Video comparison after the cut

“I took the Intel Atom-based Viliv X70, a 7” tablet with a 1024×600 7” touchscreen running Windows XP Home, installed the latest Google Chrome, locked the CPU to 800Mhz and did some random web browsing tests. Remember that the Menlow platform used in the X70 is very close to the architecture used on Moorestown. The CPU are GPU are architecturally almost exactly the same. I side-by-sided it with an iPad which is, according to my tests with the Archos 5, X10 and HTC Desire (all running high-end ARM V7 architecture cores) the fastest ARM-based browser solution out there” Steve Paine, UMPC Portal

Steve’s thinking is that, since the Menlow platform of the X70 is actually pretty similar to the Moorestown platform just around the corner, the X70′s performance actually makes for a reasonable predictor.  He found that, at 800MHz, the X70 is pretty much on a par with the iPad browser.

Ramped up to 1.3GHz, meanwhile – as high as the X70′s CPU will go, but short of the 1.5GHz the new Atom Z6xx processors will manage – and the Intel-based MID could render pages significantly faster than the iPad could, including Flash support.  With Flash disabled it was even faster.  It’s enough for Steve to state that Moorestown will likely “deliver web pages, process script, decrypt HTTPS, GZIP and images much faster than the best ARM-based solution out there,” and that’s before you get to multitasking support.

It’s a decent selection, and reviewers have generally been positive about the Viliv line-up.  One of the more frequently repeated criticisms of tablet PCs, MIDs and UMPCs is that, since they never reached mainstream retail, would-be users never knew what they were missing out on.  With prices kicking off at $549 for the S5 (the X70EX starts at $879 and the S7 at $579) it’s not going to be an impulse purchase, perhaps, but the touchscreen functionality might sway a few people who were previously considering a netbook.

[via jkOnTheRun]

Newegg have three X70 models to choose from, starting at $599.99 for the 1.20GHz Atom Z515 “Express P”, then the $729.99 “Premium P”, and finally the $879.99 “Premium 3GP”.  Unfortunately Dynamism’s prices are all a couple of bucks cheaper, plus they’re offering free accessories and even a CPU upgrade on the entry-level model.  Nice try, Newegg; how about a quick price slash to show you love us?

[via Laptoping]

“Thank you for your recent order of the Viliv X70.  We had hoped to be emailing you with the tracking number, but unfortunately that is not the case.  Our shipment has been delayed by the factory.  For the record, the delay is due to a components shortage: the recession has been less severe than suppliers expected, and MIDs have been especially popular this year. These factors have led to constraints on some components.  We are sorry about this delay.” Dynamism

Shipments of X70 units were intended to begin yesterday, on July 28th, but are now believed to be delayed around two weeks until August 11th.  That’s an estimate, however, and while Dynamism are “doing everything within in our power to push for fastest possible shipment” it of course depends on how quickly the Viliv factory can churn out (and ship) the first US-bound batch of UMPCs.

Preorders for the touchscreen UMPC began on July 6th, with would-be buyers courted with a bundled accessory package.  The X70 uses Intel’s Atom processor and begins at $599.

Video review of Viliv X70 after the cut

Being the avid upgrader that his is, jkkmobile didn’t stop at unboxing and demonstrating the X70 but instead got out the screwdrivers and stripped it down to the bare essentials.  He found that the RAM – 1GB across the board – is soldered down, and that the SSD uses a mini Zif connector meaning that, on the 3G models at least, there’s no room for a replacement 1.8-inch SSD.

Still, out of the box it’s apparently a great little handheld, offering lengthy battery life and a very usable custom UI of Viliv’s own making.  There’s also the benefit of Windows XP underneath (though Windows 7 works too), meaning that the X70 is far more flexible than something like the cheaper CrunchPad.

The freebies are limited to the first 777 preorder customers.  Those who go for the cheapest $599 Viliv X70 Express will automatically get an upgrade from the standard 1.2GHz Atom CPU to the 1.3GHz Atom Z520, together with a free car kit, leather pouch and screen-protector. 

Meanwhile anyone going for the more expensive X70 Premium models – which have the 1.3GHz CPU as standard, with various SSD sizes from 32GB to 128GB and the choice of integrated 3G HSPA – will get a free standard battery, car kit, leather pouch and screen-protector.  The Premium range starts from $729.

While the bigger SSDs and integrated 3G sound good, we’d still go for the base model X70 and pair it with a MiFi.  After all, slot in a 16GB microSD card and you’ve got twice the solid-state storage, plus 3G connectivity for four other WiFi devices.

If Apple isn’t your choice of platform, then we also unboxed HTC’s new flagship Windows Mobile smartphone, the Touch Pro2.  A slide-out QWERTY keyboard, huge touchscreen and more connectivity than you could legitimately ask for, we’ll have the full review this coming week. 

Meanwhile, we also reviewed Amazon’s latest ebook reader, the 9.7-inch Kindle DX.  Aimed at students, newspaper & magazine addicts and businesses, the big question is whether it offers a realistic leap over the Kindle 2 that’s around $100 cheaper.  Finally, we featured our review of Sleek Audio’s CT6 Custom earphones, individually molded to the wearer’s ear-canal and promising tailored audio. 

Elsewhere, we saw the Palm Pre jailbroken and running Doom, heard a glowing review of the Viliv X70 UMPC, and saw leaked details of Intel’s upcoming Atom CPU range.  There were also hands-on videos of Pixel Qi’s incredible 3Qi low-power display, leaked photos of Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X2, and confirmation that the Nokia N97 and N86 8MP were both arriving in stores across America.  Archos also held their long-awaited press conference, sadly not delivering the Android MID we’d been promised but dropping the Windows 7 Archos 9 UMPC instead.

Video demo of X70 running StreetDeck PND app after the cut

The X70′s battery is good for around 6hrs of WiFi browsing or 5-6hrs of video playback, and the Intel Atom Z520 processor managed full-screen HQ YouTube videos though struggled with HD versions.  The Viliv X70 is available to preorder now, priced from $599.

Current negatives include poor battery status management to Windows, though Viliv are hoping to have that fixed in time for the final build, and the lack of handwriting recognition in the standard OS.  There’s also no palm-rejection technology, so this probably isn’t the UMPC for large-scale pen input.  It’s a short list, certainly.

As for StreetDeck, in the video below you can see the X70 docked in Viliv’s own car-kit, and taking advantage of the UMPC’s inbuilt GPS receiver.  The X70 puts in a better performance than the S5 managed, even, helped no doubt by the extra screen real-estate.

Viliv X70 StreetDeck demo:

[via UMPC Portal]

Video comparison of S5 and X70 after the cut

Both displays run at 1024 x 600, and each machine is based on an Intel Atom processor – a choice of Z515 or Z520 in the X70, just the Z520 in the S5 – with 1GB of RAM.  As for storage, the X70 gets a choice of 16 or 32GB SSDs, while the S5 has a 60GB HDD; the X70 also squeezes in a webcam and will have a 3G option soon too.  Importers don’t seem to be so quick to offer Viliv’s S5 3G version.

James’ overall opinion seems to be that if he’s at home, he’ll reach for the X70, whereas if he’s out it’s the S5 that’s more likely to accompany him; still, if there’s more serious work to do during that time, he’ll wish he had the bigger Viliv.  More impressions of the X70 here.

[wpvideo BFO4sETH]

Pricing for the Viliv S5 – which has a smaller, 4.8-inch touchscreen – is also around $599.  Your money gets you an X70 with an Intel Atom Z515 processor (running at 1.2GHz; the Atom Z520 1.3GHz CPU is an option) plus a 16GB SSD (compared to the S5′s 60GB HDD; the X70 can also get a 32GB SSD) and 1GB of RAM.  Options include integrated HSPA and cables to hook the X70 up to a computer display or a TV via component.

While you lose out on pocketability with the X70, you gain on usable screen space.  The resolution of both Viliv devices is the same – 1024 x 600 – but an extra couple of inches should make for less squinting.  No word on pricing for the 32GB SSD or 32GB SSD/3G models, nor when any of them will begin shipping.

[via jkOnTheRun]

Right now, it looks like the X70 is edging out the S5 for usability.  The screen is, at 7-inches, obviously more capacious than the S5′s 4.8-inch display, and that makes finger-use more straightforward.  It’s also a thinner design than the S5, and squeezes in a webcam for Skype video calls.

Best of all, thanks to the SSD storage – this particular demo unit has a 32GB solid-state drive – it’s a relatively speedy little devil; resuming from standby takes seconds, though HD YouTube or Hulu videos do show some stutter.  We’re blaming the 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor for that.  Still, it’s looking like a tempting device; now we just need pricing details from Viliv.

Video after the cut

Specs of this review unit include a 1.33GHz Intel Atom CPU, paired with 1GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD.  It also has integrated 3G, a webcam and both USB ports and an SD card slot.  The GUI is the same as on the S5, with Viliv’s own stacked-sphere launcher and on-screen keyboard.

It also comes with a clever flip-case, with a mount which allows the Viliv to rotate and use the case as a stand.  No word on pricing nor release date; this unit came direct from Viliv themselves; check out our hands-on photos of the X70 here.

[wpvideo sgGrFydA]

Gallery of the other Viliv models after the cut, together with hands-on first impressions

Hands-on, the Viliv S7 is surprisingly sturdy and polished.  Internet access and general everyday tasks were speedy, despite the low-power 1.86GHz Intel Atom Silverthorne processor (a 1.33GHz version is an option), the touchscreen is responsive.  It’ll be interesting to see how it compares in testing to the ASUS Eee PC T91, which has a larger display and therefore more spacious keyboard, but at the sacrifice of size and integrated WiMAX and HSDPA.

The Viliv S5, meanwhile, is being positioned as more of an entertainment device, with a smaller 4.8-inch display running at either WVGA (800 x 480) or WSVGA (1024 x 600) resolution.  The screen is incredibly bright and crisp, ideal for video, and we’d certainly suggest opting for the 60GB versus the 30GB hard-drive so as not to run out of space for higher-resolution content.  Unfortunately there’s no SSD option, but you still get WiMAX and HSDPA, together with the same Windows XP base and therefore netbook-style functionality as the S7.  If they can keep the price of the S5 down, its combination of connectivity and 6hrs continuous movie playback runtime will add up to a very competitive PMP.

Finally, the Viliv X70 Atom is an update of Viliv’s existing X70 PMP using Intel’s new low-voltage 1.33GHz Silverthorne CPU.  It’s a mixture of S7 and S5 specifications, with the same 1024 x 600 7-inch touchscreen as the former, together with either 8 or 16GB SSD or 30 or 60GB hard-drive, with the tablet form-factor of the latter.  Either an external USB keyboard or an on-screen one can be used, and you get the same connectivity methods as its siblings.  In terms of speed, our brief hands-on suggests its certainly capable of general media playback – great news, given the excellent screen – but we’ll have to see whether the 1GB of RAM and the relatively slow processor hold it back from high-resolution content.

According to the Yukyung rep, the Viliv devices should be available in Spring 2009, priced between $500 and $700.  We’re hoping to arrange some review units, to test out whether they’re quite as useful as they’re promising.