| With Symbian, Windows Mobile, WebOS and the | | | | new virtual keyboard layout and extended T9 |
| iPhone OS, it was just a matter of downloading the | | | | predictive text dictionary and an updated HTML5 |
| new version, and you can start to enjoy the cool new | | | | Android web browser that allows double-tap zooming |
| features and available new apps on your upgraded | | | | and video tagging from its GPS support. |
| smartphone. Mostly at no added expense, but even | | | | These are mostly cosmetics and minor functional |
| if you have to spend for an upgrade, it was a | | | | enhancements. But looking at the brighter side, despite |
| non-issue as far as cost is concerned. | | | | an underclocked Snapdragon, you still get the features |
| Enter the Android smartphones. It comes in many | | | | that have endeared the Liquid name to Android fans. |
| versions and even new smartphones unveiled at the | | | | It sports the same dimensions and looks for the same |
| recently concluded 2010 Mobile World Congress have | | | | 3G phone on the triple band UMTS/HSDPA/DSUPA. |
| new smartphones running the older 1.5 cupcake and 1.6 | | | | You get the same local data connectivity radio for |
| donut platforms together with other new releases | | | | WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and miniUSB. There's |
| running the latest 2.0 and 2.1 Éclair versions. But | | | | A-GPS and 3.5mm headphone jack. You get the |
| where's the upgrade path? | | | | same 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with wide VGA |
| Our suspicion that there's none, at least not in the | | | | resolution and 256k colors with accelerometer and |
| foreseeable future, is confirmed at the event with the | | | | proximity sensors. There's the same 5 megapixel |
| unveiling of the new Acer Liquid e. It is exactly the | | | | autofocus camera with geo tagging and VGA video |
| same as the Liquid released in November last year | | | | recording at a decent 20fps frame rate. In short, it's a |
| that ran the older Android 1.6 Donut. | | | | capable high end smartphone with a more capable |
| A simple OS upgrade online could have sufficed but | | | | Android OS. |
| this time, Acer released the same thing but with the | | | | Availability |
| new Éclair version. It even comes with the same | | | | For Android fans not wanting a Motorola Droid or a |
| underclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that | | | | Google Nexus One, the Acer Liquid e offers an |
| won a lot of flak on the earlier Liquid. Acer could | | | | alternative and owners of the older Liquid can delight |
| have at least restored it to 1 GHz speeds. | | | | their kids with a high end hand-me-down. It is planned |
| The Same Banana on a New Roller Blades | | | | to hit the markets in the first quarter which ends a |
| Yes, that is what it amounts to. The new OS | | | | month from now. |
| provides five new home screens where before it has | | | | That means it will be out even before the XPERIA |
| only one. This allows more apps to be downloaded | | | | X10, so if you can't wait, this is another option. Like its |
| into it, making each screen virtually the equivalent of a | | | | predecessor, it will be offered in three body colors to |
| separate handset. | | | | choose from – black, red and white. As usual, no |
| There's Quick Contacts allowing you to toggle | | | | pricing is yet available but it can't be far from the |
| between your social networking apps and the phone | | | | current price of the older Liquid which can be had for |
| book, live or animated wallpapers for customization, a | | | | about ₤330 SIM-free. |