PalmAddicts

Writer's thoughts on Mike Cane's reaction to the Foleo

Mike Cane's thoughts can be summed up in two words, "Who cares?" No rants, no complaints. Just a statement of his diffidence.

I disagree with him slightly; I too am underwhelmed by the Foleo, but I think it could be that we don't quite get the niche it's made for. For starters, it certainly seems a shift to think of a laptop-like device a companion to the Treo. The Treo was a standalone, but it combines enough PDA function to serve, quite ably, as a desktop computer companion. Now the Treo gets a buddy.

But let us go with the Mobile Companion idea. From the description on Palm.com,

Foleo is made for that two-day business trip to Boston. That conference across town. Or even that meeting down the hall. Just fold it up, grab your smartphone, and you're ready to go. In fact, you can even run PowerPoint® presentations. Foleo comes with a VGA adapter that connects right to it.

How is this different from grabbing a laptop? I suppose size and money. To get a laptop the weight of of the 2 lb. Foleo means a premium price of $2000. The lightest I've seen are 3 lb ones. UMPCs cost around $2000 new. In this context, $600 may not be expensive. (I have a $1200 8 lb HP laptop. My back feels the virtue of the Foleo.)

I haven't seen the Foleo in action yet; I am not sure how fast synching information is between the Foleo and Treo, but it is over BlueTooth and I guess it would be relatively slow. However, the function Palm touts is already something I do; I have my mail forwarded to an IMAP server. I use SnapperMail to access it when I am on the move (I noticed that one needs to use VersaMail for this function - I've erased it from my custom ROM and don't feel like putting it back.)

For me, no email is important enough that I can't just deal with text. Sure, it'd be nice to see the HTML formatting in my e-mail. It is also nice to open up links in a real web browser instantly, like Opera on Foleo. Again, the key is that the Foleo isn't a pocket computer like the Tx or a WinMobile device. It acts as a day bag computer, but one probably will use the Foleo like a laptop and wait until he's at a cafe or back at the hotel. If I have to wait, then a laptop is as good as the Foleo.

In this case, for someone who is looking for a lightweight laptop, the Foleo might be the thing to use. I always carry a bag with me and the 2 lb Foleo would be a nice fit. At least that's my impression of the Foleo; it's for people who prefer doing things on a keyboard and a larger screen but can't afford a 12" iBook or a UMPC or a really small laptop.

What I would have wanted: basically a larger version of Tx or T5. With wifi and a cellular radio for data plan usage. But that's neither here nor there.

As it is, I'm neutral on the Foleo. One thing that I have some interest in is if the programs on the Treo can run on the Foleo. This would be really cool if one can actually sync all the databases used by Palm programs onto the Foleo. Then it would avoid a lot of issues with HotSync conduits and using a desktop companion. Instead, one might essentially run the Foleo in a "classic state" and edit the databases directly; the resulting changes can be synced with the Treo. If this function were available, I'd be more excited about the Foleo.

MobileRead asks about the Palm Foleo - Will it be another step for e-books?

Bob at MobileRead is asking will the Palm Foleo be another step for e-books? "The Palm Foleo is going to be announced today, maybe even as I write this. In fact, some details seem to have slipped out accidentally(?) in the Palm RSS feed already. The whole discussion will be shaped quite a bit by the rest of the details, but already it has caused me to consider e-book ramifications.

For those that haven't seen, the Foleo is rumored to run PalmOS on Linux, and has a size between a laptop and smartphone. It will communicate and sync with a smartphone, and allows email or document editng with a full keyboard and decent sized screen. Battery life around 5hrs.

Once we hear about a decent sized screen, we certainly thing about e-books. Will we be able to read comfortably on it, even outside? Is it good resolution? Will eReader or MobiPocket or other e-book reading software work on it?"
MobileRead

Foleo looks great and kinda looks Psion Series 7 / Netbook?

[From Herman] Herman has just emailed in and he has a point, personally, I like the look of the device and think it is an nice design but I agree with Herman, it's good looks remind me of the Psion Series 7 / Netbook.

Foleo web event from Palm

We are blogging the Foleo web event so hit refresh and as I upload as much detail as I can. Newer content towards the bottom of the post.

Jeff is now talking and giving a history of why Palm has got to this stage. The future is mobile technology.

When starting on the Treo Jeff thought the Treo was the future of mobile computing.

Mobile computing needs large screen Treo doesnt have this and a full size keyboard and you cannot fit this on a smartphone.

Jeff is now talking and talks about how this works with the Treo and is aimed for email users too.

Smallest product ever made with a full screen keyboard

On Off switch means on off, there is no sleep, no resume, it's fast and is running all the time. You never have to worry about saving.

Email buttton looks at email on Treo and two devices talk to each other, changes to Treo sync with Foleo and vice versa.

There is now a demonstration of email syncing with Treo 755p and a Foleo. It all seems pretty easy to set up.

Thumbwheel navigation allows for easy navigation from one email to the other. Nice touch, you may be able to see the tumbwheels in the screenshot above.

Now talking about web browsing it has built in wifi and there is now a demo

Foleo is built on Linux, PDF viewer is opensource code so programs can be built easily.

Programs are switched easily, there is a Apps key that allows you to sync between apps as the screenshot above shows.

Jeff says battery life is five hours or so. Bluetooth and there is a CF slot.

It runs with the Win Mob Treo and Palm OS treo and works fine and Palm wants it to work with ALL smartphones and also with RIM, Symbian and Apple.

$499 available sometime this Summer, no set shipping date.

Jeff says it's a joy to use and one of the best products that he has used.

Palm will build on this product.

It will support Versamail on Palm OS and they are talking to GOOD technologies.

Not touchscreen, the full size keyboard and scrollwheel and screen resolution is 1024 by 600

Has USB and Video Out and they are looking at more expansions

Memory is flash memory, expansion capability has SD slot, end user will be able to upload CF memory under the battery, more details will be posted online.

It's not a laptop replacement.

What gets sync'd - email, attachments and contacts. Make changes on both devices and changes are made instantly.

Palm have a group of third party people regarding more applications coming soon. A broad suite of applications coming soon.

Worldwide availability watch the website.

You can password protect the Foleo too.

This product is simplicity and convenience.

SDK for software development available at product launch.

Reference to the original application development in the Palm Pilot, Jeff Hawkins thinks that the community will develop great and creative applications for the Foleo.

Simpler Palm applications is something people want, it's the right time to introduce the device.

The End of the webcast

FOLEO: More Images

(CLICK ON THE IMAGES FOR THE FULL SIZED VERSION)

Sammy and I will be working on our first impressions of the Foleo, but suffice to say that Jeff Hawkins...and, Palm have thrown down the gauntlet to both MS and Apple. They say there is room for a different, easier-to-use portable appliance then the laptop.

How will this vision fare? Who knows? The important thing is that something different has been introduced by Palm for the first time in a VERY long time. The Linux core, the aim to support every brand of smartphone and the Opera browser throw a wide net, and will certainly garner some interesting feedback from both the media and from Apple and Redmond.

Stay tuned!

Palm Releases the "Foleo" Mobile Companion Product

Palm Advances Mobile Computing with Its First
Mobile Companion Product

Foleo Mobile Companion Brings Large Screen
and Full-size Keyboard to Smartphones

(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR FULL-SIZED VERSIONS)

CARLSBAD, Calif., D: All Things Digital, May 30, 2007 – Building on its vision that the future of personal computing is mobile computing, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today announced the Palm® Foleo™, its first smartphone companion product. The Foleo mobile companion has a large screen and full-size keyboard with which to view and edit email and office documents residing on a smartphone. Edits made on Foleo automatically are reflected on its paired smartphone and vice versa. Foleo and its paired smartphone stay synchronized throughout the day or at the touch of a button. This powerful combination is for productivity-minded business people who want a more complete mobile solution for email, attachments and access to the web.(1)

The Foleo mobile companion turns on and off instantly and features fast navigation, a compact and elegant design, and a battery that lasts up to 5 hours of use. Its applications include email, full-screen web browser, and editors or viewers for common business documents such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files. The Foleo stays synchronized via Bluetooth® wireless technology and uses the smartphone’s radio or the Foleo’s built-in Wi-Fi radio for general Internet connectivity.

“Foleo is the most exciting product I have ever worked on,” said Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm, Inc. and the visionary behind the Foleo’s concept and definition. “Smartphones will be the most prevalent personal computers on the planet, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can do. However, there are times when people need a large screen and full-size keyboard. As smartphones get smaller, this need increases. The Foleo completes the picture, creating a mobile-computing system that sets a new standard in simplicity.”

Foleo mobile companions work with Palm’s Treo™ smartphones (Palm OS® and Windows Mobile® versions). However, Palm believes that most smartphones based on Windows Mobile should work with little or no modification. Smartphones based on operating systems from Research in Motion, Apple, and Symbian likely can be supported with a modest software effort. The Foleo’s synchronization architecture is open, and Palm expects to work with third-party developers to support as many smartphones as possible.

“As we did with the PalmPilot more than a decade ago, and more recently with the Treo smartphone, Palm is driving innovation and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in mobile computing, a market full of potential,” said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm, Inc. “The Palm Foleo represents our first product in a new line of solutions that will redefine how people work while away from their desks. It starts today with a focus on wireless email, and we expect the Foleo to grow in features and expand its capabilities as the platform grows.”

Skyrocketing use of mobile email creates demand for a new way of mobile computing. By the end of 2007, an estimated 24.2 million wireless email accounts will be in use worldwide, and by 2010 wireless email accounts will soar to 199 million.(2) The rapid growth of smartphone sales, the faster speeds of wireless networks, and the increasing digitization of content make this the right time for the introduction of Palm’s first mobile companion product.

Although designed primarily as a companion to a mobile phone, Foleo is a powerful computer on its own. Its Linux-based operating system and built-in Wi-Fi radio make it easy for developers to create new applications that can be installed with a single click in the browser. The Foleo has a USB port, video-out port, headphone jack, and slots for SD and compact flash cards for memory expansion. This combination of capabilities in a low-cost design is new in the industry. Palm has opened its design and is actively supporting third-party software developers.

Palm's Foleo Mobile Companion webpage is now live

Palm's Foleo Mobile Companion webpage is now live go look and enjoy the deets of this new beauty.
http://www.palm.com

Opera Browser Featured in the New Palm Foleo Mobile Companion

Opera and Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today announced that the new Palm(R) Foleo(TM) mobile companion will use the Opera web browser to provide customers a user-friendly web experience. Based on Opera 9, Opera for the Palm Foleo offers intelligent navigation features and support for advanced Web 2.0 applications using Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). Opera's Software Developer Kit (SDK) proved to be a quick-to-market solution in tailoring a browser suitable for the cutting edge of mobile technology.

The Palm Foleo is the first computer designed to be a companion to a smartphone. With the press of one button, the mobile companion's large screen displays wireless email from a smartphone paired via Bluetooth(R) technology.(1) A full-size keyboard makes editing email and attachments quick and easy, and the built-in web browser provides reliable wireless Internet access.(1) With Foleo's instant on/off capability, light and small size, and 5-hour battery life, Palm expects the mobile companion to establish a new category of personal-computing products.

Opera for the Palm Foleo provides the latest in mobile technologies, as it is the first deployment of Opera 9 to a portable device. Opera users of any device are able to visit the same web addresses they already know from browsing the web on a PC. Using their smartphone's radio or the Foleo's built-in Wi-Fi radio, Foleo customers can open Opera and immediately begin to browse favorite websites with stylized controls.

"Opera is delighted to work with Palm to enable a great browsing experience on their new category-defining product, the Palm Foleo mobile companion," said Scott Hedrick, executive vice president of marketing for Opera Software. "The fact that Palm was able to integrate Opera and give it their look and feel in only a few short months demonstrates the value and flexibility of the Opera SDK."

By building the Foleo on an open Linux-based platform and publishing the tools developers might need, Palm hopes to establish a vibrant developer community to create new applications that extend the mobile companion's built-in capabilities. Opera demonstrates the ease with which exciting technology and applications can be ported to the Foleo mobile companion.

"Incorporating Opera into Foleo allows us to deliver a user-friendly web-browsing experience," said Mark Bercow, senior vice president of business development for Palm, Inc. "With web browsing in mind as an important application, we also built in dedicated buttons beneath the keyboard for forward and back. Those buttons, plus the addition of the scroll wheel, make navigating the web using the Opera browser pleasant and easy to do."

Opera's architecture is characterized by fast-performing JavaScript and rendering engines that ensure tested performance via the cross-platform experience of its development core. As a leader in adopting Web 2.0 standards, Opera has full DOM support and can smoothly run advanced web and Ajax-based applications on Foleo mobile companions.

Opera for Palm Foleo includes the following features:

-- Web-address input auto-completion -- reduces input time with an index of address completions;

-- Download manager -- allows users to view download progress and access their downloads from one simple transfer manager window;

-- Pop-up blocker -- users can control whether to block all pop-ups or open only those that they request; and

-- Bookmarks and history -- allow quick access to favorites and recently viewed sites.

Opera's flexible SDK allowed Palm to rapidly tailor the user interface to match the look and feel of the Foleo. To request an evaluation kit, please contact Opera at www.opera.com/devices.

Opera Mobile also is available for download to Windows Mobile based Palm Treo(TM) smartphones at http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/products/.

For more information on the Foleo mobile companion, please visit www.palm.com/seefoleo. To sign up for notification about Foleo availability, please visit www.palm.com/foleonotify.

Palm Advances Mobile Computing with Its First Mobile Companion Product

Primary Capabilities and Attributes of the Foleo Mobile Companion

-- One-button access to full-screen email

-- Instant on, instant off

-- Rapid access to various applications

-- 10-inch screen and full-size keyboard

-- Web search and browsing via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

-- Editors for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, plus a PDF viewer

-- Compact, stylish design that fits on an airline tray table

-- Lightweight at 2.5 pounds

-- Fast, simple and intuitive navigation

-- 5-hour battery life

-- Linux OS for easy application development

Wireless Email on the Big Screen

Email users have become increasingly dependent on smartphones to remain connected and productive.

Drawing on Palm's world-class usability and responsiveness, the Foleo mobile companion gives Palm OS and Windows Mobile based smartphone customers more power and flexibility while retaining the most-loved features of the Treo smartphone. For example, customers open the Foleo, press a button, and it turns on instantly. There is never a delay or boot-up time. A dedicated button provides access to email. All work is saved, so there is no need to close applications or take actions in order to save files. When the Foleo is turned on again, it resumes where the user left off.

New users follow a simple process to pair a Foleo with their smartphone. From then on, email stays synchronized on both devices.

Web Browsing

It is easy to view the web through built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios, using the Opera browser. Using Bluetooth, a Treo smartphone acts as a wireless modem for the Foleo. Alternatively, customers can use the Foleo mobile companion's built-in Wi-Fi for fast web browsing anywhere Wi-Fi is available, including more than 50,000 hot spots open to the public in the United States.(3)

Attachments To Go

The Foleo mobile companion also supports the most popular types of attachments. As on the Treo smartphone, the mobile companion uses a version of Documents To Go(R) customized by DataViz(R). People can create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible documents. The Foleo also includes a Palm-developed PDF reader.

Mobile professionals will find that just as their smartphones are ideal for use while on the move, the Foleo mobile companion is a perfect fit for use while commuting by mass transit, in meetings or on business trips. The mobile companion's size is ideal for working from an airplane seat, and its instant on/off capability makes it easy to comply with flight restrictions on electronics.

Elegant and Thoughtful Design

The Foleo mobile companion's hardware design features elegantly clean lines and forgoes excessive latches and connectors. An innovative scroll wheel, clever forward and back buttons, and a convenient track point enable easy navigation without requiring the user's hands leave the full-size keyboard.

By building the Foleo on an open Linux-based software platform, Palm hopes to replicate earlier success with developers by drawing a large community to create new applications that will extend the mobile companion's capabilities. Palm already has partnered with DataViz and Opera Software, demonstrating the ease with which exciting technology and applications can be ported to the Foleo mobile companion. Palm also will produce tools to allow smartphone manufacturers to make devices compatible with the Foleo mobile companion.

Foleo Pricing and Availability

U.S. availability for the Palm Foleo mobile companion will begin this summer. The price of the Foleo mobile companion is expected to be $499 after an introductory $100 rebate. For more information on the Foleo mobile companion, please visit www.palm.com/seefoleo. To sign up for notification about Foleo availability, please visit www.palm.com/foleonotify.

DataViz Optimizes Documents To Go for Palm Foleo Mobile Companion

[From Palm PR] DataViz(R), Inc., a leading provider of Microsoft(R) Office compatibility solutions, and Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today announced their continued alliance with the latest addition of Documents To Go(R) for Palm(R) Foleo(TM) mobile companions. The award-winning mobile Office suite, Documents To Go, will provide Foleo customers with the ability to create, view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible files on their mobile companions.

The Palm Foleo is the first computer designed to be a companion to a smartphone. With the press of one button, the mobile companion's large screen displays wireless email from a smartphone paired via Bluetooth(R) technology.(1) A full-size keyboard makes editing email and attachments quick and easy, and the built-in web browser provides reliable wireless Internet access.(1) With Foleo's instant on/off capability, light and small size, and 5-hour battery life, Palm expects the mobile companion to establish a new category of personal-computing products.

Documents To Go allows users to create, view and edit native Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible files on a Palm Foleo mobile companion. In addition to retaining all original file formatting with InTact Technology(TM), Documents To Go works with the built-in Foleo email application to access a wide variety of attachments, from sales contracts to sports schedules. Furthermore, file access also can be achieved through use of an SD Card (sold separately) and Bluetooth technology.

"DataViz is proud to have worked with Palm since the conception of this exciting product venture, as the value proposition when dealing with Microsoft Office attachments is obvious," said Dick Fontanta, president for DataViz. "With the Foleo's 'instant on' approach, full keyboard and Documents To Go, customers can take mobile computing to an entirely new level and dramatically increase personal productivity."

By building the Foleo on an open Linux-based platform and publishing the tools developers might need, Palm hopes to establish a vibrant developer community to create new applications that extend the mobile companion's built-in capabilities. Documents To Go demonstrates how exciting technology and applications can be ported to the Foleo mobile companion.

"Over the years, Palm and DataViz have built a successful relationship bringing Documents To Go to Palm products and providing users with a great experience," said Mark Bercow, senior vice president of business development for Palm, Inc. "The capability to view and edit Microsoft Office documents on the Foleo will prove to be a powerful business tool for mobile professionals."

For more information on the Foleo mobile companion, please visit www.palm.com/seefoleo. To sign up for notification about Foleo availability, please visit www.palm.com/foleonotify.
More information about DataViz, Inc. is available at https://www.dataviz.com.