Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

Ok, at least some of the Handspring folks are busy on the marketing and PR end, especially as the Visor hits retail. But I can't imagine the developers (Hawkins included, even given his role as company media boy) have been twiddling their thumbs since the Visor came out. But I haven't heard word one on what's next up for Handspring. No vapourware, no "leaks", nothing.

With the caveat that, duh, I know anything posted here should be taken with mondo amounts of NaCl, I want to know if anyone's heard any rumors, and where they heard them from. Come on, what's next (and when!): Color? Built-in wireless? Web pads?

No "wish lists", please, I've seen all the things that people would *like* to see. I want to know what people have heard -- if anything -- about what we *might* see.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

Personally, I am less interested in new ideas than I am in having HS deliver on promises. (ie, Win2k support, 3rd party SBs)

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

It's not Handspring's resposibility to "deliver" on third party springboards; that responsibility belongs to the third parties involved. However, Win2K support is Handspring's responsibility.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Davis, CA, USA
Posts: 72

HandSpring must assume at least partial responsibility for SpringBoards. HandSpring never misses an opportunity to tout the SpringBoard capability of their Visors. Some SpringBoards, when they become available, will be sold on the HandSpring web site.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 222

If Handspring wants to be a good company, they HAVE to make the springboards their responsibility. The main selling point, I think, is the visor's expandability (i.e., their springboards).

So if they aren't actively "persuading" 3rd parties to develop good springboards, visors will just be another palm clone.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Handspring must assume responsiblity for their marketing of the Visor's Springboard capability, not the Springboards themselves -- other than their own. It's each company's repsonsibility it get their product to market. If a new book's publication is delayed, you don't blame the bookstore. It will be no different when Handspring sells other companies' modules on their site.

Keep in mind that at least some of the reason HS hypes the springboard so much is to attract developers. It's an unproven technology, and since most companies are conservative by nature, HS must do everything it can to project the image that the success of springboards is inevitable. The more companies are convinced of this, the more modules we as consumers will have in our springboard slots.

I bought the Visor as an upgrade from a Palm III: it has the Palm OS, its faster, has a lot more RAM, has a better screen, USB, a low price tag -- and, of course, springboards. To me, the springboards are just a bonus. I just forget the slot is there until the GPS, camera, MP3 and two-way pager modules come out. For $250, it's a great PDA which does exactly what I need, and I won't feel burned if the springboards never materialize.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 148

So, has anyone really heard on any juicy rumors???

Gameboy, I'm with you on the whole, "I don't even know my springboard slot is there!" idea! I am though awaiting for the arrival of my modem... Anyway, I've never even owned a Palm device/pda at all before this and now I don't know how I'd live without it!! I can't wait until a PocketPC palm color os comes out complete with high res and everything.. but then again, maybe not (don't want to buy more batteries! )

Mike

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

Some of you folks musta misread the topic header -- the topic is not "whinemongering".

C'mon, there must be some rumors out there ... or at least some rumors about why there aren't any rumors ...

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 148

Actually, isn't Handspring� really good at keeping their secrets? I mean, I'm not sure about this but wasn't the Visor completely unheard of until handspring actually went public about it?

Mike

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

MikeD: Well, sorta. But Handspring was dropping broad hints about what they had in mind for months before they demo'ed the Visor. I'm finding it kinda curious that there doesn't seem to be any hints coming out of them these days (at least none that I've seen). When the Visor was released, they made a very vague comment about related devices in the future, but since then, nada.

As common as vaporware is these days, that's seems unusual. Maybe they don't want to tip off Palm, 'cause Palm still has the advantage of resources to throw at developing new products.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 295

They've already announced that they will do color. When? My guess is that it will be by the anniversary of the Visor's release date.

They've also said that they are looking into a different OS than Palm. Does that mean that they are writing their own, or do they plan on jumping into the Linux bandwagon? Who knows!

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Unless, of course, one of you "sources close to Handspring" wants to ignore that little non-disclosure thing.

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Mark Beck <><

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

I don't think HS is working on their own OS. I read some article with a headline like "Handspring May Create Their Own OS." The headline suggested this, but when I read further down into the article, it was basically a matter of Ed Colligan answer the "Will you make your own OS?" question with, "We wouldn't rule it out," adding that they were currently satisfied with the Palm system.

My understanding is that the Palm OS code is mostly available to devlopers, with the exception of some key libraries. Under Palm's licensing agreement, you can retype or modify the code that they make accessible (this is sort of sub-open source) but you can't cut and paste it.

It should be too difficult under these circumstances to reverse engineer on OS that's compatible with Palms. It would definitely be in Handspring's interest to be independent of Palm. Apple ruined a number of companies that made Mac clones, and it killed the Newton.

Given the hammering HS has received for shipping late, it's unlikely that anyone at the company is anxious to leak their Next Big Thing to the press or anyone else. The press can manufacture its own fiction. Remember the "Razor"?

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by Gameboy70:
Given the hammering HS has received for shipping late, it's unlikely that anyone at the company is anxious to leak their Next Big Thing to the press or anyone else. The press can manufacture its own fiction. Remember the "Razor"?

---

The folks in Redmond do this all the time, don't they?

My feeling is, especially now that the IPO announcement has been made, HS is positioning themselves to come on strong. They have a viable product that can (and probably will) eat into Palm's domain. A color Visor can't be far off. Maybe even a PocketPC version. Remember, the PalmOS is a great little operating system but has some significant limitations given today's technology growth. And maybe those limitations are just a lack of quality, integrated software and hardware products. By this I mean while the Visor (or any PDA) and the desktop are two distinct and separate beasts, there is a lack of "full" integration between the two. Make it seemless and foolproof to transfer doc's, spreadsheets, and the like. Yes, I know there are some good products out there for this but I'm talking about making it seamless.

Those of us here at VC are, for the most part, probably as close to cutting edge as we can be. But how about those tens of thousands of other users out there? They will never realize the full potential of these devices until better integration occurs. And (I know this will probably get me flamed), remember the good old DOS days? Only the technically elite mastered the PC back then, along comes Windows and viola! Everyone can now master the PC. The PalmOS needs this too.

Since Jeff Hawkins created this whole craze, I'm sure he knows this and has a vision of the future. Might even give Mr. Gates a run for his money!

Ok, so this is slightly off topic but I feel better having said my peace...


------------------
MarkEagle - Ice is nice!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Given Wince's market share relative to the Palm platform, I would say that Hawkins has already given Bill a run for his money.

People have been saying the Palm system is behind in technology since day one. My first Palm was no match for my Newton's feature set, but I couldn't use the Newton. With the Graffiti I could actually input text for the first time. I'm left-handed, so the Newton's HR algorithms didn't work (I literally was never able to write three words in a row without an error). Along comes MS with its PPCs, any people repeat this cliche about the Palm being dated. Meanwhile, while people are eulogizing the Palm, its market share increased 12% last year while Wince declined 5%. I think computer insiders are missing the boat.

What Palm and Handspring sell is a modest feature set based on the average consumer's use case cycle: pull it out of your pocket, look up/enter a note/number/contact, put it back in your pocket. Those oft-cited simulations that Hawkins did carrying around his block of wood were much more insightful the Apple's or MS's focus group approach.

A PDA is basically a small notebook -- not a notebook computer, mind you, but a notebook. More sophisticated applications are better done on a notebook computer. In discussions I've had with newbies on buying a first PDA, no one has ever asked if they could use it to spreadsheets or play MP3s.

As far as those "tens of thousands" are concerned -- those people either have laptops or shy away from PDAs because they don't understand what the can and can't do (the Palm succeeded with limitations by design). There are three mobile platforms: notebooks, subnotebooks and PDAs. Because the marketing of these platforms is generally poor, people sometimes buy a PDA hoping to get all the computer they need, when they should have bought a laptop or subnotebook. As long as MS fails to get that distinction (and the Pocket PC is further evidence of this), I'll remain skeptical of their potential success in this arena.

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 04-01-2000).]

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 26

I am not a securities attorney, but I know that the process of a public offering requires a quiet period in which the company cannot "hype" its future. This is to prevent securities fraud. I note that Handspring has just filed to begin the IPO process. Perhaps that fact explains Handsprings silence. Just a thought-- I don't know if it's true.