Acer is now officially on board the Android "phablet" bandwagon with the Liquid S1, which just got announced at Computex. What we have on our hands is a smartphone that stands out with offering a massive touchscreen display, listed among other noteworthy specs. At the same time, the handset will carry a reasonable price tag once it is on the market.
The Acer Liquid S1 offers a 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels. That's far from "Retina Display" territory, but still a good enough pixel density for a decent user experience. The SoC chosen by Acer is made by MediaTek, with a quad-core processor running at 1.5GHz. Again, silicon of this kind won't crush any benchmark records, but it should get the job done. The main camera has 8MP of resolution and can capture 1080p video, while the front-facing 2MP one has wide-angle optics. Acer promises that the battery inside the Liquid S1 will last through a day of usage.
On the software side of things, we have Android 4.2 running on the Acer Liquid S1, enhanced with a few tweaks. One of them are the floating applications, which are basically widgets turned into apps that hover in their own little window above the interface. DTS Studio Sound is also on board for audio fine tuning.
The Acer Liquid S1 is bound to launch in Q3 of 2013 for a price of 350 euro ($455). Select markets throughout Europe are to get it first, including France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, U.K. and Germany, followed by Spain and Italy. There are no hints leading us to believe that the Acer Liquid S1 will ever launch in the U.S.
Acer's First 5.7" Mobile Companion Lets Users Take Their Wireless Office and Mobile Studio Everywhere
Acer Liquid S1 opens up more possibilities to explore a new lifestyle
TAIPEI, (June 3, 2013) Acer announces its first "phablet" device, designed to be the new travel companion for professionals and adventurers alike. With a large 5.7" HD 1280 x 720 screen and intelligent applications, the Acer Liquid S1 greatly enhances mobile productivity and entertainment. Featuring single/dual SIM cards, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, quad-core 1.5 GHz processor, and a day's worth of battery power, the Liquid S1 combines the work efficiency of a tablet PC with the convenience and multimedia-rich features of a smartphone. It is an all-in-one mobile device that opens up more possibilities for users to communicate and explore.
Wireless office at hand
The Liquid S1 is easy to carry and lets users access their documents and files wherever they go. Business people can leave documents behind, knowing that they can wirelessly retrieve their files via AcerCloud Docs. Users can also remotely access files from their main PC through Acer Remote Files. In addition, with the Liquid S1 businesspeople can project their presentations in 720p HD, and print documents straight from their phablet - all using wireless display and print features.
Everything under perfect control
Intuitive and useful applications that boost work productivity and maximize entertainment on the go are preinstalled on the Liquid S1.
Acer Float User Interface allows several app windows to stay open so users can multitask without having to back out of one app to work on another. The press of a key brings up the Float Apps shortcut; apps on a translucent screen float over the function being used. It is easy to access or switch Float Apps anytime. These apps include camera, maps, calculator and notes. A Float Caller notification ensures that users will not be interrupted by incoming calls that take over the full screen. When a call comes in, the Float Caller mini-window pops up and the user can choose to take the call or reply with a quick message.
Acer Auto Profile supports predefined network settings for frequently visited locations, so the next time the user visits the same spot, the Liquid S1 will automatically switch profiles. The adjustable settings include brightness, volume and vibration; plus Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi® and 3G connections. Voice Unlock directly opens apps or interfaces by recording and using personal voice commands. Users can quickly unlock the Liquid S1 to the home screen, camera, SMS or call keypad by voice, in one easy step, without touch. Acer data traffic manager keeps an eye on daily and monthly data usage, which is especially handy for users who do not have an unlimited data plan.
Mobile studio and entertainment
Bringing the Liquid S1 along is like taking a complete mobile studio on the road. In addition to its spacious 5.7" screen with HD streaming and vivid HD playback, this phablet combines features for photo taking, video recording, and editing and creating media. Everything can be conveniently shared. The studio/entertainment features include: Wide Front Shot uses the front camera with 88° wide viewing angle plus the 24 mm lens to capture more. The camera and 5.7" screen together capture wider, taller visuals for better wide-angle photos and video conferencing. Voice Shot allows hands-free photo taking just by saying "cheese!". Smile Shot detects smiling faces and automatically captures precious moments in real time - especially useful for taking pictures of babies and young children.
Studio Sound delivers astonishing sound and an extra-wide stereo image. DTS Studio Sound™ brings cinematic audio to mobile devices with a bigger sound field and higher vocal clarity.
Live sharing among friends Through Acer's 2-way Live Screen™ app users can invite friends for temporary group sharing. The group administrator simply taps on a photo or note, and it will pop up on friends' mobile-device screens, enabling live interaction and sharing in real time. Friends can push photos or notes back for 2-way live sharing.
Premium design and materials
The Acer Liquid S1 uses fine craftsmanship and materials to deliver a premium, minimalist design, ideal for assertive businesspeople and passionate explorers. With a slender profile, it features curved details on the front and the sides, aluminum side grips, and is available in matte black or white.
Pricing and availability
The Liquid S1 will start shipping in Q3 2013 in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, UK and Germany, followed by Spain and Italy with a starting price of €349.
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