Windows 7 Customers Are Just so Savvy

Windows 7's tech support lines have been far less busy than expected—but we can't draw any easy conclusions, like, say, "Windows 7 rulz!," because Windows online tech support has gotten much easier to use and online solutions have become more appropriate. People now know to just Google (or Bing) their problems, which probably filters out a lot of the knucklehead stuff. [CNET]

Acer's Olympic Laptop Is the Lamest Tie-In Ever

Really, Acer? You can't think of anything else to do with an Olympic-themed laptop than to slap the five ring logo on the lid? We expect better, Acer. You've come up with some phenomenal, gaudy, ostentatious and downright silly-looking laptops in the past—what's up with this one? At least slap a GO USA! sticker on the front or something. [Engadget]

Sprint Confirms HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Will Skip 2.0, Head to 2.1

In an official Tweet (ugh), Sprint confirmed that two of its Android handsets, the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment, will actually skip Android 2.0 and move straight to 2.1 when they receive the update sometime in the first half of 2010. That's sort of expected; we knew the update was coming around that time, and given the pace of Android's dessert-themed releases, certainly 2.1 would be the current release. So, not earth-shattering news, but good to see that Sprint (and Google) plan to support those phones into the future. [Slashgear]

Leaked Panasonic Four Thirds Camera Ditches the Micro

A patent from Panasonic shows what appears to be a Four Thirds camera, though not the Micro type after which we so lust. Apparently it can flip between optical and live view viewfinders with a hardware switch, and has manual sensor cleaning and anti-shake feature. Rumors suggest it may be announced at CES in a few weeks, but we'll have to wait and see. [Slashgear]

Sure, you may've already downloaded an early Chrome OS build on your current machine, but unless you want it to be your sole platform, and running just the way Google intended, then you'll need to buy the official hardware. Acer's stated its intent to be first with a product release, presumably at the tail-end of next year, but ASUS, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba are also involved in the Chrome OS project too.

A "request for proposal" has already been issued to potential suppliers, such as those mentioned above, supposedly listing the specifications Google would like to see in that first netbook. Google is believed to be working with just the one manufacturer, to build the ideal netbook. TechCrunch's sources are claiming they'll be 3G-embedded, and quite possibly subsidized by a carrier.

Michael Arrington, editorializing at this point, goes on to say that:

"I'd be willing to bet one of our writers' right hands that it's ARM [as opposed to an Intel Atom processor]. And I'd even go out on a limb and suggest that they may very well be targeting Nvidia's Tegra line."

Adobe, Freescale, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments are the other parties already working with on the Google Chrome OS project, so presumably the netbook will contain some components from them as well.

So, which company do we think Google will choose in this all-important talent show? Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo or Toshiba, or even someone else? ASUS obviously has strong heritage with netbooks, thanks to inventing the market for it back in 2007, but Acer launched the first Android-powered netbook. HP, Lenovo and Toshiba have all produced some solid netbooks in their time, but haven't quite measured up to Acer and ASUS' success just yet. [TechCrunch]

More Analysts Make Total Speculation About a Verizon iPhone Sound Confident and Certain

Until we get some legit hard evidence, like an announcement, or a leaked photo, or screenshot, or anything at all, any and all chatter on the subject of a Verizon iPhone is just speculation. Knowing that, I have no idea how someone can claim that there's a "70% chance" of seeing it in 2010. Until somebody has something to show me, all Verizon iPhone speculation is doomed to Remainders.

That being said, there is one interesting little tidbit here: The next-gen iPhone may have an RFID reader, a technology common to Japanese and Korean phones but unheard of here in the States. An RFID reader would allow the iPhone to act as a credit card—pretty cool! [AppleInsider]

Acer's Snapdragon'ed Android Handset Gets Groped...By the Brits

We knew about Acer's 1GHz-Snapdragon-packing Android phone, the uncomfortably named Liquid A1 (it just sounds dirty to me), but as it's not been announced for us freedom-loving Amurricans, we haven't been tracking it too closely. Now it's finally out in the UK, and it's been unboxed and groped, and all in all, it's sort of disappointing. It's thicker than we'd expected, and that sexy 1GHz proc has been underclocked by about 25% for some reason we can't fathom. Luckily the video shows that it still runs buttery smooth (opening the applications tray is smoother than on my Droid) but it's still an odd choice to dumb down one of the best mobile processors on the market. Take a look at the video for more. [Engadget]

Exploding Gum Believed to Have Killed Ukrainian Chemistry Student

What in the hell is going on in Ukraine? This sparsely written article says that a chemistry student was killed recently, his jaw blown off in an explosion believed to be caused by his chewing gum. Apparently he liked to coat his gum in citric acid, but the theory is that this time he actually coated it in some kind of explosive powder that took his life. What? I mean, we're sad that he died, but what? [News24]

Microsoft Tells Journalists Not to Use or Mention Apple Products at Briefing

Google's translation of this German page is so bad that for all I know it's actually talking about holiday themed pumpkin head dances and not tech, but if I am to trust Google's remedial German, a Microsoft rep got snippy at a WinMo 6.5 briefing and told journalists present not to talk about the iPhone. In the clearest sentence available in this translation:

a journalist was warned by a Microsoft spokesman not to mention or use Apple products

That's honestly the only thing I can glean from this. It's in Remainders because first, who cares, and second, WTF, Google? Isn't English a Germanic language? This translation should be so much better! [9to5Mac]

A Glimpse at Twitter-Integrated Google Results

This is pretty simple: What will Google's new search results page look like, post-Twitter-integration? Pretty clean, if you ask me—apparently the Tweets scroll through in real time, and in the case of this particular Google query, I'd imagine they scroll for a very long, entertaining time. [Thanks, Matt!]

Under $400

Acer Aspire 1410

Starting Price: $399
This 3.2-pound ultraportable is such a sweet deal it makes us question whether netbooks are long for this world. Acer stuffed a dual-core Celeron processor (about double the performance of Atom), 2GB of RAM and Windows 7 Premium inside a 11.6-inch system with a full-size keyboard—all for just $399. Plus, you get 6.5 hours of battery life. Sure, the 160GB hard drive is a bit skimpy, but the 1410 is a real PC you can take anywhere. [Review]

Under $700

Gateway NV

Starting Price: $599.99
The NV proves that you can get a good-looking budget laptop that performs. In addition to four color choices (blue, brown, read, and black), this 15.6-inch notebook sports a fashionable metal hinge and glowing LED controls. Under the hood the NV satisfies with the combination of an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. Our only nitpick is the narrow touchpad button. [Review]

Asus UL30A

Starting Price: $649.99
If we had to pick a notebook of the year, the UL30A would be it. Why? Because this 13 incher is light enough to take anywhere yet offers enough pep to be your primary machine. This 4-pound ultraportable lasted nearly 10 hours on a charge in our tests (continuous surfing over Wi-Fi), and its ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processor can easily handle Windows 7. Bonus: 500GB of storage is nice for the $650 price. [Review]

Under $1000

Dell Studio 14z

Starting Price: $749.99
Think of it as the poor man's MacBook—with better specs and sound. Dell's 14-inch thin and light notebook weighs in at just 4.4 pounds and features Nvidia 9400 graphics for extra multimedia punch. But unlike the entry level $999 Mac, the Dell offers 70GB more hard drive space, superior speakers, and a backlit keyboard for $160 less. The only trade-offs are the lack of a DVD drive and the need for an adapter for plugging in memory cards. [Review]

Under $1500

Toshiba Qosmio X505

Starting Price : $1399
Ideal for multimedia mavens and good enough for gamers, the 18.4-inch Qosmio X505 brings serious muscle in the $1,499 configuration, including a blazing Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GTS 250M graphics (with 1 GB of dedicated video memory). We also dig the classy glossy black design with metallic red accents, integrated Blu-ray drive, and booming Harman Kardon speakers. If you want to step up from the 1680 x 945 display to a full HD screen, splurge for the $1,899 model, which also sports 6GB of RAM and an SSD. [Review]

ThinkPad T400s

Starting Price: $1599 ($1359.15 after coupon)
If BMWs are the ultimate driving machines, ThinkPads are the ultimate business machines, and this is the flagship vehicle. The T400s measures just 0.8 inches thick and weighs 3.9 pounds, and it's decked out in supersturdy magnesium (for the bottom and deck) and carbon fiber (for the lid). More important, this 14-incher blows away the competition in terms of ergonomic comfort and performance—when you spring for the 2.53-GHz processor and 128GB solid state drive. [Review]

To see all of Laptop's top picks of the year, click here.

Fudzilla's reporting that the Aspire 8942G-728G1280TWN is going to be a beast, shipping with a Core i7 processor at 1.6GHz, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and the all-important ATI Radeon HD5850 graphics card. The other specs are equally over the top—18.4" 1980x1080 LED display, two 640GB hard drives, 8-cell battery—but what we're most excited about are graphics like this:

Expect it on the market in early 2010 for a whole lot of cash. It also weighs over 10 pounds, so make sure to lift with your legs. [Fudzilla]

Samsung's Bada Mobile OS to Launch in Early 2010

Samsung's non-smartphone OS, which is surprisingly named Bada (rather than "Why?"), has already been announced, but now we hear that the first Bada phone should arrive in the first half of 2010. Given Samsung's recent dalliance with Android skins, maybe this is a new attempt to create something people might actually want to use. Still, we're just not that excited about another dumbphone OS, which is why news about Bada winds up here in the dark, forgotten corner of Gizmodo we call Remainders. [Engadget]

Google Talk Knows When You're on Android, and Likes It

The thing about Android is that we all depend on Google for all kinds of things, whether or not we ever plan on using an Android phone. So if Google wants, they can exert some pressure, through sweet exclusive features (like the Droid's turn-by-turn Maps) or little cues like this one. Google Talk now adds teeny adorable icons for Android users in the GTalk buddy list—but only Android, not iPhone, WebOS or BlackBerry. I'm not concerned about the "Google creep," but Google haters may find this seemingly innocuous feature a sign of trouble to come. [TechCrunch]

California Passes New Efficiency Standard for TVs

California, in a decision that's the first of its kind, passed a law requiring new, stricter efficiency standards for all TVs sold in the state. By 2011, they'll have to reduce energy requirements by 33%, and by 2013, that number goes up to 49%. It's not a huge deal, nor something consumers are likely to notice—but higher energy efficiency standards are okay in my book. The law has passed only in California, and is seeing a fair bit of opposition, so don't hold your breath for nationwide adoption—hence its place in Remainders today. [Mercury News]

Acer Ferrari Netbook's Tackiness Burns My Eyes

Okay seriously you guys, who the hell buys Ferrari versions of gadgets? They pop up with pretty alarming frequency given their eye-searing tackiness, and the latest victim is this humble Acer netbook. The netbook packs expected specs, including an AMD Athlon Neo processor at 1.2GHz, up to 4GB memory, 160GB hard drive and snoooooore. But why ruin that solid, sleep-inducing mediocrity with such shockingly garish styling? It'll be available in Japan on November 27th. [Akihabara News]

$1350 also gets you 4GB of 1066-DDR3 memory, 500GB storage, 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTS 250M graphics, and a Blu-ray drive. Unfortunately, there's no integrated TV tuner, but you do get nice touches like Acer's touch-capacitive media control interface, and surround sound via 5 built-in speakers.

The series will be user configurable, and is expected to arrive "this holiday season".

Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865
• Intel® Core(TM) i7 Processor 720QM (1.60GHz, 6MB L3 Cache, 1333MHz FSB)
• 18.4" Full HD Widescreen CineCrystal(TM) LED-backlit Display
(1920x1080 Resolution, 16:9 Aspect Ratio)
• 4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M with 1GB dedicated DDR3 VRAM
• 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive (1)
• 4X Blu-ray Disc(TM)/DVD SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a//bg/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
• Acer Crystal Eye(TM) Integrated Webcam
• Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface
• 5 USB 2.0 Ports, 1 HDMI Port, 1 eSATA Port
• 8-cell Li-Ion Battery (4800mAh)
• Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement
• Acer CineSurround Sound System (5 built-in speakers)
• Windows® 7 Home
• MSRP $1,349.99

Bloatware, the crap software that manufacturers pre-install on their computers that include demos, media software and other junk you never use, is infuriating. And seeing the numbers, it's even more insane that these companies are crippling their own products with this junk. Here's how the worst offenders break down, compared to clean installs on the same machines:

Acer: 2:01 longer boot time, 952MB larger memory footprint, 2.4GB less HDD space
HP: 1:35 longer boot time, 1.06GB larger memory footprint, 2.18GB less HDD space
Dell: 0:52 longer boot time, 1.18GB larger memory footprint, 3GB less HDD space
Sony: 1:54 longer boot time, 1.11GB larger memory footprint, 1.3GB less HDD space

Pretty repulsive stuff; at least Microsoft isn't including this garbage on PCs sold in their stores. Be sure to check out PC Pro for the full study and results. [PC Pro via Slashdot]

The AS1410 offers options more powerful than a netbook but not as powerful as what we think of as a full-fledged notebook. It's got a Celeron instead of an Atom, offers 2GB or 4GB of memory, up to a 250GB hard drive, runs Windows 7 and has both a multitouch trackpad and a full-sized keyboard (despite the laptop's screen size being only 11.6 inches). It'll be available sometime this holiday season, starting at $400, which should make it a solid netbook competitor. Press release below. [Acer]

NEW ACER AS1410 SERIES BRINGS STYLE AND AFFORDABILITY TO ULTRAPORTABLE COMPUTING

11.6-inch notebook lightens the load for mobile users who want to enjoy social networking, video and productivity applications on the go; available for just $399

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 20, 2009 – Bringing affordability to the ultraportable notebook platform, Acer America today announced the new Acer Aspire AS1410 Series. These new notebooks integrate enough power for enjoying digital entertainment in a very sleek, stylish design for just $399.

"With the rising popularity of social networking, consumers are more connected than ever to the online world," said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. "When it comes to selecting a notebook, they're increasingly concerned with size, weight and style. The AS1410 Series is small enough to be carried in a backpack or even a large purse but with enough power for spreadsheets and presentations. Aggressively priced, the AS1410 is an affordable mobile solution for checking Twitter updates, viewing YouTube videos and handling productivity applications on a plane, at school or a coffee house. Those in the market for a netbook should consider this notebook as an option, due to the step up in processing power."

Just one-inch-thin and 3.08 pounds, these systems are sleek and light, but with a full-size keyboard. The full-sized keyboard is comfortable and easy to type on, particularly for taking advantage of productivity applications. The compact size combined with a traditional keyboard comprises a convenient platform for frequent travelers and students. With the needs of mobile users in mind, the AS1410 Series is designed to suit an individual's own personal flair with three elegant color options - Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue and Ruby Red.

Powerful Performance; Petite Package

Although it's the size of a netbook, the Aspire AS1410 Series is truly a mainstream notebook with the performance to suit a variety of users. Featuring an Intel® Celeron® processor and 2GB DDR2 memory (upgradeable to 4GB), the notebooks have plenty of power for document creation, media playback and daily task management.

The systems are also outfitted with the new Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and up to a 250GB hard drive,(1) which is large enough to store a vast library of music, images and spreadsheets. Offering plenty of productive time when away from a power outlet, a 6-cell Lithium Ion battery provides up to a whopping six hours of battery life,(2) enough power to keep the PC charged on a coast to coast flight.

The systems are also primed for visual clarity. The 11.6-inch widescreen HD LED-backlit display is large enough to comfortably view videos, photos, documents and web pages. Featuring LED backlit technology, a 16:9 aspect ratio and Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, the AS1410 Series delivers realistic HD pictures with crisp detail and smooth video playback.

Integrated speakers and Dolby® Sound Room® audio enhancement deliver lifelike sound for enjoying videos, movie downloads and music. A webcam and digital microphone make it fun and easy to get virtual face time with friends and family via live video streaming and video chat.

Intuitive PC Navigation, Convenient Connectivity

Affording easy, intuitive PC navigation, the new Aspire notebooks have a multi-gesture touchpad. Users can scroll, zoom in and out and quickly flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more by pinching, flicking and swirling their fingers across the touchpad.

Despite the compact form factor, the new notebooks offer a wide array of ports including an integrated multi-in-one media reader to conveniently transfer files from digital devices. An HDMI port allows the systems to support any PC or TV video format via a single cable, while three USB 2.0 ports enable connection to the latest peripherals and digital devices. Advanced Intel 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wireless and Gigabit Ethernet LAN enable fast access to email, the web and social networks.

Pricing/Configurations/Availability
The Acer® Aspire AS1410 Series notebooks will be available for U.S. customers at leading retailers this holiday season. A sample configuration as well as specifications and pricing follow.

Acer® Aspire AS1410 Notebook PC - Prices begin at $399.99

* Intel® Celeron® Processor SU2300 (1.2GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* 11.6-Inch HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-Backlit Display (16.9 Aspect Ratio; 1366x768 Resolution)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 2GB DDR2 Dual-Channel 667MHz Memory (Upgradeable to 4GB)
* 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive(2)
* Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
* Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11 a/b/g/Draft-N
* Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
* Two Built-In Stereo Speakers and Dolby® Sound Room® Audio Enhancement
* Full-Size Acer FineTip Keyboard
* Multi-Gesture Touchpad Supporting Circular Motion, Scrolling, Pinch-Action Zoom and Page Flip
* Three USB 2.0 Ports
* HDMI Port
* 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery (4400 mAh), up to Six Hours Battery Life
* 3.08 Pounds
* Two-Year International Travelers Limited Warranty

Acer had said their phone, which'll run a customized version of Android 1.6 Donut, would have a social-networking-centric contacts system, like HTC's Sense. Photos from HDBlog.it show more: On top of the contact management system, Acer's designed their own widgets, including an ingenious, should-be-standard [Update: In Donut, it is standard] single homescreen switch for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and a few other hardware functions. There's also a new dialer, an ALT-TAB-esque task manager, a multimedia dashboard and a skinned app drawer.

Hardware specs have been leaked dry, confirming what we already knew—a 1GHz Snapdragon processor clocked to 768 Mhz, WVGA capacitive screen, and a 5-megapixel camera—and throwing in a few precious nuggets: the Liquid's screen will measure up at 3.5 inches, and the phone will ship with 256MB of RAM, Wi-Fi, a 3.5mm headphones jack and a 1,350 mAh battery.

All's well on Acer's on of things, so now it's just a waiting game. Acer doesn't exactly have a long history of making smartphones, much less a history with major US carriers, meaning Our Sweet Liquid may have some trouble immigrating. It goes without saying, this would be tragic.

UPDATE: Apparently there are a few units kicking around Europe; here's a video, with some clear looks at the hardware and interface, from France:

[HDBlog.it via Nexus404—Thanks, Travis and Oscar!]

Apart from the addition of 802.11n Wi-Fi, other specs remain identical to the Windows XP, 1GB RAM, Atom 230 model that costs about $200 bucks. There's also a VESA attachment for mounting on the back of your flat panel monitor or TV.

The $330 AspireRevo (R3610-U9012) is new, but should already been up for grabs over at: [Acer]

• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Intel Atom 330 Processor (1.6GHz)
• Integrated NVIDIA® ION Graphics Solution
• 2GB DDR2 SDRAM Memory
• 160GB SATA Hard Drive
• Six USB 2.0 Ports (Two Front, Four Back)
• HDMI Port
• eSATA Port
• VGA Port
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• 802.11b/g/Draft-N Wireless
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
• USB Stereo Speakers
• High-Definition Headphone and Microphone Jacks

Acer—which owns Gateway, eMachines, and Packard Bell—scored 11.1 perecent of U.S computer sales between July and September this year, according to IDC. Gartner puts that figure at 13.9 percent.

As you can see in the chart above, Garner also puts Dell in the top U.S spot with a 26.2 percent share. IDC disagrees, placing HP first (25.5 percent), Dell second (25 percent), Apple fourth (9.4 percent), and Toshiba fifth (8.1 percent).

The two research firms agree on the rankings of worldwide sales, though their numbers are slightly different.

What's also interesting is that total sales grew by as much as 3.9 percent compared to last year. That's pretty surprising when both predicted the down economy would make us all tech scrooges. Maybe Windows 7 has drummed up interest after all, what do you think? [Gartner Research via BusinessWire | IDC Research via Reuters] [Image Credit]

This initial $900 Z5610 also lacks the built-in Blu-ray drive or TV tuner we saw in our April preview. If you're after an all-in-one that doubles as a TV, you might be better off looking at HP's TouchSmart 600 or Sony's Vaio L. The $1400 Gateway ZX6800 has a TV tuner, but not Blu-ray.

In terms of looks, the Z5610 holds its own. An ambient lighting strip between the display and sound bar illuminates the keyboard in the dark, and the PC's chrome legs create room to stow away the keyboard and tilt the display 10-20 degrees.

The rest of the specs are pretty basic, though: 4GB DDR3-800 RAM (expandable to 8GB), 320GB hard disk, 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics, SuperMulti optical drive, 6 USB slots, and one eSATA port. You also get 802.11n and Gigabit networking, plus a bundled wireless keyboard and mouse.

Underpowered, yes. But not bad for the price. The Aspire Z5610 arrives sometime before Christmas for $800.

According to PC Pro, the Aspire 5738PG's display is bright, sharp, vivid, and with only "some very slight horizontal lines." That sound decent for a 3D laptop, but we'll see once it hits shelves on October 22, as we expected. No word on pricing yet, nor whether more fashionable 3d glasses will be available. [PC Pro]

Between this quarter and the next, we can finally pass Dell

Not only that, they think they can "breach the gap" with HP as well. [WSJ]

Finally materializing after months of agonizingly vague promises of Androidery, The Liquid A1 is a capacitive-screen WVGA touch phone, set to run Android 1.6 Donut—the first build of the OS to support nonstandard (read: G1) resolutions, among other things—as well as a custom social-networking-centric interface, a la HTC's Sense.

The software details are annoyingly sparing, as are the hardware specs, which for now include expected HSDPA connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera and GPS, but we really know pretty much all we need to at this point: the 1GHz processor and accompanying 3D chipset will make this the first truly fast Android phone, almost regardless of what software Acer shoulders it with to slow it down. In other words, your Android will do what you want it to, when your finger tells it to, and it will be glorious. Whenever and wherever this thing drops, that is. [Acer via Slashgear]

The Future has arrived with Acer Liquid

Acer introduces its new smartphone "Liquid" series: the world's first Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor based and world's first Android™ 1.6 high definition smartphone, combining cutting-edge technologies, software innovation and an ultra-fluid user interface to create an all-new mobile experience. It is the ideal solution for users demanding the best from their devices, and in particular outstanding multimedia, web browsing, social media integration and video streaming. It also brings smartphone product design forward with its unique and modern style.

Finally something different
Acer Liquid is the first Wide-VGA smartphone in the market benefiting from the latest release of the Android™ 1.6 Operating System (aka Donut) and the first Android™ smartphone in the market equipped with the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor.

This platform brings to market unique benefits for the end users and paves the way for a new wave of innovations from the developer community:

* With its High Definition capacitive touch screen (Wide VGA), Acer Liquid offers today an unparalleled experience when watching pictures or videos. But it also holds a promise for the future: the promise of an abundance of new applications on Android™ Smart Handhelds - games, professional applications and web applets that will enrich the end user experience. Now developers can be assured that their investment will build upon a standard resolution for the years to come;
* Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, Acer Liquid provides instant access to web pages, smooth streaming of videos or music , and instant response from popular mail, maps and search applications. The high-speed processing capability and high-speed internet access (HSPA) of Snapdragon™ brings to life the Android™ experience: no idle-time, almost instant uploads of web pages and downloads of rich multimedia contents. The developer community can now take full advantage of these capabilities to bring to market innovative applications that demand raw computing power and superior handling of 3D graphics.

Unique software enhancements
Acer Liquid also bolsters a set of unique features developed by Acer and its partners:

* Improved power management to help achieve longer battery autonomy for intense users;
* A new user interface with easy access to entertainment and web bookmarks;
* An optimized camera with geo-tagging, ISO, self-timer options and accelerated auto-focus performance;
* Exclusive Spinlets™ application providing free streaming of worldwide music and video, that can be shared with friends and family through web-posting or e-mail;
* Smart integration of Facebook™, Twitter™, Youtube™, Picasa™ and Flickr™ in the address book, with realtime notification of status or content updates.

A refreshing alternative to square shapes
With ellipse curves, a choice of red, white and black colors, and a slim body shape, Liquid will please style-seeking consumers. Designed for ergonomy, Liquid fits well in the hand, and displays a smooth finish. The fluidity of its curves gives the Acer Liquid its unique character and unconventional style.

While the original 11.6 inch notebook was a part of the Aspire One netbook family, this model now has a 1.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 ULV processor rather than an Intel Atom (which for those who aren't down with the minis, is found in most netbooks). That will pump up its performance; it can now handle full 1080p HD video and has an HDMI port to prove it. And along with a 6-cell battery it should still run for more than 8 hours on a charge. Its 320GB hard drive will boot Windows 7 Home Premium.

Besides swapping out the Atom CPU, the Timeline lost its netbook genes in price. It will start at $600. That is almost double what the original Aspire One cost (some models are around $249 now). Ultimately, the Timeline AS1810TZ is faced with the same question we all are: what is a netbook these days? [Acer]

Acer Adds New 11.6-Inch Model to Aspire Timeline Notebook Series; Expands Entire Line with Dual-Core Processors for Enhanced Power, Performance

Latest Aspire Timeline series offers style and performance with eight hours of battery life, Windows 7, and a sleek, thin and light design

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world's third largest manufacturer of notebook PCs (1), today expands its Aspire Timeline series of all day computing (3) notebooks with a new 11.6-inch model that is ideal for road warriors and ultraportable enthusiasts.

In addition, the company announced today that it has expanded its entire line of Acer Aspire Timeline series notebooks with models that feature Windows 7 and new Intel CULV dual-core processors for enhanced performance and functionality. The lines starts at just $549.99 (MSRP) and the line comes in several color choices including a new chic, yet subtle "espresso" color for the 15.6-inch model.

The new Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810TZ 11.6-inch notebook brings the promise of all day computing to a new ultraportable size. This new notebook offers users elegant styling, great performance and advanced functionality in a thin and light design. Boasting an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, a full-size keyboard, HD audio/visual enjoyment, advanced wireless connectivity and 8 plus hours(3) of computing time, the notebooks are ideal for road warriors and anyone who needs to be connected and productive while on-the-go.

All day computing is made easy with the Aspire Timeline series. On just a single charge, consumers can remain productive and entertained from morning to night, making it easier to get more done while travelling and working remotely.

"Acer is providing consumers with the best of all worlds with the new 11.6-inch Timeline – an affordable ultraportable that delivers long battery life and great performance in a compact and stylish design," said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. "By adding dual-core processors to the entire line, we've taken affordable mobile computing solutions to a new level."

Dual-Core Processors Add Power and Energy Efficiency to All Day Computing
The new Aspire Timeline series is more powerful, energy-efficient and light. All of the new notebooks feature Intel dual-core ultra-low voltage processors, allowing users to take advantage of great performance while saving energy, enabling longer battery life and generating less heat. Several of the notebooks feature Intel's Laminar Wall Jet technology that allows air to be jet cooled and redirected along the bottom of the system, making the notebooks cooler to the touch.

A single charge to the standard high-capacity 6-cell Li-ion battery gives users eight hours of battery life (3), allowing all day, on-the-go computing. Convenience features such as the PowerSmart button also help save valuable battery consumption. A simple push of the button enters the notebook into power saving mode. Another push and the notebooks are quickly ready for maximum performance. Additionally, the Acer PowerSmart Adapter senses when the notebook is fully charged and stops consuming energy.

Mobile Computing that is Both Stylish and Practical
With prices starting at $549.99, the new Timeline series models offers something for everyone – road warriors, families or students. The notebooks offer users a range of choices in size and color.

The new Timeline AS1810 is the thinnest and lightest of the new notebooks, weighing only 3.08 pounds with an 11.6-inch display. For those in need of a slightly larger mobile system, the AS3810 weighs 3.5 pounds and offers a 13.3-inch display while the AS4810 adds an optical drive and 14-inch display and weighs 4.4 pounds. For those in need of an even larger screen with optical drive and dedicated numeric keypad, the AS5810 weighs 5.3 pounds and features a 15.6-inch screen.

At its slimmest point, all models are less than one-inch thin, and just over one-inch at their thickest. This thin and lightweight design enhances the notebooks' mobility, making them easy to carry in a backpack, briefcase, laptop carrying case, or even a purse.

The elegant, high-tech design also provides solid protection to the display and internal components. The system is also lead- and mercury-free, making it easier to recycle. The new Timeline notebooks come in a variety of colors (depending on the model), including Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue, Brushed Aluminum and the new Espresso.

Enhanced Performance to Maximize Mobile Capabilities
The new Timeline notebooks pack powerful performance and features in a small package. In addition to the Intel CULV dual-core processors, the notebooks feature ample memory for multitasking and large hard drives for quickly storing and retrieving files.

Usability is significant in the design of these notebooks. The Timeline features high-definition CineCrystal LED-backlit widescreen displays (16:9 ratio) that bring superb color and motion to any digital media while being energy efficient. Additionally, full size keyboards make computing easier and more comfortable.

Keep in touch easily by accessing email, browsing the web or connecting to a social network with 802.11b/g Draft-N wireless or Gigabit Ethernet LAN. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam and digital microphone delivers smooth video and voice quality for real-time video streaming, online chatting, and video conferences. Consumers can also enjoy surround sound music and video sound with the Dolby Sound Room from headphones or stereo speakers.

A Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to pinch, flick and swirl their fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. The TouchPad can also be disabled with a one-touch button, eliminating accidental cursor movement with palms and wrists when using an external mouse.

The Timeline family of notebooks also includes a backup button that lets consumers easily select and protect their irreplaceable digital files through regular scheduled backups or on an as-needed basis. Data can be backed up to an external hard drive, flash card, thumb drive or to a secure hidden partition on their PC.

Additionally, the addition of the new Windows 7 Home Premium makes mobile computing more reliable and responsive, enhancing the user experience.

Configurations, Pricing and Availability
Available October 22, the Acer Aspire Timeline series includes numerous models within the 11.6-inch AS1810, 13.3-inch AS3810, 14-inch AS4810 and 15.6-inch AS5810 lines. A sample configuration from each is listed below.

Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810T-8679
* Intel® Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* 11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
* Mobile Intel®GS45 Express Chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4096MB DDR2 Dual-Channel 667MHz memory
* 320GB(2) 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* Integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam
* Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
* Dolby Sound Room® Audio Enhancement
* Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
* Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Full –size Acer FineTip keyboard
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
* 3.08 lbs.
* 11.2" (W) x 0.87" to 1.18" (H) x 8.03" (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $599.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737
* Intel® Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* 13.3-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
* Mobile Intel®GS45 Express Chipset
* Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
* 500GB(2) 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* Integrated HD webcam
* Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
* 2nd Generation Dolby Sound Room® Audio Enhancement
* Intel® WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
* 3.5 lbs.
* 12.7" (W) x 0.9" to 1.1" (H) x 9.0" (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $799.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810TZ-4508
* Intel Pentium® Dual-Core Processor SU4100 (1.30GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* 14-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
* Mobile Intel®GS45 Express Chipset
* Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
* 320GB(2) 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* 8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
* Integrated HD webcam
* Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
* 2nd Generation Dolby Sound Room® Audio Enhancement
* Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
* 4.4 lbs.
* 13.3" (W) x 0.9" to 1.1" (H) x 9.44" (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $649.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS5810TZ-4784
* Intel Pentium® Dual-Core Processor SU4100 (1.30GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* 15.6-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
* Mobile Intel®GS45 Express Chipset
* Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
* 320GB(2) 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* 8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
* Integrated HD webcam
* Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
* 2nd Generation Dolby Sound Room® Audio Enhancement
* Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi certified
* 4 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
* 5.3 lbs.
* 14.9" (W) x 0.97" to 1.16" (H) x 10.2" (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $649.99

Besides its long ass model number, the 15.6-inch Aspire AS5738PG has a capacitive multitouch screen. However, unlike HP's TouchSmart or Lenovo's SimpleTap, Acer doesn't include a touch optimized user interface of its own on top of Windows 7. Nevertheless, it will be capable of the typical multitouch gestures, including pinching to zoom and two finger scrolling.

For $800 you also get some pretty decent specs: an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, ATI Radeon HD 4570 graphics, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive with 64-bit Windows 7 Premium. Since the multitouch doesn't add too much to the price it may just be worth trying out, I just wonder how long it will take until you forget that you can put your fingers on the screen. [Acer]

ACER’S FIRST NOTEBOOK WITH TOUCHSCREEN CAPABILITIES DELIVERS HANDS-ON IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Launching with Windows 7, the new Aspire AS5738PG Multi-touch screen Notebook Delivers Incredible New Functionality, High-Performance Features, and Mobile Entertainment

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 9, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world’s third largest PC company (Source: Gartner data, 4Q 2008),(1) today debuts its new Acer Aspire 5738PG notebook PC – the company’s first notebook with multi-touch screen capabilities that offer a natural and enhanced way to interact with the PC, applications and digital data.

The Acer Aspire 5738PG multi-touch screen notebook launches with Microsoft Windows 7 Premium and will be available starting October 22 at select retailers.

The Acer Aspire 5739PG’s high-quality multi-touch screen display and Microsoft Windows 7 multi-touch support makes entertainment and multimedia experiences more intuitive and interactive. As a result, customers can touch anywhere on the screen using one or two fingertips to play movies, zoom in and out on websites, edit photos and video, handwrite notes, resize windows, launch entertainment applications and more.

Also, customers can use multi-touch screen for a variety of gestures directly on the screen for intuitive and accurate access and control. For example, customers can pinch inward or outward to zoom in and out of photos, flick the screen to turn the page and browse through media and documents, as well as swirl their finger for quick and simple navigation of lists.

“Customers will experience an incredible level of flexibility and control in the multi-touch screen interface, as it frees them to interact with their digital world a way that is familiar yet also new and exciting,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. “The Acer Aspire 5738PG’s multi-touch experience takes advantage of the many new support in Windows 7 and provides incredibly powerful first-rate technology such as ATI Mobility Radeon graphics and Intel Core 2 Duo processor.”

Sawall continued, “Until now, touch notebooks have been limited in capabilities, which is something that’s changed with multi-touch screen capabilities. And while touch-screen models used to be out of the price range of most consumers, we’ve dramatically reduced the price premium associated with the new Acer Aspire 5738PG, so it’s more affordable to a wider range of customers.”

Impressive Mobile Theater Entertainment
More than the sum of its touch points, the Acer Aspire 5738PG notebook combines first-rate technologies that deliver excellent performance for mobile theater entertainment and mainstream games.

The display was designed to provide an extraordinary cinematic experience that is immersive and incredibly realistic. The vibrant HD display is a 16:9 widescreen size that’s ideal for enjoying movies and online entertainment. Plus, it’s LED-backlit, which reduces energy usage and along with the 1366x768-resolution, contributes to the display’s crisp clear visuals. As a result, it’s ideal for enjoying HD movies and touch-control is remarkably precise.

Complementing the HD display, the system’s Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides the horsepower to drive demanding applications flawlessly, while the high-definition ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4570 Graphics with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM graphics enhance imagery with vivid color and crisp detail. Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement with built-in speakers and 5.1-channel surround sound output brings these incredible visuals to life with vibrant crisp audio.

Technology and Extras for On-the-Go Productivity and Fun
Customers will have plenty of ways to access, store, share and enjoy their digital media files. It’s spacious 320GB hard drive can store a vast library of music, video, photos, spreadsheets and email. An integrated multi-in-one media reader enables connection to peripherals and electronic devices, while an HDMI port allows the system to support any PC or TV video format via a single cable. The four USB 2.0 ports provide ample connections to peripherals and consumer electronics.

Staying in touch is fun and convenient with the notebook’s integrated 802.11a/g/b/Draft-N wireless technology and Gigabit Ethernet. The Acer Crystal Eye webcam enables high-quality video chats and VoIP with friends, family and work associates. It can also capture still pictures and videos for sharing with others.

Hardware and Design Enhances the Touch Experience
The overall multi-touch screen experience is further enhanced by giving customers more ways to interact with their notebook through the multi-gesture touchpad. Affording easy PC navigation, the new Aspire 5738PG’s multi-gesture touchpad lets users access their applications and media with the same sort of natural, intuitive gestures they can use on the touch screen, including pinch, flick and swirl. The convenient Touchpad lock can be set to prevent unintended cursor movement.

The new Acer Aspire 5738PG multi-touch screen notebook also comes with helpful and easy-to-use one-touch buttons: the Acer Backup Manager for backing-up important files and information, and the PowerSmart button for maximizing battery life.

Availability, Configurations and Pricing
The Acer® Aspire AS5738PG-6306 notebook is the first model available in the line. It will be available for U.S. customers with Microsoft Windows 7 Premium beginning Oct. 22 at leading retailers. Specifications and pricing follow.

The Acer Aspire AS5738PG-6306 is available in Acer’s popular Gemstone Blue color.

Acer® Aspire AS5738PG-6306 Multi-Touch Screen Notebook PC

* 15.6-Inch HD CineCrystal™ LED-Backlit Multi-touch screen Display (Widescreen 16.9 Aspect Ratio, 1366x768 resolution)
* Microsoft Windows 7 Premium 64-bit
* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 (2.2GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
* ATI Radeon™ HD 4570 Graphics with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM
* 4GB DDR2 667MHz Dual Channel Memory
* 320GB SATA Hard Drive(2)
* 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
* Dedicated numeric keypad
* Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ network connection, featuring MIMO technology, supporting Acer SignalUp™ with Nplify™3, 4 wireless technology
* Two built-in stereo speakers with Dolby®10-optimized surround sound system
* Acer Crystal Eye webcam, with 640 x 480 supporting Acer PrimaLite™ technology
* HDMI port and four USB 2.0 ports
* Energy Star
* 6.16 lbs with 6-cell battery
* MSRP: $799.99

Other specs are unchanged from the current model, including 1GB memory, 160GB hard disk, and an on screen resolution of 1024 x 600 driven by Intel GMA graphics. No Nvidia Ion graphics, and no 3G…yet.

Meanwhile, Acer Japan has just confirmed an updated version of the D250. It runs Windows 7 Starter Edition, bumps the resolution up to 1280 by 720, and costs Y46,800 (about $553). It will be available there when Windows 7 arrives on October 22, but there's no word on when it will come to the U.S. [Netbooked and PC World]