7" silver smartbook features an ARM from Wondermedia

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Comments Posted on Oct 12, 2009 Posted by Song Jiang

Here's a 7 inch smartbook device that uses an ARM-based System-on-Chip from a company called Wondermedia. Described as a mini-MacBook Air clone by Chinese marketeers, this wee guy is another early example of the fledgling smartbook device category that is set to rival netbooks in 2010.

Some details on the device itself; the SoC is based on an ARM9 processor that runs at a cool and power-sipping 300MHz, 128MB of RAM seems minimal but is probably sufficient, the OS is installed on a 1GB flash memory with a further 16GB possible through SD card, networking comes in the form of an Ethernet port, built-in Wi-Fi b/g and bluetooth. Audio jacks, USB ports and a card reader are also present. The 7" screen is a non-touch at a 800 x 480 resolution.

Spotted out and about earlier this year during CES and Comuptex 2009, Wondermedia are a subsidiary of VIA Technologies, the processor design company behind the VIA Nano CPU. In the Wondermedia Prizm platform, the company have adopted the ARM-based IP that was originally in the possession of its parent company VIA, putting it in direct competition with more established ARM-based SoC vendors such as Qualcomm, Freescale, Texas Instruments and Nvidia. These are all companies that have done their part to talk up the merits of the smartbook device category at some point, especially Nvidia and Qualcomm with their respective Tegra and Snapdragon platforms.

Thus the smartbook device category is predicted to be the arena where the forthcoming ARM vs x86 battle will be fought, and Wondermedia are no doubt hoping that the nascent from factor can steal a significant piece of the current netbook pie. It's also good for VIA of course, being in the unique position of possessing licenses for both ARM and x86 technologies.

The device in the pics below is branded as a 'Sungworld', although I'm pretty much certain that it'll see higher volumes as a 'white box' product for would-be brand creators outside of china. The price point is apparently RMB 500, or a snip under 75 USD, which would certainly mean there is room to undercut most netbooks. So it's easy to imagine how an affordable, super compact and lightweight device with superior battery life could be a winner. However, as our recent review mentions, the problem with ARM is not on the hardware side of the fence.

Western Opportunity Analysis:

The OS is still a worry. It apparently comes loaded with Windows CE, a software platform that is about as Internet friendly as Windows 98 with a head cold. If you're expecting the newest Firefox, Chrome or Opera browser experience, think again. Think no flash video support!

Whether it's a version of Android, or a fuller and possibly ported Chrome OS, it's as if a decent web-surfing experience on ARM is only going to happen once a company like Google get involved, and drag it kicking and screaming into an Internet-centered world. Apple have proved that ARM chips can do it. Perhaps Google can bring the ARM platform to an even wider audience.

Conclusions:

The smartbook is going to happen just as soon as we have the perfect storm that combines ARM's low power prowess with decent, web-savvy software. While companies like Qualcomm, Freescale and Texas Instruments will be working hard to provide the OS that makes it all work, just as it currently does on a PC, I think Wondermedia will be hoping Google will provide the killer ARM OS soon.

As do we all.

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Comments

0 # Guest 2009-10-20 22:59

Another great article from Shanzai. I really like how you guys put together your articles on this device because I've been following it from www.smartbook.asia

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