Sharp releases IS01 Snapdragon-Android MID developer version and SDK

While many of us were interested in the announcement a few months ago of the Sharp IS01 smartbook, with its 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 5" capacitive touchscreen (960 x 480) with multitouch, trackball, clamshell form factor, and Android OS, the release date certainly put a damper on our excitement. A developer's version was promised in May but somehow the consumer version was said to be coming in October.

It's not. I don't know who came up with that date, but the Sharp IS01 is actually being released next month. I should be getting one then so we'll talk all about it later.

In the meantime, the developer's version (JN-DK01) became available today, along with the SDK and an Android developer's website called SH Developers Square. Developers are being asked to create 854 x 480 resolution applications using the basic Android 1.6 API and Sharp's proprietary extended API for "infrared data transfer, LED flashlight, camera, opening and closing [notifications], and file picker." They are locked out of the FM transmitter, 1Seg tuner, EVDO radio, and phone functions, some of which may not even be present at all in the unit.

The JN-DK01 doesn't come with any of the Google goodies (Gmail, Android Market, YouTube, etc.) or Sharp's apps either and is only offered in brown, so unless you plan to do all the legwork yourself and don't mind the color, then I'd suggest waiting until next month for the black or light blue IS01.

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