RFID in USB casing

Develop by local company MDT Innovations Sdn Bhd, the UMR300 represents a new standard in ultra compact lightweight RFID devices that can be deployed in a plug and play manner to host computers, handhelds, phones and smart phones. Easy and fast firmware upgrades can be made via the USB Interface. Demo software and a full SDK for developers are also provided with UMR300. It enables users to quickly and cheaply explore the benefits of RFID. The SDK has a complete application interface library with wrappers for desktop and handheld devices running Microsoft Windows™, Microsoft Windows Mobile™ and .NET operating systems. Web-based application developers can use the ActiveX™ control to create web browser applications that talk to the reader. UMR300 is able to read/write ISO 15693, ISO18000-3 and ISO14443 compliant RFID tags; it has an integrated single channel multiplexer for the direct connection to antenna. The reader has a maximum output power of 38mW. UMR300 is ideal for many applications, including product authentication and identification, data collection, tag encoding, and information access in mobile environments.

Graduating in RFID Style!

Universiti Tun Hussein Malaysia decided to use RFID for the convocation whereby a graduate would pass by the RFID reader on stage as they go and collect their scrolls. This eliminates mistaken identities of graduates as the names are read out by officiator in the past. The graduates will have access cards, once reader verifies it - will display the their own photo on the "Big" screen. At same time, the voice recording will also say out the name of graduate. Way to go!!!

Another New PDA Product (made by M'sian)

Manufactured by local company ATC, for sale to China market. Running on Windows Mobile with a Marvell Processor 624MHz , with GSM/GPRS/WiFi -Price na.

Promotion for HP612C

Only from HP Malaysia website for Month of July 2008 only

PDA use in HACCP documentation

Why achieve Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification? HACCP certification is a food safety system that reduces or eliminates the risk of food hazards. The system checks food starting from selection, preparation and production processes. The HACCP method is not commonly used in convention centers and 5-Star hotels but it is used by the airline and food & beverage industry. HACCP consultants are in high demand. Think about the recent food contamination scare in Malaysia. Using a data collection software in PDA, you can actually track the food movement from feed to fork or monitor the temperature on daily basis with a wireless temp. probe link to PDA.

Windows Mobile Vs Iphone (Part 2)

Read Edward J. R. of MsMobiles “12 reasons to buy Windows Mobile phone instead of iPhone 3G” and decide for yourself:

1) 3rd party applications in iPhone 3G cannot run in background: only one application can run at any given time in iPhone 3G so no background running of applications possible! In Windows Mobile phone several (many) applications can run at the same time so it is possible for example to simultaneously run in Windows Mobile: a) downloading a 50 MB MP3 file with a podcast, b) IM chatting with somebody including native Skype client for windows Mobile or native Live Messenger from Microsoft, c) edit Office documents, d) browse Internet, e) make a phone call, etc.

2) iPhone 3G has resolution of only 480×320 what is 2 times less than VGA (640×480) and W-VGA (wide VGA = 800×480) used in several Windows Mobile phones, what practically means: you can read more text on the display at once and everything is sharper

3) camera in iPhone 3G is inferior to camera in many Windows Mobile phones: it has only 2 megapixels compared to 3 to 5 megapixels in Windows Mobile phones and it does not have auto-focus - also present in many Windows Mobile phones

4) one cannot record videos with built-in camera of iPhone 3G, what is possible up to resolution of 640×480 pixels and 30 FPS (frames per second) in Windows Mobile phones

5) iPhone 3G supports HSDPA of maximal speed only 3.6 MB/second, while some Windows Mobile phones (including HTC Touch Diamond) suppport HSDPA of speed 7.2 MB/second

6) iPhone 3G does not have exchangeable battery that all Windows Mobile phones have, but only built-in battery so if you run out of battery you cannot replace it to prolong battery life - as it is possible with Windows Mobile phones
7) Original (i.e. from Microsoft) Office Mobile is built-in in each Windows Mobile phone and allows not only for viewing but also for editing of Office documents, so there is no need ot buy 3rd party software for it

8) There is much more 3rd party applications (programs) for Windows Mobile: over 20,000 compared to 500 for iPhone 3G

9) To make applications for Windows Mobile one needs either PC computer or Mac but to make applications for iPhone 3G one needs to buy a Mac computer - if you don’t have Mac computer then you cannot develop applications for iPhone 3G

10) Most Windows Mobile phones come without SIM lock so they can be used at any operator in given country and with SIM cards from abroad (important when traveling and you want to use local prepaid SIM card to avoid International roaming fees) while iPhone 3G has SIM lock and can work with only this operator at which it has been purchased

11) iPhone 3G has capacitive touch-screen meaning that it must be used with fingers and that it cannot be used with stylus or fingernails (what women like)

12) iPhone 3G has no physical keyboard or keypad, so users have no choice but to use virtual keyboards on the display while Windows Mobile offers phones in various form-factors, including such that have both touch-screen and a physical QWERTY keyboard

HP launch RFID Service for Servers

HP today introduced a new service that enables customers to reduce property loss, increase security and improve audit controls in the data center with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The HP Factory Express RFID Service tracks critical data center assets, such as HP factory-built servers, storage devices and rack enclosures, so customers can continuously monitor the equipment as soon as it is received at their facilities.

When deployed as part of a full RFID solution from HP and its partners, the service automates and tracks device movement, providing an accurate inventory of all assets throughout their lifecycle. Over the next year, HP plans to extend the service to customers worldwide via HP Factory Express locations in Singapore, Brazil and the United Kingdom. HP's RFID tagging process allows technology devices to be scanned from the factory to the customer without requiring workers to manually inventory each asset. Customers can then quickly locate and maintain devices with minimal employee intervention, saving time and reducing loss or theft of valuable technology assets.

"Escalating customer demand for automated tracking led to HP's development of this service," said Tim Wilkinson, Regional Manager, RFID & Supply Chain COE. "As an early adopter of RFID in our own supply chain and a world leader in RFID, HP is uniquely qualified to help customers lower their total cost of ownership and mitigate security risks through RFID services and solutions."

The service costs between $5 and $10 for each individual tag, which can be affixed to the outside of HP ProLiant and HP Integrity server systems, HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array products, HP StorageWorks Modular Smart Arrays, HP server enclosures and HP rack infrastructure

Comparison Garmin GPS vs PDA Integrated GPS

2 units are used here : Garmin unit (average unit, eg. GPSMAP 60CS, 76CS) and PDA with integrated GPS (eg. Asus A636 )
When choosing there are PDA, there are many choices, eg. integrated camera, cellphone, with BT, WiFi. Also, choice of the newer (better ?? no definite conclusion yet) SiRF III chip and OS (WM 2005). So, make your comparison of several PDA and choose wisely.

The Pros and Cons of using the PDA Integrated GPS is given below.

Pros
All-in-one ; carry one for all functions (at least PDA+GPS, +camera+cellphone depending on model)
Bigger screen (compared to average Garmin unit)
Touch screen (compared to average Garmin unit)
Most come with SiRF III chip (Garmin catching up…)
Lovely voice (nRoute) ; easily changeable to other voice sets (foreign language – French sounds kinda sexy, male/female voice)
Unlimited memory (well… depends on memory card)
Unlimited tracking/tracklog (GPSProxy)
Form factor smaller and thinner (compared to average Garmin unit)
PDA functions (eg. MP3 music) + cellphone (PDA dependent) + camera (PDA dependent)
Ability to use other maps (eg. MapKing) but who needs them when we have Malsingmaps
Ability to load/select different basemaps (but who really needs them ?)
Ease of manipulating different file/map sets and versions
Last longer on single battery charge (generally)
VGA mode (PDA dependent)
Won't get branded a Geek if spotted with alien-looking Garmin unit (worse still, to those uninitiated, may think it's outdated cellphone model)
Can have Gps trackable maps for anywhere in the world using OziExplorer(CE), Gps navigation usage is not limited to availability of Gpsr device compatible maps.

Cons
Not as rugged - if no external antenna, have to expose to the sun to get good signal - not sure if PDA's were built for this. Think about leaving your PDA exposed to sunlight from say, KL to Singapore.
If your PDA fries in the sun, all your data on it is fried as well ... the more data you have on your PDA, the greater the pain if this happens!
Not waterproof (unless enclose in ziplock or pay for one of those special cases)
Not as shockproof (test at your own risk)
No barometer/altimeter, compass features
No proximity warning
Not as user friendly for Geocaching
Totally useless if your car having a V-kool tinting (and some other brand) with no external antenna or SirfIII.