Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 3rd 2010 1:54AM
posted March 3rd 2010 1:54AM
Ah, Ruslan Kogan -- we can't help but want to see this starry-eyed dreamer succeed, even if we still haven't got our Android handset. According to Australia's APC, the man's gunning for the iPad market with an as yet unnamed tablet of his own. The goal? A full HD, ARM 600MHz-powered capacitive touchscreen device with 512MB RAM, 2GB storage, and an SDHC card for under $200 (presumably that's Australian dollars, meaning about $180 US). Apparently the above prototype runs Windows, Android and Ubuntu, although Windows won't be an option if -- and we do mean if -- this thing ever solidifies, due to production costs. As for that display, it's tipped to be 800 x 480, the sting of which is taken out by the unit's 1080p HDMI output. You say you're not in the market for a slate? Kogan's also said to be working on networked TVs ("probably by the end of the year") and a Blu-ray player with WiFi and YouTube widgets. As for the aforementioned Agora handset? "[S]oon," he says. "I can't give a time frame on that, though. It'll be as soon as we're allowed to." This is one mysterious man indeed. We can't help but wonder when he's going to get serious and tackle something big, like perpetual motion.
Update: We just realized that this is none other than SmartQ 7 MID first handled, oh, back in May!
Update: We just realized that this is none other than SmartQ 7 MID first handled, oh, back in May!
Again? Oh, please, Ruslan! STOP IT!
@suland
This guy has built up an entire electronics brand from scratch with products that rival the price and quality of named brands in Australia. Cut the guy some slack.
512 ram is aweful
@emopoops Not for Linux or Android or WinCE on an ARM processor.
It also does 720p and most 1080p (depends on encoding) very well.
@p0p0 no 512 ram is horrible dispite the processor.
@emopoops Aw geez, someone ill informed.
512MB is plenty for this kind of device. I know, I own it. Its not a desktop or laptop. Its a MID (Mobile Internet Device) and it does what its supposed to, browse the web, quite well.
@emopoops RAM has little to do with 720p/1080p decoding, you need a dedicated hardware decoder to perform any H.264 decoding. I'm not too up to scratch with ARM's offerings but at 600MHz I can't think of much that will also have integrated HD video decoding unless it has a separate chip for it.
And it's a bit of a stretch to say it could run Windows given it uses ARM and not an x86 CPU. WinCE is fine on my GPS, but what could it possibly be doing on a HD tablet
@DAZA EDIT: Looks like it uses an ARM11 processor, which can adequately decode 1080p/720p even with 256MB DDR.
@DAZA well i dont believe you and even more: its a mobile device and it had hdd not sdd. not too great in my opinion. but sinse its been out for a while i dont blame u for byuing it!
@p0p0 or you for buying it!
@p0p0 You own something that isn't even on the market yet? I find that hard to believe.
@Ezye1313 havent u read the rest of the thread?
@emopoops I'm running 512 MB of RAM on my laptop right now. Est-ce que tu as une probleme avec ça?
@emopoops
I would also like to correct myself. And this might blow your mind, the SmartQ V7 actually only has 256MB DDR2. So its far less then stated in the article.
Theres a post farther down by Vuki that explains the difference.
This picture let me understand why there is no usb and HDMI directly on iPad.
It's so ugly ...
@zetman
Yeah, those proprietary Apple ports are so sexy.
@zetman Fuction = ugly and form = sexy? You might be on the wrong site, sure we can have the best of both worlds, but you need to wait for it for at least another 15 months to get it from Apple.
Function is nearly always sexy in my book...and price means its sexiness I can get into the bed with.
@zetman I'll add one thing, just in case. Perhaps you didn't actually support Apple's decision and are just pointing out one of those Job's non-endearing qualities. Though, I wouldn't chalk the looks of the connections as his biggest X against including the ports.
@zetman Should just add an r and make it Krogan, then make it impossible to break :D
The Krogan? Oh, there isn't an "r" there.
this looks familiar
http://cgi.ebay.com/SmartQ-V7-7-Touchscreen-Tablet-PC-UMPC-MID-PDA-PMP-Wifi_W0QQitemZ250574203271QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item3a5762e987#ht_4475wt_1182
Why are you showing pictures of the SmartQ V7 for?
They've been out since November 2009 and I have one.
Are you using it because it exactly like what this guy wants, or is it that black thing sitting in front of it?
And no this thing is not a iPad competitor. Their isn't enough software support for the subpar OS's. WinCE is fast but relatively useless, Ubuntu is good but a bit slow (no 2D/3D drivers yet, being hacked in though) but Android on it is very good, even works with Youtube (youtube app).
@p0p0 It is a SmartQ and for some reason Kogan is passing it of as his prototype here in Australia. One of his PR people said that this was a prototype from one of their partners - this is crap! Kogan has been caught with his pants down right after the Android phone which he never released.
Shame on you Kogan trying to deceive the smartest community is not a good idea
Eh, that's the SmartQ 7 isn't it? It's already available for some time now. Here's a review
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050488,44969609p,00.htm
What a interesting device could be a big hit or a big fail and all the specs look good except that 600mhz pros. It should be a 1 ghz along with those kind of specs
what is that smaller device???
is that a HTC SUPERSONIC???
Yeah, it's just a SmartQ V7. I ordered one here: http://www.allpmp.com/goods.php?u=4492&id=38
Impressive device for the money. Great build quality, good HD video playback. I just don't like Android on a capactive screen. But Linux is awesome. Multitasking tablet for $250, beat that.
Since when ARM CPU can run x86 OS?
And since when Windows can work with 512 mb ram?
I'll treat this as April the 1st preparation.
@(Unverified)
All version of Windows 98 up to Windows XP work 512 Ram depending on what you use your computer for
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows XP
@(Unverified) FYI, its Windows CE, which is VERY similar to Window Mobile. Those both support ARM processors. Unless I'm mistaken in reading the article, it means Windows CE.
Not really interested in this particular device, but...
Sure does beg to question all those who constantly claim that it's the large'capacitive touch screen' that adds so much to the cost of certain other devices.
so should i expect to order this and then later find out ill never get it just like my agora pro?
Hi, my name is Vuki and I work for Kogan's PR team in Australia. We just wanted to briefly clarify a few things.
This was a device we showed to some technology journalists at a conference in Australia this week. We did not hide the fact that it based on the SmartQ 7, as mentioned above. Kogan Technologies are working with the manufacturer to develop and release a revised device under the Kogan brand in the coming months to the Australian market. With current component pricing, AUD$199 will be the price of the unit.
Kogan Technologies are working to upgrade the screen to a capacitive one, change the charger to mini or micro USB, increase the RAM of the original device, add an accelerometer, and potentially include a webcam.
The device we displayed had the ability to boot into Android, Linux, and Windows CE. We're currently in discussion with our customers through our blog as to whether they would use Windows CE -- which is why it will likely be a dual-boot device.
As for the upgraded TV line and new Blu-ray player -- you can stay in touch regarding these through our Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/kogantech or sign up to our newsletter at http://www.kogan.com.au/subscribers/add/
@Vuki Can you tell us anything about plans for Java or Flash being included? I ask because I see from CNET that it wast on the SmartQ, and I realize it might be chocking on it with or without the RAM upgrade you mentioned. Thanks.
Am the I the ONLY one who read it as Krogan? Like from Mass Effect?
@Prevacator I only just noticed it now that I read it like Krogan.
I've posted too much in this article....
@Prevacator
I thought the same thing. But then i started thinking "Grunt doesn't want to read ebook, he wants to fight".
I bought one of their region free Blu-Ray players to replace my DVD player when it died. So far it has worked well, playing everything I have put in it. I can buy my Blu-ray discs from Amazon (which will eventually save me the price of the device). The Blu-Ray disc prices here in Australia are not exactly competitive.