It’s not confirmed right now but the Mobinnova Beam could be the first non-voice Android device to get the full Google seal of approval and if it does, it could become quite the mobile all-rounder.This is the lightest 8.9” laptop-style device we have in the product database!
The Beam is coming to AT&T with HSPA and Android with a 3D UI and a super light weight of around 820gm. That’s lighter than any other netbook out there thanks to the small, 24Wh battery and fanless processing platform based on Nvidia Tegra 2.
Sizing-wise, the Beam is slightly deeper than the EeePC 901 but significantly thinner. In terms of battery life, we’re looking at an on-net, in-use life of 8-10 hours (estimated) which means you really could leave this device on, and connected, all-day.
Pricing and availability is unknown right now but we’re watching this one very carefully. If it gets Google approval, it could signify the start of Android-based productivity and that’s why we’re reporting it here on UMPCPortal. This has pro-mobility potential.
Full specs, article links, videos in the Beam product page.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:34 am
New article: Mobinnova Beam. Lightweight, Mobile, Connected. Could this be the start of Android productivity? http://bit.ly/73VF4h
January 13th, 2010 at 8:05 am
RT @umpcportal: Mobinnova Beam. Lightweight, Mobile, Connected. Could this be the start of Android productivity? http://bit.ly/73VF4h
January 13th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Mobinnova Beam. Lightweight, Mobile, Connected. Could this be the start of Android productivity? http://bit.ly/4zbqFr
#mobile
January 13th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Welcome back Chippy
I was wondering if you can clear up some of the confusion concerning Android? There was suppose to be two or three Android operating systems. One for smart phones completely controlled by Google. Another for non-phones and maybe a third completely open source one??? The Droid runs the Google approved operating system. Your Archos 5 runs the second one? (Who was upgrading that for Archos, Google or Archos?) People began to complain that they wanted the full Google experience and now there are non phone tablets and netbooks running the Android phone software without a phone built in???
What was your Archos Andriod software suppose to offer that the Google phone software did not. What are people giving up by going to the Phone Software instead of the non phone android that they were suppose to use? Clearly the non phone Android would have included printing abilities and maybe hardwired Ethernet abilities. If everyone only uses the phone software will those features be missing, added separately or is this the end of any possibility of Android becoming a fully productive desktop operating system? Hoping you had a nice trip to Vegas and can enlighten us on where Android is going.
Chippy Reply:
January 13th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
There are three versions, yes but not quite as you imagined.
The Google Android experience is Google branded and the final software build is controlled by Google. They provide over the air updates.
The Google-enabled Android version is much like the Google Android experience but the final build is controlled by the manufacturer.
The final version is simply the open source which doesnt contain any of the google apps. No marketplace either. This is what the Archos has.
One hopes that Google will offer its experience to non-phones such as the Archos tablet. If google want to move into this area of tablets, it’s something they will have to think about doing very soon.
Steve
Realty Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 12:23 am
Thanks Chippy for the explanation.
In the above article on the BEAM, you mention that “it could signify the start of Android-based productivity and that’s why we’re reporting it here on UMPCPortal. This has pro-mobility potential.” Ignoring that the apps are not built for it yet, they may eventually arrive, the big question is: Do you think the Google blessed Android on the BEAM has the software guts to eventually run productivity programs? (I am talking about an Android version of Acrobat, Quickbooks, and Photoshop.) Windows Mobile will never scale up to run like Windows 7. Do you think Android smartphone software might one day scale up to compete with Windows 7 and Leopard? In other words do you think we will ever see a desktop box running Android or will this turn into the Android equivilent of Windows CE?
Chippy Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Thats one of my thoughts for 2010. Android will move into the productivity arena. It will only happen if Google start approving non voice devices for their apps and marketplace though. I don’t see s/w like Photoshop running on the platform but I see software houses being able to start investing big money in high-quality productivity apps.
January 17th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
“If it gets Google approval…”
why would Google officially support Android Smartbooks? isnt this the space they specifically built ChromeOS to compete in? arguably, doesnt ChromeOS offer higher potential profits for Google since it is completely browser based therefor will have alot more ad viewing potential?