November 2009

Once upon a time Compaq almost singlehandedly saved the fledgling Pocket PC platform. That was then, the new HP iPAQ Glisten is now. It's a snazzy and roughly iPhone-sized device with a gorgeous landscape-oriented AMOLED touchscreen. There's a 3.1 megapixel camera, GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA, 802.11b/g WiFi and GPS. The Glisten will be available for use with the AT&T network and will cost US$229 with the usual 2-year contract. [See description and specs of the HP iPAQ Glisten]

Advantech launches small, versatile wall or desk-mount terminal
Powered by a Freescale i.MX31 processor and running Windows CE, the small UbiQ-480 terminal introduced by industrial PC maker and ePlatform services provider Advantech is very different from its usual embedded hardware computing modules, IPCs and rugged systems. Sporting a 7-inch touchscreen, a camera and digital I/O, the inexpensive device can be used for all sorts of building/sytems control and communication purposes. [See description and specs of the Advantech UbiQ-480] -- Posted Tuesday, November 24, 2009 by chb

Windows Mobile: Greatest App Story Ever Told
cnet uk posted an amusing (yet quite true) assessment of Windows Mobile and its tortured history. See Windows Mobile: Greatest App Story Ever Told -- Posted Monday, November 23, 2009 by chb

Juniper Systems TK6000: a tough ultra-rugged handheld for extreme environments
The TK6000, introduced in the fall of 2009, represents another ultra-rugged, no-nonsense handheld computer from Juniper Systems, the Logan, Utah company that specializes in intuitive field computing solutions for rugged applications such as land survey, natural resource, industrial, agriculture and the like. The tough and rugged TK6000 is a product as much as a mobile platform for OEM solution providers, and who could argue with up to 32 hours or battery life? [See description and specs of the Juniper Systems TK6000] -- Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by chb

Added: ultra-rugged Casio DT-X30 handheld
Casio's Industrial Handheld Division offers the state-of-the-art Casio DT-X30, a IP67-sealed substantial handheld based on Marvell's PXA320 processor and running Windows Mobile 6.1. The DT-X30, which comes with a 1D/2D imager and an integrated digital camera with LED illuminator, can be equipped with Bluetooth, WWAN as well as GPS, making it a good choice for location-based applications. The display measures 3.5 inches and the 29-key keypad allows rapid data entry as well as support for custom applications via 8 function keys. [Read description and specs of the Casio DT-X30] -- Posted Monday, November 16, 2009 by chb

Motorola releases MC3100 successor to best-selling MC3000
Motorola introduced the MC3100 mid-range rugged wireless mobile computer as the successor of its best-selling (over 750,000 units) MC3000 Series. The MC3100 is based on the state-of-the-art Marvel PXA320 processor, includes an accelerometer, and can be ordered with three different keypads, with turret or integrated scanner, and also in a pistol-grip version. The MC3100, which can use all of the MC3000 peripherals and accessories, has a 320 x 320 pixel 3-inch touch display, runs either Windows CE 6.0 or Windows Mobile 6.1, and can be equipped with either a 1D laser or a 2D imager. Cost ranges from US$1,295 to US$1,995. [Read description and specs of the Motorola MC3100] -- Posted Tuesday, November 3, 2009 by chb