This summer, Acer will begin releasing a number of new devices aimed at different types of users, including a new series of notebooks for business users and two new 2-in-1s for students and budget-conscious buyers.
Taiwan-based Acer plans to showcase its latest releases at next week’s Computex expo in Taipei. It also plans to unveil its BeingWare vision for smart city and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Computex, which highlights IoT, startup, business and gaming technology, has already named Acer as a winner of eight design and innovation awards ahead of this year’s event. Among the products singled out for awards are the Revo Build modular mini PC, the Aspire One 11 notebook, the Liquid Jade 2 smartphone and the Liquid Jade Primo Desktop Kit for mobile productivity.
Support for Biometric Security
Acer is aiming its new TravelMate P2 notebook series at users who work at small and midsize businesses. The 14-inch TravelMate P249 and 15.6-inch TravelMate P259 are due to hit the North American market in the fourth quarter of this year.
Priced starting at $ 599, both notebooks feature 6th-generation Intel Core processors, Nvidia GeForce graphics and Windows 10 Pro. They each also come with a built-in fingerprint reader that lets users log in through Microsoft’s Windows Hello biometric security system.
Meanwhile, Acer’s new convertible notebooks target more budget-conscious users with prices starting at $ 199 for the Switch One 10 (picture right, background) and $ 249 for the Switch V 10 (pictured left, forefront). The 2-in-1s come with quad-core Intel Atom processors, multi-touch 10-inch screens and fingerprint readers for use with Windows Hello.
Connected Cars and Smart Cities
Acer said its new BeingWare vision for IoT “encompasses vertical business models with intelligent connected devices.” One element in that vision is abMax01, a new module for connected cars that’s designed to help automakers with fleet management and data analysis.
During Computex, Acer also plans to showcase two applications for smart cities, as well as several consumer-focused applications, including a smart tracker for monitoring children, the elderly or pets. The company is also introducing new CloudProfessor IoT education kits running on Windows 10. Launched at the Mobile World Congress earlier this year, CloudProfessor is aimed at helping students learn about IoT development.
A new partnership announced earlier this month between Acer and Starbreeze will also use BeingWare for virtual reality (VR) applications. The joint venture aims to create head-mounted VR displays for the “professional- and location-based entertainment market,” Acer said.
BeingWare builds on Acer’s Build Your Own Cloud platform, launched in 2013 to “create a secure, reliable and easy-to-use cloud ecosystem to simplify and improve life and business.”
Other new products announced by Acer today include a new V9800 4K ultra-high-definition home cinema projector and an LTE-enabled Liquid Zest Plus smartphone — an Android device with a 5.5-inch screen, quick-charging capabilities and a 5,000 mAh battery the company said can provide up to three days of use between charges.
