Viliv last showed new products back at CES 2011, where it brought two Android tablets – the X7 and X10 – along with a Windows slate, the X70. Subsequent to that, the company was a no-show at the traditionally tablet-centric Computex 2011 last month.

According to Viliv’s Korean site, the company is on its summer holiday at present and that explains the service center being closed; the department is supposedly due to reopen in early August. However, Viliv’s US support line has been disconnected, according to the prerecorded message.

Viliv follows fellow ultramobile innovator OQO in finding that its well-reviewed devices failed to gain traction amid consumers. Long before Apple introduced the iPad, Viliv and others were pushing their own tablet devices but, whether for reasons of pricing, performance or ecosystem shortcomings, they struggled to break out of their niche markets.

Meanwhile, the fact that other Oak Trail tablets, such as Fujitsu’s Stylistic Q550, have already gone up for sale suggests that there’s no processor availability holding the Ocosmos tablet back. The company is yet to comment on the OSC1, which has a 5-inch 1024 x 600 display and runs Windows 7 despite resembling an oversized smartphone, though the expectation is that, if the OSC9 is imminent, the OSC1 should likely be close behind.

The final specs of the OSC9 will include WiFi – with WiMAX and 3G options – together with 2GB of DDR2 memory, a choice of 32GB or 64GB flash storage, and dual cameras, 5-megapixels on the back and 1.3-megapixels up front. It’ll also have a 6-axis gyroscope and run Windows 7 on a 1.5GHz processor. No word on pricing.

[via Pocketables]

The original PsiXpda UMPC – which we reviewed in January 2010 – was a rebadged DigiCube MIDPhone-50, running Windows XP on a sliding, tilting 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen display, with a full QWERTY keyboard, Atom Z510 1.1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. At the time we criticized its underwhelming battery life and disappointingly small display (which struggled even to accommodate Windows XP’s default messages) and suggested that it was not the model to break UMPCs out into the mainstream.

Pinnock apparently agrees, admitting that the original PsiXpda was “not fast enough and not good enough.” Instead, he’s looking to the much-loved Psion Series 5mx (shown above) design for a follow-up. The 5mx managed – by virtue of a clever sliding-folding hinge mechanism – to fit a large physical QWERTY keyboard with decent travel into a 170 x 90 x 23 mm form-factor, big enough for many to actually touch-type on. A useful byproduct of the design meant that tapping the 5.6-inch touchscreen wouldn’t topple the 5mx backward.

Rather than attempt to squeeze a desktop OS onto the new PsiXpda, Pinnock intends to use Android, which should add up to longer battery life and more consumer appeal. Although we’ve seen Android MIDs with physical ‘boards before, they’ve always been intended for thumb-typing rather than anything more ambitious. No word on when PsiXpda intends to release the new model, but we’re tentatively curious to see if its second attempt can do a better job of living up to the Psion inspiration.

A new Streak has turned up for its WiFi certification and the cert carries the note that the radio is a single-mode offering. That means that the new Streak is a WiFi only device. The model number attached to the certification is M02M002 and the cert was granted last week.

Exactly when the new Streak 7 will hit the market is unknown. With one major certification behind it, the Streak might turn up at any time. There is no word on official pricing or availability, but it should be a good bit cheaper than the 3G version making it more appealing to people that use a MID mostly in the home or office near WiFi.

[via Android Community]

The hardware partners currently testing Medfield chips – which Intel has promised will beat ARM on power efficiency – are unknown, though Aava Mobile has been showing off a prototype smartphone using the new 32nm processors. Intel also expects to leverage its Infineon acquisition for new wireless options in smartphones, tablets and other ultraportables.

In fact, while a smartphone might seem the obvious comparison, the OSC1 is more akin to a netbook. We obviously didn’t have the opportunity to check whether Intel’s latest-gen 1.5GHz processor lives up to their power claims, but we’re hearing 4-5hrs mentioned as a realistic estimate.

In use, it’s surprisingly fast even in this beta hardware/software stage. The capacitive touchscreen is responsive, and OCOSMOS’ custom UI is relatively basic compared to some we’ve seen, but still sufficient to turn the 5-inch 1024 x 600 display into a more finger-friendly proposition. It’s flanked by two multi-function directional pads, which can be programmed not only to user need but to change key assignment depending on what app is running. If you’re gaming on the OSC1 TC, for instance, they can be directional controls and trigger buttons – there are shoulder buttons as well – but in the browser they can navigate through pages and handle bookmarks.

Pricing will be the tricky point, and OCOSMOS are tight-lipped on what exactly the OSC1 TC will cost when it arrives roughly midway through 2011. We’ve got video of the OCOSMOS OSC1 TC running, and will add it in as soon as it’s processed.

The OSC9 is said to have a 9-inch, 1024 x 768 capacitive touchscreen, 1.5GHz Intel Oak Trail processor, 2GB of RAM and a 32GB or 64GB SSD. There’s WiFI b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, a 3.0-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera, and a microSD card slot, while like the OSC1 it runs Windows 7. The separate, wireless control pad can be used with gaming buttons or a QWERTY keyboard, and slots into a carrying pouch – along with the tablet itself – that also hides a rechargeable battery.

Whether either of these renders will actually spawn a production model or even a prototype to show off this week remains to be seen, but we’d certainly be interested to see OCOSMOS take on the OSC9.

That’s thanks to a separate 400MHz GPU with HD decoding, though we can’t imagine the OSC1 will be happy with more recent, high-profile gaming titles. There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and a pair of cameras: 5-megapixels on the back, and 1.3-megapixels on the front.

More specs here, but we’re yet to be convinced that Windows 7 is the right OS to choose for a device of this size. Previously a Q1 2011 launch has been suggested, though as we saw with OQO, the premium MID/UMPC market is a tricky one to crack.

Since the pull-out panel would be a mere board, rather than requiring any sort of electronics, it could be much thinner and lighter than fitting a larger active panel of some sort. Alternatively, it could be a rolled-display, pulling out like a miniature version of a regular projector screen, or folded.

The application even suggests that the screen material could have dual-states, being flexible for storage and then hard when used for projection purposes; it’s not entirely clear what technology Sony Ericsson has in mind for that. Of course, it doesn’t mean we can expect projection-phones from Sony Ericsson any time soon, but it would certainly make mobile movie consumption a little more palatable.

[via Unwired View]

There are also dual cameras – 5-megapixels on the back, 1.3-megapixels on the front – and a QWERTY keyboard revealed when you slide the display up. Connectivity includes HDMI, USB 2.0 (with host support), a 3.5mm headphone socket and a microSD card slot to augment the 32GB internal SSD. The whole thing measures in at 174 x 83.4 x 15.9 mm.

Ocosmos apparently reckons the OSC1 will manage 10hrs of runtime from a full charge, though UMPC Portal expects that to be more like 3hrs with a regular battery or 5-7hrs if they fit a significantly larger power pack. The company is targeting a Q1 2011 launch and thinks AT&T or Korea Telecoms would be ideal carrier partners, but aren’t saying anything on pricing.

[via UMPC Portal]

“DellStreak will begin a rollout of the 2.2 update OTA before the end of Nov. This is happening over a period of time and staggered by region, starting in the UK.You will receive notification of the update directly on your Streak. If you don’t see it before the end of Nov, please be patient as your build may be happening at a later stage.”

That means no requirement for using a plugged-in PC to install Froyo, which makes a pleasant change from some other manufacturers. StreakSmart has already managed to score some screenshots of what the update process will look like; unfortunately the “Download & Install” button isn’t working yet.

[via Android Community]

In fact, there’s talk of a screen in the region of 1280 x 800 resolution, which would be a significant step up from the current Streak’s WVGA display, while the processor is tipped to run at 1.2GHz and could be one of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon CPUs. Curiously, “Opus One” was the codename Motorola gave to their i1 rugged Android smartphone during its development, so there’s either some inadvertent coincidence going on or something more suspect about the rumors.

[via Android Community]

Video demo after the cut

The clamshell MID is particularly interesting, offering 300 cd/m2 brightness and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s apparently running at 1024 x 600 resolution, too, just like the 7-inch Super AMOLED. The foldable displays, meanwhile, came in 5.3- and 4.3-inch sizes and ran at 960 x 800 resolution.

The transparent screen managed a mere 960 x 540, which is on the low side in comparison; we’re guessing it makes for impressive demos but not especially usable notebooks. Still, an AMOLED window or mirror capable of showing computer graphics without obscuring the whole view would be impressive. Finally, the 10.1-inch tablet mock-up looks actually to be less a teaser for the larger Galaxy Tab and more just a frame for a super-rugged panel, using a resin substrate rather than glass. More details in the video below.

The Z500 can’t be selected from Nokia’s pictorial list of handsets, only by entering the direct URL.  However, this definitely appears to be a product in the company’s catalog; entering a different address throws up an error message.  A similar trick leaked the Nokia X7 more recently.

Exact hardware details for the Nokia Z500 are unclear, but a 7 or 9 inch touchscreen has been suggested and Foxconn tipped as the OEM.  Previous rumors indicated Nokia was working on a “large screen” device with OpenGL ES 2.0 support for gaming.

[via Mobile Geek Inc.]

Unfortunately, it also gets you a Japanese-spec 3G radio, suited to carrier KDDI but not much use in the US, together with just Android 1.6.  Still, we’re guessing there’ll be a fair few people still interested; check out Pocketables‘ first-impressions for more information.

[via Android Community]

The production AC100 has certainly been tightened up from the flexing, creaking prototypes Toshiba showed at the ultraportable’s launch. Although you can still see some chassis-bend if you hold the notebook by the very corner with the screen open, there’s no bowing of the keyboard tray as you type and the keys themselves are firm and nicely clicky. We’ve used plenty of ultraportables over the years, but the AC100′s slender construction was still enough to impress coming out of the box; significantly tapered edges and a mere 0.87kg weight make for an impressively portable machine.

That’s in part because you get fewer ports than on a regular netbook. The AC100 has a single full-sized USB 2.0, a mini USB, an HDMI output, a combination headphones/microphone socket and an SDHC card reader, along with the power input and Kensington lock port. There’s also an integrated microphone, 1.3-megapixel webcam, and stereo speakers whose grills are on the underside of the Toshiba. Conspicuously absent is any sort of cooling vent; that’s because the AC100 is fanless and, since it uses flash storage not a spinning hard-drive, silent in operation.

In fact, internal storage is just 8GB, paired with 512MB of DDR2 memory. Rather than the Atom CPU you’d usually find in a netbook, Toshiba has opted for NVIDIA’s second-generation Tegra 250, a 1GHz mobile processor based around ARM not x86 cores. The promise is that the frugal Tegra 2 will deliver far longer battery life while still being capable of 1080p HD video playback (via the HDMI output, since the 10.1-inch display 16:9 runs at 1024 x 600). Wireless connectivity, meanwhile, consists of WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR on this AC100-10Z model; Toshiba also offer the AC100-10U with an HSPA modem.

Running on that Tegra 2 is Google’s Android OS, in this case version 2.1 Eclair with Toshiba’s own Home Menu modifications. Android is, obviously, intended first and foremost for smartphones, and in the absence of a touchscreen (unlike the HP Compaq Airlife 100) Toshiba has thrown shortcuts galore at the AC100′s keyboard. Where normally you’d find the function key row, the AC100 has buttons for media playback, internal/external display control, screen brightness, wireless, locking the trackpad, volume up/down/mute, taking screenshots, and loading the email, browser, settings or task switcher.

Meanwhile, there are also buttons for search and home, down where you might usually find the Windows Start key, and a menu button where the right-click shortcut normally is on PC notebooks. Then there’s the trackpad, for which Toshiba have added an on-screen cursor control so you can navigate Android much as you would Windows. Five horizontal homescreen panes can have various widgets, and there’s the usual status bar running across the top of the screen with WiFi, clock, battery and network indicators (the latter only showing a connection if you have the 3G-enabled model).

As for Toshiba Home Menu, that consists of four panels – Applications, Widgets, Bookmarks and Settings – which basically put the various apps and other shortcuts within a click or two from the homescreen. Toshiba preload the Opera Mobile browser, Evernote, Fring, Amazon MP3, a File Manager app, FBReader for ebooks, and the Camangi Market (there’s no Android Market access) together with their own media player app and Documents To Go, but you don’t get the Gmail app, only the generic Android Mail app.

Unfortunately, while it’s a good attempt to translate a touch-based OS to keyboard and mouse use, it’s not 100-percent there. Five homescreen panes filled with widgets make sense when you can swiftly flick between them with a finger; it’s less intuitive when you’re working with a 10-inch non-touch display. You might assume that the arrow keys would shift you from pane to pane, but they actually control the various Home Menu options. Regular text shortcuts, such as tabbing between fields or CTRL+arrow to jump by word, don’t work.

Gmail loaded with its full desktop view in the Android browser, but the keyboard wasn’t fully functional: hitting Enter, for instance, to start a new paragraph instead opened up the address bar. Some on-screen dialogs can be navigated via the arrow keys and enter, some cannot; there’s more jumping between the keys and the trackpad than on a Windows or OS X machine. Even Toshiba’s own apps – added to take advantage of the netbook form-factor – are hobbled by Android’s finger-centric paradigm; you can’t drag files between local and USB storage in the Toshiba File Manager, for instance, instead having to individually select them, cut/copy them and then paste them into the other volume.

It adds up to a frustrating user experience that’s ironically far more complex to get to grips with than a regular Android smartphone. Toshiba could have fitted a touchscreen – adding to the price, naturally – but even then we’d want to be able to successfully navigate solely via the keyboard, as even the most basic netbook can manage. There’s no multitouch support on the trackpad, either.

A glimmer of hope, however, lies with Ubuntu. The AC100 modding community kicked off efforts to load the alternative Linux OS onto the ultraportable, and in response Toshiba has assigned a small team of its own to explore the possibility. There’s no timescale for its release, but from the early DIY attempts we’ve seen it could give the AC100 a real boost in usability. Ubuntu would hopefully be able to handle more USB peripherals than the AC100, too; the Android notebook could recognize a 2GB USB memory stick, but not an external NTFS hard-drive. Plugging it into another PC via the miniUSB port allowed the AC100 to be mounted as a browsable drive, meanwhile.

If Toshiba can manage to squeeze Ubuntu into the AC100 and preserve its battery life, it could be onto a winner. The company estimates up to 8hrs of runtime from a full charge, or 180hrs – over a week – of standby. In practice, we managed around six hours of solid web browsing over WiFi, and even longer if we were just watching video. The Tegra 2′s 1080p abilities also live up to NVIDIA’s promises, as long as you have a file format which Android can play; that means yes to H.264, MP4, AVI and XviD, but no MKV. Still, given the mere 8GB of internal storage, you won’t be able to keep many files on the AC100 itself; thankfully it’ll recognize up to 32GB SDHC cards.

At a time when Android’s suitability for tablets is being questioned – even, when it comes to 2.2 Froyo, by Google itself – the platform seems even more ill-equipped to handle the AC100′s form-factor. Tegra’s HD video abilities are great, and the battery life and portability of the Toshiba are both excellent, but general use can be a chore that belies its companion-device intentions; the missing Android Market only compounds that. Ubuntu may change things, but for the moment the Toshiba AC100, despite its relatively affordable £211 (plus VAT; $333) price tag, falls short of earning a place in our bag.

They’re also pretty keen to make clear that “end of the year” doesn’t mean “December 31st”.  In fact, they say the OTA target date “is much sooner than that.”  Various unofficial Froyo ROMs are already circulating for the Streak, but the official Dell version should maintain the company’s own adapted UI.

[via Android Community]

It’s not quite at everyday-use stage yet; so far the boot hangs at around the point where the photo above was taken.  That means we don’t know quite what will run and what won’t, or what sort of battery life we can expect.  Still, assuming the process gets polished – and there are people working on it – then this could be a new lease of life for what’s otherwise a particularly niche product.

For instance, as well as the standard 2,600 mAh removable battery – which is apparently good for 3-4hrs of use – Eking have fitted a second, internal power pack.  That makes the M5 hot-swappable, so you can quickly replace the dead battery with a new one without having to first shut the system down.

The display – which uses a Sharp panel – also gets praise, being bright, clear and, at 1024 x 600, high resolution for its compact dimensions; we criticized the PsiXpda for having a mere WVGA screen of the same size.  Unfortunately Eking used a resistive touch panel, and it sounds like performance and build quality aren’t much to write home about.  If you simply must have a keyboard then there are easier ways to do it, sadly.

The issue appears to center around the messaging app and how entries have been saved in the contacts; depending on how recipients are put into a new message, it might not be sent correctly or – more worryingly – sent to the wrong person.  NTT DoCoMo are working on a fix, but it’s not expected to arrive until late September.

To be fair, though, it’s not like the bug is going to effect many people.  The carrier has confirmed sales of just 7,000 LYNX SH-10B units between its Japanese release on July 23rd and today.

So far we’ve seen just one device branded as a smartbook arrive on the market, in the shape of the HP Compaq Airlife.  Toshiba’s AC100, which uses rival NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chipset rather than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, is being branded as a MID or Mobile Internet Device.

Qualcomm, for its part, says it is pushing ahead using Snapdragon chips like the upcoming 1.5GHz model – destined to show up in production devices in Q1 2011 – in tablets.  To be fair, the firm is relatively agnostic as to how their silicon is used (all they really care about is the number of OEMs actually adopting it) but we have to say we’re disappointed by the shrinking number of hardware keyboard-equipped all-day devices set to reach the market.

Its 3G sibling, the Toshiba AC100-10U, is still unavailable for order.  It will have a 2100MHz UMTS/HSPA modem for use in Europe, along with quadband GSM/EDGE.  Both get HDMI ports, 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 displays and 512MB of RAM.

The AC100 has also been listed at Amazon, though the retailer is still showing shipment delays of 1-2 months.  Last week at IFA 2010, Toshiba unveiled the Folio 100, a touchscreen slate version of the AC100 expected to be priced at £329 when it launches in a couple of months time.

Toshiba AC100 hands-on:

Video demos after the cut

The U8150 is largely what you’d expect from a budget Android smartphone – a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel camera and relatively bulky chassis – though there are some moderately unusual features.  The touchscreen is capacitive, not resistive, and there’s 3G mobile hotspot functionality for up to eight WiFi-connected devices.  Build quality is fair, too, with only the D-pad being a little less than responsive, and there was no apparent sluggishness despite the absence of a cutting-edge 1GHz processor.

Huawei Ideos U8150 hands-on:

As for the Ideos S7, unfortunately that had no network connection and so we couldn’t really put the internet tablet through its paces.  However, responsiveness of the homescreen alone was mixed, with navigation tabs sometimes requiring two or three taps in order to respond.  Had Huawei managed to get the S7 to the market back when it was first announced in May, they could have stood a chance, but with Froyo rivals like the ViewSonic ViewPad 7 and the larger Toshiba Folio 100 fast approaching, it’s hard to see how the Ideos S7 could carve a niche.

Huawei Ideos S7 Tablet hands-on:

Finally, Huawei were showing the Hx, a concept “media terminal” which would supposedly have a modular gamepad/keypad/kickstand attachment.  Seeing as it was non-functional, Huawei didn’t have to actually worry about fitting in all the necessary components – it’s as slim and slick as any concept design – but we’d like to see the company turn some of the budget imagination shown in the U8150 to a working model with a similarly low price.

All three support a broad range of video codecs (AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF, WMV) and will run Android 2.2 Froyo when they launch in the next couple of months (Archos’ demo units were loaded with a 2.1 test build).  The Archos 28 and 32 both use an 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and the 43 gets a 1GHz version; all have WiFi b/g/n plus USB Host and Bluetooth 2.1.  None have Android Market access, instead using Archos’ own AppsLib download store.

The baby of the bunch, the Archos 28, has 4GB or 8GB of flash storage, and feels a lot like a cheap Android smartphone.  The display is pixelated and, despite the long list of codecs, the PMP lends itself more to audio playback.  Responsiveness is fair, and Archos’ new media app looks good, but we can’t see buyers picking this over a comparably priced iPod.

As for the Archos 32, that’s got 8GB of storage as standard and comes with a 720p-capable camera.  The bigger display is low-resolution for its size, however, which undermines browsing and video playback, and makes for a tricky typing experience with the onscreen keyboard.

Archos 43 hands-on:

Of the three, the Archos 43 is the most successful, though the company’s choice of a resistive rather than capacitive touchscreen may lose them sales in comparison to the iPod touch.  Still, you get a bigger display than the iPod, larger than most smartphones in fact, and the functionality is packed in too: 720p video recording and playback (with a camera on the back), an HDMI output, up to 16GB of storage (with a microSD slot) and the same processor as in the bigger Archos 70 and 101.  That keeps things moving swiftly, and it’s actually a decent browsing experience (and will be improved with Froyo and its Flash Player 10.1 support).

It’s worth noting that the AC100 is currently running Android 2.1, so it’s possible that – when Toshiba release a firmware update to 2.2 – another speed boost could be delivered.  Carrypad also say they’re getting SunSpider JavaScript benchmark results of 9,300, while 13Mbps 1080p H.264 files play with no problems and game Raging Thunder 2 has no qualms at the full 1024 x 600 resolution the Toshiba can manage.

Video demos after the cut

Unlike the Airlife 100, the Tegra 2 based AC100 doesn’t have a touchscreen and relies instead on the trackpad; however Android 2.1 doesn’t give you scrollbars or any link-hovering information or tips.  You can’t tab through text boxes, and the standard browser lacks Flash support or any mouse enhancements.  Opera Mobile, preloaded, does support Flash, though sites generally default to their mobile versions which means you get things like shoddy YouTube quality (intended for a relatively small smartphone display, not the 10.1-inches of the AC100).

It’s a shame, as both hardware and build quality are praised (though there are still issues with what USB devices Android will or won’t recognize).  Next up is testing battery life – Toshiba reckon 7hrs solid use; until then, check out their first impressions and unboxing in the videos below.

Of course, you could also use an external modem like a MiFi or some sort of tethered Bluetooth connection, Android permitting, so getting online needn’t be too great a headache.  Several other European retailers are claiming they’re expecting the AC100 in on September 2nd, a week from today.

According to the Amazon Marketplace listing, there’s only one Ac100 unit left and it’s priced at €350 ($445).  For more on the Ac100, check out our hands-on report from the MID’s launch.

Toshiba AC100 hands-on:

[via Carrypad]

Video demo after the cut

As you might expect, the cable allows the Streak to be plugged in via a regular USB to miniUSB cable and synchronized with your computer (or merely mounted as an external drive in the usual Android way), together with recharging the smartphone/tablet via any USB charger you may have to hand.  This seems like an obvious adapter for Dell themselves to sell, but perhaps they’re too keen on offloading their own (rather expensive) accessories.

[via StreakSmart]

There’s also broad audio codec support, with the new PMP content with MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, OGG, and FLAC formats for audio (together with optional AC3 5.1 support) and MPEG-4 HD, MPEG-4, H.264 HD, WMV9/ACP, and MJPG codecs with various extensions: AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF, and WMV.  Under the hood is an 800MHz Cortex A8 processor with DSP, and 3D OpenGL graphics acceleration.

The Archos 32 is currently listed at $147 though there’s no indication of when Amazon expect the PMP/MID to begin shipping.  We’re still more than a little disappointed by the mere WQVGA resolution – cellphones with 3.2-inch screens have managed 480 x 320 – together with the absence of the full Android Market.

[Thanks gohn!]

“Pin-to-Pin testing shows that the Dock Connector pinout is in agreement with what is shown in [the PDMI] pinout diagram. I cannot confirm presence or absence of the USB 3.0 Pins as these are not brought out to any connector on the Dell Home Dock. With the exception of one tiny 6 pin component associated with the HDMI connector, a few small filter capacitors, and some 0 Ohm protection jumpers, there is no actual circuitry in the dock.” Linuxslate

For instance, the PDMI standard supports USB 3.0 transmission, together with DisplayPort and others; if Dell thought ahead and included hardware support for those connections, it could make the Streak all the more flexible.  Even without, cheaper connections have to be a good thing for Streak owners, so it remains to be seen what the owner community can come up with.

[via StreakSmart]

Your money nets you a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, WVGA display, 3G/UMTS, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 5-megapixel camera; there’s also a front-facing webcam and GPS.  Unfortunately the Streak launches with Android 1.6 (complete with some Dell customizations); Android 2.x won’t be available until later in the year.  It’s also worth noting that the Streak comes carrier-locked to AT&T, even if you pay for the SIM-free version.

If you’re still undecided about the Streak, check out our review of the European version and columnist Michael Gartenberg’s piece on the challenges small Android tablets face.  If you pick up a Streak yourself, don’t forget to leave your thoughts over at our Roots page for the MID!

Dell’s Lionel Menchaca has just confirmed that the DELL MID/tablet Android-based device, which is going on pre-order today, will still be SIM-locked to AT&T — whether you buy it with a contract, or without. So if you want to access some good ol’ 3G speeds on AT&T, and you’re afraid of dropping almost $600 on a device, then that contract may just be the best way to go about things.

[via TG Daily]

The Thunder has a nice 8MP digital camera with an LED flash and can record video in 720p resolution. The device also sports a removable 1400 mAh battery. The prototype in the video is running Android 2.1 and the finished product is expected to have a custom Dell UI on top.

The device has a screen measuring 4.1-inches with a resolution said to be 800 x 480 or higher. That screen is also thought to be OLED. You can check the video out below.

[viddler id=4109646f&w=437&h=426]

Curiously, there’s no mention of what looks to be a camera lens on the back of the unit in the user manual itself, though given that manual also shows images of a different Archos PMP it’s possible the company are still yet to finalize its content.  The teardown photos from the FCC look to show a camera unit on the ‘board inside, certainly.

According to last week’s leak, the Archos 32 will be priced at around $150 and support MPEG-4 HD, H.264 and WMV (among others) at up to 720p HD resolution.  The manual also tips a number of docks and car-mounts.

[via Engadget]

The device still has that 5-inch display, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivity, and the 1GHz processor under the hood. Unfortunately, the press release doesn’t do anything to clarify which version number of Android the Streak will launch with, so our best guess would still have to be Android 1.6. But, that fancy Android 2.1 upgrade is definitely worth the wait.

As for pricing and the date you’ll be able to get your hands on it, that would be $300 on a new, two-year contract with AT&T, and you’ll be able to get your own on August 13th. Or, if you prefer to go sans a contract, then you’ll have to drop $550. August 13th is right around the corner, so who’s going to start the line first?

Press Release

Dell Creates Choice and Freedom to Talk, Watch, Surf, and Connect with New 5-Inch Tablet

ROUND ROCK, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dell (NASDAQ: DELL):

“The Dell Streak has found a way to fit your whole world in a 5-inch screen. Its unique size will help people discover new ways to enjoy the web, connect with friends, and navigate their lives.”

NEWS:

* Orders for the Dell Streak Tablet open up for U.S. priority pre-sale registrants at www.dell.com/mobile this Thursday, August 12. General availability follows a day later at www.dell.com/mobile.
* The Dell Streak is available for $299.99 with new two-year AT&T contract†, and $549.99 without. Customers who purchase the Streak, and signed up during the pre-sale program, will receive a free second-day shipping upgrade. Customers who redeem their pre-sale coupon can purchase a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece for 99 cents while supplies last.

HITTING A SWEET SPOT

The Dell Streak, a carbon black Android-based tablet with a 5-inch display, is designed to provide an excellent “on-the-go” entertainment, social connection, and navigation experience. The spacious 5-inch screen is ideal for experiencing thousands of Android Market widgets, games and applications, all without squinting or compromising portability. Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capability and available 3G connectivity brings easy access for downloading and listening to music, updating social networking status in real-time, and staying connected to friends and family through e-mail, text, IM, and voice calls.

On-the-go students, mobile professionals, and active families will find Streak’s web-browsing capabilities as natural as a laptop. The 5-inch screen is large enough to present Web pages in their natural form, create a comfortable viewing experience, and make turn-by-turn navigation simple. The Dell Streak is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon solution with integrated 1GHz processor to combine basic functionality and benefits of a laptop in a pocket friendly size.

The Dell Streak was designed with the future in mind to support future software, application and platform upgrades.

QUOTE:

“The Dell Streak has found a way to fit your whole world in a 5-inch screen. Its unique size will help people discover new ways to enjoy the web, connect with friends, and navigate their lives.” – Ron Garriques, president, Dell Communication Solutions

DELL STREAK FEATURES:

* Integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, street and satellite views
* A full screen browsing experience with a 5-inch capacitive multi-touch WVGA display
* Easily integrated social media apps: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
* High resolution 5 MP camera, VGA front facing camera, removable battery, built-in Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth connectivity options
* 2GB* of internal storage provides plenty of space to access and download Google Android Market’s many options
* Packaged with cushions made from 100 percent sustainable, compostable bamboo

DELL STREAK SPECIFICATIONS:

* Android platform complete with Android Market and Dell user interface enhancements
* Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon solution with integrated 1GHz processor
* 3G + Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
* UMTS / GPRS / EDGE class 12 GSM radio with link speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps*
* 5 MP Autofocus camera with dual LED flash. Easily point, shoot, and upload to YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and more
* User accessible Micro SD expandable memory available up to 32GB*. Store up to 42 movies* or 32,000 photos*, or 16,000 songs* with a 32GB* Micro SD upgrade

Follow conversations in the blogosphere: #DellStreak

Amazon’s cellphone prices can often undercut the carriers, however, and usually take advantage of online rebates rather than the more laborious mail-in versions.  Unfortunately there’s still no sign of a release date and Dell’s presale registration is still going strong.

[via Streak Smart]

Video demo after the cut

At a figure like that, something has to give, and as you might expect the touchscreen is first in line.  The display runs at 800 x 480 WVGA, but uses a resistive, single-touch panel rather than the more fashionable capacitive screens we’re used to these days.  Meanwhile there’s WiFi b/g rather than b/g/n, and the 3,000mAh battery falls short of the iPad’s runtimes: MP4Nation estimate 5-6hrs with WiFi turned on, or 7-10hrs with it turned off.  Finally there’s also no Bluetooth or HDMI output.

Nonetheless, you’re still getting plenty for your money.  The up-to-date OS is impressive alone (and Nationite are encouraging ROM hacks rather than attempting to lock it down), while memory includes 256MB of RAM and 2GB of flash storage; a microSD slot takes up to 16GB cards.  There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, integrated speakers and a USB Host port (for plugging in a keyboard or a memory stick), and the list of supported video types (MKV (H.264 HP)/RMVB/MPEG-4/FLV/MPEG-1/MPEG-2 up to 720p) is more impressive than most Android smartphones we’ve seen of late.

Best of all is the fact that there’s a firm ship date attached: August 23rd.  If you order before end of play this coming Monday you can have it for $199.50 (worldwide shipping included); after it launches it’ll be $219.50.  Anyone tempted?

However, if these new reports coming out of the MoDaCo forums indicates anything (and we’re sure it does), it looks like those same test units are now being blocked from AT&T’s network. How? According to the reports, it looks to be an IMEI block, as all calls being made from the test Streaks are being routed to AT&T customer service, and all data on EDGE or 3G is completely blocked.

If the beta testers were told they could keep their units, then there should be no surprise that many of those unts made it onto eBay, where they were subsequently bought up. But, if AT&T really is blocking the MIDs from accessing the network, then we can imagine that there’s plenty of unhappy people out there. There’s no official word from AT&T quite yet, but that should change soon enough.

[via MoDaCo]

Update: AT&T tells us that Dell initially requested 30-day SIMs for use in the beta test Streak units, and that once the 30-days were up they expired. We’re unclear on where the IMEI block suggestion came from; anyone out there with a beta test Streak and another AT&T SIM they can slot in to test?

The company’s presale scheme has also ended, replaced by a notification system that will update you when there’s more Streak information available.  It also looks like the product page has been fleshed out a little, and that still says the Streak will go on sale in late July – there certainly aren’t many days left for that to happen, but we’ve heard that the smartphone-tablet is still yet to clear AT&T’s certification process.

More details on the Streak in our full review.

[Thanks Patrick!]

Updated with Dell comment after the cut

Right now the link simply redirects to the same presales information page.  Earlier today, Dell confirmed that the Streak would only support AT&T 3G, rather than T-Mobile USA, and that the Android 2.2 Froyo firmware update was still a work in progress due to be released later in 2010.  For more on the Dell Streak, check out our full review.

[Thanks Rhys!]

Update: That was quick: Dell has taken down the notice suggesting the Streak will go on sale tomorrow, and reinstated the pre-sale. Guess we’ll find out for sure tomorrow. [Thanks David!]

Update 2: Dell has been in touch to say that the purchase information suggesting a release tomorrow was “inaccurate” and accidentally caused during some online site tests.