07Apr2006
Stuff magazine has an interesting article about the prototypes that fujitsu has come up with, These are different from the ones that we saw before
This UMPC would apparently be about the size of a CD case, and features a fold-out keypad – origami, folding, get it? – for easy web surfing and typing.
This sounds like a much more appealing user interface to us than using a stylus for all our computer work, a route chosen by Samsung and Asus’ first efforts. Like most impossibly clean-cut, minimalist concept designs, it also looks cooler than a polar bear’s bits, but we won’t get too excited until we’ve at least seen a prototype.
Fujitsu’s design team have also been having vodka-and-Red Bull fuelled brainstorming sessions on mobile phones too. The so-called ‘slider’ (below first) looks like a fine web-browsing smartphone, with built-in GPS judging by the maps on the screen.
The multi-slider (below second) is even more ingenious, with a virtual keypad that can slide in four different directions – boring old up, down, left and right we’re afraid – and display the appropriate keys to your chosen function.
Unfortunately, Fujitsu is just playing with us for the moment. There are no imminent real world versions of the designs, but if we keep asking in a whiny annoying voice, it might listen to us and make them one day.
Source [Stuff Magazine]
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05Apr2006
Posted by Joe
in Hardware.
VIA’s CX700 packs a horde of features into a 37.5mm x 37.5mm package.
VIA today announced the new CX700 digital media IGP chipset for its C7 and Eden processor platforms. The CX700 offers a rich embedded platform complete in an ultra-efficient (3.5 watt maximum power envelope), single-chip package.
The CX700 features a 128-bit VIA UniChrome Pro IGP core with hardware MPEG-2 decoding, VIA Vinyl HD Audio, support for up to 4GB of either DDR400 or DDR2-533 memory, along with SATA, SATA-II, PATA, and support for up to six USB ports. VIA’s press release claims:
In the CX700, VIA has integrated all the key functionality of both the North and South bridges of a regular VIA chipset into a single chip package exactly the same size as a North bridge, i.e. 37.5mm x 37.5mm, representing a saving of over 34% in board real estate. This represents a major breakthrough for the embedded industry where ultra compactness is essential, and will have significant benefit for embedded boards such as PC/104 and VIA EPIA mainboards [...]
Industry insiders tell us that with the CX700 IGP, we should expect to see even more UMPC manufacturers make announcements since the chipset is really the first full featured, DX8.1 capable IGP with such low power requirements [Read on]
Source [DailyTech]
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04Apr2006
Posted by Joe
in Fujitsu and Hardware.
Great, More and more companies are joining the fun, Now fujitsu shows some of their concept for the UMPC.
Fujitsu has put on show a pair of conceptual PC designs, one intended to show how an “ultra-mobile” machine might operate, the other a home computer system which looks funky enough but probably won’t give Apple’s industrial designers any sleepless nights.
The UMPC concept is certainly topical, what with the launch of Microsoft’s Origami Project and the announcement of real-world products from the likes of Samsung based on the design, co-engineered with Intel. Devices like Samsung’s expensive Q1 are keyboard-free kit on the assumption that ordinary folk would prefer to use a stylus.
No, we’re not convinced either, not now that world+dog has had 30-odd years to grow accustomed to computers with keyboards. Fujitsu’s UMPC cleverly squares the circle by providing a small form-factor clamshell chassis with a fold out keyboard. The computer would be the size of a CD case, the company said[...]
Read the full articel at [Reg Hardware]
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29Mar2006
Posted by Joe
in Hardware and Samsung.
Engadget reports the appearence of Samsung Q1 on the FCC website, So its most likely that US will have samsung anytime now. it says…
…So if you wanted the lowdown, the Q1’s (still) got a Celeron M ULV, 256MB (upgradeable to 1GB), an Intel 915GMS chipset, 60GB drive (up from 40GB!), Ethernet, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, two USB 2.0 ports, VGA out, audio out, a 7-inch 800 x 480 display, and three cell battery. Like we said, not a lot there we didn’t know. But if you did want to snag a sneak peek at how all the Origami (aka Microsoft Touch Pack) and all that UMPC multimedia software works, they’ve got a hefty 140-some-odd page user manual for you to peruse at your leisure (PDF links part 1 and part 2)…
Read more at engadget | FCC Site
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27Mar2006
Posted by Joe
in Hardware.
Akihabara News reports about the new UMPC (which seems to be the same founder hardware and design) for the Korean market.
The Origami craze is everywhere nowadays, and after seeing Japanese models, here is a Korean one. This Lucoms (Daewoo) model is in fact based on a product from Founder. So just like the Origami, you get a 7″ screen, 30 to 60GB of HDD, 512MB of RAM and a Pentium M900.
Source [UMPCBuzz]
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