Well, isn't this odd? ASUS' mystery K009 tablet surfaced at the FCC with hints of a Snapdragon S4 Pro inside, but the 7-inch slate just received a Bluetooth SIG certification with marketing copy that suggests there's a Snapdragon 600 instead. We don't know whether this hints at a quiet upgrade, a variant or merely some confusion, although we're keeping our fingers crossed for a speedup. The filing may have also shown the K009's appearance, if barely -- a miniscule photo points to styling like that of the Nexus 7 or the MeMo Pad series. While the tablet isn't any closer to release without evidence of a ship date, it's less likely to catch us off-guard.

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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Via: Android Central

Source: Bluetooth SIG

Earlier rumors about a Qualcomm-powered second-generation Nexus 7 tablet successor from ASUS could be right on the money, if a recent FCC listing holds water. A certain "ASUS Pad" model number K009 just cleared the US testing site packing a Qualcomm APQ-8064 S4 Pro quad-core, 1.5GHz processor with Adreno graphics, front and rear cameras, 4,000 mAh Li-ion battery and LTE radios. Though no screen size is listed, the battery spec points to a 7-inch model -- the Nexus 10 has a 9,000 mAh battery, for instance. On the other hand, a rear camera, like the 5-megapixel model shown above, would be a refreshing addition to the Nexus 7, which sorely lacks in that department. Most intriguingly, ASUS listed the model as a Nexus "for marketing purpose(s)" -- though another K008 model also set the Nexus grapevine aflame when it hit the Bluetooth SIG, meaning skepticism should rule until we hear it from the horse's mouth.

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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Via: Notebook Italia

Source: FCC

It's only been a few days since we first laid eyes on that newly introduced ASUS ViVoPC, but the Taiwanese company kept details short back at Computex, leaving us with the desire to learn a little more about the device. The good news is ASUS has just posted a spec sheet on its website, which lets us (and you) know that its mini PC will have a number of customizable options. Aside from being 802.11ac- and Windows 8-ready, the diminutive ViVoPC can be loaded with an Intel processor (presumably a shiny new Haswell), a maximum of 16GB RAM and your preference of either a HDD or SSD. There are also two USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet and integrated speakers, which ASUS is dubbing SonicMaster. Mum's the word on pricing and availability, but we'll let you know as soon as we come across those specifics.

Gallery: ASUS ViVoPC

Filed under: Desktops, ASUS

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Source: ASUS

We've been hearing mumblings that the next version of Android will get a new Bluetooth stack with v4.0 Low Energy (LE) goodness for a while now. That, at least, explains why the Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus have been re-sent through the Bluetooth SIG in order to gain approval for the newer standard. What's less clear is what the ASUS K008, an apparently new 7-inch slate from the company, is doing supporting v4.0 LE. Our dour belief is that ASUS is merely future-proofing its forthcoming MeMo Pad HD 7, but perhaps "K008" is optimistic latin for "second-generation Nexus 7 with Android 4.3."

Filed under: Wireless, ASUS

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Via: Android Community, PocketNow

Source: Bluetooth SIG, (2)

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile

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Intel used this year's Computex to officially debut Haswell-based Core processors, and it had no shortage of willing launch partners: seemingly everyone had at least one updated PC to reveal. The refinements to battery life and graphics also led to quite a few companies pushing the boundaries, whether it was in cutting-edge screens or exotic form factors. Quite frankly, there was a lot to cope with in several days -- enough so that we're putting the more important Haswell offerings in one convenient roundup. Read on for our look at the desktops, laptops and tablets that launched in sync with Taiwan's premier tech event.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Sony, ASUS, Dell, Acer

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This year's Computex certainly didn't come and go quietly. From a 6.5-magnitude earthquake shortly after landing in Taipei to tons of tablets, smartphones, Haswell systems and more peripherals than you can shake a Taiwan dollar at, this has been one whirlwind week of hot and humid adventure. Unlike other shows abroad, this country's massive computer exhibition is only growing in importance, as more manufacturers from both East and West choose to announce products and services here in the Republic of China.

The week was filled with unveilings both revolutionary and evolutionary -- from quirky to crucial, there was a lot to take in. You'll find many of our show picks at our Computex 2013 event page; there are dozens upon dozens of articles, hands-on videos and photo galleries to sift through, so set aside some time over the weekend and dig on in. We've also rounded up links to each and every related post after the break -- click on through for all that and more.

Gallery: Computex 2013 wrap-up

Filed under: Announcements, Desktops, Displays, Household, Laptops, Peripherals, Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, Sony, Microsoft, ASUS, Intel, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, NVIDIA

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Even after its press events earlier this week, ASUS still had something up its sleeve for Computex. At a Qualcomm keynote just now, ASUS CEO Jerry Shen took the opportunity to tease an unannounced Android tablet, which is due Q3 this year. Given that it was a Qualcomm event, it was no surprise that the exec confirmed the presence of a Snapdragon chip along with LTE radio on this mysterious slate.

Shen also mentioned a full HD display, and given the similar appearance but with a different port layout, we are led to believe that this device will simply be an LTE variant of the new MeMo Pad FHD 10 sans Intel Atom. This could even turn out to be the K005 that we saw in the FCC database, as the MeMo Pad FHD 10 carries the K00A model number. Anyhow, here's Shen's full speech about the tablet:

"In Q3 of this year, we will raise the bar of mobile devices by launching an incredible LTE tablet, which will have Qualcomm Snapdragon, full HD display and ASUS SonicMaster to bring our consumers the most superior and seamless mobile experience. I will save the rest for our launch event in the fall."

Update: ASUS just confirmed to us that the tablet is conveniently called the MeMo Pad FHD 10 LTE. What a mouthful!

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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For once, we were offered some nicely specific pricing for ASUS' incoming MeMo Pad HD 7 (namely $129 for the 8GB model and $149 for the 16GB option), but were left wanting on any sort of release date. Fortunately, ASUS' UK branch has told us to expect the colorful Nexus 7 doppelgänger this August. As mentioned during the company's Computex reveal, the smaller, cheaper iteration is geared towards developing markets and it looks like ASUS is sticking with that -- only the 16GB model will go on sale in the British Isles, priced at £149.

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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Even if you just skim our Computex coverage, you'll quickly see there's a theme tying it all together: displays. Super-high-resolution displays. It's true of every company we've seen, really, but moving beyond 1080p seems especially important to ASUS. So far, the firm has shown off a pair of 4K displays, along with its first 2,560 x 1,600 tablet. Now, it's unveiling its first all-in-one desktop with QHD resolution. That would be the ET2702, which comes standard with a 27-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 IPS screen. Though we admittedly only spent a few moments with it, we noticed the colors held up even under the glare of the harsh lighting in Taipei's Nangang Exhibition Center. We were also taken with the design, which includes an edge-to-edge glass display layered over a long speaker grille. There are some other modern touches, too, like white LED lights, a matte aluminum pedestal and a metal mouse to match. Speaking of that mouse, it's one of the nicer ones we've seen tossed in with an all-in-one: aside from the quality build materials, it has a touch strip providing haptic feedback. The included keyboard is well-spaced and easy to type on as well.

In the US, at least, there will be just one configuration to start, with key specs including: a Core i7-4770 processor, a 2GB AMD Radeon HD 8890A GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 2TB hard drive, 802.11ac and a Blu-ray drive. It'll arrive in either late July or early August, we're told, with a price around $2,000, if not slightly less. For a closer look, we've got hands-on photos below and a short walkthrough video after the break.

Gallery: ASUS ET2702 all-in-one hands-on

Filed under: Desktops, ASUS

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After winning yesterday's Corsair Overclocking competition at Computex, the same folks were brought over to ASUS' ROG event earlier today, where they overclocked an Intel Haswell Core i7-4770K from its typical 3.5GHz to a staggering 6.88GHz -- just a tad less than yesterday's 6.98GHz -- on an ASUS Maximus VI Extreme motherboard. As a bonus, the DRAM frequency was also pushed to 4.1GHz, which is believed to be the fastest yet on Haswell. As usual, the overclockers poured liquid nitrogen onto the chip every now and then to keep it cool, thus giving us the above photo opportunity.

Gallery: Visualized: Intel's Haswell Core i7 overclocked to 6.88GHz on an ASUS motherboard

Filed under: Desktops, ASUS, Intel

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We came to ASUS' Computex booth to see the new 4K monitors, but it turns out the company had a lot of other (albeit slightly less exciting) models on display too. First up (starting with the stuff you can actually buy), the company is showing off a 15-inch USB-powered monitor -- a first for ASUS. In fact, the company has teased this guy before, but with a lower-res 1,366 x 768 display. Now, we're told a 1080p version is also on the way, with the 1,366 x 768 one coming in July for $159, and the full HD model shipping in August for around $209. Either way, you get a matte, anti-glare panel, and the whole thing weighs in at less than 800g (1.8 pounds). And, as is customary for monitors like this, it comes with a carrying case that doubles as a stand.

Moving on, we saw two touchscreen monitors (one 19.5 inches, the other 23.6), both of which have 1080p screens -- and some fairly thick bezels. The big differences, so far as we can tell, are that the bigger version has an HDMI panel and IPS, whereas the smaller guy makes do with a lowlier TN panel. No word on price, or even whether this will go on sale in the US, though an ASUS rep did confirm it'll reach select markets sometime in Q4. Wrapping up, ASUS also outed a tri-panel gaming setup, with three 27-inch, 1080p IPS displays. In particular, the company is touting the skinny bezels. Are they skinny enough not to distract gamers, though? Check out our hands-on photos and judge for yourself.

Filed under: Displays, ASUS

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ASUS cannot get enough of Computex, and today its PC gaming arm is rolling out some high powered new kit. This is the Poseidon Formula 1, housing the apex of ROG's gaming hardware know-how and brandishing its new Poseidon GTX 700 series GPU. It pairs NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 700 graphics series with a hybrid cooling system, with ASUS' CoolTech combing blower and axial fans into one design, forcing air over the heatsink in multiple directions. Augmenting this is a liquid cooling system that ROG promises can reduce operating temperatures by up to 31 degrees Celsius, likely ensuring some impressive overclocking feats. The system is built upon ROG's new Maximus VI motherboard that packs even more thermal cooling assistance, as well as the company's SupremeFX audio card which will give gamers 120dB headphone output with a 600 Ohm headphone amplifier to improve volume and clarity. If that didn't quite satisfy your thirst for specs, check out the slide show below and the press release after the break.

Richard Lai contributed to this report.

Gallery: ASUS ROG Poseidon GFX and Formula 1

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, ASUS

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ASUS' ROG presentation here at Computex wasn't all meaty graphic powerhouses -- it also displayed a new mechanical keyboard for discerning typists gamers, albeit underneath a piece of black cloth. We were told that the temporarily named "Armor Keyboard" wasn't quite ready to show off its design just yet, but when it comes out towards the end of Q3 this year it will, surprisingly, boast the title of ASUS' first in-house-designed mechanical gaming keyboard. As you'd expect, this backlit device will feature "ultra-responsive" mechanical key switches, as well as dedicated media and programmable hot keys located along the periphery. We'll be keeping an eye out for more information about it later this year, naturally.

Richard Lai contributed to this report.

Gallery: ASUS ROG 'Armor Keyboard' at Computex 2013

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Peripherals, ASUS

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Yeah, we want one too. Here at Computex, ASUS is showing off its new 31.5-inch 4K monitor, which we just learned will cost $3,799. (Oh come now, don't get all sticker-shocked on us.) The photos below speak for themselves, really, but suffice to say, the combination of that 3,840 x 2,160, 140-ppi panel and that matte, anti-glare finish make for some stunning images. And because the bezels are so thin, photos more or less extend from one end of the screen, uninterrupted. Still think you'll have room to spare after taking into account this monitor's big footprint? ASUS is also prepping a 39-inch version with mostly the same specs (except for pixel density, obviously). We've got pictures of that guy too, though we still don't know how much it'll cost. Look for the 31.5-inch model to ship in June, with its big brother following sometime in Q3. And if a $3,800 monitor isn't in the cards, well, that's what hands-on galleries are for.

Gallery: Eyes-on with ASUS's 4K monitors at Computex 2013

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Filed under: Displays, ASUS

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ASUS ROG has finally gone official with its new gaming rig. The ROG G750 ties together one of NVIDIA's latest mobile graphics card (on stage, it was the GeForce GTX 765M) with a stylish brushed aluminium keyboard surround. Since its last gaming laptops, ROG has added an amplifier within the headphone socket to really crank up in-game sound effects and music. It'll pack in 4th generation Intel Core i7 processors, while the backlit keyboard includes a gamer-friendly isolated arrow key cluster and large multi-point touchpad. We've added an official press shot and some close-up slides below.

Richard Lai contributed to this report.

Gallery: ASUS ROG G750 gaming laptop announced

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops, ASUS

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You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Most would agree that motherboards aren't particularly exciting components, so it's good to have a hook to stand out. ASUS' new Z87 mobo series for Intel's Haswell chips may not be waterproof, but the Deluxe / Dual model has plenty to offer nonetheless, including two Thunderbolt ports, on-board 802.11ac WiFi support, ASUS' "4-Way Optimization" tech and more. What really got our eyebrows lifting at this specific board, however, was the new NFC Express accessory that comes bundled with it (you'll also be able to purchase one separately). It's not just your standard USB-connected NFC reader and writer, as it has features like automatic photo and video syncing with mobile devices, one-touch Windows 8 login, and quick-launch options for loading software or sites with a tap. An NFC tag is included, but you'll need an equipped smartphone for some of the functions, like quick-pairing in ASUS' Wi-Fi GO! utility for remote desktopping. If you're not a big NFC user (and let's be honest, who is?), then at least the little box's got two USB 3.0 ports, meaning you're still getting a free, if not overqualified USB hub.

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals, Wireless, ASUS

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Via: Fareastgizmos

Source: ASUS (1), (2)

Some of ASUS' big Computex 2013 launches today involved the latest 802.11ac WiFi flavor, and since you'll need to feed them with a router packing the same tech, ASUS has also announced one of those: the RT-AC68U. The company claims it's the first dual-band 802.11ac router with AC1900 data rates up to 1900 Mbit/s, thanks to AiRadar beamforming, which helps bring a stronger connection and 150 percent better range, too (if accurate). You'll also be able to share files between ASUS routers with USB-attached drives thanks to a router-to-router sync mode, negating the need for a switched-on PC or other device. There's no word on pricing or availability, but the previous RT-AC66U flagship ran about $200 or so -- so we'd be surprised if it came in under that figure.

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless, ASUS

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It's fair to say that Haswell doesn't do much for desktop enthusiasts -- a few percentage points of compute performance perhaps, but nothing like the major improvements for mobile SKUs and integrated graphics. Nevertheless, those questing after every extra FLOP probably ought to take note that ASUS is about to bring out a Haswell-equipped version of its ROG TYTAN desktop. We have no pricing or availability yet, just an official video that popped up on ASUS's official YouTube channel during the weekend. It promises a water-cooled Core i7-4770K with one-button overclocking to 4.1GHz, alongside an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680. That choice for graphics seems a bit strange, given the launch of the GTX 770 and 780 last week -- but it's possible the spec will be updated, or that more expensive options will have the newer cards. We won't know either way until ASUS puts out some info pricing and availability, and we'll update this post if that happens.

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, ASUS

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Source: ASUS (YouTube)

ASUS is joining the big smartphone / tablet / don't call it a phablet fight, and its first salvo is the 6-inch FonePad Note FHD 6. We don't have to tell you that it's big, and that it stretched the limits of our hands when we briefly played with it. The 1080p display is suitably crisp enough, although this early demo unit was unable to be steered any further than the lock screen. However, that screen should at least look familiar to anyone who's played with the first FonePad. There's also a built-in stylus to use with it, one that's almost half as long as the phone itself, and this can be holstered in the back -- making it awfully like the Galaxy Note in more than just name. It's also worth noting the dual front-facing speakers, although there was no chance to test audio quality. Catch our brief eyes-on video after the break.

Gallery: ASUS FonePad Note FHD 6 hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, ASUS

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If you thought ASUS was done announcing new products here at Computex, get ready for at least one more surprise. The company just unveiled the Transformer Book Trio, a dockable tablet that can run Windows and Android. At first glance, it's visually quite similar to the Transformer Book we just reviewed, except this time it has 11.6-inch, 1080p screen. And, you know, twice as many operating systems. If you're wondering how that works, there's a physical hotkey allowing you to switch OSs, similar to the setup on the Transformer AiO, which was announced last year at this same show. It's important to note, though, that that hotkey will only work if you have the tablet latched into the keyboard dock; once you unplug the tablet it will only run Android Jelly Bean.

Spec-wise, dual operating systems amounts to dual processors, with a fourth-generation Core i7-4500U processor powering the Windows 8 experience, and a 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 chip handling Android Jelly Bean. In fact, Intel EVP Tom Kilroy made an appearance at ASUS' press event in Taipei to help formally introduce the product. Continuing on, dual OSs also means multiple batteries: the package includes a 33Wh cell as well as a 19Wh one. As for storage, you've got a 1TB HDD inside the dock, and 64GB of flash storage inside the tablet proper. If you're looking for a price, ASUS isn't planning on announcing that today, but a company rep did confirm the Trio is slated for a Q3 launch. For now, you'll find a hands-on video and few first impressions after the break.

Gallery: ASUS Transformer Trio hands-on

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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During a chock-a-block event at Computex 2013, ASUS just announced the VivoPC, a compact Windows 8-based home theater PC that can also double as your primary desktop. It'll let you stream HD video via a newfangled 802.11ac WiFi connection, and has a similar spun metal design to the freshly announced VivoMouse. The mini-PC will also feature ASUS's SonicMaster audio, but that's all we know so far in terms of specs -- of course, as soon as we find out such minor details as, say, processor, RAM and storage, we'll update you right here.

Filed under: Desktops, HD, ASUS

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Joining ASUS' MeMo Pad family today are a couple of self-explanatory models: the MeMo Pad HD 7 and the MeMo Pad FHD 10. While we've already gotten to test out the 10-inch model, this is the first we've seen of the 7-incher. Like the current Nexus 7, which this is going to replace, it has a 1,280 x 800 screen. With this new generation, though, it adds 5-megapixel and 1.2-megapixel cameras, SonicMaster audio and an ARM Cortex A7 quad-core CPU. Oh, and it adds a microSD slot and a micro-USB socket, two things the Nexus 7 doesn't have. Unlike a Nexus product, the OS is the slightly older Android 4.0. (Update: ASUS has confirmed that the tablet will launch with up-to-date Android 4.2. Apologies for any confusion.)

The big news here, however, is the price. As Chairman Jonney Shih said during its reveal, we needed our cameras, because it'll arrive priced at a pretty incredible $149 for 16GB and $129 for 8GB. In addition, he clarified that the super-low-cost $129 version is aimed at emerging markets for now, though the $149 model is headed to the US and elsewhere. We're not sure when that'll be, but for now, with these prices and specs, consider us tempted. In the meantime, head past the break for the full hands-on treatment.

Gallery: ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 hands-on

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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