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Tag: electronics

  • Acer and ASUS Planning Smartphones


    It’s done a good job in conquering the PC, laptop and netbook markets, now the Taiwanese electronics giant seems intent on entering the smartphone realm.

    Gianfranco Lanci, Acer’s CEO, said the company plans to launch a smartphone under its own brand at the beginning of 2009.

    Speaking in an interview with German financial magazine Capital Investor, Lanci said the Acer smartphone will be UMTS enabled, with a touch pad similar to the iPhone’s, and would cost around EUR 500.

    Lanci also said that with Acer’s netbook manufacturring capability approaching 6 million, he expects the company to leave all competitors in that market in its wake.

    For the German market, Acer will launch its netbooks bundled with mobile internet services from a German mobile operator, although Lanchi wouldn’t discuss details.

    Meanwhile, following on from its P552w touchscreen phone, another Taiwanese computer giant is said to be preparing to enter the smartphone market.

    Engadget says Asus is planning an Omnia-esque device that will feature a large touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, a trackball for non-touch navigation, and the predictable 3G radios / WiFi.

    The smartphone from Asus, which is understood to produce smartphones for other well-known tech companies, is due to appear in November 2008.

  • Consumer group claims Sony PS3 uses five times more energy than a fridge

    An Australian consumer body has called for small consumer electronics devices to carry energy-usage labels following a survey into power consumption.
    Tests carried out by Sydney-based CHOICE showed that a PlayStation3 left on but not in use would cost Aus$250 annually in electricity – over five times more than a medium-sized fridge.
    The survey found the usage cost for the Xbox 360 was not much lower.
    In Australia, white goods must carry the energy-efficiency star labels by law, but while the Federal Government has recently discussed introducing such a scheme for computers and monitors, currently there is no such requirement.
    Christopher Zinn, CHOICE’s media spokesman, said consumers were unaware of consumption rates for some smaller electronic devices.
    He said mandatory energy-usage labels should be introduced for computer products sold in Australia.
    “While we hope no one actually leaves their games console on for a whole year 24/7, the figures are indicative of just how much electricity these small devices can chew their way through,” he said.