GALAX XANOVA Juturna-U Gaming Headset Review – Virtual 7.1 Gaming Goodness with Physical Bass Adjustment

You heard that right. GALAX has joined the preipherals game and their branch node is called XANOVA. The product line currently includes keyboards, mice, mousepads and headsets. Here, we have the latter, GALAX XANOVA Juturna-U gaming headset which happens to be a virtual 7.1 headset capable of giving immersive audio experience. We have reviewed quite a number of 7.1 headsets on our website and since I’m using the HyperX Cloud Revolver S Pro, my review of the GALAX XANOVA Juturna-U here will be somewhat along the lines of that. Mind you, this is a tough competition as I think the HyperX Cloud Revolver S Pro is one of the best virtual 7.1 headsets around.
Unboxing the GALAX XANOVA Juturna-U

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The packaging looks decent although I’m not a big fan of the scribbled blue strokes. The product is clearly shown and the branding is done very well. I think simplifying this is where some room for improvement lies at but ultimately, it’s flashy and catchy.

The back of the box explains all the main features. I like this side of the box, worthy enough to have a mention in my review here. I think for headsets, its important to have the vital information printed so the consumers know what are they getting. Afterall, there are too many parameters that makes a good headset. There are one too many typos on the box, and I hope XANOVA fixes them.

Removing the sleeve unravels a much simple box in matte black with silver XANOVA logo imprinted on it. Elegant touch. It looks pretty good so far. But let’s reveal the content.

Say hello to the first glimpse of the XANOVA Juturna-U gaming headset. From this view itself, you can already tell that the earmuffs are rotatable. Let’s take everything out and see what is included in the package.

Clockwise from top left, the XANOVA Juturna-U gaming headset unit, an accessory pouch, a user guide, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable with a phone call answering button, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable with microphone and phone call answering button, and a 7.1 mini sound card with FPS toggle button.
Appearance of the XANOVA Juturna-U
Let’s get to the fun part. The XANOVA Juturna-U is a beautiful piece of hardware if you ask me. It’s made out of a mix blend of plastic and leather that gives it a perfect balance of premium and affordable. It also seems like every thing that XANOVA has added to the headset has a reason behind it with clear conscience.

Let’s begin with the headset. the entire body is made out entirely of plastic with soft coating giving it a very light weight and a beautiful gun metal matte finishing. The XANOVA logo is printed in large on the diaphragm and the hinge is 90° rotatable for easier carrying around. The earmuffs are held by the hinge that gives it plenty of free play to fit the shape of your head. The head band is fully covered with leather that feels very comfortable even when you wrap it around your neck. We’ll get to the wear-ability in the user experience later on. So far sounds pretty familiar, right? Wait, we’re just getting started.

Things get a lot more interesting around the earmuffs. At the bottom of the left earmuff lies the 3.5mm removable socket that allows you to choose whether you want to use the headset with the microphone or without it. Next to it, is a bass toggle that gives you an extra 6dB boost on the lows of the headset. There are three levels to choose from. I told you :)

These cups are covered with leather and let me tell you, they are seriously comfortable. They are replaceable but no extras are provided. I have yet to find the replacement cushions but looking at the quality doesn’t seem like it will be something that I will be needed very soon anyway. The trim is neat and underneath it lies a low rebound foam that easily shapes with the area around your ears. We’ll talk about this more later on.
XANOVA Juturna-U Specifications

Headphone

Driver
40mm Neodymium

Frequency Range
20Hz – 20KHz

Impedence
32Ω

Sensitivity
95 ± 3dB @ 1mW 1KHz

Max Input Power
40mW

Weight
290g

Microphone

Sensitivity
-52dB ± 3dB

Direction
Omnidirectional

Signal-to-Noise Ratio
≥ 60dB

Impedence
≥ 2.2KΩ

Bundled Accessories
– 1.3m talk cable for gaming
– 1.3m cable for smartphone
– XANOVA Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card

Bass Boost Mode:

Level 1 : Standard Mode
Level 2 : Low Frequency (20 – 200Hz) 3dB boost
Level 3 : Low Frequency (20 – 200Hz) 6dB boost

User Experience
I wont lie, when I was first told about this headset, I wasn’t really excited about it because there are too many virtual 7.1 headsets flooding the market and most of them don’t really deliver the raw experience that you would expect them to until you have faked the audio enough with enhancers and spatial which basically is not the headphone’s technology anymore. So I told myself, GALAX jumping on the peripherals bandwagon is only their ride into having the slice of cake that every brand is sharing. But of course, that was just mere speculation. I knew I had to give it a shot first. And that’s exactly what I did.

I used to have demands on metal built headsets in my earlier days because I was convinced they produced the least amount of vibrations through their audio chambers. Of course wood would have been the most ideal but that would be impractical for production and the cost would skyrocket. However, over the years, polymer based headsets have improved a lot and with proper precision engineering, you can actually deliver a pretty substantial audio output with highly reduced vibrations with proper engineering. Look, we are talking about a gaming headset here and not an audiophile headset, so there is a line clearly drawn here of what you should be getting from it. The XANOVA Juturna-U basically is a plastic body headset and one that you probably didn’t expect to be this beautiful.

The earmuffs can be rotated and makes it easier to carry around, but the bundled pouch does not fit the headset and that’s kind of a bummer there. I’m not sure why, because it would be pretty cool to carry the headset in a velvet clad pouch that is bundled together. After all, XANOVA did bundle two types of cables, one for the smartphone, so they do expect you to carry it around. The comfort around the headband amplifies that too. Since we’re talking about comfort here, let’s talk a look around the cushion.

Let me tell you one hard cold fact. A particular headset could be the best sounding headset in the world, but if it is not comfortable to wear, it will never go in my inventory list. There are two main factors that decide this; weight and cushions’ comfort. The XANOVA Juturna-U flies with flying colors in both area. The headset itself weighs under 300g which is a very ideal weight for a gaming headset. In fact, it belongs in the lightest bracket among all the headsets that we have reviewed in the past. As for the earcups? Let’s take a closer look at the image above.

There is no force applied to the headset in the image above and just look at how beautifully the cushion just squeezes where  it needs to. Just by looking at the image above gives you the sensation of comfort. Imagine this wrapping around your ears. XANOVA uses a high quality leather with rebound memory foam to achieve this excellent comfort. In my test, I’ve even used it up to 6 hours continuously and didn’t find the need to take it off.

The bundled microphone falls a little short here. It’s not the audio, but rather the setup itself. It uses a 3.5mm jack that goes directly into the jack on the left earmuff. In case you didn’t notice, refer to the image above again. It shows the right earmuff instead. It’s not a mirrored image, but rather, the microphone can be turned around to the back which I don’t really fancy. If you bounce your head hard enough, it will move outwards affecting your audio. It would’ve been better if the jack had a notch that locks the microphone in place instead. As for the microphone sound, let’s put it to test.
Test 1: Maximum Microphone Level with Audio Boost

https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2018/12/Recording-3.m4a
This is the audio test at maximum microphone level with audio boost enabled. If you hear it carefully, you would notice noise some electrostatic noise in the background which I do not get on my other headset. It’s not a deal breaker, but its a little annoying. You can fix it by reducing 20% of the volume though.
Test 2: 80% Microphone Level with Audio Boost
https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2018/12/Recording-4.m4a
Here’s another audio test at 80% microphone level with audio boost enabled. It is still audible and the electrostatic noise is reduced.
Because the microphone is omni-directional, it can also pick up sound around your environment.

The XANOVA Juturna-U comes bundled with a USB 7.1 DAC that basically enables the virtual 7.1 surround for a much more immersive audio experience. The button on the DAC enables the “FPS mode” which basically reduces the lows, flattens the mids and boils up the highs giving a wider range for the 7.1 audio to position the virtual audio source. It makes a perfect fit for FPS games because FPS gamers need the best accuracy in audio fidelity to be able to locate enemies around them. Does it work? I’m not the best FPS player and it takes a little practise to get used to the mode, but once you are familiar, Battlefield 5 did made me able to locate the player’s location slightly better. In all honesty, I wouldn’t enable this mode myself because I like my audio punchy with loads of bass and this headset has just what I need the most. Keep reading.

The XANOVA Juturna-U has a bass boost toggle embedded on both earmuffs which allows you to quickly add up 3dB or 6dB to the 20Hz – 200Hz range. The result? Suddenly the 40mm driver thumps even more, delivering punchy bass to your eardrums. Combining this with the 7.1 virtual surround, your gaming experience becomes extremely remarkable. This is not some fake audio enhancement using Windows’ native audio enhancement. This is hardware. This is embedded. This is where the XANOVA Juturna-U takes the credit. It is so accessible and the difference is clear.

How’s the audio? I shared about the variable lows toggle so now you know the lows can be tweaked to your flavor. Assuming you turn it off, you get a rather flat audio. The mids are fine and the highs are slightly pitched. Turn the bass toggle to level 3, and suddenly you get the perfect colorful audio experience. I wont lie, the XANOVA Juturna-U definitely has a sweet spot for its audio. I myself don’t even need any further software enhancement to get my preferred audio experience. If you have your flavor, taming this headset is a piece of cake.

I’m not a big fan of the software but it does need to be mentioned here. The equalizer does it job just fine if you need to fit it better to your flavor. There is also a 3D mode that amplifies the 7.1 effect. I personally settled without turning it on.

There’s a dedicated section for Virtual 7.1 tester which in my review version (version 3.26) didn’t really work. No matter where I rotate the set to, I couldn’t detect any change. Perhaps there will be an update that fixes this in the future.
I don’t think I myself need the software. The XANOVA Juturna-U is good in its raw form already anyway.
Conclusion

The XANOVA Juturna-U is basically GALAX and XANOVA’s first attempt into the virtual 7.1 headset game and I have to say, they have nailed it way better than I expected for a first product generation. The hardware is beautiful, the finishing is just nice, the comfort is great, and the audio output is excellent. It falls a little short on the microphone part which I can totally forgive considering everything else. For the price of RM490, this is definitely a bang for bucks headset. The only problem here is that XANOVA has set a pretty high benchmark for themselves and I wonder what would they bring in the next generation.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Multiplayer Universe Set For August 1 Unveiling

If you are anticipating for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game, well mark the 1st of August 2019 on your calendar guys as on the date itself, Activision and Infinity Ward will officially reveal the multiplayer universe.

We’ve covered previously how your progress continues from campaign to multiplayer in the game, where Modern Warfare seeks to unite the community with plans to support cross-play across platforms and the removal of the traditional season pass.

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Just recently, they gave fans a glimpse of the game’s new 2 v 2 Gunfight mode, which is only a fraction of the full online multiplayer experience in Modern Warfare.
So if you’re interested in catching the full reveal of the Modern Warfare Multiplayer Universe and its gameplay, you can tune in to their Twitch.tv account on August 1st.
Scheduled for a global release on October 25th, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Pokdepinion: I’m probably going to get the game. I’d like to see how well the game is compared to the previous titles from the Modern Warfare series.
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Dota 2 Coming To Netflix As Anime Series Announced

Some people may have moved on from Dota 2 but there’s no denying that the MOBA game is a huge franchise. That said, it appears that Netflix will be releasing an anime series based on the game made by Valve.
Dota: Dragon’s Blood coming to Netflix

The 8-episode series is called Dota: Dragon’s Blood and it is set to be released on the 25th of March 2021.
We can see from the trailer that it features a Dragon Knight called Davion, where he is tasked to wipe out the scourge from the world.

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We're excited to announce a brand-new anime series exploring the Dota universe like never before. As fellow fans of Dota and its passionate global community, we look forward to sharing this new adventure with you when it premieres on Netflix March 25.https://t.co/rHcL5QSi5b
— DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) February 17, 2021

The show was made by the folks at Studio MIR, who happen to create The Legend of Korra as well as Voltron: Legendary Defender.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’ve got to say that I’m quite excited to see how the show will turn out like, since I’m still a fan of Dota 2. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t disappoint. What do you think of Dota: Dragon’s Blood? Let us know in the comments.
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A number of users in Malaysia have recently reported about service disruptions on their end. Interestingly, it’s not just related to internet services as even mobile networks like Celcom and Tune Talk were affected. If you were wondering why, it’s because a TM node in Penang was caught on fire.
TM Node Caught Fire and Caused Service Disruptions

According to a post by the official TM Group Facebook page, a TM node in Seberang Jaya was caught on fire at 00:07 on 1st July 2020. Two fire engines came to handle the situation and the fire was successfully extinguished. Thankfully, there were no injuries but TM is still assessing the damage from the incident.

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The TM node is said to be responsible for internet connectivity in Seberang Jaya and nearby areas. Moreover, it also provided backhaul connectivity for other mobile networks, such as Celcom and Tune Talk. This would explain why the sudden network disruption for services that appear to not be directly linked to TM.
At the moment, their technical team is working to repair and restore the affected services as soon as they can. They will give more updates on social media as soon as there is anything to announce so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: In case you were wondering why there was an odd outage for a lot of people in the Penang area, now you know why.
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Samsung Hosts Galaxy Tab Year-End Promo — Free MicroSD Card With Purchase

Samsung has revealed that they are doing a year-end Galaxy Tab promo, where you can get up to 128GB microSD card for free with purchases of selected tablets from the Galaxy Tab S and Tab A series. These include;

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5″ (inclusive of S Pen) – RM3,099 (128GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7″ (inclusive of S Pen) – RM2,499 (128GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5″ – RM1,699 (128GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1″ (inclusive of S Pen) – RM1,499 (128GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0″ – RM1,129 (128GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0″ – RM659 (64GB)

To find out more on the promo, you can head down here to go Samsung’s official website.
Pokdepinion: Hmm, not really exciting but hey, if you’ve been wanting to get a Samsung tablet, its a nice free gift I guess.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch3 Sees A Price Reduction And Is Now Available From RM1,199

Samsung Malaysia has just announced new pricing for their Samsung Galaxy Watch3 series which sees prices now start from RM1,199 for the normal stainless steel versions. The retail price for the titanium version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch3 has also been reduced from RM2,499 to RM2,299.

That’s not all as Samsung has also announced new retail prices for many other Samsung devices ranging from the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2.

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New Samsung Galaxy Watch3 prices and more
Here’s a complete list of all the Samsung devices with reduced retail prices.

Product Name
Model & Size
Previous Retail Price (RM)
New Retail Price (RM)

Samsung Galaxy Watch3
(Titanium)
Bluetooth | 45mm
 2,499
2,299

Samsung Galaxy Watch3
(Stainless Steel)
LTE | 45mm
 2,199
1,699

LTE | 41mm
 2,099
1,599

Bluetooth | 45mm
1,799
1,299

Bluetooth | 41mm
1,699
1,199

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
(Stainless Steel)

Bluetooth | 44mm
1,399
1,099

Bluetooth | 40mm
1,299
999

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
(Aluminium)
LTE | 44mm
1,499
1,299

LTE | 40mm
1,399
1,199

Bluetooth | 44mm
1,099
899

Bluetooth | 40mm
999
799

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

699
549

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

599
449

You can find get all the Samsung Galaxy products above at any Samsung Experience Stores, Samsung Authorised Partners and Samsung Malaysia Online Store today.
Pokdepinion: Could this be the time where I finally get myself the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2? Stay tuned to find out!
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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Camera Overview: Is It Good Enough for 2022?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE camera is pretty solid despite essentially using hardware from 2021, but is it actually any good? Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Camera Overview

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a triple camera setup that differs a bit from the base model Galaxy S21 smartphone. There’s also a difference camera hardware used for both the Exynos 2100 and the Snapdragon 888 variants. For reference, our unit is the Exynos 2100 variant so we will be focusing on that.
For our review unit, the main camera for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a 12MP Samsung S5K2LD wide angle camera with a 26mm f/1.8 OIS lens. This means that it offers optical image stabilization and that this is the camera that will produce the best results in terms of colour and clarity. Until you’re zooming in far enough, the smartphone will primarily rely on this camera.
The ultrawide camera is a 12MP Samsung S5K3L6 sensor with a 15mm f/2.2 lens. It will kick in as soon as you zoom out to 0.9x, and it will go as wide as 0.5x. This will let you capture more in a single shot, but it will result in a bit of fisheye lens effect. It’s worth noting that it has fixed focus, so taking macro shots with this would be pretty difficult.
Lastly, the telephoto camera is an 8MP Hynix Hi847 sensor with a 76mm f/2.4 OIS lens. It has optical zoom up to 3x, and up to 30x Space Zoom. Together with optical image stabilization, it’s expected to help make zoomed shots easier to take. It’s also worth pointing out that the photos taken in this camera will be upscaled to 12MP.
As for the front-facing selfie camera, it uses the 32MP Sony IMX616 Quad Bayer sensor with a 25mm f/2.2 lens. The focus is fixed and, unlike other Quad Bayer sensors, this one saves photos at 8MP. Fun fact, it’s the same camera used on last year’s Galaxy S20 FE.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Review – Camera UI
In case you didn’t know, all of the cameras support Night Mode but if you want a bit more control, you can make use of the Pro Mode in the native camera app if you want better control of what you’re shooting. There are also various different modes you can make use of, with their signature Single Take mode getting notable improvements in efficiency.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Camera Specifications

Variant
Exynos 2100
Snapdragon 888

Processor
Exynos 2100, 5nm
1 x Cortex-X1 @ 2.9GHz + 3 x Cortex-A78 @2.8GHz + 4 x Cortex-A55 @ 2.2GHz
Snapdragon 888, 5nm
1 x Kryo 680 @ 2.84GHz + 3 x Kryo 680 @ 2.42GHz + 4 x Kryo 680 @ 1.8GHz

Rear Camera
Samsung S5K2LD 12MP f/1.8 wide angle camera, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Samsung S5K3L6 8MP f/2.4 telephoto camera, 30x Space Zoom, PDAF, OIS
Hynix Hi1336 12MP f/2.2 123˚ ultra-wide
LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
[email protected], [email protected]/60fps, [email protected]/60/240fps, [email protected], HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Sony IMX555 12MP f/1.8 wide angle camera, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Samsung S5K3L6 8MP f/2.4 telephoto camera, 30x Space Zoom, PDAF, OIS
Sony IMX258 12MP f/2.2 123˚ ultra-wide
LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
[email protected], [email protected]/60fps, [email protected]/60/240fps, [email protected], HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS

Selfie Camera
Sony IMX616 Quad-Bayer sensor 32MP f/2.2 wide-angle selfie cam, Dual Pixel PDAF
Sony IMX616 Quad-Bayer sensor 32MP f/2.2 wide-angle selfie cam, Dual Pixel PDAF

Sample Shots

While we did highlight how pleased we were with the triple camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, we figured it would be best to showcase more of what the camera is capable of. Generally speaking, the main camera is more than capable of taking excellent shots, with low-light shots looking pretty good with minimal noise if any.
The ultrawide and telephoto cameras also work great as it captures a good amount of detail and dynamic range. For the most part, you’d be pleased with it, and it’s only when you compare it to the main camera that you will notice a slight loss in colour. With that being said, it’s still more than usable, and you’re likely going to stick to the main camera unless you need to use the other two for specific use cases.

The selfie camera is capable of capturing solo selfies and group wefies, with ease for 4 to 5 people. It does have a bit of a skin softening effect so your face may appear cleaner than it actually is. Given the fixed focus nature of the camera, it’s best to not have the subjects too far apart from each other to ensure that everyone is in focus.
For most people regardless of their lifestyle, the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is more than adequate. If you’re looking for anything better than this, you might need to consider a professional camera instead but for social media uploads and quick photos for memories’ sake, you can’t go wrong with this, especially with its value-focused price starting from RM2,899.
If you want to see the full Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review, click right here.
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ASUS ROG laptops start from RM5799 in Malaysia — packing the latest Ryzen 5000 processors and GeForce RTX 30 series GPUs!

ASUS unveiled a broad selection of ASUS ROG laptops at CES 2021, and all of them came with the AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card. After the TUF Gaming lineup arrived, it is now the Republic of Gamers’ turn to be unleashed in Malaysia.
ASUS ROG Strix G Series

The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and G17 laptops are the most affordable laptops in the lineup. The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and ROG Strix G17 can be configured with up to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, which is the first ever unlocked Ryzen mobile processor to deliver even greater performance than was possible in the laptop form factor. Meanwhile over on the GPU end, you can get it with up to the GeForce RTX 3070.

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For display options, there’s a choice of 144Hz and 300Hz panels for both the ROG Strix G15 and ROG Strix G17. Both models will also come with a large 90WHr battery to provide better endurance when working away from a power source.
ASUS ROG Strix G15 and ROG Strix G17 Specs and Price in Malaysia

ROG Strix G15
ROG Strix G17

Model
G513Q-MHN173T
G513Q-RHF104T
G513Q-RHF158T
G713Q-MHX087T
G713Q-RHG075T

Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, 8C/16T @ up to 4.3GHz
45W TDP
7nm
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 8C/16T @ up to 4.5GHz
45W+ TDP
7nm
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, 8C/16T @ up to 4.3GHz
45W TDP
7nm
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 8C/16T @ up to 4.5GHz
45W+ TDP
7nm

RAM
16GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8GB SO-DIMM)

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
130W TGP

Storage
512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD

Display
15.6″ 144Hz FHD Adaptive-Sync display
250-nit, 62.5% sRGB
15.6″ 300Hz FHD Adaptive-Sync display
300-nit, 100% sRGB
17.3″ 144Hz FHD Adaptive-Sync display
250-nit, 62.5% sRGB
15.6″ 300Hz FHD Adaptive-Sync display
300-nit, 100% sRGB

Power
90WHr 4-cell Li-ion battery
240W power adapter

Dimensions
354 x 259 x 27.2 mm
2.5kg
395 x 282 x 27.5 mm
3.0kg

Weight

Bundled accessories
ROG Backpack
ROG Backpack
ROG Impact
ROG Backpack
ROG Backpack
ROG Impact

Price
RM5799
RM7299
RM7499
RM5999
RM7799

ROG Strix SCAR Series

For the serious esports gamers, there’s the ROG Strix SCAR 15 and SCAR 17. These machines might look pretty similar to the ROG Strix G15 and G17, but they pack subtle differences like the interchangeable Armor Caps to show off your style and a translucent keyboard deck. Speaking of which, the keyboard here sports optical mechanical switches for a faster and more precise response.

You can also configure the ROG Strix SCAR 15 and SCAR 17 with the GeForce RTX 3080 graphics, which will provide more than enough horsepower to saturate the 300Hz display that are featured on the latest ROG Strix SCAR models.
ROG Strix SCAR 15 and ROG Strix SCAR 17 Specs and Price in Malaysia

ROG Strix SCAR 15
ROG Strix SCAR 17

Model
G533Q-RHF079T
G533Q-SHF060T
G733Q-RHG062T
G733Q-SHG131T

Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 8C/16T up to 4.5GHz
45W+ TDP
7nm

RAM
32GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 16GB SO-DIMM)

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6
130W TGP

Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD

Display
15.6″ 300Hz FHD Adaptive-Sync display
300-nit, 100% sRGB
17.3″ 300Hz FHD Adaptive-Sync display
300-nit, 100% sRGB

Power
90WHr 4-cell Li-ion battery
240W power adapter

Dimensions
354 x 259 x 27.2 mm
395 x 282 x 27.5 mm

Weight
2.5kg
3.0kg

Bundled accessories
ROG Keystone
2 customizable Armor Caps
ROG backpack
ROG Chakram Core
ROG Keystone
2 customizable Armor Caps
ROG backpack
ROG Delta
ROG Chakram Core
ROG Keystone
2 customizable Armor Caps
ROG backpack
ROG Chakram Core
ROG Keystone
2 customizable Armor Caps
ROG backpack
ROG Delta
ROG Chakram Core

Price
RM8599
RM12 999
RM8799
RM13 499

ROG Zephyrus G15

ASUS reworked the ROG Zephyrus G15 for this generation, adding elements from the beloved ROG Zephyrus G14 like an ErgoLift hinge, magnesium-aluminum lid and the asymmetrical dot matrix pattern on the lid. However it doesn’t get the AniMe Matrix display, instead only getting a prismatic film under it to provide a shimmery effect. This is also the only laptop to get a 2K 165Hz panel, providing a balance between resolution and refresh rate to satisfy both content creators and gamers alike.
ROG Zephyrus G15 Specs and Price in Malaysia

Model
GA503Q-MHQ077T
GA503Q-RHQ068T
GA503Q-SHQ042T

Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, 8C/16T up to 4.5GHz
35W TDP
7nm

RAM
16GB DDR4-3200 (8GB on-board + 8GB SO-DIMM)
32GB DDR4-3200 (16GB on-board + 16GB SO-DIMM)

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
95W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
100W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB GDDR6
100W TGP

Storage
512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD

Display
15.6″ 165Hz WQHD (1440p) FreeSync display
300-nits, Pantone Validated

Power
90WHr 4-cell Li-ion battery
200W power adapter
100W USB-PD power adapter

Dimensions
355 x 243 x 19.9 mm

Weight
1.9kg

Bundled accesories
ROG Backpack
ROG Backpack
ROG Impact
ROG Backpack
ROG Chakram Core

Price
RM6999
RM8499
RM11 499

ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE

The ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE offers the ScreenPad Plus from the ASUS ZenBook Duo series to provide content creators and gamers extra viewing space with the secondary 4K display. Speaking of which, the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE can be configured with a 4K 120Hz 100% Adobe RGB panel, or a 1080p 300Hz 100% sRGB display, depending on your needs. We have reviewed the former, so do check out our review if you want to know more about the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE.
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE Specs and Price in Malaysia

Model
GX551Q-RHF055T
GX551Q-SHB133RS

Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 8C/16T up to 4.5GHz
45W+ TDP
7nm

RAM
32GB DDR4-3200
(16GB on-board + 16GB SO-DIMM)

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
130W TGP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6
130W TGP

Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
2 x 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD, RAID 0

Display
15.6″ 300Hz FHD FreeSync display
300-nit, 100% sRGB, Pantone Validated
15.6″ 120Hz 4K FreeSync display
400-nit, 100% Adobe RGB, Pantone Validated

Power
90WHr 4-cell Li-ion battery
280W power adapter
100W USB-PD power adapter

Dimensions
360 x 268 x 20.9 mm

Weight
2.48kg

Included accessories
ROG Ranger BP2701 backpack
ROG Delta headset
ROG Chakram Core

Price
RM12 999
RM19 999

ROG Flow X13

The most innovative design this year from the Republic of Gamers, the ROG Flow X13 is a 13″ 2-in-1 convertible packs an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 under the hood. Those specifications might seem pretty mediocre, but the ROG XG Mobile that’s designed to work with the ROG Flow X13 is anything but.

Featuring the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU with a 150W TGP, the ROG Flow X13 can easily transform into a gaming machine with the ROG XG Mobile, capable of going toe-to-toe with the likes of the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE. The ROG XG Mobile is designed to not only serve as an external GPU, but also as a hub to add connectivity options like LAN, HDMI, DisplayPort and USB ports, all of which wouldn’t fit on the ROG Flow X13’s diminutive dimensions. And oh, it also integrates a power adapter so you only need to connect the ROG XG Mobile to the ROG Flow X13.

The ROG Flow X13 itself is very portable at just 1.3kg. The small 13.4″ display sports a 16:10 aspect ratio to provide more vertical viewing area than a standard 16:9 panel would. It is also touch sensitive and supports stylus input for expanded creativity possibilities. The ROG Flow X13 can be purchased with or without the ROG XG Mobile bundled, but the latter is currently only available as part of the bundle. So you can’t pick up the ROG XG Mobile separately for now.
ROG Flow X13 Specs and Price in Malaysia

ROG Flow X13
ROG Flow X13 + ROG XG Mobile (Bundle)

Model
GV301Q-HK6225T
GV301Q-HK6306T
GV301Q-HK5244TS

Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5800HS, 8C/16T up to 4.3GHz
35W TDP
7nm
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, 8C/16T up to 4.5GHz
35W TDP
7nm
AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS, 8C/16T up to 4.8GHz
35W TDP
7nm

RAM
16GB LPDDR4X (on-board memory)
32GB LPDDR4X (on-board memory)

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6
40W TGP

Storage
512GB M.2 2230 PCIe 3.0 SSD
1TB M.2 2230 PCIe 3.0 SSD

Display
13.4″ 120Hz WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Adaptive-Sync display
300-nit, 100% sRGB, Pantone Validated
13.4″ 120Hz WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) Adaptive-Sync display
300-nit, 116% sRGB, Pantone Validated

Power
62WHr 4-cell Li-ion battery
100W USB-PD power adapter

Dimensions
299 x 222 x 15.8 mm

Weight
1.3kg

Included accessories
GV301 sleeve
Stylus Pen

GV301 sleeve
Stylus Pen
ROG Chakram Core
ROG XG Mobile (GC31S with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6, 150W TGP)

Price
RM5999
RM6499
RM13 499

Most of the ROG lineup are available now, with a few SKUs coming later in February.
Pokdepinion: I think I will wait for the ROG Zephyrus G14 to arrive in Malaysia.
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Google Pixel Roadmap to 2025 Leak Shows Promising Developments

If you’re wondering what’s next for the Google Pixel series of smartphones, their roadmap to 2025 has been leaked online and it shows some interesting developments coming our way.
Google Pixel Roadmap to 2025 Leak

A recent leak has reportedly revealed Google’s smartphone roadmap for the years 2023 to 2025. According to the leak, the Pixel 7a (codenamed “lynx”) and the Google Pixel Fold (codenamed “felix”) will be launched around Google I/O in April or May 2023.
The Pixel 7a is expected to have a price point similar to the Pixel 6a, at USD $449 in the US, and to feature wireless charging and a 90 Hz refresh rate screen. The Pixel Fold is rumored to cost USD $1,799. In recent years, Google has sometimes pre-announced upcoming products in order to reduce the impact of leaks.

Apart from that, Google’s smartphone roadmap for the next few years includes the release of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in 2023. The Pixel 8 is expected to be slightly smaller than the Pixel 7, while the 8 Pro will have the same screen size as the 7 Pro.

Both devices will be powered by a new chipset, likely to be called the Tensor G3. There are also plans for a Pixel 8a in 2024, although this may be cancelled in favour of a once-every-two-years launch format for the Pixel a series, depending on the success of the Pixel 7a. If it does launch, the Pixel 8a is expected to cost USD $499.
In 2024, Google is also expected to release the Pixel 9 series, which will include three models: the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, and a Pro-level model with a 6.3″ display and all the features of the larger Pro model. The new handsets in the Pixel 9 series will be powered by the Tensor G4 chipset. There is also a rumor that Google will release a new foldable in 2024, but there are no further details available at this time.

As for 2025, the Google Pixel roadmap leak suggests the inclusion of a flip-style foldable phone to be launched in the fall of that year, along with three slab Pixels. However, if the flip phone does not materialize, Google is reportedly considering releasing four non-folding Pixels in small and large sizes, with a vanilla model and a Pro model available in both sizes. The source of this information is reportedly reliable, but it is worth noting that plans can change, especially when looking so far ahead.

Source

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Pokdepinion: Here’s to hoping part of the roadmap involves making an official presence here in Malaysia.
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Call of Duty Vanguard Likely To Be Unveiled in August 2021

After a growing number of rumors online, it appears that Call of Duty Vanguard will be set to unveil sometime in August 2021. Here’s what we know thus far.
Call of Duty Vanguard Unveiling in August 2021?

gamescom is a multiplayer experience, and this year we’ve got some big names in the lobby. 😎
Learn more about the official partners of #gamescom2021 here:
➡ https://t.co/arlSzsEU6B pic.twitter.com/YOruOUj77k
— gamescom (@gamescom) July 15, 2021

As some of you may know by now, Activision has been revealing new games in their popular FPS franchise via Warzone, with Black Ops Cold War being revealed last year in an in-game event. Now, we may have an idea when we can expect to see Call of Duty Vanguard.

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In the case of Black Ops Cold War, the official reveal event took place about a couple of weeks after the Modern Warfare Season 5 update on 26th August 2020, and it was teased via Warzone easter eggs. The next major update to hit this particular game happens to also be Season 5, coming this 11th August 2021, and a rough estimate of 2 weeks would put a potential announcement around 18th to 25th August.
All of this sounds arbitrary when you consider the fact that Gamescom, which will be running in full digital format, is taking place from 25th to 27th August 2021, it does seem to be more than just pure coincidence. Activision could easily use the time earlier to tease the game like they did last year.
With that being said however, there is always a chance that it might not happen and Activision will have something else in store for us. Either way, we will be reporting as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: Rumors on the game have surfaced for a while now and if the August 2021 reveal timeline is accurate, then I do expect to hear even more in the coming weeks leading to it. If it’s quiet, that’s when I “press X to doubt”.
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ASUS ROG Theta Electret Gaming Headset Review – When Clarity is Key

Unboxing the ASUS ROG Theta Electret

Inside the box of the ASUS ROG Theta Electret gaming headset, you are expected to have the following items:

User guideWarranty cardAudio splitterDetachable microphoneSpare ear cushionsThe ASUS ROG Theta Electret gaming headset itself
Appearance

The ASUS ROG Theta Electret gaming headset looks identical to the Theta 7.1 with the exception of the glowing ROG logo in glorious RGB lighting. In fact, the logo is in metallic silver. The ear cups are more oval shaped than round. You also have the aluminium alloy frame which connects the ear cups to the headband.

As for cushioning on the ear cups, the ASUS ROG Theta Electret uses the ROG Hybrid ear cushions. However, it comes with two different types; protein-leather and fabric. The former features thin, yet soft breathable fabric mesh whereas the latter features a thicker but fast-cooling fabric designed for longer use.

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Moving to the headband, there is a plush fabric cushion along with a plastic plates indicating the left and right orientation. You can adjust the headband to fit your head, which will reveal a metallic support band with ROG’s signature design language. You also have a the Republic of Gamers branding on the top which blends in with the headband.

While plenty of gaming headsets would have the microphone attached to it, this one does not. The ASUS ROG Theta Electret utilizes a detachable uni-directional microphone. This brings longevity to the headset as it’s far easier to fix with just a replacement. The headset cable itself is not detachable, and is connected to both the left and right ear cups. While you don’t have a volume rocker, you do have a mic mute switch on the back of the left ear cup.
The ASUS ROG Theta Electret is a premium-looking gaming headset and is one of the better ones out there aesthetically. It lacks the bling from an RGB lighting but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It ultimately boils down to preference here.
Specifications
Drivers45mm Neodymium magnet120mm ElectretFrequency Response20Hz ~ 40,000HzImpedance32 OhmHeadphone TypeCircumaural, closed back Connector3.5mm audio cable (1.5m)3.5mm audio / mic splitter cable (1.2m)MicrophonePick-up Pattern: Uni-directionalFrequency Response: 100 ~10,000 HzSensitivity: -40 dBNoise-cancellingNoWeight 555 gColourBlack with Silver accentsCompatibilityPC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Smartphone
User Experience

The ASUS ROG Theta Electret is an analog gaming headset. This means that it connects to devices via a 3.5mm audio jack. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it will give inferior audio quality compared to the USB-C connector on the regular Theta 7.1 as there are a lot of factors for it.

It’s worth noting that it only needs a single 3.5mm jack for both headphone and microphone. It does however come with an audio splitter for devices that require separate plugs for it. One thing’s for sure, it does give it versatility as you can connect to a wide variety of devices easily.

The audio experience is quite intriguing as it’s not like most gaming headsets nowadays. Whether it’s movies or music, the mids and highs are crystal clear and well-defined but the bass is just bad. If you considered Sony’s Xtra Bass headphones as too much, this is the complete opposite.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because when it comes to gaming, it’s actually great from a functional perspective. I can hear and identify footsteps, bullets, and fights better with this. Given that this is a gaming headset first and it excels in gaming, I have to give major props for this. Unlike its RGB brethren, this one doesn’t have 7.1 surround sound.

As for comfort, the ASUS ROG Theta Electret is a bit of a mixed bag. The cushions are comfortable and it doesn’t get warm easily which makes them great for marathon gaming. There’s also the option of the Fabric cushions for better cooling. However, it’s a rather heavy gaming headset.
While it clamps to the head nicely without excessive force, the weight is something that can bring fatigue after long hours. It’s so noticeable that after taking it off, I feel like Goku taking off his weighted clothes when he’s about to get serious in Dragon Ball. I also dislike the idea of having wires on both ear cups as it makes me feel a little smothered.

One thing is that great here is the noise isolation. I used this in the office often with music playing at medium volume and I can’t hear my colleagues at all. In fact, my boss once had to stand up and go over to me to get my attention (sorry, boss). Even without sound playing, it isolates external noise pretty well. Just keep in mind this isn’t a noise-cancelling headset.

It’s worth noting that the ASUS ROG Theta Electret isn’t travel-friendly. It can’t be folded nor twisted so you will have to carry it as is. The most you can do is what you see in the picture above. Furthermore, the size makes it a bit troublesome to bring around so you’re most likely going to be using this only at home.
Microphone Sound Test
As for the microphone, the ASUS ROG Theta Electret can give decent voice quality. It will work great for Discord / Skype / voice chat but don’t expect to use this for voiceovers as it lacks the fidelity / depth. It does a great at isolating room noise so it focuses on capturing only your voice. It surprisingly sounds better than the microphone on the Theta 7.1.

It’s also worth noting that you can use it with your smartphone. In fact, it will detect the microphone and allow you to use it for calls / audio recordings. Just make sure your smartphone uses a USB-C port. I cannot confirm if it can work with an iPhone using a Lightning to USB-C adapter as I don’t have an iPhone on hand.
ASUS ROG Theta Electret Verdict

While it is promoted as a Hi-Fi grade gaming headset, the ASUS ROG Theta Electret works far better for gaming than it does for movies and music. It is also comfortable and it doesn’t get warm fast while wearing them, which makes them great for marathon gaming sessions. Moreover, the 3.5mm audio connector gives it the versatility to be used on a variety of devices.
There are also a number of drawbacks that you need to consider. It has a great lack of bass, it is heavy enough that you can feel it on your head, it’s not travel-friendly, and it lacks the RGB bling that the 7.1 variant has. If you can look past that and want a listening experience geared towards clarity, then this will serve you well.
With that, I award the ASUS ROG Theta Electret gaming headset with our Bronze Pokdeward.

Big thanks to ASUS Malaysia for loaning us this headset for the purposes of this review.
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GIGABYTE will plant a tree in your name if you own one of their laptops

GIGABYTE’s latest campaign is pretty simple. One laptop. One tree. How does it work? Well, they will plant a tree for you. All you need to do is provide proof that you own any GIGABYTE laptop since 2017, and they will plant one for you. You will even get a certificate so you can enjoy the feel-good vibes that you have done your part for the environment.
A growing tree will take in carbon dioxide, sequester the carbon and give us oxygen back, so it’s definitely a win-win situation for us. But given our living conditions, we more often than not can’t find a place to plant one, so this campaign is really quite an ingenious way to add more green to our dear Earth. Best part? It doesn’t cost you a single sen.

The One Laptop, One Tree campaign is in celebration of GIGABYTE winning the 2018 iF Designs Awards. The motion is a part of the trillion tree campaign initiated by UNEF and Plant-for-the-Planet, which have already planted 15 billion trees in over 130 countries.

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What are you waiting for? Make sure to do your part and sign up via the link here to plant a tree. For Mother Earth!
Pokdepinion: Perhaps I should get a GIGABYTE laptop for myself too…
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Stand A Chance To Win Limited Edition ROG X G-Shock – Time To ROG!

ASUS ROG is holding a ‘buy to redeem’ and a special lucky draw where winner will be walking away with their limited edition ROG X G-Shock watch starting from 1st March to 25th April 2018.
Limited Edition ROG X G-Shock

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You could just stand a chance to win this ROG X G-Shock watch when you enter their lucky draw. The watch, which is worth RM699, is a limited edition and you can’t purchase it anywhere. While there’s the lucky draw, there is also the ‘buy to redeem‘ section. Here are the steps for that;

Purchase a GL503 Scar Edition, GL703, GL703 Scar Edition, GX501, or G703 to redeem the Limited Edition ROG G-Shock Watch.
Participants are required to purchase from selected ROG Malaysia Authorized Dealers.
There will be 100x Limited Edition ROG G-Shock units where first come first served basis applies and while stocks last.
Participants are required to keep the official receipt issued by the retailers and serial number of the purchased ROG laptop.
Fill in the “Time to ROG” online form.
Winners will be contacted within two weeks through an email or phone to confirm their personal details and receipt.

Well, that’s for the ‘buy to redeem’ section. There’s the lucky draw campaign, which is done weekly with a total of 16 units of the watch to be won. Here are the full details for the contest;

Purchase a GL553VD, GL553VE, or GL503 Hero Edition to qualify for the lucky draw
Participants are required to purchase from selected ROG Malaysia Authorized Dealers.
16x Limited Edition ROG G-Shock will be given out via Facebook and Instagram announcement on – 9, 16. 23. 30 March 2018 and 6, 13, 20, 27 April 2018 respectively.
Participants are required to keep the official receipt issued by the retailers and serial number of the purchased ROG laptop.
Fill in the “Time to ROG” online form.
Winners will be contacted within two weeks through an email or phone to confirm their personal details and receipt.

Pokdepinion: Dang, that watch is really a beauty! If you’re getting an ROG laptop (well at least the ones that are mentioned), don’t forget to enter!

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Breaks Day One Digital Sales Record

The folks over at Activision have announced a new milestone, this time with their newest game in the market right now, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
The game has broken their record for the biggest day one digital sales in the history of Activision. The record was previously held by Call of Duty: WWII.

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The game also broke the global record for day one digital sales on the PlayStation Store. The same can be said for Activision’s record for digital sales on release day for the Xbox One. PC digital sales on the other hand were the highest for the franchise on the first day, over double those scored last year by WWII.
Not surprisingly, this led to a much bigger online player base for a Call of Duty game.
The press release also included a comment from Call of Duty Executive Vice President and General Manager Rob Kostrich.
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Rob Kostrich, said:
Black Ops 4 is an incredible game, and the community’s response to it has been amazing. We have shattered multiple digital day one sales records, and the number of people who connected online on day one to play has grown year on year.
But probably the most important thing is that the community is having so much fun across Multiplayer, Zombies and Blackout. We are so incredibly thankful for the community’s trust and support. This is just the beginning, it’s going to be an incredible journey with Black Ops 4.
 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is currently available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Pokdepinion: Personally, the only reason I did not get this game, at least not yet, is that it’s rather pricey for me. Probably gonna wait on sale or something and that’s assuming there’s still a good number of players around.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Leak Reveals Bigger Cover Display and Extra Protection

As many of you may know by now, we’re expected to see the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3 sometime in the second half of 2021. Now, we get a glimpse of the the former, with its larger outer display, along with some additional details.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Leak

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Alleged pictures of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 have surfaced online and it appears to be screenshots of advertising videos for the foldable smartphone. According to the materials, there will be an assortment of colour options available, with Samsung opting for a two-tone colour scheme to make it look nicer.
As for the outer display / cover display, the size has been enlarged compared to its predecessor which should allow you to see at least one text message / notification in full. There’s also a dual-camera setup located near the cover display. To strengthen the device further, it is said to be wrapped in Gorilla Glass Victus and has a new “Armor” applied to the hinger and foldable display.

Assuming all of these are true, it would be a huge leap over its predecessor, which many have voiced out concerns over the durability of the device. This will certainly make it more enticing for consumers, especially if it ends up using a flagship-level chipset like the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. For now, we will report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
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Pokdepinion: While I do like the enlarged outer display, I was kind of hoping that it would have a more centered display, something like the old Motorola RAZR. Either way, it’s an improvement if this is true so I won’t complain.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: Five Reasons You Should Use a Foldable Smartphone

It’s been a long way since the original foldable smartphone hit the market back in 2019, when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold in its annual Unpacked event. The device represented a massive development leap since the original smartphone was produced more than a decade ago, but it didn’t come without enormous design and engineering challenges. So, how does the fourth iteration of Samsung’s foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold4, hold up today? Here’s five reasons you might want to consider the foldable to be your next smartphone.
Flexible Multitasking

Those who rely on smartphones to get work done expects nothing less from a phone capable of handling multiple tasks at once. Of course, most smartphones these days allow you to interact with two apps (split in two halves) at the same time, with some even featuring pop-out window feature for even greater multitasking flexibility. But you’re eventually limited by the screen itself – there’s only so much you can fit into a 6-inch screen without making everything way too cramped to navigate.

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Here’s where foldable devices comes in. You get effectively double the display area over traditional candy bar form factor smartphones, allowing you to use three apps in a single screen. The Galaxy Z Fold4 goes further than that – Flex Mode will adapt apps into fitting two partially-folded halves of the display, especially useful for video viewing. Aside from that, it comes with a new Taskbar and swipe gestures, with controls similar to how you navigate a PC. A few apps below the screens provides quick access to recently used apps, and you can resize apps with just a single swipe.
Enhanced User Experiences

In the early days of foldable phones, many Android apps were not designed for large form factor displays – causing glitches switching between inside and outside displays among other ‘growing pains’. Many years on, the most popular apps has adapted to foldable displays by offering unique experiences exclusive to foldable displays. It is among the first devices to be equipped with Android 12L, which is exclusively developed for large screen devices such as tablets and foldable displays.
To ensure users get the most out of the foldable experience, Samsung has collaboration with leading app developers to create custom UIs and optimizations such as drag-and-drop feature across apps. Google apps such as Chrome and Gmail now supports this feature; Microsoft’s Office suite apps has received foldable-specific customizations to display more information on-screen, with faster ways to edit and work.
Improved Navigation with S Pen

Originally a Galaxy Note staple, the S Pen has now been part of the Galaxy Z Fold4’s experience – those who prefer to write instead of type have the option to draw, write, scribble on the 7.6-inch main display with utmost precision. This iteration brings AI into the mix, once you perform a Smart Select action, the AI will recommend you follow-up action automatically depending on what you do. To ensure the Z Fold4 remain as light and thin as possible, the S Pen can be attached with the Standing Cover that comes in matching colors of the device itself.
Thinner, Lighter & More Portable

Looking back at the original Galaxy Fold, it had its rough edges – it was fairly bulky compared to the traditional candy bar form factor smartphones; with thicker bezels as well. Samsung has improved much in that regard, with large screens able to fit on a smaller, thinner bezels and chassis, making the phone much easier to handle with one-handed usage. It retained the same 7.6-inch main display over the preceding Z Fold3, however the device’s physical size has been reduced and aspect ratio slightly altered to improve the usability.
Designed To Endure The Distance

The perception on foldable phones has been that of fragile durability in the early days – however this is no longer the case. Just like regular candy bar smartphones, the Z Fold4 offers water resistance up to IPX8, with additional components like Armor Aluminum frames and hinge covers, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the outside to protect against accidental drops. The hinge itself has been meticulously engineered to handle up to 200,000 folding cycles, easily exceeding a typical phone’s usage lifetime. The Z Fold4’s 4,400mAh battery carries you throughout a whole day with 50% charge in 30 minutes should you need to top up in a rush.
Of course, you can read on our review of Galaxy Z Fold4 here to see for yourself.
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Kingston Ranks First For DRAM Module Supplier

It’s been recently that Kingston Technology ranks at the top for being the best third-party DRAM module supplier in the world according to analyst firm TrendForce.
Kingston takes top spot for DRAM module supplier

It appears that Kingston has retained their number one spot with an estimated 80.33% market share on US$12.9B revenue. Last year’s ranking means that it is the 17th consecutive year that TrendForce has placed Kingston at number one on the list.
According to TrendForce, DRAM prices were lower in 2019 due to an ample supply combined with weaker demand from both the server and client sides, thus resulting in less revenue for many module makers.

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As we are transitioning 8GB density DDR4 chips to 16GB, Kingston has said that the new water lithography needed to produce 16GB DRAM also provides a power savings over last-gen 8GB. This in turn improving battery life on mobile systems and reducing costs in data centers. Previously, Kingston shipped 64GB Registered DIMMs last December, as well as refreshing the entire Server Premier product line to feature 16GB solutions in July 2020.
Pokdepinion: Well it’s been 17 consecutive years that they’ve taken top spot, they must be doing the right things.
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Call of Duty: Warzone Plans To Add 200-player Support

If you think that the 150-player support on Call of Duty: Warzone was already big, well be prepared to see a larger number in the game. The news was revealed in a recent interview with Infinity Ward Studio Head, Patrick Kelly.
Call of Duty: Warzone To Feature 200-players

Patrick has said that they are already testing the increased number of players behind the scenes. Despite not revealing a specific release date for the feature, we probably will see it sooner rather than later.
Here’s what he has said:

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We brought a number of twists to battle royale. I do think the world you play in is going to be undeniably unique. For one thing, we are initially going to roll out with 150 players, when you are typically seeing 60 to 100. Actually, I can tell you we are already playing with 200 players. We are going to release that a little bit later. Patrick Kelly, Head of Infinity Ward Studio
Haven’t played the game yet? Wondered if it’s worth the big storage that you need to download the game? Do check out on our first thoughts on the game right here.
Source
Pokdepinion: Man, the game’s already hectic as it is… 200-players? Well my chances of winning aren’t that high..
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HONOR Band 5 Review — Hey, ever heard of SpO2?

While fitness may not be one of my strong suits, much less with me being sedentary most of the day, it seems like I am the one assigned to review most of them. Not like I am complaining, because it does trigger me to see such a low numbers of steps taken at the end of the day. The kiasu is real. So with that said, we will be taking a look at the HONOR Band 5, the latest smartband from HONOR offering almost every feature you would need from a smartband/fitness band.
What’s in the box

The packaging is very reminiscent of the HONOR band 4. Unfortunately we got a unit with Chinese packaging. Everything on the box is in Chinese, but you can make out some things like the fact that it touts a heart rate sensor and the various activities it can track. It tracks sleep too, which is about the only activity I enjoy that the HONOR Band 5 is capable of tracking.

In the box, you get the fitness band itself, the charging cradle and some documentation. It’s in Chinese, so we won’t be looking at it. Not like we need to anyway.

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Appearance

 The highlight here is of course the vibrant 0.95″ AMOLED display. It’s worth noting that this is second generation of HONOR using AMOLED in their smartbands. When will their smartphones make the jump to AMOLED, you ask? Your guess is as good as mine. It’s adequately sized, allowing HONOR to populate it with useful information, as well as to give you some customizability so that it remains fresh.

Taking a closer look at the band of the HONOR Band 5, you will see that it veers on the conventional side of things, with it involving a buckle. It’s a bit more difficult to put on and take off, but on the plus side, it means you won’t have to worry about it losing your smartband if you snag it on clothing or something.

The strap is attached to the main body via some nifty little plastic clasps. If you are bored with the black ones that come out of the box, there are plenty of other colors, or even entirely different styles that you can choose from via third-party vendors.
Specifications
Display0.95″ 120 x 240 AMOLEDFull-color displayCapacitive touchWater resistance5 ATM (50 meters)Features24/7 heart rate trackingSwim trackingStep counterSleep monitoringSpO2 measurementNotificationsIdle alertsSensorsPPG cardiotachometerInfrared wear sensorAccelerometerGyroscopeBattery100 mAh Li-Po batteryUSB charging via cradleWeight22.1 g
Fit for the job?

Like most fitness bands, the HONOR Band 5 measures your heart rate with an optical sensor, or photoplethysmography. I have no idea how to pronounce that either. In any case, the HONOR Band 5 will project light through your skin, in this case green, and measure your pulse with a sensor that picks up the small differences in your blood vessels near your skin as your heart beats.

The HONOR Band 5 picked up a new trick though: SpO2 measuring. SpO2 stands for peripheral oxygen saturation, and if you have been to a hospital you would have seen it monitored along with the other vital signs of a patient. It’s quite new to smartbands, and what it does is help you check if you are getting enough oxygen. With that said, the current implementation takes too long to get a reading, and requires you to stay really still, or else you won’t get a proper reading. Generally, if you are running low on oxygen, your heart rate will increase, so monitoring your heart rate is enough to guesstimate whether you are receiving enough oxygen, without having to wait nearly as long. And yes, the HONOR Band 5 can read your pulse in mere seconds and you don’t have to stay nearly as still.
There’s also the continuous heart rate monitoring. I would say it is a bit too aggressive. When I was completely idle i.e. dead asleep at night, I saw in the HUAWEI Health app that it was collecting data every 10 minutes. During the day when I was moving about, it collected data in intervals as short as 2 minutes. This was with the Smart monitoring mode. The Real-time option just leaves the heart rate sensor on all the time, sucking down tonnes of battery.
Aside from keeping track of your heartbeat, it can also control your beats
With that said, you would still be enjoying around 5 days of battery life, and I must say it is pretty good given that a reading is taken every 5 minutes. The smart mode results in slightly less power drain as it varies its data collection intervals, giving us around a week. These figures were obtained with Bluetooth connected for notifications and TruSleep enabled.
The step counting feature isn’t the most accurate I have seen, as casual swinging of my arms actually caused it to record them as steps. I have seen my fair share of fitness bands that ignore this, so I would definitely have to count it against the HONOR Band 5. On the plus side, it does translate to more steps, for that feel-good aura after a day of sedentary living.
I am proud of my sleep.
Your heart rate, step count and sleep monitoring can be tracked via the HUAWEI Health app. It even proffers a helpful little guide to help improve your sleep quality. The SpO2 data isn’t recorded in the app though, which makes it seem like even more of an afterthought. For those who want to venture into the outdoors for their fitness regimes, the app can also use your phone’s GPS to track the distance.

Aside from keeping tabs on your fitness, you can choose from the assortment of watch faces available in the HUAWEI Health app. There are no third-part watch faces for the HONOR Band 5, so you will be stuck with the 50 watch faces that HONOR themselves have come up with. Eight of them are already pre-installed on the watch, for increased convenience, I guess?
Yeah man, what did you think of it?
There is also the ability to show notifications, however like the Mi Band 4, there’s no way to limit what gets shown when you are notified. It might be convenient, but given that sensitive messages might pop up at an inconvenient time, it might have been preferable to be able to be able to set it to just show the app icon when notifications roll in on the HONOR Band 5.
Conclusion
The HONOR Band 5 is a small step up from the HONOR Band 4. The screen is probably one of the most vibrant we have seen thus far, and the SpO2 feature is kinda novel. Just… maybe make it read faster?
Battery life could also be slightly better with more granular control over the frequency it measures my heart rate, and the step counting algorithm a bit more discerning for accuracy’s sake. But overall for a RM149 fitness band, I guess the HONOR Band 5 does pretty well? I would also say that the HONOR Band 4 was more than enough to compete with the current crop of affordable smartbands out there, given that they came up with a color display so much earlier.
New feature… But was it necessary?
Which raises the question… Could HONOR have updated the HONOR Band 4 with the HONOR Band 5’s SpO2 capability? Possibly, but a firmware update isn’t nearly as newsworthy as a new product launch. If you have bought a HONOR Band 4, it probably isn’t worth upgrading, but if you are new to the fitness band scene, the HONOR Band 5 is a solid contender in the sub-RM200 segment.
Our thanks to HONOR Malaysia for sending the HONOR Band 5 over for review!
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Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition Is The Company’s Lightest Mouse Yet

It doesn’t come cheap, however.

After teasing a new model in the prior few days, Razer revealed – as the company phrased it – “the lightest mouse ever created by Razer”. At a ridiculously low weight of just 49 grams – the Viper Mini Signature Edition, unlike most other models, uses a magnesium alloy as its exoskeletal shell to reduce weight.

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Most mice that feature ultra-lightweight perforated shell use plastics thanks to its lightweight properties, but the material itself is weaker than what Razer is using for its Viper Mini Signature Edition here. Furthermore, at this weight class – gaming mice often do away with any sort of wireless features due to the extra weight penalties, usually in the form of carrying a battery. This Viper however, retains its wireless capabilities.

“The Viper Mini Signature Edition represents the most ambitious design and engineering project we’ve ever undertaken,” said Charlie Bolton, Head of Industrial Design at Razer. “We wanted to push beyond the traditional honeycomb design and this required a material with an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. After evaluating plastics, carbon fiber, and even titanium, we ultimately chose magnesium alloy for its exceptional properties.”
The exoskeletal structure is first injection-molded, then CNC-machined and polished; then a process called passivation (basically applying a layer of coating to reduce likeliness of corrosion) is done before it is finally painted and assembled.

Magnesium exoskeleton aside, this mouse, like its standard sibling, is a very capable one. The mouse is powered by Razer’s Focus Pro 30K optical sensor, with Gen-3 optical switches, 4000Hz wireless polling rate and provides full charge in under 90 minutes (which provides 60 hours runtime). Not only that, every unit will come with Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle (pre-paired), a set of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 mouse feet, microfiber cleaning cloth, 2 grip tape sets and 2 alcohol pads. Razer even offers 3 years extended warranty for the Signature Edition.
All of these doesn’t come cheap – Razer is asking for a staggering $279.99 MSRP if you intend to own one of the most advanced gaming mouse the PC realm has to offer. If you do, the Viper Mini Signature Edition will be shipping beginning 11 Feb 2023, exclusively on Razer.com website.
Pokdepinion: That pricing is truly insane, but I guess if you can use something as exotic as magnesium…
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Motorola RAZR Folding Phone Leak Gives a Good Glimpse of What to Expect

Foldable smartphones is the newest exciting thing for the mobile space but it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing either. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Fold was supposed to be released in late April 2019 but was delayed indefinitely due to hardware defects.
If you were excited for the Motorola RAZR folding phone, then this leak will surely excite you. It appears that a leak has surfaced on the internet which gives us a very good glimpse of the foldable smartphone.

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In case some of you aren’t aware, this one is expected to be very similar to their old RAZR lineup of clamshell phones. As such, you won’t be getting a tablet-sized screen but rather a size that will be familiar to most consumers in this day and age.
This will certainly make the device easier to use overall while being pocket-friendly. Not sure if the price will also be pocket-friendly as well but that will be a story for another day. We even got a good glimpse of potential accessories that will be included with it.

The pictures were first posted on Weibo, with renders coming from Slashleaks. This isn’t official by any means but it does give us a good look as to what we can expect from the Motorola RAZR folding phone. For now, just take it with a pinch of salt and enjoy the view.
Source: Tech Acrobat
Pokdepinion: This is probably the foldable smartphone that I’m most excited about. Personally because I was a huge fan of the Motorola RAZR back in the day.
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Chinese tech blogger broke Xiaomi’s NDA of the Mi 10 Ultra — settled in court for 1 000 000 CNY

While China may seem like the wild west when it comes to NDAs or copyright laws, it seems that courts are taking the former a bit more seriously now. Just earlier this week we reported about a leaker being fined for revealing embargoed details about Genshin Impact‘s next update, and now we see a tech blogger being fined for breaking the embargo on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra.
Gu Xu Yang, who’s the person behind Beautiful科技 (Beautiful Tech), was supposed to pay a USD 1 000 000 (~RM4.156 million) fine for breaking the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) on Xiaomi’s top-of-the-line flagship at the time. However Xiaomi later accepted a 1 million Chinese Yuan (~RM643 922) settlement and a public apology.

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Tech media generally sign NDAs with hefty penalties in the event they are broken. It is essentially why a lot of top media will publish their reviews on the very same day at the exact same time. That’s because brands will often offer the opportunity for them to try out and experience stuff before they are announced. These irresponsible people will often times try to grab as much traffic as they can by publishing their reviews before the embargo lifts.
Overall, all I can say is “serves you right” to any tech media that gets served with a fine for breaking the embargo. Misreading the time zone for the embargo lift is one thing, but doing it on purpose is just inexcusable.
Source
Pokdepinion: I am surprised that China courts are being active in this area. But then again, we are only seeing China companies getting this kind of success. Let’s see if they will be this efficient with foreign companies.
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Sony Xperia 5 II With 21:9 And 120Hz Refresh Rate Display Coming To Malaysia

If you’re a big fan of Sony’s Xperia smartphone lineup, you’ll be glad to know that they will be bringing the Sony Xperia 5 II soon to Malaysia.
Sony Xperia 5 II coming soon to Malaysia

The Sony Xperia 5 II comes with a 21:9 cinemaWide 6.1-inch FHD+ HDR OLED display, where it delivers ‘unprecedented color accuracy’ with Creator mode. Not to forget, it also sports a 120Hz refresh rate display.
Hardware wise, it packs a Snapdragon 865 chipset and it offers 8GB RAM that could be mated with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.

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In terms of cameras, it comes with a triple camera setup at the back which consists of a 12MP main camera, 12MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide ZEISS optics. While we’re talking about cameras, the Xperia 5 II is designed with technology from Sony’s Alpha series where it comes with Real-time Eye AF where it allows you to shoot and store 20 shots (20fps) with high precision and accuracy, or so the company claims. As for selfies, it offers a 8MP front camera.

It is also the world first smartphone to offer 4K HDR 120fps slow-motion movie recording, offering you flexibility when recording videos.
Other than that, under the hood is a 4000mAh battery that supports up to 21W fast charging. Sony Malaysia has said that the Sony Xperia 5 II will be arriving in December 2020 where it will come in three color variants; Black, Blue, and Pink.
Previously we’ve reviewed their Sony Xperia 10 II, do check that out to find out our full thoughts on the device.
Pokdepinion: On paper, it really looks like a feature packed smartphone. I guess the question that’s running on everyone’s mind is how much is the price?
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Samsung Galaxy A Series 2021 Trade Up Program Gives You RM100 Extra Trade-In Value

Recently, Samsung launched their newest midrange smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A52, Galaxy A72, and Galaxy A32. If you want to get your hands on any of those smartphones, you might as well make use of the new Samsung Galaxy A Series 2021 trade up program.
Samsung Galaxy A Series 2021 Trade Up Program

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The new Samsung Galaxy A Series 2021 Trade Up Program will let you upgrade to the new Galaxy A72, Galaxy A52, and Galaxy A32 smartphones at a lower price. To be precise, you can get RM100 extra trade in value for your old device. This is interesting as they would typically reserve this type of program for their flagship models.
Some of the devices that we know of that are accepted in the trade in are the Samsung Galaxy A71 for up to RM450, Galaxy A21S for up to RM495, and the Galaxy A51 for up to RM485. With that being said however, you can still trade in other devices but the final value will be determined by CompAsia as they are handling the program.
If you’re interested to participate in the Samsung Galaxy A Series 2021 Trade Up Program, head on over to your nearest Samsung Experience Stores or participating retailers. It will be available from today until 30th April 2021.
We recently reviewed the Samsung Galaxy A52 and it’s a complete package as far as midrange offerings go. Check it out by clicking right here.
Source
Pokdepinion: Given my experience with the Galaxy A52, it’s one of the complete offerings especially within the midrange level. This just sweetens the deal even further if you’re coming from an older device.
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Here Are The Best Performing Smartphones in November 2019 According to AnTuTu

With the year coming to a close, some of you may be wondering which one is the strongest smartphone around. Given the sheer number of smartphones released this year, it can be tough to nail down. We have the list of best performing smartphones of November 2019 by AnTuTu right here.
The data was divided into two categories; flagship and mid-range smartphones. It was also collected from 1st November to 30th November 2019. As you can see, the ROG Phone 2 is at the top, trailed by the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro. It’s interesting to note that the realme X2 Pro managed to get quite a high rank.
Looks like smartphones powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets have dominated the flagship segment in terms of performance. The non-Snapdragon chipset in the top 10 list is the Samsung Galaxy Note10+, which is powered by the Exynos 9825.

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As for the AnTuTu best performing mid-range smartphones, the Redmi Note 8 Pro with its Helio G90T chipset reigns supreme. It’s followed by the OPPO Reno2 and the Xiaomi Mi 9T. The Reno2 most likely got the better score due to the slightly faster GPU with the Snapdragon 730G.
It’s worth noting that a powerful chipset and UFS storage is deemed necessary for a smartphone to be listed in the Top 10 ranking. Dual-channel UFS storage will improve the chances for a good score.
Source: Document
Pokdepinion: It’s very interesting to see how they rank in terms of performance. I’m curious to see how December’s data will pan out.
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The most expensive demo PC we have ever seen — Dual Intel Xeon & Quad NVIDIA Titan X

Tell me how many of you are impressed by gaming PCs on display in computer hardware stores? I bet most you are really excited seeing the high end specification and case mods. But have you ever seen a real monstrous demonstration PC, that packs oodles of computing power, shown in public before? Before that, let me inform you guys that this demo PC costs about 1.8 million Yen (approximately USD 15K or MYR 63K).
Demo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in Akihabara

This story began in Akihabara the electronic and otaku cultural center in Japan. A shop named Tsukumo PC demoed a powerful computer with dual Intel Xeon E5-2697 V3, with each processor sporting 14 cores and 28 threads, for a total of 28 cores and 56 threads running at 2.60Ghz. That should really pump get some adrenaline pumping in PC enthusiasts. But wait, that isn’t all to this monster of a demo PC.

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Demo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in Akihabara

Wanna guess how much RAM this monster has? Of course it has a lot of it, 192GB of ECC DDR4 RAM by Century Micro, to be exact. A very fast storage is a must for this powerful PC, and it does not disappoint, packing the Intel SSD 750 series 400GB, do note that this is a PCIe SSD that using latest NVM express standard, so it’s really a speed demon of an SSD. All this is mounted on a Supermicro X10DRG-Q, a server class motherboard that supports up to 4-way SLI and Thunderport.
Demo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in Akihabara
Okay we reached the most exciting part to us PC gamers. Yes, the graphic card. The demo PC is equipped with four NVIDIA GTX Titan X in a 4-way SLI configuration. This video card configuration might be needed for buttery smooth 4K video editing. With all that CUDA cores, it will surely deliver a performance boost in any software that can harness the power of CUDA technology.
Demo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in Akihabara

A blazingly fast and powerful monster like this definitely needs lots of juice to feed it, and this is the reason why this PC comes with two 1000 watt power supply unit. Not much detail about the PSUs is known, so let us jump to some pictures of it running Cinebench benchmark.
Demo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in AkihabaraDemo PC in Akihabara

SOURCE : Akiba-PC

Pokdepinion : The PC on above is not the most powerful one we have seen on the internet, but it still amazes me because it’s open to public. Some might think what is the point of building such monster, but actually there’s lot we can do with it, not only 4K editing but maybe 8K editing in the future, 3D render farm and much more. Or it could be just because they can.
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Acer OJO 500 Windows Mixed Reality Headset Now Available In Malaysia At RM1899

Acer Malaysia has revealed today the new Acer OJO 500 WMR headset is already here in the country. The headset comes with a one-of-a-kind detachable design that gives flexibility, comfort, and hygiene for both consumers and businesses.

With the Acer OJO 500, you can detach the lens along with the choice of hard or washable soft head strap that comes with extra large padding for additional comfort, while guiding the lens to the correct position.

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The detachable design allows the lens and head strap to be removed individually, making life easy to store and clean them. This is especially useful if the headset is used in a shared environment such as in a cyber cafe that offers virtual reality (VR) gameplay.
It is also the first VR headset to offer an integrated “sound pipe” and a smartphone app to measure pupil distance. The clarity of images is accorded by a built-in interpupillary distance (IPD) wheel and a patented smart phone app to measure IPD distance.
Additionally, the patented integrated audio system that directs sound from the built-in speakers towards the user’s ears. This means that you can fully utilize it without the need of earphones/headphones. The headset comes with two Bluetooth enabled motion controllers that sync with the headset.
The Acer OJO 500 retails at a RM1,899 price tag and you can get it at the official Acer online store or at Rextech, which is located in Puchong.
Pokdepinion: The OJO 500 definitely looks like an upgrade from the previous Acer Windows Mixed Reality headset! If you’d like to learn more on, you can check out the review by clicking right here.
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Video Showcases Xiaomi’s New Foldable Smartphone

Out of the blue, Xiaomi has released a teaser video of a new phone that folds in three. The video features the company’s co-founder and president, Lin Bin, where it showed some details of the new device.

As shown in the video, you can fold both sides of the phone, getting a more compact size instead of a tablet form factor.
The device is reportedly an engineering model which was revealed by Xiaomi’s president himself where he noted that they had to overcome “a series of technical problems such as flexible folding screen technology, four-wheel drive folding shaft technology, flexible cover technology, and MIUI adaptation”.

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This won’t be the first device that we’ve seen to offer such traits. Previously it was let known that Samsung has been working on one themselves.
We could probably see/learn more of the device at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) where it will commence next month in Barcelona.
Pokdepinion: It looks promising but I just have a problem on why it wasn’t flat in its full form..
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ASUS announces new wireless USB dongle USB-AC68 — dual-band AC1900 and USB 3.0 at RM449

ASUS latest networking product goes into pocket size with the new ASUS USB-AC68,dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi USB 3.0 adapter with AC1900-class performance that offers an instant wireless networking upgrade for a laptop or desktop PC.

Delivering speeds of up to 1300Mbps on the 5 GHz frequency band and 600Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, ASUS USB-AC68 offers faster-than-wired-networking speeds for smooth streaming and low-latency online gaming. Maximum performance is achieved when paired with an 802.11ac router, but USB-AC68 is fully backward-compatible with all previous Wi-Fi standards.

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For wide coverage and stable reception, ASUS USB-AC68 has a 3×4 (3 transmit, 4 receive) MIMO configuration. It features two internal antennas, plus two additional external antennas that fold neatly into the body of the device. When the device is plugged directly into a USB port these 3-position antennas can be extended at 90° to the adapter body, and when it is used in the supplied desktop cradle they can be deployed at 180° to the adapter for optimum reception. These convenient folding antennas ensure that USB-AC68 is perfectly portable, yet delivers the best possible reception.

For the clearest signals and most stable connections, the ASUS AiRadar feature in USB-AC68 uses beamforming to focus signals towards the Wi-Fi source for better reception. USB-AC68 is a USB 3.0 device with data-transfer speeds up to 10 times (10X) faster than USB 2.0, ensuring no data bottlenecks between the adapter and the computer. For flexibility it is also fully compatible with USB 2.0 ports.
ASUS USB-AC68 are available with launch price at RM 449 with 3 years warranty.

Pokdepinion: If your home network is equipped with AC wireless router, the ASUS USB-AC68 should be a perfect match for lag-free Steam in-home streaming. Last but not least, transferring data over wireless network using DuktoR6, it should also be faster over an AC wireless network.
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realme Buds Wireless Review — sporty earphones for bass heads?

While realme is better known for their smartphones, they do offer some accessories as well. Among these are their powerbanks and realme Buds, which come in both wired and wireless varieties. There’s also the newer realme Buds Air, which are their first pair of true wireless earbuds. The realme Buds Wireless is probably meant for sportier people, as you will probably realize in just a bit.
Unboxing

The realme Buds Wireless comes in a pretty attractive yet simple packaging that really showcases all the unique features of the realme Buds Wireless.

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Meanwhile over on the inside, we see the realme Buds Wireless held in securely on the plastic tray. realme used the space rather ingeniously, with a small drawer under this top layer housing the ear tips and also the the charging cable.

There are two flaws with the realme Buds Wireless that we can spot right away: there are no other wing tips included in the package, so if the default ones don’t work for you, it’s just too bad. The other issue is the use of microUSB for charging, which is definitely not ideal. But given that realme still uses microUSB for the majority of their smartphone lineup, it’s probably forgivable by their target audience.
Appearance

The earpieces themselves are pretty compact, despite packing large 11.2mm bass drivers. Making them perfect for sports or other vigorous activities are the wing tips, which are only available in that one size. I do find the contrast of the yellow cords to be a very nice touch, which is also extended to the ear tips themselves, which feature a yellow core. The realme branding here is also rather subtle, which is cool.

Meanwhile the neckband comes in all black, with a smooth soft-touch finish that might or might not stand up to being in contact with sweat for a long time. The control module is on one end while what I would assume is the battery (since it has the charging port) is on the other. The realme Buds Wireless’s controls are pretty basic, with just three buttons.

Specifications

Drivers
11.2mm dynamic drivers

Frequency Response
20 Hz – 20,000 Hz

Sensitivity
N/A

Impedance
N/A

Headphone Type
Wireless neckband, in-ear

Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
AAC, SBC codecs

Wireless Range
10m

Noise-cancelling
N/A

Battery
Up to 12 hours playback

Weight
Approx. 27g

Colour
Black, yellow accents

User Experience

The first thing you will learn about the realme Buds Wireless is how you can just forget about turning them on and off. Just bring the two earpieces together and they will turn themselves off, separate them and they will connect to the last device they were paired with. It’s pretty nifty. That prevents you from running low on battery just because you forgot to turn them off. With that said, it will easily last you a whole day as realme really wasn’t joking about the 12-hour battery life.
When you do run out of power, charging is done via the microUSB port. As we have already mentioned why realme shouldn’t use the microUSB port, we won’t go over that again. But I do find realme’s decision to expose the microUSB port a bit curious considering that the realme Buds Wireless does seem designed for sports rather than the casual user. There’s IPX4 ingress protection though, so it should survive being drenched in your sweat from your workout.

Speaking of tunes, the realme Buds Wireless’ sound is clearly bass-centric. realme has these tuned by Alan Walker, so obviously these are tuned for EDM. The bass is punchy, and it is great for EDM music. An interesting thing to note is that unlike most earphones tuned for bass, these don’t have the signature scooped out mids though, but instead seems to have gotten a slight boost. The downside is that this boost in the midrange does not sound good, giving a scratchy sound to vocals.
And as with virtually all wireless earphones, the realme Buds Wireless are not suitable for gaming. There’s a noticeable delay from when you see something on the screen to when you actually hear it. It doesn’t affect movies or videos, so you can use these for your Netflix binges in flights.
Now I must mention that while it may not sound that good, the realme Buds Wireless is actually quite comfortable. Be it the neckband or earpieces, I was not annoyed by either component despite me being not used to having a strip of rubber-coated plastic on my neck. The ear tips and wing tips are also surprisingly supple, as I have tested many budget earphones with horrible stiff wing tips that hurts my ears.
Conclusion
Priced at RM149, it’s definitely an affordable pick for those who want a sporty-looking pair of wireless earphones. With an IPX4 sweat-proof rating, you can bring them out on your next jog without worrying about drowning them in your sweat. If you mainly listen to EDM and need something to accompany you during your runs, the realme Buds Wireless is an inexpensive pair of wireless earphones that you can consider.
Our thanks to realme Malaysia for sending us the realme Buds Wireless for review.
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