UMPC updates

Two bits of UMPC news this evening: Impress Watch has its hands on a Sony VAIO UX with a 16GB flash memory-based hard drive, and the Asus R2H received FCC approval.

In an effort that improves battery life on its not-a-UMPC VAIO UX, Sony has added an option for a 16GB, flash-based hard drive. According to the Google translation of Impress Watch's hands-on review of the flash-based UX, the new drive improves the standard UX's weight and battery life. The updated UX is 27 grams lighter and can be used on battery power for an additional 30 minutes. Poor battery life has plagued the UMPCs to date, so perhaps other manufacturers will adopt and improve upon Sony's formula of better battery life through more energy-efficient storage.

For more information, check out our review of the standard Sony VAIO UX.

In more UMPC news, the Asus R2H has received FCC approval. Its manual is posted on the commission's Web site, giving us a preview of what's to come. Features include a built-in GPS receiver, an SD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports (one standard and one mini), a Webcam, Bluetooth, 802.11 wireless, and TPM.