Handspring Goes Wireless

Rumors have been circulating for long now (as they usually do), talking about an imminent announcement from Handspring regarding the release of two new models – code name Ace and Columbia. As it turns out, it wasn’t Ace and Columbia that was about to be announced – it was the Manhattan and Shea instead, whose real names will be Treo k180 and Treo g180 respectively.

The two new models share the exact same hardware specifications, such as a 33 MHz DragonBall VZ processor, 16 MB RAM, 4 MB Flash ROM (which means the operating system can be upgraded – a first for Handspring) and a 160 x 160 pixel resolution monochrome display. What comes as quite a shock is that Handspring’s Springboard expansion slot isn’t present in either of the models, and neither does there appear to be any other alternative expansion solutions.

Both devices have a flip-lid design where you’ll be opening the lid and holding the device to your ear, just like any other flip-lid mobile phone. Additionally, there’s a hands-free jack present on the upper left side of the device, just above what’s also a first for Handspring – a jog rocker, or a jog wheel if we were to call it by a more common name.