PDAs - Everything You Need To Know | TechMakeGeek

As you may know, we all live in a world where new technologies are evolving each and every day. And we always like to travel with the newest.

During this fast-paced journey, we forget many things (i.e gadgets) of the old-time like calculator, telephones, keypad - phones, etc.

And until some years ago, PDAs were too added to that list.

But now, PDAs are enjoying a rebirth through a series of new devices being released by a company named Planet Computers.

But before all of that Do you know what are PDAs.

What are PDAs?

PDAs or Personal Digital assistants, which are also known in many different names like Handheld PCs, are a type of Devices used to record information and manage it in daily life.

You just carry them around in your pocket and whenever you need to take notes or to surf the internet use them just like a laptop, a predecessor to our smartphones.

PDAs were mainly used by businessmen and professionals. But unfortunately, they were replaced by iPhones and Android Smartphones.

A typical PDA has a touchscreen for navigation, a memory card slot for data storage, and IrDA, Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. However, some PDAs may not have a touchscreen, using softkeys, a directional pad, and a numeric keypad or a thumb keyboard for input.

To have the functions expected of a PDA, a device's software typically includes an appointment calendar, a to-do list, an address book for contacts, a calculator, and some sort of memo (or "note") program.

PDAs with wireless data connections also typically include an email client and a Web browser, and may or may not include telephony functionality.

Early PDAs

Many of the PDAs were of the size of a wallet, and had an electronic visual display, various connectivity technologies like Bluetooth and wifi, and a Physical keyboard.

PDAs usually resembled Smartphones with buttons but some of them were similar to mini laptops.

The first PDA device named 'Organizer', released in 1984 by a company called Psion, followed by its successor Psion Series.

But the name PDA was first used by Apple's then-CEO John Sculley referring to Apple Newton which came with many new features like handwriting to text, etc., But which later became one of the companies' failed products.

After that, in 1994, IBM released the first fully-fledged PDA (According to Wikipedia) with telephone functionality, named IBM Simon, which is also termed as the first Smartphone.

Then in 1996, Nokia introduced 9000 communicators with telephone functionality, which later became the world's best selling PDA.

Aside from all of these, Palm was another entrant in this then-new market. They are still producing unusual devices like a mini smartphone, etc.

New Era of PDAs

Then after this era of vintage, Nearly all modern PDAs have the ability to connect to the Internet. A PDA has an electronic visual display, letting it include a web browser. 

Most models also have audio capabilities, allowing usage as a portable media player, and also enabling most of them to be used as telephones. 

Most PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi or Wireless Wide Area Networks. Sometimes, instead of buttons, PDAs employ touchscreen technology.

But Unfortunately, PDAs have got a big drop-in popularity when Smartphones came to existence. Android Smartphones and iPhones outsmarted these old devices.

But nowadays, PDAs are trying for a comeback through projects by startups or etc.

An honorable mention is Planet Computers, a mobile device startup from London passionate about mobile computing and typing on the go.

They made a new device, Gemini PDA, which was a comeback for PDAs. The Device designed by Planet Computers in association with Martin Riddiford, who previously worked on the Psion Series 5 in the 1990s.

It has a QWERTY keyboard, WiFi only and WiFi + 4g sim options, 4,220mAh battery, 4GB RAM, and many more features.

The Gemini PDA has a pocketable, slim, and lightweight design and can Multi-boot up to four operating systems: Android, Sailfish, Linux (Kali, Debian).

Planet Computers also made two more devices- Cosmo communicator, a more upgraded version of Gemini PDA and Astro Slide 5g, a Smartphone-to-PDA transformer, check out their Youtube channel to know more.

There are also many other-version PDA available in the Market like the GPD P2 Max, Chew MiniBook, etc which are more like a Laptop.

Conclusion

PDAs are now once again alive. Get one and it's like having a computer in your pocket. Chating, Mailing, Gaming, and everything will be changed on a PDA. 

Anyway, what do you think? Will they become popular once again?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to share!