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Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC

Daniel Cooper — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:32:00 EST

If you're excited about convertible tablets but can't wait for the IdeaPad Yoga to arrive, then perhaps Novero's Solana might give you a temporary fix. It's a dinky netbook (yes, netbook) that runs both Windows 7 and Android, but you can flip the display over in its frame to turn it into a tablet PC. It's packing a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600, Intel GMA 3600 IGP Graphics, 2GB of RAM and a choice of 32 or 64GB of solid-state storage. Fortunately, it looks like it won't be long before we get to clench it to our chests since it's now been given the thumbs-up from the assembled experts down in the FCC's underground bunker. For around $800, you too can pretend it's 2009 all over again, just remember to bring the Flo Rida.

Continue reading Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC

Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on

Dana Wollman — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EST

The last time we saw the Novero Solana, we were prowling Intel's booth at CES in search of prototypes. Because it was Intel, not Novero, showing the device, the emphasis was on that Cedar Trail processor inside, as well as that kooky form factor -- a netbook with a titling, easel-like touchscreen. What we didn't know then was that the Solana also runs Android, and that it's almost ready for prime time: it's expected to hit Europe and North America within the next two to three months, priced at about €699 or $799, respectively. We had a chance to play with some more polished hardware here at Mobile World Congress, and also see the machine running Gingerbread. Follow past the break for some early impressions or, if it's too early in the US to stomach reading, have a gander at our quickie demo video.

Gallery: Novero netbook / tablet hybrid hands-on at CES 2012

Gallery: Novero Solana hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012

Continue reading Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on

Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' Jonney Shih: Android 4.0 hitting tablets by year's end, ultrathin netbook is coming

Darren Murph — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:12:00 EST

We just witnessed quite the interview between ASUS chairman Jonney Shih and Walt Mossberg at AsiaD, and outside of revealing the Transformer Prime (and affirming that the impending Padfone would ship with Android 4.0), he also dropped a few other nuggets worth mention to the audience here in Hong Kong. For starters, he finally caved to Walt's pestering about who his main competition was, specifically related to the new Zenbook. "The Mac[Book] Air," he stated, chuckling slyly afterwards, but quickly continuing on to plug his own machine based on its own merits. Not surprisingly, he also expressed his confidence that Android tablets still had a lot of life left in the market, and he stated that ASUS is still on track to move its target -- around two million -- Android tablets this year. Moving onto the topic of netbooks, Shih noted that rather than being buried, netbooks are simply "evolving." More importantly, however, was his subtle confirmation that a new ASUS netbook is en route: "You'll see on our new netbook, it'll be very thin." In fact, he even suggested that the design may follow that of the Zenbook, but just... smaller.

When asked about his thoughts on people replacing laptops less frequently, and perhaps shifting disposable income to smartphones and tablets, Jonney maintained that all of those markets were key to ASUS' success, and that none were taking a backseat. "We believe that this a very critical time, transitioning from the personal computing era to the ubiquitous cloud computing era." Sounds a bit like another mantra we heard, truth be told, but ASUS has been riding the cloud bandwagon long before most other consumer companies even knew what it was. The original spate of Eee PCs had next to no internal storage; rather, they relied on accessing the web in order to deliver the bulk of their functionality. Jonney also noted that ASUS is attempting to tackle an interesting problem with its products, which is that few people can truly separate work and entertainment -- in other words, you need products that adequately handle both worlds. We're guessing a Padfone + Transformer Prime + Zenbook is his preferred trifecta to do just that.

ASUS' Jonney Shih: Android 4.0 hitting tablets by year's end, ultrathin netbook is coming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8

Amar Toor — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:54:00 EST

When Qualcomm announced a pair of Windows 8-compatible ARM processors yesterday, we knew Texas Instruments wouldn't be far behind. Sure enough, the company has just announced a new addition to its OMAP 4 family of ARM SoCs, with the 1.8GHz OMAP4470. TI's new chip is powered by a pair of 1.0GHz ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore engines, as well as two, 266MHz ARM Cortex-M3 cores that handle multimedia duties. According to the company, this multi-core structure will enable faster web browsing and more frugal power usage, while putting the OMAP4470 in square competition with quad-core chips like NVIDIA's Kal-El and Intel's latest Sandy Bridge line. The SoC was designed for tablets, netbooks and smartphones running Android, Linux, or the next version of Windows, and can support a max QXGA resolution of 2048 x 1536, and up to three HD displays. There's also a single-core PowerVR SGX544 GPU capable of running Direct X 9, OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenVG 1.1, and OpenCL 1.1. The OMAP4470 is expected to hit the OEM and OED markets in the first half of 2012, but you can find more information in the specs sheet and press release, after the break.

Continue reading Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8

Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CUPP PunkThis hands-on (video)

Myriam Joire — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

It's not the first time we're run into CUPP Computing's unique ability to blend the x86 and ARM platforms into one device -- at least in prototype form -- and just before the start of Computex 2011 here in Taipei we got a chance to experience the company's latest iteration called PunkThis. The product is meant to replace your computer's 2.5-inch SATA hard drive with a board featuring a complete ARM-based system along with a mini-PCIe socket -- the latter capable of accommodating a physically smaller SATA SSD to handle the missing storage for the x86 host. PunkThis is built around a Texas Instruments DM3730 1GHz ARM CPU with 512 MB of RAM and includes a WiFi radio, as well as connectors and cables to interface the board with existing video, audio, and USB facilities on the host computer (no soldering required).

The Asus Eee PC netbook we got to play with was running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but was lacking WiFi support. It ran perfectly alongside Windows 7 which was powered by the existing Atom processor. Switching OS-es is just a hotkey away, and battery life is supposedly doubled when the main x86 CPU is shut down and the only the daughter board is operational. PunkThis also provides two microSD card slots -- one for system storage used by the ARM-based OS (Android in this case), the other for mass storage visible to both environments (shared space). Pricing is supposed to remain below $200 and availability is expected in 8 weeks. That's pretty hardcore, but with a name like PunkThis would you expect anything less? Feast your eyes on our gallery and peek after the break for our hands-on video along with the obligatory PR.

Gallery: CUPP PunkThis hands-on

Continue reading CUPP PunkThis hands-on (video)

CUPP PunkThis hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba abandoning plans for Windows 7 tablet, Chromebook?

Amar Toor — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:38:00 EST

We were expecting Toshiba to launch its Windows 7 tablet during the second half of this year, but rumor has it that the company may be abandoning the slate altogether. DigiTimes is reporting that both the 11.6-inch slab and a forthcoming Chromebook have disappeared from Toshiba's product launchpad, according to sources within the industry. The Chromebook will reportedly be slashed due to disappointing netbook sales in 2010, whereas the reasons behind the tablet's cancellation remain less clear. DigiTimes suggests that Toshiba may be throwing all of its weight behind its new Honeycomb-powered Thrive slate, meaning that its Windows 7 counterpart could either be delayed even further, or simply relinquished. There's obviously plenty of speculation swirling around, but we'll let you know as soon as we receive more concrete reports.

Toshiba abandoning plans for Windows 7 tablet, Chromebook? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will a $200 ASUS Eee PC finally ship with Google's help?

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:06:00 EST

As hard as it tried, ASUS never could get its Eee PC prices down to $200 MSRP as promised way back in 2007 -- a time when Intel-based netbooks still shipped with Linux distros and "tablet PCs" ran a Microsoft OS. Fast forward to today and netbooks are being kicked to the curb for ARM-based tablets running smartphone operating systems. To compete, ASUS, a company that's become synonymous with netbooks, is planning to ship an unsubsidized $200 to $250 netbook running Android 3.0 or Chrome OS in June. According to DigiTimes sources, anyway, who tend to be pretty accurate with regard to Taiwanese companies. If true then expect to see it announced at Computex which kicks off in Taiwan on May 31st.

Will a $200 ASUS Eee PC finally ship with Google's help? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' Jerry Shen pledges 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android netbooks, plus a 2012 Windows Phone

Vlad Savov — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:56:00 EST

ASUS (A-seuss) CEO Jerry Shen is rarely a man without a good quote or two for journalists and this year's CeBIT has been no exception. Sitting down for a chat with some Russian scribes, Shen outlined ASUS' general product roadmap, which includes a 3D tablet (the iPad 2-threatening secret weapon, perhaps?), Atom-based netbooks for both MeeGo and Android platforms, and a Windows Phone device that should be with us next year. An aside from his PR aide Mae Wang also states that ASUS aims to be second in the tablet market by 2012, with a giant five to eight percent market share. We're sure the Apple board are all shaking in their hemp sandals right now. Anyhow, hit up the source for the full story.

ASUS' Jerry Shen pledges 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android netbooks, plus a 2012 Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Aspire One D257 attempts to send ripples through MWC

Joanna Stern — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:14:00 EST

Despite its variety of new tablets, Acer's already told us of its plans to continue on with its Aspire One netbooks, and the new D257 is all the proof we need of that. At this point, we don't know much about the latest 10.1-inch laptop, except that it does have one funky lid. It looks like a stone was dropped smack in the middle of the O in the Aspire One logo to create a ripple-like effect, and it's more than just an interesting paint job -- the plastic has actually been molded. It's a noteworthy design move, but we've never really been big fans of the huge logo in the first place. We were actually hoping Acer would nix it after the AO521. Spec-wise, Notebook Italia is reporting it will be powered by Intel's dual-core Atom N570 or N550 processors and the placard on display at MWC said that it will dual-boot Windows 7 Starter and Android. Ironically, the model on hand wouldn't boot at all, but we'll be listening out for an official announcement on this one.

Gallery: Acer's Aspire One D257 hands-on

Acer's Aspire One D257 attempts to send ripples through MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC busts out an Android Netbook, the LifeTouch Note

Laura June — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:45:00 EST

NEC has debuted its first Android netbook, the humbly-named LifeTouch Note, in Japan. Spec-wise, the Note runs Android 2.2, has an NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU, up to 8GB of memory, a 7-inch backlit (800 x 480 resolution) resistive touchscreen LCD, GPS, WiFi, SD and SDHC slots, and a 2 megapixel webcam. There will also be a 3G variety for a little extra cash, of course. Other than that, there's no word of when this will be available in Japan, but we do know that it start at around ¥45,000 (that's somewhere in the neighborhood of $540). Video demo is after the break, hit up the source for a huge, attractive gallery.

Continue reading NEC busts out an Android Netbook, the LifeTouch Note

NEC busts out an Android Netbook, the LifeTouch Note originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer debuts education-minded Aspire One E100 with Android and Windows

Donald Melanson — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:27:00 EST

Acer's been doing the dual-boot, Android / Windows thing on some of its netbooks for a little while now, but it looks to be branching out into a bit of new territory with its new Aspire One E100 model. It's more or less the same as the D255, but Acer is pitching this one directly at the education market, and it's added some things like a special rubber coating and the potential for school branding -- not to mention a slew of pre-installed education software -- to make it a bit more attractive to schools and students alike. Otherwise, you can expect the usual 10.1-inch display, an unspecified Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a promised eight hours of battery life.

Acer debuts education-minded Aspire One E100 with Android and Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Schmidt: Chrome OS aimed at keyboard based solutions, Android optimized for touch

Joanna Stern — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:53:00 EST

We'll be the first to admit that we've been slightly confused about where Google's Chrome OS will fit in with Android becoming the OS of choice for tablet manufacturers, so naturally we took the opportunity to ask Google CEO Eric Schmidt about the two operating systems while he was on stage at the Web 2.0 summit. Schmidt confirmed that Chrome OS will officially be out in the next few months in Intel and ARM-powered netbooks while also adding that the OS was primarily "designed around something with a keyboard." Of course, that doesn't mean Chrome OS couldn't pop up on tablets -- he added that because it's open source anything can happen, but he definitely stressed that Chrome is meant for clamshell devices with keyboards and Android tailored for those with touchscreens. Sounds good to us Schmidt, now we'll just be needing the details on those Chrome-books...

Eric Schmidt: Chrome OS aimed at keyboard based solutions, Android optimized for touch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer goes pastel with 10.1-inch Aspire One Happy dual-booting netbook

Darren Murph — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:14:00 EST

Cherry Red and Midnight Black too harsh for your innocent eyes? How's about a gaggle of pastel options to take the edge off? Acer has just issued a new line of netbooks catering to those still stuck in the 70s, with the flower-powered Aspire One Happy range offering the most delightful lids of any netbook, ever. This 10.1-inch machine packs a WSVGA panel, six-cell battery (up to eight hours of battery life), Atom N450 CPU, GMA 3150 GPU, 250GB hard drive, WiFi, 2GB of memory and inbuilt Bluetooth. It also supports dual booting (Windows 7 and Android 2.1), but the highlight of the show is the abundance of color options: Candy Pink, Lavender Purple, Lime Green and Hawaii Blue. All four hues are available now across the pond for £249.99 ($397), but mum's the word on a stateside release. But don't worry... be happy.

Continue reading Acer goes pastel with 10.1-inch Aspire One Happy dual-booting netbook

Acer goes pastel with 10.1-inch Aspire One Happy dual-booting netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer planning to dual-boot all of its dual-core netbooks, we're dual-unimpressed

Paul Miller — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:44:00 EST

We haven't seen any reason to love anything that's attempted to combine the comfort of Windows 7 with the sheer unpreparedness of Android in a dual-boot netbook form factor, Acer's Aspire One D255 included. Still, word is that Acer is planning to make dual-booting standard on its dual-core netbooks going forward. Right now the D255 only does Android overseas, but we're going to perceive this as a threat until we hear otherwise. Sure, adding Android to a netbook doesn't hurt anything (which is the majority of Acer's excellent argument for its inclusion), but we can only hope that this fascination with Android quickly switches to Chrome OS when it's ready.

Acer planning to dual-boot all of its dual-core netbooks, we're dual-unimpressed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Augen's 10.2-inch GenBook 108 goes on sale at Kmart for $190

Darren Murph — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:39:00 EST

Didn't get in on one of those $199 netbook closeouts earlier in the year? If you're willing to deal with Android (an Android that lacks bona fide Android Market access), you can redeem yourself right now. Augen's 10.2-inch netbook, dubbed the GenBook 108, is now on sale through Kmart, offering a 1024 x 600 resolution display, an 800MHz ARM11 processor, 256MB of DDR2 memory, 802.11b/g WiFi, an SD / MMC card slot and a 2100mAh battery. The whole shebang weighs just 1.8 pounds, and Augen even throws in a (p)leather carry case, a USB cable and a 93 percent full-size keyboard. Get in on the fun for just $189.99 -- but you may want to read about our disappointment with the outfit's Gentouch 78 and $99 netbook before carelessly pulling the trigger.

[Thanks, Nick]

Augen's 10.2-inch GenBook 108 goes on sale at Kmart for $190 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android-booting Acer Aspire One D255 extensively demoed, yet far from loved on video

Joanna Stern — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:51:00 EST

Acer's just told us that it has "no imminent plans" to bring the dual-booting Android and Windows XP Aspire One D255 stateside, and after seeing an in-depth video (no, really it's 14 minutes long!) of the 10-inch netbook in action we can't say we're all that upset about the news. Yep, the NetbookNews team snatched up a light blue version of the new netbook in Taipei, and though they were impressed with the thin design and included case, they had less positive things to say on the software end. Not only is the Windows XP desktop ridden with crapware, but the Android implementation is still half baked. Similar to the first generation Acer Aspire One D250, the Android 2.1 interface is really only good for searching the web and checking e-mail since it doesn't have access to the Market. Of course, we urge you to sit back and watch the lengthy hands-on video after the break to make your own call on this $299 lappie, but ultimately, we're assuming you'll have the same question as us: Acer, how's that Chrome OS netbook coming along?

Continue reading Android-booting Acer Aspire One D255 extensively demoed, yet far from loved on video

Android-booting Acer Aspire One D255 extensively demoed, yet far from loved on video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire One D255 netbook dual boots Android and XP for about $375

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:05:00 EST

Attending the Taipei Computer Applications Show today? Lucky you. Then be sure to pick up your specially priced Acer Aspire One D255 netbook with dual booting Android and XP operating systems before leaving the venue. Otherwise, the NT$9,500 (about $300) 10.1-inch netbook configured with an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, 160GB hard disk, and 3-cell battery (with optional 6-cell) will cost you NT$11,900 (about $375) when it hits traditional retail channels sometime in the days ahead.

Acer Aspire One D255 netbook dual boots Android and XP for about $375 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Augen's $99 GenBook smartbook preview

Joanna Stern — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:22:00 EST

That's right, not only does Augen -- a company unbeknown to us before yesterday -- make an $150 Android 2.1 tablet, but the company is also stocking Kmart shelves with a $99 Android smartbook of sorts. How'd we find out about this one? Well, when we headed to our local Kmart in hopes of picking up the 7-inch tablet, one last, very lonely GenBook 74 was dwelling on the shelf. We aren't the kind of people that could just leave the little guy there all alone, so $100 later we were the proud owners of a 7-inch, Android 1.6 clamshell device. Is the little laptop really capable of surfing the web and downloading apps, or would your hard earned cash be better spent elsewhere? Find out after the break.

Gallery: Augen $99 GenBook preview

Continue reading Augen's $99 GenBook smartbook preview

Augen's $99 GenBook smartbook preview originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's Skylight and U1 Hybrid being revived with fresh Qualcomm silicon?

Darren Murph — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:59:00 EST

What's this? A new sliver of hope in a dark, lost world? Before you throw your hands up and shut your eyes, you should know that all of this is coming from Digitimes, so taking it all in with an unhealthy dose of salt is highly suggested. According to them, Lenovo is actually planning to eventually ship its Skylight and IdeaPad U1 Hybrid (yeah, the two machines that were kinda-sorta shelved a month ago), but with far different specifications. For starters, they'll rely on Qualcomm's recently announced dual-core processor line, and rather than using the now-nonexistent Skylight OS, they'll both rely on Google's Android. If all goes well, the official launch will occur before the dawn of 2011, but there's no solid word on when they'll actually ship. In related news, there's also word that Toshiba will be readying a smartbook in its long-standing Dynabook line, with NVIDIA's Tegra 250 under the hood, a 10.1-inch panel and Android running the show. Now, who's up for seeing if any of this actually comes to fruition?

Lenovo's Skylight and U1 Hybrid being revived with fresh Qualcomm silicon? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer?

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:51:00 EST

We knew that Intel had designs on Android for its Moorestown CPU, and as you might have guessed, the company's plans don't stop there. Renee James, a Senior VP at Intel, recently said as much in a conversation with APC. Apparently, devs can look forward to seeing a fully native x86 version of Froyo at some point this summer. James goes on to say that "all of the code will be fed back into the open branch that will be created for x86." Awesome! Perhaps 2011 will see a yet another flood of generic, Atom-powered Android tablets. Because we don't see enough generic Android tablets as it is.

Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba's AC100 8-hour Android smartbook plays 1080p video on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor (update: video!)

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:25:00 EST

We wouldn't fault you for thinking that's a first generation ASUS Eee PC what with that iconic fingertip pose and all. But Toshiba's AC100 is a very modern take on the ol' Atom-based netbook idea. For starters, this super slim smartbook runs Android 2.1 on a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 250 SoC (built around a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor) capable of about 8 hours of browsing and video playback (and 7 days standby) before needing a recharge. It's also packing a 32GB SSD, 512MB of DDR2 memory, 802.11n WiFi, optional 3G data, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and an HDMI jack beneath that 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 pixel display. As for software, the AC100 ships with Documents to Go for editing MS Office docs, an email client with POP3, IMAP, and Exchange support, an Opera Mobile browser, and a Tosh media player which should support HD 1080p video playback if it's taking full advantage of that Tegra 2 silicon. Too bad Toshiba is being quiet about the pricing and availability 'cause this little guy has us intrigued.

Update: Netbooked got its hands on with the Japanese Dynabook AZ twin and received confirmation that it'll ship in Japan in August for between ¥40,000 and ¥50,000 (about $438 to $548). Video after the break.

Gallery: Toshiba's AC100 8-hour smartbook runs Android 2.1 on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor

Continue reading Toshiba's AC100 8-hour Android smartbook plays 1080p video on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor (update: video!)

Toshiba's AC100 8-hour Android smartbook plays 1080p video on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PTPT shows off wild Android UI skin, we go hands-on

Joanna Stern — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:11:00 EST

Last time we heard about ExB's PTPT (pronounced "petite petite"), the software startup was just beginning to show off the basics of its touchscreen interface; since then, the small German company has been polishing up the UI and prepping it for Android phones and tablets. According to the CEO Ramin Assadollah, the company is in talks with a "major hardware manufacturer" that's planning on skinning its Android products with the incredibly unique software. We got to see PTPT running on an Android 1.6-powered Acer Liquid while at the Netbook Summit, and though it took us a few minutes to understand how the interface worked, it's definitely interesting and responsive. The input starts with three circular icons representing people, places, and things and then a bar that represents time.

You can simply select an individual person -- you can import contacts from a variety of sources, including, Twitter, Facebook, and so on -- from the halo that appears, and then drag them up to a specific time to get various updates or e-mails from that person. The custom predictive text keyboard in the e-mail interface was very snappy -- it's also just nice to see a change from the stock Android input. Then, you can drag that person to things to see pictures of them. And just like in the original demo, you can then move the pictures icon to a point on the timeline to see pictures from that time. Though the phone and tablet demos we saw didn't have widgets on the homescreen, we were assured that they can be added. We promise this is all better explained in the demo video below, so mosey on down after the jump. We'll be here, wondering what Android devices this software may pop-up on.

Gallery: Exb PTPT hands-on

Continue reading PTPT shows off wild Android UI skin, we go hands-on

PTPT shows off wild Android UI skin, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Compaq Airlife 100 review roundup: a little too dumb for a smartbook

Darren Murph — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:16:00 EST

As of last month, there were still no solid plans to ever bring HP Compaq's Airlife 100 smartbook to US soil, and judging by the first reviews surfacing across the pond, the company should probably consider keeping it that way. In a land already saturated with increasingly powerful netbooks, highly capable smartphones and a blossoming selection of tablets, the actual need for a so-called smartbook is questionable at best. For those still interested in paying near-netbook prices for this (on contract with a carrier, no less), you should probably first take a gander at the reviews linked below. Put simply, the Airlife 100 just wasn't a contender, and it had issues handling basic tasks like playing back HD videos and loading the full Gmail experience. 'Course, Android 1.6 is looking severely dated right about now, so we can't say we're shocked to hear so much negativity. The design itself was universally praised, but when you can snag a Crystal HD-equipped netbook (sans a data plan agreement, to boot) for just a few Euros more, it's hard to justify locking yourself into something far less intelligent.

Continue reading HP Compaq Airlife 100 review roundup: a little too dumb for a smartbook

HP Compaq Airlife 100 review roundup: a little too dumb for a smartbook originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap

Richard Lai — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST

Good morning to you too, Dell! Android Central's just gotten hold of yet another leak from the Texan computer giant, only this time we have two new Android or ~~Linux (as suggested by the Tux icon)~~ Moblin devices. First, we have the Sparta "netbook tablet" featuring an 11-inch 1024 x 768 TFT display, ARM processor, optional connectivity modules (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth) and a unique swivel mechanism -- the screen appears to be rotatable within its frame. The second device is the Athens sub-0.9kg (1.98 pounds) netbook sporting the same screen size, ARM processor and optional connectivity modules. If all goes well, the Sparta and Athens should be launched in early and late Autumn respectively, but there's a lot more so keep reading after the break.

Update: thanks for pointing out the Moblin logo, thoughtmonster!

Continue reading Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Compaq Airlife 100 puts Android OS, Snapdragon CPU, and an SSD behind 10.1-inch touchscreen

Vlad Savov — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:58:00 EST

HP's mobile computing unit appears to have decided that the term smartbook refers to putting a smartphone's components inside a netbook's body -- which kind of makes sense -- so they've built their Airlife 100 atop an Android OS platform, underpinned by a Snapdragon CPU (unconfirmed, but highly likely), a 16GB SSD, 3G and WiFi connectivity, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. We really can find no cause for complaint -- in fact this is the most excitement a Compaq-branded product has caused us... ever. HP touts a rock solid 12-hour battery life for the Airlife, which stretches out to a mighty 10 days of standby, in case you're one of those folks who hate to switch their electronics off. Announced in partnership with Telefonica, this smartbook will be offered as a subsidized part of mobile broadband service plans in Europe and Latin America. It may well find itself renamed under the HP Mini branding when it rolls around to the US, but for now head on over to Engadget Spanish for the full PR.

Gallery: Compaq Airlife 100

Compaq Airlife 100 puts Android OS, Snapdragon CPU, and an SSD behind 10.1-inch touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hivision's Android-based PWS700CA netbook gets video review, may sport sub-$100 price tag

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:54:00 EST

Oh, Hivision -- always up for making us chuckle. Just weeks after we spotted the outfit's $149 netbook with a lackluster Cortex A9 processor, along comes this: the PWS700CA. Reportedly, the company is still scouting distributors in order to get this thing out to the masses, but if all goes well, it could be sold to end users for right around a Benjamin. What makes this one marginally interesting, though, is the fact that Android is on board; yeah, it's not like Google's mobile OS is really cut out for netbook use, but it sure beats the browsing experience found in Windows CE. The device you're peering at above will eventually ship with a 600MHz ARM926 processor, 128MB of RAM, a 7-inch display (800 x 480 resolution), 720p video playback support, WiFi, Ethernet and the usual complement of ports. Hop on past the break for a look at how it fared in testing, and feel free to ping Hivision directly if you're feeling all distributor-y.

Continue reading Hivision's Android-based PWS700CA netbook gets video review, may sport sub-$100 price tag

Hivision's Android-based PWS700CA netbook gets video review, may sport sub-$100 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer to launch e-reader, app store, and Chrome OS netbook this year; wants to 'change the Microsoft-Intel environment'

Vlad Savov — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:27:00 EST

Man, Acer's on the warpath. The world's second-largest PC manufacturer seems hell-bent on radically changing the status quo, telling Bloomberg today that it's "aggressively pursuing" Chrome OS "so there's a change to the Microsoft-Intel environment," with plans to be among the first to ship in Q3. That's somewhat ahead of Google's own schedule for reaching v1.0, so yeah, it's definitely aggressive -- and it also sounds like a strong hint towards an ARM-based Chrome OS machine in our future, but Acer wouldn't confirm anything. Still, those are basically fightin' words, especially since Acer's framing the future as a choice between "either" Windows or "Google's defined OS space." Acer also promised to fully detail a 6-inch monochrome e-reader by June with an initial focus on European markets, and we're also informed of a forthcoming free / cheap application store that will be compatible with Android, Windows Mobile, and, obviously, Chrome OS. And lest you thought Acer was ignoring the Apple tablet madness that permeates our world, we're told that an Acer tablet is in the works, accompanied by the candid admission that the Taiwanese giant is waiting to see what Apple has in store before finalizing its own plans. Yep -- things are getting a little nuts.

Acer to launch e-reader, app store, and Chrome OS netbook this year; wants to 'change the Microsoft-Intel environment' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hivision's $149 Android-based netbook reminds us we're not really shopping for a netbook right now

Paul Miller — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:26:00 EST

We know, we know, it's only $149! What could possibly be stopping us from entering the marvelous world of Android-powered netbooking? Well, maybe it's the fact that it's been tried before, and just didn't make any sense. Maybe for someone who doesn't have $50 more to get a "real" netbook, or $150 more to get a "great" netbook, it could make sense to be subjected to a 7-inch screen, 500MHz ARM Cortex A9 processor in the name of "lightweight" web surfing, but we'd like to imagine we have a little more self esteem than that. Oh shoot, we just accidentally bought four. Check out the Charbax-infused hands-on after the break.

Continue reading Hivision's $149 Android-based netbook reminds us we're not really shopping for a netbook right now

Hivision's $149 Android-based netbook reminds us we're not really shopping for a netbook right now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell netbook modded into a rather large handset (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST

Eager to get a hold on your very own Dell-branded Android smartphone? This guy here took matters into his own hands with nothing more than his modding skill, his imagination, and a Dell Inspiron Mini. Of course, this thing won't exactly fit in most pockets, but as a curiosity (and a conversation starter) it performs admirably. Have you ever seen a 10.1-inch novelty handset in action? Now's your chance -- peep the video for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Dell netbook modded into a rather large handset (video)

Dell netbook modded into a rather large handset (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer to launch first Chrome OS netbook, Android-based Aspire One sales disappoint

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:37:00 EST

Acer loves it some Google. And unless Google's trying to stamp out your revenue stream, who doesn't? Now Acer chairman, JT Wang, says that he expects to be first to market with an official Chrome OS netbook -- sometime in the second half of 2010 according to DigiTimes' sources. In fact, JT says that Acer's been working on a Chrome OS device since mid-2009. This despite admittedly weaker than expected demand for its dual-boot Android netbook, the Aspire One AOD250. Guess even the Google halo isn't enough to shoehorn its smartphone OS into a market dominating position on cheap ultra-portables. It's worth pointing out that DigiTimes' moles aren't saying anything new with the launch time-frame since Google's target for its gold Chrome OS build has been 2H of 2010 ever since the lightweight OS was announced. Not that the timing matters too much since we'll likely be seeing plenty of Chromium OS netbooks flooding the grey market long before the second half of 2010.

Acer to launch first Chrome OS netbook, Android-based Aspire One sales disappoint originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Menq's $80 EasyPC E790 netbook runs Windows CE now, should run Android later (video)

Ross Miller — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:21:00 EST

Don't be fooled by that background: this Menq EasyPC E790 is only using Windows CE 5.0 for the sake of this hands-on. The successor to the $89 E760 we saw last year still sports a Samsung ARM processor, bumps the 7-inch display's resolution to 800 x 480, and at least as far as this Techvideoblog video hands-on shows, can do a decent (albeit not great) job of handling DivX files, Skype, and browsing. There's a promise from the manufacturer that Android is coming sometime in the next month, but honestly, given what we've seen before, we'd be happy to stick with Windows CE. Of course, the big selling point here is the price, and that claimed $80 is quite the looker. Video after the break.

[Via SlashGear and Linux for Devices]

Read - Hands-on
Read - Product page

Continue reading Menq's $80 EasyPC E790 netbook runs Windows CE now, should run Android later (video)

Filed under: Laptops

Menq's $80 EasyPC E790 netbook runs Windows CE now, should run Android later (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire One AOD250 impressions: Android gone bad

Paul Miller — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:23:00 EST

We admit, we were pretty stoked when we first saw the Acer Aspire One AOD250 running Android in dual-boot mode. What could possibly be bad about it? Fast start-up, Google apps... other good things that aren't coming to mind at the moment... what could go wrong? Turns out, just about everything. See, the Aspire One AOD250 has an unfortunate lack of Google blessing, so that means no Gmail, which is really Android's killer app, and no Marketplace either -- so no opportunity to track down a different killer app. You can use your Google account for hooking up with Gcal, Gtalk and Google Contacts, but your Gmail account gets set up as a webmail shortcut to the included Firefox app -- which does an alright, slightly hacked-on job of augmenting the standard Android browser, including support for Flash. Unfortunately, with connection woes over WiFi and Ethernet (as seen on the video), there wasn't much redeemable even there, and perhaps the best news about the device is that it can be fully booted to XP at any time by clicking on the corner of Android's home screen. We still think there's promise for Android on a netbook, but it's going to need some serious TLC (also, Gmail) before it's ready for prime time. Check out our video impressions after the break.

Continue reading Acer Aspire One AOD250 impressions: Android gone bad

Filed under: Laptops

Acer Aspire One AOD250 impressions: Android gone bad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's dual-boot Aspire One AOD250 netbook gets doubly official

Donald Melanson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:51:00 EST

Alright, so we've already seen this one in the wild and up for pre-order, but it's not everyday that someone releases a dual-boot Android / Windows XP netbook, so we can understand Acer wanting to get extra official with its new Aspire One AOD250 model. Of course, this one's about as standard as it gets once you move beyond its dual OS nature, including an 10.1-inch WSVGA screen, Atom N280 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a six-cell battery. You can get it in your choice of four different colors though, and the $349.99 list price is certainly right for anyone looking for an easy way to jump into Android.

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's dual-boot Aspire One AOD250 netbook gets doubly official originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire One D250 Android netbook gets fondled and photographed

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:28:00 EST

Acer (a company that we always knew as ambitious... but not too ambitious) finally launched its Aspire One D250 dual boot Windows 7 / Android netbook today, and as you can imagine the ears of the gadget world have all perked up a little bit. According to Pocket-lint, the implementation of the open source OS on a touchscreen deficient PC is not without its issues. For instance, without any designated Android keys, one can find themselves going to the trackpad and ESC key a bit too often. Also worth noting is that this machine will only boot Android -- to access Windows you've got to select "Switch OS" from within Android itself and then wait for Microsoft to take over. According to Register Hardware, Acer VP Jim Wong explained that the company expects people to use Android for the majority of their computing while only hitting up Windows while looking to use software and tools specific to that OS. And sure, that's a decent rationalization -- but why not give us the choice? Either way, we know you're jonesin' to get at all the red hot hands-on action contained within the read links below. And what are you waiting for? Go on!

Read - PHOTOS: Acer Aspire One D250 with Android
Read - Hands on with Acer's dual-OS netbook

Filed under: Laptops

Acer Aspire One D250 Android netbook gets fondled and photographed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Android netbook now up for pre-order, Windows 7 version coming soon

Tim Stevens — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:27:00 EST

It's totally not Q3 anymore, but Acer is finally fulfilling its promise to ship an Android-powered netbook, a pre-order page showing up on Amazon offering a reconfigured Aspire One D250. However, the company is apparently a little unsure of its open source OS offerings, so it's throwing Windows on there as well. Your $349 will get you a dual-booting machine with good 'ol XP taking up the other partition -- a good thing, that, because Android in this application has been said to be half-baked at best. Meanwhile, Acer is also showing off a version of the D250 running Windows 7, which is set to hit Japan next week. Hopefully a Win7/Android super combo will soon be on offer as well, which sounds a bit more tasty than WinXP/Android.

[Via netbooked]

Read - Android Aspire One D250 Pre-Order
Read - Windows 7 Aspire One D250

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's Android netbook now up for pre-order, Windows 7 version coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G

Nilay Patel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST

Well well, it looks like the Android-powered Motorola Sholes will be out on Verizon by the holidays. That's at least the impression we're getting from a bunch of leaked Verizon retailer documents posted up by Boy Genius Report, which also indicate the BlackBerry Storm 2, Curve 2 and LG Chocolate Touch will hit Big Red in time for eggnog, along with an unspecified netbook -- we're guessing this Gateway number. Speaking of netbooks, a similar document from Best Buy Mobile also leaked over the weekend, and it looks like the Nokia Booklet 3G will be exclusive to Best Buy and compatible with AT&T 3G. Oh, and the Pixi is coming, but you already knew that. Here's the real mystery, though: "There are multiple Android launches across multiple carriers, along with some new technology that doesn't exist today." That's certainly open for interpretation, so we leave it to you -- is Best Buy Mobile about to start selling teleporters, or what?

Read - Sam's Club and Target Verizon docs
Read - Best Buy Mobile docs

Filed under: Handsets, LG, Motorola, Nokia, RIM, ATT, Sprint, Verizon Wireless

Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G

Nilay Patel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alpha 680 Android netbook spotted, still unavailable

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST

While all the other kids on the block are letting themselves become duly distracted by Google Chrome OS, at least Skytone is still out there in the trenches, fighting to get its Android-powered Alpha 680 netbook to market. Initially it looked like this one would be making the scene sometime this summer, and although this has not come to pass, the OEM (Airis) is still strutting it in front of vendors and threatening us with an eventual release. According to Le Journal du Geek, who managed to get its hands on one and snap plenty of pics, the device is still "not really stable." (Take your time, guys...) Hit that read link for plenty of glamor shots of the this stark white, 7-inch resistive touchscreen wonder -- you'll be glad you did.

Filed under: Laptops

Alpha 680 Android netbook spotted, still unavailable originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer reaffirms that Android-based netbook still coming in Q3

Darren Murph — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:14:00 EST

In an effort to quell all sorts of kicking and screaming that resulted from an evidently erroneous report earlier in the week, an Acer representative has reportedly reaffirmed that an Android-based Aspire One is still on schedule for a Q3 release. If you'll recall, we first heard of Acer's intentions to dole out an Android-laden netbook during Computex, and now it seems as if those very plans are still perfectly on track. So there you have it, folks -- no need to keep pounding those heart medications.

Filed under: Laptops

Acer reaffirms that Android-based netbook still coming in Q3 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doug Anson, Dell's operating system Renaissance man, digs Chrome OS, Moblin

Tim Stevens — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:17:00 EST

When it came to Android, Technology Strategist Doug Anson wasn't exactly coy in indicating that Dell was evaluating the OS for inclusion on its netbooks. He calls this time of OS intrigue, with Linux, Android, and WebOS gaining favor, a sort of "renaissance," saying: "These alternative operating environments are truly 'different' from the traditional Windows platform - they don't attempt to simply 'mimic' Windows" -- forgetting, perhaps, that the foundation of all of those alternatives was itself an attempt at mimicking various flavors of Unix. Anson says that while Dell is not ready to sign on to Chrome OS just yet, it is evaluating it for future inclusion in its little mobile products, and goes on to say that the company is "very interested" in Intel's Moblin, another lightweight Linux flavor and possible Chrome OS competitor. Confused by all these disparate OS choices with similar goals? You're not alone, which is perhaps another reason why the big two continue to dominate.

Filed under: Laptops, Software

Doug Anson, Dell's operating system Renaissance man, digs Chrome OS, Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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