Palm Treo 680 (approved)

Originally Posted by Engadget Mobile

Hugeness: The Boy Genius has scored again, this time with an exclusive Cingular roadmap showing that they're planning on releasing not one, but two new Treo smartphones this coming October. Codenamed "Nitro" and "Lennon", both Treos appear to be the first significant evolution of the Treo formfactor since the Treo 600 debuted in 2003, and though it's hard to make out too many details, neither appears to have an external antenna.

The Treo Lennon is listed as having UMTS and Class 10 EDGE, a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, WiFi (built-in, one can only hope), and sports Windows Mobile 5.0 with MSFP. Not quite as many details about the Treo Nitro, but it is listed as having a 1.3 megapixel digital camera and appears to be running the Palm OS.

Originally Posted by SymbianBlack

hmm no antenna... perhaps the perfect phone???????

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

Maybe it would be for me if it wasn't running Windows. Ugh I hate the thought of replacing my Treo with a Windows device. Who knows maybe Palm will polish that _____ (insert your own scatological adjective here) OS up nicely?

Originally Posted by eimajuno

The Nitro is not running WM but Palm OS. The Lennon is running WM5.

Originally Posted by mshelby

I do know that we have both the Nitro and Lennon listed in our National Planning page which means they are being considered and or being tested.

Also the Hermes, Oxygen, and 3125/StarTrek are all listed as well

Originally Posted by kal311

Any of these going to offer BB connect?

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

July, August and September are Q3 if I am not mistaken. That seems a little early for the Hermes and Oxygen doesn't it?

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

July, August and September are Q3 if I am not mistaken. That seems a little early for the Hermes and Oxygen doesn't it?

Originally Posted by WirelessAndy

If he had let me HOLD it, it would have made my day. /sigh

Originally Posted by CrunchDude

Also, one of the supposed new Treo's only has EDGE??? Why would Cingular put out a non-3G phone right before a nationwide launch of 3G? That doesn't sound right!???

Originally Posted by Nastronomical

New pics

http://www.cellulare-magazine.it/news.php?id=5779

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

Who knows maybe Palm will polish that _____ (insert your own scatological adjective here) OS up nicely?

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

Could they be much worse...
Looks a lot like a Blackberry

Originally Posted by cingular#1

http://blog.treonauts.com/2006/08/finally_treo_ni.html

looks like palm os

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

I assume anything with 3G that comes out now is going to have HSDPA, anything less would be a big mistake.

Originally Posted by cingular#1

WTF???.... this thing only has edge

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

It is not the UMTS version. That is why. Seems like it is just an updated Treo. Hopefully it is a noticable improvement on the 650.

Originally Posted by CrunchDude

Updated? In what regard? Any future Treo should have 3G. Anything else is useless.

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

Not so, my Treo 650 is plenty useful. My Treo hardware has been eclipsed by all the newer PDA devices out, Symbian and WM. It doesn't even have enough memory left for me to open large webpages anymore... The camera is crap too. If you just gave me a Treo 650 with more memory I would be happy. A better camera (which I am not sure it will have or not, I haven't looked) and some other surprise improvements will be welcome too. I doubt I will miss the stub... maybe the form factor will be better too?

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

The Lower res. is noticable on the iPAQ for sure. It has a larger screen and lower res... looks disapointing to me. All the other devices I have has smaller or larger screens Like the HTCs.

Originally Posted by helpermonkey

What if you are trying to produce a low priced smartphone? I can see a market for it. Just like I can see a market for the Nokia E62.

Originally Posted by taylorh

While it's no suprise, it is disappointing that there won't be some sort of 750P, even though I myself wouldn't buy it.

Originally Posted by djDiZZyD

sooo.....kinda like a ghost town in here.....any word on release?

Originally Posted by Seltzer

The 680 is slated to release 10/06...and the 750 (or whatever they decided to call it) is slated for 11-12/09 or possibly early next year, hard to know for sure.

Originally Posted by kloan

As long as the price isn't as rediculous as the 650 is/was I'll be buying one.

It's perfect for my needs. View/edit Excel files and Google maps is going to be really useful for me.

Originally Posted by dmenahem

Palm OS will not multi task, so once you use phone, all other apps. are shut down. Its to me the biggest draw back to the OS. Very annoying

Originally Posted by dmenahem

Palm OS will not multi task, so once you use phone, all other apps. are shut down. Its to me the biggest draw back to the OS. Very annoying

Originally Posted by Sonix

So you are saying if I'm using a GPS mapping program and the phone rings it will ask me to get lost ! I tell ya "I get no respect" .

Originally Posted by badgermac

Uhh, I take phone calls on my 650 using bluetooth and take notes for phone numbers, ticket numbers, etc. While it's not a true multitaking OS like the ones we're used to on our desktops, I like it better then Windows Mobile, the OS that you can quit apps easily with (oh yea, go to control panel and start closing/killing them but only after you run out of memory, ugh).

The PalmOS is simple for what I need - basic notes, calendar, tasks (all synced from my Mac), and a decent phone. I could give 2 cahoots about the camera, I got a DSLR and a Canon S-80 for that.

The 680 with its increased RAM in Graphite may just replace my Black Tie Treo 650!

Originally Posted by Eric5273

Ok....I did a lot of reading on Palm OS this past week, and I played with the 700p at my local Verizon store for about an hour. Here's what I discovered:

While technically Palm does not "multitask", each application remembers where you were when you closed it.

(BTW, you don't have to specifically "close" an app. Just pressing the "home" key brings you back to the menu and the app you were in is automatically closed.)

So for example, if you are browsing the web, but need to make a phone call, when you press the phone button, the web browser will close. However, the web browser will remember what page you were at, and when you return to the web browser, it will have that page waiting for you. I'm sure the same holds true for the GPS programs.

Because you are only using a small phone screen, there is no need to really multitask on a phone. You are never actually using more than one program at the same time like you can on a PC with a split screen. The only real purpose for multitasking is that you want one program to remember where you last were when you change to a 2nd program, i.e. you don't want to lose your place while web browsing if you decide you need to answer a text message. And with Palm OS, this works fine.

The only real multitasking that I find myself needing is for my email to be checked in time intervals, and for me to be able to stay signed into AIM while I do other things on the phone. Well, apparently the email and IM programs have found a way around this multitasking limitation, because those programs are able to run in the background somehow.

Originally Posted by whatever7

Fun fact.

Do you know that you can play music (pTunes) and run GPS (TomTom) at the same time on the PalmOS 650/700p but you can't do it on the WM5 Treo 700w?

The reason is PalmOS has co-operative multi tasking for programs that support it (think MacOS9) and WM5 has multi tasking support for all programs but becuase WM is such a memory hog you can't actually use the multitasking feature, on the 700w anyway.

Originally Posted by importluva

Wow, what a biased argument. The 700w came with 32mb RAM, of which only 12-13mb are available. That was a hardware problem, not a WM5 OS problem.

Originally Posted by whatever7

How is it bias? The 650 and the 700w has same amound of memory. It's just wm (especially the older wm2003 versions) are not known as resource effcient OS.

Let me ask you, which one is more important to you, a true multitasking PDA that can't do GPS/music at the same time or an out dated PDA that can do GPS/music at the same time due to hacks? Oh yeah, wm is so advanced it can't support 320X320 resolution.

Originally Posted by importluva

The memory architecture in the two devices are completely different. So a direct comparison yields irrelevant results.

And we're talking about a WM device that is just crippled. Why not compare the 650 to the 700wx? Or for that matter, just about any other WM device? The 700w has a lack of RAM that renders it somewhat useless for most users that want to multitask. Oh and right, WM5 can support 480x640 resolution. Last time I checked, thats far superior to 320x480.

Originally Posted by whatever7

It's more fair to compare the 700p to the 700wx since they have the same radio and similar amound of memory. And alot of people would pick the 700p. I am not saying PalmOS is better, I am saying it's a different approach to the problem. And co-operate multitasking can solve 80% of the daily use problem. Multitasking is like one of much hyped technology (hello gas-electric hybird engine) that doesn't offer alot of real world performance.



Umm, how about no. On 700p blazer will render the last page from cache. It takes less than 1 second. Just FYI the blazer in the 700p render alot faster than the one in 650. Don't believe me? Go watch mobilitytoday.com video review. The guy ran davesipaq.com I am sure he is not a PalmOS lover by trade.

Again I am trying to start a OS war here. I just want to point out POS can do multitasking, not "true" multitasking but works in the real world, most of the time.

Originally Posted by Eric5273

I can't speak for the 700wx, but last week I went into the local Verizon store and they had the Blackberry 8703e, Treo 700w, 700p, and 6700 all right next to eachother on the counter. I tried loading CNN.com as well as a few other websites on all 4 of them, and the 700p was in a different class than the others. It loaded the sites more than twice as fast as the next best one which was the 6700. The 700w was pathetic often taking over a minute to load a web page, and the 8703e was kind of slow as well.

The 700p seemed to load whatever I threw at it rather quickly, while the Windows Mobile phones seemed to stall in order to "think about it" before beginning to actually render the page in PIE. It seemed that the main difference was that the Blazer browser would start loading the page much quicker than PIE.

Also, the 320x320 screen was far better than the 240x240 screen on the 700w. You get about 75% additional screen realestate. Kind of like the difference between running your computer monitor at SVGA (800x600) instead of XGA (1024x768).

Also, there was absolutely no delay if you went into a different program and then back to Blazer. As soon as you opened Blazer, the page you were last at was already open.

Just to be clear here, I have never owned a Palm OS phone or PDA. I have owned a Windows Smartphone and Blackberry in the past, but never PPC phone. So I am kind of neutral here. But because of this positive experience with using the 700p in the store, I think I am going to get the 680 when it comes out. I realize web browsing will not be quite as fast using Cingular's EDGE as opposed to Verizon's EVDO, but I think much of the speed of the browsing was due to the Blazer browser and the Palm OS, and not as much due to EVDO. I don't think there will be a huge difference unless I decide to tether to my laptop -- something which I doubt I will ever do.

Originally Posted by importluva

On the 650, browsing was a HORRIBLE experience. Just plain awful. I stopped using the browser because it was so slow.

I've also done side/side comparisons with the 700p/w and on a soft reset, the WM5 phones rendered pages better/faster than the 700p. Blazer renders text first, then starts with the formatting, making it harder to read (to me at least).

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

damn straight! its coming

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

They are all on their way except this one is coming a tad bit sooner due to ACCESS OS incentives (palm) rumor has it this punk is gonna be free after rebate. but thats not a cingular generated rumor that came from a couple posts back.

Originally Posted by Naveen

are the 8525, 750, samsung and the 680 all of the pdas for the year from cingular, or are there any others?

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

where did you get a red c417 its ugly as it is i hope they didnt make it worse

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

i hear next week is the official launch

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

i hear next week is the official launch

Originally Posted by importluva

750 still slated for mid-november?

Originally Posted by txschafers

From your mouth to God's ear!!

Originally Posted by grdella

will you be able to use regular mobile media max package with this phone or do you need to buy some pda data package?? I would like to get this phone but keep using the unlimited data, 1000 text package i have for $30

Oh..and how is the rf performance on the treos?

Originally Posted by RF9

Anyone know if the 680 has the updated version of Blazer, or is it the same version as the 650. I had heard that the 700p got an updated version of Blazer that was much improved and I wonder if it made it in to the 680. Blazer is very irritating on the 650 with it crashing and not using the cache.

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

here let me share someting with you 299 for the treo 750 and free after rebate on the 680

Originally Posted by RF9

Anyone know if the 680 has the updated version of Blazer, or is it the same version as the 650. I had heard that the 700p got an updated version of Blazer that was much improved and I wonder if it made it in to the 680. Blazer is very irritating on the 650 with it crashing and not using the cache.

Originally Posted by roamer1

According to the specs Palm has published, the 680 does have the updated Blazer. IMO, that alone is worth the upgrade...but I'm still debating whether to get the 680 or switch to WM and get the 8525.

I wonder why Cingular/Sprint/VZW haven't persuaded Palm to put out another 650 update that "fixes" Blazer, given the increased traffic that the broken Blazer puts on their networks.

-SC

Originally Posted by RF9

That would be logical, that's why it isn't done.
Do you know if the newer blazer really does take advantage of the cache better?

Originally Posted by JMBrown

As far as I'm concerned, the biggest issue with the 650 was the speaker volume/call quality. Was this fixed on the 680?

Originally Posted by roamer1

It does...700p users are MUCH happier with Blazer than are 650 users.


I kinda want the 750 because of the form factor -- I'm not particularly fond of the 8125/8525 form factor -- but the 240x240 screen on the WM Treos (as opposed to 320x320 on the current PalmOS Treos) really bugs me, not to mention that I now have quite a bit of money invested in PalmOS apps.

-SC

Originally Posted by lilterro

Phone is coming any day now. Looked in Cingular inventory and show that we have a estimated arrival date for 9,00units on 10/23 and another batch 11/01. Of course date are subject to change.

Originally Posted by lilterro

Phone is coming any day now. Looked in Cingular inventory and show that we have a estimated arrival date for 9,00units on 10/23 and another batch 11/01. Of course date are subject to change.

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

i have no idea i think the 680 is going to be around 149.99 and the 750 which is taking the 650's place will be around 349.99

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

Rumor Mill :: This Friday Is The Estimated Launch Date!

Originally Posted by ancker

I just called my local Cingular store, and even had a buddy call an hour or so later and got the same response. Presumably from an incompetent sales lady, although her responses were prompt and very confident.

Me: "Hi I was wondering when you guys would be getting the Treo 680"
Cing: "Cingular probably isn't going to be getting that phone"
Me: "I heard that it was supposed to be released by Cingular soon"
Cing: "Well we believe that we aren't going to be getting that phone, but we will probably be getting the 700 by the middle of next year"
Cing: "Where did you hear or what website said we'd be getting it"
Me: "I can't remember the website, and I thought that the 700 wouldn't work on your network"
Cing: "Well we'd have to get a 700 made especially for us"
Me: "So you aren't getting the 680 but you will probably get the 700?"
Cing: "Yes that's what we think is going to happen"
Me: "How far in advance would you know that you are getting a new phone?"
Cing: "We always know a few weeks in advance so we can get training on it"
Me: "Okay, thanks"
Cing: "Uh huh" *click*

So according to this lady, Cingular will more likely get a 700 built for them than sell the 680.

Bottom Line: This Cingular Store is EITHER absolutely clueless, or VERY well trained/instructed to not let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.

What do all of your local Cingular Stores say? Call them and post what you hear.
I'm curious to see if this is an "anti-information" campaign, or if my local store is just completely oblivious.

/ancker

Originally Posted by .7

I have a better idea, how about keeping the discussion on this thread about the device. If anyone wants to contribute to the "anti-information" campagin this member wishes to start, please do so by starting a new thread in the provider rants and raves forum.

Originally Posted by cuidinsider

its not SDIO lol its minisd unless the one i was holding in my hand was something else im pretty sure its mini sd but i can check again friday morning when i have english class again there is a girl in my class that has one of those hers is a pink *her daddy works for palm* lol

Originally Posted by kmorris

When is this phone coming out??? The wait is killing me!

Originally Posted by .7

I apoligize for any misinformation but this device is currently still in testing. This was my mistake so I apoligize. The time between testing and release could be only days so no real need to worry, its very close to the green light.

Originally Posted by JMBrown

The E61 did this same thing. The thread said "approved" then it was changed back to "testing" then a few days later it was released. Let's hope for the same scenario here!

Originally Posted by anubis9278

everything is being pushed back due to the V and pink T's launchings i think now. cause this doesn't make too much since to employees

Originally Posted by RF9

http://www.howardforums.com/showpos...&postcount=2706
This post has a link to that poer point that was posted briefly. It has details about the 680.
Once detail I noticed about the 680....
APPLICATIONS
Corporate and Personal Email Solutions
XpressMail / Good Mobile Messaging / BlackBerry Connect (Q1, ’07) / Microsoft Direct Push (Q1,’07)

It says Microsoft Direc PUSH will be available in Q1 '07!! On PalmOS! Now I've seen everything.

Also, check out the new "Home" screen in the picture. Appearently this isn't just a re-cycled 650 after all.

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringtone

I'm still going to wait or the 750. If I get no word by DEC 1, I may have to unlock a Vodafone version.