Review: ASUS ZenFone 2

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The Asus ZenFone 2 is clearly designed as the company’s best vision for a modern Android smartphone. That they have managed to make it affordable and available contract-free, really shakes up the market and puts the ZenFone 2 at the very top tier of available affordable Android devices.

ASUS has made one of the most compelling 5.5-inch smartphones in the market today. The Zenfone 2, which comes to Canada this June, is designed as an affordable and contract-free option for anyone looking for a larger Android smartphone with all the power and functionality to match more expensive models from established competitors. 

A product of many firsts, the ASUS ZenFone 2 eschews the usual Qualcomm or NVIDIA processor for one of the first Intel Atom mobile processors designed for high-end smartphones and tablets. Both ASUS and Intel are avowed PC companies, so seeing them team up to take on the North American mobile market in this one device is surprising and very exciting.

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Pre ordered Pebble Time smartwatches begin arriving

People who pre-ordered the new Pebble Time smartwatch on KickStarter are starting to receive their kickstarter edition watches in the mail, sometimes even before receiving a notification email and tracking number. The Pebble Time began shipping out the last week of May and once most KickStarter orders are fulfilled, the company will begin selling non KickStarter editions. The Pebble Time Steel is coming to market next month. Users on Android will be able to install and explore the device right away by downloading the new Pebble Time app. iOS users will have to wait for the app to be cleared at the iOS App Store. Stay tuned for a full review of the new Pebble Time and its corresponding OS once we get our KickStarter edition.

(thanks to Corey Herscu for the picture) 

Update on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 3:11PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The Pebble Time app on iOS has been approved and should be appearing in the App Store anytime now.

ARTIC's 5-in-1 smart USB charger is designed for gadget freaks

Having trouble hunting for a free plug to charge your new phone or tablet? ARCTIC's Smart Charging ICs can intelligently identify your device to deliver its fastest possible charge. Thus the Smart Charger 8000 can fast charge any USB device, smartphones and tablets from Apple, Samsung, LG, ZTE, HTC, Asus, Lenovo, Acer, Amazon, Huawei, Blackberry, Motorola, Sony, Nokia and more on all five ports.

With 8,000 mA the Smart Charger delivers even enough output to charge three tablets and two smartphones with high speed – all at once. The integrated voltage stability and overcurrent protection ensure furthermore that the charging is not only fast and smart but also safe. This is great news for any office and household that's running out of powerstrips.The Smart Charger 8000 is now available at a special price of 23.99 $ at Amazon and at ARCTIC.

Apple Watch coming to seven more countries, retail sales begin on June 26

With supplies finally ramping up and most editions of the Apple Watch becoming available, Apple has announced that their wearable is coming to seven more countries.  Apple also announced today that interested customers will finally be able to buy Apple Watch and bands in store starting June 26.

The Watch comes to Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan on June 26. "We're making great progress in our backlog of Apple Watch orders," said Jeff Williams, Apple's SVP of operations. Anyone who ordered an Apple Watch in May (except for the super rare Space Black Stainless Steel with Black Link Bracelet), should receive a shipping notice from Apple within the next two weeks.