1SRC Podcast 119

[Alan G]

This week I run down Andy Brown's comments from the Merrill Lynch conference, Palm rumors, my interview with Tam Hanna, and my first impressions of the Treo 700wx on Verizon. [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=1842)]

[holvoetn]

Ah, finally the thread has been opened. That's obviously also a way to avoid bad reviews :D

For a show which was announced to be a quicky it surely turned out to be a long one. And a good one for the parts I have heard. I may have to relisten since I got 5 calls while listening on the train :rolleyes:

I did notice your voice was not like usual. Not getting sick are you ?

[Jimmie Geddes]

I noticed Alan sounded different as well, I'm sure it has to do with the DST patches. I know we are crazy busy at work with DST.

I thought I had read the Palm did a study a few years back and found out that 90% of users don't install 3rd party software. Almost all the people I work with don't have any 3rd party apps installed on their Treos or Palm handhelds.

I know what Alan means about not wanting to install 3rd party apps on the 700wx because the average person won't hack the registry. The great part of Windows Mobile for us geeks is that it's soooo hackable to make it better. For instance I hacked the registry so the scroll bars are much thinner giving me more real estate. I've installeds the Palm threaded sms app on my 700wx. In Outlook Mobile I have a hack so it can be used 100% 5 way nav, no need for the stylus. Again most people won't try these hacks, or even know they exist, but if you have a Windows Mobile Treo they make all the difference. Palm OS is just a better out of box experience, but I suspect Palm will improve Windows Mobile, they sure did with the WM Treos compared to other WM devices.

I'm not buying the rumors either about Palm being bought, for the first time in a long time they are back in control. Andy Brown had a lot of great comments that lead me to believe Palm knows they are on the cusp of a serious comeback.

[JAmerican]

Multitasking!!! That's where its at right now. We will have to see a new OS this year on Palm devices to incorporate 3G networks! Can't wait to see how Palm OS multitasks! :) Will it multi-thread or single-thread like WM?

JAmerican

[Modnar]

I would hope for multitasking as well as I do cringe when I see my dad's apache just zip around the place doing loads at once like flipping between a word document and IE on his phonewhile its still loading!

Although I do have to greatly Commend Mr A. Pruss for making accessorizer as they will alleviate some of my issues but it would put more stress on the memory currently!

back on track yeah another great podcast Alan and it does go well after a long and hard day of uni!

Like how you said at the beginning you wanted it short and when i saw its larger than normal size before I listened to it that it wasnt but still very nice to hear the latest palm info and rumors and thinking about the palm buyout rumor it does seem pretty lame esp after gearing about "palm is in control of its destiny again"

Hmmm diet coke!

[Alan G]

I did notice your voice was not like usual. Not getting sick are you ?

I'm not getting sick, but I have been putting in a lot of hours at the office. I actually went through a Diet Coke and 2 pints of water while recording this week's show. I sound much better now, but I'll be sleeping in tomorrow morning (Saturday) at least until the kids wake up.

Alan G

[Alan G]

I noticed Alan sounded different as well, I'm sure it has to do with the DST patches. I know we are crazy busy at work with DST.

Totally! I'm still trying to find a working solution to bring calendar data down to wired Palm OS devices since the version of the calendaring software we use dropped support for wired Palm HotSync. What a way to go: Add DST changes and drop Palm support all in a maintenance release. So I've been scrambling for the last two weeks to get a solution in place. I may have one and I'll be working late again this Friday to get the update in before Sunday.

Andy Brown had a lot of great comments that lead me to believe Palm knows they are on the cusp of a serious comeback.

And make sure you guys take a look at this (http://www.1src.com/scripts/show/1843-_Palm_hires_ex_Apple_developer_for_product_design.html) article that Joel posted recently. Palm is definitely working on new hardware designs and new software.

Alan G

[Alan G]

Like how you said at the beginning you wanted it short and when i saw its larger than normal size before I listened to it that it wasn't.

LOL I ended up going off on two tangents while I was recording the show which ended up adding a good 10 - 15 minutes. At least my show notes and script where short.

Alan G

[Alan G]

We will have to see a new OS this year on Palm devices to incorporate 3G networks! Can't wait to see how Palm OS multitasks! Will it multi-thread or single-thread like WM?

Those are some good questions. 3G will depend on how far along Palm is with their new radio designs and what operating system will be on the device that gets that new radio. Palm would have to use a Lunix-based OS like Palm OS II to pull it off. That is exactly why we haven't seen a 3G Palm OS 5.x device yet. It simply can't be done without a major rewrite.

Alan G

[blues]

I listened to the podcast yesterday...
I am anticipating the coming rumors about the proposed new Treo (Treo 755p ?), Palm OS II, and all of the buzz to come. We all have been waiting for a very long time.

It's not like I can afford a new Treo right now since I bought a 700p when it first came out... but us as Palm fanatics really need some front page news. We might be finally getting close to seeing some.

[Alan G]

Is it too soon to be thinking about Treo 755p OCD? If I'm going to buy a new Palm product this year, it might have to be the Hawk. It will all depend on pricing.

Alan G

[Modnar]

LOL I ended up going off on two tangents while I was recording the show which ended up adding a good 10 - 15 minutes. At least my show notes and script where short.

Alan G

Heh well I didnt mind at all infact the more (to an extent of course) the merrier!

[Rob_T]

Is it too soon to be thinking about Treo 755p OCD? If I'm going to buy a new Palm product this year, it might have to be the Hawk. It will all depend on pricing.

Alan G

OK, I think we need to start planning (i.e. scheming) amongst ourselves how we're going to convince our carriers that even though we just bought a 700p last year we need/deserve an upgrade to the shiny new 755P (at the subsidized price) when it comes out.

[Alan G]

We can always upgrade to the family plan, add a new line (read: phone number and 2-year contact) for a minimal fee ($10/mo on Sprint) and then get the new Treo at the subsidized price. That way, once you have two devices, separated by a year, then you can get a new upgrade every other year with the carrier discount of about $100 - $150.

How's that? Rob, are you game? We can go in together. Sorta like matching tattoos. Now, we just need to figure out what we're going to tell our wives!

Alan G

[Modnar]

Congrats AlanG you just made 1k of posts (in binary! 1024 :P ) and yeah if I do somehow like a converged device (not quite sure that will happen anytime soon) I would have to save quite a while to be able to get it esp being in uni ! But the time it has come out if I start saving ( a bucket load of $$ as even with the 2 year contract its still loads more here :S ) and 3/4 to 1 year later it will be in nz and I could get it!

[Alan G]

Congrats AlanG you just made 1k of posts (in binary! 1024 :P )

Hey, wow! That's really geeky, I hadn't noticed! 1,024k posts. :)

I think that we're headed for a train wreck. Device prices are still on the high side, especially if you are buying a device during your contract cycle. Data plans are still too expensive to be adopted by everyone. And exclusive contracts aren't helping device makers or customers. In the US, we also have to chose between CDMA (Sprint and Verizon) and GSM (T-Mobile, AT&T). I feel a rant coming on.

Alan G

[Rob_T]

We can always upgrade to the family plan, add a new line (read: phone number and 2-year contact) for a minimal fee ($10/mo on Sprint) and then get the new Treo at the subsidized price. That way, once you have two devices, separated by a year, then you can get a new upgrade every other year with the carrier discount of about $100 - $150.

How's that? Rob, are you game? We can go in together. Sorta like matching tattoos. Now, we just need to figure out what we're going to tell our wives!

Alan G

You know, I think that might work! I didn't actually think there would be an answer so quick.

My wife won't complain; she's getting a (slightly used) 700P in the deal!

[g-funkster]

I think that we're headed for a train wreck. 1 Device prices are still on the high side, especially if you are buying a device during your 2contract cycle. 3Data plans are still too expensive to be adopted by everyone. And 4exclusive contracts aren't helping device makers or customers. In the US, we also have to chose between 5CDMA (Sprint and Verizon) and GSM (T-Mobile, AT&T). I feel a rant coming on.
What's this, the rant to end all rants on the industry? You certainly have your choice of topics, each of them already making me angry THANKS! :mad:

kidding! Always up for a good rant. I'm just not clear about who/what you think is headed for a train wreck..palm?

[Alan G]

What's this, the rant to end all rants on the industry? You certainly have your choice of topics, each of them already making me angry THANKS!

You are. I am. The wireless industry. Palm. Cingular. Verizon. Sprint. The list goes on. Do the hardware and wireless carriers really expect us to sign up for 2 year contracts and then break them to get the next new cool phone on some other carrier? Are we suppose to just accept what one carrier has no put blinders on an not look at what someone else (the carrier) is offering? Or am just suppose to collect a desk drawer full of live cell phones?

[BTW, the cranky is still on from the DST mess from this past weekend.]

Alan G