RumorMill?: Palm Preparing Tungsten T2

[Ed Hardy]

Rumors are circulating that Palm intends to release an updated version of its Tungsten T. If real, the new one will offer twice as much memory and a better screen.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Ru...ng_Tungsten_T2

[pocketfactory]

Based on this photo and rumored specs, it certainly is within the realm of reason that this is real. The only thing that irks me is.....this is exactly the device Palm should have shipped back in Nov. 2002. Especially with regards to the display. Palm chose a Reflective screen at a time when the entire PDA industry was moving en masse to Transflective. Big mistake.

I hope Palm switched to xScale. The 144mhz OMAP processor currently used in the Z71 and T|T is unimpressive, and the DSP chip (which developers have shown no interest in) is all but worthless. It's also, I suspect, the reason why both devices have weak audio. Reviews of the Tungtsten|C (which features a 400mhz xScale processor) show the audio being VERY loud. I could see Palm fitting a 200-300mhz xScale in there quite easily.

The other specs; 32MB of Ram...Transflective display, are a must!

If this device turns out to be real, I may very well ebay my Zire and go with this instead. We'll see.

[\^/]

Just to let you know, when you mention the z|71s screen, itis transflective, definately not reflective

[kculp]

I am surprised at all the attention this is getting. We need to remember the definition of the word "rumor."

When I looked at the pictures of this new Tungsten 2, I can't help but think someone is having a little fun. There were some pixels distorted near the "T2" and the appearance is otherwise exactly like the original.

[hypachris]

Originally posted by Foo Fighter
I hope Palm switched to xScale. The 144mhz OMAP processor currently used in the Z71 and T|T is unimpressive, and the DSP chip (which developers have shown no interest in) is all but worthless. It's also, I suspect, the reason why both devices have weak audio. Reviews of the Tungtsten|C (which features a 400mhz xScale processor) show the audio being VERY loud. I could see Palm fitting a 200-300mhz xScale in there quite easily.

What does the CPU's MHz speed have to do with MP3 playback quality?? Nothing.

I can get my old Pentium 120 MHz to play back MP3's at a high bitrate, CD quality level. As slow as it is compared to modern day standards, it does NOT affect the sound quality of the MP3 playback..

Tungsten C's loudness is not caused by the higher MHz X-scale CPU. Loudness is from the amplification circuit.....as you know, even $10 walkmans have a better loudness than Zire 71 and Tungsten C.....and neither of them have/need 400 MHz processors to get loudness.

Zire 71 and Tungsten T didn't have to have weak audio....and it hasn't to do with their ARM CPU's, I can assure you. It's more about the circuitry which produces the sound, the amplification of it, etc.

[imported_fidodido]

Originally posted by hypachris
What does the CPU's MHz speed have to do with MP3 playback quality?? Nothing.

I can get my old Pentium 120 MHz to play back MP3's at a high bitrate, CD quality level. As slow as it is compared to modern day standards, it does NOT affect the sound quality of the MP3 playback..

Tungsten C's loudness is not caused by the higher MHz X-scale CPU. Loudness is from the amplification circuit.....as you know, even $10 walkmans have a better loudness than Zire 71 and Tungsten C.....and neither of them have/need 400 MHz processors to get loudness.

Zire 71 and Tungsten T didn't have to have weak audio....and it hasn't to do with their ARM CPU's, I can assure you. It's more about the circuitry which produces the sound, the amplification of it, etc.

I dont know which one of the reason is that the audio system is suffering, but one thing is for sure.. and if that if they dont improve their audio hardware, they are going to loose a lot of their current members, including me.

[Take1]

I agree the audio volume (and in some instances audio quality) has been very poor on Palm devices. Why they neglected this aspect of their product is anyone's guess, but they had better improve this on future models! I dumped my T|T primarily because of the audio.

If this device can deliver at least Sony ( even better, iPAQ) quality sound, a transflective screen, and 6 - 8 hours of use @ med. brightness w/BT off, it'll be my next device. Otherwise, the new Sony (prototype) is on the table and the new 2200 iPAQ has me VERY interested (removeable battery!).

[prioritizer]

I'm surprised no-one has suggested this enhancement to the T2 - a camera (like the Z71's) that is exposed when the Graffiti slider is pulled open. That would make for an exceptional machine if all the other rumoured features are there as well....

Comments anyone?