The MID, mostly lately personified by devices from Archos and OQO, is very close to being an extinct category of device. I don’t see that as sad, exactly — we’ve just moved on to better devices. But I do feel a pang of pity for the final generation of this once-loved form factor. The OCS1 looks like a slick little device — or would have a year or two ago, when devices like this were still considered practical. → Read More
There’s just one Android phone currently available in Japan, one of the biggest mobile markets in the world. But the HTC Magic, which Japan’s biggest telco, NTT Docomo, started distributing last summer, will soon be joined by the Sharp IS01 [JP] – which is not really a “smartphone”, but rather being marketed as an MID or “smartbook” instead. → Read More
Can’t wait for your iPad? Get you one of these. This is the MID-560, the odd device we saw yesterday that seemed to be a cross between an iPod Touch and the G1. The company who makes it is called SMiT and it has an 800×480 pixel display. → Read More
LG and Intel announced that they are partnering to produce MIDs (mobile internet devices) based on Intel’s Moorestown hardware platform and Moblin OS. LG hopes to release internet devices with low power consumption. They are also tapping Ericsson to provide 3G capabilities for the devices. → Read More
Where to begin? The above device was apparently displayed at Computex back in June and had been speculated by some to be called the Palm Roteo (due to the very Palm-like keyboard) but has since been identified by Pocketables as the Compal Tabasco. Well, wouldn’t you know it, apparently in August a little rumor was floating around about Palm placing an order for five million units of something with Compal. → Read More
We’ve had brushes with the PocketSurfer mobile internet device in the past, but here’s a look at the PocketSurfer 2R – an update to the PocketSurfer 2. If you haven’t heard of the PocketSurfer before, it’s kind of an odd device as it uses a way-slow Vodafone GPRS connection as its data conduit. → Read More
Silly me, I thought these mobile internet devices (MID) based around Intel’s new Atom chipset were supposed to be relatively affordable. This Gigabyte M528 with 4.8-inch screen is up for pre-order on an Australian website (Tegatech.com.au) for around $1130 US. It was originally priced at around $1460, but the price got lowered almost immediately after everyone starting shaking their fists in the air. Here’s what your money gets you; an 800MHz Atom processor, Linux, 512MB of RAM, 8GB SSD, 4.8-inch touchscreen at 800×480, USB, microSD slot, GPS, SIM card slot (interesting), Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Seems a bit steep for $1130, no? via UMPCPortal → Read More
http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fengadget%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash&file=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F815984&brandlink=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dbrandlink&brandname=blip%2Etv&showplayerpath=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Fscripts%2Fflash%2Fshowplayer%2Eswf Here’s something we’ll probably never see stateside; it’s a mobile internet device (MID) from Lenovo called the IdeaPad U8. It works on China’s 3G TD-SCDMA network (I have no idea what that means) and it’ll be available with 4-, 6-, or 10-gigabytes worth of storage. It’s apparently got an Atom chipset in it, although the interface looks a little pokey from time to time. I have no idea what it’ll cost or when it’ll be available because I grew up in Minnesota and they didn’t offer Chinese as a language class in school, just French or Spanish. Oh, and some of the weird kids took German. via SlashGear → Read More
Word on the street is that HTC (makers of phones like the HTC Touch, the PPC-6xxx series devices, and more!) will be releasing Intel-powered MID devices this year. As you’ll recall from Intel’s recent Atom announcement, Mobile Internet Devices will play a key role in its strategy going forward. → Read More
Not that anyone is excited about UMPCs anymore, but Intel made a pretty bold move this morning. From this day forth, Intel will being using a Linux-based GUI and platform for its UMPCs. Ditching Microsoft’s Origami crapola and going to Linux is an excellent idea. People using UMPCs won’t be installing Windows-dependent apps or anything like that. They’ll just want the basics like IM, web browsing, media playback, and Skype. The new platform is being dubbed as MID or Mobile Internet Device. These new devices are targeted at the high-end consumer and prosumer and will feature all the good stuff like HSDPA, WiFi, awesome screen resolution, Google Maps, Intel Dual Core processing, and plenty of other yet-to-be-announced features I’m sure. I mean come on, its gotta have Bluetooth! Expect to hear more about MID throughout the year, so keep those ears open. Intel’s MID UMPCs: So long XP/Vista, hello Linux [Engadget] → Read More
