Tag: asus

Microsoft teams up with ASUS to launch ROG Xbox Ally and compete with Steam Deck

The competition in the segment of consolidated PCs is intensifying, with companies like ASUS, Lenovo, and MSI eager to gain ground, although most sales still belong to the Steam Deck. As consumer interest grows, Microsoft has decided to join this fight by collaborating with ASUS to develop the ROG Xbox Ally, which is set to launch in October, although the price remains a mystery. The innovative Xbox Mode One of the standout features of the ROG Xbox Ally is its innovative ‘Xbox Mode’, which customizes Windows 11 in order to simplify the […]

The competition in the consolidated PC segment is intensifying, with companies like ASUS, Lenovo, and MSI eager to gain ground, although most sales still belong to the Steam Deck. As consumer interest grows, Microsoft has decided to join this fight by collaborating with ASUS to develop the ROG Xbox Ally, which is set to launch in October, although the price remains a mystery.

The innovative Xbox Mode

One of the most notable features of the ROG Xbox Ally is its innovative ‘Xbox Mode’, which customizes Windows 11 to simplify the gaming experience, avoiding the conventional desktop. This mode aims to provide a more optimized environment for video games, allowing players to focus on what really matters: the game.

Interestingly, this ‘Xbox Mode’ has been leaked and can be activated on various devices with Windows 11, such as the new Lenovo Legion Go 2, allowing more users to experience its benefits even before its official release. According to reports, the 25H2 update of Windows 11 hides a full-screen boot of the Xbox app that frees up 2 GB of RAM, alleviating some performance and battery life restrictions of the devices.

Initial tests indicate that games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider experience a notable increase in frames per second (FPS), going from 29 to 38 FPS on a ROG Ally, along with reduced RAM usage in full-screen mode compared to classic desktop. This could position Windows 11 as a serious competitor against SteamOS in the space of console-like PCs.

As more options arise, players have access to various game libraries from a single interface that includes Microsoft Store, Steam, and Battle.net, without losing the full functionality of Windows. This development reflects how large companies are evolving to meet the growing demand for more integrated and efficient gaming solutions.

The head of Xbox believes that the future of the company lies in portable consoles

Microsoft is in the early stages of developing a portable console that has not yet been officially confirmed. In a recent interview with iJustine, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting that his team has been “joking and talking” about the arrival of the device. Although he did not provide concrete details or a definitive confirmation, he emphasized that they are working hard to create hardware that meets players’ expectations. Xbox is on board with the idea of a portable console. Speculation about a portable Xbox console has intensified […]

Microsoft is in the early stages of developing a portable console that has not yet been officially confirmed. In a recent interview with iJustine, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting that his team has been “joking and talking” about the arrival of the device. Although he did not provide concrete details or a definitive confirmation, he emphasized that they are working hard to create hardware that meets the expectations of gamers.

Xbox is on board with the idea of a portable console

Speculation about a portable Xbox console has intensified following recent hints from ASUS about a possible collaboration with Microsoft. This has led many to believe that the device could leverage the Xbox ecosystem, especially its popular cloud gaming service and Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, which already provides compatibility with over 1,100 games on PC. Such integration could play a crucial role in a market that currently has competitors like the Steam Deck and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

Spencer also reaffirmed the new philosophy of Xbox, which focuses on the player rather than the hardware. “It’s really about building the experience around the person,” he said, highlighting the importance of ensuring that games, saved games, and rights are available to players anywhere. This cloud-aligned approach could position Xbox’s handheld console as an attractive option for those looking to play on the go.

The creation of a portable console seems to be more than just a mere rumor. The conversation around the collaboration with ASUS and Spencer’s comments generate excitement about how it could compete with rival offerings and enhance the gaming experience in the Xbox ecosystem.

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The portable console from Microsoft is a reality and you will have it in your hands very soon

The video game industry continues in a state of constant evolution, highlighted by the resurgence of interest in portable consoles in recent years. It has been confirmed that Microsoft is working on a portable console internally known as Project Kennan, which is expected to be announced soon and launched during the summer. Manufactured by ASUS, this new console could range in price from 499 to 599 dollars. A console that aims to leverage its integration with the Xbox system The console will seek to unify the gaming experience on Windows and Xbox, creating a universal library of accessible games […]

The video game industry continues to be in a state of constant evolution, with a resurgence of interest in portable consoles in recent years. It has been confirmed that Microsoft is working on a portable console internally known as Project Kennan, which is expected to be announced soon and launched during the summer. Manufactured by ASUS, this new console could range in price from 499 to 599 dollars.

A console that seeks to leverage its integration with the Xbox system

The console will seek to unify the gaming experience on Windows and Xbox, creating a universal game library accessible on portable devices. The interface of Project Kennan will resemble that of Xbox consoles, making for a smoother and less complex user experience compared to a traditional operating system. However, although the console will be powered by Windows, it will not allow playing Xbox Series titles, but only those included in the Xbox Play Anywhere program.

Microsoft intends to use this collaboration with ASUS as a way to gather market information and adjust its strategy before the launch of its own handheld console, which is still several years away. This dual approach not only saves time and costs but also allows Microsoft to benefit from ASUS’s expertise in the field of handheld consoles, as seen with the ASUS ROG Ally.

Additionally, the company is focused on improving its cloud gaming service, Xbox Cloud Gaming, to provide smoother and higher quality access to its games, competing with platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now. In this context, an artificial intelligence called Muse is under development, aimed at optimizing the video game creation process and accelerating production cycles. However, there is skepticism among developers regarding the effectiveness of this AI in the industry.

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These Asus routers need to be updated due to a critical vulnerability

According to recent news, a couple of Asus router users are at high risk as these devices carry important vulnerabilities

Several Asus routers have been identified as having critical vulnerabilities, with a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score of 9.8 for some. In contrast, others are rated as “high” severity with CVSS scores of 8.8.

Three remote code execution flaws with critical severity have been found in the ASUS RT-AX55, RT-AX56U_V2, and RT-AC86U routers. If security upgrades are not installed, these flaws might possibly provide threat actors access to the devices.

These routers are well-liked high-end devices that customers with high-performance requirements and gamers alike use. The vulnerabilities are linked to format string vulnerabilities and have a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 out of 10.0. These weaknesses can be exploited remotely and anonymously, allowing for arbitrary device actions, service interruptions, and remote code execution.

Asus router models that are at risk

According to Bleeping Computer, the three vulnerabilities that were disclosed earlier today are:

  • CVE-2023-39238: Lack of proper verification of the input format string on the iperf-related API module ‘ser_iperf3_svr.cgi’.
  • CVE-2023-39239: Lack of proper verification of the input format string in the API of the general setting function.
  • CVE-2023-39240: Lack of proper verification of the input format string on the iperf-related API module ‘ser_iperf3_cli.cgi’.

“The above issues impact ASUS RT-AX55, RT-AX56U_V2, and RT-AC86U in firmware versions 3.0.0.4.386_50460, 3.0.0.4.386_50460, and 3.0.0.4_386_51529 respectively,” BC added.

The Taiwan Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (TWCERT/CC) has disclosed eight vulnerabilities in these Asus routers. If successfully exploited, these vulnerabilities can allow attackers to carry out actions like command injection and remote code execution (RCE).

When user input inside the format string parameters of specific functions is not adequately verified or sanitized, format string vulnerabilities might arise. They may result in information leakage and code execution, among other security problems. In order to take advantage of these flaws, attackers usually send specially designed input to the susceptible devices, focusing on certain administrative API operations in the case of the ASUS routers.

How to protect yourself against hackers

The only thing you need to do is to update your Asus routers so that you will not be the target of hackers. Here are all the necessary links for you to update your router, published by Bleeping Computer:

The firmware updates for these routers were all rolled out in the current year, starting with the AX56U_V2 receiving its firmware update in May 2023, followed by the RT-AC86U in July 2023, and the RT-AX55 in August 2023.

If your router is affected, it’s crucial to check your current firmware version promptly. After confirming and, if necessary, updating it, it’s advisable to disable remote access to your router.