A Palm for Every Purpose

fm6 writes "We can look forward to a round of niche devices running PalmOS. According to the Forbes article, we're looking at PalmOS in: a game device called Helix , a platform for developing 'customized handheld instruments' called the Meazura, and of course, the usual round of PalmOS cell phones. On the other hand, fewer manufacturers seem to show any interest in making general-purpose PalmOS PDAs. Food for thought."

Comments

The Battle Rages On

[snitty]

There seems to be a battle growing between integration and segration in the Computer Industry.

First it was the internet appliances, with the thinking that people would eventually want seperate "computers" for web browsing, typing, etc.

Now we have the idea of tablets as alternatives to laptops, and a camears being integrated into phones and PDAs.

It seems that people can't decide how many devices they want on them at any givem time. Will we ever see a balance between integration and segragation of digital devices?

This will Continue

[Hangtime]

When the PDA really took fire three years ago, we all began to speculate that everyone would have a handheld and would go everywhere with it. My how times have changed and not necessarily for the worse. I have a Palm IIIxe and find myself not taking it to all the places I used too. It got to the point that is was very bulky and I found I didn't take it out as much so I left it at home. However, when I was in school I used all the time. Hooked up with one of the Palm keyboards I could take all my notes in class and not have to worry about lugging a laptop.

The simple fact of the matter is, handhelds are starting to go back into their niche and take the place of paper where it makes sense. Currently, we have an internally produced application that interfaces with our system of record to update inspections for home sites. It makes a lot of sense because the inspector no longer has to use a pen and pad and we can process draws for borrowers at any point in the week instead of waiting for the inspectors to come back in on Thursday.

I predict you will see more and more of this as time progresses. The time for everyone having a PDA with 20 applications has passed. Its now Blackberrys (wireless email, calendar, contact info) and/or hardened PDAs for every day, one to two applications use.

The SPH-i500

[jstroebele]

We need more cell phones that run Palm OS like the SPH-i500 it's the size of a normal phone but with all the palm stuff built in

Of course the SPH-i600 would kick it's ass, but I don't think that will ever make it to market

Re:pdas are now the niche

[gilesjuk]

Actually the Nokia 9210, 7650 and 3650 use very good batteries that last quite a long time. The reason is probably the low clock speed on these devices, on the 9210 it's around 66MHz.

These aren't PocketPC battery sapping PDAs. Symbian is a much more compact OS and has a long heritage with ARM processors. It needs more programmer effort, unlike Windows CE which is designed to be familiar to exisiting Windows programmers.

build it and they will come

[Connie_Lingus]

There is, IMHO, a "holy grail" of handheld devices, and it would contain...

1. a cell-phone
2. 16-bit color Nintendo and/or Sega compatibility
(maybe emulated MAME-like?)
3. embedded Linux
4. 80G hard drive ala I-pod.
5. Can easily fit in my pocket...
6. 802.11g

Build it, and I will come...nothing else makes sense to me