Dell and Pocket PC 2003

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=aximgensw&message.id=3580&page=2' target='_blank'>http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfo....id=3580&page=2</a><br /><br /></div>A moderator named Rollie R. over at the Dell forums posted a message today that might interest some of you - this falls into the "rumours" category since it's just a random message in a forum... ;-)<br /><br />"Those who are looking forward to an upgrade to Pocket PC 2003 may want to rethink their position. It appears that many Pocket PC 2002 applications are not compatible with Pocket PC 2003. I do not have a list of applications, though I am testing some. The update from PPC 2003 to PPC 2003 appears to be a major OS update, and may require that applications be recompiled for it. I do not have any concrete information at this time, but I wanted to give the forum a heads up on this."<br /><br />When you consider that Pocket PC 2003 is based on Windows CE .NET 4.2, it's not surprising that some applications will not work - it's a whole new core OS, so any app that tapped into a portion of the OS that has since changed will fail.

[GadgetMan]

I remember reading that Pocket PC applications specifically designed for Pocket PC 2003 OS (.NET), will not be able to run on earlier versions of the OS, but that the apps designed for earlier OS will run on Pocket PC 2003.

I wonder if that dude knows what he is talking about...

Cheers,

[entropy1980]

Well if he is testing stuff I guess that means Dell is due for an upgrade... good news!!

[jeremyweisser]

I remember reading that Pocket PC applications specifically designed for Pocket PC 2003 OS (.NET), will not be able to run on earlier versions of the OS, but that the apps designed for earlier OS will run on Pocket PC 2003.

I wonder if that dude knows what he is talking about...

Cheers,

I've read and heard the same

[Robert Levy]

I'm not worried. Microsoft thought things through pretty well this time - they have been actively distributing copies of the Pocket PC 2003 SDK and emulator to developers for several months now (especially at MDC and TechEd). Any apps that don't work out of the box will probably have new versions released by their developers as soon as the new OS is available to users. Since the SDK and emulator were made available so far in advance, there shouldn't be any gap.

[entropy1980]

You guys are missing the point to the thread, I don't think it's so much a point to PPC 2k3 compatibility as much as it is we will probably see an update for Dell Axims.... just my $.02

[Ed Hansberry]

You guys are missing the point to the thread, I on't think it's so much a point to PPC 2k3 compatibility as much as it is we will probably see an update for Dell Axims.... just my $.02
Bingo! Rollie is a nice guy, but his expertise is.. uhm... helping people. His knowledge of the ins and outs of the Pocket PC aren't up to Pocket PC Thoughts standards. :wink:

I too think the key bit of info here is a Dell employee has the new OS and is playing with it. You can be sure that isn't an iPAQ on his desk. :mrgreen:

[Glisson]

That would be great if it comes down like this. I can't imagine a new OS without backwards compatibility. Hell, even my sons new Gameboy Advance SP is backwards compatible! I would hope PPC2k3 would. ( yes I know how much harder it is to make 2k3 than a gameboy...well no I don't but I'm guessing it is anyway.)

Glisson

[Thomas Foolery]

some COM references seem to have issues as well. or maybe not. but no matter what, don't be dissing Rollie, he's seen more than most of you of what this upgrade can affect, and from my 10 minutes with it, i would say he's spot on.


/flame on :twisted:

[Jason Dunn]

You guys are missing the point to the thread, I on't think it's so much a point to PPC 2k3 compatibility as much as it is we will probably see an update for Dell Axims.... just my $.02

Yes. But I didn't want to get people too excited until I know it's happening for sure. :mrgreen:

[Paragon]

You guys are missing the point to the thread, I on't think it's so much a point to PPC 2k3 compatibility as much as it is we will probably see an update for Dell Axims.... just my $.02

Yes. But I didn't want to get people too excited until I know it's happening for sure. :mrgreen:

So, when will you know....next Monday. :D

There's always the chance he is playing with a new device as well. 8)

Dave

[DustyLBottoms]

It would really suck if it was true though.

[Chris Leckness]

A user on our site brought this thread to my attention. I am working on an article for the Dell Axim users that will list software tested with no hitches on the Dell Axim and PPC2003. I have been in contact with 100+ companies and many have either tested or have had others test their applications and games.

Many of the game authors state that nothing is changing that would affect the current Microsoft's GAPI. Others using Embedded Visual Basic claim that they have tested with no troubles. Some of the companies that are unsure, say they will have updated copies at launch or soon after.

Till Then....

[mc_03]

http://inges-pda.net has a list of compatible and not compatible applications that he has tried.

It appears that a good percentage of apps that dig deeper into the OS for features do not work properly... hopefully, developers will quickly adjust their software or release patches.[/url]

[isrjt]

I think it is quite obvious that the "boys and girls" are playing with new equipment too. The super cool updates and news bits have slowed over the last few days. As a long time reader, I have seen this before. Jason and the gang seem to have something up their collective sleeves. I just can't wait for them to spill the beans. In a week or so we should be achieve Pocket PC overload. I am like a junkie needng a fix...

[QYV]

I'm an Axim user so I'm certainly hoping for an upgrade, but it's quite possible Rollie is passing on information he's been given by folks testing the new Dell Pocket PCs running 2003. This doesn't necessarily mean we get an upgrade for our X5s.

That said, this is one more positive sign.

[Jason Dunn]

Jason and the gang seem to have something up their collective sleeves. I just can't wait for them to spill the beans. In a week or so we should be achieve Pocket PC overload. I am like a junkie needng a fix...

Let's just say that today something was delivered that put a huge grin on my face, and I'm still smiling. I've probably smiled, oh, 2215 times today already! My face hurts... :mrgreen:

[mc_03]

Jason and the gang seem to have something up their collective sleeves. I just can't wait for them to spill the beans. In a week or so we should be achieve Pocket PC overload. I am like a junkie needng a fix...

Let's just say that today something was delivered that put a huge grin on my face, and I'm still smiling. I've probably smiled, oh, 2215 times today already! My face hurts... :mrgreen:

Ah, so you finally got your new umm *cough* toaster!!! Is it... I mean... Does it... erm... toast bread fast? :D:D:D

8O

[Chris Leckness]

Nope.... But I bet it autodetects a wifi network in 30 secs or less...hehe

[ctmagnus]

Here's (http://inges-pda.net/ppc2003_update14.html) a listing of PPC2k2 apps that run on PPC2003. All the important stuff I use is on there, ymmv.

Enjoy!

[kidA]

Let's just say that today something was delivered that put a huge grin on my face, and I'm still smiling. I've probably smiled, oh, 2215 times today already! My face hurts... :mrgreen:
i want i want!

[pivo]

Hi,
According to the PocketPC 2003 SDK documentation, most applications that don't use undocumented API functions will run without recompilation.
There's a problem with application developped using eMbedded Visual Basic. The runtime files included in the installation package won't work.
A new set of eVB (and ADOCE) runtimes will be required and can be downloaded from MS site at:
eVB runtime for PocketPC 2003 (http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/downloads/eVB)
The eVB download is approximately 2.7MB.

Any application using the .NET Compact Framework 1.0 must be recompiled in order to refer the 1.1 version.
Manufacteurs may choose to include the .NET CF in ROM (like Viewsonic V37) although possible OS upgrade won't (due to the small amount of available memory).
Pedro

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Let's just say that today something was delivered that put a huge grin on my face, and I'm still smiling. I've probably smiled, oh, 2215 times today already! My face hurts... :mrgreen:
Oh Jason, resorting to the cruel and unusual!! Now I'll be pinging this site every 10 minutes looking for updates!!

[Kevin C. Tofel]

So Jason, does the HP 2215 have an almost identical form factor to the Axim as it appears to in images?
:D

KCT

[dh]

Here's (http://inges-pda.net/ppc2003_update14.html) a listing of PPC2k2 apps that run on PPC2003. All the important stuff I use is on there, ymmv.Enjoy!

The only app I use everyday I didn't see on the list was Textmaker. Having said that, they recently issued an updated version with PPC2003 compatability so that should be fine as well.

[Shaun Stuart]

So Jason, does the HP 2215 have an almost identical form factor to the Axim as it appears to in images?
:D

KCT

How long before a hardware review of the 2215 - Your NDA should not effect this - or does it ?

[ux4484]

That would be great if it comes down like this. I can't imagine a new OS without backwards compatibility. Hell, even my sons new Gameboy Advance SP is backwards compatible! I would hope PPC2k3 would. ( yes I know how much harder it is to make 2k3 than a gameboy...well no I don't but I'm guessing it is anyway.)Glisson

It's only compatabile one version back....to Gameboy Advance original........., that's not very backward compatible. My eldest passed on GBA SP because she still plays mostly her Game Boy Color games.

On Dell: Been waiting for a 1.5 weeks for my replacement Axim, which hasn't shipped yet.......wonder if it'll be loaded up with 2K3? They claim the hold up is in MFG and that this one won't be a refurbished unit.

[doogald]

It's only compatabile one version back....to Gameboy Advance original........., that's not very backward compatible. My eldest passed on GBA SP because she still plays mostly her Game Boy Color games.

Excuse the off-topic, but this is incorrect. My son regularly plays his Pokemon GB Color games on his new SP. Haven't tested the GB original black & white games yet but I think that it runs them as well.

Anything that runs on GBA runs on GBA SP.

[ux4484]

Why thanks doogie, From looking at the package in the case when we were about to buy it that was not obvious......nor did the salesdrone know (or want to release the box from the case unless we were going to buy......just another reason not to buy it). Didn't bother to research it further than that as I saw it as a savings.

But still, that means that three of the biggest selling GB games: Pokemon Red, blue and Yellow can't be played on it, no?

[doogald]

But still, that means that three of the biggest selling GB games: Pokemon Red, blue and Yellow can't be played on it, no?

Just looked on nintendo's web site; GBA and GBA SP support the original GB games as well. Come to think of it, he was playing Red and Yellow versions a few weeks ago, right after he got it.

http://www.nintendo.com/systems/gba/gba_specs.jsp

[ux4484]

last OT.

Thanks doog, somethings I just don't consider worth looking up...:D ;)

well, I'd better not tell her.........as she already spent the money on Zoo Tycoon and it's plugins for Dino's and Oceanariums. :oops:

At least playing Zoo Tycoon is something we can do together (as opposed to GB which I just cannot get into).

Back On Topic:

If the 2K3 is offered Dell, and the PIM is better/faster, I'd upgrade in a minute otherwise, it would be a "wait and see" type upgrade.

There's a new Poll: Will you upgrade to PPC 2K3 if you can?

[cmorris]

Well for those of you who also want to smile two thousand odd times it looks like the 2215 is already out at several Fry's electronics around the US anyways.

Check this thread on Brighthand:
http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81008

[sbrown23]

Well for those of you who also want to smile two thousand odd times it looks like the 2215 is already out at several Fry's electronics around the US anyways.

Check this thread on Brighthand:
http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81008

Yes it is! I purchased one yesterday afternoon at the store in Burbank, CA! This thing kicks MAJOR booty! :D

Only problem now is CF 802.11b card compatibility....

http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81050

[dbrahms]

i heard that the xscale processors dont take advantage of their full speed due to the way the OS is written. will this new OS help the proc run faster?

[alex_kac]

I'm not worried. Microsoft thought things through pretty well this time - they have been actively distributing copies of the Pocket PC 2003 SDK and emulator to developers for several months now (especially at MDC and TechEd). Any apps that don't work out of the box will probably have new versions released by their developers as soon as the new OS is available to users. Since the SDK and emulator were made available so far in advance, there shouldn't be any gap.

An emulator does not a Pocket PC make. I can honestly say that I've NEVER used the PPC 2000, PPC 2002 emulators before. I found them to be very bad for testing compatibility. Especially the PPC 2000 emulator. The PPC 2002 was MUCH better, but it was impossible to get real world data in there. The PPC 2003 is even better...but I don't trust it enough to do any real testing on there..its a waste of my time.

However, I can say that our software DOES work on PPC 2003 only due to actually running it on real hardware, though I must admit it wasn't my hardware.

[nwarren]

I posted confirmation from our Dell account team last week that the Dell Axim PPC2k3 upgrade would be available end of June. No price confirmation yet.

[DareDevilNZ]

Another aspect of this porblem is that Installshield does not yet support PPC2003 devices (not that their advertising implies this). When you install a PPC 2002 (or PPC 2000 for that matter) app that uses InstallShield as its installer on a PPC 2003 device you might see a message on the PPC that says "The program is not compatible with the current operating system and, therefore, may not run on this device. Do you want to continue installation?", with Yes/No buttons. This does not mean that the software won't work. It means that InstallShield sets the maximum version number (VersionMax in the .INF file for the CAB generation) to 3.00 - this is compared to the OS version (4.2) and the message is displayed. InstallShield provides no way to change this seting.

I say "might" because I have heard that MS became aware of this and, because it potentially afects a load of s/w, has supplied a patch to OEMs so that this message is not displayed. However it may not have been applied to all OEM OS builds, particularly those that will be first released and which were finalized some time ago.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Good news all round about Dell - apart from the possibility of apps not working. Just as well I stopped buying new SW for the past little while. :?

Looking forward to the new stuff. :mrgreen:

[mscdex]

A moderator named Rollie R. over at the Dell forums posted a message today that might interest some of you - this falls into the "rumours" category since it's just a random message in a forum... ;-)

"Those who are looking forward to an upgrade to Pocket PC 2003 may want to rethink their position. It appears that many Pocket PC 2002 applications are not compatible with Pocket PC 2003. I do not have a list of applications, though I am testing some. The update from PPC 2003 to PPC 2003 appears to be a major OS update, and may require that applications be recompiled for it. I do not have any concrete information at this time, but I wanted to give the forum a heads up on this."

When you consider that Pocket PC 2003 is based on Windows CE .NET 4.2, it's not surprising that some applications will not work - it's a whole new core OS, so any app that tapped into a portion of the OS that has since changed will fail.

Wow, there's already an update to go from PPC 2003 to PPC 2003?? :lol:

[Jonathon Watkins]

Wow, there's already an update to go from PPC 2003 to PPC 2003?? :lol:

They're patching the code as fast as they can write it. :lol: