News

ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe’s reign may be more short-lived than we thought

Published

on

We had a feeling that the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe’s reign on the throne would’t last long — it’s only started to catch on in certain Asian markets this month — but it may be even more short-lived than we thought.

ASUS is already sending out press invites for the next Zennovation event at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 in Las Vegas. The event, which will be streamed live on ASUS’ website, will take place on January 4th, 2017, and it’s highly likely that the Taiwan-based manufacturer will use it as a launch pad to introduce a premium ZenFone handset built around Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 835 system-on-a-chip, the successor to the Snapdragon 821 found in today’s heavy hitters.

[irp posts=”8379″ name=”ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe unboxing”]

The Snapdragon branding already appears on the invite, so we would be foolish to assume otherwise. ASUS has somewhat been a pioneer when it comes to using the best components available anywhere; the ZenFone 3 Deluxe — however late (and controversial) it may be — is among the first handsets to launch with the Snapdragon 821 in tow.

ASUS Zennovation invite

Next year, ASUS could once again find itself in the same exclusive club as the likes of Google and OnePlus when all is said and done at CES 2017. Hopefully, if it does announce a Snapdragon 835-based phone, pricing will be competitive with industry disruptors from the Far East. That, or CEO Jerry Shen will take the stage rocking a transcendental product that’s more than just the sum of its glass, metal, and bleeding-edge silicon parts.

The ZenFone 3 Deluxe, though likable, lacks a headline-grabbing feature that truly distinguishes it from other flagships. Obviously, arriving late and being sold at roughly the same price as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and Apple iPhone 7 Plus doesn’t help its cause, either.

So now the waiting game begins, and we’ll be waiting with bated breath for news of updates. We’re pretty sure you will, too. In any case, we’ll be on the ground at CES 2017 on January 4 to find out all of ASUS’ intentions.

[irp posts=”8525″ name=”ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe gets a popular Android feature post launch”]

News

HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro for golf launches

Professional golf management on your wrist

Published

on

The HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro has officially launched. This collaboration between HUAWEI and HONMA Golf, Japan’s prestigious golf house, brings professional golf management to users’ wrists.

Along with advanced smart technology and decades of craftsmanship tailor-made for golf, the premium wearable transforms the way golfers play, track, and enjoy every round.

The limited-edition HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro comes in a Premium Gift Box. It is priced starting PhP 17,999 (~ US$ 307) until March 11 in the Philippines before it reverts to its original price of PhP 19,999 (~ US$ 341).

The Premium Collection Gift Box comes with golf accessories: a commemorative golf ball, divot toll, and special ball marker.

The golf-centric premium smartwatch features professional-grade golf intelligence. It also comes with more than 17,000 zoomable 3D course maps worldwide, including more than 100 local maps.

This allows golfers to visualize fairways, hazards, and landing zones in advance to plan each hole with confidence.

Instead of guessing, players can manage risks better, commit to their shots, and focus on execution.

Moreover, Green Slope Direction gives clearer insight into how a putt will break. Play-Like Distance, meanwhile, factors in elevation changes and wind conditions.

Furthermore, AI Caddie works quietly in the background, analyzing swing history, performance trends, and course layout to offer smarter recommendations moving forward.

Complementing these are Shot Distance Tracking and digital scorecards which automatically capture every swing and score. This way, users can understand their insights and track progress after each round.

And using the HUAWEI Health app, users can also access Through Ball Trajectory Sharing to relive their best shots and review key moments.

Here’s the complete set of on-course tools with the HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro:

  • Greens View
  • Fairway View
  • Fairway Panoramic View
  • Front / Middle / Rear Green Distance
  • Obstacle View Ranging
  • View Obstacle Zone/Target
  • Free Point Ranging
  • Wind Speed/Wind Direction
  • Electronic Scorecard
  • Half-Court Scoring
  • Switch Court function
  • Play-Like Distance

Luxurious designs

Design wise, every detail of the wearable reflects premium Japanese craftsmanship. Its default HONMA Elemental Dial features a traditional Japanese Pine Leaf Pattern.

This is paired with a putter-shaped second hand. There is also another HONMA-exclusive option with a BERES 7S dial in vibrant blue with Mt. Fuji for a truly iconic look.

The HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro has an aerospace-grade titanium case, sapphire crystal glass, and HONMA-engraved gold buckle for a luxurious yet durable build.

In front is a 1.47-inch AMOLED display with 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The watch also lasts up to 21 days on a single charge.

Health features are likewise advanced, including heart rate, HRV, breathing, and interruptions. Stress and emotional wellbeing are also tracked every 10 minutes and integrated into the HUAWEI Health app.

Aside from golf, the watch supports over 100 sports modes, including pro-level activities. There’s also support for freediving for up to 40 meters with depth and duration tracking.

Continue Reading

Gaming

AMD teases next-gen Xbox coming in 2027

It might double as a usable PC, too.

Published

on

It’s been a while since GPU companies focused on making chips for consoles. With how the industry is going now, chips feel like they’re destined to end up in the suffocating deluge of AI servers. Now, however, AMD is showing signs of healing by teasing the next-generation Xbox.

In the latest earnings call (via Engadget), AMD CEO Lisa Su teased that the next-gen Xbox, built with a custom AMD SoC, is “progressing well to support a launch in 2027.”

The subtle tease is vague enough to obscure any details about the upcoming console but clear enough to confirm that it’s coming. Since the Xbox Series X|S has been out for several years now, it’s not surprising that Microsoft is thinking about what’s coming next.

However, it’s still intriguing that Microsoft is going for another console. Previous reports have speculated that the company might focus on delivering games, especially through the Game Pass. Lately, both the PlayStation and the Switch have thoroughly dominated the console market ahead of the Xbox. Handheld consoles are likewise impressive, too.

Other reports have speculated that the upcoming generation will focus on delivering both a gaming and a PC experience. With the Steam Machine coming soon, it seems natural that the next consoles will be usable PCs as well.

SEE ALSO: Match Pulse: ROG Xbox Ally X

Continue Reading

Gaming

Overwatch reinvents itself with a new story and five new heroes

And it’s not “Overwatch 2” anymore.

Published

on

Overwatch 2 was not a disaster for the popular multiplayer shooter franchise. It did, however, make the game more polarizing. For 2026, Blizzard is shaking things up once again, starting by dropping the “2” from Overwatch 2.

During its scheduled showcase, the new-and-improved Overwatch will feature annual storylines that will keep the game fresh for years to come. The system will go live on February 10. By then, the year-long event called Reign of Talon will start with Season 1.

As the name suggests, this year will be all about the villain-coded Talon organization, and it’s going to be more story-driven. Right off the bat, a new cinematic sees Vendetta seemingly kill Doomfist and take over the leadership of Talon.

Blizzard says that the year will see ten new characters introduced to the roster. In fact, five of those will already be playable starting in Season 1.

Without a doubt, the highlight character for this round is the formerly cancelled Jetpack Cat. The character was first rumored all the way back in 2017 but will now be fully playable this season. The flying feline hero is a support character that can hook another hero to a location while healing them. Their ultimate reverses this by having them crash land onto enemies and then hooking one to, ideally, drop them off the map.

Jetpack Cat will join four other heroes. Anran, who is also affiliated with the Overwatch faction, deals fire damage. Domina, who, along with the next three heroes, works with Talon, is a shield-based tank. Emre imagines an evil version of Soldier: 76. Finally, Mizuki is a Talon-affiliated healer.

Besides a new story and heroes, Overwatch will feature new game modes and improvements across the board. The new Season 1 starts on February 10.

Continue Reading

Trending