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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.
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.
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).
odd-i's P11N Win CE 5.0 PMP with GPS
Remember that peculiarly named, but otherwise damn fine odd-i P10 PMP you all (ok, ten commenters) liked so much? Well, odd-i just one-upped themselves by sprinkling in a bit of SiRF Star III GPS with a dash of Win CE 5.0 and christening the new chubster P11N. What's more, all the goodness that is the P10 carriers over so it still sports that same 4-inch, (480 x 272) 16:9 TFT LCD, unspecified dual core CPU, 2 megapixel cam, the ability to record direct from TV, up to 30GB of storage, USB 2.0 hosting, eBook reader, and support for a wide range of media formats including MPEG-1/4, Xvid, DiVx, WMV, MP3, WMA, OGG and AC3. Oh yeah, and it's still destined for Korea-only at the moment.[Via Akiharaba News]
