Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile

    Zire 71 Gets Palm Back On Track

    Written by

    Jason Brooks
    Published April 25, 2003
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Palms been the No. 1 player in the handheld device space for quite a while now, but the products the company has released in the last couple of years have left me scratching my head.

      First, Palm seemed content simply to tinker with its designs, leaving the development of much-needed new features such as memory card support, multimedia capabilities and sharper screen resolutions to licensees such as Sony and HandEra.

      Then, after whetting our appetites with Palm OS 5—a new, more capable, ARM processor-based platform—Palm botched delivery of the operating system by pairing it with the much-too-costly (albeit very attractive) Tungsten T.

      Palm then backtracked by following up that first OS 5-based device with a wireless-enabled Tungsten W that ran Palm OS 4.1.1. End users may not care what OS their devices run, but Palms much-heralded development community certainly does. What good is a new platform without devices on which to run it?

      However, with Palms announcement this week of two new Palm OS 5-based devices–the $299 Zire 71 and the $499 Tungsten C–I think the firms begun moving back in the right direction.

      The Tungsten C is pricey, but with integrated 802.11b wireless networking and 64MB of RAM built-in (a Palm first), the device packs enough functionality to justify its cost. If the Tungsten C ends up striking a solid balance between wireless functionality and battery life, itll be a winner in the enterprise. (Stay tuned for a review of the Tungsten C.)

      Ive spent the past week testing out Palms other new handheld, the Zire 71, and I think its the most impressive Palm handheld Ive tested to date.

      First, at $299, the Zire 71s price is right. As I mentioned above, the Tungsten T was too costly, carrying the same sort of cachet-premium that Palm has attached to certain devices in its line since the Palm V.

      Even at this price, though, the Zire 71 boasts the best of Palms current technology. The Zire sports a very readable, 16-bit, 320-by-320-pixel transflective display. I wish, though, that it was possible to shut off the Zires backlight to save power, since this sort of display works very well without a backlight given decent ambient light.

      The Zire runs Palm OS 5.2.1 and is powered by a Texas Instruments OMAP310 processor running at 144MHz. This combo delivers snappy performance, particularly with multimedia applications such as playing MP3s with the units included RealOne player.

      More important–now that theres an affordable OS 5-based device available, we may soon see developers producing other applications that will take advantage of the new platform.

      Like the Tungsten T, the Zire 71 ships with 16MB of RAM, which users may supplement with Secure Digital cards.

      The Zire 71 does lack the Tungsten Ts integrated Bluetooth. And because Palms Bluetooth SD card does not yet work with OS 5 devices, Zire 71 users cant use Bluetooth at all with this device.

      The Zire 71 makes up for its Bluetooth-lessness in part with its well-integrated camera. The front and back halves of the Zire 71 slide apart about an inch to reveal the cameras lens and a button for snapping 640-by-480 pixel images—nothing thatd replace your standalone digital camera, but enough detail for casually taken or Web-destined images.

      Its tough for me to fairly compare the Zire 71 and the Sony Clie devices with which they most directly compete. Sony wont send us review units because, according to our contact at Sony, Clie devices are not intended for enterprise use (enterprise IT managers being eWEEKs core audience). However, Sonys least-expensive OS 5 device comes in at $399—$100 more than the Zire 71.

      It looks as though Palms getting back on track. Do you agree? Were they ever off track? Lets talk it over at [email protected].

      Jason Brooks
      Jason Brooks
      As Editor in Chief of eWEEK Labs, Jason Brooks manages the Labs team and is responsible for eWEEK's print edition. Brooks joined eWEEK in 1999, and has covered wireless networking, office productivity suites, mobile devices, Windows, virtualization, and desktops and notebooks. Jason's coverage is currently focused on Linux and Unix operating systems, open-source software and licensing, cloud computing and Software as a Service.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×