Rumor: More Details on the m125 Leaked

Posted By: Ed Friday, August 10, 2001 10:00:58 AM

A source known only as Steve-O has provided a datasheet with a fairly complete picture of the upcoming Palm m125. The device will have a 33 MHz Dragonball VZ processor and 8 MB of RAM. The U.S. version will have 2 MB of mask ROM and the international version will have 4 MB. The use of mask ROM rather than flash ROM means the OS can't be fully upgraded.

As discussed earlier, it will have an SD expansion slot and use Palm's Universal Connector. The m125 will cost $250 and should be available near August 24.

Hardware
It will be 4.7 by 3.1 by .7 inches and weigh 6.1 oz. As a comparison, the rest of the m100 series is the exact same size but it weighs only 4.4 oz.

Its shape will have more in common with the rest of the m100 series than was previously expected. While there will be changes, the m125 will still be able to use flip covers designed for the m100 series. However, it will be different enough to require a new stylus.

It isn't yet clear whether the m125 has the m100 series' smaller screen, but there are several clues to indicate that it does. The information sheet on the device says, "These new products maintain the philosophy of style, value, ease of use and ruggedness at the lowest cost." One of the reasons Palm used the smaller screen in the m100 series was to increase its ruggedness. Also, the fact that the m100 series' flip covers fit and the handhelds are the same size are good indications.

Update: Steve-O has confirmed that the m125's screen is the same size as the m100's. In fact, the whole front of the device is almost identical to the m100 and m105. Naturally the back, with its Universal Connector, is different. The flip cover looks like polished metal with a black strip around the outside, which Palm is calling the Race Stripe.

The m125 comes with a USB cradle which is the same one as comes with the m500 series. Because the m125 runs on two AAA batteries, it doesn't include the AC adapter the m500 series needs, though if an m125 is placed in a cradle with the power adapter hooked up, no harm will come to it.

To clear up any possible confusion, the m125 and m500 series will be able to share the same peripherals. As the datasheet says, "A user who purchases a new Palm modem will be able to use this accessory with their m500 or their m125."

It has an infrared port but lacks the vibrating and flashing alarms from the m500 series.

Operating System
Palm OS 4.0 has been modified slightly for the m125. While Web Clipping will still be available on the CD, it won't be preinstalled on the device. Neither will the Mail app. The Network HotSync option will no longer be available. These changes are likely made to allow the operating system to fit into the 2 MB ROM. There are also various fixes to the Card Info, Note Pad, and the Clock applications and to IrDA

Applications
It will come with Palm Reader, MGI PhotoSuite 2.21, and Dataviz Documents To Go 3.002.

As mentioned earlier, they have updated Note Pad. Enhancements include the ability to make notes private, undo the last drawing mark or erase stroke, clear all drawing marks from an existing note, and delete notes in Edit view. The maximum number of notes will be limited only by memory.

Web Clipping
m125 users will be able to access the Web with the Mobile Connectivity Software (MCS) available on CD. However, it has been slightly modified to make it easier for new users. Users will have access to the MyPalm WebPortal.

Thanks to Steve-O for all this great info.

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Still not price competitive

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 10:29:34 AM #
I still thinking that the Sony 320 at $199 is a better deal. great backlit screen and memory stick is really taking off.

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 10:53:37 AM #
Oh, cause you've seen the backlit screeen of an m125 so that you can make that type of judgment on why you'd prefer the Sony huh?

RE: Still not price competitive
Coyote67 @ 8/10/2001 11:00:46 AM #
ok, memory stick is really taking off? Huh? Its in the same place it was when memory sticks came out BLAH years ago. Show me one memorystick device that works in the clie and is out on the market. Then again, same thing with SD. SD is pretty much invisible. Memory stick is only being used for...well memory. The only viable expansion right now is Springboard and compactflash, with springboard in the #1 spot. Maybe in a year or two we'll see sd modules out.

Btw, at PCexpo, I asked ALL the sony reps if they had any memorystick non memory modules in development, and they all said they aren't aware of any. Sounds like memorystick will just end up on the shelf of different flash memory.

OH my god...becky, look at her....Prism.

RE: Still not price competitive
Tzaar @ 8/10/2001 11:23:35 AM #
he's talking about the screen in general, I would suppose. And what else would you use a memory stick for if not memory? A small stick sized vibrator that would slip into your clie? (That would be for a silent alarm, guys, not sexual pleasure).

Expansion Card I/O
Ed @ 8/10/2001 11:34:45 AM #
Expect input/output devices in both the SD and MemStick format in the next six months.

Sony absolutely will not discuss unannounced products, at least not with the likes of me. All I can get from the Sony rep was that they are on track to release some MemStick peripherals this year and some next year.

Palm has been showing off that group of SD prototypes for many moons. They are waiting for the SD Assoc. to approve the SDIO standard and then they will begin to appear. The Bluetooth one will almost certainly be first.

In the expansion card I/O peripheral race, I'd say both companies are neck and neck.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

RE: Still not price competitive
Pepper @ 8/10/2001 11:37:54 AM #
You can do lots with them if you develop in i/o standard. There can be bluetooth, modems, barcode scanners, almost anything you could imagine

-Pepper

BTW: don't take "anything" in the literal sense, please

I love my Palm . . . do you?

RE: Still not price competitive
AriB @ 8/10/2001 11:43:51 AM #
too bad springboard is too big (look at the Edge), isn't great for memory expansion and no interoperability between other consumer devices such as digital cameras or other Palms. But I have to admit there's a lot of cool things you can do with a springboard including a CF adapter. Maybe we'll see an SD adapter for it too

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 11:51:16 AM #
No, I don't love your Palm

Speaking of MemorySticks...
rsuplido @ 8/10/2001 11:57:04 AM #
Speaking of memorysticks, a friend of told me that there is a Sony USB Optical Mouse/MemoryStick Reader at Circuit City. I went to the site and found it cool. I figured I can use one in the office so I can copy
prc/pdb files to the memory stick and then move them to my Clie. Of course it can also act as a high capacity drive to trasfer off an to the memorystick. It costs $90 and can work with the Mac. I know it's
more expensive than getting a Travel Kit but if you are into getting a new optical mouse, i think with the memorystick reader, it's a good bundle. It's made by Sony so I would assume that it could read future higher capacity memorysticks (some Mac users have reported that they can't read 128MB memorysticks on a generic reader).

Here's the link: http://makeashorterlink.com/index.php?S22415A0

Regards.

Reggie

PS: If a few more of my office co-workers would get the same mouse, then we can replace floppies and use memorysticks to share large files. :)

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 12:31:56 PM #
People Keep saying that teh Springboard slot is big. I wonder what a peripheral for the tiny SD and Memory Stick slots will look it? I bet any money that they will make the unit much bigger than they are. Look for sleds galore. Think the Edge connector is an eyesore? You ain't see nuttin yet folks.



RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 12:44:37 PM #
Slightly off topic: The wait for standards will probably take a loooong time. (Just look at the V90 standard for Modem, it tooks year before they finally agree on the standard) Maybe by then, we would have Palm OS 5.0 and ARMS processors for Palms.

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 1:04:43 PM #
Well, it won't be too wise to bet your money especially when photos of the peripherals are available! For example, both BlueTooth SD and Memory Stick modules have been announced completed with photos of the final products. Both are small and does not add any bulk to the PDA.



RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 2:45:55 PM #
Got links to those photos?

RE: Still not price competitive
Ed @ 8/10/2001 2:57:18 PM #
Article with picture of Bluetooth SD card:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1993

Article with picture of Bluetooth MemStick card:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1781

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 3:15:38 PM #
Thanks for the links....however, the are just Bluetooth devices. How about a modem, or MP3 player, or a digital camera? These will most likely be sled devices....if not, I will be truely amazed : )

RE: More Peripherals
Ed @ 8/10/2001 3:51:44 PM #
In addition to the Bluetooth Infostick covered recently, Sony has also developed working prototypes of digital camera, GPS and fingerprint recognition modules
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1778

Here's the article that talks about the non-working mock-ups of planned SD devices:
view_Story.asp?ID=1541&MODE=FLAT



---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 4:04:57 PM #
If the m125 has a different screen to the m100 and m105 I'll eat my Eyemodule.

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/11/2001 6:50:52 PM #
Sony has had working prototypes for non-memory Memory Stick modules since last November. They were showing off a working prototype for a Memory Stick digital camera at the last Comdex show.

Sony is a VERY large corporation composed of independent companies and divisions; if you ask a random group of Sony representatives about products that they are not directly involved with, they probably don't know any more about it than you do.

RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/12/2001 2:19:32 PM #
I was at Comdex last year in (Lost) Vegas and I saw all sorts of Sony MS modules. They had (behind the glass) digital camera MS modules, MP3 MS module, GPS MS module, FM radio MS module, and something else I can't remember, but they all looked pretty cool!

BUT, the COOLEST module that they had been working on in one of their R/D divisions that they (Sony rep) was showing off on the floor was the "Thumb-Print Scanner" MS module!

Yes, you read correctly - Sony was displaying a working prototype of a "Thumb-Print Scanner" MS module. The use of this MS modules course would be for security purposes - IE you couln't use the Sony Clie without it first recognizing your thumb-print. Other uses could involve securing documents, private records, etc.

What amazed me was that this MS module was a working! Sony reps had to modify the CLIE that they were using in order for it to accept the module, but it was exactly the same lenght and width as a standard MS module. The only thing I wasn't too thrilled about was that they now had a copy of my thumb-print - who knows what they might use that for! :) Conspiracy Theories abound!

On a last note, the Sony rep also showed me and other Industry reps about how Sony was working on a SMALLER MS module - 1/2 the lenght of the current MS modules - basically an MMC/SD module - that was/is to be there FUTURE MS module sizes. They even had an adapter created so one could use these new MS modules in the older style (read current style) MS module compatable CLIE and Sony laptops.

All in all, I was pretty impressed with what Sony was displaying and working on, and had working for the show (Comdex). I stopped by the Palm area, but all they had were the standard MMC/SD modules we've seen here on PIC - the GPS, Digital Camera, Electronic Screwdriver SD modules, etx... :{ - NO working modules to play with - what a bummer!

But the best thing about ALL of this is that ALL these things are being developed on the PALM OS platform. Gosh everyone, Be Happy!

Peace - Dave Adonius

RE: Fingerprint module
Ed @ 8/12/2001 3:49:51 PM #
If you want to learn more, here's a link to an article on the fingerprint recognition module, including a picture:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1778

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter
RE: Still not price competitive
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/13/2001 7:29:55 AM #
well, samsung has licensed memory stick technology. so we will hopefully have 3 players (sony, lexus/lexar/lex-something, and samsung).

we might see cheaper msticks with competitive prices. (even with the new sony pricecuts..)

here in the UK its still like 2squid for a 1mb... so 648mb stick cost about 120squid...

(i just need to finish hacking Mstick support for Frotz mmmm and add mstick support to Sarien... mmm kingsquest 4 agi on memory stick on a palm! yay!)

-df

RE: Still not price competitive
mikecane @ 8/14/2001 9:41:13 AM #
Thank you, Reggie, for using http://www.makeashorterlink.com -- more people should!

The "half-sized" Memory Stick is called the Memory Stick DUO. It will probably replace current MSs in the years to come, so SD will lose one of its main features: smaller form factor. It is difficult to imagine storage getting smaller than MMC/SD/DUO size. Too easy to lose!

Lead Weights

Nate @ 8/10/2001 11:12:14 AM #
At 6+ oz., I'm thinking that they must have put lead weights in this thing just to make sure there was some reason to buy the m500 for $400, instead of the m125 for $150 less.

Palm needs to reduce the price of the m500. Perhaps they were expecting a repeat of the days when a mono unit could generate juge hype and profit for them, but those days are over, as Handspring found out. Drop the price to $300, and take the lead weights out of the m125.

_________
Syncplicity. Redefining Simple. www.cognitiveroot.com

RE: Lead Weights
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 11:36:17 AM #
what's "juge hype"!?!?!! Is it when you get a bunch of up-tight people being payed by the gvernment together and make em REALLY happy? you know, judge hype


RE: Lead Weights
Nate @ 8/10/2001 12:35:12 PM #
it's an aspirated "j", like in spanish...

"If you really want to, you can practice Esperanto, but in the land of pronto, the wind it tastes like gasoline." - Frank Black, Llano del Rio.

_________
Syncplicity. Redefining Simple. www.cognitiveroot.com

RE: Lead Weights
Lara @ 8/10/2001 1:17:25 PM #
"what's "juge hype"!?!?!! Is it when you get a bunch of up-tight people being payed by the gvernment together and make em REALLY happy? you know, judge hype"

Your attempt in humor and valid argument is quite pathetic...

As newer palms come out and as they all include a colored screen, universal connector and expansion capabilities the only main difference is form. It should be quite interesting how the m125 will look like. I doubt it will be the skywalker prototype although many indications point to that.

One aspect of the m125 which is discouraging is the fact that it broke the 6 oz barrier. The last time Palm came out with a unit over 6 oz was the IIIc. On the palm timeline that was eons ago. I know we are just talking about ounces but these things are suppose to get lighter not heavier...


RE: Lead Weights
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 7:26:56 PM #
You misread the article. It says, "It will be 4.7 by 3.1 by .7 inches and weigh 6.1 oz." The original m100 weighs 4.4 oz.

Where's the Datasheet w/ Pictures?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 11:52:06 AM #
Can somebody give me a link to the datasheet with the pictures of this new palm?

RE: Where's the Datasheet w/ Pictures?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 12:06:24 PM #
It's still a rumor.

It's not a rumor folks

Edd @ 8/10/2001 1:06:47 PM #
M125 is coming out soon. Staples has that in the inventory system already, priced at $249.999

typo
Edd @ 8/10/2001 1:07:50 PM #
Oops.. Sorry it's $249.99 :)

RE: It's not a rumor folks
Edd @ 8/10/2001 1:32:13 PM #
Internal inventory system (not external). :) That means we have the SKU and when the product shipped, it's ready to go!

RE: It's not a rumor folks
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 2:07:50 PM #
What's the SKU?

RE: It's not a rumor folks
Edd @ 8/10/2001 2:37:23 PM #
I'll let you know. And it should be launch 10 days from now.

RE: It's not a rumor folks
Ed @ 8/13/2001 9:58:04 AM #
The Register is saying they have "sources close to a big US electronics retailer" that have confirmed these details on the m125

www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/20965.html

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

RE: It's not a rumor folks
Edd @ 8/14/2001 1:23:41 AM #
Please correct me if I'm wrong but 9/24 is probably the launch date in UK.

More of the same.

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 2:50:06 PM #
m125, m505, m-whatever...

aren't they all the same? why can't we have something radically different and exciting? Ok, the price is great, but for ...helllooooo....we want more memory? you know, bigger app, music and stuff?

Attention Kmart buyer

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 3:02:49 PM #
attention Kmart buyer, there is a blue light special on PDA today, a dirt cheap whatchamacalit PDA, it's great for todo list and agenda. All for $99. We have also watermelon and can of pepsi for 99c.

(Is it me or this product is geared toward non gear head to push SD card? Does anybody care? This model is going directly to Walmart discount bin along with disposable calculators)

Blooth and GPRS support in Palm?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 4:15:10 PM #
Hi, I'm thinking about getting a Palm. Does anyone know which Palm supports both Blooth and GPRS?

Thanks.

John.

RE: Blooth and GPRS support in Palm?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 9:39:32 PM #
None. There are upcoming or already available BlueTooth sled and wireless "sleds" for the Palm V, and any Palm could hook up to a GPRS phone with cable or IR, but there is no Palm (or any handheld that I know of) that has either or both built in. BlueTooth cards will be out very soon, but if wireless is what you're looking for, the PocketPC platform will have it first.

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