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Thoughts about Palm's new GSM Centro
Posted March 26, 2008 4:20 AM by Alli Flowers
Palm's GSM Centro has now been out several weeks, and many have had a chance to check it out. I'm going to make the expected comparisons to the original CDMA Centro, but mostly I'm going to ask, "Why has Palm implemented subtle differences in this device?!"
For some reason, Palm engineers used the unique tabbed dialing screen from the Treo 680 on the GSM Centro, rather than the same dialer as the CDMA Centro, and all the other Treos. The question is, "why?"
If the GSM Centro phone screen is so compelling, why didn't Palm include it on the Treo 755, which came after the 680, and why not use it on the CDMA Centro? (Out of sheer curiosity, I posted a user poll on the subject in the Centro forum.)
More important is that 3rd party Palm software developers around the globe were sent scrambling by unexpected changes in this new Centro's firmware. It doesn't handle calls the same way as the "old" Centro. Yet it doesn't have the same device ID as the Treo 680.
Hobbyistsoftware has already released an upgrade to Initiate so that contacts can be dialed without exiting to the dialer, and Toysoft has updated the code on Lightwav. Even software giant Iambic is having problems with Agendus Mail's performance on the GSM Centro. It seems that text messages just disappear, so for now GSM Centro users have to use the Palm client for their SMS. Hopefully it won't take long for everyone to get the necessary fixes out.
I must admit that, if I had seen AT&T's Centro first, I wouldn't have fallen in love as quickly as with Sprint's. Sprint's shiny red Centro had me at hello. But the winter white and pea green keys of the more recent device from Palm don't grab me. The black Centro being sold directly by Palm in Europe is much better looking. Hopefully all the rumors of other colors coming available are true, and everyone will have plenty of choices, regardless of carrier.
Now that we've identified the some major differences between the GSM Centro and the CDMA version, let's take a closer look at some of the minor ones.
I am extremely envious of the fact that AT&T's Centro has Voice Dial included. Not a link to download like on Verizon's Treo 755, but actually in the ROM: and for free! Nuance still offers the best voice activated program you can find, and I am annoyed that the rest of us must pay a $6/month subscription fee.
Palm smartphones have always included a game. The CDMA Centro has Sudoku. It's not my favorite but still qualifies as a game. AT&T's Centro has no games in ROM whatsoever, although it gives you a link to download Astraware's Sudoku free of charge via the MyCentro app. Here, you can also download and install Astraware's Solitaire.
AT&T has locked in the use of the side button to its Push to Talk (PTT) feature. I find this somehow oxymoronic considering most people still think Sprint/Nextel and not AT&T when it comes to PTT. This feature (annoyance!) is as yet unavailable on Sprint's Centro. While I didn't get a chance to try it, hopefully those AT&T customers who (thankfully) choose not to use PTT will be able to remap that side button.
The GSM Centro will probably be as popular as the original CDMA version. The Centro is certainly a lot of bang for the buck – at least in the US. European customers are paying more dearly for GSM Centro smartphones (€299).
