Microsoft Pocket PC
Pocket PC (to German about "PC for the vest pocket") is a term coined by Microsoft since CeBIT 2000 in Germany. It describes both a series of PDAs that are operated with the Windows Mobile operating system (or one of its predecessors) and, in some cases, the operating system itself.
The name Pocket PC was originally chosen by Microsoft for marketing reasons and served to differentiate itself from the competition and the previous market leader Palm with the Palm OS operating system and to use the term Palm-Size PC (in English: " Palm-sized PC ") to replace. Since Windows Mobile 2003, Microsoft's marketing strategy has separated itself from the hardware terms Pocket PC and Smartphone and returned to the Windows Mobile brand name for the operating system.
In competition with Windows Mobile, Apple's iOS , Palm OS, Bada , Symbian , Blackberry and Linux or Android are the main ones .
operating system
Pocket PC is based on the operating system kernel Windows CE (WinCE) and defines what is actually essential for the user of the PDA through the surface that goes beyond the operating system kernel and the applications it contains (organizer functionality, web browser, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, ...).
Windows CE was specially developed for use in small and microcomputers, especially for industry, automotive and mobile devices. It “only” represented the basis for the Pocket PC operating system, but it is not to be equated with it.
Windows CE can run on a wide variety of platforms with a wide variety of features. A developer takes the Microsoft Platform Builder for this and puts together his individual Windows CE: with or without a graphical interface, command line, with Bluetooth support, etc.
The license costs per delivered device with Windows CE vary depending on the functions used and the licenses required. OEM license costs of approximately 10-15 US dollars per device are unofficially stated for Pocket PC.
Microsoft provides the tools (“eMbedded Visual Tools”) and SDKs required for developing applications for the various Windows CE and Windows Mobile platforms free of charge. A much more comprehensive, fee-based development environment is Microsoft Visual Studio .
Microsoft's PDA platform variants
After the introduction of the platform names Handheld PC , Palm-size PC , Pocket PC and Smartphone from Microsoft for the mobile platforms, which were believed to be more concise for end users, the name Windows CE faded into the background. After the discontinuation of the first PDA platform Handheld PC and the replacement of the Palm-size PC by Pocket PC , only Pocket PC and smartphone remain today . These two platform names are now only added to the name of the Windows Mobile umbrella brand, which was introduced in 2003 .
The devices of the types Windows Mobile for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile for Smartphone require not least because of the different powerful hardware, screen resolutions and operating concepts (a Pocket PC has a touchscreen, a smartphone, on the other hand, only has a normal mobile phone keyboard and a few control buttons for one-handed operation) for the respective Target platform developed software.
Often the availability of an update (ROM update) or a new operating system version (upgrade) is asked. However, Microsoft does not itself provide a new version for end customers. The manufacturers or OEMs of the respective model are exclusively responsible for this, with updates being offered more frequently, but upgrades to a new operating system version (such as from Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition to Windows Mobile 5.0) are less common. The operating system is heavily adapted to the respective hardware, which is why manufacturers rarely pay for real upgrades, also because of the marketing of new devices.
Windows Mobile for Pocket PC , formerly Microsoft Pocket PC , extends the functionality of Windows CE to include typical applications for pocket computers such as appointment diaries or address management. The user interface is based on that of Windows , but has been specially adapted for use on pocket computers.
Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Phone Edition is an extended variant that supports a telephony module (such as GSM or UMTS) integrated in the PDA. There is also a reception indicator, the telephone application, an SMS / MMS extension for the e-mail application (which communicates with normal pocket PCs via Bluetooth or IrDA ) and various additional interfaces.
Windows Mobile for Smartphones , formerly Windows Smartphone , is the Windows CE variant for mobile phones. In contrast to Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Phone Edition , these devices do not have a touchscreen, usually a smaller display and a numeric keypad. So they are more like a (then) common mobile phone than a PDA.
Although the name of the operating system is now (almost) the same, there are huge differences between Windows Mobile for Pocket PC (Phone Edition) and Windows Mobile for Smartphone . As a result, most programs written for Pocket PCs do not run on smartphones and vice versa. However, Microsoft is striving to slowly let the systems grow together again. In Windows Mobile 5, for example, there are the softkeys familiar from smartphones (two keys with a function shown on the display) and the option of only running signed programs or warning against the execution of unsigned applications.
Pocket PC Phone Edition
Some PDA still have an integrated mobile phone functionality, for which Microsoft offers its own operating system variant "Pocket PC Phone Edition". PDAs that have such a functionality are marketed under a variety of trade names (MDA, Qtek / HTC, SPV, Xphone, VDA, PPC, Dopod, Ameo, TyTN, XDA, Xda). A PDA designation is based on a design, the display size and the lack of a keyboard, so-called smartphones are not PDAs in their design and therefore have their own device category.
Version overview
| Surname | Kernel | comment |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Windows CE 1.0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 1.1 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 2.0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 2.01 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 2.02 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 2.1 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 2.11 | ||
| Microsoft Windows CE 2.12 | ||
| Microsoft Pocket PC 2000 | Windows CE 3.0, like Handheld PC 2000 | 2000 is often not mentioned; published in April 2000 |
| Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 | Windows CE 3.0 (version 3.0.11171) | also as Phone Edition for PDAs with telephone functions and "Smartphone 2002" for smartphones; Look of Windows XP; appeared in October 2001 |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC | Windows CE 4.2 (CE .NET 4.2) | also as "Phone Edition" for PDAs with telephone functions and "Smartphone" for smartphones; published in June 2003 |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition | Windows CE 4.21 (CE .NET 4.21) | also as "Phone Edition" for PDAs with telephone functions and "Smartphone" for smartphones; published in March 2004 |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 | Windows CE 5.0 | also as "Phone Edition" for PDAs with telephone functions and "Smartphone" for smartphones; published in May 2005 |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 | Windows CE 5.2 | in the look of Windows Vista and with more stability; published in January 2007 (first devices since May in stores or via update) |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 |
history
Windows CE still made a clear distinction between a handheld PC and a normal PDA (until the year 2000 by Microsoft also referred to as Palm-Size PC , later Pocket PC ).
Handheld PCs, another type of device, were quite a bit larger and had a significantly larger display than the palm-sized PDAs . The main difference, however, is the physical presence of a keyboard; PDAs display this on the screen (only a few Pocket PC models also have an integrated keyboard).
Already in Windows CE version 1.0 (1996) it was possible to use rudimentary multimedia functions. With version 2.0 (1998) it was then possible to control color displays with up to 65,536 colors. Right from the start, Microsoft relied on integrating these devices into networks and enabling many extensions.
Traditionally, the memory of the devices is divided into data memories and the memory for executing programs. While 8 MB total memory was common in the first generation, this increased to 128 MB in the second generation, which could be divided up during operation.
With the introduction of Version 2002 also the first devices on the market, the real resolution of 640 × 480 pixels (came VGA ) on a 3.5- inch - Display managed.
Starting with version 2002, the Pocket PC platform will be massively optimized for the mass market. This also includes many functions that are useful for the specialist, such as the termination of applications, control over the network, etc. either to prevent, prohibit or hide behind "user-friendly" layers.
The “Connection Manager” was also introduced in version 2002, which takes full control of any network connection ( LAN , DFÜ, etc.) and is intended to automate many things.
However, some of the automatisms do not work in the interests of particularly professional users, but they cannot always be bypassed.
One problem with the entire Pocket PC and Windows CE family is that the processors of the individual devices differ significantly from one another, so that it is not possible to run a program that was written for one CPU type on another to be able to perform. From version 2002 the Pocket PC platform is only available as an ARM version, but many old programs are no longer updated and are therefore still partly only available for MIPS or similar. The execution of applications from other Windows CE platforms, such as handheld PCs on pocket PCs, is also not possible, mostly due to specific extensions of the respective platform.
After Microsoft created confusion by using different names for similar Windows CE systems, the company realized that a return to the old naming system made sense. In addition to new interfaces and integrated WLAN functions, Windows CE 5.0 also received support for 3D graphics chips for the first time.
One of the most important changes that Windows Mobile 5.0 brought with it concerned the memory: The internal data memory is no longer in volatile RAM , but as so-called persistent storage in Flash- ROM , which now protects against data loss when the battery power is used up. In addition, the now modular operating system in ROM allowed a selective update for the first time and no longer needs to be completely flashed (overwritten) if the manufacturer or OEM wants to offer bug fixes, improvements or additions.
The version of Windows Mobile 6.0 added a few small new functions such as particularly quickly searchable e-mail titles, the ability to access a Microsoft Exchange server or slight improvements in Internet Explorer or the Office programs. In addition, Windows Mobile 6 came up with a look similar to Windows Vista and includes stability and speed improvements. Most of the changes from Windows Mobile 5, however, are in the details and are not substantial.
compatibility
Pocket PC ran up to version 2002 on devices with different architectures, including Intel x86 , MIPS , ARM , and Hitachi -SH processors . Due to the effort for the hardware and software developers due to the resulting variety of devices, Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system from version 2003 is only offered for ARM -based or compatible devices. The manufacturers of the devices are responsible for the final adaptation of the operating system to the hardware, so after purchasing a device, you are bound to the manufacturer or the OEM regarding an update. New models are brought onto the market in a very short cycle of often less than 1 year, the older models are usually no longer supported in terms of operating system maintenance very soon.
For the reasons mentioned, software for Pocket PCs cannot run on Windows PCs and is often not or not fully compatible with the corresponding versions for PC. For a whole range of file formats, however, there are partially or fully compatible viewers and editing software for Pocket PCs. The synchronization program Microsoft ActiveSync is installed on desktop PCs that run with operating systems prior to Vista; for PCs running Windows Vista, Microsoft offers a successor to Active Sync; Windows Mobility Center, so you have the basic functions of Active Sync. plus further additional options are available, which previously had to be installed with additional software. In addition to installing software via the desktop on the connected Pocket PC, these two programs are also available for synchronizing data and files, with some file formats being converted and certain formatting being lost. In particular, the versions of the Microsoft Word Mobile and Excel Mobile programs supplied in the ROM require this type of conversion and a large amount of information is lost. For so-called OTA (over-the-air) installation, where you don't need a desktop computer, but use a built-in air interface ( GSM / GPRS / UMTS , WLAN , Bluetooth ) or a mobile phone as a modem , Pocket PC software is often available as compressed Setup files (.CAB) available.
Optimized for e.g. T. different mobile operating systems and compatible with desktop software, there are a few programs and file formats, of which Content Reader v. a. for e-books should be emphasized ( Mobipocket , Microsoft Reader , eReader, Vade Mecum / Plucker , TomeRaider as well as Adobe Reader and RepliGo).
Application software
In addition to classic PDA functions such as PIM (Personal Information Management) and increasingly also telephony functions (especially as mobile Internet terminals, for e-mail and messaging), pocket PCs are also used to a considerable extent as mobile satellite navigation systems. Multimedia applications and games are also popular, for which the demanding platform is also ideally suited.
The bandwidth of the application software for Pocket PC is hardly restricted in comparison to the desktop. Classic or most frequently used application software on Pocket PCs are PIM (for contacts, appointments, tasks and notes) and navigation software (for GPS satellite navigation ), as well as games of every genre, multimedia applications (such as MP3 players and video software, picture / Photo viewing and editing software ), e-books , translation software, office programs (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and databases), especially on Phone Edition devices, and finally e-mail , SMS , MMS , messenger, web browser , feed reader ( for web feeds in RSS format) and various utilities such as B. Calculator and logbook.
With tens of thousands of programs, the market ensures that a wide range of solutions is available for practically every conceivable application. There is also a very wide range of freeware available.
hardware
The best-known hardware manufacturers for Pocket PC devices are u. a. HTC (mostly for cell phone providers such as T-Mobile as OEMs and for Qtek and i-mate), Hewlett-Packard, Mitac (also for various OEMs such as Yakumo ), Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Asus, Acer, Eten (also for the OEM Typhoon), Samsung , and several others for industrial-grade devices. A manufacturer that was very successful in the past has partially withdrawn from the market: Casio now only offers industrial-grade pocket PCs. Even Toshiba had temporarily withdrawn from the European market, but returned in 2007 back with a new lineup. Many new manufacturers follow, so that the range of models on offer is steadily increasing.
Hardware extensions are offered as accessories, especially for functionality that is often not covered by integrated components: memory cards (usually in the formats SD SecureDigital, MMC MultiMediaCard, CF CompactFlash, MicroDrive), GPS receiver (receiver for satellite navigation signals, via Bluetooth or wired, partly also with TMC functionality for traffic information signals), WLAN (as a plug-in card for the SDIO or CF expansion slot), in professional or industrial use e.g. B. also barcode scanners.
While the market launch of pure Pocket PC variants in 2006/2007 was rather a rarity, the Pocket PC Phone developed a remarkable range of functions. The models, some of which have shrunk to less than 120 × 60 × 20 millimeters, have internal or integrated GPS, WLAN and Bluetooth modules, pull-out QWERTY keyboard, webcam and slots for SDHC-compatible microSD memory cards, which were released at the end of 2007 reach a capacity of 8 gigabytes.