Have you seen the Uren Auto ultra mobile PC unboxing video over at UltraMobileLife?   Bjorn Stromberg, who runs this VIA sponsored blog, got hold of the Uren and gave us a good intro to the physicals of the device. The first information on the Uren came out in September (see Navigadget) and it was the first time that a ultra mobile PC was offered with dedicated car accessories, a port replicator and remote control. Personally I think that all UMPC’s should offer the car-mount option. There’s no reason that a dedicated ultra […]

If you’re following UMPC-related information on the ‘net then you’ve probably seen the Uren Auto UMPC unboxing video over at UltraMobileLife.

Bjorn Stromberg, who runs this VIA sponsored blog, got hold of the Uren and gave us a good intro to the physicals of the device. The first information on the Uren came out in September (see Navigadget) and if our memory serves us right, we ha a little laugh at the name and then concluded it was cool. For the first time we were seeing a UMPC being delivered with dedicated car accessories a port replicator and remote control.

Its a VIA C7-M device with a simple design (presumably to reduce its surface area when placed in the viewing line on a car dashboard) and the all-important overlay software. Just as StreetDeck, RoadRunner or even program launcher do, it simplifies touch access to the most commonly used programs. This is absolutely essential for in-car use.

Other specifications include 30GB HDD, built-in GPS, DMB receiver and rear-mounted (forward facing) camera all in a 700gm package. The only thing we think is missing is a cellular modem which is important for the Google/live look-up, live traffic info and messaging capabilities.

The Uren is unfortunately only available in Asia for the equivalent of about $1000. Hopefully someone will pick up on it and put it or a similar device through the FCC/CE/ROHS certifications and ship them over because there’s a serious lack of decent car-focused software and hardware at the moment.

All the known specifications are listed in the Carrypad UMPC database.

A few pounds heavier (thanks Mum.) and with a huge number of emails and feeds marked for attention, Chippys back. I’m quite surprised at how much news there has actually been over the last week and while going through the feed-reader a lot of thoughts and opinions came into my head that I need to write down. Here’s a quick run down of things that I want to look in depth at over the next few posts. There was a news story that Carrypad is taking over Origamiportal.com. Yes, its […]

As a Christmas gift to all here is UMPC Cast #6 – UMPCs in 2007 and Beyond.

We talk about new changes going on with the site and what new UMPCs will be released in 2007. Plus our usual bantering about nothing.

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Or just download the [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/origami/podcasts/OrigamiPortal.com_-_UMPC_Cast_6_-_2007_UMPCs_and_Beyond.mp3]MP3 directly[/url].

And if you just want to catch up on the old shows, they are all available in the [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=1]Podcast Section[/url]

Look at me. What an embarrassment. This is what I wanted to take to the UK.  I need to drastically reduce this mess. Let me try to pare it down a bit…. Look on the right hand side. That’s all power-related rubbish. I know what my first project in the new year is. 2 universal 12/110/240v adaptors with multi-voltage and multi-tips. Preferably with an integrated AA battery charger.  How would you reduce that mess?Your suggestions are very very welcome. On the left are 2 UMPCs, a GPS, PocketPC, Digital Camera and mobile […]

Rob Bushway of GottaBeMobile has a few nice CES/Origami tips for us today.

He points to a ZDNet article where its said that Mr Gates will mention Origami devices in his keynote speech. These, apparently, will be UMPC’s running Vista.

There’s also a hint from MS that there will be a focus on devices with slide out keyboards. We’re not surprised at that. The keyboardless computer is a tough sell. The Yahoo-Go partnership UMPC could be one of these.

There’s also a hint from TabletKiosk that they will have a new rugged device to show off at CES. TK have an association with ECS (the i7200 series came through that) so maybe ECS have new devices to show off too. The other possibility is that they’ve taken the Mobits VX3 design and used that. We’ll have to see.

Read between all the lines at GottaBeMobile.

Here’s one that slipped through the net at Computex.  I just got a tip-off on these images that were obviously taken at Computex 2006. Its got a ultra mobile PC form factor and I had never seen or heard anything about it until now.  The original website is here. (This product appears half-way down.) It says ‘UMPC’ on the front but it looks like its running WM5   I’ve tried to find details but I couldn’t find anything. Anyone know anything about this one? Tatung are at CES so if someone could […]

I saw it high on Tailrank at one point yesterday which means a lot of people must have been talking about it and now i’ve had time to dry my trousers I can sit down and analyse what we’ve actually got here. There seems to be two sets of specifications floating about. One with a 3.5″ screen and a 320×240 resolution and the other with a 5″ screen and 640×480 resolution. I think we can see from the images that its not a 3.5″. I’m going with the VGA specs. […]