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Having heard earlier this week that Apple had blocked Atom processor support in their latest build of OS X 10.6.2, we're now being told that the low-power Intel CPU has once again been welcomed back into the Mac fold. A newer 10.6.2 build, 10C535, has restored Atom support, meaning owners of netbook-turned-Hackint0sh machines may not be left without the latest software in their DIY Apple ultraportables.
Given that most netbook press releases look like photocopies of each other, we’re particularly intrigued by the Litl Webbook. Spotted last week whipping through the FCC, the Webbook is described by Litl as “an internet computer for the home” and uses a home-grown always-on OS; it can be used as a standard netbook or, flipped round, as a more passive TV device with an optional remote control and “TV style” control knob.
While we often can be found heaping scorn onto the me-too Atom N270 netbook ranges that pass our viewing window, Intel’s low-power chip does occasionally find its way into an interesting machine. Stealth Computer have slotted the 1.6GHz chip into their latest “Little PC”, the Stealth LPC-395F, a fanless nettop with a ruggedized chassis and front-loading 2.5-inch hard-drive bay.
Apple may be reluctant to launch a netbook – and given their financial success selling mid- to high-end notebooks we can’t really blame them – has spawned a busy community of Hackint0sh creators, many of whom turn to humble Atom-based netbooks such as the MSI Wind for use as donor machines for OS X. All that might change, however, with the news that Apple have tweaked Mac OS X 10.6.2, their upcoming operating-system update, to prevent installation on Atom-based computers.
Having gone up for preorder in Europe midway through October, the upcoming multitouch-capable ASUS Eee PC T91MT has now shown up for preorder in the US. Amazon are listing the convertible touchscreen netbook – the T91MT-PU17-WT, to give it its full, catchy title – for $549, though they don’t have any specific release date.
Gadgets leaked by text are far less exciting than blurry, hurriedly-snapped photos, but we won’t turn up our noses at a preview no matter the method. It now appears that Cowon have a touchscreen MID in the works, the Cowon W2, according to a test page at the Bluetooth SIG, though specifications are still scant.
If you’ve seen one Chinese MID, the saying goes, you’ve seen them all, and yet we still keep digging through the dross in the hope of turning up something shiny and loveable. The latest glimmer amongst the grubs is the Soyea Z5, an Atom Z515 1.2GHz based ultraportable with a 5-inch WVGA touchscreen, 1GB of RAM, integrated 3G and a choice of Windows XP or Linux.
Rumors are circulating that Apple has rejected Intel’s Moorestown chips as unsuitable for their mobile device range, after Cupertino engineers decided that the Intel CPUs demanded far too much power. According to Fudzilla, Apple have informed Intel that Moorestown needs to have one-tenth the idle power consumption it manages currently before it’ll be suitable for any of Apple’s devices.
It feels like we’ve been waiting for Lenovo’s IdeaPad S12 with NVIDIA Ion graphics for months, probably because it has been months. Announced back in May, demonstrated to us in June, then officially delayed in August until Windows 7’s launch, the arrival of the new Microsoft OS means Lenovo can finally push the IdeaPad S12 Ion out of the door.
Given how long it’s taking eviGroup to push out their Wallet MID, we’re quite surprised with how quickly they’re working on getting their new 10.7-inch UMPC out of the door. The eviGroup Pad has already had its first hands-on, courtesy of French site NowhereElse, who reckon the 1024 x 600 resistive touchscreen – even with a stylus – is responsive while Windows 7 runs reasonably on the 1.6GHz Atom processor.
Update: The Elite 3G version of the eviGroup Pad is on sale now for €599 plus €30 shipping ($932); they’ll also sell you an OS-free version for €539 ($799).
Video demo after the cut
JP
