I have just come out of a meeting with Pankaj Kedia, the head of the ultra mobile PC Global Ecosystem Progam for Ultra Mobile Platforms.
Lets go straight to the fantastic news. On 18th April, at the IDF in Beijing, there will be 4 new Intel based UMPCs launched. These will all be based on the Intel McCaslin architecture. McCaslin is an architecture that uses a NEW CPU (optimised purely for ultra mobile PC use) along with the GMA950 GPU. (Aero-Capable.) This is the same architecture that is used on the Q1 Ultra.
The first device is focused towards navigation capabilities. It has an 800×480 screen an slide out keyboard. Its will have GPS on board and its got a 4.3″ (not 100% confirmed) screen. This is the prototype of the device. The device will be launched by an unknown brand. I have a short video HERE but will post a longer one later.
The second device is the twist-screen model that has been seen before. The screen is 4.8″ (again, unconfirmed) and again 800×480. The keyboard is bigger and much more useable than the ‘navi’ ultra mobile PC above.
Again I have a video of this that I’ll post later.
The other two devices that will be launched are unknown but we already know that the semi-rugged school-focused ultra mobile PC is one of the devices that have often been seen alongside the two above. I guess that its one of the four. The fourth could be based on this, a prototype that I haven’t ever seen before. Its got a removable Bluetooth thumboard.
Detailed specifications on the devices are unknown. Prices are also, understandably, under wraps.
More info from the Intel Mobile conference and the meeting, in later posts.
