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November 14, 2002—In this issue:
1. MOBILE & WIRELESS PERSPECTIVES
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS
- How Can You Reclaim 30% to 50% of Windows Server Space?
- Subscribe to Windows & .NET Magazine and Receive an eBook Gift!
3. INSTANT POLL
- Results of Previous Poll: Tablet PC Launch
- New Instant Poll: Mobile & Wireless Applications
4. RESOURCE
- Event Highlight: 802.11 Planet Fall Conference & Expo
5. NEW AND IMPROVED
- Use the Same Wireless Adapter at Home and Work
- Use Your PDA to Set Your Electronic Appliance
6. CONTACT US
See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
1. MOBILE & WIRELESS PERSPECTIVES
(contributed by Steve Milroy, [email protected])
In last week's Mobile & Wireless UPDATE, John D. Ruley discussed Microsoft's launch of the Tablet PC. Today, I want to provide my impressions of the technology and show you some key features of the Tablet PC platform.
I had the pleasure of attending the Tablet PC launch events in Denver and Salt Lake City and copresented a session. Since I began to play with the Tablet PC more than 2 months ago, I've been consistently impressed by the maturity of the technology, which is something Microsoft has been quietly working on for more than 10 years.
The new Tablet PC devices are based on the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition platform, which is basically XP Professional Edition with Tablet PC features. You can do anything on the Tablet PC that you can do with XP Pro, including running wireless networking, using Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook applications, and developing custom applications. Several hardware vendors have released or will soon release devices based on XP Tablet PC Edition. These vendors include Hewlett-Packard (HP), Acer, Toshiba, Motion Computing, and Fujitsu. The hardware resembles a typical notebook, with the addition of a digitized pen and a Tablet PC screen. The advantage of using a digitized pen over a regular stylus is that only the pen can affect the display; therefore, you can drag your entire hand across the screen and nothing will happen.
The Tablet PC lets you write with digital ink, a functionality that differs from that of previous Windows CE-based tablet PCs and even Pocket PC's writing features. Digital ink lets you write on the Tablet PC screen just as you would on a piece of paper. You can push heavily or lightly, and the screen texture provides resistance so that you can write naturally.
The Tablet PC offers additional applications, such as Windows Journal, Ink Ball, and Snippet. The useful Windows Journal lets you use the digitized pen to handwrite notes, change fonts, erase items, and easily move items around on the "page." Windows Journal doesn't automatically convert your writing to text, but instead stores your handwritten notes in the Windows Journal format. Windows Journal then performs background recognition on your notes and stores the metadata with the handwritten notes. The advantage of this approach is that if you need to find some notes you took last week, last month, or last year, you can simply search by keyword to retrieve the appropriate Windows Journal document. The fun Ink Ball application lets you use ink strokes to play a pinball-style game. Snippet lets you snip items of interest from the Web, add handwritten comments, and email the results to anyone.
In my next Mobile & Wireless UPDATE commentary, I'll continue my discussion of the Tablet PC by looking at advanced features and development ideas.
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
Attend our newest Web seminar, brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and Precise SRM, and discover the secrets. Steven Toole will also advise you on how to reduce storage growth and backups by 30% and how to reduce storage administration by 25% or more. Space is limited for this important Web event, so register today!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/precise
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3. INSTANT POLL
The voting has closed in Windows & .NET Magazine's Mobile & Wireless Solutions nonscientific Instant Poll for the question, "Are you attending, or will you attend, a Tablet PC launch event?" Here are the results (+/-1 percent) from the 35 votes:
- 34% Yes - 66% No
The next Instant Poll question is, "Which application is best suited to the mobile and wireless form factor?" Go to the Mobile & Wireless Solutions Web site and submit your vote for a) Email, Instant Messaging (IM), and other communications; b) Microsoft Office applications, personal productivity, and synchronization; c) Games, music, and other entertainment; d) Navigation and location mapping; or e) News and finance.
http://www.mobile-and-wireless.com
4. RESOURCE
December 3 through 5, 2002
Santa Clara, California
At 802.11 Planet Fall Conference & Expo, 802.11 industry experts and business innovators converge to exchange ideas and strategies and chart new paths through this transforming technological landscape. Learn how to build a high-gain antenna, a turnkey wireless LAN (WLAN) installation, and a multihop network. Learn about security, public markets, multimode networking, and value to the enterprise. For more information, go to the following URL.
http://www.jupiterevents.com/80211/fall02/index.html
For other upcoming events, check out the Windows & .NET Magazine Event Calendar.
http://www.winnetmag.com/events
5. NEW AND IMPROVED
(contributed by Carolyn Mader, [email protected])
SMC Networks announced SMC2304WBR-A, the Barricade Turbo universal wireless cable/DSL broadband router. The router features built-in 5GHz, 802.11a, 54Mbps wireless Access Point (AP) technology. The router can work simultaneously with 802.11a and 802.11b wireless standards, so users can use the same wireless adapter at home and work. The router is also a 4-port 10/100Mbps switch that features firewall security, parental control, and VPN pass-through support. For pricing, contact SMC Networks at 800-762-4968.
http://www.smc.com
AirSpell released AirClock, an alarm-clock application for Palm-powered devices that features remote control capabilities. AirClock can turn on any consumer electronic appliance that's equipped with a remote control. You can use the application to wake you up to your favorite CD, TV program, or radio show. The software also features alarm repeat, snooze, MIDI ring tones, and an LCD screen-color palette selection. AirClock costs $19.95. Contact AirSpell at [email protected].
http://www.airspell.com
6. CONTACT US
Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:
- ABOUT MOBILE AND WIRELESS PERSPECTIVES — [email protected]
- ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL — [email protected]
(please mention the newsletter name in the subject line)
- TECHNICAL QUESTIONS — http://www.winnetmag.net/forums
- PRODUCT NEWS — [email protected]
- QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR Mobile & Wireless UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION?
Customer Support — mobile_&[email protected]
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