Dell’s new Android-based Mini 5 (Streak) details were leaked to Engadget last week and seem to have some of the features desired on future iPod touch devices. Specifically: cameras, a better screen both in size and resolution and 3G data. These look like they could be very popular devices if priced low — which Dell is known for. Apple usually updates its iPod lines in August September.
Imagine if they sell the device with a similar data plan as the iPad except with Google Voice with Gizmo5 VoIP. And maybe even tethering for a nominal cost? That’d be tempting to a few people (present company included).
Will these things give Apple’s iPod touch platform a run for its money? In either case, it may motivate Apple to update the functionality of its mobile devices.
Their content deal with Amazon (below) also appears to be a pretty tempting proposition.
When was the last time the iPod lines were updated in August?
September 2009. Except the only iPod that really received an overhaul was the nano. The touch and classic were pretty much left alone. Except for the performance increase with the 32gb and 64gb touches.
Has anyone commented on the fact that the ad seems to promote “free” 3g wireless?
Can this be true? Read the small print under the word “Kindle”. It sure seems like it is saying free 3g. Am I wrong?
Want-want-want! I can’t imagine seeing this thing priced at $200 – the entry price-point for iPod Touches according to some of the specs offered by Dell. But for $300, this will definately be a buy. I had a Dell mini 10.2″ netbook, and of all the netbooks I’ve handled, Dell’s craftsmanship is top-notch.
Dell’s craftsmanship is top-notch? What are you smoking?
Some very very cheap drugs evidently!!
haha, probably his Dell…
Storage capacity of these things?
Dell’s biggest downfall has always been software quality and the problem of “hundreds of optional features”.
Is there any evidence that they’ve taken any substantial steps to address these issue?
….. the fact that it runs android.
Eh? You clearly don’t know what Android is. Android is a platform customized by each vendor based on their goals and their hardware. It isn’t like there’s a stock android OS that you can put on any device you’d like. Every vendor still has to design and build the platform beased on their design standards and their product goals. Yep, a lot of things are fixed, but that’s mostly in kernel space. But the user oriented features, UI, and so forth are all customizations by the vendor.
Sorry, that is inaccurate.
While Android is frequently customised by vendors – and as open software is free to be customised however vendors wish – there is a stock or ‘vanilla’ build. Examples of devices with ‘vanilla’ android would be the original G1, the Motorola Droid and the Nexus One, which shipped with 1.5, 2.0 and 2.1 respectively; note that the differing release numbers explain the difference in user interface here: a Droid updated to 2.1 will have the same software user experience as a Nexus One.
Other phones have substituted a different user interface over the Android OS, for instance htc’s Sense or Motorola’s Motoblur. Also, certain applications which come installed on all Android phones are owned by Google; for instance Gmail and Google Maps. It may be worth mentioning that different hardware can require different kernel extensions to allow the OS to talk to the hardware. But none of that changes the fact that stock Android is a complete operating system in and of itself incorporating kernel, frameworks, UI and essential applications; if vendors ship custom versions it is through choice not necessity.
Based on what you just explained, anyone with half a brain can understand what a mess Android is. Based on the rapid fragmentation of this OS across various vendors and manufacturers, and hardware configurations, without OS upgradablilty amongst many, different versions of the OS relesed on different devices at exactly the same time, small memory, etc etc etc – the reason I would want a mobile device with this cluster fq of an OS is what?
So I assume that you don’t use a Windows or Linux PC either than? We’ve already proven in the desktop space that differing components in a computer does not affect the OS in any major way, and just requires different drivers (in the case on Linux (and hence Android) these are actually built into the kernel). And custom UIs are the forte of the linux world, again, which Android is built on.
If you’ve only ever used a Macintosh PC (which, btw, is just a custom UI over the BSD operating system) and never heard of a Windows or Linux PC, then you’re forgiven, but don’t use this cock-and-bull story that Apple fanboys (who can’t think about how anything outside of Apple works) have come up with. It’s neither smart nor accurate.
I think Dell’s biggest problem is their habit of loading up machines with crapware, and taking out perfectly good OS functionality and replacing it with more convoluted Dell-ware. Android is so customizable, it’s the perfect platform for them to screw up with a ton of Dell-ware. And every would-be software company that wants to pay Dell a few dollars will get their cheap-o utility installed factory-default.
Not to say that this device won’t be a success, but isn’t much of the success of the iPod (touch included) due to the superior software/hardware connection that Apple is so good at? Is there any word on what software for the computer Dell will release with this new hardware?
It’s an Android phone. Software quality is immaterial – if it doesn’t work for you, just change it to suit your desires!
I feel like the biggest drawback here is the size. The iPod touch fits comfortably in a pocket, sure it’s a little smaller as a result, but as a guy, infinitely more portable. If you want something bigger (and you’re willing to carry something to keep it in) then why not get an iPad or (if you’re of the mindset as I am that it is feature lacking and not versatile enough to justify the burden) any of the other forthcoming tablets of a similar size (Notion Ink Adam, Slate, etc.)
Just seems like this fits in between the iPod touch and the tablets, and for as awkward as the tablet format is to begin with being between phone and computer I really can’t see a place for this in the market for most people. Just my opinion though
…I could definately see your point. If I’m going to be lugging a little bag around to carry this 5″ device, then since I’m already lugging a bag with me, I might as well be lugging around a much more usable 10″ iPad in it.
You don’t need a bag for a 5″ device. My Archos 5 fits perfectly in my pocket– it really is the ultimate combination of portability (fits in a pocket) and size (5″ 800×480 display). The Touch/iPhone are just too damn small, and the iPad is too freaking huge. If I wanted to lug around something as huge as an iPad, I might as well go all-out and get a netbook. I’ve seen netbooks whose batteries last as much as 14 hours these days.
At less than 10″, the iPad sure is “huge”! LOL *eyeroll*
I agree completely about the awkwardness of carrying a tablet as opposed to a full-featured laptop or netbook. As far as the size goes, you have to keep in mind that the screen size is only part of the overall dimension of the device. The actual size of the Mini5 is a bit bigger than just its screen (just as the iPhone and iPod touch are a bit bigger than theirs). It also is thicker.
http://androidandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2034469_03-300×225.jpg
shows a side by side of the Mini5 and an iPhone. For me, an iPhone is about as much as I want in my pocket, otherwise it is uncomfortable when I sit down, or looks like I have a bunch of stuff in my pocket. You might have larger pockets, or not have the concern over it looking like you have stuff in there (I don’t even keep more than my car and house key in my pocket).
I still don’t think anything larger than a phone and smaller than a netbook has more than a small niche in the market, if it doesn’t fit in my pocket it better be worth carrying around a bag for, and in that case I’ll expect/demand laptop performance from it.
Mid-size iPads are the next logical step for Apple to capture the full spectrum of sales. It will happen.
At first I thought I wanted something iPad size. But if I’m going to throw something into my backpack that’s full size then it’s going to be my ultralight laptop. A mid-size iPad or Dell Streak 5 or 7 would be really nice when I just want a mid-size entertainment screen to fit in with other stuff in my backpack and I just don’t want to lug around a fullsize screen.
Streak 5 might fit a jacket pocket but that’s about it. iPhones and a lot of other smartphones are already too big for many pants pockets (especially some styles of jeans). It’s bulky enough as it is with my candybar cell phone and my keychain. My wallet is usually in my other pocket.
Now if only a company would innovate with lefty/righty grips of some kind so I don’t have to worry about these things flying out of my fingers.
I am very satisfied with my IPOD 3G 32GB touch that I bought over the Net for $270, over the holidays. Use it for a nice MID and for business tool, after finally getting a “file system,” installed on it. Too bad, cant use it as a flash drive, or do USB data transfers, but, there, is a way around this obstacle, and one just has to use the apps & resources, The “free” apps are great to have, and there are plenty for the medical field. Anyway, the Dell Streak, aka Mini 5, is a nice-looking 5inch Android tablet device, running a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Don’t know what the graphics chip is, but the Web videos I’ve seen look snappy. I think the base model will come with 16GB of Flash nand storage, and there is a microSD slot for additional storage memory. The Dell Streak, probably will have 256 MB ofRAM, but I read, that it will be higher than the IPOD 3G’s 256MB of RAM(really 263MB). The whole key for Dell, will be software integration, the very important “price point,” and advertising campaign. That’s right Apple,….it is not time to rest on your laurels. Be innovative. Upgrade the processor, gpu, RAM, display, and features, on the next IPOD line.
Imagine a graph with CPU speed/performance on on axis and battery life on the other.
More power = less battery life. Pretty simple.
Apple has a very clear idea of where they want their products to be on that graph, and they’re not going to be frightened by features on a Dell spec sheet. If competitors brag about power, Apple will point out the sucky battery life. If they brag on battery life (re Kindle) they point out that that’s easy to accomplish on a brain-dead reader.
In short, they’ll up CPU power as they see fit, and not in response to pretenders.
Not me. I left that craptacular world of everybody MP3 player behind. I plug in the iPod and it works perfectly every single time. No amount of bells and whistles will convince me to go back to the headaches associated with endless attempts of video conversion, lost playlists, corupted memory and endless formatting.
Couldn’t agree more. Until the others figure out how to make things “just work” I’m not going back.
You’ve obviously “been away” for quite some time. Things have changed since 2001. Some (read: most) MP3 players these days _do_ “just work.” Believe it or not, the iPod is not the end-all be-all of MP3 players; plenty of devices will do what the iPod will do– plus more– for less. I suggest you take a look at archos.com to start.
Yeah, I was talking about last year, not 2001.
Has something changed in the Zune marketplace recently? Maybe. But I’m not going to buy a Zune to see if it works after the last fiasco.
Zune? Eww. Where did I recomment a Zune?
Answer: nowhere. I said to “start with archos.com.”
Front facing video camera!!!!!
This is great news. I would snag this in a heartbeat.
Ok. This thing looks to be almost the size of a Newton. Too big for a music player and no more pixels than a smartphone (at least those from mfg who update products more than once a year). Probably fails as a mass market device because of the form factor.
I also think that a 3G contract like the iPad is a big if. I am sure Apple shopped long and hard for that deal.
I welcome any device that is portable and bigger than an Ipod. yes Ipods are great, they were the king of devices for a long time, but their time of being the best is nearly over. There are just too many new idea’s an d platforms comming out that are equal or better than the Ipod or Iphone. If Apple doesn’t enlarge their Ipod screen size it’s likely going to loose many sales. Most people i’ve talked to don’t care anymore about weather it fits in their pocket as long as it’s portable. I just ordered an Ipad and i could care a less if it fits in a pocket, i can take it with me in a suitcase if i’m traveling or in a brief case around town or just carry it in my hand. I think Apples Ipad and Dells slate will be very popular.
For me it will come down to whether or not the game developers (example: gameloft) will develop and/or port their titles to this dell mini’s OS. If so I’d consider buying it but only then.
800 x 480 resolution, and 3 permanent buttons (touch-not hardware) to me it seems that this device could easily be issued with Windows series 7.
Now that would interest me! especially with a good data package and tethering.
Without sounding crude, 5″ will easily fit into a pocket.
Looks great on paper. But a few pics and some features don’t make a device. I welcome the competition though. Great for the consumer.
Guitar Center is now selling Macs!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks nice. Too bad it will fall short, just like everything Dell does. Remember their MP3 player, the “iPod killer” Dell DJ? How many did they sell? 20? I like that they are pushing features iPod owners want. The only thing this will do is make the iPod better. Be honest, Dell’s quality and features are sub-par, at best.
Use an Android OS based device for a month then come back and talk to me…
You welcome any device that is portable and bigger than an ipod, and it doesn’t matter if it fits in your pocket. Did you pre order an iPad yet then?
nobody is going to carry around that big clunky thing instead of a sleek iPod touch. Sorry, there’s just no way in hell this will have an impact on iPod touch sales. That’s a promise.
I can see the point of the iPhone size. You always have it with so needs to be small. The iPod touch uses the same screen size so that apps work universally. The ipad can have a bigger size cause you won’t have it with you all the time but this is in the wrong size category. To big to have with you all the time and too small to be really useful.
You guys have missed a HUGE point, this is a PHONE too…..No comparison to the ipod
Wow, this looks amazing! When can I buy one? Oh, wait, it was “leaked” to Engadget with no details of a release date. How strange.
But does Dhell have an App Store to support downloads of needed applications like Apple does for the iPhone/iPod Touch ?
And why the tacky colors ? Ugh !!
—– FAIL !!! —–
if you actualy would have read something then you would know that it runs on android, which has it’s own market.
so yes, it has apps ..
This looks really nice and now I am more interested in this.Dell is always a good company with its products and also for customers.This will be definitely a good competitor for others.
Okay the way i see it people just think because apple has made great versions (not always) of form factors eg: iphone ipad (piece of shit)that they invented it an no one can do it better and that is so wrong
i mean look at the Archos range arguably the best media/internet 3g devices ever made you cant even ompare this to an ipod touch id choose and archos 9 over an ipad any day fuck you apple
I really don’t like apple either, everything costs twice as much as the same thing made by another company without that rotten apple on it. Z category ipod earphones for the price of a Sennheiser??? GET LOST!!! But still, be careful with Archos. I really wanted to buy the new 5 IT Android 500 gb, and than I started reading customers’ reviews… Introduction on archos.com seems to be fairytale, there are lots and lots of problems with the IT. But you’re right Archos 9 is definitely better than Ipad, the over-sized iphone WITHOUT MULTITASKING!!!!!!! I guess, at first apple releases something really undeveloped, knowing that people will buy it even for a mill bucks, just ’cause it’s apple. And than they can throw the improved version out in a few months, harvesting another thousand tons of cash. How could you improve something this fast as apple does, if it’s originally good??? Just think about it…