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News Archive for February 21 to 27, 1999
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Tuesday, February 23Asante has joined the ranks of companies offering multi-user modems. The FriendlyNet Dual Analog Model 2214a is equipped with two V.90 modems that can be bonded together for speeds up to 112K. Asante also offers an ISDN version. Both models feature an integrated Ethernet hub and firewall security. Rockwell has moved all modem-related material from their web site to the web site of Conexant, their spinoff company. 3Com has released two new Palm organizers: the $370 Palm IIIx with 4 MB of RAM, and the $450 Palm V with 2 MB of RAM. The Palm V features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a new slimmer case, and a weight of just four ounces. PC Magazine has a hands-on report. Both models feature synchronization with Microsoft Outlook and improved displays. PalmStation has a side-by-side comparison of the old and new screens. Cell phone-computer convergence, page 2I wrote about the need for cell phone-PDA integration last month, but it's already time to take a new look and examine new products. Qualcomm's combined Palm III and cell phone is still vaporware, but one new solution has arrived. Once you have the ability to make phone calls from anywhere, you discover the need to look up phone numbers from anywhere. One of my friends keeps a phone book in her car to use with her cell phone. I carry a Palm III. Phone books and cell phones go together, so why not integrate them? It's already been done. It just hasn't been done very well. My current cell phone, a Qualcomm 2700, has a handy phone book feature. Key in a number, select Options from the jog dial, and enter a name for the phone book entry. You can do the same thing when reviewing caller ID data in the recent calls list. The phone book entries can be sorted alphabetically or by date entered. The integrated phone book is good, but not great. The phone book holds only 100 entries, and there are no extra fields for additional contact data such as postal address and email address. These limitations reflect limited memory as well as a shortcoming in the input method. Names are entered using the numeric keypad: press the 1/ABC button once for A, twice for B, or three times for C. Pressing the # key produces spaces. This method isn't all that bad for entering names, particularly if you limit your entries to a friend's first name, but no one would want to re-key their little black book this way. What's clearly needed is integration with a PC or PDA. Starfish Software is moving in that direction with the Motorola StarTAC Mobile Organizer, which holds address book, datebook, and to-do list information. The 2.3 ounce Starfish product clips on to the back of existing Motorola StarTAC cellular phones, and can also be used when unclipped. Phone numbers from the organizer can be dialed with one touch. Suggested retail is expected to be less than US$250. Starfish has been known for their desktop PIM integration ever since the release of the Franklin REX, a credit card-sized personal information manager that's also a good cell phone companion. Like the REX, the new Starfish organizer allows data entry - very slow data entry - by choosing one character at a time from an onscreen keyboard. That's OK, because data entry is for bigger computers, and Starfish knows how to connect to them. The StarTAC Mobile Organizer can share information with various PDAs, PIMs, and even Web-based PIMs, including Yahoo! Calendar & Address Book, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Organizer, Lotus Notes, ACT!, Sidekick , 3Com Palm III and Franklin REX PRO.
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