One of the great features of the OQO model 02 is its very smart keyboard design. Of note are the Ctrl, Shift, Alt, & Function keys which stay pressed so that you can type with one hand. Want to close a window? Tap the Function key, then hit 4. You don't have to hold down the function key to get the results that you want. Very smart design!

Geekset has posted another really helpful video on YouTube, this one tells you how to get the same functionality that's built into the OQO model 02 keyboard on your Samsung Q1 Ultra, or any other UMPC. You may remember his previous video about the difference between an active and a passive digitizer. Geekset's latest video is a very helpful tutorial to help you improve the usability of your UMPC.

The noise made it hard to hear each other shout. In the glow of the pre-dawn light we could see Sarge bringing out a can of black face paint and gesturing with a flat hand, making circular motions over his face, ears and hands. We each dipped in and started painting the face of the team member across from us. Soon we looked like tar puppets in camouflage rags. We did not know exactly how the IR-1 attack robot processed its visual input, but we knew that dark, light-absorbing colors were our best bet for surviving long enough to get a shot off.

Robot-killer: The FN FAL

The pre-combat tension was increasing. I knew the black face paint hid our terrified, ashen faces. We did not even know how the robots looked, and the fact that we had no idea how they visualized their environment was a big cause of concern. If they were using thermal imaging we were going to be sitting ducks.

The platoon was armed with twelve high-velocity FN FAL guns and four rocket-propelled grenades. The plan was to find the most obvious place where the four IR-1s would pass on their estimated route alongside the river toward a fortified crossing point. If we were successful, the Free Sector would be in possession of the IR-1 robot’s top secret interface computer, the VIA NanoBook.

The weight of the heavy gun was almost reassuring. The FN FAL’s long barrel created high muzzle velocities and the big, stable lead projectile combined with this velocity to create massive momentum. This momentum, combined with the fact that Ordnance Command added a hard metal called tungsten to the tips of the bullets, translated into massive penetration force - enough force to penetrate the armor-plating of the IR-1 ...

(Click 'Comments' below to read the full episode) ...

That's what I've been asking myself after reading this LJ entry from thewerewolf. The guy goes through so much! He orders a Q1 Ultra and starts to wait, as the shipping date begins to slip he starts to contemplate going to another source, he calls around, finds a shop that's more than a few miles away, crosses the US/Canada border(!), battles intense traffic, it just goes on and on and on. You've got to read the entire story, it makes the happy ending that much happier. And to top it all off thewerewolf even snapped a few pics of his Q1U unboxing ritual, way to go!

One of the unique features of the VIA NanoBook Reference Design is the MobilityPLUS modules. The MobilityPLUS modules fit into the space to the right of the screen and connect to the computer through the USB port. The devices can also connect to the computer wirelessly over Bluetooth. One MobilityPLUS module that uses BlueTooth is the VOIP handset, it fits flush alongside the screen, but it can be easily removed and used just like a regular phone to make calls over the internet.

There are a number of MobilityPLUS modules that are in the works for the VIA NanoBook and devices based off of it.

• VOIP Handset
• GPS
• 3G WWAN
• World Clock & Temperature Guage
• DVB TV Tuner

The folks over at VIA think that the MobilityPLUS modules have a lot of potential. The combination of USB connectivity, coupled with wireless Bluetooth presents an easy platform for 3rd parties to develop compatible accessories. Just take an existing USB device, like a USB flash drive, put it into the MobilityPLUS form factor and you've got a brand new accessory for the VIA NanoBook.

I got to thinking, if you can put any USB device into a MobilityPLUS module, what would be the coolest, craziest, most creative accessory for the NanoBook? My friend proposed a USB coffee maker, but I don't think that would fit! So now I put it up to the readers of UML to come up with some new MobilityPLUS modules.

And to keep you in the spirit of crazy USB accessories, whoever comes up with the coolest, feasible idea for a MobilityPLUS module will win a USB Rocket Launcher and a 1GB memory stick from VIA. The top five craziest ideas will also get a 1GB memory stick from VIA no matter how crazy they are!

To enter this contest, register for this site, and then post a comment to this article with your crazy MobilityPLUS module idea. To embed an image in the comments, just put the URL of the image in-between [img] tags like this: [img]<url>[/img] If you don't want to register on the site, you can send your entry to me in an e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

I've prepared a drawing of the NanoBook for you to use if you want to submit your idea in pretty picture format. Winners will be decided July 27th, 2007 at noon Taipei time!