This is my obsession for the week...MIDs! So how in the world did I get started with this? It's rather simple, I was reviewing for an exam, reading eBooks and tons of websites. Of course this meant I had to review using my laptop and after an hour or two you do get a crick on your neck. At the back of my mind, I was thinking, wouldn't it be great to have an iPad for occasions like this? Sure it would but I certainly won't shell out around PHP 20-40K for something like that. Finally news about the Chinese iPad knockoffs caught my attention.
From what I've seen most of these iPad knockoffs or rather MIDs have a similar trait:
Cheap looking plastic casings
Most are underpowered with around 600-800 Mghz processor speed
RAM falls short normally around 128 MB
ROM is expandable using SD cards
They are mostly using Google's Android with some units running Windows CE or Windows 7
THE PRICE IS DEFINITELY CHEAP COMPARED TO THE IPAD!
Let me get one thing straight, this is still a luxury device. Despite the cheap price it is something you can definitely do without...just like the iPad. But the price does make it accessible to people who read a lot of stuff using their laptops or PCs. Sure it can play video and music too which is an added bonus.
But the one thing that surprised me is how Google's Android is becoming a technology enabler. I'm loving Android more and more. I can't wait to develop for it!
Newer iPad knockoffs coming from China will have an Intel Atom and around 1GB of RAM! That's practically the standard for most netbooks these days! Of course that version would have a higher price tag (around $200) but still cheaper than the iPad and some netbooks!
Since this is supposed to be a gaming blog, let me relate the Android MIDs to gaming. Nintendo, as much as they want to deny it, is beginning to see Apple as a threat. More and more smaller developers are making games for the iPhone & iPad . These are casual games and not niche heavy games like the ones running on the PC, 360 and the PS3. Nintendo is a casual game company but they manufacture and distribute proprietary hardware. Apple also has proprietary hardware but their reach is wider because their hardware is not merely a gaming device but is multipurpose. Technically, the market for casual games is larger on devices such as Apple's and MIDs.
Now with the introduction of Google's Android, the flourishing Chinese manufacturers and the MID product introduction of known companies such as Asus...the market for casual games running on a MID will expand tremendously. Both Nintendo and Apple will face tough competition on the casual gaming front. Yes I know about the Apple store which is seen as the 'best' one for that market...but in the future there will be more of these stores cropping up and the choice will not be limited to the Apple store only. The future looks bright for these devices!
Before I go, here is a YouTube product review video of one of the China MIDs. This device is called the EKEN M001 which normally retails for around $50-100 USD in China.
Earlier I posted about how the PS3 is no less susceptible to hardware problems. The issue was dubbed the 'BDL' (Blu-Ray Disc Laser problem) over on Pinoyxbox by the multi-console users in the community. You'd find a lot more information about this by searching for error 80010514 and 80029906. That said, I saw this post on AICN from Moriarty ....apparently he also got hit by the BDL problem. He had the console repaired by Sony, and when he got his replacement, he was hit by another problem: he encountered an issue while updating his PS3, causing his system to get bricked. So now he's had two broken PS3s in a row, and the system has lost his recommendation as a blu-ray player system of choice for consumers: "Regarding Moriarty’s Awesome Non-Stop Blu-Ray Coverage... Or Lack Thereof! Dear Sony... Y’know, some days it doesn’t pay to be a movie fan. I’ve done tons of DVD coverage over the years here at AICN, and it’s funny... I’ve heard some people actually say, “But yo...
I've uploaded the theme song for Lost Odyssey in YouTube. Check out the video below: At first, I wasn't so into the song but when I heard it in full it grows on you. The song is actually quite beautiful. It was sung by Sheena Easton. With the lyrics from Hironobu Sakaguchi and the composition by Nobuo Uematsu. Very moving song, specially once you understand the lyrics. Below are the lyrics for the song "What You Are" by Sheena Easton When you touch me It feels just like a dream With the warmth that's in your eyes When you look at me I hear your voice beside me It whispers to me I can't hide how it makes me feel The shyness you see I may never Understand how deep it goes But I know how I feel What I hold deep in my heart There's just no way to stop this It's hopeless but true I feel this love More than anything So what more can I do You know I thought I would be much stronger than I am But then I feel the boldness that's inside my heart Just melt aw...
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