The Treo Pro makes its video debut, inches towards launch

Now that the Treo Pro's been uncovered, the sleek black handset just can't stay out of the spotlight -- it's popped up today in several more high-res shots, a quick hands-on video, and even what looks like official press photography. Specs are still up in the air -- we're hearing there's a 400MHz processor and 128MB of RAM behind that 320 x 320 screen and original Xbox-looking exterior, but we won't know for sure until this thing gets official, which we're guessing will happen within the week. Video after the break.

Read - Lots of hands-on shots
Read - Slashgear post with press photography

[Leindurstit @ Aug 19th 2008 10:59AM]

Wow, that doesn't look half-bad. The buttons and screen could be marginally bigger to make use of the dead area surrounding both elements, but other than that, it looks like a competent device.

But of course, Verizon will never see such a thing...

[Kris @ Aug 19th 2008 11:06AM]

This is probably a GSM only device. If this became a CDMA device I would be pissed since I just purchased my 800w.

[inteller @ Aug 19th 2008 12:02PM]

yes Verizon isn't getting this, you get to be the guinea pig with the 800w.

[Eli @ Aug 19th 2008 11:01AM]

Looks good. Keep up the good work, Palm!

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Aug 19th 2008 11:21AM]

Good work? This may be a good looking phone, but have you ever heard of Palm before this?

(on a side note, this plus Android would equal WIN)

[Imran @ Aug 19th 2008 1:17PM]

Heard of Palm before this? Who hasn't.

[bob sakamano @ Aug 19th 2008 11:07AM]

how come it seems like it took them about zero time to release this but its taking forever for the blackberry bold to come out???

[ScOObyDoo @ Aug 19th 2008 11:20AM]

Because HTC (who make the Treo for Palm) seems to be able to churn out new phones at an amazing pace. But the main reason is that they don't need to rewrite the entire OS for their phone. RIM is in the unfortunate position (a good thing IMHO) that they need to make hardware AND software. All HTC needs to do is build the phone, slap an OS on it, and ship them. It's how they were able to get the Diamond from announcement to shipment in 2 months. That said; it still doesn't explain why the HTC developed Xperia X1 is taking so damn long :(

[Prince Ali @ Aug 19th 2008 1:19PM]

@ scoobydoo:
HTC doesn't slap on the OS per se. They simply manufacture the phone, all development work is done by Palm. Same with the XPERIA, Sony developed it and HTC will manufacture it. I think manufacturing was HTC's business before they started making their own phones.

[Jason @ Aug 19th 2008 11:09AM]

Windows OS only, junk.

[Jeff @ Aug 19th 2008 11:12AM]

Narrow-minded user, junk

[oZ @ Aug 19th 2008 11:43AM]

Narrow minded for not liking Windows Mobile? I don't think so -- every mobile OS on the market right now is easier to deal with than WinMo, and I've had nearly every generation of WinMo.

[andy @ Aug 19th 2008 6:48PM]

For sure! WiMo is really SLOW-MO. As in, it takes forever to do the simplest things in WiMo phones Palm OS is old school but at least it's quick. If I want a laptop, I'll get a laptop. If I want a phone that does things quickly, I'll stick with the Palm OS. By the way, I'm not upgrading my phone till Android comes out on a phone with a keyboard like Treo has.

[Tony @ Aug 19th 2008 8:17PM]

I have owned the 755p and 800w.

There is no difference in speed between Palm OS on the 755p and Windows Mobile 6.1 on the 800w.

[Andrea @ Aug 19th 2008 11:09AM]

I've been using an HTC Touch Diamond for the last two months, and allthough it really is a great phone, I do miss the keyboard. When you're an Outlook/Push-mail-addict like me, on-screen keyboards are a pain, no VGA-screen or stylish design can make up for that. This Palm device seems more suitable for me.

[EBone @ Aug 19th 2008 11:30AM]

Headphones featured prominently in the advertising media says the device is going to be aimed at people looking for a more than just a smartphone - music player as well.

[From My Cube @ Aug 19th 2008 11:48AM]

yes but that 4 inch cord will keep it close to your head...80's booombox stlye

[kavendano14 @ Aug 19th 2008 11:30AM]

Now including shitty headphone, just like the iphone!!

[Mark @ Aug 19th 2008 6:32PM]

Every smartphone comes with shitty headphones. It really sucks, I wish they would put some effort into their headphone design and make them more confortable, especially since you can't use just any ol' pair of headphones due to the jack being too small or proprietary, instead we're stuck with buying an adapter on ebay to use better quality headphones; sometimes the adapter is 20 CM long and going for a jog turns into skipping over dangling wires.

Oh, they want us to purchase A2DP headphones...I get it.

[Bash2cool @ Aug 19th 2008 12:00PM]

at the last 3 seconds of the video, it looked like for the service provider, it either said Sprint or serivce...but im sure it started with an s.

[Nick @ Aug 19th 2008 1:49PM]

It says service...you can see it in the image when the video stops...

[Jason @ Aug 19th 2008 12:15PM]

If it's just me, then that's fine, but yuck.

[Craig @ Aug 19th 2008 12:35PM]

One concern I have is with the flush touchscreen. I'm not sure that's going to work out very well when you hold the phone up to your ear with the screen still active. Plus, I imagine it would scratch more easily when you put it face down on a surface. Maybe it has a new coating/material that's tougher than previous Treos.

The other concern I have is with the choice of OS. Palm, please reconsider joining the Open Handset Alliance, as I'd truly love me an Android-sporting Treo.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Aug 19th 2008 2:08PM]

If you've used Windows Mobile phones before you would know what we just turf off the screen when we talk lol.

[sebconn @ Aug 19th 2008 12:40PM]

Is that thing big or does that user have small hands? It seems even bigger than previous Treos. And that dude uses a phone slower than my dad.

[ANDY @ Aug 19th 2008 6:48PM]

SLOWER THAN MY DAD...hilarious. thx for the chuckle

[totoro @ Aug 19th 2008 12:42PM]

Looks nice, but either that is a tiny handset, or those are huge honkin earbuds.

[grull27 @ Aug 19th 2008 12:47PM]

I hate SlashGearTV's handms-on videos of the newest phones. All they do is move it around and put some hispanic dance music. They did it with the HTC Touch Pro. Why don't they actually review the damn phones and show us the features instead of just showing off that they have it?!

[kyle @ Aug 19th 2008 1:17PM]

It looks like ATT to me with Telenav on there.

[ni @ Aug 19th 2008 1:24PM]

Does anyone know when/if Verizon will get the 800w?

[mobidutch @ Aug 19th 2008 2:01PM]

I would trade in the awesome VGA screen on the Touch Raphael for the front facing keyboard on the Treo Pro any day. Nice job Palm! Now give us a CDMA version!

[Mycroft @ Aug 19th 2008 2:35PM]

Well, I certainly would not want to give up a larger screen for a smaller keyboard, or sacrifice processing speeds, or the accelerametor, or the 3.2 megpix camera, or the UI, or the etc, etc...

It is sad. I am a Palm fan. I wish they would become invovators again like they were back in the 600 days when they had the best form factor and arguably the best OS in the infantile smartphone market. When they (then Handspring) produced the VisorPhone, it was THE smartphone.

This deceidedly mediocre phone is, unfortunate, just yet another incremental improvement over the tired Treo line, and is anything but innovative. It is nothing but an also-ran compared to what HTC is producing for themselves and others.

Too bad Palm. I want to see you in a leadership position again, but it simple looks like that will never happen. You have resigned yourself to producing average to low end, highly forgettable phones.

[I-phone Is I-sexaayy @ Aug 19th 2008 2:24PM]

palm thinks they can sell phones because they have a curvy design ?

nahh, it runs the worst phone OS in the world, possibly worse than andriod.

my guess is that it doesnt sell, like other palm phones

ill take the low rank for speaking the truth.

[Golferal @ Aug 19th 2008 2:45PM]

Palm has been selling phones for a long time even with not-so-curvy designs. The Treo's design and features are designed for a specific type of user, one that needs function over flash & form and prefers a front facing keyboard.

The "truth" that you speak of is actually opinion and not fact. Stop speaking of things which you obviously know nothing about, and stop being a douche.

[Jack @ Aug 19th 2008 2:57PM]

You get the low rank, Mr. I-phone Is I-sexaayy, because all you do is bash any phone other than the iPhone, not for speaking the truth. If truth smacked you in the face, you wouldn't be home to answer the knock!

[Golferal @ Aug 19th 2008 2:48PM]

Is this supposed to be considered an upgrade or is it just the GSM version of the 800w? OS wise, it looks exactly the same as my 800w.

[Rorschach @ Aug 19th 2008 4:05PM]

Wow. Palm is still around? Stupid consumers deserve what they get.

[miles @ Aug 19th 2008 7:22PM]

What? A good phone.

[Joseph @ Aug 19th 2008 5:31PM]

That was service But typically Sprint gets the devices first

[mjones @ Aug 20th 2008 2:38AM]

The global launch is tonight. Can't wait until I get my hands on one of these.

[Skillz @ Aug 20th 2008 3:06AM]

At first it seemed the keyboard had the same (incredible tiny) keys as the Centro but after watching the Video it seems the keys are slightly bigger and actually usable. Or the person using the device on the video has really tiny hands. I might swap my Diamond for this one as I found out I can't do without a hardware keyboard. Ofc there's also the Diamond Pro, but controlling the Diamond from your pocket is also far from easy because of the flushed keys.

[kbdaemon @ Aug 20th 2008 10:10AM]

Read the specs at palm, then read up on HSDPA and UMTS - both are evolutions of CDMA. This phone will handle much higher data rates than the original CDMA spec. This phone has some solid specs - I like the 320x320 resolution but the flush screen needs to be shored up with some more info - is it scratch resistant? will holding the phone to my ear as I talk bring up some crazy menu choices?

[Eric @ Aug 20th 2008 10:43AM]

The New York Times did an interesting story on Palm today. Seems one of the guys who helped sav Apple, Jon Rubenstein, is now in charge and he's making big changes and adding a bit of Apple culture to the way products are brought to market.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/technology/20palm.html?th&emc=th

Interesting since Palm came about from some Apple people leaving the mothership and going out on their own to continue the Newton legacy in a new product.

[John Kreuzer @ Aug 21st 2008 12:47AM]

It sure is a great time to be a consumer right now (Except for the whole sluggish economy thing!). It's also an exciting to be in the mobile industry at this time with all of the recent announcements we have seen. Lots going on! But who will live up to the hype? Palm? Android?

http://kreuzer33.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/palm-releases-its-treo-pro/