Complex is to use Pocket PC?

"Pocket PC is complicated to use" - so many discouraging others from the Pocket PC. Once I gave one my friend Cassiopeia EM500 and the only thing in this case said that the "Start" button in the upper left corner. Of course, that there are more interesting things in the operating system, Pocket PC, which it would be nice to know more than knowledge of the location of "Start" button, but it's enough to start using it. The interface of this operating system very similar to the version of Windows for desktop computers, allowing users to intuitively "feel" the program and data stored on PDAs, are becoming readily available. You do not believe me? Let's look together ...

Start button and menu

Like a desktop "relatives", the Pocket PC OS is the start button, when pressed, start menu appears. The only difference - we see it in the upper left corner, not the bottom. The reason for this is that usually people read from top to bottom, left to right, so it is more natural to place the button there. For the same reason moved watches from the lower right corner to upper right. As in the desktop versions of Windows, start button available at any screen resolution. You never lose it. Start menu looks very familiar. Pay attention to the part circled in red marker. It consists of three sections. 1.Bystry access to your favorite applications, user

EBook in Russian!

Here come the happy moment when the users of the program for reading electronic books EBook can enjoy your favorite reader in Russian! MyPsion.Ru proudly presents the full language version of the program. This is the first contribution to the promotion of software for EPOC by its Russian translation (meaning foreign software). Russified as the entire interface EBook, and its help file. Use and enjoy! Native language always looks nicer. EBook - a program for reading electronic books. It allows you to keep on their handheld machine library favorite books, which will always be with you. Convenience of the existence of e-books can not be underestimated. They can be any number, and they will not take place. Any book is always at hand and instantly available for reading. They are always able to fill your leisure or free time. A program EBook make pleasant reading books fun. EBook Features include: support for compressed and flat files Aportis Palm DOC (. Prc and. Pdb); support TCR-documents, support for text documents, automatic recognition of file format, scaling the display font, auto-scroll mode, moving through the scroll bar, up in the buffer and a file; advanced tools work with tabs, 80 tabs on documents, automatically recognize the file format Palm DOC and TCR on devices with ER5; introduction of favorites in the style of Palm DOC; keeping tabs Palm DOC; support for different fonts in the format EPOC (. gdr), allowing to use any font, interactive help, it takes little memory and works fast. Help File EBook also completely Russified. Home EBook located at http://www.geocities.com/ebookepoc/. There you can download the software (installation file includes support for multiple languages, including the now Russian). By the way, who do not mind the money, he can register (registration is 10 UKP) - you'll be the first from Russia who has registered it:) This wonderful program is well worth the money. And to be legitimate users - always an honor. Of course, in this great cause localization of software will not stop. At this time, preparing the Russian version of the program SwitchOn (it is already available as a beta for registered users). And it is followed by others. Sources, Materials:

How to speed up data entry in the PDA?

One of the significant deficiencies handheld computers is that you can quickly enter text. The struggle for the elimination of this deficiency is in two directions: constructive - the development of compact connected keyboards and software - to develop programs and input methods to accelerate the input of alphabetic information into handheld computers. The first way we will not be considered here because, from my point of view, when it lost the main advantages of using handheld computers: the portability and mobility. Currently applied in the basic input methods: keyboard and "Graffity" (recognition of handwritten characters) have one common drawback, limiting the speed of input: the impossibility of fused input. In addition, the traditional location of the letters on the virtual keyboard (QWERTY) just is not conducive to an increase in the rate of input, since such an arrangement of letters has been developed under desyatipaltsevy input, and not under the data input with the stylus. The program Fitaly, developed under the Palm OS and Windows CE attempted a placement of letters, which according to the authors, reduces the movement of the hand with a pen input alphabetic characters, and increases the overall speed of data entry to 50 c / min. Demo version is available at www.fitaly.com, cost $ 25.0 Development Company Textware Solutions The program QuikWriting, in addition to a peculiar arrangement of the letters associated with the frequency of their use, implemented the possibility of fused input text by unseparated cursor movement on the letters you type. The program is designed for Palm OS and work with it should be in the working field that requires a special sticker with a picture of letters and digits. As seen from Figure 2 letters and signs are divided into 8 sectors, each separated by oblique lines. The motion of the pen is from the center of the square in Gaza, where is the letter. If the letter is located in the center of the sector, the pen is returned to the center of the square, and the corresponding letters are entered in the textbox. If the letter is not in the middle sector, the pen moves left or right on the number of sectors corresponding shift of letters about the central characters. Figure 2 shows an example of entering the letters "f". Pen moves in the sector, where the letter "f" and moves to the left to one sector, because the letter "f" is located at one position to the left of the letter "n", located in the center of the sector. The disadvantage of such a system, compared with Graffiti, a longer cycle of user training. Basic skills is easy to learn about one hour, although rarely used characters (eg punctuation) may require a longer work. Quikwriting developed a professor at New York University, Ken Perlin (Ken Perlin) soon plans to start its commercial distribution, and while the demo version is available here. Program Octave, developed as a Palm OS has the same purpose, but their peculiarities in the arrangement of letters and input methods. The authors, translation:

The first impression from working with the utility JS Landscape 2.0 beta

JS Landscape 2.0 beta - this is a beta version of the new Landscape of Jimmy Software. Even before the release of this utility and its surroundings was called hype. Is unique in that it increases the screen resolution is a factor of 2. But how can you increase the screen resolution, if the number of elements of the matrix is ​​320x240? Jimmysoftware come up with its own technology. Imagine a screenshot of your desktop in Windows 9x box package Adobe Photoshop. If the menu put the 50% increase, then the window will decrease by 2 times, sharpen and see what all the fonts and icons do not look much worse than the 100% window. In the same way running JS Landscape 2.0, this operation is only carried out in real time directly on the PDA. When the pseudo-resolution screen 480h360 enough to withdraw from the eye at 30 cm and you will not notice that it only reduced the window. It should be noted that the video subsystem of the CPC is working exactly on the resolution of 480x360, it can be seen from the screenshots. Imagine a screenshot of your desktop in Windows 9x box package Adobe Photoshop. If the menu put the 50% increase, then the window will decrease by 2 times, sharpen and see what all the fonts and icons do not look much worse than the 100% window. In the same way running JS Landscape 2.0, this operation is only carried out in real time directly on the PDA. When the pseudo-resolution screen 480h360 enough to withdraw from the eye at 30 cm and you will not notice that it only reduced the window. It should be noted that the video subsystem of the CPC is working exactly on the resolution of 480x360, it can be seen from the screenshots. Utilities menu prompts you to select 2 modes (Portaint and Landscape) and for each you can select 3 mode resolution (320x240, 480h240, 480h360). This beta version works just fine resolution of 320x240 and 480h360. Intermediate regime stomps screen. After attempts to use the mode and intermediate resolution 480h240 240h480, fonts are reflected correctly, as well as after return to normal mode lost their calibration settings screen. Without using the stylus to reach the control panel is not possible, so you have to do a cold reset is Remove all batteries from the CCP to completely remove installed programs, and informations. You can of course solve the problem at random, randomly pressing the stylus on the screen after five minutes of this chaos, my PDA rebooted in normal mode 320x240 with all the calibration settings. I note that the full-screen applications and games do not work together with the Landscape. The first minutes of utilities have brought nothing but disappointment, until I started Pocket Internet Explorer. Roam the network resolution 480h360 - quite acceptable occupation. I visited their favorite sites without horizontal scrolling pages, and it means a lot, especially when using your mobile phone as a modem. I also liked the view tables Excel, they appear correctly on the screen shows the entire piece of the page width to A4 size.Work with the Landscape in Pocket Word occupation is not remarkable, although suitable for viewing documents. Also pleased with the mapping information in the packet Pocket Outlook. All other applications are not very well suited for high resolution, so for them to switch to a standard screen mode, otherwise you can just ruin eyesight.

Installation

To obtain the JS Landscape 2.0 beta, you must write a request to Jimmysoftware, as described on www.jimmysoftware.com and a couple of hours update comes to you via email. That update, but not the full version, so you will need to purchase the first version of Landscape. Utility itself is installed correctly, and after the first run on a PDA, offers to reboot the machine. When you open a menu described above.

Support

Despite the very prompt support, Jimmysoftware promises to correct all the deficiencies only in the full version of the official, referring to the unfinished code.

Conclusions

This is a very interesting idea marred by a number of drawbacks, but it certainly will like the people who are engaged in viewing the online resource for PDA Pocket PC.

FOR:

• Interesting idea
• Proper application menu
• Benefits of working with Internet

AGAINST:

• Number of shortcomings, which lead to a cold reset
• Mode Fault 480h240
• The program is not free

The authors, translation:

GMovie Maker - Make your Palm multimedia

Today it is no secret that in most cases, people who buy yourself a PDA, prefer devices that run on Palm OS. However, when it comes to increasing the capacity of operating systems, few would argue that the Palm OS is at the end of the list. As a 16-bit OS, it is clearly inferior to devices on platforms of Windows CE or EPOC. One drawback is the lack of Palm multimedia. Windows CE devices can play video files recorded on the IBM microdrive. But can it Palm? Probably not. And the main reason for the lack of such opportunities lies in the fact that the PalmOS has always been the operating system for advanced organizers and more. Software product gMovie Maker of Generic Media, as its creators say, "breathe" new life into old Palm Pilot'y. In conjunction with gMovie Player it will turn Palm into a multimedia device. Author of this article has tested the program. Here is a brief report about it.

gMovie Maker

gMovie Maker - an application that converts the color video, animation and the usual image format gMovie for viewing on the devices, Palm OS. Surprising that gMovie Maker can convert almost all popular media file types. See for yourself, here is a list of supported file format: Animatsiya: GIF, Macromedia Flash, FLC Images: BMP, JPEG, Photoshop, PICT, PNG, Targa, TIFF Video: AVI, DV, MPEG-1, Quicktime is quite an impressive structure. The first thing that tasted author of the article - Macromedia Flash files with the extension. Swf. The conversion process, he said, could not be easier. Opening the application, he chose the file to your hard drive. Then made a few necessary facilities. Incidentally, one of the options allows you to select the number of colors of the converted file, it can be in color, black and white or have 4 or 16 shades of gray. You can also set and the image size in pixels. Now all that remains - this is to click "convert" ("convert") - and a few seconds. Swf file size is 75Kb will be converted to 12Kb. Pdb. The test program was conducted by the author on a Pocket PC IBM WorkPad c3, which is a version of IBM-Palm V with 2 MB of memory, so that the color here can be no question. Tester converted Flash-file. Pdb with 16 shades of gray, and now, to reproduce the image need gMovie Player.

gMovie Player

First you must install gMovie Player on a PDA. Following this simple procedure, open the application "Install Tool", choose our. Pdb file for transmission and sends it to the Pocket PC. Open the application gMovie Player, converted file appears in the list. Clicking on it will start playing Flash-animations. According to the author, play "works" exclusively. It is true there is no sound, no color, but the image still is not much different from that which would be on the desktop. Animation is striking in its smoothness, and graphics - cleanliness. Besides, the author tested the video files, AVI and Quicktime. They, too, everything went perfectly.

Other thoughts ..

Another potential problem that may face the owners of most of the Palm 's may be the lack of memory. Even the latest models are equipped with only 8MB. Generic Media, realizing this problem, create gMovie Player "weight" of 73 KB. Even on the test WorkPad c3 with 2 MB of the author was able to enjoy the pictures and some video files. However, for full-size files still need to expand the memory. In the case of the latest models of PDAs, this problem can be solved. For example, for the Handspring Visor, you can use an adapter MemPlug SmartMedia. Expansion Modules Springboard, SmartMedia cards can increase your memory to 64 MB Visor'a. And more .. gMedia Player does not support audio. However, this is due to disabilities Palm'ov, and not with the software gMedia. It is possible that this problem will be solved soon. Related Links:

• gMovie Maker English Windows (v1.0)
• gMovie Maker English Macintosh (v1.0)
• gMovie Player English (v1.1.2)

Sources, Materials:

Review of the outline-programs for the Palm

Each of us from time to time there is a need to make, long or not, a list of their cases, or, say, shopping - no need to keep in mind what has been done (bought) or not enough to see whether a check mark in front. Especially if you, as they say now has a project (especially if the project is not one). What to do this? Yes sheer trifle - a piece of paper and a pen. There are, however, several disadvantages, the main one - is absolutely necessary to have this sheet with you, so you can always check out what else needs to be done, and, most importantly, put that same check (for example, and where the same had happened to it stick ...). We must also note that this important list is very simple, if not even lose, then just lay some papers, not to mention the fact that he can wrinkle. In order to save people from these problems and have devised special programs, so-called outline-managers. On desktop computers, they have existed for a long time, there is a corresponding function, and in all your favorite MS Office. But even the use of these programs does not solve the very problem of "leaf and a pen, but only makes it easier to create and edit lists for further use away from the computer it will still have to print - do not take the same computer (even a laptop) with me to the store . Fortunately, this is not an argument for the owner Palm'a - will be with them, all sorts of paper-notes carry. To do this, he is always at hand his trusty handheld, let alone find a suitable program. In principle, for these purposes (with certain restrictions) you can use built-in ToDo, and Memo, but there is a special outline-programs that combine the functionality of the desktop with the simplicity, compactness and speed of a sheet of paper. The most popular programs Arranger and BrainForest. Less known are the Bonsai and Shadow Plan, as well as the relatively recently introduced, but had already managed to attract the attention of users of freeware-program Progect. Although this list of programs is certainly not limited to, there is still ThoughtManager, Hi-Note and others. There are also several programs with a more narrow specialization - for example, compiling a shopping list, without having to use deadlines or setting priorities. Here, I would advise to pay attention to the program ListMaker. Lists of things to collect in the road, products that you need to buy - they make it easier to ListMaker'e. It should be noted that the interface of all programs is virtually identical and very similar to text editors: the top line with the name list, and some of the controls below the main toolbar, and all the space between them, given the actual list. So apparently all the differences between the programs lie in the toolbar window and edit the properties of a list item. All these programs have the support drag'n'drop to move, and grouping of records. - 32k notes (except Progect and ThoughtMan)

Arranger

The first of these programs, Arranger, stands out among its competitors more closely integrate with built-in applications. And while other programs of this review to a different extent can communicate with ToDo and Memo, but the opportunity to include in the lists contacts Address Book, Date Book event, and even records from the Expense boasts only Arranger. This is its main advantage and, simultaneously, the main drawback - apart from inserting records from the built-in programs (or rather, a reference to those records) and placing them in the tree, Arranger almost nothing he can. Generally, we can say that in terms of internal structure is very simple (if not poor) program with a limited set of features and capabilities. So nice to see it quite competitive, export / import and export to Memo format Doc, and when you export you can get the text, separated by spaces, tabs, and even in the form of HTML markup. B minus this program can also supply the absence of even a simple conduit.It's inexcusable and the fact that for a program with such a price documentation frankly not enough, apparently the author expects only experienced user, but he is unlikely to leave the program which he uses to go to the Arranger. As a result, we get a program that is almost not renewed, has a majority of necessary functions and is simply not worth the money. The only thing that allows it to locate their users, so its crown is the ability to create links to the built-in Palm-recording software. URL: http://www.olivebr.com/

Reader for Palm or ProchitayteIhVse

Before we talk about the program ReadThemAll, a few words about the "reader" for Palm. Reading program for Palm owe their existence to several features of Palm and its built-in applications. First, the database on the Palm - it's not a file in a general sense, it is required to transform text, and secondly, this restriction firmware MemoPad on the amount of one record. At one time, an auspicious coincidence, appeared format, which de facto has been recognized as a standard document format for Palm. It seems it was originally designed by Aportis, but I could be wrong. Despite the fact that this format supports compression of certain files on your device it is very simple. It is possible that this is what helped him win a populyarnost.Mir does not stand still and the need for users to preview files with complicated oformaleniem and formatting such as HTML or Microsoft Word, and the need to edit them, led the engineering team to invent their own formats, but nevertheless, the de facto standard means that the Doc file is supported by almost all programs. Despite the progress in computer technology, the process of reading e-books are not much different from reading a paper book - the same page, the same paging, but with the buttons. To make here is something new, the developers are making a program to automatically read or paging someone how convenient it is called. The most obvious method used in most programs - is the auto-scrolling. With a certain periodicity text is shifted by a certain number of points up, adding the bottom line as necessary. By the way, do not consider for a serious statement, but paper books might well be too is also available in rolls, and the consumer would have two coils, one of which was fastened to a motor with adjustable speed. When I first tried to include auto-scrolling to a certain program CSpotRun, I noticed two unpleasant features, later confirmed by many people. The first relates to the hardware. I do not know how the later models, but on my Palm IIIxe text in the process of movement is shaking very tiring thereby eyes. The second is related to features of the reader. When you read, using this method, the eyes are forced together in a horizontal motion associated with reading the lines and move more, and together with the text up, but after reading this line to move to much greater distance down. to the next line. Perhaps this can be used to, but I could not and refused to read such a method is practically the next day. There were other attempts relizovat automatic reading. For example, the program PanaRead. There's the basic idea is that at a certain rate me with the words printed in large type. Despite various improvements, such as slowing down the show at the meeting point or the end of a paragraph, a way needs to be improved and I would not call it too comfortable. In addition, large print was only the Latin and the question to the developer about the possibility of adding other fonts, he replied that there is none. By the way, but then he mentioned that the programmer on this project, according to him was Russian. So for me the auto-theme to scroll has been closed until such time as discussing the potential ways of scrolling with a colleague, did not appear the next idea. With an approximate speed of reading the sequence of lines of text from top to bottom. Upon reaching the last line at the bottom of the screen from top to continue the withdrawal. But it is necessary to read a few lines before. To this end, the user is given a landmark - a small corner, moving to the right of the text. All of this gives an unexpected effect. Reading is very similar to normal when the lines are located sequentially on the page but at the moment when the user in the ordinary case, press the button to display the next page and move upward glance, he should just look up to transfer. To distinguish between new and old lines in place of their division is shown dotted line. If you have a specific need, it mozhzhno off as well, and index.Disabling allows the user to choose their own style of reading. In the process of development, when more or less can be opened with the program files, I read a few major books and came up with some observations. First, during prolonged reading eye gets used to the speed and methodically tends to increase. I remember that at the end of a novel she has reached all of some transcendental values, which I have for some reason can not reach. But the novel was very interesting and perhaps it is related to this. Second, the small screen Palm'a so many possible broken-killed for a small amount of text to climb on it, in this case, wins its size. This is due to the fact that the ordinary reading of the lines are fairly long and the height of the page - too. Therefore, the eye must travel quite long distances. Here, and in either case has to do gorazdno smaller eye movements, but perhaps that little bit more often. There is still notable for one thing. If we choose the largest font, line, consisting now of the Russian language for an average of two words can be read without any gorizontaelnogo eye movements that can once again significantly increase the speed. A few words about the interface and program management. It is obvious that the management of the "reader" should be double - both with the stylus, and only with the buttons. Originally I also wanted to eliminate the use of four buttons launch which, in my opinion, should always perform their basic functions. Therefore, the result was a somewhat unusual way to control that not everyone fell in love, especially the current polzovtelyam CSpotRun'a. There is a pop-up panel that displays the current information - the position of a percentage rate and the current time and, in addition to signal its emergence in the transition mode, "pause." From the reading mode to pause mode shift by pressing "up". Further pressing the "up" reduces reading speed, remaining in the pause mode. Pressing the "down" returns to "read" and further pressing down increases the speed of reading without indication. This choice of operations related to the fact that it seemed logical to make a complete stop when the user does not have time and do not stop reading when there is a certain reserve and speed can be increased. In addition to the above keyboard controls are the other possibilities, starting with the menu, zakanichaya pressing the stylus. For users of Sony Clie provides management with Jog-Dial. From the opportunities presented in other "reader", I realized until just search. In fact, many would like to see here and bookmark and more easy to navigate, especially when the documents are very large and the step of one percent moves in too great a distance. Really would add to the site of discovery of documents on external media, if I may say so, MemoryStick example. In addition, the letters come with an improved self myself scrolling or slightly alter it. All these proposals, I am very glad, because I think that together we will make the program even better. The only thing most of the proposals contradict the request to keep the program size small. The program is called ReadThemAll (Read them all), although there were other options, perhaps more successful. When the idea came up, I have not had experience developing for Palm. Therefore, he sent a proposal, first author of a freely-available software CSpotRun, and then at razrabotchkov iSilo. The lack of response in the first case and too standard in the second, made me learn to develop a Palm. ReadThemAll falch.net developed using version 2.1, which was then free for noncommercial use, the current version 2.5 - 30-day trial. Incidentally, a few words about it, this suspension of prc-tools (gcc, pilrc), appearance and functionality is very reminiscent of Microsoft Developer Studio (although she herself had written in my beloved Delphi). I personally I liked it a lot more than CodeWarrior.In conclusion, I say again, that despite its simplicity, the reader for the Palm may qualify for entry into the five most commonly used by the user, because in my experience I can say that after the first few weeks of the wild delight of owning this wonderful device when I put on it almost everything and thought I had done with the aid of it something beautiful and wonderful in the end went mostly to consume information, rather than its creation. A book - it is not only a source of information, but also food for the soul, so read more and despite the myriad of books, ProchitayteIhVse! (ReadThemAll) Authors translation:

Spreadsheets on your PDA

Spreadsheets - the program used by almost all, without exception. Everyone is familiar with Excel, Lotus, QuattroPro and their capabilities. There are several analogs of these programs for handheld computers. Author of the article decided to hold a small study to compare their capabilities. As a test device made ​​by the following PDAs: - Casio Pocket Viewer PV-S450 (built-in application Tables / Pocket Sheet)

Soft Parade

We represent your attention a new section - Soft Parade. This is a monthly amateur review dozens of the most popular, useful, controversial, interesting, funny software for Pocket PCs Palm. You can take it as you like, but not very seriously. At least the one that you read below. In what the author promises to be more thorough and precise:) By the way, the author, to his credit, has set itself an impossible task to understand for you, dear readers, with almost all predalagaemym in vast expanses of free web software and choose from it is something really worthwhile and at the same time free of charge. Required of you - read carefully, not too critical, send links to worthy, in your opinion, soft news, and laugh at the jokes and all kinds of help, Alexander Skusnovu shoveled tons of software on the Web. With your help Coft parade plans to gain traction and become a future in professional charts. Active advisers and assistants will be encouraged editorial opinion! HPCru.

The author specifies for a number of limitations:
• his opinion is not always coincide with the opinion of our editorial
• due to limited human capabilities author can not survey the entire market software for Palm
• for the same reason Soft Parade is dedicated to long only Palm-programs.

What is going to test?

All programs are available in color, meticulously tested for Palm m505, and those that only in black and white - on the Palm V. Why we chose these devices? - Well, others simply did not give me:) But seriously, it does not matter. Proposed for the most part universally. As minimum requirements for PDA developers often write - Palm III, as well as the operating system - Palm OS 3.5.

Let's start ...

Frankly, I doubt long tormented with what programs start? Since that I liked more, or those that less? Promuchavshis about an hour, I decided to observe them ... randomly. So in the beginning you should expect erratic review games, and then no less messy survey tools. And that, quite systematic approach:)

Boating / Aldona, or "my uncle most fair rules" ...

We'll start with the game, which is called very capacious Aldon's Crossing v0.9.9. Particularly amusing number provided versions - 0.9.9, and in fact, seems to have been, and versions 0.9.8, 0.9.7, 0.9.6, etc. Can you imagine how the author worked on it? Aldon's Crossing (which in Russian means - "Walking nobody Aldona") belongs to a series of games like "hodilka-brodilka (and a little more" govorilka and mochilovka ") or RPG. According to the laws of the genre, your problem boils down to collecting all sorts of information about the death of your uncle, whom you likely have never seen, but, oddly enough, are burning desire to understand the reasons for his mysterious death (this is about the plot). After a series of presets that appear when you start the game (of which I for some reason has not been able to go), you become a hero to advance your chosen levels of magic, luck, destruction, and others, away, away. The rest of your deliberate "Screen Life" you will have a long and tedious to poke the stylus in the PDA display and continuously run in all directions on the playing field is constantly loaded maps. Do not have skills in English are here to understand anything at all does not shine, as all calls to local residents will be on this very clear language. Looting chests slowly, gaining experience and bribing weapons, you have every chance to learn a couple of weeks, why did your uncle died and it will all end.

Score

Aldon's Crossing is very similar to the game on the first computer 10 years ago and may be only interested in kids and kooks suffering from nostalgia for those old days. Despite this it is pretty good representative of the genre. Try to play it after the usual games on a normal PC is quite impossible. As they say the drivers - it's like that change from Mercedes at Cossack:) Quality is not any comparison.It seems to me that any attempt to transfer games RPG genre with the PC on the PDA are doomed to fail because of the limited capacity of the latter. Although the artisans and is not a problem. Why, even in black and white version of the game is rather weak, I could hardly consider cvoego hero on screen, monochrome Palm'a.

Specially for cavemen ...

SFCave v0.03

Well, very small and very simple game called SFCave v0.03, at first glance, not having any chance to get into our Soft Parade. However, as it is not strange, this is the toy of many opinions, "foreign" users is (quote verbatim): «This is the coolest Palm game I have ever seen», which roughly means "It is the coolest game of all, I've ever seen! ". So, let's not judge it by screenshots and file size, but look at the facts. SFCave - is a deceptively simple game in which you want to hold the ribbon through the cave with the obstacles. That's all description. Proceed to estimate.

Score

Game stops seem simple already after 5-6 unsuccessful attempts to hold at least 10 seconds. As it turned out, to manage this wonderful ribbon just as hard as a drunken cockroach. She always strives to fall down and you have to constantly adjust its course, alternately pressing the up or down. However, it is overexposing button and a ribbon of inertia would hit the ceiling (solid surprise:) is rather primitive black and white graphics (although one can expect from 4-kilobyte toys?) Does not prevent the perception of the game. Everything is clear. The game is very dynamic and requires constant attention from playing. The discoveries made by me during the game, I was amazed. Here, it turns out, it is necessary to think stretegicheski! And if your strategy is selected the motion fails, then "poor" ribbon necessarily slam into some obstacle ... And, finally, be cold-blooded - do not break the button:)

Cygraem in the box ... with music!

Section multimedia programs in our review, we will open (as well as close) program Jukebox v0.82b. Program is notable primarily service and opportunities it provides. Initially it is assumed that you are "nastrogali" at the PC giant music collection, from time to time listening to it entirely and just dreaming about how would all this (and so does not hurt very sophisticated process) to adjust your CPC unattended, which is already the third month of lying around doing nothing .

Jukebox v0.82b

Jukebox program can provide you full control over your music. In order not to write your own MP3 player under the well-known Windows, creator of the program have done very efficiently. He based his popular player Winamp. To pair the PDA with Winamp-ohm use Winamp Plugin - «gen_jukebox.dll», you just have to copy the directory «winampplugins». At this end of the installation. Jukebox program every time you start the first step begins the process of a Connecting-with Winamp-ohm. Notorious "Connecting" goes through the COM port that is connected to your PDA. Once connected, you get to control the player on your PC from your Pocket PC. There are all the most necessary for a comfortable life functions: rewind, play, pause, volume, etc.

Score

You sloth from birth, or just like to lie on the couch? Break away from their homes, go to the computer and make music so loud for you is death? - So this is great! Here it is your Jukebox! Lazy with your health! Program management understand even a child. Everything is very clear and easy. No doubt such a program can be recommended to all fans to look for innovative solutions in simple situations. Let me explain with an example.You - a superstitious person, walking down the street, and you runs across the road a black cat. What will a philistine? Just wait until the "line failure" cross someone else, or simply bypass this place for a couple of quarters. But the lazy lover unconventional solutions, say, catch the car, sit in the back seat, will travel unhappy place (the driver somehow crosses the line first), and a minute later exclaim: "Oh, I forgot money at home!" Will be released from the car and calmly go further ...

Just Add Easy Launch! ..

Programs are large, medium and small:) This time my attention was attracted by the utility Easy Launch v0.15. As the name implies, the program is designed to facilitate the application launch. Judging by the size of the executable file - 13KB - belongs to a subspecies of small programs, but from the fact that the entire archive is much 49Kb, we have another 49-13 = 36Kb any useless details. I stop at this fool all of the head and begins to tell how to use the provided utility service in full. Utility EasyLaunch (for want HackMaster) is designed to quickly launch applications or perform other actions with the PDA by pressing various key combinations (or poking the stylus). Deal with the program after a half-hour familiarization with the documentation there is no difficulty, but that you do not have to spend time reading obscure letters to at least do not understand the English language, I'll explain everything to you on your fingers. In the picture in front of you is the main program window. Right at the top - a small drop-down menu Stylus - means that you assign keyboard shortcuts, press the stylus. Keys - is designed for pressing hardware buttons. Under More - lovely setting any additional sounds, Section List displays a list of everything you had to assign. Set the section Stylus. Here are two lists: the left - the first click (or, rather, place the screen where you want to poke a stylus) on the right - the second. You can select any combination. Next, you need to set the action to be performed. To do this, tick the item App / DAs and choose the application. Here, only one remark. To start the application you must select a combination of buttons does not recruit, but to draw. Do this: push the first button and then driving a stylus on the screen to another without lifting the stylus from the screen! And the program immediately starts. Of course, if you configure combinations of hardware keys - Keys. They should be pushing it. In the Style section you can set the type of depression: a simple click, click while holding and with greater retention. With all the other features of the program is easy to understand even a child.

Score

The program works is beyond praise. Has a set of very useful features, without forcing every time a long time to climb the list of available programs to find a favorite toy. Configured once and all! And it was nice to reconfigure all the keys (hardware and software) to perform other acts or the ability to turn off the PDA, simply holding the stylus from the left-upper corner of the window Graffiti in the right-upper. Very comfortable and functional utility. I recommend!

Better safe than GridLock cares ...

There is no restraint to programmers working in the field of information security (mostly useless:)! They protect it as soon as possible and whenever possible. Before the hand-held computers they got for a long time. The principle of protection of any information is simple: have a password - is the defense. The more complex the password, the stronger the security. We are just unhappy users, we can only remember the wonderful mountains of different words such as «d9% gfk2_5o-K6fd»:) Services provided by the program, which will be discussed, should alleviate our suffering. Utility GridLock v1.25 is designed to protect PDAs from unauthorized access. Here we use non-standard method of protection in the form of a text password, and its graphic representation.Password is given as follows: on the screen, divided into squares (5x5), you have to set a password graphically, as a picture of the black squares. Additional features allow you to specify different modes for the automatic activation of the protection of, say, every time after the CCP. There are here and another one specific function - LockDelay. As is known, PDAs have their own feature off if you do it for a while not in use, and that every time you do not re-enter the password, you can specify the time after which the CCP will be off again ask for a password. Let me explain with an example. If you set the delay of 5 minutes and included a PDA in 4 minutes, then the password will not be requested if the same will be more than 5 minutes, then the system will require re-entering the password.

Score

It is highly remarkable program. On a standard PC I have not yet come across. I am absolutely in solidarity with the originators - remember the graphical password easy! The program is simple and accessible interface, everything is intuitive, even a novice. However, let's briefly do some math and calculate how much is a reliable password? We have 5 * 5 = 25 different combinations. Simple calculations show that this is exactly 33,554,431 different combinations:)

How to measure the efficiency of your PDA?

In assessing the performance of conventional PCs are often used a variety of tools. Their main feature is that you can compare test results on your PC with the computers of other configurations. Pocket PC such programs, there are few, and one of them, I would like to tell today. Utility tester is plain name Benchmark 2.0. Is free and takes in the archives of 4KB.

Benchmark 2.0

Program tests and evaluates the performance of your PDA in relation to other models. It measures the performance of the CPU and bus bandwidth. The greater interest by the program, the more performance PDA. Job tools based on the calculation of the Fibonacci number sequence, which allows maximum load and the processor and memory. In the second version (2.0) added to the test results for the Palm IIIe / IIIxe.

Score

What can I add to the above? Program-testers, of course, necessary, although they are often biased. That will take your Palm III and show the performance is not 84% as here, such as 100%. As in that case be? - Proud! But if you show only 60%, then you can always say that the program is clumsy and biased:) Benchmark Utility is very easy to use. Just click on the icon, wait a bit and the test result is ready. Everything is very clear and does not require any reading boring documentation. My attempts to run the utility on the Palm-emulator on a PC (Athlon 700 MHz) showed the performance of 62%, which is impossible, as you know, can not. With all this absolutely do not blame developers, who in the description clearly indicates that their utility is designed only for this Palm. Failed me this time, my habit to first start the program, and if you then suddenly something does not work, then read the description of them;)

Alternative HackMaster-y

Next, our hero - a utility EVPlugBase v1.1b1. Let's start a little scientific, words from the description: A utility is an open platform for third-party applications for Palm OS. Many programmers writing different patches (patchs) at this OSes, and many of them are based on the platform Hack Master. EVPlugBase should, according to developers, to come to replace Hack Master-in.

EVPlugBase v1.1b1

After you install the utility first step will ask you to restart your PDA. After that, each time you start the program you can take a look at the full list of those present on your PDA patches.List appears as an icon or just a list. When you click the small triangle next to each icon will pop-up menu of three items: Config, About, and Delete. Explanations of these items, I think, unnecessary.

EVPlugBase v1.1b1

Putting a tick in the little square over the triangle, you can enable or disable the work of the respective application. If you love to customize all of the programs thoroughly, be sure to check out the Options, which is in the EV Plug Base at the top of the screen.

Score

Before us is a typical example of a program for professionals - programmers, which do not feed bread, but let me pee all kinds pachti and plyuginy under adored OS Palm. At best, the utility is useful to those users who are looking for replacement Hack Master-in. Program developers also are not too lazy to write a pretty impressive guide to writing themselves plyuginov. Desire to read this voluminous text to the end for me, but strangely, did not appear:)

A small, lonely, homeless program is looking for a user with a PDA ...

My NotesPad v2.7

Seasoned with our review of several utterly useless from my point of view of utilities. Useless, these programs only from my point of view, and certainly will find its user. "... A small, lonely and utterly homeless program is looking for a user with a PDA, sex does not offer ..." (from the description of the program). Frankly, a more appropriate entry for submission to our next party Soft parade and did not come up. Called it a miracle - My NotesPad v2.7. The program is absolutely similar to the standard Notepad-in, a part of standard delivery of any Palma, but has an interesting feature. Everything you write or draw, you will be immediately sent to another PDA via infrared (IR) port, provided that the other PDA is also installed.

Score

About the disadvantages of the program to write is nothing special because of her mental limitations, however, and dignity are not obvious. Scope My NotesPad can be diversified, as I suppose, but I can only fantasize in this direction. Well, say, students can send each other formulas on the exam. In fact, in surveys often is expected to appear useful in all aspects of programs, whose purpose will be to me at times hard to understand. Each is designed for its audience, and specifically to this audience, I do not always hit it. This is fine, because when you select programs for review, I often guided by the opinion of the Internet community. In search of that opinion, however, have decent poshatatsya on the World Wide Web.

Lovers of Fine Arts is dedicated to ...

Gray Paint v2.0.1

The next program - a sort of Paintbrash for Palm. It is called the Gray Paint v2.0.1 and has one notable feature. Gray Paint - a small photo editor for black and white device. When drawing uses 16 shades of gray. Very accurately and easily allows you to draw pictures by a powerful 16-fold increase. The first is addressed to the creators of games. In the right pane is a panel of the main tools. To invoke other options, please click on the large icon in the upper right corner. In addition to the program and descriptions kit included a small utility (GPE) for a desktop PC, which allows you to convert images, painted with Gray Paint the usual *. bmp files.

Score

Well, it happens on the street owners monochrome PDA holiday. That's where the occasion to exhibit to the owners of more expensive, color models, the more that the program is really worth ... of course, in skilled hands. My wretched abilities in the drawing there is not enough. Yes, you do it and see for yourself;)

Mosquito ... therefore, do not bite! ..

Mosquito

Well, that's the last on the program today. Until then reach the programmers - it's just amazing! The utility is called - Mosquito and it is intended to rid the owners of Pocket PCs from mosquitoes, gnats, mosquitoes and other small blood-suckers. The principle of operation is simple. Speaker CPC publishes a specially selected, an unpleasant sound of the insects on which they both die.

Score

Appreciate the enormous utility program Mosquito beyond my strength. Right close my eyes and see the owners of Pocket PC, running around the apartment and ardent determination to destroy insects. Mosquitoes, I believe, do not always know at what frequency they put cast hoof ... it has wings, but the creator of the program and has provided such a situation. If you notice at the bottom of the window, you can choose the frequency at which your personally insects will breathe. If your mosquitoes will be very very wrong, and the frequency at which they wish to die not be equal to 16, 17,18,19 or 20 kHz and that would be, say, 18.5 kHz - well, anything else you will not remain as:

• catch them
• put in a jar
• continue to torture them for three days at frequencies of 18 and 19 kHz as long as they do not go mad;)

You can even let them then they will no longer be dangerous ...

The distribution of elephants

Games

Among the huge number of games we have considered (in an amount of two pieces) to reveal the winner was not difficult. Game SFCave won honorable first place. Hodilka Aldon's Crossing can only rely on the attention from fans of old:)

Utilities

With the tools - a bit more complicated, we have to even enter the individual category. The first - a program recommended by all. Represented the best qualities of the demonstrated utility Easy Launch. This is definitely the first place. I recommend to all! Followed by the no less useful utilities GridLock - 2 nd place and EVPlugBase - 3 rd place.

Program is not for everyone

The next category of tools I would call "program is not for everyone." Won in the graphic editor of Gray Paint - 1 seat. The program for the lazy Jukebox won an honorable place 2. Behind it is a program My NotesPad - 3 place, designed as it seems to me a young audience, and testilka Benchmark took 4 place. I'll neoriginalen when I say that in the category "Most Original program wins Mosquito. In fact, nothing more than a fine mentality for this edition of Soft-parade I could not find! That's really not something you can not do, so it's not exactly Mosquito: razomnetes and how to themselves and others to have fun, and maybe even the mosquitoes you have diminished:) Sources, Materials:

Alternative shell for Casio BE-300

First thing that new users Casio BE-300 Pocket Manager, adding machine, - Top Menu - an interface developed by Casio. And almost all of it causes resentment: "ugly, uncomfortable, you can not add shortcuts to programs, it is difficult to switch between running applications." On the forums are often accused of Casio in that it is, saving on hardware, save on UI design, but probably does not matter how and why the Top Menu happened so unfortunate. Importantly, it has something to replace it. To date, at our disposal, there are two popular shell, completely changing the appearance of your BE-300, and makes everyday communication with Kaskiv "easy and enjoyable.

EpodXP

This envelope implies a radical change of the standard Top menu supplied. After installation (on which below), the interface will seem very familiar: an almost ordinary Windows, only on a small screen. There is a button Start, a few shortcuts on the desktop (including My Computer, which in BE-300 is called Epod), real Taskbar and System Tray. Online users can search and download three versions EpodXP - 1.2, 1.4, 1.5. Consider the last.

Installation

Installing EpodXP on Casio BE-300

Installing EpodXP harder than usual installation by double clicking on Setup.exe. This shell is fully substitute for the standard menu, BE-300, so that will be installed under the guise of Restore the saved files on a PC. To do this, go into Safe Mode ("OK" + "Reset"), to calibrate the screen, chosen from the on-screen PC Connection, and then in the same name the program select menu Tools> Restore and point the way to the pre-unpacked *. bin-file with EpodXP (extension *. bin files are, where the backup is stored information from machines). After Restore machine will reboot and will need to rewrite her file tahoma.ttf, which allow you to view Russian web pages in the directory \ Windows (not in Windows \ Fonts). Incidentally, this directory is stored in RAM, so that when you restart this font file is erased. Out - write it in the Nand Disk \ Patch. There are two ways to install EpodXP: if a memory card to download this one file, but if it is not - this.

Interface

Appearance EpodXP

Externally EpodXP - almost real desktop Windows, only on a small screen. In the upper right corner of the icon EpodXP - analog to all the familiar My Computer. Just below the Recycle Bin (which, however, still does not work, files are removed immediately and permanently). Next two shortcut - Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer. On the desktop you can add your own shortcuts (by the way, they can create built-in Explorer, it is called GSFinder, and put them in need WindowsDesktop). In the lower left corner of the usual button Start, right of the Taskbar and System Tray. In the System Tray are important for icons Task (manager of open source applications), SipSelector (switch virtual keyboards), watches. Taskbar, like in "big" Windows allows you to switch between running applications. True, the buttons on the Taskbar so small that they pretty hard to get, not to mention the fact, to read what is written there.

Programs

Open menu Start. First the bottom - the button "Suspend" - the software off the power. Fun, just do not understand why you need. Next comes the line Run, allowing you to run programs with additional parameters. In Settings - Configuration Taskbar'a and almost "real" Control Panel.

Control Panel in EpodXP

Adjust the Taskbar can be reduced to the possibility to remove the clock and hide himself Taskbar. Later, however, have both should try to, he "went" back - will need to get into the millimeter strip that remains of it on the screen. Control Panel from the first glance strikes the abundance of possible settings, but soon discover that the work is not all. Operates icon Stylus, which runs the screen calibration utility (a standard, working from Top Menu). Date / Time, of course, allows you to set the date, time and alarm. Display controls the standard color schemes (EpodXP of 22). Communication starts the dialog to configure the remote connection. When you click Regional Settings again find ourselves in setting the date / time. Network - the same thing and Communication. Password appropriately sets the password to activate, Owner - information about the owner, the Power you can see the battery level and set the parameters of cutoff. System shows the graphics memory is full (unfortunately without the exact numbers), here you can switch between running applications and close them. Volume & Sounds on / off "squeaker" and adjusts the headphone volume. Next in the Start Menu folder, follow Favorites (sync with your desktop computer I failed), Documents, and the most interesting - Programs. Go to Start> Programs> Accessories. There is a calculator from a standard kit, a software synthesizer midi, notebook and Paint (the last two functions are the same for a similar program for a desktop PC, except that Paint can not save images in JPEG and GIF). EpodXP has a built-in tools for connecting with both PCConnect supplied with the BE-300, and with Microsoft ActiveSync. True, personally I never managed to get the BE-300 to connect to a PC via PCConnect. With ActiveSync - works, but there is a problem with installing programs, as you have to manually transfer programs from an archive file with the extension *. cbea on the BE-300 and run it there. Application for connection to a PC are on the menu Start> Programs> Connections. In the Start> Programs> Multimedia is a Microsoft Media Player 7.1. In my opinion, it MP3 files sound better than the standard Music Player. Big minus - to close his account only through the task list.

Windows Media Player 7.1

The menu offers four standard PIM applications, which can also be used without installing EpodXP: Calendar, Contacts, Notes and Tasks. The only thing to add - a glitch with the phasing out the window in EpodXP it is not minimized. The Settings menu is the same tools that can be found in the Control Panel, add only the files of backup (Backup) to a memory card. Much more useful in the menu Start> Programs> Utilities. In the Advanced folder for editing the files of the control panel (you can remove broken or duplicate icons). FlushReg records the image of the registry to the memory card. Here is a utility for remapping system buttons (Rocket Button and seven on-screen buttons to quickly access). Very useful (at least for writing this review) was utility CaptCE, which makes screenshots BE-300 (they are placed in the root directory). Next icon - a very good File Manager - GSFinder. Dvuokonny interface (like on your PC): the left tree of directories on the right the current folder. GSFinder able to view the files in tekstvom mode and run executable files.

In EpodXP can be set, for example, that such

PalmTweak (Ptweak) can associate files with specific extensions to the relevant programs, set the system font, adjust the amount of virtual keyboards on the list. A SipSelector allows you to switch between the virtual keyboard. One of the most important applications - Task. This utility will need to switch between active applications, they are closed (to choose from: the current one, all or all except the current one) or "murder" of system processes. Wallpaper changing images that serve as background for your desktop (optimally, if the picture is the size of 240x320 pixels). Very well done utility Search. You can search for files by name, type, date, size and their content.

Problems

That such

Despite all its beauty and versatility, EpodXP, unfortunately, is not without glitches. Here are a few that occur in the first few minutes of use: the already mentioned problem of synchronization through PCConnect, Internet Explorer does not start when the Facelift, nearly half of the applications did not wish to minimize, in most dialog button "OK" is outside the screen, so that its press have to drag windows. Another problem - the removal of installed programs. In order not to wash their hands and then edit the registry to the Windows folder to run the program menu.exe, then you will see Top Menu from the standard "kasiynogo" set, which has a corresponding function. In addition, sometimes EpodXP just hangs (especially if you run several programs, among them - Windows Media Player). Treated with a reboot.

SQPL

The second popular shell compensatory means dull standard Top Menu. When downloading shows multifunctional desktop with shortcuts to programs and interchangeable "wallpaper". Moreover, if put into the internal memory SQPL BE-300, is employed only 7 MB, which is certainly much nicer than when you install EpodXP, who "eats" about 12 MB. Memory is also loaded with SQ is less.

Installation

Put it in place of the standard package, and on top of it, so there is no difficulty in Safe Mode and Restore. Just run setup.exe. Then you can either run from SQPL Top Menu, where she (SQPL) "hangs" like any other application, or even replace it with a Top Menu using "ChgShell" from the archive SQPL. That is the very "ChgShell" install more difficult. Needed in the directory Nand Disk or on a memory card in the Program Files directory create a folder "ChgShell" and rewrite it all the files from the archive, except ChgShell.exe, which is copied to the Nand DiskProgram Files. Next, start using the File Manager GSFinder (also included) the file. I have a button labels were unreadable, so empirically discovered that pressing need at the bottom left button. Then reboot, after which the screen once you meet SQ.

Interface

Appearance SQPL

SQ screen consists of two main parts: the "desktop" with icons for programs and the taskbar. After installation, the desktop two pages, they can "turn over" with the button with a red arrow at the top of the screen. The first thing that catches your eye - a bunch of icons of programs.All these labels are stored folders Nand Disk \ Program Files \ SQ \ 1 (first page) and Nand Disk \ Program Files \ SQ \ 2 (second page). Accordingly, by adding or removing icons in this folder, you can regulate what appears on the desktop. You can also create folders "3", "4" and "5" (no longer) and increase the number of pages of the desktop. In addition to the links on the desktop are clock (you can move and make transparent), light (if memory cards are two of them) of free space on Flash-memory and a calendar. What, however, very small, moreover, no such useful function as an opportunity to press the stylus on the number and go to the task list that number. Calendar, a clock and an indicator of memory can be removed from the screen.

That's set looks SQ

At the taskbar, the first button on the left is the options menu, where exactly you can customize the desktop, the volume, adjust the settings using a memory card, change the "wallpaper". A great convenience - Button closing the current application (to the right of the taskbar). More to the right - an icon call Task Manager, then a mute button and battery indicator. Optionally, add a button for creating screenshots for Call Clip Menu (need it for text editing and allows you to virtually "push" the buttons SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, copy, cut and paste text or object).

Programs

GSFinder

Actually its programs in the SQ almost no - it's just the shell. Another thing is that for this shell there are so many plug-ins. Most important, of course, File Manager GSFinder (see above). Plug-ins are also an analog clock on your desktop. In addition, an archive with the SQ is already referred to the program to spoof the Top Menu and Registry Editor. Yet there are plugins that allow to use as "wallpaper" desktop pictures in JPEG, or move the icon Next Page (flipping to the next page) with its default location, where it overrides the application icons in the other corner of the desktop. Another nice programm from a kit - FusenMini. This is a utility for creating notes. Moreover, the notes can be both printed and painted: the Image tab is Imgpad - tiny color planshetik for drawing. In addition, the kit provides a tool for creating screenshots. In the SQ you can get and semblance button Start. Used for this programm Simple Menu, an icon which can be placed in the taskbar. Its labels are in the folder \ Nand Disk \ Program Files \ SQ \ S (by the way there, you can not just put shortcuts of files, but entire folders).

Problems

Any problems caused by just installing the SQ I have not noticed. All that comes with her complete works as it should. Standard applications are working flawlessly. The only trouble - SQ strange indicates the amount of memory. Instead of 16 MB of internal flash-disk on the display 12 MB, but instead pointed to indicators of the amount of CF-cards, by contrast, is usually higher than the real one.

Total

It's safe to say that EpodXP, and SQPL offer a decent alternative to the standard shell from Casio. The most valuable innovation - the ability to add shortcuts on the desktop. In both more convenient to do this work with the open programs, both finally just looks nicer. Which one to choose - a matter of taste.EpodXP - multimedia-oriented shell with built-in player, audio files, more complex (and therefore beautiful) in terms of graphic design. SQPL easier to use, safer. It is more convenient to close the active application. In general, if you do not feel sorry for resource machines (if there is a memory card) it is better to put EpodXP, as the more "advanced". If the CF-card is no better place SQPL - the internal memory is nothing other than EpodXP simply will not fit. PS When the material has already been prepared, a new version of EpodXP 1.9. Article about how it differs from previous versions, read the next few days. The authors, translation:

Multimedia capabilities Pocket PC Casio BE-300

Casio BE-300 - not only "library pocket". This yet record library together with videoarkhivy. This affordable "Kaskiv" capable play music and skip movies. Our article devoted software somewhere through which can turn BE-300 within audio and videoplayer.

Audio

At the moment, for BE-300 has four programs to play different types of audio files. Three of them prednazanacheny for files *. mp3, one - for MIDI compositions. Windows Media Player, like "adult" printable desktop reproduces files *. wma.

Music Player

The standard program that can be installed from a CD out of the box, which sold the BE-300. Number of user settings is minimal: you can include an infinite repetition of the list of tracks and make the screen automatically switches off when you start playback.

Standard Music Player

Sound is quite decent quality (of course, for such a device). Net, deep (on extremely least at 160 kbps) with pronounced basses. Generally in region basses Music Player sounds in my opinion better than another two programs. Joystick can regulate loudness (upwards-downwards) and switch between komozitsiyami in playlist'e (rightwards-left). Button "OK" works as Play / Pause, "Esc" as Stop. Inconvenient that Inhibit relocate "in mid songs. Accounts listen entire composition entirely. Filenames and titles songs in Russian Music Player displays correctly. Need only to in system was installed Russian font Tahoma. Generally program works stably but I occurred next "glitch: after rename one from files (expansion remained former) Music Player ceased perceive its type as" MP3 ", wrote that file type unknown and refused reproduce, stating" format unsupported ". Moreover, ceased playable files with bitrate below 160 kbps. Not helped and reinstalling Music Player. Problem "cure" only after rollback factory reset.

Files with low bit rate sometimes does not want to sound

XAudio

XAudio has the widest range of settings, including MP3 players for the BE-300. First thing noteworthy - setting playback quality ("Codec quality"). Has three levels qualities: than level below the less loaded processor and consumed energy. Moreover all employees our editorial converged that at average level sound better than high. At level high somewhere disappear basses and conversely greatly crawl treble. Sound becomes sharp and unnatural albeit purer than level medium. Generally same sound quality produced negative impression. Even on "high" all songs audible quiet rustle and crackling sound too reverberating. Incidentally, quality quite decent to listen somewhere road. In program there option create lists tracks (Playlist), but trying conservation such list BE-300 error message and list not created. During playback can choose from two codecs. I really special difference in sounding noticed. Can associate MP3-files XAudio, but firstly this acts only until reboot secondly on files albeit appears corresponding icon opens by double clique they anyway unwilling. Another option - blocking Autodisconnect typewriter. But disable screen purposes energy savings Xaudio impossible.

In many settings XAudio

XAudio does not display the information from the ID3-tag MP3-file, so it is unknown how it relates to the titles of songs in Russian. But accurately known she generally unable open file in title whose there Cyrillic characters. Overall well conceived but poorly realized program. Sound quality not too high, yes and half useful functions not working.

Windows Microsoft Player

WMP of all known "big" Windows. True, functions considerably less.

Windows Media Player

By the way, WMP - the only program that has problems with the installation. He will not operate standard shell Casio - lacks some libraries contained in installation kits shell EpodXP. WITH other hand this only program for BE-300 which allows listen files *. wma. Sounding very pleasant - absolutely pure without interference. True for my taste, sound too "flat". Well audible only mids low and high feebly. Nevertheless, the music on Windows Media Player listen pretty nice. In the category "convenience of the interface" WMP - the undisputed leader among other programs. All the necessary buttons are large and are located in the center of the screen. You can also use (and most assign) the hardware buttons to control playback. Apparently, so you can always enjoy the beauty of the appearance of the WMP, the developers have not made it possible to turn off the screen. Windows Media Player - the only program where you really are, and normally work playlist'y. In addition, she is able to "skip" song information from ID3-tag. Files with Russian names WMP opens without problems, but with Russian titles of the songs turned out very interesting. One appears as needed, another - "krakozyabrami. Here's how:

MiMIDI

Say about the program from virtually nothing. It should vosprooizvodit files in MIDI, but in practice it does not. MiMIDI find files of a certain format, adds them to the playlist, but when you click "Play" - silence.

Click here and answer silence

Video

Despite the fact that watching video on the BE-300 and all Pocket PC - the lot of strong spirit (well, if at all will understand what happens on a tiny screen), for the Casio Pocket Manager has three programs that allow you to "put the TV in pocket. "

Movie Player

Movie Player - another standard multimedia applications supplied with the Casio. It works with files of their special format CMF. Get this file can be from any video formats AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2. To this end, the disk has a program Casio Mobile Video Converter. Enjoy it very easy: just specify the source file and the folder for the destination file to specify the resolution and sound quality for the final file.Then transfer the resulting video in a folder \ Nand Disk \ My Documents \ Movie or \ Storage Card \ My Documents \ Movie. If you put our film in another location, Movie Player it simply will not find. The result here is a picture:

Movie Player

Settings in the program is not too much: you can turn on auto-repeat clip, adjust the brightness. Theoretically, there are still menu to select the playback speed, but whatever the figure was not there, the speed is always the same. Image can be scrolled and forth, back and a button to capture a still image. Another possible directly from the program send the current movie file via email.

DivXPlayerCE

I hasten to add that, despite the alluring title, this program opens the file format of MPEG4 rare. In most cases thrown out the inscription on the incompatibility of the audio codec and video does not play. But the program scans files *. mpg. True, when you play a little brakes, which is not observed when using third "viewer" PocketTV.

In DivXCE beautiful movie

In the settings it is possible to enable caching (this is especially true when working with the IBM Microdrive), configure the hardware keys to control. You can make the clip starts immediately when you open the file. There is even a 10-channel equalizer. The image can be rotated 90 degrees and increasing.

PocketTV

The most convenient (probably why and paid) video player - PocketTV. He is able to view and *. avi, and *. mpg, although the file open dialog about the AVI format is nothing written. Nevertheless, experience shows that this format is supported.

General view of PocketTV

Options - set. Configurable sound quality (and, if you include mono, you can even specify which channel to play: right or left). You can adjust the image size, specify where to turn during the transition to full-screen mode. There is a color adjustment, contrast, brightness (all with the ability to rollback to the default setting).

Full-screen mode in PocketTV

Now, about the quality. Honestly, in all three programs sound and picture quality is so low that finding differences is difficult. In my opinion, if you convert to a format CMF (for Movie Player) somewhat deteriorated image sharpness. To a large extent, by the way, poor image quality due to the slowness of the screen. Sound too leaves much to be desired and absolutely incomparable with quite decent sound individual mp3-songs (probably due to the fact that the playback program lowers the sampling rate, so that the picture is not "retarding).

Total

So, clearly we can say that the BE-300 - quite a multimedia machine that the more pleasant because of its cost. In terms of audio playback for her no claims.Both the standard Music Player, and Windows Media Player adequately discharged their responsibilities, and the choice between them is rather a matter of taste. True, if you want to listen to the WMA, is possible only WMP. The sound quality in both programs is close to the quality on the desktop. Both fairly easy to use interface and the ability to control the hardware keys. Since video is not so rosy. First, the CPU is rather weak, and secondly, the screen is absolutely not suitable for displaying fast moving images. In addition, another very "cheese" program to display video, except, perhaps, PocketTV (on it and paid). This program can be used at least to brag to friends that in your pocket you put this VCR. The authors, translation:

Put your stylus, get read!

Pocket PC, you can rightly be called an informer or a hand-held electronic reference book. If there is enough memory in it can "drive" a big encyclopedia, like Britannica, Eleventh, and always keep it handy. But still remain the most sought after program for reading electronic books. Thanks to its capabilities, small machine carries the slogan "library in your pocket" of the advertising field in practical. Has long been noted that the personal computer in general and in particular laptop has taught us to write. The once moribund (the fault of the phone) epistolary genre was revived and taken new forms. The share fell back pocket computer needs to read. And, to read anywhere, any spare moment, in any suitable location. Not everywhere can also open the book. The queue is inconvenient, the service is inappropriate. Mayas in the transport crush, the book and hold a challenge. A Pocket PC with its tiny size - no problem. You do not have to bend corners of pages, look around the place where stopped last time. And the book itself is very easy to change. In my PDA, for example, "live" just three dozen books that I planned to read the next two weeks (it should be the same once to educate ourselves - otherwise, and you die fool and an ignoramus). Any of them can be opened depending on the mood. Any of them can easily find the desired location - pertinent to the case of a quote or memorable expression. Any of them could benefit or entertainment. In my pocket typewriter missing any, as, probably, in your ... Program for reading electronic books must meet a number of basic requirements. They should not be demanding, as most PDAs do not have the budget nor excessive memory or excessive computational power. They should be able to recognize all running formats, ranging from simple text, ending special. In this case, it is desirable that text files do not require any prior preparation - conversion or processing. Well, for interest under a typeset book, which itself is then read? The book - it's a surprise and unexpected discovery, if you like - a gift to yourself. Finally, the reader should have a specific service - ability to scroll the text is not on the whole page, and transfer one or two last lines in the beginning of the next page. Smooth scrolling text (if not disgusted like a mockery of his own eyesight). Indicator of progress on the text (if there is no scroll bar, as in programs for the desktop and Pocket PC). Opportunity to expand the screen on 90 and 270 degrees (to keep the machine horizontally, replacing the portrait page orientation to landscape). Remembering the location in the text, which finished reading last time. Automatic partitioning of the text into chapters. Built-in file navigator, able to recognize the Russian names of files and display them on screen in full, without abbreviations. Memorizing a list of recent reading. The choice of screen fonts, sizes, colors, letters and background. Ability to connect dictionary for quick translations of the text or at least help with his writing. Option "prescription" readers as "reading room" by default. Technology support Clear Type, which improves the on-screen representation of text (looking for someone better). And so on. As you can see, the requirements are not so small (on the stable operation without deadlocks and lock the system no longer speak). But the programs are sufficiently under the requirements of appropriate, a little bit. More precisely - not quite. Not yet, but something approaching a marked ideal is already there ... Perhaps we should describe the most popular and perfect "reading room" separately for each of the platforms of PDAs. But we will not do this, because the computers of different families used the same program, originally written for one platform and then ported to the others. Principal differences between these programs cross-platform versions are not (the program, then, in effect, one), but in detail there are some discrepancies. For example, for computers with a monochrome screen is impossible to change the color of the letters and background (which is natural), and programs for machines with color screens are significantly larger.However, "reading room" - utilities that tend to be small. For them, there will always be the case even in congested any nonsense (like "Pocket» Doom `a) car ... Here it should be noted that in recent years the situation has changed insignificantly. Major changes in the e-book reader - the correct work with Russian texts even not Russified computers. Typically, high-quality "reading room" equipped with its own, a set of loadable fonts, able to work with Cyrillic code table (not just Unicode) and therefore have little dependence on system fonts. True, free software (or, God forgive me, cracked), of which the network a huge number, often fall to the end user is not in full - without the software installer and the same screen fonts. But the very simplified installation, the program is enough to rewrite the flash memory CCP to provide its on-screen shortcuts, and - you can read books.

Book reader for handheld machines to Windows CE / Pocket PC / Pocket PC 2002

... It is thus installed one of the best (and, incidentally, the most simple) programs for reading e-books on computers, Windows CE - «reader» Haali Reader. It works on any computer - on old typewriters that is running Windows CE versions earlier on the popular Pocket PC, on modern Pocket PC 2002 and is rapidly gaining popularity inexpensive models from Casio, computer BE-300. By the author - Michael Matsnev. The current version 1.0 build 166 from April 1, 2002 is here. Merits of the program enough. The main of them - a very stable job and a small amount of "reading room". Plus the opportunity to connect the dictionary (on the Internet you can find the module of the Anglo-Russian dictionary, which has only one drawback - it is "too heavy for a pocket memory machines). Plus the option to rotate the screen image. Plus automatic partition of the text into chapters. Plus almost all of the above requirements for the program for reading electronic books, which are implemented in Haali hardly any to the full. There trifling problem with the indicator move in the text. It is implemented as a strip with notches marking the position of the heads. As the scrolling text bar is filled. Simple and very clear. But the portrait (normal) orientation of the screen bar crawls to the last line (in any case, my BE-300). It's okay, easy to read books in a full-scale horizontal screen mode in which the indicator is displayed correctly, and this coincidence is not fatal (leafed through before the page - all things). But it turns out somehow inelegant ...

Here's what you can do with Haali Reader

And from the obvious advantages still want to note the absence in many programs, e-book reader Haali ability to work with archives zip. Very convenient - the book can be compressed, saving much computer memory, which in handhelds ever missing. Yes, and tinker with texts downloaded from the network, it is often compressed in a format zip, is not necessary. Personally, I like this feature Haali Reader liked the most. How pleased and the quality of the program, and the fact that this is our, Russian, and not some overseas program. By the way, step by step instructions on how to install and more information can be found here. Among the other discoveries of recent times, of which mention only in passing, is, perhaps, to note the package MobiPocket, consisting of a layout application of e-books, working on a personal computer - MobiPocket Publisher 3.0, and reading programs for Pocket PC MobiPocket Reader, supplemented by an emulator of the "reading room "for the PC. The complex is very attractive. Page creators of this program is here). You can mark up the book, to supplement it with illustrations, see the result in a software emulator, "reading room" on the screen of a desktop machine, then rewritten into the memory and PDAs - to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. Just not too much fuss? And whether they should have - these colorful illustrations? Someone might say - are needed. Then another question - have used the program Adobe Reader, which is just and is able to display not only text but also the illustrations? Only when needed, right? When the PDF format imposed by the manufacturer of this or that "glands", a description which is more convenient to distribute electronically, rather than on paper. Voluntarily use the Adobe Reader for some reason do not want to ...

Digression

Here there is a secondary theme: what should be the e-book. Do it all the elements of design, koi are present in traditional paper version? The answer is ambiguous, even for a PC that has resources, including disk storage and display capabilities of information on the monitor spare. It seems to be a bad thing to see a book such as it exists on paper. On the other hand - why? We do not seek to get close and feel of your homepage to a paper album? (If you have tried - would not use hyperlinks to specific web-page elements). Pocket PC display problem illustrated text is more acute. Small screen imposes severe limitations - just look looks like web-page in the browser Pocket IE (or Opera - for machines Psion), to understand what is at stake. Should not be discounted and the purely Russian specifics. The same MobiPocket Reader is available as a free program, based on the purchase of paid users of electronic books. We like the market (e-literature) simply does not exist, although the popularity of network libraries out of competition. On these networks the collapse of the literary texts are laid out in a "pure" - without any kind of registration and pictures. But these are the texts you and me, first of all, and are interested in! By the way, is not whether our attitude to the book as a text, a means of transmission of literary thought in time and distance lies a clear failure on the Russian market for various types of comics? Comic books as reading material (reading material right?) For adults, and not as a tool for the formation of the first artistic (art right?) Impressions in young children ... Far we opened a theme programs for reading e-books for PDAs. But it is not surprising. We are witnessing the emergence of a new means of disseminating information - e-book itself. Moreover, not only witnessing, but a measure of strength, as consumers and readers are involved in this process. Hence the new challenges that confront us in full ... In the days of Gutenberg's people did not sleep nights, thinking over the place of books in the culture of the era. It suffices to browse the originals or reprints of medieval books, preparation and printing of which took even months - years ...

MobiPocket Reader for Nokia 9210, EPOC and Palm OS

Let us return to our sheep. "Book readers» MobiPocket Reader, but its status of free software (Publisher, and software emulator for the PC is also free), features and more multiplatform (in particular, have a version for the Nokia 9210 Communicator and other devices based operating system, EPOC fifth version). The program works with text in a format prc, which is most popular among users of Palm. Consequently, there are no problems with converting or any additional operations books for typewriters Palm. Incidentally, with the release of MobiPocket Reader Palm computer owners is hardly the first time (pardon my mistake if it does not) have a program in design and functionality came close to the PC software Pocket PC. Another thing is that this experience can not only encourage supporters most democratic platform to replace the computer, how to strengthen them in their allegiances. Use any simple "reader" for the Palm much more convenient than monstrous MobiPocket Reader. The disadvantage of the program notes, and computer users Psion.For these remarkable handheld machines there is not much "bookreaders" electronic books. But, like all software for Psion, they are distinguished by their quality.

The text is displayed in multiple columns ...

For a wide screen or Revo Psion 5mx MobiPocket Reader can be configured so that the text of the book is displayed in several columns (two columns - the optimum size) ... However, this possibility is unlikely to be relevant. It's all the same "bows" - optional decoration, nothing to ease reading books do not add.

EBook for EPOC

... But the awkwardness of the above programs and the absence of a fundamentally new functions do not turn away users from Psion proven, and many favorite programs from EBook. In the world of Psion, the program takes the same position as the world's Palm - Aportis (supporting said prc format and the format of pdb). A nice feature is its quality EBook Russification (the Psion with the Russification of things are better than others - even the owners of popular Palm, in my opinion, sometimes have a lot to be envied). There is also a full set of normal e-book reader - the one that we have identified above. So much change has happened here ...

Book reader for the Palm

No significant changes in the camp of the Palm. New programs, of course, look out. Naturally, the most in demand are well spent and freeware programs that do not impose any special requirements for the design of electronic books. In the list of most popular - classics iSilo, CSpotRun, AportisDoc Reader, ReadThemAll, survivor Teal Doc. Here, perhaps, and all ... I do not know whether the owners will enjoy the latest Palm software MobiPocket Reader (version for Palm), but the most important and is already on the "stale" innovation in the operating system Palm OS I have the opportunity to rotate the screen. A similar function - a sign of any modern "reading room" and any modern PDA. For example, users of Psion, thanks to this opportunity, turn their computers into something like an open paper bag - easy or not, minor matters, but how funny ...

About Casio PocketViewer

As usual, the apologists for this platform, argue that a better device for reading books there. Programm MiniBook can do it with comfort. Number of lines - from 12 to 14 on the screen. Up to 9 books in the format txt. Uzhatie the injection - about 70%. The size of files - not limited to (at least not less than 1.2 MB). Bookmarks, search. The program takes about 60 kilobytes.

And finally ...

Since I use a typewriter Casio BE-300, that in some way consider myself to users of the platform Pocket PC (at least in part). Well, except of course the good words about these computers, I can add a little rabid critics ... What's wrong with me do, but the charms of Clear Type I feel incapable. So as not gaze at the screens laptop and handheld computer, no matter how I try to convince themselves of the merits of advanced technology from Microsoft, and the result is always the same - "red" rabbit eyes and a strong desire to call the developers on the head ...Well it is, in fact, is it? " Only refused to display on a CRT, but his eyes gave miserable holiday, and here inhuman test in the form of the Clear ... Or my computer wrong? Or ... one of two things ... Now a few words about the best today, "iron" the implementation of e-books. That is, to put it simply, what to buy a computer just for reading. After weighing all the pros and cons, questioning many people, I came to the conclusion that the best "Iron-reader" - a computer Palm. And, whatever - with monochrome or color screen. Inconvenience can deliver only the inverted light monochrome models, but only in low light conditions. Everything else is working with Palm is not worse than other PDAs. Strange thing - not the most powerful platform, something is not able (in terms of multimedia applications), and in many ways remains the best. Truly, there is no ideal computers. But some handheld machines disadvantages become advantages. In Palm - Easy operating system and has low programs for computing resources ... In order not to inadvertently offend the owners of machines "Zyshscht, I note - Psion were and remain excellent computers, including e-book reader. Just why, you say to me, their producer, this great, you know, Brit, strangled with his own hands own child? So far in the head does not fit ... The authors, translation: