CES 2014 Self-Guided Tour Exhibitor: ASUS

A screen is a screen is a screen, and they come in many sizes. Phones are getting bigger, tablets are getting smaller, and it seems as though no matter what size screen you want, you’ll be able to find it from some manufacturer. But what if you don’t want all these devices littered around your house? What if you want all of your stuff in one gadget, while still having the flexibility to have multiple screen sizes? Enter the ASUS PadFone. The PadFone is a unique phone-to-tablet convertible concept was first introduced back in 2011, but is poised to make a big splash soon as it’s heading to America for the first time a little later this year. ASUS’s latest model is the PadFone Infinity, currently available throughout much of Asia and Europe.  What makes the PadFone line stand out is its dual nature. The Infinity is a 5-inch LTE smartphone that becomes a 10.1-inch tablet when you dock it into the included PadFone Infinity Station. The phone itself is a little wider and longer than the iPhone 5s, and features a durable metal case in an overall lightweight package.  Docking the smartphone into the tablet is a breeze, and instantly lets you zip through apps, widgets and menus. The tablet’s screen features a 1,920×1,200 pixel resolution and has a front-facing 1 MPB camera, as well as a Micro-USB port. The Infinity features a completely overhauled UI, with simplified icons and a more consistent design. It also has better-than-ever-before camera performance including something called Hi-Light, or “Owl Mode.” This mode dramatically improves the camera’s sensitivity before shooting, and helps capture images of a much higher quality. Why juggle your data between multiple devices when you can have one device to use in multiple ways? The PadFone is an awesome device, and I’ll be looking for it in the U.S. later this year.