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Asus ship the ZenPad S with Android Lollipop 5.0 and their own software skin on top – named ZenUI. While I usually prefer stock Android to any manufacturer additions, ZenUI has impressed me previously so we shall see how it fares this time around.
On first impressions, it looks very modern and colourful, with the flat icons we have become accustomed to since iOS 7 first launched. The home screen has a inoffensive clock widget and a fair number of apps on show but it does well to look uncluttered. The lock screen is also fairly sleek, with 3 immediate app options which you can open directly from the lock screen.
The settings menu is how I remember it from the 2014 ZenFone range. It is bright and colourful, with plenty of options to tweak. Everything is laid out clearly and attractively, and the same can be said of the quick settings.
In true Lollipop fashion, one swipe downwards displays any app notifications, while another swipe downwards displays the quick settings themselves. These are displayed in large, round icons which turn blue when activated. Users have full control over which settings actually appear on the quick settings menu.
While that is all well and good, there are a few key features which deserve explanation. One is the new ZenMotion Touch Gesture function. This allows you to open a number of apps while the ZenPad S 8.0 is locked – using your finger. Essentially, users can ‘draw' a letter on the locked screen to unlock the tablet and open the required app.
For instance, drawing the letter ‘e' on the display will open the email client, while drawing the letter ‘c' will open the camera app. It is of course a gimmick, but a very nifty one. Essentially, Asus are taking LG's KnockOn feature to a whole new level.
Finally, it is worth mentioning the Motion Gesture feature. This is perhaps less useful, but it still has its place within ZenUI. Motion Gesture allows you to shake the ZenPad S 8.0 twice in-app, and the system will take a screenshot. It won't be used by everybody, but it saves reaching for the volume and power buttons to take a screenshot the usual way.
