The general concept of Psion devices as a form based on the expected change in the nature PDA. Very soon "personal secretaries" to evolve Wireless Information Devices, "Wireless informatronov, permanently connected to the Internet. As expected, WID will exist in several variants, "smart phones" and "communicators." Ancestor of the smartphone - a cell phone, such as we know it today. This small device with a numeric keypad (or, alternatively, something resembling a Palm and do without a keyboard), which is intended primarily for voice communications and, to a lesser extent, the exchange of digital information. In other words, the smart phone - a new generation of cell phones, whose users can not only talk, but the view from his e-mail, Internet, etc. However, due to miniaturization, there are some limitations: Web browsing on the screen size in one-fourth of the screen VGA is not very convenient and smartphones, as a rule, would apply the protocol WAP, the lack of any proper capacious memory will compensate for the possibility of storing data on a server, etc. Reference platform (Symbian's Device Family reference design) smartphone provides several specifications: miniature device with a horizontal screen (320x120 pixels) and a device with a vertical (portrait) screen (120x320 pixels).
 |
Communicator, as opposed to a smartphone, is derived from the keyboard ultraportable PC (Psion Series 3, Series 5/5mx, Revo, Series7/netBook). This - a device designed to transmit data, voice features are secondary to it (in principle, the communicator can not have them). The functionality of the communicator as compared with the smartphone is much higher: it provides valuable input and editing of the text (thanks to the screen and nearly full-size keyboard), the ability to "do" without a PC (fully replacing it), to work in a familiar environment (graphics, HTML, Java, etc. ) when connecting to the Internet. Within the Symbian EPOC platform provides several options for your device. Standard Switches - these are models that develop on the basis of devices with EPOC Release 5, Psion Series 5/5mx and Psion Revo. In addition, there are constructive Tablet, which focuses on work with systems of handwriting.
III quarter 2000
 |
While there are several "concept cars" (should be called their pilot device, but the word "busy") Psion, which will appear in the future. The first (officially been announced and expected in the autumn) - Psion Netpad. It is a model of a series of industrial device Psion, which is a tablet PDA. Autumn will appear and a new version of the organizer Psion Revo. This popular device is known, in addition to numerous advantages and has some notable shortcomings - lack of light, expansion slots and flash EEPROM, and a small RAM (8 MB). In the new modification, while known as Revo2, promised to increase the RAM to 16 MB and the backlight. In addition, it is possible that there will be expansion slots (not yet known whether this is full CardFlash or just for memory, such as Sony MemoryStick). Price Revo2, is expected to reach 500 - $ 550, roughly the same cost as the previous model at the time of entering the market. It is designed for users looking for a compact but more powerful device. The first model, Revo, many viewed as a competitor to Palm, but Revo2, is expected to compete in the sector, where supporters of Microsoft offer powerful functionality and PocketPC.
IV quarter 2000
In addition, Psion in conjunction with Motorola develops the first of a series of smartphones codenamed Odin.This is a hybrid Psion Revo and cell phone: an integrated device. On one side of the device will be placed in speaker, on the other - a microphone, in fact just use Odin mozhnot a cellular phone or an organizer, like Revo. The device is supposed to be a modification Revo2, equipped with 32 MB of RAM, memory card slot and a set of software, which is likely to enter the program, file converters formats of Microsoft Office (one of the main problems Psion - inability to open files Word 2000 ).
2001
Planned appearance of the first smartphones based on Symbian EPOC. It will be as smart phones as a normal mobile phone, and models with larger screens (there are plans to produce not only a Psion, but the partner companies - Ericsson, have already created several models of smartphones based on EPOC, for example, Ericsson R380, Nokia, Motorola, and may be, Sony). Psion plans to release devices based on the platform Quartz.
 |
This besklaviaturnogo WID, looks very similar to the PocketPC or Palm. The device will have a touch screen with 240x320 pixel color screen, 16 - 32 MB of RAM, a means of connecting to mobile networks (GSM and GPRS), slot MultiMedia Card and a system of handwriting (it is assumed that this would be a package Jot Character Recognizer, which is used in the PocketPC). In addition, Quartz is planned to equip Java, and argues that integration with the Java virtual machine will be so complete that the user is in appearance can not distinguish between the Java program from the "own" programs EPOC. The kit will include Quartz office software, means for processing e-mail, SMS and fax package PIM and other sources, materials:
