Acer F1 Drives Into Town On October 6

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blog.clove.co.uk/2009/09/17/acer-f1-coming-soon/' target='_blank'>http://blog.clove.co.uk/2009/09/17/...f1-coming-soon/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Due to begin shipping from the 6th October, the Acer F1 is the most superior Windows Mobile 6.5 (Windows Phone) device that will be available upon launch. The competitor to the HTC Touch HD, the Acer F1 will have many advantages as of the 6th October, primarily the Windows Phone 6.5 operating system and 1Ghz processor (double that of the HTC Touch HD)."</em></p><p><img height="398" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1243992707.usr2.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" width="600" /></p><p>Beware of October 6. On one hand, it marks the official release of Windows Mobile 6.5. On the other hand, the sheer number of devices to choose from will surely cause headaches. One such device is the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/94893/acer-f1-coming-soon.html" target="_blank">Acer</a> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/93971/1ghz-snapdragon-based-acer-f1-demoed-at-computex.html" target="_blank">F1</a>, and it's definitely no slouch. The beast packs a Snapdragon chipset clocked at 1 GHz, a 3.8" 480 x 800 touch screen, HSDPA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, an FM tuner, and a 5.0-megapixel camera with flash - all of which, unlike the debt-inducing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/95172/january-bound-xperia-x2-to-cost-an-arm-and-leg.html" target="_blank">XPERIA X2</a>, is priced at &pound;295 + VAT ($480 USD). Who wants one?</p>

[SrSketch]

Interesting that they feel compelled to mention "at launch"... Of course the (not so much) rumored HTC Leo has these specs with a larger screen and HTC's excellent TouchFLO... No telling WHEN it will actually be available, though... And, of course, the other big question is which carriers are picking up the Acer F1?

Finally, how is the screen when used outdoors in direct and indirect sunlight? It amazes me that this aspect is so often overlooked - what a concept: People might actually want to use their device outside. Wow! Who would have thought that? Kinda hard to use a touch screen UI if you can't SEE anything... ;-)

[Sven Johannsen]

Who wants one?

I think I do.

Does

Network –
Quad-band GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
HSPA 900, 1900, 2100 (download 7.2 Mbps / upload 5.76 Mbps)

cover US 3G or better? Or is this another neat phone that is stuck at Edge on this side of the big water?

[Darius Wey]

Does

Network –
Quad-band GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
HSPA 900, 1900, 2100 (download 7.2 Mbps / upload 5.76 Mbps)

cover US 3G or better? Or is this another neat phone that is stuck at Edge on this side of the big water?

900/2100 MHz primarily covers Australia, Asia, and Europe. The US uses 1900 MHz to some degree, but 850 MHz support is what you're really after. So, expect to be stuck on EDGE or spotty HSPA coverage on the 1900 MHz band. Incidentally, building penetration of 1900 MHz absolutely sucks; I have to put up with it on a daily basis. :(

[Sven Johannsen]

Oh well.:(

[Craig Horlacher]

I hope they do release it in north america with the bands we need. It's got the features I want and it's a company I like!!!

[Craig Horlacher]

Please tell me this is just a really bad photo of the screen. It looks like the gameboy color in this shot.

[Darius Wey]

Please tell me this is just a really bad photo of the screen. It looks like the gameboy color in this shot.

It's definitely not the best of photos to highlight screen quality as it's barely illuminated.

[Fritzly]

I will wait for "Leo" if... it does arrive before the end of the year and has a capacitive screen.

[Rod3]

I've used several phones with 1900 mhz on AT&T (southeast US) and have absolutely no difficulty. The 850 band seems to be midwest more than here. So, don't give up so quickly on 3G in US. This phone would work for me.