The PCB is the motherboard, it includes the ARM Processor, all the main components of an ARM Powered device. The PCB designer designs that PCB according to plan to fit a certain amount of functionality into a given price point. They take the ARM SoC and puts it on a compact motherboard design, one that fits in Android tablets, Smartphones and more. In this video you can see some of the young engineers working at http://richtechie.com on the current and future Freescale i.MX51 and i.MX53 designs that this PCB makers customers want to release to the market.
Here’s my initial video- and photo-review of this $87 Android smartphone that I found at the Shenzhen electronics market. It’s based on the ARM9 Mediatek MTK6516 processor, with Dual-SIM (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) support, Android Froyo 2.2 installed (seems smooth!), AGPS, 2Megapixel Camera, Bluetooth A2DP, the screen is a great 3.5″ capacitive touch screen, seems super! You read this right, this one now sells on the Shenzhen market for only $87 (565 Chinese Renminbi).
Here are the specs for this Mediatek MTK6516 ARM9 Based so-called FG8 Android phone:
MTK6516 ARM9 460Mhz + 260Mhz DSP (that can do certain video playback and other UI acceleration)
3.5″ Capacitive HVGA 480×320 screen
256MB RAM
Froyo Android 2.2 supported
Dual-SIM Card slots GSM Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900MHz works worldwide on GSM/GPRS/EDGA (no 3G HSDPA data speeds though)
WiFi, FM, Bluetooth A2DP, AGPS, 2Mpix Camera, Microphone, MicroSD card slot (up to 32GB), Mp4 playback support claimed, 3-4 hours talk time and 200 hours standby time claimed (I haven’t tested yet).
Here are some pictures of this awesome product (click thumbnails for the bigger photos on Google Picasaweb):
Let me know in the comments what features you would like me to test in my next videos of this device. If you can find links for realiable-looking online Shenzhen exporters for where to order, post the links to export stores in the comments, so interested people can try to order with worldwide shipping.
Thinkbook T-718 uses Rockchip 2818 with a 7″ capacitive touch screen, Froyo, for about $100 ordered in bulk. They also make it in 8″ and 10″ sizes, all capacitive.
szppm is showing this 9.7″ same quality as iPad1 LG touch screen, based on the Freescale i.MX515 it’s sold for $244 at retail price, thus can be gotten from them for a bunch cheaper in bulk.
Here’s an interesting interview with http://www.vdiscovery.cn where they explain what else is needed to be added to create a tablet with the ARM Powered PCBA that they deliver based on the Infotmic imapx210 ARM11 processor for just $45 or cheaper depending on quantity.
MID Joyplus is showing new Wondermedia WM8652 based 9.7″ tablet, a Rockchip Rk2818 10.1″ design and a 8″ 4:3 capacitive Telechips tablet. They still also have the Samsung Hummingbird 7″ for around $150.
Here’s a company who makes the Samsung Hummingbird ARM Cortex-A8 based PCBA for about $73 or cheaper depending on quantity, to put into those nice capacitive 7″ or larger Samsung Hummingbird tablets that are coming out.
World’s cheapest ARM Cortex-A9 Tablet thus far (single core), it is to be sold at $95 FOB Shenzhen, meaning for orders of at least 500 pieces. Add taxes, import, licences, profit margins and the retail price in Europe and USA may be around $149/149€.
Here are the specs:
AmLogic 8726-M ARM Cortex-A9 Single Core 800Mhz
ARM Mali-400 graphics
Android 2.2 (2.3, 3.0 updates possible, depends on Google policies)
512MB RAM
4GB Flash
7″ resistive (capacitive available for about $30 extra)
WiFi, Bluetooth, Accelerometer
1800mAh battery
USB 2 host/device connector
HDMI output with 1080p full video codecs support (maximum video bitrate to be tested later.. Do you know of online benchmarks for video playback on this AmLogic, please write in comments)
Flash 10.1, 3G Dongle, GPS (optional, requires extra module)
Here’s the new snappier ARM Cortex-A8 processor from Telechips running Gingerbread software already, bringing in faster processing speed, still keeping the price below $122 for this one.
www.moonse.com.cn is showing this 7″ AmLogic 800mhz ARM Cortex-A9 based tablet. Showing some of its impressive Mali-400 graphics capabilities on a HDTV, basically it’s like having a PS3 console in your pocket. They are also making 8″ 4:3 and 10.1″ 16:9 versions as well.
Special Show for Tablets and Smartphones indeed. These girls are walking the catwalk on funky music to show the collection of the latest Chinese tablets and smartphones being launched at the Shenzhen Electronics Fair. Fun! Now we just need subtitles. The first to recognize and list all the tablets and smartphones in this catwalk in the comments can win a donut.
Archos Technology (Shenzhen) Co Ltd has a big booth in the middle of the Shenzhen Electronics Fair, there is a lot of interest for Archos and Arnova products in the Chinese market and developing countries. They have of course invited me to their Shenzhen offices tomorrow where I will try to film some awesome behind the scenes videos for you showing how Archos makes things happen here in Shenzhen, I’ll try to film at their factories if possible.
Why pay $800 for an iPhone (or $199 on 2-year $2000 contract), when you can buy an Android version for $149 and not have to pay anything further, other that perhaps a pre-paid plan. This one uses the Mediatek ARM9 460Mhz with DSP, runs Android Froyo. You can watch my Mediatek video from Mobile World Congress, they are one of the leaders in making these lowest cost ARM SoC solutions for Android smartphones, their next generation adds support for 3G networks. This $149 Sinoteck H2000 Hero comes with a 3.5″ HVGA capacitive touch screen, excellent Android implementation by Mediatek, that one is GPRS/GSM only though, Sinoteck also sells a Qualcomm MSM7200A based version for 3G/WCDMA support but for an additional $50.
Here are their infos from Sinoteck International (HK)Co.,Limited. (http://www.bysino.net/):
Android 2.2 GPS WIFI Analog TV Dual Card Quad Band 3.2″ Touch Screen Phone FG8
just 116usd you could attract every pretty girl’s attention
Hot Spots:
– Operating system:Google Android 2.2
– Built in GPS and support voice navigation
– CPU: MTK 6516 600MHZ
– RAM:256M,ROM:512M,extend to 32GB max
– 3.2 inch touch screen;HVGA PX:320*480
– Quadband GSM:850/900/1800/1900 MHZ
– WIFI high-speed Internet connectivity
– Analog TV free
– FM radio
– Language:English/Spanish/Russian/Portuguese/Turkish/Melayu/Indonesia
H2000 3.5″ Capacitance Touch Screen WIFI cell phones Quad Band Android 2.2 TV
just 149usd you could take it travel around the world
Sunshing06.com is designing these PCBA ARM Powered motherboards for tablets, set-top-box and other devices. The motherboard with the 1Ghz ARM11 processor is just $40. It supports 1080p at up to 30mbitps. Add to that a touch screen, battery and you’ve got a tablet. Or add some the connectors and you’ve got a set-top-box!
The fair is awesome. I found a lot of very interesting cheap Android smartphones and tablets. Look forward to my uploads coming up. The internet upload speed is too slow to upload video at the press center, I’ll try to upload elsewhere in Shenzhen. Please subscribe to my RSS feed (add my RSS to your Google Reader) and subscribe to my YouTube channel to get my latest videos from Shenzhen and Hong Kong during these next 10 days. I talked with several very cool Shenzhen based manufacturers, they are inviting me to go film some behind the scenes videos at their factories and interview the engineers at work on cool future products, so look forward to those videos to be posted here also during these next few days!
This is the type of stuff I am looking for. Sub-$150 Android smartphone, with 3.2″ or larger capacitive touch screens, decent looking Android install. This one comes with 3.2″ capacitive and Android Froyo support. Please do some search for this on the web and please post full specs in comments so that I can update this page with the full specs. This one may be based on the Mediatek MTK6516 460Mhz ARM9 with 208MHz DSP.
The price is $380 unlocked (2499 Chinese remimbi) (no further contracts needed, that’s about half the price of the iphone4 without a contract), for an Android phone with a same type of retina resolution display as on the iphone4. I think it uses the Samsung Hummingbird ARM Cortex-A8 1Ghz processor with 512MB RAM (also sounds similar to the specs of the iphone4). There are actually many Meizu stores all over Shenzhen, I guess Meizu is a major gadgets brand selling here. Do you think Meizu is a bit too obvious at copying Apple’s design?
Meizu M9
CPU: 1 Ghz Cortex A8-based Samsung S5PC110
Graphics Processor: Power VR 540 GPU
Audio chip: Texas Instruments TLV320AIC36
Memory: Memory: 512 Mb ROM / 512 Mb RAM
Networks: GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G network support: WCDMA, HSDPA and HSUPA with speeds of 7,2/5,76 Mbps (Both schould work in Europe). Only supports the 2100 Mhz band of WCDMA. Check google for info in your country supports the 2100 Mhz band.
Dimensions: 59,8 x 113 x 11 mm
Weight: 123 grams
Expansion slot: Micro SD / TF – No built-in storage, microSDHC support. (Will come with either an 8GB or 16GB TF card)
Display: 3.56″ (49.92 x 74.88 mm), 960×640 pixel resolution, 16 million colors
Operating System: Android 2.2 Modified by Meizu(Includes English language), Android 2.3 will be released in the next firmware update.
Camera: 5 megapixels camera, Pictures in 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, Records videos in 720p HD (1280×720) at 30 FPS, No flash in the first version
Battery: 1370 mAh
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 / WiFi 802.11b/g/n (Different WLAN module compared to M8, WiFi tethering is supported) / A-GPS / TV-out (via mini USB, no HDMI. Not sure if included in the first version)
Ports: Mini USB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
