T5 lack of voice recorder

[karasu]

I wonder if some of the developers would comment on the possibility of a bluetooth app for a voice recorder on the T5 that could use the existing bluetooth headset/earpieces? This would be a work around for the missing voice recorder problem inherent to the device.

I like the T5, and will probably obtain one when Palm has committed to fixing the glaring bugs on these first units, but I'd also like some of the functionality that I'd be losing switching from my Clie to be brought back; even if it's with accessories.

[FullAction]

This is highly unprobably, unless Palm has added the Headset profile to their Bluetooth stack. What would be possible, although I don't think that any company will invest the development costs, is a SDIO based microphone SD card with A/D circuit, with drivers and a recording application. Should the T5 become a megaseller, someone could see an opportunity, but I wouldn't bet on either.

[Perk]

This is a killer for me too! I might be able to live with a T5 if my NX70 dies, however no microphone is a problem. I play guitar and have a program that converts my NX70 into a chromatic tuner. No way I'll go back to a PDA without a microphone. :(

[Gekko]

BT Voice Recorder? SD Voice Recorder? How elegant. (NOT.)

[WuWei]

I was going to make the excuse for PalmOne that some businesses don't allow voice recorders. But then I found out that the flagship VGA PDAs from Dell, HP, and Asus all have built-in microphone (and the Asus has a camera)

[FullAction]

It would be interesting to find out, how many companies really prohibit the use of a voice recorder. Camera is something else, many companies prohibit having it near reasearch facilities, but voice recorder is something which I've never had to declare, while entering a restricted area.

[karasu]

It's not that so many companies prohibit voice recorders, per se, but that MANY corporations prohibit the recording of meetings, conferences, etc without explicit concent of all parties involved. Specifically, meetings where company secrets may be devulged are generally off limits. The only time I've seen such protocols overridden is when one of the participants is blind and is allowed to use recordings for taking notes under the disabilities act.

Also, someone with a portable recorder is a human resources nightmare. All it takes is someone with a grudge and some opportunity to nail a company to the table with lawsuits. I wouldn't allow one within the building, if it were my company.

[karasu]

This is highly unprobably, unless Palm has added the Headset profile to their Bluetooth stack. What would be possible, although I don't think that any company will invest the development costs, is a SDIO based microphone SD card with A/D circuit, with drivers and a recording application. Should the T5 become a megaseller, someone could see an opportunity, but I wouldn't bet on either.

So the questions would be:
1) can the stack have devices added to it?
2) would the device be able to convert the audio to data?

[WuWei]

One way this is handled is that some large corporations won't buy PDAs with cameras or microphones. Certainly some employees get them anyway, but a lot of people buy from the standards list so companies run the risk of lower sales if they add these features.

There must not be a lot of companies who outlaw microphones because so many vendors still have them in their newest PDAs.

[FullAction]

I have no knowledge of how to add services to BT stacks, therefore I can only speculate, that some programming will be necessary. A BT headset should already be able to transfer the voice in digital form, so no further A/D changing should be necessary. An application for playing back that stream is of course necessary.

Given the fact that you can buy voice recorders in the size of a button, the fear of someone recording sensible material with a quite visible PDA looks rather funny. If a company is afraid of being hammered by lawsuits, it would probably be better to think over the treatment of their employees, than search them for microphones.