Wednesday, October 9, 2002
Handhelds connect with USB On-the-Go
Posted by Jason Dunn in "NEWS" @ 12:22 PM
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-960014.html
USB On-the-Go is making a go in the device to device interoperability realm, but I have to question how much traction there will be. Let's say you have your digital camera and your Pocket PC, and they use different memory standards. You want to get the images off the camera and onto the Pocket PC, but they can't talk to each other. With this technology, they could - but only if you had the cable handy. I don't know about you, but even when I'm packing multiple devices, I rarely bring any sort of cable with me. Bluetooth would seem to be a better solution here, but we're a long way from having Bluetooth in every camera and every PDA.
"A new technology that allows handheld devices to share files directly, without the need for a PC, could be on store shelves by the end of the year. Several manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, are evaluating ways to use an offshoot of the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 specification called USB On-the-Go. Using it, a person could plug a handheld or digital camera straight into a printer to produce a photo. PDAs also could swap documents directly or back up data by connecting directly to a portable hard drive. The technology is also expected to be used in cell phones and MP3 players."
The article raises some interesting questions, so give it a read and tell me how well you think this new technology will do, specifically as it relates to the Pocket PC.
USB On-the-Go is making a go in the device to device interoperability realm, but I have to question how much traction there will be. Let's say you have your digital camera and your Pocket PC, and they use different memory standards. You want to get the images off the camera and onto the Pocket PC, but they can't talk to each other. With this technology, they could - but only if you had the cable handy. I don't know about you, but even when I'm packing multiple devices, I rarely bring any sort of cable with me. Bluetooth would seem to be a better solution here, but we're a long way from having Bluetooth in every camera and every PDA.
"A new technology that allows handheld devices to share files directly, without the need for a PC, could be on store shelves by the end of the year. Several manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, are evaluating ways to use an offshoot of the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 specification called USB On-the-Go. Using it, a person could plug a handheld or digital camera straight into a printer to produce a photo. PDAs also could swap documents directly or back up data by connecting directly to a portable hard drive. The technology is also expected to be used in cell phones and MP3 players."
The article raises some interesting questions, so give it a read and tell me how well you think this new technology will do, specifically as it relates to the Pocket PC.
