The winners of the first round of andriods Developer Challenge have been and can be pleased about every 25,000 U.S. dollars prize. Google as the most prominent member of the Open Handset Alliance, had been Initiated in late 2007 several prizes for the best programs for the new smart phone platform Android.

Google had concretized its mobile plans in November 2007 and announced in conjunction with others in the Open Handset Alliance organized company, the open system platform Android. Shortly thereafter, the company introduced a preview version of the development environment, which has since learned – including for security problems – some updates.

Almost a month after the end of the first round of the competition, the total is now 125-member jury reviewed all the 1788 entries and selected the 50 most promising candidates. They can participate in the second round of competition, however, starts only when the first Android devices are available. With the first premium to finance the development of the programs will be made possible. The developers of the top ten applications, waving at the end of the second round of reward per 275,000 U.S. dollars, ten more will be at a premium of U.S. $ 100,000.

The winners list is still provisional – so that Google pays the money must be made by the participants in the next three months or several documents. Otherwise the premium.

Perhaps no one will argue that mobile phones are now gradually becoming a converged device. Even in the most cost effective solution cost 3-4 thousand rubles is almost always possible to find a MP3-player, built-in camera, to connect the Internet and other functions. What to say about today’s multimedia monsters, where producers are not too lazy to cram in every conceivable technology. This multimegapikselnye camera module (already on sale 8-megapixel “cameras with built-in phone number), and built-in satellite navigation, and everything else, including the not yet popular in our country, a digital television receiver.

And, if before such a conglomeration of features could cause users only smile at the depressingly low quality of sales, but today are increasingly found the device, virtually nothing inferior to specialized solutions. Suffice it to recall the 8-megapixel camera phones with glass optics, optical zoom, autofocus and other lotions, built-in satellite navigation of, the “sensitivity” is not inferior to GPS-navigator and working on similar software, music phones with excellent sound quality, etc. .

Converged devices all-in-one

Sometimes, instead of parity between the specialized solutions and multifunctional mobile devices is observed superiority of the latter. This is largely the case for various services to facilitate the work with a camera, GPS or music player: a direct function of blogging there is the possibility of geographical tags photos (GPS-coordinates of location shots), and so on.

All this finds a ready response from users who are now in the majority perceive a mobile phone is no longer as a means of communication, as well as some multi-functional device with which you can listen to music, take photos, read books, surf the Internet, at worst, to learn time and take it to the built-in calculator.

True, there are negative aspects of impeding the increase in the share of truly converged product in the market of mobile phones. First of all, this is the continuing high cost of such decisions, because most often they serve as a flagship product lines of manufacturing companies, most tech devices.

Well-known formula, “I do not need eight, give three hundred and five hundred works successfully and here. Customers are much more likely to become less functional, fancy phones, for example, in a couple of good camera.

Further, will not go away the problem of energy consumption, because, as we know, most functional devices at the same time and have the lowest battery life.

Be that as it may, the impact of converged mobile devices on the market is becoming more noticeable. Especially interesting to trace their development from the first such solutions to the current ultimate prod-ucts.

Start

Perhaps the beginning of the interpenetration of mobile phones and of other digital devices had been laid with the release in 2002, the first Finnish-sky smartphone, the Nokia 7650.

Nokia 7650

This apparatus was remarkable in several aspects at once. It was one of the first mobile phone made in the slider form factor, which had a sufficiently high quality for the time color screen, as well as the implementation of advanced technology – MMS-messages, infrared, Bluetooth. Do not forget that worked smartphone running Symbian OS Series 60, rather than proprietary software platform (although at the time it does not bore absolutely no advantage, because third-party software for this OS did not already exist). Perhaps one of the main advantages of the Nokia 7650 is the built-in digital camera, which, in fact, allows staff to consider a number of convergence, as well as the very ideology of multi-functional device designed for a wide range of tasks.

It is worth to note that not all converged devices are smartphones or communicators, is to substitute the concept is not worth it.

However, over the next few years the mobile phone market does not appear other phones, which could be called a truly converged, to make a qualitative leap in the ideology of multi-functional solutions.

This does not mean that does not go vehicles, equipped with built-in camera, music player or any other features that are characteristic of a specialized digital devices.

In 2003-2004 appeared fairly large number of mobile phones with integrated cameras, the function has quickly become popular among users (and manufacturers to pair with mobile operators, while waiting for significant benefits from the development of service MMS-messages). In 2004, mass market mobile phones overcame “megapixel” abroad. Send these devices, such as, Siemens S65, Nokia 7610 (it is interesting that none of these decisions are not positioned as a photographic – “Messer” is a business phone, the Finnish smartphone promoted as an image of the tube).

Efforts were and are quite interesting marketing moves, as is the case with the Sony Ericsson K700i – interested in his rear surface “for the camera and interpolation of images taken with VGA-camera, pending resolution of 1280×960 pixels – the actual 1.3-megapixel camera here and did not smell.

However, the developed and the direction of music phones. Incidentally, the first mobile phone capable of playing MP3-songs (and a very good quality), the German Siemens SL45, appeared before the formation of the market proper MP3-players.

Same donkey Siemens SL45

In 2004 appeared a very good young apparatus Motorola E398, whose musical “abilities” for a long time became a model for the market.

However, the main disadvantage of all these multi-function phones, had not enabled them to consider a number of truly converged devices, was at the lower convenience of comparison with specialized solutions. Poor ergonomics, lack of dedicated controls, a loss of technical specifications – all this makes the data sets of interest, and no more. On the role of a full replacement digital camera, music player or anything else they were not good. Shopping digital devices for the time being developed in parallel.

Breakthrough

Radical changes have taken place in 2005. At that time happened just a few key market events that have had a marked influence on the further development, such as mobile phones and related devices.

Thus, in the field of photographic solutions breakthrough was the entrance of camera phone Sony Ericsson K750i. Almost the first time (for the mass of the European market, we do not take into account the Asian markets, in particular, Korean or Japanese) could signal the arrival of “the camera, which is a phone that camera.” The model was the next step in the development of converged mobile devices.

The main advantage of the apparatus, of course, was an excellent 2-megapixel autofocus camera (model of the Japanese Sharp considered hardly appropriate, since the domestic market, it actually was not represented – in general, here and below we omit the points related to the Korean and Japanese decisions we are interested primarily in Europe, as the closest to the domestic market for mobile phones). For a long time, the company sets the standard among the built-in mobile phone cameras. Double-positioning device (rear surface of the frame, emulate the camera – the further development of the ideas embodied in the predecessor, Sony Ericsson K700i), improved ergonomics – dedicated two-position shutter release button, the horizontal orientation of the device, similar to digital cameras, mechanical shutter, finally focusing system – all as in this soap dish. This is complemented by high quality images, it is sufficient to print photos size 10×15 cm

Sony Ericsson K750i

We should also note other benefits of convergence – phone could boast a maximum for the time functionality (except for the absence uncritical EDGE): high-quality music player, integrated FM-radio with RDS, as well as other attributes of the flagship – quality screen, memory card slot for Memory Stick Pro Duo, an excellent software platform with the implementation of the improved menu interface, equipped with tabbed quick access.

Interestingly, the response was the emergence of Finnish Nokia smartphone, camera phone Nokia N90, which gave rise in the mobile industry truly photographic brands (in this case – optics from Carl Zeiss).

Whatever it was, it was the emergence of Sony Ericsson K750i unleashed “arms race” among camera phones manufacturing companies. The number of converged devices, then sharply increased.

The second significant event for the market in 2005, this time in music, the launch (or even restart the original – do not remember Sony cassette era of our parents?) Brand Walkman, which, from this time was closely associated with music – backgrounds of Sony Ericsson. Only in the last couple of years the parent company Sony has actively promoted under the brand itself MP3-players, wanting to make up for opportunities missed during passive early and mid-decade.

Sony Ericsson Walkman W800

Support for the cult, though badly faded, the brand, some changes for the better compared with the twin brother of Sony Ericsson K750i (improvement in the bass, ability to work with the phone disconnected radiopart, the so-called regime of “In Flight”), as well as several advanced supplied – all contributed to the success of the Walkman phone and the line as a whole.

Interest in music phones Sony Ericsson by users and has prompted other manufacturers to produce such solutions. Over the next year’s line music-backgrounds appeared in practically all the leading companies – XpressMusic from Nokia, Q-fi has gone from BenQ-Siemens, ROKR from Motorola, Ultra Music from Samsung (today musical direction of the Korean company formed through a series of Beatz).

Interestingly, in the same in 2005 laid bare the main problems of music phones, which made them – for the time being – ineffective compared with the specialized musical decisions, ie, MP3-players. A peculiar litmus test performed musical model Motorola ROKR E1. This music phone, despite the cooperation with other cult American company Apple and the deserved fame of its predecessor and almost complete analog Motorola E398, has been unanimously recognized the failure of the year. Members, especially the native American market did not see absolutely no point in buying the device for all musical parameters inferior MP3 player: it’s uncomfortable ergonomics (dedicated keys run your player did not go to any comparison with the ClickWheel from Apple), a smaller memory at a higher cost (complete microSD card with 512 MB did not look good alternative to gigabyte iPod), finally, the inability to use standard music accessories (due to lack of 3,5 mm audio jack). Ability to make phone calls and other functions of the phone for many users did not seem critical.

Even more alienated parity music phones and MP3 players phenomenal success released in the same 2005 player iPod Nano from Apple. Say nothing cost players and sets new standards in ergonomics, the volume of internal memory, versus the then generation of music-backgrounds, he showed his superiority (repeat that we are talking only about the musical ability of the phone). By the way, Nano and brought rustle in the segment of MP3 players in general, ranging from shortages of flash memory on the market (Apple bought almost half “of the dice” in those days), total cloning design to the rapid development of so-called MP4 players, whose ancestor was this player (interestingly, with the Nano first generation did not have the capability to play video compression in the “mobile” 3GP and MP4).

Nevertheless, music phones contributed to further development of mobile convergence. Many contributed to this significant event and third in 2005 in the world of mobile phones – launching a series of devices Nokia Nseries, the first products are smartphones Nokia N70 and N90. The first time appeared on the market portfolio of, originally intended as a converged, combining the maximum number of functions. Since that time, the Finnish manufacturer for the particular line used the rather awkward term “multimedia computers”, which, however, as fully as possible to reflect the concept of new converged devices. Indeed, the emphasis on multimedia features, such as obtaining high-quality photos, play music and video playback, Internet browsing, etc. Later added to this set of satellite navigation, digital television, in short, everything that today is typical of top-end converged solutions. Thus, since 2005 one can observe the development of multifunctional devices, each year the rate has increased, and today we can see, if not the dominance of such decisions, then a significant impact on the mobile industry – exactly.

Nokia_N70

Now it is worth examining more specific aspects and areas of converged handsets.
Segment photographic solutions – camera phones

Indeed, the number ultimate, so-called all-in-one solutions “all-in-one” not so great. The most striking example of the last time can be called Nokia N95 (and its counterpart in the classical case Nokia N82), even the infamous iPhone from Apple can not be attributed to their number.

Much more on the market models, in which the emphasis placed on one or another function. Built-in camera is almost the most in demand of them, actually, so photographic solutions should be considered first.

As mentioned above, the development of camera phones has begun to release the Nokia 7650 and the impetus for the current rapid growth served as the model output Sony Ericsson K750i.

In this long segment of camera phones grew extremely extensive way – increasing the number of megapixels in the sensor, but no more. There was a qualitative leap, which is comparable to a cumulative effect with the release of Sony Ericsson K750i (camera with autofocus, ergonomics, as close as possible to the management of digital cameras – for example, two-position shutter release button) – is enough to recall the first 3-megapixel camera on the market of Russia, a clamshell Voxtel, which than the matrix, could not provide the user with virtually nothing.

Released in 2006, a camera phone Sony Ericsson K790i (as well as its 3G-version of the K800i) was interesting (there was a new software platform A100 with advanced features), and became even more like a compact camera Sony Cyber-Shot T-series, but no breakthrough yet was.

Yes, new photographic functions gradually implemented in devices coming out, but their number was not too great, and the model is clearly not seriously threatened to press the position of digital cameras. Thus, the first – on the European market – the phone with optical zoom, model Nokia N93, obviously was not a massive decision, and besides, the form factor miniketa (the photography) is clearly inferior to the horizontal orientation of conventional cameras. While the multimedia computer from Nokia was interesting and productive new processor, provides to filming in high-resolution 640×480 pixels at high speed.

However, most mobile phones, until recently, could not offer something that users do not have a powerful processor responsible for processing images, but also other critical functions for the target audience, such as tolerable Macro, manual, glass optics, the ability to record in RAW format, and so d. At the same time, mobile phones do not require adaptation matrix cameras, require the creation of custom solutions that can fit in a fairly compact package.

Since the release of the first mobile phone (I wonder if everyone knows that the very first mobile phone in March 2007 is 105, 20 or 22 March 1902 Nathan Stablfild somebody has demonstrated a communication session, while with his invention on the boat drifted on the Potomac River that imply the absence of any wire communication, this fact voice at a distance confirmed by witnesses, but now all I did mean more modern) cell phones have changed both externally and certainly more functional. They have become more compact, colorful, powerful and beautiful. The total cost of mobile services has fallen tenfold, mobile phones have become available. But there is a segment that is not accessible to people with common prosperity (and that I speak not of cellphones for 40 thousand rubles). I wonder how many phones were sold or Vertu Mobiado. But how many such devices and what are they interested in?

Mobiado Professional EM

Mobile phone Mobiado Professional EM is made in the classic form-factor and has a rectangular square building, which is made of metal and decorated with panels of two types of wood – Cocobolo and Honduran rosewood. Screen at the Mobiado Professional EM is not large, its resolution of 128 x 128 pixels, the number of displayed colors – 65536. Mobiado is a subsidiary of Nokia, so the menus and navigation on it will be understood by all, because everyone used phones Nokia. The functional model is small, actually like all of the most expensive phones, but the most necessary functions are available, the mobile phone has support for Java, is equipped with MP3-player, FM-receiver, a 1.3 megapixel camera, can send and receive MMS, send and receive files via Bluetooth and infrared port, Internet connection is using technology GPRS.

Currently, the cost Mobiado Professional starts at 2 200 dollars.

Vertu Signature Platinum

Vertu, as Mobiado, is a subsidiary of Nokia (yes, Nokia firmly set about the conquest of this niche). Vertu Signature Platinum has a classic case without built-in antenna, the size of the device are 122×42x16 mm and weighs 215 g, quite a weighty thing. The phone has a TFT-screen with a resolution slightly greater than Mobiado (128 x 160 pixels), displaying 65536 colors. Functional Signature Platinum ???? small, has only the most necessary.

Was struck by the absence of any communication properties, there is no Bluetooth or infrared port, nothing at all. Currently, the average cost of Vertu Signature Platinum Internet a little less than 75 000 dollars.

Sony Ericsson Black Diamond

Sony Ericsson is also trying to keep pace in the race for the most expensive phone. Singapore designer Jaren Goh made the phone from the glossy black plastic and packed full of modern filling (not like a super phone from Vertu and Mobiado): Operating system Windows Mobile 5, XScale processor with 400 MHz, WiFi, built-in memory of 128 MB memory card slot SD.

The announced price for Black Diamond froze at around 300 000 dollars, it is not surprising, since all these phones released 5.

Vertu Signature Diamond Collection

Vertu continues to please fans of their phones and lovers to spend huge money on their purchase and issue a new Vertu Signature Diamond Collection. The phone body is made of gold and decorated with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, as well as building decorated gold and diamond snake – a symbol of wisdom from the precepts of the Indian (in fact the phone was originally released in India).

Functional Vertu Signature Diamond Collection Standard. In total circulation of this phone, there are 200 pieces, the price of expensive “zmeefona” 350 000 dollars.

Goldvish Piece Unique WS1

This phone is one of the most expensive mobile phone on the planet! Its body is made of red, yellow or white 18 carat gold and encrusted with diamonds of highest quality.

By the way, this phone has earned a place of honor in the Guinness book of records with value (incidentally, this phone is worth 1 million euros). All this phone have 3 people in the world, and all the way, our countrymen.

It’s no secret that cell phones have long ceased to correspond to the phrase “means of communication: they can make music players, game consoles, cameras, calendars, internet tablet, and so on and so forth. But, more importantly, virtually any mobile phone model in 2008 is nothing like a fashion accessory which, irrespective of cost, allows others to focus on lifestyle and hanging of a man. For example, fans of the Star-Spangled (ie, American) certainly look at the Motorola RAZR2 V8, a phenomenon modestly dressed student with any of the variations in the hands of the Nokia 8800 can only mean that this guy did not eat ice cream for six months and good at saving money.

But there is the world’s mobile phones that can be said about their holders are much more – these devices are intended for people who characterize themselves by the phrase “not like everyone else.” Accordingly, the phones they have non-standard – and this is not Vertu, Mobiado, or any Motorola RAZR V3i Dolce & Gabbana, but something quite extraordinary and, in most cases, it is not expensive. Strictly speaking, the purpose of the material – tell about a few unusual cellphones, which can be purchased in a given region of the world. At the same time I would like to consider is the existing model, rather than fetal figment of the imagination of designers – past often paint a very impressive projects, but that’s the first bomb landed an electronics engineer, who will be destined to take a look at a pile of intricate designs, make a fair verdict on the impossibility of translating such delights reality.

And the simple average user who is interested in the traditional design, megapixels, the number of speakers and prestige to such products did not even look. Nevertheless, some interest for the masses, they still are – at least, because they just issued, released or are currently preparing to embark on the conveyor.

For example, recently in the news flashed photos Kuma Phone (Bear Phone) – this fully working prototype of a mobile phone looks like a teddy bear. It is reported that in order to “pick up”, it is necessary to pull the animal by the tail. And each of the four paws can be assigned by number for speed dialing – in this case to make a call will have to click on the appropriate limb. It would seem that someone might be interested in such a device? But think of the modern youth subcultures – many in the movement of “emo”, I think, would gladly have posted a similar device for $ 500 (this is exactly the approximate price Kuma Phone). Look at the photograph of a typical Japanese Frick – personally, I am sure that he would gladly have changed his cot at a teddy bear. Moreover, perhaps once would have hanged him instead of a backpack.

Chinese masters, as it turns out, can not only copy the popular phones and cars, but also merge these two very different types of products together. Meet – glamorous phones Audi TT and BMW 5-Series. However, we can not say that the copies are made very high quality: for example, very funny looks attached upside down emblem of a Bavarian company, and his eyes fixed cameras are located not at the center of the hood, a little to the right. As for the hardware platforms that underlie these devaysov, it seems that they have much in common with some of the products of the company Fly (in particular, model 2080), as well as a notorious fakie phones Nokla: in all three cases, the touch screen equipped with a special line shortcuts shortcut. It is known that avtofony stand in the Middle Kingdom, about 160 dollars. They are equipped with Bluetooth-modules, audio and video players, arrays of flash memory 1 gigabyte and 1.3-megapixel camera. Personally, it’s hard to provide the holder of the five “BMW, who would buy such a phone and will use it on all cylinders. But fans auto simulators, these mobiles may well look and feel – if not for everyday use, then as a talisman.

But the mobile phone Walkie-Talkie Phone AK-47, it seems, want to acquire and brave warriors, and those who are doing its utmost to avoid military service. The good thing is, men’s: in spite of the touch-screen display (again, with the labeled!), 2-megapixel camera, slot for microSD-cards and media player, handset looks much like Motorola DynaTAC – first cell phone in the form-factor “monoblock” , released in 1983. AK-47 comes in two flavors – just green and khaki. Wearing this device, decorated with scarlet stars, models compass and antenna good 5 centimeters in length, it is assumed in a special cloth bag, also performed in the style of “military”. It is still entertaining gadget just $ 225. On my own I say that with great pleasure that would have bought me this little piece for the collection – who knows, maybe and endurance apparatus will be a good military level.

Phone Hop-On HOP1800 can be recommended for hikes in the tax office – is a marvel of $ 10, while positioned as a device capable of “eclipse iPhone”. Well, we can say that the leadership of the American company with a sense of humor everything is in order – in fact HOP1800 deprived even of the display, not to mention the rest of the usual benefits of a mobile eye evolution. Interestingly, the manufacturer plans to open a network of some kind of “reception centers recycled”: they are the owners of this phone will be able to exchange it for $ 5, thereby restoring a half of its initial value. Something tells me that the Hop-On HOP1800 is popular among anarchists, hippies and other asocial elements who reject bourgeois values: the ideology of ideology, and call up with buddies as it is surely necessary.

Cross your mobile phone and a pack of cigarettes, again, only by the Chinese. Actually, it was they fired machine XYW 3838, which is equipped with a built-in cigarette case. Externally, the device is difficult to distinguish from the most common packaging “sticks of health”: the same and size, and the hull, in fact, it even has an inscription about the dangers of smoking. Rear XYW 3838 is easily removed, exposing the fence sigaretok, located behind the battery. Should I specify that this model, standing $ 175, comes with a cigarette lighter? Otherwise, this is a very banal phone with simple-iron: 1 megabyte of memory, VGA-camera, microSD-slot, the player and square screen.

The idea of giving the functionality of a wristwatch cell phone is old almost as the world. Nevertheless, until recently, all such devices have had some very annoying shortcomings: for example, in order to chat with someone, the clock hand was required to hold the ear. And to listen to the built-in player had to slyly pass the wire through the headphone sleeves. Model Hyundai W100 stands out from the masses of old chasofonov presence of Bluetooth-module with support profile A2DP (stereo audio transmission through the air). From this it follows that the phone can be easily paired with a wireless headset and pinned to the arm. On the functionality of the device is known as follows: mp3-player, 1.3-megapixel camera with video recording, a slot for a microSD card and 1.3-inch touch screen, controlled by a tiny stylus hides in a thong hours. Fairness I should mention that Hyundai W100 occasionally found on sale in the CIS countries – for the non Russian-located copy of the request to about $ 400.