6 Cool Android Devices that are not Phones

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Android Devices

Android, the powerful Linux-based operating system initiated by Google, has taken the mobile and wireless market by storm.  Major phone companies, such as HTC and Motorola, have adopted the Android platform for their phones, and major carriers, like T-Mobile and Verizon, are now heavily promoting Android-based devices.

Android is seen as the primary competition to Apple’s iPhone OS, which only runs on the iPhone, giving Google a technical advantage. Android is also free and open source, and mobile manufacturers are free to create their own interfaces and customizations for their specific devices. Furthermore, the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), which now develops and sponsors Android, is a growing consortium of mobile device and chipset manufacturers that includes big names like Acer, Asus, Sprint, LG, NEC, Samsung, Lenovo, Sony Ericsson, and Nvidia.

Like the iPhone OS, Android is designed for mobile devices but is not limited to phones. There is now a growing list of Android devices, some of which might be surprising. In no particular order, here are six really cool ones either already on the market or coming soon.

1. Barnes & Noble Nook

The release of Amazon’s Kindle took the world by storm, and many believed it to be the final nail in the coffin in the “death” of print. Previous predictions were perhaps premature, but the Kindle has left its mark. The Nook, by Barnes and Noble is not to be taken lightly either. With its dual-screen technology (one large black and white for reading and a smaller color LCD touch screen for browsing and navigation), it is quite an impressive device.

Some of its other features are:

• Wi-Fi (and free Wi-FI in Barnes & Noble stores)
• 3G wireless via AT&T
• Audio, including an Mp3 player for audio books
• Support for multiple file types, including PDF, EPUB, and several graphics formats.
• Expandable microSD slot

Like the Kindle, the Nook runs Linux, but the Nook sports a more complete version of it in Android. This gives Barnes & Noble the decisive advantage of being able to add applications and functionality pretty much at will. And recent news indicates that they are doing just that. Among the new features just announced are in-store e-browsing, games: chess and sudoku, and a web browser.

2. Touch Revolution’s NIMble Touch Devices

Touch Revolution specializes in commercial touch devices, such as in-store kiosks and virtually anything else a company could imagine having a touch screen with advanced features.  They build custom devices to order and use Android to develop their interfaces.

Their NIM1000 module includes:

• PXA310 ARM Processor 806Mhz
• 256MB mobile RAM
• Expandable storage
• Wifi
• Bluetooth
• USB
• Audio
• Accelerometer
• Microphone
• 800×480 LCD touch screen

3. Parrot’s Grande Specchio Digital Photo Frame

Since we are using the word “cool“, few devices attract more attention than ones with cute pictures of your children.  Parrot has taken digital photo frames to the next level with its Grande Specchio. Not only does it display your photos in stunning color on a 10.4 inch screen, it also acts as “high tech mirror“.

Furthermore, the Grande Speechio has other features, such as:

• wireless Internet applications:
  • news, photo sharing (Facebook, Flickr, Picasa), and Google maps
  • can store up to 1500 photos
  • supports network sharing
  • USB, SD/MMC cards, and Bluetooth
  • 800×600 screen with 16 million colors

Yes, Grande Specchio runs Android

4. Enso ZenPad

Non-phone pocket devices have not sold especially well, but the zenPad is still worth a look. Unlike previous handhelds that required Wi-fi connections, the zenPad also has a 3G chip, which means you could literally have the Internet in your pocket.

Its features:

• optional integrated GPS
• 5-inch LED-backlit glossy resistive touchscreen display
• 800×480 resolution
• Wi-fi and 3G
• USB port
• optional support for handling phone calls
• 1GB onboard storage with an included 8GB microSD card
• 256MB of RAM
• Audio and video playback
• Built-in speaker, headphone jack, and microphone

The zenPad currently runs Google Android 1.6 with a 2.x upgrade available after purchase.

5. Spring Design’s Alex Dual-Screen eReader

Because you can never have too many options, we had to throw in another e-book reader. You have seen the Kindle and the Nook. Enter: Alex. Like the Nook, Alex features two screens, one 6″ black and white and another 3.5″ LCD touchscreen. Unlike the Nook, the touchscreen already has built-in Android features, such as web browsing.

Some of the Alex features include:

• Wifi, 3G, EVDO/CDMA, and GSM
• Two-week battery life
• Online music listening
• Built-in bookmarking
• Annotations
• Ability to view reading content on both screens with “Touch and Extend”
• Expandable microSD slot
• Ability to watch videos
• Developer toolkit available

The Alex seems polished and comfortable harnessing the power of Android in its little device. If it can get the marketing support it will need, it might give the Kindle and the Nook a good fight.

6. HP Compaq AirLife netbook

The early EeePC netbooks from Asus ran their own customized Xandros Linux version that most users replaced with Ubuntu or something similar.  Asus eventually abandoned Linux and now sells netbooks with Windows 7 Starter. Some believe a desktop operating system just does not function as well on small devices, such as netbooks.  HP intends to use Android to fill the void.

It is not on the market yet, but what little we do know about this device is that it supports WiFi and 3G connectivity, has 512MB of RAM, and 16GB of flash storage. It not only has a standard touchpad, but also includes a resistive touchscreen.  It has a netbook-standard 10 inch screen.

Android will certainly give a different experience to those used to running a desktop OS on their laptops, but if they are comfortable with Android on their phones, maybe having it on a netbook, eReader, tablet, picture frame, or even their microwave is no big stretch.

Tags: android, android devices, cool android devices, Google