Microsoft’s Origami campaign came in for both praise and criticism, and while they can’t claim to entirely control the UMPC (or subsequent MID) markets they’ve were at least initially responsible for promoting ultramobile PCs. Now Microsoft have decided to shut down their official Origami project site, three years after it was founded.
The world’s smallest full-featured PC is a title held by the OQO. It’s a small UMPC that’s been around for a few years, and OQO was due to release a follow up, the OQO Model 02+ early this year. However, due to financial troubles and other problems for the company, it looks like the OQO Model 02+ is not going to be released any time soon.
Wired managed to save some photos of a new tablet that Web 2.0 personality Michael Arrington is producing. These photos were leaked and were up for a short period of time before they were taken down, one assumes, at the request of Mr. Arrington. The Crunchpad is a low-cost device that features a large touchscreen display, and low-end components that run a specially designed version of Linux. Crunchpads would compete directly with netbooks, offering consumers a keyboard-less option for accessing the internet on the go and for running software like Skype.
We’ve been talking about the T1028M Touchnote for awhile now, but nothing gets us more excited than full, genuine unboxing and that’s precisely what we came across today. The Gigabyte T1028M Touchnote got its moment in the sun today with a full unboxing over at UMPCPortal. This portable seemed to pretty much live up to expectations, though there was a disappointment factor when it came to the battery.
Obviously smarting from the touchscreen attention paid to the O2 Joggler, Orange France are planning to bring out the Tabbee. Unlike the Joggler, which is resolutely desk-bound, the Tabbee is a 7-inch touchscreen WiFi tablet with a battery good for 3hrs “intensive use”; that can include media viewing, internet widgets and more.
Video demo after the cut
Intel is reportedly planning on launching a new model in its range of Intel Atom Z5xx-series processors. The Intel Atom Z550 runs at 2.0GHz, making it the fastest clock-speed Atom, while offering the same 2.4W TDP power, 512KB L2 cache and 533MHz FSB.
It’s taken Samsung some time to refresh their UMPC range, and with the combined experience from the Q1 Ultra and their award-winning NC-netbook range, you’d expect fine things from the new Q1EX-71G. Unfortunately, LaptopMag’s Mark Spoonauer comes away disappointed with the Q1EX UMPC: battery life, handwriting recognition and performance all come in for serious criticism.
The next model in Samsung’s UMPC range, the Samsung NP-Q1EX, has been revealed, after the 7-inch touchscreen device was spotted at the FCC. Dropping the QWERTY thumb-board from the Q1 Ultra, the Q1EX gets a slimmed-down casing, VIA’s 1.2GHz Nano ULV U2500 processor and Chrome9 HC graphics, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 RAM and an integrated SiRF Star GPS receiver.
Last we heard of the HTC Shift, it looked like the company was considering axing it. That seems a shame, given that Gear Diary’s Mitchell Oke has discovered it gets a new lease of life with Windows 7.
Netbooks, UMPCs and ultraportable notebooks with capacitive touchscreens could be just around the corner, as manufacturer Egalax_empia Technology (EETI) plans to begin shipping 7- and 12-inch capacitive panels in the second half of 2009. According to company president Mei Tsai, shipments will increase as client validation progresses.
Chrome OS: Waiting Is The Hardest Part…Though Necessary
Apple is no longer the Nordstrom of Tech, they’re the “New Nordstrom”
Can Anything Replace Windows XP As the Best Netbook Operating System?
Hey, Premium Notebooks or Netbooks, Get the Basics Right!
SlashGear Japan
