Dell Aero details confirmed with new leak: 624MHz processor, handwriting support, DRM

Compared to the other crazy handsets Dell leaked today, the Aero is definitely the runt of the litter. But with a leaked Q2 AT&T release date, the Aero will be first on our doorstep. What other juicy morsels have we gathered? On the hardware side, it's sadly a slow 624MHz Marvell processor that drives that 3.5-inch capacitive multitouch screen, but hey, like the Chinese model, it's planned to ship with a capacitive stylus for handwriting recognition.

More interesting is software. Like Motorola's CLIQ, Aero comes with QuickOffice right out of the box, and supports Microsoft ActiveSync and Exchange to ostensibly keep in touch with your business. For the social crowd, there's on-device photo editing and "aggregated notifications" for the bevy of social networks Dell's agreed to support. While you probably knew the device would have a WebKit browser with Flash Lite, leaks reveal it will have a robust media player as well -- robust enough to have some sort of music streaming and download ability (PlayReady, anyone?) protected by Windows Media DRM. Though it's probably still Android 1.5 onboard, docs show Dell plans a "refresh" to Android 2.1 sometime between Q3 and Q4, but it's hard to say whether the Aero will get an OTA update, or whether only new Aeros will ship with Eclair. That said, given the relative insignificance of this handset compared to its new big brothers, we're more than willing to wait and find out.

Dell Aero details confirmed with new leak: 624MHz processor, handwriting support, DRM

[n8equalsd Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:46PM]

I thought AT&T crippled this one like the backflip?

[skyblaze Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:47PM]

@thinkthis

i meant kb24istrash. i would enjoy downranking HIM more than i should

-___-' ....*sigh*

[skyblaze Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:47PM]

@thinkthis

i meant kb24istrash. i would enjoy downranking HIM more than i should

-___-' ....*sigh*

[ndrwme Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:51PM]

Nice to see Dell incorporating the Studio XPS design into this, but not sure why they would associate their higher-end computer lineup with a low-end phone. So all the other leaked phones are supposed to be Adamo-level?

[apopuri Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:53PM]

This is one of the ugliest interfaces I have ever seen. Who are they getting tips from the Verizon UI division?

[someguy7234 Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:59PM]

Kudos to dell on the deluge of really nice looking phones, but handwriting on a phone is a gimmick... unless... post-it note app?

[Spatev Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:00PM]

UI looks absolutely unbearable, i really hope its just a mock up for the picture

[JakeInDC Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:02PM]

Is DRM supposed to be a good thing?

No thanks.

[JakeInDC Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:02PM]

Is DRM supposed to be a good thing?

No thanks.

[npa189 Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:03PM]

Dell just pulled an apple, and made the front page it's bitch!

[Inspector Gadget80 Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:16PM]

Who cares bout the AERO. This is another yet ugly ass ANDROID phone that's not even a real phone. I'm really starting to get very piss off at AT&T for not delivering any X10 or DESIRE. Those two phones is probably not even going to make it to AT&T. They will get something shitty like the THIS ONE HERE. And I hate DELL.

[daniel80 Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:18PM]

Please engadget, post a comparison chart of all the new Dell phones.

[ecobranon Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:23PM]

Any expert here that can enlighten me on the 624 Mhz processor vs the 600 Mhz processor in the htc legend (and allegedly upcoming mytouch slide)?

[Xg21g2d4 Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:40PM]

Hey, lets leak five phones in one day.

[kb24istrash Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:48PM]

WHAT A JOKE!!!

I made a comment in CAPS that was mocking the anti-apple posters on this site by mockingly accusing ENDGADGET of being Apple fanboys but yet my comment was deleted and yet this SPAM POSTER is still on here.

GOOD JOB ENGADGET!!!

[Tony Montana Posted Apr 22nd 2010 12:09AM]

ATT??? No thanks! Here in Los Angeles, you will run out of fingers to count on how many dropped calls you will get within 5 minutes unless you switch to 1G instead 3G. ATT sucks! Bad signal strength and expansive plans!!!

[ifinoxonifi Posted Apr 22nd 2010 12:16AM]

Too...many...leaks...*shits pants

[LANjackal Posted Apr 22nd 2010 12:37PM]

What an ugly UI

[blenderman345 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 12:43PM]

Dell: Make the Lightning with Android, 8 MP Camera, and all the Thunder specs, and I'll buy it. OR, Dual Boot WP7 with Android.

What I still don't understand is why not a single phone's internal HDD matches up with the iPhone! iPhone is 8 GB, 16GB, 32 GB, etc,
and EVERY SINGLE one of these have 1 GB internal? wth?

[Wolfie2kX Posted Apr 22nd 2010 7:43PM]

@blenderman345
Simple and obvious. The iPhone doesn't have an SD chip slot. All of the Dells "leaked" today have one. That means you can insert an 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB or even 64 GB chip. That, and you can even swap 'em out if you like.

[blenderman345 Posted Apr 23rd 2010 7:45AM]

@Wolfie2kX : heard it, but think about it, why would you spend an extra $40-something dollars for a 16GB SD Card? I think I'd consider that an iPhone up.

[attsux Posted Apr 22nd 2010 7:18PM]

I wonder if Dell will sell unbranded and unlocked, or will att just cripple everything it get its hands on.

[attsux Posted Apr 22nd 2010 7:31PM]

ATT announces all android devices are now designated "super smartphones" and will require a 50 dollar a month data plan. Iphone data plans will now be lowered to 20 dollars and do not require a contract.