Rumor: Upcoming New Treo Smartphone Details

Posted By: PIC Thursday, August 26, 2004 5:08:06 PM

Additional details and a new clear image of the possible next generation palmOne Treo smartphone have now been posted. The new image and details reveal a slightly smaller unit with a revised keyboard, a higher resolution screen and bluetooth connectivity.

The new photo comes from a discussion thread on TreoCentral. The picture and details are confirmed by a previous leak back in June. That presentation slide showed an image and possible specs for the next generation Treo model. The phone is rumored to be named the Treo 650 (codenamed Treo Ace).

According to current speculation, the next Treo will retain the same basic form factor and layout with a number of refinements and improvements, most notably a new high resolution 320x320 pixel 65k color TFT display and integrated Bluetooth. It will be powered by Palm OS 5.x, have 32MB of RAM and run on a 312 MHz ARM processor.

The upcoming smartphone will also have a new 1.3 Megapixel camera with digital zoom and video capture, new dedicated answer and disconnect phone buttons and a SD/MMC expansion slot with SD I/O. There will also be a number of software improvements including many web browser enhancements. Some other features include a removable battery, push to talk support and a new cradle/cable connector.

The previous source image lists the release timing as Fall 2004, but does not offer any other details on price or availability. You can click on any of the images for the full size view.

palmOne's CEO Todd Bradley has repeatedly mentioned that they are developing a family of smartphones due in the Fall.

 

Thanks to Guarav and Mike Knips for the tip.

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WAHOO!!!

gfunkmagic @ 8/26/2004 6:12:01 PM #
Hey Ryan, did you upload all 8 pics of the Ace yet? So far it supposedly will also have PTT, a removable battery, new connector (old accessories no longer compatible :( ), and mic on font!! Can't wait!!!

I support http://Tapland.com/

--------------------
GNM

RE: WAHOO v2.0!!!
LiveFaith @ 8/26/2004 11:26:16 PM #
Has anyone seen the so-called "Treo 800" with GPS that's out there too? Looks similar to Treo 650, but with larger hard buttons, no keyboard and that SCREEN! Saved the pic to my webspace. Knew nothing about this one!

http://churchoflivingfaith.com/images/treo800g.jpg

Built-in GPS receiver
320x480 screen (w/landscape)
324mhz processor & 64mb RAM
GSM/GPRS or CDMA, BT & 802.11g!!!
OS Garnet 5.5.1?
Dedicated phone buttons
No external antenna
No thumboard
$625-$675 retail?
Treo 800g for GPS?
Rumored release 2/29/05-4/1/05?

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: WAHOO!!!
jseasvuess2000 @ 8/27/2004 12:43:49 AM #
I want that NOW!!! Is this what the prez was talking about by this fall? Dates too late.

RE: WAHOO!!!
gfunkmagic @ 8/27/2004 2:46:45 AM #
Hehe... Livefaith, you always got some really cool looking mockups! ;) Btw, I posted your "Treo 480v" mockup a while ago on Treocentral and Brighthand, and everyone went bonkers! LOL! ;)

I support http://Tapland.com/

--------------------
GNM

RE: WAHOO!!!
LiveFaith @ 8/27/2004 10:27:40 AM #
gfunkmagic,

Ahhh, the 480v. I nearly forgot. We had to pull that one right before production b/c Sony & Sharp refused to supply the 160x240 screens. The 800g is a sure thing tho. Should hit right on the 29th!

:-)

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

Don't like the new keyboard

I.M Anonymous @ 8/26/2004 6:18:07 PM #
Having the number keys a different color on the 600 was a real plus, it's too bad they got rid of that (although it's nothing a good sharpie can't fix).

Now if they could only get Verizon to carry it without waiting two years...

RE: Don't like the new keyboard
sub_tex @ 8/27/2004 2:38:26 PM #
I hadn't noticed that before. I agree. Mistake on their part leaving it out.

RE: Don't like the new keyboard
sandbuck @ 8/27/2004 5:58:08 PM #
I've always wondered what goes on in the mind of someone that can "modify" a pristine new tech toy with a sharpie, pocket knife, or other brute utensil.

Orange UK clearing Treo600 stock out

IanJD @ 8/26/2004 6:52:18 PM #
Orange UK, the only UK provider carrying the Treo600, have today slashed their prices for the Treo600 to £50 with their cheapest plan (was £200) and free with a 120min per month plan (was £100). It has been out of stock at Orange recently, but I presume the price cuts are to clear the stocks, and heralds something new coming.

RE: Orange UK clearing Treo600 stock out
JonathanChoo @ 8/27/2004 4:40:24 AM #
This is long overdue...should have came out two months ago...but hei...better than nothing. Performance wise this should be better than HP h6xxx series which uses a Ti processor. The lack of WiFi is not an issue for me too - and I am sure that the recently released PalmOne WiFi card would work on this.

The issue is whether o2 will stock them. For now it seems highly unlikely.

However I have backtracked...at first I wanted to upgrade my mobile to a Treo but now decided against. I am going to keep my mobile and PDA separate for now.


--
Generic PDA > 5mx > Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > e310 > m550 > h2210 > T/T3 & h4150

StarTac > T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630 > K700i (nxt week)

Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????

GearHead @ 8/26/2004 8:43:42 PM #
Finally Plam came up with a good up to date product. But I think it's missing WiFi over HP's new ipaq. I wish processor was 624MHz. But anyways still good machine. Good Job! Please consider WiFi!


Free 802.11 No More Wires!!!
Support your local WAN!

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
LiveFaith @ 8/26/2004 8:59:26 PM #
Gearhead,

In all due respect, comparing the Treo to one of those HP brick-fones is like comparing a Ferrari Enzo to a Hummer. What good is 600mhz when you have to use a carry cart with wheels to haul it around like luggage through the airport.

This thing is stunning and simply works as every Treo reviewer on earth has already reported. Now with most of the gripes addressed. Yes, WiFi would be a + for those who want it, but a SDIO is probably on the way since the T3 & 72 versions are "out". BT is very useful for phones thanks to the BT headsets.

BTW, at 324mhz, I cannot imagine any Palm OS5 app that would not absolutely "blink" at you to get a task done.

Although, does this Treo look a little taller and "thicker" than the 600?

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
tooele @ 8/26/2004 9:30:58 PM #
I agree this new treo looks nice. They finally put a hi-res screen and bluetooth! I don't know of any program that you need a processor faster than 300 or 400 Mhz to use on a palm. I have a TT3 and I can listen to MP3's and play games using the whole screen and it's plenty fast. Also the treo is nice because it's small. Unlike PPC.

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
hkklife @ 8/26/2004 9:40:49 PM #
The PDA side specs of this device are about what I expected it to be---Zire 72ish. Let's hope for a better camera, though (unlikely).

However, the attention to detail and overall "polish" of this Treo (based on these shots, at least) is very much a pleasant surprise. NOW, guys, what if the "new" connector coming for this Treo is the UC replacement and will gradually be rolled out to the rest of the Tungsten line...standardize Tungstens & Treos (the most expensive PalmOne models, generally) on one connector and leave mini-usb for the bottom-feeder Zires. I really hope we have some sort of a connector standard coming up that PalmOne will at least halfheartedly stick to for a few years. I like the self-portrait mirror, removable battery, new keyboard layout & backlight and dedicated green/red phone call buttons the best, btw. All very nice touches!

Possilble EDGE/1xEvDo
gfunkmagic @ 8/26/2004 10:09:43 PM #
FYI, it's still uncertain right now if the Ace/650 will have EGDE or 1xEvDo wireless radios. If true, then I think most people will be happy to think of lack of integrated wifi as a footnote... :)

Right now the following specs look pretty good imo!

312 Mhz Proc
320x320 rez screen
BT
1.3 MP cam
PTT!!!
(possible 1xEvDo/EDGE??)

I support http://Tapland.com/

--------------------
GNM

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
dsm363 @ 8/26/2004 11:47:50 PM #
WiFi would have been nice but I agree, I think it's a great product anyway and that WiFi really isn't needed in this phone. Especially if you get the unlimited data plan. WiFi would probably take too big of a hit on the battery anyway.
The thing I wish would change is the amount of RAM. 32MB for this phone works ok but should have been upgraded. It can't be due to cost. Is there some technical reason why PalmOne won't go above 32MB?
Anyway, awesome phone. I'm going to have to trade my Treo 600 in to get this one.

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
gfunkmagic @ 8/27/2004 12:34:29 AM #
>>>>The thing I wish would change is the amount of RAM. 32MB for this phone works ok but should have been upgraded. It can't be due to cost. Is there some technical reason why PalmOne won't go above 32MB?
an

It's rumored that PalmOne is using 64 MB M-Systems based Nand Flash for the Ace. 32 MB would be for ram and another 32 MB for automatic backup file store similar to the way the Clie UX series handles ram. Thus, in case of power failure you would not loose your data which would automatically be backed up to the file store. This would also make sense since the Ace will supposedly have a replaceable battery. IMO, this would be a very smart move since it's a very bad idea to have a phone loose all its data every time you run out of power or change the battery! ;)

I support http://Tapland.com/

--------------------
GNM

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
Winter_ @ 8/27/2004 4:27:02 AM #
it's a very bad idea to have a phone loose all its data every time you run out of power or change the battery!

Indeed so!!! It's so disgusting on the m125 and the T3. This has caused months of dust-gathering for my girlfriends' m125 after some particularly abject data losses - the last one when the Palm crashed while BackupBuddyVFS was doing the routine night backup. Next morning batteries were dead, memory was empty... and the backup wasn't current. Sooooo desperately nice.

(about a week before that, I had just managed to convince her to try again the m125; I told her that this time BackupBuddyVFS' automated backups would save her data whatever happened... now she's once again -and for the foreseable future- using a non-volatile paper notebook, thanks)

I've heard that Clie's have some backup battery... if only for that they would have merited a better fate than PalmOne.
I guess they simply bet on the wrong OS.



RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
Marshall Flinkman @ 8/27/2004 2:44:36 PM #
It always cracks me up to see someone say "loose" instead of "lose"... here I had the image of the Treo falling over and all these bits of data (pun intended) falling out like someone knocked over a box of Rice Krispies...

I want this Treo, just without a camera! Although I do miss, looking at the pictures, the alternate coloring creating that "mini-number pad"...

Camera?
hotpaw4 @ 8/27/2004 3:48:15 PM #
And what's with the camera? There are lots of companies practically next door to PalmOne where anything with a camera is strictly verbotten.

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
just_little_me @ 8/27/2004 6:40:05 PM #
They *did* release a camera-less version of the 600 you know...?


JLM.

RE: Excellent! Finally Bluetooth! Missing WiFi??????
Marshall Flinkman @ 8/28/2004 1:35:36 PM #
Not all carriers released a cameraless 600--just Sprint and maybe Verizon. No GSM cameraless 600... so far, at any rate.

FAKE!!

just_little_me @ 8/26/2004 10:18:01 PM #
Look at the Treo logo in: http://www.palminfocenter.com/ss.asp?f=rumored_Treo_Ace_f2_L.jpg

It's messed up in that shot - but not the others... someone didn't check their Photoshop'ing work carefully enough... :-)


JLM.

RE: FAKE!!
NumLock @ 8/26/2004 10:26:29 PM #
thats just the glare/camera angle. Like the current treo 600 this probably has the same logo casting under the screen.
RE: FAKE!!
LiveFaith @ 8/26/2004 10:30:00 PM #
It's real. Hear me now and believe me later.

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: FAKE!!
just_little_me @ 8/26/2004 10:38:33 PM #
I want to believe - but tha tlooks really messed up. Open it in your fav editor and zoom in...

I hope I'm wrong!

JLM.

People never learn...
alee @ 8/26/2004 11:12:12 PM #
Everytime a Palm photo has been "leaked", it has been real and accurate. Scroll back through the many years of PIC and you'll see this is true. Inevitably someone always says it's a fake.

To come up with a Photoshop job of this caliber would require an incredible amount of effort for a cheap thrill/hoax.

There's no doubt this is the real deal. The only question is when can I buy it? :)

RE: FAKE!!
LiveFaith @ 8/26/2004 11:47:32 PM #
Don't trust too much there. :-)

http://churchoflivingfaith.com/images/treo800g.jpg

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: FAKE!!
alee @ 8/27/2004 1:20:31 AM #
LOL, making product hybrids is much easier. The 650 pics have real reflections that are extremely hard to fake. :)

Great.....

treo007 @ 8/27/2004 12:19:21 AM #
I just picked up a 600 at my T-mobile store...TODAY! Great timing...

RE: Great.....
LiveFaith @ 8/27/2004 12:26:01 AM #
Can you say "14 day refund"? Is that legitimate?

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Great.....
treo007 @ 8/27/2004 1:47:11 AM #
Trust me, I know...I've returned so many phones (3) over the last 28 days, they've start laughing when I walk in the door (can't blame them by now).

Problem is that I'm really liking this Treo so far. Don't know that I want to give it up for something that may be delayed and/or exorbantly overpriced for the moment (it took T-Mobile forever to get the 600, I'm going to have to pay through the nose to get an unlocked Ace/650).

RE: Great.....
jseasvuess2000 @ 8/27/2004 10:08:53 AM #
No telling when T-mobile will give the go ahead on this fone. Could take months.

These shots are great but ...

Token User @ 8/27/2004 12:42:39 AM #
... where is the FCC leak of the tech specs and manuals?

~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~
RE: These shots are great but ...
edeab220 @ 8/27/2004 12:58:37 AM #
We'll see it the day after it comes out :-p. Recently palmOne has been good at telling the FCC not to make the product's documents public until a day after release.

----------
Technology Reporter at www.dailygadget.com

Compatibility?

heavyduty @ 8/27/2004 4:55:05 AM #
Could anyone tell me if the Treo 100% compatible with "normal" Palm apps (i.e. apps not developed with the Treo in mind)?

I have the T|E, loaded with apps, and it would be a great advantage if I could run all my apps on the Treo.


RE: Compatibility?
JonathanChoo @ 8/27/2004 5:04:42 AM #
90% of all PalmOS apps developed for OS5 should work on this Treo.

--
Generic PDA > 5mx > Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > e310 > m550 > h2210 > T/T3 & h4150

StarTac > T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630 > K700i (nxt week)

RE: Compatibility?
GearHead @ 8/27/2004 10:42:45 AM #
I think there is no problem there. I had a Treo 600 with Sprint PCS, I was able to run all my goodies I had with my Tungsten T. So I don't think you'll run into problems with that.

Good Luck!

Free 802.11 No More Wires!!!
Support your local WAN!

RE: Compatibility?
LiveFaith @ 8/27/2004 12:03:32 PM #
Not a Treoite, but I'm of the understanding that some of the OS5 apps have had trouble with 160x160. The new screen being more in line should theoretically maek things even more compatible. No?

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Compatibility?
hkklife @ 8/27/2004 12:10:43 PM #
I think that since the arrival of the Zire 31 and Treo 600, most of the OS5 apps updated in the past 6 months or so have added support for these devices.

I do know that some of the earlier high-res-only OS5 titles do have problems on the Z31 and Treo 600. A lot of devlopers, with the increasing popularity of the Treo, have gone back and made "downsized" skins or updates for their apps/games just to accomodate the Treo users, Aerodrome Software being just one of several.

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