Dave Beauvais' Web Site » AT&T

Palm Treo Pro screen protectors

Dave Beauvais — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:33:33 +0000

If anyone reading this has a new Palm Treo Pro and can’t wait for companies to make screen protectors for it, I stumbled upon a temporary solution. The Treo Pro’s screen is physically the same size as the Treo 700w/700wx, even though its resolution is higher. I had one Pocket PC Techs WriteShield protector left over from my old Treo 700w and it fits perfectly over the Treo Pro’s screen, including most of the silver trim around it. Sadly, the corners don’t make a perfect seal against the surface, so dust is likely to collect around the edges after a day or two. (Especially if I carry the device in my pocket, as I’d prefer to do.) This should tide me over until something better comes along, though. (The joys of early adoption.) Here are a couple photos showing what it looks like. Keep clicking for the full-size view.

As an aside, I’m really liking the Treo Pro a lot. The BlackJack II is a great phone, but I didn’t realize how much I’d miss the touchscreen. The Treo Pro is great on many levels: very thin, hardware keyboard, and touchscreen. And the Opera Mobile 9.5 beta, which didn’t work on Windows Mobile Standard, actually makes Web browsing enjoyable again. I do wish mobile device companies would back off the current trend of making everything glossy, though. Not only is this thing (and the BlackJack II, for that matter) a fingerprint magnet, it feels as if it’s going to slip out of my hands. I may get an Invisible Shield for the back just to make it less slippery in my hand. I can’t see using that with a stylus, though, given the tacky, slightly rubbery feel.

The iPhone: I may have been wrong

Dave Beauvais — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:05:29 +0000

Back in June when the iPhone was released I wrote an annoyed post saying “it’s a phone.” Well last night I got to use one for a little while and I have to say I was pretty impressed. While the network speed is not the EvDO I’ve gotten used to with my Verizon XV6700, the Web browsing experience was rather impressive. Navigating the applications on the device was also very pleasant and far more intuitive than most Windows Mobile devices which have small controls designed for use with a stylus, not fingers. And did I mention the display was amazing?

Release a 3G-capable version with native Exchange ActiveSync support, and I’d probably buy one. I’ve got to give Apple a lot of credit. I find their elitist attitude as a company very annoying and at times insulting — especially their advertising — but they do make some damn impressive hardware. The iPhone brings some powerful and innovative technology into the hands of regular consumers in the form of a device which is easy to use, intuitive to interact with, and — dare I say — fun. That is something that Microsoft and Palm really haven’t been able to do with most of their devices. Seeing and using an iPhone really illustrated to me just how clunky Windows Mobile is. There is hope of improvements with upcoming Windows Mobile releases, but in the regular consumer market, it may be too late to get the ball back from Apple. Even long-time Windows Mobile enthusiasts are considering a move toward other solutions involving the iPhone.

Enough with the iPhone already

Dave Beauvais — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:03:09 +0000

I will be so happy when the next 1-3 weeks are over and the ~~mindless~~ endless chatter about the iPhone subsides. I mean seriously… camping out for days outside a store? It’s a phone! How do you even pitch that to your boss? (I assume these people are employed given the price of the phone, but I could be wrong.)

“Hey boss?”

Yes?

“I need to take a few days off next week.”

That’s short notice. What’s up?

“Well, the new iPhone comes out and I have to get in line for a few days so I can buy one.”

[The sounds of crickets punctuate the stunned silence which follows]

“So, uh… can I have some time off?”

For the next few days I will probably be skipping over a lot of the gadget sites I normally follow due to the amount of iPhone coverage that will be saturating things. Wake me when it’s over.