(above) R.A.P.S.
Like my FlashFolio?
FlashFolio is an attractive binder you can use to organize and carry your file storage cards. It has the same high quality and thoughtful design as the other Roadwired products, and contains the protection barrier described in the review of R.A.P.S. above. Velcro pouches secure your cards and a removable divider holds an index sheet you can use to identify and describe them. FlashFolio comes with a blank index sheet. When that’s no longer usable, you can go to their Web site and print out a new one. FlashFolio has a total of 18 Velcro-secured mesh compartments for your cards, and a long zipper pouch along the bottom of each side of the folio, to hold pens, pencils, styli, and other objects. Two elastic loops can hold a couple of spare AA batteries. This one is overkill if you only have a couple of storage cards.
(above) FlashFolio
And for the serious road warrior…
The MegaMedia Bag is designed for longer trips and the serious road warrior. Its 36 compartments provide plenty of room for your Pocket PC and its accessories, a notebook computer, photography equipment, an MP3 player, a cell phone, pens, papers, files, and more. If you’re not carrying a lot of equipment, you could probably even use it as an overnight bag—an attractive and compact one at that!
(above) MegaMedia Bag
Like the other Roadwired products, the design of the MegaMedia Bag is extremely intelligent and structured for real-world use. The handle is well padded, with suede-like material at the bottom of the handle (where your fingers curl) that provides a cushiony, comfortable, non-slip grip. Similar attention went into the design of the shoulder strap, making it very comfortable to carry the bag.
The interior divider is customizable and the abundance of snaps, hinges, pockets, and loops keeps you organized and holds far more than you’d believe. Like the Pod and the Podzilla, the MegaMedia Bag has a hidden compartment for your keys and money. Clever fasteners on the outside will let you clip on accessory pouches, ID tags, and more. Rubber treads on the bottom help keep the bag upright.
I have the standard MegaMedia Bag, which is priced at $179.95 and made of ballistic nylon with a neoprene front to protect against rain and moisture. Another model made of Nappa leather is available for $299.95. As you can see, the prices are pretty high, but so is the quality. These will last you a long time.
The items I reviewed were ALL top notch—well designed, well constructed, and made of high quality materials. Kudos to Roadwired! n
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Gary B. Garland, Esq. is a litigation attorney practicing in New York and New Jersey. An avid Pocket PC user, he looks for ways to optimize his law practice while waiting in court or while commuting. He writes for several Web sites, and is the administrator of http://www.gadgetaddict.com. Contact Gary at [email protected].
Cases with Class
by Derek Ball
I am a heavy-duty road warrior and can be a little tough on equipment. Laptops rarely last me more than 6 months, and Pocket PCs not much longer. My last RIM Blackberry lasted me 3 days before it died. As one of my colleagues says, “If you really want to see how durable a device is, give it to Derek for a while—he can kill anything!”
Personal experience has taught me the value of a good carrying case. Most Pocket PCs ship with a case, but it’s usually a thin, inexpensive slip case that does not provide much protection. In most cases, a higher-quality case is a must-have accessory. If you’re a new or existing Pocket PC user, get one! However careful you are, you will eventually end up bumping, banging, or dropping your device. A decent carrying case will quickly pay for itself by saving you costly repairs.
There are heavily padded cases and some with thick plastic or metal armor. These are great for really rugged situations, like trail riding or climbing up the side of a mountain. But they are overkill for day-to-day use. When I’m out on business, I want a case that not only protects my Pocket PC, but makes it look good at the same time. I want a leather “executive style” case.
The number of vendors offering this type of case has ballooned recently, and many people have asked me for recommendations. To this end, I asked the major manufacturers of executive cases to send me samples of their best cases. I tested versions of these cases designed specifically for the HP iPAQ h2215 and h1940 Pocket PCs. I will share with you my observations on these cases, and will conclude with the “The Product That Derek Uses” award.
Let me begin by saying that the four vendors who participated in my study all provided cases of exceptional quality and that I would not hesitate to recommend any of them. The four vendors whose cases I looked at were Vaja, Sena, Cases Online, and Piel Frama. All four offer cases for a variety of Pocket PCs, in a variety of colors, and with belt clip options. I focused on what I felt were the most positive aspects of each case, but also kept an eye out for the less satisfying characteristics. But in the end, the things that made me prefer one case over another may not be the same for you. Selecting a case is a personal choice.
Vaja (http://www.vajacases.com)
Vaja is one of the very first manufacturers of high-quality executive leather cases. They are made in Argentina from exceptionally fine leather.
What I liked: The Vaja case is well padded and provides good protection of your device. You can also have it personalized with your company logo, your name and address, or some other short message. Finally, there is nothing quite like the smell of fine leather, and Vaja has the best-smelling case of those I looked at. Vaja’s products, such as the Aptus shown here, are definitely the Cadillacs of cases.
What I didn’t like: Vaja cases are some of the more expensive cases available for Pocket PCs, ranging from $55 all the way up to $150 for a customized version of their top-of-the-line case. I also didn’t like the design of the pocket used to carry Secure Digital cards, located on the inside of the flip cover. I have a number of SD cards, including one with music for my morning runs, another with GPS maps, a third with photos of my family, etc. I am constantly swapping cards, and found it a little awkward to insert cards into, and remove them from, the pocket.
Sena (http://www.senacases.com)
Sena offers fewer customized options, but an excellent price for their high-quality leather case with a striking two-tone style.
What I liked: My absolute favorite characteristic of the Sena case is the magnetic closure on the flip cover, which eliminates the need for a leather “tail” that wraps around the bottom of the case and fastens on the back. I often operate my Pocket PC with one hand, particularly when I am jogging. The magnetic closure lets me flip the case open with my thumb, quickly and easily. With most other cases, opening the cover is a two-handed operation. I also liked the stylish, two-tone design. (However, some of my colleagues were less enamored with this.) In addition, the SD card pockets on the inside of the flip cover have a notch cut into the bottom of them, making it easier to push the cards out when you want to remove them. You can slip your Pocket PC into your sync/charger cradle without having to remove it from the Sena case—a great feature! Finally, Sena cases start at an affordable $40.
What I didn’t like: The corners on the bottom of this case are cut out, leaving the corners of the Pocket PC exposed and vulnerable to drops and bangs. Most of the other cases afforded better protection in this area. In addition, the case comes with a makeup mirror, which may be of use to some Pocket PC users, but for me resulted in a great deal of good-natured ribbing from my colleagues. Fortunately, it can be removed.
Cases Online (http://www.casesonline.com)
Cases Online is the ultimate online custom-case fabrication plant. You can choose from a wide variety of colors, case or folio styles, and additional features to create a case to fit your needs.
What I liked: No more having a case just like the person next to you! You can build your Cases Online case any way you like. I was very impressed with the breadth of case designs, including the “folio” design, shown here, that embeds your Pocket PC into an attractive leather noteb
ook. The cases offer full wraparound protection, ensuring that the corners of your Pocket PC are protected from impact. The case I looked at also featured stretch nylon pockets for the SD cards, which made it very easy to insert and remove the cards from the case. Because of the wide range of case styles, the price can vary from $30 for a simple sleeve case, to $200 for one of the nicer portfolio cases. A case in the style of the others I’ve looked at in this review is in the $50-$60 range.
What I didn’t like: I liked the styling of the other cases in this review better. Also, I was not a fan of the closure mechanism on some of their models. The “tuck in” leather strap wasn’t very practical or attractive. They do have a magnetic clasp option, which is a little better, but the clasp is on the end of a wraparound tail, making it hard to open with one hand.
Piel Frama (http://www.pielframa.com)
The Piel Frama cases are manufactured in Spain and feature different types of leather.
What I liked: Piel Frama cases have a removable knob for the belt clip. You can clip the case to your belt when you want, or remove the knob and slip the case into your pocket or shoulder bag. It’s a very nice feature that lets you use the case in many different situations. These cases are also well designed to protect against bumps, with more lower-edge protection than the Sena and Vaja cases.
What I didn’t like: I liked the styling of this one more than that of the Cases Online case, but less than that of cases from the other two manufacturers. And as with the Vaja case, I had problems inserting and removing cards into and from the card pockets on the inside flip cover. Additionally, it isn’t as slim as some of the competing cases. Finally, Piel Frama is a Spanish company and they price their product in euros. Given the current weakness of the dollar against the euro, the 60 euro price of the case translates to around $74 (U.S.). I consider this a relatively high-priced product.
And the winner of the “The Product That Derek Uses” award is…
So after trying out each of the cases for approximately two weeks, which one did I decide to keep using? Well, the winner is a stylish and slim case that delivers exceptional value. I especially like the fact that I can slip my Pocket PC into its data cradle without having to remove it from this case. Finally, I love the magnetic closure on this case, which is easy to use but stays secure in my abusive travel situations. If you read this article carefully, you’ll know that clipped to my belt right now is the classy two-tone case from Sena! n
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Derek Ball is the CEO of Sonic Mobility (http://www.sonicmobility.com) in Calgary, Canada. Sonic builds wireless software for mobile devices like the Pocket PC. Derek is also the co-author of the best-selling book ‘How To Do Everything With Your iPAQ Pocket PC’. Derek has published several books and written over 60 articles. Derek lives with his wife, three daughters, dog and cat in Calgary. Contact Derek at [email protected]
Bluetooth GPS Receivers: Kings of Speed and Convenience
Bluetooth GPS solutions from Pharos, TeleType, CoPilot, TomTom, and HP
by Shawna Kelly
You are probably already familiar with Bluetooth, the short-range wireless technology designed to replace cables between computers and peripherals. Bluetooth technology was originally developed by Ericsson and named after Harald “Bluetooth,” the 10th-century Viking king who peacefully united the Danes and Norwegians. Bluetooth is striving to achieve a similar unity between computers and peripherals using a standard wireless format.
Bluetooth GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers use this technology to wirelessly connect to a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or Pocket PC that has GPS software installed on it. Bluetooth GPS solutions are only about a year old, but they are quickly becoming the reigning royalty of GPS navigation because of fast satellite acquisition, attractive design, and convenient form factor. The Bluetooth GPS receivers described in this article are all NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) compliant. Because of this, they can be used with most GPS software for the Pocket PC.
Bluetooth GPS receivers have been released by TeleType, TomTom, ALK Technologies (CoPilot), Pharos, and, most recently, HP. Most GPS software companies support any Bluetooth GPS receiver, even if they don’t market the receiver itself.
The benefits of Bluetooth GPS
The major benefit of a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver is that it doesn’t have to be physically connected to the Pocket PC. That eliminates a tangle of cables that dangle in your way while you are walking or driving. In addition, Bluetooth solutions let you position the GPS receiver for optimal GPS reception, and your Pocket PC separately for the best viewing. Bluetooth can travel around corners, and through clothing and other material.
Because it is not physically connected to the Pocket PC, a Bluetooth GPS receiver must have its own power supply. Therefore, it will not drain your Pocket PC’s battery as a CompactFlash GPS receiver would. This also means that you have to make sure the battery on the GPS receiver is charged. Most of them are powered by lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. You can extend the life and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries by avoiding full discharges. Recharge them before you get the low power warning—it’s OK to charge them frequently. As mentioned, the Pocket PC must also be equipped with a Bluetooth receiver, but the power drawn by this is minimal.
Finally, when you turn on any GPS receiver, it must first go through the process of acquiring (finding and locking on to) signals from the available GPS satellites before you can use it. Because Bluetooth GPS receivers are so portable, you can turn one on and place it near a car window shortly before you are ready to go. This allows it to locate the GPS satellite signals and be ready when you are.
TomTom’s impressive GPS software Bluetooth receiver
TomTom (http://www.tomtom.com) has reigned over the European handheld GPS scene for well over a year and has recently introduced its Pocket PC GPS solutions in the U.S. They offer a stand-alone version of the TomTom Navigator USA software for the Pocket PC and also a bundle that includes the software with either a cabled or a Bluetooth GPS receiver. This article focuses a little more on the TomTom GPS solution since it is new to the U.S. and we have not reviewed the software before.
The software package includes street-level maps for the entire United States. Versions with maps of Europe are also available. The most impressive feature of this program is its ability to display a lifelike 3D view of the maps (2D view also available). The road, your position on the road, and icons representing points of interest are clearly displayed (Screen 1). Customizable menus let you prioritize the features most important to you. It also features a special low-glare night display option.
(above) Screen 1: The 3D perspective viewing of TomTom maps is impressive in action. Notice that the destination miles, ETA, and current time can be displayed concurrently.
TomTom Navigator software provides door-to-door navigation so you can plan your route directly from your Pocket Outlook Contacts. It also has a roadblock feature that allows instant rerouting around any unexpected obstacles. Finally, it comes with a large Point of Interest (POI) database with an above-average selection of categories including gas stations, parking garages, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, and much more.
The TomTom Bluetooth receiver’s outer shell has an elegant brushed metallic look that blends nicely with Pocket PC devices. To conserve power, a “trickle mode” places the receiver in sleep mode for very short periods of time, such as 200ms at a time. All of the Bluetooth GPS receivers reviewed here have this trickle mode available.
The TomTom’s power button is a little more complex than the ones found on the other GPS receivers. To turn it on you have to hold the button down for a second. To turn it off you have hold it down for four seconds. The design is meant to prevent the device from being turned on or off accidentally. The feature could use a little improvement—the receiver still occasionally “bumps on” while being carried.
The Bluetooth bundle comes with the Bluetooth GPS receiver and a matching cradle (Scree
n 2) for securely mounting the receiver in your automobile. It also includes an automobile power adapter, a split power cable that lets you connect both the Bluetooth GPS receiver and your Pocket PC to the automobile power adapter, a magnetic mount for the Bluetooth receiver, a Pocket PC cradle mount for your car, an AC power adapter with international plugs, and a CD containing the GPS software and maps. The bundle may seem to cost a bit more than other GPS bundles, but it includes a vast assortment of high quality accessories. This can save you from spending more on accessories in the long run.
(above) Screen 2: The TomTom Bluetooth GPS receiver resting in its cradle.
TeleType’s new feature-rich Bluetooth GPS receiver
TeleType Co. (http://www.teletype.com) has replaced its original Bluetooth GPS receiver with a new and improved pager-sized model (Screen 3). TeleType is known for offering products with an outstanding multitude of features, and this receiver is no exception.
Pocket PC magazine, Apr/May 2004 Page 7