VIA's WonderMedia decorates Computex with ARM 9-powered, Android 1.6 tablets
By Joanna Stern 
posted June 1st 2010 11:17AM
posted June 1st 2010 11:17AM
posted June 1st 2010 11:17AM
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first again :D
Looks like an iPhone. Oh and, FIRST!
@Scape3d Yeah right, anything that's black and has a screen looks like an iPhone, I forgot :D
BAH. You beat me cryptkeeper.
@Scape3d fair and squarE :P and it looks nothing like an iphone :o. Well maybe a litte. Either way, i cannot imagine ever using a device like this(at least of this size)
After seeing MeeGo Tablet, android doesn't impress me much.
Please stop with the android 1.6. :|
@One Love
Amen! What kind of moron product managers think it is a good idea to run an aging version of Android on a new device?
If you have a product in development, just pay your developers to update any custom software to the new Android. Besides, I think if you are going to make a Android device, you should build it with the idea that the OS is constantly updating. Don't make a computing platform that can't be updated to the new Android version.
@One Love: If this thing is running an ARM9 chip it hardly counts as a 'new device'. ARM9? Seriously?
neat alarm clock
1.6 though? Ugh
You forgot to mention one feature - these tablets seem certain to feature built-in 'instant obsolescence'; personally, I'd rather save up a little more cash and invest in something that I know is well-supported and that I'll continue to use beyond the first 10 minutes after unboxing. But, I guess, each to their own.
@meeku
I agree. Is it me or does this Joanna love any of crap-tacular tablet pc running Android lately?
MeeGo FTW!!! =D
KICKASS!! A TABLET THAT AT LEAST IS RUNNING WITH 2.1 TO LET YOU KNOW THAT FROYO IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNE-oooo wait, they said 1.6?
*sigh*
Can anyone explain why most of the android tablet running OS ver 1.6?
@qbgabe12
its easier to code. they changed a lot of android code going from v1.x to 2.x so tablets that were in development or production before 2.0 was released were being made for 1.5 or 1.6, or even earlier versions.
upgradind to 2.x requires a fair bit of code jiggling, something that takes time and money.
Its funny to me how these manufacturers can't even make a device on par with the ipad. Pathetic.
@Shalabi
Trolling around on engadget seems more pathetic to me...
@Shalabi This looks better then the Ipad. It can probably multitask cost only 200 dollars, you seem to be one of those apple fanboys who will buy anything that someone else tells you is good. Just because you like to blow your money, doesn't mean you should waste it.
These are the CPUs in the Eken M001. These CPUs are terrible for Android. Stop putting them in anything Android. I beg you VIA.
@xaueious
correct, however the eken is downclocked to 300mhz because the battery is so small. it only lasts 2 hours at 300mhz. imagine 600mhz.
the apad irobot runs the same chip at 600mhz and is much snappier. that would be a near perfect android tablet if the power supplies didnt keep failing.
test
Ppl.... i just bought one of those WM8505 "netbook" with android 1.6, just for browsing while i'm not in the PC (like on the commercial breaks when i'm watching TV), and i can tell you, these products work for THAT type of use case... don't think these will be your main computer.... just an "off the grid" one
@johnvillar Apple fans don't seem to understand that. That's why they pay for a tablet computer that costs as much as a desktop.
@johnvillar
My Archos 5 is on Android 1.6 and it works pretty well at what it was intended to do.
They look decent enough but I wonder how wise is it to use Resistive displays or rather resistive displays that havent been calibrated properly. Ive heard varying opinions about them some that are supposedly good and others not so good. I also heard they were coming out with a resistive screen that was just as responsive as a capacitive screen. I forget where I heard that probably in the comments here or in an article on engadget but if thats true I hope they start using them. Its just the lag on some of these devices is obviously due to the cpu but the screen isnt helping. Either way they look decent as long as they stay in the sub 200 range.
@EmGee
I had an n800 with a resistive screen and it worked very nicely. They're not all crappy.
@greenmonkey Thats true I forgot about my N810 lol it was pretty damn good.
these would make good home automation remotes. tv, central heating etc.
I would probably buy the tablet in the first screen for $100~, it looks actually somewhat decent even though it's 1.6.
Is it me or is Android really disappointing at Computerx? Ironically, Windows tablets are doing fine for themselves.
@timotim I think it's mostly because Google doesn't officially support Android as a tablet OS [if I recall correctly] maybe cause they're wanting to push ChromeOS into the tablet landscape when its ready? I really hope ChromeOS will allow you to use android apps if thats the case.
How come all these android tablets have such horrifically choppy/sluggish UIs
@Luffy
Because Android 1.6 is a pretty choppy UI.
Dont knock 1.6 can't be that that bad or Sony would not have put it on my x10i lol
Why do people always poo poo any non phones running older androids versions? These are all custom setups to do certain jobs and I'm sure they come with all the apps to do that job (web tablet,pmp,toaster).
Also you can install any compatible apks through many alternative appstores and by hand with no hackery so it's not really as big a deal as you might think.
Don't the higher androids versions largely have to do with very phone-centric stuff from Google anyway?
I smell carpc.
Don't hate on the Eken M001 because it is cheap and beautiful. The guys over at Slatedroid have hacked the hell out of that little $100 device.
WEIGHT??????????????
looks like the big fat syster of cute baby boy EVO. =/
cute light bulb in that screen brightness adjuster on the customized screen ^^