Key features:
3.8" 65K-color resistive TFT touchscreen, WVGA 480 x 800 pixels
Windows Mobile 6.5 with Acer Homescreen, Contacts, Agenda and Gallery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM (300MB user available)
5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash, geotagging, image stabilizer
VGA video recording @ 30fps
Quad-band GSM support
Tri-band 3G with HSDPA (7.2Mbps) and HSUPA (5.76 Mbps) support
Wi-Fi with DLNA technology
Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality
microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth and USB v2.0
3.5mm standard audio jack, TV-out functionality
Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor for screen auto turn-off
Accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation
Smart dial
Office document editor (but no PDF viewer)
Full Flash support in the web browser (IE)
Top-notch audio output quality
Main disadvantages:
Not enough user interface customization
No camera lens cover
Poor photo and video quality
microSD slot is under the back cover
No DivX/XviD video support out-of-the-box
No navigation software, even Google Maps is not preinstalled
No active stylus
High-gloss body panels are a fingerprint magnet
Poor ringing volume
The Acer neoTouch left us with mixed feelings. On the plus side it comes with the much heralded high-end 1Ghz Snapdragon CPU. It also has a huge 3.8" display and runs the latest Windows Mobile OS. And last but not least, it handles the OS very well and packs all kinds of connectivity options.
Switching to the negatives, Acer have done little to customize the OS, there is no dedicated music or video player beyond what Microsoft have to offer (and it's not much). There's no DivX/XviD support, the camera photo and video quality is a downer and there is no GPS satnav software on board. Acer have left Windows Mobile almost stripped to the bone, and this is inexcusable given what the likes of HTC and Samsung are doing in terms of making the interface more user-friendly. The final straw comes from the less than stellar video playback and poor choice of accessories in the retail box.
We have to admit though the neoTouch is not among the top-priced smartphones out there, so the lack of sweeties in the box and other omissions such as the GPS navigation software are not a major point against. But even for a mid-priced device we don't think it's too much to ask for a decent music player and some additional codec support.
A strong competitor with that kind of CPU under its hood and an even bigger 4.1" screen is the Toshiba TG01. Yet somehow we feel that its dimensions (except for the thickness) have crossed a certain line making usability questionable. The higher price and the relatively limited market availability are also hurting the TG01's chances. Not that Toshiba have done any deep customizations of the OS themselves either.
The HTC Touch Diamond2 is on the list too, though it doesn't even come close to a 3.8" screen or a 1GHz CPU. However at this stage the HTC champ has a more attractive price tag and that - combined with the time-tested TouchFLO 3D UI - might be enough to keep users interested. More importantly though, Windows Mobile 6.5 is already available for the Diamond2. HTC devices have a wide user base too and the strong community is always ready to give you a tip or help you tweak your gadget.
By the way, the Diamond2 is an option rather than a major challenge. The HD2 however should be downright scary. The Sense UI and capacitive touchscreen may just be too much for the neoTouch to beat. Not to mention the unmatched screen estate, though the 4.3" diagonal does raise some usability questions. Oh, and for the record, we're talking Snapdragon here as well.
The Samsung Omnia II already managed to impress us and it's perhaps set to give the neoTouch a good run for its money. It might not have the sheer processing power of the Acer neoTouch but the actual handling and response were perfect. The 3.7" AMOLED screen, fully customized UI, huge internal storage and all kind of software goodies make the I8000 Omnia II a serious player in the smartphone field this holiday season. For a few euros more than the neoTouch, the Omnia II delivers a mighty capable PocketPC without worries you might be missing on any key feature.
Honestly, we can't find it in our hearts to recommend the neoTouch as strongly as we would some of their Timeline laptops. It does have its good and bad points and given the current price it might be a reasonable investment of your money. Still, you may want to wait a bit for a price drop and see what kind of extra support Acer are willing to provide to make it a more attractive device. If that happens, the NeoTouch will be a handset worth considering. As for Acer, we don't need to tell you they're worth keeping an eye on. We, for one, would be glad to meet the Liquid.
No comments:
Post a Comment