Asus has teased its biggest new gadget in a cryptic Cloverfield-esque trailer that promises "Miracle Metal", and possibly a hostile takeover of the Catholic Church.
The clip itself, embedded below, gives little away, but shows a large metal object flying over Barcelona in Spain, before plonking itself down in the middle of a large church.
Some fervent investigation (I Googled 'biggest church in Barcelona') reveals that the featured church is the Sagrada FamÃlia, a massive Roman Catholic basilica designed by Antoni GaudÃ.
The meaning of the building is unclear, but the giant metal construction strongly resembles the church itself, while on-screen text promises "Ultimate craftsmanship. Today". Although presumably by 'today', Asus actually means 'when it goes on sale' or 'when it's announced'.
As the Taiwanese firm is unlikely to be launching a church-destroying spacecraft for the consumer market, the metal references must refer to the construction of its new toy. Asus is best known for making smart ultrabooks and top-notch Android tablets like the Transformer Pad Infinity 700.
The reveal is set to take place at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, next Monday. CNET will be present in force to let you know all the news when it happens, and hopefully not get squashed by a big metal monster.
What would you like to see Asus make? What can the cryptic teaser mean? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 13
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anonymous 20 February, 2013 12:07
I think that the fact Luke needed to find out what the Sagrada was says to me that he should put his gadgets down for a while and get out and travel the world. There's cheap flights to Barcelona from any airport lad!
Peter Hudson 20 February, 2013 12:18
Don't get too excited Luke, It's nothing to do with Apple or Samsung
anonymous 20 February, 2013 12:50
I have been waiting for so long for Asus to make a hand held food blender!
anonymous 20 February, 2013 13:03
You didnt know what La Sagrada Família was? Jesus Christ. Maybe they used it because of the cathedrals 'ultimate craftsmanship' ie, its intrecate design.
anonymous 20 February, 2013 13:38
Hm, a little bit of basic cultural knowledge wouldn't hurt in a journalist, regardless of the subjects covered...not knowing what that "big church in Barcelona" is? Oh dear.
nadz156 20 February, 2013 13:43
I think it may be the new Asus PadFone...
anonymous 20 February, 2013 15:00
As you went to the trouble of googling the "church" you could have at least read the wiki entry you presumably found. The Sagrada Familia is, as you noted, famously a Gaudi work. It is even more famously unfinished, having been in an on-again/off-again state of construction for over a century. The big silvery lid being dumped on top in the film looks like Gaudi's plans for the completion (currently scheduled I think for 2026, the centenary of his death). If you get the time - go visit it, and take the time in the queue to go up into the towers. Amazing place.
anonymous 20 February, 2013 15:01
La Segrada Familia was never finished, correct me if I'm wrong, not the best parallel to draw with your product...
anonymous 20 February, 2013 15:34
"Asus is best known for making smart ultrabooks and top-notch Android tablets..."
No ASUS is best known for manufacturing excellent motherboards and peripherals.
anonymous 20 February, 2013 16:19
As has been said, this tech journo's articles would benefit if left his screen and saw some of the world - especially one of the most famous cathedrals in Europe. Famous not just because it is beautiful even unfinished but because Gaudi refused to compromise on his intricate designs even when told they would take too long and cost too much to build. As has been noted above - they are hoping to finish it within the next 20 years or so now at least.
So Asus's advert that it's Gaudi design. [but] Today, was clearly wasted here!
anonymous 21 February, 2013 16:41
@ all above comments, so Luke didn't know what church this was and guess what neither do i, why you may ask is because who the hell cares about some dumbass building, why should Luke travell the world to look at ridiculous arcitecture to write a column on a tech site yes a TECH site, you aint going to send e-mails or surf the web with a stupid church, you all sound like old, hagged gits that are seriously on the wrong site....
andydandy 22 February, 2013 08:47
Oh anonymous. So young, so sad, and so much to learn.
anonymous 22 February, 2013 22:56
Anyone bother going to the site at the end of the clip? There's a second movie. It seems Senor Columbus has joined the mobile revolution...
Metallic Miracle? Could it be the long awaited flexible phone?