Hot on the heals of their recently announced job cuts, according to ZDNet (UK), Palm is reporting a 41% shortfall in revenue compared to expectations for the second fiscal quarter. They announced revenue of just $198m compared to Wall Street expectations of $331.

Palm blamed this shortfall on a “reduced demand for maturing smartphone and handheld products”. What on earth does that mean? I’m no market analyst, but everywhere I look I see smartphones and handheld products. The problem for Palm is that they are not Palm smartphones or handheld products. Reduced demand, nonsense.

And what is “maturing” supposed to mean in this context? Do they mean people don’t any longer want old technology when there is newer, better technology available for lower prices? I’d go along with that.

File under “I never saw this coming”.

Filed under: Treo and Palm news | 3 Comments »

While we wait impatiently for Palm to do *something* (anything really, please) at least other smartphone manufacturers aren’t asleep at the wheel. Today we saw the announcement of the second Google Android phone hot on the heels of the popular (and quite awesome) T-Mobile G1. This new model will be called “Agora”, whatever that means, and will be launched in Australia by tech importer Kogan.

The Agora will ship in two models both sold without any wireless contract: the standard model will cost $299 (AUD) and the Pro model which adds WiFi, GPS and 2MP Camera will sell at $399 (AUD). Both models come furnished with HSDPA 3G, Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR, a QWERTY keyboard, 2.5” touchscreen and a microSD slot. From the pictures and specs it looks very nice… shame they’re not shipping them here.

The New Google Android Smartphone: Agora. Looks hot.

From: apcmag.com - BREAKING: First Australian Android phone revealed. Visit their site for full specs.

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Treo Pro Update

Yesterday, Palm released a cabinet file update for the Treo Pro that fixes a bug with the Pro’s Bluetooth stack.

You should apply this update if “you are in an active call using bluetooth car kit or bluetooth headset and you receive a second incoming call and you let it ring or you ignore the incoming call, the call will be diverted to Voicemail. The first call remains active but you can no longer hear the caller (the caller can still hear you). The audio has been lost. If you answer the call and swap between calls or reject the call, the issue is not seen.”

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Last Wednesday, Palm released a software update for the Verizon Centro. Not unlike the updates for the Verizon Treo 700p and 755p, Palm is again vague about the update and what improvements it will bring about.

According to Palm, the “software update is a minor tune-up that may improve device usability in certain situations.”

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A little late, but still in time for the big election, Gx5 has released a pack of Obama wallpapers! Unfortunately, McCain supporters are left out in the dark due to the fact that “the McCain site does
not have the graphics to make these kinds of wallpapers.”

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Filed under: Software news | 9 Comments »