ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom vs Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Thinking to buy a new Phone? Check these new  Smartphones.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL)

	Apple iPhone 7 Plus
5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, 401ppi	5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 401ppi, 3D Touch
Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Ion-strengthened glass
2.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core CPU	2.34GHz Apple A10 Fusion quad-core CPU
Adreno 506 GPU	PowerVR Series7XT Plus GPU
4GB RAM	3GB RAM
32GB, 64GB, 128GB storage	32GB, 128GB, 256GB storage
Up to 2TB via microSD (uses SIM 2)	N/A
12MP Sony IMX362 TriTech+ AF rear camera w/ dual-tone flash	12MP PDAF rear camera w/ Quad-LED flash
f/1.7 aperture, OIS, EIS, 4K UHD video	f/1.8 aperture, IS, 4K video
12MP zoom rear camera, 2.3x optical zoom	12MP wide-angle and telephoto rear camera, 2x optical zoom, f/2.8 aperture
13MP Sony IMX214 front camera w/ screen flash	7MP front camera, screen flash, f/2.2 aperture
Dual-SIM	Single-SIM
4G LTE Cat6	4G LTE Cat12
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n	WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 4.2
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, A-GPS
5-magnet speakers w/ NXP Smart Amp	IP67 certified (water and dust resistant)
Dual internal mic w/ ASUS Noise Reduction Technology	NFC (Apple Pay)
Fingerprint reader	Fingerprint reader
IR sensor, Gyroscope, RGB Sensor	Gyroscope, Barometer, Digital compass, iBeacon microlocation
USB Type-C	Lightning Port
Android 6.0 Marshmallow w/ ZenUI 3.0	iOS 10
5,000mAh non-removable battery w/ Reverse Charging	2,900mAh non-removable battery
154.3 x 77 x 7.99 mm	158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm
170 g	188 g
Navy Black, Glacier Silver, Rose Gold	Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold

Summary of advantages
ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL):
* Bigger RAM
* 64GB variant
* Dual-SIM
* microSD card support
* Larger aperture for rear camera
* Laser AF, Subject-Tracking AF
* Slightly higher optical zoom
* Higher front camera resolution
* Bigger battery
* Lighter
Apple iPhone 7 Plus:
* 3D Touch
* 256GB variant
* IP67-certified body
* NFC (Apple Pay)
* Thinner
Based on the comparison above, the Zenfone 3 Zoom scored more advantages over the iPhone 7 Plus. Some of its best features over Apple’s offering are dual-SIM or single-SIM with microSD, and despite the larger 5,000mAh battery, it’s lighter.
The iPhone 7 Plus has winning features as well which include the 256GB model for multimedia-heavy users and the water and dust-resistance body.
As for the price, the ZenFone 3 Zoom is expected to cost under Php20K, which is more affordable compared to the iPhone 7 Plus which starts at Php44,990. This makes the former a more attractive offering for the PH market.

ASUS GeForce® GTX 750 Ti OC edition performance graphics

• 1202 MHz boost clock for up to 7.7% faster game performance.
• DirectCU II with 0dB fan technologylets you enjoy light games in complete silence, and hardcore gaming 58% cooler with 3X-quieter performance.
• Premium alloys in powerdelivery components defeat heat for cards that run 15% faster and last 2.5 times longer than reference.
• G-syncsupports to deliver the smoothest and fastest faming experience by synchronizing display refresh rates to the GPU, eliminating screen tearing and minimizing display stutter and input lag.
• GPU Tweakhelps you modify clock speeds, voltages, fan performance and more, all via an intuitive interface.
• GPU Tweak Streamingshare on-screen action in real time – so others can watch live as games are played. 

Source: Asus Philippines

Asus launches ZenWatch 2, ZenPad tablets and Snapdragon powered ZenFones

At the ongoing Computex 2015 conference in Taiwan, Asus is having a busy time as it has launched multiple new products ranging from wearables to tablets under its Zen brand.
The new smartphones include the ZenFone Selfie and three new variants of the ZenFone 2. As the name suggests the ZenFone Selfie specializes in self portraits using its 13 megapixel front facing camera. The device looks similar to the recently launched ZenFone 2 smartphones but features a few under the hood changes, biggest of which is the inclusion of a Snapdragon 615 processor unlike the Intel Atom chips on all other ZenFones to date.
Asus further expanded the ZenFone 2 lineup with three other Snapdragon-powered smartphones coming in three different screen sizes: 5, 5.5 and 6 inches. The biggest smartphone of the series comes with an octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor while the other two feature a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor. The company already has over 8 different models of the ZenFone 2 on sale in many countries so it is unclear where the new ones will be made available. The pricing is expected to be under $399 for all the devices.

 The successor to last year's ZenWatch was also announced during the event with a refined design and running on the latest Android Wear operating system. It has been revealed that the ZenWatch 2 will come in two different sizes at launch with more to be added soon.

Asus also launched four tablets in the ZenPad series which include the ZenPad 7.0, 8.0, S 8.0 and 10.1. The S 8.0 comes with an optional stylus while the 10.1 comes with a detachable keyboard option. The ZenPad S 8.0 is the high-end offering from the company and comes with a Quad HD screen, a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 and 4GB of RAM. All the tablets will come in 16GB/32GB storage options and connectivity options such as 3G, LTE and Wi-Fi.
Other products that were announced during Computex by Asus include the AiO series of PCs and the ProArt Ultra HD monitor.

Source: Asus/ Images: Asus

Asus ZenWatch 2 Looks Like Apple Watch, Runs Android

Asus unveiled a whole slew of devices June 1 at the Computex trade show, including tablets, a smartphone and all-in-one, but the company was surprisingly quiet about its most interesting new product. Without any fanfare, Asus unwrapped its ZenWatch 2, an attractive, Apple Watch-esque follow-up to last year's Android Wear-based ZenWatch. No price or availability has been shared, but a rep told me the device will be launched at IFA 2015 in Berlin later this year, and that more details on software and price will be announced then.

Dozens of ZenWatch 2 devices were on display at the show, with a wide range of pleasant-looking bands including gold and silver metallic straps and bright red or pastel blue rubbery ones. The new wearable will now come in stainless steel cases of two sizes (49 x 41mm and 45 x 37mm), just like the Apple Watch, and each case will be available in Silver, Gunmetal and Rose Gold. I really liked the dainty look of the smaller watch face.

Asus will also offer 9 bands for each watch size, made of rubber, leather or metal in various colors. I put on a ZenWatch 2 with the larger face and a silver metal bracelet that's reminiscent of the Apple Watch's Milanese Loop band, although the Asus was noticeably lighter on my wrist.

The units on display were running a video loop of Android Wear functions, and Asus says the device will come with the latest version of Google's wearable OS. That likely means the watch will support Wi-Fi and gesture navigation. I enjoyed looking at the colorful cards in the demo, thanks to the watch's Gorilla Glass AMOLED display.

The ZenWatch 2 will be integrated with the company's Zen UI, which adds tools such as Remote Camera to control your smartphone's shooter and a Wellness app. The Remote Camera has been enhanced from the version on the original ZenWatch, while the Wellness smartphone app has been redesigned. Wellness lets you see all the data tracked by the ZenWatch's sensors, such as the heart rate monitor. 

Asus made a new magnetic charging cable for the ZenWatch 2, so you don't have to carry around a charging cable like the one for its predecessor. The new ZenWatch is also IP67 water-resistant.

A rep told me that the ZenWatch 2's hardware is pretty much ready, and that more software details will be released at IFA. We'll be covering the news from Germany, so stay tuned.

Source: Yahoo Tech

Microsoft shows Windows 10 at Computex

On Wednesday during its keynote address at the Taipei International Convention Center, Microsoft showcased the improvements its next operating system will bring to existing computers and offered a sneak peek at some of the new devices inspired by its capabilities that are in the pipeline.

Windows 10 becomes available for free download on July 29, and Microsoft has made no secret of its ultimate aim to get 1 billion devices using the operating system before the end of the decade -- a goal reiterated by the company's corporate vice president OEM division, Nick Parker, when he took to the stage.

In an increasingly digital and increasingly mobile age, Microsoft believes that a renewed focus on the individual -- i.e., a return to the 'personal' in PC, an apps ecosystem that is inclusive rather than exclusive, and on-going upgrades and improvements will be key. New types of devices with Windows at their core are also part of the plan.

"Our device partners continue to push the envelope of innovation, developing stunning PCs that are sure to delight customers," said Parker, who also showcased a number of new Windows-powered devices during his presentation.

They included a new Dell notebook, the XPS 15, which boasts an almost bezel-free display, and the latest in the Asus Transformer Book series of 2-in-1 laptops which now offers a 14-hour battery life.

A new take on the 2-in-1 from HP called the X2 was also on show featuring a clever magnetic hinge design for detaching the keyboard and converting the device into a tablet and offering native support for a stylus.

In all, 96 new devices are in the pipeline for launch before the end of 2015 and as well as computers that are about to go on sale, Microsoft also demoed two never-before-seen devices boasting new form factors but with no confirmed release dates.

An ultra-portable desktop from FoxConn called the Kangaroo has an integrated fingerprint scanner and when connected, turns a television into a full PC. And a mini-PC integrated into a power adaptor called the Compute Plug and developed by Quanta plugs into a television's HDMI port and enables users to control the set via voice commands, a remote control or wireless keyboard.

ASUS Announces the Fastest USB 3.1 solutions for Motherboards

ASUS announced the world’s fastest and first complete line-up of SuperSpeed+ USB 3.1 solutions, including a range of motherboards with built-in USB 3.1 and two ASUS USB 3.1 Cards. The latter are the new PCI Express® (PCIe®) expansion card with either dual Type-A sockets or reversible Type-C, that fits quickly and easily to bring breakneck speeds to existing PCs.

The ASUS USB 3.1 Type-A Card (Dual)

Joe Hsieh, ASUS Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Motherboard and Desktop System Business Unit, said: “As the world’s number-one motherboard brand, we lead by providing the very latest technology for ASUS customers to enjoy. We worked closely with ASMedia Technology Inc to maximize USB 3.1 performance on both ASUS motherboards and our USB 3.1 Card products, ensuring that ASUS customers enjoy the very fastest data transfers from the new standard — and before anyone else!” ASUS motherboards with dual 10Gbit/s USB 3.1 sockets and 2X-faster performance Twelve ASUS motherboards have dual Type-A USB 3.1 ports built in for instant 10Gbit/s connectivity. Products with two USB 3.1 sockets onboard are signified with a ‘/USB 3.1’ suffix and include X99-Pro/USB 3.1, X99-A/USB 3.1 (Transfer Express), X99-A/USB 3.1, X99-E WS/USB 3.1, Z97-Deluxe/USB 3.1, Z97-Pro (Wi-Fi ac)/USB 3.1, Z97-A/USB 3.1, Z97-E/USB 3.1, Z97-K/USB3.1, Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1, B85M-G Plus/USB 3.1 and B85-Plus/USB 3.1. Easy-fit ASUS USB 3.1 Card with dual Type-A ports or reversible Type-C The ASUS USB 3.1 Card is the world’s first USB 3.1 expansion card that fits swiftly into any PCIe x4, x8 or x16 slot to accelerate existing PCs to deliver lightning-speed transfers of up to 10Gbit/s. Available in two models, with either dual Type-A sockets or reversible Type-C, the new PCIe card is compatible immediately with all ASUS X99 and Z97 chipset-based motherboards and will be compatible soon with more ASUS motherboards via a simple BIOS and driver update. The USB 3.1 Type-A Card (Dual) is also included with two new motherboard bundles with a ‘/U3.1’ suffix — Rampage V Extreme/U3.1 and X99-Deluxe/U3.1 — preconfigured and ready to go. Both USB 3.1 PCIe cards are available to purchase individually. Exclusive ASUS USB 3.1 Boost for fastest-ever USB 3.1 data transfers All ASUS USB 3.1 solutions include the ASUS USB 3.1 Boost utility for the very fastest USB 3.1 data transfers. This ASUS-exclusive technology automatically pushes USB 3.1 performance even further, with sustained sequential read/write speeds of up to speeds of up to 854.6/863.9MB/s — figures achieved by ASUS engineers in our own labs. SPECIFICATIONS1 ASUS USB 3.1 Type-A Card (Dual) ASUS USB 3.1 Type-C Card (Single) Two Type-A 10Gbit/s USB 3.1 ports Backwardly compatible with USB 3.0/2.0/1.1 PCI Express 2.0 x4 interface (at x2 bandwidth) Compatible with PCI Express x4, x8, and x16 slots Windows 8, 8.1 and 7 (32/64-bit editions) Supports ASUS USB 3.1 Boost Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.9cm One Type-C 10Gbit/s USB 3.1 port PCI Express 2.0 x4 interface (at x2 bandwidth) Compatible with PCI Express x4, x8, and x16 slots Windows 8, 8.1 and 7 (32/64-bit editions) Supports ASUS USB 3.1 Boost Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.9cm ASUS USB 3.1 motherboard line-up* Full specifications are available at www.asus.com

PROLiNK releases new Power Series Online UPS Models

PROLiNK, a leader in the field and a quality provider of power back up solutions, has launched additional power back up solutions designed to cater for large companies and data centers.

The Power Series true on-line double-conversion technology UPS system, the latest in the range, comes with state-of-the-art PWM technology which can easily adapt to all kinds of diverse and complicated loads, such as the non-linear systems, strongly inductive or capacitive loads, discharge lamps, and induction motors.

With an advanced control with adaptive feed forward cancellation (AFC) technology to achieve extremely low input current harmonic distortion rat THDi < 1% at full load. Coupled with a DSP controller and the fourth generation IGBT transistors, the UPS can achieve high efficiency of up to 95%.

The Power Series UPS is a unit with high flexibility in adapting inputs and output and may easily be set up depending on the requirement of the facility. To facilitate expansion easily, this unit can be set up in parallel redundancy systems without any need for additional hardware. The Power Series also has a variety of communications and options available.

Each On-Line UPS unit features true on-line double-conversion technology and supports wide input voltage ranges. The smart battery charger design also ensures optimized battery performance. High voltage battery chargers and battery extension assembly is available for the long run time application.

With high input power factor correction, high output power factor, generator compatibility and an easy to use LCD user interface, the PROLiNK On-Line UPS models are both user-friendly with features made with their end-users in mind.

All the units are quality tested and verified by PROLiNK engineers to ensure you get the best power solutions available in the market.

For quality power backup recommendations and solutions within the Philippines, customers can approach PROLiNK’s local authorized distributor Redwood Ventures. They can be contacted at sales@redwood.ph / +632 621-4671/72.

Home automation and music set to be the main new features of iOS 9

At the Apple WWDC, taking place June 8-12, developers will get a chance to discover the newest features for Mac OS and iOS. The latest mobile operating system is expected to highlight home automation and offer, for the first time, split-screen support.

According to 9to5mac.com, Apple first wanted to improve the stability and optimize the performance of its mobile operating system before introducing new features.
An app for home automation
Some new features should nonetheless appear, starting with the massive HomeKit platform that should transform the iPhone or iPad into a genuine remote control for your home through the use of the Home app. Just as Health collects all health related data, Home will combine all the data related to HomeKit certified connected objects in the home, from simple lightbulbs to more complex systems.
Other rumors abound regarding the introduction of split-screen support, the ability to have two separate apps (or more) open side by side, in a 1/2, 1/3 or 2/3 ratio depending on the app. iOS 9 could also allow for the creation of multiple users (parents/children for example) on the same device.
What is clear is that certain programs will benefit from improvements, such as Maps. Thanks to Apple's acquisition of Coherent Navigation, the app should at the very least provide much more precise GPS positioning, to the tune of a few centimeters, while waiting for other related projects.
Discover Apple Music
The other definite is Apple's new music streaming service, developed in collaboration with Beats, a highly anticipated addition to iOS 9. Most likely to be called Apple Music, the service should be directly integrated into the Music app and include social features that would be available to artists. Though it would come as standard on all iOS 9 devices, Apple Music would require a subscription.
As with every new generation of iOS, it is possible that certain devices, like the iPhone 4S or the iPad 2, not be compatible with the new iteration.
Following Apple's usual release schedule, the launch of iOS 9 should occur in the fall, at the same time as the release of the new iPhone and a bit before the presentation of a new line of iPads.
The WWDC in San Francisco can be followed online from its dedicated site, developer.apple.com/wwdc, live from June 8-12, 2015.


Credits: Yahoo

Oppo Mirror 3 with Sony sensor now available in PH

Scoot over, Meizu. As it turns out, another Chinese smartphone is making the rounds today, following the announcement of the price and release date of the Meizu MX4 Pro in the Philippine market. This time, we’re shining the spotlight on the Oppo Mirror 3, which became official just a few weeks ago.

But while last year’s Oppo N3 and R5 caught our attention with their motorized rotating camera and “world’s thinnest smartphone” title (for a brief period), respectively, by contrast, the Mirror 3 seems to be a strictly mid-tier affair.

That’s not to say it isn’t worth the trouble, as it does come with a future-proof Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor capable of 64-bit computing, along with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage.

Of course, the Mirror 3’s main draw, according to Oppo, is still its 8-megapixel main camera, which is powered by a Sony IMX179 Backside Illuminated sensor, the size of which is 1/3.2 inches. Take note also that the sensor has a pixel size of 1.4μm and a F/2.0 aperture.

Rounding out the key specs are a 4.7-inch, 720p IPS display for a pixel density of 312 dots per inch, a 5-megapixel selfie camera, and a 2,000mAh battery. 

 

 

 

We’re assuming the Oppo Mirror 3’s namesake comes from its rather shiny rear cover, which may appeal to some but turn off others. It actually reminds us of Samsung’s early designs, before the Korean company’s shift to synthetic leather.

The Oppo Mirror 3 retails for P10,990 and is now available in Philippine stores.

Specs of the Oppo Mirror 3
 (Price in the Philippines: P10,990):
* Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor
* 1GB RAM
* 8GB internal storage
* microSD card slot
* 4.7-inch IPS display (720 x 1,280 resolution)
* 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
* 
5-megapixel front camera
* 2,000mAh battery
* Android KitKat

Source : Yahoo Tech

 

 

 

Blackberry launches new secure tablet

Seeking to extend its range of secure mobile devices, BlackBerry Ltd said on Saturday it was launching a high-security tablet, developed with International Business Machines Corp and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

The SecuTABLET, based on Samsung's Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and being presented by BlackBerry unit Secusmart at tech fair CeBIT 2015 in Germany, reflects the Canadian company's stress on secure connections for governments and businesses as it seeks to preserve a niche market after a drubbing in recent years at the hands of emerging smartphone makers such as Apple Inc.

“Security is ingrained in every part of BlackBerry’s portfolio, which includes voice and data encryption solutions,” said Dr. Hans-Christoph Quelle, chief executive officer of Secusmart GmbH, in a statement on the new device.

The device was undergoing certification by the German Federal Office for Information Security for secure rating, the statement said, adding that the new tablet used the same security technology as the Secusmart Security Card.

"Working alongside IBM and Samsung, we have added the last link in the chain of the Federal Security Network. Subject to certification of the SecuTABLET, German government agencies will have a new way to access BlackBerry’s most secure and complete communications network in the world,” Quelle said.

Source: msn.com