PDAs

Laptop makers consider Intel and ARM hybrids

Paul Mah — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:58:23 -0500

Remember laptops that come with dual switchable graphic chips? Well, the same strategy could be adopted for the CPUs of laptops, as laptop makers mull ways to stretch battery life to make their devices stand out. One possibility would be to create a hybrid netbook that comes with both Intel CPU and ARM-based processors in a single device. The idea is that the more energy efficient ARM processor could be tapped for providing basic services such as email and Internet--much like a PDA or smartphone. By eliminating the need to boot up completely, unless required, battery life could theoretically be extended to around 15 hours, according to the Inquirer. The Intel processor would only be engaged for more computationally-intensive applications. The obvious downside of course, is that some sort of dual operating systems setup will be needed, which presents more complexity, in terms of usability.

For more information:
- check out the article at the Inquirer

Related Article:
Intel Atom Dual Core processor debuts

Smartphone & Pocket PC suspends publication

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:07:06 -0400

I originally planned for another story here until I came across the sad news that the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine will be suspending publication after 11 years. The news was just announced in a blog posting by Executive Editor Hal Goldstein on Tuesday. While the door will be left open, there are no current plans to publish future Windows Mobile issues. The reason: a dwindling number of advertisers as Windows Mobile transited from PDAs to smartphones. The irony, of course, is that there are almost 20 million Windows Mobile devices sold in this fiscal year alone for Microsoft. Goldstein ended by suggesting that opportunities might exist for a more sophisticated publishing company, or a better funded entrepreneur. The Smartphone & Pocket PC website will remain in operation.

For more on the decision to end Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine:
- check out the blog entry

HP smartphone flood

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

HP's been known for it's very capable iPaq for quite a while, but it's not a company that you usually think of when it comes time to buy a smartphone. HP wants to change that, and it's starting with a pair of new smartphones that bear the name iPaq. The iPaq 600 and iPaq 900 come with the operating system and features customers have come to expect from HP and adds new features like large screens and a navigation wheel (on the iPaq 600). These aren't necessarily hip competitors to the iPhone, but they represent HPs hope for the smartphone future.

For more on the two new iPaqs:
- see this DailyTechRag article

Patch mobile, too

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 19:01:38 -0500

"Patch Tuesday" has become part of the rhythm of life for any I.T. shop running Microsoft software. It's easy to be so caught up in the updates for servers and workstations that you forget about updates for the smallest devices. The early change to Daylight Savings time is a good excuse to include smart phones and PDAs in your regular patch routine--Microsoft, Palm, RIM and others have updated their software to account for the new dates of the time change. The new day for changing clocks happens at the beginning of next week--this week marks a good time for that new update routine.

For more on mobile device updating:
- read the article at Information Week

17.7 million PDAs shipped in 2006

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:01:36 -0500

There were big winners and big losers as the overall PDA market grew 18.4 percent in 2006. Among the winners was RIM, which saw sales of the Blackberry grow by a respectable margin. Among the losers--Palm, whose devices dropped dramatically in sales. All PDAs put together were no match for mobile phone handset sales, which totaled over a billion units last year. Sales of both types of devices were driven by factors that include a growing demand for wireless email and Internet access.

For more market numbers:
- read the entire article at CIO Today

How to help users avoid device-related ailments

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:01:37 -0500

It may seem a bit silly, but the increasing use of handheld mobile devices, such as BlackBerrys and other PDAs, could prove a liability and workman compensation headache for enterprises who don't pay attention to physical ailments that PDA overuse can cause. The repetitive nature of emailing and scrolling on small devices can have a detrimental impact and tech leaders would be smart to implement proper use policies to avoid legal issues. Medical experts say extended use is causing thumb injuries as well as hand damage. According to experts, good company insight on how best to hold the devices and encouraging users to send shorter emails and take breaks from PDA use are best practices that should be implemented. Article

Editor's Corner

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:01:39 -0400

The value of a good data scrub
A while back I believe I referenced an article that talked about how supposedly 'deleted' data on cell phones and PDAs had been retrieved by a security vendor that bought up a bunch of used devices off an auction site. It highlighted the need to really scrub devices of any confidential information and network access data. A new report indicates that the problem is likely prevalent and offers up some good tips on getting a handle on making sure mobile data is gone for good. As the firm InfoTech recommends, tech leaders not only have to educate their staff on the many risks with mobile device disposal, but they have to bring that message to the user. Luckily there are a few good tools to help completely destroy housed data. It's a great IT best practice to get in place as the mobile device-bound working world is only set to keep growing. -Judy

QUICKLINKS: New worm targets mobile phones; Intel issues patches for wireless hardware, software vulnerabilities; Much more...

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 20:00:50 -0400

New worm targets mobile phones. Article

Intel issues patches for wireless hardware, software vulnerabilities. Article

Non-profit going solar with WiFi networks. Article

Handheld device sales declining due to better cell phone capabilities. Article

Wireless networking boards a train out west. Article

Nokia phone most popular with thieves. Article

Smartphones beating out PDAs, laptops in usefulness. Article

Determine the right PDA for your users

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Everyone's been clamoring that they need a personal device assistant (PDA), but perhaps your IT organization has been holding off on deploying such tools because you're not sure what your users need, what the current wireless network can support and what features are necessary. The best approach is to get familiar with the evolving list of products coming to market and what each offers your mobile user base. Some devices feature Bluetooth, which is a good fit for those using Bluetooth phone sets, and others depend on WiFi or several other types of wireless connectivity. The PDAs in play also come on various platforms such as Palm's system or the Windows mobile system. Then you need to consider memory and speed requirements as there is a wide range of options with every device. Once you've got your requirements mapped out then it's time to look at the various options to choose from. This is where functionality and ease of use issues will come into play as devices provide various types of screens and graphic user interfaces. Article

How to put cost-effective PDA program in place

Sun, 05 Feb 2006 19:01:38 -0500

Mobility comes with a price, and that cost can easily skyrocket if good planning, needs assessment and tight control over support and maintenance aren't part of your wireless technology plans. When it comes to devices such as PDAs, it's even more critical. They're typically not cheap to buy or support thanks to all the functionality provided. While an initial deployment may feature a few dozen handhelds, the number of devices quickly swells with more users clamoring for the capability.

At EMC, the BlackBerry contingent started with just 2,000 devices among the 20,000-plus employee base. Now it's more than 5,000 devices in place. Current research predicts that companies will spend 8 percent more this year on mobile devices and technology. But that spend has to be managed carefully, say experts, as IT budgets aren't growing at the same rate.

A good first step is an analysis to determine what users need in terms of functionality so that the right device can be identified. Then determine the number of users for calculating the cost equation. Finally, there's the task of choosing the right carrier--or carriers, in the case of EMC, which found efficiency in using several vendors. Article