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Viliv, UMPC and MID proponent, reportedly exiting the ultramobile game
Last we heard from Viliv, one of the OGs of the MID and UMPC world, it was throwing its hat in the tablet arena with a pair of Android slates and a Wintel slab at CES. Now, rumor has it, the company is prepping to close up shop and make a graceful exit from a market segment it helped pioneer. This is according to sources talking to UMPC Portal, but there have been other clues. The manufacturer was conspicuously absent from Computex in June and, when we reached out to its PR line, our emails we're bounced back as undeliverable. We're not quite ready to start digging Viliv's digital grave just yet but, in the face of competition from the likes of Samsung and Apple, we'd say the writing is on the wall.
ASUS chairman Jonney Shih promises 'secret weapon' to rival iPad 2, disses 3DTVs
Jonney Shih has never been one to back down from his stance on anything, and in a recent sit-down with IDG News Service, the ASUS chairman delivered quite a few nuggets worth poring over. For starters, he played up (and subsequently downplayed) a "secret weapon" that would likely rival the iPad 2, but wouldn't go so far as to confirm that said weapon would actually be a slate. His response to prying? "I think it's best not to say now. You will have to wait until the launch." He also noted that personal cloud computing was poised to boom, and didn't leave much hope for the likes of webOS and QNX -- he claims that there is only room for three OS camps to win, and those three slots are already occupied with Windows, Android and iOS. Finally, he took the opportunity to fling water on the 3DTV buzz, noting that he "doesn't think that will prevail." He did leave open the possibility for glasses-free options in handhelds to succeed, but beyond that, it's safe to say he's not much of a 3D advocate. Hit the source link for the full skinny, but don't go digging for any extra details on his iPad 2 killer -- something tells us you'll be sorely disappointed.
Dell Streak 7 pops up on the T-Mobile website
We had a nagging suspicion that this was goin' down eventually. and here you have it: the Dell Streak 7 has appeared on T-Mobile's website! As of this posting, actually clicking on the option gives you nothing -- but we assume that will change soon enough. In the meantime, they do have a Sidekick XL to sell you.
Dell's Looking Glass tablet passes through FCC, shows off SD and SIM card slots
Dell's still calling this a Mobile Internet Device, but you can call it by any of its codenames: Looking Glass, M02M, iPad eviscerator, they're all in here. Yes, the FCC has spent a month of quality time with Dell's still unofficial, but very much upcoming, tablet and has given the go-ahead for its integrated 3G (the listed UMTS bands II, IV and V indicate compatibility with both AT&T and T-Mobile), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and 802.11n WiFi radios. Labeling for the attached (and apparently not removable) door on the back of the device indicates an SD card slot, which will sit right alongside a SIM card port. The latter will presumably be used mostly to funnel data into the Dell tablet, but voice calls aren't completely out of the question either -- there's a (inactive) proximity sensor thrown in as well. Either way, Dell's almost sure to launch this device, expected to feature a 7-inch screen and Tegra 2 internals, at CES next week.
Acer reveals 4.8-inch Android smartphone with 1024x480 screen resolution
Acer may be calling this "100 percent smartphone. 100 percent tablet," but something just doesn't add up there. That being said, we have to agree that a 1024x480 screen resolution on a 4.8-inch smartphone is downright drool-worthy. Clocking in at just a smidgen smaller than Dell's Streak, this here phone (no finalized name has been bestowed quite yet) was just revealed at Acer's Global press event in New York City. It was only shown briefly, demonstrating an unknown version of Android and the "evolution of Acer UI." Specs wise, there's a two megapixel front-facing camera, eight megapixel rear camera (with LED flash), 720p video recording, a six-axis Gyroscope + accelerometer package and LED edge lighting. Per usual, Acer's keeping a lid on any pricing estimates, but it'll be shipping out to gape-jawed customers everywhere in April 2011. Update: We've got the full PR after the break, which informs us of the atypical 21:9 aspect ratio in use here as well as its "full metal body." Curiously enough, it's also rocking a curved back (is that a trend we spot?), Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, HSDPA support, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and an HDMI output. Delicious, all the way around. Update 2: Does that elongated form factor seem a wee bit familiar? It should. %Gallery-108093% %Gallery-108097%
Dell US now offering Streak unlocked with Froyo, in Cherry Red
We knew good and well that Android 2.2 was sneaking out and making itself active on Dell's unlocked Streak units, but now it seems that the backlog of older units has been cleared. That has made way for new stock over at Dell's US site, with a 16GB Carbon Black unlocked Streak going for $579.99 with Froyo from the factory; the 32GB model is listed at $678.99. Curiously, that 16GB model is $30 more than what the unlocked Android 1.6 model went for back in August. Also, we're left to assume that even the "unlocked" models will still be SIM-locked to AT&T, though Dell does play up the fact that unlocked Streaks can be used as a mobile hotspot for up to eight WiFi-enabled devices without ponying up extra to Ma Bell. In related news, the long-awaited Cherry Red Streak is also on sale in the US of A, but you'll have to flip to page two down in the source link in order to find the 32GB and unlocked variants. Good luck wading through the options, champ. [Thanks, Jar Jar Binks]
Sylvania's 7-inch Android tablet now ready to disappoint, swallow your $180
Not down with coughing up serious cash for a serious Galaxy Tab? Great news, Bargain Ben: you've got options. Joining the raft of cut-rate, low-priced tablets is a new one from Sylvania, which is humorously described as a "7-inch MID tablet." Details are scarce, but it's rocking Android 2.1, an 800 x 480 screen resolution, six-hour battery, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of Flash memory, front-facing camera and a microSD card slot. You'll also get 802.11b/g WiFi, a pair of mini-USB sockets, HDMI output and what we're assuming is a resistive touchpanel. We'd say the chances of Android Market access are slim to none, but for just $179.99, who really cares if it functions? [Thanks, Braden]
ZTE's AD8000 Android MID gets sized up at the FCC, with full specs in tow
What first we thought was the Light is actually something wholly different -- and rather less exciting. What we have here is called simply the AD8000 MID, a 7-inch device from ZTE with an 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen. Power comes courtesy a 600MHz processor, smarts courtesy Android 2.2, and there's up to 16GB of storage internally and SDHC expansion for when that's tapped out. 802.11b/g are your wireless options, while 10 hours is rated as maximum battery life while listening to music, though that drops to six if you're cruising the web and/or watching videos. The FCC has kindly posted the thing's full operating manual including all specs if you'd like to know more, but since Archos already has this segment rather well covered we'll go back to waiting for the Light to light up our lives.
Sharp Lynx SH-10B is a MIDdling Android smartphone we could get behind (video)
Sharp's NTT DoCoMo-living / Android-loving Lynx SH-10B isn't brand new by any stretch -- it hit local markets in late July, and earlier this year was released on KDDI as the ISO1 -- but this week's CEATEC would be the first time we've had a chance to play around with, and given the dearth of comparable US form factors, we couldn't resist. The 5-inch 960 x 480 resolution MID / smartphone sports a pretty snappy and easy-to-use keyboard and a responsive touchscreen. Unless you've already prepared for the likes of Dell's Streak, the Lynx isn't exactly pocketable, and by our estimates, it's about twice the thickness o the iPhone 4 when closed up. The customized UI (running over what we presume is Android 1.6) is pretty unique in design, although functionally there was some minor lag in change panels and opening panes. You know the drill: pics below. Enjoy! %Gallery-104379%
Qualcomm's CEO confesses: tablets killed the smartbook star
We remember it like it was yesterday -- pressed against the edge of our seat, speakerphone on 11, listening to Qualcomm preach about how these so-called "smartbooks" were coming to take over the world. Can't fault 'em for trying. A little over a year after the (admittedly valiant) effort began, Qualcomm's CEO is effectively putting this whole nightmare behind him. According to Slashgear, Paul Jacobs admitted during an event this morning that "tablets such as the iPad had already occupied the niche his company expected smartbooks to." Essentially, the iPad delivered on the concept of an "always-on, all-day device" long before smartbooks ever had a chance at gaining traction, and judging by the fact that only a handful of these guys ever made it to market, we'd say that brutally honest assessment makes a lot of sense. We aren't necessarily better off for it, mind you, but it definitely seems that the resurgence of the tablet (and the proliferation of the longevous netbook) has extinguished any hope of smartbooks dominating the world. Hey, at least this guy's man enough to know when a journey's reached its end. Sayonara, smarties.
For You Digital MX10 5-inch Android MID hands-on
Who says the Streak is the only game in town if you want a 5-inch Android device? Well, no one, actually -- there are lots of generic options if you just want something with a 5-inch display running on Google juice -- but regardless, we had a chance to check out just such a device introduced at IFA this week, the so-called MX10 with Android 2.1 from South Korea's For You Digital. Our first impression on seeing the MX10 is that it's pretty stylish and doesn't give off the air of jankiness that you occasionally get with these off-brand MIDs; it's available in both black and white, and we especially liked the white which gets a matte silver ring around the edge (the black is paired with chrome, which obviously suffers from more fingerprint issues). There's no internal cellular connectivity (the "E" on the screen above seems to be a bug), but the device supports USB host mode, which means you can connect a USB modem from your carrier of choice when the 802.11b / g just doesn't cut it. Unfortunately, the MX10's Achilles' heel is its display, which we found to be exceptionally low-contrast -- putting it up against a Super AMOLED would be almost comical -- and resistive, which just isn't a good option for a platform as finger-friendly as Android is. If anything, this might make for a good media tank that you can use to carry around a bunch of movies, since it's available in internal capacities from 2GB up to 16GB and offers microSD expansion paired with HDMI-out (real HDMI, not micro) and 1080p capability. Check out some more shots (including more of the white) in the gallery. %Gallery-101253%
Off-contract Dell Streak is still SIM-locked to AT&T, wrongs still being done in the world
Bummer. If you were planning to get your Streak pre-order in today, but were going to opt for the $549 off-contract version rather than the $249 on-contract version, we're sad to inform you that it's the exact same device in both scenarios. Not that we're shocked or anything, but Dell's own Lionel Menchaca has confirmed the tragedy via Twitter (shot after the break), noting that the $549 version of the Dell Streak "will not be SIM unlocked." In case that needed any more clarity, he continued: "It is SIM-locked to AT&T." Fairly lousy news for those hoping to snag one and pop a few international rental SIMs in as they headed off on their late-summer escapades, but it still makes us wonder whatever happened to that T-Mobile-ized version that sauntered through the FCC back in April. Angela Lansbury, we need you. Desperately.
Enso whips up two smartphones and three new slates, but we wouldn't order any of 'em
Oh, Enso -- must you really give us a reason to hope? After dealing with what felt like a case of the vaporwares, and then being epically disappointed with the zenPad (which is now out of stock, curiously) that you finally shipped, we just can't muster up the courage to look fondly upon the five new products that are gracing your webstore. That said, those that don't mind risk taking and actually enjoy the thought of fighting for a refund have three new MIDs / slates to ponder along with a pair of Android-based smartphones to consider. Let's break 'em down real quick, shall we? zenPad 2 ($219; shipping now): Here you have a 5-inch, Android 1.5-based MID with an 800 x 480 resolution resistive touchscreen, a bundled stylus, inbuilt 3G, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, microSD slot (8GB included), 128MB of RAM, 256MB NAND Flash, a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 Xscale CPU, integrated accelerometer, onboard GPS, micro-USB port, 3.5mm headphone jack and a battery good for 4.5 hours of use. We're told that an Android 2.1 update is "imminent," but we believe that about as much as we believe BP's promise to "make it right." zenPad 3 ($249; pre-order): This here tablet boasts the exact same specifications as the zenPad 2 (right down to the battery life and resolution), but it rocks a 7-inch design that'll aid those who can't squint hard enough to see fonts on the 5-inch sibling. zenPad 4 ($199; shipping now): We hate to state the obvious, but this is quite obviously an iPad KIRF -- right down to the Home button. You'll find a 10.2-inch resistive touchpanel with a 1,024 x 600 resolution (one that Enso swears up and down "has a fast response and works very well"), along with Android 2.1, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, 256MB of RAM, 2GB of storage, a microSD slot (8GB included), a 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU, built-in accelerometer and a 2,400mAh battery that's good for 5 to 7 hours of life. zenPhone ($349; shipping now): So... it looks like a Nexus One KIRF, it's called a zenPhone, yet it says it's a MID. Oh, and it's not this ZenPhone. Whatever the case, it's got a 4.3-inch resistive touchscreen (800 x 480), 3G HSDPA radio, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, 256MB of NAND Flash, a microSD slot (8GB included), a 3.2 megapixel rear camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera, a 2,600mAh battery, onboard GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack and -- wait for it -- Maemo 5 running the show. Yeah, seriously. zenDroid ($319; pre-order): In the market for a Droid KIRF, are you? You've come to the right place, with this one offering a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480), 3G HSDPA, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, an FM radio tuner, Android 2.1 ("upgradable to 2.2," we're told), a microSD slot (8GB bundled in), 512MB of NAND Flash, a 624MHz Marvell PXA935 processor, 5 megapixel rear camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera, a 1,500mAh battery, onboard GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro-USB connector. [Thanks, Neil] %Gallery-98566%
Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use
Looks like the Android-toting Cius wasn't the only tablet out of Cisco this week -- the company's also announced a countertop unit for home energy management with a 7-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen. Running Ubuntu Linux for MID on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom chip, the Home Energy Controller connects to smart thermostats and appliances over 802.11n WiFi or gigabit ethernet using protocols including ZigBee. It then lets you keep tabs on your electricity usage, and suggests ways you could improve -- assuming you're using the tablet for its intended purpose instead of watching hardware-accelerated videos on Mediafly, browsing the included app store, or (potentially) using it as a phone of some sort. Forbes reports the device will run $900 per installation, though it's more likely it'll arrive subsidized by a monthly power bill. See it in action right after the break, and hit up that PDF at the more coverage link for a full spec sheet.
Dell Streak gets rooted, now accepting superusers
Yes, we're still waiting on the official release of the Dell Streak over here in the colonies, but abroad it's already available, and MoDaCo's Paul O'Brien has taken his to the root. He's figured out how to make the Streak a more willing partner for your su exploits, and has kindly shared the details. The application process looks easy, just a few steps, and from what we can tell looks to be fully functional, with only the remount command requiring some extra finesse to get working. You can find the full details at the source link and have yours rooted in time for tea. [Thanks, Rado]
Dell Streak review
Streak. It needs no introduction, as this slate's been gaining a lot of attention amongst gadget lovers around the world. Thanks to the UK launch last Friday, we were one of the first on this planet to procure Dell's finalized Android 1.6 phone from O2. Yep, you heard right -- Engadget's now in possession of two Streaks, with the older one still in its original and somewhat unstable prototype state. Our new toy sports a matte "carbon" finish instead of chrome (no word on future availability; the red version's coming in two weeks' time), and now 399MB of RAM instead of 405MB (according to Android System Info app; it's actually a 512MB chip). Anyhow, now that we have the real deal, there's plenty to go through, so join us after the break to see if the Streak's really going to start a new trend.%Gallery-94418%
Sony Ericsson prepping a 5-inch Android phone with QWERTY keyboard? (updated)
Well, this is just great timing. What we're looking at here is supposedly a Sony Ericsson smartphone, which seems to sport a five-inch screen and a hinged slide-out keyboard like the HTC Shift and the Eking S515. Even if this prototype turns out to be legit, our tipster -- who has a solid track record -- says it's only running on Android 2.1 and that development is in its infancy while low-level drivers are being tested. Well, we can probably wait, except we're also told that internally SE doesn't appear to have any plans for 2.2 yet. Cue the angry tomatoes and eggs, but bring us a PSP phone any day and we'll call off the rally. Update: We've received word from a second highly-trusted source who says that the display is 5.5 inches (too big to fit in the front pocket), and runs a clean Android 2.1 install. Oh, and it's launching in the fall. Update 2: We've been told that the device has now been pushed to CES 2011.
Inventec's Dr. Eye puts Android in a pocket-sized laptop
It may sound like a mid-boss in some forgotten and poorly translated NES game, but Dr. Eye (aka the N18C) is actually a sort of keyboard-endowed MID from Inventec. This chubby clamshell sports a QWERTY keyboard, a 4.8-inch VGA touchscreen, 3G, WiFi, and a front-facing webcam. Power is said to come from a "Marvell 624," which we're guessing is a 624MHz PXA310 and, while it's currently running 1.6, word is that it'll be dipped in 2.1's creamy filling in the near future. When will delivery be? Inventec has been showing this guy off since last year, and while the person doing the demonstration indicates they'll be available "pretty soon" at a price point around $400, we found this guy for sale already at a price of 2688 yuan, or about $395. So, if you're eager to get computing and prefer donuts to eclairs, we wish you happy importing.
RAmos W7 Android MID is alive and shipping (in China)
It's been a long strange trip for the onetime "mystery MID," but now it looks like the RAmos W7 is finally finding its way to customers. According to Pocketables, the Android 1.5 device is selling for 999 yuan (about $146), which isn't bad seeing as how they've gone on eBay for four times that -- although the price suggests that the rumored 3G connectivity is a non-starter. Whatever the case, we'll definitely keep our eyes peeled for a stateside appearance.
X10 MID does 1080p video output on the cheap
A $179, Windows CE 6.0-based MID / tablet may not sound like the most exciting proposition at first, but this so-called X10 MID from a manufacturer that apparently prefers to remain nameless might just pack enough features to at least pique your interest. Chief among those is support for full 1080p video output via the MID's HDMI port, not to mention support for just about every video file format you could ask for to go along with it. Otherwise, you'll get a 7-inch 800 x 480 display (resistive, judging from the stylus), along with a 720 MHz Telechips 8901 ARM 11 processor, 256MB of RAM, 2GB of on-board storage, a microSD card slot for expansion, and built-in WiFi and GPS. Willing to take a chance on it? Then hit up the source hint below to get your order in. Update: Our pals from Engadget Chinese recently managed to get some hands-on time with device, which is made by a company called Kinstone. Head on past the break for a video, and check out a few more pics in their gallery right here.
