The integrated graphics which most netbooks come out with are pretty unimpressive, especially considering that their full-size counterparts (read: laptops) that are getting released these days tend to have some sort of dedicated graphics of their own. But in some instances, Intel’s GMA graphics chipset is able to hold its own when it comes to games and HD video, and this was proven in a recent demonstration at a Mobile Dev Camp event in Germany.

Pictured above is Quake III running at an average of about 35 FPS on an external monitor while connected to an MSI Wind U115–running Linux! Moblin Linux, that is. Intel’s Atom Z530 processor and GMA 500 graphics work in tandem for this one, and it’s pretty good work indeed. The same netbook was also demoed with other mobile devices playing HD video rather competently. To see the netbook in fragging action, continue reading for a video after the break.
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The next update to Firefox will enable the browser to detect the orientation of any accelerometer-equipped device on which it is running. This way, the browser itself can actually actively adapt to the orientation being used and possibly offer a few advantages, among which are automatic rotation in order to match the current orientation and offer additional screen space. Notebooks such as Lenovo’s ThinkPads and Apple’s MacBooks come with accelerometers built-in to them, but I think it would be rather troublesome to have to lift your 2-kilo computer off the table just to see this feature in action. I immediately thought of netbooks, with their small footprint and relatively light weight. This will easily be my favorite Firefox feature once netbooks with built-in accelerometers are available. Then we can all view reading materials such as e-books and other documents more conveniently on our small, unassuming netbooks. Can’t wait for it either? Well, let’s hope the manufacturers are working on it.

Via Deep Tech

It looks like NVIDIA is quite busy with its new Tegra family of “computers-on-a-chip” these days, as it has been revealed that besides the usual mobile platforms it should be working on to support (i.e. Windows Mobile, Windows CE and Google Android), it has also been working on the up-and-coming Google Chrome OS with Google itself. NVIDIA’s GM of Mobile Business Mike Rayfield spilled the beans to JKOnTheRun’s Kevin Tofel saying, “Nvidia is “working closely with Google,” on the Chrome OS platform” and that it isn’t just meant for handheld devices.

Why would anyone want a mobile computer with Tegra on it, you ask? Well, its main selling point according to NVIDIA is that it easily supports hi-def video playback and that it uses less power than Intel’s Atom processor for the said task. Some people may find this adequate in a mobile device, but sad to say, I am not one of them. NVIDIA makes a good point in saying that the “cloud” can be a good alternative for desktop apps, but for me they will never be able to replace the best desktop programs I use (or at least not any time soon). But Chrome OS is supposed to change this, so let’s hope the products hit the market in time for a closer evaluation.

Via JKOnTheRun

Back in June, Mobinnova introduced the Elan netbook, a new portable computer that offered 5-10 hours of high definition video viewing thanks to it being based on NVIDIA’s Tegra platform. It has been showcased recently and according to a report from DigiTimes it has already received orders from telecom service providers in Europe and North America, where it will appear before the end of 2009. Foxconn has been identified as the primary manufacturer of this Tegra-based “smartbook” while it is said that Compal Communication is also supposed to make one before year-end. Apart from supposedly excellent high-definition video playback and slightly longer battery life (than average), there doesn’t seem to be anything special about Tegra. I suppose I will have to see when I get my hands on a unit of my own for testing.

Via DigiTimes

Viliv chose IDF 2009 to showcase an upcoming convertible touchscreen netbook pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium called the Viliv S10. Accompanied by the company’s so-called Shuffle touchscreen UI for navigation, the Viliv S10 convertible touchscreen netbook comes with a 10-inch 1366×768 pixel resolution display, choices of either 32GB or 64GB SSDs for storage, 1.33GHz or 2.0GHz Intel processors and 1GB of RAM. Built-in 3G will be offered as an upgrade option and it looks like the Viliv S10 will also have the built-in USB ports and an SD card reader, just as you would expect of any netbook coming out these days. It won’t be in stores until the fourth quarter of 2009, though, and it will be priced rather high for a netbook at $500 and upwards according to one Viliv representative who was present at IDF 2009 for the netbook’s debut/demo. LaptopMag has a hands-on video of the said netbook so if you are interested in learning more about it, head on down to the link below.

Via LaptopMag

An Asus Eee Reader is said to be in the works and that it will be released before the end of this year. This information is based on a rumor that originated from online news site Digitimes a little over a week ago. Today, the Times Online says that Asus is indeed working on a so-called Eee Reader, and this time it is said that the information came from the Taiwanese company’s president Jerry Shen himself. Also according to Shen, there may be an entire line of Eee Readers out before 2010. Perhaps they plan to cover all market segments with both budget and premium offerings with different features and price points. Asus apparently wants to make a difference in the e-book reader market as it did in the notebook market after it launched its affordable netbooks, portable computers that beat good old-fashioned laptops in every important aspect: portability, usability and battery life. Not to mention affordability.
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If you’re currently shopping for the thinnest netbook worth getting and still haven’t decided whether to get the Asus Eee PC 1008HA or 1005HA, have a look at this short comparison between the two Seashell netbooks from Taiwan. I got the chance to try out both quickly thanks to Techead Philippines and I got pictures to go along with my first impressions on each netbook. Continue reading for the full comparison and the rest of the photos.
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Red Fox has got a new netbook in the horizon, but it’s easy to mistake it for something old because of the somewhat outdated specs. As revealed in the above promo ad, the Red Fox WizBook 890i is a relatively mediocre netbook with features such as an 8.9-inch 1024×600 screen, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 120GB hard drive, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, built-in webcam, 5-in-1 card reader, and a 3-cell battery. There’s a slightly higher-end variant with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive, but there doesn’t seem to be an option for a 6-cell battery. There’s no info yet on pricing anywhere but it should be available at least in the Philippines real soon.

Via Electronic Pulp

Just as the Acer Aspire Timeline 1810T has gone on sale in the U.S. as the Acer Aspire 1410 netbook through one online store, we learn that a seemingly rebranded version of this netbook is already available in at least one brick and mortar store in Canada. The netbook in question, called the Gateway EC1803h, packs a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Solo processor and GMA 4500 graphics, as well as 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, built-in webcam, 5-in-1 card reader, 802,11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and a 6-cell battery. It is available at a Future Shop for $600 CAD or about $555 USD. There’s no word on whether it will be available anywhere in the U.S. too but if it will, it probably will have a somewhat lower price–the extra 1GB of RAM can’t be that expensive.

One of the more interesting 11.6-inch netbooks that a lot of people have been waiting for, the Acer Aspire Timeline 1810T, has just been posted as for sale on the online store of Cost Central. The netbook’s name has apparently been changed to Acer Aspire 1410 but the specs remain the same. There’s a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, GMA 4500MHD graphics, 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 pixel widescreen display, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, built-in webcam, 5-in-1 card reader and a 6-cell battery that’s been rated at 6 hours per charge. The list price is $460.33 USD, which makes it sound like a pretty good deal, doesn’t it?

CostCentral via Laptoping