Let's Think About The Future of the PDA!!!

[dmale7]

Where do you guys think we will be in a year? With faster processors, more ram, wi-fi, voice activation, audio/video functionality, gaming, 3D graphics, etc. It seems a bit dizzying. Tell me where you see all of this leading to...or where you would like it to go. :confused:

[n2ifp]

I hope it in the future there isn't as many cryers when a newer gee-whiz model comes out:D!

I am sure Sony will do everything in it's power to keep us hungry:eek:!

[dmale7]

I resemble that remark!

[SprSaiyan8]

Originally posted by n2ifp
I hope it in the future there isn't as many cryers when a newer gee-whiz model comes out:D!

I am sure Sony will do everything in it's power to keep us hungry:eek:! lol

[SprSaiyan8]

maybe GPS built into it or a slot built on the unit for extra memory stick storage

[jedix]

The NZ with 32-64 mb would be great for me! Oh, and a better stylus.

[SprSaiyan8]

Originally posted by jedix
The NZ with 32-64 mb would be great for me! Oh, and a better stylus.
that would be nice

[EZCLIE]

Originally posted by SprSaiyan8
maybe GPS built into it or a slot built on the unit for extra memory stick storage

The Garmin PDA coming out 2nd Quarter has GPS and 32 Megs plus it will take SD cards possibly bluetooth.

Ed

[OcellNuri]

I expect we will see a PDA with a built in TV Tuner within the year. It just seems like the perfect application to me. TV signals are just about everywhere. I would love to be able to get my NX out at lunch and catch the 12 o'clock news. I feel like a TV Tuner would be one of those features I may not look for at first, but if I had the unit for a while I would find myself using it more and more... much like my experience with the camera in the NR.

I see Bluetooth being as common place as USB is in the desktop computer. At least I HOPE so. Bluetooth really has a chance to revolutionize the PDA accessory market. Not to mention act as a catylist for all types of new applications that use connectivity between devices like cell phones, printers, desktops, other handhelds, and cars.

[Nemius]

Although I am unsure as to a PDA with a TV tuner, I really have to agree with OcellNuri as to the Bluetooth aspect.

I think the PDA will not change drastically other than increased memory and processor speed for a while.

While I would love to see a cell phone / PDA / MP-3 / video player (think Treo meets Clie with CF memory), I think an all-in-one is a long time off. While 'convergence' is nice to say, there are far too many flavours of gadgets out there; but if I can get them all to talk to each other, that's all I'd need.

I don't think it will be too long before I see being able to view a web page promoting a concert on my Bluetooth PDA, tap on a hot-spot to connect to a local ticket provider on my Bluetooth phone, buy tickets for the seats I want and print them off on my Bluetooth printer before heading out for the night.

My 2 cents (well, actually 1.34 with the exchange rate) anyway.

[OcellNuri]

Just remeber that Sony has developed a single chip that is a full TV Tuner. They are also supposed to start using it in products this year I believe. Unless it turns to vaporware, it is only a matter of time whether we see it built in or in MemoryStick form. Of course, Sony could just put out a ultra small dedicated TV handheld unit, but that's no fun for us now is it? :D

[n2ifp]

Hopefully more RAM, if nothing else. Hopefully Garmin will put pressure on Sony for at least that much.

Make my Sony cable ready!

[Unregistered]

It seems to me that, with Sony at least, the PDAs and the laptops are asymptotically approaching each other. The PDAs get larger and have more features and bigger screens piled on, while the laptops get thinner and smaller.

Soon, we'll all just have something like the OQO box and then Sony's mad rush to release a new unit every 5-8 minutes will slow down.

IMHO, the NR/NX/NZ series, the largest and most feature rich, don't add much in the way of useful functionality. Sure sure, there's a camera, but it's a fairly miserable camera. Most of its other wonderful new features are the same way. The only really meaningful enhancement in functionality for PDAs I've seen in the last while it the upcoming Garmin PDA's integrated GPS and the now ubiquitous memory slot for added storage.

Now, what I'd really like to see is an OQO-style system run off of flash ram instead of a hard drive to provide instant-on capabilities. It might be a bit costly, but it would certainly be cool to have a full-featured computer just slightly larger then my CLiE with all the same advantages.

[rob_squared]

I went from a dedicated MP3 player to the one on my Clie.

I went from a pa|m-sized digital camera to the camera on my clie.

Don't be mistaken though, a clie isn't for a serious photographer or an audiophile. Some combo devices _can_ work for some people.

[dmale7]

I understand that there is a difference between what is possible and what is likely. This may be possible but it ain't likely:

5-20 gigs of on-board memory like in the Ipod.
64-128 Megs of ram.
400+ mHz processor
3 mega pixel camera
bluetooth and wi-fi built-in
mp3 player and voice recorder
movie player
voice recognition and activation
Tv and radio tuner
and cell phone (maybe with bluetooth headset and boom)

All of this I believe can be done with only a small increase in size and weight. The Clie isn't far from this now!

But like I said...this is not likely. Can't give the public too much too soon. This is about making money.

[ballistic]

1. Better HWR.
2. Voice Commands/Navigation (similar to cell phones, not true voice recognition yet).
3. Better integration/use of desktop to carry out tasks.
4. Geographical 'awareness' via built in GPS & wireless connectivity. This will open up a whole new era of location based advertising, services, & commerce.

For an interesting perspective and a glimpse into current & future technologies, check out Going Wireless (http://www.goingwirelessbook.com/) by Jaclyn Easton. I have the unabridged audio book from audible.com (http://www.audible.com) and it's very interesting (I just wish I could listen to it on my NX!!).

[mashoutposse]

Every PDA should have some sort of wireless connectivity.

[JMS]

One significant feature has yet to be mentioned: increased battey life. Without this, all the features being mentioned, for all the potential they bring to the envisioned device, are unfortunately crippled.

JMS

[SprSaiyan8]

Originally posted by OcellNuri
Just remeber that Sony has developed a single chip that is a full TV Tuner. They are also supposed to start using it in products this year I believe. Unless it turns to vaporware, it is only a matter of time whether we see it built in or in MemoryStick form. Of course, Sony could just put out a ultra small dedicated TV handheld unit, but that's no fun for us now is it? :D

i see that coming befor anuthing that would be cool

[davy19]

i dont think tv tuners is relaly such a great idea..just think how much battery it would use, plus you really cant get too many channles unless you get cable in most markets unless in a major city.

would rather them improve the camera, and get it smaller, and more memory

[dmale7]

Originally posted by Unregistered
...Now, what I'd really like to see is an OQO-style system run off of flash ram instead of a hard drive to provide instant-on capabilities. It might be a bit costly, but it would certainly be cool to have a full-featured computer just slightly larger then my CLiE with all the same advantages.

See the OGO here: http://www.oqo.com/

It looks and sounds great...

- 4.1-inch x 2.9-inch x 0.9-inch form (slightly smaller than a Compaq iPAQ handheld computer with the CF sleeve)
- 1GHz Crusoe TM5800 Processor
- 256MB SDRAM Memory
- 10GB Toshiba Hard Drive
- 4-inch high resolution, ultra bright touch screen
… Lithium polymer battery (two hours movie viewing or up to eight hours general productivity per charge)
- 1394 port (Firewire)
- Three USB 1.1 ports
- Bluetooth
- 802.11 wireless

Accessories would include a laptop carrier and desktop dock. The laptop carrier would have a second battery, optical drive option, a larger LCD screen, pointing device and keyboard.

Target price for the core module is expected to be around $1,000 in initial, low-volume quantities and should drop as the product ramps to its market potential the following year. It is due to market in the second half of 2002.

my question is, where is it?

[dmale7]

oops...OQO, sorry

[frasej]

Now that could be my next PDA.:D

[GANZ]

A TV tuner would be awesome but the thing I really want is larger cheaper storage. A PDA is only as good as the info you carry on it. I can fill up a 128MS in about 1 day and that's with no music or video. Im a tech reference freak!!

[ballistic]

Although I appreciate the entertainment aspects of my NX, I think too much focus on 'wow' features such as tv tuners, video, and MP3 players are putting too much emphasis on the E in Clie.

The Clie is after all, a Personal Digital Assistant, not just an entertainment device. I'd like to see more features to increase productivity, such as text to voice (reading email, ebooks, web clips to me during my commute) and more intelligence so I can assign a task to my Clie and have it carry it out autonomously with very little input. The Clie should be capable of learning my habits and patterns to better predict what I want to accomplish.

I'd rather have a device that can do something really meaningful and productinve, not just to impress friends and co-workings by being able to watch videos and play cool games.

[dmale7]

Originally posted by ballistic
Although I appreciate the entertainment aspects of my NX, I think too much focus on 'wow' features such as tv tuners, video, and MP3 players are putting too much emphasis on the E in Clie.

The Clie is after all, a Personal Digital Assistant, not just an entertainment device. I'd like to see more features to increase productivity, such as text to voice (reading email, ebooks, web clips to me during my commute) and more intelligence so I can assign a task to my Clie and have it carry it out autonomously with very little input. The Clie should be capable of learning my habits and patterns to better predict what I want to accomplish.

I'd rather have a device that can do something really meaningful and productinve, not just to impress friends and co-workings by being able to watch videos and play cool games.

That would be great, Ballistic! I like that. It would make the device more of an appendage than a member :D

[Unregistered]

i sure do like dmale7's idea for the future

[Inginious]

Downloadable upgrades instead of buying the PDA every so often.

MORE GAMES! like AOE....ahh.... that would be Great!

I envy PPC for having it

[n2ifp]

Better web integration without page too large errors.

No one has mention the lack of printing capabilities.

Real applications that are productive and work well.

The original concept of the Palm was KISS.

The PPC was the multi-media and game machine.

[Inginious]

Ballistic is rigth though, the entertainment part of it only last for so long

after that you relly use it for personal productivity

[n2ifp]

Agreed!

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by dmale7

Target price for the core module is expected to be around $1,000 in initial, low-volume quantities and should drop as the product ramps to its market potential the following year. It is due to market in the second half of 2002.

my question is, where is it?

I imagine they must have had problem in negotiations with their ?major hardware vendor" or something. ;)

Given the specs of this machine and how things are going technologically, I'm starting to wonder, if price is not an issue, why have a PalmOS PDA when you can have a fully functional computer that's around the same size?

The specs on the OQO system place it as not much larger then an NR/NX/NZ and has the "ooomph" of last year's desktop systems. I could be playing Civ3 instead of Bejewelled. I could be in full control of what software I load onto the system. I could be watching a full-length DVD-quality movie instead of 30 second kinoma clips.

I'm wondering if the time is coming for the prorietary hardware and software world of the PDA to bow out of the game.