Mobile panorama of the week, issue 25 December

HTC Athena: grown and matured

Rumors about a new device from the Taiwanese company HTC, which is brandishing the title of UMPC, appeared not so long ago. However, the first detailed description of the device, published online resource BengalBoy, was, to put it mildly, disappointing. It raises many questions, even doubts and suspicions. Judge for yourself: if you offer 0KPK actually will be accompanied to the communicator, but not uzhaty while in size, the thought of comparing this device with the UMPC will be somewhat illogical. According to the descriptions provided by BengalBoy, the communicator is equipped with 3.5-inch display with QVGA resolution and has other options are not too weird. We describe them in detail in the last issue of mobile panoramas, so that we will not be repeated again. As it turned out to BengalBoy someone that got it wrong, if not outright disinformation launched. "Sources close to producer" took pity on the weary details of the public. As a result of the last week in the network initially has a description that can be called "alternative", then, on another site - live pictures, and then at the third site was published detailed specifications. All this luxury, of course, has not yet officially confirmed. It should be noted that the new rumors are true and the future of the commercial name. Athena - is the code name for the device and the communicator will be released as the HTC X7500. Nevertheless, the description of Athena, which revealed itself in the network last week, is so radically different from the data presented BengalBoy (up to the supported formats of flash cards) that you would think that the authors describe two different, but actually exist in reality device. In addition to the name of the communicator, the only thing the two ears to match, so it is in, and form factor - candybar designed primarily for use with a horizontal orientation of the display, receiving a detachable QWERTY-keyboard. If in earlier rumors that the communicator does not look worthy of comparison with the devices category of ultramobile PCs, but now he at least can lay claim to it. According to new information, Athena is not equipped with a modest 3.5-inch, and an impressive display with a diagonal of 5 inches. Improved and the resolution - rather than unremarkable QVGA (320x240 pixels), the authors of fresh descriptions converge to VGA (640x480 pixels). Thus, from the category of devices that can still be comfortably used as a handheld device for calls, Athena moved to another level. Released last year, HTC Universal, which has 3.6-inch VGA-display and executed in a form factor similar to notebook-transformer has the impression of a fairly massive device that is a stretch be called "smart phone". Athena, which has even larger display, this category did not fall, although the ability to make calls, he has not lost. Dimensions of these two devices differ very much from - novice long by 0,5 cm by 1,6 cm wider, but thinner at 0.5 cm (if you do not connect the keyboard). Thus, it has a square shape, it will be less convenient, but rather - at all uncomfortable, keep a hand on the ear during a telephone conversation in normal mode without using a headset. Roughly the size of promise to have a new generation of UMPC, which tentatively will be announced in spring 2007. However, a comparison with the UMPC device loses in computing power. At the same time to compare the Athena with "simple" communicators is not quite logical - too much different size, functionality and purpose. As already mentioned, the basic mode of operation designed horizontal, not vertical.For a number of problems so really it is more convenient, which once again emphasizes that "zvonilnaya" function here is not important. Dialer can be used as a keyboard, and without it. When you connect the keyboard, the display is almost at a right angle to it, with a slight slant. According to their tactical and technical capabilities of Athena, is perhaps the most powerful and functional device platform based Pocket PC. He clearly will be positioned as something more than "just a communicator." In addition to the big screen with a good one for Pocket PC, the resolution, the model has many other attractive features. For example, the phone uses a powerful, again for Pocket PC, XScale processor with 624 MHz (520 MHz possible) and built-in hard drive-based hard drives. Regarding the level of Winchester sources are not unanimous - 8 or 10 GB, probably it will be an optional parameter. In hard drive technology is used G-Sensor - a special sensor that reacts to sudden changes in acceleration. If necessary, the recording head parks, so that when shaken or falling surface of the hard disk is protected from possible damage. Another unusual feature for the device - VGA-out. The rest have less than impressive HTC Athena options - "outstanding, and only". Nasty rumors about the truncated communication capabilities, fortunately, were not confirmed. Provides a complete package - supported by a network of GSM / GPRS / EDGE (four-band) and UMTS / HSDPA, besides - wireless networks Wi-Fi (802.11 b / g) interface and Bluetooth 2.0. Because the device is intended for use in third generation networks and Wi-Fi, in addition to the main camera for taking pictures (2 or 3 MP - no consensus), there is a frontal VGA-camera for video calls. Memory provides 128/256 ROM and 64/128 RAM, to expand use of flash card format miniSD. The battery capacity of 2100 or 2200 mAh 360/180 (GSM / UMTS) minutes of talk time and about 300 hours of standby time. The model works under the operating system Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC. The device with these parameters, like Athena, is explicitly requested on the role of car navigator than HTC has not become a neglected and has integrated GPS-receiver. Probably, the navigation functionality will be one of the main "chip" that will baulk at promoting HTC device. Given the trends HTC Pricing (enough to remember the cost of HTC Universal), most likely, Athena will cost considerably more UMPC. Thus, the device causes a persistent association with the famous anecdote about anyone unnecessarily elusive Joe - competition among the other members of the genus Pocket PC he is definitely missing, but on the real competitor UMPC he does not pull. Enthusiasts of the device, of course, there are, but the broad masses of future novelty is guaranteed not to go. The most logical explanation for the emergence of such a model as Athena - what it is for HTC intermediate of the evolution of the PDA to UMPC.

Enumerate the list of the currently known key features:
• GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and UMTS / HSDPA (2100 MHz for Europe and 850/1900 MHz for USA)
• Processor with a clock speed of 520/624 MHz
• Memory - 64 / 128 MB RAM, 128/256 MB ROM
• HDD with 8 / 10 GB
• Slot for miniSD cards
• 5-inch touchscreen display with VGA (480x640 pixels), 262K colors
• 2 - (or 3 -) CMOS-megapixel camera with flash, additional VGA-camera
• GPS-module
• Wi-Fi (802.11 b / g) and Bluetooth 2.0
• miniUSB, plus audio output
• VGA-out
• TV-out
• Stereo speakers
• The battery capacity of 2200/2100 mAh (hours of talk time - 360/180 (GSM / UMTS) minutes, Standby time - 300 hours)
• Dimensions - 133,1 x97x20 mm (plus 4 mm pad)
• Weight - 350 grams with battery.

Case Atom thrives

When the site of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has appeared the first information about the device Xda Atom Life, which prepares the operator O2, it seemed that we face another standard model without zest. However, performance data published by the FCC, were very poor and completeness are not undermined. It was in the missing parameters and found the most "delicious". Xda Atom Life - the official name of the communicator, formerly code-named Apollo, Taiwanese manufacturing company Quanta Computer. As the name implies, the communicator will continue the series of ultra-compact models of Atom. Recall, the first Atom had a candybar with dimensions of 102x58x19 mm and weighing 140 grams, and the functionality it had a very, very bad. The second model series, O2 Xda Atom Exec, received a more powerful processor Intel XScale PXA270 clocked at 512 MHz, against the previous 416 MHz, as well as more memory ROM - 192 MB instead of 128 MB. In this regard, Xda Atom Life seems logical extension, but the proposed change to a qualitatively different level. Thus, the model adds support for third-generation networks, and rose again the amount of memory. It is worth noting that this time the topic came up a company to increase the memory scale and really "did not spare welding. Instead of again only slightly increase the memory to, say, 256 MB, 1 GB requested immediately. This built-in storage capacity yet is a great rarity among the "smart" cell phones. By the size of the device a little more Xda Atom Exec, but still a drop of less than the HTC Prophet (Qtek S200). Weight also increased - up to 150 grams. With support for third-generation networks, the possibility of video telephony - in addition to the basic, there is a forward-facing camera. In other specifications remain the same, repeating the Atom Exec. The same smart Intel XScale processor with a clock frequency of 520 MHz, 2.7-inch touchscreen display with QVGA (240x320 pixels), FM-tuner, a 2-megapixel main camera, 64 MB of RAM. In addition to third-generation networks, can operate in three frequency bands of GSM / GPRS / EDGE, wireless networks, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with IrDA. Work is performed under the operating system Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC with Service Pack AKU 3.3. It is expected that the communicator Xda Atom Life will be released on the Asian division of O2 in early 2007.For other regions of the device will probably be released a little later, and under other brands, as occurred with the communicator Xda Atom and his followers.

RoverPC G5: Russian cousin Atom

The Russian company Rover Computers has announced the launch of sales of new Communicator RoverPC G5. In studying the characteristics of the model is immediately evident that dealing with the closest relative of the aforementioned Xda Atom Exec to the operator O2. This device is very compact - 102h58h18, 5 mm and weighs 137 grams and is designed as a candybar without a QWERTY-keyboard. As a competitor devices can be considered the same HTC Prophet (Qtek S200), from whom he wins by size, shustrosti processor and the built-in FM-tuner. In this case, RoverPC G5 has a slightly smaller screen than the Qtek S200 - 2.7-inch diagonal, and He2, 8. Like the Xda Atom Exec, new works based on the processor Intel XScale PXA 272 520 MHz. However, unlike the Xda Atom Exec, it did not receive more than the Xda Atom memory - 192 MB instead of the installed 128 MB of ROM, the standard for new products recently. RAM size is 64 MB. It should be noted that in order to reduce the size has not been made and move on miniature cards microSD, Memory expansion is made using a flash card format miniSD. Work in three frequency ranges networks GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz), supports data transmission GPRS and EDGE. Not without wireless support Wi-Fi networks and interfaces Bluetooth (version 1.2 only) with IrDA. Also among the advantages of the model includes a 2-megapixel CMOS-camera and an integrated FM-tuner, which, incidentally, is becoming more and more familiar settings. Work is performed under control of Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC with Service Pack AKU2. Li-Polymer battery 1530 mAh about 5,5 hours of talk time and 150 hours of standby time. It should be noted that the promotion of its new items, Rover Computers relies less on miniaturization solutions as the "delicious" price with rich set. Despite the lack of integrated GPS-module, RoverPC G5 is positioned as a "personal pocket navigator. Comes with an external GPS-module, plug-in Bluetooth interface and navigation software "Autosputnik Mockva lite", which includes a map of Moscow and Moscow region. The program works in day and night modes, as well as in panoramic mode, 2.5D, allowing to see a map of "bird's-eye view." Map supplemented by several thousand POI - ingredients, restaurants, cinemas, shops, etc. Searching for objects on the map is carried out both by name and by location. Unlike solutions with integrated GPS-module, such as HTC P3300 (Artemis) and the E-Ten Glofiish X500, RoverPC G5 used for navigation while hiking outings will not be too comfortable. Somewhere and have to attach a separate GPS-receiver, although there are enough free pockets or handbags problem is easily solved. Rover recommended price complete set of delivery is really attractive - 16,950 rubles. For comparison - the cost of new smartphones equipped with integrated GPS-module, with similar communications and other capabilities, such as the same HTC P3300 (Artemis) and the E-Ten Glofiish X500 is about 20 thousand rubles. Thus, RoverPC G5 will definitely not be deprived of attention. Finally we should mention the older brother of new items, also available on the Russian market - ORSiO n725. He is extremely similar to the RoverPC G5, including the design. The main difference in the amount of flash memory - ORSiO n725 has 192 MB ROM, as well as the Xda Atom Exec.However, it costs much more - around 20 thousand rubles. And all this without the navigation capabilities in the kit.

Cruel joke, or the disappointment of the week

In the last issue of mobile panorama we told you about a mysterious trick of the editor of the Internet resource Gizmodo. Recall that Brian Lamb (Brian Lam) did, without giving any explanation, the claim that the mythical iPhone announcement will take place on Monday (December 18). Here are his words: «Gizmodo Knows: iPhone Will Be Announced On Monday. I guarantee it. It isn't what I expected at all. And I've already said too much. - Brian Lam »(Gizmodo knows: iPhone will be announced on Monday. I guarantee it. This is absolutely not what I expected, but I already said too much). Cleared up is very simple: on Monday there was indeed announce iPhone and it really was not what you expect - instead of a cell phone from Apple under this title was announced range of VoIP-products from Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems. It should be noted that, in his provocative statement that from Thursday to Monday discussed by all interested in the phone from Apple, Lam neatly avoided all the pitfalls and said not a word of iniquity. As a result, on Monday, he again became "a hero of the day" when his dire predictions came true and his heart's content had fun over the situation. It remains only to ponder what would be called the phone from Apple, if not the iPhone, because the brand, as it turns out, belongs to Cisco.

Briefly about other events of the week

Rumors panorama of the week

Guglfon: a new chapter in the history of mobile search? Except for preliminary information about the HTC Athena (X7500) and Xda Atom Life, then perhaps the clearest message was the rumor of the week British publication Guardian about the upcoming "guglfone. According to the Guardian, the operator Orange and Google are going to create a mobile device that will make mobile internet search as natural as you search through desktop computers and laptops. The developer of the model should serve notorious company HTC. Thus, most likely, we get the communicator (or smartphone) with preinstalled software from Google, which should greatly simplify the search from mobile devices. Among the possible functions - localized search, combined with maps and images of Google Earth.

Soft-panorama of the week

DeepFish: new browser for Windows Mobile Smartphones Will the new browser for smartphones based on the platform Windows Mobile. Information about DeepFish, rather small demo, published online resource Mobility Today. Until the browser is in beta testing. One of the main features of this application is the preview function when the page is represented as a whole, but in a reduced form. Thus, the user can navigate to the page and then have the right to increase his site. BootMan, AquaCalendar, SMS Spam Manager and DreamConnect: Now for UIQ3 Last week it was released several versions of well-known applications for the platform UIQ3. Among them - BootMan, AquaCalendar, SMS Spam Manager and DreamConnect. Utility BootMan 1.00 UIQ3 is an autoloader applications. It allows you to choose the applications that will be loaded automatically when you turn on or restart your device. Possible option of deferred start the application - after a certain time after power on or reset. AquaCalendar UIQ3 5.0 - is an organizer with rich functionality. The program combines the resources to work with calendar, tasks, contacts, messages, and significant dates. Supported by more than 10 options for viewing, color icons to display categories, creating templates, as well as creating links between the contact and any occasion. DreamConnect 3 - is a version of the powerful contact manager from DreamSpring for UIQ 3. The program provides multi-layered hierarchy of groups of contacts. Supported by sending the context-dependent messages (SMS, MMS or e-mail) to groups of contacts, add or delete contacts in groups and change the message type and context, as well as advanced search and retrieval. SMS Spam Manager, as the name implies, is a defensive system of SMS-spam. Through this program, the user can set up your device so that unwanted messages were blocked and did not bother him sound or light signals. Blocking is possible in several ways: all messages, all messages from people outside your contact list, or in accordance with set rules - from certain rooms, from rooms with a certain prefix or even all messages containing the search phrase. Alarm system for a smartphone Phone Guardian 1.0 - an application from the company SymbianGuru, which is intended to protect the information on the Symbian-based smartphones in the event of loss or theft. It is also intended to deliver maximum trouble unauthorized encroach on the smartphone villains. The program allows you to lock your smartphone via a special SMS-message, is able to send SMS with the number of "foreign" SIM-card data on the location for the unauthorized change of SIM-card is protected against unauthorized uninstallation password has several other useful talents. The program is designed for smartphones based on the platform S60 3rd Edition. Screen Capture: just screenshots, download the regiment frivarnogo or free software has arrived - the company Ilium Software has released an application for creating screenshots - Screen Capture. The program is simple and easy to use, its functionality is limited it is a screenshot. Screen Capture is suitable for smartphones, PDAs and smartphones running operating system Windows Mobile (2003 and 5.0). Updates of the week - New versions of the well-known programs were also released several updates for known programs. Among them - Pocket Tunes from NormSoft, MagiCall of Magi Software House, PhatPad from PhatWare and from OfficeSuite MobiSystems. OfficeSuite - a suite of office applications for Symbian-smartphones based on the platform S60. OfficeSuite version 3 supports smartphones based on S60 3rd Edition. The package allows you to work with word processing and spreadsheet formats DOC, RTF, TXT, XLS, XML and SCV. Among the new features in version 3: support chart, opening files from the inbox, displaying data on file in the file OfficeSuite. The new version of the popular among users of Palm audio player Pocket Tunes has noticeably grown functionality. Came an updated user interface, the catalog channel internet radio, support for album art images, and most importantly - support for file formats AAC, AAC Plus, and streaming audio. Thus, the program can play music in the formats MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC Plus, Ogg Vorbis and WAV. Supported by the Bookmarks feature, graphic EQ, a smooth transition from song to song, integration with Windows Media Player 10 and more. MagiCall - a powerful tool for filtering calls and SMS, designed for PDAs and smartphones based on Windows Mobile. With this program you can block unwanted calls and SMS in accordance with certain rules, just automatically hang up, or automatically answer an SMS-message, and more.The new version has the following features: the addition of many numbers per rules, filtering by category Pocket Outlook, delete and compress log files, as well as preserving the registration settings when uninstalling. Appendix PhatPad is a functional organizer notes for your desktop PC and Pocket PC. It allows you to create and edit notes, consisting of typed or handwritten text, and graphics. The new version has several innovations, including the ability to create templates for documents and notes to defend a 256-bit encryption.

Business panorama of the week

Push-to-Talk in MegaFon Russian users of many mobile phone models (as well as smartphones) with support for Push-to-Talk, finally got a chance to use it. Operator MegaFon launched commercial services based on this technology at the Moscow and North-West regions. PTT allows mobile phone is actually in the walkie-talkie. At the same time as a delivery channel voice signal using GPRS / EDGE. Thus, subscribers can use the PTT technology throughout the network, as well as roaming. Upsets only one - send and receive voice messages is charged according to tariffs on expensive WAP-GPRS. Palm: falling profits and record sales for Palm summed up the results of the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which ended for her on December 1. Quarter is significant, firstly, the fall in net profit in more than 20 times to $ 12.8 million, and, secondly, a record retail sales of smartphones Treo - 617 thousand pieces. Fall in profits the company binds mainly to the fact that the result of the second quarter of fiscal 2006 reflected the effect of a partial revaluation of the deferred tax assets, which totaled $ 226.3 million, while sales of smartphones to 42% more than the results the same period last year and 8% higher than the result of last quarter. In this quarter have been announced and began shipping two new models of Treo - Treo 680 and Treo750v. The first is a budget model based on the Palm OS, which was released toward the end of the quarter. Treo750v - this is the first model of the Treo based on Windows Mobile, which appeared in Europe. Now Treo 750v is available in nine European and five Asian countries.

Hard-panorama of the week

Communicators Voxtel pass the tests Bluetooth-Connect peripherals to your PDA or communicator - not always an easy task. Voxtel company has tested for compatibility its new communicators Voxtel W420 Voxtel W740 and the accessory PocketNature and Vobis. It turned out that a couple of them operate stably, for example, Bluetooth-keyboard "Ray-BT" and "Ray-BT Compact. In addition, Voxtel W420 proved itself well as a navigator. During the test program was used PocketGPS Pro Moscow and quite a broad range of Bluetooth GPS-receivers. Sociable portable hard drive BluOnyx from Agere Systems curious handheld device introduced company Agere Systems. BluOnyx is positioned as a product of the new category. In practice, this portable hard drive capacity up to 40 GB with the ability to connect directly to your computer and devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, game consoles and so on. To connect using interfaces USB, Bluetooth or wireless Wi-Fi. Also has a slot for memory cards format SD. Thus, it is possible, for example, moved to BluOnyx music collection from your computer, and then listen to it on the phone, smartphone or PDA. Supersensitive compact GPS-module specifically for mobile phones feature GPS-navigation is becoming more popular in mobile devices. Neither Seiko Epson in response to a demand presented a compact, ultra-sensitive GPS-module S4E19863, designed specifically for use in cellphones. Bulk supply module has already begun. For example, it is used in some of the newest Japanese series of FOMA 903i handsets on the operator NTT DoCoMo. According to the developer, it is the smallest GPS-module in the world (7h6h1, 28 mm), nonetheless, provides an enviable precision and sensitivity, providing even work with a weak signal in the premises. The authors, translation: