Front mobile development company, "MakTsentr: Knights of the pen and Reset'a

Active handheld computer - is extremely compact device, the functionality of a little inferior to a desktop machine. Editing documents, complex calculations, like browsing the web, play music and games are available now, almost all owners of Pocket PC. But, as with a desktop computer, Pocket PC is valuable not because it is theoretically anything can, but because it established the program provide a solution to those or other problems of the owner. Therefore, buying the hardware, the owner of a brand new typewriter little wins. He needs to somehow acquire programs - the editors and music players, for example, as well as cpetsprilozheniyami for specific needs. Only then can a portable assistant will bring real benefits. The situation is complicated by the fact that the Russian PDA market has its own peculiarities: it is rapidly growing but still small compared with the western, payments to foreign shopping difficult, and buyers are willing to communicate with programs on the little-understood Russian. So what to sell "just hardware - hopeless task. Need to be bundled with it and ready-made solutions to the buyer could get from one seller everything you need to complete the work: the handheld computer and accessories, software, and, of course, intellectual support. For example, instructions and tips for using all the above. The main difficulty here is precisely the creation of programs. And, being one of the pioneers of the Russian PDA market, the company MakTsentr was simply obliged to undertake work in this difficult but promising direction. And appeared at its base, Mobility Research (CMR).

A little history

In the course of a brief history of the MRA have introduced Dmitry Havzhu, director of "MakTsentr. SM: Tell me when and for what purpose was established development department in the firm, which has traditionally dealt with technology Apple? DH: In 1994-1995, when we focus on the PDA market, it is essentially in Russia has ever had. Appeared first model handheld computers (Newton, Psion), but selling them was very difficult, primarily because of the lack of Russification. We first tried to solve this problem by working with software firms, but soon realized that our experience and capabilities allow us to make better products than other firms-developers. Thus was born the CMR, the first task of which was Russification PDA various platforms. SM: Who was at the forefront of this trend? DH: The first head of MRA was Sergei Mahnaev, who later went into his own project www.notebook.ru. In the department of labor, time, and Vladimir Pospelov, who now heads the site www.handy.ru. The general direction of the CPC was then headed by Alexander fusil. All these people have made major contribution to the successful launch direction.

Bread and circuses? "Soft" and "iron"!

Today, MRA - a large team of experienced software developers for PDAs, which works in three main areas: Russification traded company MakTsentr "devices, the creation of adapted to Russian conditions, chart and navigation systems, as well as the development of unique projects of corporate customers. All this we talked with Andrew Kuznetsov, head of WDR and director of localization, Vladislav Tambov and navigation, Vladimir Byko-Janko.

You say in Russian?

About Russification

The first pressing problem faced by any buyer PDA - its Russification. The fact is that, unlike the desktop OS, where Russification has long been a part of kit, pocket computers from birth with the Russian language is not familiar with. According to Andrey Kuznetsov, this situation has developed historically. When the market began to enter the first PDA, and their manufacturers are mainly aimed at American and Western European markets.Localization problem in other markets no one put, and the first versions of the major operating systems, Palm OS and Windows CE, left without the support we are interested in Russian language. Meanwhile, the market in Russia demanded that the localization, so that independent programmers "Volens-nolens" went to work and their work with pleasure began to invest in a box with a PDA interested in meeting the demand vendors. By the time the market has grown, and the manufacturer could theoretically be interested localization, it appears that this problem is successfully solved by the "field", so make an effort like it is not necessary. At least until such time until the market becomes even more succinct. In this case, manufacturers of operating systems, Microsoft and PalmSource, may be interested in the problem of Russification at the hardware level. Previously, it has already happened - in the Palm OS, for example, so there is support for Italian and Chinese (more precisely, the "Chinese" version of the operating system) and languages. Well, before that a "bright future", the problem of Russification PDAs sold "MakTsentr" will be resolved by the MRA. On the direction of Russification Pocket PCs in the Department of Mobile Elaborations said Andrei Kuznetsov, head of WDR and Vladislav Tambov, the head of this trend. SM: Andrew, why the company MakTsentr became Russifiers do yourself? After all, before you resort to third-party developers ... AK: We had to pursue their development in the direction of localization, as required to receive a product of acceptable quality at an affordable price. It is no secret that "MakTsentr" - the company essentially "zhelezyachnaya", and for the supplier of iron are the most interesting first few days and weeks, sales of new products. In the case of PDAs, these new items you want to Russify, otherwise the market simply will not accept. We started in 1999 with the Russification of the popular handheld Psion Series 5mx. Then there were the Revo, Diamond Mako, Ericsson MC-218 and other devices on the platform of EPOC 32. Behind them we are seriously engaged in the Pocket PC and Palm OS. In the first stage was a lot of difficulties, but now our policy has been entirely justified. Now "MakTsentr has complete independence from the third party in the area of ​​localization. Serial number, new models appear in a few days after the arrival of the CPC in Moscow. We can guarantee product quality, prompt resolution of problems in case of their occurrence and not less than operational improvements. Having finished the core of Russification, we can very quickly produce a system of containment just those devices that need them, saving money to our customers and, of course, their money. Naturally, we can more accurately assess what the real cost of the solution of a problem than to engage in appropriate and what issues would require too much effort and did not pay off. Russification of the CCP - a complex and painstaking work, ranging from compatibility issues and ending with the precision and conciseness interface translation. From the producer to wait for help is usually not necessary. SM: How time consuming is the localization of another device? Why do I need a separate location for each new device? VT: Besides the purely technical issues of compatibility, every time we have to translate the interface of new tools and applications that the manufacturer completes the standard Pocket PC operating system programs.Because our products («MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" for Palm OS and «MacCentre Pocket Russkey 2003 for Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003) must be fully Russify interface all integrated programs CPC, each new device requires significant improvements in the localization of the translation. Different manufacturers in different handhelds used in a similar, but differ in the details version of the OS. And it must also be taken into account in Russificators. Little things sometimes so critical that they can lead to serious problems. Nevertheless, having already written and debugged the kernel of the confinement system, we usually can produce the crack in a few days after the receipt of the device in our department. SM: And how many people are involved in Russification? And how many Pocket PC "suffer" during the making of localization? AK: Continuing work on the localization of 5 people. As to the "killing" the CCP, it is - a rarity. Survival rate - is high. More often they just have a little shabby appearance. SM: And where you do with them? AK: We're throwing them, of course. See where:)) In fact, they are returned to the warehouse and sold at reduced prices. Fortunately, for this purpose in the online store has a special section Palmstore.ru «Second-hand». Buy car, a used MRA staff, in my opinion, quite profitable, because they lived in the office and "working" mode is not used. They may be slightly scratched case (from repeated contact with the cradle and table programmer), but prodavlena Button Reset:) SM: In the OS Pocket PC is a convenient means of handwriting recognition - Transcriber. He is quite dashing learn English words, one word written by my clumsy hand. When we see an equally high-quality handwriting recognition for the Russian language? AK Handwriting recognition - a mathematically complicated problem. Incidentally, Transcriber - just another reincarnation of the famous recognition Newton Message Pad, a Russian-American (or US-Russia) by "Para". On the PDA keyboard, it was called Calligrapher. C advent of increased interest in Microsoft Pocket PC it was licensed and built there a new name. With raspoznavalkoy Microsoft has not lost. This system is considered one of the best. The quality and percentage of recognition of continuous text is impressive. Incidentally, during the lifetime of Newton OS was discussed on Russian recognition of the "Para", but did not get due to high development cost for a small domestic market. A Microsoft found it possible to pay. We recently released our own system of recognition of the manuscript - "MacCentre RussChar". She received a compact and cheap. In the case of it, we did not anticipate the establishment of a commercial product, but only licensed the library to recognize General Public License, which now allow anyone to get the source code and improve their own. SM: In the past year, "MakTsentr" solemnly issued a localization program devices based on Palm OS 5, entitled «MacCentre PaPiRus 2003. What version of 2003 differs from the old «PaPiRus», which was issued by "FizTehSoft? VT: they overlap in name only. «MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" - a completely revised system of localization of Palm OS 5, which is based on new principles, uses, if I may say so, "the official mechanisms of localization" - the same approach to localization, which is used in German, French and other PDAs. Because of this, we were able to significantly improve the quality and stability of the product, which received very good feedback from users. Old «PaPiRus» was based on the so-called "Hacks» (Hacks), that is, the addition of technology into the operating system is not peculiar to it functional. This system worked on the Palm OS to 4.2 version. The new «MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" is a product that is conceived more in "FizTehSoft. At the end of 2002, "MakTsentr" it was decided to create our own localization for Palm OS, and the project "PaPiRus" was purchased together with the rights to use the mark. For more than a year, this system supports and promotes the localization of mobility projects.It turns out pretty good. SM: If the product is identical in name only that he had received "MakTsentr" buying "PaPiRus"? AK: This purchase was justified. Firstly, we have 100% containment systems based on Palm OS 4, which was relevant at the time. Secondly, we have the right to use the well-known in the market Russifiers name "PaPiRus". Thirdly, we have saved time, having finished about 50% of the core localization for Palm OS 5, which was especially important year ago, when the market began to emerge fundamentally new Palm-device. In addition to the developments and brand, we have undertaken and supported over 40,000 users of the old "PaPiRus". SM: What does the phrase "use of formal mechanisms for localization? VT: Starting with the fifth version, the Palm OS had the tools that provide multi-lingual. Technically, our crack consists of two parts. First, the PDA system is written Russian language module, exactly the same as that included in the multilingual system or German, for example, Italian. After activation of the settings in the Russian case enters the second part of localization - the one that is visible to the user and to evaluate which service capabilities of the product. This includes translation of the interface of OS and embedded applications, the font modules (as we know, "MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" is very easy to customize fonts), switching the Russian linguistic encoding, quick access to settings localization via a pop-up command menu, and much more. SM: Despite the formal mechanisms of localization, a series of popular, I would say the standard programs, such as the WebPro browser and an excellent office suite Documents To Go, have a number of problems with Russification. What is the cause of these difficulties? VT: This manufacturer wanted to do "as best", but in the case of Russia turned out, "as always". In order to provide the user with a more comfortable working conditions, such as a convenient on-screen keyboard in Documents To Go or a more accurate map of pages in the WebPro, manufacturers of these products declined from the use of standard input / output by adopting their own solutions. In this case, the Russification of the standard just does not work. Adaptation of the popular program in the Russian language is a separate problem, which we solve as far as possible, because access to source codes of programs we have, as a rule, no. Some problems can be removed, but not all. So, the latest "MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" can successfully view the Russian texts in WebPro, and in the Documents To Go. Own Keyboard Documents To Go until normal Russification not be, and we recommend that you use a system of handwriting "Graffiti", or perhaps an external keyboard. SM: By the way, what keyboard do you recommend? And as is the case with the Russian language here? AK: We are engaged in adaptation and Russification, and in this regard. We choose the best examples of portable keyboards produced by international companies and modify them according to Russian specifics. Apply a key Russian letters, and sometimes modify the design to adapt the keyboard to the top in Russia PDA. These works are carried out in pilot-production unit of the company, located in Russia. Sometimes it is sufficient to establish the necessary connections, sometimes it is necessary to change the electronics. Part of the program - the driver "MacCentre UniBoard" - The Division for mobile development. In my opinion, today the best option can be called a keyboard Pocket Nature Flexis, which combines the advantages such as exceptional compactness in a minimized state, a complete set of fairly comfortable and big buttons, as well as a phenomenal stability. The fact that this keyboard - flexible or, as is usually said by our users, "rubber". It can collapse any way, drop, spill coffee on it, and then wipe with a wet rag ... Such reliability is very important for the mobile keypad. Plus, it Russified version is quite affordable. Very promising development, I hope, will and continued line of infrared keyboards - "Pocket Nature Ray-805", which will be released shortly.

On the map - London ... and not only it

About Navigation

Solving the immediate problems, one always begins to want more.Train your Pocket PC Russian language, he tries to use it in the "struggle" with a variety of daily problems, especially those that require simple, but routine work. For Muscovites, especially motorists, so that's a daily routine began lining their own routes through the city. If you spend a lot of time scouting, it is quite difficult. Sometimes, in fact, you may want to visit unfamiliar areas of the city, often suffering from such "illnesses" as a chaotic development and lack of pointers. Well, on familiar everyday routes await other obstacles - the signs prohibiting the transportation, road repairs, as well as the eternal traffic jams. Surprisingly, the best remedy for all these diseases can be a PDA, however, equipped with additional equipment. It is obvious that on a PDA, you can view a map of the city. Adding to a small computer receiver GPS, you can turn to his assistant in the vehicle's navigation system. On a map, displayed on-screen handheld, there is little avtomobilchik showing your current location. Now you can automatically route from the current point to any given rate of passage of various streets and traffic regulations. Well, the final element of the composition will be internet access. To do this, you can get the communicator (PDA with built-in GSM / GPRS), or simply to "make friends" PDA mobile phone. With this latest addition to the navigation system will be able to respond quickly to changing traffic conditions, the appearance and disappearance of traffic jams. For some people, such a system would simply escape. It is no secret that many Muscovites are learned only in his district, but most major roads, and here, for example, to find the 8 th the Park street for them - an obvious problem. Here, a board-conductor will be very helpful. Sometimes the wheel is a man who, turning to the Ring Road, does not even know if he was going to or from the city. He system, which would suggest a course of movement every turn, and in case of errors quickly create a new route is vital. It is such a versatile called PocketGPS Pro Moscow and set up a SID of "MakTsentr. On the navigation direction of the MRA will tell his supervisor, Mr Byko-Janko. In the conversation also involved Andrei Kuznetsov and Dmitry Havzhu. SM: What made "MakTsentr" to do a completely new direction for myself - navigation? DH: It's very simple. It seemed to us, and life has confirmed our speculation that the navigation will be the most interesting applications for PDAs. We looked at what is happening in the market and realized that the state of the navigation software is very weak, marketing, nobody does. Therefore we can offer a much more interesting solutions and promote them seriously. SM: Why did you decide not to make a card and the kernel itself, and began looking for partners? DH: We thought it prudent to focus on interface design and use ready-made maps Company Geocenter Consulting and core Victor Osipkova. This allowed us to make a quality product at a reasonable time - about 18 months. SM: Have you in the car are based system of its own design? AK: I - no. Moscow - my hometown, and if necessary I can navigate to a paper atlas. But the road that I travel from home to work and back, for me it was paved PocketGPS Pro Moscow. VB: Yes, our online customers who have many years of driving experience and know the city well, tell stories of how our program worked out for them the best route, allowing day to save 10 minutes when going to work or home.SM: And how do you achieve this result? By what criteria optimized route? VB: Our program knows to what an average speed of moving vehicles on a given street, paving the route, trying to reduce the time of passage ways, choosing a high-speed streets, unless they are no traffic jams. SM: Well, it is logical. Because of this, individuals actually save time. And speaking of large customers, who is a consumer PocketGPS Pro Moscow? VB: One of our major customers is the station emergency medical assistance to Moscow. But the main buyer - drivers who travel a lot during peak hours. SM: But I note that in expensive cars so integrated navigation receiver, which can "fill" the card. Yes, and separately sold receiver with this feature too. What is your design better? VB: Oh, here the mass differences! First, the screens of most receivers is smaller and worse than the screens of PDAs, they are much less visible map. Secondly, is not always paved route is correct. The fact that the map of Moscow for such devices are updated often, so they do not include recent changes in road conditions - new streets, prohibiting signs, etc. Yes, and route optimization often goes the distance, not time. In Moscow, the results can be disastrous. Third, it is unlikely you will see features such as search by address, for example. AK: Well, and most importantly - is a multifunctional handheld device. If you prefer, you pave the map on it, and if you will - listening to music or e-mail answer. A GPS-receivers can only display a map and route, and even then, as I said Volodya, are often not very good. SM: Once we've raised the issue of the relevance of maps - How often do you update map information? VB: We are releasing a new version with enhanced features that address users' wishes with the new map data every 3-4 months. User PocketGPS Pro Moscow can come into our shop with all your PDA and there is a free upgrade version of the map and the program or download it from support site - www.pocketgps.ru. SM: Well, what about traffic? There's even a monthly update does not help, information changes every minute. VB: Information about traffic jams can be loaded arbitrarily often by the user. To do this, insert the PDA into the cradle connected to the Internet computer, or provide a link of the PDA with a global network, for example, using GPRS. One-touch information about traffic jams are automatically loaded from the network. A sample of such data can be seen, for example, the site www.77.ru. Ceychas we are in negotiations to expand the "mirror" the information base, and in the near future, our users can also use the information disseminated by the system RoadInformer. This download is quite burdensome - file takes only a few kilobytes. SM: And what is the information about traffic jams? This is the point with the words "travel is denied" or a strip with the words "speed no greater than 3 km / h? This information is simply displayed or taken into account when calculating the route? VB: Above the street to the right place superimposed stripe. On this strip has an arrow indicating the direction in which movement is difficult, and the color bars indicate the intensity of the tube. Information about traffic is taken into account when a route. Well, on the basis of the above, the navigation system PocketGPS Pro Moscow can be recommended not only for professionals - taxi drivers, couriers and not just those who do not know the city, but all motorists move regularly in Moscow and the suffering of the charms of heavy traffic. The program costs $ 119. Some dealers "MakTsentr" sell ready-made kit, consisting of a PDA, GPS-receiver program on the card, and appropriate cables. The price of such a decision on a turnkey basis is about $ 500, and it is, we recall, is useful not only for navigation. Updating maps and information about traffic jams on the date provided for free. Unfortunately, the joy of such a "smart" service is available only to Muscovites. In the short term - the map of St. Petersburg. Then, perhaps, podospeyut and other large cities ... Well, what do those who live in less popular areas, or just leaving for his trip to Russia? Especially for them there is a program "MacCentre PocketGPS" (without the suffix Pro and Moscow), which is not only suitable for any terrain, but only costs ... $ 9. Of course, its functionality can not be compared with "older sister", but in the absence of good e-cards this baby can do a great service. First, it receives data from GPS-receiver and displays them on the basis of a variety of useful information. If the coordinates on the surface of the Earth say there is little unprepared person, the course (direction), speed, altitude, time and date information about navigation satellites, the rate of change of height, length of trip distance and average speed - things do not just intuitively understandable, but also useful. Also, with the help of "MacCentre PocketGPS" is easy to calculate derived indicators, such as acceleration time to any given speed or time of passing a certain distance. Orientation to the point, for example, lets not get lost if you are forced to look for the road and surrounded by streets. But even more benefit can be derived from "PocketGPS", if "tied" to the testimony of satellite raster map. Fortunately, paper atlases are still available for sale, so all you have to do - is to scan a page of the atlas. With a raster image (scanned map), we can "put" her on-screen handheld. Then you need to include the GPS-receiver and get to the place that you can definitely find out. Specifying a point on the map ("I'm here"), begin to move in any way, and came to another recognizable point, and mark it on the map. That's it! One-time procedure, a bit of time - and you've got a personal card you are interested in any terrain. Unfortunately, this program can not run routes, but all other features navigation system - at your service.

Triumph of the uniqueness

On the corporate projects

As mentioned earlier in this article, simply sell the equipment - is futile. Moreover, buying PDAs, a serious company expects to resolve with the help of some urgent problem, so without suitable programs handhelds simply not of interest for such customers. Meanwhile, the objectives of each client are unique, and the conditions under which its employees work. That is why the staff MRA company MakTsentr "pay a lot of time to corporate developments in the field of business automation.Customers are extremely convenient automation of business processes, such as mobile commerce, Van-selling - sale of trucks, merchandising, logistics, insurance, etc. Traditionally, that the "mobile" employees fill out the necessary documents, keep records, and any calculations on paper. Then, returning to the office themselves or by the operator enters all data into a computer for further automated accounting. This scheme has several drawbacks. Chief among them - big time loss for manual filling of paper forms and calculations on a calculator. From this very suffering, such as insurance agents. In addition, such "paper" calculations and forms are very common error, and the subsequent manual entry of data into a computer in the office creates a second wave of inaccuracies. The use of mobile handheld computers allow officers to get rid of these problems. PDAs are replacing paper and calculators in the same way as desktop PCs made in due time a revolution in accounting. On the corporate projects, Mobility Elaborations told us Andrey Kuznetsov, head of WDR. SM: Why are so many places in the work of MPAs occupy corporate projects? Is it hard to make a standard solution? AK: Towards the automation of business we believe that the client is difficult to propose a solution that it is fully satisfied. So every time we are actually doing new development, although using the entire experience we have gained. Every time we thoroughly delve into the business processes of companies, describe them for themselves and for the client. In this case, the client often learns a lot about their own company:) We are working pervichnauyu documentation, samples of all paper forms, instructions for completing these forms, and so n, and also talk to professionals working with these stacks of papers. More systematized knowledge gained, is described and given to the compact and formal form, turning in a technical task. Further, it becomes a product. SM: And what are the products most in demand in our market? AK: The most popular trading systems and automatic filling of forms in different types: standard contract, insurance policies, bills of lading on vacation, ordering goods etc. Naturally, the computer controls the filling, so there had been no blunders, but also takes care of all counts. For example, an insurance agent can calculate the client rate for 20-30 minutes. PDA copes with this problem immediately, and does not allow counting errors. In addition to filling out forms and controls, if necessary, is printing documents. Through the synchronization module receives the accumulated data to the central business system of the customer. All this can be combined with mobile communication. If you need information on a contract or a filled order will be transferred to "the center" immediately. SM: What is the "central business system? Its too do you? AK: As a rule, our customers in one form or another already have a business system ("1C", "Sail", as well as their own development based on popular and not very DBMS). We provide our clients add to the central system, which solves the problems of automation, arising out of the office. SM: So you create a "dock application" that runs on the "Consolidated organizer, formerly known as Palm? AK: At Palm'e or Pocket PC, but it is being connected application that automates mobile managers, minimizing paper document. Some of our solutions can save up to 80% of office time manager! One of our customers is planning to completely abandon the classic office jobs with desks, computers and monitors. All the tasks of its managers could fit on a PDA. SM: Well, what else, apart from business automation, you can offer corporate clients? AK: The second direction of our activity - is also quite interesting. This - the use of PDAs in a variety of promotions, contests and as business gifts, exhibitions, etc. For example, on the basis of the CCP is very convenient to make electronic guides for the exhibition. In advertising sweepstakes PDAs can be used as a console for the contest.The PDA will provide registered participants and, if necessary, will pocket slot machine, and then get the winner as the top prize. With proper software content, complete with accessories, PDA is an elite business gifts.

Total

Well, finally ...

Well, what seems to be "MakTsentr" not lost, having collected a team of experienced software developers for PDAs. Any client of the company can count on quality Russification of your device, any Muscovite - to use their Pocket PC as an intelligent navigator, and every top manager, concerned about the effective work of their employees - to computerize "nekompyuteriziruemyh" process, once considered an inevitable evil paper . So safely enjoy the fruits of labors of mobility development, or seek the help of its specialists. If we consider that the PDA market in Russia is gaining momentum, it can be said that MRA took a good start. And this is just the beginning ... The authors, translation:

Sergei Malenkovich