PDA for PDFs?

[fissionessence]

This is an example of PDF not actually being portable. Since it was created for standardized pagination, which is actually antithetical to portability of display, that's not a knock on PDF. (It's a knock on people who insist that PDF is great format for reference, I guess.)

If PDFs don't work on iPhone -- which was gonna be my suggestion for your best best -- then it's pretty hopeless. Wait until a portable format optimized for display gains widespread acceptance.

How about a pdf-like format that ran off of XML? Stuff could be tagged, and when read by a 'pdf viewer' (for printing or book-like reading with a current pdf-like interface), these tags would be read as bookmarks. When read by a browser or smaller-scale PDA-type device, these tags would be read as hyperlinks. The XML tags would determine how images/layouts/styles displayed.

Obviously, the file would have to contain more than just the XML and text content; it would also have images (background images, charts [possibly also XML-based], and artwork/graphics) and fonts (subsetted?), making for one file that was essentially equivalent to a pdf but would also serve as an entire website in one file package. For full integration, servers and browsers would be able to read this format for display on the web, as well as PDAs. The file itself (or the parameters of the file type) would offer instructions to each different format on how to display the XML.

~ fissionessence

 

[dmccoy1693]

True handheld PCs were around for almost a decade and none of them proved to be very functional.

Then it wasn't a fully functional computer. It held your schedule and was a calculator. Big deal. They were just yuppy toys. If I can play the latest GTA, take a screen shot, and modify the image to show my character as the main character, write up stats, and send it off to my GM, then we're talking.

Don't get me wrong, palm pilots and the like are good first steps, but they are not and were not "fully functional" computers. Probably 2-3 version of the google phone away.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

[Interesting speculation.]

Yes, I think what we'll eventually see -- in the period of time between when nearly everyone has a half-VGA or better screen on their PDA and when foldout larger screens become workable -- will be some form or forms of versatile markup language like what you describe. In fact, I'd actually be pretty surprised if a functional example didn't already exist, but hasn't hit the mainstream. (And partly that's because there are people vigorously protesting that "PDF is fine," when it really isn't. Not for non-standard screen display purposes.)

 

[mach1.9pants]

Yep, PDFs are to electronic documents what MP3 is to digitally stored music. Not that good but they are the accepted standard.

 

[IanArgent]

I have an HTC Touch Pro that can take the WotC PDF files and render them semi-acceptably. The new generation of VGA+ resolution PDA phones are also making the compdendium accessible as well. I prefer to use my tablet PC, but I can't put that in my pocket

 

[jdrakeh]

Then it wasn't a fully functional computer.

This was my point. The same applies to mobile phones. None of them are anywhere near being fully functional computers. People arguing that mobile phones should (or will) replace fully functional PCs in the near future aren't thinking realistically.

 

[tylerthehobo]

Netbooks like the Acer D150 are changing the notion of "portable computers". Less than $400 and with lots of power and long-life batteries... I highly recommend them for reading PDFs at the gaming table and even some of the less demanding gaming on the go...

 

[Mark]

Then it wasn't a fully functional computer.

Handhelds (combination phone/PDAs) of today exceed the abilities of fully-functional computers from the not-too-distant past. Handhelds will never match the abilties of computers in their own time. My hope is for an expandable tablet that includes a touch screen that acts as a graphics pad on which I can quickly load large pdfs with a much better battery life than currently exists. The iliad is getting pretty close and I'll make do without collapsibility/pocketability if it is light enough and can stay powered for a full work day.

 

[IanArgent]

I've been able to use my Touch Pro as a PDF reader for both the mags and the available 4E PDFs. It's not hte world's greatest experience, but for quick lookups it's usable

 

[jdrakeh]

Handhelds (combination phone/PDAs) of today exceed the abilities of fully-functional computers from the not-too-distant past.

I'm finding that to be untrue. The one thing that handhelds today offer that fully-functional computers of the past didn't is an on-board phone. The fact that my nearly decade old Toshiba Stylistic 1200 tablet PC can read PDFs better than current handheld PCs, run more apps that current handheld PCs, and run more full-fledged games says a lot. On top of that, it has better battery life and a 8" screen (with native rotation). Yes, I've done some tweaking, but nothing fancy. It's just a Win98 box at its core. And it runs circles around most of today's handhelds.