New model: Zenfone Go TV (ZB551KL)

May 14, 2016 Categories: ZB551KL, Zenfone Go TV by 1 Comment

The Zenfone Go series is budget friendly and has a limited availability. Asus surprised many with the release of the Zenfone Go TV which is a smartphone with a TV tuner.

It is 5.5-inches, 1280 x 720 resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 16GB storage, 2GB RAM, microSD card slot and a price tag of around $170 US. The selling point is the Sony SMT-EW100 dogota TV tuner which will pick up DB-T, DB-T2, ISDB-T, and ISDB-tmm signals.

The model is targeted at most countries, with the exception of US and Canada.

Newest Zenfone 2 Laser update removes a lot of bloatware

May 14, 2016 Categories: Android Updates, News, Software Updates by 1 Comment

Software Version: 13.10.6.16_M3.6.44

Release Date: May 11, 2016

Want Android Marshmallow update? Zenfone 2 Laser owners can get it now, plus something else that might be appreciated by some owners.

We personally don’t take issue with pre installed apps, especially when you consider the low price point of the Zenfone smartphones. However if you listen to social media and comment  sections, people really complain about bloatware. Reviews of the Zenfone 2 were quite hard on Asus for the number of pre installed apps. Negative press is never a good thing and it appears since the initial launch of the Zenfone 2 last year, Asus has been slowly reducing those installed apps and allowing users to uninstall a lot of them.

Apps that are removed include: Omlet, Data Transfer, Photo Frame, ASUS Backup, Dr. Safety, What’s Next, Party Link, Remote Link, PC Link, Yahoo Shopping, EZ Ding, TripAdvisor, Zinio, iReader, Dr.Eye, Google+, Puffin Browser, Mirror, ASUS Email, ASUS Calendar, and ASUS Messaging.

Additions include: Google Calendar, Google Messenger, Dr. Booster.

If you were using any of the apps listed above, do not worry. These apps can be downloaded again via the Google Play app store.

This software up does not support APP2SD so you should transfer your apps to internal storage before running this update. Key point, so proceed with caution!

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Asus CEO Jerry Shen outlines in detail the Zenfone 3 rollout

May 12, 2016 Categories: News, Release Date by 0 Comments

Even more big news about the upcoming unveiling of the Zenfone 3 line-up. First, let’s say these details are from Jerry Shen, Asus CEO, which means you can honestly start planning your pre order.

Zenfone 3 models confirmed:

  • Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL)
  • Zenfone 3 Max (ZC552KL) (ZC551KL)
  • Zenfone 3 Deluxe (ZE552ML)

Release date:

  • the new phones will be available in six countries by August. Shen didn’t specify which countries so we will be keeping our eyes out for those details.

Zenfone 3 Prices:

  • $260 to $307 US
  • Asus will compete with Huawei and Oppo in the $300+ US market in China

Processors:

  • 90% of the Zenfone 3 models will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors
  • 10% will be powered by MediaTek processors

Zenfone 3 Max:

  • Sales of the Zenfone 3 Max are hoped to be 2/3 of the total Zenfone 3 shipments

Opinion:

This is fabulous news indeed. According to Asus, their Zenfone 3 line-up will be targeting the mid-range segment. However it does sound like Asus will have one or two models that are in a high price range as well. Price wise, the shift from Intel doesn’t seem that it’s going to mean more expensive Zenfone’s. That is what we are understanding about the shift from Intel in the Zenfone line-up. Shen says the change will not undermine Asus’ gross margin.

 

Zenfone 3 will ship in July according to sources at Digitimes

May 11, 2016 Categories: News, Release Date by 0 Comments

This is something we were hoping for! Asus will be unveiling the new Zenfone 3 models at their May 30th presentation at Computex 2016 but the biggest question was when they would be shipping.

According to Digitimes, an ofter reliable source of Asus information, the Zenfone 3 will start shipping in July. This is a bit early than we expected so this really is some great news.

[source: Digitimes]

Zenvolution is title of Asus Computex 2016 presentation

May 10, 2016 Categories: Computex 2016, News by 0 Comments

It’s not a secret. The Zenfone 3 will be showing up at the big Computex 2016 presentation by Asus. This is scheduled for May 30th, so mark it down on your calendars and add it to your app notifications!

The biggest question coming out of Computex 2016 and the Zenfone 3 is going to be about pre order dates and when you can buy one. Asus will need to break free of their typical delays from Computex shows to shipping their newly announced products. There is going to be other competitors coming in around the same time this summer so Asus needs to be fleet a foot as it were.

We know that Asus will have a number of different Zenfone 3 models available, but it’s a question whether they all get announced or not. For example, the Zenfone 3 Ultra phablet. Will that be shown off at Computex 2016 or will it be a later announcement? The Zenfone Max is quite new still as is the Zenfone Zoom. It’s hard to imagine either of those two models being refreshed already. We will expect though to see a new Zenfone 3 Deluxe which may in fact be a phablet also. There has been some rumors of there being a 5.9-inch Zenfone 3 and the Deluxe model may very well be that one.

Exciting times coming up over the next few weeks. We can’t wait!

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