03-29-2002, 06:53 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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BSQUARE Unveils SDIONow! Program
http://www.socketcom.com/about/nlsp02bsq.htm
John Doub sent us the newest Socket Newsletter that has something interesting. I've long heard rumours about the lack of SD I/O support on the Pocket PC, but this confirms it: we can't use SD I/O cards natively. Bad news! The good news is that SD I/O carsd don't exist yet, so it's not like we're missing anything. It seems that BSQUARE has a program to help developers create and deploy SD I/O drivers and devices.
"BSQUARE has launched a new technology program to help portable device, card host controller, and peripheral manufacturers support Secure Digital (SD) and Secure Digital I/O (SDIO) products under Microsoft Windows� operating systems. Secure Digital is a new standard for data storage and peripheral I/O expansion for small form-factor devices. Secure Digital cards are postage stamp-sized cards that can store data on portable devices-up to 64 Mb. Secure Digital I/O cards use the same postage stamp-sized form factor, and enable wireless communication like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, as well as I/O expansion. Current Windows Embedded operating systems do not provide "native" support for Secure Digital I/O, which means device and peripheral manufacturers are burdened with the significant expense of supporting multiple custom peripheral driver interfaces. This slows the production of SD-capable products and increases their cost.
With the SDIONow! Program, member companies leverage BSQUARE's core competency in driver development, reducing product development time and costs for manufacturers who want to add SD functionality to a wide variety of portable devices, like handheld computers, digital cameras, smart phones and MP3 players. SDIONow! also provides members with software subsystems, peripheral driver development tools, and other intellectual property needed to support Secure Digital technology on Windows CE 3.0 and Windows CE.Net based devices, like Pocket PC 2000 and 2002 devices."
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03-29-2002, 07:47 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 67
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BSQUARE Unveils SDIONow! Program
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
http://www.socketcom.com/about/nlsp02bsq.htm
John Doub sent us the newest Socket Newsletter that has something interesting. I've long heard rumours about the lack of SD I/O support on the Pocket PC, but this confirms it: we can't use SD I/O cards natively. Bad news! The good news is that SD I/O carsd don't exist yet, so it's not like we're missing anything. [...]
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No, there is a SD I/O card available since December in Japan and now elsewhere too - the Toshiba Bluetooth SD I/O card. And there are also Pocket PCs which support SD I/O, the Toshiba e550, e550X and e570. The Audiovox Maestro and Thera support SD I/O cards as well since they are made by Toshiba too.
BTW, unlike the iPaq 3800 series which support only MMC-style 1-bit access to SD cards all Toshiba PPCs support also the real 4-bit SD access modes. This is especially important for the upcoming 256 and 512MB SD cards (to be due in April) which are supposed to be much faster than the current SD cards. This is also the reason SD memory cards are more than two times faster on the Toshiba's than on the iPaq's. On the iPaq's SD cards are as slow as MMC cards.
BTW, Toshiba's Bluetooth SD I/O card is also sold by Palm for their m500/m505/m515 which have SD I/O slots.
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03-29-2002, 08:08 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Interesting - thanks, I didn't know that the Toshiba Pocket PCs had such advanced SD support. Nice to see! :lol:
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03-30-2002, 02:08 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 212
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Thanks TW, for the info. Thats really good to know.
The BSquare thing is great to hear. Its great theyre offering this type of support. What a team the industry is becoming!
But hey, native would be the way, man.
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