palmOne introduces LifeDrive mobile manager

Well-known for its Tungsten and Zire PDAs (personal digital assistants) and Treo smartphones, palmOne Inc. introduced recently the LifeDrive mobile manager, a product that combines business productivity tools with entertainment applications.

The palmOne LifeDrive mobile manager offers 4GB of hard-drive storage, a large high-resolution color screen, and wireless access through built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies.

With LifeDrive, people can easily carry virtually all of their essential desktop computer files and folders. Crucial documents can be set to update automatically at each HotSync operation, and users can receive secure wireless e-mail with attachments whenever they are within range of a Wi-Fi connection or by connecting via a compatible Bluetooth phone. People can even remotely retrieve Microsoft Office files left behind on the desktop computer.

The LifeDrive’s 4GB Hitachi Microdrive weighs less than an AA battery, is smaller than a matchbook and transfers data 30 percent faster than the previous-generation Microdrive so users can get to their music, pictures, data more quickly.

With 3.85GB of usable storage, LifeDrive mobile manager users can store and access 1,200 office documents, 6,000 e-mails, 1,000 photos, 300 songs, 2.5 hours of video, 50 voicemails, 10,000 contacts and 10,000 appointments.

The 320x480, high-resolution color screen can switch the display from landscape to portrait at the touch of a button.

With support for native Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat Reader, LifeDrive’s file management makes it easy for users to carry and access thousands of files.

The LifeDrive applications include Folder Sync, which automatically updates selected files when syncing; File Transfer, which lets users drag and drop thousands of files from a PC onto the LifeDrive; Drive Mode, which behaves like a USB drive to easily transfer files to any PC or Apple computer; and Files View, which allows the transferred folder structure to remain intact, making it easy to locate important information.

Flash memory keeps information safe even if the device loses its charge, and 128-bit encryption keeps valuable data safely secure when invoked. Password protection safeguards access to the device, while the Private Records function protects specific files even when the rest of the mobile manager is unlocked.

An optional Intrusion Protection function erases all data and returns the device to factory settings after a user-specified number of failed break-ins.

By connecting to any of the more than 80,000 public Wi-Fi hot spots in popular hotels, cafés and airports around the world, LifeDrive users can access POP, IMAP and Exchange e-mail accounts, download the latest calendar appointments from the office, retrieve documents from the desktop computer with the WiFile software, and surf the Web with the included Web browser, which has been optimized for mobile surfing.

The device’s built-in Bluetooth can be used to connect to compatible Bluetooth devices nearby, allowing for wireless syncing with a Bluetooth laptop, wireless sending a document to a Bluetooth printer or hands-free dialing to a Bluetooth phone.

LifeDrive users can also enjoy listening to songs from their personal music collection, viewing photos or watching video clips.

The built-in voice recorder allows for hands-free notes or personal narrations to accompany photo slideshows. Users of the LifeDrive mobile manager will enjoy fast performance for business and multimedia applications, thanks to the 416MHz Intel XScale processor.

The expansion card slot, which supports SD, SDIO and MultiMediaCard formats, makes it easy to transform the LifeDrive into a camera companion.

The LifeDrive has a recommended retail price of P30,500.