New Clie PEG-UX50 has a bunch of stuff Handhelds / Sony Posted by zmcnulty on Aug 27, 2003 - 07:15 AM The Sony "Clie PEG-UX50" featuring a proprietary Sony processor, is scheduled to go on sale August 9th. The price, officially listed as "Open Price", is allegedly going to be around 70,000 yen. Like other devices in the Clie series, this one uses the Palm OS...but for the first time, Sony has developed and manufactured their own processor, named the "Handheld Engine". Also, the design has changed from a vertical type design to a horizontal, notebook PC like design. As the size of the body is 103 x 17.9 x 86.5mm (WxLxH, folded), and weighs 175 grams - the least of all the Clie series. "Handheld Engine" developed for Clie usage The Handheld Engine (product name CXD2230GA) is an ARM architecture CPU created specifically for the Clie. It is manufactured at Nagasaki Prefecture's Isahaya Sony Computer Entertainment Fabrication Facility, using a 0.18 micron process. Implementing a ARM926 core, the Handheld Engine utilizes 64Mb of DRAM, a 2D graphics engine, DSP controller, LCD display, USB, Memory Stick, Camera, and other interfaces. While operating frequencies from 8 to 123 MHz may seem low for an ARM processor, the core and DRAM use 4 seperate 128 bit buses, allowing for high quality movie playback and other functionality. Additionally, the device features the newly researched DVFM (Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Management) power conservation system. DVFM selects the optiumum operating frequency for carrying out a specific task, and will also automatically govern the correct voltage needed to carry out that task. Internal voltage is around 1.2~1.6 volts, and I/O voltage is at 2.5~3.3V. When not in use, the device consumes 1.7mW of power, and during MPEG-4 playback, power consumption sits at 270mW. Wireless LAN, Bluetooth Between the 8MB of the CPU's SDRAM and the Flash memory, a total of 104MB of RAM is used. Unfortunately, Sony did not disclose the breakdown of how this is used. To users, 16MB of SDRAM is available, as well as 22MB of flash memory. The display is a 480x320 dot, 65,536 color backlit TFT display. It also includes an Effective 3.1 MP, 1/5.5 Progressive Scan CMOS camera element. Image recording can be done at 640x480, 320x240, 160x120, 320x480 resolutions, in the JPEG format. Movies can also be taken at a resolution of 160x112 pixels, in the MPEG-4 format for usage on the Movie Player software. The camera is on a hinge-type thingy on the main unit, and can rotate 300 degrees. Some of the available interfaces are IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN, Bluetooth, IrDA, and a USB port for connection to the PC. Also, a Memory Stick PRO slot is onboard, but it does not support MagicGate or high-speed data transfer. Power is supplied by an internal Lithium-Ion battery. When using PIM software for 30 minutes per day, with the backlight off, the device can operate for 14 days. An optional high-capacity battery can be attached to the bottom of the unit, allowing for three times as much operational time. Recharging is done via the included cradle, but cannot be done by simply plugging the AC adapter directly into the unit. From Wing design to Open & Turn Style The PEG-UX50 has a hardware keyboard, giving it a notebook PC-like design. The fold-the-screen-over-the-keyboard gimmick was inherited from the NX series. But, folding the screen over gives you an oblong 480x320 display, which is operated by a pen device. It does not have the vertical-length screen like the Zaurus SL-C7xx series. Though the keyboard's keys do not protrude, they do have a "Wave Form" on each row, making for an easy typing experience. Lonely OpenGL support... The operating system is Palm OS 5.2. Many applications are onboard, like basic PIM, music playback, movie playback, mailing, etc. The device is enhanced by it's OpenGL support, such as the new "Clie 3D Launcher". However, since the device features no OpenGL supporting hardware, it "cannot do Playstation like detailed 3D graphics", according to a Sony official. However, depending on the implementation, 3D graphics should finally be doable on a PDA. With the scheduled release of an SDK, OpenGL-based applications should be only a matter of time. Sources: http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2003/0717/sony2.htm http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/PEG/PEG-UX50/index.html Interpreter Notes: Good! Personally, I was getting tired of the vertical-type design of most PDAs. I want to be able to sit my PDA down on a desk or table, and use it, kind of like a mini-computer. And with a keyboard, this should be a lot easier. Here's to hoping the "OpenGL support" turns out to be worth a damn... This article is from TechJapan   http://www.techjapan.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.techjapan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9