PalmOne Wi-Fi card: a first look
Published: 18 Aug 2004
Owners of PalmOne handhelds rejoiced when SanDisk released its long-anticipated Wi-Fi SD card last month. But the excitement faded when they discovered that it only works with the now-superseded Zire 71 (Palm OS 5 drivers for the SanDisk card are reportedly due in November). Now PalmOne is giving Tungsten T3 and Zire 72 users the same functionality with its own 802.11b Wi-Fi SD card.

We tested the card on the Zire 72, and it worked like a charm. Installation and setup were simple -- an Install Wizard guides you through the steps -- and after a HotSync operation, the Wi-Fi Setup and VPN Setup utilities and the Web Pro browser were installed on our device.
Then, using the Wi-Fi Setup utility, we selected a network and connected to a hot spot within seconds. You can also use the utility to check signal strength, establish disconnect time and set up WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption. We opened Web Pro and had some problems connecting to a site at first, but after disabling the proxy server, we were off and running -- or, perhaps, just jogging. Admittedly, it took a bit for Web pages to load, but that's to be expected on a handheld.
Although you can use both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at the same time, PalmOne recommends disabling Bluetooth since it may interfere with signal quality. A final word to the wise: Wi-Fi uses a lot of power, so keep an eye on battery life.
The PalmOne Wi-Fi SD card will cost $129 (~£71) in the US, and UK pricing is unlikely to differ significantly; it will be available in early September.
Related articles
Two new Zires from PalmOne
Preview PalmOne has upgraded its popular Zire handhelds, adding faster CPUs, extra memory and more. We preview the entry-level Zire 31 and the mid-range Zire 72. [28 Apr 2004]
Palm Tungsten T3
Review The Tungsten T3 combines powerful business and multimedia features with a Schwarzenegger-size screen. [02 Oct 2003]
New Products
Dell Adamo XPS: a first look
More details have finally emerged on Dell's ultra-thin, ultra-stylish Adamo XPS. Check out our preview and image gallery.
iPhone 3G S: a first look
Apple's third-generation iPhone will be available on 19 June. Here are the highlights from its unveiling at the WWDC 2009 keynote.
Dell Adamo: a first look
Dell's much-anticipated Adamo, a high-end 'luxury' notebook, has finally been announced. Here's a hands-on look at a pre-production version.
Enterprise Smartphones Special Report Special Report
Nokia E63
Review Although it's missing some features (chiefly HSDPA and GPS), Nokia's E63 is a well-thought-out, ergonomic and affordable smartphone.
Review Acer DX900
Review HTC S740 on Orange
Nokia halves smartphone portfolio
Nokia has reduced the number of smartphone models it intends to introduce in 2010 by half, according to reports. Quoted in an article on Reuters, the Finnish handset maker's new... More
Can I have fries with that? (Consumer...
Licence policies of Tech company's have been for a long time both complicated and 'Dick Turpin-esque', people just click 'I agree' without reading the Agreement. I do the same, but... More
Lenovo repurchases mobile phone arm
Lenovo has bought back the mobile phone arm that it sold to a private equity firm at the start of 2008, the company said on Friday. The manufacturer sold Lenovo Mobile to the Hony... More



















