Hero of the day award ...
On the first day of Computex 2005 have been announced winners of "Best Choice", held annually at the exhibition. Evaluating the criterion of originality, technical execution and export potential in Europe and America, the jury members - experts from academic and government institutions, representatives of companies working in information technology, as well as journalists from the media, specializing in the same area - away luchshie of the exhibits in ten categories. First, note has already become a famous handheld MyPAL A636 from ASUSTeK. Interestingly, the company introduced this year is a PDA without phone functionality, despite the numerous reports showing the decline of interest in the PDA itself. And this after last year the company was awarded in the same category is a PDA MyPal P505. The new PDA, which is positioned as GPS Pocket PC, based on Windows Mobile 5.0, equipped with WiFi and Bluetooth, as well as the functionality of portable video and MP3-player. In all of these, MyPAL A636 exactly meets the expectations of analysts In-Stat MDR, which in March had predicted the development of the PDA market in the direction of more specialization (in particular, stated that the basis of the market will make it a PDA with GPS), and also equipped with functions of the player. |
| Medalist MyPal A636 and the award itself |
"And who's to say what the new version of Windows Mobile come out?"
Nice girl lit vengeance, trying to stir up the crowd and bring her to the stand of Microsoft, while a boring young man, bubnyaschy into the microphone properties of the new OS, with the same success from the audience dared to stand. Tank-prize for the correct answer to the symbol of a monopolist still can not go out of her hands, with the right answer proudly flaunted on a huge plasma display. "Well," - in despair she made another attempt - "Well, as you have fingers on your hand?" Raise your hands! " A crowd of visitors who are unlikely to understand English, with great interest traced as she fixed her with both hands up. Difficult to imagine what else she has made, if no more a Hindu and squeezed, calling the desired number, picked up his shirt to fit busily and retired. That's where you know which country is the leader in information technology ...:) Continuing the theme of the new OS. Award "Disappointment exhibition" HPC.ru honorable awards ... HTC. The most famous manufacturers of PDAs, the authors of the very same HTC Universal, which was first demonstrated Windows Mobile 5.0, the exhibition was not there. It has been reported in the press center, this is because the profile of the company. Unfortunately, those manufacturers who specialize in contract manufacturing (On Demand Manufacturing, ODM), does not meet the criteria for Computex 2005. |
| E-Ten M500 and M600 new |
Dimensions: 111.7 x 60.7 x 22 mm
Weight: 180 g
Processor: Samsung 2440A, 400MGts
Memory: 128MB Flash ROM (available about 70-90MB), 64M SD RAM (~ 50MB available)
OS: Windows Mobile 5.0
Range: GSM 850/900/1800/1900
GPRS: Class B / Multi-Slot Class 10
Wireless technologies: 802.11b (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth 1.2
Slot: SDIO
Camera: 1.3 MP, 4-fold increase, flash, timer, video
Battery: 1440mA / h Li-ion
Voice-activated control
64 polyphonic ringtones
Interestingly, two other models of smartphones with Windows Mobile 5.0, I found only at the booth Microsoft. Despite the fact that one of them was a model of Einstein GigaByte, known proizvoditelnitsy motherboards, later identified as that at its booth, the communicator is not presented, so we had to settle for "museum" for the showcase glass. Incidentally, the decision to release phones Gigabyte has recently, at the same time, it was announced that the primary niche will be 3G-phones, where competition is not so great. As we see, in the course of events have changed the emphasis somewhat.
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| Models Einstein (left) and mopoDA 3360 (right) |
Processor: ARM920T, 416MGts
Memory: 64MB RAM
OS: Windows Mobile 5.0
Display: 2.4''TFT LCD, 240x320, 262.000 colors
Band: GSM 900/1800/1900
GPRS: Class 10
Wireless technologies: 802.11b (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth
Connector: Mini-SD
Camera: 2.1 megapixel (!)
Design: Sliding
Voice-activated control
MP3-Player
The next exhibit "Museum" Windows Mobile - unit "yes." moboDA 3360 (yes, with a dedicated DA) named its new communicator based on Windows Mobile 5.0 Taiwanese company AnexTek. Despite a rather plain and unremarkable design, namely moboDA 3360 has been equipped with the most powerful processor among those represented communicators with the new OS, and wireless module, along with supporting 802.11b, also the protocol 802.11g, requires less energy (1mW consumption in standby mode), which also explains the somewhat reduced in comparison with other models, the amount of battery - 1330 mAh Characteristics of the communicator AnexTek moboDA 3360:
Processor: Intel PXA272 (MCP), 520MGts
Memory: 128 MB Flash ROM, 64MB SD RAM
OS: Windows Mobile 5.0
Display: 2.8''TFT LCD, 240x320 QVGA, 65,536 colors
Band: GSM 900/1800/1900
GPRS: Class 10
Wireless technologies: 802.11b (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth 1.2
Camera: 1.3 MP
Battery: 1330 mAh
And finally ... Pocket PCs Mio, but it's another story.
Difficult choices between 168 and 169
Main news: the very scanty information that was obtained from the project manager unit sales for Mitac Sonia Chan is planning to issue navigator Mio famous series based on Windows Mobile 5.0. Unfortunately, the company did not disclose at this time details of the new device, only managed to learn that the new product, whose name has not yet determined, will be equipped with wireless communication modules Bluetooth and WiFi, and perhaps go on sale in October. Features of the phone for her while not provided. Nevertheless, in an interview published in the Gazette Computex 2005, the director of marketing for Mitac Michael Shue said he expected the appearance of smartphones with GPS by the end of this year, but even here the details are not forthcoming. "At the moment I can only say that we will announce itself in this market segment," - said Mr. Xu. According to the same interview, the largest market for exports is Europe Mio devices. "But what about Russia?" - I asked. "We are very sorry that so far we have paid insufficient attention to the Russian market - is explained only by our limited resources," - said Sonia Chang. "This year the situation to improve, along with the already released in Russia, Mio 168, October-November this year, you will have another model: depending on the results of research on your market will be Mio 168RS or the Mio 169. Mio 168RS is only slightly different from the Mio 168, mostly related to changes in the operating system: unlike its predecessor, is based on Windows Mobile 2003, 168RS managed Windows Mobile Second Edition. The rest is the same PDA medium price range, equipped with a built-in GPS. However, in the U.S. 168RS sell for $ 599, because it is bundled with spetssoft for 3D-Navigation, 256MB SD card, USB card reader and battery charger from an onboard vehicle network. |
| Mio 168RS |
CPU Intel PXA-255 300MGts
Memory: 32MB Flash ROM, SDRAM 64M
OS: Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
Display: 3.5''TFT LCD
Slot: SD / MMC
Antenna: external, folding
In terms of technical data to another newcomer, Mio 169, - almost a twin brother of 168, but its design is designed with a horizontal screen orientation.
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| Model Mio 169 Mio became the flagship of the exhibition |
Processor: Intel PXA-255 300MGts
Memory: 32 MB Flash ROM, SDRAM 64M
OS: Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
Display: 3.6''TFT LCD QVGA
Slot: SDIO
Port: Infrared
Antenna: external, folding
Alas! I think everyone noticed that in addition to infrared, there is no wireless modules. No WiFi, not Bluetooth. In addition to these PDAs, Mitac also showed off a model 268 and 269 with internal antenna, released earlier this year for U.S. and European markets.
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| Model Mio 268 |
Dimensions: 138 x 72 ~ 78 x 26 mm
Weight: 226 g
Processor: Intel Xscale 300 MHz
Memory: 32MB Flash ROM, SDRAM 64M
OS: Windows CE
Display: 3.5 "TFT LCD, 65000 colors, QVGA
Slot: SD and MMC memory cards up to 1GB
Ports: USB, infrared
Antenna: Built-in 18x18
Battery: 1350 mAh
The second model, in addition, equipped with built-in hard drive, 2.5 GB.
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| Model Mio 269 |
Dimensions: 138 x 72 ~ 78 x 26 mm
Weight: 232 g
Processor: Intel Xscale 300 MHz
Memory: 32MB Flash ROM, SDRAM 64M
Hard disk: 1 ", 2.5 GB
OS: Windows CE
Display: 3.5 "TFT LCD, 65000 colors, QVGA
Slot: SD and MMC memory cards up to 1GB
Ports: USB, infrared
Antenna: Built-in 18x18
Battery: 1350 mAh
On plans to supply the Russian market of the PDA is not known. Most likely, we will release their peers. What are the overall plans of the company at the time the first to introduce the concept of GPS-PDA? Mystery. Managed only to learn that trend Mitac - GPS preservation as a core technology for its devices and the provision of additional functionality - be it phone, the digital music player or something else. In addition, Mitac promises to establish a regular devices and deliver them to the market every six months. A tempting prospect! Catch word for it!
Vertical in the pocket and PDA in the water
Visit booth CReTE Systems does not enter into my plans, but the CPC wet unusual form, suspended in the tube with water, caused a natural curiosity. Noticing my look neodumenny, who spoke with a client manager, stand politely interrupted the conversation and went to the tube and quietly lowered the CPC in the water, carefully watching over me.I believe meditation tractile persons gave him particular pleasure: not every day your eyes are immersed in water, PDAs and pulls back completely tselehonky and running. So took my first acquaintance with the specialized military PDA. PM8 specially designed for military Taiwanese company CReTE Systems is not the first year, they even have branches in the USA. The main difference between the CCP - changed board design, which reduces interference from the device, as well as compliance with a variety of standards such as MIL-STD 810F, according to which the device must operate in conditions of high and low temperatures, humidity, pollution, and also have a significant resistance to shock and vibration. Standard IEC IP67, which also corresponds to PM8, imposes the requirement of impermeability to dust and water. Compliance with such standards substantially increases the price. Referring to the secrecy, Jimmy Lang, sales manager, said that it is about price increases by several orders. To my surprise, I found in the specification that the device is equipped with wireless communication modules - like Bluetooth, and WiFi. In response to my question, what security methods are used in devices that Mr. Lang's very reasonably replied that at the moment they make the device is not for investigation, and for the military, ie, for the zone where civilian attackers not so easy to get. "Unreliable" - I thought. |
| J220 mobile computer and PDA military PM8 |
Dimensions: 90 x 150 x 33 mm
Weight: 450g
Processor: Intel XScale PXA255 400MGts
Memory: 64M Flash ROM, 128MB RAM
OS: Microsoft Win CE. Net 4.2 or Windows Mobile 2003
Display: 4''TFT LCD
Ports: 2 USB (standard and mini-client), Serial
PCMCIA, SDIO, DC, Docking
Battery: External removable Li-ion 1800 mA / h NiMh internal 20mA / h for the storage of critical information
Wireless Communications: WLAN 802.11b 11Mbps, Bluetooth, GPRS
GPS
Digital compass
By the way, along with the CCP, the company also produces the relevant military standard laptops, and Tablet PC, which at the same booth were immersed in water and watered copiously from above, in parallel over something working. Specialized model for peaceful purposes could find at the booth E-Ten. It was exhibited Wireless Mobile Computer J220. Rak the inscription on the bench, this PDA is designed for use in stores or in warehouses, and is equipped with a laser port, scan bar codes. It is interesting that the size of the "peace" PDA is much higher than the above-described PM8. Despite the fact that a representative of E-Ten, serving stand, referred to trade secrets, to the question, for which markets the device is intended, referred to FedEx and UPS. Characteristics of E-Ten J220:
Dimensions: 169.6 x 86.3 x 32.4 mm
Weight: 300 g
Processor: Samsung SC2410A20 200MGts
Memory: 64MB Flash ROM, 64M RAM
OS: Microsoft Windows CE. Net 4.2 or Windows Mobile 2003
Display: TFT / LCD
Ports: USB at 12Mbps, Serial RS-232 to 115Kbps
Slot: SD / MMC
Battery: Li-Polymer 2000 mAh
Wireless Communications: WLAN 802.11b (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth
To be continued ... The authors, translation:
Vladimir Ghukasian