ASUS Archives

Winsage

May 12, 2025

I tried Asus ZenBook A14. Now I can’t imagine using a different Windows laptop

The Asus ZenBook A14 is a lightweight laptop that weighs over 23% less than the MacBook Air and is crafted from a material called Ceraluminum, making it 30% lighter than aluminum and nearly three times stronger. It features a variety of ports, including two USB-C (v4.0) ports, a USB-A port, and an HDMI 2.1 port, offering more connectivity options than the MacBook Air. The keyboard provides satisfying feedback and ample travel, while the Windows Hello authentication system offers convenient security. The laptop has a 14-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and performs well with applications from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, although it struggles with heavier workloads in Da Vinci Resolve. The ZenBook A14 has a battery life of around eight hours on a single charge.

BetaBeacon

May 10, 2025

Everything you need to turn your phone into the ultimate gaming handheld

Various phone controllers are available to enhance mobile gaming experiences, such as the GameSir G8 Plus, ASUS ROG Tessen, and Backbone One. Additionally, options like Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus Premium, and Amazon Luna allow console and PC gamers to play from anywhere. Emulators like RetroArch can handle games up to PS2, and launchers like ES-DE and Console Launcher can enhance the gaming experience on phones. Ultimately, phones are capable of playing a wide range of games, including emulation, making them versatile gaming devices.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: DREDGE, unmemory, Psychofunk, more

Today, there are significant game and app deals available, including a 50% price reduction on the indie game DREDGE. The Best Buy Spring Sale features discounts on the OnePlus 13, OnePlus Open, and unlocked Pixel 9 Pro Fold units, with discounts of up to 5%. ASUS has released a new dual-screen laptop, and promotions for the Galaxy S25 Ultra are ongoing. Other notable games include unmemory and Psychofunk.

Winsage

April 14, 2025

There’s a quiet PC boom happening – thanks to Windows 10 and the tariffs

In the first quarter of 2025, PC shipments increased by 12.6% compared to the same quarter in 2024, with over 16 million computers dispatched. All six leading PC vendors in the United States reported growth in shipments: HP shipped 4.1 million PCs (25.1% market share), Dell shipped 3.9 million (23.9% market share), Lenovo shipped 3.1 million (19.2% market share), Apple shipped 2.6 million (15.9% market share), Acer shipped 944,000 (5.8% market share), and ASUS shipped 464,000 (2.8% market share). Globally, PC shipments reached 58.9 million units, a 4.8% increase from 56.2 million the previous year. Lenovo led the global market, followed by HP, Dell, Apple, Acer, and ASUS. In Japan, demand for PCs, particularly for replacing Windows 11 systems and the adoption of Chromebooks, drove a shipment growth of 15.6%.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: LEGO Bricktales, Riptide GP, Paths & Danger, more

Google Play has announced discounts on various Android games and apps, including significant price reductions on Google Pixel 9 and Pro smartphones, Samsung's Galaxy S24 FE, and ASUS's Vivobook S 15 OLED laptop. Google’s Indoor Nest Cams are also included in the deals. LEGO Bricktales features a building mechanic where players create puzzle solutions in a LEGO world, assisting their grandfather in revitalizing an amusement park while exploring diverse biomes and solving puzzles to unlock new skills and secrets.

Winsage

April 7, 2025

Windows 11 24H2 blocked on PCs with code-obfuscation driver BSODs

Microsoft has implemented a safeguard hold for Windows 11 version 24H2 for systems using the sprotect.sys driver from SenseShield Technology, to prevent crashes and BSOD errors due to compatibility issues. This hold blocks the Windows 11 2024 Update from being delivered via Windows Update. Affected users can identify their systems using the safeguard ID: 56318982 and should not attempt manual updates until the issue is resolved. Microsoft has previously lifted other compatibility holds for specific user groups and has enacted additional upgrade blocks due to incompatible software or hardware.

AppWizard

April 7, 2025

Radeon RX 9070 wird per BIOS zur Radeon RX 9070 XT

The Asus Prime Radeon RX 9070 can now emulate the performance characteristics of the Asus Prime Radeon RX 9070 XT after a BIOS flash. This upgrade allows the RX 9070 to achieve clock speeds of up to 3.1 GHz, an increase from the original 2.6 GHz, and raises the Total Graphics Power (TGP) from 220 watts to 317 watts. The modification was successfully executed by a community member named Gurdi, who used a vBIOS from TechPowerUp. Despite the inability to reactivate eight disabled compute units and 512 streaming processors, the upgrade has led to performance metrics that can surpass stock RX 9070 XTs under certain conditions. Initial benchmarks indicate promising results, and Gurdi has shared stable gaming settings that are effective against reference RX 9070 XT models. Minor stability issues remain, particularly during idle states, likely due to the increased core clock speeds.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Leak: More evidence of an Xbox handheld found in Windows 11 preview

Microsoft is reportedly developing an Xbox-branded handheld gaming device, with potential launch details emerging this year. Updates in the Beta and Dev Channel previews of Windows 11 suggest a user interface designed for handheld gaming, featuring terms like “Gaming Posture” and settings for performance monitoring and resolution adjustments. Asus has released a video teaser that hints at a collaboration with Microsoft, showcasing a robot combining a ROG Ally gaming handheld with a Raikiri Pro controller, which resembles the Xbox gamepad. Asus is considered a strong candidate for collaboration on the Xbox handheld, codenamed “Project Kennan.”

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Forget the Nintendo Switch 2 – I’m more excited that Microsoft could be making Windows 11 gaming handhelds even better with a new ‘handheld mode’

Windows 11 may soon introduce a dedicated mode for gaming handhelds, as indicated by a leak from a source on Bluesky. This mode includes a new ‘GamingPosture’ category in settings, featuring options for a ‘full screen experience’ to improve usability on smaller screens. Microsoft is also removing HoloLens-related elements from the Windows 11 Settings app. Current Windows 11 interfaces are challenging for handheld devices, prompting speculation about a more portable-friendly interface. Recent enhancements include a ‘compact mode’ for the Xbox app and improvements to the Game Bar, as well as a gamepad keyboard layout for easier typing. Additionally, there are rumors of a potential Xbox-branded handheld device that could utilize the new UI experience in Windows 11.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Xbox fans lose it as new console is teased in mysterious trailer

A new Xbox-branded handheld console is set to launch later this year, developed in collaboration with ASUS. This device will not be a fully in-house creation but a partnership product. Recent trailers have hinted at Xbox branding on the ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld, suggesting a fusion of technologies. The official Xbox Twitter account responded to ASUS's teaser trailer, indicating their collaboration. An official release date has not yet been announced.