centro

Rumor
May 16, 2009
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Sprint advocates receive Palm Pre units

By on May 16, 2009 at 11:15 AM.

Sprint advocates receive Palm Pre units

It seems like all the Pre minutiae is hitting the Internet like a ton of bricks but here’s some more news indicating its release isn’t far off: Palm Pre handsets are making their way to Sprint stores specifically for the store advocate, or the one who will be the Pre pro. Images surfaced recently with a number of Sprint employees holding up their handsets (luckily made anonymous by bloggers) and as you might expect, people are psyched; reviews are nothing short of what is expected based on what we’ve seen so far. The device is small, the screen is responsive and the keyboard is like a mix of Centro and Treo Pro goodness (or “badness” if you hate that bubbly plastic feeling). Managers will be undergoing mandatory device training soon and we’re expecting them to give you the hands-on shortly after that in store.

Thanks, Chiitown!

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Exclusive
April 30, 2009
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Palm's next webOS device? Pre Centro?

By on April 30, 2009 at 10:10 AM.

Palm's next webOS device? Pre Centro?

One of our ninjas just hit us up with the above photo… they said it would be Palm’s next webOS device, the rumored Centro-esque handset. No specs or anything, just a “Fall” release date. Sorry for the blurry and small photo, but it’s legit! What you guys think?

Thanks, Daddy G.!

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Rumor
January 12, 2009
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Palm Centro 2 to follow shortly after Pre release?

By on January 12, 2009 at 9:39 AM.

Palm Centro 2 to follow shortly after Pre release?

While the timing of this latest Palm rumor is likely way off if the company’s history is to be considered, the subject matter seems fairly obvious: A WebOS-powered Centro-alike is in the works. Citing “a seemingly reliable firsthand source,” Palm Infocenter states that Palm will deliver a Centro 2 in Fall 2009. The handset will maintain much of the current Centro’s styling and will also be headed to Sprint. While it is very difficult if not impossible to imagine Palm releasing two new handsets so closely to each other, could this be part of Palm’s new strategy as it positions itself for a comeback? Yeah, we think not. There is no doubt that Palm will eventually issue a new handset powered by WebOS that uses a form factor similar to the Centro, but it is most definitely not going to hit the market a few short months after the Pre is released. A move like that would be ridiculously cannibalistic and Palm has shown us that it means business this time around. Besides, Palm will already be plenty busy dropping GSM Pre models around the world this coming Fall, leaving precious few resources to be allotted to a new Sprint handset launch.

Other rumors that have surfaced in the past few days indicate that the next Palm handset to sport WebOS will be a touchscreen-only candybar. Really? After all the little digs Palm reps gave the iPhone during CES? Just to be safe, maybe someone should start a rumor that Palm’s second WebOS-powered handset will be a clam shell so all the bases are covered…

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CES
December 15, 2008
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New Palm OS and device to be unveiled at CES

By on December 15, 2008 at 9:18 AM.

New Palm OS and device to be unveiled at CES

There’s a lot of hype stirring in the rumor mill for Palm – this time it has been confirmed and comes in the form of a new OS and a device on which it will be featured (based on the rumors, it will be the first of a family of devices). With all the hype and secrecy surrounding the new products, one can only hope that it lives up to the mania and saves Palm from hurtling into oblivion. The name of the OS will be “Nova” and the project is spearheaded by Jon Rubenstein, current executive chairman for Palm and former SVP at Apple. The team under Rubenstein seems to be a formidable and ambitious bunch that hopes to give Apple and RIM a run for their money. Filling the space between the iPhone and BlackBerry is going to be a momentous task, so we’re keeping our reservations about the new OS and device until we see it for ourselves at CES. Palm isn’t suffering from any delusions when it comes to performance over the next few months after massive layoffs and a withering economy. Whatever it is Palm is unveiling, it’s going to have to be very big.

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Opinions
December 8, 2008
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Mystery hybrid phone pops up all over the Internets

By on December 8, 2008 at 8:13 AM.

Mystery hybrid phone pops up all over the Internets

We’re not quite sure what to make of this beast, but it’s all over the blogosphere and our guess is as good as any for now. It looks like a weird hybrid of a Helio Ocean, Palm Centro/Treo, Sony Mylo and touch of Open Moko. Judging by the unusual number of smudges on the screen, common sense points to a touchscreen / QWERTY combo. Your standard five-way toggle and smart buttons are there but when the T-swivel phone opens up, you see a mini-mouse pad and left and right mouse buttons. The keys look like the firm, bubbly keys we’d see on the Palm Centro or Treo Pro, which leads our buddy Dieter Bohn of TreoCentral to think that this might be the new “Roteo” that’s been in the rumor mill. Regardless of what this phone turns out to be, we’re afraid it’s going to be slapped onto our “do not want” list unless the final version gets some major tweaks.

[Via TreoCentral]

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News
November 22, 2008
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Palm cuts down manpower, resents itself just a little bit

By on November 22, 2008 at 3:53 PM.

Palm cuts down manpower, resents itself just a little bit

It isn’t new news that the worsening economy has resulted in layoffs and it now looks like Palm will be falling victim to the increasingly declining consumer product environment. In an effort to keep afloat, Palm Infocenter says the the giant smartphone and software company will be letting go of a chunk of its workforce. While the number of employees it intends to let go has yet to be disclosed, it would appear that it would have to be a substantial number in order to make an impact. The cuts won’t be limited to the US either, as there are plans to do the same internationally. This isn’t good news as Palm puts it:

“The global economic downturn continues to dampen demand for consumer goods around the world, and the impact on the economic environment is worsened by our maturing Centro line and the length of time it is taking to ramp our new Windows Mobile products.”

It would appear as though Palm has adopted a “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” mentality in terms of getting new products out and revamping some of its smartphones. In addition, the much-hyped Treo Pro has done little to save Palm. Things aren’t looking good for the telecommunications and electronics industries as Palm joins a long line of companies who have been letting go of employees.

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Exclusive
October 12, 2008
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Verizon Wireless and Palm are paying you $25 to buy a Palm Centro

By on October 12, 2008 at 2:37 PM.

Verizon Wireless and Palm are paying you $25 to buy a Palm Centro

Let’s start this one off by saying this promotion is only for indirect Verizon Wireless dealers at the moment and does not apply to corporate stores. With that said, the big bad VZW and Palm are slippin’ you a $25 Visa gift card to purchase a new Palm Centro. That’s obviously with a 2-year agreement, and it’s not an instant gratification purchase — you still have to fill out the rebate sheet and wait around 6 weeks for your gift card to make it to you, but at the end of day, this is a pretty fantastic promotion for anyone that’s been eyeing the Centro for a bit. If you do want to take advantage of the offer, you should head down to your local dealer pretty quickly as this runs out on October 31st. Larger shot along with the letter to indirect retailers after the jump!

Thanks, Harris!

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General
July 11, 2008
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Palm Centro drops to $69.99 on AT&T

By on July 11, 2008 at 6:28 PM.

Palm Centro drops to $69.99 on AT&T

For some reason, Palm and AT&T have conspired to lower the price of their Centro handheld by a full $30. The diminutive little bugger is now on sale via all retail channels for the bargain basement price of $69.99. Sure, it will cost you in the form of a 2-year contract, but if the $199 iPhone 3G is a bit too expensive for your taste, the Centro might suffice as a suitable stand-in…that is, of course, if you’re completely blind. Sure, the Centro sports a likeable, if outdated, interface, and a number of useful features, but at the end of the day we think you’d have to be crazy to spend good money on a device that runs off the 2.5G EDGE network, and has a keyboard designed for babies and people with abnormally small fingers. That said, if $69.99 seems like too good of a deal to pass up, head on over to your local AT&T store, bypass the lines of crying iPhone customers, and pick one up for yourself. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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General
June 23, 2008
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Unlocked Palm Centro available, wait, what’s a Centro?

By on June 23, 2008 at 5:29 PM.

Unlocked Palm Centro available, wait, what’s a Centro?

If you’re a die hard Palm fan, you might be be overjoyed with the news that you can now get your grubby mitts on a factory-unlocked Palm Centro. This isn’t for the CDMA-lovers, it’s for the GSM nuts. The unlocked model drops the puke green keyboard on the AT&T device for a white keyboard. Thank god. Price? $299. Not terrible at all. But for that price, you do have to put up with an outdated OS, constant crashes, and random resets. You can’t have it all, people! Also, a new Google Maps application will be available for all Palm Centros regardless of carrier starting tomorrow. The new application finally brings Google’s cell phone triangulation to the Palm OS.

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General
June 6, 2008
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Verizon’s Palm Centro gets ready to make an appearance

By on June 6, 2008 at 5:01 PM.

Verizon’s Palm Centro gets ready to make an appearance

The Centro, Palm’s little handset that could, is getting ready to make its Verizon debut. Beginning Friday June 13th, the phone will be available through all of Verizon’s retail channels, and should run you $369 outright, $339-$70 MIR with a 1-year contract, and $269-$70 MIR on a 2-year bid. We’re also being told that there will be a $100 discount offered to anyone willing to sign up for a compatible unlimited data plan. The phone has already shown up on Verizon’s Testman site, though the company has yet to upload an actual device image. The Centro has been a major seller on AT&T and Sprint, and we’re guessing it will do similarly impressive numbers on the big V. Anyone biting their nails in anticipation?

Thanks, Omie!

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