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Posts Tagged ‘UMPC’

Viliv S5 ‘cube’ GUI video demo; two Atom-based UMPCs at CES

By Chris Davies on Friday, Jan 2nd 2009 No Comments

Ahead of their CES 2009 appearance, more details of the Viliv range from Yukyung Technologies have been emerging. The S5 MID, which has been promised for early 2009 and boasts 1080p HD-capabilities, integrated 3G and a 4.8-inch touchscreen, has been demonstrating its “cube” GUI, an in-house development intended to make a desktop OS (like Windows XP) more finger- and stylus-friendly on the move. Also, confirmation of further Viliv devices have been revealed.

viliv s5 cube gui

Video demo, and more Viliv device news, after the cut

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OQO Model 2+ UMPC with OLED touchscreen, Atom CPU & 3G coming

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Jan 1st 2009 No Comments

OQO will be launching a new version of their UMPC, the OQO Model 2+, at CES next week. The updated handheld will use an Intel Atom 1.86GHz processor with 2GB of RAM and an OLED touchscreen. It will also have worldwide 3G capabilities and, according to OQO, run twice as fast as the current model.

oqo model 2

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ASUS R50a UMPC reviewed: underpowered for Vista?

By Chris Davies on Monday, Dec 29th 2008 No Comments

ASUS’ R50a UMPC was always taking on a serious challenge: Windows Vista on a 1.33GHz Atom Z520 processor with 1GB of RAM is asking either for nth-degree fine-tuning or just plain trouble. Initial reports seemed vaguely promising, but Ben over at UMPC Portal has found things less impressive. Chief criticism – aside from the bloatware, cramped writing area and difficult form-factor – is the sluggish performance.

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Viliv S5 MID coming early 2009: 1080p HD, touchscreen, optional 3G

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Dec 23rd 2008 No Comments

A MID that promises in excess of six hours battery life is always going to get attention, and that’s just what the Viliv S5 did back at IDF in August. The 4.8-inch touchscreen device was slated to launch this quarter; courtesy of an interview with Yukyung, the company behind the S5, we now know it’s coming in January or February next year. So, it’s late, but is it worth waiting for? If you want a fanless ultraportable with hardware 1080p HD video acceleration, a Flash 10-based interface and optional GPS and DMB, then the answer is yes.

viliv s5 1 480x453

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Fujitsu LifeBook U820 gets US 3G HSPA option

By Chris Davies on Monday, Dec 22nd 2008 1 Comment

Fujitsu’s LifeBook U820 UMPC is now available in the US with integrated 3G wireless broadband. The option – which uses AT&T’s HSUPA Connect network – is priced at $150, and is only available with the $150 120GB hard-drive update. Two versions of the 3G-enabled U820 are available, one with Vista Home Premium, priced from $1,199, and the other with Vista Business, priced from $1,449.

fujitsu lifebook u820 3g 480x428

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WiBrain site reappears; review samples shipping

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Dec 17th 2008 No Comments

The WiBrain saga continues. The UMPC company’s site, having been pulled earlier in the week, has now returned; however there’s no sign of anything different to explain a period in maintenance. The WiBrain I1 UMPC itself, which speculation suggested may have been killed off, is now headed to at least one reviewer, our old friend Steve Paine at UMPC Portal; however we still don’t have anything approaching a firm release date.

wibrain i1 umpc 3 480x264

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WiBrain site pulled: refresh or company collapse?

By Chris Davies on Monday, Dec 15th 2008 No Comments

Speculation is growing that UMPC manufacturer WiBrain have closed their doors. After the upcoming WiBrain I1 was apparently shelved, with no new information on the company site and feedback from internal sources that “nothing is happening” with the new model, now the whole WiBrain site has been pulled.

wibrain i1 umpc 3 480x264

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ASUS R50a UMPC versus HTC Shift

By Chris Davies on Monday, Dec 15th 2008 No Comments

Now that the price of the ASUS R50a UMPC has come down, even if only a little, it’s brought the touchscreen handheld into the consideration of a few more buyers. While we already know that the $1,399 UMPC performs well, its time to see how it shapes up to a stalwart of the segment, HTC’s Shift. The ASUS has a faster CPU – Intel’s 1.33GHz Z520 Silverthorne – than the Shift, so as expected it’s a step up in performance at least.

asus r50a 1

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Aeeeris Eee PC UMPC faceplate for touchscreen mods

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Dec 10th 2008 No Comments

We’ve seen Tablet PC mods of netbooks before, but Aeeeris are making the conversion even easier with their new faceplate for the 700-series ASUS Eee PC. With it, turning your clamshell netbook into a touchscreen slate-style UMPC is even more straightforward; Aeeeris claim it can be done in just 30 minutes.

aeeeris eee pc faceplate 3 480x315

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WiBrain I1 UMPC shelved?

By Chris Davies on Friday, Dec 5th 2008 No Comments

Would be buyers of the WiBrain I1 may have to spend their money elsewhere, with rumors that the company has shelved development of the touchscreen UMPC. UMPC Portal are reporting that they’ve had “direct feedback” that “nothing is happening with the I1 this year”; the company has made no mention of the device on its website, and they’re not listed for CES 2009 this coming January.

wibrain i1 umpc 3 480x264

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