Showing: All entries for May, 2006


25May2006

Microsoft ponders vertical UMPC applications

Posted by Joe in General and Hardware. 0 Comments

With the high prices of the UMPC microsoft is now looking ways to make it a success.

img_4890.jpgMicrosoft is pushing for Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) devices to be used for new niche applications ranging from media players to GPS navigation systems and health monitors.

In a session at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Seattle, the company showed off concept designs for a series of such niche applications.

“The UMPC is a platform that enables us to reach people and markets that we could never dream of with desktop or mobile PCs,” said Seiya Ohta, a Microsoft hardware experience architect working on UMPC.

UMPCs are facing a thougher challenge than laptop computers or Windows Mobile devices because they are primarily targeting consumers. Their budgets are more limited that those of enterprises investing in mobile computers, Ohta said [...read on]

While at Sillicon Valley Sleuth, there are number of concepts that are shown for the future UMPCs, Take a look

Source VNUNet.com, UK

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25May2006

Samsung Q1: The unboxing Ceremony

Posted by Joe in Hardware, Samsung, Shopping and Videos. 0 Comments

Kevin of jkOnTheRun posted a video of the unboxing ceremony.

I ordered it, Best Buy sent it and UPS delivered it! Yup, the Samsung Q1 UMPC is in da house! This is the official “live” unboxing of the device and I try to show you every component of the Q1 packaging and contents. Overall, I’m very impressed; the packaging almost justifies that $1,099 price tag. Well, not quite, but really, it is packaged nicely. It’s all here, so why don’t you virtually unbox a Samsung Q1 with us?

Via jkOnThe Run [ Download the Video ]

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25May2006

Via to overtake Intel

Posted by Joe in Analysis, Hardware and Samsung. 0 Comments

A lot of analysts told us that Via processors are better than the Intel for the UMPC segment and now Computer Active says that it is proven. Now with Intels Dual Core in UMPC they might be able achieve more batter life and performance. Wait a minute - did i read that Via is already working on a Dual Core processor? Well this Article tells us how Via could undercut the Samsung Q1 in particular

c7l.jpg Via’s low-drain C7-M processor allows Origami ultra-mobile PCs to be sold at a much lower price than Intel-based models like Samsung’s Q1, according to a member of the chip’s design team.

Charles Holthaus, who worked for chip designer Centaur when it was taken over by Via, also disputed Intel’s figures for the performance per watt of its mobile processors.

A Via Origami shown at Winhec is on sale in the US for $850 (£490), including a satellite-navigation module, a price that could put it in competition with high-end PDAs as well as traditional notebooks.

The cheapest Samsung Q1 will sell in the UK for a shade under £800 when it comes out on 1 June.

PCW expects to get a Via UMPC in later today for review, at which point we will have a clearer idea of the UK price, and how the C7-M compares on performance.

But even if it lacks the legs for running a lot of applications back to back it could still prove to be a good buy as a mobile workhorse.

Holthaus said Via’s Origami design was rushed out because the high cost of low-voltage Intel processors created an opportunity for the company.

And he said Intel’s way of measuring performance per watt was more suitable for high-end servers and did not reflect truly how much power a processor will drain from a battery doing typical mobile tasks.

In PCW’s tests of the Samsung Q1, which uses a 900MHz Intel ultra low voltage CPU, we found battery life to be closer to 2.5 hours than the claimed 3.5 hours.

But could Via compete when Origamis start to use Intel multi-core processors, which offer both performance and power efficiency?

intel_solo.gifHolthaus said Via had considered going dual core. ‘We haven’t disclosed it on any of our public roadmaps yet but it is certainly technically feasible for us. We already have [two] discrete processors on motherboards today.

‘The next evolution will be to put those on the same die. We haven’t committed to that product yet.’

The C7-M chips were also small enough to put two on an Origami motherboard, Holthaus said.

Source [Computer Active]

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25May2006

It’s now the Vistagamis !

Posted by Joe in Analysis and General. 0 Comments

Microsoft seems to be having a lot of trouble when it comes to naming a product, had they stuck on with Origami for the UMPCs things would have had a different story. Now CNET says Microsoft is getting ready with the Vistagami (come on CNET don’t hint microsoft soft with such names they are already in big confusion). There are people who already managed to install vista on their TabletKiosk, so what’s this vistagami?

With the first Origami devices out the door, Microsoft is setting its sights on the next generation of tiny tablet PCs–products known within the company as “Vistagami” devices.

The new minitablets are likely to resemble the first of the ultramobile PCs, though they will run Windows Vista, rather than XP. Hopefully, they will come with a lower price tag than the first devices, such as Samsung’s Q1, which starts at $1,100.

While Microsoft was under no illusions that it could hit its long-term $500 price goal, the company said Tuesday it was not happy with how expensive the first devices turned out to be.

“We were (disappointed),” said Mika Krammer, a director in Microsoft’s Windows product marketing unit. “We would have liked to have seen a lower price point.“

Krammer said Microsoft doesn’t have much say in what the final price of the device is, but conceded “the ding accrues to us, regardless.”

The software maker generated huge publicity with a “teaser” campaign that touted the Origami idea without revealing many details of the proposal for Windows-based minitablet PCs. However, as the plans became clear, analysts said the hype had moved ahead of reality.

Microsoft is still a strong believer in the concept. “There’s a huge benefit to using a smaller form factor, because it is more convenient and it is more portable,” Krammer said. [Read more]

Via [CNET | News]

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25May2006

Review / Preview: Sony Vaio UX50

Posted by Joe in Analysis, Reviews, Sony and Specs. 2 Comments

As promised the guys at Digital World Tokyo has a detailed review (or should we say preview) of the Sony Vaio UX Series.

060525_UX50_box.JPG

It’s rare that a new product causes as much of a buzz as that surrounding Sony’s take on the UMPC that was announced here in Tokyo on May 16. Looking at the VGN-UX50 handheld PC in the flesh, as we have been doing for the last week, makes it easy to understand at least a little of the hype.

Put simply, the UX50 is one very attractive piece of kit — the sleek blacks and silvers it’s made of instantly ask that you pick the thing up and play with it. Realizing that there’s a Windows-based PC inside with all the functionality of a full-size laptop or desktop simply adds to the “wow� factor.

Throw in a few novelty items, such as the typically Sony IC-card reader, a touch-sensitive screen, a fingerprint scanner and a blue-backlit sliding keyboard for a pretty stunning first impression. In fact, it’s all very reminiscent of previous U series mini Vaios, but that’s another story.

View This Video on Google
What they reviewed/previewed?
The Japanese Vaio VGN-UX50 model we looked at costs ¥169,800 (US$1,550) and doesn’t include any office software. Adding Microsoft Office 2003 ups that by another ¥40,000. It weighs 520g, measures 15 x 9.5 x 3.2-3.8cm and battery life is rated at 3.5 hours.

U.S. versions of the UX series will have a range of processors to choose from and Cingular EDGE WAN integrated when they launch in July. Prices start at $1,800 [...Read the full preview here...]

NOTE: They seemed to have had some technical issues with this posting and there is something still missing in what they have posted, looks like it would be fixed soon. It’s fixed now

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