Official: PalmOne to release two new Zire devices

[kimh]

No mention of new Tungsten devices...

http://news.com.com/2100-1041-5198631.html?tag=cd.top

Handheld maker PalmOne plans to announce next Wednesday two additions to its Zire line of devices, as it continues to look to the consumer market to improve its prospects, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.

The Zire 72, which will cost $299, and the Zire 31, to be priced at $149, will both use PalmSource's Garnet operating system. The Zire 72 will likely use Intel's latest high-end handheld processor, the PXA270 chip code-named Bulverde, which has a clock speed of 312MHz, the sources said. The high-end handheld will come with a built-in digital camera, a digital audio player, a high-resolution display, a Secure Digital expansion slot and Bluetooth networking technology. The sliding case used with the Zire 71 will not be used with the Zire 72.

The Zire 31 will use an Intel handheld chip with a clock speed of 200MHz. It will come with a Secure Digital expansion slot, a digital audio player, and a display with a 160-by-160-pixel resolution.

Details about both products have been leaking out to numerous enthusiast and online retail sites in the weeks leading up to the formal announcement from Milpitas, Calif.-based PalmOne.

PalmOne representatives declined to comment on the upcoming releases. PalmOne chief Todd Bradley previously said new devices were on the way this month.

Since the launch of the original $99 Zire in late 2002, sales of the devices to consumers have provided a welcome boost to the struggling but market-leading handheld maker. PalmOne split its product and brand strategy in late 2002, targeting the consumer and business markets with different products to better address their needs.

The business sector has always been a tough market to crack, but consumers--though they spend less money per device--have been the cornerstone of the company's business. The company recently said it has sold more than 3 million Zire devices in less than 18 months.

PalmOne's Treo combination cell phone and organizer, which it acquired through the purchase of rival Handspring, has been gaining some ground in the business market. But a parts shortage has been limiting supply of Treo 600s.

PalmOne plans to continue its strategy of attracting first-time buyers while wooing cell phone carriers to support the Treo 600 on their networks and sell it to service subscribers.

Worldwide handheld shipments totaled 3.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2003, according to research firm IDC. That's an increase of 3.2 percent compared with the same period a year ago and up 52.7 percent compared with the third quarter. For 2003, shipments were down 17.9 percent, slipping from 12.6 million units to 10.4 million.

[PalmTealLover]

I almost wish I'd waited - the Zire "top end" with the camera might actually have been MORE useful than the T3 - although I love the landscape.

I know the included cams aren't exactly Nikon, but a "snap" here and there versus not getting a picture at all would be beneficial; you can do a lot with PhotoShop to crop and improve, et cetera!

Thanks for the heads up, especially about the processor in the higher end one - seems just fine to me (fast enough!) and $100 cheaper than the T3s were - with no slider. Cool.

[tungstenlover]

I was not going to comment her but I can not hold it. This is the best palm I say palm release so far besides the T3. I mean come on this is a great palm like only a few people before this hade palm pilots were I live and the 31 & 72 is going to put the population up to about 20 or more !!! YAY !!!

sorry for the useless post

TL

[egarc]

tungstenlover wrote:
sorry for the useless post
You're excited about new Palms like a lot of other people. It's not a useless post.:D

You can expect a lot of people venting excitement when Palm finally updates the Tungsten line. I can't wait.

My hope is that Palm at least matches the Clie TH55 in features. I'm saving my post in bold red all caps for that day!

ed

[kimh]

Just read this review on the new Sony Clie PEG-TJ37. I must say it looks VERY impressive and it has a built in WiFi and camera.

Not bad for $299... I may have to take this one for a test drive.

Here's a quote "The Sony Clie TJ37 is a new mid range personal entertainment organizer from Sony. The TJ37 incorporates a high resolution screen, built in WiFi wireless and a digital camera. The TJ37 brings a number of high end features into a lower cost business friendly package. It is also the least expensive model on the market with integrated WiFi. "

Full review at http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6774

[Moose Man]

Originally posted by PalmTealLover
I almost wish I'd waited - the Zire "top end" with the camera might actually have been MORE useful than the T3 - although I love the landscape.

I know the included cams aren't exactly Nikon, but a "snap" here and there versus not getting a picture at all would be beneficial; you can do a lot with PhotoShop to crop and improve, et cetera!

Thanks for the heads up, especially about the processor in the higher end one - seems just fine to me (fast enough!) and $100 cheaper than the T3s were - with no slider. Cool.


Let's see you can probably get $249 for your T3 at ebay? Or at least get close. But, Paul, go play with one first and see if you'll be able to handle the 320 X 320 res and give up that much real estate. I miss it on my Treo.

Tomorrow....we should be able to see them on the site first thing in the morning.


No word on a T4? Samsung announced today a phone that will be released in June with a full OLED screen. OLED's are supposed to be the cats meow for battery life and Sony is working on one for the Clie series.

Maybe we'll be surprised with a T4 and an OLED screen which will allow 8 hours of battery life with a 1.2 mega pixel camera for $399?


Hey a guy can dream, can't he? :D

[egarc]

OLED on a PDA, drool...:D

[egarc]

PalmOne has them listed on their website: http://www.palmone.com/us/products/handhelds/zire72/

[abid786]

They are in the local Staples. They are at least in the flyers. And thats good considering we get stuff late up here in Canada than out US neighbours.

Abid

[abid786]

Originally posted by kimh
Just read this review on the new Sony Clie PEG-TJ37. I must say it looks VERY impressive and it has a built in WiFi and camera.

Not bad for $299... I may have to take this one for a test drive.

Here's a quote "The Sony Clie TJ37 is a new mid range personal entertainment organizer from Sony. The TJ37 incorporates a high resolution screen, built in WiFi wireless and a digital camera. The TJ37 brings a number of high end features into a lower cost business friendly package. It is also the least expensive model on the market with integrated WiFi. "

Full review at http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6774
You do know that the camera is only 0.3 MP and could be considered WORSE than a Zire 71 camera. This new Zire 72 has a 1.2 MP camera, somehwat like an NX80V.

Abid

[PalmTealLover]

MooseMan "dreaming" about the 1.2M/P and the better screen is NOT IN FACT dreaming at all - you know they've got it in a drawer; they'll just "bleed them out like the diamond market."

Wouldn't be AT ALL surprised if both items are on the "T5," but not the T4 -- remember, they have to work out all the bugs with the up front $$$ we spend on the "4," so the "5" can have twice as much memory and the "really cool" stuff!! You guys know that!

Remember, comrades . . . . it's just like crack. First handful free. I wouldn't attempt to tell people what to buy -- we're all different and that's what makes this forum FANTASTIC -- but remember the 515 followed shortly after the 505, and the T3 is a VERY long chalk from a Tungsten T. The T4 may be in intermediate step to test waters of purchasers, and they won't pull out all the stops with that model, in my opinion.

The Zire 72 sounds good to me, but yeah MooseMan, I'd miss the "real estate" and love the camera. Your Treo is no slouch either though - brings a lot of stuff to the "party" in its own rite.

[egarc]

PTL wrote:
they'll just "bleed them out like the diamond market."
Hopefully the De Beers cartel will release my 60 inch OLED television from one of their vaults sometime soon.:D

Oh yea, the Zire 72 looks like a competent PDA but needs a 320x480 screen to be a killer PDA.

ed

[PSzalapski]

It seems that, indeed, PalmOne has removed the Tungsten T2 and W (as well as the Zire 71 and original) from its web site, so maybe we'll see a price drop if these models are about to be discontinued.

http://www.palmone.com/us/products/

[tungstenlover]

Palm can't do this !! I just bought my T2 4 months ago and they got it taken off there website. Well as soon as a TE2 or a T4 or T5 or even the Zire 84. I may even go to the extreme and go the zire 72 and I will resell it when the T5 or Zire 84 comes out. I got one question do the zire 72 have a unaversal conntecer or something like the TE. Something else that I can't believe palm did was put that cheap looking record button on it what is up with that ???

TL

[ryber]

The new Zires have the mini USB connection, just like the TE.

[tungstenlover]

I know now but this really really sucks badley but. I guess its the way of the future??

TL

[Moose Man]

Originally posted by PalmTealLover
MooseMan "dreaming" about the 1.2M/P and the better screen is NOT IN FACT dreaming at all - you know they've got it in a drawer; they'll just "bleed them out like the diamond market."

Wouldn't be AT ALL surprised if both items are on the "T5," but not the T4 -- remember, they have to work out all the bugs with the up front $$$ we spend on the "4," so the "5" can have twice as much memory and the "really cool" stuff!! You guys know that!

Remember, comrades . . . . it's just like crack. First handful free. I wouldn't attempt to tell people what to buy -- we're all different and that's what makes this forum FANTASTIC -- but remember the 515 followed shortly after the 505, and the T3 is a VERY long chalk from a Tungsten T. The T4 may be in intermediate step to test waters of purchasers, and they won't pull out all the stops with that model, in my opinion.

The Zire 72 sounds good to me, but yeah MooseMan, I'd miss the "real estate" and love the camera. Your Treo is no slouch either though - brings a lot of stuff to the "party" in its own rite.


Yes the Treo does bring a lot to the party but I'm still waiting for a 320 X480 version with HR OLED Screen and BT and WiFI builtin and let's not forget 2 years of Standby battery and 1 year of useable battery time......

Still I can dream, but now I think I've take more than that first handful of crack. :D