DOTA, e-games help drive PC sales in Philippines: Acer

MANILA -- Acer said Thursday it expected revenues to "triple" in the Philippines, where a fast-growing gaming industry is helping sustain demand for desktop and laptop computers that have come under pressure from mobile devices elsewhere in the world.

Electronic games such as DOTA have "overtaken" the US' National Basketball Association in some markets in terms of popularity, highlighting the industry's potential, said Acer president Stan Shih.

"Because of young people, (there's) more opportunity, big potential in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand," Shih told ANC's The Boss.

Shih said revenues would double and even "triple" in some areas. The company has been in Southeast Asia since 1983.

Taiwan-based Acer is serving demand for gaming computers both for desktop and laptop computers, he said.

In the Philippines, DOTA has become a competitive sport, luring teenagers into boot camps on the promise of million-peso paydays.

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source: news.abs-cbn.com

Acer launches 8 touchscreen products

MANILA -- Acer on Friday launched eight new touchscreen-based products equipped with the latest Windows 8.1 operating system.

Manuel Wong, general manager of Acer Philippines, said the latest products have better features as a result of the continuous innovation programs of the company.

“They are thinner, better features and longer battery life,” he boasted.

Anchored on its worldwide campaign “A Touch More,” the latest Acer products play a big emphasis in the growing “touch" product category.

Acer has raised the bar with the Aspire S7-392 by making it a mere millimeter thicker than its predecessor, boosted processing power with fourth-generation Intel Core processors and the introduction of the “Acer Purified Voice” to lessen the noise for voice recognition and voice over Internet protocol applications. It has an aluminum frame that is designed to withstand the rigors of mobile computing.

The Aspire S3, also called the little brother of S7, comes in a slim and stylish design complemented by strong enhancements led by the fourth genration Intel Core chips to enhance the productivity of a user in office or personal requirements.

For users who enjoy using laptops and tablets, the Aspire R7-571 has the “Ezel” hinge that enables the versatile machine to transform from a normal notebook into a tablet by simply reversing the screen with its pad mode, or as a digital drawing board.

For massive gaming requirements, Acer has also boosted the computing power of the V3-772 with a fourth generation Intel Core chips up to 2 terabit of storage space or 1 terabit through the 256 gigabit (GB) solid state drive (SSD), or through the AcerCloud for bigger storage space. Furthermore, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M delivers high quality visual applications along with Dolby Home Theater sound system for quality sound.

In mobile handheld devices, Acer introduced the Iconia W4 that can be used both as a fun and a productive tool in terms of viewing, creating and editing documents while a user is on the road or rushing in-between vital appointments. The Iconia also has the “Zero Air Gap” technology, the touch capacity and liquid crystal display (LCD) screen designed to provide superior clarity.

In the desktop category, users can take a crack at the All-in-One (AIO) personal computer like the Acer Aspire ZC602 and the famous Acer Aspire U5-610. The Aspire ZC602 is a versatile computing machine that does not only deliver basic computer needs at home but also has user-friendly features such as the “Acer Remote” to enable a user to connect with other Windows 8 mobile devices.

Meanwhile, the Aspire U5-610 delivers better daily computing performance with its Intel Core processors and 16 gigabit of DDR3 1600 megahertz synchronous dynamic random-access memory that can boost the performance to 15 percent and load any application twice faster.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Acer says no plans to launch non-tablet devices on ARM

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s Acer Inc said on Monday it would remain closer to U.S. chipmaker Intel, even though Microsoft also embraces rival ARM for its new Windows 8 operating system.

The world’s No.4 PC vendor has given an upbeat outlook for the second half after delivering a quarterly net profit that lagged market expectations in April, betting on the launch of Microsoft’s new Windows system and more slimline ultrabook computers.

The company is recovering from two consecutive quarters of losses in April to September last year and a management shake-up.

Acer said on Monday, ahead of the opening of Taiwan’s annual Computex trade fair, that it would formally launch new ultrabook and tablet designs after Microsoft puts its new windows system in the market, expected in the fourth quarter, with the first shipments starting in August and volume shipment commencing in September.

The first wave of Windows 8 products will be using Intel chips, while ARM-based designs will not be in market until 2-4 months later, expected in the first quarter.

“Finally the couple (Windows and Intel) recover their relationship,” Acer Chairman J.T. Wang told reporters at a small group interview. “We are more familiar with the Windows ecosystem, our supply chain is also mainly in the Window ecosystem.”

Wang said Acer has no plans so far to launch non-tablet devices using ARM designs.

“According to engineer studies, unless we go into ARM 64-bit, otherwise performance is still not so great,” he said. “ARM is a newcomer, young and attractive but it takes some time.”

Acer is showcasing new tablet computer models in slate and convertible design – or with and without conventional keyboards – based on the Windows 8 system at Computex this year, as well as two touch ultrabooks, which use aluminium metallic casings which enable cost competitiveness, and come in 12mm thickness.

“I have never been so supportive to Microsoft,” Wang told a news conference earlier on Monday. “We have a good opportunity to grow again after the Windows 8 launch. Acer is fully committed to deliver a full line of Windows 8 products.”

Acer said prices for these new gadgets would be announced after the launch of Windows 8. But in a powerpoint at the presentation it said the touch ultrabook would range from $1,799, significantly higher than the below $1,000 non-touch ones currently in the market.

Ultrabooks are an ultra-thin notebook PC that is similar to Apple Inc’s Macbook Air and offers some of the technological chic of the iPad and other tablets.

But some investors are concerned that the expensive components used in ultrabooks, such as solid-state drives, make them too pricey for many consumers.

In April, Acer lowered its ultrabook shipment contribution forecast for 2012 to 12-20 percent from 25-35 percent, but still saw its ultrabook shipments in the second quarter would double from the first quarter and they would keep growing for the rest of the year, with four new models planned.

source: interaksyon.com