Posted on 08/02/2013 11:52:40 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Dell, one of the largest suppliers of personal computers in the world, has begun to ship its credit-card-sized device that can turn any screen with an HDMI input into a personal computer running Google Android operating system to beta testers. The product should cost around $100 and will eventually compete with gadgets like Google’s Chromecast device.
Code-named project Ophelia, the device looks like a big USB drive, but it packs much more than just NAND flash storage. Project Ophelia functions as a multipurpose Citrix or VMware thin client, a web client for web-based apps or a stand-alone device for local apps and content. It includes the Android OS for access to thousands of apps in the Google App store. With Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager software as a service, companies can manage permissions and access for Project Ophelia devices based on role, department and location. This enables users to securely access and share work applications, presentations and content when away from the office.
Dell’s Ophelia is powered by Rockchip RK3066 (two ARM Cortex-A9 cores clocked at up to 1.60GHz, Mali 400 graphics engine, memory controller, etc.) system-on-chip and is equipped with 1GB of RAM, NAND flash solid-state storage, microSD card slot, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The system runs Google Android 4.1 operating system and can be plugged to almost any display with HDMI or MHL ports, providing ultimate flexibility. The zero-battery Project Ophelia receives power through a monitor’s MHL port or separately via its own USB interface. No need to lug around extra batteries or charging equipment.
Project Ophelia is expected to cost around $100 and be commercially available sometimes during the next fiscal quarter, which runs from August through October, reports PCWorld.
Thanks to Google Android operating system, Dell’s Ophelia will be able to address consumers and allow them to turn their TVs into almost fully-fledged personal computers with media streaming and gaming capabilities. At the same time, thanks to support for Citrix or VMware thin client and Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager software as a service, Ophelia can also become a solution for commercial companies looking to enable maximum flexibility for employees.
Whether or not Dell’s project Ophelia gains popularity is something completely unknown. But with the arrival of gadgets like Chromecast and Ophelia a trend on the market of ultra-portable systems is rather evident.
fyi
“Dude, you’re gettin’ a thumb drive!”
I just wonder if this devise might also have the ability to do some things for NSA as a side benefit?
Angry Birds goes big; customers get annoyed due to no good pointing device to use Android on a tv screen.
Ahh well, eventually these guys will figure out how to make it all work.
Just... wow
I am not going there.
If you don't think that's the goal, you're not paying attention.
I used to work for a hospital system that was part of the campaign to digitize medical records with Cerner (an EMR solutions provider).
I was reviewing the budget with the bosses in 2009 and noticed a substantial sum of cash on our capex budgeting paperwork with a "Federal" line item description. When I asked about it, they said it must've been a typo. The next week, the updated capex paperwork came out without that line item, but the bottom line budget numbers did not sum up properly to the total listed.
They'd actually hidden the row in Excel to make it not show up, but I'd noticed and asked again. The next revision had the same numbers, but the "Federal" line item description was changed to "security contingency funds."
I never did get a straight answer, and the money was used to install proprietary, non-standard storage equipment in our data center that linked in directly with our network and SAN. We were not permitted to touch it or otherwise perform maintenance on it.
That's downright Orwellian.
And gee, it’s only twice the price of the other Rockchip dongle-puters:
http://www.amazon.com/MK808-Android-Rockchip-RK3066-Cortex-A9/dp/B009OX22B4
“Dude, you’re getting screwed!”
Hmm...the Feds really do plan to take over the Health care Industry al right ....
Sounds like a ripoff of the 1yr old $35 Raspberry Pi credit card sized computer with built in 512MB RAM, 100Mbps Ethernet, USB 2.0 and HDMI.
Well they are probably putting special stuff on there.....LOL!
...or just put an video HDMI video connector on a smartphone. External video is already on Tablets, PCs, laptops, etc. so I don’t see the big draw for ‘turning your television into a PC’.
Maybe I’m missing something but IMO the next iteration of the PC is a high-powered smart phone that can dock with about any display and control devices available. Forget cloud computing (except for backups) just take it all with you.
We ALL knew what was going on. I was the lead engineer in our data center. I installed everything and oversaw all changes to our environment: HVAC, electrical, network, servers, everything. The fact that I was not permitted to install that hardware and it was installed by a bunch of guys in blue overalls freaked us out.
I don’t work there anymore, but I’ve heard from others who are still there who’ve said that more equipment is installed monthly. Not on the order of large SAN enclosures, but switches, servers, etc. I have no doubt it’s government stuff.
I think Dell might be aiming for the corporate makt.
That is spooky.
Yup! I’m using an Infinitec Pocket TV that came with a mini keyboard/mouse device. Cost me around $50 but that was awhile ago. There are lots of other devices as well.
Get them from alibaba or the other ali/Chinese websites for very cheap.
Mine works great on my 52” TV and I used it to post this. Netflix, podcasts, Pandora, games, and more all work fine.
How are you enterin text?
Might be useful for others.
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The MK808 is essentially an Android tablet without a screen (you use your TV or monitor as the screen). This is a great concept, as it allows you to stream media directly onto your TV screen.
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