Looking at the Treo Nitro & Lennon Looks

If the Lennon doesn't have a forward facing camera for video conferencing, that thing is gonna be a bust.

The problem with video conferencing is that it is really only practical with the greater bandwidth of HSDPA service, and the Lennon as far as we know will only go so far as UMTS.

FYI, HSDPA is an upgrade to UMTS service.

In the US, Cingular has already been way too slow in rolling out its UMTS service. We'll be lucky to get plain vanilla UMTS service in most major markets from Cingular by the end of 2006.

So I wouldn't expect to see HSDPA until 07 at the earliest, and seeing how Cingular lags behind in 3G rollout, it may even be later than that.

In fact, I'd say that Cingular has been a major disappointment in its rollout of 3G services. That has delayed alot of really neat equipment.

My guess is that the Nitro, if it's going to come in at the rumored lower price point, simply will not be some slimmed down version of the 700p without the antenna.

It will sacrifice features...perhaps even have a lower res screen.

All we "know" are a scetch and code name. where do the other details come from?

I don't know why people are still associating "Nitro" with "Lowrider," which turned out not to be entirely true, anyway.

And what's in a codename, anyway? Are people taking "Lennon" literally and assuming that it will come packaged with the Beatles White Album? Lowrider--even though it doesn't exist anymore--could have actually meant slimmer; "lower" to the ground.

And Palm would never have a low-res (sub-320x320) screen on a Palm OS Treo ever again as it would be a product disaster of galactic proportions.

I predict they will not be stripped-down versions. They look too similar to the 700 series, hardware-wise, to justify that assumption. I think the lower-cost scenario will involve models without touchscreens, as with Moto Q. Not really a huge loss in functionality, though... I seldom use the stylus now. If anything, these models will show incremental improvements, as has been the case previously.

Where's the button for WiFi????

(I can dream, can't I?)

I love the antennaless look but I can tell you after using an antennaless treo for 6 months, it takes getting used to.

It's much harder to pull out of your pocket, out of your case and even to hold upside down in bed.

I would be nice if it comes out like the black tie edition, covered in silicone... hope that "live prototype" is a success.

OK Joe, (take note of the sarcasm in my "voice" as I "type" this) I'll bite since no one else yet has-where did you get an 'antennaless" treo from? Do you have a prototype of the next treo or did you do your own modifications (if at all possible) to a current model?

@ Thought

"In the US, Cingular has already been way too slow in rolling out its UMTS service. We'll be lucky to get plain vanilla UMTS service in most major markets from Cingular by the end of 2006."

ATT originally deployed only WCDMA, all of Cingular's deployment come with HSPDA already included and stardard. And the couple of old AWS WCDMA markets have already been upgraded to HSDPA. If you're using CIngular UMTS, you've got HSDPA...so my point remains, no video-conferencing=sucks because the network can support that feaure

"Where's the button for WiFi????"

Indeed. For me to buy a Treo it has to have no ariel, wifi, 3g and atleast a 2mp camera. For the moment I'm happy with my XDA Mini S but if Palm sorts it out I'm down the Treonauts!

I have been waiting for this for so long. since the beginning of this year. Please cingular, bring me a new wifi, Palm OS soon! I am dyeing here. The zero and * don't even work on my old nokia. GOD I CAN'T WAIT!