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mclld

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 6, 2012
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http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/05/asus-zenfone-2-ces-2015/

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/05/asus-zenfone-zoom-ces-2015/


I will be keeping a close on eye the $200 version
 
Both the ZenFone 2 and Zoom look nice.

On the ZenFone 2, I wonder how much the 4gb version will cost? I would be willing to pay another $100.
 
Ughhh there goes another $200....

I seriously have a problem. But I HAVE to have it. It's so pretty. I wonder how the update support will be, and I can't tell if those buttons are software buttons or if they're capacitative buttons. Capacitative buttons are a huge turnoff.

Also, what's the deal with this ZenUI? Why not good old stock android? Why do some manufacturers choose to put their own crappy skin on top of Android. I like how Motorola does it, stock all the way.
 
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Also, what's the deal with this ZenUI? Why not good old stock android? Why do some manufacturers choose to put their own crappy skin on top of Android. I like how Motorola does it, stock all the way.


Yep agreed. From the videos I've watched there is still some stutters with the Zen UI despite the quad core Intel processor and 4gb ram...

Seriously put stock android and it would likely fly rather than saddle it with zen UI.
 
Yep agreed. From the videos I've watched there is still some stutters with the Zen UI despite the quad core Intel processor and 4gb ram...

Seriously put stock android and it would likely fly rather than saddle it with zen UI.
Yeah I really don't get the logic behind it. Seems like they're going out of their way to make the phone slower when the pure Android experience is superior. Why not just save their time and money and leave it the way it was meant to be?
 
Yeah I really don't get the logic behind it. Seems like they're going out of their way to make the phone slower when the pure Android experience is superior. Why not just save their time and money and leave it the way it was meant to be?

Hehehe! I remember when Android was first coming out and many people touted as a strength the ability for vendor to customize the UI to give a unique user experience. Hee Hee Hee!
 
Hehehe! I remember when Android was first coming out and many people touted as a strength the ability for vendor to customize the UI to give a unique user experience. Hee Hee Hee!

In my opinion, this "strength" was always a weakness. It's caused fragmentation and an inconsistent user experience. If a user chooses to customize their UI that's fine, but manufacturers should leave it alone.
 
zenphone2.jpg





If the $200 price tag is real, I'll be buying one. Intel must be heavily subsidizing these things.
 
In my opinion, this "strength" was always a weakness. It's caused fragmentation and an inconsistent user experience. If a user chooses to customize their UI that's fine, but manufacturers should leave it alone.

Then we wouldn't have features like true split screen multitasking, IR blaster, myriad of Samsung S exclusives, knock to wake, ecetera ecetera.

I get where you're coming from, but OEM skins offer more than just a visual makeover. They're usually packed with goodies you just can't find in pure android. A good blend of both should be the recipe so consumers can get equal ends of the spectrum.
 
Then we wouldn't have features like true split screen multitasking, IR blaster, myriad of Samsung S exclusives, knock to wake, ecetera ecetera.

I get where you're coming from, but OEM skins offer more than just a visual makeover. They're usually packed with goodies you just can't find in pure android. A good blend of both should be the recipe so consumers can get equal ends of the spectrum.
^^^^ this. Completely agree. Look at HTC Sense...great Android skin. Probably the best out there. TW is good but needs a little UI improvements. But without all these overlays.......pure Android is a little boring to me.
 
Then we wouldn't have features like true split screen multitasking, IR blaster, myriad of Samsung S exclusives, knock to wake, ecetera ecetera.

I get where you're coming from, but OEM skins offer more than just a visual makeover. They're usually packed with goodies you just can't find in pure android. A good blend of both should be the recipe so consumers can get equal ends of the spectrum.

I hear you , but just want to say I would love more Samsung goolgle edition devices. They keep the best items (for me) that are OEM specific and keep stock android. Multiwindow is probably the main feature I'd probably miss. Knock to wake wouldn't hurt either.

So sad it seems discontinued. So many product lines and they can the one that's perfect for me :p
 
Perfect, just what I was looking for - Zenfone 2 looks like the phone that hits a sweet price point

I hope they come to Canada and are priced well. @ 249$, I would jump on that
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znleHMkPpAw

This video has a HDR comparison mode with a Note 4 towards the end
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YBwOQpRyrs
 
Yeah I really don't get the logic behind it. Seems like they're going out of their way to make the phone slower when the pure Android experience is superior. Why not just save their time and money and leave it the way it was meant to be?


Because they want to differentiate, because they want to make it look like iOS. Because pure Android doesn't sell as well. If people really hate on skins, then the likes of Samsung, LG, and Sony would not be beating Motorola phones and the Nexus line year in and year out.
 
samsung, lg, sony all have extra hardware that moto and nexus lack. sd card/removable and/or bigger battery/ ir blaster/ better cameras. I'm not so sure that it is the skin that is making the sale (with the exception of the Note). you certainly have a point though.

Because they want to differentiate, because they want to make it look like iOS. Because pure Android doesn't sell as well. If people really hate on skins, then the likes of Samsung, LG, and Sony would not be beating Motorola phones and the Nexus line year in and year out.
 
samsung, lg, sony all have extra hardware that moto and nexus lack. sd card/removable and/or bigger battery/ ir blaster/ better cameras. I'm not so sure that it is the skin that is making the sale (with the exception of the Note). you certainly have a point though.

Yeah..i agree that the hardware definitely helps. It also doesn't help that Nexus devices and the recent Motorola phones (while great in most other aspects) don't take great pictures.

Still the point remains that pure Android isn't that much of an incentive for many --- only tech nerds like us.
 
Asus have been releasing some very solid phones at competitive prices during the past year. Zenfone 5 is a really good phone for $160. Same can apply to the Zenfone 6 for $70 more here locally. Both are usually out of stock. Asus was even kind to release a cheaper version of the Zenfone 5 called the 5 Lite and Fonepad 7 for the Philippine market.

If Xiaomi doesn't attack the Western market soon, Asus may just steal alot of it from them. Perhaps companies like Huawei, Lenovo, and Archos will soon follow. I am also very interested in the Archos 50 Diamond. But I am also tempted with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 and Nexus 6. I have 4.7 and 5 inch screen phones. I want to go to my absolute limit in size at near 6 inches. I can never go back to any screen smaller than 4.3. This phablet-loving Asian trend has got me dreaming even bigger with screen and battery life.
 
Those of you familiar with Asus phones in general, which are the best/most recent phones right now? (are any available in Canada?)

Their naming system has me so lost...Zenfone 4 then 6...then 5? Now 2? :confused:
 
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