Pocketables

Pandora open source UMPC/console reaches production milestone

2009-12-09T12:19:36-10:00

In development for what seems like an eternity, the Pandora open source pocket computer/handheld games console first emerged in 2007. Having a page in the product database and being discussed by readers in the Pocketables Forum, the Pandora is developed by OpenPandora, a group of distributors, developers and community members of the GP32 and GP2X handheld gaming consoles originally made by South Korea's GamePark Holdings. Very much an enthusiast and community driven project without corporate involvement, it was originally intended...

Acer Liquid A1 Android smartphone on sale in the UK

2009-12-09T04:15:01-10:00

Although not normally a name synonymous with smartphones, Acer has been active in the market since earlier this year and has big ambitions for becoming a global player with more handsets announced for the coming year. Initially launching a series of Windows Mobile smartphones in February, the company has announced that its first Android device is now on sale in the UK running Android 1.6. Known as the Acer Liquid A1, it is notable for being one of the first...

Verizon releases Android 2.0.1 update for Motorola Droid

2009-12-07T23:20:14-10:00

Verizon has announced that the Android 2.0.1 update for the Motorola Droid smartphone has been released and users can expect to receive update notifications over the next 48 hours. The company has also put up the details of the update and installation instructions on its Droid support website. The update centers mostly on bug fixes and refinements rather than adding new features, with improved camera quality and performance (autofocus and shot-to-shot times), better call quality, faster visual voicemail, better Bluetooth...

Archos 5 Android 8GB is real, available at RadioShack

2009-12-07T13:02:41-10:00

Over the weekend, I found myself going old-school and browsing through the local newspaper, deciding to check out the underwhelming Christmas sales for the upcoming week. Since I don't get a paper delivery and read everything online now, this was a unique experience, to say the least. As the Sunday paper seems to have more ads than news, I immediately tackled those and came across an interesting item at RadioShack, something I had not seen anywhere else. Online or brick-and-mortar,...

Optima to launch OP5-E, first non-Nokia Maemo MID

2009-12-07T08:28:26-10:00

The Linux-based Maemo operating system has always been found exclusively on Nokia devices from internet tablets like the N800 and N810 to the latest N900 smartphone. However, being Linux-based, most of the OS and its code is open source. That's why it was with some surprise this past summer that Pocketables first brought you the news of China-based Optima Technology's unveiling of the OP5-E, the first non-Nokia device to run the Maemo OS. The slate-style MID was undergoing one last...

Zii TRINITY concept smartphone UI and HD playback demonstrated on video

2009-12-07T05:32:09-10:00

Following last week's announcement of the Zii TRINITY concept smartphone, some new videos have emerged from the Zii Summit 2009 demonstrating an actual prototype of the handset as well as its HD playback/output capabilities. The first video from Crave (below) is a brief hands-on demonstration of the TRINITY running Android. It's surprisingly smaller than I expected and quite a good size for a phone compared to some of the larger smartphones we have been seeing from manufacturers recently. As mentioned...

PsiXpda UMPC launches in Europe this week. Look familiar?

2009-12-07T02:24:39-10:00

As we know, most UMPCs come from companies in Asia, with products from American and European companies less common. Hence it is with some interest that we hear that PsiXpda, a company based in England, is launching its PsiXpda UMPC in the UK and the rest of Europe this week. PsiXpda is founded by Paul Pinnock, a former employee of Psion Teklogix (formerly Psion), a company famous for its Psion Organizer handheld computer and PDA products over the past 20+...

Camangi WebStation now available for pre-order at $399

2009-12-04T11:08:28-10:00

It looks like Camangi has stuck to its word regarding the availability of the WebStation Android tablet as the device is now available for pre-order for $399 through PayPal, or $389 for people who registered for the "early bird" coupon offer. Currently pre-orders are accepted from the US, Japan, and Taiwan only. The price includes free shipping and Camangi has stated all orders placed by December 16th should be fulfilled by the end of the year subject to available stock,...

Fujitsu reveals UH900 UMPC with multi-touch screen running Windows 7

2009-12-03T09:12:18-10:00

Fujitsu has been at the forefront of UMPCs for a while with their exceptional U-series of devices with a legion of loyal fans including the team here at Pocketables. In our recent holiday wishlist feature, Chris mentioned how he was hoping for the release of a successor to the U820. And it looks like Fujitsu was listening, as they have today revealed their latest entry into the UMPC market. Although not a direct successor for the U820, the UH900 represents...

Sharp NetWalker family grows with new PC-Z1J dictionary-based version

2009-12-02T14:41:04-10:00

Here in the US, many of the small computing devices that our readers use, whether it's a Sony Vaio P or UMID mbook M1, are easy to classify as niche products. They are sized to be portable and always available, yet they usually come with a higher price-to-size ratio and maybe a few compromises in functionality. The Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1 would most definitely fall into this same category, even more so than the others, because of the use of Ubuntu...

New photos and details of ViewSonic's VCP08 Windows XP phone emerge

2009-12-02T07:09:19-10:00

Originally breaking cover with a series of rendered images in mid-November, some new actual photos of the ViewSonic VCP08 smartphone have now emerged. As a brief reminder, the VCP08 is a clamshell smartphone running Windows XP as well as a separate conventional phone system. The phone portion features a 2-inch screen with a numeric keypad occupying the front of the device. Opening the clamshell reveals a 4.3-inch internal screen and a full QWERTY keypad with a finger mouse for the...

Creative and ZiiLABS announce TRINITY concept smartphone

2009-12-01T09:30:52-10:00

Remember the story a few weeks ago about the Zii Summit 2009 in December and rumors of a new Zii-optimized Android mobile phone platform? Well, the Zii Summit kicked off today with a slew of new products and services including the formal announcement of the ZiiLABS TRINITY, a new smartphone concept running Google's Android and Creative's Plaszma operating systems and powered by ZiiLABS' ZMS-05 processor. A 3.5/4G handset, the TRINITY is notably capable of playing back and outputting 1080p full...