Cool Hunting
Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm, unveiled a new mobile device called Foléo today via webcast from the D: All Things Digital Conference. Dubbed as a "mobile companion," the device is to be used as an extension of your smart-phone providing one button email access, a 10" screen, full size keyboard and five hours of use off a single charge.
Built on flash memory, which can be expanded with the use of both SD and Compact Flash cards, the unit can be turned on and off almost instantaneously for quick and easy access. Syncing of email and documents is done live via bluetooth connection, and it also boasts WiFi capability. Although it has a 1024x600 screen that doesn't require reformatting for browsing the web, the processor is not that powerful and it can result in videos that are a bit choppy. There is a VGA out option that allows you to hook up the device to bigger screens. Your phone can act as a key that unlocks the Foléo when it's in Bluetooth range.
With an open software development kit it seems as though Palm will rely on its users to conceive and develop new applications to supplement the modest initial offerings. Further development and future applications could greatly improve the functionality of the Foléo.
Foléo will support all smartphones and will be available worldwide late this summer for $500. More images here
|
previous entry Robert Adam Mayer |
next entry Michael Fakesch: Dos |
Thoughtfully designed for true mobile convenience, MoGo's 5mm thick headset can be charged without needing any additional cables. The lightweight (1/3 oz) Bluetooth 2.0 device has a fold-out ear piece so it rests comfortably in the ear and stores flat when not in use. While it can be charged with an optional AC adapter, it is sized to fit in a laptop's PCMCIA or...
Earlier today at Digitallife Palm announced the much anticipated Treo 680. We got our hands on one and are happy to report it's a great improvement over the 650. The device is smaller in all dimensions. The screen is brighter and more crisp, the SD card slot is moved to a better location and the antenna is now internal so there's not annoying nub....
Too many hours of my day yesterday were lost to making acquaintance with my new Treo 650 (GSM Unlocked). The most obvious new features are certainly a huge improvement-- Bluetooth, high resolution display and a better button layout. Even more exciting than that, however, are the small yet potent improvements to the user interface. The basic phone applications are finally up to par with...
Jawbone, the Yves Behar designed Bluetooth device, utilizes advanced noise cancellation technology to eliminate background noise from your call. I have been testing it out for a couple weeks now—walking on NYC streets, passing garbage trucks and ambulances, yet no one complained of the background noise and I didn't need to raise my voice to be heard. By using directional microphones and a bone...
Concierge.com's services for travelers are going mobile with the introduction of Concierge Mobile, a version of their Insider Guides and Condé Nast's Gold List designed for mobile phones. As long as users have reception, they can access nearly 200 of Concierge's regularly updated guides and the Gold List of top hotels curated by the magazine's readers, all free of charge (except for air time...
The big news from Apple today of course is the hotly-anticipated iPhone that combines a widescreen iPod, a GSM phone and internet connectivity into one device—Steve Jobs calls it, "a revolution of the first order." With over 200 patents on features like a multi-touch user interface and a sensor that automatically switches between landscape and portrait mode, he just might be right. Here are...
