Palm Eos: super-thin, 3G, and headed to AT&T?
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Apr 30th 2009 12:52PM
posted Apr 30th 2009 12:52PM
Update: Oh boy -- looks like we just got the full spec list. And yes, it's definitely coming to AT&T (if it's really coming).
- 4GB storage
- Price: $349 (pre-rebate)
- Camera: 2 megapixel fixed focus digital camera and flash / video capture
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP and EDR, USB 2.0 via micro USB
- Removable 1150 mAh battery (4 hours 3G talk time)
- Messaging: SMS, MMS (picture and video only), integrated IM client
- Contact sync with AT&T Address Book
- MediaNet
- Cellular Video
- Email: POP3, IMAP4, and EAS support
- A-GPS
- Audio: WAV, MP3, AAC, AAC+ ringtones
- Video Playback: MPEG4, H.264, H.263
Nice render.
Actually, for a render, its pretty bad...
M
That's a nice looking handset. 10X better than those Centros. It looks sweet for a low-end smartphone. If the cost is low enough, it might even sell better than the Pre.
Yeah... I kinda agree. Looks quite fishy to me.
The render throws me for a few reasons.
1. WebOS isn't fully rendered on there. Was this a phone designed before the software was totally finished or something?
2. The keys have really weird depth of field to 'em, like they're just textures
3. Seems perspectively incorrect
It's still no iphone
Pre lite?
As much as I'd love to see a WebOS candy bar on ATT, this render looks extremely fishy for a number of reason.
Nerdtalker brings up good points, despite the misuse of the term "depth of field." :-)
320x200 for the fail
I agree that the render looks fishy for the above-mentioned reasons. The keys look like they're texture mapped on, without depth, and that home button actually looks bigger than on the Pre (also lacks depth).
Even if the Eos IS going to be a real device, this render screams 'early mock-up', and the 320x400 screen res doesn't sound right either.
Delving into conspiracy land here, but...
Maybe it's a plant by AT&T to retain some of the iPhone users who might be considering jumping ship. :)
Interestingly, I think the Centro is the same dimensions 4.3 inches x 2.1 inches (of course the centro is much thicker). I could definitely see palm going with this form factor. Looking at the Centro, if you get rid of the center navigation buttons, and extend the screen down further, you end up with a phone looking like the Eos. well, use your imagination a little....
@JohnTitor
"320x200 for the fail"
Well that would be a fail - thank goodness it clearly says in the article that it is 320x400 huh?
Can't RTFA for the fail...
Multiple WebOS devices FTW
Not digging that giant button, however. Kill the button, shorten the device, and deal.
My bad. Bad render, great concept.
My inbox begs for relief.
Welcome back, Palm. We missed you these last few years.
yep...
guess I'll hold on to that PALM stock for a little longer now
Yeah, no crap. I had written off Palm a couple years ago. I saw the Centro as their last failed attempt at saving the company, and classified their next-gen OS as vaporware.
Kudos to the great leadership team that has given the company a complete 180.
Don't celebrate yet; they've yet to get these products out the door. Don't get me wrong. I'm considering jumping ship from tMobile (after 5 years) for the Pre, but it _might_ end up being a dud (Blackberry Storm). I really hope it does well, because I want Palm to do well and because I'd love to get some seemingly awesome tech like the Pre into my hands, but I won't count my chickens before they hatch.
You know, some people love the BlackBerry Storm. A couple million by this mark anyhow.
I'm ecstatic that Palm has gone back to its roots of being an innovative and exciting company and I have no doubt that this phone will be a hit. @moog, I would say that at least a few million of those people went on hype alone and realized that the Storm didn't turn out to be what they thought. Let's hope for Palm's sake that's not the case when it comes to the Pre.
will take it with some wifi, and reality please.
Thing looks better than the pre... & i like the pre... sliders just suck...
The main thing I don't like about the Pre, hardware design-wise, is that the slider is portrait instead of landscape. Otherwise, it's quite fetching.
There seem to be plenty of people who agree that this thing looks nice, but I don't get it. Whatever virtues it has, it ranks near the very bottom for me on aesthetic appeal for a qwerty smartphone. Different strokes I guess.
@mian, I think it's mostly due to its small size and the way it appears to fit smoothly into the hand (as seen in videos). Still have to wait to actually test it, which shouldn't be too long.
So why buy a Pre now?
Because Sprint has a faster network, cheaper plans, and they don't bend over for the NSA.
The Pre also looks nicer too!
So you can be all "First!"?
Keyboard, bigger, inductive charging?
Plus, it's coming out sooner.
Pre looks better and is better spec wise. This looks like a lower end Pre.
Still, it would be funny for ATT to release a Palm WebOS based phone before the Pre!
Because the pre has the 320 * 480 display, however I assume that the 320 *400 mentioned here is an error...
Cause the pre exists.
@neodorian: No, but as the -only- wireless carrier to do so, Sprint -does- bend over to suck off the federal government for a bailout.
Truth's a bitch, boy.
I think someone just put together a render based on the blurry phone pics we saw earlier?
If it was a render of the blurry photo, wouldn't they have pasted in a screenshot of WebOS from the Pre? I haven't seen a Pre screenshot like the one on the Eos.
If the rumors are true, and this is going to at&t, what the hell is verizon doing? Do they even know Palm still exists? Yes, they have the centro, but come'on!
I just want a smartphone that is awesome! :(
As soon as my contract expires (1 year), I am switching if Verizon doesn't get anything cool. Knowing my luck, they will get something cool, and then charge an insane amount for it. $349 HTC Touch Pro anyone? Or how about a $299 Touch Diamond.
Sigh.
Verizon always gets smartphones last. The good ones at least.
Verizon gets it last because they have to spend even more time than other disable capabilities. Also, most of the good smartphones start off as GSM based except for the ones Sprint shells out big buck to have an exclusivity agreement.
Verizon isn't will to go all exclusive upfront with pretty much anything.
Verizon is the last to come out with the new devices because it takes their engineers longer to lock down all of the phone's useful features and tie you to their Pay Per Use features.
If I wasn't so obsessed with the Pre, I would consider getting the Eos. I'm glad Palm is getting back in the game.
No Wi-Fi, only 4 GB of storage, and more expensive than the iPhone. Pre wins.
I bet that's the unsubsidized price, cause those specs are pretty lowend. Will sort of. A year and a half ago I would have been really excited. Now I would be if it's $99 on contract.
No keyboard, multitasking, or choice of networks. iphone loses.
It's eyo before subsidy. That doesn't tell us anything about the price after.
The lack of wifi is the real bummer.
One big question is whether it will run on the same OMAP SoC as the Pre or if palm chose one without the SGX.
No WiFi when you have a massive 3G network like Verizon's is somewhat forgivable..
No WiFi when you have AT&T's tiny 3G network is a massive fail. Though maybe on a low end device like that you have to make that sacrifice to avoid super battery draining...
Is there any word on touchstone support for the Eos? Also can the storage be extend with SD cards?
Yay I really wanted a palm WebOS device and I have At&t.
Keep the news coming.
Given how thin that thing is, and how much Palm insisted that the Pre is missing an SD slot to keep it thin, I doubt it.
pre-rebate dude. that means that it will be sold for between $100-150.
If they include a memory expansion slot then this is a total win. Otherwise I think 4 gigs is a little on the low side.
So sad why only 2 Megapixels, a missed opportunity to be a killer. But overall nice promising device it was about time too replace the famous Treo.
Even with an 8MP camera, it would still take crappy pictures. Any camera that isn't fixed-focus or using a cell-phone-sized sensor will blow away a cell phone camera every day of the week, and any days of the week invented in the future.
I guess palm isn't dead afterall. I was wrong .
I'm sure this won't require a 2 year data plan.,?
wow 10mm thick that's awesome
it's good to see palm getting back in the game
I call bullshit. At least with those specs and that picture.
OK, maybe I'm wrong and there's some strange legal issue I'm missing, but Eos is the name of a Volkswagen. I would think it would be hands-off.
And it looks way too iphone-like with it's matte-ish black background and metal bezel. One of the key design features of the Pre is that its screen is "seamless" without a true "edge" (which makes those subtle notifications wicked-good-looking). I vote "Not Real" (though a good idea and similar to those Mr. Blurrycam photos)
the VW is a car... this is a phone... no legal problems whatsoever
i agree on the render though... the ear slot... the volume rocker... the lock button... i mean come on... it looks like someone chopped up an iphone... got rid of the silence switch... added a keyboard and a webOS screenshot to make it look original... i call fake as well
And I suppose that Canon just skipped "G8" in the G-series cameras because they didn't like the number? Or that the 30 years of trademark disputes between Apple Computers and Apple Records means absolutely nothing?
Potential (or straw-man) legal issues aside, the point can be made that term "Eos" is already descriptive of another product. It does them no good to name it the same thing as an existing product (car, phone, bathroom tissue--it doesn't really matter).
Huh. Eos is also a Canon digital camera, an asteroid, a geophysical journal, a card game publisher, and... oh yes, the Greek goddess of dawn.
well, in terms of trademark, Canon's EOS is distinctly different (in trademark terms) from Volkswagen's Eos. As for the rest of your examples--there can be many definitions and many uses for a given term (including, say, the original--the goddess of dawn) but there are strict limitations on using a word for product identification purposes. Just a few examples: Windows, Apple, Palm, Sprint, Dell. All of which have other [generic] meanings. My point still remains that it would be rather silly to adopt a name for which there is already an international product.
Nice job on the wikipedia-ing though.
Eos--in Greek myth, anyway--represents dawn. So while it might be hard for another car company to make a claim on it, a tech company probably could if they had cause. Palm would obviously claim that 2009 is the "dawn" of WebOS.
I love armchair lawyers. Do you think that you actually realized something that Palm's legal team missed? Do you think they're all gonna sit around when they get served with a lawsuit (that's never coming) and say "crap, how did we forget that there was already a car and a camera name Eos?"
ok. sorry for invoking "legal" issue.
Assuming the phone is real, that "Palm Eos" is the present and future name and the legal team has not sat by (while the lawsuit doesn't come), my point *still* remains (and I've reiterated twice now): why would they do that? *why* pick an existing brand? why invoke the image of the most popular professional camera company in the world for the last 15 years? or a distinct and recognizable European car? They did so well with "Palm Pre" that it is almost already as classic as "Blackberry" or "iPhone".
"Palm Eos" doesn't even sound good.
kind of a ridiculous thing to leak pre-pre
Yes indeed.
For Palm (or Sprint), definitely.
For AT&T, absolutely not.
yep
Ok if these are the FULL specs then the way I see it the Pre would have over the Eos the follwoing:
1. 4 gigs more memory
2. Better camera with auto focus
3. Wi-Fi
4. GPS
The Eos on the other hand seems to be smaller and should be a lot cheaper. If they can sell this for under $150 with contract it would be a huge seller. Hit $99 and wow...
The Pre's camera doesn't have autofocus. It uses a software trick to extend the depth of field. I don't know how it works, but I think the end result is a shaper, higher-quality picture.
This has A-GPS though, which I'm assuming the Pre can do too. Or is A-GPS not available on CDMA?
Palm is back....
I'm now waiting for the Pre's bigger brother with a bigger screen...
i think if they go low end with the webOS, the hardware will probably only be capable of doing a one app at a time. Palm would be smart to limit the functionality of the OS to encourage those people to upgrade to the Pre (or whatever successor) to get the full power of the OS. It would make a great entry for those who want a cool OS on their phone that will have plenty of APP support.....
i just don't understand how Spring messed up in their negotiations to allow Palm to release a webOS phone during their Pre exclusive time frame.
I guess this is why they just keep losing money...
The Eos HAS to be able to run multiple apps. That's one of the webOS's biggest strengths. Although it's likely that it won't be able to run as many apps at the same time.
The drunken blurrycam photo from this morning and the above render isn't any kind of an official announcement. Hell, this leak could still be bogus.
just release the Pre first than worry about the next phone. For a company on the brink of disappearing forever, Palm should focus on getting one phone perfect to maintain itself...
Well someone's got some Photoshop skills. Fake!
not that good at PS! look at the 'L' key!
This phone is all about the price point. Placing it into the Centro's space (approx $99) and you will have a winner. Anything above that and this phone is just OK.
No Wifi? WTF....
is 10.6 mm (0.4 inches) really all that thin?
You guys don't even know the price of the product (Pre) that will be released in the next 30 days or so.
How can you quote a price for a product that has only been know about for less than 24 hours? WTF Engadget???
Furthermore, "IF" this is a reall product, someone at Palm will loose their job over this release of info. This could potentially undermine the release of Pre! A LOT of people will wait and not purchase Pre if there is something new coming out soon!!!
It's not Engadget that gets the price rumours you know... they just publish them
The Pre is most likely going to be aimed at a higher price point than this, as Palm have a history of doing, they will have a range of handsets.
Most likely Palm won't care that much if people buy either of these handsets, especially if this happens to have lower manufacturing costs.
Good show, Palm.
GREAT show, Engadget.
I must say that is kind of a handsome phone. Thin and sleek in design and a respectable spec sheet if it is all true. I think $150 or less and that is will most def be a hit with people who don't like sliders and/or don't like virtual keyboards on AT&T. It's complexishly simple :).
So in the few years since their Treo 6xx/7xx, the only thing they've improved is the form factor which goes from fat-ass to kinda thin? And this several years after Moto Q9C and two iterations of Samsung Blackjacks. Good going palm.
Yeah, it's not like they completely changed the OS or anything...
"kinda thin" ... !?
At 10.6 mm it's thinner than the iPhone (12.3 mm) and the Touch Diamond (11.35 mm). When devices get this thin, every milimeter counts.
Thinness, to me, is completely overrated. I so don't care for anorexic devices. Functionality and battery life matter so much more.
How about getting the Pre out, before we jump onto the next shiny toy.
My favorite part is that here we are only 61 days from the end of the 2nd quarter or 1st half as the important marker is called, and we still don't have a price on the Palm Pre, but suddenly we have a price on this??!! I cry foul if it isn't fake!
P.S. - I bet it's just fake.
So I can get iPhone or this for $99?
Hmmmh what to get. dee dee deee!
Looks like an iPhone, with the exception of the keyboard. I wouldn't be surprised.
If that thing is 349, the price of the pre will have to be higher than that due to it's more advanced features.
The rumor is listing the unsubsidized price. IF it's real, it would likely launch at a 99-149 price point after contract.
This render looks just like the Palm Pro! Epic Fail in my opinion!
Oh surprise surprise, it's not coming to Verizon. Verizon sucks. They have the crapiest gimped phones on the market. I know this has nothing to do with the EOS, it is just that I am so sick or seeing all these great new phones coming out and ZERO of them are coming to Verizon. Due to Corporate policy, I have to use Verizon or else go it alone on another carrier. Somethign I am not willing to pony up for.... yet.
whats with the big ball
That's the center button.
No mention of a 3.5mm headphone jack. I am also curious if this thing is using the same 1Ghz OMAP processor, or if webOS can be scaled or ported to other processors.
Pre has a _600_ MHz TI OMAP3430.