New Pocket PCs
The following Pocket PC hardware products were announced in conjunction with Microsoft's unveiling of Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC: HP announced four new products. One, the HP iPAQ 2200 Series is totally new. The others, the iPAQ 1930/1940, the iPAQ 5150 and 5550 are updated versions of existing products. Toshiba, likewise, upgraded existing platforms. The top-of-the-line e750 Series gets the new OS. The old e330 Series becomes the 350 Series with the new OS. Look for reviews on this site and the next issue of Pen Computing Magazine. They are joined by newcomer JVC which announced two high-end multimedia Pocket PCs, the MP-PV131 and MP-PV331. -- Posted Monday, June 23, 2003 by chb
Next rev of Pocket PC OS is here
Microsoft unveiled an updated version of the Pocket PC OS and platform. Initially thought to be called "Pocket PC 2003," Microsoft instead chose "Windows Mobile" to describe CE .NET-based platforms for mobile devices such as Pocket PCs and SmartPhone. While undoubtedly adding to the traditional nomenclature confusion, this is the way it is.
In any case, those who see Windows Mobile for the Pocket PC for the first time won't notice much of a difference between it and Pocket PC 2002. That caused one notable industry columnist to quip, weeks ago, that Microsoft appears to view Pocket PC as a "mature" platform without further need for refinement. While it DOES look that way, it is only half the truth. The new version of Pocket PC/Windows Mobile sits on top of Windows CE .NET 4.2, a far more competent and powerful basis than the old Windows CE 3.0. In addition, Microsoft has added numerous important features, impovements, updates, enhancements under the hood, all geared towards making the Pocket PC a better, stronger, more reliable platform that fits more seamlessly into overall corporate systems and Microsoft's .NET strategy than ever before.
Among the really cool stuff: if you have a wireless LAN onbord, you no longer even need to configure it. It does that all by itself and simply connects, asking you questions only when needed or appropriate. Security has been beefed up considerably, with, among other things, 802.1x available.
Look for a complete and detailed description of the new platform on this site and in the next issue of Pen Computing Magazine. Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC may not be what a lot of people wanted or expected, but it sure is what we all needed.
-- Posted Monday, June 23, 2003 by chb
State-of-the-art Pocket PC Phone
Digitimes reports that Wistron is the ODM contract manufacturer of Legend's Lenovo ET 180 Pocket PC phone. Unlike most first generation Pocket PC phone (such as the HTC-made T-Mobile) which were based on older StrongARM technology, the ET 180 uses a 400MHz Intel PXA255 processor, 64MB of RAM, and a semi-transflective display, placing it a generation ahead of the current HTC product. The product also seems to have a flip-up keypad lid that covers the bottom two thirds of the PPC display. -- Posted Thursday, June 12, 2003 by chb
Initial reaction to Palm buying Handspring
Now Palm is buying Handspring in a stock transaction. Those who hold Handspring stock will get 0.09 shares of Palm stock, with the disparity in stock prices largely explained by Palm stock's 1:20 "reverse split" a year or so ago (i.e. you bought 2,000 shares when Palm peaked and then all of a sudden only had a hundred, each being worth less than one of the orginal 2,000). So the saga goes full term. Hawkins et al split off from Palm to make better and more innovative Palms, did so for a while with the original Visors and the brilliant Springboard expansion slot, then seemed to lose interest and meander off into funky PDA cellphones, thus stranding millions of Handspring PDA fans and owners. My own interpretation of this odd turn of events was that brilliant mastermind Hawkins had simply become restless and bored and sought new challenges for his great mind. Now they say he and Donna Dubinsky and Ed Colligan will all meekly assume management positions in the new and unified Palm, so as to better fend off big, bad Microsoft, the 1,600 pound gorilla that, in actuality, has gone out of its way to not ruffle a single hair on Palm's corporate head over the past couple of years for fear of new allegations of corporate bullying. So the Handspring experiment is over, and billions of initial stock value is gone. That is not what we expected. And that's not the way it ought to be. -- Posted Wednesday, June 4, 2003 by chb