Computer maker Acer is looking to expand its product portfolio, today officially announcing the Acer Stream, an Android 2.1 smartphone with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, a five megapixel camera, and a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor for running apps and tapping into all manner of entertainment media.
On the surface the Stream seems similarly specced to phones like the Google Nexus One and the HTC Droid INcredible; however, the Stream will focus heavily on media, offering broad video format support, an HDMI output for pushing content to a bigger screen, plus the phone will act as a DLNA streamer via Wi-Fi.
Unveiled at a press event in Beijing, the Stream also features a unique UI designed by Acer, with a status bar working as a divider with an app history on top and favorite app icons on the bottom. The phone packs in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking along with HSPA mobile broadband and an integrated GPS. the phone as 2 GB of internal flash storage expandable by up to 32 GB more via a memory card—Acer apparently plans to ship the phone with an 8 GB card. Acer also plans to pack the phone with social networking applications so users can immediately tap into Twitter and Facebook; the Stream will also come with pre-installed media player applications that handle WMV HD, Xvid, and a variety of other formats.
Acer expects to start offering the Stream in the second half of 2010; however, pricing and potential carrier partners have not been announced.
