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Elektrobit and Wistron MIDs pop up under lock and key at CEATEC: hands-on
Remember that new and improved reference MID that Elektrobit (better known as EB) announced back at IDF? Yeah, that very device was on hand at Intel's booth at CEATEC, though not a soul was allowed to touch it. The unit was neatly planted beneath freshly Windexed glass alongside three others, two of which certainly put an impressive label on Wistron. We did learn that the EB slate would boast a 3.97-inch capacitive touchscreen with an 800 x 480 resolution, though further details on the lot were scant. Have a peek below to see if EB's take on the niche MID might actually cause you to take notice.%Gallery-75235%
Kohjinsha PA and PM series hands-on (video)
Dual-panel netbooks weren't the only takeaway from Kohjinsha's CEATEC booth, as the company also had on hand a pair of sleek MIDs. Both lightweight, Windows XP-powered touchscreen portables, the PA boasted a 4.8-inch swivel display with 1024 x 600 resolution, a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 with 512MB RAM, a 32GB SSD , and a sleek industrial design. The PM is actually a bit old hat now, living a double life as the mbook M1. Still, both had very responsive screens and decent front-mount cameras, and although we still can't get the hang of the tiny keyboards, it's par for the course in the field of MIDs. Brief video hands-on after the break. %Gallery-74887%
EB improves reference MID, adds new UI and haptics support
We still get the impression that MIDs are struggling to find a market that cares about them, but with Intel refusing to give up hope just yet, a raft of manufacturers are on hand at IDF to showcase new reference designs. Take EB for example, which teased us briefly with its MID Reference at Computex. Now, the outfit is using the spotlight in San Francisco to announce a few key improvements on the device, which was produced in collaboration with Intel (surprise, surprise) and Ericsson. The highlights are an improved user interface and application framework -- which work together to improve multitasking -- and the inclusion of haptics, which enables the display to vibrate in response to a touch. The reference MID is primed and ready to be snapped up by some other manufacturer and introduced as their own, but the question remains: do we have any takers?%Gallery-73698% Show full PR text EB INTRODUCES GROUNDBREAKING ADVANCEMENTS TO ITS MOBILE INTERNET DEVICE (MID) REFERENCE DESIGNSophisticated New Features AddressConsumer Demands, Resulting in a Captivating Multimedia Experience powered by Intel winning technologiesSAN FRANCISCO (Intel Developer Forum 2009), September 22, 2009 - Building upon its next-generation EB MID Reference Device that was showcased earlier this year at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2009, EB, Elektrobit Corporation (OMX: EBC1V), a leading developer of cutting-edge embedded technology solutions for automotive and wireless industries, is applying its creative expertise to unveil today, at INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM 2009, optimized features to its MID reference design. Working with Intel and Ericsson, the upgraded design transforms the device with stylish, multimedia improvements that are necessary in providing a fulfilling end-user experience.According to projections from ABI Research, worldwide MID shipments are expected to exceed 90 million units by 2012. With the global demand for flexible interfaces and multimedia functionality on the rise, EB has continued to spearhead the efforts of meeting customer needs by growing its pipeline of innovation, delivering new reference devices that customers and end-users require. Responding to the demand set by business professionals and young adults seeking flexible devices offering a pocket-able, media-centric experience that incorporates the power of a desktop computer for on-the-go portability, EB has further enhanced its MID reference design to answer the demands of the market, including:· An improved user interface (UI) and application framework – This enables users to multi-task and personalize the device through cutting-edge desktop features. The result takes self-expression to a heightened level of sophistication, providing an intuitive way for end-users to interact with phones and network services that operate as powerfully as the sense of touch itself.· Leveraging latest UI technologies, such as 3D, plasma desktop and haptics – EB has designed an experience that offers vivid, sophisticated appearances. Leveraging haptics makes it possible for end-users to touch and manipulate objects effortlessly, which is vital to exceeding user expectations of what a device should deliver."As consumers continue to seek out new devices that offer unique value and sophisticated applications in a pocket-able form factor, the rapid development of the MID market is something to pay close attention to," said Kevin Burden, Practice Director, Mobile Devices, ABI Research. "In an effort to keep up with consumer demands craving innovative products, partnering with a design shop that has particular expertise with MIDs, can add competitive advantages for vendors in the battle for consumer electronics market share." A complete EB MID Reference Device can be tailored to a customers' brand and target market requirements with a wide range of cellular connectivity options. By licensing EB's sophisticated MID reference design technology coupled with device customization services, customers - including wireless, CE and PC original device and equipment manufacturers, wireless operators, among others - gain the framework to quickly and cost-effectively bring to market innovative MID solutions that aim to increase competitiveness and revenue-potential."Since 2007, we have collaborated with both Intel and Ericsson on the world's first MID reference devices, we've leveraged our expertise and understanding of MIDs to transform basic concepts into cutting-edge designs that would enhance the end-user experience," said Vesa Kiviranta, vice president, EB Wireless Solutions. "The intuitiveness brought forth by advanced technological features in our reference design further adds to our credibility and extensive knowledge of the MID market."EB MID Reference Device was recently named a runner-up in the Best of 4G Awards for Best Mobile Internet Device, which was presented at the 4G World conference and expo. 4G World is an annual event that explores the entire ecosystem for next generation networks.
Samsung's WiMAX-packin' Mondi sized up against brothers, cousins and enemies
It's one thing to see a Samsung Mondi and just imagine how sweet it'd feel between your palms, surfing on the blazing WiMAX superhighway whilst providing an almost dangerous level of satisfaction. It's another to see just how chunky / slim / ostentatiously lofty it is when sized up against its greatest competition. The good folks over at Pocketables took the time to disconnect for a few brief moments in order to photograph the 4G-capable MID alongside a few other mobile internet devices, smartphones, UMPCs and defunct wannabes. Heck, there's even a side-by-side with a stapler. Yeah, it's a can't miss piece, and it's all there for the taking in the read link.
Clarion's MiND finds a home in LA-area Nissan Cubes
With the whole "direct to consumer" approach failing epically, Clarion has evidently resorted to pushing remaining inventory of its largely unwanted MiND mobile internet device onto Nissan dealers in Los Angeles. In all fairness, we do suspect that these are moving more briskly than, say, Celio's REDFLY, but we can count the amount of MIDs we've seen in public on two or three hands. At any rate, Nissan has signed on to offer the multifaceted Atom-powered device as an optional accessory in its Cube, but at least initially, it'll only be made available at select dealers in the LA area. For those opting to outfit their new whip with one of these, Nissan will include a dedicated docking kit harmonized to the vehicle's instrument panel, and the user interface will also be tweaked for in-car usage. Look -- this is absolutely better than those lackluster, overpriced NAV units shoved into most dashboards, but at $799 plus installation, it's not like you're getting the steal of the century here.[Via Pocketables]
Viliv X70 dissected and reviewed ahead of initial pre-order
We know what you're thinking: too much Viliv X70 news at once and you're liable to go mad as a hatter with excitement. Settle down, and now let's move on. jkkmobile's been playing with the MID for quite some time now, and has posted an epic, 27-minute long review. It's well worth a gander if you're considering the device, and ultimately it comes away as a good slate portable with fast 3G (in Finland, at least), a better MID for newcomers than the S5. Not all is great, and some lag issues aside, points get knocked off for the lack of some mouse-like input. If that's not enough, we've also got pics of it torn asunder piece by piece, so you can get a better glimpse at the innards. Want more? Dynamism's updated its placeholder page to let everyone know of a pre-order special tomorrow, July 6th, where the first 777 customers get a free 1.3GHz upgrade (from 1.2GHz), car kit, leather pouch, and protective film for the screen, and premium model buyers can get an extra battery to boot. Video review after the break, and hit up the read links for everything else.Read - ReviewRead - DissectionRead - Pre-order page
Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ
It's no surprise that Dell's been dipping its toes in Android-infested waters as of late, and now the Wall Street Journal's reasserting a previous claim from early April that the company's hard at work on a MID powered by Google's mobile OS platform. Multiple sources have reportedly likened it to a slightly larger iPod touch, while one went so far as to suggest a very tentative second half 2009 target release window, assuming the project doesn't get 187'd before then. Despite its history with Intel and the chipmaker's penchant for MIDs, the report pegs ARM as the processor of choice. As for how this jibes with rumors of Dell's smartphone plans, that's where things get interesting, as WSJ quotes a source who said Dell's thinking about selling it through cell carriers like it's currently doing with 3G-equipped netbooks. The article repeatedly calls it a MID -- meaning a phone might still be in the cards, but given past whispers, it kind of makes you wonder.
Switched On: Apps like to Movit, Movit
Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Not every company producing smartphones cares much about other kinds of portable devices, but those that do can heed a lesson from Apple. By leveraging the popularity, platform, and distribution of the iPhone, Apple deftly created the market for iPod touch applications. One would now be hard-pressed to name another non-cellular handheld device that has access to as many modern applications as Apple's flagship digital media player. Under some definitions, it has become the first mass-market Mobile Internet Device (or MID). Targeting both phone and non-phone platforms has allowed Apple to greatly increase the installed base for iPhone applications. Last month, Apple announced that it had shipped 17 million iPhones, and 13 million iPod touches, increasing the base of devices for "iPhone" applications 76 percent. Convergent devices like the iPhone and iPod touch are often looked at in terms of their potential to cannibalize a wide swath of other kinds of portable devices. These include the popular (digital cameras, portable navigation devices, handheld gaming platforms), the obscure (remote controls for presentation programs and the Sonos multi-room music system), and the humble (alarm clocks, calculators and pedometers).
Hualu UCG501 MID packs everything but a release date
Well, here's an interesting little number. While there's little in terms of actual specifics, this new UCG501 MID from China's Hualu does make a lot of bold promises, including a purported "high-performance integrated graphics card," built-in GPS, some mobile TV of some sort, CDMA2000 connectivity, built-in Bluetooth, a "high capacity" 4700 mAh battery, and even a built-in optical mouse (yeah, we're still trying to figure out how that last one's supposed to work too). Of course, there's no word of a price or release date just yet, nor is there any evidence that it is anything more than a prototype at the moment -- and, judging from the unit display, one that either lacks an accelerometer or has a not entirely functional one.[Via Pocketables]
Ask Engadget: Which MID should I get?
Thanks for tuning in for this week's edition of Ask Engadget -- a place for you, the reader, to have your deepest, darkest gadget-related question shot out to the world. If you'd like to get in on the action, just send an inquiry to ask at engadget dawt com; for now, however, why not give Charlie's question a once over? "I'm looking for a MID. Preferably one that's 5- to 7-inches in form, and ideally one that runs Linux. All I want to use it for is some web surfing, maybe a bit of audio / video, and a little RDP / SSD stuff for work and home. I'm not too picky, just need some solid suggestions." Well Charles (can we call you Charles?), we're pretty certain our readers can help out here, and if you don't mind us saying so, OQO's Model 2+ was pretty striking at CES.
Intel-based MID to make a splash on France's SFR
It looks like France's SFR will be getting some tweaked variant of Aigo's familiar P8860 Intel-based MID... with 3G on-board. The device features an 800 x 480 touchscreen display, an 800MHz Atom CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of flash memory, Bluetooth, WiFi, a VGA webcam, 3 megapixel camera, and a full slide-out AZERTY keyboard (as well as some odd, circular navigation wheel). Obviously the big bonus here is the 3G connectivity, which sounds like it will be offered at €19.90 (about $26) or €24.90 ($32) per month, depending on plan. By appearances, those plans include unlimited data -- though the machine translated article seems to suggest there could be some capping. The Linux-powered device will sell for €249 / $310 (€349 with a €100 rebate) -- no word on release date.
Aigo P8860 MID cracked open, modding possible
The cats at UMPC Fever have taken the liberty of cracking open Aigo's P8860 MID and splaying its contents out for the world to see. Apparently, the crew was looking for modding possibilities, and discovered that while the RAM and SSD are soldered to the mainboard, there's ample room for an HSDPA or flash drive upgrade (they suggest 16GB or 32GB is doable, and who are we to argue). A picture says a thousand words, or so we're told, so hit the read link and take a look at all the nasty innards.[Via iTech News Net]
Sony's mylo 2 magically transforms from 'Personal Communicator' to 'Internet Device'
According to hot, hot reports from the interblogs, interwebs, and yes -- internets -- Sony has made some shocking changes to its mylo 2. Did we say shocking? We meant not shocking. At all. Apparently in an attempt to re-market (and thusly sell) the odd little handheld, the company has begun branding the gadget an "Internet Device" as opposed to its previous (circa 2006) title of "Personal Communicator." We're all for the new convention (we love the hell out of new names) but it remains to be seen what kind of effect, if any, it will have on the gadget's not-so-hot sales. The next step? Lose the Spider-Man font.[Thanks, Penny]
Willcom's D4 gets reviewed
Jenn from Pocketables has gotten her hands on the diminutive Willcom D4 and given it an ultra-thorough review -- and we've got the details. While she praises the general speed of the device, screen resolution and brightness, and comfort of holding the D4, her reactions to the touchpad and keyboard are less than enthusiastic. Adding insult to apparent injury, it seems that the battery life leaves quite a bit to be desired (unless you're employing the extended battery pack), the video playback is choppy with most codecs, and the non-standard headphone jack is deeply, deeply annoying. The conclusion? Willcom's miniature needs "Help to achieve its potential," which is probably not what most potential buyers of the $1500 device want to hear. Of course, you should explore the whole review -- and its handsome photos -- so hit the read link for more.
BenQ's MID gets official-er, can be shaken like a martini
You might remember that little BenQ MID prototype which was doing the rounds at IDF and CES. Well, it looks like the folks at HQ have decided to get all official with the newly-repainted gadget -- creatively dubbed the BenQ Mobile Internet Device -- during another three letter party, MWC. According to the press release, the unit boasts a 4.8-inch touchscreen, 0.3-megapixel webcam, and "high-speed mobile internet access." Interestingly, the company appears to be aiming for some fancy-shmancy gesture input, like sliding finger movements and the ability to shake the device to minimize windows -- a feature which should notably increase the numbers of these which get thrown across a room. BenQ still hasn't given any release date or expected price on the Menlow-based device, so don't start any breath-holding competitions just yet. There's one more press image after the break, if you haven't seen enough (and we suspect you haven't).[Via jkkmobile]
Hands-on with Lenovo's new Menlow MID
We've seen it in pics, but now we get to hold it. The new Lenovo MID being shown off at the Intel booth at this year's CES can't help but remind us of one of our favorite old game systems... the Atari Lynx. Beyond that, it sports another Linux-based interface, with a decent looking UI put on top -- though we're pretty underwhelmed by the resistive touchscreen's response. We're not sure what they think we're going to do with that number pad on the side... unless this can be used as a phone, perhaps. Take a look at the pics and judge for yourself.%Gallery-13093%
Hands-on with Aigo's iPhone-ripping, Menlow-based MID
We got a chance to play with the new Aigo MID that sports the Intel Menlow chip, and here's a slew of shots for you to peep. A few items of note: first, the thing is totally trying to rip the iPhone's interface -- you can't really debate that, though sitting atop its janky Linux implementation, it feels pretty third rate. On the bright side, the little guy uses a new, touchscreen-MID-centric version of Mozilla called CoolFox, which is nice to see on a handheld. Check the gallery and see for yourself.%Gallery-13089%
Hands-on with the Digifriends WiBro MID
We got a chance to play with the bizarre Digifriends MID at the Intel booth, and it actually seems kind of cool. The basic concept with the Vista-running, Menlow-sporting, lime green device is that you can snap on all kinds of add-ons to it, like a gamepad, keyboard, stand, speakers, and a hard drive. The overall feel wasn't wildly different from the other MIDs we saw, but the possibilities of expanding it easily are enticing. Check the gallery for all the views.%Gallery-13086%
Hands-on with Intel's Silverthorne-based MID prototype
That's right, kids. The crazy, long-iPhone prototype we saw demoed at IDF a few months back has made its way into our greedy hands. We've got to say, Intel should just bring this thing to market right now. While the UI wasn't up and running, just holding the thing, and checking out the demo shots of the interface was enough to give us big chills. It's thin, it's light, and we have to say, pretty darn fresh. If they keep up with this kind of work, we're fully prepared to be blown away in the future. Of note: the rep here claimed that the company now has even smaller and thinner versions of this thing in prototype -- though they don't seem to be at CES, and he kept reiterating that the prototype I was handling was slated for a 2009 release. Oh well, feast your eyes on the gallery.%Gallery-13071%
Hands-on with LG's new Menlow-based MID
We came, we saw... we handled. We finally got a chance to play with LG's newest entry into the growing line of forthcoming Intel MIDs, and we're pretty impressed. The device is small and light, has a really solid build, and definitely is going to give current players (N810, we're looking at you) a nasty run for the money. Check out the gallery below and bask in the newness of your next wallet-breaker.%Gallery-13068%
