Comments on: Sprint Begins Running a New Centro Commercial

Sprint is running a new television commercial for the Palm Centro. The commercial spot shows off the Centro in a variety of colors and actually shows a bit of what the device can do. This is certainly an improvement over the past campaign which emphasized "multitasking" on a device that runs a non-multitasking, single-threaded OS.

Also in contrast to the previous ad, the Centro itself is the main focus of attention and the promo does a good job of demonstrating a few of its features in quick succession. The ad goes on to refers to the device as the "smallest smartphone ever from Palm." The full clip can be seen after the break.

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Meh...

bhartman34 @ 5/8/2008 2:41:32 PM #

I suppose it's better than that stupid "drawing with light" commercial that they had for a while. They didn't exactly show off the device's capabilities, though. They could've shown a document in DocsToGo or a streaming video or radio station or something.

In defense of the other commercial...

bhtooefr @ 5/8/2008 3:35:35 PM #

It didn't imply that the DEVICE multitasked, it implied that it helped the OWNER multitask.

Even a 1996 Pilot 1000 can do that. ;)

Clié PEG-SJ22
Abacus AU5005 Wrist PDA (soon to be shuffle modded)

RE: In defense of the other commercial...

palmit @ 5/8/2008 3:40:50 PM #

I'm waiting for the VZW commercial...

RE: In defense of the other commercial...

Jorin @ 5/9/2008 12:35:46 AM #

Uuuuuhh, can someone help me out with the term "multitask"... Referring to the ability to listen to music while browsing the web, or taking a picture while on a call is what "multitasking" means to me.
How is this considered a "device that runs a non-multitasking, single-threaded OS"?

RE: In defense of the other commercial...

DarthRepublican @ 5/10/2008 9:13:57 PM #

"Multitasking" in nerd parlance refers to a computer's operating system and its ability to run multiple programs. In a "true multitasking" OS, the operating system is able to allocate processor time to different applications as it sees fit. In a non-multitasking OS, workarounds are required. For example for years Windows 9.x and older versions of the MacOS used a model called "cooperative multitasking" where the OS must constantly ask every running application to give up control of the processor - if one application refused to cede control, the entire OS could crash or the entire computer could lock up.

This is essentially where the PalmOS is at this point. It can't allocate processor time like a true multitasking OS and must depend on its applications to stay well-behaved. It is also why PalmOS devices can't do background tasks like download files from the web while you are on a call and why they frequently crash when trying to perform background tasks like download e-mail while you are running any application other than your e-mail program.

In a "multi-threaded" OS threads are tasks which a program can run at the same time. An MP3 player for example can create a "worker thread" which allows it to play music in the background even the MP3 player isn't running. Multi-threading also allows for web browser to operate more smoothly by making it easier to make multiple connections to a web server for downloading web pages and images. While PalmOS can create a worker thread which allows you to listen to music in the background while you are doing other things, because of a licensing agreement, it can't allow other applications to create threads and because of this, it is considered a single-threaded OS at a time when most modern OSes can create multiple threads.

Screw convergence
Palm III->Visor Deluxe->Visor Platinum->Visor Prism->Tungsten E->Palm LifeDrive->Palm TX
Visor Pro+VisorPhone->Treo 180g->Treo 270->Treo 600->Treo 680

RE: In defense of the other commercial...

bhtooefr @ 5/14/2008 9:19:52 PM #

And what they mean by multitasking is checking your e-mail while in a meeting, and such.

Clié PEG-SJ22
Abacus AU5005 Wrist PDA (soon to be shuffle modded)

RE: In defense of the other commercial...

hkklife @ 5/14/2008 10:37:45 PM #

And let's not forget FrankenGarnet's finest faux multi-tasking moment...VersaMail 4.0 can now download messages in the background. I cannot believe HOW well it actually works, to be honest. It's a big time-saver to be able to pull down a dozen messages while still browsing the web or reading an e-book or something.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: In defense of the other commercial...

bhtooefr @ 5/15/2008 9:51:51 AM #

I did find that FrankenGarnet wasn't too fond of me doing a file download, playing a stream in pTunes (backgrounded), and running IM+ (also backgrounded), though. :)

At least it only dropped the IM+ connections (which immediately reconnected,) and didn't require a reset.

(I finally got a Centro yesterday, so...)

Clié PEG-SJ22
Abacus AU5005 Wrist PDA (soon to be shuffle modded)
Palm Centro (Sprint, black)

iPOD knock off?

happyPalm @ 5/8/2008 6:57:57 PM #

its almost like the stupid iPOD ad.

RE: iPOD knock off?

palmit @ 5/8/2008 7:25:38 PM #

Do you mean iPhone ad?

RE: iPOD knock off?

bhartman34 @ 5/8/2008 8:37:34 PM #

Do you mean iPhone ad?

I think he's talking about the iPod Nano ad where the iPods are stacked on top of each other and being moved away while the video is playing on them...

Right?

RE: iPOD knock off?

SeldomVisitor @ 5/8/2008 8:44:40 PM #

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upkEg2Agmuc

RE: iPOD knock off?

palmit @ 5/9/2008 12:35:10 AM #

Ok, I got it.

Did you see that girl sing live on SNL? It was bad.

It's better than the old ad...

RLFox124 @ 5/9/2008 10:45:53 AM #

...but if they are trying to attract non-traditional PDA users then they need to make it a little cooler...and the Centro can be just as cool as any other device out there (sadly without wi-fi). If they strictly focus on its more mature abilities they are missing out on a huge portion of the buying market.

Show people having fun with it! Where are the people dancing while listening to their tunes or watching a video while stuck at the airport or in the car? How about the hundreds of games you can play on it?

Just seems like Sprint advertises it to adults (the 30+ crowd) and are missing the 15-30 age group that would love it also!

RE: It's better than the old ad...

DarthRepublican @ 5/10/2008 9:21:43 PM #

Sprint is going after "soccer moms" the same demographic that Palm courted with the Zire PDAs. As for young people, I've seen a lot of young people walking around with Centros, so I think that the low price and colors are doing the job of going after that crowd.

Screw convergence
Palm III->Visor Deluxe->Visor Platinum->Visor Prism->Tungsten E->Palm LifeDrive->Palm TX
Visor Pro+VisorPhone->Treo 180g->Treo 270->Treo 600->Treo 680
http://mind-grapes.blogspot.com/