Mobile panorama of the week. Issue 14 - July 18

Wi-Fi with the GPS in the palm

At the beginning of last week has finally come true event, which the company Palm for over a year, a formal presentation of the communicator Palm Treo 800w. The first rumors about him have appeared in the early summer of last year, of course, then it was known almost nothing about him, only a general description. Novelty is a momentous for the company Palm, a PDA has finally had to appear integrated support for wireless networking Wi-Fi, is still lacking in the product Palm, able to work in cellular networks. In addition, it was expected, and some other innovations. For example, the built-in GPS module and the screen resolution of 320x320 piskley. We can not say that Palm has disappointed its fans, by contrast, expectations completely fulfilled, but ... it happened much later than many expected. Treo 800w refers to the line of smartphones Palm, running the operating system Windows Mobile. The first representative of this family - Treo 700w. Announcement of this device was held in September 2005 and the release for sale - in early 2006. Firstborn cooperation Palm and Microsoft was designed to work in networks of CDMA, supports high-speed data transfer standard EV-DO, and had well-recognizable design, a familiar model to hit the Treo 650. By autumn there was a little bit improved version, Palm Treo 700wx, and the end of 2006 was released on a new model based on the Treo Windows Mobile, this time focused on the common European standard for third generation networks - UMTS / HSDPA. Treo 750 has become not only the first of a Treo with networking support UMTS, but also got a new design - he finally got rid of acting outside the housing antenna, which gave the Treo 700w a few old-fashioned look. Needless to say, that "the first 3G Treo with Windows Mobile for Europe is expected with great impatience. Nevertheless, such innovations as the expected Wi-Fi support or, for example, the standard for Treo with Palm OS screen resolution it has not appeared, than the novelty of many disappointed. Recall that the PDA Treo, running Palm OS, screen resolution is 320x320 pixels, but features Windows Mobile system was forced to confine Palm Treo 700 and Treo 750 resolution of 240x240 pixels. Between the Treo 750 and Treo 800w was released by another device operating on the basis of Windows Mobile, but the Treo 500 does not have a touch screen and is based on a variety of Windows Mobile 6 Standard, more simply refers to a class of smart phones, not smartphones. The present heir to the Treo 700w was the new Treo 800w. Also like its predecessor, it works in network standard CDMA, it is logical to expect a similar issue for the Treo networks UMTS / HSDPA. Treo 800w made in the same form factor without an external antenna that and Treo 750.Compared with its predecessor, we can distinguish these differences Treo 800w:

• Support for standard EV-DO Rev.A, more rapid compared with EV-DO Rev.0, which is supported in the Treo 700w
• Support for wireless networking Wi-Fi 802.11b / g (y Treo 700w was absent)
• Built-in GPS (for Treo 700w was absent)
• MicroUSB connector instead of the proprietary Palm Multi-connector
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional instead of Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition
• Display with a resolution of 320x320 instead of 240x240 pixels
• Processor TI OMAP2430 333 MHz instead of the Intel XScale 312 MHz
• 128 MB RAM and 256 MB of ROM instead of 64 MB RAM and 128 MB ROM
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR Bluetooth 1.2 instead of
• 2.0 megapixel camera instead of the 1.3 megapixel camera
• Time running conversation - up to 4.5 hours versus 4.7 hours
• Opening hours in standby mode - up to 200 hours instead of 300 hours
• Memory card, microSD / microSDHC (up to 8 GB) instead of SD / SDIO / MMC
• Dimensions - 112h57, 9x18, 5 mm instead 113h58h23 mm
• Weight - 141.75 grams instead of 180 grams

As you can easily see the characteristics, Palm has done a great job on the new Treo. In a first for a Treo 800w smartphone Palm used several solutions, including built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, 320x320 resolution in Windows Mobile models, the standard microUSB connector instead of proprietary connectors, support for standard high-speed EvDO Rev A, Bluetooth in version 2.0 + EDR and some other solutions. If the previous model, Windows Mobile smartphones Palm looked a little outdated due to lack of the same Wi-Fi or GPS, then let the Treo 800w is not a revolutionary device, but is consistent with modern concepts of the functional device. Interestingly, when a version of Windows Mobile 6 from the manufacturers the opportunity to easily implement the resolution 320x320 it was clear that Microsoft is a nod in the direction of Palm. However, the first producer, publisher of the Windows Mobile device with such a resolution was not the Palm, and Samsung. By the way this model - Samsung SGH-i780 - could lay claim to being the closest competitor for the Treo 800w, if they worked in a standard cellular networks. This device has already sold quite successfully in the global market and, apparently, when Palm is ripe for the production of GSM / UMTS-version of the Treo 800w, he would have been the heir Samsung SGH-i780. The main thing that Palm has delayed again waiting for a year, or Treo 850w will look average against the competition, as well as Treo 750. Meanwhile, the new Treo 800w has already caused quite a lot of positive feedback. Many journalists converge on the idea that this is the best Treo, ever released Palm. Among the advantages noted the performance, functionality and interface improvements Windows Mobile, simplifying work. Interestingly, the latest addition to the base of Palm OS - Palm Centro was a real hit. Perhaps, Treo 800w will be equally successful and will help Palm out of the protracted crisis.

Samsung plans to murder Nokia N96

Sign of the super-camera phone last year was the camera with a resolution of 5 MP. Once all the companies included in the "Big Five" have already submitted at least one mobile phone with a 5-megapixel camera, you must move on. Led the race megapixels company Sony Ericsson, which recently announced its new flagship photo-Sony Ericsson C905, equipped with a 8.1 megapixel camera resolution. Now other mobile industry leaders will be forced to be equal to this standard. Company Samsung, known for his passion for world records, this time to lead the race is not torn, but is not going to concede or fall behind. Recall that in his time Samsung intensively experimented with telephone-oriented photo-shoot, but was faced with several challenges, not allowed her to bring camera phones into the international market. Back in March 2006 at CeBIT 2006 the company introduced a model called SCH-B600, which was positioned as the world's first 10-megapixel camera phone, but outside the Korean market novelty and not selected, the mobile users were not willing to pay about a thousand dollars for the great phone, albeit with a 10-megapixel camera on board. Since then, the mobile industry is strongly stepped forward with one hand, manufacturers are now often limited in their photo-backgrounds alone photo-functionality, offering, and other advanced features, but on the other - to make the camera phone with a decent level is easier and cheaper. The very notion of "advanced camera phone 'has changed a lot, now the phone with a 5-megapixel camera will surprise nobody. At this point in the line of Samsung can select Samsung G810, is a multifunctional smartphone, released apparently in defiance of the smartphone Nokia N95. As well as the Finnish hit last year, Samsung G810 is equipped with 5-megapixel camera, GPS-receiver, supports the work in networks GSM / EDGE and UMTS / HSDPA, as well as wireless Wi-Fi. Unlike the Nokia N95, including photo-features of Samsung G810 is present xenon flash and lens with 3 x optical zoom. However, releasing the Samsung G810, the Korean company has already faced with the following Smartphone Nokia - N96, which in addition to all the advantages of the Nokia N95 has 16 GB of internal memory on board, in conjunction with a slot for flash cards and support for mobile TV DVB-H. Now the network has information that Samsung is preparing for the next breakthrough, and develops 8-megapixel smartphone, which immediately "put into place" Nokia N96. According to the author's blog SamsungMobileBlog.Net, the novelty will come under the designation Samsung i8510 and a nice marketing name Primera. He will be promoted as the world's first 8-megapixel smartphone. Just like the Nokia N96, it will be running the operating system Symbian OS 9.3 platform S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 (G810 is based on S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1). Unlike Samsung G810, in the future novelty display size becomes comparable with the Finnish competitor, it will be 2.8 inches diagonally, but the resolution remains the same - QVGA. Strangely enough, the source reported a dual LED flash instead of xenon, which was in G810. In addition, the description does not mention i8510 optical zoom. It is noted the ability to shoot video in QVGA resolution at 120 frames per second.Among other differences i8510 compared to its predecessor, is now known about the resulting large amount of internal memory - 16 GB, like the Nokia N96 with the possibility of further expansion of flash cards microSD. Amount of RAM in this case is 128 MB. Image processing provides 3D-accelerator. Also mentioned about the GPS-module, FM-radio, TV-out, a standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and a full set of communication possibilities of the Wi-Fi to HDSPA (7,2 Mbit / s). Lithium-Ion Battery 1200 mAh provides up to 280 hours of standby time or 6 hours of talk time. All this in a fairly compact body dimensions of 106.5 x53, 9h16, 9 mm. We recall that the Samsung G810 dimensions are 103x52, 9x17, 9 mm. Form factor at i8510 uses the same - the slider, while among the controls appeared "optical joystick", which is already familiar to users of Samsung products to the communicator i780. It is located under the display in place a standard navigation keys and can additionally serve as the trackpad to move the cursor around the screen. This smartphone has to appear before the end of 2008. It remains to wait for the official announcement for further details and how human was SamsungMobileBlog.Net.

Business Communicators in Finnish Giant

The network has information about the new flagship business smartphone range Nokia. Now it can claim the title of Nokia E90 Communicator, performed in the typical form factor of the horizontal clamshell, which previously released line of Nokia Communicator 9HHH based on Series 80. Nokia E90 is already based on S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 and entered into a series of business smartphones E-Series. Among the features of Nokia E90 can be noted internal display with a resolution of 800x352 pixels and a QWERTY-keyboard, external display with QVGA resolution and the numeric keypad, 3-megapixel camera, GPS-receiver and a full range of communication possibilities. At the time it was the most versatile and advanced features of a smartphone in the E-Series. With the recent announcement of smartphones Nokia E66 and Nokia E71 gap between the leader and other representatives of the E-Series is definitely reduced, and now Nokia E90 stand out from the masses chiefly form factor with a large display with high resolution, while support for GPS and a 3-megapixel camera can be search and other business smartphones Nokia. In order to increase the gap between the leader and the rest of the business line, Nokia is preparing to release his successor. If we believe the preliminary information that the Czech was able to find a resource iDNES Chinese It168.com, the future heir to the Nokia E90 will be called Nokia E90i. He will inherit the form factor and the main list of specifications, Nokia E90. Among the changes will have common dimensions smartphone - the novelty will become smaller and thinner than the Nokia E90. Change the quality of built-in main camera - the resolution matrix will be a 5 megapixel. In addition, there will be 8 GB of internal flash memory, is harmoniously complemented by a slot for flash cards. As we see in the business series of Nokia is increasingly penetrating capabilities and features previously available only in a range of multimedia N-Series. Announcement of this multimedia business Smartphone to be held in autumn this year, and start of sales is scheduled for the Advent season.

Apple mobile sale worldwide

Last week has become possible to summarize the first few days of sales of the new phone Apple - iPhone 3G.The first steps of the new iPhone turned out to be stormy, and is not devoid of problems. Stir caused among fans of Apple, though not accompanied by fighting, and proceeded on the civilized level, could not pass without a trace. On the one hand Apple is already on the third day since the start of sales on July 11 announced the first sold millions of iPhone 3G, and on the other - an abundance of wanting to immediately activate a new toy in combination with a great number of people wishing to update the firmware on the "old" iPhone to new iPhone 2.0 and wishing to download applications from the new App Store, simply perenagruzili company's servers, and many can only wait and complain about the problem. However, we must give credit to Apple - the problem with the activation of the iPhone 3G have been resolved fairly quickly. The world is now much more concerned about another problem - the first shipments of iPhone 3G is simply coming to an end, and when will these distributors have not yet reported. So, on Tuesday morning iPhone 3G was sold out in 21 U.S. state, 117 out of 188 Apple Store in U.S. stocks have been sold out completely and only in 27 retail stores experienced a full range - iPhone 3G white and black 16 GB model and the 8 GB model. In Europe the situation was no less intense, has served as a good example of Switzerland - in the main sales center operator Swisscom to 8 am Friday 11 July has already been sold iPhone 3G 16 GB, and all the supplies ran out to two hours of the day. Other shops in Bern canton, Swisscom is also depleted stock iPhone 3G the first day of sales. Similar difficulties were observed in other European countries and Japan. After the ceremony the report of the first Apple iPhone 3G million and 10 million downloads from App Store over the first three days, analysts have decided to find out "who all these people." In order to sell 1 million first version of the iPhone, Apple took 74 days, the difference in the rates differ substantially. Of course, we must not forget that the iPhone number one has started in one country in the world and one operator - in the U.S. from AT & T, while the July 11 iPhone 3G began to be sold in 21 countries and had already formed behind the image of iPhone. According to estimates from analyst Gene Munster of investment bank Piper Jaffray, for the first 3 days of sales in the U.S. were sold about 400,000 iPhone 3G, 250,000 accounted for the UK and an average of 18,000 - the remaining 19 countries. July 17 is among the countries where you can totally legally buy iPhone 3G, joined by France. Here, too, was not without bursts, although not many days as in many other countries around the world. For half an hour before the opening of a boutique operator Orange on the Champs Elysees at his door waiting for about 300 people. As for App Store, then to Sunday the number of applications for the iPhone and iPod touch already has 800 pieces. There are programs very different focus, more than 90% cost less than U.S. $ 10. According to statistics, the biggest demand is for free applications, which is not surprising, as the most popular topics are games that does not cause surprise. It is interesting that one of the main topics under discussion analysts will the iPhone much oust BlackBerry smartphones or not. Indeed with the release of new firmware version installed on the iPhone 3G and you can install on first-generation iPhone, as well as the ability to install third party applications from the App Store, the ability of the iPhone in the business segment increased substantially. Analysts still diverge, one vote "for", while others vehemently defend the opposite point of view. Interestingly, at a recent meeting of the shareholders RIM, the company announced a gliding scale offensive on the various regional markets.In particular the planned expansion of intensive BlackBerry to Russia, so we'll see new items RIM in the Russian retail in the near future. While analysts scratching their spears in the world of abstract market prospects, journalists compare the device alive. In this case - the latest BlackBerry Bold and iPhone 3G. While experience shows that to compare these devices do not discriminate against almost impossible. BlackBerry Bold is recognized as the best among the BlackBerry, and BlackBerry in the corporate environment for more than a well-known and recognized. iPhone - it's completely consumer device, which only makes the first steps in the development of business objectives. The authors, translation: