InternetTablet
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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.
iriver reportedly working up Android-based K2 media player
Take it for nothing more than it is (a lovely, delicious and completely unsubstantiated rumor), but word on the Australian streets is that iriver may have an Android-based portable media player on the horizon. According to local distributor C.R. Kennedy's iriver product manager, Danny Bejanoff, the outfit is looking to take on Apple's iPod touch directly, with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, WiFi, built-in web browser, accelerometer, Bluetooth, a digital TV tuner and Google's Android OS running the show. Sadly, it seems as if this pipe dream has yet to receive the proper final approvals, but we're here to beg the brilliant designers at iriver to invest whatever it takes to make this so-called K2 a reality. Oh, and just in case that wasn't enough for you, Mr. Bejanoff also noted that the firm was working up a new e-reader and internet tablet, both of which should be out for testing in short order.
Nokia N900 revealed in Nseries presentation? (Update: probably not)
We're not sure how we missed this, but it seems the Nokia N900 (aka "Rover") was not only mentioned, but visually detailed in some candor during an Nseries presentation way back in October of last year. If you fast forward to about the three-minute mark in this video, Nokia's next-gen, Maemo 5-powered internet tablet is seen doing its thing, and it differs in a few key details from the last leak -- most noticeably, it's got a big d-pad on the left just like its predecessor and there's no sign of an earpiece for making calls over the rumored 3G radio. In fact, it really just looks like a whited-out N810, which makes us wonder whether this isn't purely conceptual, especially considering the age of the video. Either way, the N810's aging rapidly and the territory's rapidly being encroached on by MIDs of all shapes and sizes, so we imagine we'll see this get launched soon enough -- maybe on T-Mobile USA of all carriers, if the rumors pan out. Follow the break for the full video.[Thanks, CanisMinor]Update: We're being told that this was little more than a student-led art project -- and it's one hell of an art project, considering that it looks every bit as slick as Nokia's official marketing. Thanks, Ryan A.!
Smart Q7 reviewed, deemed fairly useful for fairly basic tasks
The folks over at UMPC Portal have gotten a hold of the SmartQ 7 internet tablet for a nice, long review. The MID, which has a 667MHz Samsung ARM S3C6410 CPU, 128MB of RAM, and 1GB of flash memory, seems to handle its basic tasks -- MP3 playback, light browsing, PDF viewing, and viewing / editing documents fairly well. It also apparently has a pretty great battery life, and can stay juiced in standby mode for over three days. The tablet (which is somewhat reminiscent of the yet to appear in the wild CrunchPad) does, however, have plenty of drawbacks -- a touchscreen that often responds incorrectly, limited RAM and storage, and a bunch of other limitations we're used to associating with MIDs in general. There's a video highlighting some of the SmartQ 7's apps after the break; hit the read link for the full review.
Nokia next-gen "Rover" tablet unveiled?
After the spec rundown this morning of the long-rumored Maemo 5 tablet from Nokia, we've now got ourselves a potential name and image to pair with the wonderful promise of 3G and OMAP3. According to this shot obtained by Cellpassion, the next-generation Internet Tablet device is taking quite a bit of an N-series turn, with that 3.5-inch WVGA screen (instead of the 4-inch display on the N810), three-row QWERTY keyboard and other refinements making this look to be much more a smartphone than a tablet -- which is presumably exactly what Nokia is going for. Naturally, we can't vouch for the source, and there are enough oddities to the image -- which seems to be gleaned from a presentation slide of some sort -- to voice caution, but if this is truly the marriage of Maemo with handset we've always dreamed of, it's going to be a little difficult to rein in our enthusiasm.
Nokia's N810 successor coming later this year with 3G and Maemo 5?
MobileCrunch claims to have pictures (which it can't publish for security reasons, unfortunately) and complete specs for Nokia's next-gen internet tablet -- and although we don't have any corroborating evidence to back up the story, everything they've got makes perfect sense. We've known for the better part of a year now that Nokia has been planning an OMAP3-based N810 replacement with 3G that would run Maemo 5, and that's exactly what this new device seems to be with a 3.5-inch wide VGA display, WiFi, full HSPA, 32GB of onboard storage expandable to 48GB (presumably via microSD), and -- get this -- a 5 megapixel AF camera with dual LED flash. GSM voice and VoIP are both in the cards, making this the closest thing yet to a Maemo-powered phone -- and in a sick, twisted way, the 5 megapixel camera plus sliding keyboard almost put it in direct competition with the upcoming N97. Indeed, carriers are taking direct interest in this thing, with T-Mobile apparently interested both in Europe and the States; it seems we could expect a European release as soon as July, with T-Mobile USA nabbing it in an AWS 3G flavor closer to fall. Makes an eventual divorce from S60 all that much more plausible for Nokia, doesn't it?
SmartQ 7 Internet Tablet spotted in the wild, priced
We just caught our first glimpse of the SmartQ 7 Internet Tablet a few days ago, and now it's already showing up out and about on display. A few more of the tablet's specs have emerged since our initial gander, including the fact that it'll house a 667MHz Samsung ARM S3C6410 CPU, 128MB of RAM, and 1GB of flash memory. Apparently, a limited number of these bad boys will be available in China in the next two months, and it's expected to run CNY1,289 (about $190). [Via Pocketables]
SmartQ 7 is an Internet Tablet with dedicated FN
Oh look, another 7-inch device with an identity crisis. Too big to be called a smartphone, definitely not a netbook, it must be a MID, UMPC, or maybe a PMP. Wait, we see it now, the SmartQ 7 aspires to be an "Internet Tablet." Good, because its WVGA (800ish x 480 pixel) resolution is the same as Toshiba's 4.1-inch TG01 (to name just one smaller device) only stretched across a 7-inch touchscreen display -- not exactly ideal for video in 2009. The SmartQ 7 runs an unspecified Linux distro with specs that include WiFi, a USB-host mode, stereo speakers, and up to 2-days of music off a single charge to its 4500mAh Li-Poly battery. More importantly, there's a dedicated FN button along the top for instant fun. No launch date or price but we've got the backside, front, after the break.[Via Pocketables]
Maemo 5 Beta SDK released into the hands of an eagerly waiting world
Sure, you've seen the alpha SDK, and you've even seen it in pre-alpha, but if you're really serious about your Maemo 5 development you gotta check out the beta release. This should be music to the ears of all you crazy kids who are hard at work developing software for Nokia's next-gen Internet tablets. And "Maemo 5 Beta SDK" is not only fun to say, but it also brings several new features to the table, including: support for widget development, a new version of the Modest open-source email app, OMAP3 support, HSPA data connectivity, hi-def camera support, and hardware-based graphics acceleration. Lastly (though certainly not leastly) you'll finally be able to get your hands on a Maemo 5 Development Manual. We hear that one's a real page-turner. Hit that read link and get to work.[Via Brighthand]
Michael Arrington drops science on CrunchPad, still won't sell us one
In case you missed it (we all have our off days, it's fine) we got our hands on a mess of leaked CrunchPad photos yesterday, and we have to say -- the device looks pretty damn good. Now that the cat's out of the bag, a certain Michael Arrington has shed a little light into what's going on over there at CrunchGear HQ. He says that the "significant step forward" for the device has been in regards to the software stack -- it's now entirely customized, including the (Linux) OS and browser. It also sports an Intel Atom chip; previously, the device has been running Ubuntu on a VIA chipset. "The total software footprint is around 100 MB," he writes, "which is a solid achievement." And last but not least, the industrial design and hardware for this bad boy is being done by an outfit in Singapore called Fusion Garage. It looks like the project is in good hands. But anything beyond that -- including, sadly, a timeframe -- is still anyone's guess.
Leaked pics of the CrunchPad make it look dangerously close to availability
Thanks to a slip of the fingers on Posterous (and Robert Scoble's serious Twitter addiction), new images of Michael Arrington's pet Internet-tablet project -- the CrunchPad -- have shown up looking very, very close to a finished product. As you can see in the gallery below, the (supposedly) $200, WiFi enabled pad has gotten dressed up in multiple colors and been shoved into some fairly handsome looking packaging. There's no telling if this means the device is any closer to a buy-able reality, but one thing is for sure: a microblog is no place for secrets. [Via Scoble's Twitterfeed, Arab Crunch]
Fennec Beta 1 goes live on Maemo platform
Naming confusion aside, we're just stoked out of our gords right now to see that all of this is progressing along so quickly. Out of nowhere, we're being hit with news that Fennec Beta 1 (that's the mobile flavor of Firefox, by the way) is now live on the Maemo platform. The only tough news is that said platform is just used on Nokia's Internet Tablets, so you'll likely have a tough (read: impossible) time loading this up on S60, Windows Mobile or any other mobile OS. That said, we are told that the first beta includes "greatly increased zooming speed and panning smoothness," and on the feature front, devs have enabled plugins so users can easily watch videos from their favorite sites. Hit the read link for all the nitty-gritty, and for you lucky N810 users, give it a download and report back.[Via phoneArena]
Ubuntu 9.04 ported to Nokia's N8x0 Internet Tablets
Already bored with Cupcake, are you? If your Nokia Internet Tablet needs just one more operating system to test out, we've excellent news to pass your way. Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) is primed and ready for installation on Nokia's N8x0 family of handhelds, which obviously includes the N800 and N810. It should be noted, however, that Usplash and audio aren't working at the moment, but everything else seems to be humming along just fine. If you're looking for the step-by-step guide of hooking your handheld up with a real-deal OS, give that read link a long look.[Thanks, Addae]
Maemo 5 gets Alpha SDK, Nokia fans rejoice
Nokia has just introduced the Maemo 5 Alpha devkit, especially for all you adventurous software developers who just can't wait to get your hands on the beta. The operating system of choice for Nokia's next round of Internet tablets, the SDK includes the new UI framework and five (count 'em!) new APIs, including: Location (for building location-aware apps), City Information (obtains information including city name, country name, and country code), Time management, Vibra service (triggers and controls vibrations), and Device orientation. According to Maemo.org, all the APIs are unlocked, the thing includes no documentation except auto-generated API references, and it "features a simplified UI implementation of the Desktop and the Application Menu." Additionally, the new OS supports hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and WVGA resolution. What are you waiting for? Hit the read link and start developin'.
Nokia's Internet Tablet hacked into secondary PC monitor
What's more exciting than seeing Cupcake on a Nokia Internet Tablet? Seeing your Internet Tablet double as a secondary display, naturally! If you're too cash-strapped to go out and get one of those newfangled USB displays to run your widgets / chat windows / etc. in, and you're scrambling for reasons to not toss that N800 or N810 on eBay, you should certainly give the read link a look. We can't say this is the easiest hack in existence, but considering that no soldering irons are required, we'd say even the novice could at least give it a go. Plus, you can't put a price on extra utility. You just can't. [Thanks, Addae]
Nokia's Handwriting Calculator makes math cool again
Be honest with yourself -- you loathe math. We mean, you're totally kosher with counting ohms and watts when dealing in DIY projects, but you'll gladly pay a certified accountant to handle your taxes. Chances are, though, that Nokia's new Handwriting Calculator will have you doing calculations you never thought you'd do once you nailed that Calculus IV book shut with a completely respectable B-. It's designed to operate on Nokia's "latest touchscreen devices (read: S60 5th Edition), such as the N800 and the 5800 XpressMusic," and it's being delivered free of charge from the always inventive Beta Labs operation. The greatest part about this is its ability to understand unorthodox symbols such as square roots and the like; too bad most professors outlaw cellphones during testing periods, huh? Video demonstration is after the break.[Via MobileSyrup]
Android-stuffed Cupcake comes to Nokia's Internet Tablet
It has been but a matter of hours since we first heard of the Cupcake branch of Android, but the tweaked-for-the-better operating system has apparently already made its way onto Nokia's Internet Tablets. The latest port of NITdroid is chock full of those sweet, highly fattening Cupcake goodies, and honestly, this whole development makes us cautiously optimistic about where all this is headed. Anyone care to give their N810 somethin' new to run on? Let us know how it works out.
Maemo 5 OS gets pre-alpha release, specs beyond your wildest imaginings
We've known since September that Nokia's next round of Internet Tablets would be using Maemo 5 OS, and now that the SDK is out we've got some more details for you. The 100 percent open source, pre-alpha release features a new kernel, new components, and supports cellular data connectivity, hi-def cameras, hardware-based graphic acceleration and OMAP3. In addition to all that, the Maemo Community reports that a soon-to-be revamped UI and a new multimedia framework (called "Midas") are in the works. Exciting, no? If you really want to get your hands dirty, hit the read link and soak in all the geeky detail.Update: As some commenters (and a tipster) have pointed out, Midas is the new multimedia framework, not Ohm. Thanks for the heads-up![Via Internet Tablet Talk]
Mobile Firefox (Fennec) alpha officially goes live
We knew the Fennec alpha was but moments away from release, but at long last, the wait is over. Mozilla has crafted a dedicated page for the early, early version of Mobile Firefox along with release notes, known issues, tips / tricks and installation instructions. Speaking of which, this release was made to be used solely on the N800 or N810 Internet Tablet from Nokia, though there are versions available for Windows, OS X and Linux computers in case you want to dabble from the comfort of your desktop / laptop. We won't bother keeping you any longer -- feast your eyes on the links below for all sorts of long-awaited mobile browsing goodness.[Via NetworkWorld]Read - Mozilla Fennec pageRead - Fennec video walkthroughRead - Fennec on Windows Mobile screenshot
Nokia's N810 Internet Tablet WiMAX Edition in stock for $493
Go figure -- Sprint goes live with its XOHM WiMAX service, and all of a sudden, the long-awaited Nokia N810 WiMAX edition pops in stock. Crazy, we know. After seeing this puppy announced (and in the flesh) way back in April of this year, it's about time Nokia made it available to Americans with the cash to spare. As of right now, the 4.13-inch, QWERTY-packin' Internet Tablet can be ordered for $493, and unless Nokia's fibbing, it's in stock for shipment. Hello 4G, we're thrilled you're here.
