Boy it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a decent looking slider. Just to remind you, this sliding Android device is a phone in addition to a potentially awesome MID. We caught a quick look at the Inbrics M1 at CES 2010. At the time, Inbrics was unsure if they’d be bringing it to the market, but it seems like after some good feedback at CES, they’re hoping to get it into consumers’ hands. At CES Inbrics was saying that they may be able to sell the device for something like $200 unsubsidized which would make this already attractive slider even more appealing.

Pocket-lint is reporting that Inbrics will be showing the M1 at the Mobile World Congress event that is starting next week (by the way, Sascha of Netbooknews.com and our very own Chippy will be speaking at MWC.) They may be showing it at MWC, but Pocket-lint also says that Inbrics plans to introduce the device in Europe in 2010 or early 2011. No word on the US apparently, but at CES Inbrics was saying that they may redesign the keyboard for the US market (more on that below).

Those dates are disappointingly far off for a device that many would likely have their hands on right now. Hopefully the guts powering the phone won’t be outdated by that point. I feel that the biggest challenge for the M1 will be proficient portrait functionality. So far I have yet to see a phone that functions well without thorough portrait support; people are used to being able to operate a cell phone with just one hand.

Some new renders of the device are showing off what appears to be a redesigned keyboard the one we saw at CES looked like it could use a little upgrade so this is a welcome change. The Inbrics M1 is definitely prominently on our radar. Stay turned for more news on this device as we uncover it.

via Pocketables.net

Meet:Mobility Podcast 41 is now available. Recorded on 1st Feb 2010, JKK, Sascha and Chippy talk around the iPad and other mobile computing news including the Aspire ONE 532H, Archos 7, Dell Mini5, iPad, ExoPC, NetbookNavigator, Firefox for N900 and Adobe Flash.
Detailed show notes below.

SUBSCRIBE:
You can also find the podcast on iTunes (Please rate the show on iTunes.) You can also subscribe via RSS.

Full show notes available at Meet:Mobility.

Three stories merged into one today when Techcrunch posted a 30-second demo video by Michael Dell proving that the Dell Mini 5 exists and will be out in a ‘couple of months.’  (MWC, CeBIT?) Techcrunch also added (‘recap’ was the word they used) some information from the Tihnte teardown and an interesting Chinese PC Online story (translation) that talks about a prototype Dell Mini 5 called the M101M. Apparently this was picked up on the black market for over $1000 which is clearly not the price it’s going to hit the ground with. Based on the (similar) HTC HD2 it could reach $700 but with the Archos 5 8GB [info] at around $300 and the iPad 3G 16GB [info] at $629 it would be crazy to ask for such a price; especially given the Dell Mini (low-cost) brand.

If we were to guess at a price we’d say $499 but we see a sweeter spot for this at the $399 level.

Specs seen so far:

• 1Ghz Snadragon
• 4.8 inch 800×480 capacative touchscreen
• 5.5Wh battery
• 5MP cam with LED flash
• Android OS
• 2 x MicroSD slots
• 3G, Wifi. BT

Via Slashgear.

If Inbrics really can bring the M1 to market for $200 then we’re looking at a very good value MID/Phone but somehow I get the feeling that the mention of $200 was really a ‘CES Press Special’  i.e. whatever you say in Vegas, stays in Vegas!  The market could bear $300 for something like this so there’s no reason it would launch at such a low price.

A capacitive 800×480 screen on Cortex with a full implementation of Android along with a nice design and that productivity-helping slider keyboard makes this a ‘must watch’ device. We would have like to have seen a larger screen for real high-end usage and we wonder how long this device will look ‘high-end’ considering the pace that new high-end smartphones are entering the market but it’s interesting all the same.

Here’s a video of the device at CES a few weeks ago.

Thanks to Netbooknews for ‘helping hands’ on this video.

A quick holiday unboxing of the Nokia N900, happy holidays! Look forward to more coverage and a full review of this sweet gadget.

There are many new MID devices being released these days, and it seems that the 7-inch screen size is gaining popularity among the fans of reading on mobile devices.  Users looking to read books, comics or work documents have shown great interest in SmartDevices (SmartQ7, SmartV7), WitsTech (A81/W1060), and other 7-inch multi-function MIDs.  Operating systems available on these devices vary, from Linux to WinCE, with Android being the most sought after.  Its a safe bet that the first manufacturer that can release a dependable MID running Android with full Market functionality and a decent price will get a great deal of interest from potential MID users, especially avid readers.

So what did SmartDevices do?  They decided to release a device that has all three operating systems available.   Users can choose which OS to start at boot-time.  This 7-inch device also boasts HD video and a new HDMI port.  Those of you familiar with the SmartQ7 MID will recognize this device, as the SmartV7 build is almost identical to its older sibling.  I have received a review unit from Eletroworld and am working on a new detailed review of the device.  Expect a lot of Android coverage in this review, as I put the unit through tests to determine the depth functionality the Android build that comes with the SmartV7 ships with.  From initial looks, it seems the Android implementation does not have Market working yet, but expect more details when I finish the review.  Has SmartDevices beaten the other manufacturers to the punch?

Welcome to my review of the WireLession W1060 7 inch MID. I’ve been looking forward to this review for some time now. As many of you can see, the mobile device market is exploding with new devices, and 2010 promises to be a year with at least double the number of new devices to be released. This of course is a double-edged sword, as many of us will be torn on which device to use. Some of you are aware of my quest to find the perfect multi-function device, so hopefully I can help people understand at least some of the devices being released.

W1060 Atop the Actual Retail Box

The WireLession W1060, also known to many as the Witstech (WITS) A81 (info-page), is a brand new MID (mobile internet device) using the Cortex A8 processor, the same processor as used in the iPhone and the Archos 5 Android Tablet. WireLession is a distributor of the A81, and has re-branded it with their own designation (W1060) and logos. Thedevice is currently priced at $220 on the WireLession website.

Specifications

• Processor: ARM Cortex A8 600Mhz, Dedicated DSP Graphic Core
• Operating System: Windows CE 6.0 Embedded
• Screen: 7-inch TFT Touch Screen, 800×480 Resolution
• Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth Built-in (1)
• GPS: (2)  Built-In
• Sound: Stereo High Fidelity Output 3D Surround, Adjustable Volume
• Memory: 256MB RAM (3), T-Flash (microSD) slot supports up to 16GB
• Video Formats Supported: AVI, MPEG4, MPEG2, WMV, H.264 and others (MKV support coming soon)
• Battery: Rechargeable Lithium Battery (3000mAH), 5 to 8 Hours Operation
• Weight: 0.39kg battery included
• Size: 18L×11W×1.5D CM

Specification Notes
1 The review unit’s firmware did not have Bluetooth working.
2 The review unit did not have the GPS Module that is a different model of the W1060 which costs an extra $20
3 The review unit seemed to only see 128MB of RAM. I’m not sure if that is a firmware issue or a hardware issue. The specs I was given say it is supposed to have 256MB of RAM.

UPDATE: The unit does indeed have 256MB of RAM. It is a WinCE functionality that the other 128MB is set aside to be used by the Operating System.

Packaging and Build Quality

The device box is a solid black color, not something you would find on a store shelf and not much larger than the device itself.  Everything that was supposed to be included with the device was there (cables, battery, adapter, and the device).

The device casing felt very sturdy, but it appears to be of a high quality plastic and not metal as I had been previously informed. As the pictures show, the device is jet black and shiny. When I held the device it felt extremely solid and good to hold, noticeably lighter than the SmartQ7 I reviewed previously. There was no flexing and, as a whole, it was smaller than I thought it would be from the pictures. The build quality is impressive, and reminds me quite a bit of holding a bigger Archos 5 Android Tablet.

The W1060 and the Carry Case I purchased from Fry’s Electronics for $12.99 – it fits perfectly

The Screen

After putting in the battery and charging the device for a while, I turned it on and was immediately impressed with the quality of the screen. It is clear and vibrant, and very responsive to touch. To the naked eye it seems brighter and clearer than my SmartQ7’s screen. See the pictures of the included in this post for a comparison. The interesting thing is that the screen on the JE-100 eBook Reader (see my review) seems a little better than this, but it is very close. There is one big problem with the screen though there is no way to rotate it, except within certain applications. WitsTech has said they are working hard on screen rotation and I was told it would be about 12-15 days before we see an update for it. Unless they can’t get some type of screen rotation, that could be a deal-breaker for many users, especially ebook-reading users. [Edit: Note that an Android build is being worked on but without an accelerometer in the device, rotation would have to be via a manual button/setting]

Picture 1: The SmartQ7 (Left), JE-100 (Top), and the W1060. Picture 2 (left to right): SmartQ7, W1060, JE-100

Battery Life and Charging

I tested the device for a couple weeks, during which time I watched video, read ebooks and comics, and browsed the internet. The battery life is as advertised, which is to say 5 to 8 hours depending on the task. Listening to music and reading can take you to the battery-life max of 7-8 hours. Video or web browsing and you won’t get more than 3-4 hours indicating the load that a wireless connection can put on a device.

To charge the device, simply use the included adapter or plug it in to your computer via USB cable. It will charge faster via the adapter, but the USB can also be very convenient. When charging, the power button lights up, turning green and red. When fully charged, the power button light turns completely green. It actually looks pretty cool. You can also see it is charging by looking in the tray on the bottom right of the screen in WinCE.

The Snazzy Power Light

The definition of a MID, a mobile internet device, changes with every person you ask but one thing remains constant. It’s aimed at the consumer and not the productive professional. That’s ultra mobile PC territory! Consumer devices require careful attention to ease-of-use and fun, dynamic software so the choice of operating system becomes just as important as the hardware it’s built on. Shanzai have a nice article up today that covers most of the options. I’d add Maemo to the list and remove any reference to Windows desktop operating systems but it makes interesting reading. At the moment it looks like the ARM/Android combination might take the lead in the 2010 market but as Moorestown and Moblin for handhelds feeds in, the choice might get tougher. One thing is certain in our mind though, if you can’t tailor and personalise your device with applications and widgets, it’s going to be a boring experience.

Shanzai.com Operating systems for MIDs