Building on its strong multimedia foundation, PalmOne's Zire 72 GPS Bundle provides all the navigation equipment and software you need to easily get you to new destinations. This GPS Bundle includes TomTom Navigator mapping software for the U.S. and Canada, Bluetooth GPS receiver, vehicle mounting cradle, and a 64 MB Secure Digital card for map storage. The first Palm OS-based PDA that can capture both digital video with sound and shoot digital still photos, the Zire 72 also features a bright 320 x 320-pixel color screen, voice recording capability, an MP3 player, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a 32 MB memory, and a fast 312 Mhz Intel PXA270 processor. And, of course, the Zire 72 features Palm's suite of information management applications and the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only). It's also available without the GPS Bundle in the original blue version and silver special edition. GPS Bundle Features
This GPS Bundle provides you with reliable and easy-to-follow maps voice-guided turn-by-turn instructions that enable you to focus on driving to your destination without stopping to study and refold a map. It includes a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver, which sits on your car's dash and triangulates your position using at least three satellites. This real-time location data is transferred to the Zire 72 via a wireless Bluetooth connection and is displayed in either a 2D or 3D map.
The maps are provided by TomTom Software, and this GPS Bundle includes 8 CD-ROMs with complete road maps of the U.S. and Canada. Special features include a wide array of street-level and highway maps, customized door-to-door navigation and voice-guided turn-by-turn instructions.
Also included with this GPS Bundle is a charging adapter/cable for both the Zire 72 and the GPS receiver that fits in your car's cigarette lighter, a vehicle mounting cradle that can attach to your windshield via a suction cup, and 64 MB Secure Digital card for storing maps.
Built-in Camera
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.
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.
Audio
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.
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.
Display
The Palm Zire 72 features a 16-bit, 320 x 320 bright transflective TFT color display, which supports more than 65,000 colors.
Connectivity and Expansion
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.
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.
Operating System and Software
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:
- Contacts: Lets you store several addresses for each contact, and it adds new contact fields for more phone numbers, multiple email addresses, instant messenger IDs, and a website for your contacts.
- Calendar: Use the new Agenda view to see upcoming calendar events, tasks due and important email, and color-code your events to provide an easy way to reference your Calendar in the 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 commitments.
You'll use Graffiti 2 allows you to enter data quickly into your Palm handheldNbut 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).
Compatibility
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.
What's in the Box
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 GPS Bundle contents include Bluetooth GPS receiver, vehicle mounting cradle, cigarette lighter adapter/cable, 8 TomTom Navigator CD-ROMs with U.S./Canada road maps, and a 64 MB Secure Digital memory card.
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a battery life of between 3 and 4.5 hours depending on screen brightness settings and usage.
