Noah's Bark - Podcasts that don't put you to sleep! Listen online or take it on the road...

Palm Centro Pink Review - At a Glance

Palm Centro Pink
Published on 3/20/2008
By: Noah Kravitz, Senior Editor, Consumer Products and Services
 
Editor Rating: 4.3
4 
4 
Palm centro blackWhat’s Good: Full-featured, easy to use smartphone for entry-level price; Clear, bright, high-resolution touchscreen; Compact body with rounded edges; Zippy EV-DO data with access to Sprint TV service; A-GPS works with location-based services

What’s Not Good: QWERTY keys are small and cramped; Display is smallish (if still easy to read); Hardware and software design feels a bit dated; Noticeably thicker than comparable devices; No Music Store access (yet)

Bottom Line: Get Centro in your hands.  If you like the way it feels and if the buttons aren’t too small for you, you might have found yourself the best value currently going in a full-featured smartphone built for consumers.  Palm OS is not slick, but it works well and Sprint’s fast EV-DO data network and excellent music store add value to the device.  But the cramped buttons and small screen will be deal-breakers for some.

Specs:

  • Make/Model: Palm Centro (690)
  • Network: CDMA
  • Data: EV-DO
  • Carrier: Sprint (Locked); GSM version available from AT&T
  • Size: 107 x 54 x 18.5 mm
  • Weight: 119 g
  • Form Factor: Candybar
  • Display: 2.25” Color LCD, 320 x 320 resolution, 65,000 Colors
  • Memory:  64 MB built-in, microSD card slot
  • Notable Features: Palm OS Smartphone Platform; POP3, IMAP, and MS Exchange Email support (including MS Direct push); IM support for multiple procotols; Web browser; Sprint TV and Power Vision compatibility including laptop tethering; ocketTunes Deluxe music player software including Internet Radio support; Sirius Satellite Radio support


Next: Introduction »

Reviews by manufacturer

Verizon Wireless,   Sprint PCS,   Nokia,   Samsung,   Sony Ericsson,   Motorola,   LG,   Sanyo,   HTC,   Palm,   BlackBerry,   Sharp,   Pantech,   BenQ,   Apple,   Eten,   o2

Our fancy algorithm says this stuff is related...

env2dude
Sunday, October 12, 2008i would like to get this phone off of ebay in stead of having the env 2 what do you think?

Add a comment

There are two easy ways to submit your comment
  1. Sign in if you are already a member, or join PhoneDog for a free account- this way you won't have to re-enter your information on subsequent comment posts. Additionally you'll receive all these great benefits of being a PhoneDog community member.
    Or,
  2. Submit your comment without registering by using the form below

Palm Centro Onyx Red in-depth review - Introduction

I remember when Treos were all the rage amongst executives and Email addicts before Email addictions were trendy.  A sales exec friend of mine got married a few years back and I’ll never forget the image of her pecking madly at her Treo an hour before the ceremony as bridesmaids tended to her non-Email needs.  The Treo line really ushered in the age of QWERTY smartphones that combined robust Email and organizer features with a form...

Palm Centro Onyx Red in-depth review - Design & Features

Palm Centro is little, fat, and cute all at once.  It’s more the size of a regular phone than a business-class smartphone like Sprint’s HTC Mogul, and is available in a nicely dressed down black, a flashier red, and a soft pink, each of which is accented by a gray stripe running across the front panel of the phone.  While Centro’s 18.5mm thick profile means it bulges in a front jeans pocket, it’s small enough to easily use in one hand...

Palm Centro Onyx Red in-depth review - Usability & Performance

First off, Sprint’s Centro worked great as a phone.  Signal strength was excellent virtually everywhere I went in the San Francisco Bay Area, and calls came through loud and clear on both ends.  The speakerphone was decent for a cell (i.e. Usable in a pinch), and I appreciated the “Ignore with Text Message” feature for deflecting incoming calls I didn’t want to take.  Calls may be dialed via the touchscreen or dedicated keys on...

Palm Centro Onyx Red in-depth review - Conclusion

Treos made a big name for themselves as the original Email phone of choice.  Their combination of a usable Email and PDA client married to a solid cell phone was revolutionary in its day, and Palm’s stable, usable, and expandable smartphone platform appealed to power users and consumer Email junkies alike.  Unfortunately the once-mighty Treo got lost in the shuffle during the amazing period of mobile phone innovation that’s come upon...
Black, Red and now a Pink Palm Centro?

Black, Red and now a Pink Palm Centro?

The image of a Pink Palm Centro that has been floating around the internet over the last couple of days appears to be authentic. The Pink version of the surprising popular Centro series should be a big hit with the ladies. No release date has been confirmed, but being Valentines Day is right around the corner an early to mid January launch would seem likely. Other than the color one should expect the pricing and specifications to remain the...
An avid reader shares his blog comparions of the Palm Treo 700,755, & Centro

An avid reader shares his blog comparions of the Palm Treo 700,755, & Centro

A fan of our website wrote in letting us know he had recently done a comparison of the Palm Treo 700, 755, and new Centro.  His comparison list facts about each device and his take on which device offers consumers specific device advantages in his opinion. In Paul's blog he believes the new Centro provides advantages in Internal performance, toys, and weight.  To read more from Paul's side-by-side comparions of different Palm Treo...

About our reviews

More than just the specs, our in-depth reviews are the closest thing to "Try before you buy"!Or use your favorite online news reader
Google, My Yahoo, My MSN, Bloglines, Netvibes, Newsgator

Latest cell phone reviews

  • HTC Touch-Diamond
    HTC Touch-DiamondWhat’s Good: Stunning hardware design and elegant software user interface; front panel is subdued,
  • LG Dare
    LG DareWhat’s Good: Attractive, highly customizable UI with home screen shortcuts; Compact design with
  • Samsung Instinct-M800
    Samsung Instinct-M800What’s Good: Supports every feature Sprint offers; EV-DO Rev. A data speeds; Good touchscreen
  • LG enV2
    LG enV2What’s Good: Sleeker and smaller than the original EnV. Comfortable QWERTY keyboard and QVGA
  • Motorola Z9
    Motorola Z9What’s Good: Great voice quality; fast 3G data speeds; good GPS system; mobiTV compatibility;
  • Samsung Glyde
    Samsung GlydeWhat’s Good: Touchscreen and Full QWERTY Keyboard in Compact Body; Clean Menus and “Croix” User
  • Nokia N82
    Nokia N82What’s Good: Incredible Camera w/Xenon Flash; Full VGA Video Capture; Excellent Web Browser; WiFi;
  • BlackBerry Pearl-8120 Titanium
    BlackBerry Pearl-8120 TitaniumWhat’s Good: Integrated WiFi for Web, Email, and HotSpot@Home UMA Calling; Trackball is easy to
  • LG Venus
    LG VenusWhat’s Good: Beautiful display; Context-sensitive menus; Extensive feature set; VZ Navigation works
  • Nokia N810 Silver
    Nokia N810 SilverWhat’s Good: Stylish, compact design with large touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard; Excellent

Latest cell phone videos

  • LG Lotus (Sprint) Unboxing
    LG Lotus (Sprint) UnboxingFierce! It's the unique new LG Lotus for Sprint - a square-shaped clamshell with a full QWERTY
  • Samsung a837 Rugby (AT&T) - Dropped From a Crane! Sorta
    Samsung a837 Rugby VideoIt's the ruggedized Samsung a837 "Rugby" for AT&T. It's the Crane of Death in downtown Berkeley,
  • Samsung a637 (AT&T) - Unboxing and Hands-On
    Samsung a637 (AT&T)Out of the box! It's the newest AT&T 3G phone, the pearly white Samsung a637. Low-end means
  • Inside the T-Mobile G1
    T-Mobile G1 HardwareDuring the live demo at the T-Mobile / HTC / Google Android launch event, Doug got a chance to take
  • Sprint Touch Diamond - Full Review Part 2
    Sprint Touch Diamond Pt 2Part 2 of Noah's review of the first CDMA Touch Diamond - Sprint's version. Is it a diamond or just
  • Sprint Touch Diamond - Full Review Part 1
    Sprint Touch Diamond Pt 1Noah goes in-depth with Sprint's version of the HTC Touch Diamond. Is this the best Windows Mobile
  • Touch HD video:
    Touch HD videoSeriously. In the video it says so: Touch HD is where "your wildest fantasies come to life." I
  • Bootleg: BlackBerry Storm caught on video, sneaking into the movies style
    BlackBerry Storm VideoWatching this video from Italian site ilTrillo.com is seriously a lot like watching a bootleg copy
  • KP 500: LG announces 'affordable' touchscreen phone
    LG KP500Remember last week when Demetra from LG said on the podcast that her company had all kinds of
  • Another Xperia X1 hands-on tour hits the Web
    Another Xperia X1 videoHey, wait: today's September 30. Doesn't that mean the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is supposed to now

What's happening right now

  • Video
    LG Lotus (Sprint) Unboxing

    LG Lotus (Sprint) Unboxing

    Fierce! It's the unique new LG Lotus for Sprint - a square-shaped clamshell with a full QWERTY board inside. GPS, Sprint TV & Music, 2MP Camera, HTML Browser, Mobile IM and Email ... Noah checks out this fashion-forward feature phone.
    Blog Article
    LG Lotus (Sprint) - Photo Gallery

    LG Lotus (Sprint) - Photos

    Hey, look what just came!  Thanks, Vanessa ;-)  Here are some photos of the black LG Lotus for Sprint.  The QWERTY board feels GREAT so far, as those bubbled chiclet-style keys make up for the relatively small size of the layout.  Sprint's new One Click UI is sort of cool and helpful and sort of overdone; I'll have to play with it more, but I hope it winds up being handier more often than it gets in the way.  And I'm...
    Blog Article
    In the Wild!: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 Unboxed

    Xperia X1 Unboxed

    D'oh!  It's a real, live Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.  In a box!  Out of a box!  Happy Friday!See the full gallery on Fosfor.com(Via MobileCrunch)
    Video
    Samsung a837 Rugby (AT&T) - Dropped From a Crane! Sorta

    Samsung a837 Rugby Video

    It's the ruggedized Samsung a837 "Rugby" for AT&T. It's the Crane of Death in downtown Berkeley, CA. Push to talk technology meets a giant crane. But will Noah have the guts to scale the crane to drop the phone? Find out here!
    Blog Article
    Announcements: Motorola on 10/13, Nokia on 10/14

    Phone Announcements

    Heads-up, phone phans!  Nokia's planned an announcemnet for next Monday, October 13th - and has a viral campaign to hype things up in the meantime - and Motorola's announcing something new and "Clear" (as per their PR campaign) on Tuesday, October 14th.  My bets?  I have no idea what Nokia's gonna drop, but I bet MOTO unveils the Kraze smartphone for Verizon Wireless. Stay tuned for all of the juicy bits as we get them.  And...
  • Video
    Samsung a637 (AT&T) - Unboxing and Hands-On

    Samsung a637 (AT&T)

    Out of the box! It's the newest AT&T 3G phone, the pearly white Samsung a637. Low-end means high-tech these days, and this candybar packs 3G, support for XM Radio Mobile & AT&T Music/Video, and a 1.3 MP camera with video capture.
    Blog Article
    WiMax: HTC drops super shiny WiMax phone on Russia

    HTC T8290

    Might this be a peek into our near-term future?  I hope so.  You're looking at the HTC T8290, a shiny, sleek, badass looking piece of kit from HTC destined for Russia's Yota network. What's neat about this device, besides its obvious good looks, is that it packs both GSM and WiMax connectivity so you can get your voice and high-speed data on in style.  There's a 3.8", 800 x 480 hi-res display for all of that content you'll be...
    Blog Article
    G2: HTC Touch HD not US-bound, but similar Android phone is

    More on next HTC Android phone

    First off, how cool is it that HTC dropped some significant cell phone news on the blogosphere via Twitter the other day?  I'm not saying Twitter itself is/isn't cool, but rather that it's neat to see a tech company innovate when it comes to communicating with the media.  Particularly so a tech company that uses the word "Innovation" in their marketing materials. Second, my post about the possibility of the HTC Touch HD coming to...
    Blog Article
    Sidekick on steroids: First user review of T-Mobile G1 surfaces

    User review of G1

    An Android Community user - and T-Mobile Store Manager in Florida, apparently - who goes by kaziko has posted the first user review of T-Mobile's G1 Android phone.  The review - which takes the form of an ongoing forum thread - is summarized nicely in this post if you don't care to dive into the 11+ page thread. Of course, if you do there's text galore to tide you over until those G1s start shipping on the 22nd. So what's kaziko...
    Blog Article
    Hands-Free: Driving with both earbuds in is NOT okay

    Driving with both earbuds

    For the past few weeks I've been considering writing a post about how California's law against driving while holding a cell phone has done pretty much nothing to curb the habit - at least in the Oakland/Berkeley area where I live and work.  Yesterday on my bike ride home from the office I figured out why I hadn't penned the post yet.  The law has done something, I think.  Sure, I still see at least three drivers with cellies in...
  • Blog Article
    New Phones: Whole lotta Samsung goin on

    New Samsung phones

    While i'm not exactly sure what's going on with some of these code names (Behold? Eternal? Huh?), I am sure of this:  Samsung Mobile's bustin' out all over with their Xmas-time lineup of new phones for US carriers.  Here's a little summary for you, best as I can cobble it out of truth, rumors, and other stuff that's just across the line from pure fiction: T919 "Behold" (T-Mobile):  This one's all but a lock.  TouchWiz UI...
    Blog Article
    DogFight: BlackBerry Storm v. T-Mobile G1 v. Nokia 5800

    Storm v G1 v 5800

    Okay, this is more like a "Paper DogFight" than a real dogfight since, you know, none of these phones are actually available yet.  So what?  Let's look at 'em on paper and see how they stack up so you can get a jump on arguing with your FaceBook Friends over which of these new phones is the best.Note that I'll include the US carrier for each phone in the competitor run-down.  I'm well aware that the Storm is also available in...
    Blog Article
    Hacked: Quick review of Current & Twitters Hack the Debate

    Hack the Debate review

    This week's Noah's Bark podcast features an interview with Chloe Sladden, VP of Special Project Programming at Current TV.  Chloe and I talked about "Hack the Debate," a collaboration between Current and Twitter which allows viewers to post "tweets" - in this case, short commentaries on the debate - some of which are chosen to run in a constant stream on the bottom portion of Current's TV broadcasts of the debates.Last night I watched the...
    Blog Article
    BlackBerry Touchscreen: Verizon Wireless confirms the Storm is on the way

    BlackBerry Storm

    It's official!  Verizon Wireless and BlackBerry have confirmed that the Storm will be available later this fall.  The first BlackBerry touchscreen will make an exclusive debut in the U.S. with Verizon next month.  Making changes to their OS, the BlackBerry Storm provides consumers with a full QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode and a SureType keyboard when in portrait.  Find out more below in the official press release made...
    Blog Article
    T-Mobile @Home: First Impressions

    T-Mobile @Home

    When I first heard that T-mobile was offering a VoIP service, frankly, I wondered what could cause them to do such a thing, and what would motivate a customer to buy it. I've never paid much attention to VoIP because I've gotten so used to being mobile, 100% of the time. I went to my local T-Mobile store to check it out, and saw that they were pushing it as the hot new product. The service is $10 a month for unlimited calls, to anywhere in...

Latest phone images

Matrix-C740SGH-A637StormC610SCH-u430 BlackMOTO-ACTV-W450 OrangeMOTO-ACTV-W450 YellowRhythm-AX585 WhiteRhythm-AX585 BlackG1w580i Red5800-XpressMusic BlueChocolate-3-VX8560 BlueRumor BluePro-200Emporio-Armani-M7500

Latest winner

October 6, 2008 - Cogratulations to Omar Flores of TX.  He is our week 17 winner of a brand new Motorola Q9m.  "It feels good to know i won, I really did not expect for me to win, it came of great shock to me, thank you phonedog.com for the awesome phone!"
Don't forget to enter »

Fetch PhoneDog via Rss

Subscribe & use your favorite news reader to get: