Acer Extend concept is a smartphone workstation, we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-extend-concept-smartphone-workstation/

In addition to letting us get our hands on all its IFA announcements today, Acer pulled back the curtain on a concept device. The Acer Extend prototype works similarly to the ASUS Padfone, letting you connect your smartphone to a clamshell-style dock with a display, keyboard and a 6,000mAh battery to recharge your handset.

For the purposes of the demo, a modified version of Acer's Liquid E2 smartphone was connected to the Extend dock via an MHL cable, though company reps said a market-ready version could include a retractable cord. Even more compelling, though, would be a wireless, Bluetooth-based solution.

In addition to offering much more screen real estate than a phone, the dock solution nets you a full-size, tactile keyboard, and Acer's optimized island-style layout to work with a smartphone's operating system. To that end, there are buttons for Mail, WiFi, Bluetooth and more -- more or less the options you'll find in an Android phone's Settings menu. Though the keyboard is tailored to a smartphone interface, the Extend lets you view apps such as Gmail in tablet format, meaning you'll reap the full benefits of the larger display. There's also a full-size touchpad on board.%Gallery-slideshow77226%

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Mobile, Acer

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Acer Liquid S2 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-liquid-s2-hands-on/

Acer's known for its influence in the PC and tablet markets, but it actually has a pretty solid Android smartphone lineup too -- and the company is starting to focus more intensely on it. Take the Acer Liquid S2, for instance: it's a 6-inch Android smartphone with 4K recording capability, a Snapdragon 800 processor and a 13MP camera, and we had the opportunity to check it out here in Berlin ahead of IFA 2013.

The unit, which is hitting Europe in October for 549 euros, will come in both black and red hues. Reps indicated to that the units they had on hand are still pre-production, so both firmware and hardware are subject to change between now and the phone's launch. With that said, we didn't notice any bugs or issues with general performance, but let's face it: even when it's not fully optimized, a device packing Snapdragon 800 still feels incredibly fast. Head past the break for our first impressions.%Gallery-slideshow77217%

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Acer

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Hands-on with Acer's DA241HL 24-inch all-in-one running Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-all-in-one/

Granted, tablets are getting up there in size, but even after a couple of Android all-in-ones (including, in fact, one from Acer early this year), we're still not fully used to playing Angry Birds on a glossy 24-inch display. We're sure we'll get a better handle on it, but these things take time. For those who want their Android games and apps in full, giant HD, there's the DA241HL. We've got to admit, while it's still an odd space, Acer's doubling down here, with a pretty nicely designed all-in-one that looks a bit better than the current DA220HQL.

Along the bottom, you'll find one long speaker grille with four buttons: input, monitor settings, volume up and down and power. Flip the device around to find the hinged stand and a removable panel that hides three USB ports, an SD slot, a headphone jack, HDMI and micro-USB sockets. The USB, in particular, will come in handy when you want to connect up a keyboard and mouse, and you'll be using the HDMI and micro-USB should you decide to connect a phone or PC to use it as a secondary display.%Gallery-slideshow77229%

Filed under: Desktops, Acer

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Leaked Images Reaffirm Sony's Smartphone Lens Camera Arrival

Source: http://gizmodo.com/leaked-images-reaffirm-sonys-smartphone-lens-camera-ar-1243764884

Sony has been as leaky as a sieve when it comes to its much-rumored new Smartphone Lens Camera. Now, a full set of leaked press images offer more clarity than ever about what we can expect.

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How Nokia Employees Are Reacting to the Microsoft Takeover

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-nokia-employees-are-reacting-to-the-microsoft-takeo-1243832372

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are mixed feelings among Nokia employees—current and old—about the news that the phone manufacturer has been taken over by Microsoft.

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