"Technology" archive
802.11a/b/g on one chip
Atheros has introduced the first Single-Chip 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Solution.
What this means for Pocket PCs and other gadgets is that it may soom be possible to have a low power wireless solution that supports more than just 802.11b.
A lot of large companies have 802.11a networks, and a lot of people are replacing their 802.11b networks with faster 802.11g networks: having an 802.11b device on a 802.11g hetwork slows it down for everyone, so 802.11a/b/g gadgets will definately be popular.
Of course, once this is in devices we will all be clamoring for 802.11n connectivity, then it will be WiMax, then the next wireless standard etc.......
(via PDAGeek)
Pocket PC Processor Technology
PocketPCThoughts linked to an interesting article from Intel covering the history and specifications of Pocket PC Processors.
So if you want to learn what apart fron raw speed makes the PXA27X series processor in the X50v better than the Toshiba e405's PXA261 processor or the iPAQ 4155's PXA255 check out the article.
(It's actually not as dry and boring as I expected)
"The Intel Advantage for Windows Powered Mobile Devices" article
(via pocketpcthoughts)
Fingerprint Sensing LCD Screen
Casio has developed a 1.2" LCD screen with a fingerprint sensor layered into it.
The idea behind the concept is to built biometric security into cellphones without needing a seperate sensor.
Casio said it could also be used in PDAs (but that would require a larger, higher resolution, and hopefully VGA resolution, LCD).
Sounds nice but what I don't get is: why would I want a PDA or cellphone whose LCD screen is always covered in greasy dirty fingerprints?
(more from PC World)
0.85" Hard Drives
Toshiba have announced they will be volume producing 0.85" hard drives by the end of the year. These drives are likely to have a capacity of 2 or 3 GB.
Samsung are also in the R&D stage of producing a 0.85" hard drive.
Once these drives are being produced we will probably start seeing them appear in cell phones and future Pocket PC models.
(samsung story : hitachi story : via engadget)
High Resolution Screen
Samsung have released a picture of their new 2.6 inch, 300 dot per inch, 640 by 480 pixel VGA screen (by comparison a PC screen usually has 72 dots per inch, which means this screen can display a lot more in a small space, or make the same amount of information a lot clearer/smoother).
The screen also has a 200:1 contrast ratio and 150cd/m2 brightness which means it should look better than current small screens in direct sunlight.
This will be going into full production in December of this year and should show up next year in smaller Pocket PCs (current VGA Pocket PCs have a much larger and poorer quality 4 inch screen), smart phones, and high end mobile phones.
Also interesting but not built yet is that the same 300 dots per inch would allow a 4.2 inch 1024x768 screen on a larger pocket pc or a 7.3" Wide-XGA 1080p HDTV screen combined with the new 60gb 1.8" hard drive for an uber personal video player or portable DVD player.
