• 1src,  editorial

    New Year’s Resolutions


    I’ve posted this week’s 1SRC editorial, New Year’s Resolutions.

    “With all eyes on Palm Executive Chairman Jon Rubinstein and his senior management team in 2008, here are some New Year’s resolutions the company might take under consideration.

    Closing the Books on 2007

    2007 was a tough year for Palm. Earnings were down for two consecutive quarters. The Treo 755p failed to meet the target delivery date for the crucial holiday shopping season for carrier partner Verizon Wireless. The Foleo mobile companion was cancelled just weeks before it was due to begin shipping. No new handheld PDAs were shipped. And Palm CEO Ed Colligan suggested that the new Linux-based operating system, “Palm OS II” as I call it, would not appear on devices until 2009.

    There have been a few successes for Palm. The new Centro smartphone has been a hit. Currently available only from Sprint and in black onyx and ruby red, there are rumors of the imminent release of a new pink Centro on Sprint and the launch of a white GSM Centro on AT&T Wireless. And Palm sold about 27% of the company to private equity firm Elevation Partners.

    Looking Ahead to 2008

    This New Year, Palm should consider the following resolutions:

    1. Drive “Palm OS II” to completion

    The single largest liability for Palm right now is the age of its Palm OS 5 operating system. The current code base that powers the Treo 680, 755p, and Centro was never really intended to power smartphones. The new Linux operating system needs to be completed this year and certified by Palm’s major wireless carrier partners.

    Some of the features that customers will be looking for in Palm OS II include:
    • a true multitasking operating system (voice and data at the same time)
    • an updated modular user interface that still preserves Palm’s ease of use
    • robust file management tools that will interact with other Palm devices
    • robust web browser and email client
    • support for multiple active wireless radios (cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi)”

    Keep reading

  • astraware

    Astraware Mogmanay Party 2008!

    Join Astraware for their Annual Hogmanay Party and save on a range of great games!

    KEELE, Staffordshire, UK – Monday 31st December 2007 – Astraware would like to invite you to their Annual Hogmanay Party sale which starts today – 31st December 2007 – and runs until midnight PST on 11th January 2008!

    Each day during this New Year celebration, one or two games will be offered with huge discounts. With a wide range of action, adventure, word games, puzzles, strategy and card games to choose from, there’s certain to be something for everyone. Each offer lasts for just 24 hours, changing at midnight, so make sure to check back for the new offer each day!

    The first game in the Annual Hogmanay Party on Monday 31st December is the beautiful puzzler Glyph for just $9.95. To grab this, or any of the great Hogmanay offers, head over to http://www.astraware.com/promo/hogmanay08.

  • centro,  rumors

    Rumor: Photos of the Pink Centro Appear

    SprintUsers.com forum member TheRobin has posted what appears to be a promotional photo of the rumored pink Palm Centro that is expected to arrive on Sprint sometime in January or February 2008.

    The information on the release date has been all over the map with rumored launch dates of January 6, January 13, and February 14 (Valentine’s Day).

    Palm and Sprint are going to sell a lot of these things.

    [Thanks to the anonymous tipster who sent this in.]

  • Uncategorized

    Handango Year End Sale

    With PalmGear gone, I’ve started purchasing software from Handango. If you are looking to purchase some software for your new, or not so new, Palm handheld or smartphone you can get 25% off your purchase if you use the codeword YEARENDSALE during check out.

    This offer is good from now until the end of the year (2007).

  • mac os x,  missing sync

    Missing Sync 6.0.2 Now Available

    Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS version 6.0.2 is now available. The Missing Sync is a total replacement for Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager for Palm customers using Mac OS X.

    The Missing Sync 6.0.2 is a big deal for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard users because this version is fully compatibly with Leopard. Some of the other cool features the Missing Sync brings to Mac OS X users include:

    • PIM sync with iSync and Microsoft Entourage
    • iPhoto and iTunes sync (DRM content can’t be synchronized)
    • Wi-Fi network synchronization
    • Mac OS X folder to SD card folder synchronization

    The Missing Sync 6.0.2 is a free upgrade to Mark/Space customers already running an earlier version of 6.0. Mark/Space customers running versions prior to 6.0 are eligible for special upgrade pricing.

    Look for a review later this week on my 1SRC.com Palm-Powered podcast, show 161.

    More information

  • treo

    Treo 755p Reviewer’s Notes: Stop the Blinking!

    So I’ve had the new Verizon Treo 755p for a few days and things have been going well. I’ve moved all of my applications, games, and data over to the 755p and I’m using it as my everyday production device.

    But there is one thing that is driving me absolutely crazy: The nonstop LED blinking while the cell radio is turned on.

    That is where Treoware’s LEDOff comes in. With LEDOff, you can control what alarms and events trigger the LED to pulse. I just turned off Signal blinking for In coverage and now the Treo 755p on Verizon works my Treo 700p on Sprint.

    LEDOff is “donationware” and can be downloaded from the Treoware website.

  • centro,  rumors

    Rumor: AT&T Centro Announcement at CES?

    TreoCentral.com member Nomad2000 has posted some pictures of the GSM AT&T Centro. (The pictures, reportedly, came from Hi-PDA.com.)

    Palm has recently posted that they will be attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) being held in Las Vegas this January. The Sprint exclusive on the Centro is coming to and end by mid-January.

    Is this a cleverly disguised hoax or are Palm and AT&T getting ready to launch another Centro early in 2008?

  • treo

    Treo 755p First Impressions

    Earlier this week Palm and Verizon launched the Treo 755p on the Verizon Wireless EVDO network and today I received Gadgets On The Go’s review unit. Like a kid on, well, Christmas Morning, I tore into the shipping carton to unbox the new Treo.

    Let me start off by saying that new azure green is much better in person than it looks on the computer screen. Sitting on my desk, the new Treo looks like a dark grey or black. Early next year when the company I work for starts deploying them, I will have no hesitation deploying them to the executive team.

    Today is the first time I’ve had a chance to play with the 755p. I really like the the new Treo 755p soft touch paint. The 755p’s new contours along the side along with the soft touch paint make the Treo fit comfortably in your hand. When holding the Treo 700p and 755p, one in each hand, the difference is like night and day.

    I plan on using the Treo 755p as my primary device for the next few weeks and concluding my test drive with a review here on Gadgets on the Go.

    For more information about the Treo 755p, check out Palm’s website.

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]