Breaking news- Palm cancels the Foleo

Say what you want about the Palm Foleo smartphone companion it has generated a lot of conversation in the mobile tech space.  That conversation is about to get a lot louder as Palm CEO Ed Colligan announced on the Palm blog that the Foleo is being canceled so the company can concentrate on its next generation line of smartphones.

In the course of the past several months, it has become clear that the right path for Palm is to offer a single, consistent user experience around this new platform design and a single focus for our platform development efforts. To that end, and after careful deliberation, I have decided to cancel the Foleo mobile companion product in its current configuration and focus all of our energies on delivering out next generation platform and the first smartphones that will bring this platform to market. We will, of course, continue to develop products in partnership with Microsoft on the Windows Mobile platform, but from our internal platform development perspective, we will focus on only one.

Reading on in the post the decision to cancel the Foleo this close to shipping will force Palm to take a $10 million charge against earnings.  Ouch.

Comments

[Scotty]

I still hear the crows cawing but if any path will save Palm it began with this move.

[gork]

Good move Palm. I think your going in the right direction.

[Rodfather]

I'd like to dedicate this song to Palm. From the soundtrack Karate Kid.

Try to be best
‘Cause you’re only a man
And a man’s gotta learn to take it

Try to believe
Though the going gets rough
That you gotta hang tough to make it

History repeats itself
Try and you’ll succeed

Never doubt that you’re the one
And you can have your dreams!

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you dow-ow-ow-ow-own

Fight ‘til the end
Cause your life will depend
On the strength that you have inside you

Ah you gotta be proud
starin’ out in the cloud
When the odds in the game defy you

Try your best to win them all
and one day time will tell
when you’re the one that’s standing there
you’ll reach the final bell!

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you dow-ow-ow-ho-how-ho-own

INSPIRING GUITAR SOLO

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you dow-ow-ow-ow-own

Fight ‘til you drop
never stop
can’t give up
Til you reach the top (FIGHT!)
you’re the best in town (FIGHT!)
Listen to that sound
A little bit of all you got
Can never bring you down

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!

repeat to fade, occasional background shouts of “Oh Ye-eah!”

[Patrick]

Here's hoping they don't waste those foleo parts - put a 180 degree swivel on the screen hinge, and add a touchscreen...voila! Also, here's hoping they put a real web browser in there with full flash support.

I must admit that I'm a bit saddened by the news - I hope it doesn't affect palm too much.

[bluespapa]

Cool idea that never should have left the first focus group.

[Demetri]

I agree Patrick. Are you listening Mr. Colligan?

[PJE]

I think the main issue was the choice of CPU. If it had been based on the new Intel mobile platform I think it would have worked. Not being able to play videos off the web was the nail in its coffin.

Bring it back with the 800MHz Intel CPU and I think it would be a much more interesting device.

[vm-01]

I'm kind of disappointed actually. The Foleo didn't interest me personally but I thought it would make a great gift to someone who's not comfortable using a computer.

I was already thinking of giving 3 people one. I guess I'll wait for those OLPCs to start appearing.