The press was ecstatic at the presentation of the Nexus One of Google not hesitate to compare it to the iPhone 3G emblematic. With an exception for configuring a mobile powered by Android, the Nexus One is especially blessed with an excellent value for money.
However, the Nexus One is not the first to provide equipment for high-end smartphone price plate. Available from early December to 349 euros naked from a euro-subscription, the Acer Liquid is part of Google Phones most attractive market.
Configuring muscular and well equipped
Acer Liquid is the first Android phone manufacturer in Taiwan. A first test seems rather successful on paper with attractive features.
Acer Liquid has indeed Snpadragon Qualcomm processor running at 1 GHz in theory (in this case, the frequency was lowered to 768 mhz for reasons of energy savings) and a comfortable screen 3.5 displaying an inch high resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.
The hardware is the latest generation and delivers a very comfortable experience in the Android environment. Backed by 256MB of RAM and 512 MB ROM, Snapdragon processor is clearly an added value, Acer Liquid does not falter, even with multiple tasks running simultaneously.
If we did not observe a crippling slowdowns, the Acer Liquid behaves sometimes, surprisingly including touch-sensitive keys beneath the screen that does not always react the first time.
The connectivity is now standard for high-end smartphone, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps (3G), HSUPA 2.0 Mbps, Wi-Fi b / g, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, accelerometer and a proximity sensor that will lock the touchscreen when you wear the mobile to the ear.
A microUSB socket and a 3.5mm audio jack round out the complete configuration. For data storage, there is a microSD card slot up to 32 GB and 512 MB of ROM.
As always on Android, programs downloaded from the Android Market will be moving on this ROM. This issue remains one of the major flaws of the Android platform.
For photo and video, the Acer Liquid is blessed with a 5-megapixel sensor without a flash. The refund is logically wrong indoors with little light, proper outdoor. As usual on Android, sharing photos is optimized. Acer Liquid capture video in VGA (640 X 480 pixels) nothing really new in short that side.
A comfortable screen
This screen uses capacitive technology touch with skin-popularized by the iPhone. However, the version of Android 1.6, does not use the features of the Acer Multipoint Liquid, then exit the zoom pinched two fingers.
To overcome this shortcoming, Acer should move an update to Android 2.0 that handles multicast theory.
The question is when will be offered this update and if in fact the multicast will be truly integrated. Acer has not been able to give us a date for this update possible.
The screen capacitive forces, the slab is very comfortable to use. Responsive and sensitive to touch, she suffers no specific criticism, we still expect an update to see what can give the Acer Liquid multipoint, because for the moment, it must go through Icons zoom less convenient …
The virtual keyboard is also using the sensitivity of the screen by being precise when typing.
The screen 800 x 480 pixels provides a detailed display beneficial in web browsing, photos or videos.
If it does not rely on technology as the Nexus AMOLED One example, the screen Acer Liquid has seemed correct level of brightness and color rendition (256,000 colors).
Finishes and dimensions
Available in three colors, white, black and red, the Acer Liquid enjoys less conventional design as other Google Phone. The plastic finish is correct without more.
The interface is generally pretty good except sometimes for the sensor keys under the screen that does not always respond at first.
Despite a 3.5 inch screen advancing the same dimensions as that of the iPhone, the Acer Liquid seems more impressive than the Apple’s smartphone. Its design also accentuates the more massive print size.
In fact, the Acer Liquid is not larger than the iPhone 3G (115 x 62.5 x 12.5 x 62.1 mm against 115.5 x 12.3 mm for the iPhone 3G). Its weight is about average with, like the iPhone 3G, 135g on the scales.
On top of the unit, Acer has integrated indicator lights indicating the receipt of emails, calls or absences battery status. A true ergonomic!
Push Exchange, MS Office and Multimedia: an endowment rich software!
Powered by version 1.6 of Android, the Acer Liquid does not have an overlay advanced software as a Hero or a Motorola HTC Milestone for example.
New level, he will be satisfied with two carousels to access the multimedia content or Web favorites, we have already seen more overlays provided.
However, we can also consider the Liquid and relieved greedy wrapper Android will run faster. In addition, the wrapper has the very basic needs to be intuitive and efficient.
If the overlay is not exceptional, the Acer Liquid advantage however of a good staffing software
You can find the full version of Mail and RoadSynch RoadSynch Calendar to manage your Exchange push mail or your calendar, Documents To Go for reading documents in the pack Office (Word, Excel, PDF), the comprehensive media player NemoPlayer, Spinlets Music which can stream music for free (catalog Sony BMG). A navigation solution and more and it would have been perfect!
You can always reassuring considering that the possible updating of the Acer Liquid Android 2.0 will be accompanied by Google Maps Navigation.
Autonomy
To save battery, Acer has reduced the frequency of its 768 MHz processor Snapdragon. One can only welcome this initiative, as with its 1350 mAh battery, the Acer Liquid is not a marathon mobility.
In practice, it appears less autonomous than HTC Hero by example and if you have the misfortune to use push mail, the Acer Liquid does not manage to offer a day of use.
Although smartphones are not deemed to be autonomous, autonomy Liquid is less than the average heavy use, even less to the iPhone 3G is far from being a reference in this field.
If you do not push and you turn off the 3G when not in use, the Liquid reach the day of use, but do not expect more …
The Acer Liquid is a Google Phone with its attractive screen and capacitive configuration muscled. If the overlay software could be deeper, it appears so far effective. The software provided natively are convincing and extend the capabilities of the Acer Liquid particularly for professionals with managing Exchange and reading Office documents.
He blamed a lack of autonomy, even for a smartphone and the lack of multipoint (its implementation with the 2.0 update still hypothetical).
Priced at 349 euros and naked from a euro-membership, especially the Acer Liquid provides an excellent value for money makes him a real challenger for the Nexus One of Google or Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.
More : Attractive price, capacitive screen and high resolution, full equipment, software supplied
Less : Android 1.6 age, not multipoint, low self
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