A stocking stuffed with productivity
(NC)—If the old adage that "good things come in small packages" is true, then gifts for the technophile in your life won't be hard to come by this year. In the past, smaller handheld organizers sacrificed a variety of essential features, screens were tiny with low resolution, and memory was less than adequate. Individuals new to handheld technology have often avoided switching from paper to digital because of complexity or cost. But three new easy and affordable Palm handhelds offer a simple way to balance the demands of a busy life.
Small, but Mighty…
First-time users interested in a basic –but powerful – organizational device need to look no further than the Palm Zire 22. Priced at $149, the Palm Zire 22 houses all necessary information; from appointments to addresses in one tiny package, suitable for even the smallest purse. But size hasn't sacrificed quality; despite the fact it's only 3.4 ounces, it houses 32 MB of memory, with a 200 MHz processor, and its bright, full-colour screen makes colour coding appointments a breeze. As a special bonus, the Zire 22 comes bundled with Splash Shopper and an eBook reader, powerOne calculator and AddIt software – a collection of fun and functional applications for those long line-ups or times in the doctor's waiting room.
Multi-task, multi-media, multi-fun…
Imagine being able to keep all of your most important work and personal applications in one spot. Never fumbling to look up a contact, never worrying about searching for a spot to send email, and always having your favourite tunes on hand. Sound impossible? While other devices play music and movies well, their organizational capabilities often leave something to be desired. Not so with the new Palm T|X handheld.
For less than an iPod, the Palm T|X has built-in Bluetooth and WiFi, an expansion slot for various multimedia applications, and 128 MB of flash memory, so information is never lost. And all in a 65,000 bit colour screen.
For those who've been EXTRA good…
A new category of handhelds was introduced this spring for the executive that needs more power than what the typical handheld can offer….but Palm's LifeDrive mobile manager isn't all work and no play. It's the perfect traveling companion for business trips or family vacations.
For instance, the LifeDrive can serve as an alternate to a laptop for storing digital photos. When a digital camera's SD card is full, photos can be transferred to the LifeDrive so the memory card can continue to be used. Home movies and personal DVDs can be run while on an airplane or in the back seat while on a long road trip.
MP3 files can be easily transferred to the device's 4GB hard drive (up to the equivalent of 100 CDs) or an expansion card and then listened to through the built-in speakers or stereo headphones. Software makes it easy to create and edit playlists on the spot – much like an iPod.
Other features like Blazer Web Browser and Splashblog allow the mobile manager to become a true multimedia device, providing exceptionally fast Internet access, and web publishing. Splashblog enables users to instantly publish photos from the LifeDrive to an online photo album or photo blog, making the power of a PC truly mobile.
- News Canada
