After launching a line of handheld computers including the Gemini PDA, Cosmo Communicator, and Astro Slide, Planet Computers announced something different earlier this year: a line of small Linux desktop computers with touchscreen display panels on the front and ARM-based processors on the inside.
A crowdfunding campaign for the PlanetPC XR1 and XR2 was a spectacular failure. But now the company appears to have found a partner that’s bringing the computers to market under a different name… with price tags that are twice as high. I’m not sure why anyone would spend $1,199 or more on a computer with a Rockchip RK35xx processor, but it looks like Planet Computers and HyperCycle are hoping that the answer has something do with “AI.”
Here’s a roundup of recent tech news from around the web.
Planet Computers forms AI partnership with HyperAppliance, introduces HyperAiBox mini PCs [press release]
After raising less than 1/100th of a crowdfunding goal for the PlanetPC XR line of computers with Rockchip processors, Planet Computers is partnering with HyperCycle and repositioning them as AI machines with even higher price tags.
According to the press release, Planet Computers and HyperCycle are forming a new manufacturer called “HyperAppliance” to manufacture “Decentralized AI hardware” including the HyperAiBox H1 and H2. They consider this a “billion dollar business opportunity in AI computing,” but so far all that’s been announced is that HyperCycle plans to pay Planet Computers $30 million to manufacture 50,000 HyperAiBoxes.Â
Humane Ai Pin begins shipping in March, 2024 [@Humane]
The Humane AI Pin will begin shipping in March, 2024 after the screen-free wearable AI-powered device with a mic, speaker, and laser projector went up for pre-order for $699 in November.
AYA Neo Slide Shipping Announcement [AYA / Indiegogo]
The AYA Neo Slide handheld gaming PC with a physical keyboard and slide-up display is now shipping to crowdfunding backers. It features a 6 inch 1080p display, an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor and at least 16GB of RAM.
PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all [Games Industry.biz]
After reaching a new licensing agreement, Sony says PlayStation users will not lose access to Discovery TV shows they’ve “purchased.” But the near miss is a good reminder that when you “buy” digital media these days you’re usually just licensing it.
Android’s Nearby Share is getting rebranded ‘Quick Share’ [9to5Google]
Google may be renaming Android’s Nearby Share feature to “Quick Share,” but the functionality is unchanged. It still lets you send and receive files to nearby Android, ChromeOS, and Windows devices.
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Planet Computers is mad as hatter if they think that will work. Anyone silly enough to fall for such a ploy deserves the lackluster performance they will get for that price point.
The AyaNeo Slide is a very cool concept! Too bad it’s not ARM/Android based for half the price… So much wasted potential.
Lube up a weak processor with marketing words and then call it Astroslide? Astroglide much lmao
Ship the astroslide first 000s of backers like me are waiting
I bought a Cosmo way back when and almost didn’t get one either. Planet has good concepts, but the hardware is half-assed and software is non-existent. Would not buy from them again.
Typical Google…
Google has suddenly changed the name of its file-sharing tool from Nearby Share to Quick Share which is what Samsung calls its own tool.[1] Should Samsung sue Google for hijacking Quick Share? Nah, mimicry is the epitome of flattery – right?
Of course to use Nearby Share (eventually called Quick Share) with your Windows PC you have to download the Google app and install Nearby Share/Quick Share on your Windows PC, then sign-in to your Google account and set your Device Visibility preferences to choose who can share with you (in addition to Google by default I presume).[2]
With other words, you must expose your Winows PC to the insecurity dumpster-fire that is Google spying on you. No thanks…
Google’s Nearby Share tool appears to adopt Samsung’s similar utility name and we wonder what’s going on?
https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/googles-nearby-share-tool-appears-to-adopt-samsungs-similar-utility-name-and-we-wonder-whats-going-on
Share files or apps with Nearby Share
https://support.google.com/files/answer/10514188?hl=en
Oh boy, AI and crypto! That’s definitely a fantastic thing to totally throw your hard earned money at. Don’t ask questions like what does the box even do, just consume product and get excited for next products.
Pretty much.
p.s. AI is over-hyped in my opinion.
Agree, its just a lazier google. It is always hilarious seeing people post Chatgpt code and asking why it doesn’t work.
I would rather write my own code from the beginning, at least that way I know how it is structured and should function and can concentrate on chasing any bugs. With gpt you have to figure out the structure, figure out how it is attempting to do what you want, then figure out the bugs.