the-digital-reader.com: Newsmy Rockchip powered Android Tablet “kindle clone design”

Posted by – January 15, 2011
Category: Tablets, Rockchip, CES, Android

Rockchip was powering about 50 Android tablets at CES 2011, Nate the Great liked this Android tablet design presented by Newsmy at the Rockchip booth:

This video was posted at: the-digital-reader.com

the-digital-reader.com: Gajah BK 7009 Android tablet

Posted by – January 15, 2011
Category: Tablets, Rockchip, CES, Android

Nate the Great found this Gajah BK7009 7″ Android tablet with a customized Android UI for e-reader mode:

This video was posted at: the-digital-reader.com

Canon Vixia HF G10 Sample recordings

Posted by – January 15, 2011

As I am considering the new 2011 camcorder Series from Panasonic/Canon/Sony/Nikon for upgrading to higher quality 1080p video-blogging, I thought I would test the qualities of the newest $1500 Canon Vixia HF G10 series camcorder by recording samples onto my own SD card and post them here on YouTube and include the full download of the original sample video file for your analysis.

The picture quality on Canon Vixia HF G10 should basically be the same as on the $500 more expensive Canon XA10, that nearly only ads XLR audio inputs, so if I find out I might want to upgrade my audio recordings to XLR, I might go with that.

The Canon Vixia HF G10 sensor is 1/3 of an inch in size and has a pixel count of 2.07 megapixels, which corresponds exactly to a 1920 × 1080 resolution. Canon’s theory is that by having a sensor that matches to Full HD resolution, the video image will benefit overall. (read more infos on camcorderinfo.com) Canon uses their new DIGIC DV3 Processor which hopefully thus provides good compression quality even when filming at 12mbitps or lower bitrates for easier uploads.

No in-camera cut and join editing? No 720p modes? No 60p mode? No overlay graphics integration (such as transparent png file with my logo at bottom right corner of videos)? No built-in Bluetooth mics and sound mixer (Canon says they got an external Bluetooth microphone option, though may not support more than one Bluetooth microphone at the time)? No built-in fast WiFi and Ethernet YouTube uploads? I would like a good in-camera compressor to make high quality at low manageable bitrates to upload HD on YouTube without requiring PC re-encoding, without it taking too long especially at conferences where there is slow upload speed. Those are features I would like in my next camera, but I still may do without if quality can be much improved over the Sanyo HD1000 that I have been using for all my video-blogging since March 2008. Do you think I should upgrade my video-blogging to this camera or do you have another suggestion for what new camera I should consider?

24mbitps@1080p@24p Sample:

Download sample on Google Docs (96MB for 34 seconds)

12mbitps@1080p@24p Sample:

Download sample on Google Docs (52MB for 35 seconds, this is probably the quality I would record my video-blogging in for it not to take too long to upload to YouTube)

Top-24 videos I filmed at CES of products not covered by Engadget

Posted by – January 14, 2011

While Engadget has about 38 bloggers at CES and a huge dedicated trailer with dedicated fiber optics line just outside the Central Hall, it can be hard for a small independent blogger like me, fighting for bandwidth at cheap Las Vegas hotels (Internet access in my Sahara hotel room actually didn’t work at all during the whole CES) or staying on the floor outside the Las Vegas Convention Center press room untill 11PM every night (until they turned off the lights and security kicks me out), uploading and posting 106 HD quality videos during CES bringing you exclusive contents even as sites like Engadget and 100 other big blogs always post 500 things on the first day of CES, their coverage is great. But I notice I may have covered a bunch of things that the Engadget bloggers didn’t find interesting enough or couldn’t find (too busy partying with Lady Gaga?), let me give you an overview of some 24 products that I have filmed and that seem not to be covered on Engadget (I still have more than 20 CES videos to upload and to post later today and the next few days):

NEC Tegra2 Powered 7″ Laptop, Engadget only covered NEC’s cool dual-resistive-screen Android tablet which I also filmed, but they don’t seem to have found this 7″ Tegra 2 Laptop with Touch screen form factor.

Innodigital WebTube, Android ARM Cortex-A9 set-top-box, Korean Innodigital seems to be making the absolute best Samsung ARM Cortex-A8 $165 and Trident ARM Cortex-A9 $265 Android Set-top-boxes. Those I believe may be Google TV ready once that software for ARM is ready.

OLPC XO-1.75, ARM Marvell Armada 610 version of the XO Laptop!, Engadget did cover it but not with video.

Onyx Boox M90, cool 9.7″ connected e-ink e-reader with digitizer annotations input and cool embedded Linux software by Chinese Onyx International. Definitely a good alternative to the 9.7″ Kindle DX that has no touch screen input features.

Ramos ARM Cortex-A9 Tablets, except all the Tegra2 tablets and the OMAP4430 Blackberry Playbook, Ramos may have been one of the only ones showing alternative AmLogic 1.2Ghz ARM Cortex-A9 based tablets at CES.

Polaroid Android Tablet, Polaroid showed a 9.7″ Android Tablet to compete directly with the iPad.

Shenzhen ACT 4.8″ capacitive Marvel PXA935 clamshell Android, a really enjoyable 1Ghz Marvell powered Android 4.8″ capacitive clamshell form factor with dual-sim card. This design could be close to dream like for some productive Android fanboys.

Ocean Star 1024×600 7″ capacitive Rockchip RK2818 Android Tablet, at $140 in bulk, may be most affordable 1024×600 7″ capacitive Android tablet yet and can have 3G built-in for $50 more. Rockchip is ramping up!

Mary-Lou Jepsen gives an update on Pixel Qi at CES 2011, Engadget did talk about Pixel Qi news, but did not post an extensive interview with Mary-Lou Jepsen talking about status like mine.

Archos 101 Home Tablet, possibly cheapest 10″ capacitive ARM Cortex-A8 tablet, yet another in the Rockchip Home Tablet series for Archos, Rockchip says it could be sold for $199 retail, price is to be confirmed by Archos once Rockchip RK29xx is delivered in mass quantities for this product to ship.

Rockchip presents RK2818 and RK29xx series Processors at CES 2011, Engadget didn’t provide you with an extensive interview with top representative at Rockchip about their status. Rockchip was in over 50 Android tablets shown at CES, from RK2818 to RK29xx, that’s possibly a record.

GreatWall M7250, $125 Android Tablet, Marvell 166 ARM11 based 7 Android tablet, it costs $125 in bulk, offers a 3G built-in option for $45 extra

Zaidtek E7 and Zaidtek H7 Android Tablets, Qualcomm MSM7227 and Rockchip RK2818 capacitive 7″ tablets, $350 and $250 respectively, may be some of “most affordable” such capacitive tablets with 3G built-in. Seems to be same design in $450 at retail Aigo N700 which I also filmed.

Robo Builder dancing robot, humanoid Robot building and programming kit for around $860

Mastone 10.1″ OMAP3630 Android Tablet, one of the first designs after Archos to use OMAP3630 in a tablet as far as I know.

Jetbook mini LCD based $99 e-reader, uses interesting LCD based e-reading technology from Toshiba, and is affordable.

Match Tech 9.7″ Capacitive i.MX51 Android Tablet, another proof Apple has lost exclusivity on LG’s 9.7″ IPS capacitive touch screen panel, here powered by Freescale i.MX51 and with design to be upgraded to faster i.MX53 when available.

istation (previously Digital Cube) launched 7″ 3D Tablet and 5″, may not have fastest Telechips processor, still original designs.

Nufront ARM Powered Laptops, first time Nufront shows their ARM Cortex-A9 in 10″ and 14″ Laptops and 10″ Tablets.

Freescale i.MX508 next generation e-ink platform, in this video showing 8fps refresh rates and Android for e-ink e-readers which could enable awesome e-ink apps (rss readers, news readers, email, web browsing, etc..)

Freescale i.MX51 Powered Tablets at CES 2011, tour of about a dozen Freescale powered Android tablets.

Seco srl presents Pico Projector in a Lamp concept, check this out, one of the most original uses of Android and pico projector.

Honeycomb user interface demo, I actually grabbed some footage of me using the actual Android Honeycomb OS (considering it’s not final or simply secretive for now), did anyone else post Honeycomb UI videos other than the official ones that were playing in loop on any Xoom demonstrated at CES?

LG Smart TV to be ARM Powered, some interviewing with LG Smart TV product manager about how it’ll be ARM Powered.

Check back as I am uploading the remaining 20 or so videos that I filmed at CES today and the next few days.

Panasonic HDC-HS900 Sample recordings

Posted by – January 14, 2011

As I am considering the new 2011 camcorder Series from Panasonic/Canon/Sony as my new video-blogging camcorder, I thought I would test the qualities of the newest Panasonic HS900 series camcorder by recording samples onto my own SD card and post them here on YouTube and include the full download of the original sample video file for your analysis.

The Panasonic HDC-HC900 comes with same 3MOS three 1/4.1-inch CMOS sensors as last year-s HDC-HS700 series, but now includes a better processor called Crystal Engine PRO. Panasonic claims this new processor reduces noise by 45%, and should produce better images in low-light conditions. (read more infos on camcorderinfo.com)

No in-camera cut and join editing? No 720p modes? No 24p mode? No overlay graphics integration (such as transparent png file with my logo at bottom right corner of videos)? No built-in Bluetooth mics and sound mixer? No built-in fast WiFi and Ethernet YouTube uploads? I would like a good in-camera compressor to make high quality at low manageable bitrates to upload HD on YouTube without requiring PC re-encoding, without it taking too long especially at conferences where there is slow upload speed. Those are features I would like in my next camera, but I still may do without if quality can be much improved over the Sanyo HD1000 that I have been using for all my video-blogging since March 2008. Do you think I should upgrade my video-blogging to this camera or do you have another suggestion for what new camera I should consider?

Sample at 1080p@60fps@24mbitps: Download original sample file on Google Docs (108MB for 38 seconds)

Sample at 8mbitps HX mode: Download original sample file on Google Docs (31MB for 30 seconds)
Watch that sample on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE1tMrzvjxs

Sample at 6mbitps HC mode: Download original sample file on Google Docs (24MB for 31 seconds)
Watch that sample on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTCf8XHc_UQ

ARM Powered Google TV confirmed

Posted by – January 14, 2011

I have it on very high authority from someone at Google (to remain anonymous) that an ARM Powered Google TV platform is coming soon.

The specifics of how Google TV on ARM allows for differentiation (also called fragmentation), if there is support for versions without the whole HDMI-passthrough/IR-blaster overlay features, if Google TV on ARM has 1080p@60fps requirements or if 720p@30fps can be enough, if there will be support for cheaper ARM11 platforms such as Korean Telechips based Android-ready boxes, all of that is yet to be confirmed. But a bloggers logic says that eventually all ARM platforms and setups should be compatible. But as with delay in providing official Google Marketplace on non-standard Android Tablets (in a world of Android makers wanting to compete with iPod Touch and iPad), Google has authority to also decide to block or delay official Marketplace or other official features of Google TV on non-standard and cheaper Set-top-box devices.

I have been rumoring this for many months here on ARMdevices.net (1, 2, 3, 4) that Google TV on ARM would be a certainty, it’s also been talked about by ARM President Tudor Brown back in November that “If Google TV is to be mainstream, it must be built on a lower power system, …on lower cost technology”.

Recently, an unofficial jailbreak on Google TV also confirmed my speculation that the main reason TV Networks can block Google TV is because of the Flash Plugin officially announcing itself in the browser to be of Google TV user agent. Jailbreaking thus allows to install a hacked Flash Plugin that cannot be detected by websites.

Just as since Computex in June 2010 (Bonux, Keenhigh mediatech), I filmed several interesting ARM Powered Android Set-top-boxes at CES 2011 such as the ARM Cortex-A9 Innodigital WebTube and two more Android WebTV solutions that I still have to upload, all of these ARM Powered Android Set-top-box solutions should be able to run a basic Google TV software just as well.

Consider that Google has to cater to not pre-announcing future products too early as to not cannibalize the sales of the existing Intel powered Google TV boxes such as the Logitech Revue, the stuff from Sony and the upcoming Google TV solutions from Vizio, Toshiba, Samsung, Sharp, LG and others (some of those may already be ARM Powered, who knows..). Thus expect the official announcements to happen closer to the date when the Google TV software on ARM is ready for mass marketing and closer to sales.

I still believe that a sub-$100 ARM Powered Google TV Set-top-box could be one of the most revolutionary things to happen to TV since it was introduced in the late 1920ies. The revolution is when an affordable sub-$100 box (that everyone can afford) provides easy UI and meaningful algorithms for one-click instant access to all the worlds legal or illegal VOD contents. Instant access for all to every video ever made. Any video maker can be instantly broadcast on an infrastructure to be seen everywhere according to an algorithm based on ratings to determine quality and originality. People watch an average of 5 hours of TV per day, it greatly aspires to be revolutionized.

Qualcomm’s dual-core snapdragon was at CES 2011

Posted by – January 14, 2011

I didn’t have time to find it when I tried to find new stuff at Qualcomm’s CES booth, but they did show a reference platform for their upcoming dual-core Snapdragon MSM8660 to some bloggers at CES 2011 and they posted an official video here:


Source: youtube.com/QUALCOMMVlog
Found via: engadget.com

Expect to see more on Qualcomm’s Dual Core Snapdragon at Mobile World Congress next month.

Here’s an interview showing Qualcomm MSM8660 reference prototype at CES 2011 posted by IntoMobile.com:


Source: youtube.com/IntoMobile

$130 Android Laptop

Posted by – January 14, 2011

Hopeland Digital Corporation of Shenzhen releases this NB-100 10.1″ Android Laptop, powered by the ARM11 Telechips 8902 processor, 256MB RAM, 8GB nand flash, SD card slot, WiFi, it runs Android 2.1 for now, possibly upgradable. What does Google need to do to optimize Android for the Laptop? I think someone just needs to put an ARM Cortex A8 or A9 processor inside (with good fast I/O and memory, enough RAM..) and port a full Chrome browser for it (perhaps just run Chrome OS for ARM) and we’ll be all set. Do you think this type of platform is soon ready to replace $300 netbooks and the $1000 MacBook Air?

GreatWall M7250, $125 Android Tablet

Posted by – January 14, 2011

China GreatWall Computer Shenzhen releases this Marvell 166 ARM11 based 7 Android tablet, it costs $125 in bulk, they provide Capacitive or Resistive model, as well as offer a 3G built-in option for $45 extra.

Zaidtek E7 and Zaidtek H7 Android Tablets

Posted by – January 14, 2011

Zaidtek E7 is an ARM11 Qualcomm MSM7227 based Android 2.1 capacitive tablet. You can notice that it looks similar to the Aigo N700 tablet that I posted earlier. This video also features the Zaidtek H7 Rockchip ARM9 RK2818 Android tablet. Prices are $350 and $250 respectively both including the built-in 3G modem for bulk orders of at least 200 pieces.

PocketBook 603, 903 and IQ at CES 2011

Posted by – January 14, 2011

PocketBook are releasing the 603 Pro, 903 Pro and PocketBook IQ Android Tablet/E-reader globally.

USB3 SuperSpeed at up to 5Gbps

Posted by – January 14, 2011

Today there are 165 certified USB SuperSpeed products, and a lot of products that haven’t yet been certified. Here’s an interview with a representative of the USB Implementers Forum about what it means for devices to get a USB SuperSpeed certification.

Seagate presents GoFlex hard drive with USM (Universal Storage Module) connector

Posted by – January 14, 2011

The Sata-IO committee launched the new Universal Storage Module open standard at CES 2011, it’s a standardized Sata connector slow for devices like desktops, even laptops, media players and TVs to allow for full speed data transfers and one standard for the shape of 2.5″ removable hard drives. This GoFlex design from Seagate allows support for USB 2, USB 3, Firewire and any future connector that might come out, yet maxing out data transfer speed at the speed of Sata and of the spinning hard drive that comes inside. This video also features some description of Seagate’s Mementus XT hybrid hard drive product that speeds up OSes that can benefit from faster Flash based load times in combination with cheaper larger hard drive storage.

Kodak Playfull, PlaySport and PlayTouch

Posted by – January 14, 2011

Kodak releases a new bunch of compact pocket video cameras, including the very compact Kodak Playfull targetted at women that go clubbing, Kodak PlaySport Zx5 which is waterproof and shock proof, and the PlayTouch which has a 3″ touch screen and external microphone input.

Digilife DDV-J6, HD camcorder with built-in LCOS qvga projector

Posted by – January 14, 2011

This is a pocket HD camcorder with a built-in qvga projector, it’s on the market for about $299. Find more informations here.

Acer Iconia Tab A500, Tegra2 Android Tablet

Posted by – January 13, 2011

Acer is also one of the major companies launching Tegra2 ARM Cortex-A9 powered Android Tablets. This one seems to have a 1280×800 10.1″ capacitive touch screen, 1GB RAM, 2mpixel front and 5mpixel back cameras, 4G LTE compatible and should be upgraded to Honeycomb when it releases in the next few months.

ViewSonic ViewPad 10s Tegra2 Android Tablet

Posted by – January 13, 2011

Similar to the ViewSonic G-Tablet, this one is to be sold and supported by ViewSonic directly while the G-Tablet is supported by US merchants. I try to ask the ViewSonic representative what ViewSonic is doing to allow for alternative Android UI, firmware updates and more.

MSI WindPad 100A prototype

Posted by – January 13, 2011

MSI is nearing release of their Android tablet series, here is the WindPad 100A prototype. It’ll run the Nvidia Tegra2 processor and have MSI’s custom Android UI.

I filmed 106 videos at CES 2011

Posted by – January 13, 2011
Category: CES

I have uploaded 66 of my CES 2011 videos here on ARMdevices.net thus far, and I still have about 40 videos to upload and publish during the next few days. Yup, I beat my previous record at CES 2010 where I only filmed 72 videos.

What do you think about the quality of those videos? I appreciate all comments.

I have now arrived back in Denmark Europe where I can now continue to upload and publish the remaining 40 CES videos during the next few days, and then I’ll post my top-10 CES gadget video lists. So please check back here for more CES videos to still be posted during the next few days.

This CES was absolutely awesome for ARM fans, we saw the first new ARM Powered dual-core super phones, we saw Microsoft announce ARM support, Blackberry bringing their cool new tablet OS on an extremely powerful OMAP4430 dual-core processor, Sony-Ericsson, LG, Huawei bringing great new Android super phones, Acer, LG, Panasonic, Sharp, Vizio all joining the Android tablet party, we saw many new interesting tablets from many manufacturers and even cool new ARM Powered Laptops and Set-top-boxes. Check back for more.

Aigo N700, 7″ capacitive Android Tablet with built-in 3G

Posted by – January 13, 2011

Aigo is a Chinese company who has been making portable media players for a while and now they are doing this capacitive 7″ Android tablet, it’s powered by Qualcomm MSM7227 ARM11 processor, comes with built-in 3G CDMA modem for around $450 unlocked retail price. So it is cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but it’s also using a cheaper 600mhz ARM11 processor.