Comments on: Elevation Statement on Palm Progress

Elevation PartnersAs a result of the highly speculative analyst report yesterday that postulated that Elevation may be looking to divest itself of its Palm investment, Elevation Partners co-founder and Palm Board member Roger McNanmee, has released a statement reasserting their position. In short, Mr. McNammee states that Elevation remains quite excited about Palm's progress and next generation operating system and they have no plans back out of their Palm investment. The statement in full reads:

"Elevation Partners is very pleased with the progress Ed Colligan, Jon Rubinstein and the entire Palm team are making. The Company's product pipeline, including a next generation operating system due out soon and a new device targeted for the first half of 2009, excite us enormously. Elevation supports Palm in taking the difficult but necessary steps required to migrate from legacy products. We have a very long-term investment horizon and have no plans to exit our investment in Palm."

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To the Parse-O-Meter, Sherman!

mikecane @ 11/25/2008 12:16:00 PM # Q
>>>including a next generation operating system due out soon

Um, out WHERE?

>>>and a new device targeted for the first half of 2009

Is "device" = phone or what?

And why so long between OS "out soon" and "first half of 2009" (hello, JUNE 30th!)?

Can we get a Statement on the Statement to clarify?

RE: To the Parse-O-Meter, Sherman!
hkklife @ 11/25/2008 1:16:02 PM # Q
"Due out soon" is Palm/Elevation-speak for "A brief, grainy YouTube video demo of a simulated Nova simulator "running" Nagel's Devcon Cobalt clock demo while simultaneously playing a game of Bejeweled will be posted to the Palm Blog in April '09."

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8437/palm-os-cobalt-video-demo/



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

Reply to this comment

As noted earlier

SeldomVisitor @ 11/25/2008 12:22:44 PM # Q
McNamee is possibly financially-biased in his words:

- http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/7256/#146346

PLUS, he also released a DIFFERENT blurb on Elevation Partner's Forbes position, another that is not necessarily performing to expectations...

Reply to this comment

stupid management

happyPalm @ 11/25/2008 12:36:10 PM # Q
Palm should have at least released a wide screen PalmOS Treo like the iPhone in the intern. Now they are screwed and would take a miracle for them to come back.
Reply to this comment

Truth Translation

Gekko @ 11/25/2008 12:37:03 PM # Q

with PALM at $2.15/share, we are not very happy with our investment. we have little confidence in management given their prior track record to innovate and deliver results. however, given the current share price and the magnitude of realized losses we would suffer by divesting of this pig now, we have no choice but to hang on and pray for a miracle even though we may probably ride this puppy all the way down to zero. we must feign confidence in management and the company as to not cause a panic among current shareholders and accelerate the already accelerating death spiral. our boy ruby really screwed us on this one.

RE: Truth Translation
SeldomVisitor @ 11/25/2008 12:56:46 PM # Q
You peeked!

RE: Truth Translation
hkklife @ 11/25/2008 1:11:15 PM # Q
I nominate Gekko's enlightenment here for PIC post of the year!!

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p
RE: Truth Translation
Gekko @ 12/4/2008 4:38:44 PM # Q

if EP like 'em at $2.15/share, they must LOVE 'em at $1.54. your boy ruby really did his homework on this one!

Reply to this comment

I'm going to buy Palm stock

Tuckermaclain @ 11/25/2008 12:40:29 PM # Q
When it becomes a penny stock. I think I'll buy some just as a souvenir of the cool little device that organizes my life. Who knows? In the unlikely event that Palm turns it around it might be worth something.

RE: I'm going to buy Palm stock
twrock @ 11/25/2008 7:47:38 PM # Q
You know, that sounds like a fun idea. Why not have a little Palm stock to go along with all the old devices I have laying around.


"twrock is infamous around these parts"
(from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)
RE: I'm going to buy Palm stock
SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 2:44:41 AM # Q
If serious, buy the shares then ask your broker for the stock certificate(s).

And do it quickly...


Reply to this comment

Leak something, already!

dagwud @ 11/25/2008 1:24:52 PM # Q
It's great that they're committed to their investment. Cool beans.

But they're hemorrhaging users as fast as money. Give us some reason to wait rather than jumping ship as soon as StyleTap and Apple work things about.

Blurry camera phone picture or video, mockup of the UI, a list of what's done and what's left, SOMETHING.

I mean, even Microsoft shows off alpha versions of the next iteration of Windows.

(Sorry. Rant over. I realize I'm becoming repetitive.)

-
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007)

RE: Leak something, already!
SeldomVisitor @ 11/25/2008 1:51:54 PM # Q
> ...I mean, even Microsoft shows off alpha versions of the next
> iteration of Windows...

Based on the latest rumor poop in the Me-Too Media (today), MSFT may be showing off their Zune phone soon.

RE: Leak something, already!
keithd @ 11/26/2008 5:48:00 AM # Q
As a long time user-supporter of Palm I have to agree that it would take more than miracle to stay with the Company. I'm still using my Palm TX and it is still working but it is really showing its age with the current group of items on the market.

My daughter in law was looking at getting a "PDA" and in looking at the market we really do not have it as a segment anymore. Everything is either a smart phone or a cheap type "PDA" / calculator.

I have held off replacing my TX and I'm not sure what direction I will take. Right now the i-Phone is leading the list with Blackberry\Blackjack a strong second. I do not want to go to the dark side with MS. Not wanting to start a flame I'm just not a fan of MS in the handheld. I do support MS on the desktop side.

The more I hear in the i-phone the more it sound like esarly Palm. Lot of third party support and inexpensive applications catering to a wide range of users. And even though they do not use "clicks" to get where they are going it does run app with very few strokes.

Sorry for the long rant but I feel a lot of us on the list read daily and it's like a train wreck. You are pretty sure you know what is going to happen and you know you should stop watching but somehow seeing is beleiving.

Keith

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NOVA on youtube

wildmantrader @ 11/25/2008 1:55:14 PM # Q
Wow this is going to ROCK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55qzXFDCC_o

RE: NOVA on youtube
SeldomVisitor @ 11/25/2008 2:02:06 PM # Q
Giggle.

You're worse than me....Lol!

RE: NOVA on youtube
dagwud @ 11/25/2008 3:41:50 PM # Q
Is it just me or does that clip sound like someone needs to fix an always running toilet?

-
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007)
RE: NOVA on youtube
SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 2:34:13 AM # Q
Microphone on same table as noisy-fan desktop box?

Reply to this comment

Why not?

twrock @ 11/25/2008 7:42:28 PM # Q
I guess I'm still inclined to believe Elevation/Palm until they don't deliver. I won't be holding my breath, but why not just wait and see? I can't see any compelling reason to state with such certainty that they won't do what they say they have planned.

If it turns out that they do pull it off, will you all come back and eat a little crow?


"twrock is infamous around these parts"
(from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)

RE: Why not?
freakout @ 11/25/2008 8:33:36 PM # Q
^^ Wouldn't that be a sight after all these years of bashing...

Not to say I haven't indulged in a bit of bashing myself* from time to time, but the sweeping (and baseless) claims of Nova's non-existence are just a bit too far on the whack-job side of loony for me to read them with a straight face.


*A prize** for the first person to crack the obvious joke!

** TBA

RE: Why not?
SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 2:40:56 AM # Q
> ...I can't see any compelling reason to state with such certainty
> that they won't do what they say they have planned...

As one who is not exactly known as a Palm optimist, I can't see saying nothing's coming, either.

However...

It remains weirdly unclear about what Palm said is coming!

I won't rererererequote Colligan's and the CFO's words again, but exactly what they "promised" by year end is as ambiguous as what Nova will ultimately look and feel like at this time!

Are they "releasing" the WHOLE thing? Just a documented API set? An emulator and the API only? A kernel only with no UI? What? And how? And to whom?

Waiting with bated breath (or should that be...particularly in this case..."Waiting with baited breath"?)

RE: Why not?
rcartwright @ 11/26/2008 8:50:01 AM # Q
It was nice to read some sane comments regarding Palm. One thing that everyone, including people who should know better, seem to be missing is that EP made a public statement as an insider that a) confirms that Palm Nova is scheduled for release at end of year (I am betting pre CES) and b) product in first half of 09. While I recognize there is wiggle room, at the same time if there was actually no OS almost ready (and bear in mind we are talking less than 36 days here) which is the milestone b) is dependant on. EP does not want to give anyone more grounds to suck them into a shareholder suit, much less the SEC. So I surmise from the statement that something is getting ready to ship. Actually I hope for Palm's sake, there is at Treo Pro and a Treo 800 both running Nova at the FCC right now getting certified. Ideally they also have the "game changing" product there as well, but I would send the other two as well as back up products or interim products.

People have to admist that despite everything Palm has had an incredible run of luck vis a vie its competition. Neither Apple, RIM, Android or even Microsoft has hit the home run that kills Palm. Apple is having dev problems and it still has not become the darling of the business comminity or prosumers to the point that Palm can't put up a fight. RIM's Storm and Bold have not been breakaway hits and RIM still has an inferior 3rd party software market. Android is probably what would take down Palm in rev 2 or 3 but its still too undercooked for the business and prosumer market right now and if Nova meets expetations early enough then again Palm stays in the game.

I am not so worried about Palm's cash position provided Nova is as promised. There are folks out there (including EP for that matter) who can fund the road to market for a piece of the baking pie, so long as the pie looks like its going to be tasty. The carriers, ATT, Sprint and Verizon all could benefit with a Nova Palm product. ATT as a counterbalance to being Apple's bit*h, Sprint, because they need a winner of some sort, and even Verizon if they can actually get something that is a real iPhone competitor (the Storm is not). Of course all this surmises a) and b) above come to pass. Actually b) better be EARLY half of 09-Jan would not be too soon.

All that said, I am not foolish enough to not admist the fat lady is singing scales for Palm, I just object to the folks calling the time of death before it all plays out.

"Many men stumble across the truth, but most manage to pick themselves up
and continue as if nothing had happened."
- Winston Churchill

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NOVA on youtube

wildmantrader @ 11/25/2008 9:21:30 PM # Q
This kid is probably farther along with his NOVA O/S than Palm is with the next gen Palm II.
RE: NOVA on youtube
SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 2:43:07 AM # Q
Aside: given her (I think "her") age and what she has accomplished so far, she should do well post-college if she takes some Computer Science courses to round things out.



Reply to this comment

I am almost beyond speechless

SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 7:50:10 AM # Q
== "...Elevation Partners is very pleased with the progress Ed Colligan, Jon
== Rubinstein and the entire Palm team are making..."

Especially their new marketing angle:

- http://www.palm.com/claus/?creativeID=US_BB_claus

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
PacManFoo @ 11/26/2008 8:13:38 AM # Q
Bizarre was the first word to come to mind.

Palm has officially become a toy company.

The last known classic PDA user.

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 8:21:21 AM # Q
If it's still up, Palm's home page is really the truly...unusual...start to this.

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
hkklife @ 11/26/2008 8:28:27 AM # Q
That is quite simply the worst-looking, SILLIEST ad campaign I have ever seen from any "big" company. This makes me years for the good ol' days of the nekkid lady holding the Palm V!

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
Gekko @ 11/26/2008 8:31:26 AM # Q

a creepy, skinny, albino, euro-trash hipster santa claus? that's almost Un-American. i bet you a liberal thought of this marketing campaign.

very disturbing.


RE: I am almost beyond speechless
hkklife @ 11/26/2008 8:58:29 AM # Q
Argh, typo! "years" = "yearn" of course!

I looked at that page again and I am filled with even MORE scorn for that ad campaign than I was previously! Ugh!



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
rcartwright @ 11/26/2008 8:58:33 AM # Q
Actually Gekko it be a Eurpoean centric ad venture. Or the basis of the rumors for canning the entire marketing department. Finally, it cound be directed at the teen demographic as its Centro related. Its sure not aimed at the PIC demo

"Many men stumble across the truth, but most manage to pick themselves up
and continue as if nothing had happened."
- Winston Churchill
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 11/26/2008 9:11:23 AM # Q
> ...Or the basis of the rumors for canning the entire marketing department...

Lol!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
numlock @ 11/26/2008 10:32:01 AM # Q
someone please explain how this campaign is supposed to make me want to use a smartphone?
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
Gekko @ 11/26/2008 11:15:35 AM # Q
>a creepy, skinny, albino, euro-trash hipster santa claus? that's almost Un-American. i bet you a liberal thought of this marketing campaign.

may i add androgynous and effeminate? surely, a liberal cooked this one up.


RE: I am almost beyond speechless
PacManFoo @ 11/26/2008 11:20:00 AM # Q
OK I'm not sure which creeps me out more, the Burger King guy or Palm's Santa.

The last known classic PDA user.
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
abosco @ 11/26/2008 11:32:57 AM # Q
At least the Burger King guy gives out Whoppers. This albino guy's next public appearance will be an interview with Chris Hansen.

-Bosco
m105 -> NX70v -> NX80v -> iPhone -> iPhone 3G
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
Gekko @ 11/26/2008 2:58:15 PM # Q

Outrageous!!!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
mikecane @ 11/26/2008 3:51:57 PM # Q
What ... the ... fffffffffff?????!!!!!???

Oh! Oh!

I get it!!

Someone went to see The Producers (most likely got the DVD via Netflix, if not BitTorrent) and decided to Springtime for Palm the company!

Quick!! Someone take this classic clip and apply PALM subtitles!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd4WZ3LqCKw

It'll be their Super Bowl ad!!!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
Poopie @ 11/26/2008 5:32:51 PM # Q
Palm...

Palm Claus slideshow

...

...

... The Aristocrats!

Oh dear
hkklife @ 11/27/2008 2:15:44 PM # Q
It's getting worse by the day

http://blog.palm.com/palm/2008/11/centrohoho.html



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 11/27/2008 2:29:42 PM # Q
I couldn't resist adding a comment - think it'll get posted?

Giggle.

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
mikecane @ 11/27/2008 4:44:44 PM # Q
I thought it was bad enough being on their website. In Manhattan today, I came across POSTERS for this horrific Claus campaign!!

Who is the eejit who APPROVED that?!

Colligan: RESIGN!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
rcartwright @ 11/27/2008 5:08:27 PM # Q
Ok the NY posters prove it. This is an attempt by Colligan to assassinate Mike Cane by sheer disgust.

"Many men stumble across the truth, but most manage to pick themselves up
and continue as if nothing had happened."
- Winston Churchill
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
Gekko @ 11/27/2008 5:46:01 PM # Q

i can think of at least two cherubic former palm apologists who would have made a much better santa.

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
mikecane @ 11/28/2008 11:00:22 AM # Q
>>>Ok the NY posters prove it. This is an attempt by Colligan to assassinate Mike Cane by sheer disgust.

Please get someone at Palm to say that publicly and I'll have a nice lawsuit for them!!

Come on, Colligan, give me a present!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 11/28/2008 3:54:28 PM # Q
> I couldn't resist adding a comment - think it'll get posted?...

Nope, sure didn't!

Lol!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 10:30:26 AM # Q
TreoCentral thinks it's the next best thing to sliced bread:

- http://www.treocentral.com/content/Stories/2231-1.htm

Wonder if more Centros get sold due to it.

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
PacManFoo @ 12/4/2008 10:45:23 AM # Q
It's Great! If your 13.

The last known classic PDA user.
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 11:17:05 AM # Q
That's fine by me - I wonder if they'll sell more Centros to 13-year-olds due to this ad campaign.

At least, enough more Centros to pay for the ad campaign...


RE: I am almost beyond speechless
PacManFoo @ 12/4/2008 11:34:18 AM # Q
As technology stands today, the Centro is just a toy. Palm should have partnered with Toys R Us this Christmas season to sell more of these. Of course their Ad Campaign would have scared the young children. Face it, Palm has hit an iceberg. All the Developers and many users have used up all the lifeboats. The captain is telling those remaining not to panic as the ship sinks. The rats (a.k.a the Management Team) are scurrying to duct tape the massive hole.

The last known classic PDA user.
RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 12:56:18 PM # Q
Well, we DO have a totally unfounded rumor that Palm bought 5 million phones for some future time, so maybe the ad campaign NEEDS to entice those 13 year-olds really bad!

I dunno.

I think the campaign is doomed to fail since it is TOO commercial to entice the 13 year-olds - no Fred here!

We'll see - makes it STILL interesting to watch Palm!

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
hkklife @ 12/4/2008 1:59:23 PM # Q
SV;

Source for the unfounded 5 MIL handset purchase? Yahoo Palm forums as usual, I take it?

Of COURSE all of the Treo-friendly sites love the Claus campaign! They wouldn't get their usual special treatment if they didn't gush over everything coming from Palm these days!

Whatever was spent on the "Claus" campaign, wouldn't it have been better spent whipping up a Centro ROM update or, most critically, putting into Nova? I still maintain that solid product & online buzz (read: free) plus a few in-store displays are the best marketing tools possible. Look at HTC-they haven't done much in the way of advertising but their recent products speak for themselves. 'Nuff said.

I think this atrocious ad campaign was kinda/sorta whipped up for 2 reasons (BTW, aren't these things generally done ~6 months ahead of time?):

Plan A: Anticipating a huge slowdown in Centro sales. This ad campaign, combined with a pricedrop, would help to clear stock around the holidays. With the PDA line absolutely dead in the water by now, the Centro is Palm's "best" product for gift-giving & selling unlocked as a stocking stuffer.

Plan B: Anticipating the strong Centro sales of the first half '08 to continue through the end of the year. This ad campaign would keep the Centro in the spotlight, piggybacking on the introduction of the new 128mb Sprint version and some possible "3 million sold & counting" propaganda

On a related note to A. above...have you seen BestBuy's new television ads where they are promoting how easy it is to give a new unlocked phone for Christmas? "Just stick the card in and it's ready to go!" Never mind the fact that the vast majority of domestic wireless users have CDMA handsets and/or some hot handsets (iPhone) don't permit SIM card swapping ease or those fancy smartphones or glitzy dumbphones need a pricey data plan to have any reaon functionality.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 3:32:45 PM # Q
> ...Source for the unfounded 5 MIL handset purchase? Yahoo Palm forums as usual, I
> take it? ...

I think it was Digitimes (probably one of the less reliable Me-Too Media outlets).

Here's the Yahoo link that contains a link to the Digitimes article - that article probably requires a subscription to read at this point in time:

http://tinyurl.com/fivemillion

RE: I am almost beyond speechless
SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 4:32:17 PM # Q
I just noticed that the YouTube video linked from the frontpage of TreoCentral has had a total of 145 views as of the time of this post.

Popular, huh?

Here're Fred's videos: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fred&search_type=&aq=f

Now THAT'S viral!

Reply to this comment

They'd be idiots to say anything else.

AdamaDBrown @ 11/26/2008 9:52:44 AM # Q
Palm's market value has dropped so sharply that the entire company is now worth less-a lot less-than EP paid for their 25% stake. Their only hope for not being completely soaked on this deal is that some other company decides to buy up Palm for considerably more than it's worth.

Remember, EP also said before their buy-in that they didn't think Palm was faltering, and that the future looked very bright. Since then Palm hasn't had a profitable quarter, and has dropped from $900 million pre-deal to $250 million market cap.

Reply to this comment

Pogue Hates BB Storm

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 1:06:24 PM # Q

* The touchscreen. "Isn't the thumb keyboard the defining feature of a BlackBerry? A BlackBerry without a keyboard is like an iPod without a scroll wheel."
* Email. The touchscreen can feel two types of touches, light and not-so-light, but Pogue says that sensitivity is wasted in the email app. "A light touch highlights the key but doesn't type anything. Only by clicking fully do you produce a typed letter. It's way, way too much work, like using a manual typewriter."
* The vertical keyboard. The Storm switches between a horizontal and vertical keyboard depending on how its held. Hold its long side vertically, and you get the "SureType" keyboard, which Pogue hates because inaccurately tries to guess what you're typing. "For example, to type "get," you press the GH, ER, and TY keys. Unfortunately, that's also "hey." You can see the problem. And trying to enter Web addresses is utterly hopeless."
* Navigation. Pogue calls it "head-bangingly frustrating" because the buttons are too close together and the phone takes too long to interpret how the user touched the screen.
* It's Slow. Pogue says the Storm takes seconds upon seconds to perform simple takes. "Remember: To convert seconds into BlackBerry time, multiply by seven."
* No Wi-Fi.
* Bugs: "Freezes, abrupt reboots, nonresponsive controls, cosmetic glitches. Way too much 'unexpected behavior."


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/technology/personaltech/27pogue.html?_r=2&hp



RE: Pogue Hates BB Storm
SeldomVisitor @ 11/27/2008 1:17:33 PM # Q
Picky picky picky!

RE: Pogue Hates BB Storm
hkklife @ 11/27/2008 2:09:02 PM # Q
I've fondled 3 separate BB Storms. Base on my rather brief time with the device:


1. Not true. An iPod Touch is very much and iPod and it doesn't have that horrid scroll wheel

2. Agreed. MUCH too much unnecessary work is involved. Fine for brief SMSs but you can rule out any extended typing or emaail composition.

3. Agreed wholeheartedly. I absolutely detest SureType or any other kind of predictive garbage. I want either Graffiti 1 or QWERTY (whether real or virtual). NOTHING ELSE!

4. Agreed but hopefully a firmware update will shore things up somewhat in this dept.

5. See above. The BB Storm has quite a bit of Palm Treo 755p-style lag, which is NOT a good sign given the usually snappy performance of BlackBerries and the speedy CPU within the Storm.

6. Bah. Sure, it'd be nice to have but in the US (the land o' plenty) with unlimited data plans, that's a minor quibble at best. I'd much rather see the touchscreen/lag/slowness/input quirks of the Storm addressed in a future hardware revision than wi-fi

7. Didn't spend enough time with it to confirm but I assume the glitches being widely reported online are all accurate. Again, let's hope for the first of many eventual firmware updates to come out ASAP.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Pogue Hates BB Storm
abosco @ 11/28/2008 11:57:39 AM # Q
Did he review the iPhone 3G? I'd be interested in how he liked them in comparison to each other.

-Bosco
m105 -> NX70v -> NX80v -> iPhone -> iPhone 3G
Reply to this comment

Despite Palm's Troubles, Bono's Sticking Around

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 4:47:49 PM # Q

TheStreet.com
Despite Palm's Troubles, Bono's Sticking Around
Wednesday November 26, 11:40 am ET
ByRobert Holmes, TheStreet.com Staff Reporter

A private equity firm said it is not looking to unload its large stake in Palm , refuting a report by an analyst this week that suggested the struggling handset maker would be in need of cash if that were to occur.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ts/081126/10450175.html?.v=1

RE: Despite Palm's Troubles, Bono's Sticking Around
SeldomVisitor @ 11/27/2008 5:21:28 PM # Q
That's just different words about the same Elevation Partners' statement as mentioned in the article these all are comments about.

RE: Despite Palm's Troubles, Bono's Sticking Around
Gekko @ 11/27/2008 5:37:23 PM # Q

no shit. but i thought the article title was pretty funny.

RE: Despite Palm's Troubles, Bono's Sticking Around
BaalthazaaR @ 12/1/2008 6:41:26 AM # Q
Speaking of Bono, a U2 song comes to mind "Lemon"
Reply to this comment

no desire anymore

tompi @ 11/28/2008 7:36:15 PM # Q
There is so much nifty hardware and software out there that I really don't see why anybody would want a Palm anymore. Nokia E71, E75, 5800, Android G1, and the Archos 5g are hot. If you're willing to put up with Windows, HTC and Sony have great hardware. What does Palm have?

Reply to this comment

iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!

mikecane @ 11/29/2008 2:23:46 PM # Q
Buh-bye, Palm!!

http://148apps.com/10000/

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
mikecane @ 11/30/2008 9:21:29 AM # Q
Listen to the sound of crickets in response to that revelation!

Or is it head in ground holes, like ostriches?

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
SeldomVisitor @ 11/30/2008 9:42:43 AM # Q
I, personally, am still in dumbstruck awe at that website.

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
freakout @ 11/30/2008 3:23:10 PM # Q
Meh. As with Palm's oft-touted INCREDIBLY HUGE NUMBER™ of apps, only a tiny percentage of those will ever actually prove to be worthwhile.

Still, goes to show there's an unquenched thirst for mobile apps out there. A point in Palm's favour, when they finally decide to get off their backside and join the next generation.

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
mikecane @ 12/1/2008 7:12:29 AM # Q
>>>only a tiny percentage of those will ever actually prove to be worthwhile.

But no doubt in ways never dreamed of before and never, ever possible with PalmOS and the - giggle - Fischer Price Centro.

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
freakout @ 12/1/2008 3:27:23 PM # Q
Depends. Will Apple ever allow access to all the APIs so developers can fully unlock the hardware's potential? Will they stop acting as supreme gatekeeper of what can and can't be officially distributed?

No doubt mobile developers are happy to have such a big new platform to hawk their wares, but Apple's artificial restrictions leave a nice opportunity for Palm/Google/RIM et al to one-up them.

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
gmayhak @ 12/1/2008 4:43:35 PM # Q
I'm guessing Palm will never catch up so this year I'm saying goodbye to POS and Vista, switched to an ipod Touch and a little Mac Mini for development.
Should have done it a long time ago, OSX is a pleasure after Vista. Still have some Palm accessories on the web site but I'm hooked on the Touch now. Have my first app in the app store (Little Hal), some reviewers are really cut throat ;-/

Gary
Talestuff.com

Tech Center Labs

RE: iPhone now has TEN THOUSAND apps!
mikecane @ 12/1/2008 5:27:14 PM # Q
>>>Depends. Will Apple ever allow access to all the APIs so developers can fully unlock the hardware's potential? Will they stop acting as supreme gatekeeper of what can and can't be officially distributed?

Blah-blah and wah-wah-wah.

Meanwhile, there are devs getting RICH from the App Store.

That never happened with PalmOS.

And won't happen with Nova.

Reply to this comment

Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?

Gekko @ 11/29/2008 6:12:15 PM # Q

too late now but was this a missed opportunity? how do you guys transfer mp3 to your SD cards?


November 20, 2008 3:36 PM PST
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RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
PacManFoo @ 11/29/2008 6:33:05 PM # Q
Good God, who still uses Palm Desktop? I've Dragged and Dropped beginning with the M5XX series. Haven't Hotsynced in a couple years now. Although I have a iPod Classic, I prefer to carry this -> http://tinyurl.com/5w4spv I Can drag and drop going between computers in case I happen to download a podcast at work.

The last known classic PDA user.
RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
Gekko @ 11/29/2008 7:07:59 PM # Q

i only want to carry one device. looks like you're on 3+?

anyway, i like palm desktop's simple PIM features. here's what i would like to add to it -

1. simple POP Email client
2. instant sync (sync immediately and silently upon changes/connection)
3. more robust media sync
4. encrypted memos/stronger native security
5. widgets (web?)
6. more robust search feature

i'm sure there's some more..............hkk?

but unfortunately, it's much too late now to make any difference.......


RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
freakout @ 11/30/2008 3:32:08 PM # Q
I've been banging on about this particular bugbear forever. It's such an integral piece of the smartphone puzzle it's a wonder they haven't even been able to come up with an upgrade for the original, much less the brand-new platform they so desperately need.

I'd add a one-stop application store to that list. The current method of finding, installing and managing apps on Garnet is a PITA.

RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
hkklife @ 11/30/2008 5:16:45 PM # Q
Gekko;

Good list to start with.

Let me add a few bits to it:

1. Improved Vista client. There's no reason for the Vista-compatible build of Palm Desktop should be "Access Palm Desktop" instead of the tweaked "Palm Inc. Palm Desktop" usable on XP machines.

2. Instant sync & the option to launch a small executable from the internal RAM/ROM of any Palm OS machine when plugged into a USB port (basically a Mass Storage compliant mode where you can install your own mini Palm Desktop or at least have the SD slot usable for drag & drop file storage).

3. In addition to a more robust media sync, a better Photo app (ability to batch resize/compress pictures & videos to optimize them for 320x320 screens etc)

4. Some kind of web integration is a must. At bare minimum, some kind of auto-version checker/patcher as well as some kind of online "MyPalm" backup integration would be nice. Sorta like Valve's Steam client for PCs. You log into your account and once a week or so your Palm Desktop backs up your PIM data to the cloud somewhere.

5. More customizable layouts & UI tweaks. Maybe optimize it for widescreen desktop displays and/or have different themes that change the actual look & feel, not just slap new colors on boxes. The current Vista-compliant Palm Desktop looks like something out of 1998.

And of course some kind of one-stop click + download + install thing is a must. Even some kind of version checker for your installed apps ("Alert! A new version of Bejeweled 2 is now available from Astraware. Would you like to install it?") would be a huge boon to novice users. Palm/PalmSource/PalmGear have ignored the potential of a HUGE untapped market here, only reinforcing my theory that the current management at Palm doesn't WANT to make money nor do they care for the platform to succeed over the long-term.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
PacManFoo @ 11/30/2008 5:47:04 PM # Q
There is actually a lot of good ideas here. An all in one .Palm area which includes an App store as well as a user area that displays your Calendar/ToDo's/Contacts that have been backed up to their online backup storage. Even an online editing of documents and spreadsheets that you have backed up. Bring back Palm.com email as a paid service, and even sell mp3's and videos. If Nova really exists then make a iTouch type device as well as the smartphones. This would create a lot of excitement in the Palm world. Palm could even charge for additional backup space. I'd even like to see them have a podcast area as well as in integrated RSS area. Having all this in one .Palm site would be rather cool.

Of course this is Palm we are talking about so none of this will ever happen.

The last known classic PDA user.

RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
hkklife @ 11/30/2008 8:24:01 PM # Q
" If Nova really exists..."

Don't worry, it doesn't.

"...then make a iTouch type device as well as the smartphones"
Don't worry, they are going to stick with 320x320 Small Squqare Screens and tiny chiclet QWERTY thumboards.

"This would create a lot of excitement in the Palm world"
It would but it isn't gonna happen so we're going to have to count on the black 128mb Centro hitting Sprint as THE big Palm OS story in 2009.

"Palm could even charge for additional backup space".

They COULD but it's easier to just order a bunch of day-glo colored Centro cases from some OEM and charge us for those.

"I'd even like to see them have a podcast area as well as in integrated RSS area"
Wouldn't we all! But we'll have to get our fix of Palm Propaganda from the Palm corporate blog.

"Having all this in one .Palm site would be rather cool"
These are all great ideas and they should have started doing them circa 2003-2004, if not sooner.

"Of course this is Palm we are talking about so none of this will ever happen."
AMEN!



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
Gekko @ 11/30/2008 8:38:13 PM # Q
TreoNuts?
T_W @ 11/30/2008 9:00:33 PM # Q
Are they kidding?

Over the last couple of years I have complained a lot about Palm's seemingly dismal marketing activities but I have to admit that the company's latest "Centro Claüs" campaign is probably the best that I have seen from any consumer electronics manufacturer this year – as you can appreciate from the images here the campaign is modern, fun, edgy and ultra cool…

Overall I'm sure that you'll agree with me that this latest Palm marketing campaign is undoubtedly one of the coolest ever and hopefully a continued indication that the company is finally getting its act together in preparation for the imminent unveiling of the hugely anticipated new NOVA OS and related smartphones…



RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
SeldomVisitor @ 12/1/2008 4:54:30 AM # Q
I think they must be kidding...however, please note that The Main Shill over at Treocentral thought it was cool, too.

RE: Where's the Updated Palm Desktop?
AdamaDBrown @ 12/1/2008 11:24:44 AM # Q
Between this sort of thing and their constant pumping of ridiculously implausible rumors, Treonauts is rapidly becoming their own parody.

Reply to this comment

Former Palm Exec Todd Bradley next Yahoo CEO?

Gekko @ 11/29/2008 6:14:40 PM # Q

One of the names being bandied about in that regard is HP exec Todd Bradley (pictured here). Bradley is in charge of its massive Personal Systems group, a $28 billion annual business, which includes personal computers, mobile devices, technical workstations, digital televisions, personal storage solutions and Internet services.

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20081128/as-carl-icahn-buys-more-yahoo-shares-is-it-the-sign-that-a-ceo-choice-is-near/

it looks like HP is feeding him well.

RE: Former Palm Exec Todd Bradley next Yahoo CEO?
mikecane @ 11/30/2008 9:20:32 AM # Q
Is he wearing Yankowski's old suit?!

Reply to this comment

Palm to #4?

mikecane @ 12/1/2008 6:39:25 AM # Q
1) Apple
2) RIM
3) Nokia ????
4) Palm

That's what this guy is banging the drum over:
http://scobleizer.com/2008/11/30/nokias-touchiest-week/

Of course, we can all hope the Finns came to their senses and will be announcing the acquisition of Palm on Wednesday and showing a kick-ass killer Nova device.

Man, what did I have for breakfast? LSD?

Reply to this comment

Countdown til end of month

SeldomVisitor @ 12/1/2008 7:35:08 AM # Q
== "...including a next generation operating system due out soon..."

December 31.

Drop Dead Date?

RE: Countdown til end of month
Gekko @ 12/1/2008 9:16:28 AM # Q
RE: Countdown til end of month
Gekko @ 12/1/2008 9:22:05 AM # Q
RE: Countdown til end of month
hkklife @ 12/1/2008 12:57:23 PM # Q
Drop dead date? No, just a long, protracted decline throughout 2009.

Dec 31st will come and go and in Jan or Feb some minor tidbit will appear on blog.palm.com basically saying "Our next-generation Palm OS is nearing completion". Then that will be touted as sufficient evidence to keep everyone quiet...until the inevitable grainy YouTube video of a Nova "demo" is shown sometime later in the spring and the handful of remaining Palm apologists will start bleating that Nova devices are going to magically appear on or around June 1st.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Countdown til end of month
SeldomVisitor @ 12/1/2008 1:05:22 PM # Q
Here's, verbatim, what CFO Brown said:

== Brown:
==
== "...Not a lot has changed, in fact nothing has changed, to be
== honest with you, since we last spoke. We're anticipating that
== the next generation OS will be delivered by the end of the
== calendar year. And then we will start to see product iterations
== off that in the 1st half of calendar year 09 so nothing has
== changed..."
==
== Coster:
==
== "Let me make sure I understand the calendar year ... 08
== you'll see ... sometime near the end of this calendar year
== you'll see the OS. How would you see the OS without products?
== What's the sortof...what's that mean to..."
==
== Brown:
==
== "Well, I didn't say you'll SEE it. What I said is it will
== be ready. We haven't disclosed how we're going to deliver it
== or announce it in the marketplace at this point..."

So we'll see!

Er...or maybe not!


RE: Countdown til end of month
Gekko @ 12/3/2008 5:20:17 PM # Q
>== "Well, I didn't say you'll SEE it. What I said is it will
== be ready. We haven't disclosed how we're going to deliver it
== or announce it in the marketplace at this point..."

nice find.

well there you have it. on 12-31-08, Palm, Inc. can simply tell everyone "Nova is ready" and keep it internal and will thus in their minds deliver on their promise and nobody outside the company can prove otherwise even if it is all smoke and mirrors. this is not like the days of palmsource where their feet were held to the fire because he had to actually deliver a OS to licensees. Palm, Inc. has no licensees to deliver the OS to so they can blow smoke up everyone's ass and tell everyone that the greatest powerful OS in the world exists but must be kept behind the curtain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyCCJ6B2WE



RE: Countdown til end of month
Gekko @ 12/4/2008 7:00:20 AM # Q

predictions on the above?????????????????????????????????????

RE: Countdown til end of month
mikecane @ 12/4/2008 7:18:24 AM # Q
What predictions? Everyone who stuck with Palm will have an iPhone this Xmas or maybe even a post-Xmas $99 4GB one from Wal-Mart.

I'm sure even Ed Colligan will be on the line at 5AM 12/26 for HIS 4GB $99 special iPhone.

RE: Countdown til end of month
PacManFoo @ 12/4/2008 7:18:37 AM # Q
So it's an invisible OS! Cool, cause you know, sometimes you can see Vapor and sometimes not.

The last known classic PDA user.
Semi OT for Mike Cane
hkklife @ 12/4/2008 2:01:20 PM # Q
The best of the best both get a fancy new set of duds for the new year...

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/eeepc-1002ha.aspx?page=1

http://www.liliputing.com/2008/12/msi-to-show-off-new-wind-u110-u115-models-at-ces.html

Damnit, Mike, go ahead and get one! Even RYAN has a Wind now!

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Countdown til end of month
Gekko @ 12/4/2008 2:31:08 PM # Q

so what does palm say on/before 12-31-08 regarding nova os?

1. yes it's ready but we won't show you - expect devices someday.
2. no it's not ready and we will delay it's release until X-X-2009.
3. we've decided to dump it and move to Android or XXXX OS.
4. other.



RE: Countdown til end of month
mikecane @ 12/4/2008 2:51:57 PM # Q
>>>Damnit, Mike, go ahead and get one! Even RYAN has a Wind now!

Eejit. NEVER tell me something New is coming. It invokes my Wait To Buy gene.

Now you've done it.

No MSI Wind for me in 2008.

You prat!

RE: Countdown til end of month
SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 3:27:27 PM # Q
> so what does palm say on/before 12-31-08 regarding nova os?...
>
> 4. other

Other:

"We quietly dropped development on Nova and decided to add our special sauce to Android instead. At the same time we hired Dmitry-whats-his-name to help implement it quickly.

Here's a Treo Pro running Andova - pretty cool, huh?

Here's an MSI Wind autosyncing with it.

Here's Vista autosyncing with it.

Ya like our iPhone connectivity? See the iPhone Apps store for more details on the app to allow this. I think it costs like a buck fifty.

How about this one? Invoke the "PalmOS6.0" app and, voila!, all your legacy Palm apps can run inside their own virtual machine - special device/memory accesses are, of course, intercepted so there is no interference with the normal multitasked Android environment.

Have we mentioned the Google Maps app adapted from Android we're including? We added a little special sauce to link it in with Facebook and MySpace."

etc etc etc


RE: Countdown til end of month
Gekko @ 12/4/2008 4:35:53 PM # Q

5. we're hiring both Yankowski and Nagel back effective 1-1-09. we're adding a NEW NEW secret third product line - custom-made gold-threaded suits. also, we're bringing COBALT back with an ETA of Q3 2010 with products shipping sometime in Q2 2011.


Reply to this comment

RE: Cool Ads

SeldomVisitor @ 12/2/2008 11:55:30 AM # Q
Ah, yes, the campaign that was blogged about on blog.palm.com and got NO comments!

Er...no published comments, that is.

Here are some that weren't published there, however:

- http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/7251/#146395

and:

- http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_P/threadview?m=tm&bn=13738&tid=312141&mid=312141&tof=36&frt=2

Reply to this comment

He says some site has REAL Nova rumor info and it's fantastic

SeldomVisitor @ 12/4/2008 4:26:04 PM # Q
- http://discussion.treocentral.com/showpost.php?p=1528772&postcount=31

Do ya believe him?

WHAT site?

WHAT rumor info?

WHAT!?

RE: He says some site has REAL Nova rumor info and it's fantastic
mikecane @ 12/4/2008 5:24:38 PM # Q
The guy can hardly write English, so is it a Chinese site maybe?

Now that I believe ANY of that crap for half a moment.

RE: He says some site has REAL Nova rumor info and it's fantastic
Gekko @ 12/4/2008 5:43:33 PM # Q

give me a break. don't post that silly shit.

RE: He says some site has REAL Nova rumor info and it's fantastic
SeldomVisitor @ 12/5/2008 4:46:21 AM # Q
Well..I certainly think one of youse guys who still have valid TreoCentral logins oughta go over there and grill him...

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