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Microsoft Rolls Out Pocket PC 2003
An anonymous reader writes "Monday, June 23 was a big day for Microsoft's mobile devices software strategy. The company: (1) rolled out Pocket PC 2003 (and renamed it); (2) unveiled a new "Windows Mobile" branding strategy; and (3) launched a collaboration with three leading high-speed wireless service providers to provide easier access to more than 3,500 Wi-Fi wireless "hot spots" by Windows-powered PDAs throughout the US. All this (and more) is covered in this "special report" at WindowsForDevices.com (including a detailed list of enhancements in Pocket PC 2003)."
So they still aren't changing the name "Windows", since it has basically lost its trademark? You'd think they would change "Windows" to something else in all their OS products so they could trick..er..show that they actually changed the product (marketing scheme).
the internet community develop a proper PKI infrastructure.
again
Not a single SCO article on the /. main page. That's a welcome change.
WinCE? PocketPC OS? What about developers who got 'access' to WinCE code? And most importantly when's the 1st Service Pack coming up?
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
I see that the Pocket PC will be named Windows Mobile. It seems they want to use another brand, possibly to increase the wide-spread usage of the word 'Windows', but why?
I for one have always thought PocketPC as something that is LESS Microsoft, which is a Good Thing (TM). I would never buy a copy of Windows XP while I could consider buying a PocketPC (but not a Windows Mobile)...
I don't know what to do *Cries in horror*
Does this mean they'll finally start shipping the MSDN freebie?! That would be nice...
"... but you can love completely without complete understanding." - Norman Maclean, "A River Runs Through It"
Please mod parent post up -- Windowsfordevices.com can't handle the spike.
How many patches are out for this new version of windows already?
It's an excuse to slashdot MS. What more could you ask?
All rites reversed 2010
I imagine that it wasn't a wild coincidence that Microsoft launches this product on the same day that a big part of the computer world is waiting on pins and needles to hear what Apple has to say at the WWDC, which won't begin for another few hours.
The cure for cancer is coming: Reovirus
Hello? I don't see this as very insightful...
...improved digital media experience for high quality stills of Rob Malda with various homosexual men, and support for developers building Microsoft .NET services and applications for Pocket PC devices...
Is it just me, or do you think cell-phone company when you read "Windows Mobile"?
-Pete
Soccer Goal Plans
Something to do with Malda and homos - please check before modding up..
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
theres also a summary here:
t ml
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/31369.h
Fry: heh, Yakov Smirnoff said it
Leela: No he didn't.
I think you over estimate the /. effect.
WiFi might be nice to give you added flexibility, but frankly do I really frantically want to search a hot spot every hour in order to download my 7 mails from which usually 7 are spam? I don't think so.
Granted, it might be nice to pass your time by browsing the web when you wait for a train. But I can do that just fine with a newspaper.
Methinks this is a rather desperate attempt to (finally) get a foot into the mobile, wireless world and Microsofts attempt to lure (GSM-)manufacturers/network providers in can only be described as a spectacular failure up to now.
Also, WiFi is not the GSM killer; a notion which seems popular in the US, but it's just plain wrong. Those are two very, very different technologies with very different objectives..
ich bin der musikant
mit taschenrechner in der hand
kraftwerk
hahahahahahaaaahahahahah.
surely you jest, kind sir.
Does anybody know if existing Pocket PC 2002 models will be upgradable to 2003 (Especially the Dell Axim)?
Here's to hoping that Apple truly does announce a 64-bit workstation today -- that will nicely put Microsoft's announcements in perspective. :^)
/me dons asbestos suit...
Slashdot's first reaction to VMware
It's 9:45AM on the East Coast of the US. Where did they announce this, London?
Perhaps I'm just paranoid where Microsoft is concerned, but could it, possibly, maybe, be a coincidence that Microsoft released all of this hoopla on the start of the WWDC, when Apple will be announcing all kinds of hardware and software releases?
Of course it's coincidence. What was I thinking? Never mind.
How many of you assholes does it take to point out that Rob Malda is a fag?
Monday, June 23 was a big day for Microsoft's mobile devices software strategy.
What do you mean was? It's still before 7am in Redmond, and only approaching 10am on the east coast. Sounds more like marketing.
"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." - Emily Dickinson
Damn, Microsoft has hit their "version 3" of pocket devices...this is going to be a sure thing.
1) Windows CE
2) Windows Pocket PC
3) Windows Pcoket PC 2003
Damn you Microsoft! Damn you to hell!!!!!!
John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
(Yeah, it's a troll, but I'll answer anyway.)
Because the dislike for Microsoft largely isn't irrational. I use Windows at work and at home, and generally like the product. I don't mind Microsoft trying to be all things to all people, but I do mind the way it tries to shut everyone else out of the market. There's a fine line between responsible and irresponsible competition and Microsoft straddles that line.
That's one of the reasons I'd like to see Linux succeed: to act as a brake on Microsoft's behavior. (Another is that I think Linux is kinda cool and I like the ethics surrounding its development.)
Do some here have a knee-jerk response to all things Microsoft? Sure, but it's mostly born of experience.
The NEW EXCITING Pocket PC 2003.NET - the best possible portable Bluescreen(tm) technology, now optomised for Intel Xscale for a 20% faster experience.
Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.
Who needs a PocketPC when I havemy Palm Tungsten C.
Don't mod me, bro'!!!!
Should you feel a sharp sting on your buttocks and the smell of searing flesh, don't worry, it's just Msft's Branding Strategy - simply continue walking down the chute and back out into the stock yard.
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Jun. 23, 2003
.
.NET services and applications for Pocket PC devices. Story
Today was a big day for Microsoft's mobile devices software strategy. The company: (1) rolled out Pocket PC 2003 (and renamed it -- more on that later); (2) unveiled a new "Windows Mobile" branding strategy; and (3) launched a collaboration with three leading high-speed wireless service providers to provide easier access to more than 3,500 Wi-Fi wireless "hot spots" by Windows-powered PDAs throughout the US.
The following three WindowsForDevices.com news items detail today's three announcements by Microsoft's mobile group . .
* Microsoft unveils Pocket PC 2003 (but with a new name) -- according to Microsoft, the 2003 version of its Pocket PC software provides enhancements in the areas of increased ease of wireless network access, improved digital media experience, and support for developers building Microsoft
* Microsoft announces new brand: "Windows Mobile" -- the new brand is intended to "extend the familiarity of the Windows brand, while reflecting the uniqueness of software for mobile devices," Microsoft said. Story
* Microsoft launches Wi-Fi "hot spot" collaboration, 30-day free service -- Microsoft announced a collaboration with three leading high-speed wireless service providers -- T-Mobile HotSpot, Boingo Wireless and Wayport. The arrangement is intended to make it easier for its US customers to locate, access, and use Wi-Fi wireless services with their mobile devices, through access to more than 3,500 Wi-Fi "hot spot" locations in the US. Story
Additionally, a detailed list of key enhancements and new features in Pocket PC 2003 appears here.
Ask me about repetitive DNA
According to Microsoft's Pocket PC 2003 Reviewer's Guide, the following new features and enhancements are contained in the newly announced 2003 version of the Pocket PC software platform . . .
.NET Compact Framework -- The integrated .NET Compact Framework brings the power of new applications that simplify the overall development and integration of Web services on smart devices, enabling developers and enterprise end users to access a wealth of data from various sources such as back-end servers, intranets and the Internet.
Enhanced Connection Manager user interface (UI) -- A new and more intuitive Connection Manager wizard features enhanced tabs to give users more control over selecting networks and setting dialing preferences.
Zero Configuration connections -- Pocket PC 2003 has added Zero Configuration for Wi-Fi, designed to simplify connection with and authentication to 802.11 wireless networks. Zero Configuration is also supported when adding a dial-up modem or Ethernet network card.
Improved animated connectivity status icons -- When using the cellular phone features of the PPC, new connectivity icons have been merged onto the navigation bar to better illustrate radio signal strength and data flow.
Improved connectivity bubbles -- Connectivity message bubbles are clearer and less cluttered and more easily convey information about connection status, synchronization and signal strength.
Bluetooth partnership wizard -- New wizard pops up at (Settings | Bluetooth | Paired Device Tab | New), which turns on the radio, searches for available devices and asks users to set a PIN to pair with a device. This feature allows users to easily configure Bluetooth bonding.
Always-on Bluetooth discoverability -- The Bluetooth discoverable mode stays turned on after users activate it (until users manually changes the setting) to allow for easy Bluetooth bonding.
Use of Bluetooth modems -- Bluetooth phones may be used as a modem to connect the Pocket PC to the Internet. This feature represents Microsoft's commitment to serving OEMs and mobile operators and to supporting the growing popularity of the Bluetooth wireless connection standard.
Bluetooth beaming -- Users can now beam data such as Contact files using Bluetooth.
Auto-correct -- Common spelling errors are automatically corrected during typing. Auto-correct can easily be overridden. (Not available in East Asia.)
Auto-suggest -- Auto-suggest is extended to the email inbox, allowing users to type email more quickly.
Turn all radios off -- One-touch ability allows users to turn off all wireless radios (802.11x, Bluetooth, cell phone, etc.) to conserve device power when not on a network or allow other features to be used while traveling on an airplane when cell phones must be turned off.
802.1x support -- 802.1x Wi-Fi security is supported natively.
Certificate Management UI -- New control panel applet allows users to manage client and root certificates. This is useful when users have installed a bad certificate and have difficulty logging onto Wi-Fi networks.
IPSec/L2TP -- Windows CE provides the support for IPSec L2TP (the Microsoft VPN standard for connectivity).
Support for Multiple VPNs -- The new Connection Manager also supports multiple VPNs.
IPv6 support -- PPC now supports IPv6/v4 mixed environments.
New Today screen -- Today screen automatically shows users the next day's appointments immediately after the last current day appointment expires to better manage early morning meetings.
Smart Lookup in Contacts -- Pocket PC 2003 incorporates Smart Lookup, a feature that enables users to input the first few letters of the contact they want to open.
Windows CE 4.2 operating system -- With the new and improved operating system, Windows CE 4.2, users will experience improved performance and stability of applications built for Pocket PC 2003 devices.
Enhanced developer support
We've just begun a project developing an app for .NET Compact Framework, and I have to say, I'm impressed. RAD for a wide range of CE & Pocket PC devices using C# and VB.NET is quite inticing. The framework is fairly light, considering, but is similar enough to the full framework that it's esentially identical to programming for a full PC. Debuging is cool too: you can debug on an emulated or real-live device.
/.'s alternatives for rapidly developing mobile business apps?
That said: what are
After all, you're buying from a convicted criminal...
Galileo: "The Earth revolves around the Sun!"
Score: -1 100% Flamebait
Most of those sales from Ballmer are automatic when the stock reaches a certain price. That's because the stock has been doing well lately. And there are a lot of stock options being exercised there which mean pretty much the same thing - stock is up.
I know your little brain would like to think that Microsoft is going to go belly up because of the great pressure being applied by 10% of the computer users but I don't see anything to indicate it is going to happen.
They're eliminating the generic nature of the acronym "PC". By implying it's a PC, they imply that something other than windows can run on it.
Calling it the "Windows Mobile" is just an attempt to draw the Pocket PC hardware closer to Microsoft's bosom.
("snicker...he said bosom...")
Name changing is basicaly a way to try and get people to forget how much your product sucks. two name changes is realy bad.
Take Pascal for example, a teaching language, that has some major suck factor for real world programing. But a bunch of tech school clubies started using it for real world apps.
Most real developers know it sucks, so they renamed it to Delphi, just to confuse people into using it.
Pocket PC a failed attempt?
The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
...but I had to give it up. It used too many batteries, and it made me never want to leave the house.
This was posted in a previous article, it is from a "contact" from within Dell. Whatever that means, but it seems legit.
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Yes, Pocket PC 2003 is real. I do not have a firm date when Dell will begin shipping Pocket PC 2003, or when upgrades will be available, or who will be eligible for free upgrades.
One warning. I have been told that many applications that work in Pocket PC 2002 do not work in Pocket PC 2003. It appears that Pocket PC 2003 is a major Operating System upgrade and that some applications will have to be recompiled for it.
I am at the moment testing a few applications on Pocket PC 2003, and so far I have only found one application, the game Argentum that will not run. I do not have a list of applications that will work with Pocket PC 2003, but I will try to keep you posted about any applications that I have trouble with.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur
I myself like that Microsoft renamed this version. With the name "Pocket PC" many people have abbreviated that even further to just PPC. When searching for software ventors, it's jsut a bit frustrating to be looking for Pocket PC software and keep getting Power PC related links. Both use PPC as their Acronym.
Now all I have to worry about is a bout of retardism making me type MSM, to get SMS...:-p
But anything MS does to improve their products is should be viewed as a welcome change.
Okay, so it's not a dupe. But PocketPC 2003 Reviewed was mentioned not too long ago....
... how slashdot uses an old Palm Pilot icon for Microsoft PocketPC announcements.
</pedantic>
"[T]he single essential element on which all discoveries will be dependent is human freedom." -- Barry Goldwater
So when does the PocketPool module come out?
Arm your Digimon against the Microsoft Menace!
T.
This space for rent.
3,500 Wi-Fi wireless "hot spots"
Make that 3,501 if you are standing within 20 feet of my basement window.
(+1 Funny) only if I laugh out loud.
Mod parent up as (+1) Informative, please.
This space for rent.
Yeah Riiight... Nothing is wrong.. Business as usual boys.
The PalmOS maintains about 80% market share in the PDA market. That includes actual Palm devices, Sony's Clie line, Handspring and so forth. Historically Microsoft hasn't been very good at expanding into markets in which they can't leverage their OS monopoly, so Pocket Windows' lack of success shouldn't be too surprising. But the continued competition from Microsoft should help the marketplace from stagnating, which isn't such a bad thing.
Ita erat quando hic adveni.
J2ME.
That's only of course if you want to write apps that will work on an order of magnititude more devices...
Including the PocketPC, and many many cellphones.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Yes.
1) Palm-sized PC, Windows CE 2.11
2) Pocket PC 2000, Windows CE 3.0
3) Pocket PC 2002, Windows CE 3.0
4) Pocket PC 2003, Windows CE.Net 4.2
And there were handheld clamshell devices based on Windows CE 1.0.
PocketPC
PocketPool
Geez, so it comes with wheels, now? It that what they mean by "mobile"?
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
Apple is commonly referred to as "R&D south" by the Redmond campus. This term is quite apt of how most big players look at apple.
essentialy apple is probably the greatest trend setter in consumer computers. The big boys don't use thier resources to explore new design concepts and tech use. Instead they watch apple roll out new products, and see whether or not they are succesfull and viable (iPOD + Itunes Music Store, iMac) or just a bad idea (cube).
Apple hsn't got market share, they've got style share, or should i say... they are trendy. If something works within the apple community, it is almost garenteed to work in the windows community. Thus Companies who watch apples endeavors closely, can get a good idea on what markets to tackle, and what to leave alone.
There are reasons why apple's brand and OS/hardware have a much higher user satisfaction, it's because they spend almost as much money (and more in some cases) on product development than the much larger players (MS, IBM, DELL, HP, etc...). They also can afford to do so... it's their identity, and what keeps them alive. Since apple has it's own market, it doesn't have to worry about it's dollars spent on reasearch vs dollars spent on market growth in comparison to other players in the same space.
That is, dell must keep a tight budget on it's spedning, because they've got to save money to fight off sony, toshiba, HP, and others in distribution and identity. Whereas apple's identity is secure and has no DIRECT competitors in it's market (albeit a much smaller market, though apple ships nearly as many machines as the big boys do individualy) so apple's main goal is to preserve their identity of being something appealing, different and very well made. Part of being very well made and different AND APPEALING is TONS of R&D.
I hear rumors that panther (OS X 10.3) will have native ActiveDirectory support along with a 970 at 2ghz (which should be on par with a P4 at 3.5ghz or so), Coupled with a 1ghz FSB along with a crapload of hardware goodies.... it looks like apple may be making a play for being more than trendy... but a horse-powered consumer product as well. If the next rumor is true... the implications are huge.
Panther supposedly has a fully featured multi-user environment built for wireless displays. As in you can have 6 people with all of their own wireless displays connected to the same computer in their house. Each one has a full user environment complete with aqua and everything. Eliminating the need for multiple machines, and providing one point of data storage and access. The implications are quite similar to what was expected to be thin client computing of our day (everyone has a dumb terminal that runs from a server somewhere)
but we shall see what happens. I personaly love the ideas of all these things, and think they would be great if implemented by apple (since apple does a stellar job on their projects)... but also find apple's releasal of products to be inconsistent, and often rumors are just that. Rumors.
--Idiots, Every single one of YOU, A flaming mass of conglomerated morons, hey wait a second, isnt that how RAID works?
Screenshots: http://pdajunkie.net/index.html?pdajunkie_net_ppc2 003.htm&2
Benchmarks:
http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/ipaq_2215.htm
"Released" is a very vague term, it would seem. I've had a quick dig through the online sellers here (in the UK), and the only 2003 device I've found so far (iPaq 2k) has a ship date in the middle of July...
Feel free to prove me wrong, but I won't be holding my breath.
They can call it what they want, I still won't buy.
It's like why I won't buy Nike, because of the Vietnamese Sweatshops. I don't buy Windows because of the developers kept in dugeons by their evil Dungeon Master. Herr Gates.
Error 407 - No creative sig found
133 comments so far and not a single one says anything other than "M$ sux", well, gee, I (and everyone else who reads /.) knew that already, what's your point?
On the very limited possibility that someone is reading this thread for information, I just talked to Toshiba and they say that you get 2003 for free if you purchased an e75x after May 1, everyone else (including e740 owners) needs to pay $50 by calling 1-888-874-8247. I, for one, am going to get it just for the improvements in IE.
-- Yes I know I could have picked better links, but I'm trying to work. :)
Running the risk of getting down-modded when I could simply reply anon:
It's the thought that counts. =P
All rites reversed 2010
Or are you just happy to see me?
--- Ah, what would we have done without Mae West?
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
And it starts:
% 3Ben-us%3B820161
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb
http://slashdot.org/~tf23/journal
What you're referring to is the comparison of 3G technologies (such as WCDMA or CDMA2000) to Wi-Fi, and here again you're still wrong. It's becoming very clear that the rapid growth of 802.11x hotspots will spoil the market for 3G, since they're dramatically less expensive to deploy, and they cover the spots where people are most likey to use a rich content mobile device. And spare us the "car centric" baloney as well; commuter rail has been on a huge tear in the US during the past 15 years, and yes, you can cover rail lines with Wi-Fi by using directive antennas -- and you'll most likely be more spectally efficient than 3G.
The great thing about Wi-Fi's low power approach is that it forces people to use spectrum conservatively, using directive arrays to put RF where's needed instead of spraying it around indiscriminately.
Too bad Microsoft decided to use BlueBalls^h^h^h^hTooth instead of Wi-Fi, probably saved themselves a few bucks with the inferior frequency-toad-hopping instead of real spread spectrum, which is what the market is asking for. ..
...-.-
Kinda like this> but perhaps with a little fuzzy bear, a sweatie Steve and agitated Bill G. Start the babies early with proprietary code.
As in windows compact edition or some such?
My ever-changing mood.
Big Daddy, Johnny, Burp, Aunt Zelda, Scott, Slurp, Big Momma
i hear "PPC" and can't help thinking, "10 heat, 10 damage, min range: 3 hexes"...
of course, given the likely bloat factor, 10 heat may not be entirely irrelevant here...
ed
3025 forever!
looks largely based on Java's class libraries, along with seapound looking like a virtual clone of Java, switching should be little or no problem.
Big Daddy, Johnny, Burp, Aunt Zelda, Scott, Slurp, Big Momma
There's a fine line between flamebait and humor...
hehehehehe...
This space for rent.
I prefer to buy an iPaq and then install something like Familiar installed on it. And I'm more productive with it since I don't have to go looking for a Windows machine for half an hour and annoy myself beyond recognition.
Else, my other PDA runs on OpenZaurus, but there's no WinCE version for it, possibly a lucky coincidence. And I'm more productive with OpenZaurus than with WinCE which does not even have something like a shell, or even a real keyboard and handwriting recognition.
And I can emulate the greatest computer ever on the Zaurus - the Amiga classic. No WinCE can offer me that, and Palm neither.
HP will start offering upgrades from 26th June.
H3970, H5450 and H3800 can be upgraded.
Well, now that PPC2003 is out, I guess that means that there's now no chance of ever seeing IPv6 support for PPC2002 from Microsoft.
Is anyone out there working on this?
One of the great things of my beloved Jornada 680 (apart from having a keyboard) is that I can plug in my Ethernet card, type \\machine\share on the Explorer window, type my password and - voilà - access the share.
:-)
(Yes, it's the only Microsoft thing I use)
I wonder how the Microsoft genius decided that only Handheld PC Pro, and not all Windows CE/PocketPC owners, need to have this - you need to get a 3rd-party program to do this basic thing, especially on the corporate environment - isn't the corporate a Microsoft target?
Will the Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 (what a sucky name!) have to download a 3rd-party program to access their pr0n/h4cx0r on their Windows/Samba corporate server?
Cesar Cardoso can be found at cesar at zyakannazio dot eti dot br (or at least I believe so)
Palm OS based PDAs are going to eat their lunch
Cheers
VikingBrad
First, a lot of serious programmers dispute your estimate of Pascal's suck factor. Intel certainly didn't think so when they designed the 80x86 stack frame to efficiently support Pascal nested procedures. The Pascal-versus-C debate continues to this day, though I think in all practical terms C has won the argument.
I used to believe in the "teaching language run amuck" theory of Pascal's origins too. But that was before I started using Object Pascal in the real world, and found that it had many of the virtues of Java. The biggest of these is simplicity -- it's a lot easier to read OP code than the equivalent C++ code. And this simplicity also makes Object Pascal better suited for IDE work than C++. Since Object Pascal can be compiled in a single pass, it's a lot easier for the IDE to keep track of your changes.
Second, there's the name change: your understanding of the time frame is mistaken. It's a pretty common mistake: I heard it when Borland hired me in late 1999. But in fact the official name of the language was still "Object Pascal" when I was hired. Perhaps the documentation confused this issue by being sloppy about what features were in the IDE, which were in the object framework, and which were in the language itself -- too easy to just say "Delphi" and be done with it.
The official change actually came only last year, while I was still working there. Basically, they just wanted to more closely identify Kylix with its Windows sister product Delphi. Never understood why they didn't just call Kylix "Delphi for Linux".