Update 8.26: Mystery Android MID identified as Rockchip concept
Update 8.23: More photos added below
I won't go so far as to say that the Android MID mystery has been solved, but a key piece of the puzzle has just fallen into place. The device still hasn't been positively identified (despite claims that it's the SMiT MID-560 and speculation that it's the new Archos slate or Apple tablet), but I do believe my tipster has tracked down the original source of all the images, including a few we've never seen before.
Though he may not necessarily be the person who actually took the photos, Twitpic user focus3G (whose "real" name is Vincent H) is the one who first posted them online. Some are even available in extremely high resolutions (3008 x 2000!), which makes it much more likely that they're the originals.
Now for the previously unknown forum where the images were first found. Considering that it's been over a week since the first set of pics were discovered and not a single person has claimed to have ever seen them before, you'd think that they'd be from some random forum that no one has ever heard of or that no one visits.
But no. According to my tipster, the photos were posted in a series of threads over at the Android section of the Cell Phone Forums. It's not the most well known forum on the internet, sure, but with nearly 10K users on the site as I'm typing this sentence, it's hardly obscure. The Android section isn't very active, though, so that's probably why it took so long to find.
In any case, Cell Phone Forums member wowshake joined the forum just last week and created three threads to show off the photos, which are all linked to focus3G's Twitpic page. He calls the device the Apple inetbook, the android iMid, and most recently the Android MID, which doesn't bode well for his credibility, but the pictures were put in the forum on the same days they were uploaded to Twitpic. Not all of the photos have their EXIF data available but based on the ones that do and some other factors, they appear to have all been taken on August 11th (the day wowshake joined the forum).
Assuming this is true, why didn't he post all of the pictures at once? Why put them out in batches on a forum that, according to the number of views each thread has had, isn't really interested in the device? And perhaps most curiously of all, why hasn't wowshake/focus3G/Vincent H raised his hand as the source? He clearly reads Engadget, who picked up the story not once but twice, so it's not like he's oblivious to what's going on.
Whatever the answers, I'm sure more photos of this mystery device will pop up again. And while it would be great to know more about what this MID is, at least we finally know where the images are from and most likely who took them.
Two of three ain't bad.
Update 8.23: More photos have just appeared.
Apple tablet: No because that’s a no-brainier, Apple will only run their own OS, c’mon it’s apple your talking about here.
SMiT MID-560: Maybe, but the “Android” logo at the bottom of the screen is missing, nothing big but good could take that to consideration.
Archos Android MID: No because Archos will use their custom status bar on top of the screen.(http://appslib.com/developers/index.html) you can see a demonstration pic on that page.
Whatever this device is,or what ever the specs are, the pics truly make this a highly desirable/considerable MID. I really want it.
I agree it’s not apple. But not with Archos smit. it may not display custom Archos/smit stuffs as of yet coz maybe it’s a work in progress.Maybe it’s a prototype.
The design kind of looks like something from Apple, and size could be the 6″ Tablet.
Could it be an HTC android based device?
Well…I don’t think the Smit rendering should be seen as much evidence that that is exactly what the Smit device will end up looking like (LED and larger surround etc). So I rekon it is a possibility although
I think the styling is just too applesque to be archos and to much of a deviation (Style wise) from the rest of their product lines. Saying that though it is also still a possibility as spec wis eit does fit the bill (5 inch probably 800×480 etc)
I still think that there certainly is a possibility that it is based on Rockchip’s new 720p android capable chipset the RK2808 as speculated in the imp3.net article I posted on the first post. Also the appleesque styling could suggest a Chinese manufacturer, although the ultra slim profile does suggest a larger western or korean/eastern manufacturer.
I am sure the manufacture is reading here (or any other producer of such MID)…….
So guys: Bring this stuff to the market, please !
OK, the people at this forum are loosing the great fun of speculating where al this stuff comes from. (-: Sorry for that (-;
BTW: Producer Do not forget that the Ipod Touch is some kind of MID. (WIFI, Browser, Mail) And if someone will be able to run a tethering Mobile Phone – ipodtouch via bluetooth, You might be to late!!
I hope this comes to market for the Christmas season. This would sell like crazy!
I am really amazed that some people would think that it might be an Apple Tablet. Why the hell will Apple use Android? Common man, A little common sense won’t hurt.
Because it looks like an gigant iPhone with an glassfront indicates an capacitive touchscreen?
Believe me, if somebody else as Apple than bring out this device there lawyers will jump on them because of the to simular iPhone-design.
And finally, I wouldn’t take that “Android”-Screenshot to seriously, every computerlike device can display jpg’s on there screens.
Apple….
maybe. Apple uses standard Hardware. And Android is developed for many platforms.
BUT: Why is there such a quietness in the macscene about this ???
All the rumors for the apple tablet were 9″ screen < and take a look at this it’s like 4.5″ to 5.0″. It’s barely half the size of the Vaio P’s keyboard. I mean apple will design a real tablet that will compete with netbooks, that’s the whole point of the “tablet” in the first place.
Just bcoz it looks like an Apple design we have to assume it’s an Apple product. If U look at all the touchscreen phone right now, All of it resembles an Iphone including icons.
Now, Just to justify the fact that it may be an Apple tablet, Ur saying that it maybe an Android JPG on top of OSX.
This is very simple. If somebody leak a photo of an Apple tablet, The last thing he wanna do is incorporate any other competitor OS on the photo.
R u saying that it maybe an Apple product then somebody install an Android? This is getting ridiculous. I think this topic is invaded by fanboys. Apples tablet never seen the light of day yet and somebody modified it already. Just for the simple reason”It might be an Apple tablet”.
hahaha, I can’t believe that people are even thinking for 1 second that this could be made by apple. That’s actually hilarious! Where do people come up with these ideas? No offense but use your common sense…
jethro_static !
I just said that it is possible in the lab to run something else than apple software on apple hardware.
http://linuxoniphone.blogspot.com/2008/11/linux-on-iphone.html
AND I said there is a quietness on the apple scene.
(That in fact means, this MID is not apple, otherwise these guys from Macrumors etc. would have published it.)
On the end of the day you can say. Who cares who made this – because this device with this design will never come out (if its not a Aplle device). You wana bet? Okay, maybe in China… but Apple have seen this pictures as well…
this mid is an archos 5 sold since october 2008 it’s a 60GB hard disc memory (or more ) with wifi and touchscreen
I did not disagree with U about Apple hardware running other OS’s. My point is that we’re on the stage where somebody is promoting a new product by leaking a photo. If that somebody wants to promote something, He will show what is in it and not hide the real content of his product. In this case, It’s Android. So I’m saying that eliminate the Apple posibilities right now.
I apologize if I sound harsh.
Hi,
don’t worry. You are right.
Best regards
And the winner is!!!! Sere83 !!! congrats. U got the best answer!
Looks great. Really cool Display, i like it.
I heard that when Apple has a product designed they will:
-develop the hardware without the Apple software
-develop the software without the actual hardare
On another site we have seen the Apple OS on a developer PC.
Here we have the Apple hardware with a developer software.
Combine them both you have the apple mini tablet.
Not the full sized OSX tablet.
I don’t care WHO makes it; it’s the sweetest, sexiest, most desirable eye-candy I’ve seen since the iPod Touch came out!