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Pressing the Select button and holding it for two seconds will switch from whatever the current application is to the Launcher. That works in almost all programs, but a few third party programs override that somehow. Pressing and holding the Select button while in the Launcher opens the Category drop-down box, which can be scrolled with the NavPad as well. That allows the user, using only the Navigator, to access any program on the device. Unfortunately, there is no way to change Categories in any other program without tapping the screen itself, not even in the PIM apps. That's a large but very common omission that keeps the Tungsten T from being truly one-handed (or one-thumbed).
As stated earlier, the Tungsten T includes a high-quality voice recorder in ROM. The one-handed operation in the Voice Memo application is not as good as it could be, unfortunately, but the feature set is nice. Recordings are saved as simple wav files to RAM or a storage card, and an included conduit can save the wav files out to the desktop, where they can be accessed directly through Palm Desktop. Voice Memo recordings can also be set as a one-time alarm. When the alarm goes off, a pre-selected system sound will play and then the recording will play. We'd still prefer distinctive alarms in the Date Book itself, but it's a start.
 | Palm includes several programs to help get connected with a phone
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The device also includes a World Clock applet in ROM, which is automatically triggered when the Select button is pressed while the device is off, just as on the m100 series.
Most of the new software is on one of the two included CDs. The first CD includes Palm Desktop 4.1 with a few extra conduits and programs as well as Chapura Pocket Mirror for MS Outlook synchronization. The second CD includes over a dozen third party programs, some full editions some shareware.
Most surprising, the Tungsten T does not include the NetFront web browser developed by PalmSource and Access Systems America. Instead, it includes Palm's own proxy-based browser, Web Pro, developed in partnership with Novarra. The browser supports most current web standard, including HTML 4.0, XHTML 1.0, cHTML (iMode), CSS 1, Javascript 1.5, and WML 1.2, as well as support for caching, bookmarks, and cookies.
Also included are an SMS client for sending SMS messages through a connected phone, a simple WAP Browser, a Phone Dialer, and VersaMail, Palm's new e-mail client and the successor to MultiMail. VersaMail supports HotSync mail synchronization as well as direct POP and IMAP connections for multiple simultaneous accounts. The account setup wizard allows custom configuration or has pre-defined settings for a number of e-mail account providers and ISPs, such as Yahoo!, NetZero, EarthLink, and Apple .MAC.
VersaMail also supports attachment conversion for certain types of files. MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint files can be automatically converted during the HotSync process to and from DataViz Documents To Go format. Documents To Go Professional is included with the device. Other formats are not currently converted, but third party developers can develop plugins to support other file types, such as images.
Palm also includes a Phone Link wizard to help set up a Bluetooth and GSM/GPRS connection. A few phone/carrier profiles are included, and as new models are supported additional drivers will be available for download.
The CD also includes BlueChat and BlueBoard. BlueBoard is a Bluetooth-based whiteboard-type image editing program. Users create an on-the-fly conference and can then all edit the same same on-screen image simultaneously. BlueChat is a Bluetooth-based chat program that allows users to create ad-hoc one-on-one instant messaging-style connections with any user in range. We foresee a lot of employees talking about a presenter behind their backs this way.
Bundled third party software includes the aforementioned Documents To Go Professional Edition, now standard on mid- and high-range Palm-branded devices, as well as Adobe Acrobat Reader for Palm OS. There is also a simple but functional photo viewing program, ArcSoft PhotoBase.
Availability
The Tungsten T is available now for $499 USD.
Conclusion
The Tungsten T is Palm's first ARM-based device, and by the looks of it a winner. The overall design is true to Palm's history; sleak, elegant, well-engineered, well-designed, well-integrated, and with an overall good feel. In short, the "Zen of Palm". The Navigation Pad should be adopted by every licensee immediately, and the one-handed operation is on the whole well-designed. The telescoping stylus is a novel and excellent solution to the size issue posed by the compact design of the Tungsten T. The sliding case itself is well-designed, better than we expected, but some users will still prefer a virtual graffiti area. Which is more important, a larger screen or a smaller overall device, will most likely boil down to personal preference. The integrated Bluetooth radio and phone connection wizards are part of Palm's new emphasis on connectivity as the "killer app" for the next generation of devices, and puts Palm in the lead in the Palm OS world in that department.
Just as the Tungsten T shows all the areas where Palm has traditionally been strong, though, it also shows the areas where Palm has traditionally been weak. In particular, the "Zen of Palm" gets taken to mean "light feature set". The lack of an included audio player is disappointing, even if one is forthcoming. The limited range on the Infrared port is similarly disenheartening, as adding universal remote features to a handheld in this day and age seems like a no-brainer. As a multimedia device, the Tungsten T far surpasses any Palm-branded device before it, but doesn't quite surpass Sony whose high-end devices are still the jukebox of the Palm OS world. The one-handed navigation is better than any other Palm OS device, but still has a few gaps.
In all, we really like the Tungsten T. Users with Bluetooth mobile phones should definitely consider the Tungsten T as well as users who are primarily concerned with size and rapid access to standard information.
What's positive: Small and elegant formfactor, Bluetooth connectivity, D-Pad and one-handed navigation
What's negative: Multimedia features still limited, short-range IR
| Design: | 8/10 |
| Connectivity: | 8/10 |
| Specifications: | 7/10 |
| Software: | 7/10 |
| Value: | 7/10 |
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iSW Score:
7.4/10
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Pros:
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Cons:
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| Conclusion: |
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%
Poor
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Price and availability
Available in the U.S. in December 1969, the is priced at TBA .
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