Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Palm creating palmtop computer with detachable, dockable cellphone?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/palm-creating-palmtop-computer-with-detachable-dockable-cellpho/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/palm-creating-palmtop-computer-with-detachable-dockable-cellpho/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/palm-creating-palmtop-computer-with-detachable-dockable-cellpho/#commentsPalm creating palmtop computer with detachable, dockable cellphone? Hold on to your Foleos, folks, because it looks like Palm still hasn't given up on the idea of a little laptop that pairs with a phone for wireless communications. However, where that former (failed) experiment called for entirely disparate hardware, here the relationship between the two would be rather more formal. In a patent filed in April and just dug up by Unwired View, Palm describes a "compact removable voice handset" and an "integrated palmtop computer." The two can communicate wirelessly, but more interestingly they can be coupled such that "there is minimal increase to the overall size and weight" of the palmtop -- in other words, the "phone" bit isn't particularly large, making it more comfortable to hold up to your face in a conversation than your Streaks and the like. Is there actually any hardware behind this application or is this just Palm daydreaming about a Foleo 2? We'll all just have to wait and find out.

Palm creating palmtop computer with detachable, dockable cellphone? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>detchabledockdockablefoleofoleo 2Foleo2palmpalmtoppatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationThu, 12 Aug 2010 08:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song (update: sold!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/palm-foleo-lands-on-ebay-can-be-yours-for-a-relative-song/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/palm-foleo-lands-on-ebay-can-be-yours-for-a-relative-song/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/palm-foleo-lands-on-ebay-can-be-yours-for-a-relative-song/#comments It's probably not the first Foleo to ever splash down on eBay, but this one might just be the most comprehensive of them all. Palm's companion laptop-that-never-was will almost definitely remain a tech mystery for eons to come, but today, the chance is yours to own the flop of the last decade for just $750. Better still, that Buy It Now price includes a smorgasbord of applications, so you won't have to go hunting in order to find programs that actually take advantage of the thing. The only downside is the lack of a VGA dongle and the original packaging, but there's only so much griping you can do about a Foleo that costs less than an Adamo.

Update: And she's gone! But strangely, it looks as if the entire auction has been removed. We're guessing someone paid this fellow a couple million to end it early and take an under the table lump sum, Just a guess, though.

Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song (update: sold!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>companioncompanion laptopcompanion pcCompanionLaptopCompanionPcebayfoleofor saleForSaleon saleOnSalepalmPalm FoleoPalmFoleoraretreoWed, 30 Jun 2010 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM's BlackBerry tablet starting to sound suspiciously like a Foleo]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/rims-blackberry-tablet-starting-to-sound-suspiciously-like-a-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/rims-blackberry-tablet-starting-to-sound-suspiciously-like-a-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/rims-blackberry-tablet-starting-to-sound-suspiciously-like-a-fo/#comments So BGR is reporting that it has "confirmed with multiple sources" that RIM's alleged BlackBerry tablet device is very real -- despite Mike Lazaridis' recent downer comments on the subject -- and that it'll have an 8.9-inch screen, WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity to hook up with your phone. Oh yeah, about that Bluetooth connectivity: the tablet is being billed as a "companion" device, something to use when you need a little bit more horsepower and screen real estate for multimedia and the like. Sound familiar? Yeah, Palm tried this with famously catastrophic results a while back -- and considering RIM's ultra-conservative policy on product innovation, we can't imagine things going any better up in Waterloo. It's apparently slated for a December release with engineers scrambling to get it released even sooner... and, you know, discontinued sooner, too.

RIM's BlackBerry tablet starting to sound suspiciously like a Foleo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlackBerryceliocompanioncompanion deviceCompanionDevicefoleoredflyRIMrumortabletThu, 13 May 2010 12:12:00 EST<![CDATA[REDFLY now available for $499, purpose even less clear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/redfly-now-available-for-499-purpose-even-less-clear/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/redfly-now-available-for-499-purpose-even-less-clear/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/redfly-now-available-for-499-purpose-even-less-clear/#comments
Sure, we just saw the Celio REDFLY unboxed last month, but come on -- you know you really wanted one of the Foleo-like WinMo "companions" all to yourself, and now you can have one -- for $499. Yep, 5 bills to use WinMo 5 or 6 on an 8-inch screen -- and you can't use it at all if you don't have your phone. Or, you could spend your money on something 1000x more useful and get one of the million netbooks that have been released since this thing was first announced, but hey -- don't let a silly thing like common sense stand between you and your phone's desire to be loved. One more short unboxing vid after the break.

Continue reading REDFLY now available for $499, purpose even less clear

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REDFLY now available for $499, purpose even less clear originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesceliocompanionfoleomobilemobile phone companionMobilePhoneCompanionnetbookperipheralsredflywindows mobilewindowsmobileThu, 07 Aug 2008 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Celio's REDFLY platform enables Foleo-like WinMo devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/celios-redfly-platform-enables-foleo-like-winmo-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/celios-redfly-platform-enables-foleo-like-winmo-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/celios-redfly-platform-enables-foleo-like-winmo-devices/#comments It's not that we don't see the appeal of using a supplementary keyboard and display with our smartphones, rather, we simply felt that the Foleo was way overpriced for the relatively limited functionality it provided. Well now a new company called Celio seems to be heading down the same risky path as Palm, announcing the REDFLY Smartphone Interface System, a platform that allows Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices to be controlled using external hardware; sounds promising, except that the first piece of gear to incorporate the technology will cost $499, the same targeted MSRP as the failed Foleo (after its planned instant rebate). Celio wisely claims that it's initially targeting enterprise users with the Bluetooth 2.0, clamshell device, although frankly it seems like they'd have more success concentrating on the software and letting OEMs deal with designing products that offer a more attractive price / performance ratio.

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Celio's REDFLY platform enables Foleo-like WinMo devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriescelioces 2007Ces2007foleomobilepalmredflysmartphone companion platformSmartphoneCompanionPlatformwindows mobilewindowsmobileWed, 02 Jan 2008 09:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo: the exclusive first and final hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/27/palm-foleo-the-exclusive-first-and-final-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/27/palm-foleo-the-exclusive-first-and-final-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/27/palm-foleo-the-exclusive-first-and-final-hands-on/#comments
The irony is so thick we're almost drowning in it, but we had to see this thing through to the end.

Back in 2005 we got a once in a lifetime scoop -- the Treo 700w -- that proved once and for all Palm was doing non-Palm OS devices. Then, earlier this year, we were there when Jeff Hawkins announced the ill-fated Foleo at D5. We got the first ever hands-on of the thing, and eventually wrote a letter to Palm which not only prompted a public response from CEO Ed Colligan, but that many attributed as a cause of the Foleo's death. And lucky us (we think?), we managed to snag one of the few Foleos ever produced.

Gallery: Palm Foleo: the exclusive first and final hands-on (hardware)


Gallery: Palm Foleo: the exclusive first and final hands-on (software)

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Palm Foleo: the exclusive first and final hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfoleohands-onpalmThu, 27 Dec 2007 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo unboxed, AT&T-branded Centro spotted?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/palm-foleo-unboxed-atandt-branded-centro-spotted/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/palm-foleo-unboxed-atandt-branded-centro-spotted/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/palm-foleo-unboxed-atandt-branded-centro-spotted/#comments
Welcome to Engadget: Bizarro Edition. Look, truth be told, now that the Foleo has been wiped from a foreseeable Palm future, we kind of wish we could get our hands on one (rare gadget collectors that we are). Well, at least one lucky, lucky gentleman has done just that, and he's been kind enough to share the pictures with the rest of the world. We're not sure how an individual goes about procuring this device, but we can honestly say we're pretty jealous. It's essentially like having an embalmed unicorn in your living room. But that's not all, kids. Take a long, hard look at that Centro in the photos (which is referred to as the Treo 500P) -- it's got AT&T branding all over that home screen. Is your curiosity piqued? Join the club. Take a look at the little curiosity after the break.

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Palm Foleo unboxed, AT&T-branded Centro spotted? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500patandtattbizarrebizarrocentrofoleomobilepalmtreounboxedunboxingWed, 03 Oct 2007 23:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo unboxed, AT&T-branded Centro spotted?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/palm-foleo-unboxed-atandt-branded-centro-spotted/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/palm-foleo-unboxed-atandt-branded-centro-spotted/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/palm-foleo-unboxed-atandt-branded-centro-spotted/#comments
Welcome to Engadget: Bizarro Edition. Look, truth be told, now that the Foleo has been wiped from a foreseeable Palm future, we kind of wish we could get our hands on one (rare gadget collectors that we are). Well, at least one lucky, lucky gentleman has done just that, and he's been kind enough to share the pictures with the rest of the world. We're not sure how an individual goes about procuring this device, but we can honestly say we're pretty jealous. It's essentially like having an embalmed unicorn in your living room. But that's not all, kids. Take a long, hard look at that Centro in the photos (which is referred to as the Treo 500P) -- it's got AT&T branding all over that home screen. Is your curiosity piqued? Join the club. Take a look at the little curiosity after the break.

Continue reading Palm Foleo unboxed, AT&T-branded Centro spotted?

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Palm Foleo unboxed, AT&T-branded Centro spotted? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500pbizarrebizarrocentrofoleopalmtreounboxedunboxingWed, 03 Oct 2007 23:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm shareholders approve Elevation Partners sale]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/palm-shareholders-approve-elevation-partners-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/palm-shareholders-approve-elevation-partners-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/palm-shareholders-approve-elevation-partners-sale/#commentsIn a move that could be described as "totally unsurprising," Palm shareholders have approved the much-discussed partial sale of the company to a private equity firm called Elevation Partners (of which Bono is a member), and also a change in the board of director's makeup. The plan, if you'll recall, is for Mr. MacPhisto and co. to pay $325 million for a 25-percent stake in the company, while Palm itself will pay out a $9 per-share distribution of cash to current shareholders for a reduction in ownership. There will also be a new executive board chair, namely, Johnathan Rubenstein, an Apple alumni who ran the iPod devision from 2004-2006. Fred Anderson (another former Apple officer), and Roger McNamee (a Silicon Valley investor) will also join the board. Our man Ed Colligan said of the switch, "There are a lot of moving parts here, but the goal is to bring in a transformation and change the dynamics of the company," er... okay. Apparently, Palm has hopes that Mr. Rubenstein will help create "innovative products" and "bring them to market quickly." In our dreams guys, in our dreams.

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Palm shareholders approve Elevation Partners sale originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonocentroed colliganEdColliganelevation partnersElevationPartnersfoleomobilepalmpartial salePartialSalesaletreoWed, 12 Sep 2007 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm shareholders approve Elevation Partners sale]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/palm-shareholders-approve-elevation-partners-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/palm-shareholders-approve-elevation-partners-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/palm-shareholders-approve-elevation-partners-sale/#commentsIn a move that could be described as "totally unsurprising," Palm shareholders have approved the much-discussed partial sale of the company to a private equity firm called Elevation Partners (of which Bono is a member), and also a change in the board of director's makeup. The plan, if you'll recall, is for Mr. MacPhisto and co. to pay $325 million for a 25-percent stake in the company, while Palm itself will pay out a $9 per-share distribution of cash to current shareholders for a reduction in ownership. There will also be a new executive board chair, namely, Johnathan Rubenstein, an Apple alumni who ran the iPod devision from 2004-2006. Fred Anderson (another former Apple officer), and Roger McNamee (a Silicon Valley investor) will also join the board. Our man Ed Colligan said of the switch, "There are a lot of moving parts here, but the goal is to bring in a transformation and change the dynamics of the company," er... okay. Apparently, Palm has hopes that Mr. Rubenstein will help create "innovative products" and "bring them to market quickly." In our dreams guys, in our dreams.

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Palm shareholders approve Elevation Partners sale originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonocentroed colliganEdColliganelevation partnersElevationPartnersfoleopalmpartial salePartialSalesaletreoWed, 12 Sep 2007 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm kills the Foleo dead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/palm-kills-the-foleo-dead/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/palm-kills-the-foleo-dead/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/palm-kills-the-foleo-dead/#comments
We are seriously not going to take credit for this, but holy crap, Palm just cancelled the Foleo, just like we asked them to! Palm CEO Ed Colligan just posted a message to the company's official blog stating that they've decided to cancel the Foleo mobile companion "in its current configuration" in order to "focus all of our energies on delivering out next generation platform and the first smartphones that will bring this platform to market." In a way we're sort of disappointed that we'll never at least get to play with one and put it through its paces, but it's definitely the right move -- Palm needs to focus on one thing right now, and that's coming out with a category-killing smartphone. Not that they're giving up on the idea for good; Ed says that they'll do a "Foleo II" based on the new mobile platform they're already developing for their next generation of smartphones

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Palm kills the Foleo dead originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfoleomobilepalmTue, 04 Sep 2007 17:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm kills the Foleo dead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/palm-kills-the-foleo-dead/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/palm-kills-the-foleo-dead/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/palm-kills-the-foleo-dead/#comments
We are seriously not going to take credit for this, but holy crap, Palm just cancelled the Foleo, just like we asked them to! Palm CEO Ed Colligan just posted a message to the company's official blog stating that they've decided to cancel the Foleo mobile companion "in its current configuration" in order to "focus all of our energies on delivering out next generation platform and the first smartphones that will bring this platform to market." In a way we're sort of disappointed that we'll never at least get to play with one and put it through its paces, but it's definitely the right move -- Palm needs to focus on one thing right now, and that's coming out with a category-killing smartphone. Not that they're giving up on the idea for good; Ed says that they'll do a "Foleo II" based on the new mobile platform they're already developing for their next generation of smartphones.

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Palm kills the Foleo dead originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfoleopalmTue, 04 Sep 2007 17:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's Foleo in the wild?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/palms-foleo-in-the-wild/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/palms-foleo-in-the-wild/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/palms-foleo-in-the-wild/#comments
We're still of the opinion that Palm should just abandon the whole Foleo concept and work on making the Treo competitive again, but despite our pleas, the company appears to be proceeding towards launch -- manufacturing delays or not. Our tipster spotted the gentlemen pictured rocking what certainly appears to be a Foleo at an oil-change joint in Redwood City, California, and sent in a few snaps. According to her, our guy was happily typing away on the unit, occasionally stopping to refer to his phone (which obviously appears to be a Treo). That's all the info we've got -- but judging from the look on this guy's face, the Foleo is just as frustratingly not-a-laptop as we assumed from the start. Two more shots after the break.

[Thanks, Michelle]

Continue reading Palm's Foleo in the wild?

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Palm's Foleo in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foleomobilepalmperipheralsrumorsWed, 29 Aug 2007 23:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm says Foleo still on schedule... for Summer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/palm-says-foleo-still-on-schedule-for-summer/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/palm-says-foleo-still-on-schedule-for-summer/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/palm-says-foleo-still-on-schedule-for-summer/#comments
It seems possible that Palm took our advice when we asked the company to "stop keeping us in the dark," because the last few days have been filled with transparency. The latest bit of see-through from the PDA-maker comes today in the form of a denial concerning the recent Barron's news that the company's sorta-kinda-laptop, the Foleo, would be delayed due to syncing problems. According to Palm's director of communications, Jim Christensen, "As stated on May 30, U.S. availability for the Palm Foleo mobile companion will begin this summer. We will let you know if this changes," which runs contrary to rumored street dates for the laptop, and to what Deutsche Bank analyst Jonanthan Goldman reported on Wednesday. The company has had its share of activity over the past two weeks, including solid news on the tiny new Centro (AKA the Gandolf), rumored delays for the Foleo, and of course our gentle prodding. We can only hope all this movement, good or bad, is working as a wake-up to Colligan and co.

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Palm says Foleo still on schedule... for Summer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barron'sbreaking newsBreakingNewscentrodelaysdenialed colliganEdColliganfoleoindustry analystIndustryAnalystjonathan goldbergJonathanGoldbergpalmtreoFri, 24 Aug 2007 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo delayed amid criticism on development]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/22/palm-foleo-delayed-amid-criticism-on-development/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/22/palm-foleo-delayed-amid-criticism-on-development/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/22/palm-foleo-delayed-amid-criticism-on-development/#comments
According to a Barron's report published today, Deutsche Bank analyst Johnathan Goldberg has released a short note claiming that the Foleo -- Palm's much-derided quasi-laptop -- is headed for production delays. Goldberg states in the note that "In a round of checks yesterday we learned that the Palm Foleo will be delayed," and went on to say the snag is caused by "software bugs," which prevent the system from syncing properly with "most models of the Treo." Clearly not the news that Palm wants people to hear right now, with pressure already to-the-nines on the Foleo and its place (or lack thereof) in the market. With the recent addition of Elevation Partners to Palm's board, the company is due to take on $400 million in new debt, but on a phone call to Barron's later in the day, Goldberg said that "a leveraged re-cap is not going to help them." Succinctly mirroring Engadget's own feelings on the matter, the analyst noted that "There's something wrong with the company," and suggested Palm alleviate some of its problems by introducing "...new software," and "...new form factors." We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

Read -- Palm Sub-Laptop "Foleo" Delayed, Says Deutsche; Does Anyone Care?
Read -- Palm: It's The Software, Stupid, Says Deutsche's Goldberg; Where's the Sense of Urgency?

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Palm Foleo delayed amid criticism on development originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barron'sbreaking newsBreakingNewsdelaydelayselevation partnersElevationPartnersfoleoindustry analystIndustryAnalystjonathan goldbergJonathanGoldbergpalmtreoWed, 22 Aug 2007 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Dear Palm: It's time for an intervention]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/21/dear-palm-its-time-for-an-intervention/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/21/dear-palm-its-time-for-an-intervention/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/21/dear-palm-its-time-for-an-intervention/#comments
Dear Palm,

Man, what a crazy year, right? We know things haven't really been going your way lately, but we want you to know that we haven't given up on you, even though it might seem like the only smartphone anyone wants to talk about these days is the iPhone. It can be hard to remember right now, but you used to be a company we looked to for innovation. You guys got handhelds right when everyone else, including Apple, was struggling to figure it out. And it was the little things that made those early Palm Pilots great -- you could tell that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to think about what made for a great mobile experience, like how many (or rather, few) steps it took to perform common tasks.

The problem is that lately we haven't seen anything too impressive out of you guys. Sure, over the past few years the Treo has emerged as a cornerstone of the smartphone market, but you've let the platform stagnate while nearly everyone (especially Microsoft and HTC, Symbian and Nokia, RIM, and Apple) has steadily improved their offerings. So we've thrown together a few ideas for how Palm can get back in the game and (hopefully) come out with a phone that people can care about. (And we're not talking about the Centro / Gandolf.) Read on.

Continue reading Dear Palm: It's time for an intervention

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Dear Palm: It's time for an intervention originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centrofeaturesfoleointerventionopen letterOpenLetterpalmtreoTue, 21 Aug 2007 12:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo specification details begin to flow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/palm-foleo-specification-details-begin-to-flow/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/palm-foleo-specification-details-begin-to-flow/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/palm-foleo-specification-details-begin-to-flow/#comments
As the rumored launch date of Palm's Foleo draws closer, it follows logic that the pieces would start to come together regarding the innards of this thing. Shortly after naming Wind River Systems as its preferred Linux provider, Palm is reportedly divulging details about the specifications to developers at the LinuxWorld conference. Under the hood will supposedly be goodies such as a 416MHz Intel / Marvell PXA27x processor, Marathon 2700G graphics accelerator with video output, 128MB of RAM "for holding currently running applications, and 256MB of non-volatile memory," a CompactFlash slot located behind the battery, an SD expansion slot (though some reports suggest SDHC works also), and WiFi support. Most intriguing, however, was the note that some developers at the expo were "given a unit already in its retail packaging" after attending a seminar about writing applications for the Foleo and "signing a non-disclosure agreement," which certainly leads us to believe that this gizmo will hit shelves sooner rather than later.

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Palm Foleo specification details begin to flow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foleointelmarathonmarvellpalmspecificationsspecsFri, 10 Aug 2007 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm chooses Wind River Systems for Foleo's Linux]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/palm-chooses-wind-river-systems-for-foleos-linux/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/palm-chooses-wind-river-systems-for-foleos-linux/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/palm-chooses-wind-river-systems-for-foleos-linux/#comments
Just over a fortnight before the Foleo is rumored to launch, Palm has selected Wind River Systems as its preferred Linux platform provider. Reportedly, Wind River Platform for Consumer Devices, Linux Edition has been chosen as the "open standard Linux platform for future Palm Foleo software releases," and Palm seems to think that this will "help speed applications to market while still meeting the requirements for a stable and robust open mobile platform." Palm's Mark Bercow was also quoted as saying that the company hopes that building the Foleo on an open Linux-based platform and publishing the tools developers need will enable "a vibrant developer community to create new applications that extend the mobile companion's built-in capabilities." Regrettably, there's still no mention of a hard release date, but at least you open-sourcers can start dreaming up ways to better this thing as soon as it hits shelves.

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Palm chooses Wind River Systems for Foleo's Linux originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foleolinuxopen-sourcepalmwind riverWind River SystemsWindRiverWindRiverSystemsTue, 07 Aug 2007 10:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: MacBook mini would answer iPhone's call]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/switched-on-macbook-mini-would-answer-iphones-call/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/switched-on-macbook-mini-would-answer-iphones-call/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/switched-on-macbook-mini-would-answer-iphones-call/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:


A few weeks ago a two-part Switched On column (see: here and here) discussed Apple's approach to the iPhone keyboard. I agreed with Apple's reasoning that, for a phone, or at least this first iPhone, the gains that could be made by going with a soft keyboard outweighed the cons. And, make no mistake (or actually a lot of them with typos), there are cons. Even in a best-case scenario of perfect accuracy, the iPhone's keyboard has drawbacks. There are, for example, no cursor keys, (Mac history buffs will remember that this is just what the original Macintosh forced users to do as its keyboard had no arrow keys), and users must go into punctuation (albeit briefly if using the famous "Pogue period" hint) mode whenever you want to type a period.

Since Apple seems to have decided that keyboards are only for laptops and larger devices, and now has an opportunity to create an embedded appliance (call it Foleo-like, if you must) loaded not with some souped-up file viewers but embedded versions of, Pages, Keynote, perhaps some future Apple spreadsheet product, and a light version of FileMaker (which, for all of Apple's stealth initiatives, is one of the company's best-kept secrets). iWork, much like Safari, may well have some agenda beyond being a Microsoft insurance policy for the Mac.

Continue reading Switched On: MacBook mini would answer iPhone's call

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Switched On: MacBook mini would answer iPhone's call originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplefeaturesFoleoiPhoneMacBookRoss RubinRossRubinSwitched OnSwitchedOnultraportableMon, 06 Aug 2007 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm launching Foleo on August 22nd?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/17/palm-launching-foleo-on-august-22nd/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/17/palm-launching-foleo-on-august-22nd/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/17/palm-launching-foleo-on-august-22nd/#comments
Per usual, this one's laced in speculation, but considering that there are potentially millions of you out there who can't wait to throw down for a less-than-revolutionary Foleo as soon as humanly possible, we'll pass along the message. According to an anonymous tipster that wrote in to BrightHand, we could see the Foleo launch on August 22nd, and it was even noted that Palm's retail stores and website would have dibs on first sales, while big box retailers such as Best Buy would be stocking it this November. On pricing, it was suggested that interested consumers could look forward to a $100 rebate right out of the gate, but we wouldn't shell out that extra Benjamin on Sour Patch Kids and string cheese just yet. Still, late August doesn't seem too far fetched for a "summer" release date, so for the handful (literally) of you taking notes, now you know where to mark that calender.

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

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Palm launching Foleo on August 22nd? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foleolaunchlaunch dateLaunchDatepalmrumorTue, 17 Jul 2007 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget at Digital Experience New York]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/engadget-at-digital-experience-new-york/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/engadget-at-digital-experience-new-york/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/engadget-at-digital-experience-new-york/#comments
Digital Experience is a bi-annual press event wherein dozens of your favorite tech companies corral hundreds of your favorite tech journalists, fill them up with free food and booze, and attempt to squeeze a little more coverage out of already-announced products. The theme for this year's New York show -- held last night at the Metropolitan Pavilion -- was British Invasion, and while we certainly appreciated the Beatles cover band, darts competitions, and of course the Bass- and Boddingtons-serving HP Notebook Pub (pictured above, although we still prefer the Sun beer server), the choice to offer traditional English cuisine was, quite frankly, not that well thought out. Nonetheless, we braved numerous flying darts and sketchy-looking meat pies to photograph a few devices we thought you'd enjoy; click on to check out the highlights...

Continue reading Engadget at Digital Experience New York

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Engadget at Digital Experience New York originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-inch8gbamdcell fusionCellFusiondectdigital experienceDigitalExperiencedragonfeaturefeaturesfoleogehdxhpmicrosdmicrosdhcnew yorkNewYorkpalmportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideopress eventPressEventsandisksatellite a215SatelliteA215sharpssdtoshibaThu, 28 Jun 2007 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Fishing for the fourth screen]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/18/switched-on-fishing-for-the-fourth-screen/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/18/switched-on-fishing-for-the-fourth-screen/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/18/switched-on-fishing-for-the-fourth-screen/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:


Last month's D: All Things Digital conference saw the launch of two platforms from well-known technology companies -- Microsoft's Surface, the coffee-table PC that can be used to sell coffee tables, and Palm's Foleo. the big-screened mobile companion for pocket devices from the company that popularized pocket companions for big-screened devices.

Both products rely on recent iterations of well-tred operating systems. The heart of Surface is simply a Vista PC, whereas the Foleo is based on Linux. But their usage models could hardly be more different. Surface is a large tabletop computer environment reminiscent of the cocktail arcade tables of the 80s but which is actually filled with infrared cameras and a projector -- a new application of rear-projection TV technology.

Foleo, with its small clamshell form factor, eschews any kind of touch-screen manipulation, instead introducing a scroll bar to facilitate moving through long Web pages and lists of e-mails. In contrast, at least for its initial kiosk-like deployments, Surface will take advantage of new applications that use its direct manipulation and recognition of physical objects. However, both products illustrate the challenges that companies have in trying to introduce a "fourth screen" to compete for consumer attention beyond the three screens of television, the PC, and the cell phone.

Continue reading Switched On: Fishing for the fourth screen

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Switched On: Fishing for the fourth screen originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfoleofourth screenFourthScreenmicrosoftpalmsurfaceswitched onSwitchedOnthree screensThreeScreensMon, 18 Jun 2007 15:07:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change the Palm Foleo?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/10/how-would-you-change-the-palm-foleo/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/10/how-would-you-change-the-palm-foleo/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/10/how-would-you-change-the-palm-foleo/#comments
As much as we respect and admire the man, we sure wouldn't want to be in Jeff Hawkins' shoes these days, what with the cool reaction his promised "breakthrough device" has been receiving in the media and among the army of amateur online pundits. But rather than wasting time knocking Jeff for the somewhat awkwardly-positioned Foleo, why don't we instead use our collective knowledge and preferences to help him make the F2 a product that we'd be comfortable dropping a few bucks on. For instance, what if Palm got rid of the redundant processor, OS, and radios, and simply offered consumers a dumb terminal in which to dock their Treos for under $200? Or what if they let that screen get its swivel on and added 'e-book reader' to the Foleo's list of features? And for heaven's sake, some proper video support please! Those are just our suggestions; what's yours?

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How would you change the Palm Foleo? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foleohow would you changeHowWouldYouChangejeff hawkinsJeffHawkinspalmSun, 10 Jun 2007 22:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's Ed Colligan: Foleo is the Wii of portable computing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/palms-ed-colligan-foleo-is-the-wii-of-portable-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/palms-ed-colligan-foleo-is-the-wii-of-portable-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/palms-ed-colligan-foleo-is-the-wii-of-portable-computing/#comments
We've seen Jeff Hawkins' -- the synaptic guns behind the Palm Pilot, Handspring, and Treo -- take on the ill-received Foleo. Now we've got the thoughts from his boss, Ed Colligan, CEO of Palm, Inc. As you'd expect, Ed toe the party line with the "mobile companion" spin. He even compares it to the PS3 vs. Wii battle, citing "technology overload" as the mysterious (and massively oversimplified) force that will drive people to Palm's new platform as it has the Wii. Ed also tells us that Palm will be providing the tools to developers after which he expects, "very quickly, there'll be thousands of applications" for the Linux-based Foleo. Hey Colligan man! We get it, but we still don't think it's a good idea. Though if only for nostalgia sake, we'd love to be wrong. See the video after the break.

Continue reading Palm's Ed Colligan: Foleo is the Wii of portable computing

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Palm's Ed Colligan: Foleo is the Wii of portable computing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2007 03:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colliganed colliganEdColliganfoleojeff hawkinsJeffHawkinspalmwiiThu, 31 May 2007 03:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-hands-on/#comments
We just got our grubby little paws on that new Palm Foleo. We'll give you one guess about what we think. Ok, ok, look, it's an interesting device and an interesting concept, and we're long-time Palm fans. We like the scroll wheel, the keyboard and screen were very nice, and the browser works excellently (and with Flash! see the gallery). It's wonderful that it works so well with your phone and all of that business, but we just can't get behind this one. We need a better Treo, or we need a Foleo or like device that replaces your Treo -- we don't want both. No ifs, ands, or buts. We already have a laptop, and when you consider the fact that this thing is about the size and weight of a Dell X1 (ok, maybe a little larger), the user just doesn't have a whole lot of reason to take one of these home. Ah whatever, Palm never listens to us anyway. Enjoy the gallery!

Gallery: Palm Foleo hands-on

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Palm Foleo hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2007 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfoleohands-onpalmWed, 30 May 2007 15:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's Jeff Hawkins live from D 2007]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palms-jeff-hawkins-live-from-d-2007/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palms-jeff-hawkins-live-from-d-2007/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palms-jeff-hawkins-live-from-d-2007/#comments
There are a lot fewer Palm fanboys than there used to be, but they're all hoping that Palm founder Jeff Hawkins brings the love during his convo with Walt at the D Conference today as he introduces the Foleo. All of Walt's questions are in bold.

10:31am - Last time you were here talking about the brain... you basically created the first handheld computer. You've been working on something else for a couple years.

The concept of this product is five years old, devleopment is a couple hours. A little history behind all this... we started palm 15 years ago on a palm and an opportunity. Desktops and laptops were too large, expensive, complex. You're not going to build billions of these complex machines, you build mobile computers. But the technology didn't exist, but that was the goal behind Palm. We are a future-of-personal-computing.

But it became clear the smartphone wasn't going to fill that role. It has a keyboard, nice display, except there's a problem. You need a full size screen and keyboard. The smartphone is a truly capable computer, billions of comptuer have one, but sometimes you need to be able to look at that big spreadsheet.

Continue reading Palm's Jeff Hawkins live from D 2007

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Palm's Jeff Hawkins live from D 2007 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d conferenceDConferencefeaturesfoleoliveblogpalmWed, 30 May 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo announced]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-announced/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-announced/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-announced/#comments
As rumored, the big new device that's Palm's Jeff Hawkins has chosen to announce at the D conference today is the Palm Foleo, which the company is billing as a "mobile companion." Boasting a 10-inch widescreen display and a full-size keyboard, the device is intended to be used in conjunction with your smartphone, with any edits to documents made on one device automatically reflected on the other thanks to the device's Bluetooth connectivity. The device also promises to turn on "instantly," boasts built-in WiFi, and should last about 5 hours on a single charge. The pricing and release info leaked out earlier also look to have been spot on, with it now officially set to be released sometime this summer for $500 (after a $100 mail-in rebate). We'll have plenty more pics of it shortly, but for now you can check out one more after the break.

Continue reading Palm Foleo announced

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Palm Foleo announced originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all things digitalAllThingsDigitalbreaking newsBreakingNewsdfoleojeff hawkinsJeffHawkinspalmWed, 30 May 2007 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Foleo and Linux OS for summer is what Hawkins is announcing at D?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-is-what-hawkins-is-announcing-at-d/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-is-what-hawkins-is-announcing-at-d/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/palm-foleo-is-what-hawkins-is-announcing-at-d/#commentsWoops! Looks like someone was trigger-happy at Palm and shot out the press release for tomorrow's announcement a little too soon! Apparently what Jeff Hawkins is going to announce in the morning at D is called the Palm Foleo (a name we've heard rumored before), and is being positioned as a "smartphone companion". We didn't know our smartphones weren't quite smart enough to need a guide to the interwebs, but the Foleo syncs to your mobile device, providing a full size keyboard and larger display for editing documents and triaging email (among other things). So yeah, basically it's a dumb device piggybacking all your Treo's most useful feature -- its connectivity. Apparently users can expect instant-on access, five hours battery life, Palm's new Linux OS, and a $500 pricetag to round off that Treo kit to about a grand this summer. Assuming all this is indeed the case, we can only come to one conclusion: damned if we need yet another friggin device. Seriously, please Palm, what we need is for you to improve the Treo -- or whatever phone device you expect us to carry and use -- not design the Treo its very own Lenny Small to hack around sluggish handset design. The yet-another-device philosophy doesn't carry, so to speak, and it's sure as hell not the future of mobile computing.

P.S. -No, that's a jokey Sony UX UMPC to the right, not the still-unseen Foleo.

[Thanks to Brian and everyone who sent this in]

Read - Screencap of the supposed release
Read - Treocentral thread

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Palm Foleo and Linux OS for summer is what Hawkins is announcing at D? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2007 02:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all things digitalAllThingsDigitalbreaking newsBreakingNewsdfoleojeff hawkinsJeffHawkinspalmWed, 30 May 2007 02:33:00 EST