RifcoMobile

Personal organizers or PDAs are not yet handheld microcomputers, but they’ve been utilized by a lot of people over the past few years. Personal digital assistants are known as pocket pc devices or palmtop PDAs. They have umpteen uses including: mathematical calculations, use as a clock with calendar functions, surfing the Web, sending and receiving netmail, video uses, typing and word processing, address book functionality, constructing and compiling spreadsheets, interpreting bar codes, listening to radio programs or stereo music listening, playing video game*, poll results entries, and Global Positioning System functions. More contemporary PDAs also have color displays, MP3 audio and telephone capabilities, allowing for them to be applied as mobile phones (smartphones), online browsers, and portable media players. Many now also feature cameras that can shoot pictures which can then be sent via email to Flickr and mySpace accounts. Practically all later PDAs can browse the Net, intranets or extranets via wireless local area network, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks .Almost all PDA’s use touch screen displays excepting Smartphones which depend on keypad menu systems ascribable to their more diminutive display screens.

PDA’s Past

The term “personal data assistant” was first used on Jan 7th, 1992 by then Apple Computer Chief Executive Officer John Sculley at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, concerning the Apple Newton.

PDAs are occasionally denoted as “Palms”, “Palm Pilots” or “Palm Tops” so-named after an early personal digital assistant produced by USR and Palm Inc called the “Palm Pilot”. Today however, the term is much more encompassing and includes a very diverse range of products developed by a host of many manufacturers including HP, Dell, Blackberry and Sharp to name a few.

.Characteristic capabilities

Presently, a regular PDA has a touch screen for data entry, a memory card slot for data storage and at the least one of the following for device-todevice communication: IrDA, Bluetooth and/or WiFi. Even so, many personal digital assistants (commonly those used chiefly as cell phones) may not possess a touch screen, instead using softkeys, a directional pad (d-pad) and either the numeric keypad or a thumb operated keyboard for idata nput.

In order to meet the PDA definition, standard software should include an appointment calendar, a task list, an address book for business and personal contacts and some kind of notes program. Internet connected PDAs also usually include E-mail and Web support.Most units also include memo recording software for audio notes. Very handy for remembering important details.

Not Quite A Laptop Replacement…Yet

Possibly, to a higher degree than any other computer device, the personal digital assistant lacks the raw computing horsepower and Wireless Broadband capabilities of a desktop or notebook computer. Presently, costs of laptop computers are coming down. Although a good deal bigger in size, laptop computers have more full-size screens and keyboards and are have greater computing power.

However, the OQO Model 2 has been brought out in recent times as a fully desktop PC compatible PDA with a USB port so that people can use their normal work and business software or play computer games compatible with ubiquitous operating systems such as Windows XP. It can also connect to regular PC peripherals. Costs still have a way to fall prior to mass adoption takes place in the market but OQO is no longer the exclusive manufacturer of these types of units, so costs should fall possibly within the next few years.

Conclusion

The PDAs strength is that it is easy to transport and less bulky than full-sized computers.It fits easily into a shirt or pants pocket. The additional features like cameras, Global Positioning System, telephony and MP3 player make it flexible unlike any other type of computers in the market.

A lot of people simply don’t need full desktop features while actively on the go. As long as they can access their information and sync their data to a full-sized computer when they arrive at their homes and offices, that’s really all they need and want to do. So at least in the short run, the PDA will most likely remain as a portable helper for millions of users for years to come.

The originator of this article has worked as a Pocket PC software programmer for over 5 years. He updates his web log weekly and addresses many areas of mobile computing including PDAs. To view videos and read more information about PDAs, Smartphones and other mobile devices visit: http://pdatoday.blogspot.com

Today when the technical advancement in every fields has got its roots deep, high functioning computers in different formats are greater in use. TDS (Tripod Data Systems), in simplest term, can be termed as a PDA (Personal digital assistant). Better we can call it as rugged PDA, a hand held computer used as high performance device. Having rugged design, extremely light weight, and quite easy to carry, TDS Recon is one such hand held computer, which is known for delivering maximum performance.

Endowed with several of high efficient feature, TDS Recon is used extensively in disposing many of crucial works. Equipped with windows mobile 5.0, this PDA contains features like updated version of MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Availability of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth gives this modern gadget faster connectivity. The complete configuration of the TDS Recon can be summed up as 128 MB RAM, 512 MB disc, bluetooth, WLAN, Windows Mobile 5.

Weighing merely around 17 ounces, TDS Recon is capable of meeting military specifications for high and low temperature options, and vibrations. This TDS comes greatly in handy when it is used in various field work, especially in construction, surveying, telecom, manufacturing and etc. In such nature of work, there is little possibility that you can carry your laptops to these places. TDS Recon helps you here, as it is quite easy to carry, and performs the desired work as efficiently as your laptop does.

Able to challenge even the tough field condition, TDS Recon is dust and water proof, and can work efficiently even after submerging it one meter deep in water for half-an-hour. Battery charge is another feature to complement. Its rechargeable PowerBoot module makes the TDS to be able to run for 15 hours – much longer than what your laptop does. Cluttered with abundance of features giving your PDA a wing, TDS Recon is elite one in the club of most efficient hand held computers.

Darlene Kaitlene is a renowned business writer who has years of experience in writing technical reviews, product descriptions and product feature analysis of technical gadgets and gizmos. He has won appreciation especially for enlightening people about the latest communication gizmos…the TDS Recon.

You’ve finally done it, you left your laptop at the coffee shop, your cell phone at the supermarket or your PDA on the counter at the office supply store. Maybe you forgot to pick up your iPod from the ATM, where you put it down to answer your cell phone during a banking transaction. Several new companies have launched with the express purpose of helping us all find stuff we inevitably lose every day. Each are using the power of the web, plus toll free phone numbers and a database of unique ID numbers assigned to each item and registered to owners - on special “asset tags” or “property ID tags”.

1,200 cell phones, 1,500 sets of keys and over 300 PDAs and laptops are turned into the Las Vegas International lost and found department annually. - McCarran Int’l Airport Security, July 2003

140,000 items are found annually on Southwest Airlines flights, 50,000 items at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and 20 a day at some Avis Rent-A-Car locations. Despite best efforts, fewer than 1% are returned. - The Wall Street Journal, November 2003

Several companies have launched to help return lost property represented by web sites http://www.StuffBak.com, http://www.TrackitBack.com http://www.Boomerangit.com, each company offering to help you recover lost valuables.

An Irish startup has launched based on that same concept of marking expensive portable electronics, laptops, PDA’s, cell phones, MP3 players and other valuables with their asset tags (labels with unique ID numbers). That firm also has a website and toll free phone lines where items can be reported found. The Irish company is named http://www.yougetitback.com and has a cute, black and white spotted puppy dog as a mascot. The concept of the dog “fetching” lost items and returning them to you is easy to understand. The company tag line is “The Lost And Found Company” for obvious reasons.

What is not so obvious to most is the idea that many people are honest enough that they would actually turn in a lost valuable. Most of us assume that if we leave a laptop or an iPod on the bus or subway, that we’d never see them again. But the companies cite several experiments done in the US by 8 local television news stations and one by a USA Today columnist, Edward Baig, to prove that if those valuables are labeled with special “asset tags”, that people will, more times than not, call the toll free telephone numbers printed on the tags and return the expensive items.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2004-06-09-baig_x.htm

The television stations had a 75% success rate in getting their “lost” items reported and turned in, while columnist Baig got back 4 of 6 purposely “lost” items (two thirds) in his experiment. Baig mentioned in his column that it was the least expensive things that were never reported or returned - a CD case full of music and a calculator.

If this trend takes hold and becomes popular in the consumer market, it will mirror a concept long used by corporate, government and military organizations. Those large companies, educational institutions, governments and the department of defense have long put asset tags on property over a specified dollar value.

You can see “fixed asset tags” on items ranging from street light poles to heavy machinery. Those items have long been tagged and labeled with unique ID numbers and bar codes printed onto them to facilitate electronic scanning.

More recently, corporate and government entities have begun placing asset tags on more high value movable items like laptops, PDA’s, scanners and cell phones carried by employees in their work. This facilitates the identification and return of those “movable assets” when they are lost on the job by careless or distracted workers.

The launch of companies like StuffBak, TrackitBack, Boomerangit show that valuable electronic, digital items are being lost far more often by consumers and they are seeking ways to get their goodies back when they misplace them. Asset tags for the masses may become popular enough to support consumer oriented companies to label consumer items.

StuffBak has partnered with retailers like CompUSA and Sears, while BoomerangIt works product tie-ins with Pioneer, Toshiba, Palm and Seiko Instruments, along with nearly a dozen bicycle manufacturers - (due to their roots as a bicycle recovery company). BoomerangIt is also working with the http://www.ncpc.org/ National Crime Prevention Council (Think McGruff the crime fighting dog and “Take a bite out of crime”). They also work with local police departments in return of stolen goods with the tags. TrackitBack has partnered with Staples and BestBuy stores - so all are agressively marketing their offerings in the consumer marketplace.

Each offer business incentives for larger sales of ID tags exceeding 50 or more, with invitations to companies to contact them for volume pricing.

The movement of asset tags into the consumer marketplace is an unexpected development that may be logically extended into property insurance discounts and other unexpected areas. Asset tags are turning up on consumer goods through national retailers and product bundling with cooperating “lost and found” companies to bring your laptop, PDA or iPod back home when it is lost.

Article Copyright July, 2006 by Mike Banks Valentine http://SEOptimism.com

CAMCODE is a recognized worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of bar code asset tags, Property ID tags and asset identification labels. CAMCODE provides durable metal bar code labels for harsh environments including warehouse labels, work-in-process bar code labels and asset tags as well as polyester bar code labels for property identification. Our Metalphoto® aluminum barcode labels, combined with our proprietary coating technologies will satisfy the most demanding application. The companies discussed in the article above provide a lost item service using asset tags. CAMCODE does not provide lost item service, but sells custom asset tags to corporate, government, institutional, and military users.
http://www.camcod.com/asset/fixed.asp

If you’re one of those IT consultants who breaks out in hives at the thought of getting your hands dirty with low-margin sales of desktop PCs, notebooks or PDAs, you may not be looking far enough beyond the box. In this article, we’ll look at how to profit from your clients’ needs for full-service support of desktops, notebooks and PDAs.

IT Consultants Roles as Technology Influencers

IT consultants who have been in business awhile already know that smart PC hardware selection can make installation, support, troubleshooting and upgrading work much easier.

Selecting the right PCs and related peripherals can dramatically boost system reliability, which helps to keep your valued clients happy. Pick the wrong PC hardware and well, let’s not even go there! When PC hardware starts acting up, clients get peeved . . . and clients may actually “blame” your IT consultants for their IT-related problems.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to stay on the “good” side of the folks that authorize your service agreements and sign your big retainer checks.

New Advances in Technology

Despite all the advances during the past few years, the venerable desktop, notebook and server have remained the staples of the PC hardware world. Sure, there are newcomers. Since the mid-‘90s, both Palm and Microsoft have spearheaded competing handheld standards. But the main PC hardware world has not seen much change by IT consultants.

And now there are special-purpose rack-mountable servers, with surely more to come, dedicated to the unique demands of serving high-volume Web sites.

IT Consultants Have a Huge Profit Opportunity with Hardware Sales

IT consultants play an extremely important role as your clients’ primary technology influencer – the one who recommends what to buy. This responsibility presents a huge business opportunity for IT consultants with desktops, notebooks and PDAs.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consultants Secrets. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg helps computer consultants get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too. Sign-up now for Joshua’s free Computer Consultants Secrets audio training.

Devices that can access mobile broadband 2G or 3G type networks include laptops, PDAs, BlackBerrys, SmartPhones, and soon, the iPhone. But which ones can help you be productive and keep you entertained?

LAPTOPS

Advantages:
Laptops can access full webpages, display full screen and can work with your productivity, scheduling and email programs. They can also play music and video.

Disadvantages:
They are bigger and cost more than handhelds and they cannot fulfill cellphone duties.

PDAs

Advantages:
They are designed for productivity and can sync up with popular programs like Outlook. They are kind of like mini laptops with an interactive screen, popular types include the Palm.

Disadvantages:
They are not that much fun, most don’t play music or video and they are not cellphones. They require a service contract to access mobile broadband on top of your regular cell phone service. Although, they are beginning to incorporate multimedia elements like photo organizers, mp3 and video players and display eBooks; however, they cannot replace your laptop. So, basically you have to carry both around and sync up from time to time.

BLACKBERRYS

Advantages:
Similar to a PDA, they can access email and webpages, have organizers, many can perform as a modem for a laptop. Some can play mp3’s and video and perform cell phone functions, like the BlackBerry Pearl. The traditional BlackBerrys have full keyboards, support attachment viewing and are quad band (which means they can connect to 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS and EDGE networks).

Disadvantages:
To access wireless services they require services beyond your regular cell service and they are not much fun. Most don’t play media content like video or music.

SMARTPHONES

Advantages:
SmartPhones combine PDA and cell phone abilities. They support productivity activities like checking email; yet, also perform all cell phone functions.

Disadvantages:
They require service add–ons beyond your regular cell phone service to use its features and still cannot replace a laptop. They are nice for looking up simple information online or checking your schedule, but you will still have to sync up every so often.

iPhone

Advantages:
This small device plays music, can check email, IM and performs cell phone functions.

Disadvantages:
Currently, a two year Cingular contract is required to use this device. Additionally, although the interactive screen is cool, it is hard to type on, which limits its productive abilities. The iPhone is also costly, much more than a PDA or BlackBerry, but designed to be more fun than productive.

So, all in all, your laptop is still the most productive and entertaining device you can use to access mobile broadband services, but far from pocket size. And the pocket size devices, offer limited functionality.

So what is the best combination of functionality and fun? I’m thinking a small multimedia laptop and a reasonably priced smartphone (to get you by until you can get back together with your laptop).

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes technology and entertainment reviews.