Asus, maker of computer hardware, laptops, and even PC’s, is rumored to be working on Kinect ready laptops. Microsoft announced Kinect for Windows a while back which brings some cool motion controlled technology to computers and laptops.

The Kinect is quite a sensation and has even broken sales records which put it in the Guinness World Records under fastest selling consumer device. The company managed to sell 10 Million units in just the first 3 months of its launch.

The Daily, a news source that is available exclusively on the iPad, said that they spotted two prototypes from Asus which appear to be netbooks that are running Windows 8 and include Kinect sensors on the top of the screen where you would normally see a webcam. On the bottom of the screen, there are LEDs.

Nowadays, most laptops have a built-in webcam. It’s something that has pretty much become standard. Also, a lot of desktop computers have a webcam so the integration is there, but the big question that we have yet to see, is will people actually use motion controls? With that said, PCWorld explains why the technology in a laptop:

“In any case, why put Kinect in a laptop? The technology works best when you’re standing back a dozen feet from the sensor, and even then it’s hit and miss — a low-res camera that only tracks your movements semi-accurately (if at all, when moving quickly). Park that in a laptop screen and . . . what, you’re going to control movies? Play games? Manipulate 3D objects Minority Report-style? Because sitting a few feet from a laptop, as all laptop users do, isn’t close enough to do any of those things far more competently with a mouse or trackpad and keyboard?”

Do you think Asus is on to something here with Kinect or will it never catch on?

Asus Rumored To Be Working On Kinect Ready Laptops is a post from: The Inquisitr

Asus, one of the World’s largest manufacturers of PC hardware and electronics, is releasing two new tablets for 2012. The tablet market continues to heat up as more and more are introduced and will be throughout 2012.

Towards the end of 2011, Asus introduced the Transformer Prime which is easily the most powerful Android tablet currently available. It features a quad core chip, something that we will soon see in smartphones.

The two tablets will be the Transformer Prime TF700T and the MeMO which is a smaller form factor than the Prime. One will be running a quad core chip and larger screen while the latter will run a dual core processor and feature a smaller display.

Specs for the Transformer Prime TF700T:

• 10.1 inch display
• 1,920×1200 Full HD Super IPS+ display
• Strong and scratch proof Gorilla glass
• 1.2GHZ quad core processor
• Amount of RAM not stated, but we’d say 1GB is very likely
• 32GB or 64GB of storage
• 2 megapixel front facing camera
• Wifi, Bluetooth, and GPS built-in

Specs for the MeMO:

• 7 inch IPS display
• 1280×800 resolution
• 1.2GHZ dual core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16 or 32GB of storage
• 1.2 megapixel front facing camera, 5 megapixel rear facing camera
• Ability to shoot 1080P video
• Wifi, Bluetooth, and GPS onboard

Prices for the Transformer Prime TF700T start at $599 for the 32GB model and $699 for the 64GB model. The pricing is very competitive with the iPad 2 and while not only with beefier hardware and better display, will be running Android 4.0, the latest version.

Pricing for the 7 inch MeMO tablet hasn’t been announced yet.

Asus Releasing Two New Tablets In 2012, Fast And Pretty Fast is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Asus Eee Pad Slider continues to receive various “potential” and “rumored” release dates which have alluded us thus far, however we do finally have some good news, specs for the Asus device have been revealed.

The company’s product page says the tablet will release in September (no exact date given) and will feature a 10.1″ display with 1280 x 80 WXGA pixels of resolution, alongside two memory options: 16GB for  €479 ($400)  and 32GB for €599 ($550) plus 1GB memory.

Both device options will feature Google Android 3.1 with a promised 3.2 upgrade once available, alongside a QWERTY keyboard and dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor.

The Asus Eee Pad Slider also comes equipped with 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera for video conference calling.

Asus has also thrown in some decent connectivity thanks to USB 2.0, mini-HDMI and microSD card reader, along with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options.

Users will also receive a free year of “unlimited ASUS Web Storage” which complements the devices available use of cloud computing.

With no “official” release date given to the device we now play the waiting game until sometime towards the beginning of September when a release date has been promised, although we’ve heard that one before.

With Google Android Honeycomb quickly developing into a worthwhile  iPad competitor, just as Google did with their mobile Android operating system versus Apple’s iOS, it will be interesting to see if Asus can launch a successful tablet this time around. What do you think about the Asus Eee Pad Slider’s price points based on the specifications delivered?

Asus Eee Pad Slider Finally Gets Some Specs, Maybe It Will Actually Arrive One Day is a post from: The Inquisitr

The ASUS Eee Slider is coming, we’re not exactly sure when it’s coming but on Friday Asus made an announcement to ensure excited buyers that their 10.1 inch tablet is “coming soon.”

Originally meant for a May release the device has been rumored to be giving up it’s Tegra 2 processor for an Atom Z670 CPU, although Asus has not confirmed nor denied that news. Asus officials have also estimated that the cost of the tablet will be somewhere in the range of $500 to $800.

The Google Android Honeycomb based device may be fully revealed at Computex next week, then again it should already be released.

[via Asus Facebook Page]

Asus Eee Pad Slider Will Go On Sale “Soon” With Honeycomb is a post from: The Inquisitr

Asus was hoping to produce 300,000 of their Asus Eee Pad’s each month however the company is only able to currently deliver 10,000 units to their customers.

According to Netbook News the low production numbers have been caused by a lack of currently available transformers.

Many computer, tablet and other hardware manufacturers have struggled to obtain required components since the Japanese Earthquake left various computer component manufacturers without the ability to provide needed supply chain pieces.

According to various internet sources, Asus hopes to ramp up numbers by June, providing for far greater production numbers.

Have you managed to get your hands on an Asus Eee Pad? If you have please let us know what you think.

Asus Eee Pad Limited To 10,000 Units Per Month, Transformer Supply To Blame is a post from: The Inquisitr

I don’t call many inanimate objects sexy, but the Asus Lamborghini is sexy. Featuring elegant curves with a shiny black exterior this is the hard drive you show off to your friends and they like it before they even hear the specs.

The drive features either 500GB or 700GB options with the option for 5400RPM USB 2.0 capabilities or the 7200RPM USB 3.0 option.

While the drive itself is pretty standard, users can expect to pay bloated Lamborghini prices with the USB 2.0 500GB option starting at $120 and the 700GB unit coming in at $140. Compare the USB 2.0 version to competitor pricing and it’s nearly twice as expensive.

No pricing has been announced for the units USB 3.0 option.

What do you think, are you ready to pay twice as much for a stylish looking external HDD?

Asus Lamborghini External Hard Drive Is Sexy, Overpriced is a post from: The Inquisitr

Want a keyboard that’s also a computer? There’s a company for that! The Asus EeeKeyboard has been announced for pre-order at Amazon and comes with a price tag of $599.

The EeeKeyboard is a keyboard and PC all in one. The unit ships with an Intel Atom N270 CPU running at 1.6GHz, Windows XP Home, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and a gigabit Ethernet jack.

The unit also features Bluetooth 2.1, a 16GB SSD, HDMI out and an integrated UWB receiver. Users will also receive a 5-inch LED-backlit multi-touch display with 800 x 480 pixels of resolution.

No exact release date yet, but you can snag your place in line at Amazon.

Asus EeeKeyboard Up For Pre-Order, Priced at $599 is a post from: The Inquisitr

When Google announced the release of their free turn-by-turn voice guided GPS navigation just several months ago TomTom and Garmin watched their stocks plummet by nearly 25%, so who would have thought it could be Google who may end up helping save at least one of the companies. We’ve learned that the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A50 has been given the uber-popular Google Android 1.6 mobile OS, an announcement that’s officially expected this coming week at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

According to Garmin and Asus, the A50 offers a ton of location-aware apps that run smoothly with the devices built-in Garmin supported GPS receiver.

The A50 also includes a 3.5 HVGA multi-touch display with capacitive touchscreen capabilities, a custom “finger-friendly” UI and 4GB internal storage, alongside a microSDHC card slot which takes the devices memory capabilities to 20GB. The unit also includes a middle grade 3MP camera for quick photo opportunities.

Of course the real “cool” factor comes from the devices GPS capabilities. According to Engadget:

The A50 uses satellite, network-based, and terrestrial sources to quickly zero in on your location and comes pre-loaded with Garmin turn-by-turn navigation, lane assist with junction view, and maps — no need to download them over the network (and risk data dead spots)…In fact, it’s ready for in-vehicle (ships with car mount and vehicle power cable) or pedestrian navigation out of the box.

Users will also enjoy Microsoft Exchange support and Google mobile services.

No pricing yet, however a mid-2010 release for the European market is expected, if it doesn’t get delayed 30 times like the last round of Garmin devices experienced.

Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A50 Gets Some Google Love is a post from: The Inquisitr

The agreement between Boingo and ASUS, the market pioneer in ultra mobile Internet devices, highlights the benefits of connectivity on-the-go with compact PC form factors. Initially, the Boingo software will be pre-installed on the ASUS Eee PC 1005PE, 1008P, and 1201IN. Support for additional ASUS ultra mobile PCs will be announced as they become available.

“ASUS’ award-winning Eee PC platform is the ideal device to benefit from a Boingo account,” said Allen Pan, director, Asia Pacific for Boingo Wireless. “Small, lightweight and ultra-portable – an Eee PC with worldwide access to Wi-Fi hotspots is a great addition to any digital nomad’s arsenal.”

“With its simple-to-use software and global Wi-Fi service, Boingo is the perfect fit for ASUS Eee PC users, who are accustomed to a user-friendly, highly intuitive computing experience,” said James Tung, Senior Section Manager Software Planning & Management Dept. Product Marketing Division for ASUS. “In addition, Boingo’s widespread network of more than 125,000 hotspots caters to highly mobile netbook users who can connect just about anywhere.”

Netbooks have become wildly popular due to their light weight, low price points and compact size. According to DisplaySearch, an independent analyst firm, 2009 netbook shipments increased 103% compared to the previous year. Asus, who pioneered the netbook category in 2007 when it launched the Eee PC 701 and Eee PC 1001, ranks among the world’s top vendors in sales and market share, according to research firms Canalys, DisplaySearch and IDC.

The ASUS Eee PC 1005PE, 1008P, and 1201IN with Boingo pre-installed are available immediately worldwide. Customers receive 50% off the first three months of Boingo Unlimited or 50% off the first month of Boingo Global accounts; after the promotion period, the accounts will revert to standard charges. A Boingo Unlimited subscription is $9.95 per month for access in the Americas, while a Boingo Global plan costs $59 per month for worldwide Wi-Fi access. To activate the promotional Boingo account on an ASUS EeePC, users simply sign up through the software or visit the promotional page provided by ASUS.

Wire: Netbook Pioneer ASUS Bundles Boingo With Latest Devices is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Asus tablet based device shown in the picture above doesn’t exist, at least not in any real sense, there are no specs revealed and no plans, at least at this time, to bring it to market. Essentially it’s a ghost, but it’s a ghost made by users, manufactured by Asus and built with Intel.

The device was put on display at CES to show off the companies WePc.com program, a website that asks users to create new ideas for what they’d like to see in their next PC based gadgets, which are then voted on by users and which could possibly end up in future versions of Asus gadgets.

Users can also take part in WePC forums, where they can discuss what they’d like to see and work together to dream up their next perfect PC.

Here’s a look at the “ghost” machine that only exists in prototype, but which could become a reality one day if enough users partake in the “dream” processes of developing a new PC for Asus and Intel to develop.

Asus Shows Off WePC ProtoType At CES, Asks Users To Develop Tomorrows PCs is a post from: The Inquisitr

With the sleek designed look of many desktops these days most of us want to see monitors that match those looks, while still providing excellent functionality for all our visual needs. Those wants are exactly what the Asus LS246H LCD Monitor manages to do.

The monitor features a 23.6″ widescreen display with full 1920 x 1080 (1080p) HD resolution and a brightness of 250 cd/m. It also offers a contrast ratio of 50,000:1 with a 2ms response time and a 170 degree viewing angle. All those abilities come together to offer a competent output with bright vivid colors that are sure to impress even the most discerning user.

The monitor also offers HDMI support, D-Sub and an earphone jack. Users will also notice a large “rotate” and “touch” enabled screen controller on the front side of the unit which is quick to launch options when touched and simple to rotate when required.

Overall a very good monitor if you want something that’s stylish and still very functional.

Asus LS246H LCD Monitor Is A Visual Treat For CES is a post from: The Inquisitr

Asus describes their Asus Eee PC Seashell 1008P perfectly in their display at CES this year, calling the unit an “Elegant design encased in style” which is exactly what the unit is, plus it features some nice, albeit it common netbook features to match the units look.

The 1008P comes equipped with the Intel N450 Pine Trail processor, features Windows 7 and offers a 10.1″ LED Backlight WSVGA with 1024 x 600 pixels of resolution with frameless type.

The units also ship with two hard drive options: 250GB + 500GB Asus WebStorage and 320GB + 500GB Asus WebStorage. While they also offer 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Optional) and 6 hours of battery life, plus an integrated 1.3MP webcam.

The unit is also ultra slim at only 1″ thickness while weighing only 1.1kg. Overall a great unit, with a sleek design, a comfortable keyboard and nice dimensions that will also make you forget its there in the first place.

Asus Eee PC Seashell 1008P Karim Rashid Collection At CES 2010 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Asus Eee PC 1001P with the Intel Atom N450 processor is debuting on January 6th 2010 and pre-orders are already under way through Amazon Germany.

Asus Eee PC users will be well aware of the device, which features the same specs of last generation units, wrapped up with the new, faster and more efficient Intel processor.

The units start with a 160GB Hard Drive, 1GB RAM and Windows XP…that’s right…Windows XP.  They also feature a slim-fitting 4,400mAh battery, WiFi b/g, three USB 2.0 ports, a multi-card reader and in/out ports for audio.

The units are currently priced by Amazon Germany at €267.70 ($384) and ship in both black and white color schemes. No word on release dates and pricing for other countries at this time. [SlashGear]

Asus Eee PC 1001P Arriving On January 6th With Atom N450 Processor is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Asus Eee PC 1005P/PE units debuted this week, just in time to remind holiday Netbook buyers that their tech is already becoming obsolete. The Atom N450 units offer some nice specs for bargain shoppers and a decent design Asus users will be familiar with.

Both models feature 10 inch LED backlit displays pushing out 1,024 x 600 pixels of resolution, 1 GB DDR2-RAM and the Windows 7 “Starter” Edition which should work just fine for users looking for a lightweight, inexpensive offering. The units also offer GMA 3150 GPU’s with the PE model sporting a 250GB hard drive.

Asus is also claiming that their 6 cell battery will push out 12.5 hours thanks to the hyper-efficient N450 CPU.

No word yet on pricing or a release date. [Engadget]

ASUS Eee PC 1005P/PE with Atom N450 Debuts, Gives 12.5 Hours Battery Life is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Asus Eee Box EB1501 with it’s NVIDIA Ion graphics chipset and HDMI connector is now available for $479 with an Intel dual-core Atom 330 processor, 2GB RAM and a 250GB hard drive.

The unit which is available for pre-order  via Amazon also features WiFi b/g/n data access and a slot-loading DVD burner.  While also coming equipped with a 1080p high def video output and DVD upscaling software for 720p DVD outputs, while also offering 5.1 channel surround sound with an S/PDIF digital audio output.

The nettop can also be hidden behind your display using a VESA mount and ASUS claims the units use 70 percent less power output than regular desktop systems.

While the units are up for pre-order, there’s still no word as to when the units will begin shipping. We’ll keep you posted. [SlashGear via Netbooked]

Asus Eee Box EB1501 Now Available For $479 Pre-Orders is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re in the market for an ultra high end laptop and you don’t mind a $3000 price tag you can now pick up the Asus 16″ Lamborghini Laptop with it’s bespoke speakers, sewn leather palm rest and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens cover.

Buyers will also receive a Lamborghini mouse and a laptop case that matches the computer. The system also rocks a Core 2 Quad CPU, 1TB SSD and 4GB of RAM, all of which utilize a 16-inch “Full HD” display.

Unfortunately users will have to deal with Windows Vista, which seems a little silly given the mostly positive reviews Windows 7 has been receiving.

The Asus 16″ Lamborghini comes in black and white coloring and weighs a hefty 7.71 pounds.

Asus 16″ Lamborghini Goes On Sale, $3000 Pricetag, Windows Vista is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Asus Eee PC 1201HA is now available in the U.S. via way of Best Buy and comes with a price tag of $330, alongside a 1.33GHz Atom Z520 processor, integrated graphics and some other standard netbook options.

Asus has also announced that the 1201N model, the first Eee PC with NVIDIA Ion graphics will be arriving in December for a price somewhere around $500, while featuring 2GB RAM, a 250GB HDD and even an HDMI output.

They are also working on an AMD 1.6GHz Congo MV40 processor unit with ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics for 1080p high definition output abilities, although no date or pricing has been made available for that unit and we don’t have a model name at this time. [SlashGear]

Asus Eee PC 1201HA Netbook With 12.1-Inch Display Now Available, New Models Coming Soon is a post from: The Inquisitr

Asus’ newest line of Xtreme motherboards offers transfer speeds so fast that four movies can be delivered in 15 seconds with no lose of data along the way.

The new Asus Xtreme Design P7P55D-E Series motherboard has onboard support for USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s abilities, while the Asus Xtreme Design P7P55D offers the same support with the help of a U3S6 PCIe x4 expansion card.

Speeds have been verified on 20GB HD movies which take less than 70 seconds to download, while a 4MB music file transfers are incredibly fast at 0.01 seconds.

The entire line of USB 3.0 supported motherboards also come with the Intel P55 Express chipset that offers support for the most recent LGA 1156 socket for Intel Core i7/Core i5 Processors with exclusive Hybrid Technology, active cool and rapid online access.

As should be expected both cards offer full support for Windows 7. [Slipperybrick via FarEastGizmos]

Asus USB 3.0 Motherboards Can Transfer Four Movies In 15 Seconds is a post from: The Inquisitr

Every now and again we witness a high tech computer peripheral that looks amazing, but many of those monitors skimp on true high tech features. It seems like manufacturers simply hope the aesthetic look will draw in customers. That’s not the case with the new line of Asus MS series LCD Monitors, not only do they look amazing, they deliver in terms of technological offerings.

The series which includes the MS246, MS236, MS227, MS226 and MS202 models includes full HD capabilities outputting at 1080P resolution with an impressive contrast ratio of 50,000:1 and a response time of 2ms.

The displays also feature Asus’ Video Intelligence technology and they are very thin at only 16.5mm, which means they’ll take up very little space on your desktop. The MS series also features touch sensitive LED controls for monitor control.

According to SlashGear the monitor sizes are as follows:

MS 246 is a 23.6-inch screen, the 236 is a 23-inch, the 226H is a 21.5-inch screen, the 227 is a 22-inch screen, and the 202N/D is a 20-inch unit.

No word yet on pricing although Asus does have an official MS Series page up, which makes us think more info will soon be available.

Asus MS Series LCD Monitors Offer High Tech Looks With High Tech Features is a post from: The Inquisitr

E-Readers are slowly becoming a regular part of out collection of tech gadgets with Amazon’s Kindle the current leader of the pack. That could change however as ASUS has plans to push out the cheapest e-book reader on the market, and a dual screen version at that.

From what ASUS president Jerry Shen is reported to have told the guys at engadget the Eee Reader will be the cheapest e-book reader with a possible price of $163.00. There will of course be a higher end model with possible extras like inbuilt 3G, a web browser and expandable storage. The real killer here though could be the dual screen forma factor

The dual screen form factor would enable users to read books as books were intended to be read, or they could use the secondary panel to surf the web, type on a virtual keyboard or whatever else ASUS dreams up.

Source: engadget – ASUS planning dual screen Eee Reader: world’s cheapest e-book reader

Look out Kindle, ASUS dual screen Eee Reader coming our way is a post from: The Inquisitr