Comments on: Rumor: palmOne "Life Drive" High End Handheld

An anonymous source has provided new info regarding a circulating rumor about a upcoming high end handheld from palmOne. Dubbed "Life Drive", the unit is a speculated to feature dual wireless and a built in hard drive.
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I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth

a_nonamiss @ 3/28/2005 2:30:34 PM # Q
So we finally get our dual wireless, as well as a 4GB internal HDD. (which is a phenomenal feature not found in any handheld devices that I know of)

Great specs, but it sounds like this thing will be as big as a cinder block.

Let's hope only part of the rumor is true. :)

Arthur

Palm Pilot 1000 > Palm Pilot Professional > Palm III > Palm M100 > Sony Clié PEG-T415 > Palm T|T3

Two Tungsten T5 thick
potter @ 3/28/2005 3:26:07 PM # Q
> ... is said to be as thick as two Tungsten T5's.
Ouch, that seams awfully thick. Now, I have had two Tungsten T's in one pocket before, both in hard cases, so this does seam to be a possible size, but not very practical.

Now, it could be that early prototypes were this thick, but the actual device will be more in line with typical PDA sizes.

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
istara @ 3/28/2005 3:44:53 PM # Q
Those specs are exactly what my source said. The source kept mentioning how "bulky" it would be by comparison to the T5.
RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
AdamaDBrown @ 3/28/2005 3:51:15 PM # Q
Actually, a 4 GB microdrive is built into the Sharp Zaurus C3000, and PocketPCs have had access to removable microdrives via CompactFlash for years.

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
mikecane @ 3/28/2005 3:55:42 PM # Q
At what price? $500? $600?

No mention of the screen, either. If it's to replace the TC -- another SSS (Small Square Screen)?

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
ackmondual @ 3/28/2005 5:07:45 PM # Q
most likely. $450 - $750. Unfortunately it seems this is one of those cases where "the cost of the whole is more than the sum of its parts put together" deal.
RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
LiveFaith @ 3/28/2005 6:14:17 PM # Q
Screen will be landscape HVGA

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
Original Ipod Size?
Gekko @ 3/28/2005 6:44:31 PM # Q

Is that 2x T5?

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
svrontis @ 3/28/2005 7:17:53 PM # Q
Great, just what the world needs - another multimedia brick with 2 too many radios.

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
AdamaDBrown @ 3/28/2005 7:33:16 PM # Q
svrontis, has it ever occurred to you that other people might have other needs? You seem hell bent on insisting that since YOU don't want any kind of communication capabilities, then nobody else could possibly need or want them either.

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
svrontis @ 3/28/2005 10:23:05 PM # Q
Thanks for your comment.

Yes, it has occurred to me that others may need sophisticated communication capabilities. In fact, there seem to be daily complaints about p1's efforts in this department.

That's my point. All those tedious complaints seem to proceed on the basis that everyone wants WiFi/etc and that a palmpilot without such features is next to useless.

I don't agree. Speaking for myself, such gadgets have no utility in day-to-day life (although they may be fun to play with for a while) and I don't see why I should pay for something which likely I will never use. I don't think I am on my own here - some of the best selling units in recent years have no wireless communication facilities at all (excluding IR, that is) - take the TE for instance.

If p1 is sensible, they will continue to offer a range of palmpilots - some with elaborate wireless facilities; some without.

To repeat, I do appreciate that some users (at least those how post regularly on PIC) demand WiFi, but it's not for everyone.

There is marketing angle to consider too. The palmpilot market is pretty crowded. The challenge faced by p1 is to demonstrate to prospective customers how their products are better and cheaper than all the rest. Adopting a policy of merely adding features which others have is probably not the best approach when it comes to product differentiation - 'me too' does not mean 'I'm better' (as Sony's failure demonstrates).

Different strokes for different folks...
Masamune @ 3/29/2005 7:14:13 AM # Q
svrontis - PalmOne does do quite a wide range of handhelds without wireless communications - the majority of the Zire range, the Tungsten E.....but as yet has only ever produced one Wifi device. I just think people are enthusatic to see how PalmOne produces a dual wireless device.

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
svrontis @ 3/29/2005 8:48:21 AM # Q
OK, OK, you guys win - I apologize for boring you all with my unfashionable opinions.

RE: I'll try not to look a gift horse in the mouth
moofie @ 3/29/2005 1:19:05 PM # Q
Wow, Avrontis, nice straw man. Way to play the martyr card. You're really adding a lot to the discussion! I appreciate your contribution.

If you can't handle people who disagree with you, I suggest you unplug your Internet connection, and invest in a nice close-fitting hood that covers your eyes and blocks your ears.

You might even find that you like it.

Reply to this comment

Too good to be true

Frenchie @ 3/28/2005 2:31:29 PM # Q
Lifedrive? Kind of sounds like an AA meeting topic to me. The specs sound too good to be true. This i will have to dub a false rumor. Comon guys this is PalmOne :p

The world will end in 2006. Just as it was predicted in the bible along with the release of Microsoft Longhorn.... :p
RE: Too good to be true
UZI4U182 @ 3/28/2005 8:47:48 PM # Q
Hehe...don't life-drink and drive!

UZI4U182@suscom.net
Main PDA: NX70v + WL100
http://clieflash.shorturl.com
RE: Too good to be true
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:51:29 AM # Q
MADLD = Mothers Against Drunk Life Drivers.

Come on! I couldn't resist!

Reply to this comment

Will almost certainly use Cobalt

Rome @ 3/28/2005 3:02:03 PM # Q
Given its specs, I am almost 100% certain that this device will run the Cobalt OS.

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
voice of chaos @ 3/28/2005 3:57:09 PM # Q
I doubt Cobalt on this device. palmOne has shown reluctance to go to the new OS, mostly due to a combination of the higher licensing fees and increased support costs (now they have to support OS 5 and Cobalt).

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
twizza @ 3/28/2005 8:16:20 PM # Q
I agree that Cobalt would be on this device. It only makes sense. Call it lifedrive and it at least needs to work for you without being patched together. Dual wireless, heck single wireless outside of IR, is patchwork on Garnet. Doing it here makes Cobalt the obvious choice.

That said, if this were to come out with Garnet, palmOne will get a stern talking to from my mommy.

antoinerjwright.com

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
Gekko @ 3/28/2005 9:54:25 PM # Q

Cobalt is Nagel's other bastard child that nobody wants (Copland being the other one).



RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
Tamog @ 3/29/2005 8:21:49 AM # Q
Hi,
I think that Cobalt will be needed for FAT32 support....
Best regards
Tam Hanna

Find out more about the Palm OS in my blog:
http://tamspalm.blogspot.com
RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:34:21 AM # Q
That's *if* it has a hard drive. I still say FRAM.

1) Can you imagine the HD support nightmares?

2) Do you want to have to wait for someone to come out with a POS version of, say, ScanDisk? Or Norton Utilities?

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
Masamune @ 3/29/2005 10:47:35 AM # Q
It's possible ot will have Cobalt for my my money, I don't think it will. I believe PalmOne is saving Cobalt for a new range of business devices, whereas this LifeDrive will be a one-off. That said, it does make a good case for Cobalt if the device is just a one off because if it fails, then at least it won't be much money down the pan.

Why, though, would you put Wifi and Bluetooth on a Media player though?


RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 11:28:18 AM # Q
Why put WiFi in it?!

Why put WiFi in the PSP?

In fact, there's a GREAT reason for a media player to have WiFi: **P2P**! LimeWire, for example, is written in Java! Get it up on PalmOS, boys! Me want my new Doctor Who episodes!!!

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
archie@PIC @ 3/29/2005 11:48:14 AM # Q
It would use Cobalt! It has to use Cobalt! It would easy to use Cobalt!

For this device there is practically no tailoring of the OS involved (unlike the Palm OS for a smartphone, WHICH PalmSource has continually ignored). It should be pretty easy to incorporate.

And it will give the Treo users Wi-Fi like Palm has promised at Roadshows. To bad it isn't built in like every Treo user seems to want. But this way is better, right? Because now Treo users get to fork over another five-hu... I mean now they get 2 cool devices to carr... wait, no, I mean now they get wi-fi.

It would be quite useful. And I strongly suspect that Cobalt will be used to enable simultaneous use of Bluetooth 1.2 WITH wi-fi. Wi-fi access broadcast to your Bluetooth Treo, Tungsten or Zire (or, I suppose you could probably plug it in directly to the Treo too, if you wanted to bother digging the Life Drive out of your briefcase or pocket). Yippee! And wait, that's right. Remember how the new connector can pipe enough power to run and slowly trickle charge the Treo and the T5. Well that will come in handy with the iLife Drive and its huge battery, giving you an extra bit of "life" for your Treo once the battery charge has run down.


Anyway, it does seem odd that they will be expecting Treo users to purchase a second Palm device to carry around.

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
I.M Anonymous @ 3/29/2005 12:49:23 PM # Q
"That's *if* it has a hard drive. I still say FRAM.
1) Can you imagine the HD support nightmares?
2) Do you want to have to wait for someone to come out with a POS version of, say, ScanDisk? Or Norton Utilities?"

Your're right. I run ScanDisk and Norton Utilities on my 40GB iPod all the time.

/sarcasm

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 1:38:57 PM # Q
Hahahaha. Thanks for the correction. But tell me, does the iPod HD use FAT? I'm ignorant on that point -- and admit it!

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
LarryGarfield @ 3/29/2005 6:22:10 PM # Q
The iPod Mac version uses HFS. If you set it up on a Windows box, it gets converted to FAT32 since Windows can't read HFS.

You need to convert it to FAT32 for use under Linux as well.

--
This post is ROT26 encrypted. Reading it is a violation of the DMCA

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
cbowers @ 3/29/2005 10:48:49 PM # Q
"I think that Cobalt will be needed for FAT32 support"

Nah, I had it on my HandEra 330 eons ago.

"Your're right. I run ScanDisk and Norton Utilities on my 40GB iPod all the time."
1. That wouldn't happen to be an HFS+ formatted ipod though would it?
2. Unlike PalmOS devices thus far, your ipod actually does have a disk check/repair app built into it.

As it is, it's a bit of a pain when my SD card goes south. No disk util on the Palm. fsck_msdos isn't fully complete in 10.3 on the Mac, so that's no dice. And Linux only sees the CF slot on my multi-slot card reader. So I have to dual-boot it into win98 just to run sandisk, which is about all I keep the '98 partition on there for. All told it's easier to just keep regular backups of the card to an SMB share on either the Linux of Mac boxes. Then when the SD card goes south, I just format it and copy the content back over WiFi (Tungsten C and SMBMate).

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
jkirvin @ 3/30/2005 12:58:21 AM # Q
It'll have a hard drive, which will be just as reliable as those in the iPod.

It'll have a non-removable battery, too, just like the iPod.

RE: Will almost certainly use Cobalt
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 9:51:06 AM # Q
Given the pictures leaked below, I concede on the FRAM issue. It's a hard drive. Not complaining!

How sad. Larry Garfield is the only hard hitting journalist
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 4/3/2005 5:05:18 PM # Q
I can't believe that twinkie Larry/Laura Garfield is the only pundit around that has the brains and the cojones to ask Palm "hard hitting" questions. I recently listened to the PalmLinux press conference call/debacle and Larry was the only one that seemed to know what the he11 he was talking about. In fact, he was the only one that seemed interested in asking Palm any questions at all! Ridiculous.

I thought he was a pipsqueek back when we were both using TRGpros and HandEra's, but I gotta hand it to him: he's one of the only people writing about Palms now that has the guts to tell it like it is.

It would be nice to see Larry get a regular monthly column here at PIC to keep us updated on what's going on in the PalmOS world from his perspective. Congratulations on becoming a he11 of a Palm journalist, Larry.

TVoR





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

Reply to this comment

not interesting actually

oneself @ 3/28/2005 3:21:12 PM # Q
too good specs? ha. 4 gigs in double T5? go here - http://archos.com

100Gb in double T5 size is being sold for 3 months in shop near my office. Linux and WiFi there already. It records TV and playes Divx for 5 hours on one charge. It has organizers and office docs working.

Samsung had working 95g phone on Cebit, with 2Gb HDD.

So this Life Drive could only be interesting, if it's less than 180g weight. or it is dead before release.

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/28/2005 3:53:18 PM # Q
Amen on the Archos!

I think the Archos uses the same HWR the Zaurus used. If this is so, it offers one thing this "LifeDrive" cannot -- CLASSIC GRAFFITI (not by default; you have to modify the built-in characters).

RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/28/2005 4:04:32 PM # Q
"Tweaked" Graffiti is still the work of the devil. Why should I have to tediously recalibrate everything to mimic G1 when a simple Xerox-approved plugin could return things to <2002 status easy as a quick download & install?

I was all set to start migrating from the T3 to this "LifeDrive" until I saw the thickness! Add a case to that thing and it IS a brick--right up there with the NR/NX series Sonys! Non-removable battery is the definite deal-breaker. Heck, I could have lived with a T|C formfactor with an elongated 320*480 screen that was a touch smaller in actual size than the T3/T5.

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/28/2005 4:21:06 PM # Q
I'm with you on the Xerox-licensed ClassicG pay-for-use download!!

I am very skeptical about this having an HD in it. We recently had those headlines here at PIC about the multi-GB FRAM chips. I suspect it'll actually have that. The thickness is most likely due to a *battery*, *not* an HD.

Hey, if you could watch a full ripped DVD on a transatlantic flight and *still not have to recharge upon landing*, would you think that thickness was worth it?

*&^%##@ I gotta start saving pennies Just In Case...

HEY! SOMEONE START A PETITION TO XEROX, DAMMIT!

RE: not interesting actually
cbowers @ 3/28/2005 5:44:42 PM # Q
It would have to have one honking large battery to justify it.
Dell and HP models already have dual wireless with an empty slot just waiting for your choice of Multi-GB drives, and yet already get longer battery life (with larger batteries) in a smaller package than my Tungsten C.

Anyway, not going to pass judgment until it's announced. The size won't surprise me though. PalmOne only manages small when it's comparatively under-spec'd.

RE: not interesting actually
Wollombi @ 3/28/2005 6:14:25 PM # Q
Why petition Xerox? They *lost* the lawsuit, and though they have sworn to appeal, it doesn't seem that they have or will. Unless someone can shed more precise light on this subject, the Xerox debate is essentially over.

Petition PalmOne/PalmSource.

_________________
Sean

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

RE: not interesting actually
AdamaDBrown @ 3/28/2005 6:39:11 PM # Q
4 gigs of flash memory still costs a couple of hundred dollars alone. Compared to $50 in bulk for 4 GB microdrives, and building in a huge battery to power it, which way do you think PalmOne would go?

PalmOS on Archos
quiklogin @ 3/28/2005 9:17:50 PM # Q
Hey, if that amazing Archos PMA400 uses Linux and PalmOS is moving to a Linux core, doesn't that mean you could conceivably install (a new) PalmOS on it?

woohoo!

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:19:07 AM # Q
We'll see whether it has FRAM or an HD. Or if it even EXISTS!

Why not petition Xerox?! p1 is still apparently shaking from that lawsuit! Else we would have gotten G1 at least as an option from *them*! (Come on, how hard is it to offer G1/G2 toggle? PPC offers several HWRs built-in!)

As for the Archos running Palmix -- I doubt that would happen with a simple OS swap. The Linux hounds would probably have to come up with some glue code. Of course, Archos could just go ahead and *license* Palmix... in my dreams!

RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/29/2005 9:54:32 AM # Q
It would be FAR easier to offer a G1/G2 toggle than to try and shoehorn Wi-Fi & BT into the patchwork that is OS 5.x! Come on, P1, if you cannot give us the cutting-edge features we desire at least give us things like nice hardware buttons, voice recorders, and the method of input we WANT.

I wasn't moaning & groaning too loudly when the Zire 71 & T|C came out in spring '03 with G2 because:

A. I figured someone would offer (either Palm or a 3rd party) a downloadable plug-in that overwrote the G2 libraries
B. I still had my T|T at the time

So not only have we continually been let down by P1 but by ALL of the third party software houses out there. It sickens me to see the Palm Apologists tell me "G2 isn't bad at all", "Tealscript is da bomb" and "Why bother appealing to Xerox? The case is over" SO...I am still awaiting the official PR from P1, an official announcement on the outcome and how pleased they are to have Graffiti Classic back into the fold or at least that they would rather ignore 1996-2002 entirely and leave their long-time users out to dry by EOLing G1 entirely.

For further ranting on this issue from my end, see my post under the news item from 2 days ago--"P1 Online Store Special Offers"



RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 10:12:22 AM # Q
You won't get any arguments from me.

Everylime L try G2, my senlences wlnd up looklng llke shll.

RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/29/2005 10:50:21 AM # Q
Are they scared of Xerox or is it just mass apathy for a fading platform? Maybe everyone does so little data entry on their PDAs that they effectively use them like REXs and cannot be bothered with G1/G2 differences!?

Mike (and the other PIC faithful), your thoughts as to why the weak-kneed, yellow-bellied P1 developer community seems SO willing to take on Nintendo & Sega's armies of lawyers with various emulators on POS yet no one will try to work out a legit, downloadable for $, licensed, plugin for G1?

Heck, even make it available for several different platforms or offer a cheap ($10) bare-bones, striaght up G1 repalcement, then a tweakable enhanced "G1+" that integrates the functionality of crossing over, jot (onscreen ink), tweakable characters (TealScript) etc etc. The amount of $ to be made from such a project might be only middling but the enormous amount of good press & customer loyalty garnered by the developer that does this properly could stand to be ENORMOUS!

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 11:30:42 AM # Q
You are fogetting The Microsoft Factor.

Why haven't we seen a POS version of Calligrapher? I asked them. They replied with the truth: The license MS has from them for Transcriber is EXCLUSIVE. They are FORBIDDEN to port to non-PPC (ie, non-WinCE) PDA platforms. (Now, if they can only weasel out of that by porting to *Linux*....)

You can bet your firstborn MS made the same deal with Xerox. We will NEVER see G1 again unless *p1* does it. Colligan: DELIGHT THE CUSTOMER again!!

RE: not interesting actually
Gekko @ 3/29/2005 11:34:45 AM # Q

MikeCon - don't blame MSFT for negotiating GOOD DEALS. Blame Nagel for his incompetence and lack of balls.

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 11:38:08 AM # Q
This isn't Nagel's fault. It goes from before Gold Suit Yankowski too -- to, was his name Kessler?! I was screaming from the fekkin beginning that Palm, Inc. should have licensed -- if not BOUGHT! -- Calligrapher. But noooo, they had all those eejit wet dreams about a Palace of Palm office building.

Maybe Nagel can cut a deal. But does Xerox *need* POS for *anything*? Copier OS?

I don't blame Gates. I blame the desperate and stupid companies for *accepting* his terms.

RE: not interesting actually
cbowers @ 3/29/2005 11:24:09 PM # Q
"doesn't that mean you could conceivably install (a new) PalmOS on it?"

Don't go letting the lack of a Hardware Abstraction Layer stop you or anything...

"A. I figured someone would offer (either Palm or a 3rd party) a downloadable plug-in that overwrote the G2 libraries "

They kind of did though. The instructions are everywhere, including PalmInfocenter. I've been using Graffiti 1 on my Tungsten C since day one.

What's unclear is from here forward. I gather you can't perform the same trick on the T5, and it's contemporaries.

RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/29/2005 11:42:07 PM # Q
cbowers, by "offer" I meant:

A. A paid-for-download plugin
B. That is not of dubious legality/morality
C. Supported by the publisher & professionally packaged/polished (ie not requiring Filez to install it).
D. Fully integrated into the various of POS OS 5.2 & above and not flaky acting with 480*320 landscape, writing onscreen etc.
E. (Ideally) compatible with Garmin, Zodiac, Clies etc & not just P1-branded Tungstens & Zires.

RE: not interesting actually
Gekko @ 3/29/2005 11:52:24 PM # Q
TealScript
Graffiti Reinvented and Replaced
Replace Graffiti 1 or Graffiti 2 with TealScript, the text recognition system you can customize. Unlike Graffiti or other systems, TealScript lets you make or change your own strokes for better speed and accuracy.

http://www.tealpoint.com/softscrp.htm



RE: not interesting actually
jkirvin @ 3/30/2005 1:00:42 AM # Q
Mike Cane sez...

"Everylime L try G2, my senlences wlnd up looklng llke shll."

If you learn to dot your I's, you'll be fine. Remedial penmanship? There's got to be a city center in NYC where you could take courses...

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 8:38:56 AM # Q
Just to let everyone know:

KIRVIN USES FITALY, *not* G2!

Tap *that*, Jeff! Ha!

RE: not interesting actually
jkirvin @ 3/30/2005 2:07:36 PM # Q
Actually, I use both. I use G2 for quick things or when Fitaly isn't practical, while when riding in a car.

RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 11:51:21 AM # Q
Gekko, I usually agree with your wit, wisdom and Darwinist attitudes. However, NOTHING irks me more than being told to:

A. Adopt to G2
B. Buy/try Tealscript. Tealscript is PURE RUBBISH. G2 is ALSO RUBBISH. TealScript's "imitation" of G1 is a joke and I spent HOURS UPON HOURS tweaking it last year. I am positive it hasn't gotten any better since I last tried it back in January. I certainly hope you pasted TealPoint's propaganda & link there as a joke to Mike Cane and myself.

It'd be like me telling you to buy a T5 because your T3 just died and you cannot find any new ones for sale anywhere.

FYI, I WILL go on record as being a Graffiti 1 apologist & fanatic. I REFUSE to change and will go to a mini keyboard before I will give in to G2 and its mind-numbing amount of strokes (ever tied to make a # in G2? BAHH!)

RE: not interesting actually
Gekko @ 3/31/2005 12:16:58 PM # Q

hkk - first and foremost, I'm a REALIST. Do I greatly prefer G1 over everything? YES. But the point is that we now have no option to use G1 post-T3. SOOOO being a realist, I have to use the next closest thing to G1 - and unfortunately, that leaves only TealScript. We can biitch and complain all we want, but G1 is gone whether we like it or not. YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE CARDS YOU'RE DEALT.



RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 1:57:36 PM # Q
Gekko, the point I've been trying to do with my tireless
b!tching and moaning since spring '03 (when the first units shipped with that miserable G2 pre-installed) has been for SOMEONE out there to hear and take a stand against G2 and P1's disdain for customer loyalty. There's gotta be some developer out there with more programming skills than you or I that could hack up some G1 libraries that will work reliably in 320*480 devices post-T3, in OS 5.2.8+ and under Cobalt.

I won't use TealScript because I refuse to support a company that is essentially within striking distance of the bullseye but refuses to just strip out all of the bullshiiit from their program and reduce it to a core set of AUTHENTIC G1 libraries and nothing more. The "legacy profile" available on their site is still a joke compared to the bliss I used to experience on my T|T.

OR some enterprising small company could try and license the G1 libraries from Xerox (because Graffiti, or the single-stroke character set that Xerox claims to own, is an IP that currently isn't earning them a PENNY of revenue right now and something is better than nothing to a company in Xerox's current position) and offer them for sale as a legit, legal, supported plug-in or download. I'd gladly pay $50 right now for such a beast. Developers, are you listening!?!

IMO, all of these fool's errands such as Gameboy emulation, wi-fi drivers on Treos, and CF storage drivers on Clies pale in comparison to the HUGELY pressing need to restore the input method that brought fame & glory to Palm Computing. From 1996-2002 it was the ONLY choice on the US, early Treos aside, and should not just be relegated to the landfill of tech history. Graffiti 1 deserves a 2nd lease on life not only for historical sake but simply because SCORES of users find it a better system!

RE: not interesting actually
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 2:09:42 PM # Q
Aaron Ardidi (or any other developer that reads this), can you please make a cameo posting here on PIC and advise those of us here that are clueless in such abstract matters on the feasibility of getting G1 (technical only, I am sure the legal aspect are an entirely separate Pandora's Box) onto newer P1 devices?

Some talking points:
Feasibility on OS5 vs. Cobalt devices? What is keeping the developer community from doing something--marketplace apathy, developer disinterest at an EOL'd method of input, legal threats from P1/Xerox (or both)?

You guys took on Psygnosis/Sony & Nintendo's armies of lawyers head to head. Surely Xerox cannot be any worse, can it?

RE: not interesting actually
mikecane @ 3/31/2005 5:26:14 PM # Q
>>>OR some enterprising small company could try and license the G1 libraries from Xerox (because Graffiti, or the single-stroke character set that Xerox claims to own, is an IP that currently isn't earning them a PENNY of revenue right now

Your zeal has affected your memory. Xerox *is* making money off it -- from each *PPC* sale. MS has a license -- and you can bet it's probably an exclusive (just like with Caligrapher/Transcriber). I wouldn't be surprised if some financial assistance came from MS in the suit against Palm. Maybe this is a job for Open Source? Let Xerox try to sue a global collection of devs in many countries...

RE: not interesting actually
svrontis @ 3/31/2005 6:31:38 PM # Q
CIC's Jot application used to come with an option of switching between 'classic' G1 and the 'new coke' G2. It's been getting bad reviews over at palmgear.com, so I haven't tried it. Has anyone any experience with using this on a post-T3 model?

Switching from G2 to G1 on newer PDAs
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/31/2005 11:11:46 PM # Q
Tealscript is PURE RUBBISH. G2 is ALSO RUBBISH. TealScript's "imitation" of G1 is a joke...

G2 is crap, and don't get me started about TealSh!!t, but remember: a lot of new PDA users just don't know any better or will adapt. The number of hardcore G1 fans that would be willing to pay for a G1 substitute is pretty small. This G1 hack will most likely be done as a labor of love by a 1337 person who will then "accidentally" let this "research" project slip into the wild, Liberty-style. The Treo community knows all about how to hack software restrictions to pieces. (shadowmite, EuroCLIE, Mol: take a bow.)

Don't waste your time appealing to |HaCkMe| - he's gone legit and is now far too soft to do the kind of hacking you're asking for. It can be done, though. If PIC (indirecly, of course!) was to allow users to "pledge" $$$ to a developer to hack G1, you might be pleasantly surprised...





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

RE: not interesting actually
E Ben G @ 4/1/2005 12:21:39 AM # Q
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

TealScript is great
tompi @ 4/3/2005 3:11:36 AM # Q
I think G1 sucked and G2 sucked even worse. I'm using TealScript, and it finally let me define an efficient alphabet for entering text into the Palm. It beats any of the other pen-based input methods on any platform in my opinion.

But even TealScript's G1 emulation seemed pretty good. If you don't like its version of G1, just create your own: it takes little more than about 100 strokes to tell it exactly how you write G1 letters.

Reply to this comment

Mini DV cam form factor?

JonAcheson @ 3/28/2005 5:30:22 PM # Q
As soon as I heard the rumored name, I thought of the flash-based mini dv cams, like the Creative DiVi CAM 3.

http://tinyurl.com/47mnv

This would be the stated thickness, but would still be a desirable form factor for a videocam/digicam/mp3/movie player gadget. It could also hold a big battery, which is going to be essential for this thing.

OTOH, if the thing is just a one inch thick PDA, forget it.

Jon Acheson

"All opinions posted are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled."

RE: Mini DV cam form factor?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:32:06 AM # Q
That thing only has 16MB of RAM?! It can't even even a commercial break from TV -- they're longer than its 277 second max capacity!

RE: Mini DV cam form factor?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 10:14:39 AM # Q
BAD HAND!! typo. even even = even *record*

What the hell was my hand thinking?

RE: Mini DV cam form factor?
Altema @ 3/29/2005 2:29:22 PM # Q
Maybe your hand was trying to type in G2?

Reply to this comment
RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:24:42 AM # Q
Whaaaat?

Are you telling me that's a sneak peek from our great Chinese spy kids?!

So, not only does p1 intend to offer the Video iPod that Apple has disdained -- but, yecch!, they are going to *color* it *white* like an iPod too?!

I can alread see the PPC weenies crowing: "p1's White Elephant!"

Authenticity?
Masamune @ 3/29/2005 10:57:50 AM # Q
The photo doesn't look photoshoped as with previous efforts. If I had to guess, I would say it was taken by a cameraphone of some description, although why a face shot wasn't done as well....

FrankenPalm
Gekko @ 3/29/2005 11:31:49 AM # Q

It looks like FrankenPalm. Hey - if it has plenty of **REGULAR** RAM (64 MB+) and a G1 Option and a 4GB HD and NO BUGS and SOLID Build - I'll buy one for $500! But I won't run out and be the first beta tester like I was with the T5.



RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 11:34:04 AM # Q
Camphone was my surmise as well. Maybe they *did* take a face shot -- but telltale reflections made it too risky to post.

Or knowing our Chinese spy kids friends, they are letting out some leash until the Time Is Right.

RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 11:35:54 AM # Q
FRAM, Gekko, FRAM. And you'll run the hell out to buy one anyway, just to try it for us. THIS time, put in some *detail*, willya? Go re-read my autopsy of the T5 and use that as a model. And hold onto it long enough for us to post questions, willya?

RE: photo with T5 ?
LiveFaith @ 3/29/2005 11:54:25 AM # Q
Isn't that a Casio PDA?

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: photo with T5 ?
twizza @ 3/29/2005 12:05:04 PM # Q
This pic has been photoshopped, to the extent that one cannot tell if you are look at a UX Clie next to the T5 or something totally new.

The dimensons seem to be a T5 in the palmOne alumnium case in terms of thickness, so it cannot be too bad. Just for those folks who will want to put a case on it ;)

Who cares...we will see...God and palmOne only knows...and Mike C. and Gekko will debate about it...one review will be late and good, the rest early and so-so..in the end a ton of people here will at least try it and find that it is not Palm-enough...at least that is what I think ;)
[that would make a great signature]

antoinerjwright.com

RE: photo with T5 ?
JKingGrim @ 3/29/2005 12:14:03 PM # Q
It doesn't look ipod white. It looks kinda T2 colored. And I dont think there is enough to say that its just a casio. Maybe just from that angle.

RE: photo with T5 ?
archie@PIC @ 3/29/2005 1:30:50 PM # Q
Here is a better one resembling that posterized thing.

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/2522853428563628.JPG

RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 1:41:23 PM # Q
Get outta town. Looks nothing like the actual picture. Has no curved indent at the bottom.

And no, the mention of the Casio in that post (and I looked at them all) was part of one of those stupid dick-swinging sigs people set up that list their PDA "genealogy."

RE: photo with T5 ?
archie@PIC @ 3/29/2005 1:58:14 PM # Q
I like how they made it look like a swimming pool.

RE: photo with T5 ?
archie@PIC @ 3/29/2005 1:59:10 PM # Q
...because it will probably be just as big.

RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 2:08:30 PM # Q
You just gave them their ad line: "DIVE into your life, with the new PalmOne LifeDrive!"

Come on, I don't think it'll be a brick. The original Casio E-125 (I think it was) -- now THERE was a brick! I'd expect a unit as fat as a TE *with its cover flap* added.

BTW, does anyone else here not like the LifeDrive name?

Naming Contest!

LD Command Bar vs T5?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 2:15:05 PM # Q
I just looked at that image carefully. Can someone with a T5 compare the icons on their Command Bar with the ones in that image? Did they add a new icon?

RE: photo with T5 ?
Altema @ 3/29/2005 2:19:08 PM # Q
LifeDrive name is kinda cool and unique. This one might make me retire my T3 if the specs and features are right.

RE: photo with T5 ?
JKingGrim @ 3/29/2005 2:28:49 PM # Q
Come on. Its a code name.

Nope no new buttons on the stat bar. Bluetooth button but no wifi. I hope its a fake. Its got to be. Please! NO MORE GARNET!

RE: photo with T5 ?
Altema @ 3/29/2005 2:32:48 PM # Q
"Can someone with a T5 compare the icons on their Command Bar with the ones in that image? Did they add a new icon?"

Same icon set as the T3. Don't know how it compares to the T5 set.

RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 2:44:27 PM # Q
Thanks for the comparison of the Command Bars. Seems to me they'd have to have one for WiFi -- unless a new Radio icon does double duty as a pop-up toggle?

Hmmmm.... Velde -- V = Video?

A ghastly name! Eejits kept calling the CLIE the "Klee." I can see them saying "Veal-Dee" or "Vel-Dee."

Of course Masamune had a good one with P1MP (Palm 1 Media Player). Nice ad taglines: "P1MP your media!" "P1MP it good!" "Get P1MPed." (Yeah, I know: Oh, beHAVE!)

RE: photo with T5 ?
twizza @ 3/29/2005 3:21:44 PM # Q
The bar on the T3 is exactly as the bar on the T5. No new icons present on this clearly faked pic.

Yes, its a fake. Even a professional in graphic design knows that black on the sunlight side of the device isnt the same intensity as black on the shade side [looking at the black rim around the screen in various points].

Screen shot is simulated and then pasted onto it.

Design is like a larger iPod. The connector could very well be the Athena, but looks a touch misshaped.

The left most buttons should not be tinted the same way, even with that mysterous white box over the image. Makes me think that this was photoshopped in a few ways. Yet, there is no image info on none of these pics that I have found online to indicate anything other than stock creation.

If the 5 way was bigger, then this would be a nice device. As it stands, there would be quite a few complainers about not being able to game nicely. Come to think of it, that sounds just like the T3 spy photo comments...makes ya think a bit dont it.

antoinerjwright.com

RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 4:32:36 PM # Q
What your analysis ignores is that the sides could be black because -- the sides are BLACK! I don't expect a website simulation (this could be ripped from a p1 site dir for all we know; hence that white box you *did* notice!) to look like a photo. Besides, how do we know that it won't come out in a few different colors, like the Creative Zen? Eh?

RE: photo with T5 ?
twizza @ 3/29/2005 4:40:04 PM # Q
Not just the sides of the device, but in artsy speak the areas that are exposed to light's angles are sides as well. The pics shows ok lighting on the bottom and side that are shown, but the black that is supposed to be where the simulated screen is is not correct, it is the same intensity as that of the most black area all the way around. Meaning this was a produced image, could be a real device, but a produced image.

And now that I think more abuot it, I could have sworn that this image came out not long before the T3 came out, if not soon after. Hey I coudl be wrong, but thats what happens when u rely on that photo memory.

antoinerjwright.com

RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 5:33:43 PM # Q
Nah, there was another image that came out. That unit was *very* sleek and somewhat reminded me of the Toshiba GENIO PPC. By comparison, this is very ho-hum.

Brighthand is reporting late April release/announce for *$500*. I don't think so. Just $100 above the T5? Could the T5 drop in price maybe? More likely this will go higher...

RE: photo with T5 ?
Gekko @ 3/29/2005 6:54:06 PM # Q

this FrankenPalmT2005 looks REAL.

http://www.brighthand.com/images/palmOne_LifeDrive_Ru_1_L.jpg

This graphic was ripped from P1's promotional materials/future product site - this is not a real picture - they don't use real pics for promotional materials anyway so that makes sense!

1. I hope the 32 MB is *REAL* RAM and Satan has giving up pushing NVFS.

2. As far as Graffiti 2, I can get by with Tealscript as a replacement for G1.

WIFI included too?

This would all be too good to be true. After the TERRIBLE T5, it's amazing that they can come up with this all of a sudden!

Hey - I give credit where credit is due - if this is real - congrats to P1 for gettung their shiit together! I might just buy this F**KER!!!!!!!!!!



RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 8:29:25 PM # Q
Where have you been all day, Gekko?! By the time Brighthand posted that, we here at PIC had already been discussing it for HOURS!

Go below and see the active threads about the open questions.

And yes, you WILL buy it, if only to tear into it for a few hours while we bombard you with questions.

RE: photo with T5 ?
Gekko @ 3/29/2005 9:23:12 PM # Q
>"Where have you been all day, Gekko?! By the time Brighthand posted that, we here at PIC had already been discussing it for HOURS!"

Time is money, pal. You know I DO have an empire that ocassionally needs my full attention for the whole day. I'm late to this party.



RE: photo with T5 ?
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:36:44 PM # Q
Putting fingers in Wendy's chili is such a chore, I know. Get to the OT forum too. We're waiting...

Reply to this comment

POS media player

mikecane @ 3/29/2005 2:33:49 PM # Q
The Magic Lantern - Palm OS Media Player
http://www.palmopensource.com/index.php3?more=668

Someone test and report back.

RE: POS media player
Masamune @ 3/29/2005 5:30:59 PM # Q
I'll give it a whirl and let you know the results OT.

RE: POS media player
Foo Fighter @ 3/29/2005 10:28:23 PM # Q
It crashes my T5 when I attempt to play any song, and it doesn't work at all on my Zodiac (can't find any audio/video/image files).

End of report.

-------------------------------
Editor, http://Pocketfactory.com
Contributing Editor, http://digitalmediathoughts.com

RE: POS media player
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 9:53:14 AM # Q
Bah! Thanks.

RE: POS media player
Masamune @ 3/30/2005 12:02:34 PM # Q
Same story - el zilcho on files showing up and it crashes if you try to adjust the volume. It could be a good program if they get all the bugs ironed out - the GUI is very user friendly.

RE: POS media player
Foo Fighter @ 3/30/2005 1:01:25 PM # Q
>> "the GUI is very user friendly."

It's based on the open-source "Pheonity" icon set.

-------------------------------
Editor, http://Pocketfactory.com
Contributing Editor, http://digitalmediathoughts.com

RE: POS media player
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 1:48:01 PM # Q
But why doesn't it WORK?! Why post it at all for distribution if it only works in the author's crazed mind?!

This is why I cringe whenever I see the words, "Open Source." I'm running Forefox and am getting so fed up I'm thinking of dumping it for IE.

RE: POS media player
AdamaDBrown @ 3/30/2005 3:09:26 PM # Q
Mike, the idea is that as the author continues to build the program, it becomes better and more useful, and he can get live feedback from the users. Granted, it's not a good idea to start with a version of the software that doesn't work--it tends to turn off users and doesn't bode well for the future. But the former is the way it's supposed to work. Anyway, there's a lot of good open-source software such as BetaPlayer, OpenOffice, XMLTV, FreeCraft...

Oh, and get Opera.

RE: POS media player
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 3:21:50 PM # Q
I tried Opera on a Mac. Didn't like it. I'd *love* it on POS, though. I've used the Zaurus version and it was great.

Reply to this comment

Excellent!

e_tellurian @ 3/29/2005 8:19:07 PM # Q
The size will more than likely come down with a little e-motion.

Offering interactive choices is good.

E-T

e-tellurian

completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution

Reply to this comment

Story name change?!

mikecane @ 3/29/2005 8:47:08 PM # Q
Is it me? Or has the headline for this story gotten changed to "Rumor: palmOne"?!!? That's all I see on my screen now...

RE: Story name change?!
Admin @ 3/29/2005 8:53:14 PM # Q
my backend messed it up, didn't like the quotes... I fixed it.
RE: Story name change?!
mikecane @ 3/29/2005 9:06:13 PM # Q
Now that both shows have been revived, I was wondering if it was the work of the Mysterons or Daleks!

I think everyone here should give Ryan a standing ovation. While the rest of us did nothing but b*tch about p1, he kept the faith and kept PIC going.

Three cheers to Ryan!

RE: Story name change?!
Gekko @ 3/29/2005 9:29:24 PM # Q
>"I think everyone here should give Ryan a standing ovation. While the rest of us did nothing but b*tch about p1, he kept the faith and kept PIC going. Three cheers to Ryan!"

Yes - Cheers to Ryan for running a great site - but FrankenPalm is still just fun and games and shiits and giggles vaporware at the moment. Some people still believe in Bigfoot, UFOs, and the Loch Ness Monster - and have "pictures" to back up their claims.

We don't know for sure if this animal as rumored exists. Let's save the champagne-popping until after the device/specs are truly confirmed.



Reply to this comment

LifeDrive Trademark

Gekko @ 3/30/2005 12:29:28 AM # Q
RE: LifeDrive Trademark
Rhauer @ 3/30/2005 1:42:43 AM # Q
It sounds cool but I don't know what to make of it.

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
boldman @ 3/30/2005 8:31:51 AM # Q
I believe this name to be true and it does make sense. Your life (i.e. notes, appointments, tasks, documents, photographs, music, etc) fits into this 4GB "Drive"...

Anyway, take a look at these two photos:

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/Myster/23684/405727/0/Photo_0.jpg
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/Myster/23684/405728/0/Photo_1.jpg

Could be fake, but surely they look similar to the other photo that recently appeared, although the logos are in different places, and there's a TUNGSTEN logo on the top.


RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 8:41:58 AM # Q
HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL!

It's not white!

Don't know about the sunken-ness of that screen and the seemingly hard lip around it. And is it cheeeep plastic or metal?

As for the trademark, that link is a dead session. This is what I found:

Word Mark LIFEDRIVE
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer hardware, software and peripherals and manuals sold therewith; computer hardware and software for use in accessing, storing, managing, synchronizing, transferring, transporting and sharing digital information and files over the global communications network and other networks and/or between computers, electronic organizers, electronic notepads, mobile telephones and pagers, PIMs, PDAs and mobile computing and communications devices; computer software for use in accessing, storing, managing, synchronizing, transferring, transporting and sharing music, photos, videos, address books, calendars, e-mail, PIM data, PDA data, office and personal documents, streamed and multimedia information and files over the global communications network and other networks and/or between computers, electronic organizers, mobile telephones and pagers, PIMs, PDAs and mobile computing and communications devices; computer software for synchronization of data, information and files, for mobile communications and computing, for personal information management, database management and synchronization, for character recognition, and for secure data access, storage and transfer; computer software for web publishing, providing alerts to various informational and environmental conditions, for accessing, browsing and searching online databases, for data and file backup and storage, and for duplicate file management across multiple devices; telephony management software; electronic mail and messaging software, paging software, and manuals provided therewith
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78474731
Filing Date August 27, 2004
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) palmOne, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 400 N. McCarthy Blvd. Milpitas CALIFORNIA 95035
Attorney of Record Connie L. Ellerbach
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE



RE: LifeDrive Trademark
Gekko @ 3/30/2005 8:42:12 AM # Q

boldman - pics looks real....and "3.7G free" on HD. it all adds up.

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
Gekko @ 3/30/2005 8:43:27 AM # Q

if it IS real, this flies in the face of all of the palm apologists like kirvin who say "keep it simple for the masses - they don't want features" or fail. kirvin is on record as saying this is a fake. so is foo (although foo is no apologist). looks like they're both wrong.



RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 8:51:19 AM # Q
I don't know where Kirvin said it was fake. Show me.

But I like the fact p1 is *finally* giving UberUsers *some* damned thing -- and beyond what I expected too.

No, to see the *specs* and the Thing Itself!

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 8:52:54 AM # Q
&^%$#@ antique PC keeps dropping characters on me. No, = NOW,

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
Gekko @ 3/30/2005 9:00:22 AM # Q
>I don't know where Kirvin said it was fake. Show me.

he said it in a podcast.



RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 9:25:19 AM # Q
Nice pics. Quite real too. You cant sim that screen glare.

Love the trademark info. Someone's head will roll for that being found.

I sharpened and did some otherworldly things to to pics and found a few things. Either a case of good painted plastic, or some very nice brushed alumium. Screen size is about the same size as my T5; makes that 5way quite finder friendly because of size and placement. All the same icons that are on the T5 are there. Add about a half inch to the width of the T5, and maybe the same in height. Seems abuot the size of my T5 when it is in my Piel Frama case (aka nice and pocketable). I do wonder what Air SAM and Air SAMPrv are, probably some service/app that deals with syncing/downloading/finding hotspots/etc.

Whomever provided the pics, much thanks.

antoinerjwright.com

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
Gekko @ 3/30/2005 9:36:19 AM # Q

Per the Vampire's credible source - Launch date is 4-18-05.



RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 9:44:06 AM # Q
A half inch WIDER than a T5?! Gulp.

Ah, Gekko, that explains why I didn't see it. I don't do podcasts (Jeff knows this).

4/18?! FEK! Gotta dig up the money Just In Case.

Now I suppose I also have to get a 1GB SD too? Have to put some massive videos on it so I can *test* them...

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 9:48:46 AM # Q
>>>Love the trademark info. Someone's head will roll for that being found.

Nah. It's public records. Just like the FCC docs that sometimes leak out because they forgot to specifically request privacy.

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 9:57:47 AM # Q
The half inch is just a guess, maybe right, but just a guess. Think a quarter inch on left and right sides, and a quarter to a half inch on the bottom. It looks like a bigger iPod given the size and dimensions. Provided this is marketed right, palmOne would have a heck of a winner ["Pods are something you escape in, the Life Drive is something you live in"].

antoinerjwright.com
RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 10:04:00 AM # Q
"It's not an iPod. It's More. More Music. More Pictures. More Video. More Life. The palmOne Tungsten LifeDrive."

-- emailing my bill to palmOne... hah!

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
E Ben G @ 3/30/2005 10:41:37 AM # Q
----- "Now I suppose I also have to get a 1GB SD too? Have to put some massive videos on it so I can *test* them..."

Any word on this thing having an SD slot?


It's the data, stupid.

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 10:43:31 AM # Q
Oh yea;
At the top of the latest pic of the whole device it says Tungsten "something." I cannot make out if it is a C2 or T7 as they can look quite similar given that there is a lot of fuzzy at the top of the pic. My guess so far is T7 (hence the design that is an evolved T3.

The pic that shows the info screen seems to Tungsten T7, but I cannot tell as there is too much play in the light there. There is a slant that is reminicent of a 7, but that could be a 2 as well since what could be the bottom part of the 2 is a blurry area.

Life Drive is the code name for sure. T7 is my guess.

antoinerjwright.com

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 10:58:34 AM # Q
It has to have an SD slot. Er, doesn't it?!

I saw the Tungsten name up there too. Maybe that's just a T next to it?

The screen shot I see says Copy with Handheld listed in the first drop down.

I like this SAM business. Always wanted Surface to Air Missile capability in a PDA! This is the UBERUberUser's PDA!

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 11:03:28 AM # Q
Been looking at the pics again. Uh, where's the On/Off button?!!?

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
palmato @ 3/30/2005 11:26:41 AM # Q
The latest pictures seem to have the "1234" box as the T5 has. Can anyone confirm that? Antoine, maybe?
Since the other picture had a favourites menu, maybe this is just a photshopped T5 screen....

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 11:37:07 AM # Q
You cannot see the on off button on your TE when looking at it at the angle that the T7 is can you? ;)

antoinerjwright.com
RE: LifeDrive Trademark
Masamune @ 3/30/2005 12:06:18 PM # Q
Just a thought but could these photos be the Tungsten E2 rather than the Lifedrive? It would make sense....

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 12:14:38 PM # Q
Nope. The E2 was already shown via a leaked fed document some months ago. Check the new archives to see it, or look at a current TE as it wont change a bit from it in looks (maybe except for color).

antoinerjwright.com
RE: LifeDrive Trademark
karrock @ 3/30/2005 12:55:59 PM # Q
If you search USPTO trademarks for "palmone" (Field: ALL), you'll find that on the same day that they filed "LifeDrive" PalmOne put in another for "SuperSync" and on 1/28 for "Foleo"

http://tinyurl.com/5ryh5

The plot thickens!! =D

"SuperSync" serial# 78474735
"Foleo" serial# 78555579

~Tony

Pilot --> V --> m505 --> Tungsten T3

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 1:30:36 PM # Q
Wow. Great find! >rubbing my hands in glee!<

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
jkirvin @ 3/30/2005 2:43:46 PM # Q
I'll explain why this doesn't prove my earlier comments wrong (at least not entirely) in tonight's podcast, but in short:

This isn't really targeted at PDA users. It's not a geek PDA. It's a Palm OS based media player. Entirely different focus.

And why does this have WiFi when none of the other recent Palms do? In a word, streaming.

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 3:03:22 PM # Q
I disagree. It is a geek PDA. Just happens to be THEE geek PDA. Mucho speed space and wireless. And yup, I agree that streaming may be a part of this. I wonder if palmOne is trying to make their version of Palm Desktop into a mini-iTunes piece. Maybe call it the Life Drive Desktop and have something that will really be able to replace OL and a ton of other media management programs. Would be nice to see.

antoinerjwright.com
RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 3:33:48 PM # Q
Go read the trademark for SuperSync. They have a vision and a plan. I like this!

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
E Ben G @ 3/30/2005 3:34:19 PM # Q
I'd rather see proper integration with WMP or iTunes than have to go through Palm software with my music. Let's face it, no matter how well done this is, Palm isn't likely to pull off a music store to go along with this release.

It's the data, stupid.
RE: LifeDrive Trademark
twizza @ 3/30/2005 3:42:20 PM # Q
Neat. Just read the trademark on SS. I like. Almost makes me jealous in that I went for the T5 the way that I did. I do like that this makes out Palm desktop to be a real desktop rather than just a PIM. According to the trade mark:

"computer hardware, software and peripherals and manuals sold therewith; computer hardware and embedded software for use in accessing, storing, managing, synchronizing, transferring, transporting and sharing digital information, files, folders, music, photos, videos, address books, calendars, e-mail, PIM data, PDA data, office and personal documents, and streamed and multimedia information between computers, electronic organizers, electronic notepads, mobile telephones and pagers, PIMs, PDAs and mobile computing and communications devices; computer software for communicating between mobile computing and/or communications devices and desktop computers"

I like the email and videos part. Makes me think that palmOne will actually trump the market once again (see the TC and T3 for the last trumping - Treo was Handspring's idea folded in so it doesnt count).

antoinerjwright.com

RE: LifeDrive Trademark
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 4:05:00 PM # Q
In that alleged TC2 ad, the fourth bullet point: Pocket Movie Direct.

p1 has licensed from MS already for server stuff, I think. I hope they will announce they have licensed WMV and WMA, even if they have to play through a p1 Media Player and not a ported-by-MS WMP.

That makes no difference to me, though. I'll use ASF, MPEG, MP3, and the odd OGG and Real file... which is the same stuff many PPC owners use too.

Reply to this comment

palmOne ID mojo is back!

mikecane @ 3/30/2005 10:01:26 AM # Q
palmOne got their design mojo back. Now really, look at these (first picture):

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/dell-x50v-review.html

and then look at this:

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/Myster/23684/405727/0/Photo_0.jpg

Makes you kinda feel sorry for Dell and hp, no?

>maniacal laughter<

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
E Ben G @ 3/30/2005 10:07:34 AM # Q
You guys hate G2. I understand that, I hate it, too, but I've moved on to MessagEase and I'm over it.

But I do have a similar gripe. I HATE REAL PLAYER. Palm, if you're making such a good PDA, please drop that dinky realplayer. I know an iTunes port is too much to ask, but if this is shaping up to be what it could be, RealPlayer is an insult.

And I hope they put a better amp in this than the T5, which hisses through headphones something terrible.

It's the data, stupid.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 10:14:57 AM # Q
You posted in the wrong thread. No matter.

You don't *have* to use Real. Besides, with the T5 they instituted their own Media Player.

Besides, Pocket Tunes is still the best for audio. And I think we'll all be queueing up to get MMPlayer for video now...

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
E Ben G @ 3/30/2005 10:31:01 AM # Q
I know - I actually use Pocket Tunes and like it.

But I don't see how they can faithfully market this as an MP3 player if they package with that stupid realplayer.

It's just like your gripe with G2 - sure you can spend 20 or 30 bucks to get something that works better, but you shouldn't *have* to.

It's the data, stupid.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
twizza @ 3/30/2005 10:31:19 AM # Q
If Media could play MP3s on the Z72/T5/650 then that would be the case. unfortunately it cannot and so if you want free Real is the way to go.

antoinerjwright.com
RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 10:49:14 AM # Q
Ok, now I'm confused. Real, in the limited testing of it I did, played MP3s on the TE fine. But I went with Pocket Tunes because I had no need for Real DRMed content and also liked the added features of PTunes.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
twizza @ 3/30/2005 10:51:31 AM # Q
Real plays MP3s
Media doesnt

Media isnt on your TE, it is on the T5/Z72/Treo650 and the Tungsten T7 in the pic above (I am calling it T7 after my observations detailed above).

antoinerjwright.com

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
AdamaDBrown @ 3/30/2005 2:02:31 PM # Q
"Makes you kinda feel sorry for Dell and hp, no?"

No, not really. Why would it?

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 2:15:02 PM # Q
You're right. Their ugly designs are perfect matches for the ugly OS they're running.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
AdamaDBrown @ 3/30/2005 3:03:29 PM # Q
Allow me to get this straight. You think that the X50v is ugly, but the LifeDrive is attractive? Bear in mind that the LifeDrive is probably about the size of that iPaq on the right in the photo that you cited. Also bear in mind that you don't know what you're talking about. I'd say the LifeDrive is one of PalmOne's least appealing recent designs.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 3:28:55 PM # Q
Listen, if you can't see the LD as being more attractive than the Dell & hp, you need some design classes so you can learn what is good and bad design. PPC weenies swooned over those two only because they were far *less* ugly than other prior units. (The original hp 19xx was a great design. The best PPC designs are still the Toshiba GENIOs.)

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
InsGuy @ 3/30/2005 4:00:27 PM # Q
"Makes you kinda feel sorry for Dell and hp, no?"

Actually, no. You're logic escapes me. If you think this "LifeDrive" is so great, YOU are the one who needs design classes. If the LD is really that thick, no serious user will buy it. If PPC devices can have dual slots (CF & SD), plus Wifi and bluetooth, and do so without being nearly 2 standard pdas thick, then why can't P1? Yes, I like the idea of the massive internal storage, but that's about it. Your blind loyalty to P1 is exactly the kind of loyalty that P1 WANTS so they can go ahead and make pdas that are generally inferior.

All good things...

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 4:18:54 PM # Q
>busting my gut<

Obviously someone who got off the beatem path and is encountering my comments for the first time. My "blind loyalty" to p1? HAHAHAHA. Hey, Gekko, can you get a load of that? HAHAHAHAHA.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
Gekko @ 3/30/2005 4:29:53 PM # Q

MikeCon is fickle. A few days ago P1 was going to go bankrupt. Now today P1 is going to rule the world. Diary of a Madman.



RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 4:40:18 PM # Q
Well, at least Gekko is confirming I'm not like the PPC weenies who see MS Doing No Wrong...

BTW, that hp is *not* such a brick (although it *is* uglier *than*). As I stated months ago, I held it up to my GENIO at PC Expo and it's not that much larger. So if you think the LD being the size of that hp is somehow going to frighten me... feh!

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
AdamaDBrown @ 3/30/2005 7:35:17 PM # Q
The Toshiba Genios are plain rectangular slabs, and that iPaq is, for a modern PocketPC, enormous.

A good design is one that takes up the minimum neccessary space, has clean and smooth lines, and has the most appealing styling. A good design should look good, feel good in the hand, and be shaped for its purpose. For examples of good designs, see the Axim X50v, Apple iPod, and IBM Thinkpad. Examples of bad designs: The HP Photosmart 318 digital camera, the iPaq rz1715, and the Hitachi G1000.

I'm not saying that this thing is bad, neccessarily. But it does have an unappealing design. If it's as large and thick as it's said to be, I worry that it will tank, and PalmOne will use it as an excuse to restart their 'Users don't want real features' campaign.

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
twizza @ 3/30/2005 8:39:16 PM # Q
I agree with Adama's last statement there. If too thick it will be deemed unattractive, no matter how well it feels in hand.

And honestly, the x50v is one of the best designed PDAs today. If the 5way on the T5 were 1-2mm closer to the screen, I would give it a close second (per my long fingers). HP = blah design

antoinerjwright.com

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 9:31:04 AM # Q
Naked (ie no case) no PDA ever felt better in the hand than the m500 line. Its slightly flared base fit the hand perfectly, it it was thin enough to slip into a shirt pocket but still thick enough not to feel fragile. Even the hardware buttons (for the time) were a marked improvement over the Palm V's and the Clies of that era. I consider it the ultimate refinement of the classic Ideo Palm V shape and the standard bearer for all PDAs past, present, & future.

In this age of perpetual backward-looking retro designs, P1 should just revive the sleek, still sexy m500 & Handspring Edge designs. Alter them slightly to accomodate the Athena connector & a 5-way navigator and you have ALL the handheld you need without spending more than a moderate sum on FF design.

Built-in HD be damned! Just give me T3 specs (with G1) in a m500 formfactor with battery life at least as good as a stock T3 and I'll be happy! Heck, I could even live with less than that-just give me 320*480 in a TRULY shirt-pocket design and make sure it retains the case rail along the left side!

RE: palmOne ID mojo is back!
twizza @ 3/31/2005 9:54:04 AM # Q
I admit that my m515 gave me the best balance between size, weight and shape, I just doubt that something that thin can be done any more withuot sacfrficing battery life or stablity of some kind.

The buttons were great - please bring those back
The 5way on the TT/T2 was the best - please bring that back and add 4 more directions :)
The battery life of my T5 is better than that of my m515 and I used the crap out of that thing with Wordsmith rolling all day and no music abilities - so please do that too

Those are my wishes at least :)
Morning everyone

antoinerjwright.com

Reply to this comment

The perfect match for the LifeDrive!!

mikecane @ 3/30/2005 10:50:38 AM # Q
Reply to this comment

One hell of an IR port!

mikecane @ 3/30/2005 11:08:07 AM # Q
So I Googled "airsam" as in the screenshot and came up with:

http://www.dodccrp.org/events/2000/CCRTS_Monterey/ cd/html/pdf_papers/Track_3/043.pdf

RE: One hell of an IR port!
JKingGrim @ 3/30/2005 12:57:07 PM # Q
Reply to this comment

Sony Clie

Gekko @ 3/30/2005 1:00:52 PM # Q

Perhaps P1 hired the now defunct Sony Clie Team to design this puppy??? It would make sense!!! The B-Team from p1 designed the T5, and then P1 cherrypicked the soon-to-be-unemployed Sony Clie designers and said "you want a job?"

OR Perhaps this LifeDrive *WAS* a SONY CLIE that was being developed by the Sony Clie Team but was suddenly shelved when they shut down the CLie Project??? You KNOW it looks more Sony Clie than anything P1!!!!!!! Sony didn't need the employees OR the design anymore so the inepts at p1 simply co-opted them/it. Why reinvent the wheel???????

Why else would we see such a DRASTIC differential between the T5 and the LifeDrive???

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS THEORY?????



RE: Sony Clie
palmato @ 3/30/2005 1:07:10 PM # Q
I think april 1st is only two days away...
After the spring debacle I need to see consistent pictures from two different sources before jumping to conclusions.

[BTW if the clie had been hired, they would have used an OLED screen ;-)]

RE: Sony Clie
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 1:37:15 PM # Q
There are only so many different possible shapes for a portrait PDA. p1 took the minimalist, clean-line approach this time. God, doesn't the Dell and hp look even worse by comparison?

RE: Sony Clie
Gekko @ 3/30/2005 1:41:36 PM # Q

It's not just the looks - it's the feature set too.

RE: Sony Clie
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 1:44:13 PM # Q
As I posted somewhere else here, let's not forget the irony here: P1 is about to trump Sony in the very area they tried to pioneer -- a mediacentric PDA. A company a fraction of the size and resources and money of Sony, getting over Sony. Another humiliation for them!

Take that UMD and shove it, Sony!

RE: Sony Clie
jkirvin @ 3/30/2005 2:47:57 PM # Q
Or it could just be that the T5 and T6 (what the top of the photos looks like, no reason to skip 6 like they did 4) are targeted to two totally different markets. The T5 is a business PDA, a device for storing, accessing and modifying business data. The T6/LifeDrive is a media player, an entertainment device. Different markets, different styling.

Occam's Razor, people.

RE: Sony Clie
AdamaDBrown @ 3/30/2005 8:37:15 PM # Q
Mike, this is not a 'minimalist' or 'clean line' design. I think you need to look at a dictionary. For clean lines, look at an iPod or an HTC Magician. A clean line approach seeks to minimize the visual clutter of the device. That would mean minimizing the framing of the screen, and the degree to which the controls 'protrude' visually from the look of the case. It's a simple design, sure--it's a rectangle. But that doesn't make it minimalist or clean-line. And you still are nuts about the design.

Jeff, there's every reason to skip 6. Like 4, it's inauspicious in many Asian cultures. Do you remember the Palm VI coming after the V? No, they skipped to the VII.

RE: Sony Clie
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 10:05:40 AM # Q
Woe to the business that entrusts their data to a T5. The sooner that model is put out to pasture, the better.

Reply to this comment

Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?

mikecane @ 3/30/2005 1:38:37 PM # Q
It has been a long night here in PalmOS land.

Sony dumping CLIE.

The no-show Cobalt.

The TE/Zire/T3 quality control problems.

The T5 debacle.

Now we are to see the release of FOUR devices from palmOne?

1) Zire 73
2) TE2
-- those for the Great Unwashed

3) hard-drived LifeDrive
4) Tungsten TC2 running Cobalt
-- for US

Can it be that those of us who have been waiting for The Promised Land of a new p1 device are about to have our choice among FOUR? (Or TWO for *US* -- and We Know Who WE Are.)

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
twizza @ 3/30/2005 2:59:46 PM # Q
Three of your devices are right.
The fourth is more likley a Treo than a TC2. I would think that the T7 (or LifeDrive) is more of the upgrade to the T3 that some were looking for.

Come to think of it, palmOne did go BMW with their tungsten lineup if this is the case. Neat aint it. Especially with that new 7-series coming out (I am a M5 lover myself, and a sooped up T5 with a touch more power and refinement would be its perfect compliment).

antoinerjwright.com

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 3:13:38 PM # Q
Geez, twizza, join the party already!

http://www.palminfocenter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26799

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
twizza @ 3/30/2005 3:30:54 PM # Q
Its a fake.

antoinerjwright.com
RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 3:32:20 PM # Q
We shall see.

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
AdamaDBrown @ 3/30/2005 8:52:44 PM # Q
He's right, it's a fake. Also, I don't believe there's yet any hard evidence of a new Zire 73. There have been lots of rumors, mostly false, and a few that sound credible.

My point: Don't get your hopes too high. The LifeDrive may look interesting, but remember the hype leading up to the T5 release.

ManicMike Cane: You have NO idea how funny you are...
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/30/2005 10:42:20 PM # Q
I'll continue to stay out of this sad, sad T|7 frenzy, but those of us here who know better are (as usual) shaking their heads at your mania, flight of ideas, loosening of associations, tangentiality, etc. You're "splitting" again, Mike. Can't wait for the inevitable flood of "The T|7 is crap!!!" spewing from your fetid, toothless maw. As someone who has been using the ultimate multimedia PalmOS PDA (review written + can be published if Ryan's interested) for a few months, I can tell you that the T|7 "ain't all that".

Bold prediction: Cane will be a bitterly disappointed, whiny, elderly, under-the-bridge inhabitant VERY soon. Sorry, Mikey. And I'll personally send you a free copy* of the PalmOS application of your choice if you actually purchase and keep a T|7 for more than three months.

"Borderline feels like I’m going to lose my mind..."


*Patched
;-O

-TVoR






*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 3/31/2005 9:54:48 AM # Q
Oh look who took time out from snowballing in the meat packing district! Can't stand the fact your CLIE is a piece of crap compared to this, can you?

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
Foo Fighter @ 3/31/2005 11:25:59 AM # Q
Hold the phone! Voice is claiming to have a Life Drive in his hands right now, with a complete review ready for publishing? Ryan, please investigate this further.

Voice..if you do indeed have one in your possession, why not publish some lovely pr0n images for us to look at? I want full frontal PDA nudity!

-------------------------------
Editor, http://Pocketfactory.com
Contributing Editor, http://digitalmediathoughts.com

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 11:47:55 AM # Q
No, the Voice is merely talking about his OLED'd VZ90 Clie that he got from Dyanmism or someone in Japan. He mentioned it on here a while back. In fact, he was working on a review for it a month or more ago but I don't know if Ryan wanted to post it or not. I'd personally be very curious to hear all about it and certainl hope Voice/Ryan decide to publish it on PIC. Sort of an appetizer for what might have been before we tear into the new P1 units a month from now...


RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 3/31/2005 1:56:51 PM # Q
Geez, Foo. I just lost all respect for you.

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
Foo Fighter @ 3/31/2005 3:48:42 PM # Q
From the context it looked like he was referring to the LifeDrive.

Well since the VZ90 is a dead product, along with the entire Clie line...it really doesn't make much sense to publish a review.

-------------------------------
Editor, http://Pocketfactory.com
Contributing Editor, http://digitalmediathoughts.com

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 4:30:16 PM # Q
I'd personally find a VZ90 review, properly done & written of course (as the Voice's posts usually are), entertaining and informative as he!!. Call me a sentimental curmudgeon if you will, but I always find it interesting to speculate "what might have been" and to take a close look at a company or product line's swan song.

I mean, Sony could really have afforded to weather the storm a few more months and released the VZ90 in limited quantities through a few select retailers in the USA. They shoulda done it *JUST* to keep from going with a whimper like they did.

It'd also give us something to talk about other than LifeDrive speculation & gossip in the next few weeks. I for one am tired of trying to determine what is a Photoshopped hoax and what isn't. At least the VZ90 is/was a real product!

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 3/31/2005 5:08:47 PM # Q
Listen: Do you think that VZ sold even in *Japan*? Overpriced, underpowered, limited expansion and capability.

It's interesting that everyone here sticks to the topic of hardware and that twisted sister comes in to make *me* the topic. Jump, Pavlov, jump, you pathetic, lifeless stalker.

CLIE VZ90 Vs. Palm T|7: the Cage match
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/31/2005 10:09:43 PM # Q
No, Kent, I don't have a T|7. I've seen it though, and my (not-so-humble) opinion is that Palm missed the boat. The difference between brilliance and crap is the details and Palm doesn't know how to sweat the details. I'm not going to bash it here, though - I'll let Mike Cane do that when the unit is finally released.

As hkklife indicated, I have an English localized version of the CLIE VZ90 (despite the fact that Mike Cane insisted that such a beast does not exist). The OLED screen is simply stunning in person. As good as my TH55 and UX50 are, I'd almost be willing to give them up for the VZ90 just to get that incredible screen. Unfortunately, the UX50 and TH55/E have much more practical form factors and Bluetooth, making them better choices (for me) for regular PDA use.

hkklife: I'd be happy to send Ryan the review if he wants to publish it. I just need to get someone to take a few photos of the unit first. If you're a power user, you owe it to yourself to at least try out the VZ90. Had Sony bothered to release a VZ90/UX50 hybrid, PDA nirvana would have finally been attained. Even the OLED-screened update to the UX line that Sony shelved last year would have been hard to top. The contrast between the VZ90 and Palm's upcoming PDAs is really quite shocking. Oh well...





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

Typical Clueless Cane Comments:
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/31/2005 10:57:28 PM # Q
Do you think that VZ sold even in *Japan*? Overpriced, underpowered, limited expansion and capability.

Mike, Sweetie: How many non-Sony PalmOS PDAs have you seen with dual expansion including that bulletproof industry standard, CompactFlash? Please post some more diarrhea, JesterBoy. You're truly hilarious.

Back under the bridge with you, Mikey... Droll troll.





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 4/1/2005 8:46:07 AM # Q
It's April Fool's Day -- and we have been cursed with posts from the biggest Fool of them all. Go back to the meatpacking district, you slime. And take your porn-filled VZ with you.

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
hkklife @ 4/1/2005 9:19:12 AM # Q
Voice;

Do you mean you've actually SEEN a T7 "in the flesh" so to speak or were you just referring to having seen the screenshots scattered around the web?

While I admit P1's missed the boat as of late there have been a few small details they've gotten right over the years:

-The Palm III curved backside formfactor made it far more comfortable & sleeker than the original Pilot yet still retained compatability with nearly all accessories & cradles.
-The classic V (yeah, IDEO design and all but still superb). 'Nuff said.
-The improved-upon-V m500 line--hands down, still the paradigm of PDA style + function and oh so easy to hold.
-The T|T's exposed larger-sized reset pin was a superb touch
-T|T's telescoping stylus was and still the finest OEM PDA stylus I've ever used. I still must click mine impatiently at least 20x per day.
-Treo 650's keyboard is about as it's going to get for a tiny smartphone keyboard (again, originally a Handspring thing but still)
-The 5-way navigator and the one-hand lookup functions (begun by Handspring but perfected by P1) are superbly intuitive and don't make me miss the old Sony jog wheel one bit. I just with the navigator itself had more of the feel of a real d-pad.

Unfortunately, the LifeDrive looks like it may be packing the right horsepower under the hood, the exterior will leave a great deal to be desired. The hard buttons seem impossibly oversized and waste far too much space on the surface of the unit and the circular 5-way navigator looks less comfortable to use than the oval Treo design.

RE: Are We Leaving The Wilderness Yet?
mikecane @ 4/1/2005 11:45:11 AM # Q
>>>Do you mean you've actually SEEN a T7 "in the flesh" so to speak

You really expect the TRUTH out of that guy? When will you learn?

Reply to this comment

LifeDrive

Gekko @ 3/30/2005 4:56:16 PM # Q

Forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think "LifeDrive" is the name of the handheld. I think LifeDrive is the name of the 4GB Hard Drive - a la "Drive Mode".

The Device name will be Palm Tungsten TX featuring "LifeDrive".

RE: LifeDrive
twizza @ 3/30/2005 5:39:04 PM # Q
I am in agreeance with you there. The emblem on the top of the pics I touched said Tungsten "something." T7 is my guess after compairing to my T5's emblem.

"Featuring Life Drive"
Has an interesting ring to it.

antoinerjwright.com

RE: LifeDrive
mikecane @ 3/30/2005 6:24:48 PM # Q
LifeDrive, Tungsten Whatever. Doesn't matter. Wanna fondle!

Billy, Please spell and use LifeDrive in sentence.
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/30/2005 11:18:07 PM # Q
L - I - F - E - D - R - I- V - E

"Palm's cadre of Apple-derived executives have sucked the LifeDrive out of a once proud company."

L - I - F - E - D - R - I- V - E

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry, Kids, but LD is Hocus Pocus. Palm should focus ALL of its dwindling resources on these buzzwords: QC, OLED, RIM, QC, QC, QC.





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

RE: LifeDrive
hkklife @ 3/31/2005 9:21:11 AM # Q
I'm also of the opinion that only 2 devices will launc this spring. The T|E2 has been a given for months now and the T7 w/ lifedrive mode. "Drive Mode" will be reserved for future T5-style internal flash drives and "LifeDrive" will denote hard drive-based models.

I also wouldn't be surprised at all to see the T5 fade into oblivion sonner rather than later. "Sooner" mneaning it's already gone out of production and they will phase it out by mid-summer as retail supplies dwindle (ala the T3 last fall).

P1 wants (and needs) to have a very streamlined lineup:

Zire 31 $100-$125
Zire 72/3 $300ish
T|E2 $200-$225
T7 $400-$500

Low-end Treo
High-end Treo

That leave a huge hole in the lineup between the Zire 31 & the E2 but I don't see anything else realistically on the horizon.

I don't see a Zire 73 coming out yet as we have had zero leaks/spy pics/rumored specs. If a Zire 73 does ship, expect the most incremental of upgrades over the 72 (new connector, bigger battery, better camera). T|C2 is total bollocks and that image likely was spawned from the T|C2 rumors last fall that had it looking like an antenna-less Treo 650 with a bigger scree & keyboard.


RE: LifeDrive
svrontis @ 3/31/2005 9:23:25 PM # Q
Grasshopper, the 'once proud company' you speak of the one and the same company which D - E - S - T - R - O - Y - E - D your precious CLIE line. Have a nice life.

RE: LifeDrive
mikecane @ 3/31/2005 9:26:35 PM # Q
Hey VoR, you pile, read this and weep, creep:

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news.php?newsId=1072

iPoo is patented Xerox technology. We will SUE these fcukers
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/31/2005 11:35:43 PM # Q
I came up with the iPoo when I was lead researcher at PARC. If you do a search at the US Patent Office site, you'll see I took out this patent way back in 1998!

I PATENTED "POOING". If you want to Poo, you're going to have to pay me. Otherwise: "Say hello to my little (lawyer) friend!!!"





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

RE: iPoo
twrock @ 4/1/2005 8:43:05 PM # Q
TVOR, you're "poo" obsession is really getting scary. But I suppose "releasing" it here on PIC is a "no-harm-done" approach to the problem.

(Wasn't the article release date a little obvious?)

PARC Unistrokes + iPoo = match made in heaven?
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 4/2/2005 12:39:20 AM # Q
I (along with Xerox) *own* the iPoo patent. Yes, we don't currently have a shipping product, but someday we might. Maybe with integrated Unistrokes Technology (ftp://ftp.parc.xerox.com/pub/unistrokes/).

No one has the right to STEAL our patented IP. We reserve the right to defend our patent with overwhelming + lethal force and will continue to do so with EXTREME PREJUDICE. If you continue to post more verbal diarrhea about the PARC iPoo, don't be surprised if you're part of the collateral damage that will ensue once our attorneys are forcefully and savagely unleashed. This is your final warning.

TVoR





*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

RE: iPoo
twrock @ 4/2/2005 3:52:58 AM # Q
...I took out this patent way back in 1998!

You lose! Prior art. My mother informs me that she distinctly remembers me announcing with proud gusto, "I poo!" the first time I took a proper dump on my little potty. That was way before 1998.

Xerox - iPoo™: Pay up or we'll see you in court!
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 4/2/2005 5:51:57 PM # Q
You lose! Prior art. My mother informs me that she distinctly remembers me announcing with proud gusto, "I poo!" the first time I took a proper dump on my little potty. That was way before 1998.

Prior art, my A$$! You saying "I poo" (note the space between the words!) is CLEARLY different from our patented Xerox iPoo™ , a device that does... ummmm... something. We'll see you in court, Bubba. And our Attack Lawyers are trained to drag cases out so long you'll wish you'd simply settled with us and become a licensee of Xerox's patented "iPoo™ Technology". We're gonna F you up. You know where. Real bad. With no lube.


iPoo™ - Just do it. Every day.™






*************************************************************************************

Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)

*************************************************************************************





******************************************************************
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.

Reply to this comment

Any else waiting as impatiently as I am?

benjin @ 4/10/2005 8:48:42 AM # Q
Man, I hate this, I keep checking sites over and over and over again for more info on this thing, but there is none.

I'm really hoping this one is legit. I'm waiting to buy a new PDA for at-most another month. I've always enjoyed having a palm and since my last one met it's doom at the hands of my wife (nothing bad, she liked it so much she stole it from me) I've been running around like the proverbial be-headed chicken.

Soon though, right? Soon we'll know? Goodness, make it stop! Post here if you too are reading this thread for the third-thousandeth time!

RE: Any else waiting as impatiently as I am?
benjin @ 4/11/2005 7:05:32 AM # Q
Woah, I'm unanimously alone in my psychotic cravings.


Poor Me.

RE: Any else waiting as impatiently as I am?
fermi337 @ 5/10/2005 6:46:38 PM # Q
No you are not. I want one so bad that I would even ***CENSORED*** to get it. I CANT WAIT!!!!

RE: Any else waiting as impatiently as I am?
gbjdocmd @ 10/10/2005 4:24:25 PM # Q
I waited and became an early user of the LIFE DRIVE this spring.
I should have waited until this fall, for the Toshiba Libretto,
a Laptop shrunk to a VHS Tape in size;( Deep Pocket, handheld )is now announced. This does the laptop chores, unlike what we see in our present Handhelds.
7.5" screen, integrated WiFi, and useable keyboard may make this a winner. $1999 asking price is a bit much, but I suspect a longer wait will find competition driving prices down towards the $1000 level.

Life Drive has a miserable battery for the person on the go,
IR does not work, and it crashes way too much--probably in part from conflicts with untested 3rd party Apps.
WiFi is good, though, especially when one remembers to turn it off as much as possible.
With Palm going to the Pocket PC, Mobile Windows platform,
we may be left with an orphan.


George B Johnson
WiFi and Bluetooth integrated in Tungsten T2

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