Computing Unplugged - We review the Pocketop Keyboard

[Computing Unplugged Magazine]

A MEMBER OF THE ZATZ MAGAZINE NETWORK

August 7, 2003 INSIDE THIS ISSUE We review the Pocketop Keyboard This week's news

Use Outlook with your Palm OS device Learn how you can save time and get the most, the ABSOLUTE most out of using Outlook with your Palm device. It's all in the Ultimate Outlook Solutions Guide, the single most comprehensive source of Palm OS and Outlook information in one place. You can take it with you. Click to learn how.

PRODUCT REVIEW
The Pocketop Keyboard connects to any infrared-enabled handheld
By Vladimir Campos

The Pocketop keyboard (at http://www.pocketop.net) is a very small and functional solution for data input, and it integrates nicely with a broad range of handheld devices. You can get sense of its size in Figure A.

FIGURE A

You can get a sense of the size of the opened Pocketop keyboard as compared with a one dollar bill.

Like the Stowaway keyboard from Think Outside (at http://www.thinkoutside.com), the Pocketop Keyboard is also a folding keyboard, but instead of folding in three points like the classic Stowaway keyboard, the Pocketop Keyboard folds in just one point, right in the middle of the keyboard as shown in Figure B.

FIGURE B

Note that the space bar is divided in two parts.

The keys are smaller then the ones present in a desktop keyboard, as you can see in Figure C, but once you get use to it, your typing will be very productive.

To learn more about the Pocketop keyboard, click here.

TRAVEL IN STYLE -- WITH NOTES AND DOMINO! Even in the best of circumstances, traveling can be a challenge. And, when you're taking a laptop or a handheld on the road with you, and you have to connect with your office, your email, and your life, it can be even more of a challenge. But now, it just got a lot easier. DominoPower Senior Technical Editor Mick Moignard has written a series of great articles called Mick's Travel Tricks that can make traveling a pleasure again -- whether you're in the U.S. or anywhere worldwide. Your best way to learn the secret tricks of a veteran tech traveler.

COMPUTING UNPLUGGED NEWS CENTER
This week's news
Want to get the very latest mobile and wireless news? The Computing Unplugged News Center is updated every day with news of product releases, industry info, tips, techniques, and pointers to great mobile and wireless resources on the Web. Here's this week's news:

KeySuite review
InfoSync reviews Chapura's KeySuite, a set of four independent applications, KeyDates, KeyContacts, KeyTasks, and KeyNotes. KeySuite's main function is to duplicate the functions and fields available in Microsoft Outlook for Windows on the Palm.

Printing vendors change focus
Think printing will be obsolete in 10 years? This article from Computer Business Review explains how printing technology has evolved. The growing importance of intelligent applications has forced vendors to focus more on the lifecycle of the document management process. HP for example has launched a new packaged document management application called mPower, in partnership with vendor Hadleigh Marshall. Based on a Lotus Notes database, the system enables employees to remotely access via a Web browser their email and paper-based mail on their mobile PDA or laptop devices.

Internet impacts scientific community
Brain and Mind Magazine has this interesting article about how the Internet impacted has the medical and scientific community. For example, when a group of scientists decides to write a joint research paper, all of its members may contribute their share to the piece of work regardless of their location in the world. They are able to write simultaneously onto the same screen, practically with the same speed and efficiency as they were sitting by the same table, by using programs such as Lotus Notes or Microsoft NetMeeting.

RIM ordered to stop selling Blackberry
A federal judge has ordered Research in Motion to stop selling its BlackBerry wireless email units because of patent violations, but he stayed the decision while the company pursues an appeal. The Mercury News says that the ruling by U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer came after a jury's finding last year that the BlackBerry infringes on patents held by NTP of Arlington, Va. Spencer ordered RIM to pay $53.7 million in damages.

Six degrees of separation
CBC News reports that researchers testing the theory of six degrees of separation found that strangers are about six clicks away on the Web.

Free trial of ePocrates Rx Pro
ePocrates is currently offering a free trial of ePocrates Rx Pro. You can use it to find all the clinical information you need for over 2,800 continually updated medications. You can download the free 30-day trial onto your Palm handheld.

Enter text in your Pocket PC
EXideas has released its newest product, MessagEase for Pocket PC. ExIdeas' text entry technology uses only 9 keys for full text entry, including all punctuation marks.

Law firm picks RainMaker Software
RainMaker Software announced that Lindquist & Vennum has licensed its Practice Management Docketing and Exchange Server Integration software. The software provides the ability to schedule and manage the docketing activities of the entire firm including the automatic generation of paperless SmartAlert email tickler messages to remind attorneys of critical dates. The system includes a real-time two-way integration with Microsoft Exchange Server allowing attorneys to view and edit their docket events from an Outlook screen or synchronize them with a PDA.

MontaVista supports IBM embedded processor
MontaVista Software announced that MontaVista Linux Consumer Electronics Edition 3.0 now supports the IBM PowerPC 405LP embedded processor, which has been developed for use in devices such as advanced PDAs and cell phones. MontaVista Linux Consumer Electronics Edition integrates with middleware such as the J2ME certified WebSphere Micro Environment from IBM, and graphics products such as Qtopia and Qt/Embedded from Trolltech, as well as MontaVista Graphics.

Samsung SPH-i500 released
Sprint and Samsung announced that the Samsung SPH-i500, a full-color Palm Powered PCS Phone in a clamshell form factor, is now available nationwide in Sprint Stores for a suggested retail price of $599.99. It includes a CD-ROM with Palm OS 4.1 Desktop Software, PocketMirror Standard from Chapura for synchronizing with Microsoft Outlook, Weblink to PCS Business Connection for real-time wireless email, trial Palm OS applications provided by Handango, a Palm Game Pack and a user's guide.

Hitachi SH-G1000 smartphone review
PC Magazine has this review of the Hitachi SH-G1000 smartphone with service provided by Sprint PCS. The SH-G1000 is a fully powered Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition PDA with a built in CDMA/1xRTT single-band phone, an integrated QWERTY keyboard, a 640-by-480 resolution digital camera, and an SD slot. Users with PCS Business Connection Enterprise Edition software can push Lotus Notes or Microsoft Outlook email and PIM data directly to the phone for access both in and out of coverage areas.

Network on your plasma TV
Sony unveiled a plasma TV with built-in broadband networking that is linked to a Web pad-like remote control by wireless LAN technology. Busisness Week says the KDE-P50HZ1 and KDE-P42HZ1 plasma TVs are 50 inches and 42 inches in screen size and will go on sale in Japan later this year, for around $12,000 and $10,000, respectively.

CodeWarrior for Sharp Zaurus
Metrowerks launched CodeWarrior Development Studio for Sharp Zaurus Application Development, Version 1. The integrated development environment (IDE) allows developers to author code on a Windows operating system desktop and then deploy applications directly to the Sharp Zaurus device, which runs on the Linux OS and is based on the Metrowerks OpenPDA platform.

Digital Audio Player from Gateway
Gateway introduced the Gateway Digital Audio Player, a 1.5-ounce USB device that also provides portable storage and voice recording. PC World reports that Gateway is pushing the device's multiple uses. Gateway estimates the 128MB version stores up to two hours of digital music in MP3 or WMA format, or up to 122MB of data files. The digital voice recorder can store up to nine hours of voice dictation.

Opie 1.0 available now
The Open Palmtop Integrated Environment (Opie) project has announced that Opie 1.0 is available now. According to InfoSync, Opie is a GNU/Linux-based software package designed for portability across a large number of handheld devices from multiple manufacturers.

Intel releases kit for developers
Intel released a new batch of optimization tools that could improve power and performance of cell phone and PDA applications running on processors based on Intel XScale technology. InternetNews.com reports that the kits include a Pocket PC based on an Intel PXA255 processor for downloading and testing the applications, as well as a number of software tools and a support CD used for fine-tuning the applications.

Aligo supports BEA Weblogic
Aligo announced that it supports BEA WebLogic Enterprise Platform for its M-1 Mobile Enterprise Suite. M-1 Mobile Access provides instant access to groupware for users of Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, IMAP, and Sun ONE Messaging and Calendar Server.

Extended unveils mobile groupware
Extended Systems unveiled OneBridge Mobile Groupware software based on its Live Connect technology. OneBridge Mobile Groupware replaces Extended Systems' existing XTNDConnect Server product. CRN says the new product is a wireless email solution that works on a host of devices and networks such as Pocket PC and Palm, and multiple wireless networks including 2.5G, WLAN and Bluetooth. The OneBridge software solution also supports Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes.

Boy uses camera to foil abduction
Never thought of a good use for that digital camera on your cell phone? A 15-year-old boy foiled an apparent abduction attempt when he pulled out his cell phone camera and snapped photos of a man trying to lure him into a car. The boy gave the evidence to police, who arrested a suspect the next day.

Wireless network for gamers
D-Link a new networking bridge based on 802.11g wireless technology to connect gaming consoles and Ethernet devices to a wireless network. The D-Link DWL-G810 Xtreme G Wireless Bridge will be available in mid-August for $134.99. According to ZDNet, the device will connect PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube consoles to the Internet for online gaming. It also hooks up to consoles in a network for head-to-head gaming.

Disposable digital camera
PC World reports that digital photography is going disposable with the introduction of the Dakota Single-Use Camera offered by the Ritz and Wolf camera chain stores. The Dakota Digital captures up to 25 snapshots and uses a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor. The camera has 12MB of internal memory.

Banned in the UK
A device that enables songs to be transmitted from Apple's iPod to FM radio has been banned in the UK. PC Advisor says that the iTrip, developed by Griffin Technology, costs $35, clips to the top of the iPod to allow users to tune to any FM frequency and could therefore potentially disrupt radio station broadcasts.

Report CE 4.0 released
SYWARE announced Report CE 4.0, a report writing tool for Pocket PC handhelds. Report CE 4.0 runs on Pocket PC and Windows CE devices, including those that support the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software, and works with a variety of popular database tools, including SYWARE Visual CE, Microsoft Pocket Access, and SQL Server CE. New features include support for over 20 bar code formats; display and printing of images, including embedded pictures; and output to Rich Text Format (RTF).

Sync your Palm with FileMaker
VizSync announces that the latest Mac OS X release (version 1.7) of its VizSync conduits support synchronization with FileMaker runtimes. VizSync is software that allows direct synchronization from custom multi-user FileMaker Pro applications to the Palm organizer's four native applications.

Memo PLUS 4 released
Hands High Software has released version 4 of Memo PLUS. This upgrade to the memo pad replacement includes encryption, customizable colors, a configurable launcher for the memo button, export to Doc and email, beaming through Bluetooth and SMS, and many more enhancements.

BlackBerry supports Lotus IM
InfoWorld reports that Java-based BlackBerry wireless handhelds from Research in Motion (RIM) now support IBM's Lotus Instant Messaging Everyplace 3 application, allowing you to chat, receive alerts, and access contact lists behind the company firewall.

Sprint gets into gaming
Sprint and Samsung are offering an attachable game controller called the PCS Game Pad. The PCS Game Pad is an accessory for PCS Phone by Samsung A600 users. The phone simply slides into the PCS Game Pad, giving you a gaming experience through its simultaneous key press feature and game-controller form factor. The PCS Game Pad will be available in mid-August for $39.99.

Dell pulls Axim patch
IT World reports that Dell missed a self-imposed deadline to post a fix on its support Web site for the performance problems that have plagued the Windows Mobile 2003 versions of its Axim handheld. The company had posted an FTP link to the patch Wednesday, but pulled that file after some users were able to discover a way to upgrade their Pocket PC 2002 operating systems without a license.

iQue 3600 review
David Pogue of The New York Times reviews Garmin's new iQue 3600, the first handheld that is also a GPS receiver. It runs on the Palm 5.2.1 operating system comes with both a voice recorder and Documents to Go.

Playstation goes wireless
The Globe and Mail reports that Sony's new handheld PlayStation console would be equipped with a wireless network system that allows gamers who are within a close area to play games together and download game characters.

RIM in court again
Research in Motion is in court again. This time RIM has filed suit to prevent Xerox from demanding patent royalties, according to court documents. RIM, which is already in patent litigation with NTP and Good Technology, said it filed its suit against Xerox on July 17 in a federal court in Hartford, Conn., as a defensive move. News.com reports that Xerox claims that RIM has infringed on some of its patents, and RIM said Xerox has been threatening a lawsuit since August 2002.

Mobile alliance
News.com reports that Nokia and Texas Instruments, ARM Holdings and STMicroelectronics have formed an alliance to promote standard ways for the silicon chips inside cell phones to work together.

Mobile email in Europe to grow
Electric News.Net reports that in 2008, 40 percent of the 21 million Western Europeans who own business-centric mobile phones, or 8.4 million users, will access their email over their handsets. Telecom firm Analysys says that over the same period, the annual mobile service revenue generated by email will increase from EUR49 million in 2003 to EUR2.9 billion.

Emachines goes wireless
Emachines updated its notebook PC with a wireless connection, a faster processor and a lower price. According to News.com, the M5310 features Broadcom's 54g wireless network chipset. The chipset allows the notebook to connect to wireless networks using the newly approved 802.11g standard or the 802.11b standard.

Secure your Pocket PC devices
SoftWinter announced release of Sentry 2020/CE version 2.5 for Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC devices. The program is an enterprise security tool utilizing transparent encryption to protect important information stored on Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC devices. The user can choose which files he or she wishes to encrypt, as well as which algorithm is used. Files are transparently encrypted and decrypted on the fly allowing security without further user interaction.

New BlackBerry released
Research In Motion unveiled the Java-based BlackBerry 6210, which delivers email, phone, SMS, browser and organizer applications in a single wireless handheld that supports international roaming. RIM offers a web-based application called BlackBerry Web Client. BlackBerry Web Client appeals to customers that do not currently use Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino and also those users that wish to access a personal email account in addition to their enterprise email account.

NEC and Vuico GoWireless
NEC America and Vuico announced the availability of GoWireless Mobile Messaging solutions for the NEC 515 High Definition Mobile (HDM) handset. GoWireless Mobile Messaging is a behind-the-firewall solution providing enterprise-level messaging and offering mobile employees access to their email, calendar, personal and global contacts, and notes. GoWireless supports Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, and POP3 environments.

Keep track of your habits
BicycleSoft released HabitSuccess, which organizes multiple tasks in a systematic way, while allowing you with the flexibility on scheduling, and moves you progressively to the success. You can plan any regular tasks with this handy workmate as you wish, while keeping the one-off and non-habitual tasks on the to-do list.

Hitachi SH-1000 available
Sprint announced availability of the the Windows Mobile-based PCS Phone by Hitachi SH-G1000. The SH-1000 is a Pocket PC with a wireless phone, built-in QWERTY keyboard and rotating digital camera in one device. It is now available to Sprint customers at Sprint Stores, and through Sprint direct and indirect business channels at a suggested retail price of $649.99.

UTS Blood Pressure 1.4
UTrackSys.com unveiled the UTS Blood Pressure version 1.4. The new E-Mail Report feature allows you to send the blood pressure reports to the therapist straight from your device.

Retractable cables for cell phones
Keyspan is now shipping retractable charging cables for most popular cell phones. The cables allow a cell phone to be charged from the USB port of a PC or Macintosh and are designed for use with Nokia, Motorola, Ericcson, Siemens, Sony, Samsung, LG Mobile, Sanyo, and Kyocera cell phones. Keyspan has also released AC and DC adapters that allow cell phones to be charged from a power outlet in a building, car or boat.

Programmers reuse code
Razab-Sekh Information Company (RSIC) from The Netherlands introduces odbcX version 1.3. The system consists of server software and a library set that programmers can use for PalmOS and PocketPC, with a version for Symbian OS is on its way. odbcX enables software developers to use each database system with an ODBC driver available, through a C/C++ API, and reuse written code for different handheld OS's. odbcX contains AES encryption, data compression, and instant messaging functionality.

Electric Pocket develops MMS for Treo 600
Electric Pocket Limited announced it's working with Handspring to develop a standards compliant multi-media messaging service (MMS) solution for the Treo 600 smartphone. Handspring's new MMS application, which will be based upon Electric Pocket's popular Pixer MMS foundation, will enable carriers that sell the Treo 600 to offer MMS capabilities to their customers.

Which handheld?
A Harvard blogger, Philip Greenspun, talks about Treo failures. What makes this posting truly interesting are the comments. Be sure to click the comments link at the bottom of the post.

Learn French on your handheld
Learn2Hand and the AvantGo service is now offering a crash course in the French language with the new French2Hand channel. The channel provides AvantGo users work through a scenario, designed as a twenty-minute bite-sized course that teaches and tests their French knowledge. Users can then purchase additional courses to cover other popular scenarios such as eating out, business travel or looking for real estate property.

Fixed online store
It's been an interesting maintenance day here at ZATZ. After the Verizon folks left, we found that we were unable to correctly access the online store. At first, we were convinced mySQL didn't like us (since that's the error we got). However, once logging onto the server machine, we tried to ping outside sites like Google, and then our own internal router, and consistently got this message: "PING: transmit failed, error code 65." After visiting Microsoft's knowledgebase, we were even more confused. According to Microsoft, the error occurs if ZoneAlarm is running and blocking a port. OK, that makes sense -- except we weren't running ZoneAlarm. Uh, except we were. Apparently, we must have left it running back during our intrusion fighting days a month or so ago, and something between Verizon's visit and the network maintenance set it off. That something was a reboot (which we haven't done in a month or so). Moral of the story: if Microsoft's knowledgebase suggests something, no matter how unprobably, at least spend a moment or two to check it out.

T2 unveiled
Palm unveiled an update to its Tungsten T device, T2. Forbes reports that T2 has the latest Palm operating system, version 5.2.1. Among other things, the software supports MP3 music playback, digital photos and video clips. And like the original Tungsten, it has integrated Bluetooth support, which means that it can sync wirelessly with a Bluetooth-enabled PC or Apple computer, and can also connect to many Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and printers.

Developer's kit for Treo 600
Handspring released preliminary software development tools to help developers optimize solutions for the Treo 600. Handspring also introduced Treo Optimized guidelines through which developers can ensure the highest level of compatibility and ease of use for solutions running on Treo 600 or any other wireless member of the Treo family. Treo Optimized solutions receive additional sales support prioritization through Handspring's and its carrier partners' online and retail channels.

A twisted pair
We're back online. Kudos to the Verizon tech who actually showed up when promised. Apparently a twisted pair running underground got shorted due to the heavy storms. It's fixed and we be jammin'.

Maintenance tonight
We'll be down from about 3am to around 6am EST so Verizon can do a line test. We had some very serious weather here, and Verizon's asked us (and apparently others) to allow a short shutdown so they can do integrity tests. Hey, any time we can encourage integrity of any kind from a phone company, we're going to encourage it!

Advertise in Computing Unplugged
Each week, Computing Unplugged reaches over 275,000 highly mobile readers. Our editorial and news content reflects a broad mix of interest areas from handheld computers to PDAs, from GPS devices to digital cameras, from robotics to WiFi, and even more. If you'd like to bring your message to the inner-circle of power communicators, feel free to contact us at address@hidden.

Unsubscribing from this mailing list
This weekly announcement is delivered to you as a free service from Computing Unplugged Magazine. To be removed from the list, simply click here.

Copyright © 2003, ZATZ Publishing, a unit of Component Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

Computing Unplugged is an independent publication of ZATZ:Pure Internet Publishing, a unit of Component Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Component Enterprises, Inc. ZATZ, the ZATZ logo, and Computing Unplugged are trademarks of ZATZ Publishing, a unit of Component Enterprises. All other brands and product names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective holders.