Mini-Pre: Palm said to have second, smaller device on tap for this year

Dude, the Palm Pre is soooo last week. I want the Mini-Pre.

TechCrunch is reporting that "one of [their] better sources" blabbed about a second Pre-like device that Palm is "very far along" with and readying for a launch sometime in the second half of 2009. The device is reportedly smaller than Pre, which could mean it forgoes the sliding QWERTY board in favor of an all-touchscreen solution, virtual keyboard and all.

As TC points out, what's ironical about this is that iPhone pundits and fanboys have been chasing after the mythical "iPhone nano" rumor for a good two years now, and Palm may have beaten Apple to the punch. While this week's iPhone rumors have largely centered around some sort of deal with Verizon that could include an "iPhone Lite" device coming to Big Red, they're still just rumors: there's no second, smaller Apple phone that anyone knows about. Well, none that anyone without security clearance knows about, anyway.

Of course, this Mini-Pre story is just a rumor, too. But I love the idea, as TC summed it up, "that Palm, seeing all that user excitement over a small form iPhone, decided to jump ahead and create a mini Pre of their own."

Comments on this Post

E.N.E.N. @ May 2, 09 9:35 PM

I don't understand why Apple should have a long time ago. They don't HAVE to do anything. They probably were never planning to make an iPhone nano until now but it was all those rumors that made people beleive that they were going to announce it. I could care less about iPhone lite and the mini-pre because at the end I'm probably going to go with the original version. But bad marketing on Palm's part for creating a smaller version to the Pre before the launch if the original and bad marketing for announcing the Palm Eos. Too many new devices.

Spam

YanivC @ May 3, 09 11:34 AM

I don't understand why anyone would believe this. Why would Palm leak a mini pre before the actual pre comes out? It would just harm them. Think about how many people will say " wow that's nice but ill wait a few more months till the smaller one comes out"?
It would make no sense.... I think people are just gagging for new stuff so nonsense is leaking out everywhere. Wow..... and this is a recession?? Lol gotta have our gadgets huh?

sundancekid @ Apr 30, 09 9:50 AM

What is it with Palm? They've been hyping Pre for more than 6 months with no release date in sight. Now "mini-Pre?" Is Palm actually working on these devices or just trying to keep its name in the media and its stock from tanking (any more than it already has)?

photiczone @ May 5, 09 10:31 AM

Your complaint is about two months early. Palm came out with the Pre announcement in January, not quite 4 months ago, so your statement that Palm has been "hyping Pre for more than 6 months" is untrue and misleading. Palm said it (the Pre) would be ready in the first half of 2009, and my calender says we're going to be in the first half of 2009 for another 8 weeks. If Palm Pre debut goes past June 30, and if you were posting this on July 4 rather than April 30, you'd have something real to whine about.

I think your summation that Palm is hyping a vapor product in order to prop up their stock is illogical and devoid of any research as to what is really going on with Palm.

(Just a regular Sprint customer who reads the news -- not affiliated with Palm nor Sprint.)

devane707 @ Apr 30, 09 6:56 AM

Why are they worrying about a Mini-Pre already when the original Palm Pre isn't even out yet?

Mikel333 @ May 2, 09 5:49 PM

ya i totaly agree with you

YanivC @ May 3, 09 11:36 AM

Davo Armo @ Apr 30, 09 1:37 AM

i can see this happening, but:

if it does release this year and it goes to sprint, then it will in late-ish Q4. if it releases earlier then it most likely wont go to sprint so that it doesnt affect the sales of the original. but, then, who would get it? if its GSM, then no one because apple wouldnt let At&t and T-Mobile doesnt have a contract with them. if CDMA then obviously verizon but, idk.

this is all getting very confusing!

st.stark @ Apr 30, 09 12:19 AM

Yeah, I think people like the idea of a smaller full touchscreen phone on any platform.
For many people, having a phone with a 3.5" screen or even a 3.2" screen can be a little less pocketable than they want it to be.
So if Palm does come out with a smaller Pre kudos to them...
If Apple does actually come out with it first I wouldn't be surprised, considering they should've a LONG time ago... lol