Palm Centro 690
Key specs
Critic consensus
“You might think the Palm Centro just puts lipstick on a pig-the pig being Palm's creaky, antiquated operating system-but dang if this little smartphone doesn't turn heads and win hearts. Available in glossy black onyx or fire-engine red, the Centro's slim enough to slip into a pocket-something the chunky Treo never could do. But the real news is the price: At less than a c-note, it's cheap enough for teens and cheapskate execs alike. Palm serves up a new IM applet for the kiddos and robust Office-sync software for the suits. Push e-mail, too. Like the Treo, the Centro's a bit of a lightweight when it comes to multimedia, but it can do YouTube, Internet radio, and streaming TV. No one knows why Palm refuses to offer Wi-Fi, but with Sprint's speedy 3G network, who needs it?WIRED The Palm OS may be old, but it's still fast, easy to use, and compatible with tons of awesome apps. All the power of a Treo with less of the bulk (and expense). Bundled software keeps you productive, connected, and entertained.TIRED Zero innovation: It's really just a smaller, more affordable Treo. Battery life sucks: Just 3.5 hours of talk time. Cramped keyboard not for the fat of finger. Stereo Bluetooth not supported out of the box-it requires third-party software.”
Watch before you decide
What people say
This phone has been a nightmare, (Best Buy Service also). We bought the phone and the first week the phone would lock up. I took the battery out and it worked fine. This happened regularly for 10 months and then it got really bad. Sent it in for warrenty repair and it was deemed unfixable. They s...
The phones battery life was poor but most was due b/c of the bright screen that I quickly adjusted. The first one I got worked fine and then after 3 weeks it wouldnt hold a charge. I took it to sprint and they told me it was the phone. They sent it away for repair and it came back. I charged it a...
The phones battery life was poor but most was b/c of the bright screen that I adjusted. The first one I got worked fine and then after 3 weeks it wouldnt hold a charge. I took it to sprint and they told me it was the phone. They sent it away and it came back. I charged it all night and the next d...
In Depth
There has been no shortage of admonitions directed at Palm over the past year, from criticizing their dated OS to cosmetic and aesthetic complaints.
But Palm is selling millions of Centros. It’s simple, we geeks may look down our noses at the antiquated operation system, but in a recent conversation with a cell phone store owner I learned that people just plain like them.
The Centro 690 is a capable smart phone that gets most of the important details right. Buttons you can push, a responsive touch screen, a wealth of 3rd party apps to choose from to customize and maximize your device, and good call quality.
The Centro 690 has lost some weight from its prior iteration, making it even more attractive. Out of the box you’ve got yourself an easy-to-use device with Bluetooth, Ev-Do support, push email so you can receive those Nigerian lottery winnings even quicker and a suite of productivity applications.
A recurring theme among users is that it is easy to use. The folks at Palm have created a device for people that have never owned a smart phone and may be intimidated by more sophisticated options.
If you would like to trade up from to a device that is simple to use, will make your day easier and safer, take a look at the Centro 690.
What people actually want to know
When was the Palm Centro 690 released?
The Palm Centro 690 was released on September 27, 2007.
How long does the battery last on the Palm Centro 690?
The Palm Centro 690 has a 1,150 mAh battery.
Does the Palm Centro 690 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Palm Centro 690 has a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Where can I download the Palm Centro 690 manual?
You can view and download the Palm Centro 690 manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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