Following the revelation of Palm’s new Treo Pro smartphone last week we now get a huge gallery of beautiful images (not blurry for once) and more detailed information on the specs that this beautiful latest Windows Mobile device will offer when it is released (possibly within weeks). For starters the Treo Pro will offer the first Palm smartphone with a completely flush touchscreen (finally no more dirty and dusty recesses to clean). The Treo Pro is also the first high-end Treo model to sport the same excellent “rubber sheet” keyboard previously found on the Centro (it will be slightly wider though to accomodate big hands). At the back Palm has finally done away with the somewhat useless “mirror” that was designed to take self-portraits and now offers a much simpler, cleaner and more elegant circle for the 2.0 megapixel camera lens. Additionally, the large back speaker typically found at the center is now moved to the left via a thin rectangle and the Palm logo is now embossed.
In terms of size, the Treo Pro is comparable in width and length to previous Treo models even though the screen is now moderately smaller (albeit retaining the 320x320 pixels high resolution). More importantly, at only 14mm thick the Treo Pro is the slimmest touchscreen Palm smartphone yet (it’s a full 25% slimmer than the Centro pictured below). Also, I fully expect the Treo Pro to weigh only between 100–120 grams (some 33% less than the existing Treo 750 that it replaces). Another unique addition (image below) is not only a microUSB sync & charge connector but also for the first time a full 3.5mm stereo headset connector which will finally allow you to use any one of the thousands of available headsets without the need for a 2.5mm stereo adapter. At the same time, the Treo Pro retains the excellent Silent Slider and Power button configuration at the top of the device while a new dedicated WiFi button is found on the side and a microSD memory card slot is also available. Also, Palm has finally decided to include a solid steel stylus instead of using plastic. Two other unique design changes (images below) on the Treo Pro include a full back cover (instead of just battery cover) which has been implemented to ensure slimness and also a slot for the stylus which is now found at the bottom of the device instead of the top. Separately, Palm has also reintroduced a dedicated “reset button” behind the cover at the bottom left of the battery.Last but not least, the Treo Pro introduces an ultraslim 1500mAh battery which provides 30% more power than the 1150mAh found on both the Palm Centro and Treo 800w – something which should make a lot of power hungry Treonauts very happy.
The latest full Treo Pro specifications now include:
* Windows Mobile 6.1
* Processor: 400Mhz
* Memory: 256MB ROM and 128MB RAM
* Bluetooth 2.0 with Stereo Bluetooth capabilities
* Camera: 2.0 megapixels with 2x zoom and video capabilities
* Touchscreen: 320x320 pixels
* Memory Expansion: support for up to 32gb microSD cards
* Integrated WiFi (802.11 b/g) with dedicated side button and assisted-GPS
* Full Tri-band 3G data connectivity + Quad-band GSM
* microUSB connector + full 3.5mm stereo headset jack
* Power: 1500mAh battery (should provide 4.5 hours of talk time and over 300 hours of standby time)
* Dimensions: D14mm x W60mm x H113mm
In addition to the reintroduced dedicated Reset button (above left), the Treo Pro also includes an enhanced Comm Manager software (above right) which allows you to quickly access settings such as Airplane Mode, Phone, Bluetooth, WiFi, Microsoft Direct Push as well as Data Connection. Additionally, a new Memory/Task Manager directly accessible via an upper-right drop-down menu in the Today screen (above left) allows you to quickly view and manage the memory allocated to various open applications.
Separately, some of the pre-installed software found on the Treo Pro includes Adobe Reader, Embertec Java for java applications, Telenav (image above right) and Sprite Backup.
Overall, the Treo Pro is more than just a pleasant surprise from Palm. I am impressed to see just how many people (including me) are jumping with excitement at this latest Windows Mobile device – a smartphone which from a hardware perspective delivers pretty much everything that Treonauts have waited and yearned for years to get.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Treo Pro is the first real demonstration of Palm’s design “awakening” and hopefully this device will be but the first iteration of a completely new lineup of Treo, Centro and Quatro (with new NOVA OS) smartphones awaiting us both this year and next.
