Intermec has released a new device, the CK61ex.  Here is the product page.  This device looks similar to a CK31, but can be configured with either Windows CE or Windows Mobile 5.  What's interesting about this device is the EX Imager, which Intermec claims can allow scanning 1D or 2D barcodes from 6 inches to 50 feet.  This would allow using 2D barcodes in warehousing applications that previously required 1D codes and a laser.

ITScriptNet currently has native client support for the CK31, CN2B, and CN3.  We'll take a look at this new device as well, to see if it is compatible with one of the existing clients or the generic client, or if a native client is needed.

We've added a few new functions to ITScriptNet in version 2.4.  We've already discussed the new GPS functions, and here are a few more:

• GetBatteryLife.  This function retreives the remaining battery life (in percent) in case you want to display in your programs.
  
• SetPowerDownMode.  This function allows you to override the default powerdown modes for your device.  If you want the device to remain on and not suspend while collecting data, you can set either Unattended or Always On mode.  Unattended mode keeps the device running even while turning the display and keyboard off, the way Exchange DirectPush works.  Always On mode prevents the device from suspending.
  
• RemotePutFile.  This function is the compliment to RemoteGetFile, and is used to send a file from the device to the Omni Server.  This is useful for sending GPS breadcrumb logs or other files that you create with FileCreate/FileAppend in addition to collected data.

There are a few utility functions (such as FileExists) added as well.

Many new devices now have integrated GPS radios, and Bluetooth GPS receivers are also available to add to existing units.  With the release of Window Mobile 5, Microsoft added a GPS Intermediate Layer Driver which standardizes access to GPS hardware, and allows multiple applications to read GPS data simultaneously.  We have added support to ITScriptNet V2.4 for this GPS driver so you can collect location data in your programs.

There are 4 new functions:

• GPSOpen
• GPSClose
• GPSIsOpen
• GPSGetPosition

You can use these functions to collect data at a single point (Package Delivery or Meter Reading), or collect data periodically using a Timer to create a breadcrumb trail.  Data can be saved into your collected data file, or sent via Omni communications to be stored in a database.

Using the Intermediate Layer Driver also allows ITScriptNet to collect GPS data at the same time that a navigation system (such as TomTom) is plotting driving directions and maps.

We are developing a Route Demo application which integrates with Google Maps to plot GPS data.  If you are interested in the demo, please contact us for more information.

Once of the new updates in ITScriptNet V2.4 is support for indexes on Validation Files larger than 16MB.  We've discussed this previously, and the update has been made in V2.4. 

Another new feature is support for Image Capture in the generic Windows Mobile 5 client.  Many WM5 smartphones and PDAs have a built in camera now, and Microsoft added a standard API to interface with it.  This means that we can support image capture using the camera on most consumer-grade Windows Mobile devices, without needing manufacturer-specific drivers or software. 

Rugged mobile computers, for the most part, have their own Imaging libraries written by the manufacturer and do not conform to the standard API.  These devices still require a device-specific client to support image capture.

We've added support for the Datalogic line of devices in V2.4.  We already had clients for the PSC Falcon 4220 (now retired) and the Falcon 4410 CE.  PSC has since been purchased by Datalogic, who has their own line of devices.

Datalogic device line now falls into two families:

The Falcon-compatible devices are the Falcon 4410 (CE and Windows Mobile 5), and the new Pegaso.  We added a Falcon 4410 WM5 client in this release along with the Pegaso.  Each of these devices has a separate client listing in the System Console.

The Datalogic devices are the Memor, Skorpio, Jet and Kyman (The Jet and Kyman are primarily sold in Europe, not in the US).  These devices all share a common SDK, and so we have a single client that runs on all of them.   This is listed in the System Console as the 'Datalogic CE' client.

We've been hard at work on the next version of ITScriptNet, and we're almost ready to release it.  Here is a preview of some of the new features in this new version.

New Datalogic device support:

• Memor, Skorpio, Jet, Kyman
• Pegaso (PSC 4410 compatible)
• 4410 Windows Mobile 5

Increased index file sizes to support files larger than 16M.

GPS support

Image Capture support for the Generic WM5 client

New functions

• GetBatteryLife
• SetPowerDownMode
• FileExists
• RemotePutFile

Over the next few days we'll discuss each of these new features and what to expect in the upcoming release.

Recently we encountered an interesting problem with a surprising solution.  A customer was moving his Omni Server to a new Windows 2003 Server, and was having problems connecting to his SQL Server database.  The new server is running 64 bit Windows Server.  It turns out that 32 bit programs, such as ITScriptNet, do not have access to ODBS Data Sources created by the 64 bit ODBC Administrator.  To solve the problem, you must create the DSN with the 32 bit ODBC Administrator, located in C:\Windows\SysWow64\ODBCAD32.exe

You can find out more about 32 bit and 64 bit ODBC Data sources in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

We added a Knowledge Base article about this problem

This note came across the Intermec wire.  Honeywell, which just completed the purchase of HandHeld Products, has become an Intermec RFID licensee.  We'll keep an eye out for what this might mean.

We hope everyone has a Happy and Successful New Year.  We have many exciting plans in store for 2008, and we look forward to bringing them to fruition.

Here is a roundup of a few HandHeld Products related items we've found over the last few days.

Whitepaper: United Utilities Chooses Dolphins To Collect Meter Data (registration required)

Whitepaper: Siemens Uses Dolphins To Read Meters (registration required)

From Europe: Hand Held Products and Maporama International join their know-how in favour of mobile professionals.  This is about a system using Dolphin 7900 GPS units.

Aquisition news: Honeywell completes acquisition of Hand Held Products, Inc.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

We are very excited to be part of the development of a system for Variety Wholesalers in partnership with HandHeld Products and Integrated Solutions.  This system uses 350 Dolphin 7600 Mobile Computers running ITScriptNet Batch Plus to collect data and transfer it to the central office. 

This system has been very interesting to develop, and we are pleased to have been part of the team.

HandHeld Products has announced a partnership with SOTI for MobiControl.  This is a remote device management tool used by enterprises to inventory, manage, configure, and troubleshoot portable devices.  According to the article, SOTI MobiControl will be available for all HandHeld Products mobile computers and kiosks.

Here is a gallery of Windows Mobile 6.1 screenshots.  As we mentioned last week, this is an incremental upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.  Most of the new features seem to be cosmetic in nature, and nothing that would be of use in Data Collection.

Several bloggers report that Microsoft showed off a new version of Windows Mobile yesterday, but very few details are available.  The only detail we know for sure is that this is not Windows Mobile 7, but more like WM 6.1.  This appears to be an incremental upgrade, and opposed to a whole new version.

Google has released a new version of Google Maps Mobile, including a native application for Windows Mobile similar to Microsoft's Live Search application.  The big news with Googe Maps Mobile is the My Location feature, which attempts to locate your position based on either a GPS receiver, or by triangulating cell towers!

Verizon Wireless has annouced a new initiative to allow any application and any device to use its networks by 2008.  The devices will have to be qualified in their labs, and details are still preliminary.

Microsoft has followed up with a statement of support.

This seems like a good development for mobile data collection, although applications running on Windows Mobile can use the Verizon Network now.  In fact ITScriptNet Omni, running on a Verizon Windows Mobile device such as the vx7600, works great over a Verizon Wireless data connection.