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What Is a Pocket PC?
Now that we have Pocket PC devices and Pocket PC–like devices, just what denotes a real Pocket PC from a Pocket PC–like device? First and foremost, a Pocket PC device is a Windows CE–based PDA with a custom shell and a set of customized applications written by Microsoft but sold by OEMs such as Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, ViewSonic, and others. Pocket PC branded devices are certified by Microsoft to conform to a specific set of standards in both hardware and software. Pocket PC–like devices are Windows CE–based devices that include a set of base components that expose most of the Pocket PC APIs. The implementation of these functions, as mentioned earlier, is dependent on the OEM so there isn't a guarantee that one Pocket PC–like device will look or operate like another Pocket PC–like device. Still, these devices will most likely be implemented to act as closely as possible like a Pocket PC.Pocket PC applications must conform to a rather strict set of requirements that enforce the look and feel of the application. The Pocket PC is customized to expect that applications running on it conform to its requirements. While it is simple to create an application that runs but doesn't conform to the Pocket PC guidelines, the application will probably not work as the user expects, nor will the application be able to react to the actions of the Pocket PC shell.
Is It a PDA, a Phone, or Both?
Another aspect of the Pocket PC is the blurring of the lines between Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and cell phones. Some devices are only PDAs, some are PDA form factors with cellular communication built in, and some are cell phones that run Windows CE. So which device is which, and how much do these devices have in common?The Pocket PC 2003 device is an evolution of the original Pocket PC device released in April of 2000. The operating system is now Windows CE 4.2 instead of Windows CE 3.0, and there have been a handful of new functions added to support user features such as the shell notification interface, but all in all it's the same system albeit with a much more robust operating system under the covers. The chief difference the user will notice is the new, smaller and yet more powerful hardware that has changed over the last few years. Now devices may have built-in wireless networking or Bluetooth personal area networking or may have neither but be significantly smaller or less expensive.Another advance has been the integration of cellular technology into some Pocket PC devices. Microsoft has released a version of the Pocket PC called Pocket PC Phone edition that adds functions to support voice calling, short message service (SMS), and other features specific to having an integrated phone in the device. The user interface and application requirements of the Pocket PC Phone edition are almost identical to those of a standard Pocket PC device. It has the same portrait screen and lack of keyboard. The device differs from a standard Pocket PC in that phone cellular calls can be made from the device with an integrated speaker and microphone.
A device just being introduced at this writing is the Chapter 19. This arrangement allows a single discussion of dialing, SMS, and Telephony API (TAPI) extensions in the chapter that discusses a communication-specific device.
The Pocket PC Screen
The main difference between a real Pocket PC and a Pocket PC–like device is the Pocket PC shell. This shell is unique to the Pocket PC and the Pocket PC Phone edition, so OEMs building Pocket PC–like devices won't have the exact look and feel, or the exact operation, of this shell. The Pocket PC shell implements the Today screen, the top-down Start Menu, and a number of other features specific to the Pocket PC. Figure 17-1 shows the Pocket PC's Today screen.
Figure 17-1: The Pocket PC display
Across the top of the Pocket PC screen is the next chapter, I'll discuss how developers can add custom Today screen panels.) The bottom of the Pocket PC screen is reserved for the Chapter 16.When the user starts an application, the screen layout is similar to that seen with the Today screen in view. The navigation bar is at the top, the application window takes up the main screen area, and the menu bar holds its place at the bottom of the screen. The best way to learn about programming this platform is to go right to an example.
