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Xiaomi Phone review
Xiaomi Phone to get vanilla Android 2.3.5 next month, Ice Cream Sandwich in January Xiaomi Phone hands-on redux: dual partition system explained (video) Xiaomi Phone with MIUI OS: a $310 Android with 1.5GHz dual-core SoC and other surprises Any seasoned Android enthusiast would have no doubt come across Xiaomi Corporation's MIUI at some point. For those who haven't, here's a quick intro: MIUI is a heavily customizable Android ROM based on the works of CyanogenMod (at least on the driver level, so we've been told), and currently the Chinese startup is officially offering its free software for 12 well-known Android handsets, including the HTC Desire, Samsung Captivate and Motorola Droid. Of course, we'll also have the Xiaomi Phone on the list when it launches in China next month. Using Foxconn's tooling and Inventec's manufacturing resources, the aptly named Xiaomi Phone is the company's first attempt at developing its own hardware, and boy, it's done one helluva job here with the specs: a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8260 SoC (note that this isn't just an overclocked 1.2GHz chip), 1GB RAM, 4GB ROM, eight megapixel camera and the usual wireless bundle including WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS (plus the rare GLONASS). By now you must be thinking: surely there must be a tradeoff somewhere for that tempting price of ¥1,999 ($310)? Read on to find out if this is the case. %Gallery-134691%
Magellan's eXplorist Pro 10 does GIS data collection for $700, makes Google maps green with envy
It's been quite awhile since we last saw a GIS unit from Magellan, but the company is once again dipping its toes in the cold, clear waters of GPS data collection. Running Windows Mobile 6.5 (so it'll play nice with existing GIS data collection programs) and powered by dual AA disposables, the eXplorist Pro 10 has a three-inch 240 x 400 color transreflective display -- so on-screen site surveying is as easy in direct sunlight as it is in the dark of night. The device fears neither raincloud nor Super Soaker and comes with a 533 Mhz CPU, 128MB of RAM, 4GB of onboard memory, and room for more bits and bytes via microSD. A 3.2 megapixel camera, three-axis compass, pressure altimeter, and a barometer round out the geographic measurement gear, and a Bluetooth radio is included for connecting peripherals should the existing array of tools be insufficient for your mapmaking needs. On sale now for $699.99, the Pro 10 is aimed squarely at the pro crowd (shocking, we know), but Google's pretty much made casual cartography unnecessary, anyway. Press release is after the break.
Clover SunBook offers 'first sunlight ready netbook,' questionable graphic design
When we first made contact with Clover System's SunBook, it was but a glimmer in Pixel Qi's transflective eye, but today, the little guy is ready to step out on its own. Like Notion Ink's Adam, "the first sunlight-ready netbook" packs dual lighting displays, allowing you to shut off LCD backlights while under direct sunlight and cut your power consumption in half. You can also leave both functions on for easy indoor-outdoor transitions. It's sporting a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 10.1-inch display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution, USB 3.0 as well as WiFi and Ethernet capabilities. So basically, it's a perfectly acceptable netbook (on paper, at least) and it's packing a promising display, but we have to admit Clover's marketing for SunBook leaves something to be desired. In fact, if we hadn't seen this thing at CES we'd advise you to proceed with caution. Being that it's got the Pixel Qi seal of approval, however, we'll leave the decision up to you. You can purchase the sunlight-ready netbook for $795 via Clover's website, handily linked below in the source.
CPT starts a little transflective LCD fire under Pixel Qi
No, not literally. CPT is showing off some transflective display tech that's remarkably similar to Pixel Qi's, and the good news is that CPT is actually a display manufacturer. Pixel Qi's tech seems more advanced, with 5X power savings with the backlight off, versus CPT's 2X, but if CPT can get this 10.1-inch, 1366 x 768 panel onto the market soon for a good price, we think they could find some takers. Check out a hands-on video after the break. Interestingly, Netbook News says text is a bit less clear when the backlight is off, so perhaps Pixel Qi doesn't have so much to worry about... though of course they'd have a lot less to worry about if one of the devices using their tech started shipping!
