I’ve just got round to having a second, more detailed look at the Raon Digital website. A few things have struck me about the Everun as very very cool. Firstly, the optical finger mouse. Its the first time I’ve ever seen one on a UMPC. I’ve never used one either (apart from playing around with my own optical mouse!) Secondly, its got a mini PCI-Express port for the 3G modules. Could be useful for other things too! Finaly, theres the auto rotate function. Knowing, as I do, that the resolution change on the AMD chipset is very very fast, it could be really usefull with that keyboard. Rather than flipping out a keyboard or opening the TIP, you just rotate and use the keyboard! Excelent idea.

I’ve finished updating the product page now and will add the model variants into the database tommorrow. I’m hoping to get some pricing too. If it comes in, as they say, below the Vega pricing then its going to be very attractive.

There’s a YouTube promo video on the website. Check it out below.

Latest! I am testing a production sample. Videos & thoughts available.

Update: Tracking news and info on the Everun specification page. The model-comparison page is also available now.

A rumor that hasn’t been circulating as long as the Palm ‘UMPC’ rumor is the Raon Digital Vega 2 info. Its just been launched. Its the Raon Digital Everun.

Gallery available here.

You’re looking at one unique design there and we’re going to have to do a lot of analysis before we come up with a conclusion on the design but in the meantime, take a look at some of these great specs.

• LX900-based (600Mhz AMD Geode)
• 4.8″ 800×480 screen (Touch)
• HDD and SSD options
• Full qwerty keypad
• Wifi and BT2.0
• HSDPA integrated
• 7 hours of battery life with the standard battery.
• 500g (with standard battery)
• 170mm x 25mm x 83mm

As for price, they are talking about a lower price than the previous model. That translates to about $1000 after import. Delivery is planned for middle of July.

Update:

Here’s a jpg of the specifications.

Update: PocketPC solutions in the UK have announced that they will sell this model. Delivery is expected for late July. Pricing not available.

Update 2: Dynamism have a product page too. No pricing again though. Come on guys. We need pricing (and review devices!)

Raon Digital Everun webpage:

As I wrote a few days ago, I took a few days out last weekend and went to Holland. On the way I used Autoroute 2007 and tested it out as far as I could. At the same time, mounted on the screen, was the Nokia N800. I was using it because of the great Canola media player. How nice it would have been to have a navigation solution on it too.

Thoughtfix to the rescue! He’s just unboxed the Nokia navigation kit. I had a little chat with him this evening and he seems pretty positive about it. It certainly sounds better that the Autoroute solution. mind you, it costs a lot more!

What I don’t like about the Navigation solution is that you can’t buy a software-only package. I already have a car mount and a GPS so I don’t want to go out and have to buy those items again. I’ve looked around but if anyone knows any different, let me know too!

Looking forward to the full review Thoughtfix.

For a company that doesn’t really do much to promote its Geode platform as a UMPC building block, AMD are having a pretty good day.

The wonderful-looking Raon Digital Everun is getting some positive response and on top of that, here’s another nice looking solution.

Underneath the simple but stylish exterior there’s an AMD LX800 CPU with Wifi, 1.3MP camera, CF card slot and a 1024×600 (possibly a bit too hi-res) LED back-lit screen. It’s loaded with Windows XP.

It looks to be pocketable (pocketables.net – here’s one for you!)  and with its small 17W/hr battery it should be pretty lightweight. There’s also info on an Extension module (we like those!) which gives you the LAN and VGA-port you’ll need for desktop work.

The UMPCPortal ‘network’ is seeing what it can dig up in terms of pricing and availability and in the meantime, I’m going to be wondering if the MID Linux projects are going to support the Geode CPU and chipset. They could form the basis of a nice low-end Linux-based web-pad. Oh hold on.. they already do! Sorry PepperPad!

MDStec website here.

This could be a Foleo diversion tactic but its worth it in my opinion. Get over to Origamiproject forums and drill new member Grandall for info. It looks like he’s one of the first customers of the Q1 Ultra and better still, it looks like he’s prepared to take questions!

Go gadget go!

Q1 Ultra info here.

“This is a Linux appliance with good keyboard, good display, long battery life… it’s always a focus on simplicity”

…and a serious lack of wow factor. The techno heads are going crazy calling it a ‘crippled laptop’ and worse! Its bound to be a success!

The Palm Foleo has just been announced and from what I can see, its a simplified MID with the emphasis on keyboard and screen size. An instant on basic-services laptop that partners with smartphone products.

Its got a 10″ screen (that looks like 1024×768) [update. Its 1024×600] and a full size keyboard with scroll wheel. Its got an optimized operating system based on Linux and will give you email, web browsing, photo viewing.

The concept is perfect. Its exactly what I believe is the hole in the market. A need for a large screen, a need for a keyboard and a need for an optimized operating system and an easy price. 10/10 to Palm for bringing that concept to the fore.

There are a few problems though. It relies too heavily on the smartphone. There’s doesn’t seem to be any local storage, it doesn’t support video of any sort (I’m guessing its based on a RISC processor – hence the Opera Browser and lack of video support.) and its big! Too big for a seat-back table on a flight or train. Too big to be used on the dashboard of a car. Too big for emails. There doesn’t appear to be WiFi on board either. [update: There’s Wifi on board. Phew!] On top of that, its not going to win any rave reports from the hi-tech Internet community. 

Update: Linux devices reports that it weighs 2.4lbs (over 1kg. Ouch thats heavy) and “has 256MB of RAM, and expandable storage via SD and CompactFlash slots. I/O includes VGA out, USB, Bluetooth, and Wifi. ” They also think it probably has a RISC processor inside.

Update: PCMagazine claims “it can deliver five full hours (even while using Wi-Fi the entire time)” Not exactly earth shattering performance from a RISC-based device that weighs over 1KG.

Its bound to be a success though! Companies can finally buy cheap mass-market Internet tablets for their lower-end traveling staff. You know, the ones that fill laptops with P2P software and viruses. The ones that lose them on the train after a night on the town after work!

As I mentioned earlier today, this is a very targeted device and it could win over a sub-set of people (not the media execs I was talking about but the lower end of the traveling employee market) and will boost help the whole Ultra Mobile computing segment by introducing the concept of Internet-on-the-go. Just like the iPhone will. And when some of the customers of these products realise they need more that just a restricted Internet experience (the RISC-based Internet experience) then they’ll probably find themselves a nice product in an x86-based Ultra Mobile device.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, the Foleo doesn’t make the grade for inclusion into the UMPCPortal database but I hope that, just like the iPhone, version 2 will come through with flying colors.

Palm Foleo homepage.

According to a Palm RSS feed, the mystery device is, as expected, going to be a device that sits in the gap between the smartphone and PC.

TreoCentral reports on the finding which includes information on a low-end UMPC-like device which is Linux based and includes software from Opera. Its said to have a large screen and full-size keyboard capability.

Foleo has a large screen and full size keyboard to view and edit email and office documents. Edits made on Foleo automatically are reflected on its paired smartphone and vice versa.

Obviously a lot of questions fall to mind so I’m going to wait until the Webcast goes live in a short while to find out for real. In the meantime, keep an eye on this link: Palm Foleo which should, apparently, go live soon.

Via Pocketables.

CES, CeBIT, IDF and now Computex. This is one of the last big expos of the year (its heads-down to actually make and sell devices after this!) and according to feedback I’ve had from various people that are going out there, its one of the craziest. ‘Take cash’ said one. ‘Make sure you get into all the hotel meetings’ said another. ‘The Wifi coverage is crap’ was the most recent tip!

I was a gnats-hair away from going but due to cost and the Solar UMPC tour preparations I’ll be setting up camp VTF here in Bonn  and covering it from afar. In order to keep the coverage fresh and detailed I’ve teamed up with Epiacenter.com , a site that covers VIA’s low-power and small form factor Mini-ITX domain. The guys from Epiacenter will be out in Taipei for the whole exhibition and will  be following the Ultra Mobility track in the VIA technical forum (VTF) on the 6th June. I expect this to be the day when we’ll see the official announcements on new devices, technology and roadmaps. VIA have recently published the agenda and speaker list for VTF and its nice to see that Otto Berkes, father of the Origami Project, will be speaking. Also interesting is a keynote slot for Packard Bell. What are they up to? And why are AMD paying $5K to be a Gold Sponsor?

High up on my watchlist is ASUS who were showing the T83 at CeBIT. I’m also keeping an eye on HTC who won’t surprise me if they announced a VIA-based version of the Shift. A VIA-based Q1 Ultra isn’t out of the question either. Raon Digital are also overdue for announcing the next version of the Vega (AMD based.) I’m hoping that we’ll hear information about silicon developments from VIA in the CoreFusion range. ‘John’ was announced a year ago and its about time VIA brought it to market, hopefully DirectX9 capable. There’s a chance that we might hear about the roadmap for future Ultra Mobile processors (C8-M perhaps?) and of course, there are bound to be a few surprises.

Computex kicks off on the 4th June with some press conferences. The main exhibitors show starts on the 6th June and VTF is all-day on the same day. I’ve already set my alarm for 0400 on the 6th. 7 days to go.