We've seen plenty of
odd Android permutations, but UMEC seems to be striving to do something all its own. It's showing two devices it currently has in the works, one is a videophone / hub / DECT phone / etc. unit (pictured), which might be at home on a countertop, while the other is a brightly hued MID, with similar internal specs but more portable aims. Both are running ARM Cortex A8 processors (like the iPhone 3GS), though there's some significant OS optimization to be done: everything was incredibly sluggish on the videophone, and the MID was locked up at the time we dropped by. UMEC also doesn't have the touchscreen drivers working for either device, though the good news is that they're looking at both capacitive and resistive touchscreens, based on what the reseller that picks these up desires. Luckily, the videophone has USB plugs galore (along with plenty of Ethernet jacks) so we were able to get a quick demo of the device using a mouse and keyboard. The MID also has a full-size USB plug, and both devices sport HDMI out, so the end usage for both of these is really up in the air. Check 'em out on video after the break.
posted September 6th 2009 2:22PM
Open Source FTW!
People are still using DECT? As in, cordless landline phone? Make that a decent smartphone, and the screen is an external monitor on the smartphone...now you're getting somewhere.
I hope they make some refinements to the MID design. As it stands now, the thing looks ugly!
Also, wouldnt it be a better idea to just stick to one screen type and hence reduce the dev costs and then make it possible to have a cheaper overall device, instead of doing the resistive/capacitive screen thing?
LOL - VEDIO port.
the handset needs to be color for the videophone one. i mean even the verizon hub got it right so i know these people can
cooler not color... man that didnt make sense.
MY BRAIN HURTS
Where is everyone on this fine Labor Day Sunday?
Can this phone call back in time or something?
I heard it got a call from the 80s asking for their handset back.
I posted a better (probably) video at http://techvideoblog.com/ifa/720p-android-on-a-video-phone-solution-by-universal-microelectronics-co-ltd/ and sent a link for it a couple days to Engadget but didn't get a link I guess.