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UMPC posts

Kohjinsha PA series gets unboxed, looks kind of hardcore

by Darren Murph posted Nov 11th 2009 at 10:23AM

It's sort of difficult for us to say what exactly the Kohjinsha PA is. Part UMPC, part MID and part tablet PC, this mishmash has captivated us for quite some time, and while we were able to spend a few brief moments with it at CEATEC, the crew over at Pocketables was able to snag a shipping unit to unbox. They begin by noting that this thing is far from stylish, and while the hinge is ~~almost~~ laughably large, there's something subtly satisfying about just how chunky it looks. Hit the read link to see if you agree -- it's cool if you don't, you're only hurting feelings.

Archos 9 up for pre-order in America for $50 more than anticipated

by Darren Murph posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 1:33PM

Uh, Archos? You do remember telling us that your Archos 9 media tablet would ship on October 22nd for $499 back in late September, right? 'Cause if our eyes are being truthful to us, that's not at all what's happening here. The outfit's official web store has the 8.9-inch device listed (complete with Windows 7 Starter, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 1.3 megapixel camera) for $549.99, and worse still, it's only up for "pre-order." You know what happens after the second strike, right guys?

[Thanks, Trini]

Kohjinsha PA series tablet ships in November, value not guaranteed

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 26th 2009 at 9:27AM

Kohjinsha had a slew of portables on display at CEATEC earlier this month, including the classification-bending PA. Its design fits in somewhere between a MID and a tablet netbook, with its 4.8-inch, 1024 x 600 touchscreen and 1.33GHz Atom processor, but now we're learning that it's price roughly equates to a netbook and a MID. The device hits Japan early next month for ¥69,800, about $770. That's certainly not cheap, but if you need one elsewhere you're probably going to need to go through an importer, and their prices are ¥79,800 and up. That's about $870. Yikes.

Android 1.6 retrofitted onto Samsung Q1 UMPC (video)

by Darren Murph posted Oct 20th 2009 at 8:41AM

Too busy to bother with buying an Android-powered Archos 5? Then you're probably way too busy to bother with this here hack. But just in case you've got a morning you can wipe clean and a few afternoons where you can scoot out early, it's apparently possible to load up an Android 1.6 port onto one's Samsung Q1 UMPC. Kevin at jkOnTheRun did just that over a relaxing weekend, and while he's still struggling to get the touchscreen to act right, most everything else seems to be humming along sans issue. Eager to see if it's something you'd be into? Hop on past the break and mash play -- it's twelve minutes in heaven, ladies.

Continue reading Android 1.6 retrofitted onto Samsung Q1 UMPC (video)

AMD's Congo platform getting really official next month?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 18th 2009 at 8:14AM

AMD's never been much for keeping to the roadmap, and it looks like the curious launch of its Congo platform is evidence of that very fact. If you'll recall, we actually saw a Congo-based netbook launch way back in June, and it was expected that a flood of other ultrathin machines would follow shortly thereafter. According to DigiTimes, the demand in the market just wasn't there (thanks, recession!), so everything was pushed back until November. Lo and behold, our Gregorian calendar has that very month on deck for next, and according to mythical sources at laptop makers, the platform should make its super-duper official debut within a matter of weeks. The dual-core Turion Neo X2 L625, Athlon Neo X2 L335/L325 and / or single-core Athlon Neo MV-40 should be front and center, and AMD is apt to announce progress on its Nile and Brazos platforms -- both of which should help carry the chip maker through the next two years. Look out Atom, you've got some delayed competition coming your way.

Update: Seems as if this may all just be a "second wave" of sorts when many PC makers choose to launch machines based on this platform alongside Windows 7's debut. AMD informed us that the November delay notion was also false, and we get the feeling that Congo's just been waiting for Win7 to really get itself out there.

Viliv's WinXP-powered X70EX MID now on sale in America

by Darren Murph posted Sep 21st 2009 at 9:58PM

We're still not exactly sure who among us is buying MIDs, but as with those mysterious video glasses, it's abundantly clear that someone, somewhere definitely is. Take Viliv's X70, for instance. This thing's been around the world a time or two in more than one iteration, but at long last, the E70EX has departed Hong Kong and landed on US soil. Over at NewEgg, the X70EX Express P, X70EX Premium P and X70EX Premium 3GP are available for immediate shipment, though you'll still have to justify the $599.99, $729.99 and $879.99 (respectively) price tags. Good luck with that, and be sure to let us all know how it turns out.

[Via Laptoping]

Read - Viliv X70EX Express P
Read - Viliv X70EX Premium P
Read - Viliv X70EX Premium 3GP

Video: VIA EPIA-P720 Pico-ITX motherboard plays 1080p, doesn't sweat much

by Darren Murph posted Sep 19th 2009 at 12:06PM

While NVIDIA's Ion has been getting all of the attention of late, VIA's been doing this 1080p thing for quite some time. We actually heard earlier this year that the company's EPIA-P710 Pico-ITXe board was capable of playing back glorious 1080p video clips, but now we've got video proof that the unit's successor truly can. According to VIA, this mobo is the first from it to come with the VX855 Media System Processor onboard, which is obviously the secret sauce involved in delivering the high-res graphics. Head on past the break for a peek at the demo, and good luck resisting the urge to build a new SFF HTPC over the weekend.

Continue reading Video: VIA EPIA-P720 Pico-ITX motherboard plays 1080p, doesn't sweat much

Qi Smartbook U1000 rolls with WinMo, few buttons

by Darren Murph posted Sep 19th 2009 at 5:21AM

By definition, the Qi Smartbook U1000 isn't a smartbook. It's more like a touchscreen MID, but we'll let the semantics slide (just this once). Based on a 624MHz CPU, Windows Mobile 6.1 and a 5-inch touch panel (800 x 480), this Chinese device is also equipped with WiFi and a mysterious camera 'round back. Sadly, that's about all we know, but those who find themselves in Shenzhen should definitely check it out. Just be wary of those KIRFs -- we hear they're kind of prevalent over there.

[Via GadgetMix]

Sinchun's 8.9-inch UMPC-891A holds onto the past with XP

by Paul Miller posted Sep 15th 2009 at 5:17AM

Sinchun got the price right: 2999 Yuan (about $439 US), and the netbook-style specs make a lot of sense for this form factor. Unfortunately, Windows XP does not. Paired up against a stylus-driven 1024 x 600 touchscreen, Atom processor, 1GB of RAM and a variety of smallish SSD options, there's plenty of room for 7's touch enhancements to shine on the UMPC-891A -- but not enough expanse for them to choke up. Of course, there's nothing stopping you from slapping it on yourself. The biggest point of caution here is the 2 hour quoted battery life -- let's hope the Archos 9pctablet brings us a truly helpful amount of battery life in the UMPC space.

[Via Cloned In China]

Sinchun's UMPC-501 5-inch tablet makes its grand entrance

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 10th 2009 at 6:06AM

You know, for all the buzz surrounding Android-powered MIDs -- most of which we'll probably never see -- it sure is nice to see an actual device that's ready to hit the shelves for a change. Case in point: the UMPC-501 A is a rather nondescript 5-inch (800 x 480) touchscreen device by Sinchun Electronic Co., a company located deep within the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Weighing a mere 350g and measuring 6.3 x 3.75 x .87 inches, this bad boy sports a 1.1GHz Atom Z510 processor, 1G RAM, SSD storage (size to be determined), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, 3G, a SiRF Star III GPS, a removable battery (so this is definitely not the Apple Tablet then?) and ships with Windows XP Home (yeah, guess not). Barring any unforeseen events, it should be available sometime this month for under 3000 Yuan ($441). Now if only someone would stick this thing to a fridge. Get a closer look after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading Sinchun's UMPC-501 5-inch tablet makes its grand entrance

Kohjinsha rebrands mbook M1, calls it the PM series UMPC

by Darren Murph posted Sep 10th 2009 at 3:05AM

Hey, remember that cute little mbook M1 that was all the rage earlier this year? Yeah, you're looking at it again, only this time it's sporting a cleaner look and a Kohjinsha badge. The rebranded UMPC gets powered by a 1.1GHz Atom N510 CPU and also features 512MB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, 4.8-inch LCD (1,024 x 600), 1.3 megapixel camera, USB 2.0, a microSDHC expansion slot, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a headphone jack. It doesn't appear to tout any sort of inbuilt WWAN, though the included battery should last for right around seven hours before petering out. The only problem? That Texas-sized ¥59,800 ($647) price tag, which should do a commendable job of hindering widespread adoption.

[Via Pocketables]

Ask Engadget: Good input device(s) and user interfaces for the 'over 80 crowd?'

by Darren Murph posted Aug 20th 2009 at 9:03PM

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from a very concerned Mike, who is hoping to give his grandmother a way to properly interact with a laptop.

"I am trying to configure out a really dumbed down and intuitive PC for my grandmother. She recently had a stroke and while she is under my care I would like to repurpose a laptop for her to surf and email her children. Anyone have any experience with what input devices and UI's are really understandable for the over 80 crowd?"

We know this is a bit "out there" for Ask Engadget, but we get the feeling Mike isn't alone here. Anyone have any experience with unorthodox input devices and UIs designed for those with limited mobility and / or weakened vision? Spill the goods in comments below!

HP Mini 1000 hacked into touchscreen tablet

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 20th 2009 at 1:39PM

As all you compulsive modders and gadget freaks know, there aren't too many devices that a well-applied touchscreen kit won't make even better. And while there's nothing really earth shattering about a homebrew HP Mini 1000 tablet, we don't see too many of them. As with many a similar hack, things are pretty straightforward: remove the keyboard, cram in some components (actually, the term this guy uses is "squeeze") and then fit the shell back together. Oh yeah, he'll need to cut a hole in the shell for the touchscreen itself, as soon as he gets the actual touchscreen in the mail. Did we mention that he'll be laser cutting the window for the display, the webcam, and the speakers at his school? Regardless, he gets into all that (and more) at the myHPmini forums -- be sure to hit the read link for some of that action. Who knows, maybe you'll even be inspired to embark on a similar project yourself. But first, check the video after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading HP Mini 1000 hacked into touchscreen tablet

Pre-ordered Viliv X70s delayed to August 11, new customers might have to wait till September

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 29th 2009 at 2:32PM

The way we hear it, there are plenty of Viliv fans out there disappointed that Dynamism missed its promised delivery date for pre-ordered X70 units this week. The retailer says that component shortages are responsible for the delay and is now hoping to deliver by August 11, but there's worse news: new orders aren't expected to ship until September 2, turning what was once a fashionably late arrival to US shores into a rather embarrassing month-long delay.

[Via Pocketables]

DIY wearable computer: now you don't have to go to MIT to look like a total nerd in public

by Paul Miller posted Jul 25th 2009 at 7:55PM

We admit it: despite our general disregard for the benefits of higher education, we've always harbored deep jealousy for those incredibly intelligent jerks at MIT's Media Lab, traipsing around Massachusetts in their incredibly great wearable computers. Well, now that a MicroPCTalk forum member has built his very own wearable computer from a few spare parts lying around the house, we can finally put aside those futile dreams and get to work on our very own nerd-badge-of-honor. Mr. Fiveseven808 took a VAIO UX, Myvu Crystal wearable display, a bevy of Bluetooth peripherals and a iDEN i425 handset for connectivity. Sadly, his UX has since died, but there's more UMPC where that can, and those elitist MIT types can't keep us down forever.

[Via SlashGear]