I've recently been in touch with mintpass, the Korean company behind the super cute and tiny mintpad, and have been told that the WinCE 5.0 Pro-based multimedia network device is currently being Anglicized for future launch in foreign markets.
The US is included in these plans and in fact, mintpass has already prepared a 64-page full English manual and 20-page product brochure (also in English). The company sent me both documents and after reading through them, I have to say that I'm really anxious to get my hands on the little guy (full specs here). Pricing hasn't been set for the American market yet, but considering that the device is selling for just 199,000 KRW (~$143) in Korea, it should be very reasonably priced for the US as well.
A firm launch schedule hasn't been planned yet either, but mintpass estimates that the Anglicization should be complete by late April/early May.
Here are some highlights and photos from the manual and brochure.
Mintpass is marketing the mintpad as "all you need" because of the amount of features it has:
- Memo – one of the core functions, vector-based memo engine, advanced technology that mimics the "same feeling of writing on paper," auto-save, detailed drawings
- Schedule – calendar, appointments, to do list
- Name Card – individual contact cards using photos taken with built-in camera
- Camera – still images (JPG) and video recording (AVI)
- Life – community feature, daily contests for mintpad users to enter
- Blog – community feature, create your own and view others' "mint blogs"
- Book Store – community feature, create and share content published as "books"
- Chatting – real-time memo exchange, chatrooms, WiFi and ad hoc connections
- Music – standard music functions (APE, FLAC, MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA)
- Video – internet streaming TV, standard video functions (DiVX, MPEG-4, WMV, XviD)
- Pictures – photo album, slideshow, up to 2048 x 2048 resolution
- Recording – voice recording (WMA)
- Internet – "high-speed full browsing with Flash support" (according to product brochure)
I have serious doubts about how enjoyable web browsing will be on a 2.86-inch screen, but for the expected price of the device, I don't think it matters. Build quality should be very good too since mintpass has roots in Reigncom/iriver.
While the memo feature allows users to write handwritten notes, other areas of the system require the use of an onscreen keyboard.
The mintpad ships with only a proprietary cable, stylus (storage slot on device), and quick start guide, but there are a handful of accessories available separately.
The best accessory is this cradle, which charges the mintpad and has a line-out port. Mintpass also offers silicone cases, an Easter-colored stylus set, a screen protector (by Pure Plate), and a spare standard battery (900mAh).
Anyone else looking forward to carrying something like this in their pocket? What's the maximum price you would pay?
Full specifications of the mintpass mintpad in the database.
I think I would spring maybe $150 for the device if they included the cradle. I would love to have a quick WIFI browser to check stuff on the web (email too) that is tiny enough to fit in my shirt pocket without much trouble. I think it’s Neat-O.
Here are some nice videos of the pad in action:
http://product.mintpass.co.kr/p_mp100_mov.asp
I’ve played with one of these here in Korea and, I must say, I thought it could be more responsive. Build quality was, of course, great. Touch experience was so-so. I could probably forgive that if they built in 3g, but limiting it to wifi can be a pain unless you’re always near a hotspot. If someone made a twitter client for this and it had built in 3g it would be very interesting.
keobuk2: in responsiveness, how did this compare to the latest smartphones? Any reason to carry this is one already has something like an HTC Touch Pro?
I’d pay $100-$150 for something like this.
I think I’d consider spending up to about $150 on it, but I agree that it would be nice if that included the dock. At that price its an interesting proposition, but I can’t think of what its actually for to justify getting one. Reminds me a bit of the Chumby.
I have been using a Mintpad since last November and have been extremely happy with it. I bought it from Korea when it launched. I have used many PDAs including Palm Pilot, Palm III, Sony Clie, and Dell Axim x50v and like the Mintpad best. I can carry it anywhere (this device is the tiniest of all), take pictures, and make memos. And I use this to watch live tv streaming services. Best $140 I have ever spent in my life (if you are not a PDA type person, you might not like it).
One more thing. This tiny device can play most video files without re-encoding. I love the Mintpad than the iPod touch just for this reason.
I’m Korean. I can write English a little.
I love Mintpad. It is cheaper than iPod Touch.
Even though Mintpad is the first product, but
there are 8 firmware by 2008/11/10.
I love Mintpad. If Mintpad come out in America,
buy Mintpad.!!!
hello
I have come from “with mintpass”cafe~~
hi. has anyone tried reading an e-book on this device? I’d be interested to know if it was a good experience?
The reading experience on this screen would probably be terrible. I’m not sold on the idea over all, either. I don’t think these features are good enough for me to add another gadget to carry around.
I had a chance to purchase one of these gadgets, but passed it up.
I were in Korea and the price at the time was 72$ they were selling them just inside the PX and said they had just came out. It was earlier this year 2009, or last Christmas time frame
The price appears to have gone up.