IDS Mobile Learning News

Microsoft Unveils Windows Mobile 5.0 (May 10, 2005)

Windows Mobile 5.0 is Microsoft's operating system for mobile devices. There are two versions of the operating system, one for Pocket PC handhelds and one for smartphones. A list of the new features and upgrades found in this operating system follows.

The most significant addition to this operating system is the inclusion of persistent memory storage, which retains information even when the battery is dead.
The new system also includes enhanced support for built-in hard drives and USB 2.0 and integrates previous features that were only available for Pocket PC into the smartphone system. These features include support for Wi-Fi, landscape mode, and QWERTY keyboards.
The new operating system adds two buttons at the bottom of almost every screen for the Pocket PC version in order to make one-handed use of the device easier.
The Microsoft Office applications contain new formatting capabilities, which allows users to display and create many different types of charts and graphs.
PowerPoint mobile has been added to the Microsoft Office Suite.
Windows Media Player 10 Mobile has been integrated into the operating system. This allows users to play a larger number of protected music, video and recorded TV files. It also allows for synchronization of users' playlists, album art, and song ratings.
Internet Explorer is now available in full screen mode.

PalmOne Introduces LifeDrive Mobile Manager

PalmOne has announced its newest handheld device. The LifeDrive Mobile Manager is a hard drive-based device running the Palm OS, designed for customers who are eager to take full advantage of digital documents, email, music, images, and video. The new device builds on the functionality of the Tungsten T5 which provides the ability to operate as a USB Flash drive, allowing for drag and drop synchronization of data. It also includes a voice recorder as well as the following features:

Wi-Fi 802.11b and Bluetooth 1.1 wireless networking
Intel 416MHz XScale processor
4GB hard drive (3.85GB accessible to the user) 16 MB ROM
Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Palm OS 5.4 (Garnet)
320x480 Transflective TFT color touchscreen
16 bit color / 65,000+colors
Portrait and landscape orientation
Support for SD, SDIO and MultiMediaCards via built-in expansion card slot
Ability to store up to 8 hours of video
Bundled software will include: NormSoft's Pocket Tunes, Note Pad, Memos, Web Browser, Calculator, VersaMail 3.1, World Clock, Camera Companion, Expense, Phone Dialer, Favorites, Dataviz Documents to Go 7.0, Calendar, AddIt, Contacts, Tasks, SMS, Handmark Solitaire, Voice Memo, and Files

Back to Mobile Learning News