Two Samurai: Sony Clie PEG NX73V and the NX80V

A long time ago in galaxy, far, far away ... Oh, that's me ... In fact, not in any distant galaxy, but on our sinful earth, the land of the rising sun, the industrious and ingenious Japanese with enviable speed continue to produce miniature works of hi-tech art. For example, I'm used to the "fertility" of engineers and Sony each time looking forward to the appearance of regular cars. In this review we will focus on the last two updates - "Samurai" CLIE PEG NX73V and the NX80V.

Design, or seven reasons "for"

There is such a thing - tyunning. For those who do not know, I will explain the example of the car. Undertakes regular production model, and with minor alterations being sent "to the mind." The changes generally apply only to the appearance and interior car. This procedure is very popular among our motorists: buy yourself an iron horse of domestic production, and then equip it with a central lock, alloy wheels, sport steering wheel and a host of other "necessities." So, NX73V and the NX80V against the previous model line look like the past tyunning PDA. The company Sony, like zapravskaya automotive shop, earn sensational design once NX70, erecting in its database more accurate and easy to use handhelds. From basic handheld news inherited the concept of housing - a clamshell with a rotating top, on which the screen. Under it, the bottom sash is placed Hardware mini-keyboard. What changed? Let's order ...

The first

Improved rotary module with a built-in it lenses: it cleared of all buttons (except for the switch to filter NX80V). Press the power migrated to end the case and has teamed up with the lever "hold". In general, all buttons (except the gate) is now performed in small levers - switches, in the same style with the VAIO notebooks. This is certainly commendable, but at first all these "zatvorchiki" slightly violate the spent motor function.

Sony PEG-NX73V

Sony PEG-NX80V

On the rotary unit is no longer any indicator, since LEDs are "Power" and "Rec" moved to the end hinged lids: they are now clearly visible as in the open and closed lid. Additive power saving mode - auto shut-off display when you close the lid (again, like a laptop).

The second

Display at the NX73 has a much brighter - at least twice. By this characterization it quite a bit inferior to the famous "flashlight» HP iPAQ H5450. A contrast of all displays SONY never had any problems. For this part of the Japanese PDA, perhaps, be called confident leaders.

Third

Famously made a slot for expansion cards, CompactFlash: it no longer sticks out as a hump, like the NX70, and not hidden in the bottom of the case, as in NZ90, and cleverly built into the top of the back of the computer. Yes, so that once and it did not detect. Find "CF-taynichok" managed only with a special lever on the back of the PDA, on which was written "open" (pull, little girl, the rope - and the door opens:). And it really is just pull the lever opening the compartment for memory cards (such as bays for video cameras in the same Sony). Very elegant and ingenious solution.

Expansion connector format CF

True, snap the lid back on the already inserted CF card does not fail. With this will have to accept.

Sony NX c CF-card

CF slot also has a number of functional limitations: conventional maps of this standard is not supported by most proprietary applications SONY. Among them, for example, CLIE cameras, CLIE Movie Recorder and CLIE Audio Player. However, the internet can find enough programs from third-party manufacturers who will be working CF-cards on the Clie.

Fourth

New items include a slot for a new formation Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro). These carriers could potentially hold up to 30 GB of data (scary to think that when something so much can really be necessary)! However, while the samples are available in 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB. According to representatives of Sony, the data rate of new items ranging from 15 MB / sec to 20 MB / sec, which znachitelng exceeds that of common MS. These cards are also well protected from unauthorized dissemination of valuable data that provides technology Access Control Function (data protection in case of lost or stolen card) and MagicGate (protection of data during transmission or reproduction of different content).

Fifth

The hardware keyboard is, as usual, for two thumbs. In principle, you can print, although I personally prefer the slightly slanted button Tungsten C. Small distance between the keys, and additional characters placed between them, leaving not much space for the application of Russian layout. And, indeed, what we waiting for? Sony officially PDA in Russia does not deliver, so think about the location of foreign characters is not required. The keyboard is equipped with a rather dull yellow-orange backlighting.

Sixth

Application buttons have decreased in size and for convenience have been duplicated. Now they are located directly above the keyboard (for use with a palm on a gross basis) and directly under the display (for use in the folded position when the keyboard is covered by a screen).

Seventh

The stylus is moved from the bottom of the top, closer to the steering module, so get a pen now you can even touch. It's unclear, however, why the developers made his telescope, to work with a folding stylus is not very convenient.

Completion

The set includes: the computer itself, headset with remote control, stylus, CD with software, an adapter (for direct connection to computer and network adapter), AC adapter and cradle. By the way, the developers change the cradle they had all remained the same, that was and the founder of lineup NX. Yes, and why ... The only thing that seemed odd - it's the color of NX73V. The fact that the machine itself - a black, a "cradle" at her for some reason the silver.

Little about iron

Processor

CCP have provided a new processor, or rather improved version of the same series of XScale PXA from Intel - PXA263 200 MHz. Nothing special about this pebble can not tell, but the Pocket PC this processor yet.

Memory

NX73V has on-board 16 MB RAM (of which 11 MB user available) and 32MB of ROM. For the classical Palm-and quite enough. The older model NX80V is equipped with 32 MB of RAM (of which the user is available, exactly half - 16 MB) and the same 32 MB ROM. Given that the latest handheld is equipped with a good camera with a resolution of 1.3 million pixels, the memory limit of 16-th MB is not entirely correct, however, will likely have to fork out for expensive card or MS MS PRO.

Sony PEG-NX73V

Sony PEG-NX80V

Display

Permission from the screen, a traditional series NX (NR and NZ too) - 480h320 points, supported by the 65536 colors. Its size - 3.8''- one of the largest PDA. Contrast and brightness of the Japanese display - simply extraordinary. Read the article on this can be in any light, even at a minimal level of illumination. This is perhaps the best currently available on the market for handheld devices with screens trancflektivnoy illumination. So, Sony once again ahead of the rest, and we can only envy the happy owners of that computer.

Communication capabilities

To my great regret, none NX73, NX80 neither integrated Bluetooth-module no. Although carefully digging in the manual, have found that constructive computer still provides the opportunity to integrate Bluetooth-adapter. This device is built into a rotating unit, next to the lens cameras, there is and the light of the adapter. What explains the lack of a wireless communication module is unknown. But judging by the rumors, Bluetooth equipped only Japanese models Sony. I also went to American brothers, so that the quality of wireless handhelds on the new test failed. Lack of Bluetooth partially brightened advanced infrared (IR 1.2) with the functions of a consumer IR. That is, if the appropriate software can turn the handheld into a remote control of all home appliances.

Dimensions and weight

Dimensions for both models are absolutely identical - 71.9h131.5h21.8 mm. Weighs NX80V - 235 grams, and NX73V - 230 grams, or about 1,5 times heavier than a typical Pocket PC.

Food

PDAs with built quite capacious Li-Ion Pol battery on 1200mAch.

Runtime

To test battery life when reading books used the program MobiPocket Reader (v4.7) in the automatic shift with an average speed of 25 characters per second. Time was measured before the first warning. After a system warning of low battery computer worked normally for about 15-20 minutes.While reading the battery life varied depending on the illumination of 2 hours and 45 minutes to 9 hours 10 minutes (just below the graph, red). View the video (stream 600Kb / c) with maps of MS in full screen mode using the CLIE Movie Play takes (on the graph in blue) of 2 hours and 15 minutes to 4 hours and 20 minutes. When playing audio files (mp3, 128Kb / s) from the memory card using the CLIE Audio Player PDA lasted nearly 12 hours with backlight off (on the chart in green). Compared with the NX70 is playing music from heroes of our review has nearly doubled, and operation mode of reading - almost 1,5 times. Nothing has changed only with scrolling video - all the same more than 2 hours at maximum brightness.

Multimedia

Photograph

The main difference from the NX73V NX80V - a type of digital camera. In younger NX73V built a cheap 300-kilopikselnaya CMOS (or - CMOS) matrix with the highest possible resolution images of 640x480 pixels, and the NX80V is equipped with more serious - 1.3-megapixel CCD. As you know, different from CCD CMOS less noise. If the first camera it is rather a toy, after all pictures 640x480 suit except for Internet pages, the second is quite suitable for the standard photographs 10x15 cm In addition, the lens at the NX80V - more telephoto. No optical zoom and digital - only twice. For obtaining photographic images with the integrated digital camera using a program CLIE camera, which you can specify the type of media to be zapisyvatcya photos (CF not supported), frame size, the method of numbering picture, sound, setting the shutter, brightness, white balance, self-timer settings, produce select the shooting mode (only for NX80V) and ask one of the four effects (black & white, sepia, negative, or the sun). Application is invoked either through the menu or pressing the shutter button. Rent is quite convenient, as the viewfinder, use the display device. The only downside is the fact that the shutter button is pressed half-heartedly, as in digital cameras.

CLIE PEG-NX80V

Summarizing, we can say that the NX80V has almost the same set of settings that inexpensive digital camera. For a complete happiness NX80V is equipped with more focus and lighting (for use in low light conditions) and neutral filters.

Video recording

To record video using the application CLIE Movie Recorder, which can run as from the main menu and press the shutter button. The program is compatible with the CLIE Picture (there is a special button to switch between the two applications). In its preferences you can set the speed of video and audio streams (192/32Kb/s), the duration of the recorded video (60 minutes), file numbering method, brightness, white balance, the volume of recorded sound and special effects. Video is recorded in a format Movie Player (MQV) with a resolution 160h112. Unfortunately, the record on the CF again not provided.

Play video

Play video possible in principle to both the internal memory, and with any of the external media (CF or MS PRO). Here's the manifest advantages of cards CF - the most inexpensive, popular and high-capacity modules. Good, now quite possible to afford this card standard 256 or 512 MB. Such a solution would cost much cheaper than Memory Stick. However, there are some pitfalls. Movie Player The program can not work with memory cards CF. As we have said, this application only supports a proprietary card sonievskie MS and MS PRO. So if you want to play video cards CF (quite reasonable and fair desire:), something about the program Movie Player will have to forget. To help you come free utility Kinoma Player, which is still how to play videos - with CF, MS, or from the memory of your Pocket PC. True, the files will convert in advance using Kinoma Producer. To check out the "videocposobnosti KPC, used five specially prepared clips streaming from 480 to 1000Kb / s. Productivity was determined by the playback speed" movies "with the test, the built-in Kinoma Player. Both computers have shown very similar results. If these figures compared with the results flagship of the Palm, PDA Tungsten C, it is obvious that the 400 MHz processor and 50 MB of memory is preferable for video playback than 16 MB of memory and 200 MHz processor:) Therefore it is not surprising that the results of two-NX73V times worse. However, compared with a recent novelty Tungsten T2 from the same manufacturer, Sony demonstrates a good performance in ocherdnoy again proving a distinct advantage for Intel over Texas Instruments.

Handwriting recognition

In addition to the standard for Palm OS 5.2.1 software Graffiti 2, the package also includes one more application to handwritten character recognition - Decuma. This tool allows you to enter words letter by letter in a special area on the screen, and using multiple options strokes. Undoubted advantage of the program is the ability to create their own alphabet. To do this in the settings menu of the program must specify each letter of his own convenient time for you to write. It will then be able to recognize even the most exotic options flourishes (the main thing that you have written the same way every time the same character). Experiment a bit with the program, I discovered that its recognition engine operates at very high level. At least, no worse than Graffiti 2.Apparently, Sony has ordered the program to third-party developers as an alternative to Graffiti 2 (when it was not clear what the outcome of litigation with the company Xerox, contesting several years now authorship palmovoy entry system). Decuma not russified and yet it is not clear whether all will be the Russian version of the system. As for the traditional Graffiti 2 handwriting, with the help of the national containment MacCentre PaPiRus 2003 it is possible to work on a "great and mighty."

Software

Despite the presence of Graffiti 2 handwriting on PDAs, according to documentation, operating system version 5.0. Why does Sony have left the version number "5.0"? Probably just because of the lack of software Wright Anywhere, which comes with OS 5.2.1 and allows you to write the entire surface of the screen. A set of software is virtually the same as in the previous Pocket PC line - SONY PEG-NX70V. All software is divided into several groups. The list can be seen below (marked with bold application, which gets an additional CD-ROM).

Organizer

Overview of smart phones based on PalmOS

Smartphone is usually called the device combines the functions of a handheld computer and cellular phone. This eliminates the need to carry something, and another under this definition includes four devices based on PalmOS:

1. The first "real" PalmOS-smartphone pdQ from Qualcomm / Kyocera
2. New Kyocera QCP-6035 continuer of pdQ
3. SpringBoard-module for the Visor Phone Computer Handspring
4. Recently introduced Samsung SPH-1300 from Samsung

Qualcomm / Kyocera pdQ

Specifications

RAM	2MB
OS Version	3.0
Dimensions	15.7 cm x 6.7 cm x 3.5 cm
Weight	285 gr
Screen	160 x 240, 4 Ser.
Battery	Li-Ion, 740 mAh
Hours	2,5 h / 50 h
Network Type	CDMA, PCS

The first Palm-pdQ smartphone combines mobile phone and PDA based on a modified PalmOS 3.0. Memory capacity 2MB. It comes in two versions: pdQ800 works in digital and analog networks, CDMA, and pdQ1900 - in digital networks PCS. Russian Proverb "worst-first" true for American corporations. Wanting to buy this hybrid is almost $ 900 did not find much. pdQ flopped in the U.S. market, from plans to sell this model on the other side of the ocean the company refused. And thus he is no longer available. The cause of failure was too high price and unsuccessfully selected form factor. Spiteful critics even dubbed pdQ "brick". Nickname was fully justified - the weight and dimensions of the device it is very even match. In fact, today the machine weighs 280gr can hardly be called "mobile". It is not clear whether a year ago, there was no technologies to make more compact devices (of course PalmV?), Whether the developers of the company suffered gigantomania. The screen has a resolution 160h240 and is divided into several parts. At the bottom is an area of ​​applications for Palm-size 160x160 pixels. Above it is the part that is involved in a closed hinged lid. It is used to display the dialed number, OSD, and so on. Even higher - a number of icons that display the date, time, signal strength, battery and service information. The right of the screen are a number of Silk-buttons. They are responsible for launching applications pdQmail, Call History, and HotSync, as well as adjust contrast and disconnection of the phone. " Field of graffiti has not disappeared, but that's the right of it you will not find the button Calc. Instead, there is an icon Dialer. When folded cover it displays a numeric keypad for dialing. At the very lid are 12 standard phone keys, and two more to lift the handset and hang up. In addition they have on / off button smartphone, launch the application pdQalert and OSD control. On the reverse side prudently drawn a hint of graffiti symbols. The cover is not active, ie microphone in it. It is located in the body of the phone. Did you know that QUALCOMM is a developer of a well-known email client Eudora? EudoraInternet Suite for PalmOS is also the handiwork of the developers of the company. This free suite of applications is not enough fans. So, for e-mail and Web browsing on pdQ installed programs and pdQmail pdQbrowser, are the same Eudora and EudoraWeb. It is not clear what caused the company to change the name of untwisted. The program will even twins are identical. With this program, pdQalert smartphone owner receives notice of the received paging, voice and text messages. The quick dial list can SpeedDial including 99 phones, e-mail address, or URL.Program Dialer, as already mentioned, is a digital on-screen keyboard. During the call, you can run any program, disconnect link for this is not necessary. Of course, with the programs easier to work when using headphones, hands-free (not included). It is now clear on what Palm-device first appeared warning light, replacing the call. Apparently, pdQ was a source of inspiration for engineers, Palm, Handera and Handspring. QUALCOMM ought to patent that idea :-). You look, and to develop pdQ2 would get the money. Or maybe you think that this is the first Sony guessed supply JogDial its CLIE? Not at all! Side of the pdQ located volume control buttons. With it you can scroll the screen in AddressBook, SpeedDial and pdQalert. List of supported programs is not great, but there is an important fact. But this is what exactly can not praise the designers and engineers QUALCOMM, so it's a cradle. He's just huge! Yes, inside the "thrust" power supply, but because he can not be so big? It would be better placed to set a regular patch cable, but this monster sold as an accessory :-). And even at this edifice is not enough room for tiny buttons Hotsync. To start the synchronization, you need the stylus to press the corresponding button on the Silk-screen smartphone. Such precisely nowhere else seen. Removable Li-Ion Battery 740 mAh capacity provides 2.5 hours of talk time and up to 50 hours of standby time. In principle, when pdQ appeared, it was normal. Now this is not enough. Needless to say, the machine became very unusual. Buyers did not understand him and did not take. As a result, QUALCOMM has sold all the relevant technologies and documentation company Kyocera. There's this idea worked well, and in late 2000 appeared ...

Kyocera QCP-6035

ObemOZU

Palm Tungsten C: now Wireless Fan Palm

We already told you about the flagship Palm, Pocket PC Tungsten C: Reviews dedicate this handheld, conducted tests on the performance and battery life. The only point which is due to circumstances we have touched on a dotted line - a handheld wireless capabilities provided by built-in Wi-fi module. This standard beprovodnoy connection is now gaining momentum in many countries around the world. A majority of the available "hot spots" or "Internet access points" are multiplying like mushrooms after rain, appearing in a fast-food outlets, hotels, airports and other public places. In Russia, a public Wi-fi still rather a luxury than an affordable means of communication. In Moscow, go to the network wirelessly can develop that visitors to the Marriott Tverskaya and Cmolenskogo passage, as well as employees of firms, whose offices are equipped with such a network. However, the dynamics of the growing popularity of Wi-fi abroad Tables impressive that, hopefully, and in Russia in the foreseeable future "Internet street will become commonplace. However, even now, if you are visiting a specialist, who on duty, have to be in business trips abroad, or just a very happy user of corporate Wi-fi, then you should get acquainted with this article, kindly provided to us by the magazine "Mobile Computing". Tungsten C (below Tc) opens adherents PDA Palm platform access to a wireless network standard, 802.11b. And before there were Palm-computers that can work with standard Wi-Fi (802.11b), but the TC - the first where this feature is built initially. Issue Tungsten C - a critical design step of the company Palm Inc. in the wireless world. Support for Wi-Fi - is not the only feature that makes the PDA Tungsten C special. Thanks to the new processor Intel PXA 255 devices running incredibly fast. In addition, the new chip uses advanced compared to its predecessor (PXA250) system energy efficiency. In the TC installed 64 MB of RAM. Prior to that, the company Palm Inc. proceeded from the principle that the 16 MB "of RAM - enough for the user. In this case, the developers of Palm though, and took a few megabytes of memory for the operating system, leave the user unprecedented space: 51 MB for the software and data! Palm Inc. is committed to reporting Tungsten C as "wireless" device. Connecting to the network on the fly using the built-in utility connection settings. If the network does not use protection algorithm, in order to enter the network takes only a few "clicks" a stylus. Even if authorization is required, a connection does not require much effort. When connected to a network, you can surf the World Wide Web using a browser installed on the TC, and check the contents of the box e-mail client. Tungsten C - it is not only the potential of wireless access. In addition to the standard for Palm OS applications that help organize daily activities and contact information in his memory "stitched" office suite Documents To Go. Using it, you can work with Word documents and Excel away from the desktop. TC comes with an application for viewing digital images, called the Palm Photos. If desired, you can also install Kinoma Player for video and voice recorder VoiceRecorder to control voice notes, which can be recorded with an external headset, available separately (built-in microphone in the TC is absent). In the Tungsten C is as small built-in keyboard, as in the device Tungsten W. Raised buttons quite easy. Keys can be reassigned to other characters in the menu "Preferences". If you are accustomed to using handwriting characters, it is at your disposal system is Graffiti 2. At the upper end of the CCP is the only expansion slot for cards format SD, on the bottom - a standard Universal Connector. The latter can be used to connect to a PDA is not only the included cradle, and other peripherals such as external keyboards. The set also comes with TC protective cover that protects the screen from damage when the device is in a bag or pocket. The screen is bright and contrasting, but not better than the Zire 71. Battery life - a very good level. We have noted the many positive features Tungsten C, but there are two "fly in the ointment." Lack of built-in microphone means for recording voice notes will have to use a headset - which is extra disturbing wires. Such a realization voice functions will be happy few. Despite the presence of bundled software for viewing video, any software MP3-player in a set is missing. For some, this may cause a party to circumvent this remarkable in many ways the CCP.

Battery life

Data from the manufacturer: up to 6 days with an average usage. Test results: We used a standard program Battery Bench and set in the settings mode Full Power. It took about 7 hours before the time when the battery is fully discharged. During testing, 802.11b adapter has been disabled. When it is used to drain the battery faster.

Competitors

Tungsten C can compete with computers on the platform of the Pocket PC 2002, such as the iPAQ 5450, which is built on a processor with the same clock speed (400 MHz) and has the same RAM (64 MB). In addition to supporting Wi-Fi, the creation of the HP has built the same support Bluetooth, and is almost 40% more - $ 680. Palm-PC Sony Clie PEG NX70V at almost the same price ($ 535) uses a less efficient processor Intel PXA 250/200 MHz, but has only 16 MB of RAM. Wi-Fi-adapter with him, you can use an external, assembled on the card Compact Flash. The closest "relative" TC - Palm Tungsten T - uses low-power TI/144 MHz, equipped with 16 MB of RAM, a built-in Bluetooth-adapter, but only costs $ 350.

Accessories

Wi-Fi-adapter for a desktop computer ($ 150)

"Teach" your big computer support Wi-Fi-interface, you will be able to wirelessly synchronize your Palm'a and use the PDA as a kind of Web tablet (eg, web surfing).

Palm Ultra Thin Keyboard ($ 115)

Acquiring a full-sized keyboard for Tungsten C, you will be able to recruit large documents, so your Palm, in some cases can even replace the laptop.

What programs are delivered? Here are some ...

Voice Memo

What it is: The program recorder for this purpose: Allows you to create voice memos that are often more convenient than making text entries.

VersaMail

What is it: E-mail client for the Palm Why: Provides a fully operational e-mail.

Output

Design	8 of 10
Ergonomics	9 of 10
Performance	10 of 10
Interfaces	8 of 10
Completion	8 of 10
Compliance costs	9 of 10
Total:	86%

Wonderful PDAs with wireless access. Unique technical characteristics do not hit hard on the pocket. Overall, a very successful model. PS In the stores' computer in the palm, "now carried Sale Palm Tungsten C. Buy this PDA can be sverhvygodnoy for Russian user price - just $ 420. Sources, Materials:

WAP yesterday, today and tomorrow

So, advertising the uproar over the last year in the telecom world around WAP-technology gradually subsides, and it is possible to deal with it the phenomenon objectively evaluate the position and competitiveness and attractiveness to the user, as a mass, and corporate.

Let us recall how it all began

In the mid-90s, when mobile communication established in the telecommunications market and began to attract not dozens, but thousands of subscribers, it became obvious that, by analogy with a wired connection to the subscriber can be offered by the data service. At first, as these were considered classical applications. This opened a new service operational delivery of information in the mobile sector telecommunications market, allowing operators to predict the increase in traffic. In the first stage when connecting a desktop or laptop PC features the role of CT was limited to a modem. However, history would have it, the explosive demand for mobile communications has coincided with the beginning of the expansion of the Internet across countries and continents. Thus, the idea of ​​going online with your mobile phone in the air and was quickly implemented. Follows quite naturally, a step the major players in this sector of the market had hoped to offer as a service to Internet access directly from the CT, which thus becomes a mobile terminal. However, in the presence of tiny screen and limited memory capacity and processor standard WEB-page on the screen in a readable form of CT could not be located. Initiators of active promotion of Data Services - equipment manufacturers that did not stop. They used a standard marketing procedure - proposed technology (WAP), which was to be convincingly presented as the operators and subscribers. Assessing the funds invested for this time in an advertising technology company, with implicit consumer sprosom1, one could argue that while it has a key role. Operators, in anticipation of explosive growth in traffic, similar to wired networks, readily joined in this game, hoping to increase revenue with minimal investment. But the producers were significantly sagacious - WAP at a rate of 9.6 kbps is limited demand. Therefore, subscribers and operators to improve the access speed will have to buy new equipment, the first terminals, a second infrastructure elements, both programmatic and apparatnye2. True understanding of the operators, and the more subscribers come much later. In the meantime, the industry began to untwist marketing flywheel. That's already got the first microbrowser (WAP-browser), it suggested that an American company Unwired Planet, then Phone.Com. In 1997, the company became one of the founders of the Association of WAP Forum, whose main objective was the introduction of WAP as an industry standard. During its development has been tasked to deliver interactive information to mobile terminals. "We look at WAP, as a great opportunity to provide the user with access to a wide range of services and information," said at the beginning of 1999 Ian Germer, vice president of Vodafone's marketing. However, the fate of WAP from childhood was not easy. This is due to the contradictions of the world for mobile communications (minimization in all directions) and the world of the Internet, whose content is always complicated. Note that only in May 1999, Microsoft announced its accession to the WAP-Forum, reluctantly, reluctantly teeth (remember the MS Pocket Internet Explorer for Windows CE-compatible handheld PC) 3. An update is likely the first commercial version of WAP 1.1 was introduced in June 1999 and has been singing analysts and experts. At the beginning of 1999 were published by research company Strategy Analytics, who argued that the demand for CT, supporting WAP, will grow like mushrooms after rain. Then, in 1999, clearly warming up interest in the market, "independent" experts suggested this assessment: "By 2003, only in the U.S. and Western Europe the number of mobile terminals that are compatible with the specification of WAP, will reach 525 million." They were echoed by Chuck Parrish, vice president of WAP-forum: "In the third or fourth quarter of 1999 we will witness the beginning of the triumphal march of products and ST compatible with WAP-technology." And a sweet couple has formed - the manufacturers have joined the operators who dreamed increase traffic naturally through WAP.

The Poor WAP-e Say a Word

Today, the number of optimists reduced. Since the company Cahners In-Stat Group believes that Wi-WEB enjoyed mostly for news and stock quotes, as most WAP-pages of subscribers are not actively being downloaded. Experts and analysts who foretold the success of WAP in 2001-2002, forced to postpone a favorable forecasts for more distant times. Judging by the report, Frost & Sullvan (code 3665), the total income of the sector data mobile users in 2005 could reach 15.6 billion dollars Experts Nokia is even more optimistic - in the middle of the decade on the planet will be more than 1 billion mobile subscribers, and much of it will have mobile terminals with multimedia capabilities. Thus, the favorable forecasts and a cold shower today. As acknowledged by Scott Goldman, chief executive officer WAP Forum, "... we reached the top of disappointment, and now comes to consumer awareness of reality." Indeed, on one hand the speed of content delivery is clearly insufficient, but "in the 3G speeds, most users do not absolutely necessary." Since the expert said Frost & Sullivan, Jan Rolands. Market sector, which has so far conquered WAP, small, and in Russia just microscopic. However, European operators are not even the first series - Eurotel Praha, Polish PlusGSM provide connectivity protocol WAP, in Slovakia, Eurotel has implemented electronic payment system based on WAP v 1.1. In Western Europe, is clearly a trend decline in interest mobile network operators to provide WAP-services. As long as mobile subscriber data delivery service as a no interest, adequate advertising of the wave that lifted the media to "request" of equipment manufacturers. Today, the media rushed to the other extreme - WAP, is represented as a fresh-baked, but totally unfit for human consumption pie. Mobile Internet unpopular; stillborn WAP ", etc. headlines are filled with pages of publications competing for the role of experts in the field of telecommunications. In fact, with the hype around WAP - overdone, "merit" in this and the equipment manufacturers and operators and service providers. It is their assessment and opinions zombie most analysts and experts. But the point here is not limited speeds. Subscribers understand that WAP was not meant to replace the HTML-based Internet and PC. Its market niche for the mass subscriber is limited to: text information (today) and a range of financial services (in the future). For example, MTS in early 2000 formally planned that the results of I quarter the number of subscribers who have paid for the service WAP, to reach 15000. In reality this figure the company could only be achieved by year end. In addition to the absence of CT, with support for WAP, for subscribers was not prepared an adequate content, which is not even close to lying to the Internet classic. It's time to admit that the possibility of WAP over limited, most likely, this is a small part of the services of cellular networks 3G. Let's not forget about the cost of on-line minutes. But insolvency WAP as a technology to speak, at least, premature. Firstly, it is a baby who has just got to his feet. Like any high-tech product, it will take time enough to remember the history notebooks, cameras - is the opinion of one of the leaders of Scott Goldman, WAP Forum. Today this baby more than 170,000 nurses and caregivers. Programmers of many companies create business applications (e-mail access, databases and inventories, etc.), entertainment (games, chat rooms ...), location services (advice on the shortest path, taking into account actual road conditions) and of course products for applications such as E-commerce, e-billing. If we speak objectively, the number of WAP-applications today is quite in demand. First, work with e-mail. For example, technology Lexicos based on WAP is available with interfaces such as Java, HTML and the "Handheld". At present, access to WAP-CT provide well-known portals such as Yahoo, SkyGo, Airflash. What is available to subscribers? First of all news channels, the economy, and sports. Information sections: the weather, entertainment, calendar of plane / train, the service "yellow pages". Well-known Russian WAP-portals note wap.aport.ru company Agam. Its search engine performs Aport WAP-search - perhaps to find the desired site. Created a search engine wapmap.com, the developer - a German company metascout.com.To search the network owner of CT is to type the appropriate Web-address where there is a search engine. In 2000, WAP-Forum adopted the specification WAP v 1.2 - now has a "Push" technology, and subscriber authentication, and is available 128 bit or higher encryption key. The latest specification extends the capabilities of the WAP service in the field of finance. In this direction work, and manufacturers. Nokia and Ericsson with the support of Hewlett-Packard and IBM have entered into with Visa Int. agreements on the development of a secure payment system using CT - should be developed "mobile e-wallet." Release of CT that support this version is scheduled for mid-2001, other sectors - mobile advertising on the basis of WAP today are not as attractive (advertising revenue minimum). Modern multi-media online advertising requires data rates of 100 kb / s, and text advertising today seems archaic. And if the European experts expect a growth of activity in this sector in 2002 (linking it with the introduction of networks 3G), then Russia's mobile advertising, the prospect of a more distant, and yet so real. The introduction of WAP, and put the question of the effectiveness of tariffs. How to pay for the WAP-connection? If initially assumed tariff adopted by Kbytes, and is today considered a classic time-based scheme, as well as options for a monthly fee with unlimited WAP-access. And yet today, WAP is the first very imperfect version of the services for 3G. It may be objected that there is a striking success online service in Japan (NTT DoCoMo - i-Mode). However, Internet users, for the first time almost colliding with WAP, experienced as doubt and disappointment. The sheer quality of services - a moot point, do not forget about the defective graphics. Shroud of luxury PR-promises subsides and the reality is considerably more modest - a black and white text mode brings us back to the era of the Internet the primary, which most fans of modern web did not even know. Leif Persson, Director of Research Center Intel's wireless technology, commenting on the first year of life WAP, suggested that: "those who sought to sell WAP, as mobile Internet, were in a stupid position. User immediately realized that the PC and ST are designed to address various problems ". He believes that WAP will be useful for working with voice mail, and compare the prices of goods in the neighboring stores. A main conclusion is obvious - for mass subscriber WAP until claimed. It is extremely important that in parallel with developing WAP and other technologies. Today is a real competitor WAP, especially in the U.S., this technology is Web-clipping. True it may be used only by owners of Palm-compatible handhelds. A lot of hope as operators and content providers associated with an increase in band mobile channel. But the transition to 2.5G technology is one aspect. Subscribers and corporations, today, acquiring CT supporting WAP, the majority are unaware that for high speeds have to purchase a new CT (for example, work on the technology of GPRS). Obviously, the informed callers while waiting. I note that to ensure proper service from the operators will require additional investment, and considerable.

It's time to rethink the WAP-application?

It seems the main issue to be solved now WAP-industry - "Who are aimed WAP-services?". For the mass user or corporate customer? If at first base rate was made on an individual subscriber, and only in the long term corporate goals were considered, the situation has changed. And the marketers and developers have come to the conclusion that the main role of WAP - the basis for implementing enterprise-oriented applications to exchange data with mobile terminals. Probably, the main consumer of this sector - the corporate market business. That is where will appreciate the mobile data transfer: Here and Now. WAP at higher speeds will successfully used it in the enterprise applications - then users will quickly adapt to new technology, since immediately appreciate its main advantages: a simple, quick access to exactly the data that are needed. But today, most applications, it is the standard WEB-applications that are adapted to wireless technologies. And only a small part designed to meet the "Wireless" - a mobile philosophy.That's why most of the applications so far are not specific to WAP. Both operators and service providers should realize that WAP is nothing more than a software interface that allows owners of PT have access to various applications, in particular to the WEB-server. Obviously, there are mobile applications, which, by their nature are different from applications sold on the PC. "The point is not in the data transmission capabilities, but the ability to run business applications from a remote device" - an opinion of Scott Bloomfield, president of Centura Software, has visited Moscow in the summer of 2000, he believes that if you have static content, using WAP is inappropriate. But if the business process is built on dynamic content, WAP will implement an operational mode. The notion of mobile media - not just getting data to the mobile terminal, but, conversely, with the help of a mobile terminal to transmit data to the processing center, or to another mobile terminal. Bloomfield and Scott is convinced that mobile information - that is, information of business processes. But the main problem is that it's time to turn the paradigm upside down - Pocket PC, ST, and software is only a means to change the psychology of the most important task today, people involved in business processes with mobile data. Of course, mobile data - a new market sector. His potential customers - logistics, service delivery, etc. Apparently WAP can provide dynamic control of data, which is why the organization of services is reasonable to identify this class of data, delays in the receipt of which may give rise to production problems. Naturally the individual user, such information does not work. Thus, the model should be created to cover different groups of corporate clients. However, most standard software for the synchronization of mobile terminals do not know how, since the establishment has been focused on the individual subscriber. New technology based on WAP will change the business process itself. Probably this is one of the areas where no alternative WAP prove its necessity. Success will come to a WAP only when application service providers come to understand that this is a new way of building business processes and offer new, just-focused services. Many experts are beginning to realize it. So, senior analyst Tim Sheedy says IDC: Mobile Internet, it is not GPRS, UMTS, WAP, but it is those applications that use these services. Moreover, until there is mobile applications, services, third-generation will be redundant. " Funny, but all these applications share a common condition - the desktop PC today for their implementation is useless. New business models need to compensate, but rather to eliminate the contradictions of the world of mobile and Internet world. For Internet users, accustomed to the rich multimedia content, familiarity with the WAP was the revelation experienced by the modern motorist when visiting the museum's auto technology, which displays "Victory" and "Emka. Another feature - the specificity of CT compared with the PC. So for the subscriber simply select from a menu what type it on a keyboard similar to the PC. An optimal application with all the "little things", to ensure its scalability with respect to the subscriber terminal - only under this condition the user to quickly learn and begin to actively enforce a particular product. Appropriate to recall the report in London research firm OVUM. Its authors have formulated for WAP-business the following recommendations. Intensive to implement new applications and services, consider a system of payment for the transaction, and in some cases to determine the fee for connection to the portal, to find effective methods of advertising and e-commerce. Indeed, the issue of charging of WAP-services is one of the key. For example, Eurotel (Czech Republic) introduced two time-based rate: 3.3 and 1.0 CZK depending on time of day. However, for business, as opposed to an individual subscriber to the forefront the problems of security and confidentiality. At first, WAP does not provide secure transactions, which is necessary for transmission of confidential information and for use in CT systems, e-commerce. At present, WAP has certain security features based on technology WTLS (Wireless Transaction Layer Security), based on a standard protocol TLS, WIM (Wireless Identification Module), and supporting public key infrastructure (PKI).So the company Jinny (www.jinny.ie) offers a gateway based on WTLS, which provides protection at the level of Class 3 and 128-bit encryption. About the versions WAP v 1.2 and its possibilities, we have already mentioned. In the active work on creating business applications with WAP support for corporate clients including companies that specialize in the production of software. So the company Lotus, a member at IBM, in 1999 spoke of creating software to support mobile users. As part of the company Lotus Mobile Notes offers a solution - Domino Everyplace Quick Start, which allows enterprises using products such as Domino and Notes, to provide access to their mobile employees and customers to corporate and personal information with CT, which supports WAP. Everyplace Quick Start allows you to create and define the content of individual mobile portal. Subscribers may e-mail, personal calendar, to-do list, address book. The user can also connect any application to your Domino server, mobile portals. Further expand opportunities for access to information from mobile devices, if the Domino server is connected to relational databases and ERP-systems. The family of servers, Lotus Domino Everyplace also includes Domino Everyplace Sync Server, which enables mobile users to synchronize data stored on the Domino server with wireless devices running on platforms Win CE, Palm OS and others. Domino Everyplace Enterprise Server will create business applications for mobile terminals. Novell partnership with Syclo developed Info Manager for GroupWise, which provides wireless access to WAP-store messages. Same Nokia offers WAP-server, aimed at the corporation, or the operator. Naturally, in the way of enterprise applications, a barrier, sometimes very specific. Since WAP-browser installed in different CT manufacturers are not universal. Naturally, each WAP applications offered on the market, should be tested on all models that support WAP. Can do it only for big companies and makes mass production applications. In this issue, there is an obvious way out - set in the NT software known manufacturer. Along this route came Benefon, which has equipped its new product - a model of business-class Q is MS Mobile Explorer. Incidentally the latter supports both WAP, and HTML.

WAP with a Russian accent

Domestic WAP primarily Moscow and St. Petersburg. For example, WAP-site of the "Bee Line" contains a dozen chapters. Project leader BEELINE-WAP Sergei Donchenko states: "Attendance of our WAP-site is growing rapidly. So the average number of hits for November amounted to 34,352." But the most popular (26.3%) in the second section, where the subscriber is a fresh anecdote. A financial unit site has minimal traffic. Among the reasons for potentially low demand for WAP in Russia, noting:

Invasion of the Palm Tungsten: new models T3 and TE

Representing a year ago, the revolutionary Tungsten T (TT), the company began to gather pace Palm and it looks like not going to stop. In the spring line has been expanded "messenger» Tungsten C (TC) with the keyboard module and Wi-Fi, in early summer, we saw the Tungsten T2 - Updated TT with an improved screen, increased memory and bug fix, well, now enter the market for two staff Brand Tungsten. Meet the Tungsten E (TE) and Tungsten T3 (three)! Let's start with the younger ...

Palm Tungsten E

The hull shape of the new TE brings to mind the classic series Palm Vx and its successors - m500/505/515. The length of the new PDA about an inch longer, but the typical "skinny" - a small thickness, will not go away. The layout is also a classic: no moving parts, square screen and handwriting graffiti area underneath. The control system has not changed, however, four-way navigation key at this time rectangular. This decision may be called controversial. Judging by the new form of a joystick, pressing the "left" and "right" to be more comfortable. However, more in demand, of course, the "up" and "down". Naturally, there is applied a bright and clear screen, which flaunt the Palm Zire 71 and Tungsten C - resolution 320x320 and 65 thousand colors, technology Transreflective TFT. The characteristics of the display - a great stock of brightness, good visibility in the sun, the perfect legibility, even at extreme angles. In general, a dream! Technical specifications of the new Palm nobody will be shocked, but still happy: TI OMAP 311 processor clocked at 126 MHz, 32 MB RAM (accessible to the user only 28 MB) audio subsystem with a microphone, speaker and headphone output. Apparently, no problem with headphones is not there - use a standard phone jack to 3.5 mm, which connect any headphones. Not forgotten slot SDIO, but the wireless Bluetooth module is removed (thank God, though the IR port left). PDAs, by all appearances, conceived as a budget, and the following facts only confirm this. Home bad news - the refusal of the Palm Universal connector. Toward a new non-standard connector instead of the usual cradle connects inexpensive synchronization cable. Hotsync program itself in the default settings run by pressing the icon with an asterisk. Closes the topic Cold-Iron description protective cover and battery. The first is a rigid structure of artificial leather, such staffing enhancements series m500. She otkidyaaetsya sideways, in the closed position takes up little space, and in the open brings a minimum of inconvenience. Nonremovable, rechargeable battery, lithium-polymer. His life there is no evidence, but expect to record hardly worth it. 6.7 hours of normal operation - it is a limit, because for capacious battery is full. Software content is impressive, especially given the expected retail price of $ 199 for Russia (without VAT and sales tax). Operating System version 5.2.1 is filled with small improvements that will make life easier for the user. Thus, standard applications, in particular, address book and calendar-diary supplemented by new fields such as to make data storage more convenient and improves sovmestitmost organizer with MS Outlook. In addition, the display mode, finally, are enriched with color-coded information to facilitate orientation in a saturated labor schedule. The settings can be noted minor but useful improvements - lock hardware keys, the lack of which had previously been the cause of many spontaneous inclusions PDA with subsequent unproductive Battery. Furthermore palmovskoy classics in ROM is well-established office suite Documents To Go (professional edition), email client VersaMail, programs to control the cell phone (SMS, dialer, etc.), and a full suite of multimedia software: Palm slideshow Photos, RealOne audio player and video player Kinoma. On the installation CD (this time it fits on a CD) you can find the "desktop" version of all these programs is extremely easy and fast data exchange between large and small computers, as well as some additional programs, such as the popular solitaire Magic Dogs, A powerful calculator PowerOne and reader electronic books Palm Reader. The conclusion from all of the above is obvious: in front of us beautifully balanced workhorse. Excellent PDA for a student or an accountant, freight forwarder or an engineer. No toys for tehnomanyakov, but great implementation of necessary capabilities. Especially it is necessary to note a great screen (probably the best at this price!) A large set of business and multimedia software. All this - in a stylish package and only two hundred dollars. New pricing will take an empty niche between the ordinary and Zire 71st. We turn to the more interesting parts of the program, the mystical third Tungsten'u T, rumors of which go a long time.

Palm Tungsten T3

Frankly, after seeing the first pictures, I thought it was a "duck" - a bit too unusual was the decision to cover the original sliding bar (slider) is not the domain of graffiti, as the TT and TT2, and part of the screen. Nevertheless, it is reality. In response to numerous requests, PalmSource introduced in PalmOS support non-square screens and rotate the image, while Palm has released a PDA that uses the technology. The main highlight of TT3, certainly - the screen with a resolution of 320x480, which until now could boast of only machines from Sony. The trouble is that Sony has such a large and welcome screen are a number of disadvantages - they are pretty overall and crammed with nonstandard proprietary technologies, such as cards MemoryStick or undocumented audio subsystem. Now we have a machine, devoid of these shortcomings. Screen is big, but thanks to firm "tangstenovskomu" Slider, the case remains compact. All technologies are open and standardized, so soon will the mass of programs that take advantage of the big screen and features 90-degree rotation (in landscape orientation of the image). But the machine can fly from the first day of sales, as the most important programs - Office, in particular, has "trained" to work with this screen. However, about this a little lower. Apart from bright and clear TFT-display high-resolution, TT3 boasts a 400-MHz processor, Intel Xscale, 64 MB of memory, of which, however, is available 56 MB, full audio system that includes a microphone, speaker and stereo headphone jack, slot, SDIO, standard connector Palm Universal Connector, and most importantly - the transmitter Bluetooth. All this luxury is packaged in a standard for Tangstenov T-Series enclosure, with the important difference that the panel hard buttons substantially revised.Navigation ring turned into navigation, uh, "oval", which, as in the previous new product, simply click the "left" and "right" than "up" and "down". Additionally, four classic hardware buttons this time gathered in a circle around the arrow keys, that, firstly, unusual and knocks motor reflexes, and, secondly, can do a disservice to the games. Recall that despite a year that has elapsed since entering the sale of the TT, many games are still focused on classical devices, joystick, which has only 2 directions, so as the "left" and "right" are often used buttons «ToDo» and «Address Book »(incidentally, these applications are renamed to Tasks, and Contacts). And the final touch. Dimensions when folded is 10,8 x7, 6x1, 6 cm, weight - 153 g, which is 7 mm longer than TT2, but 5 grams lighter. Miracles, and only! The inescapable conclusion - the battery is installed the same (Li-Ion at 900mAh), which means that in larger screen area, should not expect a record-long battery life. However, a detailed test of the living TT3, which will take place very soon, we will judge. Software palm in the past six months closer to the wealth of standard equipment for PocketPC, which is not surprising. Finally, there was a standardized and, moreover, powerful hardware. Here and in the memory TT3 can find lots of interesting things. New version of Documents To Go 6.0 has brought such pleasant surprises, such as support for password protection of individual files or data via Bluetooth. But the main thing is not it. Finally, the standard software from Palm is able to read the "native" files MS Office - doc and xls, without conversion! This means that downloading from a mail client or browser Versamail 2.6 WebPro 3.0 (they also have in mind TT3) document MS Office, you can immediately open it, view, edit or print. For the English language provides verification orofografii, and statistics on a text (word count), surely it will work in Russian. PalmOS version of TT3 is the same as a TE - 5.2.1. This means that all of these improvements will be present here, there will be a memory, and all these programs, office and multimedia. However, about one raisin describe in more detail, because in those not using it. It is about a virtual graffiti area. Under the slider in TT3, again, there is only one piece of the screen, and a piece of solid - 160h320. This means that text input in any event happening on the screen surface: the area of ​​graffiti, and the keyboard will be virtual. But even if the slider is pushed in and Graffiti area is not available at the bottom of the screen is a useful novelty - the status bar. There are 9 icons that allow you at any time to assess the state of Bluetooth-transmitter, find time to call the menu or the search function, etc. As usual, the icons are active, ie, clicking on status indicator Bluetooth, you can enable / disable the transmitter, and by clicking on the time - to cause a large panel with the indicating the date, time, battery level, and adjust brightness and volume. Here, in the status bar, the switches "to write graffiti in any area of ​​the screen" and "rotate 90 degrees. Summarizing all the above, we have to admit: we have a new candidate for the title of car-wagon. This PDA is equally well suited for office and multimedia tasks, but the combination of large screen and a little shell, of course, is a record in the market, especially given the suggested retail price of $ 429 for a Russia without VAT and sales tax.As correctly noted by one of their western colleagues: "There are only two choices: to buy or swallow salivating:) Sources, Materials:

How to prepare an expedition to Russia

The story begins on Friday, April 20. I call the central office MakTsentr and asked to take part in an important conversation. It is necessary, it should be. At the table sit several members of our firm and two visitors. I briefly introduce the state of affairs: someone is going somewhere in the Himalayas for some climbing on the mountain with an unknown name to me. Have an idea to give the expedition satellite phone and even some device to climber could send email to Moscow. Go to imagine climber dangling from a rope over a hundred-meter precipice and joy fills the PDA: "The weather is great, I feel good, relieve ..." During the conversation, start to clear up the details of the enterprise. The ascent is planned at the peak of Meru, located on the Gangotri, in the Indian Himalayas. By Himalayan standards, the top is not the highest ("only" 6500 m), but hitherto no one has managed to climb it. The main causes of failures of previous attempts proved: a complex rock-ice route on the way to the top and the unpredictable weather in this part of the great mining district. This year, the peak of Meru are trying to win two simultaneous expeditions: American and Russian. Training of Russian and engage our guests, representatives of the general sponsor - the company "BASK", the domestic manufacturer of equipment for travelers, and a representative of the provider Inmarsat satellite terminals firm RIEM-Division ". Americans are planning to climb together, a bunch in the "Alpine style" that is light on the shortest route. Our Valery Babanov sent to storm the alone, and he intends to handle the wall for many days with all seriousness. Valeria image created is a sophisticated solo ascents. Last year, he single-handedly set out to storm the walls of the top Kangtega that in Nepal. Having the hardest part of the route on the rock wall, he managed to reach the crest Kangtegi and heavy snowfall in almost zero visibility down to the high-altitude camp. And the climb was done in violation of all agreed deadlines and when Babanov time has not arrived in Moscow, my friends have experienced quite a few unpleasant hours. The fact that in past expeditions Babanov did not take any of telecommunications. News from Moscow in such a situation reached by chance, word of mouth ...

Hot summer 2003rd: digest PDA innovations and announcements

We will not soon forget the summer of 2003, which became the worldwide market for handheld computers, as is usually written in the Soviet press, life-changing:) The time of year, as a rule, poor in all sorts of events that has broken all records on the number of the models, announcements and news. Why are only the output of Windows Mobile 2003, Palm change of company name and the absorption of its well-known manufacturer of PDA, and now smartphones Handspring ... In retrospect, we can assume that the developers and managers of virtually all known manufacturers abandoned vacations and trips to the coast and most have concentrated on solving the CCP's objectives. Let's try to summarize this sverhproduktivnogo Travel USA.

Pocket PC

Windows Mobile 2003

... In the beginning there was Windows CE. Then I saw the light Pocket PC. In its place came the Pocket PC 2002. And so, in July this year, after a long training information, the public was provided the latest Windows Mobile platform 2003. "Faster, more beautiful, more extensible," - as described it themselves representatives of Microsoft, the OS has become one of the most anticipated new products of the season. Built on the new core Windows CE.Net 4.2, Operating System has provided significant performance boost to the already released devices and the added power of the new. Built-in support for wireless connections, Compact Framework, better work with new types of processors, software updates - all this has made the Windows Mobile 2003 with the latest operating system for handheld computers at the moment.

Hewlett Packard

Remarkably productive this summer bothered company Hewlett-Packard, presenting four new handhelds and announcing several more. One of the first appeared iPAQ h2210 - very good representative of the family "strong serednyachki" that is, the average price level. We can say that even before release, this handheld has become a hit. This model is eagerly awaited and discussed at each corner of the internet and did not seem disappointed ...:) PDA combines a compact handheld design junior series with the power and functionality of high-end-devices. The main "Fitch" h2210 includes a wireless module Bluetooth, Processor Intel XScale PXA255, traditionally high-quality screen. More importantly, and what machine is the first handheld company, equipped with two expansion slots - CF and SD. To top it all, h2210 faster than all got to the Russian market and introduced domestic users with its new OS. Heir no less successful series of cost handheld h19xx became the model iPAQ h1940. Along with it available to users enrolled module Bluetooth, a new processor and, of course, Windows Mobile 2003. Most inexpensive handheld computer was among HP iPAQ h1930. Similar c previous model, but with a weaker processor and devoid of wireless capabilities. Updated and Gaza hi-end PDAs. Here, HP is promoting its flagship Pocket PC series h5000. iPAQ h5450 was replaced h5550, as well as a somewhat simplified h5150. In addition to consist of new products, has been announced yet another series of handhelds, which received index h4100 and Wireless model Pocket PC with phone features. Despite not quickly release the data on them have already appeared. Just in time for Christmas boom in counters fall iPAQ h4155 and h4355. Both cars will be equipped with Wi-Fi module and Bluetooth. For the convenience of working with text iPAQ h4355 will provide a small hardware keyboard.

Dell

Despite the fact that Dell has not released during the summer, no new models, as usual, was quite a lot of noise with the upgrade of the operating system on handheld computers line Axim X5. Advertised sat down to supply the CPC on the new platform has been seriously overshadowed by the problems encountered compatibility and overall decline in performance under the new OS. However, things the company does go bad. Summer was announced by the new model Axim X3, in which developers have promised to implement most wireless capabilities while maintaining small size and low price. Apparently conceived as a device to quickly and aggressively win the custom of the heart, like his glorious ancestors. By the way, do not give the rest the laurels of the success of the latest Dell combo devices (PDA + cell phone) - communicators. On the early development of this handheld the company announced in July. Promised that the model will be equipped with "the full wireless program: built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi next generation, as well as GSM / GPRS-module for use in cellular networks.

Toshiba

With the release of Windows Mobile 2003 company Toshiba, like most other manufacturers, started a fresh install OSes in their models e355 and e755. For users who have purchased these machines before the premiere of the new OS, were offered special conditions for the upgrade. Continuing the series of announcements, Toshiba has announced their new items. By Christmas, the stores will be a model e805, equipped sverhbolshim for handhelds based on Pocket PC screen diagonal of 10 cm

ViewSonic

In early summer the company held in Moscow, a presentation of its new products, and dedicated public in its new concept of development, today announced the Visual Revolution. " Among other things, on a lush presentation was presented to one of the first PDAs to Pocket PC, equipped with a built-in digital camera. V36 (so he said), like all the new season, running WM2003 and to go on sale in September and October, that is, from day to day:)

JVC

At the new market this summer and made the company JVC, announced the release of models with a strong media bias. "Multimedia Station" as the developers have named their new brainchild, will be designed more for music and video playback than the performance of the functions of personal secretary. To this end handhelds will equip 128 MB of RAM and a bigger screen. However, as it became known today, the yield of CPC from JVC delayed. The fact that the developers and not releasing new product, set about designing a new generation of models, which will be "evolutionary continuation of the existing line in the bowels of handhelds.

Hitachi

Another major Japanese manufacturer Hitachi also caused a stir by releasing a mid-summer, high-end smartphone Hitachi G1000, is designed to work in networks of standard CDMA. Among the main differences from other "PDAs with telephone, you can note the presence of built-in digital camera and a hardware keyboard. It is a pity that the device is unlikely to be supplied to our market.

Samsung

Extremely interesting solution presented Korean electronics giant Samsung. The new handheld, the company, known as MITs M400 combines the functions of a handheld computer, mobile phone, GPS-navigator. In addition, the PDA has a built-in digital camera and a TV-tuner. It is difficult to imagine how the developers managed to cram into the body of cars is a huge number of functions. Given the still large amount of RAM, the model can lay claim to being "the most feature-rich PDA this season."

Gateway

Also this summer, announced his company Gateway, announced models 100X. However, the developers seem to have encountered great difficulties. So that the output of the CCP is delayed until Christmas.

Fujitsu-Siemens

Fujitsu-Siemens confined to the announcement that in November will see the light of the updated series Pocket Loox handhelds with an index of 610. However, the announcement was pretty tempting ... We'll wait:)

Palm OS

Palm

What happened in the camp palmovyh during the reporting period? Naturally, the big news was the decision on the merger of Palm and Handspring, rumors of which has long exaggerated the network. In the slender ranks of Palm handheld computers will soon have to join communicators and Treo. In addition, after the merger, the new company will have a new name. Palm officially be renamed palmOne. Occupied by the organizational work, the company has not released a large number of new models in the summer, as did other big market players, except the new version of "tungsten" PDA - Tungsten T2. However, despite the apparent silence, the Internet is still leaking spy data on the upcoming handheld. This week, information from informal sources was fully confirmed, and Palm showed the world the three new favorites Tungsten T3, Tungsten E and Zire 21. Acquainted with the novelties in absentia by using our review in hot pursuit. Next week we hope to share with you a more interesting experiences. Along with their new "pets" will come to Moscow European official palm does.

Sony

Summer for the Sony marked with publishing models Clie PEG-NX80V and PEG-NX73V. Both handhelds were a continuation of the excellent line of handheld computers Japanese manufacturer, has won many admirers in this country and abroad. But the company was not accustomed to stop there. Recognized by the legislator of fashion among the Palm, Sony has released two very unusual PDA PEG-UX50 and PEG-UX40. By design, these devices resemble rather a miniature laptop than a handheld PCs, and their ability to amaze avid Palmer.

Garmin

Rather unusual CCP introduced this summer in Garmin. Her new iQue 3600 PDA has a built-in GPS, and became the first device of its kind in the family of Palm.

Tapwave

Cluham to announce the first gaming console on the Palm OS with the great name Zodiac innumerable so far:) The first information about the device appeared in the winter, but the company Tapwave release of information is strictly metered, constantly stirring up interest in its development of new details. And at the end of summer to go public the most complete data model, which is expected to become a major competitor to the popular mobile game console GameBoy Advance. Summer 2003, indeed, dawned hot PDA industry. But, as can be seen, many manufacturers are preparing our excellent Christmas gifts. Spring-summer collection, as expected, will replace the winter and autumn. Output of many models is scheduled for this period, so that the most interesting - in front. Follow our news:) The authors, translation: