Asus, which has not had a new phone for a while, is about to announce and announce the launch plan of the new ZenFone AR.

ZenFone AR is the first mobile phone that supports both Google DayDream and Tango platforms. In short, it can run Google's VR and AR services/applications, so the specifications are not weak, and there are technical components (Tango has its hardware requirements), But this biggest feature is also probably its most awkward part.

I believe everyone is familiar with VR and AR, but other than playing games, playing at manufacturers' displays, or playing PokemonGO and SNOW, it seems that they are not so popular in life, there are few applications, and the ecosystem is not yet formed. Therefore, at this time In a nutshell, advertised as DayDream and Tango, ZenFone AR may be too cutting-edge in the market, and a bit embarrassing.

Perhaps considering this point, ASUS has not ignored other parts. Aside from the two functions of VR and AR, the ZenFone AR is still a mobile phone with specifications and functions.

ZenFone AR's specifications have a lot to read:

Processor Platform:

In an interview with COMPUTEX, a classmate of BAV99BRVA-7 said that the era was using Snapdragon 821. It was also explained at the time that the phone had been built for two years. At the time of planning and production, Snapdragon 821 was indeed the best solution at that time. Therefore, in all fairness, the choice of processor is not a matter of ASUS sincerity, but the production process. In fact, although the 821 is not new, it is not weak. In the end, it is necessary to refer to the price to evaluate.

There are several reasons why one team should be built for two years. One is to do DayDream and Tango, and to cooperate with Qualcomm and Google. For example, Qualcomm needs to change the architecture of the processor for Tango, and when the case was opened, it was Android. 6.0, but then 7.0 came out, so the architecture designed for 6.0 had to be modified, tested, adjusted, and back and forth, so time passed bit by bit...

But ASUS told us that this 821 has been optimized for Tango (in software), so the overall performance will be better than the general Snapdragon 821 models. For example, the general processor runs resource-consuming work, and in the end, it often ends up because of the need to control the heat. The frequency is reduced, but the 821 on the ZenFone AR needs to run Tango, and Tango is a job that needs to process a large amount of image information in real time, so ASUS has optimized the temperature control so that it can maintain high preformance for a long time.

For performance issues, we will see the real chapter for the running score later.

Screen:

The resolution of ZenFone AR is 2K, which is due to the fact that it needs to display VR images.

In addition, because we want to run VR and meet the standard of DayDream, the delay time is only 2 milliseconds, and the response time is as short as 1 millisecond, both of which can greatly reduce the afterimage of moving pictures, which is very comfortable for viewing VR. Importantly, because the speed of transformation/dynamics of the screen must be synchronized with the speed at which we turn our heads when watching, so as not to have a sense of dizziness.

RAM:

This should be the first mobile phone with 8GB RAM in Taiwan. Is it a functional necessity or a marketing appeal to give such a high RAM?

Regarding this point, ASUS engineers mentioned that it does require more resources to execute Tango, but it does not necessarily have to be as high as 8GB. In fact, like the first Lenovo Phab2 Pro mobile phone that supports Tango, it is equipped with 4GB of RAM. In fact, ASUS has Give more than necessary specs.

Android Pay:

Well, the ZenFone AR has NFC and fingerprint recognition, and is one of the few ASUS models that supports Android Pay (the other is the ZF3 Deluxe).

The mobile phone design is quite satisfactory without losing texture.

The front is made of Gorilla 4 glass, the back is covered with leather, and the side is a metal frame. The back of the ZenFone AR is slightly curved, so the sides are thinner, and the top and bottom are cut with diamonds. It is a little scratched, but the back is leather. The feel is very good.

The camera on the back is the most conspicuous place, and the direct pull line is clearly marked.

ZenFone AR is equipped with a total of 3 lenses: a 23-megapixel main camera, a motion tracking lens, and a depth-sensing lens. When using the Tango program to measure the space, all three lenses will start to work. In addition to the main camera as a general camera lens,

When using Tango, it allows us to see the position, appearance and details of virtual objects in the environment.

The motion tracking camera is responsible for tracking the position of the space when the camera moves (for example, one against the ceiling, one against the floor).

The depth perception lens is matched with infrared emission/reception information to measure the distance between the walls and objects in the space and the current distance. This is to build a 3D model for this space, so that you can know what is in this room when the virtual object is put in. The position is the same as the distance from you. Then, when you approach or retreat, the object can also be enlarged or reduced, or you can move the object farther, put it in, or put it in the corner, and it can become the corresponding object. Some sizes and angles, and the object will not be deformed.

ZenFone AR uses fingerprint recognition on the Home button. The virtual buttons on both sides are backlit, and the backlight can also be set to be always on.

Although the Super AMOLED screen is used, the function of Always on Display is not seen in the settings, but ZenFone AR supports double-tap or swipe up to wake up, just to see the time and notification is also convenient.

What is rare is that although ZenFone AR has built-in more complex lens groups, the thickness and weight have not increased significantly. This is also the design you need to wear Cardboard or DayDream on your head to watch VR. At the bottom are Type-C, headphone jack and speakers.

Google's AR and Apple's AR

We have been talking about DayDream and Tabgo, but I believe that many ordinary consumers know what VR and AR are, but they have no concept of DayDream and Tango. This may be a bit complicated. To put it simply, DayDream is a VR platform made by Google. There are some norms and standards, and VR hardware and software made according to some norms and standards will have a good experience when matched.

Tango is a similar platform, but AR.

Apple also released their ARKit for iOS in WWDC last week. In the past few months, developers have been prepared. I believe that after the iPhone 8 or other devices that can be updated to iOS11, you can see specific AR applications.

Apple's ARKit is relatively simple compared to Tango. After ARKit detects a plane, it can be triggered, allowing users to put virtual objects to play (machine character game scenes...etc.), the hardware requirements are relatively simple, but the range of virtual objects that can be presented is in that on flat surface.

Tango is more complicated. He measures and scans the entire space to know the shape, distance, obstacles of the room, etc., and you can place virtual objects anywhere in the space, and how to move and rotate , the objects will change according to the way they should be placed in this space. Also because it is a scanning space, it can do more complex indoor navigation, 3D interior and exterior car viewing, use as a space rangefinder, virtually arrange the decoration of the entire room, etc., which belong to the application of the entire space. But the disadvantage is that the hardware requirements are high, there must be three lenses, the architecture must be specially optimized, etc., the hardware is more difficult, and there are fewer manufacturers and fewer supporting devices.

The two are very different routes, which one will succeed?

Although it is a bit of an idea, it is a bit off topic here. I will talk about this issue when I write ARKit for iOS 11, but everyone's answers should be different.

ZenFone AR should be a good phone but it's hard work

Everyone has watched a lot of VR, but the experience varies from one to the other. For mobile phone + goggle-type VR, DayDream really does a good job. It is very comfortable to wear and touch, with moderate weight and low latency. Plus the remote control Operation, you don't need to turn your head to reduce dizziness when watching VR, but, if we don't enter Taiwan, we can't buy it at a normal price, what's the use?

If we consider market popularity, scale, maturity, and consumer acceptance, and then decide whether to enter or not, will it become a chicken-and-egg problem? If the device is not in the hands of consumers, how will the popularity grow? How does it scale?

The Galaxy S8/S8+ will also support DayDream VR through an update after summer. Will Google make the DayDream hood available in more countries? This time ZenFone AR was not available in Taiwan with DayDream. Personally, I think It's a shame, but I believe it's not that Asus doesn't work hard. And consumers who get ZenFone AR first, if they want to watch VR, they can only use Cardboard to watch DayDream's VR content. I believe that this will not be the experience that Google wants to give everyone in DayDream.

What can't be denied is the efforts of the ASUS team, but there is a bit of time and space that I can't give, so when will support for VR and AR become an actual selling point on Android phones?

I don’t know, or it depends on how many supporting devices? How many people can buy them? Are developers willing to invest? Can the applications in the system attract users? Time to form, but it may take more time for the rather fragmented Android. (relative to iOS to do AR)

So in the end what applications DayDream and Tango have, let's see in the next article.

(Silently feel that although the mobile phone is made by ASUS, it is also sold by ASUS, but the success of the main function is not in the hands of ASUS)