(Click here for a larger view of Nurian's F1 Avatar)

First shipped in production quantities last year, and rev'd to 700MHz in January, RMI's Alchemy Au1250 has been adopted in a variety of Windows CE 5.0-based devices. These include the Nani, a combination phone/portable media player (PMP) from Sophia of Japan, the Q5W PMP from Cowon, Clearview Technology's miPC, and iRiver's P10.

RMI claims the Au1250's "unique" on-chip MAE (media acceleration engine) gives it hardware-based video processing up to D1 (up to 720 x 480) resolution. That capability has been exploited by Nurian, which says the F1 Avatar supports 720 x 480, 30 fps output of MPEG1/2, MPEG4, DivX, XviD, and WMV9 video formats. However, this top quality is only available via the device's composite or component video outputs -- served up via a bundled adapter cable. The F1 Avatar's internal screen, which measures 4.3 inches diagonally, has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels, according to Nurian.

As is not uncommon for PMP and PND (personal navigation device) manufacturers, Nurian doesn't say how much RAM or flash storage the F1 Avatar comes with. However, a user's audio and video files are stored on the device's integral 30GB hard disk drive.


Nurian's F1 Avatar accepts an external keyboard
The F1 Avatar comes with both a USB device port, for connection to a PC, and a USB host port, allowing connection of an external keyboard or perhaps a digital camera. On its web site, Nurian touts the use of a keyboard, as pictured above. Oddly, however, a keyboard would be of limited utility, since the device does not appear to have text editing or web browsing capabilities. In addition to DMB-T television reception, A/V playback, and a file manager, the F1 Avatar does include an online dictionary and voice recording functionality, according to the company.

Features and specifications cited by Nurian for the F1 Avatar include:

• Processor -- RMI Alchemy Au1250 clocked at 700MHz
  
• Memory -- not specified
  
• Storage -- 30GB hard disk drive
  
• Display -- 4.3-inch display with 480 x 272 resolution
  
• Wireless -- DMB-T television receiver, but no WiFi or Bluetooth
  
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x USB 2.0 host
    
  • 1 x USB 2.0 device
    
  • Composite and component video I/O via adapter cable
    
  • Built-in microphone for voice recording
• Expansion -- none
  
• Battery -- 2500mAH
  
• Dimensions -- 5.8 x 3 x 1 inches
  
• Weight -- 12 ounces (340g)

Nurian's Avatar F1 appears to be available now for 484,000 Korean Won (approximately $450). It is also offered without the television receiver as the Avatar F1 Edu, for 349,000 Won (approximately $325).

More information may be available from the Nurian website, here.

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