UPS to Deploy Ultra-Connected Wireless Handhelds

Lyle E. Dodge writes "According to this article at Yahoo.com Symbol Technologies announced (on Tax Day of all days) that in 2004 UPS would deploy 70,000 handheld delivery computers based on Symbol's Fourth Generation hardware. Color screens, 128 megs of RAM, and uber-connected (GPS, GPRS, CDMA, WiFi, Bluetooth, Infrared, Analog modem), and, of course, the familiar barcode scanner. The obvious /. question is: Can we run Linux on Brown? Maybe UPS can fund an OSS startup, "BrownHat"? We'll see..."

My Q

[Mattygfunk1]

The obvious /. question is: Can we run Linux on Brown?

Hmmmm, and I thaught the question was can we run tetris on this?

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Re:Picture

[digital bath]

Spiffy. I bet they get to play tetris on that thing...

Linux, yes, but you forgot...

[gpinzone]

Can we port MAME to it?

Up to the minute tracking information

[Steven Blanchley]

So next time something like this [slashdot.org] happens, it will be possible to see who or what is responsible, right?

Going nowere.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Can we run Linux on Brown? Maybe UPS can fund an OSS startup, "BrownHat"? "

New slogans: "When it absolutely positively has to blow chunks." or "BrownHat: when neither your time nor package is worth anything"

"Ultra-Connected Wireless Handhelds"

[Fjornir]

OK... Ultra-Connected Wireless Handhelds

Which is it?

Geocaching for lazy people?

[iabervon]

"Yes, I'd like you to pick up a package at these GPS coordinates, and ship it to me. I have no idea what it will be."

On the other hand, it would be kind of neat to have UPS deliver something to the location output from your GPS. Driving down the highway, the UPS truck honks at you, you pull over, and the driver gives you the books you bought online...

I can see it now

[Spoticus]

Future CNN reports about dozens of UPS delivery people are getting mugged by redbull-toting geeks who want to nab these puppies and create beowulf clusters of them...

Does this mean?

[swordboy]

Does this mean that I can get a package delivered to my house without taking a week off from work?

We'll be there between 8:30AM and Thursday

The other day, they stopped delivering packages without signature (they'd never had me sign anything before... just left it on the back porch). Then all of a sudden, then started playing by the rules and I realized how inconvenient it is to try to get a shipment.

Now, I have to call and tell my credit card company that I am shipping to my work address every time that I need something delivered.

Sigh...

BrownHat FAQ

[TV-SET]

Q: How does one make BrownHat?
A: One needs to put a lot of shit into RedHat. :)

Re:My Q

[DMDx86]

So between sleeping and smashing my packages they can play tetris too?

Re:Try shipping anything damageable through UPS

[EdMcMan]

As opposed to what, exactly? I don't have any indestructible objects laying around.

Color choice

[Anonymous Coward]

Looks pretty cool, but BROWN? Didn't they get the message that brown is SO 1970s?

Oh, wait, I get it...