Quickies: Knowledge Finder, Parachute III, Bluetooth

Posted By: Ed Monday, July 30, 2001 1:10:04 PM

Palm has made their Knowledge Finder web-based information service into a web clipping application. It contains more than 1,000 solutions compiled by Palm engineers worldwide and offers user guides, tips and frequently asked questions.

Parachute Technologies has officially announced the release of the Parachute III PC Card adapter. They are accepting orders at $130 for delivery in 6 to 8 weeks. They plan to develop versions for the m500 series, Visor, HandEra, and the HP Jornada.

Market analysts Frost & Sullivan has released a study saying that while the process of releasing practical Bluetooth products has stumbled a bit, the technology will still eventually succeed. The report's author says, "the technology remains fundamentally an excellent concept, with more and more digital and mobile communications devices entering the everyday lives of the world population." It goes on to predict that 4.2 million Bluetooth-enabled devices will be shipped this year with revenues over $1.8 billion.

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Parachute is vapourware!! n/t

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/30/2001 1:58:25 PM #
n/t

RE: Parachute is vapourware!!
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/30/2001 2:53:08 PM #
When it starts shipping, I hope you are ready for a big meal of raw crow.

RE: Parachute is vapourware!! n/t
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/1/2001 5:27:56 PM #
Well, for all those non-believers, I don't blame you for thinking that Parachute might STILL be vapor. Let me assure you that Parachute III will be shipping between 9/15-9/30 of 2001 folks. Call me personally at 626-798-8988 to place your order or to discuss how the product works and with which PC Cards. Or just buy it on our web site: www.parachutetech.com. We have already delivered our first large order to a Fortune 100 company and you can look for reviews of the Parachute III by CNet, PC World, RNPalm, etc.....in the next week or so...

I personally use the product everyday, so if you think it's vaporware, it's probably because you have old or bad information, which is understandable. Please call me and let me assist in your understanding of how Parachute can "Expand the Hand".

Scottie Jack
Pres. & CEO
Parachute Technologies, LLC

Parachute...6-8 weeks?

Flash @ 7/30/2001 2:20:14 PM #
I'm sorry, was that 6-8 weeks or months?

**Flash**
...and thats one to grow on.
RE: Parachute...6-8 weeks?
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/30/2001 3:22:54 PM #
actually, i think they meant years

-Pepper

RE: Parachute...6-8 weeks?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/1/2001 5:25:19 PM #
The first 75 Parachute IIIs have already been delivered....place your order and you'll have one between 10/15-10/30...

RE: Parachute...6-8 weeks?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2001 7:53:00 PM #
I emailed their sales emailaddress on their web site twice this week with some questions, still no response. This, plus a 60 day delivery AFTER payment? Shady, shady, shady...

4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/30/2001 2:21:56 PM #
>>It goes on to predict that 4.2 million Bluetooth->>enabled devices will be shipped this year with >>revenues over $1.8 billion.


They better hurry up if they mean this year, meaning 2001. Where the heck are they being shipped to? Certainly not consumers in the US.

Or is that enabled, meaning someday it will be able to communicate using an add-on Bluetooth sled or something?

Patiently waiting for Bluetooth so I can use my m505 with my phone or something...as most Palm Pilot owners probably are. Sony Palm's included!


RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/30/2001 4:52:43 PM #
In Japan, Sony has already released a bluetooth phone, Vioa with built in bluetooth capability and bluetooth adapter for the Clie N700C. Also there are bluetooth adapters for other mobile phones that work with PCMCIA card.

Both Sony and Matsushita will release built in bluetooth Camcorder and digital cameras in September this year. I guess it is catching up fast.

RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/30/2001 7:34:29 PM #
In Australia you can get the Ericsson R520 and T39 phones - both with Bluetooth embedded. Also the BT dongle for the T28 series and others is also available. Along with the BT headset. HP have their 995c BT enabled colour printer. Sunderland Technologies have their PC cards and Palm V sleds. Nokia have their battery replacement for the 6xxx series... the list goes on. These are all shipping. I think Red-M and Axis are also shipping their BT LAN access points. Tosh have PC cards and new top line laptops have BT built in... shall I continue...? :-)

Don't forget Palm's SD card will be shipping before years out also... like I said - the list goes on.

Regards,
BTFreak.

RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/31/2001 10:05:35 AM #
So I guess this means we (in he US) just suck because the only bluetooth device avaliabe here that I am aware of are pcmcia cards. The t39 is avaliable in Australia? Can you tell me how much it is? I am waiting for that phone. It does support 1900 GSM right? Do you know of any exporters? Thanks!

RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/31/2001 7:22:23 PM #
Yup, t39 is in some stores. it's a very hot little phone. i'll happily export one for you... deposit US$500 (small unmarked bills) into this worm hole

[--o--]

:-)

BTFreak

RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/31/2001 8:11:58 PM #
Hahaha. $500 huh ;-)? Seriously, what is it retailing for? Thanks

RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/1/2001 2:53:52 PM #
Available all over Europe since a couple of weeks for somewhere around $350-450 depending on country and local taxes
world wide sales for example at www.imperial.nu


RE: 4.2 millions...will be shipped this year?? This year???
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/2/2001 11:13:02 AM #
Thanks!!

What are they thinking

rob @ 7/30/2001 7:55:57 PM #
why the hell are they making stuff for the three series??? Id it even going to have the speed to access some of these cards?? Not let me know when the Visor one his the street and then I will be intrested.......mabye the add on to the three would of been nice two years ago

parachoott what

rob @ 7/30/2001 7:55:57 PM #
why the hell

HandEra Parachute

bfaile2323 @ 7/31/2001 12:28:46 AM #
To create one of these docking sleds for the new HandEra is nothing short of uninsightful and idiotic. As it stands, the HandEra already incorporates not only a CF slot, capable of accepting the IBM Microdrive (up to 1 Gig), but also an SD slot (a little bit of insight here, the SD card is the wave of the future and will undoubtedly be industry standard as was the PCMCIA card and the Compact Flash card (go Sandisk!!)).

Considering that most hardware devices found on PCMCIA type II cards (what the Parachute accepts) have already found their way on to the CF platform (one of which the HandEra accepts), it occurs to me that a Parachute sled for the HandEra would be an ingenious solution to a non-existent problem.

With that said, I think it's pretty safe to assume that since the Parachute was initially intended for the Palm, and the fact the Palm is now moving toward the SD card, that the Parachute is destined for failure. Can't fault them for trying though. Good luck fellows.

Brian S. Faile

RE: HandEra Parachute
MacPrince @ 7/31/2001 2:25:17 AM #
Not to mention that the HandEra 330 (and it's little brother, the TRGPro) already uses a Palm III form factor, so producing a seperate version specifically for the HE330 is pointless. I certainly hope that they don't intend on charging extra $$$ for the HandEra version above the Palm III version.

RE: HandEra Parachute
ganoe @ 7/31/2001 6:24:13 AM #
I think with what the Parachute currently looks like, it covers much of the top of the handheld, meaning it would cover the CF slot on the 330 and TRGpro (plus the TRGpro has a hump in the back to deal with).

Maybe if it was an adaptor for the CF slot to accept PCMCIA cards, and it was considerably cheaper, and I could think of a PCMCIA card that one would want that doesn't have a better CF equivalent, then this might be interesting. If it used the serial connector, I can't see too many people wanting this. Of course, I can't see too many people wanting this for the m50x, Visor or HP Jornada if it somehow uses serial for those versions too.

RE: HandEra Parachute
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/31/2001 4:16:52 PM #
Well, if they came out with a parachute for the handera 330, I'd dump my IIIe and get a 330/parachute. Why? Because it'd have a built in vibrating alert, and would let me use my Minstrel Merlin CDPD PC Card, plus access to all the other HandEra coolness like the soft graffiti area, expansion capabilities, etc.

/me starts drooling at this idea.

Maybe I'll give up my Newton Messagepad 2100 for this. I currently use my Merlin card with the Newton and my Powerbook. It works great. I want this flexibility with a Palm, cuz the Newton is not gonna come out in a smaller form factor. :(



RE: HandEra Parachute
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/1/2001 6:12:23 PM #
The Parachute for the HandEra 330 will be a different model where the clips will not cover the SD slot, therefore allowing you to utilize both a PC Card and an
SD card.

You get the best of both worlds; tried and true PC Cards that work today and for the foreseeable future and SD for that time in the future WHEN the SD is the new standard. Customers seem to like that kind of thoughtful product nuance.

At this time, we expect the Parachute for the HandEra to be priced about the same as the Parachute III.

Keep your comments coming...

Scottie Jack

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