(Click here for a larger view of Mio's Leap K1)The Leap K1 definitely falls into the "whatever will they think of next" category, but it's not as technologically ambitious as a quick glance might suggest. The tri-band (900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz) GSM phone is described by Mio as a "feature phone" and apparently offers only basic functionality such as voice calling and texting. It does have Bluetooth and a 1.7-inch OLED screen, with icons styled to match those on the other side of the device.
The flip side is where Windows CE 5.0 hangs out. Here, the Leap K1 offers a 2.7-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 resolution, and a GPS receiver based on the SiRF starIII chipset. Mio has preloaded its "MioMap 2008" maps onto a card that fits into the device's microSD slot.
From the few specifications released by Mio at this week's Computex show in Taipei, it's unclear whether the device can provide web browsing via the phone's wide area connection. One third-party-report suggests it to be possible, claiming that the device comes with a full load of Windows CE 5.0 applications, including Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Pocket Word, and other applications. This is unconfirmed by Mio, however.
Features and specifications Mio has provided include:
- Operating system -- Windows CE 5.0
- Display -- 2.6-inch touchscreen display and 1.7-inch OLED screen
- Camera -- 2 megapixel
- Wireless:
- Tri-band GSM (900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz)
- Bluetooth
- GPS (SiRF starIII)
- Other I/O:
- USB
- microphone
- 2.5mm earphone jack
- Expansion -- microSD slot
- Battery type -- 790mAH lithium-ion
- Dimensions -- 4.1 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches (105.1 x 53.5 x 14.5mm)
The Leap K1 will be launched into the Asian market in the third quarter of 2008, according to Mio.
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