palmOne Announces the LifeDrive Mobile Manager
palmOne today introduced the LifeDrive mobile manager handheld. Designed for people with a significant volume of digital information, the LifeDrive mobile manager offers 4GB of hard-drive storage, a large 320x480 high-resolution color screen, and wireless access through built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies.
At a Glance
The LifeDrive Runs Palm OS Garnet (v5.4.8) on a 416 MHz Intel XScale processor. It has built in 4 Gigabyte hard drive (3.85GB user available) and 64MB of internal RAM. It has both WiFi and Bluetooth wireless technology and hotsyncing supports USB 2.0 speeds. It has dimensions of 4.76" x 2.87" x .74" inches (120 x 73 x 19 mm) and weighs 6.8 ounces (193 grams). It is powered by a non removable 1660mAh battery.
Consumers today demand more from their mobile devices as their digital information continues to increase in size and scope. Many people want easy access to all of their essential documents, email and wireless web access. They want the ability to entertain themselves in a free moment, and to share personalized content, such as photos, home movies or their entire MP3 collection. The ability to do these things in an all-in-one device has become a reality with mobile managers.
"LifeDrive mobile manager comes at an inflection point in the market, when people are ready for more advanced devices that meet their growing mobile-computing needs," said Ken Wirt, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for palmOne. "LifeDrive is versatile. For the business executive, it's a personal mobile briefcase; for the photo enthusiast, it's a camera companion."
With LifeDrive, people can easily carry virtually all of their essential desktop computer files and folders. Crucial documents can be set to update automatically at each HotSync operation, and users can receive secure wireless email with attachments whenever they are within range of a Wi-Fi connection or by connecting via a compatible Bluetooth phone. People can even remotely retrieve Microsoft Office files left behind on the desktop computer.
Inside the 4GB Hard Drive
The 4GB Hitachi Microdrive weighs less than a AA battery, is smaller than a matchbook and transfers data 30 percent faster than the previous-generation Microdrive. With 3.85GB of usable storage, LifeDrive mobile manager users can store and access all of the following on a single device:
1,200 office documents;
6,000 emails;
1,000 photos;
300 songs;
2.5 hours of video;
50 voice recordings;
10,000 contacts; and
10,000 appointments.
Stored information, media, files and documents are available at any time on the 320x480, high-resolution color screen, which can flip from landscape to portrait at the touch of a button.
With support for native Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat Reader, LifeDrive smart file management makes it easy for users to carry and access thousands of files. This innovative, new software system saves time, making it easier for a mobile professional to work efficiently while away from the office. The LifeDrive smart file management system comprises four key applications:
Folder Sync - automatically updates selected files when syncing;
File Transfer - drag and drop thousands of files from a PC onto LifeDrive mobile manager;
Drive Mode - behaves like a USB drive to easily transfer files to any PC or Macintosh; and
Files View - transferred folder structure remains intact, making it easy to locate important information.
Flash memory keeps information safely intact, even if the device loses its charge, and 128-bit encryption keeps valuable data safely secure when invoked. Password protection safeguards access to the device, while the Private Records function protects specific files, even when the rest of the mobile manager is unlocked. An optional Intrusion Protection function erases all data and returns the device to factory settings after a user-specified number of failed break-ins.
Mobile Multimedia and Expansion
While on the go, LifeDrive mobile manager users can enjoy listening to songs from their personal music collection, viewing photos or watching video clips. Pocket Tunes is included for audio playback, RealNetworks is also offering a 30-day free trial of the Rhapsody music service, providing unlimited access to more than 1 million songs available for download and transfer to their LifeDrive. The built-in voice recorder allows for hands-free notes or personal narrations to accompany photo slideshows. Users of the LifeDrive mobile manager will enjoy fast performance for business and multimedia applications, thanks to the 416MHz Intel XScale processor.
The expansion card slot, which supports SD, SDIO and MultiMediaCard formats, makes it easy to transform the LifeDrive mobile manager into a camera companion. Instead of bringing a laptop on vacation, users can simply download images from the camera's SD memory card onto the LifeDrive mobile manager to free up the card for more photos and enjoy photos on a larger screen.
The device's built-in Bluetooth can be used to connect to compatible Bluetooth devices nearby, allowing for wireless syncing with a Bluetooth laptop, wireless sending a document to a Bluetooth printer or hands-free dialing to a Bluetooth phone.
Pricing and Availability
The LifeDrive mobile manager from palmOne has an estimated U.S. street price of $499. Limited quantities are available now from the palmOne online store and select retail stores worldwide. Volume availability is expected by early June.
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RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
**Pocket Tunes is NOT the Deluxe version that streams w/ WiFi
**$50 aluminum harcase with rubber grip is bad to the bone
http://www.palmone.com/us/products/accessories/casesandcovers/3218WW.html
** I wonder if this is literally true or marketing speak for the screen going off?
"And you can listen to your music with the rest of the device turned off to conserve battery power"
** Music "multi-tasking" allows volume and track changes w/out leaving the present app.
This is a nice feaute for audiofiles. Amazing too how many PPC folks still believe Palm OS can only do 1 thing at a time.
** 64MB NVFS ... they didn't skimp
** Still packing it all in 16MB ROM ... amazing.
** Your data stays safe even on on a hard-reset!
All your information - including music, photos and documents - is safe. If you forget to recharge, or perform a hard reset, none of your information will be lost. All you have to do is recharge to regain access to your information.
** Optical illusion. It sure looks thicker than 3/4", but maybe being a thinner width than even a T3 makes that appear so? Should fit nicely in hand, but a little long.
** The back of the device is very elegant! But where are all the UL logos etc?
http://www.palmone.com/us/images/products/mobilemanagers/lifedrive/specs_photo2.jpg
** Hard resets on the bottom next to the Athena. Large enough for stylus tip. Somebody's listened! Then again Palms never crash, so it's moot. :-o
** Anyone seen the "protective sleeve"? Surely it's not that little Zire baggie that doubles as a marble carryer.
Beautiful. Looks like PalmOne is serious about survival this cycle. Now, does it work?
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
** Stylus = T3 = Springloaded (says PalmAddict)
** Screen = to the new FANTASTIC T|E2 screen quality. Wowzers.
** Palmaddcit says it fits great in the hand. Most have not noticed it's thin width, making for 1 handed comfort.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
Fanboy Sammy spoke as if it had the E2 type screen, but AdamaDBrown says its about like the T5.
"The screen is a 16 bit type, rather than the richer 18 bit screen in the E2."
... not so hot when setting next to an e@ or VGA Winmobster at CC.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
This is a nice feaute for audiofiles. Amazing too how many PPC folks still believe Palm OS can only do 1 thing at a time.
This is nothing new. It has been a feature of PTunes. You swipe the stylus to call up a "console" -- similar to what we used to be able to do with Hacks/DAs.
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
I keep hearing this "partition" scam is probably true. PalmOne has very little shame to advertise 64MB of memory. Your review and others seem to indicate this based on the sluggishness of even checking the clock button on the status bar ... 3 seconds!!!
The Zen of Palm has been dead for a while now, but partitioning "memory" onto the HDD is like kicking over the tombstone! I feared this after seeign the 64MB iteration on the T5. It's nothing more than a partition on the :-(
I'm gonna be a little safer carrying my T3 I guess.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
Yes, but notice how they are conveniently avoiding saying anything official about the RAM. That is a red flag that they are trying to pull one over on us. Also, the fact that the HD is erased after a hard reset indicates that the 64 MB is likely a HD partition.
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
http://www.bargainpda.com/assets/3879.jpg
What good is a nice huge screen when the fonts are still huge as well...
Yes, we can run Fonts4OS5 and font smoother, but they don't work in browsers, so we're at the mercy of their small font support. And even in those apps where we can benefit from the likes fo Fonts4OS5, you choose a small font and go to the built in PIM apps, and you still get only 9-11 lines of text on a 320x320 screen, leaving the whole bottom half of the display blank.
Can we finally put OS5 to bed and move on to OS6/7/8 with TTF support and start making better use of the pixels...
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
AdamDBrown is a PPC user, so you may want to take that info into consideration.
Reviews are essentially opinions of the writers. I am not saying that Adam's review is not accurate, simply that it may be biased to a certain degree. It is the same with Sammy of Palmaddict's review. Some may say that Adam's review is too negative, while others may think that Sammy's review is too positive.
The only review that counts is the eventual buyer's opinion.
Adama overtly critical, or just accurate?
At least AdamA's review provides some numbers, while Sammy's review only provides superlatives. Infosync's review confirms AdamA's poor battery life claims, and Forbes confirms the stuttering and pauses. It looks like Sammy's review is the one that lacks credibility. But that was obvious from the start. Fantastic!
Surur
RE: WOOOOOOHOOOOO
Surur, how conveniently of you to disregard other reviews such as MobileTechReview, whose battery test number are different from Adam’s and are more in LD's favor.
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/palmone-LifeDrive.htm
Shame on you!!!
And I never said that Adam's review lacked credibility....just biased, perhaps. As for Sammy's review, he is a user, not a tech person. He gave a review from a layperson's perspectvie. Granted that his writing is not the greatest and he didn't have any data, but his opinion is just as credible as Adam's and maybe as biased as Adam's as well.
As I said previously, it is the eventual buyer's review that really counts, not your or mine or anybody else's.
No REAL RAM™? Oh Noooooo!
As I said before, let's cut the bull and call it like it is: Palm cut corners on the LD design, just like it has cut corners on almost every other PDA it has released in the past three or four years. These decisions have come back to bite Palm in the a$$ over and over again, yet still they continue to pinch pennies where pennies should not be pinched. The LifeDrive will be a MASSIVE flop because it's ridiculously overpriced for what it offers.
I challenge ANY Palm Apologist/employee to show the above is not true. The silence will be deafening. I'm sick of seeing Palm destroy itself by making stupid cost-cutting decisions that result in messed up, poor value hardware: 32 MB RAM in Treo 600/650, CrapRAM™ in Tungsten 5, cheap phone components in Treo 600/650, crappy case for Tungsten E, BogusRAM™ in LifeDrive etc, etc.
Please keep PIC a "No Bull Zone".
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Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)
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Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
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Say hello to my little friend...
Way too big...
RE: Way too big...
Apples. Oranges.
..: eston
http://www.hyalineskies.com/
RE: Way too big...
RE: Way too big...
RE: Way too big...
I have a T|T and love it just as much (replaced my Palm V). It goes with me everywhere and helps me in almost everything. The size and ruggedness is perfect. I can even send files directly to my PowerBook using bluetooth without having to sync.
I just don't see what a 4GB drive gets you in a PDA, its too small to be a real audio, video image repository, and it makes the LifeDrive too big to be a truly personal device. Especially when you could probably use a CF slot and used a new 8GB high performance CF card instead. And still keep the design small and tight.
RE: Way too big...
by ggeoffre
How much did u get it for? No critics, just curious.
.
I just don't see what a 4GB drive gets you in a PDA, its too small to be a real audio, video image repository, and it makes the LifeDrive too big to be a truly personal device. Especially when you could probably use a CF slot and used a new 8GB high performance CF card instead. And still keep the design small and tight.
That's the idea with audio. Ppl who want "real audio" get an ipod. All others are content with 1GB to 3GB of music.
For x2 the CF capacity at 8GB, those cost around $700. 4GB CF costs around $400 or so. In the end, it comes close for a PDA + BIG CF card.
[signature0]
the secret to enjoying your job is to have a hobby that's even worse
[/signature0]
[signature1]
My PDAs: Visor --> Visor Neo (blue) --> Zire 71 --> Tungsten T3 (with 5 of 6 screws still remaining) --> zodiac 2?
[/signature1]
RE: Way too big...
The cheapest 4GB Cf card (not microdrive) is $259. This should halve in the next year, and certainly be around $200 in the next 6 months.
Also it seems P1's battery life claims were widely overblown. 4 hours playing music with the screen off, and 104 minutes playing video of the microdrive. I wonder where the three days with dual wireless on comes from. Is it when the OS automatically switches if off after 10 minutes?
http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=2525&review=palmOne+LifeDrive
Surur
RE: Way too big...
>How much did u get it for? No critics, just curious.
Same MSRP as anyone else hwo purchased directly from an Apple Retail Store the first day it was available.
RE: Way too big...
Battery life was decent. In CNET Labs' tests, playing a looped MP3 playlist, the device petered out after 6 hours, 40 minutes--not bad as far as PDAs goes but below par compared to today's microdrive MP3 players, which average about 15 hours of battery life. We repeated the same test with a video using Kinoma Player and the LifeDrive lasted for 5 hours, 15 minutes.
http://reviews.cnet.com/PalmOne_LifeDrive/4505-3127_7-31383012-5.html?tag=top
And they rated it very good.
RE: Way too big...
A nice Tungsten slider format with 1GB of fast memory, updated processor, bluetooth, and the 320x480 screen. Perhaps a little tighter, perhaps a little thinner, and perhaps a little lighter. Keep is small, keep it simple, keep upgrading the specs of the original design.
For those of you seriously considering this device, at least check out the Archos product line (especially their PMA400) and of course the OQO.
RE: Way too big...
What rubbish.
First, enjoy the stares from civilians as you strut around in your gorky Scott eVest or Batman utility belt.
Second, no lag time with that PSP UMD? Riiiight.
Third, check the screen specs between that PSP vs the LD and then come back and clarify *which* has the "less than stellar video [screen resolution]."
RE: Way too big...
RE: Way too big...
I'm with Mikecane on this. Simply b/c i prefer just to carry around one device rather than 3 or 4. I only have so many pockets and clip on cases. I've got a PDA that covers music, video, photos, PIMs, games, Office, utilities, and reference. Another that is my cellphone. Some ppl will want the best of all departments while others want the convenience of convergence
And I would hardly call a z31 the best at PDA. Not b/c it isn't some $500 LD, but IMHO, the screen looks ugly. May be b/c im used to hi-res screens. I'd say upgrade the z31 to at least a T|E. MSRP is $200, but a new T|E for $160 isn't too far out if bought elsewhere, which bumps us to $610 or so
RE: Way too big...
BTW, I was also very disappointed with the T5, I did not feel that it delivered the truly best of breed for a stand alone (non-convergence) PDA.
RE: Way too big...
As for video, I'd rather not have to pay *twice* for video -- once for DVD and then for UMD. With a PDA, I can have the legal DVD and either "illegally" rip it or seek the DiVXed AVI or MPEG rip of it on a P2P net (sneering at the MPAA!).
As for music exclusively, an iPod is still the best choice.
RE: Way too big...
The original justification for bringing the PSP into the mix was that I feel that the same market that is willing to pay $500 for a LifeDrive is also part of the market that is willing to pay $250 for a PSP. This cross over market will be comparing the two devices. This same market most likely already has an iPod, and is thinking that they may be able to leave it at home after purchasing the LifeDrive.
Best Palm Yet plus suggestions
However, I think Palm should ditch the 4GB Microdrive and just give give us a compact flash slot. Is that so hard Palm? Are you guys listening?
They probably could knock $50 - $100 off the price if they did that. Imagine how many more of them they could sell at a lower price? It makes me wonder if Palm is cheating and has just integrated a Compact Flash card inside the unit to give us the 4GB Microdrive.
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Proud owner of a Sony TJ-37!
RE: Best Palm Yet plus suggestions
Wait a second: Did I just say that I had to CHOOSE between PALM OS devices? What the hell is this? 2001? Palm's never had two decent devices out at the same time for a user like me since then.
If this thing's Quality Control is up to spec, we may have one hell of a device- and company- here.
..: eston
http://www.hyalineskies.com/
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WOOOOOOHOOOOO
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com