is the Cheapest Tablet PC Ever

07/06/2011 19:21 par slaytane

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative is expanding and after the first model was made available on the market, as the XO-1 with a $100 price tag, we skip right to the XO-3, a mere concept for now. What happened to the XO-2? The project was canned, it seems.

The OLPC XO-3 is similar to the original model, but it’s more of a tablet than a regular laptop. What’s really impressive is that designer Yves Behar hopes that this OLPC concept will be available for as low as $75, an incredible price tag for any PC.

XO-3 features an 8.5 x 11 touchscreen, a folding ring in the corner for better grip, a camera at the back and it supports induction charging. This is quite a slim device, its waistline being half the one of an iPhone. Also, we learn that this is a multitouch tablet, that will become real in 2012.

Photo Frame and Netbook in One Device

07/06/2011 19:18 par slaytane

We ran out of concept phones these days, but we’ve stumbled upon a pretty interesting portable device design you can check out below, the Litl webbook. Although we’re not sure if this is a concept or a real product, we tend to think that this is a mere prototype of a “webbook”. Said device is a combo between a netbook and a photo frame.

This slim portable gizmo allows users to surf the web, view photos, play videos and use other features that are pretty normal on a mini laptop. Its operating system is a custom one, easy to operate at any age (kids and elderly included).

Cloud computing services will also work with this webbook and you should know that Litl can be connected to a TV and its screen can be flipped over.

Laptop Controls all the Household Gadgets

07/06/2011 19:15 par slaytane

What say you about a gadget that can control everything you use around the house? Some sort of universal remote control, dubbed Cuppa and also used as a social laptop-like device, to keep you connected to your close and loved ones. Created by Ben Arrent, the concept can be seen in the images below.

This slim portable device comes with a wireless keyboard and monitor, support for Wi-Fi connectivity and it can stay connected to a local Cuppa Server. The latter will be used as a cache server for the info you need and you should know that the concept device also comes with a RFID reader, covering both a long and short range.

Cuppa can be considered some sort of bridge between the desktop devices and the cellphone, but one that fits your home perfectly. This portable gadget is energy efficient and comes with an OLED screen, plus tons of IM and social networking features.

Concept Multimedia Portable Device is Sexy

07/06/2011 19:12 par slaytane

Smart Design and Intel have designed a very cool multifunctional device, dubbed the Intel Magic. This portable concept device serves as a phone, an MP3 player and it also packs a web browser, plus many multimedia features. There’s also an LCD display on board and a keyboard, as you can see below.

The keyboard’s buttons are activated via a customisable fabric material, that will seemingly make browsing easier. This is sort of a mini laptop, that can also be used as a phone, once it’s closed up, or even a king size MP3 player. Wondering what solutions Intel stuffed inside: Atom? Moorestown?

We’d surely like Nvidia Tegra to sneak in there, or at least the Ion platform, perhaps with some support for Windows (Mobile) 7? Don’t mind us, we’re just daydreaming again…

Mobile Computer, a Portable Powerhouse

07/06/2011 19:11 par slaytane

Slider is an ultra mobile computer concept that’s got all the specs you need to take your work on the road, at all times. Created by designer Sean Bovee, this device comes with a 9 inch touchscreen display, a full QWERTY keyboard that’s unveiled by flipping the screen and much more.

Slider supports mobile video streaming, that’s lag-free and it also comes with VoIP video chat, 1GB of RAM memory and a 1.5GHz processor. I’m really curious to see how resilient the hinge of this device will be, in case it becomes real. Another issue is the battery life, since the device can only operate for 4 to 7 hours.

The above-mentioned screen is an OLED one and you should know that the mobile computer’s specs list also includes, Bluetooth, WiFi, 4 USB ports and an 80GB SSD.

Since concept phone designers seem to be on holiday, we’ve decided to show you a bunch of mini-notebook prototypes, created by Freescale. The Smartbook concept includes 6 prototypes, modular devices b

07/06/2011 19:09 par slaytane

Since concept phone designers seem to be on holiday, we’ve decided to show you a bunch of mini-notebook prototypes, created by Freescale. The Smartbook concept includes 6 prototypes, modular devices based on ARM CPUs and sporting uber long battery lives.

The compact smartbooks below look great and it turns out that they’re durable and come with great functionality. I’m really impressed by the concept below, that probably packs a touchscreen, a pretty interesting keyboard and an innovative interface. Is it practical enough to make the cut?

These devices are all about productivity, so they deserve to be dubbed “workbooks”.

Compenion UMPC Concept Has Everything You Need

07/06/2011 19:07 par slaytane

After so many tiny concept phones, one must up the stakes a notch and take a plunge into the UMPC world. Leave all Apple and Intel concepts behind and take a look at Mr. Felix Schmidberger’s design below, a beautiful UMPC designed for businessmen in their 30s with families and a passion for home cinema systems.

The device bears the name of “Compenion” and is accompanied by context-oriented docking stations. For example, you’ll use the UMPC with a home entertainment station for your living room, as it comes with an embedded laser projector and the device’s stylus can be used as a remote. This pen is not a regular one, but rather a “senstylus” with 2 action buttons up front and a thumb sensor field at the back.

You can even use this accessory as a remote by turning it around or write with the “senstylus” like with the average pen directly on the OLED touchscreen. The display above is a sliding one, which hides another OLED touchscreen beneath, showing the virtual QWERTY keyboard. Will we see this perfect UMPC hitting the market before 2015?

Hopefully, not with Vista…

Spark UMPC Might Be the Next OLPC

07/06/2011 19:03 par slaytane

We usually show you concepts designed for rich teenagers or other similar stylish handsets that would rule the market in the West. However, we must take into account that affordability is a key factor in third world countries, so any concept that resembles the OLPC is welcome.

The Spark UMPC was created by Project Inkwell and Ideo and it’s destined to reach the poorer countries and specially children.

It comes with a wide screen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a full QWERTY keypad and wireless mouse and it should be used by children under 12. The Spark will be the ideal educational tool and a much cheaper one than the OLPC, I suppose. Now let it be real and pass the design phase!

Life Portable Devices, Concepts

07/06/2011 19:02 par slaytane

After seeing that interesting MySpace Mobile, there’s another device that catches my attention on Flickr, a series of devices to be more precise. The only thing is that I’m not sure whether they’re concepts or real items shown in the picture below. The Life range of gadgets includes an UMPC, an eBook reader and a portable media centre.

The dynamic trio seems to be touchscreen-based and the UMPC comes with Mozilla Firefox, while the media centre seems ready to store more than a playlist of songs.

Oro

29/05/2011 20:28 par slaytane