Rumor: More Info on the Zire 71

Posted By: PIC Wednesday, March 26, 2003 10:07:18 AM

Palm Zire 71 ~ click for largerA PIC reader has posted a possible picture of the Palm Zire 71 and more details have become available. The Zire 71 is rumored to have a color screen and is the first Palm branded model to include an integrated digital camera.

Multiple reports have indicated the Zire 71 will run Palm OS 5.2, have a 320x320 color screen, 16MB of RAM and an integrated camera that can capture images at up to 640x480 resolution. It will run a TI OMAP ARM processor and could retail between $249 and $299.

A PIC reader posted a possible picture of the Palm Zire 71 in the discussion boards. The picture shows a camera lens on the back of the handheld, a joystick-like 5 way navigator, stereo headphone jack and the palm universal connector. A SD expansion port and rear speaker are also present.

When Palm SG announced the Tungsten and Zire brands, it indicated that the Tungsten line of devices would be aimed towards mobile professionals and enterprise work forces. The Zire brand is intended for products designed for consumers, not just entry level handhelds.

During their Q3 Conference call last week, Palms CFO Judy Bruner confirmed a (product) launch will be in the second half of the quarter. Our sources have indicated a probable April 24th release date. Palm also announced they would bundle the RealOne player with select future Palm handhelds.

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Buttons / Navigator

kevdo @ 3/26/2003 10:34:13 AM #
Interesting that the "To-Do" button says Photos. One presumes this is the application that will control the camera. The standard To Do application is pretty useless currently anyway, since you can't set alarms on To Do items (we do recommend To Do Plus for this however).

I would say the jury is out on the new kind of navigator. As much as I think the joystick might be an improvement for some applications, my gut says a traditional disc shaped pad would be a better for all applications (both "entertainment" and "productivity").

The Camera looks like it slides out or something, too.

Joystick aside, this is looking very compelling.

-Kevin Crossman

RE: Buttons / Navigator
JonAcheson @ 3/26/2003 11:34:56 AM #
I thought that was a clip-on screen cover that was sitting on the back of the device, rather than a slide-out camera. Why make the camera slide out? Just put an automatic cover on it.

Jon Acheson


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

OH NO!!!!!
mikemusick @ 3/26/2003 12:15:20 PM #
Those single-button "5-way" joysticks are HORRIBLE!!! I have a couple of other gadgets which use them and it is absolutely impossible to access the "push" function without inadvertently hitting an up/down/left/right. If they weren't multi-hundred-dollar devices they would have been "impact tested" a long, long time ago.

WHAT IN THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING, PALM???!?!!

RE: Buttons / Navigator
Ben S @ 3/26/2003 12:43:53 PM #
I'd reserve judgement on the usability of a joystick navigator. Palm has always been good at designing devices with good physical usability.

RE: Not-So-Sliding Camera
sundance_7 @ 3/26/2003 1:25:31 PM #
I think perhaps the learned poster above may have misinterpreted the image, and that perhaps the shot displays a reverse angle of the Zire 71 partially exposed in a cradle.

Maybe, maybe not...
sundance

RE: Buttons / Navigator
critic @ 3/26/2003 1:26:26 PM #
For the record, the "5 way navigator" on the T|T is actually a 4-way D-pad (similar to a video game control) with a button in the center. You don't press down on the whole control - just the center.

----
What do you think, sirs?
RE: Buttons / Navigator
graph @ 3/26/2003 1:51:48 PM #
people liked the 5way navigator thats why they had to get rid of it?,,,,

RE: Buttons / Navigator
bcombee @ 3/26/2003 2:20:53 PM #
I actually think this kind of navigator would work better for action games. The T|T and T|W navigation pads work great for selecting a single direction, but moving from one direction to another is a little awkward, especially with the button in the center. A joystick that can be pushed in (similar to the analog sticks on the PlayStation 2 controller), would work really well, especially if it had a looser feel, while still being a pretty good choice (but not as good as the current 5-way nav) for general app use.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
RE: Buttons / Navigator
graph @ 3/26/2003 3:06:36 PM #
as fas as i know i dont like those kind of directional buttons found on cellphones like the t68i.

but i hope palm isnt like sony when it comes to buttons.

RE: Buttons / Navigator
Stefanos @ 3/26/2003 4:46:51 PM #
"Those single-button "5-way" joysticks are HORRIBLE!!! "

The 5-way joystick on some of SonyEricsson's phones are extremely usable and I would love to see something like them on a PDA. I don't mean the one on the T68i - the T300, T600 and T610 type joysticks are amazing.

RE: Camera
StudentDoc @ 3/26/2003 5:45:20 PM #
I dunno, it really looks like a pop-up camera by the pic. Particularly because of the cutout for the stylus along the top of the camera piece and the piece below.

I don't know, just guessing.

RE: Buttons / Navigator
lcohen @ 3/26/2003 8:45:50 PM #
I think that instead of being a popUP camera, it is a sliding cover for the camera lens. Similar to what is used in many digicams, especialy minoltas, some sony's and olympus. Even the logitech mini camera has something like this.

+--+
|LC|
+--+
RE: Buttons / Navigator
Wollombi @ 3/26/2003 10:56:39 PM #
>"I dunno, it really looks like a pop-up camera by the pic. Particularly because of the cutout for the stylus along the top of the camera piece and the piece below. "<

Well, I may be way off here, but it just looks like a plain old metal slide cover that you move manually (GASP!! You mean I have to *DO* something to make it work?). Kind of like the slider on the T|T, only this only covers the camera lens (and possibly switches power on to the camera circuitry).

Just my $0.02. =)

_________________
Sean

It is not very comfortable to have the gift of being amused at one's own absurdity.
-Somerset Maugham-

RE: Buttons / Navigator
StudentDoc @ 3/26/2003 11:18:17 PM #
Good call on the slide-down cover. That actually makes more sense.

I am looking forward to more info on this possible little gem.

I looks Photoshopped to me.
RAMdŽd @ 3/27/2003 11:06:13 AM #
Or maybe it's just the overall quality of the picture that gives me that impression.

I like the 5W Nav button on the T|T, and don't care for it's implementation on some phones (not enough differntiation when the "ring" and the button are flush with each other.

I hope the joystick (if that's what it turns out to be) is flush enough that you don't feel it in your shirt pocket.

But I can understand the tendency to hit a direction when trying to "push" or activate the "Enter/Select" function.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

Ooops: *IT* looks Photoshopped...
RAMdŽd @ 3/27/2003 11:11:15 AM #
I've *got* to start proof reading.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.
RE: Buttons / Navigator
sunchong9999 @ 3/28/2003 2:17:15 PM #
5-way joystick on my T68i was working very nice! It make me no need to move my finger around buttons. Love to see sth on Palm.

Does Palm becoming slide-addicted? Actually, it the slide of T|T make me not buying it. I think there may have problem after a frequent use (may be just fall apart). I don't want any more slides.

Simply Palm. Keep it compact, no need to be multi-tasked / multi-functional.

Not Bad

Morph @ 3/26/2003 10:41:27 AM #
For the low end of the Palm spectrum I agree this looks pretty good, if this is indeed what it coming out.
Curious though, anyone know what the memory in this device would be? Max color?



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

For what shall it profit a man if he were to gain the whole world, but lose his own soul.

RE: Not Bad
Fammy @ 3/26/2003 10:46:35 AM #
Not crazy about the camera, but I like the rumored feature set and price point.

_____
Fammy
RE: Not Bad
dhchung @ 3/26/2003 10:56:15 AM #
But note that the new Zire doesn't have a microphone according to the picture

RE: Not Bad
i2oadi2unnei2 @ 3/26/2003 11:08:24 AM #
No microphone? You're right, I guess now we can eliminate the feature of recording voice memos...


...|3eep |3eep!!...

SD expansion port
pdangel @ 3/26/2003 2:05:20 PM #
Looks interesting. Palm would be wise to stick to the metal front imho. Is a new Palm model with "SD expansion port" automaticely SDIO supported? So people could use Bluetooth or WiFi SDIO Cards (which are delayed by the way). Sandisk and SyChip say that they will come with WiFi SDIO Card which support Palm OS.

Wi-Fi SD Cards Delayed Until Mid-Year
http://www.brighthand.com/article/Wi-Fi_SD_Cards_Delayed_Until_Mid-Year

It's not a real surprise to me that these WiFi SD Cards are delayed. WiFi integrating into these small SD Cards is very tough imho. Bluetooth is much better qualified (size) to put into small cards and/or products

"There are 2 kind of people my friend....those with wires and those without"

RE: Not Bad
peitron @ 3/26/2003 5:30:00 PM #
Argh! I want my SD Wi-Fi!

"Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?" - Groucho Marx
RE: Not Bad
palm_bomb_dropper1 @ 3/26/2003 7:22:04 PM #
16MB(13 usable) and 320x320, 65,000 colors

RE: Not Bad
Wollombi @ 3/26/2003 10:59:56 PM #
>"16MB(13 usable) and 320x320, 65,000 colors"<

Only 13MB usable?!?!?!?!!!! That's worse than the Tungsten|T which has a more robust feature set!! In this day and age, I'd have to say that it borders on unacceptable, even with cheap expansion memory. Palm is relying too heavily on this concept, IMHO, at least with only one card slot.

Oh, well, it's still better than the recent Clies as far as memory is concerned.

_________________
Sean

It is not very comfortable to have the gift of being amused at one's own absurdity.
-Somerset Maugham-

RE: Not Bad
bcombee @ 3/27/2003 5:33:31 PM #
Having only 13MB of 16MB usable indicates that Palm SG decided to increase the amount of space allocated for the dynamic heap. While affecting main storage, this actually is a good move for games and multimedia programs, because they will have more heap space available, and can do more processing in fast heap memory. Yes, its a trade-off, and going to 32MB would have been nice, but this is a positive thing for developers that want to produce more complex applications.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
Dynamic Heap
Edward Green @ 3/27/2003 6:25:21 PM #
Ben could you tell us more how the ammount of DH memory affects aplication speed?

I know that the Clie's use more, and have heard that Browsers like Netfront are slow on the smaller heaped TT devices, but how does it all work at all?

Edward Green
--
http://www.khite.co.uk

RE: Not Bad
BlueAnon @ 3/27/2003 7:49:16 PM #
More complex application? by God, is it still Zen? Next thing you know people will demand Textmaker for Palm OS.

(sarcasm)

RE: Not Bad
Altema @ 3/27/2003 9:21:35 PM #
"Next thing you know people will demand Textmaker for Palm OS."

Yep, all 5.72 megabytes worth!

(sarcasm noted :)

Post-Zen Palm
Edward Green @ 3/28/2003 4:03:19 AM #
I'm not convinced the Market wants Zen anymore.

The most Zen part of Palm is the OS, Launcher and GUI. Most applications stick to Palm OS look and feel, but more and more are ignoring it.

Most users are not even aware how powerful and quick Palms built in HTML rendering and PQA's are, instead prefering to wait 30 seconds or more for a full rendering. Many applications could benefit from using this within them, but don't.

The weirdest thing about the death of Zen is the VFS solution. Instead of app designers writing software that runs seemlessly with all or some of it on a memory card they leave it up to people to buy third party solutions - So many users replace the launcher with a third party one.

All I want is Palm application designers to create their software so that if I install it on an SD card at Hotsync it runs as normal and can find it's databases. Is this too much to ask?

I don't think there is much room for the Zen of Palm anymore. Palm's seem very tricky to set up and get working to their best ability when they should be very simple.


Edward Green
--
http://www.khite.co.uk

RE: Not Bad
Hotoru @ 3/28/2003 4:25:55 PM #
Hmmm why do I have this feeling this will be an OS4 device with a 160x160 color screen... That makes more sense to me.
Just not sure how they could put out a $250 palm with almost the same specs as the Tungsten for a few hundred bucks less...

Hotoru

RE: Not Bad
palm_bomb_dropper1 @ 3/30/2003 1:48:22 PM #
You know, I really don't care what makes sense to you.
This model is 320 x 320 Transflective 65,000 color, with OS 5.2.1.

All you haters can drop dead.



--------------------------------------
Am I the Man? The man I am.

RE: Not Bad
mikecane @ 3/30/2003 2:29:29 PM #
>>>More complex application? by God, is it still Zen? Next thing you know people will demand Textmaker for Palm OS.

-- damn right I would! And I'm not being sarcastic.

Form Factor

kevdo @ 3/26/2003 10:43:17 AM #
Aside from the plastic rather than metal case, it looks like this is pretty close to the oft mentioned Palm V style OS 5 device.

This looks pretty thin and one hopes will have a Palm V style flip cover on the side rail (rather than over the top where the camera is).

-Kevin Crossman

There's one of my 2003 predictions!!

Lungboy @ 3/26/2003 11:01:42 AM #

Okay, so it's only half right, I don't think they'll be writing off any current Zire inventory.

One down, nine to go. =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eagles may soar but at least weasles don't get sucked into jet engines.

RE: There's one of my 2003 predictions!!
JKingGrim @ 3/26/2003 7:51:31 PM #
What was the prediction?

It's a bit funny

Agonistes @ 3/26/2003 11:00:51 AM #
Is this pretty much the nail in Palm's coffin for innovation? This seems like a half-assed, knock-off of the Clie NR series, in terms of features. (NOTE: I am NOT saying that Sony is leading the innovation charge, but you have to admit that they've done the most to push the envelope in terms of integrated features).

Granted it's much cheaper than the Clies, but still, one has to wonder, if Palm is simply waiting to see what Sony does and copies it. Where's the market leadership? This just tells me "if you want to get the latest in features, get a Sony; if you want to get a cheap knock-off, get a Palm."

RE: It's a bit funny
IanJD @ 3/26/2003 11:16:05 AM #
So anything with a built-in camera is an NR-series knock-off?

RE: It's a bit funny
NR_Alien @ 3/26/2003 11:52:54 AM #
EVERYTHING comes with a builtin camera these days. Heck, I'm going to be able to start buying milk with it's own "built-in" camera soon. For the Zire to have one is no big deal, just following the trend.

NOT FUNNY AT ALL!!!!
gfunkmagic @ 3/26/2003 12:16:46 PM #
How the heck do you figure this is a "half-assed, knock-off of the Clie NR series"? Please tell me if you can mention any PalmOS 5.x pda with integrated camera for under $300 bucks today? What about any PPC w/integrated camera for <$300 bucks? And don't give me the add-on blab bla. This feature set makes the Zire 71 UNIQUE at this price point which indeed very deliberate and thoughtful, not half assed!!

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