Pocketables reports that a geek that was looking to order up is UMID ultraportable from dynamism received an email from the company to alert him that UMID has gone out of business and that no more mbook models were available. The defunct models include the UMID M1, BZ, and the new SE.

The question of whether or not the company is out of business is unclear. Pocketables says that the UMID official website redirects to Korean seller i-mbook.co.kr where there is no sign that the company is out of business leading to some speculation that Korean geeks can still get the devices. If you want an mbook, you need to make a friend in Korea.

There’s also a slightly larger battery, 2,800mAh rather than 2,600mAh on the BZ, though no runtime estimates as yet; with the slower CPU and the smaller battery, the BZ managed over five hours of WiFi browsing on a single charge.  OS is still Windows XP, but UMID do provide all the touchscreen drivers necessary to get it up and running with Windows 7.  Imports of the original currently sit at around $499, but there’s no word on whether this updated version will make it outside of Korea anytime soon.

;)

[via Pocketables]

The hack basically junks the webcam to clear up room and connectivity for a USB 2.0 port, that now sticks out the right side of the M1′s screen.  While UMID helpfully label all the pins in there, there isn’t quite 5.0V power, only 3.3V, which means external hard-drives will likely have to be separately powered.  Still, it’s one less thing you have to carry in your kit-bag.

[via Pocketables]

Physically the mbook BZ is a far better machine, with a more usable screen angle, the same decent keyboard (though you obviously wouldn’t want to peck out a novel on it) and high quality plastics.  The screen is good, and there’s a handy little capacitive touchstrip above the keyboard which loads up a shortcut menu to brightness, resolution and other controls.

Unfortunately where the UMID mbook M1 generally showed up with a 1.33GHz Atom processor, the mbook BZ is making its debut with a slower 1.2GHz Atom Z515, together with just 512MB of RAM and a 32GB SSD.  Benchmarks are understandably low, but Jenn reckons side-by-side the two MIDs feel pretty much on a par; meanwhile the low power draw pays dividends with battery performance, being capable of over five hours of WiFi browsing, YouTube videos, downloading and emailing.  Whether that’s sufficient for $549 is up to the MID-lovers.

That means we have some confirmed specifications, at least for the BX 407A4, and it doesn’t make for particularly exciting reading for those would-be owners disappointed by the mbook M1′s meager RAM.  The BX-Series uses an Intel Atom 1.2GHz processor with 512MB of RAM and a 32GB SSD, along with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 and a new optical joystick next to the 5-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen.

Up to 7hrs of battery life is predicted, though that’s only if you leave the Onkyo idling; anything more demanding and the Windows XP mini-netbook will probably get around half of that.  Onkyo are asking 64,800 yen ($729) for the machine, though importers are already adding their slice of gouge to that: GeekStuff4U have it at 79,000 yen ($889) which is frankly insane.  UMID had suggested that a similar mbook M2 model, only with 8GB SSD and without the webcam of the Onkyo, would be around $499.

[via UMPC Portal]

That’s around $150 more than importer Dynamism is asking for the original black UMID mbook M1, albeit without 3G connectivity, and you can save an extra $40 from them today as part of their Black Friday sale.  Go for the newer, dubiously pink model (with a slightly slower CPU) and the difference grows even more: that’s selling for $419 today.

While integrated 3G is great, we’re not sure we’d pay quite so much for it: you could get a MiFi and a few months service for the difference, and share that connection around with other gadgets too.  More MID choice is not something we’d usually argue with, but rebadging existing models only ever seems to add more to price than it does anything else.

Video demo after the cut

That last point means that there are no strange adapters required to plug in USB peripherals.  They’ve also fitted an optical mouse by the screen, answering one of the common criticisms about the M1 only having a touchscreen for mouse control, and the screen hinge opens wider than previously for better in-hand use.

According to UMID, the new mbook M2 will arrive in November or December this year, priced at around $499.  We’re waiting for final specs – and hoping the chassis gets a little smoothed off, as we prefer the more curvy design of the original model – but it’s looking like UMID really listened to early feedback.  More images here.

Update: The $499 figure refers, unsurprisingly, to the entry-level device, with an Intel Atom 1.2GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, an 8GB SSD, Windows XP and no webcam.  Pricing for the more advanced versions is yet to be decided.

The M2 was said to have a sub-3-inch display, HSPA and WiMAX, together with supporting VoIP.  However, other documents suggested that UMID were planning a model with a fully-rotating display that could fold all the way round for in-car PND use; that might be an upgraded version of the existing mbook M1.

[via Pocketables]

There’s also a 16GB SSD, WiFi and Bluetooth, together with a 4.8-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen and a battery which Kohjinsha are saying is good for up to 7hrs; that’s at odds with what mbook M1 users have experienced, certainly.  The palm-sized ultraportable measures a scant 158 x 94.2 x 22 mm and weighs around 345g.

Weekly ASCII Web had a chance to grab some live photos, which you can see above, and the demo video below.  You can also see that Kohjinsha (or UMID) have reworked the previously clunky adapter dongles.  No word on a release outside of Japan, though.

[video via jkkmobile]

Your money gets you 512MB of RAM, a 16GB SSD and both WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.0.  Step up to the $749 model and you get a 32GB SSD instead; Dynamism are offering preorder customers a free leather case, too, though there’s no sign of the integrated 3G option on either SKU.

It’s unclear how these black models tally with the units discussed earlier this month, which UMID said would have higher build quality and potentially wider-opening screens.  In our own hands-on experience, the M1 is a compact and potentially useful mobile companion device, all the more so if you have integrated 3G; check out our hands-on video here.

[via UMPC Portal]

UMID have apparently also addressed the unduly “clicky” screen hinge, which is now quieter and allows for easier positioning.  Steve Paine from UMPC Portal pushed them on this, and they confirmed that the screen angle should also be broader, answering a common complaint that the display didn’t quite open far enough for easy use.

There will also be a new model shown at IDF, though UMID are keeping exactly what changes will be made close to their chest.  We’re hoping for at least a doubling of RAM (from the non-upgradable 512MB).  They also confirmed that Dynamism is their key distributor in the US, where the UMID M1 currently sells from $599, and that they’re “setting up an exclusive distributor organization for EU market as ODM brand.”

Meanwhile, Sony Ericsson announced the Satio – the phone formerly known as Idou – together with the Yari and Aino, and we went hands-on with all three at their London launch.  With just a week to go until the Palm Pre hits shelves, our sibling-site My Pre offered up the user-guide, Getting Started and Features Guide documents.  We also saw camera samples from the phone, plus heard it will have push-GMail support and native iTunes compatibility. 

In netbooks, it’s been a week of newly polished systems and slightly more unusual hardware.  HP unveiled their Mini 1101, 110 XP and 110 Mi machines, while we saw the first full review of the SmartQ 7 MID and heard that UMID’s mbook M1 will get a few more interesting variants over the next month or so.  With Computex kicking off this week, Viliv have dropped some heavy hints about what they might be announcing, including what sounds like a version of the S5 MID with a QWERTY keyboard.

E3 is just around the corner, and what’s likely to be Sony’s pride and joy, the PSP Go, has leaked.  A compact handheld gaming system almost half the weight of the PSP-3000 and dropping the UMD system in favor of digital download, the PSP Go looks set to go on sale alongside the existing console.

Also suffering leaks a-plenty are Apple, whose next-gen iPhone and iPod nano 5G were both tipped this week.  The former is expected to have Google Latitude support as standard, among other things, while the latter is said to bundle a new camera. It’ll go up against PMP heavyweights like iriver’s P35, which will land in the US sometime this fall, and Microsoft’s new Zune HD.

Finally, we brought you the second part of our behind-the-wheel test drive of the Lincoln MKS, together with reviews of Seagate’s Showcase DVR Storage Expander and the Hantech Siso Tablo.  That just left enough time to slot in a review and video demo of the Tonium Pacemaker Pocket DJ.

The Dynamism models will have either 16GB or 32GB of SSD storage, the standard 512MB of RAM and Intel Atom 1.33GHz processor, and be loaded with Windows XP by the importers themselves.  Only white units will seemingly be on offer, and there’s no integrated 3G; the 16GB model is $599 while the 32GB is $749.

As for the oh-so-tempting black M1, that will have 32GB of SSD storage, come loaded with Windows XP (we expect Justek will offer an upgrade service to XP, as they do with their existing white 16GB range) and some form of internal 3G.  Right now it’s unclear which bands the 3G radio will support; that will be tested before they go on sale, so keep your fingers crossed for US and/or European compatibility.  No word on pricing, but expect something in excess of the $659 entry-level price Justek currently charge.

The cheaper model is the original UMID Linux machine, with 16GB of SSD storage, the Atom 1.3GHz processor and 512MB of RAM.  That’s priced at $659.42, whereas the XP Home version (which comes with an 8GB microSD card, too) is $765.78.  If you’re outside of Australia then you won’t have to pay GST sales tax; however you may be liable for import duty in your home country, so do some homework before ordering to save yourself a potentially nasty surprise.

Of course, what Justek don’t have is the matte black version of the mbook M1 with the matching black keyboard, spotted earlier this week.  Unfortunately, now that I’ve seen the black version, the white one just wouldn’t cut it.  If you can “make do” with the white, there’s a promotion for free shipping (at time of writing).

[via Pocketables]

In all-black, the mBook looks far better than the all-white version we’ve generally seen.  The matte-finish plastic also helps to prevent it looking cheap, too, which the gloss-finish white model has been accused of.  No word on when it’ll be released, nor for how much.

Lazion also got to try out UMID’s new port replicator while they played with the mBook.  Intended as a companion device for the MID, the palm-sized replicator throws in an external monitor connection using DisplayLink USB technology, as well as serving as a USB hub for leaving peripherals such as printers and scanners plugged in at your desk.  Again, there’s no word on when it might see a release.

[via Pocketables]

Seven-minute UMID M1 overview video after the cut

Build quality is still a concern, and the keyboard is understandably cramped; Steve also isn’t 100-percent convinced on either desktop or handheld use, with the screen not folding back quite far enough for the latter, nor the base being solid enough for touchscreen use in the former.  We’d say UMID’s ever-wavering specs and the absence of 3G are more worrying. 

Meanwhile, according to Steve’s battery tests, the M1 looks to be managing in excess of 4hrs browser use, over WiFi with brightness set at 50-percent.  Factor in the performance benchmarks and the decent quality touchscreen, the M1′s ability to happily handle Skype video calls (with a good webcam to boo) and quiet, cool running, and Steve feels he can call it “one of the best UMPC devices available”.

Video demo after the cut

That’s the same amount of time that some notebooks and netbooks take to resume from standby, which is positive news for anyone hoping to eke the M1′s battery out a full day.  More on the UMID M1 MID here, including battery life, benchmarking and more.

Ironically, UMID have decided not to actually officially offer the M1 with Windows XP preinstalled, only Linux, so if you want this quick-booting Microsoft MID you’ll need an OS license of your own.  One thing to note, while the video claims the M1 weighs a chubby 490g, it actually tips the scales at just 338g.  That’s a whole lot more pocket-friendly.

The re-pricing comes after UMID adjusted their spec levels, cutting out XP altogether and sticking to a Linux OS.  Justek will install Windows XP on the M1 (the supposedly reduced-availability white model, in fact) but that will cost an extra $155 AUD ($110) on top of the $930 AUD ($661) of the basic 1.33GHz Atom/512MB RAM/16GB SSD MID.

That’s a total in excess of $750 for a non-3G MID, which many will struggle to justify against cheaper ultraportables and netbooks.  There’ll obviously be some for whom the M1′s compact dimensions are worth the premium, but we wonder if that market is sufficient for UMID to survive long enough to make the rumored M2.

[via Pocketables]

The non-3G version will be followed by a 3G-enabled model, though US release dates for either are still unknown.  It’s unlikely to be for a few months yet, though, as the Australian and Hong Kong launches – the first outside of Korea – have been pushed back to May, giving UMID time to smooth the casing and fit a less-protruding battery.

Unlike models we’ve seen – and played with – to date, Linux rather than Windows XP will be the standard OS.  Those wanting to upgrade will have access to the XP drivers, but will seemingly have to provide their own license.  There’ll be no customization available from UMID themselves, and all M1 mbooks will carry a one-year, global warranty.  Finally, fewer white units will be available than black; there’s no word about the fetching red version we spotted at CTIA.

That leaves early-adopters in a tricky position.  We already know that retrofitting 3G HSDPA to the M1 is a tricky, perhaps impossible proposition, so they’ll have to balance having the MID first versus having it fully-functional.  Considering the M1 only really makes sense as a mobile communications device, I’d be tempted to wait until the 3G-spec model is released.

Reviewer Steve Paine already put the M1 through its benchmark paces, finding a speedy SSD drive and reasonable grunt from the 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor.  As we found, the keyboard is good for thumb-typing – holding the M1 in both hands, and pecking across it with the thumbs – but longer-term use is less practical.

The touchscreen is responsive (accuracy seems to be up partially because Steve’s test unit was running at 800 x 480 rather than the 1024 x 600 we’ve seen in our own experience) and battery life from the 18Wh pack reached four hours with WiFi active.  If the keyboard question is your key stumbling block over the UMID M1, check out our typing demo video from CTIA last month; otherwise, hold tight and hope that UMID announce a new US availability date with 3G support soon.

In the second photo in the gallery below, the green rectangle shows where the SIM slot would normally be; that gives an idea of the sort of scale we’re talking about inside the ultra-compact clamshell MID.  The red rectangle is where a 54-pin mini PCIe connector would have to be soldered into place, and – most frustratingly – the yellow section is where a controller chip should be. 

Without details of which controller UMID had in mind for the M1, it’s going to be tricky picking the right HSPA hardware to fit.  Even then, there’s actually not enough room for a standard HSPA module near the SIM slot anyway, meaning it’ll have to be positioned elsewhere and wired in (with antenna cabling, of course).  Right now it’s not looking good, and it’s disappointing news to anyone in the US who imported a Korean M1 thinking they could use, or switch out, the Korean-spec 3G to US-spec.

As the results show, the M1′s core strength is its storage performance, helped to no small amount by the fact that UMID pack in a 16GB SSD.  That pushes CrystalMark HDD scores to 8463, while the overall score is 22,716 marks; contrast that with the OQO Model 2+, the 64GB SSD version of which scored 7923 in the HDD category.

According to Steve, that strong score translates over into real-world use, too, with the M1 booting quickly and being “noticeably faster in normal operations.”  Unfortunately we still don’t have an official US release date; UMID announced recently that they were pushing back the US launch from the Summer to an unspecified later date.

We’re still waiting to hear back from UMID themselves with an official comment on the saga.  Sales of the M1 began in Korea on February 13th, though the company apparently failed to sell out all 500 units they had allocated to the launch.

More recently, UMID confirmed that US availability of the M1 – which was expected to begin over the Summer – has now been cast into doubt, with no “exact information” on when it will arrive.  UMID are apparently still working on 3G and WiMAX versions of the touchscreen device for the European market, together with negotiating with distributors there.

Back at CES 2009 in January, UMID announced they would be releasing the M1 in the US in late May or early June.  It’s unclear whether this new delay is to do with the recent recall over quality issues, or for other reasons; apparently UMID is still working on European-spec HSDPA and WiMAX support, together with distributors there.

As it stands, although a US release of the M1 is still expected, it’s unclear exactly when the MID will land.  Anybody tempted to jump the queue and pick up an import should expect to need to use a separate 3G modem when in the US, too.

In fact Lazion are going over the whole MID with a fine tooth-comb, and promise more than just unboxing photos.  Until then – and until we have final, tweaked production hardware to look at – here’s how UMID get past the ports problem (with a few bizarrely shaped, and probably easy to lose, dongles) and the included headset.  Happily one of the dongles gives the M1 a standard headset socket, but we wish there were two USB ports on the dongle, rather than just one.

We’re also not especially impressed with the size of the M1′s power-brick, which looks to be thicker than the MID itself.  Admittedly the M1 is pretty tiny, but we’d still prefer to see a PSU that doesn’t dwarf it.

Reported issues include poor moldings around ports, together with rough or chipped finish to the clamshell MID’s hinges and edges.  It’s also possible to see directly into the casing through the over-sized cutout for the battery connector.

Commentators are inevitably comparing UMID’s MID experience with that of Korean rival Viliv, who began selling their S5 MID on Tuesday this week and sold all 1,000 within fifteen minutes.  It’s unclear how this might affect the UMID M1′s full-scale launch.

[via Steve Paine]

It’s unclear whether the UMID M2 will actually be a smartphone, or merely have VoIP functionality.  Meanwhile a second document suggests that the second version of the M1 will have a rotating convertible touchscreen display, apparently intended to make the MID more suitable for in-car use.  No word on specific release dates for either device, but the UMID M2 is obviously expected to go through the bulk of its development this year.

We caught up with the UMID M1 on a couple of occasions while at MWC last week, and though it’s certainly a niche-interest product it has plenty to offer.  You can see our first video hands-on here, and our second here.

Video and more images of the UMID M1 after the cut

While the first M1 I tried was set to Windows XP’s Classic Scheme, leading to buttons simply too small to comfortably stab at with a finger, the XP standard skin is a whole different experience.  You sacrifice a little screen space, but the larger icons and buttons mean even the ‘close’ cross, in the top right-hand corner, is now reachable rather than blocked by the screen bezel.

Similarly the keyboard is, when holding the MID in two hands, surprisingly usable for thumb typing.  You still wouldn’t want to type much more than the occasional email, IM or tweet, but given the relatively meager specifications of the M1 it’s unlikely that you’ll be asking it to do more than that.

The pivitol factor, then, is the price.  UMID have just officially launched the M1 in Korea, where it retails for 699,000 (~$465) and 799,00 KRW (~$532) depending on specification.  However there’s some confusion about what wireless connectivity that gets you; the order pagemakes no mention of either the HSDPA Intel talked about with us at Mobile World Congress, or the WiMAX and WiBro connectivity discussed at the M1′s initial launch.

Photos and Video Demo of the UMID M1 MID after the cut

The keyboard could be one significant limiting factor for a lot of people.  As the photos with the M1 alongside the Sony VAIO P show, it’s a seriously small layout; we tried typing and found that, with the limited key travel and minimal spacing in-between, it’s tough to do much more than peck out emails.  Similarly, the touchscreen – which is a mere 4.8-inches – is tough on the eyes at 1024 x 600 and it makes it tricky to select things with a fingertip.  That’s doubly difficult at the very edges of the display, where the raised bezel and the small graphics mean the Windows close-window ‘X’ is almost impossible to tap: expect to either hit Alt+F4 or whip out the stylus.

Still, they’re perhaps understandable limitations when you’re packing an Atom-based notebook that can fit into your inside pocket.  The hardware felt reasonably sturdy, with a sharp click as you open the lid, though the plastics don’t feel the highest of quality and some of the flaps around the silver edging strip looked flimsy.  It was obviously a well-used M1, though, so some wear and tear is to be expected.

It’s tricky to hold the UMID M1 with two hands and control the screen with your thumbs, as the broad strips either side of the display get in the way; similarly, the strip of keys in the center of the ‘board can be difficult to reach, unless you hold the edges of the MID with the very tips of your fingers.  Obviously battery life was not something we could test out, nor really internet access as we were buried indoors, but the Intel team reported that the M1 had lasted in excess of four hours at their last show, on a single charge with near constant use.  We’re not sure whether that included wireless use also.

In all, we’re still impressed with the UMID M1 and more than a little excited about it, but that’s partially tempered by the knowledge that it’s rather a piece of technical achievement more than, for most, a relevant mobile device.  The deciding factor will of course be price; if UMID could bring it to the market – with 3G – at a low enough price, people might be willing to invest as a mobile companion.  At the $500+ we’ve been hearing about, that could just be too rich for our blood.

“Add an estimated 70 for XP, 100 for 1.3Ghz, 50 for another 1GB and 120 for a 3G module and it brings the pricing up around 850 dollars for a high-end model” UMPC Portal

That entry-level model is pretty reasonable for a WiFi-connected MID, but won’t get any great attention; what’s needed is the 3G, faster CPU and other niceties that high-spec smartphones and 3G-connected UMPCs and MIDs offer.  Viewed in that context – rather than as a possible alternative to a netbook – and the pricing doesn’t seem quite so outrageous (if you’re in the market for a 3G MID, of course).

UMID are apparently sending out samples right now, and importers Dynamism and Mobilx are reported to be intending to carry the M1.  No finalized pricing, but expectations are that it’ll be around two months before the compact clamshell is on sale.

[via UMPC Portal]

That $924 doesn’t even get you all the connectivity goodies, either.  3G is listed as “optional”, as is the digital TV receiver, leaving just WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 as standard.  No mention at all of the WiMAX and WiBro the M1 first flaunted, though admittedly they wouldn’t be much use in areas without the coverage, but then surely the price should come down to reflect that?

What you do get is an Intel Atom 1.3GHz Silverthorne CPU (also listed at 1,100MHz in the spec breakdown), 512MB of RAM, a 16GB SSD (listed at 8000MB in the breakdown) and Windows XP Home.  Both a QWERTY keyboard and 4.8-inch touchscreen are there, with a 1.3-megapixel webcam and 17Wh battery.  Frankly, given the price, the incongruities in spec listing and the fact that they’re using Pocketables’ images rather than their own, we’d avoid this particular pre-order deal.

Size is just 158 x 94 x 19mm, putting the MID in line with the Aigo and Gigabyte MIDs, but the clamshell form-factor more closely resembles Fujitsu’s UMPC range.  Of course, the UMID device lacks a convertible swivel hinge, so although it has a touchsceen you can’t use it in slate-orientation.

Of course, the headline aspects are still the connectivity options: WiBro, WiMAX, HSDPA, WiFi and Bluetooth.  Under the hood there’s a choice of Intel Atom 1.1GHz or 1.3GHz processors paired up with 512MB or 1GB of RAM; storage ranges from 8GB to 32GB SSD.  Still no word on pricing or definitive availability; UMID are saying it’ll launch early in 2009, which could mean a full CES or CeBIT launch.