Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ

It's no surprise that Dell's been dipping its toes in Android-infested waters as of late, and now the Wall Street Journal's reasserting a previous claim from early April that the company's hard at work on a MID powered by Google's mobile OS platform. Multiple sources have reportedly likened it to a slightly larger iPod touch, while one went so far as to suggest a very tentative second half 2009 target release window, assuming the project doesn't get 187'd before then. Despite its history with Intel and the chipmaker's penchant for MIDs, the report pegs ARM as the processor of choice. As for how this jibes with rumors of Dell's smartphone plans, that's where things get interesting, as WSJ quotes a source who said Dell's thinking about selling it through cell carriers like it's currently doing with 3G-equipped netbooks. The article repeatedly calls it a MID -- meaning a phone might still be in the cards, but given past whispers, it kind of makes you wonder.

[RLBurkes @ Jun 29th 2009 4:21PM]

Oh Dell did we forget the DJ?

[bandigolo @ Jun 29th 2009 4:21PM]

Meh. Looks like the original HTC Touch.

[Danny Moore @ Jun 29th 2009 4:23PM]

Hopefully Dell can become innovative !

[darkstar @ Jun 29th 2009 5:39PM]

im really surprised not a lot of companies are building mp3 players with web surfing capability to compete with the ipod touch by now. why???

[sj.lee36bc @ Jun 29th 2009 5:51PM]

A simple answer is that it is an mp3 player?

Sure iPod Touch is great, but its focus as an mp3 player is a bit washed away. As a music enthusiast, my top priorities in an MP3 is the sound quality and then battery life. Web browsing would be a non-essential component. Why? iPod Touch requires Wi-Fi connection, and in many cases that I am in a hotspot, I would probably have a laptop handy. Now, that browsing technology in device such as iPhone, I admit, is amazing.

But there are MP3's out there that do web browsing. Zune HD, and Sony X-series for example.

[mike @ Jun 29th 2009 11:48PM]

I love how you pretend the Zune HD is 'out there' ... it's not. Quite literally.

Moreover most people have never seen a Zune.

As for the X-series, dude, its Sony: way over priced, with mangled software and horrible compatibility standards.

Take another look, the iPod touch has no competitors.

The real answer is what Apple has said all along: they make the whole widget. All the Japanese companies never learned how to make great software. And in the case of the Zune, that's still one company working on one side, and another company (HTC) working on the other, then mashing them together. Of course, the real problem for MS is that they're followers, so they're always going to be competing against the last gen device. They have to. It's their blueprint.

The Zune HD isn't even in production yet. They know iPod touch will be updated in Sept, and so they put their release date right up against it.

[Mark @ Jun 29th 2009 4:26PM]

Why is it using the Lenovo ophone unlock screen?

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 29th 2009 4:26PM]

"Insert Ipod touch killer" comments here.

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:05PM]

no

[iFargle @ Jun 29th 2009 4:26PM]

I'd like to have one of these.. I've always liked how android works (I'd absolutely LOVE Android on my iPod touch..)

[Maeztro @ Jun 29th 2009 4:27PM]

Paul? You are slacking! Get in here and comment! Dell and Apple mentioned in the same article!

[Flaystus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:30PM]

Yes Dell is also rumored to be working on a HD DVR that can record both OTA and Sat. content without a subscription and its powered completely by rainbows!


I think its pretty obvious that dell should continue pumping out PCs that are slightly behind the current specs. as they have for a long time now.

[paul34 @ Jun 29th 2009 4:36PM]

Why is it obvious?

[Flaystus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:40PM]

Because they fail at everything else.

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:08PM]

You do realize how many computers the company of "fail" sells... right?

[BerBar @ Jun 29th 2009 4:33PM]

Or so says Mr. Blurry Cam.

Seriously, I'm tired of blurry pictures of leaked gadgets. Even the crappy camera on the iPhone can do better than that.

[bandigolo @ Jun 29th 2009 4:48PM]

Indeed. Check out this photo I took of some douche passed out at 2am last Friday. Touch Diamond in pretty damn low light. I think these gadgeteers must have the shakes or something.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs084.snc1/4895_1164517265479_1004297510_30504615_3882453_n.jpg

[Flaystus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:50PM]

They look kinda like my iPhone photos pre Nightcamera.

[dkarageo @ Jun 29th 2009 4:36PM]

Yes, because the Dell DJ was so full of super-awesomeness (rolls eyes).

[John @ Jun 29th 2009 4:45PM]

This looks more like a Palm Pre then an Apple anything!

[Steven @ Jun 29th 2009 8:50PM]

I agree I believe its more palm pre-esque than iphone. I'm really getting sick and tired of hearing apple and iphone.

[Quix @ Jun 29th 2009 4:37PM]

Android??? But I thought Dell was Microsoft's biatch?

First Linux, now Android. Getting ballsy there, Mr. Dell. Ballmer is going to throw a chair through the window at the next Dell-MS meeting. And Michael Dell will probably be sitting in it at the time.

[ethana2 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:25PM]

First Ubuntu, then Android. They're both linux based operating systems.

...and as the owner of an Ubuntu Dell, I can tell you there's nothing 'ballsy' about their offerings besides that they use 'testing' that they don't actually DO as an excuse to not offer a version of ubuntu that could by an wise be called 'recent'. My next laptop?
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs-13inch.html

[ethana2 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:26PM]

(Oh man, three whole computers, look at all the consumer choice!)

[Zachary Waldowski @ Jun 29th 2009 5:33PM]

Why would you say that? They're the first major US manufacturer that put OEM Linux on computers. Pretty damn cool in my book. Not that I like their computers, though. Fall apart too easily...

[Dave @ Jun 29th 2009 4:48PM]

Q2 2009 RELEASE DATE?????

That gives Dell 2 DAYS to release it!!!

[mrpysnik @ Jun 29th 2009 4:45PM]

There looks to be a speaker slit at the top and a mic pinhole at the bottom - seems more like a phone to me.

[Miguel @ Jun 29th 2009 4:46PM]

With a little orange blister covering a front-facing camera and a line clearly indicating a speaker, I see a phone, not a MID. But whatever.

[Josh Hall @ Jun 29th 2009 4:49PM]

I feel like a complete idiot, but what the hell does "187'd" mean?

[Flaystus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:50PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/187_(murder)

[Theli @ Jun 29th 2009 4:51PM]

I would love to see Acer get into this business and release a MID-version of their upcoming Android handset. They would, more than anyone else I believe, be able to push the price down on these kinds of devices.

[MacVicta @ Jun 29th 2009 4:56PM]

"People familiar with the effort said Dell began developing the device last year, after the company aborted an attempt to compete with Apple in the music-player business. Some of the engineers working on the music player were then assigned to help develop the small mobile device."

"Another person who was briefed on the company's plans recently said Dell may begin selling the device during the second half of 2009, though this person said the plan could be delayed or scrapped entirely."

Lol, this company seems to be devoid of any focus.

Pick something and stick with it, guys. Or you could always shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.

[ethana2 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:29PM]

...Sell the whole shebang to Oracle!

[Zak @ Jun 29th 2009 7:55PM]

"Or you could always shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

Irony win, but I have the feeling a lot of people here probably won't know what you're referring to, so this is for them:

http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/14397/

Michael Dell set himself up for being the recipient of one of the hardest and most public pwnings in history with this quote. When asked what he would do if he were in charge of Apple, he said:

"What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

8 years later, Apple's market value was DOUBLE Dell's. When it's so blatantly obvious that Michael Dell wouldn't know a good idea if it punched him in the colon, it makes me laugh every time Dell says they're going to compete with Apple on ANY level. Dell is a horrible businessman and it shows. How else can you explain the fact that Apple is worth more than double what Dell is while successfully putting out a much lower volume of products?

But sure, Dell. Go ahead and make an iPod "competitor". Just ignore the fact that you're two years too late and shrug off your history of apocalyptic failure every time you try to compete with Apple directly. Repeating the same mistakes over and over makes much more sense than actually learning from them, amirite?

[10minutehobo @ Jun 30th 2009 6:17AM]

Zak:
Dell doesn't exploit stupidity.

[Hackettman @ Jun 29th 2009 5:33PM]

Eh its a phone..... They need to just come out and say it......

[jay jay @ Jun 29th 2009 5:47PM]

looking forward to seeing it come to market.

[Elaine @ Jun 29th 2009 5:58PM]

Does anyone else notice the Chinese characters next to the time? It says "morning" in Chinese.

[Agent .25i @ Jun 29th 2009 6:57PM]

Does anyone else notice the huge mushroom waking up out of bed? And whats with the little blue hula hoop it has?

[Agent .25i @ Jun 29th 2009 6:58PM]

Even weirder... why is he phone on an autopsy table?

[Rafa @ Jun 29th 2009 7:41PM]

Remind me of Dell DJ. :) Perhaps, it is going to be called Dell NJ? No?

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 29th 2009 9:26PM]

MID? bad idea, unless it's far larger and more powerful than a smartphone. I can't see much sales volume for a non-phone device in that size range. They should focus on making a killer Android smartphone.

[Josh @ Jun 29th 2009 11:32PM]

Looks like a Palm Pre, without the keyboard..

[Ron @ Jun 30th 2009 2:19AM]

I can see a blue Vista ring on the screen!! OMG .. save the world..

[Richard @ Jun 30th 2009 8:48AM]

Give me an Android phone with a 3.8" LCD, 600x400 res, 256mb ram, 5MP camera with Xenon flash and a SD slot and you have my money.

[haveacoke @ Jun 30th 2009 9:36AM]

Dell needs to save a phone for Windows Mobile 7... with some awesome hardware... such as nvidia...

[Garry @ Jun 30th 2009 2:48PM]

Great, the Axim all over again. I remember how well that worked last time, with countless patches and firmware upgrades, and bricking. Sigh...

[gravitynoob @ Jul 3rd 2009 6:42PM]

I wonder if this device will find a home with VARs that build custom android packages.

BTW... I'm pretty sure that surfing mushroom is smoking something.