[MobileRatty] tag: pocketable

Netbook popularity may be boon for Qualcomm

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:16:00 +0000

While the popularity of the Eee PC from Asustek Computer may help drive the netbook market and benefit PC processor players such as Intel and VIA Technologies, the new found market acceptance for mini-notebook devices may also be boon for mobile handset chip provider Qualcomm and its Snapdragon processor.

According to market research firm Gartner, global mini-notebook shipments are on pace to reach 5.2 million units in 2008 and eight million units in 2009, and with strong growth expected to be maintained over the next few years, shipments could reach 50 million units in 2012.

In addition to demand coming from emerging markets, education and consumers, mobile handset service operators see such devices as demand drivers for their advanced next-generation services. Therefore, Asustek is cooperating with Japan-based telecommunication vendors to push out a 100 Yen (US$0.91) Eee PC bundled with 3.5G online services, and the company is planning to push out a zero or one Euro (US$1.52) bundle with telecommunication vendors in Europe.

Developments in the mini notebook segment are not going unnoticed by global handset chipset leader Qualcomm, and the company is gearing up for the release of similar devices based on its Snapdragon processor late this year or early in 2009.

Qualcomm has already had some success with its Snapdragon in the 4-inch to 6-inch Internet device segments, with Samsung and HTC being two companies that have announced products based on the processor. However, the company also believes the Snapdragon can satisfy market demand for larger sized devices with a full keyboard in the 7- to 12-inch product range - the company refers to these two segments as Pocketable Computing Devices (PCDs) and Mobile Computing Devices (MCDs), respectively.

During Computex Taipei in June, Qualcomm showcased a 10-inch MCD powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon running Linux. At that time, Qualcomm SVP Luis Pineda indicated that the company was not trying to develop computing products that replaced notebooks, but that were complementary devices for mobile professionals.

Pineda compared the device to a UMPC, which would only provide 2-3 hours of battery life and would require a travel charger for a mobile professional on a day trip. In contrast, Pineda indicated the Snapdragon could run on 500mW at 1GHz. That translates into a full computing device that can run all day, or eight hours, Pineda pointed out.

The key focus of such devices would not be CPU-intensive applications but the light computing mobile professionals needed, including office applications, web-browsing, chat, multimedia and email. While the company indicated that it is supporting both Windows Mobile and Linux for its PCDs and MCDs, it is focusing on Linux for the larger full keyboard devices and has been aggressively developing Linux software support for its MCD devices.

Qualcomm indicated that it has formed partnerships to build support for Linux applications on its chip, focusing on applications that it felt would create a lot of usage, such as a desktop browser, email client, OpenOffice, media player and chatting software. Pineda indicated that while Qualcomm will do a lot of the porting and the prevalidation of the OS, it will be the software providers that will work with system ODMs such as Inventec. Qualcomm will focus on chipset support.

Qualcomm believes the market for such devices will be driven by connectivity, especially 3G connectivity, and its experience and leadership in the wireless modem market will provide it with a strong advantage over its competitors from the PC market. Pineda added that the Snapdragon also supports GPS, Wi Fi, Bluetooth, a 12 megapixel camera, as well as support for Mobile DTV technologies such as MediaFLO, DVB-H and ISDB-T. Therefore, system houses and ODMs can design any number of products, from entry-level to high-end touch-screen devices, Pineda indicated.

Pineda also argued that such integration would also make solutions based on the Snapdragon competitive with any netbook solution in the wireless space, as netbooks would require add-ons such as wireless modem cards.

Qualcomm recently noted that more than 20 OEMs are developing more than 30 products using the snapdragon processor, with devices expected to be released at the end of this year or early next year.

Moving forward, Qualcomm expects demand to be even stronger once LTE is adopted in the market. Qualcomm will launch chipsets supporting LTE next year. In terms of WiMAX, Pineda indicated that Qualcomm has no plans to support it with its Snapdragon chip, but the company will monitor developments in the market.

source

Polaroid to take another crack at the instant camera

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:32:38 +0000

Image: Squeaky Marmot

The instant camera was finally put to pasture early this year, as the Polaroid Corporation stopped producing film for the iconic take-and-shake camera. Polaroid wisely took advantage of the cessation to market their pocket-sized PoGo instant printer, which received modest praise, but did not include a camera of its own, relying instead on Bluetooth- and USB-equipped mobile phones.

But now the company has announced plans to release a next generation instant camera with the PoGo's "ZINK" printing technology built right inside, ditching the PoGo's 3-by-2 format for the old instant's familiar 4-by-3. And they've asked the readers of Amateur Photographer magazine to help them design it.

One trouble sign: the camera is reported to be "focused on 'professional and business users'". While I'm certain there are plenty of uses for a new instant camera to be used in the workplace, such a pop culture classic should surely be aimed at casual users first.

Here are a few of my suggestions for a new Polaroid instant camera:

• Keep it retro – If adding the printer inside will preclude the new camera from being pocketable, I'd not worry about making the thing as small as possible but instead try to evoke the shape of Polaroid instant cameras of the past. Perhaps even a rudimentary viewfinder could complement a modern LCD panel in the back.

• Add old timey filters – Everybody loves the rather crappy look of an old Polaroid; it melds perfectly with today's hipster aesthetic. A simple mode on the camera that produces slightly milky images would be a lot of fun — and it could still save a more clear version as a file on the camera's internal memory.

• Add the handle, not the shake – Shaking an old Polaroid never did anything in the first place. Everyone's asking Polaroid to figure out a way to make their heat activated ZINK technology activate by shaking, but that's a waste of time. Just make sure the thick border on the bottom of the images is there and everyone will shake and Sharpie them like always — whether they need to or not.

Polaroid plans to collect everyone's input and put out the new model next year.

PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SHAPE POLAROID HISTORY [AmateurPhotographer.co.uk via Oh Gizmo! via Gizmodo via Gadget Lab]

Fujifilm Announces FinePix J Series

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:08:51 +0000

Fujifilm has unveiled its latest J Series of compact digital cameras to folks in the UK - and the merry bunch consists of the FinePix J100, J110W, J120 and J150W. The shared specification across all models are the 10 megapixel CCD sensor and 5x optical zoom lens, but other essentials like the LCD size are different across the range. The J Series measure a mere 22.6mm wide, making them extremely pocketable if you’re one who brings the digital camera with you wherever you go. In addition, you can forget about AA batteries that seem to drain themselves much faster compared to the internal rechargeable NP-45 lithium-ion battery. Other shared features include :-

High ISO sensitivity to 1600Face Detection with auto red-eye removalPicture StabilizationContinuous Shooting13 different shooting programs 24MB internal memory

Sounds like the perfect beginner camera to pick up. [Press Release]

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Fujifilm Announces FinePix J Series

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:49:40 +0000

Fujifilm has unveiled its latest J Series of compact digital cameras to folks in the UK - and the merry bunch consists of the FinePix J100, J110W, J120 and J150W. The shared specification across all models are the 10 megapixel CCD sensor and 5x optical zoom lens, but other essentials like the LCD size are different across the range. The J Series measure a mere 22.6mm wide, making them extremely pocketable if you're one who brings the digital camera with you wherever you go. In addition, you can forget about AA batteries that seem to drain themselves much faster compared to the internal rechargeable NP-45 lithium-ion battery. Other shared features include :-

High ISO sensitivity to 1600
Face Detection with auto red-eye removal
Picture Stabilization
Continuous Shooting
13 different shooting programs
24MB internal memory

Sounds like the perfect beginner camera to pick up. [Press Release]

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Nikon says P6000 is small on size, big on "creative freedom"

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:28:43 +0000

Nikon's Coolpix P6000 is aimed at DSLR users wanting something pocketable that won't incur the compromises of a standard digicam. It has a 13.5 megapixel sensor, 4x zoom lens, manual exposure and RAW support. DSLR-style features like shutter- or aperture-priority modes, and a high-end chip to kill lag and processing overhead, polish it off. It replaces the P5100.

P6000 press release [Nikon]

eDeck: Real mobile gambling for Venetian high rollers

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:06:15 +0000

Even though I cringed with each pull on a $5 slot machine, I still like the idea of Cantor Gaming's new eDeck handheld gambling device. Available for high rollers (i.e., those who wrap chewed gum in $50 bills to play trash-can basketball with), the mobile gaming unit taps into the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and allows gamblers to play slots, blackjack, and other games from the High Limit Slot Salon.

Why would this appeal to someone like me, who now sticks to quarter slots? Sentimental reasons, really. First, my husband and I got married at the Venetian. Second, my parents go to Vegas three to four times a year (no joke) because my mom loves to gamble. Third, my best friend lives in Vegas. And fourth, it's a pocketable device.

None of this has anything to do with the eDeck directly, I know, but something that combines technology with the Venetian and Vegas is just something I need to share.

Via CrunchGear.

Posted by Jenn Category: devices | gaming
Tags: gambling
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iPhone Hip Holster Recharges Your Battery While Repelling the Ladies [Holsters]

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:30:00 +0000

Sheathing something as slick and pocketable as the iPhone in a holster feels wrong to me for many reasons, but this particular holster adds the handy ability to charge your drained batteries with its own rechargeable Li-ion battery back. It's good for one full charge before it needs to be recharged itself. Handy, and at $25 the price is right, but this thing is huge. Product page says this only works with first-gen iPhones and iPod touch—but I don't see any reason why you couldn't squeeze a 3G in. [Product Page via BBG]

Asus USB-N11 Wireless N USB Adapter

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:07:43 +0000

Asus has a brand new wireless N USB adapter in the form of the aptly named USB-N11. This device comes with a button that when pused, it will automagically create a protected wireless environment without having to earn a rocket science degree in the first place. The USB-N11 is fully certified with the 802.11n wireless standard, and claims to offer a data transfer rate of up to 5 times faster throughput @ 90Mbps compared to 802.11g standards - that’s all in theory, of course, and the proof is in the pudding so I’ll take this figure with a pinch of salt at this point in time. It is also pocketable, measuring a mere 84mm x 21mm x 11mm. No idea on how much it will cost though, but good thing it wasn’t named under the super-diluted Eee banner.

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Asus USB-N11 Wireless N USB Adapter

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:56:10 +0000

Asus has a brand new wireless N USB adapter in the form of the aptly named USB-N11. This device comes with a button that when pused, it will automagically create a protected wireless environment without having to earn a rocket science degree in the first place. The USB-N11 is fully certified with the 802.11n wireless standard, and claims to offer a data transfer rate of up to 5 times faster throughput @ 90Mbps compared to 802.11g standards - that's all in theory, of course, and the proof is in the pudding so I'll take this figure with a pinch of salt at this point in time. It is also pocketable, measuring a mere 84mm x 21mm x 11mm. No idea on how much it will cost though, but good thing it wasn't named under the super-diluted Eee banner.

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Battery life on ultramobile computers still hopeless

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:58:48 +0000

UMPCPortal is annoyed at the power-related shortcomings of an otherwise saucy handheld computer, Kohjinsha's SC3. As a result, ultramobile supremo Chippy has a poll up asking his readers the following question:

"What's the minimum battery life you consider to be suitable for an Ultra Mobile device in 2008?"

The options are for 2, 3, 4 or 5 hours.

Only 5 hours?

This year was supposed to be the breakthrough in this regard for pocketable computers, and it isn't happening. It's not even close to happening. The SC3 is cutting-edge stuff, and it can't stay awake more than a couple of hours. There's the hardware required to run Vista — or any other desktop-class operating system — and then there are the laws of thermodynamics. Together, they make for unhappy UMPC fans.

If you're wondering, 5 hours is the runaway winner on the poll. Makers: cut the fancy operating systems, cut the performance, and stop trying to make desktop replacements that have to run on 20 watt-hour batteries. Such machines serve no real constituency and solve no real problems: the iPhone, of all things, is the only thing near this segment that gets it right.

OK, so the Everun is pretty neat. And the OQO, too. Sony's Vaio UXes are also lovely. But you know what I mean.

Kohjinsha SC3 UMPC. First impressions. [UMPC portal]