Portable Office

AMREL Debuts ROCKY Matrix

Arcadia, Calif.'s AMREL Systems L.L.C. announces its ROCKY Matrix rugged computing system for both mobile and in-vehicle use. The system includes a ruggedized notebook with an in-vehicle computing station consisting of an AMREL Alpha-Star SRL touchscreen display unit, an independent 89-key backlit keyboard, and a customized vehicle docking station.

The Matrix notebook is wireless-capable and features an Intel SpeedStep CPU, an internal Mini PCI slot, and two Type II, or one Type III PCMCIA slot. The system supports options including a removable hard disk drive, and a "smart bay" that operates a CD-ROM, DVD, FDD, 120 MB Super Disk Drive, or secondary battery. The notebook has been independently certified to both MIL-STD 810F and IP-54 industrial standards, the display unit is certified to IP52, and the independent keyboard is IP-54 certified.

Reader Response no. 254.

HANDHELD DEVICES

Handspring Treo

Handspring Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., introduces its Treo compact communicators, combination mobile phone, Web device, and Palm OS handheld computers. The 4.3 x 2.7 x 0.7-inch units weigh 5.2 ounces and support wireless applications such as e-mail, messaging and Internet browsing.

The Treo 180 offers a built-in QWERTY keyboard, while the Treo 180g utilizes Graffiti handwriting software. Both include a rechargeable battery, a rocker switch for one-handed navigation, and a speakerphone.

Reader Response no. 255.

PocketExtra Synchronizer

SYWARE Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., has released its PocketExtra Synchronizer software that automatically synchronizes information created using the PocketExtra Contacts contact management software, with Microsoft Corp.'s Outlook, on a desktop. It supports data fields including text, numbers, time, currency, drawings and handwritten notes. Bi-directional synchronization is automatically triggered when the handheld device is placed in its cradle.

Reader Response no. 256.

CAMERAS

Palmcorder MultiCam

Panasonic, of Secaucus, N.J., unveils the PV-DC152 and PV-DC252 Palmcorder MultiCam digital camcorders, its smallest camcorders to date. Both feature Panasonic's Photo-Shot built-in digital still camera feature to capture still shots that can be downloaded to a PC.

The PV-DC252 offers an SD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard slot, and the PV-DC152 records digital still images on mini DV tape.

They include 10x optical and 700x digital zoom, and a zoom microphone feature that works with the optical zoom feature to create a natural correspondence between recorded audio and images.

Both models feature FireWire digital interfaces, plus an RS-232C serial connection for downloading digital still images to computers. The PV-DC252 ships with ArcSoft software.

Reader Response no. 257.

Camedia Master Pro 4.0

Olympus America Inc., of Melville, N.Y., announces its Camedia Master Pro 4.0, photo software for downloading, organizing and sharing digital photos.

It downloads images from cameras, media readers or drives, and displays them as thumbnails. It can also backup photos or albums to these storage devices.

Images can be catalogued and sorted by album type or by date. The software can record and attach 60-second WAV files to any image for slideshows and commentary. Images can then be e-mailed, prepared for HTML, made into wallpaper, or slideshows.

Reader Response no. 258.

VOICE RECORDERS

Olympus DS-330

Melville, N.Y.'s Olympus America Inc. introduces its DS-330 Digital Voice Recorder, offering direct connection to Macs and PCs alike, via USB docking station. It provides 330 minutes of continuous recording in long play mode, and 155 minutes in standard play; it captures sound as digital speech standard files. Noise canceling technology removes unwanted hiss or background noise from recordings.

When connected to a computer, the device also functions as a USB microphone and speaker. The optional AS-3000 Transcription Kit includes a DSS Player Pro transcription module with footswitch and headset.

Reader Response no. 259.

PROJECTORS

NEC DT100

NEC Technologies Inc., of Itasca, Ill., announces its DT100 Projector featuring direct overhead and digital desktop projection functions. Users can project data, video, documents, 3D objects and transparencies. The overhead projection feature utilizes a two-million-pixel single-plate color CCD camera, and its zoom capabilities allow fine text and other details to be enlarged without moving the projector. The 18.7-pound unit tosses 3250 ANSI lumens, and incorporated AutoSense technology lets users switch between display modes with the touch of a button.

Reader Response no. 260.

PHONES

Sprint Samsung

Dallas-based Sprint, and Samsung Telecommunications America, of Kansas City, announce the GPS-enabled Sprint PCS Phone SPH-a400 by Samsung, designed to support E911 emergency services, as they become further available. The 3.5-ounce phone offers one-touch Internet access and voice-activation.

Reader Response no. 261.

Lots of Nokia!

Nokia, hubbed in Irving, Texas, announces:

* The Nokia 9210i Communicator features a 40 MB memory, a Web browser supporting JavaScripts, a Flash Player, and a RealOne Player for real-time video and audio streaming on HSCSD networks. Messaging capabilities include SMS, fax, and e-mail. The phone also offers a contact database, calendar, and word processor. It provides up to 10 hours of talktime, and 230 hours of standby.

* The titanium-encased Nokia 8910 is equipped with wireless application protocol over general packet radio service, and Bluetooth technology allowing users to communicate, synchronize and share data with other Bluetooth compatible devices.

* The Nokia 7210 includes a new keypad layout with four-way scroll, a color screen with support for 4096 colors, multimedia messaging service capability, and stereo FM radio. It functions on fivecontinents wherever GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 networks are available.

* The Nokia 6310i is a tri-band mobile phone operating wherever GSM 900/1800/1900 networks are available, providing mobile Internet access via WAP over GPRS. It also offers Bluetooth technology, and supports downloading of personal Java applications.

The phone supports voice dialing, commands and recording.

* The Nokia 3510 is Nokia's first "expression category" phone with WAP 1.2.1 over GPRS, polyphonic sounds and multimedia messaging service capability. It offers animated screensavers, full display screensavers, clock screensavers, and a calendar with reminder, call and birthday note types. It offers voice dialing with 14 voice tags, and a phonebook with up to 500 names. It delivers talktime of up to four hours and 40 minutes, or 13 days of standby.

Reader Response no. 262.