All signs look to be pointing to a major release of The BenQ MID beyond Italy, which will be a big step up for that platform, given that we haven’t seen much beyond the Aigo in that platform. Pocketables has pictures and specs and also includes this promotional video, which certainly makes it look like a sweet little device.

If you’re one of those waiting to get your hands on a Mobile Internet Device this may be one of your best chances. Yes, there are a few on the market already if you work hard and trust eBay, but this looks like it might be an easier alternative. The Aigo P8860 MID is now available for $699 from Direct from Japan with free same-day shipping. Also of note on this, Aigo will be making Windows XP drivers available early in October.

Via Pocketables

This is a great thing for the community. Three fantastic resources on ultra mobile computing, UMPCPortal, jkkmobile, and Liliputing are teaming up to help provide us with more information on what is going on in the wacky world of mobile computing.

We’ve always tried to keep up with all the UMPC, MID and netbook products by at least entering them into the database but recently there have simply been too many products to handle. It’s a problem that needed attention so we’ve decided to open up the product information platform to partners that can share the load, offer the info as extra value to their visitors and have the option to generate some advertising revenue for their sites. I’m pleased to say that our trial with JKKMobile went very well. JKKMobile will continue to offer the product database and will help with adding information across the range of products. In addition to that, Liliputing is joining us with their netbook expertise and will be entering netbook device information and links to important news items. With the two new websites and UMPCPortal working together we’ll be able to continue to offer one of the best resources on the Internet for consumer research in the MID, UMPC and Netbook product categories. About 100,000 people visit the product database every month where they view over 160 devices, a huge database of links to hand-picked news items, links to important videos, pricing information, user feedback and statistical information. With this partnership, the database has already grown to over 200 products and a sharp increase in visitor numbers is expected which will help generate revenue that can be put back into developing even more features for the database. Let us know what features you want to see in the database and we’ll add them to the to-do list.

I’m saying yes.

Steve “Chippy” Paine has been looking over investor presentations and points out that Portable Media Player (PMP) manufacturer, Archos, sees PMPs morphing into MIDs over the next two years. That only makes sense to me, simply because I continue to see much of the small mobile device push focusing on consuming media. There’s nothing wrong with that at all and we’ve already seen PMPs that now have Internet connectivity. In fact, on many levels, given that we see so few MIDs actually on the market, I might suggest there’s a chance we’re going to see MIDs morph more into PMPs in the future. Archos is already calling some of its newest devices Internet Media Tablets.

Oh, my how time flies. Lora Heiny is reminding us that it isn’t too late to be thinking about the 2009 CES Tablet PC Meetup. Each of the last several years we’ve seen new interest in each new wave of mobile devices including UMPCs and MIDs. Lora is interested in making sure that as the industry looks forward, the opportunity for inclusion of newer technologies is there as well.

The industry is advancing and I want to make sure that the product interests represented are forward looking. Yes, I'm sure there will be plenty of Windows 7 chatter and hardware comparisons. A couple years ago we expanded the gathering to include mini-Tablet PCs more commonly known as UMPCs. Last year people interested in MIDs attended. My observation is that the common connection is an interest in natural input. Do you agree?

Following that logic, what do you think if Surface is included? What about... yep, I'll ask (gulp) -- iPhone? (Of course, Macworld may overlap, as the gathering has most recently been on the 3rd day of CES. So, it might just be like '08 where people are welcome to pull out their iPhones.)

And yes, then the gathering will need a new name...suggestions?

So, what do you think folks, a new name? Is it time? I notice Lora doesn’t include Netbooks. Should they be included.  The discussion is open.

Thoughtfix has been covering OSiM, and has a bunch of details on Maemo and Nokia's popular Internet Tablet. Here are a few, but head over to his blog for much more.

• Look for a name change to the Internet Tablet line
• No 5th generation device announced, but software changes are coming to enable cell connectivity of HSDPA, as well as support for higher definition cameras

Interesting video, courtesy of Josh Bancroft’s Link Blog, with a round table featuring Jeff Moriarty, Christine Ngo, Steve “Chippy” Paine, Cathy Brooks, Keisha Cochrane, and Chris Heuer at IDF discussing MIDs. Some fascinating discussion over the form factors and impressions about them.

Interesting concept here. Engadget is pointing to a couple of devices from Toshiba that are being shown off at IFA. The SD Multi-Tool and The SD Photo editor are both handhelds with touchscreens. The SD Multi-Tool has a 3.5 inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity and will let you browse the web, do email, run some video, and do some photo editing. Intriguing looking MID-like devices without being what we conventionally think of as a MID, (if we can say anything about a MID is conventional thinking this early in the game.)

Via jkkmobile

My contract with Verizon is up, and it's time for me to upgrade to a new phone.  I currently own a Motorola Q and I've been very disappointed with it in terms of functionality and performance.  It works, but it's sluggish; it provides just enough capabilities and power to make it bearable as a smartphone.  One of the most important devices in a mobile-tech user's gadget bag is their phone.  As technology continues to become cheaper and improve, I predict that we will see the lines blur between netbooks, smartphones, PMPs, and MIDS.  Here are a few reasons why current smartphones aren't getting good grades.

• They are difficult to navigate & The home screen needs major overhaul.
  Many of the smartphones I've used rely on Windows Mobile 5/6, and their Windows-like start button to select programs is cumbersome.  Apple got it right with their easy to navigate icons.  The screen of a mobile phone is simply too small to navigate tiny menus.  While some want the windows feel, many want
  Read more ...
  
  

Steve “Chippy” Paine got his hands and camera on the BenQ S6 MID at IDF this week. It is an intriguing little video to watch, if nothing else to watch the how the touch screen UI works on this MID. I agree with his comments that it is a nice interface.

Intel has recognized the general confusion about MIDs versus netbooks versus notebooks. The prime differentiation appears to be screen size and portability. MIDs are recommended for 4.5"-7" screens, netbook 7-10.2", and notebooks 12+". Associated with the screen size is the general device size. The processors change as well, although both are targeting the Intel Atom. The Atom processor comes in two physical sizes, the Z series for MIDs and the N series for netbooks, with the Z series being much smaller and somewhat slower.

The confusion has been growing for a while and I'm not sure that defining devices by screen size is really going to clarify anything for the majority of users.

MIDs are the talk of the town these days, and here is another one to talk about that is set to be released in October.  The Clarion MiND is going to be sporting some internal GPS hardware and a little software to go with it.  Seems like a smart move to me - carry it around with you and then put it on the dashboard and let it do it's guidance job.  Specs are below:

— 4.8 inch WVGA (800×480) LCD Display with Touch screen
— Intel(R) Atom(TM) processor Z500
— 800MHz Clock Speed
— 512MB DRAM
— 4GB Flash Memory for Storage
— WiFi
— Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
— GPS Antenna/Receiver
— Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery
— Amplifier
— Speaker
— Headphone Jack
— 2 USB Port (Standard / Mini)
— SD Card Slot (Micro SD)
— Docking Station Connector

Jeff Moriarty, Intel Atom and Mobility Developers Community Manger and Steve “Chippy” Paine from UMPCPortal check out the MIDs in the MID Tornado and some other ultra-portables at IDF. Very good video viewing.

Chippy from UMPC Portal is at the IDF Conference.  He has put up a bunch of pictures on his site.  Look for more from him soon, even some videos from the show of these MIDs.  Click the image to the right to see the full list of MIDs that are supposed to be at the show.

The U2010 is lighter than expected but oh so sweet. Running Vista unfortunately. The Pink WiBrain is a shocker, the Benq really does have a lovely UI (the best i’ve seen yet on a MID) and the Compal/Gigabyte/Aigo is for me, still the most usable form factor.

Check out the gallery to see all the hardware from the IDF that Chippy saw today!

Uh, oh. Like everyone else we got excited last week when it looked like the price for the GigaByte M528 MID had finally come close ($685) to what we think MIDs should be sold for. Perhaps we were too soon in our glee. Steve “Chippy” Paine is reporting that we may all have been too anxious here.

Apparently that $685 price does not inlcude a 3G module making the M528 only usable with WiFi hotspots. It also looks like the US site for Expansys has removed the GigaByte M528 at the moment.