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Alibaba: Google forced Acer to drop our new mobile OS

Google is allegedly playing hardball with its Android partners.

The company forced Acer to drop its support of Alibaba's new mobile operating system, Aliyun, threatening to pull its Android-related cooperation and support if Acer didn't, according to a report from the Dow Jones Newswires.

Acer was originally scheduled to hold a press conference today to show off a smartphone running on Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba's Aliyun platform, but it cancelled the event. Acer told Dow Jones that it will continue to talk with Google and hopes to still use Aliyun.

Alibaba told CNET that Acer was notified … Read more

Acer taps Alibaba's Aliyun OS for new smartphone

Acer has inked a deal with China's largest e-commerce company, Alibaba, to use its mobile operating system in an upcoming smartphone.

Dubbed the CloudMobile A800, Acer's new smartphone will run Alibaba's Aliyun operating system. The cloud mention fits with Aliyun's deep Web integration, offering everything from Internet-based e-mail, Web search, weather updates, and GPS navigation tools. In addition, Aliyun synchronizes and stores call data, text messages, and photos in the cloud for access across other devices, including PCs.

Alibaba made some waves in the mobile space earlier this week after its chief strategy officer, Zeng Ming, … Read more

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