More Palm Treo 800w specs leak out, no change in ugliness

For the handful of you left still getting stoked on Palm news, here's some interesting tidbits. The folks over at WMExperts have gotten some "possible" specifications of the Sprint-bound Treo 800w (or as we like to call it, the Gatesnote Palm) and are sharing them with the world. According to the sources, the new Windows Mobile 6-based Palm phone will be Centro-thin, trade the old proprietary HotSync connector for a mini-USB jack, has a dedicated hardware switch for turning WiFi on and off, will sport EV-DO Rev. A, Bluetooth 2.0, as well as 802.11g, and utilizes microSD cards in addition to its 256MB of memory. The article also says that the 2-megapixel camera takes "decent" pictures, and there is an additional 128MB of memory for "something else." More shocking (and possibly stupid) is that Palm has removed the headphone jack altogether, and users must employ some type of miniUSB contraption or go Bluetooth. Ed, if this is one of those breakthrough devices you mentioned, color us unimpressed.

[Via Treonauts]

[Eric YJ Chiu @ Jan 24th 2008 10:40AM]

Blackberry > iPhone > Symbian > Windows Mobile > Palm

Give it up Palm. Just close down and give money to back to the shareholders.

[lou @ Jan 24th 2008 11:29AM]

This phone IS a Windows Mobile phone. How can it be less than itself? :)
But i agree with your other statement. Palm is dead. And this is from someone who purchased a Treo300, Treo600, Treo650, and Treo750.

[Tony C @ Jan 24th 2008 11:28AM]

OK, so where does the 800W stand in the pecking order since it's running Windows Mobile instead of PalmOS?

[David @ Jan 24th 2008 2:46PM]

Only ugliness for me is that it's not a UMTS/GSM phone and a PalmOS device (I'm from Spain -sorry for my English-). Make a Treo 800p with these specs (plus GPS), or better yet, a dual Treo 800p&w (!), and, as the phoenix, make the resurrection of the company possible. Still a lot of people love Palm's simplicity. And I can't wait PalmOSII (if someday becomes a reality). Till then, still playing with my T3 ;)

[Version 1.0 @ Jan 24th 2008 8:33PM]

What? I think Symbian comes in first dude. Definitely not iPhone. iPhone is just iCandy, it just looks good. No real strong points unlike Symbian.

[GenghisPhlip @ Jan 24th 2008 10:44AM]

No headphone jack. You gotta be kidding me.

[trumpton @ Jan 24th 2008 10:43AM]

It may be 'ugly' to your eyes (it's not to mine), but that keyboard will make it infinitely more productive than a certain phone with a fiddly virtual keyboard, no removable battery and built in bricking device.

As I recall, you slagged off the Palm Centro too, but guess what? It's become a big seller because not everyone wants high end expensive phones.

But don't let me get in the way of the Palm hate...

[Tony C @ Jan 24th 2008 11:31AM]

I don't think it looks all that bad either... Just need a high res photo set or device in-hand to pass a final judgment. Granted it would look a little more streamlined if it was all black or all silver, but a lot of today's industrial designs seem to favor sharply visible color contrasts instead of your basic monochrome.

[decypher44 @ Jan 24th 2008 11:32AM]

Couldn't agree with you more! I've had my Centro for a couple of months now and I absolutely love it.

[Cesar Cardoso @ Jan 24th 2008 11:34AM]

I, also, want to understand why Engadget hates Palm.

[Ellianth @ Jan 24th 2008 2:56PM]

I also don't think it's ugly.

[Sam Winter @ Jan 24th 2008 5:21PM]

@trumpton

Have you used that "fiddly" virtual keyboard? I've own a Treo 600, 650P, and now a 700W.
I've been typing on Treos for three years, and three weeks ago I bought an iPod touch.
Guess which one is easier and faster to type on? That's right... the iPod Touch. (iPhone keyboard)
Beats the pants off of the Treo's miniature, mushy plastic keys.

I'd suggest you give it a try before you bash it. Oh wait, I forgot, you're one of the "cool geeks" that bashes Apple. Give it a rest....

[xbit @ Jan 24th 2008 6:18PM]

"I, also, want to understand why Engadget hates Palm."

Take a look at the Treo 650. Take a look at the Treo 800. How many years has there been inbetween? How much has changed?

Innovation at Palm crawls at a snail's pace. That's not something that a GADGET blog should cheer.

[Jonathan @ Jan 24th 2008 10:46AM]

I myself, like the look.

Happy about the wifi w/switch, and the mini USB.

Not happy about the headphone jack, and the non-GSM.

Not sure about windows. I think I'm still a Palm guy. Although my recent purchases of an xbox and a Zune (which I love) are starting to tip the scales in favor of Windows Mobile (might as well fully submit, right?).

(ps. this better have a touchscreen)

[Cesar Cardoso @ Jan 24th 2008 11:38AM]

> Not happy about the headphone jack, and the non-GSM.

You can wait for the Palm 500 unlocked to appear on your friendly Euro phone importer. You'll lose Wifi, though.

[Hank Williams @ Jan 24th 2008 10:46AM]

As I blogged about recently

http://whydoeseverythingsuck.com/2008/01/does-your-company-have-geek-cred.html

Palm has lost all geek cred, a metaphor for the fact that they just don't have any respect in the marketplace because they cant shoot straight. They are truly the gang that couldnt shoot straight.

[trumpton @ Jan 24th 2008 11:03AM]

I think you'll find that 'geek cred' isn't what makes or breaks a company.

*It's punters buying the goods.*

Your average mobile user couldn't give a flying fkcnut what some self declared geek writes about their phone in his little blog. Really.

That'll be why the Centro seems to be doing relatively good business despite some geeks insisting that it's a total flop/

[Hank Williams @ Jan 24th 2008 11:09AM]

Geek Cred is a reflection of technical reality. Palms technical reality is *terrible*. They have a god knows how old operating system that no one is writing software for. Centro is doing reasonably well. The last gasps of a dying product line. Apple is eating the lunch that, by all rights should be theirs. Thats why Palm is in fail mode.

[trumpton @ Jan 24th 2008 11:14AM]

Your 'geek cred' index gives Nokia a lowly mark of 6/10.

Yet they are the world's biggest mobile manufacturer, outperforming your 10/10 'geek cred' star Apple by a thoroughly enormous margin and raking in enormous profits.

Nokia sold 133.5 million phones last quarter, which adds up to more than its three closest rivals combined.

http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL2489794220080124

So remind me of the relationship between your 'geek cred' and real world sales figures?

[Hank Williams @ Jan 24th 2008 11:21AM]

"So remind me of the relationship between your 'geek cred' and real world sales figures?"

No relation at all. If that were all analysis were about, discussion would be meaningless.

I happen to believe (and I know this is not popular opinion) that the sorry state of all the incumbent handset manufacturers software suites is ultimately going to hurt them. Nokia is admittedly the most controversial call in my list, since they, as I said in my blog, are currently kicking in motorla's teeth. (and everyone else). The interesting thing will be what is happening in the market in 24 months. Will Nokias shitty software start to affect their numbers. I think it will. Wanna bet :)

[L @ Jan 24th 2008 11:58AM]

Who knows if Nokia will still use the same "shitty software" in 24 months? *You* certainly don't.

And just for the record: Symbian+S60 make a decent combo in my eyes, and with stuff like the Symbian ScreenPlay tech for the much needed eye-candy coming up in a short while, I think nothing is really played out yet...

[Hank Williams @ Jan 24th 2008 12:03PM]

L,

"Who knows if Nokia will still use the same "shitty software" in 24 months? *You* certainly don't."

I'll bet you too :)

[Jack Storm @ Jan 24th 2008 12:26PM]

LMAO Microsoft only 6 Geek cred?? but then bash MySpace for being helped out by Microsoft??? Yeah that made me take the rest of your cute site not so serious. why? because your a fanboy that doesnt like to give credit where credit is due. go, go live in your closed apple world. I like to leave my apple world once in a while and see the things God Jobs does not like me to do.

[Dieter Bohn @ Jan 24th 2008 10:57AM]

Actually, it was the folks over at WMExperts who found the info:

http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/rumors/more_treo_800w_detail_surface.html

...Just saying. :)

[Joshua Topolsky @ Jan 24th 2008 11:40AM]

You're quite right. Fixed!

[evilmicah @ Jan 24th 2008 5:23PM]

I had a treo 650p, and I loved the form factor - it was easy to use and durable. Dropped more than a few times, and nothing more than a couple surface scratches. I now have a HTC 6800 (Sprint Mogul) and dropped it once and the voice dial button broke. The form factor is great unless I want to use it one handed in which case it's clumsy to the point of near impossible to use with any speed in typing.

I'll likely grab this 800w when it comes out. The bluetooth issues on the HTC were rediculous until the updated rom was released, and everyone with a Mogul is still waiting for EVDO rev A, "in a future update".

Still, Sprint rules when viewed in a dollar to performance ratio-in spite of their spotty network, the longer you are with them, the easier it gets to turn the screws when it's time for a call to retention. It's a well known thing that you don't need to pay for tethering with registry changes or available applications(pdanet).

$57/month for 1000 minutes, N&W 8pm, unlimited data&nav, 500 txt, equipment protection.

[Karl Viklund @ Jan 24th 2008 10:54AM]

Caaamaaaaaannnn.... What the heck is up with all these "Leaked" pictures these days... Can't people take a descent shot or what's the problem?

[Prokanda @ Jan 24th 2008 10:57AM]

I think it looks sleek. And who uses that headphone jack anymore anyway? I had my treo for 6 months and just like all of my other phones, I never used that jack. BT headset and I'm golden. Most people have iPods (or whatever portable device suits them) and have sound systems of some sort at home. People don't buy a Palm phone to use it like an iPod.. smartphones don't have good enough battery life for such things.... even though I had a second battery always in the dock.

[paragraph @ Jan 24th 2008 10:58AM]

"decent" pictures? I guess the above picture was taken with a 755 xD

Really, the Treo is nice, and the camera works... but the quality sucks eggs... i'd rather you scrap that than get rid of my headphone jack :\

But whatever, Palm will end up ruining itself with things like these.

[Erwos @ Jan 24th 2008 11:01AM]

No headphone jack kills it dead for me, and lack of GPS is just nails in the coffin.

[Jason @ Jan 24th 2008 11:04AM]

As thin as the Centro? 19MM? 0.748" thick? Nuts to that.

No real GPS?

only in CDMA? No unlocked phones then. Another phone made for the carriers.

Hey Palm, how about a phone for users?

[Landlocked @ Jan 24th 2008 11:22AM]

They are taking their cues from American auto makers: "Let's milk the same old technology a little bit longer. What's the worst than can happen?"

[Jubei @ Jan 24th 2008 11:36AM]

Agreed with the ugliness. Even uglier still with Windows Mobile running it. Yuck!

[MadMike @ Jan 24th 2008 11:37AM]

I hear the sound of Palms other foot going into the grave... *Plays Taps*

And I loved my Treo 650... And I'm loving the money from the class action lawsuit because I bought a Treo 650...

[senorbelly @ Jan 24th 2008 11:39AM]

I always wanted Palm to go for a widescreen Treo with a slider keyboard with (gasp) a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it looks like they never will.

For now, I guess I can pick up one of these 800Ws at a nearby Palm store. Oh right, those are going away.

Sigh.

[Dieter Bohn @ Jan 24th 2008 11:43AM]

aw, thanks Joshua!

[John P @ Jan 24th 2008 11:44AM]

I don't think the headphone thing is really a loss. People on engadget love to highlight the negatives of Palm..alot. For instance, I have seen most people that have an iPhone using an iPod with it simultaneously. A phone as an mp3 player just isnt a huge deal anymore. I could play music with my 755, and it used to be my main mp3 player. But I really prefer having my Zune now, which is dedicated to one thing - playing music. And honestly, who doesn't use bluetooth now? I would say that getting rid of a headphone jack is more forward looking than anything. I would imagine all headphones will go wireless soon enough.

[boe @ Jan 24th 2008 12:10PM]

While I prefer WM over Palm OS a lot of my clients feel differently. The Palm Centro is actually a very good pdaphone even I would have to admit. At CES, the WM centro type phone (being released in Europe now) did not have a touch screen which for me is useless but there certainly are plenty of people who like the Q and blackjack. When I tried it and mentioned the touch screen they seemed to feel the same way and said to expect a touch screen version soon after the release of the non touch version.

I guess my rambling point is - very few people agree on what is a good PDAphone. I love my pdaphone in some ways but hate it in others - and there are people who just plain hate my pdaphone and don't have any liking of it.

[Brian @ Jan 24th 2008 11:50AM]

If that thing is anywhere near as thick as my HTC Touch, or a Moto Q, then I don't understand why you're complaining. I think it looks just fine, a competitive product in the bland WM6 market.

[Troy @ Jan 24th 2008 11:57AM]

can't freakin wait!!

[ToniCipriani @ Jan 24th 2008 12:14PM]

Give me one with Palm OS and I'm sold.

[DR0D @ Jan 24th 2008 12:16PM]

Can anyone here have a little bit longer term view on things?

4 years ago Treos were all the rage, right now the company slipped, true

Is it possible that in 12 months we may have a new Palm OS phone that people will say is way better than either BB or iPhone? Very much so

All these comments of Palm being finished are irritating. People said the same thing in 2003, just before the Treo 600 arrival...

[MW @ Jan 24th 2008 12:29PM]

If they give move memory for running programs and make the phone more stable, it's a good phone. Too bad it's for Sprint. All the others are for Verizon, why the switch to Sprint? I like to be faithful/consistent when buying phones. I don't want to switch friggen services to use a phone that I mostly like.

Also, these phones even with a new 2 year jail-term/contract are very expensive. Yeah the iPhone is more, but still.

[mobidutch @ Jan 24th 2008 1:41PM]

I think it looks OK...but hoping the "flush screen" comment will make it to the 800w...

[Allen @ Jan 24th 2008 2:06PM]

To me, this is the convergence of features and form factor that I have been waiting for: slim, light, keyboard that doesn't have to slide out, touchscreen, WinMo6 (I assume), WiFi, and Palm's usual little enhancements like the google search field on the home screen and dedicated mute switch.

Unless this is vaporware or the actual features are substantially different than what's expected, this may be my next new phone).

[Allen @ Jan 24th 2008 2:36PM]

PS: Regarding not having a headphone jack: Motorola has been doing this forever on the Razr and they package a USB stereo "hybrid" headset with it (at least on the "red" version).

Is this really something to bitch about?

[Malatesta @ Jan 24th 2008 4:35PM]

...Not to mention all the new *HTC* devices have abandoned the headset jack too.

That's what I love about Engadget: technical inconsistency.

HTC removes the jack on all new devices = silence
Palm *may* have done the same = slam Palm

If it's a problem, just use the included USB adapter or get a2dp which is a better option.

FYI, the latest info is this does have *autonomous* GPS on board. I also bet it actually includes, ahem, video drivers. ;-)

[PBurri @ Jan 24th 2008 10:54PM]

The newer Palm is not that bad as it is being labeled. It's rather neat with great functionality and features. Granted that Palm dragged their feet with Vista compatible Palm Desktop but they still have a great package at a good price point.

In fact, looking at the success Asus's eepc garnered, Palm Foleo might have been a success too, with a few upgrades and enhanced Linux compatibility or even Windows with an enhanced processor.

[bulls96 @ Jan 25th 2008 12:03AM]

why is engadget so negative towards Palm?

[corystal @ Jan 24th 2008 3:36PM]

I had the original Palm Pilot and there's a reason the OS hasn't been changed dramatically for..what is it now.. about 8 years... it's because it works great, so simple and functional. I stopped using palm products several years ago, but since getting a free hand-me-down 650, I've realized again just how lean and intuitive the OS is. I was holding out for Palm to come out with a bad ass device I could really get excited about (smaller, slide out keyboard, good camera, GPS etc.) but I'm still very happy to have the 650 until then because the OS is such a joy to use. Palm got it right to begin with... never mind the haters.