Palm "Gandolf" images look legit, Windows Mobile version on the way as well

All sorts of Gandolf action is coming out of the woodwork, with Morning Paper following up the grainy shot it released yesterday with a shiny color version, shown after the break. The rumored specs remain unchanged, and while we're not at all delighted to hear this one will be running Garnet, we're guessing it could be a halfway decent option for low-end users, since it's rocking that lovable $200 pricetag. Even more interesting is the white Windows Mobile version of the form factor that emerged on TreoCentral today, rocking the Vodafone branding. It appears to be running Windows Mobile Standard (once known as Smartphone) -- which would be a first for Palm, who's stuck with the touchscreen-input Professional (Pocket PC) edition for its Windows Mobile phones -- and positions Palm to better compete with the likes of the Motorola Q and Samsung's BlackJack. Plus the photo is blurry, so you know it has to be good.

[Via PalmInfocenter]

Read - Windows Mobile version
Read - Color Gandolf shot

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 4:23PM]

Strange. The phone in the B&W photo is not exactly the same phone as in the color photo. There are some different buttons and the palm logo on the top of the phone is in a different place, as well as a few other
differences.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 4:25PM]

to whomever it is that takes shots of currently unavailable electronic gadgets like this - get a better camera! the camera in my krzr is just a 2.0 megapixel and it takes way better shots that this!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 5:28PM]

The Treo 700W is a Pocket PC. Running Windows Mobile 5. This is Windows Mobile 5 smartphone edition. Don't try and tell the world Pocket PC is different from Windows Mobile. You guys get paid to geek out over this stuff and blog about it don't you? Get your terminology straight!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2007 2:41PM]

Uhh, you're wrong. Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone edition is non-touchscreen. Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone edition is what the Treo 700 and 750 run.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 5:55PM]

As a 700p user for the last year, I find this phone to be appalling (if it's real). Looks like an uglier version of some i-mate piece and that's saying a lot since i-mate makes some of the most hideous phones on the market.

Palm: Instead of trying to hit a 'younger' audience with these fugly, old tech phones why don't you hook up your real fans with some revolutionary design and technology (thin phones, Linux OS). Maybe then you can earn some real street cred.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 6:03PM]

Forgive me if I am wrong but the Palm Treo 750 runs Windows Mobile does it not? Not so much of a "first for palm"!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 7:53PM]

AspiringGeek,

Aspire a little more.

True the 750 and 700w/x models run WM5, but that is the PPC full version, this is the Smartphone version, ala Moto Q, Dash, and Blackjack. Different beast, different requirements e.g. no touch screen.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2007 11:02PM]

That's a pretty ugly phone

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2007 2:09AM]

Check this out.

The white Vodaphone (GSM) model with the WMstd screenshot & different app keys has a landscape QVGA.
It has greater wasted space above the screen to the top of the device, and below the screen to the app/phone "belt". Also, the space from the outside edges of the display to the sides is less. It sports a landscape screen.


The black unbranded model is obviously a digitally enhanched touchup.
If it's an actual rendering of the device, then look at the screen in proportion with the device. The upper and lower areas are lessened by the taller screen, and the outside edges are increased due to the thinner square screen. The actual photo has a 7:6 screen ratio, but the screen shot is obviously added on digitally, just like they do most web images. Looks like I'm the only one with genuine photos round here.
The black device uses the 320x320 square display and Palm OS, hopefully the Linux version unless Palm is shifting FrankyG to the entry levels and Plinux to the upper line and Foleo Monster Laptop Killer.

Note. The black device has palm directly in front of the phone speaker, whereas the WinMob version has the logo to the left and an obvious speaker indention. The black device looks smoothly rounded at the top edges, while the white has the little rolled lip.

Note v2.0. Palm is obviously soon to release this device. Their "leak machine" is acting like normal. Trickling out a few unclear shots here and there to create a buzz, before the announcement.

Note v3.0. Looks like the front face of the device is flat. I wonder if the rear is shaped with a rounded form, in keeping with the rounded edges.

Note v0.998(beta). Photos of the rear of unit on pocketpcmag.com

They are calling it the Mercury instead of Gandolf. Are those dedicated MP3 buttons on the side? Also looks like the reset button hole is back.

http://tinyurl.com/39fdqg

:-)

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2007 2:47PM]

No Jon, I was right. They've since changed the post since I made that comment and it's now correct. Thanks EngadgetMobile.