Digital Cube i-Station Netforce / S43.

Following up a number of stories on the i-Station S43 last week, it appears that its actually going to be called the i-Station Netforce and it looks like a pretty interesting Carputer and PMP combo.

Its an evolution of a Personal Media Player (PMP) that includes Windows CE 5.0, an 800×480 4.3″ touchscreen, some overlay software and the inclusion of digital TV and navigation support.

It looks like HSDPA data support is built in but I can’t see any info on Wifi or Bluetooth. I suspect that they are not included as it looks like its being marketed as a device for in the car and while moving around. Adding a Wifi USB stick could be an option but with WinCE5.0 as the OS, there could be issues.

Specifications gleaned from a number of websites.

• S-Video and component (wow)
• Stereo Speakers
• Office viewers
• Calendar/planner app.
• Cradle.
• Long battery life (it doesn’t say how long!)
• 340g
• 30GB
• OGG audio support. (along with MP3, WMA)
• RAW image support (interesting for digital photographers but I don’t see any card slots.)
• H261 support (MPEG4 part 10)
• Windows Explorer browser with Flash support.
• 24th Oct launch.
• Three versions. Basic, DMB and Navi. I looks like the GPS is not included in the device itself but rather in a docking station.
• Big range of accessories including remote control.
• Price: DMB 30GB version Euro 500 ($600) in S.Korea only.

It’s probably running some form of RISC processor (maybe with a graphics accelerator for the video support and in my opinion its better than a Mylo, all smartphones and PocketPCs for browsing (and therefore RSS reading, webmail etc.) purely because of the screen size. I’d rather have one of these than a Nokia 770 too.

I hear that it is being prepared for overseas markets. There are already other i-Station products in Europe so maybe we’ll  see it in the new year. I doubt we’ll see navigation or DMB in the device which would be a real shame because that docking station looks really nice. In fact, without the Nav and Digital TV, I wouldn’t be interested in it.

I find it interesting though because like Pepper/Hanbit they have taken a fairly standard platform and put overlay software on it. And secondly, its the start of the migration of PMPs and Navi devices into net-capable and more general computing tasks. Just like the Uren V1 we saw last month.

Netstation website.

iStation shop link (lots of images.)

Steve / Chippy