There are those, myself included, who wonder at the value of the Palm Foleo, but who are we to judge? The specifications are starting to trickle out, and so perhaps there’s something in there to get excited about:

• 416MHz Intel-Marvel PXA27x processor
• Marathon 2700G graphics with video out
• 128MB of RAM for running applications
• 256MB of non-volatile RAM for storage
• CompactFlash and SD slots
• Wi-Fi
• Wind River Systems Linux

Well, okay, nothing too exciting there, although some of the parts are a bit non-standard. I still think the Foleo’s going to have a tough time getting going in the market, but time will tell. As it appears, that time will come fairly soon.

P-ISM : A Pen-style Personal Networking Gadget Package, basically its a Palm Pilot in a pen. It has some pretty neat features though: a pen-style cellular phone with a handwriting data input function, virtual keyboard, a very small projector, camera scanner, and personal ID key with cashless pass function.

The best part of them all is that they are all connected with one another through short-range wireless technology. The whole set is also connected to the Internet through the cellular phone function. This personal gadget in a minimalistic pen style "enables the ultimate ubiquitous computing".

Personally, I wouldn’t buy it, but what i think has real promise is the keyboard, although my fingers would get super tough from typing on the hard floor or table all day, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Fingers of steel? I’ll take it!

Until next time…

If your palms have been sweating in a anticipation of the release of the coolest gadget to come along since the iPod, then you’ll want to mark your calendar. The iPhone will go on sale at 6 PM in your time zone on June 29. Since the iPhone is brand new, the initial purchases will be the real beta testers. Remember the dead battery in the first iPods that couldn’t be replaced? Still, as soon as the initial bugs have been worked out I’m getting an iPhone.

At least for one CDMA provider.  With disgruntled 700p users on Palm’s heels for improved Bluetooth support, snappier performance, and overall better system stability, Palm issued their highly sought after firmware update for Sprint users only, leaving Verizon users, such as yours truly, crying in the corner for mommy.  Palm has said the Verizon update is "coming soon," which in "Palmspeak" means buy a 755p.

Or maybe Palm wants us to invest in some other contraption.

Even though I am a loyal Apple fan, I am very interested in Palm’s newest addition: The Foleo Mobile Companion. It is a 10-inch wide, Linux-based device that connects wirelessly to your Treo Smartphone and functions similar to that of a large screen and keyboard. While this could mean that the Mobile Companion is none other than an old-fashioned laptop, bear in mind, laptops are much bigger and heavier and don’t connect automatically to your phone. The Foleo contains Bluetooth technology and can be used for working on email or Microsoft documents when the Treo thumb pad proves cumbersome.

This product will be available in the summer at the retail price of $499, after a $100 mail-in rebate.

*Disclaimer: Photo courtesy of Amazon.com*