Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

HTC, the Taiwanese company that makes or has made nearly everyone's mobile phone or PDA device for re-badging has made it's long awaited move into the UMPC sector with a device intended to take on Samsung, Asus and Amtek. Called the HTC Shift the device runs Microsoft Vista Business and has the following features:

• 7-inch widescreen display
• 30-gigabyte hard drive
• QWERTY keyboard
• Windows Media Player 11
• Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA
• Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0

More information at:
http://www.america.htc.com/products/shift/default.html

The HTC Shift will be available in the US and Europe in Q3 2007

Samsung also recently launched it's follow-up to the Q1 UMPC with the Q1 Ultra and it's a beaut. More info here.

Those less keen on operating system bloatware may prefer the HTC Advantage (available as the Ameo from T-Mobile) which has a 5 inch screen, dual camera's, GPS, runs Windows Mobile 5/6 with an 8Gb HDD and supports 3G/HSDPA/WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity.

 

you're not wrong!

however in my experience (in a company in the mid-80's that built a prototype handheld) it's about timing and other enabling technologies. High-speed, anywhere access  to the Internet via HSDPA takes what we fondly remember as the "Psion Days" into a new league of possibilities.

Psion now make industralised mobile devices but I wonder what they would be making if they had just started this year and were targetting the business, consumer and education user?

As you point out, most likely not too different from the above!

Those with deeper pockets might be interested in the OQO Model 2 which costs around £1,000

Review here