As you know, a catalyst for development of data services in cellular networks has been the spread of the protocol WAP. However, in this review, we did not consider the services of WAP (with one exception), and focused on systems that imply the presence of a terminal - a laptop PC or hand-organizer. The reason for this decision is simple - WAP, despite its popularity, it's just one of the possibilities that open up to the user "mobile Internet" (we will later prepare a review of services WAP). Essentially, WAP - it is simply a marketing technique that allows operators to attract the attention of users to data services (up - lower prices, which makes "mobile Internet" available to any user of cellular "tube").
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We have considered the means of working with GSM, the most common and inexpensive, and one of the purposes of our review was to establish some basis for comparison of new technologies that in the near future, according to telecom operators, will be available to consumers. As practice shows, the idea of "mobile Internet attracts users with the ability to have constant access to their e-mail. Image of Web and retrieve information from the web - an important task, but as practice shows, not determined. However, users are available to almost any means of the Internet - to view the Web (HTML and WML), exchange of electronic correspondence, teleconferencing and instant messaging, file sharing, terminal access, etc. The problem of connecting to the Internet via the GSM network has several aspects: the organization of connections from by the operator, the interaction between the device and data terminal and the terminal capabilities in terms of compatibility with current Internet standards. Subtleties enough at each stage. Specifics of working with "mobile Internet" is the lowest data rate and high cost of minute of connection. Speed usually is 9,6 kbit / c, in principle, there is an opportunity to raise it up to 14.4 kbit / s or higher (using multiple channels of standard GSM; such funds are provided in some "tubes"), but at the time of our Test no Russian operator does not provide such services. Because of the limited connection speeds dramatically increased demands for efficiency and functionality of the device, which is used for work on the web. For example, once it becomes apparent inefficiency of postal packages, like OutLook, download e-mail entirely, not least by providing opportunities to see the topics and senders of letters to download them.
GSM operators
Typically, a user who looks closely to data services, already has some sort of "tube" and is working with a particular operator. Both GSM operator in Moscow provide approximately the same level of cost and availability of services, so I was not advisable until the operator (this can be thought later, when the commercial operation of the network will be launched GPRS). There is also another question - what services provider to use. You can connect via the cellular network to a provider of "ordinary" Internet, but mobile operators "in combination" play the role of ISPs for their subscribers. Using "normal» ISP, will have to pay twice - and for the communication time in a cellular network, and during the connection to the Internet, but the answer to the question "How to" is not as obvious as it might seem. "Ordinary» ISP often have a high-speed communication channels with the Internet, making response time to requests for they may be smaller than a cellular network operator, and hence the time spent on the Internet, may be reduced. But, as shown by our tests, in practice the difference in speed is particularly not, so we advise to use the services of the operator GSM.
Mobile TeleSystems
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Terms of service connection data in the network company Mobile Telesystems »(www.mts.ru) are simple - you need to declare their wish to the operator. This can be done in the office, and "own hands", using a system of ACCA (Automatic System Customer Service) or ICS (Internet Customer Service System "). Cost of service connection is $ 0, and almost regardless of the tariff plan. MTS offers a relatively inexpensive service and in terms of communication costs. The operator provides access to the Internet (number 0885), cost per minute depends on the time interval (from 8:01 to 21:00, with 21:01 to 0:00, with 0:01 to 06.00 and from 06.01 to 08.00). Happy minute price of the Internet (with no accounting of 20% VAT and 4% sales tax) to the number of "their" Internet service provider is U.S. $ 0.24, under number 0885 - 0,15 USD . in the morning - 0,15 (in "his") or 0,1 dollars (operator), at night - to $ 0.03, regardless of whether the subscriber uses the services of MTS or "their" provider. As part of "Mobile Office" You can buy a separate room for data (this is more convenient because it ensures a reliable identification of the types of calls to the room) or use an existing mobile phone number. The network company Mobile TeleSystems is not envisaged the possibility of increasing the speed of communication. Also, not very good solution is the lack of a special "Morning" Rate. However, this network offers attractive prices, given the special rates for night screenings (as practice shows, users prefer to "look into the Internet" in the evening), and has a clear perspective of development (already announced plans to introduce standard GPRS).
BeeLine
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User who plans to use the services of data transmission network Vimpelcom (BeeLine », www.beelinegsm.ru), you must purchase a separate phone number (or direct Moscow connection" HELLO "on a code 8-901). How to connect services usually implies the need to visit the company's office. Number of "prescribed" in SIM-card with the "voice" the number, working with data (receive) "transparent" to the user. Connecting rooms for data transmission to the network at the time of our tests, it was free, the extra room ("curve") are sometimes charged a guarantee fee (depending on your plan, in addition, the fee will be charged if the subscriber has already introduced a certain amount for one of the services voice, data or fax). Users have access to the Internet by number 675. Price without VAT and sales tax on airtime minute (local) from 00:00 to 06:00 is 0.05 dollars, from 06:00 to 08:00 - 0,1 dollars, from 08:00 to 21:00 - 0.15 dollars, and from 21:00 to 00.00 - U.S. $ 0.1 Conditions Beeline for today is somewhat more complicated, but essentially little different from those of MTS (eliminating the need to visit the service center or office). Subscribers who already use the services of this company it makes little sense to change the operator, since the effort and cost of such a transition may not be commensurate with the cost of connecting to data services in "their" network.
Phones
Samsung SGH-A100
Samsung SGH-A100 ($ 390), quite unexpectedly became the winner of our tests. This is all the more amazing that we had originally not even supposed to test the device.
Samsung SGH-A100 supports the work in 900/1800 MHz bands, at first glance it looks like a "shell» Motorola StarTac, but has a slightly more angular body. Product affects not only its own parameters (frankly, not-art, for example, there is no WAP), as practicality. It is obvious that the designers did not chase fashion, thinking "what should be a user in this life? Provided the classic attributes of a phone that can be attributed to a "business class" - a vibrate mode, voice dialing, an organizer, a few tunes, etc. In this unit supplied power adapter, headset (earphones and microphone) and an extra battery.
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The phone has a very comfortable keyboard and screen contrast (with a resolution of 128x64, shows four lines of text and a row of icons). We noted that the flap can not please everyone, but such a design would solve the problem place the IR port, which is located on the front panel of the product, so you can work with a set of PDA (Palm) and the Samsung SGH-A100 by weight (the size of the phone - 80CH42CH22 mm, weight - 95 g with a "slim" battery). In standby mode, the product operates up to 70 hours (with the "standard" battery) Talk time - 3.5 hours in operation with the Internet - 2,9 hours, in "real life" - 70 h. In addition, despite external elegance and fragility, he successfully withstood the test of our strength - he threw on a concrete floor, and then test (weighing over 100 kg) was advancing on the device (open state). Samsung SGH-A100 - very interesting "modem". The absence of some fashionable nowadays functions (WAP) pays the convenience and quality. The relatively high cost of this device is fully justified, as the consumer not only gets the "tube", but also a set of accessories.
Ericsson R320s
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Ericsson R320s (390 dollars) - one of the novelties of the company Ericsson - is an attempt to cross a WAP-terminal (which, obviously, could compete with Nokia 7110) with normal cellular "pipe". In non-standard product dimensions and strange design, but it provides all the necessary tools to work with the Internet. First impression - the device is cumbersome. However, this does not apply to its depths - R320 looks like a flat and fairly thick metal plate. Striving for compact size, the designers focused on reducing only one measurement, and eventually created something unwieldy. The screen can accommodate five lines of text, but the menu seemed to us uncomfortable (besides, there are annoying pauses when you move the cursor). In combination with a lithium-ion battery operated device (standby) 60-70 hours, talk time - about 2,5 hours, in the "Internet" - 1,7-2 hours, "real work" - up to 50 hours . We noted no significant problems in using the device in the "cellular modem. In general, a full-fledged "cellular modem, but its unusual dimensions and some slowness when using the menu may not appeal to many users.
Timeport P7389
Motorola Timeport P7389 (310 dollars) - a compact and easy to use phone, which may be the best "cellular modem" for many users.It is designed to work in the tri-band, 900/1800 and 1900 MHz. Sleek, compact and stylish phone can be worn in a shirt pocket, the small screen is quite sufficient for the "tube", and the battery provides long-term work. Unit size - 130x45x21, weight - 108 g (with standard battery). In accordance with the specification, it operates up to 150 hours standby and 250 minutes of talk time, in the "Internet", he scored 2.1 h, the test of "real work", he operated 90 hours, data transfer speed of the device is up to 14 4 kbit / c, it works fine as a modem. We did not notice any problems when working with any IR port of the PC or the handheld PC. Motorola Timeport P7389 - it's inexpensive and successful device that provides Internet access in all continents except Antarctica.
Siemens S35i
This "dual-band" device, in our view, represents an almost perfect "cell modem". It is compact, unpretentious (some exceptions) and provides very good uptime. The main feature of the Siemens S35i ($ 330) - built-in antenna. Despite the widespread belief that this design reduces the quality of signal reception, we did not notice any problems (the device managed to work even in the classical test application, being in a metal container, tightly closed lid). Size Siemens S35i - 118x46x21 mm, weight - 1999 The device fits in the palm, and Palm users can work with a set of weight on (the designers placed the IR port at the side a bit, so while the Palm is in the palm of your hand, "tube" can be put on your fingers). The battery unit provides normal operation in the standby mode up to 220 hours, talk time - 6 hours on the Internet - up to 2,7-3 h, in "real life" - up to 150 h. It is not so great, how "roomy" screen (up to 7 lines of 16 characters) with a resolution of 101x80, easy menus, good software (we did not observe any breaks). Maximum speed network connection is 9,6 kbit / c, in our tests, we are not faced with any difficulty (except for that to work with Psion user will need to install the "system update", but it is rather a problem of Psion, rather than Siemens S35i; the same "upgrade" to resolve an issue of compatibility with other Psion phones). Siemens S35i - the perfect device. which provides excellent ergonomics, a safe and comfortable design, but its price seemed to us somewhat overestimated.
Nokia 7110
The manufacturer explicitly defines this device as an "information hub" because it has a huge (by the standards of mobile "tubes") screen. This model is relatively large and has family characteristics "tubes» Nokia. Curved "profile", movable cover, whether some awkwardness, whether outlines of heaviness ... However, Nokia 7110 (320 dollars) in practice was quite a practical product, but bulky and oddly placed IR port, it has no flaws.
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The cover, which protects the keyboard. is "active" element of design, opened it, the user starts the conversation. Manipulator NaviRoller, which is a roller scroll bar lets you move the cursor to the menu - alas, the developers of the company not agreed to the scrolling speed and movement of the cursor (the cursor "late"). Nokia 7110 Size - 125x53x24 mm, weight - 141 grams (with standard battery). The screen is about 40% higher than that of the average "tube", but we noticed very large pixels (at a resolution of 95x65 developers solved the problem of increasing the screen size increases for each pixel), but in our tests did not play a role. Not the best solution should be recognized and placement of the IR port on the front, next to the antenna. User who plans to work with the Internet, it is necessary fairly to experiment.To find a convenient location devices, in addition, "tube" will have to turn and look at the screen upside down uncomfortable. In accordance with the specifications in the standby mode (with standard battery) phone running on batteries to 55-260 hours in talk mode - 2,5-4,5 h, mode to the Internet (according to our estimates) - 1,7 -2 h, in "real life" - 170 h. The device allows data transmission at speeds up to 14.4 kbit / c, but we felt it in the mode of 9.6 kbit / c. We noted no significant problems, except that it was very sensitive to the position of the infrared port. Users of systems with Windows CE 2.0/2.11 will find on Web-site manufacturer's utility that will turn the infrared port to a serial port, but this problem is Windows CE, and the availability of such tools - an important advantage of the device. Nokia 7110 - a product which focuses on work in the mode of WAP-browser tools to work with external terminals and use it not as a standalone WAP-terminal and a modem can be difficult.
PalmOS
This OS was originally geared to only one function associated with communications - sync with your desktop PC. Palm concept as "the connected (to PC, ca. Edition) organizer" has led to what for turning the device "communicator" will have to seriously engage in finding, installing and configuring third-party software manufacturers. As a platform for communication PalmOS has many disadvantages. Microscopic screen devices limits the apparent size of helpful information, Palm CPU power is not even enough to unpack the images JPEG (and not by accident recently gained popularity are numerous programs to overclock the CPU palm does), single-tasking operating system means that a user at one time can work with one program - it is impossible to "leave" the browser to open a complex Web-page, start the process of retrieving e-mail, and at this time to view the conference USENET (however, some utilities may run in the background). Lack of file system PalmOS nullifying the opportunity of working with attachments, the maximum that can expect a user - Preview. Specifics of the OS forces the user to explore the many nuances - for example, the standard tools for working with the phone via IrDA available only in PalmOS, starting with version 3.3, users of PalmOS 3.1 (a lot of them, since according to various estimates, only 10% of users update their version of the OS after purchase device in addition, this version is used in the expandable organizer »Visor) to find and install additional system utilities. Pluses PalmOS platform rather related to its compactness, rather than with functionality. With a Palm and a cell phone, you can create portable Internet terminal, which can carry almost anywhere. Depending on your Palm and the phone will not exceed the total mass of 500 g. Modern Palm clones in terms of working in the "Communicator" superior "original" model. We recommend the Visor Deluxe or TRGPro, as they are capacious (8 MB) of RAM, the use of additional memory (brand cartridge flash memory Visor or CompactFlash card in TRGPro) and can operate from one set of batteries for about a month. Palm IIIc color device you should not even be considered - of course, on its color screen, nice to surf the web, but this model has very limited battery life. Users who are willing to sacrifice expandability for the benefit of compactness, we can recommend the Palm Vx, a miniature model at the moment Palm, which also has 8 MB of RAM and a minimum amount of flash memory. Despite the use of batteries in standalone mode, Palm Vx running about a week and half.
E-mail
Work with email, as well as other communication medium PalmOS, associated with a sufficiently large number of subtleties.Standard Mail program in essence is not a full-fledged client utilities POP3/SMTP/IMAP4, is nothing more than a text editor to prepare messages that are in the process of exchanging data with the PC are transferred into a full e-mail system works (OutLook, The Bat!, Netscape Comunicator and etc.), hence the correspondent reported. However, the distribution of Palm created a demand for e-mail programs, and today there are about a dozen utilities have set up independent companies that can be used to work with email in the medium PalmOS. We reviewed the utility MultiMail Pro 3.0, HandMail 2.0, ProxiMail 1.0, One Touch Communicator, MSGAgent 1.0 and Eudora Internet Suite 1.1 and realized that none of them can not be called until a full system to work with email. Even the best of them are very far from ideal for the simple reason that. usually have problems with cyrillic encodings, attached documents, and sometimes reliability. Note that we do not recommend switching means encoding the crack in the preparation of reports, since, as a rule, the program is rigidly tied to a particular encoding (eg, ISO-8859-1), for example, a package OutLook Express displays a message to the classic "krakozyabrami. Switch encoding, of course, the problem is not, but not every modern Internet user (alas) is aware of the existence of coding ... In addition, it is easy to imagine how would eventually look like the message, which was originally passed in KOI-8 encoding when a user tries to view it on the assumption that the encoding Windows 1251 (in addition, the route the message may well be some recoding the server). Here it makes sense to use a special recoding utility (we recommend "Kodar, see the review of the Utilities for PDA» in PC Magazine / RE). As a result, we encourage you to pay attention to the program MultiMail Pro, HandMail, MSGAgent and ProxyMail. Choose from them any one is almost impossible, because each has strengths and weaknesses. Utility work with email in the PalmOS can be attributed to one of the groups: the first - a complete system that contains a full set of features, from the preparation of reports before they are processed, and the second - systems that use the utility as the editor of the Palm Mail messages, allowing only the exchange of them to the server. In principle, there is no problem, with one exception - the maximum size of messages in the standard Palm Mail utility is 8 Kbytes, respectively, the user can not work with longer messages (and attachments). The "full" utility size of the message, too, is usually limited, due to the nature PalmOS, message size, depending on the program ranges from 256 KB to 2 MB. In addition, they differ on how to handle the content account. Limited resources, Palm has caused the invention of numerous methods for previewing the contents of the mail server. The most obvious - is used, for example, in the utility HandMail - is a procedure to copy from the server a complete list of posts from which the user can then mark the right to copy them are already full. Plus, this approach - an opportunity not "pollute" the mailbox on the Palm is certainly unnecessary information, minus - the device is copied a complete list of posts and their titles, which leads to a noticeable pause in work and wastage (for HandMail, for example, it takes about 20 - 40). Another method is to copy only the message headers, with minimal information about the address, subject, etc. Opening the message, the user is viewing a title and if necessary extracts the contents of the letter entirely. Plus concept - the convenience and visibility of, in addition, it is possible to simplify the work in batch mode (the user can "start the process" and not be distracted), minus - a pause at the moment retrieve a list of letters and an increase in unproductive expenditure, as in the case where the user is disconnected the network will have to reconnect, and it takes about 20 seconds.In addition, there are intermediate methods, such as utility ProxiMail user copies from the server, being able to specify a maximum size of one letter (it is obvious that removing 0.5 kb from the beginning of the message, the user actually looks at the title). MultiMail Pro 3.1 - the most powerful, but somewhat awkward package. It provides a basic means of message handling, and many features not found in other systems. Package designed to work with servers POP3/SMTP/IMAP and NNTP, message processing size of 2 MB, is integrated with the Address Book Palm. Setting up is very similar to configuring a conventional client software POP3/IMAP, in addition, there is a special "Wizard" to configure. The package is very similar in functionality to client programs for Windows, so the specific problems in working with him is not marked. Of the minuses can be noted is impossible (or very important "non-obviousness") procedures to copy messages from several accounts: the user will have consistently open them. "Ridge" of the program - a means of processing attachments. This is the only tool that basically allows you to handle, for example, attachments for Word, as stated in the advertisement. But practice has shown that "processing means" is usually limited to the extraction of the file and launch a separate viewer (in this case would have to use the program DocumentsToGo), but even so, Cyrillic utility "does not understand." Striving to create an analog desktop package with electronic correspondence has brought developers, and for another reason - the user interface package with numerous buttons, lists, etc. are too shallow for the screen Palm. This is a matter of preference, but to work with the program without the stylus is almost impossible. In addition, we noted several errors, such a strange message about the lack of "disk space for temporary files" (literally) when you try to send mail. As we know, Palm has no drive, but even assuming that the developers had in mind the lack of available memory, you will notice that in the presence of 857 KB of free RAM, this situation is unacceptable. We had to remove several programs (a total of about 300 Kb) and only after this operation is completed normally. All of the above does not allow us to recommend this program. Power of this utility turns cumbersome (taking into account additional routines, it takes approximately 320 KB of memory), the crude concept of the program means downtime, it is a relatively expensive commercial program, and a mechanism to handle attached files is almost useless for the "Cyrillic" users. Program HandMail 2.0, in fact, similar to a simplified and compact version MultiMail Pro. This utility has the tools for working with e-mail in the style of the standard client POP3, but it does not have separate functions (means of integration with third-party software developers), rudimentary and not very workable means for processing the attached documents (the maximum size is 55 Kbytes), but it noticeably leaner and more stable than MultiMail. Designed to work with multiple accounts, the application of rules for processing messages, the ability to preview titles and mark only the required (you can remove messages from the server) to prepare a signature, change the sorting, etc. Despite the fact that it's not compatible with the IMAP4 protocol and NNTP, and is a commercial program, HandMail include virtually the best option for those users who are looking for a workable and easy program to work with email and understand the nature of restrictions on the platform. Package MSGAgent, created by Japanese author, - a tool unique in the sense that the developer provided a means of working with different encodings. It correctly handles the field "code," providing the opportunity to set a different code tables, among them, and Windows 1251 (alas, KOI-8). This package is based on the metaphor of "sync" operations instead of the Send and Get, he uses only one - Sync.And once for all accounts, on the one hand, it makes it easier (no need to repeat the operation timing of N, where N - number of accounts), but on the other - can not handle them separately - this creates problems when a user eg trying to see new messages in your "mailbox" to whom the list of accounts has an entry in the server USENET. In this case, the system tries to copy the headers of messages from the conference (or their full text, depending on configuration) and then view the account POP3. The user can interrupt the process with a specific server, then the system moves to the next, but at a relatively constant work is inconvenient. In addition, we noted a certain slowness of the program - some operations take clearly more time than you need to copy messages (for example, after we have copied the message size of 70 Kbytes, the process of its entry into the database program took about one and a half times longer) . But this is a very interesting program, which has meaning for those who work with lots of small messages. Package ProxiMail has no proper means of preparation of reports and allows you to only share them with the server. User prepares a letter in a standard program Palm Mail, then launched a utility to transfer them to your server. It has tools for working with multiple mailboxes, resources configuration, retrieval of certain letters, about correctly handles the field "code" (it is ignored, the answer to the question "What is the encoding, left messages to the recipient). In addition, a non-profit utility, extremely fast and compact; interface Mail, as well as other standard utilities Palm, very convenient. But work with it may seem inexperienced difficult - in the body, which is passed to the Mail, and is a system information, the presence of which interferes with the perception of the essence of writing.
Web
Tools to work with the Web in the PalmOS environment is extremely limited - there are several browsers, but some of them did not develop (HandWeb), while others retain the status of pre-release versions. Software developers do not exhibit particular activity, because the Web browsing on-screen Palm - occupation, to which can be solved only when no other options. Today, much more popular "semi-autonomous" methods, such as "channels" package AvantGo, when a user downloads information from the network and view it offline. In other words, for a full-fledged Web browser, the user can use only one browser - ProxiWeb. This is a very original program. One major problem Palm - viewing conventional Web-pages is nearly impossible due to the microscopic (in comparison, even with a 14-inch monitor) screen, low-power CPUs and limited memory. There are several options - give up the pictures and display only the text or use the services of proxy server, which will be on the fly to convert Web-pages and images into a format that is able to display the Palm. ProxiWeb provides nearly full (black and white) to access Web-sites that can view text, images, working with nodes that use a relatively complex design. Program is quite compact, but, you guessed it, stored in the cache, Web-pages take a lot of places, even taking into account their "optimization". Installing this system requires registration with the network ProxiNet, because it is designed to work with their own proxy servers (its address is also in package). In addition to the executable file the user will need an account on this site. Registration is free, the user name and password to be used in the configuration dialog. Making Web-pages in the medium ProxiWeb, perhaps, is the maximum of what can be achieved at the Palm. We planned to test the program a standard test for determining the features of the browser, which is included in i-Bench, but in the early stages it became obvious futility of this idea - the program is compatible with the standard HTML 3.2 by about 10%. But it is comfortable (the developers have provided a lot of things - for example, the ability to enter abbreviations such as www.,. Com, etc.) and allows you to view Web.
WAP
In a medium PalmOS users, in principle, can work with multiple browsers WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). Despite the fact that there is a standard browser Web, the availability of programs to work with WAP could be very useful because they provide several important functions (eg, scripts), in addition, today many major Web-sites have started to create their own WAP-sites ( even Russian), which offers a full range of services. But none of the popular WAP-browser for PalmOS - we reviewed the program and WAPman KBrowser - not compatible with cyrillic.
Additional services
Devotees of Palm can use the popular "ICQ". We investigated the version 1.0.2, which provided almost a standard set of functions. This utility, size 100 KB, very similar to the Windows-version of this package, but can not register the new number UIN - when registering online user should note existing UIN. The system is functioning properly, problems (with either her or Cyrillic), we did not observe. As shown, the program is very dependent on the stability of the connection, the slightest delay means disconnecting from the network. In addition, there is a version of the program AOL Instant Messenger, but given the relatively low prevalence of this package in Russia, we did not investigate it. For Palm there is a client program FTP, lFTP, which is either out of boredom, or for educational purposes has developed a French student. It represents almost a full-featured package that works in command line mode. You can view the directory specified FTP-server, find the required files, edit the copy mode (ASCII or binary) and run the backup process. In addition to FTP-client and there are several programs of client Telnet. In our opinion, the best of them - Online. This package can operate in a normal terminal (via serial port) and mode Telnet. It provides a complete set of tools from the command input and display the results to the capabilities to run applications on the server (for example, Midnight Commander). Less of this program - some inconvenience of work because the screen is logically composed of several fragments, each of which represents a quarter of the full screen, the user has to constantly watch one of them, then another. We found even the remote control system for the PC, like Citrix or Microoft Terminal Server. Client software package VNC (server component runs on Windows 95/98/NT/2000), in principle, allows to work with applications on your PC, such as Palm, you can run Internet Explorer or Microsoft Office. Very interesting system, which, however, like any other program of its kind, placing increased demands on the connection speed (actually, in a cellular network, the program practically does not work, at least it's quite inefficient).
EPOC
EPOC platform better than others "compatible" with the Internet. Maybe because EPOC32 originally (many years ago) was designed as an OS for your device, in addition, an efficient and stable system. Disadvantages in terms of mode device with EPOC little and they are associated mainly with the application software. The specifics of this platform is that it is largely oriented to work offline (when the PDA connects to the PC is relatively rare). In ROM devices "stitched" virtually complete application software, from word processing to e-mail processing software, and office suites are generally very similar to the "standard" program of Microsoft Office. However, "like" and "compatible" - the concepts are different and the program Psion does not allow you to open the files Microsoft Office (the compatibility only with the format of RTF). Convert image files to Word and Excel is performed only when working with the utility PsiWin on a desktop PC, but for a device, users who can. For example, faced with the need to view (at least) the attached documents Office - this is not enough.Of course, the speed of modern mobile Internet does not mean handling multi-megabyte files, and the inability to convert "the device" is a certain difficulty (there are some promising programs that provide a view of individual sizes, but bring their own problems. For example the processing of Cyrillic). View the Web on the black and white screen with a resolution of "half-VGA», of course, nothing spectacular promises, but it is a perfectly acceptable method for extracting information. Plus Psion much more. It's compact and fast running, with excellent mechanism for multi-tasking and minimal response time. The user can run dozens of applications simultaneously and do not feel the slightest delay when working with one of them. In our tests, we simultaneously open 12 browser windows, e-mail program "ICQ", a communication session with the server FTP, which triggers the copying of files, and the system worked correctly, it seems, from the viewpoint of the OS is not the limit, but in this case, the rate work is limited by the communication channel. User-friendly keyboard allows you to comfortably handle the e-mail and chat with reporters, "ICQ". The device is relatively compact (and there are quite a miniature model, Revo). The presence of a normal file system allows not to worry about handling "investments", as a minimum, maintain a separate file and can view them. In the Psion has a unique feature of screen zoom, allowing users to touch onscreen icons to change the font size and some controls, increasing the amount of information on the screen. The presence of slots for memory cards CardFlash allows you to solve the problem of lack of memory (in addition, as standard Psion Series 5mx provides 16 MB of RAM). Users who plan to purchase "device", we suggest a model Psion Series 5mx (**** 0). It has 16 MB of RAM and a slot CompactFlash, in addition, has a nice screen and wonderful keyboard (see the PC Magazine / RE, 12.99, sec. 34, "Necessary Luxury"). In addition, it works (about a month) from the battery AA. Models Psion Revo (*** 00) and Psion Netbook (*** 00) is not as well play the role of communicator, because they have no standard battery, and battery, which is enough for about 15-17 hours (but Revo smaller and has a Netbook a more comfortable keyboard and color screen).
E-mail
In ROM devices, Psion «laced" utility Email. This is a full and relatively easy email program. E-mail programs, created by third parties, not as Email (except e-mails, it provides faxing and short message service "standard GSM) operates as a rule, normal. With this utility, sometimes there is only one problem (not counting the processing of letters of the Cyrillic alphabet) - some unintuitive. Its developers have practiced the principle of full emulation file system, so the button "Copy-mail" in the Email there. Instead, the user is prompted to download the message headers (separate e-mail accounts are presented logically as separate "mailboxes") and apply the operations similar to those used in the shell - to copy or transfer messages to a local account using Cut / Copy / Paste to / from Buffer . This approach is somewhat awkward when working with POP3, but looks very well in the case of IMAP, but the opportunity to work with IMAP is only available in the model Netbook (in addition, in the process of copying the messages does not control the contents of the local "mailbox" in the end, the user by copying the letters, can create several messages with the same content). The rest of Email is a complete email program. Unfortunately, the program of Russification only allow to display and enter Cyrillic characters. Messages that are generated in coding Windows 1251 and transferred from the Email, have an incorrect header (Content-Type: text / plain; charset = ISO-8859-1), Email «does not understand the" letters of the Cyrillic alphabet coded in the Subject, displaying a as the title character string («?=? koi8-r? Q ?...»).However, the user is able to extract such a letter and this defect is not peculiar inconvenience. Program correctly extracts messages with attached files, extracting the contents of RTF-text attachments.
Web
Viewer for the Internet (with the original name Web), which is available on CD-ROM supplied with the Psion, - this is a workable browser that, despite some nasty restrictions, you can work with the Internet. The utility has a relatively unusual, but friendly interface (such as URL string is placed at the bottom). Its main limitation - the inability to handle pages with scripts. For example, we were unable to retrieve information from a host www.netaddress.com, because it uses JavaScript (but the program correctly funkionirovala with a Russian host a public e-mail www.newmail.ru, which provides an opportunity to "work without JavaScript»). In addition, the program Psion Web has an annoying flaw - sometimes removing the Web-page, it starts to display the content only after the process of copying zavershltsya. In its original form Web incorrectly displays Russian characters encoding KOI-8, but the user can change the font to a similar, but the corresponding KOI-8 encoding (fonts are supplied complete localization). Those planning to use modern Web-sites. We recommend browser Opera (www.opera.com, *** 00), whose version is for the EPOC platform appeared relatively recently. This version pretty popular browser for Windows, the design of which provides transfer it to multiple platforms. As one of the benefits of the program presented a higher rate of display pages, but this advantage is a relative. Nevertheless, the browser is more convenient, for example, he has successfully displayed the Web-site pages www.usa.net (free e-mail), which was not able to display the standard viewer. In addition, it provides more detailed information about connection status, etc. Less of this program is only one - a shareware utility that operates a month from the date of installation. But it is worth the money.
WAP
Psion owners can use the WAP-browser with the straightforward name of WAP, which is available free of charge at the Web-site, Psion, but they will face the same problem as the user's Palm - WAP-browser does not display Cyrillic characters instead of them there are lines "? ? ?? MTS ???». Tools to work with the WAP protocol may seem completely irrelevant, but in principle they are useful only because the WAP-sites are copied from the Internet much faster.
Additional services
There are two FTP client program for EPOC, created by independent developers, Neuon nFTP and RMRSoft RMRFTP. In principle, these utilities absolutely equal. PDA users based on EPOC have the opportunity to work with two systems, the instantaneous transmission of information disseminated in our country, ICQ, and less popular AOL Instant Messenger. Unfortunately, the creators of the first not offer a version of the client software, there is only one third-party program, Neuon nICQ. It is a good system that provides almost a full work of the network, but is a shareware utility. In addition, the Web-sites with additional software, you can find many utilities - terminal Telnet, tools for working with USENET, communicating via IRC channels, etc.
Windows CE
Windows CE - a platform that was created as an analog multi-PC, which features limited only by imagination of the user and the authors of application software. As we know, there are several categories of devices with Windows CE - large keyboard system (such Jornada 820) compact keyboard system (such as Jornada 680) and keyboardless device (Palm-Size PC and PocketPC). Virtually every model now has a color screen, powerful CPU, capacious memory, expansion options, almost standardized. However, the general "roots" mean and common flaws, which are equally inherent to each category. Minus family of devices based on Windows CE - high energy consumption. Color screen, powerful CPU, despite the contrivances OS developers, means that in the autonomous mode, the device operates with a maximum 8-10 hoursLonger than laptops, but several times less than the competitors (from 30 to 50 h). Meanwhile, energy consumption - one of the main parameters, and it is very quickly aware of the user, for various reasons, not having a "hand" of electrical sockets, or the user who apart from the device must carry a power supply. In addition, despite the powerful CPU, a system based on Windows CE are known to be extremely slow - and a radical change in the situation has not occurred even after the PocketPC. Typically, the frequency of the processor devices with Windows CE is 80-120 MHz, they are able to handle multimedia data (for example, play audio clips), but this power is "consumed" by the operating system. From the viewpoint of the OS for your device in Windows CE and there is a drawback - it is used in the mechanism of multi-tasking, in practice, provides a less "smooth" switching between tasks, rather than in EPOC. Finally, devices with Windows CE, as a rule, less compact. As a keyboard, which is definitely inferior in this respect, Psion (Series 5mx), and keyboardless, which are generally larger than the Palm (for example, the family of Palm III). At first glance, for Windows CE, there are many applications, but it is only at first glance. In our case it turned out that for one system (with CPU Hitachi SH4), which we used in the tests, the programs are effectively dead. In addition, it is rather the lack of a platform, rather than individual devices, a variety of programs that can be found on the Web, offered as avtoraspakovyvayuschihsya executables, designed to work in an environment x86 ... User usually can not remove and install the program without using a PC (it's marked disadvantage compared with Psion, and even PalmOS). However, many drawbacks Windows CE will swim its merits. As already mentioned, almost every model has a large enough (usually is bigger than that of competing devices) color screen on which the Web-pages are usually smotryatsyatak as their creators imagined. A powerful CPU provides an opportunity to view not only images but also videos. Capacious memory and expansion options mean that the memory problems will not arise. User-friendly keyboard allows to comfortably work with email. In OS predusmotrenyimeyutsya basic utilities for the Internet - browser and e-mail program, in addition, there are many third-party software developers (in this respect, Windows CE, probably in the first place). We used a keyboard device - HP Jornada 680 (Windows CE Professional Edition) and keyboardless - Casio Cassiopeia E-115 (Windows Powered PocketPC). To connect, in general, resembles the setup dial-up connection in Windows 98. But as in any Windows CE 2.0, nor in the Windows CE Professional (2.11) does not provide the opportunity to work with the modem via IrDA, it is necessary to find a special driver package, which depends on the model of your "tubes" and are usually available on the Web-site of the manufacturer . However, as practice shows, sometimes find it can not at once, as a rule, after the required software is finally copied to your hard drive may well be that it is calculated on a different CPU (such as a driver for the Nokia 7110 was incompatible with our device based on the CPU Hitachi SH4, and we used the driver for Sienmens S25, which, as it turned out, you can work with virtually any "pipe"). After installing the modem driver in the system usually has a new serial port (for example, Com3), which can be used in the dialog settings dial-up connection. In such PocketPC tweaks are not necessary, in the configuration dialog there is a port that is associated with IR. In this case, there is often a mistake - users change the Dialing tab of the so-called "templates", the line defining the format of the modem commands to dial a number. There are several patterns: for local calls (by default 9, G), for long-distance (9,1 FG) and international (9,011, EFG). Each character has a specific value - for example, E - the country code, G - a phone number, etc. The reason for the problems - lack of character G in the template, as interpreted by the system as a complete lack of facilities, rather than dialing the number of the provider to connect to the Internet, to put it mildly is difficult.Now the market has only one keyboard system, worthy of attention - a device HP Jornada 680/690 (16 or 32 MB). System with a color screen and comfortable keyboard, which, however, somewhat cumbersome and running on battery power for approximately 8 hours from besklaviaturny models, we recommend the device HP Jornada 545, which, despite a somewhat less high-quality screen (compared with the Casio Cassiopeia E-115) , lighter and more compact, in addition, its design is better thought out (for example, has a special lid). In principle, many hopes supporters Windows CE associated with the model Compaq iPaq, but at the time of our tests, it has not been officially announced.
E-mail
Powerful tools for handling e-mail - the main advantage of systems based on Windows CE over competitors. Programme Inbox, which is supplied with each device with this OS, provides a virtually complete processing of "investments" - from extraction to editing. Moreover, unlike the Psion, office software, which is available on the device is compatible with Office 97/2000. In other words, the user can open the file Word, edit it and send back without thinking about conversion and compatibility of formats. Additionally, there are two protocols - POP3 and IMAP4. Utility Inbox is not limited to one "mailbox", the user can create several of them, with different types, POP3 or IMAP. It is possible to change the location of "nested" files (such as on-board flash memory), the regime "preview" in the style of OutLook 97 (when the contents of a message is displayed in a separate window on the screen, and the theme and the first few rows - the list of messages) . However, many pluses of standard Windows CE Utilities for handling electronic correspondence remain so only in advertising material. In practice, its advantages is almost completely exhausted by the compatibility with files Office. Work with it to put it mildly, uncomfortable just because the extraction process messages not displayed their number does not provide any indicator of the procedure to copy information from the server POP3 or IMAP4. In the Pocket OutLook uses the concept of extracting headlines, but the menu item Get Full Copy (to extract the entire message) by default does not remove "embedded" files (and note, judging by the amount of information transmitted, the message is copied, and as many times as the user has selected a menu item ). User has no opportunity to interrupt the process of extracting information, the interface seemed to us uncomfortable (eg, PocketPC, which uses "odnoklikovy" interface, accidentally clicking once on "attachment" to the user will have to wait until the program will extract the file and open it, for example, in Pocket Word).
Web
Windows CE provides a virtually full access to the Internet. In ROM devices, "stitched" Browser Pocket Internet Explorer, which has the main means of displaying Web-pages and work with Web-sites (treatment of buttons, input fields, etc.). Strictly speaking, this program meets about 80% of the user's needs, but, as expected, it's not perfect. For example, when trying to copy the file, "click" a link to Web-site, the user sees a dialog box in which it is proposed to set the file name, etc. Then copy the information goes smoothly as long as it remains open, this Web-page. After its closure or transfer to another page in the same window and when the user (assuming the file is "Resume" in the background) tries his view, he discovers that the "drive" there are only a few dozen (at best) kilobytes. PocketIE frustratingly slow, and the non-optimality browser compounded inefficiencies mechanism of multitasking in Windows CE - opening a few windows, almost impossible to work with any system slows but since the user's actions (puzzled flipping through the controls in the hope to "revive" the system) remain in a buffer then after the system "dies", the screen starts melteshenie opening and recompressed windows, dialogs, menus, etc.There are about a dozen of the independent developers of browsers since Microsoft, trying to compete with Palm, announced devices such as Palm-Size PC «Organizer" which users browser and is not needed. But users wanted to have a browser (as well as many other programs that Microsoft has deemed unnecessary for the "organizer"), and independent companies as much as to satisfy this demand. However, none of them worked out, even to the level PocketIE.
WAP
Windows CE - a platform in which there are no problems with browsers WAP. There are several browsers WAP, but we recommend EzWAP. This is a handy, compact, compatible with different types of devices based on Windows (from Windows CE to Windows 98) program provides the correct handling of Cyrillic and allows us to investigate WAP-sites is as easy as Pocket Internet Explorer - Web-sites. Its main drawback - it is a commercial utility.
Additional services
Despite the fact that the firm offers a developer version of ICQ for Windows CE, users are unlikely to work with her. Since this program was created a long time and new versions since then has not appeared, it just does not work. There are several third-party programs, such as iICQ, but they put it mildly, not ideal. A cut, there is no such utility for PocketPC. For Windows CE, there are several utilities clients FTP. There are versions of Telnet, ping, and other standard tools TCP / IP.
Configuring Access to Network
PalmOS
Connecting Palm to your "tube" may be associated with difficulties when using PalmOS 3.1, since this system has no tools to work with the modem via IrDA (they appeared only in PalmOS 3.3). While today there are many models and clones of Palm, who operates under PalmOS 3.1 - Palm IIIe / IIIe SE, and numerous "expandable organizers» Visor.
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The essence of the problem, in general, is simple - originally Palm platform involves an exchange of information only through a serial port (PalmOS simply did not understand "that the modem can have the IR port), so you need a utility that will redirect the flow of data on the IR. User who has a device with PalmOS 3.1, will have to copy from Web-site Palm Computing «system update and install it on your system. Besides the standard "update» PalmOS utility can be used IrLink. Users of devices Palm PalmOS 3.1 to install on their program organizers SerIrCommLib.prc, IrLib.prc and SerIrPnl.prc in the Control Panel appears Serial / IR, which launches the configuration dialog, where you can switch the active port. Visor Organizer users need only install SerIrCommLib.prc (installation IrLib.prc SerIrPnl.prc and can lead to the collapse of the system), and they will have to purchase the program IrLink (She, incidentally, provides many useful features and much more convenient than the driver 3Com). Interaction between devices is organized very simply - they must be positioned so that they "see" the infrared ports of "partner", and start the process of dialogue, communication Network (of course, the IR port should be activated and the Palm, and the "tube") . System Configuration (in the sense of modem configuration parameters and access to the Internet) for Palm is relatively simple. In Control Panel, under the title Modem, you can specify a specific "connection profile" (Line Modem), which contains a set of multiple modems (in principle, the special role of this field is not playing), the connection speed (preferably 19,2 kbit / c), the speaker volume (also does not matter), the method of flow control (Flow Control, can be left in a position to Off), modem initialization string (it is available in the documentation for your device, you can use a standard AT-command ATZ) and a method of dialing - Tone (TouchTone) or Pulse (Rotary), it is desirable to use first. In a dialogue network configuration (Network) to create (or edit) the "network profile".PalmOS allows you to save a subset of the parameters of the network (user name and password to the script identification) under different names. Creating a new "profile" (the menu command New) user can specify the name of the connection (eg, MTS-Internet), user name, password, number of ISP. Dialogue Details (appears after clicking the button of the same name) offers a means of identifying the type of connection (Connection Type, you must use the value of PPP), the parameters off when inactive compounds (Idle timeout, it makes sense to use the value PowerOff), the parameters of TCP / IP (Query DNS field and IP Address, both options should be "included"). Configuration dialog script identification (Script) to create a logon script in the provider network, usually it consists of one team end »(End, in other words, the absence of any action), as users of" their "cellular network operators, as a rule, provide access services, based on information about the subscriber (in addition, virtually all Internet service providers provide a standard identification procedure). We also recommend you install the program "Kodar" (re-coded tool, see the PC Magazine / RE 7 / 2000).
Psion
Users Series Systems Psion Series 5 will need to copy a Web-site Psion software package for working with the Internet - Message Suite 1.52 (it includes the system libraries, the browser and the system works with email, which are absent in the ROM devices). For users of Psion Series 5mx, which involve not only work with email, but with the Web, it will be enough to install the browser from the CD that comes with the box Psion and (optionally) copy the "renewal" of the browser Series 5mx (Web Version 2.00 Update, it corrected some errors in the handling of cookies and minor systemic problems).
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Options to access the Internet via dial-up (even mobile) line in the Psion indicated in conversations Dialling, Modems and the Internet «Control Panel" OS. The panel Dialling can specify a "profile call (default is provided" profile »Mobile, you can just select it), the parameters of a tone dialing and the country in which the user is located. Of these parameters depends format dial string passed to the "tube". In the Modem panel, the user can specify the type of modem and its settings. By default, there is a "profile" a modem to a cell phone for which a "standard" settings, such as the speed (default 19.6 Kbit / c), the port that connects to the device (IR), the method of flow control (default specified CTS / RTS, but it makes sense to ask None), etc. In addition, we recommend installing the utility RMRZip, which allows you to open compressed ZIP files and program code conversion Clipboard Converter (a complete localization RussianEPOC, see the PC Magazine / RE, 6 / 2000, "Lessons of the Russian-II»).
Windows CE / PocketPC
To connect to the wireless network devices with Windows CE in general resembles the setup dial-up connection in Windows 98. But because neither Windows CE 2.0, any Windows CE Professional (2.11) does not provide the opportunity to work with the modem via IrDA, it is necessary to find a special driver package, which depends on the model of your "tubes" and are usually available on the Web-site of the manufacturer, and, as experience shows, can not find it immediately. Once the required software is finally copied to your hard drive may well be that it is calculated on a different CPU (such as a driver for the Nokia 7110 was incompatible with our device based on the CPU Hitachi SH4, and we used the driver for Siemens S25, which, as it turned out, you can work with virtually any "pipe"). After installing the modem driver in the system usually has a new serial port (for example, Com3), which can be used in the dialog settings dial-up connection.In such PocketPC tweaks are not necessary, in the configuration dialog has a "standard IR modem" and «IrComm» (in real life they are almost equal). In this case, there is often a mistake - users change the Dialing tab of the so-called "templates", the line defining the format of the modem commands to dial a number. There are several patterns: for local calls (by default 9, G), for long-distance (9,1 FG) and international (9,011, EFG). Each character has a specific value - for example, E - the country code, G - a phone number, etc. The reason for the problems - lack of character G in the template, as interpreted by the system as a complete lack of facilities, rather than dialing the number of the provider to connect to the Internet, to put it mildly is difficult. Sources, Materials:
