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It's evolutionary in technical terms--combining several (mostly) existing types of speech processing into a single service, albeit one that requires internet access to use. But like the iPod and original iPhone, it's not what the parts are, it's the integration into a seamless offering that may prove to be groundbreaking. It might not, in small part because most people will hesitate at dictating an appointment with their proctologist out loud (then again, youths of today have no problem blabbing out every little sordid detail of their lives to each other or over the phone while on a bus...).

I looked up Treo voice commands and one result was this November 2008 article, less than a year before basic voice commands appeared in the iPhone 3GS. My point isn't that Treo voice commands were introduced this late--according to Wikipedia Microsoft introduced the technology in 2003, so it does precede the iPhone by a few years. My point is that looking at the available Treo commands in 2008, they are mostly straightforward commands--you can ask it what appointments you already have, but couldn't add or change any by voice alone.

played with an iphone on Wednesday. There are some issues that would make it a show stopper for me.

-Keyboard stinks. Best way I could get anything typed accurately was hold it in one hand and point with the other.
-No correction in web URLs and email addresses, so you have to be perfect.
-No period in the keyboard (period, /, and .com buttons in web browser kbd)
-Touch buttons too small. Although my Treo 650 screen buttons are often too small, but I rarely use them)
-No removable media (Why switch to mini SD Palm? idiots)
-No video recording
-No editing MS word documents
-No EVDO (Edge was slow when it worked, 755p may have EVDORevA at 600kbs)
-No stereo bluetooth (http://www.softick.com/bluetooth-audio/)
-No third party applications (Chess, new browser, core media player, etc)
-No laptop networking using phone (http://www.junefabrics.com/palmnet/)
-No removable battery (Like 2x capacity third party)
                http://shop.treonauts.com/content/accessories/---2 512.htm [treonauts.com]
-No way to quickly dial contacts
-No way to navigate single handed (five way rocker rocks)
-No tactile feedback (I like a click when I hang up the phone)
-No GPS addons like
            http://hardware.smartphonetools.treobits.com/conte nt/accessories/10-95--2230.htm [treobits.com]
                    with free software links to free google maps
            http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=softw are.showsoftware&PartnerREF=&siteid=1&prodID=13173 5 [palmgear.com]

More iPhone limitations from
            http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2007/06/ why-the-iphone-.html [typepad.com]
-No exchange integration for online calendering
-No hacks for "push" email
-No voice call recording
-No voice dial
-No cut and paste!
-No task list!
-No global find!
-No file encryption
-No podcast download over the air

iPhone does have:
-Slick gui (that gets in the way, browsing on safari was stinky. Zoom and scroll, zoom and scroll, not too impressed. Sideways was nice)
-Wifi built-in
-Widescreen
-More MP in camera (2.0 vs 1.2 in treo 755, both suck)
-Thin form factor
-Glass screen (more fragile than treo?)
-Did I say sexy GUI?

Neither have-
-Built in GPS
-Flash in browser
-Wireless networking for letting laptops online easily

So the Treo pros outweigh the cons. I am sticking with a new 755p as soon as I can get it, which looks like September.

Even though the treo is dated, it works well in so many ways.

I played with an iphone on Wednesday. There are some issues that would make it a show stopper for me.

-Keyboard stinks. Best way I could get anything typed accurately was hold it in one hand and point with the other.
-No correction in web URLs and email addresses, so you have to be perfect.
-No period in the keyboard (period, /, and .com buttons in web browser kbd)
-Touch buttons too small. Although my Treo 650 screen buttons are often too small, but I rarely use them)
-No removable media (Why switch to mini SD Palm? idiots)
-No video recording
-No editing MS word documents
-No EVDO (Edge was slow when it worked, 755p may have EVDORevA at 600kbs)
-No stereo bluetooth (http://www.softick.com/bluetooth-audio/)
-No third party applications (Chess, new browser, core media player, etc)
-No laptop networking using phone (http://www.junefabrics.com/palmnet/)
-No removable battery (Like 2x capacity third party)
                http://shop.treonauts.com/content/accessories/---2 512.htm [treonauts.com]
-No way to quickly dial contacts
-No way to navigate single handed (five way rocker rocks)
-No tactile feedback (I like a click when I hang up the phone)
-No GPS addons like
            http://hardware.smartphonetools.treobits.com/conte nt/accessories/10-95--2230.htm [treobits.com]
                    with free software links to free google maps
            http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=softw are.showsoftware&PartnerREF=&siteid=1&prodID=13173 5 [palmgear.com]

More iPhone limitations from
            http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2007/06/ why-the-iphone-.html [typepad.com]
-No exchange integration for online calendering
-No hacks for "push" email
-No voice call recording
-No voice dial
-No cut and paste!
-No task list!
-No global find!
-No file encryption
-No podcast download over the air

iPhone does have:
-Slick gui (that gets in the way, browsing on safari was stinky. Zoom and scroll, zoom and scroll, not too impressed. Sideways was nice)
-Wifi built-in
-Widescreen
-More MP in camera (2.0 vs 1.2 in treo 755, both suck)
-Thin form factor
-Glass screen (more fragile than treo?)
-Did I say sexy GUI?

Neither have-
-Built in GPS
-Flash in browser
-Wireless networking for letting laptops online easily

So the Treo pros outweigh the cons. I am sticking with a new 755p as soon as I can get it, which looks like September.

Crossposted from my comment on another board:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8918/verizon-tr eo-755p-in-september/ [palminfocenter.com]

Even though the treo is dated, it works well in so many ways.

I played with an iphone on Wednesday. There are some issues that would make it a show stopper for me.

-Keyboard stinks. Best way I could get anything typed accurately was hold it in one hand and point with the other.
-No correction in web URLs and email addresses, so you have to be perfect.
-No period in the keyboard (period, /, and .com buttons in web browser kbd)
-Touch buttons too small. Although my Treo 650 screen buttons are often too small, but I rarely use them)
-No removable media (Why switch to mini SD Palm? idiots)
-No video recording
-No editing MS word documents
-No EVDO (Edge was slow when it worked, 755p may have EVDORevA at 600kbs)
-No stereo bluetooth (http://www.softick.com/bluetooth-audio/)
-No third party applications (Chess, new browser, core media player, etc)
-No laptop networking using phone (http://www.junefabrics.com/palmnet/)
-No removable battery (Like 2x capacity third party)
        http://shop.treonauts.com/content/accessories/---2 512.htm
-No way to quickly dial contacts
-No way to navigate single handed (five way rocker rocks)
-No tactile feedback (I like a click when I hang up the phone)
-No GPS addons like
      http://hardware.smartphonetools.treobits.com/conte nt/accessories/10-95--2230.htm
          with free software links to free google maps
      http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=softw are.showsoftware&PartnerREF=&siteid=1&prodID=13173 5

More iPhone limitations from
      http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2007/06/ why-the-iphone-.html
-No exchange integration for online calendering
-No hacks for "push" email
-No voice call recording
-No voice dial
-No cut and paste!
-No task list!
-No global find!
-No file encryption
-No podcast download over the air

iPhone does have:
-Slick gui (that gets in the way, browsing on safari was stinky. Zoom and scroll, zoom and scroll, not too impressed. Sideways was nice)
-Wifi built-in
-Widescreen
-More MP in camera (2.0 vs 1.2 in treo 755, both suck)
-Thin form factor
-Glass screen (more fragile than treo?)
-Did I say sexy GUI?

Neither have-
-Built in GPS
-Flash in browser
-Wireless networking for letting laptops online easily

So the Treo pros outweigh the cons. I am sticking with a new 755p as soon as I can get it, which looks like September.

Crossposted from my comment on another board:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8918/verizon-tr eo-755p-in-september/

Some more info here

Yes, there's a slim possibility it's a Photoshop job, but it's sure as hell a lot more fun to look at that a Slashdotted site. heck, even Engadget had the Treo 700p featured back in February!

Or Treonauts 700p page which now has what they claim is a pulled TechWorld article with crunchy info.

The reason the Treo is better is because you can turn the phone into anything.

In addition to the standard apps that come with it, i've installed
- Bhajis Loops - remix music samples
- Filez - browse and delete the file structure (internal and expansion memory)
- Lispme - write and run programs in Scheme (a Lisp dialect)
- PdaNet - turns the phone into an internet connection for the pc
- PdaReach - control the phone using the pc in a remote desktop like interface
- peditPro - powerful text editor that can convert doc from expansion card
- QuickNews - RSS feed gatherer and reader
- VolumeCare - Adjust the volume levels for handset, speakerphone, headset, mic, speaker, ringtone
- Xiino - Second web browser

I may next install
- MP3 ringtone player
- Utility to run applications from the expansion card as needed

Sure, it crashes about twice a month. If I was overly concerned about it, I would uninstall some things.

Good review site
http://blog.treonauts.com/

Look - even PalmOS fanatics like the thing. It kills any RIM device, Today! OMA makes Blackberry mail seem like a POP3 account, for organizations that operate an Exchange server.

This device is incredible. Complete freedom from using the stylus for all web/mail and phone - with full Windows Mobile 2005 - not the bastard stripped-down Smartphone version. EVDO connectivity - leaves GPRS in the dust. I don't miss WiFi, with this. I had reservations leaving GSM networks, but this device and connectivity are more than compensatory. I'll use my old, HTC Wallaby with an Orange "pay-as-you-go" when back in the U.K.

Once I upgrade to a 2Gb SD card, I am ditching the Nano. The iPod dial is replaced with voice commands.

Said Mr Sim, "Actually, to me it's a big let-down: we're expecting a good fight but they're coming out with something that's five generations older... So I think the whole industry will just laugh at it, -- it's worse than the cheapest Chinese player. Even the cheap, cheap Chinese brand today has display and has FM. I think it's a non-starter to begin with."

I am not here to discuss your comment about the Chinese, nor am I here to bash you personally or your company. I am not even here to talk technical specs, because frankly the lack of a male USB port on your Micro Slim is currently the least of your worries right now.

You are undoubtedly a smart guy, being where you are now. You have sold over 2 million MP3 players last Christmas season, no mean feat at all (vs 4M iPod). There is no doubt that your company Creative is a successful one.

But let me ask you this: You have declared War, but Do you want to WIN this war? Absolutely demolish all that is iPod and steal all the glory? Well then read on because as it stands, this is a War you will live or die for. If you want to live, please consider my Two Cents:

1) Tip #1: Think like the underdog. If you want to be a market maker, you need to grow up and act like one. We all learned about "Perfect Competition" in school, how it meant that there was no excess profit and that the only way to get out of that bind was to differentiate yourself. Right now, iPod is winning because it is differentiable from you (brand name, iTunes integration). How are you winning? What is your battle cry?

For the last two years, Creative has acted just like the "Chinese" me-toos (as you so put down in your latest comment) while Apple has been the market maker through and through. Here are some examples:

When the first generation Apple iPod was released, you still were selling the MP3 jukebox ($480) that could not fast-forward or rewind (true), that looked like a spaceship (definitely), and still took 20 seconds to transfer a song (USB1.0). Quickly, your team raced to build a better looking version, after the success of the big iPod.

The success of the iPod touch interface was also "borrowed" on your Zen-Touch line. And finally, after the Apple iPod Mini was announced, you surprisingly announced the new line of Zen Micro's in 10 colors.

See, I like supporting the "underdog." I like supporting the brightest and most inventive minds. I support Tivoli Audio, Sirius satellite radio, I support many of OS X's small developers' applications, I support the Treo 600, Brian Transeau's music and a million gazillion other small companies out there with insanely great ideas. These are premium but differentiable products that people are willing to spend extra money on.

Make something special, Be somebody special. We want that for your kids right? So incorporate that into your technological children, the Muvo's and the Zen's. Because Nobody honestly lusts to buy a me-too product.

2) Tip #2: Make us shit in o

If you're tempted by the idea of owning a Treo 650/600 in general then this 'ideal' phone of the future should make your mouth water... http://blog.treonauts.com/2004/08/after_the_treo_. html/ Cheers, W.

I belive the Article mentioned:

Non-camera SKU available at launch

see this feature list