Palm Releases New Tungsten T2

securitas writes "Palm has released its latest PDA, the Tungsten T2. The T2 features a Texas Instruments 144MHz OMAP 1510 ARM processor, 32MB SDRAM (29.5 available), 320 x 320 transflective TFT display, wireless communications including Bluetooth, email client, SMS, and web browser, Palm OS v5.2.1, and MP3, video playback, and photo software. It will set you back $399. You can read more about the Palm Tungsten T2 and get tech specs (PDF) at the Palm site. Press release here. More at CNet, PC World, Infosync, the Register and the Inquirer. I'm not sure how many people will buy this product instead of waiting for its newly acquired Handspring Treo 600."

Comments

Stereo Headphone Jack

[kitsook]

They finally include something that is really usefully...

Re:Stereo Headphone Jack

[PghFox]

Er, the original Tungsten|T has a stereo Headphone Jack, as clearly indicated here.

What's with 32 MB memory?

[minghe]

"As previously reported, the T2 comes with 32MB of memory"

How come those devices always are so cheap on internal memory? I mean, get a least 128 MB in the cheapest of MP3 players these days. So what's the problem?

Re:What's with 32 MB memory?

[ThePeeWeeMan]

'cause most Palm apps are small ( 1MB). IIRC, the Tungsten T2 will (like other recent Palms) come with a SD/MMC/CF slot for expansion, so they can save costs by including less onboard memory.

Re:What's with 32 MB memory?

[BenjyD]

1Mb? That's a huge Palm app! Most apps are around 30-64K (not including those with lots of extra data like plucker web pages, of course).

The expansion slot

[waltmarkers]

Why does palm insist on using a lower capacity, less adaptable expansion slot?
Seriously, compact flash is cheaper for memory:

SD costs 232 USD for 512 MB - http://www.pricewatch.com/1/226/5642-1.htm

CF costs 96 USD for 512 MB - http://www.pricewatch.com/1/226/4003-1.htm

1 Gigabyte is only available in CF, and the SD/ MMC format can only be used for memory whereas CF can do almost anything PCMCIA can. Is the space saved really that important? Or could the unit not afford the slight extra power drain? Why does palm insist on the clearly inferior expansion slot?

Re:The expansion slot

[the_2nd_coming]

compact flash is also HUGE in physical size compared to MMC or SD.

Re:The expansion slot

[dtldl]

Of all the formats to moan about, try the sony memory stick on the clies. propriatary format, more expensive than SD/MMC last time I checked and about to become incompatable with itself with memory stick pro.
The advantages of SD are the size, protected content can be put on it hence Secure Digital and if you wanna moan about all protection is bad, use an MMC, slightly smaller cheaper in places, uses the same slot.
And the most important thing compatability. All new camcorders afaik except sony take SD cards and loads of stills take SD, plenty of mp3 players take MMCs, my old phone took an MMC.
And heres something insightful, google palm SDIO, theres an add on camera, a bluetooth card, a wifi card coming up, a video out for presentations. Nothing but memory?

Re:The expansion slot

[mcwetboy]

the SD/ MMC format can only be used for memory

You never heard of SDIO? What's this Bluetooth card that fits in my m505's SD/MMC slot, then? There's already an SD digital camera for the Palm, and SD 802.11b cards are due this fall (sooner for Pocket PC).

Is the space saved really that important?

Yes.

Or could the unit not afford the slight extra power drain?

PDAs are always a tradeoff between size and features. A PDA with a CF slot and a larger battery to power it would be larger than a Tungsten T2. The Sony NX series has a CF slot and a pile of other features; it's also considerably larger and has been criticized for its short battery life, which apparently has been rectified to some extent with the new NX73/80 handhelds.

Why does palm insist on the clearly inferior expansion slot?

Because it's not inferior -- it just has different advantages and disadvantages than CF.

Re:*yawn*

[Patrik Nordebo]

Nothing new? It has a new display and twice the memory. That's bundling only in the sense that any handheld is a bundle of components. It also comes with a new version of the OS, including Graffiti 2, which I don't think is available for the Tungsten T.

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[Rmorph]

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I miss the K.I.S.S. Palms

[MarcQuadra]

I really miss the black and white, 33MHz palms. What a wonderful idea those were. I never used more than 512K of the ram on those things and the batteries would last me weeks on end. My Palm III and Visor Deluxe worked without flaw for years. Now they've got too many faetures and extras, except for the zire, which feels very cheap and breakable to me (not to mention the TINY screen). I thought the whole idea for the Palm was SIMPLICITY. I think they'd honestly make more money if they just refined those old models, made them smaller and added mini-USB ports for HID keyboards and connectivity. The'd be selling twice as many palms, and the stable platform would finally give corporate customers time to evaluate and migrate to the Palm (right now they can't because the meaning of 'Palm' keeps changing, hardware and software). Here's an idea, LET PocketPC take the speed/features crown, make really high-quality reliable and simple Palms that people can pick up and USE. I'll bet they could put the whole DragonBall palm logic and memory onto one or two chips now, it would be beautiful.

About half the people I know who have Palms have the old ones and they SWEAR by them. I know people who have PalmIIIs that bought a second one, new, just to replace their current one when it dies.