Firmware Update v1.08 for Palm Treo 755p

A new firmware update released by Sprint for the Palm Treo 755p has been spotted into the wild, one that is stated to fix the Palm Treo 755p. At the same time, the new firmware v1.08 is expected to be able improve the overall stability of the QWERTY-equipped smartphone.

The description of the update on the Palm's website states the following: “This software patch is for a phone reset issue that occurs under certain specific and rare conditions. Download this patch only if you are experiencing reset issues with your phone on a regular basis.” Additionally, the page also shows the firmware release as being dated a few months ago, yet neither Palm nor Sprint have mentioned anything about it until now.

The Palm 755p on Altel saw similar issues back in June 2008, and a fix was released at that time to properly address it. According to some voices over the Internet, this might be the same bug, and the solution to be resorted to could also be the one seen before. At the same time, Palm's site states clearly that this firmware update is meant for use on a Treo 755p for Sprint only.

The update's page on Palm's website reads that the firmware upgrade should be performed by any 755p user who has a device running with the 1.04 or the 1.07 version of the software. Those willing to perform the upgrade should also take into consideration the fact that they need to have installed the latest version of the Palm Desktop software on their computers.
As far as the same issue is concerned, users are additionally warned to perform data backup before proceeding to the firmware upgrade. Detailed information on the system requirements for the upgrade, as well as on the necessary steps that need be taken, can be found on Palm's site. The new firmware v1.08 for the Palm Treo 755p is also available for download on the same page.

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Better call quality for the iPhone

Wilson Electronics may not have the flashiest products or the glitziest booth at CES, but it does offer some of the best cell phone signal amplifiers around. At the show the company announced the iBooster, a new amplifier designed specifically for the Apple iPhone. The product promises to boost both reception and call quality, which are two very different things. Though it's designed primarily for use in a car, you also can use it inside a building.

In the box you'll find a cradle that can accommodate both the iPhone classic and the iPhone 3G. And thanks to a special adapter, it also fits the iPhone 3G with a case. The cradle has a dual purpose; not only does it keep the phone in one place while you're on go, but it also charges your iPhone. As with Wilson's other products, you must attach a stubby antenna to your car's roof and run a cord through your door to the cradle. It requires power through a cigarette lighter adapter, but that comes in the box as well.

The iBooster should be available by April for $349. That may sound like a lot of money for a signal booster, but the benefit of better reception may just be worth it. Wilson is also releasing a version of the product for the BlackBerry Curve and a universal model that will accommodate a variety of cell phones.

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Palm Pre wins Best of CES 2009 and People's Voice Award

On Saturday, CNET, in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association, handed out its Best of CES 2009 Awards, including Best in Show and the People's Voice Award and this year's big winner? The Palm Pre.

The Palm Pre smartphone took home both honors and became the first cell phone/smartphone to win the Best in Show since CNET started presenting the Best of CES awards in 2006. The went up against some stiff competition, including the Sony DSC-G3 and the Sony P-series Lifestyle PC. So why the Pre?

Well, it was a combination of things. First, and most important in our opinion, the Palm Pre along with the new Palm Web OS, brings an innovative way to how you interact with your device and how it organizes information. The Deck of Cards feature truly makes multi-tasking on your smartphone a breeze, and the Synergy functionality pulls in all your personal management information (e-mail, contacts, and calendar) from various sources into one place. Sure, other devices and operating systems have made similar attempts, but from what we've seen, the Palm Pre is the first smartphone to truly deliver on this in a seamless way.

We also liked the best-of-breed design, as the Pre offers a multi-touch screen that rivals the iPhone and even one-ups Apple's smartphone with a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. The list of features is long and impressive, including a full HTML Web browser, a full range of wireless options, and multimedia capabilities. Palm will also offer an App Store and since the Palm Web OS was built with developers in mind, we expect the smartphone's capabilities and uses will only expand.

It's pretty evident that Palm put a lot of thought into the user interface, design, and features, as everything seamlessly works together to offer the best user experience and making the smartphone a really useful tool in your daily life. Obviously, this is a huge win for Palm, a company that has come under harsh criticism for its lack of innovation and struggles to keep up the competition, but it looks like Palm stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the park. It will be interesting to see where the Palm Pre stands in a year and whether it delivers on all this hype, but for now, we'll let Palm bask in its victory. Congratulations to Palm and all the Best of CES winners and finalists.

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