Commodore clone - Android PC-In-A-Keyboard

[enki_ck]

http://www.tomshardware.c...Cream-Sandwich,21226.html

I was just reading this article and find the product has potential.

Earlier this month, FocusWill Information Technology introduced a device that takes the HDMI-based PC-on-a-stick concept to the next level. Even more, it seems to take note of Commodore's achievements, cramming PC components into a keyboard to create an all-in-one device that connects directly to an HDTV or VGA-based panel. It's called the CoolShip, and it's based on Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" and a Rockchip dual-core SoC.
"In the past years, we have seen a growing demand for All-in-one PC," the company said. "Now the Android OS and its numerous applications have been able to meet the needs of most home computer users, so why not make an android desktop computer for home users? Elderly or children do not necessarily need to be equipped with high-end PC -- the main point is to have their own computer with free software that can be used indefinitely."
According to the spec list, the Android keyboard PC features a Rockchip RK3066 SoC packed with two ARM Cortex-A9 cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and four Mali 400 GPU cores clocked at 250 MHz. The device also has 1 GB of DDR3 RAM, 4 GB of internal storage (8 GB is optional), Wireless N connectivity, Ethernet, two 7-watt speakers, and a touchpad.
The CoolShip keyboard PC also sports several I/O ports including two USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI output, an SD card slot, and an earphone jack. There's also a built-in 300mAh Li-battery to protect the Android OS in case of power failure or outage. The OS itself is actually a customized (possibly forked) version of Android called CoolShip OS that mimics the Windows platform.
The keyboard itself is a 104 standard QWERTY ergonomic form factor with number keys and customized OS functional "chocolate" keys. Even more, the socket-type motherboard design allows users to easily upgrade or repair the keyboard computer on their own using a simple screwdriver.
"The CoolShip comes from a low-carbon environmental design philosophy," the company said. "It is a hard/software upgradable, energy-saving desktop computer. We opened a small hatch at the back of the casing. With the next generation core board from us, users can easily upgrade the computer by themselves only with a screwdriver in 2 minutes. It will only require a replacement of a palm-sized core board without generating other additional e-waste. The CoolShip is one of the most power efficient computers with a power consumption of less than 10.5 Watts, which is one fifteenth of a traditional desktop PC."
Given the device uses a customized Android OS, users will still have access to Google services like Google Play, Google Docs, Google Chrome and more. That probably means Android may have been decorated with a custom home screen launcher to keep Google in the picture (unlike Amazon).
FocusWill currently has the gadget listed over on Indiegogo, looking to raise $10,000 USD in the next 24 days. Backers contributing $89 get the Starter Package which only includes the base keyboard PC itself. The $100 package consists of the keyboard PC plus a 16 GB SD card, whereas the $199 package also cranks up the internal storage to 8 GB. The $139 "Luxury" package throws in a USB mouse in addition to everything offered in the previous packages.
Consumers looking for something low-dollar to connect to an HDTV as a makeshift HTPC may want to keep an eye on this gadget. So far there is nearly $4000 pledged towards the $10,000 goal, and the company is looking to ship the product in April.

What do you guys think?

[PTRSAK]

:...and the company is looking to ship the product in April."   Vaporware alert...

Nah,  looks good if it comes off. But if it ever gets downunder it will be FIVE hundred dollars, not one.

[AimlessWanderer]

It'd be a neat idea if the dirty rotten skanking smurfs at Google weren't involved in it 

[Whoey]

I'm actually surprised this doesn't already exist. The hardware that runs in a lot of android devices is very cheap and accessible. Rather than have a little android box with a usb keyboard, just integrate it all into one... makes sense... I would aim for a keyboard with a trackpad though like a laptop, and since there's probably a lot more room than those android cubes, throw in user upgradeable ram/storage.

On a side note, all the connections are labelled upside down... and I haven't seen a headphone jack labelled "earphone" in many many years... kinda nostalgic in a way like the old hand radios that had a single in ear mono "earphone"...

[bmot]

Looks okay to me... Bit unpractical that the 'earphone' port is on the back, though...

[Whoey]

Thinking about it a bit more, I'd rather have an android cube attached to the back of my TV, and a wireless/bluetooth keyboard/mouse... in today's age, there's nothing worse than having cables running all over the place. While an all in one like this may help people on limited budgets... I don't think it's better. In my living room for example, this would have to sit on my coffee table, and the path between my tv and coffee table is a main thoroughfare in my house... cables would complicate life a lot. I've seen a fair number of android boxes for around the 100 euro mark... wireless keyboard kits can be had very cheap if you don't mind off brand... I think the only real novel part is to emulate a windows OS... otherwise it's pretty much a knife to a gun fight

[jekostas]

On a side note, all the connections are labelled upside down... and I haven't seen a headphone jack labelled "earphone" in many many years... kinda nostalgic in a way like the old hand radios that had a single in ear mono "earphone"...

Actually, that impressed me because it makes quite a bit of sense.  If you were plugging things in to the back of a keyboard, how would you do it?  Likely you'd tip the top of the keyboard towards you, and then the labels would be oriented correctly.

Nice little attention to detail.

[enki_ck]

On a side note, all the connections are labelled upside down... and I haven't seen a headphone jack labelled "earphone" in many many years... kinda nostalgic in a way like the old hand radios that had a single in ear mono "earphone"...

Actually, that impressed me because it makes quite a bit of sense.  If you were plugging things in to the back of a keyboard, how would you do it?  Likely you'd tip the top of the keyboard towards you, and then the labels would be oriented correctly.

Nice little attention to detail.

Agree, makes sense.

[Whoey]

indeed, but see my cable issues... I think a box with wireless peripherals is a better options these days.

[jekostas]

indeed, but see my cable issues... I think a box with wireless peripherals is a better options these days.

Well, I don't necessarily disagree but tiny desktop box PCs exist, using essentially what are netbook motherboard/CPU combos.  The designers probably wanted to go in a different direction. 

Honestly, I quite like the idea that this product represents, but I'd want to see the "desktop" skin that's included.  The Android OS really is meant for touchscreen usage, not monitors.

[PTRSAK]

I've got a Raspberry Pi sitting there waiting to be used in some project. I should search up an old big chunky keyboard with room in the case to fit the board....

[Grant Lamontagne]

I keep looking at a Raspberry Pi but I really don't have a need for it.  I love the concept.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[Crouton]

I have a Pi.  It's a great little device.  They come in 256Mb and 512Mb flavors.  It can be used to boot to a perfectly usable Linux GUI, and Minecraft is free for it.  http://pi.minecraft.net/

I bought the Pi and an Arduino to start playing with low cost microcontrollers.

[Whoey]

I really should get myself a Raspberry Pi... it would be fun to play around with. They are now making a branch of Openelec for them... so it's a good alternative if you want to have a mediaplayer for your TV and your TV doesn't already have internet features built in.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Low cost microcontrollers..... dabbling in some robotics are we? 

I was a big fan of the initial OLPC program but I think this goes much further.  Whether I use of for anything specific or not I think I'll get one just to support the process.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[PTRSAK]

As well as the Pi   I've also got a couple of Arduinos.  I was playing around with Quad Copters and got the gear to build a miltiWii controller, but before I got around to it they had low cost commercial ones out... 

The Arduino nano is so cool... postage stamp sized.  I gotta do something with that thing.

[enki_ck]

Uuu, tins thread is getting more interesting by the post. Love those Pi's. I see adafruit has some interesting addons and enclosures for them.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Want to see something really cool?

http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/13/supercomputer-built-from-raspberry-pi-and-lego/

Raspberry Pi + Lego = household supercomputer!

How sweet is that?

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Lynn LeFey]

Ah, Cramaflange!

I have been staring at the Raspberry Pi for months now.

Me: 'Waaaaaannnnntttt'
Hubby: 'What would you even do with that thing once you had it?'
Me: 'Emmmm?'
Hubby: 'Exactly. No, you can't have it.'

Now... NOW you guys got me thinking about it again. You are all bad and should feel bad!

[Whoey]

but that's the great thing about a Pi, they're not bank breaking toys...

[ironraven]

Hubby: 'What would you even do with that thing once you had it?'
Me: 'Emmmm?'
Hubby: 'Exactly. No, you can't have it.'

NOOO! Tell him that it's a secret and you also need five gallons of lemons and a duck and some duct tape, but when you're done taking over the world, he can have New Zealand as a man-cave.

I've been looking at one, I've got several ideas. And then I realized I've gotten rusty...

[nuphoria]

Toys are fun!

I wouldn't know what I wanted it for straight away either, but I'd still want it.

Very much enjoying my first foray into Android this week with my new Nexus 7

[Grant Lamontagne]

The neat thing about getting a Raspberry Pi, whatever you may or may not use it for (WARNING- ENABLING MOMENT) is that every one that is sold makes the production of them that much cheaper.  Making them cheaper helps all of us, but also makes them that much more accessible to the third world which is what they were initially designed for.  More of them across Africa and Asia will help more children learn to read and communicate, making a better tomorrow for everyone.

So there, the fate of mankind depends on everyone here buying one (or more) even though the vast majority of them are likely to be used to promote scams and spam.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[AimlessWanderer]

Well, until this thread I had never heard of a Raspberry Pi, and I have no reason whatsoever (despite Def's last post  ) to ever buy one

Maybe when someone has finished building it into whatever it's meant to become ....  .... until then it seems like buying a remote control for the telly, but then having to build a telly for it to work on 

[Grant Lamontagne]

That's funny Al, I would have thought this would appeal to you very much.  Basically it is an entire computer that is about the size of a pack of cigarettes. The possibilities with it are endless when you want full computer power in limited space- say putting smart features in a boat.  One could access some online streaming, control the power, lights etc from a small touchscreen, or add a Bluetooth controller and theoretically you could control functions of the boat from your smartphone or even with voice command.

And, at $25, plus the cost of whatever controller/software you may want to add, it's not like it would cost a huge amount to do it, although I'm sure someone would pay a fortune to have those features...

Def