The Rise Of MiTAC Pocket PCs

[Janak Parekh]

MiTAC has become very active in developing and releasing new Pocket PCs. If you didn't know already, MiTAC manufactures the <a href="http://65.115.69.88/mio/products_mio338.asp">Mio 338</a>, which is the same hardware as some of the Viewsonic, Packard Bell, NEC, and Medion Pocket PCs on the market (see <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6491">my earlier article on the subject</a> for more detail). They've recently <a href="http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3430.html">unveiled the Mio 338 Plus</a>, which is an evolution of the same form factor, but housing a 400MHz XScale processor, and more Flash ROM. But they haven't stopped there. They've also announced the the <a href="http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3553.html">Mio 339</a> with an integrated camera, the <a href="http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3553.html">Mio 728 Phone Edition</a> device with a CF II slot, and the <a href="http://www.pocketpc.com.hk/news_load.php?id=273">Mio 558</a>, which is perhaps the thinnest dual-slot Pocket PC. Whew! I hope we see some of these here in the US soon.

[dh]

So the 558 has dual slots (including SDIO), PPC2003 and looks as though it has 802.11b as well!

If this model arrives here it will be my next PPC for sure.

It's nice to see a manufacturer bringing out some exciting hardware. It's just been more of the same old stuff for a while.

[Kati Compton]

The 558 sure looks nice. But I'm going to try to keep my first PPC for at least a year and a half before replacing it... At least, so I say now. ;)

[heov]

yikes! 22mm thick phone? that's almost an inch thick 8O Oh well, it is there first ppcpe. Maybe their next gen will be smaller.

The other ones look nice, but i'd rather get the toshiba e550C.

[lmtuxinc]

I want their Smartphone - the MiTAC Mio 8380

[Sslixtis]

The 558 sure looks nice. But I'm going to try to keep my first PPC for at least a year and a half before replacing it... At least, so I say now.;)

Wow, a year and half, that's 3 PDAs for me. I am going through withdrawals now, waiting on the next PPCs! :silly:

I must say i'd be much happier if the 558 had a transflective screen. I'd love to see the 550C come to the states though! 8O

[twntaipan]

So the 558 has dual slots (including SDIO), PPC2003 and looks as though it has 802.11b as well!

It also has Bluetooth according Mitac's material (found here http://mitac.mic.com.tw/product/showcase2003/files/pda/mio558.pdf) 8O

[yschang]

The Mio 558 is the one I'm waiting for!!! :lol:
Cash is buring a hole in my pocket!!! HELP!!! :mrgreen:

[Shaun Stuart]

Bluetooth and 802.11b and dual slots and a jog dial - this must be a first.

[huangzhinong]

The 558 sure looks nice. But I'm going to try to keep my first PPC for at least a year and a half before replacing it... At least, so I say now.;)

Wow, a year and half, that's 3 PDAs for me. I am going through withdrawals now, waiting on the next PPCs! :silly:

I must say i'd be much happier if the 558 had a transflective screen. I'd love to see the 550C come to the states though! 8O

558 has a transflective screen.
3.5" transflective screen
cf and sdio
BT and Wi-fi
64MB ram and 64Mb Rom
32bits Memory
1400mah swappable battary
buildin USB mini-port
jog wheel
only 15.3mm thick and 170g weight

[Hyperluminal]

I want a 558!!! :D

The picture seems to show it running an English version of the OS. If you can get an English version, I just may have to get Dynamism to import one for me...

[Shadowcat]

Notice in the PDF it says "Support Pocket PC 2003 BT default profile (DUP, OPP)."

I guess that more or less confirms PPC 2003's built-in support for Bluetooth in case anyone doubted it. Anyone have any clue what DUP or OPP means?

This model also has consumer IR. All I can say is the specifications are a dream come true but it doesn't look that sleek. I still prefer the iPAQ's (3900 series) more than any other PPC, but that's just me.

[Jonathon Watkins]

64MB ram and 64Mb Rom

Hmmm, why do they need to put in 64Mb ROM? Do they know something we don't (yet)..............?

Can't really say I like the look - silver & boxy. :?

[Sslixtis]

558 has a transflective screen.
3.5" transflective screen
cf and sdio
BT and Wi-fi
64MB ram and 64Mb Rom
32bits Memory
1400mah swappable battary
buildin USB mini-port
jog wheel
only 15.3mm thick and 170g weight

Could you site your source? TFT does not stand for Transflective, TFT stands for Thin Film Transistor some times called Active Matrix. :wink:
Here are some of the sites I've been to: wapzone.com (http://www.wapzon.com/web/devicedetail.asp?Pid=1545), Palmserver.cz (http://www.palmserver.cz/clanek.php3?show=1172), pocket.at (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.pocket.at/pocketpc/pocketpcs.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Mitac%2BMio%2522%2B558%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8) as well as Pocketpc.com.hk mentioned by Janak. None of which list the 558 as having a Transflective Screen. If it does have Transflective I'll take one! :lol:

Cheers!

[johncruise]

I know this is going to be asked by somebody but....

... anyone knows how much? (pls indicate currencies)

[Duncan]

... anyone knows how much? (pls indicate currencies)

1,245 (South Sea Island Groats).

[jaja_75]

MiTAC Mio 558 :
http://www.mitac.com/micweb/news/cyber-booth/nbu/files/mio558.pdf

PocketPC 2003
XScale PXA263 400 MHz
SDRAM 100 MHz 32-bit 8)
CF II and SD IO
USB client and USB host
Wi-Fi and BlueTooth
IrDA and CIR
125mm*74mm*15,3mm
150 gr

[darrylb]

If only they'd do a 128 Mb model, I'd be in - 64 Mb can be small with heaps of apps :roll:

[disconnected]

Those specs sound so good, I'd be tempted to give up my 3.8 inch screen.

Actually, if someone came out with those specs, plus 128 Mb memory, plus a 3.8 or 4 inch screen, I'd get it in a heartbeat, and I wouldn't mind an overall size increase to get all those features.

I'm anxious to see the next generation of Toshibas. I haven't seen any leaks yet on what they might be.

[hk_traveller]

558 has a transflective screen.
3.5" transflective screen
cf and sdio
BT and Wi-fi
64MB ram and 64Mb Rom
32bits Memory
1400mah swappable battary
buildin USB mini-port
jog wheel
only 15.3mm thick and 170g weight

Could you site your source? TFT does not stand for Transflective, TFT stands for Thin Film Transistor some times called Active Matrix. :wink:
Here are some of the sites I've been to: wapzone.com (http://www.wapzon.com/web/devicedetail.asp?Pid=1545), Palmserver.cz (http://www.palmserver.cz/clanek.php3?show=1172), pocket.at (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.pocket.at/pocketpc/pocketpcs.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Mitac%2BMio%2522%2B558%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8) as well as Pocketpc.com.hk mentioned by Janak. None of which list the 558 as having a Transflective Screen. If it does have Transflective I'll take one! :lol:

Cheers!
Yes, it is not mentioned even in the PDF spec in official site. So we can only find it out when the ppc becomes available. I do wish it is 4" screen.

[jaja_75]

MiTAC Mio558 gets FCC approval for the US ! 8)

Photos:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=371185&fcc_id=

BTW, "mio 558 neither transreflective nor reflective its LED light source its a new tecnology which makes backlighting unnecesary. Screen itself emits light"

[Anthony Caruana]

If only they'd do a 128 Mb model, I'd be in - 64 Mb can be small with heaps of apps :roll:

Maybe with the 64 MB ROM you could use the spare ROM (I suspects at least 30 MB) for storage and the 128 would not be such a big deal