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Tech in
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l BRINGING INNOVATIONS TO LIFE issue 22 www.techinstyle.tv
Hat-trick Hero
FOREWORD
EDITOR'S NOTE
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hat a difference a year makes, just last year I was over in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2012 when ASUS introduced to us the new PadFone™; and today, we’re here welcoming its third iteration – the PadFone™ Infinity. It seems pretty apt that the theme for Mobile World Congress 2013 is the New Mobile Horizon. After years of talking about it, ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih’s vision of ubiquitous cloud computing comes to fruition with the latest range of ASUS products and the long-awaited ASUS Open Cloud Computing ecosystem. What ASUS has done is built up a network, so to speak, of mobile devices and infrastructure that can fully sustain a cloud computing-based environment. For the layman, that means all your files are stored in cyberspace – and all are easily accessed anytime, anywhere, through any device. And what a line-up of devices ASUS has in store for MWC 2013 indeed. I’ve already introduced the PadFone™ Infinity; among the other notables this time round is the Fonepad™ – a 7-inch tablet with smartphone functionalities for voice and video calls, along with SMS and MMS services on GSM, WCDMA, and HSPA+ networks. Add to that another pair of tablets – the ASUS MeMO Pad™ Smart and the ASUS MeMO Pad™. It’s the latter that is bound to set tongues wagging – it’s a value 7-inch tablet that’s clearly aimed at bringing mobile computing to the masses. Cutting edge devices, mass mobile computing, ubiquitous cloud computing – it looks like ASUS has the game fully figured out. Watch this space.
EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Julian Prokaza Editor Joseph Yadao
PRODUCTION Production Manager Helen Ling Art Director Chiou Chong Lee
Copyright: ASUS Technology Private Limited, 2013. All editorial content in this magazine has been sponsored by ASUS. While every care was taken preparing this magazine, ASUS Technology Private Limited cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information nor any consequences arising from it.
Please recycle this magazine when you have finished reading.
Joseph Yadao Editor
About ASUS ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and makes the best motherboards in the world. ASUS designs and manufactures a diverse range of products that perfectly meet today’s digital needs, including desktop PCs, displays, graphics cards, netbooks, networking devices, servers, smartphones and tablets. Driven by innovation and a commitment to quality, ASUS revolutionized the PC industry with its Eee PC™ and its products won 4,168 awards in 2012. ASUS has more than 12,500 employees around the world and a leading R&D team with over 3,800 engineers. Company revenue for 2011 was approximately US$11.9 billion.
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CONTENTS issue 22 MWC special
04 Designs for life
ASUS delivers products that adapt to your needs
06 Hat-trick hero
A year after the original PadFone™ launch in Barcelona comes the ASUS PadFone™ Infinity
08 Tweet, type, and talk?
ASUS Fonepad™ brings smartphone functionality to the 7-inch tablet
10 Heads up! It’s in the clouds
ASUS Open Cloud Computing, coupled with the latest ASUS products, puts everything at your fingertips
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12 Windows of opportunity
ASUS VivoTab™ Series opens up a new world of mobile computing for work and play
14 Did you get that MeMO?
The ASUS MeMO Pad Smart™ and ASUS MeMO Pad™ join the tablet party
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FEATURE
Designs for life
Design Thinking dictates that technology must adapt to the user’s needs and two new mobile devices deliver just that
T
he ASUS Design Thinking philosophy begins with the idea that technology must be able to adapt to our ever-changing lifestyles — and not the other way around. With that in mind, it’s not hard to imagine a time when we’re all using compact smartphones with roll-out screens or holographic displays, but until technology catches up with our imaginations, we need other solutions to meet our diverse mobile needs.
One problem, two solutions
One obvious solution is to use one device for making calls and basic online activity, and another for the tasks that benefit from a bigger screen. Using a separate smartphone and tablet for this is certainly possible, but it’s not always practical, not least since it requires the expense of two separate mobile data plans and devices, not to mention the headache of keeping apps and data in sync. ASUS has another solution. Or rather, two. Recognising that no single mobile device can meet the mobile needs of everyone (not yet, anyway), ASUS believes that users should be given a choice — and that’s where Fonepad™ and PadFone™ Infinity come in.
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A phone, a tablet – or both?
These two very different mobile devices are designed to address the same need for different types people. Fonepad™ is a 7-inch tablet with built-in 3G that can be used for both mobile data and voice calls. That makes it the perfect all-in-one solution for those who’d rather not carry two devices, but who don’t want to sacrifice the features of a smartphone for the sake of a tablet — or vice versa. PadFone™ Infinity, on the other hand, is for people who can’t manage without a 10-inch tablet display, but whose mobile needs are otherwise served by a more portable 5-inch LTE smartphone. The advantage, of course, is that PadFone™ Infinity Station is powered by PadFone™ Infinity when the smartphone is docked and shares the same LTE data plan, so the mobile pairing works as one seamless device. Whichever option appeals, the key to both Fonepad™ and PadFone™ Infinity is they’re two-in-one devices that not only eliminate the need to pay for two costly mobile data plans, but also the chore of keeping two devices in sync. Over the next four pages of this issue of Tech in Style, you’ll find much more about what Fonepad™ and PadFone™ Infinity can do — and discover which one is right for you.
Fonepad™
PadFone™ Infinity
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INSPIRED ASUS PadFone™ Infinity
Hat-trick
hero
A year after the award-winning PadFone™ launch in Barcelona comes the ASUS PadFone™ Infinity
T
he innovation and convenience brought about by the PadFone™ has no doubt contributed to its popularity. This has spurred ASUS to make further refinements on the original to spawn the PadFone™ 2, and today at Mobile World Congress 2013, we bring to you the PadFone™ Infinity. This latest iteration now has 4G LTE and a 5-inch Full HD display; and like its predecessors, becomes a 10.1inch Full HD LTE tablet when docked with the PadFone™ Infinity Station. When this happens, all apps, data and settings on PadFone™ Infinity are instantly optimized for the 10.1-inch PadFone™ Infinity Station’s display. With all the processing components in the smartphone, PadFone™ Infinity is the brains behind the whole operation. The PadFone™ Infinity’s Li-ion battery is good for up to 19 hours of talk time, and this stretches to 40 hours when docked with the PadFone™ Infinity Station. With a builtin battery of its own, the tablet dock is also capable of recharging the PadFone™ Infinity. PadFone™ Infinity has a unibody frame milled out of aerospace-grade aluminium which, thanks to our trusty pair of vernier calipers, measures a mere 6.3mm at its thinnest point. It’s lightweight too, tipping the scales at just 141g. The brushed aluminium finish it sports is reminiscent of the one found on the Zenbook™ Ultrabook™.
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A combination of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and a next generation Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 Quad-core processor (1.7GHz), 2GB RAM, and 64GB of storage gives the PadFone™ Infinity superior performance over current generation smartphones. On top of that, 100Mbit/s LTE and 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ download support deliver superfast web connections. Both PadFone™ Infinity and the PadFone™ Infinity Station feature Super IPS display technology and 400 nits brightness – giving you an ultra-wide 178-degree viewing angle and vibrant images even in glaring conditions. The PadFone™ Infinity has a 13-megapixel main camera with an f/2.0 five-element lens that captures incredibly detailed images. It can capture up to 100 continuous photos at 8 frames-per-second (FPS), while simultaneously recording 1080p Full HD video at 30 FPS, or 720p HD video at 60 FPS. When it comes to audio, both PadFone™ Infinity and the PadFone™ Infinity Station feature SonicMaster audio technology; the latter has 18mm diameter speakers built-in speakers, comparative to what is found in most laptops.
Tech Specs PadFone™ Infinity • 5-inch Full HD display (PadFone™ Infinity); 10.1-inch Full HD (PadFone™ Infinity Station) • Super IPS display technology for 178-degree wide view and 400 nits brightness • Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 Quad-core processor (1.7GHz) • 2GB RAM, and 64GB of storage • 13MP main camera with f/2.0 five element lens February 2013
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INSPIRED
Tweet, type, and talk? ASUS Fonepad™
ASUS Fonepad™ brings smartphone functionality to the 7-inch tablet
F
ollowing the success of the PadFone™ and the PadFone™ 2, it was only a matter of time before the next evolution of the tablet combo made its debut. Here at Mobile World Congress 2013, ASUS brings smartphone functionalities to its 7-inch tablet line with the Fonepad. The inner workings of the Fonepad™ feature a 1.2Ghz next generation Intel® Atom™ Z2420 processor that gives it the legs to provide a full tablet and 3G smartphone experience with up to 9 hours* of battery life. Fonepad™ comes with all the functions you would expect from a smartphone – catering to voice and video calls, SMS and MMS services on GSM, WCDMA, and HSPA+ networks. ASUS Fonepad™ has a 7-inch, 1280 x 800 resolution IPS panel with 178-degree wide view angles for sharp vivid images. ASUS Fonepad™ comes with a durable,
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premium metallic finish and is available in Champagne Gold and Titanium Gray. Like most tablets its size, Fonepad™ easily fits in the palm of your hand to give a comfortable grip when used as a phone. Dual mics cancel out echoes and background noises to ensure crystal-clear voice pickup. ASUS Fonepad™ has a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus that allows you to take impressive images as well as videos in 720p. A 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera provides crystal-clear visuals when it comes to video calls.
Tech Specs • 7” WXGA (1280 × 800) LED Backlight IPS panel 10 finger multi-touch • Intel Atom Z2420 1.2GHz • 8/16/32 GB storage** • Front 1.2MP, 720p video recording; Rear 3MP (optional) auto-focus, 720p video recording** • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
*Storage/Camera specifications may vary by region. **Battery life varies according to use. Test conditions include playing 720p video on loop, brightness set at 100nits, external microphone and WLAN on with Gmail logged in.
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RE-WIRED
Heads up!
It’s in the clouds ASUS Open Cloud Computing, coupled with the latest ASUS products, puts everything at your fingertips
I
t wasn’t that long ago when ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled the ASUS Open Cloud Computing (AOCC) solution, and looking at how mobile-centric today’s new technologies are, the era of cloud computing is really upon us. “At ASUS we have been incubating for the arrival of this exciting era for several years. We believe that an open and balanced architecture can provide the best, ultimate solution for the new ubiquitous cloud computing era,” said Mr. Shih. There are four facets that make up AOCC – AO Cloud, AO Link, AO Stream and AO Help.
AO Cloud
AO Cloud is a service that integrates your ASUS WebStorage cloud, your personal cloud, as well as other network-attached storage devices and lets you manage them through a single interface. With your ASUS account, you get access to all files in your AO Cloud through the ASUS.com website or the mobile app available through the Google Play or Apple stores. And to make things easier, any PC connected to an ASUS router automatically gets linked to AO Cloud to provide instant remote access anywhere.
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AO Link
AO Link is an ASUS-exclusive media sharing software that allows you to play and stream media files from the AO Cloud and other devices to your TV or PC. It is compatible with Android phones and tablets, as well as Windowsbased tablets and PCs.
AO Stream
AO Stream allows you to easily organize every media file, document, or web page on your personal cloud.
AO Help
AO Help is a self-diagnostic PC tool that helps you solve problems on your own. On top of that, it enables you to help others’ diagnose their problems through remote desktop control technology. If all else fails, the integrated ASUS online support is on standby to help you out.
AT ASUS WE HAVE BEEN INCUBATING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THIS EXCITING ERA FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE BELIEVE THAT AN OPEN AND BALANCED ARCHITECTURE CAN PROVIDE THE BEST, ULTIMATE SOLUTION FOR THE NEW UBIQUITOUS CLOUD COMPUTING ERA, JONNEY SHIH
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INSPIRED
VivoTab™ RT
ASUS VivoTab™ Series
Wind ws of Opportunity
ASUS VivoTab™ Series opens up a new world of mobile computing for work and play
S
ince its launch, Windows 8 has offered a completely new mobile computing experience to the tablet community. The VivoTab™ Series caters to both Windows RT and Windows 8, and is perfect for both work and play. Ultra-thin and light, the range delivers an unparalleled Windows 8 experience for those constantly on-the-go. The VivoTab™ Smart is a 10.1-inch Windows 8 tablet powered by a 1.8GHz Intel® Atom™ Z2760 processor for exceptional performance and is energy efficient enough to deliver up to 9.5 hours of battery life for all-day computing. It has a 350 nits, 10-point touch 1366 × 768 resolution display with IPS technology to deliver stunning images and wide viewing angles of up to 178 degrees. ASUS VivoTab™ Smart also features an LED flash-equipped 8 megapixel rear-facing camera along with 2 megapixel front camera for video conferencing. And being on Windows 8, ASUS VivoTab™ Smart opens up an enormous world of possibilities thanks to the thousands of apps available at the Windows Store; it even supports Windows desktop applications.
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VivoTab™ Smart with Transleeve keyboard
Tech Specs ASUS VivoTab™ RT(LTE) • NVIDIA™ Tegra® 3 Quad-core • 10.1-inch; Super IPS+ display; Scratch resistant Corning® Fit Glass • 525 g • 8.3 mm thin profile • Windows RT ASUS VivoTab™ Smart (LTE) • 1.8GHz Intel® Atom™ Z2760 processor • 2GB RAM, 64GB EMMC storage • 10.1-inch, 16:9 aspect, 10-point touch display with IPS technology • 8MP rear-facing camera with LED flash; 2MP front-facing camera • 265.5 × 171 × 9.7 mm • 580 g • Windows 8
The ASUS VivoTab™ Smart weighs in at just 580g, is a just a shade under 1cm thick, and comes in black, red or white. As far as accessories go, there’s an optional TranSleeve Keyboard that is both a tablet protector and wireless keyboard in one. Made up of two parts, the TranSleeve Keyboard is a combination of the TranSleeve Vivo and the TransBoard. The former is a cover which can be folded to prop up the VivoTab™ at angles ideal for typing or watching videos; the latter is a 5mm thin Bluetooth keyboard that attaches magnetically to the TranSleeve Vivo. The ASUS VivoTab™ RT is the lightest 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet around, its slim 8.3mm profile tipping the scales at a mere 525g. The VivoTab™ RT is powered by the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor Scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and Super IPS+ technology ensures that the VivoTab™ RT display withstands everyday knocks and can be easily seen outdoors. A clever hidden hinge design helps keep the VivoTab™ RT lines clean and elegant. FEBRUary 2013
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DESIRED
Pad™ O eM M SUS A d an Smart ASUS MeMO Pad ™
t e g u o y d i D ? O M e M t tha ™ join ™ Smart and MeMO Pad d Pa The ASUS MeMO the tablet party
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T
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ASUS MeMO Pad™ Smart
Tech Specs ASUS MeMO Pad™ Smart • 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 resolution display with 170° wide-view IPS and HDMI 1.4a output • NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core CPU • ASUS SonicMaster technology • 5-megapixel main camera with autofocus; 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera • Expansion options include Micro USB, Micro HDMI and Micro SD card slots (up to 64GB SDHC) ASUS MeMO Pad™ • 7-inch HD display rated at 350nits • 10-point multi-touch • 7 hours of battery life • Front-facing 1-megapixel HD camera • 8GB/16GB internal storage; with Micro SD Slot for up to an additional 32GB
ASUS MeMO Pad™
Prior to launch, ASUS’ only offering in the 7-inch tablet market was the Nexus 7, now it has another in the form of the ASUS MeMO Pad™. ASUS MeMO Pad™ is ASUS’ first 7-inch value tablet, and is priced to sell with a RRP starting from $129. You get a lot of bang for your buck too – what you get is a tablet geared for mobile entertainment thanks to a 1GHz CPU, SonicMaster-enhanced audio, and 10-point multi-touch display. And it’s a tablet you can take outdoors too, with a 350-nits rated brightness ensuring that whatever is on
screen can be seen even under glaring sunlight. ASUS MeMO Pad™ has a front-facing 1-megapixel, 720p HD camera and comes with 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, along with a Micro SD card expansion slot with support for an additional 32GB of storage to go along with 5GB of ASUS WebStorage that comes with it. ASUS MeMO Pad™ has a diamond checkered finish that is available in Sugar White, Titanium Gray, and Cherry Pink.
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Fun & Call in one Up to 9 hours of mobile entertainment with full phone functions
Browse with 2X faster HSPA+
Elegant metallic finish Smooth surface with streamlined design to fit in your hand
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Dual mic for noise cancellation
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Full 3G phone functions
7� IPS HD Display 178-degree wide viewing angle for vivid colors