Compaq new iPaq

Compaq Computer will say Oct. 4 that it will begin shipping two new iPaq pocket pc handhelds using the new version of Microsoft's Pocket PC software and will offer a wireless communications extension pack.

The new iPaq pocket pc handhelds will use Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 and will have the same quantity of memory, 32MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, as well as the same processor, Intel's 206MHz StrongARM SA-110. The higher end device, which will be part of the iPaq H3800 series, will come up to with a Secure Digital card slot, voice command and voice control software, and will support 65,536 colours on its active matrix screen.

The company established it would make product announcement on Oct. 4, but decline to discuss information.

Both pocket devices will also come with re-chargeable lithium polymer batteries; the ability of the battery in the H3800 series pocket pc handheld will be larger than the H3700's battery.

Compaq has not announce prices for the new models, but a Microsoft spokesperson said lately that the company expects Pocket PC 2002 devices to sell in the $400-$600 range.

The iPaq are likely to ship Oct. 4, the wireless communications expansion pack will only be announced on Oct. 4 for shipping by the end of the year, according to sources familiar with Compaq's plans.

Jpeg Lib with sources now available for Pocket PC developers

Good recognized JPEG library spread by Independent JPEG Group (www.ijg.org) is now offered with source for Pocket PC developers. This library is a great tool for reading and creating JPEG images.

Build the Towers new skins for pocket pc

Ard-Jan Barnas has produced two new skins in the spirit of the events of last week that you can run on your Pocket PC that are downloadable at www.sitepoint.net/skins/.

New Device DB Unveiled

A freshly launched company said it would ship a new database product intended specially for internet, pocket pc and other embedded devices.

McObject LLC, will release its eXtremeDBproduct by the end of September. The software will support Windows mobile, Linux, and WindRiver Systems.

The corporation claim that its software product is better suitable for pocket pc devices than existing slim down versions of database systems because it has lower CPU and RAM requirements and it is planned specifically to work in a real time environment.

"Relational database technology can be shoe horned into intelligent pocket pc devices, but at a price," whispered Steve Grave's, McObject's president and CEO. "We saw an opportunity to build a new data management engine from scratch, to meet the needs of emerging device-based applications inexpensively and elegantly."

Starfish announced SimplifyGPRS

Starfish Software has announce SimplifyGPRS, a solution for automatically configuring GPRS access.

The system can be deployed by mobile phone network operators and make simpler the process of configuring a laptop or pocket pc handheld computer to access a GPRS data connection all the way through a mobile telephone. Starfish is encouraging device manufacturers to include the client application with mobile devices thus enabling users to easily take benefit of the wireless connectivity provided by GPRS networks. The platform eliminates the need for manual organization of network settings and could help to both decrease support costs for operators and promote greater use of data services. It is compatible with Windows and Pocket PC devices.

BigSplash for Bluetooth

The bluetooth fall out of the crowd. But the limited wireless technology, which provides a cable free way to connect pocket pc devices, is destined for a pour to the front of the pack by 2005, according to a recent report by Scottsdale

Cahner's expects that circumstances to change rapidly, however, as software and hardware products are finally approaching to the market. Bluetooth software development is beginning to show signs of life, as more and more services make use of this technology.

The report also predict that adapters and cards planned to make existing systems Bluetooth ready will control the early market, quickly followed mobile systems that will come standard with many pocket PCs.