Asus ditches the notch with a ‘flip’ camera on the Zenfone 6

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Asus’ new flagship phone has an all-screen front, and the best selfie camera on any smartphone right now, according to a website that reviews photography equipment. 

The Taiwanese tech giant unveiled its flagship Zenfone 6, more than a week ahead of Taiwan’s Computex trade show. The Zenfone 6 drew long lines of tech journalists who were eager to see its “Flip Camera.” 

While Chinese rivals Oppo and Vivo slide and hide the front camera when it’s not in use, Asus made one of the more interesting solutions to the riddle of designing an all-screen smartphone while keeping the all-important selfie shooter. 

The Zenfone 6 doesn’t have a dedicated camera in front for selfies. Instead, its main camera module at the back flips outward to face the user when selfie mode is activated. 

This eliminates the need for a camera notch in front, which means the Zenfone’s 6.4-inch display is all screen. At the same time, this rotation of the camera module allows the same powerful photography hardware used to capture landscapes and sports for self-portraits.

The main module houses two cameras — a 48-megapixel shooter with an f1.8 lens and 26-mm focal length; and a 13MP shooter with an f2.4 aperture and a very wide 11-mm focal length. 

Asus’ new flagship also captures 4K video at 30 frames per second by default and full HD video at 240 fps. The tilt of the Zenfone 6’s Flip Cam can also be manually adjusted, which makes it easier for users to take shots and footage from different angles. 

Because of these features, photography website DxOMark gave the Zenfone 6 a selfie score of 98, the highest for any phone on the market right now. 

Asus also put top-of-the-line specs on its new flagship. The Zenfone 6 uses the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset with Adreno graphics, up to 8GB of memory, and up to 256GB of storage. 

The build quality is also excellent, with Gorilla Glass 6 on front and brushed metal at the back. 

The company seems to have also taken a cue from its line of Zenfone Max mid-tier phones that cater to people who want bigger batteries. The Zenfone 6 has a pretty big 5000 mAh battery. In comparison, most other flagships use 3,800 to 4,300 mAh batteries. 

Audiophiles who have already invested in high-end headphones will also be glad to know that the Zenfone 6 comes with a standard 3.5mm audio jack.

Asus did not say when the Zenfone 6 will be available in the Philippines or how much it would cost. 

A limited edition Zenfone 6 with 12GB of memory and 512GB of storage will also go on sale to mark Asus’ 30th anniversary.

The Zenfone 6 enters a brutally competitive smartphone market that, according to industry tracker IDC, has also declined 6.6 percent in the first quarter of the year.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Asus showcases new gadgets at Computex 2017

As the month of May crossed over to June, tech journalists and bloggers worldwide flocked to Taipei for Computex 2017.

Asia's biggest annual tech show showcased the latest in digital computing technology wherein Asus took center stage.

The Taiwanese tech giant trotted out an assortment of laptops, 2-in-1 convertibles, and a smartphone that can support both virtual and augmented reality.

Tech blogger Jam Ancheta, who was at Computex 2017, joins Future Perfect to discuss more about Asus' new gadgets.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Asus launches 3 new Zenfones at Computex

TAIPEI -- Asus seems bent on changing the game again. After disrupting the mid-end market with affordable phones with monster specs last year, the Taiwanese electronics giant is shaking up the ecosystem yet again with its latest crop of Zenfones.

At Computex, which is the biggest tech fair in Asia, Asus took the wraps off three new shiny Zenfones. The rest of the smartphone market better take notice. Why? Because these devices pack an awesome lot of power, and (to borrow an observation from Engadget) sport the kind of elegance that used to be the domain of flagship phones costing twice as much.

1. Zenfone 3 Deluxe

First to be unveiled was the Zenfone Deluxe. Like a lot of new phones coming out right now, this handset has an aluminum unibody and rounded edges. But you also need to give credit to Asus for adding a bit of their touch to this now familiar look.

While other phones still show antenna bands around the back, Asus was able to hide the antenna on its new Zenfones, thus giving them a cleaner and more elegant feel. One glance at this handset lets you know that this phone is clearly aiming for the higher end of the market. And yet it’s price of just US$499, or roughly P24,000, is just almost just half the price of major flagship phones.

Zenfone 3 Deluxe Specs

Screen: 5.7 in, 1080x1920, Super AMOLED
Platfrom: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Android Marshmallow
Memory: Max of 6GB
Camera: Main - 23MP, f2.0, 4K video
Front - 8MP, f2.0, 1080p video
Connectivity: LTE, HSPA
Battery: 3000mAh non-removable
Other Features: USB type C, Fingerprint scanner, up to 256GB storage
Colors: Silver, Gray, Gold
Announced price: Starts at US$499

Asus also made some significant upgrades to the screen. The Zenfone Deluxe sports a 5.7-inch Super Amoled Full HD screen. The screen is gorgeous, with colors and contrasts that hang in there with the best that the Koreans, Japanese and Cupertino have to offer.

The design may look familiar, but the phone’s guts definitely push the envelope. The top-end Zenfone Deluxe boasts of a monstrous 6GB of RAM. That is probably more RAM than you’ll ever need for day to day tasks, and effectively future-proofs your phone against whatever memory-hogging app that may arrive in Google Play. Console-level gaming, video-editing, professional photo-editing all become possible on this phone.

Speaking of photos, Asus also leveled up the camera of the Zenfone Deluxe. My main complaint with the previous generation of Zenfones was that they took photos that were just OK -- not exceptional or bad, but just OK. The Zenfone Deluxe aims to change all that.

Asus has placed a huge 23MP Sony sensor into the camera of the Zenfone Deluxe. To keep images blur-free, Asus also put a 4-axis optical image stabilization into the Deluxe and complemented this with electronic image stabilization. Strangely though, Asus kept an f2.0 lens on the primary camera of the Zenfone Deluxe. This seems odd given that other high- end smartphones are already using much more superior f1.8 and f1.7 lenses.

The Zenfone Deluxe also packs in a slew of other technologies like phase detection and continuous autofocus into its camera. Llike a lot of high end smartphones right now, the Deluxe can also shoot smooth 4K video thanks to all the other hardware enhancements.

Some of the pictures and videos taken with the Deluxe during the demo at Computex were pretty impressive, but it remains to be seen whether Asus’ foray into the higher end category can keep up with the best phone cameras right now. I can’t wait to get my hands on a review unit and see if the hype lives up to the reality.

Other hardware improvements include a fingerprint sensor, quick charging capabilities, and a USB 3.0 Type-C connector for faster charging and file transfers. And if you really like shooting 4K video, you’re not likely to run out of space as the top end Deluxe will give you 256GB of stage.

2. Zenfone 3

Next to be introduced was the Zenfone 3, the heir to the very successful Zenfone 2 from last year.

This variant does not have the aluminum unibody construction of the Deluxe. Instead it uses Gorilla Glass 2.5D in the front and rear. The glass also gently curves to edges of the phone, giving it a very refined look. Make no mistake about it, this phone feels very premium despite its US$299 or P14,000 tag, which is almost ridiculous.

Zenfone 3 Specs

Screen: 5.5 in, 1080x1920, Super IPS+
Platfrom: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, Android Marshmallow
Memory: Max of 4GB
Camera: Main - 16MP, f2.0, 4K video
Front - 8MP, f2.0, 1080p video
Connectivity: LTE, HSPA
Battery: 3000mAh non-removable
Other Features: USB Type C, Fingerprint scanner
Colors: Silver, Black, Blue, Gold
Announced price: Starts at US$299

It also uses the same camera technologies found in the Deluxe, but with a smaller 16MP sensor. Other than that, the Zenfone 3 shares virtually the same specs with the Deluxe, except for the processor and the RAM which has been bumped down to just 4GB to make it more affordable for the mid-end market.

3. Zenfone 3 Ultra

Last to be introduced at Computex was the Zenfone Ultra, a 6.8-inch “phone.” Based on the size alone, you could surmise that this phablet is more tablet than phone, and unless you have palms as big asShaq’s, you will need both hands to use it.

Zenfone Ultra Specs

Screen: 6.8 in, IPS, 1080x1920
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652, Android Marshmallow
Memory: Max of 4GB
Camera: Main - 23MP, f2.0, 4K video
Front - 8MP, f2.0, 1080p video
Connectivity: LTE, HSPA
Battery: 4600 mAh
Other Features: 7.1 DTS Surround Sound, Powerbank function, USB Type C, Fingerprint scanner
Colors: Silver, Gray, Pink

Personally, I am not a big fan of Godzilla phones. But Asus says that it is not aiming the Ultra for casual users like me, but for multimedia lovers, or people who want to watch movies and play games on the go.

Like the Deluxe, the Ultra also sports a sleek aluminum unibody design. It also has a 23MP camera and most of the hardware specs of the Deluxe except for the processor and the RAM, which was also bumped down to a max of 4GB.

But Asus also gave the Ultra a lot of enhancements that make it veritable multimedia workhorse.

They made the Ultra’s full HD screen extra bright. The company claims that the Ultra’s images remain clear and bright even under direct sunlight. At the Computex demo, the Ultra sat next to an iPhone 6s Plus and both phones placed under a bright white LED light. The Zenfone Ultra’s screen remained clear and bright while the iPhone could barely be seen. It will be interesting to get hold of this phone and test its claims in real world conditions when it comes out.

The Ultra also boasts of really good audio. I was able to try it using Skullcandy headphones at the Asus booth in Computex, and they weren’t kidding when they said the Ultra could pump out excellent 7.1 surround sound to your eardrums. If you like watching movies on the go, this is one phablet you definitely need to consider. And this monster phablet starts at just US$479 or around P22,000.

Gadget aficionados, however, will have to wait a few more weeks to get their hands on these new models. Asus expects to bring these new Zenfones into the Philippine market around August.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Asus unveils robot Zenbo at Computex

TAIPEI -- Computex, the largest tech expo in Asia, is a stage for some of the biggest product launches and unveilings by Asian electronics companies.

This year’s Computex did not disappoint, with Taiwanese giant Asus announcing a major foray into robotics with the unveiling of a personal robot, dubbed the Zenbo.

Zenbo’s launch was a big deal. Every tech journalist at Computex was expecting new phones, tablets, wearables and VR kits. But the a robot like Zenbo? No one saw that coming.

Zenbo kinda looks like something from a Pixar design factory. If Wall-E and Eve decided to have kids, Zenbo would probably look like one of the offspring. It’s small, it’s cute, it rolls on wheels, and has got that non-threatening interface that old folks and little kids would love.

Asus dubs the Zenbo as a smart assistant. You communicate with the Zenbo using voice commands instead of a remote. According to the short demo, Zenbo can help out in the kitchen with a recipe, help your kids with their homework, and even dial an emergency number if an accident happens inside your home.

It can also read a bedtime story to your kids, play music, take photos and video, and even control your smart home and smart appliances.


You could think of it as a personal butler like, or an electronic yaya. While it’s not exactly on the same level yet of the positronic Andrew in Robin William’s film “Bicentennial Man,” the Zenbo presents a huge leap in the direction of smart robotic assistants. Why? Because you don’t have to sell your kidney to buy one.

Asus chairman Jonney Shih said that their goal was to enable robotic computing for every household. With a target price of US$599, or roughly around P28,000, Asus may have just found the sweet spot for personal robots. If Asus manages to meet this target price, this will put Zenbo’s cost lower than a Samsung Galaxy S7 or an iPhone 6S Plus. It’s not hard to imagine Zenbos appearing in the homes of many gadget aficionados based on that price point.

I am actually a bit skeptical about that target price, as similar robots cost much much more. Softbank’s Pepper robot sells for around US$1,900. But if there’s one company that can develop and sell affordable robots, it’s probably Asus.

Asus created an entirely new category of computers when it introduced the EeePC way back in 2007. This little laptop ushered in the world of cheap portable computers called netbooks. The Taiwanese company did this again in 2011 when it launched the Eeepad Transformer, which created a category of affordable laptop-tablet hybrids.

Hopefully, Asus can leverage its manufacturing and engineering expertise and make the Zenbo a truly affordable home robot.

Gadget geeks who want to get their hands on the Zenbo, however, will have to wait a little longer. Asus has not yet announced a launch date for the Zenbo.

From the demo I saw at Computex, it was also pretty obvious that Zenbo wasn’t ready for primetime. But if you’re a developer, you’re in luck because Asus welcomes developers who want to create new apps and capabilities for their home robot.

Will Zenbo usher in a new era of home robots? Many gadget aficionados certainly hope so.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ford shows off 'smart' Mustang at Taiwan tech show

TAIPEI -- US auto giant Ford showed off its new Mustang at Asia's biggest tech fair Tuesday, billing it as "the smartest Mustang to date," with voice controls and early warning collision systems.

Due to go on sale in Asia-Pacific in 2015, the slick sports car can connect to drivers' mobile apps using a platform which will be introduced to Taiwan, New Zealand and Thailand next year for the first time, the company announced at the Computex conference in Taipei.

Ford already introduced the AppLink technology -- which allows drivers to make their mobile apps respond to voice commands -- in China, Australia and India earlier this year.

Celebrating 50 years of production, the original Mustang was launched at an event on top of the Empire State Building in 1964 and quickly became a byword for cool among America's youth, who loved the highly customizable "pony car" that stood out next to their parents' bulky sedans.

But the latest edition may put the reins on rebellious teens, with a feature which allows parents to limit top speeds and audio volume.

Despite this sensible streak, Trevor Worthington, vice president of product development in Asia Pacific, said the classic car continued to "resonate" with drivers.

"This enhances every aspect of driving, whether you're listening to music, changing the radio station, optimizing your car for track driving or adjusting it for different road conditions," he said of the new model which has an aviation-inspired dashboard and comes with a choice of two different engines.

Smart technology and the Internet of Things -- a term used to describe the connection of everything from cars to household appliances to cyberspace -- is a major theme of Computex this year.

The Mustang adjusts the car's speed automatically to keep a safe distance from vehicles in front and can boost brakes if it anticipates a collision

Drivers can also set modes to normal, snow-wet, sport or track.

Ford displayed the new Mustang at the Beijing Auto Show in April in a bid to break into China's sports car market.

Tuesday was the first time it had been put on show in Taiwan.

In addition to the Mustang, Ford will demonstrate new vehicle-to-vehicle technology at Computex, which it says will allow cars to share information and potentially prevent accidents.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com