New Communicators from Kyocera and HP 111
An anonymous reader submits: "Here are two links to articles about the new HP iPaqs and Kyocera's new Communicator .... Both are pretty sweet pieces of hardware."
There is no opinion so absurd that some philosopher will not express it. -- Marcus Tullius Cicero, "Ad familiares"
other kyocera products (Score:5, Informative)
The new 7135 looks like it continues this pattern.... that said, I got my Kyocera for $50 after rebates. I wouldn't be inclined to be an early adopter on a device like this (6035s started around $500-800)
Re:other kyocera products (Score:2)
Only gripe, it is a tad bigger! Hopefully the new one will be smaller and when it comes down in price, I might get one.
Re:other kyocera products (Score:2, Informative)
VERY nice. While I did side by side comparison, I didn't write down dimensions, etc (the general mood was more of "wooo new toy, new toy!"), I can say you're not really losing any size off the width nor the thickness, but it is about 1.75 inches shorter (if not more).
It's WAY faster. I think double proc speed? don't remember. The various apps I played with (mostly games) were very snappy.
The screen it had just felt better to scribble on. Color was very spiffy feature, too - but the only other color palm I've played with was a palm iiic
By far, my favorite features were the fact it can play mp3s, and the memory card slot. My friend could put apps and mp3s on the card, and both would show up when inserted into the phone.
Yup, definately on my purchase list.
Re:other kyocera products (Score:2)
I'm not sure if it'll be as useable, the writing part is separated from the screen, it's at an angle, and now a real flipphone. I liked being able to talk with it open or shut, this one doesn't look like it can do that.
Re:other kyocera products (Score:3, Informative)
It's also a really spiff ssh-1 wireless terminal.
It's a heck of a product. You can get 'em now for $100 with the rebate and commitment to Verizon (ack). But they've got a 700/1000 minute plan with long distance included and data calls just counting against minutes for $50/month.
At least with the most recent revisions of the ROM, they did a great job with the integration. It's all pretty natural and easy to use.
Yes, the Phone+PDA for Linux users!!! (Score:2)
Fully Palm OS and conduit compatible -- which makes Evolution the ultimate PIM for and any Palm program executable on this thing. Complete, Hayes AT compatible external 14.4K Fax+Modem using the serial port for portable surfing. Other usability sweetness like the Palm IR, jog dial when in phone mode, etc... One address book, one date book, one thing for everything!
Kyocera knows its market. I hope the new 7135 is still usable as an external modem. That might not be the case if its USB-based (at least not for Linux).
Re:Yes, the Phone+PDA for Linux users!!! (Score:1)
> That might not be the case if its USB-based (at least not
> for Linux).
Huh? Maybe it's time for you to upgrade from kernel 2.0.38... I had a Visor before I got my Kyocera 6035, and had no problems with the USB aspects of it, even on 2.2.17.
What would _really_ be nice is if it were usable as an external modem over IR. I have a laptop with IR, and always sync over IR. If I could use the modem over IR, I wouldn't have to lug around a serial cable.
-Ryan
Re:other kyocera products (Score:1)
Much appreciated
Re:other kyocera products (Score:1)
Re:other kyocera products (Score:2)
Re:other kyocera products (Score:3, Interesting)
I would be much more careful next time, as Kyocera has not demonstrated to me the ability to create a good user interface that integrates the features properly.
Maybe I'm just missing something or didn't RTFM enough times, but just calling someone in the Palm phone book is a real pain
Are you sure you own a 6035? (Score:1)
The integration is damn near perfect. It acts like a phone when the lid is closed and acts like a PDA when the lid is open.
Great phone. I wonder what phone you have. If you don't like it that is fine. I just wonder how more integrated it could be.
Re:Are you sure you own a 6035? (Score:2)
Re:Are you sure you own a 6035? (Score:2)
Incoming calls are caller-id'd to your address book so you can see who is calling. You can set different ringtones based on addressbook category, so you can immediately tell if your boss is calling vs your girlfriend. You can download
the incoming and outgoing call history and length is available to any palm app--I got a nifty third party freeware program that keeps track of total minutes used each month.
It comes with a palm version of eudora that can seamlessly dial on demand. vindigo/avantgo can all dial on demand as well and sync via the internet.
you can use your own isp, or the network provider's magic # to get an ip within 5 seconds.
incoming sms messages are available to any palm app. The kyocera development kit allows anyone to integrate jog dial or phone support into their app (addressplus, a third party addressbook, used this dev kit to add tap dialing to their product.)
how, exactly, is integration lacking?
Re:Are you sure you own a 6035? (Score:2)
So, I have a secondary phone number for somebody. I would like to be able to train it as a voice recognition number. How do I do that? It owuld be nice if there were an option in the address book to let me do that.
The stuff available to the palm app is nice, but it would be nicer if the phone came with palm apps to take advantage of all of that!
Also, I got one of the very first units. I wonder if it needs an upgrade (if that is doable in the field).
Re:Are you sure you own a 6035? (Score:2)
You can still setup a regular isp to dial into if you have a modem-providing isp account. the phone comes with apps that do take advantage of all of that: check out the call log app and the messages app. it comes with eudora too.
voice recognition is a separate app, I just train it as usual for each phone number. I train it for "FriendHome" and "FriendCell," no problems so far. it doesnt save the train data in the addressbook, which is great since it lets me use AddressPlus, a far superior app. the best way to get to the voice trainer is by closing the flip and navigating the menu, IIRC.
the minute counter rocks, get it free here. [freewarepalm.com] You can even tell it what kind of plan you have (weekend minutes, daytime minutes, what day of the month the minutes reset, etc) and it will keep track of how many minutes you have left.
the call logging app is also comes with it. it tells you incoming/outgoing calls and the number if available. it can also tell you if a call was a data call or regular voice.
do some web searches and find the wave-ringtones converter. You can set ringtone/category mappings in Preferences. Check it out man, your 6035 rocks!
Re:other kyocera products (Score:1)
I do think you didn't RTFM as far as speed dial; but I figured out the shuttle trick from just messing around, so I don't remember if that is in the manual.
Re:Gah. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Gah. (Score:1)
:)
Why buy Palm? (Score:1)
Re:Why buy Palm? (Score:5, Insightful)
I really like the look of the iPaq, but for $600-$750, I could buy another desktop. For another $200-300 I could buy a full fledged laptop.
Re:Why buy Palm? (Score:3, Funny)
I don't see why people bother with iPaqs. They're bigger, bulkier, and far less practical.
Re:Why buy Palm? (Score:2)
My fiancee is not going to be happy... (Score:1)
Anyone know if the CF/PCMCIA adaptor sleeve is still used, or is the SD built in (and I have to get new cards - boo, hiss!)
The H3950 is pretty sweet (Score:2)
Kyocera.. (Score:2)
i'm waiting... (Score:1)
Re:i'm waiting... (Score:1)
Re:i'm waiting... (Score:1)
Re:i'm waiting... (Score:1)
Samsung's new ones (Score:5, Informative)
Interesting enough, while Samsung is about to release a new smartphone (the I330) that is much like the I300, they have an even newer palm/phone coming out later that is a flip phone like the new Kyocera. Pics here
http://www.pconline.com.cn/digital/textlib/mobile
and here
http://www.mobilmania.cz/Mobilnitelefony/Ar.asp?A
better technology is coming... (Score:1)
Combine that sweeeeet network with one of the Sony Ericsson phone, and you'll be able to post cheesy comment on Slashdot while stuck in traffice.
path paralysis (Score:4, Insightful)
I know that a number of other people are in the same boat, and with funds and budgets being tighter, people don't feel like they have money to burn on just getting the fastest-newest-fanciest. What does that mean for the ability of manufacturers to develop new products? I'm not really sure, but I do think that a lot of manufacturers are going to feel some pain for a while still.
maybe finally someone got a clue? (Score:4, Informative)
"Voice is still the killer application, and our device has been tailored for voice first," Goetter said. The gadget's design is more like
that of a phone than a PDA. It's foldable and has a keypad, and its size is phonelike too. It measures 3.97 inches by 2.43 inches by 1.17 inches and weighs 6.6 ounces.
"Other (similar devices) are very much PDAs first. We're coming at it from a phone-centric standpoint," Goetter said.
exactly. i'm not carrying two clunky devices (cell phone and PDA), but one of those devices is more important (cell phone). maybe when i'm tired of my nokia i'll check out this one, after the price drops a bit next year.
-rp
Re:maybe finally someone got a clue? (Score:1, Insightful)
Kyocera seems to understand that their products have to be phones first and PDAs second. Kudos to them for not dumping that philosphy when they bought the product line from Qualcomm .
But the cellular operators remain clueless. They believe their own press releases and insist that just because they overlay a lame packet system (GPRS or 1XRTT) on top of 2G cellular that we'll all flock to use it. Funny how they don't mention the spectacular flameout of CDPD, which did exactly the same thing.
And in the end the real power's in the hands of the consumer. The combo devices just are not selling in any kind of quantity. A few early adopters and propeller heads buy them, but the middle of the curve still buys plain ol' cell phones. Gotta give the manufacturers credit, though...they keep trying!
Re:maybe finally someone got a clue? (Score:3, Insightful)
While you say you'd rather not carry two devices, I think that is the optimal solution. 99% of the time, you only need your phone, but in the 1% instance you need a PDA, you want something good. I say take the cell phone with you all the time, and then choose to take the PDA with you depending on the necessity. Bluetooth completes this.
Me? I use the Nokia 6310i and the Sharp Zaurus. No compromises.
THIS is cool (Score:2, Interesting)
PocketPC and Cellphone combined. Nothing against Palm, but I an TS into my windoze boxes remotely using the Terminal Services for CE client along with our VPN client which is also ported to WinCE.
Re:THIS is cool (Score:5, Funny)
When I go into places like Starbucks, people ask me "Dude, is that a phone, or a brick?" because it's bigger than their dinky little Motorolas. I laugh along with them, because by the time they get their double mocha frappaccinos, I've r00ted their box from my phone, and am tr0janizing their Outlook to send all their sensitive business plans to the competition, and their pr0n collections to their wives.
Re:THIS is cool (Score:2)
Nextel is safe because it runs off the iDEN network (Yes, Direct Connect is freakin cool!)--however, I'd give it a year before they give in and put their software back on the phones...nextel is losing money (Lost 9B last year, if my memory is correct) and doing 'triple coupons' (if you've worked in the grocery industry...you'd know what I mean).
Like the style (Score:2)
The scratch-pad may be more "ergonomic" to use than a real PDA!
The basic design looks nice. It runs PalmOS too. I may have to find one of these at a store to play with. To bad no direct connect (Nextel), otherwise this phone would be really worth my checking into.
-Pete
Re:Like the style (Score:1)
It also works great on a desktop, since the LCD looks best facing it straight on.
By splitting the two, you end up with a smaller piece of glass, so it's less fragile.
Clever idea.
The new Ipaq (Score:2)
Of course, they could just use their new stock symbol. Though, come to think of it that would just look wierd.
HPQ IPAQ
There just aren't enough vowels in there.
Kyocera rocks! (Score:3, Informative)
I would highly recommend one, they are much cheaper than many of the other phones out there, and they seem to be better.
I am very happy to see they are getting their PDA phones out. My phone isn't a total PDA conversion, its more of a hybrid with a web browser and 56 k connection, but its still very usefull and I am very happy to have one.
--those are my two cents anyways
Re:Kyocera rocks! (Score:1)
> what, its got the best sound of any cell phone I have ever
> heard, and the interface is a breeze.
Amen to that. I use Sprint, and in my home town (Cambridge, MA), the sound is better than my cordless landline phones at home.
MUCH better than the Motorola POS I had before (their super-tiny, and super thowable, "v" series).
The Kyocera also has analog support, which may shound anacrhonistic, but to someone who spends most of the winter in Vermont, has to check in with work periodically, it's a blessing.
-Ryan
Re:Who cares Tired old handheld articles (Score:2)
Sometimes a laptop is simply too big/awkward. My I300 is pretty much perfect for me -- it's a good phone, and it keeps my appointments and phone numbers on hand in a convenient, integrated fashion. A laptop could do none of that.
Getting closer... (Score:1)
Maybe they could make one with a Compact Flash slot so I could use one of those IBM CF hard drives...
Mmmm. A gig of mp3's in a cellphone...mmmm...
it'll never fly (Score:2, Interesting)
These were the Next Big Thing during the www.dot.com boom, when everyone wanted as many things clipped to their belts as possible. Nowadays, a more sobering economic client has made all those technophiles look more than a little bit...goofy.
Yes, phones are useful. And it's nice to be able to store a phone number or ten. But 16MB of memory and a web browser? Video, for heaven's sake? No one needs this. Hell, no one even wants this.
All anyone is looking for in a cell phone is small size, good battery life, a strong signal, capacity for storing maybe 20 numbers, and mp3 playing. The rest is just nerd candy, stupid features that basically no one will pay for. These companies need to hone their market research skills, or they will go the way of the Amiga.
it'll fly (Score:1)
Who wants stupid MP3 in a phone? (Score:2)
My point is, don't apply YOUR preferences upon anyone, just because you don't want this, it doesn't mean that no one wants this.
J.
Re:it'll never fly (Score:1)
This phone rocks. I don't bother taking a laptop on short business trips anymore. I can check email and even reply without waiting for something to boot up and connect. I can usually do a quick mailcheck and send a short reply in less time than it takes to connect a phone jack and boot Windows!
When it's time to board the plane, just snap it shut and slip it in your pocket or bag.
Just like belt sanders, these things do have a use, even if you don't happen to need one.
400 MHz (Score:3, Interesting)
I'll wait for reviews to cement the decision, but I'll probably be going with an older, not that much slower, 200 MHz device.
Re:400 MHz (Score:4, Interesting)
Microsoft says they will only support the Arm ver. 4 code base, Intel says you really ought to be compiling for Arm ver. 5. So we the users, will suffer.
I speculate that Microsoft is hoping that pads kill pocketPCs so they can kill PocketPC development and support a single Windows code base.
Battery eater .... (Score:1, Interesting)
Son of a... (Score:2)
So I ordered the keyboard and USB cable, (the Keyspan USB adapter
having mysteriously dropped support for the phone's data mode after an upgrade--
or I dropped the components one too many times)
and I'm left to wonder: will the gozintas and gozoutas of this new unit be compatible?
Re:Son of a... (Score:2, Informative)
The Greatest Improvement... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The Greatest Improvement... (Score:4, Funny)
This thing is neat, but... (Score:4, Insightful)
"The 7135 features a color screen, Global Positioning System technology, a Secure Digital expansion slot with input and output capabilities, and a built-in digital audio player. The device comes with 16MB of memory and runs version 4.1 of Palm's operating system."
That's all well and good (and, based on the picture, a hell of a lot sexier than the Treo's that are running around my office now), but what they need to fix (before adding all the bells and whistles) is the fact that I can't drive from work to home and talk to my brother on the phone for 30 minutes without getting dropped during the handoff between cell towers.
They also need to fix their "nationwide coverage" that doesn't include some key semi-rural areas (I checked - they're in the US) where I go on analog roam, spilling dollars a minute down my phone.
I'm not saying an integrated GPS-PDA-MP3-Web browser-Phone is a bad idea. I think its yet another cool geek toy.
But for god's sake, take some of that R&D money and BUILD SOME MORE TOWERS!
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:2, Insightful)
That's a feature, not a problem. When you're driving, pay attention to driving. Stay off the goddamned phone. If you want to talk to your brother, call him before you leave work. Then go drive home. Then call him again if you must. But for the sake of the other drivers that need to share the road with you, leave the damned phone off while you're driving.
I don't care if you use a hands-free set, you're still gabbing on the phone when you should be paying attention to what you're doing on the road. When you're driving, you're in possession of a 3000lb bullet. Please act accordingly. And don't give me excuses like, "But I've been doing this for years!" or, "I'm a good driver, so I don't have to pay attention to the road." That's crap, and both you and I know it.
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:4, Insightful)
No, it's not. Not even close. With a passenger in the car, he or she has the same view of the road as the driver. Therefore, if a situation arises where the driver needs full concentration (and you'd be surprised how often this happens, what with soccer moms in their oversized SUVs and idiots talking on their phones ...), the passenger can shut up. The person on the other end of the phone has no clue, and will just continue to babble on and on, distracting the driver and causing a dangerous situation. There's more to driving than just having your hands free for the wheel and shifter (if necessary). To be a good driver, you must have situational awareness. You need to not only know where the other drivers are on the road in relation to your car, but you also need to be able to anticipate what they're going to do. How can you do that if you're chatting up somebody on the phone, talking about where to go to dinner or what movie to see later? Simple -- you can't. Anybody who says you can is either an idiot or a liar.
Don't get me wrong. I don't subscribe to the Liberal battlecry of "There should be a law!" I'm not saying there should be a law against talking on a phone while driving (although there already are such laws in some areas). All I'm saying is that for your own safety and mine, please keep the phone conversations to non-moving situations please.
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:1)
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:1)
Granted - people talking on cellphones do increase the number of accidents that happen. Disregarding non-hands-free users (who are just looking for trouble holding a phone up to their ear while driving), the only time I'm distracted by talking on the phone is when I'm looking down at the phone, dialing a number. Which is why I never do that while the car is in motion - only at stoplights or before I start driving.
Furthermore: my route home is through an underused rural road. It has four lanes, but hardly any cars, even during rush hour. The drive is boring. I talk to my brother (or friends, other family members, whoever) to kill time while I'm making the monotonous trip home every day.
And besides, when I'm talking on a hands-free set, it is exactly like I'm talking to someone in the car. No different. I've never actually been in a situation where I've required 100% of my brainpower to keep the car inside the lines. I mean, maybe where you're from, the highway designers are purposefully making driving difficult, but here in Texas, they make the roads pretty simple to navigate.
You are also acting as though 100% of all car accidents occur as a direct result of someone's use of a cellphone. What about the radio? I'm sure many people have wrecked up cars attempting to change the CD in their car, or find a good radio station (looking at the radio rather than the road).
I tell you what: I'll stop using my "goddamn cell phone" at the same time you stop listening to your "goddamn radio." Deal?
My point is this: people can become distracted while operating a motor vehicle because of many things, not just cellphones. It is the responsibility of each person on the road to properly manage these distractions so that they can complete their primary responsibility - keeping the car going straight down the road. Your asinine assumption that I cannot do this with a cellphone is analogous to me assuming you can't drive and operate the radio. Don't tell me they are different: you have to look away from the road to change a CD, I can talk on my cellphone without even doing that.
It all boils down to responsibility. Just because I pick up a cellphone doesn't mean I suspend my responsibility.
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:2)
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:1)
Re:This thing is neat, but... (Score:1)
The people making the phones are not the people financing and putting up towers, so take a deep breath. Even in a company like Motorola that makes both, the people who design base stations are far removed from those who design phones. Also, Motorola (and Nokia, Ericsson, Nortel, etc) don't put up cell towers. They just sell the equipment that allows cellular providers to arrange huge cells, allowing your calls to constantly drop!
I'm as frustrated by wireless coverage as you are, but it's not going to change any time soon. Best thing you can do is complain regularly to your cell provider.
kyocera | qwest | obsolete (Score:2, Interesting)
Yawn.. When will they deliver with the Linux port? (Score:2, Interesting)
Goodness knows how many Linux devotees paid the M$ tax in their rush to try familiar and it still seems as far away as ever from a commercial release.
Not so good (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Not so good (Score:1)
Complete spec from the Kyocera web site. (Score:3, Informative)
blue tooth (Score:1)
imagine the ipaq with an 802.11b card and a barcode scanner
lets assume this costs you $2,000 for this on the high end, your still beating out hand held computers in the retail buisness, aka telxon symbol etc etc
VNC Pad (Score:2, Interesting)
Strange things afoot at the circle-K (Score:1)
"Microsoft and Unisys offer you an alternative to UNIX"
?????
And I thought this was slashdot!
-Nano.
Chip Named After Video Game? (Score:1)
Isn't that a video game?
why no one says...... (Score:1)
2. imagine a b......
PDA now gets faster and faster and with so many people carrying lots of CPU cycles around, any interesting projects other than dnet and SETI?
Saturation is immenent. Prepare for self-destruct (Score:2)
What a case of setting themselves up. Reminds me of a time I went to a gangster down New Year's party and started chatting about how my dad was a Jr. High teacher from the hood. Some of the nice fellas there recalled dear Dad quite readily and apparently harbored some resentment. Smack, bang crash! It was mere luck that I made it out alive. I think the only thing that saved me was they were afraid to get any more blood on themselves.
Looking back I realize I set myself up for that in a big way. My expectations were unrealistic. Dad is like a cop and those guys didn't like cops. These handheld nuts are making the same mistake I did. --Oh this market looks tough, but if we act cute and have lots of enthusiasm we'll be okay.
Pap, pap, pap.
Instead of red blood, they'll be oozing market capitalization and laying off employees by the hundreds. Well, if they're as lucky as me they'll live through it. But I'm not kidding myself, it was just luck. Could have went the other way just as easily. Props to all the soon-to-be-dead handheld homies.
After all the embedded company dissolutions (Score:2)
GPRS? (Score:1)