VIA now offering unofficial Mozilla OS

VIA Embedded's APC range of computers was launched with the Android OS. They're soon to offer the unofficial version of the new Mozilla OS called Boot 2 Gecko.

The $79 APC rock and the $99 APC Paper are beautifully designed, embedded platforms, offering a quick way for developers to develop new software for operating system such as Android and Mozilla. More at Liliputing.com

As always, VIA gets an award

Taiwan's well-known golden company of the tech boom once again got an award at Computex and like many, many years prior it was for innovation. The VIA APC Paper embedded computer won the Computex 2013 d&i (design and innovation) award presented by the Taiwan External Trade Council (TAITRA) in cooperation with the International Forum Design Hannover (iF).

Which one is the PC?

"APC Paper was awarded this prestigious honor for its groundbreaking use of new types of materials and form factor which pushes the boundaries of PC design in new directions. With special attention to an organic design, the cardboard encased APC Paper blends seamlessly into any home or office environment." - more.

VIA's new APC Paper offers compelling value against Intel's Raspberry Pi

The UK's PC Pro website has pointed out that the VIA APC paper computer - a tiny full system running in a cardboard box - stands up brilliantly against the popular Intel Raspberry Pi.

VIA's solution runs Android, offering the consumer a vast array of easy to install apps. The Pi instead runs Linux, which may give it more flexibility, but also requires more skill to manipulate. The APC paper also uses SDD storage which, although it's more expensive, it's faster.

"The VIA APC runs Android 4 on an ARM Cortex-A processor with 512MB of RAM, features HDMI, VGA (Rock only), USB and microUSB ports, and supports 1080p. Its specs are similar to the Raspberry Pi, which runs a Linux variant and is less than half the price, but relies on SD cards for storage."

VIA APC 3D Boot Camp: Web Server team

The VIA APC Boot Camp was held over the weekend of the 19th and 20th January. It brought together a bunch of techie and DIY computer enthusiasts, popped them in groups and asked them to design ideas around the new VIA APC Paper computer - the VIA APC board presented in a carboard and aluminium box the size of a paperback. Write-ups about the weekend are just starting to roll in and here's one from "Avenger Mojo" who was posted to the web server team.

"I was assigned to mentor the Web Service team. We go thought the ideation process, about 8 different web services came up. And the team vote for the a karaoke platform for old people at the end. The platform is online service for old people to sing directly with APC without any other needs. The online subscription freemium and premium, professional signer can sell their air time on our platform. We are trying to resolve the problem of old people can't get to each other physically and not able to find people sing with them. We are still looking for graphic and interface designer and software developers, if you are interested please let me know! Total of 4 ideas were created this weekend. BioGuard to use APC to monitor your fish! Arts Presentation control system. Mood lighting control center."

Meanwhile, the weekend also included a "3D printing jam" and look at all the stuff they created:

A Paper PC - sort of

APC, a subsidiary so far as I know of VIA's, has released a complete little PC that is reminiscent of the first case mods done by enthusiasts with Mini-ITX boards. The tiny PC, measuring 204 x 98 x 28mm (W x H x D), looks like a book but inside is actually a VIA WonderMedia board loaded with Android 4.0. Dubbed the Paper PC, it will cost you $99 and can be pre-ordered in March.

Which one is the Paper PC?

This is a classy and clever way to present this pocket rocket to enthusiasts. It's a design that sleek and able to be customized by creating your own book cover.

"Documents or books can be piled up on top of the computer, or it can be placed on a bookshelf. It’s a computer that you could sandwich between a variety of objects."

Item	Description
Model	Paper
Software	Android 4.0 (PC System)
Chip	VIA ARM Cortex-A9 @800Mhz Processor
Memory	DDR3 512MB Memory 4GB NAND Flash
Graphics	Built-in 2D/3D Graphic Resolution up to 1080p
Input and Output	HDMI USB 2.0 (x2) microUSB (OTG) Audio out / Mic in microSD Slot
Network	10/100 Ethernet
Debug	20-pin ARM-JTAG header
Expansion	Extra GPIO, SPI and I2C busses on a header
Size	204 x 98 x 28mm (W x H x D)
Case	Recycled pressed cardboard with high-grade aluminum

Boot Camp VIA Style

Forget the early morning starts and gruelling workouts, VIA's boot camp involves the APC board, Android and creative ideas.

In January 2013, registered participants in the VIA boot camp will turn up at VIA's headquarters in Taipei Taiwan for two days of one on one mentoring with experts from VIA on their APC board. Participants will be able to develop and prototype their designs and applications for the APC, even having access to a 3D printer while they're there. A couple of months later, in April 2013, the final results will be showcased at an event, also in Taipei.

The program kicks off at the VIA global headquarters in Xindian, New Taipei City over the weekend of January 19th and 20th, 2013. It will allow participants to form teams to take on the challenge of designing and building connected hardware devices using the APC platform. Industry experts will be on hand to assist and mentor teams as they work through their prototype builds. Participants will also have the opportunity to experiment with 3D printers for conceptualizing and prototyping. 

Event Schedule: The APC Boot Camp will kick off the weekend of January 19th and 20th, 2013, followed by regular progress meet-ups and a final showcase event April 14th, 2013.

To register your spot, visit VIA's APC website.

VIA APC finding more traction across the world

The VIA APC is slowly but surely becoming available in more places around the world. With a new distribution deal with Comtronics, Canadians can now get their hands on the board more easily, for a price of $64.99

For information about APC availability through Canada Computers, please visit: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_706&item_id=053384 

For retailer information within Canada, please contact Comtronics at: http://www.comtronic.ca/cci/home.php?do=ShowProducts&cmd=detail&cid=MB&pid=016589

 For more information about APC please visit: apc.io

Turn your LCD TV into a smart device with a VIA APC

Tech BU have published a handy guide to turning your LCD TV into a smart device on which you can play Angry Birds, catch up on your YouTube videos and surf the web. If you don't have a PC in your lounge room hooked up to your LCD TV then this is a great, cost effective way to get computer functionality on your main screen real estate in the house.

VIA APC Cycles Into Europe

The 'Bicycle for your mind', the ultra-cheap and compact VIA APC, now has a European distribution partner, making it an easy online order for DIY computer enthusiasts across the continent and the UK.

"We are pleased to announce that APC is now available for order across Europe through RS Components for £39.99. RS Components is the worldwide leading distributor of electronics and maintenance products, and is an ideal partner to provide quick and reliable service to customers looking to purchase an APC." - Source.

The little APC board is virtually a plug and play with Android package, allowing people to experiment and develop applications quickly and affordably, without the tie-down of a traditional desktop OS.

Newegg Update: The APC is now in Stock, at $60

Coming in some 10% more expensive than the original $49 price point, the VIA APC is now in stock on Newegg, making it easily accessible to DIY computing enthusiasts in the US.

Customer reviews thus far are very positive:

The VIA APC is now on sale at Newegg

The premier online portal for sales of computer parts in the US has started selling the VIA APC. Strangely labelled the "Avatar APC 8750 WM8750 Processor (ARMv6) - ARM1176JZF @800Mhz 6.69" x 3.35" Motherboard/CPU Combo" on the store, it is currently listed as 'Out of Stock' and has no price. So VIA have got Newegg to list the product, but there's no stock available. Mmm ...

VIA APC gets unboxed

Wondering what it would be like to get a VIA APC in the mail? Take a look:

The story behind the APC

Richard Brown, VP of Marketing at VIA, talks on TED TV about the development of computing and computer manufacturing in Greater China, and how 'the bicycle for your mind' came to be:

eProjects: First impressions of VIA APC good

Despite app downloads from Google Play not working (but third party app sites working fine) eProjects seem to be suitably impressed with their APC that has just arrived.

"First impression out of the box and first boot, so far so good, I did connect it to my Samsung monitor via the VGA interface, small mouse and keyboard, hooked up to my lab network, powered it (power supply is included) and it took Android less than 10 seconds to boot."

VIA's APC arrives in people's actual hands

Netbooknews have published a video interview of VIA's VP of Marketing, Richard Brown, talking them through the $49 APC board. Sitting in a Mini-ITX case you really get a good look at the size of the thing.

VIA's APC at Computex

This week in Taipei the luminary of the IT media world have been interviewing reps from the manufacturing world as they show off their new kit. For VIA, the focus has been on the $49 APC. Here's a video by Hexus, interviewing VIA VP Richard Brown about the system and showing you what the default interface is like.

VIA's PAC one of the 8 cheapest PCs in the world

Gizmodo has put together a list of the top 8 cheapest computers out there. Here's a summary:

Raspberry Pi ($25)
Aakash 2 ($40)
VIA APC 8750 ($49)
DataWind Ubislate 7 ($60)
Mele A1000 ($70)
MK802 ($74)
Intel NUC (>$100)
Aionol Novo 7 ($120)

With the pricing, VIA's solution comes in as a mid-range option, although it does require a chassis.

VIA merges Android with a tiny motherboard or a $49 package

Most of what the average person does on a computer doesn't require a lot of computing power and doesn't require a desktop level operating system with full-blown software. General web surfing, social media, email, basic desktop publishing and blogging can all be handled by apps. Android is a free app-based operating system that is most often found on mobile phones, but also the occasional tablet. It has been tried on netbooks too, but now VIA is bundling it up with an ARM-based motherboard, measuring just 17cm x 8.5cm. The $49 motherboard with built in Flash storage and RAM just requires a monitor (or TV), keyboard and mouse to set up a fully functional Android PC. The USB ports mean that additional external storage can be added easily.

This setup is ideal for lounge room PCs, kids PCs, a PC for the kitchen bench top, etc and is also ripe for development into kiosks, car PCs and other applications.

"Powered by a WonderMedia ARM processor, APC integrates memory, storage, and a full set of consumer I/O features in a small footprint Neo-ITX motherboard that can be connected to a TV or monitor. The system also features a custom build of Android that has been optimized for keyboard and mouse input, and comes with a browser and a selection of preinstalled apps."

[Source]