Slashdot Mirror

This surely is an alternative at less than half the price of the pepper pad ($849.99)?
Mobilis products have already been covered in slashdot.

I dislike MS like the next guy, but this sounds too much like just another vaporware pipe dream. The site of the maker, http://www.ncoretech.com/ has tons of press clippings and a brochure, but nothing on availability. The Indymedia article, full of conspiracy tripe totally and rant-mode language, does not sound like respectable information, either. Call me again when the thingo is really here.

• Encore Software
  
• Mobilis product page
  
• Mobilis Product Brochure (pdf)

• Encore Software
  
• Mobilis product page
  
• Mobilis Product Brochure (pdf)

• Encore Software
  
• Mobilis product page
  
• Mobilis Product Brochure (pdf)

I've found that the company name is Encore Software already famous for the Simputer
The Mobilis stuff is described here.
Just if none else quoted their website arelady.

I've found that the company name is Encore Software already famous for the Simputer
The Mobilis stuff is described here.
Just if none else quoted their website arelady.

I've found that the company name is Encore Software already famous for the Simputer
The Mobilis stuff is described here.
Just if none else quoted their website arelady.

Built-in: Ethernet, Analog modem, 2x USB2.0 ports, CF-II, SD/MMC, VGA out.

With 2 USB ports, you can add on a lot of other crap.

Even if this doesn't succeed: it is good to see them experimenting.

More details at encore mobilis website.

http://www.ncoretech.com/mobilis/index.html with pics and info

Have you even used a simputer ???

Simputer - for social causes
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

SATHI - for military
http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/index.html

Chota - for commercial micro-apps
http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/chhota.html

Simputer successful, Anonymous Coward jealous.

Have you even used a simputer ???

Simputer - for social causes
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

SATHI - for military
http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/index.html

Chota - for commercial micro-apps
http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/chhota.html

Simputer successful, Anonymous Coward jealous.

Have you even used a simputer ???

Simputer - for social causes
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

SATHI - for military
http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/index.html

Chota - for commercial micro-apps
http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/chhota.html

Simputer successful, Anonymous Coward jealous.

The Simputer is succeeding very very well. It's just that the team from PicoPeta sucks ass.

There's another team by Encore that has the following products. This team is the original inventor of the Simputer, and their CEO is the head of the Simputer trust.

Simputer

SATHI - the Battle Station

Chota - low end applications

The Encore team kicks ass. Seriously!!

So, the *BSD's may be dying :), but the Simputer is alive and kicking!!!

The Simputer is succeeding very very well. It's just that the team from PicoPeta sucks ass.

There's another team by Encore that has the following products. This team is the original inventor of the Simputer, and their CEO is the head of the Simputer trust.

Simputer

SATHI - the Battle Station

Chota - low end applications

The Encore team kicks ass. Seriously!!

So, the *BSD's may be dying :), but the Simputer is alive and kicking!!!

The Simputer is succeeding very very well. It's just that the team from PicoPeta sucks ass.

There's another team by Encore that has the following products. This team is the original inventor of the Simputer, and their CEO is the head of the Simputer trust.

Simputer

SATHI - the Battle Station

Chota - low end applications

The Encore team kicks ass. Seriously!!

So, the *BSD's may be dying :), but the Simputer is alive and kicking!!!

The official site for SATHI is: http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/
It contains pictures of the device and show examples of soldiers handling it.

A complete PDF brochure for the product is available at: http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/pdf/brochue.pdf

It looks rugged, modern and seems to have been built with certain ergonomic principles in mind (e.g., one-handed use during battle).

The official site for SATHI is: http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/
It contains pictures of the device and show examples of soldiers handling it.

A complete PDF brochure for the product is available at: http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/pdf/brochue.pdf

It looks rugged, modern and seems to have been built with certain ergonomic principles in mind (e.g., one-handed use during battle).

SATHI has self-desctruct and remote-destruct capabilities.

see the brochure at: http://www.ncoretech.com/sathi/pdf/brochue.pdf

First, I'll grant that there is a dearth of information wrt the capabilities of this SATHI unit in that article.

But to claim that the capabilities of a unit like the Garmin Rino is sufficient coordinating actions of individual soldiers in the achievement of a specific object is to vastly understate the requirements of a useful battlefield computer.

The stated goals and capabilities of the SATHI is a bit more complex. Whether this unit accomplishes all those goal is yet to be determined, though. That can only be determined in field trials. But it is an interesting first step.

Why would you want this? Why not use a fax emulator over normal IP...

Seriously... VOIP seems like an abstraction over an abstraction... it's all data, why not go straight to the source so to speak and simply send out a fax signal directly?

Simputer Development Kits PicoPeta's Simputer Development Kits are all that you would need to develop applications for the Simputer platform. Kits have the following components, and are available in three handy packages:
Components of the Simputer Development Kits (download as PDF)
1. Simputer units (with accessories - power supply, battery, bag, user manual, cover, stylus, serial cable)(specifications)
2. SmartCards
3. PC-based Dev. Tools
SimPCync (data transfer)
Snaps (PC-side graphical display)
Malacca (IML interace)
Layout Manager for IML
Flite (Text-to-speech in English)
PicoPeta Flash Cooker (loads OS)
Package Manager
Linux Distribution (includes Perl, TCL/Tk, MySQL)
Cross Compilation Tools (C/C++ toolchain, Arm libraries)
4. Simputer-side Software
Malacca (IML interace)
MySQL for Simputer
SQLite for the StrongArm
Perl for the StrongArm
TCL/Tk for the StrongArm
FileSync
Printer driver
Dhvani (Text-to-speech engine)
Tap-a-tap (soft keyboard)
Package Manager
5. Simputer Applications
Spreadsheet
Notepad
Scientific Calculator
Image Viewer
MP3 player
Web browser
Address Book
6. Developer Documentation (code samples, how-tos, tricks & tips)
7. Technical Support for one month (email and instant messaging)
You could also download the above information as a PDF file.
Denominations
Simputer Development Kits are available in the following denominations:
Platinum: 10 Simputers, 20 SmartCards, 10 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 190,000 in India, US $4,599 overseas)
Gold: 5 Simputers, 10 SmartCards, 5 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 98,000 in India, US $2,499 overseas)
Silver: 2 Simputers, 5 SmartCards, 2 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 49,000 in India, US $1,299 overseas)
Who should buy Simputer Development Kits?
The short answer is, "anyone interested in developing software for a cutting-edge handheld computer."
The long aswer:
Software companies whose clients require mobile computing solutions based on SmartCards, Text-to-speech, a high degree of mobility, simplicity, computing power or Linux (Technical Advantages)
Engineering Colleges and other educational institutions who want their students to learn Embedded Systems, Linux, Handheld programming, Pervasive computing, Simple-to-use interfaces and non-Engligh interfaces in a hands-on manner
Corporates who want to empower their road warriors with a full-featured mobile computer (Business Advantages)
Use the Simputer Development Kits to conduct pilot projects in your company / at your client's organiation. In a typical case, a company may use 3 Simputers for development and testing say, a Sales Force Automation Application, while deploying 7 Simputers on the field (ie, with various user groups).
How to buy Simputer Development Kits Please contact us for details of payment, terms, delivery period etc.
(2)Encore Software Ltd :
http://www.simputerland.com
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

REPLY TO MY MESSAGE FROM CEO of Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd :
> Hi, Thanks for all the views and anxieties expressed vis a vis the Simputer and Sharp Zaurus. I would like to give a view to the world from an Encore Simputer perspective. 1. Sharp Zaurus or indeed any other PDA approaches the market from a product perspective. Simputer is a platform and we approach the market for Encore Simputer as being a customizable platform for industry vertical applications. We will provide the Simputer in various form factors - pocket sized, larger screen, embedded device etc. 2. We offer the Simputer along with a industry/enterprise specific solution as a dedicated, total offering. Not as an off-the-shelf product. 3. We are building a common platform for all our partners to leverage each others' strengths and offer their solutions globally. For example, at our recently conducted partner meet in Singapore, our partner who has developed and is currently implementing a solution for utility meter reading in India has demonstrated the solution to the rest of the partner community in meet representing 10 other countries. This solution attracted interest for Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Eastern Europe markets from where the other partners that were here hail from. One of the partners from UK has a solution for Insurance agents that has attracted interest in India. The number of such possibilities is limitless. In contrast, Software developers building solutions on the Sharp and other such devices have to fight among themselves as well as with the product developer to make a market. 4. A product's destiny in the market is determined by several factors - timing, pricing, specifications/features, as well as application/implementation. We do not have a drawback on any of these aspects. There could be an overlap in some specifications with Zaurus or other such products but that is in no way a threat to the Simputer and its potential or mission. 5. Members of the community who are committed to building solutions and businesses based on the Simputer should visit http://www.simputerland.com our partner portal and consider joining our partner program.
Best regards
Ravi Desiraju
CEO, Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

Simputer Development Kits PicoPeta's Simputer Development Kits are all that you would need to develop applications for the Simputer platform. Kits have the following components, and are available in three handy packages:
Components of the Simputer Development Kits (download as PDF)
1. Simputer units (with accessories - power supply, battery, bag, user manual, cover, stylus, serial cable)(specifications)
2. SmartCards
3. PC-based Dev. Tools
SimPCync (data transfer)
Snaps (PC-side graphical display)
Malacca (IML interace)
Layout Manager for IML
Flite (Text-to-speech in English)
PicoPeta Flash Cooker (loads OS)
Package Manager
Linux Distribution (includes Perl, TCL/Tk, MySQL)
Cross Compilation Tools (C/C++ toolchain, Arm libraries)
4. Simputer-side Software
Malacca (IML interace)
MySQL for Simputer
SQLite for the StrongArm
Perl for the StrongArm
TCL/Tk for the StrongArm
FileSync
Printer driver
Dhvani (Text-to-speech engine)
Tap-a-tap (soft keyboard)
Package Manager
5. Simputer Applications
Spreadsheet
Notepad
Scientific Calculator
Image Viewer
MP3 player
Web browser
Address Book
6. Developer Documentation (code samples, how-tos, tricks & tips)
7. Technical Support for one month (email and instant messaging)
You could also download the above information as a PDF file.
Denominations
Simputer Development Kits are available in the following denominations:
Platinum: 10 Simputers, 20 SmartCards, 10 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 190,000 in India, US $4,599 overseas)
Gold: 5 Simputers, 10 SmartCards, 5 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 98,000 in India, US $2,499 overseas)
Silver: 2 Simputers, 5 SmartCards, 2 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 49,000 in India, US $1,299 overseas)
Who should buy Simputer Development Kits?
The short answer is, "anyone interested in developing software for a cutting-edge handheld computer."
The long aswer:
Software companies whose clients require mobile computing solutions based on SmartCards, Text-to-speech, a high degree of mobility, simplicity, computing power or Linux (Technical Advantages)
Engineering Colleges and other educational institutions who want their students to learn Embedded Systems, Linux, Handheld programming, Pervasive computing, Simple-to-use interfaces and non-Engligh interfaces in a hands-on manner
Corporates who want to empower their road warriors with a full-featured mobile computer (Business Advantages)
Use the Simputer Development Kits to conduct pilot projects in your company / at your client's organiation. In a typical case, a company may use 3 Simputers for development and testing say, a Sales Force Automation Application, while deploying 7 Simputers on the field (ie, with various user groups).
How to buy Simputer Development Kits Please contact us for details of payment, terms, delivery period etc.
(2)Encore Software Ltd :
http://www.simputerland.com
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

REPLY TO MY MESSAGE FROM CEO of Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd :
> Hi, Thanks for all the views and anxieties expressed vis a vis the Simputer and Sharp Zaurus. I would like to give a view to the world from an Encore Simputer perspective. 1. Sharp Zaurus or indeed any other PDA approaches the market from a product perspective. Simputer is a platform and we approach the market for Encore Simputer as being a customizable platform for industry vertical applications. We will provide the Simputer in various form factors - pocket sized, larger screen, embedded device etc. 2. We offer the Simputer along with a industry/enterprise specific solution as a dedicated, total offering. Not as an off-the-shelf product. 3. We are building a common platform for all our partners to leverage each others' strengths and offer their solutions globally. For example, at our recently conducted partner meet in Singapore, our partner who has developed and is currently implementing a solution for utility meter reading in India has demonstrated the solution to the rest of the partner community in meet representing 10 other countries. This solution attracted interest for Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Eastern Europe markets from where the other partners that were here hail from. One of the partners from UK has a solution for Insurance agents that has attracted interest in India. The number of such possibilities is limitless. In contrast, Software developers building solutions on the Sharp and other such devices have to fight among themselves as well as with the product developer to make a market. 4. A product's destiny in the market is determined by several factors - timing, pricing, specifications/features, as well as application/implementation. We do not have a drawback on any of these aspects. There could be an overlap in some specifications with Zaurus or other such products but that is in no way a threat to the Simputer and its potential or mission. 5. Members of the community who are committed to building solutions and businesses based on the Simputer should visit http://www.simputerland.com our partner portal and consider joining our partner program.
Best regards
Ravi Desiraju
CEO, Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

Just found out this
Buy Simputer at:
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

Look here.

Not for general sale yet, but you might convince them to let you have an Evaluation unit...

... one of the licensees listed on simputer.org is supposededly making some evaluation versions avaliable soon. See here.

The real important design differences are in software. Simputer FAQ. One of the big focuses of the Simputer was the IML information markup language, which is an XMLish application designed to be really convenient for multilingual applications, which in India means multiple alphabetic systems as well (so there's an input system), people with limited literacy, support smartcard media well, etc., and they've got some multilingual text-to-speech Kaii doesn't seem to have anything like that - their language support is English, with optional European , Arabic, and East Asian language support, and the possibility of developing something for Indian languages, and they're running a bunch of non-Indian-developed application suites. (There is Unicode support, at least.) The Simputer also has a built-in softmodem capability, which makes sense for something targeted toward the village computer market, while the Kaii lets you plug in standard cards, which could be modem, memory, ether, wireless, etc.

"Buy Encore's Simputer
Encore's Software is launching a limited number of Evaluation pieces soon. To be a "Encore Simputer Beta-Evaluator" please contact for more details. " here's the rest.

Does not fit my concept of vaporware but is very concrete. Encore seeks distributors, OEMs for Simputer
and as extra: Production of Simputer to begin by month-end.

"Buy Encore's Simputer
Encore's Software is launching a limited number of Evaluation pieces soon. To be a "Encore Simputer Beta-Evaluator" please contact for more details. " here's the rest.

Does not fit my concept of vaporware but is very concrete. Encore seeks distributors, OEMs for Simputer
and as extra: Production of Simputer to begin by month-end.

"Buy Encore's Simputer
Encore's Software is launching a limited number of Evaluation pieces soon. To be a "Encore Simputer Beta-Evaluator" please contact for more details. " here's the rest.

Does not fit my concept of vaporware but is very concrete. Encore seeks distributors, OEMs for Simputer
and as extra: Production of Simputer to begin by month-end.

Desktop User "But I'm not a programmer, I just want to get on the web and have fun!!!!"

Heck I think most /. peeps would use it as well. Boots up lightweight Mozilla and email client in 2 seconds from FPGA/whatever_firmware so you can check /. every few minutes without having to go down to the basement or having your boss monitor/censor/log your emails. Use bluetooth/WiFi to quickly seize control of your workplace monitor away from your office desktop to check /. every few minutes. Switch off the WiFi and the desktop's screen returns.

If you don't have a desktop, no problem just use the handheld by itself and connect it to the Internet... 3G or GPRS or something... Whoa, so 3G does have a use. Cool.

Simputer is All set to hit the market in India. The Open Source Computer(Hardware) Has found its first makers in Encore Solutions who will start selling It within the next one month. {sources internal} This will give the iPaq and palms a run for their money as the simputer is loaded with features like Internal Modem smartcard reader and usb port there are plans to add a gsm phone into it too watchout Nokia! .And one third the price its supposed to be 10,000 Indian Rupees thats around $210 try comparing it to the ipaq. Did you ask what it is based on?
Its Linux 2.4 man with gtk and its developer kit is as free as the hardware itself. this looks like hot stuff to go for -- pankaj@fig.org

Simputer is All set to hit the market in India. The Open Source Computer(Hardware) Has found its first makers in Encore Solutions who will start selling It within the next one month. {sources internal} This will give the iPaq and palms a run for their money as the simputer is loaded with features like Internal Modem smartcard reader and usb port there are plans to add a gsm phone into it too watchout Nokia! .And one third the price its supposed to be 10,000 Indian Rupees thats around $210 try comparing it to the ipaq. Did you ask what it is based on?
Its Linux 2.4 man with gtk and its developer kit is as free as the hardware itself. this looks like hot stuff to go for -- pankaj@fig.org

Simputer is All set to hit the market in India. The Open Source Computer(Hardware) Has found its first makers in Encore Solutions who will start selling It within the next one month. {sources internal} This will give the iPaq and palms a run for their money as the simputer is loaded with features like Internal Modem smartcard reader and usb port there are plans to add a gsm phone into it too watchout Nokia! .And one third the price its supposed to be 10,000 Indian Rupees thats around $210 try comparing it to the ipaq. Did you ask what it is based on?
Its Linux 2.4 man with gtk and its developer kit is as free as the hardware itself. this looks like hot stuff to go for -- pankaj@fig.org

The real reason, the simputer has been created is, the existing content on the web is not useful for an illiterate person. By producing low cost computers in local language,(in 2 languages at present) it gives an opportunity for content providers to target these groups with specialised content.
More links - Cnet article
Pc World article

BTW, the simputer comes with it's own license called the Simputer Public License. The Indian Institute of Science (IISC) and Encore, organisations behind the Simputer are not selling it & the news, is Manufacturers from other developing countries like venezuela, brazil, et al are keen on producing this Simputer.