Hasta La Gadget!

Last we left off in the ExoPC story, the company had just brought its tablet to Microsoft retail stores, and while the startup’s CEO Jean-Baptiste Martinoli says the sales have been strong (in the 10,000 range), it’s getting ready to branch into new areas. The first keeps it in Microsoft’s camp, as the company plans to release two Windows 7 all-in-ones with its Connect Four-like software later in June. Both will be made by Malata, however, the 18.5-inch version — which is pictured above and is demoed in the video after the break — will be powered by a dual-core Atom processor, while the 23-inch version will get some higher-end silicon. It also turns out that some other top tier manufacturers plan to bring Win 7 all-in-ones to market this year running ExoPC’s software on top.

The second area of development? MeeGo. The company’s been hard at work bringing its HTML-based layer over to Intel’s MeeGo OS, and 70 percent of the software is already complete. Additionally, 98 percent of the Flash and HTML apps are compatible, however, it’s working on syncing the Exostore with Intel’s AppUp selection. As you can see in the screenshot after the break, it looks almost identical to the Windows 7 skin, but we’re definitely feeling the UI over Intel’s own MeeGo tablet interface. Hit the break for that AIO video and stay tuned for hands-on with the MeeGo tablet version.

Continue reading ExoPC set to release two all-in-ones in June, bringing its UI to MeeGo

ExoPC set to release two all-in-ones in June, bringing its UI to MeeGo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS (A-seuss) CEO Jerry Shen is rarely a man without a good quote or two for journalists and this year’s CeBIT has been no exception. Sitting down for a chat with some Russian scribes, Shen outlined ASUS’ general product roadmap, which includes a 3D tablet (the iPad 2-threatening secret weapon, perhaps?), Atom-based netbooks for both MeeGo and Android platforms, and a Windows Phone device that should be with us next year. An aside from his PR aide Mae Wang also states that ASUS aims to be second in the tablet market by 2012, with a giant five to eight percent market share. We’re sure the Apple board are all shaking in their hemp sandals right now. Anyhow, hit up the source for the full story.

ASUS’ Jerry Shen pledges 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android netbooks, plus a 2012 Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s hard to say if Intel CEO Paul Otellini was simply misquoted the first go ’round, or if he really had a change of heart in the course of 48 hours. Either way, the most recent quotes coming from the highest of highs at Chipzilla paints a very different story than the one we first heard, and it’s beginning to look like Intel and Microsoft may eventually wage some sort of war — even if it’s one that remains strictly at the software level. Reuters is reporting that Otellini had this to say when questioned about Stephen Elop’s decision to select Windows Phone 7 as the future of Nokia’s handset business:

“I wouldn’t have made the decision he made, I would probably have gone to Android if I were him. MeeGo would have been the best strategy but he concluded he couldn’t afford it.”

That contrasts starkly with comments made just days ago, where he was quoted as saying that he would’ve made “the same or a similar call” if found in Elop’s shoes. Continuing on the topic of differentiation, Otellini noted that “it would have been less hard on Android, [but] on MeeGo he could have done it.” That said, he’s confident that Intel “will find another partner,” noting that carriers “still want a third ecosystem and the carriers want an open ecosystem, and that’s the thing that drives our motivation.” Now, the real question: which Paul can be believed?

Intel CEO Paul Otellini flip-flops, says he ‘would’ve gone Android’ if he were Elop originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s been a lot of chatter about a “Nokia Plan B” over the past 48 hours — the site was put up by “nine young investors” who outlined an audacious plan to rally shareholders, get themselves elected onto Nokia’s board, and radically change the company’s direction by firing Stephen Elop and committing massive resources to MeeGo. Needless to say, it resonated with many of Nokia’s now disenfranchised fans and employees, and it made some serious waves — enough so that Plan B was picked up by several major news outlets, including this morning’s print edition of the Wall Street Journal.

There’s just one problem, though: the “nine young investors” don’t really exist — according to the last tweet on the @NokiaPlanB Twitter account, it was all a hoax perpetuated by “one very bored engineer who really likes his iPhone.” Ouch. That explains why the now-defunct site abruptly gave up the cause this morning after just 36 hours of existence, and it definitely explains why we never got any response to our emails trying to get further information. We’ll award points for bravado and for doing a better job of rallying the troops than Nokia itself, we suppose, but we’re sure quite a few Nokia fans are going to be crushed at this news. On the bright side, Plan B did inspire the excellent NokiaPlanS.com, which is sure to bring a smile to even the loneliest hearts in Espoo.

Nokia Plan B was just a hoax all along originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia shareholders are not very happy right now with NOK taking a 25 percent hit since the announcement of the Microsoft marriage. Stephen Elop, Nokia’s first foreign-born CEO, is taking heat on multiple fronts even as he prostrates himself to the media in hopes of getting his message out. Already, we’ve heard numerous conspiracies calling Elop a “trojan horse,” sent by Steve Ballmer to sabotage Nokia from within. Conspiraloons are quick to point to records showing Elop holding a significant number of Microsoft shares — a situation that Elop says is temporary (and outdated) having already sold a majority of his Microsoft position with plans to sell off the rest in favor of Nokia stock just as soon as he’s free to do so under regulatory moratoriums meant to prevent insider trading. Nevertheless, Nokia will be facing at least two very real showdowns on its near-term horizon.

First, will be a battle with the Finnish trade union Pro which is demanding €100,000 (in addition to severance payments) for every Nokia employee that loses their job under Elop’s new strategy — money the unions says will be used for reeducation. The union estimates that Nokia could cut as many as 25% (5,000 people) of Nokia’s 20,000 workers located in Finland. The second major hurdle facing Elop, and the board of directors that appointed him, will come at Nokia’s Annual General Meeting for shareholders. Already, a cabal of nine frustrated shareholders have been grabbing attention with its “Nokia Plan B” proposal to oust Stephen Elop and return Nokia to a MeeGo focus giving Symbian a five-year minimum reprieve. The group has since disbanded after its plan was rejected by institutional investors. Nevertheless, we don’t expect Symbian / MeeGo fans and developers to give up without a fight, and we expect Helsinki Fair Centre’s Amfi Hall to be center-ring when the event kicks off on May 3rd in Helsinki.

Nokia shareholders and unions fight back against Microkia originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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