Christopher's profilePocket PC GuruPhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
December 30 Verizon Powered Palm Treo 755p ReviewI have written reviews of just about every current Treo on the market. I looked at the Verizon Powered 700w on pocketnow.com, the Sprint Powered 700wx on pocketnow.com, and the Cingular (now AT&T) Powered Palm 750 here on Gear diary. I also wrote a couple of follow-up articles on the 700w on pocketnow (Good Night Sweet Treo...or Not, and Over the Air Synching Issues Investigation) that really stirred things up. However, problems are problems, and if they need to be resolved, I'm not necessarily going to hold back.
I've been using the 755p for a little bit, and honestly, while the device is a good, solid device, there are some contributing factors here that you need to be aware of. Carrier issues aside (I think Verizon's rate plans, and other wireless services products are over-priced and, in some cases, outrageously expensive); many previous Palm users may be looking at this device and wondering what the 755p gets them, over say, the 700p or any other Palm Powered Treo Smartphone. Let's take a look and see what the 755p provides... Out of the Box
Picture of Box Contents: USB Cable, Documentation AC Adapter, 755p and Wired Headset
Comparison - 700wx, 755p and 750
Device Specs
General
Specifications
Interestingly enough, the 1600mAh battery WILL power my Treo 750; but the battery cover won't fit after the 755p battery is in. What's even more interesting is that my 750 will use ALL the Treo batteries I have, even the 1800mAh batteries I have in my Treo Trip Kit, indicating that the only thing keeping me from using them in my 750 is the damn cover. (The 750 comes with a 1200mAh battery that dies mid way through the day.) I need to try the 1800mAh batteries on the 755p to see if they will work and have its battery cover fit.
PalmOS Then and Now Don't get me wrong, the 755p is a nice device; but its got the same ol' sorry version of PalmOS that I was using on my Tungsten T3 back in the day (I may be off, by a minor version number or two; but it was definitely version 5.x, Garnet). That's pathetic, and inexcusable. Verizon is charging a great deal of money for this device (see the MSRP, below), and for that amount of cash, I really think I deserve something a HECK of a lot more innovative, and well...FUN. The iPhone, for example, only costs $50 bucks more, and you get, I think, a better overall experience with it than you do with the Verizon Treo 755p. Its way beyond time for Palm to step up here and provide an upgrade to their OS. Way past time... If memory serves correctly, the biggest problem that Cobalt had was compatibility with Garnet and earlier versions of the OS. At this point, I'd say kick those worries to the curb. Not many people are going to care at this point. If they have to buy new software to go with a new device with a new OS, I think they'll be ok with it. after waiting 3+ years for an upgrade to the OS, people aren't much going to care (at least I don't think so). I think they would much rather see new devices with a new, supported, innovative, state-of-the-art mobile OS than vaporware that is supposed to run all the old stuff as well as be an upgraded OS...but again, that's just me.
Included Software
The software here is nothing new, really. This is some of the same software that I have seen on other devices in the past year or so. It is nice, however, that Palm gives you a way to download and install directly to and from the device.
The software CD included with the device allows you to go to the Palm website to download the following (additional) software titles:
Getting VersaMail on my 755p, for me, wasn't easy. I am going to be blowing the Windows Vista side of my MacBook Pro soon, and I didn't want to complicate my Windows life right now trying to get the beta version of Palm Desktop for Vista working. Instead, I put the Mac version on the Mac side of my MBP, and got VersaMail installed there. As soon as I'm done with this review, though, off the whole thing goes. I can't stand Palm Desktop. I have never liked it or the method of "HotSyncing." I am, for better or worse, a Windows Mobile guy.
Actual Use pocketnow.com did a very good comparison of the 700p and the 700w here. Brandon also did a blog series on the 700p that you can see here. Little to nothing has changed since the 700p, so I'm not going to take the time to reinvent the wheel here. In actual use, I found the phone to be quite reliable. I work in the AON Center in downtown Chicago (at least I do until just after the First of the Year...), and getting a cell signal in this building can be a real challenge. Sprint and T-Mobile customers need not worry about forgetting your cell phone at home. You aren't going to get a cell signal anywhere in this building anyway. Verizon and AT&T (in that order) have the best signal. I have a Blackjack, and while this one is better than the one I recently sent back due to the "recall antenna issue," the 755p still got a better signal in all points in this building. That is in no small fact due to Verizon's awesome signal penetration. Final Conclusions The 755p is perhaps the most boring phone I've laid my hands on this year. There is NOTHING new, fun, exciting or even compelling about it. With the same old version of PalmOS on it as I saw back in late 2004, existing Palm users, including those that are using the 700p, have absolutely NO reason to jump to the 755p. You're going to end up with the same phone experience you have now, minus the stub antenna. Again, no reason to upgrade; and its the same price as the 700p. Obviously, this is meant to replace the 700p; but Verizon is offering both of them at the same time, which makes NO sense what-so-ever... Attention Palm! This is a wake up call. Color me spoiled if you will, but the Treo's used to be the PDA-shizzle. Time was, you could always count on Palm to give you something cool. Now, not so much. Their form factors are out dated. The only thing new with the 755p is the lack of the stub antenna. Ohhhh! There's something of a no brainer... and again, no reason for anyone with a current (especially PalmOS) Treo to upgrade or change their device. This is the quickest device review I have ever done. Usually, I like to use a device for 45-60 days before I start shooting my mouth off. Good reviewers allow the "honey moon" phase of a new device experience to pass before they start looking critically at a device and the way that it functions. With the 755p, however, its a little different. As I said, I've looked at (now) 4 different and recent Treo's over the last couple of years. The only thing different here is the OS; and its the SAME OS I used on my T|3 a few years ago. Nothing of note is new or has changed in my mind. Nothing in the phone or device experience jumped out at me and grabbed my attention. It was a big snooze-fest, and a huge disappointment. The phone..? Sure. Its a good phone. Solid, dependable, easy to use...but then again, that's basically a given and nothing (again) to get excited about. Unfortunately, the 755p is using an outdated OS and outdated application software. I'm not certain its worth $349.99, either. AT&T has the Treo 750 for $199 (after a $150 mail in rebate), so that's your call.
MSRP: $349.99 (2 year Contract Price, with $100 Online Discount) Verizon Powered Palm Treo 755p ReviewI have written reviews of just about every current Treo on the market. I looked at the Verizon Powered 700w on pocketnow.com, the Sprint Powered 700wx on pocketnow.com, and the Cingular (now AT&T) Powered Palm 750 here on Gear diary. I also wrote a couple of follow-up articles on the 700w on pocketnow (Good Night Sweet Treo...or Not, and Over the Air Synching Issues Investigation) that really stirred things up. However, problems are problems, and if they need to be resolved, I'm not necessarily going to hold back.
I've been using the 755p for a little bit, and honestly, while the device is a good, solid device, there are some contributing factors here that you need to be aware of. Carrier issues aside (I think Verizon's rate plans, and other wireless services products are over-priced and, in some cases, outrageously expensive); many previous Palm users may be looking at this device and wondering what the 755p gets them, over say, the 700p or any other Palm Powered Treo Smartphone. Let's take a look and see what the 755p provides... Out of the Box
Picture of Box Contents: USB Cable, Documentation AC Adapter, 755p and Wired Headset
Comparison - 700wx, 755p and 750
Device Specs
General
Specifications
Interestingly enough, the 1600mAh battery WILL power my Treo 750; but the battery cover won't fit after the 755p battery is in. What's even more interesting is that my 750 will use ALL the Treo batteries I have, even the 1800mAh batteries I have in my Treo Trip Kit, indicating that the only thing keeping me from using them in my 750 is the damn cover. (The 750 comes with a 1200mAh battery that dies mid way through the day.) I need to try the 1800mAh batteries on the 755p to see if they will work and have its battery cover fit.
PalmOS Then and Now Don't get me wrong, the 755p is a nice device; but its got the same ol' sorry version of PalmOS that I was using on my Tungsten T3 back in the day (I may be off, by a minor version number or two; but it was definitely version 5.x, Garnet). That's pathetic, and inexcusable. Verizon is charging a great deal of money for this device (see the MSRP, below), and for that amount of cash, I really think I deserve something a HECK of a lot more innovative, and well...FUN. The iPhone, for example, only costs $50 bucks more, and you get, I think, a better overall experience with it than you do with the Verizon Treo 755p. Its way beyond time for Palm to step up here and provide an upgrade to their OS. Way past time... If memory serves correctly, the biggest problem that Cobalt had was compatibility with Garnet and earlier versions of the OS. At this point, I'd say kick those worries to the curb. Not many people are going to care at this point. If they have to buy new software to go with a new device with a new OS, I think they'll be ok with it. after waiting 3+ years for an upgrade to the OS, people aren't much going to care (at least I don't think so). I think they would much rather see new devices with a new, supported, innovative, state-of-the-art mobile OS than vaporware that is supposed to run all the old stuff as well as be an upgraded OS...but again, that's just me.
Included Software
The software here is nothing new, really. This is some of the same software that I have seen on other devices in the past year or so. It is nice, however, that Palm gives you a way to download and install directly to and from the device.
The software CD included with the device allows you to go to the Palm website to download the following (additional) software titles:
Getting VersaMail on my 755p, for me, wasn't easy. I am going to be blowing the Windows Vista side of my MacBook Pro soon, and I didn't want to complicate my Windows life right now trying to get the beta version of Palm Desktop for Vista working. Instead, I put the Mac version on the Mac side of my MBP, and got VersaMail installed there. As soon as I'm done with this review, though, off the whole thing goes. I can't stand Palm Desktop. I have never liked it or the method of "HotSyncing." I am, for better or worse, a Windows Mobile guy.
Actual Use pocketnow.com did a very good comparison of the 700p and the 700w here. Brandon also did a blog series on the 700p that you can see here. Little to nothing has changed since the 700p, so I'm not going to take the time to reinvent the wheel here. In actual use, I found the phone to be quite reliable. I work in the AON Center in downtown Chicago (at least I do until just after the First of the Year...), and getting a cell signal in this building can be a real challenge. Sprint and T-Mobile customers need not worry about forgetting your cell phone at home. You aren't going to get a cell signal anywhere in this building anyway. Verizon and AT&T (in that order) have the best signal. I have a Blackjack, and while this one is better than the one I recently sent back due to the "recall antenna issue," the 755p still got a better signal in all points in this building. That is in no small fact due to Verizon's awesome signal penetration. Final Conclusions The 755p is perhaps the most boring phone I've laid my hands on this year. There is NOTHING new, fun, exciting or even compelling about it. With the same old version of PalmOS on it as I saw back in late 2004, existing Palm users, including those that are using the 700p, have absolutely NO reason to jump to the 755p. You're going to end up with the same phone experience you have now, minus the stub antenna. Again, no reason to upgrade; and its the same price as the 700p. Obviously, this is meant to replace the 700p; but Verizon is offering both of them at the same time, which makes NO sense what-so-ever... Attention Palm! This is a wake up call. Color me spoiled if you will, but the Treo's used to be the PDA-shizzle. Time was, you could always count on Palm to give you something cool. Now, not so much. Their form factors are out dated. The only thing new with the 755p is the lack of the stub antenna. Ohhhh! There's something of a no brainer... and again, no reason for anyone with a current (especially PalmOS) Treo to upgrade or change their device. This is the quickest device review I have ever done. Usually, I like to use a device for 45-60 days before I start shooting my mouth off. Good reviewers allow the "honey moon" phase of a new device experience to pass before they start looking critically at a device and the way that it functions. With the 755p, however, its a little different. As I said, I've looked at (now) 4 different and recent Treo's over the last couple of years. The only thing different here is the OS; and its the SAME OS I used on my T|3 a few years ago. Nothing of note is new or has changed in my mind. Nothing in the phone or device experience jumped out at me and grabbed my attention. It was a big snooze-fest, and a huge disappointment. The phone..? Sure. Its a good phone. Solid, dependable, easy to use...but then again, that's basically a given and nothing (again) to get excited about. Unfortunately, the 755p is using an outdated OS and outdated application software. I'm not certain its worth $349.99, either. AT&T has the Treo 750 for $199 (after a $150 mail in rebate), so that's your call.
MSRP: $349.99 (2 year Contract Price, with $100 Online Discount) December 29 The Death of Netscape NavigatorIt had to happen to one or the other... It happened to AOL first. Alas...poor Netscape. I knew him, IE.
Those of us who have been around computers for a while will remember the browser wars back in the day. This is when Netscape was Netscape, before they were bought by AOL (or Time-Warner/AOL...the timing is a bit fuzzy for me). IE and Netscape were duking it out, for dominance in the Internet space. It is perhaps the one single issue that eventually led to the antitrust case against Microsoft.
I saw the announcement hit my Blackjack while I was on the train going home last night...AOL has finally pulled the plug on Netscape Navigator and will be putting it to rest on February 1, 2008. I was sitting with a new employee of mine, an ex-Microsoft employee for that matter (he was the Build Manager in the Windows Division, responsible for creating all of the daily, beta, RC and RTM builds for Windows 95/98/98SE back in the day...Darren is a really COOL guy), and the news caught us both by surprise. I say surprise because while both of us weren't "surprised" that it had happened, neither of us thought it would happen any time soon. Boy were we wrong... Tom Drapeau, Director of AOL's Netscape Brand said they were ending development of the browser and would stop releasing security updates for it on 01-Feb-08. According to Drapeau, with The Mozilla Foundation's success and the wide acceptance of its FireFox browser, Netscape is passing the torch. AOL is actively encouraging its Netscape users to download, install and use FireFox for their all of their Internet browsing needs. A Brief History To combat their slipping share, Netscape announced that they would stop charging users for the purchase of their browser, and began giving it away in January of 1998. The Mozilla Foundation was formed between January-February 1998, and officially took control of the code as an open-source, non-profit organization. Later that year, AOL bought Netscape in a $4.2B dollar deal. Since then the browser has effectively lost 100% of its user base. Last month, according to Net Applications (a web metrics company) estimated browser share for IE at 77.4%, FireFox at 16%, and Netscape at 0.60% (yes, that's just over 1/2 of 1 percent). It is truly, the end of an era...
The browser fell on hard times, however, and quickly lost what users it had to IE as well as the successor from Mozilla, FireFox. Last month, for instance, Web metrics company Net Applications tracked Netscape's browser share at just 0.60%, while IE owned 77.4% and Firefox accounted for 16%. December 26 Happy Boxing Day!Boxing Day is traditionally either the day after Christmas (12/26) or the first work day after Christmas. On this day, gifts are traditionally given to employees from employers or to the less fortunate. There are many etymologies for the word, but one of the most interesting I found was:
So if you live in any of the Commonwealth of Nations, Happy Boxing Day! December 20 Update: Microsoft releases Windows XP SP3Windows XP SP3 is available for download...provided you have a broadband connection, or a lot of patience. This is the second major OS update that Microsoft has released to the public early in just about as many weeks. Like Vista SP1, however, users need to be aware that this is prerelease software, and not the final code. That won't come out for quite some time yet.
According to Microsoft, XP SP3 RC is only going to be available through the Microsoft Download Center. Windows XP SP3 also isn't going to be available in its final version any time soon. Current plans have the software finished and available via Microsoft Update during the first half of 2008. Currently, the software weighs in at 366MB. The final version of the software is only expected to total 70MB. That's quite a bit smaller. So the current RC likely has a lot of unoptimized, and/or debug code in it. Casual or inexperienced users are not encouraged to download and install this right now. They should wait until the final version of the software is released, again, sometime before July 2008. While MS is downplaying the significance of the update, a performance testing software developer out of Florida is saying that XP3 SP3 is not only 10% faster than XP SP2 (an ok performance increase); but it is more than twice as fast as Vista SP1. Microsoft called that report erroneous. You'll need to decide for yourself if and when you download and install the update. Interestingly enough, one of the biggest problems Vista has right now is Windows XP. Its Vista's biggest rival according to Forrester Research. Many businesses, worldwide, are delaying Vista upgrades due to the huge change to the user interface, compatibility issues, etc. Vista is almost completely different than XP; and I truly believe that many companies will suffer huge productivity hits if and when they finally do move to Vista. XP has been "out there" for more than 6 years, and people are used to working on that platform. Vista changes the way you work, and many non-techies will have trouble getting around after the upgrade. Leopard Launch a WinnerInterestingly enough, its been dubbed the best OS release of Apple's entire computing history.
Leopard, OSX 10.5 was released last month. Apples previous version of OSX, version 10.4, code named Tiger, was released in May of 2005. Apple has sold 21% more copies of Leopard than Tiger. At just $129 a copy ($199 for a Family Pack you can install on up to 5 computers under a single roof...the location is part of the Family license pack, btw...), its not a huge dollar-to-dollar increase, 32.8%; but that's still rather significant. The increase can be partially attributed to the OS hitting the shelves in November, just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
However, a research firm thinks that the real success to the whole rollout is not marketing per se. It can actually be found in Apple's rollouts and product development strategies. They seem to have just gotten the formula for rolling out new versions of their flagship OS right. High praise for a software company. As a Software Quality professional with just over 17 year of QA experience, I have seen many different systems and success rates. Apple does indeed have something going on here. Go, baby go! Key features of Leopard include Apple's new file backup applet called Time Machine. Locating a file or a specific version of a file is really, no longer a problem under Leopard. Users can simply click on a Time Machine button to bring up a series of windows stretching over the horizon, with a picture of a black hole off in the distance. Each window represents a day or another fixed period of time. To find the desired file, the user "flies" back in time toward the black hole, with a time line on the right side of the screen marking progress as the days sweep underneath. Time Machine saves the changes from one version of the file to a newer version. Once the last saved version of the file is located, it can be restored to the main Finder window with a click of the mouse. Other OS improvements include enhancements to Apple Mail, instant messaging, file previews, and quick access to other computers on your home or office network. As a reminder, Mitchell and I are still working on our combined review of Apple's Leopard. Look for it before the end of the year. It should be a real cool write up, so stay tuned!! December 18 Casio G'zOne Phones Available from Verizon WirelessCasio is going to be demonstrating their G'zOne Phones at CES. These phones are your standard clam shell variety with, I would assume, the standard brew-based OS. While this doesn't sound very cool in and of itself, that's not the big selling point. These are ruggedized phones. No, this isn't a standard phone in a goofy looking ruggedized case, these are much more than that. G'zOne phones can withstand water, Death Valley type heat, drops from extreme hights, etc. These are going to be exclusively available from Verizon Wireless.
JAMM Year End Arcade Wrap-Up"I just posted my year end wrap of of The Arcade, featuring the Best Five Our good friend, buddy and fellow Gear Diary Team Member, Doug Goldring has posted a cool year end wrap-up over at Just Another Mobile Monday. If you have time, you should take a quick look and check it out! Thanks for the heads up, Doug!! Ilium Software Releases eWallet 6.0Stop reading this right now. Stop! Download eWallet 6.0 and then while its coming down, come back and read this. I'll wait... eWallet is by far one of the BEST programs I have every used in my life. I love Ilium's software. KeepTrack, their check book program, actually helped save my marriage many, MANY moons ago, as it helped us sort out where all the money was going. eWallet, has helped me by, uh, keeping track of all of the important info that I need to carry with me.
Ilium software just upgraded this cool app to version 6.0. New in this version:
If you bought eWallet 5.0 or FlexWallet between September 17 and December 17, 2007, your upgrade to version 6.0 is free on the same platform(s) for which you made your original purchase. Previous eWallet owners will be contacted by Ilium Software if they qualify for an upgrade. Previous FlexWallet owners will be contacted by WebIS if they qualify for an upgrade. Get Way Cool Wallpapers from Club AstrawareWith the holidays right around the corner, and productivity dropping to nil, I'm feeling very Christmassy inside. So, while the getting is good, you might want to head over to Astraware to pull down some very cool Holiday wallpapers! "If you've downloaded Astraware Solitaire Winter Edition, you're probably admiring the gorgeous Winter-themed card backs created by our artists Mike Hanson and Bryan King." Mike Hanson has taken three of his original pics and made them into beautiful desktop wallpapers for your computer. They're free for the asking, via Club Astraware. You can check them out here. You can select the right size for your desktop and follow the simple instructions for downloading The only catch is that you must be a Club Astraware member. If you're not already a member, you can join here. You can access exclusive offers, earn points to be used as discounts on future purchases, manage newsletter subscriptions, even access your registration codes. The best thing of all is that Club Astraware is totally free!
December 11 Vaja UMPC Cases ReleasedThey're cool. They're clean. They are ready to protect your UMPC from dings and dents; and they are 100% Vaja and completely awesome. If you have a UMPC, and want a case to carry it with (in style), then you might want to check out the new UMPC cases that Vaja announced today. In standard Vaja style, you can customize your case via VajaChoice. There are color options for both the outside of the case as well as the stripe and interior. The case is $140USD; but man, does it look awesome or what?? The screen shot below, shows you the one option that is currently available. You need to make sure that your device will fit the case. The case measures 9.05", by 5.7" by 1.10" (WxHxD).
Vista SP1: Faster than Fast!Don't Give Up on Vista. Don't Give Up on Vista. (I love that Mac commercial...)
If you have Vista installed and are contemplating a switch back to XP, hang out a bit before you go. You may want to rethink that move. Vista SP1 is going to come out soon, and it fixes some huge problems that have been plaguing a number of people. I saw a very interesting article on ZDNet today that spoke of triple the network file transfer speeds. Very, very cool and very interesting as well. According to this report, the information about SP1 having no performance gains was inaccurate, due to the benchmarking methods that were used.
Apparently, problems with the networking stack in the RTM version of Vista have been corrected. When connecting to XP workstations, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Home Server, internal network speeds from Vista boxes are negatively effected. The three XP based OS' all share common, core network components. I'm going to bottom line things here for everyone, as I don't want to specifically snag the content from the article (so not right...) File transfer speeds can be anywhere from 2.5 - 3.0 times faster than the RTM version. Microsoft thinks that the issue was caused by a design change in Vista that eliminated the buffering used by the XP code base. "Bypassing the cache read-aheads and deferred writes makes for better disk-to-disk performance and provides better control over how much data you’re pushing over the network, but the mismatch slowed down transfer speeds in Vista RTM." Vista SP1 addresses these problems. Vista SP1 is still an RC, even though it should be available to the public in a couple of weeks. If you get a chance to pull it down, be careful, as with any non-production level code. December 08 MPAA Accused of Copyright ViolationsOops. MPAA isn't as pristine as they touted themselves to be.
I saw this and just about wet my pants, I laughed so hard. The MPAA has been accused of violating the copyright of a student who wrote a P2P sniffer. Excuse me while I laugh a bit again... Back in October, the MPAA sent a letter to 25 universities encouraging them to install something they were referring to as a "university toolkit." This Ubuntu based tool would help track and report on students who were sharing files via P2P. This is something that the MPAA is trying to push and sponsor universally.
However, as you might suspect, there are a few problems with the software. First, depending on how given university's network is setup, the software can pose a serious privacy problem. It appears to be a bit on the invasive side (I suppose). However, last Monday, one of the developers of the tool started posting take down notices. While Ubuntu is licensed under the General Public License, compliance with the license demands that developers not only provide the completed binary, but the source code behind it as well as publish changes made to any Ubuntu core files. Without the source code, distributing the binary alone constitutes copyright infringement under the GPL. As you might suspect, this is a problem for the MPAA. If they have to provide the source code with the app, experienced hackers would likely find a way around the app and still be able to swap files. Of course, demands made to the MPAA to remove the tool were met with silence. As a last resort, the developer contacted the MPAA's ISP and demanded that the files be taken down. THAT apparently did the trick, as the files are now strangely absent. With all of the hub-bub that has been made over this issue with the RIAA and the MPAA, the two groups working towards a single, similar agenda, this situation bothers me. It seems that the groups don't necessarily find value in upholding the rights of others, but insist that theirs are without question. If it seems as though I am a little upset over this, I am. I don't traffic in stolen MP3's or movies (though I have been approached by friends to share files). Its just not worth the grief that I have seen and have reported on over the past few years. However, this move, a blatant violation of the GPL by the MPAA, seems a bit bone headed on their part; and they apparently didn't even ask the developer's permission to use the software.
Source: BetaNews December 05 AT&T Palm Treo 750 Gets Windows Mobile 6I saw this over at Mobility Site and wanted to pass along the happy (or not so happy) news. The WM6 update for the AT&T Treo 750 is now available for download. The update SHOULD go well for those of you that can actually download it. Puzzled..? Read on my friends... I pulled this down last night and have a version that got out before Palm put in the serial number validator on their site; but it makes no difference for me (more on that in a sec...) In order to download the new OS for your Treo 750, Palm requires that you enter your serial number into a validation field on their site before the download starts. The validator insures that only AT&T 750 owners get the update and can install it on their devices. Makes sense, right? If you were to actually get this update on any other Treo, it would brick the device. Thanks for the help, Palm, you've saved me from myself... However, many people who have tried to download the software are running into 2 interesting problems:
So even though I was able to get the updater down without my serial number being validated last night, the software won't install. Oh goody...
Complete information, including the download link for the update can be found after the break. If you download it, and it installs for you, let us know how things went and if you like WM6! What can Windows Mobile 6 do for you?
Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today announced an update to Windows Mobile 6 for Palm® TreoT 750 smartphone customers in the United States. Windows Mobile 6 brings increased functionality, enhanced user interface and strengthened security and performance to the Treo 750 smartphone, which is offered exclusively in the United States by AT&T. The update is available today as a free download for existing Treo 750 smartphone customers. The Treo 750 currently is available in the United States on AT&T’s 3G BroadbandConnect network, which is available in more than 200 major metropolitan areas and provides average download speeds between 600Kbps (kilobits per second) and 1,400Kbps. For those customers, the update will facilitate High-speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA) capability, allowing faster data-download speeds on 3G/UMTS/HSDPA networks and access to AT&T Multimedia services: AT&T Music, CV (Video), and AT&T Mall. “The enhanced security and productivity tools available in Windows Mobile 6 will allow people to be more productive with their Treo smartphones,” said Tim McDonough, senior director of product management at Microsoft Corp. “The Windows Mobile 6 support of storage card data encryption, combined with the ability for IT departments to wipe data remotely if a device is lost, gives businesses the confidence to use Treos to accomplish critical business tasks.” Windows Mobile 6 combined with Exchange Server 2007 support is available out of the box and delivers a wide range of enhanced features, including the following:
The Treo 750 from AT&T is a five-band world phone with global 3G services that provides email, messaging, web browsing, and organizational capabilities.(3) The Treo 750 uses AT&T’s industry-leading international footprint, which gives users the ability to make a phone call in more than 190 countries and access data applications in more than 135 countries. This all-in-one phone is a powerful business tool that delivers advanced communication capabilities and greater productivity with quick access to information and applications. “Palm and Microsoft’s alliance continues to bring the best mobile experience to Treo customers,” said Brent Remai, vice president of business and consumer marketing, Palm, Inc. “The Treo 750’s connection to Exchange Server without the need for extra servers and middleware, combined with our unique ease of use, makes the Treo a win-win solution for IT departments and business users as they seek the most of their smartphone.” Palm’s Windows Mobile 6 update for the Treo 750 is available as a free download at www.palm.com/750updateATT. Source : Palm, Mobility Site December 02 Urban Tool's Hip Holster ReviewI am a huge fan of converged devices. If any gadget or doo-dad can serve more than one purpose, I am ALL over it. PDA phones are a great example. Love them to death... I also really like the new SEV Fleece 4.0. Its just freakin' awesome! Honestly, its a long way from the Sport TEC 2.5 that I got back in 2004. I didn't like that jacket at all. it didn't breathe well, was very thin, and was very uncomfortable to wear in humid or rainy weather...thing kept sticking to your skin. But again, the new SEV Fleece 4.0...bucu cool and worth every penny. Anyway, when its too warm to wear the SEV Fleece 4.0, I like to carry my stuff around in what is popularly called a fanny pack (or a bum bag in the UK). I have yet to find one that really fits my most essential gear. Let's see how the Urban tool Hip Holster holds up to scrutiny.
I have a billfold that I carry as a wallet. Its got my credit/ID/information cards, cash, checkbook, and a couple of other items in it. Its pretty big. I also carry a PDA phone (Samsung Blackjack I at the moment), and a large key ring that has keys and keyless entry system fobs for both my cars.
Actual Use There are a few items that I really must have with me at all times while I am out and about:
The HipHolster had a really hard time holding my phone and wallet/billfold. It handled my large keys ok, but they tended to hang off the retractable fob that it has all the way down to my knees. Yes, I could have taken just the cash and credit/debit cards I wanted, but I don't like separating my wallet contents from my wallet. I can lose things easily if I'm not careful... The holster tie for your leg was also a big disappointment. When Urban Tool said "holster" they weren't kidding. The bag reminds me of a gun holster from the Wild West, especially with the tie that it uses to secure it to your leg. A completely detached piece of elastic can be used to tie the bag to your right leg. The tie never held things well, loosened often for me, and when I did make it tight, made my leg fall asleep. I honestly don't think the design works if you carry anything of weight. If you do, the bag tends to flop all over the place and get in the way. The bag also makes poor use of available space. It comes with a secret pocket that could very easily hold a lot more than it does. A couple other pieces of liner, and a well placed zipper, and this could have been a really awesome bag. Oh well... Long story short, this bag was a huge disappointment for me. I was really hoping that I would be something that worked well for my stuff and would allow me to carry what I needed during the warmer months; but it just wasn't the case. The bag hung awkwardly, wouldn't hold the stuff I wanted it to hold, and the tie made my leg fall asleep. I also think its a bit on the pricey side for what it does. At $50 bucks, its a bit much for a nylon, stretchy fanny pack.
MSRP: The Urban Tool Hip Holster can be purchased here for $49.95. Shipping and handling is $10 |
|
|
