Peek Pronto: is a new Peek device on its way?
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted March 18th 2009 7:16PM
posted March 18th 2009 7:16PM
Update: It looks like Peek can't help themselves. On their hacky blog, Geeky Peek, they offer this tasty morsel:
Pronto is Leaked
What is Pronto?
I don't have much to say, but I will give a leak away.. it is much, much faster in every way possible.
The time to open a menu on 1.08 is .09 seconds. The time to open a menu on Pronto, .04 seconds!!!!
The Peek Pronto - fastest way to waste money on a device with features even a free phone has these days!
I disagree. So called free phones are not really free. I have to sign those stupid contract, which I never like to abide. I hate signing my life away.
As much as I want cool toys every time a new toy comes out, I and numerous others can't afford it. And I'm learning how to save more money, and still get my whole inbox on the go!
"The Peek Pronto - fastest way to waste money on a device with features even a free phone has these days!"
Dont you mean iPhone 3.0?
*ducks*
*chickshish*.... BOOM!!!
I think I got one.
I've had a peek now for about a month. My company pays for my cell but blocks all internet/email/txt on the device. I really enjoy the device and service. It has helped my stay on top of multiple email accounts by having them all go to the peek. Its not without its downsides however.
My biggest complaint is the pull lag. The peek service only polls your email accounts every so often (Every 5 minutes according to my mail server log). Then your peek device only polls their servers every so often (I was told 5 minutes by a support rep, dropping to 20 after you haven't used the device for an hour) - so if the timing lined up right - you could be waiting 10 minutes for a reply. Rather useless if you're trying to txt someone something urgent that needs a quick reply.
Secondly and less important to me, is the real-time nature of the OS. I've noticed significant slowdowns and unresponsiveness under certain circumstances. For instance - I'm in a low signal area - and as it tries to connect - I practically can't even scroll through messages its so bogged down. A threaded OS would be much less frustrating to use.
Despite my two concerns, I am going to continue to remain a peek customer for at least the next few months. It fits what I need exactly - just email/txt at a price point I can't beat elsewhere. Especially if I this new device offers quicker mail polling (or a push as opposed to pull configuration) and a slightly quicker response - I think I'll be with peek for a while.
9 reasons Peek is dead:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2343209,00.asp
Ooops...
@fikhl: That list seems to be aimed squarely at people in the author's age bracket. I am sorry, but I refuse to believe that email is simply "dead" because people who don't have a lot of use for it aren't using it.
If you look over his list of "reasons" - a list which really amounts to "pet peeves" - you see things like "This type of user exists and doesn't use much email" or "spam filters aren't very good". Gmail and Live! mail both have stellar spam filters, and while SOME users might always have an empty inbox or never bother to check, they get weeded out relatively quickly. If I told everyone the best way to contact me was to email me, then never read or responded to email, they'd stop contacting me. While that may be the goal of some folks out there, it certainly isn't the majority. Most people say "email me" because it is convenient, non-intrusive, and an appropriate blend of personal
"Ever changing email addresses" is not really a concern anymore. Plenty of people in the 18-34 age group have permanent email addresses - either forwarders that will always end up going to their current provider of choice, or private names / domains. Younger people recognize the value of an email address (just like a phone number) that doesn't change because your provider does.
So while the title "E-mail is dead" may have been nice and catchy, the crotchety old man that wrote it is clearly out of touch with not only technology, but the people who use it most.
Add web browsing and I'm all over that device.
Awesome wait its 2009 right. For a second I thought it was 2002 when something like this might have been cool.
"Is the lighting good?" "No, there still is some."
Obviously something new is on the way from Peek. We don't have baby IQ, Engadget you know?
ECLIPSE = meaning washing away the old for pave way for the new!
I hope they've got some new colors, new software and even more savings than original.
wat
It has all the features of a Black Berry, just crappier...
AHAHAH!!!!!!!!
now if you will excuse me i have to spend some quality time with my iPhone 2G xxx
I tried it. It's basically a thinner, better built BlackBerry 8700, period.
A whole lot cheaper. Without all the crap bloatware from carriers and RIM that I'll never use. It's actually pretty darn good.
soo when can we take a PeaK at tha new PEEK!
Ry, peek is actually spelled "peek".
Oh boy thanks Dcoaster..almost bought the wrong thing
Didn't want to cause an uproar in the spelling community... =)
@zane
its not like a blackberry at all. It doesn't even make phone calls. It Only does email. I could simply add email to my phone for a cheaper plan
@Victor Stuber
The original Blackberry was an email only device. It looked like a pager.
Lovable peek.
BTW, did anybody know that zzzphone went out of business? their website is now one of the generic search ones.
AHAHAHAH!!!!
yea..if they included web browsing in the service then i just might jump on this..nah...i'll stick with the 5.99 t-zones hack and be happy :P
it is not a new device but the time in which it takes to receive emails will be next to nothing now. i know this because i called a few weeks ago to cancel my account because it was taking hours to receive my emails and they told me to suspend it until this came out.
I call that BS.
Customer reps never know anything about upcoming release dates, got any exclusive pics or videos, price - let alone reliable solid info we prey upon. their always last to get info, usually last, when the product finally releases.
So the customer reps was probably feeding you a nice story. You got tripped man...
If you Google it you get this little blurb from peekforbusiness.com that isn't actually on the website or the cached version for that matter. Curious...
"We’re introducing Peek Pronto – It includes some additional features and services that will make Peek mobile email even better."
If it went up that fast, Google Cache spider bot don't pick them up
i'm guessing exchage support. push = fast. mmmmm
A Twitter centric peek would be nice.
PeekaBoo
It will be a larger, more full featured device, but not as portable. Think wide aspect ratio.
I call that BS.
Customer reps never know anything about upcoming release dates, got any exclusive pics or videos, price - let alone reliable solid info we prey upon. their always last to get info, usually last, when the product finally releases.
So the customer reps was probably feeding you a nice story. You got tripped man...
Just ask Verizon/AT&T/Sprint reps... they never know their stuff... all they got is fluff!
peek is a small company and some employees hold multiple positions including customer support. i had a chat with a customer support person and found its really a great company and a nice device with tons of potential (but running an os that i could probably scoop out of my poop).
Yeah, the owner of Peek has been on Engadget commenting on the articles featuring his product; he seems like a damn nice guy. He was taking suggestions from some other commenters as well as answering questions and being generally awesome.
looks like a Sprint teaser to me...
Exactly my first thought after seeing this picture
GABBO
Look Smithers! Garbo is coming!
You guys (engadget) suck at idioms. To take a flying leap mean to bugger off not to make a guess.
It's a new update for the Peek coming out in April(1.09). It isn't a new device!!!
I spoke with a Peek brand representative and they said there's a new device is coming out. So you're wrong!
"The time to open a menu on 1.08 is .09 seconds. The time to open a menu on Pronto, .04 seconds!!!!"
It's definitely update 1.09(which is coming out in April and is currently being tested as we speak). 1.09 will have push email and the device will run a lot smoother. It's already been confirmed on the discussion boards on the site. Push email could open gates to instant messaging. 1.09 is laying the ground for some new features.
I just texted an insider at Peek. Nope.
It's a COMPLETELY new device model!
I was just on their website this morning doing some research. It's not there now, but this morning they had info claiming in early April 2009 they would release the Peek Pronto and add .pdf and .doc attachment support. It also lead me to believe by the wording that it would add html email.
As for all you guys making fun of this device, just because you may not have a need for it does not mean there isn't a demand or a market for it. Maybe think it through before you post. I personally NEED email on the road but really don't need a cell phone. The same goes for 16 other employees where I work. We are service techs for a small company and we currently get dispatched via text message. Email would give us greater communication capability and the $19.95 monthly fee appears to be about the cheapest option I can think of. That monthly fee also includes unlimited text messages. We don't need cell phones but we need to communicate.
Again, our needs would be hard to satisfy for less than $19.95 per month. What's wrong with a one function device anyway? You're right; that is stupid. Next, someone will start making cameras that are just cameras and they'll expect people to buy those.
like we need another one of these bitches, like I can imagine the sales on the first one was beyond amazing. jeeze
Add twitter, SMS, MMS , and a web browser. Make it a smart phone without the phone part , and make it cheap = win
I sent an email to them when they first came out with their first device saying that if they could include 802.11b/g support with a connection to Exchange, they might be able to sell many more of them to businesses that want their employees in touch, but don't want Blackberry's or POP3... they wrote back saying 'good idea'... wonder if it stuck...
As far as I know it is just an update. I received an email from the "CEO" saying that if you do a survey for them that they will pay for you to send the device to them and update it. I know that they want to keep the device simple, but I think that updates should be something that they user should be able to by themselves. It would save them alot of money
IMAP support would be nice.
They can count me in if: this new version can send and recieve SMS (in a normal fashion), can handle at least one IM protocol preferably more, and can still be purchased in a manner so that there are no monthly charges. Hopefully that is not too much to ask.