ASUS ZenPhone Zoom announced at CES 2015
To complete the ASUS saga today, we have the ZenPhone Zoom. The optical zoom was announced at three days ago on YouTube.
There isn’t much about this phone yet. We have Android Lollipop, 5.5″ display, 13 MP back camera with 3x optical zoom and a 5 MP front camera.
By the sounds of it, we have the ZenPhone 2 with optical zoom. ASUS didn’t share the chipset paired with the the ZenPhone Zoom, or much else about it actually.
The 3x optical zoom lens only renders the ZenPhone Zoom at a modest 11.95 mm. This is a big improvement over Samsung’s optical zoom offerings that are about twice as thick.
ASUS is hoping to offer the Zoom for $399 in Q2.
The post ASUS ZenPhone Zoom announced at CES 2015 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
CES 2015 ASUS press event kicks things off with announcement of ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom
And we’re off! Press day at CES 2015 has officially begun today, where most of the big announcements are made, and one of the first to happen is the CES 2015 ASUS press event. The big announcements from ASUS today include two new flagship devices, most notably the Zenfone 2 and the Zenfone Zoom. Kicking things […]
The post CES 2015 ASUS press event kicks things off with announcement of ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Jonney Shih unveils ASUS’ newest flagship, the Zenfone 2
For the past month, ASUS has been heavily teasing its newest line of flagship devices, promising their debut at CES 2015. Just a few minutes ago, they did just that, and introduced the world to the ASUS Zenfone 2.
Of all the newest specs this smartphone has to offer, the biggest attention-grabber is that this is the first mobile device to feature 4GB of RAM. That’s right, we’ve finally crossed that threshold and will be putting those 64-bit CPUs to good use. The RAM will be dual-channel, giving the smartphone a 2x increase in performance.
Shih meticulously dived into all of the newest features and specifications of the Zenfone 2. As mentioned above, this smartphone will come with 4GB of RAM, which will be managed by a 64-bit, 2.3 GHz Super Quad Core Intel Atom Z3580. This processor, Shih claims, delivers 2x-3x better performance than the Cortex 853. As far as the display, it is a standard 1080p Full HD IPS at 5.5 inches.
In terms of battery power, the Zenfone will be packing a 3000mAh battery. The best news related to this is that ASUS claims it will charge from 0% to 60% in a mere 39 minutes.
Another main focus of Shih’s was the camera technology of the Zenfone 2. This makes sense as the new camera technology had been the main focus of many of the device teases leading up to CES 2015. The Zenfone 2 will be sporting a 13MP shooter on the back with a dual-tone LED flash and a 5MP camera for the front side. These two cameras will also be featuring ASUS’ PixelMaster tech.
The PixelMaster technology is showcasing some very decent abilities. One of its best attributes is its low light mode, which will allow for a 400% increase in brightness while in low light settings. Additionally, Shih claimed that PixelMaster will be delivering the world’s best backlight photos with its HDR mode.
On the software side, photos will go through a real-time Beautification enhancement. Accompanying that is ASUS’ Creative Studio, which will allow you to alter your photos before you send them off to your social media of choice.
Another important topic covered on the software side was ASUS’ ZenUI. Perhaps taking a note from CyanogenMod’s playbook, the newest ZenUI will bring a lot of personalization, including the ability to customize your phone with themes and icons. This interface will be, of course, sitting atop Android 5.0 Lollipop.
On the matter of aesthetics, ASUS is really offering a brilliant selection of colors, as well as some color themes it calls Transfusion series and Illusion Series. Variety is the spice of life and these definitely look great.
Finally, what is all of this going to cost you? How about a low price of $199 USD! Though, this may not be for the model that has 4GB of RAM, so the devil will be in the details on this one.
To continue following Talk Android’s coverage of CES 2015, click here. To read ASUS’ press release following its CES 2015 presentation, go here.
Come comment on this article: Jonney Shih unveils ASUS’ newest flagship, the Zenfone 2
Asus launches 5.5-in ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom, featuring 3X optical zoom
So CES is underway and the announcements are coming thick and fast. If you remember back to just before the holidays, Asus released some teaser videos about its new flagship device. It teased us with pictures of a phone with some special optics and tagged the videos with the slogan, “See what others can’t see.” Now Asus has officially released the ZenFone 2, and the surprise ZenFone Zoom, a camera-centric device featuring optical zoom!
Before we look at the ZenFone 2, let’s deal with the whole “see what others can’t see” thing. Actually it is nothing more than the “see what others can’t see” thing from last year’s ZenFone 5, in other words a PixelMaster camera with a Low Light mode.
However, the rest of the phone certainly does seem to live up to the hype.
This mode, which “gives your phone a nightlife,” uses “pixel-merging technology” to capture photos at night or in low light, and are up to 400-percent brighter, without the need for a flash. Probably Asus has improved the tech since the ZenFone 5, but personally I was expecting more.
However, the rest of the phone certainly does seem to live up to the hype. There are several key features to this phone that make it quite interesting. The first is its ergonomically-curved design with ultra-slim edges, which taper down to just 3.9mm. Related to this are the ultra-narrow 3.3mm bezels, which give the ZenFone 2 a 72% screen-to-body ratio. Third is the price. The version with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage costs just $199. That is a great price for a 4G LTE, 64-bit device with a 5.5 inch Full HD display that runs Android 5.0 Lollipop.
There is also a model with 4GB of RAM.
The reason I mentioned the 2GB/16GB model is because there is also a model with 4GB of RAM and a choice of either 32 or 64GB of internal storage. And if 64GB isn’t enough, all the models support micro SD cards.
So here are the full specs:
| Display | 5.5-inch IPS display with 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution. Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3. |
| Processor | 64-bit Quad Core Intel® Atom™ Z3560/Z3580 processor (running at 1.8 or 2.3GHz). |
| RAM | 2GB or 4GB. |
| Storage | 16GB/32GB/64GB, microSD card slot, up to 64GB. |
| Camera | Rear: 13MP, f/2.0-aperture, 5-element, auto-focus lens with dual-color Real Tone flash. Front: 5MP, f/2.0-aperture, wide-angle 85-degree lens with Selfie Panorama. |
| Battery | 3000mAh lithium-polymer with fast-charge technology. |
| Connectivity | 802.11ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS |
| Networks | GSM, 3G, 4G LTE |
| Software | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Dimensions | 152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9-3.9mm, 170g |
To date the ZenFone range has proven to be a success for Asus. The company sold 1,500,000 units per month during the fourth quarter of 2014. That is 4.5 million units for the quarter or 18 million units per year. Asus wants to build on the success of the other handsets in the ZenFone range with the ZenFone 2, the first ZenFone with a new version of ASUS ZenUI for Android 5.0 Lollipop. The phone also includes Trend Micro security software for safe web browsing.
The passion behind the design of ZenFone 2 is our never-ending desire to empower luxury for everyone. We have drawn on our considerable engineering expertise and experience with our popular ZenFone to create a smartphone that embodies this ambition. That device is the incredible new ZenFone 2 — luxury that everyone can enjoy.
Jonney Shih – ASUS Chairman.
The 5.5 inch Full HD IPS display, which has a pixel density of 403-ppi and a viewing angle of 178 degrees, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 along with an anti-fingerprint coating that Asus says reduces friction by 30-percent. Also, Asus has followed LG’s lead and placed the volume control key on the rear of the phone, “within reach of the user’s index finger.”
As for the battery, the ZenFone 2 has a 3000mAh unit that Asus says is enough to provide “more than a full day of use on a single charge.” Since it is a 3000mAh unit, that sounds highly probable. However what is more interesting is the bundled fast-charge technology which can quickly recharge the ZenFone 2 to 60% battery capacity in only 39 minutes!
See what others can’t see
Although I feel that Asus has over-hyped the PixelMaster camera on the ZenFone 2, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a worthwhile addition to the device. The ZenFone 2 comes with a 13MP sensor and a wide F/2.0 aperture lens. It is also equipped with a Real Tone flash which is designed “to ensure warm skin tones and accurate color when a flash is needed.”
For those into selfies, the ZenFone 2 comes with a 5MP front-facing camera with a wide, 85-degree field of view.
The included dynamic Backlight (HDR) mode allows the device to capture photos where the foreground subjects stand out clearly and free of shadows. It seems that Asus’ HDR solution is more than just your run-of-the-mill software HDR as the company says that the HDR shots use the same “pixel-enhancing technology,” with the corresponding increase in contrast, as the Low Light mode. For camera buffs, Asus has also included a fully manual mode which allows you to fully control the camera settings, including ISO, shutter speed and aperture.
For those into selfies, the ZenFone 2 comes with a 5MP front-facing camera with a wide, 85-degree field of view. There is also the ZenUI Selfie Panorama mode, which captures panoramic selfies with up to a 140-degree field of view. This can be used when taking group selfies or when you want to include lots of scenic background in the shot.
ZenUI
The ZenFone 2 will come with Android 5.0 Lollipop and a new version of ASUS ZenUI. According to Asus, the new version “offers a simpler and smarter user experience with a stylish new layout that utilizes white space for a cleaner design and places information front and center for a simpler and smarter user experience.”
Included in ZenUI are a number of new features including ZenMotion and SnapView. The former is a set of touch gestures that provide easy access to frequently-used features such as One Hand mode or Do It Later. While the latter is a security feature that ensures privacy for apps, photos and files.
ZenFone Zoom and wrap up
The ZenFone 2 isn’t the only ZenFone that ASUS is launching. There is another – the ZenFone Zoom. Details about the actual phone specifications are scarce at the moment, except for details of its optics. The ZenFone Zoom has a 3X optical zoom camera, along with optical image stabilization and laser auto-focus. The 10-element lens design also allows for 12X digital zoom. There is also a full manual mode which allows “professional-grade manual control of ISO settings, shutter speed and more.” I guess the ZenFone Zoom matches better the “see what others can’t see” slogan!
To wrap up, personally I would prefer a device with an ARM based processor rather than an Intel one, but there is no denying that the ZenFone 2 offers a lot of features, processing power, and a good camera package, for very little money. If the actual device holds true to what Asus has written in the release information then the ZenFone 2 looks like a guaranteed winner.
ASUS planning to release three more wearables in 2015
It hasn’t been very long since ASUS released the ZenWatch but according to ASUS CEO Jerry Shen, the company is already planning a follow-up smart watch to the ZenWatch. In addition to the ZenWatch 2.0, two other wearables were mentioned by Shen that will focus on health related data, like step counting and blood sugar monitoring.
Shen, when speaking about a possible time frame for the release of the successor device, said that he is shooting for a third-quarter unveiling. The first ASUS ZenWatch was announced back on September 9th at IFA 2014 and hit the shelves in the United States on November 9th, so the Taiwanese company may stick to this release pattern.
The ZenWatch is currently being sold on Best Buy’s website for $199 USD. Of the Android Wear variety, the ZenWatch is probably the classiest looking smart watch out of the square-face bunch. Its specs include an IP55 water-resistance rating, a 1.6-inch AMOLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, along with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage capacity.
As I mentioned, the operating system used by the ZenWatch is Google’s Android Wear. But will the second generation ZenWatch also run off Android Wear?
Shen curiously told reporters that the updated wearable will not be so heavily reliant on being tethered to your smartphone and will even allow for phone calling without being tethered. Depending on your opinion as to whether or not an Android Wear device could even be functional without being tethered to your smartphone, the implications of this statement could mean that either ASUS is planning on following Samsung down the road of independence from Android in terms of wearables or that Shen knows something about the future iterations of Android Wear.
As far as the two fitness bands that Shen promised, there was no timetable given on their debut. It could be possible that we might see one or both of them at CES 2015 this week.
And on that note, you can get all of your CES 2015 news this week from Talk Android. So click here for our full CES 2015 coverage starting…well, now!
Source: Focus Taiwan
Come comment on this article: ASUS planning to release three more wearables in 2015
ASUS to unveil three wearables in 2015, releases Morse-code CES teaser video
The ASUS Zenwatch is one of the best smartwatches available right now and ASUS looks to be building on this success with three new wearables throughout 2015.
First up, ASUS CEO Jerry Shen let slip that a second generation ZenWatch is set to launch in the third quarter of 2015. The revised smartwatch is designed with greater independence from a smartphone in mind, allowing the user to place voice calls without the need to pair up a handset. In other words, expect a SIM card compatible ZenWatch later this year.
ASUS’ other two wearables are expected to come in the form of two low-cost wristband devices, aimed at the health and fitness markets. Shen has stated that the wearables will be able to measure footsteps, heartbeat, pulse and blood sugar levels, although a time frame for release has not been given.
Moving on to ASUS’ upcoming smartphone products, the company has released another teaser for its CES announcement, this time in Morse code. The brief video, embedded below, spells out the word “optical zoom”, which certainly sheds some light on the mysterious camera teasers posted by ASUS last month.
We are still a little unsure how ASUS’ optical zoom technology might work. Last year, ASUS demoed a dual-lens sensor that captured and combined near and distant photos to create a zoomed in image, although it is difficult to see whether or not the teased smartphone features a dual-camera setup from the short videos. Fortunately, all should be revealed next week.
ASUS certainly looks to have an interesting product line-up going into 2015.
Teaser video reveals ASUS plans on unveiling a new smartphone with optical zoom at CES
ASUS is notorious for releasing teaser videos before big events, and CES 2015 is no exception. There latest video is titled, “See What Others Can’t See” and has a series of tones which sounds a lot like Morse code.
The code translates into “optical zoom,” which obviously indicates that they plan on showing some sort of a device with that feature. We have yet to see smartphones with optical zoom, so this would be a huge feat. Yes, we have had phones like the Galaxy S 4 Zoom, but to me, that’s a camera with the ability to make and place phone calls. Those types of devices are just too big and bulky to really be classified as a smartphone. ASUS could be planning something similar or they could actually be incorporating optical zoom in something a little more compact, such as a traditional smartphone.
I guess we will know pretty soon, but I still stress that optical zoom means nothing if the quality isn’t there. Android smartphone cameras still need to show more progress in the quality of shots before getting excited about optical zoom. Still, it would be a remarkable step if ASUS can pull this off. Stay tuned to next week to find out what ASUS has in store.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: AndroidGuys
Come comment on this article: Teaser video reveals ASUS plans on unveiling a new smartphone with optical zoom at CES
HTC teases a new Desire smartphone for CES 2015
HTC took to its official Weibo account earlier today to confirm it will definitely be making an appearance at CES in January together with ASUS, LG and Sony. According to the teaser image posted with the announcement, the Taiwanese company is set to unveil the latest handset in its Desire range of smartphones.
It’s unclear at present if the new Desire device will feature similar specifications to HTC’s long-rumored Hima flagship, but renowned leaker @Upleaks firmly believes that the handset, dubbed the A52, will be marketed as the company’s second-generation “selfie phone”, boasting a 13-megapixel front-facing camera on a 16GB model and a whopping 4-ultrapixel front shooter on a 32GB variant.
HTC will be holding its launch event between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Monday, January 5.
We will be reporting live with news and first-hand experiences during the conference – so stay tuned to Talk Android for more coverage on what the Taiwanese company has in store for us.
Source: Weibo
Come comment on this article: HTC teases a new Desire smartphone for CES 2015
Lenovo, Asustek bringing lower cost Chromebooks to market in 2015
Although Chromebooks have only grabbed a small part of the laptop computer market thus far, despite much success in the education sector, the race to bring out less expensive models to entice buyers appears to be heating up for 2015. A new report from Digitimes Research indicates both Lenovo and Asustek are preparing new Chromebooks equipped with Rockchip technology to hit the market at a $149 price point.
Thus far, most Chromebooks have been priced in the $200 – $300 range, so the products from Lenovo and Asustek could set new lows for notebook devices. Both devices are expected to come with 11.6-inch screens and the Rockchip processors, but other details are not yet known. Acer is currently the biggest Chromebook producer and these new devices would be priced 25% lower than the Acer C720 that runs $199. Digitimes Research indicated that in addition to the price pressure this move will create for other Chromebook producers like Acer, it will also put pressure on Microsoft which has been modifying license costs in an effort to stave off Chromebooks’ growth in the market.
Rockchip is a “first-tier tablet application processor (AP) designer” from China. They have worked with Intel on chip design and distribution. They are also a Google-certified solutions provider.
source: Digitimes
Come comment on this article: Lenovo, Asustek bringing lower cost Chromebooks to market in 2015
ASUS ZenWatch now available through the Play Store
Right now, customers in the United States can pick up ASUS’ ZenWatch for $199 from the Play Store. The device is currently listed as ‘in stock’ and will leave Google’s warehouses within 1-2 business days, so if you order today with Standard Delivery, it should be with you by next Monday, November 17.
In terms of design, ASUS’ first ever smart watch sports an aluminium unibody and is essentially a more elegant version of LG’s G Watch. ASUS’ offering comes with a ‘real’ leather strap, which can be purchased in a variety of different colors, including Black, Tan Blue, Pink and Red.
If you like the sound of the ZenWatch and want to pick one up — hit the source link below.
Source: Google Play Store
Come comment on this article: ASUS ZenWatch now available through the Play Store
AIVAnet 