Treo 800w spec sheets and training materials reveal details, lack of MMS

We're not sure where our tipster got these pictures (nor are we going to ask), but they appear to be screens from the Treo 800w's specification and knowledge training documentation. New tidbits include a 333 Mhz processor, 4.4.1 x 2.28 x 0.73-inch dimensions, 320 x 320 pixel screen, and a weight of 4.94 ounces. Windows Mobile 6.1 looks to be in full-force, the camera shoots at 2 MP, and the USB port is 2.0. As for other revealed features, you're looking at threaded SMS chat, but MMS is mysteriously missing in lieu of Sprint Picture Mail, a trend that continues to confuse us. If all this pans out, look for the 800w to be available on July 13th for $249.99. Hit the continue link to see the rest of the juicy shots and details.

[Thanks, brian]

[Jacob @ Jun 28th 2008 5:06PM]

well it's great that Palm is trying. Too bad I can't find a single reason to actually buy this (besides the threaded SMS app). Palm hasn't innovated in years, and now they're either catching up with others (finally has Wifi), or they're rehashing the same old same old.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 28th 2008 5:43PM]

Yeah, it's really pathetic that Palm is STILL trying to pawn off the same old Treo rubbish.. I mean, what did they change from my 3 year old 650? SD is now MicroSD. Added Wifi?

Small, Square screen still blows... PalmOS (and WinMo) still blows, tiny qwerty keys are still unusable, still too heavy, pressure-type "touchscreen" doesn't work with fingers and is meant for a stylus, etc etc...

I wish Palm would just hurry up and die. Who the hell keeps buying this crap?

[Randavance @ Jun 28th 2008 5:52PM]

The only reason I want one is because there's a gameboy emulator for the palm OS and it runs pokemon real nicely.

[Ken @ Jun 28th 2008 6:19PM]

Dude this is a Windows Mobile device not a Palm OS one.

The Game Boy emulator for Palm OS won't run on this. Get a Centro instead if you want Palm OS.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 28th 2008 9:05PM]

That's a fairly crappy processor it's running. It's an OK handset for third tier users who can't afford better. It just won't stack up against the smartphone big three of RIM, Nokia and Apple.

333 MHz processor = SLOW FAIL

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 28th 2008 10:01PM]

Yes, Palm is trying. Trying the patience of investors and loyal users alike. I think the company is using their Palms for stroking themselves instead of coming up with some decent handsets. They've already met their Waterloo. RIM of Waterloo, Canada and the BlackBerry Bold.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 28th 2008 10:51PM]

What's the point anyhow? Once the iPhone 3G hits the China mainland, it's all over for the likes of Palm, Motorola, HTC, Samsung, etc. The iPhone will be the hottest thing in China since roasted dog.

[MastrCake @ Jun 28th 2008 5:13PM]

Wait... no MMS?

It seems as though Palm is going the way of the iPhone... just not in the good ways.

Well, all the more reason to buy an iPhone 3G over this thing!

[Jake @ Jun 28th 2008 5:17PM]

all the more reason to buy a blackberry pearl!

[Joe H @ Jun 28th 2008 5:19PM]

The lack of MMS has nothing to do with Palm and everything to do with Sprint.

The price really needs to be $50 cheaper though, with the iPhone at $200.

[Yankees368 @ Jun 28th 2008 5:23PM]

Palm is not doing anything under their own will. All Sprint "smart"phones lack MMS. Sprint claims that since smartphones are aimed towards business users, these phones do not need MMS. However, there are several programs for Windows Mobile, such as SMMS, that let you do MMS just fine. Also, Sprint claims that there will be an update for the Mogul/6800 this summer which will enable MMS, but don't hold your breath.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 28th 2008 9:01PM]

Hey rectoid, MMS is supposed to be included on the iPhone 3G and there are already third party apps that are able to do it now. What's the big deal with MMS anyway. It's not a high use application. Anyway, with the SDK and iPhone software 2.0 there will be lots of apps to do the things most common smartphones will do. The iPhone will evolve in time. Who knows, maybe one day they'll even have copy/paste.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1576309&tstart=0

[Franklin Peabody @ Jun 29th 2008 8:01AM]

The timing of the release of this Palm device probably couldn't be worse - right after the cheaper 3G iPhone is released. Will the PR-push from Palm/Sprint even show up on the radar compared to the PR/Media BlitzKrieg of the 3G iPhone?

[bob cobb @ Jun 28th 2008 5:20PM]

I can't believe I was actually thinking about waiting for that. I'm sorry sprint sero plan, I now have to spend double and get an iPhone because of the lack of big screen devices available :(

[egloskerry @ Jun 28th 2008 5:34PM]

I actually like the look of it. It's a huge improvement over the Centro/suppository.

[TheGasMan @ Jun 28th 2008 5:48PM]

Ever heard of the Mogul? Or how about the upcoming Raphael? Where've you been?

[bobcobb @ Jun 28th 2008 6:11PM]

the mogul sucks. The raphael is alright looking, but still a brick, and the screen isn't big enough. the 3.5" screen of the iPhone has really sucked me in because web browsing is most important for me

[Derek @ Jun 28th 2008 6:15PM]

It an improvement, but still has the thumbboard. Maybe next year, Palm, if Android doesn't get my money first.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 28th 2008 5:33PM]

DO NOT WANT.

[Angel @ Jun 29th 2008 2:18PM]

this aint 4-chan sucka

[DP @ Jun 28th 2008 11:21PM]

second

[egloskerry @ Jun 28th 2008 5:33PM]

Alright, I've asked Engadget many times, so I guess I'll ask it here. Is it possible to change my posting password?

[TheGasMan @ Jun 28th 2008 5:48PM]

After posting a comment, click your linked username and login.

[Reader @ Jun 28th 2008 5:51PM]

It is. Click on your own name or avatar to get to your profile page. To the right you'll see your name/avatar and a "Are you egloskerry? If So, Login Here." Click that and login. That link will be replaced with four, the first of which is to change your password.

[egloskerry @ Jun 28th 2008 6:07PM]

Thank you guys very much. I wish engadget would've answered my emails so I didn't have to spam a topic.

[John Datserakis @ Jun 28th 2008 11:04PM]

this was the best spam ever!

[Kris @ Jun 29th 2008 12:36AM]

I feel your pain. Engadget's website and users infrastructure flat out sucks. I don't think usability testing was even a thought in their minds when they revamped everything.

[Securi Tyhole @ Jun 29th 2008 7:03AM]

The password is generated from your login name using a common algorithm with other websites (!!! - nee JoyStiq). As such, it might be a VERY good idea to change it as soon as you create a login, huh?

[John @ Jun 29th 2008 7:55PM]

I'm just using this as a place to post so I can change my password.

[Patrick @ Jun 28th 2008 5:36PM]

I dont why people dont realize times do change. MMS will slowly disappear in all phones. Just like 3.5 inch disk did...

[Yankees368 @ Jun 28th 2008 5:43PM]

Why would MMS be going away anytime soon? You do know that MMS refers to the ability to send and recieve pictures and other larger items through SMS, right?

[chickenator @ Jun 28th 2008 6:06PM]

err...email?

[Sarig @ Jun 28th 2008 10:25PM]

Email requires you to manually check for mail; or to pay for some sort of push service.

While MMS has already got this handled.

Replacing MMS with email seems a bit strange given this. Though depending on where in the world you live and your carrier, MMS pricing can be equally peculiar, making email more cost-effective.

It's not like the two are mutually exclusive either.

All that said however, a phone coming out in 2008 without the ability for it, is just plain silly. Sure, it may not be a much-used feature, but isn't the point of these things to have lots of features?

[Nomi @ Jun 29th 2008 12:57AM]

erm...my plan doesn't include mms, I need to pay for it too..

[Rawtoonz @ Jun 28th 2008 5:39PM]

ill be off sprint on july 11th

[grull27 @ Jun 28th 2008 6:14PM]

Just in time for the iPhone 3G.

[cmajewski @ Jun 28th 2008 5:52PM]

Pretty disappointing after all this time...and this is coming from a die-hard Treo 700w fan...

[TheGasMan @ Jun 28th 2008 5:52PM]

Palm, I was holding out hope for you until it now comes out that the 800w's going to have a 333mhz CPU! Seriously, WTF?

And you're stripped the MMS feature out of your glorious threaded SMS app? WTF? You should have stood up to Sprint on that one.

Micro USB? WTF? This phone is not thin enough to warrant using that over Mini USB. Don't kid yourselves.

[Reality Check @ Jun 28th 2008 5:52PM]

This things was supposed to come out in September 2007, but Palm had significant engineering difficulties getting it out the door.

It is not a bad looking device at all, but sitting next to an iPhone 3G, a Blackberry Pearl and a Blackberry Bold, it has it's work cut out for it.

And don't forget about the mini-usb headphone connector! That means throw away all your current headphones.

[grull27 @ Jun 28th 2008 5:59PM]

You'd be better off with and iPhone 3G or a new Windows Mobile phone.

[Kate @ Jun 28th 2008 6:25PM]

This is a Windows Mobile phone.

Why people don't realize this????

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 28th 2008 9:53PM]

You'd be better off with two cans and a string, if you wanted to put it bluntly.

[backbeat @ Jun 28th 2008 10:09PM]

@Kate: Why don't people realize this? Maybe because with every Palm WM phone you buy, you also subsidize the Palm OS license fee of $$MM/Yr that Palm must pay ACCESS for the right to use what was once Palm's IP. Stupidity ... Thy name is Palm.

[TheGasMan @ Jun 28th 2008 10:59PM]

@backbeat
That has absolutely nothing to do with someone thinking this phone ran Palm OS.

[backbeat @ Jun 29th 2008 1:19AM]

@gasman: It has everything to do with the fact that Palm always represented itself as a unique OS, versus the Symbian, PocketPC, Blackberry OS's available on the market. That is, until they sold and subsequently leased back their soul, thereby being forced to offer a WM version (700w) just to save its financial ass. Unfortunately, Palm could not even execute that gameplan with any creativity and foresight.

Many outside the pearly gates of geekdom equate Palm solely with the Palm OS.

[Dan Parmelee @ Jun 28th 2008 6:00PM]

Yawn. It's still chubby, like every other Treo. At this point there is absolutely no excuse for it to be that size.

It's basically just a 750/755 with a smaller keyboard. Big deal.

[Zorque @ Jun 28th 2008 8:23PM]

Have you ever actually held a Treo? They're not big.

[John @ Jun 28th 2008 6:10PM]

DOA in one way or another

[boss-hogg @ Jun 28th 2008 6:11PM]

not having mms is the new trend with the best phones. i hope this also cant record video thats another new cool trend. ;)

[Wifiguy @ Jun 28th 2008 6:18PM]

No Tavor chip no sale!!