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        MID revs to Atom, HSDPA

        Eric Brown | Date: Aug 26, 2008 | Comments: 1


        Wibrain has announced a MID (mobile Internet device) based on Intel's Atom processor. The "i1" MID offers a 60GB hard drive or 64GB SSD (solid state disk), SD card slot, six-hour battery life, and HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) networking, online distributor Dynamism says.



        (Click for a larger view of the Atom-based Wilbrain i1)

        In a teaser announcement, WiBrain said it will unveil the i1 (also referred to as "Tomorrow's Communicator") at the IFA 2008 show in Berlin, Germany, which starts Aug. 29. The only additional information offered by Wibrain itself about the i1 is that the device will be able to use HSDPA cellular data services. Most commonly found supporting downstream data rates of 3.6Mbps, HSDPA service may also be available in some locations at 7.2Mbps, or even 14.4Mbps.


        WiBrain i1 (Source: Dynamism)


        However, additional information and photos of the iL have been served up by online distributor Dynamism. The device appears nearly identical, but for its apparently retractable cellular antenna, to the WiBrain B1 MID, released earlier this year with a Via C7M ULV processor.


        i1 in four colors (Source: Dynamism)

        Dynamism has set up a placeholder page for the i1, but, like Wibrain, is keeping fairly mum on device features for now. Dynamism does allow that the i1 is based on the B1 design, but with an upgraded casing (and judging from the Dynamism photos, plenty of new colors). The only additional information Dynamism offers is that the i1 will be available with a 60GB hard drive or 64GB SSD, built-in SD card slot, and up to six hours of battery life.

        The B1 did not come with the SD slot, and was rated by Wibrain as having "only" five hours of battery life -- still rather impressive for an x86-based device. For more details, see our earlier coverage, here.

        The new i1 is likely to be offered with the Windows XP Home operating system, as was the B1. Meanwhile, Wibrain is apparently now shipping two added versions of the B1 that run Ubuntu Linux, the B1LE and B1LH. For more details, see the coverage on our sister website LinuxDevices.com, here.

        Availability

        So far, there has been no pricing or availability information about the Atom-based i1. More information on the Wibrain tablets may be available here.

        The i1 will be demonstrated at IFA2008, at booth 121 in Hall 12, Wibrain said.


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