Palm Demos MP3 Player

Posted By: Ed Friday, October 6, 2000 1:05:52 PM

On Tuesday, Palm Inc. demonstrated the Porteson, an MP3 player that will function as a backup device and a digital voice recorder. The device, with versions for the m100 and Palm V, was demonstrated at the Interactive Music Expo and is expected to be officially introduced at Comdex in November. It should cost about $179 for a version with 32 MB of memory.

The hardware is being produced by Singapore Shinei Sangyo Pte Ltd. It will sport an expansion slot that can support a 64-megabyte flash card and can run independently on 2 AAA batteries.

The software is being developed by PocketPyro. Users will be able to create custom play lists but not beam songs via infrared. PocketPyro is working on software to allow users to back their Palms up onto the device and do digital voice recording. They are hoping to have voice recognition by the end of first quarter 2001.

Palm also demoed a new attachment for the Palm V series called the Tsunamidi that allows the composition and playback of MIDI songs.

Thanks to Wired.

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III series owners left

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/6/2000 4:04:56 PM #
Thanks go to Palm for fragementing the market for expansion accessories
for their devices by changing the physical specs for each new model,
and then leaving III series owners unsupported with their newest round
of accessories.

I'll keep that in mind when I make my next PDA purchase.

RE: III series owners left
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/6/2000 6:06:20 PM #
Please check out the PocketPyro Website at www.pocketpyro.com

There is a model available for the III!

Left high and dry

Jack Stanton @ 10/6/2000 4:30:42 PM #
Cmon, why is Palm abandoning the III series? It seems like they don't even care. Perhaps I see Visor in my future.
RE: Left high and dry
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/7/2000 2:39:22 AM #
I agree... Palm is cutting their own throats. I have been trying to buy a Palm. The VII is great... but not in color. The IIIc baited me with promises of a wireless modem... now nothing. Looks like there's a reason Visor is chasing them down. I guess I'll be buying the Visor Psalm in October. (I sure did like Palm.net service, if they would only make a color screen)

III series is dead

fireman54 @ 10/6/2000 10:07:27 PM #
Who knows how & why Palm makes these decisions. I do believe there are more III series around than V series. I guess a Visor would be my next choice. This V push will also hurt TRG.

III series is dead

BillFugina @ 10/6/2000 10:31:33 PM #
I've been waiting patiently for months for a wireless modem for the IIIc and found out today that it will NEVER happen. Novatel has cancelled all plans to to make one.


-----Original Message-----
From: David Vincent [mailto:dvincent@novatelwireless.com]
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 10:08 AM
Subject: RE: Modem for Palm IIIc

We were developing a modem for the Palm IIIc, but due to a lack of demand, this project was cancelled. As of now, there are no plans to continue this project. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call.

Thank you,

David Vincent
Technical Support Specialist
dvincent@novatelwireless.com
www.novatelwireless.com

Novatel Wireless
9255 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 340
San Diego, CA 92121-3030
888-888-9231

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 3:15 PM
To: Support
Subject: Modem for Palm IIIc

Do you plan to ever release a wireless modem for the Palm IIIc? You announced one several months ago, but I never heard anything about it ever again.


Don't call it dead just yet...

DataOrb @ 10/7/2000 6:11:01 AM #
the Palm III series is still the most popular one, with the most userse. we have the III itself, the IIIe, IIIx, IIIxe, IIIc, TRGPro and the IBM WorkPads. and beside, I am not sure palm is going to leave out thier only Color "Flagship" PDA out there...

however, do we really NEED (or even want?) an MP3 Player for our palm? don't you think a stand alone unit will do this job so much better?

Bitch 'n' Moan

Steve @ 10/7/2000 9:56:02 AM #
So a new add-on is being released for the V series, so what. How many add-ons has the III series got compared to the V? Do you hear all us V owners bitching and moaning, talking of going over to Handspring, no. So grow up children, just coz you cant have a new toy, and think about all the ones you do have that V owners dont.
RE: Bitch 'n' Moan
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/7/2000 6:00:07 PM #
Uh...let's see...
Maybe the III series users don't see this as a "new toy" but as a tool that could expand the functionality of their device. Also, there are more III series users than any of the other form factors (and then you have the IMBs and TRGs on top of that.) The V series doesn't have as many devices because (and correct me if I'm wrong) the III form factor is over a year older. Third party developers have had more time and experience designing for the III series. As you can see now, new products are being designed for both and have been for some time.

All that said, it looks like they will be providing a III series compatable device. As one poster noted earlier, check out the pocketpyro website.

Palm III

Richard Buckner @ 10/7/2000 6:41:26 PM #
Abandoning the Palm III might be a financial loss to 3COM. This will open hopefully a 3rd party company to make some serious profits in providing add-on hardware and software products.
RE: Palm III
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/9/2000 6:08:12 AM #
um, you know 3com doesn't own Palm Computing anymore. Thank god, if I was Palm, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with 3com.

these add-on prices just don't make sense!

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/9/2000 10:56:12 AM #

I like the fact that the PalmOS devices provide the capability for add on devices like this MP3 player or a cell-phone for Visors, but these prices just don't make any sense!

Even if it were available for the PalmIII, how many of you are willing to spend almost $200 for this? In the case of the cell phone, it's worse! $275 (Visor) + $299 (cell phone) == no market!

You can buy a stand alone MP3 player with better specs for less. All this add on gives you is the ability to manipulate playlists and such from the palm screen. big deal.

I don't think any of the add-on providers will get any kind of market response until they get the prices under $100.



RE: these add-on prices just don't make sense!
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/9/2000 1:58:37 PM #
I'd really have to agree. Do I really want an MP3 player that is limite in it's memory and runs off my unit's batt. power; as is the case with one of the new MP3 Springboards available?

I am still curious as to why the Activelink unit requires a special Visor, when the Visorphone has wireless connectivity without such hassles.

These prices need to drop seriously. And the functionality needs to improve drasticly.

[ No Subject ]

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2000 9:34:07 AM #
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