A interesting new 1src editorial has been posted that revisits not only the bygone days of standalone PDAs and their various peripherals but the industry’s newfound focus on slim, subnotebook-type devices. The piece is definitely a must-read for both long-term PDA fans as well as users who might be considering a jump to a large-screened device devoid of a physical keyboard such as the iPod Touch or a miniaturized subnote such as the EEE PC.

“My Mobile Companion” is written by long-time Palm aficionado Alan Grassia. The editorial discusses Alan’s previous years using dedicated handhelds, managing to stay productive despite having to tote an array of accessories, snap-on modules and assorted gear. Grassia theorizes that despite the huge improvements in connectivity and storage capacity offered by a modern-day Treo over a Tungsten or Visor handheld from years ago, easy data input is still the Achilles heel of all mobile devices. With the industry turning its attention to miniaturized QWERTY integrated into smartphones and sub-notebooks, the glory days of larger, folding travel keyboards such as those popularized by Palm, Targus, and ThinkOutside appear to be coming to an end.

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According to the Wireless Week industry trade journal, a new version of the cancelled Foleo Mobile Companion running on Palm’s next-generation Linux OS is still very much in Palm’s future product plans. Brad Smith of Wireless Week has posted a new article, “Palm Still Tracking the Foleo”, discussing comments made by Palm’s Joe Fabris (formerly of Microsoft) Amidst the frenzy of the recent CTIA show, about the company’s future plans.

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Palm’s new executive chairman Jon Rubinstein told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview yesterday that it will take 18 months before new products come out utilizing Palm’s next generation operating system. These comments would seem to contradict guidance from CEO Ed Colligan given earlier this month where he stated he expected products to be available be the end of next calendar year (2008).

Rubinstein’s new remarks would push that back until mid-2009 at the earliest. He is quoted as saying “It’s a probably good target,” [...] “These things take time.”

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Palm’s CEO Ed Colligan made a number of comments on the next generation linux-based operating system currently under development at Palm. Colligan made a series of comments on its progress, potential and estimated delivery during remarks at today’s Q1 FY08 investor conference call.

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The Click blog takes a look at getting a Palm Tungsten E working with Linux. The author tries the usual suspects J-Pilot, Kpilot and GNOME-Pilot.

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Palm CEO Ed Colligan has posted a letter to Palm Customers, Partners and Developers on the official Palm blog. In the post, he states Palm will cancel the Linux powered Foleo mobile companion product in its current configuration, and will undertake efforts to focus entirely on Palm’s next-generation smartphone platform.

Read more at PalmInfocenter.

Palm is indirectly denying the latest rumor report that the Foleo’s release date has been delayed. A Palm spokesperson has told PalmInfocenter that the company is still standing by its original timeframe originally announced back in May, saying “U.S. availability for the Palm Foleo mobile companion will begin this summer.”

If indeed correct, this would technically give Palm until September 23rd to make the device available. It will debut for $499, after a $100 mail-in rebate. As noted in our previous post, select developers have already received working Foleo models in retail packaging under NDA.

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Rumor: Barron’s Tech Trader Daily blog is reporting today that Deutsche Bank Palm analyst Jonathan Goldberg has a issued a brief note saying the Foleo’s release date has been pushed back due to software issues.

“The product was supposed to hit Palm stores this week, but was delayed when software bugs were detected. These apparently included an inability to synchronize the Foleo with most models of the Treo, in particular the nominally high-volume Treo 680. Our contacts indicate Palm now expects the device will ship in late September/early October.”

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Rumor: Asian industry trade journal Digitimes has a report out that Palm is readying a Linux-based smartphone for an October release. The incredibly vague article is short on details but does say that more Linux-based models are forthcoming in the near future and that the Wind River Linux underpinnings will definitely be part of this new model. The article additionally goes on to say that Windows Mobile-powered products are still on the company’s roadmap and, presumably, Palm OS (presumably Garnet) devices will be left to solder on as “non-mainstream technology”.

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