Mi700 on the left. Haiku Concept by Microsoft’s Origami Team (2005/2006)
You love full PC’s in the hand I know, but I just wanted to highlight the Mi700 7 inch tablet that is being reviewed over at Carrypad. It’s running Android 2.2 and it’s fully stocked with all the hardware features you’ll find in a phone, including the phone. It’s arguable that there are things you can do with the Mi700 that you just can’t do easily with a ultra mobile PC or Windows-based tablet. Location services, social networking, 3.2MP photography, instant sharing, always-on, always-on battery life and turn-by-turn navigation to name just a few. On the other hand, what about the productivity apps?
Check out the review and tell me what you think. Personally I think it fits Origami better than the Origami devices did and i’m excited to get down to some serious testing with a similar device, the Viewsonic Viewpad 7, very soon.
There are many new MID devices being released these days, and it seems that the 7-inch screen size is gaining popularity among the fans of reading on mobile devices. Users looking to read books, comics or work documents have shown great interest in SmartDevices (SmartQ7, SmartV7), WitsTech (A81/W1060), and other 7-inch multi-function MIDs. Operating systems available on these devices vary, from Linux to WinCE, with Android being the most sought after. Its a safe bet that the first manufacturer that can release a dependable MID running Android with full Market functionality and a decent price will get a great deal of interest from potential MID users, especially avid readers.
So what did SmartDevices do? They decided to release a device that has all three operating systems available. Users can choose which OS to start at boot-time. This 7-inch device also boasts HD video and a new HDMI port. Those of you familiar with the SmartQ7 MID will recognize this device, as the SmartV7 build is almost identical to its older sibling. I have received a review unit from Eletroworld and am working on a new detailed review of the device. Expect a lot of Android coverage in this review, as I put the unit through tests to determine the depth functionality the Android build that comes with the SmartV7 ships with. From initial looks, it seems the Android implementation does not have Market working yet, but expect more details when I finish the review. Has SmartDevices beaten the other manufacturers to the punch?
