SPECIAL REVIEW Ruggered v Piew.C com HAN DH ELD M3 MOBIL E A SLIM AND RUGGED MULTI-PURPOSE HANDHELD COMPUTER

by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer

The Handheld Group, located in Sweden and style keypad with a special founded in 1997, is a worldwide suppliers of alphanumeric button, a ruggedized handhelds for use in markets such navigation diamond, four function keys, phone pick as utility, military, logistics, forestry, transporta - up and hang-up buttons, tion and field service. Handheld has a full lineup and two soft buttons. of rugged tablet computers and rugged industri - Why offer all this func - al PDAs, such as the M3 Mobile that is the tionality in a Windows subject of this review. Mobile-based handheld instead of using a full-func - Ruggedized PDA/scanner/phone/GPS tion Windows computer or The M3 Mobile is a multi-function rugged a netbook? Because no- handheld computer running the flexible and nonsense tool-for-the-job reliable Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone terminals are still needed. Edition platform on the 520MHz version of the They are used around the Marvell PXA27x processor. This is a handheld world by the millions in computer for any number of jobs in numerous shipping, transportation, field applications where reliability, compatibili - logistics and many other ty and full-shift battery life matter. The device is applications. For a lot of about 6.5 inches long, 3.1 inches wide, and companies the problem is under an inch thick except for a bulge that not being able to find these houses the terminal’s integrated laser scanner basic ruggedized Pocket PC or 2D imager, but even there the M3 Mobile is a workhorse handhelds mere 1.2 inches thick. Our review unit weighed anymore as many manufac - 11.3 ounces with the scanning module and turers have switched to battery installed. either smartphone devices The touch screen display is a standard 3.5- or netbook PCs. So offering inch transflective LCD with 240 x 320 pixel a competent, versatile QVGA resolution and a front light. This is the rugged handheld makes a tried-and-proven screen technology that’s been lot of sense, and especially used for years in PDAs and Pocket PCs. The so if it combines industry- display is bright and very readable indoors and standard technology with remains very viewable outdoors. The LCD, the handheld form factor which can display 64k colors, offers a wide millions of workers have viewing angle both horizontally and vertically gotten used to from years but there are substantial color shifts when on the job. viewed from an angle, as is usually the case on this type of display. That is not as big a deal as storage. An 9.1 watt-hour (4.15 Volt, The M3 Mobile hardware with notebooks. Screen brightness can be 2,200mAH) Li-Ion battery pack provides full- As what we consider an “industrial PDA,” the adjusted in ten steps from full bright down to shift (8 hours) operation under normal use. M3 Mobile is somewhere between a standard, backlight off. While transflective displays don’t The M3 Mobile has a built-in camera capable classic Pocket PC and an industrial handheld. It work very well in notebooks, they are perfectly of taking pictures up to 1600 x 1200 pixel, or has the almost ubiquitous 3.5-inch LCD with suited for PDAs where they provide superb two megapixel. It can also shoot video in 320 x Pocket PC standard 240 x 320 pixel resolution. outdoor viewability as well as a crisp, sharp 240 pixel QVGA format and it has an LED The M3 Mobile is larger and heavier than any indoor display. illuminator to provide extra light. consumer Pocket PC, but smaller and handier On the storage side, the M3 Mobile comes Like many tool-for-the-job data capture than most industrial terminals. It’s made of with 128MB of SDRAM and 128MB of Flash devices, the M3 Mobile has both a touch screen tough plastic and feels well made and extreme - memory. Flash can be increased up to 512MB. a and a fairly elaborate keypad to speed up data ly solid. Going around the unit: Mini-SD card slot can be used for additional entry. Essentially, what you get is a full phone- SPECIAL REVIEW Ruggered v Piew.C com

I On the bottom are the surface-mount cradle could be used became the de-facto standard for industrial contacts as well as a charge and USB/serial either with Win - and vertical market handhelds, and that seems port connector that can be sealed with an dows CE or Win - unlikely to change anytime soon. However, the attached rubber plug. dows Mobile, look and feel of Windows Mobile really hasn’t depending on the changed much in a decade and while it may I On the left side are two round rubber but - intended applica - have industrial-strength underpinnings, it feels tons that control volume. tion. In general, slow and dated compared to, say, the super- customers who sleek Apple iPhone. Recently, Microsoft intro - I On the right side are two round rubber design their own duced Windows Mobile 6.5 with a tile interface buttons that are programmable. You can set custom applica - and also the consumer-oriented Windows 7 them to activate the camera and the scanner. tions may lean Phone Series, but for now neither seems suit - Our review unit was optimized for phone use towards a Win - able for industrial tools for the job. Hence, and the two buttons were set to bring up dows CE imple - Handheld’s choice of the older Windows Mo - Contacts and place calls. The IR port is also mentation where - bile Phone Edition is a good one. on the right side. as customers with more general needs prefer There are a couple of missed opportunities. the friendlier Windows Mobile platform, and While the M3 Mobile, like almost every other I The top of the unit features the barcode that is what Handheld offers in the M3 Mobile. Windows Mobile device, offers a variety of scanner window, the Mini-SD card slot and While Microsoft’s smallest OS has always input options (onscreen keyboard, block recog - an earphone plug. The card slot and ear - lived in the shadow of “full” Windows, CE is a nizer, letter recognizer, Transcriber), you can’t phone plug have an attached protective competent multi-threaded, multi-tasking, fully use T9 predictive text entry as is used in about rubber cover. preemptive OS environment that had been three billion phones. As is, you can use Graffiti targeted from the start specifically for low- (if you remember it from an old Palm) or try I The backside of the M3 Mobile houses the power, economical hardware with limited handwriting recognition, but the immensely battery with the SIM card slot underneath it resources. However, Windows CE supports a popular Tegic T9, which would be a natural for as well as the integrated camera and LED rich subset of Microsoft Win32 APIs and many a keyboard PDA, is missing. flash. There is also a hand strap and a garage additional programming interfaces. for the plastic stylus. While the Windows CE variants can (and Using the M3 Mobile as a phone often do) include multimedia, PIM applications The trend in mobile devices is doing more with I The front side has, in addition to the screen and communications tools, they don’t have the less. That’s not new, actually. For years, there’s and keypad, the microphone, speaker, and Today screen and all the Pocket PC functionali - been talk of “convergent” devices that would three indicator lights for charge status, ty and Pocket versions of popular Windows merge various functions into a single unit. As wireless radio status, and scanner. applications users have become familiar with. far back as 1994 or so, IBM and BellSouth had a Likewise, they look nothing like the most re - device called “Simon” that looked like a stan - Housing design is clean and functional, with cent versions of the OS that have a trendy dard phone handset, but also had PDA func - great attention to detail. Manufacturing and consumer-oriented user interface. tionality and you could even send and receive finish are of very high standard. The unit feels The bigger picture is that Windows Mobile faxes from it. There were many other attempts, like it is built to last. If we had one wish it’d be remains a curious animal. Despite Microsoft’s but none was very successful until the arrival of for a full VGA display with 480 x 640 resolution. very inconsistent handling of the platform and the smartphone with the first Treos and similar. its subsequent dwindling importance in the Microsoft itself also had gotten into the game Operating system consumer market, Windows CE nevertheless fairly earlier with its Pocket PC Phone Edition. Why the Windows Mobile Phone Edition in - In 2002 we reviewed the T-Mobile Pocket PC stead of Windows CE 5.0 or 6.0 with their more Phone by HTC and liked it a lot. industry-oriented look and feel and functional - By now Microsoft has eight more years of ity? These days, Microsoft differentiates be - Pocket PC phone experience, and the M3 Mo - tween Windows Embedded CE and Windows bile takes advantage of that. Pop an activated Mobile. Windows Embedded CE is a scalable SIM card into the slot in the battery compart - 32-bit OS designed for intelligent devices rang - ment and the M3 Mobile becomes a phone. I ing from enterprise tools such as industrial used the SIM from my AT&T LG Shine and it controllers, communications hubs, and point- worked without as much as additional configu - of-sale terminals to consumer products such as ration. The M3 Mobile’s voice quality is very cameras, phones, and home entertainment good and better than that of a good many of devices. Microsoft uses the term “Embedded today’s tiny smartphones. And since this is the CE” for both early versions of Windows CE as Microsoft Windows Pocket PC Phone Edition, well as versions released after consumer de - you’re not just adding cell phone capability to a vices split from more industrial devices, such as rugged PDA; the wireless capabilities are inte - CE .NET and then Windows CE 5.0 and 6.0. grated deeply into the device. Windows Mobile, on the other hand, is a To bring up the phone, simply push the platform that is also based on Windows Em - phone button or select “Phone” from the menu. bedded CE, but has the more consumer-orient - The phone application shows the last call, an ed look and feel and features required for PDAs onscreen keypad, and access to call logs and and smartphones. A device like the M3 Mobile speed dial. The call log provides summary SPECIAL REVIEW Ruggered v Piew.C com

information wireless can be used for web browsing, email, usual Windows Mobile combination of menus, about the num - terminal emulation, synchronization or, thanks pulldowns and check boxes. Picture quality is ber of calls and to the unit’s microphone and speaker, for VoIP reasonable albeit nowhere close to a dedicated call time. Individ - (Voice over IP) voice communication. camera. The video frame rate is low. The cam - ual call log en - While infrared communication is no longer era function of the M3 Mobile is clearly meant tries provide one- as popular as it once was, the M3 Mobile has an to increase the unit’s usefulness by letting you button call-back IrDA port on its right side. This still comes in document things when you don’t have a cam - or SMS messag - handy for peripheral connectivity and even era with you, but it does not replace a camera. ing as well as synchronizing. access to any Connection to a PC for synchronizing or Power notes that may be communication with a backend server or The M3 Mobile is powered by a rechargeable attached to a call. peripheral can be via USB, WiFi or Bluetooth. 2,200mAh 4.15 Volt Lithium-Ion battery. This Or you can create Relationships can be established via standard amounts to 9.1 watt-hours. We measured the a new Contacts Microsoft ActiveSync. devices as drawing between one and two watts, entry automatically. You can also take notes The screen image on the right shows the depending on backlight level and whether or during a call. The note will have the caller’s Windows Mobile Wireless Manager. It allows not the wireless radios were on. Handheld name, the phone number, and the time of the one touch activation and deactivation of WiFi, claims 8+ hours of battery life. Based on the call already on it. Needless to say, to take a note Bluetooth and phone. It also provides access to power draw, that seems possible. you’ll have to use the M3 Mobile with the head - the settings screens for all three wireless radios. The battery is part of the backside of the unit phone assembly. Volume for the phone can be and fits flush into the device. A slider secures set separately from the system itself. There is Integrated camera the battery. It is not possible to accidentally also a vibrate function. There was a time when adding digital camera open the slider. All of this means that the M3 Mobile can be functionality to a handheld computer was big used as a full-function phone in addition to news. These days, millions of cellphones have Ruggedness everything else it does. built-in cameras with resolutions higher than While the M3 Mobile is not an ultra-rugged dedicated cameras had just a few years ago. device, its light weight, impact-resistant plastic Connectivity These camera modules, however, don’t usually housing and overall design and construction Like most mobile devices today, the M3 Mobile provide anything near the image quality of a make it able to handle the use and abuse that can connect in a variety of ways. Wired connec - standard photographic camera; they are simply may be encountered in industrial applications. tivity is all via dock. The M3 Mobile has a set of meant to add another dimension and feature. Handheld rates the unit as capable of handling gold-plated surface-mount contacts to support The M3 Mobile’s integrated camera can multiple 5-foot drops onto concrete. The unit USB host, USB client and serial via cable. The capture pictures with resolution up to two has a very wide operating temperature range device has a user-accessible Mini-SD Card slot megapixel. It also has an LED illuminator that from -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes located on top of the unit (note that it is for you can turn on and off via software to add the M3 Mobile able to handle operation in storage only and does not support SDIO). extra light. It's not a flash, but can help generat - freezers as well as desert-like conditions. Seal - The M3 Mobile comes standard with inte - ing better pictures. The camera can take pic - ing—the ability to keep out dust and water—is grated 802.11b/g WiFi as well as Bluetooth. The tures with resolutions ranging from 176 x 144 crucial for a handheld computer. The M3 Mo - Bluetooth module pixels all the way bile carries an IP64 ingress protection rating. is a HANA Mi - up to full 1600 x The “6” means the unit’s inside is totally sealed cron HBM2X1M 1200 pixel. Opera - against dust. The “4” means it can handle water chip and offers tion is via the spray from all directions. V1.2 standard Pictures & Videos The Handheld M3 Mobile feels very solid and performance application that should hold up well in the field. For extra pro - (nominally 1 offers a good tection, Handheld offers leather cases with Mbit/second) and number of image hand strap or a belt clip. Class 2 range capture and (approximately 30 playback options. Mounting and docks feet). The M3 You can play slide Rugged PDAs like the Handheld M3 Mobile are Mobile can also shows, designate small enough to be used anywhere, yet have be used as a a picture as the GSM/GPRS Today wallpaper, phone. This functionality is provided by an beam a shot via IR, email in various sizes, and integrated Siemens MC75 GSM/GPRS module so on. In capture mode you can set a self-timer that supports quadband or do 5-shot burst mode (not very fast but 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM and EDGE maybe still useful), you can set white balance as technology, and operates in all existing GSM well as brightness. In video mode you can networks in the United States, Europe and Asia. record at a maximum of 320 x 240 pixels and The MC75 module is designed specially for set limits (15 or 30 seconds, unlimited). Windows Mobile-based devices. All of this is operated by the Windows soft - When within range of a network, 802.11b/g ware that is slow and cumbersome, with the SPECIAL REVIEW Ruggered v Piew.C com enough power and functionality to warrant is used for charging and landline communica - cameras have. The alphanumeric keypad al - vehicle and other mounting solutions so that tion. There is a slot for a second battery. A lows for very rapid data entry. they can be used on the road for GPS, GIS, Quad Dock for four M3 Mobile units is also The unit’s battery can last a full 8-hour shift. mapping, telephone and other mobile applica - optionally available. The Quad Dock also pro - A pistol grip is available for scanning applica - tions. Handheld offers a vehicle mount cradle vides 10BaseT Ethernet communication. tions, and a LAN-enabled four-slot battery either with or without GPS. The cradles include charger can be used to make sure that charged a 12 Volt vehicle charger and either a screw Scanning and RFID power packs are available on demand for mul - type or a vacuum type mount. The cradles use For scanning applications, the M3 Mobile can tiple units. A 520MHz version of the Marvel National Products' patented RAM-MOUNT be ordered with a 1D laser or a 1D/2D imager. PXA270 processor makes for good perform - solutions. The unique rubber ball and connec - Our test unit had a 650nm Class 2 laser and ance and the bright 3.5” display is easy to use tor arm system makes for unparalleled flexibili - was capable of reading a large variety of codes and read indoors and even in bright sunlight. ty and near total absence of vibration. To and symbologies. Handheld sells a pistol grip The M3 Mobile is also a well-connected change the viewing angle, you simply loosen with a trigger for the M3 Mobile that activates device that can communicate via 802.11b/g the large, grippy control knob, get the unit into the scanner. It’s an ergonomic solution that WiFi, Bluetooth, and voice/data cellular serv - the proper position, and tighten it. Mounting makes for easy operation and scanning. ice, fitting into almost any environment that plates are all industry standard. A desktop requires full remote connectivity. cradle comes standard with the M3 Mobile. It Summary Overall, the M3 Mobile's integration of a The M3 Mobile, offered by Handheld is a com - variety of data capture and communications pact and handy multi-purpose PDA that’s functions as well as its well-chosen balance of barely larger than a consumer Pocket PC, yet size, power and ruggedness make it an excel - can handle a lot more abuse. It is built around lent multi-function computer and communi - the Microsoft Windows Mobile Phone Edition, cator for a large variety of commercial and which means it is both a PDA as well as a full- industrial jobs. function quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE smart - -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer phone (all you have to do is insert an activated Editor-in-Chief, Rugged PC Review SIM). Yet, despite its small size and polished looks, the M3 Mobile is a tough industrial PDA that can handle extreme temperatures as well as multiple 5-foot drops. IP64 sealing means the Handheld M3 Mobile Specs unit is totally dustproof Type : Rugged handheld terminal and is impervious to rain Housing : Plastic/metal and spills. Processor : 520 MHz Marvell XScale PXA270 The M3 Mobile com - OS : Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition bines a lot of functionali - Memory : 128MB/128-512MB FLASH ty into one device. It is a Expansion slots : 1 mini SD (up to 2GB), 1 SIM full-function Pocket PC Display : 3.5"/240 x 320 pixel backlit TFT touch screen with mobile versions of Digitizer : resistive touchscreen Office apps as well as Keyboard : 23-key numeric keypad email, messaging, brows - Size and weight : 3.1 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches, 11.3 ounces as ing and numerous utili - tested with battery ties. It can be used as a Ingress protection : IP64 (totally protected against dust; full-function smartphone protected against water spray from all directions with excellent integration Operating temperature : -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit into the PDA part of the Shock/Vibration : 26 5-foot drops (a drop on each sur - unit. Mapping and GIS face, corner and edge) to concrete applications became Power : Li-Ion 4.15 Volt, 2,200mAh, 9.1 watt-hours available via the optional ("operates 8 hours") integrated GPS receiver. Camera : 2 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED illu - minator; video 320 x 240 QVGA If used as a data capture Wireless options : 802.11b/g, Bluetooth Class II V1.2 Class device, it can be 2; optional GSM/EDGE equipped with an inter - Interface : USB host/client/RS232, IrDA, audio; optional nal imager or laser scan - integrated GPS, 1D laser barcode scanner or 1D/2D imager) ner. An internal 2- Price : Inquire megapixel camera with Contact : LED illuminator light can The Handheld Group be used to document www.handheldgroup.com data or even take video, [email protected] with the usual limita - 1-541-752-0313 tions such integrated