Asus has now ventured into Cloud Computing for its Eee users. Cloud Computing has been a matter of increasing doubt these days, but is supposed to be what Google is trying to do. Cloud Computing just being like an application server tends to provide outsourcing of applications and files on external servers and services. For Netbooks, UMPCs, but also MIDs smart-phones this is of immense sense to be in place. Google has been doing the same kind in its Docs, where many users can instantaneously work on the same file.

Asus also now want to be a part of this concept of Cloud Computing and proclaims it as the “Future Technology” as per the The Eee PC News. Asus will be providing 20GB of online storage space for its Eee users, and a simple drag and drop interface for your files to download. Proving a fast wireless or 3G UMTS network for this service is certainly a good opportunity for the users to avail.

But here also comes up a point of information security, which is somewhat well handled in Google Docs, which should be focused on more to make this venture successful. Google reads well known appropriate content from their huge advertising base of their Adsense network. Asus will have to make an way out for this to be suitable for them.

As the Taiwanese DigiTimes reported, ASUS now has Eee storage and Eee Download Service. Eee already provides download files and programs and is going to support playing music and other content as soon as possible. In near future they are going to improve that service through the concept of Cloud Computing and making it more familiar to its users. But you know where the hook is? Eee download is now only for the Chinese market.

Asustek has launched yet another Eee PC-related product but this time its not in the form of a hardward but rather a web-related service which are still connected with the Eee PC netbooks.

First of these two products is the Eee Storage which is a 20GB web hard drive service that provides a drag and drop interface for transferring files between the Eee PC and a web storage servers managed by Asustek.

The other Eee PC-related service is the Eee PC Download which currently contains 3,000 free software and game titles which are being offered as free downloads to Eee PC owners. It doesn’t matter what model of the Eee PC you have, for as long as those are legit Asus Eee PC products, you can download these stuff into your units. The Eee PC Download will be initially offered to the Chinese-speaking Eee PC market. No official words yet as to when this will be available internationally.

Asus has a new device for Eee lovers, the Eee Stick. The world’s first Eee Stick is easy to use plug and play wireless controller that will bring the pleasure of playing games on your favorite Eee PC.

The Eee Stick promises the easy 3D remote features translating users´ physical hand motions into corresponding movements onscreen and providing exciting gaming enjoyment.

The Eee Stick will be bundled exclusively with certain models of the Eee PC™ and the Eee Box, along with a collection of games developed or adapted specifically for use with it. There will be a number of games that will be bundled with each Eee Stick and special Eee PC and Eee Box edition.

Theoretically the Eee Stick can operate on other PCs and gaming peripherals such as game pads and keypads, enabling users to mix and match devices in own unique playstyle.

We all know that any netbook’s, or any laptop for that matter, success depends heavily on how many hours of usage the can provide us. The Eee PC netbook series for one have been time and again trying to upgrade their battery power to provide as much usage time as possible. Last we heard, some Eee PC’s have around 4-5 hours of good usage with the 6-cell batteries.

But the standard battery that Asus supplies their EeePC are not are only options. In fact that’s the beauty of the Eee PC netbooks - they give us the freedom to modify as much hardware as possible with our units. For Eee PC  users, an 8-cell battery is currently available at eBay. This 8-cell battery can provide 8 solid hours of use and it costs $88 plus shipping cost of around $14.99 at eBay.

The said 8-cell battery was said to be compatible with the following Eee PC models:

• Asus EeePC 901 Series
• EeePC 901 12G
• EeePC 901 20G
• EeePC 901-W001
• EeePC 901-BK002X
• EeePC 901-W001
• EeePC 901-W003X
• EeePC 901-BK002XAsus EeePC 1000 Series
• EeePC 1000
• EeePC 1000-BK003
• Asus EeePC 1000H Series
• EeePC 1000H
• EeePC 1000H 20GB
• EeePC 1000H 80GB

But of course as this is a third-party Eee PC accessory, care and caution must be observed when dealing with these kind of products.

Via [Liliputing]

We all know that despite the fact that the newer models of the Eee PCs have already improved on their battery power with the use of the 6-cell battery, still 5-6 hours max of battery would not be enough for some heavy users. So Asustek is determined to improve on the Eee PCs battery life some more by introducing some new features that will give the Eee PCs “whole day” battery life and internet storage.

Likewise Asus is also looking into introducing both software and hard upgrades on a monthly basis to fill the gaps in the netbook market. This is in anticipation of the growing demand for the Eee PCs especially in the Western European countries.

Asustek will also continue working with Pegatron Technology and is said to be most satisfied with the company being the Eee PCs OEM.

No further information were provided though as reported by Digitimes regarding the new features that Asus is planning to introduce in the coming days. But we expect to hear more from these later on.

As if the barrage of Eee PC models were not enough, Asus may soon be launching another set of products made specifically for its Eee PC product line. Although these are nothing but rumors yet in lieu of an official announcement from Asus, they are definitely worth a second look nonetheless.

So, we might be looking at future accessories of the Eee PC products which include the following: a hard drive, optical drive and a 3G card.

If the expanding storage capacities of the new Eee PC models are not enough for your needs, this new Eee Hard Drive may suit your needs. It looks like your typical Western Digital My Passport products. It might come in package with low storage capacity Eee PCs.

The next product which is an optical drive seems rather unnecessary unless of course if Asus got some other plans for it.  The last product - the 3G card may seem to be the most useful ones especially since it’s a much sought after feature for an ultraportable PC such as the Eee PC. This would make the Eee PCs more and more like mobile phone devices now.

Via [Eee PC News]

Belkin’s got several new laptop cases and retractable USB mice which would surely fit out Eee PCs. Unfortunately though, the laptop cases could only fit the Eee PC 701. So, if you still have your Eee PC 701 and have no plans of selling them, you might as well get your beloved netbook, a spanking new case from Belkin.

The laptop cases are available in four rich, jewel tones: jetset red, plum berry, techno blue, and black. One of the laptop cases in quilted design made of polyester material while the others are made of neoprene materials. Price starts from $12.99 - $24.99.

Our travel mice on the other hand are USB rectractable models which are small enough to match the size of the Eee PCs, be it the 701, 900 or 1000 series. The travel mice feature an ON and OFF switch to save on power when not in used. Price ranges from $14.99 to $199.99

If the built-in speaker of your Eee PC is not enough to get into the groove and you want probably something louder, the new Asus SP-BT23 bluetooth speaker might actually work for you. This speaker was also launched during the Computex, although it didn’t receive to much hype.

The Asus SP-BT23 embodies the Eee PC’s dictum Easy to Carry, Easy to Share plus Excellent Audio Quality. It measure only 170(W) x 123.5(H) x 54(D) mm and weighs only 400g. So, you can pretty much carry it around together with your Eee PC.

And since it is Bluetooth compatible, you can connect most Bluetooth enabled devices aside from the Eee PC 901 and the Eee PC 1000 series.

Here are the specifications of the Asus “EeeSpeakers”

• Bluetooth V1.2 Class2
• Advanced Audio Distributed Profile (A2DP)
• AC: 100 ~ 240V (50~60Hz); DC: 5V, 1200mA; or 4xAA batteries
• Max Power Output- 4W (2Wx2)
• RMS Power Output (T.H.D.=10%) -1.6±0.3W
• S/N Ratio-70dB
• Driver Units-1″, 4Ω 2W
• Frequency Response-150Hz ~ 20KHz
• Average Sound Pressure Level-77dB
• Resonant Frequency-Fo=280Hz
• Product Dimensions=170(W) x120(H) x 54(D)mm
• Weights-400g

In a move to appease angry UK customers who purchased the Eee PC 900 with the 4400 mAh battery, Asustek UK is offering them to have their batteries replaced by a better 5800 model. For awhile, this may seem a good deal but like any other deals, this one doesn’t come without a bargain. To have their batteries replaced, UK buyers need to pay around $19 and they would have to return their old batteries.

Fair deal? Well, some UK buyers probably don’t think so, as some are questioning the need to return the old batteries instead of keeping them. Asustek UK even said that if users want to keep the 4400 batteries, they might as well pay for the full price of the 5800 battery. Hmm, what a way to treat customers eh?

Relatedyly, Asustek is also releasing a new firmware update for the Eee PC 900 that promises to extend its battery life to another 30 mins.

Via [PC Pro]

Trusted Reviews has confirmed that UK consumers are getting the low-performing 4800mAh in their Eee PC 900, instead of the better 5200mAH which US consumers got from their Eec PC units. TR also reported that an Asustek spokeswoman said that:

“Asus offers different solutions in different markets. In EU countries, we use 4400mAh [with the] Eee 900. However, we give a two-year warranty within the country you bought the Eee 900.”

Sounds like a fair deal, right? Wait, actually it is not. TR and its readers (via comments) said that by UK standards all eletronic products and accessories shall come with the 2-year warranty period. So, Asustek should not use it as a defense against consumers asking why they will be getting a different product accesory as some other countries.

Actually, when I spoke to an Asustek representative during the launch of the Eee PC 900 in Manila, he said that they are also releasing the Eee PC 900 with the 4400mAH battery.

This would definitely annoy UK consumers. Hopefully, Asustek could come up with a better reason other than what was said by the spokeswoman asked by TR.

Would UK consumers drive too much force to make Asustek replace the 4400mAH battery as what they did with Hong Kong buyers? That we will have to see as more UK consumers get disappointed with what battery they will get with their Eee PC 900.