The Asus ZenWatch surprised a lot of people as one of the best Android Wear devices of 2014. It was one of the more attractive square watches and very affordable. What will Asus do to follow the success? We’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out.
Asus CEO jerry Shen reportedly told NDTV Gadgets that they are working on a new smartwatch, but they don’t plan to launch the ZenWatch 2 in 2015. However, he didn’t say it won’t be announced, so hopefully we’ll hear something about it before the calendar flips to 2016. Shen also revealed that the watch will come in two different sizes for men and women, similar to the Apple Watch.
There will be many new smartwatches announced before the end of the year. Hopefully Asus doesn’t fall too far behind by waiting until next year. What did you think about the Asus ZenWatch? Are you interested in the ZenWatch 2, or is that too long to wait?
Yesterday, Google announced that Android Wear smartwatches would be getting WiFi support in the next coming weeks, bringing most Android Wear devices in line with the upcoming Apple Watch. Having a WiFi connected Android wearable is definitely a highly sought after feature, even if you still need to have your phone powered on and connected to the Internet in one way or another for full watch functionality. The question remains, does every Android Wear smartwatch support WiFi? Sadly, no.
Yesterday, both Motorola and Sony confirmed publicly that both the Moto 360 and the Sony SmartWatch 3 support WiFi, while other Android Wear OEMs have been silent. We reached out to LG, ASUS, and Samsung for comment on their offerings. According to LG, the LG G Watch and G Watch R do not support WiFi, however the upcoming LG Watch Urbane does. According to ASUS, the ZenWatch does not have WiFi either. We’re still waiting to hear back from Samsung, though previous iFixit teardowns confirm that the Samsung Gear Live does in fact have a WiFi antenna. We’ll update the article if Samsung responds.
Let us know how you feel in the comments LG G Watch, G Watch R, and ZenWatch owners. Your watches are now borderline obsolete thanks to this hardware fragmentation. Will you be upgrading to an Android Wear watch that supports WiFi?
Update: A previous version of this article stated that the G Watch R and ZenWatch would in fact get WiFi support with the upcoming Android Wear OTA update. Since then, we’ve received confirmation from both LG and ASUS that those devices would not get WiFi support as originally published. We apologize.
Update 2: Samsung has confirmed with Phandroid that the Gear Live will in fact gain WiFi support with the upcoming OTA update for Android Wear. Congrats Gear Live owners.
Here’s a quick recap. Will your Android Wear smartwatch get WiFi?
We imagine whatever they come up with will have to be as premium as they come, as the trend for wearables seems to be emphasizing fashionable taste as much as practical usability. That said, we’d argue there’s no need to worry as the original ASUS ZenWatch look quite good for a first generation smartwatch.
ASUS is going to be waving their Taiwanese flag proudly at Computex next week, and the company is expected to introduce a new good-looking tablet to add to their ZenPad line. It’ll simply be called “ASUS ZenPad,” and the one thing you’ll notice from this newly-leaked render of it is that it’s sporting a screen ratio of 4:3.
Such a ratio was seen as odd at one point, but the prominence of Apple’s iPad seems to have gotten us used to it. In fact, perhaps we even prefer it.
ASUS is said to be going with Intel processors again as part of their new partnership. We still don’t know how we feel about that just yet as we have yet to put an Intel devices through its proper paces, but we’ll keep an open mind for sure.
One other detail suggests the company will introduce a 7-inch affordable model with 1024 x 600 resolution, while an 8-inch model will take things up a few notches with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. If ASUS can get these bad boys at or near that sweet spot of 0 we’d say there’s reason to take notice. We’ll have to wait until next week to find out more.
Earlier today, ASUS revealed availability of the ASUS ZenFone 2 for North America. The phone was set to launch tomorrow, May 19th but it seems Amazon has already jumped the gun with both 16GB of 64GB of the phone in all 3 colors now available with free Prime 2-day shipping.
Seems the NA version is GSM-only (no real surprise there), so if you’re on Sprint or Verizon you’re out of luck. We’ve already received an order confirmation, with one day shipping saying it’ll arrive tomorrow. Feel free to head on over and start purchasing to get a head start!
ASUS showed up at Computex 2015 as they always do (considering it’s the premier tech event in their own backyard of Taiwan), and they didn’t disappoint with a few nice announcements. One of the devices on tap was a new smart watch.
It’s the ASUS ZenWatch 2, and the rumors were true. ASUS cooked up 2 different sizes, one for those who prefer a little bulk and the more petite option that most women might prefer. The company is still going with a square watch face, though the chassis isn’t without a round nature.
The ZenWatch 2 features a physical dial (which we imagine can be used to navigate the system), an OLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, Gorilla Glass 3 and IP67 specification for dust and water resistance. You get a magnetic mechanism for charging the device, which is a great feature as no one wants to have to clasp their smart watch into a bothersome cradle every night.
On the presentation side, there will be a wide range of wrist bands available post-launch — some in rubber, leather and even a special edition Swarovski set featuring actual Swarovski crystyals — though the device comes with stainless steel straps as standard.
For software, you can expect the latest version of Android Wear and improved wellness and remote camera apps, though ASUS didn’t go into detail about what, exactly, was different. We’re not sure if the watch will support Android Wear’s new WiFi support (the initial spec list doesn’t mention one) so we’ll have to dig for more to see if this thing can offer the same level of connectivity as LG’s Watch Urbane.
And that’s about all we know. ASUS didn’t have pricing or availability to mention, which makes us feel as if we won’t be seeing a product ready to buy until late Q3 at best. Let’s hope we’re wrong, though, because the ZenWatch 2 doesn’t look half bad.
ASUS had a new phone to flaunt at their Computex 2015 showing. Dubbed ZenFone Selfie, this mid-range darling takes its design cues from the ASUS ZenFone 2, but adds a 13 megapixel front-facing camera that has its own dedicated dual-tone flash. The lens is f/2.2 aperture and features a wide angle field of view to make sure you can fit you (and anyone else) into the shot with ease.
Beyond that, it’s pretty much a run of the mill smartphone, including a 5.5-inch 1080p display and Qualcomm’s octa-core 64-bit Snapdragon 615 chipset (which is interesting considering they went all-in with Intel for the launch of the ZenFone 2).
Unfortunately we don’t get many details on the other specs. The company didn’t even bother to mention the rear camera, though we’re betting it’s at least as good as the front-facing variant. They also showed off the “Selfie Swing,” a detachable bumper that can help you extend the phone in front of you to get more in your shot.
It also seemingly doubles as a kickstand, a feature that isn’t on nearly enough smartphones in today’s age. You can see a GIF of the Selfie Swing attachment below, courtesy of Engadget.
No pricing and availability yet, but we don’t doubt ASUS we will tell us when they know for sure.
ASUS has had quite the day at Computex. we got a new smart watch and a selfie phone, and you can bet they have a good crop of tablets on the way, as well. This is the ASUS ZenPad 8.0, an 8-inch tablet that can either be very affordable or pack a whole lot of punch (depending on which you fancy).
There’s the base model — simply dubbed the ASUS ZenPad 8.0 — that has a 1280 x 800 display, 16GB of internal storage, an Intel Atom X3 chipset, a 5 megapixel rear camera and more. Not bad for those on a modest budget.
What really gets us excited is the ASUS ZenPad S 8.0, which is a whole different beast. This thing packs Intel’s Atom Z3580 chipset (top-line stuff for their mobile line), 4GB of RAM, 2,048 x 1536 resolution, your choice of 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera and USB Type-C. We’re sure it’s going to be more of a wallet buster than its weaker brother, but with these specs (and ASUS’s history for quality) we’d argue it’ll be worth it.
ASUS also has 7-inch and 10-inch models planned, but the company hasn’t yet released any details about them. We’ll expect the 7-inch variant to be on the affordable side, while they’re bound to go balls to the walls for the biggest option. Unfortunately all we can do is speculate until they unleash some details or we stumble upon some juicy leaks. Either way, the 8-inch tablets are enough to satisfy our undying need for new tech for the time being.
It’s always a good episode when something crazy happens to Chris. This week he accidentally left his DROID Turbo in the freezer overnight. We also discuss our first phones and something eerily familiar about the Samsung Captivate. Other topics include the ASUS ZenFone 2, LG G4 launch date, Mad Men finale, The Witcher 3, and much more! Thanks for watching/listening!
It’s been quite a few months since we first saw the ASUS ZenFone 2 officially unveiled at CES 2015 earlier this year. Today, ASUS unveiled the phone again, but this time they were finally ready to talk about availability. Starting tomorrow, May 19th, the ASUS ZenFone 2 will officially be available to order from major online retailers in the US and Canada, starting at 0.
If you’re looking for something a little higher-end than the 0 base model, ASUS will also has the nicely equipped 0 model which comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage, and a 13MP camera. The phone also comes in a plethora of colors — red, black, gray and silver — with weird (but very cool) 3D patterns.
It’s pretty much the best value in mobile hardware we’ve ever seen and easily undercuts the competition like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge which will run over ,000 for a similarly equipped model. The unlocked North American version of the ASUS ZenFone 2 will be available at fine retailers like Amazon, B&H, Groupon, and Newegg. Who’s buying?
The ASUS ZenWatch is the latest Android Wear smartwatch to receive Android 5.1.1. In case you don’t remember, this update brought a lot of great new goods such as support for always-on apps, WiFi (the ZenWatch doesn’t have WiFi radios, though) and new hands-free gestures for navigating the user interface.
So how do you get it? Well, one way is to simply wait. You could manually check for it (Swipe Down on Watch Face > Swipe to Settings > Go to About > System Updates) but our experience tells us you might not get very far. You can also download the OTA file and flash it manually if you’re handy enough to go about doing that. By the end of it all you should be on Android 5.1.1, Android Wear version 1.1.1.1910765, and Google Play Services version 7.3.36.
Otherwise, you’ll simply have to wait until your device is tapped to receive the upgrade (which could be as soon as a day or as much as a month). Be sure to take it for a spin and let us know what you think about it once you have it loaded up!
HTC decided to go on the defensive side in relations to talk about ASUS buying them out. The company released an official statement saying they strongly deny any rumors about ASUS buying them out.
To be clear, the initial report was never that a buyout was attempted, but rather ASUS has at least talked or thought about it internally. For HTC’s part, they maintain that they’ve never spoken with ASUS in regards to any of that.
They also looked to reassure folks that they weren’t willing to sell, though that’s not an unexpected feeling for a proud Taiwanese company. The company isn’t currently in dire straits or in jeopardy of tanking, and while there have been better times we imagine things aren’t bad enough that they’re scrambling for a knight to whisk them off their feet.
HTC still has a lot riding on their future, including the HTC Re Vive VR headset, a new line of consumer electronics, as well as their long-standing smartphone business (though the latter arm has seen better days). There’s still time to turn the boat around, so unless HTC suddenly starts bleeding money in a profuse manner we ought to do away with fears that they’re going anywhere.
Best Buy is holding a quick sale on the ASUS ZenWatch. It’s off its usual price of 0, meaning you’ll walk away with one for just 0.
The ZenWatch admittedly isn’t the hottest boat rocking in the land of Android Wear smart watches, but it still boasts a neat design, competent internals and will receive the latest Android Wear updates for the foreseeable future.
That said, something new from the Taiwanese company is on the horizon, and if you’re the type that has to have the latest and greatest then it’s best to hold off as the ASUS ZenWatch 2 will be out rather soon. Otherwise, get your watch (with free shipping or in-store pickup, if you prefer) at Best Buy right here.
Two of Taiwan’s biggest technology buffs could eventually find themselves combine as one unit. ASUS CFO David Chang revealed to Reuters that they’ve talked about acquiring HTC in the past.
The report suggests that all they’ve done is talk about it, though no actual moves were made to try and strike a deal. The CFO also wasn’t coy about leaving open the possibility that they could still be exploring a takeover, though he noted that chances weren’t that great considering ASUS prefers to make moves which foster and promote internal, organic growth rather than picking up someone else’s sloppy seconds.
That HTC has a big, red “takeover” target on its back isn’t all that surprising. The company has been bleeding money for the better part of two years now, with only a couple of narrowly-positive quarters scattered throughout.
ASUS, on the other hand, has a thriving PC and tablet business, an up and coming smartphone arm, as well as the luxury of being able to fall back on computer monitors, network routers and other miscellaneous tech, all of which have proven to be lucrative areas for the Taiwanese company. Would you want to see this deal go down?
