Gadgets
Asus Zenfone 2 and Zenfone Zoom unveiled during CES 2015
This year’s edition of the Consumer Electronics Show is happening as we speak, with all the big players from the tech world standing in line, eager to show us their latest innovations. Just moments ago, Asus took the stage and presented two new products that are certain to blow customers away. First off, the company unveiled the Asus Zenfone 2, a new flagship smartphone that can easily go head-to-head with all the other similar handsets currently available on the market. The Zenfone series mostly consists of devices that have traditionally been considered to be way too expensive for their own good. This trend could change this year however, given that the company promises that their new additions will actually be cheap.
The Zenfone 2 is the first smartphone to come equipped with 4 GB of RAM, a feat that not even Samsung or LG were able to achieve yet. However, there will apparently be multiple versions of the handset, including one that features only 2 GB of RAM. Regardless of model, the Asus Zenfone 2 will sport a 5.5-inch display with 1080p resolution, a powerful Intel Atom Z3580 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, a 13 MP primary camera, and a 3,000 mAh battery. Asus claims that the model with 2 GB of RAM will cost only $200, which seems a bit too good to be true if you ask me. The Asus Zenfone 2 will become available to purchase sometime during the second quarter of the year.
Aside from the Zenfone 2, Asus also announced the Zenfone Zoom earlier today during their CES 2015 conference. This second handset is very similar to its sibling, except that it doesn’t pack 4 GB of RAM. However, the Zoom more than makes up for if with its unique 13 MP PixelMaster rear-facing shooter. The camera comes equipped with a 3x zoom lens and offers features such as optical imagine stabilization and laser auto-focus, among others. Surprisingly, this smartphone will also be priced at around $200 according to Asus.
We love the PlayStation ecosystem, especially its top first-party studios, but Sony Interactive Entertainment could do more to build goodwill. The long-awaited Trophy support for PS5 games on PC appears to be closer to reality, though nothing official has been announced.
TrueTrophie’s scanners found a new PS5 Trophy list with “PSPC” as a platform. The list, titled “Trophy Set” and unattached to a game, appears to be a test. TrueTrophies notes that developers rarely submit their own platforms to PSN, suggesting Sony is behind it.
TrueTrophies says this platform is separate from PS5 but can connect to it, suggesting compatibility. As PlayStation fans know, PS4, PS Vita, and PS3 games could share a list. In October 2022, Sony added PSN support to Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered’s PC release, allowing players to link Steam accounts to unlock an exclusive skin. Potentially minor, but something we’ll watch.
TrueTrophies lists PlayStation Trophies for serious hunters. They scrape the PlayStation Network’s ominous underbelly with scanners to provide the most up-to-date trophy lists, sometimes dangerously. TrueTrophies posted Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s trophy list weeks ago, with spoiler titles.
Next month, the PS5 Slim will replace the original PS5. Its main selling point is its detachable disc drive. Sony’s design change will streamline manufacturing, but consumers will have more flexibility. The refreshed machine will be 30% smaller than its predecessor, reducing its footprint.
But since the manufacturer hadn’t mentioned it, some worried you couldn’t install another SSD. A spokesperson told IGN that “there are no changes with the new model”—you can still install a compatible hard drive to expand the console’s storage.
Note that the new model increases on-board storage from 825GB to 1TB, so you get more space out of the box. However, some games are now so large that you may need a new PS5 SSD.
Despite Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, The Elder Scrolls 6 was not confirmed as an Xbox exclusive a few months ago. This happened because Xbox executive Phil Spencer indicated that target platforms hadn’t been selected yet, but it always felt like he was talking about the game being years away rather than the RPG being on PlayStation.
If you’re still holding out, Microsoft plans to release The Elder Scrolls 6 just on Xbox and PC. Documents from the company’s FTC lawsuit were recently released. In the document, Bethesda’s announced titles (both as a publisher and developer) are listed, and The Elder Scrolls 6 is listed for Xbox, PC, and nothing else.
We expected this, but The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced before Microsoft acquired its developer. The Elder Scrolls is a beloved franchise that’s been on various platforms for generations, so this isn’t Starfield.
However, the game isn’t due until 2026 at the earliest, according to the paper, and who knows what the gaming landscape will be like then.
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