Sharp Zaurus, part 3. Prospects: The Inside Story

Pocket PC Sharp SL5000D be called the first of a new breed of handheld computers. Not in the sense of new things in there some fundamental differences from other PDAs - can be called an innovative approach to software development and target audience you have targeted this handheld. The key is the fact that SL5000D uses open-source software, open source software. The kernel of the software system are PDA Linux and Java - the developer tools that support open standards. Experimental model SL5000D - full PDA. The reviews, which can be found on the web, are disclosed in detail all specifications of this machine, but the principal remains that SL5000D running on the same 206-MHz Intel processor family StrongArm, that most powerful of the latest models on the platform of the Pocket PC 2002. In stock and SecureDigital slots CompactFlash, screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels with 65,536 colors (ie, in full color - truecolor - mode). By the way, Sharp is one of the best producers in the world displays its products are used, such as game console GameBoy company Nintendo, and Sharp supplying screens for many manufacturers of cellular phones. Ckladyvaetsya impression that the Sharp Zaurus has developed as through the draft, just for the sake of the experiment. However, the words of Mark Klein (Mark Klein), the head of a company's sales department laptops and PDAs, to suggest otherwise: "We are creating with the help of this device is a new platform - he says - and a new principle." That's what said in the interview Site PMN Publications Mark Klein: "We are engaged in the mobile handset market for a long time, even releasing keyboard device on Windows CE. Still, we mainly focus on our own platform. Cause of failures that have befallen us in the past, was not design the hardware or software part, but rather a "closed" platforms, which we used. This policy has seriously complicates the lives of software developers. The new device, we decided to create an open systems - Linux and Java. Our goal - to change the preconceived opinion of programmers on how to develop software for PDAs. Linux-community is enormous, and many applications for this already popular operating systems are great. Take the example of Apache - the most popular web server in the world. We do not see the slightest reason to put obstacles in the way of experienced programmers to a new platform for PDAs. As for Java, then, despite the fact that the technology is still not mature, we see great potential in it and believe it will become truly powerful. Therefore a bunch of Java with Linux will become a promising avenue for the realization of our ideas of open source software. "One of the most likely problems that may arise due to the reluctance to go along with the Palm or Microsoft, lies in the fact that both of these platforms already have a whole army of third party Programmers: professionals and enthusiasts. Within a few years of existence of these operating systems for them creates a lot of applications. In this sense, Sharp, and with it, Linux is strongly lose. On the other hand, Linux-programmers who write software for desktop computers, myriad. Attract them to write programs for handheld computers should not make much of a problem. To encourage them, the company Trolltech-developer user interface for the Sharp - organized a competition for the best program in five categories: games, entertainment / educational sector, business, system tools and communications. Competition lasted from 4 December last year to 11 March of the current, were created by a variety of prizes, including $ 10,000 for first place. To learn more about this competition please visit Trolltech. Of course, to fill the gap with the parties to take some time, but obviously short. Sharp is going to have a community of programmers full support and is ready to compete directly with Palm and Microsoft.To finish this topic, Klein said that Sharp may actively uchastovovat in podgtovke drivers for various devices, unless the providers themselves or the community of developers will not take it before. Here we must bear in mind that he personally is not well initiated into the subtleties of the program strategy of the corporation. "Sharp is best able to design an excellent design and ergonomics of the device. This is an area of ​​our company, in my opinion, should focus their efforts, leaving the questions of creation of third party software" - he says. Klein is right about the design: it really is perfect. The overall quality of the hardware is impressive, and the idea of ​​a sliding keyboard - simply delicious. This keyboard, among other things, may prove crucial in thinking about buying. Keyboard is quite small and, of course, is intended only for a set of short texts, messages or notes. Klein agrees, but believes that at the present stage of development of mobile communications and trends of work on the go, such a system may be useful not only private but also corporate users, which he calls «prosumers» (to consumers). These are users who buy a PDA for both personal use and for professional work. Klein believes that the Zaurus keyboard justifies itself as the recruitment of short messages, and for rough set a decent amount of text, and in future fully manifest all the promise of this idea. A small increase in form factor that is required to install the keyboard, with interest, according to him, pays a significant increase in functionality. Especially considering the fact that the hardware keys are not the only way to enter the information - provided as software keyboard and handwriting recognition. So how can you get such a device? You are free to buy right now. In Russia, it is unfortunately not yet available. Want something to modify, to close some loopholes in the software, although overall the device is already fully operational. Klein himself points out that while this is not a device in a series of "buy, including good," but it is intended more for technically savvy people. If you do not belong to those, you'd better wait for a few months. By the time the Zaurus will be fully developed and they can be used immediately by pulling out of the box. Sharp is a Organizer is number one in Britain, but basically the situation is due to electronic pocket notebooks. Previous development of Sharp in the handheld sector has never been particularly successful. The exception is perhaps that Sharp Mobilon - machine on Windows CE, which cost only a keyboard PDA Jornada from Hewlett Packard, which in itself is not bad for a company whose business is the PDA side. So, the important thing is that the programmer is not left unattended Sharp Zaurus, and then perhaps the market platform for handheld computers will be a good player anymore. Article "All about the Sharp Zaurus. Parts 1-2" Sources, Materials: