Rumor: Sony T-Series with Virtual Graffiti

[ED: Could you please post the article above [or below] the comment fields? Makes it easier to comment on a story when you can reference it as you're typing]

people are always complaining about the battery life of sony devices (I personally don't see it / care - its a rechargable battery, cradle it... it will last a few days of moderate use) but if they keep the dedicated DSP with mp3 playing and use this better screen, I think their battery life will continue its downward spiral.

Of course, using the 66mhz processor and shucking the mp3 for more battery life might be a nice choice for the more business/application minded like myself... A bigger screen is always a welcome addition.

If it were true that it had virtual graffiti

If it was OS 5..make that OS 6

If it ran on 400 mhz Xscale

If it had at least 256 mb RAM, 64 mb Flash

If the screen also acted as a solar recharger

If it had a Universal slot for MS, SD/MMC, and CF

If it was free after rebates

Just my .02 cents

So, Ed, basically _you_ are starting the rumor and dispelling it at the same time? Have you thought about a career in politics? :)

A graphic artist, when combining images to produce the virtual tour photo, would be working with an actual photograph of the device and the screen capture. The proportions of a screen capture from the correct device (T665) would be correct for simple placement over top of the blank screen on the photograph. In other words, the screen capture would be square and the space to fill would be square. However, the 320x480 resolution of a screen capture from a virtual grafiti device would mean that the graphic artist would have to cover a portion of the device photograph (the section with the buttons), then work pretty hard to blend the edges so that the result looked natural.

This may not mean that a virtual grafiti T-series Clie exists, but I think it is unlikely that this is a case of a simple "mistake," since the process itself would really not be that simple.

Sony (and other 3rd party hardware makers) want what all companies want – market share, period. Frankly, I can’t wait for Sony to release a T series 66+mhz with a soft-graffiti area so I can actually use all of the fantasy claims Palm is making about OS5 today and replace my IIIc.

Yes, that’s right I said IIIc – it is the only PDA device that actually works. No I don’t watch movies, view pictures, or read the bible on my PDA. I do project planning, goal setting, read mail with attachments, and get things done (you know, PDA stuff). I’ve owned too many PDAs (Sharp, Apple, PPC, Palm) to mention and have come to the conclusion that software matters and PPC apps will always be tiny versions of PC apps that lack functionality because of the desire to squash a PC app on to a tiny screen.

Given the extreme pace at which Sony is pumping out “new” PDAs I believe a 66mhz T series with a soft-graffiti area already exists because a T series device such as this is nothing more than an NR70 without the flip-casing. So why hasn’t it the market? I believe Sony is waiting just prior to the release of the new OSLO device because it knows there are allot of OSLO dollars waiting to blindly fly out of electronic junkies wallets very soon.

In this chess game Sony is several moves ahead. When the release date for an OS5 device is made you’ll see a flood of 66mhz/hi-res OS4 devices hit the market and kill PalmInc’s OSLO because there will be no more dollars to spend on OSLO. This will kill PalmInc because Palm needs OS5 sales to successful fund the real ARM device to be released sometime in 2003 and it won’t financially be able to make that happen.

What is ironic here is that Palm did the same thing to Apple. Palm introduced the Pilot when Apple decided to make the Newton more PC-like. The Palm was simpler, faster, and user friendly and the rest is history. The same scenario will probably happen to PalmInc as OSLO tries to morph itself into a PC/PPC. The difference is that PalmSource will survive on its license dollars and continue to provide the OS to the marketplace while innovators such as Sony will continue provide the hardware. And who knows perhaps a Sony ARM device will happen before 2002, but I do know that PalmInc is currently pinned down by Sony’s checkmate and not even the partnering agreement they currently have will save Palm.