Palm OS 5.2.8 (versus 5.2.1 for the Zire 71). </li> </ul> <table width="100%" border="1" bordercolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="25%" height="343" align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/zire72-screen1.gif" width="260" height="282" hspace="10">
<strong><font size="2">The Zire 72 can easily capture and manage your most important digital files. </font></strong>
</td> <td width="75%" align="left" valign="top">
<strong>Built-in Camera</strong>
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. </p>
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. </p></td> </tr> </table>
<table width="100%" border="1" bordercolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="75%" align="left" valign="top">
<strong>Audio</strong>
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. </p>
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. </p>
<strong>Display</strong>
The Palm Zire 72 features a 16-bit, 320 x 320 bright transflective TFT color display, which supports more than 65,000 colors. </p> </td> <td width="25%" align="center"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/zire72-screen2.gif" width="160" height="160" hspace="10">
<strong><font size="2">Listen to MP3 music files stored on expansion cards via the built-in speaker on the Zire 72</font></strong> </td> </tr> </table>
<strong>Connectivity and Expansion</strong>
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. </p>
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. </p> <table width="100%" border="1" bordercolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="24%" align="center" valign="top">
<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/zire72-animated1.gif" width="160" height="160" hspace="15" vspace="5">
<font size="2"><strong>VersaMail software enables you to access and manage your personal and corporate emai1 while on the go. </strong></font></p></td> <td width="76%" rowspan="2" align="left" valign="top">
<strong>Operating System and Software</strong>
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:</p> <ul>
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 commients. </li> </ul></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top"> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="1" bordercolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="70%" rowspan="2" align="left" valign="top">
Graffiti 2 allows you to enter data quickly into your Palm handheld but 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).
<strong>Compatibility</strong>
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. </p>
</p>
</p></td> <td width="30%" align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/zire72-animated2.gif" width="160" height="160" hspace="10" vspace="5">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="49" align="center" valign="top"><font size="2"><strong>Messages software allows you to send and receive text and multimedia messages and include photos taken with the built-in camera. </strong></font></td> </tr> </table> <strong>What's in the Box</strong>
This package contains the Zire 72 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.
Product Description
Capture life's moments with a 1.2 megapixel camera built right in to the Zire 72 handheld. Shoot photos and video clips, 1 then download them to your computer to share with family and friends. Create photo albums on your handheld, attach photos to contact information, display a favorite photo in the background, and more.Carry your tunes with you and listen to them using the built-in speakers or a pair of stereo headphones. Play MP3s while you're scheduling appointments, adding contacts, or just enjoying a spare moment.Manage photos and videos just as easily as schedules or contacts. Stay ahead of your day with the Agenda View, and track your schedule easily by color-coding your events.Keep your business tools close at hand. Create and edit Word and Excel compatible documents and read Adobe Acrobat files right on your handheld.Synchronize with Outlook email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes right out of the box.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. Or share files, photos and more with nearby Bluetooth devices like computers, printers and other handhelds.Record your thoughts with the Voice Memo application and microphone. Then synchronize them to your desktop computer - even email them to colleagues and friends.
Customer Reviews:
good agenda, very pleasant with.......2007-01-11
its was a very good agenda to me until one day.... i drop it..
i used with a aluminium case and i have been drop it many times until from my legs drop it and the screen become blank, i heard this is the problem but overall its very good agenda, used about one year.. if i got to buy another i will do it.. but i think to buy the treo 650, its the one i need for now....
Great - if you use an expandable memory card.......2006-12-10
I have both the Palm Tungsten E and the Zire 72. I've owned both for over 2 years and honestly haven't had a problem aside from losing data. This happens when the battery dies completely (I'm terrible at recharging electronics). However, I must say the voice recorder and digital camera on the Zire 72 have been lifesavers in certain situations! I have been able to take clear voice records of lectures within large classrooms.
At the time I purchased the Zire 72, it came with a free expansion card (mail-in offer). When the card didn't arrive, the girl at their customer service number was very helpful and friendly. I will definitely continue to buy Palm products in the future.
great medium-level palm.......2006-07-15
got the zire 72 ~2 years ago, replaced with t/x 12/05 (see my review on it). thought i should still write a review because i thought it was a great palm overall.
pros: very quick, quicker than the t/x and locks up less; also very important for music lovers: you can lay the palm flat and actually hear the music fairly well with its speaker (volume overall much louder with 72 than t/x; and when flat, can barely hear stuff on t/x). similarly, if you connect it via the headphone jack to your car stereo, it produces a much louder sound (important to minimize static noise if using a cassette adapter); has a voice recorder!; has a decent camera as a backup in case you need a pic and no real camera around
cons: comes with only 32 mb internal memory but can use an external card; blue "paint" will flake off...i just peeled all mine off so it had a nice silver look but then they came out with the zire 72s which is basically the same thing!; some of them will start making the high-pitched buzzing noise when on...mine started doing that after i had it for a year or so; screen size is the usual size, not bigger like the t/x
all in all i think a great palm, definitely get it and not the t/x if you plan on using it more for music than other productivity stuff!
Palm sized power.......2006-07-15
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. There is available a special edition with the silver body that seems to be less prone to this complaint.
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.
Problems from the beginning.......2006-06-08
I bought this device because I loved that I could use it for both work and personal fun. I bought it in September 2004, and by January 2005, I'd returned it because the blue paint was peeling off. PALM was pretty awful to deal with. It was returned to me in April or May. When they did return the device, it would not sync properly. I called PALM and they gave me the run around, telling me it was my PCs problem, my company's problem, etc. They wouldn't take it back. Then the warranty expired and they wouldn't take it back, and quite frankly I was exhausted by the whole thing and stopped using it for a couple of months. Finally, in January 2006 I decided just to use it for its organizational tasks and forget the syncking. Now, June 7, that just broke and I am throwing it away.
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