Android is a mobile operating system based on the Linux kernel which allows developers to access it via Java libraries.

The Liquid is the latest touchscreen phone to try for a piece of the market dominated by Apple's iPhone. It boasts Android 1.6, the latest version of the operating system, code-named Donut, as well as Qualcomm's new Snapdragon processor. Liquid supports high-speed Web access via High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) mobile networks.

'Smart' Move

Android will "clearly be a major OS for smartphones, and Acer's decision to use it on their new phones is a smart one," said Tim Bajarin, principal strategist at Creative Strategies, in an e-mail.

But just having Android won't be enough in the highly competitive race for the top of the smartphone market. Acer must distinguish itself through a user interface that is "easy to use and easy to navigate," Bajarin said.

The phone features a high-definition capacitive touchscreen, improved power management for longer battery life, a new user interface that emphasizes entertainment and web access, a camera with geotagging so users can easily identify where photos were taken, and sharing with friends, Acer said.

Liquid is clearly a Web 2.0 phone. Acer said it features "smart integration" with social-networking applications like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr, and provides real-time update notifications. It's also meant to compete with the iPhone on style, with an elliptical form factor, a choice of colors, and ergonomic design.

But, Acer said, the real breakthrough will occur in the future with an expected explosion of Android apps that could one day rival Apple's App Store. Indeed, Liquid's success will depend on third-party apps, Bajarin said. "They need to make sure the third-party software community backs their version of Android if they are to have any real market success with the Liquid phone," he said.

Android on Your Lap

The latest Aspire One netbook, the D250, takes Android off the phone and into a traditional laptop setting. The new machine -- for which Amazon is currently taking preorders -- can boot up in either Android or Windows XP. That's a combination well suited to a super-mobile society. With Android, the device will boot up in 18 seconds and shut down in just three seconds. That compares to the several minutes it typically takes to start up XP.

For users who need to run Windows-specific software, a one-click button switches between operating systems. But Acer executives conceded that the expected main use for Windows will be to run Internet Explorer for sites that don't function properly in any other browser.

"There are many of these types of solutions out there that give Linux users fast access to the web and e-mail," Bajarin commented, "but the key to continued netbook growth will be Windows 7." In the interim, though, a dual-boot system is a good solution for fast access without losing out on Windows.

While Acer didn't release technical specifications, pricing or availability, Amazon is selling the device for $349 and lists these specs: a 10.1-inch screen, an Intel Atom N280 microprocessor, 1GB of DRAM, and a 160GB hard disk drive. It also comes with a six-cell battery for increased battery life.