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SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS goes gold
Concluding a rather lengthy beta (or at least it seemed lengthy to those impatiently waiting for it), Sling has finalized its SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS for retail. With Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile 6, and Palm clients now all widely available, carriers may want to get cracking at shoring up those HSDPA and EV-DO towers, because we have every intention of watching this football dude again and again. And again. Grab SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS -- officially supported on the 700p and 755p thanks to their 3G radios, though other models should work -- now for a penny shy of $30. Now if we could only get our hands on that elusive S60 client, we'd be all set.
Palm posts 43-percent drop in profit
We'll admit, anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention should have seen this coming a mile away, but the latest financial news from Palm is far from peachy. The firm announced a whopping 43-percent dropoff in profits compared to this quarter just one year ago, and the stock subsequently slid four-percent as a result. Of course, the perpetual delays of its modern-day operating system cannot be helping the cause, and considering the innovation that has surfaced in the smartphone arena over the past 12 months, it was only a matter of time before this happened. Interestingly enough, rival RIM was able to find a way to keep on keepin' on all the while, as it simultaneously posted a staggering 76.5-percent increase in revenue from the same quarter a year ago -- talk about salting the wound.
Palm's Linux OS not surfacing until 2008?
That sound you're hearing is the collective sigh from everyone patiently waiting for Palm to actually get its act together and unveil its depressingly overdue Linux mobile OS. Yet again, it seems we've been fooled into believing that Palm actually had its ducks in a proverbial row, as BrightHand is now reporting that Palm CEO Ed Colligan recently announced on a conference call that "products based on the new Linux-based platform won't be available until some time next year." Interestingly enough, Colligan also insinuated that the firm would "continue to use Windows Mobile and Garnet OS / Palm OS II for the foreseeable future." Wait, they can actually see some light at the end of this perpetually growing tunnel? We sure as hell can't.
Palm "Gandolf" images look legit, Windows Mobile version on the way as well
All sorts of Gandolf action is coming out of the woodwork, with Morning Paper following up the grainy shot it released yesterday with a shiny color version, shown after the break. The rumored specs remain unchanged, and while we're not at all delighted to hear this one will be running Garnet, we're guessing it could be a halfway decent option for low-end users, since it's rocking that lovable $200 pricetag. Even more interesting is the white Windows Mobile version of the form factor that emerged on TreoCentral today, rocking the Vodafone branding. It appears to be running Windows Mobile Standard (once known as Smartphone) -- which would be a first for Palm, who's stuck with the touchscreen-input Professional (Pocket PC) edition for its Windows Mobile phones -- and positions Palm to better compete with the likes of the Motorola Q and Samsung's BlackJack. Plus the photo is blurry, so you know it has to be good.[Via PalmInfocenter]Read - Windows Mobile versionRead - Color Gandolf shot
A look at Verizon's busy summer
Please, we beg of you, take these dates with the proverbial grain of salt -- but according to sources, the dates draws near for what could be one of the busiest phone launching quarters for The Network ever. Word on the street is that several phones should be launching shortly including UTStarcom Libra at the end of June, the Palm Treo 755p, UTStarcom Titan, Sierra Wireless 595U USB aircard, and the Motorola Q9M (aka iPhone Killer) rounding out the month of July. A few other honorable mentions we'd like to throw in for ya: looks like the Samsung I760 might be forced to downgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 in order to make the summer launch schedule, the Treo 800W is on track for late August and BlackBerry Pearl 8120 some time in the fourth quarter of the year. Not a bad list, eh?[Thanks, Jesse and HTC Kid]
Palm issues security fix for Treos
Palm has patched a bug for several Palm OS-based Treo devices, including the 650, 680, and 700p. Apparently, when password protection is enabled on your device, somebody else could still pick it up and use the "find" feature from the Make Emergency Call screen. The find will reveal details from your contacts, calendar, tasks and the like -- though we can't help thinkin' that when somebody has permanently borrowed your handset, this may be the least of your worries -- so while this wouldn't hurt your handset, security-conscious users may appreciate the fix. Hit the read link for links to the patches form Palm's support site.[Via Phone Scoop]
FCC toys with our heart, flaunts nonexistent GSM Treo 755p
Granted, the FCC has tugged on our heartstrings at times in the past, but shaking someone up this severely is edging on criminal. According to a slew of FCC submissions dated this month, there was actually a pair of GSM Reports ran on none other than Palm's Treo 755p. No need to wipe the sleep from your eyes again, it says GSM -- as in, not CDMA. Of course, upon seeing such a bizarre treasure tucked away in the depths of the FCC, we feverishly clicked away and awaited as the PDF loaded, only to find a plethora of boring paperwork showing how successful this thing was at passing CDMA2000 850 / 1900 tests (presumably for Sprint). Not satisfied with the inconclusive results, we continued on to hit up every last piece of paperwork attached to the filing, only to read those four dreaded letters over and over without seeing a single mention of GSM. So, what's going on here Palm? Is there really a GSM-based 755p up your sleeve somewhere, or were there not one, but two cases of blatant mislabeling going on in this filing? After the jump, take a peek at the device associated with the listing.
Sprint selling Samsung m510, Palm Treo 755p
In the market for a fancy flip? A mild update to an ancient smartphone, perhaps? Either way, Sprint's got you covered -- both the Samsung m510 and the Palm Treo 755p have gone live on the carrier's website. Despite the fact that the 755p's available in two snazzy colors, the m510 wins the fashion competition hands down in your choice of black or pink. As we mentioned earlier, get it for $129.99 on contract or rebates; the 755p will run ya another $150 at $279.99.[Thanks, Jon and Travis]Read - Samsung m510 (black)Read - Samsung m510 (pink)Read - Palm Treo 755p (burgundy)Read - Palm Treo 755p (blue)
Palm Treo 755p review roundup
Despite offering little more than a mild refresh to its already-ancient predecessor, initial reviews of Palm's latest and greatest Garnet device have been overwhelmingly positive. The same Palm OS niggles of old are still there -- the lack of multitasking capability is pretty hard to swallow at this point -- but for business users looking for familiarity and a time-tested formula, the platform simply can't be beat. Call quality and signal strength both seem to be quite good, a larger battery adds a wee bit of weight in exchange for improved standby and talk times, and the absence of an aerial is a welcome change that makes the Treo's overall design appear marginally less dated. If WiFi isn't a priority (keep in mind EV-DO picks up some of that slack), it looks like the 755p might be a great way for folks to get in on what'll likely be one of Garnet's last hurrahs.Read - MobileTechReview (4 / 5 stars, "Another update to an already strong smartphone...")Read - MobileBurn ("Highly Recommended")Read - SlashGear (4.5 / 5 stars, "...still one of the best smartphones on the market...")Read - Brighthand ("...a good buy...")
Palm Treo 755p hands-on
Let's be real: the new Treo 755p is more or less what the 700p should have been. There's not exactly anything wrong with it, just that it's been a year since the 700p came out and all the improvements to the 755p are rather minor. Click on for some first impressions of the Treo 755p, as well as a gallery of hands-on shots.
Palm Treo 755p gets official
Awww, don't pretend like you didn't know it was coming: Palm officially bounced out the long-rumored Treo 755p today. The 755p is only an incremental upgrade to the Treo 700p which came out about a year ago -- anyone expecting a full upgrade better keep waiting. Consequently, the specs aren't anything too surprising: 320 x 320 pixel display, 128MB of RAM, 321MHz XScale processor, EV-DO Rev. 0, miniSD memory card slot (up to 4GB), 1600mAh Li-Ion battery, Bluetooth 1.2, 1.3 megapixel camera, and runs on Palm OS 5.4.9. Available exclusively from Sprint -- at least for the time being -- in two colors, burgundy (yeah, burgundy) and blue. Retail price will be $279.99 with service agreement.We'll have a hands-on for you soon.
The Boy Genius Report: More detail on Sprint's summer plans
Field report tidbits from Engadget's mobile insider, the Boy Genius.We have some additional details to fill in some blanks created by Sprint's last roadmap document -- nothing groundbreaking, but we now know exactly what it is that'll be discontinued over the next few months, and admittedly, there are a few surprises. But before we talk about phones riding off into the sunset, let's touch on some new arrivals, shall we? The PPC-6800 and Treo 755p are set to show on on exactly the same day -- May 14 -- which should lead to an interesting sales face-off. Sprint's brief description of the 755p is kinda interesting: "1st Palm EVDO Treo w/intern antenna. In box support for IM, NFL Mobile, Mobile Voice Control, voice dialing, replaces Treo 700P." Actually, it's not that interesting, we just really like to see the phrase "1st Palm EVDO Treo w/intern antenna" all official-like. Also of note, the Sanyo Katana II hits June 18 to replace the Katana (obviously), though Sanyo fans' excitement is going to be quelled a bit by the knowledge that the M1 is now chalked up for decommissioning in the May - June timeframe. Seems like a short life for a relatively powerful handset, no? Anyhoo, follow the break for a full list of Sprint pieces getting the proverbial axe in the coming months.
A look at Sprint's summer fashions
Sprint's "3 Month View" spreadsheet makes for some absolutely fascinating reading -- as long as it proves to be nonfiction, anyway. The document gives us an in-depth look at Sprint's (and Nextel's) launches for the months of April, May, and June, and needless to say, we're liking what we're seeing. Starting with standard phones, the Samsung M300 should make its grand entrance next month in silver alongside the Sanyo 3200 -- which replaces the 3100 -- in black, blue, and pink (the latter will run $200; no pricing on the former yet). Moving upmarket, the Samsung M510 replaces the M500 in May for an as-yet-undetermined price. In PDA land, no surprises here; the HTC Titan launches in PPC-6800 guise next month (sorry, no price here either), as does the Palm Treo 755p in blue and burgundy. Nextel users get the ic502 in black with an extended battery bundled (whooptie doo) for $270 next month, and if you wait until June, you'll get a crack at the ic902. Finally, road warriors will be pleased to hear that the Rev. A ExpressCard AC595E from Sierra Wireless gets launched in May, though a price remains to be set.[Thanks, Terry]
Treo 755p coming to Verizon?
We didn't think Sprint would have the spotlight with the latest CDMA Treo for long, and it turns out we were right. Our pal HTC Kid over at Verizon tells us that the new #1 is planning to release its own Treo 755p variant shortly. Feature lineup appears to be similar (except possibly some LBS), but for the forgetful among us, we'll give them to you again -- dual-band CDMA with EV-DO Rev. A, a 1.3 megapixel shooter, and what appears to be a sleeker, refined look a la Treo 680. Make sure you stay tuned for more details.[Thanks, HTC Kid]
Palm prepping its own Linux-based OS
Just a few years late, Palm is finally getting ready to land its users onto a modern Palm-built OS. Ed Colligan, in his Investor Day keynote today, announced that Palm will be launching a homegrown Linux-based OS by the end of the year, with Opera for a browser and the recently acquired Chattermail for messaging. Palm has been secretly at work on this OS for a number of years, and does not plan to license it to other manufacturers. Colligan also says that Palm is going to continue Windows Mobile product releases, and thanks to that handy Garnet license, Palm will be able to show its "commitment to the Palm OS community" by merging Palm OS 5.4 support into its Linux kernel. So, no more ALP dreams for the Palm kids, but this isn't a total surprise either, rumors had been brewing that Palm had something like this up its sleeve -- we just hope it's not too little, 'cause it certainly seems to be too late. On the hardware side, Palm is working on platforms that can be used with either OS, which should speed development time and supposedly result in more device releases, including an expanded product portfolio "to address user segments." What, you mean not every consumer wants a chubby Treo that looks just like every other Treo since the 650? We're shocked! Read - Ed Colligan keynote Read - Palm announces new Linux-based OS
Documents To Go 10 does Office 2007 on Palm OS
Ah, Docments To Go -- a constant, trusty pillar for countless PDA users for what seems like an eternity. Ironically, one could argue that DataViz's suite loaded on a high-res Palm OS device actually makes a better platform for loading up Office docs on the go than a Windows Mobile device does (certainly Smartphones, that's for darned sure). On cue, DataViz has dropped Documents To Go 10 for Palm OS, which rocks support for Office 2007 documents -- an important feature to be sure, considering that Microsoft totally threw 2007's file formats in the mixer. Even though Palm OS (Garnet OS, if you will) is getting embarrassingly long in the tooth at this point, we guess it's a comforting feeling to know that the third-party powerhouses are hanging in there with hot new apps -- or, as the case may be, worthy upgrades to old ones.
Treo 755p for Sprint in the wild
We know you're starting to get a little tired of the aerial on that 700p of yours; no, seriously, we feel your pain. You're looking longly at that 680 over there, but the leap over to Cingular -- and to GSM, for that matter -- can be a treacherous one indeed for some users. Happily, the 755p is coming just in time to save the day before you all go out of your gourds, and for a Garnet-based EV-DO piece, she's looking mighty purty. A reader wrote in to describe his recent brush with the 755p to us, and came away with the impression that it's slimmer, lighter, and easier to hold thanks to concave surfaces on the phone's sides. A couple launch keys on the front side have disappeared (leaving only two), the stylus is a little lighter, and although the camera is still a mere 1.3 megapixels, pictures are apparently of a much higher quality. Music to a weary 700p user's (or, better yet, a 650 user's) ears, eh? See you in the next couple months![Thanks, James] Gallery: Treo 755p in the wild
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.
