You've got to be kidding. All i can figure is that it is an entry level version for kids to get hooked on treo (since they have small fingers for the keyboard). They can then graduate to the 700 or 680 or whatever is out that is full size and full power (if that actually exists)

I think it hints at more than the 'meaning of code name "Gandolf"'.... it probably also hints at why Palm has made so many missteps with the Treo over the past few years since they bought Handspring. If they are leaving the present stunted Treos in the market as their HIGH-END units and releasing cheap looking toys like this, then Motorola, Apple, Nokia and RIM aren't victimizing Palm - Palm has done it to themselves.

If Palm had come out with a flip-phone - a Treo-ish improvement on the i500 formfactor....THEN they could be forgiven for dumbness in design because there'd be need for compromise.

But Palm's obsessive paranoia that somewhere-somehow-someone out there is designing a thinner phone than the Treo (and driving the Treo in that direction is "job one") is leading to some really dumb moves that is wrecking the platform. MiniSD, chopped battery life, key and camera rearrangements, etc are about all the cosmetic "improvements" Palm has added to the Treo in 4 years. Now it appears the reason not much positive has been added in that time was because they have been busy with that crazy outside-their-strengths "Fooleo" and now this SesameStreet "Gandolf" device. I guess the 755 will have to be the swan song of Palm.

I've seen this same pictures as far back as January of this year. This is nothing new in the rumor mill and I'll be surprised if this unit is ever seen IRL!

I think y'all are reading into it too much... Surely it's a reference of Gandalf the gray 'dying' and being resurrected as Gandalf the white?
(Current treo = gray, Future treo = white?)
(and other colors by the looks of it)

Plus it's probably just because the guys designing the thing are geeks like the rest of us :)

Sorry, but I'd rather see actual news and info on Palm devices than speculation on names. Honestly, who cares what it's named or why? (And, if Palm is deciding to name devices based on mythology, that's just another creepy indication of their slide from respectability.)

It's Palm's version of a Treo for kids. What would be news would be along the lines of?

Is Palm dumping the business device model in favor of a mobile entertainment device?

Will Palm develop an actual Treo with a Linux kernel for business users?

Has Palm lost so much credibility that their only market is miniature PDAs for people with tiny hands?

Enquiring minds want to know . . . .

Holy crap!! I am getting so tired of Palm being so stupid about the Treos. I love my Treo, but why not just dominate the market and put freakin' WiFi on a Treo and forget about it. Geez!!!! What is this Foleo crap anyway. What a waste of market share. God forbid they actually make a product that would make them money.

Yikes -- Palm is officially lame. I own a 700p and although I migrated over from Windows Mobile because it sucks b@lls, I can see the company basically doing nothing good. I agree, the folio (foolio lol) is lame as hell. I was intrigued for all of four seconds. The update they released (after how long?) to redress some of the serious shortcomings of the Treo causes all types of connectivity issues (error 3k anyone?). The form factor is not as important as building on their successes and revolutionizing the Treo by (duh) getting a new OS developed (after how long?) and directly competing with Assple. I'm waiting for the 2nd or 3rd rev of the iPhone and I'm dumping my 700p and jumping ship. By that time, they may even have given the iPhone the ability to send a MMS (duh!).

We need to slap some of these people.

serioustrouble

As far as I've heard, "Gandalf" is legit and looming. Whether that's it in the images or not is anybody's guess, but it does fit the description.

If the above device is as small as it seems it should be perfect for the "tiny phone" market. And if that is who it's aimed at the reconfigured, obvious buttons are just as they should be.

Just like Palm offering Windows Mobile Treos to get the users who demanded Windows mobile, this is likely an attempt to get users who demand their phones be small.

For me, I think I like exactly nothing about the device pictured, but am not at all worried that that is all I'll have to choose from in the future. In fact, I think Palm will soon be expanding their offerings considerably.

I think most of what people have been clamoring for will soon come to light.