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`I I
`
`Michael Morrison
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 1
`
`

`

`ONTENTS
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`Michøel Morrison
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`lndianapolis, lndiana 46290
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 2
`
`

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`Associate Publisher
`Greg Wiegand
`
`Acquisitions Editor
`Stephanie J. McComb
`
`Development Editor
`Mark Cierzniak
`
`Managing Editor
`Thomas Hayes
`
`Project Editor
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`
`Production Editor
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`lndexer
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`
`Proofreader
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`
`Technical Editor
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`Team Coordinator
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`lnterior Designer
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`
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`Anne Jones
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`Page Layout
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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-
`duced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any
`meâns, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorcling,
`or otherwise, without written permission from the pub-
`lisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the
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`precaution has been taken in the preparation ofthis book,
`the publisher and author assume no responsibiliry for
`errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for dam-
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`herein.
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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
`0401024321
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`Trademarks
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`All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be
`trademarks or serwice marks have been appropriately capi-
`talized. Que Publishing cânnor ârtest to the accuracy of
`this information. lJse of a term in this book should not be
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`vice mark.
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`Warning and Disclaimer
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`Every effort has been made to make this book as complete
`ancl as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is
`implied. The inforrnation provided is on an "as is" basis.
`The author and the publisher shall have neither liability
`nor responsibiliry to any person or entity with respect to
`any loss or damages arising from the information con-
`tained in this book.
`
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 3
`
`

`

`CHAPTER -
`
`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
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`In this chapter
`
`Pocket PC Hardware Fundamentals
`
`Processors: The Brains of the Outfit
`
`24
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`25
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`Understanding Memory 27
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`The Importance of Power
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`The All—Important Display
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`Assessing I/O Capabilities
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`31
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`32
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`33
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`Getting to Know the Stylus, Buttons, and Dials
`Your Device Is a Good Listener
`37
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`34
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`Comparing Pocket PC Devices
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`37
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`
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 4
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 4
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`

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`24 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
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`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 tamponentt, 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
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`Display
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`Stylus
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`I/O ports
`Multimedia hardware
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`I I l I
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`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. 1008, pg. 5
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 5
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`

`

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`
`
`PROCESSORS: THE BRAINS OF 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:
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`Casio Cassiopeia E-ZOO
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`Compaq iPAQ H3 800 Series
`HPJornada 560 Series
`Toshiba 65 70
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`NEC MobilePro P300
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`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 OF'THE 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.
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`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—
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`tures. In fact, five different processors were used in devices prior to Pocket PC 2002 with speeds ranging from
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`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
`
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`
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 6
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 6
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`

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`26 I CHAPTER 2
`
`INSIDE Pocxer PC HARDWARE
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`i %
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`'3
`is
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`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 instruction 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.
`
`m 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 e-mails 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—l 1 10 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 JS Overclock utility by Jimmy Software (http: //
`w. j immysoftwar'e . coml) 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 (206MHz 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.
`
`W Another problem with overclocking is that it puts more stress on a processorbecause
`higher speeds result in more heat; heat is the enemy of any electronic circuit. 50, over-
`clocking your processor can decrease its life. Because no manufacturer endorses over-
`cloytking'gauging the risks associated with overclocking is difficult, which means the
`, safe route is to avoid it-
`_
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`The good news about Pocket PC processor speeds is that overclocking shouldn’t be neces—
`sary, except for the gteediest 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. 1008, pg. 7
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, 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. Flash
`ROM is a type of ROM that can be rewritten through a process known as flashing, which
`enables you to upgrade the Pocket PC operating system.
`
`
`
`m New in Pocket PC 2002 is the concept of Exocute In Place (XlP) installation, which
`, enables built~in applications to reside in separate segments of flash ROM. This allows
`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.
`XlP technology would come into play ifyou wanted to upgrade Pocket Word,'for exam-
`ple, which is an application that, is built into the ROM of every Pocket PC device.
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`RAM (random access memory) basically serves as the main memory in Pocket PCs.
`Whereas 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
`the 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.
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`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. When
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`you consider that desktop and notebook computers have exploded in recent years in terms
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`of their memory and hard disk capacities, it’s not too surprising that people haven’t argued
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`much as applications and data files have ballooned in size. When you literally have tens of
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`gigabytes of hard disk space to spare, who cares if a file is 120KB or 120MB? Obviously,
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`there are reasons to care, but in the big picture it isn’t that big of a deal when you almost
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`always have room to spare. Such is the situation in the world of desktop and notebook com-
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`puting.
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 8
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 8
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`

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`
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`28 I CHAPTER 2
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`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
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`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. When 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)
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`I Secure digital (SD)/Inultimedia card (MMC)
`
`m I didn't entirely tell the truth when I said that expansion Cards are the only way to
`increase the memory Capacity of Pocket PCs. If you don ’t mind the thought of sending
`off your device and hating someone open it up and tinker with itsrintemals, you can
`increase your device’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 find out more, viSit the
`Portable Computer Enhancements Web site at http :V/ /www.pce2ooo . coml.
`
`PC
`
`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, H, and III), so it’s important to ensure that your device supports the correct
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`type of card if you purchase expansion memory or an accessory as a PC card. In terms of
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 9
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 9
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`PC cards are currently capable of storing up to 5GB and are relatively inexpensive
`memory,
`Pocket PCs support PC cards because they
`as an expansion storage option. However, few
`are somewhat power hungry.
`
`COMPACTFLASH
`By far, the most popular memory expansion option for Pocket PCs is CompactFlash (CF)
`cards, or CF cards. CF cards originated in 1994 and are specifically designed for use in small
`consumer devices, such as digital cameras, MP3 music players, and handheld computers. CF
`cards are available in two types: Type I and Type 11. CF Type I cards are roughly the size of
`a matchbook and weigh about half an ounce, whereas Type II cards are slightly thicker and
`weigh a little more. Devices with Type II slots will also accept Type I cards, but devices that
`support only Type I cards will not accept Type II cards. Memory is typically packaged in CF
`Type I cards, which makes it usable in the widest range of devices. CF cards are extremely
`rugged, which makes them perhaps the best all—around expansion card for Pocket PCs. The
`slight downside to CF cards is the fact that they currently can store up to only 1GB. Don’t
`get me wrong—that’s a lot of memory. But when you start to enter the realm of digital
`music and video with Pocket PCs, memory can get sparse in a hurry. Even so, CF cards are
`an extremely viable memory expansion solution because of their durability and relatively
`inexpensive prices.
`
`a Although CF cards are considerably different in size (smaller than) from PC cards, you
`can use a PC card adapter to use a CF card in a PC card slot. This adapter (Ould be
`particularly useful with Compaq's dual—slot PC card expansion sleeve, which includes
`two PC card slots but no CF slot.
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`SECURE DIGITAL/MULTIMEDIA CARD
`The newcomer to the Pocket PC memory expansion scene is the secure digital card, or SD
`card. The primary benefit of SD cards is that they are extremely small and lightweight—a
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`little larger than a postage stamp and not much thicker! Their incredibly small size and lack
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`of weight also make SD cards quite durable. The other big benefit of SD cards is that they
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`have built-in security features for distributing licensed content, such as digital music and
`eBooks. Similar cards without encryption capabilities are also marketed as multimedia cards,
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`they still cost
`or MMCs. Because SD cards are considerably newer than PC and CF cards,
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`more and aren’t as widely supported across Pocket PC devices. Even so, don’t be surprised
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`if SD cards eventually catch on; they are just too small and compact not to make sense. In
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`addition to price, the other downside to SD cards at the moment is that you can’t get them
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`any larger than 128MB. However, I’ve heard that 1GB SD cards are on the near horizon, so
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`this isn’t likely to be a problem for very long.
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 10
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 10
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`128MB Very smallSecure digital (SD/MMC) $$$W
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`CHAPTEn 2
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`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
`
`
`a You might have also heard of SmartMedia cards, which are small, thin expansion cards
`used as memory cards in many consumer devices. For example, the popular Creative
`Labs Nomad MP3 player uses SmaItMedia cards as a means of storing digital MP3
`music. However, no Pocket PCs have adopted SmanMedia cards as of yet, and they
`might not now that SD cards provide a similar option in terms of size. Yet another type
`of memory card is Sony’s Memory Stick, which is popular in 50an CLIE Palm device.
`
`MEMORY SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS
`
`Even though it would be great to pretend that you could pick and choose exactly what type
`of memory expansion card to buy based on price, durability, and so on, the reality is that
`your Pocket PC will likely dictate your options for you. In other words, you’re pretty much
`limited by the expansion slots built into your device. The exception to this rule is the
`Compaq iPAQ line of Pocket PCs, which supports expansion sleeves that can he slid over
`the device to add different kinds of expansion slots. PC and CF expansion sleeves are avail-
`able for iPAQs, and the newer iPAQs have a built—in SD slot in addition to the expansion
`sleeves. That means you have the option of using any of the expansion card types with the
`newer iPAQ devices. I expect other Pocket PC manufacturers to eventually follow Compaq’s
`lead in this area simply due to the flexibility it gives users. Table 2.1 provides a recap of the
`differences between the types of Pocket PC memory expansion cards.
`
`TABLE 2.1 , COMPARING POCKET PC MEMORY EXPANSION CARDS
`
`Card Type
`Maximum Memory
`Physical Size
`Cost“
`PC
`5GB
`Medium
`5
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`Small
`$$
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`CompactFlash (CF)
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`512MB
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`" The dollar xigm (.3) under the Cost column indicate the relative cost ofeach type 0fmema7jy expansion card,
`with more dollar signs indicating a higher curt,
`
`Memory expansion cards are interesting in that they actually function as removable disk
`drives because data is stored on them persistently. In other words, if all the power to your
`Pocket PC is lost or if you perform a full reset on the device, the data on a memory card
`will still be intact. Because memory cards function more as disk drives—as opposed to tradi—
`tional RAM—you will likely want to store both applications and data files on them. One
`obvious use for memory cards is storing MP3 music files, which are notorious for taldng up
`a lot of space. You also might decide to store maps for Pocket Streets, e—mail attachments,
`or eBooks on memory cards. Basically, any data can be stored on a memory card, and most
`applications can be safely installed and executed from a memory card as well.
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`It wouldn’t be fair to make the comparison between memory cards and hard drives without
`pointing out an impressive piece of technology that in some ways makes the most sense of
`all in terms of memory expansion. I’m referring to miniature hard drives by IBM and
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 11
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 11
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`THE IMPORTANCE OF POWER I
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`31
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`Toshiba that are capable of storing enormous amounts of Pocket PC data. The IBM drives
`are known as NIicrodrives 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, 5 GB, 10GB, and even
`20GB.
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`THE IMPORTANCE OF POWER
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`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.
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`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 interesting 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 the 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.
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`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.
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`If your Pocket PC allows access to its batteries, it is important to never remove the
`In ' battery and the backup battery at the same time unless you are intentionally try-
`in to clear thememOry of yOur Pocket PC. WithoUt either battery, you are sure to lose
`' all dataandanytastomized settings you made to the deiIice. If both batteries require
`“replacement at the same time, be Sure to replace the main battery first.
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`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
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 12
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 12
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`32 I CHAPTER 2
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`INSIDE POCKET PC HARDWARE
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`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.
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`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 bat-
`tery dies. I suppose the logic is that the lifetime of a battery is sufficient to outlast the
`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.
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`THE ALL-lMPORTANT 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 0.216mm 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 (256 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).
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`Be careful when cleaning the screen of your Pocket PC. Some commercial glass dean-
`ers,sud1 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.
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`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 display: 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.
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 13
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1008, pg. 13
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`ASSESSING l/O CAPABILITIES I 33
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`ii"
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`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 reflective 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.
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`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.
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`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 (kilobits 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 VVMA music files.
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`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 inv