This should stir up some comments. ZDNet Asia picked up on something Intel have actually been saying for a while but never really this directly.

“There is just ‘one’ Internet. It is very difficult to sustain mobile Web sites. Attempts to make a ‘second’ Internet [for mobile users] will disappear” [David ‘Dadi’ Perlmutter Via Zdnet]

This ties in with my desire for the full internet experience (FIE) which I think is achievable in a a handheld, pocketable device but I don’t think the need for mobile Internet will go away. Why? Because it’s currently impossible to get the entry-level requirement of an 800×480 screen onto a totally converged, consumer-sized 24/7 pocketable device. If we look 10 years into the future where we have pull-out 5″ screens then maybe there are some technical options but even then, the simple, pocketable, candybar solution with a 2″ screen will still be favored by most. As much as i’d love it to happen, the 4-5″ MID is NOT going to take over the Mobile Internet world

The people that need the FIE are the ones that will drive a single Web and look for a MID solution but that’s nowhere near enough to remove the need for mobile-tailored sites. Even the FIE fans will need mobile versions of the Internet from time to time. Either because it’s simpler, because its cheaper, because its more fun or because its quicker in low-bandwidth situations. For many other people the Internet is only about search and short messages and doing that on a full website is just inefficient. Example: The fastest and easiest way for me to get emails on the go is still to use the Gmail J2ME app on my 6280 featurephone over a UMTS connection. My N82, a smartphone, is slower. My fastest UMPC is slower still! If I want the FIE, I move to a UMPC/MID but that’s ONLY if I need the FIE.

Sorry Dadi, I love what Intel are doing for the Mobile Internet but mobile-tailored versions of the Web will not disappear.

While I’ve yet too see the keynote or pick up any significant announcements from it apart from a wave of general MID talk, it does signify the lifting of news embargos. First into my mailbox this morning was the keynote press release which you can read on the Intel website. [PDF] There doesn’t seem to anything that significant in it but that’s probably because it feels like a repeat of what I heard at CeBIT. In summary, its mostly about mobile and low-power technology and again, indicates that the worlds most important silicon company is investing a serious amount of money into the MID and UMPC segment. More interesting than the keynote PR exercise is the release of the part numbers and details of the Atom CPU and chipset range and a press release from Imagination Technologies.

 Check out  Engadget for some more images of the Cloudbook MAX.

It’s far better looking than the CE1200 version.

If only we knew how much and whether it will be available outside the U.S. with HSDPA instead of WiMax. I can’t imagine someone doing this design exclusively for Sprint.

Cloudbook MAX specifications.

Fresh from Intel, here’s a promotional video of the Lenovo Ideapad U8.

As you can see on a few of the frames in the video, this one is headed to Beijing for the Olympics so it’s not likely to be available outside Asia.

Source: Intel Mobility Blog.

Sprint have certainly lined up a good range of devices behind their Xohm WiMax activities at CTIA.  We’ve already heard about the Nokia N810 WiMax, the Cloudbook Max and now, Samsung have made a press release saying that the Q1 Ultra Premium will be available with a WiMax option. There’s not much more to say though because there’s no indication of price and no-one knows exactly how this service is going to perform yet. Watch out for first tests in fall (Sept-Oct) 2008.

Details and a copy of the press release at PhoneMag

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium details and specifications.

In support of Engadget, I’m going Magenta until the next story is posted.

T-Mobile global headquarters is about 3km from my house. Maybe i’ll print out screenshots of all the other sites that went Magenta and drop them in the T-Mobile letterbox!!!

It really is a hideous color isn’t it!

With a screen size of 8.9″and a weight of 1KG, this one qualifies under the official UMPCPortal ‘what is a UMPC’ rules and earns some respect because it’s got a productivity-focused specification list along with mobile WiMax communications capability.

More images and info after the break

VIA have just issued a press release about the release of the VX800 chipset devices for Mini-notes and Ultra Mobile devices. The VX800 is the next-gen integrated northbridge, southbridge and GPU that will help ultra mobile devices reach higher processing power for the same power envelope as with previous devices. The significant enhancement over the VX700 is the inclusion of DX9-capable graphics hardware for the first time:

• 250MHz engine clock
• VIA Chrome9 HC3 DX9 3D engine
• 128-bit 2D engine with hardware rotation capability
• High Definition video processor with VMR capability
• Up to 256 MB frame buffer

While you might not see this 33x33mm, 3.5W TDP part in many MID-style 4-5″ devices, you will probably see it coupled with 1.2 or 1.6Ghz VIA C7 or Isaiah CPU’s in 7″ ultra mobile PCs and mini-notes that could be more powerful than the high-end Atom-based netbooks. I’m expecting the HP 2133 UMPC to use this chipset, especially as the VX800 is due to ship in April.

Full press release here and detailed information on the VIA product page.