Update: Lots of testing notes in the comments below.

A big thanks to Mobilx. Within 24 hours of them receiving a sample (not a retail version) Wibrain i1, they’ve shipped it out to us. It’s just arrived. I’ve taken it out of it’s wrapping to have a quick look and I think we’re luckier than expected. The HSDPA switch, antenna and SIM slot are there which indicates it’s an HSDPA version. I can’t turn it on yet to confirm 3G or processor type as it’s still cold from overnight transport and I don’t want to risk any condensation problems. I’ll give it an hour and go for it.  [Will post anything significant via Twitter]

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Strange things happen when you start talking about companies that might have crashed. All of a sudden the Wibrain website returned (as it was before unfortunately) and as an added bonus, Mobilx got hold of an Atom-based Wibrain i1 sample and have shipped it straight out to us which means one thing. Live Atom-based UMPC goodness tomorrow.

Before you get excited though, It has to be said that there’s absolutely no indication of a ship date for the i1 yet. Indeed, my emails to Wibrain are still going unanswered so I suspect some form of PR block which either indicates that they will launch at CES or that they are locked up in the war room trying to work out what the best strategy is. Or maybe they’re just fed up with my persistent calls for information

Live page is here. Planned start time: 2000 CET. Follow chippy on twitter for the latest updates.

Update: The WiBrain site is back. (Thanks jANjALANi.) Maybe we shook them up a bit because I now have some news about the i1. Coming later…

After delays on the WiBrain i1 and the disappearance of our usual contact-point within WiBrain, I was a bit suspicious that something was going on. Mobilx don’t have the original B1 models on offer any more and now it seems like the whole WiBrain website has been taken away.

Fingers crossed that this is just a short-term problem and that we’ll see the i1 soon. In the meantime, we’ll try and find out what’s happening.

Wibrain i1 – Dead?
If you’re waiting for the Wibrain i1, it looks like it could be a long wait. I’ve had a few tips and even direct feedback that nothing is happening with the i1 this year. One of my Wibrain contacts no longer works at the company, there’s no word of the i1 on the Wibrain website and in general and they aren’t listed for CES. It’s all gone very very quiet so I’m wondering if there’s a problem over at NeoSolar, the parent company. if the i1 is dead then it leaves the question ‘What should I buy instead.’ This is a huge question at the moment because not only is the i1 unavailable but the original Everun is no longer being mass produced. CES is round the corner but even then, I don’t see a similar, value, keyboarded option out there apart from the Aigo and Gigabyte MIDs…

M528 – Realistic date
I contacted Expansys today to get an update on the long-awaited Gigabyte M528. Apparently the "Estimated 9 Days" shown on the Expansys.com website is ‘realistic.’ I’ve seen this ‘9-days’ before though on Expansys so i’m not holding my breath. We’re [somewhere] in line for a test device when they are released so it will be interesting to test the M528 against the Aigo. Gigabyte have had a long time to get the s/w sorted out so we’ll be looking for something special.

More below….

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