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by Dan
Hanttula, Editor-in-Chief
The year is 2001. A new millennium
for technology and progress. This year, several hardware
manufacturers plan on launching new accessories for the Pocket PC
platform that will change the way you use your handheld computer.
These are a few of the most notable advances that should be
available soon.
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Port-IT: The in-car
communications and
information platform.
[ Larger Photo ]
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On-the-road Communications: Port-IT
Port-IT is an in-car information
and communications delivery system. Designed by Comworxx, the
system must be professionally installed in your vehicle and
includes a cradle for any brand of Pocket PC. Once in the cradle
(shown in picture, at left), the device downloads information
using the Port-IT wireless network.
Downloaded data can include E-mail,
traffic information, news and weather. Port-IT uses speech synthesis
to read text data so that you never have to take your eyes off the
road. In addition, the Port-IT application provides turn-by-turn
navigation and functions as a hands-free cellular phone.
Port-IT will be available for
consumers (as opposed to only being available for commercial
fleets) in the second quarter of 2001.
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Advanced GPS Systems
Although GPS systems are already
available for the Pocket PC, 2001 will bring integrated and
miniature versions of the peripheral. A CompactFlash Global
Positioning System from Pretec is already available in limited
quantities and we expect it to be a hot item this year.
Elsewhere, Talon Technology Limited
is working on a GPS sleeve for the iPAQ. Called the NavMan, the
sleeve has a memory card slot on the back of the device and may
include a battery so that it does not draw power from the Pocket
PC. And finally, South Korean company Elex Computer makes the
snap-on GPS accessory pictured at left for their Pocket PC.
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Fingerprint
Identification: BioHub
Forget entering a PIN number to
access your Pocket PC. This year, the BioHub will debut, bringing
fingerprint identification to the handheld platform. The
CompactFlash card system is
touted to deliver biometric identification to GSM cellular phones
as well as the Pocket PC and the company has reportedly already
created the software drivers needed to work with the Pocket PC
login security application and a toolkit so that biometrics can be
added to any third party application. |
The Proxim HomeRF 6630: A wireless
networking card
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Home Networking
Because the Bluetooth products are taking too long to
hit the market, expect home networking products to debut this
year. Proxim has developed this wireless HomeRF 6630 CompactFlash
card based on the popular HomeRF standard.
Unfortunately, Proxim will only
distribute the card to companies that integrate the HomeRF 6630
card into a complete solution. This means that consumers will have
to purchase the card as part of a suite of products, rather than
adding the card to an existing wireless network. But stay tuned,
as we have heard that other hardware manufacturers are developing
CF format wireless network cards.
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With these products on the horizon for
the Pocket PC, it is clear that the expandability of the handheld
platform will grow greatly in 2001. But what is not clear is whether the
common consumer will embrace these new and potentially expensive
add-ons. While GPS has always been a hot addition to a handheld
computer, will consumers pay thousands of dollars for an in-car
communications system? And will home networking take off this year? More
importantly, when will heightened security on PDAs become an issue for IT
departments requiring widespread use of fingerprint identification?
Although these products make for a great
sneak peek at what's to come, the future of the Pocket PC platform could
depend on the success of these first pioneers. If any one of these
products sees a grand success in their launch, others will follow with
more exciting and innovative accessories for the Pocket PC. So the
consumer will only benefit later, if they invest now. Remember that when
you consider your next purchase of Pocket PC peripherals.
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