ASUS is launching four new phones in India

At today’s event in India, ASUS announced that it’s launching four new phones for the Indian market. With four phones to cover, we’ll dive right in with the ASUS ZenFone Max, an enormous smartphone with an enormous battery. The ZenFone Max is packed with a 5.5-inch display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB of RAM, 13-megapixel rear camera with laser autofocus, 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a whopping 5000mAh battery to keep you powered through the day and night.

Next up is the ASUS ZenFone Laser, which quite clearly focuses on the laser autofocus of the device. The ZenFone Laser packs a 13-megapixel with laser autofocus, f/2.0 aperture and dual-tone LED flash. It brings in some options for other features such as three different display size choices of 5-inch, 5.5-inch and 6-inch, with a resolution of up to 1080p and Gorilla Glass 4 covering on all three displays. Performance-wise, you can choose from a range starting with the Snapdragon 410 processor and 2GB of RAM up to the octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor and 3GB of RAM.

ASUS Zenfone Laser & Zenfone Selfie

The third device is the ZenFone Selfie, which is the 5.5-inch version of the ZenFone Laser with a Snapdragon 615 processor and the addition of a 13-megapixel front-facing camera with wide angle lens and an f/2.2 aperture.

The final phone is the ZenFone 2 Deluxe. The ZenFone 2 Deluxe is the highest-specced ZenFone 2 with a new multifaceted polygonal back cover that looks ridiculously good. In terms of specs, you’ll find a 5.5-inch 1080p display, quad-core 2.3GHz Intel Atom processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage plus microSD card slot, 13-megapixel rear camera and a 3000mAh battery with fast charging.

The phones will be coming to India soon, but specifics weren’t given. Pricing hasn’t been revealed for the ZenFone Max, but the ZenFone Laser will range from 9,999 Rupees ($160 USD) to 17,999 Rupees ($280 USD) depending on the configuration. The ZenFone Selfie will sell for 15,999 Rupees ($250 USD) and the ZenFone 2 Deluxe will be very competitively priced at 14,999 Rupees ($240 USD).

ASUS Zenfone Max

Via: Engadget (1), (2)

Top 10 new Android games this week: Barmark, Drop Hunt

Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.

Clandestine: Anomaly

Description: In Clandestine: Anomaly your mobile device becomes super-charged with alien software, allowing you to see a hidden conflict all around you, and quickly build and deploy colossal structures to launch attacks and defend your neighborhood.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Trulon – The Shadow Engine

Description:  Enter a world of steampunk and magic by experiencing the debut title of the Trulon series. Trulon – The Shadow Engine is an adventure RPG with a unique card combat system.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Drop Hunt

Description: Drop Hunt is a game where you are tasked with moving colored droplets into their corresponding jar. You will have to solve eighty puzzle levels that are spread across four different locations to restore the elixir and save the daughter.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Shibuya Grandmaster

Description:  Featuring a stunningly simple and award-winning mechanic, Shibuya Grandmaster is a fast-paced arcade game of depth and old-school challenge that will have you honing your skills for years.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Barmark

Description: Barmark is a point n’ click exploration game, where you can alter the game’s environment in order to achieve harmony and personal perfection. There are no goals, no points and no death. Barmark let’s you be in control of your own experience.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Cosmonautica

Description: Cosmonautica combines elements of space trading and crew simulation to create a unique experience. Only if you take good care of your crew you will be able to succeed.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

4×4 Jam HD

Description: 4×4 JAM HD is the most unique all-terrain Off-Road Racing extravaganza you’ve ever seen. Dash through the river, jump over your opponents, roll down a steep hill – there are no limits and no boundaries in 4×4 JAM HD!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Faming Simulator 2016

Description: Farming Simulator 16 allows you to manage your own realistic farm in extraordinary detail. Plant, grow, harvest, and sell five different crops, raise cows and sheep, and sell timber at your own pace.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Tales of Illyria:Destinies RPG

Description: Rise as the hero of your own story as you struggle to survive in a world where demons and dysentery could plague your every step. Choose your name, appearance, gender and one of six kingdom origins. 

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Shooting Stars!

Description:  Shooting Stars is a refreshing colorful and funny take on the classic arcade shoot’em up, bullet hell, shmup, space invader like, whatever you want to call it – but finally, with evil aliens disguised as superstars, cats and rainbow lazers.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

OnePlus 2 surpasses two million reservations in less than two weeks

However unconventional the OnePlus reservation system may be, it appears to be working for them yet again as they have crossed two million reservations for the OnePlus 2 in less than two weeks.

Flagship killer or not, that’s a very respectable number, but it has to be taken with a grain of salt given that there is no guarantee how many of those tossing their hat in the ring for an invite are going to actually follow through when their time comes. That’s particularly true if OnePlus can’t deliver the phones at a considerably faster pace than last year as we head into the release of the Moto X Style and potentially multiple Nexus devices aimed at a very similar demographic as the OnePlus 2.

While the OnePlus 2 compromises sit well with some, they strip away one of the most highly touted features of the last year (quick charging), some features that appear ready to finally explode this year (NFC based payments) and the promise of USB Type-C falls short with the lack of support for faster charging and data transfer.

This upper mid-range class of devices seems to be hitting a sweet spot for a lot of consumers that are not willing to shell out several hundred dollars for a smartphone, but still crave something more than what the true budget devices have to offer and in that spirit I’m glad to see OnePlus experiencing success again as it will continue to put the pressure on others to deliver similar value to consumers.

Several apps are gaining Chromecast support, including HBO Now

Google’s Chromecast is a great little invention and its popularity has done nothing but grow. More and more apps continue to support the handy little device and Google has put out a blog post announcing some new apps that support Chromecast. The most notable app of the bunch is HBO Now, HBO’s available subscription streaming service that doesn’t also require a subscription to HBO’s cable service. For Chromecast users, watching Game of Thrones just got a little bit easier.

Other new apps include a couple games in the form of FitFlap and PhraseBlitz, as well as a mixed bag of others. Pixlr, the popular photo editing app, now includes support for editing on the big screen as well as viewing your photos. Watch Food Network and Watch Travel Channel add a slew of new shows available to cast onto our TV, and for children and the nostalgic among us, Pokemon TV now includes Chromecast support.

That’s all for now, but more apps are constantly being updated to include Chromecast support, so keep watch over your favorites.

HTC is cutting jobs and axing select smartphones

The glory days of HTC are long gone and the company is continuing to struggle. Amid prolonged financial instability, the company has faced decreased sales even with its flagship smartphone, the HTC One M9. Now the company is cutting back even further, with plans to cut jobs “across the board.” The company is also planning to discontinue certain models of devices in order to place more focus on its high-end division, where it feels it has a fighting chance.

The cuts will reportedly continue into the first quarter of next year, but analysts are predicting that the company will continue to struggle for at least the next four quarters. HTC stocks, sales and profits have tumbled in 2015, likely due to an unenthusiastic response to HTC’s flagship One M9. HTC has been a major player since the early days of Android and we’re rooting for the company as it works to get back on track. It would be a shame to see it collapse.

Huawei Nexus ‘Angler’ prototype with a fingerprint reader may have leaked in new video

Rumors of there being more than one Nexus-branded smartphone in any given year are not all that surprising anymore, so when stories surfaced that LG and Huawei had been tapped to create a Nexus smartphone for 2015, the echo chamber took over.

Since then, rumored specifications for the Huawei Nexus have managed to find their way online (and they certainly sound impressive enough), and even more talks about what a Huawei Nexus might look like and feature. That train continues rolling as a new video has been published by Steve Hemmerstoffer (@onleaks) that reportedly features the Huawei “Angler,” which is reportedly the codename for the upcoming Nexus smartphone.

The video is short, but there’s enough there to catch someone’s attention at least. We can see a relatively large circular camera, as well as a pill-shaped flash next to it. Below the camera a shape that could indicate a fingerprint reader is also clearly visible. If the video is any indication, then the power/lock button is on the side of the handset, too.

Any other details that might be floating around out there aren’t revealed by the photo, but at least for now it’s a pretty straightforward look at the back of the device that could very well be (one of) the next Nexus-branded smartphone. Based on what you see here, and with rumors that it could boast a 5.7-inch display, is the Huawei Nexus something you hope comes to life?

HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 deals offer unlocked versions for less than $400

How about some nice smartphone deals to help you over the Wednesday hump? The first deal we’ve got for you today is for the HTC One M9, which is an AT&T-branded model, but comes unlocked and manufacturer refurbished. The phone comes with 32GB of storage and costs $379.99. It’s worth noting that because this One M9 is unlocked, it’ll work on non-AT&T GSM carriers, but T-Mobile users will only get HSPA on the refarmed 1900MHz network. LTE should work fine.

If you’d prefer a phone that’s slightly larger, you can get a refurbished and unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 4 for $369.99. Like the One M9, this is the AT&T-branded version. Also like the One M9, this model will work on non-AT&T carriers, but T-Mo customers will only get HSPA on the 1900MHz airwaves.

The Galaxy Note 4 is going to be replaced as Samsung’s flagship Android phablet in a about a week, but the Note 4 has a high-end spec list that includes a 2560×1440 display and 16-megapixel camera. It’s also got a microSD slot and removable battery, two features that the Note 5 is expected to lack. So if you’re in the hunt for a new phablet and demand a microSD slot or removable battery, this Note 4 deal may be one to jump on.

Sources: eBay: HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy Note 4