Datastick Systems, Inc. —  News Release
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bradlee Sweigart, V.P. Faron Melrose Communications
Public Relations Counsel for Datastick Systems, Inc.
Phone: 408-615-5772
Email: bjs@faronmelrose.com

Datastick Systems introduces first software for science and industry to take full advantage of new Palm™ Tungsten™ T handheld for sensor-based data acquisition at Tungsten launch event in New York City

Enables faster measurements and more precise display of data transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth or via Datastick® peripherals

Santa Clara, CA, October 28, 2002 – New versions of the powerful Datastick Connection™ suite of software products that take full advantage of the high-speed processor, advanced sound, high-resolution display, integrated Bluetooth wireless capability, and other features of Palm, Inc.’s new Palm™ Tungsten™ T handheld were announced today by Michael W. Scandling, Vice President of Marketing at Datastick Systems, Inc., at Palm’s launch event in New York City.

With its data acquisition hardware and software, Datastick Systems is the leader in industrial, technology, and scientific applications for Palm handhelds.

Working either through Bluetooth wireless technology or through the Datastick® DAS-1245 peripheral, which snaps on to the handheld via the Palm Universal Connector, data is acquired, recorded, and displayed from sensors measuring temperature, pressure, vibration, rates of acceleration, etc., on up to four input channels. Measurements are displayed in a number of ways using one of three Datastick Connection software programs running on the handheld.

“The new Palm Tungsten T handheld enables our DAS-1245 data acquisition system to provide even greater performance than before. We have seen significant increases in sample rates in all our applications as a result of the power of the Tungsten T’s new ARM processor. And, with embedded Bluetooth, sensing devices can easily transmit information wirelessly to our software running on the handheld,” said Steve Sabram, President and Chief Technology Officer. “This increased power and flexibility are excellent news for Datastick and its customers.”

All three Datastick Connection software titles now display data at the Palm Tungsten T handheld’s high 320 x 320 pixel-per-inch resolution, allowing subtleties in waveforms to be more precisely displayed on the screen, and utilize the new handheld’s unique 5-way navigation for fast, convenient access to data.

The new version 3.1 of Datastick Connection Plus refines the alarms that alert the user whenever a measurement goes above or below a particular level. Visual alarms in Datastick Connection Plus are now color-coded to be more visible and allow the user more choice in different appearances for different alarms. The Palm Tungsten T handheld’s enhanced graphics resolution further enhances alarm visibility. At the same time, the audible alarms take advantage of the handheld’s advanced sound capability to play a wider variety of user-selectable sounds, allowing different alarms to be more easily distinguishable.

"Palm, with its well-established market leadership, is on the leading edge of handheld technology,” said Paul Leeper, Chief Evangelist, Palm Solutions Group. “And now, Datastick Systems has leveraged the enhanced power and versatility of our new Palm Tungsten T handheld in the emerging area of sensor-based, handheld measurement and computing. With its solution for science, technology, and industrial applications, Datastick is advancing Palm's efforts to combine the hottest handheld technology with partners’ leading-edge technology to open new markets."

In the new versions, all three Datastick Connection software titles can write measurements to memory cards. Supported cards are Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard, Compact Flash (CF), MemoryStick (MS) and SmartMedia (SM). This feature allows users to back up measurements while out in the field to protect against loss. Memory cards also allow users to transfer data directly to a desktop computer that accepts memory cards.

The Palm Tungsten T handheld, the first handheld from Palm's new Tungsten family of mobile professional and enterprise products, is built for what matters to handheld users. The Palm Tungsten T handheld crafts advanced technologies into a smart, pocketable expression of power that provides a uniquely efficient handheld experience.

While providing the core functionality Palm handheld users expect today, the Palm Tungsten T handheld delivers significant innovations for Palm handhelds, including a unique slider design that delivers Palm's most compact Palm branded handheld on the market; one-handed, 5-way navigation for convenient access to data while on the go; a 320 x 320 color screen that is Palm’s sharpest and brightest color display; Palm OS® 5 and the Texas Instrument OMAP1510 processor for new power to run data-intensive and multimedia applications; voice memo recording capabilities and stereo-quality sound; and integrated Bluetooth for wireless connectivity to other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as phones, printers, PCs and network access points.

The new software versions introduced today include Datastick Connection v3.1, Datastick’s most basic software program, which records and displays its measurements in the form of easy-to-read color bar graphs, line graphs, and gauge graphics. Datastick Connection Plus v3.1 adds an array of user-selectable display, automatic recording, and alarm features, with both audible and visual alerts. Datastick Connection Pro v1.1 is best suited for high-speed data acquisition. Rather than display the input data in real time, Datastick Connection Pro achieves its high sample rates by operating in capture-and-review mode.

The DAS-1245 peripheral snaps snugly onto all Palm handhelds that feature the Palm Universal Connector and forms an extremely portable, well-integrated unit. It provides 4 input channels of 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion, one digital input channel, and a switchable power outlet for powering sensors. Sensors can be plugged into the peripheral or into one of Datastick’s accessories that expand the range of sensors and applications for the system. Accessories for pass-through power and power for sensors are also available.

Data can also be transmitted wirelessly to special editions of Datastick Connection software from Bluetooth-enabled sensors. Once the data is acquired, it can then be transferred to a desktop computer using Palm’s HotSync function or via a memory card for later analysis in spreadsheets and other programs.

“Employing literally hundreds of different types of sensors, and leveraging the power and ease of use of the Tungsten T handheld, users can view, record, and store measurements in the field for a fraction of the cost of more specialized equipment,” said Michael Scandling. “The Palm platform is now more versatile than ever, making Datastick products ideal for a still wider range of scientific, environmental, industrial, and research use, as well as for students and hobbyists.”

Datastick Systems, Inc., designs and develops cost-effective, high-performance, handheld data acquisition products for a broad range of commercial, scientific, governmental, environmental and educational markets. Datastick is located at 275 Saratoga Avenue, Ste. 160, Santa Clara, CA 95050. For more information, call Datastick Systems, Inc., at 408 615-5774, fax 408 615-5778, visit the web site at www.datastick.com, or email info@datastick.com.

Datastick is a registered trademark and Datastick Connection is a trademark of Datastick Systems, Inc. Palm OS and HotSync are registered trademarks and Palm and Tungsten are trademarks of Palm, Inc.