It works as a digital picture frame and supports MPEG video, MP3 audio and SD/xD/MS/MMC cards for much cheaper storage. We're holding out for the guy's version, when we can learn how to clean gutters, take out the trash and scratch our balls. Coming soon, spec sheet and press release after the jump. [miBook]

Portable Take anywhere! Battery & AC capable
LCD Size 7" (16:9)
LCD Type New advanced TFT
LCD Backlight New LED! (same as on new high-end laptops, for amazing brightness & color accuracy) (not CCFL)
Graphic Interface Highly advanced - including hot spots, pop-up menus & file preview shots for fun, easy, graphic navigation
Player Controls Tactical switches
Remote Control Yes
Battery Yes, Lithium

Additional Features
Shows Photos All formats (jpeg, etc.)
Photo Zoom 5 zoom levels
Photo Thumbnails Yes
Photo Rotation Yes
Photo Aspect Ratio 16:9 & 4:3 modes
Image Controls Brightness, contrast, color
Shows Videos All formats (MPEG-I, MPEG-II, MPEG-IV, etc.)
Plays Music All formats (mp3, etc.)
Slideshow + Music Simple click links desired music & photo files
Calendar & Clock Yes, incl photo display & alarm
Speakers Two
Headset Jack Yes
Computer Compact PC & Mac; usb 2.0 cable included
Card Readers SD/MS/MMC/XD (96% of mkt)
Built-In Storage No, add 128MB +$150
Warranty 1 year
Phone Support Toll-free & U.S.-based

miBook, the First Multimedia Book, Launches

Portable multimedia book initially targets cookbooks and other "how-to" titles with help from Food Network, HGTV, the DIY Network and ParentsTV

CLEVELAND, OH –- miBook, the first multimedia book, has begun shipping to retailers. miBook brings genres like cookbooks, parenting primers, and travel guides to life with video clips, images and sound, changing the way people cook, fix things up around the home, travel, parent and more.

Using miBook's slim 7" portable player, home cooks who have long struggled to translate recipes into meals can now follow step-by-step video clips showing exactly how a dish should look at every turn. Similarly, travelers long stuck with only a sentence or two to go on when choosing a restaurant can take a video tour and judge the ambience and signature dishes for themselves.
miBook titles, which come on memory cards that slide into the player, are produced in conjunction with television networks including Food Network, HGTV, the DIY Network, and Parents.tv. Initial titles, now numbering 25 but soon to top 100, cover cooking everything from quick and easy meals to party appetizers, home decorating and gardening, home projects and repairs, pregnancy, parenting, and travel to popular destinations. Individual titles have a suggested retail price of $19. 99.

Unlike electronic books that focus on text alone, miBook stands out in that it combines text with video and sound, fusing the strengths of books and TV. Why read it, when you can also see it? Like books, miBook titles are organized into distinct parts that users can access whenever they want and at their own pace, and like TV, they come alive with video clips, images and sound. Highly interactive, miBook stops automatically after each step, allowing users to easily follow the recipe or activity at their own pace. miBook’s charm is in its ability to bring subjects to life in new ways and make everyday activities easier. For example, in addition to letting home cooks see a dish at each step, miBook helps plan menus by instantly sorting recipes based on main ingredient, available time, cooking method, and nutritional concerns.

The miBook player, packaged with one or more titles, starts at a suggested retail price of $129.99. miBook is available at retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Bon-Ton, Borders, Circuit City, HSN, Linens ‘n Things, QVC, and The Source.

miBook Title Topics

Cooking

Not since the Joy of Cooking was published in 1931 has there been a major update to the cookbook – until now. miBook takes the guesswork out of translating a recipe on the page into a feast on the table. Step-by-step, miBook shows home cooks exactly how to cook a recipe, including what the dish should look like at every stage and how to do everything from sauté to flambé. miBook stops automatically after each step to allow the cook to perform the action. When ready, the cook pushes play to move on.

miBook also aids in choosing a recipe, which can be a task in itself. Simply select your desired main ingredient (beef, chicken, fish, pasta, etc.), cooking method (grilling, pan-frying, broiling, etc.), and the amount of time you have, and miBook automatically serves up the recipes that match your criteria.

miBook cooking titles include: Quick & Easy Meals, Irresistible Desserts, Healthy Cooking, Pastas Pizzas & Salads, Amazing Party Food: Appetizers & Desserts, and Healthy Cooking for Kids. Each title features 150 recipes, including ones featured on popular Food Network shows such as 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray, Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller, Cooking Class with Wolfgang Puck, Ace of Cakes, Food 911, and Food Nation with Bobby Flay.

Home and Garden

Whether trying to fix a leaky faucet, redecorate a room, plant a tree, or build a deck, it helps to see exactly how it’s done. miBook goes step-by-step with up-close video clips to ensure that home projects get done correctly the first time.

Decorating and gardening titles guide users through both design and execution. The Home Decorating title, for example, helps decorators choose from suggested room styles, color palettes, furniture layouts, wall treatments, and more. Then it helps users complete the makeover with step-by-step guides on stenciling, wallpapering, staining, and applying faux finishes.

miBook home titles include: Decorating, Gardening, Simple Home Organizing, Home Projects, Home Repairs, and Outdoor living Projects. Project assistance comes from HGTV and the DIY Network, including such shows as Design on a Dime, Mission Organization, First Time Gardener, and Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean.

Parenting

Next time dad conveniently whines that he doesn’t know how to change a diaper, hand him one of miBook’s parenting titles. You’ll hear no more excuses. With content from Parents.tv, the sister network to Parents magazine, miBook brings every parenting activity vividly to life. See and hear how it’s done, from basic baby care like swaddling to fostering cognitive development. Each month, pregnant moms can see how a baby develops in the womb. Video interviews with OB/GYNs, pediatricians, nutritionists, parents, and kids help to illustrate tasks and development. miBook parenting titles include: Your Pregnancy, Baby’s First Year, Your Toddler, Your Child’s Health (0-12), Potty Training, and Games & Activities for Babies & Toddlers.

Travel

In a travel guide come to life with video clips, images and sound, travelers can explore attractions and museums, tour neighborhoods, and preview restaurants interactively and at their own pace.

miBook has a guide for every type of adventure. City guides include neighborhood walking tours, which show historical footage that bring the past to life. Inside museums, the miBook guides visitors to must-see exhibits, shows interviews with artists, clips of their hometown, and examples of their other works. Attraction guides highlight top rides and events. Highly interactive, miBook stops after each step, letting travelers proceed at their own pace. When it’s time to eat, by simply inputting preferred cuisine, neighborhood, ambience, and price range, the miBook instantly serves up the best choices. Discerning diners can even choose their meal locations before leaving their homes with video tours of each restaurant, including interior and exterior views, signature dishes, and menus – even hearing an interview with the chef.

miBook travel titles include: Boston, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and The National Parks.

miBook can also be used as a digital photo album and frame, allowing users to show their photos individually or as a slideshow. miBook also plays home videos, Internet videos, and MP3s; it can either be wirelessly powered through its changeable lithium battery or with the included AC adaptor. The miBook menus can be conveniently navigated either with controls on the device or via the included wireless remote.

The phone will run on HSDPA, quad-band GSM/EGPRS and satellite networks. Talk time is 1.3 hours on satellite, 3 hours on WCDMA and between 3.5 to 5 hours on GSM. The entire package is expected to be cost competitive with regular cell phones, Elektrobit promised.

So what's the catch? The phone is designed to be compatible with the Terrestar satellite network, which hasn't launched yet and seems to be having some trouble keeping its executive officers. If the network goes up in time, the phone will be brought to market in 2009. Otherwise, it's just another pretty piece of vaporware. [UberReview]

The biggest issue with the Harris handhelds was that they were more paperweight than PDA. They were too big (slightly larger than a cell phone), didn't transmit data very well, and at one point during testing there were 417 outstanding technical requirements not being met. "Reverting back to paper, which we've done in the past and know we can do, lessens the risk," says Stephen Buckner, a Census Bureau spokesman.

The silver lining to this story? The Bureau will still take delivery of 151,000 handsets "to check residential street addresses using the Global Positioning System." Kids these days call that Google Maps, but if the government wants to dole out billions for something we can do for free, then who is Gizmodo to argue? [The Washington Post]

First of all, Modu will have to pull the support from service providers and third-parties. Right now it is getting it from Israel, where Modu hails from, and European companies like giant carrier Telecom Italia and GPS-maker Magellan.

Secondly, it's about the hardware. The product itself is almost there. The core module is very small and feels solid, with a simple domino-like user interface that is very easy to understand and use, with a micro-USB interface and a proprietary port on the bottom.

The current prototypes, however, only have two hours of talk time and three hours of music playback (with 72 hours' standby time). While very similar to other cellphones of this size, this is a design trade-off that, if not solved, may prove a challenge for Modu. The good thing is that the jackets have their own battery power, which is added to the battery of the core module. When the core module is inside a jacket you will, allegedly, have the typical battery life of whatever device Modu is impersonating at the time.

The tiny handset has a minimalist interface, is extremely light and responsive. The jackets, which have extra hardware and software to expand the phone's abilities, can convert it into a multimedia player, a big-screen PDA or gaming handheld, whatever you may think about. It can also add a personality to stand-alone devices. Their idea is that Modu will be the center of an inexpensive "gadget ecosystem," carrying your personality and data into both specialized and generic devices, like computers and TVs.

Think of it like a Nintendo cartridge, providing abilities and functions to the basic system. Instead of plugging into a console, however, it is the main system that gets inserted into the cartridge, a hardware envelope that may have bigger screens, different hardware input interfaces, extra storage, ports or any other features the hardware designers think about.

And these hardware envelopes are not just about functionality. Modu thinks that many consumers will be attracted to the idea of customizing their core modules with jackets that not only provide extra functionality but are also an aesthetic statement. Working with partners, Modu says there can be specially designed and branded jackets (think high-class fashion brands or sport teams) that will give users a way to customize their daily experience in any way they want.

The whole take-my-personal-data everywhere makes sense. It is, after all, what we are all doing on a daily basis with our regular phones and multimedia players. Apple has the same thing in mind with their home-to-go iPod patents—which have yet to arrive to an actual product—using the ubiquitous media player as a personal data pod that would allow you to bring your personal info, music, photos, favorites, hottest documents and passwords everywhere you go. Connect it to a computer and the computer will basically adopt your personality for as long as the pod is connected.

Modu wants the same thing—not centered around the computer but, rather, expanded into whatever device you may have on you. The difference between Modu and Apple, however, is that the Cupertino Massive already has its own ecosystem, which started with the Mac, followed with the iPod and, after the latter's raging success, spread through a multitude of devices that have iPod connectors.

In the case of Modu, we will have to wait to see who exactly joins the party and how the consumers respond.

Features include:
• Google local search
• Garmin Online services - traffic, weather, fuel prices, hotel discounts, etc.
• nuvi-like navigation on the road or in pedestrian mode
• Email, text, IM functions
• Camera, video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC

Garmin is promising to deliver it in the 3rd quarter, and says that while the PND market isn't dying, the cellphone is clearly a ripe opportunity. Only one problem, as quipster and NPD analyst Ross Rubin pointed out: "Hello and Welcome to nuvifone!" Damn, now I'll never get that voice out of my head. Have a look at all those pictures and the official press release below.

Garmin n vifone Takes Personal Navigation and Communication to the Next Level

New York/January 30, 2008/PR Newswire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) and the world's leading GPS manufacturer, today announced its entrance into the mobile phone market with the n vifone, an all-in-one, sleek and slim, touchscreen device that combines a premium phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator. The n vifone is a work of art in features, design and functionality and is destined to transform how individuals connect, communicate and navigate their life.

"The n vifone is an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device," said Cliff Pemble, Garmin's president and COO. "This is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for — a single device that does it all."

The n vifone is an innovative mobile phone that has a wide range of advanced yet easy-to-use features. The all touchscreen device is the first of its kind to integrate premium 3.5G mobile phone capability with an internet browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions in one device. When powered on, the 3.5-inch touchscreen display reveals three primary icons — "Call," "Search," and "View Map" which allow the user to effortlessly master the n vifone's functions.

The n vifone is the ultimate multi-tasker. Calls are easily initiated by tapping the "Call" button and selecting a name from the contact list or by using the on-screen keypad. When the user is trying to juggle talking on their phone while entering their vehicle to start a trip, the n vifone makes the transition simple. When the n vifone is docked onto the vehicle mount, it automatically turns on the GPS, activates the navigation menu, and enables hands-free calling so that the user never misses a beat in the conversation and is able to begin routing to their destination with ease.

Customers familiar with Garmin's industry leading n vi product line will feel right at home using the n vifone's personal navigation features. It includes preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or both, and allows drivers to quickly find a specific street address, establishment's name or search for a destination by category using the n vifone's built-in database with millions of points of interest. Turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions guide the user to their destination. If they miss a turn along the route, n vifone automatically recalculates a route and gets them back on track, speaking the names of the streets along the way.

The n vifone is Garmin's first device to include Google local search capability, which harnesses the vast point of interest information available from the world wide web. N vifone users can search for locations like "coffee shops" and Google will sort the results based on the user's current location and relevance. Information provided by Google includes a web-based rating so that users can select the most appropriate destination and route directly to it. In addition, the n vifone includes a web browser incorporating premium features and touchscreen operation for an optimum mobile browsing experience. The n vifone also includes personal messaging functions, including email, text, and instant messaging.

For the ultimate in safety, the "Where am I?" feature lets users touch the screen at any time to display the exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. The n vifone also helps drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot by automatically marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount.

In addition to navigation, the n vifone includes access to Garmin Online , an online service offering constantly-updating information such as real-time traffic, fuel prices, stock prices, sport scores, news reports, local events and weather forecasts.

The n vifone also includes numerous mobile entertainment applications. The built-in camera allows individuals to take a picture that will automatically be tagged with the exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location, or email the image to a recipient who can navigate directly to the location. The n vifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google's Panoramio picture sharing site. The Panoramio photo search feature enhances the enjoyment and adventure of sightseeing in an otherwise unfamiliar location. Other multimedia functions of the n vifone include a built-in video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC.

Garmin anticipates that the n vifone will be available in the third quarter of 2008. Specific details about pricing and sales partners will be announced in the future. Additional information about n vifone is available at www.garmin.com/nuvifone.

This is what I imagine: an IR/various 2.4Ghz technology remote with a touchscreen interface to control the more basic functions of any electronic device I own. Here's what it would have:

• A touchscreen interface would work perfectly here. On/Off should always be in the same spots right on top with some sort of standard button layout a la Harmony, or layouts could graphically mimic the devices I want to control for a more intuitive system with less reading. Want to turn on the shower? Then just twist the on-screen knob. Turning off the lights? Just flick the switch.
• Proximity sensing could automatically pick up local "favorite" items for me to control. That way I'm not searching through menus all the time.
• Trigger activated voice recognition is a must for the most simple commands. Just like I'm calling in for an air strike, I could walkie-talkie "teapot on!"
• Obviously consumer electronics manufacturers would need to decide on some standards. But they can have a choice: IR, 802.11n and Bluetooth will all be in my little remote. Actually, no. Screw IR. We're officially in the future and I never want to worry about line of site again...we'll keep it for backward compatibility.
• Two button syncing. You activate the device while you activate the remote. Done.
• Fingerprint recognition activation keeps it more secure than you bank account.
• Oh, and maybe my cellphone should be in this thing, too. That way I can lose both the remote and my mobile at the same time. And besides, it's already got my touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and super-kinetic-recharging battery (sorry, forgot to mention that).

Monster Cable's attempt to control your home theater's lighting system wasn't bad, but we need to multiply that idea by about 1,000. We shouldn't need fancy, expensive home automation to make this work. Most of us already have our own Wi-Fi networks, and face it, wall controls are so 1980s. If someone could invent this by Christmas and leave it on my doorstep, that'd be just great.

There are four devices in all, including the SPH-P9200 UMPC with foldable QWERTY keyboard, the SPH-M8200 slider touchscreen PDA that's 16.6mm thick that not only has mobile WiMax but CDMA EV-DO, and a couple of USB modems, the SPH-H1300 and SWT-H200K that are WiMax-friendly. Oh, and then there are the Samsung babes, too. It's a whole lot of stuff you can't have. You're welcome. [Unwired View and AVing]

We just knew these "common people" were total sickos.

Before:

In other words, both email and text, picture and video marketing messages are considered to be 'electronic mail'. Marketing messages transmitted using 'Bluetooth'technology, for example, messages sent to all 'Bluetooth' enabled handsets within a given radius, are also considered to be 'electronic mail', as are WAP messages. WAP Push allows a sender to send a specially formatted SMS message to a handset which, when received, allows a recipient through a single click to access and view content stored online, through the browser on the handset. (View the entire guidance v 2.0 Dec. '06 )

After:

In other words, both email and text, picture and video marketing messages are considered to be 'electronic mail'. Marketing transmitted in WAP messages is considered to be 'electronic mail'. WAP Push allows a sender to send a specially formatted SMS message to a handset which, when received, allows a recipient through a single click to access and view content stored online, through the browser on the handset. ( View the entire guidance, Version 3.1 Oct. '07)

Of course, with contract, they'll cost you a lot less. Wait. They're just PDA's, or, "phone companions" as the models are called in HP's press release. And there are no contract rebates for "phone companions."

Damn. [HP and HP via engadget]

I know, I know, you're terribly upset, all five of you who defended the offbeat mobile companion when it was introduced last May. In a message on the official Palm blog, Palm CEO Ed Colligan wrote:

In the course of the past several months, it has become clear that the right path for Palm is to offer a single, consistent user experience around this new platform design and a single focus for our platform development efforts. To that end, and after careful deliberation, I have decided to cancel the Foleo mobile companion product in its current configuration.

We will, of course, continue to develop products in partnership with Microsoft on the Windows Mobile platform, but from our internal platform development perspective, we will focus on only one.

As much as I personally looked forward to test-driving one, we applaud Palm's courage in making this tough decision. But no, you can't borrow 10 million dollars from us. [Official Palm Blog]

We're not quite sure how feasible this concept is just yet. If every Brix model would cost as much as they look like they would cost, you'd be spending a fortune getting a lot of these, unless one acts as a hub and the others are cheap screen modules and even that would probably cost you at least a lung or two. [YankoDesign via SciFi]

The authorities believe Trevor Michael Karney, the true identity of the fictitious Dietrich, hid in Ireland for a time after the famous crash, then snuck back in to the United States via Mexico. He was arrested today and charged with drunk driving, resisting arrest, lying to a police officer (about his involvement in the ordeal) and, potentially, violating federal immigration code. Some people never learn. [LA Times]

My critical analysis: square, circle, square. And though there are a few abnormalities in the line that show even Apple didn't know when the taste tides were changing, like 1996's abnormally curvy Performa, the statement is ultimately quite cohesive. It's like paging through old fashion magazines, but way, way, way geekier (yes, we just used "way" three times in a row). Hit the link for a gigantic version that you can actually appreciate.

[evolution of apple products]

Reinventing the wheel has allowed users to create text messages (such as the poetry pictured above) at sloth-like speeds while maximizing the frustration factor. Hey iPhone speed typists, see how fast you can jumble a bunch of letters together on one of these! [AVING]

You know what that means? Time for a poll.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

Product Page [Gadget Lab]

The PC will be fitted with 512MB of memory and use either a 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB flash drive for storage. It'll have built-in wireless along with an integrated webcam and mic. No word on pricing or availability yet, but of the two ultraportable/UMPC hybrids we've seen (the Foleo and the VIA), I'd put my money on this one. As long as it's not absurdly priced, of course. – Louis Ramirez

Press Release [via Laptoping]

General Dynamics Launches Rugged Laptop, Handheld [PC Mag]

So this means we'll see it in the US soon? Not necessarily. Baby steps, people. Baby steps. Until then you can always import it. – Mark Wilson

FCC docs
Thanks Jeremy!

Power Up
Foleo: Instant On
Palm Notebook: Instant On

Screen Size
Foleo: 10-inch screen, 1024 x 600
Palm Notebook: 2-1/4" x 3"—Wong used a IIIe which is 160 x 160

Connectivity
Foleo: WiFi and Bluetooth
Palm Notebook: Wong used a serial cable. But a newer Palm, like the TX, would supply WiFi, Bluetooth and infrared

Battery Life
Foleo: 5 Hours
Palm Notebook: Days... if you're carrying big pack of AAAs

Memory
Foleo: About 118MB RAM expandable with SD card slot.
Palm Notebook: 2MB RAM (later Palm models have SD slots as well)

Weight
Foleo: 2.5 lbs
Palm Notebook: 1.1 lbs

Cost
Foleo: $500
Palm Notebook: 1 book, 1 old palmpilot ($25) and Landware GoYype ($40), hours of
time.

Bonus Round: Green-ness
Foleo: 100% not recycled
Palm Notebook: 90% recycled

From Allen Wong:

Future Plans:

After they saw the article in MAKE, the good folks at Palm sent me a TX.
When I get a wireless keyboard, the TX will be disassembled and converted
into another Palm Notebook, hopefully smaller and lighter than the first.

Upgrading to a brand new TX with WiFi and a 320 x 480 screen would bring the total to around $325. Which one would you buy? –Noah Robischon

Palm Pilot Notebook [Make Digital]
Palm Foleo Coverage [Gizmodo]

Foleo Mobile Companion Brings Large Screen and Full-size Keyboard to Smartphones

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 30, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Building on its vision that the future of personal computing is mobile computing, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) today announced the Palm(R) Foleo(TM), its first smartphone companion product. The Foleo mobile companion has a large screen and full-size keyboard with which to view and edit email and office documents residing on a smartphone. Edits made on Foleo automatically are reflected on its paired smartphone and vice versa. Foleo and its paired smartphone stay synchronized throughout the day or at the touch of a button. This powerful combination is for productivity-minded business people who want a more complete mobile solution for email, attachments and access to the web.(1)

The Foleo mobile companion turns on and off instantly and features fast navigation, a compact and elegant design, and a battery that lasts up to 5 hours of use. Its applications include email, full-screen web browser, and editors or viewers for common business documents such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files. The Foleo stays synchronized via Bluetooth(R) wireless technology and uses the smartphone's radio or the Foleo's built-in Wi-Fi radio for general Internet connectivity.

"Foleo is the most exciting product I have ever worked on," said Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm, Inc. and the visionary behind the Foleo's concept and definition. "Smartphones will be the most prevalent personal computers on the planet, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can do. However, there are times when people need a large screen and full-size keyboard. As smartphones get smaller, this need increases. The Foleo completes the picture, creating a mobile-computing system that sets a new standard in simplicity."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Credentialed media plus industry and financial analysts are invited to join a streamed webcast today at 11:30 a.m. Pacific. Hawkins will discuss Palm's vision for this new category and demonstrate the new product's capabilities, followed by a Q&A session. The live webcast can be accessed using the following link: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=39613)

Foleo mobile companions work with Palm's Treo(TM) smartphones (Palm OS(R) and Windows Mobile(R) versions). However, Palm believes that most smartphones based on Windows Mobile should work with little or no modification. Smartphones based on operating systems from Research in Motion, Apple, and Symbian likely can be supported with a modest software effort. The Foleo's synchronization architecture is open, and Palm expects to work with third-party developers to support as many smartphones as possible.

"As we did with the PalmPilot more than a decade ago, and more recently with the Treo smartphone, Palm is driving innovation and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in mobile computing, a market full of potential," said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm, Inc. "The Palm Foleo represents our first product in a new line of solutions that will redefine how people work while away from their desks. It starts today with a focus on wireless email, and we expect the Foleo to grow in features and expand its capabilities as the platform grows."

Skyrocketing use of mobile email creates demand for a new way of mobile computing. By the end of 2007, an estimated 24.2 million wireless email accounts will be in use worldwide, and by 2010 wireless email accounts will soar to 199 million.(2) The rapid growth of smartphone sales, the faster speeds of wireless networks, and the increasing digitization of content make this the right time for the introduction of Palm's first mobile companion product.

Although designed primarily as a companion to a mobile phone, Foleo is a powerful computer on its own. Its Linux-based operating system and built-in Wi-Fi radio make it easy for developers to create new applications that can be installed with a single click in the browser. The Foleo has a USB port, video-out port, headphone jack, and slots for SD and compact flash cards for memory expansion. This combination of capabilities in a low-cost design is new in the industry. Palm has opened its design and is actively supporting third-party software developers.

(NOTE: Video and images of the new mobile companion are available from Business Wire (http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5410999) and from Palm's Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary).)

Primary Capabilities and Attributes of the Foleo Mobile Companion

— One-button access to full-screen email

— Instant on, instant off

— Rapid access to various applications

— 10-inch screen and full-size keyboard

— Web search and browsing via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

— Editors for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, plus a PDF viewer

— Compact, stylish design that fits on an airline tray table

— Lightweight at 2.5 pounds

— Fast, simple and intuitive navigation

— 5-hour battery life

— Linux OS for easy application development

Wireless Email on the Big Screen

Email users have become increasingly dependent on smartphones to remain connected and productive.

Drawing on Palm's world-class usability and responsiveness, the Foleo mobile companion gives Palm OS and Windows Mobile based smartphone customers more power and flexibility while retaining the most-loved features of the Treo smartphone. For example, customers open the Foleo, press a button, and it turns on instantly. There is never a delay or boot-up time. A dedicated button provides access to email. All work is saved, so there is no need to close applications or take actions in order to save files. When the Foleo is turned on again, it resumes where the user left off.

New users follow a simple process to pair a Foleo with their smartphone. From then on, email stays synchronized on both devices.

Web Browsing

It is easy to view the web through built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios, using the Opera browser. Using Bluetooth, a Treo smartphone acts as a wireless modem for the Foleo. Alternatively, customers can use the Foleo mobile companion's built-in Wi-Fi for fast web browsing anywhere Wi-Fi is available, including more than 50,000 hot spots open to the public in the United States.(3)

Attachments To Go

The Foleo mobile companion also supports the most popular types of attachments. As on the Treo smartphone, the mobile companion uses a version of Documents To Go(R) customized by DataViz(R). People can create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible documents. The Foleo also includes a Palm-developed PDF reader.

Mobile professionals will find that just as their smartphones are ideal for use while on the move, the Foleo mobile companion is a perfect fit for use while commuting by mass transit, in meetings or on business trips. The mobile companion's size is ideal for working from an airplane seat, and its instant on/off capability makes it easy to comply with flight restrictions on electronics.

Elegant and Thoughtful Design

The Foleo mobile companion's hardware design features elegantly clean lines and forgoes excessive latches and connectors. An innovative scroll wheel, clever forward and back buttons, and a convenient track point enable easy navigation without requiring the user's hands leave the full-size keyboard.

By building the Foleo on an open Linux-based software platform, Palm hopes to replicate earlier success with developers by drawing a large community to create new applications that will extend the mobile companion's capabilities. Palm already has partnered with DataViz and Opera Software, demonstrating the ease with which exciting technology and applications can be ported to the Foleo mobile companion. Palm also will produce tools to allow smartphone manufacturers to make devices compatible with the Foleo mobile companion.

Foleo Pricing and Availability

U.S. availability for the Palm Foleo mobile companion will begin this summer. The price of the Foleo mobile companion is expected to be $499 after an introductory $100 rebate. For more information on the Foleo mobile companion, please visit www.palm.com/seefoleo. To sign up for notification about Foleo availability, please visit www.palm.com/foleonotify.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information from anywhere. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm Foleo(TM) mobile companions and Palm handheld computers, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.

(1) Requires compatible phone with Bluetooth wireless technology. Email requires data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. ISP and/or VPN may also be required. Within wireless service coverage area only. A dial-up networking plan from a service provider may be required at an incremental cost above and beyond the service provider's regular smartphone data plans.

(2) Source: The Radicati Group, Inc., Wireless E-mail Market 2006-2010, November 2006

(3) Source: JiWire: http://www.jiwire.com/hot-spot-directory-browse-by-state.htm?country_ id=1&provider_id=0 (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

Broadcast Video and Other Palm Materials

Broadcast video and other materials are available online from Palm's Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary). Press can register at the site, which is hosted by The NewsMarket (www.TheNewsMarket.com), a web-based news and video archive, to browse and preview an extensive content library and order footage directly from their desktops. Registration and ordering on the site is free.

Also, a social media news release version of today's announcement is available at http://socialnews.palm.com/. The social media news release contains "Web 2.0" features, including subscription via RSS, multimedia downloads, commenting, track-backing, links to social bookmark sites and other resources.

Palm, Palm OS, Foleo and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

What the hell does that mean? Well, based on the leak its neither a new Treo nor is it a UMPC. Instead it's a device with a large screen and full-size keyboard designed to let you read and edit Office documents.

Once you're done tapping away on the Foleo, you can sync your files from the Foleo to your smartphone. Not what I'd call revolutionary. Battery-wise, you can expect up to 5 hours and the device will debut this summer for around $499. Essentially, it's an extra gadget Palm wants us to lug around. If that's the case (and we're hoping this rumor is false), we'll have to pass. – Louis Ramirez

Palm RSS Feed Reveals Foleo Press Release [TreoCentral via Slashphone]

So what did the media think about the Wing? Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: where we mix together the best of Mobileburn, LAPTOP, Boy Genius Report, CNET, Pocketnow, PCMag, Mobilitysite, infoSync, PCWorld, Engadget and, of course...ourselves.

MobileBurn
While the device is still a bit hefty, at 169g (6.7oz), the form factor is a bit less monoblock in shape. The front and back faces of the Wing have been slightly sculpted in an effort to thin the device out and improve the feel of the phone when held in the user's hand.

Laptop
...the Wing [is] perfectly suitable for e-mail hounds and Internet junkies. But when you're outside of Wi-Fi range, you're left with T-Mobile's occasionally spotty EDGE network, which delivers relatively slow data rates of about 100 Kbps.

BoyGeniusReport
Obviously the biggest selling point is that Windows Mobile 6 Professional is loaded right on.

CNET
Disappointingly, the new operating system didn't bring any major enhancements to Windows Media Player Mobile. And once again, unlike the other carriers, T-Mobile does not offer a music or video service to get new tunes or clips. That said, the player supports a number of popular audio and video formats

PocketNow
Windows Mobile 6 Professional also comes with the full version of Microsoft Voice Command 1.6. That means you get voice recognition and text-to-speech features. Some of my favorites are the ability to read incoming text messages and email subjects into my Bluetooth headset, as well as announcing incoming callers by their name ... you can also speak commands to the...There's no need to record voice tags, the software just recognizes plain speech automatically.

PCMag
The Dash makes do with the less-capable WM6 Standard OS, no touch screen or stylus, and a smaller (but more accessible) keyboard. On the other hand, it's slimmer and lighter than the Wing and packs in the same CPU and Wi-Fi. It also costs less. We still prefer the Dash with Windows Mobile 6

MobilitySite
The lackluster processor is my only true complaint. I am sure that a faster processor would have me complaining about the battery life though. Most of the applications I through at it ran speedy and without hitch.

InfoSyncWorld
The only time we saw a real hit to the Wing's performance was switching between landscape and portrait mode, which can take a couple of seconds.

PCWorld
The Wing lasted for the full 10 hours that marks the ceiling of the PC World Test Center's battery life evaluation. Its performance thus matches...our most recently tested top performers.

Engadget
...if you're a T-Mobile customer, if you're willing to plunk down this thing is kind of a no-brainer.

Gizmodo
So all in all the hardware's been improved with minor—but noticeable—changes, and the software's been improved with major and definitely noticeable changes. Is it worth it for you to upgrade if you already have an MDA? Yes, if you really want the benefits of Windows Mobile 6.

Seems like a solid upgrade, but nothing "new".– Mark Wilson

Pictures Ganked From PCMag

By utilizing the accelerometers built into devices such as the iPhone or MacBook, this new feature can look for certain movements that are characteristic of theft. In the event of your iPhone or MacBook being stolen, it could either turn on an alarm, lock itself up or even a combination of the two.

What we want to know is what exactly these characteristics are that differentiate thievery and just irrational movements caused by the user? We can just see the alarm triggering in the middle of a call, because an angry bee was chasing us.

Patent interface drawings after the jump.

– Ben Longo

Apple Patents Anti-Theft Phone [Loop Rumors via Apple Insider]

So for this week's Frankenreview, we're giving you a eight other opinions (that obviously don't matter as much as ours) on the Helio Ocean. The NY Times, Forbes, Crunchgear, CNET, Slashgear, Mobileburn, PCMag and the Wall Street Journal all have something to say about the phone. So hit the jump and wonder how it's possible that only one out of nine takes gave the Ocean a numerical score...(SPOILER: CNET, and it was 83)

NY Times
While smart-phone makers cower in the looming shadow of the June release of the iPhone from Apple, a small cellphone service provider called Helio is introducing a device that is getting plenty of buzz.

Forbes
The phone's dual sliding keypad design is nifty: Slide out a standard number pad from its heel for dialing, or a large, QWERTY keypad from its left side for text messaging or speedy Web browsing. Ocean's software effortlessly switches the display from portrait to landscape mode, depending on which keypad is in use.

Crunchgear
The main comparison here is going to be with the Sidekick.... The Sidekick is also about the size of my cat—and about as practical in a pocket. The Ocean is considerably smaller yet it still maintains all of the core features of the Sidekick and it manages to contribute a few of its own to the fray (like GPS).

CNET
The bubbled keys have a nice soft-touch texture that make it a joy to type on. Yet, we still had some complaints. When compared to other keyboards like that on the T-Mobile Sidekick 3, the Ocean's buttons may feel a bit too crowded.

Wirelessinfo
...some of the features are limited, for instance, the much-vaunted GPS feature is very useful (and the Buddy Beacon lets you keep track of your Helio owning friends), but it's missing some features that you would get on even a cheap dedicated GPS receiver; It can't track where you've been and doesn't provide turn by turn directions.

Slashgear
I discovered two features that I really don't like: not being able to turn off the audio notification for all incoming and outgoing messages without having to put the entire device in silent mode...[and] not being able to hide offline contacts in AIM.

Mobileburn
One of the best aspects of the Ocean has to be its large 2.4", 262k color TFT display; it is a real stunner.... The backlight, when configured at its brightest level, is certainly strong enough to overcome the sun in my outdoors tests.

PCMag
There's an MP3 player in here, too. The Ocean quickly detected my cardful of music and let me play songs by album, artist, or track name. I could drop songs onto the phone using mass storage mode with a PC or a Mac, or sync with Windows Media Player on a PC.

WSJ
...the Ocean is an innovative, thoughtfully designed smart phone that advances the state of the art.... The software is smart, too.

Gizmodo
Our final recommendation would be: buy it, but only after you consider our caveats...you can't sync your calendar to your Mac or PC...[using the keyboard] is like walking in an attic crawlspace—cramped and uncomfortable.

I'll admit it, before the Ocean came out I'd basically written Helio off (They did tell me to "not call us a phone company," after all. But if they can convince enough customers to pay $65/month for 500 minutes or $85 a month for 1000 minutes of Sprint service, it's going to be with heralded exclusives like the Ocean. Because trust me: The same strategy will work just fine for Cingular/AT&T. – Mark Wilson

The device, which was designed by Daniel Alexander, is also water-resistant, making it a nice companion for outdoorsy types who want to remain connected without being bogged down by a laptop. Overall, it's an interesting concept that we hope manufacturers pick up on. – Louis Ramirez

Product Page [via Sci-Fi Tech]

You can't find much wrong with SlingMedia's products that are both revolutionary and affordable—especially considering they were smart enough not to try charging some subscription fee. Wow, I've got nothing snarky to say here at all...heart warming...filling with love...must...stop...writing...– Mark Wilson

So today we're giving you a cheat sheet for the updated BlackBerry line. Once upon a time, you just owned one kind of BlackBerry. And so you'd say things like, "I own a BlackBerry," and it was more than enough explanation. But now, their lineup has grown to three models with confusing, overlapping functionality. So what's the deal?

BlackBerry Pearl (8100)
Good For: Push email in your pocket
Bad For: QWERTY lovers
Retail: $499

The BlackBerry Pearl was the first "new" BlackBerry. Shrunk from the holster-sized units of the past, the Pearl can fit in your pocket. And because it's a BlackBerry, you still get full-featured push email. However, due to its smaller form, the QWERTY keys have been shrunk to a double letter SureType format—which is a topic of contention among Pearl users.

The Pearl also introduced the "pearl"—or trackball (see: Centipede) interface to replace the trackwheel. Since its Pearl debut, the trackball has been incorporated into all new units. The Pearl also features a 1.3MP camera and MicroSD for MP3/MP4 etc. media playback (also BlackBerry firsts).

Many of the Pearl's features have since been incorporated into the entire new line, like the trackball and MicroSD media playback. But if you can handle the lack of QWERTY, the Pearl's smaller form is the way to go.

BlackBerry (8800)
Alias: 8830 on Sprint & Verizon
Good For: Straight upgrade of old BlackBerry
Bad For: Those who really want a less business-streamlined product
Retail: $299

The BlackBerry 8800 is the new traditional-style BlackBerry (translation: full QWERTY). Despite the slimmed form factor, the 8800 still wide enough for awkward-pocket land. And just as with the Pearl, the trackball has replaced the scrollwheel and we have MicroSD media playback.

Many users will take advantage of the built-in GPS, which trumps a lot of its smartphone peers and reportedly functions very well. Also, push-to-talk walkie talkie style communication has been added, which is a bonus for those post-meeting sleepovers.

At its simplest definition, the 8800 is the "new BlackBerry". The lack of camera won't bother most businessmen (or women), though the lack of Wi-Fi could be a dealbreaker when coupled with no 3G support. But that's the price of owning any BlackBerry for the time being.

BlackBerry Curve (8300)
Good For: BlackBerry users who want a camera
Bad For: The 8800. Non-AT&T users.
Price: TBA

So if the 8800 is the daddy, and the Pearl is his scrawnier teenage son, what does that make the Curve? Maybe it's the trophy wife who both men find kinda hot. Or maybe it's the dad post-midlife crisis.

The BlackBerry Curve is a sexier version of the 8800. It's the thinnest QWERTY BlackBerry ever, measuring almost an ounce lighter than the 8800 (or nearly 20%). The keyboard is considered more comfortable than the 8800, and a full-sized headphone jack is a nice addition to round it out the experience (no pun intended).

Plus, the Curve features a 2MP camera, which is the most powerful in RIM's lineup even though it still cannot record video. So why would anyone buy the 8800 when the Curve is basically a nicer 8800? GPS. That's it. And for a little more bulk, using the Curve's Bluetooth could remedy the GPS situation. The only catch is that the Curve is only available on AT&T at the moment...well...when it's actually released any day now.

Now go ace the test. – Mark Wilson

Discover Blackberry [Blackberry]

Use your ballpoint pen as a stylus [AVING]

Hit the jump for our favorite shots. And if that's still not enough, you could visit their site since they went through all the trouble. We're not the jealous types.

Slut.

– Mark Wilson

HTC X7500 Unboxing [boygeniusreport]