Palm Touchstone and Pre Accessories Announced

Posted By: Kris Keilhack Friday, January 9, 2009 10:23:05 AM

Palm Touchstone AccessoryThe new Palm Pre is also arriving with a handful of nice accessories in tow. Some of them are the standard chargers and cases that come with any new device release but some of the others merit particular attention.

Palm ended their presentation today with a nice surprise that is by far the main accessory news related to the Pre. Resembling a hockey puck with a severely sloping front, the Touchstone is a charging dock that permits wireless recharging of the Pre via induction technology. The Touchstone looks to compliment the Pre with its sleek, black, iconic look. Its interesting to see the innovation carry over to the typical afterthought that is a docking cradle.

Palm Touchstone

Jon Rubinstein briefly explained the interaction and user-friendliness of even a simple desktop dock like this with the Pre's WebOS. If a call comes in while the Pre is docked on the Touchstone, the user can answer the call and have it automatically enable speakerphone mode or if you prefer it will auto answer the call when picked up from the device.

A new case, identified only as the "Pre Slip Case" and the Vehicle Power Charger (apparently the same adapter released previously for the Treo Pro and also backwards compatible with the 800w) are fairly self-explanatory.

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I can buy THIS...

SeldomVisitor @ 1/9/2009 11:02:42 AM # Q
- http://www.sanyo.com/news/2008/07/24-1en.html

...and have "wireless charging" on my Wii remote.

Is this REALLY worth mentioning as more than an aside?

RE: I can buy THIS...
freakout @ 1/9/2009 2:59:30 PM # Q
Yes.
RE: I can buy THIS...
hkklife @ 1/9/2009 3:27:29 PM # Q
SV & Tim;

Yes, trust me. If you don't trust me, then trust Ryan. This is an UEBER-COOL accessory and could potentially spawn a host of knock-off devices. I have no idea on its MSRP but it's brilliantly designed and executed. The perfect executive desktop status symbol for 2009 and beyond, just like how the sleek palm V sitting in its cradle was the status symbol of 1999.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

RE: I can buy THIS...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/9/2009 3:50:50 PM # Q
> ...but it's brilliantly designed and executed...

What!!?

Good grief.

RE: I can buy THIS...
pmjoe @ 1/9/2009 4:25:43 PM # Q
You can? Is Sanyo actually selling it?

You can buy THIS...
http://www.teknocreations.com/gaming_wii.html

It's especially nice for the Wii since none of the other rechargers I know of work with the silicone sleeves in place.

So, does that mean the Pre has induction charging capability built-in?

RE: I can buy THIS...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/9/2009 4:36:16 PM # Q
> ...You can buy THIS...
>
> http://www.teknocreations.com/gaming_wii.html

Oh, okay, that's the one.

> ...So, does that mean the Pre has induction charging capability built-in?

No.

It means it is an extra-cost accessory (different back, I believe).

RE: I can buy THIS...
freakout @ 1/9/2009 5:09:48 PM # Q
Yes, trust me.

Don't worry, I do. I agree - it's a beautiful thing and will make for a great "look how much money I have to waste on uber-cool toys!" status symbol.

RE: I can buy THIS...
pmjoe @ 1/10/2009 5:27:52 AM # Q
That's too bad induction charging does not appear to be built-in. But, I believe you're right, it does seem to imply a different back is required on the accessories page.

I could easily see some clever 3rd party induction chargers getting developed if it was on all the devices.

Kind of funny, they never show a picture of the Touchstone with the cord that obviously goes to the outlet.

RE: I can buy THIS...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/10/2009 6:02:49 AM # Q
Many of the folks blogging/writing Me-Too Media articles, like Pogue with his own Pre:

- http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/9675/#148169

are "forgetting" to mention that the induction charging is an extra-cost item.

That Wii remote charging station and, it appears, TWO battery packs is about $35 on Amazon so we can estimate that the Pre thingee will be at least that much, right?


RE: I can buy THIS...
Gekko @ 1/10/2009 6:50:38 AM # Q

so it looks like you have to put on an "inductive back" on your Pre to use this touchstone? does the inductive back change the shape/thickness etc? does the inductive back come with the touchstone?

RE: I can buy THIS...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/10/2009 6:54:47 AM # Q
> ...does the inductive back come with the touchstone?

No.

- http://www.palm.com/us/products/accessories/dock.html

RE: I can buy THIS...
Ryan @ 1/10/2009 8:44:51 AM # Q
So let me clear this up a bit. Yes, the touchstone does require a special back for the inductive charging. The one they are using at CES seems to be the same size and has a black soft touch finish to it. It will be included when you buy the touchstone. The touchstone itself affixes to a desk or surface via a very strong suction cup and it clasps the Pre to it via a magnet.

RE: I can buy THIS...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/10/2009 8:48:31 AM # Q
> ...It will be included when you buy the touchstone...

From the link I supplied in the post before yours, from Palm itself:

== "...1 Requires Palm Pre back cover for Touchstone charging
== dock, sold separately...."

RE: I can buy THIS...
Gekko @ 1/10/2009 10:05:12 AM # Q

it makes sense to sell the inductive back separately from the touchstone. why? because i may need 2+ touchstones - 1 for home, 1 for work etc. but i will only need ONE inductive back. so why bundle them?

RE: I can buy THIS...
freakout @ 1/10/2009 1:39:18 PM # Q
"...1 Requires Palm Pre back cover for Touchstone charging dock, sold separately...."

That sounds to me like the Touchstone is sold seperately, not the back.

RE: I can buy THIS...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/10/2009 2:04:15 PM # Q
>> "...1 Requires Palm Pre back cover for Touchstone charging dock,
>> sold separately...."
>
> That sounds to me like the Touchstone is sold seperately, not the back.

You have a language problem.

Where did you say you came from again?


Reply to this comment

just like...

tompi @ 1/9/2009 5:52:45 PM # Q
Just like my electric toothbrush.

RE: just like...
gmayhak @ 1/10/2009 10:18:36 AM # Q
Yep, and like my 10 year old Panasonic shaver it's probably a pretty slow charge.
Now that Palm OS is dead, Palm probably won't be far behind. I have no use for a device that can multitask a bunch of web apps, and developers won't be able to produce the quality of apps available for the iPhone (well, maybe iFart)
I don't use a cell phone, my Centro is just my alarm clock now running PalmaryClock v3.5 to wake me in the morning.
My Tx will hold a charge for maybe half an hour and is only used to test microphones.
My Lifedrive is like new, never gets used.
About a dozen PVx like new, never get used.
Palm Pilot, PIII, Visor, gathering dust.
I don't think I'll give Palm any more money!

I'm having fun again, writing apps for iPhone (search Tech Center Labs in iTunes) and starting a new service ( iTalentProductions.com )
I love my 1st gen iPod Touch! Now that's an OSX Computer you can carry in your shirt pocket!

Gary

Tech Center Labs

RE: just like...
mikecane @ 1/10/2009 11:16:14 AM # Q
>>>I have no use for a device that can multitask a bunch of web apps, and developers won't be able to produce the quality of apps available for the iPhone

Is it THAT settled on that point? Are you saying this AFTER looking at the Mojo hype at the Palm dev site? Or are you just thinking Palm web apps = iPhone v1 web apps?

I still wonder if this is mirroring the iPhone. Web apps first, real SDK later.

RE: just like...
SeldomVisitor @ 1/10/2009 12:04:28 PM # Q
> ...I still wonder if this is mirroring the iPhone. Web apps first, real SDK later.

I thought I read in one of the ten thousand Me-Too Media articles that Palm explictly said exactly this.

RE: just like...
gmayhak @ 1/10/2009 12:51:54 PM # Q
'Later' from Palm, heard that before.
I think developers are spread pretty thin now that they are able to make some bucks in the iTunes app store and with the money Google is putting up http://apcmag.com/google_declares_10m_android_competition_open.htm



Tech Center Labs

RE: just like...
gmayhak @ 1/10/2009 12:59:21 PM # Q
later Android link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/google/4124459/Google-Android-G1-users-to-get-paid-for-applications.html


Tech Center Labs

Reply to this comment

I wonder if prePres broke due to...

SeldomVisitor @ 1/12/2009 4:18:12 PM # Q
...plugging them into chargers, thus the "lay it on instead" Touchstone.

RE: I wonder if prePres broke due to...
Gekko @ 1/12/2009 4:22:10 PM # Q

no - market differentiator. and ruby loves him an ecosystem!



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