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Oct312011
ITG's xpPhone 2 will run Windows 8
Daniel Carey
In Technology Group, the Chinese company responsible for merging the smartphone-Windows PC user experience, has once again combined both the realms of Microsoft’s Windows desktop operating system, and the ultra-portable smartphone. This time, the company has created what they are calling the “post-smartphone” - similar to xpPhone’s of old, ITG is in the works to release the xpPhone 2 - a smartphone that is poised to run both Windows 7 and Microsoft’s yet to be released, PC version of Windows 8.
As stated, ITG has been responsible for releasing several Windows centric smartphones; the original premier device having been released running Windows XP early last year. However, unlike the original ITG xpPhone which was both ridiculously gargantuan and ran at the time of release, an out of date operating system, the xpPhone 2 is now significantly slimmer, lighter, and more energy efficient.
Original ITG xpPhone “docked”Is it still a silly concept? Well kind of. In my opinion, Windows doesn’t belong on a smartphone. Sure Windows Phone is an exception to the rule, but I stand fast when I say PC Windows belongs on a legitimate personal computer. Yet despite my opinion, In Technology Group has stated that their device is up to the task. Internally, the xpPhone will run a 1.6GHz processor (with a 2GHz processor as a possibility headed into the future), 2GB of RAM, and 112GB of internal storage. Externally the device sports a 4.3-inch display and what appears to be a set of volume rockers.
According to ITG’s press release (which is quite an amusing read) the xpPhone is not just a “post-smartphone” but also the “smallest notebook PC in the world.” Measuring in at 140mm x 73mm x 17.5mm such a statement is merited. Essentially ITG has created a dockable smartphone, which is capable of replacing / standing in for a laptop, desktop and an in-car GPS navigational system. In any instance, the xpPhone 2 is the Motorola Atrix of the Windows camp. Sadly, there was no mention of Moto’s smartphone in the xpPhone 2’s press release, ITG just made note of the xpPhone’s superior internal storage, ram and CPU.
As a slight tangent, I can’t help but feel battery life will most definitely be an issue - despite claims by ITG that the xpPhone will have a staggering 18.5 hours of continuous talk time - smartphones today are plagued with battery life issues and they’re running mobile chipsets and operating systems designed for prolonged mobile use; something the xpPhone is not.
Either way, Eric Mack of CNET sums this device up perfectly, having stated “the success of this kind of a device will likely depend on it being at least more usable than the English translation of its press release, which requires several aspirin to navigate.”
Original ITG xpPhone “docked”Is it still a silly concept? Well kind of. In my opinion, Windows doesn’t belong on a smartphone. Sure Windows Phone is an exception to the rule, but I stand fast when I say PC Windows belongs on a legitimate personal computer. Yet despite my opinion, In Technology Group has stated that their device is up to the task. Internally, the xpPhone will run a 1.6GHz processor (with a 2GHz processor as a possibility headed into the future), 2GB of RAM, and 112GB of internal storage. Externally the device sports a 4.3-inch display and what appears to be a set of volume rockers.According to ITG’s press release (which is quite an amusing read) the xpPhone is not just a “post-smartphone” but also the “smallest notebook PC in the world.” Measuring in at 140mm x 73mm x 17.5mm such a statement is merited. Essentially ITG has created a dockable smartphone, which is capable of replacing / standing in for a laptop, desktop and an in-car GPS navigational system. In any instance, the xpPhone 2 is the Motorola Atrix of the Windows camp. Sadly, there was no mention of Moto’s smartphone in the xpPhone 2’s press release, ITG just made note of the xpPhone’s superior internal storage, ram and CPU.
As a slight tangent, I can’t help but feel battery life will most definitely be an issue - despite claims by ITG that the xpPhone will have a staggering 18.5 hours of continuous talk time - smartphones today are plagued with battery life issues and they’re running mobile chipsets and operating systems designed for prolonged mobile use; something the xpPhone is not.
Either way, Eric Mack of CNET sums this device up perfectly, having stated “the success of this kind of a device will likely depend on it being at least more usable than the English translation of its press release, which requires several aspirin to navigate.”
References (2)
CNET
In Technology Group
