IMOVIO launched today a smaller alternative to a subnotebook -- much smaller. The new iKIT is about the size of a PDA from ten years ago, but has a QWERTY keyboard and connects to the Internet at 3G speeds via your cell phone or Wi-Fi.
The $175 Linux-based system has a Webcam built in, as well as a range of applications, including Web browsing, e-mail and IM.
It can connect to the Internet using a standard Wi-Fi connection, or it can use your cell phone's mobile broadband connection via Bluetooth.
The company is currently pitching it to mobile network operators and retail stores.
It's being compared to the ill-fated Palm Foleo. But the comparison doesn't work because the Foleo was Palm-phone only, didn't fit in a pocket and cost well over three times the price of the iKIT.
Would YOU carry a second device (in addition to your cell phone) like this?
Processor Marvell PXA270 312MHz
Operating System Linux 2.4.19
User Interface GUI : Proprietary plus Trolltech QT/E 2.3.8
Display Icons / Indicators
- Battery signal strength
- WiFi active/inactive/level
- Bluetooth® active/inactive
- Date & time
Home screen: 8 icons
- Email, launches Email application
- IM launches Instant Messaging application
- Web browser, launches browser application
- Contacts, launches A-Z listing contacts
- Multimedia, open 2nd level icon screen with
- icons for, Video player, Music Player, File manager
- Wireless, open 2nd level icon screen with icons for
- BT, WiFi
- iKIT, open 2nd level icon screen for Display settings,
- Date & Time, Sound settings
- Utilities, Open 2nd level icon screen with icons
- for PC Sync
Keypad
- QWERTY/AZERTY + numeric keys, other
- languages optional
- 2 soft keys, 5 quick access keys, multi directional
- key, power on/off key, volume up/down key
- Backlight: White
Speaker
- 16 mm built-in, monophonic
Memory Internal
- ROM : 128 MB, RAM : 64 MB SDRAM
- User data : 12MB, User media files : 23MB
Memory External
- Micro SD (up to 8GB)
Display
- 2.8 inch QVGA, TFT, 260 000 colors, landscape
Camera
- 0.3 MP fixed focus camera (Option)
- Viewfinder: 15 fps, 16-bit color depth
- Image format: JPEG, fine and standard
- compression, user selectable
- Digital zoom: Up to 3X smooth digital zoom with
- 7 steps
- Effects: Color, black & white, negative, sepia
- Capture time: less than 2 seconds to return to
- viewfinder mode after shuttered
Connector
- Mini-USB 1.1 used for charging, PC data exchange
- and wired stereo headset.
Browser
- Web browser Opera Mini 4.1
Java
- JTWI / JSR75 compliant
Email Protocols
- POP3 / IMAP / SMTP
Instant Messaging
- Support MSN
Audio Formats
- MIDI, WAV and MP3
Image Formats
- JPG, BMP, GIF and PNG
Video Formats
- 3GP, MP4 and AVI format, Maximum size
- QVGA
- 25 fps video playback for QVGA size video
- clips
- Support full-screen display
Contact List
- Maximum 2 000 records
Calendar
- Maximum 1 000 events
PC Sync
- With Outlook 2000/2003 & Outlook Express v6
- (emails, contacts, calendar)
Personal Features
- Calculator
- Media folder
- Notepad
- World clock
- Alarm clock
- Stop Watch
- Countdown Timer
Battery
- 1050 mAh, Li-ion
- Standby Time; up to 250h
- Power-up Time; up to 3h (25% data download
- per hour)
- Gaming Time; up to 4h (java game)
- Charging time: 2.5-3.5 hr to full charge from flat
- with device power off
Colors
- Velvet Black, Satin White – other colours available
- to order
Box Contents
- iKIT
- Battery
- Mini USB / USB cable
- USB stereo earpiece
- Charger
- User guide and CD
From everything I'm hearing about this device, you're MUCH better off getting a Pandora if that's the form factor you want. And, these days, even an N810 isn't much more expensive.
