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SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta is live
Hey you, rabid Palm OS fan, 700p owner, and Sling advocate -- remember that SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta you signed up for last month? Well, it's time to lose a little more sleep over it, but this time you'll be enjoying the niceties of streaming media on your handset instead of sweating the release date. According to SlingCommunity, the beta will be going live today, and will officially support the 3G-enabled Treo 700p, but "early reports" are suggesting that 680 owners may be able to enjoy limited success even without Sling's stamp of approval. Of course, the beta will remain free of charge until a public release is ready to rock, and then you'll have the option of cutting ties or ponying up the $29.99 purchase price to keep on slinging. Additionally, the kind folks over at UneasySilence have done the hard work for you already, so be sure to hit them up for a nicely appointed pictorial walkthrough while your waiting to get your own install on.[Via jkOnTheRun, thanks Tie Guy]Read - SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta launchingRead - UneasySilence's Walkthrough
Palm's GPS Navigator Car Kit for Treos
Doesn't look like Palm will be busting out any new phones at CTIA, but they did announce a new GPS thingy for Treo 680 and Treo 700p smartphones. The GPS Navigator Car Kit is a GPS attachment designed to cradle your Treo for in-car use. Comes with TomTom NAVIGATOR software and a 1GB SD card preloaded with maps of the US and Canada. Retail price should be $299.
NTP's lawsuit against Palm officially put on hold
We already know how all that fighting eventually proved futile for Research in Motion, but it looks like Palm just might escape its own bout with NTP unscathed. Thanks to a federal judge in control of the situation, a stay of proceedings in the patent infringement case has been granted, which means that Palm can sit back, twiddle its thumbs, and hope with everything it has that the ongoing review by the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) deems the issue invalid. Back in 2005, it was insinuated that patent owner's arguments were "nonpersuasive," but it still hasn't been thrown out just yet. Of course, if the past is any indication, Palm has about half a billion (if not more) reasons to hope it will be.
Palm Treo 650 gets Direct Push email, too
Alright Treo 650 owners, you can now (carefully) climb off your soap box, as the svelte Exchange ActiveSync Update is now available to treat your very own handset. While Palm had already shoved the update onto the 680 and 700p handhelds, it's now giving the faithful 650 users the ability to revel in Push Email technology too, which is sure to make hard-nosed managers grin from ear to ear. Aside from the newfound support, the update notes here haven't really changed, so if you're interested in having your Outlooked life beamed straight to your Treo 650, be sure to hit the read link and get your download on. Of course, you should probably have your credit card ready as well, as folks with VersaMail 3.5 will be asked to cough up $2.99, while users without the aforementioned software will pay out $12.98.
Sprint adding Treo "755p" mid-year?
Remember that Palm "Sherlock" Sprint talked up in its 1H '07 roadmap? Looks like we might be finally developing some concept of what it is -- and if the rumors are right, Palm OS fans have cause to celebrate. We've now received several independent tips (in addition to the Brighthand article here) suggesting that Sprint and Palm are prepping a so-called "755p" to re-up the 700p that's been kicking around for a while. Details are thin, but the model should lack an aerial (a la the pictured 680) and rock EV-DO data -- and as the "p" in the model number suggests, Garnet OS is in the cards. Brighthand is liking May 14 for a release date, which is a little earlier than our roadmap was showing for the Sherlock. But hey, if it wants to pop in a month early, we're totally cool with that.
Treo 680 sheds its cam for the biz crowd
Usually it's not all that noteworthy when a popular product drops one of its features, but when that device is the Treo 680, and that feature is the VGA camera, then it's certainly notable to your security-conscious businessfolk. Even though this is the Treo that's supposed to draw in the non-techie consumer -- and even though this SKU is barely advertised -- Brighthand is reporting that a camera-less 680 is indeed available, although you'll have to make a few phone calls if you want to to secure one. As usual, you're gonna pay the same amount whether you want the cam or not, so don't think you're gonna save any loot by forgoing the crappy shooter. Hit the Read link for more details, or more specifically, for actual proof that this mythical creature exists (hint: peep the small footnotes at the bottom of the page).[Via Brighthand]
Daylight Saving Time update roundup!
Do DST Rule Change Blues have you down? Well buck up, kiddo -- we've got all (well, most) of the software patches you need to get the smartphone of your choice back into tip-top time-keeping shape right here. Though the changes -- which shift and lengthen the number of weeks we're pushed forward an hour -- should generally make us all happier, better, and more peaceful people, our phones stand to get a little confused about the situation without an update, and surprisingly, manufacturers seem to be doing a decent job in making sure those updates are available. As you find more, please add them in comments and we'll get 'em into the master list![Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read - Windows MobileRead - BlackBerryRead - Palm OS
Is Palm for sale?
Is Palm up for sale? There's been no official word from Ed Colligan and crew, but shares of the company jumped last week on speculation that they were quietly prepping themselves for acquisition. We've heard merger rumors before -- there was some half-baked chatter back in the day that RIM was after 'em -- and it does seem like Palm is at a crossroads. The future of its two OS strategy is murky at best, and while the Treo has been doing fairly well here in the US, they've definitely had trouble getting traction abroad and have seemed flat-footed in the face of stiffening competition from HTC, Nokia, Samsung, RIM, and Motorola (not to mention the looming threat of the iPhone, which threatens to peel off a good number of the prosumers and enthusiasts that were once Palm's bread and butter). Of course, all this has us wondering who would actually plunk down $1.6 billion to buy Palm. Main candidates are said to include both Motorola and Nokia, but Moto already seems to be doing just fine with the Q, and to be honest, it's hard to imagine Nokia snapping up a company that puts out phones running on Windows Mobile. [Via the::unwired]
Unofficial patch for Treo vulnerability loosed
If you've been a bit paranoid of late after hearing that a blatant security hole was found in the now-deceased Palm OS, help has unofficially arrived. Reportedly discovered by Symantec, the vulnerability entailed a hole that allowed the operating system's Find functionality to be accessed even when the device was set to Locked, allowing ill-willed hackers to sift through text message history, calendar entries, tasks, etc. The hole had been confirmed on the Treo 650, 680, and 700p, but now users of the handsets can rest a bit easier after applying this patch. As expected, the update simply disables the Find feature, which essentially closes off the last remaining security loophole and protects prying eyes from seeing that backlog of steamy Valentine's Day texts. So if you're looking to unofficially patch things up with your Palm, be sure to hit the read link and get that install completed, but we're not the ones to come crying to if something goes awry.[Via PalmInfoCenter]
ACCESS ALP hits 1.0, new specs released
We only caught a brief early glimpse of ALP at 3GSM this year before they quickly snuck away all the gear, but PDAStreet claims that ALP has hit 1.0 in its dev cycle, and has screencaps and a lot of info we've been waiting for to make the case. First up, hardware: it should run on current generation devices, requiring at least a 200MHz ARM9 CPU (400MHz+ recommended), 64MB RAM and 64MB flash memory, and has support for input via QWERTY, 12-key with 5-way d-pad, and touchscreen (obviously) or digitizer (interesting!)with four or five hard keys. Interestingly, supported resolutions include QVGA (240 x 320), HVGA (320 x 480), and WVGA (800 x 480) -- where's the 320 x 320 Palm OS Treos have had since the 650? We dunno. ACCESS still hasn't announced any licensees, but unless ALP switches up and adds a square aspect ratio, it doesn't look like we'll see this running on any Treos as we know them today. Oh, app list after the break.[Via Download Squad]
Copilot satellite navigation for WM6 launched
Mobile navigation just doesn't seem to stop these days -- everyone and their dog has a smartphone-enabled navigation solution built for the Palm ACCESS Garnet, Windows Mobile or RIM Blackberry platform. But, we love the name "Copilot", which was launched for the just-unveiled Windows Mobile 6. Initial details? Well, you get what is rapidly becoming standard with mobile nav apps -- except for Copilot's market-first solution for WM6 -- and that list includes color 2D/3D maps, natural text-to-speech voice directions in multiple languages and access to navigational route upgrades from NAVTEQ to round out Copilot's package. [Thanks, Peter]
Palm releases new GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition
The rumors of the Palm OS -- err, ACCESS Garnet -- going away in some shape or form hasn't been lost on Palm yet (the software company), as Palm has released -- after the rumor flames were started -- a new GPS Navigator SmartPhone Edition piece of software for almost all recent Palm-powered and Windows Mobile-powered Treo smartphones. And the list includes the Treo 650, 680, 700p, 700w, 700wx and 750 -- all but the older 600 model it seems. Palm's spiffy new GPS Navigator SmartPhone Edition 3 package comes with TomTom's Navigator 6 software that includes support for the newer 750 as well as the 700-series and the 650-series. Also with the package comes a 1GB miniSD card with adapter and a USB SD adapter -- and of course the obligatory Bluetooth GPS receiver. And, previous GPS Navigator fans will be glad to know that a new cradle is included -- it's smaller and specifically designed for the Treo form factor.
SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta signups are live
By now, you're fully aware just how deceased Palm OS is, but Sling Media is still lookin' out for those loyal Treo owners out there looking to get their mobile TV viewing on. It wasn't too awfully long ago that we found that the SlingPlayer Mobile application would indeed be making a showing on Palm's handsets, and early last month we got a sneak peek that only made the anticipation that much more intense, but now we can all rest easy, sign up for the Palm OS Beta Program, and hope to get our go. So if you've made it this far without dashing to sign your own self up, well, we'll forgive you, but do your duty and hit the read link on the double if you want to secure your slot.[Via jkOnTheRun]
ACCESS to partake in 3GSM festivities
It's perfectly understandable if you're still grieving after yesterday's news dashed any hopes of Palm OS ever resurrecting itself, but your new leader has just announced that it'll be showing its stuff at the 3GSM World Congress next month in Barcelona, Spain. Working with the "Unleash Your Digital Life" them, it looks as if ACCESS is planning on showcasing elusive "ALP products, NetFront Browser, and the NetFront Mobile Client Suite / Media Player," all while dodging arrows from Palm OS fanboys, we're sure. Furthermore, the firm does throw in a snippet about Garnet OS along the way, but doesn't specifically mention any hardware partners that might be getting announced on the big stage. Nevertheless, at least ACCESS can't conquer Palm OS and then run for cover, as you'll be hearing a good bit more from this crowd come February 12th.[Thanks, Alan]
Palm pushes Direct Push to Palm OS
Users of Windows Mobile 5 have been enjoying Direct Push for some time via AKU2 (from the manufacturers that have decided to offer it, anyway) -- but getting that always-fascinating corporate email beamed straight on down to your Palm OS Garnet OS device, on the other hand... well, that's novel concept, indeed. Palm has announced that an update for its 680 and 700p handhelds will be made available Monday to add automatic synchronization of email, contacts, and calendar with the Exchange Server of your choice. Cobalt, it ain't, but at this point we'll take what we can get.[Via Phone Scoop]
ACCESS renames Palm OS to "Garnet OS," Treo users die a little more inside
It's no secret: ACCESS hates you, and your futile little wishes for a usable, stable and connected OS. Just to rub it in, ACCESS is even destroying that one thread of hope you've clung to all these years while your buddies left the faith for Windows Mobile or other abominations. Palm OS is no more. That's right, you're a Garnet OS fanboy now that ACCESS has officially renamed Palm OS to Garnet OS -- just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? ACCESS calls this one of two "milestones in our evolution as a leading provider of a range of technologies, solutions, platforms and products specifically designed for the mobile phone and converged device markets." We're not sure what that's supposed to mean, but at least ACCESS didn't try to write this off as an attempt to reduce customer confusion, there's no chance of that at this point. The other milestone is the announcement of the "ACCESS Powered" logo, which will denote -- you guessed it -- ACCESS powered products, which we suppose will include Palm products for the moment, even though Palm has taken most of the Garnet development reins of late. What we're specifically hoping it means is that ACCESS is finally prepping to debut its long-awaited ACCESS Linux Platform (ALP), and just needed a fancy logo to slap on and make everything official.
Palm offers software update for Treo 680
"All Treo 680 users should install the Camera Update." That's the official directive booming down from the Palm heavens this week as the first software patch for the stubless, Palm OS-based smartphone has gone live. While there's nothing terribly interesting going on here, the update seems pretty critical nonetheless -- if you value battery life, that is. The shipping software apparently has a tendency to leave the cam enabled even when the device is in standby, leading to a rather staggering power draw. No new features, no interesting changes, just one rather important fix. We can almost hear those overtaxed 680 batteries breathing sighs of relief already.[Thanks, Matt]
Palm GPS Navigator 3 in the works?
Evidence is piling that Palm is cookin' up a fresh cut of its GPS Navigator setup for tweaking Treos into serviceable navigation systems. Of course, seeing how the current retail version is incompatible with the 680, a freshened kit seems like a foregone conclusion, but we're talking real evidence here -- an online retailer is now showing a "GPS NAVIGATOR SMARTPHONE ED 3" on backorder for a mere $284.42. Notice that "3" there on the end? You can take that to the bank, folks. But wait, it gets better: Palm's latest price sheet also shows a GPS Navigator 3, rocking compatibility for the 680 and official support (finally) for the 700wx. Needless to say, it seems like owners of said devices should be able to scoop one of these up in the next few weeks. If they can manage to go that long without becoming hopelessly and irretrievably lost, that is.[Via Palm Infocenter]
Hands-on with Sprint's 1H '07 roadmap?
Authenticity is tough to verify here, but what we've heard from an inside source here regarding Sprint Nextel's launch estimates for the first half of the new year -- including some devices that have already hit the streets -- seems totally plausible, if not probable. Samsung's been tapped to provide three: the m300 "Vivace," m510 "Fantasy" (apparently a minor update to the m500), and -- most interestingly -- the m620 "Flipper," which we've now heard from multiple sources will be a CDMA version of the nifty F300 Ultra Music Edition, scheduled to launch with Sprint on April 1. Sanyo brings a total of five to the party, two of which have already launched: the 3200, 7000, 7050, Katana II (hopefully sporting EV-DO this time), and M1. Sierra Wireless and Novatel will team up to bring three more data devices to market, the 595U, 597E, and Express (the XV620, we're guessing?). Moto's on the hook for three devices, the Q (wow, we haven't heard it called "Franklin" in ages) and a pair of iDEN / CDMA hybrids, the ic502 and ic902. Rounding out the offerings will be the 6800 -- an HTC Titan variant -- and the previously-unmentioned Palm Sherlock (a CDMA version of the 680 or 750, we'd wager). Not a bad lineup considering this all theoretically goes down in the first six months of the year, eh?[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Bring iPhone look, feel to Palm with "iPhony"
So, you're in for a bit of a wait to get your hands on the iPhone. Us too, welcome to the club -- but if you're a Palm owner, there's an app kicking around that might make the wait a bit more bearable. "iPhony" may not bless your Palm OS-based Treo with multi-touch, iTunes compatibility, or the brilliant industrial design that makes Apple... well, Apple, but what it will do is ease the crushing pain of an iPhoneless existence for the next few months by yoinking the iPhone's buttons and making them configurable to launch apps of your choice. iPhony presently works only at 320 x 320, but no worries, LifeDrive owners -- a 480 x 320 version is currently in the works.[Via Palm Infocenter]
