Engadget Podcast 133 - 02.13.2009: Pre-MWC edition

You know it people. It's the Engadget Podcast, back on the most terrifying Friday in February (or any month for that matter) -- the 13th. This week you get to hear the dudes discuss the Kindle 2 / Stephen King encounters, new offerings from Garmin on the mobile front, predictions for Mobile World Congress (which starts next week), and so, so, so much more. Settle in and get ready to glide on the gentle sounds of Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, and special guest host Chris Ziegler. We guarantee you'll love it.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel
Special guest host: Chris Ziegler
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Friday the 13th theme

00:02:00 - Kindle 2 first hands-on!
00:07:25 - Know Your Rights: Does the Kindle 2's text-to-speech infringe authors' copyrights?
00:16:33 - Palm's done with PalmOS, plans to get Pre on other carriers in 2010, speaks to patent issues
00:22:27 - Sprint Treo Pro getting delayed into a bleak, uncertain future?
00:31:45 - Data tethering is a go on Palm Pre
00:37:40 - Garmin-Asus announces Windows Mobile-based nuvifone M20
00:38:50 - Garmin slips out a few more nuvifone G60 details
00:50:15 - An Engadget adventure with TeleNav's G1 GPS software: hands-on, impressions, and video
01:00:30 - Samsung Acme i8910 gets caught flashing its S60 5th Edition
01:05:25 - MWC predictions

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

[Joe H @ Feb 13th 2009 4:04PM]

Considering that the Pro was entirely made by HTC, I don't know what's so 'Palmy' about it. And you're way off on the whole devices out there thing. They shipped the devices to Best Buy, and some of the Best Buy stores sold a few before finding out about a recall. The stock of Treo Pros at Best Buy stores then had to be shipped back for a fix. Its rumored that the fix is because there's only 40MB of free RAM after a reboot. And as for differences with the GSM Treo Pro and the Sprint one, the Sprint one has Pocket IE 6, which supports Flash. It also has a slightly faster CPU as well, though the low free RAM really makes that point moot.

Also, with regards to the Pre, I've read that its fully skinnable which should also include changing the fonts. And the original Palm OS had a ton of hacks to replace all of the fonts throughout the OS, so its not only Blackberry.

Other than that, good podcast, though admittedly I only listen to the Palm/Pre sections.

[David @ Feb 13th 2009 7:12PM]

thanks for answering my question about a zunephone last episode (though you did contradict yourselves this episode). For next episode could you maybe talk about Nokia, the N97, and why they haven't made a n95 successor with these specs:

-triband 3G
-HR capacitive touchscreen
-xenon flash, leds, and lens Cover
-720p video recording
-QWERTY keyboard
-charging via USB
-up to spec ram, processor, graphics acceleration, stereo speakers
-7.2 mbps downloading

[PJS @ Feb 13th 2009 8:20PM]

Regarding the G1's GPS performance, I honestly think there's some software or firmware oddness going on. There are a couple apps that give you a glimpse into the actual GPS signals, and often it will have a strong signal from six or more satellites and still only report the network positioning. Or the accuracy will drop from 3m to 1500m, not having lost a satellite or been moved, just randomly.

Or maybe the GPS hardware is just terrible.

[JayCanuck @ Feb 14th 2009 2:43PM]

CDMA Treo Pro unboxing: http://www.wmexperts.com/exclusive-sprint-treo-pro-hands

[Greg @ Feb 17th 2009 12:06PM]

Regarding the GPS on the G1, people seem to have varying luck with it.

The one that I've got works fine. It routinely places my car just as accurately as my Nuvi 200w. It usually acquires the satellites faster also.

From what I understand though, some people have issues with it placing them miles away from where they are. (Perhaps they've only got wireless networks turned on for finding locations?)