Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Palm Treo 800w caught with its keys showing]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/palm-treo-800w-caught-with-its-keys-showing/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/palm-treo-800w-caught-with-its-keys-showing/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/palm-treo-800w-caught-with-its-keys-showing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This little bundle of plain-vanilla familiarity is seemingly the first live picture of Palm's upcoming Treo 800w for CDMA networks, known internally as the Zeppelin -- you know, the obsolete airships that had a tendency to spontaneously combust. Specs on this one are starting to shore up, with Windows Mobile 6.1, EV-DO Rev. A, GPS, a 320 x 320 touchscreen (still novel by classic WinMo standards) and a typical Treo look and feel that doesn't diverge terribly much from Palm's tried, true, and well-worn formula. Sprint's looking solid to pick it up come late July, but with those HTCs around the corner, just how much love at the register is this thing gonna get?

[Via PHONE Magazine]

Update: Looks like this thing might also have WiFi. And some serious girth.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>800wbreaking newsBreakingNewspalmtreowindows mobileWindowsMobilewinmozeppelinThu, 15 May 2008 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm gets real on the Zeppelin, adds mystery device named Skywriter]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/07/palm-gets-real-on-the-zeppelin-adds-mystery-device-named-skywri/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/07/palm-gets-real-on-the-zeppelin-adds-mystery-device-named-skywri/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/07/palm-gets-real-on-the-zeppelin-adds-mystery-device-named-skywri/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The hot word on the street is that Palm has all but confirmed the existence of two new phone models by ramping up a "launch developer" program for new applications. The devices, dubbed Zeppelin (a name we've heard quite a bit of) and Skywriter (which is new to us) could be slated for a Q3 release, as Palm is asking devs to turn in their applications by May 30th. Rumor has it that at least one of the units is a "Centro-like" Windows Mobile phone -- if that date is close to correct, it could very well be the "Wanda" that we saw back in January. The Zeppelin, on the other hand, is likely the WiFi equipped Treo 800w we've been hearing about for what seems like a million years. A mockup of a device (above) was included in the email, though we're pretty sure not even Palm could create a phone that ugly.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>launch developer programLaunchDeveloperProgramleakskywritertreo 800wTreo800wzeppelinWed, 07 May 2008 11:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint launching Treo 800w on July 22?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/07/sprint-launching-treo-800w-on-july-22/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/07/sprint-launching-treo-800w-on-july-22/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/07/sprint-launching-treo-800w-on-july-22/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the comforting knowledge that HTC's lovely new devices are inbound for Sprint, we admit, we're having an awful time working up excitement over the 800w at this point -- but we've got to give all these things a fair shake on the open market before we figure out who's king of the Windows Mobile hill this year. WMExperts claims that Sprint is now targeting July 22 for the grand entrance of Palm's latest Treo, a date that would still jibe with the timeline we've already seen in the wild. The potential launch date also brought with it a handful of new tidbits: Windows Mobile 6.1, integrated GPS, an illuminated keyboard that falls between the Centro's and the 700 series size wise, and it's apparently "very fast." It also seems that Sprint's version will likely be coming in Charcoal Black, a color that would fit in nicely with the carrier's trend of launching dark-ish smartphones. If the Curve is any indication, it's a color that'll suit the device well.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>800wpalmrumorsprinttreoWed, 07 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[O2 adds Treo 500 to roster]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/o2-adds-treo-500-to-roster/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/o2-adds-treo-500-to-roster/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/o2-adds-treo-500-to-roster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

O2 offers Treo 500 for free
British carrier O2 has added the previously Vodafone-exclusive Treo 500 to its roster of business class smartphones. O2 is offering Palm's latest Windows Mobile handset for free with certain data and voice plans, which is probably the only way the company could get anyone to take these underwhelming hunks of plastic off their hands.

[Via the::unwired]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>smartphonetreotreo 500Treo500Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm to begin beta testing on new device say emails]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/palm-to-begin-beta-testing-on-new-device-say-emails/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/palm-to-begin-beta-testing-on-new-device-say-emails/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/palm-to-begin-beta-testing-on-new-device-say-emails/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Word on the street (or via super-secret emails) is that Palm is about to begin beta testing on a fancy new device. Apparently, an email went out to select individuals calling for Sprint customers who will use Bluetooth devices and have access to WiFi. The email further requests that potential testers be "seasoned business professionals" who "commute and spend a ton of time working on email and on the phone." From the sounds of things, the company is gearing up to road test its heavily rumored, WiFi-equipped Treo 800w, a Windows Mobile device likely sporting 6.1. If you don't know what we're talking about, it's that mildly dated looking device from Gates' CES keynote that we've also seen in leaks recently. Nice going on the new spec and inclusion of WiFi (at long last) -- now how about some new form factors?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta testingBetaTestingemailmailouttestingtreotreo 800wTreo800wMon, 21 Apr 2008 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon's Palm Centro in the flesh!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/verizons-palm-centro-in-the-flesh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/verizons-palm-centro-in-the-flesh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/verizons-palm-centro-in-the-flesh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


It's not often that a single handset unites all four US national carriers (assuming the T-Mobile thing ends up going down), so we have to give Palm some credit here -- it's an honorable feat. And with the Centro being a surprise break-out success for Palm (a much needed one, may we add), there's no reason to think they won't be able to push a few units on Verizon, too. The first color to launch on Big Red (but probably not the last) will be the very same blue that we've previously seen launch in Mexico. How does everyone feel about it? Check out the gallery for the full host of press imagery!

Gallery: Verizon's Palm Centro in the flesh!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centrofeaturespalmverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 21 Apr 2008 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint saying goodnight to the Treo 755p? UPDATE: Nope!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/10/sprint-saying-goodnight-to-the-treo-755p/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/10/sprint-saying-goodnight-to-the-treo-755p/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/10/sprint-saying-goodnight-to-the-treo-755p/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Feeling pressure from its smaller, sexier, newer cousin -- and every other smartphone, for that matter -- it looks like the Palm Treo 755p has taken its final bow on Sprint. With the Centro stealing the overwhelming majority of the Garnet limelight as of late, it seems there may be little business justification for another Palm OS device on Sprint's network; ironically, Verizon's version just launched four months ago, so we wouldn't sound the final death knell for the devicejust yet. For what it's worth, the classic Treo form factor lives on Sprint thanks to the 700wx -- another Palm device that's getting just a little long in the tooth (like 2006 long in the tooth). We'll admit, we'll probably shed a quick tear or two when the old-guard Treo line finally takes a permanent vacation in favor of newer, more modern looking designs, but we're not really mustering much eye moisture for the 755p here.

[Via Brighthand]

Update: We've gotten word straight from the horse's mouth that the 755p isn't discontinued -- it's merely out of stock, hence the disappearance from Sprint's site. They're "addressing [the] temporary outage of inventory," though, so if you've got a hankering for the larger Garnet piece in Sprint's lineup, hang tight!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>755pgarnetpalmpalm osPalmOssprinttreoThu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Blue Palm Centro in the mix, but not in the US]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/04/blue-palm-centro-in-the-mix-but-not-in-the-us/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/04/blue-palm-centro-in-the-mix-but-not-in-the-us/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/04/blue-palm-centro-in-the-mix-but-not-in-the-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Seems a little bizarre that AT&T would choose to launch white and lime over this more conservative choice -- but they did, and our Mexican friends get to reap the benefits. The blue variant of the GSM Centro is available via Telcel and Movistar -- exclusivity's apparently not an issue here -- and offers specs that are otherwise unchanged from its international cousins. Eh, on second thought, we think we like the white better anyway.

[Via IntoMobile and Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluecentrogarnetmexicomovistarpalmpalm osPalmOstelcelFri, 04 Apr 2008 17:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Centro hits the magical one million mark]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/31/palm-centro-hits-the-magical-one-million-mark/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/31/palm-centro-hits-the-magical-one-million-mark/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/31/palm-centro-hits-the-magical-one-million-mark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Palm's miniscule and wallet-friendly Centro has managed to reach one million units sold since its launch last September. It got its legs working as Sprint and AT&T's gateway smartphone at that fantastic $99 pricepoint, and now it's making a bid for world domination in major markets in Europe and Asia. The one million sales have it nipping at the heels of recent superstar smartphones, the two million plus HTC Touch and the four million plus iPhone, not bad company in the least.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centroone millionOneMillionpalmMon, 31 Mar 2008 17:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon Hub headlines carrier's 2008 initiatives, devices]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/30/verizon-hub-headlines-carriers-2008-initiatives-devices/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/30/verizon-hub-headlines-carriers-2008-initiatives-devices/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/30/verizon-hub-headlines-carriers-2008-initiatives-devices/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We've gotten the inside track on a few dates on Verizon's radar for the next few months, and it looks like the boys and girls in red are prepping an interesting mix of exclusive and Sprint catch-ups to keep customers fat and happy. As handsets go, the Motorola Q9c is planned for April along with the TouchFLO-powered XV6900, LG enV2, and the CDMA rendition of the BlackBerry Curve (so much for exclusivity clauses on this one, it seems), while the Samsung Glyde is currently slated for late April or early May. Centro fans will be happy to hear that the diminutive Garnet phone will finally hit Verizon following Sprint and AT&T launches in the tail end of May or the beginning of June, followed shortly by the Nokia 6205, which apparently isn't either the 2505 or 7205 unless one of those flips have been renumbered.

As technology goes, Verizon looks to launch EV-DO Rev. A-based push-to-talk services -- Sprint folks will know this as Qualcomm's QChat -- toward the end of May. We've also caught wind of something called "Verizon Hub," which we're told will go head-to-head with T-Mobile's HotSpot@Home service. It's not known whether this'll be a WiFi setup (a la HotSpot@Home) or adopt Sprint's CDMA femtocell strategy, but seeing how Verizon and Sprint seem to be endlessly engaged in a game of cat and mouse, we wouldn't be surprised to see 'em go with femtocells. We don't have a date on Hub just yet, but it's targeting the second half of the year at the earliest.

Update: Commenters are noting that Verizon's do-all FiOS phone bares the "Verizon Hub" name, though it doesn't go head-to-head with HotSpot@Home -- and the Hub we're referring to is showing up on Verizon Wireless roadmaps. Weird. We'll keep a close eye on this one.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>62058330blackberrycentrocurveenv2featuresglydehtchublgmotomotorolanokiapalmpalm osPalmOsq9q9cqchatrimsamsungtouchverizonverizon hubverizon wirelessVerizonHubVerizonWirelessvoguevzwwindows mobileWindowsMobilexv6900Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Treo 800w shows up on Sprint roadmap for July release]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/29/treo-800w-shows-up-on-sprint-roadmap-for-july-release/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/29/treo-800w-shows-up-on-sprint-roadmap-for-july-release/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/29/treo-800w-shows-up-on-sprint-roadmap-for-july-release/#commentsFiled under: , ,


At this point the Treo 800w has been outed by Bill Gates himself, so while the suspense factor is pretty low, it's nice to know that it'll finally be getting here in July. That's the word according to this purloined Sprint roadmap, which also indicates the newest Treo will have GPS and EV-DO rev. A -- but still run WinMo 6.0, which is pretty sad, especially if that revised version of 6.1 launches at CTIA next week as expected. Oh well, at least it's a new Treo -- let's just hope they can shake some more ugly off this thing before it hits the street.

[Via PhoneArena]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>800wtreotreo 800wTreo800wSat, 29 Mar 2008 02:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Centros in AT&T stores]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/black-centros-in-atandt-stores/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/black-centros-in-atandt-stores/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/black-centros-in-atandt-stores/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Great news: the more business-friendly alternative to the white / green wild child is filtering into an AT&T store near you. Turns out that pre-production units were seen sporting both metallic and solid black paint jobs, but the final units are solid -- probably the best option, considering that this one will likely see time on a corporate boardroom table or two. Can't have those sparklies reflecting in the fluorescent lights, now can we?

[Thanks, BrainsOnTheMonitor]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attblackcentropalmFri, 28 Mar 2008 14:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey says suits issued BlackBerry over Palm by a wide margin]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/survey-says-suits-issued-blackberry-over-palm-by-a-wide-margin/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/survey-says-suits-issued-blackberry-over-palm-by-a-wide-margin/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/survey-says-suits-issued-blackberry-over-palm-by-a-wide-margin/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Well golly, no wonder Palm's gone on the attack against RIM. Corporate users have historically been the bread and butter of Palm's Treo line of smartphones, and with BlackBerrys of all shapes and sizes continuing to eat every other manufacturers' lunch in that profitable arena, it only makes sense that the company would be feeling more heat than ever. We're forced to take these stats with a grain of salt seeing how ChangeWave doesn't explain its surveying methods in its overview, but we've no reason to doubt the findings that 73 percent of corporate users are doled out a BlackBerry -- the same as was reported in November of last year -- while only 18 percent get a Treo, down from 28 percent a year ago. Now granted, these numbers represent the percentage of devices actually issued, which we suppose could be quite a bit different than what employees would prefer to be issued, but we doubt the difference is enough to equalize these two. What now, Palm?

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberrypalmrimsurveytreoTue, 04 Mar 2008 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm emulated on the iPhone: finally we can leave that IIIc at home]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/23/palm-emulated-on-the-iphone-finally-we-can-leave-that-iiic-at-h/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/23/palm-emulated-on-the-iphone-finally-we-can-leave-that-iiic-at-h/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/23/palm-emulated-on-the-iphone-finally-we-can-leave-that-iiic-at-h/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


StyleTap, the folks behind the CrossPlatform Palm emulator for Windows Mobile have built a proof of concept version of the software for the iPhone / iPod touch. They're not committing to releasing any such product, and aren't releasing the software as a beta or anything like that at the moment, but the video demo of the software in action is certainly promising. All the apps are rather responsive, the device benchmarks a good bit faster than the Tungsten | T, and Apple's keyboard is even integrated into the proceedings quite nicely. Video is after the break.

[Via TUAW]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emulatoriphoneipod touchIpodTouchpalmpalm osPalmOsSat, 23 Feb 2008 19:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's GSM Centro tested for FCC a long, long time ago]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/palms-gsm-centro-tested-for-fcc-a-long-long-time-ago/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/palms-gsm-centro-tested-for-fcc-a-long-long-time-ago/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/palms-gsm-centro-tested-for-fcc-a-long-long-time-ago/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We don't mean to harp here, because we understand how long it can take to get a phone through a government bureaucracy like the FCC -- not to mention that little issue of Sprint exclusivity -- but we were just a little shocked to see that the Centro 685 (the technical full name for the GSM Centro) was tested a hot minute ago. How long ago, exactly? Well, as early as May of last year, according to the test report documentation, though the label shows a first revision of December 11 of frickin' 2006. Ah well, nothing to get too worked up about; at least it's available now, right? Also notable is that someone in either Palm or the testing firm slipped up and made references to the Treo 800w in the label document, so yeah, we can pretty much gather that it's stone cold real at this point (as if there was any doubt).
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>685attcentrocentro 685Centro685fccpalmpalm osPalmOsThu, 21 Feb 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[A more buttoned-up color combo inbound for AT&T's Centro]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/a-more-buttoned-up-color-combo-inbound-for-atandts-centro/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/a-more-buttoned-up-color-combo-inbound-for-atandts-centro/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/a-more-buttoned-up-color-combo-inbound-for-atandts-centro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We're used to carriers typically releasing conservative hues first and resorting to the more wild goods down the road in an effort to revive sales and reach new target demos, but for whatever reason, AT&T is taking quite the opposite approach with its Palm Centro. A gander at AT&T's business site for the low-cost smartphone reveals that "Obsidian Black" is the next stop on the Centro train following the initial launch in Glacier White, so if your job calls for green keypads to be kept to an absolute minimum, hang tight. Right now they're just listing it as "coming soon," but we can't imagine it's too far off.

[Thanks, Leor B.]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attblackcentroobsidian blackObsidianBlackpalmThu, 21 Feb 2008 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T Palm Centro gets reviewed]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/atandt-palm-centro-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/atandt-palm-centro-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/21/atandt-palm-centro-gets-reviewed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Now that the GSM Palm Centro has finally landed on AT&T, it's time to check in with the reviewers to see if the EDGE-only model is still worth the $99 -- and for the most part, it seems like it is. Everyone agrees with us that the green keys are funky-fresh, and old as it is, Palm's Garnet OS is still functional and fast enough to make using the thing relatively pain-free, and it seems like the drop from Sprint's EV-DO to AT&T's EDGE isn't a major hit -- after all, you're still using Blazer. All in all, it looks like the Centro is basically the same on AT&T as it is on Sprint: a solid low-end smartphone at an attractive price.

Read - Laptop: "AT&T customers looking for an easy-to-use smart phone should be satisfied."
Read - TreoCentral: "There are more powerful smartphones out there, but few are as cheap, easy to use, and fun as this little guy."
Read - MobileTechReview: "For those who don't need everything... the Centro is worth a look."
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centrogsm centroGsmCentroThu, 21 Feb 2008 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Centro for AT&T unboxing and hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/20/palm-centro-for-atandt-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/20/palm-centro-for-atandt-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/20/palm-centro-for-atandt-unboxing-and-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Well, you knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. We've gotten our mitts on Palm's latest entry to the AT&T lineup -- a white, gray, and neon-green unicorn known as the Centro. We can't say we're surprised about anything that happened when we opened it up and turned it on, as this model is pretty much identical to the Sprint version we manhandled a few months ago (save for that pesky difference in networks). Of course, the proof is in the Garnet-flavored pudding, and we're not seeing any big differences there, except that this model is sporting the Treo 680 phone tabbed phone interface. Check out the gallery below and experience the thrilling "you are there" feeling of getting a brand-spanking-new phone.

Gallery: Palm Centro for AT&T unboxing and hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centrofeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnpalmunboxingWed, 20 Feb 2008 11:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Centro now official on AT&T]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/19/palm-centro-now-official-on-atandt/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/19/palm-centro-now-official-on-atandt/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/19/palm-centro-now-official-on-atandt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Wow, sure enough, those green buttons are straight up legit -- who'd have thought? The long-rumored GSM cut of the Palm Centro is now officially available on AT&T in the wake of Sprint's expiring exclusivity, giving a whole new world of customers access to the freakishly small (yet strangely adorable) Garnet handset. Unlike Sprint's version, the GSM Centro tops out with EDGE data for a moderately less snappy browsing experience; otherwise, though, your $99 on contract is going to buy you a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, Bluetooth 1.2, support for AT&T's push-to-talk service, and a full (albeit miniaturized) QWERTY keypad. So who's liking this more than the white / gray scheme we'd seen before?

Gallery: Palm Centro now official on AT&T

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbreaking newsBreakingNewscentropalmpalm osPalmOsTue, 19 Feb 2008 00:36:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's Centro unboxed to reveal green keypad -- wait, what?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/atandts-centro-unboxed-to-reveal-green-keypad-wait-what/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/atandts-centro-unboxed-to-reveal-green-keypad-wait-what/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/atandts-centro-unboxed-to-reveal-green-keypad-wait-what/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Boy Genius just grabbed himself one o' them newfangled white Centros for AT&T for a good, old fashioned unboxing, and guess what? The keypad's green. Yep, we can't believe it either. Body's white, keypad's green. Seriously, we couldn't make this up. Before you run down to the store to pick up this $99 fashion statement, though, don't bother -- they're not on sale quite yet -- it's still looking like the 19th is the date you want to circle on your calendar (or program into your 680, as the case may be).
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcentropalmpalm osPalmOsThu, 14 Feb 2008 19:37:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T Centro confirmed for next week]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/atandt-centro-confirmed-for-next-week/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/atandt-centro-confirmed-for-next-week/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/atandt-centro-confirmed-for-next-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

AT&T Palm users: the Centro is definitely on starting next week. We've gotten solid confirmation that next Tuesday (that'd be the 19th, as we heard) will, in fact, be the day Palm's budget handset launches on AT&T. We expect the price should be set at $99, no final word on colors (expect white); we'll check back in next week at launch time.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centroreleaseThu, 14 Feb 2008 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm ads take a shot at RIM's recent Blackberry outages]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/palm-ads-take-a-shot-at-rims-recent-blackberry-outages/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/palm-ads-take-a-shot-at-rims-recent-blackberry-outages/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/palm-ads-take-a-shot-at-rims-recent-blackberry-outages/#commentsFiled under: ,


Nothing says Valentine's Day like trying to cash in on a vulnerable, insecure relationship -- and it looks like Palm's doing its best to, ahem, "be there" for Blackberry addicts left a little shaken by Monday's network outage. The company's taken out full page ads in several national papers and changed its homepage to read that Palm devices include a little something called "uptime" -- which is actually pretty funny since we've got a Treo 750 here that's been rendered all-but-useless by AT&T's various outages these past few weeks, but we'll still grant points for panache. Of course, that still doesn't change the fact that a recent survey ranked Palm dead last in customer satisfaction, but since when has being a homewrecker had anything to do with long-term happiness?

[Via coolsmartphone]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingoutageuptimeThu, 14 Feb 2008 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm ranks last in satisfaction survey, no one surprised]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/palm-ranks-last-in-satisfaction-survey-no-one-surprised/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/palm-ranks-last-in-satisfaction-survey-no-one-surprised/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/palm-ranks-last-in-satisfaction-survey-no-one-surprised/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We know it's probably going to be pretty hard to believe this, but according to a recent survey of mobile phone users, Palm ranks absolutely last in customer satisfaction. If you believe what the folks at ChangeWave Research have to say (and the 4,182 people they questioned), only 30-percent of Palm users reported being "very satisfied" with their device, while companies like Apple and RIM garnered 72-percent and 55-percent, respectively. Of course, considering current trends with the company, and the fact that it's just started paying out to users for repeated repairs on devices, this doesn't come as much shock. The report demonstrates that users are moving to smartphones at an alarming rate -- but with rankings like this, they're probably avoiding Palm devices. Guys, it might take a little more than Bono to fix this mess.

Update: Our friends at Palm contacted us with some supplemental information which they wanted to get across concerning this research and related studies. According to them, two separate, third-party firms (Satmetrix and Russell Research) conducted studies which came to the opposite conclusion of ChangeWave's work. In their words: "The Satmetrix survey found that 65-percent of respondents rated their overall satisfaction with Palm as an 8-10 out of 10. Also, the Russell Research study found that 56-percent of respondents were either "very satisfied" or "extremely satisfied" with their Palm smartphone device."

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changewave researchChangewaveResearchcustomer satisfactionCustomerSatisfactionlastlowestpalmsurveyWed, 13 Feb 2008 09:41:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's Palm Centro en route for launch next week?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/atandts-palm-centro-en-route-for-launch-next-week/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/atandts-palm-centro-en-route-for-launch-next-week/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/atandts-palm-centro-en-route-for-launch-next-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Can't you just feel the excitement in the air? AT&T stores are apparently starting to spout off about white, $99 Centros being available starting next Tuesday, February 19, and it seems like a pretty plausible date. We've separately been told that the cute lil' Garnet handsets are expected to be shipping to stores some time this week -- just in time to make the 19th a reality for customers eager to get their paws on the latest tech Palm has to offer -- while previous intel had indicated that it'd definitely be available some time before early April. In other words: yeah, we believe it.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcentropalmpalm osPalmOsrumorWed, 13 Feb 2008 03:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Centro, now in spicy European GSM flavor]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/07/palm-centro-now-in-spicy-european-gsm-flavor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/07/palm-centro-now-in-spicy-european-gsm-flavor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/07/palm-centro-now-in-spicy-european-gsm-flavor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Palm's GSM Centro has been about the worst-kept secret in the entire smartphone industry for the past few weeks, and indeed, it's now official -- for Europe, anyway. The unlocked handset features a quadband GSM / EDGE radio with nary a trace of UMTS in sight (this is still Garnet, after all), 64MB of user-available storage, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and a 320 x 320 display -- in other words, the same Centro we all know and love (or tolerate, or despise, depending on your point of view) with just a little bit less CDMA and 3G data to its name. It'll hit the British market on the 14th of the month and the remainder of Europe by the end of February for €299 or £199 (roughly $440 or $392); no word on when the official AT&T version will be available yet, but US folks desperate for one of these unlocked versions in the meantime shouldn't have a lot of trouble importing it, we'd imagine.

[Via Treonauts, thanks Andrew]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centroeuropegarnetgsmpalmpalm osPalmOsukThu, 07 Feb 2008 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's airport stores not closing, because they don't belong to Palm]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/palms-airport-stores-not-closing-because-they-dont-belong-to/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/palms-airport-stores-not-closing-because-they-dont-belong-to/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/palms-airport-stores-not-closing-because-they-dont-belong-to/#commentsFiled under:


Anyone who was sent into a panicked tizzy over Palm's decision to close its retail locations just won a small consolation prize: those precious airport locations are here to stay. Turns out they're not owned by Palm, but rather licensed by vendor Airport Wireless; they might be rebranded, but their line and bold mission statement should both remain unchanged. So the next time you happen to be passing through from LGA to LAX, rest easy knowing that the opportunity to buy overpriced electronic merchandise from a variety of vendors will still be alive and well.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport wirelessAirportWirelessclosingpalmpalm storePalmStorestoreWed, 06 Feb 2008 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's releases through early April: yes to Centro, no to Vu?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/atandts-releases-through-early-april-yes-to-centro-no-to-vu/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/atandts-releases-through-early-april-yes-to-centro-no-to-vu/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/atandts-releases-through-early-april-yes-to-centro-no-to-vu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We've just been slipped some bittersweet information that we deliver with a heavy heart: AT&T's latest pricing information, which runs through April 7, apparently makes no mention of the hotly anticipated LG Vu. There's no mention of the Samsung Access, either, leading us to believe that the carrier's mobile TV launch may have been pushed out one more time for good measure. Of course, we suppose it's possible that there's no delay and they just haven't slipped pricing details to stores yet, but we're jaded enough at this point to say that another slip is entirely within the realm of reason. Now, onto some happier tidbits: the black version of the Shine should launch, along with the Sony Ericsson Z750 in pink, gray, and purple, the long-overdue 5700 low end smartphone, the white Centro sporting push-to-talk support, and the Motorola Z9 slider -- which AT&T curiously identifies as "ruggedized." We don't remember anything remotely rugged about the one we saw, but whatevs.

[Thanks, Kal]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5700attcentroclamshellcu720ericssonfliplgmotomotorolapalmshineslidersmt5700sonysony ericssonSonyEricssonstarcomutstarcomz750z9Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's Treo 755p gets fresh firmware]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/04/sprints-treo-755p-gets-fresh-firmware/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/04/sprints-treo-755p-gets-fresh-firmware/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/04/sprints-treo-755p-gets-fresh-firmware/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's that most exciting time of the year for owners of Palm's Treo 755p on Sprint -- firmware update time! Unfortunately, Palm's being extraordinarily vague about the goodies contained deep within this particular binary; they simply call it a "tune-up" that improves "audio, stability, software quality and device usability." Sounds good to us. Palm warns users to set aside a mind-boggling 45 minutes of their lives that they'll never get back for the pleasure of updating, so be warned, and make sure you have a block of time where you really don't care if anyone is trying to call you.

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>755ppalmromsprinttreoupdateupgradeMon, 04 Feb 2008 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Centro coming to T-Mobile, too?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/palm-centro-coming-to-t-mobile-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/palm-centro-coming-to-t-mobile-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/palm-centro-coming-to-t-mobile-too/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


An AT&T-branded Palm Centro pretty much seems like a foregone conclusion at this point, but what about that other GSM carrier over there? Yep, the latest rumor has Palm's smallest, cheapest handset heading over to T-Mobile at some point, owing to some giggling (no, seriously) by Palm's CFO when asked about the prospects. The move would make some sense considering that Sprint and Palm are both pleased as punch with the Centro's brisk sales and the fact that Sprint's period of exclusivity is drawing to a close. Interestingly, it also sounds like any possibility of a Verizon Centro is in jeopardy following the 755p delay debacle. Drama!

[Via Everything Centro, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centropalmrumort-mobileMon, 28 Jan 2008 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm to close all retail locations but one, for real]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/26/palm-to-close-all-retail-locations-but-one-for-real/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/26/palm-to-close-all-retail-locations-but-one-for-real/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/26/palm-to-close-all-retail-locations-but-one-for-real/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If our solemn word wasn't enough to convince you of trouble in retail-ville for Palm, take this news as empirical. According to the smartphone-maker, it is officially shuttering all of its retail locations but one over the next five weeks. Originally, we thought that the airport locations would steer clear of the axe, but news today is that 34 stores total -- 26 airport-based and eight branded stores -- will be saying adios before long. Sure, this news doesn't sound real hot, but Palm claims they want to cut costs and focus on its next-gen phones, which is what we've been asking them to do all along... so maybe this is a blessing in disguise?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingsconfirmationpalmpalm storePalmStoreretailstoreSat, 26 Jan 2008 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[The Palm Treo 500, now SIM free]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/25/the-palm-treo-500-now-sim-free/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/25/the-palm-treo-500-now-sim-free/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/25/the-palm-treo-500-now-sim-free/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We're not confident that many folks were waiting with bated breath for this to go down, but sure enough, that rumored unlocked Treo 500 we'd told you about is now a reality. Features mirror Vodafone's original -- 256MB of storage, 2 megapixel camera, UMTS, Windows Mobile 6 Standard -- the only difference is that the Vodafone logo is now stone-cold gone from the phone's face, replaced with a more generic Treo logo. Grab it now for £269 (about $528) -- but beware if you're stateside, there's no 850MHz support for GSM and the 3G data resides only on the 2100MHz band.

[Via PHONE Magazine and Reg Hardware]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500vpalmstandardtreoukwindows mobilewindows mobile 6WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6wm6Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Blast from the past: come get your Treo 600 / 650 settlement!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/blast-from-the-past-come-get-your-treo-600-650-settlement/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/blast-from-the-past-come-get-your-treo-600-650-settlement/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/blast-from-the-past-come-get-your-treo-600-650-settlement/#commentsFiled under: ,


For most, the Treo 600 and 650 are old enough so that we don't really remember if we had troubles with 'em or not -- but apparently we did, and some owners are now entitled to a little chunk of cash to show for it. A class action lawsuit filed against Palm "claimed that the Treo 600 and Treo 650 smartphones had certain defects, failed at unacceptable rates, and that Palm made misrepresentations concerning the Treo 600 and Treo 650 smartphones," and Palm just decided to settle the whole tiff rather than take it to trial. This means that if you owned a Treo 600 or 650 that required two or more repairs and ended up purchasing a new device within a certain period, you get a little spending money -- or you're entitled to some free repair work, even if your Treo didn't require two or more trips to the shop. Naturally, there are some rules and regs involved -- this is a legal matter, after all -- so head on over to the site to figure out whether you're affected and how you can cash in.

[Thanks, Michael G.]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>600650class actionClassActionpalmsettlementtreoThu, 24 Jan 2008 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[More Palm Treo 800w specs leak out, no change in ugliness]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/more-palm-800w-specs-leak-out-no-change-in-ugliness/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/more-palm-800w-specs-leak-out-no-change-in-ugliness/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/more-palm-800w-specs-leak-out-no-change-in-ugliness/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


For the handful of you left still getting stoked on Palm news, here's some interesting tidbits. The folks over at WMExperts have gotten some "possible" specifications of the Sprint-bound Treo 800w (or as we like to call it, the Gatesnote Palm) and are sharing them with the world. According to the sources, the new Windows Mobile 6-based Palm phone will be Centro-thin, trade the old proprietary HotSync connector for a mini-USB jack, has a dedicated hardware switch for turning WiFi on and off, will sport EV-DO Rev. A, Bluetooth 2.0, as well as 802.11g, and utilizes microSD cards in addition to its 256MB of memory. The article also says that the 2-megapixel camera takes "decent" pictures, and there is an additional 128MB of memory for "something else." More shocking (and possibly stupid) is that Palm has removed the headphone jack altogether, and users must employ some type of miniUSB contraption or go Bluetooth. Ed, if this is one of those breakthrough devices you mentioned, color us unimpressed.

[Via Treonauts]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>800wpalmrumorspecificationsspecsspeculationtreotreo 800wTreo800wThu, 24 Jan 2008 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm retail stores to close by month's end]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/palm-retail-stores-to-close-by-months-end/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/palm-retail-stores-to-close-by-months-end/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/palm-retail-stores-to-close-by-months-end/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Oh Palm, things just seem to be going from bad to worse. After your recent (and repeated) Palm OS II delays and employee layoffs, you really should be due for some good news -- but that's not the case today. According to a member of the TreoCentral forums who cites "sources," Palm will be folding all but its airport-based retail locations by the end of January. Apparently, other forum members have checked in with their local stores and gotten word from reps there that the doors are indeed shutting, so it seems like this is a go. Palm, we're not going to say you're in your darkest hour just yet, but we're pretty sure you can see it from where you're standing. C'mon guys -- get it together!

[Thanks, Anonymous]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosingspalmpalm storePalmStoreretailWed, 23 Jan 2008 23:02:00 EST<![CDATA[GSM Treos get Google My Location functionality via MyLocation]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/22/gsm-treos-get-google-my-location-functionality-via-mylocation/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/22/gsm-treos-get-google-my-location-functionality-via-mylocation/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/22/gsm-treos-get-google-my-location-functionality-via-mylocation/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An enterprising developer named Razix, when frustrated with the lack of support for the Palm Treo 600, 650 and 680 in Google Map's My Location -- for those not in the know, that's GPS-like magic sans GPS -- functionality decided to build his own. Piggybacking on top of the Google Maps app, MyLocation performs the same feats of mystery, intrigue, and cell tower triangulation that most other platforms are already enjoying and there's no need to wait for Palm to get it in a pile to do so. The program is free but ad driven, so if you want to do away with the location-based adds, you'll need to cough up $10 or more to end your suffering. We've not tried it but would love to see how you all get along, so if you do drop us a line, let's make a game of whose reported locale is closest to bein' true.

[Via PalmInfoCenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleGPSMy LocationMyLocationPalmRazixTue, 22 Jan 2008 20:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's Vista-compatible Desktop 6.2 arrives woefully late]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/19/palms-vista-compatible-desktop-arrives-woefully-late/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/19/palms-vista-compatible-desktop-arrives-woefully-late/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/19/palms-vista-compatible-desktop-arrives-woefully-late/#commentsFiled under: , ,


C'mon -- hop in this nifty time machine here and float with us back to December of 2006. That month, friends, is when Palm initially stated that it was cooking up a Vista-savvy iteration of its Desktop synchronization software, and yet, here we are some 13 months later wondering what took so long. Nevertheless, a finalized version of Desktop 6.2 for Vista has finally been loosed (half a year after the beta was revealed, mind you), and even though it does play nice with 32-bit editions of Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate, 64-bit Vista / XP users are still left out in the cold. For Palm (and Vista) users out there willing to forgive the tardiness, go on and hit up the read link to get the 65.2MB file headed over.

[Via PDAStreet]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessdownloadHotSyncpalmpalm desktopPalmDesktopsoftwaretreovistawindowsSat, 19 Jan 2008 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm, i-mate, others moving manufacturing contracts back to HTC?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/17/palm-i-mate-others-moving-manufacturing-contracts-back-to-htc/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/17/palm-i-mate-others-moving-manufacturing-contracts-back-to-htc/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/17/palm-i-mate-others-moving-manufacturing-contracts-back-to-htc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We thought that HTC's bold venture into the direct-to-consumer space pretty much spelled doom for its once-burgeoning ODM business, but apparently not. We don't know if these guys are just exceptionally good at what they do, exceptionally cheap, exceptionally convincing, or some combination of the above, because a report out of Taiwan's Commercial Times claims that Palm, i-mate, and MWG -- all companies who've moved their manufacturing contracts solidly away from HTC in recent years -- have come back into the fold, ultimately bumping HTC's contracting business to account for more than 10 percent of its total business in the first quarter. We're skeptical that these three brands (all of whom compete with HTC at retail) would suddenly decide to throw up the white flag at roughly the same time, but considering the kinds of things that happen when other ODMs come into the picture, a little HTC TLC could be just what the doctor ordered.

[Via IntoMobile]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewshtci-matemanufacturingmwgodmpalmThu, 17 Jan 2008 17:09:00 EST<![CDATA[First Palm OS II devices to hit early 2009, is it already too late?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/14/first-palm-os-ii-devices-to-hit-early-2009-is-it-already-too-la/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/14/first-palm-os-ii-devices-to-hit-early-2009-is-it-already-too-la/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/14/first-palm-os-ii-devices-to-hit-early-2009-is-it-already-too-la/#commentsFiled under: ,

We wish we were kidding. Palm is sticking with its early-2009 projection for the upcoming Linux-based relaunch of the Palm OS -- possibly codenamed Nova. That means this date isn't exactly a surprise, but we've really been hoping that this 2009 business was some sort of bad dream, since it's abundantly clear that Palm needs a new OS yesterday. To clarify further, Palm's Stephane Mass stated that Palm expects to wrap the OS late in 2008, and get tool to developers in time for devices early in the next year. Palm plans to keep offering Windows Mobile and Palm OS devices, and to make Centro the heart of its 2008 lineup.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>novapalmpalm ospalm os iiPalmOsPalmOsIiMon, 14 Jan 2008 22:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Pink Palm Centro now official, Hello Kitty branding nowhere to be found]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/14/pink-palm-centro-now-official-hello-kitty-branding-nowhere-to-b/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/14/pink-palm-centro-now-official-hello-kitty-branding-nowhere-to-b/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/14/pink-palm-centro-now-official-hello-kitty-branding-nowhere-to-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As if there was any doubt that the rumored pink Centro was going to happen... well, go ahead and put those doubts to bed. Palm's website is now showing the pink (or light red, if you will) miniature Garnet device for Sprint in all its glory, sporting the same $99.99 asking price as its alternatively-hued cousins. It's apparently available (or will be available shortly) in a Sprint store near you, so if the whole mail order thing isn't your cup of tea, head on over there and have a gander.

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centropalmpinkMon, 14 Jan 2008 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T branded Palm Centro looks pretty legit]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/12/atandt-branded-palm-centro-looks-pretty-legit/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/12/atandt-branded-palm-centro-looks-pretty-legit/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/12/atandt-branded-palm-centro-looks-pretty-legit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Yeah, it could be fake, but if you had to pick one handset to fake up in Photoshop, would this really be it? Seriously? Sprint's exclusivity agreement on the Centro is just about to expire, undoubtedly opening a floodgate of carriers rushing to pick up the low-end Garnet phone, so if neither Sprint nor AT&T are your carrier, we'd recommend you just hang tight for a bit.

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcentropalmpalm osPalmOsSat, 12 Jan 2008 16:14:00 EST