Rumor: New palmOne Handhelds on the Horizon

Posted By: PIC Thursday, February 26, 2004 12:02:43 PM

Possible new information regarding palmOne new spring handhelds has come into light. New rumor material is pointing to an update to the Zire series for the palmOne's cyclical spring product launch.

palmOne Zire 31
The previous rumors on the Zire 31 come from a thread on the TomPDA Chinese message board. The initial specs reveal that it will be powered by a 200 MHz Intel chip. It will have 16 MB of SDRAM, 4MB/8MB FLASH ROM OR Mask ROM, a 160x160 pixel TFT color display, and a USB/DC connections similar to the Tungsten E connectors.

A now removed, leaked image showed a pre-production prototype with a blue hued case, 2 application buttons, a center navigator and a silkscreen input area. It is powered by a internal rechargeable battery. In a first for the entry level Zire models, it will include a SD slot on the top similar to the one on the TT3 which has a built in dust cover.

Zire 71 Update
While not naming any new product names, information from a reliable source in China has shared some details about the possible specs and features for an update to the palmOne 71 model. Most palmOne handhelds are now manufactured in China and a number of recent accurate product leaks have come from sources within China.

The new unit is said to have a integrated 1.3 mega-pixel digital camera and will include Bluetooth wireless networking. The handheld will run on a 300 MHz Intel chip, and have 32MB of RAM. The models is also said to include a built in voice recorder as well.

Article Comments

 (98 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down View Full Comment Thread

Tungsten updates?

Fernando @ 2/26/2004 12:30:21 PM #
fist post :D

any news of a tungsten update on the horizon?

RE: Tungsten updates?
TTrules @ 2/26/2004 4:15:27 PM #
[any new tungsten update on the horizon?]

I should hope so. Zires have never been my ideal handheld. I have a pocket-sized three mega-pixel camera with zoom, video, and everything else. Why would I need some scanty-featured integrated thing? I would much prefer a good clamshell Tungsten with a 4 inch portrate-landscape VGA screen on one side and keyboard on the other with a good battery, wifi and bluetooth, a 400 megahertz processor, two sd slots and a good software bundle. I would pay almost anything for something like that.

One Palm to rule them all!

RE: Tungsten updates?
jmchamblis @ 2/27/2004 3:26:12 PM #
Palm just released a $50 rebate on the Zire 71, price drops ususally indicate new models are not far away.

It was about time!

a3 @ 2/26/2004 12:40:45 PM #
I was wondering where are the new PalmOne products... Nevertheless, with a heavy heart I must admit that neither will fit the spot that I am waiting for.

_________________________________________________________
Current fan of a 320x480 tablet shaped PDA with built in BT+Wifi for less than US$500

Built in camera? *sigh*

sgingras @ 2/26/2004 12:44:11 PM #
A built in camera pretty much means that I won't be buying that unit. I don't need a low-quality camera, I don't want to pay for one, and my employer doesn't want me bringing one to work.

Looks like I'll be stretching my TT for a couple more months/years.

RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
kevdo @ 2/26/2004 1:15:37 PM #
Uh, then don't buy it! Buy a Tungsten E instead!

The Zire 71 is definitely in need of a refresh and an upgrade to the camera is a good move. I wish this unit had 64 mb of RAM instead of 32 mb but at least that too is an upgrade. I hope this updated unit will have the updated PIM apps as well.

-Kevin Crossman, Palm Powered Software Champion

RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
robman @ 2/26/2004 1:52:22 PM #
Can anyone with manufacturing / distribution experience comment on how difficult and expensive it would be to ship a version of the Zire 71 with a shim in the place of the camera and the lid glued shut? I love the Zire 71, but I have a digital camera I carry all the time anyway...



Palm Enthusiast since 1998

RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
hotpaw4 @ 2/26/2004 2:17:39 PM #
PalmOne may have figured out that they can actually charge more for models without a built-in digital camera, given that customers who either already carry high megapixel cameras, and/or work in areas where cameras are not allowed can afford to pay a price premium.

So sticking camera into lower profit consumer models might be one of their ways of segmenting the market. Non-businesslike case colors might be another.


RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
whitemiata @ 2/26/2004 11:50:49 PM #
Robman,

I did the research you requested and have some numbers for you:

$199.99

For that price we'll even double the RAM and throw in Documents to Go.

Sounds good to you?

If so, you'll be able to order it in... 5...4...3..2.. NOW!

Just go to www.palmone.com and look up Palm Tungsten E.

Glad I could be of assistence!

RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
robman @ 2/27/2004 12:22:51 PM #
I own a Palm Tungsten E. I am already regretting my first Palm without a cradle, it's no fun.

Everything about the Zire 71 is right for Palm except the camera---I think if they made a version that was identical but had no camera and no sliding back, it would sell better and prove to Palm that these cameras are silly.

Palm Enthusiast since 1998

No camera PDA for me either.
RAMdŽd @ 2/27/2004 12:23:07 PM #
Uh, then don't buy it!


Well, that *is* what he already said.

I don't care for the trend of built-in cameras either (look at all the cellphones with one), but I don't think they'll do that to the Tungsten line. At least I hope not.

I'm pretty happy with my T3, and don't really know what, at the moment, I would want to improve upon it.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
Altema @ 2/27/2004 4:13:58 PM #
"I don't care for the trend of built-in cameras either (look at all the cellphones with one), but I don't think they'll do that to the Tungsten line. At least I hope not.

I'm pretty happy with my T3, and don't really know what, at the moment, I would want to improve upon it."

Ditto on both points. I tried to get a BT phone without it and could not at the time. Silly thing is that they give you a camera and let you attach photos to contacts on my phone (photo shows up when they call), but only give it 2MB RAM. DUH!

On the other hand, I like my T3 enough where I'm not really interested in looking for a replacement. Late at night playing AcidSolitaire with a cool photo backdrop and a jazz album playing in the background while I wait for my wife to finish hijacking my BT cell connection for email... life is good ;)

RE: Built in camera? *sigh*
Wollombi @ 3/1/2004 12:43:37 PM #
>>"Everything about the Zire 71 is right for Palm except the camera---I think if they made a version that was identical but had no camera and no sliding back, it would sell better and prove to Palm that these cameras are silly."<<

Better yet, put a CF slot in place of the camera as well. Then you could get CF WiFi (or whatever else you wanted to add), a MicroDrive, etc. while still having use of your SD card.


>>"I'm pretty happy with my T3, and don't really know what, at the moment, I would want to improve upon it."<<

One thing: Battery life. I have the Power To Go, and it's nice, but I would still prefer that the internal battery last longer, and possibly be removable/replacable.

_________________
Sean

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

I am betting on 64 MB

Timothy Rapson @ 2/26/2004 1:43:46 PM #
Why in the world would PalmOne put a 300 MZ processor, 1.3 MP camera, and all the rest (especially WiFi) in a model with only 32 MB. I bet on 64. PalmOne was always cheap on RAM until the C and TE3 came out. I think they must know better by now. Although Dell was dumb enough to drop a CF slot from their bottom line model and still ask more money for it with only 32 MB. Pointless.

I see a new Zire 72 with VG, 64 MB, and BlueTooth more likely than a WiFi model as described.

We are also likely to get an upgraded E that replaces the TE3 and another E that replaces the current one the way it looks by the latest rumors.

I was >< close to getting a TH55 and may still do so if the long battery life reports continue to hold up to scrutiny and if none of the PalmOne models are any good at all. As it now looks, I will much more likely get a T3 at discount when they are discontinued, a TE2 or a TE style T3 replacement (man the names/numbers are getting odd!). My new Minolta camera has an SD slot. Perfect for swapping to the PalmOne line.

Anyway, I see lots of good choices finally coming by the end of March and it's high time we did see them. The VG models from Sony have just gotten bigger and less functional until the TH55 and the PPC ones have gotten cheaper and smaller all the time. If the PalmOne Spring lineup pans out as I expect it to from these reports I, for one, will be keeping Palm OS in the hunt to return to high 80% area of worldwide handheld sales. If they blow it the way they did with the M series I will just buy a stupid PPC for $150 and learn to put up with it. I am not going to spend $400 for Sony/PalmOne models with hardware specs like those of the $200 PPCs from Dell, HP, AND Toshiba.

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
hotpaw4 @ 2/26/2004 2:13:08 PM #
Larger amount of memory increases a devices cost and reduces its battery life. One can always buy an SD card if they need more than 16 or 32MB.
RE: I am betting on 64 MB
robrecht @ 2/26/2004 3:12:05 PM #
Timothy, who said anything about WiFi in these models.

If the T3 isn't refreshed, I too may get one anyway to tide me over until we can evaluate the Cobalt models. Wouldn't want to miss out on that cool stylus if the T4 abandons the slider as some have rumored.

Has anyone heard ANYTHING substantive about a T3 refresh or replacement any time soon? Are we thinking Summer or maybe even October????

Thanks, robrecht

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
helf @ 2/26/2004 3:27:35 PM #
tim, thats tt3. not te3 :)

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
TTrules @ 2/26/2004 4:44:40 PM #
I don't get what the whole RAM thing is about. The difference between 32 and 64 megs internal memory is not anything like the difference between having a 512 meg sd card and not having one at all. Just buy the pda and get a card.

One Palm to rule them all!
RE: I am betting on 64 MB
G M Fude @ 2/26/2004 5:21:28 PM #
Agreed, ttrules; I have a T|T with a whole bunch of additional apps on it and still have 8 MB of free memory. That's why we have SD cards and software like JackFlash/Sprat. And I still haven't filled my 256 MB card with apps and files and Oggs.
RE: I am betting on 64 MB
mikecane @ 2/26/2004 5:23:17 PM #
>>>If they blow it the way they did with the M series I will just buy a stupid PPC for $150 and learn to put up with it.

I hope you won't be counting on its alarm, uh, feature...

...go buy the TH55.

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
helf @ 2/26/2004 5:23:47 PM #
ok, its very simple. lots of programs arent vfs friendly if at all. so your ram can quickly fill up with databases and such. its not liek a pocket pc where you can run anything off a card with no problme :) hence the reason everyone wants more ram.

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
Vidge @ 2/26/2004 6:27:12 PM #
"I don't get what the whole RAM thing is about. The difference between 32 and 64 megs internal memory is not anything like the difference between having a 512 meg sd card and not having one at all. Just buy the pda and get a card."

Not all programs can run well from the card - some can't run at all. Plus, even if the program can be run from the card, it quite often is quite slow. So I prefer more RAM and to use the card for what it was intended: storage.

Moderator, Daily Gadget
http://www.dailygadget.com

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
patchwork @ 2/26/2004 6:56:55 PM #
I disagree. We should not *have* to store all of our apps in internal memory or Flash ROM.

Applications for the Palm platform should really be moving toward making full use of the VFS capabilities of the system. And there are several excellent apps that do, from the Palm OS app itself through to the conduit and desktop software. Docs2Go (Commercial) and Plucker/Jpluck (Open Source) are just two examples, both with the ability to access, store and sync files directly to the card, using RAM only as swap space.

I'd love to get to a situation where all of my apps and data are stored on my SD card, and the internal memory is just used for swap space. And in that regard, the 16MB on my T|T has been serving me just fine.

===

-P-A-T-C-H-W-O-R-K-
A Trini Palm Nut
III - IIIe - IIIx - M500 - T|T - ??

Come visit Trinidad & Tobago at
http://www.visittnt.com
http://www.triniscene.com

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
Hal2000 @ 2/26/2004 7:54:46 PM #
Hey, why we're at it, how about dual batteries and 128MB?

Zodiac2/T616
1.128 gigs under the hood.
RE: I am betting on 64 MB
Timothy Rapson @ 2/26/2004 9:09:10 PM #
RE:

WiFi....Oops, I read "wireless" and thought WiFi. I don't need either, but BlueTooth is not a big cost so not so bad if they include it.

RE: Helf "tim, thats tt3. not te3 :)"

No, I meant to type TE3. The latest rumors say that Palm is dropping the slider in both the top Tungsten model and the Zire camera model. The reporter of this info surmised that the whatever replaces the T3 will be more like a high end TE model. If he was correct we could see four new models. The Zire 72 & 31. The Tungsten TE2 & TE3. The TE2 might have the same TI processor and add only VG to the current feature set. The TE3 would have 64MB, 400MZ, BlueTooth and maybe even WiFi built in.


Lots of speculation here on my part.

As to 64 MB. That is what I want. Resco photo viewer can keep the thumbnails for 900+ photos on the card with the photos, but I think it will show them instantly if they are in 8 MB of RAM. I want all my basic tools in RAM and only old files I don't access all the time or work on to be on the memory card. Then when I backup to the card everything gets backed up to the card. I may be a little excessive with backing up. After all a complete hard reset is rare for Palm OS and regular desktop syncs mean losing much data is unlikely. But, I like to use it like I like to use it and so long as the PPCs can include 64MB for less than $200 I want that on my Palm too.



RE: I am betting on 64 MB
helf @ 2/26/2004 10:18:05 PM #
ah, ok :)

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
Timothy Rapson @ 2/27/2004 7:16:45 AM #
RE:
RE: I am betting on 64 MB
mikecane @ 2/26/2004 5:23:17 PM

>>>If they blow it the way they did with the M series I will just buy a stupid PPC for $150 and learn to put up with it.

I hope you won't be counting on its alarm, uh, feature...

...go buy the TH55.

Who knows? I know this sounds insane, TOTALLY INSANE, but since I already gave up on getting a really good camera function in a PDA (I bought a Minolta X20 for real flash, 2MP, and 3X optical zoom.) I carry both the camera and the Clie (with the now redundant built-in camera) around 24/7. So what is the difference if I get two PDAs? I could get a $40 original 2MB Zire for alarms and addresses and a Toshiba E805 with a wireless keyboard for laptop replacement.

The trouble is the Scot Evest might not hold it all! If my employment situation changes as it might this Summer I may also need a cell phone! I could be such a geek! Why oh why did the humble PDA not live up to the dream of being the whole enchilada? I don't want to carry all of these, but nothing less seems to be working out.


RE: I am betting on 64 MB
mikecane @ 2/27/2004 8:23:20 AM #
Do you ALWAYS carry a camera? You'd probably carry the PDA more, which wouldn't necessarily make its camera redundant.

Carrying two PDAs... I've thought about that, but I use my shirt pocket and one is enough for it.

If you actually own an e-vest, you're in a category of your own here, I think.

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
Timothy Rapson @ 2/27/2004 8:17:05 PM #
Yes, I've been carrying the Minolta in my pants pocket for a couple of weeks and am using it all the time rather than my Clie. I don't mind the extra stuff to carry. A smaller PDA for my shirt pocket will go well with it. What I would love is a T3 without the slider (and no taller than 4.5 inch Zire 71) for less than $300. As it is, the high price and slider are just annoying enough to keep me from getting one at least until I see what is coming in March.

RE: I am betting on 64 MB
abosco @ 2/28/2004 1:54:10 AM #
Should've gotten rid of the NR and Minolta and traded up for an NX80v. ;) More PDA than an NR in the same space, 1.3 MP camera vs the 2.0 MP camera in your current one, and the difference isn't that large. Might have been worth it, even now. It would considerably condense your current payload, that's for sure. Carrying a separate camera around everywhere is nuts.

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616
RE: I am betting on 64 MB
Timothy Rapson @ 2/28/2004 8:15:14 AM #
Yes, the truth is that I AM NUTS. I talk to a psychologist every day (in the mirror when I shave. Though I carry mail for a living I have a Master's Degree in Social Psychology.:)

I seriously considered the NX80 or 73 (aren't those both 1.3 MP?) However, neither have flash or optical zoom that my Minolta does. Besides which the NX series is seriously fatter than my NR. And heavier. My shirts sag. I really think the Tungsten E with VG in my shirt pocket and the Minolta in my pants pocket will work very well for my desires. And I am no longer up for Sony's Memory Stink scam. Anyway, that will keep me from having to geek up to the vest for now:)

Zire 31

Kesh @ 2/26/2004 2:19:35 PM #
Well! This was better than I thought. I figured they'd just slap an SD slot in the 21 and call it a 31. The extra memory and speed are a nice addition. I think that'll be my next handheld, since I doubt I can afford a 71-revised.

RE: Zire 31
yusakugo @ 2/26/2004 4:46:57 PM #
The Zire 31 also changed the processor into the Intel XScale 200MHz instead of the Texas Instrument OMAP 123MHz processor in the Zire 21

cpus..

helf @ 2/26/2004 3:28:21 PM #
palmone is going to just use intel from now on I suppose =(

sucks

RE: cpus..
TTrules @ 2/26/2004 4:40:51 PM #
No, I am willing to bet that they are going to use the TI OMAP 2 processors as soon as they are ready for handheld use. Those things look much more powerfull than anything intel has to offer.

One Palm to rule them all!
RE: cpus..
helf @ 2/26/2004 10:44:40 PM #
I do hope you are right :)

RE: cpus..
Palminator @ 2/28/2004 10:43:40 AM #
>> Those things look much more powerfull than anything intel has to offer.

What exactly are you basing this on? The OMAP 2 CPU's announced are 330MHz (which is below the current 400MHz XScale cpu's which have been around for a couple of years) and the DSP is not being utilized in any PalmOS design ... so, I would say they are still behind the current generation of XScale and will fall further behind once next generation XScale parts are announced this year.

RE: cpus..
hotpaw4 @ 2/28/2004 7:23:00 PM #
The TI OMAP 2 product bulletin says that the ARM11 CPU *starts* at 330 MHz and can go up to 1 GHz. But the clock rate alone isn't as important without taking into consideration the power consumption. It will be interesting to compare the MIPs per milliwatt of the OMAP 2 with the Intel XScale and other follow-ons.

And the OMAP DSP is used in the T|T and T|T2 for audio mixing and rate conversion, note how some mp3 sample rates sound better on the T|T2 than on some Clie models. The new Cobalt graphics API's will also be able to better take advantage of a DSP for 2D acceleration (faster gradient fills, etc.) and media codecs.



RE: cpus..
helf @ 2/29/2004 8:30:47 AM #
and, MHZ isn't everything. when will people start understanding this.. jeez..

T3 with Wi-Fi

palmhiker @ 2/26/2004 3:38:53 PM #
I just want a T-3 with Wi-Fi and decent battery life.

Is that really too much to ask for?

Seems like a no-brainer, especially with Sony's TH55 out now (and looking pretty good, I might add, even without landscape support and with memoryschtick).

Top View Full Comment Thread
Achtung! Only the first 50 comments are displayed within the article.
    Click here for the full story discussion page...

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: