SmartQ 5 MID scores itself Ubuntu, a ridiculously low price tag

The SmartQ 5 from SmartDevices just took itself from me-too MID of the millisecond to a quite interesting value proposition. The touchscreen device, which features a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 screen, is now running an ARM-friendly Ubuntu distro, and has been given the low, low pricetag of 899 Chinese Yuan, about $132. Sure, it'll probably never surface Stateside, especially not for that price, but it's a good demonstration of what a little bit of decent ARM hardware and a popular Linux distro can do when they work together, hand in hand.

[Via iTech News Net]

[Andir Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:03AM]

Depends on who you let carry it... and how well they can hide in the bowels of a plane or ship.

[telepheedian Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:04AM]

This actually makes me somewhat interested in ARM processors now, typically I support Atom, but if they can make a decent system for a very low price (under 150), then I'd go for it.

[Nerfman Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:22AM]

When's this puppy coming out? I'd take a serious look at it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:22AM]

I found some pics from a review:

http://mobile.ccw.com.cn/xpsd/htm2009/20090315_602486.shtml

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:25AM]

One thing is for sure--- Those ideograms do NOT say, "Free Tibet"

[vs8 Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:30AM]

LXDE Rocks! Man I really want that thing!

Linux "support" in America is a joke. We need something like that in the States, it would fly off the shelves.

[chengdude Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:33AM]

Latest screenshots on SmartQ's website show the Q5 running:

SMPlayer
Audacious
FBReader
Sylpheed
Transmission
Pidgin
rgbPaint

In addition, there's the previously announced SmartDict dictionary/translation tool and an unnamed PDF reader.

And yes, SmartQ has coyly mentioned it's an ARM11 processor, which everyone is assuming to be a Samsung 64XX (same processor as in the Meizu M8). They also promised it will be released this month.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:34AM]

For people interested, here are more picture about it http://www.smartdevices.com.cn/information/news/200903/18-205.html

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 11:14AM]

Is this any competition to the iPod touch. ??no 20000 apps no proven quality . Seriously who would buy this over touch,,??

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 11:34AM]

proven quality? more like proven comformity

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:18PM]

the ipod Touch is definitely an elegant piece of hardware/software, and the overall GUI will almost certainly be better on the Touch. however...the iPod costs significantly more than the SmartQ 5 MID for comparable storage -- no small matter when you want to tote around video -- the iPod doesn't let you plug in additional memory, the iPod doesn't give you anywhere CLOSE to the codec support (e.g., no FLAC, APE, OGG formats on the iPod but yes on the SmartQ, and the same codec limitations apply on the video end as well). so there are a lot of reasons for not going with the Touch.

[fincan Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:23PM]

Me.

[Jorvay Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:31PM]

2000 applications is nothing compared to the number applications available in Ubuntu repositories...which are all free and made available through a mind-numbingly simple GUI tool. Though I guess us Ubuntu/Mint users are still lacking those ever so wonderful flashlight apps.

[Plothole Posted Mar 19th 2009 5:14AM]

iPod touch - 3.5", 480 x 320 display
SmartQ 5 - 4.3", 800 x 600 display

Higher resolution is generally a good thing when it comes to web browsing.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 11:32AM]

why can't we get this here? Somebody could make a lot of dough importing these and getting an english distro running.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:11PM]

you'll be able to get this state-side....allpmp.com is already accepting pre-orders, and mp4nation.net will likely ship to the states as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:16PM]

Too good to be true. That is what I have been looking for ...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:22PM]

the website is google in chinese, and the only different between that and the english generation is that it will preference to websites in chinese, or you can choose "show web in chinese only"

CCTV is just a liar, and so does CCN

[bigcow05 Posted Mar 18th 2009 1:03PM]

All media is controlled by the government. Even PBS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkrH8BfU7aE

[WWPJ Posted Mar 19th 2009 1:43AM]

I love PBS, I don't have a problem if it's controlled by the government, at least they are doing something good that I care about. If you can do any better than PBS be my guest, I'll be watching Frontline and Nova and many other shows I enjoy. PBSFTW!!!

[bigcow05 Posted Mar 21st 2009 3:01PM]

I love PBS too. I was just making the point that all media is biased. It is important to view all sorts of media to get a broader picture.

[BaDZeD Posted Mar 18th 2009 7:42PM]

Here are the specs (as per http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27433):

specs are
It has 3D acceleration (4M triangles/sec) with OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 support!

Specs on the CPU:

• ARM1176ZJF 533/667MHz
• 65nm low-power process
• DVFS power management
• mDDR/DDR and mSDR/SDR
• WVGA or higher display resolution
• Hard-wired 3D GFX accelerator
? – OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0
• Hard-wired multimedia (>WVGA)
? – MPEG-4 SP codec
? – H.264/263 BP codec
? – VC-1 (WMV9) decoder
? – JPEG/2D hardware
? – Hardware rotator & post processor
? – TV encoder
• DMA
• Security hardware: DES/3DES, AES, SHA-1
• High-speed connectivity
? – UART
? – High-speed SPI
? – USB 2.0 OTG
? – High-speed MMC
? – MMC+/eMMC
? – SDHC 4-bit
? – SD cards/iNAND 2.0
? – I2S
• Pin compatible with S3C6400 & S3C6430
• Package: 424 pins, 13x13, 0.5mm pitch FBGA"

[WWPJ Posted Mar 19th 2009 1:57AM]

I was hoping it would have an ARM Cortex processor, it would be a little more expensive but I think it would be so much worth it. The processor it has is the one seen on the iPhone and a stone throw from the processor in the Nokia N810. I find everything else about this device close to perfect.

[SirNoDroin Posted Mar 18th 2009 4:37PM]

ehhh....me thinks a cheap 150 dollar computer designed and made in the land of cheap knocks offs will preform like a cheap knock off.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2009 12:20AM]

Where do you think they make iPods???

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2009 4:04AM]

http://www.eletroworld.cn/nb/SmartQ_5.htm says:

Up to 4 GB micro SD.

ROM: 256MB, RAM 512MB

Does anybody know if this information is accurate? 4GB would run out really fast and 256 woudln't fit too many apps would it?

[telepheedian Posted Mar 19th 2009 10:54PM]

I hope they make a cheap high capacity/hard drive version, it's like a marriage of my Zune and my netbook.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2009 10:53AM]

this takes SDHC cards, which go up to 32GB.

[(Unverified) Posted May 9th 2009 10:16AM]

internal storage 1GB but only 256MB availiable, others used by OS, expandable to 32GB SDHC, but it has only 110MB RAM (hope this will help Google seekers, i didn't find other website have RAM info but very important), so i am afraid it would be VERY SLOW. i am chinese and i checked official site i sure this is right!
for RAM, see 5th pic: http://www.smartdevices.com.cn/information/Evaluation/SmartQ5/200904/27-343_5.html

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 29th 2009 5:50AM]

the Q5 is realeased today , and price is 132$ , the manufacturer only has chinese website .if you need it , you have to buy from wholesale or online store. i come from china , if you need help , please email me , [e-mail]
www.jiongtang.com

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 29th 2009 8:35AM]

Q5 is coming out. Think I will be able to get my hands on one in a couple of days!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 1st 2009 10:43AM]

I didn't lie. I got my hands on a Q5 today. It's REALLY launched!
http://kamleung.com/goodies/q5/index.html

[ginko Posted Apr 11th 2009 2:54PM]

I bought one from ownta.com, it still in delivery, maybe I can get within this week, is $138.36 worthy it ?
http://www.ownta.com/smartdevices-smartq-5-mid-player-without-memory-.html

[oringal Posted Apr 23rd 2009 9:15AM]

CNET asia has a quick but detailed video review in eng. :)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 10:53PM]

it is hot sale now

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 10:23PM]

download smartq5 new software and firmware from www.jiongtang.com/blog/
firmware v2.0 released today