Intel announces Linux-based UMPC platform

Link: Intel announces Linux-based UMPC platform
Filed under: Wireless News, Intel News, Hardware News, Linux News, Open Source News, Technology News

Intel is planning to announce a new ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) platform at this week’s Intel Developer Forum in Beijing.

The Mobile Internet Devices (MID) will run an embedded Linux operating system and will be targeted at consumers and prosumers rather than mobile professionals.

They will feature screens ranging from 114 to 152mm (4.5 to 6 inches) offering resolutions up to 800 x 480 and 1024 x 600 pixels,

The MID2007 platform is currently code-named McCaslin but will be renamed before it is released next year. The platform is expected to be an extension of the Centrino mobile brand.

The platform will feature dual-core processors clocked at 600-800MHz and will be capable of running Windows XP and Vista as well as Linux, with a mix of open source and proprietary code in the final products.

The devices will appeal to users requiring a mix of email, web, entertainment, information and location-based services, including Google Maps and Web-based office and enterprise applications.

They will be Wi-Fi enabled and feature support for wide-area coverage via 3G HSDPA.

The user interface has been optimised for the small screens. It is based on the Gnome desktop but with an Intel-developed “master user interface” layer to serve as an equivalent to the desktop.