This very good review doesn't adress the possibility to "connect" a Bluetooth headset. Any reason?Thanks
Palm Centro
Small it may be, but the shrunken size of the Centro doesn’t come without compromise and this is most evident in the two most important aspects of any smartphone – the screen and the keyboard.
With just a 2.2in diagonal, the Centro’s screen is the smallest of any smartphone we’ve seen, but thankfully, it still has the standard Palm OS resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. The screen is clear and bright, and the increased pixel density has the added side-effect of making the screen extremely crisp. That said, you’ll need sharp eyes if you plan on reading ebooks or running intricate applications like DateBK 6. Still, at least Palm makes use of all the available display area – the Centro has finally eradicated the two-pixel border that has plagued Palm OS devices for years.
The small screen also makes navigating with the stylus more problematic than usual. The stylus sits in a silo at the top right of the handset and it’s a good length (if a little bendy – it’s all plastic), but tapping some of Palm OS’s smaller on-screen elements requires pinpoint accuracy. There have been some complaints about stylus navigation being made trickier by the screen being too deeply recessed into the case, but it’s no worse than on other Treo models. The Treo 500, of course, has a screen that’s sits flush on the case, but then it isn’t touch sensitive and runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard.
So, it could be bigger, but the screen is just about usable – and it’s a similar story with the keyboard. The Centro’s keys are almost exactly the same size as those on the Treo 500, but since the case is 8mm narrower, they sit much closer together. They also lack any kind of profile and as a result, require some practice to use with any degree of accuracy.
There is a trick to typing effectively on the Centro, though. The rubbery finish of its key tops has been singled out for criticism by some, but it actually works better than hard plastic. The soft keys have enough give for fingernails to find plenty of purchase and as a result, thumbnail typing proves surprisingly easy and accurate – assuming that you don’t bite yours off, of course.
The rest of the Centro’s keypad has the same layout as the Treo 500’s, just on a smaller scale, but the shortcut buttons and four-way control pad are no less usable for it. Palm has seen fit to restore the ringer mute slider switch on the top of the case – it foolishly omitted this trademark Treo feature from the Treo 500.
Palm OS has changed surprisingly little over the years and Palm has been content to endlessly tweak it to cope with new mobile technology rather than come up with a much-needed revamp. Palm OS 5 has been around since 2002 and version 5.4.9 installed on the Centro doesn’t offer much that wasn’t available six years ago. Nowhere is this more noticeable than the Blazer web browser and it’s laughably inadequate even compared to Pocket Internet Explorer, let alone the iPhone’s Safari.
Still, for all its faults, Palm OS still sets the benchmark for elegant mobile operating system design and its snappy response makes the Centro a pleasure to use, compared to the laggard that is Windows Mobile. Palm OS applications are also notoriously frugal and so the 64Mb of memory isn’t quite so poor as you might think. Palm also helps matters by pre-installing the excellent Documents to Go productivity suite, Google Maps and pTunes for media playback. You’ll need to track down a pair of earphones with a 2.5mm socket to make the most of it though, since Palm just supplies a mono hands-free kit.
The Centro has the same Phone application as the Treo 680 and it makes making and taking calls a positive pleasure. This acts both as a call manager and a program launcher, and even the iPhone could learn a thing or two from the way in which it packs several powerful features into an easy-to-use interface. And, of course, the Centro has Palm’s unbelievably useful threaded SMS application – as copied by Apple for the iPhone.
Call quality is good, and certainly much better than on the Treo 650 and 680, thanks to the loud, clear speaker. The built-in speaker for hands-free calls is impressively loud too, but being on the back of the case, it sounds rather muffled if you leave the Centro flat on the desk.
At £180 for an unlocked handset, the Centro is fairly priced, even for all its faults. Make no mistake, though – this is an entry-level device. There’s no Wi-Fi or 3G, the 1.3 megapixel camera is mediocre at best, and software tweaks aside, the Centro offers little that wasn’t available with the Treo 600 in 2003. Of course the same could be said about the still-current Treo 680 -- and that costs £270.
So, if you’re looking for a compact smartphone and value ease-of-use over cutting-edge features, you won’t go far wrong with the Palm Centro. The current version of Palm OS may be seen as obsolete by some, but as long as web-browsing isn’t high on your list of priorities, it’ll more than match your other requirements.
Originally published on www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk, now incorporated into Broadband Genie
© Dennis Publishing
© Dennis Publishing
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Comments
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Editor - Julian ProkazaThere isn't really anything to address on that subject, Christian -- the Centro has Bluetooth and will connect to any headset.
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What networks and tariffs is the centro available on.p.s. i am from the UK
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Yes I am interested in that too ...especially as they quote an 'unlocked' price ...which assumes there is a 'locked' one!cheers
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My trusty Tungsten T is playing up and now being reliant on the Desktop for new and edited info I'm attracted to Palm Centro as a replacement. My uses are moderate now so all new functions other than phone may not be utilised at first but will be eventually. My Tungsten T is loaded with applications, in particular Splash ID (still usable?)and I need to know that transfer to the Centro and any new Desktop software will not be a problem. Your advice will be appreciated.
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My previous comment was sent before I registered with Mobile Computer so is repeated here.My trusty Tungsten T is playing up and now being reliant on the Desktop for new and edited info I'm attracted to Palm Centro as a replacement. My uses are moderate now so all new functions other than phone may not be utilised at first but will be eventually. My Tungsten T is loaded with applications, in particular Splash ID (still usable?)and I need to know that transfer to the Centro and any new Desktop software will not be a problem. Your advice will be appreciated.
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I bought a Centro about a month ago, and I owe a two years old Palm TX too.Yes, you can use the majority of old Palm softwares on Centro, and I bet that Splash ID is compatible too (I don't know for sure because I use e-wallet).You can use any bluetooth headset too.The best thing I can say about my Centro is that it's a very effective gsm phone, better than the Treos, and it has all the power of a Palm OS device, in a tinier size than a Treo.The battery lasts 2/4 days, depending on the usage.For web-browsing, Opera mini isn't so much worse than Safari.
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CAN YOU DOWNLOAD ITUNES FROM AN IPOD ONTO THE PALM CENTRO?
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Having just switched from Palm to an HTC Touch Pro I can confirm how quick these devices are for normal operations compared to Windows Mobile. Both in application switching speed and ease of use.You can upgrade the included Pocket Tunes for better features and links with iTunes, although purchased DRM music will not work. You will need an expansion card to store your music. Stereo Bluetooth is supported through a third party application, but not out the box. The 680 could play MP3 ringtones and alarms, but had no way of setting this up! MiniTones is a free MP3 clipping application that allows MP3 ring tones.Out of the box PalmOS is ugly in places - although the included phone applications are reasonably swish. Palm Revolt is an application that offers more in the way of themes. There are lots of third party launcher applications - even one that works pretty close to the iPhone, if that is your thing!The Centro is not available on any Networks. You may get a discount from your Network for not upgrading (or switch to a SIM only deal) and can then buy the device unlocked. Although at least one major online retailer offers the Centro with a contract.The Palm web browser is not good for anything but mobile internet - or devices optimized using either Google mobile or another gateway. Opera is available but requires Java, which is no longer supported by Palm, and it can be unstable. If you want a full web experience look elsewhere. To be honest without WiFi or 3g you are better off using the 'mobile internet'.However the Facebook application for Palm is a pleasure to use, and you will find plenty of other applications for blogging too.I have had few problems running legacy applications on my 680. The Centro may be different, but I imagine a lot of them will work, even if you have to manually re-install them. The Palm PC software tends towards conservatism when you upgrade to a new device. Back up you Palm Desktop User folders first.
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Is the treo palm is it the same as a palm polite so I can keep phone numbers and notes and also presonal remembers like doctors app. or dentsist app. just the simply things. Without the phone features.
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