Product Description

Palmone Zire 72 Handheld Color Connected Organizer PDA SPECIAL EDITION is certainly the organizer and entertainment tool for the individual on the go - for business, pleasure, life. Its elegant silver finish distinguishes the Special Edition with its refined appearance that is suitable in formal and casual situations. The real qustion is, "Can you afford to be without a Zire 72?" Synchronize with Outlook email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes right out of the box Record your thoughts with the Voice Memo application and microphone Get connected with built-in Bluetooth® technology. Use a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone as your modem to send and receive email and connect to the web. Share files, photos and more with nearby Bluetooth devices like computers, printers and other handhelds Enter data quickly in the fixed writing area?or anywhere on the page 16-Bit, 320x320 transflective TFT color display with brightness controls. Supports 65,000+ colors. Synchronize with Windows and Macintosh computers Expansion Card Slot - Supports MultiMediaCard, SD SecureDigital expansion cards, sold separately Operating System - Palm OS 5.2.8 with 312 MHz Intel PXA270 processor Size - 4.6x2.95x0.67 / Weighs 4.8 ounces Accepts standard 3.5mm stereo headphone plug. Headphones not included.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16540 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Palm
• Model: P80722US-SE
• Released on: 2004-12-01
• Number of items: 1
• Memory: 32MB SDRAM
• Native resolution: 320x320

Features

• Bright, 320x320 transflective TFT color display supports more than 65,000 colors
• 312 MHz Intel PXA270 processor, Palm OS v5.2.8, 32 MB RAM (24 MB actual storage)
• Integrated 1.2 MP digital camera that also shoots video
• Expansion slot that supports MMC, SD, and SDIO memory cards
• Palm Desktop Software for Windows and Mac and Software Essentials CD included

Amazon.com Product Description
Building on the success of PalmOne's Zire 71, the Zire 72 is the first Palm-based handheld that can capture digital video with sound and shoot digital still photos. This special silver version of the Zire 72 also features bright 320 x 320-pixel color screen for optimal playback of video and photos as well as voice recording capability and an MP3 player for listening to your own soundtrack. Other features include Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a 32 MB memory, Secure Digital card expansion, and a fast 312 Mhz Intel PXA270 processor. And, of course, the Zire 72 features Palm's suite of information management applications and the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only). It's also available in the original blue version.

Upgrade Features
The Zire 72 offers the following improvements to the Zire 71:

• 1-megapixel image resolution (1280 x 960 pixels); the Zire 71 had a maximum 640 x 480 resolution.
• 32 MB of memory (24.7 MB user available); the Zire 71 had only a 16 MB memory
• Video capture with sound; the Zire 71 only shot still images.
• Digital zoom for closer image capture and in-handheld editing.
• Voice recording capability.
• Wireless Bluetooth connectivity (the Zire 71 connected to your PC only via the HotSync cable)
• At 4.8 ounces, it's 10-percent less weighty than the 5.3-ounce Zire 71.
• Palm OS 5.2.8 (versus 5.2.1 for the Zire 71).

Built-in Camera
The back of the Zire 72 holds the built-in still and video camera, which does not require you to slide the back of the PDA to activate it (like the Zire 71 did). You can shoot video with sound turned on or off at 320 x 240 pixel resolution and 15 frames per second. Just use the handheld screen to frame the video, tap the "record" button on the display, then save your video to an optional expansion card after tapping the "stop" button.

For still photography, it features a 1.2-megapixel CMOS sensor with a fixed focus range of about five feet and a 2x digital zoom. It captures up to 1280 x 960 pixel images, as well as 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 resolution modes. The camera also offers such customized image setting controls as white balance, brightness, saturation, contrast, and sharpness. You can also add date stamp or effects like sepia, black and white, and blue.

Audio
The included RealPlayer for Palm OS enables you to listen to MP3 music files stored on optional expansion cards via the built-in speaker on the Zire 72 or, for stereo sound, using optional stereo headphones or ear buds.

With the built-in digital voice recorder, you can create voice memos, then synchronize them to your desktop PC and email them to friends and colleagues.

Display
The Palm Zire 72 features a 16-bit, 320 x 320 bright transflective TFT color display, which supports more than 65,000 colors.

Connectivity and Expansion
With the built-in wireless Bluetooth connectivity, you can synchronize the Zire 72 with Bluetooth-enabled computer from across the room (within a range of 10 meters, or approximately 30 feet). But that's just the start. Using a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone, you can send and receive email and connect to the web, send multimedia (MMS) or text (SMS) messages, and even automatically dial any number in your handheld's Contact's application. You can also synchronize data the "old-fashioned" way via the mini-USB connection at the base of the handheld.

The Zire 72 uses Multimedia Card and Secure Digital expansion cards, which instantly add software applications, additional memory, large databases, and more without taking up built-in memory space.

Operating System and Software
The Zire 72 is powered by Palm OS 5.2.8, which provides higher performance, enhanced multimedia features, support for Bluetooth connectivity and networking, and enterprise-class security. It useses the intuitive and easy-to-learn Graffiti 2 writing software to input data into the handheld (as well as an on-screen keyboard). Windows users can synchronize calendar, contacts, tasks and notes with Microsoft Outlook. The Palm OS features the following organizer applications:

• Contacts: Lets you store several addresses for each contact, and it adds new contact fields for more phone numbers, multiple email addresses, instant messenger IDs, and a website for your contacts.
• Calendar: Use the new Agenda view to see upcoming calendar events, tasks due and important email, and color-code your events to provide an easy way to reference your Calendar in the Agenda, Day, Week, and Month views. Take more notes, or synchronize more details from your desktop, into the larger Memos and Notes fields on the handheld.
• Tasks: Use tasks with alarms and repeating tasks to set reminders for important commitments.

You'll use Graffiti 2 allows you to enter data quickly into your Palmª handheldÑbut it's even more intuitive and easier to learn

Along with the standard Palm software, you'll receive a Software Essentials CD-ROM containing PalmOne's VersaMail, Web Pro, Messages (SMS/MMS), Palm Reader, Documents To Go Standard Edition, Acrobat Reader, Solitaire, powerOne Personal Calculator, and Audible Player for palmOne handhelds (Windows only).

Compatibility
The Palm Zire 72 is compatible with PCs running Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me, and XP, and with Macs running Mac OS 9, version 9.1 or higher, or Mac OS X, version 10.2 or 10.3.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Zire 72 Silver Edition handheld, built-in rechargeable battery, carrying case, mini-USB HotSync cable, power cable, stylus, CD-ROM with Palm Desktop 4.1 software for Windows and Macs (as well as bonus software), and printed Getting Started guide. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a battery life of between 3 and 4.5 hours depending on screen brightness settings and usage.

From the Manufacturer
For anyone whos ever said the words "work hard, play hard" your handheld has arrived. Meet the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld. With a built-in camera and MP3 software, its everything you need for work and play. Take photos. Capture video1. Watch your clips and then e-mail2 them to a friend. Your MP31 playlists? Carry the tunes with you and listen in stereo sound. Of course when it comes to productivity, the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld is all business. Create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible files. Synchronize with Outlook3 and get organized right out of the box. Even share files, and get wireless email and Internet access with built-in Bluetooth (Requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and an ISP, both sold separately). All on a brilliant, 320 x 320 color screen thats easy on the eyes.

Take pictures. Capture video. Share life.
Life moves pretty fast, but that doesn't mean you can't capture its moments. Thanks to the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld's built-in 1.2 megapixel camera, you can shoot photos and video clips1, then share them with friends and co-workers. Simply show them in person or download and send them via e-mail from your computer. Create entire albums of pictures and videos on your handheld.

What's more, it lets you drop photos into a new Agenda view, your contact list, or into the launcher background. Say you meet a new friend. Add her contact info plus a picture to your address book. Or keep your loved ones close by, placing your son's photo in the background on the handheld launcher. Use it for work or use it for play. Either way, you'll be getting a handheld that's fun and easy-to-use. Exactly what you'd expect from a company like palmOne.

Play MP3s
Carry your tunes with you wherever you go, and listen to them using the built-in speakers or a pair of stereo headphones2. It won't slow you down, either. You can play MP3s while you're scheduling appointments, adding contacts, or just enjoying a spare moment. With the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld, your life just sounds better.

Be as organized as you want to be.
palmOne is always looking for new ways to improve your life on the go. Which is why the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld now manages images and videos just as easily as schedules or contacts. We even improved our organization applications, giving you more fields in Outlook and including a new Agenda view to stay ahead of your day, every day.

Use Word, Excel, and Acrobat.
The Zire 72s Special Edition handheld keeps your business tools close at hand by letting you create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible documents. Not to mention opening up ever-popular Adobe Acrobat files.

Record voice memos.
Inspiration can strike at any time. Which is why we included the Voice Memo button and microphone. Now you can record your thoughts instantly, save them, and synchronize them to your desktop computer. Even e-mail1 your memos to colleagues and friends.

Keep Outlook up-to-date.
Synchronize your Outlook1 e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes right out of the box.

Feel the freedom of wireless networking.
With Bluetooth1 built right in, the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld brings you the freedom of the wireless world. Use a Bluetooth-enabled phone as your modem to send and receive e-mail or SMS/MMS and connect to the web (requires an ISP, sold separately). Or hook up with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, including PCs, printers and access points. Funny as it sounds, with the Zire 72s Special Edition handheld you're connected to your world without being connected at all.

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Customer Reviews

Perfection (nearly) in the palm of your hand
I had a Palm III followed by a Palm V and I was pretty pleased with both these older model PDAs. After some study, I opted for a Palm Zire 72 and I am very pleased with the features.

Important to me, the Zire 72 has Palm's suite of information management applications and the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only). This is one reason I got the Palm; my Blackberry is not good as a PDA and I love the easy-to-use and fast PalmOS.


The Zire 72 features:

1-megapixel image resolution (1280 x 960 pixels
32 MB of memory --64 MB in the special edition
Video capture with sound
Digital
Voice recording capability.
Wireless Bluetooth connectivity to connect to the PC or your Bluetooth-enabled phone
4.8 ounces wieght
Palm OS 5.2.8 Operating System
Software
USB cable for linking to PC
Slot for SDI memory card
16-bit 320x320 TFT screen capable of 65,000 colors.

Capabilities Rundown:

PIM and software:
Zire 72 features Palm's suite of information management applications for expenses and note, and it has the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook in Windows. Our own company email system will support the Palm and Pocket PC while it will not be supporting the Blackberry Enterprise System anytime soon. So the Outlook support is very important.

Bluetooth:
The Bluetooth seems designed for devices to enable mobiles, LAN and PC connections to give web capability. It would be clunky, in my view, to connect via a cell phone, so I'd love to see WiFi. But this feature can be added with a $99 card put into the SDI slot. Bluetooth is not as easy to configure; the set-up wizard seemed to be a bit difficult and there are only a few cell phone models included in the preset configurations. If you can get the 72 connected, you can use it to dial numbers, send SMS, MMS and e-mail, and browse the web using the Web Pro 3.5. Or you can opt for a WiFi card and surf at MacDonalds and Starbucks. Phones that are listed:

Sony-E T68i

Sony-E T610

Nokia 6310i

Nokia 3650

Siemens S56

Not a super list.

For PC interfacing or Palm-to-Palm there still is an infrared port.

Egonomics:
Complaints were made about the blue paint on the regular edition flaking off. I have the special edition with the silver body and this is not an issue. The control is a rectangular navigating button. The screen has the familiar Palm division between screen and stylus pad below. The Graffiti 2 was easy to use--the letters are almost exactly like written print, as long as you know where to begin the the letter, but that's practically intuitive. The sensitivity and accuracy of the stylus-pointing is a huge improvement over the very early Palms like the PalmV.

My system came with a Cordura nylon case, very nice quality and a huge improvement from the old flimsy leatherette flaps of early days. Without a case, you have to get something to cover the screen. The stylus is the same type of rod that attaches to the side by sliding into a slot.


MP3:
You need a SDI card (Secure Digital card) to load MP3 songs with RealPlayer onto the system for playing back with MP3. These are not hard to find, you may even have one floating around the house (we did.) Drag-and-drop songs onto the card on your PC, put card in Palm and go. There is a headphone jack.

There are "speakers" (tiny) and a voice recorder. Great for memos.

Camera:
The 1.2 megapixel camera has onboard adjustments for contrast and light (I needed to take down the exposure for a shot of my deck at dawn.) Digital zoom. No cover for the camera lens. The resolution was ok. The memory will hold about 85 shots, and you can move them to the SDI (optional) card. No flash.

Software:
The installation CD comes with Adobe Acrobat Reader for Palm, plus a calculator, a reader-- Documents To Go which allows you to read Microsoft Word and Excel. It's recommended to download AvantGo to add internet features. Sites such as www.palmsource.com, www.freewarepalm.com, www.palmgear.com, www.download.com have many free or inexpensive applications for the PalmOS.

There is no manual, it's on the CD.

Summary:
For a PDA, this is about perfect. To be perfect, they'd have to include WiFi and or a better phone setup list for the Bluetooth. I am quite thrilled with the Zire 72--it does what I want it to do, mainly be a PDA and keep my appointments and handle some data. The camera and MP3 are nice for travel.

Excellent PDA!
Zire 72 is an excellent device with minor problems. For the price its a bargain and will ensure Palm's market share stays high.

Pro's,
1. Its a Palm, with a stable version of Palm OS.
2. Looks good and feels solid in hand.
3. Superb screen and extremely clear.
4. mp3 playback is very good.
5. Uses standard mini USB jack, not propreitary Palm connector.
6. Fast performance. Don't compare raw MHz between PDA's, this one's faster than 400MHz PPC's.
7. Available memory is a lot for a Palm.
8. Good software bundle and Bluetooth (chear up Sony Ericsson or Powerbook users)!
9. Speaker is - suprisingly - good at playing mp3's (64kpbs sounds great).
10. Camera is better than cell phone ones, 1.2 mega pixel.
11. Stylus is very ergonomic.
12. Silver looks better than blue edition, IMO.

Con's,
1. Down button is hard to press, ironically that's the most used button on Zire 72. The 5 way navigator is poorly designed and cheap plastic.
2. Case is slippery (on positive side it looks like the paint won't come off like on the blue edition).
3. Battery life is just slightly better than Pocket PC's, needs charging frequently.
4. Included charger is not a world charger and is bulky.
5. No bluetooth or Wifi but atleast it has SDIO slot.
6. Weak alarm sounds (think this can be fixed?) and no vibrate only mode.
7. Packaging in plastic box is tough to open and not eco-friendly.
8. Battery is not user replaceable. (dead Palm after 2 years? but same with most PDA's)

Overall Zire 72s is an excellent device and you can't go wrong with this one. Much more easier to use and reliable (Palm OS) than PPC's. Highly recommended!

great, but still has cosmetic issues
I am in love with my new Zire 72 PDA... BUT... I bought the special edition because I read all the reviews about the paint rubbing off the regular, blue Zire 72. I have had my PDA for just over a week now, and already the painted lettering on the top ('palm one' and 'zire 72') has cracked and mostly rubbed off. It's not a big deal -- the unit is user friendly and works great, and it still looks nice, but I can't believe that this $300 item already looks worn when it is almost brand new and has been used carefully and moderately. Still a great choice, I think, but just a warning...