Brand New A970M-A DELUXE: Latest Reliable, High-Performance Motherboard from ECS

Featuring a more user-friendly BIOS and the ultimate dust defending technology

2012 September 30, Taipei, Taiwan –

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has announced the newest member of its high-performance Black Series of PC motherboards. The ECS A970M-A DELUXE supports AMD AM3 and AM3+ APUs, and gets the most from them with the latest ECS innovations for power, ease-of-use, and reliability. With features like full Windows 8 support, an upgraded user friendly BIOS – EZ BIOS, dust defending technology – Anti Dust Technology (ADS) and 8 channel HD audio, the A970M-A DELUXE is the heart of the ultimate gaming center and perfect all-round PC.

The A970M-A DELUXE is built around the AMD 970 chipset, to squeeze the maximum performance out of the most powerful cutting edge CPUs, while still maintaining compatibility with older technology.

Exclusive features design

The motherboard features the new user-friendly graphical uEFI BIOS – EZ BIOS, with ECS MIB X for easy overclocking, tweaking, a multi-language interface and full Windows 8 support. Users can easily select and change settings in the BIOS with mouse and keyboard.

For the ultimate in stability and reliability, the A970M-A DELUXE introduces new features like ECS Anti-Dust Shield Technology (ADS). The ultimate in dust defending technology, ADS prevents dust build up on the motherboard, a common, but little-understood cause of instability, intermittent faults, and poor performance. Long-term dust build up can cripple even the most powerful PCs by causing tough-to-diagnose issues like overheating, short-circuits, and unreliable memory or graphics card connection.

The motherboard is also certified by ECS Nonstop Technology. ECS Nonstop Certification brings the user a hassle-free computing experience by solving many common PC hardware problems before they can even occur. ECS Nonstop features include: enhanced gold plating on critical contacts, all solid capacitors with 6 times longevity, and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection for USB3.0, USB2.0, eSATA and LAN. These hardware enhancements and a strict series of specially-designed tests work together to protect PCs and ensure that all ECS Nonstop Certified motherboards can be relied on for stability and reliability far into the future, long after competing products have let you down.

High speed storage capacity

The ATX format A970M-A DELUXE features 2 PCIe Gen2 x16 slots for high-speed graphics card upgrades and CrossFireX support, as well as 2 PCIe Gen2 x1 slots and 2 PCI slots for other cards. Up to 32 GB of dual channel DDR3 memory can be installed in 4 DIMMs, with a maximum standard speed of 1866 MHz, or up to 2133 MHz for overclockers. There are 5 SATA 6 Gb/s connectors for high speed disk drives and other storage devices.

Expansion and connectivity options in the A970M-A DELUXE include 2 USB 3.0 ports, 8 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit LAN, and a eSATA 6Gb/s connector for high-capacity portable storage. There are also 3 internal USB 2.0 headers which can support an additional 6 USB 2.0 ports if required.

Smart Functional Software and Utility

If you use your PC as a charging station for your phone and other devices, then the new EZ Charger technology recharges modern mobile devices three times as fast as standard USB ports, even after the system is shut down, as long as the PC is still connected to a wall socket. EZ charger can safely provide up to 3 times the current of standard USB ports.

The A970M-A DELUXE is bundled with THX TruStudio PRO software, which delivers professional live performance-quality surround audio for music, movies and games. Additional software includes Norton anti-virus software, Muzee, Cyberlink Media Suite, and the ECS iEZ utility, which combines the eBLU BIOS Live Update Utility, the eDLU Drivers Live Update Utility and the eSF Smart Fan Utility

The new A970M-A DELUXE offers the latest technology for faster, more stable performance and ultimate reliability.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 29, 2012 — Windows Phone 8 devices go on sale starting in November, and Microsoft is betting that a smartphone designed with people in mind can connect with the masses.

At an event in San Francisco, Microsoft fully took the wraps off of Windows Phone 8 after a brief peek back in June to showcase some of the new platform enhancements.

Personal Experiences

210

Windows Phone 8: Kid’s Corner

October 29, 2012

Kid’s Corner is like having a phone-within-a-phone that gives your littles ones access to only the apps and games you choose for them.

          Download:          Web | Print

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Windows Phone 8: Start Screen

October 29, 2012

Windows Phone is the only phone with Live Tiles that come alive with the information that’s important to you. Pin what matters most and arrange your Start screen to create a phone that’s unmistakably yours.

          Download:          Web

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Windows Phone 8: Photos Hub

October 29, 2012

The Photos Hub brings your camera roll,  Facebook and SkyDrive albums into one place. It’s like a live photo album that updates with the latest photos of your friends and family in real-time.

          Download:          Web

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Windows Phone 8: Rooms

October 29, 2012

Only Windows Phone allows you to create Rooms, an intimate virtual space where you can easily chat and share photos, messages, calendars and notes with a hand-selected group of people.

          Download:          Web | Print

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Windows Phone 8: Music

October 29, 2012

With Xbox Music, your music is available wherever you take your Windows Phone. Access your personal library or stream music on demand with an Xbox Music Pass.

          Download:          Web

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Windows Phone 8: Skype

October 29, 2012

It’s easy to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls and send instant messages to friends and family with Skype for Windows Phone. You can even make Skype calls over WiFi.

          Download:          Web | Print

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Windows Phone 8: Local Scout

October 29, 2012

Live like a local with Local Scout on Windows Phone, providing easy access to details on nearby restaurants and bars, places to shop, things to see and do—even events happening in town.

          Download:          Web

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Windows Phone 8: Lock Screen

October 29, 2012

The apps you install on your Windows Phone work hard for you. Even when your phone is locked, Live Apps deliver real-time information to your Lock Screen.

          Download:          Web | Print

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Windows Phone 8: Data Sense

October 29, 2012

Data Sense on Windows Phone 8 lets you track and optimize your data usage to avoid surprises when the bill comes.

          Download:          Web | Print

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Windows Phone 8: Games

October 29, 2012

With Xbox built-in, Windows Phone gives you immediate access to entertainment and games, however and wherever you want it.

          Download:          Web

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“Microsoft is excited for the world to meet the new Windows Phone,” said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Windows Phone Division.

“We set out to create the most personal smartphone there is, focused on keeping you closer to the people and things that matter most,” he said. “It’s also the best phone for Windows, helping you stay connected across devices. And finally, of course, there’s the hardware. We have a killer lineup of new phones featuring big bright screens, awesome audio capabilities and great cameras from HTC, Nokia and Samsung.”

Meet Windows Phone 8

From the first time you pick up a Windows Phone you can see how personal it can be with the highly customizable Start screen and Live Tiles, said Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of Windows Phone Program Management. People can pin their favorite people, apps, games and music right to the Start screen, and colorful Live Tiles will light up with real-time information and updates.

The new features in Windows Phone 8 offer something for everyone, Belfiore said. For people with children, Kid’s Corner offers a worry-free way for parents to share their smartphone when the kids start clamoring to play Angry Birds. A simple swipe activates a protected place on the phone where kids can play on specific apps and features selected by a parent.

Families and friends will also enjoy the new Rooms feature, which lets people create a private network to chat and share photos, notes, calendars and other content with a close group of people, not your entire social network.

As a self-proclaimed shutterbug, Belfiore is a big fan of the new camera and photo features in Windows Phone 8. “I love using my phone to capture memories,” he said. “The Lumia 920 and Windows Phone 8X both take gorgeous photos and videos, even in low light.”

In addition to the new software features, the Windows Phone Store has 120,000 apps to choose from, with hundreds added every day and hits coming this holiday season, such as “Angry Birds Star Wars,” “Cut the Rope Experiments,” “Disney’s Where’s My Water,” “LivingSocial,” “Temple Run,” “Urbanspoon” and many more. Today, Microsoft announced that Pandora, the leading Internet radio service, is coming to Windows Phone in early Q1 2013 with one year of ad-free music.

Pandora Chief Executive Officer and President Joe Kennedy said, “Pandora now has more than 175 million registered users and over three-quarters of our listener hours now come from mobile and other connected devices.  We are pleased to join other app leaders who are developing for Windows Phone and we are delighted Microsoft is sponsoring a year of ad-free Pandora for Windows Phone users. Our listeners expect Pandora to be wherever they are—in the home, in the automobile, and on the go. Offering Pandora on Windows Phone gives them yet another option and we think they will be delighted with the experience.”

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Best Companion for Windows

Windows Phone 8 was designed to be the best companion with Windows 8, Myerson said. Windows and Windows Phone now share common underlying technology, which allows for shared tools, increased hardware support for multicore processors and a wide range of other platform capabilities. It also features a common look and feel with Windows 8, which makes shifting from phone to PC seamless and natural.

That underlying technology between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 now allows developers to create native C++ code – a shared development model that makes porting Windows apps and games relatively easy.

“We expect the hundreds of millions of Windows 8-based tablets and PCs sold next year to raise consumer awareness of the new Windows UI pioneered by phone,” Myerson said. “We believe more developers will target the Windows family now that we’ve made it easier to target a range of exciting new devices – from phones to tablets to PCs – running software that people ask for by name.”

Another big advantage of the Windows family is Microsoft’s personal cloud based service, SkyDrive. Now photos, Office documents and music are always in sync and available across all Windows devices.

The new Xbox Music service offers anytime, anywhere access to albums, songs and playlists whether you’re on your Xbox console, your Windows Phone or a Windows 8 PC or tablet. And entertainment gets even more interactive with Xbox SmartGlass, which turns your mobile phone or tablet into a second screen that intelligently interacts with your Xbox 360 to elevate your entertainment experience.

Stunning Phones

HTC, Nokia and Samsung have all introduced new Windows Phones that will start hitting the streets in November.

The Samsung ATIV S is wrapped in brushed aluminum with the largest Windows Phone screen to date at 4.8″, yet it’s unbelievably thin and light.

The designers behind HTC’s Windows Phone 8X and 8S saw Windows Phone 8’s Live Tiles and were inspired to build the phones from the ground up with the same elegant, modern lines and radiant colors.

Nokia’s Lumia 920 packs a state-of-the-art camera into a phone.   It’s the first phone to have Optical Image Stabilization along with Nokia’s trademark Carl Zeiss optics.  The Lumia 820 is a great phone for people who want to show color in their lives with swappable back plates in bold, vibrant colors. Both Lumia phones are the first modern smartphones with wireless charging.

Myerson expressed confidence that Windows Phone 8 was primed to make headway against competitors such as iPhone and Android.

“The best thing we can do is build a compelling product that people fall in love with,” he said. “We think we have done that with Windows Phone 8.”

Add Windows Media Center to Windows 8 Pro

Before you go and buy the Windows 8 upgrade or the DVD from retail store, it is best that you run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant from Microsoft.

Currently, I am on Windows 7 Ultimate. I ran through the Windows Upgrade assistant and was surprise to see the possible issues that I would face.

I am surprised that Windows Media Centre isn’t preinstall and I need an application to play DVD.

I did a check on the FAQ

Is Windows Media Center included in my upgrade?

No. If you want to install Windows Media Center, you need to buy the Windows 8 Media Center Pack after you upgrade to Windows 8. For more info, see the Add features webpage.

If you don’t have a third-party app that plays DVDs, or if you currently rely on Windows Media Player for DVD playback, you’ll need to download and install a third-party app or install Windows Media Center to play DVDs. If you use Windows Media Center on Windows 7 and are upgrading to Windows 8, for a limited time you can get the Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free.

Other issues are that my processor does not support NX and secure boot isn’t compatible with my PC’s BIOS.

To my surprise, it prompts that my screen resolution isn’t 1024×768. This is strange as I am running at 1280×720 wide screen.

Although Windows 8 upgrade promises upgrade paths for Windows XP users. It seems to cut off all support for Office 2003. My copy of Office 2003 professional has to go into history as it won’t run on it.

The good news is that most of my applications like adobe reader, Auslogics Disk Defrag, Epson Scan, Paint.Net, Tweetdeck, Quicktime, Skype, utorrent and even the Intel HD graphics drivers are compatible and it will run corectly under Windows 8.

So, it is better to run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before you upgrade.

Discuss

Just like Yoga, this tablet cum notebook device comes with Windows 8, allowing you to swipe the touch screen for the latest apps and run the onventional Windows applications like before. So, how does it work? Check out the video below :

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 in Singapore

New offers, apps and range of hardware options offers choice and opportunity for customers as Windows 8 becomes globally available.

Singapore – 25 October 2012 – Today, Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 8 for its customers in Singapore and around the world. Beginning on Friday, October 26, consumers and businesses worldwide will be able to experience all that Windows 8 has to offer: a beautiful new UI, a wide range of apps with the grand opening of the Windows Store, available on more than 1000 Windows 8 certified  PCs and tablets.

Microsoft held the launch event at the Esplanade in Singapore showcasing the new Windows 8 on different vendor’s AIO and notebooks.

Helene Auriol, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore gave the opening speech at the launch event.

Windows 8 will be available for download to upgrade existing PCs in over 140 markets and 37 languages at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com, and at retail locations around the world including Singapore. Over 50 Windows 8 devices from a wide range of manufacturers including Asus, Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba – will be available at more than 120 IT retail stores across Singapore, including Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman and Newstead. Customers will be able to choose from a range of new models, including notebooks, tablets, all-in-ones, touch-enabled ultrabooks and convertibles, all built for Windows 8.

“With the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft is unveiling a reimagined Windows to the world,” said Helene Auriol, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore. “Windows 8 delivers a no-compromise computing experience to individuals, families and businesses, where they no longer need to choose between the fun and convenience of a tablet and the power and productivity of a PC.”

Windows 8 – Many Shapes and Sizes

Windows 8 will be available in two versions at retail, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. And for our business customers, Windows 8 Enterprise offers new possibilities in mobile productivity with features like Windows To Go, DirectAccess, and BranchCache, as well as enhanced end-to-end security with features including BitLocker and AppLocker.

Launching at the same time is a new member of the Windows family designed for ARM-based tablets, Windows RT, which will be available pre-installed on new devices.

Windows 8 features the new fast and fluid Start screen that gives people one-click access to the apps and content they care most about, the entirely new Internet Explorer 10 that is perfect for touch, and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive.

In addition to the range of new devices available, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, are qualified to download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of S$49.99 from windows.microsoft.com. And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013 in more than 140 countries can download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of S$17.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com. New Windows 8 licenses can be bought at all leading IT retail stores for S$89.00.

Windows 8 is All About the Apps

Windows 8 comes pre-installed with powerful apps, which include Mail, People, Calendar, Photos, Weather, Xbox Music and SkyDrive. An integral part of the Windows 8 experience is the addition apps that users can download from the Windows Store, be it productivity tools, news, or simply games. The cloud-connected Windows Store can be accessed via the Windows Store App on the Windows 8 Start Screen and is a central place for users to manage their downloaded apps across multiple Windows 8 devices.

Microsoft has officially opened its Windows Store for Singapore as part of Windows 8 launch today. At launch, Windows 8 users can immediately download quality local apps from Channel NewsAsia, The Straits Times, Stomp, NomWhere, Razor TV, Photo Monkey, SG Cab, NomWhere, SG Deal, Wego.com, SingTel, StarHub, Merlion Words and iProperty and many others directly from their Windows 8 devices.

Helene added: ”We have put in place a compelling app platform for Windows 8 users to customize their Windows experience, built on our strong ecosystem of app developers, IT partners and enterprise customers. Our partners and customers are very excited about the Windows 8 app and Windows Store opportunity. With the strong pipeline of quality apps that are submitted to the Windows Store every day, we are confident that Windows 8 users will have a good breadth of apps that makes Windows 8 central to their lifestyles.”

Windows 8 is ready for Singapore

A multi-million dollar campaign has been rolled out in Singapore to drive awareness and excitement about Microsoft’s latest OS together with hardware and retail partners.  Microsoft kick-started the launch of Windows 8 in Singapore with a launch event held on 25 October at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. More than 600 Windows enthusiasts, partners and enterprise customers attended this Windows 8 Singapore launch event. Partnering with hardware and retail partners, Microsoft has also organized special Windows 8 zones in more than 20 major IT retail stores across Singapore from 26 to 28 October 2012 for consumers to experience and buy Windows 8 devices.

HP Delivers Comprehensive Windows 8 PC Portfolio

SINGAPORE, Oct., 25, 2012 — HP today announced availability and pricing details for its new lineup of consumer and business PCs that are designed to work with Windows 8.

The new HP products, ranging from stylish notebooks and desktops to a tablet, leverage premium materials and a purposeful design philosophy to deliver a distinct HP look and feel.

Unique form factors—including a hybrid PC with a detachable screen, a business tablet with optional functionality-boosting HP Smart Jackets and the latest range of slim and elegant All-in-Ones desktops with intuitive touch capabilities—enable users to take advantage of Windows 8 along with HP innovations such as HP TouchSmart technology. They also offer HP Connected Photo powered by Snapfish by HP(1) for convenient access to photos.

“HP’s portfolio of ultrathin notebooks, sleek All-in-Ones and high-performance business PCs is designed to meet the needs of customers anticipating the release of the Windows 8 OS,” said James Mouton, senior vice president and general manager, Personal Computer Global Business Unit, HP. “Consumers and organizations now can choose from a broad range of HP PCs featuring multitouch displays, versatile form factors, sleek designs or customizable solutions that address their needs.”

HP consumer notebooks(2)

The HP consumer notebook portfolio featuring Windows 8 includes a hybrid PC and notebooks with slim and sophisticated designs, multitouch display technology, strong performance and great value.

·    The HP ENVY x2 is a powerful, ultrathin hybrid PC that delivers the power of a notebook and the freedom of a tablet in one stylish, lightweight device. A notebook that doubles as a tablet, the HP ENVY x2 has a detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard via a seamless magnetic latch. The HP ENVY x2 includes a vivid 11.6-inch diagonal high-definition (HD)(3) touch display,  Beats Audio, an HD webcam plus an 8-megapixel camera, and near field communication (NFC) technology(4) that lets users share content, including photos, contacts and URLs, with a simple tap. Expected to be available in Singapore in late 2012 at S$1,099.

·    The HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 features a 14-inch diagonal multitouch HD(3) display and a booming subwoofer with Beats Audio. Expected to be available in Singapore on October 26 at S$1,399.

·    The HP Pavilion Sleekbook 14 and Pavilion Sleekbook 15 PCs are available in sparkling black and ruby red and provide the performance and easy applications consumers need every day—now in an ultrathin style. Available in Singapore on October 26, starting at S$699 and S$1,099, respectively.

HP consumer all-in-one PCs and consumer desktops(2)

HP’s new consumer desktops include AiO and tower PCs featuring advanced multitouch technology and offering head-turning designs and powerful performance.

·    The HP ENVY 23 and ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PCs deliver 10-point multitouch technology, 23- and 20-inch diagonal HD(3) displays, and excellent performance for working, playing and staying connected. The HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart and HP ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PCs are available in Singapore on October 26, starting at S$1,599 and S$1,199, respectively.

·    The non-touch HP Pavilion 20 AiO delivers performance, an attractive space-saving design and intuitive features to keep users connected to family and friends, all at a great value. Available in Singapore on October 26, starting at S$899.

·    The HP ENVY Phoenix h9 desktop PC delivers a powerful computing experience for users who enjoy creating digital content and immersive gaming. Available in Singapore from October 26, starting at S$1,699.

HP business PCs(2)

Delivering outstanding performance, versatility and value, HP’s business PC portfolio maximizes productivity for businesses and government organizations of any size.

·    The HP ElitePad 900 is a true tablet for business that balances a beautiful design with enterprise-grade features, serviceability and support. The ultrathin and lightweight Windows 8-based tablet(5) also features optional HP ElitePad Smart Jackets,(6) which add connectivity options and longer battery life along with specific add-ons that customize the tablet for specialized uses. Expected to be available in Singapore in late January 2013. Pricing information will be announced closer to availability.

·    The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m Ultrabook™ is ultrathin, lightweight and efficient. With enterprise docking capabilities and a swappable battery, the HP EliteBook Folio is built for the on-the-go professional. The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m Ultrabook is expected to be available in Singapore in mid-Nov. 2012 at a starting price of S$2,599.

HP announced touch-enabled notebooks on Aug. 30, AiO and desktop PCs on Sept. 12, additional consumer notebooks and commercial PCs on Sept. 25 and an enterprise-ready tablet on Oct. 2.

ASUS TAICHI is the world’s first ultra-portable to feature a back-to-back dual-screen design. Weighing at just 1.25kg, TAICHI features a powerful Intel® Core™ processor and two back-to-back full HD IPS display screens for sharing information all in a slender profile that tapers to a slim 0.3cm. With the lid open, TAICHI is a powerful Ultrabook™ with a backlit keyboard for dealing with even the most demanding productivity tasks. With the lid closed, TAICHI is a lightweight multi-touch tablet for easy and intuitive use with Windows 8 when on the move. Both screens can also be used simultaneously and independently for unparalleled movie flexibility and for sharing information in exciting new ways.

The demonstration below shows how the dual display can be activated.

ASUS Embraces an Exciting New World of Intuitive and Adaptable Mobility with
Revolutionary Touch-Enabled Devices using Windows 8 [2 pages]

With innovative designs, high-definition multi-touch displays and outstanding ease of use,
ASUS delivers unprecedented customer satisfaction with a range of new products

ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, reached another significant milestone on its ongoing journey – “In Search of Incredible”, with the launch of new mobile and desktop computers powered by Microsoft Windows 8. Innovation is key to the success of ASUS, and with the upcoming launch of Windows 8 and arrival of the ubiquitous cloud computing era, ASUS strives to continue its lead in being the forerunner of this transition.

Unveiled by ASUS’ Regional Directors of Southeast Asia, Rex Lee and Darwin Wu, the exciting range array of tablets, notebooks, ultra-portables and all-in-one PCs offer unprecedented ease of use through a combination of innovative design and intuitive multi-touch control. With its unique insight into user needs and constant quest for perfection, ASUS continues to exceed expectations and deliver extraordinary customer satisfaction.

ASUS TAICHI

An incredible fusion of notebook and tablet, ASUS TAICHI is the world’s first ultra-portable to feature a back-to-back dual-screen design. Weighing at just 1.25kg, TAICHI features a powerful Intel® Core™ processor and two back-to-back full HD IPS display screens for sharing information all in a slender profile that tapers to a slim 0.3cm. With the lid open, TAICHI is a powerful Ultrabook™ with a backlit keyboard for dealing with even the most demanding productivity tasks. With the lid closed, TAICHI is a lightweight multi-touch tablet for easy and intuitive use with Windows 8 when on the move. Both screens can also be used simultaneously and independently for unparalleled movie flexibility and for sharing information in exciting new ways.

You can watch a demo of ASUS TAICHI dual screen notebook demoed at press event http://en.ocworkbench.com/mobile-news/asus-taichi-demoed-at-asus-windows-8-press-event/

ASUS Transformer Book

ASUS Transformer Book is the world’s first detachable notebook that combines the best features of a notebook and tablet. When it is time to work, Transformer Book is a powerful and fully featured notebook with a high-capacity hard drive. When it is time to relax, the full high-definition IPS panel display detaches from the keyboard dock and Transformer Book instantly becomes a multi-touch Windows 8 tablet with its own blazingly fast SSD storage. With Smart Battery technology that ensures maximum mobile performance in both modes, Transformer Book the perfect solution for anyone who needs all the power of a notebook with the versatility of a tablet.

ASUS ZENBOOK Series

The newly expanded ASUS ZENBOOK Series of sleek and stylish ultra-portables now features a range of specifications and screen sizes to suit every mobile need. ZENBOOK features an award-winning, precision-engineered, design with a beautiful spun-metal finish and a stunning razor-thin profile. Brilliant, full high definition IPS panel displays, powerful dual-core processors and lightning-quick solid-state storage feature throughout, while capacitive multi-touch display on the new ZENBOOK Touch UX31A gives full gesture control with Windows 8.

M1 announces iPad mini and fourth generation iPad in Singapore

SINGAPORE, 24 October 2012 – M1 Limited (M1) today announced that in the coming weeks it will offer iPad mini and fourth generation iPad. M1 will offer these new iPads with a range of attractive data plans that will allow customers to connect to its nationwide 4G network with download speeds of up to 75Mbps*.

iPad mini, a completely new iPad design that is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad, and features a stunning 7.9-inch display, Apple-designed dual-core A5 chip, ultrafast wireless performance and an incredible 10-hours of battery life**. The fourth generation iPad has a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display, Apple-designed A6X chip with blazing fast performance, a new FaceTime HD camera and even faster Wi-Fi performance. Both iPad mini and fourth generation iPad come with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features.

For more information about iPad please visit www.apple.com/ipad/.

*4G theoretical download speeds of up to 75Mbps and typical download speeds at fixed locations ranges from 6.9Mbps to 17.4Mbps.
** Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

For those of you who intend to buy the iPad mini, it is important to take note that the iPad mini LTE version would not be able to take advantage of the dual band 1800MHz and 2600MHz available in Singapore.

According to the specification provided by Apple, there are two models available. One model supports only Bands 4 and 17 while the other supports band 1,3,5,13,25.

Singapore telcos supports dual band LTE, Band 3 (1800MHz) and Band 7 (2600MHz).  The situation is the same for the iPhone 5. The model that is suitable should be model A1455.

LTE at 2600MHz usually give you better throughput. In this case, users will to run their devices under the 1800MHz Band 3 since it is the only supported band on the iPad mini LTE.

•Model A1454* ◦GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
◦UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
◦LTE (Bands 4 and 17)

•Model A1455* ◦CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
◦GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
◦UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
◦LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

•Data only3
•802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
•Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

Apple Introduces iPad mini

Unveils New Fourth Generation iPad with Retina Display, Faster A6X Chip, FaceTime HD Camera & Ultrafast Wireless

SAN JOSE, California – 24 October, 2012 – Apple® today introduced iPad® mini, a completely new iPad design that is 23 per cent thinner and 53 per cent lighter than the third generation iPad. The new iPad mini features a stunning 7.9-inch Multi-Touch™ display, FaceTime® HD and iSight® cameras, ultrafast wireless performance¹ and an incredible 10 hours of battery life²―every inch an iPad, yet in a revolutionary design you can hold in one hand. Apple today also announced the fourth generation iPad featuring a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina™ display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime HD camera and ultrafast wireless performance. Both iPad mini and fourth generation iPad come with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features.

“iPad mini is every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9-inch display, iPad mini features the same number of pixels as the original iPad and iPad 2, so you can run more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPad mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras and ultrafast wireless―all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life.”

iPad mini comes in a beautiful new aluminium and glass design that is just 7.2 mm thin and weighs only 308 grams. The 7.9-inch Multi-Touch display delivers the same iPad experience users have come to expect, in a design that has 35 per cent more screen real estate than 7-inch tablets and up to an astonishing 67 per cent more usable viewing area when browsing the web. The dual-core A5 chip delivers responsive graphics and a fast, fluid Multi-Touch experience, while still providing all-day battery life.

iPad mini features a front-facing FaceTime HD camera and a 5 megapixel iSight camera on the back with advanced optics for taking sharp still pictures and recording full 1080p HD video. The iSight camera includes video image stabilisation and both cameras feature backside illumination to let users capture great pictures in low light. iPad mini also allows easy sharing of photos with friends and family using iCloud’s Shared Photo Streams.

iPad mini features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for speeds up to 150 Mbps,³ which is twice the Wi-Fi performance compared to previous iPad models. iPad mini is available in Wi-Fi + Cellular models which are world-ready with built-in support for ultrafast wireless standards, including LTE¹ and DC-HSDPA, so you can browse, download and stream content fast from wherever you are. iPad mini data plans will be available with no contract so you can simply sign up and activate service directly from your iPad.⁴ The Personal Hotspot feature means you can share a fast cellular data connection via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB with up to five other devices such as MacBook® Pro, iPod touch® or another iPad.⁵

The new fourth generation iPad features the amazing 9.7-inch Retina display and includes a new Apple-designed A6X chip that delivers up to twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of the A5X chip, all while delivering an incredible 10 hours of battery life in the same thin and light iPad design. Other new features include a FaceTime HD camera, twice the Wi-Fi performance when compared to previous iPad models and support for additional LTE carriers worldwide.⁶

iPad mini and fourth generation iPad both feature support for the Lightning™ connector that is smaller, smarter and more durable than the 30-pin connector. Lightning connector accessories are available to support cameras, SD cards and VGA or HDMI digital video.⁷ Existing iPad Smart Covers and the iPad Smart Case are compatible with fourth generation iPad, and new polyurethane Smart Covers custom-designed for iPad mini are available in pink, green, blue, light gray, dark gray and (PRODUCT) RED.

iPad runs over 700,000 apps available on the App Store℠, including more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad, from a wide range of categories including books, games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. iPad also supports newspapers and magazines offered in Newsstand and books available on the iBookstore℠. The iTunes Store® puts the world’s most popular online music and movie store at your fingertips with a catalogue of over 26 million songs and thousands of films. The new iBooks® app for iPad lets users read ebooks in over 40 languages. iBooks also lets users experience an entirely new kind of ebook that’s dynamic, engaging and truly interactive. Ebooks created with Apple’s new iBooks Author offer gorgeous, fullscreen ebooks with interactive animations, diagrams, photos, videos, custom fonts, mathematical expressions and much more.

Pricing & Availability
iPad mini with Wi-Fi models will be available in black & slate or white & silver on Friday, 2 November for a suggested retail price of SGD$448 inc. GST for the 16GB model, SGD$578 inc. GST for the 32GB model and SGD$708 inc. GST for the 64GB model. The fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models will also be available on Friday, 2 November, in black or white for a suggested retail price of SGD$658 inc. GST for the 16GB model, SGD$788 inc. GST for the 32GB model and SGD$918 inc. GST for the 64GB model. iPad mini and the fourth generation iPad will be sold through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com/sg) and select Apple Authorised Resellers in the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular and fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular will start shipping a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi models. iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of SGD$618 inc. GST for the 16GB model, SGD$748 inc. GST for the 32GB model and SGD$878 inc. GST for the 64GB model. Fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered at a suggested retail price of SGD$828 inc. GST for the 16GB model, SGD$958 inc. GST for the 32GB model and SGD$1088 inc. GST for the 64GB model. Additionally, iPad 2 is available for a suggested retail price of SGD$528 inc. GST for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just SGD$698 inc. GST for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model where they are sold now.

Customers can begin pre-ordering all models of iPad mini and all models of the fourth generation iPad on Friday, 26 October (PST) through the Apple Online Store in the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

¹LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks. Check with your carrier for details.
²Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
³Based on theoretical speeds, actual speeds may vary.
⁴Only available on some carriers.
⁵Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should check with their carrier for availability.
⁶LTE is available through select carriers.
⁷Sold separately.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

ECS Reveals its First Motherboard with the Intel NM70 Express Chipset – NM70-I

Energy Efficient Mini-ITX Motherboard with an Integrated Celeron Processor

23 October 2012, Taipei, Taiwan -Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) reveals its latest mini-ITX motherboard ―NM70-I―featuring the new Intel® NM70 Express Chipset. The NM70-I is equipped with an integrated Intel Celeron® 847 or 807 processor to deliver great value and price performance options. With features like full Electrostatic Discharge Protection, Best Power Efficiency platform and full Windows® 8 support, the NM70-I is the best choice for affordable but capable small-form- factor systems. The NM70-I is ideal for desktop PCs, home theater PCs and industrial applications.

Energy Efficiency

Designed to save space and energy, the ECS NM70-I is the ideal solution for small-form-factor systems. With the Intel Celeron processor only consuming a maximum of 17W the ECS NM70-I is a low power solution. It features intelligent power management by turning computing functions on only when needed, reducing energy usage by operating at lower frequencies when performance is not necessary. The ECS NM70-I also has electrostatic discharge protection and 100% solid capacitor for the CPU voltage regulator module to maximize the reliability and longevity of your system.

Excellent Extension Support

Even with the mini-ITX size of the NM70-I, ECS has kept in mind the expansion needs of future-proof minded customers. The ECS NM70-I supports video and storage upgrades with 1x PCI-E x16 (running at x8) 2.0, 1x 6Gb/s SATA and 3x 3GB/s SATA connections. For industrial applications, the NM70-I is equipped with 2 Serial ports(COM). Moreover, users can enjoy high definition media as the NM70-I supports HD 1080p and Blue-Ray playback. The NM70-I is bundled with additional software including Norton anti-virus, Muzee, Cyberlink Media Suite, and the ECS iEZ utility, which combines eBLU BIOS Live Update Utility, eDLU Drivers Live Update Utility and eSF Smart Fan Utility.

Windows 8 Support

The ECS NM70-I with official Windows 8 WHCK (Windows Hardware Certification Kit) certification allows users to take full advantage of the touch browser and function-oriented design of Windows 8. As ECS BIOS and drivers are specially designed for Windows 8, with the NM70-I it is guaranteed that you are ready for Windows 8.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?CategoryID=1&DetailID=1424&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=1&LanID=0

BIOSTAR Introduces All-In-One Mini ITX Motherboard

“A68I-350 DELUXE” with AMD Fusion 350D APU

BIOSTAR, a manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, industrial computing systems and peripherals, has announced the start of sales for their unique ultra-compact motherboard, the A68I-350 DELUXE with an integrated APU-chip, the AMD Fusion 350D (Socket BGA FT1). With the ultra­-small dimensions of this Mini ITX board (only 170×170 mm) and the high degree of integration of its powerful components, the design of a modern multimedia and entertainment setup with the minimum of components has become possible, all at a very affordable price.

Integrated into the A68I-350 DELUXE, the APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) processor AMD Fusion 350D is built on an integrated high performance graphical core of the AMD Radeon HD 6310 with support for the newest Microsoft DirectX11 technology. It boasts a highly efficient integrated graphical subsystem with up to 512 MB of distributed memory providing significant speed of data processing which is enough for the majority of modern office and entertainment applications including playing full HD video and driving today’s DX11 games. Integrated video outputs – analog VGA and digital HDMI 3D Visual – allow connecting any modern display including digital HDTVs and monitors.

The HDMI 3D Visual provides a level of interoperability for devices designed to deliver 3D content over an HDMI connection. The latest HDMI Specification adds key enhancements to support the market requirements for bringing broadcast 3D content into the home featuring key enhancements for 3D applications including the addition of mandatory 3D formats for broadcast content.

The A68I-350 DELUXE motherboards are based on the AMD A68 chip. The boards are equipped with two DDR3 DIMM slots and support of up to 16 GB of DDR3 800/1066 MHz RAM. It also offers three SATA2 3Gb/s connectors, two high speed USB 3.0 ports and four USB 2.0 ports. The network interfaces of the board are represented with a gigabit LAN controller, the Realtek RTL8111F chip. A modern 6-channel HD Audio processor powered by the Realtek ALC662 chip offers excellent sound and support for digital S/PDIF audio output.

A68I-350 DELUXE motherboards are equipped with modern high quality solid capacitors, the X.D.C (eXtreme Durable Capacitors). These are low ESR and high ripple conductive solid state capacitors that provide a stable power supply to the CPU. The life span can also be more than 6.25 times that of ordinary liquid caps.

The board features the latest BIOSTAR technologies such as BIOS Flasher and BIOS Online Update for easy updating and restoration of the BIOS, as well as BIO-Remote2 for remote control of the system via Android and Apple devices.

BIO-Remote2 Technology gives users a better Home Theatre environment. Users who own either Android or Apple mobile devices are able to access and control the PC remotely. You’re smart device can become an intelligent and functional remote control. Moreover, BIO-Remote2 also includes both the function of mouse pad and power point presentation modes.

The A68I-350 DELUXE also features the Charger Booster function. It is a high powered charging solution for Apple or Android devices such as iPad, iPhone and Android phones and tablets. Charger Booster Technology is able to boost the charging time to be more efficiency and faster once any mobile device is connected to the motherboard. With Charger Booster technology, you are able to charge your devices up to 42 % faster.

Review of GA-F2A85X-UP4 Socket FM2 board with AMD A10-5800K APU
Bluetooth 21 Oct 2012

A few weeks ago, AMD launches it’s newest A85X chipset and FM2 socket processors. The socket FM2 processors are improved versions of the FM1 processors, especially in the graphics and data encoding function but they do not share the same socket type.

The GA-F2A85X-UP4 is one of the new boards that Gigabyte release to support these new processors.

Featuring the AMD A85X chipset, it supports native USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps. The board itself supports 4 DIMM memory slots with a total of 64GB of memory. It supports up to an official DDR3-1866 but can be overclocked up to DDR3-2400+. It also supporst the AMD memory profile (AMP) standard.

As for graphics, the integrated graphics within the APU, in our A10-5800K is a Radeon 6770D class graphics running at 800MHz. The graphics output can be from the D-SUB, DVI-D (up to 2560×1600), HDMI (up to 1920×1200) or DisplayPort (up to 2560×1600). The board also support Virtu MVP to boost graphics performance with any NVIDIA or AMD card on board together with the APU integrated graphics.

Alternatively external graphics card can be used. It has 3 full length PCIe slots that operates in PCIe x16, PCIe x8 (dual cards) and another PCIe slot at PCIe x4. There are 3 PCIe x1 and 1 PCI slot. The graphics card can run in CrossFire configuration or AMD dual graphics (selected cards in tandem with the integrated graphics in APU).

There are plenty of USB and SATA ports on board. There are 4 USB 3.0/2.0 (2 at back panel and 2 others thru internal USB header). Another 10 USB 2.0/1.1 can be supported (2 ports on the back panel and 8 ports thru USB headers). In addition, Gigabyte supports another 2 more USB 3.0/2.0 ports with the Etron EJ168 chipset.

In terms of features, the specific ones for Gigabyte boards are quite standard. They are @BIOS, Q-Flash, EasyTune, DualBIOS, Auto green, On/Off charge, 3D UEFI BIOS, 3TB+ Unlock etc.

The GIGABYTE motherboard employ award winning GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 5 technology that includes high current capable components for the CPU power zone including IR3550 PowIRstage® ICs from International Rectifier, 2X Copper PCB and high current Ferrite Core Chokes rated up to 60A, which together are able to deliver cooler temperatures than traditional motherboards. Featured on a range of new motherboards based the AMD A85X Chipset, GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 5 technology is the next evolution in quality motherboard design.

In the next few pages, we will go through the details and benchmark it against the BIOSTAR FM2 board and compare it with A8-3850 (FM1) and Intel Core i5-3570K.

The ECS A85F2-A GOLDEN builds on their already strong performance of FM2 motherboards by adding a host of powerful new features in the Trinity technology platform and also adapting the exclusive gold plating technology for the strictest quality and a higher outstanding performance.

The individually-numbered, handcrafted motherboards are stunningly outfitted in cool black with gold plated key components, giving A85F2-A GOLDEN a sophisticated and classy appearance that is unprecedented in the PC motherboard industry. Key features include: World 1st AMP Technology support to take the full advantage of their unique operating design, newest graphical uEFI BIOS: EZ BIOS, with stunning user-friendly interface and easy-to-use function radically takes full advantage of the performance, high-end gaming, multi-tasking and Windows 8 support, ATI CrossFireXTM graphics support with next generation PCI Express 2.0 to achieve the ultimate in 3D gaming performance, separate 4 display output design allowing users to fully satisfy their visual quality and growing demand.

Huge high speed storage capacity

ECS A85F2-A GOLDEN is one of the most powerful and reliable motherboards for gaming solution. In the ATX format, this ECS motherboard features 2 PCIe x16 slots for graphics card upgrades and CrossFireX support, as well as 3 PCIe x1 and 2 PCI slots for different demands. Up to 64 GB of dual channel DDR3 memory can be installed in 4 DIMMs, with full maximum speed from 1866 to 2133, or up to 2600 for high-end overclocking.

Expansion and connectivity options in the A85F2-A GOLDEN include 7 SATA 6 Gb/s connectors, 6 USB 3.0 ports, 8 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit LAN, and a eSATA 6Gb/s connectors for fast external storage. Separate HDMI, DVI, D-Sub and Display Port provide graphics output, and 8-Ch HD Audio support.

Unprecedented reliability

ECS A85F2-A GOLDEN is certified by ECS Nonstop Technology for the ultimate stability and reliability. ECS Nonstop Technology deliver a hassle-free computing experience by solving common PC hardware problems before they can even occur. Hardware enhancements and a strict series of specially-designed tests combine together to protect PCs and ensure that all ECS Nonstop Certified motherboards can be relied on for stability and reliability far into the future, long after competing products have failed. Nonstop features include enhanced gold plating on critical contacts, and all solid capacitors and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection for VGA, USB, LAN and HDMI ports.

Exclusive features design

New features in this generation include support for up to 4 displays and AMD Eyefinity Multi-display Technology, and HDMI Deep Color to accurately display billions of colors, bringing a new level of realism and color accuracy. AMD Turbo Core 3 extends the Turbo Core performance boost to the GPU, and CrossFireX gives access to ultra-high performance graphics with add-on cards. Support for industry standards is also upgraded, with Open GL 4.2, DisplayPort Version 1.2, and Open CL 1.1 or later. Enhanced features are standard: like AMD Universal Video Decoder (UVD) and Video Codec Engine (VCE) for ultra-fast video encoding and decoding.

The A85F2-A GOLDEN is bundled with THX TruStudio PRO which delivers the fullest audio experience for music, movies and games found in live performance and surround. Moreover, it also bundled with Norton AntiVirus software, Muzee, Cyberlink Media Suite, and the ECS iEZ utility, which includes the eBLU BIOS Live Update Utility, the eDLU Drivers Live Update Utility and the eSF Smart Fan Utility.

The brand new A85F2-A GOLDEN offers the latest technology for faster, more stable performance and extreme graphics realism.

More photos in the gallery, click on the icons to view it and stay tuned to OCWORKBENCH for our full review of this product.

It is a surprise as Singapore has been very conservative with R21 (mature themes suitable for above 21)movies. To date, it is only screened in certain movie theatres. From Oct 18 this year, the R21 rating will be allowed to be screen on demand via the pay tv networks in Singapore.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) has given the green light for StarHub and SingTel to offer R21 content on their video-on-demand platforms.

Singtel mio TV is first to offer R21 programmes SingTel’s mio TV will be offering R21 movies on-demand to its customers, such as crime thriller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011), gay-themed drama A Single Man (2009), superhero flick Watchmen (2009) and horror flick The Hills Have Eyes (2006).

Will you watch such channels at the comfort of your home ?

Live Life Intuitively with ASUS PadFone™ 2

Quad-core smartphone with incredible battery life and a thinner, lighter
PadFone 2 Station deliver the ultimate mobile flexibility.

Taipei, Taiwan (October 16, 2012) — ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces PadFone™ 2. Building upon the successful PadFone combination of an Android smartphone and dockable tablet for incredible mobile flexibility, PadFone 2 consists of a higher specification quad-core, LTE-equipped smartphone and a completely redesigned tablet.

ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled PadFone 2 in front of the world’s media at a press conference in Milan, Italy. “Our relentless drive to innovate through our ‘Design Thinking’ philosophy has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It’s beautiful, it’s fast and, best of all, it’s intuitive,” said Mr. Shih.

PadFone 2 is a fully featured 4.7” Android™ smartphone with industry-leading specifications that docks with the unique PadFone 2 Station to become a lightweight, but fully featured, 10.1” tablet. Apps are seamlessly optimized on-the-fly to support both tablet and phone modes, with an instant transition between smartphone and tablet screen sizes.

Enlarge and charge

ASUS’ world-renowned ‘Design Thinking’ philosophy has significantly reduced PadFone 2 Station’s thickness and weight. At just 649g, the combined weight of both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station is now lighter than most tablets on the market, and the dock mechanism has been redesigned to require just one swift step to use. PadFone 2 has also been subtly refined to increase its screen size to 4.7”, while reducing its thickness and weight to just 9mm at its thickest point and 135g, respectively.

Battery life is astounding, too. The higher-capacity PadFone 2 2140mAh battery provides up to 16 hours 3G talk-time and 13 hours Wi-Fi web browsing, while PadFone 2 Station’s 5000mAh battery gives up to 36 hours 3G talk-time. PadFone 2 Station’s internal battery also has enough capacity to recharge the docked PadFone 2 three times over.

Super phone, super performance

A 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM ensures incredible PadFone 2 performance in both smartphone and tablet modes. The new 4.7” 1280 x 720 HD Super IPS+ display uses scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, ultra-wide viewing angles and 550 nits brightness for stunning outdoor visibility.

A new 13-megapixel high-performance camera captures incredibly detailed images with no shutter lag. Burst mode can capture up to 100 shots at a blisteringly quick six shots per second, while simultaneously recording 1080p HD video at 30fps, or 720p HD video at 60fps. Low-light performance is also enhanced by the wide f/2.4 aperture and a dedicated image signal processor. Both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station feature superlative sound quality too, thanks to ASUS SonicMaster technology and audio tuning by Waves, recipient of a Technical GRAMMY Award®.

Easy to share, easy to save

With capacities up to 64GB and 50GB of ASUS WebStorage provided free for two years, PadFone 2 offers endless possibilities for storing data. Data syncing between devices is also a thing of the past, since PadFone 2 storage is used by PadFone 2 Station when the two are connected, while NFC allows users to share webpages, Contacts and user recommendations from Play Store with others. Shared mobile data connectivity between smartphone and tablet also means just one data plan is needed for both devices, while support for up to 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ and 100Mbit/s LTE delivers super-fast web browsing and downloads.

User-friendly enhancements

PadFone 2 also features a new version of the SuperNote app that instantly converts handwritten notes made in multiple languages into editable text. Its Instant Translation tool also translates any word, phrase or sentence in an email, web page or app at a touch, without the need for a third-party translation tool.

Availability

PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of December in Europe (Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden) and Asia (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and U.A.E). Availability in other countries will be announced at a later date.

###

PADFONE 2 SPECIFICATIONS

EDGE/GPRS/GSM   850/900/1800/1900MHz

LTE   800/1800/2600MHz

HSPA+ (DL: 21Mbit/s, 42Mbit/s (optional) / UL:   5.76Mbit/s)

LTE (DL: 100Mbit/s / UL: 50Mbit/s)Operating systemAndroid 4.0 ICS   (upgradeable to Jelly Bean)ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon S4 (8064 + 9215m) quad-core Cortex A15 class (1.5GHz) with   Adreno 320 graphicsStorage / memory16GB / 32GB / 64GB   eMMC Flash / 2GB LPDDR2 RAMColorBlack / WhiteConnectivity802.11a/b/g/n   Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 & NFC (mobile payment function is   optional and by request only)

3.5mm   audio jack, Micro SIM

ASUS 13-pin dock connector (supports Micro-USB 2.0 &   Mobile High-Definition Link   for HDMI connection)GPSA-GPS & GLONASSDisplay4.7“   (1280 x 720) / 312ppi

Super   IPS+ (550 nits)

Scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass with HCLR Film   (anti-fingerprint coating)Main camera13MP BSI Sensor Sony Camera, f/2.4   Aperture,

five-element   lens, auto focus with LED flashFront camera1.2MPOtherG-sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, gyro   sensor, e-compassBattery2140mAh   Li-Polymer (non-removable)Talk timeUp to 16 hours with 3GStandby timeUp to 352 hours with 3GBrowserHTTP / Google browser / YouTube browser / Facebook /   Google+MessagingSMS / MMS / email / IMVideoVideo   Playback: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/WMV @ HD 1080p

Video   Recording: MPEG4/H.263 @ HD 1080p / 60fps @ 720p

H.264 Video Decode @ 720p / Video Encode @1080pH.264 / Ogg / Theora / MPEG4 / WMV / 3GPPictureJPEG / PNG / GIF / BMPAudioMP3 / WMA / 3GP / AAC / AAC+Dimension137.9 x 69 x 9mmWeight135g

PADFONE 2 STATION SPECIFICATIONS

IPS with capacitive multi-touch

Scratch-resistant   Corning® Fit Glass with HCLR   Film (anti-fingerprint   coating)Camera1MP   front camera

13MP via PadFone 2 rear cameraBattery19Wh (5000mAh)Connectivity3.5mm   audio jack via PadFone 2

ASUS 13-pin dock connector (Micro-USB 2.0 Host)External phone antennaWi-Fi & BT, GSM, WCDMA, & LTE receiver diversityAudioHigh-quality speaker with ASUS SonicMaster technology

All specifications are subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Content and product availability varies by country and coverage areas, and is subject to change. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies

According to a report from Digitimes, AMD is slated to launch it’s own APUs targeting the tablet market. This is AMD’s answer to INTEL’s Clover Trail-based Atom Z2760 processor designed specifically for tablet products.

so far, Intel’s Atom Z2760 is adopted by various major players e.g. Acer, Asustek Computer, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Lenovo, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics and ZTE, for their tablet products, AMD, so far, has not yet announced its partners for the Hondo APUs.

So far, most tablets are focused on two platforms, the ARM/Android or Intel/Windows 8. So far, it is unsure if AMD will adapt which platform. If the price is competitve enough, it will surely appear as a formidable alternative.

AMD recently announced its Hondo-based Z-60 APU, which adopts a 40nm process and Brazos architecture. The APU consumes 4.5W and is capable of being adopted in a 10mm thick tablet, supporting Windows 8 and resolutions up to 1920 by 1200.

Since Z-60 only has average power consumption, the sources believe AMD’s next-generation 28nm Jaguar-based SoC, Tamesh, which is set to launch in the second quarter of 2013, should provide a better chance for the CPU maker to compete on a level playing field.

Google Nexus 7 is first tablet to feature the Android 4.1 Jellybean OS. It is lightweight and has a 7″ display with a resolution of 1280×800.

With it’s 4325mAh battery that can handle 9 hours HD video playback time, 10 hours of web browsing and up to 300 hours of standby time. So one can be more productive than spending and waiting to recharge the built in battery.

The Nexus 7 is built by Taiwan ASUS, famous for it’s PC range of products. At the centre of the Nexus 7 is the NVIDIA Tegra3 quad core processor which provides smooth and responsive apps. The graphics is powered by a 12 core GPU which delivers rich and detail graphics while the 4 Plus 1 CPU design gives it the procesing power.

As it is a powered by Google, Nexus 7 provides all the Google Apps into this tablet. Access Gmail, Chrome, Google+ and Youtube with ease and sync them across your phones, PCs etc.

With the new Google Now, it brings voice recognition to another level. Google Now brings the right information at the right time. For example, it can tell you today’s weather before you start your day, how much traffic on your route to office and it all happens automatically.

The tablet also comes with a 1.2 mega pixel front facing camera and NFC (Andriod Beam).

On the next page, we take a look at the Interface and features.