Fujitsu Labs Prototype PDA

Lot's of articles on a concept PDA from Fujitsu. No plans to commercialize it but an idea of the developments we may see in the future.

Toshiba Digital Doors

Toshiba have recently been repackaging their digital product range to give users one ID for registration and support and with a unified gateway web site called Toshiba Digital Doors (Japanese only). The Genio e site is still at genio-e.com but they have dropped the weekly newsletter in favor of one newsletter for the whole digital product range.

GENIO e400

Another recent addition to Toshiba's growing line up of Pocket PC 2003 devices is the e-400. Branded as a standard model there are no features to get really excited about, although the device looks good, is light and thin, features the one of the latest (if not the most powerful) processros, has a scroll button and improved screen. Perhaps the 32MB Flash ROM disk which iPAQs have had for a while is now becoming a standard feature in Toshiba Pocket PCs also. Combined with a special switch to disable all the hardware buttons - preventing the device from accidentally being turned on when in a bag - and advice to back-up in a number of their recent newsletters, it suggests Toshiba had many problems with customers innocently losing all of their data when the battery ran dry. Some will miss the CF slot and the 4" screen of the 500 series, but for a standard model the e-400 would not be a bad choice.

Mobile & Wireless World Tokyo 2003

Mobile & Wireless World Tokyo 2003 will take place from 11-13 November at the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho. This event is targeted at enterprise users. On 13 November from 16.30-17.20 HP will be holding a workshop demonstrating some of their Pocket PC and Tablet PC solutions. Registration is free in advance or 3,000 yen on the door. There is currently no information available on the site in English.

Manga on Pocket PCs for Japanese learners

Here's an original and potential very useful software/service for Pocket PCs. Installation was simple but you will need Flash if you don't already have it. Here's the overview from the author:

FUYO SOFT is the name of a project with the aim to prepare original Japanese Mangas together with language explanations ready to read on all kind of mobile devices. On www.fuyosoft.com free demo versions for different devices including Pocket PCs are available for download.

Fujitsu Demos IP Telephony Software for Pocket LOOX

News in Japanese of IP telephony software targeted at businesses from Fujitsu that allows calls with normal phones.

WindowsCE FAN Review

New Pocket PC 2003 PDAs and Upgrade Kits from Toshiba

Toshiba have realeased three new models in the Genio e550 series. The GENIO e550CT, e550DT, and e550GT. These are respectively newer versions of the e550C (camera model), e550D (dictionary model) and e550G/GX ('high-end base model'). All come with the latest low power PXA255 processor and 128MB RAM and of course Pocket PC 2003. The e550CT also has 16MB of NAND ROM 15 MB of which s accessible to the user. Other than that nothing new so for existing Genio owners the 7,000 yen upgrade kits are a more reasonable option. These have only been announced for the e550C and e550D so far.

http://www.genio-e.com/pda/products/index_j.htm

hp iPAQ h2210

The iPAQ h2210 fits nicely between the small and light h1937 and the function packed h5450 in terms of price - 39,800 yen, weight 144g, and functionality - CF and SD slots and in-built Bluetooth. It's good to see HP hitting the Japanese market with the new models as the US. With HP's (former Compaq's) good reputation for high screen quality and competitive features such as removable batteries and Consumer IR (in the 5450) they are going to be a strong competitor for Toshiba. All they need to complete their current line up is a Pocket PC version of or upgrade for the 5450.


Windows CE Fan

NEC Business Pocket PCs

NEC Infrontia has a couple of interesting PDAs targeted at business users. The PG7000, the latest in the Pocket Gear range, is an OEM version of the Casio E3000, although with the slim, dark grey body at first glance it would be easy to mistake it for a Sony Clie. It only comes with Pocket PC 2002 but NEC Infrontia's real focus is on the associated business applications. Whether we will see a consumer model after the failure of the PG5000 to take a big hold remains to be seen.

The Pocket@i is not a Pocket PC, but is a business targeted web terminal using Windows®CE.NET 4.1. There is a Bluetooth headset option, in-built laser scanner and both wireless LAN and wireless modem models. I wouldn't expect to see a consumer version of this one.

Japanese links:
PG7000 at NEC Infrontia
Pocket@i at NEC Infrontia
WindowsCE FAN

Mitac Pocket PCs Announced

Mitac Japan have announced two Pocket PCs for the Japanese market, the Mio 339 and Mio 558. Key good features are:

Mio 339
- 120g - lighter than the hp iPAQ h1937!
- Inbuilt camera
- 39,800

Mio 558
- Inbuilt Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless LAN
- Intel(R) XScale PXA263 400Mhz processor (Newest available!)
- 59,800 yen

Both:
- Pocket PC 2003
- 64 MB RAM
- Jog wheel
- SDIO compatible SD slot

Could be better specs are:
- Only 3.5" screen

Overall nice spec devices at a prices similar to other makers. The 558 will be a desirable device for anyone wanting in-built WLAN and bluetooth and the 339 nice for someone who wants a smaller Pocket PC. For more info. in Japanese:

Mitac Japan Homepage
Wince Fan

Free Pocket PC 2003 Upgrades for Toshiba e550 series

Good news for Toshiba e550 series owners (at least for the Japanese OS), the Toshiba representative at the PDA Solution Fair said yesterday that free Pocket PC 2003 upgrades will be available from the Genio website late this month or early next month.

He also said that they have no plans (or no plans he could tell me about) for new additions to the e550 series. As they are still heavily pushing the e550D and C I assume there won't be any over the new few months at least.

iPAQ h1937

HP have released a new model in the 1900 Series, the h1937, with Windows Mobile for Pocket 2003. At the time of realease it was also the world's smallest Pocket PC and weighed in at just 124g. At 24,800 yen (or 19,800 if you can catch one of the frequent campaigns) it's a good purchase for anyone who doesn't need a Compact Flash slot and the other features of the h5450 which is almost 3 times the regular price of the h1937.

PDA Solution Fair 2003 in Tokyo

This year's PDA Solution Fair in Tokyo will be held on September 5. Last year's show featured almost exclusively Pocket PC solutions and from the look of the seminars this year will be the same. So far 36 vendors are signed up for the exhibition floor a similar number to last year. The main hardware vendors are there but the bulk of companies are offering services or solutions. Two special features of the show this year are the Bluetooth and Small & Medium Business Solutions Seminars.

The great thing about this Fair is that the seminars and workshops are free. The workshops are mainly hardware demonstrations by the main vendors and the seminars feature Pocket PC 2003 as well as presentations by solutions vendors.

Overall this is a great show for seeing how PCs are really being used in business, although is of interest to the personal PDA user are well. Last year's show was good and this year the show is well worth a visit.

First consumer Pocket PC 2003 in Japan - Toshiba e350

It was a pretty safe bet, but Toshiba are first the market with a consumer Pocket PC 2003 device in Japan. The e350 is a mid-level device with a 300 Mhz processor (do you need any more?), 64MB or RAM (128MB would be nice) and a SD slot. There is no CF but this allows Toshiba to keep the device super slim (12.4mm) and light (149g). The price is expected to be around 40,000 yen (about US$350).

Power users will want to wait until Toshiba (hopefully!) release a new model in the e550 series with 4" screen, CF slot, faster processor (is it needed?), 128 MB of RAM (or more?). Still they would have to think of something original beyond this to convince most current e550G owners to pay 60,000 yen plus to upgrade. Which raises the question - are we going to see Pocket PC 2003 upgrades for existing models in Japan. No news so far ...

e350 News at WinCE Fan (Japanese only)

e350 at the Toshiba Site (Japanese only)

Tablet PC Experience

Following my long awaited purchase of a Tablet PC I've started a blog/commentary site called Tablet PC Experience. I will be including my thoughts about Tablet PCs in Japan and also how a Tablet PC compliments (or otherwise?) my Pocket PC. I hope it will be interesting reading. Comments can be added to the posts.