HP to announce post-merger iPaqs

NEWS

Hewlett-Packard is set to announce the first newly developed handheld devices to use the iPaq name since the company completed its acquisition of Compaq Computer and the iPaq line. The company will announce two new handhelds, the Compaq iPaq 3970 and the Compaq iPaq 3950, on Monday, sources said. Both gadgets will feature brighter screens and more powerful processors than Compaq's previous generations of iPaqs, as well as new universal remote-control technology. But the devices will have the same basic design as former iPaq models. HP has been gradually phasing out some models in its Jornada line and has rebranded other Jornadas as HP iPaqs. The 3970 and the 3950, however, keep the Compaq brand but will be the last to do so -- all future iPaqs will be HP-branded, said the company. Handheld makers have been trying to attract more customers by adding new features to their devices. Companies such as Palm and Handspring, which use Palm's operating system, have been adding wireless communications features. Microsoft and its hardware partners have been working on adding similar features to handhelds using Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system. With its new iPaqs, though, HP is focusing on improving specifications of previous generations of devices. The iPaqs run the Pocket PC 2002 OS. HP representatives declined to comment for this story. Battery life has been a key issue in previous generations of devices using Pocket PC 2002, according to Kevin Burden, an analyst with research firm IDC. The new iPaqs will use Intel's 400MHz XScale PXA250 processors, which should improve power management. "Battery technology moves at a snail's pace, so better power management in devices is critical," Burden said. "Intel's XScale chip should help in that area because it can scale the use of power to the level of performance needed by the applications that are in use." Intel spokesman Mark Miller said the XScale will also let hardware partners add more features, including wireless capabilities. Toshiba announced on Monday its new handheld, the e740 Pocket PC, which uses Intel's XScale PXA250 processor and incorporates 802.11b wireless networking capabilities. HP's new iPaq will include a more powerful consumer infrared port. The consumer IR port transmits remote signals farther than typical IR ports. IR ports are used in handhelds for beaming information, such as contacts, over a short distance. The new HP iPaqs also feature remote-control software from Universal Electronics. Universal announced on Tuesday its Nevo software designed to turn handheld computers into remote controls. Sony Electronics is using remote control technology in its Palm OS-based Clie handheld line. Both iPaq devices will also have "transflective" active-matrix screens to improve the brightness of their displays. The iPaq 3970 is expected to cost $100 (£70) more than the currently available $649 iPaq Pocket PC H3870, and like the 3870, the new gadget comes with the short-range wireless networking Bluetooth technology. The iPaq 3950 is expected to cost $649. Both iPaq devices will have Secure Digital expansion slots, lithium-polymer batteries and 64MB of memory. The iPaq 3970 will come with 48MB of flash memory and the iPaq 3950 will come with 32MB of flash memory.

If it moves, we cover it. See ZDNet UK's Mobile Technology News Section for the latest news, reviews and price checks on mobile phones, PDAs, notebook computers and anything else you can take away. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

25 minutes ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

28 minutes ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

2 hours ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

3 hours ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

3 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

4 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

4 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

5 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

5 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

5 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

5 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

6 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

9 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

10 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

10 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

11 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

12 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

13 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

22 hours ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Replying to an old topic that I'm currently facing with my CEO (who is on a Mac). Our servers are primarily Windows Servers, office is about...

1 day ago by txtrainguy on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

HP to announce post-merger iPaqs

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Next-gen Intel chip makes handheld debut

Next-generation Pocket PC devices on the way

AMD looks to ARM itself for low-power tablets

Apple tops list of semiconductor buyers

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Processors

AMD looks to ARM itself for low-power tablets

Apple tops list of semiconductor buyers

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Technical MI Manager - 50-60k - Leeds

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

Case study: How cloud enables growth

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Workspace IT / Processors

HP to announce post-merger iPaqs

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Processors

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features