Netbooks, smartphones featuring Android debut at Computex

In today's podcast: Netbooks, smartphones featuring Android debut at Computex.

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The action in IT today is in Taipei, where leading chip and system vendors have converged on the Computex trade show to provide a glimpse at what's next in PCs and mobile devices.

Intel's new ultra-low voltage processor, the Pentium SU2700, is intended to power sleek laptops that are as light as netbooks but have larger screens and greater functionality. Intel expects PC makers to use the new chip in laptops that are less than an inch thick, have a full-sized keyboard and 12- to 14-inch screens. The single-core processor runs at 1.3GHz and includes 2MB of cache.

The ultrathin laptops are different from what Intel refers to as ultraportable laptops. The ultraportables use low-voltage versions of Intel's Core 2 chips. The smaller Pentium chip released Tuesday draws less power and can stretch battery life to eight hours, but is less powerful than the Core 2 chips, however.

Computex provided a stage for the launch of some new smartphones based on the Android platform, but the Google-developed mobile OS is also finding its way into larger devices. Acer plans to launch a version of its Aspire One netbook with Google's Android mobile operating system in the third quarter of this year.
The device carries the same Intel Atom microprocessor as on any Aspire One, and it sports a 10-inch screen. It could be the first Android netbook available worldwide if Acer can beat some rivals, such as China's Guangzhou (gwang-joe) Skytone Transmission Technologies, which has said its Android netbook is undergoing final testing.

Meanwhile, Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) showed off its first netbook with Android. The T800, has an 8.9-inch screen, a small keypad and weighs less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) despite its metallic casing. ECS is a contract manufacturer and will likely market it to mobile phone network operators and big PC vendors. The device will likely be available in the fourth quarter for less than US$500.

Finally, Garmin-Asus plans to launch its first smartphone based on Android no later than the first quarter of next year, executives said Tuesday in Taipei.
Garmin-Asus is a smartphone-focused joint venture between GPS device maker Garmin and PC vendor Asustek Computer. Garmin-Asus hope their location services make an Android smartphone even more compelling. Garmin GPS technology will be used in the geotagging feature for photographs made using the handset, and will provide other location-based services.

And those are the top stories from the IDG Global IT News Update, brought to you by the IDG News Service. I'm Elizabeth Heichler in Boston. Join us again later for more news from the world of technology.