Windows MID has built-in phone

Taiwan-based DigiCube has announced a MID (mobile internet device) that doubles as a 3.5G cellphone. The "MIDPhone-50" uses an Intel Atom Z5xx CPU, has a five-inch touchscreen display, includes a 16GB SSD (solid state drive), and runs Windows XP Embedded, according to the company.



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(Click here for a larger view of DigiCube's MIDPhone-50)

It's been thought that phones running a desktop version of Windows wouldn't appear until next year, when Intel says it will release its "Moorestown" platform, cutting idle power consumption to just 1/10th of today's Atom CPUs. But, much like a prototype phone from BYD Electronics shown off by Intel during April's IDF in Beijing, DigiCube's MIDPhone-50 uses the chipmaker's original Z5xx Atoms, in either 1.1GHz (Z510) or 1.6GHz (Z530) flavors.

DigiCube says the MIDPhone-50 has a 1800mAh battery, which reportedly delivers a battery life of just two hours. So, while the device isn't well-suited to marathon talkers, it does provide an interesting mix of capabilities. The MID has a "voice-ready, 3G" cellular module or optional WiMax, plus 802.11b.g WiFi and Bluetooth. Meanwhile, there's 512MB or 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 16GB SSD, and a microSD slot, according to the company.

The MIDPhone-50 has a five-inch touchscreen display with 800 x 480 resolution, a touchpad, and a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from under the display, says DigiCube. In addition to a VGA-resolution webcam, the device also has one USB host port, one USB client port, and jacks for an external microphone and headphones, the company adds.


The DigiCube MIDPhone-50 with its optional docking cradle
(Click to enlarge)

DigiCube says the MIDPhone-50, said to weigh 14.8 ounces with battery, is additionally offered with an optional docking cradle (above). It's said the compact cradle sports a VGA port, three USB ports, and a 10/100 Ethernet port, while adding just 2.2 ounces in weight.

Features and specifications listed by DigiCube for the MIDPhone-50 include:

* Processor -- 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 or 1.6GHz Atom Z530
* Memory -- 512MB or 1GB of DDR2 RAM
* Storage -- 16GB SSD
* Display -- 5-inch touchscreen display with 800 x 480 resolution
* Keyboard -- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
* Wireless:
o LAN -- 802.11b/g
o PAN -- Bluetooth
o WAN -- "3.5g" module, voice-capable, or WiMax
* Other I/O:
o 1 x USB host
o 1 x USB device
o Microphone in
o Headphone out
* Expansion:
o microSD slot
o Docking station (optional), with:
+ 3 x USB
+ VGA
+ 10/100 Ethernet
* Battery -- 1800mAh
* Dimensions -- 6.76 x 3.3 x 1.0 inches (171.8 x 84 x 25.5mm)
* Weight -- 14.8 ounces (420g)



A video of the DigiCube MIDPhone-50 at Computex
Source: Jkkmobile
(click to play)


Availability

DigiCube did not release pricing or availability for the MIDPhone-50, but said the device runs Windows XP and Windows Vista as well as Windows XP Embedded. More information may be found on the company's website, here.