Palm is back! But this 3.3-inch device isn't a phone at all
Palm is back! But this 3.3-inch device isn't a phone at all
Phones
Remember all those little itty bitty Palm phones from several years ago.
Well Palm is back but this isn't a phone at all instead this little itty bitty device is a companion.
For your regular phone.
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The new Palm pairs to your existing phone to become a second screen that you can really easily slide into your pocket, or into accessories like a clutch, a bifold wallet or a fitness sleeve.
So you can take it on the go, you just use your main phone again when you come back.
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The Palm runs on Android 8.1 and works with Google Play, which means that you can download any app you want.
But it will work best for basics like Google Maps, responding to messages, and uploading photos, not really for playing games.
Palm is taking its name literally because this thing is actually palm size.
It looks like the smallest iPhone you've ever seen.
Down to its shape and the camera array on the back.
There's a 3.3 inch pinch-to-zoom screen which is important because the onscreen keyboard is miniscule and so is a lot of the text that you're gonna be reading.
Texting is a challenge, even for my smaller hands, but there are three ways to use Google Assistant, and that should help.
The Palm's only button is a power wait key on the side that you can double tap to launch voice assistant or the camera.
Otherwise you use gesture controls to navigate around, and you unlock the device with your face.
Face unlock is only to get into the phone.
You can't use it for mobile payments.
There's a single 12 megapixel for your camera and flash and an 8 megapixel selfie camera on the front.
The Pom uses gorilla glass three on both sides of an aluminum frame.
And did I mention that it's also water resistant for a rating of IP68.
There's a tiny 800 miliamp battery that you charge through a USB-C port, but there's no stand alone headphone jack.
While the Palm will technically synch with your iPhone, apps like iMessage and Facetime won't work.
It integrates best with Android.
To help cut down on your phone addiction, the Palm has a feature called life mode.
Turn it on and you block out most notifications in apps except for the ones you okay in the settings.
Now this next part is very important.
Although the Palm has its own Nano sim card for an LTE data connection, you can't buy it to replace your primary phone.
If you want to make calls or texts you have to use a built-in app that pairs your phone number with the Palm.
But you can still message with the apps that use Wi-fi.
And yes, you'll have to pay a $10 monthly data fee to use the Palm.
The Palm goes on sale in November exclusively with Verizon, and will cost about $350.
And the carrier and Palm are both baking on this being a completely new category of smartphone accessory.
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