Review: W1060 7-inch MID by WireLession

[hIGGI]

Originally Posted by Dvalin21

Does anyone know if it was ever possible to flash WinCe onto the Q7/V7 (that is not doing dual boot but completely replacing the linux os on there with WinCe)?

http://www.jiongtang.com/blog/html/s...n-smartq5.html

[Nation.A.List]

Originally Posted by hIGGI

http://www.jiongtang.com/blog/html/s...n-smartq5.html

That thread is about a SD Card based version, Dvalin21 is looking for a flashable version (that doesn't yet exist)

[MobileXT]

Here is the link of the Apple Tablet that will launch very soom. Please take a look very nice.
http://gizmodo.com/5434566/the-exhau...yline=true&s=x

[kathy6699]

A81 Remote Desktop operation steps

1. Log in the computer as the administrator, set up the account password.(No Empty)2
Start—Control Panel—User account—Set up the account password.
（Notes: If you set up a new computer account user name, make sure it is set to be the
administrator account.）

2. Open your computer's Remote Assistance feature
My computer—Property-Remote-Remote desktop.√before the choice: Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.

3. Download CETSC file from our official website http://www.witstech.com.cn/en/download.asp to the TF card. Insert it to A81, start the device.
My device—Storage card—cetsc click twice the Cetsc.exe, Enter the desired remote computer's IP in the Input box, as following picture 1.

4. Click Connect, enter the administrator account name and password. As following picture 2

5. Click OK The process is over. Remote desktop connection is ok. As following picture3


Notes: If the steps above correctly, can not connect. Please turn off your computer firewall. To
re-operate again.
Control Panel - Security Center-Windows Firewall - checked off.

[Simyager]

I have a question for Kathy6699:

Is there a Debian/Ubuntu port available for the A81/W1060? And is it also possible to make your own ARM port of Debian/Ubuntu to put on the device?

I know there is Android, but I would like to have a terminal and the same software I use on my pc. I know not all the software is available but as far as I know all the simple ones(that I use) are there for ARM.

I ask since A81/W1060 has a way better performance/price ratio than SmartQ 7/V7 and includes(read: has optional) GPS.

Another quick question: Does the A81/W1060 support 3G dongles?

That would be awesome.

[hIGGI]

afaik, there is no Android for it yet...

[kathy6699]

Originally Posted by Simyager

I have a question for Kathy6699:

Is there a Debian/Ubuntu port available for the A81/W1060? And is it also possible to make your own ARM port of Debian/Ubuntu to put on the device?


I ask since A81/W1060 has a way better performance/price ratio than SmartQ 7/V7 and includes(read: has optional) GPS.

Another quick question: Does the A81/W1060 support 3G dongles?

That would be awesome.

Dear Simyager:

I have been working on documents preparations for our domestic market these days.So don't log in here for a long time.Sorry for the delay.As you asked:

1.Debian/Ubuntu has always been the direction of our efforts this period.But there is no exact time when all the problems can be resolved.If it comes out,I will inform you here.Keep in touch.

3.We don't release our A81 based on Android yet.But it is on the schdule of the R&D Team.No later than March next year 2010.

4. A81 new Sample price: $210
>10pcs resonable discount.

5.A81 can be connected to 3G dongle .Now we have one in stock just
$44/pc You can have a look at the picture here:
http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_...85371a286c.htm

Any other question will be welcome!
kathy@witstech.com.cn

Regards
Kathy

[/.ryd]

I'm thinking of getting this unit for three primary uses: eBook reading; comic reading and viewing video files.
From your review, it sounds like this unit will suit my needs quite nicely, however I have a couple of questions, if you'd be so kind. (these may be a bit noobish, but I'm new to the whole MID/eBook reader thing).
1) For reading eBooks and comics, what are the controls for page turning and resizing with this unit and/or the applications you recommended? Are they a touch screen click, or a swipe/pinch whatever?
2) For viewing video files, can the files be streamed from a NAS over wi-fi, or do I need to transfer them locally first?
3) Not that it's a big deal, but I see this unit has an optional GPS feature, but your review didn't mention this function. Does your demo unit have this and, if so, what is the software for that like. (I don't see myself having much need for it, but it's a cheap extra, so I figure I'll probably get it installed. So I'm just wondering what it's like.)

Cheers.
Great review, by the way. Very helpful.

[nonanon]

@/.ryd I'll tell you my experience with the A81/W1060. As an ereader it's good, better than my iPod Touch but not quite as good as my Sony Reader, other than it having a backlit screen for reading indoors. As for comics it's far better than either device, the colors are very good and the high-res display is excellent if you have it positioned just right. I've read that this problem is common with current gen Chinese LCD screens, if you look at it from an angle the screen is quite dark but from straight-on it's excellent. Rotating the display can be done within most reader apps or you can use the one on the default desktop.

It's not a multi-touch screen like the iPhone/iTouch so no pinching or swiping. In most apps you just touch the right side of the screen to page forward, left to page backward. For ebooks I like ALReader a lot: you can customize font, font color and font size as well as background color very easily to find just the right setting. There are built-in backgrounds as well for day or night reading. The comic reader I like is MMCE but most of the comics I've tried are just jpg images but it works on CBR files as well. Controls work the same, right to advance and left to go back. Both apps are in the download Phuongt provided on page 10. I highly recommend that download if you get an A81/W1060.

For video I have yet to get my A81 to recognize my network to stream anything but it connects to the internet without a problem. It plays a wider variety of video formats than anything else I've seen in the handheld category and it looks great on the 800 x 480 screen. TCPMP and the Core Player are the best players and they're both in Phuongt's download. It's convenient to get them this way but if you like them you'll want to get a paid version. I can attach an external hard drive as long as it has it's own power source but it won't read my thumb drives. I've read that you need an OTG cable but that may only be for some devices, it works fine for me with a standard mini-USB plug as long as the device is self-powered.

Internet Explorer is faster than before but I'd like to get Firefox or something similar instead. The latest firmware has fixed a lot of my initial problems and it boots up faster, too, though nowhere near as fast as an iPod, about 20 seconds or so to reach the desktop.

I didn't get a GPS unit and I doubt it will work easily until Android is added. Mine came with the GPS software anyway but since it's in Chinese with maps of China it wasn't useful to me. I can't imagine having a 7" device on my windshield to guide me since even my smaller Tom Tom can impede the view but the battery life would probably make it good for some GPS tasks.

I mostly use it for reading indoors but on vacation it's ideal for watching movies or tv shows or listening to audiobooks/music.

I've added a wrist strap to mine since the A81 tends to be a bit slippery and I don't want to drop it, I just put the loop around the kickstand and then closed it and it works fine. As I noted above, the screen protector that comes with the unit isn't a perfect fit. It's slightly too short in height and the gap is a bit bigger on the width, no more than 1/16th of an inch or so but on a touchscreen with a stylus that is enough to bother me. All in all I'm glad I bought this and I'll be much happier when the release Android.

[/.ryd]

Cheers for the info.
Yeah, for reading purposes, I think this unit will suit me well.
I suspected that it wasn't a multi-touch/gesture touch screen. No big deal there.

The streaming issue seems a little odd. I'd kinda thought that would work. So it just doesn't see your local area network at all?

As to the GPS, as I said, I'll probably get it, although I doubt I'd use it. At an extra $10, it seems a no-brainer.

Thanks again. And if anyone has any experience with getting the unit to see a local network, I'd love to hear about it.

[Houndx]

Anyone up reading? I've pretty much decided to go this route but there's some conflicting info.. for instance JT's lists the wireless spec as a/g and wirelession.com lists it as a/g/n.. I'd love to know which is right, or do JT and wirelession sell different devices?

[/.ryd]

Hmmm. I just went back to p10 to download the app pack that Phuongt posted, but it seems the file is no longer hosted.
If anyone (Phuongt perhaps?) wants to re-up the file, I'd be ever so appreciative.

Likewise, I'm still keen to hear people's experiences getting this thing to connect to a NAS via wi-fi, particularly in regard to streaming video.

Cheers again.

[Obsidian]

I have the UCWEB file from here. I didn't test it, so be careful.

[/.ryd]

@ Obsidian - Cheers, but it was the app pack that was posted further down page 10 that I was after.
Thanks anyway.

[nonanon]

I can post a list of what was in the download and if you get an A81 I'm pretty sure you can find the individual programs. Phuongt said he got them from a couple of forums - I remember one was for the Meizu devices and they still have downloads. Most of what was in the download was stuff I don't need or use so it might be easier to just get what you need.

Here's what was in phuongt's download:
Games: 5Cross, Amigo, Anthellion II, Aquaball, Aquabubble, Aquellaball, Aqua Pearls, Archibald's Adventures, Astraware Board Games, Battleship, Bejeweled, Bubble, Bubblets, Caisses, CeZebra, Chain Reaction, Chess Genius, Chuzzle, Conquest, DMemBlock, DMine, DMinesweeper, Dots, FreeCell, Gameboy Emulator, GoBang, Hexavirus, ICBM, LightsOn, LodeRunner, Mastermind, PacMan2, Patiences, Pentagon, Pipes, RatSplat, Reversi, Rubiks, Shift, SkinzSudoku, Squares, Space Defender, Spiderman, Spore, Super Wild Wild Words, TangledBugs, Tetris, WinPokppC, Zuma

Multimedia: 3 versions of TCPMP (CorePlayer), Fortuna MP3 Player, JZPaint, KeepRecordin, MP3 Player, pPaint, Xaudio, XnPocket

Productivity: CE6 FoxitReader, Office (Pword, Inky, Inkwrite), PocketxPDFx, Softmaker Office, SpreadCE, Touch Notes, Transcriber

Total Commander

Utility: Jotkbd (mini-keyboard), Resinfo, Taskmgr, Taskmgr2

WinCE_UCWEB6-6.7.0

Some programs are in Chinese so I can't even provide a name and I haven't used the bulk of the programs in the download. I think you could find info or trials for most of them. There are a lot of programs that come with the A81 that are in Chinese, too, with no info on them at all so you have to try to puzzle out what they are, how to play, etc.

If you get the A81 or similar device and really want the download, I'm sure if you post a request somebody will fulfill it. There are files on the forums phuongt mentioned that aren't in the download but some of the ones I tried don't work on the A81.