09-06-2002, 08:17 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,177
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Does BSQUARE's reference design tell the future?
http://www.bsquare.com/news/press/story.asp?PressID=305
BSQUARE is a mobile solutions engineering power house and spans both device development and software design. They have a close relationship with Microsoft's mobile groups. A couple of days ago they published a news release containing an offer to OEMs and carriers containing a handheld reference design. The reference design is built on Intel XScale technology and used the Windows CE .NET operating system. Right off the bat: this is NOT a Pocket PC, this is NOT a Pocket PC, and this is NOT a Pocket PC. Eventually, future releases of the Pocket PC platform will be built on top of Windows CE .NET, but that we happen only when the Pocket PC group is finished building the user interface, applications and so on.
That said, I do think it is interesting to see a company like BSQUARE bring a hardware reference design that features a VGA display, a slide-out retractable QWERTY thumb-type keyboard, dual-band GSM cell phone, and built-in GPRS support, and support for email, SMS and IM. The "400 MHz-64 MB RAM-SD slot-backlit TFT-16 bit-640x480-1900mAh" device weighs 280 grams (9.88 oz) and measures 140mm x 87mm x 19.6mm (5.5� x 3.4� x .77�). A remote device management technology that enables carriers to roll-out new features and applications is included, which reduces "the risk of expensive product recalls by permitting devices to accept remote updates." (Source: Brian)
Does this device contain any fragments of the future of Pocket PCs?
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09-06-2002, 09:23 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 735
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Hmm, similiar concept as oqo and tiqit but different architecture (CE vs XP, Intel Vs. xscale). Could be very interesting come near the end of the year when/if these things are actually released.
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09-06-2002, 12:47 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 333
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by klinux
Hmm, similiar concept as oqo and tiqit but different architecture (CE vs XP, Intel Vs. xscale). Could be very interesting come near the end of the year when/if these things are actually released.
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I think the key with OQO is that its a real PC in a pocket form factor. It runs XP not CE. Of course that might be its downfall.
I'm not familiar with the tiqit.
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09-06-2002, 12:56 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
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Wow, what a cool Pocket PC.
Yeah, I read. Not a Pocket PC.
So, what will it run? Casio BE-300 software? How would one get a Browser, Word Processor? anything running on it? It's interesting, but Samsung (or some Korean company) already makes a model much like this, I don't see it anywhere on the sales charts.
Interesting. Going nowhere.
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09-06-2002, 01:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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This looks like a purpose built machine that would be sold by compaines like Symbol and Intermec. Also something that carriers might sell to compete with the HipTop Danger, but this will have little/no interest in the PDA market.
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09-06-2002, 02:38 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 70
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I would buy that device in a heartbeat.
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09-06-2002, 02:52 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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Reference Design? What does that mean? They went nuts with Photoshop and Powerpoint? Or they actually built one?
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09-06-2002, 03:43 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sven
Reference Design? What does that mean? They went nuts with Photoshop and Powerpoint? Or they actually built one?
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It is a prototype with specific feature sets. It exists but isn't ready for production, maybe not even close to production.
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09-06-2002, 05:13 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 481
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Re: Does BSQUARE's reference design tell the future?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Andy Sjostrom
Does this device contain any fragments of the future of Pocket PCs?
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I would like to see PPC developers adopt this sideways keyboard mode.
A keyboard the width of a vertical PDA just isn't big enough. Now one the width of the height of the PDA would be quite comfortable. Plus you have the aspect ratio of a desktop PC, even if kept at quarter-VGA. I think a PPC with this kind of configuration would be an instant hit, and preferable to the mechanical nightmare the Sony NR70 must be.
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09-06-2002, 05:36 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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Re: Does BSQUARE's reference design tell the future?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Andy Sjostrom
http://www.bsquare.com/news/press/story.asp?PressID=305
dual-band GSM cell phone
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no tri band -booooooo.
Very interesting concept though. Great alternative layout to the Sony. The only question is how thick? 3.4 inches see overly chunky to carry all the time.
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Linear Mode
