It is rather interesting that a number of new slate style tablet devices seem to be warring even before they are officially launched, or even proven exist. The two most frequently rumored are definitely the CrunchPad and the even more elusive Apple Tablet. While the Apple Tablet may or may not even exist, we’ve at least seen offical prototypes of the CrunchPad, and it seemed to be generally near completion until all any new info surrounding its release has halted in the last few months.
The CrunchPad shot up the popularity ladder in the Portal shortly after being added, and held the number one spot for a good period of time. Despite seemingly no one calling the CrunchPad a UMPC, lots of traffic clearly interested in the CrunchPad was landing on the CrunchPad’s Portal page.
The CrunchPad has only recently been supplanted by the likes of the Archos 9 [Portal page] and the Viliv X70 [Portal page]:
The CrunchPad is a project started by Michael Arrington of TechCrunch. In July of 2008, an article titled “We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet For $200. Help Us Build It. inch written by Arrington, went up on TechCrunch. To date that article has produced 1,235 comments in the comment section of the article alone and also countless numbers of articles from other sites in response. Between that time and a month or two ago, the CrunchPad has received quite a bit of attention with various prototypes spotted and a good deal of news and search attention. Note the news reference volume in the graph below which shows how frequently the CrunchPad is searched for (compared to Archos 9 for context):
The most recent news that seemed to decry an imminent release of the CrunchPad was that Michael Arrington had teamed up with a small company in Singapore called Fusion Garage for the design, and there is another entity apparently called CrunchPad Inc. which may or may not be involved in getting the device produced (or could possibly be a renaming of Fusion Garage itself).
But much of this news is from back in July. There were reports (read: rumors) that stated that a CrunchPad event may be held at the end of July, or in August, launching or otherwise officially declaring the final CrunchPad device. That date has since come and gone, and here we are, a few days from November, and it seems like all has been quiet on the CrunchPad front. So where in the world is Carmen Sandiego the CrunchPad?
Perhaps the CrunchPad has been waiting on Pixel Qi’s technology to develop? This is just a guess, but I don’t see anyone else taking a shot at the question.
Pixel Qi is a company (sometimes referred to as the name of the technology itself) that is working on a type of screen technology that promises to bring inexpensive power saving e-ink like screens to mobile computers using existing LCD manufacturing processes. The Pixel Qi site has a small update box that has this to say:
We have passed early reliability testing with flying colors and are still on track to start mass production of our screens in late Q4 2009.
And while it might seem obvious that Pixel Qi would let people know if they have been working on screens for the CrunchPad to generate interest in the technology, and the device, the following was written on the Pixel Qi blog on October 17th under an article titled “Pixel Qi Screens debuting in Tablets inch:
While we are supplying screens for tablets (and ebooks, and netbooks too!) and are starting production shortly, including supplying limited volumes earlier than our official mass production start we can’t say when these products will be announced and sold retail.
Sorry not to be able to reveal more, but our customers: the netbook, ebook and tablet makers really need to announce their products on their schedules.
With a few CrunchPad articles mentioning a November release, I’d say that it is at least possible that the CrunchPad devlopment and the Pixel Qi screens are coinciding, and maybe the CrunchPad hold-up is due in part to Pixel Qi screen technology still working its way out the door.
Alternate theories? Please feel free to share below.
New article: Where is the CrunchPad? Could Pixel Qi be behind the holdup? http://bit.ly/oALbk
Where is the CrunchPad? Could Pixel Qi be behind the holdup? http://ff.im/-awrc3
Ben,
We wrote a very similar article “Is Apple waiting for Pixel Qi?”
http://www.shanzai.com/index.php/market-mayhem/8-op-ed/178-is-apple-waiting-for-pixel-qi
The logic applies to both the Crunchpad and a possible Apple tablet… they need to be eBook readers as well as PCs. I think Pixel Qi tech could make that happen.
Tai-Pan
Thanks for sharing Tai-Pan. I hesitate to even speculate on an Apple Tablet anymore as there isn’t even proof that it exists, but it is definitely possible that Apple is also eying Pixel Qi as a provider for their screens.
A Pixel Qi screen would definitely help a bit with battery life and might make the CrunchPad a decent tablet for consuming documents and e-magazines at home. If I recall correctly, Pixel Qi intended to make rather large panels, which would fit the CrunchPad.
To my knowledge Pixel Qi has not yet shown their screens with any touch layers on them though. If and when they do, I expect them to be capacitive, as 12″ is pretty big for resistive technology and could be somewhat worse than capacitive for bright ambient lighting conditions. I also remember that the Pixel Qi folks didn’t have much praise for resistive screens on some demo video by Charbax, if I recall correctly.
Of course, any device would be so much better with a Pixel Qi screen. In fact, all LCD screens should be Pixel Qi screens. They ought to make some with a touch layer in 8.9″ size for me too! :)
I also haven’t seen any touch enabled Pixel Qi demos, but the article on the Pixel Qi blog clearly states: “Pixel Qi Screens debuting in Tablets”. I don’t think they would say tablet and somehow not mean touchscreen.
As for resistive/capacitive, I actually think it might be the other way around. There are many more large resistive touchscreens on tablet PCs today than large capacitive touchscreens. While I would say that capacitive is oh-so-much better than resistive in most cases, I think that the tech becomes increasingly expensive as it gets larger, which is why we haven’t seen it on many larger devices.
If the CrunchPad is waiting on a 10-12″ Pixel Qi screen, I could only assume that it would be resistive, despite my wish that it would be capacitive; the reason for this would be keep cost down.
in the meantime ereaders are popping op in the market en masse with strong backing by publishers and editors and big resellers as well. as i said earlier, it will be tough for a small company of newcomers to enter the market without having built strong connections to the publishing market and its alliances too.
Where is the CrunchPad? Could Pixel Qi be behind the holdup … http://bit.ly/qWVJc
if they dont hurry now with the crunchpad it is dead before it is on the market cause more and more tablet pcs are coming. i was a big fan of the crunchpad but now i think i look for a archos 9 (with a good ssd will be ok i think)
I think you have hit the nail on the head with the Crunchpad. After watching Charbox’s video interview with Pixel Qi, I thought about tablet PC’s.
Although I had given up all hope of the Crunchpad ever seeing the light of day I am now excited about it again.
As I recall, the last official statement about the CrunchPad was back in July when it was also suggested that an August appearance was in the making. Since then nothing has been heard.
I would like to see it come to fruition but I have a sinking feeling that the CrunchPad is dead in the water at this time.
When there were hiccups before, Michael Harrington was the sort that came out and gave us reasons, and, whether real or not, at least we had reasons. There has been nothing official since July.
If timing was important then what better than to get well established before the titans rolled out their offerings. If the screen was the delay, why suggest an August showing when Qi was not near OEM release.
With the previous rumor of a $399 or more price tag, I think they have hit a technical problem along with pricing woes.
On the other hand, they could be waiting to allow for the inevitable high prices of the new (rumored) MS and Apple offerings which would allow them to increase their own price but still come in under the bar; that it, a price somewhat higher than $399.
Having said all of this, I sort of hope I am wrong.
Sorry if I’ve rambled, It’s late and I’m tired.
Great thread to start, Chippy!
Damn it, where’s my Gravitar gone?
*snort* I got you all beat:
Will Apple Use A Pixel Qi Screen?
http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/will-apple-use-a-pixel-qi-screen/
— JULY 2008, baby.
As for the CrunchPad, I was just wondering today — before I saw this — if the delay was that they decided to ditch the customized Linux they had to go with Android instead. Why bother to release something that’s basically a one-shot standalone device? It’d tank.
Here are some more rumours of an Apple Tablet..
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-shops-tablet-around-australia-20091027-hijk.html
It looks like all the speculation has grabbed Mrs. Jepson’s attention once again:
http://pixelqi.com/blog1/2009/10/28/pixel-qi-late/
Hmm yeah it looks like that’s a response to our article. It doesn’t really give us any info though. To me is sounds like they are just saying ‘we are not late… given the market status’. The fact they she responded could be a hint that the CrunchPad is going to use a Pixel Qi screen, but Pixel Qi doesn’t want to be know as the reason why it’s taking so long. That’s probably a stretch, but I guess we’ll find out in due time.
Where is the CrunchPad? Could Pixel Qi be behind the holdup? http://cstat.us/4z