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Snow Leopard takes a bite out of support for legacy Palm OS devices
Still rocking that Palm Zire with your new Intel-based Mac? Then you might just want to reconsider that upgrade to Snow Leopard, as Apple has apparently decided to ditch its support for legacy Palm OS devices in the latest incarnation of iSync. That, as you may be aware, had previously acted as a conduit for Palm's aging but still available Palm Desktop software, and let folks easily sync up their contacts and other data from their Centro, Treo, Zire, Tungsten, or even a venerable old PalmPilot. Of course, that doesn't quite rise to the same level of controversy as the whole Pre / iTunes situation, especially considering that Palm itself has mostly moved on from said devices, and there are still some third-party sync solutions available for folks that want to keep the Palm OS dream alive.
Palm going Centro for next webOS handset?
The Boy Genius Report just got ahold of this ultra-blurry shot of what purports to be Palm's next webOS device, with a supposed fall release date and zero other info to go on. From the looks of things the keyboard is stationary, but with the relative height-to-width ratio (and last night's "Mini-Pre" rumor) we're thinking the keyboard and screen might be shrunk down slightly -- which, were we to conjecture further, could mean a webOS Centro. Or perhaps Palm's gone large and produced something entirely more delicious.
Palm OS looking to go out with a bang, unlocked Centro launches in two new colors
Say what you will about Palm OS, but the idea of a new smartphone -- regardless of platform -- for under $200 unlocked is still a somewhat novel (and extremely attractive) concept. The Pre might be garnering 99.999 percent of the attention being thrown Palm's way these days, but the lil' ol' Centro -- the phone that helped popularize the concept of a low-end consumer smartphone and kept the money flowing at Palm headquarters just long enough to get webOS ready for launch -- is still on sale, and it's ready to make one last splash before riding off into the long-overdue technological sunset. Along with the previously available Glacier White, you can now help yourself to the unlocked GSM version of the device in your choice of Ruby Red or Cobalt Blue, a color that had previously launched in Latin America. For $199.99, it's a tough deal to beat; just be mentally prepared to get emulated into oblivion in a few weeks. Nothing personal, we promise. [Via Palm Infocenter and TreoCentral]
Don't worry, this isn't the Centro 2
Okay, so maybe Palm hit its head on the corner of a goalpost in a charity hockey tournament recently (stupid ego -- no helmet) and hasn't been the same since. Maybe they've lost their ever-loving minds, gone back to 2006, and resurrected the original Centro ID with a build of webOS so janky that it looks like a knockoff of webOS. We prefer a couple more reasonable theories: someone's hard at work on a webOS skin for Palm OS (bless their heart) or Palm had used a Centro for early mockups / prototyping on webOS and the shots of that effort are just now starting to leak out. Either way, dude pressing on the screen in the middle picture: nice stylus.
Better late than never: Bell launches Palm Centro
OK, we learned that the Centro was coming to Bell a couple weeks back, we griped and moaned about it in the podcast, and here it is. Pricing's been revealed, specs have been known forever, so there's not much left to get excited about here. Also noteworthy is the absence of any type of "new" signage on the product page -- which is very evident on other recently launched sets on Bell. Don't get us wrong, the Centro was is a fine handset, but is it $49.95 on a 3-year contract good?[Via mobilesyrup]
Bell Canada setting the table for Palm's Centro?
Word is that Bell Canada's going to be getting the Palm Centro come February 2nd -- but of course the word is all we have to go on right now. Pricing is rumored to see it launching at $49 on a 3-year special launch price, $199 once that expires, $249 on 2-years, $349 on 1-year,and $399 completely contract-free. We've been all over the Centro in the past on Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and even Rogers. So feel free to peruse any or all to get the important details, mkay?
Palm Pre to use Centro-sized battery
For all those commenters in our recent Palm Pre feature wondering just exactly what kind of battery we could expect to see in the device, wonder no more. According to Dieter Bohn over at the newly christened PreCentral, the phone will use the exact same battery as the Treo 800w and the Centro -- a 1150mAh model. Apparently Palm reps were happy to snap the back off the device and show the source of its juice off. That same size battery is used in the G1 as well, and Dieter notes that there's an aftermarket 1350mAh version which could offer more power. Certainly such a small battery -- a size which we know leaves a lot to be desired in a next-gen phone like the G1 -- isn't music to our ears, but since we don't know how the Pre handles power consumption, there's still plenty of questions to be answered. And hey, you could keep a spare around, right?Update: Jenn at Pocketables tells us that the battery is 1200mAh as told to her by a Palm rep at CES.[Via Palm Infocenter]
Palm Pre to use Centro-sized battery (Updated)
For all those commenters in our recent Palm Pre feature wondering just exactly what kind of battery we could expect to see in the device, wonder no more. According to Dieter Bohn over at the newly christened PreCentral, the phone will use the exact same battery as the Treo 800w and the Centro -- a 1150mAh model. Apparently Palm reps were happy to snap the back off the device and show the source of its juice off. That same size battery is used in the G1 as well, and Dieter notes that there's an aftermarket 1350mAh version which could offer more power. Certainly such a small battery -- a size which we know leaves a lot to be desired in a next-gen phone like the G1 -- isn't music to our ears, but since we don't know how the Pre handles power consumption, there's still plenty of questions to be answered. And hey, you could keep a spare around, right?Update: Jenn at Pocketables tells us that the battery is 1200mAh as told to her by a Palm rep at CES.Update 2: We've just gotten word from Palm that this actually isn't set in stone yet. In their words: "We're still doing some final development and testing various user scenarios as part of carrier certification."[Via Palm Infocenter]
The gigahertz Centro, also known as 'the Palm-powered grenade'
Personally, we wouldn't want to be within 15 feet of a Centro being mercilessly overclocked to a mind-numbing 936MHz, but we reckon that's where our fearless readers come into play. We're told that this sucker reached prompt criticality and melted into the Earth's crust shortly after this screen shot was taken, and you know what? We can't say we blame it.[Thanks, Jason]
Palm's preliminary quarter-end results show drooping revenues, bleak outlook
Remember when we used to write about Palm in order to talk about its devices and / or operating system(s)? Man, those were the days. Now, it just seems like one sadness-filled report after another, and just days after hearing that it would be cutting an undisclosed amount of employees in order to trim operating expenses, in comes even more doom and gloom courtesy of its preliminary Q2 (fiscal year 2009) results. The company is expecting to record revenues ranging between $190 million to $195 million, far short of the $331 million Wall Street had been counting on. The shortfall was blamed on "a difficult economic environment [which had] greatly intensified the negative impact on product sales." Of course, the visionary Ed Colligan (CEO) still maintains that by reducing its cost structure it can "launch next-generation products as planned," but seriously, why should we believe that line now? Time to put up or shut up, Palm.[Via CNET, image courtesy of PalmFocus]
Verizon's Palm Centro receives ROM update, minor improvements promised
Don't cancel your election party to get to this or anything, but Verizon Wireless' Palm Centro has just received a teeny, tiny update. The newly released v1.03 ROM update is dubbed "a minor tune-up that may improve device usability in certain situations." That's about as indistinct as it could possibly get, but you know you're still going to pull the trigger. It's ready to be installed right now via Hotsync or SD card, and as always, we'd recommend backing up your interoffice love letters just in case something goes awry.[Via Palm InfoCenter]
Sprint's Olive Green Palm Centro gets pictured
You may have missed it, but Sprint's two newest Palm Centros just hit select retail locations a few days back. The cats over at PalmInfoCenter managed to get their hands on the Olive Green unit, and lo and behold, that bad boy is green. The silver accents and the spread of white keys on the keypad add a hint of "style," and the soft touch finish looks just lovely from here. Check the read link for a smattering of crystal clear shots, but you may or may not want to strap those sunshades on first.
Sprint unwraps Olive Green and Vibrant Rose Palm Centros
Maybe someone forgot to mention to Sprint that the traditional colors associated with Christmas are red and (darker) green, but it's coming awfully close to getting in the holiday spirit with its pastel-splashed Centros. The two "new" Palms (which were leaked last month) will arrive in Olive Green and Vibrant Rose for $79.99 on a 2-year contract, but that's not all -- they'll also boast a "soft-touch finish that feels smooth and comfortable in the hand," 128MB of RAM (twice that of the original Sprint Centro) and a microSD card slot. Have a look at the new duo as early as October 19th at select retail locations and beginning on November 2nd in Sprint Stores, consumer and business sales channels, and online.%Gallery-34447%
Ed Hardy-ruined Palm Centro not available to general public, and that's okay
If you were wondering why Palm just posted another less-than-stellar quarter of earnings despite the runaway success of its Centro line, we think we have the answer: it's been digging into the piggy bank to ice out its gear. Palm has commissioned Ed Hardy to "specially equip" some Centros as gifts for presenters at the Primetime Emmys (which fall somewhere between Cable Ace and Teen Choice Awards for prestige), and the result is... well, this. The designs won't be available to the general public, but we think we're going to reserve our envy for anything else.
Sure sign of success: Palm to bring Centro to Sprint in two new colors
Nothing quite says "these puppies are selling well, and we'd like to ride the wave a bit longer" than reformulating an existing device in new colors -- a strategy Motorola played to the extreme, bitter end with the original RAZR -- and Palm's circling back to Sprint's Centro lineup to add a couple more (it's not getting out of hand with the Centro yet, Palm, but we're onto your game). It seems that the new shades will be "rose" and "lime," both of which sorta speak to the Centro's approach as a personal -- not business -- oriented smartphone. If the rumors hold up, these snazzy new shades should be hitting late next month.[Via Palm Infocenter]
iTreo 800p available on eBay: L@@K
Well whaddya know? The iTreo 800p is finally selling on eBay! We thought the day would never come that we could actually get our hands on this totally sweet -- and absolutely real -- phone. Man were we wrong. Sure, the listing says you're selling off a Treo 800W, but given the large amount of completely reassuring blue text, scrolling text, and large font text, we'll happily accept that we will, in fact, receive the device pictured above via UPS Next Day Air. So, yes. Yes. We will "buy it now" for $349.99, safe in the knowledge that by this time tomorrow, we'll be the only guy on our block busting out the iTreo 800p at parties, pool halls, and any place else where all the happenin' stuff happens. Thanks "naseemajid" -- you're A+++++ in our book.Update: It appears the eBay auction has been pulled. We can't imagine why.[Thanks, Spencer]
Palm Centro 2 leaked, lacking QWERTY? (update: nope)
As good as it looks, we're not going to get too carried away with this supposedly leaked Centro 2 image. While the mockup certainly looks professional, there's no way of knowing at this point whether or not it's from Palm official or just the dream of a downcast fanboy. If true, then we're looking at a new, presumably QWERTY-less touchscreen device with what looks like an Opera (not Blazer) browser, dedicated media keys, and Bell Mobility Canada branding. A design which would certainly be "breakthrough" and "revolutionary" for Palm smartphones. Hit the read link for a bigger pic while we shake-down our sources for more input. Update: Sigh, it was too good to last. Turns out that it's just a Photoshop project. Palm, do the right thing and hire this guy.[Thanks, Robert and Joe F.]
Palm Centro eclipses 2 million mark, Colligan totally cool with that
Palm's nailed a bona fide runaway success just in the nick of time with its Centro series, hitting its second million in global sales in about half the time it took to reach the first million (thanks in no small part to a new round of carrier launches, we'd imagine). Makes sense: it's small, it's really reasonably priced for a smartphone, and while it's not stylish by any stretch of the imagination, it still manages to beat the pants off the Treo line's tired, buttoned-up look. CEO Ed Colligan's using the opportunity to thumb his nose at the competition a bit, though, and that's where we get a little worried. Instead of hearing things like "whew, thank goodness, the Centro gave us the cash infusion we desperately needed to fuel work on Palm OS 2 and a compelling product line revamp," we're seeing him spout off about how the Centro's easier to use and "less pretentious" than the iPhone, ribbing Apple over the fact that the Centro's been 3G since the beginning, and talking about how easy it is to get the 411 on your peeps with the Centro's supposedly best-in-class Facebook app. It's great to be proud of a successful product, no doubt, Ed -- but let's not forget that your most direct competitor, RIM, isn't exactly standing still. Can we trade this revelry and trash talk for even a super-brief Palm OS 2 demo, pretty please?
Sprint's Centro gently nudged with "software tune up"
Does that tired old Centro feel like it could use a little freshening-up? 'Course it does, and Palm's Johnny-on-the-spot with a hot new firmware build fresh out of the oven -- if you're on Sprint, that is. The new update is ten bullet points strong on Palm's support site, with updates and fixes ranging from better Bluetooth support to support for My Location in Google Maps (that's sure to be a crowd pleaser right there). Head on over to Palm to pick up the goods, but beware, they say you ought to "allow an hour" for the process to complete.[Via The Official Palm Blog]
Palm's electric blue Centro in the flesh
Yeah, sure, it's just a dummy, but the live model will look the same -- albeit with a slightly more functional display, hopefully. Our contact tells us AT&T stores will have these bad boys ready to sell on Monday at the freshly-dropped price. Click on for the spellbinding backside![Thanks, Kal]