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Posts with tag umpc

Toshiba working on a netbook / UMPC that's actually interesting

by Nilay Patel, posted Jul 24th 2008 at 12:25PM


We're almost totally over the whole netbook craze, but Toshiba's latest prototype shows there's still interesting things possible, even if it isn't a traditional laptop. The 5.6-inch touchscreen handheld runs Vista on Intel's Atom processor with a 64GB SSD and a GPS chip -- which like an awfully expensive setup, but Toshiba says they're aiming for netbook pricing. Of course, that means almost nothing, since netbooks are all over the map -- and that probably explains why Tosh says it's identified "six or seven" segments of the netbook / UMPC market, and that it might not compete directly with Eee-class machines. Sure -- but isn't an expensive handheld touchscreen netbook just a straight UMPC? Nice try, guys.

[Thanks, Pete]

Kohjinsha SC3 convertible UMPC hits the test bench

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 19th 2008 at 8:50PM


Shortly after the Kohjinsha SC3 was removed from the comfy confines of its packaging and exposed for all to see, said UMPC has managed to get reviewed. Initially, impressions were quite positive, as the reviewer noted that build quality was "superb," the size was adorably small and the display satisfied all expectations. As for sheer performance, the Menlow-based rig excelled as it churned through applications with no huge lag issues; however, all that computing made the unit exceptionally warm, though it did remain quiet even when breaking a sweat. Battery life was shorter than advertised (only 2.5 hours), but aside from that, there wasn't a whole lot to gripe about. Think it's too good to be true? Head on down to the read link for videos, benchmarks and impressions.

MTI Micro, NeoSolar to tinker with fuel cell-powered UMPCs

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 10th 2008 at 2:27PM


We'll be mighty pleased when MTI Micro gets off its high horse and actually delivers something to the consumer electronics realm, but for now, we're being forced to inhale even more fluff as we wait for an end product. The latest outfit to dive into a partnership with MTI is NeoSolar, as the two gleefully set off to develop Mobion fuel cell technology for use in future NeoSolar devices (namely UMPCs). As we've heard so many times over now, these two will be working together to "develop, test, and evaluate" prototypes, but we'll be lucky to see a fuel cell-powered WiBrain before 2020. Prove us wrong, pretty please.

[Via CNET]

Kohjinsha SC3 convertible UMPC gets unboxed on video

by Donald Melanson, posted Jul 10th 2008 at 12:32PM


It's getting to be a bit hard to keep track of Kohjinsha's various UMPCs and UMPC-like devices these days, but the folks at WOW-POW have gotten their hands on one unit we haven't yet seen, and they've naturally unboxed it before the cameras for your pleasure. From the looks of it, this new SC3 model appears to be a slightly smaller version of the company's SX series of convertible tablets, with this one packing a 7-inch display in place of a 9-incher, along with the same 1.3GHz Atom processor, 60GB hard drive, and 1GB of RAM as its larger counterpart -- no optical drive here though, as you might have guessed. Head on past the break for the video.

Continue reading Kohjinsha SC3 convertible UMPC gets unboxed on video

Panasonic's Toughbook CF-U1 gets reviewed

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 9th 2008 at 10:19AM


While Panny's Toughbook CF-U1 looks mighty novel, is it really worth the cost to have it added to your gadget collection? For those who've never quite been able to wrap their noodle around the whole UMPC concept, TrustedReviews bets that you'll be able to overlook this one without losing any sleep. All in all, the CF-U1 seemed to make the best of an awkward situation by excelling at tasks that would likely take place in everyday field work, but the average joe / jane may want to see one in person before buying blind. Yeah, hot-swappable batteries, an Atom CPU and a full QWERTY keypad are lovely additions, but if you've never needed a UMPC before (let alone one built for extreme scenarios), you aren't apt to gain a whole lot from owning this one. Hit the read link for the full spill.

Ubuntu's Hardy Heron released for MIDs

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 25th 2008 at 4:40AM


Earlier this month we saw open-source Ubuntu remixed for netbook-class ultra-portable laptops. Today, MIDs are feeling the hot, sweaty breath of Hardy Heron breathing down the back of their Intel chipsets. The UME-8.04 release features a Gecko-based browser with screen zooming optimized for smaller displays, Pidgin for instant messaging, GNOME's Cheese webcam app, Claws Mail eMail, and Moblin Media for music and video -- all optimized for current and last generation MID / UMPC chipsets from Intel. Available to download now for McCaslin (e.g., Samsung Q1 Ultra) and Menlow-based (Lenovo's Ideapad U8) MIDs.

[Via Phoronix, thanks Boning C.]

Kohjinsha SX-series convertible tablet edges out of UMPC territory

by Nilay Patel, posted Jun 23rd 2008 at 7:46PM


Kohjinsha's cranked out some interesting convertible UMPCs, but the new SX-series pushes the definition about as far as it can go with its chunky looks and packed feature set -- this bad boy is probably even too loaded / expensive to be properly called a netbook. You're looking at an 8.9-inch convertible tablet running Vista on a 1.33GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 60GB drive, built-in dual-layer DVD drive, WiFi, Ethernet, dual cameras, ExpressCard/34 slot, VGA out, 1seg tuner, card reader, and 2 USB ports, with a 4.2-hour battery life (8.2 hours with the extended unit), all in a 2.7-pound unit about an inch thick. Available soon in Japan for €650 ($1,000) to €850 ($1240) depending on options, let's hope it follows some of Kohjinsha's other devices to our fair shores.

[Via jkkmobile]

Panasonic's Atom-based UMPC Toughbook preps for shipment

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 23rd 2008 at 1:27PM


Get ready, argonauts -- Panasonic's Atom-based UMPC Toughbook is gearing up to ship out soon. Since getting really official at CeBIT in March, we haven't heard a peep from Panny in regard to a definitive ship date. According to PC World, the rugged mini tablet will be loosed "later this week," and it will of course include a touch-sensitive 5.6-inch screen, compact QWERTY keypad, a variety of ports, Intel's Atom processor and a chassis built to withstand just about anything next to getting pelted with napalm. As for fleshed out specs and global ship dates, we're told to expect those on Wednesday.

[Via TG Daily]

Gigabyte M704 unboxing video excites reviewer, may put you to sleep

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jun 22nd 2008 at 11:26AM

M704
It's about time someone we understand got his hands on Gigabyte's M704 UMPC. In this case, Chippysteve over at UMPC Portal put together a relatively long video that has him gushing over the new machine, navigating XP, tapping the screen, and putting the little computer through its various tasks. He seems to love the thing unconditionally, but did admit that the chiclet keyboard could use some work. Interface responsiveness looks decent and he proved the unit's performance by running some 1080P video without much of a glitch, so his adoration is at least partially deserved. Don't forget to note his excitement over the free docking station. That all said, we're just glad to see this thing in action in the Western hemisphere. Peep the vid after the break.

Continue reading Gigabyte M704 unboxing video excites reviewer, may put you to sleep

Hanbit's Pepper Pad 3 returns with Intel's Atom inside

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 11:37AM


Whoa, has it been a hot minute since we've seen a Pepper Pad 3 or what? Straight from the depths of left field comes Hanbit's Pepper Pad 3, this time with a slightly more adept processor at the helm. Reportedly showcased ever-so-quietly at Computex (alongside a Tablet PC prototype), this critter was purportedly packing an Intel Atom CPU and a Linux-based OS. Further specifications included a 7-inch VGA touchscreen, QWERTY (loose interpreters, we see) keypad, integrated WiFi and a 20GB / 30GB hard drive. Not a clue when this thing is scheduled to slip out, but it will certainly give the Everun a run for its money in the ugly department.

Origami Experience 2.0 finally coming to a UMPC near you

by Paul Miller, posted Jun 14th 2008 at 3:53PM


Microsoft pushed out its Origami Experience 2.0 to OEMs in January, but the purtied up interface for Vista-based UMPCs is finally available to all in the form of a free download. It's mainly meant to put a touch-happy skin on top of many existing Vista features, and includes Picture Password, Weather, RSS, email, calendar and other widget functionality in the new Origami Now screen.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

AMD's netbook really a next-gen Raon Digital Everun

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 9th 2008 at 12:36PM


Here's an interesting one. That AMD netbook we spotted hanging around at Computex isn't a bona fide AMD product after all. According to the unit's device manager, it's actually an Everun, although the only Everun we know of looks drastically different that the thing pictured above. In all likelihood, that moniker is simply a placeholder, and AMD spokesman Phil Hughes even confirmed that "it [was] a Raon Digital product." Reportedly, the unit will hit production at the end of July, and while a ship date wasn't mentioned, both a Sempron- and Turion-based version should be available. Early reports even suggest that WiBro / HSDPA could be found on select variations, but we'll give Raon Digital a chance to come clean before we dig deep into even wilder speculation.

[Via Pocketables]

Read - Device Manager photograph
Read - AMD spokesman comments

Clarion to introduce GPS-equipped MiND, acronym guidebook lands another

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 6th 2008 at 9:54AM


Really, Clarion? You couldn't find it in your heart to just settle on UMPC or MID? Instead, what we've got is yet another combination of letters that really means nothing at all -- the MiND (Mobile internet and Navigation Device) is little more than a rather awkwardly-shaped UMPC with built-in GPS, which by our estimation, doesn't deem it worthy of its own moniker. All angst aside, the Linux-based machine will reportedly roll out in America later this year (and Europe the next), and while the standard version will come equipped with Bluetooth and WiFi, a premium iteration should be available with WWAN. Word from the Computex floor pegs the starting price at around $700.

[Via SlashGear]

Telson handheld does 3D gaming without the goggles

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 5th 2008 at 11:36AM


We've seen companies toss out kit that claims to showcase the third-dimension without requiring a set of those face-consuming spectacles, but we're having an even harder time believing it would go over well (or at all) on a 'roided-up do-it-all handheld. Details are scarce on this one, but the Telson prototype / reference model device looks to be hung somewhere between the land of gaming handhelds and unadulterated UMPCs. Within, you'll find a VIA C7-M processor, 512MB of RAM, a 30/60GB hard drive and a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 resolution panel that's reportedly capable of displaying 3D imagery without special glasses. Can't say we're huge fans of the design / idea / etc., but we'll be keeping an eye out just in case this somehow makes it into production.

[Via SlashGear]

Xandros announces support for Intel's Moblin platform

by Nilay Patel, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:54PM

Intel's Moblin tech is getting some big love at Computex -- first Canonical dropped the Ubuntu Netbook Remix on us, and now Xandros has announced plans to support the MID- and netbook-targeted system additions in future editions of its Linux distros. If that seems a little confusing, it's because it is -- Moblin was never supposed to be a standalone Linux OS, but rather a standardized Linux core stack designed to maximize the potential of Atom-based mobile devices. Of course, one of those mobile devices is a little machine called the Eee that just happens to run Xandros, so it looks like Eee owners should look forward to better battery life, faster booting, and "expanded Internet and media capabilities." Now the real question: is that enough to get people to stay away from the recently-revived-again Windows XP?
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