AMD Bobcat to Target Atom

AMD is apparently close to releasing a 64-bit processor chip they have announced previously called ‘Bobcat’ designed to go head to head against Intel’s successful (though sadly unloved by Intel) Atom UMPC chip.

The Bobcat is rumored to feature the following specs:

• 1GHz clock speed
• 128KB of L1 cache
• 256KB of L2 cache
• 800MHz HyperTransport
• On-board memory controller will handle 400MHz DDR 2 chips.
• 8W Power consumption
• Within a 812-pin, 27mm² BGA package.

Considering the problems the Atom shortage has been causing UMPC vendors, this should be looked on as very good news indeed. Also, Intel could use some more UMPC competition. Between the Bobcat and the upcoming new chip from VIA, things are continuing to heat up in the UMPC market.

Atom Don’t Get No Love from Intel

During Intel’s Earnings Conference Call a few days ago, Intel Chairman Paul Otellini had this to to say to analysts and investors about the Atom chip found in so many upcoming Netbooks and UMPCs:

(Atom) is less than a third the performance of our Centrino (processor). You’re dealing with something that most of us wouldn’t use.

We do not see (Atom) replacing Celeron. If you look at the Netbook products being built around Atom, they’re all lower-priced, lower features, smaller screen size notebooks aimed at first-time buyers or second, third, or fourth machine in a household.

Nice…why do I suddenly feel like a barbarian at the gate? One would think that as Intel chairperson, he would want to sing the praises of ALL his products and their unique niches, especially ones that are dominating their space like the Atom. Oh, I forgot, Atom chips and low cost machines don’t bring in the wicked high margin that new Centrino 2 laptops do. My bad, my bad….I almost began thinking that innovation or technology advancement or customer satisfaction were the goals instead of accumulating as many shiny rocks as possible before being forced out of the seat by the next Intel Chairperson.

I get so confused.

Celeron???? Sheesh…no love at ALL.

(Source – CNet)

Another Classmate, the JumPC

A kid’s netbook based on Intel’s rival to the OLPC, Classmate, has been released in the UK by Actronix.

Called the JumPC, this small, very durable looking netbook has the following specs:

• A 900MHz Intel Celeron Mobile processor
• 915GMS chipset.
• 512MB DDR 2 RAM
• 2GB of Flash storage or a 30GB HDD
• 7in, 800 x 480 display
• Two USB ports
• 10/100Mb/s Ethernet
• 802.11b/g Wi-Fi.
• Webcam
• Windows XP Home Edition
• The kid-friendly UI is based on EasyBits’ Magic Desktop software.

This unit features a built in handle similar to that found in a recent Korean version of the Intel Classmate as well as a customizable cover and is available for 229 Pounds in the UK.

(Source – The Register)

Opera Mobile 9.5 Beta Released

Opera has released their much anticipated Opera Mobile v9.5 web browser to open beta today. This version is usable on touchscreen devices running Windows Mobile 5 or 6 and is installed from a cab file.

Download the beta HERE.

Read a comprehensive preview of the new browser version on Crave.

Health Management Product Seeks Beta Tester

Personal mobile technology can be a somewhat selfish, decadent obsession, therefore I am always on the look out for ways that mobile devices can make a qualitative difference in people’s lives. I recently was informed of a Beta program that may allow people to help develop a product that could do just that.

ZumeLife, a medical technology company, is in the process of developing a small mobile product called the Zuri that is designed to assist people in managing their own fitness and ongoing health care.

ZumeLife says the following about the product:

Our prototype solution empowers you to do a much better job of self-care via an iPod-size device that helps with reminders and tracking of health-related activities. A personal webpage allows you to follow your health and note signs of progress or trouble, and enables your caregivers to provide you better support.

Obviously such a project needs beta testers, which is why ZumeLife is turning to the online community.

[Read more]

InterKey 3.0 released

I recently wrote a review of Interkey, so I’m not going to go into a lot of detail other than to announce that version 3.0 is available for download at www.penreader.com. The standard version costs $24.95, and the professional version costs $34.95.

This is a hefty price to pay for a screen input keyboard, and there are certainly others out there for far less that will do the job for you. However, there are some virtues to consider.

One of the main attractions of Interkey is the vast number of languages and keyboard layouts it supports. So, if you’re a polyglot, this one is a good choice.

Another attractive feature is the large key layout option that is designed for finger typing. Even with my bear paws, I am able to make it work satisfactorily, which is more than I can say for the iPhone keyboard. When you tap a key, a magnified version pops up to help eliminate mistakes. If you tapped the wrong key, just slide your finger to the right one. Another welcome feature is the predictive text engine, which is excellent and also helps to eliminate errors.

Supposedly, you can use screen gestures to insert a space, shift key, backspace, and enter, but I could not get this to work on my screen. Perhaps it was due to such limited space because I ended up highlighting text every time I tried it.

While you can set whether you want a space after the input of each work or not, you cannot set it for capitalizing the first work of every sentence, which would be on my wish list. It will not capitalize “I” contractions such as I’d, I’m, I’ll. But, it does capitalize the word “I”. Curious.

I must say that I do enjoy using it and the fact that there is no learning curve. You can just jump in and type away on the familiar QWERTY layout without having to learn how to tap dance with new fancy motions as with some other systems. I especially appreciate its robust predictive text feature. Once you type in a new word, it becomes part of the database, which also saves time. I also like the fact that you can install it on a memory card to save main memory space.

Mac OS X on a Wind?!?

Paul at MoDaCo has managed quite a feat, hacking, stomping and shoehorning Mac OS X onto a MSi Wind (well, an Advent, but same thing). He gives a step by step guide HERE to how he manages it and admits not everything works right out of the box. Wireless requires actually swapping physical antennas and the keyboard is acting sort of weird…but hey, dig the docking port at the bottom the screen!

This is certainly the MacBook for the budget conscious consumer, give or take a little soldering and a few features…like hibernating. All in all, very very impressive. Now, if anyone can install the innards of IBM’s Blue Gene onto my Eee 701, I will be able to finally get that one world government thing going.

Check out the MacWind goodness below.

Opera Mobile 9.5 public beta to be delayed until July 17

From the official Opera Mobile Blog

Some things in life don’t go according to plan — at least not in software development. We knew when we announced a release date before we finished development that a showstopper bug might be found that could alter the actual date we release the beta.

As you can imagine, we encountered a few bugs last week that we needed to fix before we launch. Our engineering team worked through the weekend to fix the bugs. Even though our release is a beta, we’d rather spend the extra time to fix them, thus giving you a better experience. The fixes are almost complete now, but we need two more days to run the build through our quality assurance testing. The new launch date is now set for the 17th.

We’re disappointed to delay, but fixing these bugs will improve the experience with our beta and let you fully test the browser.

Most of the comments at the blog were a lot less angry than I was expecting. There are some die-hard fans that have been waiting a year or more for this release, so it’s no wonder that some tension follows each delay reported at the blog. Good thing the latest delay was only two days… but we’ll see what happens on the 17th. Keep your fingers crossed.

New eWallet 6.1

I used to be a devoted FlexWallet user until it was subsumed by Ilium Software’s eWallet. I was always too lazy to try to convert to another wallet application. But, eWallet made it seamless, and I’ve never looked back because eWallet is by far the superior product. Accordingly, I am delighted to report that a new version has just been released with some enticing features that make it even better.

If you are already a 6.0 user, be sure to take a moment to upgrade. It’s free; your old files will be compatible, and your old registration code is still valid. It will not even ask you to enter it when you install the new version.

Probably, the developers should have called it version 7.0 because of all the new features. Here are some of the highlights:

• Overall version 6.1 stresses customization
• You can now assign field types
• Create multiple hidden fields
• Phone number, email addresses, and URLs are now active hyperlinks
• Autopass allows you to enter password information in Internet Explorer
• Smart Copy lets you copy card information into Web forms
• Create shortcuts to your favorite cards in a favorites folder
• Use color gradients or solids for backgrounds
• Use background images provided or create your own
• Improved search engine allows rapid card retrieval
• Create templates on the fly more quickly and easily
• Card creation and edition is now easier on Smartphones without touch screens

[Read more]

Do you have a place for Winterface?

Ho hum, you say, not another shell to supplant the Today screen. I have long been an advocate of having easy, instant access to everything in and about my device from the opening screen. Vito Technology, one of the leading Windows Mobile developers, has just added an exciting new workhorse to its stable of finger-friendly iPhone-like applications. It’s called Winterface and functions as a program launcher, system monitor, and task manager.

Winterface is a sort of farfetched name for ”Windows Interface” that brings to my mind an Eskimo with icicles hanging from eyebrows. Nevertheless, it is a masterful piece of engineering that puts just about anything you want within a finger stroke or two from PIM info to system info to applications and utilities. [Read more]

A Methanol Powered Wibrain?

NeoSolar, the company that produces the Wibrain UMPC is working with MTI Micro to develop a UMPC that would be powered not by a standard 3 or 6 cell battery, but by a DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell).

DMFCs are fuel cells which produce power by harnessing a chemical reaction between methanol, water and air. Replenishable by just adding more methanol, DMFCs are very green, producing only electricity and carbon dioxide and would not require recharging from an external power source as typical UMPC batteries do.

Several companies, including Toshiba, have been experimenting with DMFC powered laptops and phones over the last couple of years, but none of them have made it past the proof of concept phase.

This is MTI Micro’s third agreement with a major consumer electronics company. The first was with Samsung and involved fuel cells for mobile phones. The second is with an unnamed major player in the Japanese digital photography world for a fuel-cell powered digital camera.

As UMPCs struggle to find ways to differentiate themselves from competitors, this seems like a clever, out of the box solution by NeoSolar. After all, how much of an advantage would unlimited battery life be? Just add water…

(Source: PC World)

Samsung Blackjack III in Korea

Samsung announced its successor to the Blackjack line, a 3G HSDPA BlackJack III (SCH-M480) today in Korea. It will be called the Ultra Messaging 2 in Korea and will be available from mid-July through SK Telecom.

The Phone’s specs are as follows:

• Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth
• 2.6-inch touchscreen display with 320×320 pixel resolution
• BlackBerry style keypad and finger mouse
• 2M camera
• MP3/MPEG4 and WMV files support
• Micro SD card slot

All I can say is that this phone looks frighteningly terrific, especially that Treo style square touchscreen, and should do a lot to shake up the QWERTY smartphone market this summer.

(Source – Aving)

Learning the Hard Way

I was robbed today. Seriously.

Some brazen thief stole my laptop and my Asus Eee off my desk while I was at lunch. A few weeks of work since my last backup lost, and much personal writing and photography gone forever. A bitter pill, but swallowable. The thief will wipe the HD long before bothering to look at any of that material.

After I finished raging and attempting to wake up from this dream, I settled into filling out my purchase order for a new Thinkpad (being ordered tomorrow), looking on the bright side (laptop upgrade) and considering if I would get another Eee 701 ASAP, or perhaps swap the order and get a Wind or Kohjinsha first. Then I remembered that I had left my Gmail account open on the desktop when I left…and the always tempting “Remember Me on this Compter” option selected. Years of personal information reside in the deep pockets of my Gmail inbox, as I became very very worried.

Then I recalled a new feature I had read about in Gmail to help in just this situation. At the bottom of your Gmail inbox you now have the ability to see the time and IP address of the last activity on the account. Beyond that, click “Details” to see the times and IP addresses of the last few log ins. Even more important, from Details you can see if any other computers are logged onto your account and disconnect them with a single click. A quick check to be sure no one is reading my secrets, a password change and my history is safe thanks to a simple but frighteningly clever feature from Google.

So learn from me and my if not tragic, then annoying tale, my friends. Always follow these simple rules:

• Lock your office door. You never know who is in the halls of your company and receptionists are NOT security guards.
• Backup your drives at least weekly, and not just work material. Back up ANY important information regularly.
• Avoid selecting “Remember Me” on any website. A few seconds entering your user name and password are worth it for peace of mind.
• And lastly…remember you have the ability to monitor and remove unwanted visitors to your Gmail account at anytime.

So, Eee 701, Wind or Kohjinsha? Cheap and small, more powerful, or swivel touch screen?

July is International Small Computer Month!

It certain seems like that at least, as July is filled with UMPC releases from major players in the space (or those who intend to be). Of course, while there were gobs of small laptops announced for July shipment, now that we are down to brass tacks many of them are slipping to August, or are releasing in very small numbers with larger shipments expected later in the summer.

The following very helpful list of Summer UMPC releases for the UK was compiled by the Register and looking through it, I can’t help but think that too many of these devices are almost identical, and in many cases are just rebadging of other products. Perhaps the release of the Asus Eee 701 caused all these companies to think “Hey kids, let’s release a UMPC since those look to be really hot all the sudden…let’s release it in July, and make it as much like the Eee as possible! No one will expect us to do THAT!” It’s like everyone showing up for a party in the same dress. Not terribly inspiring for consumers when they can’t tell the difference between a dozen different devices.

On the other hand, the ones who ARE bringing something unusual to the table, such as the swivel touch screen of the Gigabyte M912, are taking a risk of their own. Why fix something that is not broken? If the marketplace wants endless identical miniature laptops, why not give them endless identical miniature laptops?

Of course, the marketplace has yet to make clear WHAT it really wants exactly, and as more products are released through July and August I am sure it will in the only way that matters…with money. Which of these products will still be available in January? That depends on which ones strike a chord with buyers, either due to features, price, marketing skill or blind luck.

It is worth noting that the dates given in the list from The Register indicates what I think is the date the products are meant to be IN STORES, not just filling preorders.

Asus Eee PC 901
Due: 1 July 2008 Now due "late July"
Lowest Price: £350

Asus Eee PC 1000H
Due: On Sale
Lowest Price: £349

Asus Eee PC 1001
Due: "Expected late August"
Lowest Price: £379

PCWorld Advent 4211
(aka MSI Wind)
Due: 8 July 2008
Lowest Price: £280

Acer Aspire One
Due: 25 July 2008
Lowest Price: £230

MSI Wind
Due: 31 July 2008
Lowest Price: £330

Elonex One
Due: September
Lowest Price: £99

Asus Eee PC 904
Due: TBA
Lowest Price: TBA

Gigabyte M912
Due: TBA
Lowest Price: TBA

ECS G10IL
Due: TBA
Lowest Price: £464

Inherit the Wind

I can just keep coming up with Wind puns ad infinitum it seems…

Anyway, for those of you following the continuing story, MSi missed two US release dates for their critically acclaimed Wind UMPC and finally said they would absolutely, positively be shipping on July 7th. The UMPC world held it’s breath in anticipation of…

…Why…that’s TODAY! <gasp>

According to sources on the MSi forums, MSi US did indeed receive a shipment of 300 Winds for shipment today and all of those are going out to preorders. A nice gesture by MSi is that due to the delays they apparently gave free overnight shipping to all the people who have been waiting. Classy. Next units available in the US, according to an MSi CSR, won’t be until late July or mid August so after these 300 are gone they apparently need to start making a new batch, like doughnuts. No word whatsoever on any units appearing in brick and mortar locations. No confirmation on shipping to customers as of yet either, so we will see.

If you are in the US and preordered a Wind, you may be in luck soon…if you didn’t preorder, it will be another month or so until you can get one.

New products are always fun, especially highly anticipated ones, but does it HAVE to be this hard to buy a single damn UMPC? It’s easier choosing a new Pope then getting a Wind it seems.

Follow the drama for yourself at MSiWind.net.

UPDATE ONE: These 300 units are just for people who preordered direct from MSi, if you preordered from Amazon or elsewhere, you will be waiting until late July/mid August it seems. Plus, word from MSi is now that they WON’T ship to customers on the 7th, but on the 8th. This is beginning to look less like a proper release and more like just getting a handful of devices out when promised so they don’t look like complete prats and lose orders. Spinning in the Wind?

UPDATE TWO: MSi CSRs are now apparently using phrases like “by Friday” when discussing when the brave 300 (MADNESS??? THIS IS MOBILITYSITE!!!!!!) will get their Winds. No word yet as to whether or not the check is in the mail, if the CSR will respect us in the morning or if these chaps make me look fat.

UPDATE THREE: The 6 cell battery version of the Wind has now been officially delayed by MSi until “August”.

No year listed.

UPDATE FOUR: Nothing shipped to customers thus far on the 8th. Someone who “doesn’t work for MSi” posted some pics from a warehouse showing Winds in shipping crates, including free MSi caps and apparently a readme page in English.  The poster says they are from the US, no reason to assume they aren’t. The photos make the Wind forum happier, but they are getting more and more frustrated and more and more vocal about it. Sharp looking hats though.

As I predicted, this week is looking like a win for Asus.

UPDATE FIVE: It appears most of the stalwarts on msiwind.net forums received emails with tracking numbers, as well as some people who preordered from some resellers such as mwave…so it appears the pain is finally coming to an end, at least for the first wave of preorders.

Now, WHEN was the 6 cell supposed to be released?