UltraMobilePCs.com New Archive
April 2007
April 2 , 2007Product Article: Clever Media Control Multiroom AV (2/4/2007)
HiddenWiresThe new Clever Media Control (CMC) range of products, available exclusively through Computerlinks UK, is designed to allow Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) to sit at the heart of a whole-house digital media solution. The system provides a single, easy-to-use wireless tablet interface for viewing, searching and playing back media stored on MCE and for controlling a multiroom audio visual distribution system as well as other commonly-used entertainment products.
April 4 , 2007 Can't Hit Those Control Buttons On Your UMPC In Low Res? Try This
By Warner Crocker In a blog post talking about screen resolution and how the human eye works 
Vikram Madan is hailing a new “pseudo-power-toy” for Ultra-Mobile PCs. The UMPC Scroller utility will correct one of the bizarrest problems that UMPC owners are more than familar with. In the native low-res screen resolutions many dialogue boxes pop-up with the contorls, (OK, Cancel, etc..) off the screen so that you can’t access them without moving to a higher resolution.
The UMPCScrollbar Utility runs in the background and pops up an on-screen scrollbar whenever it detects a non-reisizable dialog taller than the available working screen estate. The scrollbar then allows you to nudge the dailog buttons that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Touch screen displays may not be new in concept. For years we've been watching staff in restaurants tapping away at screens and tapping our own Pocket PC screens. However, touch on an average PC is something we're all learning about. One thing we know is that fingers are bigger than a stylus and need a larger target area.
In his Optimizing your Mobile .NET 3.0 WPF Application for a UMPC or Touch-enabled PC sample code, Todd Landstad included a header bar that you can use in your applications. Todd wrote, "In looking at the Origami Experience product that Microsoft ships on UMPC's, I created a 'headerbar' in XAML with some C# back-end code to provide my user with information about the system. The information is comprised of items that add value to a mobile user: Battery status, network connection status and system time/date."
WEBCAST: Learn to Use Phatware's PenCommander, Monday, April 9, 10:00 A.M. PT
PenCommander allows you to use a pen to call up commands that can control your computer, such as editing documents, inserting often repeated text into documents, launching applications, and much more. PenCommander supports Windows VistaTablet technology.
Samsung Q1 Keyboard and Organizer Combo Pack InkShow
By Rob Bushway When the Ultra-Mobile PCs were introduced last year, one of the biggest complaints was the lack of a built-in keyboard. Being a keyboard kind of a guy, I can appreciate those issues. It is why I’ve come to really like the Keyboard and Organizer Combo Pack that Samsung sells for its Q1 Ultra-Mobile PC.
In this Accessory InkShow, I take a quick look at the Keyboard and Organizer Combo Pack and show how practical this solution really is. As an on the go keyboarding solution, the Combo Pack is actually quite elegant and professional looking. It doesn’t have that “I’m a geek” look. However, it is not meant to be a convertible Tablet PC replacement. To use the Combo Pack effectively, it has to be layed on something flat - your lap won’t do. With a built-in stand in both the Organizer and the Q1, Samsung is definitely thinking of users who need to keyboard occassionally, and this accessory should be at the top of the list for all Samsung Q1 owners.Note: I was trying out a different camera for this review and it got me all goofed up – I was looking in to my screen, for placement purposes, much more than usual. The joys of trying out new equipment 
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The Q1 Keyboard and Organizer Combo Pack is available for about $124 at various resellers. Here is a
link to CDW.com with more info, which is one of the few resellers to show them in stock.
April 5 , 2007Enhanced Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC Images
nexus404Further details are a little sparse at the time of writing, but based on the released imagery alone Samsung’s Q1 Ultra Mobile PC is undoubtedly primed to cause somewhat of a stir in the UMPC world.
We are anxiously awaiting further information concerning the enhanced Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC and will, of course, offer an update on TFTS the moment further information becomes available.
April 13 , 2007
Want an overview on how to sync your companion UMPC with a desktop? How about sharing information between two notebooks? If you have time on Monday, there's a scheduled webcast at 10 am PT via this Microsoft LiveMeeting link. The focus will be on Laplink's PCsynch product:
"Looking for a fast, secure way to synchronize files between your Ultra-Mobile PC and another PC? Laplink’s PCsync enables automated file transfer and synchronization between PCs running different versions of Microsoft® Windows, including Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows 2000."
The webcast is free and is actually a series of Mobile PC webcasts in progress; the current schedule is right here
April 16 , 2007
Just over a year ago, Microsoft and Intel announced the Origami platform which 
would lay the foundation for Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPCs). UMPCs were supposed to retail for between $599 to $999 and were based around the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. "We believe that (ultra-mobile PCs) will eventually become as indispensable and ubiquitous as the mobile phone today," said Microsoft VP Bill Mitchell in March of 2006
The prices never did quite dip into the $599 USD range and UMPCs never did quite live up to initial sales forecasts (Samsung has sold fewer than 100,000 units of its Q1), but the market is still pushing forward. As manufacturers like Samsung, Asus and HTC are working on second generation UMPC designs which run on Windows Vista; it looks as though Intel is looking to take the "bigger than a Smartphone, smaller than a laptop" sector in a different direction. Intel posted two slides on its website ahead of 
IDF Beijing which detail the new Mobile Internet Device (MID) platform.Intel is targeting the MID platform, codename McCaslin, to appeal more to the consumer market. Most UMPCs are priced out of the typical consumer market -- with prices ranging from around $900 to $1,800 -- and end up being purchased by business professionals instead of the average user who has been spoiled by $500 laptops and carrier-subsidized Smartphones.
April 18 , 2007
Intel Ultra-Mobile PC Platform for 2007-2008 Announced
laptoplogicOn Day 2 of IDF, Intel officially confirmed the McCaslin platform.
They call it the Intel Ultra Mobile Platform 2007.
The new platform for second generation UMPC will feature both traditional UMPC and
MID (Mobile Internet Device - the budget UMPC running Linux). The 2007 Ultra Mobile platform is composed of three distinct components similar to Centrino branding - The MID platform is divided into three different categories to better suit the needs of the audiences - Stay in Touch, Be Entertained and Access Info & Locate. 'Stay in Touch' devices will be optimized networking, 'Be Entertained' will sport better multimedia capabilities while 'Access Info & Locate devices' will be packed with GPS and navigation powers. They are expected to be sub-$1000 surely.For 2008, Intel already has some updates for the UMPC platform drafted. The UMPC2008 platform is codenamed 'Menlow'. It will feature 45nm 'Silverthorne' processor using the 'Poulsbo' chipset. 'Silverthorne' is expected to be a step towards Intel's dream of 0.5W TDP processors for UMPC.
Fly Away with the QWERTY-fied Tango Wings UMPC
mobilemagThe details are pretty slim, but if you want to get your hands on a UMPC and 
absolutely must have a full QWERTY keyboard, then this number just might be right up your alley. Apparently dubbed the TANGO Wings by Sungiu, this UMPC appears to have a standard 7-inch color display as well as quick access keys along the piano black frame, though it is somewhat interesting to find the directional pad mounted to the left of the screen rather than to the right.
You can only assume that the display is a touchscreen, but when it comes time to do some text input -- like writing an article for a tech news blog -- then the slide-out QWERTY keyboard comes into play, separated in the middle for ease of thumb access. As you can see the Windows button on the keyboard, we can safely conclude that this sucker is powered by Microsoft.
The actual tech specs of the innards remains a mystery, as does the thought process behind naming a UMPC the "Tango Wings."
Seeking to spur growth in the mini-tablet market, Intel today unveiled its new Ultra Mobile 2007 'McCaslin' platform for Windows and Linux devices.The platform encompasses both the existing Windows-based Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) category with screens sizes of 5 to 7 inches, and smaller mobile Internet devices with screens from 4 to 6 inches. ZDNet Australia revealed earlier this week the smaller 
units will be aimed at consumers and run Linux."Intel's positioning of UMPCs as mobile Internet devices and its choice of Linux as an OS makes sense for OEMs, as the target audience is now consumers and prosumers rather than mobile professionals," said Hugo Ortega, director of Sydney-based tablet PC and UMPC distributor Tegatech Australia."UMPC sales are being dragged down by their high price, unrealistic expectations and lack of functionality with Windows Vista. Given that current UMPCs and Tablet PCs are considered as niche products, it makes sense for Intel to adopt a broader market strategy," Ortega said.
Seeing that this is a review of the Samsung Q1b UMPC/Tablet PC, we are going to
take a look at mobility from the side of Tablet devices. It's no longer a question of the ability of the devices, the Samsung Q1b is an impressive piece of machinery packing Windows XP Tablet Edition, a 32GB flash hard drive, a touchscreen-based interface and enough connectivity options to keep your contacts from being aware that you are on the go. But there still is a question that needs to be asked: Is the Tablet PC, especially with the advent of flash memory hard drives and their increased performance, worth investing in? Let's dive into the Q1b and then revisit this question.
Tablets efficient for those on the go
The Jersey Journal You know computers are getting smaller every year, but do you know about tablets? Tablet computers make notebooks seem large; they're made for extreme on-the-go computing. I've been testing two different kinds of tablets this week, and while I'm not ready to trade in my desktop computer, I can see their advantages. Tablets fill the gap between smartphones, which can go online but have small screens, and notebooks, which cost more and are heavier to carry.The second model I've been using is a fully-fledged computer, the TabletKiosk eo 
UMPC i7210 ($1,399). "UMPC" stands for ultra-mobile PC, and it means that the tablet uses a new version of the Windows operating system made just for tablet PCs. With a UMPC, you can do anything you can on a regular computer, but you hold the computer like you would a pad of paper. Select items on the screen either with the included stylus or with buttons to the left and right of the screen that mimic the actions of a mouse. Some UMPCs slide up to reveal keypads, but this one doesn't; to type, you either write on the screen or tap on a virtual keyboard.
If you're looking for a computer that can travel anywhere, consider a tablet. They're great ways to stay connected wherever you go.
April 20 , 2007
Samsung to Release Improved UMPC Next Month
english.chosun.com
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Samsung Electronics unveiled its second-generation UMPC (ultra-mobile personal computer) on Thursday. The company announced that it will follow up on the Q1 UMPC that it released last May with the second-generation Q1 Ultra this May.
The Q1 Ultra runs the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system and is designed to be very power efficient. The basic battery pack holds a charge for 4 hours and 30 minutes and the expanded batteries go for 8 hours and 30 minutes, increasing the usage time by up to 50 percent over the Q1. The Q1 Ultra also introduces a QWERTY key pad, making it easier to use than the Q1 which had no keyboard.
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Kim Hun-soo, the vice president of Samsung’s PC division, said, "The Q1 has received a great response since it was first launched and it showed us the possibility of the UMPC market. The Q1 Ultra features functions that reflect the demands of consumers and it will be major player in the category."
WEBCAST: Learn to Use ArtRage 2 UMPC, a Natural Painting Application, Monday, April 23, 10:00 A.M. PT
Ambient Design's ArtRage 2 UMPC has been specifically designed for Ultra-Mobile PCs. It has a redesigned interface and workflow for small form-factor, portable PCs. You can paint and sketch using your whole screen as a canvas, and take your art with you wherever you go.
Medion UMPC RIM 1000: a first look
ZDNet UK - UK
Medion, the Germany-based specialist in mobile kit such as notebooks, handhelds and satellite navigation devices, has launched a 'second-generation' Ultra Mobile PC, the UMPC RIM 1000. Aimed at commuters and other mobile profesionals, the UMPC RIM 1000 will be available from May 2007, both online and at a number of retail outlets, for £799.99 (inc. VAT).
April 23 , 2007Windows Vista Media Center for watching saved programs on a UMPC
whatisnew.comWith business and consumer PCs available today under 3lbs, we're starting to see a greater diversity of applications -- including for entertainment. Microsoft's Ultra-Mobile PC website states, "Have more fun on the go." Intel.com lists, "Be entertained with videos, games, music, pictures or TV on the go." Using a PC for entertainment is familiar to people. The new aspect is the mobility. Luckily, with Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate Editions (consumer SKUs) there are some great out-of-the box experiences for entertainment -- even entertainment while you're moving around or disconnected from the Internet.Windows Media Center is a great example of this ready-to-go entertainment application for recording, organizing, managing, and viewing media content. You can find it on your start menu. Because I have been using it regularly on this UMPC, Windows Media Center is available at the touch of a button.
Windows Media Center is available with Ultra-Mobile PCs using Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate Editions.Even though Windows Media Center is designed for you to use with a traditional PC with TV, you can easily use it with your UMPC. First, you'll need a tuner. I use an Adaptec Dual TV Tuner. It was designed for Windows XP and connects to the UMPC via USB cable. It works and that is what is important to me, at the moment. If I were getting something today, however, I'd probably get something like the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick, as it is wireless. The Adaptec tuner allows me to record radio or television onto the UMPC with all the regular convenience of Media Center, then the benefit of 2lb UMPC allows me to carry that media with me wherever I go and watch or listen whenever I want.When I recorded the movie from TV, I saved it in "Good" quality. It was standard digital cable, not HDTV, and played in fullscreen, not widescreen. The replay quality of the movie is great for my purposes and my priority of watching at my convenience. I can watch a few minutes here and there -- no matter what location I'm in, as long as I have a little battery power. If you're going to watch full-length movies on your UMPC while traveling, I do suggest turning off extra applications that aren't being used to conserve battery power for your viewing pleasure.
Chatting it up on a UMPC
tabletquestions.comUMPCs push the edge of technology too. I want devices to communicate wirelessly,
remotely. Most UMPCs have two USB ports. This seems fine when you're at a desk and can connect to a dock. But move away and still try to video IM. What happens? I want a wireless webcamera. I want a wireless microphone. I want an audio mixing station. The kids want a IM to be a mobile karaoke app (they talk about music a lot) that they can carry with them up and down the stairs or in the backyard, all to chat with their friends. Mobility pushes the limits. That said, Windows Live Messenger and Skype are both usable on UMPCs today. And true to the benefit of a full-featured operating system like Windows Vista, IM can be in the background or at the front of what you are doing, and is flexible enough to change priorities without having to change the machine. Here are a few screenshots:The UMPC is rougly the size of standard paperback books. I frequently use the UMPC in portrait mode. Portrait mode on a UMPC is 480x800 -- not exactly common, so I expect to run into some issues with screen size fit. Webcameras viewing definitely pushes the limit of portrait mode. It would be great if the layout could move around a little. Here is a screenshot of IM fullscreen in portrait.
April 24 , 2007FUJITSU new UMPC revealed
tabletpcFujitsu is entering the UMPC market with a splash. They recently unveiled their newest UMPC design at Intel Developers Forum. Not much has been released about the specs, but we did get some information on what this tiny Tablet will be sporting.
It seems to have a nice Tablet PC design, since the screen rotates and lays flat over the keyboard. No word on pricing or when exactly this will be available, but rumors are saying maybe this summer.
Hopefully we will see this UMPC hit the market soon, but then again none of this is set in stone. Just keep your eyes peeled because information is leaking out everywhere and this Tablet/UMPC is sure to be in the news for awhile.
CIC and Top PC Maker to Provide Biometric and Electronic SignatureSignature Solutions for Tablet PCs
PR NewswireCommunication Intelligence Corporation, a leading supplier of electronic signature solutions for business process automation in the financial industry and the recognized leader in biometric signature verification, announced today a sales and marketing agreement with Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) to provide its electronic signature solution for ThinkPad Tablet PCs and for the companies to jointly promote their product offerings.
Through this agreement, CIC joins Lenovo's Tablet Influencer Program and provides Lenovo its full range of biometric and electronic signature solutions. Lenovo's sales team will actively promote CIC's electronic signature products to its users. The joint product offerings represent an ideal solution for any application requiring electronic approvals or user authentication using biometrics.
According to IDC, convertible tablet PC unit shipments will reach more than one million this year and more than four million by 2010. With more industries relying on tablet PCs, Lenovo tablet customers include mobile professionals in fields such as healthcare, insurance, real estate, education and sales
Kohjinsha upgrade tiny convertible with touch-friendly screen
SlashGear
If there’s one thing I love more than pie and kicking the shins of small children, it’s Tablet PCs. And in that respect I’m like a whole lot of people for whom size - or, more accurately, the lack of it - is an indecent draw, even if I know it would have long-term implications on boring things like usability.
Samsung Q1b UMPC Review
Brighthand
As this is a review of the Samsung Q1b UMPC/Tablet PC, I am going to take hard a 
look at mobile computing with this sort of device.
It's no longer a question of the ability of the devices; the Samsung Q1b is an impressive piece of machinery packing Windows XP Tablet Edition, a 1GHz VIA C7-M Processor, a 40 GB hard drive, a touchscreen-based interface, and enough connectivity options to keep your contacts from being aware that you are on the go.
But there still is a question that needs to be asked: Is the Tablet PC, especially with the advent of flash memory hard drives and their increased performance, worth investing in? Let's dive into the Q1b and then revisit this question.
April 26 , 2007
Sahara TufTab: the tough touch-screen tablet PC
Gizmag, AustraliaApril 26, 2007 Tablet Kiosk have commenced shipping their Sahara TufTab heavy-duty touch screen tablet PC, built to be resistant to rain, dust, humidity, extreme temperatures and vibration to make it the most rugged touch-screen tablet PC on the market.Featuring wireless LAN connectivity, an Intel Celeron 1.0GHz processor, 1.0 GB of RAM and a large 12.1 inch sunlight-viewable widescreen LCD touch screen, as well as Bluetooth, biometric fingerprint scan security and a range of expansion options, the TufTab is a convenient tool for mobile personnel.
GBM How-To Series #7 : Using Vista Pen Flicks
Gotta Be Mobile
Flicks are a new Vista feature that allow you to navigate documents or change data using only your stylus. So you may ask, what's the difference between a gesture and a flick. There are only eight flicks available. Up, Down, Left, Right, and of course, the four diagonals and they are not bound by the input panel. You can use a flick anywhere on the tablet screen.
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Open the Pen and Input Devices dialogue by selection Control Panel, Mobile PC, Pen and Input Devices, or if you would like, on the Start Search input, enter 'Pen and Input' and press Enter.
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Select The Flicks tab, and make sure that Flicks are turned on by ticking the Use flicks to perform common actions quickly and easily.
Data Evolution's First Ultra-Mobile PC Launched in North America
Market Wire Data Evolution Holdings, Inc.'s (PINK SHEETS: DTEV) wholly-owned subsidiary, Data Evolution Corporation (DEC), a leader in mobile computing solutions, today introduced DEC's first ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) to the North American market, the Cathena® CX. The aggressively priced Cathena CX is the ideal solution for enterprises, education laptop programs, and individuals needing a full-featured, touch-screen tablet PC in a compact, convertible form factor. "The Cathena CX continues the expansion of DEC's lineup of unique mobile and thin client computing products," said Robert Sowah, DEC's Chief Executive Officer. "This device demonstrates our commitment to our customers, partners and shareholders to constantly strive to bring leading edge technology to the market." The Cathena CX, powered by an AMD Geode LX800 processor and pre-loaded with Microsoft Windows XP, is an ultra portable, convertible notebook that weighs approximately two pounds, features 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth® 2.0, 7" TFT touch-screen LCD with 800x480 resolution, and a near full size QWERTY USA keyboard.
From the Front Lines Of Upgrading the Asus R2H to Vista
gottabemobile
I’ve been chronicling my experiences with Vista and the Asus R2H (links provided at the end of this article) and along the way been corresponding with a number of other lovers of the bleeding edge who are trying the same thing. David Maiden is one of those users. (Maybe it could be said that misery loves company.) Recently folks have started to finally receive the Vista Upgrade from Asus and David wrote me filling me in on his experiences. (I haven’t received mine yet by the way.) With David’s permission I’m publishing his email here because I think it offers good advice for those who might go down this road. As you will see, even with the upgrade disks provided by Asus, this is still not a trouble free experience for the end user.
I’ve also answered a few of the questions David put to me in the email in bold face.
April 27 , 2007 TabletKiosk Sahara TufTab i310XT Tablet PC
Rugged PC Review A slate that can take some punishment
As the catchy name impliees, the Sahara TufTab i310XT was designed to meet the 
needs of mobile enterprise users who need something a bit sturdier than your average slate computer. Sahara also felt that seamless wireless functionality was required to run the business applications such tablets are most often used for. So they set out to combine a rugged design with the full functionality of Windows XP Professional in a light, compact tablet and added the convenience of touch screen input so that mobile workers can easily input data for maximum speed and processing efficiency wherever their work takes them.
April 30 , 2007Learn to Use iGuidance, a Navigation Application, Monday, April 30, 10:00 A.M. PT
iNav's iGuidance navigation software helps you turn your existing Tablet PC or UMPC into a navigation system. The touch-screen operation and map displays are enhanced for use with Ultra-Mobile PCs.
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