the convergence continues...it has 32 mb of traditional memory and 32 mb of CF...
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Multipalm All-in-One PDA
By Sumi Das
July 14, 2000
Multipalm PDA
Lately it seems that our favorite gadgets have begun to cross-pollinate. Cell phones offer PDA features. PDAs incorporate MP3 capabilities. Just about everything is connected to the Net in some way. The hot products at the recent JavaOne convention in San Francisco were no exception to this convergence trend.
For example, the Multipalm from Cyberbank runs the Teapot OS (a nod to Java, perhaps?) from Korean company Aromasoft. Now this is one OS we haven't seen before. At first glance, it seems eerily similar to Windows. The Multipalm is a handheld device that's a little on the hefty side, almost the size of a portable CD player. It has PDA functionality, so you'll find the standard schedule and address book features, but it's also a CDMA device, so it can provide wireless connectivity. A built-in browser allows you to access websites, and of course you can send email. Hot keys in the left column enable one-touch access to all of the above-mentioned features. There's even a key labeled SMS. That's for instant messaging. You can also use the Multipalm as an MP3 player. The device has a speaker, a microphone, and a handy headphone jack that allows you to listen to your music privately.
Multipalm offers 32MB of RAM and 32MB of flash memory. A removable storage slot for Compact Flash cards on the top of the unit means you can swap out your music, other files, and data fairly quickly. Now because it's a CDMA device, Multipalm works as a phone, too. But as you can imagine, holding a wider-than-average PDA up to your ear may feel rather awkward. Though we didn't get a glimpse of it at the JavaOne conference, Aromasoft tells us that with the Multipalm comes with a handset. Judging from a picture, the handset appears to be slightly thicker and longer than a dry-erase marker. It incorporates a numeric key pad and can be used as a stylus. Bluetooth technology will enable users to put the Multipalm in their briefcases and keep the handset in a more convenient location, like a pocket.
The Multipalm isn't available yet. The final shipping version will be available in Korea later this year. US distribution isn't known yet, but we do know that it will sell for somewhere between $700 and $800. This may sound like a high price to pay for a gadget, but considering the fact that the Multipalm is a PDA, cell phone, handheld Web browser, email device, and MP3 player all rolled into one, to some, it may be worth the cash.
Company: Cyberbank
Price: $700 to $800
Available: Late 2000 in Korea
Category: Handheld Device
Platform: Teapot OS |
