Why do I need a PDA? PDA - it's primarily a device that is always with you and always at hand. As a notebook, he can expand the amount of your memory:), as a diary and to-do list helps you organize and simplify your life. In the end, a good handheld entertain you, serving as an MP3 or video player or device for viewing photos, or reading e-books, or game console. Incidentally, the latter is important when you consider how much time we spend to entertain themselves. Why is it still failed to create a full-fledged handheld computer, which could be everything - and take affair, and to help revel in full? In most cases, the CPC issued with ill-suited to gaming applications, controls and design, as well as low performance. Market as game consoles - it's a completely different world, which is a pocket-computer has nothing to do, and hardly ever will have. Representatives of the clan gaming consoles (Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo Game Boy, Nokia Ngade, Sega) make a purely gaming solutions. It is therefore not surprising that the device, which successfully combines the functions of palmtop and handheld console, was not yet. And, frankly, it was not clear if anybody else to make something like that. So the appearance of the first Pocket PC game much-anticipated and also apprehension. - What if nothing happens? But let's also look into the new Zodiac 2 is better.
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Design
Founder of a new computer is a little-known in the PDA market company Tapwave. The developers themselves do not believe Zodiac 2 handhelds. For their offspring, they invented a completely new name - a mobile entertainment console. Mobile, because it has small size and wireless interfaces, connections, and entertaining, because using it can and watch movies and play games and even music to listen to.
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On the orientation of the computer game says it all. First, the design. Soft flowing lines of the body, which seems specially created to keep his two hands. Generally machine much like the console game consoles. True, the first feeling, which was inspired, as only managed to take the PDA in his hand was a nostalgia for the old 500 series Palm. No, this has nothing to do with appearance, but rather with a quality factor of performance. That 500th Palm evokes a feeling of safety and soundness. It was the assistant to whom you can rely on. Strict metal casing Zodias'a evokes the same feelings. This durable metal alloy, and not some cheap plastic that broke after a couple of months. In general, this is a long time. Dimensions of the new product a little more than the latest model palmOne Tungsten T3. True, Zodiac seem high mainly due to the longer body - 143 mm against 123 mm at T3. The width and even more so in thickness Zodiac is not inferior to the same T3, in contrast, even a bit thinner and narrower. The increase in length, primarily due to slightly larger than most handhelds, the size of the display. Second, expanded both side panels on the right and left of the display - they are the controls. Left - the "analog controller, or, more simply, the joystick.
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No four-way navigation button, and the most natural game joystick, which can be rotated in all directions (in fact, a total of eight distinct areas).Rejoice, gamers! Left (just above the joystick) is a button on / off power, which in combination, is also a light indicator (charging, work light indication). In addition, this key has another function: if you hold it for a few seconds, then a window with volume control and brightness. Next to the activation of the CCP is a function key button and the main menu. But the right four navigation buttons, which are used for movement in conventional applications, as well as additional keys in games. Very convenient to "hang" on their car's gear shift or function of "fire" in any "shooter".
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In general, very well thought creators Zodiac'a light indication, particularly for charging the battery (it is responsible for the key indicator Bluetooth on the "top" PDA, about which below). When the CPC is low, the LED starts flashing red light (instead of the usual green), and when you connect your computer to an electrical outlet, light yellow, flat, and when the battery is fully charged, then solid green, meaning you always know been charged if your computer or its an urgent need to energize. In this respect, very interesting Zodiac operates on a Hold, that is, playing music with the screen off. It looks like this part as follows: the LED goes out slowly at first, and then just as slowly inflames. Because the process is periodic, then it looks like a kind-light support:) Another feature is the number of speakers - there are two, not one as in most PDAs. They are located symmetrically on the sides - just below the joystick and navigation buttons, respectively.
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Skazacht need that much length of the hull Zodiac'a has its drawbacks. Keep a computer with one hand is not very convenient, and (as in vertical and in horizontal orientation), but if you take two hands - the most it! - For the game better and you can imagine. Complete with a computer supplied rubber protective cover, which is attached to the upper edge. Cap covers are only the display, leaving open government.
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In the upper part of the body is a button on / off the wireless adapter, Bluetooth, who is also and indicator light. Button lets you quickly, without entering the appropriate menu item to enable or disable the wireless interface. The only drawback is that when the lid is closed, the indicator therefore not visible. There, on the upper end of hidden IR. Even among the new government are a pair of rubber switches located on the upper end of the body, left and right of the coaxial expansion slot. They are mostly used in gaming applications (very convenient to click on their index fingers), but may be useful in other applications, too.
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Despite the fact that the machine is first and foremost a game console, the weight it is perfectly acceptable - 178 g. This, of course, 120-130 g, as in the lightest handheld computers, but not 292 g as the Sony NZ90.Weight is almost the same as the Tungsten T3 - a difference of something in 3 of the bottom of the hull is nothing remarkable - just plug strongly reminiscent of Palm Universal Connector, but unfortunately they are not. Firstly, it is slightly sloped, so that the periphery of the production of palmOne it just does not insert, and, secondly, even if it is possible to make mechanical adapters and connect the peripherals, the Zodiac it is unlikely to "know."
Connection with the computer through the same terminal using an interface cable that has a special plug with the sync button. However, it is not necessary to connect it to a PDA, for a simple suit charging adapter, which can also be inserted into this slot.
Stylus, unlike the last model Palm Tungsten T3 is not foldable, and an all-metal, which makes it more convenient. Here are just fixing the pen a little pumped up - on the rear panel there is an indentation with two clamps. So, during transportation, and sometimes when operating the stylus has a tendency to fly out, so losing him will not make much effort.
There is also a button and rebooting. But to find a voice recorder in the model failed. Apparently, according to developers, voice recorder game console to anything: (
Set
The set includes the computer itself, USB cable, AC adapter, stylus, protective cover, headphones, CD with software, wrist strap and user manual in English. True, the adapter is only for U.S. power grids - 120 V. The approach is typically American - they apparently do not assume that your computer will be sold on the Russian or European market. Companies palmOne, Sony, HP and other developers handheld computers have long been produced for its models universal adapters at 110-230 V. In order to somehow solve the problems with charging the battery, have to buy (incidental expenses) of a small transformer (who, incidentally, it is proposed as an accessory to the computer). The website contains information about the existence of a special cradle, so that anyone can buy it, though, for an additional fee.
Iron
Processor
Processor, as well as at the new handheld Sony TJ-series production of Motorola, but not already known iMXL, and the model iMX1 c clock frequency of 200 MHz.
Video
Graphic aksellerator Imageon W4200 from ATI, as in zapravskoy gaming station. Only here the video, as befits a small computer, a little less - 8MB SDRAM.
Multimedia
Sound system from Yamaha, which provides a very decent sound over stereo speakers. True, the question of whether this is indeed the car stereo when the distance between the speakers does not exceed 10 cm, and the power solely for a backstage listening remains open. For a more comfortable and high quality playback will use in reaching a set of headphones or buy their own, the benefit of a standard stereo headphone jack - 3.5 mm.
Vibrating
In addition to a sound indication (as well as on computers series Tungsten T) vibrate. True, but opoveschatelnyh functions it is still used in gaming applications. For example, in StuntCar at the time of the landing vehicle computer a little "shaking", creating the effect of the presence of:)
Memory
But the memory is clearly not stingy - in a modification of Zodiac 2 installed chip SDRAM 128 MB, of which the user has access to 115.9 MB. There is another modification of the computer, without the index "2", which differs only in the less-RAM - 32 MB.
Expansion card
The most striking feature of the computer is the support of two slots for expansion cards, SD or MMC. Moreover, one of the slots, compatible with modules format SDIO, it is possible to use both the expansion modules and a memory card. Hello, Pocket PC! Now Palm OS computers have dual expansion slots (previous not entirely successful attempts to Sony does not count). True, a little sorry that the second slot selected slot SDIO - CF modules until a lot more, and they cost much cheaper (especially here in Russia). But the form factor probably was the determining parameter, and therefore was preferred over a miniature SD. Well at least not MS:) It is not clear one, since I do two SD-port, it would be possible to equip both supporting SDIO, and so have all the time remembering which one to support the expansion cards, and some just for memory cards. Yes, and the use of two peripheral devices simultaneously would be very helpful.
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However, it is, most likely in the hardware limitations Palm OS - there is a suspicion that does not allow it to work with two external interfaces simultaneously.
Communication capabilities
Of course, the machine is equipped with two wireless interfaces - where without it. As such, they were selected adapter standard IR and Bluetooth. But Wi-Fi module is not, and it is absolutely justified step. For game consoles Wi-Fi connection in the long run is not necessary. For Wi-Fi needed or already available online, most of which is the corporate purpose or public access point, which is not so much. And here is absolutely free of access points, Bluetooth interface makes it easy to organize small groups to network (multiplayer) games. Hungry for Wi-Fi can purchase it separately in the format of SDIO.
Display
Entertainment console must have a large display. Large diagonal mostly needed in order to make it more comfortable to play and watch videos. It is a fact that does not require special proof. However, the screen size is limited dimensions of the device. Mobile compact console can not have a huge screen at 14-15.'' Compromise in terms of development is the size of 3.8''- is no longer 3.5'', which is very nice, but for the full video still is not enough. Resolution of 320x480, such as a Palm Tungsten T3 and Sony NX, NZ and the UX series. Besides the usual, "portrait" mode on Zodiac'e can work also in landscape, turning the display by 90 degrees. According to the magazine "Consumer: computers and software, which has developed a special technique for measuring the quality of the original displays, handheld computers, the maximum brightness of 52.2 cd/m2. This maximum level of brightness can be described as very high (up to record 140Kd/m2 at Toshiba e800 is very far away), but for most tasks, and such a modest measure of brightness is quite sufficient. Minimum level of brightness is also quite reasonable - 9,6 cd/m2, representing 18% of the maximum level. Although the maximum brightness is more typical for displays with reflective type light display, Zodiac 2 is made using the latest tranflektivnoy technology, which allows a minimum illumination is equally well perceive the information regardless of whether you work in the office or on the street. Lighting, in contrast to recent models of Palm can be switched off.However, in the subway with backlight OFF especially not read, and here in the office or on the street - quite a different matter, the text information from the display is perceived pretty well. Levels adjustment standard for Palm OS computers number - 16.
Runtime
As an energy source is used in lithium battery is large enough capacity 1540mAch. Compared with the conventional 800-900mAch batteries is impressive. To test battery life when reading books used the program MobiPocket Reader (v4.7) in the automatic shift with an average speed of about 25-28 characters per second. Time was measured before the first warning (10% of its maximum capacity). While reading the battery life varied depending on the illumination of 3 hours and 20 minutes to 6 hours and 40 minutes (see the chart). With backlight OFF the computer lasted 7 hours 30 minutes.
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When I play MP3 with the screen off the battery capacity was enough for 7 hours and video playback - 2 hours 40 minutes at maximum illumination, and almost 4 hours with a minimum illumination. When compared with the palmOne Tungsten E, Tungsten T3, or the same Sony UX40/50, then Zodiac 2 runs generally longer, but can be clearly seen that the MP3 player is still inferior hardware MP3 player by Sony, and so while playing audio from Zodiac 2 does not record .
Performance
To test how productive a new computer, we tested using the Benchmark 2.0 and compared the results with data on the Tungsten E, T3 and Sony TJ-25/35. According to test a new machine with a 200 MHz processor running as fast as Sony TJ-25/35, but significantly (1,5 times) slower than the Tungsten T3 with a 400 MHz processor from Intel.
For active gaming with good graphics and video performance of this will not always be enough. Availability of 400 MHz Intel XScale or at least 266 MHz Samsung would be more reasonable solution. To test the performance of video applications used the program Kinoma Player and a specially prepared video streaming between 480 and 1000Kb / s.. Productivity was determined by the speed of playback video using the built-in Kinoma Player test.
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The result was totally predictable - exactly the same performance as a TJ-25/35 and TE, but noticeably slower than the palmOne T3. We can only hope, that in games graphics accelerator slightly rectify the situation and be able to compensate for the relatively low frequency of the processor, which, in general, and confirmed in part. At least, that come bundled with PC gaming applications marked "brake" was not observed and it was possible for all to enjoy, even fast enough and demanding motor racing. However, as the device will behave with more serious gaming products is not entirely clear. Check it out in the absence of free games failed.
Paper nerves
Operating System
Zodiac on the operating system version 5.2.6. with a system of handwriting recognition "Graffiti 2".
Program shell (launcher)
As computers and Sony, Zodiac has its very interesting shell. The main window of the shell are two menus - the radial and classical. Radial is a free eight baskets, arranged in a circle and one in the center. On the right is an ordinary menu as a list. You can take the icons from the list and arrange them in baskets, with the location and order of the icons you are asking yourself, changing them as you wish. Switching between the classical and the radial menu by pressing the function button.
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When you are in the main menu, the central icon is used only for applications. In a nested menu also is used to return to the previous one. But why nine points instead of 15-Th-Th or 6? It's simple. To navigate through this radial menu was supposed to use a joystick, but it just has nine positions, and the function of "choice". Thus, by choosing one of the directions the joystick, you navigate to the appropriate menu item. For example, if the position is shown, press the joystick up, then select some menus Games.
By default, the main menu consists of a 10-point-groups: - All - lists all applications
- Organizer
- Utilities
- Media
- Unfiled
- My Staff
- Prefs
- Games
- SD card № 1
- SD card № 2
Names of groups and their number can be changed at their discretion. You can also specify a background image, disappoint a file in JPEG format in the menu. Well, nothing Windows Desktop? Navigation buttons can act as a standard application buttons. To do this, enable the option Enable quick launch and ask each navigation button is one of the applications. True, it works only in the windows menu, because running application intercepts these buttons to suit your needs.
The status bar (ctatusnaya line)
Just as in the Tungsten T3, Zodiac is a special string "status bar", which replaces the missing application buttons: - Home - call the main menu
- Menu - Call Menu
- Find - Search
- Sound - the output volume and display brightness
- Attention - indicator alerts
- Orientation - switching between "portrait" and "/ landscape" mode
- Expand / Collapse - the mapping of virtual input area.
Input information
You can enter text in three ways: - with the recognition system "Graffiti 2". For this purpose a virtual input area, divided into three parts: one - for uppercase letters, the second - for the capital, while the third - for numbers and special characters
- with the virtual keyboard
- with an external keyboard
Applications
Let us examine each of the menu items in detail (marked with bold installable program).
Preferences: - General - Here is the adjustment of display brightness, the choice to house the virtual input area for Graffiti 2 "(left or right), include the ability to transfer from the IR and time off.
- Connection
- Sound - adjust the volume of applications, system messages, warnings. The inclusion of bass for headphones and a vibrating alert. You can also completely disable the sound by setting the time when he turns on itself.
- Owner
- Date & Time
- ShortCuts
- Bluetooth
- Graffiti 2
- Calibration - calibration of the touch screen and navigation buttons.
- Formats
- Network
- Phone
Organizer: - Addresses 4.5.1 T
- Memo Pad 4.5.1 T
- Calc 4.5.1 T
- Date Book 4.5.1 T
- To Do List 4.5.1 T
Utilities: - Card Info
- Prefs
- Hot Sync
- Security
- Welcome
- Graffiti 2
- Web Browser 2.0
- SMS messenger
Media: - Music - your own player MP3-files. Very nice and quite comfortable, but it has one drawback - you can not play music in the background, that is either listen to music, or the computer is running. Although the mechanical buttons Hold on a computer is not in the player menu there is an item Hold, which allows you to turn off the display while playing music.
- Photos
- Kinoma Player
- AeroPlayer 2.9
- Palm Reader
My Staff: - Clock - a built-in stopwatch
- PowerOne Graph
- WordSmith 2.2.11
- InkStorm
Games: - Acid Solitaire - Classical Solitaire
- StuntCar - 3D racing
Complete this PDA is not so many games that, given the focus of gaming machines, a bit strange. But the site designers can detect many kinds of gaming applications and a list of preparing for the exit. This SpyHunter, Interstellar Flames, Galactic Realms, and many other games. True, one drawback is still there - for all that have to pay an average of $ 15-20.
Localization
Understand Russian computer learned by the system of national localization MacCentre PaPiRus 2003, which enables you to work with the Russian language, adapting the system for installation of the CCP and Russia supported the Russian handwriting recognition (Graffiti 2).
Price
Buy Zodiac in Russia is impossible. In the U.S., this miracle of technology is worth $ 399. Will sell this PDA for us and therefore how much it will cost is difficult to say.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, a hybrid game console and handheld Zodiac 2 is clearly above the competition. Similar product on the market today simply do not. The company Tapwave's really all we have: our hero - and this is a great mobile console (advanced controls inherent in this game console, great sound and fast graphics accelerator), and simultaneously a good handheld computer with all its attributes. To be precise, the technical characteristics of the Zodiac, even superior to most modern PDAs. Developers have realized a twin slot for SD / SDIO cards, and 128 MB of RAM - it is at last iPaq'ov. It is true that confuses the relatively low clock speed of the processor, but it is, presumably, it remedied.
Pros: - Convenient metal housing
- Nice big screen
- Ability to work in portrait or landscape mode
- Paired SD slot and SDIO
- Large amount of RAM
- Comfortable (adapted for gaming applications) controls
- The original user interface
- good sound system
- decent battery life
- interfeyc wireless Bluetooth.
Cons: - reprogrammable buttons only work in the windows menu
- relatively large body length
- unsuccessful mount stylus
- no support from the periphery palmOne
- small number of games in the sales package
- low clocked.
If you need a mobile gaming console, which also is still a great handheld, then wait and definitely buy a Zodiac-2. We hope that the Russian sellers are not inflate its value.In this case, for hardcore gamers, this PDA will be the most tasty morsel:) The authors, translation:
