Palm's Hawkins to finally reveal 'third business' next week?

We've known for almost two years now that Palm has been cooking up a mysterious mobile computing device for what founder Jeff Hawkins calls the company's 'third business' (with the other two being PDAs and smartphones, obviously), and now several sites are claiming that attendees of Walt Mossberg's D: All Things Digital conference will be the first to learn hard details about this ambitious project. Although it's been public knowledge that Hawkins would be speaking at next Wednesday's D for some time now, both Brighthand and I4U are reporting that he will indeed be divulging material information on what many people are predicting will be a UMPC-like tablet codenamed 'Hawk' and powered by Palm's recently-announced Linux-based OS; when we contacted Palm, they would only say that "Jeff...will be presenting something to do with Palm." For whatever it's worth, we do know that Hawkins shares our love of cramming as much power, storage, connectivity (well, for the most part), and usability into as small a package as possible, so to those folks who have been discounting Palm and its seeming inability to innovate, you may be in for quite a surprise next week.

Read - I4U
Read - Brighthand's predictions

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 3:32PM]

Don't you mean "turd" business. Please. Is anyone expecting any reason to ever buy a palm device ever again?

[paulhildebrandt Posted May 25th 2007 5:36PM]

I got a Treo because I like the Palm OS. I need to take my calendar and address book with me in a easy to use fashion. Palm OS works great for that, it has since the beginning. So it hasn't morphed into an everything device, it still does the small amount I want and does it well.

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 7:44PM]

I agree with the other guy, I too bought a treo becasue I like what it offered. As well I liked the OS. It doesn't do everything I would like it to do, but it gets done what needs to be done very well in a small package. Maybe not the thinnest by any standard, but it's very well done. Palm has had a rough history and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt in this case.

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 8:06PM]

I been with Palm OS ever since the first VISOR came out. I recently decided to buy a T-Mobile "Wing" which operates on the new WM6 OS. After playing with it for 48 hours, I returned it and went back to my Treo 650. The Palm OS is soooo much more intuitive. Although I did like the looks of the Wing, the speed and ease of use of a Palm cannot be touched. I can't wait to see this new mystery device. I just hope it will be GSM.

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 3:45PM]

palm os....sooo.....bad. *shudders*

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 4:23PM]

I am looking forward to this because I have had a palm since the palm III and I have had one of every OS since. I have not upgraded mine because there is not much different from my T2 to the TX, and I know how to make my T2 work for me but I want a new one.

[elaisj Posted May 25th 2007 4:44PM]

i'm thinking don't rule out palm.

[jakerome Posted May 25th 2007 5:53PM]

The Treo 700p rocks. EVDO, works great as a Bluetooth modem, terrific address book, excellent syncing capabilities, 320x320 screen, touchscreen, keyboard...

Ya, I think a lot of people are expecting to buy a Palm OS device.

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 7:29PM]

I don't understand why there is so much anti-Palm sentiment. On my third Treo now (300, 650, 700) , and having a Dash as well (with Windows Mobile), I have to say I prefer the Palm OS over Windows Mobile any day. Why do you some of you hate the Palm OS?

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 8:26PM]

Come on TX2! Palm needs an iPhone killer.

[skim Posted May 26th 2007 2:18PM]

So is Engadget, or anyone, going to have live coverage of the event?

[(Unverified) Posted May 27th 2007 11:24AM]

Is it just me or does that look like a Sony UMPC?
Wait, is that an actual picture?