A Look at USB-Host on the Pocket LOOX N500

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.solopalmari.com/content/view/563/68/' target='_blank'>http://www.solopalmari.com/content/view/563/68/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"This new Fujitsu Siemens Pocket PC, with integrated GPS module, should probably go on sale between the end of October and the beginning of November 2005. During initial tests with our pre-production Loox N500 we were soon faced with a problem: the handheld did not have some of the connectivity modules (hardware features) that probably will instead be present in the final commercialised product."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20051004-N500BT.jpg" /><br /><br />The folk over at SoloPalmari have just given us the heads-up on an article which looks at USB-Host functionality on the upcoming Pocket LOOX N500. They managed to get a Bluetooth dongle up and running without the need for any third-party drivers. Check it out!

[Craig Horlacher]

I think a lot of people are missing out by not using this feature on a number of newer pocket pc's. Besides the obvious of using it to access a usb flash drive that on your keychain, I use it with my 40GB iRiver mp3 player! I can stream video off the 40GB drive straight into betaplayer! I can also then use my pocket pc to rearrange music file. It's also great for putting pictures and music on my psp!

You do need a driver for this but the one I'm using I think it generic and works great...it might even be beta or something - do a backup before you install - but I haven't had a problem.

[huangzhinong]

Unless Duncan has some inside information about N540 or N560, those pieces of crap don't even worth a mention. The N500 is 312mhz, 64MB ROM/64MB Ram, without BT, without Wireless, 160g and sell at $396. If I didn't remember wrong, x30 312Mhz (&lt;140g) no wireless was only $199 two years ago.

Do they expect those devices sell well? :devilboy:

[comptonOG]

I am not familiar with USB host. IS it a hardware componet to a PDA or a software componet on Win Mobile 2005 that is added on by the vendor? I was wondering if the New Dell Axim X51v would be able to have this feature in the future if Dell added it... or if did not even have the hardware capability out of the box. Thanks.

[beowolf]

Unless Duncan has some inside information about N540 or N560, those pieces of crap don't even worth a mention. The N500 is 312mhz, 64MB ROM/64MB Ram, without BT, without Wireless, 160g and sell at $396. If I didn't remember wrong, x30 312Mhz (&lt;140g) no wireless was only $199 two years ago.

Do they expect those devices sell well? :devilboy:

Given built in GPS: SiRFstar III ??


They give the specifications as:

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/products/mobile/handhelds/pocket_loox_n_series.html


Processor: PXA270 312Mhz
ROM: 64MB (N500); 128MB (N520)
RAM: 64MB
GPS: SiRFstar III
Wireless: 802.11g WiFi
Screen: 3.5" QVGA
Expansion: 1 SD I/O slot
Battery: 1200 mAh
Weight: 160g
Dimensions: 116 x 71 x 14 mm
USB: 1.1 (slave); 1.1 (host)
Other: Stereo audio out on docking connector

[huangzhinong]

Unless Duncan has some inside information about N540 or N560, those pieces of crap don't even worth a mention. The N500 is 312mhz, 64MB ROM/64MB Ram, without BT, without Wireless, 160g and sell at $396. If I didn't remember wrong, x30 312Mhz (&lt;140g) no wireless was only $199 two years ago.

Do they expect those devices sell well? :devilboy:

Given built in GPS: SiRFstar III ??


They give the specifications as:

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/products/mobile/handhelds/pocket_loox_n_series.html


Processor: PXA270 312Mhz
ROM: 64MB (N500); 128MB (N520)
RAM: 64MB
GPS: SiRFstar III
Wireless: 802.11g WiFi
Screen: 3.5" QVGA
Expansion: 1 SD I/O slot
Battery: 1200 mAh
Weight: 160g
Dimensions: 116 x 71 x 14 mm
USB: 1.1 (slave); 1.1 (host)
Other: Stereo audio out on docking connector

Wireless is for N520 only. Check the PDF for more detail.

[Darius Wey]

Unless Duncan has some inside information about N540 or N560, those pieces of crap don't even worth a mention. The N500 is 312mhz, 64MB ROM/64MB Ram, without BT, without Wireless, 160g and sell at $396. If I didn't remember wrong, x30 312Mhz (&lt;140g) no wireless was only $199 two years ago.

How is it not worth a mention? I think the N500 is targeting the GPS market, and with that in mind, it's worth remembering that most of the other GPS Pocket PCs in the market fail to amaze in the specs department. The N520 and above (while sporting GPS) appear to be built as media powerhouses than strict GPS-only devices.

[Darius Wey]

I am not familiar with USB host. IS it a hardware componet to a PDA or a software componet on Win Mobile 2005 that is added on by the vendor? I was wondering if the New Dell Axim X51v would be able to have this feature in the future if Dell added it... or if did not even have the hardware capability out of the box. Thanks.

It's a hardware component that's part of the PDA. It has existed on select Pocket PCs before the arrival of Windows Mobile 5.0.

Out of the box, the Axim X51v doesn't have USB-Host, but you can add functionality by way of a CF USB-Host card. What the Axim X51v has that most other devices lack is very good video-out functionality.

[Duncan]

Unless Duncan has some inside information about N540 or N560, those pieces of crap don't even worth a mention. The N500 is 312mhz, 64MB ROM/64MB Ram, without BT, without Wireless, 160g and sell at $396. If I didn't remember wrong, x30 312Mhz (&lt;140g) no wireless was only $199 two years ago.

How is it not worth a mention? I think the N500 is targeting the GPS market, and with that in mind, it's worth remembering that most of the other GPS Pocket PCs in the market fail to amaze in the specs department. The N520 and above (while sporting GPS) appear to be built as media powerhouses than strict GPS-only devices.

Indeed. OK - no Bluetooth. The N520, however, has GPS (and the best kind we currently have at that), 802.11g and full USB host - plus the now standard 128MB ROM and nice stuff like stereo audio out on the docking connector and even a remote control accessory for the audio.

All in all it holds up very well indeed in either the 'GPS' or 'mid-range' class of Pocket PCs.

[farnold]

I agree with Duncan and Darius. And I would like to add that they come with a business design rather than a Game-Boy-Replacement. Too bad that there is still no clarity around a GPRS/GSM model. After reading throuth the front page articles at Firstloox - I seem to be going there more often lately after being away for a couple of years :) - you get the impression to have everything from complete denial to almost confirmation... I am surprised FSC haven't learned from the past and allow spreading rumors rather then being upfront.

[Duncan]

I agree with Duncan and Darius. And I would like to add that they come with a business design rather than a Game-Boy-Replacement. Too bad that there is still no clarity around a GPRS/GSM model. After reading throuth the front page articles at Firstloox - I seem to be going there more often lately after being away for a couple of years :) - you get the impression to have everything from complete denial to almost confirmation... I am surprised FSC haven't learned from the past and allow spreading rumors rather then being upfront.

I'm quite happy to confirm absolutely that there will not be a GSM/GPRS device in the Loox N series nor the series that is due to follow it. Long term there are plans for at least one Phone Edition Loox, but probably not for a while.

Obviously there are other things I could absolutely confirm or deny (other than the above) about future FSC plans - but won't for obvious reasons - (even though I'd like to). Give it time though - we can always publish leaks...! ;)

[mversion]

Am I just dreaming of the day when all "high-end" pocket pcs will have a VGA screen?

i'm not excited about this device not one bit because it has a QVGA screen. GPS and USB-OTG all good, but does absolutely nothing when you consider the screen.

but then again, a high end devide would have more than 300mhz for a cpu speed, no?

[Duncan]

Am I just dreaming of the day when all "high-end" pocket pcs will have a VGA screen?

i'm not excited about this device not one bit because it has a QVGA screen. GPS and USB-OTG all good, but does absolutely nothing when you consider the screen.

but then again, a high end devide would have more than 300mhz for a cpu speed, no?

Most high end Pocket PCs do have VGA screens now - but the Loox N500 and N520 are not high end devices - they are aimed at the mid-range market. Thus QVGA, lower speed processor and no BT - means they can put some cool stuff in but still keep the price down and in the mid-range bracket.

[ziggurat29]

most disappointing to me is that the PXA27x processor in the X50/4700 et al has a USB host controller on the chip. The pins are simply not wired to the connector (only the 'USB device' pins are, which is the stuff ActiveSync uses)....