Quickies: Treo 610, Engadget, SplashID & More

An old app is being revised and the developer is seeking feedback, Ben Combee has taken a new position at PalmSource, SplashID has been updated, and we try to put an end to the false rumors regarding the supposed Treo 610. This and more in todays quickies update.

New Mass Transit...
After years of neglect, the popular old palm os app, Mass Transit is being actively developed again. Mass Transit has been a quiet success, used by many, and is the only program available that does what it can do, such as beaming multiple records and other batch operations. The developer is seeking feedback on new features and application support.

Engadget
Peter Rojas, the former creative force behind Gizmodo, has left the former to start a new gadgets blog called Engadget. The site features frequent updates from all spectrums of the tech enthusiast word. Pete is an avid Treo 600 user and we wish him the best with his new venture!

SplashID 3
SplashData has released SplashID 3.0, a program that securely maintains personal identification information on a Palm Powered handheld and desktop computer, offers a host of new features aimed at simplifying the security of data and enables users to customize the program to suit their particular preferences. New features allow for multiple categories, auto-generation of passwords and encrypted backups. Mac and Windows versions are available, the full version is $29.95 USD, current users can upgrade for $10.

Sony Serial Data cables
PNTech announces Serial Data Cable support for 3 new Sony CLIEs – TH55, TJ37, TJ27. The cables will work with anything that uses a standard standard RS232 serial port.

Treo 610 Reports
Notice PIC has not covered the seemingly rampant rumors about the Treo 610? Why? Well we only publish rumors when the staff here, ourselves believe them to be credible or based on some fact. Truth is the Treo 600 is going to eventually be upgraded, but the current rumors about the 610 being released in March are totally bogus.

Free T3 from Ameritrade
Ameritrade is giving away a free Tungsten T3 when you open a new Individual (non-IRA) or Joint account with $10,000 or more before May 31, 2004. Details here.

Ben Combee heads to PalmSource
Popular PIC and Palm OS Developer personality Ben Combee has left his position at Metrowerks. Ben has now joined PalmSource as a senior Developer Technical Services engineer. Congrats and good luck to Ben!

Wanted: News Tips
Got a hot tip or story for the Palm OS community? Don't forget to send in any news tips to PIC via our contribution form.

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Congrats Ben!

RhinoSteve @ 3/4/2004 2:36:51 PM #
You don't hear many getting press like this for switching jobs in the Palm community. Just your move warrenting press like this is impressive.

To avoid the rumor mill running crazy, I think a statement on why Ben left Metrowerks for PalmSource is in order. You can easily read into this that Metrowerks is not ever going to do r10 of their Palm OS development enviroment.

The plain simple truth may be that Ben got a better package deal from PalmSource and the system engineers are an office walk away instead of lots of emails and conference calls. Plus, I have always had some attitude of Austin trying to be Silicon Valley and not itself. Welcome to the real thing Ben!

RE: Congrats Ben!
a3 @ 3/4/2004 2:51:00 PM #
Hey Ben, I just wish that you can continue to contribute in our threads. Other than that good luck in your new job.

____________________________________________________
Current fan of a 320x480 tablet shaped PDA with built in BT+Wifi for less than US$500
RE: Congrats Ben!
ptc @ 3/4/2004 5:08:15 PM #
Congrats Ben! I also hope you continue posting. Your thoughtful, informed posts really add a lot to PIC.
RE: Congrats Ben!
bcombee @ 3/4/2004 5:15:58 PM #
I can't talk about Metrowerk's future plans. Sorry.

As for my reasons, there were a lot. Mainly, I wanted to focus on the developer support aspects of my job, and moving to PalmSource gives me a great platform to do this full time and to have access to a lot more resources.

For the record, I'm actually staying in Austin; I'm in constant communication with PalmSource HQ in Sunnyvale, and I'm also working closely with the other PalmSource engineers who are here in Austin.

I will still post, although I may not be able to say as much about some things due to having inside information. I'm also continuing my development blog -- the link is in my signature.


--
Ben Combee
http://combee.palmos.com - PDA programmer weblog

RE: Congrats Ben!
HiWire @ 3/4/2004 11:04:27 PM #
Congratulations. I hope that more people of Ben's skill and dedication contribute to the Palm economy.

PDA's are NOT dead!

Palm m505 User

treo 610

beardsm87 @ 3/4/2004 2:55:22 PM #
(first comment ever made on PIC!) I heard something about how it's still way too soon for any upgrade to the treo 600 seeing as it's still selling like hotcakes... and besides, it only just got some more carriers for the service. Only when the Treo600 hits product decline will they bring out the 610, which is rumoured to have 360x360 screen + bluetooth...bring it ON!!!
RE: treo 610
KRamsauer @ 3/4/2004 4:36:37 PM #
Actually it is rumored to have 320x320.

RE: treo 610
Token User @ 3/4/2004 4:49:05 PM #
.... an in reality it will be more like 340x320 to cater for the "extra" line of cellphone specific details.

But all the same - woo hoo.

~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~

RE: treo 610
Token User @ 3/4/2004 5:17:45 PM #
(make that 320x340 - but if Garnet and Cobalt have their way, it could be anything they choose tho throw in there 8^)

~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~
RE: treo 610
JonathanChoo @ 3/5/2004 9:38:39 AM #
Not too late. The S-Ericsson T610 is still selling like hot cake (despite debuting in June) but S-E has updated it in December (T630). Those two are very similar but the T630 has an improved screen and slightly higher price.

I believe PalmOne should release an updated Treo600 atleast before June. Yes its selling well now, but the technology in the 600 is outdated. When I go to Orange UK, I see the Treo 600 next to a SPV E200 or a P900 (these three being the major smartphones minus Nokia's Symbian phones on sale at Orange), the Treo600 has the worst display and the worst built quality. I like the P900's (as a hardware) the best but it was running SymbianOS which is just not mature enough. I had enough headache trying to get a borrowed P800 working.

Anyway PalmOne should follow the major mobile phone manufacturers and release different Treo lines with different prices and target group. A Treo line for business and another line for consumers.

---
PDAs: Psion 5> Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > Toshiba e310 > T/T > HP h2210 > T/T3
Mobiles: StarTac > Ericsson T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630
DigiCam: Minolta DiMage E323

RE: treo 610
beardsm87 @ 3/5/2004 2:21:00 PM #
sorry bout the 360x360...my heads still going in circles ;)
RE: treo 610
Bunjay @ 3/11/2004 12:06:55 PM #
Oh just came across this about Treo 610...
How I really wish it's true since the Treo 600 is still not in Hong Kong... What's taking them so long?

http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=1941
http://www2.shopping.com/xGS-treo_610~FN-PDAs~NS-1~CR-1~DW-0

Please don't wake me - allow me to dream on.

RE: treo 610
beardsm87 @ 3/12/2004 7:03:28 AM #
>>How I really wish it's true since the Treo 600 is still not in Hong Kong... What's taking them so long? <<
this is surprising as hong kong is supposed to be really advanced...I think maybe it's becuase there isn't a market for this particular smartphone, seeing as everyone allready has really hi-tec stuff with wi-fi, which this smarphone just doesn't have. Don't quote me on this though...it's just an assumption.

Mass Transit

;-) @ 3/6/2004 1:36:32 PM #
It was a shame to see this app abandoned.

Mass Transit and BeamPro were a good mass beaming combo.

http://www.ecamm.com/palm/beampro/


It's just too big.

Ameritrade huh?

zire71man @ 3/8/2004 11:23:10 AM #
Hey All,

Don't know much about ameritrade. But I see that you need to have the money in an account for 6 months and wait 4 to 6 weeks for the t3 to come. What do others think?

Cheers :-P

Used to be visoredgeman then visorprismman, now zire71man!

RE: Ameritrade huh?
msa220 @ 3/16/2004 2:16:28 PM #
I signed up on March 5th and the T3 just came today. Of course, the S&P is off 4%+ since the 5th and my account is already down more than the T3 is worth, but it's no fault of Ameritrade.

Treo 610 Reports

hub @ 5/23/2004 4:32:33 PM #
In spite of the fact that you say that the rumors about the Treo 610 are bogus, I was told by a tecnician at Sprint, about two weeks ago, that he was told during a recent official company bi-weekly conference call that Sprint would be offering the Treo 610 by the end of June 2004.

RE: Treo 610 Reports
Admin @ 5/23/2004 6:23:23 PM #
yes, notice I mentioned specifically the rumor that it was going to be released in March. Surprise, it turned out correct... if any credible rumors come through they will be posted here first.

-Ryan

RE: Treo 610 Reports
jcrompton @ 6/8/2004 10:36:39 PM #
I have been fairly diligent about getting to the bottom of all of this - my data specialist at Verizon assures me that Verizon will not be coming out with the Treo 610 (apparently they are testing thier version of a 600). Sprint will not say for sure but they did say they there would be a high levell announcement.
However, in keeping with the fact that CDMA networks have been sparce with Bluetooth technology I would rule out T-Mobile as the US carrier to announce this phone if in fact it really exists.
The contact at Verizon did say that he had heard that another carrier besides Verizon was about to announce the phone however.
PalmOne cust support said that they would not be able to relaease any info until the release date however we should expect some "new" equipment releases in Aug or Sept.

Anyone else have any new info?

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