Asus Announces the ZenWatch, Designed to “Start With People”

Hours ago, to kick off IFA, ASUS went ahead and made their first Android Wear device official, the ZenWatch. Teased for weeks, the ZenWatch works with any device running Android 4.3+, features premium materials, includes a semi-curved AMOLED display, and follows ASUS’ design philosophy of “Start with People.” It’s actually a pretty stylish looking smartwatch, but does feature a square display, unlike the Moto 360 and new LG G Watch R.

As for specs, you are looking at a 1.63-inch AMOLED display (320×320) with curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 1.4Wh battery, IP55 water resistance, Bluetooth 4.0, and Android Wear. The device comes with a brown leather strap that accents the silver and rose gold layering of the main body. 

ASUS is talking up features for the device that include remote camera, call muting, automatic phone unlocking, and presentation control, all available thanks to the companion app. The device is also a capable “wellness manager,” thanks to step and calorie counting, activity and heart rate monitoring, and a way to measure relaxation.

Availability and pricing were not mentioned in ASUS’ press materials. Once we have those, we will update this post.

Highlights

Fine Watch Craftsmanship

• Exquisitely-crafted using premium materials
• Sophisticated design enhanced by rose gold color layering
• Genuine stitched-leather watchband and quick-release clasp design
• 100+ combination watch face choices to fit your mood and personality
• Vivid AMOLED display and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

Smart Companion

• Seamless ASUS ZenUI integration and enhanced functionality
• Automatically unlock your phone with ASUS ZenWatch
• Tap Tap and Find My Phone helps you locate your phone instantly if misplaced
• Simply cover ASUS ZenWatch with your hand to mute an incoming call
• ASUS Remote Camera frees users to take photos from creative angles where the viewfinder would be difficult to see.
• Presentation Control enables ZenWatch to be used as a remote control and time manager when giving a business presentation or lecture

Wellness manager

• Monitor and track a range of health-related statistics with the ASUS Wellness app
• Measures steps taken, calories burned, activity duration, heart rate, exercise intensity and relaxation level
• View an easy-to-understand relaxation score based on relaxation-level measurements

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Press Release

First ASUS wearable device powered by Android Wear unveiled, along with innovative and stylish new additions to the Zenbook, EeeBook and MeMO Pad families

Berlin, Germany (3rd September, 2014) — ASUS Corporate Vice President Eric Chen, accompanied by ASUS Design Center Vice President Mitch Yang and ASUS Senior Product Director Derek Yu, today went on stage at a pre-IFA 2014 event held at the Classic Remise to announce the company’s latest lineup of innovations, including ASUS ZenWatch, the company’s first wearable device produced in partnership with Google.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Chen covered the company’s evolution from a small motherboard company, founded in 1989, to a leading global technology company 25 years later. Mr. Chen went on to highlight the recent success of the company’s ZenFone smartphone range, which has enjoyed worldwide critical acclaim and consumer recognition in all launch territories to date. “The success of ZenFone reflects our desire to create the most extraordinary phone that can empower everyone,” said Mr. Chen, adding: “It is our great pleasure to announce that the LTE version of ZenFone will be available in Europe during the fourth quarter of this year.”

Derek Yu then took the stage to unveil a full range of innovative new products designed to empower mobile lifestyles, including Zenbook UX305, the world’s thinnest 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop; the chic, compact and colorful EeeBook X205; and MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C), the latest and most stylish addition to the highly-successful MeMO Pad family of Android tablets. Mr. Yu concluded with the announcement of the ProSieben Entertainment Pad, an exclusive 8-inch tablet based on MeMO Pad 8, which is being launched in Germany in partnership with ProSieben* and Intel.

Rounding off the event, Mitch Yang offered an insightful look at the design process responsible for the ASUS ZenWatch, explaining how the final product was inspired by the ASUS user-centric ‘design thinking’ philosophy.

ASUS ZenWatch, the perfect smart companion

ASUS ZenWatch is the first wearable device from ASUS, powered by Android Wear and featuring a version of the ASUS ZenUI user interface developed specifically for ZenWatch. This exquisitely-crafted and slim device pairs seamlessly with a smartphone running Android™ 4.3 or higher to provide relevant and useful information when it is needed most, and also to serve as a personal wellness manager in conjunction with the ASUS ZenUI Wellness app.

Explaining the design philosophy of the ZenWatch concept, Mitch Yang said “Our design philosophy is Start with People. We want to deliver a seamless digital experience for everyone to enjoy. With our ZenWatch, you will always be connected to everything that matters in your life.”

ZenWatch brings the luxury tradition of fine watchmaking to Android Wear, with an elegant, detail-focused design and use of high-quality materials. It is designed for supreme comfort, with a soft genuine stitched-leather strap and quick-release clasp. The 2.5D curved glass increases usability with a smooth and responsive touch experience. ZenWatch comes with a selection of instantly-changeable software watch faces, allowing users to customize ZenWatch easily to match their style.

ZenWatch is much more than a sophisticated timepiece. With a range of practical smart features, including Watch Unlock, Tap Tap, Remote Camera, Cover to Mute, Find My Phone and Presentation Control, ZenWatch is the perfect smart companion. Its seamless integration with ASUS ZenUI adds even more functionality for owners of ASUS smartphones, letting users enjoy enhanced versions of exclusive ASUS ZenUI apps such as What’s Next and Do It Later.

Thanks to its integrated 9-axis sensor, ZenWatch is also a fully-featured wellness manager. The companion ASUS ZenUI Wellness app lets users monitor and track a range of wellness statistics including steps taken, calories burned, activity duration, heart rate, exercise intensity and relaxation level. Users can set and monitor personal fitness goals with ease, and see their progress at a glance.

ZenWatch raises the bar on what users should expect from wearable devices, showcasing the power of the ASUS ‘design thinking’ philosophy and ushering in a new era of true luxury and sophistication.

Zenbook UX305, the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop

The beautifully-crafted all-aluminum Zenbook UX305 Ultrabook™ is the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop, measuring just 12.3mm thin. Its subtle and refined shape incorporates the DNA of the classic Zenbook, featuring an elegantly-tapered wedge design that has smooth and comfortable edges with diamond-cut metallic highlights.

Continuing the long-established Zenbook tradition of combining performance with luxury, this gorgeous ultraportable — which weighs only 1.2kg — is powered by the new Intel® Core™ M processor for seamless multitasking, and features a lightning-fast up to 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). The crisp, vibrant and stunningly-detailed 13.3-inch display has an up to QHD+ resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels. Available in a sophisticated new Obsidian Stone color with Zenbook’s signature spun-metal finish, or a silky-smooth Ceramic Alloy shade, Zenbook UX305 is the ultimate ultraportable laptop for discerning users.

EeeBook X205, chic and compact

EeeBook X205 is an affordable, chic and compact 11.6-inch laptop that weighs less than 1kg and is designed for on-the-go students and young professionals. Powered by Windows 8.1 with Bing — for maximum application compatibility — EeeBook X205 offers users a convenient smartphone-like experience, thanks to its use of Connected Standby technology. Connected Standby enables almost-instant resume from sleep mode and gives users an enhanced internet experience, as they are always connected to all their social apps and email — even when X205 is in standby mode. Available in four distinctive colors — black, white, gold and red — EeeBook X205 is designed with smooth curves and tactile surfaces to make it the ideal take-anywhere laptop.

MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C), pure elegance

With a design inspired by stylish clutch bags and wallets, MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C) is not only a thin and light 7-inch Android tablet powered by an Intel Atom 64-bit quad-core processor, but also an everyday fashion essential. Thanks to its narrow bezel, ME572C is just 8.3mm thin and weighs only 269g, making it supremely comfortable to hold in one hand. The crisp and vibrant Full HD IPS display has a pixel density of 323 pixels per inch and wide 178-degree viewing angles, plus ASUS TruVivid and ASUS Splendid technology for enhanced clarity, brightness and accurate color reproduction.

Available in a range of three sophisticated colors — Burgundy Red, Champagne Gold and Gentle Black — with subtly-textured finishes, ME572C can match any user’s style. ME572C features the beautiful, intuitive and exclusive ASUS ZenUI interface that makes complicated things easy. As well as a Wi-Fi-only version, the ME572 Series is also available in a 4G LTE version (ME572CL), powered by an Intel XMM™ 7160 LTE modem that provides fast connectivity for high-speed web browsing, streaming video and music.

Introducing the exclusive ProSieben Entertainment Pad

Also announced today, in partnership with ProSieben* and Intel, was the ProSieben Entertainment Pad, an 8-inch tablet that will be available exclusively to customers in Germany. The ProSieben Entertainment Pad comes complete with a high-value package of exclusive services, discount vouchers and a range of attractive special offers.

*ProSieben is one of the largest media corporations in Europe.

Where to find ASUS at IFA 2014
The ASUS Media Lounge is located at Berliner Freiheit, Berliner Freiheit 2, 10785 Berlin, and will be open to media between 9:00am to 7:00pm on the 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th September, 2014.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
For details of the availability of ASUS products, please contact your local ASUS representative.