FrontPath ProGear User manual

CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY
Copyright 2000 frontpath, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
A SONICblue Co pany.
ProGear
USERS GUIDE
BETA RELEASE - 12/18/2000
VERSION 1.0
This infor ation is subject to change.
Note: The software release you have ay be
newer than the features reflected in this docu ent.
frontpath
2841 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA. 95054
408-588-8800
www.frontpath.co

Confidential and Proprietary
Copyright
This manual is copyrighted. All rights reserved. This
document may not, in whole or part, be copied, reproduced,
reduced, or translated by any means, either mechanical or
electronic, without prior consent in writing from frontpath.
The information in this manual has been carefully checked
and is believed to be accurate. However, frontpath assumes
no responsibility for any inaccuracies that may be contained
in this manual. In no event will frontpath be liable for direct,
indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages
resulting from any defect or omission in this manual, even if
advised of the possibility of such damages.
In the interest of continued product development, frontpath
reserves the right to make improvements in this manual and
the products it describes at any time, without notice or
obligation.
Copyright 2000. All rights reserved.
frontpath Incorporated. A SONICblue Company.
All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
P/N 52400000-001

Table of Contents
Confidential and Proprietary
AINTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1
What Is ProGear?........................................................................1
Wireless Internet Bro sing......................................................2
Hand riting Recognition ...........................................................2
Product Features .........................................................................2
Flexibility for VARs......................................................................3
2G
ETTING STARTED........................................................... 5
ProGear Overvie ......................................................................5
Starting ProGear for the First Time .......................................8
Turning ProGear On ..................................................................8
Turning ProGear Off ..................................................................9
Po er Management ....................................................................9
The Scroll Button and LED Light.............................................10
The Screen Cover .......................................................................11
The Touch Screen and Stylus ...................................................11
The Bro ser Windo ...............................................................12
The Taskbar ..................................................................................13
3U
SING THE ONSCREEN KEYBOARD................................ 15
Overvie .......................................................................................15
Accessing the Onscreen Keyboard.........................................15
Entering Text ................................................................................16
Editing Text ...................................................................................16
S itching to Hand riting Recognition...................................17
4U
SING HANDWRITING RECOGNITION.......................... 19
Overvie .......................................................................................19
Character vs. Word Recognition ............................................19
Accessing Hand riting Recognition........................................21

Table of Contents Confidential and Proprietary
Using the Word Entry Pane......................................................22
Using the Character Entry Pane ..............................................23
S itching to the Onscreen Keyboard ....................................25
Tips for Using Hand riting Recognition................................25
5U
SING THE SETTINGS-TOOLBOX WINDOW................. 27
Overvie .......................................................................................27
Adjusting LCD brightness..........................................................29
Aligning the Touch Screen ........................................................29
Changing the Orientation of ProGear ...................................29
Turning Off the Tone .................................................................30
Adjusting Speaker and Headphones Volume........................30
Muting the Audio .........................................................................31
Changing ProGear to Left-Handed .........................................31
Setting the Sleep Time................................................................32
Setting the Off Time ...................................................................32
6T
HE CRADLE AND THE BATTERY.................................... 33
Using the Cradle ..........................................................................33
Recharging the Battery ith the Cradle ................................34
Recharging the Battery ithout the Cradle..........................35
Replacing the Battery Pack........................................................35
Installing or Replacing the Backup Battery............................36
Installing the Extra Battery........................................................37
Extending Battery Life ................................................................38
AT
ROUBLESHOOTING ........................................................ 39
BT
ECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS........................................... 41
ProGear Specifications ...............................................................41
CS
UPPORT AND INFORMATION SERVICES......................... 43

Confidential and Proprietary
Contact Information ...................................................................43
DG
LOSSARY OF TERMS....................................................... 45
ET
RADEMARK, WARRANTY AND CERTIFICATION
INFORMATION .................................................................. 49
Trademarks ...................................................................................49
Warranty .......................................................................................49
Certification ..................................................................................49

Confidential and Proprietary 1
1INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the world of wireless personalized information! With
ProGear you can now surf the Internet without worrying about
being wired to a network or tied to your computer.
This chapter introduces you to the key features of ProGear and
explains some of the technology behind this unique product.
Topics include:
♦WHAT IS PROGEAR?
♦WIRELESS INTERNET BROWSING
♦HANDWRITING RECOGNITION
♦PROGEAR FEATURES
♦FLEXIBILIT FOR VARS
WHAT IS PROGEAR?
ProGear is frontpaths premier Information Appliance targeted to
the vertical market segments. ProGear couples hardware and
software to deliver one of the first ever wireless, truly portable,
untethered, broadband-based products capable of enabling
vertical partners to fully customize content.
frontpaths ProGear supports all rich media formats and offers a
high quality 10.4" TFT display, X 86 compatibility and a touch
screen that will enable quick access to applications or the Internet.
A soft keyboard or handwriting recognition gives users the choice
of input modes. ProGear comes with SoundBlaster® compatible
audio and microphone/headphone support. In addition, ProGear
comes standard with a three-hour battery. As upgrades, ProGear
has an extended life, six-hour battery and also offers a cradle
with integrated charging station. Both batteries are Lithium-ion
with smart battery technology.

Introduction Confidential and Proprietary 2
WIRELESS INTERNET BROWSING
ProGear connects to the Internet through a device that supports
802.11b, the IEEE standard for wireless networks. This device,
often called a network access point, transfers data between
ProGear and a local area network at up to 11 Mbps using radio
frequency (RF) waves. Access to the Internet is anywhere up to
about 150 feet of a network access point. This wireless technology
gives you the freedom to surf the Internet while you are away
from your networked PC.
HANDWRITING RECOGNITION
In addition to an onscreen keyboard, ProGear features
sophisticated handwriting recognition software from Motorola.
To compose an e-mail or enter a URL, simply write with the pen-
shaped stylus directly on the touch-sensitive screen in the
Handwriting Recognition window. The recognition software
translates your natural handwritingprinting or cursiveinto
language ProGear can understand.
PRODUCT FEATURES
ProGear contains the best technology available, including:
♦Instant-On technology that allows you to immediately return
to the last application used
♦High-performance, low-power processor, able to playback or
display the Internet formats you enjoy, like WAV and MP3
♦Linux operating system with built-in power management
♦Touch screen with onscreen keyboard and handwriting
recognition for versatile text input
♦High-resolution, high-contrast TFT (thin-film transistor)
display for excellent text and video quality in full color
♦Netscape Navigator with complete access to the Internet
♦Netscape plug-ins that let you hear audio or view video from
within the browser

Confidential and Proprietary 3
♦Wireless connectivity that ensures reliable data transfer rates
up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps)
♦Toolbox for customizing ProGear to your individual
preferences, such as right- or left- hand orientation and
portrait or landscape mode
♦Light-weight durable design with a built-in screen cover
♦Replaceable, rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries for long life
FLEXIBILITY FOR VARS
Because ProGear is based on the Linux open operating system and
x86-compatible processor, value-added resellers (VARs) and
developers can customize the device to meet the needs of
individual vertical markets. For example:
♦Doctors and nurses can use ProGear to access patient
information instantly.
♦Hotel and resort customers can use ProGear to access hotel
billing information and verify flight information as well as
browse their favorite Internet sites.
♦Educators and training professionals can create interactive
portable curriculum.

Introduction Confidential and Proprietary 4

Confidential and Proprietary 5
2GETTING STARTED
This chapter helps you get acquainted with ProGear and covers
the following topics:
♦PROGEAR OVERVIEW
♦STARTING PROGEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME
♦TURNING PROGEAR ON
♦TURNING PROGEAR OFF
♦POWER MANAGEMENT
♦THE SCREEN COVER
♦THE TOUCH SCREEN AND ST LUS
♦THE SCROLL BUTTON AND LED LIGHT
♦THE BROWSER WINDOW
♦THE TASKBAR
NoteThe descriptions in this guide are based on a landscape
screen orientation. ProGear can be used in a portrait or landscape
screen orientation. (To change the screen orientation, see Chapter
5.)
PROGEAR OVERVIEW
Take a moment to examine the ProGear contents and components
described on the following page.

Getting Started Confidential and Proprietary 6
Component Description
Touch screen The lo -gloss screen that responds to the touch
of the stylus
Screen cover A protective plastic cover hich, hen closed,
puts ProGear into Off mode, thereby conserving
po er (not available in beta units)
Stylus The pen-shaped instrument used for entering
text and selecting links in Internet applications
Stylus storage
slot
A slot in the upper left side of ProGear used for
storing the stylus hen it is not in use
Po er button The button on the bottom left corner of
ProGear that turns the device on and off
Microphone An internal microphone, located to the left of
the Scroll button, used for enabling certain
applications, such as voice over the Internet
LED light The oval light-emitting diode behind the Scroll
button that indicates battery and po er status
hen connected to A/C po er
Scroll button The black rubber button that protrudes from the
bottom front of ProGear and is used for moving
scrollbars and opening the Taskbar
Speaker A built-in speaker, located to the right of the
Scroll button, through hich audio is heard
Po er cable
Screen cover Cradle (optional) ProGear & Stylus

Confidential and Proprietary 7
Speaker line out The jack on the bottom right side of ProGear
used for plugging in headphones
USB port The Universal Serial Bus port used to connect
ProGear to an external keyboard, printer, or
mouse
Microphone
jack
A jack used for an external microphone
DC po er-in
jack
The jack used to connect the AC/DC po er
adapter to ProGear
RF card slot (Sealed and unavailable to end users)
Infrared port The port used to connect ProGear irelessly to
an infrared-equipped device (requires additional
soft are)
Reset button Accessible through a small hole in the back of
ProGear, this button begins a system- ide reset
of the unit (not for normal use)
AC/DC po er
adapter
The component that supplies electrical po er to
ProGear and charges its battery pack
Battery pack
(installed)
A rechargeable S.M.A.R.T battery that po ers
ProGear in mobile environments
Backup battery
(installed)
AAA battery used as a source of po er hen
s apping out the battery pack
Extra battery
(optional)
Additional standard battery or an upgrade to an
extended life battery
Cradle
(optional)
A storage unit or holder for ProGear hen used
in landscape mode or for recharging the battery

Getting Started Confidential and Proprietary 8
STARTING PROGEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME
To power on ProGear for the first time:
1. Insert the electrical plug
of the AC/DC power
adapter into a properly
grounded electrical
outlet.
2. Plug the round end of
the AC/DC power
adapter into the DC
power-in jack of
ProGear.
3. Let the battery charge for three hours before using ProGear in
a mobile environment. You can use ProGear while the battery
is charging, as long as the unit remains connected via the
AC/DC power adapter.
4. Align the touch screen. For instructions, see Chapter 5.
TURNING PROGEAR ON
To power on ProGear, press the power button located on the
bottom left corner of the unit (when viewed in landscape mode).
The system displays the Netscape browser window in full screen.
NoteThe first time that ProGear is turned on you will see a boot
sequence. This boot sequence will also occur every time all the
batteries are removed from the unit.
If you have any problems turning ProGear on, see Appendix A,
Troubleshooting.
Fi
g
ure - Connectin
g
Po er

Confidential and Proprietary 9
TURNING PROGEAR OFF
When you need to power down, ProGear offers the following
modes:
♦Off. Press the power button once to turn ProGear off.
♦Shutdown. Use this mode of powering down only when you
expect the unit to remain off for a long period of time.
Pressing the power button twice performs a complete system
shutdown. To turn ProGear on from this state, press the
power button once. It will take approximately 60 seconds for
ProGear to power on.
Note Putting ProGear into Shutdown mode will force a full
system boot up sequence. Use this mode when you want to turn
off the system for several days.
POWER MANAGEMENT
ProGear includes two distinct features for conserving power.
Sleep
Sleep helps manage resources by turning off power to the display
after a defined period of inactivity (Never, 1, 2, 5, or 10 minutes).
♦To resume working when the system is in Sleep, press the
Scroll button or tap the touch screen. If you press the power
button on the side of ProGear, the unit will be turned on.
♦To change the period of inactivity, see Chapter 5, Setting the
Sleep Time.
Off
Because ProGear is designed with Instant On technology, pressing
the power button once is the preferred method of turning ProGear
off. This mode provides advanced power savings by suspending
power to the LCD panel, the backlight, the hard disk, and the
network connection.

Getting Started Confidential and Proprietary 10
Use Off mode when you stop working temporarily but want the
system to come back on quickly. (It takes a moment to establish a
new network connection.) The system can remain in an off state
up to five days, depending on the condition of the main and
backup batteries.
♦To turn ProGear Off, press the power button once, or tap the
Sleep button on the TaskBar.
♦To turn ProGear instantly on, press the power button once.
♦To change the period of inactivity, while in Sleep and before
the system turns off, see Chapter 5, Setting the Off Time.
THE SCROLL BUTTON AND LED LIGHT
Scroll button
The Scroll button is the round black knob located below the
center of the touch screen (when viewed in landscape mode). You
can press it up, down, left, right, or straight on.
The Scroll button has several functions:
♦Moving scroll ars in Internet applications. To navigate
vertically, press the Scroll button up or down; to navigate
horizontally, press it to the left or right.
♦Opening/closing the Task ar. To open/close the Taskbar, press
the Scroll button until the Taskbar pops up.
♦Resuming from Sleep Mode. To resume working when the
system is in Sleep mode, press the Scroll button.
NoteFor more information about Sleep mode, see the Power
Management section earlier in this chapter.
LED light
The LED light surrounding the Scroll button indicates power and
battery status, based on the color displayed:

Confidential and Proprietary 11
Display Indicates
Green The system is plugged into AC po er, and the
battery is fully charged
Red The system is plugged into AC po er, and the
battery is charging
Off The system is po ered by the battery, not AC
po er
THE SCREEN COVER
ProGear comes with a soft screen cover that protects the touch
screen and LCD panel.
The cover, when locked into place, turns off ProGear. To wake
ProGear, unlock the cover and press the Scroll button.
THE TOUCH SCREEN AND STYLUS
The touch screen responds to the touch of your finger or the tap
of the stylus in much the same way that your computer responds
to the click of a mouse.
Because the stylus has been specially designed to activate the
touch screen, frontpath recommends using only the ProGear
Figure - ProGear / screen cover

Getting Started Confidential and Proprietary 12
stylus to ensure precision in navigating the Internet and entering
text. Using the stylus will also help keep the screen clean.
To use the touch screen properly:
♦Tap the stylus lightly to select links or indicate text entry
points.
♦Tap and drag the stylus to highlight text or slide scrollbars.
Maintaining the quality of the touch screen
The ProGear screen has a thin Mylar covering, which is sensitive
to touch. To maintain the high quality of this covering, do NOT:
♦Drop ProGear
♦Spill liquids on or near the touch screen
♦Use sharp instruments as input devices
♦Press down on the stylus with force
♦Subject the screen to temperatures above 35°C (94°F) or below
0°C (32°F)
♦Place objects on top of the touch screen
♦Spray the screen directly to clean it; instead use a soft cloth
sprayed with glass cleaner
THE BROWSER WINDOW
ProGear includes Netscape Navigator. When you first power on,
ProGear will automatically display a predefined home page.
Selecting the Home button on the top taskbar will also take you
to this home page from any Internet site.
You can use the Scroll button or vertical bar to the right of the
browser to scroll up and down. The Netscape Navigator browser
can be viewed in either portrait or landscape orientation.

Confidential and Proprietary 13
THE TASKBAR
If the Taskbar is not visible, press the Scroll button until the
Taskbar pops up on the bottom of your screen.
The Taskbar contains buttons to help you navigate, and icons that
provide information about the system. From left to right on the
Taskbar, you see the following:
Button, Icon, or Box Function
frontpath button Links to the frontpath Internet
site
Settings-Toolbox button Launches the Settings-Toolbox
indo
Text button Opens the onscreen keyboard
(or the Hand riting Recognition
indo , if you have previously
selected this mode of text entry)
Netscape button Launches another instance of
Netscape
Wireless Connection icon Displays the ! symbol hen
there is no connection to the
ireless net ork
Mute icon Displays the ! symbol hen the
stereo speakers/headphones are
muted
Battery Status icon Displays the ! symbol hen the
battery is being charged
Clock Displays the current time
Open indo s box Pops up a list of indo s
currently open in Netscape
Close button Closes the active Netscape
indo (currently displayed on
the screen)

Getting Started Confidential and Proprietary 14
Off button Turns ProGear off
X button Closes the Taskbar