The Samsung BlackJack is simply the best Windows Mobile Smartphone I have ever used.

The Backjack sold by Cingular Wireless now the new at&t brings UMTS/HSDPA to the table...basically DSL/Broadband speeds to you and me. What I have found is that I really don’t use my laptop as much since the BackJack has live push mail, large display, and a QWERTY keyboard. I tossed in a 2 Gig MicroSD Card and sync up my music and TV shows from my Media Center so I can take them with me. Even the 2MP camera gets some use and with all this heavy lifting the BlackJack maintains its sleek super model-esque profile.

What really makes the unit shine is the thoughtful list of applications Samsung and Cingular Wireless now the new at&t included with the BackJack. They didn’t opt for the regular Microsoft Mobile Smartphone app load, they went much further and included a slew of productive tools that really rounds out the phone with just about everything you could ever need.

--Bill Landon

In today’s work environment it has become increasingly necessary to bring work typically done at the office out into the field. More and more technology has been brought to the fields of construction, surveying, manufacturing, telecom, etc. This brings an interesting issue to light; how do you work in an unfriendly and potentially harsh environment while not burning through laptops and PDA’s weekly? There are a couple of industrial grade ruggedized laptops available, however they approach close to $4000 fully equipped and may simply be overkill and too bulky to be practical.

Enter the ruggedized PDA. They are small, lightweight and efficient compared their laptop cousins, not to mention they have a longer battery life and are cute as a bug’s ear. We have looked at a rugged PDA in the past from TDS (Tripod Data Systems) Recon 400. That device proved to be a formidable challenger to the elements and stood up well to the abuse we threw at it. TDS has brought out their follow up to the Recon 400 in the form of the new Recon X-Series.

Read our full review of the TDS Recon X-Series Rugged PDA

The notion is very attractive:  You’ve got a PDA.  Wouldn’t it be great to have a way to use it as a GPS in your car?  There are a number of devices out there that clip on, transmit by Bluetooth, plug in by USB or card slot - surely something works. 

If you could find something that could hold your PDA, charge it up and add GPS functionality as well, wouldn’t that be just cool?

I thought it would, and so when I got an opportunity to try out an Arkon Powered GPS Docking cradle and their MobiNavigator software for my Axim V50x, I jumped at the chance. 

Read our full review of the Arkon Powered GPS Docking Cradle and MobiNavigator Software

There has been plethora of PMP (portable media players) flooding the market since CES last January. Most are a one trick pony that plays media, period. Well that’s cool since probably why you bought the device for to begin with right? What if your shiny new PMP could do a few extra tricks? That’s what dream’eo asked when they designed their flagship offering the dream’eo Solo.

The Solo is a typical looking PMP device with a 3.5” 320x240 screen, video out, headphone jack, built in microphone, hard drive, and a media slot. So the engineers at dream’eo asked when and where do your use a PMP? The answer came back as on the road or going from place to place. Then the light came on...how about adding a GPS to the design so when people are traveling about they can find their way easier. Brilliant!

To make this a reality the Solo team added a docking port for expansion that allows you to plug in an external GPS puck. Neat add-on for a PMP device. It makes sense too, if I am going on a trip I will want to listen to music or watch a show, but I also might want to get directions along the way or find interesting points of interest.

Read our full review of the dream’eo SOLO PMP w/GPS

The primary emphasis in today’s PDA market seems to be smaller and lighter.  Many of the newer models seem to be focused on having limited features while maintaining the smallest profile and lightest weight possible.  This appears to work for most users, but there will always be a certain group of people who want a PocketPC with all the features, expansion, and performance they can get.  The Asus A716 is designed for this type of users.  A user whose main objective is all the features and functionality they can get without worrying about having the tiniest PDA in their pocket.

Most of today’s current crop of Pocket PC’s or Windows Mobiles devices come equipped with a typical set of specifications; the ubiquitous XScale processor, and SDIO memory slot, transreflective screen, 64 Megs of ram, and in the higher end models wireless capability with either WiFi and/or Bluetooth connectivity. Some manufactures will even go out on a limb and include such innovations as 2 memory slots or a built in keyboard; slow down there cowboy those innovations are just too exciting. 

Following the models X5 and X3 Dell now released the new Axim X3i, Dell’s first Pocket PC with both implemented Bluetooth and wireless Lan (802.11b).

The Dell Axim x3i is very lightweighted and small, its easy to even carry it in the pocket of my shirt. It comes with a bright display, a little smaller than that of most competitors (same size as the MDA/2 display). Even in bright light the contrast is very good. I placed a WriteShield protector onto the display, even this didn’t reduce the readability.

The PDA (Personal Data Assistant) has become the indispensable ubiquitous enterprise tool for many organizations and IT departments. In today’s digital connected world you will find a PDA in the hands of professionals from all industries from state and private survey crews, law enforcement, extreme adventure tours, medical professionals and any other industry that needs fast and accurate data at the tip of their employees fingers.

While the proliferation of mobile technology and devices has increased with the use of cell phones, MP3 players, two way radios, etc. the cost has been shrinking for those devices with one exception; the PDA.  In fact many PDA�s have become more expensive as more and more add on features have been included like WiFi, Bluetooth, biometric security, etc. 

The world is full of PocketPC choices.  Today’s users have to choose from over 20 different models and that is only in the U.S.  In the rest of the world, especially Asia, the choices are even greater.  One company that I have been impressed with, ever since I saw their first PocketPC in Taiwan a couple of years ago, is Asus.  A company based in Asia, they are better known in the U.S. for their motherboard and networking products.  Asus has been making PDA’s for many years, but has only recently brought their PocketPC products to the U.S.  So it is not surprising that very few U.S. PDA users have heard of or seen this product.  What will surprise most users is the fact that this is one of the best quality and highest performance PocketPC’s on the market.

While at CES we attended many press briefings and private briefings. Several of these were under NDA and we can not disclose that information until it is officially released. In our quest to bring our readers the latest on PDA and technology news we ask many vendors about upcoming products and roadmaps. Some vendors bring us in on those new products after we agree to not disclose the information until it is ready for public consumption. This allows us time to get review outlines written and formulate upcoming articles. Other times the vendor plays possum and says there is no new news and that’s Ok too. 

I know what your thinking, “What do I care about an aging PDA from a year and a half ago,” right? Well, I’d like to start by refreshing us all with a few of the E-15 specifications.