Comments on: Rumor: Picture Leaked of New Palm Handheld

Likes:
-Possibly being the "shortest" Palm OS unit around. Easy pocketability.
-Buttons look fairly high-quality.
-D-pad FINALLY!
-Casing looks fairly durable/stylish

Dislikes:
-Screen looks too pixelated
-Is that a speaker or a mic on the top of the unit? Whatever it is it's poorly placed.
-D-pad does not seem "defined" enough to ensure accurate game/cursor control. Think of the original Sega Master System (versus the PSX or NES' cross-style D-pads) If Palm are serious about the games market, then they need to position the D-pad to the far LEFT side of the unit and arrange all of the hard buttons in a row. Of course this might somehow upset the delicate Zen balance.
-Graffitti area appears to not be backlit...again

I can only guess having the DPad in the center is so both righties and lefties are happy (or should I say "not as upset").

Not too sure I like the hidden graffiti concept, I'll have to think about how I use it and if the extra step is worth it.

Interested to see the specs (dimensions, weight, processor speed, memory, mp3?, voice recording, etc...)

gummycat

This was one of my first thoughts. But see my post below for my new revelation. I now think that the joypad and buttons slide up but the length remains the same, providing an empty area below the joypad for your palms to rest on while playing games.

Scott

There you go, now you're thinking. ;)

I sure hope it isn't as simple as sliding up to make the device smaller. That would be nice and all, but I like these other theories better.

Scott

Not sure if I agree with that. The Treo's keyboard section is quite small.

"I've studied this picture quite a bit, and based on the curvature of the bottom of the d-pad area, I'm guessing that the D-pad area is indeed a sliding mechanism that slides back up over the graffitti area, and acts as the bottom of the unit."

I thought about that too and have a sinking feeling that you're right. If true, at the least, it will make for a nice, small device.

This could also be part of Palm, Inc.'s plan for the Graffiti lawsuit with Xerox. They could slide it closed and say, "Look judge, we complied and took out Graffiti." Case closed. ;)

Scott

Interesting machine this is.
Greetings, Roel.

well pal. It stinks. Is this the uber-Palm that suppose to dominate the world? It needs work.

Physical screen size is still small, no fix for the long demanded virtual grafitti. There is no indication the device can handle memory and wireless cards at same time. Audio capability doesn't look too strong from the picture. The sliding pad concept is a no go. There won't be any leather case good enough for it.

All in all this more like a mid priced offering rather than top of the line, a direct competition to Toshiba E310.

Physical screen size is still small, no fix for the long demanded virtual grafitti. There is no indication the device can handle memory and wireless cards at same time. Audio capability doesn't look too strong from the picture. The sliding pad concept is a no go. There won't be any leather case good enough for it."

No one ever said this was "The Perfect PDA"! We all know that doesn't exist--everyone's different. You made quite the assumption with the whole "uber-Palm" comment. No one ever claimed that.
There's no indication that it DOESN'T handle memory and wireless cards at the same time, why the assumption one-way?
And-
How can you possibly make any sort of judgement on sound quality from a picture?
This is a rumor! Maybe we should reserve final judgement for when we see the actual product. A whole lot of people ripped on the terrible Sony clam-shell design when it was just a rumor and said it would never sell. It seemed to work out fine.

(Self-confessed Palm Geek)

I think the answers to all these are related. I don't think this machine was built with gamers in mind (though they'll no doubt benefit from it). I think it was built to: (a) make an extremely small device, and (b) make it possible to do a whole lot of navigating around in the primary (built-in) apps without "opening" the unit. (No one has commented on the center dome in the "gamepad" -- could be a select button?)

Remember, too, that now that Palm is separate from Palmsource, they're free (indeed, under pressure) to differentiate their handhelds from those of other PalmOS licensees by adding new features or apps that aren't handed out to the other companies (something they started doing with their NotePad and AlarmClock apps, and similar to what Handspring has done with DateBk, CityTime, and Parens). What if Palm made some tweaks to their copies of the built-in apps, or included some add-on/replacement apps, that made it terribly easy to maneuver through your information in the basic apps using just the four-directions-and-select buttons of the "gamepad"? So you could look up a phone number, tweak your schedule for the day, check off a todo item, all without ever touching the screen, much less the graffiti area.

It looks like Palm has built a really small, handy OS5 machine. Don't know that this will be the one to replace my Clie 710 (no brand wars, please), but there will definitely be an ARM machne in my future, and the future is looking pretty cool.

Okay, well, just my $0.02

The Palm Inc. lawyers who contacted Jason at PPCT asked for the unadulterated image which shows the unique serial number on it. If Jason complies, then that development shop is in trouble!

I'm kinda surprised that Palm Inc. hasn't contacted PIC with a request to remove the photo yet. (Of course, once it's out on the net you can't put the genie back in the bottle!)

BTW, this also means I have no way to spell check any of the articles I run. Please be patient with me; I'm doing the best I can in trying conditions.

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News Editor

Two caveats:
1, The above is mindless speculation on my part
2, That picture looks awfully shady - a bit like someone took pictures of the new Toshiba PPC, a mock-up of a Handera and an m515 and spliced them together, in the style of the ficticious new "New New-ton" that we saw a few months ago.

I think that must be pure speculation, and bad speculation at that. If the device is real, it clearly has a hard-graffitti area, not virtual. If there's no virtual graffitti, that means 320x320 res at best. ARM chip plausible, 32 meg likely. Thumb board? Nah. MP3? Maybe, but I wouldn't put money on it. Headphone jack? If there's MP3, sure. Voice recording? Not a huge priority, but it's a slim possibility. But Bluetooth headphones? Not f*****G chance. That would be far too expensive to include with the unit. I haven't seen any BT headphones developed anywhere, and I don't think that Palm would be the first to put them out there.

It's a Palm OS 5 ARM based unit on TI's OMAP processor at 206 mhz. 320x320 pixels, 16 bit color display, 32 mb, sd slot, universal connector, mp3 player, speaker with high quality sound, headphone jack, and a slider that can slide over the graffiti area to make the unit as small as an m100. It is not for an attachable keyboard, nor does it slide up to reveal a keyboard. That would be an absolutely DUMB*** design, and Palm has always been good about keeping their devices small and sleek. Talk to y'all later.

•Bosco
FBI - Full Blooded Italian

[:(!][:(!][:o)][:o)][^][^]
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Suppose Palm decides to include a low tech removable keypad piece that simply presses on the graffiti area to register keypresses? Then they could include software that works similarly to Silkypad to interpret the presses on the graffiti area.

This seems like a low-cost possibility for a keyboard, although I know it might have a couple flaws. For instance, it wouldn't be able to register 2 simultaneous keypresses. However, if you look at it simply as an accessory for data input, and not the control of the whole system (like the Treo 90), I think it would be a positive idea.

Somebody has done this:
http://www.thumbtype.com/features.html

Bluetooth Headsets: Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson (3), GN Netcom (coming: Jabra (2), Plantronics, NextLink)
www.blueunplugged.com/main.asp?option=productrange&catID=3

Am I sure, no. Queries though: Did Palm really tell PPC Thoughts to take down the pics? What proof do we have other than their word.

Did Palm ask PIC to pull the pictures originally?

Has anyone else had the fortune of seeing OS5 running on a piece of hardware yet?

Where is the power button on the unit? Palm puts these buttons on the front of the unit. I see the power LED, which isn't lit up coincidentally, but not power button.

Anybody else notice some little things that just don't seem right for a palm unit?

Inglix

Can't you see that the sliding section is in its "down" position? That's not the bottom of the unit you are looking at, only the bottom of the sliding section.

"I see the power LED, which isn't lit up coincidentally, but not power button."

Try saying "alarm LED". And can't the power button be under the sliding section? Or on top or a side of the unit? Sheesh, use a little imagination! Palm might actually change the location of the power button on their next unit. If that confuses you, certainly avoid buying it when it comes out.

The comment about the unit not "meshing up cleanly in the cradle" is incorrect: any of the devices that use the universal connector (i.e. m5xx, i705, m125/130)have a clearance gap.

Sorry, beter luck next time

(p.s. Dear artist- i cant help being so aneletic, being a private investigater for 25+ years, its just natral)
(p.p.s. if you want you can show me your artwork next time befor you put it out. Maby i can help you, and then you can really fool the world)
(p.p.s. my rates are not bad)

The other possibility is that the whole thing is a fake which wouldn't be too difficult to do. This is the kind of thing industrial design students create all the time as part of their normal coursework. (And who has more time on their hands to create something like this than a student? I have to say the screen looks a little dodgy, espically the division beteen the screen and the grafitti area which shows no shadow or discontinuity. The serial number in the photo would likely be a photoshop add-on done by the creator or someone later as a bit of real-world authenticity.

That said, why can't it be both? You could have a sliding area which, when closed, either makes the device shorter or simply exposes an empty area for your palms to rest on while playing games. When slid open, you could snap on an optional thumbboard over the Graffiti area. I think this would be nice as it would provide (again) area below the thumbboard for your palms to rest on, thus improving usability.

Scott

That thumb pad is not a jog dial replacement. Think about it: (assuming you're right handed) to use that thumb pad you'll need to hold the Palm with your left hand to support it as you use your right hand to use the thumb pad. However, with the jog dial, you hold the CLIE in your left hand and operate the scroll and select options in one hand - which leaves your right hand to do other things, such as operate the phone or hold the stylus to write.

I too like the idea of a thumb pad on a PDA, however, not when it's in the middle like that and so close to the bottom edge: you can't operate the PDA one-handed (e.g. for a quick look up) when the thumb pad is so badly positioned.

But as long as a lot of apps do not support the jog (e.g. AvantGo) I don´t have no choice (as long as I don´t want to sroll line by line).

Phil

Don't ANY of you realize that if the bottom slides UP, the frigging STYLUS is going to have to be VERY FRIGGING SHORT?!

Go to a store and see the Sharp Zaurus. It has a stylus that can only be loved by midgets (not dwarves; midgets).

On second thought, perhaps it should be:

(and figure out how small it is when (IF) the graffiti area slides in).

:)

It is a Hi-Res screen. 320x320.

Still, I wish the graffiti space were soft-based (collapsible) like the NR70.

It won't fit a big battery in such small device. And Palm is not exactly an expert at "battery" saving technology. Their idea of saving battery is to reduce screen brightness and not putting a backlight on grafitti area. Now that they have additional load for audio system, i seriously doubt there is enough battery to also put CF slot and built-in wireless. (you think SONY can only get several ours on latest T class, wait until this one come out)

Scott

When I think of a good signature, I'll change it. :)

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What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

Try doing a comparison of when the screen is the size of the m130. This may be more realistic.

I first saw that page at about 2:30 in the morning. I had turned up my surround sound speaker system quite a bit because I didn't hear anything... All of the sudden: AHHHHHHH!!!!!

It scared the crap out of me (not literally) but didn't wake my family (suprising..)

I have sent soooooo many friends to that site and it still is a funny as it was the first time....

-Bartman007

It's one of those things that I can laugh about NOW.

I guess I should say something on-topic. Uhhh... It looks like Palm is putting style on the backburner again. The side-by-side with the 515 really shows how boxy and dreary this thing is. And that color is putrid. Much like the Treo 300. Since when did Puke Gold become the "in" color?

Also, with the sliding mechanism, I think it will be harder to put a rail on the side for cases. I guess the rail will stop where the screen stops?

Scott

"Yep, Vern, a star must mean it's wireless!" (read with extreme sarcasm)

Think, people, think!

Since the speaker is at the top, and since the bottom can slide down, could this be a phone? Admittedly, the mouthpiece isn't visible, but it could be on the bottom edge. The D-pad could make it easier to dial numbers on an on-screen number pad without having to get finger grease on the screen. The sliding mechanism could bring the mouthpiece closer to your piehole.

Any takers? Me neither (as Ed pointed out, there doesn't seem to be an antenna) but it's a thought, particularly because of the placement of the speaker.

FWIW - My cellphone (T68 - I hope this is the Bluetooth Palm model I have been waiting for) doesn't appear to have an antenna either. It is possible to build them that way too.

Also, the first OS5 device Palm talked about was a wireless model ... though if it is that close to being released I am surprised we can't find additional details over on the FCC site.

I'm not thrilled but that's how the numbers worked out.

My $0.02 as always

If the pic is not a fake one, you can actually see that the resolution is higher than 160x160 (have a look at fonts). So it should be 320x320 which is a reasonable choice.

* I HOPE THIS IS NOT A FAKE PIC BECAUSE THE DESIGN IS JUST GREAT *

I've used a Zaurus and the slide open keyboard looks and works fine.

The point I am trying to make is that when you think about it more and more, the sliding cover idea is a pretty good one. I've never seen it again in a portable electronics device since my old phone but I think that Palm MAY be on the right track here. Now we just needd to hope they survive to see the 2nd generation of this formfactor. Virtual graffitti, a more pronounced D-pad design on the left side of the unit and some sort of wireless capability will make for a nice unit in a year's time (assuming they don't sink themselves sooner).

I'd also agree with previous posters that sliding the unit open "turns it on", or you can just hit one of the hardware buttons. Then maybe holding up on the d-pad or something turns it off. Or there's a small power butto on the top of the unit next to the SD slot.

Also, wouldn't the sliding bit interfere with UC peripherals, at least sled-shaped ones (GPS, model etc) What good is maintaing the UC for two years if I cannot use my hideouly overprived $100 m500 series modem on it?

The antenna is not internal, but it is retractable.

the star icon would mean favourites. it's becoming a world standard like home button or some other thing that's too obvious to be mentioned here.

remember how the i705 was called skywalker? maybe palm is starting to codename their wireless products.

but then again, does anybody remember the prism II?

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2255

but then again, remember how the pictures of the m505 came out almost half a year before it came out? and those were stock photos of the m505.

it appears that a part of the 'olso' nameplate is blurred. it might be the real name but it wouldn't look right there.

|||||
p'p'g
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--V--
Red, White and Blue. Warning: These colors never run!

on the contrary, if you see the white fonts of 'Pocket PC thoughts' it doesn't experiance the same 'smudge'. It's because the fonts is added after the picture compression process.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Just take this as a "concept" prototype. Like your car concepts, it will have all the essence, but won't be exactly the same once it's release.

So thing only thing we can concluding is that somebody is working on the idea of a hidden graffiti area.

Don't mistake being cynical with being a troll. Besides, you shouldn't attack people just because they are not as gullible as you are. I too want to see Palm innovate, but it has been such a long since they have done anything innovative with their hardware. I hope the Oslo is real, but I don't think it is. Only time will tell.

Seriously, like a previous poster said, Palm might be going after the Blaupunkt method of product naming. I hope this does not occur, because Palm has already befuddled enough customers as it is (I have a buddy who worked at Best Buy and he said people were constantly buying Sync cables and other wrong accessories for m125s/130s that only worked on m10x series units.)

Uh...PocketPC does have double digit market share. About 20%. In Europe PPC has nearly 40% share.

Fist, learn how to spell "plummeted" - secondly, ever hear about "economies of scale?" The more devices Palm can churn out using a standard screen resolution will give them leverage to get a cheaper price on the screens.

Also Palm has spoken about how ARM-based Palms will be cheaper to produce.

Taking those two facts togteher, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a $199 Palm.

>the Sony t615c is currently going for $299 - and
>it's discontinued!!! And it runs OS 4.1 and has an
>old, run of the mill Motorola 33mhz processor. And
>yet you kids with yr little fantasies go on about
>how "obviously this is Palms low end unit"....yada
>yada yada. Or - "Palm better not price this over
>$199 or else the whole platform is dead!!". Please.

Oh come on - I think we all want to see the Palm OS platform proliferate. Palm just churning out a $400 or $500 PDA won't help the cause. An inexpensive Palm OS 5 PDA is necessary for the Palm community to thrive.

>If this is an OS 5 unit, with hi-res, and an ARM
>processor, then guess what? it's going to cost AT
>LEAST $299. And you know what? That is completely in
>line with the PDA market - or maybe i just haven't
>seen those brand new $199 PPC 2002 devices.....

LOL! PPC 2002 devices require more hardware to run - that's why they cost so much.

This device should cost at MOST $299 - since it will require less hardware (and memory) to run Palm OS 5.

What better way for Palm to stick it to PPC than to undercut them (pricewise) and come out with better functionality.

If this is a $449 PDA, it won't sell in droves. NOW what Palm needs is a home run.

We'll see what they end up doing.

Ahem. Actually, ALMOST NOBODY wants or cares about those features. If they did, then Palm OS wouldn't be absolutely destroying PPC in sales, and units like the m105 wouldn't be popular.

Clue up, punk.

Palm Inc. has stated that they'll be releasing A device using the TI OMAP processor (presumably for their "smartphone" device) but they didn't say that ALL of their devices would use it. IOW, the "Oslo" could be using the Motorola MX1 processor.

I strongly doubt that Palm Inc. would go for integrated 802.11b as the power requirements are unacceptably high. Look at Toshiba's e740... OTOH, I am REALLY hoping that integrated Bluetooth will become a standard feature on all mid- to high-range devices this year.

Why do some designers design ugly -- this will make me run to get Sony's first OS5 device.

Come on, troll, you already own a Pocket PC. Go back to a ppc forum and play with the rest of your M$ playmates.

Good idea. Do you know of a PocketPC as small as this device that can retract to form a smaller package?

Didn't think so.

better practice that "squinting and scrolling" for some longer time....

There are already various applications out that support OS 5. Development tools have been available for many months now.