Short Cuts: Roaming the Mobile Computing Industry

AMD Flash Suitable for Newton

Apple Newton users can rejoice—a little. For some time now, they have been forced to pick and choose among a limited set of often-expensive storage cards for their favorite PDA. But recently, Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced that the Newton-compatible memory card field has grown a bit. Specifically, AMD revealed that their C- and D-Series Flash memory cards have been approved for use with Apple’s flagship MessagePad 120.

AMD’s Flash memory cards are designed to store up to 20 MB of data and operate using a single 5-volt power supply for both read and write operations. For users accustomed to storage cards with capacities commonly ranging between one and four megabytes, the news is good indeed. AMD’s C-Series card is based on the company’s 4-Mbit flash memory chips while the D-Series employs AMD’s 16-Mbit components.

Pricing information was not available at the time of writing. For more information, please contact Advanced Micro Devices at (408) 749-5703.

Zinc-Air Batteries Get a Boost

For quite some time, it seemed as though battery technology would forever lag the near-exponential increases in processor performance and storage capability. However, things are not as bad as they may seem. Recent design and manufacturing advances have prompted the wide-scale move from less-reliable NiCad technology to more flexible Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium cells.

As these technologies continue to advance, some are looking to an entirely new method of power production known as zinc-air. Zinc-air is a rechargeable system that promises to offer full-day power capacities at roughly one-half of the current size and weight. Recently, Smyrna, Georgia-based AER Energy Resources announced that they are incorporating this patented technology into their existing AER Energy cell design with significant improvements over earlier designs.

Prototype [zinc air] batteries produced by AER contain 140 watt hours of energy and, at a weight of 1.8 pounds, can operate a regular notebook computer for up to twelve hours between charges.

These improvements include a new cell along with a better air flow system, a critical resource for the zinc-air system to function. Prototype batteries produced by AER contain 140 watt hours of energy and, at a weight of 1.8 pounds, can operate a regular notebook computer for up to twelve hours between charges. AER claims that current battery systems typically contain 30 to 40 watt hours of energy at weights of between 1 and 1.5 pounds.

Zinc air batteries operate by using oxygen from the air as a fuel to drive the chemical process which generates the electricity. For more information, please contact AER Energy Resources, Inc. at (404) 433-2127, (404) 433-2286 (fax).

New Recognizer from ParaGraph

Part of the appeal of pen computing is the strong emotional component available for the first time in computers that are capable of accepting a person’s handwritten input. This is also the reason why people are so profoundly disappointed when a handwriting systems fails to live up to a person’s decades-worth of built-in expectations.

From a technological point of view, almost all of the current handwriting recognition systems are very impressive. But designers continue to search for that magical combination of form and function: form being the user interface of the computer system, and function being the capability and accuracy.

The newest entry into this increasingly crowded field is none other than ParaGraph International, long-time leader in this technology and developer of the Newton’s very innovative cursive handwriting engine, now called Calligrapher. Partly in response to Palm Computing’s successful Graffiti recognizer, ParaGraph has released a new print recognizer for the Newton called FreeStyle which enables users to quickly print into a floating Newton applet with very good result.

FreeStyle differs from Graffiti in that it first asks you to train the recognizer using your own style of letters, numbers, special symbols, and gestures.

FreeStyle differs from Graffiti in that it first asks you to train the recognizer using your own style of letters, numbers, special symbols, and gestures. This makes the system more adaptable to your personal style, but requires you to still employ letters and figures that are reasonable distinct from each other. When writing, you can slide the floating applet underneath the built-in icons at the bottom of the Newton screen, saving valuable space and allowing you to write in-place without having to look at the screen.

FreeStyle also enables you to define text and phrases assigned for macro expansion. FreeStyle works with all versions of the Newton operating system, including 2.0, and is available for $49.95. For more information, please contact Ilya Poluektov of ParaGraph International at (408) 364-7718, (408) 374-5466, [email protected].

ARDIS Enhances Wireless Developers Program

Developing wireless-enabled applications requires a fair amount of expertise, and often a significant amount of wireless air-time to test and debug the product. ARDIS, the US nationwide wireless data service, is working to reduce the air-time cost burden on developers by enhancing its already ongoing program of reduced air-time and registration fees, along with additional on-line technical support through the World Wide Web.

Effective January 1st, ARDIS cut the air-time costs by 50 percent for software developers using network time for application development. ARDIS also reduced the one-time registration fee for the Wireless Software Developer Program to $150. Taken together with the reduction of the minimum monthly charge to $5 from $20, ARDIS is counting on the new savings to spur application development over its network.

For more information, please contact the Wireless Software Developer Program administrator at (800) 572-7347 or ARDIS at (708) 913-1215, (708) 913-1453.

Infrared Comes to PC Card Format

Wireless local area communication today is predominantly based on radio frequency (RF) technology. But RF has historically had to overcome hurdles related to interference, security and, not least of all, domestic and international regulation. Infrared, on the other hand, comes with its own share of hurdles but generally offers simpler and lower cost systems, lower power consumption, and regulation-free use throughout the world.

Hoping to leverage these advantages, Santa Ana, California-based ITT Cannon recently announced an IrDA-compliant PC Card kit for use with mobile computers sporting a Type II slot. Capable of supporting relatively high data rates of up to 115 Kbps, the IrDA PC Card operates over comparatively short distances ranging between 10 to 50 centimeters (4 to 20 inches).

The IrDA PC Card features an infrared LED and photodiode integrated with the frame of the card kit reducing the length and bulk of the card and making it fit into a standard Type II slot. The card is compatible with the DOS COM port standard (16C500 compatible), along with the version 1.0 method of the IrDA, the Digital ASK method, and the SIR method.

For more information, please contact Tohru Iwama of ITT Cannon at (714) 757-8459, (714) 757-8301 (fax).