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Technology Stocks : XYBR - Xybernaut -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Keith Fauci who wrote (5056)	9/4/2002 5:44:12 PM
From: StockDung	Respond to of 6847

Review: Xybernaut POMA First wearable PC designed for the consumer needs a bit of tailoring. By James Kim I pulled on my trousers one recent morning, buttoned up my shirt, clipped a computer on my belt, and gingerly positioned a monitor on my forehead. My wardrobe that notably geeky day included a pair of old Levis, a Ben Sherman short-sleeved shirt, and a Xybernaut POMA, short for Personal Multimedia Appliance. The POMA is one of the first wearable computers designed for the consumer. It's created by a company that specializes in wearable PCs used widely in the corporate world by companies like FedEx and Bell Canada. While it's compact and definitely eye opening in a sci-fi way, the $1,500 POMA just isn't worth the purchase. It's too difficult to use effectively. Ultimate wardrobe accessory? The POMA consists of three parts. CPU Heads-up display Optical pointing device The CPU, which is slightly larger than a PocketPC PDA, is housed in a silvery device with conspicuous blue power-on LEDs. The CPU features a 128-MHz RISC processor, 64MB of memory (32 RAM, 32 ROM), and runs on Windows CE 3.0. The PocketPC 2002 operating system is not used in this version because its interface isn't as familiar to the average user as CE. The 11-ounce package, complete with protective case and belt clip, is slick and ideal for listening to MP3s or watching compressed video. Expansion's not a problem with the Type II CompactFlash slot, ideally for use with a 1GB Microdrive for expanded memory or in the case of our review unit, a Socket Wi-Fi wireless network card. This $180 optional card will allow you to roam around with your POMA and be connected to email and the Web. Our journeys through San Francisco were pock-marked with open wireless networks, so gaining "free" access was not a problem. But this can be done just as easily with a traditional PDA. The POMA is basically a PDA, but not as powerful as the latest Xscale PocketPCs. You also won't find an LCD display. Xybernaut argues that the heads-up display is a better solution than having to constantly look down at a touch screen. In theory it's right, but the POMA is difficult to view while moving, much less in a stationary position. The heads-up display, combined with the finicky pointing device, make regular computing a chore. Why POMA isn't ready When the novelty wears off, the head-mounted display becomes uncomfortable and gets in the way. There are pictures in the POMA manual suggesting the computer is easy-to-use in everyday life. One of these is of a suit-wearing, smiling executive walking down what is presumably Wall Street with the display mounted on his head. Let me tell you... this is difficult on the eyes and dangerous. Once you finally achieve the right focus (there should be a diopter adjustment), the effect is awesome. Imagine a 13-inch monitor with a resolution of 640x480 hovering in front of you. But, be prepared for an optical roller coaster ride and a major headache. The POMA, and wearable PCs like it, may be the perfect tool for the corporate worker in the field, where hands-free operation is vital. But for the average consumer, it's just too hard to see. The optical pointing device included with the POMA connects via USB and is solid state, so there are no moving parts except for the mouse buttons. The blue light that it emits is the coolest part about an otherwise unspectacular piece of hardware. It's jumpy and can cause some stress to the hand when used for extended periods of time, and especially while you're trying to "type" data using the Windows CE 3.0 virtual keyboard. Our advice? Get another mouse or wearable keyboard. The POMA is a great idea whose time will eventually come. But I won't recommend it until voice recognition is integrated and the display doesn't mess with my eyes. When it comes down to it, I'd rather spend a third of the cash on the best PocketPC PDA available today. It's more powerful and the screen is just where I want it to be, visible in my hand. Summary: Xyber-not! The POMA is the first wearable PC designed for the consumer. It's a step in the right direction, but just too difficult to use for the average person. Pros: Portable; attention-getter. Cons: Heads-up display too difficult to view; optical pointing device difficult to use; expensive. Company: Xybernaut Category: Mobile computing Price: $1,499 Available: Now Platform: Windows CE 3.0 Posted July 23, 2002

To: Keith Fauci who wrote (5056)	9/5/2002 9:37:20 AM
From: Roy F	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6847

Xybernaut Granted Patent for Dual-Use Flat Panel Display and Thin Client Computing Devices Thursday September 5, 9:34 am ET FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2002--Xybernaut® Corporation (Nasdaq:XYBR - News), today announced that the company has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office related to dual-use flat panel display (FPD) and thin client computing devices. This patent, U.S. 6,421,232 B2, covers a wide variety of potential business and consumer applications and a wide variety of existing and potential computing devices. Called "Dual-Use FPD and Thin Client," the patent essentially describes a flat panel display -- a user interface device utilized to input/retrieve data to/from another computing device -- that has dual-use functionality as a stand-alone computer. The basic aspects of the patent are described in the following abstract. Computing devices covered under this patent are able to: 1) perform as a static FPD when connected to or communicating with a separate computing device; and 2) function as a thin client stand-alone computer when independent from the computer to which it was originally connected or communicating "This patent grant is indicative of the depth and breadth of our expertise and points to continued success in enhancing Xybernaut's position as the leading developer of wearable computing technologies and related intellectual property," said Edward G. Newman, chairman, president and CEO of Xybernaut. "We believe that by maintaining, expanding, and defending a strong patent position, we continue to retain and expand our competitive advantage in this dynamic market and ultimately this will increase stakeholder value," added Mr. Newman. Xybernaut continues to successfully attract a growing base of industry-leading equipment manufacturers, resellers and solutions integrators and these newly patented technologies represent attractive options for licensee or collaborative companies as well as customers in a wide variety of applications related to field force automation. About Xybernaut Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable/mobile computing hardware, software and services, bringing communications and full-function computing power in a hands-free design to people when and where they need it. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's Web site at www.xybernaut.com. Xybernaut, the Xybernaut logo, and Mobile Assistant V (MA V) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Xybernaut Corporation in the USA and other countries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plan," "confident that," "believe," "scheduled," "expect," or "intend to," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, the availability of components and successful production of the Company's products, general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, timing, and other risks described in the Company's SEC reports and filings. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: Xybernaut Corporation, Fairfax Michael Binko, 703/631-6925 mbinko@xybernaut.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Xybernaut Corporation