1SRC Podcast 154

[Alan G]

This week we cover the week's Palm news, Palm's CFO, Andy Brown speaks in Boston, Mac OS X, BackOff!, and this week's 1SRC Editorial. And hold on to your socks, there is even a Foleo rant thrown in for good measure! [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=2016)]

[LupeValenz]

Great Podcast Alan, as usual. Loved how you reminded me on how Palm could actually design some kind of new hardware. I guess I mostly forgot that they could do something different because its been a long while since we SEEN something different from them. Hopefully they might give us a 320x480 screen resolution treo. I remember seeing a good mock up of what one might look like around here and wish that model would come next year. Good rant by the way :D, kinda good to see the emotions take the better of you from time to time. Having that pent up is not soo good ;)

[Alan G]

If Palm OS II really is still at least 12 months away, on the early delivery side, then Palm really does need to focus on refining their hardware. Andy Brown hinted at this in his presentation. I don't know if we'll see a TX phone or not, but with the iPhone being a tablet style device, I'm willing to bet that Palm has been forced to revisit that design.

The rant was totally unscripted and unexpected. I really don't like to lose control like that, but -come on guys!!- stop telling us how cool the Foleo is when you know we won't be able to buy one. It is going to be super late 2008 or 2009 before the Foleo II will go on sale.

One thing that I did forget to mention in my Foleo rant is product diversification. It would be a good idea to have another product or two besides the Treo. You know, don't put all of your eggs in one basket thing.

Alan G

[holvoetn]

I didn't understand that comment why Treo 500v would never be available in US initially.
What is the difference ?

So I looked closely at the specs and compared to 680 which IS available in US...
680
GSM™/GPRS/EDGE class 10 radio
Quad band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

500v
GSM/GPRS/UMTS radio
GSM bands: 900/1800/1900
UMTS bands: 2100

There is one GSM band missing compared to 680 and there is an additional UMTS band (which can not be used by 680 due to PalmOS limitation). So a 500v in US means a bit reduced coverage. Or is it the absence of EDGE ... Nothing else ?

[BaDZeD]

Hi, Alan, great podcast =)
Thank you for the coverage and speculation of Andy Brown's presentation.
I completely sympathize with you Foleo rant and I support it wholeheartedly. I really do need a sublaptop for travel and work on the go. In fact, I need it so much, that in the absense of the Foleo, I broke down and bought an Asus EEE PC (should be arriving at my office in a couple of hours) for $400 onn Newegg (Smaller Screen, Smaller Battery, and no Bluetooth, but it is $100 cheaper than the Foleo would have been... grrrrr And Andy Brown keeps rubbing it in) and I will be happy to share my impressions once I get it.

[Alan G]

I didn't understand that comment why Treo 500v would never be available in US initially.
What is the difference ?

My understanding of what Andy Brown said in the presentation is that the Treo 500v will not be made available here in the US. That being said, Mr. Brown did say that he didn't understand all the technical issues around the hows and whys.

Do you want my gut feeling? Treo 500v will cut into GMS Centro sales here in the US and therefore they're not doing it here.

Alan G

[intellidryad]

I didn't understand that comment why Treo 500v would never be available in US initially.
What is the difference ?

So I looked closely at the specs and compared to 680 which IS available in US...
680
GSM™/GPRS/EDGE class 10 radio
Quad band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

500v
GSM/GPRS/UMTS radio
GSM bands: 900/1800/1900
UMTS bands: 2100

There is one GSM band missing compared to 680 and there is an additional UMTS band (which can not be used by 680 due to PalmOS limitation). So a 500v in US means a bit reduced coverage. Or is it the absence of EDGE ... Nothing else ?

The most direct reason I would think of is supported bands as the US use different bands then Europe, and bingo, you got that!

One other reason I can think of is that the 500v is designed with Vodafone, thus no Vodafone here, no 500v. I must say that it really got a very nice customized interface, feels a little like the XMB on sony Playstations and Cybershots. But best of all, it fixes the hard to use start menu problem of WM, which is that main reason I am staying away from WM.

As to the Podcast:

GO RANT!!! GREAT EXCITEMENT!!! :D

[Dick Tracy]

More rant please. :D

As to the 500v and USA, this Brighthand post (http://forum.brighthand.com/showpost.php?p=1603357&postcount=8) explains.

[Alan G]

I don't know. That rant was totally unscripted and unexpected. I don't get many of those caffeine fueled sermons like that.

Alan G

[I love my mom]

Great podcast, Alan :)

I think you made some good points about using the TX for media. However, I think you left some things out. My TX headphone jack only plays mono; it must be some quirk.

Great job with the BackOff! segment :) I really appreciate that. Sorry I couldn't make the interview this week, I'll see what I can do when I get back to the US.

[Alan G]

I think you made some good points about using the TX for media. However, I think you left some things out. My TX headphone jack only plays mono; it must be some quirk.

I'll have to try that out. I've been using my LifeDrive for media playback. I think that the TX has stereo, but I'll need to test it out.

Don't worry about the interview. We'll do one when you can fit it in the schedule.

Alan G

[I love my mom]

I'll have to try that out. I've been using my LifeDrive for media playback. I think that the TX has stereo, but I'll need to test it out.

Alan G

It's supposed to have stereo, but the TX headphone jack is very quirky. First, it's reversed on my device. Meaning that when the headphones are unplugged it sends audio through the headphone jack, but when I plug in headphones, it plays audio through the builtin speaker. Usually I have to plug/unplug my headphones 5 to 10 times before it begins working correctly*. It doesn't work entirely correctly, however, because it will only play mono. If I really jam the headphones down into the jack, it'll switch the audio from my right ear to my left ear.

It's actually quite fun, like a jigsaw puzzle :D

[phreakonaleash]

nice 'cast alan :) Yet another nice 'cast. (Still listening :D)

You seem to really have issues with your T|X, ILMM :)

[I love my mom]

You seem to really have issues with your T|X, ILMM :)

Mine is one of the proud and few that doesn't have any digitizer or power button issues :cool:

[Alan G]

ILMM, did you try a soft reset or inserting and removing the headphone jack a few times? Maybe this is similar to the Treo audio thing.

Alan G

[Alan G]

nice 'cast alan Yet another nice 'cast. (Still listening )

Thank you. 154 shows is a lot for this niche market. I was just thinking the other day that I've been doing the show since show 68.

Alan G

[danceman]

It's supposed to have stereo, but the TX headphone jack is very quirky. First, it's reversed on my device. Meaning that when the headphones are unplugged it sends audio through the headphone jack, but when I plug in headphones, it plays audio through the builtin speaker. Usually I have to plug/unplug my headphones 5 to 10 times before it begins working correctly*. It doesn't work entirely correctly, however, because it will only play mono. If I really jam the headphones down into the jack, it'll switch the audio from my right ear to my left ear.

It's actually quite fun, like a jigsaw puzzle :D

This usually means that your jack is broken. Got same think on my Treo six fifty. There is about 3 points in the jack that have to be connected or you will get does 3 modes, left only, right only and mono. If your good with the iron you may fix it or check this out: http://www.seidioonline.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=311

I didn't check if it works with a TX.

[holvoetn]

Thank you. 154 shows is a lot for this niche market. I was just thinking the other day that I've been doing the show since show 68.

Alan GBTW does this mean we are going towards some festivities for the 3-year marker of the show ?

[Alan G]

Sure, I'll have some 1SRC party hats made up. :)

Alan G

[Alan G]

I just looked it up. The first 1SRC podcast was posted on Dec 9, 2004. I'll have to work with Reggie and Joel to cook something up for the Dec 6th show this year.

Alan G

[intellidryad]

I just looked it up. The first 1SRC podcast was posted on Dec 9, 2004. I'll have to work with Reggie and Joel to cook something up for the Dec 6th show this year.

Alan G

Cool! Make sure to let Jeff Kirvin join in the party on the podcast closest to Dec 9th. Given all the problems and the dwindling Palm following, this really is spectacular :)

[bulls96]

Loved the rant Allan!! GO raise your voice if you want because we Foleofanatics like you feel your pain!

Listened in to the conference call too... and that was my same reaction to the Foleo! It is still my #1 on my wishlist for Christmas (pls Santa i have been very very good :D )

ANyway, i think the thing i noticed most about the conference call was that he said something that we should expect some more form factors from Palm in the interim period between Garnett and Palm OS II... thats worth remembering... i expect to see the form factor similar to the leaked photo of the new Treo.... only thinner...

Actually i would be perfectly happy buying my Treo 755p in the same form factor only half as thick... maybe as thin as the Centro... that would still be an upgrade for me...

Also another form factor that i would like is maybe a 10-inch screen with a full size keyboard and velvety leather covering... runs Linux.. with wifi and bluetooth... pairs with my Treo, and weighs 2.5 lbs. That would be sweet!! ;)

[Alan G]

Cool! Make sure to let Jeff Kirvin join in the party on the podcast closest to Dec 9th. Given all the problems and the dwindling Palm following, this really is spectacular

Well see. Jeff was at this past weekend's 1SRC Chat and was firmly in the Windows Mobile/Palm is doomed camp. I'm not sure how much of a birthday celebration there would be if Jeff and I got into an ideological smack down. :)

Alan G

[Alan G]

Loved the rant Allan!! GO raise your voice if you want because we Foleofanatics like you feel your pain!

I'm sure that Palm will do a Foleo in the future. The hardware was really close to perfect on the unit I was able to play with. The software was the only thing that was really hanging things up. It is the right thing to do using Palm OS II as the core for Foleo in the future. Releasing a completely separate "Foleo OS" would have been a huge mistake. I'll keep on Palm to bring out a Foleo as long as Palm executives keep singing the praises for the devices that they have and we can't get our hands on. I'm especially ticked as I'll be out of the office a lot between now and then first of the year and I really don't want to have to keep lugging my Dell Latitude around with me.


ANyway, i think the thing i noticed most about the conference call was that he said something that we should expect some more form factors from Palm in the interim period between Garnett and Palm OS II... thats worth remembering... i expect to see the form factor similar to the leaked photo of the new Treo.... only thinner...


As I've said before, while we are waiting for Palm OS II to finally get here, Palm really does need to figure out how to slim down their smartphones. Like it or not, thin is in. They also needs to mess around with the look of their devices just a bit. Sort of like what RIM did with their PDA sized BlackBerry devices. I was looking at a colleague's BlackBerry Curve and I was impressed by the way it looked.

Also another form factor that i would like is maybe a 10-inch screen with a full size keyboard and velvety leather covering... runs Linux.. with wifi and bluetooth... pairs with my Treo, and weighs 2.5 lbs. That would be sweet!!

So would I. So would I.

Alan G

[BaDZeD]

Well I've been using the EEE PC for several days now and I love it (still not perfect, but its the ONLY device on the market that has it just right in the price/usability on the go ratio, well worth the $400) In fact, a certain Ben Combee has his own EEE now (according to his blog) and even started a LiveJournal group dedicated to it. (Maybe we can convince him to port Foleo OS to the EEE. :D ) Still wish I had a real Foleo though :(

[Alan G]

I wouldn't be surprised if Ben's EEE has a Palm asset tag on it and it being used for "research" purposes.

Alan G

[rcartwr]

Well see. Jeff was at this past weekend's 1SRC Chat and was firmly in the Windows Mobile/Palm is doomed camp. I'm not sure how much of a birthday celebration there would be if Jeff and I got into an ideological smack down. :)

Alan G

TONIGHT ON THE 1SRC SMACKDOWN!...I thnk that could go very well Alan. Seriously I do. Talking to Jeff one on one he makes good arguements for his position and don't forget you both will have Android to kick around.

Rick C

[g-funkster]

As for the EEE PC, it's not the best substitute for Foleo, but it does run Windows XP. Get a low profile USB Bluetooth adapter like this one (just $20 here (http://www.chiefpick.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BT%2DBTA%2D3210&CartID=1)):
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/saveateaglestore_1971_360184129

.. and then you can wirelessly tether your phone to it. At $100 cheaper than the Foleo would have been, it's not a bad way to go, for now.

[intellidryad]

Well see. Jeff was at this past weekend's 1SRC Chat and was firmly in the Windows Mobile/Palm is doomed camp. I'm not sure how much of a birthday celebration there would be if Jeff and I got into an ideological smack down. :)

Alan G
Well, after the last POS II delay till 2009 saga, I'm also one foot into that camp...

But hay, we expect rants from Jeff, if he's there, there's a rant :D