Hobbyist Software just launched another new application - Power Hero. An appropriate icon, Power Hero is a superhero whose mission is to save your battery. Power Hero is designed to get the absolute best from your Treo’s battery.
It has a series of features which let you manage your Treo’s power-draining features:
- Console -Instantly see and control the main power drains on your Treo
- Schedule - Set your Treo’s functions to be on only when you need them
- Save - Automatically turn off power draining features after you have finished using them
- Auto Bluetooth - turn your Bluetooth on automatically when your call arrives!
- Shortcuts - use the free shortcut applications to control features from your launcher
Power Hero is compatible with the Treo 650, 680, 700p, and 755 and will set you back $9.95. PowerHero is also available as a free trial allowing you to try before you buy.
The long awaited Treo 700p software update is scheduled to be released during the week of May 28th. According to Steve Sinclair, Treo Product Manager, “we’re now in the carrier certification phase with the Treo 700p MR and as I type this, our best estimate of customer release will be the week of May 28th. In addition to the Bluetooth improvements I mentioned above, the 700p MR includes updates to SMS send/receive performance, MP3 playback, phone app launch speed and other areas. It’s admittedly been a much longer project than expected, but we’re almost there…”
Sinclair explains the process behind maintenance releases on Palm’s new blog.
While I understand the process, one year is entirely too long for a software update. Palm needs to either refine the process or devote greater resources in an effort to get releases out in a more timely fashion. You can discuss the Treo 700p update in our forums.
Thanks Palm!
The Treo 700p has been out in the market for almost a year. Back in December, a member of the TreoCentral forums sent an open letter to Ed Colligan asking for a firmware update to the Treo 700p to fix a number of issues plaguing Treo users. Due to the groundswell caused by the letter, Palm responded directly to the concerns. Steve Sinclair, Palm’s Senior Product Manager for the Palm OS, responded with a letter acknowledging the issues saying they only affected “some” Treo 700p users and to expect a firmware release in Q1 of 2007. A Palm representative contacted us in early March to let us know the 700p software update would be pushed back to April due to certification issues with both Sprint and Verizon Wireless. Flash forward to this week, when Palm announced a new company blog that will undoubtedly offer more interactive communication between customers and Palm. The Palm Blog received several comments asking about the Treo 700p update and have promised an update next week. While we don’t expect to see the actual update, it does appear we’ll get an update on the update. No one is pleased with the continued delays. That aside, in its first week of existence, it is nice to see Palm already using their new blog to bring customer issues to light. They could have easily sent responded by email, but instead they stepped up and addressed the issue. For the Palm Blog to be a success, there must be 2-way communication and this is a great first step.
Palm is currently working on a maintenance release for the Palm Treo 700p. This will most likely be a “long awaited” firmware update to deal with some of the issues plaguing many of our readers. Back in November, a member of TreoCentral’s forums went as far as to send an open letter to Ed Colligan, CEO of Palm, asking for these concerns to be addressed. Palm’s Steve Sinclair, Senior Product Manager for Palm OS Wireless Products responded to the letter and acknowledged they were aware of this issues and that it only affected some Treo 700p users. At that time, the estimated a 2007 Q1 release for the update. According to our contact at Palm, the update still has to pass certification from both Sprint and Verizon Wireless, but you can expect to see it released sometime in April. No word on exactly what this update will address, although many users seem to be frustrated most with the lag time when launching different applications. It appears that same bug that affects the lag time on the Treo 700p has affected the release of this particular update. Sign up for our eNewsletter and receive a notification when the Treo 700p update becomes available.
Gx5 has released a new application called Dial By Photo that allows you to speed dial your favorite contacts by selecting a photo. There are a number of customization features and unique interface. Dial By Photo is available as a free trial and it is compatible with the Palm Treo 680, Treo 700p and Treo 650. To support the announcement, the developer is offering the application at $11.95 through February 12th, a savings of $3.
This past year has been the most active Palm has been when it comes to releasing new Treo smartphones. Last year, Palm CEO Ed Colligan promised that in addition to the Treo 700w, Palm would release three new smartphones in 2006. To date, we’ve seen the following releases:
- Palm Treo 700w: Palm’s first foray into Windows Mobile. The Verizon Treo 700w was released in January.
- Palm Treo 700p: The follow up to the Treo 650, the 700p smartphone featured minor improvements over the Treo 650.
- Palm Treo 700wx: Almost identical to the 700w, the 700wx from Sprint features twice the program memory.
- Palm Treo 750v: Announced today, this new Treo will be available in Europe in early October and will run Windows Mobile 5.
Despite my ineptitude for mathematics, that’s a total of 4 new smartphones released by Palm this year. Truth be told, it’s more like 3 and 1/2. It is pure speculation on my part that perhaps Palm didn’t expect the release of Sprint’s Treo 700w to need the ‘x’ (added program memory) when Ed Colligan made this announcement. It would be a safe bet that Palm’s Treo 750v could find its way to the US in the form of the Treo 750 on Cingular Wireless. With Verizon and Sprint offering both new Palm OS and Windows Mobile powered Treos, Cingular has been left offering the older Palm Treo 650.
Although this year has seen more new Treos and an expansion of the product line, it seems Palm is missing the mark. Earlier this week, Palm reported disappointing preliminary forecasts due to lower Treo sales in the retail channel. Palm CEO addressed the shortfall by saying, “We will soon address the market dynamics responsible for our first-quarter revenue shortfall with two major new product launches, one that improves our pricing position and both which extend our carrier relationships throughout the global markets.”
There was a certain amount of excitement surrounding the 700w release, being the first Windows Mobile powerd Treo. Six months later, Palm followed that up with a 700p that doesn’t exactly inspire users to upgrade from their Treo 650. With the same form factor as the w/wx, it is also a catalyst for confusion among those shopping for a smartphone. Palm is also facing competition for the Motorola Q. It is a product that has redefined what people think about smartphones and it’s $200 less than both Treos. In some ways, Motorola has found the sweet spot for cellphone users looking to make the transition to a smartphone.
To some, the form factor of current line of Treos is not much different than the Treo 600. Technology moves at a pace where every 6 months there is an expectation of smaller, faster and expanded feature set is expected. It’s getting harder and harder for consumers to find a reason to upgrade to a new Treo. Meanwhile, the Motorola Q has given consumers yet another choice, only this time a sleek, thin device similar to their popular Razr. There is also greater competition from Research In Motion with the release of their new consumer Blackberry called the Pearl. According to analysts, it’s only a matter of time before Apple releases the iPhone. I’d venture to guess a launch of that magnitude will create a certain amount of excitement in the mobile space. Palm needs to regain that excitement and perhaps the remaining product launch will be Palm’s most significant.
Palm has announced a new trade in program allowing customers to receive $125 back for their Treo 650. To qualify, you have to buy a Treo 700p/w/wx smartphone at Palm at a Palm retail store and then send Palm your old device with a copy of your Palm.com invoice. They’ll send you a check back for $125 within 60 days.
There was an interesting article at ConsumerElectronicsNet where high level executives in the consumer electronics industry were asked, “Which consumer electronics product can’t you live without?”
It’s a new twist on the old desert island CD question asking if you were stranded on a desert island, which CD would you bring. Answers included TiVo, DVR, iPod, HD Television and the Treo 700. Thankfully, I won’t have to choose between my TiVo and or my Treo. It was tough enough deciding between 5150 and Fair Warning.
The Palm Treo is clearly a favorite of Hollywood. The Emmy’s on NBC had a piece where members in the audience were watching clips from programs that were nominated on iPod’s and Treos. There was a close-up of what appeared to be a Sprint Treo 700p. The audience member was watching “The Late Show with David Letterman”. Photo courtesy of my Tivo.
