You can find more information about the SanDisk SDIO Wi-Fi card at SanDisk's Web site (www.sandisk.com/consumer/sdwifi.asp). SanDisk provides detailed information and also compatibility charts in case you are wondering if this card will work with your Pocket PC.
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Derek Ball is the CEO of Sonic Mobility (www.sonicmobility.com) in Calgary, Canada. Sonic builds wireless software for mobile devices like the Pocket PC. Derek is also the co-author of the best-selling book 'How To Do Everything With Your iPAQ Pocket PC'. Derek has published several books and written over 60 articles. Derek lives with his wife, three daughters, dog and cat in Calgary. Contact Derek at [email protected].
SanDisk Gives You Wi-Fi and File Storage on One CompactFlash Card
by John Mierau
With the number of Wi-Fi hotspots poised to explode across North America, a Wi-Fi equipped Pocket PC is starting to make a lot of sense. HP and Toshiba make a couple of models with built-in Wi-Fi capability, but those of us who don't own one of these models need to add it to our Pocket PCs.
The article that precedes this one reviews the SDIO version of SanDisk's new Connect Low-Power Wi-Fi Card, which is one of the few Wi-Fi solutions available for the growing number of Pocket PCs whose only expansion slot is a single SDIO card slot. However, if your Pocket PC has a CompactFlash (CF) slot, you'll definitely want to take a look at SanDisk's new ConnectPlus line. I was lucky enough to try out SanDisk's new ConnectPlus Low-Power 128MB + Wi-Fi CF Card and I was impressed with what I found.
SanDisk Wi-Fi and File Storage on One CompactFlash Card (shown above)
SanDisk ConnectPlus: Wi-Fi and file storage in one card
Most Pocket PCs equipped with a CF slot also have an SD card slot. The ConnectPlus card lets you make the CF slot do double duty by combining Wi-Fi functionality and file storage memory in a single CF card. This leaves your Pocket PC's SD card slot free to add even more storage memory. And as everyone familiar with computers knows, you can never have enough storage memory. You access the file storage memory on the card as you would any other storage card, via the File Explorer application on the Pocket PC. You can even install third-party applications on the card. With the proliferation of PDA-friendly Web sites and Wi-Fi hotspots, you'll be downloading more Web content, e-mail, and instant messages. The extra memory will come in handy.
SanDisk plans to follow up with an SDIO version of the Wi-Fi/storage card later this year or early next. Since many of the newer Pocket PCs have only a single SDIO slot, the SDIO version of ConnectPlus is eagerly awaited.
The ConnectPlus card has the following features:
Transmit and receive speeds up to 11 Mbps.
Reception range (from nearest Wi-Fi access point) up to 300 feet.
Supports ad hoc mode: communication between Wi-Fi equipped Pocket PCs and other clients without the use of an access point (no info on reception range).
LED on antenna portion of the card indicates status of Wi-Fi: Blinking light indicates that the card is receiving a signal from a Wi-Fi access point but cannot make a connection. Steady light indicates that you are connected to an access point.
Designed to minimize power consumption.
Initial file storage capacity of the ConnectPlus CF card is 128 MB, but a 256 MB version is in the works. No release date is available for the 256 MB version.
The Secure Digital version of the ConnectPlus card will have a file storage capacity of 256 MB.
The CF ConnectPlus card ships with a PC Card adapter that allows it to be inserted into the larger card slots.
The package includes a mini-CD with necessary software drivers and Wi-Fi settings applications for Pocket PC and desktop PC systems.
Easy to install; easy to use!
All you have to do to install the software and Wi-Fi settings applications is connect your Pocket PC to your desktop PC and run the installation software on your desktop PC. When the software installation is finished, place the ConnectPlus card in the CF slot and turn on your Pocket PC. SanDisk's Wi-Fi settings application opens automatically to the status tab and scans for active access points in the vicinity.
The setup procedure also installs a signal-indicator icon on the task bar, in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. Tapping on that icon brings up the Wi-Fi settings application. The icon itself indicates the quality of your connection:
A blue bar indicates a high-quality signal.
A yellow bar indicates a weak signal.
A red bar indicates that no signal is being received.
A picture of a computer with a dangling cable indicates that the card is not detected.
If there is a single Wi-Fi access point in the area, all you have to do is slip the ConnectPlus card into the CF slot. The Wi-Fi application will launch itself and connect to the access point. If there are multiple access points in the vicinity, you can use the "AP browser" tab in the Wi-Fi application to scan for active Wi-Fi networks and join the one you want. The "Config" tab lets you select a particular network, or even use the card without a network. Wi-Fi enabled Pocket PCs can communicate with each other without using an access point, forming what is know as an "ad hoc network."
I had some problems using the ConnectPlus card with two Dell Axim X5s (see sidebar), but it worked flawlessly with the iPAQs and HP Jornadas I tested it with. It was a joy to be able to access the Internet and my e-mail and do FTP downloads from my porch or the kitchen.
Changing signal strength eats up battery life
The ConnectPlus card is labeled a "low-power" device, and its power conservation mode is enabled by default. You can change it to a high-power device using the Wi-Fi settings application. However, when I did so, the only difference I noticed was that it drained the Pocket PC's batteries faster. I did not experience any appreciable increase in data transfer speed, nor did the useable range of the device appear to increase. In all the Pocket PCs I tested, the ConnectPlus card maintained 70%-plus signal strength to a distance of approximately thirty feet from both ActionTec and LinkSys access points. Within that range, it never dropped a connection. But anything over that range (on either low-power or ifull-power settings) resulted in erratic signal strength readings and choppy connections.
Wi-Fi workhorse
Sprint recently announced plans for a massive, nation-wide buildup of Wi-Fi hotspot services. In addition, T-Mobile is working with Starbucks to put hotspots in more of their upscale coffee shops. Finally, airports and business-oriented hotels are incorporating Wi-Fi technology as a way to better server their customers. As Wi-Fi services spread, SanDisk and the manufacturers of other Wi-Fi cards will be poised to fill what is likely to be a massive consumer demand.
The ConnectPlus Wi-Fi settings application is easy to use and in most cases the card flawlessly detects access points and maintains a strong signal for up to 30 feet. In short, it's a Wi-Fi workhorse with a bonus of 128 MB of file storage on board. I'm very pleased with the card and will happily continue using it in both my Pocket PC and laptop.
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Problems using the ConnectPlus card with some Pocket PCs
I tested the card on two Dell Axim X5s, one with the original ROM image and one with Dell's AO3 upgrade (a Pocket PC 2002 ROM upgrade and bug fix). With both devices, the SanDisk software driver did not always seem to work, and when it did, service was very intermittent. When the driver did not work, all other functions on the Axim became sluggish to the point that I found myself watching the screen redraw itself. A last issue with the Axim is that I couldn't get the infrared beaming to work when the ConnectPlus card was working. SanDisk tech support was professional and tried to help me with the problem, but we had not found a solution as this article went to press.
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John Mierau is an ISP veteran and a refugee from the IT call center industry. A networking and PDA deployment consultant for small businesses in Southern Ontario, Canada, he spends his spare time mountain biking, camping, and managing www.compu2go.com, a Web site ded
icated to Pocket PCs and ultramobile technology. You can reach John at [email protected].
Stowaway's New Extra-Thin Keyboard Is Available for a Variety of Pocket PCs!
by Gary B. Garland, Esq.
Think Outside's (www.thinkoutside.com) original Stowaway has been the undisputed master of external keyboards for HP Pocket PCs and Palm OS devices. But now that reign is being challenged by its younger sibling, the Stowaway XT (for eXtra Thin). The new keyboard has all the important features of its predecessor, but sacrifices a few minor ones to shed much of the extraneous size of the original, and some of the weight.
Think Outside's original Stowaway foldable keyboard (bottom) and the new, smaller Stowaway XT (top).
Size does matter!
The original Stowaway had a unique four-sectioned folding design. The new Stowaway XT folds in half and has an offset hinge system that takes stress away from the center joint (Screen 1). The most obvious differences between the XT and original Stowaway are the XT's smaller size, a split in the center of the space bar, the loss of the top row of dedicated number keys, and the elimination of separate quick-launch keys. Another important difference is the XT's offset hinge, which supports the open keyboard better than the overly flexible original Stowaway.
Screen 1 (above): Stowaway XT (bottom) folds in half and has an offset hinge system that supports the unfolded keyboard. The original Stowaway (top) has a larger, four-sectioned folding design.
Remarkably, the portion of the keyboard you actually type on isn't that much smaller on the XT. Think Outside reduced the size of the keys from 19 mm to 18 mm square, and the difference is almost unnoticeable. The overall size of the unit was kept small by the removal of the top row and the short cut keys, and the elimination of wasted space surrounding the keys.
Everything's still there, but in a different place sometimes
Fear not, what the XT takes with one hand, it returns with another. All the functions are still available on the XT, but they are placed on different keys. For example the numbers 0-9 are located on the top row of keys (Q, W, E, R, etc.). The quick-launch keys for Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Word, Excel, etc., are now located on the second and third rows. Think Outside also added quick-launch keys to bring up the Today screen and the Programs and Settings folders, and to open a new e-mail message. There is also a Send key to send out a completed e-mail. Think Outside also added currency symbols for the euro, the British pound, and the yen, to the third row. With the exception of the yen, all of the above keys are accessed by first pressing the blue Fn key, which is found to the left of the space bar.
The symbols normally associated with the number keys (!, @, #, $, etc.) are also found on the top row of the keyboard. The page up, page down, home, end, and yen symbol are found in the lower right portion of the keyboard. These symbols and keys are accessed by first pressing the green Fn key, which is located to the right of the space bar. Yes, doubling and tripling up on some keys and using two different Fn keys takes a little getting used to, as does the loss of a dedicated number row. Adapting to the change took me about 30 minutes. If you think you can live with these changes, the XT is a great solution. If not, you'd probably prefer the original Stowaway.
Unlike the original Stowaway, the XT has no embedded keypad. Think Outside has indicated that they will listen to customer response on this decision to see if they should add it back on future models. Personally, I've never used embedded keypads in any notebook computer. Note also that the quick-launch keys are not user-definable. You can use them for their intended purpose but cannot reprogram them to launch third-party applications. That is a feature I would like to see on the next version of the software.
Engineering excellence
Both versions of the Stowaway external keyboard are exercises in engineering excellence. The original (and the virtually identical version 1.1) fold up, accordion-style, into a case roughly the size and weight of a Pocket PC. The XT uses a completely different design to fold up into a case that's even smaller. It really is a work of art, and I have spent many minutes opening and closing it with admiration. Opening and closing the original Stowaway is a little trickier.
When I wrote this review, the Stowaway XT was available only for the HP iPAQ h3800, h3900, and h5400 series Pocket PCs and a number of Palm OS PDAs. However, Think Outside will release a version of the XT in November 2003 that will be compatible with the HP iPAQ h1900, h2200, h3800, h3900, h5100, h5400, and h5500 series, as well as with the Dell Axim X5 (X3 untested at this time) and the following Toshiba models: e330, e350, e740, and e750. Think Outside was mum about a rumored Bluetooth version, but a new infrared XT has come out recently for the Palm, priced at around $69. Historically, Pocket PC versions of Stowaway keyboards have come out a few months later.
Current retail pricing for the XT is $99. Prices for the original and version 1.1 range from $69 to $89, depending upon the model. Think Outside keyboards are available from a variety of online sources, including Fellowes (www.fellowes.com), your Mobile Desk (www.yourmobiledesk.com), and others.
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Gary B. Garland, Esq. is a litigation attorney practicing in New York and New Jersey. An avid Pocket PC user, he looks for ways to optimize his law practice while waiting in court or while commuting. He writes for several Web sites, and is the administrator of www.gadgetaddict.com. Contact Gary at [email protected].
New Software and Accessories
The products listed here include hardware, software, publications, events, and services for devices using the Windows Mobile operating system. They are part of our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories www.PocketPCmag.com/Encyclopedia.asp. We list suggested retail prices, but they may change witout notice. These listings do not represent an endorsement by the editors. many of the software products are available for online downloading. For live links to the Web sites mentioned in this section, visit out Web site at www.PocketPCmag.com and click on the "current issue" button. Information about the various Pocket PCs themselves can be found in our "At A Glance" section.
Vendors: If you have a product to announce, please go to our Web site "How to Get Information Published in Pocket PC" www.PocketPCmag.com/publish.asp and enter it directly into our Encyclopedia www.PocketpCmag.com/Encyclopedia.asp, or send an e-mail message to Diane Dumas at [email protected].
= Pocket PC
= Smartphone
= Handheld PC
= desktop PC
Hardware
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Accessories
Cases
GoStyle Wood Cases
Wood veneer skins for a variety of Pocket PCs. They have adhesive backings that are pressure sensitive and adhere to your device. Available with aluminum screen covers, the skins can also be customized with your name, logo, or initials for an additional fee.
$varies
Use With: P/PC, and P/PC 2002
TechStyle, Inc.
www.gostyle.com
[email protected]
Toshiba e740 Aluminum Case
An aluminium case for the Toshiba e740. It is lined with a soft protective cushioning of neoprene. The flip-open panel located at the front gives access through cutouts to the stylus, SD card slot, CF card slot, headphone jack, microphone, recording button, scroller, IR port, reset button, DC-in socket, Hotsync port, and battery switch.
$34.95
Use With: Toshiba e740
Proporta Ltd.
www.proporta.com
[email protected]
Toshiba e740 Aluminum Case: Protect your Toshiba e740/750 with this hard case and soft lining inside from the "hard knocks" of everyday use!
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Miscellaneous
Blue Jacket
An expansion sleeve designed for the iPAQ 3600, 3700, and 3800 series Pocket PCs. Available in four models, the 410, the 420, the 430, and the 630. All models include a CompactFlash slot and these additional features: 410 adds a SmartCard reader, 420 adds a Bluetooth module, 430
adds Bluetooth and a SmartCard reader, and 630 adds a digital camera.
$Varies
Use With: iPAQ 3600, 3700, and 3800
Axcess Mobile Communications
www.axcess-mobile.com
[email protected]
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Vehicle Mounts
360 Degree Swivel Adaptor
A swivel adapter that adds 360-degree rotation to Seidio, Proclip, and Akron dash mounts.
$9.95
Use With: P/PC, and P/PC 2002
Seidio, Inc.
Pocket PC magazine, January 2004 Page 13
