computex2016
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Using the HTC Vive with a green screen lets others follow along
It's often hard to convey what's happening inside virtual reality. HTC Vive's green screen idea attempts to do just that -- and also make it more interesting to watch. I will admit: Watching someone else play in VR is typically pretty damn boring. But this concept from HTC represents a rare opportunity to show what someone's doing when they strap on a headset. The tech is clever, but not rocket science: A camera (with a HTC Vive controller attached for positioning within the VR world), captures you on green screen. The camera then sends this feed to a connected PC which processes it in tandem with the VR game (in this case, teleporting-shooter Jeeboman.) Then, like a hyped video-game promise from decades ago, it's like you're inside the game.
Origin PC, Velocity Micro jump on Intel's 10-core processor
Now that Intel has officially trotted out Core i7 Extreme Edition processors based on its shiny new Broadwell-E platform, gaming PC makers are coming out of the woodwork with systems that tout these extra-fast chips. You'll now find up to a 10-core processor in models from Origin PC (the Chronos, Genesis, Millennium and Neuron) and Velocity Micro (the Raptor Z95, Raptor Signature Edition and ProMagix HD80). If you like to run multiple apps at once or use software that thrives on multi-core CPUs (such as video editors), you're in paradise.
Digital Storm's latest gaming all-in-one packs a 10-core CPU
The trend of gigantic all-in-one gaming PCs isn't ending any time soon. Digital Storm has unveiled a new version of the Aura, a 34-inch curved system that packs some truly high-end hardware. To begin with, it's one of the first PCs to use Intel's enthusiast-oriented, Broadwell-E-based Core i7 Extreme Edition processors -- you can equip it with up to a 10-core chip if you're bent on juggling multiple apps at the same time. You can also stuff in a GeForce GTX 1080 to make sure games play smoothly at the Aura's ultra-wide 3,440 x 1,440 resolution.
Welcome to Computex 2016!
Every June, we find ourselves in humid Taiwan, at a show mostly focused on computers. Computex always has some other stuff of course, but really, it's all about PCs. ASUS started the show a little early, but we're also hearing from Intel, Microsoft and others about what to expect over the next year or two. Mobile computing is The Thing now, so the likes of Qualcomm will have something to say as well. Virtual reality has ushered in a renaissance in PC gaming, and we're sure that'll also inform what we see this year. Find all the news from the show right here, and keep checking back -- we'll be reporting all week.
The President of Taiwan tries a quick chat with ASUS' home robot
I've said before that Computex is ASUS' show -- and what better demonstration than having the recently-elected President of Taiwan "talk" to your newly announced home robot? Crowd noise necessitated several repeated commands to ASUS' Zenbo play some music, but if it was apparently a live demonstration (ASUS' PR affirmed to our Engadget Chinese colleagues that it was), then it's pretty impressive. I mean, with my connectivity, I can barely even upload to Instagram in the thick of the show.
Intel's 7th generation of Core CPUs are coming later this year
Besides its $1,723 10-core Core i7 Extreme Edition processor, Intel just teased some other chip news during its keynote presentation at Computex. There aren't many details available, but the company confirmed the the seventh generation of its Core CPU technology will go on sale later this year. They will be joined by its Apollo Lake chips, which are a cheaper version of the current sixth-gen Skylake family. Apollo Lake should bring 4K video capability and USB-C to cheaper, 2-in-1 laptop/tablet style devices with smaller batteries. As far as the seventh generation of Core CPUs, buyers can expect support for Thunderbolt 3, and IR cameras used for features like Windows Hello's facial recognition.
Intel's first 10-core desktop CPU will cost $1,723
Now that the megahertz race has slowed down in the desktop processor world, the new race is all about cores. To that end, Intel just announced its first 10-core desktop CPU, the Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition, today at Computex. (It's had 10-core Xeon CPUs for servers since 2011.) The new processor will run at 3GHz (with boost speeds up to 3.5GHz), pack in 25MB of cache and feature Intel's new Turbo Boost 3.0 technology. Just but be prepared to pay through the nose for the privilege of owning it, as the 10-core i7 Extreme Edition will cost $1,723.
Qualcomm aims for more efficient wearables with latest chip
Rather than bringing more computing power to wearable devices, Qualcomm is aiming for efficiency with its new Snapdragon Wear 1100 chip. Announced today at Computex, it's meant for small wearables that won't be able to fit in large batteries. The company launched the Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip a few months ago, itself a smaller option for wearables compared to the Snapdragon 400-series processors used in some Android Wear watches, but the 1100 model takes things even further.
Up close with the ASUS ZenFone 3 series
Like it does every year at Computex, ASUS announced a bunch of new smartphones that won't break the bank. Only this time, the best-looking device turned out to be the base model: the ZenFone 3. I managed to get some hands-on time with this $249 device and to my surprise, it looks just as good in real life thanks to the spun-metal finish on the back. It also has a more premium feel than its predecessor due to the switch from a plastic body to a combination of metallic frame and 2.5D glass panels. At this price point (with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage), there's little to complain about, but it'll take some real-life usage to see if the mid-range Snapdragon 625 will suit your needs.
Catch up with Computex 2016: Day one
Computex is typically ASUS' show. Every year, the Taiwanese company takes to Taipei to unload a host of its wares and, in the process, steal the lion's share of the show's headlines. Well, 2016 is no different as ASUS has taken the wraps off a slew of devices including an ultraportable that's thinner than Apple's own MacBook, Surface-like 2-in-1 PCs, three new ZenFones, a charming robot assistant for the home and a me-too mobile VR headset. Don't fret if you whiled away the holiday weekend and need to get up to speed on day one of the show -- we've got you covered in the video above and the gallery below.
Hands-on video with the ASUS ZenBook 3: so, so thin
We didn't expect much from yet another ASUS ultraportable, but the ZenBook 3 is seriously impressive. Weighing in at two pounds and measuring 11.9mm thick, it's both thinner and lighter than Apple's already crazy portable MacBook. It also packs in speedy Core i5 and Core i7 processors, so you won't have to worry about it being underpowered like the MacBook's Core M CPU. Above, watch our hands-on video of the ZenBook 3, and be sure to check our announcement post for deeper impressions.
ASUS ROG unveils Avalon, a hassle-free approach to a DIY PC
If you're a serious enough gamer, you've likely looked into building your own PC for the ultimate gaming experience. But the process can be a little tedious, especially if you're new to figuring out where all the different components fit. ASUS's ROG (short for Republic of Gamers) division has unveiled a new product called the Avalon that's designed to alleviate exactly that concern. Think of it as a semi-homemade approach to DIY PC building.
ASUS upgrades its crazy ROG liquid-cooled gaming laptop
ROG, ASUS' well-respected gaming PC arm, likes to unveil a barrage of weird systems at Taipei's Computex -- and this year is no different. To start with, its insane liquid-cooled GX700 gaming laptop is coming back for another round. The GX800 still has the giant attachment at the rear, but will now be powered by an NVIDIA SLI GPU, along with Intel's K-series CPU. There are two 330W power supplies to ensure all that liquid-cooled overclocking you'll be doing. Indeed, if you're not planning to overclock, you're probably looking at the wrong gaming machine.
ASUS' me-too VR headset sure looks fancy
Well, look at what we have here. Tucked away in the corner of ASUS' Computex event is what looks like a VR headset, and a particularly fancy one, at that. The goggles part of it is a shiny silvery metal and its straps seem to be made out of leather. After digging around, we found out that it's meant to be used in much the same way as the Gear VR, except you'd use it with an ASUS' ZenFone instead (naturally). As with the Gear VR, you'd use the touchpad and buttons on the side for navigation. There's not much else we know about it, but we're guessing we'll learn more about it later this year. At IFA, perhaps?
ASUS' Zenbo robot walks, talks and controls your home
ASUS chairman Jonney Shih took to the stage at Computex today to announce something a little different, if completely on trend: a home robot. "Our ambition is to enable robotic computing for every household," he said before revealing Zenbo the home robot. With the goals of "assistance, entertainment and companionship," it's aimed at older people in particular. However, the most interesting feature here is the promise that the robot will connect with traditional and smart home devices. You'll be able to check who's at the door from a connected camera, and then remote-unlock the door from the robot's, er, face. Zenbo will also be able to connect to lights, TVs and air conditioners -- if it speaks your langauge, that is.
ASUS's ZenFone 3 looks and feels twice its price
Intel may have already quit the smartphone market, but its buddy ASUS continues to fight the good fight with a slightly different approach this year. At Computex, the Taiwanese giant announced not just one, but three new Android M smartphones: ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe and ZenFone 3 Ultra. The three share a common design language, though in our opinion, it's the $249 base model that has the best appearance thanks to 2.5D Gorilla Glass on both sides, as well as the spun-metal finish on the back (underneath the glass). Together, these work well with any of the four color options: Shimmer Gold, Aqua Blue, Sapphire Black and Moonlight White. The sandblasted metallic frame around it adds a nice touch too.
ASUS' latest Transformers take heavy cues from Microsoft's Surface
ASUS has just unveiled a line of new Transformer 2-in-1 PCs that look suspiciously like a certain product from Microsoft. With their touchscreens, kickstands and portable keyboards, they do remind us a lot of, you guessed it, the Surface tablets. Of the new announcements, the Transformer 3 Pro is the most advanced of the lot, the Transformer 3 sits somewhere in the middle, and the Mini is the lightest (not to mention cutest).
ASUS' ZenBook 3 is thinner, lighter and faster than the MacBook
How much more can ASUS shave off of the ZenBook, its flagship ultraportable? Apparently, quite a bit. The company's new ZenBook 3, announced today at Computex, clocks in at just two pounds and 11.9mm (0.46 inches) thick. In comparison, the previous ZenBook UX305 weighed 2.64 pounds and measured 12.9mm thick (0.51 inches). Sure, those might just seem like incremental improvements, but they're remarkable when you consider just how insanely thin and light the previous model was. Most impressively, the ZenBook 3 just barely edges out Apple's svelte MacBook, which weighs 2.03lbs and is 13.2mm (0.52 inches) thick, all while packing in a larger 12.5-inch display.
ARM prepares for VR in 2017's phones with new chips
Come next year, ARM has one major theme in mind for its next batch of mobile processors: virtual reality. Its new Cortex-A73 chip and Mali-G71 GPU are, naturally, faster than its current lineup. But more so than the past few years, where incremental improvements were enough, ARM sees VR as the ideal goalpost for its chips. The new Mali chip, for example, will be able to push up 4K screens with refresh rates of up to 120Hz (90Hz is the bare minimum for decent VR). And both new processors will also be easier on battery life, which means you'll be able to stay jacked into virtual worlds for much longer.
ASUS' GeForce GTX 1080 is faster and more colorful
NVIDIA's official GeForce GTX 1080 is fast, but let's face it: you're really waiting for the third-party cards that push the limits of what the high-end graphics chipset can really do. And it looks like your patience just paid off. ASUS has revealed the ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080, and it pushes well past what NVIDIA's board can do. The regular Strix runs at a 1.76GHz base clock speed (with a boost to 1.9GHz) versus the reference model's 1.6GHz, and an overclocked version bumps that to 1.78GHz (boosting to 1.94GHz). You're only looking at a few more frames per second in your games, but that can make the difference between a glass-smooth 60 frames per second and the occasional hitch.
