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Fujitsu Announces XScale PDA
Andrew Slough writes: "Fujitsu has announced the world's first PDA based on Intel's XScale architecture, making this the fastest ARM PDA in the world! Stories also at at Infosync and The Register. Pictures at PocketNow."
What does that mean in the real world, versus say a 200Mhz Hitachi SH4? It just sounds weird seeing it called the fastest ARM PDA : Sort of like when pickup trucks have the best fuel economy in their category (which could mean that single model of pickup truck...). Will this be a super fast PDA? (And yes, to those who ask it does matter. With GPRS and other high speed connectivity issues real time compression/decompression, etc., matters more, and begs for increased power).
Nice. Very nice. Sleek, stylish, powerful. This is what a PDA is MEANT to be in order to succeed in the commercial world. It might not be styled for business use, but this one will definitely turn some heads in the commercial realm.
I've often thought that Linux-on-the-desktop is a loosing battle. But, Linux-on-the-palmtop is definitely a battle that the Linux community could win. The biggest hurdle that needs to be overcome, however, is the "geek factor". Many of us techies design devices that WE would use. Here is a perfect example of a device that the typical consumer would find attractive. Build a stylish-looking device, design a pretty GUI, write intuitive applications, adhere to standards (such as vCard, vCal, etc.) so data can be shared across device platforms, and provide the ability to sync with existing software (i.e. Outlook on both Win and Mac, Netscape, Evolution, etc.) and a Linux-based PDA could DEFINITELY make some big inroads.
The Zaurus is a nice little machine, but it won't make a splash. No one is going to buy it outside of the Linux community. But, if Sharp were to go all out and do something like this, Linux would definitely become more mainstream in the handheld market.
Then you must not have read the post at pocketnow. It's got a lithium-polymer battery that lets it run for 14 hours.
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;o)
There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
Understated, I like it
Fujitsu's press release just said the chip was "high-performance", and after some digging I turned up this article which tells us that the Intel PXA250 can run at speeds as high as 400MHz. An excerpt:
Designed for advanced PDAs, the PXA250 is available at speeds of 200MHz, 300MHz, and 400MHz. While designed for low power, the PXA250 offers a Turbo Mode for application acceleration and multimedia acceleration with Intel Media Processing technology. USB, 920Kbps Bluetooth wireless, and a 1.84MHz baseband interface are offered as communication interfaces, and an enhanced memory support 2.5 volt or 3.3 volt 16-bit or 32-bit memory.
I feel so Dirty.
I'm a 2000 man.
The LOOX was announced weeks ago. Brighthand already had a forum up for it in February. Toshiba also announced their next PocketPC (XScale processor and embedded 802.11b included) last month.
A month behind the times? That's just shameful guys.
This tagline is umop apisdn.
While the core is very different to current "ARM" cores, the instruction set and patents are licensed from ARM. It runs ARM instructions natively. Saying it's not an ARM is like saying an Athlon isn't an x86 processor.
It's basically an ARM9 core with the pipeline extended a bit and a DSP MAC unit bolted on the side. This equates to slightly faster than StrongARM speeds (per MHz) on most code, and maybe double on DSP.
Does not XScale implement a modified ARM instruction set? Not equivalent to the ARM, but a derivative, and there for "an" ARM.
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
Can't *one* of these PocketPC-driven PDAs have a decent sized screen at 480@320? Or does the PocketPC spec require 320@240? Anyone know?
You can still have a small-enough device with a slightly bigger screen. But with one, you can potentially raise the usefulness of it. Am I the only one that uses a PDA for more than a datebook? Am I the only one who reads a lot of text, or takes a substantial amount of actual notes (not just quick jots)?
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
about the best so far in a pda...
so, any bets on how long until this puppy is running linux?
The difference between Theory and Practice is greater in Practice than in Theory.
I want a high-end PDA like this but I don't want to run a Microsoft OS or MS Software. I refuse to use "Pocket" anything. When is someone going to offer a good alternative? Or has Microsoft already won the high-end, color, PDA market?
Comment removed based on user account deletion
O.K. lets see what we need:
Display:
- since we won't get a decent Color display
I'd like to have a B&W display with excellent
contrast in any situation. Contrast is more important to me than greyscales, resolution is more important than greyscales.
Speed:
- I don't think that we can get mp3-support
for 50$, so the speed of my Handspring Visor would
be okay. Maybe a little faster.
Interfaces:
- It definitely would have to have a serial or
USB port. I'd prefer USB.
- It would have to connect to a mobile phone, so
it would have to have IR, too.
- Blutooh would be great for this, too, but might
be too expensive
Memory:
4 MB RAM, 3 MMC-Slots.
Input:
I don't think that we'll get a decent HWR
for this price - and I'm used to the
HWR of the Newton MP2000.
So give me an on-screen-keyboard and it'd
be fine.
Size/Proportions
I want a pure big screen on the front and some buttons on the side, maybe a dial.
Please no buttons on the front.
Where do I have to sign?
k2r
My Apple Newton MessagePad 2000 has real handwriting recognition, whereas Micro$oft Winblows CE (note clever use of subliminal imagery) does not.
Except for the fact that there is free software available from Microsoft called Transcriber (or Calligrapher) that does give you true handwriting recognition on the Pocket PC
My Apple Newton MessagePad 2000 has a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slot for easy expansion, whereas those dolts at "Fu" "jitsu" didn't put one in to their so-called "innovative" "PDA." Nice try, guys. While you're listening to "digital music", I'll be surfing the Internet using a real web browser and getting e-mail on a large screen.
Most Pocket PCs include a Compact Flash Type I/II slot which means that we can add wireless NICs, modems, digital cameras, micro-drives, etc., just in a slightly different (smaller) format that what you use.
I am boycotting Micro$oft, but I am not boycotting Apple. Another plus for me!
Well good for you...
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
...that's gravy. It's strength is its power consumption.
The Xscale at 200Mhz will be using about 50mW, about the same as a Palm processor runs at now. Compare to the current StrongARM, which at 233Mhz (a slightly overclocked Ipaq) sucks down 900mw. The Xscale will be 15x or so less power-hungry than the StrongARM at 200.
Or in other words, for the same power you get 5.4 mips with a 33 MHz Palm vs. over 300 mips for a Xscale.
It also has an advantage as it "scales" what it needs depending on the app, hence the name. So if you are running a memopad type function, it will need less power, and if you are running Quake or something, it will go full-bore. Think of it as intelligent underclocking when needed.
So in summary, the Xscale can have the computing power of a current Ipaq (more actually, they tweaked the core), at the same power consumption as a Palm (or much less depending on what types of apps you run). At 400Mhz, it will use about 3x the power of a Palm processor, but this will still be 5-6x less power than the StrongARM running at half the speed.
Bah! Who needs those geek toys anyway? I'm off to do some karate. Brush up, brush down, Daniel-San, that's the way to get the fastest arms.
--
The Cap is nigh. Time to get a fresh new account.