Yesterday at Sheraton Hotel hosted a press conference of the European branch of Palm, which represented sales director for Central Europe, Mr. Markus Bregler. Conventionally, his speech can be divided into the formal part of - a demonstration of leadership companies in the world market, a story about the benefits of Palm OS and development under her plans for the industry leader - and unofficial - answers to sophisticated questions in the audience ... and during the reception. But on the latter below. Incidentally, during the official part of Mr. Bregler not let the audience get bored. Rapporteur made with colorful detailed presentation, which began with a brief digression into the history of the PDA technology. The room, incidentally, have gathered from computer publications, distributors Palm in Russia (White Wind, MakTsentr, RRC), the software developers.
Back to the Future
Sightseeing tours in the history of Palm released ironic optimistic. Bregler altogether extraordinary storyteller, have undoubted charm to positive, which is an encouraging effect on the audience. So, look at the history.
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The first generation of Pocket PC Palm, developed more Jeffrey Hawkins, was unequivocal failure. Bill Gates (then still the richest man in the planet), predicted the emergency destruction of the devices of this kind. But the company's management just did not give up. To draw conclusions from a negative experience, Palm introduced the world to handhelds exactly as what we do now know and love:) The reasons for which the first experiment designed Palm'y have not received the recognition were several. Firstly, goromozdkaya OSes, try to copy the OS desktop, but slow and eats batteries for two hours. Secondly, the size of the device. Third, the inconvenience of work. And the last. Developers had to make a revolution in the minds of potential consumers, proving that such a small device is not just a toy, but really a mini-computer. In other words, the creators of the CCP had to abandon the idea of producing the evolution of their devices, similar to the development of desktop computers. They needed to find, as they say, its own special way. And the "golden mean" was found. CPC should not be similar to a personal computer. It should be a rather advanced organizer that always keeps people at all times. Hence sdedovalo that
- batteries should last longer
- size of the machine should be such that it easily fits in your pocket
- polzvatsya she was simply and conveniently
Thus was determined the general line of direction of development of Palm - and the first handheld computers were gradually win the hearts of users worldwide. By making available the operating system to third-party developers, Palm has opened a new market, and gradually evolved into a global industry leader.
Company Palm Ceychas: own vision and view of the
Today, Palm, despite the crisis - falling stock sales - still ranks first in the global PDA market. Thus, the share of its market in Europe in 2001 was 59%. In total, sold about 18 million units. Second in terms of sales comes on the heels of Compaq Palm. True, the gap between them is too great - for PDAs from Compaq 14% of the market.
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Recently in Internet Palm introduced its financial report, which shows that the company focused on developing new models. With that, the company's profits by 44% lower than the previous year, the funding of new developments has declined by only 8% compared to the first quarter. Over the last quarter of Palm spent on new development $ 37.7 million, and in just the last six months - $ 78.9 million from the above figures show that in general aggravated the economic situation in the company of the least affected department R & D (Research and Development - the new development). Palm sacrifices, in her view, the small - such as subdivision, for example, an online portal MyPalm - for more. Markus Bregler confirmed this information, officially announced that Palm deystvielno bets on the upcoming news and features on the Palm OS operating system, the fifth version. Information about new devices for the official part, he said, smiling, refused to give, in a presentation by showing only an empty position in the form of new models of PDAs, which should be announced in the spring CeBIT'e. But intrigued reporters just did not let Marcus. Read about it below.
Palm suggests ....
Bregler briefly outlined the direction of development of the company. This, above all, access to web content and corporate data bases, communications (email, SMS, voice communications)-protected banking and entertainment. In the near future, according to the speaker, the money never will:) Of course, Bregler not promised to communism, but to replace Palm'om wallet with cash and credit cards is likely in the near future. In Las Vegas, has already passed a similar experiment last year. Buyer tester paid off with the help of his electronic wallet-Palm'a in store and even produced a banking operation. Basic, yet unsolved problem, of course, qualitative data protection and the accounts of the owner of such an electronic wallet. The information about new products, which shared with the public Markus Bregler not sinned detail. Reporter promised support in models of a new series of standard wireless Bluetooth. Most of the later models produced will belong to the devices high-end class, and equipped with memory expansion cards Secure Digital. Rapporteur has demonstrated Bluetooth SD card, with which it relate the Palm m 505 with a mobile phone and carries the call. Talk, so you can through a special bluetooth-headset (headphones with microphone), without wires, without taking the phone out of his pocket. With the help of this card is also possible to access the Internet. On the slide of the presentation were shown prototypes of peripherals, based on the SD-card - a modem, digital camera, GPS-receivers, barcode scanner, MP3-player and the actual wireless module and Bluetooth.
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Vyctavke spring at CeBIT will be expected to demonstrate at least three new models, two of which - the class hi-end, as well as the already rumored Palm m 525. One of the models will be equipped with black and white screen, the other color with a resolution of 320x320 pixels. All models of the new line will come with slots for memory cards SD / MMC, amount of RAM in the older models will be 16 MB in under 8 MB.
Markus Bregler debunks myths and makes conclusions
The final part of speech Markus Bregler debunks several myths about PDAs Palm. In particular, this PDA is not a multimedia device.Indeed, the machine can work with very different media, and preparing to release new products with high-resolution screen would make it even better. And in conclusion, even said, and showed that the CPC works even better with Microsoft Office, as the device for which this software is:)
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General tone of the press conference was very friendly. Reporter avoids call licensees Palm - Sony and Handspring competitors, expressing the official view of the company. According to her, they were partners and worthy successor of Palm. Competing as Pocket PC, he gently chided, and promised that the new operatsinnoy system and the devices that appear in the near future, the gap between them has greatly increased. And Microsoft is already hard to catch, let alone surpass Palm. Such optimism is a top manager of the company is encouraging that the world's leader still keep his victory, which is what we wish Palm and all her staff:) and go to the promised an informal part of informal communication with a cup of coffee and a sandwich:)
Cluhi high reliability ...
Press conferences would have absolutely no interest to journalists, if not accompanied by a properly ... and banquets. And you can eat delicious, and representatives of the serving side can be in a private conversation over a glass, excuse me, a cup of tea rasprositi about what they were deliberately concealed by the official part. A cup of tea, they become so talkative ...:)
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Markus Bregler was no exception to the rule, and after leaving the room the most nimble gaggle of journalists neatly squeezed him into a corner and carefully inquired. Say in advance what kind of information that you have read, among the strictest confidence, characterized in that in any case is not complete and unequivocal truth. Recall, as it was not made officially be called a high degree of reliability of hearsay ... So, at first more or less reliable information about the upcoming PalmOS 5. The new system will be available in mid-year, new devices based on it - just at the end. On interface design it is practically will not differ from the classical one. Why wean the user from that to which he was accustomed to? Speaking about the interface, Marcus alluded to the fact that in today's 4-th system already has a lot of what ugotovleno users in the fifth. To a direct question about whether the new system updates are available for earlier models 500 and 505, he replied in the affirmative. Moreover, they will be available on a mandatory basis, however, poldzovateli were missing some multimedia features, but it already costs the old processors. It is interesting that, according to Marcus, the operating system will be one that is not a separate version for ARM and Motorola processors. The new Palm will necessarily equipped with bluetooth module and be sure to expansion slot.
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By the way, we were able to bluetooth card zazhe watch in action and even take pictures ... But only after a representative of the Palm enlisted our promise not to publish images of another two months ... However, very interested can go here to PalmInfoCenter and look at everything with my own eyes ... The information obtained from the same sources, Palm will continue the practice of Low-end PDAs, called the student, low budget or "popular" series.This means that we are waiting for the next reincarnation of the Palm m125 but with the new system. It is also rumored that the new OS will be multitasking and multimedia. What remains CeBIT'a wait and see everything with my own eyes:) The authors, translation:
Olga Gorbonosova
Alexander Eremeev
