Android 6.0 Marshmallow update has started rolling out to two smartphones of Asus line-up -- Asus ZenFone Selfie (ZD551KL) and Asus ZenFone Zoom (ZX551KL), confirms the company via its ZenTalk forum. However, the update comes with few hurdles. First, the users of both ZenFone Selfie and ZenFone Zoom will have to download the firmware manually from the official website.
Second, the users will lose some apps on updating and they are expected to switch to alternatives for these apps. To say, after ZenFone Zoom undergoes Marshmallow update, Asus Backup, Google Play Books, Google Play Games, Google Play Newsstand, Google+, Mirror, Remote Link, PC Link, Photo Frame, What's Next, and Snap View, and ZenFlash will no longer be preloaded on the device.
In Asus ZenFone Selfie, the update will remove the apps, including Asus Email, Asus Calendar, Asus Messaging, Asus Browser, and Asus Music after factory reset. The third hurdle, Android Marshmallow won't support the transfer of apps to microSD card. "Please move apps to internal storage before system upgrades," noted Asus.
Now the new additions users will get on updating to Marshmallow will be features such as Google Calendar, Google Messenger, Motion Gesture. The Camera app receives new Pano Sphere mode. The ZenFone Zoom will be preloaded with apps such as Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.
Last month, Asus also released the Marshmallow update for the ZenFone 2 Laser and ZenFone Max smartphones. Meanwhile, Taiwanese laptop and smartphone-maker Asus is looking to double its market share in mobile phones in India, by 2016. According to Peter Chang, Regional Head (South Asia) and Country Manager (System Business Group), Asus India, the Rs. 10,000-15,000 price bracket will be its sweet spots. Asus at present sells 2,00,000 smartphones per month, which it intends to double to 4,00,000 a month within December. Its market share stands at 2.5%, which the company intends to push to 5% by December.