PDA

Personal Digital Assistants What is it?  Small basic handheld programmable computer ~ 3x5x3/4" in size, light weight (4-8 oz), battery operated.  Screen resolution = 160x160 pixels, more on new models.  Prices range from ~ $125 - $1000  OS includes Calendar (Date Book), Address Book, To-Do List, Memo Pad & Calculator functions.  Palm Pilot 1st really successful model.  Came into it's own with the Palm III series.  Thousands of programs available from mfgr's & 3rd parties (usually cheap $5 - $30, specialized programs can be much more). Why?  Small, convenient, easy to use, easy to update and edit (using graffiti or a built-in keyboard).  More convenient than a “DayTimer” Notebook.  Internet Connection via Modem, Wireless or PC Conduit. Who Uses One?  Anybody who has a need for the basic apps.  Real estate agents, insurance agents, Dr's, nurses, med students, salesmen, military, engineers, students, teachers, administrators, IT professionals, travelers, writers, lawyers, law enforcement, etc.  Inventory, kitchen , e-books, sports.  In short, anyone who has a need to carry information in a convenient form that’s easy to use, small, lightweight and easy to update. E-Books Manufacturers  Palm Pilot 1000 - 1st really successful device (1996)  Palm III and clones - IBM, Symbol, QualComm, TRG (1998)  Handspring - Licensed Palm OS and added “SpringBoard” slot. (1999)  HP/Compaq - Uses “Pocket PC” Windows OS  Sharp - Uses LINUX OS (2002)  Sony  Toshiba  RIM  Others Operating System  Palm OS - 3.x, 4.x, 5.x - Works well and efficiently with small handheld devices.  Pocket PC Windows CE - Resource and power hungry.  Embedded LINUX OS - Unix operating system. Power  AAA Batteries - 2-6  Battery Life - weeks depending on usage.  Rechargeable Palm 2-6 weeks, Windows <= 1 week. Batteries - 1-3 weeks.  Cradle recharge for rechargeable models. Hot Syncing - PDA <=> PC  PC HotSync via:  Serial cradle.  USB cradle (much  Beaming - PDA faster)  IR <=> PDA, can transfer programs and files over short distances. Features  Gray Scale/Color.  Memory (0.5, 1, 2, 8, 16, 64 MB).  Resolution (160x160, 320x240 pixels).  Programmable buttons  Expansion - Memory/Accessories.  Thumb boards - on some newer models. Expansion Accessories  Memory/Backup  Rechargers  Sync cables  Carrying Cases  Stylus Modules  Digital Camera  GPS  Cell Phone  FAX  Modem  Games  Keyboards Standard Applications  Calendar  Graffiti  Mail  Preferences  Security (DateBook)  Address Book  To-Do List  Memo Notepad (4k limit)  Expenses  Calculator  Sync  CityTime  Games Freeware Applications  AvantGo - News & Info prog, requires internet         connection HandyShopper - DataBase BigClock - Clock/Timer EasyCalc - Programmable Calculator DateWheel - Date Calculator Currency - Currency Converter Progect - Outliner RiseSet - Sun/Moon Rise/Set Diddle - Sketching Program Shareware Applications          CplxCalPro - Programmable graphing calculator FireViewer - Image Viewer Launch'em - File Organizer/Launcher Planetarium Mapopolis - Map Program SmartDoc - Doc Reader TealPaint - Paint Program PocketC - Programming Language HotPaw Basic - Programming Language Commercial Applications  Backup Buddy - Backs up everything to PC  WordSmith - Text Editor  MiniCalc - SpreadSheet  HanDBase - DataBase  MobileDB - DataBase  ThinkDB - DataBase  TealInfo - DataBase Hacks - OS Extensions  Xmaster/ HackMaster - Hack interface program, needed to manage and run hacks (OS Extensions)  AsciiHack  SymbolHack  MultiClipHack  SwitchHack  PopUpNames  Phlegm Hack  Many Others Available PC Desktop Palm Software  Desktop Software  Some Palm apps have Does:  Calendar  Address Book  Memo NotePad  To-Do  Expenses special “sync conduits”.  Palm OS  Emulator runs on PC and allows you to try programs without first installing on your PDA. Software Sources  Manufacturers - (Palm, Handspring, etc)  PalmGear - http://www.palmgear.com/  Handango - http://www.handango.com/  PalmOpenSource - http://www.palmopensource.com/  VersionTracker - http://www.versiontracker.com/palmos/  FreeWarePalm - http://www.freewarepalm.com/  Memoware - http://www.memoware.com/ - E-Books & Reference Material Other Resources  Palm - http://www.palm.com/  Handspring - http://www.handspring.com/  Sharp - http://www.myzaurus.com/  PalmInfoCenter - http://www.palminfocenter.com/  PalmZone - http://www.palmzone.net/  PalmBoulevard - http://www.palmblvd.com/  PDAStreet - http://www.pdastreet.com/  PalmLoyal - http://www.palmloyal.com/  PalmTipSheet - http://www.palmtipsheet.com/  ZDNetShopper - http://zdnetshopper.cnet.com/shopping/0-11013- 1410-0-0.html&cobrand=29 - Palm device comparison pages What’s Next?  Always on, always connected, multipurpose palm size device that does palm-like apps, cell phone, pager, text messaging, e-mail, digital camera, gps, mp3 player, web browser, etc & costs <= $999.99. Personal Digital Assistants Presented by Josh Cockey webmaster@fpcug.org August 8th, 2002