Pocket PC

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The Dell Axim x30, a Pocket PC
The Dell Axim x30, a Pocket PC

A Pocket PC, abbreviated P/PC or PPC, is a specification for a handheld-sized computer (Personal digital assistant) that runs a specific version of the Windows CE operating system. It may have the capability to run an alternative operating system like NetBSD or Linux. It has many of the capabilities of modern desktop PCs.

Currently there are thousands of applications for handhelds adhering to the Microsoft Pocket PC specification, many of which are freeware. Some of these devices also include mobile phone features. Microsoft compliant Pocket PCs can also be used with many other add-ons like GPS receivers, barcode readers, RFID readers, and cameras.

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[edit] Definition

According to Microsoft, the Pocket PC is "a handheld device that enables users to store and retrieve e-mail, contacts, appointments, tasks, play multimedia files, games, exchange text messages with Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger), browse the Web, and more." (src: microsoft buyersguide)

From a technical standpoint, "Pocket PC" is a Microsoft specification that sets various hardware and software requirements for mobile devices bearing the "Pocket PC" label.

For instance, any device which is to be classified as a Pocket PC must:

  • Run Microsoft's Windows Mobile, PocketPC edition
  • Come bundled with a specific suite of applications in ROM
Note: the name Windows Mobile includes both the Windows CE operating system and a suite of basic applications along with a specified user interface

[edit] Versions

The HTC Universal Pocket PC Phone Edition (Qtek-branded version)
The HTC Universal Pocket PC Phone Edition (Qtek-branded version)

Microsoft's current release is Windows Mobile 6, internally code-named Crossbow. It was officially released by Microsoft on February 12, 2007 and Microsoft has promised that it will work seamlessly with Windows Vista.

Windows Mobile 5.0 marked the convergence of the Phone Edition and Professional Edition operating systems into one system that contains both phone and PDA capabilities. A 'Phone' application was included in the OS, and all PIM applications were updated to interface with it. Windows Mobile 5.0 was compatible with Microsoft's Smartphone operating system and was capable of running Smartphone applications.

Pocket PCs running previous versions of the operating system generally stored user-installed applications and data in RAM, which meant that if the battery was depleted the device would lose all of its data. Windows Mobile 5.0 solved this problem by storing all user data in persistent (flash) memory, leaving the RAM to be used only for running applications, as it would be on a desktop computer. As a result, Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs generally had a greater amount of flash memory, and a smaller amount of RAM, compared to earlier devices.

The first devices to ship with Windows Mobile 5.0 were the HTC Universal (Europe) and the UTStarcom PPC-6700 for Sprint (United States).

The previous release, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition added native landscape support as well as other fixes and changes to those features already present in the original release of Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC, also known as WM2003. The first device to come with 2003SE was the Dell Axim x30.

Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC consisted of the Windows CE.NET 4.2 operating system bundled with scaled-down versions of many popular desktop applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, Windows Media Player, and others. Past Pocket PC operating systems include Pocket PC 2002 (launched October 2001) and Pocket PC 2000 (launched April 2000), both running Windows CE 3.0 underneath.

[edit] Vendors

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Pocket PCs are manufactured and sold by several different companies; the major manufacturers include HP (under the iPAQ and now defunct Jornada brands), Toshiba, Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, HTC, and ViewSonic. In Mid-2003, Gateway Computers and JVC announced they would release Pocket PCs, but the projects were discontinued before a product was released. Prices in 2003 ranged from around $800 USD for the high-end models, some of which are combined with cell phones, to $200 for low-end models. A $100–$200 model was rumored to be released within 2004 or early 2005, although the lowest price for a just-released Pocket PC never went under $300. Many companies ceased to sell PDA's by 2003–2004 because of a declining market. Major Companies such as Viewsonic and Toshiba stopped producing new Pocket PCs.

Before the Pocket PC brand was launched, there were other Windows-based machines of the same form factor made by HP, Philips, and others called Palm-size PCs. These devices ran Windows CE 2.0–2.11 and had an interface that was similar to the then-current desktop versions of Windows, such as Windows 98.

Companies like O2, T-Mobile and Orange are marketing Pocket PCs that have integrated mobile telephony (smartphones). All users have to do is put in the SIM card and follow the wizard, to put their SIM contacts in the address book. An example is O2's XDA, or T-Mobile's MDA Compact. Both of these devices, whilst bearing the phone operator's logo, are actually manufactured by the dominant Pocket PC manufacturer HTC.

An example of a high end consumer-market Pocket PC currently available is the Dell Axim x51v. Hardware specs include 3.7" color TFT VGA display with 640x480 resolution, Intel XScaleTM PXA270 Processor at 624MHz, 336MB of Memory (256MB Flash, 64MB SDRAM), integrated 802.11b and Bluetooth 1.2, integrated Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator with 16MB video memory. Expansion is possible via CompactFlash Type II and SD slots (supporting SDIO Now!, SDIO and MMC cards). Included is a 1100 mAh user replaceable battery (est. 4-6.5 hours, 2200mAh also available)[1].

Some Pocket PCs feature integrated GPS often combined with mobile phone functionality. Pocket PCs with built-in telephony differ from Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition devices in several respects - including the lack of a touchscreen on the latter. Some examples of current Pocket PCs with GPS integrated are the Fujitsu Siemens Pocket Loox N560[2] a high-end Pocket PC with a VGA screen and an integrated SiRF Star III GPS; the HTC TyTN[3] a small communicator with integrated slide in keyboard; the HP hw6945 and HP iPAQ hw6515 with integrated thumb-board, GPS and GSM/GPRS telephony integrated[4]; the HTC top of the line Universal - branded as the QTek 9000 (also branded by various telecommunications companies as the: Orange SPV M5000, T-mobile MDA Pro, Vodafone VPA IV, O2 XDA Exec, i-Mate JasJar, Dopod 900) [5].

A newer entrant into the Pocket PC market are Palm who sell devices like the Treo 700w/wx[6] based on Windows Mobile 5.0 and featuring integrated telephony. Previously Palm only produced PDAs running the Palm OS (as did the first versions of the Palm Treo) and still sell versions of the Treo based on the Palm operating system.

HTC, responsible for manufacturing up to 80% of all phone enabled Windows Mobile devices for other companies (including HP and O2) as well as many non-phone enabled Pocket PCs (for companies such as Dell, HP and Fujitsu Siemens), have announced their intention to market Pocket PCs and Smartphones under their own brand, as well as that of Dopod (a company they are buying out) [7].

[edit] Notes

    [edit] See also

    [edit] External links

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