Toshiba Portege G810 + SPB Software = Nice Stuff!

I’ve been a huge fan of SPB for 5+ years and have worked with SPB both personally and professionally since. Up until the HTC Home Screen plugin, SPB Pocket Plus was the 1st application I loaded on any Pocket PC or PPC I got. Well, SPB came out with a smoking app called SPB Shell and I loved it as well. I guess I am not the only one. It seems Toshiba recognizes the beauty of SPB’s software.

"We designed the Portege G810 as a stylish touch screen Windows Mobile phone, ideal for both mobile-working and socializing, as it combines a powerful operating system with an incredibly user-friendly interface," says Bertrand Issard, Head of Product Planning & Strategy, Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd. "We turned to Spb Software, with their extensive Windows Mobile software and usability expertise, to support us in creating a highly intuitive user interface for our Portege G810," he concludes.

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Toshiba UMPC and software demonstration

I just found this video from CES of Toshiba demonstrating it’s first UMPC. The UMPC does not look too good to me from the point of view of exterior design but wait until you see how good is the application that they have created to interact with this device.

Toshiba Portégé G810 Coming Soon

To where though? Not to the US apparently, and unfortunately. Akihabara News is reporting that the Toshiba Windows Mobile Phone will start hitting the shelves June 20th.

Toshiba will officially release its latest Smartphone in 8 days (June 20th), the G810. Like the G710 and G910, this new Smartphone runs on Windows Mobile 6.1, and boasts HSDPA and HSUPA support.

Otherwise, it features a large 2.83″ QVGA (320 x 240) touch screen, 3Mpix camera, Bluetooth v2.0, USB v2.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g, FM radio with RDS, built-in GPS & A-GPS, and up to 4GB of memory (microSD).

Make sure to hit Akihabara News for a couple more pics.

Toshiba’s 1.8-inch 160GB disk hits 5,400rpm

This is a extremely important news because like I always says, performance is a multiple variables equation. It’s not a matter of just having a good processor, you need a good graphic chip, you need memory and you need a fast HDD also. Today, all the HDD running in our UMPCs are running at 4200 RPM, and that makes all the HDD operations extremely slow. That’s why this news posted at Engadget is to me one of the best news for the Small Factor PC community.

While others have hit the magical 160GB mark in an 8-mm thick form factor, this is the first 1.8-inch SATA to reach 5400RPM.

Better, Stronger, Faster Than Anything You Have Seen Before

What is it?  The Toshiba Qosmio!

If you are in the market for a new laptop that is filled with features then you might want to check out Doug Goldring’s look at the Toshiba Qosmio over at Gear Diary.  The second of a two part series, Doug Goldring has done a nice job in sharing his experience with this feature packed laptop.  If you missed his initial first look when it first arrived, you can see Part 1 here

So what did Doug have to say?  Well he attacked his review the way I like to see it done.  Not all technical stuff but rather a first person look giving HIS impressions.  I like that because you can get a better feel for the experience.

The Qosmio is decidedly NOT the MacBook Air.  In fact, I would call it the “anti-Air”.   Is that a bad thing?  Not at all.  Taken together, the Air and the Qosmio really highlight the difference between mobility and portability.  Mobility offers the opportunity to access your data from anywhere at anytime; often at the cost of usability or other functions.  Portability allows you to carry everything you need from point A to point B, even if you cannot easily access that data before reaching point B.

In the final analysis, Doug said “If you are looking for a computer that you can take anywhere, then this is probably not the computer for you” but then he added “if you are looking for a full featured desktop replacement which can travel when you travel, and be wherever you need it, then this is absolutely the computer you need”.  He did nice job presenting this powerful computer …. check it out here

Toshiba and SanDisk to Expand NAND Flash Memory Production

Toshiba Corporation and SanDisk today announced that they have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form a new production joint venture and construct a new 300 millimeter (mm) wafer fab in Japan to build on and further their industry-leading positions and meet the anticipated future demand for NAND flash memory. The two companies will now select the plant site, targeting a production start-up date in 2010. This latest announcement underscores the commitment of Toshiba and SanDisk to the rapidly expanding market for NAND flash memory, which has become the storage technology of choice for a growing number of consumer and computing devices, including memory cards.

Fifty percent of the new fab’s production capacity will be allocated to the new joint venture. Within the joint venture the parties will equally share wafer output and funding for the equipment. The remaining 50% of the Fab’s production capacity will be managed by Toshiba and half of the output will be provided to SanDisk on a committed foundry basis. The agreement provides SanDisk an option to convert its committed foundry capacity into the joint venture or to convert to a non-committed foundry arrangement. Construction of the new facility is expected to start in calendar year 2009.

 

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Toshiba Portege R500: Even more spectacular!

In a continuing battle to have the lightest (and most appealing) note book yet, Toshiba has leaped ahead.  Officially introducing a 3G upgrade to the already impressive Portege R500.  According to Engadget:

Two new 12.1-inch, HSDPA-equipped configurations will be available this month: the ultra-lightweight (and ultra-pricey) R500-11J, highlighted by a 64GB SSD drive and impressive 1.72-pound package, and the cheaper, optical drive-packing R500-11I, which features the same 1.20GHz U7600 CPU and 2GB of RAM, but introduces a less appealing 120GB HDD. Pricing should be around €2,500 ($3,658) for the high-end 11J and €2,050 ($3,000 even) for the heavier 11I.

Sounds great and looks even better!

CES 2008: Toshiba Qosmio: First HD Notebook with HD DVD-R/RW Drive

Qosmio G45-AV690 Enhances the High-Definition Experience with 1080p Playback, HD OCUR TV Tuner and Ability to Reuse HD DVD-RW Discs

Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the availability of the Qosmio G45-AV690—the latest iteration of its cutting-edge high-definition notebook computer series—and world’s first notebook to feature an HD DVD-R/RW optical drive.

With an HD DVD-R/RW optical drive, the Qosmio notebook provides users with a versatile, state-of-the-art multimedia machine that can burn, erase and re-burn data, including home-videos, entire photo albums and music libraries onto a single HD DVD¹ rewritable disc. The drive can also play today’s most popular HD DVD movies in the highest quality possible. While today’s DVD format has a maximum playback resolution of 480p, next-generation HD DVD represents the convergence of high-definition with the widespread appeal of the DVD format. HD DVD Technology provides an unsurpassed experience with an image resolution that is up to six times sharper. The end result is a visual experience with brighter colors, enhanced details and greater overall image sharpness.

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Toshiba Portégé G910/G920

Here is the answer for all those that want an update to their Universal that seems to be as old as could be now. The Toshiba Portege G910/G920 series. It seems to have everything. Anyhow, this popped up on the FCC Website recently.

Following Toshiba’s HTC Hermes competitor, the Toshiba Port�g� G900, Toshiba is now preparing for a HTC Universal follower, HTC itself never released, Toshiba calls the Port�g� G910 and G920. Recently popped-up at the FCC, this clamshell Windows Mobile 6 Professional smartphone could become a best-seller since HTC never released a follower of its Universal. Featuring triband GSM/GPRS/UMTS and UMTS/HSDPA, the G9×0 seems to be designed for EMEA and APAC markets only.

 

Source : the::unwired

A Performance Tablet PC

Looks like Toshiba wanted to make a quick hit on the market with the NEW Portege M700-S7002. 

When the rules change, you can too with the performance and versatility of the Portégé M700 Tablet PC with a 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen LED Backlit Display with digital pen support, optional touch capability and anti-glare display for indoor/outdoor viewing. The Portégé M700 offers a smooth transition from notebook to Tablet PC with powerful Intel Centrino Pro processor technology support for wireless 802.11a/g/n, and Gigabit Ethernet, making it a highly mobile standard for productivity. Comprehensive 3rd Generation EasyGuard technology helps provide proven durability, reliability and security. Cultivate your talent with the integrated DVD SuperMulti drive, Webcam, and Toshiba accessories that expand your reach and extend your drive for success beyond the desk and walls.

Warner Crocker from GottaBeMobile said that Toshiba is catching everyone by surprise today with the announcement of a new Tablet PC in the Portege line.  The M700 is the first Tablet PC Toshiba offers with a touch screen LED backlit display. Here’s hoping that Warner gets a review sample soon to test drive so we can get a little more of in depth look at this new Toshiba entry.  The price looks fairly decent at about $1700

Warner also provided this LINK to a virtual tour of the M700. Check it out!

 

Toshiba Adds New Cards to Line-Up

New Cards Provide High Capacity for Motion Pictures and High-resolution Images, and Music and Digital Content for Mobile Phones

Toshiba announced today that it has reinforced its line up of SD High Capacity (SDHC) cards with three new cards, including the world’s first 32 GB memory card in this high density. Alongside the 32GB SDHC card, Toshiba also announced a 16GB SDHC card and an 8GB microSDHC card. All the new cards meet the Class 4 specification in the SD Speed Class, enabling them to deliver the high level performance and functionality essential for advanced mobile phones and other personal digital products.

The market for high-density memory cards is growing fast, driven by increasing demand for personal digital equipment able to handle motion pictures and high-resolution images. Demand for high-density microSDHC cards is expected to emerge in the mobile phone market, as on-board cameras advance multi-megapixel capacities, and demand for music and motion pictures are expanding as well.

The 16GB SDHC card will be available worldwide from October, and the32GB SDHC card and 8GB microSDHC card will be launched worldwide in January next year.

Source: Toshiba press release

Toshiba Expands TransMemory USB Flash Memory Line-Up

Toshiba announced today that it has expanded its TransMemory family of USB flash memory devices including Windows ReadyBoost for use with Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. Developed by Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), the TransMemory U2K Series includes Windows ReadyBoost functionality that enables users to boost system responsiveness of PCs running Vista by using USB memory as external memory. The Windows Vista operating system allows qualifying USB flash drives enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost to provide additional system memory, thus making PCs more responsive. The new Toshiba TransMemory U2K Series USB flash drives will initially be available in capacities from 1GB1 to 8GB in October, with a 32GB version planned by year-end. 

For more information see here

Source: Toshiba

Toshiba Announces 4GB microSDHC Card

Toshiba has announced that it has expanded its line of small-format, high-speed, high-capacity memory cards with the launch of a 4 GB microSDHC card. Toshiba’s microSDHC cards range from 256 MB up to 4GB.

Toshiba’s 4GB microSDHC card meets SD memory card standard Ver 2, the SDHC card standard for SD products with a capacity of over 2GB. The card is designed for use in dedicated microSDHC slots, but can also be used in standard SDHC card slots in an adapter.

The market for high density memory cards is expected to grow alongside increasing demand for digital equipment, such as mobile phones that can record and display video and high resolution images. Toshiba will continue to expand and upgrade its SDHC and SD Memory Card series to meet the growing demand for high-speed, high-capacity products.

The new cards will be available worldwide beginning in July.

Source: Tech-On and engadget