OCOSMOS’ OSC1 Tiny Computer (TC) may have dropped the physical QWERTY keyboard – something we’re not quite ready to forgive them for – but it’s still an intriguing compact handheld. Straddling the line between UMPC and portable games console, the Intel Oak Trail powered internet device may look like an oversized smartphone, but inside there’s a full Windows 7 install. Check out our first impressions after the cut.
In fact, while a smartphone might seem the obvious comparison, the OSC1 is more akin to a netbook. We obviously didn’t have the opportunity to check whether Intel’s latest-gen 1.5GHz processor lives up to their power claims, but we’re hearing 4-5hrs mentioned as a realistic estimate.
In use, it’s surprisingly fast even in this beta hardware/software stage. The capacitive touchscreen is responsive, and OCOSMOS’ custom UI is relatively basic compared to some we’ve seen, but still sufficient to turn the 5-inch 1024 x 600 display into a more finger-friendly proposition. It’s flanked by two multi-function directional pads, which can be programmed not only to user need but to change key assignment depending on what app is running. If you’re gaming on the OSC1 TC, for instance, they can be directional controls and trigger buttons – there are shoulder buttons as well – but in the browser they can navigate through pages and handle bookmarks.
Pricing will be the tricky point, and OCOSMOS are tight-lipped on what exactly the OSC1 TC will cost when it arrives roughly midway through 2011. We’ve got video of the OCOSMOS OSC1 TC running, and will add it in as soon as it’s processed.
OCOSMOS has already confirmed it will be bringing its OSC1 Windows 7 handheld along to CES 2011 this week, but some new renders have left us even more curious about the company’s wares. NetbookNews has been sent shots and specs of the seemingly-updated OSC1, now without the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, together with the OSC9, a larger gaming tablet with a wireless touchscreen control pad.
The OSC9 is said to have a 9-inch, 1024 x 768 capacitive touchscreen, 1.5GHz Intel Oak Trail processor, 2GB of RAM and a 32GB or 64GB SSD. There’s WiFI b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, a 3.0-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera, and a microSD card slot, while like the OSC1 it runs Windows 7. The separate, wireless control pad can be used with gaming buttons or a QWERTY keyboard, and slots into a carrying pouch – along with the tablet itself – that also hides a rechargeable battery.
Whether either of these renders will actually spawn a production model or even a prototype to show off this week remains to be seen, but we’d certainly be interested to see OCOSMOS take on the OSC9.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from OCOSMOS, after the company’s compact MID was briefly flashed at IDF 2010, but it seems the OSC1 will be representing Windows 7 at CES 2011 later this week. Based on Intel’s 1.5GHz or 1.9GHz Oak Trail processors, the OSC1 has a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen running at 1024 x 768 and promises not only web browsing and messaging but Office and even gaming.
That’s thanks to a separate 400MHz GPU with HD decoding, though we can’t imagine the OSC1 will be happy with more recent, high-profile gaming titles. There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and a pair of cameras: 5-megapixels on the back, and 1.3-megapixels on the front.
More specs here, but we’re yet to be convinced that Windows 7 is the right OS to choose for a device of this size. Previously a Q1 2011 launch has been suggested, though as we saw with OQO, the premium MID/UMPC market is a tricky one to crack.
A new Sony Ericsson patent application suggests the company is looking at the feasibility of a smartphone or MID-style device with not only an integrated pico-projector, but the screen onto which it displays as well. The submission, titled “Mobile Communication Device with Built-In Projecting Screen“, describes a mobile device with a regularly-sized screen together with a pull-out projection screen onto which the pico would create a larger picture.
Since the pull-out panel would be a mere board, rather than requiring any sort of electronics, it could be much thinner and lighter than fitting a larger active panel of some sort. Alternatively, it could be a rolled-display, pulling out like a miniature version of a regular projector screen, or folded.
The application even suggests that the screen material could have dual-states, being flexible for storage and then hard when used for projection purposes; it’s not entirely clear what technology Sony Ericsson has in mind for that. Of course, it doesn’t mean we can expect projection-phones from Sony Ericsson any time soon, but it would certainly make mobile movie consumption a little more palatable.
Details on the Ocosmos OSC1 UMPC which Intel briefly flashed at IDF 2010 earlier this year have emerged, set to be one of the first Oak Trail devices assuming the company can find carriers willing to take it on. According to the spec sheet, the OSC1 will have either a 1.5GHz or 1.9GHz Oak Trail CPU running Windows 7, 400MHz GPU with HD decoding, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen running at 1024 x 768.
There are also dual cameras – 5-megapixels on the back, 1.3-megapixels on the front – and a QWERTY keyboard revealed when you slide the display up. Connectivity includes HDMI, USB 2.0 (with host support), a 3.5mm headphone socket and a microSD card slot to augment the 32GB internal SSD. The whole thing measures in at 174 x 83.4 x 15.9 mm.
Ocosmos apparently reckons the OSC1 will manage 10hrs of runtime from a full charge, though UMPC Portal expects that to be more like 3hrs with a regular battery or 5-7hrs if they fit a significantly larger power pack. The company is targeting a Q1 2011 launch and thinks AT&T or Korea Telecoms would be ideal carrier partners, but aren’t saying anything on pricing.
Acer may be calling this “100 percent smartphone. 100 percent tablet,” but something just doesn’t add up there. That being said, we have to agree that a 1024×480 screen resolution on a 4.8-inch smartphone is downright drool-worthy. Clocking in at just a smidgen smaller than Dell’s Streak, this here phone (no finalized name has been bestowed quite yet) was just revealed at Acer’s Global press event in New York City. It was only shown briefly, demonstrating an unknown version of Android and the “evolution of Acer UI.” Specs wise, there’s a two megapixel front-facing camera, eight megapixel rear camera (with LED flash), 720p video recording, a six-axis Gyroscope + accelerometer package and LED edge lighting. Per usual, Acer’s keeping a lid on any pricing estimates, but it’ll be shipping out to gape-jawed customers everywhere in April 2011.
Update: We’ve got the full PR after the break, which informs us of the atypical 21:9 aspect ratio in use here as well as its “full metal body.” Curiously enough, it’s also rocking a curved back (is that a trend we spot?), Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, HSDPA support, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and an HDMI output. Delicious, all the way around.
Update 2: Does that elongated form factor seem a wee bit familiar? It should.
Dell has confirmed that the UK variant of the Dell Streak will be seeing an Android 2.2 Froyo update before the end of November. According to a message posted to the Dell UK Facebook account, UK users will be the first recipients of a staggered roll-out that sees Froyo pushed OTA direct to the Streak itself.
“DellStreak will begin a rollout of the 2.2 update OTA before the end of Nov. This is happening over a period of time and staggered by region, starting in the UK.You will receive notification of the update directly on your Streak. If you don’t see it before the end of Nov, please be patient as your build may be happening at a later stage.”
That means no requirement for using a plugged-in PC to install Froyo, which makes a pleasant change from some other manufacturers. StreakSmart has already managed to score some screenshots of what the update process will look like; unfortunately the “Download & Install” button isn’t working yet.
File this firmly in the rumor category for the moment, but according to StreakSmart‘s anonymous sources, Dell is readying a second-gen Dell Streak for release in March 2011. According to the information – which a Dell rep apparently shared during an internal briefing – the tablet/phone hybrid is internally codenamed “Opus One” and will keep the 5-inch form-factor of the current Streak, but update the screen to a higher resolution panel and the processor to a dual-core chip.
In fact, there’s talk of a screen in the region of 1280 x 800 resolution, which would be a significant step up from the current Streak’s WVGA display, while the processor is tipped to run at 1.2GHz and could be one of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon CPUs. Curiously, “Opus One” was the codename Motorola gave to their i1 rugged Android smartphone during its development, so there’s either some inadvertent coincidence going on or something more suspect about the rumors.
Samsung’s new displays have been all over the place today, with 7-inch Super AMOLED panels for the next-gen Galaxy Tab, and a 10.1-inch skinny screen for a tablet teaser. It turns out they were only the start of it: NetbookNews spotted a dual-screen 4.5-inch PenTile AMOLED MID prototype, various flexible displays – including one being folded in half – and a transparent 14-inch AMOLED shown in a notebook mockup.
Video demo after the cut
The clamshell MID is particularly interesting, offering 300 cd/m2 brightness and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s apparently running at 1024 x 600 resolution, too, just like the 7-inch Super AMOLED. The foldable displays, meanwhile, came in 5.3- and 4.3-inch sizes and ran at 960 x 800 resolution.
The transparent screen managed a mere 960 x 540, which is on the low side in comparison; we’re guessing it makes for impressive demos but not especially usable notebooks. Still, an AMOLED window or mirror capable of showing computer graphics without obscuring the whole view would be impressive. Finally, the 10.1-inch tablet mock-up looks actually to be less a teaser for the larger Galaxy Tab and more just a frame for a super-rugged panel, using a resin substrate rather than glass. More details in the video below.
Reports of a Nokia tablet back in June have reignited, with a listing for the Nokia Z500 being spotted in the company’s Ovi Store. Z500 was the tablet product name tipped earlier in the year by notorious insider Eldar Murtazin, with the device expected to run the MeeGo OS.
The Z500 can’t be selected from Nokia’s pictorial list of handsets, only by entering the direct URL. However, this definitely appears to be a product in the company’s catalog; entering a different address throws up an error message. A similar trick leaked the Nokia X7 more recently.
Exact hardware details for the Nokia Z500 are unclear, but a 7 or 9 inch touchscreen has been suggested and Foxconn tipped as the OEM. Previous rumors indicated Nokia was working on a “large screen” device with OpenGL ES 2.0 support for gaming.
