Gizmodo: vega

Sleek Vega Tablet with Android 2.0, Touchscreen, and 3G Arrives Next Year

Danny Allen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:36:46 EST

I'm psyched to see Android moving into tablets. Some of the first will be from Innovative Converged Devices (ICD), who say their Tegra-powered 7-, 11-, and 15-inch tablets will arrive through "tier one" carriers in the first half of 2010.

I hadn't heard of ICD before, either: they're actually based in the UK and Seattle. They say the Vega tablets are intended to be low cost, so it looks like some carrier subsidies may be in store, too.

The largest model has a 15.6-inch resistive screen (grr) that supports a resolution of 1366 x 768. It'll have a Tegra processor, 512MB DDR DRAM, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi (no N), and Bluetooth 2.1. The built-in 512MB NAND Flash storage can be expanded via MicroSD cards. It's expected this mode will weigh about 45 ounces and have a battery life of around 4 hours.

The 15-inch Vega also looks pretty similar to the stylish reference Tegra tablet that we spotted Nvidia's chief with earlier in the week. The good news is we'll be able to get a closer look at it come CES time in January. [Innovative Converged Devices]

ESA Reveals Next-Gen Reentry Pod, Makes NASA's Plans Look Kinda Low-Tech

Kit Eaton — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:45:00 EST

This is ESA's video unveiling of its Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, a test-bed for a next-generation reentry pod. The IXV is due to rocket aloft on Europe's new small Vega launcher in 2012 and test out a range of systems for a "proper" future vehicle. Ditching the simplicity and limitations of the now old-fashioned conical-pod-with-heat-shield design, it's a lifting-body shape with a thermal protection system somewhat like the Shuttle's. The wingless pod is steered by aerodynamic body flaps with reaction jets as backup and for orbital maneuvers, and when it's low and slow enough it'll pop a 'chute and plop into the Pacific. And it'll do it all autonomously. Clever stuff. [ESA via Slashdot]

Microworks Vega: 20.1 Inches of Laptop Gigantism

Charlie White — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:24:15 EST

When only the best and most outrageously-equipped laptop will do, check out the Microworks Vega with a 20.1 inch screen and the latest AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 CPU. Besides its absurdly large screen, you can equip it with just about anything available on notebooks, including a Blu-ray burner, EV-DO, GPS, a TV tuner, a couple of hard drives totaling 600GB of storage, and connectivity to just about everything except HDMI.

The base configuration doesn't give you much of a sticker shock at $3599, but if you load it with everything under the sun, you'll be $7800 poorer. Looks like a great laptop, but just don't try using it on an airplane unless you're sitting in First Class. – Charlie White

Product Page [Microworks Corporation, via BornRich]

The Vega Revealed: A UMPC-Like Device That Runs Windows XP

Jason Chen — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 15:11:23 EDT

That mystery Korean UMPC we showed you a few weeks back has just been de-mystified. It's called the Vega, and runs the full-blown Windows XP Operating System on it. Best yet, it costs about 700,000 Won ($700).

The UMPC-like device has an AMD Geode LX800 CPU, Windows XP Home (bleh), 256MB of RAM, a 30GB hard disk, WiFi, USB, a 4.3-inch LCD, GPS connector, and USB connectors for a keyboard and TV over DMB. It's available in September in Korea, so UMPC fans—all 58 of you—may want to wait and check this out when a full announcement comes August 10th. Maybe this non-UMPC UMPC will perform better than the ones we've reviewed. – Jason Chen

Vega (Korean) [AVING via Navigadget via Carrypad]

New UMPC From Korea?

Jason Chen — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 12:31:22 EDT

Mobility Today found a picture from an anonymous Korean tipster that seems to show a corner of a UMPC-like device. Is it an UMPC? Why does the picture say Windows XP? What's the deal with "Pocket PC Vega" too? Weird.

It's going to be running an AMD Geode LX800 and have 256MB of RAM. August 10, the date on the picture, should be when this thing is revealed to the world. And, because it's from a Korean site, it's probably doubtful this thing will make it to the States, even if the possible $700 price tag makes it much more affordable than current UMPCs. – Jason Chen

Is this the first UMPC under $700?? [Mobility Today]