Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements

"Good and evil in Wonderland - as everywhere meet

But here, they live on different coasts.

Here, the roads wander all sorts of stories,

And imagination run on thin legs. "

Vladimir Vysotsky. From song to diskospektaklyu "Alice in Wonderland," "Young man, the king I'm the last - to drop you a haughty gentleman in a cocked hat and excitedly returned to the interrupted conversation with good-natured fat man. - Where do we roll? - Do you hear, coming closer. - If I were a king, unless it happened to? "The fate of a kingdom, and in the hands of a commoner?" Our hero - the gardener? ". He is so passionate about expressing their discontent with that totally does not notice the signs, which tries to give him a genial companion, whose face is your appearance has become worried expression. "This is what, yesterday, buttercups, dandelions, and tomorrow the dragon won?" - Continues to grumble cocked. - Excuse me, sir, unless there can be trusted with such a mission a man absolutely without any mixture of blue bloods? "Is there ..." He is suddenly interrupted, noticing, finally, handing him the signals and turns sharply to your side. Whole range of different emotions running over his face, ends with a kind of obsequious expression, a tender smile and the tears hanging on her eyelashes. "My father, Duncan, it's you How's your dandelions? Not grow?" As you grow, our dear Duncan? Orchids! How romantic! Not you forward? Willingly give in to you all, you're our hero! " Yes, yes. You are now a hero. As the fates decree, the legend and studio PDAMill. It is up to you to decide the fate of an entire country in the RPG-epose Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Despite the popularity of this genre, RPG-games for mobile devices is not so much and this game had expected long before it arrives. As always, once the genre has been mastered PDAMill brilliantly. The game has surpassed all expectations: the geography of the epic world Arvale includes six continents, which presented 280 cards: as much as 200 monsters and magical creatures stand in your way. These scales are quite rare among games for mobile devices - Arvale immediately attracted the attention of gamers and has won many admirers. We are confident that our readers - both gamers and game developers - will be interesting information "behind the scenes", so before you go to most reviews, we publish the text of the interview, which has kindly agreed to Peter Balogh, CEO of the studio PDAMill. So, how to play do - what is called Postmortem.

Interviews with the storyteller, or Postmortem, as it is

- Dragons, ghosts, mythical Orcs Corporation Sorcynth - ogromnoe variety of characters, unexpected plot twists. How did the idea, which arose from all this diversity? PB: We wanted to create a classic RPG with a storyline like Might and Magic and Final Fantasy. Jason Surgin picked up a script that was completely finished after 6 months of hard work. Jason is known to many as our composer, but few people know that he is also the author of the script nearly all of our games. - A schedule? The game has 200 monsters and countless heroes! Truly an unprecedented number of heroes of the game. Are all the characters to create only one designer? PB: Our designer started alone, a total of over background images and scenes of battles, he worked for over a year. In the course of the work to the project were connected more designers who basically have modified the finished image. By working together, was created more than 2500 graphic elements - for PDA games really a huge amount. - The game can communicate with almost all heroes, each of them is unique in its appearance and character. Some people seem to like the studio staff - you wrote off the characters with real people? PB: Yes, faces a little similar, but residents Arvale us have nothing to do. By the way, if you talk about the prototypes, you'll find a few of us in Anthelion (laughs).- How many people worked on the project? How long did the work? PB: Eight of our staff working on the game for over a year: 4 developers, 3 designer and myself Jason. Most of the time left on the creation of our Editor's game, event handlers, and battle scenes. All the work, by the way, Jason has done it with the help of the developed editor. - Has the game development process? How much different was released for sale Arvale: Journey of Illusion from the original idea? PB: The game is very heavily budded. Initially we planned to do something much less volume with fewer parts, highlighting the project 3-4 months. Nevertheless, we are pleased that wasted time and created something that exceeded our own expectations. - In developing the play you in the RPG-game? PB: Of course! Basically Might and Magic, Zelda, Final Fantasy and a couple others. - Will be continued? Do we wait Arvale 2? PB: Continuation is almost ready. Work on Arvale II: Ocean of Time began immediately after the initial release. Plot Arvale II refers us for 100 years before Duncan Forsyth, in the era DeMencheva inventive. Incidentally, in the sequel even more cards, monsters and magicians, weight puzzles, much broader and more meaningful dialogue with the heroes of the game and much more. - Peter, you are one after another to conquer new genres. Is now taken and the barrier RPG. Who's next? PB: We are working now on the game genre platformer, belong to this series, for example, the famous Mario and Rayman. Unfortunately, no details can not give, but will let you know when the game will be released in beta version. - Thanks for the interview and good luck in all your endeavors. Sure many are eagerly awaiting new games to your studio. PB: Thank you. I wish all gamers a good pastime in Arvale and lots of fun with shopping carts (laughs) (see the explanation in the text below reviews .- approx. Aut.). Thus, "the nose" is the ocean of time, as the name suggests a sequel. In anticipation of his appearance look at the Arvale: Journey of Illusion. We turn to the most reviews.

Review

Plot [5 / 5 - excellent!]

Filled with humor and unexpected twists, completely unpredictable plot Arvale can safely be called one of the best games released for the CPC. A small entry introduces you to the prehistory of the epic State Arvale. The game begins in the chambers of King Entoka that caused you, the court gardener Duncan Forsyth, in order to tell you the "most unpleasant news: according to the secret archives of His Majesty's almost time for awakening of the Dark Dragon - according to legend - the most dangerous substance for the people, plunging the country into night many years ago, proznav that people are becoming aware of the secrets of the magic of old, guarded by dragons. Now on you is the destiny of the whole country - you will find a dragon, and once again she made him sleep. In this, as well as in many situations the way you intended to help the magic potions, a monopoly on who owns the corporation Sorcynth, the largest in the country and the most mysterious. Nobody knows its employees, no one had heard of its technology, but during the game you will have a lot to spend on its products. You will have many battles - in the woods, abandoned castles, devastated at the time dragons cities, dungeons and caves Arvale. On your way to stand up rats, wolves, Mythical orcs, ghosts, giants and trolls, but in the cities you will find a lot of people - the sea perfectly vyrisovannyh characters. King Entok, for example, a man rumored to stupid, arrogant and pompous, expresses his thoughts, except under a semblance of Old English, something like "I am the" and "My Life." Heroes of the game - workers, artisans, sailors, officials, thieves, guerrillas, and many others are in love, concerned, grumpily, businesslike, moody, friendly, and sometimes rude. Many of you will raise a laugh: "What a hero? You?" How is this possible - and where oblique seven feet at the shoulders? Where burning eyes and Arnoldov biceps? ".Others, recognizing in you the very ask you for help. Despite the fact that the number of instructions in the game can not match your idea of ​​purposefulness of heroes, do not refuse - often only meet the requests can be obtained, without which you can not get to the end of the game. Remember - the hero must be good. Bizarre twists of the plot will not let you get bored, and the long game is assured. I played a whole lot more promised on the site 20 hours, though, judging by this forum, there were heroes overcame this entire thorny path of the saviors of the state for 12 hours. Honor and praise!

Gameplay [4.75 / 5 - excellent!]

Uniquely fascinating. You have to solve a number of tasks that can be grouped into three main categories: communication, search and battle. Communicate in the game can and should be with everyone. Almost every city there is someone who will tell you the information, without which it will be impossible to reach the end. Ignoring the communication, I soon became entangled in the game, we had to start over and gently pestering everyone he met. Often communication is expressed in the form of a dialogue in which you simply select one from the list of answers. In contrast to the life situations in which "what was said can not be undone," in the fairy Arvale can safely start talking again and try out different answers. With some of the heroes of the story you'll make an appointment in other cities, so often have to find their designated place in unfamiliar towns you. In addition, it is necessary to find and return the daughters go on a bender, patiently endure all the caprices, to search for and release imprisoned princesses and search of the alchemists who can make you the right drug. Sometimes it will be necessary to look for hidden levers, opening doors, a variety of weapons, without which life, as well as a pile of basic magic needed. The entire list of current tasks can be found in the menu Stats - Quest. In a very convenient form set out who should be found and what operation to do with the found. It is saved as a list of assignments (the button with a "tick"). When moving in two different levels of cards. The first - the map of the local scale for settlements (population not only in human beings and malevolent creatures). The second - a level continental, for which you are moving between settlements. Here you will prompt the road signs on the roads. Be careful, though, and you will not be shown, but on these roads and wandering various "monstrously criminogenic" elements with naughty intentions. There is also a button Zoom (magnification), which increases the scale, but only slightly. Never useful. Incidentally, all the maps can be downloaded from the site of Geography Arvale PDAMill. Now for the battles. What kind of RPG do without a good battle? There are battles on the step by step principle: be impacted in turn. In the course of the battle can change weapons (switch the button "Weapons", the change by pressing the arrows to the right "and" left "), to use magical means (arsenal under the button" Magic "), to restore health and strength (the button" Potions "). Be careful: if you use healing potions (potions) you miss a kick, so that once a "tipping the bottle" you "give ear." Do not say that I did not warn you. If everything is really bad, you can try to get away from the battlefield ("Flee"), but it is dangerous: firstly, is not always possible, and, secondly, even if given the chance, your opponent is free to napoddat you last, and when low health is fraught with fatal outcome. Then comes the last image - you are on the ground and the quiet moonlight silver in your boots. All battles are accompanied by a rich animation, where each opponent is different own style: some bite, while others use spears, swords and knives, others weighed slap, and a fourth literally pull the soul, sends a curse upon you, and entangle sorcery enchantment. On every continent there exists at least one "den" - a place where much of evil. To avoid such places should not be - right there in the battles, you can earn the most money that you need in the game, and, most importantly, gain experience (Experience), which increases the level of a number of characteristics of our hero. In the Stats can be found with current information on the game and as Duncan. On line Health (Health) on your level of health and its possible upper limit separated by a colon. If the numbers do not match, it's time to take medication. In Experience (experience), two figures are also separated by a colon: to the left before the current level, to the right - the one to which you want to reach. Current level grows with every battle, on reaching the goals you move to a new level. So is the volume of your health as well as the opportunity to increase your level of strength (Strength), knowledge (Knowledge) or skill (Dexterity). Force will increase the damage with every blow in combat. Knowledge will allow you to use more powerful magic arsenal, and his skill will increase the level of mastery in handling the weapon. Depending on what type of characteristics you build, change accordingly the ability to defend (Resistance) and resistance (Defense) before striking the opponent. Several of these parameters can be increased, also taking on his chest magic potions, which can be purchased at the store alchemist. In addition, there may be otovaritsya healing potions and magic items. Along with the alchemist's shop in every town there is also a weapon shop where you can get rid of the old and buy new protective gear (armour) and weapons (weapons). And, both in the battles wear what you reported on during the game, so that from time to time have to go to the window of inventory (Stats - Inv), choose a new gear box "Armour" and to click "Use". Weapons will be changed automatically. The level of deterioration is shown in the box battle in parentheses next to the weapon / armor, as well as information to each item of inventory in the section Inv. The game has many hiding places - drawers, cupboards in the homes, jugs and even trucks. If they hide something when you approach them in red lit button "Use". However, not always something most helpful. Sometimes, in boxes hidden monster, but often you just play. Thus, most of them by clicking on the "Use" of trucks, you just lets his hero in a strange communion with this kind of transport, and every time Duncan mutters something new. Here you have a pleasant interaction with the cart, which laughed Peter Balogh in his wish to our readers;) And finally, the last one. Along with the plot, it becomes unpredictable at times and gameplay. So, going down into the dungeon as early as Entoke (Enthoque), you will find boxes. Judging on the button "Use", they should examine what you are doing. Duncan, however, displeased: "I'm not going into these dungeons touch anything!" - Resents it. And again, the box, and then we go against his will. "I said, - boiled our hero - nothing to make me."The third box, and again, we, willful, trying to coerce Duncan ... From this moment you lose control: Duncan turns and walks to the door, grumbling on the road: "Damn it! He said because, he said ..." You give them no longer drive. It serves neither the joystick or the stylus, and only reached the door, he turns and asks: "Agreed!" The world again. So, Arvale is all that is needed for a good RPG-games - equipment, battles, quests, dialogue filled with humor. Were seen only minor flaws. Firstly, it is difficult to work out some system and understand how best weapon to fight against the forest's diversity of monsters. Despite the fact that in every battle of this or that weapon is most effective (by the way, sometimes turn out to be the most effective means of magic), the same weapon is not as strong in the subsequent battles. Another - sometimes spells - pretty exciting at first sight, require a ceremony, so that each time must wait until the citizens and citizen ghostly form protantsuyut all its magical ritual dance before the strike - the whole process takes too much precious "heroic" time. In general, the gameplay, we estimate the "excellent". Rare PDA games well conceived, originality, excitement and, of course, sense of humor, which is very happy along with morosely and a penchant for dramatizirovaniyu other developers.

Interface [5 / 5 - excellent!]

The game handles like a joystick and stylus in almost all situations. However, sometimes manipulating the stylus to be less convenient, so Duncan quite inadequate reaction to the screen by pressing. That's why I prefer to use a joystick. All menus are laid out in a very convenient sequence of windows. All intuitive. The minimum information that must hold to control the game, before the course and may be found in translation in the text. All events are accompanied by news reports, which give an idea of ​​everything that happens is that the ambiguity is not expected. User-friendly interface will allow store up to four different positions in the game. In addition, will automatically save the time of entry at the last town on the map. The volume of music and sound effects, easy to configure in the window "Settings". You can also disable the high quality graphics - a bit to save CPU time, although on my HP iPAQ h2210 any delay in the time I did not watch.

Graphics [5 / 5 - excellent!]

Ironically, the schedule I originally did not like. Since the appearance of the first screenshots of battles, they seemed too simple and primitive compared with the level of graphics in the previous games in the studio. As the game progresses, however, adopted in developing the style became more and more justified. It should be noted the quantity and elaborate. As many as 2,000 of graphic elements, as we have already noted, the phenomenon is truly unprecedented for Pocket PC-based games. In this case, the schedule clear enough, contrast, and also performed with humor. Each character is endowed with his game face, his character, a huge amount of weapons and armor - all of them marked with appropriate drawings. Set of landscapes, little houses, perfectly conveys the atmosphere of abandoned towns, mines, caves, dense forest ... Excellent!

Sounds [5 / 5 - excellent!]

Drym-tsa-tsa. Drym-tsa-tsa. 17 songs total duration of 45 minutes. 100 different sounds that accompany the events in the game - hitting, slap, magic, steps, surprises ... Even this component has not been overlooked.And it is not surprising, because the music sochinaet Jason Surgin, Peru belongs to the whole scenario of the game.

Summary

On the first page of the legend with which the game starts, I was involved and played almost without stopping for several hours - a phenomenon rare for me. Studio PDAMill never rushes headlong into questionable scam the games out there seriously. And at the same time with humor. Beautiful, harmonious blend. Until now, this company has not been issued any unfinished game. They can always be improved, but complaining about absolutely everything. Arvale: Journey of Illusion was the most ambitious project studio. And the time spent justified itself - the game is among the best-selling portals for mobile applications. We have found only minor flaws that are likely can be attributed to the wishes than to errors. In short, we recommend to all. Look, do not give up, to put the good, and certainly ... entertain his truck talking!;)

Acknowledgments

Thank you for giving PDAMill studio to review the commercial version of the game. Links - Arvale: Journey of Illusion for Pocket PC and Palm OS directory HPC.ru - Cheats Online HPC.ru. - Web site Arvale: Journey of Illusion - All games PDAMill Directory HPC.ru authors, translation:

Almost computers

You do not remember what it was before the advent of handheld computers? Electronic notebooks ... However, they are, and now - unpretentious and cheap, "heaped up" and are relatively expensive (but cheaper than the most primitive PDA). Why they do not depart from the scene? How to survive the competition with handhelds? Whether they represent at least some interest for the sophisticated man in the handheld computers? Let's try to understand. I think this topic is curious. I hope that you too ... Ancestor electronic notebook has been an electronic calculator. Actually, a notebook and a calculator - specialized. The same (about) low-power processor, a few kilobytes of memory (in memory of simple calculators, of course, not) character display and the almost complete lack of any programming. That is, electronic notebooks occupy its market niche between arithmetic and engineering programmable calculators. Between and - next, because it does not come into contact with any of the mentioned types of portable digital technology closely. Yes, the notebook can serve as a simple calculator, but because of the cumbersome alphanumeric keypad for quick calculations, it is not convenient. As for a scientific calculator, here only the general availability of memory. Application is completely different. Scientific calculator instrument seriously, and the electronic address book - not really. The first notebooks appeared in the mid-seventies of last century thanks to the efforts of Japanese electronics manufacturers. One of the first models, if my memory serves me, was a calculator with built-in astrological calendar. Toy, but demand for it was serious. And the designers immediately realized that a simple calculator you can embed a couple of kilobytes of scarce and expensive while the electronic memory - so users can keep in a pocket priborchiki the necessary information. For example, a list of phone numbers. And the light of day, a new class of electronic devices.

"Pominalnichek" with a keyboard

Since I started talking about electronic notebooks, we recognize at once - this is not the computers. That is not at all the computers in our sense, since it is recognized we have this stuff with computers, their number will be included, and electronic clocks, and measuring instruments, and many other things, contains a microprocessor. Computational capabilities of notebooks are negligible, and the functions are limited. Them, these functions are easy to list in one sentence - a simple address database, integrated with an alarm clock calendar, clock, an arithmetic calculator, currency converter, and sometimes a couple of toys (the latter is quite unnecessary and rare supplement). Oddly enough, but the basic functions of electronic notebook performs better than any handheld computer ... Do not believe me? Let's try to imagine quite a few standard situations. You have decided to refresh the phone number of the person. Cell phone while you do not have (forgotten at home, or a number is not fixed in his mind) as "mobile" dramatically simplifies the solution of the problem, because he had a great notebook ... It's only an assumption. Have gone further. The street jam, bad weather, his hands busy - in short, to enable the PDA to run the address database and find the information you need, need both hands. In one hold the clipper in the other pen. A notebook you can get out of his pocket, opened the lid and see the addresses of one hand. Another situation - cold outside. Handheld computer freezes, the screen begins to mercilessly "retard". Screen is an electronic notebook, too, in the cold "slows." But he's a character, very simple. Hence, the conclusion of the information on it to the limit simplified. Where working digital clock, notepad will work too. A PDA - are unlikely (at least, see the addresses of phones on the screen of your mobile will not be easy). The third situation - physical labor, sports and so on. That is, the CPC is in the pocket of his overalls, sports jackets, in a beach bag. Awkward movement, giving, knocked, and came - Farewell typewriter. A notebook will be nothing.It is fitted with a protective flap keeps small (because and durable) screen and keyboard. Yes, and she is mere penny. Lose, crush, break (God forbid, of course) - not so sorry ... Keyboard notebook usually made as a tiny (just the same toy) laptop - ie, consists of a main part in which the integrated keyboard and screen, and the passive flap cover, in which there is nothing, just explaining the sticker on the inside. Produced, of course, more complex devices - with a large screen and the keypad, which made just on the hinged lid. But this is impractical notebooks. Firstly, they are dearer. Secondly, they are easier to damage. Screen and the main part of such a device connected to an electric cable (flat strands). Bend radius is very small. Hundred or so times you open the book, and it can be discarded. Simple, cheap, practical cars have very small 3-5-line character display. Most often, no backlight, which is not so bad, given the small capacity of replaceable elements, from which feed on these notebooks. There are models with larger displays, but again - impractical. Large display is a source of potential damage, and increased power consumption. Importantly, to screen the notebook can be derived surname, name and patronymic, telephone number and, if necessary, and an email address. Other immaterial. In notebooks with a big screen (in 5-6 lines of 30-40 characters), there is an advantage if you make a database full of coordinates of its respondents - including the day of birth, full postal address and other data. But for storing detailed address database is better suited PDA. A calendar is convenient to use only books with graphic display. Simple on-screen machines can not display the list of cases scheduled for the week or month. To reach the desired entry, will sort out your calendar by individual days ... Which one is better to buy notebooks, so if you suddenly wanted to? Any model from a reputable manufacturer - Canon, Citizen, Casio, Olivetti, Sharp (list is quite long). Eminent firms able to guarantee the quality of their products - this is the first criterion for selection. Second - the price. A notebook does not have to be expensive, 20-40 dollars - at the time. All that expensive, too close to approaching the Palm `s ... more - screen and keyboard. The screen should be placed in the main part of the notebook, and does not cover (long serve). A keyboard should be implemented as a set of kalkulyatornyh buttons instead psevdosensornyh sockets (sensors terribly inconvenient), and have a normal QWERTY keyboard layout Russian. Come across a book with an alphabetical layout of XYZ. Memory is filled with such information exists typewriter torment. Fingers somehow got used to the normal computer keyboard, and breaking the established skills - not too bold for such nonsense. Finally, the memory ... I have repeatedly come across quite charming miniature pyatnadtsatidollarovye electronic notebooks from Canon and Olivetti with a storage capacity of 2 kilobytes. Incidentally, this is more than 2000 characters (the memory in notebooks is intended only for user data). Calculate how much space takes a phone list of your friends and a list of important things about which book should remind you. I assure you, in most cases, the memory of 2 kilobytes is enough for the eyes - if you're not the boss of some company or not ladies man (at that time and 8 MB of memory and Palm `might not be enough) ... E-notebook - is, of course, not a computer . This is not a tool for serious work and not even a full-featured electronic organizer. Thus, a modest pocket "pominalnik, replacing a paper notebook (just not forget - even with the encryption information). And, incidentally, a wonderful gift. Himself a gizmo like and not buy, and will give a birthday - you will be pleased. And if you do not skimp and choose a notebook with more or less a decent screen and enough memory, it can serve as an excellent cheat sheet. Students and pupils often use just electronic notebook, since these machines easy to hide, and they do not attract too much attention examiners. Calculator and a calculator, nothing seems to be suspicious. By the way, good teachers rarely objected to the use of electronic cheat sheets.To use it, the information will have to enter by hand. And once read, but once you're writing, you want to or not, has twice its memorized ... Well done, get three - for intelligence.

And without a keyboard

It may seem that cheap electronic notebook can help define the acquisition of a full-fledged handheld computer. Like, you should try this erundovinu, and see what happens - do I need PDA ... No, not help. Pocket PC - it is a different technique. This electronic book, a table, a work with texts, many different programs, including games. This is a different level, and other applications. E-book utilitarian, a pocket computer as universal. That is why the industry is thriving and electronic notebooks that does not feel much pressure from the CCP. However, there are two types of portable electronic devices are very similar to traditional PDAs. This electronic translators - the same notebooks but with advanced features and rather expensive (the cost of the older models is much higher than the cost of Palm handheld computers, entry-level). About them talk another time ... Guest - keyboardless electronic notebooks. Such devices long ago released the Japanese company Sharp, but they have not received proper extension (including the price). And now the Russian market came and Asian (Hong Kong) Company Apollo - manufacturer of portable electronic games. Her keyboardless notebooks Magic-I and P @ l-mate can be found in stores of the same electronic toys. Magic-I completely unpretentious trifle. It is designed as an electronic key fob with two-row (rusifitsirovannym!) display, is powered by a replaceable element, controlled via a multifunction button. Very similar to a miniature pager, but it is not a pager, a notebook with the ability to synchronize information ... with a desktop computer! Wireless Sync - should only bring charm to the screen PC monitor and run a special program (the same address database). And the notebook will overwrite the address information in its memory. In addition to the base to 120 phone numbers (even very personal) in the key fob is a clock, alarm clock, calendar, horoscopes, and even play. And the cost of the crumbs of 276 rubles. Another notebook from Apollo - P @ l-mate (due to difficulties with writing a text editor which the manufacturer calls the machine is so named by her as I simply Pal-mate) - touted as the world's smallest PDA (Personal Digital Assistant - Personal Digital Assistant). But what is a PDA? This is an electronic notebook with a limited feature set and again - with the ability to wirelessly synchronize data with a PC. Learn more about this little girl please visit www.mini-pda.ru. And I only briefly enumerate its capabilities. The first - with sync ... remember watch Timex, synchronization module that Microsoft was inserted into the email program Outlook. Own hours, we in Russia have not seen the (now sold and we do), but the program from timing out of curiosity tried many. Transmission of the information in the device of this type is the optical path. When you run the program on the screen there is a window on a black background which flashed light stripes - is the transfer of encoded data, which are perceived light sensor hours ... But what is clear is that the brightness of your laptop screen for optical data transmission is not enough. Designers P @ l-mate solved this problem very original way. During the transmission of information on the laptop blinks not only screen, but the Caps Lock and Num Lock. Bring the machine to the blinking light - she believes all the information. P @ l-mate is very similar to a PDA with touch input.There is even a hardware shortcut buttons to launch applications and scrolling the screen - all as in "adult" PDA. But his computer, I repeat, I would not dare call. Why? There are several reasons. For example, a machine implemented by inputting information only through the on-screen keyboard. She is constantly on screen (at the bottom) and not switched off. Russification not - you can write only in Latin. And the resolution and screen size is very small. And programs for this machine quite a bit - address book in a hundred names, calculator, alarm clock, horoscope, two games (one is the same as in the Magic-I - machines, in general, recruitment programs are very similar). That's it. The manufacturer promises the owners of P @ l-mate to download additional programs through the Internet, but referred to the Russian site posted only the applets that come bundled with the notebook. The most attractive in the P @ l-mate - the cost. Total 469 rubles! Roughly the same cost dvuhkilobaytnaya electronic notebook with a keyboard. And how much fun ...

About fun

Both machines I found in the souvenir shop at the Yaroslavl station - in Moscow. Keeping them in their hands, ponazhimat buttons and put in place. Very funny little things. A P @ l-mate just superb. It is a pity that not Russified and there is no text editor or any viewer. One could read books at least in a transliteration (the same way I once tried to use a miniature organizer REX 5000, yes, thank God, from this florid idea quickly abandoned). But as it is an electronic notebook - and why not? A good gift, for example, a child ... Although the child interested, above all, the game, and their babes in these not very much. Why do these things, with their extraordinary cheapness, did not want to buy? What prevented? He himself said - it is not a competitor to a PDA. Let peacefully coexisted in different pockets. There is then a heartbreaking detail. Even new just taken out of packaging machines - that charm, that "the world's smallest PDA" - do not look new. Distressing quality plastic, as the Chinese "Tetris" (by the way, Apollo is one of their producers), squalid buttons. And to look at, and touch - all somehow ... unpleasant. ... And it looks doubtful. There is no certainty that these devices will survive at least a week. However, this is my subjective evaluation. I do not think that I'm someone dissuaded from acquiring cute Chinese toys, I do not think, and vice versa - that persuade. Just appeared in stores a new interesting technique, and I spoke about it ... The authors, translation:

Flight: a hard life of the pilots of charter flights

Manager: On-board 7671, you will sit or go to the second round?

Pilot: Yes.

Dispatcher: "Yes what?

Pilot: Yes, sir!



We fell. It happened 15 years ago - I found myself in a rather difficult situation. After a chain of a variety of circumstances that are unrelated to this review and therefore will not be described, I was sitting in the pilot's seat Tu-154, performing an emergency descent. Clutching the steering wheel, I tried to look into a sea of ​​flashing arrows and feverishly revolving devices. The only man who could still save the situation, was the second pilot, who, by virtue of the same circumstances as the wheel does not touch, and only gave me directions. Through the fog below me the lights of the runway - a runway. Manager husky sleepy voice "gave the green light for landing. When approaching the second round, I refused the left engine. "Reverse" - muttered the pilot. Shift. "Artificial horizon" - a lazy squeezed it out yourself ... shaking hands line the roll plane, buried in the instrument. In turn jammed flaps, stabilizer broke off, the chassis was not made. "Earth" - throws me a brief pilot, convenient parking in the chair. Puzzled look at him. In order not to repeat itself, he points to the indicator "Beware, O earth!" been a minute flashing before me. With horror, I see at high speed approaching the band ... So I broke the plane. Yes, before I managed TU flopped with all his might on the ground, the cockpit flight simulator rushed infuriated chief academic department with a scream, "expelled", however, found in a chair upset failure teenager got there an acquaintance, stopped short. Sure of laughter that followed after that was heard throughout the building, aviation technical colleges. Since then much has changed. Perform various tricks on civilian aircraft, clap them on the runway and ram the skyscrapers you can now, without making his way secretly to the gym. Numerous simulations with varying degrees of reliability can be practiced flying on different sides - both military and civilian, and to do so for some time now and can be on the display device. Gamers of this genre are familiar Leo's Flight Simulator and a whole series of diverse letalok-shooter series of 3D Mini OmniG Software. Today we present the civil aviation, or rather, the story of the complicated fate of the pilots of charter flights - Flight of the game SmartMobile Games.

Plot

The brand new biplane Chenoe. He stands on the runway, wings glinting in the sun. Your first step to a million. Unlike most simulators, Flight in front of you has a specific purpose - performing various tasks to earn as much money. Without them, the game will not manage. Racket about in the sky for a long time do not have to - sooner or later, the fuel will not fly on that during the next mind-blowing tricks your heart stops beating machine. But pilots laborors will be rewarded - having accumulated the required amount, they will be able to buy more aircraft, thereby increasing speed and throughput. Trains do not go by sea, even in this strange part of the world (the symptoms of the Bermuda Triangle will be described below), and the ships too slowly ply the waves, so that the order you will not be shortchanged. By the way, floating means of transport also have an ugly habit of often enough to sink, so that participation in rescue operations (fly to the point of collapse and lose a life raft) is a constant source of income. In addition to the noble "chip-and-deylovskih" missions you are willing to pay for the delivery of cargo and the flight on the specified route. In addition, cash prizes will be awarded a variety of aerobatic maneuvers, for example, loop ($ 100), as well as passage through the ring (around $ 250) and a successful landing. And finally, you have the rich "speculative" arsenal: purchase a variety of goods on one island cheaply and sell at another more expensive.

Chenoe biplane on the runway

Interface

The screen orientation in Flight - horizontal, in the Options menu is provided for left turn to 180 degrees. In the same menu you can adjust the sound (Audio Options, the volume level for music and sound effects) and the quality of graphics (Graphics Low / Med / High). The main game interface changes depending on the display mode. You can select a view from the cockpit, the view from the tail of the aircraft, as well as film mode in which the flight is shown from different angles. Regime change when you repeatedly press on the camera icon in the toolbar. You can also choose the output to display the navigation map (the icon on the right after the camera). At the same time on the game interface is superimposed semitransparent map with the coordinates of the aircraft, distance remaining to destination, and line the route, so that we can simultaneously keep track of their location and fly a plane. On the map (the next icon in the toolbar row) can change the scale that allows you to track the position of the aircraft relative to the entire chain of islands. And finally, the last icon in the toolbar is a window services of the airport, where you can select a new airplane (a bookmark with a picture of a biplane), refuel and refine the parameters of their aircraft (a bookmark with a wrench), select the task (tab with notes) and do business (tab with the image of the safe). Airport Services are available only on the ground, to change job in the air, no manager would not allow, as an air tanker better to forget. Therefore, the focus and spend a full range of necessary actions on the ground.

The main game interface

For the instrument readings can be monitored from both the cabin and in the "outer mode" - in the latter case, they are shown on the left side of the screen. There are other small number of devices, which greatly facilitates the task to the great annoyance of fans of realistic flight. On the dashboard unpretentious aircraft are speed indicator, altimeter and fuel gauge. In more modern aircraft are added to the artificial horizon and a couple of minor in Flight instruments. Altimeter in the game I enjoyed the most: it is very important when flying at low altitude and landing. On his scale, the two arrows. Long, thin arrow shows hundreds of meters, and short - a thousand. The optimum height of flight - 4-5.000, low maneuvering may not be less than 500 m. In the same conditions, helps speed indicator. Artificial horizon - moving the ball with an image of the sky (blue) and earth (brown), separated by a horizon line, shows the aircraft roll and a major role in the game has not.

Game Consoles Cessna aircraft and the present

Well, here's a short briefing was over. Take off.

Gameplay

The game has two modes - Arcade and Simulation. Unfortunately, the difference between them could not comprehend. The game itself is quite fascinating. Despite the sometimes quite long flights between the islands, it does not seem like a dull and boring. Always interested in trying something new on the road. Wrap, say, loop the loop with a cargo of nitroglycerine on board. Agree, too "extreme" - as is common now to call. Still, even in the event of a fall or an explosion, you will again be on the same runway - very similar to the circumstances of the movie "Groundhog Day".

Map

The game starts on airport runway Tamopiya. The first step - filling. In the Services window, select the airport with a wrench and click on the Refuel. In the same window for each aircraft during the game will be offered a set of engineering modifications, such as improving the aerodynamic properties and the volume of fuel tanks. For the first Chenoe recommended to use the whole list, it will save you from a purely economical flight "without wind."

Airport Services: purchase of aircraft and those. Service

Step Two - choose a job (the button with the bill). Deliver package - deliver the goods at the destination, then fly to a designated airport in the job (often simply return to the airport to send). Search and rescue, - following the planned course, we find a tanker steaming and pressing the reset of the rubber raft. Survey flight - there is all the more harder to find on a map all the rings and fly through them. Step Three. Earn and save up. You are waiting for the new board - the faster, more powerful, with larger capacity. As you accumulate money you will open more opportunities - in a window air show (the button with the airplane) the number of models will increase.

Airport Services: jobs and commerce

There is also a possibility of earning through sale note only that you need a big capital - must buy various goods and refer to the price level at each airport. Cheap? Buy. Expensive? Sell, the rich ... And do not forget to save the game, but then you never know what ... Insurance is not provided.

Graphics and sound

As for sound, and on schedule Flight inferior Leo's Flight Simulator and games OmniG Software. Graphics less detailed, but the cabin design I like - it is more realistic and the design of devices made in strict accordance with the real. During the game you will be accompanied by the sound of "vrrr" engine "chrrr" landing (which is quite funny sounds when falling into water) and "bang" crash (sound, I just became a mother). I wish only the first two.

Field tests

I've tried everything - from ramming planes flying by, to various acrobatic stunts and reconstruction of the tragic events of September 11. Have to disappoint fans of realistic disaster - nothing spectacular in this sense is not expected. Firstly, to ram the plane you just do not succeed, you simply through it drop. By the way, in pursuit of the ugly sides of the desire to face, I noticed a rather unusual item, which led me to conjecture about the geography of the game. Planes in the game ... lost. Yes, yes, dissolve into the air. Here you chase him with obscene and aggressive to the collision, and he rrraz - and disappeared. A typical Bermuda Triangle.

Aviaekvilibristika

The only effect of the collapse of a smoke, regardless of whether you have crashed on land or fell into the sea.But "slammed" on the building, plane crashes spectacularly down, releasing a cloud of smoke that shows you from different angles. In addition, above a certain level will not be able to fly, is bounded above the speed limit. In the end, we did not break the plane came here. Nevertheless, the developers have provided a set of realistic surprises. A couple of times in an attempt to make the noose I've overdone, and the engine stopped functioning (!), In addition, at low speeds and windy conditions you will find a "bumpiness" and align the airplane will sometimes not so simple.

Passage

First - do not forget to refuel aircraft at each airport, or the fall is inevitable. And now about other ways of earning. Let's start with the rings. More likely you'll find them on Tamopii, the island the very first airport in the game. Taking off outside the airport, turn right and fly as close as possible to the ground. Yellow flashing rings are very close, but the developers have cleverly placed them in the valley, so I have a lot of practice before you can fly through them. They are arranged one after the other, so that the right got into this "tunnel" could be earning more than $ 1000. Three more rings are located on the east of the ravine. Here, they also placed a rather tricky: two over the bridge and the one below it. And finally, the last couple of rings on the island - the south-east of the airport, between two buildings.

Prize ring: the bottom of the looming $ 1000

Takeoff must be dispersed. Rather unusual evidence of the readiness for take-off aircraft is lowering its nose. Fly comfortably in the rear-view camera mode, which is visible to leverage the speed and scale of all the devices, which at the sight of the cabin obscured by the steering wheel. Mode is also useful in low flight: the shadows, appearing on earth, it is easy to control the height. Recommended to lower the speed while moving through the ring and landing. Please note that the route line only connects the three airports of origin and destination and are by no means a designated course. Most often, when landing you need to change direction and bend around the airport to leave the runway. During landing speed reset to the last division, keep horizontal plane, sit in the center of the band and immediately after landing, turn off the engine (speed lever to the zero mark). Your customers will appreciate the respect for their shipment and will pay you for it down to $ 300 (Great landing bonus).

Coveted "Albatross"

How to spend? .. With an increase in your capital, the list of aircraft that can be purchased, is expanding. An accomplishment in the game is loading "Albatross" for $ 20,000. But what speed! .. Note that it is better to swoop need money for a small biplane and just buy a big plane. Gradual shift in the game does not work very well: with a certain time in a stream of orders is beginning to wane. But where we did not disappear - we have one loop wrap us that we need!

Summary

Fly on the contract. This is something new. We are looking for, save, execute, maneuvering, make emergency reduction, deliver the goods, we get the money kopim, buy new planes - it's fun! Despite the fact that the graphics are not very detailed, and sounds do not have the proper variety, play it interesting. More than once I was convinced that the realistic graphics are not the most important thing in the game, although it is very desirable. SmartMobileGames bad bother creating a game that is different from commercially available handheld gaming. Novelty factor is so rare in this industry, is unquestionably one of the main advantages of the game. Mastering the geography of the game and getting to know the location of bonus rings, you feel the experienced pilot, so that the job type "to fly to Cape Senkler and return to the airport about.Tamopiya "no longer forced to consult the map. It's nice that the main developer of the game, Tom Cooper, continually modify and improve it, so that, enjoying the charter flight (a sense of the impossible in the real world), we also look forward to new opportunities, new adventures , new means of livelihood and new customers.

Acknowledgments

Thank studio SmartMobile Games for contributing to review the commercial version of the game.

Links

Flight for Pocket PC and Symbian UIQ All games studio SmartMobile Games in the "Program for PDA" on HPC.ru. The authors, translation:

ViewSonic v35: hello, bird!

Heard, Pocket PC cheaper? And, so cheaper, that are comparable in cost with Palm `s budget. Is not it great? Very, very cool. I have even called this event "a revolution in your pocket, yes, I'm afraid I misunderstood ... At this time the distinguished "monitor" to ViewSonic. You know, a cute label with multi-colored birds (incidentally, tkachiki - charming southern establishment, which often have at home). Until recently, the ViewSonic monitors, and engaged exclusively in this case has made significant strides. But then the company is interested in portable computers, releasing wow flatbed machine (very close to the upcoming Tablet PC). Now that's a PDA-class Pocket PC. I have to say - nothing outstanding in the new computer, V35 no. The most common Pocket PC ... But it is only to look at the price - $ 249. It is true that in America, not from us (Fit the additional 50 dollars, you get "we"). I say there is pretty cool. For the money, and - Pocket PC ... Here it is happiness ... I wonder what we offer for these "almost 250"? And why so cheap? We ought to look closely.

Something about the money

What is included in the cost of a handheld computer (margin of wholesalers and retailers to put aside)? The cost of hardware and software Pocket PC. Plus nabavka manufacturer, which is not only to cover the cost of production and ensure profits, but also to pay for development of future models of computers. The high price of pocket typewriters Pocket PC family of conditioned color value matrix with the mechanism of sensory sensitivity, the cost of the processor, flash memory and the operating system MS Windows CE. What happened extraordinary, if manufacturers have begun to aggressively cut prices? It is unlikely that we are talking about reducing the rate of return or a sharp increase in production. In this sector of the market is not so much space to allow sales of products for this expansion (although the PDA market is growing). News of the cardinal cheaper (at times!) Software from Microsoft, too, seems to be no. Another rally to consolidate its market position at Intel, at present the only manufacturer of processors for Pocket PC? Or matrix color LCD become cheaper? Most likely, the decline in prices occurred immediately in all directions. Cheaper processors, memory chips and liquid crystal matrix (the less). Increased volumes of production - to a sufficient degree to reduce the cost of production itself. Microsoft has a great attention has to treat its "iron" partners. And so on. But the main reason, in my opinion, is contained in the book of Bill Gates' The Road Ahead. " Handheld computers have experienced a stage of technical innovations and become a mass commodity. And this is very different production, different pricing and other terms of competitive confrontation ... But all this, though higher, but tedious matter. We as users of PDAs are more interested in how much we have to spend hard-earned on his passion pocket cars. And here the news is also good. Handheld computers will become cheaper, including the brands of the brand - for example, the same Sony CLIE. Fighting something unfolds with serious and, as among the cheapest entry-level computers, as well as in the camp of hi-end.

At number 35

Now, actually the new Pocket PC V35 (such full computer name given on the company website ViewSonic). Let's start with the appearance of ... never mind machine, beautiful. Slightly reminiscent of subtle PDAs from Toshiba, although you can say so - all low cost PDAs are surprisingly similar. None of them that courtesy, that refinement that distinguishes expensive models of the senior group, like the famous iPaq. In V35 elegant two-color plastic casing (white top, black bottom ").The design is very simple - on the front of the four programmable buttons run basic applications, the round navigation button (joystick), star-shaped lattice dynamics of the system ... The presence of dynamics means that the acoustic characteristics is not truncated, like a Casio BE-300 and not go beyond generally accepted standards Pocket PC. That is a voice machine will be quite decent. Inspect the controls. And we find that V35 has adopted features of both Pocket PC, and Palm `Yes. Power Button presented for the upper bound of the body (in most Windows CE machines, it is located on the front panel next to the buttons quick launch). There is also a infrared port (fellows, do not forget) and the only expansion slot format Secure Digital (presumably, with support for cards MMC). Well exactly - Palm ... While the rest - Pocket PC. Look further. The left lateral face is not overloaded. Wheel-type jog dial (hi company Sony - its invention), the rollback button (I think is) the nest audio input / output ... Yes, your computer does a microphone, respectively, no and switch the recorder. Reservation - probably because in the plant description (an unusually detailed and high-quality design - check out the ViewSonic website and check in person) about the microphone and the recorder is not a word. If your computer does not, and mini-jack for an external microphone, then things are bad. But I believe he still is. Would emphasize the firm audio capabilities of your computer (leaning to play MP3 files), if any computer functions in this area will be truncated? Although, who knows ... What else? A pair of lights - the battery charge and notification of upcoming events. Synchronizing PDA with a PC - and through the USB port via the supplied "crib." For the type of crib looks cute. Perhaps the most hollow for a few cars too small. Although not visible in photographs - whether "crib" supporting rear backup machine. If yes, then everything is fine. No - I, too, in general, nothing. Most importantly - electronic components. Ekran a V35 standard for Pocket PC is the size that is 3.5 inches diagonally. Matrix color, active. Highlighting reflective (reflective), with switchable lamp. Screen resolution of 240x320 pixels. All very ordinary (in the sense of - expensive) Pocket PC. Although the transflective screen, which is equipped with a brand new PDA, there is only a new hi-end iPaq 3900. Processor ... very interesting model - XScale from Intel, but the clock speed is not 400, and 300 megahertz. That is, theoretically, the computer must give way to the Pocket PC based on the 400-megahertz XScale processor performance. But in fact it will be noticeable only in special-edged optimized applications. In the meantime, the performance of 206-megahertz processor StrongARM and XScale is new about the same level (with a slight advantage of the latter). So that the "brake" the computer will not V35. Memory ... There really is interesting. Typical - 32 and 64MB. What is different from handheld computers older group? The answer - nothing. Maybe this machine "dead" battery? Precise characteristics do not give it - no tanks, no other options. Said only - Lithium-Ion battery, up to 10 hours of battery life ... Okay, let the record time of 10:00, achievable when running "light" applications and disconnected the screen backlight. But with light, in this case, the machine will run no less than 6 hours. Enough? Quite! .. On what did they save? What usekli machine in order to reduce the final price? May have used his own version of Windows CE, as in the same BE-300 (that's really zamoroka so zamoroka). Consider ... No, Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium Edition. All it is now customary to express "complete OK.

When and what to expect?

When exactly ViewSonic sale for public, nobody knows. Although the machine is already being offered on Amazon for the price of the manufacturer (the American model for $ 249 are not round). Especially do not know when your computer will appear here in Russia ... A sure - you often look into the "MakTsentr. There, like new items, especially long-term ... The new V35 is worse than their competitors selling now? Why it costs so low - at the level of color Palm `s m130? Vpriglyadku difficult to determine. Perhaps building a computer a little easier.There is not a variety of accessories (machine will be popular will and accessories). Other difference is difficult to even imagine, so the technical specifications V35 coincide with the characteristics of the bulk of Pocket PC. However, it may be not as distinct, and that the V35 - the model sign. It gives a never seen before race start lowering prices. If handheld computers and in fact become a mass commodity (in the west - exactly), then manufacturers will release their huge numbers, in great variety and will not fight for a dollar for every dime of profit. Change primary priorities. From an attempt to surprise the consumer unexpected opportunities, it would be surprising low cost. Another question - what will become a rival platform - with computers running Palm OS 5? Interesting question, huh? Most of us chose Palm because of the affordable prices - again, and because of the huge number of programs - twice. Today the situation has equalized. For the new Palm `and will release new software, and cheap Pocket PC use the same software as their expensive predecessors. Are there any in this case, the Palm `s at least some advantages? Price, price alone ... Therefore, the cost of Palm `s too, will fall to an all-time low mark? It looks like it would happen ... By the way, in normal set of programs that will be included in V35, there is nothing remarkable. Standard software standard Pocket PC. Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Outlook. And so on, until the "reading room" and media player ... Oh, found it! Toy only one - the immortal game of solitaire Solitaire. So on what they have saved - on the toys! And the price immediately fell three times ...), authors, translation:

Games for Pocket PC and Smartphone: a review of the June novelties

Psychopaths - a favorite subject of Hollywood, infiltrated now and the display of our handheld. However, in contrast to the serious lockjaw dubious Hollywood beauties, here we are waiting for a humorous look at things. Nobody is going to load your thoughts on the topic of crazy places in society and their risk for the average American, wherever he lived. Hail saving sense of humor, friends. Especially nice and close that it comes from a Russian studio Handy Entertainment. In this issue - just two games from them: PsychoPath and Dreamway. Month, generally failed. Another game from PDAMill, this time the studio acted as a publisher, however, issue under its brand name has meant quality. Incidentally, in the continuation of the recently released PDAMill Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Fighting dragons is still going on! Only this time in the Artificer we earn on it. Read this article also explain the mysterious stories of the dancing hippo Crazy Jack-e, a talent that for some reason, rushed to the scattering of bombs. Unable to understand the vicissitudes of life that drove him to such a drastic change in the profile of activity, I asked about it at the director-founder of the studio. In addition, extreme racing Dreamway, puzzle Plexus and helicopter simulator Chopper Flight. Have a nice day. And smile, gentlemen!

PsychoPath 2. Beware of the Car!

Heavy armored door creaked open. Red-haired man of medium height wearing a white shirt and striped trousers he turned his head and nodded to the orderly at the door. He waved back huge ruchischey. "You have this one - he boomed a deep voice in farewell - easier out there on the loose. As the doctor ordered." Redhead cute smile and a confident gait he went to the car. Understood the bloody dawn. In the distance loomed the first pedestrians. On a plot of the game only coming out of the gate hospital, our hero back into her old ways and throws crush of pedestrians. The more moves, so he'd better. Nemostrya on krovozhany scenario, the game was done with humor. It all begins with early birds - old women with terrible tousled hair and string bags in their hands, funny scream "Ouch" at running. After them, there are punks with flame-red trim and the Iroquois chistyuli-businessmen and diplomats, hurrying to work. For the defenseless old ladies who are unable to escape from the crazy driver, led the way, our hand, we get 5 points for punks - 10 for business - 20. Recipe of the first stage - for 110 seconds "squeeze" of pedestrians at 1000 points. With each new stage, new actors and new obstacles. Thus, the second phase added skateboarders, shouting "Get out!" careening past (30 points), and on the third level lazily crawl to work road workers, poked around road barricades to slow down for a couple of seconds, the vehicle speed. So try to crush the workaholic before they begin active work. And on the next, the fourth stage, everything becomes much more difficult. By noon on the job beyond the notorious traffic police you with magical striped sticks. You can violate, abuse can drive without a license - is not prohibited, but not run - it, that's impossible. What hypocrisy! Blue cap will run after you on the road until you try to push even pedestrians. Important - not to collide with the same purpose, because then ... "Get out. Hands on the hood. Documents. Tak soooo. Unwell, I mean. Where I got a certificate of mental health problems? But will pass, comrade." Returning to the hospital involuntarily ask ourselves a classic question: "Why do old women killed?" On the quality of "psychopath with a big road" is one of the best games I tested this year. Firstly, the rarity of unusual, but neat, comfortable and attractively done the main menu - everything is intuitive and without unnecessary details, such as reassignment of functions of the buttons, so beloved by other developers, and the choice between OpenGL, Direct3D, and other opportunities, korobyaschih hearing. We only have four movements to the joystick, however, preferred to play a stylus.Beautiful funny characters with funny sounds. Incidentally, the audio portion of would like to mention separately, it is really good: the original musical accompaniment quite irritating and suitable topics, and cries of pedestrians forced smile. Passage. More points you can score if you keep the car at the top of the screen. Also, do not succumb to emotions and not chasing pedestrians escaped, only time will spend. Discount! For Russian users a special price - just $ 100 if paid through the system Yandex.Dengi and WebMoney. There are also ways to pay by credit card, through the Savings Bank, a bank or postal money order, but in these cases should contact the company for instructions. Incidentally, the company sent its observations on the passage (Tips & Tricks), you have a chance to get a gift certificate for $ 20. Warning. Program during installation for some reason sits in the directory Program Files / Microsoft ActiveSync.

Trio XScale

New Pocket PC with powerful Intel XScale processor already on store shelves and even Russian stores. While the windows adorned only HP iPaq 3970 - everything was clear. Here is a leader in which you want to navigate. But the leader did not stay alone. Next to the S600 there are "seven" BMW and Audi S8 - Toshiba e740, and Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX. Here is a comparative overview of three PDA-class high-end, make up the pride of the PDA market. Nowadays, of course. After all the processors for PDAs with a frequency of 1.2 GHz is not far off :-)

Packing

All three of the PDA is very high quality decorated. Solidly all, in my opinion, still iPaq - it inside plastic boxes, not boxes. And his papers packed in hard plastic case. In all three boxes all packed into individual bags, all neatly sealed and arranged into sections. Feel that the products quality and Vysk from solid brands. For example, with the same "budget" Casio BE-300 or frankly Korean Wincent 320 (with all due respect to him) just do not compare. What, indeed, expected - typewriter class High-End. In two - iPaq and the LOOX - to spare stylus included. At Toshiba itself, unfortunately, is not observed. This, however, perhaps the only difference in configuration. In addition to the "chute", all three CPC set postavkm standard - the cradle, power supply, thick-thick manual on good paper with good printing. In LOOX'a printing slightly lower quality, but also a thick book and pleasant. Noticed some strange thing: and a Toshiba e740, and Pocket LOOX power supplies consist of two parts, and look at both the twin brothers. On one side of the adapter and connector to the PDA, on the other - the usual fork. Wire as a result of long, but the adapter box, it turns out to be lying on the table that, in my opinion, somewhat unaesthetic, and even takes place. In iPaq'a standard PSU nasadochkoy to connect directly, bypassing the cradle. I ask myself the question: is it not possible to do in case the proper hole and abandon the adapter, as in all PDAs? Adapter, of course, remove the work-wear is not very big, but if he loses? In addition, the disc box with software and cheholchiki. And again in the minutiae Hewlett Packard barely wins. He has included corporate "jacket without a jacket, made famous in the municipality of 3800 - that is, cover that fits like a jacket protects the casing and screen, but does not take place. Cover the screen traditionally clear, so that the text alerts can also be seen without opening it. At Toshiba e740 "standard" black leather "envelope", and in general LOOX some Cloth monster with a strange clasp, which does not close, but still considerably larger size than the LOOX - PDA it aloud dangles. Such cases would fit belt clip, and it is not.

This would cover complete ...

But thank you for Fujitsu-Siemens, so it's a detachable from the cradle sync cable. Now the house can do "everything like everyone else, but in the way bulky cradle not to take without buying expensive accessories at the same time - to connect the PDA to the PC via the supplied cable. The only thing that smells like rubber, which is made from cable, somehow very intense. This dream drug abuser.

Appearance and ergonomics

For HP (formerly Compaq) iPaq, we all have been accustomed to. At HP 3900 standard housing the 38th series: time-tested, but the "forever young" and stylish design. According to this indicator Compaq was always ahead. About Design 38-series is said a lot, so that we can not repeat. Design of Toshiba I liked very much, although as it turned out later - the beauty is not important. Rigorous, but not brittle line, noble matt-silver-colored, polished letters TOSHIBA below the screen, an elegant black hull lines - classic beauty.Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX, on the contrary - the sample's modernist art. Asymmetric body, smooth, curved contours. This PDA is better than others to the arm and adapted to the "one-handed" management. About ergonomics iPaq also know everything. Use it in moderation it is convenient, although the button layout of delight and does not cause: too much stick and not a very good button on the recorder). The stylus is a new handheld remains the same. On first impression it seemed that the joystick has become softer, but then the feeling passed. Toshiba - sample frankly ill-placed buttons. The Power button is pressed while necessarily keeping the CPC in a case - and when taken out, and when the insert. And the record button finger falls under withdrawal machines from the cradle and set it there. As a result, the CCP, when it is absolutely not expect from him, and starts to record conversations of others. In an unusual place - on the left below - is the infrared port. The front panel of two indicators: they are included during charging and when enabled wireless data Wi-Fi. Battery cover is removed - not surprising, because as one of the main accessories Toshiba offers enhanced battery power. The joystick is small but very soft and comfortable. He has no fixed direction, as in iPaq. Use it - a pleasure. Plus standard Chetri buttons - three for a PIM-application and one for "HOME" (something like a quick menu plus a task switcher - its own development Toshiba). Speaker, as always, below the microphone on top. It is unusual that the slots for expansion cards are located nearby - on the top panel. And this despite the fact that the e740 - the thinnest model of the three! But how much fun you will when you try to insert a Compact Flash and fix the button-pusher! I will not tell you what to do. All written in the instructions, but those who did not read it, let pomuchayutsya I wonder :-) made hard reset - as a tiny switch on the bottom. The same "toggle is enabled, and Wi-Fi.

Left to right: LOOX, e740, iPaq 3970

LOOX, as I said, just nice to pick up, although his body does not look as solid as the other two (there is anodized, and the deep, plastic - it is simply plastic, painted). LOOX, moreover, is the easiest Pocket PC from the "present". The front panel keys are predictable - 4 PIM'a. Joystick in size almost like Toshiba (slightly less), and despite the fact that the course had more than the Toshiba, vyzyvet oshushenie inconvenience. Here, on the contrary, the microphone on top and bottom of the speaker, but that is an important cause. By LOOX can connect GSM / GPRS module and it will become a full-fledged phone. Naturally, with this arrangement speaker and microphone to speak better. Cover, covering the connector for this module, treacherous as the era of palace revolutions. She seems to be holding a "dead", prilagaesch more effort, and it finally flies off with a bang. Not only that we have to look for her, so even during the search for sure she broke in at least half. But no, alive and zhivehonka and without a scratch. Hard reset and wireless (in the case of the Pocket LOOX is Bluetooth), as well as on the e740, include hardware switches. In LOOX'e unusual that upravlyayushie keys are located at both ends. However, the "right" button is very conveniently located under the middle finger of his left hand. Place a familiar record button on the left is the start button "Main Menu" - utility, developed by the manufacturer. Expansion slots are available as usual - CF above, SD on the left. Dot soft reset hidden somewhere at the top of the rear panel.

Screen. Hardware.

Unconditionally prefer HP iPaq 3970. He only truly new type of screen - transflective.In some foreign surveys, wrote that LOOX and the same breed, but no - he had the same terrible "fluorescent lamp" on the screen, like the older models. The result is evident - the iPaq screen is much brighter and more contrast than the other two models. And LOOX, by the way, the screen is generally very dark and dismal. In addition, a new type of screen is much better behaved in the sun - everything is visible, nothing is twofold. Just feast for the eyes, not the screen. Somehow using it in a completely dark room, I found the way to the switch is safely behind all the chairs and tables. No halo, of course, but as a flashlight amiss. And yet (a pebble in LOOX'a) - the screen had some cotton. Backlight is switched on only when you turn somewhere in a second, when you turn off the image as it "crawls" on the screen - slowly and reluctantly. In addition, the Pocket LOOX noticeably tighter pressure-sensitive layer on the screen. To press the button, or write something must exert more effort than the other two participants tested, and indeed, more than on any PDA, with whom I dealt. However, you get used to it quickly and do not feel any discomfort. On the effectiveness of Transcriber'a (programs for handwriting recognition), increased stiffness has no effect. Otherwise, the "iron" characteristics, three PDAs - almost twins. Processors Intel XScale 400 MHz, 32 MB Flash ROM for e740 and Pocket LOOX and 48 MB for HP iPaq 3970, from which the user is allocated already 22, however, part of the program is busy Nevo. 64 MB ROM, two expansion slots (Compact Flash and Secure Digital) for e740 and Pocket LOOX and only one - Secure Digital - from HP. That's what results it leads to:

			iPaq 3970	Toshiba e740	Pocket LOOX
CPU		Floating Point	12.66	12.65	12.62
		Integer	26.93	26.96	26.86
Graphics	Bitmaps	BitBit	25.99	72.07	47.12
		StrechBit	0.79	0.25	0.94
	Filled	Ellipse	0.51	1.00	2.59
		Rectangle	2.09	5.01	4.16
		Rounded Rectangle	0.59	0.80	2.11
Memory		Allocation	11.16	11.48	11.81
		Fill	0.93	0.95	0.91
		Move	0.37	0.39	0.36
Text			3.20	1.19	3.78

What did the tests: Floating Point - floating-point operations are needed in high-precision mathematical calculations, which, for example, can be used when working with spreadsheets in Excel. Integer - integer calculations are used for basic arithmetic operations where there are no fractions. Bitmaps - BitBit - drawing a bitmap (BMP) image while preserving the original image size. Bitmaps - StretchBit - rendering bitmap image by resizing the original image. Ellipse - from top left to bottom right and fills an ellipse is drawn in red, green and blue. Rectangle - same with the rectangle. Rounded Rectangle - again the same thing, but a rectangle with rounded edges. Allocation shows how fast the Pocket PC can be booked and osobozhdat memory. This operation is a variety of applications and perform in their daily work more often. Fill - a block of memory (500 Kbytes) is filled with data.Fill rate shows how fast your computer will run. Move - the transfer of a block of memory. Text - shows how fast the text is drawn on the screen. Note that the use of ClearType font smoothing slightly reduces the speed of rendering. It is difficult to deduce some regularity. And anyway, in my opinion, these tests do not otrazhayutrealnoe things (such as old CPUs Intel StrongARM XScale ahead for the two indicators are two to three times). But, once tested ... Perhaps, Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX slightly overplays the rest of the schedule, but worse than working in the tests where the load loditsya exclusively on the processor. Hewett Packard iPaq does not win in any setting, but in practice (by subjective feelings) works pozadornee others. Anyway, not exactly slow. In general, the test to clear my conscience - he did not in fact establish.

Work experience. Multimedia

Now these very subjective feelings. Operating system works much the same as on the StrongARM. Open menus, dialog boxes pop up message poyayavlyayutsya except for a paltry fraction of a second faster. The difference is noticeable only in transactions where you really need the power of the processor. For example, texts and pictures of a large amount of open times and a half faster than the StrongARM, and the toy Interstellar Flames Demo - three-dimensional space simulator - noticeably more frames per second than before. By the way, Pocket LOOX in this toy somehow retarding ... In general, multimedia capabilities with a new processor soon widened, but the "usability" (pleasure use) hardly increased enough to justify the difference in the $ 100 (for example, the difference iPaq'ami between different series). On the other hand, for sure, and Microsoft itself said this, there will be work on the "fit" the OS for the new processor, so that we can expect an update, which will certainly appear, and wait until "it all will fly." But the multimedia capabilities at the expense of the new processor, perhaps, improved. MPEG video played fine. Frames 15-17 (maybe more) in second test video just gave out on all the machines. For one thing: Toshiba e740 with a standard version of Pocket TV (a program for viewing MPEG) slows down, it needs a revised Enterprise Edition. This, incidentally, is written in the description of the program Pocket TV. Set up and just heart rejoices at the typewriter. Monsters from "Monsters, Inc." (trailer) jump very perky, not faltered. And anyway, if you have enough memory, you can udovlstviem and without stress posmotert a movie, good DivX also works well on level. " The sound quality of all three machines is approximately the same. Actually, not their job - to work high-end portable players. Again, I will give preference to iPaq 3970, but this is mainly due to the built-in utility Compaq Audio (should probably be renamed to its HP Audio :-), which allows to add "bass and treble. In the metro to listen well. However, with programs like WithMP3 with built-in EQ, gain iPaq, perhaps even become extremely speculative. All three PDAs are equipped with the wireless transmission of data, but different. Bluetooth in the iPaq 3970 Pocket LOOX and works flawlessly. Machines have found each other, found astolny PC connected Bluetooth-transmitter, all friends with each other (ie form a pair of devices that will enable the exchange of information), and safely exchange files and contacts, and synchronize with your desktop PC. Wi-Fi (802.11b), built-in Toshiba, behaved not as great. PDA and desktop PC saw each other, e740 ping (ie "was"), but Active Sync and not earned. Already appeared was a green glow and whirling already heard the call of the sound, but the connection broke. Nothing to do with this trouble was not possible. True, we had only one Wi-Fi transmitter, so it is unlikely the result can be considered final. Multimedia and wireless communications have helped to solve one of the most important issue - the "survivability" PDA.I decided not to write that one PDA battery such a capacity, but the other half as much, then it is cooler. Instead, it had a very simple test - Playing Pocket TV to the endless repetition of running a movie trailer "Monsters Inc.", the backlight turned to maximum, the sound too. Plus, each PDA is working its wireless transmitter - Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Who will last longer in such extreme conditions? Toshiba e740 was terrible panikershey. The first report on low battery (Battery is low) appeared within 58 minutes after the start of the test, although the battery was still half a charge. Red alert (battery VERY low) appeared on 11% zazryada when passed two small hours. Finally, after 2 hours 16 minutes in batreya discharged to 1% and Toshiba refused to be included. Battery LOOX behaved a bit better (that, in general it is not surprising - Bluetooth "eats" less than 802.11b). He also showed a red light for further work in 2 hours and 2 minutes of testing time, but this prb in the battery was still a fifth of the charge. In 2 hours and 10 minutes remaining only 14%, and 2.28 (9% already charge!) Machine is no longer included.

The brightness of the screen - the maximum

But the iPaq 3970 the first signs of trouble began to show almost two hours - 1.48 after the test, he warned that the battery remaining 40% charge. In the 2.14 charge was still 25% and car behaved very bravely. Finally disconnected it is only 3.15 with a 5% charge on the credit side. iPaq - deserved winner of the test.

Software

Any software can find, download and install it yourself, so, in my opinion, the bonus program - very priyanaya, but it's so small thing. In this connection, I'll be brief. The iPaq 3970 is more powerful infrared than in the previous series, so you can send a signal to several meters. Naturally, this can be used to prvratit PDA into a remote control. What program and is engaged Nevo - a program to control household appliances. Program is a smart (she has a heap-based settings for different models of consumer electronics), and students - you can add your own settings. Pretty easy to use interface - in one box all the equipment of the room. With the technique Pamasonic and Sony (TV, stereo and VCR) has worked flawlessly. In addition, the iPaq is integrated image viewer. It works quite quickly, but there thumbnail'ov (small images for preview), so voting for third-party products. For example, Resco Piture Viewer. Although, of course, free of charge greatly increases the appeal of a standard browser.

Nevo

In the Toshiba e740 from innovations is a page HOME (see above). Vesh not very interesting, because it is not. In the Pocket LOOX is a separate button to open the menu his own, Fujitsu-Siemens'ovskoy development. There are shortcuts to all the standard programs, as well as fairly easy and fast task switcher. All programs are "scattered" across categories. Pocket PlugFree - Utility for Bluetooth. More functional, but less comfortable than on the iPaq.

Quick menu LOOX

Total

Do not want to make a conclusion in favor of one of the three participants. All three - remarkable device, the work that brought great pleasure. Everyone has a lot of pros, each - a minor flaw that almost did not reduce the overall attractiveness. However, in the Class High-End, device costing more than $ 650, you could avoid these disadvantages. About myself I can say that the work (and after it :-) I use Hewlett Packard iPaq 3970.On its side the name, quality, great screen, nice trifles in the form of additional software. iPaq - the best selling Pocket PC brand in Europe and the USA. However, it is only personal opinion and does not pull on the council. For example, many lack the slot Compact Flash - a big disadvantage. Yes, and design LOOX'a, for example, objectively nicer. Compare, choose! The authors, translation:

Soon on the displays of the country!

"Vrrrrummmmm! - Urchat automobile engines. "Pibib! - Herald the approach signals. Game artists are obviously going through a period that can be called a "car": judging by the number of upcoming races, soon we will have the dominance of bagels, thick exhaust emissions from cars and adrenaline of the pancreas. Nevertheless, it is not sad: all games are different both in plot and in execution and functionality. Here the famous Need for Speed, and colorful 3D Speed ​​City, and gambling Karnaaj Racing. Stories this week forced obliznutsya: amazing story of the Order of the Templars, enveloped in mystery and overgrown with legends, continuing the story of the epic world of Arvale, and gambling games, puzzles, contests at the speed of reaction ... Hurray! The market is gradually losing its boring monotony! Read and see ... soon on display!

Need for Speed. Detective with Amazon.com

It all started with a single page. Well-known online retailer Amazon.com publishes almost a blank page for the forthcoming product with the name of "Need for Speed ​​(Pocket PC)". Page, of course, immediately found the ubiquitous gamers in search of news wanders into the remotest corners of the Internet. About this error message on the forums PocketGamer.org. After that, it is found that along with the version of the game for mobile phones, according to spaces of a computer network wander as long anticipated race for Pocket PC is under development. And while managed to find a link to a file and even learn from other gamers that the game works perfectly on the models of Dell Axim x50v and Jornada, the file itself, unfortunately, failed to download. According to reviews in the same forum, the game is inferior to the original mainly on the quality of texture processing. Hopefully.