Apple’s Netbook, AT&T’s 3G Upgrades

Commercial Times/Digitimes is reporting that Foxconn Electronics (as it’s known in the US, Hon Hai Precision Industry as it’s known elsewhere) could be the potential supplier for an Apple Mac OS X-based netbook.

Foxconn and Apple have a relationship that goes back several years, and they’ve manufactured either partially, or in whole, devices for Apple that include iPhones, MacBook Airs, Mac minis, along with some iPods, so it makes sense that they are in the running for this.

Something that maybe slightly related - on the heels of AT&T offering netbooks with mobile data plans, Telephony Online is reporting that AT&T is working on upgrading its existing 3G networks up to a 7.2Mb/s speed. The improvements that could potentially double current speeds/capacity are software-based, designed to boost its 3G network before its eventual move over to a 4G network.

Telephony Online claims that it’s centered around the downlink capacity. The article mentions that most laptop cards (and presumably USB adapters), as well as smartphones and iPhones that AT&T currently offers, can handle the increased capacity.

Should AT&T’s plans to offer netbooks with mobile data plans prove successful, along with iPhone OS 3.0 coming out in the not-too-distant future, the increased capacity should be put to the test. Already Skype has been rolled out to the iPhone (although WiFi access is needed for VOIP), and an iPhone-based Hulu.com client is in the works as well.

Read:
- DigiTimes
- Telephony Online
via AppleInsider

Steve Jobs Overseeing Ultraportable Apple / Mac?

With the announcement last month of a major update to Apple’s iPhone OS (version 3.0), a lot more of us began to wonder about whether Apple would be scaling the iPhone’s interface up to something larger, perhaps netbook-sized. Keep in mind that the iPhone is running a scaled-down version of Mac OS X, which runs on the normal Mac product range (MacBooks, etc.). The iPhone update included the fabled copy-and-paste, more support for landscape mode in various applications, increased Spotlight functionality, increased functionality/access for the internal mapping functions/hardware, and official access to 3rd party hardware accessories, and a lot more, all of which would be handy/necessary for something slightly larger.

AppleInsider is reporting on a Wall Street Journal article as well as some past rumors/information that even while Steve Jobs is working from home after taking a medical break from Apple, he’s still overseeing a lot of the major projects currently in progress at Apple, including a device from Apple that is “smaller than its current laptop computers but bigger than the iPhone or iPod Touch”.

Back in October of last year, Jobs made some interesting comments about netbook-sized Macs:

“As we look at the netbook category, that’s a nascent category. As best as we can tell, there’s not a lot of them being sold. You know, one of our entrants into that category if you will is the iPhone, for browsing the Internet, and doing email and all the other things that a netbook lets you do. And being connected via the cellular network wherever you are, an iPhone is a pretty good solution for that, and it fits in your pocket.

“But we’ll wait and see how that nascent category evolves, and we have got some pretty interesting ideas if it does evolve…”

A few months later, in January of this year, during Apple’s first quarter 2009 financial results conference call, Tim Cook, who is filling in for Jobs, had the following to say:

“We’re watching that space, but right now from our point of view, the products in there are principally based on hardware that’s much less powerful than we think customers want, software technology that is not good, cramped keyboards, small displays…. We don’t think people will be pleased with those products. It’s a category we watch, we’ve got some ideas here, but right now we think the products are inferior and will not provide an experience to customers they’re happy with.”

Since that time, there have been some major developments in “that space” that Apple woudl be watching. The market will soon have the NVIDIA Ion platform which provides the kind of hardware acceleration and performance Apple would want in an ultraportable device (and which would closely match the NVIDIA hardware already present in the MacBook and Mac mini line, simplifying some development costs/issues).

You also have AT&T, Apple’s partner with the iPhone in the US, offering a wide range of subsidized netbooks with 3G/mobile broadband packages. Finally, you have low-cost netbooks/ultraportable laptops that are selling incredibly well and gaining mainstream acceptance from both the public and brick-and-mortar retailers such as Office Depot and Best Buy.

The Wall Street Journal article mentions that Jobs was heavily involved in laying out iPhone OS 3.0, and Apple Insider mentions that there have been reports of Apple ordering 10-inch touchscreen displays. The price on touchscreen displays in the 9-inch and 10-inch range should be dropping this year, as devices such as the 8.9-inch touchscreen/convertible Asus Eee PC T91 Touch are produced.

Read:
- Wall Street Journal
via AppleInsider

Windows XP Available Through 2010 for New PCs?

AppleInsider claims that a source at Hewlett-Packard has told them that Microsoft has agreed to allow Windows XP as an option on new PCs/laptops through at least April 30, 2010. They reference an internal memo/email discussing Microsoft’s plans in regards to XP and Windows 7 even though, as the memo points out, mainstream support for Windows XP Professional ends this month (April 14th). Currently Windows XP Pro and Windows XP Tablet PC are bundled as restore options (or “XP downgrade”) for Windows Vista licenses on new PCs. That is supposed to expire July 31, unless they reach an agreement with Microsoft.

They also mention a Computerworld article from a few months ago discussing how important downgrade rights would be, even with Windows 7 alleviating many of the issues that people had with Windows Vista.

Windows XP Home is still sold on various laptops/ultraportables in the “netbook” range from all of the mainstream manufacturers, due to performance issues with Windows Vista. Windows 7 addresses many of the performance issues, and that wasn’t mentioned. Ideally, at least as far as Microsoft is concerned, many of the manufacturers would switch to Windows 7 after OEM versions become available. Right now Microsoft is having to sell Windows XP Home at a heavy discount, and it is depressing their revenue/profit. Windows 7 on these devices would be a huge revenue boost for Microsoft, however if they price it too high, thereby taking away a part of the appeal of these devices (low pricing), manufacturers might push back and either install Windows XP Home or some form of Linux.

Read:
- AppleInsider
- Computerworld

Dell’s Future Plans for its Inspiron Mini 10 and 11

NetbookNews.de has gotten their hands on what could be the roadmap for Dell’s future plans in regards to the 10-inch Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook/ultraportable, as well as a new offering that will be slightly bigger and some changes to the Mini 10 and Inspiron Mini 12.

There are some exciting/interesting new things in store, including some options that we really haven’t seen offered from other manufacturers. Keep in mind that while some of these probably will happen, not all are guaranteed to. One option being mentioned is up to a 250GB hard drive, along with options for a 1.86GHz Intel Atom, and Microsoft Windows Vista. Vista doesn’t make that much sense, especially since Windows 7 is not too far off, but it will appeal to some business users (just as new Ubuntu Linux options will appeal to others). The 1.86GHz Atom doesn’t make much sense either, since the slide implies that it comes at a substantial cost for not much of boost in performance.

Last week, Dell started offering HD displays (1366×768) for the Mini 10, and in a few weeks, it looks like they will finally be offering options to upgrade the Mini 10s to 2GB of RAM. This was holding quite a few people back from taking a serious look at the Mini 10. The Internal TV Tuner, 250GB HDD, Ubuntu, and 6-cell battery options look to be offered around that time as well.

It looks like sometime in May there will be new Mini 10 models as well, with what looks to be a code-name of “Bear” aka Mini 1011, and offering an Intel Atom Diamondville N270 (currently the Mini 10s are running Atom Z520 and Z530 Silverthorne CPUs). It would be based on the Intel 945GSE platform instead of the Poulsbo. This is a curious change, but it could be a cost-cutting feature, perhaps offering the Mini 10 at a lower price, especially since the roadmap mentions “Best Value”. Many of the current Atom-based devices are running on the Intel 945 platform.

The current Mini 10, what’s called “Tiger” aka Mini 1010 is being referred to as “Media Centric”.

As we move towards and into the third quarter of this year, it looks like there will be a Dell Inspiron Mini 11, with an 11.6-inch display and a high definition display. It’s being called the Mini 1110, “Argos”, and is listed as “Very Thin and Light” and “Small Screen Ultramobile”, and will be offering a 250GB HDD, along with Windows Vista, with a suggested price of $499.

Going into the fourth quarter of 2009, there will be new Mini 10s that might be based upon the upcoming Intel “Pine Trail” or “Pinetrail” platform.

Read: NetbookNews.de (German)

HP, Acer, and CULV Notebooks/Laptops

Last week it was reported that Intel would be aggressive with it’s CULV platform (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage), and it looks like HP and Acer could play a large part of that plan.

DigiTimes is reporting that Hewlett-Packard plans on introducing multiple 13.3-inch CULV-based devices sometime this quarter. They list Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics as being the providers.

DigiTimes also mentions that Acer is looking at 13.3-inch CULV laptops as well, and that Quanta has received orders for 11.6-inch CULV-based laptops that might be introduced this month. Given that we have 12″ netbooks (Samsung NC20, Dell Inspiron Mini 12), it’ll be interesting to see the pricing and features, since a CULV device should out-perform Intel Atom-based netbooks.

Taiwan Economic News is also reporting that Acer will be launching CULV devices, and mentions April as a possibility for introducing them. They go on to say that it won’t be just 11.6-inch devices, but will include 13″, 14″, and 15″ devices. They list Quanta Computer as the provider for the 11.6″ device, Inventec Corporation for the 13″, and Winston Corporation for the 14″ and 15″ models.

They also mention the 13″ models will have a magnesium/aluminum alloy chassis/case. Some of the analysts they mention claim that CULV devices will be responsible for up to 20% of total sales in the notebook market.

Read:
- DigiTimes
- Taiwan Economic News (cens.com) (via Fudzilla)

Dell Latitude 2100 Netbook Leaked?

Gizmodo has been sent a slide and some information about a possible new netbook from Dell that would be geared towards the education market. It’s being called the Dell Latitude 2100 or the Latitude 2100 ‘Welch’. The 10-inch Intel Atom-powered netbook/ultraportable does look different, both in styling and in battery, from the existing 10-inch Dell Inspiron Mini 10.

It could be a similar situation to HP’s, where they have a consumer-oriented netbook, the HP Mini 1000, along with the HP Mini 2140 which is geared towards professional/business buyers, as well as the education market. This would mirror Dell’s existing lineups, where they have Inspirons for consumers and Latitudes for business users.

From the slide Gizmodo has posted, the colors are School Bus Orange, Blue Ribbon, Red Apple, and ? Black (Classroom Black or Chalkboard Black?) which certainly lends credence to these being designed for the education market.

Specifications:
- Intel Atom 1.6GHz
- Under $600
- Up to 2GB RAM
- Optional Solid State Drive (SSD)
- Under 3 pounds
- 3 USB 2.0 ports
- Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia Card (MMC) slot
- 802.11a/g/n + Gigabit Ethernet
- Bluetooth 2.0
- 3-cell or 6-cell battery option

The most interesting aspect, besides the fact that it looks like Dell would be launching a new netbook line, is the mention of a touchscreen option. That would shake up the market, since Gigabyte and Asustech seem to be the only ones currently interested in a touchscreen netbook outside of Asia.

A launch date of around May 2009 with a price of under $600 USD is being claimed by Gizmodo’s source.

Read: Gizmodo

11.6-inch Acer Aspire One This Year?

We’ll treat it as a rumor for now, but macles* has had good information in the past. As macles* points out, up until now, most “new” Acer Aspire Ones were just a slightly larger version of the original 8.9″ AAO, including the 10.1″ Acer Aspire One D150, but there was the mysterious slim Acer Aspire One ZG8 / A0530 that recently popped up at the FCC.

If you’ll recall, about a month ago, there was a report that Acer and Asustek would be launching 11.6-inch netbooks sometime this year.

macles* is now reporting that the resolution of the 11.6″ Aspire One is 1366×768, which meatches the earlier report that Acer would be launching an 11.6-inch model. From the photos at macles, it looks like the keyboard is “chiclet-style” or “scrabble-style”, similar to the Asus Eee PC 1000HE (or 13.3″ MacBook).

Mentioned is the Atom Z530 CPU, as well as the Intel SCH USW15S (aka Poulsbo), with an Intel GMA 500 graphics chipset (aka PowerVR SGX 535), with improved hardware decoding of certain codecs (H.264, etc.). macles* mentions a Thermal Design Power (TDP) rating of 4.3W, which more than cuts in half the TDP of the Intel chipset, allowing for up to 4 hours with a standard (3-cell?) battery and up to 8 hours with a high capacity battery (6-cell?). The Z530 matches earlier reports of the slim/slimmer Acer Aspire One (since that CPU plus the Poulsbo chipset would allow for reduced cooling requirements as well as size).

Read: macles*

Apple - OLED for Netbooks?

On top of the rumors already floating around, Smarthouse published an article last week claiming that not only is Apple close to launching a touch screen-based netbook, but that they have been looking at using OLED display technology for both the display and a keyboard.

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology is relatively new technology. OLEDs transmit less light than traditional LEDs, however they don’t require backlights. This allows them to draw a lot less power, and when compared to conventional LED-backlight displays running on the same battery, they have a much longer battery life. Because they don’t need a backlight, they are also substantially thinner.

Their sources claim that Apple is mixing touchscreen-oriented features both from iPhones as well as MacBooks (multi-touch touchpads), and they have had meetings with Sony about licensing Sony’s OLED technology for Apple products. One of the analysts mentioned calls it “an iPod Touch on steroids”. They also claim that Apple has been looking at SDX flash memory.

The sources mention that this new ultraportable/netbook will probably not be ready until sometime in the second half of 2009, with some analysts mentioning as late as October (which would be in time for the Christmas/New Year holidays).

It’s an interesting rumor/story. Apple clearly doesn’t want to “race to the bottom” and compete with Acer and Asus and HP (as well as Dell) in the cheaper part of the netbook/ultraportable market. Chances are they’d much rather have a device available for those wanting such a small form factor, while at the same time retaining some unique features that put them more into competition with the 8″ Sony VAIO P Series. Having an OLED display would allow them to either have substantially longer battery life, or to reduce the size of the battery needed (thereby reducing the weight).

Read: Smarthouse

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