Acer Liquid slips through human fingers, but not before divulging new specs (updated)
By Ross Miller 
posted October 16th 2009 2:42AM
posted October 16th 2009 2:42AM
Update: We finally have the first images (above) showing Acer's customized Android UI and social networking integration (after the break) courtesy of HDBlog.it. It not quite the full-blown replacement a la HTC Sense, but they've clearly brought a new bag of tricks in an attempt to make the vanilla OS experience Acer-unique.
[Thanks, Josh]
You know, android is still not interesting me, it has to be skinned, it has widgets, its just not that impressive. I do not get what the hype is about.
I agree, it still seems cheap to me. Like using Open Office, instead of Microsoft's Office Suite. I like my products more polished I guess.
Try something like blur or hero, and you'll see what the fuss is about. Using it with Google Voice is incredible. I upgraded from my old iPhone 2G to a T-Mobile G1 and I could never go back. The Android you see in the pictures is the old Stock version and doesn't compare to the new stuff.
its not about the skin, but about the power end the functionality
The interesting thing about Android isn't its looks, it wont win a beauty contest
BUT
what is interesting is what you can do with it as an OS. Right now, when I get an SMS it's backed up to a server (as an email message). That means I always have a backup and I can actually read messages if I leave my phone at home. That's not amazing, but it's useful and the design of the OS allows you to hook into standard events like that and add your own functionality. Not only can you add functionality you can also make it the default functionality. Don't like the standard SMS app? Change it, make it ChompSMS.
I still have my iphone but I don;t realy use it, my aging G1 is still my phone of choice and although this looks like a really nice phone I wont be buying it. I want a physical keyboard.
I think part of it is the fact that you can do those things so easily. And that the developer (Google) encourages/supports it. Try making something like the Sense UI on the iPhone. Someone actually made it but it was awful compared to the real Sense UI on the Hero.
It's the fact that the OS itself is very stable and open, which makes it easy for other phone companies to modify it and improve upon it. Google's taking an approach similar to what Microsoft did with Windows. It's licensing the software out to phone manufacturers and letting them do what they want with it. All Google has to worry about is providing excellent support for developers and they're golden.
Just wondering but have you actually tried the OS? I personally wouldn't say that the OS has to be skinned; I actually am quite fond of the stock ROM.
I suppose it may merely be a personal preference though, as I prefer Android to all the other smartphone OS's despite its current lacking in certain functions(like integrated pdf reader). I'd say that my personal favorite thing about it is that it's very easy to use and yet it's not so simple that it bores me. Basically, it's fun to use, which is a really important factor.
But I'll agree with the statement of it being unpolished from my experience with my G1: the first problem being the terrible battery life . Actually I don't even use my G1 anymore because I can't seem to last through a day with it since I tend to use my phone a lot for web browsing and the such. Since then I've switched to S60v3 which is certainly a lot more functional but seriously lacks the ease of use that Android has. And really, it's just downright boring(not to mention ugly even after using some themes).
That being said, once my contract's over I'm sure I'll be going back to Android assuming that things like battery life get addressed(and hopefully by then there'll be some phones that are nearly as aesthetically pleasing as my E71). Realistically though, even if the functionality is still lacking, I'd still take it over other smartphone OS's just because I find it enjoyable to use. The iPhone wasn't such a big hit because it was more functional than other OS's, it just was a lot easier, intuitive, and most importantly more enjoyable to use. I'm sure that there will always be a market for people who need business level capabilities, but I don't really think that's what Android's targeted to.
@Windows
Yeah because it's wrong for Google to protect it's own products.
HTC and other handset makers HAVE to pay to distribute those apps Google can't let just anyone come along and do the same.
Cyanogen knew this, eveyone knew it it was just a matter of time. Google's Android IS free and you can freely make you own ROMs compile then entire thing and install it. The thing you can't do is DISTRIBUTE applications that are under a different license. Why is that so hard to understand?
and just for the record I use Cyanogen's ROM and I'm most definately not a google fan boy.
"The Very Same ROMS's that can be cooked into, edited, and redistributed freely between WinMo builds?"
wtf are you on about?
Wow, you are so off i'm assuming you haven't used it. The iphone OS fails compared to Android and all the free apps available.
@Windows,
Yes, that's clearer.
The only way to reskin is to open the apk change the graphics and resign it. I don;t think anyone has modified the google apps other than that because there's no access to that code in the codebase.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Personally I use k9 for mail and OS maps for mapping so don;t have any issue with google less ROMs although the calendar/contacts sync is really immportant. Cyanogen has fixed this anyway by simply automating the extraction process from a legitimate ROM image.
Impressive indeed!!!:) Especially processor speed
Any handset maker can snap a fast processor. It is not
like Acer is inventing a new processor for their handset.
User wants to know how long the battery will last with
these processors. The handset makers putting 1ghz
processor never mention about their battery usage
and you wonder why.
With a faster processor tasks will be able to be completed faster, so because it will be being intensively used less it could theoretically have similar or better battery life than a slower processor. Not saying this is the case, but it's not out of the question.
SABRAGE@
Your assumption is incorrect. Laptop makers don't use desktop pc processors
for obvious reason. They consume too much power!
JT: Actually your assumption that the processors in phones and other mobile devices function similarly to desktop/laptop processors is incorrect. These processors use an extremely low amount of power when idle, so the more time spent idle the more battery life you have. The phrase "race to idle" is used to describe this effect.
bot@
This is not new. My 4 year old AMD chip do just that. Still the processor
is still the desktop processor and consume a lot more power than mobile
processors. Bottom line is you can't assume their power usage to be
very efficient. If they were handset makers would probably make a big
deal out of it.
@JT
What the fuck are you talking about? I was talking about the phone, not a laptop.
1700 Mhz please please please
I was thinking you were talking about the processor at first and was just about ready to downrank you seriously
Mhz(millions) is less that Ghz(Billions)
^ And 1 Ghz = 1000 Mhz which means 1700 Mhz = 1.7 Ghz ;)
he's talking about radio frequency, not cpu cylces.
isnt it obvious that he's talking about frequency? lol and Shevar, 1Ghz = 1024 Mhz
@nartoab Do you seriously think 1Ghz is 1024 Mhz? Since you're correcting someone else, you must know what you're talking abou right? Well you are completely, out of your mind wrong. 1Ghz is 10^9 Hertz.
Haha, I of course mean the 1700 Band so that T-Mobile can use it on their 3g.
what's that in the last photo?
do i hear something eating batteries?
paranoid android seems somehow appropriate. but..i'm drunk soooisd'sifd
yea live it up yo!
For a short video preview:
http://www.gpsandco.com/news/2009-10-16/id6053/Video-exclusive-du-smartphone-Android-Acer-Liquid/
They give the screen size: 3.5 inch. Probably the same panel as the N900 (which is pretty amazing BTW - best thing about that "phone").
Worst video ever, basically shows nothing. The least they could have odne is show how quickly some of the apps started up rather than showing us the back of it all the time.
As any other Acer, it's going to be pretty much affordable. And it's going to be a great competitor to HTC's (at least slightly) overpriced devices.
No skins, no shells, no extra software out of the box? Who cares when there's a big modding community and in a few weeks we'll see HTC's shells running on this device (and, hopefully, many other ones too)?
Try calling Acer for support...
My experience tells me they're not THAT bad actually. My first laptop was exactly Acer, and it worked well for approximately three years without any troubles at all. I got rid of it simply because it became completely obsolete by 2007. AFAIK it's with my remote relatives now and still works, albeit the battery's completely dead because of its age.
Of course no build quality like Apple or Sony or even FS, but still it was rather robust. I'm not a fanboy and if I had a tad more money back in 2004, I'd go for, say, Asus.
Seems to me same can be said about their netbooks (I used to have Aspire One but it didn't find any use with me) and PDAs/smartphones - affordable, simple, of agreeable quality, robust.
ok now just put it on AT&T and make it under $300 (thats reasonable right?)
acer on fire lately.
hope it comes released with the red cover. it looks so cool XD
This could really be an iphone killer!
I want this now! I hope its less than $500.00
An Android device powered by Snapdragon or better yet, Tegra with the Hero's SenseUI is the current Holy Grail for Android users. I can't freaking wait until a device like that comes stateside!
Dance With Shadows is listing more specs for this device.... If they are correct, ATT 3G compatible!
Processor: 1GHz Qualcomm QSD 8250
3.5 “WVGA (800 × 480) Capacitive Touchscreen Display
256 MB SDRAM / 512 MB FLASH
Messaging: MMS, SMS
WLAN: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Bluetooth® 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
HSDPA Category 8/ HSUPA Category 5 /UMTS (2100/1900/900 Mhz) EU
HSDPA Category 8/ HSUPA Category 5 /UMTS (2100/1900/850 Mhz) US
GSM: Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
GPRS/EDGE Class B
Integrated A-GPS
5 megapixel camera with autofocus
Accelerometer
Light sensor
3.5mm headphone jack
Capacitive buttons: Home, Search, Back, Menu
Hardware buttons: Volume Up, Volume Down, Camera, Power / Standby
Battery: Lithium Polymer rechargeable with 1.350 mAh capacity
Talk time: Up to 5 hours for WCDMA / Up to 6 hours for GSM
http://www.dancewithshadows.com/tech/acer-liquid-a1-photo-and-specifications/
The UI is certainly an improvement on the nasty ones they shipped with their WinMo phones.
Hey, what's that widget in the first photo with the clocks?
It looks like it controls WiFi, Bluetooth, Syncing, etc.
Thanks!
It's called the Power Control widget in Android 1.6, if you use Cyanogen's roms you can have it now otherwise you need to wait ntil 1. is pushed.
if only this had winmo 6.5...
/s
Has the ability to be one of the best phones to date! *Price and such determining*