Android on smartbooks is snappier than Windows 7 says Gartner
June 15, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Smartbook devices are set to become much more commonplace as we reach the end of the year. They run on ARM-based processors and as such feature integrated 3G, GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the chip itself. They differ from netbooks in that they are ‘always connected’ to the Internet and are meant to have battery lives lasting between 8 to 10 hours.
As they these chips are not x86, it means running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 is not an option. What manufacturers will be able to choose from is a growing stable of netbook-centric Linux distributions (including Android) or Windows CE. Some Gartner analysts have given their own thoughts after checking out a number of smartbook devices running Google’s Android operating system at Computex. Read more
Kinpo demos 7-inch Android Thin Client Tablet
June 8, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Kinpo has shown off a 7-inch Android tablet powered by a Freescale i.MX51 processor. It’s unclear whether it is a prototype or bound for retail soon, but it’s quite a neat little device with the 7-inch screen probably the perfect size for a tablet device.
The touch panel has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and seemed to react smoothly to touch commands. I’m unsure if it has an accelerometer, as the display didn’t flip when being turned around when watching a video. I’d be surprised if it didn’t have one, so this is more likely to be a bug. Check out a hands-on video from TechVideoBlog after the break. Read more
GNB’s GL-750 Android smartbook gets video hands-on
June 7, 2009 at 9:29 am
In what is probably our last story relating to this week’s Computex show in Taiwan, GNB unveiled a 7-inch smartbook running on Google Android. The GNB GL-750 was running a port of Android v1.5 powered by Freescale’s 533MHz ARM 11 iMX31 processor.
As the device only has a 7-inch screen, it was very small in the hand, weighing just 680g. The matte screen has a thick bezel surrounding it and runs at an 800 x 480 resolution. Storage is catered for by an 8GB SSD with RAM of 256MB. In terms of ports, it comes with three USB ports, a pair of audio jacks, Ethernet and a multi-card reader.
While the keyboard certainly is small, it does seem usable. The touchpad has mouse buttons on the left and right hand side of it. Given those specs, I imagine it won’t cost too much, although it’s likely to be bundled on a service contract through a mobile phone operator. Check out a hands-on video from NetbookNews after the break. Read more
Moblin gets Linux distro backing & Android app support
June 5, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Moblin, the Intel-backed Linux operating system tailored for netbooks, has been growing in momentum over this past week at Computex Taipei. It has been pushing Moblin V2.0 along with the Linux Foundation, who took control of the project in April.
A number of operating system vendors (OSVs) have already committed to Moblin. This includes Linpus, who will offer its Moblin V2 Linpus Linux Lite in two versions, one with a Linpus UI and one with Intel’s UI. Canonical will release an “Ubuntu Moblin Remix”, whilst Novell demoed its SUSE edition of Moblin Version 2 on Acer and MSI hardware at Computex. Xandros also demonstrated its “Xandros Moblin 2 solution” on an Asus Eee PC in at Computex. Read more
Video: Compal demos Snapdragon smartbook running Android
June 5, 2009 at 2:02 pm
The smartbook moniker has only been created very recently, but judging by this year’s Computex show, it is set to become a firm part of the portable gadget landscape. This time around it is ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) Compal’s turn. They have demonstrated a smartbook device that is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip and running Google Android.
Asus has also shown an Eee PC running Android and powered by a Snapdragon chip, however it looks like they weren’t ready to showcase this model themselves (the reveal was on the Qualcomm stand at the Computex show).
Compal has optimised the start-up interface and apparently further tweaks are on the way. The video shows just how quickly the internet browser loads pages. This smartbook is expected by the end of the year. Check out videos from TechVideoBlog and JKKMobile after the jump. Read more
BenQ plans Android netbook for 2010
June 5, 2009 at 12:21 pm
BenQ has confirmed that it will launch a smartphone and netbook running the Google Android operating system in 2010, according to Peter Chen, General Manager of BenQ’s Technology Product Centre.
This move would follow a number of companies pushing Linux-based operating systems, including Acer who plans to launch their own Android netbook in the next quarter (albeit with a dual-boot Windows option). BenQ already sells netbooks under its Joybook Lite brand running Windows XP. It also recently revealed the 11.6-inch Joybook Lite U121 Eco.
There are no details about availability, or pricing right now. This is not surprising given that its overall makeup is still on the drawing board. With a vague ‘2010’ release date, I imagine that by the time it is released, there will already be a number of manufacturers offering netbooks with Android and other OSes like Moblin or Jolicloud. It will be interesting to see what new stuff BenQ can bring to the table.
Via Digitimes.
Acer Android netbook to dual-boot with Windows
June 5, 2009 at 11:21 am
Acer is looking to play it safe with its planned Android netbook, due for release in the third quarter this year. The netbook will ship as a dual-boot system with both Android and Windows according to Acer Chairman, JT Wang.
Acer is looking to go down this route given that there are still questions marks about the Android platform on a netbook type device. From our point of view, it’s a bit worrying that we haven’t seen a proper netbook customised version of Android. The only demos shown up until now are ports of the smartphone version (typically v1.5). Read more
Video: Acer demos Android on Aspire One D250 netbook
June 4, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Acer has already confirmed that we will be seeing the Android operating system appear on an Aspire One netbook next quarter. To show how serious it is, the company showed off an Aspire One D250 netbook running Google Android at Computex.
The version of Android shown off appears to be the Cupcake version (v1.5), with no modifications for the 10-inch screen. Interestingly, a full version of Firefox running on Android was also shown. It is unlikely that previous versions of the Aspire One netbook will get Android OS options, I imagine that we’ll see a completely new model sporting Android.
The two videos below demonstrate that the start-up and boot down times are very quick. Overall it takes just eighteen seconds to start up and just one second to boot down. Read more
Acer to introduce Android netbook in Q3 2009
June 2, 2009 at 2:21 pm
It was not too long ago that Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci was talking about it being “too early to say if we’re going to see Android on a netbook in the near future.” However, Acer has now confirmed that we will see an Acer netbook running on the Android operating system by the third quarter this year.
“Today’s netbooks are not close to perfection at all. In two years, it will all be very different,” said Jim Wong, Acer’s global president for IT products, at a Computex news conference. “If we do not continue to change our mobile Internet devices, consumers may not choose then any more.” Read more
Asus Snapdragon-powered Eee PC running Android hands-on [Video Round-up]
June 1, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Asus has given hints in the past that it was considering releasing an Eee PC powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip (based on ARM). It has now shown off a prototype a day before the Computex show is set to officially start.
This smartbook (note: not netbook) has a fanless design given the very low power consumption. The prototype runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon chip and is capable of HD 720p video. The chip also has embedded 3G and GPS. This allows for an “always connected” experience, very similar to a mobile phone. Read more
Acer lowers netbook shipment forecast, no Android netbook this year
April 29, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Acer reported its first quarter results today and it didn’t make for pretty reading. The global recession led to profits slumping by almost a third to NT$2.0 billion ($60 million). Acer’s popular netbooks helped to shore the company’s results in the first quarter as consumers reined in spending amid a global recession. “Consumers are so picky, they don’t want to spend one dollar more than they really need,” says Acer chairman J.T. Wang.
Despite the resilient netbook segment, Acer lowered its netbook shipment forecast for 2009. It now expects to ship 10 million-12 million netbook PCs this year, compared with its previous forecast of 12 million-15 million. JT Wang says that he expects overall global netbook shipments to reach 50 million units in 2010. Read more
Video demo of Skytone’s Alpha 680 Android netbook
April 28, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Skytone recently announced the first Android netbook, the Alpha 680, which is expected to be released in the summer for approximately $250. We now have a video hands on of the 7-inch convertible tablet, which shows the Android OS in action.
Obviously, Android is at the early stages in being ported from smartphones to netbooks. This shows in the video, in what is frankly a disappointing demonstration. The applications seems to run relatively smoothly, however each app seems to take the full screen which means only one application can run at once. It seems that the phone OS was just plugged into the larger 7-inch display, as the buttons and icons look huge.
As we discussed recently, ARM chips have limited flash video support right now. Therefore it is not surprising to see Android unable to support Flash. At the $250 price point, the Skytone Alpha 680 will have to do more to entice customers to part with their cash. Check out the videos after the break. Read more
Netbook boot times compared: Android vs. Fedora vs. Ubuntu
April 25, 2009 at 11:03 pm
GeunSik Lim, a Samsung software developer specialising in embedded Linux system design, has compared the netbook boot times for several Linux-based operating systems to see which was fastest. He compared Google’s Android platform against Linux Fedora 10 and the latest version of Ubuntu (Netbook Remix 9.04).
Whilst the video claims to show different netbooks, Lim said that the tests ran on a netbook with a 1.6GHz N270 Atom CPU, Intel graphics and a 160GB (SATA) hard-disk drive. As can be seen from the video below, Google’s Android came out fastest at just 13 seconds, Ubuntu was next while Fedora came some way behind. I certainly can’t wait to see how well they have adapted the Android platform for netbooks, hopefully we’ll see more detailed news on this at Computex in June. Check out the video after the break. Read more
MSI to reveal Android netbook at Computex?
April 23, 2009 at 1:23 pm
We already know that at least two ARM-powered netbooks are due to make an appearance at Computex Taiwan this year. Given the Android push, we would not be surprised to see these running on Google’s operating system. Now we have word from Digitimes, that MSI is planning to showcase an Android-powered netbook at the same show.
The report says that development of the netbook has been in conjunction with the Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry (III), although no further comments were given. Either way, Computex looks like it will have some big news for the netbook market. We can’t wait to see what comes out of it. Computex takes place between 2 – 6 June 2009.
Ten ARM-powered netbook models expected in 2009
March 9, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Arm’s Chief Executive, Warren East, expects that at least ten ARM-based netbooks with processors from Qualcomm, Freescale and Texas Instruments will hit retail shelves this year. We already know that Asus is considering Qualcomm chips (based on ARM designs) for upcoming Eee PCs.
East is frustrated on the lack of Microsoft support for upcoming ARM-powered netbooks. It is widely understood that Windows XP, Vista and the upcoming Windows 7 cannot run on ARM CPUs given their need for x86 processors. Linux or Google’s Android are the most likely operating systems for ARM-based netbooks. However, Windows Mobile and Windows CE are used in close to 150 different mobile phones powered by ARM chips. Presumably little adaptation would be needed for netbook usage.
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