Just an update a few days before my Asus Zenfone 2 turns 1 year old.
Actually, I am disappointed that a long-established brand like Asus cannot make very reliable phones.
To report, my Zenfone 2 has "ghost-touch" or "auto-touch", as the Asus helpline puts it.
This is where the touchscreen behaves as though someone is touching and pressing it, where windows open and close, buttons get pressed, but in actual fact, nobody is touching or pressing the screen at all.
This has become increasingly irritating and my advise to Asus would be to ensure the quality and reliability of one of the most important components on the phone itself, i.e. the touchscreen.
As you can see from the link below, there are many other customers and users complaining about reliability issues, such as touchscreen, motherboard, battery, etc.
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3618607/+2260
I had to send in my Zenfone 2 ZE551ML to the Asus Service Centre at Digital Mall, Section 14 Petaling Jaya a few days ago. The person in charge there said it could take up to 2 weeks for the technicians to investigate and repair the screen if required. Let's see what happens as it is still covered under warranty.
How about swapping and upgrading my phone to a Zenfone 3 as goodwill, eh Asus?
Let's see what happens next.
Another thing that irritates us Zenfone 2 users is Asus had posted on their website that ZE551ML users could get Android 6.0 Marshmallow in Quarter 2 of 2016.
Hello Asus, it is well into Quarter 3 now, and where is the OTA upgrade to Marshmallow?
http://www.asus.com/my/support/FAQ/1014835
If you publish something online, make sure you keep your promise and deliver.
Is it some issue regarding your Intel chipset's compatibility with Marshmallow?
With the recent launch of the Zenfone 3, Asus had better buck-up and improve.
The higher, less-affordably priced Zenfone 3 is expected to not be as big a hit as the Zenfone 2 when it was launched a year ago, as Asus has more competitive competitors now such as Huawei's range of attractive P9, P9 Lites, Honor 5X and 5C. And since it is made of glass, whoever buys it had better be extra careful in handling the phone. Better get a sturdy, hard casing to protect the back of the phone.
Friday, 19 August 2016
Friday, 26 February 2016
Pork pizza within KL / PJ area, anybody?
During the recent Lunar New Year holidays, we decided to try Skippy's Pizza as we did not feel like cooking. They serve and specialise in pork pizza.
They have 2 outlets, starting with the one in Phileo Damansara and recently opening another one in Damansara Uptown in December 2015.
We tried the value option, which is 3 large pizzas for RM90 (inclusive of GST).
Delivery to the house costs additional RM6, but delivery is to selected areas only such as
Bandar Utama, TTDI, Tropicana, Damansara areas, Petaling Jaya SS1-26, Mutiara Damansara, Mount Kiara, Sri Hartamas, Bangsar Baru, Damansara Heights, Kelana Jaya, and Kota Damansara.
First pizza: Meat Lovers
It comes with pork bacon, pork ham, pork pepperoni, minced pork and BBQ sauce.
If you enjoy loads of porky goodness, then this is the one to go for. The bacon was smoked, with thin crust bread as the base. So it is all very light and easy to eat compared with the thick crust pizzas which can be found from the normal pizzerias such as Pizza Hut and Domino's. You would not feel full even after eating 3 to 4 slices as the bread base is so thin. It's more like eating wanton or dumpling skin.
Second pizza: Hawaiian
Standard fare. It is the normal pineapple pizza with minced pork. The toppings were ok, with a stronger flavoured cheese. Recommended if you enjoy your Hawaiian pizza, else go for the Meat Lovers pizza as described above.
Third and final pizza: Pork Varevul
This is a pizza with pork, something like pulled pork with Indian curry. It is not too spicy, unlike the varevul or varuval curry you can get in the Indian restaurants. This pork vareful is sweetish-salty, and there is hardly a tinge of curry powder even. Nonetheless, it goes quite well with the cheese and tomato base of the pizza.
Visit their website here for more details: http://skippyspizza.com/
Telephone: +603 7931 2555
skippyspizza@gmail.com
Address:
Phileo Damansara 1
9 Jalan 16/11 off Jalan Damansara
107 Blok D
46350 Petaling Jaya
Operating Hours :
Monday -Frirday : 11:30-22:00
Saturday : 11:30-22:00
Sundays closed
Telephone: +603 7931 2555
skippyspizza@gmail.com
Address:
Phileo Damansara 1
9 Jalan 16/11 off Jalan Damansara
107 Blok D
46350 Petaling Jaya
Operating Hours :
Monday -Frirday : 11:30-22:00
Saturday : 11:30-22:00
Sundays closed
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Thai Corner Restaurant, New Town, Petaling Jaya
Since it's a new year, I figured it's time for a change, I would do a write up on food besides cars and technology.
For those of you looking for Thai Food that is 'reasonably' priced by today's standards, nearby New Town, Petaling Jaya,you might consider Thai Corner Restaurant. Reasonably priced meaning dishes with rice at around RM10 to RM20 per dish, or around RM6 to RM15 for ala carte.
Apparently the boss is a Malay man, so it may not be truly authentic Thai food, but nevertheless, the food served was quite tasty. For more details, they even have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThaiCornerPJ/
We ordered squid with sambal, hot plate tofu and chicken with special sauce to go with white rice.
The squid with sambal was ok, more Malaysian than Thai, it's just like the normal sambal belacan with cut chillies and tamarind. It was not too hot, a little sour but not sweet. The squid was well done, not overcooked with cucumbers and onions. Of the 3 dishes, this was the least satisfying.
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| Squid with sa mbal |
Next up, the hot plate tofu fared much better. Although simply prepared, just with some minced chicken (remember this place is halal), but the tofu and sauce was tasty enough. There was a hint of oyster and fish sauce.
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| Sizzling hot plate tofu |
Lastly, the fried chicken with special sauce. Basically it is fried chicken with onion rings. The sauce is mildly sweet, not spicy, with a hint of Worcesterhire (Lea & Perrins) sauce. I personally would recommend it. The chicken tasted fresh and the meat was tender.
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| Fried chicken with special sauce |
Thai Corner Restaurant, PJ New Town
Address: 4, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, PJ New Town, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone:+60 3-7957 1588
Opening hours:
Tue.-Sun. 11:00-15:00 (Lunch), 18:00-22:30 (Dinner)
Closed on Monday
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Honda Malaysia on a roll - Brisk year end car sales
Having paid a visit to Sumber Auto Edaran, one of the main dealers of Honda cars in Petaling Jaya, I was made aware by the sales advisers that customers have been snapping up the Honda City and Jazz models in view of the 2-3% price increase in January, so much so that people looking to buy these cars in December have been told that the stocks have finished.
This may be partly due to the fact that production of Honda City in Malaysia was stopped in December 2015 in view of the impending price increase of 2-3% starting January 2016.
More details can be found here:
http://paultan.org/2015/10/19/honda-malaysia-price-increase-confirmed-2016/
Looks like Honda Malaysia is making brisk sales and the City and Jazz are selling like hotcakes! Unsurprising judging from the popularity of the City in Malaysia due to its features, comfort, functionality, size and price point. Given the spaciousness, comfort, refinement of the engine and CVT gearbox, features found on the grade V model such as cruise control and Honda link (pairing of iPhone to the 7" infotainment screen), it's no wonder why competitors such as the Toyota Vios and Nissan Almera are still far behind in terms of sales.
We can all wonder what will be the outlook of car sales in Malaysia come January 2016 and after Chinese New Year. Forecasts of slower sales due to the tough economy with price increases in transportation, toll, etc. may make potential buyers put on hold the purchase of a new car.
This may be partly due to the fact that production of Honda City in Malaysia was stopped in December 2015 in view of the impending price increase of 2-3% starting January 2016.
More details can be found here:
http://paultan.org/2015/10/19/honda-malaysia-price-increase-confirmed-2016/
Looks like Honda Malaysia is making brisk sales and the City and Jazz are selling like hotcakes! Unsurprising judging from the popularity of the City in Malaysia due to its features, comfort, functionality, size and price point. Given the spaciousness, comfort, refinement of the engine and CVT gearbox, features found on the grade V model such as cruise control and Honda link (pairing of iPhone to the 7" infotainment screen), it's no wonder why competitors such as the Toyota Vios and Nissan Almera are still far behind in terms of sales.
We can all wonder what will be the outlook of car sales in Malaysia come January 2016 and after Chinese New Year. Forecasts of slower sales due to the tough economy with price increases in transportation, toll, etc. may make potential buyers put on hold the purchase of a new car.
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| 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine of a Honda City |
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| Honda City Grade E dashboard |
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| Honda City Grade E air conditioning controls - Simple and just how it should be! 3 knobs rather than touchscreens. |
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| Grade E mirror controls with electric folding. Econ button is standard in all Honda City models. |
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| Maintenance free battery - very small and compact |
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Hazy weekend, car exhibitions around Klang Valley.
The hazy weather here in Kuala Lumpur means it is advisable for people to stay indoors.
So what shall we do with our time, now that we can't be walking outside due to the smog and pollution? There are a few car exhibitions going around Klang Valley this weekend.
1. Nu Sentral Shopping Mall, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur.
2. Auto-Mania 2015 at Naza Autoworld, along the Federal Highway, Petaling Jaya
Good for checking out imported pre-owned cars like the Toyota Vellfire, which I think is too big and an unnecessary vehicle when other better options are there. Well, I guess it's for wealthy people who like big, bling MPVs when a normal MPV with a price point of RM140,000 to RM180,000 will suit most families fine. Think Hyundai Starex, Peugeot 5008 or Mazda Biante.
Map to Naza Autoworld
They will have some Chevrolet models like the Cruze which they might give some discounts. By the way, the new Chevy Cruze was launched recently in US. So you know why they are having promotions for the current Cruze models here in Malaysia. Stock clearance! The 2016 Cruze's silhouette looks somewhat like the Kia Cerato's.
They'll also showcase some bikes such as Aprilias, Harley Davidsons and Vespas.
3. Alami Proton Carnival at Proton Centre of Excellence
For people looking for discounts on spare parts, lifestyle merchandise and offers/rebates on car models.
Map to Proton Centre of Excellence
So what shall we do with our time, now that we can't be walking outside due to the smog and pollution? There are a few car exhibitions going around Klang Valley this weekend.
1. Nu Sentral Shopping Mall, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur.
There is a car exhibition going on there. Caught glimpses of Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Kia Sportage and a few Citroens when I walked past the concourse area. The exhibition will be going on from 2th October till 4th October 2015.
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| Mazda 2 dashboard |
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| Mazda 3 |
2. Auto-Mania 2015 at Naza Autoworld, along the Federal Highway, Petaling Jaya
Good for checking out imported pre-owned cars like the Toyota Vellfire, which I think is too big and an unnecessary vehicle when other better options are there. Well, I guess it's for wealthy people who like big, bling MPVs when a normal MPV with a price point of RM140,000 to RM180,000 will suit most families fine. Think Hyundai Starex, Peugeot 5008 or Mazda Biante.
Map to Naza Autoworld
They will have some Chevrolet models like the Cruze which they might give some discounts. By the way, the new Chevy Cruze was launched recently in US. So you know why they are having promotions for the current Cruze models here in Malaysia. Stock clearance! The 2016 Cruze's silhouette looks somewhat like the Kia Cerato's.
They'll also showcase some bikes such as Aprilias, Harley Davidsons and Vespas.
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| 2015 Chevrolet Cruze |
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| 2016 Chevrolet Cruze |
For people looking for discounts on spare parts, lifestyle merchandise and offers/rebates on car models.
Monday, 28 September 2015
Automotive vendors - Faurecia
Faurecia.
Now this is not a name many of you might have heard of, even though you may be car aficionados.
Faurecia is actually an automotive parts vendor headquartered in Nanterre, France.
By automotive vendors, we are talking about big name companies such as Denso, Bosch, Aisin Seki, Conti, Magna, Dephi, ZF, TRW. BASF, Valeo, etc. Any of them ring a bell?
Faurecia designs and manufactures car seats, interior systems such as dashboards, centre consoles, door panels, acoustic modules), exhaust systems, exterior modules (exterior systems and shock absorption systems) and decorative aspects of a vehicle (such as aluminium, wood on dashboard and door panels).
Notable car manufacturers to which it supplies include PSA Peugeot Citroën, Volkswagen group, Renault-Nissan, Ford, General Motors, Fiat/Chrysler, BMW, Daimler, Toyota and Hyundai-Kia
Recently launched car models such as the:
Now this is not a name many of you might have heard of, even though you may be car aficionados.
Faurecia is actually an automotive parts vendor headquartered in Nanterre, France.
By automotive vendors, we are talking about big name companies such as Denso, Bosch, Aisin Seki, Conti, Magna, Dephi, ZF, TRW. BASF, Valeo, etc. Any of them ring a bell?
Faurecia designs and manufactures car seats, interior systems such as dashboards, centre consoles, door panels, acoustic modules), exhaust systems, exterior modules (exterior systems and shock absorption systems) and decorative aspects of a vehicle (such as aluminium, wood on dashboard and door panels).
Notable car manufacturers to which it supplies include PSA Peugeot Citroën, Volkswagen group, Renault-Nissan, Ford, General Motors, Fiat/Chrysler, BMW, Daimler, Toyota and Hyundai-Kia
Recently launched car models such as the:
- Stunning new Alfa Romeo Giulia - instrument panel, door panels and center console.
- Boldly styled Renault Talisman - front seats, interior LED lighting, emissions control system
- Audi A3 - premium feeling quality interior and two-tone instrument panel
- Mercedes S-Class Coupe - Centre console, instrument and door panels, front and rear bumpers
- Ford S-Max - Front and rear bumpers, rear seat structure, headrests and foams
- Hyundai Santa Fe - cold end exhaust line
Saturday, 26 September 2015
Twins and a Maserati
TWINS Art Exhibition
There's this Italian artist/sculptor Oliviero Rainaldi whose works are now being displayed in Galeri Petronas, Suria KLCC mall on Level 3.
Exhibition runs from 18th August to 4th October 2015.
This showcases his latest works comprising sculptors, drawings and paintings featuring different techniques and material such as plaster, bronze, glass, etc.
According to the man himself, the TWINS (exhibition) is a presentation of horizontal and vertical, of plenty and void, of immersion and appearance, of existence and non-existence, of intimacy and display,
For me, maybe due to my lack of exposure to this type of art, I would need a few glances and takes again to appreciate the design and work of these showpieces. One of them I can appreciate more is the "Upside down Ocsar" (that's what I call it, as it kind of resembles the Oscar statuette, well, without the hands).
The MASERATI
Now this is much easier to relate to. Surprisingly, there was a Maserati Quattroporte S being displayed in the gallery.
It's a beautiful car, very purposeful. The trident-badged car manufacturer is no stranger in designing aesthetically pleasing cars that stirs the heart. Noteworthy is the other model as well, the Gran Turismo.
Under the lighting, this Quattroporte looks good in brown. It's quad-tailpipes enhances its sporty and powerful look. The wide front grille and swept back headlights give it a sleeker profile compared to its predecessor.
I think the car is there because the artist was assigned on behalf of Maserati to create a sculpture called “Neptune in the Wind” in honour of its tradition. The statue holds a trident, which is basically similar in shape to the Maserati logo.
Check out this exhibition. Admission is free of charge.
There's this Italian artist/sculptor Oliviero Rainaldi whose works are now being displayed in Galeri Petronas, Suria KLCC mall on Level 3.
Exhibition runs from 18th August to 4th October 2015.
According to the man himself, the TWINS (exhibition) is a presentation of horizontal and vertical, of plenty and void, of immersion and appearance, of existence and non-existence, of intimacy and display,
For me, maybe due to my lack of exposure to this type of art, I would need a few glances and takes again to appreciate the design and work of these showpieces. One of them I can appreciate more is the "Upside down Ocsar" (that's what I call it, as it kind of resembles the Oscar statuette, well, without the hands).
 |
| The "Upside Down Oscar" |
The MASERATI
Now this is much easier to relate to. Surprisingly, there was a Maserati Quattroporte S being displayed in the gallery.
It's a beautiful car, very purposeful. The trident-badged car manufacturer is no stranger in designing aesthetically pleasing cars that stirs the heart. Noteworthy is the other model as well, the Gran Turismo.
Under the lighting, this Quattroporte looks good in brown. It's quad-tailpipes enhances its sporty and powerful look. The wide front grille and swept back headlights give it a sleeker profile compared to its predecessor.
I think the car is there because the artist was assigned on behalf of Maserati to create a sculpture called “Neptune in the Wind” in honour of its tradition. The statue holds a trident, which is basically similar in shape to the Maserati logo.
Check out this exhibition. Admission is free of charge.
Thursday, 24 September 2015
What will be the future of diesel powered cars?
I'm sure many of you have been reading the news lately on the diesel scandal by reputable German car-maker Volkswagen which supposedly had "defeat devices". This device can detect that their car is undergoing a test by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and therefore reduces its power, performance and emissions thus leading the people who are testing it to believe that the CO2 emissions have passed the standards set.
Now the CEO has resigned and the question is, "What will be future of diesel powered cars?"
Are other car manufacturers also having a similar technology to emit 'lower' levels of CO2 and nitrogen oxides during testing and then revert back to its normal performance where the CO2 levels exceed the standards set?
Will we see the downfall of diesel cars when the public was led to believe that modern diesel engines were clean, efficient and powerful all at the same time?
Will petrol-hybrids now replace diesel technology? I'm not convinced and don't think petrol-hybrid technology up to the level yet. Maybe the best current technology for fuel economy will still be high-compression direct injection engines? Let me know your views and reactions.
Related news reports:
Sunday, 20 September 2015
Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML Review
If you're looking for a full-featured yet affordable smartphone that would not break the bank, then look no further than Asus' Zenfone 2. This smartphone is now sold globally, and it clearly shows that consumers are picking it up.
Just over a year ago, I noticed most people in Malaysia were using the 'traditional' brands such as Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxys, Sony Xperias, HTCs, LGs, Motorolas and so on. But lately, I've been noticing more and more people taking out Asus phone from their pockets. Looks like the Asus gameplan on selling more phones is taking off. This trend can be seen in the Chinese handsets too, like Lenovo, Oppo, Xiaomi and to a lesser extent, OnePlus.
The ZE551ML promises to offer a very smooth and slick interface, with minimal lag. The top of the line version with the 4GB RAM is actually the world's first smartphone to come with 4GB RAM.
Take note that the Zenfone 2 range has many variants, so do not get confused by it.
The entry-level ZE500CL comes with a 5" 720 display, quad-core Intel Atom Z2560 chipset clocked at 1.6GHz and 2GB of RAM. The ZE550ML has a larger screen size at 5.5". Processor has been upgraded to the Atom Z3560 at 1.8GHz, with 2GB RAM.
Then there's the ZE551ML, which I'm reviewing now. It has a 5.5" display with Full HD resolution. There's a version with the same Atom Z3560 and 2GB of RAM and a range topping model, sporting an Atom Z3580 with specs out at 2.3GHz and 4GB of RAM.
The Zenfone 2 is a nice looking phone, with a plastic shell and brushed aluminium-like back cover. It's plastic though, but done tastefully. Our unit is in silver, but multiple colour choices such as Black, White, Gold, Red and other customisable covers are available.
Dimensions: 77.2 x 152.5 x 3.9 ~ 10.9 mm (WxDxH)
Weight: 170 grams
Price in Malaysia: From RM1199 (4GB RAM, 32 GB storage) to RM1399 (4GB RAM, 64GB storage).
Though if you look around shops, I was able to find the top line one at RM1350, inclusive GST but not including protective accessories like phone cover and tempered glass.
Features
Pros:
Phone is packed in an attractive box, colour matches with the phone inside.
The usual set of accessories, a charger and a set of earphones with earbuds.
Here, the AC adapter is provides the fast charging feature where it puts out a maximum 2 Amperes at 9 Volts to give the 18 Watts charging power, so that it can charge the phone to 60% in 39 minutes (as claimed by Asus).
Handling and feel
The phone is 10.7mm thick, which may look like a lot comparing to the 7mm thickness of other competitors, but at the edges, it is much thinner, at 3.9mm. It has a natural feel when held, with the back cover curving to be at its thickest in the centre.
There is a feature for one-handed use, where the screen is sized smaller, to ease the use of operating the screen when using only one hand. This is good when you're standing in a train or carrying stuff on the other hand, when you've only one hand to use the phone.
The Zenfone 2 weighs in at 170 grams. Not that light, but okay. We'd expect such a weight for a phone with a 5.5" screen with so many features (dual-SIM included).
The IPS display is sharp enough, though the images could be a tad over-saturated. But there are setting to adjust the colour control through Asus' Splendid App. I'd recommend protecting the screen with a tempered glass protector. In terms of brightness, the phone is not that bright,so reading when the phone under direct sunlight could be a bit difficult.
Battery life
A 3000mAh battery is not user replaceable. The capacity is about expected for a smartphone this size. Our tests show that Zenfone 2 can last as much as 9 days in standby mode (when a single SIM card is used).
Average amount of usage of voice calls, WhatsApp, browsing, video playing will drain the battery in around 24 hours which is okay for this segment. I didn't bother using the Asus Brower, as I'm used to Chrome. I read from other reviews that the Asus Browser was more heavy in battery usage, so you might want to stick with Chrome.
Signal reception and connectivity
Connectivity to Maxis' network in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE posed no issues at all. Transition was seamless and smooth. Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac radios are available, with hotspot support, which was fine as well.
GPS was quick to load, with locations precisely mapped. There is an FM radio receiver but no infra-red blaster, so home devices can't be controlled using this method.
Operating system
Google's Android 5.0 is being the OS, but with Asus' ZenUI integrated in. Asus' has put in a host of proprietary apps, some which may not be of much use, like Omlet chat (another chat app) and ZenFlash camera (another camera app).
One nice feature is the ability to double-tap to turn the screen or off. This is logical as the power button is right on the top of the phone, so it may not be so convenient to press the button using one hand.
The task switcher is the standard Android 5.0 rolling screen, but there is a 'pin' button, which keeps the selected app in view regardless of taps on the capacitive buttons.
Another shortcut is the ability to draw the letter "C" on the screen while in sleep mode. This will wake the phone and launch the camera app. "W" launches the browser. We are able to preset up to six setting, and can assign any app of your choice to any letter.
Speed and Performance
The 4GB Asus ZenFone 2 delivered impressive performance across, even shaming some flagship devices from more established manufacturers behind it on more than one occasion.
Thought there are not many smartphones using the Intel chipsets, the majority are using Qualcomm chipsets, nevertheless, the Intel Atom Z3560 proved to be able to compete with the Snapdragon quad-core 2.26GHz processors.
Multi-tasking isn't an issue at all, with hardly any lag switching between application and games such as Modern Combat 5, Real Racing, etc.
Phone function
One basic thing that shouldn't be forgotten, a phone has to perform this well - making and receiving calls. Reception is good, in-call sound is clear and loud enough. Call logs are combined with the dialer, as well with a list of favourites or VIP contacts.
Being a dual-SIM phone a choice of options are offered on how to handle the two SIMs. Enabling/disabling of SIMs can be configured within the settings menu, as well as assigning a name for each SIM for easier identification. The speakerphone is not that loud though, so Asus could improve on that in the future.
The Asus keyboard comes with the swipe feature, so those who are used to this feature will not miss out when using this phone.
Audio, Video Players and Gallery
A custom gallery app is used to view photos and playback videos. Bundled also is an app for movie making, called the Asus MiniMovie app, which lets you select images and compiles them into a short movie clips with transitions, fading effect, etc. with music, which can be customised.
The audio app comes with an equalizer with multiple presets and a single custom setting to adjust the highs and lows (treble and bass).
Camera
The 13 megapixel camera has a fast and wide f/2.0 aperture lens, and this is helped by a dual-LED flash. Many shooting modes are available, among them the landscape/panorama, night, HDR, selfie and auto-mode. We have control over the ISO, white balance, exposure compensation, the list goes on.
Sharpness, detail and depth of field are all present in the sample photos below. Check them out and give your comments. All photos are stock out of the camera, no editing was done. Overall, I think it's a commendable effort from Asus. I understand that the sensor for the camera is sourced from Toshiba.
The selfie 5 megapixel sensor is adequate for video conferencing and selfies. It comes with a wide angle lens, so it is easy to position the camera for selfie shots.
Conclusion
The Zenfone 2 is a value for money package with a near-premium design, fast performance, dual-SIM flexibility and plenty of power for every day use. All of that comes at a compelling price and good enough build quality.
With these features and lower price compared to its competitors, it's no wonder why we are now seeing more and more people using Asus phones.
The ZE551ML promises to offer a very smooth and slick interface, with minimal lag. The top of the line version with the 4GB RAM is actually the world's first smartphone to come with 4GB RAM.
Take note that the Zenfone 2 range has many variants, so do not get confused by it.
The entry-level ZE500CL comes with a 5" 720 display, quad-core Intel Atom Z2560 chipset clocked at 1.6GHz and 2GB of RAM. The ZE550ML has a larger screen size at 5.5". Processor has been upgraded to the Atom Z3560 at 1.8GHz, with 2GB RAM.
Then there's the ZE551ML, which I'm reviewing now. It has a 5.5" display with Full HD resolution. There's a version with the same Atom Z3560 and 2GB of RAM and a range topping model, sporting an Atom Z3580 with specs out at 2.3GHz and 4GB of RAM.
The Zenfone 2 is a nice looking phone, with a plastic shell and brushed aluminium-like back cover. It's plastic though, but done tastefully. Our unit is in silver, but multiple colour choices such as Black, White, Gold, Red and other customisable covers are available.
Dimensions: 77.2 x 152.5 x 3.9 ~ 10.9 mm (WxDxH)
Weight: 170 grams
Price in Malaysia: From RM1199 (4GB RAM, 32 GB storage) to RM1399 (4GB RAM, 64GB storage).
Though if you look around shops, I was able to find the top line one at RM1350, inclusive GST but not including protective accessories like phone cover and tempered glass.
Features
Pros:
- Intel Atom Z3560 chipset with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, PowerVR 6430 GPU
- 5.5" IPS screen has 1080p resolution and 403ppi density, Gorilla Glass 3 protection
- 4GB of RAM, up to 64 GB of storage (depending on the version you buy)
- MicroSD slot for further storage expansion
- Dual-SIM (second SIM is 2G only) with dual-call capability
- Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
- LTE Cat.4
- NFC
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
- 13 megapixel main camera with dual-LED dual-tone LED flash, 1080p@30fps video recording; 5MP front camera
- 3,000mAh battery, with fast charging feature where 60% of the battery capacity can be charged in 39 minutes. This 18W BoostMaster adapter/charger is included with 2.3GHz/4GB ZenFone 2 model only.
- Android 5.0 Lollipop with Asus Zen user interface
- Good build quality, back cover has the brushed metallic feel
- LED notification light has only 2 colours - amber (while charging) and green (full charge and for notifications). I wished the light would be bigger though.
- No illuminated touch buttons (home, back and open-tasks).
- No 2160p video recording (do you really need that?)
- Non-removable battery even though it has a removable back cover
- Plastic build (solid feel, but if you're into aluminium and metal casings, then you might want to look elsewhere).
Phone is packed in an attractive box, colour matches with the phone inside.
The usual set of accessories, a charger and a set of earphones with earbuds.
Here, the AC adapter is provides the fast charging feature where it puts out a maximum 2 Amperes at 9 Volts to give the 18 Watts charging power, so that it can charge the phone to 60% in 39 minutes (as claimed by Asus).
Handling and feel
The phone is 10.7mm thick, which may look like a lot comparing to the 7mm thickness of other competitors, but at the edges, it is much thinner, at 3.9mm. It has a natural feel when held, with the back cover curving to be at its thickest in the centre.
There is a feature for one-handed use, where the screen is sized smaller, to ease the use of operating the screen when using only one hand. This is good when you're standing in a train or carrying stuff on the other hand, when you've only one hand to use the phone.
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| ZenUI with settings which can be turned on/off and customised. |
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| One-handed feature which makes it easier to use the phone with one hand as the screen is huge. |
The IPS display is sharp enough, though the images could be a tad over-saturated. But there are setting to adjust the colour control through Asus' Splendid App. I'd recommend protecting the screen with a tempered glass protector. In terms of brightness, the phone is not that bright,so reading when the phone under direct sunlight could be a bit difficult.
Battery life
A 3000mAh battery is not user replaceable. The capacity is about expected for a smartphone this size. Our tests show that Zenfone 2 can last as much as 9 days in standby mode (when a single SIM card is used).
Average amount of usage of voice calls, WhatsApp, browsing, video playing will drain the battery in around 24 hours which is okay for this segment. I didn't bother using the Asus Brower, as I'm used to Chrome. I read from other reviews that the Asus Browser was more heavy in battery usage, so you might want to stick with Chrome.
Signal reception and connectivity
Connectivity to Maxis' network in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE posed no issues at all. Transition was seamless and smooth. Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac radios are available, with hotspot support, which was fine as well.
GPS was quick to load, with locations precisely mapped. There is an FM radio receiver but no infra-red blaster, so home devices can't be controlled using this method.
Operating system
Google's Android 5.0 is being the OS, but with Asus' ZenUI integrated in. Asus' has put in a host of proprietary apps, some which may not be of much use, like Omlet chat (another chat app) and ZenFlash camera (another camera app).
One nice feature is the ability to double-tap to turn the screen or off. This is logical as the power button is right on the top of the phone, so it may not be so convenient to press the button using one hand.
The task switcher is the standard Android 5.0 rolling screen, but there is a 'pin' button, which keeps the selected app in view regardless of taps on the capacitive buttons.
Another shortcut is the ability to draw the letter "C" on the screen while in sleep mode. This will wake the phone and launch the camera app. "W" launches the browser. We are able to preset up to six setting, and can assign any app of your choice to any letter.
Speed and Performance
The 4GB Asus ZenFone 2 delivered impressive performance across, even shaming some flagship devices from more established manufacturers behind it on more than one occasion.
Thought there are not many smartphones using the Intel chipsets, the majority are using Qualcomm chipsets, nevertheless, the Intel Atom Z3560 proved to be able to compete with the Snapdragon quad-core 2.26GHz processors.
Multi-tasking isn't an issue at all, with hardly any lag switching between application and games such as Modern Combat 5, Real Racing, etc.
Phone function
One basic thing that shouldn't be forgotten, a phone has to perform this well - making and receiving calls. Reception is good, in-call sound is clear and loud enough. Call logs are combined with the dialer, as well with a list of favourites or VIP contacts.
Being a dual-SIM phone a choice of options are offered on how to handle the two SIMs. Enabling/disabling of SIMs can be configured within the settings menu, as well as assigning a name for each SIM for easier identification. The speakerphone is not that loud though, so Asus could improve on that in the future.
The Asus keyboard comes with the swipe feature, so those who are used to this feature will not miss out when using this phone.
Audio, Video Players and Gallery
A custom gallery app is used to view photos and playback videos. Bundled also is an app for movie making, called the Asus MiniMovie app, which lets you select images and compiles them into a short movie clips with transitions, fading effect, etc. with music, which can be customised.
The audio app comes with an equalizer with multiple presets and a single custom setting to adjust the highs and lows (treble and bass).
Camera
The 13 megapixel camera has a fast and wide f/2.0 aperture lens, and this is helped by a dual-LED flash. Many shooting modes are available, among them the landscape/panorama, night, HDR, selfie and auto-mode. We have control over the ISO, white balance, exposure compensation, the list goes on.
Sharpness, detail and depth of field are all present in the sample photos below. Check them out and give your comments. All photos are stock out of the camera, no editing was done. Overall, I think it's a commendable effort from Asus. I understand that the sensor for the camera is sourced from Toshiba.
The selfie 5 megapixel sensor is adequate for video conferencing and selfies. It comes with a wide angle lens, so it is easy to position the camera for selfie shots.
Conclusion
The Zenfone 2 is a value for money package with a near-premium design, fast performance, dual-SIM flexibility and plenty of power for every day use. All of that comes at a compelling price and good enough build quality.
With these features and lower price compared to its competitors, it's no wonder why we are now seeing more and more people using Asus phones.
Friday, 18 September 2015
Renault Design
I think Renault's design is really heading towards a very fluid, pleasingly attractive and elegant design. Their design department is really getting somewhere. They have come up with a wonderful, eye-catching design that will make heads turn.
The new design language began in 2012 with the Renault Alpine A 110-50 Concept, where the headlights merged and integrated seamlessly into the front grille, like a letter "V" with 2 wings at the side that meets the famous lozenge, diamond shaped badge in the middle. It makes the car look aggressive and fast while standing still.
Then came the Clio in 2013, an evolution of the design but moulded into a small, compact hatchback. Nice flowing lines, with 'hidden' rear door handles that blend into the frame of the door.
This was followed by the Captur in 2014, which put the design in a compact crossover SUV format. Now there was an addition of a chrome line at the bottom of the headlines merging to the centre of the grille. Really like the differentiation in the colour between the body and roof of the car, where the roof is in silver, black or white.
Next up, the Kadjar where it was an evolution of the Captur, in a bigger body. It shares the same platform with Nissan's Qashqai. A more relaxed design, which is what most buyers would want. Again, a pronounced 'hump' above the rear wheels show a strong shoulder-line.
This is where it gets interesting, the 2015 Renualt Sport RS01, with its swoopy 'C' and mirrored 'C' shaped LED daytime running lights. All very dramatic. Perfect for a sleek racing sports car. It really makes the car look bold. What a stand-out.
The design now moves on to the Talisman, a large family sedan. The 'C' shaped LED lights are carried forward. The strong shoulder lines from the front headlights, and starting again above the rear door handles to the rear lights give it an athletic stance. Large 19 inch wheels, an overall length of 4.85 metres and a width of 1.87 metres give the Talisman a generous footprint. The third side window enhances the feeling of quality, almost to a premium luxury level.
And finally, Renault's latest car, the new Megane, which is probably the best-selling model in its lineup. The family look remains, with assertive proportions give it a sure-footed stance, and has a 28mm longer wheelbase (2,669mm) compared to its predecesor, improving leg-room in the interior. There are air scoops (similar to the Talisman's) either side at the front, enhancing the sporting nature of the car.
Wind deflectors at the rear and motorised flaps automatically close to reduce drag, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of new Megane, which should therefore lead towards lower fuel consumption and emissions.
It's good to see car manufacturers fusing form and function together, having a beautiful design as well as improving aerodynamic airflow over the car. Technology in motion!
Then came the Clio in 2013, an evolution of the design but moulded into a small, compact hatchback. Nice flowing lines, with 'hidden' rear door handles that blend into the frame of the door.
Next up, the Kadjar where it was an evolution of the Captur, in a bigger body. It shares the same platform with Nissan's Qashqai. A more relaxed design, which is what most buyers would want. Again, a pronounced 'hump' above the rear wheels show a strong shoulder-line.
This is where it gets interesting, the 2015 Renualt Sport RS01, with its swoopy 'C' and mirrored 'C' shaped LED daytime running lights. All very dramatic. Perfect for a sleek racing sports car. It really makes the car look bold. What a stand-out.
The design now moves on to the Talisman, a large family sedan. The 'C' shaped LED lights are carried forward. The strong shoulder lines from the front headlights, and starting again above the rear door handles to the rear lights give it an athletic stance. Large 19 inch wheels, an overall length of 4.85 metres and a width of 1.87 metres give the Talisman a generous footprint. The third side window enhances the feeling of quality, almost to a premium luxury level.
And finally, Renault's latest car, the new Megane, which is probably the best-selling model in its lineup. The family look remains, with assertive proportions give it a sure-footed stance, and has a 28mm longer wheelbase (2,669mm) compared to its predecesor, improving leg-room in the interior. There are air scoops (similar to the Talisman's) either side at the front, enhancing the sporting nature of the car.
Wind deflectors at the rear and motorised flaps automatically close to reduce drag, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of new Megane, which should therefore lead towards lower fuel consumption and emissions.
It's good to see car manufacturers fusing form and function together, having a beautiful design as well as improving aerodynamic airflow over the car. Technology in motion!
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