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Credit Card Sized Concept PDA from Citizen

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the incredible-shrinking-handhelds dept.

chris writes "Citizen has unveiled a miniature PDA concept considerably smaller than existing PDAs. The 60 x 90 x 9.3mm 16-colour grayscale PDA is just a bit bigger then a credit card." A bit too large to stow in one's wallet, but it's still a slick form factor, easily hid in a pocket. It runs ITRON4 for an OS, and the battery life is rated at 30 hours.

37 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Only getting smaller... by Qweezle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    PDA's are only going to get smaller, and more powerful, as time marches on, much like microcomputers did in the 1980s and early 90's, and now we're at a point where they are all equally diminuitive. The same thing will essentially happen with PDAs...soon, we will all have PDAs which we can watch movies on, play music on, surf the web via our phone or WiFi on, or perhaps even it may be a phone as well, and etc. These will fit into a slot in our wallet for credit cards...and they may even dually serve as credit cards. Especially with the coming of OLED displays and nanotechnology, this all looks very certain to happen some time. Exciting!

  2. $200! by PaintyThePirate · · Score: 4, Insightful

    For $200, I really can't see this becoming a hot product. The average consumer would rather buy a $200 Palm or Pocket PC. They are just as pocketable as Citizen's concept (unless you have really small pants) plus they have color screens and multimedia capabilities.

    --
    eclecti.cc
  3. Next gen? by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 2, Funny

    So by the time these form factor devices get 32 bit colour, a 640x480 res screen, Linux, GPS add on cards, cameras etc and people are talking about them as good laptop replacements should we be looking out for a new prototype the size of a stamp? How many iterations before I can finally buy one of those nano-scale PDAs I have always dreamed of?

    --
    Beep beep.
  4. ouch my freakin eyes... by pocopoco · · Score: 2, Funny

    Look at that screen, it's hideous. It's tough to believe people used to accept that on a PDA...

    *goes back to playing with color VGA Zaurus PDA*
    Yumm..

  5. Sure it's small... by MicktheMech · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...but how are you supposed to hold it without getting your fingers on the screen or touchpad? I know minituarization is the name of a game, but when you're talking human computer interaction is it really the best way to go?

    1. Re:Sure it's small... by eidolons · · Score: 5, Funny
      ...and how long before you lose the damn thing? As electronics get exponentially smaller, we're shelling out more and more loads of $ for tiny little gadgets.

      What happens if you get your pants stolen (I don't want to imagine the scenario where this would happen, but bear with me) when you're carrying your mp3, your cell phone, and your pda and who knows what else? Soon our laptops will be the size of credit cards (that unfold or something for the screen). We don't need house insurance anymore, we need pants insurance. You know what? I think I'll invest in pants insurance. Listen, you heard it here first.

    2. Re:Sure it's small... by MicktheMech · · Score: 2, Funny
      What happens if you get your pants stolen
      BEWARE...The dangers of wearable computing!
  6. Oxymoron alert! by cliffy2000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "16-colour grayscale"
    I know what they mean, but it's a little misleading.

  7. Whoops by r_glen · · Score: 5, Informative

    The company link is wrong. Correct address is here

  8. Re:PC card PDA by Locutus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That's what went through my mind too. Rexx was the name IIRC and I think Franklin purchased the productline. This "concept" has a much larger screen resolution though.

    seems everybodies got a PDA these days.

    LoB

    --
    "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
  9. Is it just me? by Quasar1999 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Or are these getting too small to be useful? Really, if I need to read info off it, and more importantly enter info into it, it's just too dang small.

    --

    ---
    Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
    1. Re:Is it just me? by POds · · Score: 2, Insightful

      depends on what you want to use it for. It'd be usful as a notepad like applications to take down notes or whatever in meetings etc...

      What would be good is to able to use it as a PCI as someoen said there is something like that! And an application on the PC or whatever would take the notes off the device and using OCR (or whatever that technology for identifying characters was) or something similar, convert the notice to normal text tob e used in a word processor or something :)!

      Theres possibilities for this thing. We've just got keep an open mind, but not too opened that it will fall out, as someone said on slashdot once! :)

      --


      Giving IE users a taste of their own medicine since 2005 - http://pods.-is-a-geek.net/
  10. Re:PC card PDA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    It was called REX and I had one, it's probably still around somewhere. Yes, it was a PCMCIA form-factor so you could sync it with a laptop easily. Didn't have a touch screen though, so no real mobile input abilities. Here's an old review I found with a picture: http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/rex5k1/

  11. Smaller PDA -- that's what I need by Pan+T.+Hose · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've been waiting for a mini PDA for quite a long time now. My old, huge PDA is certainly too easy to operate. I can even read the screen without a magnifying glass! It's not "cool" at all.

    --
    Sincerely,
    Pan Tarhei Hosé, PhD.
    "Homo sum et cogito ergo odi profanum vulgus et libido."
  12. Ever hear of the REX? by cybermace5 · · Score: 4, Informative

    This concept is not new or original. The original Rex was even grayscale! I thought it was really nifty because it doubled as a PCMCIA card; just pop it in your laptop and sync up. A PDA actually light enough to fit in a shirt pocket. Though mostly only good for addresses, clock, calculator, to-do list...what you need really, but no games to waste time with.

    --
    ...
    1. Re:Ever hear of the REX? by RevAaron · · Score: 3, Informative

      As it stands, this looks to be roughly the size of a REX with touch-screen data entry added.

      The later REX models did have touch-screen data entry. My roomate had a REX up until recently when his dumb ass set on it at some angle that broke it. Anywho, he could enter text- a new appointment, note, todo, whatever- using an on-screen keyboard, and tap various widgets using the touchscreen.

      It was a really nice little device, not capable whatsoever compared to most of the PDAs you could buy for the same price (he spent ~$200 around 1.5-2 years ago), but really small and enough for what he wanted.

      IIRC, the REX had very little RAM and a very slow (1-3 MHz Z80) CPU, but it got great batter life on its two lil watch batteries for normal use. He tried using it as an ebook reader but found that having it on constanltly killed batteries.

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    2. Re:Ever hear of the REX? by cybermace5 · · Score: 2

      The neatest thing I ever saw on the web, period, was when about the second or so model of Rex came out. There was an application (don't remember if it was Java or Flash) that was an exact onscreen emulation of the Rex. You could do anything with it that you could do with a real Rex, except put it in your pocket and take it with you. Definitely head and shoulders above some of the "simulations" you see nowadays for some products, where all you can do is open a door or turn it over or something.

      IIRC, Eagle does have downloadable simulations of their fishfinders that are about the same level of coolness.

      --
      ...
  13. You're thinking of the REX 6000 by Thag · · Score: 2, Informative

    The REX 6000 was a similarly sized PDA that came out shortly after the Palm Pilot. I recall it had the serious limitation that you couldn't input data on it, but it was very tiny.

    This one seems a little more powerful, and can probably do data input.

    --
    All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
    1. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by Uma+Thurman · · Score: 3, Funny

      Can't input data on the PDA? I've got a PDA like that. I carry it inside my skull. It's also made of meat.

      --
      This is America, damnit. Speak Spanish!
    2. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Interesting

      " I recall it had the serious limitation that you couldn't input data on it, but it was very tiny."

      Yes, that's true. It was more of a display device than a PDA. I have a watch made by Fossil like that. It's a big, very big watch. (Surprisingly comfy tho..) Also, it only syncs with my PocketPC and not my laptop. Still, it was handy to have around. I'm a little surprised there isn't a market for teeny little read only devices like that. My watch was great for storing stuff like business trip information.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    3. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by Uma+Thurman · · Score: 2, Funny

      My brain can only imagine what it tastes like.

      --
      This is America, damnit. Speak Spanish!
    4. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by WoTG · · Score: 4, Informative

      I used a REX for a couple years. It was quite good for it's intended tasks. The lack of input was a pain, but actually not as bad as it sounds at first. It was first and foremost a phonebook, like Palms were at first. For new or updated contacts you'd have to jot down the data with a good old pen and paper, then update the contact in Outlook, or other compatible software. The next sync and you'd be good to go. Don't forget, Palm + Grafiti isn't the fastest data input method either. I tend to jot things to paper first - especially if it's info from over the phone.

      Some of the last models of REX's had limited input capability. They used the 4 (5?) buttons, in a similar manner to the way game consoles use their controllers for entering text and numbers. I assume it was suitable for updating phone or email addresses in a pinch.

      The size of the Rex was outstanding. I didn't think twice about carrying it around all day. I can't say the same about my Palm Pilot. If I could combine the size of the Rex, with the features of a Palm, I'd be interested.

    5. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by RevAaron · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, you could input data on it. Perhaps the oldest model you couldn't, I wouldn't know. But the model my roomate had, one of the newer ones, had a ~ 240x160 screen (?) and a touch screen. Didn't have character recognition or anything, but it did have an on screen keyboard used for entering new appointments and such.

      My roomate didn't have a windows box to sync this thing with- anything on it he entered himself. With the exception of a couple ebooks I put on using my own PDA, a Jornada 720 with a PCMCIA slot. Kind of funny, syncing a PDA with a PDA, but yeah.

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    6. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by ActiveSX · · Score: 2, Informative

      Funnily enough, the Xircom REX 6000 was actually the same product as the Citizen DataSlim 2. Citizen seems to have experience in the micro PDA market.

    7. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by codename_par · · Score: 2, Informative

      I beleave you are reffering to REX5000. I have a REX6000 PDA, and it allows for data imput. It actually has a toutch-screen and an old ZILOG Z80 processor. You could develop applications for it using a toolkit. Unfortunatly Intel bought Xircom and discontinued the product.

    8. Re:You're thinking of the REX 6000 by Tha_Zanthrax · · Score: 2, Informative
      there were a couple of versions of the REX pda's, but the REX6000 definitly had input posibility.
      it had the same 5 buttons as every other, but also a touchscreen with a on-screen keyboard.


      I have one, but I don't use it very often because I also own a palm PDA and there is no easy way of syncronizing the two. But I do think the REX6000 was a very usefull device. in some cases regular handheld devices are just to large.

  14. truth stranger than reality by poptones · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Reminds me of this.

    I think it's cool enough to be the first PDA I'd actually plunk down cash on. but it's still lacking in two areas: it's not quite small enough (the front should just be ALL screen, or at most just a narrow frame around it) and it's not in color. I suspect it also would not have the horsepower to play 320x240 xvid movies, which it really needs along with a teeny camera.

    That system, with one of those 1GB microdrives for storage, would make a killer pocket computer. Use it to record notes, video, and watch and listen. Type? Who needs to type? Just record everything and let the sync software on the home PC do the rest.

  15. I Can Wait by cmacb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I STILL think all these things are overpriced. Heck in the 80's I got hold of a calculator that was credit card sized..literally in every dimension. flexible like a credit card too so it fit into my wallet and got sat on just like other credit cards with no ill-effects. I think I paid about $5 for it on a boardwalk in CA, but I never saw the things widely marketed in the US. Instead I saw much thicker devices that would crack if flexed at all and they cost several times as much. Palm devices are the same way. The technology exists to build the thing for $15 and have all the standard Pilot functionality. As long as people will pay $200 for every new tiny incremental improvement you can't blame the hardware companies for taking your money.

    If my Palm III ever dies and goes to heaven (doesn't show any signs of it) my plan to is go to Walmart and see what Casio has been up to. I have a sneaking suspicion that they already have all the functionality I need for a carry-everywhere device. I'm a bit more picky about laptops however.

  16. Been in the development for years.. by miradu2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This seems simliar to ideas that were proposed by Citizen 3 years ago. See This article from Cnet 3 years ago. It details citizen's development of a credit card sized device that could plug into the Handspring Visor. (I remembered this article from my work at visorcentral 3 years ago)

    "Handspring and watch maker Citizen are tinkering with a prototype add-on for the Visor handheld that would allow people to copy information from their device onto a second, credit card-sized organizer."

    Citizen also helped co-develop the Rex.

  17. Symbolics PDA.... by njord · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is the fevered dream of a romantic, but I'd pay money to see a Lisp-based PDA. An actualy Lisp Processer isn't necessarily what I mean; a powerful commercial or a free and powerful Lisp interpreted for x86 (or any von Neumann) processor would be okay. What I want is for it do have a Genera-like OS that can be re-written in real-time. Man, that would rule.

    Ain't gunna happen, though. Unless someone wants to pay me to write it for the PDA of their choice.

    Also, it should have a Canesta projection keyboard. I saw them at siggraph, they rock!

    njord, Lisp sympathizer

  18. Hopefully well designed by killerkalamari · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I bought one of those Oregon Scientific mini-PDA's (credit card size, but 1/8" thick).. it was only a few bucks brand new on E-Bay, so I decided to give it a shot. It was really fun to play with, but the lack of a keyboard or handwriting recognition made me quickly realize it wasn't much more than a toy. I just couldn't keep up trying to punch things in on the onscreen keyboard so I often ended up with various notes in my pocket thinking "I will enter that later" (phone numbers, appointments, etc). Later, of course, never seemed to come around. I finally quit carrying it when certain cells of the touch screen stopped working (on/off comes to mind).

    I'm still hoping for a programmable PDA calculator watch with the form factor of my Casio Data Bank DBC-61[0] (I'm not talking about those clunky new wannabe data banks with impossible to press keys). Here's a pic:

    Casio DBC-610

    Notice the smooth keypad? This is perfect for quick entry. Raised buttons are harder to press and slow me down. The battery lasts at least 3 years. Now, add PDA features and predictive text input, and you have a winner (the screen doesn't need to change much, it can display text and numbers). Of course it will never happen, but I can dream :) Jeff

  19. Cold fusion discovered, or...? by Timmeh · · Score: 5, Funny

    So what are you hoping for, about 37 seconds of battery life?

  20. The nameless concept by ElliotLee · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope they don't give it a name. I really like the sound of "Nameless Concept". "The nameless concept will be priced at $200 at an undetermined release date." What's that dude's phone number? When's that appointment? Let me check my Nameless Concept...

  21. REX family were made by Citizen by Bushcat · · Score: 2, Informative
    The REX family were designed and manufactured by Citizen. Known in Japan as the DataSlim, there were 7 models released between 1997 and 2001. Later versions could input data. It was great being able to synch in the PC card slot.

    The first OEM customer was Sterling Plastics (i.e. Rolodex). See here for the Japanese ones.

    So Citizen certainly knows how to make this type of product.

  22. More info in Japanese press release by Bushcat · · Score: 4, Informative
    See here for the Japanese press release.

    Highlights: 8MB flash memory (4MB for data), 512kB RAM, runs at 24MHz or 48MHz, touchscreen uses Decuma handwriting recognition (Decuma is a Swedish company with Sony VC money; Decuma is also used in Sony Clies & cellphones). FM/Midi sound, vibrator; PIM, mail client supports POP/SMTP.

    Can communicate with SD form-factor PHS card, Wi-Fi card, Bluetooth etc. Tri-color LED, sound and vibration alerts for incoming data.

    I figure it's a much more useful device in Japan where connectivity is ubiquitous, than the US. But it will have a tough time competing with the likes of the J-SH53 and its successors.

  23. Fevered dream of a pragmatic by iamacat · · Score: 2, Informative

    Man, you have it easy. Grab a Palm, go to this link and enjoy. Now what I would like to see is J2SE (or a large subset that includes AWT) on high end Palm devices. Yes, there is Zaurus, but Palm or CE are so much more popular.

  24. Weighs only 70g... by lipi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...plus Wi-Fi enabled and and it has ARM processor in it: perfect on-board controller for model air-planes.