Zire

Zire
Name	Zire
Developer	Palm, Inc.
Released	2002
Discontinued	2005
Operating system	Palm OS
Predecessor	m100 series
Successor	Palm Z22
Related	Palm Tungsten

Zire. The Zire was a series of budget-friendly personal digital assistants (PDAs) developed and marketed by Palm, Inc. during the early 2000s. Designed to expand the market for handheld computing, the Zire line offered simplified functionality and a low price point, making it one of the company's most commercially successful product families. It played a significant role in popularizing Palm OS devices among first-time users and students.

Overview

Introduced in October 2002, the Zire series represented Palm, Inc.'s strategic shift to capture the entry-level consumer market. The original Zire 71 model was notable for integrating a digital camera, a first for the company's handhelds. The line was positioned below the more feature-rich Palm Tungsten and Palm TX series, emphasizing affordability and core PIM functions. Its development and marketing were influenced by the competitive pressure from other handheld manufacturers like Handspring and emerging smartphone platforms.

History

The Zire brand was launched following the success of the value-oriented m100 series. The first model, the monochrome Zire, was released in 2002 as a direct successor to the Palm m125. In 2003, Palm, Inc. introduced the color Zire 71, which featured a 1.2-megapixel camera and an innovative sliding design that concealed the stylus. The final models, the Zire 31 and Zire 72, were released in 2004 before the brand was discontinued in 2005 and succeeded by the Palm Z22. The product line's lifespan coincided with a period of intense competition in the PDA market from companies like Sony (with its CLIÉ series) and Dell.

Models

The Zire series comprised several distinct models, each targeting specific price segments. The original Palm Zire (S160) featured a monochrome display and 2 MB of memory. The Palm Zire 21 (S161) was a minor update with a color screen. The mid-range Palm Zire 31 (S162) offered 16 MB of RAM and an SD card slot. The higher-end Palm Zire 71 (S360) included a camera and a Texas Instruments OMAP processor. The top-of-the-line Palm Zire 72 (S361) added Bluetooth support, a faster processor, and an improved camera. All models ran versions of Palm OS 4.1 or Palm OS 5.

Features and specifications

Typical Zire models featured a resistive touchscreen operated with a plastic stylus. They were powered by Motorola DragonBall or Texas Instruments OMAP ARM-based processors, with clock speeds ranging from 16 MHz to 312 MHz. Memory configurations varied from 2 MB to 32 MB of RAM, expandable via Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) slots. The Palm Zire 71 and Palm Zire 72 included integrated VGA-resolution digital cameras. Standard connectivity was limited to a USB cradle for HotSync data synchronization with a Windows or Mac OS computer.

Software

All Zire devices shipped with the Palm OS platform and a suite of core PIM applications including Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, and Memo Pad. They also included utility software like the Documents To Go suite from DataViz for viewing Microsoft Office files, and Palm Photos for image management. The Palm Zire 72 bundled additional multimedia software such as Kinoma Player and RealPlayer. Software could be installed via the Palm Desktop software or downloaded from online repositories like PalmGear.

Reception and legacy

The Zire series was generally well-received by critics and consumers for its value proposition. Publications like PC World and CNET praised the Palm Zire 71 for its innovative camera feature. The line was a major commercial success for Palm, Inc., helping the company maintain market share against rivals like the Handspring Treo and various Pocket PC devices. Its legacy is that of a gateway device that introduced millions to mobile computing, though it was ultimately rendered obsolete by the convergence of PDA functions into smartphones like the BlackBerry and later the iPhone.

Category:Palm OS devices Category:Personal digital assistants Category:Discontinued products