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A new Java-based PDA from Kyocera could be in the UK by September

Sadly, the exciting looking Pocket Cosmo PDA which will ship in the next few days is not going to be what we wanted. It isn't a nice Java-based alternative to the disappointing Sharp Zaurus. Well, it may be nice, but it's in Japanese only, right now.

In a world dominated by Psion's Symbian platform and its major rival, Microsoft's PocketPC, many hand-held PDA owners were quite keen to see a third design, when Sharp launched the Zaurus - which was based on Linux and Java. And the disappointment caused by the many flaws in the Zaurus was, therefore, acute.

Kyocera, best known for its eco-friendly printers (apart from its original business making ceramics for medical purposes in Kyoto) has now designed a PDA with an even greater difference; it's Java based, but not on standard Java. Rather, it uses a go-faster variant produced by a UK startup software company, Tao Group using Taos - optimised for multimedia.

The basic hardware looks like any other PDA, really, according to Infosynch sources - and is due for launch - in Japan only - at the end of July.

However, it looks as if "foreign language versions" of the device will be quickly off the launch-pad. Sources say that review samples should be available in September.

The "intent" operating system inside the Pocket Cosmo was originally developed as a games platform for multi-processor networks. It is said to be "blazingly fast" at multimedia - especially high performance animation over relatively slow links. But there's no information, at present, about how the Cosmo links to the outside world.

Processor is an Intel-built StrongARM chip, apparently running at over 200 MHz.

It is supposed to be sold through phone networks, which points to some kind of mobile phone interface; and it would be an astonishing omission if it didn't have either Bluetooth or WiFi (or maybe, both) for wireless communication with other devices. However, it does have a compact flash socket into which either wireless technology could be plugged.

The lack of a standard Windows user interface, or standard Symbian interface - means that Kyocera has been free to use its own design - but until this is available in non-Japanese characters, it's not easy to guess how user-friendly it will be. Kyocera claims it is "entirely original" with 3D menus, smooth scrolling, and multi-tasking with application switching.