Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Pittsford,NY,USA
Posts: 223

Excerpt from Internet World artical on Palminfocenter web site: http://www.palminfocenter.com/articles/iworld99.asp

Innogear (of MiniJam fame) displayed a prototype Springboard module that floored me. It is tentatively called the "Six Pack." It contains, 1) Flashing Alarm Light, 2) Vibrating Alarm, 3) Cell Phone Modem, 4) Landline Modem (33-point-whatever is the target), 5) Voice Recorder, 6) EIGHT MEGS OF FLASH RAM! All of this in a module that sits flush with the Visor back and which rises about an eighth of an inch from the top (if that; what rises is the light for the alarm!). The RJ-11 jack is on the back of the module and pops open on a slant. This will be a Must Get item, I believe.

-End Excerpt-

Wow! I can't wait to find out how much this is going to cost. I want it!

-Eric

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: putnam, ct 06260
Posts: 13

me too. please post as soon as anyone hears.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 18

I just read about it and I definitely must get this item. I am going to keep checking Innogear's web site to see what is up and I will post those results here.

This "6-pack" will make the Visor everything I ever wanted!!!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 112

Now, is this a "cell phone / modem" or a "cell modem"? Can I make voice cell phone calls w/ the thing, or just bop data around cellularly?


(obligatory whine- where's the hi-power IR? I guess "7-pack" just doesn't have that ring to it...)

------------------

john

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 69

That's a lot of crap to pack into such a small package...

Can't help but wonder about the price... seems like it would need to be around 200 bucks or so.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

Ditto John. What does "cell phone modem" mean, exactly? A modem that works with cell phones? A wireless modem?

It does sound interesting ...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, TX USA
Posts: 95

The modem works with a cell phone. When I saw the report this morning, I emailed innogear about the module, primarily to recommend they keep it in the Visor form factor, and not "out of the top" of the Visor as reported. They told me that was a misunderstanding from the mockup they put together for the show. The designed unit fits completely within the flash card form factor.

So what if it is $200. Think of this; everything (but small size) from a Palm Vx in the Visor Deluxe, a Springboard that doubles the memory again, gives you a modem and vibrating alarm (why isn't a vibrating alarm standard for PDA's?); all for the total price of a Palm Vx ($449). I agree witht he previous poster that this will be a must have for many Visor owners.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 69

Don't get me wrong... I would have NO problem w/ a $200 price tag for such a device. The combined cost of separate gadgets to perform all of those functions would be well above $200 anyway.

One would have to be quite shortsighted (or strapped for cash) not to put down an extra 60 bucks over the Handspring modem to get those extra features.

I'll buy it.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

I'll wait for a wireless modem. Hopefully, someone will do something like this with a wireless modem, or at least with a two-way pager.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, TX USA
Posts: 95

bearpaw:

Wireless/two way seems to be a problem of form factor. Innogear told me they have to use an external stub antennae. Most users I've talked to want a self contained unit; even the large top of the Handspring modem won't compare to the Six-pack approach.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

With the combined modem and 8MB of Flash RAM, doesn't the total price of Handsprings offerings already go above $200? To think that this is a springboard that is almost ready to go, even as the first Visors are shipping. Imagine what the future has in store. (Oh man, the electronics budget is going to have to expand!)

tyler

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hoboken, NJ, 07030
Posts: 105

Is the modem really that useful? None of my friends with Palms have the Palm modem and they seem to get along fine. Could they drop the modem and add a mp3 player or pager?
Also, with the LED not jutting out the standard cover will probably fit on the back of the unit. The mock up that I saw at internet world had a connector for external power and I believe the Handspring modem had extra batteries. Will all modems require extra power? I asked the rep about whether the cover was supposed to fit on back (since the LED blocked it) and he mentioned something about them having some other solution for external power.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, TX USA
Posts: 95

Once you get the convenience of checking email on the road from your Visor, you'll understand the value. I've used my old Palm Pro and modem to stay in touch for over a year now, and it sure beats lugging a notebook. As for power, modems do tend to draw batteries quickly (my Palm modem has two AAA's of its own) but only bad when surfing, which you can do even at 14.4 if you use Proxiweb and its special servers.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, TX USA
Posts: 95

Once you get the convenience of checking email on the road from your Visor, you'll understand the value. I've used my old Palm Pro and modem to stay in touch for over a year now, and it sure beats lugging a notebook. As for power, modems do tend to draw batteries quickly (my Palm modem has two AAA's of its own) but only bad when surfing, which you can do even at 14.4 if you use Proxiweb and its special servers.

What makes the Innogear Six-Pack really great is that it is all in one unit in your system; no clip ons, etc. to carry.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

dstrauss,

I'm not sure that makes sense. The image I've seen of the *one*-way pager due out Real Soon has a stub antenna. (See the Innogear web site.) Though I can see that it looks like an awkward form factor.

Anyway, there have been reports of a wireless modem in the works, though no details. Maybe it'll have some sort of flip-up antenna, like the PalmVII.

(I wish they'd hurry up with fractennas. www.fractenna.com)

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 82

Damn.. what is wrong with you people? Can't you recognize true genius when you see it? Hawkins & someone at Innogear are very special people.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Larkspur, CO, USA
Posts: 32

This week's PC Mag discusses the Visor's springboards too. Page 41...

Say does anybody read this magazine besides me?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Pittsford,NY,USA
Posts: 223

I read PCMAG religously ... I have since it first came out. (Back when it was sometimes phonebook size.)

-Eric