PalmSource Day 1: Sony Prototype Pics
At PalmSource, the president of Sony's handheld division just gave a sneak peak of a prototype handheld his company is working on. He only showed it for a few seconds, but that was enough to see that it is a clamshell device with a built-in keyboard on one side and a screen on the other.
Aside from showing it off, Mr. Yoshida gave no details on the device, including price, availability, or whether it will run Palm OS 5 or 4.
Update: Sony has officially announced two versions of this handheld. Read more about them here.
This handheld's hinge can swivel, allowing it to take several shapes. Of course, it can close like a clamshell and open with the LCD on one side and the keyboard on the other. The swivel also allows the device to close with the keyboard on the inside but the LCD exposed, allowing it to to be used like current Palm OS devices.
Sorry this isn't a great picture. He showed this thing off for about 20 seconds and never held it very still. -Ed
UPDATE: I brightened and enhanced the contrast on Ed's original picture to show more detail. -Ryan
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link
users, if you click on the image to see it, remove the space from the url on your browser and try it again, you should be able to see it.
the space is before the image name.
RE: link
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News Editor
SWEET...the flip makes sense
looks like a yopy
http://www.gmate.com/english/overview.htm
is this the future?
RE: looks like a yopy
RE: looks like a yopy
RE: looks like a yopy
RE: looks like a yopy
Dave
www.davespda.com
RE: looks like a yopy
says who? you?
you should learn some manners, more if you are promoting your site.
RE: looks like a yopy
Dave
RE: looks like a yopy
I like how you crop out the "palminfocenter" and give no credit
RE: looks like a yopy
Mark
RE: looks like a yopy
Dave
RE: looks like a yopy
RE: looks like a yopy
;)
RE: looks like a yopy
It looks like it is designed so that it can be held in one hand. But hitting the small keys with the free hand doesn't seem very efficient. I suppose it could be held in both hands so that you can type with both thumbs, like the RIM, but the screen makes it look top heavy, so thumb-typing may not be feasible. If this thing is supposed to be put on a flat surface, then thumb-typing is out, so we are back to two fingered hunting & pecking, because the keyboard looks far too small for touch typing.
Can any of the eye-witnesses comment?
Looks like the new Q-pad keyboard/case from tdevice...
I'm not sure how usable either the Q-pad or this Sony prototype is...do you hold the keyboard with both hands and type with your thumbs like on a RIM device? If so, is the screen hinge rigid enough to keep it in place? Won't it feel awkward and unbalanced?
RE: Looks like the new Q-pad keyboard/case from tdevice...
Scott
RE: Looks like the new Q-pad keyboard/case from tdevice...
..don''t underestimate the japanese, their market
(electronic gadgets) is much much more demanding and competitive than this one, so expect a really cool pda..
In Tokyo's electronic district (Akibahara) I've seen AMAZING gadgets (cell phones, laptops, MDplayers, pdas..) from Sharp, Sanyo, Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic, etc) that they don't even bother to release in the States becouse "they're too advanced" i was told!
RE: Looks like the new Q-pad keyboard/case from tdevice...
cyrus
It HAD to happen!
Now the new sony is a mini laptop! WOW! I'm sure it will be packed with all the goodies we need & that sony proved to deliver. Can't wait to see the final product!
RE: It HAD to happen!
- MD
RE: It HAD to happen!
You need to check your history. PC = Personal computers. The ones you are refering to in this sentence are Mainframes computers used by large comporations.
<<<<<
The Personal Digital ASSISTANCE evolved from Data Organizers where people just stored Addresses and telephone numbers. Like Sharp Wizard series
<<<<<
I think the way we look at PC will change with time. Will our PDA's replaces it? That remains to be seen! For once, the screen will kill you (on the pda that is)
cool
since the screen is so slim and long ...... seems the supported resolution of palm OS 5 won't be only 160X160 or 320X320, or maybe Sony will just hack the **** out of Palm OS
RE: cool
Sony have agreed to use the high density screen manager.
Cheers
Russell
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russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk
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Diga ao Falante pelos Mortos
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The Killer PDA
very nice form factor and i could imagine that there's a bulit-in camera.
yup i agree that screen doesnt look like 320*320 at all.
way to go sony and make us happy.
regards,
SaxonMan
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may the holy palmostles be with you
RE: The Killer PDA
regards,
SaxonMan
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may the holy palmostles be with you
RE: screenshots?
Basically OS5 is just OS4 running on ARM chips - the 'big changes' will come in 'the next major OS release'. They're refusing to say what that will be (5.5, 6??) or give any sense of timescale for it.
Cheers
Russell
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russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk
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Diga ao Falante pelos Mortos
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RE: screenshots?
RE: screenshots?
RE: screenshots?
- Satoribomb
RE: screenshots?
Dave
RE: screenshots?
RE: screenshots?
1. assigning contacts to multiple categories.
2. adding more fields to contact data, ie. 2 addresses, 2 emails, etc.
3. using color effectively in the GUI which right now uses next to non.
these are just some of the problems and it seems clear non are addressed by OS 5. i use actionnames 5 but even that can't overcome some of the native problems with the structuring of the contact and scheduling facilities built into Palm. we are talking core PIM functions here NOT MP3s or video etc. also why we can't have a GUI that uses carefully themed shading of buttons, menus, hi-res icons, etc. ALL NATIVE is amazing. while i love the 16,000 apps for the Palm some things we deserve native after all these years. the reality... i love my Pilot 5000, PalmPilot Pro, Palm V, Palm IIIc, and now Palm m505... and yes I will buy the ARM 320x320 res Palm m505 replacement whenever it comes out but I am stunned that the much touted OS 5 will look and feel no different than the OS I had back on my Pilot 5000 and the same frustrating "easy fixes" to native apps will continue to burn me on basic PIM functions.
'nuff said.
RE: screenshots?
Cheers
Russell
RE: screenshots?
Thanks to Ed and all the others who are giving us the 'live' coverage.
Question: I read somewhere once that there is a US law which prohibits the export of certain encryption software. Does anyone know if the 128 bit encryption (mentioned in Ed's first report) complies with that law? Is there a lawyer in the house?
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It flips!
Cheers
Russell
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russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk
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Diga ao Falante pelos Mortos
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