Awakening "Sony&quot

Presents the new Sony models in the line Slie. New product has been tested by one of the authors of the site PalmInfocenter - Ed Xardi. Sony Clie PEG-N760C - the latest model in the most stylish and popular line of Clie. Of the special features can be identified with the screen resolution of 320x320 pixels and 16-bit color, slot, Memory Stick, a traditional scroll wheel Jog Dial on Sony. Production company is promoting the model as a multimedia device with the ability to view video and audio. In addition, this handheld computer is equipped with the new operating system - Palm OS 4.1. In the rest of N760C is not much different from its predecessor spring - N710C.

Not a toy ...

New Sonya performed in the best traditions: Slim (7.2sm x 12cm x 1.8sm) and easy to lift (161.5g). Its silver exterior chrome. Design takes connoisseurs and ergonomic mass aesthetic pleasures. At the front of the PDA buttons are located in chrome rectangular area. Function performs a joystick button, differs sufficiently tight pressing, so to play the N760C is more complicated than on previous models. The Power button is located below the front panel. Near it is a small lamp that shows whether the device is enabled. This is a very important detail, since the mp3-player you can listen to with the screen, dramatically increasing the time of the CCP until the next recharge. The Power button is located below the front panel. Near it is a small lamp that shows whether the device is enabled. This is a very important detail, since the mp3-player you can listen to with the screen, dramatically increasing the time of the CCP until the next recharge. On the left is a headphone jack, a button lock keys "Hold", "back" button, and Jog Dial, which, according to the author, it is convenient to use only right-handed. At the top of the unit can see a place to mount caps, IR-port, slot, Memory Stick, "hole" for the stylus. At the bottom, as expected, placed a serial port, and slots for attaching external devices. "Reset" button is located nearby.

Display: 16-bit color

The tester simply delighted with the new items screen. He and oversensitive, and has a resolution of 320x320 pixels and can display over 65 thousand colors. Thanks to OS 4.1, the screen supports 16-bit color. (Y N710C - 8-bit color. However, Sony promised in the near future to update its operating system, and everyone can easily remove this "deficiency" in its 710 machines.) But back to the novelty. It seems that none of the PDA based on Palm OS has not had such a wonderful display. Already, there are enough programs that support such high quality graphics. In addition, the N760C is a very useful feature, which is clearly lacking Palm'u m505. This is a brightness control. If you click on the small icon in the corner of the screen - you can set an acceptable level at the moment light the screen. For example, this function will save battery power the CCP during the transition from viewing high-quality graphics for reading. The text can be read at the lowest brightness. The only disadvantage of the screen: on its plastic surface is not very pleasant to write, but it easily turns into a plus - should only stick to the display protective film.

Fonts "High Flight"

PDA N760C not only supports fonts with high resolution, but also boasts a special fichey. High Resolution Assist will considerably improve the quality of fonts at low resolution. Thus, you can enjoy the beauty and charm of the screen handheld in almost all programs. But, as the author notes articles, test Assist'a, not all applications will listen to him and simply begin to "fail".

PictureGear Pocket

Sony Clie PEG-N760C comes with the latest version of PictureGear Pocket, which lets you view the schedule as of RAM, and from memory Memory Stick. Also attached to the PictureGear software-assistant - Photo Stand. It lets you convert images PG Pocket in the slideshow. Thus, PDAs, located in the cradle, you can use as desktop pictures, photos, or even hours.

MP3, 4, 5, ...!

Chip from Motorola, which operates on the basis of the CCP, powerful enough to provide excellent quality of playing mp3-faylov.K Unfortunately, integrated mp3-player produces a battery life in just a couple of hours listening to music. True, Sony tried several compensate for this deficiency. As mentioned above, while the mp3-player screen can be turned off. Built-in audio player "knows" all that is usually: Play files directly from Memory Stick, shows all the songs in a list, you can quickly rewind songs. Audio can be listened to only through headphones as a built-in speaker is not "enough" power to fully play music. As its predecessor, N760C comes c «klipsovidnymi" headphones that are not too comfortable. Of the nice "bells and whistles" may be noted, perhaps, a remote control and MP3 audio player. Among other things, it can be used as a stylus.

Video - nevideo ...

On the N760C has preinstalled software gMovie Player, allowing you to view videos. You can characterize it as a self-contained, but the user it is likely to be disappointed, because watching movies with high resolution using this software is impossible. However, developers can understand: such a step is taken in order to save on memory, because then the usual 90-minute film with a resolution of 160x120 will take 200MB.

Jog Dial: stylus free!

Jog Dial - one of the company finds Sony, embodied in the N760C. Due to the scroll wheel, you can manage PDA with one hand. Under the Jog Dial has a dedicated Back button, clicking on which you can return to the application in which you were previously. At Jog Dial and Back up a wonderful duo as they can be used much faster to perform various tasks without using the stylus. For example, you're in the WordSmith program and read the first part of a book. The second part is laid out as a separate file. Having read the first one, you can using the "Back" to return to the list of books, wheel Jog Dial to select the second part, open it up and continue reading. All this without the "participation" of the stylus! For special facilities in the main drop-down menu PDAs, you can add categories such as "On / Off" and "Search". They will appear in all applications and take advantage of them will be the same with a combination of back button and scroll wheel Jog Dial'a.

Filling

Not surprisingly, the PDA-oriented high-end market, has the most powerful to date processor Motorola Dragonball VZ 33MHz, 8MB of ROM and 4 MB Flash ROM, which means that the OS can be updated. N760C screen works with the chip MQ-1100 Platform Controller Chip from MediaQ. The chip integrates the work of 64-bit 2D graphics engine, the management interface LCD-display, controller, USB. MQ-1100 is equipped with 256Kb of internal memory and provides high-performance video games and similar programs.

Palm OS 4.1

Palm OS 4.1, practically does not differ from OS 4.0. According to the developers, the new version only fixes some bugs. The only really noticeable change - correct operation of IR-port.Palm OS 4.1 uses the same method to access files on the Memory Stick, and that OS 4.0. When a card is inserted into the socket in the launcher there is a new icon on the files. They are copied from the card to RAM, from where it started. When the Memory Stick is removed - the icon disappears. Interestingly, in the delivery package includes technology and Palm Web Clipping, quickly and easily work with a specially "sharpened" under her web site in Internet.

Specifically for users of Macintosh ...

N760C works fine with the Macintosh. The authors note that the N760C no problems syncing with Macs using the latest version of Palm Desktop. True, he tested it via infrared PowerBook'a. It seems that the only really working way synchronization. Some incompatibility problems on USB, which were not in Palm OS 4.0, appeared in OS 4.1. Moreover, even in applications from Mark / Space have a problem with N760C.

Conclusion ...

He was categorical. New Sony just fine in all respects. It is expensive ($ 500) and expensive, as is able to satisfy the most demanding needs of PDA users. If you are looking for a combination mp3-pleer/KPK, the Sony Clie PEG-N760C - one of the best decisions. Sources, Materials:

PalmInfocentre

The authors, translation:

Artem Sokolsky

Ed Hardy