Computer on a Stick - Turn Your Home Devices or Phone Into Your Computer

Published on November 20, 2011 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

I was rather happy to read on this potentially tremendous source of savings for folks. Computers aren’t cheap… desktop, laptop, tablet… whatever.

FXI (a Norwegian development company) has developed a USB 2 (USB 3 promised in the future) stick with Android 2.2 on it, but states Linux and Windows 8 should present no problems to it either, as well as faster processors for the unit in the future. It’s totally portable and should be able to turn any device into your PC supporting up to 1920x1080p resolution.

FXI has codenamed this "Cotton Candy" because it weighs all of 23 grams, just like the confection (and, this is "sweet")

Right now its specs are (see the pic, also):

Quad Core ARM® Mali™-400MP Graphics Processing Unit
– Quad-core ARM Mali-400MP 720p / 1080p OpenGL ES v2.0
– 30M Polygons, 1.2 GPixels / s

ARM® Cortex™-A9@1.2GHz
– NEON extensions
– TrustZone extensions

Connectivity
Wifi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Memory
1GB DRAM
Up to 64GB memory local storage (microSD)

Software
– Android
– Ubuntu
– Virtualization client for Windows, Linux, Mac, embedded

Video / Audio / Media Support
– 480p/720p/1080p decode of MPEG4-SP/H.263/H.264 AVC/MPEG-2/VC1
– MP3, AAC, AAC+, Real Audio
– JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
– Additional video, audio and image formats can be supported through 3rd party codecs

Connectors
– USB 2.0 male form factor for power and connection to devices that supports USB mass storage
– HDMI 2.1 with audio for connection to devices that does not support USB mass storage

Weighing only 21 grams and so energy-efficient that it can be powered from a USB port

Cost will be less than $200

Here’s a nice little Youtube vid:

And some pics:

So, I’m thinking this is going to make life a good deal easier for folks who have to use computers with their work and play… lot easier getting through an airport as well.

Now you can also save on utilities. This is a less wasteful way of doing things… as long as the kids let you have the TV…

What are your thoughts about this?

Sources:

http://www.fxitech.com/products/

http://forum.thewindowsclub.com/technology-news/33519-usb-stick-dual-core-comp-can-run-windows-8-future.html

http://blog.laptopmag.com/usb-stick-contains-dual-core-computer-turns-any-screen-into-an-android-station

Comments (Page 1)

Hankers

on Nov 20, 2011

Very interesting. Thanks for the information.

Heavenfall

on Nov 20, 2011

Sort of anti-cloud, isn't it? I mean I have my laptop with me because I need the screen, and when I don't want to carry that around I can just access all my stuff through another computer via the cloud. So yeah, I'm having a hard time seeing the point of this. You still need a computer to use it, and you can access your personal stuff already. I guess it could be used as a portable media station if I wanted to bring a movie over to a friend, but... I can already just use an USB storage for that.

DrJBHL

on Nov 20, 2011

Anti-Cloud? Not even vaguely. How does this prevent storing stuff in the Cloud, or using Cloud based apps, should you choose to?

If anything, you're equally or more secure this way... depending on what is 'enabled' on the decice you're using, and how secure the network it belongs to is.

Here you carry your OS with you and can access it with a multiplicity of devices. This isn't a simple storage device, Heavenfall. This is a computer without a screen. You simply "borrow" the device's screen when you run it.

The Cloud isn't very reassuring from a security point of view, btw... neither "physical" nor electronic.

Uvah

on Nov 20, 2011

Nice! Now imagine it having its own storage. For me I'd like to keep my graphics handy and check this out, if you have one of those big screen LCD TV's that can double as a monitor. Holy crappola! I'd go bonkers in a heart beat.

Thoumsin

on Nov 20, 2011

Cute gadget but not really usefull in my case due to the lack of power...

As now, i use a piece of software called Teamviewer on both my workstation and laptop... if i need processing power and i am far from home, i connect to my home PC ( take control of it ) via Teamviewer... so, i can by example model a mesh on my laptop, render it on my workstation and receive the render result on my laptop...

Normally, Teamviewer is a remote administration tool for IT guy but i use it like a "cloud" system... work on Linux, windows, Mac Os, IOS, and Android... and it is free for personal use...

gmc2

on Nov 20, 2011

interesting how technology is advancing. Although the device is entertaining it is not a stand alone piece of hardware. It still requires periphery hardware to use. in other words you couldn't just plug it into your TV's USB port and expect any results.

Teamviewer looks entertaining as well, again interesting how technology is advancing.

A much as I hate to say this it looks like cloud will become a thing for a lot of people. I don't see any need/want/draw to it for myself but the OEM's are investing in it and pushing the concept like crazy.

IROKONESS

on Nov 20, 2011

My pc on a stick! Holy macaroni. Gotta love it.

Wizard1956

on Nov 20, 2011

RnD liked the idea so much, he whittled up a few for himself.

RedneckDude

on Nov 20, 2011

Uvah

reply 4

Nice! Now imagine it having its own storage.

Memory
1GB DRAM
Up to 64GB memory local storage (microSD)

RedneckDude

on Nov 20, 2011

Wiz, you're crazy...lol...

IROKONESS

on Nov 20, 2011

Wizard1956

reply 8

RnD liked the idea so much, he whittled up a few for himself.

That's funny right thar Wiz!! I prefer the top right one.

Uvah

on Nov 20, 2011

RedneckDude

reply 9

Quoting Uvah, reply 4Nice! Now imagine it having its own storage.

Memory
1GB DRAM
Up to 64GB memory local storage (microSD)

Okay ... its got good storage. But what about ...

Wizard1956

reply 8

RnD liked the idea so much, he whittled up a few for himself.

... termites or does it have an app for them too. lol

DrJBHL

on Nov 20, 2011

@gmc2:

gmc2

reply 6

Although the device is entertaining it is not a stand alone piece of hardware.

Correct, but hardly surprising as it has no power source nor screen. Sort of like holding a light bulb and asking, "Where's the light?".

gmc2

reply 6

in other words you couldn't just plug it into your TV's USB port and expect any results.

Incorrect. That's exactly what one does.

"Is that a USB key in your pocket or a dual-core computer? Today, Norwegian company FXI technologies showed off a USB stick-sized portable computer prototype, complete with a dual-core 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos ARM CPU (same as in the Galaxy S II), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI-out and a microSD card slot for memory. Codenamed Cotton Candy because its 21 gram weight is the same as a bag of the confection, the tiny PC enables what its inventor calls “Any Screen Computing,” the ability to turn any TV, laptop, phone, tablet, or set-top box into a dumb terminal for its Android Opreating System." - http://blog.laptopmag.com/usb-stick-contains-dual-core-computer-turns-any-screen-into-an-android-station

Philly0381

on Nov 20, 2011

Wow, Computer on a Stick, whatever will they think of next.

gmc2

on Nov 20, 2011

regarding TV use: "then manage your on-screen media with a SmartPhone, Bluetooth/WiFi mouse and keyboard, or a Remote Control. "

I do have a remote control (for the TV) but I'm lacking in the other three.

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