I’ve been careful to point out in the past that Moorestown and Menlow will overlap and continue to be available as two separate platforms in the MID space. While a version of Moorestown will support XP, it won’t be the version that we’re seeing touted for smartphones. Even Intel were careful to point out that you won’t see the same power envelope with Microsoft products so clearly, Moorestown is initiall a cut-down or special ‘crafted’ platform that only works with Moblin.
Menlow is that platform that continues to be offered for use in UMPCs and note here that Intel appear to accept now that Moblin V1 isn’t going to be the primary OS for Menlow based systems. I think it’s fair to say that Menlow and Moblin V1 failed and even distracted the market for ultra mobile solutions until it got back on course recently with XP versions of the original MIDs. I’m even hearing and seeing Windows 7 being promoted for UMPCs and if OEMs can keep the licensing costs low and ssd speeds high, it will make a great solution.
So that brings us to the Compal KAX-15, the only Menlow-based device that was announced within the Intel meetings. It was shown in the Ultra Mobility keynote and JKK got straight over to the demo device and gave us the full details in a video. (below) Before that, the specs.
It has a sliding/tilting keyboard that is similar to the HTC Shift but on a smaller scale. It’s a bit bigger than the original Compal MID that Aigo and Gigabyte used but that is probably due to a bigger battery. Compal will be aware that the battery life on their JAX-10/KAX-10 is no longer competitive in the UMPC space.
Screen size: 4.8”, 800×480
CPU: Z515 with 800Mhz and 1.2Ghz bursting. (Which I think means that designers can build around the TDP of the 800Mhz part but i’m not 100% sure. Sounds just like speed stepping to me)
No mouse controller
Dual web cams
I think it’s fair to say that this is in the running to be the next Aigo MID. Personally I find it a better form factor than the UMID M1 but we’ll have to see about battery life.
Jkk has taken a stock Aigo MID and rebuilt the software with XP embedded, enhanced the battery and even changed the finish of the device. As you’ll see in the video its running very quickly and very smoothly. Jkk has really enhanced the device from a pocketable web browser to a complete mobile productivity sollution. Fantastic!
The Aigo is gaining in popularity among UMPCPortal visitors. We’re seeing a lot of activity in the forums and some great feedback from owners. As one of the only pocketable devices that gives a full, desktop-style internet experience, it’s not surprising!
One of our forums members, ‘Bassopt’, has bought an Aigo p8888w (3G version) and has documented his initial impressions and his thoughts after converting it to run Windows XP. You can read what he thinks of the stock build and about his Windows XP experiences below.
Over at UMPCPortal I’m tracking the various versions of the Compal MID, their specifications and where you can buy them. Following an interesting forum thread over there I’ve written a short article that talks about the variants of the device and where you can buy them.
Yesterday I asked for input on the French SFR-version of the Compal MID. It turns out (thanks, everyone, for the feeback) that it’s provider locked but there’s no contract commitment. For the French, it’s a deal!
The Italians have their own option in the IDOL that is offered through TIM, one of the local mobile Telco’s.
There’s a nice thread in the forum where IDOL users are getting together to chat about the device but it’s worth highlighting a few things. Firstly, it’s unlocked, has Italian, Chinese and English language support and is available without contract commitment for a very nice 430 Euros. That’s a 3G-enabled pocketable Linux PC for 430 Euros. Undeniably good value…if you’re living in Italy.
The software stack looks the same as I’ve seen on the Aigo MID. That is, slightly ‘thin’ with no Skype application (available as a download / hack now) no GPS application and the Coolfox version of the FF3-based browser but there are signs of improvement on that.
In battery life tests by Rapael (who is logging everything on a new blog) it’s looking like 2hrs Wifi-connected and 4hrs with screen off. In my own tests I’ve seen 3.5hrs screen-off (wifi off) and up to 2.5hrs with screen on but I’ll be honest, in a real-world situation (for example at MBC09 last week) the battery life was closer to 2hrs than 2.5 but this limitation is slightly relieved by the fact that the batteries are tiny and carrying a spare (assuming you can buy one for a good price) isn’t a problem at all.
The Aigo/Compal/IDOL/MiPC is one of the best choices at the moment for a pro-level web, pocketable experience. It’s fast (12-13 seconds per page average full-load time compared to over 20 seconds for smartphones) and light. Video support is good and if you’re the type that likes to tinker, there’s a great community building out there that will help you with alternative Lunux and XP builds. Compal really need to push this out in more places an start distributing better software to grow awareness of this great little device.
If you’re not lucky enough to live in Italy or France. Here are your options.
1) Aigo P8860 (without 3G, white) is available globally.
2) Aigo P8888w (with UMTS 3G, black) is available globally.
3) Gigabyte M528 is available from Expansys (although it’s not showing today) and Mobilx.
If you’re prepared to wait and see what an XP version looks like and you’re in the US, keep an eye on the NoteMagix from Velocity Micro.
I’m living living with a borrowed Compal MID from the MID Moves tour but when that and the Wibrain i1 goes back (thanks Mobilx,for the loan) , i’m going to be lost. The Compal MID is at the top of my list with the Viliv S5 and UMID. In two-weeks I’ll be looking to make a decision one of those three devices in order to have it with me for CeBIT in March.
This is more a call for help from the French readers than anything else.
It seems to me that my French neighbors can pick up an SFR-branded Compal MID with 3G for 349 Euros without a contract commitment. The only thing I’m not sure about is the 3G. Is it locked to SFR?
I’d appreciate any help on this so if you can read French or have already investigated this, let us know because it looks like it’s setting a new low-price for a slider MID.
One of the big differences between the Compal MID and the BenQ S6 devices is what they expect the primary input mechanism to be. While both of them have touch screens, the design of the user interface shows one clear difference.
The Compal is designed to be used by a stylus, while the S6 is geared for the much larger (and less accurate) finger.
For a long time PDA’s were all stylus controlled in the US (think of the Palm and early Windows CE machines), and a lot of this was down to technology. Screens were in their infancy and had a low pixel per inch density. Your pointer could wander round a bit and still hit the target, even when standing. In Europe it was all about the clamshell with a full keyboard you used on a desk or cradled in your hands. It took until the Psion Series 5 came out that the stylus as part of an interface took off.
In all those cases it was the ergonomics of where a device was going to be used that determined how useful the stylus would be – the small Palm and Windows devices could be comfortably held in one hand while the stylus was used, while Psion arguably produced machines to be used at tables.
So what of the MID devices? Both the S6 and the Compal are geared towards being used in the hand – the Compal’s screen doesn’t tilt and while the S6 has a small kickstand the location of the scroll strip and buttons under the thumbs gives away the design brief. Neither device is suitable to be used one handed mainly due to their size. So two handed it it, and in my mind that means you’ll be standing (more than likely walking), when using the device.
And a stylus in that situation is pretty useless. The Compal’s interface has buttons and target areas so small that even a little bounce in your step and you’ll be missing where you were hoping to click. Having an on screen mouse/cursor is also very strange, and I think shows the roots of the Compal UI is in a desk based system, with easy access to a stable mouse.
It’s certainly not as well suited to working on the move as the S6 is. With large round buttons, which just happen to be about the size of the pad of your finger, it’s clear that the designers of the S6’s UI have thought about where the S6 will be used and decided that a lot of the time people will be “walking and mid-ing” and ensured that any frustration will not be because of the UI.
(Although web forms are still tiny, and BenQ did see fit to include a stylus for situations like that)
Having used both devices, the S6 is certainly the more comfortable UI when out and about. Although the Compal feels much more like a full blown computer that has more potential the rough edges will take away a lot of those potential advantages in the eyes of the consumer.
Whe I tested the Gigabyte M528 sample version of the Compal (codename, JAX10) MID back in July last year, I was looking at an extremely basic software stack. When I tested the Aigo MID version a few months ago, the situation was better but not impressive…
The Aigo P8860 MID is a slightly unpolished, slightly locked-down, slightly thin-app, early-adopters Mobile Internet device. Almost everything in the application suite is underwhelming and after the initial unboxing high, the experience takes a sharp dive.
When I tested the latest Compal Jax10 sample last week, I felt like it was getting close towards being consumer-ready. The application suite was a lot better. In this video that I made for MIDMoves, I go through nearly all of the applications. Highlights for me, over and above what I’ve seen before, are Skype support, live video streaming, camera and games. Putting it into perspective though, there’s a long way to go. The experiences needs to be a lot smoother and many of the applications are stil under-par. There’s no GPS app, no security and silly things like not being able to use the camera when the browser is open. Having said that, I heard just a few days ago that Compal already have a new software stack ready so maybe i’m one step behind here!
The Blip.tv flash video is embedded below but there’s a YouTube version, a WMV version an H.264 version and, apparently, our Blip.tv videos are being syndicated to iTunes now!
More information on the Compal MID is available through our community link list.
How is it that we feel instantly connected with some devices and really not with others? Today I ‘upgraded’ from my Compal / Aigo device with Linux to something running Windows. Being a die hard windows person who can work her way around Linux (I don’t do cake but I baked myself some kernels …) but does not really want to, I convinced Steve that is really is a great idea to swap devices. As in “I want that other one!”.
It was nice getting to know you but the other one is sexier …
The gadget session at MBC09 today had more than one person who was happy that “no crappy windows” was running on the machines, while I am the opposite. Give me that familiar loved interface! And if it happens to be on a shiny new OQO 2 that is fine with me as well.
Meaning: if there had been a windows on the compal / aigo, that would have been a totally different game for me. Though I sound subjective, I did test the little one with the flaw during the short time I had it and will provide more insight why I think we did not bond (and why this is relevant). Now let’s see how the new gadget behaves over the next days so I really can get going with some crazy stuff as everybody else once I am back from my travel thursday!
I am also using this time to familiarize myself with the device and like to see how I can use it in a typical mobile situation for me: being on a conference / event, wanting to tweet around and maybe something more. I’ll keep you posted!
One advantage of running an Intel-sponsored MID event is that I get some nice kit to play with. In fact, the whole team gets some nice kit to play with on the tour. Between Jenn, Nicole, Ewan and myself we’ve got 4 different MIDs to test out. The Compal MID (not sure which ‘brand’ this will be yet) the Benq S6, the ClarionMiND and the OQO 2+. There’ll be 2 of each to be shared out and I’m getting an OQO 2+ and a Clarion Mind. The devices have been shipped by Intel from the US and we’re expecting them very soon. Jenn is also getting an OQO 2+ and I guess, as she’s in the US, she’ll be getting it first so watch closely over at Pocketables.net
The MIDMoves tour starts next Monday, the 19th and MIDMoves will be the place that we’ll all be reporting about the devices first. If I have time before the tour I’ll fire up the studio (still warm from CES coverage!) and do some live work with you. If I don’t have time during the tour, expect lots of coverage after it.
If you’ve been following MIDMoves, you’ll see that I’ve been getting into final planning. Roaming 3G costs have meant that I’m having to change my tour itinerary but there are some exciting things happening. In my latest post, I’ve been talking about geographically aware applications and services.
Pocketables have done some excellent detective work on an unknown MID they highlighted last month, tracked down the photographer and managed to get back a whole new set of photos.
Is it Atom-based? Is it a new smartphone. Whatever it is, the screen size smacks of ‘full web.’
Pocketables highlights a few possibilities in their post so check it out and let us know what you think.
Proving that the Italians just never stop communicating is the second MID to appear in their country. The IDOL.
Baed on the Compal JAX-10 design and using the Redflag Midinux software build, the IDOL is selling through Itelco for 449 without contract or FREE if you sign up for a 24x40Euros data contract. It calls into question the current 500 Euro + price for the Aigo MID which doesn’t have 3G included!
Jenn (Pocketables) picked up the latest information on the Archos 5G and Mi PC from a few sites yesterday and it seems that Stuff magazine got some deets wrong. Pff! You can never trust these professional publications
The Archos 5G is 249 Euros with a 19 Euro/month. 500MB data limit then throttled. Unsibsidised it will be 449 Euros, exactly where I would expect it to be. The Mi PC (based on the Compal MID that you see in the Aigo and Gigabyte models) will also 249 euros on a 19/month contract but it seems that you have to use a mail-in rebate for that. The unsubsisided price is unknown.
There were also a couple of errors in the specifications that I’ve updated in the Mi PC product page. We’ll get the 5G in the DB ASAP.
I heard late-yesterday from Intel that the Compal MID was coming to France and was just waiting for confirmation to post the news but I need wait no longer as Stuff Magazine have done it for me. Pocketables have just picked up the story and it makes interesting reading for all of us that are frustrated at the progress in the MID department.
We knew that SFR would carry the Archos 5G and my guess at the unsubsidised cost was between 400 and 500 Euro. It turns out that SFR will sell the 5G for about 280 Euros plus 30 Euros per month. That’s slightly more than I expected for a subsidised version but in the right ball-park.
As for the MID (made by Compal – its the same as the Aigo and Gigabyte MIDs under the hood) it looks like it will be branded as the ‘Mi PC Pocket’ [reach!] and will be slightly more expensive at 349 Euro plus 30 Euro per month. As far as I know, SFR will have to abide by local law and sell these devices unsubsidised and unlocked so expect 100-200 Euro on top of these costs if you want an outright purchase. Hopefully, the UI will be language-switchable.
Notice the offset keyboard on the Mi PC. It’s offset to provide what looks like a simple 4-way circular rocker and select button. Also note that it’s got a 30GB hard drive.
Apparently there’s a press event by SFR later this week tomorrow where the two devices will be formally announced.
I’ve been careful to point out in the past that Moorestown and Menlow will overlap and continue to be available as two separate platforms in the MID space. While a version of Moorestown will support XP, it won’t be the version that we’re seeing touted for smartphones. Even Intel were careful to point out that you won’t see the same power envelope with Microsoft products so clearly, Moorestown is initiall a cut-down or special ‘crafted’ platform that only works with Moblin.
The Aigo is gaining in popularity among UMPCPortal visitors. We’re seeing a lot of activity in the forums and some great feedback from owners. As one of the only pocketable devices that gives a full, desktop-style internet experience, it’s not surprising! 
