Sony Reader app hitting iPhone and Android devices in December

Playing catchup, are we? Sony's hot on the trail of Amazon and Barnes and Noble, who already have e-reading apps for the Android and iOS platforms, with its own freshly announced Reader offering set for release next month. The functionality in this upcoming slice of software will be familiar: you get to access books already purchased at the Reader Store or pony up cash for new ones, while making bookmarks, notes and highlights on your mobile device. Throw in adjustable fonts and you've got your boilerplate beginning to a decent mobile e-reader. Now you just need to pick your fave ebook purveyor.

Microvision's PicoP-based SHOWWX+ projector: twice as bright, zero percent larger

Still holding out on nabbing a pico projector? We know, we know -- you'll leap when there's 1080p. But if you're kosher with baby steps, Microvision's newest entrant might just fit the bill. The SHOWWX+ is a revamped version of the ouftit's original PicoP-based SHOWWX, and it seems that a full year in the engineering lab has enabled the company to pop out a device that's 50 percent brighter, yet the exact same size. The internal battery can keep the 15 laser lumens shining for two solid hours, and there's also a 5,000:1 native contrast ratio. iDevice users will be elated to know that this guy is a Made for iPod, iPhone and iPad product, enabling it to output Netflix content without any DRM issues (or so we're told). The native resolution still checks in at 848 x 480, and if all that sounds just peachy, you can get one headed your way today for $449. Head on past the break for Netflix and Rage HD demos.

New Potato reveals TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

We've never been on the volunteer cheerleading squad for FM transmitters; in our experience, they're downright useless in cities or other areas that actually have a large amount of radio stations nearby. But we'll hand it toNew Potato Technologies -- this may be the slickest implementation yet. The newly announced TuneLink Auto looks like a typical cigarette adapter charger at first glance, but within, there's technology that accepts audio over Bluetooth and then sends it out over FM. This prevents users from having to connect a dongle of any kind to their iPad, iPod touch or iPhone, but the built-in USB port is actually capable of charging all three should you choose. There's even a 3.5mm output jack for channeling the tunes to a 3.5mm input on your head unit, and the (necessary) accompanying iDevice app should hit the App Store soon for absolutely nothing. The hardware itself is available now from New Potato for $99.99, and it'll hit "select retail locations" in a fortnight or so for the same amount.

Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, Clear.fi cloud-based media sharing system

Here in New York at Acer's Global press event, the company's talking touch. Lots and lots of touch. It'll be introducing a veritable smorgasbord of equipment as the minutes roll on, but it's kicking things off with its Windows 7-based Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, a device we've seen before. For all intents and purposes, this is Acer's version of the Toshiba Libretto W105 (or that far-flung ASUS concept we saw at CeBIT 2009), boasting a pair of glossy touchscreens and no hard specifications to speak of. Naturally, you won't find a keyboard here -- rather, a virtual one will emerge from the secondary panel. There's also a fairly slick media management system that's obviously gesture based -- some real potential there. We'll be digging for details surrounding a price point and release date, but for now, have a gander at the image above and just imagine how it could revolutionize your life.
In related news, the company also teased its new Clear.fi media sharing system. As the story goes, it's a cloud-based system that's designed to play multi-format content over multi-platform devices, enabling any number of gadgets to talk to one another in order to make content visible and shareable with any other device. So far, it looks as if that could apply to movies, games, photos and music, but it's a single-house affair for now. So long as there's a router and a WiFi connection nearby, any Clear.fi-enabled device should be able to share, search and consume.
Update: The full PR is now after the break, and we've gone hands-on with the device right here! We've also scored the specifications -- she's running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and is equipped with an Intel Core i5-480M / 560M / 580M CPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, a pair of 14-inch multitouch displays (1366x768 resolution), integrated Intel HD graphics (128MB RAM), VGA / HDMI outputs, an inbuilt microphone and a S/PDIF interface. There's also a 320/500/640/750GB hard drive, Acer's CrystalEye webcam (1280x1024 resolution), 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, integrated 3G WWAN, gigabit Ethernet, a four-cell battery and a total weight of 6.18 pounds. Closing things out, there are a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.0 jack and a one-year warranty.

Acer reveals 4.8-inch Android smartphone with 1024x480 screen resolution

Acer may be calling this "100 percent smartphone. 100 percent tablet," but something just doesn't add up there. That being said, we have to agree that a 1024x480 screen resolution on a 4.8-inch smartphone is downright drool-worthy. Clocking in at just a smidgen smaller than Dell's Streak, this here phone (no finalized name has been bestowed quite yet) was just revealed at Acer's Global press event in New York City. It was only shown briefly, demonstrating an unknown version of Android and the "evolution of Acer UI." Specs wise, there's a two megapixel front-facing camera, eight megapixel rear camera (with LED flash), 720p video recording, a six-axis Gyroscope + accelerometer package and LED edge lighting. Per usual, Acer's keeping a lid on any pricing estimates, but it'll be shipping out to gape-jawed customers everywhere in April 2011.
Update: We've got the full PR after the break, which informs us of the atypical 21:9 aspect ratio in use here as well as its "full metal body." Curiously enough, it's also rocking a curved back (is that a trend we spot?), Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, HSDPA support, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and an HDMI output. Delicious, all the way around.

Acer debuts 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet: AMD-powered, inbuilt 3G, coming February 2011

Whoa, what's this? Tucked between a fresh-out-of-the-oven Android tablets is a new 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet from Acer, and it looks as if this fellow will be gracing store shelves long before its Google-based brethren. Boasting an ebony motif and more gloss than a man could ever know what to do with, this (also unnamed) device will measure 15mm thick and weigh under 2.2 pounds, and while we're still left to wonder about the screen resolution, HDD size or memory amount, we are told that it'll use AMD silicon. It's not often you find an AMD-based tablet, so we're more than eager to get our paws around this thing and see how it compares to Qualcomm / Intel-powered alternatives. And judging by this image above, Acer is planning a docking solution in order to make it more useful at home -- an idea we saw revealed at Computex with ASUS' Eee Pad. Other tidbits include a pair of 1.3 megapixel cameras (one rear, one front-facing), inbuilt WiFi and 3G and February 2011 ship date.

Acer's Android tablets hands-on!

We wish we had better news about our hands-on success here at the Acer global press conference, but because all of the company's Android tablets will run Honeycomb / 3.0 or Google's "tablet OS" most of the units just weren't functioning. The 10.1-inch, dual-core Tegra-powered version was the only unit that would power on, and though we did get to see it blaze through some HD video, for the most part it was very sluggish and clearly acting like a pre-production unit. As far as the hardware goes, the display was bright and surprisingly had decent viewing angles. Acer's been notorious for using terrible LCDs, so this is quite a nice change! Oh, and as you already knew, it does have two cameras.
We eventually convinced a very nice Acer rep on hand to bring out the 4.8- and 7-inch devices for a hardware demo -- both of them were also very early units, but they did look nice from afar with glossy black screens and brushed metal backs. The phonlet's 4.8-inch, 1024 x 480-resolution screen (it has a 21:9 aspect ratio!) makes it much wider than a Streak, and reminded us a lot of the LG GW900 (may it rest in peace). We told you we didn't have much in the way of impressions, but hit the gallery below for some more hands-on shots and the break for a quick video of the 10-incher in action. April can't come soon enough, can it?

MacBook Air 2010 meets Colorware, births skinny rainbow children

Not feeling like enough of an individual owning the same ultrathin Apple laptop as everyone else? We feel your pain, you need something more in your status symbol hardware. This is where Colorware enters, asking for (at least) $1,850 in exchange for a MacBook Air -- made in 2010, exactly to your chromatic specifications. Come on, we can mock and we can decry the price, but if this were ever within the disposable income portion of your budget, wouldn't you jump at the opportunity? Alas, there's no option for repainting an Air if you've already bought one, so whether you want the 11.6-inch or 13-inch version, you'll have to buy it directly from Colorware.
Update: It originally seemed as if the 11-inch Air wasn't available, but it is, hence the body of the post has been updated accordingly.