Acer's Android-powered Stream confirmed for Expansys-exclusive August 9th launch
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 26th 2010 12:58PM
posted July 26th 2010 12:58PM
Acer's Android-powered Stream phone already got official way back in May -- and we got our hands on it at Computex in June -- but the company has only just now confirmed a launch date. According to Acer, the Stream will be rolling out on August 9th, and it'll be exclusive to UK-based online retailer Expansys, at least initially. As for the phone itself, you can expect a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, Android 2.1 for an OS, a 5-megapixel camera with 720p video recording (no flash, though), an HDMI out port, and full DLNA / UPnP support for media streaming (hence the name). Of course, being exclusive to Expansys also means you won't be getting a subsidized price -- look for this one to set you back £399, or just over $600. Full press release is after the break.
Update: And it looks like we've got our first unboxing with the final retail packaging. Video's after the break.
Update: And it looks like we've got our first unboxing with the final retail packaging. Video's after the break.
Acer Stream: THE PERFECT ENTERTAINMENT SMARTPHONE
London, 26th July 2010: Acer Stream is a high-end multimedia smartphone, optimized for watching movies, listening to music and enjoying web browsing – perfect for most demanding users who want the best in entertainment.
Elegant and minimalist in design, Acer Stream is made from highly resistant materials and offers truly outstanding technical features, all in just 11.2 mm, ensuring users a unique, unrepeatable experience, due to the following:
Superb display quality: the touch screen with AMOLED technology boasts 1.67 million exceptionally bright colors, through a generous 3.7" WVGA display. Furthermore, its incredible contrast (superior 2000:1) makes for clear images and perfect legibility in any environment and light condition. Moreover, this type of display consumes less energy to help increase battery life.
Ultrafast connectivity 3G+ for streaming: HSDPA 7.2 Mbps in download, Bluetooth and WiFi n, enabling faster transmission of multimedia contents than ever!
Power and performance: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, with its 512 MB RAM, makes Acer Stream one of the fastest and most reactive phones on the market. The operating system behind Stream is Android version 2.1, better known as Éclair.
Unique and high-quality multimedia features, enabling the recording of HD videos up to 720p. Listening to your favorite music or the radio with RDS has never been so pleasant; enjoy the Dolby Mobile quality, with powerful bass and crystal-clear clarity for an unparalleled purity of sound. UPnP technology enables sharing contents with other devices. Furthermore, a 5MP photocamera and integrated GPS system allow photos and videos to be geotagged. Last but not least, you can connect the Acer Stream to your home TV with HDMI port and watch a movie on a larger screen.
Extensive memory! 2GB of internal Flash memory are ideal for downloading a lot of applications and 3D games, while an 8GB memory card as free bundle and a micro-SD card slot support up to 32GB enable users to avail of their favorite multimedia contents at all times.
A completely brand new user interface focalized on what is essential to users and able to guarantee a simple and quick access to all the applications. The new Acer user interface will wrap the user up giving pure pleasure in using the phone and enjoying the discovery of all the stunning things he can do with his Acer Stream!
Main benefits:
_Read information straight from the lock screen's widget;
_Quickly start favorite applications in one touch;
_Easily switch applications with the History panel;
_Customize the phone according to specific needs;
_Enjoy smooth animations and fine graphics.
Coupled with a three types of predictive keyboards, a smart dialer and a redesigned contacts list, the Acer user interface makes the use of smartphone an efficient and delightful experience.
Social and entertaining: All the most popular applications are pre-installed: Acer Spinlets free streaming service to browse and listen to songs from major music labels and instantly post what you find to your favorite Social Networking sites, nemo Player to enjoy multimedia content to the fullest, Acer urFooz to create your virtual "look-a-like", add your profile and bookmarks and post it to your social networks, Facebook™ and Twidroid perfectly integrated in the phone address.
Acer Stream, a concentration of fun and entertainment! Open your eyes and start enjoying yourself with the best entertainment smartphone on the market.
The Acer Stream will be available as of the 9th August exclusively from online retailer eXpansys for an RRP of £399 Inc Vat.
What's with the funky buttons on the bottom?
@zillah looks like a nice phone. Id love to try it if they sell it in hk
@zillah I seem to recall that they're for accessing the media functions of the phone without unlocking it.
@zillah
Snapdragon?
Yay for crap 3D performance! (not)
Otherwise, this phone looks awesome.
@zillah
I hope the build quality is better than their laptops
@zillah
to stream porn on ur phone
@zillah
For $600? They won't sell many!
@Indefinite Implosion Neither did yours. Or mine for that matter. Such is the way of the world.
@Indefinite Implosion
well of course it had nothing to do with it. like he's learned from everyone else, dude just wants to be on the first page.
@r34p3r
I don't agree 100% with you but.... after the release of the Samsung Galaxy S line of devices, everyone should be using Hummingbird processors at this point for future devices.
@r34p3r
Agreed. The snapdragon is a good CPU, but really, it no longer should be making it in a top-of-the-line $600 phone. The hummingbird's GPU is just so much better overall. This looks like the basic same guts as a Nexus One but with the price tag of "cutting edge tech". Try again Acer.
@zerverize Their laptops indeed have pretty awful build quality. As a general rule, shelf life of
@zillah -- it looks like a phone inside a phone. If you took the ugly grey parts off and just had the black part as the phone it would be so sexy. The UI also looks terrible IMO.
Expansys?? Seriously?
Here's some other company names they should think about
Exsissys
Expuffers
Expussys
Their moto; "We're not pansys anymore!"
@zillah Check out this vid for the interface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viqck5IK_9s
@Zodiac It always amazes me that people want everything for nothing.
.
I thought they had run out of AMOLED screens??
@Bhima
Would you notice with the majority of apps? I'm running a 600mhz processor in mine and it runs anything on the market a dream.
@zillah
funky buttons and all that phone looks pretty nice.
@zillah yeah the phone is cool but at the bottom of the screen, where there should be more screen.... there are buttons... blah!!
Sooooooooo
@shriczilla
Exactly, if this is for UK only, why should we even care.
@Sea Urchin
There are people outside of the US you know.
@andthemaniam
Clearly he doesn't know...like most people here seem not too.
@andthemaniam I don't think he does know. To him the world map (and the user analytics of engadget) only consists of America.
I like the UI they have on that device.
@Fizzy Stock android or "unnecessary-won't-get-updated" custom skin? Will we ever see a stock android phone that can get updated on Google schedule at all? I wasn't ready to get a nexus 1 and now I fear that was my only chance..
@Fizzy
stock android is fine. its minimalistic. people like that. manufacturers have NO reason what so ever to put their shitty skin over the top that does nothing but lag the phone and delay updates for around 6 months.
@ObiDamnKneobi You know, the Nexus One isn't dead, it has just stop selling through Google directly. You can buy the handset indirectly through 3rd party retailers, or through carriers specific to country (sans US for now) http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=166508
As for this phone, it's not bad. I just like phones with Stock. There's nothing wrong with Sense, but takes a bit longer to update due to the UI add-on.
@Fizzy
alls i gotta say is...
INCLUDED HDMI CORD!!! ACER FTW!
@Fizzy I am feeling that UI also.
@Fizzy: Is that their own IU? I'm not recognizing it right offhand...I take it it's not a stock Android phone. +1 for some manufacturer just to make a plain freakin Android phone.
ugly. buttons over buttons? the screen just got smaller.
Beautiful phone.
Why in Gods name would you drop that much on a phone like this that can't even stack up against the SE X10 on hardware... :D (minus that processor)
Where's my liquidE?
I wish all new android phones would use the Samsung S5PC110 (Hummingbird) CPU with PowerVR SGX540 GPU.
Is it just me or does everything about this phone seem a little...outdated?
Where's my flying car!! It's 2010 g*ddammit!
@Tooonces lol so true
@honjoe300
Yeah I remember I told someone they will be selling them next year... And now still no flying car, I feel like a liar. ='[
@Ceyran Flying cars are the worst idea ever, if you though road accidents were bad wait till a truck crashes into your bedroom and a drunk driver (flyer?) crashes into and destroys a school/hospital/Nuclear reactor.
It's never going to happen.
@fourthletter Just need them to self destruct before hitting the ground ;)
I see no camera flash.
Here we can see companies chomping at the bit to get past the carrier limitations. If they succeed, the consumer will benefit from lower prices and more choice. You can easily buy any number of computers from shops from $300 up, that will work on any Internet connection, yet we have to pay $600 for a simpler handset.
no SAMOLED = fail
no SAMOLED + 600$ = epic fail
no SAMOLED + 600$ = epic fail
iPhone FTW! .... just joking. Glad to see no iFan stooping to the level of fandroids and making stupid comments like that.. (so far).
Very pretty... I want to touch it. Can I touch it?