A day before of Christmas Eve, Yukyung had a showcase of their 1st MID Viliv S5 at the Club Mass with Intel Korea. I visited this event and had a chance to play with the S5 during the showcase.
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Most of us have already seen this Viliv S5 at IDF 2008, but it was based on Linux OS and Hansoft's 3D Cubic launcher. Maybe they did so then because Intel is currently pushing Linux OS to their future platforms like Moorestown. However, Viliv S5's main target is Korean customers and Korea is their major market at the beginning which made them consider Windows XP instead of Linux even though they have to add in licensing fees for the OS. So, Viliv S5 is the second MID produced by Korean manufacturers with Windows XP installed. TG Sambo launched their Luuon Mobbit about a week ago but their roots is in PC maker while Yukyung is known as a PMP maker to us till today. I heard that other major PMP makers in Korea are also working on MIDs, too. It is interesting to see those MP3/PMP makers entering PC markets to compete with major PC makers like Samsung and TG Sambo in Korea.
The showcase was full of IT media and power bloggers--around 200 people. As with TG Sambo's previous launch event, Intel Korea's CEO Mr. Lee also joined in for this Viliv S5 showcase. It seems that Intel Korea is really pushing MIDs in Korea and Microsoft Korea's CEO Mr. Yoo also sent a congratulations message to Yukyung. Well, Microsoft is really lucky for all these happenings in Korea lately. Most MID- or NetBook makers in Korea would like to install Linux OS to save cost and reduce the retail price on their units but Korea's Internet environment isn't able to accept this. No Internet banking services, No Internet shopping, unable to login to major community sites as well as being unable to post to some blogs. Microsoft Korea don't have to promote or market their OS to avoid those alternative OS from MID makers.
It looks like a real PMP and yes, they used the design from the X5, one of their PMPs. I'm guessing that the S5 and X5 can shar their accessories such as cases and pouches, too. Maybe this is something they considered as well. This S5 is a fan-less model but, I didn't feel much overheating even though the unit was turned on for several hours for the showcase. The 4.8-inch LCD can support up to 1024 x 600 resolution and the default setting is 800 x 480. They integrated a launcher on the S5 and also the 3D cubic GUI which was designed by Yukyung and not Hansoft. I tested this GUI and it seemed a bit laggy during actions but Yukyung's VP told us it happens only at the high resolution 1024 x 600 setting and they are working on that area so that it will act just like as it is on 800 x 480.
However, S5 hasn't got many buttons outside and no keyboard built-in which made it hard for me to find the virtual keyboard during the test. Even though I've had great experiences with these kinds of gadgets, I still believe that portable devices must necessarily contain keyboards whether they are small or tiny.
The stock built-in memory will be 1GB and a HDD will be available just like on PMPs. The S5 will start with a 30GB/60GB 1.8 inch HDD but it can be configured with Samsung's 1.3 inch micro-HDD if a HSDPA or WiBRO (WiMAX) module is embedded. SSD? You have to work that out by yourself.
GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. All three major wireless options have been built in but not a webcam which is another minor downside of the S5. At the beginning of the showcase, Intel Korea's CEO Mr. Lee communicated with the main stage from the outside via MSN on the S5 and you can see from the below picture. He puts a Logitech webcam on the S5 which looks funny to me. The size of the Webcam is about 1/3 that of the S5. Haha?
The Viliv S5 is capable of 6 hours of continuous movie playback and about 200 hours of standby time (3.7V 6200mAh battery). Great! Also, the Viliv S5 contains the Atom CPU which allows it to playback HD movie files which even the latest PMPs are having hard time with. No more headaches with video or audio codec--download those from the Internet and install directly. The S5 also has an external charging station to charge your second battery separately but that's all from that station--no other functions... why?
Now, the most important information--release date and retail price: The Viliv S5 will be released at about the end of January 2009 and its retail price will be around 500,000 to 700,000 won (US$388 to US$543). If the Viliv S5 is released with WiBRO, price can be reduced to around 400,000 to 500,000 with a 2-year WiBRO contract with the operator.
Oh, Yukyung also preparing a tablet type of Netbook or MID which is called the S7. No idea on the launch date or specs yet.
During the showcase, Yukyung conducted a lottery to give away some gifts to attendees and the final winner takes a S5 voucher which can be claimed for an S5 when it's available.
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Most of us have already seen this Viliv S5 at IDF 2008, but it was based on Linux OS and Hansoft's 3D Cubic launcher. Maybe they did so then because Intel is currently pushing Linux OS to their future platforms like Moorestown. However, Viliv S5's main target is Korean customers and Korea is their major market at the beginning which made them consider Windows XP instead of Linux even though they have to add in licensing fees for the OS. So, Viliv S5 is the second MID produced by Korean manufacturers with Windows XP installed. TG Sambo launched their Luuon Mobbit about a week ago but their roots is in PC maker while Yukyung is known as a PMP maker to us till today. I heard that other major PMP makers in Korea are also working on MIDs, too. It is interesting to see those MP3/PMP makers entering PC markets to compete with major PC makers like Samsung and TG Sambo in Korea.
The showcase was full of IT media and power bloggers--around 200 people. As with TG Sambo's previous launch event, Intel Korea's CEO Mr. Lee also joined in for this Viliv S5 showcase. It seems that Intel Korea is really pushing MIDs in Korea and Microsoft Korea's CEO Mr. Yoo also sent a congratulations message to Yukyung. Well, Microsoft is really lucky for all these happenings in Korea lately. Most MID- or NetBook makers in Korea would like to install Linux OS to save cost and reduce the retail price on their units but Korea's Internet environment isn't able to accept this. No Internet banking services, No Internet shopping, unable to login to major community sites as well as being unable to post to some blogs. Microsoft Korea don't have to promote or market their OS to avoid those alternative OS from MID makers.
It looks like a real PMP and yes, they used the design from the X5, one of their PMPs. I'm guessing that the S5 and X5 can shar their accessories such as cases and pouches, too. Maybe this is something they considered as well. This S5 is a fan-less model but, I didn't feel much overheating even though the unit was turned on for several hours for the showcase. The 4.8-inch LCD can support up to 1024 x 600 resolution and the default setting is 800 x 480. They integrated a launcher on the S5 and also the 3D cubic GUI which was designed by Yukyung and not Hansoft. I tested this GUI and it seemed a bit laggy during actions but Yukyung's VP told us it happens only at the high resolution 1024 x 600 setting and they are working on that area so that it will act just like as it is on 800 x 480.
However, S5 hasn't got many buttons outside and no keyboard built-in which made it hard for me to find the virtual keyboard during the test. Even though I've had great experiences with these kinds of gadgets, I still believe that portable devices must necessarily contain keyboards whether they are small or tiny.
The stock built-in memory will be 1GB and a HDD will be available just like on PMPs. The S5 will start with a 30GB/60GB 1.8 inch HDD but it can be configured with Samsung's 1.3 inch micro-HDD if a HSDPA or WiBRO (WiMAX) module is embedded. SSD? You have to work that out by yourself.
GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. All three major wireless options have been built in but not a webcam which is another minor downside of the S5. At the beginning of the showcase, Intel Korea's CEO Mr. Lee communicated with the main stage from the outside via MSN on the S5 and you can see from the below picture. He puts a Logitech webcam on the S5 which looks funny to me. The size of the Webcam is about 1/3 that of the S5. Haha?
The Viliv S5 is capable of 6 hours of continuous movie playback and about 200 hours of standby time (3.7V 6200mAh battery). Great! Also, the Viliv S5 contains the Atom CPU which allows it to playback HD movie files which even the latest PMPs are having hard time with. No more headaches with video or audio codec--download those from the Internet and install directly. The S5 also has an external charging station to charge your second battery separately but that's all from that station--no other functions... why?
Now, the most important information--release date and retail price: The Viliv S5 will be released at about the end of January 2009 and its retail price will be around 500,000 to 700,000 won (US$388 to US$543). If the Viliv S5 is released with WiBRO, price can be reduced to around 400,000 to 500,000 with a 2-year WiBRO contract with the operator.
Oh, Yukyung also preparing a tablet type of Netbook or MID which is called the S7. No idea on the launch date or specs yet.
During the showcase, Yukyung conducted a lottery to give away some gifts to attendees and the final winner takes a S5 voucher which can be claimed for an S5 when it's available.
Unfortunately, I lost my ticket during the showcase? Damn it!
It looks there will be plenty of MIDs available in Korea by 2009. Digifriend, i-Station, Cowon and others are also preparing their devices and Samsung is about to launch its new model of Ultra Q1 series (to be launched at CES). International mobile brands are also coming into the Korean market with their flagship smart phones from next Q1. I should start to save my pocket money to enjoy those gadgets. Otherwise, it's painful to merely "eye-shop" all the time?
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BY Kevin (Kilmo) Kang
Source：cnet Asia
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1 comments:
居然用XP～
这可不算严格意义上的MID
倒是很适合目前的市场
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