Pocketables

With CES 2010 looming in the next few months, I just had a random flashback to last year's show and the "hot" product that everyone seemed to be showing off. Pico projectors were supposed to be the next big thing and they were going to be everywhere and affordable, but so far the jury is still out on both fronts.

Nearly a year later, there are a few devices available to purchase, like the MPro110 and MPro120 from 3M and the Pico PK100-series from Optoma. Also, the promise of integrated modules has been seen in various prototype cell phones and media players, as well as the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digital camera.

Besides price, which usually is in the $250-$450 range, the other shortcoming that hasn't helped the adoption of these tiny projectors is the dismal performance from the LED lightsource. They are supposed to be convenient, but when you need to hunt around for a pitch black room to use them, it defeats the purpose somewhat.

I have a Toshiba TDP-FF1AU that I purchased a few years back; it suffers from the same brightness problems and is larger than the latest generation, but it's definitely still useful to me. I'm glad to see them getting smaller, and hopefully both the light and battery technology can keep improving.

So is anyone using one of these regularly, and are you satisfied with the performance? Chime in with your comments or experiences.

The UMID mbook M1 may not please everyone with its limited amount of RAM, non-standard ports, and lack of a pointing device, but something about its compact clamshell design is obviously compelling enough for other companies to rebrand the unit as their own.

First it was Kohjinsha, who chose one of the lower configurations and called it the PM series. And now it's French technology group Sagemcom, who hopes to begin selling the Spiga PocketBook, which is basically the 3G-enabled UMID with an 8GB SSD and 1.1GHz Intel Atom CPU, this month for €499 (~$742). If mobile operators and their data contracts become involved, the price of the device will of course be lower.

Whether you consider yourself either an Apple apologist or someone who can't stand the mere mention of anything associated with the iPhone, there is no denying that Apple has dramatically changed the way we use our smartphones and they have also pushed other companies to think outside the box. Without the App Store, there would probably not be an Android Market or a Windows Marketplace for Mobile, so to say that Apple has reinvented things is a bit of an understatement.

Today, the App Store further entrenches itself in the driver's seat, with there now being over 100,000 apps available for download to your iPhone or iPod touch. Games, productivity tools, news readers, music and video players, and even a basic version of Photoshop are all available, many for free.

It's hard to believe that the iPhone originally did not have the ability to officially download apps, and it seems so long ago, even though it has been less than two years. I couldn't imagine using my iPhone without many of the useful apps I have downloaded, so here's to a bright future and the next 100,000 apps.

[Apple Press Release]

If you've been waiting for SmartDevices to release the SmartQ V7, then you'll be happy to hear that it is now available in China for 1500 yuan (~$220). Though cosmetically identical to the SmartQ 7, the V7 is actually the big brother of the SmartQ V5 and classified as an HD MID. The tablet is capable of playing back full HD 1080p video and outputting the signal to a TV/monitor via an HDMI or analogue composite connection. Like the V5, the SmartQ V7 can also run Ubuntu, Windows CE, and Android with all three operating systems pre-installed from the factory.

Other features include a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen, 600MHz ARM11 CPU, WiFi (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR connectivity, 4500mAH li-polymer battery, 256MB RAM, 2GB of inbuilt storage, and a microSD slot supporting up to 32GB. The HD MID can also receive the PPS Network TV-on-demand service, streaming a large variety of news, movies, sports, and other television programs for users to enjoy.

The choice of operating systems and HD video playback/output capabilities of the SmartQ V7 makes it a very versatile internet tablet and PMP. There currently is no news on availability outside of China, although there appears to be a few units available on eBay for inflated prices of over $400. Any takers?

At its Annual General Meeting a few days ago, Creative surprisingly announced its intention to enter the growing e-reader market with a new product currently designated as the Zii MediaBook (mock-up at left). Unlike other e-readers from companies such as Amazon and Sony that feature electronic paper displays and limited additional functionality beyond e-books, the MediaBook will be positioned as more of a complete media device with full multimedia and internet functionality.

There currently are no finalized specifications, but early reports suggest the device will sport a large full-color LCD touchscreen (around 7 inches), a text-to-speech function, and an SD card slot; it is also rumored to use Creative's Zii Technology, specifically the ZiiLABS ZMS-05 processor. This indicates some impressive capabilities including multitouch support, decoding for most audio and video formats, HD (720/1080p) video output, and support for Creative's Plaszma OS and/or Google's Android OS. With the promised online functions, we can also assume the MediaBook includes WiFi and maybe even 3G connectivity. Creative is currently negotiating with 10 international and local (Singaporean) publishers to provide content for the Zii MediaBook.

Unfortunately there are no further details concerning price and launch dates, but epiZENter found a leaked video taken at Creative's AGM event showing the Zii MediaBook's prospective design and UI. Check it out below.

One of the most highly anticipated smartphones since it was unveiled, HTC has announced that the HD2 is now shipping in Taiwan and the European markets. It will also become available throughout Asia in the coming month. Notably for our US-based readers, the company has confirmed the handset's availability for the US market in early 2010 with a major US carrier rumored to be T-Mobile.

Viewed by many as the latest ace in the Windows Mobile family in the onslaught of Android and the iPhone, the HD2 features many firsts for a WinMo smartphone. These include a 4.3" capacitive touch screen supporting multi-touch gestures, the HTC Sense user interface, and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor powering it all in a very slim, sleek package. The team over at Engadget have a brief hands-on feature with lots of great photos that I'm sure anyone who's interested in the HD2 has already viewed multiple times.

Although personally I have been less interested in WinMo devices in the past, there is no doubt that the HD2 is a very compelling piece of hardware with awesome specifications, especially with the Sense UI greatly streamlining the user experience and that stunning multi-touch screen. The smartphone space is getting increasingly interesting and competitive with the Motorola Droid, Xperia X10 and HTC HD2 joining the fray, and based on the announcement it sounds like the X10 and HD2 will be going head-to-head come Q1 2010. We would love to hear your thoughts on which one takes your interest!

When word leaked out late in 2008 about a new Sony notebook whose size mirrored that of a standard envelope, many gadget freaks could barely temper their excitement. Soon after, the Sony Vaio P series was unveiled at CES 2008, and while the initial amazement at the diminutive notebook was there, there were far more comments about the pricing.

Well, thanks to Verizon Wireless, it looks like there will soon be a way to get a nice discount off the standard $849 price, bringing the cost down to a mere $299. Of course, this special is at the expense of signing a 2-year data contract so you can properly utilize that Gobi wireless card that has been tucked inside since day one. In fact, Verizon originally offered a $200 rebate with a new service activation, but that deal now appears to be gone.

Specs for the subsidized Sony are listed as 2GB RAM, 160GB hard drive (up from the standard 80GB), and Windows 7 Home Premium. It is not clear if there will be an SSD option, but even with the standard hard drive, the Sony P is a great choice compared to the other device choices from Verizon, and this should end up being a great deal for anyone looking for wireless broadband along with a new ultraportable device.

See more Sony Vaio P features and reviews.

:: Visit the Vaio P forum to connect with other owners and potential buyers, share tips, and troubleshoot. ::

[Phone Arena via Engadget]

Look what happens when I decide to actually call it a night, because it has barely been half a day since I posted about the upcoming Android-powered smartphone from Sony Ericsson. Well, now that I am suddenly remembering that it actually was already November 3rd in parts of the world during my last post, I find myself waking to the newly introduced XPERIA X10, the first phone from SE to run Google's finest.

Most of the specs are what we expected and right in line with what others are offering, such as the 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 4-inch 854 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, and 8.1MP auto-focus camera with LED flash, along with 802.11bg, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, and quad-band GSM. It will be available in two colors, Sensuous Black or Luster White, and there will be an X10a model for North America.

Based on what I see, I believe I have found my next smartphone, but I'll have to wait until its release sometime in Q1 2010. Follow past the break for some more shots of this gorgeous device and the new Rachael interface, which is SE's take on Android UI customization.

If the Eston MID-02 slider's oversized bezel was one of the reasons that kept the device off your gadget radar, then perhaps the company's newest Android/WinCE MID will pique your interest.

Meet the Eston MID-05, a keyboard-less slate/tablet with a 5-inch WVGA touchscreen, SDHC card slot, 802.11b/g WiFi, and 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor. The CPU is disappointing, I know, but Eston does seem to be improving its products with each new release.

The MID-01, for example, had a smaller 4.3-inch display with a lower resolution of 480 x 272 and only ran Windows CE 6.0. So it's probably only a matter of time before we start seeing Bluetooth, a better processor, and other improved specs included in something like the MID-10 or MID-11.

After seeing this teaser around the web last week, I had almost forgotten that November 3rd was already upon us, or at least will be very shortly. Thanks to Sony Ericsson, we now have something to look forward to on an ordinary Tuesday besides the newest DVD movie releases.

It seems the rumor is SE will be jumping on the ultra-popular Android bandwagon, which is already getting quite full as each day passes, with the introduction of the XPERIA X3 (aka Rachael). While spy shots and leaked specs have been around for a few months now, nothing is better than actually seeing the real deal ready for mass production.

Rumored specs include a 4-inch 800 x 400 capacitive touchscreen and the usual assortment of 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS radios, but what makes this hardware stand out above the others is the 8MP camera with LED flash and VGA video recording.

From the looks of it, the Xperia X3 should generate enough excitement to make us forget about the HTC HD2 if only for a little while, mainly because of the choice of Android instead of Windows Mobile like in the original XPERIA X1 from last year.

This guest review was submitted by Ben L.

The Viliv S7 Premium is a convertible mini notebook from Korean manufacturer Viliv. Their recent S5 Premium and X70 models impressed folks over the last few months and nearly started a revival of the UMPC. While the S5 and X70 were good, many people were saying that these devices could be perfect if only they had a keyboard.

Enter the S7, the first UMPC from Viliv with a hardware keyboard. Can it live up to expectations? Read on to find out.

About a year ago, I heard a rumor that Cowon was working on a UMPC called the W1 that might be revealed at CES 2009. When the device didn't show up there or anywhere else over the next few months, I figured it would never materialize and put it near the bottom of my watchlist.

Six months later, Stellist Design found a listing for a USB keyboard that they suspected could be an accessory for a Cowon MID. A few weeks after that, IT Inside (another Korean blog) published a post that included the following translated line as its summary: "MID PMP Cowon type comes out in October." Something was obviously in the works, yet none of my "cowon UMPC" or "cowon w1" searches yielded any useful results.

And now I know why.