Palm is releasing a Linux-based tablet?

[Reggie]

Big news tomorrow. It seems like Palm is following Intel's footsteps and releasing their own Linux based tablet.

http://www.1src.com/headlines/show/001903.html

What do you all think about it?

[LordFu]

The more linux devices, the merrier, IMO. I'm interested in what kind of hardware they'll use, as well as the flavor of linux. Developer support will be very important.

[bac522]

Uhm...I can't seem to find the word Linux anywhere in this?

[Milhouse]

Who is this Palm you speak of? ;)

I think this has been rumoured for some time, and was being discussed in very vague terms during the last round of "Nokia going to buy Palm" rumours (which obviously never happened, thank God).

I guess more Linux tablets the merrier, but more incompatible Linux tablets probably isn't a good thing as it will only dilute the pool of available developers. I'm sure Palm will go their own way, and may succeed but Intel MID using Maemo and Nokia also supporting Maemo seems a much more sensible idea, particularly if the like of Open Moko etc. come on board too.

[Milhouse]

There appear to be 12 comments associated with the 1SRC news article, but as I don't have a 1SRC forum account I can't read them - seems a pretty unsubtle (and counterproductive) way to increase members Reggie! Maybe Linux is mentioned in the comments, but I've got no intention of signing up just to find out...

[Milhouse]

More info on this device over at Palm Info Center (http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9433/palm-confirms-new-mobile-device-announcement-tomorrow/) where comments can be read even by the great unwashed. :)

[Milhouse]

I really don't like the way Hawkins has been talking up this device for so long (since at least Aug 2005 (http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9430/hawkins-new-device-expected-next-week/) according to PIC) without giving away anything substantial - talk about vapourware, I'm kinda glad that Ari Jaaksi isn't so loose lipped and short on delivery (mind you, where's the freaking case Ari?!!!)

My guess is the lack of any FCC leaks means this new Palm device is still several months away at least from hitting the market.

[Milhouse]

I wonder if the Palm device will have good email/contact syncing and thus receive rave reviews from those same people who reviewed Internet Tablets as PDAs rather than well, internet tablets, and consequently gave poor marks to Internet Tablets because they couldn't sync jack.

I think I've taken over this thread - oops! :)

[Windowsrookie]

Palm is dead. They waited too long to release a higher resolution Wi-Fi PDA. Treos still don't have Wi-Fi, they killed the LifeDrive. AND they don't support their devices. The TX, and LifeDrive were in need of bug fixes, Palm never delivered. I gave up on Palm, oops! I mean Palmone, no wait, palm.

[Milhouse]

Reading the comments on PIC, the LifeDrive is generally considered to have been a disaster of a product (eg. "I don't see the LifeDrive as ANYTHING but an oversized, memory hobbled PDA").

This (http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/9430/#132274) comment about the "mystery device" made me laugh though:


I essentially agree with Ryan on this one. I see it as something about the size of the Nokia n770/n800-sized (or perhaps a tad smaller) with a 20gb internal hard drive, a 640x480ish screen, and some kind of intelligent downclocking power management that will make traditional color PDA battery lives look pitiful in comparison.


How 2004 does that sound?! These Palm types sure do have low aspirations!! :)

I'm interested to see what Palm announce, but since they're probably going to go with ARM rather than x86 and will need WiFi, Bluetooth, a decent size screen and a camera why not just enter into a hardware licencing deal with Nokia and use the N800 as a hardware foundation for this new device but running Palms own brand of Linux? Heck, they could even take the stock Nokia/Debian/Maemo Linux and just drop their own GUI on top and call it done! :)

[euchreprof]

There appear to be 12 comments associated with the 1SRC news article, but as I don't have a 1SRC forum account I can't read them - seems a pretty unsubtle (and counterproductive) way to increase members Reggie! Maybe Linux is mentioned in the comments, but I've got no intention of signing up just to find out...



OMG Milhouse R-E-L-A-X!!

[Milhouse]

Well... it was bl00dy annoying! ;)

[anderbr]

Palm Advances Mobile Computing with Its First Mobile Companion Product
from Palm by Palm, Inc.
Core News
#
Palm, Inc. today announced the Palm Foleo, world’s first smartphone companion product.
#
Foleo has a large screen and full size keyboard to view and edit email and office documents. Edits made on Foleo automatically are reflected on its paired smartphone and vice versa.
#
Foleo and its paired smartphone stay synchronized throughout the day or at the touch of a button.
#
Foleo turns on and off instantly, features fast navigation, a compact and elegant design, and a battery that lasts up to five hours of use.
#
U.S. availability for Foleo begins this summer with pricing expected to be $499 after an introductory $100 rebate.
#
Built on an open Linux-based platform,Palm hopes to replicate earlier success with developers by drawing a large community to create new applications that will extend the mobile companion’s capabilities. Already, Palm has partnered with DataViz and Opera Software, demonstrating ease with which applications can be ported to the Palm Foleo.
Quotes Attributable to Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm, Inc. and the visionary behind the Foleo’s concept and definition
#
"Foleo is the most exciting product I have ever worked on. Smartphones will be the most prevalent personal computers on the planet, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can do. However, there are times when people need a large screen and full-size keyboard. As smartphones get smaller, this need increases. The Foleo completes the picture creating a mobile-computing system that sets a new standard in simplicity."
Quotes Attributable to Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm Inc.
#

“As we did with the PalmPilot more than a decade ago, and more recently with the Treo smartphone, Palm is driving innovation and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in mobile computing, a market full of potential. The Palm Foleo represents our first product in a new line of solutions that will redefine how people work while away from their desks. It starts today with a focus on wireless email, and we expect the Foleo to grow in features and expand its capabilities as the platform grows.”
Multimedia

Foleo Head On

Foleo Open

Foleo and Treo

Falcon B-roll

[luketoh]

argh...any pics? seems like there's pics, but it isn't showing in the above post! any sherlock?

[Milhouse]

Folio sounds interesting... maybe in future "smartphones" with tiny (or even no screens) will be supplied with a similar "companion device" which will be nothing more than a screen+keyboard, no storage and very limited processing capability. VNC will be used to surface the smartphones computing and storage capability on the companion device screen. The ultimate thin client device, but mobile!

5 years from now, smartphones evolve into a communicating and computing "brick" with IO capabilities offered by more appropriate form factors - the companion device while mobile, desktop keyboard+screen when in the office/home.

Could Nokia achieve with the N800 what the Folio is supposed to achieve? Doesn't sound too difficult... the only thing missing is the keyboard but that could be remedied in the future.

[convulted]

Kinda off-topic and for that I apologize, but why would anyone want a microscopic slide-out thumbboard that only serves as a source for more faults (the less moving parts the better IMHO)? If you need decent text entry, use a BT KB (still too small for my liking). If you need to reply to a forum post, use an on-screen KB. Call me weird, but I get annoyed at having to click the home, etc., buttons on my 770 using my fingers, then pick up the stylus, ... I can't imagine how frustrating using a slide-out thumbboard and touchscreen simultaneously would be.

Felt I had to reply to all the people who want a slide-out KB on the next Nokia IT.

[Milhouse]

I guess people who have used small keyboards on devices such as Hiptops find them quite usable. I think a small keyboard could be usable for small amounts of text input - the virtual keyboard is OK but I could probably type faster with my thumbs, and I sometimes find it annoying when it pops up on screen and I've suddenly lost half of my screen real estate.

Provided it doesn't add too much size and weight, a thumboard could be a definite asset on a future Internet Tablet. IMHO. :)

[artkavanagh]

I think a small keyboard could be usable for small amounts of text input

Anything that can be used for large amounts of text input (such as a real, life-sized keyboard) will also work for small amounts. I won't be buying any device with a thumbboard.

[amigokin]

Pic of the device!

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/05/palm-foleo-440.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/05/palm-foleo2.jpg

+ info: http://www.palm.com/us/products/mobilecompanion/foleo/index.html?creativeID=US_BB_foleo_announcement

(images linked from engadget.com)

[in4m8ionman]

OK - if this thing runs linux and is as open as my n800 - I think this is a pretty interesting device. The price seems right. My expectation is that it won't be as good of an interface as the n800 - but I can hope. I really do wish my n800 had a flip keyboard - sort of like the early HP PDAs. The Internets still require a lot of text input and I think a keyboard is really a requirement. I love my device - but the lack of a keyboard has limited me.

[tarvoke]

for (what I imagine is) the same or similar price point, I'd much prefer the nanobook (http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6873084010.html). does the foleo have touchscreen like the via device does?

and naturally the asus eee pc is the best price with some sacrifice of features.

I think ARM is perfect for smaller things like the n770/800 (via may disagree here, even) but for something larger I'm more comfortable with good old 686 as a user platform not to mention developer platform.

[TA-t3]

The nanobook doesn't look bad, but I would rather ditch the LCD info display to the right of the screen to get more screen real estate. There can never be enough, really..

[tarvoke]

I agree the modular lcd/plugin area is rather ugly but I do understand why it's there: the nanobook (likewise asus' eee pc) has to be a certain size chassis for fitting keyboard(and guts), and the 7" main display is a very standard ubiquitous lcd that you see in tons of automotive dvd player screens, portable dvd players, etc. i.e. it is cheap and readily available.

asus chose to center their screen since the added modular dealie would drive the price up. via is selling at a higher price class and wanted to fill the space with something (and that something to me seems gimmicky, but may turn out to have interesting uses)

sexier screen would drive the price up. 600-700 for the nanobook and 200-300 for the asus are pretty darn attractive prices. the user is definitely making some sacrifices (esp in the eee pc) but the level of functionality for the alleged prices is quite amazing and worth the sacrifices (to me at least, and no doubt more than a few other peoples ^_^ )