Acer Iconia W500 Windows tablet (hands-on)

Tablets are big news, but that usually means Apple's iPad, Android tablets, or even the BlackBerry Playbook. Windows, by far the largest operating system on consumer PCs, has been largely left out in the cold.

Acer Iconia W500 Windows tablet (photos)

It's ironic, as Windows tablets have been around for years, in the form of slates and convertible laptops with touch-screen lids that rotate and fold down over the keyboard. To date, none of these has been terribly successful, largely because they failed on both the software and hardware fronts. The Windows OS is simply not designed for fingertip (or even stylus) input, and the CPUs used to power most Windows tablets have been so underpowered as to make these devices mostly useless.
Stepping into the ring following the launch Apple's second-generation iPad is the Acer Iconia W500. Similar to Lenovo's (still MIA U1) Hybrid and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, the 10.1-inch W500 consists of a touch-screen slate and a separate keyboard dock. When combined, the two halves form something close to a traditional laptop. The W500 is $549 with Windows 7 Home Premium, or $619 with Windows 7 Professional. Both versions have 2GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD. Acer also has a dockless Android version, called the A500.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

In the case of the Acer W500, our initial impressions are of a series of good ideas, undone by half-baked physical design. After struggling with docking, undocking, and folding down the W500, it's clear that if any designers at Apple presented this product to Steve Jobs, they'd quickly find themselves reassigned as the night janitor at an Apple store in Siberia.
As a standalone slate, the W500 is actually better than average, based on our years of Windows tablet frustrations. Powered by AMD's 1GHz dual-core C-50 processor, the touch screen was responsive, and dragging a finger down the screen actually resulted in something close to satisfactory scrolling--a task many Windows tablets seem to especially have trouble with.

Taking a lesson from the 14-inch dual-screen Iconia laptop (which is really a very fun machine to play with), Acer includes a few custom tablet-oriented apps. As on the larger Iconia, tapping down with five fingertips on the screen brings up a jogwheel-like menu, which grants access to finger-friendly apps such as a social media browser and augmented Web browser. The TouchBrowser, as it's called, is easier to use than a standard Web browser, but like all the touch apps, it took forever to launch--a big letdown if you're used to iPad apps that launch almost instantaneously.
The separate keyboard dock has shallow but acceptable island-style keys, and a trackpoint for onscreen navigation. We'd much prefer a touch pad, even a tiny one, especially as the left and right mouse buttons for the trackpoint are so narrow and mounted right on the front lip of the keyboard dock. As the W500 lacks Bluetooth (a large omission for a tablet), the keyboard only works when connected to the tablet though its proprietary plug.
And therein lies the biggest problem with the Acer W500. When the screen and keyboard are connected, it looks much like any other 10-inch laptop. So much so, that it feels like you should be able to simply fold it shut, like any other clamshell design. But, you can't.

A close-up view of the instructions for detaching the screen and closing the clamshell.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

To close the system, you must pull the screen straight up, detaching it from the keyboard, and then close a flap on the keyboard dock that covers the docking connection. From there, the screen is placed on top of the keyboard, face down, where a small magnet in one corner holds it in place (sort of). Finally, a physical latch on the front lip of the dock has to get pushed into place. After all that, you have something that looks pretty much like a closed laptop, although if it's not handled exactly right, the two halves will come apart.
To take the closed system and convert it back to a faux laptop, the steps must be reversed, which is, if that's even possible, a more awkward exercise. It also means the system is literally impossible to either open or close one-handed.
Taken apart from its dock, the slate part of the W500 works about as well, if not better, than other Windows tablets we've tested over the years. Even with the low-power processor, we were able to stream Netflix video and scroll through Web pages with a minimum of stuttering. Using the built-in Windows onscreen keyboard, however, remains a challenge.
This post represents our initial hands-on impressions after unboxing and using the system for several hours. We're currently running the Acer Iconia W500 through our standard benchmark tests, so check back for more on performance, battery life, and a full review.

Google Earth trots onto Android-based tablets

Google Earth has been going places and that too,quiteliterally. Allowing tech enthusiasts to traverse across diverse locations on the planet with a few clicks, the software seems pretty popular amongst adventures.

With the soaring popularity of tablets, the company has now optimized Google Earth for Android to deliver a seamless trotting experience on multifarious digital slates, reports a post on the official Google Mobile blog.
Google Earth for Android-powered tablets is said to paint refined and fully textured 3D images on their screens. It will infuse a new action bar at the top of the display which renders easy access to search. This bar is also expected to stretch out the ‘fly to your location’ option with layers such as Wikipedia, Panoramio photos, Places and 3D buildings.
The aforesaid introductions have been touted to offer higher levels of gratification, facilitating users to fly across a landmark location even as they browse through Panoramio photos. It has been stated that the visuals pop up within the imagery for ensuring seamless a trip for users. This feature makes it possible for them to move back and forth between pages.
This version of Google Earth for Android is compatible with tablets powered by Éclair and above. Besides, the new tablet design has been crafted for Honeycomb-enabled devices.

Motorola XPRT, Titanium Android Phones for Businesses: Sprint

Sprint introduced the Motorola XPRT and Titanium Android smartphones, which are designed for business and world travelers. Both have touch-screens and full QWERTY keyboards.

Sprint May 5 introduced two new Android smartphones, the Motorola XPRT and Motorola Titanium, the successor to the rugged Motorola i1 that Sprint rolled out last year.

Designed explicitly for business travelers, the smartphones are departures from Sprint's recent Android-based phone fare, which include the Kyocera Echo, whose dual screens lent themselves well to multimedia consumption, and the Samsung Nexus S 4G smartphone, which is coming May 8.

Powered by a 1GHz processor, the Android 2.2-based Motorola XPRT sports a 3.1-inch HVGA (half-size VGA) display that won't be mistaken for the quarter high-definition touch-screen of the Motorola Atrix 4G. However, users may still choose to browse the Web on the XPRT's display and enjoy full pinch-to-zoom capabilities.

Others may prefer the XPRT's full QWERTY keyboard, which is important for many workers accustomed to texting from a Research In Motion Blackberry or some other keyboard-dominant device while traveling.

Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for corporate and personal email are supported by the XPRT, which also has a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and a 2GB memory card, expandable up to 32GB.

Following Verizon Wireless' Motorola Droid Pro, the XPRT includes not only 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption but IT administrative controls, such as remote pin and password locks, password recovery and data wipes.

The phone supports Code Division Multiple Access (Evolution-Data Optimized Revision A), GSM/UMTS (High-Speed Packet Access) for international roaming in over 200 countries, and has a 1,860-mAh lithium-ion battery, and allows access to Sprint's 3G mobile hotspot for connecting up to 5 WiFi-enabled computing gadgets.

Sprint will begin selling Motorola XPRT June 5, in Sprint stores, online, and by phone and business sales for $129.99 with a two-year service contract. The XPRT requires Sprint's Everything Data plans, which start at $69.99 plus a $10 premium data surcharge for smartphones.

The Sprint Worldwide Voice add-on for $4.99 a month will entitle subscribers to discounted rates in more than 100 countries.

The Android 2.1-based Motorola Titanium leverages Sprint's "sub-second" push-to-talk capabilities. Like the XPRT, the Titanium has a 3.2-inch touch-screen and a full QWERY keyboard.

Following in the footsteps of its Android 1.5-based Motorola i1 predecessor, the Titanium is certified to Military Specification 810G for dust, shock, vibration, low pressure, solar radiation, and high and low temperatures.

There is as yet no pricing or availability information for the Motorola Titanium, which also has a 5MP camera, a microSD slot with a 2GB memory card, expandable to 32GB and a 1,820-mAh lithium ion battery.

 

Android alternatives to iPad 2

THE much-anticipated iPad 2 finally came to Singapore last week. However, while the Apple tablet hogged the limelight, a number of equally interesting and feature-rich tablets based on the Android OS have also been launched.
At the top of the heap are the Acer Iconia Tab A500 and the Motorola Xoom, both 10.1-inch tablets with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), followed by the Sony S1 and S2 tablets, and, finally, the HTC Flyer. The Iconia Tab A500 and the Xoom have many common features. Both are powered by dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 CPUs and come with 32GB of internal memory and 1GB of RAM.
Both are Wi-Fi-only devices, although the Xoom has a 3G version which is not yet available here. The webcam and the camera are 2-megapixel and 5-megapixel respectively. The screen resolution of both tablets is 1280x800.
However, the A500 has a sharper screen and a functional microSD slot, whereas the Xoom's microSD slot will work only after a software upgrade, which is currently not available.
The A500 also seems faster and has a cleaner and neater design. But the Xoom appears to be more sturdily constructed. It is also lighter and has a longer battery life.
Price-wise, the A500 comes out ahead as it is about $90 cheaper. So, which tablet should one choose?
Motorola, after winning accolades at the International Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, has not followed through with important software upgrades, like the microSD functionality. Small wonder that the Xoom did not sell well in the United States.
Acer, in contrast, seems to be more on top of things. It shipped its product with all the important features ready.
One point to note is that Honeycomb is a new version of the Android OS, so there are few applications in the Android Market tailored for it. For example, a video player like Vital Player (available for Android 2.2 devices) does not work on Honeycomb devices.
Unlike the 10.1-inch tablets, HTC's Flyer uses Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). The 7-inch Flyer has a pen-and-touch user interface. It is unclear which market segment HTC is targeting - smartphone users who want more features or tablet adopters who seek full multimedia functionality.
There is little doubt that 7-inch devices are more portable and usable - such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab, the best Android tablet in that category - but, at the same time, the tablet market seems to be moving towards 10-inch devices and the Honeycomb OS.
Meanwhile, Sony's S1 is optimised for rich media entertainment, while the S2 is tailored for mobile communication and entertainment. Both tablets are compatible with Wi-Fi and 3G/4G, and use Android 3.0.
The S1 has a 9.4-inch display and the S2 has two 5.5-inch displays which can be folded like a book. The dual screens can be combined and used as a large screen or used separately for different applications.
How much: Motorola ($888), HTC ($1,068), Acer ($799), Sony (price not announced).

Spice to launch dual SIM Android phone

Spice Mobility, which is focusing on internet ready mobiles, will launch India's first dual SIM Android phone this week.
Dilip Modi, managing director, Spice Mobility, said to 'The Mobile Indian', "In this week we will launch MI 270, India's first Android based dual SIM phone. It will have a number of pre-loaded free applications to address the digital lifestyle of youth, and it will be priced at around Rs 9,000."
He further said, "MI 270 will be a dual camera phone based on Android 2.1. It will have a 3.7 inch capacitive screen. The phone will have a chipset from Media Tek and will have processor speed of 600 MHz."
The new device is to be available across the country at Spice Hotspots and other retail chains.
Meanwhile, Spice Mobility plans to provide affordable Android devices to Indian consumers to surf the net. At present, around 27 per cent of total mobile users in India use the internet on their handsets and by 2015 the figure will have swollen to around 75 per cent.
Currently, Spice has two Android devices, Spice Mi-300 and Spice Mi-310.
Mi-300 is an Android 2.1 based phone with an 8 cm capacitive touchscreen. It has support for 3.5G and HSPA. The handset has a 5 mega pixel camera, Wifi, GPS and AGPS. It also has Google messaging service with push mail.
Spice Mi-310 is based on Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system. The touchscreen phone has GPS, AGPS and Wifi hotspot functionality that can support up to five Wifi enabled devices.

The dual camera phone will be based on Android 2.1, with a 3.7 inch capacitive screen, and it will be powered by a 600 MHz processor.

Its looks will kill

The Xperia Arc is a premium Google Android handset by Sony Ericsson that’s built to compete with the likes of HTC’s Incredible S and the Samsung-Google co-branded Nexus S cell phones. Though dual-core devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S II and HTC’s Sensation are almost upon the Indian market, the Arc

and its ilk are currently the best Android phones available worldwide.

The Arc is a stylish phone that’s impressively slim. The curved back is well designed and fits comfortably in the hands. Wrapping your fingers around the phone is as comfortable as curling them around your favourite pint of beer. The fact that we don’t say that about most cell phones says a lot about this Xperia.

The front side sports a huge 4.2-inch capacitive touchscreen that sports a resolution of 854x480 pixels. SE prefers to call this feature a ‘Reality Display’. In terms of screen clarity, it’s a bit short of the iPhone’s ‘Retina Display’ at 960x640, but the difference isn’t drastic. Besides, the larger real estate on the Arc makes all the difference as far as utility value is concerned.

Three buttons at the base of the screen let you step backward, and invoke the application and right-click menus. They’re perfect for finding your way around the interface, firing up applications and changing settings. However, buttons are too tiny for comfort and inconvenient to use in the dark.

HDMI equipped
The top of the phone sports a micro-HDMI output, and there’s a stereo output (with microphone support) on the left. The power on/off at the top is also pint-sized and difficult to access. Thankfully, you won’t be using it much except to lock the screen or restart the device. The second biggest feature on the Arc is that it comes preloaded with the latest version of the Android operating system – v2.3 aka Gingerbread. The OS features a better user interface compared to its predecessor v2.2 Froyo, a more intuitive and accurate text input via the virtual keyboard and better copy-paste functionality amongst other features.

Overview mode
Sony’s little improvements also make a significant difference. For instance, there are five homescreens available where you can pin your favourite applications. You can even add live widgets for Facebook, Twitter and the like, which will instantaneously show new updates as long as you’re connected to the Internet. However, expect battery life to get reduced and be very careful if you’re using a limited data plan. The photos widget on the homescreen is quite convenient – you can choose to display photo albums of your choice and rotate through your pictures directly from the homescreen. There’s also an overview feature that lets you pinch the entire screen to show all five homescreens at once. It’s something like the Expose feature on Mac OS X 10.5 onwards.

The large screen is great for surfing the web and viewing multimedia. The mobile browser works well and can display Flash websites too. But it’s the camera on this device that’s the real deal. With Sony’s Exmor R image sensor, the Arc can capture images at 8.1 megapixels and record video in high definition (720p). Photo quality is very good. Images are sharp and with balanced colours even in low lighting. Videos too are crisp and detailed. You can also adjust a host of settings, including the white balance, exposure and metering. You can even tap the screen to focus on an area or click a photo. The only fly in the ointment is the badly placed shutter button on the lower right of the device.

Samsung, AT&T to Host NYC Event - Next Phone to Be Announced?

It seems that a wave of invitations just went out for an event in NYC on May 5, to be hosted jointly by Samsung and AT&T. The invitations themselves don’t give away any detail about what they’ll be announcing, leaving us all to speculate about what phone they’ll be promoting.

For now, the smart money appears to be on the Infuse 4G, Samsung’s next super-phone, which has already passed the FCC test (as well as its loose release date of April 2011). But there’s also speculation that the announcement will be about the Nexus S “Pure Google phone” branded for AT&T.

Your thoughts?