10-09-2002, 08:22 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Handhelds connect with USB On-the-Go
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-960014.html
USB On-the-Go is making a go in the device to device interoperability realm, but I have to question how much traction there will be. Let's say you have your digital camera and your Pocket PC, and they use different memory standards. You want to get the images off the camera and onto the Pocket PC, but they can't talk to each other. With this technology, they could - but only if you had the cable handy. I don't know about you, but even when I'm packing multiple devices, I rarely bring any sort of cable with me. Bluetooth would seem to be a better solution here, but we're a long way from having Bluetooth in every camera and every PDA.
"A new technology that allows handheld devices to share files directly, without the need for a PC, could be on store shelves by the end of the year. Several manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, are evaluating ways to use an offshoot of the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 specification called USB On-the-Go. Using it, a person could plug a handheld or digital camera straight into a printer to produce a photo. PDAs also could swap documents directly or back up data by connecting directly to a portable hard drive. The technology is also expected to be used in cell phones and MP3 players."
The article raises some interesting questions, so give it a read and tell me how well you think this new technology will do, specifically as it relates to the Pocket PC.
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10-09-2002, 09:52 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,981
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The last thing I need is to carry another cable around!
On an average day I carry a car charger for my cell phone, a data cable for my cell phone to connect to my laptop, a sync&charge cable for my iPaq, power cable for my laptop. If I decide to take my digital camera and/or Digital Video camera, I'm now adding more power cables, more sync/download cables... Lets not forget the cable to hook up to the TV and display all the pictures/videos.... :roll:
Bluetooth would be a much better solution here. That being said, the best solution almost never wins in technology. It's all about marketing. I have a bad feeling that I'll soon have one more cable to carry around. 
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10-09-2002, 10:27 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 31
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My initial reaction is "oh great " but if you think about it sideways it means a universal bus for PocketPC peripherals IF PocketPC manufacturers adopt it or (more likely) Microsoft mandates it. It certainly looks like bluetooth is NOT rapidly becomming de rigeur in the PPC worldwith only iHPaq supporting it natively (and based on personal experience with the bluetooth stack, not very well).
Of course if this doesn't happen (most likely) then what we'll get is yet another dead "standard".
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10-09-2002, 10:35 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 481
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I assume (maybe wrongly) that this would also mean that the ActiveSync connection would support USB 2.0 speeds. This may be a far bigger draw than the device interconnection aspect.
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10-09-2002, 10:48 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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Doesn't this amount to a 'Host' USB port for our PPCs as well as most everything else? Haven't we been bemoaning the fact that it doesn't have that, and so the possiblity of hooking up USB keyboards, mice, camera's, joysticks, network dongles, wireless dongles, etc., etc. didn't exist because of hardware limitations? With the hardware capability in place, it then becomes and issue of driver and software support, which becomes an incentive for those wanting to sell their USB peripheral hardware.
Probably could use one of these as your sync and charge cable, so no net increase in gizmos 
__________________
Sometimes you are the anteater, sometimes you are the ant.
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10-09-2002, 10:57 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 114
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I'm sick of cables. Even little DiskOnKey/SanDisk Cruzer USB drives are annoying. We need to push Bluetooth harder.
If I buy a digital camera, it better have Bluetooth. And the next PDA I buy better have integrated Bluetooth. Already, the only GSM phones that I'll consider are the Bluetooth ones.
Seriously. Cables suck.
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10-09-2002, 11:20 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 706
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The big problem with wireless at the moment is that it is just too hard. When I plug my sync&charge cable in it just works. I don't have to tell my PC or PDA to do anything. Although my experience with wireless tech and PDAs is still a little limited, it seems that getting wireless techs (IR, WiFi, Bluetooth) are, at best, a multistep process to get going or, worst, a real PITA.
I'll take cable and easy over wireless and difficult at the moment. When we get to wireless and easy I'll be happy.
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10-09-2002, 11:32 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 114
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by arcaruana
I'll take cable and easy over wireless and difficult at the moment. When we get to wireless and easy I'll be happy.
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On principle alone, I'd rather work with Bluetooth, put my dollars in that direction, and help that industry along. It's my way of "casting my vote" with the tech industry that that is the way I want to go.
Bluetooth = Good.
Cables = Bad.
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10-09-2002, 11:38 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 114
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by arcaruana
When I plug my sync&charge cable in it just works. I don't have to tell my PC or PDA to do anything
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btw, I don't have a problem with sync&charge cables because bluetooth doesn't "charge". So with a PDA, you'd need to carry one cable anyway (the charger or sync&charger cable). With your mobile phone, you'd need to bring a charging cable too.
Ideally, one day all devices will sync & communicate with Bluetooth, and they can all charge using one charging device (with a few plug adapters).
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10-09-2002, 11:44 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by normaldude
Ideally, one day all devices will sync & communicate with Bluetooth, and they can all charge using one charging device (with a few plug adapters).
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why have plug adapters at all then why not just have a charging Standard?
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