650, especially since there are no majorly improved features... Bleh

[Tristan @ Oct 12th 2006 11:36PM]

Anyone know if these will still have backlit keys? If so, I'm buying one for sure! What I've been waiting for... enough functions for me, and a helluvalot nicer looking than the 650.

[Brad Baldwin @ Oct 13th 2006 2:21AM]

Just switch the SIM from my Nokia E61 back to my 650--waiting for the contact lookup was so painfully slow I couldn't take it any more. I'll buy the next one, but I'm still concerned over the OS stability. I wonder if the device will have what it takes to run the future Linux stuff Palm sold off.

[mwknox @ Oct 13th 2006 5:26AM]

please please please let me use this with a wifi card and ill be buying one.

I have a 9300i... what a mistake that was... and I can't stand the windows mobile divices...

Somebody please buy palm a hearing aid so they can better hear their customers...

Mike

[wardrip @ Oct 14th 2006 1:46AM]

so who in the company is the OU fan and who is the texas fan

[Matt T. @ Oct 15th 2006 2:23AM]

It is quite obivoius, the Orange just screams Cingular

[Newsdork @ Oct 17th 2006 10:55PM]

I spoke with a Cingular PR person yesterday who said the 680 and 750 will be released in Mid-November. She said the 750 will run on Cingular's new 3G network, though the 680 does not. The 750 also has the better camera and Windows Mobile. No word on price, though.

[treo_md @ Oct 18th 2006 1:52AM]

IF THE 680 is like the 700P, don't buy it!


The 700p is littered with problems and Palm fails to acknowledge or rectify this. For instance, the 700p is SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. It lags. Palm blames this on third party software, BUT, even with a hard reset, thereby clearing all memory, it still lags. The bluetooth connectivity of the 700p is also gawd awful. It drops the connection every hour to your bluetooth device making it impractical to use. Do you use MMS messaging? If you use too much of it, it will reset your palm!

Admittedly, Palm has given us a device that "works" by their specifications. But, in "real world" testing, it hardly meets up to the $600 price tag (do you really want to wait 10-15 seconds switching between the browser and the phone?).

So, will the 680 be any better? You tell me. If palm fails to support their flagship $600 phone, what makes you think that they'll support your $200 budget model.

Think I'm making this up?

Check this link for the grips of hundreds of Treo 700p users:

http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=126223
http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=126610
http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=126643

[hwyder @ Oct 30th 2006 11:19AM]

What are the differences with my Treo 650?
I see the antenna no more there (will we receive signal equal or worth?) and some colors. What more?

[kevin @ Oct 30th 2006 11:35AM]

I really wish Palm would make a camera-delete model - my dad and I both work in secure facilities that don't allow camera phones, but we both really want one of these. Guess we'll just have to stick with our crappy phones.

[sonic-boom @ Nov 11th 2006 1:43PM]

There IS software out there that locks the camera. Whether this is enough to satisfy your security dept. might be a good question before your purchase. I know the software was developed specifically for that purpose. Sorry I can't remember the company name, but it should be searchable. Possibly Treostore.com?

[tyler @ Nov 2nd 2006 8:29PM]

it odd because with the 700wx coming out(with windows mobile)is also just 200 dollars on a 3 year contract (with telus, im canadian so it 200 canadian....about 170 american). i think that either there underselling one or they are over selling one(price wise).what do you think?

[Leo Chen @ Nov 3rd 2006 10:15PM]

I ran into a problem when I tried to hot sync my Tungsten T3 with my new XP Media Center computer. The OS system didn't support XP Media Center though it would work with XP Professional. Confirmed with Palm. Anyone know whether the 680 supports XPMC?