BenQ's Mobile Internet Device peeked on video

It's been a tick since we've heard anything notable on the Mobile Internet Device front, but it looks like BenQ could have something on the horizon. Judging by a brief clip showing a consumer marketing manager from Intel's Ultra Mobility Group, BenQ has developed a Linux-based handheld MID that touts a vivid black / blue color scheme and a 4.8-inch touchscreen. Sadly, that's about all the details that could be shared in 27 oh-so-quick seconds, but click on through to check the video out for yourself.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[Homeboy @ Sep 19th 2007 3:27PM]

That's a whole lot of icons. I hope it plays music and video too.

[Brad Bower @ Sep 19th 2007 3:33PM]

I was waiting for BenQ's next folly. Awful color scheme, nothing extremely unique that I can see, and a vaguely pathetic GUI impression of the iPhone. I wonder if it'll get out the door in order for Apple and others to sue for patent infringement.

[Irwin @ Sep 19th 2007 6:42PM]

stfu

[Mike @ Sep 20th 2007 2:13AM]

Good observation Brad!

STFU Irwin!

[Xzavier @ Sep 19th 2007 3:41PM]

Not bad. It seems to be a tad bit wide, reminding me of the Atari Lynx! The screen seems a bit slow, no big issues their, but over all a very interesting device.

So I wonder how well it would compare against the ViliV P2 running dual OS WinCE and Linux.

Vid here!
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/video-viliv-p2-in-depth-preview

[Paris @ Sep 19th 2007 3:44PM]

Is it me or does the menu screen seem sluggish?

[Scooter @ Sep 19th 2007 3:48PM]

I see telephone and email there. Hopefully music and video. Definitely a browser. Add java support (hey, it's on Linux so it's a sure bet, right?) and you have a winner (price and supply permitting).

[snakebyte @ Sep 19th 2007 4:00PM]

How come nobody compared it to an iPhone?

[Coleman Foley @ Sep 19th 2007 7:02PM]

because it has a much bigger screen, rendering it much more usable for mobile web browsing

[Shadowise @ Sep 19th 2007 4:01PM]

Hmmm, funny that this story popped up just when I was thinking about getting a PocketSurfer2. Would be nice to hear more about this device.

[Chris @ Sep 19th 2007 4:11PM]

If I was working on UI design at Apple, I think I'd start getting ticked by how many people simply copy my stuff rather than think of something original.

Before you flame me, yes I am an Apple fan. And yes, I think they have better UI options for phones and MP3 players. But I've *NEVER* thought that was the end of it. I always expected that a competitor would come up with a UI that was better. I keep thinking it's got to happen. But it doesn't.

Is Apple the only company on the planet that spends money on R&D and then uses the findings to create a whole new concept for UI? It's like these companies are creatively blocked or something.

[Sean DL @ Sep 19th 2007 4:19PM]

Indeed. I was hoping that the iPhone who spark an revolution in phone/portable device UI that has been sorly lacking thanks to everyone's obsession with RAZR thin devices..

So far all the "me too-IPhone" UI are disappointing me. So far only Samsung has something nice...but it isn't a phone....yet....

[John @ Sep 19th 2007 5:24PM]

Apple excels at UI. It's one of the primary selling points of OSX and iPods - not only do they do what they're supposed to, but it's easy to make them do it. So, competitors take that excellent UI and put it on a device that's better in other ways. Not the best system, yes, but it's a plan.

[11onze @ Sep 20th 2007 11:48AM]

I don't think the icons on iPhone is very 'original'. It is so similar to those icons for Yahoo! widgets.
So we should say Apple copies from Yahoo!?

[Chris @ Sep 19th 2007 4:13PM]

I should qualify my previous post by saying Apple didn't invent icon display nor are they the first to do it. But they are the first to do it in the fashion they did with the iPhone and that BenQ device copies Apple's use of icons exactly. Why?

[Fraunhofer Plug @ Sep 19th 2007 4:18PM]

And how about the PSP swooshes in the background...

[TheLifeOfMichael @ Sep 19th 2007 4:27PM]

Smell iPhone?

[sean @ Sep 19th 2007 5:02PM]

will this fit in my man-purse?

[mike @ Sep 19th 2007 6:07PM]

that thing looks about as responsive as my wife!

[Coleman Foley @ Sep 19th 2007 7:03PM]

ummm...how can you tell how responsive it is?

[John @ Sep 19th 2007 8:07PM]

watching the video.

[Xzavier @ Sep 19th 2007 8:35PM]

You must have never heard of LG KG850 and/or seen the UI on it!

Oh by the way... it was out a year in advance of the iPhone and it won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007! Perhaps it may have *INSPIRED* other companies to take notice?
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/11/iphone-and-lg-ke850-separated-at-birth/

When looking up the name Noel Rubin & iPod you will find out that he created a flash-base website interface that looks remarkably similar to the iPod's UI. However he created his website a year in advance!
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notag/apples-ipod-patent-not-thinking-differently-enough-9001.php

Apple has settled a lawsuit filed by a Vermont-based company called Contois Music Technology, which alleged that the iTunes user interface violated a 1996 patent for a "Computer Control System and User Interface for Media Playing Devices.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/03/apple-settles-itunes-interface-lawsuit/

I give Apple credit where credit is due... Marketing and Sales! However as for them inventing... well, sorry.

Apple creates very good hype around their products, releases it to the market, and all of a sudden everybody gets amnesia as towards what UI or design style are/were available!

[Chris @ Sep 20th 2007 10:48AM]

Have you ever actually used an LG phone? The UI is spectacularly AWFUL. It is hands-down the worst UI design of all major phone manufacturers and that's saying a lot when you consider Motorola is a major phone manufacturer. If your UI makes Motorola seem good, you're doing something wrong.

The interface of the LG that you show is actually pretty crappy. The screens Engadget chooses to show in those pictures make it look like they are similar but it's a total lie. How is a touch-screen supposed to dial numbers? Telepathically? A keypad has to be there.

As for your patent-lawsuit comments, they don't hold any water at all. Any jackass can cry foul and go to Texas to file a patent lawsuit. Just read Engadget on any given day and you'll see 3 of those. Apple takes what exists, evaluates it against their own R&D, puts it all on the line with a way no one has done it before, and then everyone gets their panties in a bunch because they couldn't think of it or do it themselves. Hence the lawsuits.

Hater.

[Xzavier @ Sep 20th 2007 12:26PM]

Well I appreciate *your* opinion on my opinion. My opinion on Apple copying other designs could be opinion or could be fact depending on who's looking at it. I only posted links to articles, they are not *MY* opinions or lawsuits or my designs in anyway.
Yes I have used the LG Prada. I wouldn't call it the BEST UI however I wouldn't call it the WORST as well. It does have a very interesting UI, it breaks away from the normal, traditional UI on most phones. Isn't that something that Apple did with the iPhone? That is *my* opinion. Your opinion is that it is AWEFULL UI. Please do remember that it did win the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007! If it were Apple winning that award some people might be doing backflips!

Your comment
"Apple takes what exists, evaluates it against their own R&D, puts it all on the line with a way no one has done it before, and then everyone gets their panties in a bunch because they couldn't think of it or do it themselves. Hence the lawsuits"

I don't know how Apple can take, "whatever exists/iPhone" and then evaluate it against their R&D when the product is not in existence? Apple dose copy a lot of stuff, however they don't claim that they invented it. That would pour lawsuits in their direction. It is their FAN-BASE that claim that they invented these products hence most of the discussion in most forums. I don’t think I have heard of one company suing another company because that company thought of and idea, “not copying and idea, or implementing an idea” before another company?

And as for me being a MAC Hatter... I have 1 G5 2.5gig dual core Power Mac, 3 G4 Power Mac’s, 1 G4 Cube and a iPod. I am OS X 10.3 ACTC certified! I call things how I see it. If Apple copied something then they copied something. End of story!

[Chineyz @ Sep 19th 2007 8:56PM]

Wow LG really made a groundbreaking interface that apple in turn made insanely popular...lol