IPAQ
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Predecessor | iPAQ Desktop Personal Computers |
| Founded | April 2000 |
| Founder | Compaq |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Successor | None |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Pocket PCs, smartphones, GPS devices |
| Owner | Hewlett-Packard (after Compaq acquisition) |
| Parent | Compaq, later Hewlett-Packard |
The iPAQ series represents a now-obsolete collection of Pocket PC gadgets that were manufactured from 2000 until 2010. Originally introduced by Compaq in April 2000, the iPAQ range encompassed PDA units, smartphones, and GPS products. A significant portion of production was subcontracted to the Taiwanese company HTC.
Following the acquisition of Compaq by Hewlett-Packard (HP), the iPAQ brand was promoted under HP’s banner. These devices primarily operated on the Windows Mobile platform, with several models also supporting various Linux distributions. Early iterations included modular "jackets"—attachment sleeves that expanded functionality by adding components such as card readers, wireless connectivity, GPS modules, and supplementary batteries. Subsequent releases incorporated many of these capabilities directly into the hardware, including some with integrated GPRS cellular technology (featuring SIM card slots and radios).
History
The iPAQ designation traces back to Compaq's previous line of iPAQ Desktop Personal Computers.
Compaq developed the iPAQ using SA-1110 "Assabet" and SA-1111 "Neponset" reference boards created by a StrongARM team at Digital Equipment Corporation’s Hudson, Massachusetts site (later acquired by Intel). This platform supported 32 MB of SDRAM, CompactFlash and PCMCIA expansion slots, audio interfaces, USB host controllers, and various I/O ports. Software drivers enabled support for CompactFlash Ethernet adapters, IDE storage devices such as the IBM Microdrive, and Lucent WaveLAN/IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi cards.
The inaugural iPAQ Pocket PC was the H3600 series released in 2000, running Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2000. It featured a 240x320 pixel display capable of showing 4096 colors, alongside 32 MB of RAM and 16 MB of ROM. In January 2001, Compaq introduced the more cost-effective H3100 series equipped with a monochrome screen and 16 MB RAM. The H3600 line was later succeeded by the H3800 and H3900 series, which maintained similar designs but updated button configurations.
After HP merged with Compaq in 2002, it discontinued its own Jornada Pocket PCs to concentrate efforts solely on the iPAQ range.
In June 2003, HP reorganized the iPAQ product lines: the h1xxx series targeted budget-conscious customers; h2xxx was aimed at general consumers; and h5xxx catered to business professionals—all preloaded with Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003. By August 2004, new models such as the h63xx (featuring Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition), hx47xx, and rz17xx series (running Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition) were introduced.
That same month, HP unveiled consumer-focused rz17xx and rx3xxx Mobile Media Companion devices that included media-centric features like the NEVO TV Remote and operated on Windows Mobile 2003SE.
At the 2005 3GSM event in Cannes, HP presented the hw6500 Mobile Messenger series; this was succeeded in 2006 by the hw6900 lineup running Windows Mobile 5.
In 2007, HP launched PDA/GPS hybrids—the rx4000 Mobile Media Companion and rx5000 Travel Companion—both powered by Windows Mobile 5. This year also saw HP’s first Windows Mobile 6 device: the iPAQ 500 Series Voice Messenger featuring a numeric keypad.
HP expanded its portfolio with five additional series complementing the iPAQ 500 Series Voice Messenger:
- 100 Series Classic Handheld* and *200 Series Enterprise Handheld*—touchscreen PDAs without phone capabilities running WM6;
- 300 Series Travel Companion*—a GPS-focused handheld using Windows CE 5.0 with a customized interface;
- 600 Series Business Navigator* and *900 Series Business Messenger*—smartphones integrating GPS and 3G connectivity running WM6 Professional. The former came with a numeric keypad while the latter featured a full QWERTY keyboard.
Additionally, HP released a smartphone resembling a traditional mobile phone but equipped with VoIP functionality—the HP iPAQ 500 Series Voice Messenger.
In December 2009, HP introduced the iPAQ Glisten operating on Windows Mobile 6.5.
By August 2011, HP declared it would cease production of all webOS hardware devices.
Compatible with iPAQ Jacket
The initial series of devices are compatible with the iPAQ Jacket, featuring support for either a single CompactFlash slot, one PC Card slot, or dual PC Card slots.
The iPAQ jacket, part number 173396-001 PCMCIA (PC port), includes an internal rechargeable Li-ion battery (PN 167648) rated at 3.7 V and 1500 mAh, which can be upgraded.
| Model (variants) | Launch Year | RAM (MiB) | ROM (MiB) | Expansion Slots | Processor | Processor Speed
(MHz) |
Operating System | WiFi | Bluetooth | IrDA | PN 173396-001 | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H3650 (H3630, H3635) | 2000 | 32 | 16 | None | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2000 | None | None | Yes | Yes | 4096-color screen |
| H3150 (H3130, H3135) | 2001 | 16 | 16 | None | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2000 | None | None | Yes | 4-bit grayscale display | |
| H3670 (H3660) | 2001 | 64 | 16 | None | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2000 | Yes | Yes | |||
| H3760 | 64 | 32 | None | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2002 | ||||||
| H3830 (Rosella) | 32 | 32 | 1SD Card Slot | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2002 Premium | Yes | |||||
| H3850 | 64 | 32 | 1SD Card Slot | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2002 | ||||||
| H3870 | 64 | 32 | 1SD Card Slot | SA-1110 | 206 | PPC2002 | BT1.1 | Yes | Yes | |||
| H3950 | 64 | 32 | 1SD/IO Slot | PXA250 | 400 | PPC2002 Premium | Yes | NEVO TV Remote Software included | ||||
| H3970 | 64 | 48 | 1SD Card Slot | PXA250 | 400 | PPC2002 Premium | BT1.1 | Yes | Yes | NEVO TV Remote Software included | ||
| H5150 | 64 | 32 | 1SD Card Slot | PXA255 | 400 | WM2003 | BT1.1 | Yes | Yes | NEVO TV Remote Software included | ||
| H5400 | 64 | 48 | 1SD Card Slot | PXA250 | 400 | WM2003 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | BT1.1 | Yes | Yes | NEVO TV Remote Software and Biometric Fingerprint reader integrated | |
| H5500 | 128 | 48 | 1SD Card Slot | PXA255 | 400 | WM2003 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | BT1.1 | Yes | Yes | Biometric Fingerprint reader included |
Recent models
- SDIO cards are supported up to a capacity of 2GB.
| Model | Launch Year | RAM (MiB) | ROM (MiB) | Expansion Slots | Processor | Processor Speed
(MHz) |
Operating System | WiFi | Bluetooth | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1910 | 2002 | 64 | 16 | 1 SD slot | PXA250 | 200 | PPC2002 | No | No | |
| H1915 | 2002 | 64 | 16 | 1 SD slot | PXA255 | 200 | PPC2002 | No | No | |
| H1930 | 2003 | 64 | 16 | 1 SDIO slot | S3C2410 | 203 | WM2003 |
No || No || |
||
| H1940 | 2003 |
64 || 32 || 1 SDIO slot || S3C2410 || 266 || WM2003 || No || BT1.1 || |
||||||||
| rx1950 |
2005 | 32 | 64 | 1 SDIO slot | S3C2442 | 300 | WM5 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | No | |
|||||||||
|
32 | 64 | 1 SDIO slot | S3C2442 | 300 | WM5 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | No | GPS functionality | | ||||||||||
|
64 | 64 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 312 | WM2003 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | No | |
||||||||||
|
64 | 64 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 312 | WM2003SE | No | Yes Bluetooth support | |
||||||||||
|
64 | 32 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA255 | 400 | WM2003 | No | BT1.1 | NEVO TV Remote Software version 2.0 included | | ||||||||||
| October 15, 2003 | 64 | 32 | 1 SDIO slot | PXA255 | 400 | WM2003 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | BT1.1 | | | ||||||||||
| | 64 | 32 | 1 SDIO slot | PXA255 | 400 | WM2003 | 802.11b Wireless LAN | BT1.1 | Integrated QWERTY keyboard present | | ||||||||||
| | 64 | 64 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 312 | WM5 | No WiFi | Bluetooth support | IrDA and USB 2.0 interfaces included | | ||||||||||
| | 64 | 64 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 312 | WM2003SE | No WiFi | BT1.2 support | IrDA and USB 1.1 interfaces included | | ||||||||||
| | 64 |192 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 |312 | WM5 OS version | No WiFi | BT1.2 support | IrDA and USB 2.0 interfaces available | | ||||||||||
| | 64 | ?? | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA250 | 400 | PPC2003 Premium OS version | Yes WiFi support | No Bluetooth support | |||
| hx2410 | 64 | 64 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 520 | WM2003SE OS version | 802.11b Wireless LAN support | BT1.2 Bluetooth support | ||
| hx2415 | 64 | 64 | 1CF, 1 SDIO, and MMC slots | PXA270 | 520 | WM2003SE OS version | 802.11b Wireless LAN support | BT1.2 Bluetooth support | ||
| hx2490b | 64 | 192 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 520 | WM5 Premium OS version | 802.11b Wireless LAN support | Bluetooth available |
IrDA and USB 2.0 interfaces included | | |
| hx2490c | 64 | 512 | 1CF and 1 SDIO slots | PXA270 | 520 | WM5 Premium OS version | =802.11b Wireless LAN support |
Bluetooth supported || IrDA and USB 2.0 interfaces included | | ||
| hx2495b |
64 || 192 || 1CF and 1 SDIO slots || PXA270 || 520 || WM5 operating system version || 802.11b Wireless LAN enabled || BT version 1.7.1 supported || | |||||||||
| hx2750 |
128 || 128 || Single CF and single SDIO slots || PXA270 || 624 || WM2003SE operating system version || 802.11b Wireless LAN enabled || BT version 1.2 supported || | |||||||||
|
October, 2005 || 64 || 192 || Single CF and single SDIO slots || PXA270 || 624 || WM5 operating system version || 802.11b Wireless LAN enabled || BT version 1.7.1 supported || | ||||||||||
|
2005 | 64 | 320 | Single CF and single SDIO slots | PXA270 | 624 | WM5 operating system version | 802.11b Wireless LAN enabled | BT version 1.7.1 supported | | ||||||||||
|
2005 | 64 | 512 | Single CF and single SDIO slots | PXA270 | 624 | WM5 operating system version | 802.11b Wireless LAN enabled | BT version 1.7.1 supported | | ||||||||||
|
2004 | 64 | 128 | Single CF and single SDIO slots| PXA270| 624| WM2003SE operating system version| 802.11b Wireless LAN enabled| BT version 1.2 supported| VGA display; official upgrade to WM5 available; unofficial upgrade to WM6.5 possible | ||||||||||
| rz1700 |
32|| 32|| Single SDIO slot|| S3C2410|| 203|| WM2003SE operating system|| No WiFi|| No Bluetooth|| | |||||||||
| rz1710 |
25|| ??|| } OpenEmbeddedAs of 2016, OpenEmbedded remains the sole actively supported Linux distribution for iPAQ devices, maintained through the meta-handheld layer. Familiar LinuxFamiliar was a Linux-based operating system designed for iPAQ devices but was discontinued in 2007. It provided either the Opie or GPE graphical interfaces or a minimal Linux setup without a GUI. Both graphical environments included common PIM applications such as calendar, contacts, task lists, and notes, while also supporting handwriting recognition, on-screen keyboards, bluetooth, IrDA, and additional peripherals like external keyboards. The 0.8.4 version released in 2006 supported HP iPAQ H3xxx and H5xxx series and introduced preliminary compatibility with the H2200, Hx4700, and H6300 series. Intimate LinuxIntimate Linux, a Debian derivative tailored for iPAQs equipped with expanded storage—primarily microdrives—offered a conventional X11 desktop environment alongside Opie, GPE, and Qtopia suites. Qtopia is a QT-based PIM suite available under an optional commercial license. NetBSDThe NetBSD operating system is compatible with various iPAQ models. Plan 9 from Bell LabsCertain iPAQ models, notably the H3630 and H3650 featuring 32MB of RAM, can run Plan 9 from Bell Labs. This platform is often referred to as "bitsy," a nod to the ARM chipset architecture employed. Ångström distributionRefer to Ångström distribution for additional information. UpgradesModels from the hx2000 series onward are eligible for updates to newer Windows Mobile versions available for purchase from HP. Windows Mobile 2003 supports devices including the H3950, H3970, h5450, and select H3xxx units with adequate ROM capacity. Furthermore, custom ROMs developed by the xda-developers community exist for the hx2000 series, hx4700, and other models. Supported Windows Mobile upgrades encompass versions 6.0, 6.1, and 6.5—the latest iterations of the Windows Mobile platform. Internal Li-ion batteryThe iPAQ models ranging from 3100 to 3700 utilize an internal Li-ion battery identified as PN 167648 with specifications of 3.7 V and 1500 mAh; this can be upgraded to 2200 mAh. This same battery model is also employed in the iPAQ jacket PN 173396-001 PCMCIA accessory, which supports identical capacity enhancements. The 3800/3900 series come equipped with a standard 1700 mAh battery cell that can similarly be upgraded to 2200 mAh, likely to accommodate increased CPU power requirements. RAM upgradesFor iPAQ H3970 and hx4700 models, internal RAM can be expanded up to 128 MB through specialized services involving replacement of surface-mounted BGA RAM chips. See also
References |