New Windows Mobile SE Handhelds Expected Soon

Since Microsoft first unveiled Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition a couple of months ago, many handheld users have been impatiently waiting for the debut of devices that take advantage of this operating system's new capabilities. The wait is almost over, as the next generation of Pocket PCs is about to hit the market.

Unlike previous versions, Windows Mobile SE offers built-in support for 640-by-480-pixel (VGA) displays, and several companies are expected to release new models that include screens with this resolution.

In addition, the Second Edition is the first version of this operating system that allows users to easily switch the screen between portrait and landscape modes. This opens up the possibility of Pocket PCs that use a clamshell design, with the screen on one side and a keyboard on the other. Motorola has already announced a model that will use this configuration, and at least one other company is expected to do so in the near future.

HP

HP has done a very good job of keeping details of its upcoming models from leaking out. The only definite word is a report from News.com on the day Windows Mobile SE was announced that said HP is planning to release handhelds that take advantage of the new features in this operating system.

Update: Brighthand has been given an overview of HP's plans for New iPAQ Models for the rest of 2004. This shows that HP is giving up on the sleeve and committing itself to producing smaller handhelds. All the available details on the upcoming iPAQs can be found in this article.

Dell

A Dell spokesperson has confirmed that her company will create handhelds that use this new operating system. "Dell will deploy Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition in future Axim products," she said.

Evidence has emerged that indicates Dell will be using a VGA screen in an upcoming Pocket PC. When Intel was first demonstrating its Marathon graphics co-processor for the XScale line, a company spokesperson announced that Dell would be using Marathon in an Axim model to be released during the second half of this year.

Marathon was created for 640-by-480-pixel displays and up. If it is going to be in a future Axim model, then that model will have a VGA screen.

More information is available in this article.

Toshiba

According to information coming out of France, Toshiba will release an updated version of its current high-end model, the e800, in July.

The e830 will reportedly be essentially be the same as the e800, except that it will include a next-generation PXA270 XScale processor running at 520 MHz and Bluetooth short-range wireless networking. Like its predecessor, it will have a VGA screen, Wi-Fi, and dual memory card slots.

More information on the e830 is available in this article.

ASUS

ASUS formally announced the MyPal A730 earlier this year, though this model isn't expected to be available for a few months.

This Pocket PC will have a VGA screen, like the Toshiba e800. However, this will be a 3.7-inch display, while the e800's is 4 inches. In fact, the whole A730 will be somewhat smaller than the Toshiba model. (Click on the picture at left to see a comparison.)

It will use a 520 MHz XScale PXA270 processor and include 128 MB of RAM. It will offer both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking.

The A730 will sport a 1.3 megapixel camera, a CompactFlash Type II slot, and an SD/MMC slot that supports SDIO.

This device is expected to be available around the middle of this year.

More details of this upcoming wireless Pocket PC can be found in this article.

Fujitsu-Siemens

Fujitsu-Siemens is expected to release in the near future a new Pocket Loox model that, according to FirstLoox, will include a VGA screen and use a 540 MHz XScale processor.

Several months ago, this company had a Pocket PC with a clamshell design on its roadmap of upcoming products. However, it is not known if this is the device that will be released in the near future, or if it's a second model planned for later this summer.

Fujitsu-Siemens has recieved permission from the FCC to release the Pocket Loox 410 and 420. It is not known at this time whether these devices will run Windows Mobile SE or not.

The 420 will include both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the 410 will have only Bluetooth. Both models will have a QVGA screen.

Read more about the Pocket Loox 400 series in this article.

Motorola

Motorola is the only company besides ASUS to have formally announced an upcoming model running Windows Mobile SE. The MPx will be a Pocket PC Phone Edition device that skirts the line between a wireless handheld and a Pocket PC.

With its dual hinges, the MPx will take advantage of the Windows Mobile 2003 SE's ability to switch on the fly between portrait and landscape modes, but its display will be at the standard resolution of 240 by 320 pixels.

As well as both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the MPx will be able to connect to GSM/GPRS wireless networks for voice and data.

It will have an SD slot for additional storage.

Motorola is expected to release this device sometime around the middle of this year. It is not yet known which wireless carriers will offer it.

Additional information is available about the Motorola MPx in this article.