Apple and Wibrain?

One of the visitors to Wibrain Kiosk at IDF was Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple.

Is Apple exploring the market to make it own UMPC?

Wibrain L1 with Atom and many colors

Yes, UMPC Portal has posted a few more pictures of this UMPC made by Wibrain, the L1 will be the first one of this brand using Atom processor and will be available in a few more colors other than the traditional black.

Wibrain B1H with Ubuntu

Wibrain has released a version of it’s B1 with Ubuntu installed. This version is already being sold at todoUMPC.com and they have released a video of the first boot of one of these units. The video is in Spanish but even if you do not understand this language you will find it interesting. It’s the first Ubuntu fully running in a UMPC that I know about it! Everything is working!

Wibrain, TV and… your car

Many people can’t live without a TV. But imagine a guy who wants to have an iPod, a GPS and a TV all connected at the same time (at least available to be used) in his car. What he is going to do? Well, according to our friend Steve from UMPCPortal.com, the answer is to get a Wibrain. 

I love the way that UMPCs integrate into cars so easily. With the docking station and it’s included GPS device, some navigation software and a good skin for your favorite media player, you have a very flexible system indeed. Although I love my Nokia N82 in the car for simple navigation and audio, having 60GB of videos, live TV, a full browser, the webcam and the great WiBrain screen makes you feel ready for any eventuality. Even work! One of these day’s I’m going to hire a minivan, load it up with UMPCs and do a city-city tour to see which UMPC is the ultimate in-car companion. I have a feeling that the WiBrain, with its excellent docking station, is going to be the one to beat!

Thinking of getting a UMPC? How about a FREE one?

That’s right, a FREE one and you could be the one that gets it …. there is a WiBrain B1 UMPC giveaway at UMPCPortal.com and you could be the winner!  Celebrating 1 million page views last month, they are giving away a brand new WiBrain B1E. Evidently they have worked out a simple, easy and quick way for you to win from their friends at Mobilx.  It’s a pretty cool device and someone has to win and I think it is going to be YOU!

You click through to Mobilx and have a look around to see what your fave object d’lust is. Come back to UMPCPortal.com and go to this forum and enter your fave item. Of course, you’ll need to register.

If you win, you get a code that you can redeem at Mobilx for a Wibrain B1E.

Last date for entries: 1200 GMT+2, Friday 18th April.

This is a cool deal, takes just a few minutes and youu might be the winner …. go check it out here at UMPCPortal.com

Wibrain using Ubuntu

I have been testing for a while a Wibrain B1H, a very well made compact UMPC and I have been aware since long time ago about the plans of Wibrain to release a version of this machine using Linux. Well, today it has been officially announced in Korea: there will be release very soon a version of Wibrain using Linux according to a news published at Asing USA.

WIBRAIN(www.wibrain.co.kr) announced the launch of its entry-level UMPC ‘B1L’ in Korea market, which runs on Ubuntu Linux as well as supports Microsoft Office software.

Wibrain B1 EVENT!!

If you are a proud Wibrain B1 owner here is a way to win some accessories for your B1.  All you have to do is to send a review of your device to sales@wibrain.com. On March 22nd the best reviews will be selected and here are the rewards:

•    Full Package Accessories Set - 10 people  (Docking Cradle + Car Cradle + Battery + Leather Pouch + Power Adaptor)
•    Docking Cradle - 20 people
•    Battery & Leather Case - 30 people

How good is the Wibrain playing Videos

This weekend I prepared a short video for those asking me how good is the Wibrain playing videos. For those that do not understand the Quixote’s Language basically I played 3 videos, the first one is an Divx at around 800 kbps, the second one is another Divx at more than 4000 kpbs (HD) and the 3rd one is a DVD copied into the Wibrain Hard Drive. In my video you can see that the Wibrain played acceptable in these tasks.

Video: Probando Pelis en un Wibrain

Accessories for Wibrain B1

Wibrain will be launching in February two new accessories for its B1 series: A Docking Station and a Car Mount with Integrated GPS

Wibrain B1 Review

The Wibrain B1 (Affiliated Link) is the 5th small UMPC that I have been lucky enough to test, I have tested the Vega from Raon, the Everun from the same company, the OQO 02 and the Fujitsu U1010. And even after I have seen all these devices I still surprised to see how a full side PC is shrunk into that small space.

The Wibrain B1 has a retro design that could give a not so good impression when it’s seen in pictures but once you have the unit in your hands and you use it for a while that changes for a better overall opinion. 

The Ultimate UMPC is Not a UMPC!

According to Microsoft, a UMPC is supposed to be:

photo courtesy of Engadget

“About the size of a paperback book, the UMPC is small and light enough to fit easily into a carry-on, a purse, or a backpack. And yet, the UMPC features a powerful processor, a big, bright display, easy-to-use input options, and support for the latest connectivity standards.

The UMPC offers a display of 4-7 inches and touch capabilities, all in a package that weighs less than 2 pounds. But don’t underestimate this small computer—it can run all of the same Windows Vista-compatible software you’re already familiar with.”

We certainly have seen some of these ideal elements in UMPCs, but as far as running “Windows Vista-compatible software” using a “powerful processor” is concerned, this project is a failure.  Some recent reviews illustrate the concept:

From JK on the Run’s WiBrain review on slow performance, “For example: opening up Microsoft Word 2007 takes 6 seconds on the Q1P. The same task on the WiBrain routinely takes 9 seconds.” 

And on the screen resolution,
“Here’s where compromise, as it so often does with mobile devices, comes into play: due to the high res and the excellent trackpad, I found myself rarely using the touchscreen. Items are too small to accurately touch when it’s easier to just use the trackpad, cursor and mouse buttons.”

From Pocketables’ OQO Model 2 Review on slow performance, “If you can tolerate nothing less than the top-of-the-line powerhouse desktop systems, then something like the OQO Model 02 (or any UMPC, for that matter) will definitely not make you happy.”

Photo Courtesy of Ultramobile PC

From UltraMobilePC’s Vega Review on its 5″ screen size, “For example, I use contact lenses and I do not need reading glasses unless the letters are too small, like the ones printed in some drug boxes. I do not need reading glasses at all to use any of the UMPC with a 7 inches display but I felt the need of my glasses using Vega.

From UltraMobilePC’s Amtek T770 Review on battery life, “…the battery life is between 2 hours and 2 hours 15 minutes according to my tests.”

And on performance, “If you are a regular user that does not care about performance but you want an integrated webcam and microphone without having to pay a extra money, yes, you will find in this machine these features…”

Photo courtesy of Hanno’s Blog

Hanno’s Everun Review on odd size resolutions often found in UMPCs, “800×480 is the recommended screen resolution that Microsoft chose for UMPCs, yet the OS has menus that don’t fit. What good is the promise of being able to run standard software when the screen estate is too small for it?”

You get the idea.  The processor’s are too slow for the (bloated) OS, the screen resolution is all wrong, rendering many UMPCs unreadable without a magnifying glass, the OS’s menus don’t fit on the screen, multitasking is impossible due to lack of memory and processing power, and battery power is generally lackluster, if not putrid.

Indeed, not all UMPCs fail in every area.  Some are better than others.  But there is a lack of consistency across the board regarding features and performance.  UMPCs range in size, keyboard type, connectivity options, price, screen sizes and many other features, so lumping them into one category and saying they are inadequate may not be completely fair, but I have not read one UMPC review that has made me want to run out and get one.  To be sure, spending $800 to $2400 for lackluster performance in a package that is not quite pocketable, and is fraught with compromises, hardly intrigues me.  Pocket PCs are too small.  I need a larger screen to view spreadsheet data among other things.  Laptops are too big.  So I find myself aching for a UMPC. 

The Ultimate UMPC

Find the Ultimate UMPC after the break

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jkOnTheRun reviews WiBrain B1-H UMPC

I have been a little busy lately without much time to finish my review of the Wibrain B1H UMPC. So, while you are waiting for me here is a review that I would recommend.

I think the WiBrain meets the intended use of a companion handheld computer. I’d recommend the device to anyone on a budget who can deal with the high resolution on the small screen and is looking for a portable device mainly for visual Internet usage. As mentioned, you can use the device for full desktop apps, but you’ll see a hit in the battery life and you’ll need an external keyboard for serious text entry. The touchscreen won’t help you much here because the device isn’t running the Tablet Edition of XP and based on the high res, I’m not sure it would be a positive experience in the end even if you were running it. Audio quality is lacking and the the web-cam not working with Skype takes away one of my primary functions, but if you don’t use Skype or other apps that use a web-cam, this should be a non issue.

I completely agree with Kevin, a device with a touch screen and Windows Home edition uses 25% of the capabilities of that touch screen. Why Wibrain and other install Windows XP Home Edition instead of Tablet PC 2005 Edition? My guess is that they do that to have a more appealing price. But that’s a mistake. A huge mistake. The OS for this machine is XP Tablet PC Edition without any doubt. Of course would be better if we could run Vista “properly” in all UMPCs but in the Wibrain, you better stay with XP.

The Wibrain B1 Photo Set by Ctitanic

I like to take pictures of every machine I get to check, a lot of pictures, I think that sometimes they are more useful to people thinking about buying these devices than 1000 of words. It happened to me that after posting them I receive emails with questions about things that people find in these pictures that I did not noticed having the device on front of me in my hands. So here is the Wibrain B1 Photo Set.

CES 2008 - Small is Beautiful

While at CES, I had a few moments to look at the Wibrain B1 Ultra Mobile Device that featured a 1.2 GHz C7-M ULV Processor and a VIA VX700 Unified media IGP chipset.  I liked the feel and was immediately struck by its comfort in my hands.

I was not too sure if I would like the “split” keyboard but after trying it for a few minutes I was liking it a lot!  It would have been nice to spend a few more moments with it to try to get a better feel for its power, versatility and overall usefulness in how I try to Experience Mobility but alas, time was an issue and I had to put it down to move on to an appointment.

So it was one of those cool items I got to see quickly and it left me with a fairly good first impression.  But the the real question is how good will it really be?  Fortunately, our very own ultra-mobile guru, Frank Garcia (aka ctitanic) , just got his hands on one to do some real testing.

Frank did a great first look video to give you a flavor and I expect we will see a review soon that will give you the pros and cons of this new device.  Stay tuned …

Specifications after the break

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Wibrain B1 finally in my Hands

This weekend I had the opportunity to play with a Wibrain B1. And of course I shot a short video for my video section at todoUMPC showing it and talking about it.

Video: Wibrain B1

The Wibrain design has a retro style that makes me think about those old James Bond movies from the 80s played by Sean Connery. So I went and prepare this photo composition with a James Bond style.