| Revision as of 05:59, 23 July 2013 editRotlink (talk | contribs)4,225 editsm linuxdevices.com is dead← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:47, 14 January 2014 edit undoComp.arch (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users40,363 edits 6 or 7 USB port? CopyedtitingNext edit → | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| | manufacturer = Always Innovating | | manufacturer = Always Innovating | ||
| | type = ] / ] / ] | | type = ] / ] / ] | ||
| | os = Fork of ] (]) / ] / ] | | os = ] of ] (]) / ] / ] | ||
| | cpu = Overclocked 720 MHz ] and 420 |
| cpu = Overclocked 720 MHz ] (]) and 420 MHz DSP core, NEON support<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| | ram = |
| ram = 512 MB low power ]-333 | ||
| | storage = ] slot with |
| storage = ] slot with 8 GB ], 256 MB internal ] | ||
| | connectivity = ], |
| connectivity = ], 7× ] ports, ] | ||
| | input = touchscreen, keyboard, touchpad |
| input = touchscreen, keyboard, touchpad and supports any external USB input device | ||
| | website = | | website = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
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| == Technical specifications == | == Technical specifications == | ||
| * ] 600 MHz (overclocked to 720 MHz) Cortex-A8 superscalar microprocessor core: Texas Instruments ] System-on-Chip<ref name="ai_specs">{{cite web|url=http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/index.php/Touch_Book_specs |title=Touch Book specifications |publisher=Always Innovating}}</ref> | * ] 600 MHz (overclocked to 720 MHz) Cortex-A8 superscalar microprocessor core: Texas Instruments ] System-on-Chip<ref name="ai_specs">{{cite web|url=http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/index.php/Touch_Book_specs |title=Touch Book specifications |publisher=Always Innovating}}</ref> | ||
| * |
* 512 MB DDR-333 SDRAM<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * |
* 256 MB NAND FLASH memory<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * DSP Core video processor at 430 MHz | * DSP Core video processor at 430 MHz | ||
| * OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
| * Integrated ] 2.0<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * Integrated ] 2.0<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * 1024x600 resolution touchscreen LCD, 8.9" widescreen, 16.7 million colors<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * 1024x600 resolution touchscreen LCD, 8.9" widescreen, 16.7 million colors<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * ] card slot (currently supporting up to |
* ] card slot (currently supporting up to 32 ] of storage)<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * Headphone output, |
* Headphone output, microphone input<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * Standard QWERTY keyboard and touchpad<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * Standard QWERTY keyboard and touchpad<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * ] port (480Mbit/s)<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * ] port (480Mbit/s)<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * |
* 6× USB 2.0 host ports (480 Mbit/s)<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * JTAG debugging interface<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * JTAG debugging interface<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * Runs the ] (2.6.x)<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * Runs the ] (2.6.x)<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
| * Estimated 10+ hour battery life for video and general applications<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * Estimated 10+ hour battery life for video and general applications<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * Detachable magnet system for the tablet<ref name="ai_specs" /> | * Detachable magnet system for the tablet<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * Dimensions: |
* Dimensions: 248 mm × 158 mm × 19 mm for the tablet, 248 mm × 180 mm × 33.5 mm for the full netbook<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| * Mass: |
* Mass: 675 g for the Tablet; 1,418 g for the full netbook<ref name="ai_specs" /> | ||
| == Similar products == | == Similar products == | ||
Revision as of 18:47, 14 January 2014
 | This article may be unbalanced toward certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (March 2011) |
 Always Innovating Touch Book | |
| Manufacturer | Always Innovating |
|---|---|
| Type | NetBook / Smartbook / UMPC |
| Operating system | Fork of Ångström (Linux) / Ubuntu / Android |
| CPU | Overclocked 720 MHz OMAP3530 ARM Cortex-A8 (32-bit) and 420 MHz DSP core, NEON support |
| Storage | SDHC slot with 8 GB SD card, 256 MB internal NAND |
| Input | touchscreen, keyboard, touchpad and supports any external USB input device |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 7× USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth |
| Website | www.alwaysinnovating.com |
The Touch Book is a portable computing device that functions as a netbook, and also as a tablet. Designed by Always Innovating, it was launched at the DEMO conference in March 2009. Its designers stated at launch that it is the first netbook featuring a detachable keyboard with a long battery life (more than 10 hours). It is based on the ARM TI OMAP3530 processor (taking advantage of the Beagleboard and existing open source software) and features a touchscreen.
First units to customers were shipped on August 2009. There were some (expected) software issues for early adopters, which are being progressively addressed. There were also some hardware issues, which resulted in community discontent.
After much speculation on the community forum, a revised v.2 Touch Book and new Smart Book product were announced. The Smart Book is based on the BeagleBoard-xM design.
Overview
The Touch Book is a netbook and a touch tablet device. It features a detachable keyboard, a removable back cover to access the electronics of the device, and several Linux distributions shipped by default and offered via a multiboot system.
The default operating system launched is a custom Linux OS based on Ångström, being custom themed to fit the small form factor. Since 2010, the Touch Book comes with a multi-boot graphical interface, allowing users to run also Ubuntu and Android. Users can install other OSes like Gentoo and RISC OS.
Touch Book's major intended uses are media viewing and web browsing, although more power-hungry applications such as OpenOffice.org are available on the device. The Touch Book ships standard graphics libraries such as OpenGL ES and SDL.
The Always Innovating team claims the device follows an open hardware philosophy, so that anyone can access the hardware design from the company's website, modify it and redistribute it. Although the business model of open hardware is still maturing, it seems to be profitable to the company
In addition to this open hardware approach, the Touch Book fully relies on open source software. A Git repository of the entire OS is currently available, allowing for download of the latest kernel source as well as the different root file systems. A community of contributors has emerged and is interacting with the Always Innovating developers.
Technical specifications
- ARM 600 MHz (overclocked to 720 MHz) Cortex-A8 superscalar microprocessor core: Texas Instruments OMAP3530 System-on-Chip
- 512 MB DDR-333 SDRAM
- 256 MB NAND FLASH memory
- DSP Core video processor at 430 MHz
- OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant
- Freescale-based 3D accelerometer
- Integrated Ralink-based Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
- Integrated Bluetooth 2.0
- 1024x600 resolution touchscreen LCD, 8.9" widescreen, 16.7 million colors
- SDHC card slot (currently supporting up to 32 GB of storage)
- Headphone output, microphone input
- Standard QWERTY keyboard and touchpad
- USB 2.0 OTG port (480Mbit/s)
- 6× USB 2.0 host ports (480 Mbit/s)
- JTAG debugging interface
- Runs the Linux kernel (2.6.x)
- Dual 12000mAh + 6000mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery
- Estimated 10+ hour battery life for video and general applications
- Detachable magnet system for the tablet
- Dimensions: 248 mm × 158 mm × 19 mm for the tablet, 248 mm × 180 mm × 33.5 mm for the full netbook
- Mass: 675 g for the Tablet; 1,418 g for the full netbook
Similar products
Other single-board computers using OMAP3500 series processors include OSWALD, Beagle Board, IGEPv2, Pandora and Gumstix Overo series. Since launch of the device in March 2009, several similar devices have come up in early 2010, such as the Freescale tablet reference design or the Lenovo U1 IdeaPad.
References
- ^ "Touch Book specifications". Always Innovating.
- "Launch of the Touch Book at DEMO '09". Demo.com.
- "Official Always Innovating Site". Always Innovating.
- "IRC Log for 2009-08-23". alwaysinnovating.com.
- "AI official forum: Hardware " Touch Book". alwaysinnovating.com.
- "AI news - Tue September 14, 2010: Announcing the Smart Book". alwaysinnovating.com.
- "It's a MID, a tablet, a netbook, even an external display!". linuxfordevices.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04.
- "Gentoo on the Touch Book". Disi.me.
- "RISC OS on Touchbook first steps". riscos.info.
- "Always Innovating Open Hardware". Always Innovating.
- "Open Hardware takes baby steps toward the gadget mainstream". Computerworld.com.
- "Always Innovating open git repository". Always Innovating.
- "Touch Book contributors". Always Innovating.
External links
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