Gizmondo Widescreen revealed

The Gizmondo Widescreen had been kept a secret, but Gizmondo Europe Ltd. announced the device after an unofficial prototype image was published. According to Gizmondo Europe Ltd the new widescreen device is part of an “ongoing product roadmap that currently includes plans for a number of different devices.”

Rather than replace the languishing Gizmondo, the new Gizmondo Widescreen is said to compliment the current handheld (soon to launch in North America). The new Gizmondo has a 4″ razor-sharp display and increased processing power and memory. The handheld will also be fully connected with WiFi, Bluetooth 2, and tri-band GSM technology.

Steve Carroll, CTO, Tiger Telematics, says: “We’re dramatically increasing the processor power to above 500MHz on this Widescreen model and significantly escalating the amount of memory. Although the 3D graphics accelerator used in the Gizmondo is the current best of breed, this next generation takes us visually into a new dimension.”

Gizmondo Widescreen specification:

ââ¬Ã‚¢ GSM voice telephony

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Handsfree speakerphone

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Voice control using voice recognition software

ââ¬Ã‚¢ LCD TFT screen 4.0″ 480 x 272 pixels

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Upgraded 3D graphics chip

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Analogue TV out

ââ¬Ã‚¢ 500MHz (min) processor

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Onboard RAM

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Onboard flash

ââ¬Ã‚¢ SD flash card reader, externally accessible

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Transflash card reader for user upgradeable flash memory

ââ¬Ã‚¢ GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900MHz or 850/1800/1900MHz tri-band

ââ¬Ã‚¢ USB 2.0 OTG

ââ¬Ã‚¢ High sensitivity GPS receiver with assist capability

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Two analogue joysticks

ââ¬Ã‚¢ 3.5 Ah Li-Ion ‘smart’ battery

ââ¬Ã‚¢ 2 mega pixel auto focus camera with LED flash

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Stereo speakers

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Bluetooth class 2

ââ¬Ã‚¢ WLAN 802.11b/g

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Wired stereo headset/mic

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Remote control pod for wired headset

Additional features:

ââ¬Ã‚¢ SMS/MMS/IM receive and send

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Email client

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Satellite Navigation

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Audio and video playback

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Vibration mode

ââ¬Ã‚¢ ‘Flight Mode’ – games operational but radio services switched off

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Approved for sale initially in USA followed by Europe

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Temperature range 0úC – 55úC

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Windows CE 5.0 operating system and DRM 10

ââ¬Ã‚¢ .NET compact framework 2.0

ââ¬Ã‚¢ SD card and Transflash interfaces

ââ¬Ã‚¢ USB OTG interface for synchronisation to a PC and connecting to a USB memory device

ââ¬Ã‚¢ MP3/WMA/HE-AAC audio playback, MPEG-4/H.264/WMV video playback with hardware acceleration

ââ¬Ã‚¢ High level 3D games

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Smart ADDsTM

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Downloadable screen 2D & 3D ‘skins’ for personalisation/market positioning

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Bluetooth support for telephony (Headset/Handsfree), gaming, stereo headset (AV)

The Gizmondo Widescreen will be fully backwards compatible with the Gizmondo, and will be on show at January’s Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas. While the technology sounds good, we can’t help but think that the handheld will suffer the same fate as the original Gizmondo. With two handhelds from major industry players already on the market, the Gizmondo (in whatever form) is always going to struggle.

The new handheld is scheduled for a quarter two 2006 release.