Who says you need to spend a fortune to get the best features on a smartphone? That may be true months ago, but not this time. The downward price trend in PC takes the same path with mobile phones. Enter the HTC HD2 for the masses – the Acer neoTouch s20 aka F1. Acer just recently launched into the world markets one of the most powerful smartphones on the planet. Powered by the Qualcomm QSD 8250 Snapdragon processor clocked at 1GHz and running on the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 upgradeable to its forthcoming Windows Mobile 7.0, the neoTouch F1 takes the smartphone to a new level of performance at an affordable price.
HTC for the Budget Crowd
There’s clearly an ongoing battle between the two Taiwan-based mobile phone makers. Acer leverages its computing muscle in the PC world to take on the mobile phone maker HTC right at its doorstep, so to speak. With the same Snapdragon processor and OS, you have an equally capable high end smartphone at a fraction of the HTC HD2 price. Of course there are some compromises and the neoTouch F1 is at a disadvantage in terms of display sophistication as well as user interactivity.
You get a resistive 3.8” touchscreen instead of HD2’s 4.3” capacitive touchscreen. Both screens have the same Wide-VGA resolution on the same 64k color depth making the smaller screen more brilliant. The neoTouch F1 does have a stylus which makes it easier to write Chinese calligraphic text on the screen for text recognition purposes. They are both expansive enough to a more delightful movie viewing experience on a mobile handset compared to what most smartphones out there can deliver, but it is plain, the HTC HD2 has more panache.
Then there’s the famous HTC Sense that gives the HTC the edge in terms of navigational friendliness and interactivity. Internal memory difference is minimal with the neoTouch sporting just 256 MB RAM where the HTC HD2 has twice that much. Other than these major differences, the two share the same technical specifications. They are both quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE phones on the 2G network and a triband UMTS 3G phones with HSDPA/HSUPA for fast downloading over the internet.
All the other features like a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, VGA video recording, WiFi 802,11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR and A2DP, USB and 3.5mm headphone ports and GPS are common hardware features between the two. With the same OS, you get true multitasking capability, social networking site integration, widgets on the home screens for instant application or site access, document viewing facilities and the same email client and Internet Explorer for browsing.
Battery life between the two are also nearly identical. The neoTouch does enjoy a smaller body and a lighter weight, making it more pocket-friendly than the larger HTC HD2.
Delivering More Value
It’s all up to the consumer if these differences matter when the time comes to shell out the money for either. The Acer neoTouch F1 is now available for just ₤295 or free with just a 2-year ₤25 monthly contract from mobile network carrier O2. Meanwhile the HTC H2 slated for market release by the first half of November this year and is anticipated to fetch a hefty price in the €550 – €600 range SIM-free or more than thrice the Acer neoTouch price.
The holiday season is about to start and with the neoTouch getting a marketing headstart over the HTC, we can almost predict a clear winner. Even if the HTC HD2 has its sights on the upscale market of loyal HTC fans, a smartphone like the neoTouch F1 with about the same features at a third of the price offers better value that just can’t be overlooked.
Mobile phone manufacturer Acer has just announced the launch of two new Windows Mobile phone lines; the beTouch and the neoTouch. The new line is supposed to make for easier internet while on the move, as well as provide a more good looking and trendy handset for both business and leisure.
The beTouch line will consist of three different handsets; the E100, E101 and the E200.
Both the E100 and the E101 mobile phone handsets feature 3.2 inch touch screens, a jog wheel and a 2 mega pixel camera, which the E200 is slightly smaller and boasts a 3 inch touch screen with an improved 3.2 mega pixel camera.
The beTouch handsets let the user personalize the home screen with two steps, as well as listing all applications on the home page. Phone calls and text messages are able to be answers or viewed respectively with a single touch – yet another handy feature for people on the go.
All of the betouch range of mobile phones run under Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system and come with the newest version of both Internet Explorer and Windows Messenger.
The neoTouch is very much Acer’s golden phone, and features the impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which makes for much faster internet access. This, paired with the 5 mega pixel camera, means that your pictures and videos can be uploaded at superior speeds.
The neoTouch has some nice functions, including Mail as well as Microsoft Office, all packed into a device featuring a spacious 3.8 inch touch screen with high resolution display.
Both new ranges support Bluetooth connectivity, and the neoTouch has the added bonus of built in Wi Fi.
We’re very impressed with the new lines and think they may just give Windows Mobile 6.5 the boost in popularity that it has been looking for.
Techies all over the world welcomed the news that the Acer F1, similar to Toshiba’s TG01, will be powered by Qualcomm’s revolutionary super-powerful processor, the Snapdragon. However, unlike the TG01 that has a 1GHz processor, the Acer F1 will only be using an 800MHz one. Nonetheless, it is still cause for celebration as this may very well mark the beginning of a new era of ultra-powerful Smartphones. Let’s take a look at the detailed specifications of the Acer F1.
Phone Specs
The Acer F1 has a 3.5-inch color transflective TFT display that has a resolution of 400 x 800. The entire surface area of the F1 is pretty much covered by the touch screen which means that there are no buttons on the front. It also comes with a 5-Megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash; the secondary camera is .3-Megapixels and allows video calling.
The Acer F1 will work in multiple cellular networks: GSM 800/900/1800/900 for 2G networks and UMTS 900/2100 for 3G. It also supports GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, and CSD data links. For WLAN it is compatible with both 802.11b and 802.11g connections. Other notable features include an FM radio with RDS and a built-in GPS module that integrates QuickGPS and geo-tagging functions.
What’s Inside
The Snapdragon will be running Acer’s own Acer Shell UI 2.0 with Windows Mobile 6.5, the same OS used by the much awaited HTC Touch Pro2. Together with the 800MHz CPU clock, the Acer F1 will have a 256MB ROM and a 128MB RAM. You can expand the Acer F1’s external memory by adding a card in any of its multiple expansion slots including SDIO, TransFlash, microSDHC, and microSD.
With such advanced technologies built in, the Acer F1 is rumoured to have a price tag of around £500 once it is released by Acer in September.
After acquiring the Taiwan-based electronics manufacturing company E-Ten for around £190M (US$291M) last March 2008, Acer has finally announced its first line of Smartphones. Among the top in the list is the highly anticipated Tempo series which includes promising Smartphones such as the Acer Tempo X960 and the Acer Tempo M900. However, what caught the eye of most of the media is the Acer F1. Due to be released in September, this Smartphone is one of the first to be powered by the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon super-processor.
Speed and Power
The Acer F1 is one of the few Smartphones that has made us of the Snapdragon processor. However, unlike the Toshiba TG01 which has a staggering 1GHz processor, the F1’s CPU is a slightly downgraded version at only 800MHz. Nonetheless, this much power under the hood means the Acer F1 should be able to run at an amazing speed.
Acer also combined the Snapdragon processor with Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system—Windows Mobile 6.5. The user interface is going to be Acer’s own Acer Shell UI 2.0. By combining all three technologies, the Acer F1 looks to be quite a powerful Smartphone on paper.
Akin to the HTC Touch
An observation made by most critics is that most, if not all of Acer’s new models look a lot like HTC’s Touch. The Acer F1 is no different as it also mirrors the Touch’s glossy style and bulky nature. There are also minimal buttons on the front of the Smartphone and majority is occupied by the wide touch screen, a feature also shared with the HTC Touch.
Other similar functions include a 5-Megapixel camera, A-GPS capabilities, and Office Mobile—all of which are available on the newest versions of the HTC Touch. But then again, these features have become mainstays in most top-of-the-line Smartphones in the market today.
With all that being said, does it still mean that the F1 is trying to be a Touch Clone? Well, you decide.
Together with the Toshiba TG01, the Acer F1 is one of the few Smartphones that will feature Qualcomm’s highly rated processor, the Snapdragon. This has sent ripples across techie communities around the world as some believe that the Snapdragon is a game changer in terms of multimedia capabilities. Reports also say that the Acer F1 will also be using the Acer Shell UI 2.0, which was developed in-house, and partner it with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.5, the same OS used by the HTC Touch Pro 2. With so much under the hood, let’s take a look at what features the Acer F1 has and see if it’s really going to be able to make use of all these technologically advanced elements.
Advanced Graphics
Aside from the previously discussed features of the Acer F1 that gives it so much potential, another thing worth mentioning is Acer’s intention to integrate the Snapdragon’s technology with ATI graphics to guarantee an unmatched multimedia experience. Because of this, the Acer F1 will be able to play high-definition videos. This means you can now watch your favourite TV shows on the Acer F1 in full hi-def. Not bad, right?
Photos, Video and Music
With a 5-Megapixel camera, the Acer F1 will be able to produce high quality photos. The camera also has an autofocus feature and a built-in LED flash. With camera of this calibre, video capture should also be of similar standards and could be at around 30fps. Aside from an FM radio, the Acer F1 will surely come with a functional music player. However, you’ll need to buy an adaptor if you’d like to plug in your standard headset on the 2.5mm ear jack.
All in all, it seems that the advanced engine of the Acer F1 is going to be put to good use. It is rumoured to have a launch price of around £500 once it is released in September.
It looks like we’re about to experience the new wave of ultra-powerful processors for mobile phones. These revolutionary advances in technology promise remarkable multimedia performance, among other things. Leading the race is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series of processors. Toshiba was one of the first mobile phone manufacturers to showcase the Snapdragon on its Smartphones through the highly anticipated Toshiba TG01. Combined with Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system—Windows Mobile 6.5—this Smartphone allegedly has the capability to handle all kinds of high-definition multimedia. This is mostly due to the power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon’s 1GHz (1000MHz) processor. And more recently, we’ve just learned that Acer intends to follow in their footsteps. It seems as though the Snapdragon has found its second home in the Acer F1.
The Sleeping Dragon
In the Netherlands, Acer just announced that they intend to unleash the Acer F1 come this September. They did not specify its launch price but experts are guessing that it’s going to be in the 500-pound region. For that amount of money, Acer better be sure that it’s able to come with a Smartphone that lives up to its extremely high price tag. What’s most interesting is Acer intends to partner the Snapdragon with ATI graphics technology to further enhance users’ multimedia experience. However, the Acer F1’s Snapdragon will only be running an 800MHz engine, a downgraded version of the Toshiba TG01’s processor which boasts an amazing 1GHz.
What’s In Store
Acer showcased its latest Smartphone in Barcelona, during the Mobile World Congress. Similar to HTC’s Touch Pro2 Smartphone, the Acer F1 is also expected to come with the Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional OS. It will be working with Acer’s custom-made user interface—the Acer Shell UI 2.0.
The Acer F1 will also be equipped with a 5-Megapixel camera and with the amount of money you’ll need to shell out to get one of these devices, be sure to expect Wi-Fi, GPS, and 3G data connectivity at the very least.
Set to be released in September of this year, the Acer F1 is one of the most anticipated Smartphones of 2009—and for good reason. Although it is heftily priced at around £500, some consumers still can’t wait to get their hands on one of these devices as it has the potential to revolutionize the Smartphone industry as we know it.
The current information regarding the full specifications of the Acer F1 is still incomplete, but based on what’s available this Smartphone might have what it takes to be a game changer. And it won’t only do it by having the most advanced technological features, but also through a stylish flair that is needed for a task of this magnitude.
Style is Crucial
When it was released in 2007, the Apple iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone arena. Well, okay the first iPhone wasn’t quite as successful but surely the Apple iPhone 3G released in 2008 was the one that made things a lot different. Mobile manufacturers all around the world tried to make their own versions of the iPhone and a myriad of Smartphones were dubbed as Phone killers.
Much like the way Apple did it with the iPhone, Acer is also trying to do so with the F1. One of the biggest reasons why the iPhone was such a hit was because of Apple’s strategy—differentiation through innovation. Apple is known for not following the trend and always coming up with their own unique design (i.e. the iMac and the iPod). It looks like Acer is trying to do the same thing with the F1.
An Exceptional Design
Acer didn’t fall into the trap of designing a mobile that looks and feels like the iPhone. True that it may show some semblance of the iPhone, but then again in today’s market which touch screen Smartphone doesn’t? What makes the F1’s design so unique is its 3.5-inch screen taking up around 95% of the Smartphone’s surface area; there are no buttons. The other 5% merely serves as a border or a frame of the sizable screen.
The Acer F1 does of course have a lot of impressive features such as having the Snapdragon processor and a 5-Megapixel camera, but some believe that what sets this one apart is its refusal to follow the trend. Sometimes, you need to start your own.
Who says you need to spend a fortune to get the best features on a smartphone? That may be true months ago, but not this time. The downward price trend in PC takes the same path with mobile phones. Enter the HTC HD2 for the masses – the Acer neoTouch s20 aka F1. Acer just recently launched into the world markets one of the most powerful smartphones on the planet. Powered by the Qualcomm QSD 8250 Snapdragon processor clocked at 1GHz and running on the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 upgradeable to its forthcoming Windows Mobile 7.0, the neoTouch F1 takes the smartphone to a new level of performance at an affordable price.
Mobile phone manufacturer Acer has just announced the launch of two new Windows Mobile phone lines; the beTouch and the 
Techies all over the world welcomed the news that the 
After acquiring the Taiwan-based electronics manufacturing company E-Ten for around £190M (US$291M) last March 2008, 
It looks like we’re about to experience the new wave of ultra-powerful processors for mobile phones. These revolutionary advances in technology promise remarkable multimedia performance, among other things. Leading the race is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series of processors. Toshiba was one of the first mobile phone manufacturers to showcase the Snapdragon on its Smartphones through the highly anticipated Toshiba TG01. Combined with Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system—Windows Mobile 6.5—this Smartphone allegedly has the capability to handle all kinds of high-definition multimedia. This is mostly due to the power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon’s 1GHz (1000MHz) processor. And more recently, we’ve just learned that Acer intends to follow in their footsteps. It seems as though the Snapdragon has found its second home in the 
In the Netherlands, 
Set to be released in September of this year, the