Dec 07/Jan/08

Psion Teklogix

Our impression

As our feature on smartphones and PDAs elsewhere is this issue reveals, smartphones with ever-increasing functionality are taking a huge bite out of the combined voice-data sector of the mobile market - an area that was previously the preserve of PDAs. It's hardly surprising that predictions about the imminent demise of the PDA abound.

However, as users move to smaller devices to replace standard PDAs, there's also a 'cascade' effect at work among the more rugged variety, which increasingly are being seen as an attractive alternative to fully ruggedised handheld computers for logistics and mobile service operations.

 

Enter Psion Teklogix's iK'n. The company is saying that this unit marks its return to the PDA market it pioneered 20 years ago with the Psion Organiser (which I remember being given as a state-of-the-art Xmas present).

You'll have to judge for yourself how true that is. So far as we know, the new model is not actually targeting the consumer market at the moment, as the Organiser did. But technically, it can no doubt do everything the Organiser did with its eyes shut - such have been the advances in power and display since those distant days. And the iK'n also has that extra pazzaz - that sense of being rather desirable as well as useful.

But if it's not targeting consumers, who is the iK'n for? Well, it's aimed at the fast-evolving mobile sector, where users demand a terminal that is able to withstand the rigours of mobile working, yet has plenty of versatility to cope with a variety of data-capture tasks.

So the iK'n has a colour camera included as standard, and can have an integrated imager or scanner as well. There's a choice of two keyboards - the conventional mobile phone numerical keypad, designed for one-handed operation, and a QWERTY keypad with reasonable-sized keys. This may be a sign that Psion Teklogix itself is not quite sure which is the market in which the iK'n will prove most popular. Then again, there's no doubt that for mobile workers who need email, a QWERTY keyboard can a crucial factor influencing the buying decision, so its availability could attract a lot of extra interest.

There's a variety of connectivity options, including simultaneous Wi-Fi, cellular phone and Bluetooth, so the unit can operate on a wireless network or act as a full mobile phone (or both). A integrated GPS receiver is standard.

The iK'n comes with a full 3.7k VGA screen specification, which means the screen resolution is higher than on typical ruggedised handhelds with quarter VGA screens. This gives excellent clarity overall, and should prove especially appealing if you're running an application that involves complex graphics.

Despite all this functionality, the iK'n weighs just 450g, and is extremely compact. No worries here about holding a mobile brick to your ear for voice calls.

PDAs generally have a shorter shelf life than most ruggedised terminals, but Psion Teklogix has done its best to future-proof the device by installing Intel's 624Mhz XScale PXA270 processor - currently the most powerful in its class. It also has an impressive 5000 mAh lithium-ion battery - said to be best in class - to cope with all those power demands. Another factor that should enhance its appeal for application developers is the availability of a choice of Microsoft operating systems.

The iK'n can cope with multiple drops from 5 ft on to polished concrete, and the IP65 rating means it's well-protected from dust and impervious to water.

Our verdict

The iK'n looks more like an executive PDA in a combat kit than a ruggedised industrial unit, but don't let that deceive you. It has all the ruggedness you'd expect from a Psion Teklogix device - something crucial to in-the-field reliability. And the specification is pretty mouth-watering. What else can we say?

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Specification

Psion Teklogix iK'n

Dimensions 160mm x 81mm x 45mm (6.3' x 3.2' x 1.8')

Weight 450 gram (1 lb) with battery pack

Display 3.7in VGA display

Keyboard Backlit with numeric or QWERTY keypad options.

Ruggedness IP65 rain and dust protection.

Withstands multiple drops from 5 ft. (1.5 metres) to polished concrete

Shock and vibration: between 5 and 400HzPSD (random) and 30g (3 axis)

Operating Temperature: minus 10 deg C toPlus 50 deg C.

Operating system Microsoft Windows CE5.0, Windows Mobile 6.0 Classic, Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional

Microprocessor Marvell¨ XScale PXA270 624MHz

Memory 128MB RAM, 128MB Flash, microSD (SDHC compatible)

Wireless comms WLAN/PAN options: 802.11b/g; Bluetooth v2.0, Class II.

WWAN options:* GSM/GPRS EDGE, UMTS.

Global Positioning System with network-independent GPS receiver.

Interfaces Dedicated 60-pin internal expansion connector; hands-free speaker; microphone/receiver; headset port; USB On-the-Go (OTG) functionality; RS232 serial port; DC Jack.

Power Rechargeable 5000 mAh lithium-ion battery.

Input options Barcode: 1D laser scanner or 1D imager option.

Camera: 2 megapixel colour camera with flash.

Accessories Universal wall adapter; automotive power adapter.

Single or quadruple docking station; powered or non-powered vehicle cradle; hand strap; carry case.