Archive for 2009
Acer and formerly Eten are no stranger to Windows Mobile smartphone devices but before the launch of the Acer Liquid (Acer A1) they’d never strayed from the Microsoft platform. The Acer Liquid launched earlier this week and is Acer’s first foray in to the world of Android OS and there’s another first for this handset, it’s the first Android powered handset to have a WVGA, 480×800 pixel display. Previously the largest display was 320×480.
Acer Liquid (Acer A1)
If you take a look at the specification of the Acer Liquid (aka Acer A1) you’ll see some excellent plus-points. Starting with the Snapdragon processor, not the 1Ghz version but still a pretty rapid 768MHz then there’s 512MB ROM and 256MB RAM to keep things running along at a fair old clip. There’s also a 5MP auto-focus camera, and although there’s no flash, it’s about the best camera to be found on an Android handset, the 5MP camera with flash in the Motorola Milestone being just that bit better.
So we’ll be spending the next week or so trying out the Acer Liquid, one of us on the team will be using it as our main handset and giving it a thorough test. The review will be here for you soon. As always we have a quick unboxing video for you which is more of a tour of the hardware. I’ll also have a more detailed video of the OS and UI for you soon. Please do feel free to submit your comments or questions about the Acer Liquid over on the forum and we’ll do our back to address them for you!
Acer Liquid specification:
- Operating System: Android 1.6 (Donut)
- Processor: Qualcomm 8250 768 MHz
- Memory: ROM: 512MB / RAM: 256MB
- Display: 3.5-inch touch-sensitive screen with WVGA resolution
- Network: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
- Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
- 3.5 mm audio jack
- Internal GPS antenna
- microSDHC (supports up to 32GB)
- 5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus
- Talk Time: Up to 300 minutes
- Standby Time: Up to 400 hours
- Battery: 1350mAh Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
- Dimensions: 115 x 62.5 x 12.5 mm
- Weight: 135 grams with battery
Posted by: Matt
It looks like Google is employing HTC to build them a phone. Those who remember the first Android device, the G1, will remember how this was to be the big Google phone on the market, Not so it would appear. Google at putting their backing in an unlocked device designed to storm and conform the market.
It’s a GSM device running Android 2.1 and reports are that it will be released in January of 2010, stateside. With a Snapdragon processor and a gorgeous OLED display the devices looks to be the HTC Passion or Dragon with heavy Googleisation. The Dragon was to be the Android equivalent of the HD2.
MSmobiles.com is reporting that the Vodafone is halting sales of the HTC HD2. Having used the device for a week or so I’m quite shocked by this. I did experience the odd lag but not enough to make me stop using the device, as a seasoned vet of Windows Mobile I’m used to the OS having lazy days.
MSmobiles.com dares to suggest that reason the HD2 sales are being refused are that both Orange and Vodafone are going to focus sales towards the iPhone. Have a read at article and see what you think.
This is another of those eagerly awaited devices, having sold over 1 million units in the US as the Motorola Droid it’s expected to be a big hit here in the UK as the Motorola Milestone.
The Motorola Milestone (Motorola Droid)
This is the first Android 2.0 Eclair OS device to hit the market and one of only two Android handsets to have a 480×800 pixel display, the other being the Acer Liquid that we are also reviewing at the moment.
I’ve only had the Milestone for about half an hour and after finishing the unboxing video (below) I’ve had a little play. I am so far impressed with the build quality of the handset and the speed belies the 550Mhz processor that sounds to be a little on the slow side, but really doesn’t ‘feel’ it!
We’ll be reviewing the Motorola Milestone over the next week or so and we’ll have that onsite for you as soon as we can. For now have a look at the unboxing video below for a quick tour of the hardware. Also as I mentioned in the video, just like the Dext you cant do anything with this handset without installing a SIM-card which is a little annoying. I’ll have another video of the OS for you later on!
Apologies for my voice in this video, I am suffering with Laryngitis at the moment!
Motorola Milestone specification:
- Dimensions: 115.8 x 60 x 13.7mm
- Weight: 165g
- Battery:
– Talk Time: 6.5 hrs
– Standby Time: 380 hrs
– Capacity: 1400 mAh - Display: 480 x 800 pixels/3.7" / Touch Sensitive(Capacitive) / MultiTouch
- Network: 2G: 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band) / 3G: 900/2100 (Dual-Band)
- Camera: 5 mega-pixels (auto-focus)
- Dual LED Flash
- GeoTagging
- Video: DVD Quality Video Recording 24fps Video Recording (720 x 480)
- Music: Supported formats: MP3, AAC, eAAC+, OGG & WMA
- Memory: RAM 256MB, FLASH ROM 512MB, USER STORAGE 256MB
- microSDHC (external)
- microUSB
- 3.5mm Audio Connector
- Bluetooth (2.0)
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11g)
- Navigation: AGPS / Digital Compass
Wider Web.
Zip through the internet with 3G speed, a Flash 10 ready HTML browser and super fast processor. View it all on a huge display with touch gestures, double tap, pinch and zoom and see it all.Search.
The newest Google features let you use your voice or your fingertips to search for what you want. Find anything on the web or on your phone including contacts, applications and more.
Please feel free to ask questions about the Milestone over on the forum and I’ll do my best to answer them for you!
Posted by: Matt
Our Christmas competition for 2009 has been open for a little while already and we’ve had a shed loads of entries so far but as we’re just approaching the half way point of advent I thought it would be a good ideal to remind you all that if you have not already done so then now would be a great time to enter the competition, you have three ways to enter and three chances to win!
So for a reminder of what you could win:
So for the full low-down on how to enter and for the rest of the competition rules please head over to the main competition page.
Thanks to all of you that have already entered the competition, the response we’ve had really makes it worth while. It’s this kind of support that you show us that will allow us to run more competitions like this in the future so please do feel free to let your friends and family know about it too!
Posted by: Matt
Post Tags: [Christmas, Competition, prizes, tracyandmatt.co.uk]
The Acer A1 Liquid appeared yesterday for me to play with over the next week thanks to those lovely folks at Clove. To make the most of it I have filmed a short unboxing. From the video you’ll be certainly experience some of the speed of the device. I’m most impressed so far!
Not long ago Emma reviewed the Nokia E55 and she was pretty impressed with it. The 20-key compact QWERTY of the E55 wasn’t to everyone’s liking so Nokia have now come up with the Nokia E52. The E52 looks almost identical to the E55 but instead of the compact QWERTY offers a standard numeric keypad.
The Nokia E52
So Emma is looking at the E52 and will have a follow up review for us shortly where she’ll no doubt be comparing the E55 and the E52. Have a look at the unboxing video below for a tour of the hardware and a quick look at the UI.
Nokia E52 Specification:
- Dimensions: 116 x 49 x 9.9mm
- Weight: 98g
- Battery:
– Talk Time: 8 hrs
– Standby Time: 672 hrs
– Capacity: 1500 mAh - Display: 240 x 320 pixels/2.4 inch
- Network:
– GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band)
– WCDMA: 900/2100 (Dual-Band) - Camera: 3.2 mega-pixels, LED Flash
- FM Stereo Radio (RDS)
- Messaging: SMS / MMS (with video) . E-mail (POP3, SMTP, IMAP4, MS Exchange)
- Memory: 60MB (internal) / microSDHC (external)
- microUSB
- Nokia 3.5mm AV connector
- Bluetooth (2.0)
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11g)
- AGPS
- Nokia Maps
- Accelerometer
- Nokia Web Browser
- Flash Lite 3.0
- Ovi Support
As Emma kindly reviewed the E55 for us she is also working on the E52 so if you have any questions then please do feel free to ask on the E52 forum thread.
Posted by: Matt
Tesco have announced that from Monday the 14th of December they will be selling the iPhone.
The lowest tariff that they will offer is £20 a month on a 12 month contract. This seems too good to be true! OK – it is. The handset will cost you £222 on top of this for the basic 3G 8GB one.
The BBC news website pointed out that over the course of the contract the actual monthly cost is £38.50 where as O2’s and Orange’s lowest tariff is £34.26. But note this – the £34.26 tariff is for a 24 month contract.
The Apple iPhone
Vodafone will also begin to carry the handset in 2010. They haven’t announced any price plans as yet but we will try to keep you informed.
Posted by: Emma
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Product Flash: Motorola MILESTONE – Now Available |
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Motorola MILESTONE Smartphone with Android 2.0 Exclusive to eXpansys in the UK – order today to be one of the first to have a Motorola Milestone Introducing…the world’s first Android 2.0 phone, Motorola Milestone is without compromise, offering superlative multimedia on the world’s thinnest QWERTY slider. Available from £49.99 on contract, we’ll also give you up to £100 cash back for your outdated handset. At last a phone that offers it all: – Android 2.0 Operating System |
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eXpansys Friday Deals: Selected deals between 11am and 5pm, 11th December 2009 |
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Apple iPhone 3G S Normally |
Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 Normally |
Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 Normally |
Toshiba Portege G910 Normally |
Plantronics DSP-400 USB Headset Normally |
Novatel Wireless U530 Normally |
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| These deals are available on Friday the 11th December 2009 between 11am and 5pm by following the links above only. Normal pricing will apply outside of these hours*. |
Posted by: Matt
Shortly after we reported that Boingo lies about availability of Boingo Mobile service, Boingo has updated their WiFi hotspot directory in a way that resolves this problem:
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