A Closer Look at Acer's New 4.8'' Android Smartphone

On Tuesday, computer maker Acer announced the upcoming release of a new series of devices powered by Google's Android operating system, including a new smartphone that boasts a touchscreen larger than any other smartphone available on the market today.

According to the company, the new Acer handset, which doesn't have a market name at the moment, it seems, packs both smartphone and tablet PC capabilities in the same device, especially since considering its large 4.8-inch widescreen with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 1024 x 480 pixel resolution.

The screen comes with multi-touch capabilities, accompanied by 4 keys, namely Home, Search, Back, and Menu, and by a a 2MP front camera for video calling. On the back, the handset sports an 8-megapixel photo snapper with LED Flash.

“Its revolutionary design, characterized by a stretched out, thin and slightly curved shape, makes it a fascinating device that will not go unnoticed. Its full metal body, enriched by subtle wavy patterns, conveys a sense of timeless elegance,” Acer notes.

Moreover, the new handset is expected to fit perfectly in users' hands, courtesy of its smoothly curved back, and a minimal width (64mm).

“This truly innovative device is perfect for fashion addicts or tech savvy people looking for the latest and cutting edge technology available ensuring superior browsing and excellent multimedia entertainment,” the company continues.

The features list of this handset also includes a fast Android browser, with multi-touch, Java script optimization, Adobe Flash Player 10.1 support; as well as HSDPA @ 14.4, WiFi N, and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity options.

The new mobile phone is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, which should offer it increased performance levels. It also includes a 6-axis motion sensing (Gyroscope + accelerometer), and more.

Acer also touts the new smartphone as being capable to prove a great option for users interested in viewing movies on it while on the go, thanks to its 21:9 screen

“On the 21:9 screen you can watch a movie in its original format, for an engrossing cinema-like experience. What’s more the LED backlit display uses the same technology as TV showing super bright and vivid images; to top it off, Dolby Mobile technology delivers vibrant, immersive sound,” Acer notes.

“Not enough for you yet? Thanks to DLNA technology or the HDMI cable, you can connect it to your TV to view your content on an even bigger screen,” the company continues. The new device should be released on the market sometime in April next year.

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Nielsen: PCs More Desired than Consoles, iPads by Those Over 13

A new survey from the market research company Nielsen has revealed that among those children over the age of 13 the most interesting purchase for the next 6 months is a new computer, with the iPad from Apple in fourth place but more interesting than traditional mobile and handheld gaming consoles.

The survey was conducted among a sample of the general population in the United States during October 2010 and also included a separate desire chart for those who are between 6 and 12.

Among those over 13 a personal computer is the most attractive purchase, beating out the television set in second place and a new smart phone which is not made by Apple in third.

18 percent of those surveyed are interested in an iPad which edges out those who would like to get a Nintendo Wii, standing on 15%.

13 percent are interested in getting a PlayStation 3 in the next six months, with 9% ready to also drop the money needed to get the Move motion tracking system.

Over on the Microsoft front 9% are interested in getting a Xbox 360 and one percent less are also looking into buying a Kinect add on.

The current Nintendo DS family sits at 8 percent while the upcoming 3DS, the device which introduces three dimensional gaming without glasses, is at 6.

Only the PlayStation Portable is less interesting to potential buyers with the age over 13.

For those under 12 the iPhone is much more interesting and sits just ahead of the various Nintendo DS devices, which also have better percentages than in the over 13 age group.

Interestingly the PlayStation 3 and the Move are again ahead of the Xbox 360 and the Kinect but with wider margins among younger customers.

The Kinect is also more attractive than the console it works with, which could suggest that the Xbox 360 will no longer move the same amount of consoles it managed in October.

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Sony Ericsson Executive Talks About the PlayStation Phone

A senior executive from Sony Ericsson has suggested that the much rumored PlayStation Portable phone is real and that it could be officially announced soon as the company tries to attract customers away from Apple made products by offering a similar experience with a focus on gaming.

Bert Nordberg, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the joint Sony Ericsson smartphone business, has stated, “There's a lot of smoke, and I tell you there must be a fire somewhere.”

He added, “Sony has an extremely strong offering in the gaming market, and that's very interesting.”

A series of photos, very grainy and lacking any details, were leaked online recently, apparently showing a gaming devices which can double as a phone or a phone which also has significant video game related capabilities.

Initially Sony reacted strongly saying that all the photos are “definitely fake” but the company then changed its tune, saying that it will not comment on rumors and on speculation.

The most recent set of rumors talks about a Sony gaming capable phone which will be released under the Xperia brand and will run the Android operating system from Google, with Sony offering an application, presumably similar to iTunes and based upon the PlayStation Network, which will be powering the gaming side of the system.

At the moment the Sony made PlayStation Portable is continuing to sell well just on the Japanese market while seeing falling numbers in the United States and analysts are saying that the company needs to put out a new device which can compete with the Nintendo 3DS system, which is set to be released on February 26,2011.

Sony has not announced any device but numerous game developers have said that they have had time to evaluate the possibilities of the PSP 2 as Sony tries to make sure that as many game creators as possible create gaming experiences for the new platform.

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Asus U36 Ultra-Slim Notebook Challenges the MacBook Air, Packs NVIDIA Optimus

Competing against Apple in the field of ultra-thin notebooks is not exactly a very easy task, but it seems that the people over at Asus accepted it gladly, since they've just taken wraps off a new portable computing system that will certainly go directly against the MacBook Air in the coming months, namely the U36 model.

While the new U36 notebook from Asus doesn't really match the paper-thin dimensions of the MBA (who's just around 2.7 mm thick at its thinnest point), it's nevertheless one of the most ultra-portable and super-slim computing solutions released on the market over the past couple of months, given the fact that it's only 19mm thick and weighs only 1.44 kilograms (a feat partially achieved with the help of the U36's aluminum magnesium alloy case.

As TCMagazine informs us, similar to some of the other ultra-portable systems available on the market, the Asus U36 will come equipped with a 13.3-inch display, delivering a relatively standard 1366 x 768 pixels resolution with the help of the built-in NVIDIA graphics card.

And since we're reached this particular topic, it's also interesting to mention that Asus has also thrown in the mix the NVIDIA Optimus technology that automatically switches between integrated graphics and dedicated graphics card, thus helping the built-in 4-cell battery achieve up to 10 hours of operation.

In terms of processing power, we'll have to mention that the new Asus notebook will be based on Intel's Calpella platform (a choice of Core i3 or i5 CPUs will be available) and will also sport a dual-heatpipe cooler.

Sadly, no word on storage just yet, but we certainly hope Asus used an SSD on the U36, in order to keep it as thin as possible.

This is just about every bit of info available on the U36 for the time being, since the Taiwan-based manufacturer has not provided yet any significant details on either the pricing or the availability of this MacBook Air contender.

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Steve Jobs: We Won’t Sell iPads for $399 to Match TJ Maxx Price

Apple has no plans to drop the price on its tablet computer to match the competitive pricing announced by TJ Maxx last week, according to an email conversation between an Apple fan the Apple CEO, Steve Jobs.

In what is a typical news story involving the name of Apple’s chief executive officer, 9to5mac has obtained an email exchange between reader Josh and the CEO of Apple, where the former kindly asked Mr. Jobs to confirm whether Apple has any plans to match competitive prices for the iPad.

Based on a screenshot published by the web site, the conversation between Josh and Steve Jobs has been reproduced below:

Josh:

“Hey Steve!

If I walk into an Apple Store and ask for you to match TJ Maxx’s price, would you do it?

Is TJ Maxx even an authorized reseller?

Steve Jobs:

Nope. And nope.

Last week, reports emerged saying that the Framingham, MA-based chain of department stores was planning to sell Apple iPads for just $399, a $100 discount from the original $499 price which nabs you one at Apple’s own stores, including the act of ordering one online.

TJ Maxx is an American department stores chain owned by TJX Companies. It has more than 900 stores, and is regarded as one of the biggest clothes retailer in the United States, whilst also operating stores in a number of other countries.

While not advertising the sale, the discount retailer has confirmed it via Twitter, stating: “The rumors are TRUE! Select (unadvertised) locations/limited quant.”

Although Apple doesn’t seem to have any plans of dropping the price of its popular iPad this holiday season, the company is expected to introduce an updated version of the tablet computer early next year, featuring FaceTime support via dual cameras (among a flurry of other enhancements).

As it did with every newly launched iPhone, the introduction of the iPad 2 will most certainly see the price of the original tablet slashed by at least $100.

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Google Looking to Hire More than 2,000 People

Google is going on a hiring spree judging by the number of open positions at the company. Based on worldwide listings, Google is looking to hire over 2,000 employees at this time. Successfully doing so would swell the company's employee numbers to over 25,000.

According to Reuters, Google is hiring 2,076 people around the world, the largest figure the company has ever wanted to hire and a six time increase from the number open positions last spring.

Already, the company has grown, in terms of employees by 18 percent this year. At its latest quarterly financial report Google said it had a little over 23,000 employees.

When it completes the current wave of hires, it will have over 25,000 though there's no indication that the company has any plans to stop at that.

Apart from the job openings, Google is adding even more people through acquisitions. It's proposed acquisition of ITA Software, which hasn't been approved by the authorities yet, would add at least 500 more people to the Google family.

Google has been ramping up hires for the past year after a period of stagnation during the recession in the US.

But Google is doing more than just hiring aggressively, it's fighting to keep its current employees, going to extremes to keep them happy. The perks the company spoils its employees with are close to legendary.

But even this is not enough with the lure of younger, pre-IPO companies, notably Facebook, which can offer new employees stock grants that could be worth millions of dollars once they go public.

The stories of the type counter-offers Google is providing to keep people from deflecting to the 'enemy,' sometimes in the tune of several million dollars for regular employees, are becoming increasingly fantastic.

The company has even offered its employees a 10 percent raise starting in 2011. Senior staff is said to be getting even more, 30 percent to 40 percent in some cases.

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U.S. Cellular Offers $150 Credit to New Smartphone Customers

Wireless carrier U.S. Cellular has announced the introduction of a new offer for its customers who are interested in adding a smartphone line, offering them a $150 Smartphone Activation Credit. The offer was put in place for both new and existing customers who choose a smartphone on the operator's airwaves.

According to the company, the offer was made available during a week-long sale on the entire series of Android-based smartphones the carrier has in store for its users.

Moreover, the operator announced that it would have the offer in place starting today, November 22nd, all the way to next Monday, November 29th.

Customers who are on a Belief Plan and add a smartphone line, as well as new customers to the operator, are offered $150 credit off future bills, U.S. Cellular announced.

The is a wide range of advantages that customers can benefit from when choosing Android devices on the wireless carrier’s network, including The Belief Project, a series of initiatives that includes the “no contract after the first” offer, which also guarantees the availability of the latest devices at promotional price tags every 18 months or faster.

“We want to remove barriers for consumers who’ve heard about everything we have to offer and are ready to experience something better,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular.

“We believe the $150 activation credit combined with the great deals on our Android-powered smartphones and the unmatched benefits of The Belief Project will make it hard to resist giving U.S. Cellular a try.”

Recently, the wireless operator announced the introduction of a $69.99 Primary Plus Plan, a smartphone-friendly option through which users receive 5GB of data with unlimited text, picture and video messaging, along with free GPS navigation. At the same time, the plan comes with free unlimited incoming calls from any phone.

“Family plans that appeal to smartphone users include the Essential Plus Family Plan that comes with two lines for $139.99 per month with 1500 shared minutes, unlimited messaging and 5GB of data per line,” the carrier notes.

“We’re confident that once customers experience all of the unique benefits of being a U.S. Cellular customer, they won’t want to leave,” Perez said.

Additional info on the $150 Smartphone Activation Credit, as well as on the Belief Project can be found on the wireless carrier’s website, as well as on the company’s stores, or on its Facebook account.

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RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook to Launch in Q1 2011, Priced at $500

Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion is expected to bring to shelves its first tablet PC, the BlackBerry PlayBook sometime during the first quarter of the next year, at least on the North American market.

The slate, RIM's direct response to Apple's iPad and to an increasing number of Android-based tablet PCs, was unveiled officially a few months ago, and runs under the BlackBerry Tablet OS, based on the software developed by QNX.

According to a recent article on DigiTimes, Gregory Wade, regional VP for Asia Pacific of RIM, confirmed that the slate is set to make an appearance on shelves in the North American continent sometime in the first quarter of the next year.

Moreover, he also unveiled the fact that Research In Motion aims at global availability for the slate sometime in the second quarter of the next year.

The BlackBerry Playbook will be aimed mainly at business users, Wave stated, adding that the tablet PC will offer support for WebKit, Java, Adobe Flash and more, and that users would enjoy full security updates for the software.

The price tag at which RIM plans on making the tablet PC available on the market was set at US$500, Wade announced.

Packing a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 pixels, capacitive multitouch display, the slate is powered by a Cortex A9-based, dual-core 1GHz CPU, complemented by 1GB of RAM, and should offer increased performance levels for all users.

The specifications list of the tablet PC also includes WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity options, along with HDMI port and microUSB jack.

At the same time, the slate should boast 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel photo snapper, and a 3-megapixel front-facing camera for video conferencing.

All in all, it appears that the BlackBerry Playbook will be able to offer great value for money, especially when compared to other similar devices on the market, which boast higher price tags, while being able to offer the same or lower hardware specs.

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iPad 16GB Sold for only $399.99 by T.J. Maxx Discount Store

The best selling tablet in the world, Apple's iPad, just got a consistent discount from its recommended price and is now available for only $399.99. The Wi-Fi only 16GB iPad is sold by T.J. Maxx stores with a $100 discount compared to other retail stores that are selling Apple's product.

The sale hasn't been advertised at all in the media, but it was confirmed on the company's official Twitter account. Previously rumored to be available on Black Friday, the whole shipment of iPad tablets has been sold in only one day, November 18th.

“We have received many inquiries about a particular item recently sold in our stores. A small number of T.J.Maxx and Marshalls stores received a very limited quantity of electronic tablets this week. These were first quality goods sourced from a retailer. They sold out in one day, and they were not advertised in the media,” T.J. Maxx.

Even though many retailers have the Wi-Fi only iPad on sold-out status with no intentions of bringing new shipments, Apple is still selling the product, but it will not be able to match T.J. Maxx's price.

Apple's Wi-Fi only tablet measures 242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4mm and weighs 680g (battery included). It is powered by a 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed CPU and runs on iOS 3.2.2 platform.

The tablet features a 9.7-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen multi-touch compatible display with IPS technology. The touchscreen has a 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi) and is fingerprint-resistant.

In addition to its Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity, Apple's iPad includes 16GB internal memory, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR technology and 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack.

It supports a wide range of file formats such as: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel).

The 16GB Wi-Fi only iPad can be purchased from Apple's store for 499.99, which is is $100 higher than T.J. Maxx's price.

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