PalmOne takes on the iPod

The ubiquitous micro-hard drive has found its way into a PDA.

palmOne on Thursday announced the LifeDrive, a PDA with basic features, a large 320x480 colour screen and a 4GB Hitachi hard drive.

The device is pitched as a mobile media solution. It can play most media formats and features an image slideshow similar to the iPod photo. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enable basic email functions, although unlike palmOne’s Treo range, the LifeDrive does not have a built-in phone.

3.85GB of usable storage space is available after the operating system and applications take their slice, palmOne said.

Hitachi’s 4GB micro-drive is used in Apple’s iPod, JVC’s hard-drive digicam and a host of MP3 players. Nokia recently announced a convergence device, combining a mobile phone, basic PDA and MP3 player functionality into one device.

palmOne has said the device will be available in June, for a RRP of $899.00.