Vainglory Heroes Get “Ultimate” Boost in Update 2.5.0; Talents in Non-Competitive play, New Skins & Quest Interface

The infamous MOBA making a storm on mobile devices, Vainglory is getting a boost in an update.
Any of you guys playing Vainglory on mobile? Sure feels like a particular MOBA, doesn’t it? Well, if you are, there is an update that’s gone live that will affect heroes’ skills.
Vainglory Heroes Get “Ultimate” Boost in Update 2.5.0

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

From June 1st, 2017(GMT +8), all heroes will now have 3 unlockable Talents, tiered between “Rare”, “Epic”, and “Legendary”. Each Talent is unique to each individual hero, and affects the game in several ways. Some flashier Talents, like Gwen’s previously mentioned Aces High, affects play directly, by increasing a skill’s damage or the area of effect.
Some are more utilitarian, like Koshka’s Frenzied Talent, which allows her basic attack to lower the cooldown timer of her skills. With such a variety of Talents available, players will be allowed to make even more dramatic plays on the battlefield.
Talents will only be available in Vainglory’s, non-competitive “Brawl” game modes, which allow for short and casual five to ten minute games.

How do I get Talents?

Players interested in unlocking these Talents for their hero-of-choice, can do so by collecting “Talent coins” through one of three ways. Players can choose to perform daily quests and complete five matches with five heroes of their choice to earn a Hero chest. Alternatively, players can earn “Talent coins”, through random drops by purchasing mystery chests as well as purchasing a set of randomly selected Talent coins on the marketplace.
Purchasing a set of Talent coins can only be done through the game’s “earned” currency, Glory. Once the Talents have been unlocked, players will be encouraged to level up these Talents, also using Talent coins and Glory.

Other updates
New Hero Skins

Veteran players will be excited to learn that some of their favourite heroes will be getting new skins update 2.5.0
The “Netherknight” Lance (Legendary) will be one of the four new hero skins rolled out in 2.5.0

“Netherknight” Lance (Legendary)
“Broken Doll” Alpha (Legendary)
“Spider Queen” Kestrel (Epic)
“Lapdog” Grumpjaw (Rare)

Quest Interface Changes

The new “5-Hero Chest” replaces the first quest slot on the app front page. Play five different heroes to earn talent coins for those specific heroes! Make progress faster upgrading talents for the heroes you enjoy most.
Players will see a more prominent presentation of bonuses on the App’s front page for consecutive wins

Purchase Option
With the introduction of the new Talents progression system, Glory (earned currency) has become a much more precious commodity and you may run low from time to time. If there’s a talent coin you need in the Pick 3 or an upgrade just out of reach, you can now buy Glory with ICE (premium currency) to ensure you don’t miss out.

Dodging and Low Priority Queue Changes

Players dodging matches will face stricter penalizations, in Ranked matches, losing visual skill tier approximately equal to if you lost that match.
Players detected and reported for trolling behavior will face spending time in the Low Priority Queue (LPQ), where they face a countdown clock before they can play their next match.

For the full update notes for Vainglory, including hero and item balancing, click here.

Pokdepinion: Looks like I might need to re-visit Vainglory again to see what all the hubbub is about.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


OPPO Reno4 Pro To Come With 90Hz Screen and Curved Display

OPPO Reno4 Pro: 90Hz display, curved screen

The upcoming OPPO Reno4 Pro will be sporting a 3D Curved display with 90Hz Borderless Sense screen, as revealed by OPPO Malaysia. The reason behind the this design choice is that OPPO wants the device to not only look good but also feel good. Additionally, the 90Hz Borderless Sense screen delivers a fluid and immersive screen experience and registers finger touch response immediately, creating a seamless overall experience.

Apart from that the OPPO Reno4 will come with a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with HDR10+ support and will be using a Snapdragon 765G SoC. Under the hood is a 4,000mAh battery which has support for OPPO’s SuperVOOC 65W fast charging technology.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The OPPO Reno4 Pro will be coming to Malaysian shores pretty soon so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, check out what we think about this phone’s predecessor, the OPPO Reno3 Pro.
Pokdepinion: I gotta say, the OPPO Reno4 Pro is shaping out to be one good looking phone. I just hope the price isn’t too out of reach.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


How To Get Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Deluxe Edition for Cheaper than Standard

While the newest Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is soon to hit the market this 5th October 2018, here’s how you can get the Deluxe Edition of the game cheaper than the standard version from Steam.
Cheaper Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Deluxe Edition

With the game coming out in less than two weeks time, fans of the Assassin’s Creed franchise would surely not want to miss out on the game, and what better way to start it off by getting the Deluxe Edition to get the upper hand in the game. The Deluxe Edition includes The Kronos Pack, Herald of Dusk Pack, Capricornus Naval Pack, 1 temporary XP Boost as well as 1 temporary Drachmas Boost.
Now you may ask, why would we recommend on getting the Deluxe Edition instead of the standard version. Well, at Green Man Gaming, you can get the Deluxe version of the game at RM200.90, which is CHEAPER if you compare it to the game’s standard edition at Steam that’s priced at RM209.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

In doing so, you’ll be saving roughly RM9 while also getting more DLC items. So spend less, and get more. You can click here to go to Green Man Gaming’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Deluxe Edition to check it out for yourself. Not to forget, if you want a more higher end edition of the game, they also offer them at prices that are cheaper than the ones you can find on Steam too.
Pokdepinion: While RM9 may not sound much, but you’ll be getting an upper hand when you start the game. Why pay more when you can get more by a lesser amount, right? Well I can’t wait for the game to come out. I’m actually playing AC Origins right now, so if the upcoming game is long like the previous, it is definitely a worthy buy for me. So will you be getting the game for yourself? Let us know in the comment section down below.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Snapchat Introduces AR Donation Lens For Covid-19 Relief

Snapchat has recently launched a new feature that enables their users to support Covid-19 response efforts in the form of AR lens.
Snapchat Covid-19 AR Lens
The feature was introduced in 33 countries, which includes Malaysia. You can simply take out a RM10 note and use your Snapchat camera and tap on it. It will then trigger an AR experience.
Once that’s popped out, it will show how a potential donation could support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) immediate response effort that includes tracking the spread of the virus,, ensuring patients are getting the care that they need and providing frontline workers with critical supplies.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The lens was launched in partnership with the United Nations Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. You can access these lenses in several ways, including in the lens carousel, Snapcode, or simply by using Scan.
Pokdepinion: If you intend on helping out, well you know what to do.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Lazada to drive growth of Super eBusinesses — “no seller is too small, and no brand is too big”

Lazada will be adding a whole series of services to the Lazada Seller Center, to help sellers grow and also serve you better. With a reliance on data gleaned from your shopping habits, Lazada plans to deliver a more customized experience on the online ecommerce platform. Not only will it benefit you as a shopper, but with this they can help drive more traffic to relevant sellers and stores, rather than you browsing aimlessly in Lazada.

This announcement comes just as they revealed Lazada’s 7th Birthday celebration, at LazMall Brands Future Forum today in Singapore. The new solutions tailored to deliver a better experience for sellers are:

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

“Super” campaigns which LazMall brands and sellers can participate in to boost their brand image and engage with you better
A new and improved Marketing Solutions Package and Business Advisor Dashboard to give sellers the data they need to better engage with customers
New Store Builder tools for customized storefronts as well as in-app livestreams, games and newsfeed to engage today’s always-connected consumers

Lazada hopes that with the new tools and a renewed focus on “shoppertainment”, they will be able to draw more people onto the platform. Pierre Poignant, Lazada Group CEO, shared that a lot of these new features would probably not have been possible if not for Alibaba’s technology and logistic infrastructure.

Jing Yin, Lazada Group President, has also shared that LazMall has seen tremendous growth in terms of brands as well as sales, and they want to target more brands with a new self-sign up feature. He targets a 5x growth in the number of stores in Malaysia’s LazMall, which is currently sitting at more than 400 stores. They will also be adding the LazMall Guarantee feature, allowing you to browse through only LazMall stores, as well as offer a LazMall-exclusive 24-hour delivery window.
When asked about how will Lazada deal with fake goods and illegal products listed on Lazada, Jing Yin shared that they are currently using the help of AI to quickly screen through everything listed on Lazada. That’s to ensure that consumers can shop on Lazada confidently without having to worry too much about scams.

Lazada also awarded their top performing brands on Lazada, among which includes Unilever, Pampers, Phillips, Wardah and also Chinese electronics brand Coocaa, which will be making their entrance in Malaysia this May 2019.
Pokdepinion: I hope more stores get on LazMall, just so that I can shop without worrying about the legitimacy of the products.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


MWC 2020 is officially cancelled due to 2019-nCoV

Yesterday we covered rumors that the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 would be cancelled. Well, today it is official. GSM Alliance (GSMA)’s CEO has just announced that the annual event where everyone with a stake in the mobile market comes down to showcase or checkout the latest stuff, is cancelled.
The event which was supposed to start 24th February saw participants drop out despite GSMA promising to take precautionary measures to protect attendees by doing temperature screening and even banning visitors from the worst hit areas in China. But even then, it is still a risky endeavor to attend crowded conference halls with the ongoing 2019-nCoV (or COVID-19) outbreak.
GSMA is already preparing for MWC 2021, but we know that all these tech innovators won’t be waiting for that to show off what they have planned for MWC 2020. Probably we will see more standalone events by individual companies to unveil their latest innovation. Good thing that Xiaomi is hosting a separate event to launch their Mi 10 instead of doing it in MWC 2020.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Pokdepinion: It is all for the better… Hopefully we find a vaccine for 2019-nCoV soon.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


GIGABYTE AORUS Extreme WATERFORCE cards are here to take Ampere to its limits

GIGABYTE has unveiled some absolutely humongous 4-slot air-cooled AORUS GeForce RTX 30 series cards, but it seems like they decided that air-cooling just wasn’t enough. So they decided to unveil two liquid cooled versions of their GeForce RTX 30 series cards, the GIGABYTE AORUS XTREME GeForce RTX 30 series WATERFORCE WB and AORUS GeForce RTX 30 series WATERFORCE.

The difference between the duo is the AORUS WATERFORCE WB cards come with only a waterblock, as it is meant to be incorporated into an open-loop liquid cooling system. GIGABYTE designed the whole waterblock, even down to the tiny details like the spacing between the microfins in the coldplate, to ensure that you get optimal cooling performance. On top of that, GIGABYTE developed a patent-pending solution aimed at alleviating the ever-present fear of leaks when it comes to liquid cooling solutions.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Around the waterblock and fitting areas, there’s a leak detection circuit which will flash the lighting on the card if leakage is detected. Yes, the AORUS WATERFORCE WB cards will sport customizable RGB lighting on both the cover and backplate.

For the less adventurous, there’s also the AORUS WATERFORCE cards which come with a 240mm AIO cooler. Thanks to the closed loop design, you won’t have to worry about maintenance, unlike with the WATERFORCE WB cards. The coldplate wicks away heat from the GPU, VRAM and other critical parts, ensuring that you will be getting the most from the Ampere GPUs. Of course, you also get RGB illumination on the front and backplate of the card as well as the radiator’s two 120mm fans.
The following liquid-cooled cards will be available from GIGABYTE:

AORUS GeForce RTX 3090 XTREME WATERFORCE WB 24G
AORUS GeForce RTX 3080 XTREME WATERFORCE WB 10G
AORUS GeForce RTX 3090 XTREME WATERFORCE 24G
AORUS GeForce RTX 3080 XTREME WATERFORCE 10G

All of these cards will come with six outputs, three HDMI and three DisplayPort, metal backplates and a coated PCB. They will also be covered by AORUS’ 4-year extended warranty.
Pokdepinion: This might probably be the only way you can get a two-slot GeForce RTX 3080 or 3090…
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Malaysian telcos disagree with MCMC’s improved standards for wireless broadband service

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) proposed a revision to the Mandatory Standards for Quality of Service (MSQoS) for Wireless Broadband Access Service back in April 2021, but has received opposition from local telcos on some of the standards that MCMC proposed.
Among the standards proposed include the requirement for telcos to fix issues regarding backhaul and base station utilization within seven days. This should prevent network congestion from affecting users, and encourage optimization and upgrades from telcos, but all the major telcos disagreed with the proposal, and most of them suggests that this standard to be removed from the MSQoS.
MCMC’s proposal to impose a packet loss standard to less than 0.5% has also been shot down by all the telcos, with Celcom, Digi, TM, Maxis and U Mobile proposing for the standard to removed from the MSQoS. Most of the telcos suggested that throughput and latency are good enough metrics to measure the customer experience, despite packet loss severely affecting the user experience in just about every online application.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Speaking of which, MCMC also proposed to enforce a network latency standard of no more than 150ms, 90% of the time based on test sample. Nearly every telco disagreed, and most telcos proposed crowdsourcing methods of gauging the network latency instead.

Higher network speeds were also proposed for both broadband and fixed wireless access (wireless home broadband) were also proposed, with 2.5Mbps for broadband and 25Mbps for fixed wireless access proposed as the minimum. In a counter-proposal, TM suggested a minimum speed of 2.5Mbps for fixed wireless access instead of the 25Mbps proposed, which I do think is ridiculous. Meanwhile other telcos suggested that they do not discriminate between fixed wireless and broadband users, and thus cannot agree to the higher requirements for fixed wireless access.
The new MSQoS is planned to be implemented starting August 2021. MCMC expects that the updated standards for Wireless Broadband will offer a much better quality of service to consumers.
For the full breakdown, you can get the full report at the source link below.
Source
Pokdepinion: If you have ever suffered from packet loss, you would know that even a minute amount of packet loss is worse than a stable high ping…
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


It appears that the 120Hz ProMotion display on the iPhone 13 Pro isn’t working as intended as it’s locked out at 60Hz for many different apps. It’s not broken, but here’s why it’s happening.
ProMotion Screen on iPhone 13 Pro Is Locking Out at 60Hz

Am I correct in seeing that UIView.animateWithDuration APIs aren’t clocked at 120Hz on iPhone 13? On UIScrollView, system ones, and Metal by the looks of it, rest is still 60Hz? pic.twitter.com/t3MeM9cj0E
— Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) September 24, 2021

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Apple has added the ProMotion screen with 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 13 Pro. Unfortunately, it’s not working as intended as it appears to be locked at 60Hz for 3rd party apps. For Apple’s own apps however, it seems to be working fine and is capable of refreshing the screen dynamically up to 120 times a second.
This isn’t expected to be the case for long as Apple is aware of the issue and mentioned that it’s partly their fault. There will be an iOS update that will fix certain apps that utilize the Core Animation API. Apart from that, they mentioned that app developers need to unlock 120Hz support by adding a key to a .plist file inside the app.
It’s being said that the 120Hz refresh rate support had an incomplete rollout as there are concerns on the battery life of the iPhone given that the screen would refresh twice as much. There is no issue with the iPad Pro as the battery capacity is much bigger in comparison.
For now, you can’t make full use of the iPhone 13 Pro’s ProMotion screen but you should be able to in the near future. This will be up to both Apple and the app developers to fix the issue. Do keep your eyes out for iOS and and app updates, as you would definitely want to get it as soon as it’s out.
Source
Pokdepinion: I figured that they would be aware of it and done something much earlier since they’re not new to the feature given the implementation on the iPad Pro. Oh well, better late than never, I suppose.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


OPPO F9 review — for colorful personalities

Introduction
We all hate notches. Let’s face it. Aside from the Apple fans, I believe all smartphone users do not enjoy having a notch at the top of their screen. But in most cases, it is out of necessity. Placing the camera at the bottom makes for horrible selfies, while motorized systems are most probably just unfeasible for more affordable mid-range devices. OPPO here has tried to shrink the notch. And hence we have the OPPO F9, with the newfangled waterdrop notch.
Unboxing

OPPO here packages their smartphones with everything you will ever need to use your OPPO F9 to the fullest. That means a VOOC charger, a case and even a pair of basic earphones. The OPPO F9 still uses a microUSB connector though, which somewhat sucks this far into 2018.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Appearance

The front is devoid from any logos, and OPPO has even included a pre-installed screen protector. The notch is noticeably smaller with the centered camera right under the earpiece grille which is pushed all the way to the top edge, so the screen covers more of the device than in previous OPPO mid-range devices.

The back is stunning to behold with its petal-shaped pattern and also gradient color. There is no light play here though. The back is finish with the gradient, so there isn’t any kind of light diffraction going on here. It does look pretty cool though.

Here’s a better look at the gradient paintjob that OPPO used for the OPPO F9. It shifts from a deep red to a bright shade of purple, which is really quite attractive. If this isn’t your cup of tea, there is also Twilight Blue and the new Starry Purple finishes to choose from. The sides are made from glossy plastic too, which explains the lack of any antenna lines. The physical buttons are separated ala iPhone, with the volume rocker on the left side along with the SIM tray and the power button on the right.

The bottom is home to the single loudspeaker, microUSB and 3.5mm jack. Luckily OPPO decided to retain the headphone jack here, as they did remove it from their flagship Find X. The microUSB port here is really disappointing though, and we hope the next F-series device will finally come with USB Type-C.
Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
MediaTek Helio P60 (4 x Cortex-A73 @ 2.0 GHz + 4 x Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz), 12nm FinFET

GPU:
Mali-G72 MP3 @ 800 MHz

RAM:
6GB

Display:
6.3″, 19.5:9 FHD+ (1080p) LTPS TFT display, 90.8% screen-to-body ratio, 450-nit brightness (typical)

Storage:
64GB (expandable via microSD up to 256GB)

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
Primary: 16MP f/1.8 + 2MP f/2.4
LED flash, portrait mode, AI scene recognition, AI Beauty, filters, Expert mode, AR stickers
Front Camera
25MP f/2.0
AI portrait mode, AI scene recognition, Beauty mode, screen flash, HDR

OS:
ColorOS 5.2 based on Android 8.1

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.2
LTE-FDD: Band 1//3//5/7/8

SIM:
Dual nanoSIM

Battery:
Li-ion 3500 mAh (non-removable)

Dimensions:
156.7 x 74.0 x 7.99 mm

Weight:
169 g

From a hardware perspective, this device is definitely one of the best mid-range smartphones from OPPO recently. It comes with AC WiFi, a pretty decent MediaTek chipset and also a respectable 3500 mAh battery. Pretty solid. There is no NFC, no wireless charging and no waterproofing at all, but given that this is a mid-range device, we aren’t even complaining.
Performance

We are seeing it come up short of the ASUS ZenFone 5, which is cheaper than the OPPO F9. But the ZenFone 5 is more of an outlier than the norm for a Snapdragon 636, as it bests even the Snapdragon 660-powered Mi A2.

In Geekbench, the multi-core performance of the OPPO F9 shines bright. It’s single-core performance is between an average Snapdragon 636 and Snapdragon 660, which is a pretty good spot to be in.

GPU performance is an area which we usually see MediaTek chipsets falter in, but the OPPO F9’s Helio P60 actually has a pretty powerful Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. It does better than the Snapdragon 636’s Adreno 509, while being a fair bit weaker than the Snapdragon 660’s Adreno 512.

Work performance of the OPPO F9 is spectacular, almost keeping up with the Snapdragon 845 smartphones. Considering the OPPO Find X totally decimated the competition in this benchmark, we believe OPPO is probably optimizing their devices for this benchmark.

Battery life is going to be a sore point though. The OPPO F9 performs much worse than even the Mi A2, which has a much smaller battery. Is MediaTek being less efficient than their Qualcomm counterparts still true, despite moving to TSMC’s latest 12nm FinFET manufacturing process?
The battery easily lasts more than a day, while the VOOC Flash Charging system rejuiced the battery 55% in just 30 minutes, which was really impressive. That’s more than half a day of power, so you should be pretty well set even if all you have is just 30 minutes to charge your phone.
User Experience

The first thing I noticed when I switched over the OPPO F9 for my daily usage was that it featured a proper dual SIM tray with a dedicated slot for the microSD card. Now that’s what I call a real dual SIM phone. The other brands should definitely follow this.

Holding the phone is a slightly less pleasurable experience though. Plastic is used way too liberally in the build of the OPPO F9. Even if you ignore the plastic back which will invariably pick up scratches, the sides are also a bit too easy to smudge for my liking. It then gets slippery, and dropping a plastic phone is never a good idea. It won’t break like glass, but it will get so scuffed up like nobody’s business. So basically I was forced to use the clear case for it all the time, which isn’t all that comfortable to use with the additional lip around the screen.

If you can stomach a fully plastic mid-range, you will find that the OPPO F9 actually is pretty interesting with its new little waterdrop notch. It really looks like a waterdrop, and it doesn’t extend nearly as deeply as you might have seen on the Essential Phone. However OPPO literally forgoes all the benefits of a smaller notch when they decided not to have any notification icons popup on the status bar. And the notch actually blocks important elements in the center top region of the screen when you use apps like Instagram. It’s not unusable simply due to the small size of the notch, but we were truly irked by it.

The screen itself is pretty nice, but the colors are a bit more washed out than we would like. The screen could definitely stand to be a little more vibrant. Maximum brightness is sufficient, but for those who want retina-searing brightness, you won’t get it from the OPPO F9.

ColorOS 5.2 on the OPPO F9 actually comes with some pretty cool stuff. While we believe it would have been a lot more appropriate on the very curvy OPPO Find X, the OPPO F9 actually comes with a Smart Bar which is essentially a shortcut accessible with a swipe from the edge of the screen. The rest of the UI is still pretty much the same as the one in the OPPO Find X, but because we won’t have to pay RM3699 for this, we find it more palatable here.

The camera app is the same as the one in the OPPO Find X, there’s a nice manual mode, stickers, portrait and also a nice little Vivid mode. Vivid mode is pretty cool actually, doing exactly what you would expect; amp up the saturation of the primary colors.

Camera results are pretty decent. Depending on whether you like the vibrant colors that can be oversaturated at times with the Vivid mode, you. For some reason, images turn out a lot better than the OPPO Find X, which was supposed to be the flagship in the OPPO lineup. HDR might be a little too aggressive, reminding us of much older phones cameras. Selfies are pretty good, but you will have to settle for really smooth and fair skin. You can check out the full sized camera samples here.
Conclusion
There are probably better performing mid-range devices you can get for the price of the OPPO F9. At RM1399, it isn’t too pricey, but it isn’t great value for money. You get a decent camera, pretty good performance and battery life, amazing VOOC Flash Charging and a superb selfie camera. But for less money, you could get flagship-class performance, excellent battery life and a selfie camera which isn’t half bad, especially with flagship killers on the rise recently. This is a solid mid-range devices, aside from some faults.
The main issue I have with the OPPO F9 is the plastic body, which is glossy. Glossy plastic is usually a very bad idea unless you think of scratches as battle scars and you cherish them. Don’t take me wrong, I don’t mind plastic phones. But considering what the OPPO F9 offers for its price, I feel like the least OPPO could have done was to give us a glass back. The logic might be that since everyone will be using the OPPO F9 with a case, who cares what material it is made of? With such a pretty back, I wouldn’t want to hide it behind a case. I will want to flaunt it, and OPPO doesn’t actually allow me to do that with such a scratch-prone design. What is the pretty design good for then?
Our thanks to OPPO for providing the OPPO F9 used in this review. To support us, do check out the OPPO F9 on Lazada via the following link:

Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


All AMD Zen 4 processors to pack integrated graphics?

AMD will apparently be taking a page out of Intel‘s playbook, by adding integrated graphics to all their upcoming AMD Zen 4 processors. Destined for the AMD AM5 platform, it seems that AMD has pretty big plans to revamp their lineup of processors. With integrated graphics, the rumored AMD Ryzen 7000 series will be more directly comparable against Intel’s offerings.

According to the rumors, AMD will be using the RDNA 2 architecture for the integrated graphics on the Ryzen 7000 series, which is reportedly codenamed Raphael. This should prove quite interesting, especially when paired with DDR5 memory.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Currently AMD offers two distinct desktop lineups, there’s the APU series, or what AMD calls the “AMD Ryzen Desktop Processor with Radeon Graphics” which are denoted with the “G” or “GE” suffix, as well as the processors, which are just parked under the “AMD Ryzen Desktop Processors” series.

Obviously as gamers, we don’t really care about integrated graphics, but it might come in handy for troubleshooting or some non-gaming workloads. Hopefully by the time Raphael rolls around, AMD Media Framework would be seeing much better adoption, so we can take advantage of it like how creators use QuickSync on Intel.
Speaking of which, AMD is also expected to sell some of their chips without the iGPU enabled, similar to Intel’s processors with the “F” suffix. Of course, all of this are still rumors at this point, so do take all this with a pinch of salt.
Source
Pokdepinion: I would definitely be getting the version with no integrated graphics, especially if it is cheaper!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Computex 2021: AMD Ryzen 5000G series desktop APUs to start from $259 in retail

AMD has finally announced the retail pricing for the AMD Ryzen 5000G series desktop APUs. Initially launched exclusively for the OEM market, the retail availability of the AMD Ryzen 5000G APUs should be quite interesting to some, especially given the rather affordable prices that they start from.
The AMD Ryzen 5000G processors will feature the latest AMD Zen 3 core architecture, allowing it to enjoy most of the IPC gains that AMD delivered on the recent AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors, but with an integrated graphics too.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

There are other key differences, like a smaller cache and also the lack of PCIe 4.0 connectivity. it is also worth noting that the AMD Ryzen 5000G APUs are the only way you can get an eight-core Zen 3-based processor with a lowly 65W TDP at retail, as the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 touts a similar TDP but is only available to OEMs.
AMD will only be giving DIY enthusiasts two options, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Ryzen 5 5600G. For some reason, they decided to not offer the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G in the retail market, when it could quite handily go up against the Core i3 parts from Intel.
AMD Ryzen 5000G Series APU Specs

Cores / Threads
Base / Boost Clocks
Cache
Graphics
TDP
Retail Price

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
8C/16T
3.8 / 4.6 GHz
20MB
Radeon Vega 8 @ 2000MHz
65W
$359 (~RM1481)

AMD Ryzen 7 5700GE
8C/16T
3.2 / 4.6 GHz
20MB
Radeon Vega 8 @ 2000MHz
35W
N/A

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
6C/12T
3.9 / 4.4 GHz
19MB
Radeon Vega 7 @ 1900MHz
65W
$259 (~RM1068)

AMD Ryzen 5 5600GE
6C/12T
3.4 / 4.4 GHz
19MB
Radeon Vega 7 @ 1900MHz
35W
N/A

AMD Ryzen 3 5300G
4C/8T
4.0 / 4.2 GHz
10MB
Radeon Vega 6 @ 1700MHz
65W
N/A

AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE
4C/8T
3.6 / 4.2 GHz
10MB
Radeon Vega 6 @ 1700MHz
35W
N/A

AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE
4C/8T
3.6 / 4.2 GHz
10MB
Radeon Vega 6 @ 1700MHz
35W
N/A

Pokdepinion: I guess this will be great for SFF PC builds if you can get them at MSRP.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


ASUS Announces 2022 New Zenbook Pro and S Series

At the ASUS online launch event, The Pinnacle of Performance, ASUS introduced their new 2022 lineup of smart, high-performance Zenbook Pro and Zenbook S series laptops.
The new Zenbook Pro and Zenbook S feature standard, convertible, and dual-display laptops ranging in size from 13 inches to 17.3 inches, each with a modern new design and the latest 12th Generation Intel Core H-Series or AMD Ryzen 6000 H-Series CPUs, up to GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs with the benefits of the NVIDIA Studio ecosystem.
New and improved cooling technologies across the series, including ASUS IceCool, IceCool Plus, and IceCool Pro, ensure maximum consistent performance up to 140 W combined thermal design power (TDP) depending on the model. Furthermore, the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602) and Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED (UX8402) features the new Active Aerodynamic System Ultra (AAS Ultra), an innovative auto-tilt mechanism that elevates the ScreenPadTM Plus secondary touchscreen or the ASUS ErgoSense keyboard for improved cooling and ergonomics.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Zenbook Pro 16X OLED

The Zenbook 16X OLED is packed into a 2.4kg unibody, CNC-machined for solidity from super-tough aerospace-grade 6000-series aluminum alloy which is16.9 mm thin, making it easy to be creative on the go.
Zenbook Pro 16X OLED is an NVIDIA Studio-approved laptop that features up to 12th Gen Intel Core i9 12900H CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU.
The laptop is cooled with the new ASUS IceCool Pro cooling technology, which employs two silent IceBlades fans with 97 3D-curved blades apiece. These cool the vapour chamber and the 5 mm heat pipe from the CPU and GPU and the hot air is efficiently vented to the outside via the new AAS Ultra mechanism, with its 14.5 mm rise and ergonomic 7° keyboard tilt.
As a result, the CPU and GPU may operate at up to 140 W combined TDP in Performance mode without throttling and at less than 40 dB in Standard mode. The 96 Wh battery provides up to 10 hours of autonomy, ensuring that the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED can handle even the most demanding workdays.
Zenbook Pro 16X OLED has a 16:10 16″ 4K OLED HDR 60 Hz 550-nit Dolby Vision touchscreen that is PANTONE Validated for industry-standard colour rendering, has a cinema-grade 100 percent DCI-P3 gamut, and is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500-certified for the deepest blacks.
The White-RGB ASUS Intelligent Lighting System enables smart interactivity such as visual alerts for power or performance status. The ASUS Dial rotary controller on the other hand is used, for precise fingertip control of creative apps and an enlarged touchpad with haptic feedback for click-anywhere convenience are among the other innovative and upgraded features.
Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED

The Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a compact dual-screen creator laptop with a 14.5-inch 2.8K 120 Hz OLED display. It has a larger and brighter 12.7-inch ScreenPad Plus secondary touchscreen, as well as the AAS Ultra auto-tilting design, which optimises cooling and comfort.
The Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is an Intel Evo-certified laptop that has the ASUS IceCool Plus technology which cools the laptop up to 12th Gen Intel Core i9 12900H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU with up to an 85-watt combined TDP and also tilts the next-generation ScreenPad Plus secondary touchscreen by 12°, putting it at a comfortable angle for touch and viewing for a smooth and seamless experience.
The 2.8K OLED HDR 16:10 primary Dolby Vision touchscreen offers a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, an increased peak brightness of 500 nits, PANTONE Validated colour accuracy, 100 percent DCI-P3 gamut, and TÜV Rheinland-certified eye care for studio-class visuals.
The existing 15.6-inch Zenbook Pro 15 Duo OLED (UX582) has been upgraded for 2022, and now has up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU.
Zenbook Pro Series

The Zenbook Pro line includes the new 15.6-inch Zenbook Pro 15 Flip OLED (UP6502) convertible laptop and the 17.3-inch Zenbook Pro 17 (UM6702). The Zenbook Pro series provides users with maximum power in a small and stylish package.
The flexible Intel Evo-certified Zenbook Pro 15 Flip OLED features a 15.6-inch 2.8K 120 Hz OLED touchscreen, as well as up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and the Intel Arc A370M GPU and is improved with ASUS IceCool Plus thermal technology for maximum sustained performance.
The design is thin and light with a 360° ErgoLift hinge, and an HD IR camera for quick face login. Automatic brightness and colour adjustment are due to the combination of ambient light and RGB colour sensor. The Harman Kardon-certified quad-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system delivers realistic multi-dimensional sound for an immersive cinematic experience.
The 17.3-inch 2.5K IPS NanoEdge Dolby Vision touchscreen on the Zenbook Pro 17 is PANTONE Validated with a 165 Hz refresh rate with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. A Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos audio system fueled by a smart amplifier provides better audio experiences.
Zenbook S Series

The ultrathin and ultralight Zenbook S Series adds two new 13.3-inch models built for extreme portability: the convertible Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED and the Zenbook S 13 OLED. Users no longer have to compromise between performance and battery life with the new Zenbook S series’  power efficiency and high-capacity batteries.
The Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED’s versatile 360° ErgoLift hinge allows users to work or play in whatever position they prefer whether it’s a laptop, tent, stand or tablet. The hinge is also stress-tested for optimum durability and The 1.1 kg light and 14.9 mm thin modern unibody design is made from quality magnesium-aluminium alloy and features up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, powered by 67 Wh battery, three speedy Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a microSD card reader.
The Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED is equipped with smart features like a presence-detection which enables automated login and logout when the user approaches or exits the laptop, and a fingerprint sensor on the power button enables immediate one-touch, password-free login. An RGB colour sensor automatically adjusts the brightness and colour temperature of the display to fit the surrounding environment.
On the other hand, the ultralight Zenbook S 13 OLED is a powerful laptop for individuals who live busy lives. It crams a lot of advanced technology into its 1 kg magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 6800U CPU with AMD Radeon 680M GPU which can last up to 19-hour battery life, full connectivity (including USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C), and USB-C Easy Charge.
The PANTONE Validated 16:10 2.8K OLED HDR NanoEdge Dolby Vision touchscreen with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 is certified for the deepest blacks and boasts an ultra-vivid 100 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut for a comfortable viewing experience. The TÜV Rheinland-certified minimal blue-light emissions ensure improved eye care. A Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos audio system with a smart amplifier provides multichannel sound.
For more information on the Zenbook series, feel free to visit the links below:
Zenbook Pro Series
Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602)
Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED (UX8402)
Zenbook Pro 15 Flip OLED (UP6502)
Zenbook Pro 17 (UM6702)
Zenbook S Series
Zenbook S 13 OLED (UM5302)
Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED (UP5302)
Pokdepinion: Zenbook Pro 15 Flip convertible laptop looks like a really nice laptop for watching Netflix on the go. More screen for more action!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Here are the Top 10 Raya ads on YouTube — McDonald’s video is great, but Nasi McD… not so much

Every year we celebrate Hari Raya as Malaysians. Who can forget the memorable festive advertisements directed by none other than the legendary late Yasmin Ahmad? While she is no longer with us, Malaysians are never short of creative juices. Here’s YouTube’s list of the top 10 Ramadan-Raya Advertisements on YouTube Malaysia:
Kasih 5 Sekawan – Celcom Axiata

Seindah Harapan di Bulan Ramadhan – F&N

Buah Hati Raya – Lazada Malaysia

Ops Lip Lap Raya – Malaysia Airlines

Pekena Nasi McD, Lagi Puas – McDonald’s

Setulus Kasih di Sisimu – OPPO

Gandakan Kemanisan Bersama ft. Elizabeth Tan – Pizza Hut

Kongsi makanan dengan Ribena – Ribena Malaysia

TNB Raya 2018 – Tenaga Nasional

Geng Sakat Raya – Yakult Malaysia

Which is your favorite Raya ad this year? Whichever your pick, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe balik kampung trip, and a blessed Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
Pokdepinion: Surprisingly this time around we don’t see Petronas listed here…

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


MTG Streets Of New Capenna Disdainful Stroke Card Preview

Magic: The Gathering is gearing up to launch its newest expansion, Streets of New Capenna and with that, the company is steadily revealing new cards for all excited MTG fans to see. As with the previous MTG expansions, we have an exclusive preview of one of the cards coming to Streets of New Capenna called Disdainful Stroke.
Disdainful Stroke card preview
Art by Irine Nordsol
The new Disdainful Stroke card is one of the new Blue cards coming to the expansion. It is also an Instant card, which means that the card is a one-shot card that can be used at any time the player has priority. It need not be placed onto the battlefield and once its mana cost is used up, the card goes straight to the player’s graveyard. The new card has the ability to counter target spells that has a mana value that is 4 or higher. The card can be found either in Draft Boosters or Set Boosters.
The new Disdainful Stroke card features art beautifully rendered by artist Irine Nordsol. Those interested in other art made by the artist can view them through the artist’s website, ArtStation, Twitter or Instagram pages.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Magic: The Gathering’s Streets of New Capenna expansion is the game’s 92nd expansion and is mainly inspired by gangster movies back in the day and features early 20th-century flair and aesthetics. The new expansion is set to release this 29th April.
Big thank you to Wizards for providing us with the Disdainful Stroke card for the purposes of this exclusive preview.
Pokdepinion: If I’m not mistaken, this is not the first time we’ve seen a Disdainful Stroke card in MTG right? The last one was sometime in 2016 if I’m not mistaken. Correct me if I’m wrong in the comments!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Genshin Impact 1.6 Patch Notes Revealed Ahead of Update

As many of you may know by now, Genshin Impact 1.6 will be launching on 9th June 2021. Ahead of the update’s release, miHoYo has officially unveiled the patch notes for it, including important notes on Midsummer Island Adventure.
Genshin Impact 1.6 Patch Notes

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

One of the bigger highlights of Genshin Impact 1.6 is the Midsummer Island Adventure event. Players will be able to enjoy the limited-time archipelago region and it takes place right after the update in the first act titled “Main Cannon, Make Ready… Fire!”.
The Genshin Impact 1.6 update will be starting on 9th June 2021 at 6AM GMT+8 / Malaysia time for about 5 hours. Each player will 60 Primogems per hour that the server is down as compensation for the maintenance period, and it’s said that you are guaranteed at least 300 Primogems even if they manage to get the update up early. To be eligible for this, you need to have at least an Adventure Rank 5 by the time the update starts.

1. New Limited-Time Area (available only during version 1.6)
The Area Unlock Criteria will require players to:

Complete Klee’s Story “Quest Trifolium Chapter: Act I – True Treasure”
Complete the Archon Quest “Prologue: Act III – Song of the Dragon and Freedom”

2. New Character

A 5-Star Character “Scarlet Leaves Pursue Wild Waves” Kaedehara Kazuha (Anemo) will be introduced in the game.
Vision: Anemo
Weapon: Sword

3. New Weapons and Equipment

Freedom-Sworn (5-Star Sword)
Mitternachts Waltz (4-Star Bow)
Dodoco Tales (4-Star Catalyst)

4. New Gameplay

Serenitea Pot Feature: Companion Move-In
Travelers can now invite companions to move into their Serenitea Pot and it will deepen their bonds with the Traveler. It will also increase their companionship EXP.

5. New Outfits

Barbara — Summertime Sparkle
Jean — Sea Breeze Dandelion

New Events
Midsummer Island Adventure:

Players will have to complete various challenges to collect Shiny Flotsam and Mini “Harpasta” and exchange for rewards like Dodoco Tales (Catalyst), Northlander Billet Trove, Crown of Insight, and Furnishing Blueprints.
Act I: Main Cannon, Make Ready… Fire!
Act II: Whirlpool off to Starboard… Full Speed Ahead!
Act III: Samurai Sighted… To Arms!
Act IV: Harpastum Bombs Loaded… Blow ‘Em Away!

Event Duration
Echoing Tales

Players can collect a designated number of Echoing Conches to obtain rewards such as Barbara’s outfit “Summertime Sparkle” and Primogems.

New Archon Quest:

Chapter II: Prologue – Autumn Winds, Scarlet Leaves

New Limited-Time World Quests:

A Dish Beyond Mortal Ken
They Who Hear the Sea
The Winding Homeward Way
Who Wields the Wild Wind?
From Outer Lands
The Other Side of Isle and Sea

New Monster

Maguu Kenki: A mechanical humanoid from another nation.

New Spiral Abyss Floors
Just like every new version, Genshin Impact 1.6 will feature a change in the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th floors. These are the new changes:
Floor 11 Ley Line Disorders changed to:

Increases Swirl DMG by 300% and its AoE by 100%.
Updated the monster lineup on Floors 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Spiral Abyss.

Starting from the first time that the Lunar Phase refreshes after updating to Version 1.6, the three Lunar Phases will be as follows:

Phase 1: Whirlpool Moon – When an active character triggers a Swirl reaction on a nearby opponent, once every 3.5 seconds a shockwave can be triggered at that opponent’s position that deals AoE DMG
Phase 2: Breezecall Moon – When an active character triggers a Swirl reaction on a nearby opponent, 4 Energy is regenerated for all characters in the party once every 3.5 seconds
Phase 3: Brumous Moon – When an active character triggers a Swirl reaction on a nearby opponent, a Brumous Aura that lasts 8s will be left at the location where the reaction took place. This Aura inflicts one count of DMG to opponents within it once every 2 seconds. A Brumous Aura can be generated once every 9s.

If you’d like to see the patch notes in full, click right here. Genshin Impact is currently available for free on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and PC. A Nintendo Switch version will be coming sometime soon.
Source
Pokdepinion: This is quite a big update if I do say so myself. Guess my gaming buddies will be stuck on this game for at least a couple of weeks when the update is finally out.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Xiaomi dropped from US investment blacklist

One of the last things the Trump administration did before leaving office was accusing Xiaomi of being a “Communist Chinese Military Company.” After months in courts, the US government has finally agreed to remove the fast-growing smartphone maker from the US blacklist.
The blacklist would have prohibited US investors from investing in Xiaomi, and would have seen it delisted from US exchanges, if the motion went through.
That would seriously impact Xiaomi’s finances, and thankfully the US Department of Defense has agreed to remove the Chinese tech giant from the investment blacklist.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Xiaomi have previously managed to win a temporary injunction against the blacklist, before making it permanent with today’s win.
Source
Pokdepinion: Xiaomi is well be on their path to be the top smartphone maker soon!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Has Google Stadia Fulfilled Its Promise for Cross Play?

As many of you might know by now, you can opt for a game streaming service instead of a gaming PC or console via Google Stadia. It lets you stream the gameplay up to 4K resolution to a variety of devices for as long as you are connected to the internet.
To attract gamers to join the service, Google has made a number of promises for the platform. Is Google Stadia capable of cross play as well as cross save from other consoles and PC?

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Google Stadia Cross Play and Cross Save
In short, Google Stadia is capable of both cross play and cross save. However, it’s not as straightforward as it sounds. For starters, cross save is only supported on Destiny 2 at the moment. This is most likely because of the partnership with Bungie but they are  looking to work with other developers so that it can be enabled on as many games as possible.
So technically speaking, it is possible but not a feature that is widely available. Even then, there may be limitations when it’s implemented for certain games depending on the situation. This is most likely an issue just needs to be worked on with the developers. Hopefully in time, it will become a basic feature that’s supported for every game.
Source
Pokdepinion: It’s interesting to see how a platform that’s supposed to be bridging gaps between all devices has trouble bridging the gap in this regard.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


LG Shows Off V40 ThinQ’s Design

The people from LG has just made a teaser of their new LG V40 ThinQ smartphone’s design and it looks pretty good so far.
LG V40 ThinQ Teased

Previously, we’ve reported on the LG V40 ThinQ leaked renders, and it turns out that those renders are exactly how the phone will look like once it comes out in the market.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

According to LG’s head of design for mobile products, the upcoming LG V40 ThinQ emphasize on three key design factors; smooth touch, unique color, and seamless form.
In order to achieve that smooth sensation (on the hands) criteria, the company has employed a proprietary Silky Blast to etch microscopic pits on the rear glass of the device. It makes the surface less slippery and less prone to fingerprints without affecting the durability of the glass.

The LG V40 ThinQ should come Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and packs around 6GB RAM that’s paired with 64GB of internal storage. It comes in three color variants; New Aurora Black, New Platinum Gray, and New Moroccan Blue.
LG has said that display of the LG V40 ThinQ is almost half an inch larger than its predecessor but maintains the same comfortable width for a secure grasp.
LG V40 ThinQ is set for an official unveiling on the 3rd of October 2018. The phone is more than likely not to be coming here in Malaysia though, as it’s been quite some time since they’ve sold their devices here officially.
Pokdepinion: Too bad we have no other alternative to get the phone than to purchase it from outside of Malaysia.. Hopefully they will enter the market back again. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of demand for LG smartphones. The phone looks sweet. I guess my only negative feedback is that the phone comes with a notch. Other than that, it’s a beauty.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Samsung Announce Joy Of Prosperity Campaign – Gifts Worth Up To RM26000!

Samsung are celebrating this Chinese New Year through their Joy of Prosperity, where customers can bring home gifts worth up to RM26,000 with the purchase of selected Samsung products.
Samsung Joy of Prosperity
Here are some of their offerings;

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Product
Free Gift
Price

75″ Q8C 4K Curved Smart QLED TV
OGAWA Wellness Set Worth RM13,096
RM36,999

75″ Q7F 4K Smart QLED TV
RM35,999

Product
Free Gift
Price

65″ Q8C 4K Curved Smart QLED TV
Samsung Curved 4K UHD TV Worth RM4,299
RM22,999

65″ Q7F 4K Smart QLED TV
RM19,999

Product
Free Gift
Price

55″ Q7F 4K Smart QLED TV
OGAWA Omknee Therapy PLUS Worth RM4.499
RM9,999

Product
Free Gift
Price

Samsung FlexWash
Samsung POWERstick Vacuum Cleaner worth RM859 + Napping Pillow Blanket Worth RM89
RM8,499

Samsung Front Load Washer/Dryer
RM6,299

Product
Free Gift
Price

Samsung Food Showcase RH58K66877P
Samsung POWERstick Vacuum Cleaner worth RM859 + Napping Pillow Blanket Worth RM89
RM10,999

Samsung Food Showcase RH62K62J7SL
RM7,699

Product
Free Gift
Price

Samsung Multi Door
Samsung POWERstick Vacuum Cleaner worth RM859 + Napping Pillow Blanket Worth RM89 or Samsung Microwave Oven Worth RM299 + Napping Pillow Blanket Worth RM89
RM6,299

Samsung Side-by-Side Refrigerator
RM5,799

So those are the products that are in offer for Samsung’s Joy of Prosperity promotion. The special festive deal has started already and will last until the 28th of February which is quite some time away. You can head over to any Samsung authorized outlets to enjoy these festive deals. To find out more on the Joy of Prosperity campaign, you can do so by clicking right here to go to their official website.
Pokdepinion: Those are pretty high-valued free gifts offered on the table. Despite that, in order to get them, you need to spend big as well. So that leaves me out of the promo. Oh well, if you’re eyeing to get Samsung appliances for quite some time, now seems the best time to make a purchase.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Garmin Launches 3 New Wearables for All Ages; vivosmart 3, vivofit jr., and Forerunner 935

Garmin launched 3 new wearables for users of all ages to enjoy.
Some of us take fitness very seriously. Then there’s other people who don’t have an idea if what they’re doing is correct, or having any effect at all. This is where technology has aided people for some time now.
Garmin has launched 3 new wearables for users of all ages so they can stay fit and healthy consistently. Here’s everything you need to know about the 3 new products.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Garmin Launches 3 New Wearables for All Ages
Garmin vivosmart 3

The first in the vivo range to have the VO2 max indicator is the slim and sleek vivosmart 3. It offers users the ability to get statistical insights on their fitness level, as well as fitness age. Users can influence the fitness stats through further exercise and training; making the feature a great source of motivation for achieving a certain level of fitness.
To make realising that goal easier, the vivosmart 3 also features rep counting capability available in the Strength Training activity tool, which helps keep track of reps, sets, and even rest times during exercises. In addition to tracking steps, heart rate, calories, distance, and sleep, activity intensity is also measured by the vivosmart 3 through Intensity Minutes, which are measured against goals recommended by leading health organisations.

Garmin Move IQTM automatically starts recording recognised activities like walking, running, biking, swimming, and elliptical training, without having the user to manually input instruction. The vivosmart® 3 also puts emotional well-being at the core of its offering. Users can now benefit from the wellness monitoring tool with the all-day stress tracking feature, which not only measures stress level based on heart rate variability, but also provides accessible breathing exercise guidance if stress level ever goes high.
All of the stats are accessible via the Garmin Connect mobile app, as the vivosmart 3 automatically syncs with the app throughout the day to save stats. Via Garmin Connect, users can track their workouts, strength training activities, stress levels, sleep patterns and join online challenges to compete against friends and earn virtual badges.

When connected to a compatible smartphone, vivosmart 3 can get notification alerts for emails, texts, calls, calendar reminders, app alerts, and social media updates delivered to users through vibration. Users will also benefit from the ability to control music on their smartphone via the watch, send an alert to locate a misplaced smartphone, and remotely control a Garmin VIRB camera (sold separately).
While the vivosmart 3 is suited for adults of all ages, particularly parents who make fitness a point for the family, children are not left out in having their own activity tracker to stay on the move. Both parents and children can now benefit from the vivofit jr.
The vivosmart 3 is available in black (small/medium and large) and purple (small/medium), and retails at RM 699.00.

Garmin vivofit jr.

Equipped with some of the features of the vivosmart, the highlight of the vivofit jr. is that it comes with a free parent-controlled mobile app. The innovative app serves to motivate kids with fun and educational mobile adventures, family step challenges, and reward-based task completions.
For parents, it includes helpful tools to motivate kids, to which they can assign responsibilities and agreed-upon rewards for completed tasks. Parents can encourage their kids to achieve a 60-minute daily play goal through the mobile adventure feature, where with goal achieved every day, they will get to unlock fun facts on the app’s adventure trail, motivating them to keep reaching their goals.
vivofit jr, Real Flower
Parents can teach their children the value of a healthy and fun competition too, as they can compete as a family in a daily step challenge. Through the app, parents can also assign tasks that kids complete to earn coins, which can then be redeemed for agreed upon rewards.
The preloaded tasks are managed through the parent’s mobile device, and can be set to recur daily or weekly, or personalised chores can be created. To add a bit of intensity, a timer is accessible on the watch for a reminder that time to finish the task is ticking down.
vivofit jr, Digi Camo Green/Yellow
Parents can add multiple children (children not included, lol) and see their daily activity, responsibilities, sleep, and more when the watches automatically syncs to their smartphone. The vivofit jr one-plus year battery life and water resistance mean kids rarely have to take it off, and its multiple stylish and vibrant band designs mean they will rarely want to take it off. With a high-resolution, sunlight-readable display; the watch face tells time, including the date, and even reminds kids to stay active with a move bar.
The vivofit jr, which retails at RM399.00 is designed for ages four to nine and is available in Broken Lava, Digi Camo, and Real Flower band patterns.

Garmin Forerunner 935

The 3rd member to join the family is Forerunner 935 – a GPS running and triathlon watch with new and enhanced performance monitoring tools.In addition to 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the Forerunner 935 includes new training features, allowing users to fine-tune exercise and recovery to be a better athlete.
With technology provided by Firstbeat, it is easier for users to monitor performance and better prepare for a race or training cycle. The watch is also easily paired with the new Running Dynamics Pod, where users will now be able to see all six (6) running dynamics without the need of a chest strap.
At only 49 grams, every detail in its lightweight, comfortable design was chosen with the athlete in mind. The Forerunner 935 is compatible with the full line of Varia cycling awareness accessories, Vector™ pedal-based power meter system and Index™ smart scale. Installed also is the new TrainingPeaks app which allows users to download free workouts directly to their watch.

Users also get better tracking capability in challenging environments with GPS and GLONASS coverage on the watch. Additionally, the watch includes ABC (altimeter, barometer and compass) sensor capabilities. The Forerunner 935 can be automatically linked to Garmin Connect via compatible smartphones. It can last up to 21 hours of battery life in GPS mode, up to 44 hours in UltraTrac™ battery saver mode, and up to 2 weeks in watch mode.
The Forerunner 935 is available in black and yellow for RM2,449.00, and is compatible with optional Garmin QuickFit bands in leather, silicone, or metal.

Pokdepinion: If you’re looking to get yourself a new wearable, why not consider these new Garmin products? Just make you don’t bully your child with the vivofit jr. if you’re getting them one :P
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


HONOR Malaysia Offers Buy 1-Free 10 Deals To Celebrate 10.10

The folks at HONOR Malaysia has prepped up something special for customers where they’ve announced their 10.10 deals in 8 selected stores this 10 till 11 October to enjoy.
HONOR Malaysia 10.10 deals

HONOR is offering a Buy 1 Free 10 promotion, lucky draws, purchase-with-purchase deals, and plenty more in that period. Should you purchase an HONOR 9A, HONOR 9X, or HONOR 9X Lite, you will not only enjoy a RM50 discount but also receive 10 mystery gifts.
For HONOR 9X Pro customers, you can an additional HONOR Band 5i on top of the 10 mystery gifts. Originally priced at RM2,999, you can get the HONOR MagicBook 14 for the special price of RM2,799.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Purchase the MagicBook Pro or even the HONOR Watch GS Pro and you’ll be in the running to win a brand new HONOR Band 5 Sport through a lucky draw session.

HONOR Malaysia is also celebrating the launch of their HONOR Store in Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru. From the 9th till 11th of October, you can receive a Buy 1 Free 13 with free gifts worth up to RM1,523. This offer includes for the HONOR MagicBook Pro, HONOR MagicBook 14, HONOR Watch GS Pro, and more.
Pokdepinion: That’s a lot of freebies for 1 purchase. I wonder what they are actually.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


ASUS Introduces ROG STRIX LC & TUF OG RTX 4090 Variants

Both cards feature returning designs from GPUs of prior generations.

ASUS today introduces two new (or old, depends on how you look at it) AIB designs to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 lineup featuring designs seen on previous generation hardware. The ROG STRIX LC GeForce RTX 4090 features returning designs from ROG STRIX LC GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, with the same 240mm radiator, 540mm total tubing length and a 2.6-slot thickness; the OC variant can boost as high as 2640MHz under OC VBIOS mode.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Meanwhile, TUF Gaming sees the return of RTX 30 series-era designs under the new ‘TUF OG’ branding. The TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OG with its previous generation design features slightly thinner slot height at 3.2 slots, with the same triplet of Axial-tech fans returning as well. Clockspeed is rated for 2595MHz for OC variants under OC VBIOS mode, a 45MHz boost over standard variant (under OC VBIOS).
All four models under two families will feature the same I/O array, with 2x HDMI 2.1 ports and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a ports. No pricing nor local availability information has been detailed so far at this writing.
Pokdepinion: Seeing that RTX 3090 Ti was also a 450W GPU, unsurprising to see it here.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Surprise your special someone with Transcend

Trust me, getting a gift for your significant other for Valentine’s Day can be tougher than it seems. Chocolates? Flowers? How about Transcend products to make your Valentine’s Day? Well to me, tech is always better than chocolates that make you fat and flowers that inevitably wilt away.

For the ladies, a JetDrive Go 300R would be perfect to ensure that all her precious moments will be preserved. Saying goodbye to the annoying “Not Enough Storage” warning message just as she is about to take the perfect #OOTD will definitely help you cut down on stress. Capture all your moments together and save everything directly to the JetDrive Go 300R Lightning/USB 3.1 flash drive instead of her limited internal storage. And it also comes in a nice Rose Gold color, perfect for the feminine side of her.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

For him, Transcend offers the Smart Card Reader RDC2 and RDA2. Regardless if your guy(s)’s devices uses a USB Type-C or the Lightning connector, Transcend has something for him. The card readers come with Transcend’s own proprietary app available on Android and iOS, allowing him to explore, backup and even encrypt data on the memory card. Transferring and sharing data will be a breeze for him with the Smart Card Reader RDC2 and RDA2, and he will have no one else to thank, but you.

Transcend’s DrivePro 520 is perfect for both him and her, as it is a great dashcam with 130° wide viewing angle, a large ƒ/1.8 aperture, and 6 glass lenses front camera that enables Full HD 1080P (30fps) crystal-clear video recording, and a 180° angle-wide rotatable rear camera that is equipped with four Infrared LEDs that allows you to record sharp in-car videos at night or in low-light conditions. Needless to say, it is perfect to ensure peace of mind when going on road trips together.
Now now, even if you don’t have a partner for Valentine’s Day, you can always gift yourself something. How about a Transcend SSD370S SSD to give your PC a much needed speed boost?
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Alleged Battlefield 6 Leak Shows Off Trailer and Gameplay Screenshots

Electronic Arts (EA) has a number of big projects in their pipeline, and one of them is Battlefield 6. Then again, it’s also going by the name of Battlefield 2021 but either way, alleged screenshots of the game have been leaked online, and this is what we have found thus far.
Alleged Battlefield 6 Leak

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

According to recent Battlefield 6 leaks, two new screenshots have surfaced which is allegedly from an unreleased trailer. One of the screenshots, as seen above here, shows military helicopters above an island, which was something already described by reputable leaker Tom Henderson.
The second one is a brief look into gameplay, which is clearly from the point of view of a cockpit from, possibly, one of those same military helicopters. It’s worth noting that the HUD design seems similar to that of Battlefield 3 and 4, so take that any way you like. For now, take the information and screenshots with a grain of salt.
A similar leak occurred shortly before Battlefield V was officially announced so we may get to hear the official announcement for it sometime soon. For now, signs point towards a May 2021 announcement date, with more details coming later in June 2021. There’s no word on which platforms the game will be available but PC and next gen consoles would be a safe bet. We will report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: Regardless of whether it’s real or not, I’m still on fence on the game. I just hope they bring enough new additions to make more people want to play this game.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Lenovo Legion Y530 Gaming Laptop Launched in Malaysia – Light and Affordable

Lenovo Malaysia has officially launched the Lenovo Legion Y530 gaming laptop, an ultraportable gaming machine with a suprisingly affordable price tag.
Lenovo Legion Y530 Gaming Laptop Launched in Malaysia

At a launch event in Kuala Lumpur, Lenovo Malaysia has launched the Lenovo Legion Y530 gaming laptop. It is designed to be their portable gaming machine for users who are living the active, on-the-go lifestyle.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The Lenovo Legion Y530 gaming laptop is designed to strike a balance between portability and performance. It is powered by up to the 8th gen Intel Core i7 and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with DDR4 RAM, all in a 24mm thin package that weighs a mere 2.3kg.
The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display are said to have 62% thinner bezels, at 6.7mm, compared to previous generations. Coupled with its 144Hz refresh rate, users are expected to see vibrant and smooth visuals while gaming.

During the presentation, they also highlighted on the Y530’s keyboard. It is a full-sized, white backlit keyboard with a soft-touch, matte black keys. It is said to have 1.7mm travel distance, which should be optimum for comfort.
Lenovo Legion Y530 Gaming Laptop Specs

Up to Intel Core i7-8750H CPU
Up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU
Up to 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz RAM
Up to 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD
Harman Speakers with Dolby Audio
15.6-inch Full HD 144 Hz IPS Display
Wi-Fi 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.1
2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x RJ45 LAN
360 X 267 X 23.9~24.9 mm, 2.3kg

The Lenovo Legion Y530 gaming laptop will be available online and at all Lenovo exclusive stores nationwide, retailing from RM3,599.

Lenovo Malaysia also took a moment to tease the arrival of the Lenovo Legion Y730 gaming laptop, the C530 and C730 Cube portable gaming desktops, and the T530 and T730 Tower gaming desktops. All 5 machines will be coming to Malaysia by end of 2018, with pricing to be announced at a later date.
We’ll be looking into each of these machines soon so be sure to stay tuned to Pokde.net if you want to know more about them.
Pokdepinion: Well, for a gaming laptop that is easy to bring around, I expected it to be significantly pricier. Way to go Lenovo.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 Review ft. ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 A3 — So I heard you like dials…

ASUS made some pretty big waves with the ASUS Dial, first debuting on the ASUS ProArt Display PA148CTV. Since then, it has made its way to laptops in both physical and also virtual form. Now, we are looking at the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300, the first mouse to feature the ASUS Dial functionality. Should you get it to up your content creation experience? Well, let’s find out. We also got the ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 A3, which is an accompanying mousepad to go with the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300.
Unboxing

ASUS went with the customary dark gray colors and gold accents for the packaging of the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 and ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201. The ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300’s simple box gives you a good preview of the mouse within, while the mousepad’s packaging is a lot more sparse upfront, probably because you should already know what a mousepad looks like…

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 comes with a rather short USB-C charging cable, an compact little extension and some of the usual documentation that you get with your mouse. Meanwhile, the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 didn’t come with anything other than a cool little magnetic clip, which we can check out in a bit.
Appearance

As with all ASUS ProArt products to date, you get a subtle, premium design with the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 and ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201. The mousepad touts a strip of leather at the top for a more unique look, while the all-plastic mouse goes with a sparkly Star Black finish to make sure that you know this isn’t just any ol’ plastic mouse you grabbed off the shelf at your local supermarket. One thing you might notice about the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 is that it doesn’t have stitched edges like many of the mousepads in the market, but the fabric is instead glued along the tapered edges of the silicone base.

The highlight of this mouse is of course the ASUS Dial on the side, of which there are actually two of. ASUS went with a scroll wheel and a more standard looking dial with a middle button. To make sure that you have somewhere to put your thumb, there’s a “wing” to serve as your thumb rest. The ProArt logo is glossy, making for some nice contrast against the otherwise matte plastic shell of the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300.

ASUS went with hard plastic across the entire mouse, which might feel a bit weird to those who are coming from gaming mice, like yours truly. The other side doesn’t really proffer any additional curves to fit your pinkie finger either, with it just smoothly curving away. I also like that ASUS went and slapped the ASUS logo here on the side, and instead kept the ProArt emblem as the main focus when it comes to branding.

Meanwhile, the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201’s little magnetic clip is a pretty nifty little item that takes advantage of the two magnetic points at the upper corners of the surface. You can also attach other magnetic stuff to the magnets, say some metal thumb drive to make sure that it is always in sight. I do quite like this little touch, and while I have wireless peripherals and try to declutter my regular deskmat as much of possible, a magnetic loop like this will definitely help with tying down some of the loose cables that I still need to charge my keyboard and mouse when the battery runs out.
Specifications
ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300

Body material
Plastic, Star Black finish

Sensor
4200 DPI laser sensor

DPI
100 ~ 4200 DPI, 50 DPI increments

USB report rate
2.4GHz: 125/250/500/1000 Hz
Bluetooth: 133Hz

Connectivity
2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth

Buttons
6 programmable buttons
ASUS Dial
2 scroll wheels

Switch type
Omron D2FC-F-K(50M) switches

Cable
Detachable USB-C (only for charging)

Mouse feet
PTFE

Battery
800mAh battery
Up to 150 days

Weight
109g

Dimensions
118 x 72 x 42 mm

ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201

Dimensions
420 x 297 x 2 mm

Surface
Fabric

Base
Silicone

User Experience

ASUS made the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 a rather sizeable mouse, but they manage to make it slightly smaller in all directions than the likes of the Logitech MX Master series, which is probably what many will consider to be the creator mouse. It’s also a great deal lighter, which is something that many will appreciate. With that said, 109 grams is still far from being a “lightweight” mouse, but I found that the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 provided a comfortable heft to it, and wasn’t particularly heavy to me.
Comfort is quite good, with sufficient room for my thumb to rest on the side wing, and my pinky was also raised enough to not scrape itself on the mousing surface. Overall, it’s quite a well designed shape that afforded sufficient room for my relatively large hands to get into a comfortable palm grip. I can see myself getting used to for my daily use. I do wish that ASUS went with rubber grips on the sides, but given that ASUS emphasized the endurance of the ASUS Dial, I guess durability was more of a focus for ASUS.  Rubber sides invariably wear out and get sticky or ugly, and that’s not really something you want to have on a mouse of this caliber.

ASUS included an additional middle button behind the actual scroll wheel, because apparently creators really use their scroll click a lot? This button features the same Omron switches rated for 50 million clicks, so it feel tactile and nice to click, just like the left and right mouse buttons, versus the slightly stiffer scroll wheel’s clicker. The scrolling itself is a rather quiet affair, with notches that you can feel, but not hear. The side scroll wheel and ASUS Dial are smoother operators, with both of them lacking tactile notches.

And now we get to our first point of contention, the laser sensor. In my experience, laser sensors just felt less precise, and that’s pretty much what I am getting here. Tiny movements felt less accurate than I am used to with my optical mice like the ROG Gladius II, and I do believe that it has something to do with the sensor. Sure, laser sensors have their perks, with them being usable on transparent glass surfaces, unlike most optical sensors that will just outright fail to detect any movement on glass surfaces.
I personally think optical sensors are preferable, since I have not used my mouse on a glass surface recently. The precision of a mouse on a properly engineered fabric surface is much more important to me, since I use my desktop most of the time, and I don’t really bring a mouse with me when I am working away from homebase. But, if I found myself using the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 on a glass surface, I might just end up thanking the ASUS engineers who decided to go with a laser sensor over an optical sensor for the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300.

Getting into the tracking of the sensor, we can see that angle snapping isn’t really an issue. Even at the maximum 4200 DPI, jitter also doesn’t appear to be an issue. It seems like the tracking is perfect, but the slight inaccuracy for tiny movements is quite obvious when used. I guess another advantage of laser sensors is their efficiency, as they are known to consume less power, especially if compared against high performance optical sensors.

I must say, the battery life of the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 is really, really good. While I thought that the 150-day battery life ASUS claimed for the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 was exaggerated, it seems that it might have be quite possible to hit those figures. I don’t really have that long to test this mouse, so I set it to 1000Hz polling rate over 2.4GHz wireless. It has been 15 days… and the battery life is still at 90%. Think of that what you will. Since you can use the mouse even while you are charging it over USB-C, the insane battery life is really all the more amazing. Unnecessary, almost.
ASUS Dial

Before we get into the physical aspect of the ASUS Dial, the key to the experience is definitely the software. And I feel like ASUS really let me down here, as the ProArt Creator Hub, that’s preinstalled on every ProArt or Vivobook Pro laptop now, doesn’t support the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300. You can customize the laptop’s ASUS Dial here, but if you want to tweak the mouse’s, you will have to download Armoury Crate. That’s perfectly fine for ASUS gaming laptop or desktop users, but I thought ASUS was targeting creators with the ProArt series, and that they should own the ProArt laptops along with the mouse for maximum intuitiveness in their workflow?
But to play the devil’s advocate, I believe ASUS is actually targeting the non-ProArt users with the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300. After all, if you own a recent ProArt Studiobook, you would already have the ASUS Dial. Why would you need a mouse with the ASUS Dial then? This is of course ignoring the first batch of ProArt laptops that lacked the ASUS Dial, including the RM50 000 Studiobook One… However it is also worth mentioning that Armoury Crate is also the software that supports all the other peripherals and components from ASUS, and it probably would have been an even worse move to force the wider demographic of non-ProArt users to download ProArt Creator Hub instead.

In any case, Armoury Crate is a very competent piece of software, gaining polish over the years with rather significant UI changes. In here, you can easily edit the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300’s button assignment, ASUS Dial features and also the standard stuff like DPI, polling rate and also take a quick peek at the battery level. I am quite happy with it here, but the one issue I have is that ASUS somehow decided to leave out horizontal scrolling, a feature that would have been great to take advantage of the scroll wheel on the side.

Personally, I feel like the ASUS Dial is just slightly too low set on the side. I often accidentally brushed up against it, bringing up the ASUS Dial overlay on screen. One main difference with the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300’s ASUS Dial is that it is not tactile at all, unlike the one that ASUS put into their laptops. The side scroll wheel is slightly more tactile, but it also feels like it should have been a horizontal scroll… I think ASUS should probably have used a more tactile encoder for the ASUS Dial, and replaced the side scroll with more buttons.
And for some reason, there’s no way to customize the size of the popup. It worked perfectly fine on the high-res 4K displays of the ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED and Vivobook Pro 16 OLED, but on the 1440p display of my desktop machine, the overlay was gigantic. I found that reassigning the side scroll wheel as the ASUS Dial worked better for me. Yes, you can assign either of the two scrollers on the side to either be the ASUS Dial, a Microsoft Wheel Device or even assign keys to the up/clockwise, down/anti-clockwise and clicks to separate keys, if you want it.

While at first I wasn’t quite used to having the ASUS Dial for editing images, once I got used to it, tweaking the highlights, shadows, blacks and whites in my shots became a lot easier. As the ASUS Dial offers really precise increments, it was also a lot easier to dial in the exact adjustments. I also noticed that since I don’t need to move my mouse over to the panel on the side, I found myself memorizing more of the hotkeys, and making fewer mouse movements, which accelerated the overall process of image editing as well.
ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201

To pair the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 with a mousepad like the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 essentially makes the laser sensor’s capabilities somewhat moot, but hey, it’s a nice mousepad. The ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 provides for a smooth tracking surface with just enough texture for precise movements. The latter which is unfortunately put to waste by the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300’s lackluster laser sensor. The glide is really smooth, and I do believe that the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201’s surface is inspired by the ROG Scabbard’s Cordura Lite fabric, being quite similar in terms of feel.

My main concerns with the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 would be about the durability of the glued down sides. I have encountered way too many non-stitched gaming mousepads that had the fabric separate from the rubber base over time, and while the edges look quite securely glued together, I believe that as you use it, get it dirty, wash it a few times, it will invariably separate. And speaking of washing it, there’s a water repellent coating on it, so you don’t really have to worry about getting it dirty too quickly. And it also has the ASUS Antibacterial Guard ionic silver treatment that helps eliminate bacteria. Did you know that your keyboard/mouse can be up to 20 000 dirtier than a toilet seat? Let that sink in for a bit.

On the underside of the ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 is a non-slip silicone base, which is quite different from the grippy rubber bases that many mousepads out there feature. Part of the reason is so that ASUS can make this mousepad double as a gray card for you to calibrate your camera’s white balance off it. As a mousepad, it works great, and any additional capability is also welcome. I am not really sure why someone who is considering somewhat “pro-level” equipment like the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 and ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 would not have a gray card around to calibrate their camera properly though…
Conclusion

Now, for the final question, would I recommend you to immediately go out and buy the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300? At RM499, it’s definitely one pricey mouse, but it is almost justified. The ASUS Dial feature is definitely something that I foresee maturing and becoming ever more useful to creators, and I do appreciate ASUS bringing it to a mouse. The shape is comfortable for me, and I was really impressed by the sheer longevity of its battery life.
All that said, the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 has its fair share of flaws too. I think ASUS still has to polish the software a bit more to give me horizontal scrolling, and also add the support for the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 into the ProArt Creator Hub. I also wish the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 came with an optical sensor with better precision, as I want a mouse that I can use for both work and play. I feel like the side scroll wheel was more appropriate to deliver the ASUS Dial functionality, or maybe the ASUS Dial needed more tactility. Or maybe, knobs should probably be on a keyboard to not get in the way…

Maybe a ProArt Keyboard is in order? I digress. As it stands, the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 is still a rather decent mouse for creators out there, giving you the intuitive ASUS Dial functionality on devices other than the likes of the ProArt Studiobooks and Vivobook Pros. All in all, an acceptable first attempt from ASUS, but I do want to see ASUS build upon the foundations of the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 to bring us even better creator-oriented mice. The mousepad is available separately, and while it has its perks, I would probably recommend getting a cheaper mousepad that will serve you just as well.

Our thanks to ASUS Malaysia for sending us the ASUS ProArt Mouse MD300 and ASUS ProArt Mouse Pad PS201 for review.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


[Computex 2018][UPDATE 1: more products and pricing!] GAMDIAS Teases Computex 2018 Taipei Lineup

With Computex 2018 in Taipei, Taiwan just right around the corner, GAMDIAS decided to share a little teaser as to what we can expect from them in the world’s biggest ICT and IoT show. RGB seems to be the theme here but there could be more.
GAMDIAS Teases Computex 2018 Taipei Lineup
It’s almost that time of year again for us geeks to be super excited for what’s about to come in the world of technology. Computex 2018 Taipei is just right around the corner and the folks over at GAMDIAS has shared a teaser as to what we can expect from them at the yearly global ICT and IoT convention. Let’s take a look, shall we?
GAMDIAS Talos Case Series

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

For PC chassis, it has been revealed that they will indeed be showcasing some new entries in their Talos case series. The ones that have been mentioned are the Talos M1 and Talos E1 chassis. While it is unknown as to what is the difference between the two, it did mention that it will have 4 tempered glass panels stylized to showcase vivid custom RGB lighting effects. Take in that information as you like. The cases are priced at $69.90 to $169.90.
GAMDIAS Cyclops and Astrape #Power Supply Series

New PSUs were also teased, specifically mentioning the top of the line GAMDIAS Cyclops X1-1200P and the mid-range Astrape M1 550W. The Cyclops X1 PSU seems to have an 80+ Platinum efficiency rating whereas the Astrape M1 PSU has an 80+ Gold efficiency rating instead.

What’s interesting to note here is that it wasn’t mentioned that only 2 PSUs will be on display. It specifically said in the press release “…product line Ranges from Cyclops X1-1200P to mid-range model Astrape M1 – 550W,” which suggests that there will be more PSUs with varying wattage within the Cyclops and Astrape series being on display. What is certain is that both series will have an RGB fan inside. GAMDIAS power supplies are priced from $64 for the 550W variant, all the way up to $279.90 for the 1200W flagship model.
GAMDIAS Chione Cooler and Aeolus PC Fan Series

While not much was explained for this particular one, it was mentioned that the Chione cooler and Aeolus PC fans will on display. It is expected to have RGB illumination and performance that will satisfy most people. A sample image of the Chione M1 240 AIO CPU cooler can be seen above here, and it gives us a clearer idea as to what kinds of fans we can expect at Computex 2018.
GAMDIAS Peripherals and Gears

Not much concrete details here either but it was teased that we can expect wireless keyboard, mouse, mouse pad, and new gaming chairs being shown off at Computex 2018 Taipei. They did share with us a sample image of the Hades P1 Wired / Wireless mouse, which also seems to have an eye-catching RGB illumination at the bottom part of the mouse. The Hades P1 is yet to have a MSRP yet, while the Hades M1 will be priced at $79.90.
GAMDIAS will be showcasing their new and upcoming stuff at their booth which is located at booth L0608, Nangang 4F of Computex 2018. You can certainly look forward to more than what has been teased here at the actual exhibition, and we will be reporting on the happenings at Computex 2018 since our very own Super Daddy will be heading there himself.
[UPDATE 1]: But there’s more!
Aside from the aforementioned products, GAMDIAS also showcased their NYX P2 RGB mouse mat that enables wireless charging for the Hades P1 mouse. With two surfaces to select from, the NYX P2 delivers a great gaming experience regardless of your preferences. The powered RGB mousepad will be priced at $69.90.
Also present is the new HERMES P4 RGB wired/wireless mechanical gaming keyboard that would make a perfect pairing with the Hades P1 Wired/Wireless mouse. It uses GAMDIAS certified mechanical switches, which should mean Kailh switches will be present here. Priced at $169.90, this is one of the more preimum keyboards out there, but given the wireless functionality, it’s still pretty reasonable.
GAMDIAS brought their latest headphones, the HEBE P1A too. With RGB lighting for style and oversized earcups for comfort, the HEBE P1A has pretty classic looks. The 7.1 surround sound and vibration mode helps enhance immersion when gaming too. It is priced at $99.90.
Last but not least, a gaming chair. The APHRODITE P1 gaming chair uses PU and high density foam for a throne fit for a gaming god. As long as you weigh below 200kg, you will fit on this throne. It is priced at $379.
Pokdepinion: I’m looking at those stuff and I’m already thinking of PC upgrades to make my PC look even better than it already is. Something to look forward to next month.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4400G and Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G Specifications Appear on 3DMark! Most Powerful APU yet!

The Renoir-based desktop processors are quite hotly anticipated, as they bring quite a huge leap in terms of performance from the last generation of Picasso-based APUs. And just recently, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4400G and Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G have appeared on 3DMark to flex their specifications.
As you might expect, both the CPUs will sport the AMD Zen 2 CPU architecture, combined with the Radeon Vega GPU architecture. The mobile version is already available and has proven their worth in a number of laptops including the ROG Zephyrus G14 and Acer Swift 3. Desktop users can expect to see the AMD Ryzen 4000 APUs pretty soon too, probably along with the AMD Ryzen 4000 CPUs, which are based on Zen 3. Yes, the naming is very confusing.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Twitter user @_rogame spotted data related to the specifications of both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4400G and the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G on 3DMark. Interestingly, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4400G’s 3DMark listing sports HUAWEI as its vendor, which might mean that HUAWEI will be using the APU for a business-oriented SFF PC.
AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4400G Specs

Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4400G with Radeon Graphics

Base / Boost Clock (GHz)
3.7 / 4.3

Cores / Threads
6C / 12T

GPU Frequency
1,900 MHz

Memory Clock Frequency
3200 MHz

From the looks of it, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4400G shares a lot in common with the Ryzen 5 4600H for mobile. The CPU and GPU is clocked higher, but then again the better thermal headroom of desktops should allow for higher clocks.
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G Specs

Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4350G with Radeon Graphics

Base / Boost Clock (GHz)
3.7 / 4.3

Cores / Threads
4C / 8T

GPU Frequency
1700 MHz

Memory Clock Frequency
3600 MHz

@_rogame managed to glean a lot more details from the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G on 3DMark, even obtaining the benchmark scores of the GPU. The following are the scores that the AMD Ryzen 5 4350G managed to achieve. However it is worth noting that the Renoir APUs officially support up to 3200 MHz memory, and AMD’s APUs do scale well with memory clocks. The scores you see here might be higher than the scores one can obtain with 3200 MHz memory.
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G 3DMark Scores

Fire Strike Extreme Physics score
13914

Fire Strike Extreme Graphics score
1572

Time Spy CPU Score
4747

Time Spy Graphics Score
1120

          3DMark Time Spy            3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
I do believe that AMD might target the enterprise segment with the Ryzen PRO 4000 processors first, considering that those PCs will benefit more from not needing a dGPU to perform GPU-related tasks. That segment is also more profitable, which would benefit AMD more than the competitive gamer segment. On top of that, AMD already has a pretty strong grip on the gamer market, where their current crop of Ryzen 3000 series processors can easily hold down the fort for now.
Source (1), (2), (3)
Pokdepinion: I wonder when will they arrive… Might use one of them to replace an old GTX 460 build I have at home.

Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related