New Mini Cradle for palmOne Handhelds

Posted By: Ryan Tuesday, December 9, 2003 6:31:19 AM

palmOne has come out with a new mini USB Hotsync cradle that is compatible with handhelds featuring the Palm Universal Connector. The new cradle features a small and sleek design with a clear back and built-in lighting.

palmOne mini-cradle ~ click for larger!Unlike the regular in-the-box cradles, the Mini Cradle has a unique, modern design complete with built-in lighting and a silver metallic base. The illumination provides users with confirmation that all cables are connected and the handheld is properly attached. Perfect for home or office, the Mini Cradle conserves desk space while adding a new element of style.

The Mini Cradle has an estimated U.S. street price of $49.95, and is available for purchase in consumer-electronics outlets and major retail chains in most countries worldwide. It is also available online from the palmOne store.

It recharges and synchronizes data through the USB port of a PC or Mac. It is compatible with any palmOne handheld with the Universal Connector, or specifically: the Tungsten C, Tungsten T series, Tungsten W, Zire 71, i705, m500 series and m130 handhelds.

update: I just received the new cradle and have some first thoughts posted here. -Ryan

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Nice!!

jv-uk @ 12/9/2003 7:00:08 AM #
I like the look of it - very stylish and it looks as if you may be able to use it without taking the PDA (Tungsten T for me!) out of its case.
RE: Nice!!
LiveFaith @ 12/9/2003 11:11:47 AM #
Hmmm. Still using the "Palm" name on their hardware. When will Pa1mOne actually appear on a device?

Oh, nice cradle. I'll have to call my loan officer today to get one though.

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: Nice!!
Admin @ 12/9/2003 2:40:07 PM #
the spring '04 products are supposed to be the first with the new palmOne logo and branding.

We need form and function!!

Hustleman @ 12/9/2003 7:17:19 AM #
Come on Palm, a usb 2.0 cradle is what we really need. With the amount of data that is being synced by the average user, reducing sync time with a usb 2.0 interaface would be ideal.

RE: We need form and function!!
icy jamie @ 12/9/2003 9:08:55 AM #
Only if the Palm Tx can keep up with the speed...
Otherwise, it's useless..
RE: We need form and function!!
pilot1000 @ 12/9/2003 9:23:09 AM #
Palm's don't use USB 2.0 chips in them so that change would be more necessary then just the cradle

RE: We need form and function!! And SPEED!
Strider_mt2k @ 12/9/2003 9:48:39 AM #
The whole Hotsync process is very slow.

Why wait an hour to install an app that way when I can use MSImport and drag the files over like a regular guy?


Flash is cool, but bang is cooler.



RE: We need form and function!!
hkklife @ 12/9/2003 11:05:44 AM #
Maybe I'm just slow today but can this thing charge via AC and USB or just trickle charge from the USB port alone? If that's the case, then I'd have to imagine how long it'd take me to recharge a depleted T3 and my Power-to-Go sled via USB only.

If it's trickle charge only, then it'd make for a nice spare cradle to keep at work and have the old wobbly cradle at home for serious juicing. Shame that clear plastic back will show fingerprints so easily, though!

RE: We need form and function!!
hkklife @ 12/9/2003 11:24:07 AM #
By the way, going OT here a bit, but still on the basic point of "form vs. function" take a look at what was, essentially, the Palm IV design study (and browse the rest of the gallery, there are some very funky looking things there!)

http://www.summitid.com/gallery_pilot.html



RE: We need form and function!!
critic @ 12/9/2003 12:37:53 PM #
Strider - if a Hotsync install is taking you an hour, chances are there's something wrong with your Hotsync settings.

Also, please remember that we're talking about Pa1mOne devices here, so MSImport wouldn't be of much use. Sure, we could copy the programs directly onto SD cards, but I know that in my case, since I don't have a separate SD reader, that's not overly practical. Installs via Hotsync do the job just fine for me.

----
What do you think, sirs?

RE: We need form and function!!
Strider_mt2k @ 12/9/2003 1:22:07 PM #
An excellent point.

What I should have said was an hour for transferring large files when hotsyncing.

Sorry about that.


RE: We need form and function!!
batmon @ 12/9/2003 4:15:05 PM #
Yeah... no point for using USB 2.0, unless Palm comes with 1GB storage space. My sync is always faster then open up Outlook 2003!



RE: We need form and function!!
Bartman007 @ 12/10/2003 3:45:15 AM #
I think that USB 2.0 will be an excuse for palm0ne to move onto the next proprietary connector. UC2.0 anyone?


Peace,
-Bartman007

$50...come on now

chilimost @ 12/9/2003 8:30:40 AM #
Looks nice, but $50 is crazy.
RE: $50...come on now
karrock @ 12/9/2003 8:50:30 AM #
Yeah... should at least offer 50% off for current owners... I don't exactly like the way the T3 teeters on the old cradle's universal connector... tilt it too far to either side and you lose connection.

~Tony

Pilot --> V --> m505 --> Tungsten T3

RE: $50...come on now
karrock @ 12/9/2003 8:52:42 AM #
Makes me wonder if it'll bundle with all "new" PalmOne devices, or if it'll always be an "upgrade" cradle.

~Tony

Pilot --> V --> m505 --> Tungsten T3

RE: $50...come on now
Rhauer @ 12/9/2003 10:17:03 AM #
Looks very cool, way to expensive.

You don't have to buy it.
RAMdŽd @ 12/9/2003 4:58:05 PM #
If you price a regular cradle and the mini-cradle, I think you'll see that the Mini won't be included in the box.

By its name, one should assume that it's a second cradle, and not a primary one. It doesn't make sense to supply a USB cradle at the expense of a AC/USB cradle. And they certainly won't toss it in for free.

Oh, and if anybody looks rather than whines, you'll find it for half price.

I did.


.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

"Yeah... should at least offer 50% off for current owners.."
RAMdŽd @ 12/9/2003 5:10:24 PM #
Right!

I'm going to tell the dealar that when I buy my nesxt TV!

"I want the upgrade price!"

Hey, that should work at the car dealership too! Think of all the money I'll save.

"That should be half off, and gimme the upgrade price. I already own one!"


Sheeesh.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

RE: $50...come on now
Lucky Bob @ 12/9/2003 5:56:32 PM #
"Yeah... should at least offer 50% off for current owners..."

If you don't own a Palm with a Universal Connector, or if you don't use it any more, why would you buy this cradle? So that would mean that almost everyone buying it would be a current owner.

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

RE: $50...come on now
CaptMyCapt @ 12/10/2003 1:06:19 PM #
Oh, and if anybody looks rather than whines, you'll find it for half price.

I did.

Why are you not sharing where you found this at half price?

Captain T

"You will never make progress trying to sail into the wind - chart your course!"

RE: $50...come on now
skrm @ 12/11/2003 8:57:49 AM #
isn't it $27 in amazon.com??
if it is, including free shippping, i think the price ain't that bad for those who like it...

Typo...

dsamuilov @ 12/9/2003 9:15:21 AM #
I didn't know palmOne was in the currency creation business...

The article reads "palmOne has come out with a new mini USD"; shouldn't it be "USB"?

I guess they are doing OK, but not as good as to print their own US Dollars!

;)

RE: Typo...
elo @ 12/9/2003 6:51:21 PM #
Nice how you state the joke three times...

elo

RE: Typo...
ganoe @ 12/9/2003 7:10:30 PM #
Maybe PalmOne could do a better job at getting a $1 coin accepted by the public than the U.S. Mint.

Where is it ?

FredLL @ 12/9/2003 10:13:06 AM #
Can't find it on PalmStore ...
I suppose I'll have to wait a few hours ...
Fred

RE: Where is it ?
RAMdŽd @ 12/9/2003 5:13:51 PM #
It was at the Palm Store under Accesories -> Cables and Cradles yesterday.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

Built-in lighting?

LanMan @ 12/9/2003 10:15:28 AM #
What exactly does "with built-in lighting" mean?

Full-time computer network engineer
Part-time computer science teacher
Christian till the end-of-time <><
RE: Built-in lighting?
Khris @ 12/9/2003 10:37:12 AM #
I'm assuming that there is a light in the base of the cradle which illuminates the clear back when the device is inserted into the cradle.

Stylish yes, functional...not really :)

RE: Built-in lighting?
Admin @ 12/9/2003 10:45:28 AM #
the hotsync button lights up, and correct me if I'm wrong but it also looks like the clear backing is illuminates as well.

-Ryan

RE: Built-in lighting?
patwoods @ 12/9/2003 10:56:59 AM #
I had the Dell Axim for a short time, and its cradle lit up the Dell logo in blue when connected. This is purely aesthetic but pretty cool and draws attention. I like the thought but too expensive as agreed by all.

RE: Built-in lighting?
dustbunny44 @ 12/10/2003 1:20:32 AM #
How about one of those spinning LED displays rocking back and forth above the PDA, showing what is on the screen while it's in the cradle?
Woot.

Is it April 1st already?

Scott R @ 12/9/2003 10:19:44 AM #
I sure hope they didn't divert their hardware development team off of more important projects for this. Also, what use is built-in lighting? I guess I could see the value in that for the B&W Zire since it doesn't have a backlight. ;) But that device doesn't have the PUC either, so it wouldn't be able to work anyway.

Scott

http://Tapland.com
- Tapwave Zodiac News, Reviews, & Discussion -

RE: Is it April 1st already?
palmhiker @ 12/9/2003 3:42:30 PM #
"I sure hope they didn't divert their hardware development team off of more important projects for this."

I can see the development meeting:

Mgr1:Let's see, we can get a decent Wi-Fi solution out for all OS5 devices, but that will be difficult.

Mgr2:I have an idea, let's shelve the Wi-Fi stuff and design a cool new cradle that lights up. It will be so cool that a bunch of idio..er customers will even pay $50 for it.

Mgr1:You are a genius! Let's do it...

The Develoment meeting with PIC posters in charge...
RAMdŽd @ 12/9/2003 5:04:20 PM #
"Beige... And a grayscale screen. Color is more form than function."

"Yes, minimalist utiltarianism!"

"Who cares how it looks. Forget style, clunky is good enough."

"Style? What style?! We don't need no stinkin' style."


You don't want to pay the price, don't buy.

It's that simple.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

RE: Is it April 1st already?
ganoe @ 12/9/2003 7:13:19 PM #
> Mgr2:I have an idea, let's shelve the Wi-Fi stuff and design a cool new
> cradle that lights up. It will be so cool that a bunch of idio..er
> customers will even pay $50 for it.

Mgr2 is probably right, they'll make more money off of the cradle.

RE: Is it April 1st already?
palmhiker @ 12/10/2003 11:12:40 AM #
Are you guys really that excited about a cradle?

Who cares what the freaking cradle looks like? Give me styling in the design of the PDA, yes, but I don't think the styling of a cradle is going to make a rat's ass worth of difference to anything.

RE: Is it April 1st already?
palmhiker @ 12/10/2003 11:19:20 AM #
Wait a minute, now I see it. You take a lady you've just met back to your place. You take off your coat and she is majorly turned off by the PDA holster hanging off your belt. You see in her face that she is thinking what a geek you are, so you quickly pounce over to your desk and show her this very cool looking cradle and how it lights up. Her repulsion has now turned into lust.....

You think, "I know this thing wasn't really worth $50, but I am sure glad I bought it..."

RE: Is it April 1st already?
Wollombi @ 12/13/2003 3:44:43 AM #
Yeah, and then she spends the night with your PDA instead of you!! =P

_________________
Sean

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

Perfect timing....?

hkklife @ 12/9/2003 10:57:39 AM #
Now this is a nice, stylish, unexpected surprise!

Perhaps Palm's going to make a mid-model run change to the T3, bundling it with this new cradle. Hopefully all of the patches will be be pre-installed and all of the apps in ROM will be updated out of the box. Call it a T|T3x or T|T3SE (like they did with the IIIe years ago) or something...Palm should also offer this cradle at a discount to current owners or at least to all T,C, and Z71 owners.

For OS6 units, I will be terribly upset of PalmOne doesn't get USB 2.0 connectivity onboard, as well as a faster SD bus. Then we'd finally start to see a loosening of some of the bottlenecks that have been plaguing us since the m5xx era.

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