New Pocket PC 2003 Features...

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppc2003-newfeatures.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/ima...newfeatures.pdf</a><br /><br /></div>Wondering what some of the new features in the Pocket PC 2003 operating system are? The PDF file linked above lists some of the major new features. If you have any specific questions about the features, our team of experts are standing by to help answer your questions. Unless we're sleeping when you read this... :wink:

[Enderet]

This is great news for us PPC owners

[nightmare]

Arg! C'mon! H2215 review is what we want! Benchmarks! Numbers! In-depth miniscule nit-picking details! Come on!

Speedy OS, though. I'll give it that.

[MoelBrain]

Does the new media player have anything similar to the library function of the desktop media player to make it easier to manage a large amount of music? And is jawbreaker any fun?

[Enderet]

8O I get the feeling everyone has gone to sleep. Hah i thought they were all really excited about this WM release. Oh well... i guess ill ask a question. So was the Landscape mode just a rumor ?

[NeilE]

That list is missing one of the most important changes, Jason :) If you sync a task down that has a reminder time other than 8am, guess what? It'll actually fire at that time!

[Pat Logsdon]

Very cool! I notice, however, that the pages listed in that doc are 4 and 5 - maybe the ActiveSync improvements are listed on pages 1 to 3? :wink:

[nightmare]

Yes, I believe landscape was a rumor and we have to wait for Magneto. You'll have to get an MVP to be sure on that, though.

[arnage2]

i have a ipaq 2215, and i have some questions for the experts. Is it optimised for the pxa 255 xscale? Why didnt you include any other wmp formats(mpeg etc..)? Also, will more compatable software be released soon for ppc 2003?

[nightmare]

Yes, two of the most notorious X-Scale problems have finally been solved. The first being the bus data transfer rate the old PXA250 chip had at 100 MHz, the PXA255 chip has a 200 MHz. Also, the kernel OS Windows CE 4.2 was rebuilt and is now optimized for X-Scale processors. So yes, your 400 MHz iPaq is FINALLY twice as fast as the old 206 MHz StrongARMs. :wink:

[arnage2]

now i can brag to my friend who was an ipaq 3835

[Jason Dunn]

Arg! C'mon! H2215 review is what we want! Benchmarks! Numbers! In-depth miniscule nit-picking details! Come on!

Sorry, I'm busting my ass here trying to keep up with everything. The rest of my team is asleep after helping queue up 12+ new posts, and I've got about a million iPAQ 2215 photos and benchmark results with the single most kick-ass benchmarking tool ever created for the Pocket PC...but I'm a little biased. :wink: You'll see some news come up tonight (I guess this morning actually) that uses this tool.

The 2215 is a speed demon - it kicks major ass. :mrgreen:

[Jason Dunn]

So was the Landscape mode just a rumor ?

Yes. Spread by people who didn't know any better, unfortunately...that's the problem with people who aren't under NDA giving out info with on clue as to whether or not it's accurate. &lt;sigh> :roll:

[Jason Dunn]

That list is missing one of the most important changes, Jason :) If you sync a task down that has a reminder time other than 8am, guess what? It'll actually fire at that time!

Hey, I didn't write it! :lol: Tell you what - you get all your fellow PMs into these forums, and we can do a massive Q&A. I'm game if you are!

[Jason Dunn]

Very cool! I notice, however, that the pages listed in that doc are 4 and 5 - maybe the ActiveSync improvements are listed on pages 1 to 3? :wink:

It's actually from an 80+ page reviewers guide that I can't post, but I was allowed to post those two pages. :-)

[Rob Borek]

Yes, I believe landscape was a rumor and we have to wait for Magneto. You'll have to get an MVP to be sure on that, though.

Landscape is a rumour - there is no support in this release for anything other than 240x320.

[arnage2]

what is the difference between ppc 2003 and msft mobile 2003 for pocket pc?

[Rob Borek]

i have a ipaq 2215, and i have some questions for the experts. Is it optimised for the pxa 255 xscale? Why didnt you include any other wmp formats(mpeg etc..)? Also, will more compatable software be released soon for ppc 2003?

Media Player 9 is optimized for the XScale processor.

Microsoft is committed to Microsoft formats (I'm sure) so they don't really see a need to include MPEG decoding, and they've optimized the codecs for Microsoft formats for the Windows Mobile platform.

[Jason Dunn]

i have a ipaq 2215, and i have some questions for the experts. Is it optimised for the pxa 255 xscale? Why didnt you include any other wmp formats(mpeg etc..)? Also, will more compatable software be released soon for ppc 2003?

1) It's fast - that's all you should care about. ;-) Windows CE .NET 4.2 is not specifically optimized for XScale processors, it's optimized for the ARM code base.

2) Microsoft wants to promote their own media technologies to the exclusion of other technologies. After all, this is a business for them. :-) Just be glad you got MP3 support! If you want MPEG playback, go check out www.pockettv.com

3) The vast majority of software is already compatible, but many Pocket PC installers check the version number of the OS, and if they don't see "2002", they won't install, even though they'd work. You need to contact the developers who make the software and ask them for updates. :-)

[Rob Borek]

what is the difference between ppc 2003 and msft mobile 2003 for pocket pc?

Nothing. Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC is the official name of the software.

[mc_03]

MSFT Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC is the official name for Pocket PC 2003.

[ctmagnus]

New Today screen

Today screen automatically shows users the next day’s appointments immediately after the last current day appointment expires to better manage early morning m eetings.

That's a step in the right direction.

New user notifications

Better battery power reminders reduce the number of low battery notifications, while maintaining those reminders that matter the most (when battery power becomes critical). They also ensure that the reminder never wakes up the device.

That's an improvement?

[Jason Dunn]

what is the difference between ppc 2003 and msft mobile 2003 for pocket pc?

Nothing - they're the same thing. Windows Mobile is the new name for the OS as a whole, but the devices are still called Pocket PCs. Don't let the names confuse you. :mrgreen:

[Robert Levy]

what is the difference between ppc 2003 and msft mobile 2003 for pocket pc?

Microsoft Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC is the official name of this new OS. Pocket PC 2003 is what those of us who don't like to type a lot will call it :wink:

[arnage2]

brighthand posted on their site that msft mobile 2003 for ppc would have sync and go built in. Why dont i see that on my 2215?

[Rob Borek]

brighthand posted on their site that msft mobile 2003 for ppc would have sync and go built in. Why dont i see that on my 2215?

It's not built-in - it's part of the Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition software.

[Robert Levy]

brighthand posted on their site that msft mobile 2003 for ppc would have sync and go built in. Why dont i see that on my 2215?

"Sync and Go" is a part of the Plus! Digital Media pack for Windows XP. Do you have that installed?

[jd4science]

Does this feel like Christmas to anyone else? :D


Justin
:D

[freitasm]

Wondering what some of the new features in the Pocket PC 2003 operating system are? The PDF file linked above lists some of the major new features. If you have any specific questions about the features, our team of experts are standing by to help answer your questions. Unless we're sleeping when you read this... :wink:

Hmmm...

"Always-on Bluetooth discoverability: The Bluetooth discoverable mode stays turned on after users activate it (until users manually changes the setting) to allow for easy Bluetooth bonding.

Use of Bluetooth modems: Bluetooth phones may be used as a modem to connect the Pocket PC to the Internet. This feature represents Microsoft’s commitment to serving OEMs and mobile operators and to supporting the growing popularity of the Bluetooth wireless connection standard.

Bluetooth beaming: Users can now beam data such as Contact files using Bluetooth."

These features are already implemented in Pocket PC 2002... So what's new on this?

[dangerwit]

Looks like HP is getting their stuff up about the new devices. AND, they already have a graphic for the PPC 2003 upgrade (dead link thus far).

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/215348-64929-215381-314903-215381-322916.html

*Phil

[AhuhX]

I can understand why ARNAGE2 is confused... The Brighthand article says Sync and Go is a key feature of PPC2003 and then says it is a $20 add on.

At least from how I was reading it...

[Robert Levy]

These features are already implemented in Pocket PC 2002... So what's new on this?

They were being implemented seperately by each OEM... now it's built in to the core OS which will help OEMs decrease their time-to-market and encourage them to include bluetooth.

[Rob Borek]

Wondering what some of the new features in the Pocket PC 2003 operating system are? The PDF file linked above lists some of the major new features. If you have any specific questions about the features, our team of experts are standing by to help answer your questions. Unless we're sleeping when you read this... :wink:

Hmmm...

"&lt;li>Always-on Bluetooth discoverability: The Bluetooth discoverable mode stays turned on after users activate it (until users manually changes the setting) to allow for easy Bluetooth bonding.

&lt;li>Use of Bluetooth modems: Bluetooth phones may be used as a modem to connect the Pocket PC to the Internet. This feature represents Microsoft?s commitment to serving OEMs and mobile operators and to supporting the growing popularity of the Bluetooth wireless connection standard.

&lt;li>Bluetooth beaming: Users can now beam data such as Contact files using Bluetooth."

These features are already implemented in Pocket PC 2002... So what's new on this?

In Pocket PC 2002, all of this was up to the software designed by a third-party. In 2003, it's built-in and designed by Microsoft.

[arnage2]

Me and my 2215 are going to bed. Hopefully tomarrow some nice news/software will be available.


Until then, MSFT beat out palmsource!

[nightmare]

Jeez, Jason. Maybe I should start calling you the "ass-man". :wink:

"He busts his ass, kicks ass, makes people land on their sorry ass, HE'S AN MVP... dum dum dum..." -PPCT theme song

lol

[ctmagnus]

From the HP link posted:

hp iPAQ pocket PC h5550 - overview and features

...

price: $649.00*

From xe.com:

650.00 USD
United States Dollars =

884.357 CAD
Canada Dollars

1 USD = 1.36055 CAD 1 CAD = 0.734997 USD

Come on! Keep the price down! :mrgreen: :D 8) :clap: :rock on dude!: :clap: :werenotworthy:

[ctmagnus]

Jeez, Jason. Maybe I should start calling you the "ass-man". :wink:

Via con dios, Dick Assman!

:mrgreen:

[Jason Dunn]

brighthand posted on their site that msft mobile 2003 for ppc would have sync and go built in. Why dont i see that on my 2215?

Brighthand is wrong about that, sorry.

[ctmagnus]

Eep! How long til they're available in Canada? hp.ca mentions nothing beyond the 1910, 3900 and 5450. :cry:

[Jason Dunn]

Jeez, Jason. Maybe I should start calling you the "ass-man". :wink:

What can I say? I'm in an ass-kicking mood right now. Living on adrenaline.... 8O Eeerk. I think my heart just stopped. Ok, back to the news...

[Jason Dunn]

Eep! How long til they're available in Canada? hp.ca mentions nothing beyond the 1910, 3900 and 5450. :cry:

I'll check with a few Canadian sources for you. Hang tight!

[dean_shan]

Looks nice. I'm glad to see them fixing some much needed items (ie connection manager, PIE) Will owners of X-Scale devices be able to upgrade to PPC2k3?

[maximus]

Just 1 question : no more annoying problems with activesync ?

[Rob Borek]

Looks nice. I'm glad to see them fixing some much needed items (ie connection manager, PIE) Will owners of X-Scale devices be able to upgrade to PPC2k3?

If the OEM offers the upgrade, sure!

[manywhere]

To bad that Inbox doesn't have IMAP SSL, yet.

Oh well, I better continue coding in C++ that SSL plugin for Pocket Inbox then :D (it's just that my C++ knowledge stinks :roll: )

[Rob Borek]

Just 1 question : no more annoying problems with activesync ?

I think those will be sticking around... unfortunately :(

[Crystal Eitle]

I'll check with a few Canadian sources for you. Hang tight!

Canadian Mafia?!? 8O

[Enderet]

Hehe Crystal.... I always felt there was something strange about Jason :lol:

[Rob Borek]

I'll check with a few Canadian sources for you. Hang tight!

Canadian Mafia?!? 8O

Yep... the Canadian Pocket PC Mafia. We're geeks, and we're not afraid to rant and not let you leave until you buy a Pocket PC :twisted:

[ethancaine]

Just 1 question : no more annoying problems with activesync ?

I think those will be sticking around... unfortunately :(

Oh, come on... if they rid ActiveSync of it's many bugs and versatility issues, they'd have to give it a new name! And we're talking about MicroSoft, since when do they rename product lines?

hehe

[Rob Borek]

Hehe Crystal.... I always felt there was something strange about Jason :lol:

Felt? I KNOW there's something strange about Jason :wink: :silly:

[Rob Borek]

Just 1 question : no more annoying problems with activesync ?

I think those will be sticking around... unfortunately :(

Oh, come on... if they rid ActiveSync of it's many bugs and versatility issues, they'd have to give it a new name! And we're talking about MicroSoft, since when do they rename product lines?

hehe

How 'bout HyperActiveSync? :mrgreen:

[Jonathan1]

I see nothing about improved memory management. Is this a given or are we going to have to continue to struggle with the slide bar that has a mind of its own? :(

[nightmare]

Slide bar struggle. The H2215 I was playing with was all over the place.

[Crystal Eitle]

Slide bar struggle. The H2215 I was playing with was all over the place.
Gah. I hate that freakin' slide bar.

[ethancaine]

I actually like the slider bar... it's the fact that you can't get it to stay where you place that peaves me.

[rodkar]

Does anybody know if Pocket Word has been improved in the new OS? So that formattings and tables can be preserved from Word documents created on desktop.

[kmh]

Hi, all. Long-time reader, first-time poster.
I was wondering if the new Pocket Internet Explorer does a better job of wrapping/squeezing content like NetFront does so that side-to-side scrolling is eliminated? Thanks.

[dochall]

[quote="rodkar"]Does anybody know if Pocket Word has been improved in the new OS? So that formattings and tables can be preserved from Word documents created on desktop.[/quote

Nothing has been mentioned on any of the rumours or the facts that are now coming out. 2K3 is a under the covers upgrade which addresses a lot of the speed and reliability problems.

I wouldn't expect to see the apps improved until the next version of PPC.

This may be a disappointment to you but just look at the benchmarks. :D

[biggus]

Hi, all. Long-time reader, first-time poster.
I was wondering if the new Pocket Internet Explorer does a better job of wrapping/squeezing content like NetFront does so that side-to-side scrolling is eliminated? Thanks.

Just got my 2215 and this was one of the first things I tried. It seems, the wrapping mechanism is slightly improved, but it's nowhere near ideal yet. Still waiting for Opera PPC port.

Most software works without problems. Battery Bar seems to lock the device upon restarting, but that's ok...I was looking for an excuse to abandon it and search for a replacement with less bloat. Symbol/Socket CF WiFi drivers won't work either, so no wireless right now.

It might be just the placebo effect, but it seems the synchronisation with ActiveSync is much-much faster, probably because of the improved speed of 2215.

[acronym]

Just 1 question : no more annoying problems with activesync ?

I think those will be sticking around... unfortunately :(

Oh, come on... if they rid ActiveSync of it's many bugs and versatility issues, they'd have to give it a new name! And we're talking about MicroSoft, since when do they rename product lines?

hehe

How 'bout HyperActiveSync? :mrgreen:

how about iSync? oops :mrgreen:
maybe eSync? mSync?

[bdeli]

Eep! How long til they're available in Canada? hp.ca mentions nothing beyond the 1910, 3900 and 5450. :cry:

I'll check with a few Canadian sources for you. Hang tight!

HP Canada posted the models online this morning: http://www.compaq.ca/english/business/handhelds/ipaq/index.asp

I think they should employ somebody to do currency conversion for them. The new iPAQ 5550 will be the same price as the 5450 - go figure!

[qgman]

As far as I can tell, PPC2K3 still doesn't allow round-tripping of office documents, still doesn't allow for multiple IE windows to be opened, and still doesn't allow users to close apps without jumping through hoops. Looks like I'll still be hanging on to my E125 and waiting for PPC2K4... :roll:

[Jason Dunn]

As far as I can tell, PPC2K3 still doesn't allow round-tripping of office documents, still doesn't allow for multiple IE windows to be opened, and still doesn't allow users to close apps without jumping through hoops.

That's correct. :cry:

[Jason Dunn]

Still waiting for Opera PPC port.

You'll be waiting a long time - Opera has made public statements to the effect of "We will never make Opera for the Pocket PC because we hate Microsoft." :?

[ctmagnus]

Eep! How long til they're available in Canada? hp.ca mentions nothing beyond the 1910, 3900 and 5450. :cry:

I'll check with a few Canadian sources for you. Hang tight!

HP Canada posted the models online this morning: http://www.compaq.ca/english/business/handhelds/ipaq/index.asp

I think they should employ somebody to do currency conversion for them. The new iPAQ 5550 will be the same price as the 5450 - go figure!

Starting at $999.00

I hope that's a typo. After exchange, shipping etc the 5550 can be had from US retailers for $100CAD less than they're selling it for. But then, the processor column heading still says Intel processor at the site you gave, and the slot for the 1940 states Samsung processor.

[Oleander]

Maybe it's just that this is not the full list of improvements, but I am really not impressed (no, I don't mean this as a flamebait :) ).

Being the happy owner of a 3850, all i see is a huge potential for broken software (pocketMVP, movian, PGP just to mention a few) at the gain of a better PIE. The other improvements, i already have working solutions for from 3'rd party manufacturers. Solutions that i know and trust...

What i really would have loved to see fixed was ActiveSync (it really is appalling that dataloss is so easy to "obtain" as it is now), some printing capabilities and please just some kind of localization!

For someone with a 5450 this might be great, but i think i'll pass.
It really just doesn't look like the stuff i had hoped for being renewed. :(

[woa1]

Well, Windows Mobile 2003 looks interesting if you are into Mobile Communications but for some of us I fear, Microsoft is about to lose us. Looks like my PDA based needs are not necessarily Microsoft's focus anymore.
I have used CE since it was first available since 1996 but for my use (curently using a 1910) the wireless communications don't really do much for me. What I want is a very competent and usable PDA or a good smartphone.

Some of the non-communication focused useability features I would like to see include:
1) Round tripping of P.Word & P.Excel (obviously didn't happen in this upgrade :-( )
2) Sorting Contacts by first name (I don't call anyone outside some parts of Asia by their last name, why can't I sort by how I address people?!)
3) Why won't the SIP remember what I last had it at after a soft reset? Why does it always go to the default Onscreen Keyboard
4) Why can P.Word remember the last folder it was in after closing it and opening it but P.Excel always searches for all the files on the device after opening?
5) Why isn't there word-wrapping when entering/viewing Data in Contacts, Calender, P.Excel etc? It is such a pain to view long phone numbers on the PPC or enter long formulas in P.Excel.
6)Why oh why does my PPC crash with an SD card installed everytime I turn it on after P.Word & P.Excel are running at the same time when turned off. I have to reset at least twice a day because I forget to shut one of them down totally before turning off.

These are the type of things which make the PPC sometimes very frustrating to use.

I looked at the previous smartphones and Pocket PC Phone Edition based PDAs but the Smartphones are 80% phone & 20% PDA (won't run my standard PDA apps like P.Word, P.Excel, MS Streets, no HWR etc)
whereas the PPC Phone Edition Devices are 20% Phone & 80% PDA (will run standard Apps but too big, not really useable as a phone without a headset and lack of a keypad make them lousy phone).

The closest to my 50-50 ideal solution so far are the Kyocera 7135 and Treo 600. Sized close enough to a regular cellphone with regular keypads for dialing phone numbers but will run all the Palm software out there: Mapping software, Word & Excel sync with full roundtripping, MP3 & Video players, SD Card Slots etc.

Unless the Windows Mobile 2003 based smart phones are closer to this 50-50 balance, my next device is most likely to be a Palm-based smartphone.

That would be a shame :-(

PDA History: HP 200LX - HP OmniGo 100 - Casioppeia 140 - Toshiba Libretto 30 - PalmPilot Pro - HP 320LX - HP 620LX - Rex-3 - Everex Freestyle - Casio E-11 - Compaq Aero 2130 - Palm V - HP Jornada 545 - Palm V - HP iPaq 1910, Next: ???

[Kati Compton]

Unless the Windows Mobile 2003 based smart phones are closer to this 50-50 balance, my next device is most likely to be a Palm-based smartphone.

That would be a shame :-(
A shame for Microsoft, maybe, but I don't see why buying the best thing for your needs should be a shame for you. Personally, I'm finding that my PPC has not enough functionality for some things, and more functionality than I need for others. If I could get a larger PDA (or TEENY laptop) with maybe a 5-6" screen (at least 640x480, preferably 800x600!) with full Office capability, and a POS phone, I'd be one happy camper. But until I can get the larger PDA/teeny laptop, there's no point in getting the PalmOS phone, as I still need to carry around 3 gadgets instead of the two I want (laptop, PDA, phone).

Really, even a really spiffy smartphone wouldn't fulfill all my needs. The PDA/phone convergence is interesting, but in the end it's like you said - more phone or more PDA. It still has to be one or the other because you can't get a 4" screen (yet) into a small phone body. With a laptop/PDA convergence, I think the "PDA" functionality would be split between the laptop/PDA and the phone/PDA, and I'd be much happier.

But that's just me.

What were we talking about? :P

[ctmagnus]

Sorting Contacts by first name (I don't call anyone outside some parts of Asia by their last name, why can't I sort by how I address people?!)

IME, it depends on how the name is entered on the desktop end (if you use it). If you just enter the name in the name field, all kinds of funky stuff is likely to occur. But if you click the Full Name button beside that field, you can stuck whatever information you want where.

Why won't the SIP remember what I last had it at after a soft reset? Why does it always go to the default Onscreen Keyboard

There was a front-page post here about an app that does that a few days ago.

[185driver]

To bad that Inbox doesn't have IMAP SSL, yet.

Oh well, I better continue coding in C++ that SSL plugin for Pocket Inbox then :D (it's just that my C++ knowledge stinks :roll: )

Well, this is not looking good...

I have been trolling the various PPC websites and reading a number of reviews over the past 24 hours just to find out whether PPC 2003 will support SSL enabled POP3 email in Inbox. The post quoted above is the closest I've come to an answer thus far. :cry:

Can someone please tell me that a PPC upgrade touted as having significant enterprise enhancements didn't leave out the one feature needed by so many people in the business world? Please?... 0X

[Fitch]

Can someone please tell me that a PPC upgrade touted as having significant enterprise enhancements didn't leave out the one feature needed by so many people in the business world
?

According to the posts in IMAP on Pocket PC 2003 (http://pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=130503&highlight=imap+ssl#130503) there is support for SSL IMAP. No reports from anyone that it's not working, so far. I can't wait to use it.