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`Michael Morrison
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 1
`
`

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`ONTENTS
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`Michøel Morrison
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`lndianapolis, lndiana 46290
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 2
`
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`Associate Publisher
`Greg Wiegand
`
`Acquisitions Editor
`Stephanie J. McComb
`
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`
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`
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`
`Sp¡clRl- Eornoru Uslrrtc Pocr¡r PC zooz
`Copyright @ 2002 by Que Publishing
`All rights ¡eserved. No part of this book shall be repro-
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`meâns, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorcling,
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`International Standard Book Numbe r: 0-7 897 -27 49 -8
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`Printed in the United States of America
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`First Printing: June 2002
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`Warning and Disclaimer
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`Every effort has been made to make this book as complete
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 3
`
`

`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 4
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 4
`
`

`
`24 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
`
`POCKET PC HARDWARE FUNDAMENTALS
`
`Although the Pocket PC operating system is a pretty impressive piece of software technol-
`ogy, the hardware behind Pocket PC devices is quite amazing considering their small size.
`To fully understand the capabilities of a Pocket PC, it’s important to have a solid grasp on
`the underlying hardware that makes them tick. And rather than ask you to pry open your
`device with a screwdriver to see for yourself, I’d prefer telling you about the hardware
`inside. Trust me, it will save you some time, and you won’t have to buy another Pocket PC
`when you realize that yours won’t go back together.
`
`This chapter explores the inner workings of Pocket PCs and gives you some insight into the
`physical characteristics of these intricate little machines. Pocket PCs include an unprece-
`dented array of features packed into a small footprint, which makes them quite interesting
`gadgets. Although this chapter admittedly doesn’t delve much into Pocket PC software, it
`will hopefully leave you with a newfound appreciation of Pocket PCs and enable you to bet-
`ter understand their overall design.
`
`MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS
`
`As with all modern computers, Pocket PCs are electronic devices that rely on a variety of
`subsystems, or components, to carry out different operations. Some of these components are
`hidden from the user (the microprocessor), whereas others are right there in plain view (the
`display). Following are the major hardware components that drive a typical Pocket PC:
`
`Microprocessor
`
`Memory
`Power
`
`Display
`
`Stylus
`
`I/O ports
`Multimedia hardware
`
`I I I I
`
`I I I
`
`The microprocessor, or processor for short, is at the heart of a Pocket PC and is responsible
`for executing software instructions and coordinating other hardware subsystems. Memory
`can come in several forms and is used both as a place for software applications to run and as
`a place to store installed applications and data. Because Pocket PCs are electronic devices,
`they wouldn’t be of much use without power, which comes in the form of batteries. The dis-
`play of Pocket PCs is extremely important because it enables you to view information and
`interact with applications by tapping the stylus. I/O ports give you the ability to connect
`Pocket PCs to networks and other devices. And finally, multimedia hardware consists of the
`speaker, headphone jack, and microphone that are prevalent in all Pocket PCs.
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 5
`
`

`
`PROCESSORS: THE BRAINS or THE OUTFIT I 25
`
`POCKET PC MODELS
`
`The remainder of this chapter explores the various Pocket PC hardware components and
`examines their roles in making Pocket PCs such powerful handheld devices. I’ll also point
`out the minimum hardware requirements for each component as set forth by Microsoft for
`Pocket PC 2002. These requirements are extremely important because they establish the
`minimum hardware characteristics of Pocket PC devices. Before getting into the character-
`istics of each hardware component, however, it’s worth taking a quick look at some of the
`Pocket PC devices that are currently available. Although new Pocket PC devices are being
`released on a regular basis, following are some of the popular models available as of this
`writing:
`
`I Casio Cassiopeia E-200
`
`I Compaq iPAQ H3800 Series
`I HP]ornada 5 60 Series
`I Toshiba e570
`
`I NEC MobilePro P300
`I Audiovox Maestro
`
`I’ll be referring to these devices throughout the chapter to illuminate similarities and differ-
`ences between them. My goal is to simultaneously reveal the hardware that drives Pocket
`PCS in general as well as point out the unique hardware approaches taken by various Pocket
`PC manufacturers. Even with minimum hardware requirements firmly in place, there is still
`a wide range of hardware features available in Pocket PCs. Toward the end of the chapter,
`I’ll break down these devices according to their specific hardware features.
`
`PROCESSORS: THE BRAINS OFVTHE OUTFIT
`
`The processor is the brain of Pocket PC devices and therefore is critical in determining how
`much power is packed into them. Even though desktop and notebook PC processor speeds
`are now over ZGHZ (2,000MHz), it was only a few short years ago when a 200MHz PC was
`considered speedy for most applications. Knowing this, it’s pretty impressive that most
`Pocket PCs now use processors running at 206MHz. In fact, the Pocket PC 2002 platform
`dictates that all Pocket PCs must use a 32-bit processor running at a speed of at least
`100MHz. Additionally, Pocket PCs must now use a specific type of processor based on the
`ARM processor technology.
`
`Simplifying the Processor in Pocket PC 2002
`Prior to Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PCs were capable of using a variety of processors with widely varying architec-
`tures. In fact, five different processors were used in devices prior to Pocket PC 2002 with speeds ranging from
`70MHz to 206MHz. Although this processor diversity might have seemed like a good idea, it presented a prob-
`lem for software distribution. Because Pocket PC processors were each distinctively different, applications had
`to be compiled to each specific processor. More importantly, software vendors had to release different versions
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 6
`
`

`
`l‘
`
`26 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE PocKEr PC HARDWARE
`
`of their software for different processors. From the user's perspective, this was extremely confusing, which is
`probably why Microsoft decided to do away with processor diversity in Pocket PC 2002.
`
`ARM is actually a processor architecture created by Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Ltd.,
`which means that various chip manufacturers license the architecture and develop their own
`ARM processors. All ARM processors are 32-bit RISC processors, which means they shuttle
`around data in 32-bit chunks and rely on a reduced instruction set. The reduced imtmction set
`used by RISC processors enables them to perform many of the most common operations
`faster than CISC processors that rely on a complex instruction set. RISC processors also
`tend to be much cheaper to manufacture, which is extremely important for Pocket PC man-
`ufacturers given the need to keep Pocket PC prices down.
`
`@ In addition to Pocket PCs, ARM processors are used in a variety of other devices, such
`as Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. It probably seems strange that your Pocket PC that
`is used for executive emails is powered by the same processor technology that grade
`school kids are using to play Super Mario World. Keep in mind, however, that a Game
`Boy Advance is a handheld computer with many of the same processor requirements
`as a Pocket PC.
`
`Most of the current Pocket PC devices use Intel’s StrongARM SA-1110 processor running
`at 206MHz. What few people realize is that this StrongARM processor is actually capable
`of running at speeds of anywhere between 162MHz and 236MHz. Higher speeds result in
`increased power consumption, which is presumably why device manufacturers settled on
`206MHz as a reasonable tradeoff of processor speed and battery life. The interesting thing,
`however, is that you can change the speed of the processor on some devices with the appro-
`priate software. For example, the]S Overclock utility byjimmy Software (http: //
`www. j immysoftware . com I) enables you to set the processor speed for Compaq iPAQ Pocket
`PCS in the range of 162MHz—236MHz. Setting a processor to a speed higher than its
`default (206MH7. in this case) is known as overclocking the processor. Overclocking is not
`recommended or endorsed by device manufacturers, but it is an option to some Pocket PC
`users who are willing to trade off battery life for a speedier processor.
`
`caution
`
`— Another problem Wllh overclocking IS that it puts more stress on a processor because
`higher speeds result in more heat; heat is the enemy of any electronic circuit. So, over-
`clocking your processor can decrease its life. Because no manufacturer endorses over-
`clocking, gauging the risks associated with overclocking is difficult, which means the
`V sate routeis to avoid it.
`A
`A
`A
`
`The good news about Pocket PC processor speeds is that overclocking shouldn’t be neces-
`sary, except for the greediest of Pocket PC users. Keep in mind that a considerable amount
`of thought and design work has gone into matching up hardware and software in Pocket
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 7
`
`

`
`UNDERSTANDING MEMORY I 27
`
`PCs. In other words, the majority of applications available for Pocket PCs should run per-
`fectly well on a device with its processor running at the default speed.
`
`UNDERSTANDING MEMORY
`
`Next to processor speed, the most significant factor in the performance of any computer is
`memory. Because Pocket PCs are inherently compact devices with every design decision
`carefully weighed against size, cost, weight, and ruggedness, it stands to reason that memory
`is the only real Pocket PC bottleneck. All Pocket PCs are required to have at least 16MB of
`flash upgradeable ROM and 16MB of RAM, although Microsoft recommends 32MB of
`RAM. Although the ROM is sufficient for storing the Pocket PC operating system and stan-
`dard applications, the RAM is where things quickly get tight. ROM (read-only memory) is
`used in Pocket PCs to store the Pocket PC operating system and built-in applications. Fla:/J
`ROM is a type of ROM that can be rewritten through a process known as flasbing, which
`enables you to upgrade the Pocket PC operating system.
`
`@ New in Pocket PC 2002 is the concept of Execute In Place (XIP) installation, which
`, enables built-in applications to reside in separate segments of flash ROM. Thisallows
`you to selectively upgrade individual built-in applications without touching the operat-
`ing system. Built-in applications are those that are installed in the ROM of your device
`straight from the factory, as opposed to applications you purchase and install yourself.
`XIP technology would come into playif you wanted to upgrade Pocket Word, for exam-
`ple, which is an application that is built into the ROM of every Pocket PCydevice.
`
`.
`
`RAM (random access memory) basically serves as the main memory in Pocket PCs.
`VVhereas the contents of ROM are fixed and change only if you perform a rare operating
`system upgrade, RAM changes constantly. This is due to the fact that RAM houses both
`applications and data. Any time you install a new application or edit a document in an
`application you are changing RAM. The downside to RAM is that it is volatile, which
`means you lose its contents if power goes away. That’s why it’s so important to never let a
`Pocket PC’s battery completely drain down to nothing. Likewise, you don’t want to leave
`tl1e batteries out of your device for more than a few minutes; most Pocket PCs are designed
`to be capable of surviving without their main batteries for a little while.
`
`Now that you understand how ROM and RAM fit into the Pocket PC hardware equation,
`it’s time to break some bad news to you about the limitations of Pocket PC memory. VVhen
`you consider that desktop and notebook computers have exploded in recent years in terms
`of their memory and hard disk capacities, it’s ‘not too surprising that people haven’t argued
`much as applications and data files have ballooned in size. When you literally have tens of
`gigabytes of hard disk space to spare, who cares if a file is 120KB or 120MB? Obviously,
`there are reasons to care, but in the big picture it isn’t that big of a deal when you almost
`always have room to spare. Such is the situation in the world of desktop and notebook com-
`puting.
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 8
`
`

`
`if
`
`28 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
`
`Unfortunately, handheld devices live by a very different set of rules than desktop and note-
`book computers, and memory is the one area where this is painfully evident. The primary
`issue is the cost of compact memory, which is higher than the cost of desktop or even note-
`book memory and incredibly higher than the cost of hard drives. The comparison to hard
`drives is important because Pocket PCs typically don’t have hard drives, in which case they
`must rely on some form of memory as residual storage. When you look at trying to replace
`the storage space of a hard drive with memory, cost suddenly becomes a big problem.
`
`Because compact RAM for handheld devices is relatively expensive, Pocket PC manufactur-
`ers decided to design them with enough RAM to handle average usage but not enough to
`handle extreme applications such as storing a lot of photographs, MP3 music, or videos. For
`those users with large memory requirements, the extensibility of Pocket PCs saves the day.
`More specifically, all Pocket PCs are required to support some form of memory expansion
`through one or more expansion slots. Several types of expansion slots are supported across
`Pocket PC devices, which we’ll get to in just a moment. VVhen it comes to extra memory,
`it’s really a matter of economics; if you can afford it, get a bunch and you won’t have to
`worry so much about running out. So let’s explore the various options made possible by
`Pocket PC expansion slots.
`
`Three options are available for adding extra memory to Pocket PCs, which correspond to
`the three types of expansion cards currently supported by Pocket PCs:
`I PC
`
`I CompactFlash (CF)
`
`I Secure digital (SD)/multimedia card (MMC)
`
`W I didn't entirely tell the truth when I said that expansion cards are the onlyway to
`increase the memory capacity of Pocket PCs. It you don't mind the thought of sending
`off your device and having someone open it up and tinker with its internals, you can
`increase yourdevice's memory without using an expansion slot. A company called
`Portable Computer Enhancements specializes in this type, of memory upgrade, which
`can increase your device's internal RAM up to 256MB. To tind out more, visit the
`Portable Computer Enhancements lllleb site at l1ttp:i/ /www. pcezooo . com/.
`
`PC is a type of expansion card formerly known as PCMCIA that originated more than a
`decade ago as a means of adding accessories such as modems and network interfaces to
`notebook computers. PC cards have found their way into Pocket PCs as a means of adding
`memory as well as accessories such as wireless modems and network interface cards. In fact,
`you can use some PC card accessories designed for notebook computers with Pocket PCs.
`PC cards are roughly the size of credit cards and somewhat thicker. There are three types
`of PC cards (I, II, and III), so it’s important to ensure that your device supports the correct
`type of card if you purchase expansion memory or an accessory as a PC card. In terms of
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 9
`
`

`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 10
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 10
`
`

`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 11
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 11
`
`

`
`THE IMPORTANCE or POWER I
`
`31
`
`Toshiba that are capable of storing enormous amounts of Pocket PC data. The IBM drives
`are known as Microdrives and are packaged as CF expansion cards. IBM Microdrives are
`currently available in 340MB, 512MB, and 1GB sizes. Toshiba’s micro hard drives are pack-
`aged as either PC or CF cards and are available in sizes of 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, and even
`ZOGB.
`
`THE IMPORTANCE or POWER
`
`A Pocket PC with no power wouldn’t be of much use, so power is certainly an important
`part of the Pocket PC hardware picture. All Pocket PCs include a main battery that is used
`to power the device during normal use. In addition to the main battery, some devices also
`include a backup battery that is used when the main battery is dead or otherwise not func-
`tioning. The Pocket PC operating system is designed to keep close tabs on battery power
`and inform you of impending low power. It’s important to heed low power warnings,
`recharge/replace the main battery, and possibly replace the backup battery, if one exists.
`
`As of Pocket PC 2002, Microsoft has placed an increased emphasis on devices providing
`longer battery life. For example, devices with color displays are required to supply a mini-
`mum of 8 hours of battery life, whereas grayscale devices must supply 15 hours of battery
`life. In addition to these requirements on how long the main battery must last with a full
`charge, there are also some i.nteresu'ng power requirements related to system RAM. Keep in
`mind that regardless of how Careful you are about keeping the main battery charged, the
`possibility always exists that the main battery could go bad and need replacing. Obviously,
`you need a way to replace the main battery without losing everything in system RAM.
`Fortunately, all Pocket PC 2002 devices are required to keep system RAM intact for a mini-
`mum of 30 minutes with the main battery removed. Additionally, devices must retain RAM
`for 72 hours after a low battery system shutdown. This occurs when die battery level is
`determined to be too low to enable you to use the device, in which case you have 3 days to
`recharge or replace the main battery.
`
`A If you need to recharge the batteries in your Pocket PC when you're away from a traditional power
`source, see "Recharging Batteries Without a Traditional Power Source” in the "Troubleshooting”section
`at the end of the chapter.
`
`caution
`
`,
`
`If your Pocket PC allows access to its batteries, it IS Important to never remove the
`m’ ' battery and the backup battery at the same time unless you are intentionally try-
`'. Atoclear theiinemoryiof your Pocket PC. Without either battery, you are sure to lose
`all data and any customized settings’you made to the device. If both batteries require
`replacement at the same time, be sureto replace the main battery first.
`
`Most Pocket PCs use a rechargeable lithium—ion or lithium-polymer battery for primary
`power. Lithium—ion batteries are a little more popular, whereas the newer lithium-polymer
`batteries offer improved battery life. Keep in mind, however, that Microsoft’s power
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 12
`
`

`
`—_
`
`32 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
`
`requirements guarantee you decent battery life regardless of the underlying battery technol-
`ogy. Most devices support charging the main battery through a cradle, as well as enabling
`you to use AC and automobile adapter cords for recharging.
`
`W Unfortunately, most Pocket PC 2002 devices don't include user replaceable batteries,
`which means you must ship your device back to the manufacturer whenever your hat-
`tery dies. I suppose the logic is that the lifetime of a battery is sufficient to outlast the V
`usefulness of the device, but that's debatable. Hewlett Packard and Casio are two man-
`ufacturers in particular who allow you to replace the batteries in their devices.
`
`THE ALL-IMPORTANT DISPLAY
`When you think about the displays used in most mobile devices, such as mobile phones, it’s
`hard to look at a Pocket PC without appreciating the display. All Pocket PCs are required
`to support a screen resolution of 240x320 pixels with a O.216mm or 0.24mm dot pitch.
`Although the dot pitch might be hard to visualize, hopefully you can appreciate the fact that
`240x320 resolution is pretty amazing for a device that fits in the palm of your hand.
`Although not a strict requirement, most Pocket PCs also include color screens, which adds
`significantly to their usability. Devices with color screens are required to have a color depth
`of at least 8-bit color (2 56 colors), whereas most devices are now up to 16-bit color (64,000
`colors). Grayscale devices must have either 2-bit (4 shades of gray) or 4-bit color (16 shades
`of gray).
`
` — Be careful when cleaning the screen of your Pocket PC. Some commercial glass clean-
`ers, such as Formula 409, contain solvents that can damage the top layer of the liquid
`crystal display (LCD) screen, which is made of plastic. More specifically, avoid using a
`cleaner that contains acetone, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or toluene. Kensington
`Computer Screen Cleaner is a safe option and is available at most computer stores.
`
`As you might have noticed, the display quality on Pocket PCs rivals that of the best note-
`book computers. This has a lot to do with the reflective TFT LCD display technology used
`by newer Pocket PCs. TFT stands for thin film transistor, which is a technology that
`results in displays that are brighter than other types of LCD displays although they have a
`tendency to wash out more in direct light such as outdoor sunlight. TFT displays are con-
`sidered active displays, which means they use individual transistors to control each pixel on
`the screen; passive dtkplayx use a grid of horizontal and vertical wires to accomplish the same
`task. The upside to active displays is that they provide a sharper image and a broader view-
`ing angle than passive displays. Not surprisingly, active displays are more expensive to pro-
`duce than passive displays, but the improvement in display quality appears to be Well worth
`the added cost.
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 13
`
`

`
`Assessmc 1/O CAPABILITIES I 33
`
`ll“)
`
`I mentioned a moment ago that active displays have a tendency to wash out if viewed in
`direct light. Pocket PCs handle this problem by using a reflective TFT display; the reflec—
`tive part of the display addresses the wash out problem. A reflecti'ue display is a display that
`relies on ambient light to light up the display, as opposed to a backlight that shines behind
`the screen. The reflective TFT display used in Pocket PCs not only solves the wash out
`problem by adjusting the display according to the intensity of surrounding light, but it also
`uses much less power than backlit displays. You might notice that reflective displays aren’t
`quite as bright as backlit displays in normal indoor light, but they perform much better all-
`around.
`
`Iil’ "°'“
`"’l/47%
`
`Because the top layer of a Pocket PC display is plastic, it is relatively easy to scratch it,
`which can be very frustrating. Believe it or not, an inexpensive way to fix minor
`scratches on your Pocket PC's display is to spray a little STP Son of a Gun tire cleaner
`on the screen and lightly buff it off. It contains a polymer that bonds with the top layer
`of the LCD display and fills minor scratches.
`
`ASSESSING I/O CAPABILITIES
`The Pocket PC platform dictates that all Pocket PCs have several input/output (I/O) ports
`to provide the utmost in flexibility when it comes to communicating with the outside world.
`I/O ports such as USB and infrared are important in enabling Pocket PCs to connect and
`communicate with desktop PCs and other mobile devices. Although some Pocket PC
`devices also include a serial port for desktop synchronization, Pocket PC 2002 requires all
`devices to have a USB port. This is due to the fact that USB ports provide considerably
`much faster transfer speeds than serial ports. More specifically, a Pocket PC serial port is
`limited to a data transfer rate of 115Kbps (lcilobits per second), whereas a USB port can
`move data at speeds of 1,500Kbps. That’s more than 10 times as fast, which can make a big
`difference when transferring large files such as digital MP3 or WMA music files.
`
`In addition to a USB port, all Pocket PCs must include an infrared port that can be used to
`communicate with other devices via an invisible beam of light. The infrared port is conve-
`nient because it doesn’t require a physical connection for two devices to communicate with
`each other. The speed of the infrared port clocks in at 115Kbps, which is the same as serial
`ports. This type of infrared port is known as an SIR port, which stands for serial infrared.
`SIR differs from FIR (fast infrared) in that it supports speeds up to only 115Kbps, as
`opposed to the 4Mbps supported by FIR. Speed isn’t quite as big of an issue with the
`Pocket PC infrared port, however, because it is designed more for mobile communication
`between devices—as opposed to hardcore networking. For example, you can use the
`infrared port with some mobile phones to establish a wireless Internet connection. Because
`most mobile phones have limited bandwidth for data connections, the speed limitation on
`Pocket PC infrared ports doesn’t really present a problem.
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 14
`
`

`
`34 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE POCKEl' PC HARDWARE
`
`@ The infrared port found in Pocket PCs conforms to the Infrared Data Association (ITDA)
`infrared communications protocol, which is important because this is an industry stan-
`dard used by many devices.
`
`GETTING To Know THE STYLUS, BUTTONS, AND DIALS
`Although they tend to get overlooked when considering the impressive technology behind
`Pocket PC processors and memory, the physical controls used to interact with Pocket PCs
`are an integral part of Pocket PC hardware. I’m referring to the stylus, buttons, and dials
`used to enter data, control applications, and otherwise interact with Pocket PCs. The major-
`ity of interaction carried out with a device is done through the stylus, which serves as an
`intuitive means of navigating through the Pocket PC GUI. The stylus can also serve as an
`interesting control for games and other interactive applications. Figure 2.1 shows a Compaq
`iPAQ H3800 Series Pocket PC, whose stylus is accessed from the top of the device.
`
`Microphone
`
`Infrared Port
`
`_“
`
`V
`
`.
`
`speaker
`
`Figure 2.1
`Most Pocket PCs, such
`as the Compaq iPAQ
`H3800 Series, conve-
`niently store the stylus
`in a slot that is acces-
`sible from the top of
`the device.
`
`Launch Buttons
`
`Navigation Button
`
`Whereas styli are fairly consistent across Pocket PC devices, buttons are where you see sig-
`nificant differences when comparing various models of Pocket PCs. Each manufacturer has
`its own opinion about what types of buttons are useful and the ergonomics of where they
`are located. I don’t have too strong of an opinion regarding button styles or placement
`other than to say I really like Pocket PCs that include a navigation button or gamepad.
`Fortunately, most late-model Pocket PCs have adopted such a button. Although few of us
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 15
`
`

`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 16
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 16
`
`

`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 17
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 17
`
`

`
`COMPARING POCKET PC DEvIcEs
`
`I 37
`
`YOUR DEVICE Is A Goon LISTENER
`
`The last hardware facet of Pocket PCs of interest in this chapter is audio hardware, which
`enables you to both play and record digital audio. Pocket PCs are required to support 16-bit
`stereo audio, which should be high enough quality to accommodate your portable audio
`needs. Following are the major audio hardware components of a Pocket PC device:
`
`I Speaker
`
`I Headphone jack
`
`I Microphone
`
`The speaker is an obvious piece of hardware that is a necessity for hearing sounds and music
`emitted by a Pocket PC. Similarly, the headphone jack provides a convenient way to hear a
`Pocket PC through headphones without disturbing anyone else. The microphone can be
`used for verbal note taking, dictation, recording meetings, or maybe even recording your
`child's first word. The locations of these audio components vary widely according to each
`specific Pocket PC device. As an example, the Compaq iPAQ H3800 Series devices have die
`speaker located near the top of the device, whereas the HP Jornada 560 Series devices have
`the speaker located near the bottom-right corner, as shown in Figure 2.3. Similarly, the
`microphone of the iPAQ devices is located on top of the device, whereas the Jornada micro-
`phone is located on the bottom. I’m sure each manufacturer has its own reasons for the
`
`positioning of audio components, but from a usability perspective, you can probably get
`comfortable with any of the locations.
`
`@ In the pasl, some Pocket PCs have been criticized for not having powerful enough
`audio to listen to digital music, especially when there is background noise Such as rid-
`ing in a car or plane. If you feel you aren't getting enough volume out of your Pocket
`PC, you might want to check out the Boostaroo audio amplifier. It is a small device that
`increases the gain of a Pocket PC’s headphone jack, thereby giving you more volume.
`The Boostaroo also includes three headphone jacks, which enable several people to lis-
`ten in together. For more information, visit the Boostaroo Web site at
`http: //www. boostaroo. com.
`
`COMPARING POCKET PC DEVICES
`
`Now that you have a pretty good understanding of the hardware that goes into Pocket PCs,
`it’s worth taking a step back and looking at how the current crop of Pocket PC devices dif-
`fer with respect to major hardware features. One area where devices don’t vary much at the
`moment is in the processor—all Pocket PCs released as of this writing rely on the Intel
`StrongARM SA-1110 processor, which runs at 206MHz. Additionally, all color Pocket PCs
`currently use reflective TFT displays with support for 16-bit color (65,5 36 colors). This is a
`dramatic improvement over the displays used in some older Pocket'PCs and helps to add
`some uniformity to the quality of displays in all Pocket PCs. Although the processors and
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1006, pg. 18
`
`

`
`T‘
`
`38 I CHAPTER 2
`
`lNSlDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
`
`displays might be similar across Pocket PCs, their other hardware components do vary to
`some degree. Table 2.2 provides a breakdown of some Of the more popular Pocket PC
`devices, along with the major hardware features found in each.
`
`TABLE 2.2
`
`COMPARING POCKET PC DEVICE FEATURES
`
`Battery
`Life
`Add-On
`Built-In
`Device (Hours) ROM RAM V Slots Slots
`
`
`Cassiopeia E-200
`32MB
`64MB
`CF II/SD
`PC
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Compaq iPAQ H3 800 Series
`
`32MB
`
`64MB
`
`SD
`
`PC/CF
`
`HP Jornada 5 60 Series
`Toshiba e570
`
`32MB
`32MB
`
`32/64MB
`64MB
`
`CF I
`CF II/SD
`
`PC
`—
`
`12
`
`14-
`8
`
`10
`—
`CF II/SD
`32MB
`32MB
`NEC MobilePro P300
`*T_
`32MB 32MB CF II/SD —Audiovox Maestro 8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`As you can see in Table 2.2, all the devices conform to the minimum 32MB ROM standard,
`and all have at least 32MB RAM. Additionally, all devices except the Compaq iPAQ have a
`built-in CF slot; the iPAQ is unique in that you ca.n add CF support to it via an expansion
`sleeve that slides Over the device. The battery life for every device is a little different and
`reflects the unique hardware characteristics of the devices. You might be thinking that the
`hardware differences between these devices aren’t really very dramatic, and in fact this is
`true. Keep in mi_nd, however, that each device manufacturer has its own approach to style,
`ergonomics, ruggedness,