Inbrics' Android-based M1 slated to ship this year
We already caught a fair amount of play time with Inbrics' Android-based M1 at CES, but it looks as if the company is fixing to "officially" reveal it next week at Mobile World Congress. We're still debating whether or not this thing is a bona fide smartphone or yet another MID that'll have a tough time gaining acceptance in this cruel, cruel world, but either way, it's apparently on track for release later this year. According to details scooped up by Pocket-lint, the company is hoping that the M1 will double as a media controller for AV junkies, and if all goes well, Europeans could get their hands on it "in 2010 or early 2011." Just as long as it's prior to 2012, we're cool.























Looks like better looking (or just slimmer?) version of HTC Touch Pro 2.
@bigvinny To me it looks a whole lot like the Toshiba TG01, just with an added keyboard (so, really like the Toshiba TG02?)
@bigvinny I agree. My Touch Pro 2 is getting jealous from the way I look at the M1...
@bigvinny Aside from its size, it’s not slouch in the feature department too, as it sports a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display, 3-megapixel camera, front-facing VGA camera, 800MHz processor, 16GB built-in storage, microSD card expansion, and a full QWERTY keyboard
The only caveat here is that it will run on the old Android 1.5. Not so shabby indeed. More Inbric Details: http://bit.ly/inbrics-m1-details
looks awesome. for some reason all the manufacturers seem to like neglecting hardware keypads... i could really use a super high end android that doesn't require onscreen typing. here's hoping this'll be tmobilable
@skyblaze
Just a question, why are Americans so intent on remaining on a particular network? Constantly crying for X or Y device to be on "their" network. Why not just switch? I mean in the UK, when your contract ends, you simply find the best price/value for the phone you want and move to whichever network it's being provided on, makes no difference whatsoever. What's different in the US?
@skyblaze - same her, i hate typing on touch screens i like to be able to feel the keys so i can type without looking at the screen.
@Almo i guess you havent been reading the comments here long, most people stick to a carrier because of the coverage they get with them or the price for the phone plan.
@Almo
Why don't we just switch?
Because we have competing 3G technologies here in the US and most phones don't contain more than one 3G radio type. So, if we do go to another carrier we risk losing 3G data compatibility.
@Almo
From what I understand, most devices in the UK are GSM, while in the USA, Verizon (which is the largest network) and Sprint are strictly CDMA. So if you're on one of those networks, you would want the device to support those frequencies.
@Almo
I'd just rather keep things simple. If I'm happy with my service and know it well, I don't want to risk moving to a service I'm not familiar with.
Also I know sprint customers are usually most loyal because of sprint's low data costs and don't want to pay the price of verizon's or AT&T's data.
@New Reformation
I getcha, we don't have those issues here, all unified system.
Well I can't switch to sprint or tmovule because they have no coverage where I live, only AT&T does
@Almo
Another problem: contracts and the etf. It's difficult to 'just switch' when switching to another carrier costs $200.
@Almo
The reason is that the US is HUGE and spread out. Where one carrier works well, others may not and vice-versa. For me, AT&T works well whereas Verizon, T-Mo and Sprint do not. Also, I've had both and I think that AT&T sounds better than Verizon.
Stunning phone but will the custom UI layer slow down software updates?
I can't ever see me getting a customised Android device after my Hero due to the slow (or non existant so far) updates. Stock Android on Nexus One for me for now.
@ChazClout
What are you talking about dude? My Hero sports the excellent SenseUI, and I always get all firmware downloads within days of release, oh , and it's blazingly fast too.
Maybe you have a branded model messed up by your carrier?
I also have an HD2, but I much prefer Android for a bunch of reasons.
As soon as I can grab a Nexus1 , an HTC Incredible, or something equivalent with a working voice dialing app, I guess I'll totally abandon WM devices (unless WM7 manages to overwhelm me)
@Plexus
I did have an Orange (UK) branded Hero but I was more on about Android versions than anything.
The Hero was released with Android 1.5, then the G1 got a 1.6 update and I waited. Then came the Droid with 2.0 and 2.0.1 and I was still on Android 1.5... Then came the Nexus One and there is still no release date for Android 2.1. :(
I know it's coming but I kind of got impatient.
I seriously hope they don't mess thing up by skimping on the RAM or using a budget-line processor.
Apparently someone has been listening to requests for a 5 row keyboard...
Wow that looks like a world class keyboard and all around design right there...too bad Motorola couldn't have outsourced the Droid's design to this company..
I think i want this phone,since it has an awesome keyboard and a front facing camera, but late 2010 early 2011 is too much of a wait. It's like there borrowing Sony Erickson's strategy on leaking a phone then releasing it long after you've stopped caring about it.
Looks like a decent phone
Do you have to make a 2012 "world going to end" joke in every blog entry about a 2011 -2013 release..It's getting old engadget ..
@brandenlee
yes they do, lest you forget your impending doom!
By that time Nexus Two (Moto Ghost) will be hitting the market.. I hope.
The cost savings going from AT&T to tmaobile are huge. I've been playing with the nexus one and I like it a lot. But I've always said you'll have to pry my iPhone from my dead dried up hands before I give it up. I think apple will win the innovation wars. I think they are sandbagging and releasing tech upgrades in a trickle just enough to stay on top. But they will always be on top. When someone gets close they will just release something cooler they have been holding on to.
Forgetting about the specs or potential market for this phone - the formfactor is GREAT.
A keyboard that looks to actually be USABLE on an Android phone!?!? God forbid!
When the hell are the other Android phone makers going to wake up and do the same?
@Hazdaz
Agreed. It looks really good.
keyboard looks very nice, The phone looks streamlined and thin. According to pocket lint: ""A consumer may have one or more of the following: a TV, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a laptop, a desktop and a DVR", says Inbrics. "The Inbrics convergence 'controller' acts as a conduit so the data can be pushed to any device the consumer chooses"."
So what its got built in IR? Interesting. I didn't read anything about a custom user interface, any information on that?
This is potentially NOT a phone but a nice looking MID. Why all the phone talk for a non-phone.....and geez Engadget does everything in your world revolve around smartphones or is it just your RSS feed is for the entire site?
looks so nice... so pretty
2011? Too late. I knew it was too good to be true.