Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/17/palm_points_to_centro/
Palm has confirmed its next-gen smartphone is to be called the Centro and that it's due to hit North American store shelves this coming autumn, initially courtesy of carrier Sprint.
It was Sprint that prompted the admission. The carrier spilled the beans on the Centro yesterday at a technology conference. It revealed the handset - claimed to be Palm's smallest yet - will run the Palm OS and support EvDO high-speed cellular data connectivity.
Palm later told (http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9499/palm-centro-smartphone-due-this-fall/) website Palm Infocenter that these details were correct, but it refused to say anything about specific release dates, prices or what the phone will look like.
That will inevitably send Palm fans back to the pics that appeared on the web a couple of months ago:
Palm's Gandolf: the Centro design?
These were said to show a device codenamed 'Gandolf' - presumably not a typo but an attempt to avoid legal action from JRR Tolkien's estate - that, as you can see, sports a new look.
Palm did say Centro will feature a design intended to appeal to younger consumers, and it's hard not to see that goal in Gandolf's looks.
Centro a bright spot in Palm's quarterly results (19 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/19/palm_quarterlies/
Palm admits new OS 18 months away (3 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/03/palm_os_delay/
Palm posts loss for Q1 (1 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/01/palm_earnings_q1_2008/
Palm punts consumer-friendly Centro phone (28 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/28/palm_launches_centro/
The Curse of Bono strikes Palm (20 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/20/palm_profits_warning/
Judge OKs Sprint's $30m overcharging settlement (14 September 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/14/judge_oks_sprint_class_action_overcharge/
Palm, Vodafone launch slinky Treo 500v (12 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/12/palm_launches_treo_500v/
Retailer reveals new Palm is the Treo 500v (11 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/11/palm_treo_500v_revealed/
Wednesday's Palm launch not Centro, firm claims (10 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/10/palm_centro_denial/
Palm drowns Foleo at birth (5 September 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/05/palm_cancels_foleo/
Palm teases punters with 'Otto' launch date (3 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/03/palm_teases_for_otto/
Palm offers free Treo 750 Windows Mobile 6 upgrade (29 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/29/palm_upgrades_wm_treos/
Palm OS II launch date delayed again (3 July 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/03/palm_os_not_dead/
Analyst alleges iPhone already hitting Palm sales (26 June 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/26/iphone_vs_palm/
Next-gen Palm Treo spied on web... twice (11 June 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/11/new_treo_sighted/
Palm reveals 'secret' smartphone buddy (30 May 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/30/palm_announces_foleo/
Palm punts free satnav kit to tempt new Treo buyers (9 May 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/09/palm_offers_free_satnav_kit/
Palm preps antenna-less 3G Palm OS Treo (9 May 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/09/palm_unveils_palm-based_treo_755p/