Pocketables

Solar-powered Intel processor could vastly improve battery life

Earlier this week at their 2011 developer form, Intel demonstrated a processor that blew my mind. It was not a 5-core power saving processor or an insanely powerful chip; instead, it was a processor with such low power requirements that Intel could power it with a solar panel the size of a postage stamp. 

Codenamed the Claremont, the new bit of silicon is what Intel calls a near-threshold voltage processor. Basically, this means that the transistors in the chip can draw almost no power when the workload is light enough. The previously mentioned demonstration involved clearly shows how well the concept works, as the processor was able to run a Linux OS with only the power provided by the solar cell.

While the solar cell provided an interesting demonstration, it is not the most practical takeaway from the announcement. Because the Claremont draws so little power when idle, it could have vast applications in the world of mobile technology, from UMPC's running Windows 8 to MIDs, and even smartphones running Android. (Google recently announced that they would begin optimizing Android for Intel processors.) The technology would be especially applicable to always-on devices, as they could draw much less power than current chips when idle.

The Claremont and near-threshold technology, while currently more concepts that would probably need to be optimized for mobile use, still have great potential to improve the lacking battery life in current devices. As far as I am concerned, they can't come soon enough.

[Wired]

Intel resuscitates MeeGo, claims they are committed to the platform

When Nokia announced that they would be using Windows Phone 7 as their primary smartphone operating system, many wondered about the fate of their other OS, MeeGo, which they were developing in a partnership with Intel. Based on the silence of Intel and the content of Nokia's announcement, many figured the open-source OS project was dead.

Apparently, Intel has now decided that they won't let MeeGo go down without a fight. The company stated today that they "remain committed to MeeGo and open source, and will continue to work with the community to help develop and meet the needs of customers and end users." This doesn't sound like they will be putting too much effort into it, but anything is better than them letting MeeGo die. 

Before the Nokia/Windows Phone 7 deal, MeeGo was shaping up to be a very good OS. Combined with Nokia's hardware, many thought it had the potential to threaten Android and iOS. As such, many people (including me) were saddened when Nokia announced they would no longer be working on MeeGo. Even if it doesn't work out, I am glad to see that Intel is at least giving MeeGo a little bit of a chance.

[OS News]

$300 Cordia Tab will run desktop Linux and MeeGo

  

Back before iOS and Android became popular, there was a company called Nokia that made mobile devices. Although these devices have now fallen out of style, their Maemo and MeeGo mobile operating systems still have a following. An apparently dedicated member of this following has decided to get the OSes on some modern hardware by making a Maemo based tablet called the Cordia Tab.

Because the device itself is the brainchild of a single person, it is based on currently available hardware. This means it is hardly cutting edge, but it should still have sufficient power. So, behind the 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, you will find an 800 MHz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, and GPS. Rounding out the feature set are a front facing camera, HDMI port for video out , and a USB host port.

Of course, the real reason I am excited about this tablet is the long list of operating systems it will support. It's default OS will be a variant of Maemo, but the creator intends for it to be compatible with all manner of Linux based operating systems. This means that users would be able to run full-fledged Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Nokia's MeeGo OS, or even a version of Android.

In a tablet market dominated by Android and iOS, a different operating system is quite refreshing. I am excited about trying MeeGo on a tablet, and the potential to have a tablet with a full desktop OS is certainly intriguing. However, common sense (and the current state of the market) say desktop OSes belong on desktops, while tablets need simple mobile operating systems. 

Despite this, the Linux geek side of me wants to pick up one of these right away, but do you think users really want a full OS on their tablets?

[Cordia Tab Official via Techonia]

RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook gets an official price and release date

Well, its finally official. The long awaited (and long overdue) BlackBerry PlayBook now has a definite price and release date. 

RIM has announced that the 16, 32, and 64GB WiFi versions of the tablet will retail for $499, $599, and $699, respectively. On April 19th, the device will be available for purchase at retail outlets including Staples and Best Buy. Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon will sell (presumably branded) versions of the device as well.

Back when this device was first announced, there were quite a few people who were excited about it. It was one of the first dual core tablets, and its QNX based OS looked to have some potential. However, with the recent flood of Android tablets, the release of the iPad 2, and rumors of the HP TouchPad, the PlayBook has lost much of its buzz and appeal. Even its rumored ability to run Android apps may not save it.

This looks to me like too little, too late, but for BlackBerry users it may seem like a gift from God. Are you still interested in the PlayBook now that there are so many other tablets out?

[Inside BlackBerry]

HP rebirths webOS, releases Pre 3 and HP Veer

Palm's purchase by HP was a disappointment for many WebOS fans because they feared the end of their favorite mobile OS. They need not fear anymore, though, because at today's press conference HP released two next-generation WebOS handsets.

MeeGo might not be around the corner with Intel pointing at 2011

Over the past few months it seemed like things were starting to fall in place for MeeGo. The likelihood of a MeeGo smartphone launching before year's end was looking positive, too, with Nokia stating that we could expect the first ARM-powered MeeGo smartphone by the end of 2010, punctuated by the recent sighting of an alleged prototype Nokia N9 appearing to run MeeGo. But the Finnish company's partner in the venture, Intel, has today stated that while MeeGo is on schedule, mobile devices including handsets and tablets will not be shipping until the first half of next year.

Nokia has so far neither confirmed nor denied the new information from Intel, but this would clearly be a disappointing setback for the company as it pins its high-end hopes on the new OS. It's also fairly easy to theorize that the recent managerial turmoil at Nokia may have had some negative impact on the MeeGo project, particularly the departure of MeeGo Devices VP Ari Jaaksi. On the brighter side, Intel has confirmed that we should be seeing some other MeeGo devices on the market this year such as netbooks and Internet-connected TVs.

Whatever is going on behind the scenes, things are definitely not looking so rosy for Nokia and MeeGo currently and further delays could end up placing even more pressure on the next-gen Nokia N-series device with its smartphone variant of MeeGo to be practically perfect out of the gate in order to have any chance at all against the current market leaders. Have you been waiting for Nokia's next flagship running MeeGo? What do you make of the delays?

[Forbes via PocketNow]

Nokia N8 will be last of the N-series to run Symbian, MeeGo set to take over

 

With all the coverage of Android and the iPhone these days, it's easy to forget Nokia is still the smartphone leader in terms of global market share. The company is currently at a bit of a crossroads or a period of transition with a degree of uncertainty surrounding its future smartphone direction, the announcement of the merging of Maemo and Moblin to form MeeGo earlier this year, and the upcoming release of the new Nokia N8 running the new Symbian^3 OS.

Prior to the announcement of MeeGo and the N8, there were rumors that the company's flagship N-series would switch from Symbian to Maemo by 2012, but this possibility has now been made redundant by developments since. In a logical progression from that planned development, the company has now stepped forward to clarify its intentions with the announcement that the Nokia N8 will be the last of the N-series to run Symbian as all future N-series devices will run MeeGo.

Although it seemed certain that MeeGo would feature on some future N-series devices, I'm a little surprised that the whole lineup will be switching over to it. But it does speak volumes about Nokia's confidence in the new platform. Symbian will still be a large part of Nokia's future as it seeks to revamp the OS and implement it in more mainstream devices below the top of the line N-series.

Clearly the company is moving aggressively to raise its game in light of the fierce competition but many questions still remain. Are you looking forward to the Nokia N8? Or are you more interested in a future N-series device running MeeGo? In a related note, the swansong of Maemo, the fantastic Nokia N900, has dropped to a bargain $370 unlocked from Dell with free shipping (using a provided rebate code at the link). This is quite a drop from its original launch price of $649 and a great offer for those still interested in this unique device.

[CNET Australia]

Nokia plans to join tablet party with ARM-based MeeGo device by year's end

 

Nokia is no stranger to the internet tablet category with the 770, N800, N810, and the latest device in the family, the N900 mobile computer that was a big departure from its lineage with a smaller size and the addition of telecommunication functionality. While it's a very impressive and compelling device, many consider the N900 to not be a true successor to the N810 that preceded it and longed for a real new internet tablet from Nokia.

It now looks like IT fans may be getting their wish, with news from DigiTimes that Nokia is developing a 7- or 9-inch tablet powered by ARM-based hardware, running the upcoming MeeGo OS, and set for a release in Q4 of this year. Based on information from component suppliers, Nokia is said to have already completed 100 engineering samples for testing with plans for the tablet to be manufactured by Foxconn. Could this be the first Nokia MeeGo ARM device we have been hearing about? With most people expecting Nokia to make its MeeGo debut on a smartphone device, this would be an interesting departure if it turns out to be true. What do you think of the possible return of the Nokia Internet Tablet?

Review: Sharp NetWalker PC-T1

Eight months after the launch of the NetWalker PC-Z1, Sharp unveiled the NetWalker PC-T1, a 5-inch tablet version of the Z1 clamshell.

Released last month in Japan, the T1 features the same 800MHz Freescale i.MX515 CPU (ARM Cortex A8), WVGA touchscreen, 512MB RAM, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, microSD card slot, optical mouse, and Ubuntu 9.04 operating system as the Z1, making it a questionable addition to the NetWalker family. Is the tablet form factor so compelling that last year's specs, which already weren't that good in the first place, can be repackaged and successfully sold today?

You can read my full review below or grab one for yourself at Conics.net, who is currently selling the new NetWalker PC-T1 for about $540, to find out.

Moorestown flexes muscles by running Quake III, WoW, 3D, and video demos

Apart from launching the new Oak Trail ultra mobile platform at Computex last week, Intel was also demonstrating the Atom Z6xx (aka Moorestown) smartphone platform at the show, with Aava Mobile prototypes occupying its booth. The device and processor have previously been shown playing back HD video and running Quake III, but the company took things up a notch by demonstrating the Moorestown prototypes' power in a series of new demos, including running the full version of World of Warcraft, an impressive interactive 3D graphics demo by Imagination Technologies (makers of the PowerVR SGX GPU), and a multitasking video playback demo where the device played back an HD movie trailer while also performing a multi-point video stream. Check out a video from Carrypad with all these demonstrations below.