While there are rumors of many new Linux-based PDAs being developed, here are several that have already been announced...
Invair Filewalker
Invair Technologies (Stuttgart, Germany) unveiled a new Linux-based PDA at CeBIT 2002 in Hannover, Germany. The device was designed to be operated with one hand, weighs a mere 0.2 lbs, and is small (though somewhat thick), at 3.4 x 2.2 x .74 in. It's based on an Intel StrongARM processor clocked at 133MHz and includes 32MB SDRAM and 16MB Flash ROM, has a 160 x 240 pixel grayscale LCD display, and provides IrDA and USB interfaces plus an expansion slot for SD and MMC cards.
Royal Lin@x
Royal Consumer Information Products unveiled a new Linux-powered PDA at CES in Las Vegas, NV in January, 2002. The device is based on a 206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor with 32MB system RAM and 16MB built-in flash storage. It has a full-color 320 x 240 pixel TFT LCD with touch panel, and is equipped with a CompactFlash expansion slot, USB, IrDA, and an RS232 serial port. The device's software stack is based on Century Software's PIXIL PDA software suite, which includes the Microwindows GUI.
Sharp Zaurus SL-5000
Sharp's new PDA for the worldwide market features an embedded Linux OS
supplemented by a Java application environment. The device is based on a
206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor with 32MB system RAM and 16MB built-in
flash storage. It has a full-color 320 x 240 pixel TFT LCD with touch
panel, plus a built-in QWERTY keyboard (located behind a slide cover),
and is equipped with CompactFlash and SD-card slots, IrDA, and USB
interfaces. The device's software stack is based on Embedix Plus PDA,
which includes Lineo's Embedix embedded Linux, Trolltech's Qt/Embedded
GUI application framework, Opera's Opera 5 for Linux web browser,
Insignia's Jeode PDA Edition (a Sun-authorized Virtual Machine that is
compatible with the PersonalJava specification), and Trolltech's Qt
Palmtop user interface and application suite.
Agenda VR3
The VR3 is a full-function PDA with a 160 x 240 pixel (2.25" x 3.25" viewable area) backlit LCD. It is based on a 66MHz 32-bit NEC VR4181 processor, and has 8 MB of system RAM and up to 8 MB of built-in flash storage. The built-in flash memory prevents data loss due to a discharged battery condition. The device has a standard RS232 serial port plus a special high-speed serial port, along with an IrDA interface. Its operating system is Linux-VR.
G.Mate Yopy
The Yopy integrates the functions of Internet and email access (via mobile phone), digital voice recorder, MP3 (audio) and MPEG (video) player, video games, plus a full set of PDA applications--all within a compact PDA-sized package. Besides containing a genuine Linux operating system, the device boasts a 4-inch full-color backlit LCD screen, does its computing business with a "powerful" 206 MHz 32-bit Intel StrongARM processor, provides both RS232 serial and USB expansion interfaces, and offers a CompactFlash Type II (CF-II) socket for memory or I/O expansion.
Compaq iPAQ
Though not natively equipped with Embedded Linux, there are now multiple projects to develop Linux implementations for the iPAQ, including one from the Compaq-sponsored handhelds.org site. The iPAQ has a 240 x 320 pixel backlit color LCD screen and is powered by a 206MHz Intel StrongArm processor with 32MB of RAM and 16MB of flash memory. External interfacing and expansion are via IrDA, serial (sync/async), USB, and PCMCIA. Multiple sources of Embedded Linux support for the iPAQ are provided in the next section of this guide (below).
HanGil C3224 multimedia PDA
Based on a 206 MHz 32-bit Intel StrongARM SA-1110 system-on-chip processor plus 16MB RAM and 16MB Flash. The display is a 3.8-inch full color Quarter VGA (240 x 320 pixel) TFT LCD, with touchpad, and the device offers built-in USB, IrDA, and RS232C interfaces along with CompactFlash expandability.
MasterIA PDA
Like many recently introduced PDAs, this device is based on Intel's 206MHz StrongARM SA-1110 system-on-chip processor, and has a full-color 320x240 pixel TFT LCD screen plus expansion slots for CompactFlash Type II and SmartData (SD) cards. Internal resources include 32MB RAM for program operation, and either 16MB or 32MB of Flash memory for program and data storage.
CIIT multimedia PDA
Based on an Intel 206 MHz StrongARM SA-1110 system-on-chip processor with 32MB of DRAM and 32MB of Flash storage memory. I/O connections include USB, serial, and Ethernet ports, and there is a CompactFlash slot for additional expansion (memory or I/O). The display is a 240 x 320 pixel, 4096-color LCD.
Empower PowerPlay III
The PowerPlay III PDA is manufactured in Taiwan and sold online by Empower Technologies, a vendor of Embedded Linux for intelligent appliances. The device is claimed to be Palm IIIxe compatible, from a hardware perspective. But unlike Palm's PDAs, the PowerPlay III runs Empower Technologies' Linux DA O/S implementation of Embedded Linux for the Dragonball processor.
HNT Exilien
The new Linux-based HNT handheld multimedia PCs will be made in two form-factors--a PDA-sized unit with a 3.8-inch 320x240 LCD, and a heftier sized device (one inch thick) with a backlit 4-inch TFT 640x480 LCD. The larger unit differs from the smaller one in several features, including LCD type, memory capacity, and type of expansion card slot. Both are based on a 206 MHz 32-bit Intel StrongARM SA-1110 system-on-chip processor along with a generous supply of DRAM and Flash memory.
MiTAC CAT
The Linux-based CAT will initially be available only in Taiwan. The device is based on a 66 MHz NEC VR series processor with 8MB system memory and 4MB Flash, expandable via a CompactFlash slot. It has a 4.1-inch, 240 x 320 pixel, monochrome backlit STN LCD with and provides multiple connectivity options including IrDA, RS232, USB, and Bluetooth.
VTech Helio
Though not natively equipped with Embedded Linux, there are several implementations of Linux for the Helio in development. The device is based on a 75 MHz 32-bit RISC processor, with 8 MB of SDRAM and 2 MB Flash memory. It has a 160 x 160 pixel backlit LCD display with a 1024 x 1024 cell touchpad, integrated audio record/playback, and both standard and high-speed serial ports.
4P DAT500
A rugged handheld--this is an industrial strength handheld computer, intended for use in mobile point-of-sale and inventory management applications. In addition to all the expected functions of a consumer palm-top computer (graphical user interface, touchscreen, handwriting recognition), the DAT500 is highly rugged and reliable, and has successfully passed testing for compliance with commercial aviation safety standards. The unit includes a built-in bar code scanner, credit card reader, smartcard interface, and printer.
SK Telecom IMT2000 WebPhone
This device is a combination cell phone plus PDA. It has a 4" LCD screen and a built in video camera, and looks like a PDA. The PDA functions of the device are based on a StrongARM SA1110 206MHz CPU, and the device contains 32MB of RAM plus up to 32MB of internal flash memory. The operating system software is PalmPalm's Tynux embedded Linux, with Qt/Embedded for GUI support plus Opera's browser. A separate microprocessor controls the cell phone functions.
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