Archive for ASUS

ASUS will build a Windows Phone, but don’t hold your breath

Windows on ASUS cropped ASUS will build a Windows Phone, but dont hold your breath

ASUS, the famed PC parts manufacturer, is no stranger in the mobile realm. Just this past week it announced the first ever Padfone, which combines a laptop, a tablet, and a smartphone. However they, as well as all of ASUS’s other mobile products, all run on Android. Benson Lin, who is the global head of ASUS’s handheld division, revealed at Mobile World Congress that while the company “will” produce a Windows Phone device, it will be a while yet.

“[In] All of our spec, panel, storage, even design we can compete. I think we are strong to be able to compete in the market, and we have something different, we have the PadStation [a.k.a. Padphone]. In the beginning our strategy is to focus and focus and focus…When the time comes we will [produce a Windows Phone device.]“

The way I’m reading this, it sounds as if the company plans to produce a Windows Phone Padfone once it’s worked out the kinks with the Android version-which would make complete sense, especially with the rapidly approaching advent of Windows 8. A Windows Phone, which docks into a Windows tablet, which transforms into a Windows 8 PC? Sounds like the best thing since 64-bit processors to me.

The tech industry has long been expecting an ASUS Windows Phone, as ASUS was among the first early adopters, building the Microsoft preview handset for developers. Unfortunately when Windows Phone 7 launched back in 2010, no dice. Since then we have seen every rumor imaginable-it’s coming out soon, it’s already out, it never really existed, or perhaps we’ll see a Windows 8 device. So, sit tight and get comfortable, this could take a while.

[Pocket-lint]

The Padfone: it’s a phone, it’s a tablet, and it’s a netbook

Padfone stylus The Padfone: its a phone, its a tablet, and its a netbook

The ASUS Padfone has gone through a number of transformations and rumors, but the fog has now lifted and before us is one awesome device. The core of the Padfone is an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) smartphone, and a premium one at that. The Padfone has a 4.3-inch qHD screen, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, and an 8MP rear camera. The fairly obvious unique trait here is the ability for the “fone” to dock in the “Pad,” giving you two devices on one processor, but more importantly on one SIM card/contract.

All the expected trimmings are in place, sans NFC and LTE. The fone will be HSPA+, good for up to 42Mbps. There are two more numbers here which are rather awe-inspiring. First, internal storage in the fone starts at 16GB—respectable—but tops out at a massive 64GB-to say nothing of the microSD slot. The second impressive number is the battery. The fone has a 1,520mAh battery by itself, but the Pad adds another 6547mAh battery for some serious all-day geekery.

The Pad is fairly standard fare with 10.1-inches of screen, 1280 x 800 pixels, and a 1.3MP front camera. Some additional antennas, speakers, and vibration sensors are also thrown in just for kicks.

The keyboard dock appears to be pretty much identical to the one for the Transformer series, nothing special there. The bigger news is the fourth player nobody was expecting. ASUS took the wraps off of an unnamed capacitive stylus that doubles as a Bluetooth headset, allowing you to answer calls with your pen while your fone is docked. James Bond would approve.

[Engadget via AndroidAuthority]

Acer M310 and ASUS handsets spotted at Tech·Ed

TechEd New Zealand Acer M310 and ASUS handsets spotted at Tech·Ed

Two new Windows Phone Mango handsets were spotted at Tech·Ed 2011 this week. The event, which was held in Auckland, New Zealand, included appearances from the Acer M310 and an untitled ASUS phone. Details on the latter handset are scare, but the former looks like it might include something new for Windows Phone: HDMI out.

The Acer M310, which appeared to be final hardware, sported a shiny black casing with beveled edges. Those who remember the Acer W4 from Computex this year will recognize the style. Prospective owners can look forward to 8GB of storage, DLNA over WiFi, and HDMI out.

The ASUS device went with the opposite look: a matte black finish with a front-facing camera. The hardware, however, didn’t appear to be final. It may have been an engineering sample running “non-final code.”

Windows Phone NZ has since redacted most of the details, but it’s exciting to learn any information we can get about the second generation of Windows Phone handsets.

[Windows Phone NZ]