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Cowon 3D is the 1080p-playing, 4.8-inch PMP that just jumps out at you
As far as 3D goes, we can still take it or leave it, but what's really got us intrigued about Cowon's latest effort is the promise of full 1080p video playback. Ally that to a HDMI output and up to 64GB of flash storage and you've got yourself a pretty potent portable media station. The Cowon 3D PMP offers an 800 x 480 resolution on its own 4.8-inch display -- which is touted as the world's first 3D visualizer on a PMP that doesn't require glasses -- plus a battery rated to last for 10 hours of video, 45 hours of audio and up to 300 hours on standby. And, in an upgrade from the recent X7, this new device also has WiFi connectivity! Launch is scheduled for December 10th in Cowon's backyard of South Korea, with prices coming in at KRW499,000 ($431) for the 32GB-equipped 3D PMP and KRW589,000 ($509) for the 64GB version. [Thanks, Kunal]
Microsoft's Menlo is a Windows CE device, nothing to see here folks
Mary Jo Foley had us all fired up about the potential of Microsoft's mysterious Menlo, but it appears that the project's not yet a groundbreaking mobile OS -- it's just a prototype slate. Menlo V1 made its cameo debut in a Microsoft Research paper destined for MobileHCI 2010, where it's listed as a 4.1-inch device with a 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, a 3-axis accelerometer (and a barometer, for some reason) all running on the comparatively boring Windows CE 6.0 R2. According to the paper, which tested out a Silverlight-based app that allowed users to follow a trail of virtual breadcrumbs back to their parked car, the device didn't even have a magnetometer at the time of testing -- thus the throwback compass you see immediately above -- and it's actually never referred to as a phone. We'll keep you abreast of any future developments, but even if the project were leagues more exciting we're not sure if we'd put our hearts on the line. Once burned, twice shy.
Silverstat7 Zigbee-packin' thermostat to debut this fall for $600?
Every day it seems that companies are finding better ways to keep an eye on the non-renewable resources we're sucking down to enable our voracious appetite for Xbox gaming and Hulu viewing. Not that we're complaining! And now, thanks to a gracious tipster, we've received some deets on that Silverstat7 home energy management solution (er, touchscreen thermostat) we first hepped you to a couple days ago. Along with 802.11g WiFi, this guy supports the Zigbee and Zwave protocols (as you probably guessed), so it should be able to play nicely with your existing smart meter, switches and outlets. Earlier reports of a June 2010 release date may have been premature -- look for it this fall for about $600 MSRP. [Thanks, Tony L.]
Silverpac Silverstat 7 provides energy usage data, responds to touch
Boy, if it's not car dashboards, it's thermostats -- you just can't get away from touchscreens these days. The latest 7-inch temperature regulator from Silverpac comes with a bunch of extra goodies to entice the touch control-loving generation into the energy conservation game. With WiFi built in, the Silverstat 7 can pump data out to the internet or your home network, and is equally adept at streaming photos, music and other content back from those connections. A full week's worth of water temperature instructions can be programmed into the device, which can also inform you of weather conditions and your home's energy consumption. The latter part is most intriguing, as you'll be informed of power usage on a per-appliance basis, which can be mighty beneficial when a certain bit of home hardware gorges on electricity without you knowing. June 2010 is set as the release date, but the wallet damage remains unrevealed.
Guangzhou Darling DP2000 is a nutty pc-in-a-projector that we kinda love (video)
What do you add to a pocket projector that already has a massive 640 x 480 resolution and the power of 9 suns lumens? Why, a WinCE-powered computer, of course. Now, when everyone else is fumbling around with their bulky laptops, you can bust out your Darling, use the top-mounted touchpad to navigate, and be the fastest projector gunslinger in the office. There's even a stand, a pair of mini-USB ports for hooking up a keyboard and mouse, and an SD expansion slot to augment the already super-generous 1GB of Flash storage. So how much does a PC with a huge display and SSD cost these days? $180. Don't tell us that ain't progress. Check it out after the break. [Via Pico Projector Info]
M&Soft launches 7-inch Mappy AP1 PND in South Korea
M&Soft's Mappy navigation software seems well established in Korea, and now the company has decided to offer its own hardware for it in the shape of a 7-inch SiRF-based touchscreen device. Of course, it wouldn't be a South Korean PND if it didn't include a DMB digital TV tuner, video and audio playback, and a photo / text viewer, but the company's gone one better by offering the elaborate, gimmicky GUI you see above. Pricing is pretty decent too, set at 349,000 KRW ($283) with a 4GB SDHC card, or 399,000 KRW ($323) for an 8GB unit. The AP in the model name stands for "Absolute Pride" -- sure, make your jokes, but maybe it's that wise-guy sense of humor keeping this sort of tech away from Western shores.[Via Slashgear]
Video: NVIDIA Tegra's GPU gets busy with HD video and full-screen Flash -- Intel 945GSE shrugs, kicks dirt
If you didn't believe the Tegra hype -- 25 days audio, 10 hours of 1080p video on single charge -- already then pull up a stool, son, NVIDIA wants to tell your a story. TechVideoBlog sat down with Gordon Grigor, NVIDIA's Director of Mobile Software to see Tegra's little Atom smasher in action. So sit back while Gordon smoothly streams a 720p MSN HD trailer off the web (over WiFi) then switches over to Firefox to take Flash for a spin at full-screen. Gordon also clarifies earlier confusion over Tegra's ability to handle HD video; see, the Tegra 600 can do H.264 video at 720p while the Tegra 650 can decode 1080p. Gordon also gives some more insight into memory configurations. It seems that the OS (either Android or Windows CE in single or dual-boot configurations) will be embedded with minimal on-board storage like those early Eee PCs. RAM will also be limited to about 512MB on base units going as low as 256MB and as high as 1GB in future (unannounced) devices. A 512MB model limits Firefox to about 3-4 opened tabs at a time. All of this is meant to keep prices down below $200 (or less when subsidized by carriers). Also of note is how the Tegra's GPU assists in rendering pixels anytime they appear on the display. In other words fonts, Firefox pages, scrolling, and of course video playback all benefit from an extra boost by the GPU. Check the video after the break to hear Gordon make some not so subtle jabs at Intel's relatively power-hungry Atom processor.Update: It's worth mentioning that the first Tegra smartbooks are expected to launch in October according to Gordon.
Chuwi's W3000 MID comes to life, likely matters not
After spotting renders of this here device last week, we have to say -- the real Chuwi W3000 MID is a looker. Boasting an ARM processor, GPS module, support for MP3, WMA, OGG, AVI and RMVB files (among others) and a built-in WiFi chip, this touchscreen beauty is tailor made to deliver the best of the web without a keyboard. Oh, except for the teeny, tiny fact that someone thought to equip this with WinCE 5.0, thus eliminating any chance whatsoever of it being relevant. Too bad, really.[Via MP4Nation]
Windows CE-powered Cuol Book gives netbooks a bad name
Amazon's top 10 laptop sellers may be clogged with netbooks, but you can bet this one isn't in there. Paradoxically available from The Really Useful Store, the very useless Cuol Book shames itself with a Windows CE 5.0 operating system that should honestly be reserved for PDAs manufactured on or before January 1, 2004. For those who care, further specs include a 7-inch display, SD / MMC card slot, two USB ports, 1GB of RAM, a 533MHz Samsung ARM processor and a built-in speaker for good measure. Sure, the thing only weighs 1.5-pounds, but the almost insulting £159.99 ($298) price tag really pushes it over the edge. Thanks, but no thanks.[Via BoingBoing]
The iriver NV Life: as stirring and confusing as life itself
Reincomm just announced the new iriver NV Life, the official name of its M20 prototype. New in that they've done away with the big, navigation pad of the original NV in favor of a more sleek, easily portable SatNav device with PMP functionality. Still, it's a near spec-for-spec clone of the bigger, bulkier NV. Available in either 2GB ???328,000 (about $367) or 4GB ???358,000 (about $400) capacities, the SiRF Star III GPS device dedicates an SD slot to maps and second to augment the onboard flash. Inside, the WinCE 5.0-based device packs an FM-transmitter, DMB TV (with GPS PiP support), and a wide selection of codecs synonymous with the iriver name. The only downside is the display: 800 x 480 pixels spread across 7-inches of glass. On par with the industry but pretty poor when compared to cellphones which offer the same resolution on 2.8-inch displays.%Gallery-19199% [Via Akihabara News]
Windows CE 6.0 R2 to support videoconferencing
Although Windows Mobile generally gets all the attention, a whole spectrum of PMPs and GPS units run Windows CE (also known as Windows Embedded) with great results, so the feature list for Windows CE 6.0 R2 is a little sneak peek at what we might see in the next year or so. Microsoft isn't actually officially announcing R2 until Thursday at an event in Japan, but the changelog and a download have already appeared on the web for your eager eyes -- revealing the big addition of video over IP calling in addition to bolstered VoIP features and other obvious-but-welcome tweaks like SDHC support and Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0. No word on when OEMs will start rolling any of this out, obviously, but that's not stopping you from checking the whole list at the read link and dreaming of your own personal super-PMP, now is it?[Via eWeek]
RAmos V80 PMP gets WinCE, integrated camera
RAmos hasn't exactly set the standard for sexy looking PMPs, and while the V80 may not make you cringe when facing it head-on, checking out the whole package is likely to leave you disappointed. Nevertheless, this unit does manage to hum along on WinCE 6.0, boast a 1.3-megapixel camera and include a gaming function for those moments when tunes just aren't enough. Moreover, the device features a 320 x 240 resolution touchscreen display, USB 2.0 connectivity and a microSD expansion slot. Beyond that, however, details are few and far between, but feel free to check out a few more angles after the break.[Via TheGadgetSite]
i-Station N7tu navigation system does DMB on the side
i-Station's latest GPS / DMB / PMP conglomerate isn't too terribly differentiated from its do-it-all siblings, but the stylish design, expansive seven-inch LCD, and built-in hard drive make it hard to shun. This navigation device includes integrated stereo speakers, a SiRF Star III receiver, DMB TV tuner, SD expansion slot, USB connectivity, rechargeable battery, and your choice of a 30GB or 60GB internal HDD. Of course, you'll also find the usual photo viewer and media player functions within, and while pricing information seems to be absent, we Americans won't be ponying up for this Korean-based gizmo anyway.[Via NaviGadget]
iriver's W10 PMP detailed further, runs Windows CE
iriver's delightful W10 is looking better all the time, as just a fortnight after being showcased on the firm's teaser site, it's now drawing attention to the iriver Europe portal with a rundown of specifications. Arriving in your choice of black or white, this sleek PMP will of course boast 8GB of internal storage space, an integrated WiFi adapter, WiFi positioning system, three-inch WQVGA widescreen display, built-in FM tuner, miniSD expansion slot, and an integrated speaker to boot. The most noticeable bit, however, is that this device will rely on Windows CE beneath the shell to keep things rockin', and even iriver admits that you'll likely see firmware updates down the road to account for future applications and formats. Still no word on price nor availability, but the "coming this year" tagline means launch day is (sort of) in sight.[Via PlayerBites]
odd-i stuffs DMB, GPS into P480DN portable media player
While this iteration of the P480 looks mighty similar to the one we caught at CES, it looks like odd-i decided to just stick with the same enclosure and bump up the internals in the P480DN. The Windows CE-powered handheld sports a widescreen display, built-in e-dictionary, GPS, DMB TV tuner, an SD expansion slot, and a 30GB or 60GB hard drive to boot. Unfortunately, details surrounding price and availability for the 60GB variety are nowhere to be found, but it was noted that the 30GB edition should land sometime this month for a currently undisclosed amount.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Meizu's latest MiniOne (M8) incarnation
Here you have it, what looks to be a (re-touched) photograph of a real engineering sample of the Meizu MiniOne (M8). The picture was posted by CEO, Jack Wong, with the promise of more pictures to come in a "few days." At the moment, the 58 x 105 x 11.8-mm M8 is said to carry a spec list which includes a 667MHz ARM11 processor running a Windows CE 6.0 kernel up on a 3.3-inch, 720 x 480 pixel touchscreen display. The MiniOne M8 model will pack GSM with EDGE data while the MiniOne M8 w ("w" for worldphone we presume) is said to go WCDMA/HSDPA/GSM/EDGE. WiFi, Bluetooth, and what appears to be a 3 megapixel camera also come standard with your choice of 4, 8, and 16GB of flash capacities. While we've seen pricing and an "end of 2007" release date before, the specs have changed so dramatically since then that we'll just have to continue holding tight as this pup evolves. You know, if they can actually push this wunderkind out the door. [Via MeizuMe] Read -- Specs Read -- Picture
Medion unveils GoPal X4510 / S2310 navigation units at CeBIT
While most of the recent buzz surrounding Medion has focused on the firm's UMPC efforts, it's rolling out a pair of stylish navigation systems for a nice change of pace. The GoPal S2310 and X4510 (pictured after the jump) purportedly utilize NAVTEQ maps and come in a trio of flavors, including ME (Medium Edition), AE (Advanced Edition) and PE (Premium Edition). The smaller S2310 touts a 3.5-inch LCD, curvaceous design, shock-resistant casing, route tracking system, and an ability to export to Google Earth in order to scrutinize just how lost you ended up. The Windows CE-powered X4510 ups the ante with a four-inch screen, electronic compass, microSD slot, 324MHz Atlas II processor, 256MB of integrated RAM, handsfree Bluetooth capability, built-in RDS / TMC receiver in the Premium iteration, an MP3 player, and an image viewer to boot. No word just yet on release dates, but the S2310 should hit for right around €299 ($398), while the beefed up X4510 will likely demand €499 ($664).
MedTab brings e-ink to hospital rounds
Medical tablets are big business these days, so much so that Intel has dedicated an entire team to developing its Mobile Clinical Assistant platform, and manufacturers have been releasing devices left and right. Part of the reason is the lucrative service contracts and profit margins companies see on products like the MedTab, a $4,000 slab slightly bigger than a PDA that offers up a 624MHz processor running WinCE, a 1,024 x 768 e-ink-based touchscreen, WiFi (802.11g only), Bluetooth, and a fingerprint reader to ensure that the patients don't find out how sick they really are. Manufacturer Emano Tec claims that the 12-ounce MedTab (perfect for your lab coat pocket!) can also withstand falls from up to three-feet high, and IT can easily tell if one is missing or stolen by tracking its position in real time. Plus, if you act now and say that Engadget sent you, they'll knock an astonishing $2,000 off the price (you also have to buy 50, but you can never have too many of these handy tablets, right?).[Via MedGadget]
Maxian goes Matrix with the D900 "Neo" PMP
We're not really sure what kind of PMP Keanu Reeves would have sported in the Matrix films had he not been so busy saving the world and stuff, but we're almost sure that he would have eschewed the Maxian D900 "Neo" in favor of a model with some internal storage capacity -- after all, we didn't see a lot of SD cards laying around Zion. For those of you with readier access to flash memory, however, the 4.3-inch Neo might be just the player you've been looking for, what with its 800 x 480 pixel resolution, 400:1 contrast ratio, and 200 cd/m² brightness. You're also getting a built-in DMB tuner, Burr Brown DAC, built-in speakers, and a kickstand; and because this device is powered by WinCE 5.0 and features an 802.11b/g radio, we assume that you can do the email / web browsing thing as well. As far as codec support goes, there's WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-2, and H.264 on the video side and MP3, OGG, FLAC, and APE on the audio tip. Unfortunately, there's not much chance that you'll see Neo tearing it up at your local electronics store, but if you simply must own a device named after a Matrix character, HTC's Trinity may help fill the void.[Via DAPreview]
Symbol Technologies WT4000 series wearable computer
We wouldn't exactly call this wearable computer svelte, in fact, calling it a strap-on is more apropos wouldn't you say? Still, it's pretty much what we'd expect from a company that specializes in ruggedized handhelds. So no surprise to find Symbol Technologies targetting this third generation, WT4000 series of mobile computers and scanner attachments for use in extreme environments. No, not that extreme, more like warehouses and distribution centers where handsfree operation comes as a boon. Worn on the hip or wrist, the device brings an IP-54 sealing rating and can survive drops to concrete from as high as 4-feet (1.2-meter). The device itself runs WinCE 5.0 Pro on a 520MHz Intel XScale PXA270 processor and packs-in 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 1.2, and 2.8-inch QVGA display with backlight. Fortunately, it weighs a relatively light 11.2-ounces (320.3-grams) with battery to keep fatigue to a minimum. Yeah, it still looks damned bulky but never fear you fork-lift fashionistas, in just a few more months Symbol will have access to those Motorola designers -- we hear pink is the new Schlitz. Expect pricing and a drop date when these go on display at Post Expo in Amsterdam October 10th.
