I know I moaned a bit about the potentially weak CPU (a 600Mhz ARM9-architechture Rockchip 2808) on this but credit where credit is due. This is quite the bargain if all you want to do is watch 720p videos at up to 2mbps. (Hey, that’s more resolution than I get on my PAL TV!)
Interestingly, the Archos 7 Home Tablet [info] has USB-Host (via miro-usb port) and composite video out for basic TV playback 2GB RAM (149 Euro version. 8GB 179 Euro version) and it weights 350gm.
We had a quick chat online with Charbax (the guy who made the video) and we tells us that we should expect 7hrs video playback and support for most codecs.
We’d like to get a better feel for how fast the web is on this before recommending it for such use but for video, basic document reading, podcasts, mp3 and just for fun, this is really a bargain.
In my last post I wrote about the Viliv S10, a super-efficient Windows-based PC that would serve well for solar-powered work duties. Last week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona I tested out another interesting bit of kit. This one looks much the same but in terms of internals, it’s like chalk and cheese compared to the S10.
The Compaq AirLife 100 is basically a smartphone cased in a netbook housing with a 10″ touchscreen and an estimated 30wh battery. The operating system is Android which has a great browser (although not as good or fast as Firefox or Chrome would be on the S10) and the ability to run many Android applications. The build quality is good, the keyboard is good and with 3G and Wifi built-in, connectivity is also good but the fantastic thing about this one is that it can idle with the screen off for DAYS instead of hours. In theory (untested) this little baby could run, connected to GPRS data providing 30-second GPS (built-in) location updates and polling email or similar services for about 3 days on a single charge. To top it off, it’s even more efficient than the S10 when running at full steam AND it weighs about 25% LESS!
With a 16GB SSD topping off the specs you’ve got a great lightweight, semi-rugged possibility.
Est. 10 hours connected use (screen on, 3G on)
Est. 150 hours occasional automatic GPS location uploads via cellular data.
Est. 20 hours low-backlight typing. (wifi, 3G off)
Add a 60wh power pack and if you’re careful with back-light and connectivity, you’ll get a weeks work out of it….in about 1.3KG!
This isn’t going to be the fastest productivty device you’ve ever used but if efficiency is more important than processing speed, the Airlife 100 will take some beating.
The Airlife 100 is due in the Spring and i’m quite excited to test it out longer term.
We’ve just had word from Archos’ German PR company that Archos will announce two new Android Tablets at CeBIT.
…wird ARCHOS zwei brandneue kostengünstige Android Tablets, die speziell für den Gebrauch zu Hause designt wurden, vorstellen.
My translation: Archos will introduce two brand new, good value Android Tablets that are specially designed for use in the home.
So we know about the Archos 7 (I’m hearing rumors that the design doesn’t follow the same lines as the Archos 5) but what will the other one be? Archos 9 Android Tablet? Will they beat Apple to the 9 inch market?
One down-side to the news is that it looks like we won’t see any 3G-enabled tablets being announced.
A phone I’ve had my eye on in Europe for quite a while now is the Acer Liquid. With a Snapdragon processor, capacitive touchscreen and a good-looking set of specifications you’d expect it to cost more than it does but if you’re in the EU, this little pocket rocket can be picked up for under 300 Euros inclusive of taxes. Unlocked! Compare that to the 400-500 that you’ll pay for a Nexus One and you see why it becomes interesting as a sub-year phone or a good device for keeping track of the Android ecosystem. The only problem is that it runs Android 1.6.
Fortunately, Acer will be releasing the Liquid E soon and with Android 2.1 it should bring some great improvements along with the possibility of multitouch, Google Navigation, Buzz and other features that are only possible with Android 2. Unfortunately, when I visited Acer at MWC there wasn’t anyone around to answer my questions so I was left like a schoolboy playing with the device to find out what I could.
Acer will have to keep the price down on this to compete with the incoming HTC Android devices but if they do, it’s a chance make an lower-risk investment in Android at a time when new devices are coming in thick and fast.
As expected, the Dell Mini 5 was available for hands-on at the Pepcom event at Mobile World Congress and we wasted no time in getting our hands as near to the device as possible. Dell Are being a little careful about handing it out right now which means the software probably isn’t ready but in the demo and Q&A we had with Dell we resolved some of the outstanding questions.
Video notes:
The Dell Mini 5 is one of a family of devices.
Available with and without 3G
Available through carriers and the Dell online shop. (Or at least, that’s the intention)
Full Google Android experience.
Tailored UI with widgets
Media support for H.264 and other codecs. (Although we didn’t get the impression that Dell are targeting this as an Archos 5-killer in that respect.)
Facebook and contacts integration looked good.
On Pricing, Dell say they will address ‘price points that customers are interested in.) We interpret this as meaning it will be very low cost with carrier subsidy.
Very nice hand-holdable form factor and weight. Almost exactly the same look and feel as the Archos 5 Android tablet.
Availability will be ‘by summer.’ We estimate this as June, July timeframe but this could just be for the first carrier-supplied versions. It could take a while for the device to roll out globally.
Overall we’re impressed with the specifications and build of the Dell Mini 5, optimistic about pricing but will reserve judgment on battery life until we’ve had a good chance to test it. The 5.5Wh battery just doesnt sound like it’s ready for all-day action.
We had heard that HP were going to unveil a new ‘3G’ device on Monday at MWC and we suspect this is it.
Extended battery life, light weight, touchscreen, 3G and a lower price (or at least some very cheap ‘free with data’ offers) means this is one for us to check out at MWC. No confirmation on the processing platform yet and clearly there’s a question over Android makes a good productive platform. It will be interesting to see if the Google apps are on this one.
I’ve already seen a Dalvik runtime component on a Moblin build running on a netbook (Canonical were working on it and gave a quick glance at Computex last year) but here’s another clear indicator that there’s interest for running Android applications on the Intel Atom CPU.
Myriad have released Dalvik Turbo which is an optimised version of the Dalvik Engine used in Android.
I don’t know about you but wouldn’t it be nice to run all those Android apps on a netbook, on top of your existing Windows or Moblin OS. As long as the runtime offers access to all the components needed (no easy task) there’s no reason why your MID can’t be running a nice mix of desktop and mobile optimised apps giving you the best of both worlds.
This is definitely something I want to see in action and I will try to arrange a chat with Myriad at MWC next week to see exactly what’s possible.
$499 too much for your next gadget purchase? Closed iPhone OS not quite your cup of tea? Looking for digital video output, video recording, micro-SD slot, USB (host and slave) capability and portability with a high-end processor? I can’t say that the Archos 5 is as slick as an Apple iPad or iPod Touch but it’s a damn good product.
The Archos 5 8GB is now available in the US Archos store. We’ve also heard that EU versions will be shipping soon too so for some sub $250 pad action, this comes highly recommended. [Full review here] If you prefer RadioShack, it’s also in stock there.
If you’re looking for something a bit larger though, the 7 inch version of this is, to all intents and purposes, confirmed. (See comments on this post.) We’re expecting Archos to announce this soon and wouldn’t be surprised to see a 3G version of the Internet Tablets too. Would 512MB RAM and a full Google-approved Android build be too much to ask for too? Stick a slider keyboard and 3G on a 512MB Google Android version and I’m sure a lot more people would be happy!
Thx to grnxf and Chris Street who commented on this post.
