Denver-based Borg Displays has previously produced a variety of in-wall controllers aimed at A/V, home automation, and energy management applications, the most recent such product being the upgraded Protege 10a, which introduced capacitive touchscreen technology and multitouch to the company's product line in August. While still wall-mountable, the new Muse (below) has apparently been designed to meet customer demands for a portable, tablet-like device.

Borg's Muse

According to Borg, the Muse has a seven-inch display, with 840 x 480 pixel resolution, that's available with either resistive or capacitive touchscreen technology. An optional 4500mAh battery allows the device to be used anywhere in a house, while a desktop cradle (right) holds the device and is capable of recharging it via PoE (power over Ethernet), the company adds.

Noting that the Muse can run Windows CE, Android, or Linux, Borg does not provide further information about the device's software, which is apparently intended to be configured by VARs (value added resellers). The device uses TI's 720MHz OMAP 3530, which includes a 520MHz DSP, and is equipped with 256MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage, says the company.

According to Borg, the Muse includes a monaural speaker plus a stereo headphone jack, plus 802.11b/g/n wireless networking and Bluetooth.A mini-USB port is also featured, adds the company.

Going beyond the tablet computers it so strongly resembles, the Muse additionally offers a programmable 8-bit I/O interface, a serial port, and VESA-compatible mounting holes on its rear panel, says Borg. There's also a slot for removable storage, though the preliminary data sheet provided to us could not decide on whether this accepts CompactFlash media or SD cards.

Features and specifications listed by Borg Displays for the Muse include:

• Processor -- TI OMAP3530 clocked at 720MHz
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
• Display -- 7-inch touchscreen (resistive or capacitive) with 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• Expansion:
  • memory card slot (may be either SD or CompactFlash)
  • 8-bit I/O
  • desk cradle
• Networking:
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g/n
  • LAN -- optional desk cradle provides PoE port
  • PAN -- Bluetooth
• Other I/O:
  • mini-USB port
  • headphone jack
  • 1 x RS232
  • 8-bit I/O
• Battery -- 4500mAh (optional)
• Dimensions -- n/s
• Weight -- n/s

Further information

Borg did not cite pricing or availability details for the Muse. More information may be found on the company's website, here.

---

Related stories:

• TI gives OMAP3530 a speed bump
• In-wall controller upgrades to capacitive screen, Windows Embedded Standard 7
• In-wall controllers upgrade to Atom, Windows Embedded Standard
• Panel PCs come with Windows XP Embedded
• Waterproof panel PC offers sunlight-readable option
  
• Panel PC runs Windows XP Embedded
  
• Compact panel PCs run Windows CE
  
• Forklift PC runs Windows XP Embedded
  
• "Lower-cost" panel PC runs Windows XP Embedded
  
• Little panel PC uses "two Watt" X86 SoC
  
• Fanless panel PC runs Windows
  
• Windows tablet PC resists extreme cold
  
• Vehicle PCs run Windows XP Pro, XP Embedded
  
• Waterproof panel PCs run Windows XP Embedded
  
• Via panel PC resists shock, liquids
  
• Rugged tablet PC sports twelve-inch display
  
• Windows XPe computer has heated touchscreen