Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

Re: Re: $200 bucks to upgrade to OS 3.5

Originally posted by dkessler

quote:

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Now, on a totally different note, can someone tell me why there is such a compelling need to upgrade to PalmOS 3.5? As a developer, I just don't see where it offers any significant improvements when running on the standard Visor hardware. Am I missing something here? This is not intended as a flame ... I truly am curious.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 195

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle
No, no, no!!!... GIVE your current Visor to the Mrs. and get the new one for yourself! (of course, if she already has her own, this won't work... ) [/B]

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My six-year-old always told me that since he knew I'd want a color Visor when it came out, he'd be willing to take my "old" Visor! Think the spouse will go for it?!

Seriously, doesn't the color Palm suck? That's what I keep reading. Post after post keeps talking about how hard they are on the eyes, and my understanding is that they just aren't selling - too high a cost for too little benefit. Since HS is bound by the limitations of the Palm OS, how can this be anything other than an incremental market-share move? A sort of "we can do it too" kind of thing? If everyone is so excited about a color Visor, why wouldn't they have already gone for the Palm?

As for the phone, well, I like the idea - but $300?!!

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

Re: Re: $200 bucks to upgrade to OS 3.5

quote:

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Originally posted by dkessler
... can someone tell me why there is such a compelling need to upgrade to PalmOS 3.5? As a developer, I just don't see where it offers any significant improvements when running on the standard Visor hardware. Am I missing something here? This is not intended as a flame ... I truly am curious. [/B]

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"Attitudes are contagious... Is YOURS worth catching?"

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Beavercreek, OH 45434
Posts: 29

VisorPhone

I don't know if anyone kept up the link about the possible phone up very long but if you do another web page pops up:

http://www.telamarkt.com/english/release.htm

It is an interesting speculation that the VisorPhone might be this model with the GPS portion stripped, eh?

This is what it says:

Tel@markt to deliver Springboard�-compatible GSM/ GPS module for the Handspring� Visor�

Try @Com communication and navigation device now available for popular handheld computer

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, MAY 2, 2000 ... The start-up joint-venture company, Tel@markt, announced today the world's first combination GSM/ GPS module for the Handspring� Visor�. The module turns any Visor into a GPS based navigation and GSM based communication system. The module will first become available to the general public in autumn 2000

The GSM functionality allows anyone with a Handspring Visor handheld computer to communicate via SMS (Short Message Service), E-Mail, and WAP-based electronic web information while the GPS (Global Positioning System) provides navigation capabilities.

The Handspring Visor handheld computer combined with the Try @COM GSM/ GPS module is an ideal communication and navigation platform for business professionals on the go and will be especially beneficial in vertical markets such as transportation and health care where mobility is critical. These applications describe only a small part of the functionality the Try @COM GSM/ GPS module can provide to the mobile workforce. Additional services and applications will be available as add-on modules from Tel@markt.

"The flexibility and the innovation of the Visor allow us to offer our customers even greater functionality. The Visor combined with our Try @COM Springboard module gives us the possibility to offer everybody a modern platform, well beyond the usual handheld functionality. This unique and easy-to-use combination enables private costumers as well as major corporations to have mobile access to individual tailored services or databases," said Kees Bosch, CEO of the Tel@markt NV Group. "The open platform of the Visor and the dedicated support at Handspring were further criteria that convinced us that this platform would play a key role in this new market. We are very excited about this cooperation."

Ed Colligan, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Handspring, said, "The Try @COM module is a great example of how robust and flexible a Springboard solution can be. With the power of GPS navigation and the convenience of GSM-based communications in a single product, this solution adds a great deal of value to our Visor family."

GSM

The GSM part of the module is designed in dual-band capable technique and allows people to utilize either E-GSM or DCS GSM ETSI Phase I and II services. The available headset provides the telephony GSM teleservice, which is compatible to any standard mobile headset equipment. Along with regular GSM functionality, other teleservices provided are SMS for point-to-point mobile terminated, mobile originated and cell broadcast short messages. The GSM data transfer is capable of sending and receiving data at up to 14,400 bits per second. The GSM software, which is also available from Tel@markt, running the
Try @COM module, is Version 07.05 and 07.07 compatible. The internal SIM card reader supports 3 and 5V compatible standard mini SIM-cards.

GPS

The built in GPS antenna receives the GPS satellite signal which can also be used for time synchronization of the Visor handheld computer. Using the regular GPS services, the accuracy of the GPS system allows the user to navigate with a maximum precision of 25 meters in a horizontal position and, if required, 40 meters in a vertical position. Combined with the GSM capabilities of the Try @COM module, GPS offers various kinds of possible applications such as vehicle tracking, regular in-vehicle and handheld mobile navigation, and patient or senior citizen monitoring for medical interventions in case of distress..

The Try @COM GSM/ GPS module is co-designed by the German company and specialist in GSM and GPS electronic equipment Falcom, and is available in sample quantities from Tel@markt and its dealer network. Additional services will be offered later this year. For additional information, please refer to http://www.telamarkt.com.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

Liberty Color maybe??

Ok, Ok... Here's one for you to ponder.

30MHz Dragonball/color overclocked to, oh, about 50MHz!.... running a color version of Liberty. There sooooo many gbc roms out there and just not enough time. I'll be able to still multitask... Like listening to mp3's and playing any color gameboy game there is!!!

Count me in, I'm sold. Anybody want to buy my GVD. I'll send it to ya, when my Prism comes in!

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

Re: Re: Re: $200 bucks to upgrade to OS 3.5

quote:

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Originally posted by yucca
For corporate users, v3.3 gives you support for server-based hot-syncs; and, more importantly, network IR hot syncs. So the v3.5 OS in the new devices will help IS Managers better support the Visor (as in approving it for purchase). As someone in the business, I'm sure that you can see that eliminating the PC from the Visor support equation and adding support for sync servers is a huge win.

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<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 5

Why GSM?

I'm puzzled as to why the cell phone module will be using GSM, given that I seem to remember that Handspring licensed the CDMA format (which is much more widespread in the U.S.) not too long ago.

Does memory serve me correctly? Any thoughts?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Beavercreek, OH 45434
Posts: 29

IIIc isn't as bad as many say

I really want to give an op-ed about the much malligned IIIc. I think that when the IIIc was introduced people expected a color plam to match the color CE devices and were turned off by the lower resolution and lack of colors. However, if you just judge it against the other palms I have to say that it is much more readable indoors. My wife doesn't have great eyes and found that IIIc was just as readable (in terms of brightness) as the iPAQ (and much more simple to operate). In fact I really had to stop myself from buying a WinCE machine (the new Casio PocketCE) this week. I for one will certainly buy the new color Visor. Since I use it much more, on average, than the normal person uses a PDA, I believe it will be worth it.

However, one problem that the new models will have will be shelf space. At Best Buy you can't even buy the regular Visor only the Visor Deluxe. So now instead of comparing the Palm m100 to the standard Visor you have to compare it to the Visor Deluxe which costs significantly more. Will the new Visor models push out the old models because there is only so much space Best Buy can give Handspring AND all the other PDA manufacturers?

Also a $449 color Visor comes awful close to the cheapest WinCE color computers at $499. I can just see the sales pitch from the salesman "for just $50 more you get a 8MB (or 24M in the case of the iPAQ) more memory and an MP3 player." Not that you really have much space to operate that MP3 player without expansion memory. Does anyone know if you can actually run files off the external storage devices for CE? I know in the earliest incarnations you couldn't but I would think Microsoft would have fixed that limitation.

The only thing that I'm dissapointed with is that we just bought the IIIc and I'm sure I'm going to move my wife over to the color model when it becomes available. Sigh, two more things (IIIc and my Visor Deluxe) I'll just have to eBay...

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Re: What about an OS upgrade for us?!

quote:

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Originally posted by Trinition
I'd like to see a PalmOS 3.5 upgrade for existing Visor users.

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Re: Why GSM?

quote:

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Originally posted by bobettemm
I'm puzzled as to why the cell phone module will be using GSM, given that I seem to remember that Handspring licensed the CDMA format (which is much more widespread in the U.S.) not too long ago.

Does memory serve me correctly? Any thoughts?

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Beavercreek, OH 45434
Posts: 29

Why GSM?

One good reason why the VisorPhone might be using GSM might be that it is simply a rebadged, stripped version of the @COM module. If Palm is simply rebadging the @COM module it would be real easy to get it out of the door. They may have licensed CDMA so they can offer a follow up to the device in areas that don't offer GSM made by themselves or a third party. Also Palm already has a significant presence in Japan and Europe so a GSM module will make much more sense over there even if GSM doesn't cover much of the country in the US yet.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Beavercreek, OH 45434
Posts: 29

Handspring: master of PR

But here is one great point. Handspring is a master of publicity. Microsoft took many of the palm enthusiasts to Redmond on Friday and GAVE them two Pocket PCs (iPAQ and the HP). While this didn't really convert any of them it may have moderated their criticism of the PocketPCs. Suddenly Handspring comes out of nowhere to announce a color PalmOS compatible that significantly narrows the difference between the PalmOS computers and the PocketPCs with retaining the simpliticy of the original Palm design.

Here is also another interesting thought. Maybe Sony didn't introduce the color CLIE because it knew Palm was going to upgrade the OS to 16-bit color. Why introduce the 8-bit model when it would be obsolete in just a few months? Maybe Sony PUSHED Palm to upgrade to 16-bit colors. Handspring might have got wind of it and decided to introduce a color version now before Palm and Sony started their PR departments.

I wonder if a color TRGPro will be in the offering with new color Handsprings, Sonys and Palms on the way? While many TRG fans want the long battery life of monocrome one vertical market would like color: doctors. Most hospitals have bad lighting and most doctors rarely have to go outside as compared with over vertical applications of the TRGPro.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Bundles and Branding

OK, I saw a few items posted that reinforce something a friend told me. It was a translucent-black with silver trim Visor, bundled with a wireless two-way pager springboard, color screen, and webcam software, with the signature of jenni from jennicam.org/guests/cam.jpg as
a stick-on plastic label.

Thinks that reinforce this:
1) The name of "Platinum" for a visor indicates metalic trim cases are possible/likely.
2) Above mention of a bundle with the glenair needed due to shielding problems.
3) The use of 16 bit color on a display that is so small it can really only support a webcam image.
4) Jennicam signing up for streaming video agreeing not to do anything taboo on the streaming cams, which I'd expect to happen for this kind of deal, also.
5) Talk about a "broadcast" mode possible with the glenair.
6) The fact that every portal I've been to is hyping web cams. Wow, can you imagine a Survivor-cam Visor?

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 79

Re: Re: $200 bucks to upgrade to OS 3.5

OK OK you are right, but I think people got my point....let me restate...I will never buy another Visor if it does not have a FLASH EPROM!!! ( I still think Flash ram sounds better.

Why do we want 3.5? For those of us that want better wireless connectivity it is a must. Right now a Visor can not run Palm VII PQAs. You need at least 3.3 and above. I know some people won't care but if Handspring is going to make a compatible device it needs to be 100% compatible. Gosh this is starting to remind me of the days when you bought a PC and sometimes it wasn't 100% compatible with IBM and then you were in big trouble.

heyday

quote:

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Originally posted by dkessler
[QUOTE]Originally posted by heyday
[B]I will NEVER buy another Handspring product if it doesn't have flash RAM.

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Well, then you'll never buy another Handspring product because there's no such thing as flash RAM. I had this discussion with James earlier this week

It's Flash EPROM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory and I can assure you that Flash is decidedly not capable of random access

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 79

Re: Re: What about an OS upgrade for us?!

You can get enhanced IR, IR Sync and modem support if you get IRLINK form http://www.iscomplete.com

I have been using it for a month now and am very surprised. I connect to my Ericsson C3888 via the IR port and it is nice.

heyday

quote:

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Originally posted by argent

quote:

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Originally posted by Trinition
I'd like to see a PalmOS 3.5 upgrade for existing Visor users.

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I'd just like a supported serial IR enhancement. The rest, including PQA support and the fancy menus, I could live without, but it'd be nice to get IR syncing and IR modem support.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 1

GSM

I doubt it uses GSM simply to work in Japan and Europe. The US uses 1900 mhz GSM, while Europe uses 900 and 1800 mhz. Therefore the module won't work on both continents unless it is dual band (900 and 1900).

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Re: GSM

quote:

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Originally posted by benfeinberg
I doubt it uses GSM simply to work in Japan and Europe. The US uses 1900 mhz GSM, while Europe uses 900 and 1800 mhz. Therefore the module won't work on both continents unless it is dual band (900 and 1900).

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 241

Well, the phone's old news, and I hope the $299 visor is smaller in size (I want a Palm V sized visor!) and a Palm V sized color visor would be nice too, but I gues I can wait a few years for that

I can't wait for pictures! 5 more days for possible pics of the VisorPhone, and in 1 month, we'll be able to buy the Prism and Platinum!

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Beavercreek, OH 45434
Posts: 29

Are people ignoring the shortage of flash

Are people ignoring the flash memory/eprom shortage. One of the reason why Visors (versus certain models of Palms and CE devices) are available is this shortage. The primary reason why many Springboards are not is for the same reason. Cellular phone companies are demanding so much of these chips that they are difficult to obtain. And with shortage comes the issue of money. Instead of getting cheaper the technology is getting more expensive. Right now people are talking in this discussion as if these things were cheap and available. Why do you think the m100 came out? Palm wants to be able to sell PDAs, not just announce neat products at high prices that are unavailable.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 109

I HAVE MY COLOR VISOR!!!!

its blue!