Palm Centro Review
SPECIAL OFFER: For a limited time get 10% Off your purchase of any accessories (see my Editor’s Choice recommendations at the bottom of this post) in our Centro Store. Just enter coupon code CENTRO10 during Checkout.
I kindly received my Centro review unit from Palm yesterday and after playing with it for a full day (as well as looking for a whole new bunch of Centro accessories) I can now confirm that my very positive original impressions when seeing the device for the first time at Digital Life in NYC have not changed – on the contrary I’m loving my Palm Centro more by the minute.
On the hardware front here are a few points that I’m particularly delighted with:
- Colour: I’ve been wanting a Black Treo for some time and now I finally have one (Palm call it “Onyx Black” and there’s also the “Ruby Red”).
- Form Factor: this smartphone is very compact, solidly built and shaped just right (rounded back and edges) to fit comfortably in your hand or pocket.
- Weight: at only 4.2 oz (119 grams) with its battery the Centro is extremely light (up to 1/3 lighter than previous Treo smartphones). It shaves a full 2.2 oz (62 grams) from the Treo 700p and 1.4 oz (40 grams) from the Treo 680 and you’ll notice the difference this makes the moment you hold one (image below and see also Palm Centro & Treo Comparison Chart).
- Full QWERTY Keyboard: some people can argue this point all they want but the fact is that I still consider that there is no substitute for a full usable keyboard on a smartphone. Yes, the Centro’s keyboard (below) is incredibly small but what is even more incredible is how well it works – it’s not quite as fast or comfortable as my Treo 680 but it comes very close (it’s also a hell of a lot faster than the virtual keyboard on the iPhone).
- Touchscreen: again, the touchscreen is smaller in size but luckily Palm kept a high resolution 320x320 display. I didn’t have any problems at all viewing all sorts of information on this screen but admittedly the smaller size does make it just a bit harder to reach some buttons or menus with your fingers using the touchscreen.
- Memory Expansion: although I’ll be missing the 8GB SD cards currently on my Treo 680 the present maximum of 4GB on a microSD card for the Centro should nonetheless prove plenty for most Centronauts.
- New 5Way and Flat Hard Buttons: these new larger flat/flush buttons make the Centro a more elegant (reducing the relative clutter of so many keys) and slimmer looking device.
- Back Speaker: until you hear it it’s hard to describe just how LOUD the new back speaker is – making it perfect for an impromtu music session, for your morning alarm clock and naturally more importantly to ensure that you actually hear your phone ringing when someone calls or texts you (comparatively I’ve been missing about 50% of calls on my test iPhone because both the speaker and the included ringtones are designed for people with bionic ears and not the average user).
- Camera/Video: I haven’t yet been able to make some proper comparisons but based on first impressions both the images and video that the Centro takes appear to be much improved over earlier models.
One of the few downsides on the Palm Centro is a relatively low battery life with a Talk Time of 3.5 hours but as with the Treo 680 previoiusly I found that an extra spare battery as well as maintaining regular charging cycles (overnight in a cradle for example) significantly reduce the limitations. Additionally, it’s also clear that as before we should expect to see an extended battery introduced within the next few months.
On the software front I have found an equal number of features to like:
- PalmOS: it may be old/ageing but the fact is that the PalmOS is not only perfectly usable but it also still does things much better than competiting operating systems on a great many fronts such as the Onscreen speakerphone and mute buttons, “Ignore with text” function, Google Maps integration, Messaging, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks among others. The additional benefit for existing Treonauts is that like me they’ll be able to simply plug their Centro to their PC and synchronize it using their current HotSync ID to have a fully customized new smartphone in minutes. There are also a few additional minor modifications within the OS and I’m trying to get a full list of these from Palm.
- Pocket Tunes Deluxe: with a value of $39.99 the full version of this top MP3 player is conveniently included in your Centro purchase ready to provide you with hours of fun with music on the go (something that I use almost daily).
- IM: bundled for the first time, the new IM application provides support for AIM, MSN and/or Yahoo! to instant message your buddy list while on the go – it works great and even lets you know of incoming message via an alert when you are out.
- Sprint TV & On Demand: part of the exclusive Sprint content and services found on the Centro (also includes Sprint Mobile eMail). Most of the programming is free (On Demand alone used to cost up to $10 per month) and includes things such as streaming news, video, music, radio as well as news, sports, weather, 411 and TV Guide.
- Google Maps: the latest version of Google Maps is also now pre-installed in ROM and provides a superbly useful solution and now also includes Contacts integration so that you can quicly view directions to a contact’s address.
- Nuance Voice Control: this voice recognition service works surprisingly well and the only downside is a relatively long delay as it’s an application that runs wirelessly via a server instead of being an on-board application.
- Third-Party Software: with hundreds if not thousands of fantastic third-party software designed for the PalmOS, you can customize and further enhance the functionality of your Centro to your hearts desire (see my Top 100 Treo Software).
Overall the Palm Centro will prove to be a terrific smartphone for existing Treonauts wishing to greatly reduce the size and weight of the device that they carry in their pockets every day without having to make any significant compromises. Newly minted Centronauts for their part will find a device not much larger than their current standard 12–key phone – one that now offers them all the amazing benefits of owning a Treo smartphone.
Editor’s Choice Centro Accessories
Seidio 2in1 Pen Centro Stylus
If you’ve ever been anywhere struggling to find a pen at hand to write something down you’ll quickly understand just how useful this dual pen/stylus for your Centro really is.
SPE Centro Screen Protector
You could risk scratching your screen accidentally or simply choose these great screen protectors for your Centro instead.
Cellet Cradle Dock
This is the slimmest and most elegant Docking + Battery Charging cradle available for your Centro and my own top choice.
Palm Air Case
My favourite and Editor’s Choice Centro case provides a slim but very robust all-round protection against scratches and drops for your smartphone. (See my review)
Centro Screen Protectors
The simplest way to ensure scratch protection for your delicate Centro touchscreen these screen protectors are the #1 bestselling accessory.
SPE Retractable S&C Cable
Probably the single best value accessory and one of the most essential items in my kit – this is one product you should never be without. (See my review)
Another great offer for Centronauts is the price drop of a spare original 1150mAh Palm Centro Battery which is now available for only $29.95 – saving you $20 (40%) off Palm’s MSRP.
This 1150mAh spare Centro battery from Palm (see my review) will provide you with an additional 3.5 hours of talk time or 240 hours of standby time – perfect for that extra juice you’ll need while on the go.
Both the AT&T Centro and Sprint Centro are now available for FREE with a 2 year contract or for $99 directly from either AT&T or Sprint. For additional information and full specifications please see these previous posts:
Treonauts & Centronauts are always amazing… 
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» 7 Takes On Palm Centro from Gizmodo
Released just yesterday, the Palm Centro has our eyes for a few reasons. First, their Treo smartphones have some of the highest ratings in smartphone history on review sites like CNET. So when Palm essentially shrinks their famous Treo and... [Read More]
Tracked on Oct 15, 2007 11:35:50 AM
» Palm Centro - Best of Both Worlds from Office Mobility Blog
Affordable way to manage your social life and work life. It’s been well documented that Palm’s marketshare has been declining over the past few years as RIM/BlackBerry and Windows Mobile have taken a more dominant chunk of the US smartphone... [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 5, 2008 4:12:00 PM
Comments
Hello, can anyone tell me why doesn't the callerID ringtone and the text message ringtone come through the bluetooth device? The only ring is a standard ringing tone not what's assigned to a contact or the messaging ring tone.
I got mine in July. I'm on AT&T and LOOOVE IT!!!
This was my first smartphone...Ive been stuck in the stone ages with a Razr until my contract could be renewed. Picked this one up for $50! Shopped around between this and the blackberry pearl...this one is waay better!
Unlike many people I like the web browser, it is fairly fast and easy to navigate...not an iphone but hey...works for email and simple web browsing that i use it for!
The keyboard is a God send!! I text a LOT and this kicks the crap outta blackberry's "qwerty" keyboard. I thought the buttons were too small at first but after a few minutes it was second nature to text!
The ONLY thing I dislike about this phone is the ringtones. I hate that I have to use my phone memory to set them as ringtones. I have ringtones on my SD card but have to transfer them to the phone. It was confusing when I first got it and had to use Minitones to convert the files. Seems like you should be able to bluetooth them like every other phone. But no...they go into pockettunes and you cant use pockettunes files for ringtones...makes NOOO sense to me.
After I played with the phone a bit it was a GREAT steal...for $50 I have a waaay better phone than all my friends and many of them like mine so much they switch to palm! Overall I would recommend this phone to anyone!!
heyy i got my palm centro about 5 months ago, and a few weeks ago i logged onto email and now i can't get out of it. i was just wondering if emial on the phone cost any money...
I've been using Palm devices for years and finally had to move on from my Treo 650. Kept waiting for a WiFi enabled Palm that would sync with my Mac but it wasn't there so bought an IPhone. Took it back to the office and found out it didn't sync with my calendar or contacts program (Now Up to Date), didn't have cut and paste, no task list or to do's, no slot for a memory card and no way to use a spare battery to compensate for its minimal talk time. So, after a couple of disappointing hours, broken up by a few minutes of joy watching a video I'd posted to YouTube, I took it back and bought a black Centro. A little fumbling and I was able to plug it in, sync and go. Still no WiFi and the web browser is hopelessly slow but I have all of my contacts, my calendar, my lists of To Do's and all of my favorite programs in a sleek, functional package.
It's a tool, not a toy. The IPhone is sexy, sleek and futuristic but like that subprime mortgage that seems too good to be true it's something that is destined to disappoint. Unfortunately, we need to see Palm step up and reclaim its role as the leading provider of great gear with features people need and can use.
this is a pretty cool phone but the only thing i dont like about it is that you cant assign a personal ringtone to a certain contact.
hey i was just wondering if anyone knows how to set a ringtone for text messaging. on the phone, it says i can change the text messaging ringtone, but i have no idea how. if someone could help me with that, i'd be so happy :)
Can we still comfortably type on the tiny qwerty keypad of the Centro using only one hand? Just curious because I can do that on the non-qwerty keypad of the regular phones.
I love this phone!!! I am so glad Christmas is 15 days away because I GET A PALM CENTRO!!!
After owning about every major smartphone out there, Iphone, Blackberrys (curve,pearl,world) Treo (600-755 both P&W), Moto Q..etc.. I have to say that the Centro finally has everything I want. When I got it the salespeople were trying to get me into a Blackberry Bold...The thing is the size of a brick!
I don't know...The Centro is perfect..and so is the Palm OS...I don't care what people say..the text bundling feature is still the best out there..bar none.
The problem with the Iphone is that you cannot help but look like a douche using it. It is like driving a "smart car". It's cool until an SUV destroys you in an accident.
Some things are best left alone. Apple is a joke.
Worst phone I ever had, six months of dropping calls. Ended up getting a Blackberry
I have a new GSM unlocked Palm centro in Argentina, like every body ´round the globe, my centro freezes frequently on incoming calls, palm aknowledges this problem , and sez its workin on solution , a firmware upadate or something, but yet no solutions from them, the centro is available for allmost year and a half now.
Any one has a solution for me, otherwise it´s a great phone-palm for my line of work. PLEASE HELP!
I am looking for an inexpensive dash mount for my Palm Cetro that has the 2.5 to 3.5 jack built in. I would like to be able to just set the phone in the holder and plug it into my car stereo at the same time. Is there a product like this?
CAn you tell me how to completely turn my centro off when I go on a plane. I can turn phone function off but thats all.
I HATE THE PALM CENTRO!!!!!!!! All the quirks that annoyed me have come to a volcanic eruption since it decides to put itself in HOTSYNC and crash my phone..I have sat for hours getting new Palm Centro's from the repair store, only to have it happen again. Sprint is keeping its customers hostage, not allowing us to switch to another brand of phone, since this phone obviously has some huge engineering issues. Every other supervisor on the phone denies the problem could possibly be WITH THE PHONE! When I meet 3 people in 1 week that had their Palm Centro crash into the Hotsynch mode, without them connecting it to a computer, or touching any button that said to go into Hotsynch...it's time for Sprint to acknowledge the HUGE PINK ELEPHANT IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM!! Some reps from Sprint and Repair give you the wink, or share that their friends have the same problem with this model phone, but Sprint demands that I, a 5 year "silver customer" resolve the problem by PURCHASING A NEW PHONE, or wait 4 months until MY RENEWAL IS UP, and then spend more money to upgrade to a different phone...OR they will send me another piece of crap phone that they know will do the same thing... I predict Sprint will be out of business by the end of the year by doing their high paying customers like this...I will get a new company if I have to take money out of my pocket to replace a phone they sold me ($100 of my money, plus my upgrade credit). I told them this, and they still won't allow me to replace the phone with a equal or lesser value phone. I am on my 3rd replacement phone and missed business calls and important family calls for the 4th time, and spent an hour in repair, without getting my problem resolved. Repair gave me a ticket acknowledging my phone being replaced 3 times in 1 month, because of getting stuck in Hotsynch, and the Sprint Corporate store and Sprint Customer service refuse to honor it..they need to get a class action suit against them...they still collect the service fee, but the phone is inoperable...a brick at this point..
well i think that there needs to be some kind of software for the centro os so i can print to my dell or at least transfer documents to my comp.
Im just looking on how to work this centro i got. i have had it for one day and i still havent found out how to use the bluetooth
Hello,
The Motorola Droid Bionic has been buzzing around the internet for quite some time, it's caused a lot of confusion and chaos through out the internet. The Bionic was supposed to be one of Verizon's first handsets to be fully LTE-equipped. But due to complications, the project was dumped - but the name Droid Bionic does still live on a phone that was formally known as the Motorola Targa.
Bionic Accessories
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