Acer just can’t wait for Computex, announces new laptops, 2-in-1s early

Why it matters to you

Acer’s new laptops bring a wider variety of hardware to affordable price points. The Nitro 5 stands out, as if offers both Intel and AMD hardware, plus an entry-level GPU.

On Thursday, Acer introduced a handful of new products just days ahead of the Computex tech conference in Taipei. The company revealed four mobile devices in all: one laptop, one 2-in-1, and two Iconia-branded Android tablets. The specific hardware details weren’t made available at the time of this post’s publication, so we’ve pieced together what each product will bring to these markets through the company’s three announcements.

Acer Nitro 5

This is a laptop focused on PC gaming that will be sold in multiple configurations. What’s interesting is that Acer addresses its Intel and AMD customer bases with this specific unit. The Intel configurations will pack a seventh-generation Core i5 and i7 processor that’s paired with up to a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics chip.  Meanwhile, AMD-based configurations will include the company’s seventh-generation A-Series FX, A12, and A10 APUs along with up to a discrete Radeon RX 550 graphics chip.

“The Nitro 5 features dual fans with Acer Coolboost technology, which delivers heightened fan speeds and cooling ability, and allows users to manually control the cooling process when heavy use requires an added boost,” Acer says.

Here are the other details we pulled from the announcement:

Display:
15.6 inches
Panel type:
IPS
Resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
System memory:
Up to 32GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
Storage:
SSD maximum – 512GB (PCIe)
HDD maximum – 2TB (SATA)
Some configurations will include both
Ports:
1x Gigabit Ethernet
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (charges)
2x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x HDMI 2.0 (supports 90Hz refresh)
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (up to 867Mbps)
Keyboard:
Red back-lighting
WASD keys outlined in red
Other details:
Matte black with a hairline finish
Red hinge along the back
Bold black grill vent
Touchpad outlined in red

Acer Spin 1

Next up we have the Acer Spin 1, the company’s latest thin-and-light 2-in-1 Windows 10 device, measuring just 0.55 inches thin and weighting at 2.76 pounds. Arriving in several configurations, this laptop will be powered by a seventh-generation Intel Pentium or Celeron processor, and a battery promising up to eight hours on a single charge.

“With a sleek all-metal chassis, the Windows 10 device is lightweight, portable, and supports Windows Ink through an Acer Active Stylus for creative users on the go,” the company says. “The Spin 1 combines superb hardware with innovative features to make the user experience really pop.”

While Acer did not provide pricing with its press release, it’s fair to say this will be an affordable model. The Acer Spin 3 starts at $500.

Here’s what we have on the Acer Spin 1 so far:

Display:
11.6 inches
Panel type:
IPS with Touch support
Resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
System memory:
4GB DDR3L
Storage:
32GB / 64GB / 128GB
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x Micro SD card slot
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Audio:
2x speakers supported by Acer TrueHarmony
Other details:
Precision touchpad
Acer Bluelight Shield tech
Supports Acer’s Active Stylus

Acer Iconia Tab 10 & One 10

Finally, we have two new tablets under the Iconia umbrella: the premium Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A50) and the productivity-focused Iconia One 10 (B3-A40FHD). Acer wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the hardware details at the time this article went live, but the company said that both will be powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor, Android 7.0, and a battery promising up to eight hours of use on a single charge.

Additionally, both tablets sport 10-inch screens backed by In-Plane Switching technology, which is also used in the two previously-mentioned laptops. Other shared features include two five-magnet speakers powered by DTS-HD Premium Sound, and Wireless AC connectivity.

Here are a few notes regarding the exclusive features of each model:

Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A50)

• Quantum Dot display technology
• Acer-patented subwoofer
• Measures just 0.35 inches thin
• Acer MediaMaster for creating profiles for movies and music

Iconia One 10 (B3-A40FHD)

• 2x Micro USB ports supporting On-The-Go
• White frame

Acer didn’t say when these four products will be available or for how much at the time of this publication. We will update the news when Acer provides the information, so stay tuned.

Acer just can’t wait for Computex, announces new laptops, 2-in-1s early

Why it matters to you

Acer’s new laptops bring a wider variety of hardware to affordable price points. The Nitro 5 stands out, as if offers both Intel and AMD hardware, plus an entry-level GPU.

On Thursday, Acer introduced a handful of new products just days ahead of the Computex tech conference in Taipei. The company revealed four mobile devices in all: one laptop, one 2-in-1, and two Iconia-branded Android tablets. The specific hardware details weren’t made available at the time of this post’s publication, so we’ve pieced together what each product will bring to these markets through the company’s three announcements.

Acer Nitro 5

This is a laptop focused on PC gaming that will be sold in multiple configurations. What’s interesting is that Acer addresses its Intel and AMD customer bases with this specific unit. The Intel configurations will pack a seventh-generation Core i5 and i7 processor that’s paired with up to a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics chip.  Meanwhile, AMD-based configurations will include the company’s seventh-generation A-Series FX, A12, and A10 APUs along with up to a discrete Radeon RX 550 graphics chip.

“The Nitro 5 features dual fans with Acer Coolboost technology, which delivers heightened fan speeds and cooling ability, and allows users to manually control the cooling process when heavy use requires an added boost,” Acer says.

Here are the other details we pulled from the announcement:

Display:
15.6 inches
Panel type:
IPS
Resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
System memory:
Up to 32GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
Storage:
SSD maximum – 512GB (PCIe)
HDD maximum – 2TB (SATA)
Some configurations will include both
Ports:
1x Gigabit Ethernet
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (charges)
2x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x HDMI 2.0 (supports 90Hz refresh)
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (up to 867Mbps)
Keyboard:
Red back-lighting
WASD keys outlined in red
Other details:
Matte black with a hairline finish
Red hinge along the back
Bold black grill vent
Touchpad outlined in red

Acer Spin 1

Next up we have the Acer Spin 1, the company’s latest thin-and-light 2-in-1 Windows 10 device, measuring just 0.55 inches thin and weighting at 2.76 pounds. Arriving in several configurations, this laptop will be powered by a seventh-generation Intel Pentium or Celeron processor, and a battery promising up to eight hours on a single charge.

“With a sleek all-metal chassis, the Windows 10 device is lightweight, portable, and supports Windows Ink through an Acer Active Stylus for creative users on the go,” the company says. “The Spin 1 combines superb hardware with innovative features to make the user experience really pop.”

While Acer did not provide pricing with its press release, it’s fair to say this will be an affordable model. The Acer Spin 3 starts at $500.

Here’s what we have on the Acer Spin 1 so far:

Display:
11.6 inches
Panel type:
IPS with Touch support
Resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
System memory:
4GB DDR3L
Storage:
32GB / 64GB / 128GB
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x Micro SD card slot
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Audio:
2x speakers supported by Acer TrueHarmony
Other details:
Precision touchpad
Acer Bluelight Shield tech
Supports Acer’s Active Stylus

Acer Iconia Tab 10 & One 10

Finally, we have two new tablets under the Iconia umbrella: the premium Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A50) and the productivity-focused Iconia One 10 (B3-A40FHD). Acer wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the hardware details at the time this article went live, but the company said that both will be powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor, Android 7.0, and a battery promising up to eight hours of use on a single charge.

Additionally, both tablets sport 10-inch screens backed by In-Plane Switching technology, which is also used in the two previously-mentioned laptops. Other shared features include two five-magnet speakers powered by DTS-HD Premium Sound, and Wireless AC connectivity.

Here are a few notes regarding the exclusive features of each model:

Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A50)

• Quantum Dot display technology
• Acer-patented subwoofer
• Measures just 0.35 inches thin
• Acer MediaMaster for creating profiles for movies and music

Iconia One 10 (B3-A40FHD)

• 2x Micro USB ports supporting On-The-Go
• White frame

Acer didn’t say when these four products will be available or for how much at the time of this publication. We will update the news when Acer provides the information, so stay tuned.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus hitting Canada on June 6

The Huawei P10 and P10 Plus will come to Canada just in time for the summer.

Huawei’s P series will be sold at a North American carrier for the first time ever starting June 6, as Canadian providers are set to sell the P10 and P10 Plus.

The company’s newest flagship phones do a lot of things right — and, unfortunately, one thing very wrong — but they stand up well to the competition from Samsung, LG and others. And with no HTC flagship launching in Canada this summer, the P10 and P10 Plus should stand in nicely.

The smaller P10 will be sold at Bell, Videotron, Fido and Rogers in black. Rogers, which has an excellent existing relationship with Huawei, will sell the P10 in both gold and black, and will exclusively stock the larger P10 Plus in black, with the blue variants of both phones coming out later this summer, again as Rogers exclusives.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus specs

Both phones are remarkably similar, with the P10 Plus notching a slightly bigger 5.5-inch QHD panel compared to the P10’s 5.1-inch 1080p display, along with a larger 3,750mAh battery compared to the P10’s 3,200mAh cell. The P10 Plus also has a slightly sharper f/1.8 lens, but in real world usage we found it to be nearly indistinguishable from the P10’s f/2.2 lens except for in very dark scenes.

Pricing has not been determined just yet, but we’ll know in the coming days.

Acer crammed a quantum dot display into a 10-inch tablet

While it may not be the first name in tablets, Acer has produced some respectable touchscreen devices in the past. Last month, the company unveiled a wide range of new 2-in-1 devices in its compelling Switch line of Windows 10 machines. Today, in advance of Computex in Taipei, the company is adding a pair of 10-inch, Android 7.0 Nougat devices to its tablet lineup: one focused on media and one designed with connectivity in mind.

Both are powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor with a wide-angle IPS display, DTS-HD rated speakers and an advertised 8-hour battery life. The Iconia Tab 10 is the more media-centric of the two and adds a quantum dot display for better color depth and accuracy, as well as a four speaker setup with a built-in subwoofer.

The Iconia One 10 skimps on the screen and the low end of the sound system, but it adds two micro-USB ports so you can charge while connected to an external device. Both tablets offer a couple extra Acer tweaks on the Android Nougat experience as well: users can set gestures to wake-up the device or load specific apps with Acer’s EZ WakeUp feature, and an EZ Mode allows users to set restrictions when sharing their device.

No word yet on pricing or availability, but Engadget will update when we know more. So far, Acer’s device is the first tablet we’ve heard of with a quantum dot display, but without any additional specs to go off of, we’ll save our excitement for when we can actually get our eyes on a screen.

Gogoro 2 makes the electric scooter lifestyle more comfortable

About two years after we first rode the Gogoro Smartscooter, the company is back with a sequel. The Gogoro 2 and Gogoro 2 Plus lightly rework the original, with a second gen motor and powertrain that deliver the same amount of power (6.4kW), but promise smoother torque and more control. The choice of a Sport mode and Smart mode let riders choose between higher top speed and acceleration or increased efficiency and range. Predictably, they also are built for easier maintenance this time around, while larger wheels (14-inch up front, 13-inch on the rear), updated geometry with a longer 51-inch wheelbase and a synchronized braking system improve its stability. Oh, and a longer seat makes it easy to bring a friend along for a ride.

Beyond just the new scooters, Gogoro is upgrading its app to version 2.0 with better security that can require a fingerprint or PIN code to start, making its scooters (both old and new) “virtually unstealable.” Also, the company expanding its battery swapping Energy Network in Taiwan to offer more than 500 locations by the end of the year. The Gogoro 2 will go on sale in Taiwan in July (preorders are opening today) where pricing starts at TWD$38,800/USD$1,295, before it rolls out in other markets by the end of 2017.

These redesigned scooters have more under-seat storage space with enough room for two helmets, while its all-LED lighting shines brighter and wider at night, while also making the scooter more visible during the day. They can be had in six different colors, while Gogoro also plans to offer as many as 50 different accessories to help customize your ride. The Gogoro 2 Plus adds color to its LED dashboard, where riders can mount their smart device to get more riding information in real-time.

Source: Gogoro

Acer’s Nitro 5 notebook is meant for gamers on a budget

As a company with several indistinguishable product lines, the last thing Acer needs is another family of laptops to follow. But with the Nitro 5, it’s hoping to make a dent in the increasingly important budget gaming market. It’s not the most powerful laptop around — instead the company is hoping to attract people who game once in a while.

You can choose from configurations with up to NVIDIA GeForce 1050Ti graphics and 7th generation Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, or AMD FX, A10 and A12 CPUs, with up to Radeon RX550 graphics. Either way, you can stuff in up to 32GB of RAM, and you have the option of PCI-E SSDs to speed up performance.

Together with a 15.6-inch 1080p screen, the Nitro 5 includes a USB-C 3.1 port, a USB 3.0 port and two USB 2.0 connections. There’s also gigabit Ethernet, 802.11AC wireless and an HDMI 2.0 port. Design-wise, the Nitro 5 is unquestionably a gaming laptop, with bright lights, sharp lines and some serious air vents. While it’s a bit of a step down from the sleeker Aspire V Nitro, which sports a GeForce 1060 GPU, hopefully the Nitro 5 will come in significantly cheaper. Unfortunately, Acer isn’t revealing pricing yet, but we hear more information will be coming soon.

As for its existing lineup, Acer is also updating its Spin 1 convertible notebook with a sleeker metal case and some new hardware. It now includes Intel’s latest Celeron and Pentium processors, 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB eMMC storage. At 2.76 pounds, it’s not the sleekest convertible we’ve seen — especially considering its small 11.6-inch 1080p touchscreen. Just like before, the screen flips all the way around, allowing you to use the Spin 1 as a hefty tablet. Acer also claims it’ll get eight hours of battery life, though, as usual, we’d have to test that claim to be sure.

The Nitro 5 and the updated Spin 1 will both arrive in North America in July with prices starting at $799 and $329, respectively.

Twitter adds all 69 new emoji to its arsenal

Twitter has stepped up its emoji game in a big way. The social network is one of the first platforms to make all 69 Emoji 5.0 icons available to its users, and they include a few new flags, a woman with headscarf, persons with gray hair, the starstruck and the mind blown smiley. Before you fire up your Twitter app to check them, though, take note that there’s a chance you might end up disappointed. The new icons aren’t available on Tweetdeck, the iOS, Mac and the Android Nougat apps just yet, since they still haven’t implemented the Emoji 5.0 standard.

Twitter designer Bryan Haggerty says Apple will likely add support for the new emojis on iOS 11, while Tweetdeck will add them “soon.” For now, you’ll see empty blocks when you try to view the 5.0 icons on those platforms. If you want to use them yourself, though, all you have to do is open Twitter on a browser to emoji-bomb your followers.

🆕 🤩 We’ve just added all the new emojis to https://t.co/LOTAlBvtUR and updated our Twemoji open source repo 🥡 https://t.co/lD0IvE7ifj

— Bryan Haggerty 🤩 (@bhaggs) May 23, 2017

@Emojipedia all lose on an iPhone 🙁 pic.twitter.com/M4qURIYDZJ

— ADM (@Adamas_FR) April 20, 2017

Via: 9to5mac

Source: Bryan Haggerty

Americans are more satisfied with Apple’s iPhone SE than its larger-screen rivals

Why it matters to you

Looking to buy from Apple? You likely won’t be disappointed, as the company has the highest ranking for customer satisfaction in the U.S., according to a new report

While larger screens seem to be dominating the smartphone market, the iPhone SE took first place in the Annual Customer Satisfaction Index — receiving a score of 87 out of 100. The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and iPhone 7 Plus trailed closely behind.

The ASCI measures customer satisfaction scores from May 2016 to April 2017, and the results are based on random interviews with a little more than 36,000 customers in the U.S. The iPhone SE’s top marks suggest consumers may be looking for smartphones that are not only smaller, but also less expensive.

The lineup of devices largely consists of products from Samsung and Apple — illustrating the dominance the two companies have on the U.S. market — but there are also a few surprises, such as LG’s G4 and the Moto G, which scored 73 and 75, respectively. The Galaxy S8 isn’t listed here, as it was just released last month.

The ASCI report also includes customer satisfaction data from other sectors, such as wireless carriers. Out of the big four carriers in the U.S., Verizon came first, and AT&T was last. Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint improved their customer satisfaction scores, but T-Mobile lost a percentage point, finishing second to last. More surprisingly, the big four were all beat out by smaller carriers such as TracFone Wireless and U.S. Cellular.

In terms of smartphone brands, Apple reigns king again at 81 percent, unchanged from last year. Microsoft Mobile, which offered Nokia Lumia devices, is shockingly tied for second place with Samsung — Microsoft hasn’t released a Windows phone in nearly two years, so it’s safe to say people were satisfied with their devices despite the phones’ lagging popularity. Samsung, like Apple, also remained unchanged with its score of 80 — a notable feat considering the Galaxy Note 7 recall last year. HTC jumped a percent, while Lenovo’s Motorola dipped a little.

While ease of text messaging and making calls, as well as phone design remained top scorers in the customer satisfaction report, battery life is still at the bottom of the list — though it posted a 1 percent improvement to a score of 76.

‘Castlevania’ series goes vampire hunting July 7th on Netflix

These days, Netflix isn’t just releasing a lot of streaming content, it’s betting on topicality and nostalgia to win. In the last week, it confirmed a Dark Crystal prequel and a tweet-inspired Rihanna/Lupita Nyong’o buddy series, with a possible Ellen standup special to boot. You could extend the childhood appeal to shows like Castlevania, an adaptation of Konami’s gothic adventure series Netflix announced would come out later in 2017. But the content provider’s Twitter account just released both a teaser and a release date: July 7th.

In darkness, a hero returns. Castlevania comes to Netflix July 7. pic.twitter.com/mTOEaiq2j3

— Netflix US (@netflix) May 24, 2017

Curiously, the trailer is a longer version of the one tweeted out by Netflix’s Latin American account earlier. US audiences got a nostalgia-inducing bumper ahead of the show trailer depicting someone blow on a Castlevania-emblazoned NES cartridge, blow on it, plug it in, and boot up the console. Like the video game commercials of yore that featured costume-and-prop dramatizations alongside chunky 8- and 16-bit graphics, this elongated trailer knows its audience.

When it was first announced back in February, we didn’t know the show would be animated. Given how bloody and bleak the first footage is, this seems a shrewd move. Regardless, the series is backed by incredible talent, with famed comics writer Warren Ellis penning the show, Adventure Time’s Kevin Kolde contributing and Adi Shankar (Dredd, The Grey) producing.

Source: Netflix (Twitter)

TSA may ask you to unpack tablets and cluttered carry-on bags

While it looks like the airline industry has successfully held off the US Department of Homeland Security’s proposed laptop ban for now, the government will soon be giving carry-on bags an extra thorough inspection at airports around the country anyway. Starting after this summer’s travel rush, the TSA is expected to implement a range of new policies that will likely lead to a lot more unpacking and re-packing at airport security checkpoints. Suddenly those automatic security screenings can’t come soon enough.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the TSA’s plans are still vague, but the agency has been testing a variety of security procedures at smaller airports before expanding them to major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Boston and others. In some cases, passengers were required to remove all food items or put any electronics larger than a cellphone — meaning tablets and kindles too — in separate bins. In one failed test, confused passengers were even asked to take out any paper items in their bags, including notepads. The TSA hasn’t announced which rules it will implement yet and even when it does, enforcement will vary at each airport and security line. There’s even the possibility that an agent could ask you to take something out and put it in a bin without warning. While compliance is optional, non-compliance means stepping out of line for a manual check.

However, as TSA administrator Darby LaJoye told the Journal, agents won’t be looking for specific threats or dangerous devices. Instead, they’ll be monitoring the X-ray line to make it easier to scan each bag’s contents. “It is not any one particular item we’re worried about,” LaJoye said. “It’s not about paper or food or anything. It’s how best to divest those items.”

Apparently we can blame increased baggage fees for any extra hassle — as the Journal notes, fewer people are checking bags, which leads to overstuffed and cluttered carry-ons that cause a rash of slow-moving X-ray checkpoints. If you’re the sort of person who flies with a rat’s nest of cables, chargers and devices in your bag, then you might want to think about investing in a cable organizer or an extra sleeve for your gadgets. According to LaJoye, travelers who pay up for TSA PreCheck (an $85 five-year subscription) probably won’t be subject to the extra screening.

In related TSA news, the agency will also be installing new ID scanners around the country. The machines will read IDs and passports then automatically verify the name with the airport’s passenger lists, eliminating the need for agents to manually check boarding passes. The scanners will show up at Washington Dulles first and should be in every US airport sometime in the next two years.

Source: Wall Street Journal