Talking UMPC in South Sydney

As part of my Australian Tablet Guy duties – most self inflicted – I have been invited to talk to a unique conglomerate called The Shire IT Cluster. By unique I merely mean that they are proactive; they are enthusiastic; and they are motivated enough to be part of the solution, and not the problem. In this day I find laziness has become a popular way to describe ones ambition in life and quite frankly it drives me crazy. Here’s how this group describes themselves:

The Sutherland Shire It Cluster is a network of professionals, practitioners, trainers, educators, product & service providers, representing the broad spectrum of the IT and ICT sector who have formed a collaboration to meet the ICT needs of southern Sydney.

So as an FYI, I will be speaker #2 on March 2nd 2007 at 8:25am. If you are interested in attending, and live locally, you can download the Agenda for the upcoming meeting here and then download the map of the location, i.e. Lecture Room, University of Wollongong Campus, Loftus TAFE. If the "demo gods" allow we will have Phil Jones of The Logical Interface perform a demonstration using a UMPC (probably one of mine) and a Dino-Lite microscope.

For those of you anywhere else in the globe – I’ll blog about it! For those of you in Australia that are planning on coming make sure you let me know so I stay for coffee and talk Tablet with you.

If the weather permits I’m planning on taking a motorbike down there as the coastal ride will be nice in the morning.

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Right USB for UMPC

The one thing I hated most about USB cables since laptops, and more recently mobile PCs were invented, was the need for such long bits of cable at the connector side. I have looked and looked for a solution to turn the cable at right angles but never felt happy with what I saw or found…until now that is.

Recently I found the “Wapy Gender” USB kit. Now I know the name is awful but the product is to die for. There are two in a pack (left and right) and both rotate their little USB port clockwise and anticlockwise. What this means is that the options are endless for mounting USB devices now and the cables can be neatly removed away from the perpendicular eye saw we are so accustom to!

SWEET!!!

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UMPC second allocation 20 sold out

Tegatech Australia today confirmed that the first allocation of EO Ultra Mobile PC has been a complete sell out in Australia and New Zealand. Whats more interesting is the fact that their website now states that 20% of the second allocation is sold out too - and there hasnt been a delivery made to date!

WOW! I dont know about you but it sure looks like UMPC has a place in the market, and the market has a real story to tell...

Tablet Kiosk recently ate some humble pie and admitted defeat by announcing an unscheduled delay in EO deliveries (Tegatech Australia followed suit). While it must have been hard to face, the reality is that we must praise Tablet Kiosk for being so translucent with their business practices. Well done boys!

from the Tegatech Australia site (Ultra Mobile PC product page):

ETA in Australia is end of April 2006. Units will be allocated on a priority basis to orders placed, and paid for, as of now 29th March 2006.

[UPDATE 13th April 2006 10:30am] First allocation of eo is sold out (in black) and we have 7 only left (in white). Second allocation is now ON SALE and due for delivery in Australia on the 19th of May 2006.

[UPDATE 28th April 2006 17:28] First allocation of eo is now completely sold out. Second allocation is now ON SALE and is already 20% sold out. Due to final retooling the first allocation is due for delivery in mid to late May 2006 and second allocation early June 2006.

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UMPC Available in Australia Finally

Tegatech Australia is pleased to announce that the first roll out of Ultra Mobile PC in Australia has gone through without a glitch. Unlike the rest of the globe, Australia chose to not receive faulty devices (battery issues) and experienced delays while waiting for healthy EOs to deliver.


As you can see by these photos, deliveries that fell part of the first allocations also received the Tablet Kiosk apology touch, i.e. tee-shirts and free simple stands. While it is still very early to deem UMPC a success in Australia, especially when you consider that the first buyers are those on the bleeding edge of this thing, what I can disclose it that every single delivery was greeted with the same reaction..."well worth the wait!"

UMPC made it to Western Australia (perth), Melbourne, South Australia (Adelaide), Queensland, The Government (several sectors), Education, Home Automation, 2/4 Major Banks, several finance institutions and more...

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Nova Mobility SunPad Rugged UMPC

Not often a product range associated with The UberTablet Blog, Rugged UMPC ar a new force to be reckoned with. Because I had the video camera out and a Nova SunPad in my hand, it would be unfair of me not to put it on camera and let it shine - quite literally.

With the brightest outdoor viewable screen in the industry, and rugged qualities which make Panasonic nervous, the Nov SunPad is worth considering if you are a business or a specialist looking for that tough edge!

Enjoy.

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Rugged gets UMPC

A friend of mine and his father are planning to walk the Kokoda Trail next year in July to raise some money and awareness for Camp Quality. As admirable as this may sound it is not till there is mention of a Tablet PC that my ears spike up! LOL.

James (one of my favourite travel companions) will walk the Kokoda Trail and will include a UMPC or Tablet on his journey. I know he is hunting for something with good battery life, and some rugged features, i.e. something like the Nova SunPad or the EO TufTab.
This is a truly admirable course of action he has taken and if any of you are interested you can sponsor James and his father or just post him some words or encouragement on his blog.

Has anyone been there? Is it tough?

PS. Im still on holidays so regular reporting will recommence soon.

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Via Virtual UMPC

*Update 30th June 2006 - 20:08*

Final release of the Microsoft UMPC Display Emulator Beta is now ready for download.


File Name: UMPCDisplayEmulator.msi
Version: 1.0
Date Published: 5/3/2006
Language: English
Download Size: 1.2 MB

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Knowing that UMPC deliveries are only weeks away, Hugo Ortega of the UberTablet blog couldn’t help but get a little creative this evening. With talk of Tablet MVP’s trying out UMPC devices his excitement levels were as high as ever. All he could think of was, ‘I just want to demo my own UMPC!’

Using the Microsoft UMPC display emulator, a tool designed for software developers to view their applications layout and screen behavior as it appears on a UMPC, Hugo does his best to create a Virtual UMPC device at home!

Here are some notes:

• We know UMPC will run a 1.0GHz CPU of some sort and Windows XP Tablet Edition as its Operating System - Hugo Ortega grabbed a Sahara Slate running a 1.0GHz CPU and then proceeded to install Windows XP Tablet PC Edition on it.
• We know the resolution on most UMPC devices will run 800*480 native on a 7” TFT; to replicate this Hugo installed Microsoft’s UMPC Display Emulator (download UMPC Display Emulator) to replicate a 7" UMPC device on a 12.1" Slate.
• We know that the UMPC screen will be resistive touch, and not digitizer like current Tablet PCs, so Hugo makes sure that his experiment is conducted on a resistive touch slate PC.

Now that Hugo Ortega has mimicked almost all the UMPC criterion; all that is left is to let the demo speak for itself, “Via Virtual UMPC.”

The following is not a UMPC device – believe it or not – it is however an UberTablet.blogspot.com "Via Virtual UMPC" demo, dedicated to all of you that will not touch a UMPC for months to come!

[19MB, 5 minutes]
Watch it on "YouTube.com"

What do you think?

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• Painting tool: InkArt (part of Microsoft Experience Pack)
• Video captured via DV camera and edited on Microsoft Movie Maker

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UMPC Home Valuation Software Video

[Update, 4th October 2006 - To contact Apex Australia please use this email: Darrell Cann]
[Update, 6th October 2006 - To contact Apex Usa please use this email: Randall H. Garrett]

In an effort to test some new video editing software (colour needs some work) and bring you the latest UMPC/Tablet PC related news from Australia tonight I decided to share another little video. This time the software is from a Company named Apex Software that is based in the United States and has a regional office in Australia.

Apex have been in the “Home Valuation” (Appraiser) space for a long time. Their efforts have been well documented and their growing commitment and passion for the Ultra Mobile PC really has me interested. When I saw their funky new website (make sure you have broadband) and this video I couldn’t help but upload it for you – “my style.” Keep your eye out for the Motion Tablets and an EO.

Sit back and enjoy an UberTablet segment designed to motivated, excite and delight.



Watch it on My YouTube

More info:

Apex Software has been setting the standard in desktop sketching solutions since 1987. Most appraisers know Apex as a desktop product thats focused on making appraisal sketching fast, easy, and accurate. I cant even remember when I last had to "calculate" the square footage of a home! But how many ALSO think of Apex Software in terms of mobile sketching, data collection, training and support?

Medina will be ready for release this November and is designed to replace their current desktop sketching package - both the standalone and "forms software" versions. It will read all prior versions of Apex sketches and capable of doing a "Save As" back to the older version 3 file formats.

Nexus is a new tablet/UMPC "mobile" sketcher that is being rolled out now in Australia as part of a contract for the largest lender "down under". Its currently in Beta testing for the mass appraisal market in North America, and will be announced for Assessors in October 2006 at the IAAO conference. Its scheduled to be released for the fee appraiser market in January 2007.

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Craig Pringle declares UMPC giveaway

My inkably irresistible mate, Craig Pringle, seems to be throwing stones again. First he decides to publish shots of a new Tablet PC, without any further information, and now he wants a worldwide UMPC giveaway. Maybe Craig should talk to the ever so cool MiniMage that frequents this blog - she was also trying to round up troops for UMPC giveaways to begin.

UMPC giveaway, mmmm, sounds yummy. Will it happen? Dont you think its the easiest most effective form of Viral Marketing that exists? Come on Microsoft, Tablet Kiosk, ASUS, Samsung lets get this done; Craig points the finger at me like Im some high rolling Tablet hotshot!

If youd like to see a Tablet giveaway in Australia and New Zealand, as thats my domain, then leave me your thoughts (you dont have to be Australian to leave your thoughts here)!

Otherwise hold your peace...LOL

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