Palm has uncovered a battery-depleting glitch in the camera code installed on its latest Palm OS-based smart phone, the Treo 680, the company confirmed today. The camera may continue to draw power even when the handset's in stand-by mode.

The PDA pioneer has now posted a 57KB patch it recommends users download and install as soon as possible. It said all Treo 680 owners should apply the update, though only "devices manufactured before 19/12/2006 will see the benefits of reduced current draw from the camera module after installing the Camera Update".

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That suggests it tweaked the hardware after that date, but clearly it thinks that users will benefit from the new software even if they have the more recent revision.

The update can be downloaded here. ®

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