New Palm Centro Image and Details

Posted By: Kris Keilhack Saturday, September 8, 2007 5:48:32 PM

Rumor: Just days before the unveiling of Palm’s latest smartphone (presumably a Windows Mobile-powered GSM Treo), additional details have surfaced on PhoneNews about the upcoming Palm Centro. The Centro a.k.a. “Gryphon” is generally acknowledged to be the equivalent CDMA device to the GSM Windows Mobile Standard Gandolf rumored to be announced this week.

The Centro is expected to debut on October 14th for Sprint’s CDMA network. The latest leaked photos from Sprint’s 4th quarter 2007 roadmap verify the black and silver color scheme first seen in detail here in addition to the white and silver color seen here.

Sprint Palm CentroBased on the handful of details provided on the PhoneNews article, the Centro’s software bundle and preliminary specifications appears to be an almost mirror image of the Treo 755p’s aside from a smaller screen, keyboard, and (presumably) battery. Listed on the Phonenews report for the Centro are both Sprint TV (as seen in the leaked image) and Sprint Music Store. Additional bundled apps are Sprint Mobile Email, Google Maps, VersaMail, Sprint Instant Messaging (likely what was depicted onscreen in the previous Centro image), and Pocket Tunes Deluxe (the first time the Deluxe version has shipped standard on a Palm device). No hardware specs are detailed in the report other than a 1.3 megapixel camera.

Based on the preliminary specifications, strong software bundle, and rumored $99 price point, the Centro appears to be a far better value proposition than its pricier 755p sister device in the Sprint lineup. Even if the Centro lacks Documents To Go, PTunes Deluxe is a superb choice to be bundled the device, especially if Palm is targeting the media-savvy youth market with this release. Previously leaked photos have confirmed that the Centro uses the updated Phone app first seen on the Treo 680 and not included on the Treo 755p. Earlier reports also indicated that the Centro will have EVDO Rev. A but this has not yet been confirmed at this time.

(Thanks Surur, via the TreoCentral forums.)

Article Comments

 (28 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Start a new Comment Down

Any update on Palm's own software on the Centro

asiayeah @ 9/8/2007 9:46:34 PM # Q
So far, have we heard of any software update on this Centra device that comes with Palm itself? For example, any update on the OS itself? Or any other update on Palm's own bundled applications, such as VersaMail or other applications?

Given Palm has licensed the Garnet source codes long ago, will be Palm improve the Palm OS Garnet?

--
With great power comes great responsiblity.

RE: Any update on Palm's own software on the Centro
frankie69 @ 9/10/2007 3:28:04 PM # Q
http://www.palmclub.nl/forums/attachments/nieuws-reviews/5765d1189449900-nieuws-palm-treo-500-binnenkort-the-phone-house-koop-4651-3wl0le3cw1j.jpg

RE: Any update on Palm's own software on the Centro
Gazpacho @ 9/10/2007 7:12:40 PM # Q
Invalid link, try the correct link ;)

http://www.palmclub.nl/nieuws/28427/palm-treo-500-binnenkort-bij-the-phone-house-te-koop-nieuws.html

http://foleocentral.blogspot.com

FoleoCentral is the news, opinions & review blog about the Palm Foleo Mobile Companion

RE: Any update on Palm's own software on the Centro
hkklife @ 9/10/2007 9:24:13 PM # Q
No, I expect the Centro to run Garnet 5.4.9 and be a sort of hybrid of the best software/OS bits between the Treo 680 and 755p.

I think we'll see the same versions of Blazer and VersaMail along for the ride here and Palm's gonna try to milk one more run out of those aging, rickety old apps. Maybe bundling PTunes Deluxe will "distract" the kiddies long enough to not notice VersaMail getting flaky and not deleting messages off of the server after a few months of use?

I expect the main focus here to be (in this order) the price, the sizse, the IM app, the bundled Sprint-exclsuive bloatware, and the price, the price and the price. Did I mention they are going to fucus on price and size?



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

Reply to this comment

Intended to be a BlackBerry Pearl Fighter?

Gekko @ 9/8/2007 10:00:47 PM # Q

?

Reply to this comment

It's about time

Gekko @ 9/8/2007 10:02:35 PM # Q

this is the first real form factor improvement since the treo 600 was introduced over 4 years go.

i like it.

RE: It's about time
freakout @ 9/9/2007 12:43:05 AM # Q
I suppose "improvement" depends on how proficient you are at two-thumb typing. ;) Still, Palm may be on to something with the smaller QWERTY - everytime someone else uses one of my Treos, they always instinctively use one thumb rather than two. If anything the Centro may be even more practical for one-handed use than the bigger Treos.

But yeah, it really does look quite attractive in black. Palm should have put out these pics as soon as those first, ugly spy shots came out... might have helped soften some of the criticism. So long as this isn't the direction they intend to take all of their future phones in, it's a very welcome addition to the family.

(Would have better in clamshell though...)

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650 ---> Crimson Treo 680

RE: It's about time
bbtkd @ 9/9/2007 8:09:12 AM # Q
Form factor improvement? The 700P screen is about as small as my aging eyes can handle and the keyboard about as small as my big hands can operate. Lastly, I doubt it has a decent capacity battery and it is unlikely that they've made some earth shattering reduction in power consumption. Size matters! I won't be buying anything in this form factor when it was already a compromise to move to the 700P after having a Tungsten C.

I suppose that this form factor is meant to appeal to kids who have never heard of a PDA and will be elated to have a screen 70% larger than their last phone, as well as a full keyboard. Just don't inflict a POS version on the kiddies, else a lot of them will be thrown (literally) when it hangs or skips while trying to play MP3.

I'll hold out for a classic format Treo running the Linux OS and with a POS environment running on top. Only with Linux will they be able to eliminate the hangs and other problems caused by the lack of memory management and the lack of true multitasking...

RE: It's about time
nybble @ 9/9/2007 9:46:27 AM # Q
Yeah, I don't know if this is a form factor improvement. It's just a diff't form factor that may appeal to different people. A smaller keyboard and screen definitely would not count as an improvement to me...

Disappointed, but not surprised that it is not 3G - had it been 3G it would really have been something interesting at that pricepoint. If the app list is correct it comes *bundled* with two email apps? That's just dumb, it could be confusing to the consumer and wastes ROM. And I wonder if that VersaMail is really a renamed and improved Chatteremail? I haven't seen any of the effects on having hired Marc Blank, yet..

<http://comments.deasil.com/> that is my tech blog. There are many like it, but that one is mine.

Reply to this comment

Looks nice.

ExPalmUser2 @ 9/9/2007 1:18:19 AM # Q
The new OS looks nice in black :P

4"VGAHP! :)

Reply to this comment

specs

Gekko @ 9/9/2007 7:11:34 AM # Q

i hope the centros specs are not watered down. OR at least i hope that palm makes a treo with this form factor but with powerful specs.

my fear is that this is an entry-level kids model with tepid specs and now power-user model with this nice form factor will be produced.

i'm really tired of the treo 600-755 form factor. it's sooo dated.

RE: specs
Gekko @ 9/9/2007 7:12:09 AM # Q

now = no

Reply to this comment

Clamshell

xdreduardx @ 9/9/2007 10:13:03 AM # Q
Treo is a brick. A lot of people at the hospital gave up on them because they are too big to carry.
I've seen cracked screens on the keyboard phones.

Give me a worthy clamshell Palm phone so I can finally replace my SPH i-500.

A Palm user [to the bitter end?]

RE: Clamshell
rpa @ 9/9/2007 10:45:30 AM # Q
agree....Motorola's Ming is the form factor I would like with a Palm OS.

rpa
Palm Pilot >> Palm Tungsten E user
RE: Clamshell
freakout @ 9/9/2007 7:34:30 PM # Q
Clamshell Treo? Here ya go:
http://www.imobile.com.au/PhoneReviews/default.asp?ID=reviewsaug0211

;)

RE: Clamshell
cervezas @ 9/9/2007 8:49:00 PM # Q
You know, that's exactly right. I wish they *would* release a modern Treo with something like the old Treo 90/180/270 form factor. Treo 90 size (and lack of antenna stub) would be just about right, but I wouldn't complain too loudly if it had to be a few millimeters thicker to deliver decent battery life.

My biggest complaint about the Treo (as well as the BlackBerry) is that there's no built-in protection for the keyboard and screen so you're pretty much forced to carry it in a case on your belt, which add still more weight and bulk, looks dorky outside the office and if you're at all active gets banged around and caught on things.

David Beers
Senior Wireless Developer
MapQuest
www.pikesoft.com/blog

RE: Clamshell
Gekko @ 9/9/2007 9:25:59 PM # Q

put it in your front pants pocket, silly.



RE: Clamshell
freakout @ 9/9/2007 9:58:58 PM # Q
Nah Gek, Beersie's right - you have to treat the candybar Treos with extra care. I could happily throw my 270 down on a desk or shove things on top of it in a drawer without worrying about scratching or cracking the screen. The only protection I have for the 650 or 680 is the flimsy little screen protector. it doesn't exactly inspire confidence, y'know?
RE: Clamshell
analogue wings @ 9/10/2007 12:45:30 AM # Q
Re Moto Ming - I usually think of a "clamshell" as something that actually does something with the extra real estate (eg QWERTY + big screen), not just a candybar with a hard flip up screen protector (like the ones we all removed from our M series Palms).

IIIc -> M105 -> Zire 21 -> Tungsten T2 -> Treo 650
Reply to this comment

why would you want a Palm OS at this point?

gatezone @ 9/9/2007 4:38:52 PM # Q
What's the point? They have stated that it will be a dead-end, no?

Why not cancel this obsolete phone too, like the Foleo as it will more than likely just be more bad PR distracting the lame executives from their "primary business" blah, blah, blah...

It's dysfunctional user time as we get all excited over new 'deck chairs,' and old refried operating systems. ~ Gz

RE: why would you want a Palm OS at this point?
SeldomVisitor @ 9/9/2007 4:43:38 PM # Q
They can't cancel it.

Or...

Microsoft, buying PALM, is using this as their intro.

Giggle.

Reply to this comment

That's a cool looking Blackberry...

ThePolack @ 9/9/2007 9:54:15 PM # Q
...what's that you say? It's not a Blackberry?



--------------------

In the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "I drank what?"

Reply to this comment

Virgin Mobile

MrStyle @ 9/10/2007 1:41:50 PM # Q
Pay as you go could use a smartphone. I hope Palm gets together with Virgin Mobile USA, who uses Sprint's CDMA network.
Reply to this comment

The new Treo 500

Gazpacho @ 9/10/2007 6:00:36 PM # Q
http://www.palmclub.nl/nieuws/28427/palm-treo-500-binnenkort-bij-the-phone-house-te-koop-nieuws.html

Ta-dam. ;)

http://foleocentral.blogspot.com

FoleoCentral is the news, opinions & review blog about the Palm Foleo Mobile Companion

Reply to this comment

Emgadget's been busy reporting about the Centro

SeldomVisitor @ 9/11/2007 6:33:14 AM # Q
-- http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/11/sprint-on-parade-centro-vogue-and-oqo-model-02/

RE: Emgadget's been busy reporting about the Centro
SeldomVisitor @ 9/11/2007 6:34:07 AM # Q
Pardon typo - typing by "screen light" right now...

.... and it's actually not that much smaller at all!
freakout @ 9/11/2007 6:36:33 AM # Q
That's weird. I was under the impression the Centro was a lot smaller than that, yet it looks hardly bigger than the 755p it's next to.
Bah!
freakout @ 9/11/2007 6:40:03 AM # Q
Hardly bigger? Hardly smaller than the 755p....
Reply to this comment
Start a New Comment Thread Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass:

Latest Comments

  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST((SELECT/**/CASE/**/IS_SRVROLEMEM
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST((SELECT/**/CASE/**/IS_SRVROLEMEM
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST((SELECT/**/CASE/**/IS_SRVROLEMEM
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
  • My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000