Acer to unveil 8 to 10 phones next year, show more love to Android

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Acer's far from being a major player in the smartphone space, but to call it irrelevant would be grossly inaccurate. Up until now, however, the outfit has relied largely on Microsoft's mobile OS to power its phones, though even it seems shocked by the warm reception the Android-powered Liquid has received. According to the company's own Aymar de Lencquesaing, Acer recognizes that "there is definitely momentum behind Android," and he continued by stating that "the pace is faster than most would have anticipated one year ago." He went on to proclaim that the company was apt to pump out 8 to 10 phones in 2010, with next year's lineup being "much more balanced" in terms of the amount of Windows Mobile vs. Android handsets. Look out, world -- Google just might take over another huge portion of your life while you're fixated on the next great Black Friday deal.

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Google Maps for Windows Mobile and Symbian has just been updated to version 3.3

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The new version brings the ability to sync the places you star on Google Maps for desktop with the ones you star on your phone, and vice-versa.

For example, let’s say you’re in London and star a hotel on your desktop PC. When you go out with your WM or Symbian smartphone, Google Maps will show that hotel on top of your list of Starred Items, as well as on the map.

Google said that syncing starred items will soon be added to Google Maps for other mobile platforms (Android, iPhone etc).

To download Google Maps 3.3 for Windows Mobile or Symbian, visit m.google.com/maps on your mobile browser.

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Nokia E52 Firmware Update v22.009.202.01

The Nokia E52 can received what could well be the longest serial number to a firmware update yet, as Version v22.009.202.01 has hit. This update looks like being something of a routine update, fixing a bunch of minor bugs but bringing nothing new to the table. It’s believed a similar update is also on offer for the Nokia E55, which shares the same DNA as the Nokia E52 but comes with full QWERTY keyboard. Find out more about the Nokia E52 Firmware Update v22.009.202.01 after the jump…
The Nokia E52 is here to replace the Nokia E51 with a longer battery life, improved feature set and even easier to use keypad. What’s more, the Nokia E52 Firmware Update v22.009.202.01 has landed and is available for devices here in the UK. The guys over at All About Symbian have posted that the Nokia E52 firmware update v22.009.202.01 has landed but at this time is only available thorough the NSU (Nokia Software Updater) and isn’t an OTA (Over the Air) update, which would suggest that it’s a rather large update.
Check out our Nokia E52 review
It’s believed that a similar update is also available for the Nokia E55. If you’ve received this update and can enlighten us with a few more facts about what the v22.009.202.01 has to offer, that would be great!

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Nokia N900 Battery put to the test

After the news yesterday that the Nokia N900 is already finding its way into the hands of those who placed a pre-order for the Maemo 5 device, we’re starting to see some clever stories cropping up all over the place. The most innovative of which is a video that looks at the battery life of the Nokia N900. Find out how the Nokia N900 battery has been put to the test…
The guys over at Nokia Conversations – the official Nokia blog – have set themselves a pretty stiff challenge – to post 30 videos each of 30 seconds long, show casing the best attributes of the Nokai N900. If you’re wondering why 30 videos, well 30 x 30 seconds comes in at 900 seconds, all very ‘theme’ based.
Check out our Nokia N900 review
We’ve been keeping an eye on how the videos are getting on and one in particular caught our eye – this nifty stop animation video the guys made to showcase the battery life of the Nokia N900. OK, so it’s not inside a test facility but the video is a neat little way of getting the message about the Nokia N900 out there.
What’s more, the video not only stars the Nokia N900 but the movie was also shot on one, so you can check out the video quality at the same time!
Have you been putting the Nokia N900 battery to the test? Found any neat ways to push it to the limit yet? Let us know in the Comments below.

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Nokia N900: Resistive or Capacitive Screen?

The Nokia N900 is weaving its way around the world as we speak and anyone who has placed a pre-order is probably holding it lightly and gleefully laughing to themselves. However, the arrival of the Nokia N900 has thrown up something of a debate – which screen would be better for the Nokia N900:  Resistive or Capacitive?
Ben has done a couple of cracking Nokia N900 reviews this week that really get under the hood and skin of the new Maemo 5 device. The 3.5-inch touchscreen is a good size and with its beefed up resolution, it really makes neat work of web browsing and your messaging. However, we’ve had a couple of comments about the screen and how the use of a ‘Resistive Display’ is a potential flaw in the device.
Two NokNok readers, Paul and Toucan Murphy feel that switching to a Capacitive Display would be a problem with the Nokia N900 and the decision made by Nokia to stay with the tried-and-trusted Resistive Display was the best one.
As Paul put it ‘There ARE positives to using a resistive screen over capacitive, such as higher accuracy, the ability to use multiple objects to control it (such as gloves, a stylus, etc), and the ability to use a nail to control it. Honestly, when I use a capacitive screen I feel like I have little kid gloves on, having to use the biggest part of my finger to control anything, the accuracy is horrible.’
Now, we’re no tech-heads here but that kind of got us thinking, which would be the best way forward for the Nokia N900? That’s why we’re turning to you guys – what do you think? Has Nokia made the right decision with their choice of Resistive Display or do you side with Ben and think that Capacitive is the way forward?
We’d genuinely like to know what you think, as it is a question that is likely to come up a great deal in the coming months.

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