Pocketables

Archos 5 Android struggles to coexist with iPhone 3GS

Did you ever have a gadget that you felt you were supposed to really like but, try as you might, you could only just kind of like? That's how I feel about my Archos 5 Android Internet Tablet.

It's a significant improvement over last year's Archos 5 IMT, offers faster web browsing speeds than other ARM Cortex A8-powered devices, has a large high-resolution touchscreen, and runs on an operating system compatible with a growing catalog of third-party applications . . . yet the iPhone 3GS is still my go-to device for nearly everything I should be using the Archos 5 Android for.

Kohjinsha PA series size comparisons

Gadget size comparisons are pretty common around here and since this is probably the last time I'll be able to put one together this year, I've gathered more of my mobile devices than usual to pose with the newly unboxed Kohjinsha PA series. Have a look below.

Website load times on ARM Cortex A8-powered mobile devices

While assessing my mobile gadget collection the other day, I realized that four of my devices are powered by CPUs with ARM Cortex A8 cores. For nearly eight months, my non-Android Archos 5 IMT (600MHz TI OMAP 3430) had bragging rights as the only Cortex A8 handheld in the house, so I didn't notice that it lost its prestigious title when the iPhone 3GS (600MHz Samsung S5PC100) waltzed in this past summer, the Sharp NetWalker (800MHz Freescale i.MX515) moved in last month, and the Archos 5 Android tablet (800MHz TI OMAP 3440) arrived a few weeks ago.

I've been very preoccupied with matters unrelated to portable gadgets for most of the year (and I usually don't pay much attention to internal components anyway), so the realization that a single Cortex A8 device turned into four Cortex A8 devices when I wasn't looking was a little alarming. The only thing to do, then, was to pit the units against one another for a round of website load time tests.

Rethinking the fate of 7-inch devices on Pocketables

Although there have certainly been exceptions, I've generally tried to maintain and follow a self-imposed "7-inch rule" here on Pocketables. What this has meant is that any device with a screen size larger than 7 inches was, for the most part, not welcome here.

The name of this site has always been more figurative than literal and the only reason 7-inchers were even included in the first place was that I started Pocketables during the Origami UMPC era in 2006. I had just decided to buy the Sony Vaio UX180P instead of the Samsung Q1 and the other 7-inch slates that defined the UMPC category back then, so as the site evolved, the 7-inch rule quietly fell into place. It made sense to me at the time, as netbooks were non-existent and 7-inch computers were considered quite tiny and highly portable, but lately I've been having second thoughts.

Windows Mobile 6.5 takes center stage for now

After months of leaked screenshots and rumors, Microsoft officially opened the curtain and lit the stage for Windows Mobile 6.5 (aka Windows phone) today. While the new operating system is supposedly just a stop-gap until Windows Mobile 7 comes out next year, there are some welcome improvements and changes that show Microsoft is not ceding the mobile market to Google and Apple just yet.

Along with some new devices that were launched concurrently with WinMo 6.5, the battle in the smartphone arena is really starting to get interesting, and the line that separates these handsets from MIDs continues to blur even further.

My WiMAX test fails miserably

Over this past weekend, I was attending a work-related convention in Las Vegas, which just so happens to be one of the cities offering WiMAX service from Clear (formerly Clearwire). Since I normally visit Sin City a few times a year, I had purchased a used Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition a few months back so I could test the new wireless service there. My thinking was that I could purchase a one-day pass for the listed price of $10, then have the convenience of 4G broadband while I was wandering about trying to find the best place to lose my money.

Even though this is Vegas we're talking about, let me just say it was a good thing I didn't gamble on smooth WiMAX connectivity. What I found was far different than what I expected, and I was so glad my Sprint MiFi came along on the trip.

First impressions of the Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1

Now that a few days have passed since I unboxed the Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1, it's time to share my first impressions and some other thoughts I've jotted down while using the clamshell Ubuntu MID. If you're on the fence about whether the 800MHz Cortex A8-based unit is worth its sub-$600 asking price, read on for some details that could push you in either direction.

There's nothing HD about the Zune HD

This guest article was submitted by Ben L.

I tend to be a serious HD junkie. I like my media in HD, and I like my displays to have HD resolutions. I even keep the same movies on my computer in 480p, 720p, and 1080p. More than anything, I love it when HD content is set up and displayed correctly so that it can be viewed the way that it was meant to be.

Sadly, some companies use the "HD" term as a buzz word to mislead consumers (perfect example here). In that regard, I have an issue with the Microsoft Zune HD that Jenn and Chris recently reviewed.

Before we jump in, I'd like to mention that I wouldn’t be writing this if the Zune HD wasn’t attempting to be a MID. But since it's got a web browser, an app store, and the whole shebang, I can't help myself.

Viliv S7 unboxing and size comparisons

Since I reboxed the Zune HD earlier today, it's only fair that I do a proper unboxing of the other gadget that found its way to Pocketables HQ this afternoon: the Atom-based Viliv S7 convertible UMPC. I also rounded up a few of my other mini computers to put the S7's size into some context and took some photos of the nice leather case that Viliv threw into the box as well. Take a look at the 30+ pictures below and check back later for my full review.

Surprise us this week, Apple

Every September for the past several years, Apple has used this month to refresh the iPod line. This year is no different, as in two days they will hold their "rock and roll" event, with most people expecting a new camera-equipped iPod nano and iPod touch.

Of course, there have been the rampant rumors about an iTablet device, basically a larger version of the touch, for what seems like forever now. Based on the excitement seen all over the web, the time seems right for Apple to jump in and revolutionize the tablet market that has never quite taken off for mainstream consumers, much like they did with the smartphone market over two years ago.