Hasta La Gadget!

We’ll keep our source anonymous here, but an Acer rep staffing the company’s press event here at IFA just told us its funky Aspire R7 Ultrabook is “not selling so well.” We’re not sure if that’s because it shipped with last-gen Ivy Bridge processors, or because the touchscreen sits above the keyboard, but either way, Acer is trying to boost its chances of success. This week, the company announced the R7 is getting refreshed with Haswell CPUs (Core i5 and i7) and an optional active digitizer for proper pen input. That latter feature in particular addresses a chief complaint potential buyers had about the original, which could only be used with generic capacitive pens. After all, what fun is a 15-inch, 1080p display with an articulating hinge if you can’t use it for the occasional doodle?

In particular, the laptop makes use of an N-Trig digitizer, allowing for hovering and pressure-sensitive pen input. And though there’s no shortage of pen-optimized apps in the Windows Store, Acer is also bundling a few of its own, including MemoryBinder for drawing, Screen Grasp for taking screencaps (natch), and Scrapboard for cobbling together a mish-mash of photos, screenshots and other media. Across the board, you’ll enjoy a straightforward UI that makes it easy to select and crop objects on screen, with options to either put a window around selected content, or “lasso” it using the pen or your finger. Even more than that, we were especially taken with the “AccuFinger,” an onscreen, finger-friendly circle with a fine pointer attached, which you can use to select tiny items on screen even when you forgot to take the pen with you. (OK, you could use the touchpad too, but this is the decidedly cooler option. Plus, the touchpad drivers need fine-tuning anyway.)%Gallery-slideshow77227%

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

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Sure, IFA hasn’t technically started yet, but it’s never too early for a tablet hands-on. We took a trip to downtown Berlin to get an early peek at Acer’s new line of devices, including this 10.1-inch Android tablet. At the center of the A3 is a fairly standard 1,280 x 800 IPS display — the same resolution you’ll find on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. In fact, the A3’s got something of a Galaxy Tab-esque feel to it due, in no small part, to the slate’s plastic backing. The rear has an off-white / gray coloring, with a shiny metallic Acer logo in the center. In the top right corner, you’ll find that rear-facing 5-megapixel camera.

The tablet’s a bit on the chunky side, but that does leave plenty of space for the numerous ports, buttons and speakers on the silver-trimmed sides of the device. Along the left, you’ll find the power button, micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports, a microSD slot (which lets you expand the built-in 16 or 32GB of storage), headphone jack and a small speaker grille at the bottom. On the top is a small mic and around the left you’ll find the second speaker and a volume rocker.%Gallery-slideshow77224%

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Ahead of Sony’s own IFA press event, it’s already announced its latest head-mounted display. The HMZ-T3 is the third iteration and while there’s no substitutional reality function (or camera), the company’s made some important improvements that could tip the balance for anyone concerned with sinking a substantial amount of cash for a one-person display. It’ll come in a new “wireless” iteration — we’ll explain why we used those quote marks a little later — while Sony has also improved the clarity of its dual OLED displays through lens and software adjustments (although the 720p resolution stays the same). There’s now a bigger viewing sweet spot and several new specialized screen options for gaming and movie-watching. Our favorite new feature, however, is the ability to plug in Android (presumably Xperia) devices with micro-HDMI / MHL connectivity. The device, via the battery pack, has ports for both full-size and micro-HMDI cables, and given the current influx of HD-capable smartphones (and content), it’s a pretty pervasive way to use it.

The HMZ-T3 also arrives with high-definition audio, virtualized 7.1 channel sound and has shed 10 grams since the T2. That’s despite improved padding and some more forgiving adjustment controls that made wearing the device noticeably less frustrating. Both wireless and wired options are set to go on sale in Japan this October and while a global roll-out isn’t yet confirmed, Sony’s told us that it’s certainly “in discussions” about further availability. We managed to get some early access to the wearable ahead of its reveal in Germany, so naturally, we played some games and watched some video. Our initial impressions and more details are right after the break. %Gallery-slideshow46965%

Filed under: Displays, Wearables, HD, Sony

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Acer’s announcing a slew of new products today at IFA, but it’s also updating a few existing models with a greater emphasis on touch. In addition to getting the mandatory upgrade to Intel’s Haswell processors, the Aspire R7 will now come bundled with an Acer active pen for use on the 15.6-inch, 1080p touchscreen. Given that the notebook offers four usage modes (including an “Ezel mode” and tablet mode), having this additional input option certainly makes sense. To help you take advantage of the digitizer, the company is adding several apps to its pre-load: MemoryBinder for drawing on top of your photos, ScreenGrasp for capturing images with the pen and Scrapboard for collecting images and ideas, much like Evernote. There’s also AccuFinger, which Acer says helps you select tiny items on-screen when you’re using fingers rather than the pen. As for availability, the new R7 will hit Europe, the Middle East and Africa in late 2013, with the base price set at €999, though we’re not sure when to expect it stateside just yet.

The Aspire E notebook series is also stepping up to Intel’s fourth-gen processors, and Acer’s adding in new AMD options as well. The biggest update, though, is the addition of 10-point multi-touch displays to upcoming models — you’ll appreciate having the option to navigate Windows 8.1 with your fingers, after all. Finally, the Aspire E will be offered in additional colors; you’ll have your choice of Keyboard White, Misty Silver or Piano Black for the 14-inch model, while the 15.6-inch version comes in Cherry Red, Clarinet Black and Steel Grey. (Piano and Clarinet Black options, oh my!) The Aspire E1 will be available in mid-October with a starting price of €399 — no word on US pricing just yet.

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

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Acer introduced its first Android-powered all-in-one earlier this year at Mobile World Congress, and it’s following up with a second model here at IFA. The just-announced DA241HL is a 24-inch touch machine running Android Jelly Bean 4.2 with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor under the hood. Yes, you read that correctly — that NVIDIA chip is usually found in mobile devices, but Acer’s found a home for it in a decidedly larger package. The company says the DA241Hl is “designed to offer users the same familiar experience as with tablets and smartphones,” which also explains the Android OS on board. Naturally, users have access to Google Play, and MHL connectivity means the AIO can act as a monitor complete with two-point touch. Acer will launch the 24-incher in October for €429 and up.

We’re not finished yet; the company’s rolling out three other desktops, all of which have a full HD 23-inch touch display. The Aspire U5-610 comes with your choice of Intel Haswell processors, along with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M GPU and up to 16GB of RAM. At €1,129 and up, it’s the highest-end option of the group. The Aspire Z3-105, starting at €799, sports an IPS display and runs AMD’s latest A series quad-core CPUs with Radeon graphics, and it brings the entertainment chops with Harman Kardon speakers and Dolby Home Theater surround sound. Both the U5-610 and the Z3-105 will launch in December. Finally, there’s the Aspire Z3-610, which runs a Haswell processor with your choice of Intel graphics or an NVIDIA GPU. It will go for €799 and up when it hits the market in January. You’ll find the press info for all four products past the break.

Filed under: Desktops, Acer

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