Asus is unveiling the ROG Ally X, an upgraded version of their popular ROG Ally laptop. The Ally X boasts significant improvements, including a dramatically increased battery capacity, enhanced RAM and storage capabilities, and a redesigned Armoury Crate 1.5 software with expanded functionality. Asus hints at other upgrades, but specifics will be revealed on June 2nd, ahead of Computex. The Ally X is expected to be priced higher than its predecessor.
Motherboard manufacturers are addressing a persistent issue causing crashes during shader compilation on Intel CPUs designed for gaming. Asus has released a firmware update that introduces the ‘Intel Baseline Profile’ option, allowing users to revert to factory settings and improve stability. This issue primarily affects users with Core i9 and Core i7 Raptor Lake CPUs and has led to recommendations for downclocking systems to avoid crashes. The new firmware is expected to resolve the issue for Asus users, but it remains unclear why manufacturers initially exceeded Intel’s suggested settings.
Meta’s operating system for its Quest headsets, now known as Meta Horizon OS, is being made available to third-party hardware makers. This OS will allow new VR headsets to incorporate features such as inside-out tracking, high-resolution passthrough, and Spatial Anchors, enabling innovative designs and experiences. Asus and Lenovo have already signed on to create their own Horizon OS-powered headsets.
Meta Platforms is making its Quest headset operating system available to other device makers, setting it apart from Apple’s closed ecosystem for the Vision Pro headset. Hardware partners like Asus and Lenovo will create devices running Meta Horizon OS, with Asus focusing on gaming and Lenovo on productivity, learning, and entertainment. Meta is also collaborating with Microsoft on a gaming-centric Quest headset and exploring partnerships with app stores like Google Play Store. The aim is to drive adoption and create a more open VR/MR ecosystem beyond gaming.
Nine months after reports of corrupted SD cards in the ROG Ally handheld gaming PC, Asus has announced a 12-month warranty extension for the device’s SD card reader. The move suggests that the previous BIOS update to adjust fan speeds may not have fully resolved the issue. Customers in the US are eligible for the extended warranty, which covers SD cards damaged by the reader for up to 24 months after purchase. Asus advises against using SD cards for additional storage due to potential damage, but acknowledges the convenience of SD cards for file transfer. Despite the warranty extension, the underlying design flaw of the SD card reader’s placement near the heatsink and fan assembly remains a concern.
