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OLPC XO shipments delayed until Q4?
You'll have to take this with the usual hefty grain of salt, but according to China's Commercial Times, OLPC manufacturer Quanta has been forced to push back its target ship date for the XO from July to sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. Leading to this speculation is the fact that Quanta has apparently yet to release its orders for various parts and components set for inclusion in the laptop, which would seem to indicate that a July ship date would be tough to meet. It would also, of course, seem to make the promised ten million laptops before year's end a bit unlikely.[Thanks, Eric]
Quanta and Dell collaborating on "Fly" smartphone?
While we aren't exactly keen on the taste of salt trickling down our throats, we're afraid a healthy dose is in order with this one. According to the always questionable DigiTimes, Quanta Computer is actually developing a "PDA handset" for Dell, and considering that it was but eight days ago that the firm's Axim hit the graveyard, the timing here is doubtlessly intriguing. Of course, this isn't the first time rampant rumors have swirled around a newfangled Dell handheld, but the outcome here could be a tad different than before considering the handset guru that just recently punched in. The project is reportedly operating under the codename "Fly," and while no design specifics were handed out, it should sport Windows Mobile 6, HSDPA, and probably a QWERTY keyboard to boot. Whatever the case, at least this thing shouldn't conflict with any Cisco trademarks if it all pans out.
TomTom and Garmin to build GPS handsets?
While TomTom and Garmin have been duking it out in court, a few big names have snuck in and unleashed a bevy of GPS navigation devices; chiefly, Nokia and their 330 Auto Navigation. So it's no surprise to hear that Garmin and TomTom are looking to reclaim some turf by getting in on some of that hot GPS on handset action. Of course, TomTom already has their SIM-enabled GO 715 navigator and works extensively with experienced handset makers Quanta and Inventec Appliance. More notable perhaps are those pesky "market sources" who say that Garmin is already in talks with Compal who we've seen dabbling in GPS-enabled devices for Via Michelin and others. The surprise here isn't that Garmin and TomTom are entering this burgeoning market, only that they haven't done so already.[Via NagiGadget]
Quanta planning $200 OLPC for developed nations
A lot of good things can happen when you receive a million orders for your product, such as finding the ability to add speedier hardware, offer up new renditions, and of course, break into new markets. Such is the case with Quanta, as it is reportedly aiming at bringing a device "similar to the OLPC to developed markets when the time is right," and if all goes as planned, it'll hit "for as little as $200." Of course, it was noted that the low-end versions would likely arrive sans a hard drive, with diminutive screens, and utilize open source software, but there's currently not much room to grumble if your laptop budget tops out at two Benjamins. In a quote that certainly made a case for CE-Oh No He Didn't, Michael Wang (Quanta's president) frankly stated that there were "a lot of poor people in developed countries, too," simultaneously dissing those without a large deal of disposable income and mislabeling the millionaire tinkers who'd probably pick one up just to fiddle with. No hints at a release date just yet, but if the sluggish rollout of the OLPCs is a halfway accurate benchmark, we'd guess that this one's a good ways out.[Thanks, Charbax]
Quanta confirms one million OLPC XO orders
According to InfoWorld (via Yahoo News), contract manufacturer Quanta Computer has confirmed that they've received orders for one million of the long-awaited OLPC XO laptops anticipated by children and geeks alike, with orders expected to further increase throughout the rest of the year. If that goes as planned, Quanta says it could ship as many as ten million of the laptops before year's end, which would go a long way towards getting the little green laptop down to its intended $100 price point, possibly even ahead of the 2008 target date for a price drop. Quanta also revealed that NickNeg is apparently not the only one obsessed with the project, with company president Michael Wang saying "this is our chairman's pet project, it's his life." Not that there's anything wrong with being obsessed with a gadget, of course.
15.4-inch MacBooks on schedule for May release?
Taiwan-based DigiTimes is back this morning with more 15.4-inch MacBook rumors. According to "industry sources in Taiwan," Apple is prepping for a Q2 release of the bigger, badder cousin to their 13.3-inch MacBook -- aligning nicely with the "May 2007" date we heard back in October. However, it's not the manufacturer of the 13.3-inch MacBook -- Asustech Computer -- that won the contract. Nope, instead Apple selected Quanta Computer who along with Foxconn pump out the MacBook Pro line-up. Now move along kids, it's just a rumor, there's nothing more to see here... until May of course.
Rwanda joins the fray, getting "hundreds of thousands" of OLPC XOs
Here's an idea: just release these OLPC XOs to every country in the world and be done with it. Sadly, that isn't likely to happen, but at least Rwanda is joining the growing list of countries ready to get their palms on the green machines. According to OLPC, Rwanda will be receiving "initial test units and technical support at no cost within a few days." After Quanta ramps up production in July, the nation expects to receive "hundreds of thousands" of the wee laptops late this summer at an "initial cost" of $150 apiece, with future units expected to cost a bit less. Rwanda's government, of course, is footing the entire bill, and hopes to actually provide a computer to "all primary school children within five years." So for any school-aged Rwandans out there itching to crank up Doom or surf the net on Opera while disregarding those grammar and arithmetic lessons, your countdown can officially begin.
Negroponte's OLPC aims for production launch in July
With countries lining up their orders and important prototyping milestones falling by the wayside, it's high time for an OLPC launch schedule, eh NickNeg? Indeed. According to the AP, the XO machines will be handed to kids for testing in February with Quanta Computer ramping up to ship several million production units by "July or so." When faced with skepticism over the capabilities of the little XO, NickNeg retorts, "I have to laugh when people refer to XO as a weak or crippled machine and how kids should get a 'real' one. Trust me, I will give up my real one very soon and use only XO." Ok Nick, we'll hold you to that.
O2 Xda Apollo hits the FCC
Yet another fresh O2 Xda variant has come to light courtesy of the FCC; this time it's the Apollo, a 3G Pocket PC with a rather uncanny resemblance to HTC's P3600 "Trinity" in our humblest of opinions. Alas, the Apollo doesn't come from HTC, it's a Quanta device (yeah, the OLPC folks), just like its Atom predecessor. Atom users should feel right at home with the Apollo, as the device's dimensions and major features carry over -- the major draw for upgraders, then, will be the addition of UMTS (including US-friendly UMTS 1900) and a front cam for video calls. We're not sure when the Apollo is going to drop exactly, but with its HTC P3600 doppelganger already on the streets, they'd best get a move on.[Via hpc.ru, thanks Surur]
Quanta builds the first ten XO-1 prototypes
Just as we'd previously heard, Quanta has indeed built the OLPC's first ten prototype machines (now called the XO-1), according to a report on DesktopLinux. These first machines were hand-assembled in order to make sure that the next round of 900 is up to snuff. We're not sure if 50 of those 900 will be the first order of test machines that have been slated to head to Brazil, nor if Thailand is getting any as an enticement to lure it back into the fold. In related matters, OLPC News has estimated the true five-year cost of a single laptop, including training, maintenance and Internet access to be in the neighborhood of $1,000 -- which, if correct, means that mythical $100-ish per laptop target price makes these green lappies a bit more unattractive to their prospective buyers. [Via Slashdot]Read - DesktopLinuxRead - OLPC News
Quanta, Mitac getting AMD Dell orders?
We're all getting a mite bit ill of the recurring Dell + AMD sitting in a tree, c-o-m-p-u-t-i-n-g rumor, but a bit more fuel's been added to the fire by way of a supposed report out of China. According to Chinese paper the Commercial Times, it would appear Mitac and Quanta -- two well known and respected manufacturers -- have received orders for AMD equipped Dell machines to be prepped for the back to school buying season this September. Seems a bit late to tag this one as an impossibility; keep feeding fuel to the rumor blast furnace and eventually people will begin expecting these AMD-powered machines from Dell.
O2 announces updated Xda Atom for Asia
As if Asia isn't already getting the lion's share of the world's smartphone action, O2 has used this week's CommunicAsia expo to announce the Xda Atom Exec, an Asia-exclusive update to the Atom (pictured). At about six months of age, the Atom isn't exactly an old fart, but the Exec ships with AKU2, boosts the XScale processor from 416 to 520MHz, and adds an extra 64MB of ROM for a grand total of 192MB. Otherwise, the Exec trades its predecessor's glossy exterior for a matte one, but the Atom's remaining specs carry over to the new model. If you're rocking an Atom and you're thinking that an upgrade might be in order, hold up: the roughly $844 USD O2 will be asking for the Exec might give you pause.[Via the::unwired]
