Acer Iconia W4 starting to hit shelves after long delay: 10-hour battery and full Windows 8.1 on an 8.1-inch screen
The Acer Iconia W4 was among the first to adopt the new Intel Bay Trail chip in an 8-inch tablet form factor with full Windows 8.1 on board, but instead of hitting store shelves in October 2013, as it was planned, the W4 quietly got delayed. Just a few days ago, though, Acer has finally started sales of the Iconia W4 in the United States, with wider global supply expected at the end of January. To freshen up our mind about the delayed tablet Acer is now once again sending out an official press release about the Iconia W4 and bringing it to CES 2014.
The Acer Iconia W4 features that new staple size for Windows 8.1, hovering at around 8 inches. The 8.1” screen here aims to be a compromise - compact, yet not too small to be limiting the experience. The tablet itself weighs a reasonable (but not featherweight) 0.92 pounds, and measures a fairly thick 10.75mm. The 16:10 IPS LCD screen is laminated with Zero Air Gap technology, making it less reflective and easier on the eyes outdoors. Still, the Iconia W4's display also features a not so impressive 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. This is a compromise reflected in the price as the W4 costs less than devices like say the iPad mini with Retina.
The Acer Iconia W4 comes with a 5-megapixel rear and a 2-megapixel front shooter. Both are capable of recording 1080p videos, but Acer explicitly mentions that the main rear camera is an auto-focus unit, and supports 60fps video capture as well, both things that the front shooter is supposedly not capable of.
Internal storage comes at 32GB for the most basic Iconia W4 model, and there’s also a pricier 64 gig version. Both feature a microSD card slot for expandable memory, so that the user can add up to 32 gig cards. Interestingly, the Iconia W4 features both a microUSB and a microHDMI ports, with the latter being particularly useful to easily hook up the tablet to a TV or an external monitor.
The Acer Iconia W4 prices start from $329.99 in the United States and €299 in Europe for the basic 32GB model. The release date is set for late January 2014, but we are already seeing it available on retailers like Amazon in the U.S.
A Touch More Work and Play With the Iconia W4
Acer today presents the new 8.1-inch Iconia W4 tablet running Windows 8.1 and the 4th generation Intel® Atom™ processor. Compact enough to hold in one hand yet spacious enough for comfortable viewing, the Iconia W4 brings mobile productivity and media consumption to the next level.
It targets consumers and professional users who want a tablet that’s easy-to-carry and convenient for all the multitasking they do — all in one sleek device. It comes preloaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013, at no additional expense, for managing documents and an optional ultra-slim and portable keyboard for those who need to type as well.
Equipped with an IPS technology display, the Iconia W4 provides consistent images, color and brightness from a wide range of viewing angles, up to 170 degrees, ideal for sharing. Furthermore, Zero Air Gap technology removes the air between the touch panel and LCD module, reducing reflection and boosting readability even under sunlight. The Iconia W4 features a 16:10 ratio with 1280x800 pixel resolutions, a 2MP 1080P front camera, and a 5MP rear camera with autofocus that supports 720p/1080p at 60 FPS/30FPS respectively for great photos and videos.
Driven by the 4th Generation Intel® Atom™ 1.8 GHz processor, users can enjoy a smoother video playback, gaming and web-browsing experience. For true one-hand tablet usage, the built-in tablet portrait mode provides a pleasant one-page experience whether users are checking apps, browsing the web, reading or even responding to emails and social media posts.
Windows 8.1 includes several new and intuitive features, such as InstantGo which makes the tablet ready to go at any moment by keeping data and apps refreshed and up-to-date even when the screen is off, by maintaining an internet connection.
The Iconia W4 comes with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 so users can create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint docs virtually anywhere, while an optional full-sized keyboard enables more productive typing on the go.
In addition, sharing content and data between the Iconia W4 and other devices is convenient through its range of ports. The Micro HDMI® port provides easy audio-video connections to an external display for sharing presentations and other content. It also has Micro USB for connecting to devices like phones, for transferring files or for power charging. Plus customers will always have room for content and data on the Iconia W4 — it comes with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, and supports an additional 32GB of storage capacity via the microSD.
What’s more, the Iconia W4 also features a sleek design that is slim and lightweight — it weighs only 415 grams and measures 10.75 mm thin, so it’s easy to take anywhere.
Accessories for extra productivity and protection
A variety of optional accessories make the tablet experience more enjoyable and productive.
Acer Crunch Keyboard — Acer offers a state-of-the-art, ultra-slim Crunch Keyboard fitted in a soft synthetic leather cover that easily folds outs while also serving as a tablet stand. The stylish 5.3 mm (0.21 inches) thin silver keyboard offers Bluetooth® 3.0 connectivity and is rechargeable via Micro USB.
Acer Crunch Cover — made with durable microfibers, the Crunch Cover folds out into a tablet stand with multiple angle settings to suit each user’s reading preferences. The slim-fit cover keeps clear of all ports and is available in several fashionable colors.
Acer Power Bank — it offers up to 4 hours extra battery life for tablets and up to 30 hours talk time for cell phones. A LED Light indicator displays battery and charging status. Small enough to fit in a small pocket, it weighs only 100 gr.
Other options include the protection film, passive stylus, and Traveler adapter kit.
Availability and Pricing
The Acer Iconia W4 will be available from end of January with a starting price of €299-.
source: Acer
The focus, however, is mostly on having a full-blown Windows 8.1 with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 bundled in. A work and play solution - as Microsoft touts it - Windows 8.1 here runs on a 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Bay Trail processor. Bay Trail is Intel’s 4th generation Atom core, and it seems to have finally started getting some traction in mobile with quite a few newly launched tablets using it. Keep in mind that the advertized 1.8GHz frequency is representative of peak turbo speeds, not nominal clock that runs at 1.33GHz.
The Acer Iconia W4 comes with a 5-megapixel rear and a 2-megapixel front shooter. Both are capable of recording 1080p videos, but Acer explicitly mentions that the main rear camera is an auto-focus unit, and supports 60fps video capture as well, both things that the front shooter is supposedly not capable of.
Internal storage comes at 32GB for the most basic Iconia W4 model, and there’s also a pricier 64 gig version. Both feature a microSD card slot for expandable memory, so that the user can add up to 32 gig cards. Interestingly, the Iconia W4 features both a microUSB and a microHDMI ports, with the latter being particularly useful to easily hook up the tablet to a TV or an external monitor.
A Touch More Work and Play With the Iconia W4
Acer today presents the new 8.1-inch Iconia W4 tablet running Windows 8.1 and the 4th generation Intel® Atom™ processor. Compact enough to hold in one hand yet spacious enough for comfortable viewing, the Iconia W4 brings mobile productivity and media consumption to the next level.
It targets consumers and professional users who want a tablet that’s easy-to-carry and convenient for all the multitasking they do — all in one sleek device. It comes preloaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013, at no additional expense, for managing documents and an optional ultra-slim and portable keyboard for those who need to type as well.
Equipped with an IPS technology display, the Iconia W4 provides consistent images, color and brightness from a wide range of viewing angles, up to 170 degrees, ideal for sharing. Furthermore, Zero Air Gap technology removes the air between the touch panel and LCD module, reducing reflection and boosting readability even under sunlight. The Iconia W4 features a 16:10 ratio with 1280x800 pixel resolutions, a 2MP 1080P front camera, and a 5MP rear camera with autofocus that supports 720p/1080p at 60 FPS/30FPS respectively for great photos and videos.
Driven by the 4th Generation Intel® Atom™ 1.8 GHz processor, users can enjoy a smoother video playback, gaming and web-browsing experience. For true one-hand tablet usage, the built-in tablet portrait mode provides a pleasant one-page experience whether users are checking apps, browsing the web, reading or even responding to emails and social media posts.
Windows 8.1 includes several new and intuitive features, such as InstantGo which makes the tablet ready to go at any moment by keeping data and apps refreshed and up-to-date even when the screen is off, by maintaining an internet connection.
The Iconia W4 comes with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 so users can create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint docs virtually anywhere, while an optional full-sized keyboard enables more productive typing on the go.
In addition, sharing content and data between the Iconia W4 and other devices is convenient through its range of ports. The Micro HDMI® port provides easy audio-video connections to an external display for sharing presentations and other content. It also has Micro USB for connecting to devices like phones, for transferring files or for power charging. Plus customers will always have room for content and data on the Iconia W4 — it comes with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, and supports an additional 32GB of storage capacity via the microSD.
What’s more, the Iconia W4 also features a sleek design that is slim and lightweight — it weighs only 415 grams and measures 10.75 mm thin, so it’s easy to take anywhere.
Accessories for extra productivity and protection
A variety of optional accessories make the tablet experience more enjoyable and productive.
Acer Crunch Keyboard — Acer offers a state-of-the-art, ultra-slim Crunch Keyboard fitted in a soft synthetic leather cover that easily folds outs while also serving as a tablet stand. The stylish 5.3 mm (0.21 inches) thin silver keyboard offers Bluetooth® 3.0 connectivity and is rechargeable via Micro USB.
Acer Crunch Cover — made with durable microfibers, the Crunch Cover folds out into a tablet stand with multiple angle settings to suit each user’s reading preferences. The slim-fit cover keeps clear of all ports and is available in several fashionable colors.
Acer Power Bank — it offers up to 4 hours extra battery life for tablets and up to 30 hours talk time for cell phones. A LED Light indicator displays battery and charging status. Small enough to fit in a small pocket, it weighs only 100 gr.
Other options include the protection film, passive stylus, and Traveler adapter kit.
Availability and Pricing
The Acer Iconia W4 will be available from end of January with a starting price of €299-.
source: Acer
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