Meet:Mobility Podcast 47 is now available. Recorded on 9th April 2010.
Chippy, JKK and Sascha cover news about the iPad, the JooJoo, ICD Gemini, Hanvon Tablet, HP Slate and other consumer and mobile internet devices.
Full show notes, playback and download info at Meet:Mobility.
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We’ve acquired an an official PDF which confirms specification details for the ICD Gemini 11.6 inch Android Tablet. Engadget outed the details a few days ago so now we know the specs are real, we’ve added them all to our product database. Many seem to have missed the fact that the Tegra 2 powered device will be vastly more powerful than the iPad. 2-3 times more processing power (it’s a dual-core optimised Cortex CPU as opposed to the single-core version in the iPad) which means super-fast web rendering times and/or problem-free multitasking. Also missed is the fact that Google Marketplace is an ‘option’ on the device. That means ICD haven’t sealed the deal with Google yet and probably need the weight of a carrier agreement behind them before that can be sorted out. It’s a significant issue because without it, the device isn’t half as interesting.
Full specifications are now in our database along with images that we’ve picked up. Those are also shown below.
The confirmed specifications come just as Stuff, a UK publication, reports on their hands-on session (Via NdevilTV) with the device. They seem very happy…
The Gemini’s built-in stereo speakers sound superb much better than iPad’s single, tinny tweeter…
Web browsing is even smoother than the Nexus One blisteringly fast page renders, smooth scrolling, speedy rotation and full Flash support.
It all bodes well for basic specs but time, price and that Google app-suite and marketplace are all as yet, unknown.
ICD Ultra Alternatives: Click for a list of similar devices.
Fee-fi-fo-fum. ICD announced that it was working on several Android slates back in November with screen sizes of 7, 11, or up to 15.6 inches. The Vega is the name of their largest 15.6” model and we’ve actually seen this slate in photos and on video before, but it never really hit me how enormous this device was until I saw someone holding it. Luckily Slashgear has made that possible and posted a vid a few weeks back of someone using the device. Check it out:
This may very well be the largest touchscreen Android device in existence. It’s pretty cool that it can handle HD video and has the resolution to actually watch it at HD quality (720p anyway), but honestly this thing is so big that I sort of fail to see how it would be useful. It’s not pocketable, and you won’t be able to input text efficiently on it. I’m seeing ICD phasing this size out pretty quickly and sticking with their smaller devices like the ICD Ultra [Portal page].
[Slashgear] via [Netbook News]
The UK company ICD (Innovative Converged Devices) has an interesting product called the Ultra. Its a 7 inch device based on the Nvidia Tegra 2 platform and runs Android. (Detailed overview here.) We weren’t able to see it running so we can’t confirm if this is a true Google Android phone device or just a build based on the open-source components. Like the Mobinnova Beam, if it comes with Google apps and the Marketplace, it’ a good indicator that Google are taking the non-voice segment seriously.
The IC Ultra is heading for Verizon in the US and as ICD is known to be working with T-Mobile in the UK, we hope that it will reach the EU shores too.
Information on the ICD Ultra appeared via Engadget and NBC (Via Ebooktest) over the over the weekend and we’ve just spotted that the information is also available on a new webpage and hidden PDF (currently available here) on the ICD website. The information reveals a ton of exciting specifications including Android V2 and built-in 3G.
Engadget’s hands on says:
“The version we had a chance to play with — a prototype running Android 2.0 — was blazingly fast when it came to 1080p playback and web browsing inch
Looking at the specs it appears that we’re seeing the first device on the new Nvisia Tegra Platform. Details aren’t available but we suspect it to be a multi-core Cortex A5 design. If it’s running at 1Ghz and if Android can take advantages of a multi-core OS then yes, this is going to be fast and multi-tasking capable.
Information and updates are being tracked in a new ICD Ultra product page at UMPCPortal
As for size, we’re a little dissapointed. The target weight is 600gm which is too big for e-reading. Based on whave we’ve seen with the Archos 5 Internet Tablet, we’re sure that something thinner and lighter is possible. The 16-bit screen isn’t going to impress video fans either.
However, if ICD can sell entry-level versions of this for under 300 as is suggested on the Engadget article, it makes it a very very interesting home tablet indeed. 7 inch works well in the hands and looks great on a coffee-table.
Specifications from our ICD Ultra product information page.
Physical Interfaces
Wireless Interfaces
Additional Specs and Accessories (can vary)
Alternatives and comparable devices can be found in the product database.
Stay tuned for more information and hands on. We plan to check this one out in detail at CES in Jan.
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