Computer Outlook
"Palm Handheld Lifestyles"
February 17, 2005
SHOW NOTES
Palm OS News
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PalmSource May 2005 DevCon
- Dates are official, May 23rd - 26th at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California
- Early bird pricing is $399, which ends April 1st. $699 after that, so that's a 40% savings!
- A companion price is currently set at $199
- Past conference fees were $999 so this year is more affordable than ever.
- Even if you're not a programmer, there's plenty of hands on access that makes it worth your while.
- To register, select this link.
Worldwide PUG meeting May 23nd
- A PUG meeting for all PUG leaders and Palm OS Users
- An annual event with plenty of giveaways and speakers
PalmSource Brings Out New Phone Software
- Includes the following software:
- PalmSource mFone for Smart Phones -- a complete architecture, GUI and application set for smartphones
- PalmSource Feature Phone -- a complete architecture, GUI and application set for feature phones (aka NOT SmartPhones)
- PalmSource mMMS -- an enhanced short message service which includes support for audio and video
- PalmSource mBrowser -- an HTML and WAP browser and is classified as a "micro browser"
PalmSource Delivers Java to Treo 650 and Tungsten T5
- It can be downloaded, free of charge, from palmOne's web site.
- The Java Technology for Palm OS Garnet toolkit is available to registered developers from PalmSource's web site.
- WEME is already available for the Treo 600 smartphone, the Tungsten family of products, as well as the Zire 72 handheld from palmOne.
Nintendo May Have Licensed the Palm OS
- Just a rumor at this point
- Believed to be the new "V-Pocket", a complete line of personal organizer tools for the Nintendo DS.
- Announcement believed to be coming from Nintendo at E3, May 17th - 19th
- PalmSource will neither confirm nor deny the rumor.
David Nagel Interviewed by InfoWorld
- Linux is the future and the PDA is NOT dead
Handheld Chess Program Defeats Grandmaster
- This is the first time that a Palm chess program has won a match with a Grandmaster.
- 2 wins, 2 draws
- Jan Gustafsson is a rapidly rising Grandmaster with a FIDE rating of 2616 Elo, which puts him in the top 100 chess players in the world.
- Palm HIARCS runs on any device running Palm OS 3.5 or later. It costs $39.48 (29.99 Euros).
Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard for Palm OS
- Driver finally here for Palm OS!
- Runs on two AAA batteries
- Compatible with Treo 650, Tungsten T2, T3, and T5
- The Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard can be purchased from the Think Outside web site for $149.
Xdrive Does Music Streaming for Palm OS
- Install a music player on your Treo or PDA that supports the streaming of .mp3 (audio) and .m3u (playlist) file types. Xdrive recommends Pocket Tunes Deluxe.
- Upload music files to Xdrive, and use Xdrive's features to create a playlist. Members can have Xdrive's tech team upload their songs by using the Mail in a Disk program.
- Download your playlist to your local computer and use the palmOne Quick Install software to transfer the playlist file to your phone.
- Locate the playlist on your phone using your music player, and play. The music will stream from Xdrive to your phone.
Qualphone Joins Palm Powered Mobile World
- Qualphone is a leading provider of interoperable mobile embedded 3G/IP Multimedia Sub-system (IMS) client solutions and services.
- This means that Palm OS Smartphones could get even cooler.
SplashBlog for Palm OS Photoblogging
- Targeting the Treo series, SplashBlog is a streamlined way to photoblog.
- SplashData is offering free photoblogs on their site
- Currently $19.95 ($10 off regular price)
pa1m0ne News
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palmOne's CEO Resigns
- Todd Bradley has resigned
- Ed Colligan, who was interviewed on Computer Outlook on October 25th, 2004, is the interim president
T5 Drops $50 Due To Rebate
- Drops the price to $349
pa1mOne May Make Handheld with Folding Display
- Technically, they've just been awarded a patent. Doesn't mean a device is in the works.
Treo 650 Launches All Over The Place
- Cingular in the US
- GSM released in Hong Kong and Australia
- pa1m0ne selling an unlocked GSM phone
SmartPhone News
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Samsung Announces 1st Quarter Offerings
- No new Palm OS Smartphones announced
Verizon Wireless Sued Over V710 Bluetooth Limitations
- Due to crippling of BlueTooth features
Sprint Opts Not To Pick Up The Samsung i550 Palm OS Smartphone
- If Verizon passes, this phone may never see the light of day
- Successor to the Samsung i500 and includes built-in camera and other nice upgrades.
Qool QDA-700 Smartphone Up Close
- The phone is just becoming available in parts of Europe and the Middle East.
- Palm OS Garnet based Smartphone that includes:
- 1.3-megapixel camera
- a high-resolution, 2.8-inch color QVGA (240x320) display
- 32MB or RAM
- 802.11 SDIO support
- WAV/MP3/MIDI ring tone supportability
- MP3 player and MEPG4 video capture and playback capabilities
- It uses a tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900mhz) radio.
Tapwave News
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Tapwave Turns Down Gameboy Emulator
- In an interesting turn of events, Tapwave has refused to sign Firestorm gbaZ.
- Since an application signature is required to use any Zodiac specific features, CrimsonFire is unable to release the custom Zodiac version of Firestorm to the public.
Arvale: Journey Of Illuision Is Released
- PDAMill’s latest game for PalmOS
- RPG (Role Playing Game)
Other Licensees News
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AlphaSmart to Merge with Renaissance Learning
- Strengthens their education market penetration
- AlphaSmart will be on the show in April
A+ for Fossil Wrist PDA
- 3rd party app being marketed as a "Service Pack"
- Adds a ton of cool and specific features for the Fossil Palm OS Watch
- $9.95
Other News
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NPUG Geo Cache Trying To Go Around The World
- Started in Nashville, Tennessee
- Currently in Washington State
- Encouraging other PUGs to help move it around the globe.
Cool Deal Of The Month
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Get The T5 For An Effective Cost Of $80
- MSRP is $399, less a $50 rebate = $349.
- If you buy any palmOne model over $299, you get a free universal wireless keyboard, too, normally worth $70. That brings the effective price to $279.
- You also get a $49 hard case, free after rebate. That takes us down to $230.
- If you trade in that old Visor or Clie or other handheld, you get $50 more back. Now we're down to $180.
- Join Audible for a year membership, and get another $100 off, dropping the effective price to $80.
- Shipping is free from the palmOne Store, so the bottom line is a brand new Tungsten T5 effectively for only $80
- That's cheaper than a Zire 21!