PDA Power Handheld: kvaziunofantaziya from Bsquare

Strange things are happening on the PDA market. While in the peaceful herd palm `shaped nurtured the fifth generation of the account of sheep, the wolves from the family of Pocket PC snooze shamelessly. What news came this year in Windows CE? First - she Windows, this time the fourth version (or Windows CE.NET). But machines based on it much? No, quite a bit. A more or less known - just baby Wincent 320, and even a couple of these computers. On the one hand, the updated Palm `s still the same, although in the short term, but. And on the other - unbecoming a beast to be sheep. Windows CE.NET has knocked almost half a year, and the manufacturer as baked onto the third version of the operating system from Microsoft, and does not want her to fall behind. From a consumer perspective, the situation is not so bad. Over the past year, the operating system for Pocket PC is polished to a mirror finish. Many new programs, without which any machine not a computer, a blank piece of iron. Even the family of Windows CE PDAs considerably cheaper. Get at least the same Casio Pocket Manager BE-300, which gave a start reducing the cost of besklaviaturny computers with a color screen. Or - lower-end models from Toshiba, NEC, Mitac ... As for Windows CE.NET, then the long wait for new computers do not have to. Gradual transition to the XScale processor family brings to the fore the problem of optimizing the OS for this architecture. Seen the same as the 400-megahertz computers Pocket PC 2002, appeared on the market lately, obviously do not get the performance. Powerful processor needs a new operating system. And here's something for our brother, the user's PDA, hard times come. As soon as manufacturing companies will rush in droves to develop Windows CE.NET (unless, of course, rush - obvious reasons for this, besides the introduction of more efficient processors that do not), we have to re-assemble a package of programs for their computers. Compatibility of the new operating system with the old software to hope does not seem to be ... However, we must also see - what we offer to developers. Should I even bother? Palm promises compatibility of old programs with new computers and even reverse - new programs with old PDAs. Maybe pull the plug on all this expensive luxury, and the flop to Herbivore?

New from Bsquare

In the handheld computer company Bsquare, presented recently - September 4, 2002 - implemented some downright revolutionary ideas. In the umpteenth time the CCP changed appearance, e-filling and, among other things, some well-established principles of architecture itself. That for us the standard Pocket PC family of Pocket PC in its simplest sense? Flat vertically oriented "plaque" with color again stretched in the vertical screen. If there is any hardware keyboard, it is tacked on the bottom - a communication (system) terminal. Keyboard dimensions are limited width-factor PC, or PDA loses its superior quality, providing him a no demand - portability. It is understandable why the PDA was just such a look, what he is today - developed the first machines to create small computer in the likeness of a paper notepad. And it looks reasonable, if the operating system does not repeat the PDA to Windows for personal computers. But this is just the opposite - Windows CE interface is just a small copy of the operating system interface for Windows PC. The vertical orientation of the screen gives a lot of inconvenience, which we in the habit of not even notice. For example, web-page on your Pocket PC look very difficult - it is not enough screen width. We have to endlessly drag the image scroll bars, zoom out, or use special browsers, which is a function of sequential display the contents of frames (frames). Due to the limited size of the screen image of text documents, prepared on a personal computer, also have to reduce. The same with display tables, and graphics output. But should only deploy the screen 90 degrees, as the situation changes. Work with documents becomes much easier, and spreadsheets on your PDA will literally become a real working tool ... Thus, innovation is the first - a Pocket PC Bsquare Power Handheld (so totally called this machine), the screen is oriented horizontally. That is in normal mode web-page, text document or spreadsheet will look exactly as they appear on-screen desktop computer. The second innovation - an unusually high resolution screen. When the amount of liquid crystal matrix is only 4 inches (half an inch larger than most Pocket PC), the screen supports a resolution of VGA - 640x480 pixels. The screen size is, of course, increases the size of a computer - Bsquare easier to compare with the "caliber" Newton Message Pad, than with Pocket PC. But to view the page or the whole document (in order to assess the overall appearance or quality of the layout), not to mention photographs, resolution VGA - this is what you need. Third, and perhaps not the most important innovation - built-in slide-out keyboard. It is worth looking separately.

Print two fingers blindly

Externally Bsquare Power Handheld reminds increased in size Pocket PC. However, not so much enlarged to look like a tablet PC (like the Tablet PC, the appearance of which we are waiting for a long time ago). No, this is a PDA with a non-standard form factor that occupies an intermediate position between "clean" keyboard Handheld `s and besklaviaturny Pocket PC. By the way, Handheld `s, keyboard incarnations of computers based on Windows CE, is clearly not enough. Past variety of these machines crippled respectable dimensions, the instability of the first Windows CE and the considerable cost of computers themselves. In Bsquare solved first and the second problem. Hopefully, that price does not disappoint, that is, the computer will be cheaper than a single popular computer class Handheld PC - HP Jornada 720. If you remove (add) keyboard and deploy Bsquare vertically, it turns out that this is a real Pocket PC. At the bottom of the case are five buttons to call the major applications - too unusual, but here is to remember the hidden voice features of this machine. The fact that the future owner of the Power Handheld be able to choose any machine with built-in GSM, or the module GPRS. In any case, we obtain communicator - a computerized phone with the optional ability to access network resources, either full-GPRS-terminal for high-speed Internet connection. Telephone calls by Bsquare conducted via an external headset. All the same computer is too large to attach to your ear. Button in the upper part of the body can cause confusion. How to reach him, through the touch screen panel? But we have completely forgotten - this computer has a horizontally oriented screen. This is the normal operating mode the machine. Consequently, the buttons are not at the top and bottom of the front panel of the case and on the right and left of the screen. If we take (yet to imagine mentally) to the computer in your hands, the thumbs will fall exactly on the control buttons on the sides of the screen. Even looks comfortable! Likely to be convenient and practical use ... Now the most curious - raised from the screen keyboard. It is almost identical in length to the size of the body PDAs and a half less in width. Vpriglyadku keyboard seems to be quite large - between the keys is enough space, so as not to miss and be on the set of notice. Incidentally, the keyboard is designed with a clear bias in the new-fashioned ergonomics - left and right field are separated, there is a numeric keypad (combined with the letter, but still), large arched space, an interesting form of buttons and so on. And again - keeping the machine in hand with extended keyboard, it is very convenient to write by pressing with your thumbs. Perhaps it is convenient to ... Practice some unpredictable. What at first glance it seems remarkable, in fact, may be a pacifier ... but looks like a computer and really amazing.

How it all arranged

Now let us try to forget about his "pocket-computer" experience and look at the new PDA with fresh eyes ... What, in fact, the novelty of the idea? It is to make the keyboard Pocket PC is not evolving, like a laptop keyboard, and - sliding. That's it! Imagine the same Jornada 720 (the good, she has a lovely appearance, remember that it is a pleasure). If it is to provide a sliding keyboard (onscreen half becomes a major part of the computer), then unlike Bsquare will only be in twice the resolution (the screen on Jornada only half VGA) and the presence of hardware buttons on the sides of the screen. Truly - all genius is simple ... While handing out compliments too early. Machine has not yet become full-fledged commercial product and its features, we can evaluate only the descriptions of the manufacturer. But give life, give life ... The heart of the new machines - the processor Intel XScale PXA250 400 MHz, just like in most new models of PDAs. Operating System - "fresh" Microsoft Windows CE.NET 4.1. Number of permanent memory, for which use flash memory, 32 megabytes. 64 megabytes of RAM. In the computer is equipped with an expansion slot for memory cards format Secure Digital (and, accordingly, MultiMedia card). Volume identifiable cards limit of 256 megabytes, but this restriction may be lifted in the serial sample computer - the more so Capacity SD memory card increases. Your computer has system speaker but no microphone. To record the sound will have to use a microphone headset attached ... If Bsquare will be sold with built-in communication modules, it can be safely attributed to the versatile communicators. If so ... what prevents purchase a headset for a microphone (headset also will not be over - at least for transcripts of recordings)? Mindful of the lack of software for Windows CE.NET, one could enumerate a list of full-time programs, which the manufacturer intends to complete machine. However, a set of standard, some interest is merely an updated browser Internet Explorer version 5.5 and the program to run Java-applets - Insignia Java JVM ... The last thing should be mentioned, the expected price of the device and the prospects for its introduction in mass production. Much to our regret, the new design is not for end users, and should serve as a prototype (reference design) for manufacturers. Let's hope that they really something not to miss it ... The authors, translation:

Nikolai Yakovlev