UMPC Site

OrigamiCar announced a nice application for UMPCs (it will be useful for Tablets too i believe) : Taskswitcher.

What is TaskSwitcher?

TaskSwitcher is a small application specifically written for UMPC touchscreen computers that gives you instant access to various useful functions that are otherwise a little more tricky on a computer without a keyboard.

When it is running, a small gray panel appears at the top center of the screen on your UMPC. Tapping this panel allows you to cycle through your open programs.

Apperantly Asus is bundling a lot of junkware like Sony. Steve from Carrypad detected a long list of software running in the background , hurting both battery life and performance, so he removed most of them.

Process list - It hurts.
We then went through the process list and compared it to the i7210. Here are the extra processes we found. (I’m writing these down from the notes Ian wrote. There could be some spelling errors as I translate his engineers writing style!)

ACEngsvr
acmon
acovcnt
asghost
atkosd
batterylife
dllhost
dmedia
Framework services
GPSwatch
Hcontrol
IMCsvr
naprdmgr
settingpage
syntpenh
tosa2dp
tosbthid
tosbthsp
tosbtmng
tvtvengacq
vstskmgr
wcourier
wdfmgr

That’s a huge list of extra processes.

Yes, it is!

OnlyUMPC published a review of Asus R2H. (Although they say “detailed” review, we have seen much more detailed ones)

The Verdict:

The Good: Clean design, great bundle of hardware & software, GPS, Extended battery & Finger Print Reader

The Bad: The finger print reader keeps prompting even if you touched it by mistake (and believe me it’s hard not to touch it, because of it placement). Not for those who think this is going to replace their main PC (this being Celeron M 900 MHz)

OnlyUMPC posted a photo gallery of Asus R2H.

Carrypad noticed battery differences between US and European models.

The U.S. version comes with a 48W/hr battery. (Model No. R2H-BH059T) The European version comes with the 24W/hr battery. (Model No. R2H-BH039T)

Carrypad posted a very clever 3D size comparison of UMPCs (and ultra portables) :

Raon (Digital) Vega is now available on Dynamism, shipping expected on October 30th. It is with 512 MB RAM and ritePen software, for $879.

After some major players leaving the game, Nokia found itself a nice market apperantly : PDAs. After the 770 model, they are planning more models.

Nokia 330:

It has 3.5″ screen (smaller than 770) with DivX playback and GPS capabilities.

Nokia 880 (or 870):

There isn’t much info about this model. It was posted on Internet Tablet Talk forums as Nokia 870, but the image was taken by Nokia’s request. Now you can see the picture at everywhere. (PDAStreet as Nokia 880)

OQO made a huge price reduction on Model 01+ : It’s now starting at $1199!

Business 2.0 reports OQO is preparing a new model with cellular capability.

Improved OQO handheld PC will have cellular
Interesting tidbit from someone who would know: The next OQO handheld PC, which could be out as soon as the Consumer Electronics Show in January, will have a brighter screen, improved keyboard, more memory, a bigger hard drive and wide-area wireless capability,

Digital World Tokyo reported that Quanta is entering UMPC market, with Intel ’s reference design.

The world’s largest contract laptop PC maker is branching out into ultramobile PCs (UMPCs), using a reference design from Intel and software from Yahoo.

Intel executives showed off the UMPC made by Quanta Computer at the Fall Intel Developer Forum in Taipei on Monday. The new device is a sign Intel and other backers of the UMPC design are gaining further support from hardware makers globally, which will increase the variety of devices available as well as their functions. More UMPC contenders should also help drive down prices through market competition.

I told you about my prediction “Yahoo! is not making UMPCs,they are preparing software.” They are verifying it now. PC World also verifying it on their report on this news.

Quanta’s new UMPC runs Yahoo’s Go for ultramobiles, a joint software effort with Intel designed to deliver digital entertainment on devices that use Intel Viiv technology, including Go TV, and Yahoo photos, music, and other content. Intel did not say which specific functions the ultramobile PC version of Go includes.

Carrypad posted a nice review of Tabletkiosk eo i7210.

Summary.

A superb Ultra Mobile PC. The docking station sets it in a class of its own and proves that the UMPC can be used as a mini-pc on the desktop. Price is high so you’ll need to think carefully about justification before purchase. Digital photographers wanting an SD-capable storage, review, editing and communication device will find the i7210 the best UMPC solution yet. Lightwieght touchscreen lends itself well to finger-based operation. Its a shame there’s no car-mount available. Battery life is nothing exceptional.