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June 25, 2003 |
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Smart phones just got smarter with the unveiling of Handspring's new Treo 600. It won't be out until later this year, but readers are already buzzing about it. Plus, we finally satiate your need for news on MSN Messenger 6.0 with a review of the public beta. |
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Treo 600
One thing about CNET readers: you're not slow on the uptake. As a matter of fact, you usually keep us as editors up-to-date on what products will be hottest over the next few months. The buzz over the new Treo started a couple of weeks ago with a lot of interest from readers, and last week, we got a look at the upcoming 600. The question now is whether this Treo can compete in the now fast growing arena of smart phones. When the first Treo came out years ago, it was a real novelty; now, it's more part of the pack. To compete, the 600 is totally redesigned, giving up the flip-phone style for a more compact candy-bar shape. It also adds a Secure Digital card expansion slot, a built-in camera, and a new QWERTY minikeyboard. Biz types will appreciate that it will run Palm OS 5.2 with 32MB of built-in RAM, include a faster 144MHz ARM processor, and build in a new browser for full Web surfing and secure access to corporate intranets. Salivating yet? You'll have to wait until fall for it to arrive. Word is that it will cost no more than $500, depending on carrier. Look for our full review closer to the release. |
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MSN Messenger 6.0
For the last few weeks, you've been hunting for info on MSN Messenger 6.0, the latest version of the popular instant-messaging app; last week, our editors answered. So after the hype, does this anticipated release deliver? After playing around with the public beta, we think it does. With this version, Microsoft adds Webcam support, online gaming, and productivity enhancements such as peer-to-peer file sharing. You say other IM clients already have that stuff? Sure, but our editors believe Messenger does them all better. Unfortunately, if you want to chat with IMers from other services such as AIM or Yahoo, you'll still have to rely on third-party software, such as Trillian. But existing MSN Messenger users will definitely want to upgrade and may also want to try out the beta--at their own risk, of course. |
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Apple
Even thought the really big Apple announcements of faster Power Macs and the OS X update happened this Monday, you ardent readers have been hep to the news for a few days. Maybe it's because specs of the slick new machines were posted "accidentally" to the Apple store Web site last week? Just maybe. Regardless, it was still exciting to see and hear more about the upcoming Power Mac G5, which CEO Steve Jobs touted as "the world's fastest personal computer." The speed comes from IBM's 64-bit PowerPC 970 and whopping 1GHz system bus on the highest end. Plus, the G5 presents a new look for Power Mac: a sleek, aluminum casing with a metal mesh backing. It may be boxy, but it's still right pretty. On top of the big G5, Apple also showed off Mac OS X 10.3 Panther. (What is it with these jungle names?) Panther add lots of support for Windows file sharing, networking, printing, and VPN. Most importantly, its interface takes on a lot of the look and feel of Windows, particularly the new Finder. Get more in-depth info on both in our Tech Trends Watches and look for reviews of the G5s closer to when they hit stores in August. |
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Nokia 6800
Here's a cell phone that text-messaging fans can truly flip over. The Nokia 6800 manages to squeeze a full keyboard into its compact flip body, which may make it a great alternative to bulkier smart phone models. While the Chiclet-sized keys may be a bit hard to master, anyone who does a lot of wireless e-mail or text or instant messaging will learn how, if for no other reason than to stop typing on a numeric keypad. At heart, the 6800 is a solid cell phone that works on GPRS networks in its own right. But it also bundles software for tracking investments, and its organizer synchronizes with Outlook or Notes on a PC. The 6800 is definitely not for everyone; that keyboard may seem outrageous and useless for someone who hardly ever or never texts. But text fans will definitely rejoice now that they have a compact cell that caters to their needs. |
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Xbox
Last week, some Xbox fans and gaming fans in general got hyped up by news out of Japan that Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer had announced during a press event that the next-generation version of the Xbox video game console would arrive in 2006, later than expected. But a few days later, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the Japanese paper that reported the statement, retracted its story. Guess we knew it was too good to be true that Microsoft would let that kind of big news slip out without fanfare. But that won't stop the rumor mill from grinding away. Talk is already swirling about Microsoft switching graphics-chip suppliers--from Nvidia to rival ATI. And while Sony refuses to comment, the word on the PlayStation 3 is that the Cell processor expected to power the console is taking longer to develop than expected, which may hold its market date up significantly. But perhaps these rumors could prove as wrong as the Japanese newspaper report. |
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