1SRC Podcast SixtyNine

[Alan G]

This week we cover the latest 1SRC Editoral, Calling All Palm Developers and I breakdown and wrap up the details from Palm's Q3 FY06 earning report conference call. [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=1492)]

[Jeff Kirvin]

What? No comments? We have proof that PDAs are, like Neanderthals, about to give way to the sleek Cro Magnon smartphone hotness of all things Treo, and not a peep from any of you?

[Dick Tracy]

Thanks for the 'cast Alan. It will be interesting to see when Palm (or rather the carriers) unveil the new Treos.

@Jeff, I've been seeing this coming for a while. I don't want to be a slave to no stinkin' carrier and their garden walls but expect that I will be assimilated. As far as the rest of the peeps in these parts, I think they're still swimming (we know the name of de River; 4 letters, not in Egypt) or slackjawed.

I was just in an OfficeMax. They still have T5 on display in PalmOne branded fixture (along with Z22, E2, and TX). There was a better selection of accessories than my last visit to the Palm Store (ahem, kiosk). Around the corner by the routers were the $49 Royal organizers pretending to look like PDAs. Who buys those?

[rcartwr]

What? No comments? We have proof that PDAs are, like Neanderthals, about to give way to the sleek Cro Magnon smartphone hotness of all things Treo, and not a peep from any of you?

I am witholding comment till I get a chance to listen to the Wedensday...oh wait a minuite. THe podcast was not up till Friday morning so I, who do not have a great IT job where listening to podcasts can be part of work, have not had a chance to listen yet. <G>

Bear in mind that one person's "sleek hotness" is another persons burning oil slick.

Sorry. Just had to say that. <G>

[Jeff Kirvin]

I can't listen at work either, but I did listen to it in PTunes on my lunch hour...

...on my Treo.

[Jeff Kirvin]

BTW, in case anyone's wondering, that's me in my avatar taking of picture of myself with my Treo in the reflection of a Chipotle window at night here in Aurora, Colorado.

What? Too geeky?

[JAmerican]

BTW, in case anyone's wondering, that's me in my avatar taking of picture of myself with my Treo in the reflection of a Chipotle window at night here in Aurora, Colorado.

What? Too geeky?
Wow, I see your hand and Treo now.

@Jeff, I've been seeing this coming for a while. I don't want to be a slave to no stinkin' carrier and their garden walls but expect that I will be assimilated. As far as the rest of the peeps in these parts, I think they're still swimming (we know the name of de River; 4 letters, not in Egypt) or slackjawed.

I was just in an OfficeMax. They still have T5 on display in PalmOne branded fixture (along with Z22, E2, and TX). There was a better selection of accessories than my last visit to the Palm Store (ahem, kiosk). Around the corner by the routers were the $49 Royal organizers pretending to look like PDAs. Who buys those?

AGREED!! I had a Sidekick before (which was basically my first smartphone) and it was great until I wanted to cancel my service. I had to remove all my data off of it manually and it was a pain. I know the Treo can hotsync but the Treo is still connected to a carrier. As Dick has said, its not fun to have your PDA stuck with a carrier. It limits you. Like for example, if your carrier raises the price of your data plan, what are you gonna do, go and get another PDA? If you had a GSM Treo from Palm, getting another carrier is costly (if contract has not expired and annoying) but if you have a CDMA device, your stuck. Like currently T-Mobile has stopped BT DUN service on my phone. So now I'm looking for a new phone or carrier. If I had a Treo, if I wanted to get a Sprint Treo, that would mean getting a new Treo, when I already own one. Its ridiculous! Once cell-phone carriers are more generous and less harsh, then is the time to consider smartphones but other than that, its not really that great of an idea. Look at Alan, he's fed up with Verizon and his Treo because of the cost. What can he do but to stick it out until the new Treos come out. He can cancel his service but then you have an expensive PDA with no networking and no WiFi. Treo may be taking over, due to its aimed toward the common person and created for the common person, but to the tech community, in my opinion, people won't just have a Treo but will have multiple devices.

JAmerican

[Alan G]

Look at Alan, he's fed up with Verizon and his Treo because of the cost.

Fed up with VZW only. I like my Treo.

What can he do but to stick it out until the new Treos come out.

If I wasn't such a geek, I'd have picked up a Treo 650 a long time ago.


He can cancel his service but then you have an expensive PDA with no networking and no WiFi.

I do have my Wi-Fi enabled T5, I just can't use it everywhere. But that's what I have an iPod for. See, a 3 body solution does have it's advantages! :D By the way, I got my Treo 600 at a discounted price as part of a special offer from Palm.



but to the tech community, in my opinion, people won't just have a Treo but will have multiple devices.

Amen.

Alan G

[Alan G]

BTW, in case anyone's wondering, that's me in my avatar taking of picture of myself with my Treo in the reflection of a Chipotle window at night here in Aurora, Colorado. What? Too geeky?

I was wondering where the picture was taken and why there is a row of lights across the image. "And knowing is half the battle."

Alan G

[Alan G]

THe podcast was not up till Friday

As I stated in the podcast, due to the slow news week, I wanted to wait until the new actually broke before I did the show. Otherwise, show 69 would have been about 5 minutes long.

Alan G

[Alan G]

It will be interesting to see when Palm (or rather the carriers) unveil the new Treos.

And that is the 64Million dollar question. I'm waiting with baited breath.

They still have T5 on display in PalmOne branded fixture (along with Z22, E2, and TX).

I'm usually patroling Staples and CompUSAs. The Zire 72 and the LifeDrive look like they are on the Endagered Species list. I'm circuling waiting to snach up a LifeDrive.

Alan G

[rcartwr]

I can't listen at work either, but I did listen to it in PTunes on my lunch hour...

...on my Treo.

Whats a lunch hour?

@Alan,

Good analysis of the numbers. I fear that you are right about the product roadmap. I will say that Palm should consider that there will be a market for the non connected or wi-fi PDA. Hospital apps come to mind. THis is a market where the miini slate would shine. Legal is another area. And those of us who cannot carry phones in some areas where we work. I also fear that Palm is doing the thing that they just can't do, which is become too beholden to Microsoft.

[Alan G]

Whats a lunch hour?

That is a mythical time of the day that I keep reading about, right?

With all due respect to Jeff, who said this was coming a year ago, like you Rick, I still think that there is still a niche market for non-cellular devices be it a Tungsten-style slate or an Newton-style mini-tablet. I agree that there are applications for mobile computers that can not have cellular capabilities. In addition to the markets you've pointed out, I'd like to add universities also. Cellular can be a huge cost burden. A wi-fi build out at a college might be cheaper in the long run. Once you by the routers/access points, there is no monthly charge for the school. The on-going monthly cost should be a consideration when choosing the technology to deploy.

I don't want to think about the unholy pact that Palm had to make with Microsoft.

Alan G

[HBL]

I carry 4 devices with me. My TX, Nano ipod, Nokia 6585(VZW) and my Olympus 5050 digital camera. A Treo could replace all 4, Just not very well.

The convergence you all talk about may very well be upon us. It doesn't mean however i have to follow the herd. I will continue to juggle my sepeate devices for the forseeable future, thank you very much.

[asiayeah]

I carry 4 devices with me. My TX, Nano ipod, Nokia 6585(VZW) and my Olympus 5050 digital camera. A Treo could replace all 4, Just not very well.

The convergence you all talk about may very well be upon us. It doesn't mean however i have to follow the herd. I will continue to juggle my sepeate devices for the forseeable future, thank you very much.

I also carry multiple devices with me.

I carry a Treo 650 daily, of course. But I sometimes also carry an ipod shuffle, for its small size (better than carry a bulky Treo audio adapter) and excellent iTunes synchronization. I am also carry a 3G phone for video conferencing!

[Alan G]

could replace all 4, Just not very well.

Why do you think that cameras and voice recorders have disappeared from Palm's handhelds? Because they can't do those functions as well at the non-converged devices. The Treo strikes the perfect balance between cell phone and PDA and it is successful because Palm has stayed true to that vision. The upcoming Treo 700p will be the first Treo with a 1MP + camera. It's rumored to be 1.3MP. But there is no word on if it will have a flash. Personally, I don't think it will.

Alan G

[smoothjordan]

Why do you think that cameras and voice recorders have disappeared from Palm's handhelds? Because they can't do those functions as well at the non-converged devices. The Treo strikes the perfect balance between cell phone and PDA and it is successful because Palm has stayed true to that vision. The upcoming Treo 700p will be the first Treo with a 1MP + camera. It's rumored to be 1.3MP. But there is no word on if it will have a flash. Personally, I don't think it will.

Alan G

no flash, just a mirror

[johnsoax]

Hmm, If this is true, the world will loose a very dedicated PDA user. I will say this for the last time: I WILL NEVER OWN A TREO. My cell phone die on me too often and my PDA's last too long for me to ever consider a combined unit.

Please explain how a Treo can make my life easier? I would love to hear it.

At home I have a 6MB cable modem with a router. I have a whole house eithernet network (and Wifi), with computer based DVR with a playstation media server to play the shows on the tv easily. I have a 15.2" powerbook as my main computer. I use a T3 as my personal PDA. It does a ton of stuff. Now the treo 650 could do them all, except it isn't a wide screen, so less info. I have a Moto V330 as my cell phone from T-Mobile. I only sign one year contracts. If I need any information on me when I am out and about, then it is usually sitting on my T3, or I can look it up with the V330 (Weather, movie times), with my $5 a month data plan.

At work I have a Dell computer with internet access and a Dell Axim x50 as my work PDA. Never shall personal information be put on the Axim. I also have a Nextel work cell phone. Never shall it be used for personal calls.

I work in a Chemical plant, so I can't take any of the items (except the nextel) into the field as the devices are not rated for the Area Classification, and my office building, for some reason, blocks ALL cell phone signals.

Again, how will a treo help me? Except to lighten my wallet by having to spend more for an unlimited data plan.

Personally, I think I will probably buy a TX in a month or two, use it for a year or two and then see where the market is. I do frequent many places where Wifi is available now. Heck, Chicago proper is going to have a whole city network soon. The gas station with just a kiosk for a counter has wifi in it. All free for quick info.

If you are correct, and Palm is dropping Handhelds, the silent majority of handheld users will sigh, and find another solution to their needs. A $400 (after carrier subsidee) device tied to a carrier just won't fly for much longer.

The two people that I know that even want a smart phone. One already has one, he is the expansion director for the fraternity, and the other is my father, and that is because he uses his Tungsten T and his Moto V710 for his business and he is tired of carrying two devices. But he is going to get the Treo 650 with NO data plan, as Verizon is his only option and it is $50 a month extra.

Everyone else I know gets the free phone, or whatever phone has bluetooth so they can use a wireless headset.

And don't forget, I am the financial director of a National fraternity, and I know 100's of college guys. And they are more interested in cell phone with blinking things, and txt messenging then having a smart phone.