The past, present and future of ASUS, according to its chairman
“Namaste!”
That was how ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih greeted some 2,000 fans at his “ZenFestival” event in New Delhi last week. And yes, he yelled on stage, just as he always does, with a generous helping of buzzwords and “thank yous.” And there have been other memorable moments. One time, Shih “performed” a magic trick to extract a PadFone out of the back of a tablet, and later he “conducted” an orchestra of audio-centric laptops that were blasting out music. But don’t be misled by his seeming goofiness: This is also a man who’s evolved from stamping out motherboards to building smartphones. There’s no better person than Shih, then, to tell us how times have changed for his 26-year-old company, and where ASUS is headed next.
The bumpy ride from Acer to ASUS
ASUS was founded by T.H. Tung, Ted Hsu, Wayne Tsiah and M.T. Liao in April 1989. Notice that Shih wasn’t part of the founding team, but he was still very much involved from day one.
“We dreamed about how to start up a small but beautiful company.”
“Let me tell you the real story,” the 62-year-old exec said, while pouring some Chinese tea. “At the beginning, those four engineers were my engineers, and we were with Acer, and I had been in charge of Acer’s R&D for quite a long time (12 years). One time, at a cafeteria, we dreamed about how to start up a small but beautiful company. They all elected me to lead them.”
At the time, Jonney was reporting to Stan Shih, the then-chairman and CEO of Acer. The two Shihs are not related, but young Jonney looked up to Stan as his mentor, so he went to ask for Stan’s blessing to let him start a new company. Stan convinced Jonney to stay, since Acer wasn’t in great shape — largely due to a downturn in the US economy at the time. Still, Jonney ended up supporting the team of engineers by providing 60 percent of their startup funding, and Stan was fine with that.
ASUS in the form of a tiny workshop in its first year. Jonney Shih didn’t join until three years later.
Without Jonney Shih’s direct guidance, the ASUS co-founders were still able to make a huge breakthrough. In its second year, the startup beat its local rivals and launched an Intel 486 motherboard around the same time as IBM. But unlike the American giant, ASUS achieved this feat without getting a preview of Intel’s chip; the engineers based their motherboard design on their understanding of earlier chipsets. Intel was so impressed that it started giving ASUS early access to its upcoming CPUs, and ASUS would later manufacture motherboards for the likes of Dell, HP and Sony.
Fast-forward to 1992: The two Shihs finally got Acer back into shape, but it was quite the opposite for ASUS. The company was suffering from quality issues plus a loss of “second-generation” engineers. Jonney recalled how he came across ASUS’ empty lab at around 5:30PM one evening, which was a worrying sign for what was supposed to be an ambitious startup. He also implied that the young co-founders often struggled to come to a common ground over issues regarding business and technology, and would often seek his advice.
Jonney asked Stan once again to let him join ASUS. Seeing that Acer was in good health, this time Stan gave the go-ahead, under the condition that Jonney would take a half-year break beforehand.
Best friends forever: Shih supporting former Intel exec Sean Maloney for completing his Heart Across America cycling campaign. Maloney is credited for the creation of ASUS’ Eee PC netbook category.
Soon after taking charge of ASUS, Shih quickly started working on replenishing ASUS’ talent pool, which wasn’t easy for the tiny company. He would pick up the phone and work through a list of graduates he obtained from his alma mater, the National Taiwan University, to convince them that they would learn a lot by joining ASUS.
Fortunately for Shih, most of the candidates were so touched after their phone call with him they ended up joining ASUS. What won them over was probably the fact that Shih was also an electrical engineering graduate, and his passion for the science was — and still is — apparent. The exec would later set up electronic classes for the software engineers, and vice versa for the electronic folks.
Fundamentals
Not even ASUS’ cute mascot, Zenny, could steal people’s attention away from Shih.
Today’s ASUS is over 13,800 people strong, around 6,000 of whom are based in Taiwan. Even though the company now offers a broad range of products including laptops, tablets, all-in-ones, smartphones, graphics cards, routers and more, it is still very active in the motherboard market. In fact, at the beginning of this year, ASUS sold its 500 millionth motherboard.
It’s worth noting that ASUS has long stopped making motherboards for other companies. The OEM business was offloaded to its subsidiary Pegatron in 2008, before that company was spun off completely two years later. And, while it’s more famous for manufacturing iPhones and iPads these days, it also still makes devices for ASUS.
An art installation made of ASUS motherboard parts.
Despite the growing number of laptop and tablet users, Shih believes there is always room for motherboards in the consumer market, courtesy of power users. From an R&D perspective, the motherboard is where engineers can go back to the fundamentals, as well as experiment with the latest technologies that will eventually be applied to other products. It’s no wonder the Zen Garden, situated at the heart of the ASUS campus, resembles the layout of a motherboard.
“Can you feel the electromagnetic wave? If you don’t, go back.”
“I always ask my engineers that when you take this [motherboard], can you feel the electromagnetic wave? If you don’t, go back,” Shih chuckled, but he was serious. What he means is even if you’re just looking at digital signals, they can still be affected by noise and interference due to the nature of electromagnetism. But if the engineers still don’t understand where the issues are coming from, then Shih would tell them to go “read the electromagnetic theory 20 times,” because that’s what he would do as well.
Shih knows his science. After all these years, he still shows a lot of enthusiasm when talking about calculus, Maxwell’s equations, high-speed signal design, signal simulation, quantum physics and even the theory of relativity. If that’s not a sign of a true geek, then nothing is.
When design meets engineering
The ASUS ZenBook UX305.
What sets Shih apart from many engineers is his well-known appreciation of classical arts, which contributed to his determination to strive for perfection. For instance, he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by picking up Chinese calligraphy, which is an art that requires regular practice to achieve significant improvement. Shih is also a fan of Mozart’s music, and in his opinion, the musician’s real breakthrough wasn’t until his “Piano Concerto No. 7.” “Even a genius has to practice at least 10,000 hours,” he said. This is the kind of spirit that he expects in his team: Keep practicing until you truly understand your work.
But not everyone’s an artist, as some engineers would confess to Shih. Sometimes, he said, they would get too absorbed in debugging a product, and end up not understanding why it doesn’t sell well. To push his colleagues to their maximum potential, Shih has since set up mandatory classes on “design thinking.” This methodology is nothing new in the design industry: It’s all about product developers putting themselves in consumers’ shoes; thinking out of the box; and striking the right balance among desirability, financial viability and technical feasibility. That way, the products are more likely to be embraced by consumers.
ASUS launched the ZenFone 2 in Taipei back in March.
In Shih’s opinion, the ZenFone 2 is a good example of design thinking. It’s very affordable, but still packs an impressive punch in the specs department. Plus it looks and feels solid, even if it sticks to plastic for the body. The numbers reflect some success in certain regions. According to research firm BCN, ASUS topped Japan’s SIM-free smartphone market with a 29.6 percent market share in the first half of 2015. Specifically, the ZenFone 2 ranked number three in July, which was already its second month in the country. On the other side of the world, the ZenFone 2 is listed as the top and second best seller on Amazon in Italy and the US, respectively, at the time of publication (Amazon updates its list hourly). Looking ahead, the company expects to ship 25 million smartphones this year, though Shih wouldn’t confirm whether the upcoming high-end PadFone refresh would fall into this window.
But can ASUS fend off other aggressive smartphone brands such as Xiaomi, OnePlus and Huawei? Shih said it’s inevitable that consumers will be drawn to the best blend of price and performance, and his company has to go with the mobile trend or else risk becoming irrelevant. The least his team could do is to follow the old wisdom and focus on customer happiness. Slideshow-312871
Next stop: robotics and more
Big data and robotics would complete the third generation of the industrial revolution.
At Computex, ASUS already announced plans for its smart home ecosystem, which include door and window alarms, smart power peripherals and IP cameras. But the company isn’t stopping there. Throughout the interview, Shih kept name-dropping his company’s mysterious advanced research center, the Da Vinci Lab, a few times — mainly to tease ASUS’ next big thing: big data and robotics. “That would complete the third generation of the industrial revolution,” he said.
The work going on inside the Da Vinci Lab is pretty secretive, but its location isn’t. According to OpenStreetMap, if you stroll across the street from ASUS HQ’s main entrance and make a left turn, you’ll see a convenience store at the corner. If you happen to be a deliveryman looking for the store’s back entrance, you might just accidentally walk into the lab. This is where ASUS came up with its scented laptop, its first-ever tablet and its PixelMaster camera technology to boost low-light sensitivity. A quick search on Google also reveals the lab’s development on natural language processing.
So what’s hiding behind the curtains in the Da Vinci Lab at the moment? Shih teased that he’s personally driving a robotics project. The aim is to come up with a machine that can proactively interact with humans, so it’ll probably be similar to Pepper and other intelligent robots. We may see it as soon as next year, if ASUS can keep up with its “very aggressive schedule.”
ASUS booth at Computex 2015.
With such high ambitions and recent achievements, ASUS is a stark contrast to some of its local rivals: HTC is practically worthless now, though it may revive with other types of products; Acer’s struggling big time after a major reshuffling; and Gigabyte has suspended its smartphone operations as of last month. In Shih’s view, many of the Taiwanese PC makers relied too heavily on Intel plus Windows, and just focused on driving the specs. The only way out now is to upgrade themselves in all aspects. “No cheating,” Shih said with a grin.
[Image credit for first three photos: ASUS; video taken with help from Ross Wang and Andy Yang at Engadget Chinese]
Filed under:
Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile, ASUS
Tags: asus, beitou, chairman, DaVinciLab, featured, features, interview, jonney shih, jonneyshih, mobilepostcross, motherboard, padfone, taiwan, video, zenfone
ASUS ZenFone 2 gets Stagefright fixes in new update
ASUS has released a new update for the ZenFone 2, patching up the Stagefright exploit and bringing with it a handful of new features, bug fixes, and performance enhancements.
The newest feature to come to the ZenFone 2 is the Mobile Manager, and similar to most Android phones, it helps monitor your data usage. ASUS has also added some additional functionality to the flip cover.
Here’s some of the changes made straight from ASUS:
- Fix WIFI info sync-up issue
- Improve System UI and lock screen stability
- Improve Launcher App stability
- Fix Alarm function issue after set up in Snap View mode
- Improve Task Manager
- Optimize Multi user and Do not disturb mode function stability
- Fix camera sphere panorama issue
- Improve Auto Start Manager stability
- Fixed when AC removed, UI still shows in charge mode.
You can find the full list of changes and enhancements from ASUS at the source link below.
If you haven’t gotten the update just yet, be sure to head into Settings to manually check for the update. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve noticed any serious changes or any bugs that arise from this new firmware upgrade!
source: ASUS
via: Android Central
Come comment on this article: ASUS ZenFone 2 gets Stagefright fixes in new update
Unannounced ASUS ZenFone passes through TENAA
Earlier today, an unannounced ASUS-branded smartphone passed through China’s official certification database — TENAA. The high-end handset carries the model number Z00TDA and due to its lack of dual-SIM support is believed to be targeted at the American market.
Surprisingly, the documentation included sheds some light on the units specifications. It shows it will be powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core CPU, have 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable internal memory and pack a 5.5-inch Full HD display.
As for the camera, the Z00TDA will sport a 13-megapixel rear-facing shooter and a 5-megapixel selfie snapper. Whilst connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, microUSB, 4G LTE, 3G and GPS.
If you’d like to view the full certification filing over on TENAA’s website, hit the source link below.
Source: TENAA
Come comment on this article: Unannounced ASUS ZenFone passes through TENAA
New in our buyer’s guide: the Chromebook Flip and some gaming gear
Yes, we know: A bunch of phones just came out. Don’t worry, we’ll be reviewing those shortly. In the meantime, we have a handful of items we’d like to induct into our buyer’s guide. Included among them: not one, but two laptops, including the impressive Chromebook Flip and MSI’s GT80 Titan gaming notebook, which packs a mechanical keyboard. Rounding out the list are Teenage Engineering’s pocket-sized synthesizers and a pair of gaming peripherals, including the newer Xbox One Kinect sensor and the PlayStation Camera. Also, though there’s nothing wrong with the old wireless Xbox 360 controller, we’ve updated our guide to recommend you hold out for the wireless Xbone version. In any case, that’s all for now — check back next month to see what we add next.
Filed under:
Laptops, Wearables, Sony, Microsoft, ASUS, LG
Source:
Engadget Buyer’s Guide
Tags: asus, buyers guide, buyersguide, engadget buyers guide, engadgetbuyersguide, lg, microsoft, sony
Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – August 8th, 2015
We’re in the midst of wrapping up yet another busy week in the Android world. This week didn’t provide us with as many major product announcements as last week, but that doesn’t mean the news stops there.
If you’ve missed any of our video coverage throughout the past few days, we’re here to help. Below you’ll find our full reviews of the Motorola Moto G 2015, as well as two lesser-known smartphones, the ASUS ZenFone 2E and the Lenovo K3 Note. We’ve also rounded up some of the best Android smartphones, applications and games and put them in video form for your viewing pleasure.
Here are the videos you don’t want to miss:
Reviews
Motorola Moto G 2015 review
Although Motorola just recently announced the budget-friendly Moto G 2015, we’ve already gotten to spend a significant amount of time with the affordable handset. Previous Moto G models have been widely known as the “king of the budget smartphone”, but can Motorola’s newest model keep the crown? Nirave puts the phone to the test in our full review.
ASUS ZenFone 2E review
At just $119.99, the AT&T-exclusive ASUS ZenFone 2E offers users a premium design and a solid user experience at an incredible price point. Take a look at Josh’s full review to find out if this new device is worth your money.
Lenovo K3 Note review
Offering users a great high-resolution display, smooth performance, and impressive battery life, our own Bailey Stein says Lenovo’s K3 Note is one of the best Android smartphones available in the budget market. Check out the full review to see if you agree.
The best smartphones, apps and games
Best Android smartphones (Summer 2015)
With tons of newcomers making their way to the high-end market, our list of best Android smartphones has changed quite a bit over the past few months. Check out the full post and video overview to see which smartphone reigns supreme.
10 best new Android apps and games from July 2015
While summertime is normally a slower time in the technology community, there have been a slew of awesome games making their way to the Google Play Store. Joe rounds up the 10 best new Android apps and games that you don’t want to miss.
How to…
How to install a tablet in your car
Looking for a DIY alternative to those expensive Android Auto head units? Look no further – our own Taylor Martin is here to walk you through how to install an Android tablet in your car.
Android Apps Weekly
Square Enix sale, a new Humble Bundle, a new celebrity shooter game (yes, really) and more – you don’t want to miss Joe’s newest episode of Android Apps Weekly!
Opinions and news
How can HTC turn the ship around?
HTC has just revealed its Q2 financial results, and they aren’t pretty. While Bogdan takes a good look at what’s going wrong for the company in the full post attached below, Jayce does a great job at walking us through HTC’s woes in this video.
Leaked: Galaxy Note 5, Xperia M5 & C5 Ultra, NVIDIA Shield Tablet runs hot
Last but not least, Jayce put together an informative news roundup video that’s filled with stories you don’t want to miss. From Galaxy Note 5 leaks to NVIDIA Shield Tablet overheating issues, this video covers it all.
ASUS Chromebook Flip review: solid choice if size is not a big deal
I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days with an ASUS Chromebook Flip, a new entrant from ASUS to the Chromebook family with a couple interesting twists. The Chromebook Flip comes with a $249 price tag for a 2GB version and $279 for the 4GB version. Stores close to me rarely have Chromebooks actually in stock and the couple that do have tend to be low-end, bulky units that remind me of some cheap netbooks I had purchased for my kids a few years ago. The Chromebook Flip is a far cry from those units despite its small size and may be an enticing buy for consumers looking for a sleek Chromebook.
Design
The Chromebook Flip gets its name from the double-hinge design connects the screen to the body. This double hinge means the screen can be flipped all the way back on the unit. The Chromebook Flip can be used in a conventional laptop configuration, or made into a “tent” or with the screen standing up while the keyboard is tucked away in the back for distraction free viewing, or effectively turned into a tablet device. Yes, versatility at its finest.
The flexibility of the hinges and configurations available will likely be welcomed by some users; however, I found use of the device in “tablet” mode difficult since Chrome OS is not optimized for a tablet interface. Although, the operating system did handle being flipped into a portrait orientation quite. I found myself spending most of my time with the device in a traditional laptop configuration even when just sitting around surfing the web while watching some TV.
In addition to the double-hinge design, ASUS manufactured the Chromebook Flip out of a lightweight metal for the chassis. This means the unit is thin and light. The Chromebook Flip measures 262.8 x 182.4 x 15.6mm and weighs 1.96lbs. It will not be mistaken for a tablet device, but compared to a traditional laptop it is quite portable and easy to hold at under 2 pounds.
The keyboard is comprised of a nice set of island type keys similar to what you would find in other laptops constructed with a metal frame. Some users may find the keys a bit on the small side, but I had no problem with them. The trackpad is constructed so it can be clicked along the bottom edge emulating a left click on a mouse. To perform a a right click though, you have to use a two-finger tap on the trackpad. That took some getting used to since I normally use trackpads that have the bottom edge split in half to detect left and right mouse click actions. The two-finger tap worked well but it may take a user some time to retrain their muscle memory to do this.
Hardware
The Chromebook Flip features a 1280×800 (WXGA) touchscreen display behind an LED 10.1-inch LED panel, Rockchip quad-core processor, 2GB or 4GB of RAM, HD webcam, 16GB or 32GB of storage, microSD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, and one HDMI port.
One of the contributing factors to the easy portability of the Chromebook Flip is the 10.1-inch screen. This is on the small side for a Chromebook and harkens back to the earliest Chromebooks and netbooks that were typically 10 to 11 inches in size. Interestingly enough, ASUS probably could have bumped the screen size up a bit without impacting the overall size of the device as the bezels are quite large.
The screen itself runs at a 1280×800 resolution, so it is not a true HD experience. The screen is acceptable and on par with typical laptop screens I’ve used. It is an LED panel and cranking the brightness up provided plenty of illumination. ASUS also stepped things up by making it touchscreen. That is obviously needed for when then unit is folded back into any of the configurations other than traditional laptop. The touchscreen was accurate and often used it even with the keyboard out and its built-in trackpad as it was easy and convenient to just flick the screen with a finger as I was surfing a web site or scrolling through emails.
ASUS gave the Chromebook Flip a nice assortment of connections. You will find an audio jack that can handle a combo unit with a built-in microphone, a pair of 2.0 USB ports for connecting peripherals, a micro HDMI port if you want to hardwire an external display to the unit, and a microSD card slot. Users will also find a power button and a volume rocker along the side of the unit. The device also has an HD camera installed for users wanting to videoconference and it comes with support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1.
For sound, the Chromebook Flip has two speakers built into the bottom of the unit. This does not seem like it would be effective, but the location did not seem to hinder the sound. The speakers are small, but as far as built-in speakers go, they are adequate assuming expectations are not set too high.
Performance
Since this is the first Chromebook I’ve spent any significant amount of time with, assessing performance is a bit of a challenge. Compared to other laptops with other operating systems I have used, I found the Chromebook Flip to perform in a similar manner. Thanks to the Chrome OS, turning on the unit only took a matter of seconds. I did not experience any lag like you might get when using a traditional tablet running Android. All of the apps I used during my testing performed as expected and loaded quickly even with this being the 2GB version.
The touchscreen was responsive and easy to use with nice accuracy on taps and selections. One of the factors that has kept me from purchasing my own Chromebook is a desire to stick with a Full HD (1920×1080) screen. Although the Chromebook Flip does not meet that requirement, I thought the screen was very good looking and I did not notice it was not Full HD. The fact that the Chromebook Flip’s screen was good enough to get me to reconsider whether I really need to hold out for Full HD may give you an idea of how good the display is.
The one problem I had with the Chromebook Flip was a propensity for the screen to lockup on occasion. I could never figure out what may have been causing this. When I received the unit, it was set for the Chrome OS beta channel, so I switched to the stable channel about halfway through my testing of the unit and that helped although I still experienced at least one lockup after that switch. Just about every time this happened, I had to wait for about a minute for the unit to briefly turn off the screen then turn itself back on. This would restore functionality.
Battery
Since most design decisions involve tradeoffs, the choice of a 10.1-inch screen comes with some other benefits as well. One of those is power consumption where the Chromebook Flip excels. The official position from ASUS is that the device should last around 9 hours in typical use and some testers have pushed the device to close to 11 hours of use. I had no trouble making it through a day of normal web surfing and the occasional use of Docs or Sheets before needing to hook up the charger. After leaving the unit sitting for a couple days, when I opened it back up I found it was still reporting 85% charge left on the battery.
Closing
If you are looking for a Chromebook to supplement your current collection of devices, the ASUS Chromebook Flip seems like it should definitely be under consideration. The materials and finish are very nice and the unit is solid. The double hinge makes it flexible to use in different situations. The inclusion of a touchscreen is convenient and having a keyboard with touchpad available means it can handle some moderate work demands to help keep you productive.
The 10.1-inch screen and small size will likely keep it from serving as a full-fledged laptop, but it may keep you from having to break out your big computer if you do not expect to have to work for very long. I think the ASUS Chromebook Flip could also serve as an alternative for users shopping for a tablet device. You may give up a touch optimized interface like Android, but otherwise the Chromebook Flip worked well in situations where I might normally use a tablet and the price is attractive compared to many higher end tablets.
Come comment on this article: ASUS Chromebook Flip review: solid choice if size is not a big deal
ASUS launches the ZenFone 2 Laser, ZenFone 2 Deluxe and ZenFone Selfie in India
Alongside the launch of its new ZenFone Max smartphone with a huge 5000mAh battery, ASUS today at its ZenFestival event announced that it’s bringing the ASUS ZenFone Selfie and ZenFone 2 Laser to India, along with the new ZenFone 2 Deluxe. ASUS revealed the ZenFone Selfie and the then-unnamed ZenFone 2 Laser (both pictured above) at Computex back in June, and we’re just now getting availability details for both handsets. Both devices mark ASUS’ switch back to Qualcomm processors after the company’s brief switch to Intel CPUs.
To start, the ZenFone 2 Laser will be available in 5.5 and 6.0-inch variants with Gorilla Glass 4 displays and resolutions of up to 1080p. The big story with the ZenFone 2 Laser is its 13MP rear-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture and dual-tone flash, which comes with ASUS’ super fast laser auto-focus technology. On the processor front, the models range from a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor with 2GB of RAM to the higher-end octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor with 3GB of RAM. The 5.5-inch model will launch in India from 9,999 Rupees and the 6.0-inch variant will be available from 17,999 Rupees. There’s also a 5.0-inch model that will be available, though Engadget reports that this model isn’t launching in India just yet.
More great ASUS devices
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Next up is the ZenFone Selfie, which, as you may have guessed, sports a powerful front-facing camera. The selfie cam comes in at 13MP with an f/2.2 aperture, though there’s unfortunately no laser auto-focus on this camera. As for other specifications, the Selfie is basically the same as the 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 Laser. The Selfie will be powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor and will cost 15,999 Rupees in India.
Last but not least we have the new ZenFone 2 Deluxe, which is pretty similar to the ZenFone 2 proper. This one comes with a polygonal textured back plate, though, which we’re hoping ASUS will make available for existing ZenFone 2 owners. It comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display, a 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 64 or 128GB of on-board storage, 4GB of RAM and LTE connectivity. It also comes with a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, dual-SIM functionality, a 3000mAh battery and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. This device will launch in India for 22,999 Rupees.
Asus amps battery life with the ZenFone Max
2015 is the year that Asus managed to gain the considerable momentum that their past attempts have failed at. The focus of the Asus ZenFone 2 was value, and consumers responded with interest accordingly. Now that Asus have found their foothold, they are hoping to expand on that success.
A couple months ago we saw the ZenFone Selfie variant, which as the name implies, boasts a beefy front-facing camera. Today, Asus announced another ZenFone 2 variant, the ZenFone Max.
The “Max” designation is associated with a larger battery rather than screen size. We’re still looking at a 5.5″ screen, like on the ZenFone 2. The battery has a massive 5,000 mAh capacity.
This option is fantastic for those who put battery life at the top of their priority list. Only, performance better not be too high on that list. Asus fitted the ZenFone Max with a mere Snapdragon 410 and 2GB of RAM. I suppose one could argue that the 410 is more power efficient than its big brothers.
At least the camera wasn’t compromised. We have a wide-angle 13MP rear camera (f/2.0 aperture and laser autofocus) and 5MP selfie shooter.
Asus actually announced a barrage of variants at this event:
- ZenFone 2 Deluxe – A ZenFone 2 with multifaceted polygonal finish.
- ZenFone 2 Laser – ZenFone 2 variant with laser autofocus. It will come in 5″, 5.5″, or 6″ versions and use an octa-core Snapdragon SoC with 3GB of RAM.
- ZenPad 7.0 and 8.0 – Tablets with interchangeable covers, for both fashion and function (such as an Audio Cover option that claims 5.1-channel surround sound or a Power Case to extend battery life).
The launch event was held in New Delhi, with no word on availability or pricing. Do you like the things Asus is doing to expand the ZenFone 2 portfolio?
Source: Asus
The post Asus amps battery life with the ZenFone Max appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Asus announces the ZenFone Max, sporting a massive 5,000mAh battery
Asus announced the ZenFone Max today during a launch event in India, touting a massive battery of 5,000mAh. If you’re a power user and find yourself constantly running out of juice, the ZenFone Max might just be right up your alley.
As far as specs go, the ZenFone Max is sporting a 5.5-inch display, a Snapdragon 410 chipset, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, laser auto focus, and dual-LED flash. There is also a 5-megapixel camera on the front and, of course, the aforementioned 5,000mAh battery.. Unfortunately, details on the display’s resolution haven’t been released yet.
The device is a little on the big side as far as bezels go, partially due to the massive battery packaged inside.
While pricing and a release date haven’t been revealed yet, the ZenFone Max is a decidedly mid-range device, and will no doubt be priced as such to stay competitive. Asus’ ZenFone Max will launch in India soon, however, we’re not sure if Asus has any plans for availability in other markets.
source: Engadget
Come comment on this article: Asus announces the ZenFone Max, sporting a massive 5,000mAh battery
Asus announces the Zenfone Max with 5000 mAh battery
Bigger battery life is probably the typical smartphone user’s number one feature on the improvements wish list and ASUS has heard your calls. The company has just announced its new ZenFone Max at a launch event in India today, which features a gargantuan 5,000mAh battery.
5,000mAh should be enough juice to get even the most power hungry user through a full day of use. However, the large battery does mean that the smartphone is a little on the big side, with a 5.5-inch display and some rather hefty looking bezels.
There’s no word on the display’s resolution yet, but the smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 410 SoC and 2GB of RAM, so we’re looking at a entry/mid tier device. The processor should ensure plenty of life from the already huge battery. The Zenfone Max also features a 13 megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, laser auto-focus and dual-LED flash, along with a 5-megapixel front facing camera.
ASUS is keeping the pricing details under wraps for now, and it’s not clear exactly when the smartphone will be hitting the shelves. Given the cost competitive nature of India’s smartphone market, ASUS is going to have to price its Max accordingly against other handsets with larger batteries, such as the Innos D6000 (6,000 mAh) and the Marathon M4 (5,000 mAh), which retail for less than Rs 19,000 ($300).
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