Rockchip plans on slashing Android phone prices with new RK2808 chipset
By Paul Miller 
posted Jul 10th 2009 5:44AM
posted Jul 10th 2009 5:44AM
[Via PMP Today]
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is that an arena KIRF?
Photoshoped LG Arena.
You can even see they've had problems taking of LG's logo above the screen.
https://www.vodafone.ro/shop/images/phones/LG_KM900/Old/lg-arena%201.jpg
They're just a chip manufacturer so LG is free to use the chip too. Whoever made the ad just wanted an image to use as "generic smart phone running android".
Looks good on paper, but I've never heard of Rockchip before so I'm leary about the quality. I'm curious about that "Flash UI", especially when the HTC Hero had issues playing Flash content only a small while ago; they must not be talking about the Adobe variety, or maybe it's a real hoss under the hood.
Sad, not good. Why? If Android is to provide a credible alternative to the iPhone, each device needs to be well executed and provide a consistent base level feature set for developers, else it will become just another Windows Mobile. Anyone who has spent quality time with an iPod Touch (V2 in particular) or an iPhone will appreciate the robust attention to detail, from managing emails (makes email fun!) to browsing photos. As soon as Android becomes a mess of clunky and/or cheap devices that do little more than previous low end models from other brands, it will have betrayed it's origins and goals. (Well, this is assuming the goals are to create a versatile yet intuitive device for the frustrated masses.)
To clarify the aforementioned point: What we must not see is a dumbed down hardware spec forced onto vendors by cheap chipsets. As long as the chipsets retain a minimum performance and feature spec, then we'll be ok!
Isn't there a rather decent disparity between the iPhone 1st Gen to the new 3GS? As far as performance is concerned anyway. I'm sure most android handsets will execute the same apps at varying performance levels.
Android has already rewritten the smartphone rulebook, and by the end of the year, the revolution will be upon us. Some people still think Android is a work-in-progress and that the Apple, Symbian, and Wince triad will continue to own the market.
You only need to spend a day in any market in Guandong to realize how radical a change we're talking about here. Today, there is a lot of KIRF - something like 90 firms producing variations on the i68 iPhone simulacrum, for example. But these tiny firms are exploding with innovation, and all that's holding them back is an open source smartphone platform, Android plus a cheap chipset.
The market will be flooded by sub-$100 smartphones. I saw CECT / i68+ clones for $50, and they were really nicely built. Just the OS is often bootlegged and flaky. As one site says, "Obviously the CECT phones are very ripe targets for Google's Android operating system, which is high-quality and yet costs $0."
The only thing wrong with Rockchip is the stock firmware provided with their chips. Using Android would seem to solve this problem. Writing your own firmware also solves the problem, which is what iRiver did with the P7 and, I suspect, the B30. If you're interested in the latest from Rockchip and what it can do, check out the Oppo S39, coming out next week in China.
$200? Nvidia promised Tegras for $100 per device...
Same as OLPC program, I guess. Takes 5 years and in the end the price is either doubled or tripled.
Looks like an iPhone