Comments on: Palm Centro and Treo 800w Possible Release Dates

Rumor: Phonenews.com has posted what looks to be a legitimate Sprint release roadmap that’s chock full of information. The earlier reports of a low-end Garnet-based Treo for CDMA networks turned out to be entirely accurate, as seen in Palm's semi-announcement last week of the Palm Centro smartphone.

This EVDO-enabled device, to exclusively debut on Sprint sometime this fall, is the Palm OS version of the rumored "Gandolf" seen in recent PIC photos and video. Phonenews' article mentions that the release date of the Centro, now codenamed "Gryphon" is Oct 14th and that the rumored $99 price with contract is indeed accurate.

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Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sense

SeldomVisitor @ 8/20/2007 6:21:57 PM # Q
PALM outright said they were out of the Windows Mobile business and would let their ODMs handle it from "now on" (*). That suggests, no, it screams that any new Windows Mobile device has to come out of...you know...their ODMs.

----------

== "...As a part of our long-term planning I
== recently made some changes..."

Note that "recently made some changes" bit.

== "...to increase the effectiveness of our
== organization and drive our performance. I
== reorganized our team around two distinctive
== product lines.
==
== Our Windows Mobile products will be developed
== under a highly leveraged ODM model where we can
== take advantage of the strong capabilities of
== our ODM partners. These products will be
== designed and specified by our internal Windows
== Mobile group. But, more execution of the
== products will be done in conjunction with our
== ODM partners using their Windows Mobile
== expertise and radio designed platforms..."

From the most recent quarterly conference call.

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
retrospooty @ 8/20/2007 7:42:03 PM # Q
"PALM outright said they were out of the Windows Mobile business and would let their ODMs handle it from "now on""

This is true, but it all depends on where this is change is implemented in terms of the design pipeline (which we all know is way too long at Palm). It is likely that this change is not in effect on the next release of T800w, Palm must have been working on it for well over a year already. Maybe the next product (T850 or whatever its going to be called) will be ODM design.

My point is, there are still upcoming launches for "Palm designed" products in the pipeline for Palm to botch before the ODM (HTC?) designs come into play. Even then, Palm can still botch things with an ODM design. Palm is still involved, therefore bad product descisions WILL be made.


RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
freakout @ 8/20/2007 8:26:47 PM # Q
^^ Out of curiosity, can you name a company that never makes bad product decisions?
RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2007 6:30:18 AM # Q
It certainly is possible PALM has "one more best shot" in the Windows Mobile world before they become a rebrander instead, but it certainly looks to THIS (total outsider) reader that PALM has SUDDENLY undergone some fairly dramatic internal changes that more than a little suggest they EASILY could have dropped work-in-progress.

Perhaps some "analyst" will word the NEXT earnings conference call "How many people did you lay off" question more correctly and find out the REAL answer.

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2007 6:33:21 AM # Q
> Out of curiosity, can you name a company that never makes
> bad product decisions?

Is that relevant to anything at all or is it simple (and that is meant in TWO different ways!) "defend PALM at all times blindly" loyalty shining through? wouldn't it have been better to just sit on your hands?

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2007 7:11:05 AM # Q
> ...but it certainly looks to THIS (total outsider) reader that
> PALM has SUDDENLY undergone some fairly dramatic internal changes
> that more than a little suggest they EASILY could have dropped
> work-in-progress.

Apologies - this particular sub-sentence should have read as:

> ...but it certainly looks to THIS (total outsider) reader that
> PALM has SUDDENLY undergone some fairly dramatic internal changes
> that more than a little suggest they EASILY could have dropped
> more work-in-progress than WiFi and Linux.

Appropriate context is important to (try to) make that point!

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sense
hkklife @ 8/21/2007 10:24:01 AM # Q
Perhaps Palm has two shots left in their corporate design guns, so to speak--the 800w and the forthcoming PLinux-powered 800p?

Both would have 320x320 screens and similar Centro-esque formfactors but would have slightly different innards.....wi-fi & GPS on the WinMob version and wi-fi and CDMA/GSM connectivity on the Plinux one? Look how RIM is managing to distinguish & segment their BB line.....they are throwing a hodgepodge of features and styles at different carriers. While I don't exactly agree with this "no carriers gets the clea-cut 'best' version" strategy, it does seem to be the norm going forward as the carriers exert more and more influence over the handset manufacturers' offerings (I'm speaking domestically, folks).

Look at the round of recently released RAZR2 handsets (CNET did a great overview of them IIRC): Between AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel you have a myriad of features, UIs, and stylistic differences with no clear-cut leader.

What I really would like to know is if the "Mercedes Treo" Colligan alluded to on more than one occasion earlier this year and last year is still on track. Is it still forthcoming? Or has it been delayed until Q1 '08 (800w)? Or was it the victim of the cost-cutting SV hints at?

Are Palm's only notable releases for this fall going to be the Fooleo and the Centro? Has Palm gone from the company that refuses one thing its users are clamoring for (TX2/new PDAs) to two (new PDAs & new high-end Treos)?

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

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
freakout @ 8/21/2007 6:56:05 PM # Q
SV:
Is that relevant to anything at all or is it simple (and that is meant in TWO different ways!) "defend PALM at all times blindly" loyalty shining through? wouldn't it have been better to just sit on your hands?

Blindly? Don't be stupid. Retrospooty said:

Palm is still involved, therefore bad product descisions WILL be made.

My question was meant to imply that Palm do not have a monopoly on bad decisions. That quote could say: "A consumer electronics company is involved, therefore bad products decisions WILL be made." Sorry if that was a little too complex for you to grasp, sweetheart.

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2007 7:01:33 PM # Q
No, what is was was an attempt to justify bad decisions because some other company makes bad decisions - the old "Two wrongs make a right" crap.

RE: Purported delay of a Windows-based anything makes perfect sen
freakout @ 8/21/2007 7:24:38 PM # Q
Okey-doke, SV. Silly me, trying to clarify and define my own words! The gall! The freaking audacity!! Where do I get off?

You really shouldn't try and ascribe your meanings to other people's words. But I'm sure you'll continue to do it anyway...

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It better be good...

Gazpacho @ 8/21/2007 3:09:00 AM # Q
It's nice to be the first one with a 320x320 screen for WM, but if you only sell a couple of thousands, no developer will ever support the screen resolution. It pays not to be the first in this department.

http://foleocentral.blogspot.com

FoleoCentral is the news, opinions & review blog about the Palm Foleo Mobile Companion
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But will it include your own private island?

Poopie @ 8/21/2007 12:43:04 PM # Q
http://www.privateislandoffer.com/?id9=vanity:islandoffer


USR Palm Pilot 1000 --> Palm Pilot Professional --> TRG SuperPilot --> Palm IIIc --> Palm V --> Palm M505 --> Palm M515 --> Tungsten T|2 --> Treo 600 --> LifeDrive --> iPhone

RE: But will it include your own private island?
freakout @ 8/21/2007 7:05:44 PM # Q
Lol. That's hilarious. Really puts Palm's ads to shame. Only 10.5 million dollars!
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Someone mention new PDAs?

SeldomVisitor @ 8/22/2007 12:07:08 PM # Q
RE: Someone mention new PDAs?
hkklife @ 8/22/2007 12:46:06 PM # Q
Likely one of those "specialty" PDAs like HP rolled out last year on the RX5915 "Travel Companion" oriented towards GPS functionality.

I'd count on a WM6 spin of the 5915 with maybe-just maybe-an emphasis placed on VOIP.

Is this a "PDA PDA" or a "PDA phone (aka smartphone)?

BTW, I hate how the carriers' marketing literature and sales drones call smartphones "PDAs". To me, a PDA is STILL something you don't go around talking on or holding up to your ear.


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

RE: Someone mention new PDAs?
SeldomVisitor @ 8/22/2007 12:54:21 PM # Q
Based on the test report stuff it appears to NOT have the standard radios for cellphone stuff. But I didn't concentrate on that, just skimmed, so maybe I simply missed it as I was looking for photos.

Looks like bluetooth and WiFi only.

RE: Someone mention new PDAs?
SeldomVisitor @ 8/22/2007 12:55:34 PM # Q
WAITAMINUTE!

Then again, there WAS a SAR test that showed a device next to an ear! So maybe it IS a phone, too!

I ain't going back to the FCC to check though; left as an exercise for the readers!

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