VilivS5
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Viliv S5 MID gets accuracy-boosting HID driver for Windows 7
Viliv's S5 MID, the little machine that packs the Vaio P's Z520 processor in a legitimately pocketable form-factor, just got a breath of fresh air. It's an HID (human interface device) driver for Windows 7, boosting the machine's touchscreen abilities and enabling the breadth of Windows 7's tablet functionality. According to Uber Tablet this greatly enhances usability by, amongst other things, presenting the Windows tablet keyboard rather than relying on the accessibility version and enabling better calibration. The driver being used here is legitimate according to reports we've read, but it is not signed and doesn't appear to be an official release from Viliv, so you may want to exercise a bit of caution before you install -- but don't wait too long. This sounds like a pretty tasty update.
Viliv X70 Series MID headed to the US, starting at $599
Viliv's X70 Series MID already looked like a pretty solid option for anyone wanting an S5 with a larger screen, but things have now gotten even more interesting, as US retailer / importer Dynamism has put up a product page listing a starting price of $599. That, as jkOnTheRun points out, is the same price as the S5, which packs a smaller 5-inch screen compared to the X70's 7-incher (though both are WSVGA). Otherwise, the two are fairly similar, with each sporting the usual Atom processor, Windows XP for an OS, built-in GPS, optional 3G, and 1GB of RAM. The X70 also mixes things up a bit with your choice of 32GB or 64GB SSD drives, while the S5 packs a standard 60GB hard drive. Still no word on a release date, but Dynamism will gladly take your email now and your order later.[Via jkOnTheRun]
Viliv S5 Air, HSDPA-equipped Air Ready coming to China in June
The Viliv S5 has had its fair share of positive reviews, in spite of its not-as-friendly $600 price tag, and now it looks like the company's ready to up the ante with the S5 Air and S5 Air Ready, according to a report from our friends at Engadget Chinese. From what we gather, both will see an improved, haptic keyboard and support Chinese character input / handwriting input, while the Air Ready also throws in HSDPA to boot. Those in the country can pick one up reportedly in June for an as of yet unknown price, while the rest of us around the world will just have to wait and see if Viliv decides to launch it anywhere else.
Viliv S5 reviewed, is mostly smiles with good video playback
You've seen its introduction, its unboxing -- in two different languages, no less -- and maybe even fancied the pre-order page. Now Pocketables has what appears to be one of the first full-fledged review of the Viliv S5, and the verdict? It's quite a sturdy and well-built MID, with surprisingly good battery life and video performance from the Intel Atom Z520 processor (same one as found in the Vaio P). The virtual keyboard leaves a lot to be desired for, and it's a shame to hear the joystick's mouse functionality is limited to four directions, but despite these complaints and a $599 price tag, the conclusion is still a overwhelmingly positive for those who like the form factor. Hit up the read link for the full examination.
Viliv S5 unboxed in beautiful, epic video
We've had our eyes and hands all over Viliv's S5 for quite some time now, but we'll freely admit that we kind of can't get enough of the little guy. Well, until now, maybe. jkkmobile's got an exhaustive video unboxing which shows the device off quite nicely -- its 4.8-inch haptic touchscreen looks super responsive -- and overall, this UMPC is shaping up to be one decently impressive piece of work. They're expected to ship around May 8th in the U.S. for $599. Video is after the break -- it's a little long, but be sure to stick with it until the end, when Ilsa takes off in a plane for America, leaving a teary-eyed Rick on the tarmac. You won't be disappointed.
Viliv S5 pre-order details firm up: $599 and it's yours May 8th
It's been a long and winding road filled with unboxings, impressions, and comparisons, but it looks like the last few details surrounding the U.S. release of Viliv's Atom-powered S5 MID have now finally been firmed up. According to retailer Dynamism, the device will be available for pre-order on April 27th (at 1PM Eastern) for just $599, or $50 less than previously expected, with the first orders expected to ship on May 8th. Better still, those that pre-order the S5 will also get a free spare battery, a car kit, and a leather pouch, which Dynamism says is a $135 value. No word on the number of units available in that initial batch but, if the Hong Kong and Korean releases are any indication, they could sell out pretty quickly.[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C.]
Viliv S5 unboxed and handled in Hong Kong
We've seen plenty of Viliv's S5 tablet PC, but the fine folks of Engadget Chinese have scored some precious unboxing time with the little dude, and it's looking pretty great. The XP-running MID has a 4.8-inch touchscreen, a 60GB hard disk, an Intel Silverthorne-class 1.33GHz Z520 CPU, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 1GB of memory. It's available in Korea now, though it appears to have missed its European / U.S. shipping dates at the end of March -- but we'll let you know when we start seeing these babies hit the streets. They're supposed to be priced at $649 when they do become available in the States. There are a few more shots after the break, but hit the read link for the entire, stunningly awesome set.
Viliv S5 MID detailed impressions, now with video!
We got to play with the Viliv S5 at CES, and now the gang at UMPC Portal have some detailed impressions they'd like to share with the world. The haptic touchscreen device has "one of the best" on-screen keyboards this reviewer's seen, although it pales in comparison to a physical keyboard. Other minor issues include a lack of a microphone and physical mouse pointer, though you could quite conceivably get along just fine without 'em. That said, this bad boy apparently has "an overall good feeling" that makes the reviewer want to use the device more and give the touchscreen typing situation "a chance." Kudos for the "incredibly impressive" battery life, and not even the lack of 3G and an SSD prevents him from declaring it "the best pocketable UMPC," one that "raises the bar." But that ain't all -- check out the video after the break for the handheld in all its glory.
Viliv S5 MID gets unboxed on video
We've already seen this one up close but, if you just can't get enough of Viliv's new S5 MID, you can now get a guided tour of the complete unboxing process (including the rare treat of boxes within boxes) courtesy of the folks at UMPC Fever. Of course, they've also offered up a few impressions of the device itself as well, and while much is lost in translation, they do seem to be generally impressed with it and, in particular, the array of controls and function keys that complement that haptic-enhanced touchscreen. Head on past the break for the video, and hit up the link below for a closer look.
Hot vs. not: Viliv's S5 vs. UMID's Mbook M1
While neither has officially gone on sale yet here or abroad, two anticipated MIDs, the Viliv S5 and UMID M1, both went on pre-order last week in their home nation of Korea, and while the S5 sold out of its initial allotment of 1,000 units in just 8 hours, UMID still has unclaimed devices from its first batch of 500. This is at least in part due to some sketchy quality on the M1, with a finish on early machines that looks like a Tamiya kit haphazardly glued together by a four-year-old. The company is saying it will step up and replace all of the pre-ordered units with better ones once it gets its molds to line up, but having to trade in your new computer after a few weeks seems to partially defeat the purpose of getting one early in the first place. Of the two only the S5 is said to be officially coming to America at this point anyway, so hopefully that's the one that caught your fancy.
Viliv S5 and X70 MIDs hands-on with video!
We just played around with Viliv's latest MIDs, the stylish S5 and X70. Both devices use haptic feedback for onscreen keyboard input, and despite the resistive screen we found them both to offer some of the best touchscreen interaction we've seen on devices like this. They were both running Windows Vista, and seemed rather responsive and usable, even with Atom under the hood. What's really impressive is the X70 (pictured), which is thinner than the S5, and also can be mounted to an optional leather case that brings a keyboard and foldability to the device, and turns the unit into a laptop of sorts. Neither device is particularly thin or light, but there's a lot of quality going on here, and for folks sold on this sort of functionality and form factor, it would be hard to do much better than these at the moment -- of course, you'll have to swim to Korea to do it. Video of the S5 is after the break.%Gallery-45216%
Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March
Viliv has been showing some potential lately with its touchable upcoming products, the clean looking S7 netbook tablet and S5 MID. We received some further information on the latter of those two this morning, most notable being the inclusion of haptic feedback that should make its 4.8-inch, 800 x 480 1024 x 600 screen feel a little more tactile. We also got confirmation that the device will be running Windows XP hidden behind a custom UI overlay that, we presume, will be similar to the one we saw running at CES on the S7. Still no price, but the company is aiming for a March release domestically. Our fingers are tingling with anticipation.%Gallery-43717%
Viliv's Atom-powered S5 MID gets detailed and pictured
Viliv got us salivating when it introduced the S5 MID and S7 UMPC back at IDF, and now we've got a few tasty updates on both. Starting with the former, we've learned via an interview with parent company Yukyung that the S5 MID will come packing a 1.33GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 1.8-inch hard drive (1.3-inch when paired with a WiBro module in South Korea), a 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution touchscreen, integrated GPS / DMB and a primary battery good for up to six hours of use. The OS will be a home cooked system that's fairly attractive, though the outfit has made clear that WinXP versions will be available in the future. Speaking of the future, the currently unpriced S5 is expected to ship in South Korea this coming January or February, while the S7 is still on track for release sometime after that.[Via Slashgear]
Viliv debuts S5 MID, S7 UMPC
It's been quite a while since Viliv last popped up on our radar, but the company has just rolled into IDF with a pair of new devices to rectify that situation, including the S5 MID and S7 UMPC. From the looks of it, the S7 (pictured above) is the more interesting of the two, with it sporting a convertible form factor, the usual Atom processor, built-in GPS, and an integrated Wimax or HSDPA module. Pricing doesn't look to have been nailed down just yet, but the company is apparently looking to launch it in the first quarter of 2009. The S5 (after the break), on the other hand, looks to be a fairly run of the mill MID, although UMPC Portal says that a 3G option is "possible," and its promised video playback time of five to six hours is certainly respectable enough. No word on a price or release date for it either, but you can check out some more pics and videos of each device by digging into the links below.P.S. We should note that the S7 is still in the "final design stages." We hear that last "P" is always the toughest.Read - UMPC Portal, "Viliv S5 MID"Read - UMPC Portal, "Viliv S7 Atom-based UMPC"
