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MSI dualscreen UMPC concept had us at 'dualscreen'
We were already fairly impressed with MSI's netbook-sized dualscreen e-reader, but this smaller 7-inch screened variation might even be the more alluring of the two. Only the lower of the two screens is touchable, and it while would naturally be a tad small for regular typing, we could almost see a decent thumboarding scenario arising. But really, we're just taken in with the look of this thing. It's incredibly thin, pure premium, and the little clock display on the is just icing on an already sexy cake. There's no word on what's under the hood here -- we'd have to guess some Atom variant, since this will run Windows -- and we're naturally in the dark about the rest of the vitals like price and release date. %Gallery-82301%
Camangi WebStation gets a few first impressions: 'sluggish' and 'confined'
Egad. We had such high hopes for the Camangi WebStation, but as with a few other non-phone devices that have attempted to use Android, it seems as if this 7-inch slate falls a bit short in practice. The gang over at Laptop was able to corral a unit for a brief sit-down, and while they admired the exceptionally light and portable hardware, they kvetched about the lowly 800 x 480 screen resolution, sluggish performance when opening applications and the limited / confined feel of the Camangi Marketplace. They also barked about the resistive screen's inability to accurately recognize finger presses, and while they're still holding out some hope that this thing could be useful in at least a few scenarios, it's fairly clear this piece isn't for everyone. Peek the source link for the full skinny. Update: GearDiary got their hands on one as well, and they've belted out similar impressions.
Archos 9 tablet and its Windows 7 Starter Edition unboxed (video)
It's been a long time coming, but the Archos 9 is finally being unleashed wholesale upon the world. The 9-inch tablet has been delayed and had its price hiked, but if you haven't leapt off the hype train yet you'll be interested in watching the unboxing and initial impressions video after the break courtesy of UMPCPortal. The 60GB device contains a mere 1.1GHz Atom processor and has been unfortunately crippled with Windows 7 Starter Edition, lacking the cool tablet features that you might have wanted to use on a tablet device. A few times during this video the Archos is likened to the Joojoo, which will almost surely face some delays of its own before receiving a similar berth months from now. Overall it's looking like a nice machine if you have the bank -- and don't want to do anything particularly processor intensive.
ITG xpPhone seen powering up on video
ITG has managed to keep its xpPhone in the news ever since firing up its pre-order page back in September. Just a day after seeing the Windows XP-based MID / phone / whatchamacallit in the wild, we're now looking at the first known video of it booting up. Granted, the device shown after the break is just an "engineering sample," but hey, progress is progress. Go 'head, take a peek -- ain't no shame in the game.
UMID's M2 becomes Onkyo's BX, beats it to market
UMID may have jumped the gun a bit when it let the world know that its M2 was already in development months before the M1 had even hit retail. Other than a glimpse at IDF we haven't seen much from the thing, but Onkyo seems to have grabbed the rights to create its own, called the BX. It definitely shares the same design as the M2, but its 1.2GHz Atom Z515 processor is 400MHz down on what the M2 is expected (or at least hoped) to ship with. There's 512MB of memory on tap, a 32GB SSD, and a 4.8-inch 1024 x 600 LCD upon which Windows XP is lovingly applied. Impressive specs, but at an impressive price -- ¥64,800, or about $730. We'll keep our netbooks, thanks. %Gallery-80244%
Atom-based PsiXpda UMPC gets handled on video
Remember that retro-looking PsiXpda UMPC we spotted earlier this month? Turns out it looks just as old school in person. That said, we're still curiously attracted to the device, which sort of resembles an enlarged Touch Pro2 with a pinch of 1997 mixed in for good measure. The device was whipped out in the wild over at the LeWeb conference in Paris, and we were told that it was rocking Bluetooth, 3G WWAN, 1GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD, and we also learned that Windows XP was chosen due to its ease of integration within a corporate environment (though Ubuntu, Jolicloud and a host of other Linux-based operating systems can and will work). The QWERTY keyboard underneath is backlit in nature, the CPU is a 1.1GHz Atom and the removable battery is good for 2.5 hours of usage (with WiFi on) or 4 hours if using it offline. Hop on past the break for a peek of it in action, but keep the £500 price tag in mind before getting too excited. [Thanks, Charbax]
Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 has multitouch, world-beating ambitions
What's in a name these days? If we didn't call this a UMPC or told you it can run Windows 7, it could just be a pretty huge clamshell smartphone. The freshly announced LifeBook UH900 sports a 5.6-inch "vivid glare screen," (we'll put that down to a bad translation), 3.5G wireless connectivity, and even goes so far as to lay claim to being the world's smallest multitouch-capable PC. Take that, VAIO P! Still, the 62GB SSD and WXGA display resolution obviously set it apart from the phone crowd, as will the Atom Z530 inside -- it might outperform your ARM CPU, but will also ensure you never leave the house without a charger (just 3-hours in eco mode). Fujitsu has yet to spill pricing details, but CNET informs us the non-UMTS version will be ready in January, with the more advanced hotness coming at a later date.
HT560 5.6-inch UMPC spotted in Shenzhen running Windows XP
Sure, an Android MID featuring some sort of contrived "net gen" functionality might promise inspirational moments, but will it get the job done? A company called Shenzhen Seed Industrial, located in the Chegongmiao Futian Distict (we hear it's lovely in the spring) is offering retailers and e-tailers a Windows XP-powered workhorse in the form of the HT560 5.6-inch UMPC/MID. Built on the VIA C7 (1GHz) processor, this guy sports 1GB RAM, 16GB SDD, two USB 2.0 ports, and both front and rear-facing 1.3 megapixel webcams. For connectivity, you get the usual assortment of WiFi and Bluetooth, with a GPS thrown in for good measure. If you're looking to pick up a handful of these things, hit up the Tradekey link where it's available in lots of ten. Otherwise, Wirelession appears to have rebranded this the W1030 and have priced it at $421. Want a closer look? You can get one after the break.
Members abandoning Intel's MID alliance? Hopefully.
Bad, but entirely expected news on the MID front. You remember the Mobile Internet Device right? UMPCs by another name usually running Linux-variants in that middling ground between smartphones and netbooks that nobody seems capable of making an attractive use-case for beyond the living room sofa? According to DigiTimes, "several members" of Intel's Mobile Internet Devices Innovation Alliance (MIDIA) have quit development of MID devices due to very weak shipments. Even the promise of Intel's Moorestown platform has lured "only a limited number of vendors" to launch related products in 2010. Sources claim that vendors will instead refocus on other areas of possible growth. Imagine that.
QiGi's Smartbook is more like a WinMo 6.5-powered MID
We're going on the assumption here that the lads and ladies over at QiGi haven't actually heard that "smartbooks" have a vaguely defined look and feel, as the outfit's latest handheld definitely looks nothing like the smartbooks that we've seen emerge over the past few months. In fact, the Windows Mobile 6.5-equipped device looks more like a MID than anything else, boasting a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, only a few face-mounted buttons and 1GB of memory. Hit the read link if you're interested in a poorly translated review, and good luck finding one of these in the open market (at least with an English-language operating system).
ViewSonic's N01 MID caught wearing a nasty UMPC disguise
Remember the day when those 7-inch Origami UMPCs blundered onto the scene with weak Intel processors overpowered by Microsoft's heavyweight OS? This ViewSonic N01 apparently isn't one of them, though we couldn't fault you for being deceived. Sure it's running XP but it's Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510 doing the processing chores beneath a display approximating 6 to 7 inches. Ok, ok, it is a UMPC, regardless of its new MID christening proving once again that any distinction Intel tries to sell has been lost forever as vendors try to distance themselves from a tainted UMPC legacy. But we digress. The N01 MID (prototype, by the looks of it) finds itself stuffed with 1GB of memory, just 10GB of on-board storage, 3G data, and integrated TV tuner with fancy telescoping antenna. We can only assume that ViewSonic's product diversification plans have it dumping the majority of its recently unveiled products into China and India because what they've show so far is not going to impress western tastes.
Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video)
Inbrics, a company known in Seoul for its VoIP solutions, looks set to rock your world with an Android MID early next year at CES. All we have for you at present are the barest of specs, machine translated Korean PR that declares "a full convergence of the future," and one of those vague, uplifting videos that demonstrates the myriad of ways that its one platform can dramatically change your life -- without ever really telling you what it does. The device itself is a QWERTY landscape slider that features an AMOLED touchscreen, GPS, compass, WiFi, and an ARM Cortex A8 800MHz processor. Experience the inspirational moment after the break.
Sony VAIO UX handheld gets 3G wireless, quad OS, inflated sense of self
As we're all undoubtedly aware, old gadgets don't really die -- they just get modded eternally (as the continued appearance of Atari on these pages will attest). Another case-in-point: the Sony VAIO UX490N. It's been a while since we laid eyes on one of these bad boys, but apparently there's been plenty of hacking goin' on ever since, including: upgrading the SSD to the RunCore Pro IV 128GB and swapping out the 1.2GHz CPU for a 1.33GHz Core 2 Duo (overclocked to 1.438GHz). And that's just the beginning -- the cats over at the Micro PC Talk forums have also installed a voice-capable HSPA modem, swapped out the old wireless card for one that supports a/b/g/n WiFi, and installed partitions for Windows XP Pro, Windows Vista Business, Windows 7 Ultimate and Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.7. Impressive stuff, all that: but what if we told you that one fearless individual has applied every one of those changes to a single device? And that battery life was pretty much unaffected? Well, you're probably going to want the details, right? Hit the source link to get started.
Eking's tilting, sliding S515 UMPC gets unwrapped on video, looks like a giant Touch Pro2
Eking's S515 has been trumpeted for a small while now, but we weren't exactly eager to bite before seeing this thing in the flesh. Today, UMPC Portal has managed to procure one of these tilting, sliding handhelds, and thankfully for all of us, they've hosted up an informative unboxing video to show it off. Packing a 4.8-inch display, 1.2GHz Atom Z515 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB or 32GB SSD and a full QWERTY keyboard, the device honestly looks like a giant HTC Touch Pro2 at first glance -- particularly once you prop the display up. We're also hearing that this same handheld has surfaced elsewhere as the Digicube Z8, but it's tough to say if either will be shipping stateside in the near future. Hop on past the break if you're curious to see what a Touch Pro2 would look like on 'roids.
Kohjinsha PA series reviewed, found lacking
It's well established by now that the Kohjinsha PA series tablet is one peculiar creature. It has the internals and OS of a netbook, with a 1.33GHz Atom CPU and Windows XP Home, the 4.8-inch display of a portable MID, and the convertible capabilities of an internet tablet, while its price (around $770) seems to imply it performs all three roles with aplomb. The Pocketables crew have followed up their unboxing of the quirky little device with a full-on review, and their conclusion has been that sadly it's more of a chump than a champ. Poor build quality and substandard input controls dragged this contender down, in spite of its swiveling screen and decent performance thanks to a 32GB SSD. Ultimately, it's the price that dooms the PA series to ignominy, and it seems like only a miracle -- or a timely RilakKuma rebadge -- will make it commercially successful. Hit the read link for the full story.
Kohjinsha PA series gets unboxed, looks kind of hardcore
It's sort of difficult for us to say what exactly the Kohjinsha PA is. Part UMPC, part MID and part tablet PC, this mishmash has captivated us for quite some time, and while we were able to spend a few brief moments with it at CEATEC, the crew over at Pocketables was able to snag a shipping unit to unbox. They begin by noting that this thing is far from stylish, and while the hinge is almost laughably large, there's something subtly satisfying about just how chunky it looks. Hit the read link to see if you agree -- it's cool if you don't, you're only hurting feelings.
Archos 9 up for pre-order in America for $50 more than anticipated
Uh, Archos? You do remember telling us that your Archos 9 media tablet would ship on October 22nd for $499 back in late September, right? 'Cause if our eyes are being truthful to us, that's not at all what's happening here. The outfit's official web store has the 8.9-inch device listed (complete with Windows 7 Starter, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 1.3 megapixel camera) for $549.99, and worse still, it's only up for "pre-order." You know what happens after the second strike, right guys? [Thanks, Trini]
Kohjinsha PA series tablet ships in November, value not guaranteed
Kohjinsha had a slew of portables on display at CEATEC earlier this month, including the classification-bending PA. Its design fits in somewhere between a MID and a tablet netbook, with its 4.8-inch, 1024 x 600 touchscreen and 1.33GHz Atom processor, but now we're learning that it's price roughly equates to a netbook and a MID. The device hits Japan early next month for ¥69,800, about $770. That's certainly not cheap, but if you need one elsewhere you're probably going to need to go through an importer, and their prices are ¥79,800 and up. That's about $870. Yikes.
Android 1.6 retrofitted onto Samsung Q1 UMPC (video)
Too busy to bother with buying an Android-powered Archos 5? Then you're probably way too busy to bother with this here hack. But just in case you've got a morning you can wipe clean and a few afternoons where you can scoot out early, it's apparently possible to load up an Android 1.6 port onto one's Samsung Q1 UMPC. Kevin at jkOnTheRun did just that over a relaxing weekend, and while he's still struggling to get the touchscreen to act right, most everything else seems to be humming along sans issue. Eager to see if it's something you'd be into? Hop on past the break and mash play -- it's twelve minutes in heaven, ladies.
AMD's Congo platform getting really official next month?
AMD's never been much for keeping to the roadmap, and it looks like the curious launch of its Congo platform is evidence of that very fact. If you'll recall, we actually saw a Congo-based netbook launch way back in June, and it was expected that a flood of other ultrathin machines would follow shortly thereafter. According to DigiTimes, the demand in the market just wasn't there (thanks, recession!), so everything was pushed back until November. Lo and behold, our Gregorian calendar has that very month on deck for next, and according to mythical sources at laptop makers, the platform should make its super-duper official debut within a matter of weeks. The dual-core Turion Neo X2 L625, Athlon Neo X2 L335/L325 and / or single-core Athlon Neo MV-40 should be front and center, and AMD is apt to announce progress on its Nile and Brazos platforms -- both of which should help carry the chip maker through the next two years. Look out Atom, you've got some delayed competition coming your way.Update: Seems as if this may all just be a "second wave" of sorts when many PC makers choose to launch machines based on this platform alongside Windows 7's debut. AMD informed us that the November delay notion was also false, and we get the feeling that Congo's just been waiting for Win7 to really get itself out there.