Palm Tungsten T3: a first-hand

It so happened that I changed the micro-electronics (computer, PDA, phone) with a periodicity of approximately every three years. Te changes that occur during the year alone, is no reason to change the device, but for three years, filling (and often species) produced products greatly improved, providing greater opportunities for smaller size, weight, and often the price (we all know, that as the market price falls - so at the time Pioneer PDA industry, Newton, cost $ 1000). Okay, dismiss empty talk and move on to a long-awaited tidbits this fall. A detailed review of a fresh PDA Tungsten T3 from the (still:) Palm. So there you go ...

Day first, first impressions

Carton with Tungsten T3 delivered literally five minutes ago when I prepared foreword. The review will be written in real time. So convenient - something difficult to forget. Knowing in advance what I need from the handheld, I ordered a USB Bluetooth, and since setting up in the cradle CCP will not turn on, I went to put the driver, leaving the machine to full charge admission to my further orders. I do not know how it happened, but after 15 minutes and the battery was already charged by 50%, and I decided not shelving them, start discovering "treshka" right at the time of recharging. [H2] Fok ... No, I do love the exterior of all solid. Not to say that the new Tungsten struck me, but the impression is good. In his hand lay a glove, and the length of the body are well matched (CPC 7 mm more ancestors). In the unfolded arm rests precisely in the smooth groove of the TT3 (in the middle of the device slightly narrower than at the edges). The feeling that Palm has decided to play a little with our memories - the easy-flattened "is known distinguishing feature of" fifth "and the Tungsten E - so even at a glance you can see their relatives. So that developers have worked on glory. The only thing that disappointed me, to T3 does not fit into any blankets or protective film from the previous models: it is thinner and narrower (and, as already stated longer, but the length of Palm Slim Leather Case climbs - this is doubly insulting). If the above two Tungsten'a apparently had no differences (the color, the right does not count), then this one stands out a little more futuristic design. Blame It on the button at the gate (cdvizhnoy panel). Although why "guilty"? It's not so bad. Requires, of course, getting used to, but worth it. Play (especially in the simulations) is very convenient! Yes, I almost forgot ... The set comes a leather cap, flip the color of the body. For the first time, it certainly fits, but I advise you to buy a case when there will be - very much, this cap unpresentable.

Legs, wings ... Main - SCREEN!

Now tell you about raisins model - the big screen. As I said earlier, TT3 to 7 mm larger progenitors. This space occupies the status bar, and the top left 320x320 piksesey for compatibility with older programs. After opening the shutter (slide), we see the Dynamic Input Area - virtual graffiti area. In this case, the status bar does not disappear, but moves down. DIA may appear in two ways: the first (default) repeats the hardware form of graffiti in old devices, but has the advantage - all four buttons can be customized. In the second version (Triple Cell Graffiti) buttons are removed to make room for the field of capital letters (between conventional and digital). Work in an open mode (with the slider moved apart) is very nice. Read and play Warfare Inc. - Generally a pleasure:) But, unfortunately, the area of ​​graffiti is not without flaws. If the program does not support full-screen mode, Dynamic Input Area automatically appears on the screen, and when returning back to the launcher will not retract. However, this is her only flaw. By the way, the workspace open the screen has a size 320h448 (according to Palm Insider - the only file manager for large screens). Rest of the space, as mentioned above, has won the status bar, which also removed the different programs (Kinoma player or toy Warfare Inc., For example), so that when a strong distribution machines can expect the appearance of various utilities that will do it by yourself (like navigation joystick for TT, which is now built into the system). For information: Minimum illumination is sufficient to safely work under the lamp at 100 watts, plus a meter on the left off another 50 watts. I should note that when using the direct sun, the difference between minimum and maximum illumination is noticeable only very choosiest eye, ie, maximum hardly improves the situation, but the minimum is enough to work, but in a dark bus difference is felt more strongly. One has to make allowances for the fact that I have long had to deal with monochrome screens, and can not critically examine this question.

Small, but removed!

More detail on the status bar, more of the nine icons, which he supplied. Let's go from left to right. In the corner there is a reset button in the launcher (the desktop). And, if you press and hold it, you'll see a menu with five recently run programs - a very useful thing. Further to the right is a button Find (absolutely no changes), followed by - Menu (also nothing new). The next window shows the time, but when you open the system status, which provides information about battery, memory (built-in and card), the current time (in large print for blind people:), brightness, sound settings / alarms (custom, silent, off) . Then there is a button in the form of an exclamation point, which becomes active (blinking) in the presence nevyklyuchennogo alarm (snooze) or some missed cases. Behind her is piktogrammka marked with Bluetooth, you can use to monitor the status of embedded Bluetooth-module, well, and connect to the Internet using a mobile phone to support this radioprotokola. Piktogrammka with stroke is responsible for the inclusion of regime-mail to the entire surface of the screen (such useful in the closed mode and so annoying in the open:). Penultimate - the button display rotation from portrait mode to landscape (the settings for left / right handed there in Prefs) - rather just a single click. Finally, the rightmost, ninth key, is responsible for the graffiti area. With its long retention can alter the appearance of the area and cause the keyboard.

... Fourth day. Work, office, and the sun is not the village!

The fact that I missed the second and third days are not surprising.Still, a review I write simultaneously with the development of PDA for later use that in my case means neskollko hard rezet and re-installation of Palm Desktop. Partly due to the very newness of the system (mean unique hardware solutions, as well as a system of 5.3 with a truncated support of the Chinese, which however is not recognized and pretends to 5.2.1). In general, it is all to the fact that the test battery over the weekend I could not get. However, Monday - the day of heavy, and my machine to feel it on myself to the fullest. Think for yourself: the night after charging the PDA worked for about an hour as a player (the screen turns off the volume on the joystick, 2 divisions, which, in my opinion, is sufficient for public transport). Then it was 3 hours of voice recording without light. Next PDA ipolzovalsya for one hour to burn with a minimum illumination in the closed position. There Tungsten T3 for the first time anything about batteries (about 25-30% - do not remember exactly). Then another 40 minutes I was writing on a PDA this review. In this case, TT3 Messy (extremly low) swore that, however, did not prevent him from working. At one point, the handheld is disconnected myself, but I said 'no' and clicked on rezet - it rebooted and earned. This was repeated 2 more times with an interval of about 15 minutes, after which I left him alone (that's me so pitiful - it would still work and work!).

User terminals enter into the era of GPRS

Subscriber terminals, improved and modified to complete the first phase of its development - the "voice". Together with the whole mobile industry, this sector is entering an era of "data". Changes occurring in the infrastructure of the mobile communication systems, and as a result of new services and opportunities, could not help but reflect on those trends that are clearly visible in the guise of subscriber terminals. Technology GPRS - the first step in this direction - begins to exert a certain influence on the development of subscriber terminals.

Records and frustration

Market subscriber terminals (AT) in recent years has developed rapidly, and seemed to trend growth, as predicted by authoritative experts as Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Telecom, will remain. However, the emerging for 2000 sales to AT 560 million was not implemented. According to estimates of the same agency, the actual sales of 430-450 million Despite the record, and these figures is an absolute record in the history of mobile communications, which ended the year was for the leaders is not very successful. This primarily refers to Ericsson, who was unable to achieve positive indicators, although sold 43.3 million of subscriber terminals. On this basis, Ericsson took a radical solution: a fully convey the production of mobile phones third companies - to their partners. It should be noted that, for some producers, especially Panasonic and Siemens, the year was a success - respectively 21.5 and 20.5 million (according to the Strategis Groups). Analyzing the quantitative indicators for the "voice" AT over the next 2-3 years is reasonable to predict the stabilization of the market against the backdrop of a recession. Massive sales of models that support the technology GPRS, will begin only in 2002 (30-40 million Durlacher Research). According to the London-based Ovum, in the next 2-3 years, worldwide sales of these models will be 500-600 million

More mobile phones good and different

If we talk about qualitative trends, we should first distinguish the saturation of the sophisticated features of low-cost models aimed at mainstream users. The fact that yesterday was to be found in models of business-class manufacturers are offering today in simple models. The most vivid example - Philips Savvy DB. In this unit, there are voice-activated dialing and vibrating alert. Thus, new capabilities and services are available to owners of inexpensive models, showing changes in the infrastructure of mobile communication systems. Conference calling, voice mail, not to mention the SMS, it's all available to most subscribers. Explanation is easy to find. It was mass production to reduce costs and allow subscribers to offer a wide range of batteries such as Li-Ion, connectivity kit Hands-Free and enhanced functionality. Another factor - the use of producers in the model class standard chipset (chipset). Thus, Siemens in the models of 35-series uses a set of E-Gold company Infineon. In this model, the senior class have advanced largely due to a software development. Almost all manufacturers in the business-class models have provided technology support WAP, which, however, is not so in demand, as predicted my colleagues in the shop a year ago. True, today they rushed to the other extreme, burying technology, meaning and purpose for which most commentators have remained unsolved (see "Modus", № 131, "WAP yesterday, today and tomorrow"). Summarizing and evaluating the ways and trends, we can conclude that the peak drag miniaturization left behind - in 2000 summed up and determined the optimal size for the "voice" of AT. Someone from the producers changed the sense of proportion, and the market have been proposed products included in the category of "female". Such devices have a minimum size, but a set of numbers, not to mention a set text for SMS-messages, were a force of only fingers the better half of humanity. Many analysts in early 2000 predicted a rapid growth of the market with AT features Pocket PC, the so-called communicators and smartphones. From words to action first went Ericsson and Nokia. Swedish concern has proposed a model R380-based operating system Symbian, and Finnish - Model 9210 (OS EPOC 6.0, Symbian), further development of the range Nokia 9hhh. Here it is worth mentioning and innovations introduced Motorola. Structurally Communicator V100 is designed as a classic Pocket PC keyboard with full QWERTY keyboard and informative screen (the size of the active 45h28 mm). To work in phone mode, the device must be connected to a headset (headphones with microphone supplied). V100 via the serial interface can connect to a PC. V100 is focused mainly on the European market and is positioned as a device for young people. It was this audience the most extensive use of the service SMS. If market growth is due to AT recruits army of individual subscribers, the communicators and smartphones should attract fans of Pocket PC. Market latest rising sufficiently active, according to IDC, sales for 2000 amounted to 16 million units. So the prospects for the market of dual-use devices is beyond doubt, especially since the availability of suitable screen for the Internet and the size of the upcoming increase in the rate of data transmission networks can be a decisive argument. One of the trends emerging in the last year - the empowerment of the phone itself. If yesterday, considering the range of a company, you can only talk about voice and very rarely on the transmission / reception of data (using the AT as a GSM-modem), but now the picture begins to change. You can seriously talk about convergence, mobile phone and the various devices. Manufacturers have expanded the possibilities of equipment and provide consumers with devices that provide reception / data / fax numbers, e-mail, connect to the Internet-based technologies WAP. A number of models you can listen to MP3 files that identify your location (GPS) and even watch videos. Company Samsung, for example, has demonstrated a model SGH-M100. This dual-band (GSM-900/1800) phone that has 32 MB of memory and an MP3 stereopleer with playing time to 25 minutes. And it weighs 97 g! The device also has an IrDA port or can be connected to a PC via a serial interface. Another option of mobile phone offers Siemens. Model SL45 - dual-band phone (GSM 900 | 1800) luxury. Feature model - ability to connect external memory card type MMCard, which extends its functionality. Complete c unit you get a 32 MB card and stereo headphones. Pre-record your favorite tunes in MP3 format on the map, you can listen to the stereo for 35 minutes with the quality of CD. MM Card can also be used as a memory of a voice recorder, built-in SL45. Its volume is sufficient to record conversations for up to 5 hours. Another interesting novelty from the company Benefon. Model ESQ! - Truly a navigation phone. In addition to the many possibilities of dual-band GSM device it specifies the location of the subscriber, as well as movement speed, direction, mileage (Global Positioning System GPS, 12-channel receiver). Large graphic display (160x100 pix.) Provides the output to 20 lines of text, or display the location of the subscriber on the area map, which is pre-entered in the phone from a PC via the serial interface. On this same map indicator appears, denoting the location you wanted a subscriber network. A similar apparatus were presented by GARMIN, specializes in solutions in the field of GPS. She announced a new device NavTalk II - GSM-handset with a large graphic display and an integrated GPS-receiver.

GPRS expansion and conservatism of the market

What are the AT will be offered to the subscriber in the future and what options he will choose them? What options the buyer will assess tomorrow, except for the price, weight and time of the battery? For customers who purchase a new phone in 2001-2002. To the fore can get the size and type of screen (large, color), multi-standard, such as CDMA / AMPS; connectivity QWERTY keyboard similar to the Pocket PC. As mentioned above, it is possible flourishing market of smartphones or communicators. It seems that this class of antibodies will dominate the corporate market, but an individual subscriber is still focused on simple and inexpensive model. Rather controversial opinion was expressed by the regional manager of Pyramid Group Daniel Torras: it assumes that the future border between cell phones, smart phones and pocket PCs will blur. But it is enough to compare the army of subscribers using mobile phone is not for business communication, and the number of users who use it "on paper". These two groups are simply not comparable in size, since among other things the phone can satisfy one of the major intellectual human needs - an opportunity to communicate. It is doubtful that the corporate sector has become dominant in the market AT. Whether the market will turn to the services (ie - to models), based on the technology of GPRS? Indeed, the widespread introduction of packet data will begin today or tomorrow, but the language does not turn to say that AT supporting the technology will be bought up like hotcakes. Whether most users will want, or at least every third literally throw his camera and get novyy.1 yet possible to ascertain the lack of interest of users to upgrade equipment. Consulting firm Yankee Group predicts that the average price AT with GPRS support in late 2001 at $ 200-230 with a projected average price of a standard phone $ 120-140. Assuming that these predictions will come true, the proposal for a specific sector of the market will be attractive. More confident we can speak about the prospects GSM-GPRS modems in the PC card or CompactFlash (for laptops and PDAs). Thanks to them, the Internet becomes truly mobile, and access to corporate applications both effective and safe. According to Martin Kampisha, director of the European branch of Motorola's work with the consumer sector, it is this class of GPRS-devices may be in the coming years the most popular. For example, the company Option at CeBit in Hanover presented a Globe Trotter, GPRS-modem in the PC-Card format for the networks GSM 900/1800/1900. The modem provides high speed internet access c any notebook computer equipped with a slot PC-Card Type II, and running an operating system MS Windows 98/2000.A similar device - GPRS-modem company announced CreditCard Xircom. It provides voice communication, the exchange of SMS-messaging and data exchange. In addition to GPRS last two years, hearing and other fancy technology - Bluetooth. It must provide a wireless connection of all electronic equipment in your office or home. Marketers are many companies felt it was time to incorporate Bluetooth modules and mobile phones. However, in this case, Bluetooth will follow in the footsteps of GPRS. Upon receiving information, it can be rapidly put into your PC or print. Obviously, the PC and the printer should also have modules Bluetooth. Therefore, for the widespread introduction of this technology should fulfill two conditions. Necessary - the development of mobile communication networks supporting GPRS, sufficient - Active Release module Bluetooth, built-in office and home appliances. So, Toshiba and 3COM have announced the release of Bluetooth modules in the format of PC-card. Do not fall behind and AT vendors. Ericsson announced the T39 model (GSM 900/1800), and Motorola - Timeport 270 (CDMA). However, in 2001, is likely to be abundant on the new items, rather than be a year of beginning mass production of models with Bluetooth.

Special path

For Russia, the AT supporting GPRS may not be that magic wand that can partially solve the problem of last mile of the Russian telecom terrain. We have to admit that this problem - one of the key obstacles to penetration of the Internet in Russia (Moscow and 5-7 major cities do not count). Therefore, mobile operators, possibly without realizing it, can help an individual subscriber. First, is access to the Web in smaller settlements. What is the current actual speed access to dial-up mode in the suburbs of Moscow, the same Pushkin or Golitsino, most readers represent. With the removal of the capital access quality is deteriorating at an exponential rate. And it is in Moscow to talk about the Internet in more remote areas can only be in the subjunctive mood. Secondly, the cellular communication companies to offer their infrastructure for corporate information systems with distributed information sources. Connecting terminals fixed dostupa2 or GSM-GPRS-modems, the organization will be able to for 2-3 days to put into operation an effective system of data exchange. Thus, today the Russian cellular operators appear to compete with the prospect of Internet service providers. And the basic argument for this - GPRS. If marketers-Sotovik realize what instrument falls into their hands, will begin the real march on the Russian Internet spaces. Obviously, even the price will not stop an army of suffering - in the Russian provinces for residential customers an alternative yet in sight.

Market segmentation and new players

For the entire cellular industry and segment of AT in particular the transition to GPRS technology, even more than the stage - there is a qualitative leap forward, when the delivery of information to the subscriber in its significance is comparable to voice communications. The first question that faces manufacturers AT: What should be the proportion of devices with GPRS support in total? According to ARC Group, by the end of 2001 85% of European operators begin to provide packet. Given the forecast Durlacher Research in Europe, the services network to support GPRS in 2002, will use 25-30 million subscribers. Assuming that the market will be divided equally between the GPRS-modems and direct GPRS-terminals, we can estimate the actual volume of sales. Despite the stabilization of the market AT, solid-state technology leaders Texas Instruments and Analog Devices have announced integrated chips for mobile phones generation 2,5 G. However, manufacturers are not inclined to force the situation. So, according to the CEO of Nokia Jorma Ollila, release phone with GPRS support is transferred from the second quarter, at least on the third. Delivery model, Ericsson R520m, first presented in summer 2000, has not yet begun.Perhaps the reader will remember the situation that arose in the mid-90's, when the growing demand for AT was not satisfied, because of what the operators were losing and in the number of connections, and in the volume of traffic. But, according to analyst Pyramid Group Daniel Torres, now wiser, "insufficient salting" as to predict the migration to new technology is virtually impossible. Probably, the comparison with the situation mid-90's not so appropriate, because radically changed the playing field: an increasing number of operators have become more dense rows of vendors. The latter - one of the characteristic phenomena of 2000. The emergence of new players in this market is no accident. The rapid growth in subscriber numbers (ie - increase in sales volumes and the feasibility of mass production, always superrentabelnoe) - that's an argument that attracts sharks consumer electronics (Kenwood, Mitsubishi), and newly established companies, mainly from China and South- East Asia. For example, the company Sendo has launched to the European market dual-band (GSM 900/1800) model of business-class D800. By zyavleniyu vice president Sendo Leo Burhou, the company guarantees the supply of vehicles to the customer within 72 hours, whereas both major manufacturers to fulfill orders in 2-4 weeks. Such an aggressive policy add headache largest producers, is clearly not satisfied with the results of sales in recent quarters. One of the interesting aspects - determination of the regions most interested in AT and services of this class. According to the same Daniel Torres, the most likely breakthrough in Northern Europe and Southeast Asia, where there are four tigers: Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. No coincidence that new producers mainly come from the same region. True, Torres suggests that many, if not all, will depend on the operators, content providers and application developers that are designed to offer the consumer the specific services aimed at delivering information. As an example, recall the situation that arose a year ago with the technology of WAP. It is the lack of specific services and an erroneous shift in focus from corporate clients to individual operators drove almost to a standstill. Lessons of WAP, is likely to lead to the conclusion that the operators gave priority to developing applications. In order to convince the caller to the effectiveness of service delivery of information, will require considerable effort. For manufacturers of WAP terminals lessons should also be discussed. Requirements for the display settings, the duration of standby time, and some other characteristics should be formulated taking into account the peculiarities of the technologies GPRS, and the information that will be delivered to the subscriber. For example, a standby mode when you connect to GPRS technology differs significantly from a similar regime for the standard GSM, because permanent connection, the power consumption will be slightly higher and the battery must have higher capacity. If we talk about market segmentation, one of its important sectors - are young people. That she can claim the novelty of AT that will be created in the wake of GPRS-3G. There will be a litmus test of the above-mentioned model V100 from Motorola. If the symbiosis of a Pocket PC with headphone and microphone lovers will appreciate the SMS, namely young people, according to Gather Group, provides more than 80% of the traffic of short messages, while the prospects for this type of equipment more than favorable. Meanwhile, analysts forecasts. Thus, the Yankee Group report states that will determine the II-III quarter of next year - then the demand for antibodies with GPRS support will grow sharply. However, as such devices will look, what are their options - it is nobody dares to say exactly. At least today, according to Richard Duffy, manager of the ARC Group, it is difficult to say how much will be great interest to subscribers to the color display, high-power processors and other sites of AT to support GPRS. Apparently, the appearance of antibodies begin to form is popular applications. For example, the possibility of delivering multimedia content (audio / video), creates an attractive segment.For example, AT MP3 player Samsung SGH-M100 needs to preload favorite song. When you use GPRS any tune using the same WAP-terminal can be found and downloaded in real time. Of course, video conferencing, based on GPRS while unlikely - the first stage of the real rate of 30-40 kbit / s is clearly insufficient. But the size and quality of the image on the screen smartphone / communicator, in principle, it is quite acceptable for such applications. It remains to add a speakerphone and a video camera, available today for Pocket PCs, for example, type Casio JK-710DC, and video conferencing is becoming quite real. Further expands the capabilities of enterprise applications. Video surveillance system will monitor the on-screen smartphone and the protected zone as a whole, and each specific site. The medical establishment of the database the results of ultrasound or X-ray examination of the patient may be transferred to the screen of the same smartphone in the hands of a doctor who came to the challenge to the patient home. However, the popularity of such models will be largely determined by their price. Most likely, 2001 will not be a breakthrough in the dissemination of the AT with support GPRS, but vendors and operators will have to come to terms with the fact that the devices are difficult to control, overwhelmed by technical innovations, and most users do not even need. As they say, each vegetable one time ... Sources, Materials:

ASUS MyPal A620BT: BT - Bluetooth means

We have already talked in detail about the Pocket PC ASUS MyPal A620, which went on sale this summer. However, recently the company ASUS Computer has released a redesigned handheld, on the basis of the same model, which received the module Bluetooth. By our hands got one of the first production models of this computer.

Old Acquaintance

External computer A620 and A620BT impossible to discern. The twin brothers carried out in identical plastic cases. Metal frame is made only display frame that provides structural rigidity and protects the display from external mechanical influences. For a more detailed description of the case and authorities advised to apply to medical card model in the previous review. We will not go into details here. I must say that the positive aspect was the fact that in this sample was further developed compartment lid for cards and expansion modules. If in the previous model, it was fixed quite freely and rattled all the time, then A620VT sits in its place is very tight and almost merges with the body. We must assume that in future all serial A620/A620VT with lids will be a full order. Has not changed and delivery. Like the previous model, the box was found the cradle, a synthetic cover, AC adapter and a CD with drivers.

Iron

What we see, looking under the "hood" updated MyPal A620? The same processor Intel PXA255 clocked at 400MHz and operating at 200 MHz bus, as in most modern PDAs. However, your computer's performance is impressive, especially when working with graphics and video! For comparison, results of tests SBP Benchmark A620BT and popular today iPAQ h2215. Although the CPU clock speed of 400MHz and, there is a strong suspicion that the mode for hardware acceleration (ARE) developers it slightly dispersed. Painfully high index of processor and platform. A performance in graphics A620/620VT has no analogues among existing handheld computers - graphic index of almost one order of magnitude higher than other device. The only handheld that performance in graphics approaching A620VT is the iPAQ h1945. You can now proceed to describe the differences between A620 and A620BT.

Unlike the first: a memorable

Unlike his brother, ASUS'a A620, this model has increased the size of ROM - 64 MB. In fact, its volume remains the same - Windows Mobile 2003 fine is removed and a 32 MB, and increased special area of ​​memory - Flash Disk. These "extra" 32 megabytes allocated for the needs of users and serve as a built-in memory card. At Flash Disk'e can be placed particularly valuable data and Backup-Files without the fear of losing them after discharge the battery. The claimed amount of RAM remains the same - 64 MB. As usual, some of it is given to the needs of the system. The page model maker marked the available capacity in the 58.7 MB (56,7 MB for oriental languages), but the real figure was slightly less - 55.29 MB.

Unlike the second: sinezuboe

Company ASUSTek Computer Inc. Not so long ago has been producing hand-held computers for Pocket PC (A620 is only the second model), but in spite of limited experience, is in step with the times, and sometimes ahead of their better-known competitors in the PDA market. It is in the handhelds ASUS was the first to implement a wide choice of operating modes of the processor. If the other computers could choose 3.2 mode, the A600 they already had seven. So now, after the company Palm Inc, Sony, Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba, ASUS has equipped its handheld wireless communication module standard Bluetooth. Strictly speaking, the friction in abbreviation of the name of the computer and indicates the presence of the embedded module.

Unlike the third: a price

On the shelves of local stores ASUS a620 has already appeared. Its estimated price - $ 450. Younger brother, A620 without the blue tooth, you can buy in the shops "on the palm computer for $ 379, that is, the right to possess a wireless model will have to pay.

Software

On both PDA running the latest version of OS Pocket PC - Windows Mobile 2003. To work with the wireless module in A620BT a special application - Bluetooth Manager. This program is produced by WIDCOMM. The same is on the iPAQ h1945 and h2215. Only the hero of this review - a later version (build 50), which, inter alia, supports the work with a wireless headset. How does it work "Managing Bluetooth'om? From beginning, through profiles Explorer a Bluetooth device, the application searches for other devices within range (about 10 m) equipped with "blue teeth". In our case, we "crossed" with A620BT iPAQ h1945. After connecting to the iPAQ h1945 is possible to choose the serial port. For Bluetooth-channel can be quickly and easily share files. This wireless method is much more convenient than the old infrared port. Well, one of the most "delicious" radio applications - setting the wireless Internet connection, but more on that below. What is beyond that "can" Bluetooth-master? Let us examine the example of some program options.

• Provides the ability to connect to the Internet or through a modem or through a dedicated line profile Connect to the Internet

• Organize your personal network of Bluetooth-enabled devices, or connect your Pocket PC to your existing network of information exchange option allows you to Join a personal network

• C using the Partner with a cell phone can connect to a mobile phone that supports Bluetooth for both communication (music, images and photographs) and to access the Internet using a mobile phone as a GPRS-modem (of course, the latter is possible if your phone equipped with GPRS-module). In our test, we used cellular Siemens S55 and Sony-Ericsson T610 - everything works fine.

• ActiveSync via Bluetooth profile allows you to sync with your desktop computer equipped with a Bluetooth adapter. In this case, when connecting to the PC emulates COM port via Bluetooth-interface.

• Browse Files on a remove device lets you share files with other Bluetooth enabled devices adapters.

• Connect a headset

Color LCD display in broad daylight. Contemporary state of technology

Work with mobile devices in the daylight - one of the pressing problems since the start of registration (1985) Toshiba's first 9.5 "color VGA LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors. Now there are technologies for obtaining high quality images in direct sunlight on the screen devices. The article by Jeff Walker (magazine "Pencomputing"), translated by Andrei Vasilyev, describes the existing markets in Europe and the U.S. color LCD technology and presents a forecast of their development in the near future.

Four-parameter LCD

There are four key parameters of any LCD device: design, technology, resolution and size.

LCD construction

The design involves the location of layers in the LCD (including the photoconductive layer) and has the highest value for the quality of the image on the screen in sunlight. Currently there are three main design color LCD: transmissive (transmissive), transflective (translucent) and reflective (reflective).

Transmissive LCD

In the transmissive-design light enters through the LCD from the backlight. Most LCDs used in handheld computers today are made using this technology. Transmissive LCD has high quality pictures indoors and are usually very low (black screen) in sunlight. Solar lighting is a thousand times stronger backlight, and thus reflected from the surface of the screen the sun's rays completely suppress the light emitted by the LCD. However, some manufacturers have developed a transmissive LCD, which can work even in direct sunlight. How do they do it? To date, there are two ways: increasing the brightness of the backlight and LCD modification to reduce the amount of reflected sunlight. We briefly describe these methods. The maximum brightness of currently existing notebooks is 100-150 nit (option is equivalent to one candela / candles / square meter (cd/m2)). LCD with high brightness use 200 to 1,800 nit. It is believed that the lamp of 500 nit makes transmissive LCD visible in daylight in the shade, and about 1000 nit - allows you to use it in direct sunlight. Brightness of 300 nit can be achieved by limiting increases the brightness of a lamp CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) or by adding a second tube, located across the street. Models of LCD displays with high brightness can be from 8 to 16 lamps. However, increasing the brightness increases the power consumption of batteries (one backlight consumes about 30% of energy used by the device). Consequently, the screens with high brightness can be used only if the external power source. Modification of LCD is to apply antireflection coatings on one or more layers of the display, replacing the standard polarization layer at least reflects, adding, "increases the brightness of the films, increasing the efficiency of light sources. Another way of modifying the LCD, used only in devices Fujitsu, is to fill the converter fluid with refractive index equal to the coefficient of refraction of the touch panel. This greatly reduces the amount of reflected light.

Transflective LCD

Transflective-vobschem design something similar to the previous page. But transflective-display between LCD and a layer of light is called partially reflective layer. It may be partially or silver, or completely mirror with many small holes. When a screen is used indoors, it works similarly transmissive LCD, in which some light is absorbed by the reflective layer. In daylight the sunlight reflected from a mirror layer and illuminates the LCD. In this light passes LCD twice, first inside, then outside. This leads to the fact that the image quality in daylight is lower than under artificial light in the room when the light passes LCD once. Balance between image quality inside and outside the premises is achieved by selecting the characteristics of transmissive and reflective layers. For example, the mirror layer can reflect 60% light and absorb 40%. If the brightness of 130 nit, only 52 nit (40% of the 130) goes to the LCD through the mirror layer. Outdoors 60% of sunlight reflected from the reflecting layer, but as the light passes through the LCD twice the picture quality. Transflective LCD is a compromise. The image on this screen is not bright either indoors or in sunlight.

Reflective LCD

Reflective-design is fully reflective mirror layer. All lighting, whether it is sunlight or light front light passes through the LCD, is reflected from a mirror layer, and again passes through the LCD. In daylight the light passes through the LCD layer and the front lights twice. In this case, the image quality of reflective LCD is usually lower than transflective (as similar technology is used in both cases). Inside the front lighting is not as effective as the back and the picture quality is also lower than the transflective.

LCD technology

To date, the production of color liquid-crystal displays used two technologies: Active matrix - TFT and passive matrix - STN. TFT - Thin Film Transistor - active matrix in which each sub-pixel is a thin film transistor (active member). STN - Super Twist Nematic - passive matrix, which consists of liquid crystal elements with variable transparency. Variety STN: CSTN (Color STN) and DSTN (Double STN) in this article are under the same notion of STN, because their differences are not significant for the conditions of sunlight. Compared with STN TFT screen more contrast, has more saturated color, works faster (moving image does not have an afterglow). The image shows a large angle. True, TFT and more expensive, so now there is a tendency to expand production of TFT by reducing the production of STN. (For example, Sanyo stopped production of STN LCD and now produces only the TFT.) Combining the three designs and two LCD technology allows six types of color LCD. Of these, all except transmissive STN, may be used in sunlight. The table shows the remaining five types of LCD, and two additional variants, the number of existing devices on the market and their manufacturers.

Type LCD	Number of devices	Producers
Modified transmissive TFT	20	Fujitsu, Intermec, Itronix, Nokia, Panasonic, Wolkabout
Transmissive TFT with high brightness	14	Fieldworks, Microslate, Panasonic, Phoenix, Xplore
Transflective STN	7	Hitachi, Itronix, Melard, Sanyo, Two Technologies
Reflective TFT Front lighting	4	Compaq, Palm, Sony
Reflective TFT backlight off	4	Fujitsu, NEC, Strata, Via
Reflective STN with front lighting	1	Fujitsu
Transflective TFT	No	No

Resolution and LCD size

Resolution and size - are important and interrelated features. We are now manufactured LCD dots per inch (dpi) ranges from 70 (for 5.7 "monitors) to 150 (for 6,7" SVGA). The most common display with a value of 90 dpi to 125.Below are the standard values ​​of permits that are used in computers, PDA and phones. Permissions VGA - historically the resolution value for PC is 640 * 480 ¼ VGA - 240 * 320 or 320 * 240 pixels ½ VGA - 640 * 240 SVGA - Super VGA - 800 x 600 pixel XGA - Extended VGA - 1024 x 768 pixels SXGA - Super XGA - 1280 x 1024 SXGA + - Super XGA Plus - 1400 * 1050 pixels UXGA - Ultra XGA - 1600 * 1200 pixels.

The fifth important parameter LCD - aperture ratio

This option is typically not indicated in the specifications, but can be calculated from other attributes. Aperture ratio is the ratio of the square pixel (sub-pixel) to the total screen area, which includes all the elements that make up the sub-pixel (eg, "transistor" in TFT). Great importance to the aperture ratio, in which each pixel has more coverage, increases the LCD brightness and a decrease in its resolution. Therefore, in models of portable computers designed for use indoors or in sunlight, the LCD is used with different resolutions. For example, a base model Panasonic Toughbook 28 for work in the premises of a transmissive TFT with a resolution of XGA, a similar model designed for operation in sunlight, has a transflective TFT with a lower resolution SVGA. Since ambient light is transflective and reflective LCD twice, in order to achieve the brightness, similar to the transmissive LCD, through which light passes once, the aperture ratio for these displays should be more. Therefore, at the same size LCD, transflective and reflective LCD typically produced at a lower resolution than the transmissive LCD. Consider which of the combinations of characteristics of color LCD is best suited for cellular phones, PDA and PDA industry. (The author has also examined other types of devices that use LCD: Laptops, Tablet PC.)

Cell Phones

Any color LCD screen on the phone should work in sunlight (you can imagine unreadable outdoors screen on your cell phone?). Known only two models of phones with color LCD, actually sold in the U.S. and Europe. First - Sprint (US) PCS phone SCP-5000 from Sanyo, which has 2 "reflective TFT with front lighting. PC magazine describes the screen of the phone as "uniformly bright sunlight." Second - Nokia 9210, which uses a 1.3 "* 4.2" modified transmissive TFT. One of the users of the Nokia 9210 described a screen of this device is as follows: "in the sunlight the screen is so neyarok that use of any of sunglasses makes it unreadable." Thus, reflective TFT is the best option for use in cellular phones. LED (LED) is increasingly used in handsets than with a cold cathode lamp (CCFL), because of the phones do not require as much brightness as from portable computers. Due to the fact that the transflective TFT small size are not produced, transflective STN second option is to use the phones. This screen could provide a better balance between image quality indoors and in sunlight than is used in Nokia 9210, a modified transmissive TFT. Although he would not be so bright in the room.

Handhelds

Compaq iPAQ 3600 - the first handheld with color LCD, which appeared on the U.S. market. It works fine in daylight (LCD 3.8 "1/4-VGA, reflective TFT production of Sony). The great success enjoyed by that device on the market, has led to many companies (such as Philips, Sanyo, NEC, Casio and Panasonic) have announced or started deliveries of similar LCD (with a resolution of 1 / 4 VGA). Consequently, we can expect reflective TFT with front lighting and other devices on the systems Pocket PC and Palm OS (for example, the new Sony Clie PEG-N710 uses a 3.1 "320 x 320 reflective TFT with front illumination). It is unlikely that this type of LCD to be used in devices with large screen and resolution, as the latest technology lighting distribution with mikronasechek can not uniformly illuminate the LCD for more than 6 ". The technology of using the front illumination rather young and perhaps over time it will be possible to solve this problem. IPAQ really is not the first PDA, using reflective TFT.In 1999, Compaq released a device Aero 2100 c reflective TFT, in which light was used as a front light source LED. In the iPAQ uses a bright lamp CCFL. The combination of very dim (10-15 nit) light source and the imperfect reflective LCD from Sharp in 2100 Aero was the reason for the failure of this device on the market. The screen was not bright both indoors and in sunlight. Consider other types of color LCD. Transmissive STN (HP Jornada 520/540 series and Fujitsu PenCentra 200 CTM) can not be used in sunlight. Transflective STN can not yet compete with reflective TFT. Transflective TFT could be used in a PDA, but there are no manufacturers of screens 3.8 "(available screens from 10.4). Reflective TFT backlight off (as in Nintendo) does not apply to the PDA, since it requires an external source of lighting. At the moment, reflective TFT with forward illumination is the only option for LCD, which works under sunlight and is used in handheld computers.

Industrial PDA

Ceychas market no bezklaviaturnogo (PDA-size) dedicated PDA with a color screen for use in sunlight. The main products in this category are Symbol - monochrome device on the Palm OS and Windows CE (SPC-1500/1700 and PPT-2700). Among the specialized PDA screens 5 "- 8.2" The situation is very complicated - only available color transflective STN screens that can be used in sunlight. Such screens have not yet received the recognition in the market. In this category also are no devices that have good color LCD for use in sunlight. TouchLite from Two Technologies, is probably one of the best devices in this category. It uses an exceptionally large 5.7 "transflective STN. The choice of LCD in this category is limited mainly to the fact that the production of LCD does not pay for underdeveloped markets. Compared with the market of PDA and laptop market industrial PDA is very small. For manufacturers who plan to launch a new LCD (eg, 6 "VGA transflective TFT, which would be interested in many producers), the minimum annual amount should be 50K-100K, which is hardly possible for underdeveloped markets of industrial PDAs. The absence in this category, good color LCD, working under sunlight, can lead to changes in the market of specialized software. With the proliferation of color LCD 1 / 4-VGA 3.8 "and SVGA 10.4", working under sunlight, software developers will be forced to migrate their applications to these dimensions. As a result, the market will not color handheld (running in the sunlight), which would be employed specialist software written for VGA or 1 / 2 VGA.

Conclusion

Enumerate the problems limiting the production of a good color LCD working in sunlight. - LCD is a low-yield and, therefore, very sensitive to the price of the product - in most cases, laptops and PDA's are used indoors, so they can be equipped with a transmissive TFT with high brightness - The success of the production and sale of products using LCD, depends on the subjective views of users about the quality of the screen in sunlight - The market is taking on new LCD technologies, such as transflective TFT, only if the manufacturer of the system is making great efforts to promote the new device - Release of the new product is associated with greater risk, because with limited resources, cost, development time and production new LCD big enough - Choose from a matrix consisting of three structures * for two technologies (with options such as polysilicon and amorphous silicon) * * 11 permits an average of 4 size is very difficult - it's more than 500 combinations! Sources, Materials:

Palm Tungsten T3: when the tungsten more precious than gold

If you recall, the company introduced the first Palm Inc Tungsten T (we call them simply TT) in December last year. The following model series had to wait more than six months - an upgrade was the proud name of TT2. Now came the turn of the next update, which do not think twice named the TT3. It seems, Palm voznamerilas release their PDA Tungsten series has consistently decent and as fast - so you see, and close to the T34. The joke, of course, but as they say, every joke is a joke share. Meanwhile, at our editorial desk he found himself a long-awaited third, which we have repeatedly told you to someone else's words. Now prictupim to his own inspection.

Pro Display

The first rumors about the new Tungsten T3 began to walk long before it arrives. For example, it was known that the display has a resolution of new items in 480h320 points - similar to the CCP came from Sony a year ago. However, unlike the first Clie models with hi-res + screen, T3 supports not only the vertical display mode (so-called book), but also copes well with a horizontal (landscape). Switch between portrait or landscape modes by using a special icon in the status bar - ctrochke "located at the bottom of the screen (this innovation will talk a little below). Hull design, "third" inherited from its predecessors. That is the screen size can be reduced and, thanks to sliders - moving sled, hiding under a piece the size of 160x320 pixels. Thanks to this solution, the CCP in the folded state preserves family compact. Yes, and work with the T3 screen is now possible as the soul wills. However, the new display mode is not so simple. For example, a landscape full-screen mode is not compatible with all applications. Take the classic Note Pad. This programm can not "stretch" in his field by 480 pixels wide, but as her replacement may make utility Memo, which works with the "full" LANDSCAPE input. Another example - alternative reader MobiPocket, which also does not support landscape full-screen mode. But the native Palm Reader lets you view the book in a horizontal orientation.

Palm Tungsten T3: horizontal or landscape orientation

Of the complete software, best suited to work in landscape mode, 480h320 support Kinoma Player video player and Web browser Web Pro. If the program does not work on the abilities of full-screen, then "opened" state of extra space automatically has a virtual Graffiti area, which can not be removed, so with this software works better on a square screen, when the PDA is folded. I think that third-party developers will soon issue a software for TT3 is resolved and there will be an application adapted to work on hi-res + in a horizontal orientation. Now let's talk about the characteristics of the display. Its size is 2.2h2.2''in "folded" state and 2.2h3.25''- a "disclosure". It is easy to calculate the diagonal - 3,9'', which is even larger than that of Sony's NX series and NZ. Pixel size - 0,17 mm. If we compare models of line screens Tungsten'ov area, then the T3 it's nearly 1.4 times greater than that of T2.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 the display T3 was 77.4 cd/m2. For comparison, the closest in brightness to T3 are the HP iPAQ h3970, ASUS A620 and Rover PC P3 +. Illumination is not so bright as that of T2, but a bit brighter than the Zire 71. As with all the latest models of Palm Inc., Display backlight does not turn off. Minimum level of brightness in this case is 15Kd/m2 (like Sony PEG-TG50). Even this level of brightness can quite comfortably take in information from the display: to read e-books and watch videos. This is explained by the type of transflective backlight, which provides high contrast images (close to one) while working in an office or public transport. With work on the street, like all of transflective displays, the situation is worse, but you can still read without too much stress.

Pro Design

Housing

Corpus, in contrast to previous models series Tungsten, is made in the light-steel range. Moreover, made, apparently, out of some aluminum alloy. The dimensions of the new T3 not coincide with the size of its predecessor, T2. Beginner bit longer - 109mm (132mm - unencrypted) vs. 102 (123mm) at T2, wider - 76mm vs. 75mm and thickness - 16.7 mm versus 14.8 mm, but a little lighter - 153g against 158g. Taking a T3 or T2 in hand, you will not feel much difference. Despite the slight variations in size, the controls have a new computer are the same place where his predecessor. On the left sidebar you can find headphone jack, microphone and button on the recorder, which was slightly larger and more convenient. Of course, immutable Universal Palm Connector on the bottom ... Power button, a slot for memory card format MMC and SD with SDIO support and excellent telescopic stylus with spring-loaded mechanism for the spreads. This is perhaps the most successful to date, construction of a stylus.

Navigation button

Another striking difference between T3 from T2 - a navigation button and call button applications. If before they were placed in a line, the T3 is the main place the modified navigation button, and already around in circles are the remaining buttons. The navigation button has become more and has an oval shape, and application buttons are slightly bent. The whole design was similar to the control panel for a gaming console. In principle, sufficiently well thought-out ergonomics, navigation button listens well, and on the application buttons to press has become much easier. All control is implemented on the Pocket PC so that you can operate with one hand.The navigation button is used not only for movement on the menu, but also to run the various functions of an application. For example, if you hold it for 2-3 seconds, then will return to the list of applications. If a Contacts click on the right side of the navigation buttons, then calls the function search, which also can be controlled with a joystick. In that case, if the computer is off, short press the center navigation button will cause information about the date and time. And there are nuances of management in TT3 enough.

In the box

Inside the box, which comes PDA, you can find the standard "palmovsky" cradle connector for the power adapter, in fact, he network adapter cap to protect the screen, two CDs with software (one for Mac, the second - for Windows), two descriptions , stickers, graffiti and warranty. It is unfortunate that on the computer chassis slot No power adapter - will have to carry a cradle or buy a special cable to Palm connector. Instead of the usual clear plastic lid with holes for the buttons, which were completed T and T2, with a new device comes suede "cap" (well, we have no analogue in the language of normal leather screen cover:), which is fastened to the rear of the enclosure. The solution, in my view, questionable, removable plastic cap was still more convenient.

Of text input

Do TT3 no compulsory physical graffiti. Now, as handhelds and Sony, have cars, there is only a virtual handwriting area, which can be both right-and left-hand side of the display for landscape orientation, or at the bottom of the display when you book. Typing in three ways: using the virtual keyboard, using the classical virtual graffiti area (with flash icons on the sides) and with a new three-zone area of ​​graffiti in which to enter numbers, uppercase and uppercase letters, there are separate areas. That is, the choice has just two virtual graffiti area. True, the keyboard is also not one, but in fact five: to enter numbers and special characters for uppercase letters to uppercase and another two for the upper and lower case with the national alphabet. In addition, if needed, you can write and the entire surface of the display, but more on that below.

About the status bar

This is another innovation. For the convenience of all the most commonly used features a computer made by a special panel, called the status bar or status bar. This socket looks like a thin strip at the edge of the screen (the bottom or side, depending on the orientation of the display), and in most applications will not retract. We consider it more closely.

• The first icon in the form of a house - a button to call the application list, pressing it again cyclically switches between categories of applications. Press once - got in common, the second - in the game, and so on, until we returned to the first category. If you click on the icon and hold for a second, then a list of the last six applications. Sound familiar? Very similar to Windows XP:)

• The second icon - this is the standard search function
• The third - to call the application menu
• Fourth - system information. At this function in more detail. If you click on this icon, the screen appears with the following system information: battery level (in percent), free internal memory and external memory card (also in percentage), switch the backlight display and sound mode selection. Brightness switch has 25 positions, which is significantly greater than that of T2 or models from Sony, which is usually 16 levels. Switch is an audio mode will allow the CPC to operate: the user, and vibrorezhime mode without sound.

• The fifth icon - a challenge to the manager of reminders, which contains information about all the reminders, user-defined in the standard PIM-applications (Calendar, Note Pad, Tasks), Word Clock program and recorded with the recorder, Voice Memo.

• Sixth icon - this menu is the wireless Bluetooth. In this menu you can enable or disable the wireless adapter and set the search "sinezubyh" brethren. For example, to connect the "friendly" phone Siemens S55 managed without difficulty.

• The seventh icon - this option is set the ink in any area of ​​the display - a new proprietary feature, which can not boast of computers by Sony and Palm which can rightly be proud of. In this mode, the letters and characters can be entered in any area of ​​the screen - they will be recognized as well as graffiti. In fact, the display turns into a region of graffiti. True, when you enter must comply with certain rules. If you mentally divide the screen into two vertical parts, then the right, you can write numbers, and the left - the capital letters. At the border as these two areas - capital.

• The eighth icon - switch portrait or landscape mode

• Ninth - to display the input area. And when the computer is in the folded state (320x320), the input area is displayed. If you hold the stylus on this icon for a second, then a list of virtual input panel (classic graffiti, graffiti, and three-band keyboard).

List of virtual input panel appears in the lower right corner ...

Because of the presence of a permanent status bar the actual display area is the size of 320h448, not 320x480. However, some programs (Player Kinoma) can not display it, so the movies you watch with a resolution 480h320. In addition, there is no doubt that in the near future there will be programs from third-party manufacturers who will "hide" the status bar by the user.

About keyboard lock

The computer has the keypad is locked. Those who thought that Palm risen to the button "hold (like Sony) I hasten to disappoint - there is no dedicated button to disable the keyboard do not." Software only solution, and should prevent you from accidentally turning on the computer during transport. The menu Prefs / Keylock, you can choose the type of work Block: "never", "switch" (as soon turn off the computer) and in manual mode (lock activated by holding the power button for 2 seconds). After blocking the computer will not respond to keystrokes. To spice up the CCP need to turn on the power and confirm the unlock button on the display.

Tungsten T3: program lock keys - Keylock

This solution loses the above button "hold", because it turns off the computer and listen to music at aktivironnom lock mode with the screen becomes impossible. However, there is an important fact. The emergence of Keylock - already a huge step to the user.

Of iron

Processor

Processor our hero is the same as with most Pocket Pc - Intel XScale PXA processor with a clock frequency of 400MHz.

Memory

Your computer uses 64MB of SDRAM memory, from which the user is available only 52Mb. This is the second handheld computer company Palm, which cnabzhen as bulk memory.

Communication capabilities

TT3 is equipped with wireless Bluetooth Class 1, which allows you to connect to other devices that connect to the Internet using a mobile phone with GPRS, send SMS messages and dial phone numbers from the phone book (if your phone is connected). Connection Manager determines the type of device connected to the Bluetooth-adapter. You can also make wireless synchronization (HotSync) with a desktop computer (if your PC is, of course, there's Bluetooth:).

About battery life

TT3 charging about 2 hours - at least so says instruction to the machine. In reality, to understand charge your T3 or not is impossible. Firstly, there is no light indicating a full charge. If you connect the power adapter, the indicator on the computer will glow green in any case and in 2 hours, and 10. Secondly, the battery indicator in the menu system information reaches 100% within a few minutes, but somehow hard to believe that Li-Ion Polymer battery is recharged in 5 minutes. Through experimental testing we found out that to fully charge your computer is really just two hours. Longer "feeding" has not led to an increase in battery life.The latter was measured by a standard technique in several modes:

• in read mode program MobiPocket Reader with automatic scrolling speeds 26-28 characters per second
• during playback of mp3 files from the memory card program RealOne Player (display off)
• a video playback program Kinoma Player (320x320) test movie with a flow 640Kbit / s of memory.

While working in all modes was measured before the first warning. According to the charging indicator, the first signal of the battery pack comes with a 20% capacity. When compared to T2, while audio playback is exactly the same, but on the part of the video playing and reading rates below T3. The reason is, apparently, quite a powerful processor. That is, if it were possible to force the lower the frequency of the processor! After all, if you think, then, by and large, 400MHz processor such CCP does not particularly needed.

About performance

Productivity at work was measured with a video already have become the standard for HPCru by using the built-in ROM program Kinoma Player. Here and found the first difference of the new player, Kinoma 2.0 from the old 1.5.1. The results did not exceed 100 frames per second, which is two times lower than that of T2. Immediately the question arose: what about the vaunted Intel Xscale with a maximum megahertz? Everything was simple enough. Test Kinoma 2.0 differs from the similar test in version 1.5.1. Put a new player to the old T2 and Tungsten C, to compare the data was not possible. It turns out that version 2.0 is only supported by new palm (Tungsten E and T3). Had to put Kinoma 1.5.1 on a new computer. Only then is given a quite reasonable results. Performance T3 is almost twice higher than that of T2, but 30% lower than that of Tungsten C. Difference between T3 and TC hard to explain - seems to be the same processor and memory is almost the same. It seems that the implementation still varies, and in creating T3 developers somewhere saved. Synthetic test results Benchmark 2.0 show 539%, which is twice his own data for TE.

Pro software

The operating system version of the "third" is the same as that of the "second" - Palm OS 5.2.1, although with slight modifications. First, the changed set of software, stitched into the ROM, and secondly, have changed themselves PIM-program. To be precise, we changed the concept and the name of PIM-apps (contacts, calendar, tasks, memos) - they have become more similar to the corresponding utility Pocket PC. So the program Tasks (formerly To Do List) has acquired a new, similar to the Pocket PC appearance, but the job got time frame. In the Contacts (Address) the opportunity to record several addresses including web, and birthdays are automatically displayed in the Calendar (Date Book). The very same calendar can now display the entire weight of the year, and is very similar to Pocket Pc counterparts. Size of records in the Memo (Memo Pad) is no longer limited to four kilobytes (new limit - 32Kb). In addition, PIM applications can sync with the program Outlook (can not praise the Palm for their attention to multi-million users of the program), and about the Palm Desktop can be forgotten. However, in this case will need to install Microsoft Outlook Conduits with supplied with a computer disk. Do not know the approach the developers Pocket PC? In general, it is not surprising. Software product user chooses, and you become accustomed to Microsoft. Changes affected the programs and Documents-to-Go, which (according to representatives of the developers) can work with Microsoft Office documents without any additional conversion (full native file support). The files can be obtained by mail wirelessly or read from the memory card. Unfortunately nothing is absolutely perfect does not happen - in the testing process sometimes had issues with the display of some office files when reading from a memory card. It seems that these errors Palm eventually fix, just do not need to hurry. So, in Rom sewn following the program. Main: Quick Tour 2.0, Calculator 4.5.2, Calendar 1.0, Contacts 1.0.1, Dialer 2.0.1, Documents-to-go 6.002, Expense 4.5.1, Kinoma Player 2.0, Memos 1.0, Note Pad 2.2.1, Phone Link 1.3, Photos 1.1.0.20, SMS 4.5.1, Tasks 1.0, Versa Mail 2.6.1, Voice Memo 1.2, Word Clock 1.0.2. Multimedia: RealOne Player 1.1.0 System: Card Info 4.5.1, HotSync 5.0, Preferences 1.3 Additional software: BlueBoard, BlueChat, Palm Reader 1.2.8, Palm Web Pro - web browser, Adobe Reader, Java Micro Edition - for run java applications, PowerOne Calculator, Kinoma Producer 2.0 - a program to convert movies into MPEG-1, QuickTime, AVI into a format understandable to Kinoma Player and toy Handmark Solitaire.

Of Russification

Localization program was MacCentre PaPiRus 2003, which enables you to work with the Russian language, adapting the system installation PDAs for Russia and Russian software recognizes handwriting. In addition, first implemented Russification of the virtual keyboard. During testing on our guinea was installed lightweight version without interface translation, and embedded applications. Complete edition localization has been released, Mobility MakTsentr Elaborations on Friday, October 24. The new version of the program: