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Personal Digital Assistants

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

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Personal Digital Assistants

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  1. Personal Digital Assistants

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. E-Books

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. AAA Batteries - 2-6 weeks depending on usage. Rechargeable Batteries - 1-3 weeks. Cradle recharge for rechargeable models. Battery Life - Palm 2-6 weeks, Windows <= 1 week. Power

  9. PC HotSync via: Serial cradle. USB cradle (much faster) IR Beaming - PDA <=> PDA, can transfer programs and files over short distances. Hot Syncing - PDA <=> PC

  10. 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.

  11. Memory/Backup Modules Digital Camera GPS Cell Phone FAX Modem Games Rechargers Sync cables Carrying Cases Stylus Keyboards Expansion Accessories

  12. Calendar (DateBook) Address Book To-Do List Memo Notepad (4k limit) Expenses Calculator Graffiti Mail Preferences Security Sync CityTime Games Standard Applications

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Commercial Applications • Backup Buddy - Backs up everything to PC • WordSmith - Text Editor • MiniCalc - SpreadSheet • HanDBase - DataBase • MobileDB - DataBase • ThinkDB - DataBase • TealInfo - DataBase

  16. Xmaster/ HackMaster - Hack interface program, needed to manage and run hacks (OS Extensions) AsciiHack SymbolHack MultiClipHack SwitchHack PopUpNames Phlegm Hack Many Others Available Hacks - OS Extensions

  17. Desktop Software Does: Calendar Address Book Memo NotePad To-Do Expenses Some Palm apps have special “sync conduits”. Palm OS  Emulator runs on PC and allows you to try programs without first installing on your PDA. PC Desktop Palm Software

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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.

  21. Personal Digital Assistants Presented by Josh Cockey webmaster@fpcug.org August 8th, 2002

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