PDA Buzz / Reviews / Pocket PVS This is a pretty good review that almost has me thinking about getting a copy of the software.
posted by Frank McPherson 7:24 PM |
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Pocket PC Thoughts - Multiple Devices Jason has posted comments about a Allnet Devices study showing that US consumers would prefer to carry multiple devices (cell phone, pda) rather than one integrated device. I think part of the problem is that we have already seen some examples of a single integrated device such as the pdQ phone that is not appealing. People have a picture in their mind of what it would look like. I have to admit that for myself I am torn. What I think I really want is my multiple devices to communicate with each other easily, which basically means bluetooth. If bluetooth lives up to its promise, then I can leave my bluetooth phone in my bag but still use it to connect to the Internet using a bluetooth capable PDA. I think that type of interoperability would be nirvana.
posted by Frank McPherson 7:12 PM |
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Hey, Pocket PC Thoughts has scooped this blast from the past. A new release of Pocket On-Schedule! What is this, something like 3 years in coming? (Or so it seems...)
posted by Frank McPherson 6:51 PM |
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BrightHand has more details about the two new models of iPAQ Pocket PCs, all which confirm what has already been written at several web sites. The big news are the prices. The 3670, with 64 MB of RAM will cost $649. That's $150 more for twice as much RAM. The other model and price we knew, $599 for a 32 MB iPAQ with CompactFlash sleeve and expandable carrying case. At the this point the biggest piece of news yet to be reported is whether the existing 3630/3650 models, selling for $499 will continue or be discontinued. I think this pricing information creates a real quandry. IMHO opinion any Pocket PC priced over $500 is priced too high. I don't think this latest news is good. It appears that Compaq might be taking a page out of Apple's playbook, and rather than bringing prices down they will take prices up. If that is the case Compaq ought to look real hard at the results of that, because the Newton is no longer with us.
posted by Frank McPherson 6:02 PM |
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allNetDevices: - Metricom Modem Cards Released Good news, the Sierra Wireless AirCard 400, which supports the 128K Ricochet service is now shipping. Bad news, the service costs $79 per month.
posted by Frank McPherson 1:37 PM |
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Heise News-Ticker: Compaq bringt Pocket PC mit 64 MByte Speicher This web site is in German so you will have to use babelfish to translate it to English. It appears to be a CeBIT preview and an interview with a Compaq Product Manager named Ute Lauer. The preview is mainly about the new 64 MB iPAQ that is referred to in this article as the 3660. (Previous articles that I had read suggested that the model number will be 3670.) The price mentioned in the article is $599 U.S., which is interesting given that CircuitCity.com just started selling the 3635 for that same price. (The 3635 is the same thing as the current iPAQs except that a CompactFlash sleeve is bundled with the Pocket PC.) Lauer also claims that the problems with the speaker "pops" and the dust particles in the screen are fixed. To prevent dust from getting in the screen Compaq added a protective layer around the display. Unfortunately, the new iPAQ will still not be able to process simultaneous key presses, and the screen remains at 4096 colors.
posted by Frank McPherson 12:33 PM |
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Today Pocket PC Thoughts has a link to HelpStudio Softwares for Pocket PC: PocketHelp. Helpfiles on the Pocket PC are really just HTML files, so this WYSIWYG help file generator that runs on a Pocket PC can also be used for creating Pocket PC web sites.
posted by Frank McPherson 12:14 PM |
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Palm.com: Press Release This is the official press release from Palm regarding their aquisition of Extended Systems. They say that they will continue supporting other handheld devices. That's interesting. I wonder how well?
posted by Frank McPherson 8:52 PM |
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A sneak peek at Compaq's "power-busting" handheld - Tech News - CNET.com I guess if CNET writes about it, it must be official. But others have known for some time.
posted by Frank McPherson 8:46 PM |
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I received the Compaq version of Targus' Stowaway keyboard. It came via UPS after being on backorder for only a little over a week, which for Compaq is pretty darn good. Best of all, it came before I had a chance to get to my local CompUSA, preventing me from possibly purchasing another one. Physically the keyboard is the same as the HP version that became available last September. However, there is a big difference in the software. The HP version of the software has to be running all the time, where the Compaq version doesn't appear to be running. It must be, but you don't see it in any task list. (I believe this is the Hot-Dock feature of the Compaq software that you see on the Config tab.) But perhaps the biggest difference between the two is programming of function keys. With the HP software the function keys are used as macros for inserting text, eg. Fn+A inserts Address. With the Compaq version of the software function keys are used for launching programs, for example you can program Fn+1 to launch Pocket Informant. There is no macro capability with the Compaq version of the software. I notice on the About box that the Compaq version of the software is copywrited by Think Outside, Inc., who actually makes the keyboards for Targus. The HP version of the software is copywrited by HP. Strangely enough, you won't find any mention of the keyboard at HP's web site. I checked Targus' web site and they don't appear to have a newer version of the drivers.
posted by Frank McPherson 8:36 PM |
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Compaq IPAQ H3630 Pocket PC - indonation.com: "Compaq were famed for creating the Aero palm sized PC's which set a standard in industry for Microsoft Windows CE based handheld computers." I am not exactly sure about this quote. I don't recall the Aero setting any standards, and I don't think they were considered the best Palm-sized PCs. That would go to Casio.
posted by Frank McPherson 7:30 PM |
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Yahoo - Palm to buy Extended Systems for $264 mln This is interesting. I have been involved in some testing with Extended Systems server sync product, and I have mixed feelings. It is pretty much the only solution for providing direct synchronization with Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes Servers. It supports both Palm and Pocket PC. The problem from a Pocket PC perspective is that the Extended product is pretty much designed to replace ActiveSync for synchronization of PIM data. One would think that you could use ActiveSync to sync locally and use Extended to sync when roaming, but if you do that you end up with duplicat data. Say if you sync with Extended at work and ActiveSync at home, well Extended does something to the PIM data that makes ActiveSync think that everything changes. So, every ActiveSync session is now longer than it needs to be. Now with Palm buying Extended I would whether they will keep their Pocket PC support, and how good that will be.
posted by Frank McPherson 7:12 PM |
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infoSync : Stinger screenshots! Jorgen Sundgot has posted some interesting screenshots that reflect the possibility that Stinger's UI will be skinnable.
posted by Frank McPherson 10:56 AM |
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Another sign that spring is coming. More repackaged Handspring Visors and Palms.
posted by Frank McPherson 10:46 AM |
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CircuitCity.com is advertising the Compaq iPAQ 3635 Pocket PC for $599.99. From the information provided on their web site it sounds like all that is included for the extra $100 is the CompactFlash sleeve. However, earlier information lead me to believe that a 32 MB CompactFlash card was also included. The card plus sleeve may justify the extra $100. At any rate, I checked the availability and according to the site they have units to ship. This might be your only way to get an iPAQ right now.
posted by Frank McPherson 8:34 AM |
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CNET - Shopping - Latest Prices - Compaq iPaq H3650 Pocket PC Is it just me, or does it seem that some of these prices are ridiculously high?!
posted by Frank McPherson 9:49 PM |
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