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Acer eyes Windows Phone 8 device amid its 2013 smartphones

Hardware maker Acer, better known for its PCs and tablets, is planning to release six new smartphones next year, according to reports -- with the devices to run either Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 or Android.

Acer president Jim Wong told Taiwanese publication Digitimes:

One of the six models will be a Windows Phone 8 device and the rest will run on Android platforms, with high-end models to be built with Qualcomm's dual-core CPUs and entry-level models using chipset solutions from MediaTek.

Digitimes' report, later confirmed by other publications, also says that from next year Acer smartphones will be … Read more

Tablet Tuesday: Get a 10-inch Acer Iconia A200 for $149

This is an update of a deal I posted a couple months back.

Sometimes I have trouble wrapping my brain around the fact that Apple still charges $499 for the entry-level iPad when there are deals like this to be had.

While supplies last, RedTag has the refurbished Acer Iconia Tab A200 10.1-inch tablet for $149, plus $1.95 for shipping. That's the lowest out-the-door price I've seen on any 10-inch tablet, ever.

Update: Sorry, folks, it's already sold out. (Check back throughout the day, though, in case RedTag frees up more inventory.) I realize this … Read more

Acer announces Liquid Gallant and Liquid Gallant Duo

Acer today announced a pair of Android smartphones with entry-level specs and budget-friendly price points. The two handsets, the Liquid Gallant and Liquid Gallant Duo, are identical across the board save for the dual-SIM capability of the latter. … Read more

Acer eyeing lackluster consumer response to Windows 8 devices

Windows 8 devices won't deliver much in the way of "explosive growth" for device makers when the new OS debuts in October.

At least, that's the opinion of Acer Chairman J.T. Wang. The chairman made his comments earlier today during a conference call to announce Acer's second-quarter earnings.

CNET contacted Acer for comment and will update the story when we get more information. But quotes from Wang obtained by Computerworld revealed the chairman's lack of optimism.

"We are still waiting for the signal of the consumers' enthusiasm," Wang said during the … Read more

Acer Iconia Tab A110 shows up on U.K. online retailer

The Acer Iconia Tab A110 is now available on U.K. retailer site Ebuyer for preorder. According to the site the tablet will be shipped in the U.K. in 47 to 49 days (at the time of this posting). That puts it in stores in early October.

Ebuyer has the tablet listed for £179 for the 8GB version that's currently about $280 in the U.S. The 7-inch tablet would be the second known Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) tablet after the Google Nexus 7.

According to the site the Iconia Tab A110 sports a 1,024x600-pixel … Read more

Don't price Surface at $199, pleads Acer

Microsoft may consider maintaining a price gap for its Surface products to give hardware partners some competitive breathing room, according to an Asia-based report.

Acer chairman JT Wang commented publicly on Thursday that Microsoft is seeking ways to create a price chasm between its Surface tablet and competing products from PC makers, according to a Friday report in Taipei-based Digitimes.

"Microsoft is currently looking for solutions such as creating a price gap to minimize the negative impact on other vendors' product lineups," according to the report.

Wang said that a Surface tablet priced at $199 would have a … Read more

To fight Apple-flight, Microsoft must hang tough on Surface

I just pray that Microsoft doesn't cave to pressure from partners to punt on Surface.

The first public plea came this week from Acer, which, in effect, begged Microsoft to drop Surface.

If that happens, Microsoft will lose the consumer to Apple for good. Probably sooner rather than later.

And if Acer is that worried about Surface, then it should out-design Microsoft or look elsewhere. Right now I don't see anything from Acer that would make me chuck my MacBook and iPad.

But Surface could. And it gets even more interesting when I see that Redmond is already working on Surface 2. … Read more

Display HD images of Acer computer gear with Acer Windows 7 Theme

Acer owners can now admire their favorite PC brand with a set of high-resolution wallpaper images from Windows7Theme. Of course, you don't need an Acer computer to use Acer Windows 7 Theme; this free theme pack will run on any Windows 7 machine. With 10 wide-screen images in super-high-quality 1,920x1,200 pixels, Acer Windows 7 Theme looks great even on competitors' machines.

Acer Windows 7 Theme installs itself on the desktop automatically when you click on the download. The Personalization panel opens in the Control Panel simultaneously, should you wish to make any changes. We'd set our … Read more

Acer begs Microsoft to 'think twice' about Surface tablet

Microsoft knew it was going to ruffle the feathers of some of its manufacturing partners when it unveiled plans to produce its own tablet computer, but now the feathers are starting to fly.

While the Surface is Microsoft's attempt to compete with the iPad and the slew of Android tablets on the market, the tablet will also be competing with similar devices from Microsoft's own partners, which were not informed about the Surface until just before its announcement in June.

That new competition led Acer CEO JT Wang to tell the Financial Times that Microsoft's plans to … Read more