Asus

249 'Asus' stories May 2011 - June 2015

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HTC ‘strongly denies’ rumors of possible ASUS acquisition

Stephen Hall Jun 15 2015 - 7:00 am PT

Following a report on Friday morning from Reuters, rumors began flying about a potential ASUS acquisition of struggling HTC. The original report was clear, with ASUS Chief Financial Officer David Chang quoted as saying that “the chances of an actual takeover are not big…” This morning, however, HTC has come out to say matter-of-factly that it “will not consider the acquisition.”

We strongly deny the news. We didn’t contact Asusteck[sic] and will not consider the acquisition. As an international brand, HTC will continue to design world-class innovative smart devices through its pursuit of brilliance brand promise.

HTC has been struggling over the last few years, and the problems have been amplified as of late following the company’s launch of its lackluster HTC One M9 smartphone. HTC CEO Cher Wang came out to apologize publicly for the company’s poor performance earlier this year, and it slashed its performance guidance for the April-June quarter following a 20% drop in its stock early last week.

ASUS reportedly hasn’t ruled out acquiring struggling HTC

Stephen Hall Jun 12 2015 - 8:05 am PT

According to a report this morning from Reuters, Asus still hasn’t ruled out the possibility that it could acquire struggling HTC. It’s clear that this doesn’t actually suggest that a takeover is going to happen, but the fact that Asus chairman Johnny Shih seemingly doesn’t deny the possibility might be telling…
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ASUS unveils updated Chromebox that’s extremely quiet and low-power in idle

Tom Maxwell Jun 1 2015 - 1:30 pm PT

The last Chromebox we saw from ASUS went on sale over a year ago starting at a mere $179, and now the company has announced its successor today at its Computex press conference in Taipei. For the uninitiated, Chromebox’s are desktop Chrome OS computers without a keyboard, mouse, or monitor included.
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Asus adds high-end 8-inch model to its tablet range, now branded ZenPad – and the ZenPhone Selfie

Ben Lovejoy Jun 1 2015 - 5:30 am PT

Alongside the ZenWatch 2, Asus has also announced a flurry of new tablets – now using the Zen branding – and a new ZenPhone.

The highlight, and the only tablet Asus talked about in any detail, is the ZenPad S 8.0, an 8-inch model with impressive specs. The metal body contains a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 4GB RAM, hi-res 2048×1536 IPS display in 4:3 ratio, up to 64GB storage – and a shiny new USB Type C connector …
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Asus gives us our first look at the ZenWatch 2 – but no specs, price or availability yet (Video)

Ben Lovejoy Jun 1 2015 - 4:21 am PT

Asus confirmed last month that its next-generation ZenWatch was on the way, and would be released in Q3 this year. It has now shown off the Asus ZenWatch 2 for the first time – though not told us very much about it beyond the looks.

It will be available in two sizes, 49mm or 45mm, and offer a total of 18 different looks via three color choices for the watch itself and a range of straps. You can choose between silver, gunmetal and rose gold casings, each with matching stainless steel link bracelets, with leather and rubber strap options too …
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Asus ZenFone 2 now available on Amazon in 16GB/64GB variants for $200/$300

Chance Miller May 18 2015 - 6:16 pm PT

As announced would happen earlier today, the Asus ZenFone 2 is now available on Amazon in unlocked and contract-free fashion. The device is available in a 16GB variant for $200 and a 64GB variant for $300.

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Android Wear 5.1.1 now rolling out to ASUS ZenWatch

Chance Miller May 14 2015 - 4:41 pm PT

Update: We now have Android 5.1.1 OTA download links for the ZenWatch.

ASUS this evening has started rolling out an update to its ZenWatch that bumps it to the latest build of Android Wear, version 5.1.1. The version first shipped on the LG Watch Urbane but is now making its way to more users. It’s unclear how extensive the rollout is at this point, but at least one user on Reddit has received the update.

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ASUS confirms next-gen Android Wear ZenWatch coming early Q3, improved 4-day battery life

Jordan Kahn May 13 2015 - 7:34 am PT

Following rumors that ASUS could look to release a non-Android Wear device and reports of delays for its next-generation smartwatch, today the company confirmed that the new Asus ZenWatch will arrive early in Q3 and will indeed be running Android.

The news comes from the focustaiwan.tw news channel, which reports the company’s CEO confirmed plans are still on track for the next-gen Asus ZenWatch powered by Android Wear:
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9to5Toys Last Call: Nexus 6 (used) $445+, ASUS Chromebook $180, LG G2 (unlocked) $190, more

Stephen Hall Mar 24 2015 - 11:50 am PT

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Nexus 6, Midnight Blue 32GB (used) from Amazon Warehouse: $445+ shipped (Reg. $649)

ASUS 13.3″ Google Chromebook with 4GB RAM: $180 shipped w/ code (Reg. $329)

LG G2 w/ 32GB flash storage, factory unlocked for GSM carriers: $190 shipped (Reg. $300)

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 32GB (unlocked): $479.99 shipped (Reg. $700)

Daily Deals: Samsung 3TB External HDD $83, Logitech UE BOOM Bluetooth Speaker $129, more

ASUS Google Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB 7-inch tablet: $135 shipped w/ code (Reg. $200)

LG G3 w/ free $100 Amazon gift card for $0.01 w/ 2-yr contract or $479 w/o

The software used by Pixar to create visual effects for movies like Toy Story, Up, and WALL-E is now free

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones $119 shipped (Reg. $170)

Small States Review: Grado’s GR10e in-ear headphones hit every note, $299 giveaway

More new gear from today:

Free money! Save up to 20% on gift cards from Staples, Lowe’s, Applebee’s, Facebook, more

New! Microsoft PC & tablet accessories up to 60% off
New! GoPro HERO4 Black 4K Action Cam $399 shipped ($100 off)
New! Save 25% on all refurbished Olympus Digital Cameras
New! JBL Spark Bluetooth Speaker $35 shipped (Reg. $130)
New! Games/Apps: Evolve $40, GTA V (PS4/Xbox One) $40, iOS freebies, more
New! Adobe Photoshop Elements + Canon Printer bundle for $50 (~$110 value)
New! Incase ICON Sleeve for iPad mini $36 shipped (Reg. $60)

More deals still alive:

LG Electronics 55-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED for $500 shipped (Reg. $800)

Samsung 850 EVO 2.5-inch Internal SSDs: 250GB $100 (Reg. $135), more
Incase 13-inch MacBook Air Hardshell Cases for $25 shipped (50% off)
Groupon 10% off sitewide: iPhone 6 battery cases from $36, more
Anker Astro 16000mAh External Battery w/ free Astro Mini 3200mAh $35 ($20 savings)
Stop paying cable modem rental fees: Motorola SB6141 $58 shipped (Reg. $90)
iPad Shoulder Bag by STM $13 Prime shipped (orig. $55)
Seagate 5TB Desktop USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $129 Prime shipped
$10 off a $30 purchase of classic and new board games
iTunes Free App of the Week: Dark Echo ($2 value)
Modern Combat 5: Blackout for iOS goes free for the first time (Reg. $4+)
OtterBox Commuter Series iPhone 6 Case $17 shipped (orig. $35)
Belkin Fusive Portable Bluetooth Speaker $34 Prime shipped (Reg. up to $85)
Seagate Diskless 2-Bay Network Attached Storage $100 shipped (Reg. $170)
Mophie Juice Pack Helium 1500mAh iPhone 5/5s battery case $27 shipped (orig. $80)

Toshiba Canvio 1TB Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive: $50 shipped (orig. $99) http://t.co/k9A8cmxqnE pic.twitter.com/SocS9TgT8v

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 23, 2015

New products & more:

Turn your selfies into dronies with this new iOS/Android controlled mini hexacopter

This Minecraft Toolbox brings Steve’s tools to life thanks to Raspberry Pi
Japanese accessory maker teases follow-up to the wildly popular R2-D2 virtual keyboard
DJiT’s upcoming Mixfader might be the most portable iOS/Android DJ controller yet
Atari’s new Fit app for iOS and Android rewards users w/ classic arcade games
Bosch’s new REAXX table saw uses advanced sensors to protect your hands and its blade

ASUS reportedly working on a non-Android Wear smartwatch w/ better battery life

Stephen Hall Feb 16 2015 - 6:45 am PT

ASUS ZenWatch, the company’s current Android Wear offering

Leaked details last week of a purported HTC smartwatch in the works suggested that the Taiwanese company would be ditching Android Wear in at least one future device, and now it appears that ASUS—another Taiwanese company—is doing the same. According to a report this morning from Focus Taiwan, ASUS is working a wrist-worn device with much better battery life—and they’re going to achieve that by leaving behind Google’s operating system.
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Google finally posts Android Lollipop factory images for cellular Nexus 7 models

Stephen Hall Jan 30 2015 - 1:40 pm PT

It’s been a long time coming, but Google has finally decided to post the Lollipop factory images for the LTE Nexus 7 (2013) and the ‘Mobile’ Nexus 7 (2012). The image, specifically, is a build of Android 5.0.2. As per usual, the OTA update should start hitting these devices soon, and we’ll let you know when these OTA downloads are available.

You can download the factory images over at Google’s developer page. If you’d like to install one or any of these factory images without waiting for the over-the-air update to hit your device, check out our comprehensive guide.

CES 2015: Asus Zenfone 2 first impressions and hands-on (Video)

Stephen Hall Jan 5 2015 - 11:55 pm PT

We got a chance to go hands-on this morning with the Asus Zenfone 2 at CES in Las Vegas, and I think I’ve come to the conclusion that this is one of the most notable smartphones to ever come from the Taiwanese company. Forget the fact that this device is the first smartphone in the world to come with 4 GB of RAM and consider this: At $199, this device, even without its headlining feature (which the base model is notably lacking anyway), is now by far the best $199-level phone on the market.
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Asus unveils 13MP Zenfone Zoom smartphone w/ 3X optical zoom camera

Zac Hall Jan 5 2015 - 11:41 am PT

In addition to announcing the Zenfone 2 at CES today, Asus used the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil its new Zenfone Zoom Android smartphone. Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Zoom line, Asus claims its Zenfone Zoom is the world’s thinnest smartphone with a 3X optical zoom camera.
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ASUS teases ‘optical zoom’ for new ZenFone at CES 2015

Stephen Hall Jan 2 2015 - 9:02 am PT

Earlier this month, ASUS posted a video to its Facebook account, teasing a new model of the ZenFone that the company will announce at CES 2015. Using the tagline “See what others can’t see,” ASUS hinted that the device will be camera-focused in some way, and gave a brief look at a shadowed and dark silhouette of the mysterious phone. Now the company is teasing us again…

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ASUS ZenFone being teased in new video leading up to CES 2015

Stephen Hall Dec 22 2014 - 9:43 am PT

ASUS released the first devices part of the ZenFone line at CES in 2014, introducing some Intel-powered smartphones that had a decent amount of horsepower at a reasonable price. This year it looks like the company is ready to refresh its line of phones, and there’s a new video recently posted on the ASUS Facebook page teasing what one of them might look like.

We can’t see much, but there are a few seconds where we can see the light shine through and get a decent look at the back of the device:

In addition to a quick peek at the back, the video shows off what looks to be a dual-camera set up. While it doesn’t look exactly like what appears to be on the back of the device above, there must be a reason that the company let this little image show up in the video for a fraction of a second:

Sadly, besides these couple of images, we don’t really have much to go off. The rest of the video just sports the tagline “See what others can’t see” spread across the screen, followed by the ASUS logo. If you want to see the video for yourself and come to your own conclusions about what ASUS might have in store for us, head over to the company’s Facebook page.

Asus begins selling its first LTE Chromebook for $200 on a two-year Verizon contract

Jordan Kahn Nov 17 2014 - 10:14 am PT

It’s not the first LTE Chromebook, but it’s the first from Asus to offer cellular connectivity with sales of the device quietly kicking off at Best Buy and other retailers late last week. Asus doesn’t appear to have made an official announcement, but an LTE version of the C300 Chromebook variant is now selling through Best Buy according to an announcement sent over from Altair Semiconductor, the company providing the LTE chip for the Chromebook:
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ASUS ZenWatch now available from Google Play for $200

Mark Hearn Nov 14 2014 - 11:15 am PT

After making an appearance at Google Play yesterday, the ASUS ZenWatch is now available to purchase directly from Mountain View for $200 with an estimated warehouse departure time of one to two business days. If you’re unfamiliar with this particular smartwatch, it packs a 1.63-inch 320 x 320 AMOLED display, a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM and is compatible with devices running Android 4.3 or higher.

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ASUS ZenWatch appears on Google Play for $199 after much pricing confusion

Stephen Hall Nov 13 2014 - 11:00 am PT

The ASUS ZenWatch, which appeared to be for sale at Best Buy a couple of days ago at the price of $229.95, now has a page on the Google Play store—and a price of $199. Best Buy has since corrected its mistake, but this new page confirms that the price of the watch will indeed be the lower figure. The device isn’t yet available for purchase, but the Play Store says that it’s “Coming soon.”

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PSA: ZenWatch now available from Best Buy for $229

Stephen Hall Nov 11 2014 - 1:18 pm PT

The ASUS ZenWatch has been one of the more anticipated Android Wear device since its announcement, and today the watch has finally gone on sale at Best Buy. The device can be yours for a cool $229, which is notably $29 more–and 2 days late as it turns out–than was previously speculated.

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Asus ZenWatch launching on November 9th for $200

Mark Hearn Nov 7 2014 - 8:53 am PT

Smartwatches are going to be a hot item this holiday season and just about every major Android hardware partner is looking to have a dog in the fight. Asus will unleash its new Android Wear-power timepiece on the masses on November 9th for $200. Best Buy will reportedly be the first retailer to offer the ZenWatch and Google Play is set to receive it at a later time.

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ASUS releases 3 new apps for its upcoming ZenWatch Android Wear device

Stephen Hall Nov 3 2014 - 7:39 am PT

Much like the five apps that Sony released last week for its SmartBand Talk, ASUS has today launched three apps for its upcoming ZenWatch Android Wear device (via Android Police). It’s kind of unfortunate, really, because Google made an app called “Wear” to do the kinds of things that these apps were made for. But along with Motorola (and the Moto 360), it appears the company has decided that it would rather have complete control over pairing and syncing its smartwatch.

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Android Lollipop coming soon for LG G3 and G2, Asus phones in 2015

Stephen Hall Oct 27 2014 - 7:49 am PT

It was up in the air whether or not the LG G2 would be getting the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, but LG has now taken to Facebook to confirm that the device will be at some point getting the update. The company also made note of the G3, which will supposedly be getting the update faster than most. Asus, yet another manufacturer of Android phones, has also announced some of the devices that it is currently planning to grace with Lollipop, with the ZenFone and PadFoneS making the list.

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ASUS Padfone X Mini coming to AT&T’s prepaid on October 24th for $200

Mark Hearn Oct 15 2014 - 11:26 am PT

Today, AT&T announced that it will sell the ASUS Padfone X Mini through its prepaid GoPhone services starting on October 24th. Priced at $200, the phone/tablet hybrid features a 4.5-inch phone capable of transforming into a 7-inch tablet via its docking station.

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ASUS ZenWatch hands-on and first impressions (Video)

Dom Esposito Sep 3 2014 - 3:19 pm PT

After several teasers over the last couple of weeks, ASUS has officially unveiled its Android Wear-powered ZenWatch. This sleek little smartwatch may be similar to other offerings on the market, but it’s refreshing to see something like this from ASUS…

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