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:

Diamond Mako for a free artist

These personal experiences connected with the painful choice of a handheld computer, were sent to us by one of our readers in a letter with a note: "grieved. The audience, if you want." Want. Publish. Since childhood, I was overcome with desire for mobility, and its first implementation was the MK-85 - a microcomputer, as it was written, with built-in BASIC and 2 kilobytes of memory. Machine quite interesting for its time, especially in comparison with the MK-52. While computers interested me more as a tool for programming. Thoughts that could record, I did not yet exist, the texts do not have to recruit, I just read the technical documentation which defines the requirements for my computer. Then the cravings have changed. I began to read more, but all my work and came down to programming. And yet I really wanted to "independence." Once I even changed my desktop Pentium at the 482nd laptop. For a while, this very happy, but then I realized that to carry a laptop is absolutely not practical for him and quickly lost interest. It was it was somewhere in the early 90's, when the alternatives notebook was not there, so at the time of his dreams I had forgotten. The next milestone was the emergence Organizer Palm Pilot. As soon as I heard about them for the first time, my heart pounding excitedly. I had no money to buy, but deep down, I decided that once I have the sort of thing is bound to be. Some years I carefully followed all the publications on similar devices, share and dream ... Meanwhile, my computer requirements gradually mutated. At work, I spend days sitting in front of the monitor and the intervals between "party event" to me is quite enough for the realization of my desire for programming. In his spare time, I became more and more interesting to read and write any thoughts. I mostly read this book and wrote down thoughts pen on paper. Home computer then I was not, and therefore the mountain covered with writing papers very quickly covered the entire surface of the table. And the inability to quickly find the desired entry plunged me into the disorder and as a consequence, lost in contemplation. Somewhere in that time I came upon an article in the journal Computerra "dedicated to Pocket PCs. I must say that on the Psion handheld computers, I had just heard and no interest in them did not show. So, in the room, several authors have described their experience with handhelds. I read everything with interest and enthusiasm. The story of Sergei Kaschavtseva his Psion'e think was the last. Here it is something me and getting through. I was struck sober views of the author for the purchase of a handheld computer. He said bluntly: PDA - is first and foremost, toy, fun, fun, and only then - a working tool. Of course, this idea is not true for everyone, but few willing to admit that buying a handheld computer - is not a whim or fad. Author Articles, talking about handhelds, their main advantage is called the freedom that they provide a creative person, the freedom to vent their feelings in words at their very peak, at any time, any place, without waiting for the opportunity to sit at the desk. Interesting thoughts and ideas can occur in the most unexpected moments, and losing them - simple. It is here that reveals all the amenities for a free artist handheld computer - an opportunity not to miss a moment of inspiration and enlightenment. Of course, for this purpose will suit almost any PDA keyboard. But one sentence in the article once and for all determine my choice. Not because she has a special genius, just as if she had crystallized out of my own views on the issue of choice of something one of the many.Here it is: "The main difference between Psayonami and other handheld computers that the rest of you can work, but Psayon ​​can just love." While I was fond of three-dimensional graphics. If someone does not know in this area there is a similar situation of choice. In this case - it is a choice of software package for the job. There are at least three popular programs: Maya, 3D Studio MAX and Lightwave. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but, in general, for an amateur (just an amateur, not professional) are equal. I tried them all. Without going into details, I will say right away - I just fell in love with Lightwave. There's no explanation, just a program is constructed so gracefully and beautifully that work in it - a pleasure, even regardless of the outcome. In comparison, all the rest - is insensitive crude tools. Lightwave - a program that has a soul. I think something like that experienced computer users Apple. So, after reading an article Kaschavtseva, I realized what criteria I'll make a choice and as a consequence, Psion in my eyes had grown, and all other PDAs receded into the background. After that I read all the materials available on these handhelds, and eventually even more confirmed in his choice. I wanted a machine for writing what I think from time to time comes to mind, reliable, stable, beautiful, comfortable, and the choice was made. I decided to buy a Psion 5mx. But the story has not ended. Since I live not in Moscow to buy this machine proved quite difficult, firstly, for financial reasons, and secondly, by geographical. Where I live, the average salaries are much lower in Moscow and, therefore, $ 500 - the amount is almost overwhelming. Because of this, I again had to postpone the realization of their dreams for a brighter future. But now, more recently, in our town for sale were computers Diamond Mako, a copy of the Psion Revo Plus. Knowledgeable people spoke about this model somewhat ironically, attributing it to women's habits and moods, so I did not even consider this machine as an option. However, the price is less than half a Psion 5mx, made me think. I thought for a long time. It was just a nightmare. I clambered all sites on the Internet devoted to Psion, looking for a comparison of these two models. At first, I felt absolutely critical to the presence of light, as we have in the north very long dark winter. In addition, the ability to work from simple batteries for Psion 5mx, seemed undeniable and irreplaceable for Mako dignity. These two items seemed to me so important that fly Mako seemed pointless. And yet, Mako was a bird in the hand (well, almost, in the hands) as opposed to 5mx ... In addition, I have just had the required amount. In general, I gave up and took the money went to the store and exchange it for a coveted toy. For a while I was in a trance. There was doubt whether I have spent the money. At some point, seeing one of the conferences on the Internet announcement of the sale of five for $ 350, I decided to return it and buy a used Mako 5mx. I even managed to contact the seller and get a preliminary agreement on this. But since all this took some time, I had to think something else is something. Firstly, last week as I enjoyed his new acquisition, and it was found that the backlight I wanted very rare. Screen contrast is so good that dim light bulb in the bus enough for comfortable reading. Secondly, the issue with batteries is quite an obvious solution, as described on the site www.mypsion.ru. And last, what finally brought the long-awaited peace in my soul - it's weight and size of the device. Mako, which weighs 200 grams, c size significantly smaller than the 5mx, already quite pulls his pocket. But still it can be.But nearly twice as hard to put five in your pocket, of course, possible, but forget about the fact that it lies in a pocket would be. For the five already need bag that I personally do not totally satisfied. Therefore 5mx with its backlight, battery and more comfortable keyboard, if ever, and will be purchased, so just in addition to the Mako. It did not take much time c ever since I started using my Psion'om, but with each new reading the book, with every thought that I recorded with it, eventually, every time I opened it, watching the graceful transformation of his body, begin to treat him with more respect and love. The authors, translation:

Computex Taipei 2006: "Taiwan miracle" in the pocket

In the 15 th century Portuguese sailors discovered has not yet indicated on European maps island. Struck by his beauty, they are without much thought called it an excellent - Ilha Formosa. Later this small piece of land has undergone a series of historical vicissitudes, struggles and colonization, and then suddenly came the "miracle". And the island became known as "Tigrom. Each year, the "Tiger" with great pleasure that demonstrates all its advantages, in that they are going to watch and take pictures with audiences around the world. Taiwan's economy, and, respectively, and electronics manufacturing, stala to flourish since the early 60-xx's and soon reached rather serious proportions. With the level of Zaire and the Congo moved to the island a leading position in the world for a number of industries. Takeoff even got a special term - Taiwan's economic miracle, and the island, along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore have a similar "services" referred to as "Asian tigers". Tiger never misses an opportunity pobryatsat armor and show the world their achievements. Since 1991 the perfect excuse for this was the exhibition of IT-products Computex, conducted in Taipei. Year by year, show increased its speed and range of exhibited products. In this year's exhibition, held in Taipei from the 6 th to June 10, raised a new record: 1312 companies exhibited their products at the 2907 show floor, and the number of visitors from abroad reached 30 thousand To read all news had, like last year, walking among the four huge pavilions filled to capacity, and among stands to navigate directories and maps.

The interior of one of the pavilions Computex 2006

This year special attention was paid to portable devices, mobile technologies and wireless communications. Almost all laptops made today in Taiwan, completed in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The same trend is observed for which we are interested portable devices. This is not surprising - in Taipei is well-developed Wi-Fi network with multiple access points: City Hall has long stated its intention to make the city one of the most "wireless" in the world. At Computex 2006 demonstrated the first samples of an ultra-portable PC (Ultra-Mobile PC, UMPC) Taiwan's production - as has already been released for sale in the U.S. and Japanese markets, and just being prepared for release. Joined the ranks of producers PDAs and smartphones. As in the past year, news provided veterans of the market: E-Ten, Asus, BenQ and others, but as always, HTC was not, however, the company's plans, which was announced recently in London, has changed for the better. If the corporation had declared that it would not distribute the products under its own brand, then convened in conjunction with Microsoft's press conference by HTC officially announced its own eponymous brand. So it is quite possible that next year the company finally take part in the exhibition. Attention to the category of PDAs, communicators and smartphones was also demonstrated on the stand Microsoft. Whereas in the past year, the company presented its platform mainly on the example of devices with Windows Embedded, putting a rather modest amount of PDA in a single "tank", at the Computex 2006 most of the stand it took Microsoft Pocket PCs and Smartphones, where each manufacturing company identified as at least one person to represent their new products. Trend towards further integration of functions into a single device: along with the complete set of modules for wireless communications more and more began to appear communicators with the function of GPS. However, in order.

UMPC: Struggles of Asian miniature

Despite the fact that the project Origami, under the name of which was hidden for a long time the concept of UMPC, was announced by Microsoft at the CeBIT Taiwan's Asus, South Korea's Samsung and China's Founder Group, the first on the markets have been an American model from the company eo Tablet Kiosk.As expected, the very model of a computer for the Americans developed a Taiwan-based Amtek System. As it turned out at the show, the same company is the manufacturer of another model - SmartCaddie, PBJ sold in Japan. The Company does not intend to limit the geographical spread of these countries. Thus, the French It'sLabel! has already started selling UMPC from Amtek System under its own brand, and soon in the Netherlands will go on sale UMPC Tulip. At the moment, the most expensive model is the French: If Americans can purchase eo priced at just $ 899, then the French will have to shell out for an "ultra-portable" pleasure 990 euros. The fair's sake, it should be noted that sells It'sLabel UMPC with-in GPS. For comparison: a model of Q1 from Samsung can be purchased for $ 1099. As we have told employees Amtek System, to their UMPC also expressed interest in certain Russian company, so it is likely that the ultra-mobile PCs and will soon appear on the market.

SmartCaddie: ODM-UMPC from Amtek Systems

	Amtek UMPC
Dimensions	228 x 146 x 25.1 mm
Weight	850 g
Processor	1GHz VIA C7M NaNo
Mainboard	North Bridge: VIA VN800

The new m130 and m515 - Palm computers all want to be colored

In the illustrious family of computers Palm completion. Palm Company has announced new models of junior and senior levels - m130 and m515. And, this time upgrading is not cosmetic in nature, as is the case with the release of m125. Suffice it to say that it is now very affordable series Palm m1xx head model with a color screen and built-in lithium-ion battery. This means that the era of handheld computers with monochrome screens coming to a close. Soon all the PDAs will be colored. In fairness it should be noted that changes in the computer Palm m515 is not so radical as a model m130. All innovations are reduced to a small change in dimensions of the computer (at 0.3 cm increased the thickness of the casing) - with unchanged outline, the installation of the new polymer lithium-ion battery, which is due to reduced size of the m515 has a slightly lower capacity (the manufacturer claims a week of work on a single charge), and finally to a doubling of installed RAM - 16 MB instead of 8 in the m505. Given the small size of programs for machines Palm, you can say - now the Pocket PC can be easily converted into a storehouse of software (whether or not - the question tenth). Both new computers have an updated operating system. Her Room - Palm OS 4.1. Good news for owners of m505, who wish to upgrade the operating system (Computer Series m1xx upgrading the operating system is unavailable). But first things first.

Meet the color Palm m130

The first thing that you pay attention, picking up a Palm m130, its appearance. The new patent detachable front socket looks very good. It can be replaced by any of the panels produced by choosing, in such a way, the color of your computer to your liking. The rest of the hull form is the same as its predecessors - a series of m1xx. Continuing examination of the new machines. Screen size has not changed, the buttons are the same as that of the m125 ... There is no cover for replacement batteries. What is in the Palm m130 battery installed? Yes, exactly: a new lithium-ion battery. The stated duration of the work - up to one week. Hence, for a day of intensive use should be enough for sure. By the way, now it becomes clear why the company Palm, releasing a model m125, completed its cradle of the CCP series m5xx. One-hundred-twenty-fifth Palm was a model of transition - from machines with replaceable batteries to computers with built-in rechargeable battery. The use of built-in battery in the low-end line of Palm - the news is good. Despite the seeming universality and availability of AAA batteries (you can buy them anywhere there's at least some kind of shop sells small things - and in hot Africa, and in the Russian province), batteries for everyday use is still beneficial and convenient. The service life of built-in battery - no less than two years. This coincides with the term of the obsolescence of the computer. Although, if we talk about typewriters Palm, their average life span is much longer. Computers most of the first series, bearing the name of the now-forgotten Pilot, well, you can use now, even without any kind of modernization of the operating system. Annoying feature - the cradle for the Palm m130 is also not the same form as the lower part of the typewriter as a model m125, since it is one and the same "bed". It is a pity that the filling cradle m130 has not been installed in a constructive cradle m105. In the design of computer looked perfect. Well, come on.Maybe the manufacturer is preparing a complete upgrade of the buildings in the junior series? Although such savings leads to some reflections ... look further - card slot SD / MMC is the same as in computers m125. Switch, infrared port, a jack for a passive robot arm - stylus. Changes seems to be no other cover .... Shape and its fixing device is the same, but the other stuff. Cover more plastic, more can be damped to the screen in the event of a PDA on a hard surface. And now it's time ... to include machine? No, first see what's inside her.

Has not forgotten old

Structural innovations in the m130 bit. Processor - one size fits all new models with a frequency of 33 MHz. Thus, a processor with such a frequency of 16 MHz is only set has not yet removed from the production of Palm m105. This aligns the computational capabilities of these PDAs, facilitating selection of software. Now the "brake" on the handheld machine simply nothing. The amount of memory m130 - the same 8 megabytes, and that in models of m125 and m105. Operating System stitched in mask ROM capacity of 4 megabytes. This news upset willing to do aprgeyd OS, since you can not overwrite the mask ROM. This is the price affordability. The reason for increased capacity ROM compared with previous models is the new operating system and support for color images. Expansion slot for memory card standard Secure Digital / MultiMediaCard remained unchanged. Today, this slot is available set of cards with the software and peripheral devices. In general, it can recognize - the standard settled down, and handhelds Palm, thanks to replaceable cards, have expanded their functionality. To connect the cradle to the new items to the sync cable and an external device is a fungible for m125 and PDAs Series m5xx universal connector Palm universal connector. Here, while no changes ... It's time to turn on the machine, because the front - the most curious.

Let There Be Color!

Screen a new computer Palm m130 is based on a passive matrix color LCD (LCD). This is a reflective display with switchable and adjustable white backlight. That is, the screen is set reflector that allows the use exterior lighting to illuminate the image. Advantages and disadvantages are the same as that of the PDA m505. The image is soft, does not hurt the eyes. In bright daylight the picture is well distinguishable, but in a room with a backlight on the screen does not look as colorful as constructed by the traditional technology aktivnomatrichnye screens. M130 screen size is smaller than the second debutant Palm m515 - the differences are the same as that between the m125 and m505. But picture quality is very good: the m130 uses 16-bit color, capable of displaying 65,536 colors. Permission is unchanged - 160x160 pixels. Evaluate the quality of the color screen to work we still have, but until we can say that the opportunity to get a PDA with a color display at an affordable price - that's really cool. Dimensions of machine (incidentally, 12,2 x7, 8x2, 2 cm and weighs 153 grams, which is 2 grams heavier than the m125 and the complete coincidence of external dimensions) and which has already become a familiar design make the Palm m130 is very attractive acquisition. We can say that this is a good response to competitors. At least so it seems at first, and something to hide, friendly look ...

Computer for the boss

The second new product from Palm - PDA older series m515. Externally, it is not unlike his predecessor m505, but the changes still are. Firstly, it is as we have said, double the amount of memory - up to 16 megabytes. Secondly, an enhanced reflective screen with high brightness (resolution remains the same - 160x160 pixels). Card slot for SD / MMC, housing design and the cradle is the same as in the m505. The infrared port is present in m130, and m505. Mode of vibration and light alert (silent vibrating alert and flashing LED during operation of a pre-signal) to the Palm m515 is saved, and m130, as in previous models, is absent. A major improvement of the two models - the new version of the operating system Palm OS 4.1.

More programs, more amenities

With the new operating system, future users of Palm handhelds will have a familiar set of programs for their digital assistant. The composition of the base software includes scheduler Date Book, Address Book, Address Book, a program of Business Planning To Do List, editor Memo Pad, a text editor with ability to save handwritten annotations Note Pad (new version 1.7), e-mail program Mail, Clock Clock, Calculator Calculator , the program is synchronizing with a desktop HotSync, the program works with removable memory cards Card Info program and personal data protection Security. That is a complete set for use with Pocket PC as a personal organizer. Remained unchanged and the system of entering text, which includes handwritten - Graffiti (around which recently not abating scandals). Practically remains and appearance basic applications and programming buttons. Improvements to the operating system deal with memory cards (lifted restrictions on its scope - in previous versions of the problem was solved by installing a special patch) and control backlit screen (the computer stores the set the brightness and the next time you turn it on restores this value). Improved text editor, Note Pad, you can now customize the background color and line. Changes have affected, and synchronize data between a PDA and the task scheduler (it would seem - which would be better, but the list of compatible programs expanded). To synchronize with your desktop computer has been used for well-known program Palm Desktop 4.0.1, optimized for the new operating system Windows XP. Additional program features include a custom look - the technology of "desktop themes, as in most Windows. It is worth noting for the traditional program-synchronizers of Palm stability. Probably on part of a sustainable communication handheld machines with desktop Palm remains the champion. Good news for computer users Macintosh - new PDA communicate with Macs through a synchronization program Palm Desktop 2.6.3. And bad news for them is - Palm still is not compatible with Mac OS X, although the situation is about to change (such as, in any case, the promises of the manufacturer). Still a lot of extra programs, along with new computers supplied in the CD-ROM. In particular, the disk can be found Link to Microsoft Outlook - a program to synchronize data from Microsoft Outlook (this is easy to guess from the title) with Palm'om. DataViz Documents To Go 4.0 - an application that provides user Palm opportunities that were previously available only to owners of Pocket PC. Now with the help of programs from a pocket on a typewriter, you can view and (Warning) to edit MS Word documents and Excel, while preserving the basic font and table formatting. When you synchronize with your desktop computer formatting will be automatically restored. The same program allows you to view presentations MS Power Point, but without editing capabilities. These properties of multimedia computer program gives Palm MGI PhotoSuite ® Mobile Edition 2.23 with the addition of PhotoView.This package is a versatile viewer graphic and video formats including JPG. TIF. GIF. PNG. BMP. MOV. AVI. WMV - so not just because, as with the option to edit! (Ah, Palm `y would still sound like the computers Sony CLIE - but give it time). Very interesting possibilities provided "makeweight» PhotoView. This is an image viewer in JPEG, which works directly with cards MMC: You can rearrange the memory card directly from the camera into the slot PDAs and view only that captured footage. The main thing that the camera was working just with the cards MultiMediaCard. The next program on the CD that came with the new machines, designed for reading electronic books - Palm Reader. Here, a few books in English, German and Italian (for those who know one another, or even third). In addition to alternative calculator powerOne personal calculator, the disk has a great selection of programs to work with the Internet. Palm HotSync Mail for offline browsing and mail synchronization with popular email programs; AvantGo 4.0 Mobile Internet Service - to view optimized for Palm channels with 16-bit color; MultiMail SE - full POP3/IMAP4 mail client, but without the support of investments; Palm Mobile Connectivity software - a package for use with cellular phones, including the preparation and sending of SMS messages and browse WAP-pages ...

The new Palm computers in Russia

At this time we do not have to wait long to see the new cars "alive", but if you like, then buy one of them for personal use. MacCentre Company has already started shipping new models to the Russian market, where, completely Russified and framed with a full set of peripherals and accessories. Range is great, but special attention should be paid to the memory expansion cards MultiMediaCard from Pretec, having hardly any better value for money and designed specifically for use with handheld Palm m125/130 and m500/505/515. Spectacular views and, simultaneously, practicality have suede covers Xigma. In such a case the new machine will look even more spectacular.

A few words after

What awaits PDAs Palm, reversed, whether they are in competition - decided today. Two new models released in response to active actions of competitors - including the issue of affordable color PDA from Casio. But with certainty we can say - PDA Palm in 2002 will be in color. The only question is - how much affordable. In the meantime, the developer produces just two main lines of models. Younger (low-end) consists of low-cost handheld m105, m125, and now has a new color m130, senior - a series of m5xx - represent a model of monochrome Palm m500, m505 with a color screen and the latest m515. If desired, you can choose ...

And a little more about the accessories

New items novelties, and for owners of Palm computers life goes on. Your car must be maintained at the technological frontier level. And here are the latest design proposals that will help ease the serious and improve the performance of your PDA and save your time and energy.

• USB cable with charging function Battery for Palm Handheld m500/505 USB-PA500-01. Wonderful thing, we must take, and cradle to exile in the pantry
• COM serial cable for Palm Handheld m500/505/125 COM-PA500-01
• Car Adapter for the Palm Handheld m500/505 AUT-PA500-01
• Cable GPS-Receiver Garmin eTrex / eMap for Palm Handheld m500/505/125 GPS-IP360-02
• Cable GPS-Receiver Garmin 12/12XL/II/III for Palm Handheld m500/505/125 GPS-IP360-01
• Universal power supply for the Palm Handheld m500/505 ADA-PA500-01
• Cable Connector for Palm Handheld m500/505/125 CNN-PA500-01
• Much, much more, no less elegant and sweet ...

All of this for sale yet no information is secret, we can say spy. When will be? Soon, very soon - literally, these days) looked before. The authors, translation: