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Zaurus 5600 Announced
numatrix writes "Sharp just announced the release of the SL-5600 Zaurus today, the followup to the SL-5500 linux pda. Features include an xscale 400mhz processor, 96mb total flash, higher capacity battery, 2.4.18 kernel, built in speaker and mic, and all of the best bits of goodness from the 5500.
Infosync has an article as well."
correction guys, its 64MB flash, 32MB RAM.
http://www.zauruszone.com/files/sl5600pics.zip
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelLanding/0,1
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/FunctionPressRel
14MB of Photos: http://www.zauruszone.com/files/sl5600pics.zip
Pretty much:
Linux 2.4.18
64MB of Flash
32 RAM
1700 Battery
Speaker and Mic added
Will be out around end of december and early January
Probaly we have the same price as the 5500 when it came out (~$500)
The mini laptop that came out that everyone saw also was anounced today, but that is for Sharp Japan.
Benjamin Meyer
Do you changes clothes while making the "chee-chee-cha-cha-choh" transformation sound?
Since everything is /.ed this is the text I have in my cache !
Next generation Zauruses announced
By: Larry Garfield, Tuesday, 12.11.02 13:52 GMT
Is it Zauruses or Zaurii? Either way, Sharp has officially announced two new models, one for the US and Japan and one for just the Japanese market. Guess who has exclusive pictures?
Sharp has released details on their upcoming next generation Zaurus Linux-based handhelds. One model will be marketed in the US as the Zaurus SL-5600 and in Japan as the Zaurus B500, while the other, the Zaurus C300, will be available exclusively in Japan for now.
On the outside, the SL-5600 is the same as the Sl-5500. But it's what's inside that counts.
The SL-5600 will use the same general form factor as the current SL-5500 model. However, it will run on a 400 MHz Intel XScale PXA-250 CPU. Rather than using a split-RAM architecture like the Sl-5500 and Pocket PCs do, the SL-5600 will have 32 MB of RAM that is dedicated to just active memory. For user storage, it will include 64 MB of NAND Flash ROM for both the OS and user applications, compressed for increased capacity. The user will have at least 32 MB of uncompressed space available to install additional programs. How much actual space the user will have available will vary depending on the files installed, as different files compress better than others. The writeable ROM also means that the SL-5600 won't suffer from the double-symlink problem of the SL-5500, making it easier to install programs to SD or CF cards. It also means that user data cannot be lost even in the case of complete battery loss.
The SL-5600 includes sliding keyboard of the SL-5500. It also has a built-in microphone and polyphonic speaker. The screen is the same 16-bit TFT QVGA 240x320 display as the previous model. One of the main complaints about the SL-5500 was its battery life, so Sharp has responded by including a 1700 ma Lithium-Ion removable/rechargable battery, the largest of any handheld to date, that causes a slight hump in back. As with the Sl-5500, it supports both Compact Flash and Secure Digital cards, but does not yet support SDIO due to licensing problems with the closed-source SD drivers.
The more ambitious Zaurus C300 will only be available in Japan. (Ill: MobileNews)
On the software side, the SL-5600 runs an updated version of the Lineo Embeddix GNU/Linux distribution used on the rest of the recent Zaurus line. The new version runs version 2.4.18 of the Linux kernel, and supports both TCP/IP networking and standard USB I/O for synchronization. (The SL-5500 used a TCP/IP-over-USB setup for synchronization that was sometimes unstable.) It comes packaged with Hancom Office as well as Opera 6 for web browsing. The browser will support both Flash and Adobe Acrobat files via plugins. It also includes the Jeode Java Virtual Machine, which will tie into Opera for web pages that support the PersonalJava specification. The Qtopia UI environment also includes several enhancements already present in the Japanese-only Zaurus SL-A300.
The SL-5600 will also be marketed in Japan under the name SL-B500, and have extra Japanese language support.
Sharp's other new model is the SL-C300, previewed recently at CEATAC. The C300 has the same internal hardware and software as the SL-5600, but is slightly larger in each direction The device opens width-wise to reveal a landscape-mode full-VGA 640x480 color display, the same size as the display on the SL-5600, and a mini-sized QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard has larger, finger-friendly keys and separate numeric and alphabetic keys, as wel as traditional directional buttons. It has a smaller, 950 ma battery, as Sharp expects it to be used more as a laptop alternative than a handheld. Unfortunately, the C300 is not slated for release outside of Japan.
The SL-5600, SL-B500, and SL-C300 will be avaiable Quarter 1 of 2003. Prices have not been set, but the SL-5600 is expected to retail in the $500-$600 range.
Until then, high-resolution pictures of the Zaurus SL-5600 are available on the following pages.
Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
Its the C700, not the C300 for the japanese mini-laptop.
Since everything is /.ed voici la description from http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelLanding/0,10 58,1016,00.html
SL-5600 | Handhelds
Powerful, Flexible, Mobile.
The Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 combines state-of-the-art Sharp technology and Sharp innovation to deliver a unique and compelling PDA solution. The Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 offers everything from mobile communications to mobile multimedia; keyboard integration and dual expansion delivering one of the most versatile and flexible PDA solutions on the market today.
To join our mailing list Click here.
Zaurus developers please Click here.
Features
Wireless Communications
With optional Compact Flash(TM) modems and Sharp Mobile Services you can have wireless connectivity virtually anytime, anywhere.+
Integrated Keyboard and Sliding Cover
Sharp's clever integrated keyboard design allows easy data input without sacrificing space. Edit text or e-mail effortlessly with a standard QWERTY keyboard.
Rechargeable, Replaceable Long Life Battery
With its replaceable 1700mAH Li-ION battery, larger than any other battery in a smart handheld device, the Zaurus provides extra long battery life so you can be mobile longer.
CompactFlash(TM) and SD/MMC Expansion Slots
Sharp combines the best of both worlds by offering two expansion slots. Two slots allow you to add two peripherals simultaneously such as a CompactFlash(TM) modem card and SD memory card. This seamless design makes upgrading easy and simple
Mobile Multimedia
Sharp's color LCD technology and high powered processor deliver top quality multimedia for all corporate and personal needs. The SL-5600 has a 3.5" 65,536 Color Reflective TFT Front-Lit Screen with 240 x 320 resolution for outstanding graphics and clarity, indoors or out.
Speaker & Microphone with a Stereo Headphone Jack
Listen to your favorite music or movie clips anytime, anywhere.
Stylus and Touch Screen
In addition to the SL-5600 built-in QWERTY keyboard, the stylus and touch screen allows you to navigate through applications with ease.
Customizable One-Touch Access
Instantly view calendar, address book, menu and e-mail with just one press of a button. Or customize the button settings to suit your personal needs.
Linux / Java Based Platform
Linux® and Java(TM) based architecture provides a powerful and open operating environment - allowing many Linux and Java developers to write applications for the SL-5600, and integrated into various enterprise environments.
Specifications
CPU Intel® 400MHz XScale(TM) processor1
Platform Linux2 based embedded OS (Embedix3) QT Palmtop Environment, Personal Java4
Display Reflective TFT LCD with Front Light (touch sensitive panel supported), 3.5" with 240x320 pixel, 65,536 colors.
Memory 96MB Total
32MB SDRAM
64MB Protected Flash - secure memory for storing PIM info and applications.
Input Device Touch Panel, QWERTY keyboard with a sliding cover
Card Slot 1 compact Flash Card5 slot, 1 SD/MMC card slot (no copyright protection feature)
I/O Port Serial/USB (via docking station port, IR port)
Sound Stereo headphone jack included, mic and mono speaker included.
+For wireless communications, additional accessories and an available service plan are required. Wirelss services is subject to network availability.
1 XScale is a registered trademark of Intel Corp.
2Linux is a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds
3Embedix is a trademark of Lineo, Inc.
5CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk corporation
Product specifications and design subject to change without notice.
© 2002 Sharp Electronics Corp.
Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
Mod this down. A major disappointment? I'll remember that while riding the train to work, programing PHP on my web server and listening to MP3s. Maybe when I get home, pop in my wireless card and SSH into my server to check mail on Pine I'll compose an email to everyone saying stay away from the Zaurus. It's not useful for anything.
According to the article it's got the same screen as a 5500. Goto Fry's or Compusa and play with one.
I've owned a Zaurus since they were realeased. It's a LOT tougher then it looks. My keyboard did become loose, but only after I dropped it six feet onto a concrete sidewalk. It still works fine, btw. Overall it's a very solid device.
Why is it so hot? Where am I going? What am I doing in this handbasket?
No, in fact, check out this detail from Palm Infocenter's Review of the Tungsten T:
"Palm realizes that this design decision is a potential source of failure (and therefore costly warranty issues) and has taken pains to ensure that it will be very reliable. Part of their design criteria included passing a 100,000 open/close test cycle. (To put that in practical terms, even if you open and close the device 3 times an hour, 16 hours a day, the slider should provide at least 6 years of faithful service.)"
I'm not sure about the Sharp Zaurus but I wouldn't be surprised if they did something similar. I think some people like to think they are smarter than the engineers who design this hardware, but it is baffling to me to think that you would really believe that the people at Palm would design that sliding mechanism on the Tungsten T without even thinking about the issue of how much stress it would handle.
-Tom
The problem with those screen keyboards is they're hard to use. Zaurus's keyboard is small, but you get used to it after a while. Much faster than grafiti or the ole hunt and peck with the stylus.
Besides, I'm sure when it breaks (though it seems pretty sturdy), I'll be ready for the next one.
The Zaurus includes a "software" keyboard (actually, several different types) if you so prefer.
See page 34 of the Zaurus SL-5500 user guide (sharp-usa.com is now offline, hence the Google translation).
Story made a mistake. It's 240x320. Also, they made another mistake; the name was changed to SL-C700 to avoid confusion with the already released in japan A300.
First let me say that I love the Zaurus. I own a Palm V and a IPaq3970. However to say that Palm doesn't have anything to compare to the Zaurus isn't correct.
The new Sony (based off Palm OS) compares quite well to the Zaurus. Both are on similar hardware. Granted that the NEW Zaurus is on the Xscale processor, while the Sony is on the 20x ARM processor. BUT notice that Sharp doesn't say that their apps are 2x as fast! A lot of work has to be done to run great on the new Xscale processor, and I doubt that Sharp did that work. Or if they did, not all the apps are tuned for the new processor. In short they both rock for processing power on a PDA.
Next lets talk video. The Sony has a built in camera. The Sharp doesn't.
The Sony has 320X480 resolution, the Sharp has 320X240. Sony wins.
Both have fold out keyboards.
Both have CF slots
The Sony has a boat load more apps.
The Sharp could be your PDC and Web server and probably run MySQL.
The Sony cost more, but is out now.
The Sony runs Palm OS5. The Sharp runs Linux.
The Sharp has a great browser for surfing on a PDA.
Neither one have a good wireless solution or built in Bluetooth. It must be noted that the Sharp does offer a HUGE wirelss modem attachment, that nobody would want to carry and cost around $40/month. Both do support 802.11b CF wireless cards.
Both devices lack driver support for CF cards compared to Pocket PC devices.
Hmmm looks like I just did a comparision of the two products.
In my opinion either one is great. It just depends on what you want to do. If either one offered a good wireless solution I would have gone with it over my Ipaq. God pocket pc 2002 sucks!
The more I learn about science, the more my faith in God increases.
Actually, it does have graffiti-style data entry, and yes there is a ipkg that allows you to use dvorak at: http://opie.handhelds.org/feed/zaurus/opie-dvorak_ 0.9.1-4_arm.ipk
You can do this with almost any of the PDAs with serial cable sync, the appropriate cable/adaptor, and any of several terminal software programs. I've done this trick with ancient USR Pilot 5000 and my obsolecent Vx.
Worried about graffiti while logged in as root? PRACTICE (and learn the strokes your terminal software uses for , , and various vi commands).
Yes, a real VT-100 terminal is better. But a crashcart in your pocket beats the one not in the server room.
What that appears to be is screenshots captured from a VNC viewer (specifically for zaurus) running on a pc, connected to a VNC server on a Zaurus.
According to the press release from the Japan official site, the battery last 18 hours with Backlight turned off and a static screen.
Another interesting add-on is a Compact Flash XGA adaptor from I.O.Data for video output, now all we need is some nice games.
Oh, there is also the camera CE-AG06 (640x480 color)
Other interesting parameters:
w x d x h: 74mm x 138mm x 18mm (w/o LCD cover)
weight: 205g (w/o LCD cover)
display: 240x320 3.5" 64k color TFT (Front light) (i.e. you can read clearly under direct sun light)
No Bluetooth? Look up Bluetooth support from their developer site.
In Norwegian, "slutt" = "end".
First, it's big--even PocketPC machines have gotten much smaller. Sharp sells a Zaurus in Japan that's much smaller (no keyboard, no CF), and they should bring that to the US.
Second, while they have managed to create some decent apps in it, the use of Qt/Embedded causes problems. Qt/Embedded eats up lots of memory (much more than X11+XLib+FLTK) and it makes porting software to the Zaurus a lot of work. Also, it has some annoying bugs, for example, locking up the GUI with focus problems. I thought I could live with Qt/Embedded, but I can't. Having a standard Linux command line environment on the handheld has turned out to be great, and I want the same convenience for the GUI, not some oddball hack.
The main reason for getting a Linux PDA for me is to have something that it's easy to port software to, and something I can carry with me, and the Zaurus just falls short on both accounts. I think the iPaq running Handhelds.org or a Yopy may be a better choice.
"Slutt" is just Norwegian for "end". Yeah, end of the newsbit and end of the top story and so on... you might have noticed the .no in the server address :)
There has been some buzz regarding this recently from the handhelds.org crew as they port Linux to the H39xx series iPAQ. From what I gather, PocketPC is StrongARM optimized (and since you don't have the source, there's not much you can do about that).
:)
The X-Scale (armv5) is completely backwards compatible with the StrongARM (armv4), but some instructions are faster than others. I believe the conclusion was that compiler optimizing for xscale would be beneficial to both platforms as the armv4 should run at about the same speed while the armv5 runs faster than before.
Note however that part of the reason you don't see huge performance increases is that (at least on the early xscales, possibly current ones too) the write-back cache is disabled due to some flaw in the chip. Oops
Some details available at Expansys.
Weighs 7.26 ounces and measures 5.43" x 3.3" x 0.63"
The iPAQ Pocket PC h5400 Series has a transflective colour TFT display (same one used in its 3900 series) capable of supporting 64K colors. It is the Pocket PC standard 320x240 pixels screen with .24 dot pitch.
Lights - Blue light for the built-in Bluetooth - Green Light for the built-in 802.11b radio when a wireless LAN connection is made (or flashing amber when there is no link).
Replaceable rechargeable battery
The H5400 has an Intel PXA250 processor running at 400MHz, and is backed by 64MB of RAM. It comes with 32MB or greater of ROM and up to 20MB of iPAQ File Store.
Nevo enables the h5400 to become an excellent Universal Remote Control for your other electronic entertainment devices. Still, the most ground-breaking new addition is the thermal swipe technology used in its fingerprint reader. HP now allows you to secure your device in a variety of ways, from a password to a PIN to a fingerprint, or any combination of the three. To use a fingerprint, you must first "enroll" your fingerprint by training the iPAQ to recognize it.
There is no "plus". I gave RSS sizes. Those include all the memory that an application actually uses.
However, if you want to compare shared library sizes, FLTK is a 423kbyte library, and FLEK (sockets, XML, dates, files, math, etc.) is another 282kbytes; the Qt/Embedded equivalents are more than five times larger.
Please, obviously you never wrote a single line of code , for otherwise you would know that raw X11 is pretty much useless as afar as app programming goes.
You just demonstrate again that you jump to conclusions without any factual knowledge.
No to mention the fact that with X11 one usually ends up with multiple set of widget libs since which would be a complete nonsense on a device like the Zaurus.
It's not "nonsense" at all. The main attraction of Linux handhelds is that they require less porting. That means, I want the option of using an existing toolkit if it makes sense, I don't want to be dictated to which toolkit to use. If I have to rewrite the entire GUI anyway, I might as well port to PocketPC or Palm and get a much bigger user base.