Model2
Latest
Unreleased OQO model 2+ sells for $4,500 on eBay, must be love
We may be gadget nerds but we're not immune to the heart-tugs of romance. In fact, we've been known to dress a new smartphone or two in a tight-fitting sleeve of silicone and set it conspicuously on the bar for lesser men to admire, wishing it was theirs. And nothing rouses a man to a fit of sentimental flourish faster than the premature demise of his favorite company. So are we surprised to learn that r***r paid $4,500 to "win" a slightly soiled, but never released OQO Model 2+? Not in the least... you'd be surprised to learn what a man would pay for a Foleo. [Thanks, Lambdajones]
RIP, OQO: company discontinues repair service, disconnects phone lines
It wasn't without a lot of warning signs, but still we're sad to see the hammer drop. It looks like Model 2+ maker OQO has officially closed up shop, and according to a statement on the OQOTalk forums, it cannot offer any more repair or service support due to "financial constraints." All our attempts to contact the company have come up with disconnected numbers and undeliverable email notifications, so yeah, we think it's safe to call it now. And to think, this very day last year its little UMPC had expanded into the world of GPS navigation. Shed a tear, won't ya? Update: GottaBeMobile stumbled upon SVP of sales and marketing Bob Rosin -- outside one of the writer's garages, apparently -- who confirmed the company's demise, and added that the technology and engineering team might stay afloat should a deal with an undisclosed PC vendor pan out. That said, there are no more devies left in stock and don't expect anymore to be produced.
OQO Model 2s suffering from failing main boards?
Times are pretty tough for OQO fans -- the struggling company appears to be on the brink of collapse, the Model 2+ is unlikely to be produced, and now we're hearing that main board failures on Model 2s that have shipped are distressingly common. That's at least the word according to the OQOtalk forum, whose members are currently gathering data on the situation -- and the early trends sadly reveal that the 1.6GHz model is extremely prone to failure. Of course, it's not exactly the most scientific poll in the world, but you wouldn't expect such harsh results from users on a fansite unless something was up. Given OQO's current travails, we don't know if this will ever get resolved, but let's hope so.[Via Gadget Mix]
Model 2+ production seen as "unlikely," says OQO exec
The chances of seeing Model 2+'s release seems dimmer and dimmer, as online retailer Build Your UMPC has joined eXpansys in canceling pre-orders for the Model 2+. OQO's senior VP Bob Rosin confirmed bad news, saying a firm shipping date was partly the reason behind the vendor's decision. Furthermore, he said that it was "unlikely" any more Model 2+ units would be produced, though not indicating how many were currently manufactured and ready to go. Worried about the company's future? Yeah, us, too.
OQO looking for buyer, Model 2+ future in limbo?
Oh no, OQO. According to some chatter on the OQOTALK forums, the company's in dire financial straits and is looking to sell, and that the Model 2+ may be the last OQO device made, if it ever gets released. More worrisome, European retailer eXpansys is reportedly canceling orders for the MID and removing all the company's products from the site, due to what it's telling customers is "uncertainties to stock availability." Ouch. Whatever's going on, right now it's not sounding too good -- guess that Model 2+ Lie to Me cameo wasn't enough to rile up overwhelming support.Read - jkontherunRead - OQOTALK forums
Screen Grabs: OQO Model 2+ makes lunchtime appearance on 'Lie To Me'
Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. Oh Brendan Hines, you're so dreamy with that scruffy beard, curly hair that just can't be tamed, and propensity to whip out random gadgets at inappropriate times on Lie to Me. In the last episode Brendan's character Eli Loker was waving OQO's Model 2+ around at lunch like a wine list, the MID playing the role of voice stress analyzer, helping the team identify whether a reclusive witness was telling the truth. No word on whether OQO plans on including such insightful software with the device when it comes to market, but we'd be telling a lie if we said we thought it would. Update: Andrew commented to let us know the software running here is called GoldWave, which may or may not help you identify someone being untruthful, but does generate some impressive-looking 3D visuals and can be yours for $45.[Thanks, Mike Wydra]
OQO officially launches Gobi / OLED-equipped model 2+, we get hands-on
We already knew a fresh OQO handheld would be headed to Digital Experience! here at CES, and lo and behold the model 2+ has arrived in our oh-so-fortunate hands. The 800 x 480 (native) OLED touchscreen was positively gorgeous to look at, and the Qualcomm Gobi dual-mode HSPA / EV-DO WWAN chipset was much appreciated. It's also sporting a 1.86GHz Intel Atom CPU, 2GB of RAM, WiFi / Bluetooth, DirectX 9 and H.264 video decode support, 3.5 hours of battery life (7 hours on the double capacity cell), a world keyboard and a global power supply. The unit checks in at under a pound and can support 1,9200 x 1,200 external displays with HDMI / DVI / VGA interfaces. Get ready to lust after one (we already are) when it ships in 1H 2009 starting at $999.%Gallery-40974%[Via ArsTechnica]
