Handspring Shows the Treo 600

Handspring Treo 600 ~ Click for Larger updated Handspring has unveiled the Treo 600. The new model features a smaller, more phone-like design with a full QWERTY keyboard and digital camera. The Treo 600 combines a phone, and Palm OS 5-based organizer with messaging, email, and web browsing features. It is expected to become available this fall worldwide.

"In product design, making things smaller often makes the product better because it forces designers to break through old design ideas. Treo 600 truly is a breakthrough for smartphones," said Jeff Hawkins, chairman and chief product officer for Handspring. "Our team was very creative in shrinking the product to an impressively small size, while at the same time making it more powerful and easier to use. As a phone and a data device, Treo 600 delivers the best of both worlds."

The Treo 600 runs Palm OS 5.2.1 with a 144 MHz Texas Instruments OMAP processor. It will have 32MB of RAM and a SD/MMC/SDIO expansion slot. There is also a Five-way navigation dial for one handed operation. ZDNet reports that the device will use a 160x160 pixel color screen.

There will be two versions for each type of wireless network, CDMA 1XRTT and GSM/GPRS. The Treo 600 has a built-in digital camera (640 x 480 VGA), so you can take and send pictures or connect a face to a phone number with picture caller ID. It will also feature a dual speaker architecture for high-quality phone and system audio.

The Treo 600 has dimensions of 4.41 x 2.36 x .87 inches, and weighs 5.9 oz (GSM)/6.2 oz (CDMA). It will have a large capacity 1800 mAh rechargeable Lithium Ion battery for up to six hours talk time (GSM); or up to five hours talk time (CDMA); and about two weeks organizer use for both versions.

Keyboard Design
Treo 600's keyboard design makes dialing the phone and sending messages and email easier than before, even with the significantly reduced size of the product. A unique domed key shape and carefully crafted layout makes typing fast and simple. Each key on Treo 600 has more surface area than those on existing Treo products, and letters and numbers have been enlarged for better readability. In user testing for speed and accuracy of text input, Treo 600 performed on par with RIM's Blackberry keyboard and significantly faster than Graffiti handwriting recognition, found in most Palm OS handhelds, and T-9, the text input method found in most mobile phones.

The phone will also have a new proxyless version of Handspring's Blazer web browser, with support for JavaScript and downloading software. Handspring is working with carriers and business partners to prepare rich email, SMS, and MMS solutions that will be customized for specific channels and announced in more detail this summer. In the coming weeks, Handspring plans to offer free developer tools for companies to build additional software and hardware expansion solutions.

Pricing is not known but is expected to be in the $400 - $500 range, with the actual price determined by the each carrier. Treo 600 series products are expected to come at a price premium relative to current Treo offerings, and Handspring plans to offer a compelling upgrade incentive for owners of current wireless Treo products. The phone will be available though Handspring's web site and Sprint PCS in the US and Orange SA throughout Europe in the fall. Other carriers are expected to be announced later.

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Photo problem?

Palmary @ 6/18/2003 1:14:29 AM #
Is it just my crummy connection, or is the photo missing?

"Earnestness is just stupidity sent to college" P.J. O'Rourke
RE: Photo problem?
Palmary @ 6/18/2003 1:16:01 AM #
Doh! I just hit 'refresh' and the photo finally appeared.

"Earnestness is just stupidity sent to college" P.J. O'Rourke

Great Video on CNet

big_raji @ 6/18/2003 1:14:58 AM #
Warning: SEVERAL PAGES OF WHINING BELOW:
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/18/2003 9:34:31 PM #
Anyone starting to read these comments can save themselves time with the following summary (Several pages of drivel from the Boo Hoo Babies):

Boo Hoo Hoo! Only 160 x 160 screen!

Boo Hoo Hoo! No Bluetooth!

Boo Hoo Hoo! No Toothbrush!

Boo Hoo Hoo! No enema! (for iain.collins)

Get a clue you morons. This is a PDA-Phone. Not just a PDA. Not just a phone. If you don't like it because it doesn't have some ultra-geek feature that you and the other 10 whiners here want, DON'T BUY IT. Your opinion represent about 0.000001 % of people that might want a new PDA-Phone. No-one gives a rat's arse about what you're bitching about today. When someone finally introduces a no compromise PDA-Phone for $1000, you dorks will be on here complaining about the price.

The Boo Hoo Babies are a lot worse than the PocketPC trolls could ever hope to be.


http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0333735927.02.MZZZZZZZ.jpg


Land of the free

Yeah, 160x160

M3wThr33 @ 6/18/2003 1:16:07 AM #
Check out the photo. While it's probably not a real shot, the provided screen is clearly 160, not 320, check out the shape of the buttons and the TitleBar.
I wonder how many program incompatabilities will show up now that programmers have to wonder if OS 5 is Sony+, Palm or HS-.

I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. We're in space.
RE: Yeah, 160x160
Galley_SimRacer @ 6/18/2003 1:46:16 AM #
160 x 160? What the hell were they thinking?

--
"Life is what you experience between racing games"
Galley
RE: Yeah, 160x160
MarcosV @ 6/18/2003 1:52:51 AM #

This has GOT to be some kind of mistake!

No way would they shoot themselves in the foot like this! would they?

with a 144mgz processor, rendering a 320X320 should be trivial. I can't imagine them doing it to save battery power either. But if this is the case, they should have an option to use either 160X160 or 320X320. Now that would be cool

I really like the looks of the device though. It seems more serious and meant for business than the current crop of PDA/fashion accessory that are all over the market.

-Marcos Vandel

Should compare rez to other "smartphones"
gfunkmagic @ 6/18/2003 2:43:27 AM #
As a Treo user, I was just as mad as anyone regarding the resolution. But remember, HS is not making a pda here and they're not targeting pda users. They're a mobile headset maker now and soon will become the mobile headset division of PalmSG. You shoudl compare this resolution to other smartphone devices out there in this small size category. For example all Series 60 Symbian platform mobiles (i.e Nokia 360, 7650) only have a 176x208 pixel screen. Furthermroe, the M$ SPV only has a 220 x 176 screen! Of course the exception here is the Samsung SGH-i500 which reportedly has a 320x320 screen. But overall, the Treo600 screen is comparable to most smartphones out there...

----------------------------------------
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."

-Pablo Picasso.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
mr_yellow @ 6/18/2003 2:54:27 AM #
I gawked at the fact that it is 160x160 initially.. but when you really think about it, imagine the trouble with the font thinkness and legibility with a reduced sized 320x320 screen?

160x160 is plenty "useful"... and most likely cheaper to manufacture. if i really think back on it, I'd still be happily using my m505 if i didn't break it. Yes, 320x320 is nice. but useability wise, not totally unnecessary.

More info on the screen...
gfunkmagic @ 6/18/2003 2:56:00 AM #
This will be a reflecitve CSTN 160x160 pixel screen with a dot-pitch of .27. The screen is 2.7 inches when measured diagonally. Handspring says it is bright enough to be easily seen indoors and out and is referred by one person as "blindingly bright" according to the report on treocentral:

http://www.treocentral.com/content/Stories/236-1.htm

----------------------------------------
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."

-Pablo Picasso.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
M3wThr33 @ 6/18/2003 3:56:07 AM #
Bleh, after getting a Zire71, I couldn't imagine anything less, especially if it has a camera.

Of course, think of the alternative.

PPC-embedded phones don't even have a touchscreen. I'd rather program for the Palm in OS5- than know that some people will be using my programs without a touch-screen.

I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. We're in space.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
hotpaw4 @ 6/18/2003 6:42:21 AM #
The display is already over 90 DPI in resolution. 4 times more pixels would require much more power for the display refresh.
RE: Yeah, 160x160
kstedman1 @ 6/18/2003 6:45:01 AM #
Reflective 160x160? Here comes the dust.

No wonder Handspring was in trouble. This device looks fantastic but, just like all other Palm products out there, it lacks a major feature. In this case, a 320x320 screen.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
Doc Logic @ 6/18/2003 10:26:19 AM #
Here's the problem with 160x160. You aren't going to get a lot of people downgrading from 320x320 to 160x160. 320x320 is highly addictive.

Unfortunately, this will limit the device's appeal to those who have never had a Palm OS device or those who currently have low-res screens.

Darn! Otherwise, the device looks like a winner. I only use my TT Bluetooth for wireless Internet, so I wouldn't miss it on this phone.

Shut up
orev @ 6/18/2003 11:25:31 AM #
You guys are all just a bunch of whiney little bitches. Shut the hell up. You can never just look at something and say, "wow, that's pretty cool". There always has to be something wrong.


RE: Yeah, 160x160
treo007 @ 6/18/2003 11:28:44 AM #
>>As a Treo user, I was just as mad as anyone regarding the resolution. But remember, HS is not making a pda here and they're not targeting pda users. They're a mobile headset maker now and soon will become the mobile headset division of PalmSG. You shoudl compare this resolution to other smartphone devices out there in this small size category. For example all Series 60 Symbian platform mobiles (i.e Nokia 360, 7650) only have a 176x208 pixel screen. Furthermroe, the M$ SPV only has a 220 x 176 screen! Of course the exception here is the Samsung SGH-i500 which reportedly has a 320x320 screen. But overall, the Treo600 screen is comparable to most smartphones out there...

So....Just because all the other kids are doing it doesn't mean you should too, right? Seriously, 320x320 would have been a great way to differentiate themselves from the rest of the smart phone crowd (and stay ahead of the curve). They had the potential to have the only 320 x 320 phone on the market (and it's not as if the technology isn't there). As it is, Samsung is coming out with one and I bet they'll tout it's resolution over every comparable product on the market (and they should).

I don't think we should give HS a free pass here. As it is, I think the thing looks too geeky and PDA focused. Most of the phone buying population is not going to want to spend more money to look uncool and learn something more complicated than the current crop of "free" phones. Just my opinion.

Good thing for HS they merged w/Palm when they did, because this phone wouldn't have saved the company.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
RAMdŽd @ 6/18/2003 11:32:33 AM #
Unfortunately, this will limit the device's appeal to those who have never had a Palm OS device or those who currently have low-res screens.


Not to mention, those who just don't know what they're talking about.

I bet somebody who's not worried about a specification can hold this 600 in their hand and appreciate how fully functional it is, without SuperGeeks to tell them "160x160?! That is soooo uncool!"

It's obvious that so many critics here are experts in R&D, development, and marketing. Cracks me up.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

RE: Yeah, 160x160 and I like it
a3 @ 6/18/2003 11:52:52 AM #
Just by checking the picture it seems as a 1.5" width x 3" height. If so, this might be the smallest Color PDA ever. As a matter of fact it gets pretty damn close to my cel phone's size so I'd say they have a winner here.
Regarding 160x160 screen I need some expert advice cuz I think that 160x160 is the size but the density may be the same as a 320x320 due to its reduced size. If so then we will have the same resolution as any other hires device.
______________________________________________________
Never, never, never give up!
RE: Yeah, 160x160
iain.collins @ 6/18/2003 11:59:47 AM #
orev: Erm. this device is utterly screwed when it gets to market because it has 160x160 instead of 320x320.

Why would I down grade my old NR70V (which runs at 320x480) for *this?*

I had a Prisim with the same screen as this something like 3 years ago and have had 3 Palms since then!

I would get this tomorrow if it had 320x320, but at this res its going to be useless for me so I'm not going to - just like I haven't had a Handspring since the Visor Prisim.

The Visor Prisim and the Edge were the only really good units Handspring made. The rest were boaring the Treo battery life was too short (even once a day is not enough to keep it charged for me).

Many of the spring board models promised didn't appear, and the ones that did were too little and many years too late.

Consumers have figured out Handspring suck, if your the only one who thinks they don't make lame kit then fine...go and buy them....The rest of us *won't*.

I bought a browser from them (used a screen hack to make it full screen on my NR70V - not 100% bug free when made to go full screen, but it's pretty good and doesn't crash or anything). But it had to wait for an unlock key after Handpring took my money but didn't give me a key in return! Turned out I had to wait for it to be sent it via email manually!

I was *amazed* it wasn't a fully automated and instantanious process. For technology company that's a spectatular example of management cluelessness, it's stunning.



RE: Yeah, 160x160
rsc1000 @ 6/18/2003 1:23:58 PM #
>>I gawked at the fact that it is 160x160 initially.. but when you really think about it, imagine the trouble with the font thinkness and legibility with a reduced sized 320x320 screen?

Font thickness wouldn't be a problem - OS 5 uses 'thick' fonts by defualt. The only problem with font thickness on a 320x320 screen is with Sonys pre-OS 5 devices because they went with their own thin fonts.

Having said that - i don't mind 160x160 on a small screen like this - im sure it will look great. My problem with it is from a developer point of view. A lot of apps written for OS 5 are games and multi-media that assume hi-res for OS 5 devices. Hi-res is not a requirement of OS 5 - but it has become a sort of unofficial standard for it. So newer OS 5 enhanced games, for example, won't work on this if they require 320x320. Drag.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
abosco @ 6/18/2003 1:38:23 PM #
"You guys are all just a bunch of whiney little bitches. Shut the hell up. You can never just look at something and say, "wow, that's pretty cool". There always has to be something wrong."

They do have pills for menopause, you know.

This thing would be great, but the problem with the screen is that software written for OS 5 will be compatible with the processor but not with the screen. This is a huge fumble and I think it will be the reason for holding people from buying it.

Everything else about it is pure craftsmanship. It even looks mean.

-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods

RE: Yeah, 160x160
craniotes @ 6/18/2003 2:28:55 PM #
Until someone can prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would have been utterly impossible to shove a 320x320 screen into this device, I'm not buying any argument other than that they simply cheaped out on us. Period. Everyone is talking about battery life and refresh rates, but the biggest killer of PDA/Phone battery life is the backlight. Well, please explain to me just how a backlight for a 320x device is going to be larger, and draw more power than a backlight for a 160x device if the screens are still the same size? With respect to refresh rates, well isn't that why we're using OMAP and XScale processors? For the added horsepower and power-savings? And no, just because the first Sony hi-res devices had skinny fonts doesn't mean that every hi-res device has skinny fonts. OS5 took care of that problem.

Face it, Handspring cut corners with the screen. Why are there so many apologists out there willing to pat them on the back for that?

I'm waitng for the Samsung.

-Adam


RE:
orev @ 6/18/2003 3:24:25 PM #
Re: everyone



RE: Shut the hell up
orev @ 6/18/2003 3:24:25 PM #
Re: everyone

If you don't like it, DON'T F-ING BUY IT!

Contrary to popular belief in these parts, the supergeeks who always need the latest and greatest do NOT make up the majority of consumers. Palm or whoever will not go under just because you don't buy something.

I wish I had a nickel for every moron who proclaimed that because some new device doesn't have X little feature that the company was going under. I'd be rich.

RE: Yeah, 160x160
Selbstlade @ 6/18/2003 5:07:33 PM #
"You guys are all just a bunch of whiney little bitches. Shut the hell up. You can never just look at something and say, "wow, that's pretty cool". There always has to be something wrong."

If Compaq or IBM or Dell released a Pentium 5 or Athlon 64 laptop or PC with a monitor that could only display 640x480, would you be pissed? No, of course not! You'd say "wow, that's pretty cool"

Tesseract

Palm Professional, Palm IIIx, Cassiopeia E-105 (everyone's got that "experimentation phase" right?), Sony Clie SJ-10, Palm Zire 71.

Any of the complainers here actually ever used the TREO 600?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/18/2003 9:54:38 PM #
Didn't think so.


The losers ranting here deserve our pity - they have nothing else to live for other than pretending to be experts on PDA sites.


Land of the free

RE: Yeah, 160x160
Hotoru @ 6/19/2003 1:22:08 AM #
This is really a cool little device. But, I agree, I wish it was 320x320. I am not saying that it will not be a good device at 160. But, as a Tungsten T owner who wants to add mobile ability would be nice to have a 320x screen.
Hotoru

RE: Yeah, 160x160
rmhurdman @ 6/19/2003 8:01:10 PM #
I wonder how many of the people who are assuming that developpers will assume that the screen is 320x320 are developpers themselves? (And you get a tongue-twister for free!) Any developper who can program a killer app is smart enough not to assume anything about the hardware they're coding for. Palm OS offers many easy ways for a program to find out what kind of hardware (and software) is and isn't available.
It sounds like you're all just trying to find excuses not to love it. And if I and everyone else go out and buy it and this starts selling like hotcakes, what excuse will you give about your whiney predictions?

RE: Yeah, 160x160
craniotes @ 6/21/2003 12:34:40 AM #
I don't think anyone here is saying that the device won't sell. In fact, I'm sure that quite the opposite will be the case. What we are saying is that 160x160 resolution is a major step backwards in a device that was so close to being perfect. Is this a deal breaker? For your average, "consumer-grade" user, probably not. As for me, your average "gadget-freak-user," definitely yes. This is why I intend to purchase the Samsung i500, whenever they finally get off their duffs and release it.

And to those who are whining and bitching about all of us who are whining and bitching about the poor resolution -- go back to reading the NY Times Circuits section for your "late-breaking" PDA news. This is a FAN site... Got it? If you're happy using your mother's hand-me-down Palm IIIxe, more power to ya. Just leave the rest of us out of it, okay?

-Adam

Don't use drugs, kids.
Satan @ 6/21/2003 4:18:38 AM #
"What we are saying is that 160x160 resolution is a major step backwards"

Quote from industry legend, Tickle Me Elmo

RE: Yeah, 160x160
craniotes @ 6/24/2003 5:58:02 PM #
Elmo said that too? Interesting...

-Adam

looks nice

montyburns @ 6/18/2003 1:23:48 AM #
I like it.

Mmmmm....shiny...

RE: looks nice
ozz @ 6/18/2003 1:53:38 AM #
The video says it has a touch screen but most functions can be accessed with one hand on the 5-way navigator. I wonder if there is a built-in stylus? And, it appears there is no graffiti input capability. Sad, cuz I prefer graffiti. Has anybody seen a list of specs yet? Really looks nice, though!

_________________________
Lord, help me become the person my dog thinks I am!
RE: looks nice
a3 @ 6/18/2003 10:08:19 AM #
It has Palm OS5.2 so you write directly on the screen. Just as with the Tungsten C.

_______________________________________
Already a Tapwave's Helix fan.
RE: looks nice
ozz @ 6/18/2003 1:49:50 PM #
Thanks for the info A3

_________________________
Lord, help me become the person my dog thinks I am!
RE: looks nice
aleclee @ 6/19/2003 11:40:07 AM #
The video says it has a touch screen but most functions can be accessed with one hand on the 5-way navigator. I wonder if there is a built-in stylus? And, it appears there is no graffiti input capability. Sad, cuz I prefer graffiti. Has anybody seen a list of specs yet? Really looks nice, though!
============
I got to check one out last weekend (a friend works for HS) and it has a stylus. It's so well integrated into the body that it took me a moment to find despite it's location in the usual spot.

Looks good - but... Bluetooth? Screen! Battery?

McTrinsic @ 6/18/2003 1:52:50 AM #
This appears to be really good.

I wonder, though, if they will include Bluetooth - and if so, if they are able to provide an audio profile for Bluetooth. It would ROCK to be able to hear msuic via headset and then take an incoming call!

The screen made me shake my head as well. But then again, I think HiRes Screens use more power. And this is a cellphone, people are used to cellphone recharging cycles. Too short of a battery performance would be inacceptable.

What do you think?

Have fun,
McTrinsic

RE: Looks good - but... Bluetooth? Screen! Battery?
frauen1 @ 6/18/2003 6:48:45 AM #
Saw one last night at the NYCDAUG meeting (the NY PDA User group - David Nagel from PalmSource and a rep from Handspring were there - the Handspring guy had the Treo 600 obviously). It doesn't have bluetooth, but it has SDIO support, and Handspring says that they and Palm are working on drivers for Palm's SD bluetooth card. Would be useful if they supported the profile for a bluetooth headset (Handspring said that was a goal but would not guarantee it - that's the kind of answer that you would expect).

BTW, the unit is very small and nice. The keyboard is a little small but is actually quite usable. I'm not sure about the location of the DPad to the top, but then again the current DPad on the bottom of the T|C and T|W isn't the easiest to use, and the one on the Treo 600 has a nicer feel to it.

Dissapointed like a frog

lechter @ 6/18/2003 2:31:06 AM #
How could they? Well what do you expect out of a company that decides to open Mexico with a smartphone while the US market is still .5% saturated with them.

Really I fear the only genius Handspring had was the Treo design of yesteryear.

160 x 160? How could they put a camera first? Handspring will soon be, thank God, just a memory.

RE: Dissapointed like a frog
UZI4U182 @ 6/18/2003 3:17:42 AM #
Although this new Treo looks a lot better than the old ones, it's still a pile of crap. The screen ruined it. I heard it still has the same screen as the Treo 270/300. Palm OS 5 deserves better than that.

UZI4U182@suscom.net
www.bigdumbpalmreviews.tk
Main PDA: Sony CLIÉ PEG-NX70v
WiFi setup coming soon...
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