Information Applianceswireless computing by Andrew Seybold Just what is an "information appliance," anyway? The phrase is being used to describe a wide range of devices with varying capabilities. For the purpose of this discussion, I shall define an information appliance as any mobile device that is designed to provide a user with access to information stored on the device, or to information stored elsewhere when connected to data resources via a wired or wireless link. Examples include the Windows CE PC Companions and other palmtop devices, and "smartphones," such as the Motorola StarTAC phone coupled with Starfish's clip-on Mobile Organizer. To some, these devices fall under the title of "Personal Digital Assistants" (PDAs). To others, this class of products will always be known as "Palm" computers (even though 3Com uses the name "Palm" to describe its product). "Smartphones" A smartphone is a combination mobile phone and personal information manager. Motorola redefined the smartphone category by providing a clip-on personal organizer for its existing StarTAC phones. IGS introduced its own version of a smartphone incorporating personal information management software (a PIM) developed by Unwired Planet. The IGS smartphone is not much larger than standard wireless phones. A number of other companies announced their own versions of a smartphone including the Nokia 7110, and Ericsson's R380 smartphone as well as its MC218 two-piece solution that is a handheld organizer based on the Psion EPOC operating system. Smartphones are a subset of Information Appliances. Palmtops The name "palmtop" was first used with Hewlett-Packard's 95/100/200LX series of small handheld computers. HP's LX Palmtop PCs developed a devoted, but relatively small user base. When you mention "palmtop" today, most people think of 3Com's Palm line of products, which re-birthed the PDA market. Newton's lack of success caused users to lose interest until the PalmPilot came along. In just a few short years, Palm products have become the biggest thing to happen in the information appliance space, and Palm continues to improve on its products. Palm Line of Products Posted on the Palm Web site (www. Palm.com) you will find a comparison of the four available Palm products--the Palm V, Palm IIIx, Palm III, and PalmPilot Professional. (The Palm VII is not yet shipping and is not listed in the chart). List prices are $449 for the V, $369 for the IIIx, $299 for the III, and $199 for the Palm Pilot Professional. Storage (memory) for the four units is 2 MB for the V and III (expandable on the III only), 4 MB for the Palm IIIx, and 1 MB (expandable) for the PalmPilot. Only the Palm V uses a rechargeable battery. All of the others use AAA alkaline batteries and provide two to three months of battery life. All of the units except for the PalmPilot have an infrared port, and all have upgradable operating systems. However, the Pilot requires a new ROM to upgrade it to Palm III capabilities. The Palm V's only hardware expansion capabilities are via the serial port while the Palm IIIx, III, and Pilot have an expansion slot for memory, paging cards, etc. Given the fact that Palm owns the lion's share of the handheld or palmtop market, it will take a lot of effort on the part of the other players to be able to chip away at Palm's market share. The only chink in the armor that I see is the forthcoming Palm VII with built-in wireless modem -- for all of the reasons stated in our review of that product and my comments in the Outlook's January Mobiltorial. Many of the shortcomings I cited are not problems with the hardware design, but rather problems with the points of wireless connections. These can be identified and fixed if Palm decides that it has misjudged the market. But there is one flaw that cannot be easily addressed. The Palm VII's wireless modem remains off until the antenna is raised. This means that the Palm VII is unsuitable for "push" messages (messages that are sent to wireless devices from a server or mail server). The Windows CE OEMs do have a few tricks up their sleeves. However, when it comes to devices that are connected only with a cable and a cradle while in the office, Palm should retain its lead for a while yet. Windows CE Palm-size PCs This does not mean that Windows CE Palm-size PCs will not do well. Hewlett-Packard just announced and began shipping the world's first color Palm-size PC and I expect to see others in the market shortly. [Editor's note: "Palm-size PC" was the term Microsoft settled on to describe Windows CE palmtops since 3COM held the rights to "Palm."] The HP Jornada 420 The Jornada 420 from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com/jornada) is larger and heavier than a Palm IIIx, but it has an adjustable backlit screen sporting 256 colors. The Jornada 420 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to eight hours of operation between charges. A little known fact is that the battery is a standard Sony camcorder battery, easily available at retail outlets around the world. The Jornada 420 is a nice machine. At $519 it is priced above the Palm V's $449, but not by much. While it is larger and heavier, it does sport a color screen that is easy to read in most light environments. The color screen adds a new dimension to Palm-size PC products, and HP has done a nice job with the Jornada 420. The Nino 500 is Philips' (www.nino.philips.com) new color-screen Palm-size PC. The Nino 500 is a little smaller and lighter than the Jornada 420, but still larger than the Palm IIIx. The Philips folks put a lot of attention on add-on software. The Nino 500 includes some excellent titles for serious business users as well as for the game and audiophile crowd. Philips also appears to be placing a lot of emphasis on Internet access capabilities. Time will tell whether users really want and need all of this software. The voice command-and-control software might prove to be a handy addition if others do not perceive us as talking to ourselves as we speak our commands to navigate within this Palm-size PC. The Nino 500 will list at $499 with a 19.2-Kbps optional modem available for around $90. The Aero 2100 is Compaq's (www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/2100/) first Palm-size PC. Its 256-color TFT display does not require backlighting and is extremely readable in bright sunlight. While it is the largest and heaviest of the three color-screen Palm-size PCs, its controls are well laid out and convenient, customizable application buttons across the front of the unit add to its ease of use. If you intend to use your Palm-size PC outdoors a lot, the display is a plus. The Compaq Aero 2100 lists for $449 for the 8 MB version and $549 for the 16 MB version. And Compaq is offering a number of accessories. Everex (www.freestyle.everex.com) and Casio (www.casio-usa.com) will release color-screen Palm-size PCs, but I have not seen them yet. Other Information Appliances My definition of "information appliance" includes wireless communications capability. So far, I've mentioned smartphones and various palm-sized devices. The PalmPilot has external wired modems and the Palm VII will come with a built-in wireless two-way modem. The Windows CE Palm-size PCs have external wired modems and two (Compaq and HP) come with radio-shielded CompactFlash expansion slots, which will allow the use of wireless two-way modems in the Compact card form. There are many other information appliances available, including the Research In Motion Interactive two-way pager, Motorola PageWriter 2000 two-way pager, and a variety of handheld PC products based on Windows CE, EPOC, and scores of other operating systems. And the number will continue to grow. Information appliances are the next big deal in the technology world. They will come in all shapes and sizes -- palmtop-size, handheld-size, phone-size, smaller sizes, bigger sizes, and probably even wearable sizes. The "winners" will have one thing in common. They will provide the consumer with an easy-to-use tool that solves a problem for them.
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