devices:groupsense

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
devices:groupsense [2020/12/28 16:13] utpdevices:groupsense [2021/07/02 00:19] (current) pinchies
Line 3: Line 3:
 ===== Company History===== ===== Company History=====
  
-Group Sense Ltd. (GSL)an international company, it was founded in Hong Kong in June 1988.+Group Sense Ltd. (GSL) was an international company, founded in Hong Kong in June 1988.
  
 **Early days (1988~2000)** **Early days (1988~2000)**
  
-Their main businesses includes+Before the rise or PDAs and smartphones Group Sense'main businesses included
-  * Translation dictionaries (Instant Dict快譯通 (Hong Kong/Taiwan), 快译通 (China)) which translates as "Express Translation" (1988 ~ Early 2000s) +  * Translation dictionaries, branded as "Instant Dict" (快譯通) in Hong Kong and Taiwan), and as "快译通" in Chinawhich translates as "Express Translation" 
-  * ODM Designs and Manufacturing electronic dictionaries for Japan market (1990s to 2010s) +  * ODM Designs and Manufacturing electronic dictionaries for the Japanese market (1990s to 2010s) 
-  * Pager [[https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E4%B8%AA%E4%BA%BA%E6%89%8B%E6%8C%81%E5%BC%8F%E7%94%B5%E8%AF%9D%E7%B3%BB%E7%BB%9F|小灵通]] based on Japan PHS system (1990s to early 2000s)+  * Pager devices [[https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E4%B8%AA%E4%BA%BA%E6%89%8B%E6%8C%81%E5%BC%8F%E7%94%B5%E8%AF%9D%E7%B3%BB%E7%BB%9F|小灵通]] based on the Japan PHS system (1990s to early 2000s).
    
 {{:devices:xplorelogo-old.gif?direct|}} {{:devices:xplorelogo-old.gif?direct|}}
  
 **PDA Era (2000-2002)** **PDA Era (2000-2002)**
 +After 2000, the company faced new challenges, with the pager business in decline due to the rise of SMS, and with new competition arising in the PDA market from other Chinese companies. 
  
-On 4 September 2000, the business restructured into three divisions; Electronic DictionaryPDA/Smartphones, and ODM services.  +On 4 September 2000, the business restructured into three divisions; Electronic DictionariesPDAs & Smartphones, and ODM services.  
-In May 2001, a join venture, GSPDA, were formed between GSL, Intel, SB China (Softbank subsidiary) and UTStarcom.[14] +In May 2001, a join venture was formed between GSL, Intel, SB China (Softbank subsidiary) and UTStarcom to develop devices for the PDA market.[14] The PDA division was named **Group Sense PDA Limited (GSPDA)**.
-The PDA division was named Group Sense PDA Limited (GSPDA).+
  
-Company were having a rough time on fading of pager business and heavy competition in China market on PDA market.+In 2001, GSL released their Xplore V series of PDA. The first model, the V88, came with 8MB RAM, and had the appearance of a typical PDA of the time.
  
-In 2001, GSL released their Xplore V series (V88) PDAthe V88 comes with 8MB RAM, the look does start to look like a PDA at the time. +The company envisioned that wireless-data enabled PDAs would be popular in the future, and in their annual report they explicitly indicated that this market would be a primary focus going forwards. In October 2001, the i-Xplore 938was announced and shown to the pressThis was a Bi-lingual PDA with integrated GSM mobile connectivityand featured an in-house developed proprietary OS [2].
- +
-Bi-lingual PDA with GSM mobile connectivity and own proprietary OS were shown to press and tested by connections, named Xplore [2].+
 [[http://www.gsl.com.hk/file/upload/ir/file/First_Bi_lingual.pdf|i-Xplorer938]]  [[http://www.gsl.com.hk/file/upload/ir/file/First_Bi_lingual.pdf|i-Xplorer938]] 
 [[https://web.archive.org/web/20021223201941/http://www.gspda.com/product11.html|e968 early smartphones]]  [[https://web.archive.org/web/20021223201941/http://www.gspda.com/product11.html|e968 early smartphones]] 
- 
-Vision on data enabled PDA would be popular and the company would focus on this path were mention in their annual report. 
  
 **Smartphone Era (2002-2007)** **Smartphone Era (2002-2007)**
Line 34: Line 30:
 In late 2002, GSPDA signed a licensing agreement with PalmSource for permission to develop Palm OS PDA's [1], with 5 Palm OS devices eventually developed. The license was initially only for devices to be marketed to the Asia/Pacific market [10], before they later pursued a full ODM license with worldwide distribution rights [11]. In late 2002, GSPDA signed a licensing agreement with PalmSource for permission to develop Palm OS PDA's [1], with 5 Palm OS devices eventually developed. The license was initially only for devices to be marketed to the Asia/Pacific market [10], before they later pursued a full ODM license with worldwide distribution rights [11].
  
-A flip cover device codename "Onyx" were report being develop in 2001-2002the design of device were close to the original GSM PDA series which differs from the later Palm base Xplore series, this device was axed eventually before release.+During this perioda new Xplore was being developed and released yearly.
  
-During this perioda new Xplore were being released every year.+A flip cover device codename "Onyx" was reportedly being developed in 2001-2002, with the design of this device appearing similar to the original GSM PDA seriesand unlike the later Palm-OS based Xplore series. However, this device was axed eventually before release.
  
 GSPDA were also in development on possibilities of other operating systems. GSPDA were also in development on possibilities of other operating systems.
 [[https://web.archive.org/web/20030730181804/http://gspda.com/product5.html|v2002 Linux PDA's]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20030730181804/http://gspda.com/product5.html|v2002 Linux PDA's]]
  
-The Singapore branch of GSPDA incorporated as a subsidiary called "Group Sense Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd.", before renaming as [[https://www.sgpbusiness.com/company/Oswin-Technology-Private-Limited|Oswin Technology PL]]in 2004, when they [[https://web.archive.org/web/20041104031005/http://www.gst.com.sg/prof.asp|began trading as Oswin Technology]], eventually moving to a new[[http://www.oswintech.com/|own domain name]] in Nov 2004.+The Singapore branch of GSPDA incorporated as a subsidiary called "Group Sense Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd.", before renaming as [[https://www.sgpbusiness.com/company/Oswin-Technology-Private-Limited|Oswin Technology PL]]in 2004, when they [[https://web.archive.org/web/20041104031005/http://www.gst.com.sg/prof.asp|began trading as Oswin Technology]], eventually moving to a new[[http://www.oswintech.com/|own domain name]] in Nov 2004. 
  
-In 2006-2007PalmSource cancelled the PalmOS6.1, GSPDA mention they will continue to ship devices with PalmOS 5.4 and a Java base smartphone S20 as a replacement should see the market that financial year.+In early 2005an Oswin device running Palm OS 6.1 ("Cobalt") was show to the press and demoed [25], and it appeared likely that this would be the first Cobalt-based device to ship[17]
  
-Unlike most other years, no special mention of M70 that were announced 2006 Sep and shown to press and ITU 2006 (Hong Kong) in their annual report.+{{ :devices:jasper-s20.jpg?direct&250|}}
  
-In 2008, the Xplore brand (and Palm OS device lineupwas depreciated, and Group Sense Mobile-Tech Ltd. (GSML) was created, initially producing GPS unitsVOIP handsets, and later focusing on POS PDA'and systems. +However, with the sacking of the PalmSource CEO in mid-2005, and the sale of PalmSource to ACCESS in late 2005, it appeared that Palm-OS 6.1 would be cancelled. In response, in 2006 GSPDA announced that they would continue to ship new devices with PalmOS 5.4, such as the Xplore M70 (announced Sep '06), alongside a second series of smartphones running a new[[https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/embedded-revolution/article/21776185/pure-java-platform-powers-smart-phone|Java-based]] OS developed by company [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SavaJe|SavaJe]]. The first new device announced with this Java OS was the Jasper S20 (shown right), for future release in 2007.  
 + 
 +However, by 2007, the Xplore M70 international release was canceled, while plans for the Jasper S20 were disrupted with financial troubles at SavaJe, seeing them acquired by Sun in April 2007. In 2008, the GSPDA joint-venture were closed, the Xplore brand and [[http://xplore.com.hk|website]] was retired, and the Palm-OS device lineup was depreciated. In-place of thisa new brand called Group Sense Mobile-Tech Ltd. (GSML) was created, initially producing GPS units and VOIP handsets, and later focusing on point-of-sale (POS) PDAs and systems.  
 + 
 + 
 +----
  
-Post 2008, all references of PalmOS base were removed from main site, xplore.com.hk were no longer alive. 
  
 {{:devices:xlporelogo.gif?direct|}} {{:devices:xlporelogo.gif?direct|}}
Line 126: Line 126:
 https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2375 https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2375
   * Codename Zircon I, HAL ID zicn, Device ID zicn [22]   * Codename Zircon I, HAL ID zicn, Device ID zicn [22]
-  * Also known as Zicron G88 in Singapore+  * Also known as Zircon G88 in Singapore
  
 ==== Specifications ==== ==== Specifications ====
Line 313: Line 313:
 Almost identical to the M68. Ann. Sept 2006, rel, early 2006 Almost identical to the M68. Ann. Sept 2006, rel, early 2006
   * Codename UNKNOWN, HAL ID zcn5, Device ID zcn5 [22]   * Codename UNKNOWN, HAL ID zcn5, Device ID zcn5 [22]
 +
 +{{:devices:m70-small.jpg|}}
  
 A minor update, the M70S was later released in Oct 2007 with a firmware update. A minor update, the M70S was later released in Oct 2007 with a firmware update.
Line 382: Line 384:
  
  
-===== Zircon Axia A108 =====+===== Oswin Zircon Axia A108 =====
 {{ :devices:axia_main.jpg?direct&200|}} {{ :devices:axia_main.jpg?direct&200|}}
  
-The [[https://web.archive.org/web/20051106024001/http://www.oswintech.com/default.asp|Axia A108]] was announced in Nov 2004, but discontinued by 2006. It was launched under the brand name [[https://web.archive.org/web/20050206045022/http://www.myaxia.com/|Axia]], separate from the Xplore devices. It was also sold under the Zircon brand name, +The [[https://web.archive.org/web/20051106024001/http://www.oswintech.com/default.asp|Axia A108]] was announced in Nov 2004, but discontinued by 2006. It was launched under the brand name [[https://web.archive.org/web/20050206045022/http://www.myaxia.com/|Axia]], separate from the Xplore devices. It was also sold under the Zircon brand name, as the Zircon Axia A108 [26]. 
  
 http://tech.sina.com.cn/mobile/n/2005-05-19/1742612387.shtml http://tech.sina.com.cn/mobile/n/2005-05-19/1742612387.shtml
Line 393: Line 395:
 In Feb 2005, at a local GSPDA public meeting, a representative indicated that GSPDA indicated to release a Palm OS 6 (Cobalt) based smartphone by the end of 2006[16] - over a year after Cobalt 6.1 was announced in 2004[17], and almost two years after [[http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6568|Cobalt 6 was announced in Feb 2004]].  In Feb 2005, at a local GSPDA public meeting, a representative indicated that GSPDA indicated to release a Palm OS 6 (Cobalt) based smartphone by the end of 2006[16] - over a year after Cobalt 6.1 was announced in 2004[17], and almost two years after [[http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6568|Cobalt 6 was announced in Feb 2004]]. 
  
-In April it was indicated that the Zircon Axia A108 device would be available with a range of different OS platforms, including Palm OS 6 Cobalt [18][19].+In April it was indicated that the Oswin Axia A108 device would be available with a range of different OS platforms, including Palm OS 6 Cobalt [18][19].
  
 These plans were again confirmed in May 2005, during an [[https://linuxdevices.org/executive-interview-michael-kelley-and-john-cook-of-palmsource/|interview with PalmSource exectutives]]. These plans were again confirmed in May 2005, during an [[https://linuxdevices.org/executive-interview-michael-kelley-and-john-cook-of-palmsource/|interview with PalmSource exectutives]].
Line 404: Line 406:
 {{:devices:cobphonefront.jpg?direct&100|}}{{:devices:cobphonentreo.jpg?direct&200|}} {{:devices:cobphonefront.jpg?direct&100|}}{{:devices:cobphonentreo.jpg?direct&200|}}
  
 +Additional Photos provided by [[http://dmitry.gr/|Dmitry Grinberg]] (creator of [[http://www.palmpowerups.com/|Palm Powerups]]) :
  
 +{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-1.jpg?400|}} 
 +{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-2.jpg?400|}} 
 +{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-3.jpg?400|}}{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-4.jpg?400|}}{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-5.jpg?400|}}{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-6.jpg?400|}}{{:devices:oswin-zircon-axia-a108-7.jpg?400|}}
  
 ==== Specifications ==== ==== Specifications ====
Line 415: Line 420:
   * Mobile: GSM TriBand 900/1800/1900MHz   * Mobile: GSM TriBand 900/1800/1900MHz
   * Data: GPRS Class 10   * Data: GPRS Class 10
 +  * MiniSD expansion
  
   * https://mobile.softpedia.com/phones/Oswin/Oswin-Zircon-Axia-A108.shtml   * https://mobile.softpedia.com/phones/Oswin/Oswin-Zircon-Axia-A108.shtml
Line 475: Line 481:
   * [21] https://www.geek.com/blurb/pics-of-the-cobalt-phone-559082/   * [21] https://www.geek.com/blurb/pics-of-the-cobalt-phone-559082/
   * [22] http://blog.compuseum.de/sitemap/palmos-codenamen/   * [22] http://blog.compuseum.de/sitemap/palmos-codenamen/
 +  * [23] https://www.eweek.com/mobile/sun-blesses-java-phone
 +  * [24] https://www.engadget.com/2006-05-13-savaje-releases-jasper-s20-java-phone.html
 +  * [25] http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/7874/palm-os-cobalt-phone-shown-at-devcon/
 +  * [26] https://web.archive.org/web/20050526190750/http://it.asia1.com.sg/reviews/pda/por002_20050503.html
  
  • devices/groupsense.1609132387.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2020/12/28 16:13
  • by utp