real (future) competition
 

http://gigaom.com/2007/04/12/future-...ltramobile-pc/

-i

Re: real (future) competition
 

uhhh

you mean the "real" future
involves a 600-800 Mhz UMPC
running MS VISTA???

OS running VERY fast then, indeed.

/sarcasm

dcarter

Re: real (future) competition
 

I've read (can't remember where) that the best of Intels low power x86 processors still draws around 4w while an ARM CPU draws less than 0.4w - not difficult to work out which will last longer and need a smaller, lighter battery, and why the Intel-based UMPC will not compete with the N800 form factor for several years to come.

Re: real (future) competition
 

Here's another link: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardwar...9274887,00.htm

"Dual-core processors clocked at 600-800MHz and capable of running Windows XP and Vista, Intel plans for the devices to run an embedded Linux OS but with a mix of open-source and proprietary code in the final products."

"MID tablets will run a simplified "finger-friendly" user interface optimised for the small screens, based on the Gnome desktop but with an Intel-developed "master user interface" layer to serve as an equivalent to the desktop."

Re: real (future) competition
 

I was just reading on the Intel MID devices as well. I think they may have the edge on performance, but can they keep the cost in the same range as Nokia's 770 and 800?

It sounds like they are shooting for a market somewhere between a UMPC and a PDA. To keep the costs down, they seem to be developing a Linux version very similar to Maemo. Something like "Red Flag" if I recall.

Re: real (future) competition
 

I don't think there is much here that we haven't seen before but it does seem that we are quite close now to MID's based on Intel Silverthorne.

Personally I enjoyed watching these hands on demos of mockups and reference designs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGm3v856xnc

I want the one with the slide off keyboard.

Re: real (future) competition
 

one interesting thing about those MID's:
http://www.moblin.org/

its using the hildon stuff from maemo even.

so it seems that while we may see competition on the hardware side, the software side may be code compatible.

Re: real (future) competition
 

Does that mean that we might start to see a diverse selection of apps becoming available?

If there is a unified MID platform then it would be worth spending time developing for?

Re: real (future) competition
 

I thought I would see more spandex and maybe a few jet packs in the future. :p


It seems their future involves carrying around a brick like device. I'm thinkin' the brick like devices would be stationary but plentiful. I'm hopin' that some universal standard could be developed so that all one needs is a device like that watch.
It would transmit this standard identifier that would allow the wearer to interact with the brick in his car, on the bus, at a kiosk, on a restaurant table... seamlessly using a personal GUI and personal data served up via a networked connection.

The dude with the watch walks away after manipulating his personal data and the connection is terminated. Then someone else with a watch walks up , gets in the car, or sits at the table and ZAP... up pops his personal GUI and data.

There would still be times when you would need your personal brick, but those times would diminish as more and more stationary bricks are deployed.

Re: real (future) competition
 

That universal standard already exists, it's called Bluetooth! :)

What that video shows me is devices interoperating wirelessly and seamlessly, such as a phone and pocket computer, or pocket computer and watch, or phone and watch/bracelet etc. This is all possible today, using Bluetooth. Palm called the Foleo a companion device, and while their implementation was questionable I think the concept is on the money. Nokia have the capability to bring this concept to market on a much larger scale than Palm.