Comprising the ’system on chip’ known as Lincroft and the comms chip known as Langwell, the next-generation MID platform from Intel, known as Moorestown, promises to provide smaller sizes and smaller power consumption. At IDF in Taipei today, Intel demonstrated the first working version.

Chandrasekher said that Moorestown will be a catalyst for exciting and innovative developments that will extend the full Internet experience into the smartphone space with the Communication MID. He indicated that Moorestown platforms will support a range of wireless technologies including 3G, WiMAX, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and mobile TV. Additionally, Chandrasekher announced a collaboration with Ericsson* for HSPA data modules optimized for the Moorestown platform. He also announced that Option* is extending its collaboration for HSPA modules to the Moorestown platform. These 3G modules come in 25×30x2.x mm small size, are optimized for Moorestown power requirements and will help provide MID users with more powerful, always connected Internet-based experiences. [press release]

Don’t expect too much information about Moorestown this week though as Intel have already stated that the next announcements are to come at the Spring IDF in 2009. In fact, if Menlow is anything to go by, the timeframe between first demonstrations and product availability will be about 18 months. We’ll keep an eye out for videos and details about Moorestown though.

Looking at the MID display from the technology showcase, I don’t see anything new there either. Keep any eye on the IDF photo stream at Flickr. Maybe something will turn up.

IDF, the Intel Developer Forum was held a few weeks ago and through the generosity of readers I was able to attend, listen, contribute and learn from the experience. Here’s the report that went out to my sponsors last week. Slightly abridged but containing all the important info.

If I was asked to summarise IDF from the ultra mobile angle I would probably say just one thing - software. Intel’s ultra mobility group have been working hard to bring in a number of important ISVs and IDF was the place they wanted to show it all off. Gypsii (A GPS-enabled social networking and POI network), Fring (Single client IM and social networking interface) Adobe (Flash 10 beta I assume they are working to get hardware video decoding in there) and Move networks (intelligent multi-protocol video streaming solution with H.264 hardware decoding support) were at the fore and Intel say that now have 60 ISV’s working with them. The software ecosystem was highlighted in both ultra mobility keynotes and appeared to take precedence over hardware announcements.
The other feeling I got was that things are taking off in Asia. This shouldn’t be a surprise to us considering past success of small mobile computing devices. Intel may be taking advantage of this by responding to Asian demands and I heard a number of people say that big hardware announcements would be made at IDF in Asia next spring. [Report continues below]

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An OQO playing world of warcraft, flash 10 on an MID, an image manipulation application, a floating GUI and a very cheesy intro video! Higher quality version here. (WMV) Full Ultra Mobility keynote video and slides available at the Intel IDF site.

With a slick design, 8+hrs battery life and a swivel touchscreen, this isn’t your average UMPC! It’s not exactly a netbook either. Viliv have taken the U5 design they demonstrated at CES, slightly modified the screen, dropped an Intel Atom inside (up to 1.8Ghz) and made what I think is a very stylish piece.

Key features there are the 3G/4G module capability, 9 hours movie playback capability, GPS and the capability to take up to a 1.8Ghz CPU. (Silverthorne) The S7 is in final design stages (what you see is the final casing design) and is planned for launch in Q1 2009. There are no details about price or per-country availability at the moment.  More details and video after the specs….

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This is the S5 MID from Viliv.

The S5 is very much a PMP-style device but provides for fast Internet browsing and good media playback capabilities. There’s a 3G option possible (depending on territory) and a 24wh battery that is said to provide 5-6 hours of video playback. Given that the Gigabyte M528 can do 3 hours on a 10Wh battery, there’s no reason to doubt that. I’ll get the details into the database as soon as I can but for now, check out the presentation video I made. I like this one a lot. No keyboard but totally pocketable. 

Keep an eye out later for a video of a new device, the S7. Its  bigger, has a full keyboard, swivel touchscreen, has huge battery life and is very very slick!!

Update: I’ve just uploaded some new pics into the gallery

I was invited to do a presentation video with Jeff Moriarty of Intel yesterday. Here’s the result. I don’t expect to be getting any daily TV show offers as a result but it was a lot of fun.

With a little hands on in the W hotel with a few Intel reps. The Lennovo U8 is here and looking beautiful. Shame about the UI which disappoints compared to that other UI-focused mobile Internet device but the style is slick, the browser fast and everyone loves it. I`ll be testing the video performance soon.

IDF starts for real tomorrow morning and the buzz is high. I`ve seen Wibrain and they have the i1 UMPC with them. Im really interested in seeing that.

More details tommorrow.

At about 4am on Saturday I’ll be waking up to start my journey to San Francisco for the Intel Developer Forum (IDF)which starts the following Tuesday. I should be there about 20 hours later after I’ve made my way to Frankfurt and done the two-part flight via Portland. I really hope there are charging points on the plane!!

IDF is Intel’s 3-times yearly event that brings together partners, developers, journalists and exhibitors and presents them with a 3-day Intel-fest of the latest advances, products, methods and technologies. For readers here it means that we’ll be able to get the latest information about Intel’s UMPC, Mobile Internet Devices and Netbook platforms, get involved in Ultra Mobile conversation with other attendees and even get some training in the areas of software and hardware design.  Article continues…

Follow my Friendfeed for micro-updates and of course, UMPCPortal.com for news. The live page will be open and I’ll try and join in with the cam as often as I can.

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