ASUS ZenWatch 2 gives your phone’s battery a tiny boost
It’s only been half a year since we reviewed the stylish ZenWatch, but ASUS is already back with its second attempt in the Android Wear space. At Computex, the company announced the appropriately named ZenWatch 2 which, unlike its predecessor, comes in two sizes: one to go with 22mm straps like before, and the other with smaller 18mm straps. If you go with the larger one, you’ll get a bonus feature: it can actually double as a tiny mobile power bank to give your phone some emergency juice! ASUS hasn’t quite explained how this will be implemented, but we imagine there’ll be a special cable involved.
While the overall designs are similar to that of the original model, ASUS has now added a button on the side, though we prefer the cleaner look without it. As to what it does, we’ll come back to that when we hear more. Like before, both versions of the ZenWatch 2 feature an AMOLED screen with a piece of 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass 3 on top, and they are powered by an unnamed Qualcomm processor — hopefully one that will at least add another day’s worth of battery life.
For those looking for other excuses to upgrade from the previous model to this, the latter does have an improved dust and water resistance rating of IP67 (same as its fitness-centric counterpart, the VivoWatch). It comes with a more convenient magnetic charger cable instead of the old snap-on plastic cradle, and the recharge time has apparently been improved as well. On the software side, the ZenWatch 2 has an improved Remote Camera feature to go with your phone, and it’ll also work with a “completely redesigned” ASUS Wellness smartphone app for tracking your running and cycling activities.
As for customization, this time you get three colors instead of just one for the body: silver, gunmetal and rose-gold. Similarly, ASUS will be offering a range of straps made out of rubber, soft leather and metal in different colors. If you’re feeling adventurous, there’ll be an optional leather strap with Swarovski crystals embedded all over it.
There’s no price nor launch date just yet for the ZenWatch 2, but keep your eyes on here as we’ll likely hear more at Computex.
ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 has a sharp screen, slim body and plenty of RAM
Just as we heard last week, ASUS is now launching a new family of stylish Android tablets dubbed ZenPads, which will replace the MeMO Pad series. These will come in 7-inch, 8-inch and 10.1-inch flavors with cellular variants; but it’s the light yet powerful ZenPad S 8.0 that’s caught our attention so far. For one, this 6.6mm-thick, 298g-heavy metallic slate comes with a sharp 2,048 x 1,536 (324 ppi) IPS display which has a 4:3 aspect ratio, so it’s going head to head with the iPad Mini here. And with Intel’s 64-bit Atom Z3580 chip plus 4GB of RAM, you needn’t worry about its performance. Better yet, you get front-facing stereo speakers that are enhanced by DTS for some virtual surround sound action. If you’re into handwriting or drawing on tablets, you can buy the optional Z Stylus which supports up to 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Additionally, there’s a regular ZenPad 8.0 that features a similar design to the ZenPad S 8.0. While the technical details are scarce at the moment, we do know that it’ll have a range of interesting and good-looking accessories: the Zen Clutch and Zen Case for protection, the Audio Cover for adding 5.1 surround sound, and the Power Case that extends the battery life to up to 15 hours. This tablet family also includes the low-end 7.0 model with a 1,024 x 600 screen resolution, and a larger 10.1 model with an optional keyboard (likely a Bluetooth dock); but again, we’ll have to get back to you on the detailed specs as well as pricing and availability for them all.
ASUS’s updated 32-inch 4K monitor does full Adobe gamut
Following the $2,200 ProArt PA328Q semi-professional 32-inch, 4K 16:9 monitor announced at last year’s Computex, ASUS is back with a follow-up model dubbed PA329Q. The most notable improvement here is it now delivers 100 percent Adobe RGB color gamut, as opposed to just sRGB; plus it has a 16-bit internal lookup table instead of just 12-bit. For those who are into video production, you’ll also appreciate the added support for the BT2020 / DCI-P3 color space. The new display is otherwise almost identical to its predecessor: you get the same set of ports (1x HDMI 2.0, 2x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2 and 4x USB 3.0) and the same 10-bit display color. Each unit is also factory pre-calibrated for high consistency, though it also boasts “the highest compatibility with major hardware calibrators,” should you wish to do it yourself. We’ll come back with more info regarding availability if we hear any.
ASUS’ fancy all-in-one packs a 3D camera and speedy USB 3.1
PCs with integrated Intel RealSense are still hard to come by these days, so excuse us for getting a little excited with this new ASUS all-in-one. Specifically, it’s the 23.8-inch Zen AiO (Z240IC) that comes with said 3D camera technology, which offers gesture control and 3D face recognition (for authentication); but you can also go for the smaller 21.5-inch Z220IC variant if you don’t mind missing out on RealSense. Similar to the iMac, the Zen AiO consists of an aluminum unibody that tapers to 6mm-thick edges; though it’s gone with the “subtle Icicle Gold” as its flagship color, and finished with horizontal brush lines on the back. ASUS’ iconic concentric circle brush pattern can also be found on the chin below the screen.
Spec-wise, we’re looking at up to Intel Core i7 with up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, up to PCIe Gen 3 x 4 SSD and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 4GB of dedicated video memory. Combining these with the machine’s 16-watt speakers (six drivers in total), gaming should be pretty fun on it. ASUS also claims that the Zen AiO is the world’s first all-in-one to feature USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectivity, meaning it does data transfer at up to 10Gbit/s, which is twice as fast as USB 3.0. Unsurprisingly, the machine has a reversible Type-C USB 3.1 port as well.
Sadly, that’s all the info we have at the moment, so stay tuned as we wait for more from ASUS at Computex.
ASUS ZenFone Selfie is all about its 13MP cameras
Selfie. What a word. It became a thing as front-facing cameras on phones improved dramatically in recent years. Until now, the HTC Desire Eye is one of the first that comes to mind in this category, but it’s about to face a direct competitor who’s also from Taiwan. ASUS has just announced the ZenFone Selfie which, as you can tell, is all about taking selfies. Both its front and rear cameras feature a 13-megapixel resolution and dual-tone flash, though only the main f/2.0 camera has fast and low-light-friendly laser auto-focus (something that even the flagship ZenFone 2 lacks). That said, the front f/2.2 camera makes up for the loss with a wide 88-degree field of view, thus making it easier for group selfies (“wefies?”).
The rest of this Android phone looks almost identical to the ZenFone 2. You get the same 5.5-inch 1080p LCD (but with tougher Gorilla Glass 4 instead of its predecessor), the same backside volume rocker and the same curved body for a comfortable grip. The less obvious change here is the processor: ASUS has opted for Qualcomm’s mid-range, octa-core Snapdragon 615 over the chips from its close buddy, Intel.
Little else is know about the ZenFone Selfie, so stay tuned as we dig for more info at Computex.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, ASUS
OnePlus 2 is still due in Q3 2015, June 1st announcement is to announce discounts to OnePlus One
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Enigmatic smartphone manufacturer, OnePlus, started teasing some interesting material last week with the tagline “Time to change”, prompting some to eagerly suspect that OnePlus was about to announce its new smartphone. Luckily, we have the truth, straight from the horse’s mouth – the horse being Carl Pei, OnePlus’ co-founder. In an interview with AusDroid, Pei confirms that the OnePlus 2 – which is to be written specifically with a numeric “2” – is still on track for a Q3 2015 release, and that the June 1st announcement is nothing to do with that device.
What we know now is that the announcement is for a number of discounts coming to OnePlus’ existing device, the OnePlus One. The announcement is still to be made, but it’s expected that the price of the 64GB Sandstone Black variant will be brought down to $298 USD and the 16GB Silk White version will come down to $248. That should help clear out the OnePlus warehouse, which OnePlus has been very careful to keep only lightly stocked due to their low margin strategy.
Are you excited for the OnePlus 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: AusDroid via Phone Arena
The post OnePlus 2 is still due in Q3 2015, June 1st announcement is to announce discounts to OnePlus One appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The Tag Heuer Carrera Wearable 01 will be the official name of Tag Heuer’s smartwatch
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
There’s one smartwatch that we’re very interested to see when it eventually shows its face: the Tag Heuer Carrera Wearable 01. That’s the official name that has been dropped today courtesy of Tag Heuer CEO, Jean-Claude Biver, and continues the branding that Tag Heuer has established with the Carrera range. In fact, it appears that the Carrera Wearable 01 will take many of its visual cues from its more mechanical brethren – as Biver says “Somehow, one should not see from a certain distance the difference between a Carrera Heuer 01 and a Carrera Wearable 01.”
What’s most interesting about this device is that Tag Heuer is probably the first to consider the longevity of its smartwatch beyond its yearly refresh. Citing the possibility of interchangeable parts, UK communications manager, Alexandra King, said: “If your child completed their Masters degree, you might want to give them a watch. We want to create something that will stay on your watch for a lifetime, that’s what Tag Heuer does. And as the technology changes, it will change.”
Personally, I can’t wait to see how this watch turns out, but if you’re hoping to shell out for this one, you’ll need some deep pockets – the Carrera Wearable 01 is going to cost at least $1,400 sometime this October or November. What do you think about the Tag Heuer Carrera Wearable 01? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Wareable via Phone Arena
The post The Tag Heuer Carrera Wearable 01 will be the official name of Tag Heuer’s smartwatch appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
ARM makes another stab at boosting the Internet of Things
ARM’s been championing the Internet of Things for several years now, and for good reason: it’s poised to win big as more devices tap its low-power chips. Last year it unveiled an Internet of Things platform, now at Computex it’s targeting device makers and its chip building partners by announcing an IoT subsystem for its Cortex-M processors. Basically, that means it’ll be easier for semiconductor companies to take ARM’s designs and build chips that are ideal for connected devices, while also integrating ARM’s mbed IoT platform. The company also announced its new “Cordio” low-power radio, which runs at just 1 watt and packs in Bluetooth 4.2. Dipesh Patel, ARM’s EVP of technical operations, noted that Cordio will be ideal for extremely low-power connected devices like beacons. All of this may seem a tad dull, but if ARM wants the whole Internet of Things ecosystem to take off, it’s essential for ARM to make it as easy as possible to build for it.
Adorable AI-powered robot Musio just wants to be your friend
Everyone complains about not having flying cars yet, but where are our robotic pals? Films like Short Circuit, Big Hero 6 and Wall-E certainly make them seem appealing, though our ever-constant anxiety around Terminator-like robot uprisings is likely holding them back. Musio, the first hardware product from the AI software company AKAStudy, hopes to change the way we view robot companions. Using the company’s machine learning and natural language technology, it can have back and forth conversations and even learn from your chats, making it seem more like an attentive friend than a dumb machine. AKA’s hoping to raise $50,000 on Indiegogo to get Musio produced — so far, even without promotion, it’s got $16,000 from backers. Musio could be like a smarter physical take on Apple’s Siri: It can alert you of emails and events on your calendar, but it can also interact with connected gadgets in your home. Also, if you can look past its cold, dead eyes (which animate to show emotion) it’s sort of cute.
AKA originally thought up Musio as a way to help teach English to kids in Asia, but it eventually realized there was also a much wider need for a house robot that can actually hold conversations. “[Musio is] going to be a character, going to be your friend, someone you can kind of talk to and have fun with,” said AKA linguist Jacob Bradsher. “Lots of people are scared of AI, but we want to show how it can be used for doing good things.”
You can get a basic sense of how Musio works in the video below, where Bradsher has a simple conversation with the bot. It’s clearly in the early stages — I wasn’t able to chat with Musio myself, and it seemed as if it was only programmed to respond to a few questions — but it was still engaging. After telling a few jokes and showing its ability to turn on a smart light, fan and Bluetooth radio, Musio also mentioned grabbing a meal at Shake Shack in NYC, something that Bradsher had mentioned to it previously. That sort of casual conversation could help to separate Musio from other bots and AI-like assistants.
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-774668display:none; .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-774668, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-774668width:570px;display:block;
AKA plans to offer a range of Musio pricing options, starting with an inexpensive version for kids which can handle basic conversations for around $99. There’s also going to be a separate add-on that turns Musio into an interactive teacher. At the high end will be an advanced version of Musio for developers for around $599. Somewhere between those two price ranges there’ll be a “smart” version of Musio that can get 11 hours of battery life. Devs will also be able to get an add-on that connects Musio to three Arduino-compatible boards, three Zigbee modules, and a controller app for Android. AKA has also developed a peripheral called “Sophy” that allows Musio to interact with objects in your home.
Musio still has a long way to go, and it’s unclear if AKA will actually be able to reach all of its tech and pricing targets if it gets funded. But it’s a sign of how we could be living with our tech differently. Rather than a cold cylinder like Amazon’s Echo, it’s a connected house bot that you may actually form some sort of friendship with. I, for one, welcome our future robot companions.
Filed under: Robots
Apple I worth $200,000 gets tossed out for recycling
You’re about to get a textbook lesson in why you should always, always check vintage gadgets before you toss them out. A woman discarding her late husband’s electronics inadvertently gave a Milpitas recycling firm an ultra-rare Apple I computer that ultimately sold for $200,000. While the recycler’s policy is to share half the revenue from these sales, the woman refused to offer her name or get a receipt — she’s missing out on a $100,000 check for trading in a piece of computing history. The company would recognize her on sight, but its only chance of rewarding the mystery donor right now is to get the word out and hope she returns.
[Image credit: Emmanuel Dunand /AFP/Getty Images]
Source: San Jose Mercury News
AIVAnet 