Pretec company and its products: unique flash card 2-in-1, MPEG4-camera, GSM / GPRS module for PDAs, etc

Yesterday the Moscow office MakTsentr visited a friendly visit by representatives of the American company Pretec, the world leader in flash memory cards with capacity from 16 MB to 6 GB (!), Unique accessories and peripherals for handheld computers. Recall that during last year's CeBIT 2002 MakTsentr signed an agreement with Pretec the right to exclusive distribution of its products in Russia. Since then, the Russian Internet zone operates the official website of the company (www.pretec.ru), and MakTsentr promptly deliver to the Russian market the latest solutions from Pretec. So, at the November Comdex Fall'2002 exhibition in Las Vegas, Pretec has demonstrated expansion cards Compact Flash memory record at the time of - 1 GB, 1.5 GB, 2 GB and 3 GB, and in January, new items have appeared on sale in Moscow shops network "The computer in the palm." On the following days ago CeBIT 2003 MakTsentr received the award as a distributor of products of this company's fastest-growing business. Our American guests Gordon Yu, president of the Pretec and Ruby Wang, director of sales, have minimized its program in Moscow, decided to limit to one day stay. However, after negotiations that took place in MakTsentr we were able to interview them. Despite his busy schedule, our guests willingly shared with us information, including confidential. HPCru: Give you prefer any operating system for PDAs, releasing their products? Which platform considered the most promising in terms of expansion cards? Gordon Yu: Yes. We mainly focus on devices based on Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002 and the upcoming version of the OS, Pocket PC 2003. Therefore, at this point prefers Standard Secure Digital as the best prospect for Pocket PC devices and peripherals, respectively, on its basis, that is SDIO-products. Though can not help but note the importance of cheapest and most frequent Compact Flash. At the moment, Pretec offers a complete range of devices and expansion cards, memory form factor CF. But in the end (Mr. Gordon Yu sly smile - approx. HPCru), with the Symbian operating system has a great future, and therefore again a reference to keep on SD and SDIO-card. HPCru: In this case, namely SD form-factor, you are giving the greatest preference, considered the most promising? Gordon Yu: While preference Sompact Flash as a less expensive form factor, but now we are gradually moving to SD. Recently, we expect to begin selling a large number of enhancements based on SD. Among them - the digital camera on an expansion card memory standard Secure Digital (takes pictures at 640x480 pixels - approx. HPCru), presented at the CeBIT 2003, prezentatsionnny complex on an SD card or USB-key chains series iDISK, which can also "work with" CF or SD-cards. In general, we have a range of innovative products. This so-called multifunction cards based on the CF, that is, devices such as "2-in-1, combining, say, GPRS-module and 128 MB memory card, Bluetooth-GPS-transmitter and receiver or the same GPS-receiver and a 128 MB memory card. New items are compatible with Pocket PC devices and some Palm'ami. In the second half of 2003 we plan to issue cards GPRS + Bluetooth and GPRS +802.11 b. And the aforementioned module GPRS + 128 MB memory card will appear as soon as possible.HPCru: How does the impact versatility of these cards at their price? Gordon Yu: As with any innovative product launches, initially a lot of functional maps will be costly. In the future all depends on the situation in the PDA market. They will drop naturally over time. HPCru: Does Pretec initiative "SDIO Now!", Which pushed the company BSquare? (Recall that now the majority of models Pocket PC support SDIO, but this does not mean that any card in this format will be compatible with SDIO-palm. To remedy this situation the company has decided to BSQUARE, throwing a cry - "SDIO Now!" BSQUARE offers to all interested in the development of SDIO producers to join its program and to bring their adapters and PDAs to some common standard. Ideally, the participants of this program will produce a fully compliant products and, thus, that the joint work of cards and handhelds do not even need to install additional drivers . The project has already appeared the first very eminent supporters. For example, the communicator Samsung i700 and the entire PDA HP iPAQ 39xx fully support the program SDIO Now! From the producers of compact peripherals to support the program were Veo, MARGI, Socket Communications with its Wi-cards Fi SD and others. Just the other day about his involvement and said Seiko Instruments with Toshiba. - approx. HPCru) Gordon Yu: Yes, supports and, moreover, we are very enthusiastic about this initiative the company BSquare, which has already picked up many PDA makers and developers periphery. Here's just a pity will be if "SDIO Now!" not approve of Microsoft. In this case, most likely in this initiative will be to put a cross. HPCru: Do you expect to lower prices for CF-cards of large volumes, which are sold already and we have in Russia? I mean, 1 GB, 1.5 GB, 2 GB and 3 GB memory card. Gordon Yu: Yes, of course. In the near future is the bulk of the available expansion cards, RAM 3 GB Compact Flash-valued cheaper at $ 500, through the issuance of cards with capacity of 6 GB (its price - $ 7,499), we presented at CeBIT 2003. 3GB of memory will cost only $ 1999:) HPCru: What Next> abroad in terms of memory, which Pretec going to win? Gordon Yu: Well, in all probability, as it usually happens every year, double the amount of memory, and it will be 12-valued GB Compact Flash card. HPCru: Then, in all likelihood, be doubled and its price? ;) Gordon Yu: Well, not to talk about it a little early (laughs - approx. HPCru). Anyway, with the release of this card will drop like 3GB and 6GB flash. You know, release of such products - it is rather a demonstration of technologies, the level of a particular company. Pretec CF output for a 6 GB - it is an opportunity to tell the world: "Yes, we can do it. We have reached such heights." Because our company at the moment really is a world leader, and a large wall due to the development of flash memory such capacity. HPCru: As soon as the products presented at CeBIT, namely - multifunction expansion card, the camera Pretec DV-4200 with the ability to create video clips in MPEG4, a presentation set in the SD card, and many others will be on sale? Gordon Yu: A large part - in the next month, that is, deliveries will begin in April. Although we have presented so many new products at CeBIT, what exactly is on each of them a specific date to call it is difficult, simply due to lack of time. HPCru: For a very long time rumors about the output of GSM / GPRS-module for the Pocket PC from Pretec in connection with the recent increased interest in such products. Are you planning to release it? Gordon Yu: probably had in mind our GPRS-module. We represented a further CeBIT'e 2001 (Class 2) and another one on CeBIT'2002 year, but these products are unlike most others from Pretec has not yet gone on sale. This is due to difficulties in certification of these devices. This year, at a recent exhibition, we again presented the GSM / GPRS-module on the card Compact Flash. C to help your handheld into a mobile terminal or telephone for data transmission of all types - voice, fax, SMS, Internet content, e-mails. CompactGPRS (as it is called - approx. HPCru) operates in the mobile network standard GSM / GPRS (class 10) at frequencies 900/1800/1900 MHz. The module is compatible with most Pocket PC devices and palmovymi PDA. Is powered by its own battery, saving energy device. We hope that as soon as the blow will be certified, it will appear on the market. HPCru: How do you assess the prospects for Russian PDA market? As far as it is of interest for Pretec? Gordon Yu: The entire Russian market represents for us a company MakTsentr, with which we are certainly very pleased to be working:). Russia - a vast country that needs a lot of effort to reach the market. In this difficult matter, we rely on our distributors, MakTsentr having dealer network in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in other large Russian cities. We hope for fruitful cooperation and will do everything we can to provide Russian customers quality solutions Pretec. The authors, translation:

"Pill" for all diseases the computer industry

Offer you the translation of the most interesting articles from the site TheFeature, dedicated to the idea of actively promotiruemoy Microsoft release a mobile Tablet PC Tablet PC. November 11 head of Microsoft's Bill Gates, standing in front of 11 thousand audience Comdex show in Las Vegas and clutching his head over the tablet the size of the book, said publicly that the future of personal computing. «PC are available to all, - he told his audience, - Tablet also the most advanced PC technologies and make a PC completely mobile. Personally, I use my tablet each day as a regular PC. Tablet PC - a PC, virtually has no limits - and five years later, I'm sure he will be one of the most popular computers ever sold in America. " The last person to trigger the same noise when demonstrating signs crowd of people, was Moses. So Gates presented bezklaviaturnoe devices with wireless capabilities. He showed a special version for the Tablet PC - Groove (software to interact in real time) and AutoDesk CAD, as well as proprietary software Microsoft, allows you to send handwritten messages. It was the second consecutive year, when Gates Comdex'e touted their wares. However, at least, this year, but the words were still something more substantial. According to Microsoft, more than a dozen major computer manufacturers are developing Tablet PC.

Why tablet?

The very idea of ​​tablet PC seems to be very tempting. People use their hands to manipulate objects in the truest sense of the word. The keyboard and mouse are also removed his hands from the objects on the screen that you manage. You must correctly position the fingers on the keyboard, and constantly check in what place the cursor. On the other hand, the stylus and touch screen allows you to directly follow the objects on display. For example, the process of drawing on the tablet PC is very similar to painting on cave walls, that is a favorite way for thousands of years. The only difference is that instead of paint do you use the stylus that transmits a computer radio, so that the latter "knew" in what place the stylus is located. Tablet PC is ideal for students and office workers who need to take notes, for example, at meetings or classes. Unlike laptops, you do not have to use the keyboard. Just put it down and write on its screen, like an ordinary paper notepad. Later with the help of special software you can convert written text into machine, which can easily be printed or send copies via e-mail.

Not just a great PDA

At first glance, tablet PC like PDAs Palm or Pocket PC, only much larger. Moreover, Microsoft scrambles to protect users from such thoughts. In handheld Pocket PC, there is one common problem - their operating system and applications represents a decrease of "compromise" version of their big sisters. Windows CE - it's not a real Windows, even if outwardly they look like. People always want to have all their devices to "talk" the same language, that they did. So Microsoft and assures everyone that the operating system tablet PC (called the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition) allows you to work with the same programs as on a standard PC Windows.Microsoft and hardware manufacturers want to force users to think of the Tablet PC as their primary computer, rather than just a mobile assistant that could synchronize with your desktop PC. Maybe this is the ring of common sense, because quite attached to the tablet PC external keyboard and you get a full laptop. Preimage tablet PC - a sheet of paper, and the prototype stylus - a pen or pencil. It should be borne in mind that in the opinion of Microsoft, engaged in Tablet PC, the daily notes should be recorded, and their slogan - "Leave ink as ink". This means that if you write something on the board or paper record will remain exactly in the form in which you left it. Naturally, the tablet will be able to move everything in the print version, but do it immediately is not necessary. According to some analysts, one reason for the failure of Apple Newton was an automatic handwriting recognition. Device each time a user is writing something, and tried without delay to decode words. Therefore, the result was often very funny. Proposal "Meet client for lunch" (to meet customers for lunch) could well turn into a "Melt clown pun hunts" (pun melted clown). This could hardly have many like it, besides, of course, the poets - the experimenters. In the tablet PC all in another. The records are stored in their original form - with spelling errors, notes, drawings, etc. (The downside of this is the impossibility of carrying out the search - to find the correct sentence in the text have to watch it all). Opportunities stylus is beyond the means for drawing or records. In fact, it's digital ink that can be manipulated ad infinitum. For example, you can edit the ordinary printed text as if you were to use pen for taking notes on the printed document. With the Tablet and stylus, all changes will be made directly in the text.

Ten for one

So, ten PC manufacturers plan to produce tablet PC with specifications Microsoft, including NEC, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Compaq and Acer. Moreover, even though Microsoft makes such statements, the company still will not produce tablet PC itself. Bill Gates has long promised that he would not engage in "iron" business. Of course, he broke it in the case of the Xbox, but it is absolutely certain that the production of tablets will be avoided. Microsoft just sketched specs and gave a license to use original equipment manufacturers, designers and marketers. No one is announcing future price tablets, but according to some manufacturers, it will be about the same price as the average laptop. Tom Bernhard, director of marketing at Fujitsu, believes that the tablet PC - the next stage in the evolution of personal computers. According to him, laptops are very convenient for those businessmen who travel a lot, but some are useless in the "sedentary." With the Tablet PC can even work standing up, for example, when you stand in the queue. The first representative of the tablet PC will appear in the second half of this year. In March of 2001. Transmeta Corporation announced plans to develop with the Microsoft processor with low power consumption for tablets. Family of processors from Transmeta Crusoe slightly lower operating temperature than chip companies Intel, Motorola or AMD. Also, a high number of software vendors, including Adobe, Corel, and Autodesk, announced the development of new applications or special versions of existing for tablet PC. But there is a significant player who is absent among the producers of future tablets, probably, to the regret Microsoft. This is the world's largest PC manufacturer - a company Dell. According to its president, marketing research companies have shown that users do not approve tablet'ov. True, Dell is well known as a company, following the general trend in the industry, but not as an innovative company. Therefore, it is possible that, if the leadership of Dell sees the success of the first manufacturers of tablets, the company will join a number of them later.

Do they take the upper hand?

However, Dell has its own point of view. Indeed, since a bad keyboard or trackpad input information? Many people can not stand the stylus.Supporters of same tablet PC as an argument to give that a laptop is very inconvenient opening screen, which serves as a barrier when you use it during meetings, and that the constant clatter of the keyboard annoys people. According to them, tablet PC as innocuous as a piece of paper. Although in reality, far from it. Imagine the attention you attract to yourself by coming to the usual weekly meeting with the Tablet PC at your fingertips. But in any case, Microsoft and its partners are doing their work independently. Many companies, including Microsoft, over the past ten years, spent millions of dollars to create a successful model of tablet PC, but failed. The very first device, for example, GRiDPad (introduced in 1989), suffered a heavy, clunky design and a very low power. Even more elegant GRiD 2260, equipped with original drop-down keyboard (developed by the founder of Palm Pilot Jeffrey Hawkins), was unable to attract sufficient attention to survive. Therefore, business users do not want nothing to do with the tablets. They enjoy the notoriety. Microsoft is promising that today's tablet will be completely different. While one can only say that the batteries are much better than those who were ten years ago. Yes, and production technology displays varies with LCD (liquid crystal) on the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). Unlike LCD, which is necessary lighting display, obtained from the power source, OLED screens themselves generate their own light, so their work requires much less energy. In addition, RAM and hard disk drives today have a much greater volume. Another important feature of today's tablet PC is their ability to work with wireless internet. The question arises - who is more in need of such devices - users or computer manufacturers themselves? At present, the past experience the first strong decline in production since 1986, and naturally they are looking for ways out of it. Of course, maybe it's more and raise the level of PC sales, but the main cause of the decline likely is the fact that people are just happy with the existing systems and do not want to change them. Sources, Materials:

Shunyaev not put off till tomorrow

We bring to your attention the favorites fragments of curious article published in "The Secret of the firm." It tells about the history, present day and the prospects for development of new powerful players of the domestic market of mobile computers - the company Rover Computers. The above passages are devoted to our vision for Rover PDA business in Russia and their involvement in it. Full version of the article can be read here. "Most often, I sit and think up all sorts of ideas" - says the owner of the company Rover Computers Sergei Shunyaev. One such idea is his, about the beginning build notebooks under its own brand, has made the company a leader in this market. Now Mr Shunyaev wants to become the first in the segment of handheld computers, and then do the production of smartphones - a hybrid mobile phone and PDA. In general, the strategy of "first player" - this is his strategy. And so far it justifies itself. For information: the company Rover Computers enters production unit "Infomash" service unit "In-Service, six regional offices, East European and Baltic subsidiaries. Owner, number of employees which makes about 500 people, is its president, Sergei Shunyaev. Rover Computers turnover last year amounted to 5 billion rubles. Furthermore Rover Computers, Mr. Shunyaevu owned salon for sale Harley Davidson motorcycles and the company TCI, organizes concerts of groups working in the style of heavy metal. Range in Rover Computers are, above all, depending on which models offer a co-branders. Although the development of models of laptops and handheld computers the company takes a part - in the first case this occurs at the level of selecting the configuration of components in the second - at the choice of software. Rover Computers in this by a small department (of five), who reports to the Vice President of Production. Now the company is cooperating with five plants, but their number varies. "We focus here, rather than on the enterprise, and the model that it offers. Keep track of all the proposals, and if something suits us, come and say that that's the model we buy at such a price and in a certain amount, but for you it provides us a three-month exclusive on Russia and CIS countries - said Sergei Shunyaev .- Well, if the next model of the same manufacturer is not very good, we can give the time to cooperate and work with someone else. " Approximately every six months the company meet with partners in production, which show the new models, show what technologies emerged during this time from the leading manufacturers of filling »- Intel and Microsoft.

Great Expectations

Currently the product line of Rover Computers includes several items. Portable computers and monitors RoverBook RoverScan take up to 90% in the turnover of the company. Other products - desktops WindRover, handheld computers (PDAs) RoverPC, digital cameras RoverShot, multimedia projectors RoverLight and PC-cards RoverCard - gives a total of 10% of sales. The total turnover last year amounted to 5 billion rubles. The plans for this year - 40 percent growth. "Of course, the biggest successes we have achieved on laptops. But now, for instance, LCD monitors on the market, we still occupy about 10%, and this is a lot, considering that is dominated by Korean manufacturers Samsung and LG. Compete with them is very difficult, given their advertising budgets, - says marketing director, Andrei Andreev .- In the market of multimedia projectors, we enter the top ten producers. Now we focus on the promotion of PDAs and LCD monitors. PDA Rover Computers RoverPC to have begun to produce last year. According to the head direction PDAs companies Elena Simonova, Rover Computers plans to sell this year to 25 thousand "handhelds" and occupy about 25% of the market."We are not trying to win the consumer's only due to price factor. When purchasing such equipment people oriented including its cost and if it is significantly lower than the average for the market, there may be doubts about the quality, - says Ms. Simon .- Now, our "handhelds" cost from $ 300 to $ 370, at Western manufacturers - not much more expensive ($ 350-500). We believe that we can qualify for a substantial market share because we offer a higher level of Russification of these products than other manufacturers. " Oleg Kolesov, director of marketing DVM Group: «That course of action, which has selected Rover Computers, is very correct. Laptops are increasingly replacing the world's desktop computers, sales of "Pocket PC" grow although not as rapidly, but still growing. Market for LCD monitors in general is moving forward by leaps and bounds. " Mrs. Simon believes that a significant role in promoting new products on the market plays a service organization: "We have a technical support service, where users can contact in case of any problems with our computers, as well as client support service, where accepted the claim and wishes. In addition, there are service units "In-Service, which coordinates the work of 135 service centers in different cities of Russia and some CIS countries. By year-end number of such centers should be increased to 150.

Mental case

Sergei Shunyaev argues that initiated the beginning of production of a new product often turns out to be exactly it. "I generally spend the most time that I sit, come up with different ideas" - recognized Shunyaev. I must say that these ideas are concerned not only the computer business. Shunyaev - a man with a very extravagant interests. He is a fan of heavy metal musical genre and a great lover of motorcycles Harley Davidson. As aptly put it one of the employees Shunyaeva, people enjoy life in full. And, characteristically, all his hobbies, he turns into a business.

Pocket Manager Casio Cassiopeia BE-300

«Casio BE-300 is one of those innovations, whose future is impossible to predict in advance. It all depends on how good he will be and how much will it cost. " So said the new hustler two months ago. Statement on the new platform was met with interest but without much enthusiasm. 166 MHz NEC MIPS processor - so that, for all Pocket PC 2002 is Intel StrongARM 206 MHz; 320x240x32K passive matrix screen - so the earlier E-1xx worth TFT screen in 65,000 colors. All of this would be a great disadvantage, would eat no price in the U.S. with the release - $ 300, whereas now it can be bought in Moscow for about 250. With the price of two to three times smaller than the E-200, described above disadvantages become advantages. Let us see how it all works, because now enough time has passed, so you can judge a mature product. Pocket Manager: yes, no Pocket PC, and "Pocket Manager. Casio did not license the Pocket PC from Microsoft, leaving himself only the core WinCE 3.0 (and probably a few tens of dollars instead of Pocket Word'a). Windows CE was designed not only as an operating system for handheld devices (Compact Edition), but generally, for any embedded system, such as smart refrigerators (Consumer Electronics). It is written from scratch (with, where there is no Win9x) and can be collected modular (just like Linux _1), the developers of devices can decide for themselves what they want in it, but it is not necessary or not supported by your hardware. For example, the operating system PPC2002 is the core WinCE 3.0 plus interface (Merlin) and libraries (dll), which can be characterized only RRS2002. So at the BE-300 lacks some standard libraries PPC2000, that does not allow you to run all the programs written under E-125/EM-500. However, Casio claims that for most programs will be sufficient to recompile the source code. To support software vendors for BE-300 she posted a free SDK and preferential tariffs on those. support. Counting on the attractiveness of low prices, the company plans to sell about a million pieces in a short time. I think they have every chance of success. What is inside the box: My BE-300 I ordered from America, so complete was the power supply, calculated on the network of 110 volts, but in the representation of Casio, I was told that in Russia comes standard with a power supply for us. American version worse than the one who has been with EM-500 (or more precisely with the EM-500 comes the best PSU I've seen, its length is enough for an entire room and it is made in Japan, but this one in China), likely to reduce the cost of . Reasonable, especially if, after the warranty period, he dies, then buy the same simple does not require a lot of money. Cradle (cradle-stand) connects with your desktop brother via USB. The design is stable and allows you to adjust the depth, in order to be able to insert there a pickpocket with a broad expansion accessories. I used this feature to put back the fuse that protects the contact (the EM-500, I lost it on the second day). Likewise there is a quick guide to the top job with all the necessary explanations. Detailed hardware manual for hardware and user's guide (manual) is on the compact. From there, the same need to install the driver and the synchronization with PC - PC Connect. First impressions. When I pulled it, my friends immediately noticed that he was fewer than the EM-500, although the latter was at one time was the easiest PPC at Casio. 158 grams + 12 grams of PDA cover. Translucent cover is quite handy, and most importantly - practical. Do not have to immediately worry about buying more convenient case than is usually attached. Can be easily removed in case of uselessness, has two fixed positions: "closed" and "open."When closed, it does not accidentally press the buttons, but you can gently press the Power without opening the cover. When you first turn calibrate the touch screen, time, etc. Color screen: this is what can not be mentioned at this price. Bright and contrasting, with 320x240 resolution, it allows you to comfortably read electronic books. Of course, the colors are not the ones on display at the HAST E-1xx, but without too much trouble to read in sunlight _2. Passive matrix markedly inertial, but for tasks which are designed to solve the BE-300, it does not matter. If you want to see how much of this suffering Action games, download, or ask the seller to show you a demo version of the robot ekshena Metallion (the official shop for the BE-300) - graphic enough to me, captured the excitement. Other disadvantages of passive matrix: warm brightness takes about 5-15 seconds, if you long for him not included, then he would need about as much time to reach maximum brightness. Enter. Initially, there is a virtual keyboard and handwriting. The keyboard has 3 layouts: the alphabet, 2 + internet symbolic characters. Something that is not normal is not allocated. But the pen input more convenient (obviously) than the standard in PPC2000. There, the input area is divided into three parts for digits, uppercase and lowercase letters. In the BE-300 as it is divided into tabs, which have different prioritized recognition: the alphabet, numbers, special characters. Choose the bookmark you want and write the entire width of the screen. In this case all you can write in the mode of the alphabet, numbers, and found little in the text, he recognizes with high probability. Software itself is written by Decuma, and has one very interesting feature - the symbols of user: the settings you can specify your own font style of a character and then the significance of this character has. This gives hope for an easy adaptation to the Cyrillic alphabet. Needless pen seems to be weighted metal rod, which was first introduced Palm'om. Preset Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Tasks, E-mail, and browser. These basic applications can be invoked through buttons, icons below the display. What is very obvious, perhaps the most-employed native application. Well-implemented feature transfer items (meetings) in other programs. For example, you schedule a meeting in your calendar, do it the right notes, choose Send To E-mail, and immediately send a notice to your colleagues for a meeting. The configuration of e-mail client is not obvious. To create a mailbox, it is necessary to have configured the connection sections Connections, and to set it up, mention must be nearly the same parameters as when connecting a desktop computer to the internet (modem type, login, password, etc.). Considering it unnecessary, I rejected his request to do so. Pickpocket, in response did not want to synchronize e-mail as my Inbox folder in Outlook to sync in (pocket) E-mail'e was just not with anything. Through trial and error, everything was settled fraud pickpocket, telling him that I have a Hayes-compatible modem, reaching the end of the connection settings. After that, you can create a new Account in the E-mail'e, then you can remove the fake connection from Connections. When you synchronize mail, text messages are optimized, which together with the odd design kills the Cyrillic alphabet. Attaching files (attachments) of more than 1 megabyte are not allowed. Attachment from Inbox'a can be stored in the main card or flash memory. Also on Win2k noticed the brakes (and may never be) that the connection is not at the moment when the icon appears on the panel inserted into the cradle BE-300, and a little later (30-40 seconds), so do not reboot. The rate of exchange of data totaled approximately 3 megabytes per minute. Russification. Programs that use the Russian font, and will run on my BE-300, encoding problems were not.Russian translation of the interface and keyboard layout of Casio in Moscow has promised to end in late January / early February. The beta version of Russian keyboard, you can get here. If you download the Russian version of a Folder Sync, it can be easily read on the installed from a CD Quick View Plus'e. Just do not download to the folder My DocumentsText, where it can "fix" a native Notes. As mentioned above, the potential for porting handwriting recognition software for BE-300 is, it remains only to hope that Casio implement it. Expanding: In BE-300 is a very big plus in terms of extensibility: slot Compact Flash Type II. That is able to use IBM 1GB Microdrive CF II or wired / wireless modems. The cheapest removable memory is CF, it costs about one and a half times cheaper than Secure Digital, and MMC - even more expensive. Despite the fact that the operating system with preinstalled software leaves you 10 MB of nonvolatile memory, I advise you just add more storage to have more freedom: 64 MB I bought for $ 28. Installing programs takes place through a special installation tool from the SDK or direct copying folders via folder synchronization PC Connect'a _3. Installing programs, potentially compatible with the BE-300, but with setup'om seeking common interface for PPC (ActiveSync), does not pass. On the CD-ROM very useful not preinstalled, I think File Manager _4. Very functional, Quick View Plus supports Win1251 and KOI8-R. Music Player to cope with a necessary but not sufficient. Pro Photo Viewer read that buggy on large images. But all is not so important if you have access to the Internet (and if you're reading this, that is). Very good selection of programs is to http://be300.cjb.net. Of course, you can go to the official shop for the BE-300. But there is very little free full-featured programs. Generally, a list of compatible with the BE-300 is growing rapidly: if a month ago, a Google search I almost did not give, now everything is already being discussed in discussion forums. First, install patch c http://be300.cjb.net. Next is to your taste. Dull standard interface can be replaced by Pocket SQ: called - Find three of the same element. The archive included with downloaded GSFinder + TQ: Powerful similar to Windows Explorer. Together they constitute an adequate tool for experimentation over Cassiopeia'ey. Compatible with Excel 97 files, SpreadCE seems to me indispensable. Everything is intuitive, but in my version is not optimized for the BE-300, no auto-scroll the screen when the keyboard closes the cage in which the cursor is located. There is a Pocket DivX for playback MPEG4, several bookreaders for e-books. Sets unpretentious games emulation gameboy-like machines. Rulezzz chess: playing the most intellectual game in the subway - it's cool. As an MP3 player, BE-300 I really liked, especially given the relatively low cost of CF memory. By the sound of a standard Music the Player does not find fault with me, pleasant option to disable the display and control via the buttons and the joystick, but working with playlist'ami suffers no scrolling within the songs. If you need more functionality, you will be satisfied xAudio. There's even a function of test performance, although the practical application of its results, I have not found, he wrote something about 18% CPU, but why not test the processor at full load? Those interested in voice recorder, or an infrared port, I have to grieve and to draw their attention to low-cost Compaq Aero 1520 or newer PPC2000/2002. Not enough AvantGo (selection of channels of Internet pages that you download when you synchronize with your PC, then read on the way), but there are rumors that soon will be. Maybe someone knows a replacement? Battery at maximum load is enough for 2.5 hours continuous operation - 4, MP3 with the screen and the maximum volume (depending on the recording itself) - about 6. I also have enough for 2-3 days of full operation.Conclusion: Cassiopeia BE-300 will certainly find its place (calling) in the market. Initially focused on business users as it allows to install specialized software and an interface to the flash memory, it attracts attention with its expansion capabilities and 320x240 color screen. But do not expect from him abilities PPC2000/2002, Casio makes them herself and she does not need the competition between their own products, but definitely there will be people who would rather BE-300. If you are important Russification and do not want to experiment, then you better wait Russification or look toward other operating systems.

Pros:
• Color screen with high resolution
• Sufficiently powerful processor, multi-tasking (well seen with PocketSQ)
• The use of non-volatile flash memory for easy upgrade to future operating slot Compact Flash Type II
• Excellent playback MP3, MPEG4 playback capability
• Small size and weight
• Low price

Cons:
• The absence of a microphone and an infrared port
• The screen is bad (but sufficient) can be seen in direct sunlight
• Scroll wheel allows you to comfortably manage with one hand. Think again, jog-dial to tell the truth is very convenient and can be a determining factor when choosing a PDA
• A small number of compatible programs, though gentlemanly set is already available and the fruits of free SDK is increasingly being felt, to the extent Pocket PC so far away
• Innovations have to endure the hard way.

Footnote in the text

1. Climbed on the Microsoft website for more information on WinCE, and what I saw there, I could hardly believe his eyes: Download Windows CE 3.0 Source Code. Absolutely free ... 2. For this and save battery Casio refused HAST in the E-200 3. The beta version of Russian keyboard QKeys established through Backup. 4.If you are not sure of their actions, then it is safer than GSFinder + TQ. Sources, Materials:

Front mobile development company, "MakTsentr: Knights of the pen and Reset'a

Active handheld computer - is extremely compact device, the functionality of a little inferior to a desktop machine. Editing documents, complex calculations, like browsing the web, play music and games are available now, almost all owners of Pocket PC. But, as with a desktop computer, Pocket PC is valuable not because it is theoretically anything can, but because it established the program provide a solution to those or other problems of the owner. Therefore, buying the hardware, the owner of a brand new typewriter little wins. He needs to somehow acquire programs - the editors and music players, for example, as well as cpetsprilozheniyami for specific needs. Only then can a portable assistant will bring real benefits. The situation is complicated by the fact that the Russian PDA market has its own peculiarities: it is rapidly growing but still small compared with the western, payments to foreign shopping difficult, and buyers are willing to communicate with programs on the little-understood Russian. So what to sell "just hardware - hopeless task. Need to be bundled with it and ready-made solutions to the buyer could get from one seller everything you need to complete the work: the handheld computer and accessories, software, and, of course, intellectual support. For example, instructions and tips for using all the above. The main difficulty here is precisely the creation of programs. And, being one of the pioneers of the Russian PDA market, the company MakTsentr was simply obliged to undertake work in this difficult but promising direction. And appeared at its base, Mobility Research (CMR).

A little history

In the course of a brief history of the MRA have introduced Dmitry Havzhu, director of "MakTsentr. SM: Tell me when and for what purpose was established development department in the firm, which has traditionally dealt with technology Apple? DH: In 1994-1995, when we focus on the PDA market, it is essentially in Russia has ever had. Appeared first model handheld computers (Newton, Psion), but selling them was very difficult, primarily because of the lack of Russification. We first tried to solve this problem by working with software firms, but soon realized that our experience and capabilities allow us to make better products than other firms-developers. Thus was born the CMR, the first task of which was Russification PDA various platforms. SM: Who was at the forefront of this trend? DH: The first head of MRA was Sergei Mahnaev, who later went into his own project www.notebook.ru. In the department of labor, time, and Vladimir Pospelov, who now heads the site www.handy.ru. The general direction of the CPC was then headed by Alexander fusil. All these people have made major contribution to the successful launch direction.

Bread and circuses? "Soft" and "iron"!

Today, MRA - a large team of experienced software developers for PDAs, which works in three main areas: Russification traded company MakTsentr "devices, the creation of adapted to Russian conditions, chart and navigation systems, as well as the development of unique projects of corporate customers. All this we talked with Andrew Kuznetsov, head of WDR and director of localization, Vladislav Tambov and navigation, Vladimir Byko-Janko.

You say in Russian?

About Russification

The first pressing problem faced by any buyer PDA - its Russification. The fact is that, unlike the desktop OS, where Russification has long been a part of kit, pocket computers from birth with the Russian language is not familiar with. According to Andrey Kuznetsov, this situation has developed historically. When the market began to enter the first PDA, and their manufacturers are mainly aimed at American and Western European markets.Localization problem in other markets no one put, and the first versions of the major operating systems, Palm OS and Windows CE, left without the support we are interested in Russian language. Meanwhile, the market in Russia demanded that the localization, so that independent programmers "Volens-nolens" went to work and their work with pleasure began to invest in a box with a PDA interested in meeting the demand vendors. By the time the market has grown, and the manufacturer could theoretically be interested localization, it appears that this problem is successfully solved by the "field", so make an effort like it is not necessary. At least until such time until the market becomes even more succinct. In this case, manufacturers of operating systems, Microsoft and PalmSource, may be interested in the problem of Russification at the hardware level. Previously, it has already happened - in the Palm OS, for example, so there is support for Italian and Chinese (more precisely, the "Chinese" version of the operating system) and languages. Well, before that a "bright future", the problem of Russification PDAs sold "MakTsentr" will be resolved by the MRA. On the direction of Russification Pocket PCs in the Department of Mobile Elaborations said Andrei Kuznetsov, head of WDR and Vladislav Tambov, the head of this trend. SM: Andrew, why the company MakTsentr became Russifiers do yourself? After all, before you resort to third-party developers ... AK: We had to pursue their development in the direction of localization, as required to receive a product of acceptable quality at an affordable price. It is no secret that "MakTsentr" - the company essentially "zhelezyachnaya", and for the supplier of iron are the most interesting first few days and weeks, sales of new products. In the case of PDAs, these new items you want to Russify, otherwise the market simply will not accept. We started in 1999 with the Russification of the popular handheld Psion Series 5mx. Then there were the Revo, Diamond Mako, Ericsson MC-218 and other devices on the platform of EPOC 32. Behind them we are seriously engaged in the Pocket PC and Palm OS. In the first stage was a lot of difficulties, but now our policy has been entirely justified. Now "MakTsentr has complete independence from the third party in the area of ​​localization. Serial number, new models appear in a few days after the arrival of the CPC in Moscow. We can guarantee product quality, prompt resolution of problems in case of their occurrence and not less than operational improvements. Having finished the core of Russification, we can very quickly produce a system of containment just those devices that need them, saving money to our customers and, of course, their money. Naturally, we can more accurately assess what the real cost of the solution of a problem than to engage in appropriate and what issues would require too much effort and did not pay off. Russification of the CCP - a complex and painstaking work, ranging from compatibility issues and ending with the precision and conciseness interface translation. From the producer to wait for help is usually not necessary. SM: How time consuming is the localization of another device? Why do I need a separate location for each new device? VT: Besides the purely technical issues of compatibility, every time we have to translate the interface of new tools and applications that the manufacturer completes the standard Pocket PC operating system programs.Because our products («MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" for Palm OS and «MacCentre Pocket Russkey 2003 for Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003) must be fully Russify interface all integrated programs CPC, each new device requires significant improvements in the localization of the translation. Different manufacturers in different handhelds used in a similar, but differ in the details version of the OS. And it must also be taken into account in Russificators. Little things sometimes so critical that they can lead to serious problems. Nevertheless, having already written and debugged the kernel of the confinement system, we usually can produce the crack in a few days after the receipt of the device in our department. SM: And how many people are involved in Russification? And how many Pocket PC "suffer" during the making of localization? AK: Continuing work on the localization of 5 people. As to the "killing" the CCP, it is - a rarity. Survival rate - is high. More often they just have a little shabby appearance. SM: And where you do with them? AK: We're throwing them, of course. See where:)) In fact, they are returned to the warehouse and sold at reduced prices. Fortunately, for this purpose in the online store has a special section Palmstore.ru «Second-hand». Buy car, a used MRA staff, in my opinion, quite profitable, because they lived in the office and "working" mode is not used. They may be slightly scratched case (from repeated contact with the cradle and table programmer), but prodavlena Button Reset:) SM: In the OS Pocket PC is a convenient means of handwriting recognition - Transcriber. He is quite dashing learn English words, one word written by my clumsy hand. When we see an equally high-quality handwriting recognition for the Russian language? AK Handwriting recognition - a mathematically complicated problem. Incidentally, Transcriber - just another reincarnation of the famous recognition Newton Message Pad, a Russian-American (or US-Russia) by "Para". On the PDA keyboard, it was called Calligrapher. C advent of increased interest in Microsoft Pocket PC it was licensed and built there a new name. With raspoznavalkoy Microsoft has not lost. This system is considered one of the best. The quality and percentage of recognition of continuous text is impressive. Incidentally, during the lifetime of Newton OS was discussed on Russian recognition of the "Para", but did not get due to high development cost for a small domestic market. A Microsoft found it possible to pay. We recently released our own system of recognition of the manuscript - "MacCentre RussChar". She received a compact and cheap. In the case of it, we did not anticipate the establishment of a commercial product, but only licensed the library to recognize General Public License, which now allow anyone to get the source code and improve their own. SM: In the past year, "MakTsentr" solemnly issued a localization program devices based on Palm OS 5, entitled «MacCentre PaPiRus 2003. What version of 2003 differs from the old «PaPiRus», which was issued by "FizTehSoft? VT: they overlap in name only. «MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" - a completely revised system of localization of Palm OS 5, which is based on new principles, uses, if I may say so, "the official mechanisms of localization" - the same approach to localization, which is used in German, French and other PDAs. Because of this, we were able to significantly improve the quality and stability of the product, which received very good feedback from users. Old «PaPiRus» was based on the so-called "Hacks» (Hacks), that is, the addition of technology into the operating system is not peculiar to it functional. This system worked on the Palm OS to 4.2 version. The new «MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" is a product that is conceived more in "FizTehSoft. At the end of 2002, "MakTsentr" it was decided to create our own localization for Palm OS, and the project "PaPiRus" was purchased together with the rights to use the mark. For more than a year, this system supports and promotes the localization of mobility projects.It turns out pretty good. SM: If the product is identical in name only that he had received "MakTsentr" buying "PaPiRus"? AK: This purchase was justified. Firstly, we have 100% containment systems based on Palm OS 4, which was relevant at the time. Secondly, we have the right to use the well-known in the market Russifiers name "PaPiRus". Thirdly, we have saved time, having finished about 50% of the core localization for Palm OS 5, which was especially important year ago, when the market began to emerge fundamentally new Palm-device. In addition to the developments and brand, we have undertaken and supported over 40,000 users of the old "PaPiRus". SM: What does the phrase "use of formal mechanisms for localization? VT: Starting with the fifth version, the Palm OS had the tools that provide multi-lingual. Technically, our crack consists of two parts. First, the PDA system is written Russian language module, exactly the same as that included in the multilingual system or German, for example, Italian. After activation of the settings in the Russian case enters the second part of localization - the one that is visible to the user and to evaluate which service capabilities of the product. This includes translation of the interface of OS and embedded applications, the font modules (as we know, "MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" is very easy to customize fonts), switching the Russian linguistic encoding, quick access to settings localization via a pop-up command menu, and much more. SM: Despite the formal mechanisms of localization, a series of popular, I would say the standard programs, such as the WebPro browser and an excellent office suite Documents To Go, have a number of problems with Russification. What is the cause of these difficulties? VT: This manufacturer wanted to do "as best", but in the case of Russia turned out, "as always". In order to provide the user with a more comfortable working conditions, such as a convenient on-screen keyboard in Documents To Go or a more accurate map of pages in the WebPro, manufacturers of these products declined from the use of standard input / output by adopting their own solutions. In this case, the Russification of the standard just does not work. Adaptation of the popular program in the Russian language is a separate problem, which we solve as far as possible, because access to source codes of programs we have, as a rule, no. Some problems can be removed, but not all. So, the latest "MacCentre PaPiRus 2003" can successfully view the Russian texts in WebPro, and in the Documents To Go. Own Keyboard Documents To Go until normal Russification not be, and we recommend that you use a system of handwriting "Graffiti", or perhaps an external keyboard. SM: By the way, what keyboard do you recommend? And as is the case with the Russian language here? AK: We are engaged in adaptation and Russification, and in this regard. We choose the best examples of portable keyboards produced by international companies and modify them according to Russian specifics. Apply a key Russian letters, and sometimes modify the design to adapt the keyboard to the top in Russia PDA. These works are carried out in pilot-production unit of the company, located in Russia. Sometimes it is sufficient to establish the necessary connections, sometimes it is necessary to change the electronics. Part of the program - the driver "MacCentre UniBoard" - The Division for mobile development. In my opinion, today the best option can be called a keyboard Pocket Nature Flexis, which combines the advantages such as exceptional compactness in a minimized state, a complete set of fairly comfortable and big buttons, as well as a phenomenal stability. The fact that this keyboard - flexible or, as is usually said by our users, "rubber". It can collapse any way, drop, spill coffee on it, and then wipe with a wet rag ... Such reliability is very important for the mobile keypad. Plus, it Russified version is quite affordable. Very promising development, I hope, will and continued line of infrared keyboards - "Pocket Nature Ray-805", which will be released shortly.

On the map - London ... and not only it

About Navigation

Solving the immediate problems, one always begins to want more.Train your Pocket PC Russian language, he tries to use it in the "struggle" with a variety of daily problems, especially those that require simple, but routine work. For Muscovites, especially motorists, so that's a daily routine began lining their own routes through the city. If you spend a lot of time scouting, it is quite difficult. Sometimes, in fact, you may want to visit unfamiliar areas of the city, often suffering from such "illnesses" as a chaotic development and lack of pointers. Well, on familiar everyday routes await other obstacles - the signs prohibiting the transportation, road repairs, as well as the eternal traffic jams. Surprisingly, the best remedy for all these diseases can be a PDA, however, equipped with additional equipment. It is obvious that on a PDA, you can view a map of the city. Adding to a small computer receiver GPS, you can turn to his assistant in the vehicle's navigation system. On a map, displayed on-screen handheld, there is little avtomobilchik showing your current location. Now you can automatically route from the current point to any given rate of passage of various streets and traffic regulations. Well, the final element of the composition will be internet access. To do this, you can get the communicator (PDA with built-in GSM / GPRS), or simply to "make friends" PDA mobile phone. With this latest addition to the navigation system will be able to respond quickly to changing traffic conditions, the appearance and disappearance of traffic jams. For some people, such a system would simply escape. It is no secret that many Muscovites are learned only in his district, but most major roads, and here, for example, to find the 8 th the Park street for them - an obvious problem. Here, a board-conductor will be very helpful. Sometimes the wheel is a man who, turning to the Ring Road, does not even know if he was going to or from the city. He system, which would suggest a course of movement every turn, and in case of errors quickly create a new route is vital. It is such a versatile called PocketGPS Pro Moscow and set up a SID of "MakTsentr. On the navigation direction of the MRA will tell his supervisor, Mr Byko-Janko. In the conversation also involved Andrei Kuznetsov and Dmitry Havzhu. SM: What made "MakTsentr" to do a completely new direction for myself - navigation? DH: It's very simple. It seemed to us, and life has confirmed our speculation that the navigation will be the most interesting applications for PDAs. We looked at what is happening in the market and realized that the state of the navigation software is very weak, marketing, nobody does. Therefore we can offer a much more interesting solutions and promote them seriously. SM: Why did you decide not to make a card and the kernel itself, and began looking for partners? DH: We thought it prudent to focus on interface design and use ready-made maps Company Geocenter Consulting and core Victor Osipkova. This allowed us to make a quality product at a reasonable time - about 18 months. SM: Have you in the car are based system of its own design? AK: I - no. Moscow - my hometown, and if necessary I can navigate to a paper atlas. But the road that I travel from home to work and back, for me it was paved PocketGPS Pro Moscow. VB: Yes, our online customers who have many years of driving experience and know the city well, tell stories of how our program worked out for them the best route, allowing day to save 10 minutes when going to work or home.SM: And how do you achieve this result? By what criteria optimized route? VB: Our program knows to what an average speed of moving vehicles on a given street, paving the route, trying to reduce the time of passage ways, choosing a high-speed streets, unless they are no traffic jams. SM: Well, it is logical. Because of this, individuals actually save time. And speaking of large customers, who is a consumer PocketGPS Pro Moscow? VB: One of our major customers is the station emergency medical assistance to Moscow. But the main buyer - drivers who travel a lot during peak hours. SM: But I note that in expensive cars so integrated navigation receiver, which can "fill" the card. Yes, and separately sold receiver with this feature too. What is your design better? VB: Oh, here the mass differences! First, the screens of most receivers is smaller and worse than the screens of PDAs, they are much less visible map. Secondly, is not always paved route is correct. The fact that the map of Moscow for such devices are updated often, so they do not include recent changes in road conditions - new streets, prohibiting signs, etc. Yes, and route optimization often goes the distance, not time. In Moscow, the results can be disastrous. Third, it is unlikely you will see features such as search by address, for example. AK: Well, and most importantly - is a multifunctional handheld device. If you prefer, you pave the map on it, and if you will - listening to music or e-mail answer. A GPS-receivers can only display a map and route, and even then, as I said Volodya, are often not very good. SM: Once we've raised the issue of the relevance of maps - How often do you update map information? VB: We are releasing a new version with enhanced features that address users' wishes with the new map data every 3-4 months. User PocketGPS Pro Moscow can come into our shop with all your PDA and there is a free upgrade version of the map and the program or download it from support site - www.pocketgps.ru. SM: Well, what about traffic? There's even a monthly update does not help, information changes every minute. VB: Information about traffic jams can be loaded arbitrarily often by the user. To do this, insert the PDA into the cradle connected to the Internet computer, or provide a link of the PDA with a global network, for example, using GPRS. One-touch information about traffic jams are automatically loaded from the network. A sample of such data can be seen, for example, the site www.77.ru. Ceychas we are in negotiations to expand the "mirror" the information base, and in the near future, our users can also use the information disseminated by the system RoadInformer. This download is quite burdensome - file takes only a few kilobytes. SM: And what is the information about traffic jams? This is the point with the words "travel is denied" or a strip with the words "speed no greater than 3 km / h? This information is simply displayed or taken into account when calculating the route? VB: Above the street to the right place superimposed stripe. On this strip has an arrow indicating the direction in which movement is difficult, and the color bars indicate the intensity of the tube. Information about traffic is taken into account when a route. Well, on the basis of the above, the navigation system PocketGPS Pro Moscow can be recommended not only for professionals - taxi drivers, couriers and not just those who do not know the city, but all motorists move regularly in Moscow and the suffering of the charms of heavy traffic. The program costs $ 119. Some dealers "MakTsentr" sell ready-made kit, consisting of a PDA, GPS-receiver program on the card, and appropriate cables. The price of such a decision on a turnkey basis is about $ 500, and it is, we recall, is useful not only for navigation. Updating maps and information about traffic jams on the date provided for free. Unfortunately, the joy of such a "smart" service is available only to Muscovites. In the short term - the map of St. Petersburg. Then, perhaps, podospeyut and other large cities ... Well, what do those who live in less popular areas, or just leaving for his trip to Russia? Especially for them there is a program "MacCentre PocketGPS" (without the suffix Pro and Moscow), which is not only suitable for any terrain, but only costs ... $ 9. Of course, its functionality can not be compared with "older sister", but in the absence of good e-cards this baby can do a great service. First, it receives data from GPS-receiver and displays them on the basis of a variety of useful information. If the coordinates on the surface of the Earth say there is little unprepared person, the course (direction), speed, altitude, time and date information about navigation satellites, the rate of change of height, length of trip distance and average speed - things do not just intuitively understandable, but also useful. Also, with the help of "MacCentre PocketGPS" is easy to calculate derived indicators, such as acceleration time to any given speed or time of passing a certain distance. Orientation to the point, for example, lets not get lost if you are forced to look for the road and surrounded by streets. But even more benefit can be derived from "PocketGPS", if "tied" to the testimony of satellite raster map. Fortunately, paper atlases are still available for sale, so all you have to do - is to scan a page of the atlas. With a raster image (scanned map), we can "put" her on-screen handheld. Then you need to include the GPS-receiver and get to the place that you can definitely find out. Specifying a point on the map ("I'm here"), begin to move in any way, and came to another recognizable point, and mark it on the map. That's it! One-time procedure, a bit of time - and you've got a personal card you are interested in any terrain. Unfortunately, this program can not run routes, but all other features navigation system - at your service.

Triumph of the uniqueness

On the corporate projects

As mentioned earlier in this article, simply sell the equipment - is futile. Moreover, buying PDAs, a serious company expects to resolve with the help of some urgent problem, so without suitable programs handhelds simply not of interest for such customers. Meanwhile, the objectives of each client are unique, and the conditions under which its employees work. That is why the staff MRA company MakTsentr "pay a lot of time to corporate developments in the field of business automation.Customers are extremely convenient automation of business processes, such as mobile commerce, Van-selling - sale of trucks, merchandising, logistics, insurance, etc. Traditionally, that the "mobile" employees fill out the necessary documents, keep records, and any calculations on paper. Then, returning to the office themselves or by the operator enters all data into a computer for further automated accounting. This scheme has several drawbacks. Chief among them - big time loss for manual filling of paper forms and calculations on a calculator. From this very suffering, such as insurance agents. In addition, such "paper" calculations and forms are very common error, and the subsequent manual entry of data into a computer in the office creates a second wave of inaccuracies. The use of mobile handheld computers allow officers to get rid of these problems. PDAs are replacing paper and calculators in the same way as desktop PCs made in due time a revolution in accounting. On the corporate projects, Mobility Elaborations told us Andrey Kuznetsov, head of WDR. SM: Why are so many places in the work of MPAs occupy corporate projects? Is it hard to make a standard solution? AK: Towards the automation of business we believe that the client is difficult to propose a solution that it is fully satisfied. So every time we are actually doing new development, although using the entire experience we have gained. Every time we thoroughly delve into the business processes of companies, describe them for themselves and for the client. In this case, the client often learns a lot about their own company:) We are working pervichnauyu documentation, samples of all paper forms, instructions for completing these forms, and so n, and also talk to professionals working with these stacks of papers. More systematized knowledge gained, is described and given to the compact and formal form, turning in a technical task. Further, it becomes a product. SM: And what are the products most in demand in our market? AK: The most popular trading systems and automatic filling of forms in different types: standard contract, insurance policies, bills of lading on vacation, ordering goods etc. Naturally, the computer controls the filling, so there had been no blunders, but also takes care of all counts. For example, an insurance agent can calculate the client rate for 20-30 minutes. PDA copes with this problem immediately, and does not allow counting errors. In addition to filling out forms and controls, if necessary, is printing documents. Through the synchronization module receives the accumulated data to the central business system of the customer. All this can be combined with mobile communication. If you need information on a contract or a filled order will be transferred to "the center" immediately. SM: What is the "central business system? Its too do you? AK: As a rule, our customers in one form or another already have a business system ("1C", "Sail", as well as their own development based on popular and not very DBMS). We provide our clients add to the central system, which solves the problems of automation, arising out of the office. SM: So you create a "dock application" that runs on the "Consolidated organizer, formerly known as Palm? AK: At Palm'e or Pocket PC, but it is being connected application that automates mobile managers, minimizing paper document. Some of our solutions can save up to 80% of office time manager! One of our customers is planning to completely abandon the classic office jobs with desks, computers and monitors. All the tasks of its managers could fit on a PDA. SM: Well, what else, apart from business automation, you can offer corporate clients? AK: The second direction of our activity - is also quite interesting. This - the use of PDAs in a variety of promotions, contests and as business gifts, exhibitions, etc. For example, on the basis of the CCP is very convenient to make electronic guides for the exhibition. In advertising sweepstakes PDAs can be used as a console for the contest.The PDA will provide registered participants and, if necessary, will pocket slot machine, and then get the winner as the top prize. With proper software content, complete with accessories, PDA is an elite business gifts.

Total

Well, finally ...

Well, what seems to be "MakTsentr" not lost, having collected a team of experienced software developers for PDAs. Any client of the company can count on quality Russification of your device, any Muscovite - to use their Pocket PC as an intelligent navigator, and every top manager, concerned about the effective work of their employees - to computerize "nekompyuteriziruemyh" process, once considered an inevitable evil paper . So safely enjoy the fruits of labors of mobility development, or seek the help of its specialists. If we consider that the PDA market in Russia is gaining momentum, it can be said that MRA took a good start. And this is just the beginning ... The authors, translation:

New line of Casio: Pocket superintendent, manager and director

Last year, Casio has released three new handhelds: Pocket Viewer, Cassiopeia BE-300 Cassiopeia E-200. This is clearly assigned to their products by segment, as new items are each player in his weight class. Two lower-end models have to compete with Palm OS PDA in light and medium weight, elder - E-200 - is a full Pocket PC and acts as a heavy weight.

Pocket superintendent

Pocket Viewer 450S is the youngest model in the new line of Casio and is located in the lower price category. In Moscow you can buy less than one hundred and fifty dollars. She continues Casio launched in 1998, the line Pocket Viewer, which originally consisted of electronic notebooks with touchscreens (model PV-100 PV-200, then the PV-400), and later upgraded notebooks, the architecture had a handheld computer (model PV -250 and PV-450), but still remained in effect only advanced phonebooks. Last summer there were finally a model PV-250S and PV-450S, characterized by the amount of installed RAM (2 and 4 MB respectively). Own Then there were the first not very flattering review of our site dedicated to this device. In Russia, by the way, comes only PV-450S. CCP clearly aimed at the same market niche as the Palm m100. At a similar price, they have (in theory) similar features, but still close comparison shows that the 'keeper pocket "in all respects loses m100. Its advantages over the Palm (pictured) are in slightly larger monochrome screen (albeit of inferior quality, besides, he has no shades of gray) with the same resolution of 160x160 pixels, the presence of wheel-type joystick, Sony Jog-Dial and Flash-Memory instead of RAM. The last advantage is doubtful, because, although the use of flash memory instead of the usual and ensures data integrity, but also significantly affects the speed and power consumption, which in 450S and so not up to par due to inefficiently implemented illumination. She, on the one hand, it is good enough, even though energy intensity (at the m100 uses less voracious inverted light with the ability to change it to normal), but on the other hand are automatically switched off after fifteen sekun. This is very inconvenient when reading in the dark. Keeping the same data in a nonvolatile memory in the long run makes sense only for those users who are denied access to a desktop computer that will agree to provide hard (except that travelers who do not have laptop, will appreciate this feature). The device is powered by two AA batteries AAA. Enter the text in the Pocket Viewer is only possible with the help of the onscreen keyboard, which is rather inconvenient, for example, on public transport. Handwriting (such as in older models) is not implemented, while on the Palm, you can use the onscreen keyboard in addition to graffiti. In terms of software at the device from Casio at first glance, things are better than the competitor. In addition to standard applications is there a program for working with spreadsheets (Pocket Word in 450S, unfortunately, not) and a currency converter, but it is only at first glance. The fact that the Pocket Viewer is an organizer with an extremely small number of available external applications, and m100 is available for more than 10,000 different programs, from free to commercial, including word processors, spreadsheets, Internet browsers, dictionaries and more. It turns out that the only application of 4-m megabytes of memory 450S is storing electronic books. In fact, a little less than a megabyte takes for their needs the operating system and embedded software. Thus, for the user's files is more than three megabytes.

Russification

The operating system used in the Pocket Viewer PV OS 1.02, which was originally localized and has the support of the Russian language, however, in the opinion of users, not the most ergonomic. For Palm are several commercial and free localization, and MakTsentr, for example, they are sold already pre-localization, and localization. Unfortunately, PV 450S has no means of communication with external devices, not counting the possibility of a cable connection with other such devices, and some advanced models of notebooks Casio - younger "pocket caretakers. Along with him comes at a desktop PC Sync, which allows you to have a copy of the data on the PDA "big" computer. Synchronization occurs through the cradle via the PC serial port. Files spreadsheet if you wish, you can synchronize with MS Excel, and a calendar, diary and contacts database - with MS Outlook.

Pocket Manager

Cassiopeia BE-300, which we have previously mentioned, is a pretty attractive model of mid-range - in Moscow you can buy for $ 250-280. As well as Pocket Viewer, BE-300 must compete with devices on the Palm OS, though we have in mind is the older model. This is not the Pocket PC, but not Pocket Viewer. Sasio calls it a hybrid or a handheld Pocket Manager manager. The company did not license it from Microsoft Pocket PC. The device runs under Windows operating system Windows CE 3.0, and, unlike older models that do not have an interface on the Pocket PC and familiar applications Pocket Word, Excel, Explorer, etc. Instead of them comes with the device's own software Casio. In addition to standard PDA applications (contacts, tasks, notepad, diary), are pre-mailer (understood HTML and attachments up to 1 MB), an Internet browser program for viewing pictures (not the best, but you can remove it and install another one) . Of the system applications it is worth noting the backup software, file manager, player audio and video files. As mentioned above, the standard for the Pocket PC OS Applications Pocket Word and Pocket Excel are not installed, instead they have viewer Word DOC, Excel XLS and PowerPoint PPT. Editing these files using standard impossible. The interface device changed from earlier models in the direction of simplification. Because of space lacks some standard libraries PPC 2002, so that programs written under the CCP on this platform can not run. In general, applications written for the Pocket PC must earn at BE-300, the assurances of Casio, after recompiling the source. Over time the web appear more and more third-party programs, rewritten specifically for the BE-300, including games, codec and player MPEG4, file manager, spreadsheet, etc. Pocket Manager runs on the processor NEC VR4131 166 MHz, and the hardware is not much different from other Cassiopeia. CPU does its job reasonably well, although at times apparent that retarding device. Cassiopeia is equipped with 16 MB RAM and 16 MB of flash memory. Approximately 5 MB of flash memory can be used by the owner to store its own data. Additional space can be obtained by removing unnecessary programs that come standard. BE-300 has a slot CompactFlash II, which allows you to connect to it a lot of common peripherals from IBM MicroDrive hard drives to network cards and modems. Of all the standards of the expansion is the cheapest memory is CF, so in that sense any problems with the owners of the Cassiopeia should arise. Separately, you can buy worn module PC Card, which makes it possible to use PCMCIA-periphery. Pretty bright screen "Pocket Administrator can display 32,000 colors and has a resolution of 320x240 pixels. He is slightly less than the usual display on handheld Pocket PC.Because of this device has a rather modest size 121h76h18 mm and weighs only 167, the passive matrix, that is, it takes time to warm up to the standard brightness (5-15 seconds) and some inertial. Putting the information by using the onscreen keyboard or handwriting recognition. Recognition system has an interesting feature. The user has the opportunity to set their own mark of any character that should help those who can not get used to the standard face. On the front panel below the screen is multi-purpose joystick. Synchronize with your desktop computer by using the cradle can be connected to the USB port and the supplied software - PC Connect. Unfortunately, the data exchange between the planner and contact database can only be done with Microsoft Outlook. There is no built-in organizer, not to support any other applications such as Outlook Express or Lotus Organizer. Hopefully, this is a temporary problem. As the batteries used lithium-ion batteries, which should, according to the manufacturer, to support the device during the week. In fact, the average load of batteries sit for two to four days. A full charge takes 2.5-3 hours.

Russification

Operating System Cassiopeia BE-300 was not originally located, but just recently released their first high-quality crack RussKey BE. His department released a mobile development company MakTsentr with the assistance of the Moscow office CASIO COMPUTER CO. The first version of the product provides a basic Russification, which lets you create and work with documents and e-mail in Russian, as well as synchronize with your desktop computer. In future versions of the program is expected to achieve full containment Pocket Manager. Thus, the Russian users can not worry about the possibility of normal operation with the "pocket administrator.

Pocket Director

E-200 Pocket PC - the latest version of the popular line of Cassiopeia. With the help of Casio wants to catch up with rivals in the face of Compaq and Hewlett-Packard, have already released their handhelds based on Pocket PC 2002. Prospective purchasers of the product - the business users that do not require compromises. This is a player in the heavyweight division and in the appropriate price range. In Moscow, E-200 can now be purchased for $ 650. Unlike previous Cassiopeia, who worked on the MIPS processor from NEC, E-200 is equipped with 32-bit CPU, Intel StrongARM SA-1100 at 206 MHz. It has a 64 MB RAM and 32 MB of flash memory, of which 5.5 MB is available to the user. The device supports major expansion slots and can work with maps of the form factor CompactFlash I / II and SecureDigital / MultiMediaCard. In addition, you can purchase a separate module PC Card, providing an opportunity to work with PCMCIA-equipped peripherals and another USB-host. This novelty, which so far no one has any of the competitors. USB-Host in the cradle, allowing you to connect (of course if the drivers) any USB-peripherals: keyboard, mouse, CD-ROM, etc. The company NEC, for example, its future model MobilePro P300 promises to equip the same USB-host. In the E-200 is installed reflective TFT-dislocation, which supports 65,000 colors.He works in the resolution of 320x240 and has a size of 3.5 ', like a PDA from HP. At Compaq, this screen is more than 0.3 '. In previous displays used proprietary technology HAST (Hyper Amorphous Silicon TFT), proclaiming an excellent, deep color. From this technology Casio refused for the sake of easy reading screen indoors and outdoors (with the problems of HAST), and in order to increase battery life. However, the first week of sales in the E-200 MakTsentr showed that the device has a serious design flaws that reduce its reliability. To date, about a quarter of units sold after a short operation in 1-2 days received for service on account of the identified defect - a failure of the electronic unit, which provides backlight. Read more about this here. But back to the review. From the previous Cassiopeia (eg, Cassiopeia EM-500 on the photo below) new design is different also. First, is the weight. With the overall 13h8, 20X1, 72 cm device weighs 200 grams, which is in itself very little. So little that some buyers complain that "there is no sense of the device in hand (I must say that similar claims were put forward to the new Sony Clie). A color scale E-200 though, and found its admirers, but it has caused, including feedback such as "the most disgusting-looking handheld of all time", than once again proved the saying "every man to his own taste."

Casio Cassiopeia EM-500 (Left) and Casio Cassiopeia E-200 (right)

Built-in speaker is not enough for anything like an acceptable music, so for this purpose need to use headphones. But otherwise the multimedia and gaming capabilities of the new Cassiopeia out of competition. According to user feedback, the playback video in MPEG4 format and play with great graphics, such as Pocket Quake does not twitch, and show the movement smoothly, without jerks. Type information as in all the PDA platforms Pocket PC 2002: With the on-screen keyboard or handwriting recognition system. Has not been forgotten and corporate dial-joystick. Cassiopeia is powered by a lithium-ion battery 950 mAh, which is enough for 6-8 hours. Battery capacity is reduced to relieve the unit. In previous series handhelds E-1xx used batteries 1400 mAh.

Russification

Russification E-200 is still in its infancy. Is already possible to work with documents and e-mail in Russian, you can normally sync with a desktop computer and surf. A more complete localization of the interface will be implemented later.

Summary

Releasing this range, Casio sought to please all potential users of handheld computers. So, summary. Buying a younger model, Pocket Viewer 450S, justified in the case, if you couple the low demands, needing only to quality electronic notebook. In any other version of this amount is to buy Palm m100. Sasio Cassiopeia BE-300 is quite suitable to buyers who are unwilling to lay out $ 600-700 for the expensive models of Pocket PC, but it does not meet the opportunities and Pocket Viewer, for whatever reason do not wish to consider a similar device on the Palm OS. With the release of localization buying BE-300 was quite reasonable, although the lack of a "mobile office" word processor looks strange. However, there is hope that, like the spreadsheet, word processor will be released by third parties. The older model Cassiopeia E-200 is a modern hi-end Pocket PC-based Pocket PC, nothing special, however, does not stand out among its competitors. USB-Host in the cradle and the PC Card module has a novelty. But in the handheld computers to Siemens and NEC, which should come this spring, will be implemented, these and many other innovations.Thus, buying now Cassiopeia E-200, you get Mighty hi-end product. The authors, translation:

Antares Software, or 5 years later

14 October creator of the popular game project PocketPref, company Antares Software from Veliky Novgorod, 5 years old. For this small by human standards of living cut, developers have grown out of student fans in the confident and knows his own worth professionals. If we take the facts and figures, the Antares team has increased from 10 to 45 employees and opened her own company in the U.S.. However, Dmitry Tsymbal, Founding President of the Novgorod company is not going to stop there. Once and for choosing the main focus of the development of software for mobile devices, he decided to bring to life a truly Napoleonic plans that and tell in an interview with our site. HPCru: What global changes have occurred since our last interview, that is the end of 2002, Antares Software? D.TS.: Our business has seriously increased due to the fact that we managed to polish all internal processes. In addition, we finally decided on the top area - developing software for mobile devices, and now trying different methods. One of the most promising - outsourcing of large companies in this field. HPCru: Very actual means of survival. On what specific companies do you mean? D.TS.: About Us-producing equipment - mobile phones and handheld computers. Under the agreement, I have no right to call them, but I will say that these companies are in the top three in the mobile industry. HPCru: I think you can guess who they are. In short, market realities are not forced to change you specified at the start establishing Antares'a rate. It's - it's nice. D.TS.: Yes, the majority of development Antares Software accounted for the mobile sector. In this case, our business model implies a 30 per cent of sales of own products and 70 percent of outsourcing. In the future we plan to achieve the ratio 50x50 - in our opinion, it is more flexible and rewarding scheme. HPCru: What platforms are you currently working? D.TS.: This is still a Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian and J2Me. HPCru: Which one do you prefer? D.TS.: Of course, Windows Mobile is now published in a leading position, although I can not say that we prefer it to others. However, judging by the volume of work, more food is produced specifically for the OS. HPCru: Clearly, if you tell for which user you are - Russian or foreign? D.TS.: We work for export, that is focused on the U.S. market. There, the fruits of our labors are successfully sold, so that we even have registered Antares Software in the USA. Anticipating your question, I will say what we are doing basically the software that can be attributed to the so-called class lifestyle, that is for everyday use. It's - different diets, planners, and so on. Unfortunately, I can not call these products by name. HPCru: An interesting niche. How do you determine what needs to be an American user? D.TS.: We have developed a strategy: make a product and then come with him to a potential buyer - a company that, say, helps to organize the wedding. In America, this whole industry. HPCru: Yes, and we have in general too ... D.TS.: Well, yes. However, in one such company in the United States can be ordered at once, and clothes and car, and hair, flowers, dinner, and music. It is clear that the event - a serious, so you need everything properly plan and coordinate actions. So our program is helping the bride and groom to schedule training for the wedding, take into account all costs and nuances, and most importantly - keep all the information in a convenient form for the Pocket PC. In fact, a much needed solution. HPCru: Of course:) The familiar problem ... D.TS.: So we're doing such software, we come to it in the appropriate company, where the program has been tested, then put it on your brand and sell as a companion product. In short, we do not have a headache on its promotion and marketing in general. This is not our business. HPCru: Such tactics are getting a brand justifies itself? D.TS.: Absolutely.We have already received so two of the contract. And experience shows that our software quite successfully sold. In addition, we are releasing several diets, Planner, that is, pocket diaries for those who, for whatever reasons must observe certain rules of supply. All these products are made for Windows Mobile, and for the Palm. HPCru: Well I have to pay foreign clients? D.TS.: We have, incidentally, overseas customers are not so much. Directly abroad is, of course, the contracts, but their share is small. Those who have, pay fine, we are in general satisfied with ... Although could pay, and more:) But it's not just about money. We are interested in our work, we are interested to live, socialize, travel around the world. And it is - the main thing. It's nice that we have already formed a certain style and spirit of the corporation. Yes, probably, now we can not boast that we are the richest company in Russia, but on the opportunities and potential we are quite on the level. Any our member can simply drop in at any corporation. And such corporations in the territory of Russia, I can name at least four. For example, I trained at the company's Intel. HPCru: C overseas market is more or less clear, but would like to see domestic and something to fall intermittently on the Antares Software. You are already working in this direction? D.TS.: Yes, we are engaged in child education projects, which plan to present both in the form of games, as well as various image editors for the Pocket PC to Pocket PC. If the child still plays with the "Pocket", so let at least use some of that will. Again, specifically I can not yet tell what will constitute our software for children, as well as to voice the title. HPCru: Then tell me at least when its expected? After all, for this audience today, few of the developers something to release:) D.TS.: I think that after the new year. These products we are releasing under his own name, so readers HPCru hear about it first. HPCru: Thank you, we will wait for the announcement. In general, how do you assess for themselves the Russian market? As far as he is promising? D.TS.: Unfortunately, in terms of money is absolutely not interested, because, again, there is a problem of Varese. Yes, not even in this case. This segment, in principle, is far from saturation in Russia. Edinistvennaya niche, which might be of interest to us here - the corporate, but then again it alone we will not go in the corporation. This is in general an expensive lesson. So basically we will focus on U.S. and European markets. HPCru: By the way, tell us about your business projects? At one time, remember, you even took as one of the landmarks - CRM-system? D.TS.: We underpinning and this direction. From rosskiyskih companies have gained, perhaps, the greatest experience in the creation of CRM-solutions for mobile devices. And it's not bragging. We support both vertically and dental, and insurance, and sales. Of the platforms in recent years more use Pocket PC, but there is a system for Palm OS. HPCru: At one time, back in 2003, you had a competition of student works. Actually, about the results we did since then have not. Tell me what any of these works and then was taken as the basis of your projects as you planned, then? D.TS.: Unfortunately, no. Yes, actually, we did not set such goals. Students simply receive credit or test scores. If we take the whole of our relations with Novgorod State University, from which we all came out, this is a separate big topic. We are very sensitive to such things as the interface between science and business. And I must say, we are not alone. I recently read in the IT-press to the effect that IBM even sends its staff back to training at the university and pays for a lot of money. We are also concerned about the quality of training of Russian students and, for its part, tried to somehow participate in this process, increasing the level of future staff. So here we have an opportunity at the department in the disciplines of choice be courses that would be most interesting to us. For example, now I'm in my fourth year of study "Computer Graphics", and the fifth at us - "Programming Mobile uninterruptable" and "Game Programming". This brand new items. It is clear that there can not be taught something global, but at least we are laying the foundations.Laboratory work, for example, is also designed for writing programs in these courses. Read these lectures several employees of our company. I am in management courses and the mathematics involved in programming, developers, and tell us about testing our experts testers. By the way, now we have decided to repeat the contest of student works. Best lab for mobile devices in the fifth year and the best project on schedule by the fourth will be awarded with the latest handheld the platform for which written. HPCru: The most successful students then take the vacant place in your company? D.TS.: Of course, we do for ourselves kuem frames. HPCru: As far as I know, you are this year represented his company at CeBIT'e. What shows? D.TS.: We were on a joint stand Russoft, which we are members. Impressions, of course, the mass, a large pack of cards and a stack of compact sets. However, so far managed to conclude there is only one contract. However, it still does not have gone in vain. And on the other visitors, and be seen. The goal was this - go there and see what the CeBIT, in order to evaluate whether we need it all. Even in such unprepared spontaneous mode was much more interesting, from what I'm doing such a conclusion. Firstly, mobile design interesting people. Secondly, the next CeBIT'u we prepare more thoroughly: to analyze the range of potential customers will take quite conscious steps. HPCru: If you take stock of the company for 5 years, what can be proud of Antares? Are there any special achievements? D.TS.: First, we are five years old. During these five years we have not dispersed. From a small provincial team that did not know how anything from a complete zero, rose to the company, which in general are aware. The best proof of our success - our customers. This is already an achievement. Secondly, we are going to unite under his wing regional firms that are also involved in mobile development and trying to build out of this joint venture real good corporation, that is education on the basis of the holding. In fact, we have initiated a union, because we have the strength and resources to do so. HPCru: Seriously. What kind of support the initiative? D.TS.: Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, Ulyanovsk, Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov). HPCru: Manage the regional offices of the holding will be implemented from Novgorod, it is of Antares'a? D.TS.: Complicated yet say we are only form the control scheme, but it is clear that the Antares - a core, as the initiator of the association. HPCru: And how much for a rough estimation of staff will work in your holding? D.TS.: At the moment, somewhere around 400-500 people expressed their desire to unite. HPCru: Colidno. And the future of a large holding company which global plans, why do you have in common? On what the market will be focused - on the domestic or foreign? D.TS.: Creating a holding company, we pursue two goals. First, the locked-in all outsourcing of large companies. For example, global corporations, which theoretically could be our customers, not even enter into negotiations with the companies in which less than 100 people. This well-known rule. In addition, the sum of the contract with outsourcers should not exceed 20 per cent of turnover. In general, the holding company will provide large customers for outsourcing. Oh, and, secondly, we want to seriously control the food market. Practice shows that, with our expertise, we can implement this task and that our company - is quite competitive. HPCru: Are there any contacts with the Spb Software House? Whether this will include the largest domestic developer in your holding? D.TS.: No, because we have different business models. In addition, we operate on four platforms, while at the Spb - only one, and their brand is pretty well-advertised. However, we are cooperating and just friends. Perhaps we will have some joint project in a while ... Maybe even this year. HPCru: What about the details:) D.TS.: I have nothing to say on this score, at least, officially and publicly. HPCru: Ok, then let's talk about toys.At one time, you were going to even identify to the department of gaming applications developers? Did this happen? D.TS.: No, we are engaged in games, of course, but so far decided not to provide a referral to a special department. For example, we are currently working with Samsung-Russia, recently released a series of games for mobile phones from this manufacturer. If you now go to the site of the Russian fan club Samsung, you'll see that most of the applications and toys made by us. HPCru: How is the project PocketPref? D.TS.: This is one of the most beloved our projects. Now preparing the second version Pref'a. And I can share with you interesting information on it. The game engine (it was made ​​device-independent) has been ported to Palm OS and Symbian, so users of these platforms will soon have the opportunity to fight in the pocket preference. First of all, prepared version of the game under the Pocket PC, but her tight and releases for Palm and Symbian. Expect a new release PocketPref can about the New Year. Anyway, we hope so. HPCru: Speaking of favorite foods. Do you personally have this? D.TS.: Sure. Probably the most popular product ... This is my daughter Nastya:) but seriously, Antares - it's actually my offspring, so that everything that goes under our brand from our walls, dear to me. I can not identify. HPCru: Finally tell n-ta, on creative plans and ideas. D.TS.: In the near future - to complete construction of the holding cell. Then adjust work with universities to introduce new courses there, that is, to give lectures on issues relevant to our disciplines like management, marketing and programming for mobile devices. HPCru: That is going to hammer shots directly into the regional universities of cities where the participants are holding? D.TS.: Not only. We postaraemya liaise with major institutions and universities, which are known throughout the country. HPCru: In addition to the mainstream mobile development, do you have some other areas of interest? D.TS.: Mobile content, ie, ringtones, logos, images produced by our design studio. HPCru: This is a fairly lucrative business in Russia today. In any case, some big players make millions on ringtones. Do not want to join in and do it more tightly? D.TS.: Certainly, we want to. But another thing is that the mobile content market, we will not aim, because we simply have no capacity to give, say, a million images, melodies, worthy of competing with vorotilam mobile content. However, with some targeted partners, we will gladly cooperate. HPCru: Well, finally, if you still remaining something unspoken, something about what you would like to tell the world in the face of readers HPCru, now have such an opportunity:) D.TS.: Thank you, will not fail to take advantage of it . I want to thank your site for support. Interestingly, in general, began the history of our company. 5 years ago I was with a small group of friends decided to try to write something for PDAs and generally to do business in terms of mobile development. The very first product that we released, became the "Guide to Great Novgorod. This guide, as you probably remember, won the prize in the developers' branch Palmovaya, who led the then HPCru. So we can say that your website - it is at some degree of cross Antares'a, which gave us a start in life, he added self-confidence. If it were not for this product and this victory is unknown as it all came together. Since this all started:) October 14-15, we celebrated its fifth anniversary. Widely celebrated for two days with what myself and congratulations:) HPCru: Thank you, very nice to hear this. Alaverdy answer that in Russia for five years, a company that is one of the leaders in mobile development, and supports four platforms. It's worth a lot. Thank you again for the job and this interview. We look forward to continuing PocketPref and promised new projects. The authors, translation: