Computex 2013 will see the official launch of Intel’s Haswell processor. This fourth generation core processor release date was announced on the Intel blog in April with a countdown set at 3,337,200,000,000,000 nanoseconds. No, I cannot tell you what that will be as of today, maths is definitely not my strong suit.

The Haswell microarchitecture is purported to be low on power demands and designed to help devices in the ultraportable market make the most of the power on tap and deliver super performance. The finer points and details are still to be confirmed, but most of the information has been leaked and there’s already a dedicated Wikipedia page.

In anticipation of the announcement ASUS has done more than just release some seriously beautiful motherboard designs (you did see my post on the stunning new gold look and feel, right?) they have also delivered the Z87 motherboards that are a neat fit for most users, regardless of how technical they may be.

There are the usual RoG Maximus VI Gene and Extreme for the mini and ultra fans respectively, but there is also the RoG Maximum VI Hero that’s less of a cost for the hardcore gamer, while still delivering a superior performance. Then there is the Sabertooth Z87 that gives the enthusiast a board without the trademark TUF armour (you can buy the kit separately) but with the features they want for their rigs.

This is a clever move that allows for more flexibility for the user, especially if budgets are tight. Enthusiasts will find it far more affordable to set up a system with superb performance without having to compromise on many essential features. It’s certainly going to be exciting to see how they perform once the freshly minted Intel chips are inside.

The ASUS Zenbook has long been one of my favourite ultrabooks on the market. The design, the features, the connectivity and the attention to detail place it well above many of the ultrabooks on the market today. The screen on the Zenbook has been, until now, a lovely 1920x1080 of high-definition, but the Zenbook UX51 has appeared in Germany with no less than a 2880x1620 display.

A what?

Yes, a display of 2880x1620. The ASUS Zenbook UX51VZ-DB114H is a thing of visual beauty that’s boosted by the addition of some rather lovely features. You get a 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor and Nvidia GeForce 650M graphics that can be appreciated on a 15.6inch screen. Are you drooling yet?

I use a netbook every day. It comes with me to meetings, it visits my family, and it has been known to watch a couple of episodes of Game of Thrones with me too. Nobody has swooned over my ultrabook, I’m afraid. It isn’t in the league of the Zenbook beauty, and this, the new Zenbook UX51VZ-DB114H, with a name that sounds like it wouldn’t be out of place at a Klingon convention, takes everything just that little bit further.

The UX51VZ-DB114H has a 513GB SSD, 8GB of RAM and still only weighs 4.5 pounds. I could make my usual joke about a super model and her wanting to be as thin as this – 0.8inches – but I won’t. I did that last time…

It’s going to be interesting to see where else the ASUS Zenbook UX51VZ-DB114H is going to pop up. Many of ASUS’ products that have been isolated to one country have gradually made their way around the world as they grow in popularity, and I have no doubt that this particular ultrabook will be one of them. That screen resolution is something else. Just too pretty for words.

If you can’t wait to get your hands on the ASUS Zenbook UX51VZ-DB114H and aren’t in the mood to fly to Germany, take a look at the ASUS site dedicated to all things Zenbook. Here you will find the UX21A that first emerged, glossy and shaking its hair, back in the day, all the way to the U500VZ and the UX52VS. Their specs are impressive across the board, and the touchscreen U500VZ is something else…

ASUS is to motherboards as chocolate is to cake and they’ve been perfecting their art over the years to deliver devices with superior technology and quality. Now they are adding some spice to the mix – colour.

In 2012 ASUS showcased the ZEUS concept board that was created for more than just performance, it also boasted an elegant design and used gold and silver highlights to add that extra sparkle. The industry loved it and ASUS has decided to apply this  concept to their new motherboard range. It’s time that these essential components, the heart of PCs across the globe, were seen as more than just bits soldered to other bits to do a job.

So what do the colours mean?

Blue is for advanced. The cool blue shade that’s been applied to ASUS motherboards for the past three years has become associated with advanced technology. And superior performance. This is the colour that you’ve seen on ASUS motherboards for years, but there is a new sheen in town…Gold

Gold is for reliability and innovation. ASUS boards use gold as their primary colour to reflect everlasting quality and high standards while also adding a sparkle to the eye. Gold is for efficiency and inspiration. The new design of these powerful motherboards is visually startling and definitely ey catching. It also makes it easier for system builders to match components with ASUS motherboards and prevent colour clashes.

ASUS Design teams have blended advanced material and mechanical engineering with superior heatsink technology and component balancing and made the most out of this glorious colour. Heatsinks are not traditionally seen as, ahem, beautiful, but the crafting of style and colour does make those of the new motherboards stand out and look almost elegant.

The metallic gold heatsinks, slots and connections are colour-matched to give the new motherboards a striking appearance, a stark contrast to the typical black of the standard PC build. The gear-like shape of the new heatsinks have the feel of the craftmanship of the watches of old, and their large surface area improves heat dissipation.

Multi-tiered shapes, fine-threaded polishing - these give the gold heatsinks a deep lustre and sheen. They are as lovely as they are robust, reliable and rigged with features.

Say goodbye to boring and bland, and hello to chic and bright. The buttery colour of gold bursts out of these new motherboards and the era of gold has begun…

ASUS has something of a reputation when it comes to releasing video teasers before major tech events. Earlier this year they released a series of trailers and teasers designed to whet the appetites of any who find new tech exciting and they heralded the arrival of the much talked about FonePad at Mobile World Congress 2013.

So, anyone who sees the teaser below will be forgiven for thinking that there is something equally exciting on the way for Computex 2013. On June 06 the latest designs from ASUS will be revealed at this premier event in Taipei and, once you’ve seen the video below, you’ll have an idea as to what may be placed on the showroom floor.

The one item that really captures the eye is the stylus that emerges gracefully from a Transformer-style tablet near the end. I have a suspicion that most of the tablets shown throughout the video are one and the same. That the video is taking you through its various guises, one by one. Although you can definitely see the Taichi in there! I am very keen to know what operating system this device will boast too - is this another Android or are we looking at the evolution of Windows 8? One thing is for sure, we’ll be finding out more very soon…
[youtube_video id=" nM41Mbo1ZdI "]

We had a preview of Xonar U7 last month and now the sample has arrived on my desk and here we have the quick unboxing pics. To recap, Xonar U7 is quite nifty if you want a boost to your audio, especially personal sound via headphones. It connects to your PC by way of USB, so that's easy, and has 7.1-channel surround and clean 114dB SNR output. Dolby Home Theater v4 is included plus powerfully consistent headphone amplification.

Xonar U7 is an instant upgrade from onboard audio which is useful for desktops and laptops, though the latter may benefit from it even more due to its compact size. This makes it very portable. Anyone who wants better sound, but simply doesn't have a spare expansion slot in their desktop or is using a laptop PC, will be well advised to look at (and listen to) the delectable U7. I mean, just check out that super-accessible volume wheel!

Onwards to the photos!

Stylish and informative Xonar Series packaging.

Detailed product info on the back of the box.

And specs on the side.

That's...a lot of languages!

Helpful pull out tab for easier unpacking.


Examining the elegant interior of the box.


Xonar U7 itself, compact with a grain-textured plastic shell. Footprint-wise it's not much different from your average modern smartphone.

Front panel headphone and microphone connectors, plus dedicated microphone volume rocker.

Back panel connectors - quite extensive for the compact form factor.

Let's not forget the accessories, which include a USB cable and TOSLINK adapter.
If you're in need of better sound for games, movies, music et al but prefer something more flexible than an internal soundcard, Xonar U7 - that's the one to think about.

If you take a look at the tech news this week, you’ll see ASUS’ name up in lights at almost every turn. Not only has the company shown superb growth in their recently released financials, their strategy of focusing on the tablet market is clearly paying off, but they are continuing to follow the innovative path they set with the netbook way back in the day.



Certainly design and innovation, and recognising a gap in the market before anyone else does, are a strong suit of ASUS. The netbook and the Transformer both stepped up the game in their respective markets and are held to be among the best. So what can they be planning for one of their next moves?

Well, the smaller and cheaper Microsoft Windows 8 tablet is likely. CEO Jerry Shen revealed that Windows 8 tablets could well be released at a very sweet price point, offering users a brilliant experience without the heavy weight of their wallet being excessively relieved. This is, I think, a genius move.

Look at the success of the Nexus 7. That sat at an unbeatable price point while delivering a great performance. If Windows 8 tablets can sit comfortably within that same gap, then it could be that this operating system’s time has come. It’s certainly going to be interesting to see what ASUS will bring to market over the next few months and how the market will react. No matter what, it’s going to be interesting…

Whenever I’ve bought a router in the past I’ve kind of glanced at the box, checked the price and snapped up the doodad that does the job for less. It’s been easier that way, but it’s also cost me in troubleshooting, maintenance, admin and replacements. Yes, cheap and nasty is exactly that, nasty. And there are few things as utterly frustrating as lying on a dusty floor with your head in the bowels of your household tech trying to figure out why the internet has gone for the fifth time that day.

They also seem to know when: you are on deadline, have a headache, aren’t feeling very well, are stressed to the gills, or all of the above. Yes, the wireless router world is fraught with painkillers and lie-downs.

Unless…

You invest in a router that has been designed to make your wireless life into something of an expensive beach holiday, almost complete with cocktail umbrellas and a nice fan. The ASUS RT-N66U is one such router because it has more features than a tech catalogue as well as superior performance deliverables that have been proven on site and in use.

This shiny black box looks like something you’d find down the Bat Cave as Bruce tried to hook up with his next gizmo online. There are four Gigabit Ethernet wired networking ports, an Ethernet port for ADSL or cable, two USB ports for external storage (anything from a 3G mobile stick to a printer), a reset button, a WPS push-button setup, a wall mounting kit (cool), and a remarkably comprehensive web interface that can help you through pretty much everything you need to do with your router.

The ASUS RT-N66U delivers superior speeds – awesome for those of us who game or need access to speedier internet that normal human beings – and is easy to configure to suit your own particular needs. If you’re not a geek, or too time strapped to spend hours carefully crafting the settings of your dreams, then the ASUS RT-N66U wireless router interface can be set up in under ten minutes just by following their default configurations and their step-by-step installation guide. As install wizards go, this one is sharp and sassy.

So, if you fancy investing in a fast, good looking, feature-rich router that will last you for years and allows you plenty of customisation, then perhaps you should consider giving this chap a try.

The tablet market continues to make the analysts and the purse holders very happy indeed. According to the International Data Coporation (IDC) the first quarter of 2013 experienced another surge upwards in tablet popularity.

Global tablet shipments grew by 147.4% year-on-year in the first quarter with sales of 49.2 million units. These figures are certainly bolstered by the fact that ASUS has now shot into third place with a strong demand for the Nexus 7. ASUS are certainly showing remarkable growth in an extremely competitive industry and if they continue to deliver on their innovation and style, they could very well be shifting to an even greater market share.

The competition in the market has certainly reached epic proportions, and with manufacturers all chatting about exciting developments to come (ASUS has a few rumours circulating at the moment), consumers are ready and waiting for the next big thing in tablets and mobility.

The ASUS Transformer is a superb Android tablet that’s achieved critical acclaim for its usability and detachable keyboard dock. And ASUS themselves are getting a hearty thumbs up from users as they deliver the latest Android updates faster than you can say, “Oh hey, look, another update” and for making quick changes to any issues that raise their heads.

It is proving to be an interesting year so far, and it hasn’t even hit high speed yet…

Today ASUS HQ decided to reveal a startlingly beautiful LCD monitor on an unsuspecting world. This PA249Q ProArt Series LCD monitor boasts 24 inches of display with next-gen AH-IPS technology, 99% Adobe Wide Gamut RGB support for colour accuracy, and is factor pre-calibrated to perfection. Yes, I am aware that you need a lie-down now…

The PA249Q ProArt monitor is a display for the professional with absolute focus on colour precision straight from the box. It boasts a 1920x1200 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 178 degree viewing angles, ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio and ASUS QuickFit Virtual Scale and Splendid Video Intelligence technologies.

The monitor has an independent six-axis colour control with 99% Adobe Wide Gamut RGB, 100% sRGB and 120% NTSC, it also supports 10-bit deep colour for natural transitions between differing hues. The ASUS PZ249Q ProArt series is LED backlit and is designed to reduce energy consumption using the AH-IPS display technology which also offers superior colour accuracy and a brighter image.

This monitor has so many features designed for pure, rich colour management and viewing, that it is almost impossible to list them all in the space I’ve been given. What I can say is that you have here a superior monitor for the professional that has clearly taken their needs in mind. Not only do you get the software and hardware that you need for accurate colour management and control, but the monitor itself has been designed to look good and fit your environment.

The ASUS PZ249Q ProArt monitor also can display content from two video inputs simultaneously, has picture-in-picture mode, picture-by-picture mode, four-port USB 3.0 hub, a stand with full tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment and easy to navigate external controls.

Tasty.

The ASUS Xonar range of products has been created with the audiophile in mind. Every feature and detail is carefully crafted to maximise the value and intensity of sound and one of these amazing Xonar devices can transform a gaming experience into an auditory sensation.

The latest in their range is the Xonar Essence STU which is a USB driven digital to analogue converter and headphone amplifier with easy to use external controls. The device sits outside of your kit, it is entirely external, and for that reason looks extremely chic and takes up very little space.

The slim design with the black shell and silver front will see it blend in seamlessly with your existing kit, and not look out of place on any high end setup. The sound is fantastic. You get 120dB signal to noise ratio, asynchronous USB audio and swappable Op-Amps for sound modification, and 600ohm headphone amplifier.

The Xonar Essence STU has precision clock tuning technology so you can really get into the finer nuances of your sound and it’s utterly perfect for music lovers who want a quality DAC and headphone amplifier to drive the full capabilities of high-end headphones.

The Xonar Essence STU would make a rather brilliant gift for that audiophile in your life. Trust me, they will thank you for the clean, distortion-free sound and the complete control that the device offers them over their sound and output. You will find it extremely accurate in reproduction of all sound sources with a bare minimum of crosstalk or interference.

ASUS has used components such as the Texas Instruments PCM1792A DAC and TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier that supports up to 600ohm impedance, and the WIMA FKP2 and Nichicon Finegold capacitors for rich and balanced sound.

There you have it, a neat and tasty device that is easy to use and install and that offers the user an extraordinary audio experience. You have complete control over the quality of the sound that you get out of the ASUS Xonar Essence STU and you won’t see an extraordinary learning curve either. Unless you are a beginner audiophile, then you might have to work a little to figure out what the terminology is and what everything means…