A proof that in the wonderful world of technology, less always seem more.
The Galaxy SII or S2 Android smartphone is already impressive in its own right, bearing impressively powerful internals in such a skinny 8.5 millimeter thin chassis is something that can make even Albert Einstein scratch his own head.
Samsung has done something pretty good but, what if a bunch of geniuses at FXI Technologies decide to create an Android-based PC that possesses twice the Galaxy S2′s processing prowess inside a package that’s just as small as your current USB card reader? Will it be enough to make the genius among the geniuses pull their hair out? Not really, but there’s no denying that it’s kinda cool and downright clever.
The aim of FXI (a Norway-based hardware and software company) with developing the prototype Cotton Candy (‘PC-in-a-USB-stick’ as we call it) is to basically drive down the cost of personal computing and to increase convenience in accessing files from cloud-based services – all without having to encounter compatibility problems, issues with mobility and excessive power consumption.
The Cotton Candy sports the same ARM-based Exynos application processor used in the Samsung GS2, same Mali 400MP mobile GPU (that can process 30M Polygons, 1.2 GPixels/s) but with twice the amount of Cortex-A9 processor cores (four) rated @1.2GHz and same 1GB worth of RAM. Despite its minuscule size, it’s worth noting that FXI was able to equip the stick PC with the most commonly used wireless radio connectivity tech, there’s WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR (Enhanced Data Rate). Also, the mighty little thing has a USB 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 output (both which are in male form factor) and can support up to 64GB worth of flash memory with the help of the built-in Micro SD card slot.
Since the device runs Android OS (the prototype currently runs Android 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’ as of now) right out of the box, you can gain access to thousands of apps from the Android Market and expect excellent support for a plethora of audio and video formats with an added advantage to use third-party codecs should the need comes into play. The device also has an embedded virtualization client for Windows, Linux and Mac-based computers/devices so it can instantly show you a full-screen desktop view of the mobile OS’s UI. According to FXI the ARM-based hardware can run Ubuntu Linux and that future versions should be able to run the ARM version of Windows 8. Future versions of the device will have a USB 3 connector and faster processors to further keep up with the consumers’ demand for performance and future compatibility with other mobile platforms.
Once the device is plugged into a computer or an independently powered USB hub (which will require you to connect a separate display, mouse and keyboard to be able to completely use the device), the virtualization software kicks in quickly and you’ll see the familiar environment of the Android platform whichever display you connect it to. Because of the embedded virtualization solution, you can still gain control of your laptop by treating the Cotton Candy’s user interface just as you would with any other virtualization software that you have tried before. According to FXI, Android application developers can take advantage of this feature to preview the apps currently being developed on a laptop screen while managing codes on an external display that’s connected on the device’s HDMI output.
Being a full-fledged computer packed in the size of a USB WiFi adapter, you’ll be able to transform just about any LCD display in your home into a Smart TV courtesy of the Android OS and its support for numerous set-top boxes.
There’s a lot of potential use for such a tiny device that’ll cost no more than $200 in the near future.
This report was originally posted on PopHerald.com as Samsung Galaxy S2: What if? , under Gadgets and Mobile Category. Source: FXI Technologies
Search for more Galaxy S II and Android articles:
Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S2: Specs and features
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The Galaxy SII or S2 Android smartphone is already impressive in its own right, bearing impressively powerful internals in such a skinny 8.5 millimeter thin chassis is something that can make even Albert Einstein scratch his own head.
Samsung has done something pretty good but, what if a bunch of geniuses at FXI Technologies decide to create an Android-based PC that possesses twice the Galaxy S2′s processing prowess inside a package that’s just as small as your current USB card reader? Will it be enough to make the genius among the geniuses pull their hair out? Not really, but there’s no denying that it’s kinda cool and downright clever.
The aim of FXI (a Norway-based hardware and software company) with developing the prototype Cotton Candy (‘PC-in-a-USB-stick’ as we call it) is to basically drive down the cost of personal computing and to increase convenience in accessing files from cloud-based services – all without having to encounter compatibility problems, issues with mobility and excessive power consumption.
The Cotton Candy sports the same ARM-based Exynos application processor used in the Samsung GS2, same Mali 400MP mobile GPU (that can process 30M Polygons, 1.2 GPixels/s) but with twice the amount of Cortex-A9 processor cores (four) rated @1.2GHz and same 1GB worth of RAM. Despite its minuscule size, it’s worth noting that FXI was able to equip the stick PC with the most commonly used wireless radio connectivity tech, there’s WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR (Enhanced Data Rate). Also, the mighty little thing has a USB 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 output (both which are in male form factor) and can support up to 64GB worth of flash memory with the help of the built-in Micro SD card slot.
Since the device runs Android OS (the prototype currently runs Android 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’ as of now) right out of the box, you can gain access to thousands of apps from the Android Market and expect excellent support for a plethora of audio and video formats with an added advantage to use third-party codecs should the need comes into play. The device also has an embedded virtualization client for Windows, Linux and Mac-based computers/devices so it can instantly show you a full-screen desktop view of the mobile OS’s UI. According to FXI the ARM-based hardware can run Ubuntu Linux and that future versions should be able to run the ARM version of Windows 8. Future versions of the device will have a USB 3 connector and faster processors to further keep up with the consumers’ demand for performance and future compatibility with other mobile platforms.
Once the device is plugged into a computer or an independently powered USB hub (which will require you to connect a separate display, mouse and keyboard to be able to completely use the device), the virtualization software kicks in quickly and you’ll see the familiar environment of the Android platform whichever display you connect it to. Because of the embedded virtualization solution, you can still gain control of your laptop by treating the Cotton Candy’s user interface just as you would with any other virtualization software that you have tried before. According to FXI, Android application developers can take advantage of this feature to preview the apps currently being developed on a laptop screen while managing codes on an external display that’s connected on the device’s HDMI output.
Being a full-fledged computer packed in the size of a USB WiFi adapter, you’ll be able to transform just about any LCD display in your home into a Smart TV courtesy of the Android OS and its support for numerous set-top boxes.
There’s a lot of potential use for such a tiny device that’ll cost no more than $200 in the near future.
This report was originally posted on PopHerald.com as Samsung Galaxy S2: What if? , under Gadgets and Mobile Category. Source: FXI Technologies
Search for more Galaxy S II and Android articles:
Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S2: Specs and features
Samsung Galaxy S2 (S II) hits 10 million
Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S2?
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