News

Early last month, Sharp demonstrated a prototype for a clamshell-shaped handheld at a tradeshow in Japan. The company has now said it is going to release this model tomorrow, according to PC World.

This new model uses a clamshell design with a color screen on one side and a keyboard on the other. In addition, the screen can rotate and then be closed down over the keyboard in a manner similar to Sony's NR and NX series. This allows the unit to be used like a typical handheld.

The screen has a horizontal orientation and is 640 by 480 pixels (VGA). It is a CG Silicon display, which is a type of LCD developed by Sharp and the Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. These screens can pack twice as many pixels into the same space as a TFT LCD while using less power.

The keyboard has the standard QWERTY layout with a row of function keys.

It uses the Linux operating system, like the current Sharp Zaurus SL-5500.

Details of this model are still sketchy. For example, the size or weight of this device are unknown and there is no word on a release in any other countries or what this model will sell for.

In addition, Sharp plans to release at least one other handheld tomorrow, but declined to say anything else about it.

Related Links:

• Sharp Demoing Clamshell-Shaped Zaurus Prototype