Micorsoft Announces Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition

No news on any of the Japanese sites yet, but Microsoft have just announced Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition:

"Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition extends the Windows Mobile 2003 software platform to include the features and functionality that truly encourage device and application innovation, such as support for square-screen resolution and dynamic screen switching between landscape and portrait modes, in addition to Video Graphics Array (VGA) and Quarter Video Graphics Array (QVGA) to support high-resolution displays."

Let's hope we see some new and original hardware on the market soon with Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Second Edition (WMPPCSE

As always for English news, lots of good info and views on Pocket PC Thoughts.

BeMap and Japan Communications Collaboration

Mobile software developer BeMap and Japan Communications, who provide the b-mobile flat rate, all-in-one mobile network and WiFi hotspot communication package, have teamed up to sell to 'mobile information terminal'* makers. The first result of their collaboration is a bundle from HP (J) which includes an iPAQ, a b-mobile contract and the b-Walker location-based information service (J).

japan.internet.com news (J)

*mobile information terminal is the direct translation of the term commonly used in Japanese for PDAs and related devices.

Mitac to Release Pocket PC with GPS in Japan

Mitac have announced (Japanese only) that they will start selling the Mio 168 which include built-in GPS from March 31. At 39,800 yen (source: Windows CE Fan), the 147g, 300MHz, 64MB RAM Pocket PC will also come bundled with Super Mapple Digital Ver.4 for Mio map software, a car holder and car charge cable. It will be interesting to see how well this Pocket PC performs compared to other PDAs with a bulky Compact Flash GPS card.

5000 yen cash back chance campaign

Microsoft Japan is running a campaign giving anyone who buys a Pocket PC between 9 March and 14 May a 1 in 10 chance of winning 5000 yen cash back. For more details see the Microsoft Japan Windows Mobile Web Site.

Windows Mobile Fan Festa 2004

Microsoft and Windows CE Fan are co-hosting their third Pocket PC Users event on Saturday April 10. The event is limited to 400 attendees and advanced registration is required. It sounds like an action packed event with presentations from 13:00 to 18:00, including opening remarks by Microsoft Japan's Business and Marketing Director Adam Taylor, the latest information on devices and solutions from Microsoft Japan, and a look at what we may see in the future in the field of PCs, mobile phones and PDAs.

The exhibition will include 'touch and try' displays by a large number of national and international hardware vendors, a sales booth with the latest Pocket PCs and accessories at special event prices, a Windows Mobile Expert Cafe, free Pocket PC wallpaper featuring your favorite 'idols', and an art corner where you can give your Pocket PC case a makeover. Sounds like top class event for Pocket PC fanatics in Japan. Sign ups are accepted to until April 5th but I'd recommend signing up sooner to be sure to get your place.

Dell to start selling Pocket PCs in Japan from March 8

An article in today's Nikkei said that Dell will start selling two Pocket PCs in Japan from March 8. They are models already being sold in the US and will be priced at 22,000 yen and 38,000 yen. There is nothing on Dell Japan's web site or Win CE Fan at the current time so we will have to wait for more info from tomorrow.

Update (Mon Mar 08):
News has appeared on Dell's web site and the other major news sites today. In contrast to the news report it seems that the Axims will be on sale from March 9 and will be shipping March 24. They will be priced at 29,800 for the X3 and 37,800 for the X3i. Specs have been added to the Pocket PC Japan Hardware Comparison Table.

Some links (Japanese only):
Dell Japan News Announcement
WinCE Fan News (Links to news on other sites at bottom of page)
WinCe Fan Photo Review
WinCE Fan Spec Check for X3 and X3i

Dinosaur Factory

Interesting use of Pocket PCs in Japan. If I remember correctly they were using a Cassiopaeia.

"At the entrance, visitors are given a personal digital assistant (PDA), which they wear around their necks. When they reach different areas of the exhibit and hold up the PDA to a pole called a Fact Scope, information about nearby exhibits is displayed on the PDA. Visitors can also listen to an audio program via earphones; the virtual tour guides are real researchers. The visitors can also use the PDA to take pictures. ..... When visitors complete their tour, they are given a special ID number and a password. After returning home, they can access the official website http://dinosaurfactory.jp/en/index.htm and view the data from the PDA they used during the tour, as well as any pictures they took."

PPCLINK Japanese->English Dictionary for eDictionary

PPCLink have was looks to be a function packed and reasonably priced ($12) dictionary tool called eDictionary. They provide lots of free data but some data, such as the Japanese->English dictionary costs a little extra ($5). Handango product page affiliate links. As always use the discount code for 15% off software at Handango. Japanese to English Dictionary eDictionary Reader