Handheld Devices

Contents

Project Objectives

Devices Being Reviewed

Blackberry 6710 — ATT GSM phone/SMS/email/web/PDA
Samsung i600 Smartphone — with Verizon CDMA service and Windows Mobile 2003
Siemens SX56 Pocket PC — GSM phone with Pocket PC 2002 (dead product; not upgradeable) 
Samsung i700 Pocket PC — mini-review on CDMA phone with Pocket PC 2002 OS
Dell Axim X30 — Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, 802.11b and Bluetooth (not a phone)
Toshiba e800 — Pocket PC w/ VGA, Compact Flash Type II slot, and 802.11b, and WM03 SE (not a phone)
Dell Axim X50v — Pocket PC w/ VGA, Compact Flash, 802.11b, Bluetooth, WM03 SE
Motorola MPx220 Smartphone — ATT GSM Smartphone with WM03 SE
Palm 700w — Pocket PC Phone with Verizon CDMA service and Windows Mobile 5
Motorola Q — Smartphone with Verizon CDMA service and Windows Mobile 5

Benchmarks — Some Pocket PC performance benchmarks; not very useful

Software Notes — third-party software we tried

Email Notes — how email works on these devices

Other Reviews

Asus A620BT, Asus A620BT, Asus A730, iPaq 4700,  Dell Axim X50, X50v, X50 and X50v, X50v
Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
Samsung I730 Pocket PC Phone

Related Web Sites

If you are researching one of these devices, it is suggested you spend a few hours using Google to find websites that have reviews.   There are many of them; here are some I've found useful, plus some vendors of software and accessories:

msmobiles.com, pdaPhoneHome.com, PDAToday, SmartphoneToday, CEwindows.NET, Smartphone Thoughts, PPCW.Net, SlashPhone, BostonPocketPC, Your Ultimate Smartpone, CoolSmartPhone, VGA Pocket PC News and Reviews — news, reviews, tips, forums, downloads
Handango — software, software, and more . . . software
PocketPC Freewares — free software
Socket Communications — CF and SDIO cards, support forums; Mobile Planet — retailer of everything

Features and Selection Advice — My opinions on what to consider when selecting a PDA or PDA/Phone.

Programming Notes — a few notes on software development for Smartphones and Pocket PCs.

Presentations — #1, 12/15/04

Project Objectives

Need

CLC staff began looking at handheld devices (PDAs/Phone combinations) in 2003 in conjunction with the ET (Emerging Technology) unit, to see if these would be useful for our staff or customers.  There are several different requirements.

• PDA functions on a phone: most staff can use calendar, tasks, notes, email, etc., on a cell phone to be more productive and easier to reach, and to not have to carry two devices.
• Support staff who are responsible for equipment in labs and classrooms may benefit from an Internet-connected small device that can be used to query and update information in our central database.   A subset requirement for some is a small device that can be used to check Ethernet ports.  A network tester would be ok for testing the wiring, but a computer that gets and address from DCHP and can go to a web page to authenticate and 'login" to fully test the port is needed.
• System staff that support servers may benefit from a small device that can be used to log into servers with a terminal services client.
• Although possible uses for instructors and students are a bit far-fetched, there are some possibilities:
  • A web-based response system for use by students from their own phones could be a lower-cost alternative to dedicated IR devices.
  • Remote control of a podium computer might be productive for lectures, so they don't have to be tied to the podium.
  • Display Device: the Toshiba e800 and Dell Axim X50v, both with VGA displays, have an optional external display attachment, which should allow it to be connected to a classroom's projector.  Some instructors bring laptops to class to use as a display device (or as a backup in the event of a failure); a handheld device would be easier to carry and could work in an emergency to display a Power Point presentation.

These devices are changing rapidly and there is strong competition among manufacturers. 

Goals

The goals of this project (and tentative answers in blue) are:

1. Acquire a few devices and learn what they can do and how well they work in our environment.
   Pocket PC's can do almost anything!  Smartphones are more limited.
2. Try all features and document problems and shortcomings.
3. Attempt to write a simple database access application, and compare network I/O it requires with a web page with the same function.
4. See if email can replace SMS for staff alerts.
   10/1/04: So far, no.  Email needs a good signal, SMS can get through when the signal is weaker.   Exchange ActiveSync w/ immediate forwarding of email uses SMS to tell the phone to go get the new messages.
5. Determine if some of these devices be used to test Ethernet ports.
   10/11/04: Yes, the Toshiba e800 with Socket's 10/100 Ethernet card works.  It gets a DHCP address, and you can authenticate via the mobile port web page to verify the port is defined correctly.   A smaller web page and changes to the CGI to detect the smaller browser and generated a smaller reply page were made.
6. Determine if bar-scanners work and if they would help us.
   We'll buy a Bluetooth scanner pen when it is available.
7. See if a handheld device can remote-control a podium computer doing a classroom presentation.
8. Make recommendations for CLC staff and other Penn State users.
   The page on Features and Selection Advice is a start.

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This page was last modified: 4/20/2007 11:35:16 AM.