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Talk about device convergence. While we’ve already seen the tablet/netbook hybrids make their way to the forefront, Compufon looks to add another wrinkle into the fold – smartphones.Compufon boasts a powerful smartphone that you’ll be able to insert into a slate as if it were a video game cartridge.
The processing power and storage option are on the phone as the tablet portion only provides a display and its own dedicated battery. (Which looks like it’ll be able to charge the phone while it’s inside.) They also have a case that has an accompanying keyboard which essentially turns it into a netbook.
The Compufon sports a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 16GB of internal storage, a 4 inch display with 960 x 460 resolution, a front-facing VGA camera, a rear-facing 5 megapixel camera with video recording, and will apparently run Android 3.0 whenever the software is made available. (Though we’re sure that this’ll only work when the phone is docked inside the tablet slate.)
As for the tablet dock, it’ll be a 10.1-inch slate with a resolution of 1024×768. The dock includes its own front-facing camera, but the rear-facing camera is provided by the phone. Interesting stuff, I’d say. The tablephonetbook is expected to launch in the 4th quarter of 2011. Head on over to Compufon’s site for more details.
The experiments some people do.
Hmmmm….nice specs, although I think u may have gotten the screen resolution wrong, 960×450? Or 960×540? Like all the other qHD? I could be entirely wrong. You are usually spot on quentyn.
I copied that directly from their website, Sizzle. Typo might be on their end.
I would buy one this moment. It needs to run Android 3.1 though. It needs to be perfect on tablet and phone.
I see Froyo on that picture.
And the battery will last what 1 hour when docked to the tablet/netbook?
the tablet has it’s own battery…..
From day one I wondered why the Motorola Atrix docking wasn’t implemented in this fashion. Who knows what went on in the mind of the Motorola intern responsible for the hack-job that was brought to market…
Boxy!
They almost understand the concept. The phone needs to dock into the key board and become the mouse pad, instead of the back like the atrix. The other option that I really want is a 7-9″ tablet that works as a tablet but also allows an extension monitor to be hooked up so that the tab can become the keyboard and homescreen. Until a more efficient and powerful dual-core or quad-core is introduced, I do not see either option working smoothly.
Nokia and others have developed terminal mode. The display is used to expand apps on the phone. The link is made with Bluetooth although nothing stopping it being USB.
Although designed for cars, terminal mode means you can still use the phone as a phone while looking at the screen.
It’s about time… I’ve been on the “the phone should be pluggable” bandwagon for a long time.
Is it a laptop? Is it a tablet? Is it a smartphone? There’s no reason that a device can’t be all 3. Unfortunately, we really don’t have the right operating system for that yet.
I remember a few months ago a similar concept was brought up by another phandroid member. I like the concept. Why have 2 different devices when you can just dock one into the other. Though until Google merges Honeycomb and Gingerbread into Icecream Sandwich I don’t see it happening. This will definitely work well for the iMaxiPad and iBrick since they both run the same OS.
4th quarter? I’d say they’ll be extremely late to the party. Sorry, the keg will be all foam by then.
The “brain in your pocket” concept is definitely the future; but, neither the hw or sw is ready for it… yet.
Well crap, I did technical drawing for this exact concept (no keyboard) about a month ago.I was going to submit for patent and everything. Next time I have a good idea I’m not wasting time tech is moving to fast to dawdle.
I wanted to patent this too after the Atrix concept was revealed. It was patented a long time ago by a couple of dudes in China.
Hi Jeremiah,
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There’s nothing stopping tablet owners from using their device as a phone. It’s somewhat unwieldy, but not nearly as much as this contraption.
This is basically microsoft’s strategy with their wp7 and Windows 8 running on arm processors. It’s great to see android get the drop on microsoft but unless they can step up their x86 offering, microsoft will keep the commanding market share with their cross platform support. Being an android fanboy I’ll run it till the day it’s no longer possible but would definitely want that day as far in the future as possible. :)
Brand isn’t exciting enough, software isn’t ready, Specs are not good enough for a Q4 2011 product, and the hardware design is just terrible. They’ll somehow screw up the pricing on it as well.
This is definitely the future of computing, but Compufon won’t be the one bringing it out.
Especially if they’re “…self funded and in negotiations for first round of investment.”.
THIS IS EXACTLY HOW ALL TABLETS SHOULD BE BUILT!! I hate caps, but god dammit, it was well deserved this time. This is the design I have been dreaming of for years.
Will this work for verizon?
The front-facing camera of the tablet part looks to me as if it’s just a hole in front of the phone one (which would be just as fine, really)
I’m sorry, this is ugly, that company is small time. I don’t think this will work, it’s a great idea, indefinitely. Galaxy SII should be treated with something similar to this… heh
this is exactly how the convergence that the atrix tried to do, should be done. why limit yourself to the clamshell of a netbook formfactor? going from phone to tablet and THEN adding a keyboard makes sense. the only way this could improve is if the tablet portion docked in to the keyboard portion like the asus transformer, offering even more battery life.
Three Cheers for risky innovation! Good for them, I hope it works well, and they make positive improvements.
good idea, but way fugly!!
I’d say round those corners off a bit but then Apple might come knocking. Great idea though, throw in the Atrix’s media dock and colour me interested.
This isn’t a new concept. Always Innovating has a version of this already available. It’s wifi only and not waiting on honeycomb…
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/products/smartbook.htm
anyone elese notice that that tablet is fatter than my grandmother?