RoverPC S6: a humble dude with a new OS
Last week's announcement took place the first communicator branded RoverPC, running the new operating system Windows Mobile 6 Professional. The premiere of "smart" mobile devices under Russian brands occur less frequently than under the brands international. This causes special attention to events relating to it is the Russian market and trade marks associated with it. The company Rover Computers - one of the famous players of the Russian computer market. In 2002 she began producing under the brand name RoverPC not desktop computers, as it had done before, and handheld computers. C since it provided a lot of mobile innovations. How can see anyone who has followed the fate of a pocket in the direction of Rover Computers, the transition to a new operating system was marked by a change in the index range. If last year you could see the dominance of models under the symbol RoverPC X5, now it is easy to conclude that the upcoming new line-up, where RoverPC S6 - only the first step. Communicator RoverPC S6 - is a strong bid for victory in terms of design. Appearance had a really nice, that allows to relate the model to a rather rare at the moment class fashion communicators average. Technical parameters of the new items also support this assumption. The device is based on the processor Texas Instruments OMAP 750 200 MHz, the memory is 64 MB RAM and 128 ROM, memory expansion is performed using flash cards microSD. Communication capabilities of the model is quite good - it is designed to operate in three frequency bands of cellular networks GSM, for data transmission on mobile networks provides a standard GPRS, while maintained as wireless networks Wi-Fi, is often neglected in such models, and interface Bluetooth. Perhaps the only omission here - the standard for data EDGE. Display the model standard - 2.8-inch QVGA (240x320 pixels). The camera is not bad by modern standards - with a resolution of 2 MP. Apparatus rather thin, and all the dimensions of the model are small - 110h59h15, 8 mm. For comparison, similar in characteristics of the communicator RoverPC W5 dimensions are 109x55x21 mm.
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By all measures, RoverPC S6 impression device for those users who do not need a super power and functionality, but it means a lot stylish appearance. Fly the most complex devices are ready and have the desire, not all, the demand for relatively simple decisions always will be. At the same opportunities RoverPC S6 are well balanced, it does not suffer from such traditional shortcomings of budget decisions as a lack of some really important features such as Wi-Fi support or display a smaller size. And to find such a solution in which sufficient attention is paid to design, in principle, quite hard. In Russia, the issue RoverPC S6 is scheduled for June. Thus, it will be one of the first devices based on Windows Mobile 6 on the Russian market.
HTC Atlas: much ado about nothing
Rumors about the new models from Taiwanese manufacturer High Tech Computer is often well ahead of formal presentation and announcements. But this time it seems the noise broke out of the blue. The network has information about a new device, which will be released under the brand name American operator T-Mobile USA. Communicator T-Mobile Wing has come to replace the communicator T-Mobile MDA, recently disappeared from the site operator. T-Mobile MDA is one of the incarnations of popular platforms HTC Wizard - the well-known communicator slider. And although the Western media have reported that T-Mobile Wing is based on the new platform HTC Atlas, much more like that is just one of the incarnations of the model HTC P4350, also known under the code name Herald. At least from the leaked information suggests this is the conclusion.
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Models are identical in their tactical and technical parameters known at this time. The same form factor, processor (TI OMAP 850), memory (64 MB RAM and 128 ROM), 2,8-inch display with a resolution of QVGA (240x320 pixels) card slot format microSD, battery capacity 1130 mAh , 2-megapixel camera. The only difference between the HTC Herald and HTC Atlas, that catch the eye, it discriminate design, which is quite natural for the operator's version, and different versions of the operating system. As the source, the release device is scheduled for 20 th of May, here then, and become known to allow a definite conclusion. If it really turns out to be only operator version HTC Herald with the upgraded OS, the T-Mobile is not original - the operator O2 Germany has already introduced the PDA O2 Xda terra, which is nothing more than the HTC Herald, running Windows Mobile 6.
Qtek: upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 for free
It would seem from the start of sales by High Tech Computer devices under its own brand, to wait for special news from Qtek is not necessary. However, surprises occur regularly and that the Swedish site myQtek, and not on the brain site of HTC was found a list of models for which will be given an upgrade to the new operating Windows Mobile 6. This information is awaited for a long time, literally since the announcement of the new OS at the 3GSM Congress. Best of all, the update for these models will be provided free of charge.
Thus, among the lucky ones: - submitted in February communicator monster HTC Advantage (X7500)
- released late last year, a smartphone with a QWERTY-keyboard HTC S620 (Excalibur)
- One of the first models under its own brand HTC - PDA-slider HTC TyTN
- simpler device slider HTC P4350 (Herald)
- the first GPS-communicator from the Taiwanese manufacturer - HTC P3300 (Artemis).
If you initially use the HTC Qtek brand for product sales in some regions, but now through sites myQtek moving models are already under its own brand HTC, thus, grounds for suspicion or lack of confidence in the information on it there. Particularly interesting, of course, is this a free upgrade - it happens not always. The new firmware should be available in June and July this year. Pleased that the deplorable situation with a small number of devices that can be updated with Windows Mobile 2003 to Windows Mobile 5.0 is not repeated. However, changes in the new version of the operating system is far less radical, perhaps, here is the reason of altruism. On the other hand, it explains so little to date portfolio HTC models running Windows Mobile 6 - from the officially reported in fact only one smartphone HTC S710 (Vox), so the communicator HTC Advantage X7501, not so long ago, as shown in the U.S.. If we take unofficial information, the expected very soon a whole series of new models from HTC, which operate on the basis of Windows Mobile 6 and, in most cases, represent a more advanced functional pair of current production time of vehicles. Of the pairs is already possible to select, for example HTC TyTN and HTC P4550 (Kaiser), in the same line, in principle, can be attributed HTC P4350 (Herald). Thus providing an upgrade, the company facilitates future users the choice, they will have to choose only the technical parameters of devices, not getting to have to choose a model based on the OS used in it. It is safe to fly one of the "lucky" machines and do not be afraid that it will soon find yourself the owner of the communicator or smartphone with the "old" OS.
Report for March or HTC fever
The event, which was completely wasted almost unnoticed for the majority of news feeds - the same HTC has released its monthly sales report. Figures published in it, make you think. The fact is that if the previous statements of the company for a long time is a nearly continuous "success story", then February and March figures are a worrying tone. In February, sales revenues were considerably lower than the previous year - a decline of 15.58%, and for the period from January to February - at 3.36%. In March, there was slight increase compared to income received in March last year, but quite small - at 1.04%, and for the first three months is still a downturn - the company had revenue of less than 1.71 at%. In other matters, as seen from the data, the gap in the amount of income year and the year gradually shrinking.
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With the transition to production units under its own brand, HTC has caused analysts are serious concerns as to whether she will be able to stay afloat. On the one hand, it was a kind of gray eminence of the Devices Windows Mobile, but on the other hand, she chose a rather rigid approach to a number of his former partners, who were forced to abandon cooperation with HTC. One of the most striking examples - the company i-mate, which has now shifted to working with other producers. As we see, yet can not say that HTC is going through "difficult times", but a factor of instability is still present.
Release of Pocket Heroes: finally waited
One of the most anticipated events in the world of software and games specifically, perhaps, was the release of the game Pocket Heroes 1.0. Let the draft Russian developer and has a very wide fame, but for those who know him, waiting for release already in the habit. Originally released toys had been promised by the developer in late 2005, since then much water has flowed, but fans of the project continued to be satisfied with test versions. In contrast to the test version, release is not free. However, fans of the game for PC Heroes of Might And Magic probably will not be sorry about the blood spent $ 10 (worth about a game, the final amount depends on the method of payment). For the money they are able to enjoy the game on your Pocket PC / PDA in the best traditions of Heroes. The player will develop, build their own resources, as well as to capture territory and fight enemies. Provides a variety of races, lots of characters, creatures, of which you can make an army, resources, artifacts, ... the list goes on than the game does not suffer because it is monotonous and monotonous. There's also a multiplayer game, when some players use a single wireless device to participate in the game.Those who remember the first version of Heroes, and the good old days, when PCs have slightly different capabilities of modern PDAs, an attack of nostalgia is almost guaranteed:)
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The authors, translation:
K. Nemo