Wireless + Multimedia = Pervasive Pocket PCs

Table of ContentsBy Hal Goldstein, May 2002

In 2002, wireless and multimedia have the potential to make Pocket PCs part of the mainstream. Both of these have been with us for a while, but advances in technology and usability make them more suitable for the less technologically inclined among us.

Consumer Electronics Show

The products I discuss in this issue (below) were shown at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The fact that these products, which are normally reserved for computer shows, were demonstrated at a consumer exhibition indicates that mobile computing is headed for the mainstream. In fact, Bill Gates gave the keynote address at this year's CES.

Until recently, computing applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, and e-mail have been primarily text based. However, the integration of multimedia technology means the addition of sound and pictures to our everyday computing experience. It means that we can carry photo albums, music, audio books, and even movies on our handhelds. Combine this with wireless technology and the possibilities of video anywhere for the business and consumer are endless.

Jornada at Sundance Film Festival

For example, recently FluxNetwork (www.fluxnetwork.com), teamed up with HP, Symbol and Microsoft at the Sundance Film Festival. Five hundred attendees each received an HP Jornada 568 enabled by FluxNetwork's FluxShow Platform and a Symbol Wireless Networker, an 802.11 (Wi-Fi) CompactFlash card. Each day from a central server, the administrator updated all the Jornadas wirelessly and automatically with short films, trailers, flash animations, the 300-page Festival catalogue, news and insights, and calendar changes.

Many of us would like to watch those Sundance films when we fly. That may not be possible, but Pocket PC Films (www.pocketpcfilms.com) is bringing out an entire range of films, from Jimmy Stewart classics to motivational guru Zig Ziglar talks to an independent Cameron Diaz movie.

The Mazingo Network (www.mazingo.net), which delivers multimedia content to Pocket PC users, is working with Pocket PC Films to deliver its films. Mazingo is the first to implement Digital Rights Management (copy protection solution) for the Pocket PC. Although annoying to the consumer, copy protection is critical in order to get movie producers to release their content for Pocket PC users.

Visit our Best Sites page (www.PocketPCmag.com) and scroll down to "media" to learn about other available audio and video content, much of which is free.

The new Pocket PC 2002s sport longer battery life and most devices should be able to make it through a 90-minute film. For longer films you can bring an Electric Fuel (www.electric-fuel.com) Instant Power Charger kit. This inexpensive kit is available for iPAQ, Casio, and HP Pocket PCs, as well as for various cell phones. Alternatively, Casio and HP users can replace the battery with a spare. (Note that battery life tests performed by Mobile Computing magazine show that the HP Jornada 560 series has the longest battery life, followed by the Toshiba/Audiovox units and then the Compaq iPAQs. The Casio E-200 Pocket PC fares least well in the test.)