Among the applications Conduits has created for the Pocket PC are PeaceMaker, which allows users to beam electronic business cards between handheld devices such as a Pocket PC and a Palm Pilot. Conduits' Pocket Artist lets graphic designers and photographers edit and manipulate images onscreen in much the same way the PhotoShop does on a desktop machine. That makes it a very compelling platform to develop to. Not all of the software that Patterson's company is creating for the Pocket PC is designed for use in the office. Changing the Rules While companies like Tonked and Conduits have been focused on software, hardware makers like Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and Symbol have dedicated their efforts to rolling all of the technologies, features, and applications into streamlined, durable packages that are as elegant as they are practical.
Devices are thinner, lighter, cooler and even more creative in style.
HPs pair of freshly minted Pocket PCs are a good example. The Jornada 545 and Jornada 548 come in a sleek metal alloy casing. Squeezed into that tiny frame is a robust bundle of software. In addition to Pocket versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, the Microsoft Reader, and other Microsoft products, they feature a financial calculator, Conduits' PeaceMaker, Ethernet drivers, special security features, imaging software, music samples, a very lifelike 3-D golf game, and more. But it really flows over into your personal life too.