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Acer's DX650 and X960 smartphones leaked: we waited for this?
Ok Acer, you can let us in on the joke now. These "leaks" are just to throw us off the scent of your real smartphones right? After teasing with the announcement of your entry into the marketplace, you can't expect us to believe that a Glofiish DX900 rebadge, and new DX650 (pictured above... twice) and X960 (after the break) makes up your A-game? The DX650 is a chubby dual-sided device: on one side we've got Windows Mobile pumping away beneath a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, on the other a 1.27-inch OLED with full numeric keypad -- you know, because a software-based keypad and/or QWERTY is just crazy-talk. Inside you'll find HSDPA, GPS, microSD, 802.11b/g WiFi, and Bluetooth. Next up, the X960 looking very much a continuation of the Glofiish product line. It brings a 2.8-inch 640 x 480 pixel display riding a 533MHz Samsung S3C 6410 processor, HSDPA data, WiFi, SiRF Star III GPS, microSD, and a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash. Look Acer, if this is all you've got for Mobile World Congress, fine... just don't expect us to repeat the year 2007 along with you. [Via Sohoa] Read -- DX650 Read -- X960
One of Acer's mystery smartphones exposed, doesn't look so smart
Acer has a flamenco-themed party in store for Mobile World Congress attendees, pledging to finally unveil its oft-delayed line of smartphone debutantes amidst a flurry of stomping feet and clapping hands. Unfortunately for the proud parent it seems one randy model just couldn't keep quiet until then, caught in the wild by Mr. Blurrycam with its QWERTY showing. No details are known beyond its rather chunky look when the keyboard is positioned like this, but we'll surely have all the details for you in about two weeks -- after politely excusing ourselves from the dance floor, of course.
First Acer-branded smartphone a Glofiish DX900 rebadge?
There's bound to be more, but the first leaked Acer handset expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress is no more than a rebadge of a device obtained through its acquisition of E-Ten. The Glofiish DX900 was announced in mid-2008 with dual-SIM support, GPS, a 3 megapixel camera, and a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen riding a Windows Mobile 6.1 OS -- that all stays the same. In other words, if the leak is accurate, then this particular device will see a new logo and that's about it. Still, the MWC invite specifically said "smartphones launch" so we're not corking the fat lady just yet. [Via Unwired View]
Acer smartphone launching February 16th, everybody flamenco!
Shortly after Acer snapped up E-Ten last year it's been been making public and private mention of plans to launch an Acer-branded smartphone. Now we've got a date: February 16th at the big Mobile World Congress cellphone event in Barcelona. We'll be there so let's call it a date, deal? Iaaaaiaiaiiaa!
Acer-branded smartphone (purportedly) still on for 2009
For the third time this year, we're hearing straight from totally unofficial, somewhat sketchy Acer sources that the firm is still planning on producing its own smartphone in 2009. The latest report has company chairman JT Wang stating that the eventual launch may not happen until Q2 2009 (red flag), and he blamed the possible delay on the ongoing negotiations with carriers across the globe. If you'll recall, Acer's been talking up its own phone ever since it took E-Ten Information Systems in under its wings, but many months later, we still have no concrete evidence that anything is going on (mobile wise, at least) behind the firm's doors. We suppose time will tell, but we have serious doubts the hardcore Acer faithful will be holding their breath.[Via Slashgear]
E-TEN's V900 gets handled, unloved
Bad camera, poor battery life, a dodgy d-pad, ugly color -- is there anything good to say about the most well-spec'd glofiish in E-TEN's range? Well, yes: with support for not one, not two, but four mobile TV standards under its belt, you'll have a hard time finding a WinMo set out there that's friendlier to telly on the go. Plus, the V900 rocks a flush VGA display and tri-band HSDPA, which are "good things" last time we checked; you're just going to have to put up with flimsy build quality and a host of software and hardware niggles to get 'em. At $700, it's hard to swallow the thought of buying a device this heavily panned in a review, but if you absolutely must be able to switch between DAB and DVB-T with aplomb... well, your crappy phone has arrived.
E-TEN's glofiish X610 and V900 just about ready for release
Announced all the way back at MWC in February, the glofiish X610 and V900 are finally nearing release -- or so E-TEN claims, anyway. Though the X610's spec sheet isn't going to get any motors running, it's a pretty sharp-looking entry level WinMo 6.1 Professional device that should find its way into a few pockets where 3G isn't needed. More interesting of the pair is the V900 (pictured), a multitalented mobile boob tube that can handle DVB-H, DVB-T, T-DMB, and DAB broadcasts in one convenient package -- and a VGA display certainly doesn't hurt its case, either. So far, the launches on these two are pegged simply as "soon," so keep an eye on the shop of your choice.
Glofiish M810 gets unboxed, X1 laughs
As QWERTY slider WinMo sets go, HTC and Sony Ericsson have collectively thrown down a big-ass gauntlet that competitors are likely going to be struggling to match for some time. So it goes with the glofiish M810, an HSDPA powerhouse that would've stolen the show 12 or 18 months ago -- but now it's got the Touch Pro and X1 to contend with, leaving the QVGA display and tired styling a bit tough to swallow. We suppose that a deep discount could still lure a throng, especially if Acer / E-TEN comes through with a Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade -- but until we all make that fateful decision, check out Pocket PC Thoughts' quick unboxing, live vicariously, and see if it feels right.
E-TEN busts out three new WinMo 6.1 smartphones
Actually, E-TEN's saying they're showing four new models here, but we've been aware of E-TEN's glofiish quad-band V900 for some time now, leaving three all-new Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphones on display at Computex this week. The DX900 is a dual-SIM smartphone for those on multiple carriers and comes in a form factor very similar to the aforementioned mobile TV-friendly V900. Meanwhile, the X900 is a quad-band GSM handset with HSDPA and is a basic upgrade to the X800 with Windows Mobile 6.1 and a tweaked UI. Finally, the X610 -- an update to the X600 -- also runs WinMo 6.1 and a similarly-updated interface.[Via phoneArena]
E-TEN prepping dual-SIM glofiish DX900?
Rumor has it that E-TEN will be unveiling a new Windows Mobile set at Taiwan's Computex next month that sports -- count 'em, one, two SIMs. The so-called DX900 (pictured) in the glofiish series should be quite a powerhouse, too, with triband HSDPA, quadband GSM, 3 megapixel autofocus cam, FM radio, 256MB of ROM with microSDHC expansion, GPS, motion sensor, and that all-important VGA display that's probably (hopefully) going to come to define high-end WinMo devices from here on out. We don't see any particular reason why this one wouldn't come to fruition; dual-SIM phones are pretty commonplace in Asia, though the presence of triband HSDPA is a pretty rare feat in that bunch. Anyone feeling an itch to import one of these stateside?[Via the::unwired]
Acer aims to launch first smartphone around year's end
It wasn't too long ago that Acer was finalizing paperwork to acquire E-Ten, and now that it's moving on, we're hearing that the company should be launching its very first (aw, how cute) smartphone in around eight to ten months. According to the firm's president, it's aiming to introduce the handset "near the end of this year or early next year," and it will indeed "be Microsoft-based." Gianfranco Lanci also suggested that smartphones could represent up to 10-percent of the company's revenue within the next few years. Notably, the outfit is apparently planning to move its phones via mobile network operators, and while it typically takes six to nine months to sweet talk a carrier into marketing a new smartphone, it hopes to use its "existing relationships with telecommunications companies to speed up such sales." Sadly, we're not given any clues about what carriers it's aiming for, but it won't be too awfully long before we're sure to find out.
E-TEN gets even more official with M810 and M750 WinMo sets
Remember that M810 that E-TEN announced for its glofiish line of Windows Mobile-powered goodies at MWC? Yep, well, they've announced it again -- along with its underachieving little brother, the M750 -- along with full details and a promise of availability in just two to three weeks. The QWERTY-clad monsters both support WiFi, feature 2 megapixel cameras, GPS, Bluetooth, and 256MB of onboard storage; the lesser M750 makes do with EDGE for wide-area data while the M810 steps it up to HSDPA. If they were coming out of the gate with Windows Mobile 6.1 we'd be whooping and hollering, but they're merely 6 -- to start, anyway -- so nothing to get too excited about. Unless you're into 3.5G data, GPS, and keyboards that glow blue, that is.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]
Acer snaps up Glofiish-maker E-Ten for $290 million
It's barely been a month since Acer dropped a big chunk of cash to buy up 75% of Packard Bell, but it looks like the company still had plenty of money left to throw around, as it's now parted with a hefty $290 million to buy up 100% of Glofiish smartphone-maker E-Ten. According to Acer itself, the boards of both E-Ten and Acer approved the deal unanimously, and they expect the acquisition to close sometime during the third quarter of this year. Any other details, however, are expectedly light, including any word on how future devices would be branded, with Acer chairmen J.T. Wang only saying that the "acquisition of E-TEN increases Acer's global footprint by giving us a strong and highly credible presence in the mobility segment." No word on any future moves by Acer just yet but, given its recent spending spree, we wouldn't be surprised if it tried to expand that "global footprint" even further.[Via Phone Scoop]
E-TEN's Glofiish M810 and V900 with secret touch-based WinMo interface
After teasing us with a lustful peep from their V900's marketing collateral, E-TEN had the good grace to make their newest Glofiish official. Their first handset to offer mobile TV does so without hesitation -- DVB-H, DVB-T, T-DMB, and DAB broadcast media are all supported on that generous VGA display. These consumer oriented Windows Mobile phones pack an unspecified GSM radio, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS underneath an E-TEN developed touch-based user interface. Presumably, E-TEN has a TouchFLO-like layer to hide the consumer-unfriendly ugliness of Microsoft's increasingly dated and finger-meat hating mobile OS. Also announced is E-TEN's new Glofiish M810 with HSDPA, WiFI (b/g), and GPS with full QWERTY in tow. More on these with their unveiling at GSMA. [Via Pocket PC Thoughts]
We're guessing this is the E-TEN glofiish V900
Seeing how this allegedly leaked shot of the upcoming glofiish V900 from E-TEN looks exactly like E-TEN's own promo shot for Mobile World Congress, we're thinking it's the real deal. It actually looks a heck of a lot better now than it that little tiny thumbnail we saw before (dare we say high end?) with tasteful chrome accents, a fairly aggressive display-to-case size ratio, and a front cam for video calling, suggesting this sucker's packing at least UMTS, if not better. That sexy display will come in handy, too, considering that the V900 is going to be packing a veritable what's what of mobile TV standards when it rolls out -- not so much on the MediaFLO, but then again, we're not sure it makes the "what's what" cut, anyway.
E-TEN glofiish V900 surfaces, flush with mobile TV support
Very little is known about the glofiish V900 from E-TEN -- in fact, nothing is known about it other than what we have on this promotional image advertising E-TEN's presence at the GSM Association's Mobile World Congress next month. What few details are revealed here, though, are pretty freakin' notable. The V900 apparently supports DVB-H, DVB-T, T-DMB, and DAB broadcasts, unifying half a world's worth of digital television and radio broadcast standards in a single device. We guess we'll have to wait until the big show in a few weeks to figure out the rest, but if we were the betting types, we'd wager that it'll probably be available in black and blue.[Via Unwired View]
E-TEN turns glofiish X650 into reality
In case the FCC-style announcement wasn't enough for you, the glofiish X650 is now being trumpeted by E-TEN itself which promises availability in "two to three weeks." The phone is essentially a tweaked X600 -- a phone that was announced not long ago, making for some miffed owners, we'd imagine -- adding a VGA display, FM radio, and an FM transmitter (on certain versions) while maintaining the 2 megapixel cam, EDGE data, GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth. VGA resolution is great and all, but we think the best feature here might be the color selection: black or purple. Purple! You go, E-TEN.[Via phoneArena]
E-TEN glofiish X650 in the FCC's mix
Like the just-announced glofiish X600 but wanted that certain something extra? You know, that intangible feature that could've set the X600 well apart from the crowd. Okay, here's an idea: how about an FM transmitter? Yep, the X650 goes all Fusic on us by taking the X600's formula, changing the color scheme just a smidge, and adding an FM transmitter for sending its tunes onto whatever radio in the vicinity that's tuned to the right frequency (according to the filed user's manua. Unfortunately, the X650 gains no 3G advantage over its cousin, but we're hearing it might rock a VGA display versus the X600's QVGA -- and if that's the case, screw the FM transmitter, 640 x 480 is the real reason to get this sucker.
E-Ten's Glofiish M800 with VGA, HSDPA, WiFi, and GPS -- now official
Why hello hello Mr. M800, thanks for officially joining the QWERTY party. Hot on the heels of their X800 launch comes the keyboard totin' M800 sharing most of the same goodies included that 2.8-inch, 480 x 640 (VGA!) touchscreen. If you love WinMo 6 Professional powered by a 500MHz Samsung S3C2442 CPU and riding atop quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, tri-band UMTS/HSDPA data, SiRF Star III GPS, WiFi b/g, Blutooth 2.0+EDR, and a 2 megapixel camera then this is about as good as it gets. Someday, as no price or ship date is mentioned, although it's listed on Expansys for $750 unlocked. A few more shots after the break.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]Read -- ExpansysRead
E-TEN announces the Glofiish X600
We'd heard rumors about the Glofiish X600 last month, and now E-TEN's made it official. The red and black WinMo 6 handset isn't going to blow anyone's mind, but it's a solid addition to the Glofiish lineup: 2.8-inch QVGA screen, 2 megapixel cam, quad-band GSM (no 3G, though), GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth. No word on price, but E-TEN says we'll be seeing these hit in mid-November -- just enough time for us to get settled in with the now-shipping X800.[Via Slashphone]
