Could this be considered a MID?

Engadget has gotten hands on with this mini tablet running Android and are pretty impressed. They describe it as an Android running iPod touch, although that’s not a very good comparison in my opinion. The device has a 4.3 inch 480×272 resistive touchscreen (you will probably need a stylus) and a software keyboard. There is also a front facing webcam and built in microphone and speakers so Skype is definitely possible. To me the closest thing this compares to is Nokia’s N800, especially with the relatively small 256mb of internal storage and a microSD slot for expansion. Pricing is expected to be less than and iPod touch which could in theory be up to about $500, and release date is planned to be around the middle of this year along with a larger 7″ version called the Movit Maxx. This one could be interesting especialy because it runs Android.

This should be up in the product database soon, we’ll be tracking specs and links.

Check out Engadget’s pictures of the device in action at the CES showfloor.

Why are we all so interested in Android on netbooks? Personally I think its the possibility that a major Linux distributor with a big ecosystem and a strong following and brand power could finally push through a useable alternative to XP on the low-end netbooks, UMPCs and MIDs. Intel are working on the same with Moblin and arguably have more resources working on it but it doesn’t have a single brand, it doesn’t have a distro-wide app store, hasn’t received the same media attention and it hasn’t passed into the hands of hundreds of thousands of, mostly very happy, owners yet.

Here’s another look at Android on an X86 platform. It’s a VIA-based HP 2133 mini note. We’ll all ask ourselves ‘why’ again but I think if Android carries on getting this much attention, it won’t be long before we say ‘when?’

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It was bound to happen. I’m actually suprised it took this long to get Android on an X86 PC as it was always said in the early days that Android would be processor agnostic.

The question now is, can the developers get a productivity suite up and running in a short timeframe? Online apps are good but there’s still a big need for offline apps. If it can be achieved then why not a thin, 1.5lb, 10-hour Android-based netbook at $299? In order for ARM to make netbook sales progress in the Western World I really think they will need a big brand and a big dev community and application channel. Android is well positioned.

Android netbooks on their way, likely by 2010 » VentureBeat.

As I said a few days ago, Android is now as the point where it’s past the point of just being an interestingly-branded OS. The ecosystem is growing and the development community is growing.

One of the things I’m really looking forward to is a MID running the OS. Others are thinking the same. Here’s a video from meizirkki.

ARM, Sony, ASUSTek, Garmin. These and most of the other 10 companies that have just joined the OHA are big names. The OHA is becoming a must-join, 47-member organisation!

Its difficult to work out what it all means though. Many of these members will be offering code and resource but how many of them are committed to building devices based on OHA code, Android? ARM and Intel for example, will be there because they want their platforms to be used by as many people as possible. Offering code and contact points for developers makes total sense. Vodafone may just be their so they can connect with the OEMs and have a chance to view the ecosystem and possible device in order to make strategic decisions. The entry-ticket for OHA doesn’t appear to be too expensive and the marketing advantages seem to be good so I hope they’re not just in it for the press releases!

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The HTC PR people must be having so much fun tracking what appears to be badly researched news and over excitement on the launch of Android. Hands-up. I did the same when I called ‘delays’ following some news from the Wall Street Journal. In fact, if I had looked back I my first ever Android report I would have seen that ‘second half of 2008’ is actually in the same timeframe as Q4! Nothing has changed.

Anyway, the same thing happened again this week with this story claiming that HTC are causing delays. Apparently that’s a load of bull as HTC’s PR people in Germany have just sent out an email note saying that there the story is wrong and they are looking forward to a Q4 release.

Im Namen von HTC nehmen wir wie folgt dazu Stellung:

1.  Der Hinweis in dem Artikel, es gebe eine Verspätung bei der Auslieferung, entspricht nicht den Tatsachen.

2.  HTC erwartet mit Spannung den Launch des ersten Android-basierten Gerätes im 4. Quartal. 

Which basically means. 1, its not the facts. 2, HTC look forward with excitement to a launch in 4th quarter.

You can be sure that there’s some shouting going on in HTC and Google offices as time draws near and that priorities are being set. PM’s will be under a huge amount of pressure and in some cases, jobs will be on the line. Fingers will be pointed and names will be named. Its all normal product lifecycle stuff, including the over-excited journalists!

Jenn over at Pocketables came across an installer that will put Android on your N810 with very little work. She mentions that it was possible previously, but never with this level of ease. All it takes is the a download of the image file to your N810 onto internal or external media, then a download and install of the .deb file (Settings -> Application manager -> Install from file). Reboot and voila, Android on the N810. Jenn says the software works fine on the N810, it appears as though it is running at the N810’s native resolution and the touch screen even works. So far this has only been tested on the Diablo release of the N810 software so be sure you have recently flashed your N810 to ensure compatibility with the Android installer. I might have to give this a try on a friend’s N810 that I just flashed to. It would be awesome if maps worked with the N810’s GPS. See additional pictures of the install process on Jenn’s post.

Android, in my opinion, is one of the leading lights for a mobile Internet operating system. Along with Moblin, WM7 and the iPhone OS, it’s in a race to become the de-facto choice and anyone could win. Apple has a great head start and will be happy to hear that Google’s Android OS wont arrive on handsets until the 4th Quarter, months behind the original planned dates. Almost all of the problems appear to be because carriers want their own apps and their own branding. They’re being old and stubborn again. As Om Malick says, "I think this is why Jobs was smart in being tyrannical and ignoring carrier requests when it came to software."

The delays will also help Microsoft and Intel. More delays means more chance that WM7 details will leak and that Intels MID partners, who are mostly notebook OEMs and not carriers, have a chance to polish up their own Moblin-based mobile Internet offerings and push them out into Europe where devices can more easily be sold without carrier branding or approval.

Handset subsidies are nice but this carrier grooming process is becoming a real drag.