At the end of February in Moscow held a presentation of new communicators Gigabyte, who will soon appear on the shelves of Russian stores. The presentation was attended by representatives of Gigabyte, who talked about new products, the company Vobis, a distributor of Gigabyte PDA and a representative of the Czech company Aponia Software. This is not too known here the company is a supplier of navigation software for smartphones Gigabyte in the Russian Federation.
New communicators, features, price
The event was presented three new items from Gigabyte, which we saw not so long ago at the last exhibition MWC2008.
Gigabyte GSmart MW998 - our familiar analogue device GSmart t600, but without a digital tuner. In fact, the new fully maintained its multi-media oriented, and positioned it as entertaining communicator. It is noteworthy that the competitors in this respect, GSmart MW988 not. Now this is the only VGA-communicator, able to seamlessly play high-definition video, without any special adaptation. Moreover, according to representatives of Vobis and Gigabyte, the communicator can play videos in DVD-quality. However, we ourselves have seen impressive multimedia capabilities of this platform as an example GSmart t600.
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| Gigabyte GSmart MW998 |
Specifications Gigabyte GSmart MW998: - Processor: Marvell PXA 270 520 MHz (for some reason, is silent on a graphics accelerator, although the model t600 present)
- Memory: 64 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
- Screen: 2.6 inch, 640x480, 260K colors
- Operating system: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
- Mobile networks: GSM / GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0
- Memory Card: microSD
- Camera: 2 megapixel with autofocus and macroshot
- Battery: 1300 mAh.
- Claimed battery life: standby mode up to 150 hours, talk time up to 4 hours
- Dimensions and weight: 110.5 x55, 5h18, 5 mm, 140 g.
In this case, the cost of Gigabyte GSmart WM998 will be only 14,490 rubles, at the moment is the cheapest VGA-communicator. The following two communicators GSmart MS800 and MW700 - twin brothers with similar characteristics, the only difference is that the older model with an index of 800 network supports three generations of UMTS / HSDPA 2100 and equipped with a front video camera, the youngest is devoid of additional cameras and works in networks GSM / EDGE. The other characteristics did not differ.
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| Gigabyte GSmart MW700 |
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| Gigabyte GSmart MS800 |
Main characteristics GSmart MS800/MW700 - Processor: Marvell PXA 270 520 MHz
- Memory: 64 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
- Screen: 2.8 inch, 320x240, 260K colors
- Operating system: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
- Mobile networks: GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz (+ UMTS / HSDPA 2100, the model MS800)
- Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0
- GPS: SiRF Star III
- Memory Card: microSD
- Camera: 2 megapixel with Macro and autofocus (+ additional VGA-camera with MS800)
- Battery: 1300 mAh.
- Claimed battery life: standby mode up to 150 hours, talk time up to 3,5 hours
- Dimensions and weight: 116h59h14, 95 mm, 133, the
As can be seen from the characteristics of both the communicator is a navigation solutions with the standard for such devices characteristics. Similar devices on the market right now there is a fairly large number, and once again make a good competition, seemed to have completely filled a niche, will help low starting price of communicators. GSmart MS800 on it will be 18,990 rubles, and MW700 will be priced at 14,990 rubles. The closest in price are the products glofiish, probably between them and unfold the basic struggle for the consumer. And each brand has as its strengths and weaknesses, and give preference to one someone is difficult.
What happens next?
In addition to presentations of new models, Gigabyte representatives shared their plans. In particular, the slides were shown a model number 2008, is the communicator GSmart MW720/MS820 - a distinctive feature which will display without bumper - Touch Panel and G-Sensor. The latter is a position sensor and can then automatically change the screen orientation, depending on the position of the communicator.
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Do not forget to Gigabyte, and on improving the user interface. On the new communicators will be a graphical shell that makes it easier to work with the device. It is worth noting that Gigabyte did not copy the infamous cube from HTC, and decided to make something of their own (however, much like the new Spb Mobile Shell version 2). The program is a screensaver with a clock in the central part, and the panel access to various programs at the bottom. In this line-launcher can scroll left and right, and the clock is an indicator of missed calls, SMS and others. Below you can see a picture of the communicator GSmart MS804 c shell installed.
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| Gigabyte GSmart MS804 |
While the program is only available in the demo, not all elements work, but by itself promises to be quite interesting. Another future product is a device GSmart MS808. While this device is only available in the form of unformed sample, for example, at the exhibition WMC2008 he was a "hidden" behind the glass.Specifications have not yet not yet formed completely. As conceived by engineers, the communicator will be equipped with a processor speed Marvell c 624MGts, VGA-display diagonal of 2.8 or 3 inches. Strange look in the preliminary characteristics of 64 MB of RAM, however, can still change. Among the characteristic features include a digital tuner, support for 3G networks and the availability of video output. In general, quite good in terms of TTX model, it remains only to wait for its appearance, tentatively in September this year.
Aponia Software and Navigation Be on Road
The third speaker at the presentation was the representative of the company Aponia Software, which develops navigation software - Be-on-Road. It is this product Vobis, as the exclusive supplier of communicators Gigabyte, chose as a complete navigation. We will not go into detail and list the highlights, thanks to which was chosen this is not very well known in our program. So, Be on Road uses the cartographic basis Tele Atlas. Moreover, developers contend that after the next update kartosnovy, the new card to Be On Road appears in 2-3 weeks. The program is fully russified address system adapted to Russian realities, takes into account search for addresses complex (building, structure, etc.).
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In addition to the routing map, the user is available to the so-called detailed maps of the region (LDM - Local Detail Map). On these maps, the user sees the expanding road network, but without the possibility of a route, only to track the real location. Below is a slide that shows the routing of the road (dark) and without the routing of the road (light) on the example of the Moscow region.
From a user point of view, the presence of LDM - certainly a plus, though without the possibility of a route. Another feature of Be on Road is the ability to use raster maps. This mode is a program called tourist.
That is, in general, and all the major distinguishing features of the program. The remaining functions in one form or another is repeated most of the known software products. More details about communicators and Gigabyte Program Be-on-Road, read our reviews. The authors, translation:
