Rumor: Picture of the Tungsten T
An anonymous source has given Geek.com an image of Palm Inc's upcoming high-end mode. The picture confirms that it is based on the Oslo prototype. This features a sliding bottom part which alternately covers and exposes the Graffiti area, allowing the handheld to be very small when closed or let user enter text when open.
The image also confirms that this model will be named the Tungsten T. All of Palm's high-end products will be part of the Tungsten line. Its new smartphone will be called the Tungsten W.
In addition, this image also confirms earlier reports that this model has an SD/MMC slot.
The image leaked to Geek.com appears to have been produced by a graphics company to be used by Palm in it advertising materials for this model. Similar leaks have happened in the past with previous models, including the Palm m505.
Yesterday, Todd Bradley, CEO of Palm's Solutions Group, said his company would be launching a handheld that runs Palm OS 5 on October 28. This appears to be the model he was referring to.
Bradley said that this high-end model will have Bluetooth wireless networking built in and use a Texas Instruments OMAP processor, which is based on designs from ARM Holdings. According to rumor, the Tungsten T will use the OMAP1510 processor, which combines into a single chip an ARM-compliant processor with a DSP for multimedia capabilities, and runs at 175 MHz. Sources familiar with this device say it will have 16 MB of RAM.
Both Palm OS 5 and the OMAP1510 chip have multimedia support built in and, according to anonymous sources, the Tungsten takes full advantage of it. It has a microphone, headphone jack, and a speaker.
It has a 320 by 320 screen, which PalmSource refers to as double density, rather than the more familiar description, hi-res. It uses Palm's Universal Connector.
According to a new source, the Tungsten T is thinner than earlier reports indicated. It is approximately 4 by 3 by .6 inches with the sliding part closed and 4.8 inches tall with it open. If this is correct, when closed this model will be slightly smaller than Sony's SJ series, which is 4.1 by 2.9 by .7 inches. This source says it weighs 5.6 ounces.
Update: Yesterday's ZDnet article on this model mentioned that Palm had hired some designers from Sony to help design this model. Some people have misinterpreted this to mean that Sony officially helped Palm design the Tungsten T, which is not the case. A Sony spokesperson confirmed that his company had nothing to do with the design. Palm did hire some designers away from it but Sony wasn't cooperating in any way.
This model already appears in the inventory system of a major electronics retailer, which says it will cost $500, though this isn't necessarily correct.
Despite the change to a new processor and operating system, developers will not have to rewrite their applications to run on this model. PalmSource, the subsidiary of Palm that developed OS 5, created the Palm Application Compatibility Environment (PACE), which interprets the instructions of existing applications designed for the Dragonball processor and makes them run on the ARM processor. There has been some concern in the Palm community that this would make OS 5 run slower than OS 4. According to developers, this isn't the case.
Related Information:
- PIC: Palm Says Three New Models Coming Next Month (September 19, 2002)
- PIC: Rumor: More Details on the Next-Gen Palm Handheld (July 24, 2002)
- PIC: Developers Say the PACE Is Fast Enough (July 23, 2002)
- PIC: Palm Forum
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RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
From a Clie T615 owner
RE: Excellent!
16 mb ram
underpowered 175mhz
320*320
with a memory tape recorder
and bluetooth what a joke.
for $500 dollars
RE: Excellent!
I just hope it's stands up to daily use.
RE: Excellent!
GREAT!!
RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
People here insult products without trying them.
It is not fair to Palm to insult the product when you haven't tried it. For some people this IS the perfect product, others desire something different. I know many people who don't need any MHZ, Color screens, etc
Most need a Palm V with it's organization abilities, and some of the basic apps. This is why Palm is loosing market share. I know 20 people who have a Palm V and it works perfectly and probably won't change handhelds for a while.
Please don't insult a handheld by saying: Another stupid handheld by Palm. Justify by saying why you would ever need more than 175 mhz or more than a 320x320 screen. Remember this is a PDA not a computer. If you need something to do computer like functions get a laptop.
RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
Onto real matters... is anyone concerned about that lower part sliding down and wearing out as folks rest their hand on it to write in the grafitti area? Unlike a keyboard being in the uncovered area that would require now hand resting as you thumb type. By the way... I don't like the keyboards, just a thought on why one slide works and another doesn't last.
Hmmm... that may come across negative, then I would be here 'trolling'. How about...
I love the way the lower area slides down to rest my hand on it when writing. Palm has thought of everything. As the lower part loosens and gives me plenty or warning that it is about to break, I will alter my writing style and thus be a better person. Cool!!
RE: Excellent!
A good response is: I'm glad that Palm will come out with a Palm OS 5 handheld finally.
Critisicims are fine but sometimes people write: Palm is dead, Sony Rules, This is What will kill Sony... Don't do that!
RE: Excellent!
Some people here are afraid to make observations and express opinions before the product is released ("Don't knock it till you try it"[in voice of snotty second grader}) Well, thats fine for some "box thinkers...lets call them Zire users" If we can't go to Best Buy and play with it the least you can let us do is talk about it! So, yes I think the sliding grafitti cover is a bad move and will probably break or wear out with alot of use. This first model is a nogo for my dollar but I am anxious for the next round!
RE: Excellent!
With that logic, you better not step into your car. It has lots of moving parts-some of which are plastic. Laptops have moving parts. Cell phones have plastic moving parts. Treos have moving parts. Your place of dwelling has many moving parts. Its time I and many others make the jump to a significantly better device. If you listen to these "wait and see people", you will be waiting forever. I work in marketing and that is one of the arguments you use in order to delay the use of a new product. "Don't you be the first to try out this thing, let someone else do it; however, when I come out with MY product, I want you to jump right on it".
RE: Excellent!
That is a good philosophy when gathering information about a device in a competitive market. Positive comments are probably true, but doubt the negative chatter - chances are good you are not getting the straight story. You can quickly check it out yourself.
If I were competing with a new device, you can bet your home that I would be posting "seeds of doubt" on this web site.
RE: Excellent!
Dan
RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
RE: Excellent!
Woman who has used Tungsten T
RE: Excellent!
With that logic, you better not step into your car. It has lots of moving parts-some of which are plastic. Laptops have moving parts. Cell phones have plastic moving parts. Treos have moving parts. Your place of dwelling has many moving parts.
GUESS WHAT PAL...MY CAR DOES BREAK!...HOME DEPOT GETS MY EXTRA CASH FIXING BROKEN THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE...ETC. SO I DON'T REALLY WANT A $500 PALM THAT HAS MOVING PARTS -I-S- GOING TO BREAK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER! ENOUGH WITH THE SLIDY FLIPPY CRAP ALREADY! _T_H_I_N_AND SOLID!
RE: Excellent!
Guess what PAL...... Whatever device you buy will have moving parts....Buttons, Maybe hinges,etc. If you don't like that, good luck trying to find a pda that DOESN'T have moving parts. It (Tungsten)still is thin and solid. By the way.........our STUFF(cars,etc)break too!!! Maybe you need to buy a Pocket PC PDA? Or do you have one already??
Larger Photo on Geek.com
Yecch
RE: Yecch
RE: Yecch
RE: Yecch
The worst stylus belongs to the Sharp Linuxed Zaurus. It is a fat stub. Maybe this one will be like that too.
RE: Yecch
RE: Yecch
Battery life matters more to me. I'm hoping palm continues its tradition of having long battery lives on all its models.
RE: Yecch
Probably, but you never know. This model is only 0.4" smaller than (for example) the m515. How much of the stylus could they possibly shorten it? But, since this is thicker than the m515, could it be that the stylus is also thicker as well?
: -- and, since Sony's people designed this, why not just
: "standardize" the styluses between them?
Well, I don't know if it was specifically stated that they were the _only_ ones to work on the design. I think it was mentioned that they helped work on it, but not design it completely themselves.
You're right, though, we'll have to just wait and see. Can't wait to see other company's first OS5 offerings.
Exciting. :)
Jim
RE: Yecch
RE: Yecch
I am betting that the expertise the ex-Sony engineers supplied went into the electronics, rather than the industrial design.
IDEO (www.ideo.com) are a great industrial design shop that worked on the Palm V series, and the Treo for Handspring (among others visit the site - esp if you are a student of HCI/CHI or Industrial Design). Makes you wonder if they had a hand in this one as well.
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Excellent!