Android Digital Photo Frame By Macnica

Rob Jackson
16 years ago

Android is primarily a mobile phone OS at the moment, although other types of products have been discussed in great detail. Most of the chatter has surrounded Android Netbooks but one product scarcely mentioned, if at all, has already been developed by a Japanese company – an Android Digital Photo Frame.

Macnica Inc and Fujitsu Software Technologies have jointly developed and produced a “software platform for home network digital photo frame” that is based on Google’s Android Operating System. The software was exhibited on a prototype device a the 12th Embedded Systems Expo (ESEC2009) in Tokyo this week.

Think of it this way… they are essentially developing an Application for Android and altering the OS so it will ONLY allow this one program to run when booted up. When put like that, you can probably understand the tremendous cost savings the company enjoys instead of having to build its entire system from scratch:

According to Macnica, in recent years, there is an increasing demand to develop high value-added embedded devices at a lower cost and in a short period of time. And Android is drawing attention as a multipurpose embedded platform that fulfills such a demand, the company said.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a lot more of this. The final product may not have a lot of features and instead might only serve one narrow purpose, but Android will allow them to have a starting point that provides a head start and ultimately get the job done quicker, more affordably and with a greater possibility of feature options/inclusion. I think this concept will be taken even futher when we start thinking about Android in a much, MUCH broader scope.

Actually, I talked about this type of “potential” – from controlling coffee pots to home entertainment centers – back in January when the NIMble Desk Phone surfaced. Go back in time and read that article and tell me… do you agree? It is the same reason I am so eager for the Android Hub.

[Via TechOn]