How would you change the Palm Centro?

Palm's Centro hasn't exactly lit the world on fire, but might it have if it were simply tweaked in a few key areas? As we've done a number of times before, we're presenting to you yet another Palm device that could probably use some refining, and we're curious to know what alterations you would've made if given the chance. It's been an interesting past couple of months for Palm, to say the very least, and while the firm's CEO has shockingly responded to an open letter, saddened us all by announcing yet another OS delay and inexplicably (okay, maybe not so much) nixed the Foleo during that period, it still found time to officially introduce the sub-$100 Centro at an admittedly underwhelming DigitalLife press conference.

We're not setting out to beat a proverbial dead horse or anything -- after all, you know precisely how we feel about the device -- but there's nothing like a healthy dose of criticism (or adoration, to be fair) from the masses. So, here's your chance to let loose and tell the rest of us Earthlings exactly how you would've re-engineered the Centro. Are those keys a tad too diminutive for your liking? Is the whole "Sprint-only" thing cramping your style? Or is Palm's latest darling exactly what your heart desired? Rant away.

[chris j @ Oct 19th 2007 7:20PM]

evrything

[dan2ktj @ Oct 19th 2007 7:20PM]

Put it on a Super Model Diet. Needs to slim down.

[mac snooper @ Oct 19th 2007 11:33PM]

i agree with you 100 % and direct push support for FOLDERS would be great or I would just take being able to sync folders PERIOD

[Darwin Smith @ Oct 20th 2007 4:23PM]

Probably stop production. It seems like the world is taking a step back with this phone.

[BUBBA123 @ Oct 19th 2007 7:27PM]

It needs a new OS, This OS is gettin old.
And it could lose a few pounds

[Drew @ Oct 20th 2007 12:24AM]

Just about to say that:
-Slim it down
- And defiantly new OS

[mgtreo @ Oct 19th 2007 7:28PM]

Burn it and start over. Oh yeah, and be innovative the second time around.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 19th 2007 7:28PM]

win mo 6 and a big trim down. It's a bit too fat

[Jeremy @ Oct 20th 2007 1:45PM]

Yeah what is up with that? Not only in the Centro but in all smart phones, why do they need to go smaller then SD, SD is really small, mini SD and Micro SD are pointless, they are actually to small, its not like the power requirements are much different. Any difference in power consumption between micro-mini (whatever), and SD is negligible at most.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:26PM]

You speak good words my friend Jeremy, good words. And I don't think anyone notices but my name refers to me being a Chicago cubs fan.

[homey @ Dec 30th 2007 9:14PM]

add a Microvision Pico projector

[K- @ Oct 19th 2007 9:05PM]

give it a better OS... maybe a little bit better of a physical design would be nice too, but not fully needed

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 19th 2007 7:30PM]

sd card instead of micro sd too

[mushrooshi @ Oct 19th 2007 7:30PM]

give it a cool name.

Part of the reason why people liked the RAZR was the name, it was cool, and the first thing people thought of was an awesome phone that runs fast is sharp and is thin. Maybe not all of them, but they certainly thought of something cool.

Centro... It sounds like a generic name.

but hardwae wise, no cheap plastic or two tone bezel. Take notes from the apple, just dont copy it.

Oh, and make different versions of software. I for one would prefer my phone to run easy-to-download games, make it MAC FRIENDLY, and have it more centered around media but still haev the smartphoen aspect.

[ldrn @ Oct 19th 2007 7:34PM]

Make the screen flush -- or remotely close to it -- new icon theme, color the silver bar, and port Microb (the small and fast version of Mozilla Nokia's N800 and company use) to it.

Some more resolution couldn't hurt, but that's more of a major upgrade. It's too late for the color and making the screen flush, but the other two items... it's not too late yet. Then again, I understand Palm needs to focus on their new OS if they're ever going to release it.

[Me @ Oct 20th 2007 12:11PM]

Idrn

"Some more resolution couldn't hurt"

Are you kidding? The screen is 320X320 and only 2" across. It has a higher resolution then most smartphones on the market and it's only $99!

Can you people be a little more picky? I'd like it to make me breakfast in the morning to but the dang thing is only $99! What do you expect?

Does it compare spec for spec with some of the newer competition...No...but it's only $99 when those devices are 3 or 4 times the price.

Would you rag on a Honda Civic for not have the same features and trim as a Lexus? I think not.

[ldrn @ Oct 20th 2007 12:26PM]

No, I'm not kidding. :) I have good eyesight, so I like devices with higher resolutions. Hence, I'd like the Centro more if it had a higher resolution. The question was "how would you change the Palm Centro", after all.

If it could make me breakfast, too -- well, that fits my definition of a killer innovative feature, but I don't see it coming any time soon.

(By the way, I love my Honda Civic. Great car.)

[lassi @ Oct 21st 2007 10:04AM]

"it's only 99" is bullsh**.

unlocked treo's start from a little under 400$. 99$ is subbed price, which is just the first downpayment on the phone(couldn't find a price for centro, probably 500+ anyways)..

[tony @ Oct 19th 2007 7:35PM]

played with it a few day's ago at the sprint store,

Things I Like:
I ♥ EV-DO
I ♥ Palm OS (Despite it's lack of features, it never crashes and is 100% reliable, much better than WM)
I ♥ Centro form factor
I ♥ PAM
I ♥ Sprint

Things I Don't Like:
Touch-Screen is not so responsive using your finger only the stylus.
Small Keys (seriously palm is this for people or midgets?)
No Wifi

Still if you don't have a smart phone, then heres your chance to get one for only $100. Although the catch is you need to sign up for that $25 data plan ;-)

[master_sword @ Oct 19th 2007 8:28PM]

Are you implying that midgets (or the politically correct term, dwarves) are not people?

[craig @ Oct 19th 2007 9:24PM]

Never crashes. Haha! You mean never multitasks, always crashes.

[OfficeDespot @ Oct 20th 2007 2:05AM]

Midgets/dwarves happen to have fatter fingers than 'normal' people do. So they'd be twice as hosed as you or I.

[Razor @ Oct 20th 2007 7:35AM]

Tony I agree with you 100%. The only thing I would add would be a standard audio jack! If you want something to compete with the "hipster" crowd, put a flippin audio jack on it so they (and me*) can plug headphones in to it!

I also wish to have better interaction with the Mac platform and from what I hear Vista support is even lacking.

The Palm OS is very stable and multitasking isn't really that big of a deal. It is a phone after all and as long as my call comes through while I am listening to music or reviewing my calendar I'm happy.

* Legal Disclaimer: I am not a hipster nor do I claim to be one. I just would like to have a standard headphone jack. :-)

[david @ Oct 20th 2007 5:17PM]

make it a full multi-touch screen, put a apple logo on it and call it an iphone!

[robert @ Oct 19th 2007 9:41PM]

Jeez...


Are you kidding me?

The reason I bought a Blackberry 8300 is because it wasn't an iPhone

I was going to buy an iPhone, but it was really disappointing.

[WilCo @ Oct 19th 2007 7:38PM]

I admit that I have not yet played with one, but I think my wishes from the last time still apply:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/21/dear-palm-its-time-for-an-intervention/comments/6838573/

[APK @ Oct 19th 2007 7:39PM]

I am the target audience, I don't like cell phones but can use the basics of a smart phone. Although i have only had it a few days I like it a lot. It seems to do everything I need and surprisingly with my big hands the keyboard works well. Personally I would like Wifi and an updated os.

[starkruzr @ Oct 19th 2007 7:45PM]

Linux.

WiFi.

Capacitive rather than resistive touchscreen.

That's actually it.

[PeterF @ Oct 19th 2007 10:02PM]

oh wow multitouch how useful! Lets make pictures bigger and smaller by squeezing them!!!!!!

[starkruzr @ Oct 19th 2007 11:37PM]

Everyone says this when I mention capacitive touchscreens, as if they don't know that multitouch is not the only benefit. I know you couldn't possibly be that stupid, Peter, but let me spell it out for you anyway:

Capacitive touchscreens enable a finger interface rather than a pen interface. With resistive touchscreens, you simply have to press too hard with too much area for me to really be comfortable with using a finger. They also fail the durability test. Capacitive touchscreens, on the other hand, can be built into glass, and require a bare minimum of effort to make a selection on the screen.

Pen input is not the way to go with cell phones. Somehow, Apple is the only company that has figured this out. No, HTC does not count, as they are still using resistive touchscreens and an OS which is not designed for finger input.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 19th 2007 7:44PM]

"Palm's Centro hasn't exactly lit the world on fire, but might it have if it were simply tweaked in a few key areas?"

What if I wouldn't. It's a nice little smartphone for amazing price.

And a little reminder: sometimes it's the most boring things that change life in the most exciting ways, by enabling us to build upon them.

[Darnell @ Oct 19th 2007 11:13PM]

I agree, for that price it should make Palm a tidy profit off the pre-teen/teen set.

[Pedro @ Oct 20th 2007 1:37AM]

I totally agree. I've had mine for a few days and it is a delight.
It's smaller, lighter, and MUCH faster/more responsive than my Treo 700p, but retains all the key things that make the Treo great.

I too am an Engadget junkie/gadget whore and I agree that the OS needs an enema... but, "if it ain't broke don't fix it" is true wisdom and this thing does what I need all day long. The iPhone, though gorgeous, innovative, sexy and desirable, simply does NOT do what I need (e.g., copy and paste, easily store/manage notes, have third party programs, etc.), at *this point* at least, was simply not an option (sadly, b/c I want one terribly!).

Finally, I have medium-to-big hands and I think the keyboard is actually BETTER than that of the Treo 700p--the feel is actually nicer and am I just as fast!

[Rikko @ Oct 19th 2007 7:49PM]

Palm OS Garnet is a pig and has a lot of niggling bugs that I'm sure have driven a lot of developers away (not to mention their godawful documentation of the new SDKs) - but I'd rather they stay with a "stable" OS than try some weird interim thing that will just further annoy developers.

It's cheap, that's good. But it's ugly. The keyboard buttons are too small and there seems to be an awful lot of wasted space on the front of the device where useful buttons could go (like, a slightly scaled-up keyboard). How about a keyboard will TALLER buttons? Sure it looks out of proportion and silly, but even that makes it easier to type, especially with thumbs.

It's also way too big. Apple has really raised the bar for form factor with the iPhone and that's going to be the wave of the future. Sure, for a hundred bucks it's attractive, but I'm sick and tired of the "Treo bulge" in my pocket and the Centro, being the exact same size as the Treo (sorry, a couple of millimeters isn't smaller, it's still fat) holds no appeal.

End result is I see Palm as a company that really doesn't care anymore and it's a real shame. Innovation has stopped - which is fine since they're clearly building new and exciting things in house, but then they need to stop wasting resources on these lame duck releases until then.

[grundler @ Oct 20th 2007 12:36AM]

So it's a "treo bulge" after all... and until here i thought u just really liked me. sadness. :-( guess i should have realized this considering the size of your...

[Sam Zebian @ Oct 19th 2007 7:51PM]

Put windows mobile 6 on it, give it wifi, remove the silver bar in the middle and offer it on verizon

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 19th 2007 11:06PM]

i already said win mo 6. Read the comments.

[Marty @ Oct 19th 2007 9:17PM]

Oh right, you have WinMo 6 comment locked up.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 19th 2007 7:51PM]

one more thing.... A NES emulator! that would be awesome. It should support the iphones 3rd party apps.

[Ben @ Oct 19th 2007 8:48PM]

LJP ... already exists ... very good NES emulator for Palm

[[e-mail] @ Dec 10th 2007 8:45PM]

More memory, faster processor. like QUADRUPLE the memory. AND an update to LJP to work with the built-in keyboard. and an IR port thats compatable with the Remote Control apps available. prettier operating system. it works fine and does what its supposed to do, but its ugly as home-made sin.
And everytime you end a call a window pops up to tell you how long the call was. I DON'T CARE HOW LONG THE CALL WAS. you have to hit a button to make this go away or wait 5 seconds. so 5 seconds isn't long for over a week it builds up to a long time if you use your centro a lot like me. blazer is better than the browser on most phones, but safari is better on the iPhone. but Opera Mini 4 is almost approachingly comparable and i get much enjoyment from it. 3 megapixel camera OR a flash. either one would be nice.

[Delvis343 @ Oct 19th 2007 7:54PM]

A new OS.
Bigger keys, who needs a full keyboard if the keys are too small to use them?
Less weight
Higher resolution screen

[davidnotdave @ Oct 19th 2007 8:10PM]

Advertise the heck out of it! At $99 it is what it should be. Oh, a little fresening of the UI would be good....

The real important changes should be in the "new" business Centro. How are these spec changes:

400 mh processor
double the memory
flush screen
rubberized (feeling) back & sides
3 pixel camera with auto focus & flash
way better
Wi Fi
GPS w/Google Maps in ROM
3.5 jack for audio
micro USB connector
and of course, a New UI with simplicity of Garnet, but multitasking

[ilya @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:55PM]

Well put Dave.
Add to that a slider design - have a screen that's at least 160x240, if not more, that slides up to reveal a full keyboard - lots of phones have it, look it up.
Have your keyboard take up the entire width of the phone - my brand new Centro is usable, with my 5'9" man's thumbs, but just barely.
GPS - definitely! Allready add it already - what gives? You can't even get TeleNav on your phone - enough with the waiting!
The 1.3 megapixel camera is baaarely good enough - we've had 2MP cameras in phones for YEARS - consumer point-and-shoots are up to 10MP now. I'm not asking for an optical zoom or anything, but please, at least 2mp? The current camera takes entirely too long to snap a shot.
The expansion card MUST be able to be extracted from the outside, 650-style - what's this business with having to remove the battery cover AND open a door? Some of us actually like to dump content on our by now HUGE capacity memory cards. Oh yeah, add High Capacity read capability - the MicroSDs in the HD variety are up to 8GB by now - eight! Peophe used to ooh and aah when I upgraded my laptop harddrive to 4GB!
Others have said it, it bears repeating - dump the connector for a mini USB - sync AND charge. And a 3.5mm audio jack - enough already with this business of adapters. The 2.5mm worked back when alls you needed was a one-earpiece handsfree mike. I want to use the headphones that *I* like, and not have to be shelling out $30 for a chep stereo/earpiece combo.

Add an ultra-bright LED somewhere on the side, so I can use the phone as a flashlight in a pinch. You already have battery power, how hard can this be? an LED and a little button - it can be on the side or back or wherever the hell out of the way you want. You wouldn't be the first ones to do it, but score some extra points.
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile support - your hardware already supports it! Why do I need to shell out $20 for a tiny piece of software for my $99 phone, just because you couldn't put in a couple of man-months to build it in? Y'know, this is NOT a phone anymore - if I wanted a phone, I'd still have a candybar Nokia POS from six years ago. You have the potential to have a GREAT entertainment device - so achieve your potential!
Finally, you included and IM client! About bloody time. And dropped that atrocious RealPlayer.
The hardware Silence slider is a MUST to keep - don't mess with that.
Having said all that, I'll add that I *love* my new Centro - finally, finally it's getting closer to the form factor and the phone it should be.

[Craig @ Oct 19th 2007 8:04PM]

What would I *expect* for $99? Probably a lot less than the Centro already gives me, so for that, Palm deserves quite a bit of credit.

Is the Centro perfect? Nope. Is *any* device perfect? No. Would we consumers be better off with Palm gone and buried? Again, no, not by a long shot, because then we'd be left with what...Nokia, iPhones, and Windows Mobile...only one of which has done anything remotely innovative in the past 3 years. The more phone makers, the better, so if only for competition's sake, let's applaud Palm for at least trying to bring smartphones to a new market.

[xbit @ Oct 19th 2007 9:27PM]

A slightly smaller and cheaper version counts as innovation in your book?

Nokia has been pushing smartphones down into the mid-range, mass market for years. In fact, you could say their second ever S60 phone (the 3650) was aimed at that market.

Take a look at the Nokia 6120 classic or E51 if you want some real innovation. Cheap, small, responsive and open.

What has Palm done of any significance since the Treo 650? Added WiFi? Added GPS? Over-hauled their OS? Created a new form-factor?

You can complain about Nokia and HTC all you like, but they're light years ahead of Palm when it comes to innovation. They keep pushing with every device, adding small increments of additional functionality. It doesn't look like much from device to device, but look three years back and they've come a LONG way.

[Craig @ Oct 19th 2007 9:44PM]

[i]A slightly smaller and cheaper version counts as innovation in your book?[/i]

Incremental innovation is still innovation...just ask Apple...or Motorola...or Nokia...or Microsoft. You, yourself, defend such a progression in the very last line of your comment.

And where do I "complain about HTC"? Why do you think you need to defend a company that isn't even mentioned? I think they have support groups for that kind of insecurity.

[Cal @ Oct 19th 2007 11:33PM]

This is essentially the same phone as the treo 650 but with more memory. It SHOULD cost 99 dollars, and it SHOULD be small. That's not innovation, incremental or otherwise, it's repackaging a 3 year old product, again.

[David Valcin @ Oct 19th 2007 8:08PM]

Magically turn it into an iPhone (at the same price point, of course)!!!

[ldrn @ Oct 19th 2007 10:13PM]

At least change it to have the iPhone's 3rd party app support! When I think about all the possibly malicious applications that could take up bandwidth or non-pay ringtones I might deliberately install on other phones, I get worried sick.