Skip to main content

Asus keeps us guessing about its plans for MWC in new video

Asus MWC 2013 TeaserRemember Asus said it had something to wow us prepared for Mobile World Congress? Well, it has released a short viral video-style trailer to amp up anticipation ahead of the launch of said exciting product, and although it doesn’t really contain any actual facts, one can read plenty into the images used.

The video begins with a shot of a massive spacecraft traveling over the rooftops of Barcelona, before settling over the top of the Sagrada Familia temple and dropping down to add another five spires to the church. The words Ultimate Craftsmanship, Today appear over the shaky-cam footage, before it fades away to the words, “Join Asus to embrace the metallic miracle.”

Related Videos

Visiting the URL printed on the final image in the video shows we’ll be treated to a second teaser on February 21, and that we’ll meet the product on February 25, when, “Pad and Phone come together.” Sound familiar? It should, as Asus is the company behind the PadFone and PadFone 2. The PadFone 2 was announced late last year, but it has yet to receive a wide release, with the UK and the U.S. still waiting for a final date.

Could Asus be relaunching the PadFone 2? It’s a trick they pulled with the first PadFone, a device unveiled as a prototype and then again as a final retail product at MWC 2012. Perhaps, but then it has also been linked with the unimaginatively named Fonepad, a smaller tablet with phone capabilities built-in. The rumored device is said to feature an Intel Z2420 processor, a 7-inch screen and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The video certainly makes a point of showing the spacecraft firmly “docking” with the church, so if it’s not the PadFone 2 again, the new device could work in a similar way. Then there’s the reference to metal and the distinctly metallic look to the Asus craft, meaning whatever it is could have a metallic chassis. Finally, there’s always the chance we’re supposed to take the video literally, and Asus is letting us know the aliens are coming to finish off the Sagrada Familia once and for all.

Perhaps when the next trailer is released we’ll have a little more to go on, but failing that, we’ll get all the facts on February 25 at MWC.

Editors' Recommendations

The iPhone 14’s most annoying feature might be worse on the iPhone 15
Transferring an eSIM from an old iPhone to an iPhone 14.

While there's a lot to love about the iPhone 14, its lack of a SIM card tray in the U.S. variant was controversial, to say the least. Unfortunately, it looks like the iPhone 15 will be following its predecessor's lead and ditching the SIM card tray as well — this time for models across the globe, not just in the U.S.

According to a report by French publication iGeneration, the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are likely to be released "without a physical SIM card in France." Although France is just one country, if iPhones are losing their SIM card slots in Europe as well as the U.S., then it seems likely that they'll be disappearing entirely for the upcoming generation.

Read more
How to turn the Apple logo on your iPhone into a secret button
A black iPhone 14 Pro laying face-down on a black journal.

For hundreds of millions of smartphone users out there, iPhones are the gold standard of convenience. From reliable cameras and buttery-smooth software to a processor that is in a league of its own, the premium you pay for an iPhone equates to simplicity, consistency, and longevity. This is especially true with more recent models, like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.

One aspect that really lifts Apple’s smartphones is the focus on accessibility, which tailors the iPhone and its user experience to make a whole bunch of tasks more convenient for users. Of course, they also play a critical role for folks living with issues affecting their visual and auditory systems.

Read more
12 iOS 16.4 features that are about to make your iPhone even better
iPhone 14 Pro Max with an iOS 16.4 icon next to it.

While we wait to get our first look at iOS 17 later this summer, Apple has officially released its latest iOS update in the form of iOS 16.4. This is the fourth major iOS 16 update, and there's a surprising amount of new features and goodies to check out.

Following multiple beta versions over the last few weeks, Apple began rolling out the final build of iOS 16.4 to everyone on March 27, 2023. If you have an iPhone and want to know what's new, here's a look at the 12 biggest iOS 16.4 features you need to check out.
Apple Books brings back the page curl effect

Read more