Palm Releases Major Tungsten W Update

Posted By: Ryan Monday, September 8, 2003 9:45:50 AM

Palm, Inc. today announced a software update for the Palm Tungsten W handheld. The software update includes more than a dozen new features and improvements to the previous software version and now runs on Version 4.1.2 of the Palm OS operating system.

With the Tungsten W Software Update 1.0, users can now enjoy the ability to lock their device keys with the keylock function, the convenience of retaining their GSM/GPRS connection even after turning off their device, crisper email and web browser displays with new fonts and colors, as well as additional access to commands from menus and buttons.

With carrier activation, the Tungsten W handheld is a data-centric device with a sophisticated combination of wireless email, text messaging, Internet browsing, phone functionality, and classic Personal Information Management (PIM) software on a GSM/GPRS network. It features a built-in keyboard for easy data entry; one-handed navigation; and a crisp, high-resolution color screen. The Tungsten W handheld also features one of the fastest radios available today for GSM/GPRS networks.

Software Features
Tungsten W Software Update 1.0 is available in English, French and Spanish. The six essential features of the Tungsten W Software Update includes the following:

  • Always-On Connection Capability -- The updated software provides an Always-On Connection capability, even when the device turns off. Complete with configurable settings of "Never" and "Power Off," the Always-On Connection capability enables the GPRS PDP context to stay active after the device goes to sleep.

  • VersaMail 2.5.2 -- This updated version contains Auto Get Mail, which automatically downloads new mail to the Tungsten W handheld and notifies the user; added sync support for local Lotus Notes mail; and up to 11 user- defined Microsoft Exchange, IMAP or Lotus Domino folders. Messages can now also be viewed on an updated display with new fonts, sizes and color options that allow the user to take advantage of the handheld's high-resolution color screen. VersaMail 2.5.2 now uses strong, 128-bit AES encryption to safeguard email account passwords and contains improved attachment support, even playing back Voice Memo files. VersaMail now also has a message send retry and can pull mail from SSL mail providers, such as AT&T-Comcast Broadband.

  • Web Browser -- The Tungsten W Software Update includes Palm Web Pro 2.1, powered by Novarra, which can be used to replace Web Pro 1.1. Version 2.1 is a proxyless web browser. With the Palm Web Pro 2.1 proxyless browser, enterprise users now have the ability to access corporate Intranet information securely, when coupled with a VPN client provided by such companies as Mergic or Certicom.

  • Keylock Functionality -- The user can enable the keylock functionality by checking a box in the Keyboard Preferences Panel or by activating it manually using the Function-Power key combination. If keylock is enabled, all keys except for the Power key are automatically disabled when the device turns off. Pressing the Power-Function key combination unlocks the keys.

  • LED Configuration -- There are two new features in the Sounds & Alerts Preferences panel: "Charging LED" and "Coverage LED." The former has an "On" and "Off" feature, while the latter has "All Coverage," "Out of Coverage," and "None" features. The Antenna LED indicator acts as a charging indicator, lighting up red or green if the device is charging or charged, respectively.

  • TTY Support -- Carrier dependent TTY Support is also included in the software update. It provides text support for customers that are hearing-impaired.

Palm Tungsten W ~ Click For LargerThe software update will also include such features as a new Preference panel, explicit call transfer to enable a caller to transfer to a third party, and the ability for developers to suppress connection user interface. The device display can also be set to stay on during a call. Speed-dial lists can now be synchronized, and call history can be cleared.

Phone flip cover
Palm is also now offering the The Ternary Audio Flip Cover for the T|W. The flip cover boasts a built-in earpiece and mouthpiece, turning your Tungsten W into a regular cell phone. The rugged cover both protects the handheld screen and eliminates the need to carry a separate earpiece to use the phone functions. It is $39.95 USD.

The Tungsten W Software Update 1.0 is available free via download from the Palm Support website. A CD of the software also is available for purchase from The Palm Store for $29.95. The Palm Tungsten W handheld is $419 (estimated U.S. street price) without wireless service or activation rebate. The price will vary based upon network operator and sales channel.

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End of line?

Gar @ 9/8/2003 10:39:18 AM #
I would have thought they were trying to sell out of the 'W' line now that they have the Treo line to sell. With all the discounts being offered it just looked like a shelf clearing move. Taking the time to do an update doesn't make it look that way though. Unless of course they were almost done with it and thought they had better finish the patch. Just wish you didn't have to use a ear peice all the time, takes too long to answer a simple phone call.

-----------------
My wife has to sell a lot of candles (www.ccandles.com) to buy her new Palm.
RE: End of line?
anthonysjennings @ 9/8/2003 11:02:04 AM #
You can purchase a new flip cover that has an earpiece and mouthpiece built in. I have one, but the jury is still out for me in terms of its overall usefulness relative to the wired earpiece. See: http://store.palm.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1378179

RE: End of line?
orol @ 9/8/2003 11:23:23 AM #
Web Browser -- The Tungsten W Software Update includes Palm Web Pro 2.1, powered by Novarra, which can be used to replace Web Pro 1.1. Version 2.1 is a proxyless web browser. With the Palm Web Pro 2.1 proxyless browser, enterprise users now have the ability to access corporate Intranet information securely, when coupled with a VPN client provided by such companies as Mergic or Certicom.
--

that sounds interesting .. maybe finaly quite a decent web browser for palmOne PDAs? however imho netfront will be still better

RE: End of line?
HandyMan @ 9/8/2003 11:54:48 AM #
This is a software update. It's a way of showing your customers that you won't leave them hanging after they've made the purchase. This is a good move. Palm Inc. has always been good about releasing updates for their handhelds... unlike Sony.

So once OS6 is out palmOne may release some updates to OS5 devices... assuming there isn't any hardware limitations that'll prevent this from happening (i.e. not large enough FlashROM).

RE: End of line?
hkklife @ 9/8/2003 2:32:40 PM #
Woohoo, finally some good news from Palm. Occasionally, they *do* come through with surprise announcements and moves like this. The OS 4.1 upgrade, while rather overpriced, was still a nice touch to the oodles of old III/V users out there and despite the debacle of trying to flash the m500 and 505 to OS 4.1 (couldn't use XP or a USB cradle) was still better than no upgrade at all.

Palm's had a good history all the way back to the early days of not forgetting about the older units still in service-anyone remember the expansion/ROM card that could turn the original Pilots into Palm Pilot Professionals-you even got an IR port in the process!

Hopefully Palm will somehow come through with a way to at least squeeze partial OS 5.2 functionality into the T|T, if for no other reason than to try and make everyone forget that Graffiti 1 ever existed.
However, I am not going to count on any OS 6 upgrades to any existing units (this includes both of the new Tungstens set to come out soon).


RE: End of line?
sonylover @ 9/8/2003 9:44:26 PM #
The sony clie does have a lot of support. Go to the sony clie site and click on the support link and there are many upgrades and patches for all of their handhelds.

Sony's product cycle is in dog years!
RE: End of line?
attas @ 9/9/2003 2:15:17 AM #
I am still holding on to my T/T Since end of 2002 waiting for a T/W2 that has an ARM processor with an OS 5.x.

I am kind of Palm Loyal and wont go for other non-Palm products.

Will I hold much longer?, I can't tell.

-Attas

RE: End of line?
swinginjonny @ 9/9/2003 11:32:00 AM #
The chances are good. Just wait.

(Self-confessed Palm Geek)

Can't find download for update

epreseley @ 9/8/2003 11:25:46 AM #
Hi,

I checked the link posted above, www.palm.com/support/tungstenw

but couldn't find any links to what is described as "Software Update 1.0."

Has anybody else been able to find the download link?

Thanks,
Aron.

OS 5.2

s_teve @ 9/8/2003 12:35:40 PM #
Let's just say one thing, this is a another step towards 0s5.2 for tungsten T

RE: OS 5.2
djasmith @ 9/8/2003 1:36:49 PM #

I would have thought that Palm would almost be at the top of the flight of steps with regards a release on os 5.2 for the T¦T, even verging on a foot on the upstairs landing.

Does anyone have any details on a future release for the T¦T, I've had mine since Xmas 2002 and am growing tired of the wait.

The T2's damn well got it and the hardware specs are practically identical ?

Thanks

Dave

RE: OS 5.2
ggeoffre @ 9/8/2003 4:57:20 PM #
I will be quite disappointed in Palm if they do not come out with an equally impressive T|T update in the near future. The only reason I wanted OS 5.2 was for the SSL support in VersaMail as well as to gain access to the updated Web Browser. I was also expecting to have all updates/patches incorporated into the ROM and hence free up a little of my precious ~14MB of RAM.

RE: OS 5.2
Kodiak @ 9/9/2003 1:11:58 PM #
I seriously doubt that PalmOne will release OS 5.2.1 for the T|T as OS 5.0 takes up 3.9MB of the 4MB ROM. I was able to verify that OS 5.2.1 on the T|T2 takes up almost 8mb (I can't remember the exact size - it's just about the same size on the Zire 71 and Tungsten | C).

Hopefully PalmOne will find a way to fit OS 5.2.1 (or the recently released OS 5.3) into the T|T's 4MB ROM.

RE: OS 5.2
Frade @ 9/11/2003 6:39:02 AM #
Yes but it will fit in the European version :p

RE: OS 5.2
jshiell @ 9/12/2003 4:10:25 AM #
The TT2 has extra apps in ROM in the US version, hence the extra ROM usage.

For those of us with multi lingual TTs though, 5.2 would be nice (it's fairly rare us non-US residents get a bonus in a US designed device ;-) )

Graffiti 2?

I.M Anonymous @ 9/8/2003 2:11:10 PM #
Since this is now 4.1.2, does this mean that Graffiti 1 has been replaced with Graffiti 2? If so, is there a way to replace G2 with G1 on a 4.x handheld yet?

RE: Graffiti 2?
hkklife @ 9/8/2003 2:37:05 PM #
The T|W shipped with Jot, not Graffiti 1. The Tungsten T was the last Palm to ever ship from the factory with Graffiti 1. Also, some Zires and even the last of the m515's have been reported as having OS 4.1.2 and Graffiti 2 pre-installed. Also, people are saying the recent Graffiti 1 replacement trick won't work on these units, so I think that something like TealScript would be the only way to go for T|W owners.



Update ruined my W

zrs70 @ 9/8/2003 7:15:00 PM #
I downloaded the update and followed the instructions. But there was an error along the way. I followed the instructions to retry. Didn't work. Now my palm responds to nothing, not even a hard reset.

RE: Update ruined my W
MtPoop @ 9/11/2003 11:09:30 PM #
Same thing happened to me. i was on Windows XP. I want to try it on my mac at home and now i cannot get to the download link b/c i need the serial # on Palm's form?? I dont remember needing to provide this earlier today when I was at work on my XP machine. Can ANYONE give me a valid W serial # so I can at least download the software?

RE: Update ruined my W
jess @ 9/15/2003 4:12:11 AM #
same thing happened to me. i cannot launch my versamail and worst is PALM Singapore suggested that i must perform a hard reset. and that's what i did. :-( is the update working now?
RE: Update ruined my W
anthonysjennings @ 9/15/2003 10:25:13 AM #
The direct download link for the software update is www.conxion.com/TungstenW-SWUpdate1_0_EN.sit" rel=nofollow target="_new">http://palm.www.conxion.com/TungstenW-SWUpdate1_0_EN.sit ... but this is the MacOS 9 updater (there is no updater for OS X). My guess is if you change the extension in the link to zip you'll get the Windows updater.

RE: Update ruined my W
Godfather @ 9/21/2003 11:28:11 PM #
Did the same to my Versamail as well. There's this error that keeps popping up whenever i run versamail and i will need to perform a reset.
is there anyway i can get back the older version of versamail or something like that? any solution to this?

Update for TT

chinchorrero @ 9/8/2003 10:08:57 PM #
I dont’think there is going to be an OS update for the TT,
I am resigned to wait for the T3.
Cheers

"Life is Too Short"
RE: Update for TT
swinginjonny @ 9/9/2003 11:34:51 AM #
3 words. "Worth", "the", and "wait".

(Self-confessed Palm Geek)

WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!

Edmund @ 9/9/2003 6:00:31 AM #
There are two web browsers included with this update. The one called WebPro21.prc does not work on the Tungsten C, but the one called WebProV.prc does work!

This browser is actually a lot better than the browser included with the C. It is fast, it reformats pages so that you don't have to scroll horizontally, and it never stalls or becomes unresponsive.

I am never using that piece of junk that is included with the C any more. At last I have something usable.

RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
mattyparanoid @ 9/9/2003 8:30:39 AM #
What version of the WebPro is the WebProV.prc that you are referring to?

Currently I have two WebPro's on my T/C.
Web Browser v.2.0.1.1 that is in ROM
Palm Web Pro v1.0 that came with my T/T and I had from an old backup.

Can you tell me the versions of the two that came with this update? Would you be willing to email it to me?
I want to try it out.

matty

RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
Edmund @ 9/9/2003 11:25:37 AM #
The Web Pro browser that is included with the update package is version 1.1. You can simply download it from Palm's site and just install the .prc file.
RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
orol @ 9/9/2003 11:36:40 AM #
is the version 1.1 proxyless ?

RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
hkklife @ 9/9/2003 11:59:13 AM #
Can anyone verify if WebPro V works with T|T, T|T2 or Z71?

RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
Kodiak @ 9/9/2003 1:09:12 PM #
It works with the T|T and unfortunately it is not proxyless. I also tried WebPro21.prc and it gave me an error indicating that it is not compatible with the T|T.

RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
Kodiak @ 9/9/2003 1:21:31 PM #
Interesting tidbit... The about screen for WebProV reports v1.1 but the launcher info screen reports v1.02.

RE: WebProV.prc works on Tungsten C too!
jess @ 9/15/2003 4:21:53 AM #
where can i download the program?? please give me a link. thanks :-)

WAP browser no longer working?

anthonysjennings @ 9/10/2003 4:57:38 PM #
After this update, the WAP browser doesn't work. It's asking about the gateway address. Did anyone have to change their gateway address, and if so, to what?
RE: WAP browser no longer working?
avianexotic @ 9/20/2003 10:01:19 AM #
I am having the same trouble. AT&T says it's not a gateway problem. I'm hoping to see a solution from Palm.
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