ASUS R50A official announcement

Asus just officially announced their R50A UMPC which was first spotted as the R3. According to ASUS, this is the UMPC set to “redefine mobile.”

4.8-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display; built-in GPS; webcam and microphone; 3G / 3.5G data; and built-in TV tuner. Even though Asus keeps touting “full notebook functionality” the device lacks one major essential on a UMPC - a QWERTY keyboard. The jury is out until full specs and price is confirmed, but first sightings look promising and if the Eee PC is anything to judge by, this will genuinely redefine mobile. This is a sample from the official release, which can be found here.

The R50A is the first UMPC that reaches the full potential of the platform. Only with the R50A do users get GPS, a webcam, 3G/ 3.5G connectivity, and full notebook functionality, making the R50A the one indispensable gadget for everyone.

Intuitive Navigation
The R50A’s customizable, mission-based application launcher organizes software programs into categories and makes navigating between tasks simple.

Enjoy Anywhere
The unit’s built-in TV tuner allows you to enjoy your favorite TV shows anywhere.

Connect Anywhere
The R50A will offer 3/ 3.5G connectivity. Users have full access to their data anywhere.

Capture and Communicate Anywhere
The R50A’s built-in webcam and microphone let users capture photos, video and audio wherever they are, and enable wire-free video communication.

Create Anywhere
The R50A has ample power to support the most popular office and productivity applications. With ASUS InfoPen software, users can record and edit on the R50A’s 1024 x 600 screen as easily as they could on a piece of paper.

Find Your Way Anywhere
ASUS brings you the first UMPC with built-in GPS. Users no longer need to deal with paper maps or ask for directions. Link up seamlessly to Google Maps, and the R50A will know your exact location.

Look our for these late 2008, early 2009. You heard it here first.