T655 replacement coming in end of Febuary! Pics of the SJ33G!

[Shogmaster]

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=4880

Hopefully this isn't a redundant thread.

[gif]

Yes, but There does not appear to be much proof for the T655 replacement cited in the article. At least not in compairson with what was provided for the new SJ model.

[Shogmaster]

The same "source" that gave them the pics also told them about the T655 replacement coming in end of febuary, so I say the chances are good that it is being replaced then.

Replaced with what, that's the question..........

[gif]

Oh, I didn't get that from my first read of the article. Good point. Should be interesting to see what comes out. Damn.. and I was going to purchase an NX-60 next week. Now maybe I'll have to wait to see what Sony has in the pipeline.

[Jake K]

Originally posted by gif
Oh, I didn't get that from my first read of the article. Good point. Should be interesting to see what comes out. Damn.. and I was going to purchase an NX-60 next week. Now maybe I'll have to wait to see what Sony has in the pipeline.

Don't wait for Sony. If you always wait for the next new unit to come out, you won't get a Clie till 2010 or even later!

[Jonavin]

Any idea on the specs for T665 replacement yet? I was pretty certain that it would be a VG/OS5 device but who knows. What else could it have to differentiate from the SJ33?

Since the SJ33 is only 33Mhz... it's still possible for Sony to release a new T series that has the 66Mhz CPU and thus it won't be OS5.

It has to be better in some way but don't expect VG/OS5/Bluetooth automatically. The only improvement for the SJ33 is the MP3 player... The T665 still has a faster CPU... it only needs one more feature to be significantly different.

I'm afraid the T-series with VG/OS5/Bluetooth/removable battery I've been waiting for isn't going to come out for another month or two.

[bg002h]

it makes sense that the next model after the sj33 from sony should come in at about $400, since that's just under the tungsten T. Perhaps the new device will have one or more of VG/OS5/Bluetooth. I'd bet it'll have the cheapest one of the previous list (Would that be bluetooth?)

[Jonavin]

Come to think of it, it could just be a simple upgrade to Grafitti 2 and support for MemoryStick Pro.

I think people are expecting too much. Sony doesn't usually upgrade their models in leaps and bounds... just steps. That's why they release a new one every other week. That's why I think We're a least six months away from the ideal T series everyone is dreaming of.

EDIT: But boy, wouldn't I LOVE to be proven wrong!

[Shogmaster]

Originally posted by Jonavin
Come to think of it, it could just be a simple upgrade to Grafitti 2 and support for MemoryStick Pro.

I think people are expecting too much. Sony doesn't usually upgrade their models in leaps and bounds... just steps. That's why they release a new one every other week. That's why I think We're a least six months away from the ideal T series everyone is dreaming of.

EDIT: But boy, wouldn't I LOVE to be proven wrong!

If it has MS Pro support, it has to be a faster processor than Dragon Ball, and that would probably mean OS5.

[Unicorn]

The T665 replacement will have the following additional (and modified to current T665) specs:

1) Built-in bluetooth
-- why? They had done it in NZ, why not?

2) VG and Grafitti 2
-- It will be running the latest OS5 and screen will be 320x480.

3) Sunken buttons
-- just like the in upcoming SJ33

4) TV Tuner and FM tuner.
-- I guess so,

5) Thinner than the current T665

6) GPS, GPRS and SMS, Piscel Viewer
-- if Garmin can on GPS why not Sony. Sony's GPS Memory stick is selling well in Japan.

7) Dual Memory Stick Pro slots
-- one for storage and one for the new WiFi MS Pro currently in development.

OR
An MS Pro slot only but compliant with 2-in-1 MS PRO (memory card and Wifi).

8) Voice Recorder and enhanced MP3 player and vibrating Alarm as well.

9) Fastest ARM processor in the market.

10) cost? $500

[aboyd1103]

Unicorn--
Where are you getting your info on the t665 replacement specs? Is that just speculation on your part? I would love to know...

[Eric S]

Originally posted by Shogmaster


If it has MS Pro support, it has to be a faster processor than Dragon Ball, and that would probably mean OS5.

I disagree. I read on here somewhere that Sony stated that all future Clie's would be MS Pro compatible, and the SJ-33 isn't any faster than the SJ-30. So either the SJ-33 isn't MS Pro compatible, which would be a bad move even if it didn't contradict their MS Pro announcement, or it is and MS Pro doesn't rely on a faster CPU.

I'm still of the opinion that the reason that MS Pro isn't compatible with the older Clies is because Sony doesn't want to have to update the firmware on every PDA they've sold. We're all familiar with how much Sony likes updating the OS in devices that are already sold. I'm not ruling out hardware issues, that's just the way I'm leaning.

Personally, I'd love to see a T with OS5, VG, and better buttons. I'll preorder it if they announce it. But I suspect that if they did a T-series with OS5, they wouldn't call it a T-[something]. TX? Well, at that rate, it's down to semantics and quibbling. Hope for the best, and if Sony doesn't provide, I'll probably get myself an iQue for my birthday :)

[Bionic Antboy]

Here's what I want...

(OS 5, voice recorder, 400MHz proc, 32 MB RAM, MS slot, CF slot and built in Bluetooth)...

http://www.dougplanet.com/TX_files/TX75-big.jpg

The CF slot is on top. The voice Record button and MS slot are on the opposite side. :)

Instead of an up/down toggle there is 8 way JoyPad with a similar feel to the one on the Sony-Ericsson T68i. Eight directions only supported by appropriate software.

Nice T665 style magnesium/chrome trim.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by Bionic Antboy
Here's what I want...

(OS 5, voice recorder, 400MHz proc, 32 MB RAM, MS slot, CF slot and built in Bluetooth)...

http://www.dougplanet.com/TX_files/TX75-big.jpg

The CF slot is on top. The voice Record button and MS slot are on the opposite side. :)

Instead of an up/down toggle there is 8 way JoyPad with a similar feel to the one on the Sony-Ericsson T68i. Eight directions only supported by appropriate software.

Nice T665 style magnesium/chrome trim.
I'd buy that in a heart beat:)

[[Jett]-Mallize]

hehe. that looks sweet.. if only u were at sony!!!!

[Shrink]

Neat! I wish I wish!!
alan

[Eric S]

Bionic Antboy: funny, I was just thinking about an 8-way JoyPad this weekend, though I think that the 8-way should be a little larger. Never used the T68i, so I can't directly comment, but my wife and girlfriend (not cheating, see www.polyamoury.org) both complain about problems using those kinds of thumbpads on remotes and such, since their fingernails get in the way.

400Mhz isn't critical, 200Mhz is fast enough for me (Yes, I've got an NX-60, and it's already too fast at some games).

Bluetooth also isn't critical.

32MB, however, would be really nice, nicer than both of those put together.

The only other thing I'd add would be the (debugged) official Sound Streaming Featureset so that 3rd party MP3/OGG/whatever players could use the same API on both the TX75 and the Tungsten T.

Excuse me while I go eat crappy food and dream of the perfect PDA.

[Bionic Antboy]

I guess the JoyPad (or whatever) could be bigger, but from playing around with the T68i, I liked the small size. I think it's meant to be manipulated by the pad of your thumb, so long fingernails shouldn't get in the way.

I'd actually like 64 MB and a STANDARD CF Slot, as well :)

I'm not sure how much tech they can cram into something the size of a T series device though (esp with the larger screen). I added the Bluetooth, since it seems to be something that Sony is doing anyways. I didn't want to make a machine that would be impossible to manufacture at this point in time, but since I'm not an electronics engineer, I just guesstimated :)

As it stands, this hypothetical machine is slightly thicker than a T665, just because it does have all that stuff in it, but not so much so (about 1/16 inch thicker and same dimensions width and Height...all built to scale

As for the whole wife/girlfriend thing, that's cool. Anything that involves any number of consenting adults and props is okay by me (not that it's necessarily what floats my boat). :)

[OcellNuri]

Originally posted by Eric S


I disagree. I read on here somewhere that Sony stated that all future Clie's would be MS Pro compatible, and the SJ-33 isn't any faster than the SJ-30. So either the SJ-33 isn't MS Pro compatible, which would be a bad move even if it didn't contradict their MS Pro announcement, or it is and MS Pro doesn't rely on a faster CPU.

I'm still of the opinion that the reason that MS Pro isn't compatible with the older Clies is because Sony doesn't want to have to update the firmware on every PDA they've sold. We're all familiar with how much Sony likes updating the OS in devices that are already sold. I'm not ruling out hardware issues, that's just the way I'm leaning.

Personally, I'd love to see a T with OS5, VG, and better buttons. I'll preorder it if they announce it. But I suspect that if they did a T-series with OS5, they wouldn't call it a T-[something]. TX? Well, at that rate, it's down to semantics and quibbling. Hope for the best, and if Sony doesn't provide, I'll probably get myself an iQue for my birthday :)


If the SJ33 is MSPro compatible, it means they rebuilt the MS port hardware to support it. The MS hardware is not integrated into the 33mhz Dragonball, it is a seperate piece of hardware. I think if the next T is going to support MSPro (which, as you stated, Sony has said all future units will) then it will have to be ARM. Sony would not put out a T series replacement that is 33mhz, and they couldn't use the 66mhz Dragonball SuperVZ because the MS hardware is actually built into the chip. They can't redesign the MS hardware without redesigning the whole CPU. This would mean manufacturing new Dragonball SuperVZ's, a very expensive idea for both Sony and Motorolla. This is why I'm pretty confident that the next T will be OS5 with an ARM chip. I will be honest though, I'm not 100% confident in my knowledge of how the MS hardware works, I'm going on what I have read from technical websites. I'm still about 90% sure though.

[Jonavin]

Lot's of great ideas, but I think we're smoking something here. You guys are too optimistic. We have to look at what Sony has released and kind of project what the next T will have.

It's a pretty safe assumption that the new T won't have anythign more than what's in the NZ90. I mean nobody's goign to buy the NZ90 otherwise. A lot of these extra features are great and Sony could probably pull it off too... but the quetsion is do they want to YET.

So I don't think we should expect any more than 16MB RAM and maximum of 200Mhz Xscale, if that at all.

If you're talking about 6-9 months from now, sure. I wouldn't be surprised if all these features plus more becomes a reality by the end of this year... but we're still a good 2 or 3 releases away from that.

[Eric S]

Originally posted by Bionic Antboy
I guess the JoyPad (or whatever) could be bigger, but from playing around with the T68i, I liked the small size. I think it's meant to be manipulated by the pad of your thumb, so long fingernails shouldn't get in the way.


As long as it works, cool by me :)

I'd actually like 64 MB and a STANDARD CF Slot, as well :)


Not sure what I'd do with that much RAM. You can never be too prepared for next week's insanity, however. Win developers don't seem to care at all how large the apps are anymore, and I've seen a hint of this attitude creeping into the PalmOS community.

I'd settle for a standard SD/SDio slot instead of CF, that should make things fit easier.

I'm not sure how much tech they can cram into something the size of a T series device though (esp with the larger screen). I added the Bluetooth, since it seems to be something that Sony is doing anyways. I didn't want to make a machine that would be impossible to manufacture at this point in time, but since I'm not an electronics engineer, I just guesstimated :)

Start with the Gamin iQue then, as it has most of the features. You're trading out the SD slot for an MS slot and a CF slot, but you're also dropping the GPS stuff, including the antenna and bulge. You wind up with something not much larger than a T665, so I think it's doable.

Trading an up/down button for the 8-way joypad (9-way, counting presses, right?) shouldn't be a major issue. Oh, if you add the press, that means that it will be two way for software that is clueless, 5-way navigator compatible for software that knows that standard, and 9-way navigator compatible for software that knows that one :)

I don't see why you can't have IR, CF, and MS all on the top. The HandEra had IR, CF and SD all on the top.

As for the whole wife/girlfriend thing, that's cool. Anything that involves any number of consenting adults and props is okay by me (not that it's necessarily what floats my boat). :)

Oh, I'm not pushing it on anyone either :) Just short-circuiting anyone dismissing my opinion because I'm an "undesireable." :) We tend to get funny looks when we introduce our extended family (4 adults living in two halves of the same duplex).

Oh, there's one more thing I'd like to see in the TX-75. A louder speaker. I'm not talking household alarm clock loud, but at least as loud as the typical travelling alarm clock.

Jonavin: I'll agree that we're blue-skying here on some of this stuff, but some of what we're talking about IS in the NZ. OS5, virtual grafitti, BlueTooth. These are things I think we can suspect, if not expect, at least, out of the next mid-range tablet-form Clie. That came out wrong. It will be a mid-range Clie (because the top of the line is a clamshell with camera), but top-of-the-line tablet-form Clie.

[Jake K]

Originally posted by Unicorn
The T665 replacement will have the following additional (and modified to current T665) specs:

1) Built-in bluetooth
-- why? They had done it in NZ, why not?

2) VG and Grafitti 2
-- It will be running the latest OS5 and screen will be 320x480.

3) Sunken buttons
-- just like the in upcoming SJ33

4) TV Tuner and FM tuner.
-- I guess so,

5) Thinner than the current T665

6) GPS, GPRS and SMS, Piscel Viewer
-- if Garmin can on GPS why not Sony. Sony's GPS Memory stick is selling well in Japan.

7) Dual Memory Stick Pro slots
-- one for storage and one for the new WiFi MS Pro currently in development.

OR
An MS Pro slot only but compliant with 2-in-1 MS PRO (memory card and Wifi).

8) Voice Recorder and enhanced MP3 player and vibrating Alarm as well.

9) Fastest ARM processor in the market.

10) cost? $500


HAHAHAHA!

Maybe when hell freezes over!

All that in the T series form????????!!

Thinner than the current T665???????

[Eric S]

Originally posted by OcellNuri
Sony would not put out a T series replacement that is 33mhz, and they couldn't use the 66mhz Dragonball SuperVZ because the MS hardware is actually built into the chip. They can't redesign the MS hardware without redesigning the whole CPU.

They wouldn't have to redesign the whole CPU, only the relevant sections. Happens all the time. Integrated CPUs are cookie-cutter designs, often with swappable cores surrounded by custom logic. Though to be honest, I doubt that they'd go so far as to even do that.

They'd disable the MS controller in the SuperVS, and use the seperate MS controller from the SJ-33 (assuming it is in fact MS-Pro compatible, otherwise the whole debate is pointless). It wouldn't be the first time that a CPU feature was disabled in favor of an improved external version of the same feature. It isn't always software compatible, but that's why programmers don't talk directly to the hardware.

At any rate, I'm not stating a strong belief, only a suspicion (something I have an aproximate 55%-65% level of faith in.

[sindu]

GUYS,

Someone just post a new TX65 in the T fourm. It's awsome...go and checkout.

[sindu]

SORRY Guys, it's a false alarm after I went through the whole thing.

[OcellNuri]

Eric S, thanks. I hadn't thought about disabling it and adding new hardware. That's why I love posting here.. you almost always learn something new. :D

[JasonO]

Seems to me the SJ series is aimed at the low-end organizer market, the T series is aimed at the mid-range entertainment market, and the N* series are aimed at the high-end computer geek market (sorry, I mean that in the nicest possible way). I would guess the next T will have just a few things different from the 665 that will make you want it, but not make you drop your 665 for it. TV tuner? Probably not, it was $200 for the chip and that's too expensive to keep the T series in the $500 price range. FM Tuner...good possibility. Voice recorder, likely. Extended screen...probably (but then I thought that would be in the 665). Maybe some JPG decoding hardware. But that's about it. That would put them on par with the differences between the 615 and the 665.

[Jonavin]

Am I mistake or doesn't T665 already have JPG decoding hardware.

In general I agree with your assessment. It's not going to be a big jump from T665 to whatever. The biggest clue is that they didn't even bother to up the CPU in the SJ33. This leaves the possibility that SJ series will be their 33Mhz units, and T-series their 66Mhz units, with NX/NZ taking up the lead with the XScale.

It's all speculations at this point but I'd be VERY surprised if it's that much different from the T665. I'm going to predict that the next one only has one or two major new features, weather it's VG, Bluetooth, or OS5. Don't expect all of those.

[Mugs]

I don't understand, just upgrade to the NX series and then you will have the OS5 platform, and faster PDA, and if you use a keyboard, this is built is - oh, and a bigger screen too with a virtual graffiti area. Just a thought

[Bionic Antboy]

Mugs,

I think a lot of people want a nice fast OS 5 PDA in the T form factor. Not everyone wants the added bulk of the NX. Otherwise, we would all be buying NX Clies :)

[Eric S]

Originally posted by Mugs
I don't understand, just upgrade to the NX series and then you will have the OS5 platform, and faster PDA, and if you use a keyboard, this is built is - oh, and a bigger screen too with a virtual graffiti area. Just a thought

I did. I still dislike the clamshell design enough to jump ship to anything else that meets my minimum requirements (OS5, VG, etc) that is in a traditional formfactor that isn't otherwise messed up.

Take the NX-60, deliver it with PalmOS 5.1, permanently in tablet mode with decent hard buttons under the screen, and 16MB Flash (just to be sure, I don't want to be downgraded here) and I'll drop $400 on it right now, and give my NX-60 to my girlfriend, even though my NX-60 is barely 2 months old. Add a louder speaker and the official PalmOS Sound Streaming Featureset, and I'll go $500 without batting an eyelash. If I were to buy a PDA right now, I'd preorder the Garmin, and not look back, even though I have reservations about it.

I can accept the fact that some people really like the keyboard/clamshell design. I just don't get how some people can't see that the keyboard/clamshell might be seen as a drawback by other people. This isn't a size issue to me, either. The size of the NX in tablet mode is at the upper range of what I'd consider reasonable for a PDA, but it is still reasonable. The problem is that in tablet mode you loose the app/scrolling buttons, and it's awkward when not in tablet mode. The clamshell throws the center of gravity off, and that is a bigger issue to me. Between the balance and size of the NX when unfolded, I feel like I'm using a power screwdriver in a tight space when all I needed was a small screwdriver to give a screw a quarter twist.