Other apps include the Blazer browser, which is perfectly fine. We would have preferred to install Opera Mini, which you can't do as the Centro doesn't come with Java as standard, meaning that it won't initially support Java apps or games. We think it should've come preinstalled.
That said, there are a variety of apps that are specially designed for the Palm OS, which you can download instead of Java ones. Google's Mobile Maps comes preinstalled and we also tried a Garmin mobile sat-nav app, which worked well and allowed us to connect the Centro to a GPS receiver and use it as a sat-nav, which is useful.
What really lets the Centro down is the lack of Wi-Fi or 3G, which makes everything run slowly and cuts out a lot of potential functions, such as VoIP.
Performance
No muffling or distortion was apparent in audio quality during during calls or while using the loudspeaker. There were no surprises with the audio quality from the MP3 player either. We used a pair of Sennheiser CX 300s, which are great if you can only access a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Unsurprisingly, pictures from the 1.3-megapixel come out blurry and don't show up well in low light. Video is of an equally low quality. We really think Palm needs to up its game in the camera department if it's positioning itself as a consumer brand. The ability to take good pictures with a mobile is increasingly becoming a must-have feature.
Battery life is quoted at 4 hours talk time and 300 hours on standby. We found that it lasted for over two days before needing to be recharged.
Conclusion
While the Centro has had great success in the States, we just don't think it can compete with the plethora of smaller camera and music phones on offer in the UK that offer email functionality too. It's a nice device if you're a Palm veteran looking for a smaller phone or if you want a simple email phone, but in terms of its consumer features, we still think that Palm has a way to go before the Centro will attract young consumers in the UK.
Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday
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User reviews1
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adruking 29 October 2011
Good: 1.Sound. 2.Chat. 3.Browser sys to download pix & apps.
Bad: Camera/ Vid so-so indoors. Good outside
Comment: I purchased an unlocked Centro from Palm when in the US. Ran it on AT&T with no problem.Returned to UK, and ran it PAYG Tesco, with no problem. This is a rock solid basic performing smartphone. Very reliable. The multiple Calculators are very good. They are my preferred usage. The music / video player has the best, and very loudest sound I have ever heard on a mobile device. The cam/video is basic level - but works. Reasonable inside, good outdoors. For texting, phoning, emails it is my choice. The Browser has easy touch-sys for downloading pics or programs. I prefer it. For Day 2 Day reliability it is good. If I wanted all the fancy gizmo software/ hardware candy I would have purchased one of those phones. This does a basic job well - with a few nice extra's. Voice recorder to record a room conversation is astonishingly good. It's my stand-by 'old reliable'.
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