I’m just waiting for the Intel Mobile Press Briefing to start. Thee are a few UMPCs here on the side including the ‘Yahoo’ swivel screen UMPC. The Q1 Ultra is also here.

Hopefully well get full info on the silicon used in the Q1 Ultra and planned for future devices. There’s still some question about whether its dual or single core. I have already fund out that the GPU in the Q1 Ultra is the GMA950 as used in the Sony UX.

I’ll update this post if anything interesting crops up.

11:30. It looks like we’re off. Keren Regis presenting. Starts talking about the growth of mobie devices. Video….

11:35. Q2 2007. Mobile Intel 965 Exress chipset. Core 2 Duo 800 Mhz FSB. (THis sounds like the Q1 ULtra Processor’?)

11:40. Intel Centrino COre 2 Duo has new power saving features.

11:42. There will be a bus switching tech, Can switch to half bus speeds. ALso Enhanced Deeper Sleep. In EDS, Caches are turned off.

11:43. DPST 3.0 screen power saving tech will be introduced.

11:43. D2PO support expected later this year (25% power savings.)

11:46. GMA X3100 (GPU) will introduce CLear Video Technology.

11:48. Aero support will be provided across all new Centrino chipsets.

More Centrino demos…..UMPC stuff will be comng up next…standby!!

Pankaj Kedia , Intel Mobility Group,now talking.

Introduces UMPC video….NIce lifestyle stuff…looking into future….

12:03. TAlking about the interception of wireless broadband, Mobile devices and Personalised INternet…A good environment for UMPCS. ‘Personal Mobile INternet Sprial’

Intel thinks the UMPC is the device that allows you to take the internet with you, HIghlights problems with browing on Smrtphones. ‘Once you get full internet in your pocket you can amaing things…”

Communications, Entertainment, LOoation Info and Productivity seen as the main focus areas for UMPCs.

12:09 We will see a range of formfactors.

07 platform will be launched April 18th. Beijing IDF. NEW PRODUCTS. (slide coming later with some hints about the new devices.)

McCaslin will be the platform. MOre details in a mnth,

Its an optimised CPU, 50% (DOwn to sub 2W) and GPU with 70% power reduction. Formal launch 4 weeks form now.

5 more platforms / devices launching in a month, Includes the car nav prototype, Looks like 4″ screen. Slide out keyboard. Ill get picturs later.

THe twist screen device will be launched. (THe one with Yahoo Mobile that has been reported before.) 3G GPS included.

Shipping may june july….

NOw talking about 2008…

12:18. CPU and GPU will be designed from the ground-up for UMPCS.

THey want to reach the pocketable format in 2008. 4.8″ device mock-up shown. SLide out keyboard. Cam.

12:20. 2008 6-8 hours battery life is possible.

12:22. beyond 2008 will use Single chip solutonns

now taling about UMPC ecosystems. Starts with Software. Streetdeck, Yahoo and Origami Exerience shown as examples.

12:25. NOw showing a slide about connectiviy. WiMax shows as 2008.

DIsplay tech will be reduced to 0.3-0.4 watt. Samsung is the partner. 7″ will be 0.6 Watts.

Screen sizze important. 3.5″ is too small for screens.. INtel think 4″ is the smalled you can go.

Showing slide of location features. LOcal search, Chils LOcation, Geotagging, Outdoor directions, Anti THeft, Indoor Directions

Range of accessories will be mde availale with new devices.

More info on silicon in 4-5 days.

12:33 Its Q and A time….I’m going to ask about gaming…

Casual gaming is part of the ecosystem but they dont see full gaming as being part of the UMPC ecosystem.

END of show. I’m off to get images….

We’re sitting in a restaurant somewhere in Hannover with more Ultra Mobile devices than people!

Keyboards seem to be a feature here. Mmmm. Is this a trend?

Its a multilingual UMPC affair. Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Holland, Poland and England.  Cheers!

Today was the day of meetings at CeBIT. Meetings from morning till evening so I wasn’t able to write any news. However, I’ve got some good info on the Medion (will be available in early April. Docking station, DVB-T, GPS will be available as options some time after the initial device availability.) the Flybook (available in Europe in April.) the Amtek T770 (its lovely, looks like this will be available in the US through a couple of resellers) TabletKiosk (took delivery of their battery pack) Hanbit (looking to improve the Pepper Pad design, new Pepper software on the way with some significant improvements in functionality.) I’ll elaborate on all this over the next few days.

The US700, 701, 702 devices are also here and I’ll post a video at some point tomorrow.

This evening we’ll have the UMPC get together with the Kohjinsha, Pepper Pad 3, T700, ASUS R2H, N800 and P1610. I guess we’ll post some images later.

Until then…

A couple of thing that I need to post before I forget them.

Firstly, the Q1 Ultra is going to use the McCaslin reference design. This, I understand, was supposed to be kept secret but it was mentioned a couple of times in the open press conference. McCaslin means Steeley which means that Intel could be ahead of schedule. It IS 800Mhz but to be honest, thats not the important thing. It runs Aero Glass smoothly and feels quick. What would be more interesting to know about is the graphics processor.

The battery life looks like a real 3-3.5 hours.

The 1024×600 screen is wonderful. Bright. Clear. Easy to read.

Some sites have mentioned that Samsung had sold 100,000 Q1s. Thats not quite right. Samsung said that they had not reached their target of 100,000.

I’ve posted pictures of most of the slides from the Samsung conference in the Gallery. I haven’t scanned them for ‘hidden’ info yet so if you find anything, let everyone know.

I’ve also taken some images of the docking station and a few of the other Samsung Q1 Ultra accessories. The docking station looks like it is a USB port replicator and has no VGA out.

I think that between my notes and others (and there appear to be quite a few!) we’ve covered most angles. Those official images are really nice. If there is anything else that you want to know about, leave a comment.

Yes, the U60 is the same as the Medion device and yes it will be launched in Europe.

Ill be meeting with Gigabyte on Saturday to ask the question – How will you differentiate this from the Medion UMPC?

While the old media companies set themselves up (three men and a good 100Kg of equipment)

I’ve already been in, taken the picture, am now publishing and will be moving on to the next target.

I do love being Ultra Mobile.

After I got kicked off the Samsung stand yesterday I decided not to let it rest. I went back and as luck would have it, I got to talk to the Samsung press officer who kindly let me take some more pictures and a short video of the Q1 Ultra for release today. I also got chatting to one of the developers and got some nice info and good hands on.

Ill have a better video and more images later today but here are the notes that I made.

• It looks great. Good finish. Same plastics as the Q1.
• Keyboard is very small. Tiny in fact. I have small fingers and was having a lot of trouble. The feedback is nicer than that on the Pepper Pad but the spacing is way too small. Not impressed but will give it another go.
• Screen is bright 300 nits apparently. One of the brightest I’ve seen.
• It runs Aero Glass!
• Touch screen is light-touch
• Battery is 7.7vx4000mah. (4 cell, slightly bigger capacity than that on the Q1.) 6 cell will also be available. The developer wouldn’t tell me the run-time.
• Audio was reasonable through the stereo speakers.
• Weight under 800 grams
• There is no synaptics style mouse pointer. What looks like the mouse pointer on the left is a sliding cursor button which is probably 8-directional and has no tap-to-click action. Disappointing. Is changeable between cursor and directional pad.
• Dedicated dial-keys button.
• VGA and Ethernet ports.
• Dual Cam (0.3, 1.3 MP)

VIDEO:

Brief video here.

10.42: We’re in and there she is!

10:47: We’re off!

10:50: H.S. Kimm now talking. Introduces Q1 Ultra

10:51. Samsung say theyve learnt a lot over the last year! (Havent wel all!)

10:53. Sitting on the floor. My bum hurts! Droping the picture of the nice lady while I update… (it will be back later!)

10:54 They say that Q1 had a succesful entry into business market…

10:55. Feedback. Battery life and keyboard were continuously refernced as areas for improvement. Customer frustration!

10:56. Now highlighting new areas of the Q1 Ultra. Film.

…they certianly know how to make something look good. Impressive….

Some specs

• 690g. 29mm thick
• 4 hours battery standard 7 with big batt pack
• HSDPA / wibro built in
• 300 nits bright
• ‘full function’ mouse (i disagree)
• fingerprint reader
• 2 cams 0.3 1.3
• stereo speakers

Another film….mentions 10 hour batt life. ??

11:04 film is a real nice piece of marketing! Smooooooth. Lifestyle.

11:05 Q1 ‘Combines what we know so far”

11:05 Next speaker. Microsoft. Bill Mitchell

11:06 Talking about origami experience….

11:12 Origami Experience….Nothing new for us!!!

11:13 OE Demo

11:14. My arse is getting numb. I’m sitting on the floor.!!!

11:15 OE demo. contd. people buzzing….

1116 I cant see any more UMPCs in the room.

11:18 OE Demo Over…..Now talking strategy…Intel VP Chris Morales

11:19 Talking about CPU power. They say CPUs take 50% less power this year….

11:20 Next year 1/7th size CPU. 1/10th the power (Silicon)

11:21 Come on man…give the the details….

11:22 Talking about Ecosystem. Good point. Its not just about the CPU.

11:22 Intel finished….still no CPU details….

11:23. Patrick Powel Samsung on the mic….Talking user experience…..

11:24. ‘A day in my UMPC life’ [Didnt I do that recently?)

11:25. Talking up HSDPA….

11:28. Oooh live handriwirting demo. Risky. It worked! Vista handwriting recog is good it has to be said….

11:30 more live demo stuff…haha mouse failed!!! good recovery.

11:32 Q an A. I have a few.

price…not decided. similar to old q1

1200 euro?

Not hlt 100,000 target sales for last year.

CPU info. Unanounced CPU. Cant tell us!!!!

Availability: International launch beignning of may

Q1P continues….NO word on repricing.

Ref name Q1 Ultra….NOT Q2.

OK. Its over. Off to get pics….

Refresh to get updates.

I just walked in while they where talking moibile devices in cars. They’re talking about health industry now.

No talk of sSnta Rosa yet. Did i miss it?.

10:13 Babble babble RFID!

10:18 Spotted a few umpcs in the background.

10:20. I think i missed the Santa Rosa detail. The conference is finished. Top reporting!!!

10:22 Questions from the floor. They expect incar mobile soutions in about 12 months.

10:23 Talk of chipset and CPU power reductions of over 50%

This isnt that interesting. I’m off to the Samsung conference.