UltraMobilePCs.com New Archive

September 2007

September 4, 2007

Microsoft Tech Ed 2007
PC Authority

Ultra Mobile PCs
Some may think that Tablets have rendered the UMPC useless, however there is a vast divide between the two technologies that can be boiled down to performance and price. Tablet PCs need to incorporate an active digitiser board (usually a Wacom tablet as used by graphic designers) behind the screen, and that pushes the price up and keeps screen sizes down.

UMPCs, however, substitute the digitiser board for a simple touch screen. They are generally 7 inches, as at this size they are very cheap to manufacture. This is because in-car navigation systems use these screens en masse, pushing the price down to about 70 cents each. Two types are available: A lightweight version for finger based input (similar to the ones that cover supermarket checkout screens) and a heavyweight version which rejects palm presses, when combined with software for pen based input.

The first HTC Shift to roll off the production line was demonstrated, which runs both Windows Vista and Windows Mobile 6. The benefit of this is that WM6 will give you days of battery life and Vista will provide a full interface to run programs like Photoshop. It’s the first UMPC with a slide out keyboard and runs on a 400MHz Qualcomm processor when running Windows mobile and an 800MHz Intel processor for running Vista.

Currently UMPCs are being used in the medical field and at conventions as registration devices as well as performing more mundane tasks. The argument is that there’s less learning curve for users to jump into a full, familiar Windows environment than a custom or cut down user interface. In the future, the UMPC could be expanded to use two screens.

Packard Bell releases mini UMPC
Inquirer

EURO PC PLAYER Packard Bell said that it has introduced a 950 gramme, 30 millimetre think UMPC based on Via's reference Nanobook design.

Called the Easynote XS, the device comes with Microsoft Windows XP, a seven inch display, 1GB of memory and a 30GB hard drive.

The machine comes with built in wi-fi and a VGA webcam, a 4-in-1 memory card reader and two USB connectors

September 5, 2007

GBM How-To Series #24 : Optimize Outlook for mobile UMPC viewing
Gotta Be Mobile, Colorado Springs

One of the things I had to deal with while using my new OQO Model-02 while on the road is viewing my email through Outlook. Remember the OQO has incredible viewing resolutions and zoom options. However, his was only part on my solutions. In this How-To, I will show you some of the things I have dome to make my Outlook experience on the OQO really great.

GBM How-To Series #24 : Optimize Outlook for mobile UMPC viewing  

 Having the mobility that the OQO Model-02 offers does come at a price for these aging eyes. As excellent as the screen is, I was not satisfied with the experience I was getting with Outlook. My problem was this, if I put the OQO in the highest screen resolution possible ( and thus mimic my desktop experience ) even with my glasses on , it was hard to read not to mention the safety issue of doing so on the road. When I zoomed out to a point where it was, there was the issue of having to constantly use the vertical and horizontal scrollers on the display (which are quite simply the balm!) to read the messages. Again, safety bells start ringing in my head! What I found was a couple of simple features in Outlook to minimize the Navigation Pane, and to turn off the Reading Pane. I also customized the Quick Access Tool Ribbon to show the tools I wanted to utilize, as well as display it above the ribbon. This worked like a charm. Let me share with you how...

September 6, 2007

Gigabyte UMPC Now in India
Techtree.com

Gigabyte has launched its Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), the U60, in India.

The light weight U60 features a 6.5-inch LCD touch screen, and a sliding QWERTY keyboard among others.

U60's wireless network enables instant emailing and video conferencing. A satellite navigation module is available as an optional accessory to serve as an automobile navigation system.

The U60 includes an optional media base docking station equipped with complete I/O interfaces comprising IEEE1394, USB, D-SUB, RJ-45, and speaker ports. There is also an optional TV-tuner module to offer DVB-T programs.

The U60 is available through retail outlets and lifestyle stores. It can be ordered via Gigabyte's regional sales offices at www.gigabyte.in.

September 7, 2007

Review : Samsung Q1 Ultra - Q1U-V Ultra Mobile PC

With the addition of a split-QWERTY keypad, faster boot times, longer battery life and weighing 3.76 pounds Samsung's second generation UMPC sets out to improve the Ultra Mobile PC experience for users.

Paying close attention to the requests and feedback from consumers the new Q1 Ultra includes a significant number of enhancements and improvements including a split-QWERTY keypad, 4.5 hours of battery life, SRS TruSurround 3D, stereo speakers, enhanced LCD brightness, 1024 x 600 resolution, Support for 3.5G HSDPA wireless cellular modem communications, video chat web cam support and a high- resolution  recorder/still picture camera video, enhanced biometrics and full Tablet PC capabilities

September 10, 2007

OQO Updates Award-Winning model 02 Product Line

New Products Deliver Increased Storage Capacity and Solid State Drive Option, Faster CPU Speeds and Wireless Connectivity, and Reduced Price

SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, 2007 – OQO Inc., creator of the model 02, the world’s smallest PC running Windows Vista® and the first ultra mobile PC (UMPC) with embedded 3G mobile broadband, today announced new model 02 products with high performance features that deliver increased Anytime/Anywhere Productivity™ and extend OQO’s lead in the category. To accelerate consumer and enterprise adoption of the model 02, OQO is aggressively pricing its upgraded UMPCs starting at $1,299.

Better Storage: Bigger HDDs, New Flash Memory SSD

Read more here

September 11, 2007

HTC Shift: From Hero To Zero in One Press Announcment
Wired Blogs

A few days ago, HTC's Shift was the UMPC to watch, the Emperor-in-waiting of that elusive form factor, sexy, powerful and petite. One specification announcement later, however, and the admittedly-small part of the Internet that cares about handheld PCs has recoiled in horror: 2 hours of battery life.

September 13, 2007

Updated VIA Chip Gives Handheld PC More Power
PC World

Powerful PCs don't have to be power-hungry, claimed OQO this week as it launched a Windows Vista-capable version of its 02 ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), sporting VIA's latest ultra-low-voltage (ULV) 1.6GHz processor chip.

The pocket-sized device can be used as a tablet PC, or else a backlit keyboard slides out from underneath the 800 by 480 pixel wide-VGA screen. It weighs just under 1lb (450g), measures 142 by 84 by 25mm, and can run for up to three hours on its 4500mAh battery, said OQO.

That's perhaps a tenth of the battery capacity of a conventional laptop, and it suggests that the device consumes on average just a few watts. Some of that can be accounted for by the VIA C7-M ULV processor, which is fully Intel x86-compatible yet has a maximum thermal design power (max TDP) of just 7.5W, and typically runs on far less.

September 18, 2007

"The Best Tablet PC" - Updated for 2007

Several years have past and I have gotten countless emails asking me to update "The Best Tablet PC" so I have done my best to provide you with honest and answers to your questions and provide you with as much incite and information as I can to help you in your quest for "The Best Tablet PC" and UMPC.

Fujitsu Announces Availability of the LifeBook U810 Mini Convertible Notebook
Market Wire

Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation today announced the availability of the palm-sized LifeBook(R) U810 mini convertible notebook. Weighing in at 1.56 pounds with a 5.6-inch LED backlit display, the world's smallest tablet convertible* is ideal for on-the-go work forces who need to run office applications and stay connected while on the road. And for down time, the bright 5.6" LED based screen is ideal for watching a movie, or just listening to your favorite tunes. An integrated camera also makes the LifeBook U810 notebook perfect for video conferencing and digital picture taking.

With the power to run all standard notebook applications, the LifeBook U810 convertible works as a traditional notebook with an ultra-slim QWERTY keyboard, or by swiveling the WSVGA Crystal View illuminated screen, as a handheld Tablet PC with a touch screen for finger or pen input. Back at the office or at home, place the LifeBook U810 notebook into a docking station and attach an external display and keyboard for a true desktop experience.

The LifeBook U810 notebook, which complies with the new Energy Star(R) version 4.0 guidelines, is equipped with the energy-efficient Ultra Low Power Intel(R) A110 processor optimized specifically for highly mobile devices. With a standard four-cell battery, it delivers up to 5.5 hours(1) of computing time, perfect for a cross-country flight. The LifeBook U810 notebook offers a choice of operating systems, including Windows Vista(R) Home Premium, Windows Vista(R) Business or Windows(R) XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.

"The LifeBook U810 convertible has a familiar form factor and all the power of a standard notebook in a 1.5 pound package. It is one of the only products to provide notebook and tablet functionality in this class," said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems. "Mobile professionals and consumers who desire the ultimate in mobility shouldn't settle for devices that provide only limited functionality when they can have a fully functioning laptop with the LifeBook U810 convertible notebook

Price and Availability

The LifeBook U810 notebook, priced starting at $999(2) is immediately available through the Fujitsu direct sales force, website, channel partners and select retail outlets(3). Users can choose from a recommended configuration, or they can customize their system using the Fujitsu Configure To Order (CTO) program. See http://www.computers.us.fujitsu.com/store/index.shtml for further information.

September 24, 2007

The Intel MID v. The Microsoft UMPC
UMPCBuzz

One of the worst things happened this year in the Ultra-Mobile PC World. Intel could not figure out how to market the UMPC platform and shifted terms to Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs).

What went wrong for Microsoft?

1. Microsoft screwed with the UMPC Community. After the Ultra Mobile PC launch, Microsoft competed with most webmasters to build a site about the UMPC. This type of action does not initiate competition but slows progress. Microsoft employees did not understand the difference between supporting a community and buying a community. This continues to this day with an Origami site competing against other UMPC sites. Once more, this lack of support led some select sites to change emphasis or abandon posting altogether.

2. Along this line of thought, potential consumers became confused. Is it Ultra-Mobile PC, Ultra Mobile PC, or Origami? Microsoft created confusion by registering a domain with the name Origami and kept referring to the Origami instead of UMPC. Sure sure. There was an attempt to justify the names by referring to software v. hardware. The attempt was lame.

What went wrong for Intel?

1. Intel wants to sell processors. The original UMPCs were old hardware and Intel wanted to discuss new processors. More important, VIA-based UMPCs hit the market with the most penetration and scared the heck out of Intel.

2. Intel did not focus energies and clarify their position on Ultra Mobile PCs. While many employees were shifted to the category, leaders failed to provide a clear mission. Intel needs to think 5 years, 50 years, and 100 years in advance. The UMPC was almost a backwards thought process for Intel.

3. Intel did not invest in the UMPC phrase. For example, fresh content on the Intel UMPC.com site does not exist, with the same two stories showing since April*. Maybe someone should buy that site and fix it.

Sitting back and considering the events over the past six months, one can easily get all excited over the silly drivel about Intel MIDs and Microsoft UMPCs. Neither company is coherent. There was great hope but like all Microsoft events over the past few years - hope was a four letter word quickly morphed into profanity.

Yet, the Intel MID has momentum. While Microsoft sleeps - Intel pushes forward. This formula is a great mixture for Intel to wash away the UMPC and work with manufacturers to build competitive products to the Apple iPhone.