Gauntlet thrown: WiFi patch anyone? Bueller?

[kabeyun]

Alright, I'm annoyed. I do love my Treo 650, but the more I use it the more irritated at Palm I become for omitting or crippling functions one would expect from such a device. To wit: 1. a correctly coded Bluetooth API to allow us to do what users of even Motorola cheapies can do - voice dial from a BT headset, 2. native voice memos (OK, that's dealt with in Audacity or SoundRec), 3. no supported DUN profile, 4. no supported WiFi SDIO device. The latter two are particularlt hurtful because they underscore that the wireless telecom industry, not us the faithful, are Palm's real customers.

Particularly regarding #4, to be fair I do see their point: why would Palm smack telecom by enabling purchasers of a smartphone to circumvent a paid data plan? There's just one hitch. PocketPC smartphone users seem to be able to do this just fine! Why are the PalmOS faithful screwed?

To, in that vein, dear readers, I challenge anyone to pick up where the noble, yet understandably-intimidated-by-Palm's-threats, Shadowmite left off and polish a Treo 650 WiFi driver for any SDIO product out there. I'm a Treo power user, but I'm about as good a programmer as I am an astronaut.

Chris: please please please make this a sticky. I want everyone to be able to take note, accept the challenge, and fight the good fight.

-K

[lulugirl896]

Not meaning to sound trite or naive, but why don't we see what the next generation Treo has to offer?
I mean, we were okay with the 600. The 650 was an improvement that brought it's own issues tot he table. Maybe the third time might be the charm.

[kabeyun]

Not meaning to sound trite or naive, but why don't we see what the next generation Treo has to offer?
I mean, we were okay with the 600. The 650 was an improvement that brought it's own issues tot he table. Maybe the third time might be the charm.

I'm very interested to see what the next generation has to offer. But I'm not that interested in waiting a long time, and shelling out another $400, to use my friendly neighborhood hot spot.

[lulugirl896]

I'm very interested to see what the next generation has to offer. But I'm not that interested in waiting a long time, and shelling out another $400, to use my friendly neighborhood hot spot.

Agreed. But I think all signs point to a release date that's sooner rather than later.

[kabeyun]

Agreed. But I think all signs point to a release date that's sooner rather than later.

That would be interesting. What specific signs are those?
(This "planned obsolescence" thing is bringing me down.)

[lulugirl896]

That would be interesting. What specific signs are those?
(This "planned obsolescence" thing is bringing me down.)

Signs like:

-This story, which talks about the lowered price of the Treo 650.
and
-The Palm website, which has now stopped selling Treo 600's.

Not to mention the numerous rumors and pictures from various insiders, but non of them have been absolutely confirmed.

[xxpinballxx]

Well I know of people that say shadowmites hack driver and the spectek WiFi card make this happen....I haven't gotten either the hack or the spectek card so I can not confirm this.....

I would love to get it to work but the new enfora wifi sled is a great product form what I have seen.....It is much smaller than the sled for the 600 and I believe hold power longer....

I know before you start we shouldn't have to pay another 150 for something Palm should have included but you still would need the WiFi card so splitting the difference its not that bad.....And the plus is with the card you still use treo's battery....with the sled it saves the treo's battery and uses the sleds battery.....

[lulugirl896]

Well I know of people that say shadowmites hack driver and the spectek WiFi card make this happen....I haven't gotten either the hack or the spectek card so I can not confirm this.....

I would love to get it to work but the new enfora wifi sled is a great product form what I have seen.....It is much smaller than the sled for the 600 and I believe hold power longer....

I know before you start we shouldn't have to pay another 150 for something Palm should have included but you still would need the WiFi card so splitting the difference its not that bad.....And the plus is with the card you still use treo's battery....with the sled it saves the treo's battery and uses the sleds battery.....

The other problem with using the SDIO slot is that you then cannot use your SD card at the same time. This is a huge problem on the 650 with its memory issues. Most people keep a number of applications on the card

[xxpinballxx]

Very good point but i Think I would be using the WiFi card only for web surfing anyways so I would not need the card in at the time....then when I am done surfing switch it out...

Although it would be nice to be at home and just get on the net without the hassle of switching the cards.....

I am not a big treo web surfer anyways....only for looing things up when I am out and about....at home I have my laptops around the house......

[kabeyun]

Well I know of people that say shadowmites hack driver and the spectek WiFi card make this happen....I haven't gotten either the hack or the spectek card so I can not confirm this.....

Interesting. I didn't even know Spectek made a WiFi SD card. I just went to their website and found only memory products. More info?

...the new enfora wifi sled is a great product form what I have seen.....It is much smaller than the sled for the 600 and I believe hold power longer....

I know, but wouldn't it be so much better/elegant/portable to slip an SD form factor into a Treo case's card pocket. But you're right: if WiFi access were critical, it can be done.

The other problem with using the SDIO slot is that you then cannot use your SD card at the same time. This is a huge problem on the 650 with its memory issues. Most people keep a number of applications on the card

True dat. Sandisk does make a lovely SD card with a low-power WiFi antenna plus 256 MB memory. Of course they don't (and said they won't) make a PalmOS driver :mad:.