The Hippest Phones » Netbook

First Chrome OS netbook coming this fall

Matt Burns — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:56:11 +0000

Google's planning on launching Chrome OS this fall. We found that out yesterday. We also speculated that it's likely that there will be hardware partners in place with Google Chrome OS tablets or netbooks ready to go as well. It seems that's probably what's going to happen.

Iota Flex wants to be a MiFi for voice and text

Joanna Stern — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:09:00 +0000

Would you believe us if we told you that that rubber bracelet-looking thing is actually going to have a built-in SIM card and bring voice / text capabilities to Android tablets, e-readers and netbooks via Bluetooth? Yeah, it sounds super crazy, but that's exactly what it'll eventually do. Convinced that 2G capabilities like talking and texting should be easier to add to MIDs, tablets and netbooks, Seattle-based startup Iota has come up with the Flex. It's definitely in the early stages of development, but in essence they see people clipping the bendable device to a bag, pairing it to an Android tablet, e-reader or MID, and then making calls from said devices.

We caught some time with Iota and the prototype at the Netbook Summit this week and were told that they plan to sell the Flex through retailers for under $100 -- and that would actually include unlimited calling and texting thanks to a partnership with Simple Mobile. Here's where we say we wouldn't hold your breath for this thing to hit the market -- though if they can pull it off, it'll certainty be an interesting solution for adding voice and text to those hoards of incoming Android tablets. After you're done wrapping your brain around this wearable voice and text accessory, check out the hands-on pics and hit the break for a hacked together demo of the dev kit they've been selling.

Continue reading Iota Flex wants to be a MiFi for voice and text

Iota Flex wants to be a MiFi for voice and text originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MeeGo 1.0 for netbooks and N900 now available to download

Darren Murph — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:33:00 +0000

You've seen it teased, and now it's time to shelve whatever you had planned for this evening (or morning, depending on your current coordinates) and slap the first bona fide 1.x MeeGo release onto whatever device you've got handy. As of right now, MeeGo v1.0 for Netbooks and v1.0 for Nokia N900 are available for download, with the former supporting Atom-based machines and the latter supporting... well, we'll let you take a stab there. The API that's being released includes Qt 4.6, and while the current SDK is tailored for netbooks, the next version -- slated to hit devs in June -- will support "touch-based devices, such as handsets and tablets." We're also told that v1.1 will be outed in October, with the development tree already being open. We're certainly digging the layout shown here at a glance, but why not give that source link a visit and find out how it suits you in real life? We heard Snooki totally digs it, too.

[Thanks, Ernst]

MeeGo 1.0 for netbooks and N900 now available to download originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PTPT shows off wild Android UI skin, we go hands-on

Joanna Stern — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:11:00 +0000

Last time we heard about ExB's PTPT (pronounced "petite petite"), the software startup was just beginning to show off the basics of its touchscreen interface; since then, the small German company has been polishing up the UI and prepping it for Android phones and tablets. According to the CEO Ramin Assadollah, the company is in talks with a "major hardware manufacturer" that's planning on skinning its Android products with the incredibly unique software. We got to see PTPT running on an Android 1.6-powered Acer Liquid while at the Netbook Summit, and though it took us a few minutes to understand how the interface worked, it's definitely interesting and responsive. The input starts with three circular icons representing people, places, and things and then a bar that represents time.

You can simply select an individual person -- you can import contacts from a variety of sources, including, Twitter, Facebook, and so on -- from the halo that appears, and then drag them up to a specific time to get various updates or e-mails from that person. The custom predictive text keyboard in the e-mail interface was very snappy -- it's also just nice to see a change from the stock Android input. Then, you can drag that person to things to see pictures of them. And just like in the original demo, you can then move the pictures icon to a point on the timeline to see pictures from that time. Though the phone and tablet demos we saw didn't have widgets on the homescreen, we were assured that they can be added. We promise this is all better explained in the demo video below, so mosey on down after the jump. We'll be here, wondering what Android devices this software may pop-up on.

Continue reading PTPT shows off wild Android UI skin, we go hands-on

PTPT shows off wild Android UI skin, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Sony Vaio P takes the style to another level

Matt Burns — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:38:16 +0000

Maybe the standard Sony Vaio P is a bit pedestrian for your taste. It's just not enough, right? Well then. How about one covered with crocodile skin? It's supposed to be a digital clutch anyway.

Report: Laptop sales are rocking fueled by netbooks sales

Matt Burns — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:55:33 +0000

People might not be buying houses and cars at the pre-recession levels, but laptops are flying off the shelves led by netbook sales. (Quiet, don't tell John. He hates netbooks.)

Sales of netbooks and CULV notebooks expected to increase this year

Frank Zhang — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:00:24 +0000

It looks like people are still buying computers. Research firm iSuppli Corp believes that netbooks and Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage (CULV) notebooks are poised for significant growth in 2010. Notebook PC shipments overall are expected to hit 209.5 million this year, up 25.5% from last year. In particular, sales of netbooks, or smaller and cheaper versions of a notebook, are expected to grow 30% to 34.5 million units. Meanwhile, CULV notebooks are expected to reach sales of 14.5 million units this year, a whopping 93% increase.

Intel reaches for the ’smartphone zone’ with Moorestown-based Atom Z6, comes up shorthanded

Sean Hollister — Wed, 05 May 2010 07:44:00 +0000

We've seen the future of Intel's mobile platform, and it isn't all roses and sunshine. Three years after the chipmaker told us Moorestown would reduce Atom's energy consumption by a factor of 20, company execs told us earlier today that they've more than reached that goal with the new Z6xx series. Problem is, in the smartphone realm Intel's competitors haven't been sitting idle; according to one of Chipzilla's cantaloupe-and-magenta bar charts, it seems the company has merely caught up in terms of battery life. That's not to say the chips aren't worlds better than previous Atoms -- Intel sees 1.5GHz smartphone processors that slay Snapdragons and up to 1.9GHz in a tablet PC variety -- but 5 hours of web browsing is most decidedly not the 24 hours of productivity Intel previously promised. Besides, who knows: Qualcomm also has a 1.5GHz SoC in the works, though it may not be available by the time Intel's chips ship in the second half of the year.

None of this is to say that Intel won't continue to dominate in the netbook marketplace -- we shudder to think at the potential when combining a nice, chunky battery with Intel's nearly leakproof new chips, and perhaps a small serving of switchable graphics while we're at it. But without a single new MID or smartphone to show us this morning -- Aava Mobile and OpenPeak's offerings seemed unchanged from our previous encounters -- we're not sure if the company's other mobile ambitions have any sway. Not technical enough of a discussion for you? Peruse our gallery for the nitty-gritty.

Intel reaches for the 'smartphone zone' with Moorestown-based Atom Z6, comes up shorthanded originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The netbook, she is dying

John Biggs — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:10:01 +0000

Dear people who yelled at me when I said netbooks were garbage: I was right. IDC is reporting that sales of netbooks running the Atom platform are flat. Why? Well, first off people have a little cash so they want to buy something nice for themselves instead of a $350 junkbook. Competition from Netbooks that use [...]

CrunchDeal: Upgrade Windows 7 starter for $50

Dave Freeman — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:25:46 +0000

If you bought a netbook recently, it probably came the decidedly hampered Windows 7 starter. You might have eyed the other version of Windows, but maybe you didn't want to shell out the $79 for the Home 7 Premium. Good news for you, Microsoft is running a special promotion that will allow you to upgrade for the low low price of $49.99.

Acer preps its second-gen Android/Win netbook

Frank Zhang — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:30:15 +0000

Not long after Acer announced last year that it was launching an Android netbook did the company unveile the first-of-its-kind Acer Aspire One D250. Then just yesterday Acer’s mobile product manager Martino Mombrini let slip that an updated model is on its way. The D260, like its predecessor, will also be able to dual boot Android and Windows. Not much else is currently known about this netbook, except that the chassis is getting a redesign. But wait, there's more.

Review: Psyopper Netbook Sleeve

Dave Freeman — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:30:00 +0000

There's lots of mass produced, low quality, netbook sleeves and bags out there. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. But what about something made by one guy, his sewing machine, and a dream? Can a home made product sold on the internet hold up to the same standards as products made by Crumpler, or Timbuk2? Can the little guy be competitive in the market with companies that spend more on staples then what he spends on materials a year? I say: yes.

The $65 Creation Tech netbook. You know it’s going to be great!

Dave Freeman — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:20:23 +0000

I'm not sure how useful this will be, but it sounds interesting. Chinese manufacturer Creation Tech is selling a 7 inch ultra mobile PC for $65. The specs aren't very impressive, but for that kind of money what do you expect?

MSI Wind series netbooks go multi-platinum. So here’s another one.

Jimin Brelsford — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:45:09 +0000

MSI has sold millions of their Wind series of netbooks. Let’s all give them a round of applause shall we? But what does this mean for you guys? Good things, as luck would have it. Instead of some useless, commemorative award, they roll out the U135 model. And unlike most “Yay us!” products, this one [...]

The fastest netbook in the world

Dave Freeman — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:00:03 +0000

This is technically a DIY project, but I don't know how many people are actually capable of doing this modification. What's so scary about it? I dunno, shoehorning a Core Duo processor into a Sony Vaio UX17, one of the smallest netbooks available. Obviously this is a one off, so don't expect to see it for sale any time soon.

Dell netbook modded into a rather large handset (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Eager to get a hold on your very own Dell-branded Android smartphone? This guy here took matters into his own hands with nothing more than his modding skill, his imagination, and a Dell Inspiron Mini. Of course, this thing won't exactly fit in most pockets, but as a curiosity (and a conversation starter) it performs admirably. Have you ever seen a 10.1-inch novelty handset in action? Now's your chance -- peep the video for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Dell netbook modded into a rather large handset (video)

Dell netbook modded into a rather large handset (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LifeBook MH380: Fujitsu’s new netbook with Pine Trail processor

Serkan Toto — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:22:46 +0000

Intel's Pine Trail Atom processor (1.66 GHz Atom N450/unveiled earlier this year) is one of the key elements in the LifeBook MH380, Fujitsu's latest netbook. The MH380 has a 10.1-inch glossy LCD screen with LED backlight, 200nits brightness and no less than 1,366x768 resolution. What's quite unique design-wise is the tiny circle area (next to the trackpad), which enables circular motion scrolling.

Get Ready For The Google Branded Chrome OS Netbook

Michael Arrington — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:20:35 +0000

Most of the tech world now considers it a given that Google will be selling its own unlocked phone, called the Nexus One, to customers directly early in 2010. A few stragglers are still debating the finer points of the difference between Google working with handset manufacturers and carriers on a good Android experience v. them dictating the hardware specs and selling it directly to users. While they work that out for themselves we're off to the next story - the Google Chrome OS Netbook (although we think Google has a few surprises left around the Nexus One, too). Google has said from the beginning that they plan on working with select manufacturers to ensure a good Chrome OS experience for users when devices first hit the market next year. From an early FAQ: "The Google Chrome OS team is currently working with a number of technology companies to design and build devices that deliver an extraordinary end user experience. Among others, these companies include Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba." Most people assume that "working with" around Chrome OS means the same thing as "working with" around Android - lots of meetings to make sure the devices and software work together as well as possible. But sometimes those pesky hardware guys just don't do things quite right. And when you're competing against Apple, everything most definitely needs to be quite right. That may explain why Google has, according to multiple sources, been talking to at least one hardware manufacturer about building a netbook for Google directly. As in Google gave the company a RFP with quite detailed technical specifications and has begun discussions on building it.

Video hands-on with the $80 MenQ netbook

Matt Burns — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:30:40 +0000

News about the $99 Cherrypal Africa netbook swept across the vast plains of the blogosphere yesterday. But what would you say if I told you there is now $80/50 Euro netbook, too? I'm serious and everyone's pal, Sasah Pallenberg from NetbookNews, got a hands-on with the Windows CE-powered device from MenQ. Click the link below and find what an $80 computer looks like. You know you wanna.

Onkyo’s 7-inch tablet PC with integrated GPS module

Serkan Toto — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:06 +0000

Onkyo Japan has announced a few notebooks today, all of which are in fact re-branded (but beefed up) models competitor Kohjinsha released earlier on the Japanese market. Perhaps the most interesting new model is the NX707A4 [JP], a 7-inch tablet netbook with an built-in GPS module. The tablet is powered by Atom Z520 processor (1.33 GHz) and has an 80GB HDD, 1GB RAM, Intel US15W chipset, two USB ports, an ExpressCard/34 slot, SD/SDHC/MMC/Memory Stick Pro slots, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, 802.11n Wi-Fi and two web cams (3MP and 0.3MP) on board. The display is a touch screen with 1,024x600 resolution.

Seagate to announce new ultra-thin drives at CES

Dave Freeman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:00:45 +0000

Seems like Seagate is trying to make up for some lost time in the storage technology field. After a late entry into the SSD market, Seagate may be getting a jump start on the ultra-thin drive market. One of the issues with the new ultra-thin generation of notebook computers is the hard drive size. You can only make a computer so thin before you run into issues with the thickness of the components.

Netbooks are forcing YouTube to conform to their twisted will

John Biggs — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:20:56 +0000

I've been down on netbooks because a) they suck and b) they're underpowered. Now, however, if your $299 kleinewunderbuk is too slow, the Internet has a fix. YouTube, for example, can be a big resource hog on many netbooks. Streaming video through a Flash player? As if! The Space Shuttle can't even do that kind of processing on the freaking fly!

Video: Hands-on with the $900 Astro Boy netbook

Matt Burns — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:48:16 +0000

I’ve already proclaimed my love and affection for the Astro Boy netbook. I love the overall style, lid graphic, and all the sweet Astro Boy-themed accessories. The video above makes me want it ever more. Too bad it’s not leaving the Taiwanese market and it costs $900. [via netbooknews]

AT&T’s new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:50:00 +0000

AT&T is following Verizon's lead today with the introduction of new prepaid broadband plans targeted directly at netbook and laptop users who find themselves out of WiFi range (and in desperate need of email) every once in a while. The so-called DataConnect Pass plans exactly mirror Verizon's pricing, which means you can get 75MB as a "day pass" for $15, 250MB as a weekly deal for $30, or a half gig per month for $50. Like Verizon, you're far better off getting the 5GB postpaid plan if you're a heavy user here -- but if you find yourself needing wireless once in a blue moon, this may very well be the way to go. The packages are available now; follow the break for the full press release.

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AT&T's new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung announces 3G-equipped ‘Go’ netbook for AT&T

Jeremy Kessel — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:04:42 +0000

The nation's "fastest" (and often most frustrating) 3G network (i.e. AT&T) is adding another netbook to its lineup of 3G portable devices, the Samsung Go. So what exactly is said Go? Well, according to Sammy, it's "a compact and lightweight netbook with instant access to broadband speeds powered by the nation’s fastest 3G network and the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition operating system."

Sprint lights up WiMAX in NC, Chicago and Dallas, launches subsidized Mini 10

Darren Murph — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:44:00 +0000

Filed under: Peripherals, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, WiMAX

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Or better yet, when a leaked roadmap doesn't get delayed in the slightest? After months upon months of waiting, broadband-lovin' citizens in the North Carolina Triangle and Triad will be celebrating alongside DFW residents and Chicago natives as Sprint's 4G WiMAX service rolls into town. As of right now (that's today, junior), consumers in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point and Charlotte, NC; Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas and Chicago, Illinois can roll into a Sprint store and snag a U300 3G / 4G WWAN modem on a $69.99 monthly data plan. We're told that San Antonio and Austin will get lit up later this month, while Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; Salem, Oregon and Seattle, Washington will join the fray before 2010. Oh, and did we mention that Palm's favorite carrier finally snagged itself a WWAN-equipped netbook? 'Cause the Dell Mini 10 is available starting today for $199.99 at select Sprint stores in the metropolitan Baltimore area.

Read - Sprint WiMAX in the Triangle
Read - Sprint WiMAX in the Triad
Read - Sprint WiMAX in Charlotte, NC
Read - Sprint WiMAX in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
Read - Sprint WiMAX in Chicago, IL
Read - Sprint's first netbook is Dell Mini 10

Sprint lights up WiMAX in NC, Chicago and Dallas, launches subsidized Mini 10 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asus is going to launch a smartbook after all

Dave Freeman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:00:45 +0000

Despite what he said back in August, Asus CEO Jerry Shen confirmed this week that they will in fact be releasing a smartbook product sometime during 1Q2010.

Buy your kid this Astro Boy netbook but keep it for yourself

Matt Burns — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:27:43 +0000

I hear (via John's review) that Astro Boy is a fine movie. I doubt I will actually see it until my boy catches wind of it in a few years. but I tell you what, this Astro Boy netbook is geek chic and I sort-of want it. The specs are standard fare with an Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, and XP home, but it's the special edition lid that I can appreciate. It's notebook art done right; clean, simple but yet slick. So here's what you do.

It’s a netbook! It’s an e-reader! It’s the enTourage eDGe!

Scott Merrill — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:28 +0000

Reading e-books on a netbook is a nuisance, right? But e-readers are a pain because they're a single-function device, which means your man-bag gets filled with yet-another-specialty-gadget. Behold the enTourage eDGe: "the world’s first dualbook, combining the functions of an e-reader, netbook, notepad, and audio/video recorder and player in one."

Dynabook MX/43 and MX/33: New netbooks from Toshiba

Serkan Toto — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:23:50 +0000

Toshiba's 18-4-inch laptop Qosmio G60, which the company announced today, is quite cool, but at $3,200, it may be a bit too pricey for most of us. And sometimes, a smaller laptop does the job, too. So it's good to know Toshiba has some (relatively) affordable netbooks among the dozens of new computers the company announced today for the Japanese market.