Skip to main content

Asus keeps us guessing about its plans for MWC in new video

Asus MWC 2013 TeaserRemember Asus said it had something to wow us prepared for Mobile World Congress? Well, it has released a short viral video-style trailer to amp up anticipation ahead of the launch of said exciting product, and although it doesn’t really contain any actual facts, one can read plenty into the images used.

The video begins with a shot of a massive spacecraft traveling over the rooftops of Barcelona, before settling over the top of the Sagrada Familia temple and dropping down to add another five spires to the church. The words Ultimate Craftsmanship, Today appear over the shaky-cam footage, before it fades away to the words, “Join Asus to embrace the metallic miracle.”

Visiting the URL printed on the final image in the video shows we’ll be treated to a second teaser on February 21, and that we’ll meet the product on February 25, when, “Pad and Phone come together.” Sound familiar? It should, as Asus is the company behind the PadFone and PadFone 2. The PadFone 2 was announced late last year, but it has yet to receive a wide release, with the UK and the U.S. still waiting for a final date.

Could Asus be relaunching the PadFone 2? It’s a trick they pulled with the first PadFone, a device unveiled as a prototype and then again as a final retail product at MWC 2012. Perhaps, but then it has also been linked with the unimaginatively named Fonepad, a smaller tablet with phone capabilities built-in. The rumored device is said to feature an Intel Z2420 processor, a 7-inch screen and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The video certainly makes a point of showing the spacecraft firmly “docking” with the church, so if it’s not the PadFone 2 again, the new device could work in a similar way. Then there’s the reference to metal and the distinctly metallic look to the Asus craft, meaning whatever it is could have a metallic chassis. Finally, there’s always the chance we’re supposed to take the video literally, and Asus is letting us know the aliens are coming to finish off the Sagrada Familia once and for all.

Perhaps when the next trailer is released we’ll have a little more to go on, but failing that, we’ll get all the facts on February 25 at MWC.

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
I record interviews for work. These are my favorite free recorder apps
The iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro's voice recording apps running together.

The Voice Recorder app on a phone (left) and the Voice Memos on another phone Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Before you head to the app store on your phone to buy a voice-recording app, take a moment to consider the apps that may already be installed on your phone. Why? In my experience, they're likely all you really need. I’ve recorded interviews and voice-overs for work for years, and I’ve found the two best examples come preinstalled on your phone already, so they’re entirely free to use.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far
Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Read more
Google Pixel Tablet just got its first big discount and it’s worth a look
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Tablets are a dime-a-dozen these days, with offerings from all the great brands including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and more. So, if you really want to stand out in a sea of similar tech, you need to do things a little differently. That's what Google's Pixel Tablet offers. How? It comes with a unique speaker dock that can be used to both charge the device and offer room-filling sound -- almost like a smart speaker add-on. Better yet, when your Pixel Tablet is docked it benefits from the Hub Mode, turning the device into a smart display, with digital photo frame support, smart home controls, and hands-free Google functionality. Of course, it could set you back at full price, normally $499 unless you find it included in a roundup of the best Google Pixel deals. Well, guess what? Thanks to a Best Buy Google Pixel Tablet deal, you can get it today for $439 and save $60. Hurry, though, it's part of Best Buy's recent 48-hour sale so it won't stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet
Okay, okay, so in our Google Pixel Tablet review, Joe Maring did give it less than stellar remarks, but he called out its reliable fingerprint sensor, comfortability during use and excellent speaker dock. Honestly, how many tablets come with a matching speaker dock that transforms the entire experience? This tablet also marks a "lot of firsts" for Google, as it's the first tablet from the company in nearly five years, the first Android tablet in eight years, and can be converted into a smart home display with the speaker dock. All of which are notable milestones.

Read more