Palm is back, but I don’t want it.
Editor’s note: This article is from 爱范儿, author Chen Wenjun.
A few years ago, Wilson, the founder of Ai Faner, took a taxi to Shenzhen Huaqiang North to buy a Palm phone.
But now, Palm has been changed by HP and TCL. It has become the leading brand of the former Samsung North American design directors of DennisMiloseski and HowardNuk. Compared to the classic products of Replica Palm, They want to reshape the spirit of Palm.
After nearly 400 days of brewing, the reborn Palm finally returned to the shelves of the Chinese market with “Palm” (the phone is called this name).
With this mobile phone, there is a price of 1999 yuan.
This is one of the smallest and currently available mobile phones in the world. It has only one bank card in size. It is probably only the length of four fingers of an adult man. The weight of the whole machine is only 62 grams.
Compared with iPhoneXSMax, you might feel that it is more like an iPhone anti-lost accessory than a mobile phone.
However, this is exactly what Palm is all about, because it is not a device for competing with mainstream mobile phones, but a “second mobile phone” for users.
We want to create a new kind of mobile device that allows users to enjoy life better when they are out on vacation or on weekends, rather than having the same features as mainstream devices.
This is a passage from Palm’s founder, Miloseski, in an interview with Variety. It is clear that Miloseski’s starting point in designing Palm is not to create one.A mobile phone, but a tool to escape from intensive social interaction.
▲The founder of the new Palm, DennisMiloseski and HowardNuk
So this is Palm’s product positioning – lightweight, simple, and few features. In the words of Zhuangzi, it is “useless use is a big use.”
Of course, although Palm’s screen is only 3.3 inches and 720P resolution, it is equipped with Android8.1 system, so it can also be done by mobile phone functions such as Internet access and running apps.
And the phone also has a 12-megapixel rear-mounted and 8 megapixel front-facing camera, so it can also be photographed and unlocked like a normal mobile phone.
▲Image from: CNET
Hmm? This sounds like it is not much different from an ordinary mobile phone.
However, mobile phone performance limits it and can’t perform too many tasks. Although it can run many apps on Android, its configuration is only 435 and 3+32GB of storage space.
Here we don’t say that the processor is not enough. The most basic 32GB storage space and 800mAh battery capacity, in fact, has limited it can not do too much.
So Palm’s actual use is mainly in the functions of the phone, SMS and light app running hardware requirements. While escaping the leadership to find you on WeChat on the weekend, there will be no point of total loss of contact with your family.
And for the convenience of the user to operate on this small 3.3-inch screen, Palm also uses similar to AppleWatch’s hive array menu makes it easy for users to reach the button.
Even, this phone also supports IP68 dustproof and waterproof.
The person who used it said: It is small and sentimental, but not so practical
Although the name Palm is strong enough and the product design is very small, the first people who experienced it didn’t think it was a great device.
Especially in the current smart watch has become a “small hand phone”, Palm’s positioning is a bit embarrassing.
▲Image from: Digitaltrends
Would you like to buy this product? No, you only need to turn “Do not disturb mode” on your iPhone or Android phone to save $350.
DigitalTrends Editor uses expensive pricing, battery life, poor camera imaging, etc. Several arguments to evaluate Palm’s “bad experience.”
Although Palm can be fixed on the arm as a wearable device, its function is not stronger than traditional mobile phones, and portability is not as convenient as smart watches.
▲Image from: Digitaltrends
So Palm is actually more suitable for use as a backup for iPhone or Android devices, but even so, the 800mAh battery can only last for 8 hours, which is not a problem for a backup machine.
TheVerge editor DieterBohnThinking that Palm is a small and cute device that fits easily into jeans and small purses. And the phone’s built-in contact copy function is also very useful, you can directly copy the main machine’s phone to the Palm’s contact list.
Umm… It’s pretty cute.
But as a device designed to escape social stress, can Palm really help you solve the problem of mobile addiction? DieterBohn doesn’t think so. He said that physical restrictions such as “screen time” do not fundamentally solve mobile phone addiction, but require the user’s self-control.
▲Image from:TheVerge
In other words, if you want to solve mobile phone addiction or escape social pressure, it is much more effective to reduce the number of contacts with mobile phones than without some functions.
The editing of AndroidAuthority is just an understatement of the Palm’s features, and the focus is on the exquisite appearance and body materials.
▲Image from: AndroidAuthority
Surely, the small screen brings a sense of control, but it also lacks the most basic interaction of the smartphone – typing. Edition of AndroidAuthority and The editor of Theinquirer all said that it had to use the sliding input method because typing on a 3.3-inch screen was too much trouble.
However, I wonder if the domestic Jiugong grid input method can solve the pain points of small screen input?
▲ Image from: Tom’sGuide
Comparing with the previous media, Tom’sGuide’s editors are positive about Palm’s evaluation, and both the design and the anti-interference function give an evaluation of the merits.
However, he also put forward several interesting points in the evaluation summary. First, since the mobile phone positioning is anti-interference, why would you pre-install some software that is opposite to the product positioning?
Second, Palm’s pricing is not low (many foreign media have evaluated the price of the machine is not low), this price is actually close to the price of an AppleWatch, so this pricing has no advantage to the product.
Summarizing the views of several foreign media, we can see that Palm is indeed lighter in size than ordinary mobile phones, but Palm’s performance and functions meet the needs, whether in daily life or sports.
800mAh battery limits the standby capacity of the mobile phone as a backup machine, and the higher pricing also affects the price/performance ratio of it and other smart devices. The built-in system does not have a substantial impact on users.
Therefore, foreign media generally give Palm two evaluations:
Small, have feelings.
Palm’s idea is ahead, but I hope to see it next year
Overview of the current mobile phone market, the manufacturers who insist on doing small-screen mobile phones are actually not only the Palm family, but also the flagship small steel cannons such as the Samsung Galaxy S10e, as small as HMD Nokia’s 100 yuan entry machine.
In fact, small-screen mobile phones have been living in the market, and many people love small-screen mobile phones. Only most people have neglected this market,