Computers

Top 5 things to expect from Computex 2017

Published

May 16, 2017

Marvin Velasco

Now that GadgetMatch has confirmed its full participation at Computex 2017, we’re rounding up the biggest announcements we’re expecting at the multi-day tech convention in Taipei, Taiwan.

The event will run from March 30 to June 3, but you can anticipate most of the major news to pop up right before the start until midway through the official dates. Although there’ll be hundreds of brands at the showcase — from the major players to the most obscure startups — these expected launches should be the highlights.

Please don’t hold us accountable if we get a few (or all) of these wrong:

No next-generation ZenFone from ASUS

Despite rumors saying there’ll be a new generation of ZenFones to be announced during Computex, we’ve learned that only the ZenFone AR will be given the spotlight. Yes, it’s the same ASUS smartphone with augmented reality tech we got our hands on at CES last January, but this upcoming announcement will be for its regional pricing and availability.

Having a new ZenFone lineup this soon wouldn’t make much sense either. The ZenFone Live just came out, the ZenFone 3 Zoom is still reaching consumer hands, and the ZenFone AR (which is based on the ZenFone 3 design language) needs to build its own steam. Instead, expect ASUS to show off refreshed notebooks from its Republic of Gamers (ROG) and ZenBook lines like in earlier shows.

More on AMD’s Vega graphics cards

AMD has been feeding us leaks of its next-generation graphics cards bit by bit for the past few months, but with nothing more than possible specs to look at. We might be seeing something tangible at Computex with working units of the manufacturer’s high-end Vega line of GPUs. AMD better hurry, because NVIDIA has been eating up the hardcore gamer segment for a while now.

Another refresh from Acer?

Taipei may be Acer’s home turf, but the Taiwanese company already launched several of its Swift- and Predator-branded notebooks in New York last April. The Swift 1 and Triton 300, in particular, were the showstoppers Acer needed, but that leaves us with the question: What do they have left for Computex?

Notably absent from Next@Acer was an update to the Swift 7, still the world’s thinnest laptop. This could experience a refresh. At the same time, we wouldn’t be surprised if Acer uses Computex as a springboard for IFA Berlin in September; IFA 2016, if you recall, became the stage for the humongous Predator 21 X.

Gigabyte and MSI turn up the RGB

Computex has traditionally been known as the breeding ground for PC components and accessories, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see local brands Gigabyte and MSI introduce several new motherboards and graphics cards to keep up. RGB lighting is still considered cool, so expect the pair and all blatant copycats to dish out all the colorful LEDs they can muster.

A possible bombshell from Intel

As surprising as it may be, the biggest announcement could come from Intel. Leaks have shown the chip specialist planning to release its most groundbreaking processor series to date, the Core i9 line. It’s been discussed ever since the first Core i7 launched in 2008, and now we may finally expect something concrete at Computex.

Based on a leaked presentation, the Core i9 series could see a processor with as many as 12 cores and another with as few as only six (still more than any present Core i7). This may seem like overkill considering how great Core i7 processors have been, but the extra compute power will be vital once 8K video and graphics rendering become the norm.

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Computers

These latest LG Smart Monitors do not require a PC connection

With webOS 23, support for Microsoft and Google for work

Published

November 29, 2023

GadgetMatch

Remote work and home entertainment have become more convenient as LG Electronics has unveiled its latest LG Smart Monitors which do not require a PC connection.

Powered by LG’s latest webOS 23 platform, the 31.5-inch 32SR50F and 27-inch 27SR50F monitors are ideal for either work or streaming as they come with advanced IPS displays for true-to-life colors and strong contrast.

Here’s a quick look at their specs:

Resolution: FHD 1920 x 1080
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Response time: Up to 8ms
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ports: 2x HDMI, 2x USB 2.0
Speakers: 2x 5W speakers
Voice assistant: LG ThinQ, Alexa
Mobile casting: AirPlay 2, ScreenShare

With HDR 10 support, the monitors display vibrant and accurate images and enhance the user’s experience when in conference calls or even just simply working on documents or streaming movies and sports.

webOS 23 allows users to stream easily from the Home Board screen. The devices also have built-in LG Home Office software that support Microsoft 365 and Google Calendar.

Users may even manage their LG home appliances through the ThinQ app and connect compatible refrigerators, washing machines, and more.

The two displays have a three-sided virtually borderless design for a sleek and minimalist look.

Price and availability

The new LG SMART Monitors are available at LG Online Brand Store, Amazon, Shopee, Lazada, KrisShop, and authorized retailers such as Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City and Harvey Norman.

The 27-inch model is priced at SG$ 429 while the 31.5-inch variant costs SG$ 499.

Computers

ASUS Share 2023 Holiday Deals: Free ROG Phone 6, speakers, more

Freebie inclusions worth up to PhP 52,400

Published

November 21, 2023

GadgetMatch

Customers can secure the ROG Phone 6 for free when they purchase the ROG Strix SCAR 18 or Zephyrus M16 throughout the ASUS Share 2023 Holiday Deals promo which lasts until January 15, 2024.

Aside from the gaming smartphone, freebie bundles worth up to PhP 52,400 are up for grabs; customers can take home Canon and Epson printers, JBL speakers, and more, depending on the participating product they purchase.

To help you plan your holiday device shopping, below are some selected models throughout the sale period and the freebies they come with to get you started.

ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED, Vivobook S 14/15 OLED

JBL Flip 5
ASUS Marshmallow Mouse
ASUS desk mat
ASUS tumbler
64GB USB

Vivobook 16

ASUS Marshmallow Mouse
ASUS tumbler
64GB USB

ASUS Creator Series (Zenbook Pro 16X OLED, Vivobook Pro 15 OLED)

Three-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription
Delsey luggage
Canon printer
ASUS Marshmallow Mouse
ASUS desk mat

ASUS S501MD desktop, M3400 all-in-one PC

Epson Workforce L100 printer
Toshiba Canvio Basics portable 1TB hard drive
ADATA 8GB 3200 MHz memory (for the S501MD)

ROG Phone 7

PhP 4,000 discount

ROG Phone 6

Cetra II Core headset

Laptop purchases throughout the promo period also come with free ASUS Premium Care and 1-year Warranty Extension, as well as a free lifetime license to Office 2021 Home & Student.

For the full ASUS Share 2023 list of participating ASUS and ROG products, you may view the list here.

Computers

ASUS’ Evangelion-themed motherboard has a glaring typo

Spot the difference

Published

November 15, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

When a company announces a partnership with a popular franchise, you can usually expect an awesome way to rep your favorite fandom. However, there are rare occasions when a limited-edition tie-in comes to market without passing through a quick look over. ASUS, reveling in its Neon Genesis Evangelion, has released a new motherboard with a glaring typo.

Back in September, ASUS released the ROG Maximus Z790 Hero EVA-02 Edition motherboard in the United States. As the name suggests, the limited-edition motherboard touts a design inspired by the eponymous EVA-02 piloted by Asuka Langley Soryu. Though the design is eye-catching by itself, looking at the text surrounding the motherboard might illicit more than just wows.

Near the edge of the cover, the motherboard has text that’s supposed to say “Evangelion Production Model-02.” However, the units out in the market today say “Evangenlion,” sporting the extra “n” in the middle. The typo was spotted through unboxing videos (via Twitter/X).

@ASUS_ROG EVANGENLION? (Maximus Z790) pic.twitter.com/9MSUunjxGu

— Hal Rafael (@halrafael) November 12, 2023

Strangely, ASUS is showcasing both versions of the motherboard on its website. The main landing page for the anime partnership features the motherboard with the correct spelling. However, the page specific to the limited-edition motherboard features a graphic with the typo.

Since the motherboard with the typo has the correctly spelled “Evangelion” elsewhere on the design, the typo clearly was not intended. It’s still odd that it went to market (and the website) with the typo.

Critically, the motherboard costs US$ 700, around US$ 90 more than the regular motherboard without the special design. It’s quite pricey for a typo.

For ASUS’s part, the company is extending the warranty by a year for those who already bought the model. Plus, it is implementing a replacement program for those who want a corrected design.