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Handspring Hides Flash ROM in Handspring Treo

Posted by timothy on from the plus-it-has-a-pot-of-gold dept.

miradu writes: "TreoCentral has just posted an intriguing article about how the Handspring Treo has Flash ROM - something that Handspring claims it doesn't. They've worked with Brayder Technology to create applications to utilize this newly discovered feature. It brings up the question, Why do developers lie about features in a device - especially if they are features that are wanted? Does anyone know any other examples?" Strange -- hardware manufacturers don't often underestimate their products' capabilities, do they?

3 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Because in this case by PhysicsGenius · · Score: -1, Troll

    it isn't a positive feature. Think about it: when do you use a PDA? Pretty much everywhere right? You could be holding it outside in the sun or next to a flash camera or whatever. Either of these locations could accidentally overwrite the ROM, losing all your data. In the case of the Handspring they've shielded against it pretty well (otherwise we'd have heard about it!) but they obviously don't want to publicize this fact for fear the less technically-inclined feel it is dangerous.

  2. Concerning Slashdot-guessing (seriously) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I have no idea about the treo whatsoever, nor do I have an opinion about it. However, often when I read what /. users guess about the company I work for (no, not Handspring), I seriously wonder where I can get some of that weed.
    At times it is amusing, at times it is so way off it scares me that people actually believe such stuff.
    My point? Oh yes, that leads me to thinking that the guesses about the Treo here are likewise pipedreams. Please substantiate your guesses about treo or anything else. Or tell me where you got the weed.

    Yours truly,
    Anonymous Corporate Coward

  3. Clearly its to future-proof it by rjw57 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Move forward 6 months. Handspring now announce the 'quadro' PDA with the flash ROM feature and everyone rushes out to buy more PDAs to replace the one they have. This doesn't cost the manufacturer anything though since they already spent the moeny designing the flash stuff so they appear to have launced a new product with a feature people want with no net outlay -- and they've had 6 months of people unwittingly field testing the design for them...

    --
    Rich