Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 203

Bluetooth module soon available

Red-M today announced that they will start shipping a Bluetooth module for Visor handheld computers later this month.

http://www.visorcentral.com/content/Stories/1297-1.htm

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

Sounds interesting. Would it be able to sync with my Desktop SW (datebook, address book, etc) and conduits (Avantgo, Vindgo, etc) It would be cool if it could do that automatically too. (using BackupBuddy or other autosync)

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Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

If you have a bluetooth adapter on you desktop computer it would be able to sync... I haven't seen any recently, but know there are USB and Serial versions.

There are also Bluetooth PC-Cards for laptops.

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<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mililani, HI, USA
Posts: 256

access points?

This sounds exciting, but won't most of us need to go out and buy bluetooth access points in order to play with this module? I don't expect ubiquitous bluetooth access to be a reality for some time to come, and I anticipate using bluetooth instead of 802.11b in the home. But I got sticker shock when I searched for bluetooth access point prices. They seem definitely targeted for the corporate market ($400 and way up).

Will this landscape change? Already the Blade module is $179. Tack on at least another $400 for the BAP. The Xircom + 802.11b WAP is sounding like a much better option at this point. Or can anyone tell me if there are more affordable BAPs around?

Last edited by ragamuffinn on 10-24-2001 at 07:54 PM

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58

Re: Bluetooth module soon available

quote:

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Originally posted by VisorCentral
Red-M today announced that they will start shipping a Bluetooth module for Visor handheld computers later this month.

http://www.visorcentral.com/content/Stories/1297-1.htm

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Woof. $179! It's a good bit less than the 802.11b wireless Springboard, but that's still a lot of money for the convenience of not worrying about cellphone/desktop IR port alignment or cell phone cables.

Would somebody please make a $50 wired ethernet module? Bluetooth is cool, but I've already got an ethernet network at home that I wouldn't have to buy any additional hardware for.

I am glad to see Bluetooth devices finally coming out after the hype of the last two years, but it seems like one of modules people have been looking for since the Visor was released is a simple ethernet NIC Springboard... it's not as sexy as a Camera, MP3 player, or Wireless pager/GPS/networking device, but it would fall under the simple but extremely handy category like the Backup module or Matchbook/Memplug Springboards.

There's been only one such ethernet module announced, and that was cancelled after Intel borged Xircom. The situation pretty well sums up the frustrations of all those who repeatedly proclaim that "The Springboard is Dead".

Phew! Rant mode off. I'd better drink some more coffee - I don't think I got enough this morning.

-Andy

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 290

At the end of the Article it states:

quote:

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A Bluetooth module for the Visor was first announced by Widcomm back in November 99, but they never turned it into a consumer product. Xircom also announced they were working on a Bluetooth module back in March 2000, but we have not seen any updates since.

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Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

Initially Widcomm said Acer would produce their module... but who knows. I think the extra BlueConnect modules are only available if you buy the pricy development kit.

Bluetooth Modules from Widcomm has been available for quite some time, but only as bundles with the Kit.

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<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 20

No Deluxe?

So they aren't supporting the Visor Deluxe????

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Pullman, WA
Posts: 130

Re: Re: Bluetooth module soon available

quote:

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Originally posted by usonian2001
Would somebody please make a $50 wired ethernet module? ...it seems like one of modules people have been looking for since the Visor was released is a simple ethernet NIC Springboard... it would fall under the simple but extremely handy category like the Backup module or Matchbook/Memplug Springboards.

There's been only one such ethernet module announced, and that was cancelled after Intel borged Xircom. The situation pretty well sums up the frustrations of all those who repeatedly proclaim that "The Springboard is Dead"....I'd better drink some more coffee - I don't think I got enough this morning.

-Andy

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AMMO - Providing the enemy the opportunity to die for his country.