Netbook Choice » google

Intel shipping Android 2.2 for netbooks within two months

Jet Sun — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:02:48 +0000

Intel is preparing a fully native x86 version of Android 2.2 (Froyo) that it expects to ship to developers in the next two months. The company is hoping that this will ignite sales of Atom-powered netbooks and tablets.

Android was originally written for ARM processors, like those found in most current smartphones. This has meant Intel has had to play catch-up to port Android to x86 architecture.

“Our expectation is that (native x86 Android) will be based on the Froyo release and will be available this summer to developers” Renee James, Intel’s senior VP for software and services said.

Via APC.

Google Chrome OS set for release in “late fall”

Jet Sun — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:51:05 +0000

Google’s Chrome operating system is set to launch in “late fall” according to Google’s head of the Chrome project, Sundar Pichai. The only previous date that has been mentioned is H2 2010.

“We will be selective on how we come to market because we want to deliver a great user experience,” he said. “We’re thinking on both the hardware and software levels.”

Google launches new Chrome app store and WebV video codec

Jet Sun — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:28:36 +0000

Google announced some exciting new developments during its annual I/O developer conference. This includes a new online application store for the Chrome browser and, eventually, Chrome OS. This new web store will house both free and paid software, much like other app stores out there.

Google will line up its own apps on the platform, as you would expect, including Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Reader and Google Wave. However, third-party apps will also exist including twitter client Tweetdeck. Installed apps will appear as a tab on the app browser that will have a built-in payment system. The app store is expected to hit the Chrome browser later this year and will be included at the launch of Chrome OS.

Google also announced a new HTML5 open-source video codec called WebV. This format incorporates open source video and audio codecs — VP8 and Ogg Vorbis — in one container based on Matroska. The company claims that this new format will play well on everything from notebooks and netbooks to smart phones and tablets and should be simple to create.

HP Compaq Airlife 100 smartbook unboxed [Video]

Jet Sun — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:57:42 +0000

The Compaq Airlife 100 smartbook is only available in Spain right now, but that hasn’t stopped Carrypad getting hold of one device to unbox and test. The 1GHz Snapdragon powered Airlife sports a lighter chassis compared to first-gen touchscreen netbooks as well as benefiting from a longer battery life.

The 10.1-inch Airlife 100 comes with the Android operating system, 512MB RAM and a 16GB flash drive. The touchscreen display is resistive rather than capacitive but comes with a matte finish. The OS has been tweaked to easily work with the touchpad as well as touchscreen. You can check out the unboxing video after the jump.

Via Carrypad.

Acer confirms “no short-term plans” for Chrome OS netbook

Jet Sun — Tue, 18 May 2010 07:17:19 +0000

In a somewhat unusual move, Acer released a statement refuting recent rumours that it plans to showcase a Chrome OS netbook at the upcoming Computex show in Taipei. Whilst the company believes that Google’s new operating system is an “exciting product announcement”, it says it has “no short-term plans for such a product.”

There have been a number of rumours that Acer will be launching a Chrome OS netbook, along with suggestions that it wanted to be the first company out of the block with a Chrome OS device. The timing of the statement perhaps suggests it has been released to keep those rumours in check and maybe has something to do with Chrome OS not being in a ready state to showcase right now. Click through for the full press release.

Press Release:

Acer will not launch a Chrome OS netbook at Computex

Manno, 17 May 2010 – Despite recent rumours in the press regarding the launch of Chrome OS based netbooks at Computex, Acer today confirms that it has no short-term plans for such a product.

Acer believes that Google Chrome OS is without doubt an exciting product announcement and deserves it’s full attention as well as an in-depth study of its potential from a consumers perspective.

Acer is naturally interested in any product or service that enhances the overall experience of its products and will of course be following the development and progress of Google Chrome and the evolution of Google’s overall product strategy very closely.

***

Detailed information on Acer products and a catalogue with prices in PDF format are available on Acer’s website www.acer-euro.com

Acer prepping Chrome OS netbooks for Computex?

Jet Sun — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:03:36 +0000

Acer really wants to be first out of the door with a Chrome OS device. According to a report from VentureBeat, Acer will be launching new Chrome OS devices (most likely netbooks, smartbooks or tablets) sporting the new OS at Computex Taipei in early June.

Acer may not have the Chrome OS limelight to itself though. Samsung has also talked of developing ARM-based smartbooks powered by the Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset. Google is expected to release Chrome OS during the second half of the year. Techcrunch says that Chrome OS is coming along quickly but isn’t ready as things stand, they’ve also got some images of what the OS is likely to look like.

Update: Acer has confirmed that it will not be showcasing Chrome OS netbooks at Computex.

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks leaked in Android roadmap

Jet Sun — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:07:09 +0000

Dell will launch a “netbook tablet “ and normal netbook, both sporting Android according to a leaked roadmap obtained by Android Central. The Dell Sparta netbook will come with a rotatable 11-inch (1024 x 768) display powered by an ARM processor. It will also come with optional 3G along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The Dell Athens netbook is more typical in its form-factor and will sport a similar sized display and ARM processor. It will have a thin chassis and weigh less than 900g (1.98lbs). These models are expected to launch during the Autumn. Check out a large screencap of this Dell roadmap after the break.

Google CEO: Chrome OS devices to cost $300-$400, same as netbooks

Jet Sun — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:09:23 +0000

Eric Schmidt, Google’s Chief Executive, has been speaking about its upcoming Chrome OS at the Atmosphere Cloud Computing forum and let rip some previously unknown details regarding pricing. He says that price points should be similar to that of current netbooks and also hopes for Chrome OS devices to be bundled by mobile phone operators.

“It will be up to the manufacturers who do it, but the price points you should think about are the current netbook pricings which are 300 dollar, 400 dollar price points,” said Schmidt. “Those prices are completely determined, by the way, by the costs of the glass, the costs of the processor and things like that, but in our case Chrome OS and Android are free so there is no software tax associated with all of this.”

Chrome OS is set to launch during the second half of 2010, with devices expected to arrive by the end of the year. It will bring a cloud focused OS to the mainstream and there has even been rumours of Google releasing its own Chrome OS netbook with high-end hardware specifications (SSD, multitouch displays etc).

Schmidt is certainly confident of its success and believes it could transform the market. “If you think about it there’s not been a new successful platform in this space for 20 years, and I’ve had a few failures along the way. If there’s anyone who understands how hard this stuff is then it’s me personally and the team we’ve assembled is very good. If you go back to what we are trying to do we are trying to develop a new set of platforms.”

Via TechRadar.

Acer Aspire One D260: Android Pine Trail netbook in the works

Jet Sun — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:18:06 +0000

Acer is preparing to launch a Pine Trail update to last years Aspire One D250 dual-booting netbook. The AAO D260 will also dual-boot Android with Windows. Little other details are known right now, although Acer’s mobile product manager, Martino Mombrini, apparently revealed that the chassis will be getting a redesign.

Mombrini also confirmed that Acer will be launching a Google Chrome OS netbook during Q3 and that they are working closely “with the guys at Google”. We’ll keep you posted on any further details.

Via Electric Pig.

Sharp IS01: 5-inch Android clamshell smartbook

Jet Sun — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:57:13 +0000

Sharp is prepping the IS01 Android smartbook in Japan that will be offered by Japan’s number mobile carrier called KDDI. The 5-inch clamshell device will be powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, Android 1.6 and seems more akin to a smartphone rather than a smartbook in the traditional sense.

The 5-inch capacitive display has a 960 x 480 resolution and comes with a QWERTY keyboard, 5MP camera, Wi-Fi (b/g), Bluetooth 2.1 and 4GB of storage. The Sharp IS01 will ship in Japan at the beginning of June and so far it’s not known if it will appear in other regions. Click through for the specs.

Sharp IS01 Technical Specifications:

Snapdragon processor (1GHz)
3G CDMA module
Android 1.6 OS
5-inch touchscreen with 960×480 resolution (Sharp uses one of their proprietary Mobile ASV Displays)
QWERTY keyboard
5MP camera plus front camera
802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Blu-ray recorder connectivity
One-Seg digital TV tuner
4GB of internal memory
microSD/microSDHC slot
mini USB port
Augmented Reality app “Sekai Camera” pre-installed
available in blue or black
weight: 227g
size: 83×149×17.9mm

Via Akihabara News.