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Palm indicated early in 2006 it would release four new Treos this year. The Internet rumor mill this weekend revealed the most detailed pictures yet of the fourth of these smartphones, a Palm OS model codenamed Nitro, also known as Lowrider. Nitro first appeared in a Cingular Wireless roadmap leaked in June, along with another model codenamed Lennon, which is likely a variation on the third smartphone introduced by Palm this year; a GSM/UTMS edition without an antenna due soon in Europe from Vodafone. This model may be called the Treo 750, although that and most other details haven't been confirmed yet. The first two Treos released in 2006 include the Windows Mobile Treo 700w for CDMA/EV-DO carrier Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and the Palm OS Treo 700p with the same plus Sprint. These images of Nitro first appeared in the forum of Chinese language site Hi-PDA.com, but have since been taken down, presumably at Palm's request. As you see from the picture below, the SD card slot is on the right side of the unit, a unique position for a Treo. Some wonder if that was done to make room for integrated Wi-Fi, which would be a first for a Palm, Inc. smartphone.
In a recent statement to the Washington Post, Palm CEO Ed Colligan said his company would release Wi-Fi-enabled Treos. He didn't say when, however.
The Treo depicted in these images supposedly has 64 MB of RAM, is about the same size as a Treo 650, runs on a slightly more advanced version of the Palm platform than that earlier model (5.49106 to 5.40017), and has a keyboard layout similar to the 700p. Palm placed the stylus in a new location as well. Where exactly isn't clear. What if it doesn’t have one? That's a possibility as well. This would make Nitro Palm's first Treo - it's first PDA really - without a touch screen. Talk about emulating BlackBerry.
Reports say Nitro integrates only .3 megapixel camera, the same as the Treo 650, but its battery is a lighter yet less powerful 1200 mAh type compared to the earlier smartphone's 1800 mAh. So while the new phone may weigh less, it last give you less call and standby time, let along juice for data connections, on a single charge.
The known specs easily put this device at the lower-range price wise, perhaps between $200-$300. Not unexpected since Palm said one of its smartphones this year would target the mid-range market. Nonetheless, that would be a change of pace for the company, whose latest devices for Verizon and Sprint go for about $400 with a two-year contract, and much more withouht a deal.
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