AMD is cooking a new chip to fight against the GTX 1050Ti – AMD Radeon RX 465?

With the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti heating up the graphics card market soon, AMD is apparently preparing  anew chip based on the Polaris 10 silicon to narrow the gap between the Radeon RX 460 and RX 470. Rumors point to it being announced soon after the GTX 1050 Ti launch, with AMD most probably pitting the new GPU squarely against the GTX 1050 Ti, while the RX 460 does battle with the GTX 1050.

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As most AIBs’ Radeon RX 470 solutions perform really close to the RX 480 cards, the new chip will definitely be a cut-down version of the RX 470, making it ideal to go head to head against the GTX 1050Ti. Below is a comparison table between the rumoured Radeon RX 465, RX 470 and RX 460.

Graphics card
RX 470
RX 465
RX 460

GPU Architecture
Polaris 10
Polaris 10
Polaris 11

Stream Processor
2048
1536
896

ROPs
32
24
16

Memory
4/8GB
4GB
2/4GB

Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5

Memory Bandwith
256bit
256bit
128bit

TDP
120W
90W
75W

Power Connection
6-pin
6-Pin
–

Judging based on the specification, the Radeon RX 460 is set to deliver up to 70-80% of the Radeon RX 470’s performance. In term of pricing, it will most probably cost around USD 125 to USD 150 (approximately MYR 650-MYR700) and most likely be available from AIB partners.
source: diy.pconline.com.cn

Pokdepinion: Both AMD Polaris and NVIDIA Pascal GPU has great operating temperature and performance. Based on our GPU database, the only thing AMD needs to do is to further optimize the Polaris cards’ power consumption.
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This Could Be The Story for the Marvel’s Spider-Man Sequel – SPOILER ALERT

Marvel’s Spider-Man by Insomniac Games has seen quite the success since the game launched recently. Now, we might have a glimpse into the game’s sequel.
This Could Be The Story for the Sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man

It’s no secret that Marvel’s Spider-Man for the PS4 by Insomniac Games was well-received by gamers across the globe. In fact, even I felt that it’s arguably the best superhero game in recent time. Despite how recent the game was launched, people are already talking about what we could expect from a sequel, and this is what we know thus far.
Spoiler alert!

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Recently, Insomniac Games Creative Director Bryan Intihar recently appeared on the Kinda Funny Games YouTube channel for their Spoilercast show. They touched a number of subjects on Marvel’s Spider-Man, including the topic of having two Spider-Men in Peter Parker and Miles Morales as seen at the end of the game.
Would the sequel still center around Peter Parker, Miles Morales, or possibly a mix of both? Intihar said:
I think that’s the fun. There’s a plan. I think there are many different ways we can go. Also, I just want to digest what people are thinking about the game.
In the epilogue of Marvel’s Spider-Man where we saw Harry Osborn in a glass case filled with green liquid, sharp-eyed gamers may notice that a black goo of some kind seems to be around Harry. This black goo could possibly be a Symbiote, the same gooey material you see from the character Venom.
Unfortunately, Intihar didn’t disclose much information on that but he did went on record to talk about the Black Suit for Spider-Man, a.k.a. the Symbiote Suit:
I think that something like that suit deserves its day in the spotlight. Just making it an unlockable suit wouldn’t be doing it justice. It’s one of the best stories for Spider-Man and I think that it’s a complex story. That story needs to be told and it needs to be told in the way that Insomniac would tell it.
It appears there is a good chance we’ll be exploring more about Symbiotes, and possibly Black Suit Spider-Man, in the sequel. However, keep in mind that we’re still far away from seeing a sequel so anything could change from until the game’s announcement. One thing that seems to be case is that Insomniac Games will be the one working on the sequel.
Marvel’s Spider-Man is currently available exclusively for the PlayStation 4. Our review of the game will be popping up very soon so stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Man, what a way to get people excited for a sequel. Can’t wait for it.
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LG XBOOM Go PL5 Review — Clarity On The Go

It’s been awhile since we’ve reviewed a portable speaker so today, we take a look at LG’s latest offering in this LG XBOOM Go PL5 review. Let’s see if it’s worth your money.
 LG XBOOM Go PL5 Unboxing
LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Unboxing
As you can see, there’s not much from the packaging. From the box, you can expect the following to be included inside the box:
The speaker itselfDocumentationsUSB-C cable
Appearance
LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Front
It sports a front-facing grille which is where the audio comes out from (duh). At the side, there’s the LED ring that can light up to the beat of your music, and it also vibrates.

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LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Top
On the top, you have the buttons for the speakers. There’s the power button, Bluetooth button, volume buttons, pause button, and the Sound Boost button.
LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Back
Moving over to the rear, you can pull out the rubber cover where you will find the buttons for the Multi, Dual, lighting, and reset, along with a USB-C port and AUX audio jack.
LG XBOOM Go PL5 Specifications
Drivers:1.75-inch x 2Frequency Response:N/ASensitivity:N/AImpedance:4ΩConnection:Bluetooth 5.0, AUX (3.5mm), USB-C (for charging)Wireless Range:Up to 30mBattery:Lithium-Ion 3900mAh (up to 18 hours) Weight:620gramColour:Black
User Experience
Pairing
LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Pairing
To pair with the LG XBOOM Go PL5, you will need to hold the power button and Bluetooth button for about two seconds. If done correctly, you should then be able to find the speaker on your smartphone / Bluetooth-enabled PC.
For smartphone users, you can opt to install the LG XBOOM app, which allows you to have extra controls of the speaker such as customizing the lights, connection type, and equalizer. Unfortunately, the equalizer option is limited to only two for the LG XBOOM Go PL5. The app also allows you to update the speaker’s firmware whenever it becomes available.
Not to forget, you have the option of connecting the speaker through the auxiliary port, which you can find on the back should you ever need it.
Sound
LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Sound
In terms of audio quality, we were quite impressed with the speaker. Vocals and instruments are pretty clear for a portable speaker. I do however realized that it gets distorted when playing heavy bass songs and at higher volumes.
The Sound Boost does what the name indicated, where it makes the audio louder, but in a good way. I personally feel that Sound Boost does offer a much better audio experience. If you’re wondering if there is more EQ settings, the speaker only comes with two, standard (Meridien) and Sound Boost. It would’ve been cool if the XBOOM app allowed you to tweak the EQ.
Overall, I feel that the sound is good enough to listen in a large room as I was pretty impressed by it the first time that I took it out as well as subsequent uses.
Battery Life
LG has advertised the speaker to offer around 18 hours of battery life and from what I’ve experienced, it’s pretty close. With the volume set at 50%, Sound Boost and lighting turned on, I was able to get around 16 hours out of it. You should expect a longer battery life by having lower volume setting, no lights, and having Sound Boost turned off, but where’s the fun in that?
Conclusion
LG XBOOM Go PL5 review – Verdict
At the end of the day, I was pretty pleased with what the LG XBOOM Go PL5 had to offer. Despite that, it’s different matter when you take the pricing into account. The speaker does sound good but for the price of RM649, it’s a bit pricier than what I would spend on a portable speaker. If they could reduce the price slightly, then it would’ve been a true value for money portable speaker.
You could get the cheaper LG XBOOM Go PL2 but with it being smaller, it might not be as enjoyable. With all things considered, I award the LG XBOOM Go PL5 with our Bronze Pokdeward.

A big thanks to LG Malaysia for providing the LG XBOOM Go PL5 that was used for the purpose of this review!
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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Reported on Track for 2023 Launch

Some developmental updates have surfaced online, revealing that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is progressing well and on track for a 2023 launch.
Good Development Progress for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Don’t. We’re making good progress and it’s still slated for 2023. Showing games takes time, effort, resources, and coordination.
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) October 17, 2022

A fan recently Tweeted out to Insomniac Games voicing out their worries about a potential delay for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 due to the lack of a new trailer for about a year now. They have since replied to the fan and it’s certainly good news for everyone.

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Essentially, they are telling the fan (and other people in extension) to not worry as they are making good progress and the game will still be launching in 2023. They also would like to remind people that showing off a game “takes time, effort, resources, and coordination.”

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was announced alongside Marvel’s Wolverine, but no trailers were made available for both games. Fans are left in the dark on the situation for both games but now, we don’t have to worry about one of those games. While there is no confirmation, there is an expectation of the trailer popping up in the next PlayStation Showcase, which is expected to run before the year ends.
For now, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is expected to launch sometime in 2023 exclusively on the PlayStation 5.
Source
Pokdepinion: I just hope the games lives up to its predecessor, Miles Morales included. Despite how short the latter game was, it was an amazing experience.
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Apple Previews Latest iOS 13 — Here’s The List Of Supported iPhones

Apple recently introduced their latest iOS 13, where it will come with several new features such as a new Dark Mode and of course performance boost to Face ID, smaller downloads and updates as well as faster app launch.

In today’s market, Dark Mode isn’t something new already but with the new addition, it is also available to third-party app developers to integrate it into their own apps. It can also be scheduled to turn on by schedule, at your own will.
The new iOS sees the introduction of QuickPath, a swipe to type feature that you can use on your iPhone (sounds familiar doesn’t it?). Siri has also gotten an update, as it comes with a new voice. With Siri, you can now use your AirPods to read incoming messages as they arrive, from any compatible messaging app or Messages.

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The biggest update of them all should be the performance upgrade. They’ve claimed that Face ID is now 30% faster. In addition to that, downloads are said to be 50% smaller, updates to be 60% smaller and app launches on supported devices running the update are twice as fast as the previous (iOS 12).
If you’re wondering on what iPhones that will get iOS 13, you can check the list below:

iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone SE

Pokdepinion: See your iPhone listed on the list? Let us know in the comments below.
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Armored Core 6 Is In The Works According To Leaked Images

It appears that the developers for Dark Souls, From Software is returning to their original roots and will work on Armored Core 6, according to a leak.
Armored Core 6 in the works?

Screenshots of the upcoming Armored Core game from the consumer survey by FromSoftware.
Source: https://t.co/rn0fLxrjJQ pic.twitter.com/rAKWGwS0Pt
— Mordecai (@EldenRingUpdate) January 10, 2022

The leak was revealed over on Twitter by Mordecai, where it shows a handful of screenshots from the supposedly Armored Core 6. It seems that the original poster claims that they were a part of a survey done by From Software.
Sources has said that it will be a “three-dimensional, dynamic action” as well as offering a “high degree of freedom in customization” as you roam around with your mech.

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As you might recall, it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen an Armored Core title, with the last being Armored Core V, which was released back in 2012. Despite the leak, it’s uncertain on whether if we’ll ever see it make it out to the market. That being said, it’s safe to say that it’ll get fans of the franchise excited.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Source
Pokdepinion: From Software these days are famous for Dark Souls and Bloodborne so it’ll be interesting to see how they make their return to the Armored Core franchise and make of it.. I for one was a fan of the game back then and honestly waited for a sequel.
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Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL disassembled — Liquid cooling explained

The most anticipated devices from Microsoft really has some powerful specifications, so much that they need liquid cooling. No, not really. However, the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL are pretty much the same inside and both also have a liquid cooling solution according to Microsoft. Have you wondered how did Microsoft implement the “liquid cooling” technology inside the compact confines of a phone?Two long videos, each 16 minutes and 14 minutes long, respectively, show us that the Microsoft Lumia 950XL is using a thin heat-pipe to dissipate the heat. Also there is a possibility that Microsoft is using vapor chamber technology for better cooling performance.

Of course it’s not only about the heat-pipe technology, the video shows that the devices is pretty repairable with most of the components connected via flex cables and easily detachable from the main board. It may even be possible to upgrade the phones in the future. Even though the video is very clear and instructive, but it does not mean that disassembling your devices is condoned, as doing so will void the warranty.

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Pokdepinion : The implementation of a heat-pipe in a smartphone is a smart move, it will help the chip run cooler, which will result in consistently higher performance by preventing thermal throttling. I would also like to remind you to NOT try to disassemble your own device if it still under warranty because it will void the warranty and you will be left sitting on your hands if anything happens to it within the warranty period.

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The MacBook Pro is now more pro — more cores and improved butterfly keyboard mechanism

The MacBook Pro has just been given a refresh. The latest 8th Generation processors are finally powering these sleek machines, and the problematic butterfly keyboard has been improved for a quieter typing experience. Hopefully they meant the keyboard will no longer cause users to make noise over the failing mechanisms.

The MacBook Pro will come in 13″ and 15″ variants, with the larger MacBook Pro configurable with an Intel Core i9 6-core CPU. The smaller 13″ MacBook Pro will not feature dedicated GPUs, instead relying on Intel’s high end Iris Plus pixel pushers, while the larger one can be equipped with either the AMD Radeon Pro 555X or a Radeon Pro 560X. If you need more performance, there is always the Blackmagic eGPU.

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The new number crunchers in the MacBook Pros allow the 13″ variant to be up to 2x faster than its predecessor, while the 15″ variant sees an improvement of up to 70%. The larger model is also now better suited for multi-tasking with support for up to 32GB of RAM now, while the 13″ model is still limited to just 16GB.

Apple is still dedicated to make their users live the dongle life with up to four Thunderbolt 3 ports and not a single USB Type-A port. The future is Type-C, but we are still in the now, and we don’t really have that many options for Thunderbolt 3 peripherals at the moment. At least they still kept the headphone jack though. Security is improved with the new Apple T2 chip, consolidating multiple controllers into one chip while also bringing Siri to the Macbook Pros with Touch Bar.

The new keyboard is still going to be based on the butterfly mechanism, but they have improved it for a quieter typing experience. They should also have fixed the reliability issues, as these laptops don’t come cheap. The base MacBook Pro 13 is priced from $1299 (~RM5248), while the MacBook Pro 15 starts from $2399 (~RM9692), so they better not break easily.
Pokdepinion: Well for those who can’t work on anything other than a Mac running Mac OS, there is now more power on tap.
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POCO X5 5G Series Launching in Malaysia With Killer Value and Affordable Prices

The POCO X5 5G series has been confirmed to be coming to Malaysia with a very attractive price, bringing killer value to consumers here.
POCO X5 and X5 Pro 5G

The POCO X5 5G series globally with two models for you to choose from: the X5 Pro 5G and X5 5G, both headed to Malaysia. The X5 5G Series devices maintain POCO’s mid-range status and feature a similar design to last year’s X4 GT. Both devices have a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate.

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The X5 Pro 5G has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection while the X5 5G has Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The X5 Pro 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G and the X5 5G by Snapdragon 695. Both models have a 5000mAh battery, but the X5 Pro 5G supports up to 67W charging, while the X5 5G maxes out at 33W.

As expected, the photography hardware on both devices is also different. The X5 Pro 5G has a 108MP main camera, while the X5 5G has a 48MP main camera. Both devices have the same 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro cameras, which are similar to those found on last year’s X4 GT. For selfies, the X5 Pro 5G has a 16MP camera, while the X5 5G has a 13MP camera.
POCO will utilize two separate e-commerce platforms for the initial rollout of the X5 Series in Malaysia from February 9th to 15th. The X5 Pro 5G can only be purchased through Lazada, while the X5 5G will be available exclusively on Shopee. Both models will be available through the POCO Official Store on both platforms starting February 16th.

The POCO X5 Pro 5G comes in two configurations: 6GB RAM with 128GB storage for RM1,299 and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage for RM1,499. It is available in Black, Blue, and Yellow and can be purchased for a discounted price of RM1,199 and RM1,399, respectively, until 15th February 2023.
The standard POCO X5 5G, available in Green, Blue, and Black, costs RM1,099 for the 6GB RAM / 128GB storage variant and RM1,199 for the 8GB RAM / 256GB storage configuration. During the initial rollout, the X5 5G can be purchased for a lower price of RM999 and RM1,099, respectively.
Source
Pokdepinion: Given the price difference, I would go for the Pro version as you would get a better chip and it should last you longer. After all, I foresee people who purchase devices in this market segment wanting value and something longer lasting if possible, with the latter part being the biggest challenge.
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HUAWEI Mate 40 may be the last Kirin-powered flagship

While HUAWEI managed to secure sufficient supply of Kirin chips for the HUAWEI Mate 40, it is expected to be the last HUAWEI to sport the Kirin chips. The HUAWEI Mate 40 is slated to sport the Kirin 1000 chipset manufactured on the 5nm process, but unfortunately we won’t see anything newer from them unless the situation in the US changes.
HUAWEI’s consumer business CEO Richard Yu shared that they have managed to secure enough chips for 15 million HUAWEI Mate 40 devices, which they believe will be enough. But once that supply runs out, HUAWEI will no longer be able to produce their own chips with TSMC, as by 15th September TSMC will be blocked from manufacturing chips for HUAWEI.
After 15th September, HUAWEI is expected to look towards other chipmakers to power their smartphones, but the current US ban does leave things looking rather bleak. Richard Yu also discussed Harmony OS during his speech, confirming that all of HUAWEI’s devices including their PCs, smartphones and other IoT products will run the homegrown operating system.

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It does seem like a rather necessary move, considering that Trump is only expected to further tighten his grip on HUAWEI down the line. He did not reveal when the transition will happen though, so the HUAWEI Mate 40 might also be the last flagship from HUAWEI with Android-based EMUI.
Source
Pokdepinion: Less competition always sucks. Hopefully Samsung and MediaTek can provide enough competition for Qualcomm in HUAWEI’s absence.
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AMD Addresses Recent Ryzen 7000 CPUs With Burned Contacts

The issue likely stems from unsafe voltages provided by EXPO profiles.
Image: u/Speedrookie (Reddit)
There had been reports of some AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs with some pins on the motherboard burned out, with a small visible bulge on a specific spot on the CPU contacts itself. Apparently it’s bad enough that chips started desoldering itself due to excessive heat, effectively killing the chip and damaging the motherboard in the process. This affects both standard and X3D chip variants, across all motherboard brands including ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, ASRock and Biostar.
The root cause, according to Tom’s Hardware’s anonymous industry contacts as well as ASUS’s official statement given to Der8auer, points to excessive SoC voltages provided from certain EXPO memory modules. The unsafe voltage given to the SoC (which hovers around 1.4 to 1.5 volts, but normally it’s 1.25V) likely destroyed the internal temperature sensors and protection systems, making the CPU unable to clock itself down as temperature information is no longer available.

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Image: Der8auer
This, coupled with Ryzen 7000’s new boosting mechanisms which pushes the chip as much as it can unless the temperature limit is reached (95°C by default) – creates an unsafe condition where there’s no safeguards to prevent the chip from literally melting down. As the CPU continues to push even more current to the SoC part of the die, this creates huge amounts of heat in that specific spot which causes the chip to warp and bulge, damaging both the chip and the socket in the process. The bulge all points to similar pins relating to voltage control for SoC-related components.
Various motherboard manufacturers, including ASUS and MSI, are releasing a new BIOS update to place a hard limit on SoC voltages to prevent chips from burning itself. ASUS puts the SoC voltage limit to 1.3V, for example – but no specifics are coming out from MSI for the voltage limit used (which seems to be specific to X3D chips only). Other affects OEMs are yet to release new BIOS updates to limit SoC voltages as of this writing.
AMD has since released the statement to various outlets, with investigation ongoing:
We are aware of a limited number of reports online claiming that excess voltage while overclocking may have damaged the motherboard socket and pin pads. We are actively investigating the situation and are working with our ODM partners to ensure voltages applied to Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs via motherboard BIOS settings are within product specifications. Anyone whose CPU may have been impacted by this issue should contact AMD customer support.
ASUS meanwhile has since provided free replacement CPU and motherboard for affected users – for other users, the common workaround for now is to simply set a manual voltage limit, or turn off EXPO, to solve the issue (the former of which should not affect performance whatsoever unless heavily overclocked). Keep in mind though while the issue is fairly high-profile, only a very small amount of failures has been reported thus far.
More info are possibly on the way, as GamersNexus has got ahold of one particular failed sample and the failure analysis is still ongoing with “a lot of progress”.

GN asking questions:
Asus: attempts to throw AMD under the busAlso ASUS: trips over own deceit while trying to throw AMD under bus and accidentally throws itself under the bus
GN: is the bus
Still putting the videos together, but there's been a lot of progress.
— GamersNexus (@GamersNexus) April 26, 2023

Source: Videocardz (1, 2) | Tom’s Hardware
Pokdepinion: Not a good look for AMD or motherboard manufacturers, regardless of who’s to blame here.
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Candy Crush Developer Making New Call of Duty Game

Call of Candy Crush? Call of Candy Duty?

Yes you read that right folks. King – the developers of popular mobile games Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda and a whole slew of other totally awesome action games that aren’t cutesy and geared for kids whatsoever are developing a new Call of Duty game for mobile devices. The CoD franchise isn’t a total stranger in the mobile gaming scene as Activision Blizzard had released three games prior namely Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies, Call of Duty: Strike Team and Call of Duty: Heroes.

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Announced on their website, they stated that this is a brand new team within developer King based in Stockholm Sweden. In a blog post they wrote:
The team is adapting one of the most iconic game franchises of all-time: Call of Duty, to become a mobile experience. This is a rare and exciting opportunity. Our challenge as a team is to create a Call of Duty experience on mobile that will strive to transform the best console experience fans know and love, while also breaking new ground for mobile and redefining the genre. Our approach and ambition is to be fresh, social, and highly accessible, while providing a very authentic game experience. The team will prototype extensively, have the freedom to think outside the box, and be encouraged to stretch their expertise in ways to create surprising results.
This move by Activision Blizzard shouldn’t really come as a surprise as they had acquired King for a cool $5.9 billion back in 2015. This will be the first major game the developers will be working on since Activision Blizzard’s acquirement as they had been focusing mainly on their ever popular Candy Crush franchise. This will also be the first Activision Blizzard property that they’ll be working on.

So far no other additional information has been given regarding the game so it’s still up in the air as to the direction King would be taking this game. Who knows? Maybe King would just combine both Candy Crush and Call of Duty elements and Frankenstein it into some sort of zany Splatoon style third-person shooter.
People often complained that the franchise needed something new anyway.
Pokdepinion: I’m intrigued as to where King would take this game. I think they should just go crazy and do something totally different than what you would expect from a CoD game as this is just a mobile game and it wouldn’t and shouldn’t (?) really impact the franchise as a whole.
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Transcend SSD230S 128GB review

Introduction
3D TLC NAND is the next step when it comes to driving prices down. Yes, there’s 3D QLC on the way, but we have yet to see a mainstream consumer drive featuring that technology. So yeah, 3D TLC. It has been in most recent SSDs, and we have here Transcend’s implementation in the Transcend SSD230S.
Packaging

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This is pretty standard for Transcend’s packaging. Magenta and white all over the place, and of course, a label touting the performance figures and 3D NAND flash.

The back lists out more performance figures and detailed specifications. For some reason, Transcend decides to highlight the silent operation. Duh. It’s solid state. Silence was a given.

This is probably one of the most complete packages in recent memory. It even came with screws. And some promotional material. I thought the general idea was to pay to not have ads?
Appearance

Transcend has never changed their look from the SSD370S we reviewed back then. The Transcend logo is featured twice on the drive, with the naming too. Transcend really didn’t want you to mistake their drive for anyone else’s.

The underside of the Transcend SSD230S 128GB features a sticker with the regulatory logos and and more branding. I guess this SSD is great for those who really appreciate the clean sandblasted aluminium look.
Specifications
Transcend SSD230S 128GB SATA3 SSD

Capacity
128GB (119GB usable)

Interface
SATA 3

NAND Type
TLC 3D NAND

DRAM Cache
DDR3

Controller
N/A

Rated speed
Sequential:
Read: Up to 560 MB/s Write: Up to 500 MB/s
Random:
Read: 85 000 IOPS Write: 35 000 IOPS

Endurance
90TBW

Dimensions
100 mm X 69.85 mm X 6.8 mm

Weight
63 gram

Included accessories
User guide, product brochures, screws

Warranty
3 years

Pokde Benchrig

CPU
Intel Core i7-5820K @ 4.125 GHz

Motherboard
ASUS X99-Deluxe

GPU
MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING 4G

Memory
4 x 4GB Kingston HyperX Predator 3000 MHz CL15

Storage
Kimtigo 120GB SSD

Power Supply
Cooler Master V850

Testing Methodology
The Transcend SSD230S 128GB is tested as a storage drive on Pokde’s benchrig. We ran several synthetic SSD benchmarks and real-time transfer speed tests to determine the performance.
Performance
Synthetic

Read speeds were pretty amazing for such a small drive, thanks to the 3D NAND technology. Write speeds were limited, as expected. We didn’t manage to achieve the rated write speeds though.

In AS SSD, it reveals that the Transcend SSD230S 128GB doesn’t really perform well either. In fact, it is slower than older MLC drives by Transcend themselves.

The Transcend SSD230S 128GB performance is middling here too.
Real world

This drive actually does pretty well in the real world tests, doing better than bigger drives like the SanDisk and WD duo in some tests.

It loads games really quickly too, so if you are looking into loading the Transcend SSD230S 128GB with games, you won’t be disappointed. You might want to look into a larger capacity though, as 128GB will fill up very quickly.

Unfortunately the cost per GB is not exactly all that desirable, but this is a 128GB drive we are talking about. If we compare the 1TB drive which costs RM942, we are looking at around RM1.087/GB. Slightly better than the Kingston UV500.
Conclusion
If you were to compare it against the other drives we have benchmarked, it would have been quite unfair considering the small capacity of this drive. The controller was not saturated, thus couldn’t deliver the best performance it was capable of. We did like seeing the nice read numbers, and we believe it would scale up nicely with the capacity. The Transcend SSD230S 128GB is pretty nice, not too expensive, and at RM156, would make a nice little boot drive. We can easily recommend this drive for anyone in the market for a drive that is nippy yet won’t break the bank.

Our thanks to Transcend for providing the unit of the Transcend SSD230S 128GB. To support us, check out the Transcend SSD230S 128GB on Lazada via the link below:

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Nintendo Switch Online Service will be Cheaper than PS Plus and Xbox Gold; Will Have Free Games

Every online console game service has fees, and Nintendo Switch is no exception.
Many of you are familiar with paid online subscription services like PS Plus for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Gold for the Xbox One. You need to pay in order to play games online. At the same time, we also get some awesome freebies like games, themes, and other gaming goodies.
It looks like Nintendo is planning to do the same with their upcoming Nintendo Switch. There will be a paid subscription, and it’s noticeably cheaper than the PS Plus and Xbox Gold.

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Nintendo Switch Online Service Price

According to Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima, the online service for their upcoming Nintendo Switch console will cost somewhere in between 2,000 to 3,000 yen per year. He noted that with paid services, Nintendo will be able to fully commit to customers for the online service.
This will be the first Nintendo console to charge for online play as neither the Wii nor Wii U required a subscription for online play. To get a clearer idea of how much that costs, 2000 yen to 3000 yen is equivalent to USD $17.63 to USD $26.44. Even if Nintendo decided to charge it at USD $29.99 per year, it’s still cheaper than the Xbox Gold and PS Plus’s price at USD $59.99 per year.
While Nintendo will be releasing free games for each subscriber to the online platform, it will only be games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment Systtem (SNES). To make matters worse, the games will only be available for particular month so when the new month swings by, those games will no longer be available to play.
This is a huge contrast to the PS Plus and Xbox Gold programs, where the games that are available for free for a particular month will be yours forever once you’ve claimed it. This may explain why Nintendo’s fees are much cheaper in comparison.

It’s also worth mentioning that Nintendo is moving plenty of features common to an online service, such as voice chat, online lobbies, Miiverse, and other social elements, to a dedicated mobile app. As such, those features will not be available directly on the Nintendo Switch.
I’d also like to point out that despite the PS Plus’s subscription fee set at USD $59.99 per year, it’s actually much cheaper here in Malaysia where it’s only RM129 per year, equivalent to USD $29.19. At the same time, we also need to consider the price of Nintendo’s online service here in Malaysia when the Nintendo Switch finally reaches our shore.
Not much else is known about it but one thing’s for sure. We’re about a month away from the release of the console so we expect to see the finalized details of it by then. Nintendo’s current online game service will be free of charge until then.

Pokdepinion: On one hand, you have cheap subscription fees. On the other hand, free games that come with it are old. Not that NES and SNES games are bad but only offering old games and only for a limited time? I’m sure there would be plenty more people subscribing for the Nintendo Switch online service if some old Nintendo 64/Gamecube/Wii games are available for free as well.
Sony and Microsoft has the edge over this at the moment since their free games are for the users to keep permanently as long as they’ve subscribed within the month, and some games that are available are pretty damn awesome too. I’d like to see the subscription fee in Malaysia because it’s tough to beat the PS Plus’s price of RM129 per year here.
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PlayStation Asia Changes PS Plus July 2019 Free Games Offering

Previously, we reported about the PS Plus Asia July 2019 free games lineup, which you can read about by clicking here. We were supposed to get PES 2019 and Aegis Defenders but a major change has been made yesterday.
While we will still be getting Aegis Defenders, PES 2019 will be swapped out in favour of Detroit: Become Human Digital Deluxe Edition. For those of you who aren’t aware of what this masterpiece by Quantic Dreams is about, check out the synopsis right below here:
Detroit 2038. Technology has evolved to a point where human like androids are everywhere. They speak, move and behave like human beings, but they are only machines serving humans.
Play three distinct androids and see a world at the brink of chaos – perhaps our future – through their eyes. Your very decisions will dramatically alter how the game’s intense, branching narrative plays out.
You will face moral dilemmas and decide who lives or dies. With thousands of choices and dozens of possible endings, how will you affect the future of Detroit and humanity’s destiny?
Unlike the Standard Edition, the Detroit: Become Human Digital Deluxe Edition will include the game’s soundtrack, PS4 theme, and Digital Artbook. Aside from this game, everything else in the PS Plus July 2019 lineup is the same.

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For those of you in the Asia region, the July 2019 lineup is already available to claim so go on ahead and get those free games.
You can read our original post for the lineup by clicking right here. If you’re in the US and EU regions, click here instead as it’s a different lineup.
Pokdepinion: Kinda wished they just added the game instead of swapping it with PES 2019. I actually kinda wanted that just in case I have friends who just want to play a football game.
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PS Plus January 2023 FREE Games Lineup Allegedly Leaked

With the new year just on the horizon, the PS Plus January 2023 free games lineup has allegedly been leaked, and it looks promising…except for one game.
PS Plus January 2023 FREE Games Leak

Based on information shared by the infamous Dealabs leaker Bilibil-kun, the PS Plus January 2023 free games lineup reportedly includes Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Axiom Verge 2, and Fallout 76, according to a well-known leaker with a history of accurately predicting the service’s game releases.

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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which will also be available on the PS4 and PS5, is a highly anticipated addition to the service due to the release of its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, in March 2023. Fallout 76, which will only be accessible on the PS4, has seen significant improvements and is now a much more enjoyable experience for players. It offers a large amount of content for newcomers and could be a great choice for those looking for a game to occupy their free time.
Axiom Verge 2, available on both the PS4 and PS5, is an underrated indie game with a focus on combat-based gameplay, according to Steam reviews. Although 81% of players on Steam found it enjoyable, it may be more suited for those who enjoy challenging 2D games. It is worth noting that the exact release date for these titles on PlayStation Plus has not been officially confirmed, but the source suggests they will be available on 3rd January.

On the other hand, Fallout 76 is also a big triple-A experience with lots of content for newcomers and so many improvements that have overhauled the experience from its pitiful state of launch. Although some problems may still be there, Fallout 76 is now a much better experience. It could be a worthy choice for your Holiday to explore Appalachia as it has enough content to offer to fulfill your free time.
The PS Plus January 2023 free games lineup will likely see new additions in the later parts of January 2023 and we’re likely going to get an official announcement soon enough. For now, do take this information with a grain of salt.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’m still not sure if I would play Fallout 76 again despite it being free. It was a huge mess at launch and it took me a while to give No Man’s Sky a chance as is. Everything else seems great though.
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MSI’s Intel 11th Gen MSI Modern Series Lands In Malaysia

The folks at MSI Malaysia has recently announced the arrival of their all-new MSI Modern series laptops which is powered by Intel 11th Gen mobile processors.
Intel 11th Gen MSI Modern Series now available in Malaysia

As you can see, the MSI Modern series includes both the MSI Modern 14 and MSI Modern 15. They come in two colors and features Intel’s latest Tigerlake CPU and packs Intel’s Iris Xe or NVIDIA MX450 graphics.

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There’s support for PCIe Gen 4 SSD and Thunderbolt 4 for you to utilize. Coming with thin bezels, they come with a 14-inch and 15.6-inch Full HD IPS panel display that’s supported with MSI True Color technology.
Weighing at 1.3kg and 1.6kg respectively, MSI claims that they offer up to 10 hours of battery life. Adding to that, there’s also fast charging support to get you back quickly.
For full specifications and price for the MSI Modern series, you can refer to the table below:

Model
Color
Display
Graphics
CPU
Memory
Storage
Price

MSI Modern 14
Bluestone
14-inch (1920×1080) 60Hz 72% NTSC IPS-level, close to 100% sRGB
MX450 GDDR6 4GB
Intel i7-1165G7 Tiger Lake
16GB DDR4 3200MHz
512GB NVMe PCIe Gen 3×4 SSD
RM4,499

MSI Modern 15
Carbon Grey
15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz 72% NTSC IPS-level, close to 100% sRGB
UMA
Intel i7-1165G7 Tiger Lake
8GB DDR4 3200MHz
512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 SSD
RM3,699

MSI Modern 15
Carbon Grey
15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz 72% NTSC IPS-level, close to 100% sRGB
MX450 GDDR5 2GB
Intel i7-1165G7 Tiger Lake
8GB DDR4 3200MHz
512GB NVme PCIe Gen 3×4 SSD
RM4,399

MSI has said that they will be bringing in more color options for the series. You can get them starting from today from their website or authorized resellers in the country.
Pokdepinion: They’re definitely portable. I wouldn’t mind having one to bring to work. I mean they weigh from 1.3kg and that’s really light.
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 FIFA Online 3’s 6th National Championship concluded in the weekends, and here are the official results!
Are you a fan of FIFA and/or eSports? Well, the FIFA Online 3’s 6th National Championship concluded in the weekends and if you missed out on that, here’s what went down!

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FIFA Online 3’s 6th National Championship Results

In this round of FIFA Online 3’s 6th National Championship that was held at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya in conjunction with Acer’s newly launched products, Orange RF.Maestro managed to emerge as victors after defeating eMaster in a best-of-5 king stay format finals.
The day started with a closely contested round robin with all teams winning once and losing once, proving this to be one of the most competitive National Championship finals ever.
Wan Muhammad Hakim bin Wan Narizam Othman, also known as P3rlisTeAmJr, said:
I am very happy to have finally won my second title after coming close so many times. I’d like to thank my parents for supporting my pursuit in esports.
Orange RF.Maestro started the day well, beating clan mates You Just Got Got 2-1 in the opening match of the day. They found themselves in a difficult position when they had lost 0- 3 to eMaster, the defending champions from Season 5. All was well when they had defeated You Just Got Got 2-1 in the semi-finals, giving themselves another opportunity for the title that they have been yearning for.
Favlain from Orange RF.Maestro
JohnMalaya and Favlain in particular, came close in their attempts multiple times before with JohnMalaya finishing in second place in Season 2 and Season 4 while Favlain finished second place in Season 3 and Season 4. After an exciting day filled with gruelling battles among the top teams, Orange RF.Maestro walks home with a whopping cash prize of RM16,000 while eMaster racks up RM 8,000. You Just Got Got receives RM4,000 for finishing 3rd place.
Syed Nazirul Nazrin, the Head of FIFA Online 3 eSports, said:
I am happy that P3rlisTeAmJr and his team mates won today. This provides an indication that our eSports grassroots are strong. 3 out of 4 members of Orange RF.Maestro are still students, so the future of FIFA Online 3 eSports in Malaysia is bright.
With the new format of Fantasy Cup, the winners from the National Championship will be given a slot each to fight for a chance to represent the country. This would mean that all 4 members of Orange RF.Maestro (3 of whom had represented Malaysia in the international stage before) will be given a chance to compete in the coming Fantasy Cup.

Pokdepinion: And there you have it folks, FIFA Online 3’s 6th National Championship. Now to look forward to more tournaments happening in the future. Congratulations to all the winners. We can see that it was a tough competition and everyone came out of it stronger than ever.
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Here’s The New ASUS ROG Falchion, ROG Cetra RGB, And ROG Strix XG16

Just moments ago the folks at ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has unveiled their latest peripherals which includes the ROG Falchion keyboard, ROG Cetra RGB gaming headphones as well as the ROG Strix XG16 gaming display.
ROG Falchion

First up is the ROG Falchion, a wireless mechanical keyboard that comes with a 65% design of a standard keyboard. There’s a versatile cover case as well as an interactive touch panel that you can utilize to adjust volume, play and pause music, and zoom the screen in and out.
The touch panel can also be used as a macro key and the RGB LEDs inside the touch panel shows you real time battery life. ROG has claimed that it offers ultrafast 1ms with its 2.4GHz connectivity and up to 400 hours of battery life.

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ROG Cetra RGB

We then head to the ROG Cetra RGB gaming headphones, where it supports multiple platforms through a USB-C connection. This means you can utilize it to your mobile phones, PC, Mac, and even a Nintendo Switch.
The ROG Cetra RGB comes with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) as well as an Ambient mode that offers immersion in games, music, or any other types of medias without distraction. It’s 10mm ASUS Essence drivers gives optimized gaming audio and strong bass, as claimed by the company.
You’ve got the option of three sizes of silicone tips and ear fins, as well as a pair of foam ear tips, ensuring that you get the perfect fit. You can probably tell by its name that it offers some sweet RGB lighting.
ROG Strix XG16

Last on the list is the ROG Strix XG16 gaming portable monitor. Despite being portable, the display packs a punch by offering 144Hz refresh rate as well as a 1080p resolution.
It comes with two USB-C ports and one Micro HDMI port, which provide users with flexibility when it comes to connection and the ability to charge during gameplay.
Aside from that, it comes with a kickstand on the back which can be opened up to 70-degrees and enables the display to be placed stably on a flat surface either in landscape or portrait orientation.
 If you haven’t checked out the ROG Phone III, which was also unveiled recently, do take a look at our coverage right here.
Pokdepinion: I don’t know about you but I got my eyes on the ROG Falchion. It certainly looks like an interesting keyboard.
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Marvel and Square Enix Working on The Avengers Project; Beginning of Multi-Game Partnership

Marvel and Square Enix on The Avengers game. Sign of things to come for Kingdom Hearts 3?
Both Marvel and Square Enix have hinted on their official Twitter accounts about a spectacular announcement to be made today. Many were speculating that it had something to do with the Kingdom Hearts series.
After all, who wouldn’t want to see a Marvel world in Kingdom Hearts 3. Turns out, it’s on something else completely but it’s something fans and gamers will love nonetheless.

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Marvel, Square Enix, and The Avengers Project

Square Enix and Marvel have officially announced a multi-year, multi-game partnership. To commemorate the partnership, they have announced that they are currently working on The Avengers project. The game will be in development at Crystal Dynamics, who’s known for their work on Tomb Raider, and in collaboration with Eidos Montreal.
Here’s what Marvel had to say about the multi-game partnership:
A game based on beloved Marvel heroes, The Avengers project is being crafted by Crystal Dynamics – longtime developers of the award winning Tomb Raider series – in collaboration with lauded Deus Ex developer Eidos-Montréal.
The Avengers project is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring a completely original story, it will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come.

That’s all we know for now. More details on The Avengers project and other games to come out from this multi-game partnership between Square Enix and Marvel will be released in the year 2018.

Pokdepinion: Many people, including myself, have speculated that the announcement had something to do with Kingdom Hearts, especially with the relationship between Disney and Marvel. I mean, superheroes in a role-playing game where good and evil play a major part in the storyline, I’d say it’s a good mix.
While the announcement had nothing to do with Kingdom Hearts, I say that this fuels the possibility of the inclusion of the Marvel universe even more. Either way, The Avengers project looks very promising but I can’t say much until more details about it becomes available. So stay tuned, there might be a bit more information about it in the coming days.
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Cooler Master MasterKeys Lite L Combo RGB Keyboard and Mouse launched for RM299

Cooler Master has announced its new affordable gaming peripheral the Cooler Master MasterKeys Lite L Combo RGB keyboard and mouse. The combo includes a splash-resistant RGB keyboard with mem-chanical switches and a mouse that are both jam-packed with the latest features for serious gamers and anybody who spends a lot of time in front of the PC.

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The Cooler Master MasterKeys Lite mouse features six buttons and using Avago 3050 sensor for highly accurate and sensitive up to settings of 3500 DPI. On-the-fly DPI adjustments allows for instantly switching from lightning quick movement to slowing thing down and aiming with extra precision. Whether you need to look around the map quickly or you’re going for a headshot, you’ll be ready for any situation that arises. Or you can use the commands to change the lighting speed, colors, and effects of the mouse.

Meanwhile the Cooler Master MasterKeys Lite keyboard has the satisfying tactical feel of more expensive mechanical keyboards, it actually comes with the Cooler Master’s exclusive “mem-chanical” switches. This “Mem-Chanical” switches have been engineered to feel like a mechanical switch. Each key provides a satisfying click at just the right volume to be heard but not to be distracting resulting in a pleasing feel that makes typing a joy. When gaming, this feel contributes to a nice sensation that confirms that each individual key press is activated exactly as intended. In additional the keyboard is compatible with all Cherry MX third party keycaps.

Both the keyboard and mouse has the ability to display RGB lighting effects like waves, ripples and more. Available on most retailers and online retailer at RM 299.

Pokdepinion: Affordable price tag, and yet Cooler Master manages to use a similar mechanical body design as found on the MasterKeys keyboard. The mouse comes with an ergonomic design, suitable for palm grip users.
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OPPO R9s launched — the 16MP camera phone priced at RM 1798

OPPO Malaysia today officially launched its new flagship smartphone the OPPO R9s features a Sony IMX398 16MP rear camera sensor, with a large f/1.7 aperture and dual PDAF. In additional 16MP sensor also uses for the front selfie shooter. The new smartphone is said to be focused on rear camera with better performance in low-light conditions and HDR capabilities.

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The OPPO R9s is a 5.5-inch smartphone with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and full HD, AMOLED display with thickness at 6.58mm. The OPPO R9s is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, coupled with Adreno 506 GPU. The smartphone is comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal memory, expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card. the OPPO R9s also comes with the hybrid dual-sim slot.

In term of productivity it sports a 3010 mAh battery backed with OPPO’s VOOC Flash Charge. With the all new ColorOS 3.0, based on Android 6.0 it also features cutting-edge power-saving optimizations and providing a smooth, steady and lightweight experience. OPPO claims the the OPPO R9s can give up to two hours talking time with just five minutes VOOC Flash Charge.

The fingerprint sensor is located below the display, inside the home button with a hydrophobic membrane that uses the same principle as naturally water-resistant lotus leaf, to enhanced success rate even when a user’s finger is moist. The phone also mentioned it comes with three thin antenna line at the top and bottom at just 0.3mm width, for the best signal on both 4G and Wi-Fi connection.

The Oppo R9s Plus measures at 153.63×74.3×6.58mm and weighs 147 grams.It will be available in Gold and Rose Gold color, priced at RM 1798. Also in the launch event, OPPO Malaysia has unveiled the OPPO R9S product ambassador, Lee Min-ho and the latest addition to the OPPO R9S celebrity team, such as Min Chen, Fattah Amin and Ayda Jebat.
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Pre-order Bonuses For FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Revealed

SQUARE ENIX has just revealed details of the pre-order bonus for the physical version of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Pre-order the physical package version of the game and receive an original design mini-poster of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE (while stocks last). Those who pre-order the digital Standard Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition will receive the pre-order bonus Cacstar weapon for use in “FF7R EPISODE INTERmission”.

Pre-order FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE now
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE will feature graphical, gameplay and system enhancements for the PS5. The game will come with improved textures, lighting, and background environments as well as feature two game modes:

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“Graphics Mode” prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics
“Performance Mode” prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second

As a thank you to those who have purchased FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE for the PS4 console, SQUARE ENIX is providing these players with a free PS5 enhancement update* that will include all next-gen visual and gameplay enhancements detailed above at no extra cost when playing on a PS5 console.

INTERGRADE will also introduce a new chapter called “FF7R EPISODE INTERmission” with Yuffie as the main character. In it, you will be playing Yuffie as she infiltrates the shadowy Shinra Corporation to steal a powerful materia and restore glory to her homeland.
Players who purchased FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE on PS4 and upgrade to PS5 can purchase the new episode as a standalone download from the PlayStation Store. Owners of the disc version of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE on PS4 will require a PS5 console with disc drive in order to take advantage of this digital upgrade.
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE will be available this 10 June as a physical and digital Standard Edition, and as a Digital Deluxe Edition from the PlayStation Store. The Digital Deluxe Edition comes with a digital mini soundtrack featuring songs and a digital artbook that includes concept art and character sheets as well as “FF7R EPISODE INTERmission”. The digital Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition will retail for RM299 and RM379 respectively.
Pokdepinion: Believe it or not, I just started playing the FF7 remake and I’ve got to say I’m pretty impressed. However, would I drop a few hundred bucks just to play the game again on the PS5? Maybe not.
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HP Unveils ENVY x360 13 — Powered By Ryzen With Vega Graphics

HP Malaysia has unveiled today their new HP ENVY x360 13 which is powered by the AMD Ryzen Processor with Radeon Vega Graphics.
HP ENVY x360 13
The new HP ENVY x360 13 includes various features that meet the personal style and specific computing needs of creative individuals. It features the all new HP Command Center, which optimises the system performance, fan noise and temperature with its CoolSense technology. It also provides Gigabit Wi-Fi speeds, allowing for fast internet connections for demanding streaming apps for movies, music, and not to forget gaming.
Available in a Dark Ash Silver color, the HP ENVY x360 offers multi-thread processing, powerful integrated graphics, thin bezels as well as edge-to-edge backlit keyboard. There’s four modes for you to utilize it in the form of writings, drawings, videos, designs and more with its 13-inch convertible as you can see from the picture.

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For its battery, it offers up to 12.5 hours where you can charge from zero to 50% in just 45 minutes with their HP Fast Charge. It also offers 1TB storage to keep all your things.
The HP ENVY x360 13 is now available nationwide at a price of RM3,207. To make it special, HP has also added a bonus. From now until 19th of September 2018, every purchase of the laptop will entitle you for a free HP Sprocket photo printer which is worth RM490.
Pokdepinion: That’s not a bad looking device to be honest.. Would you prefer to have your laptop to be running on Ryzen? What do you think? Let us know in the comments down below.
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Get HUAWEI P30 Pro From As Low As RM120 Per Month With Celcom’s EasyPhone

Probably everybody in the country knows that the HUAWEI P30 series will be making its entry tomorrow. Well Celcom is now offering the device for their customers through a couple of their plans with the treat of freebies.
Celcom’s HUAWEI P30 package
You can get the HUAWEI P30 128GB variant for free when you subscribe to their Celcom Mobile Platinum Plus postpaid plan and an additional supplementary line. You can also grab it at RM70 per month through Celcom’s 24-month instalment plan, EasyPhone.

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Celcom’s HUAWEI P30 Pro package
The telco is also offering the P30 Pro 256GB and 512GB variants. The standard P30 and P30 Pro 256GB version will be offered in Black, Aurora, and Breathing Crystal. The bigger P30 Pro 512GB meanwhile will only be available in Aurora.
Additionally, Celcom customers will receive a free Wireless Charging Case worth RM266 when they prurchase the HUAWEI P30 128GB. As for those who purchase the P30 Pro (both variants), they will receive a free Waterproof Snorkelling casing worth RM428 while stocks lasts.
Arriving tomorrow in the country, the HUAWEI P30 series can be purchased at Celcom’s official online store, bluecube retail outlets, and Celcom Certified Partners in the country.
Pokdepinion: A new year, a new phone? :P
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New Expansion Map for The Division 2 is an Exact Recreation of Lower Manhattan

We recently reported about the upcoming Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 expansion, Warlords of New York. While explorable areas tend to be a re-imagining of actual places, assuming the location isn’t fictional, the new map is actually an exact recreation of Lower Manhattan.
Ubisoft Leamington and Reflections Producer, Nick Scurr, spoke to Dualshockers recently about the new map. It has been mentioned that the Warlords of New York is a 1:1 recreation of Lower Manhattan, but may not be as recognizable due to the area being hit by a natural disaster:

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Ubisoft Leamington and Reflections Producer Nick Scurr said:
It is a 1:1 recreation of that area of Manhattan! So, in Division 1, that was not the case. But when we went to Washington, D.C., we had the goal of doing that so, Washington D.C. was 1:1. And then, of course, coming to Manhattan, with the four main zones we have, they are 1:1 recreations of those areas. They might not look quite the same because, obviously, a hurricane swept in and really changed the landscape. But if you’re familiar with those areas in New York City, then you’re going to see famous places like Chinatown, Wall Street, and maybe even the Statue of Liberty off the shore.
In case you were wondering, the four zones that make up the Warlords of New York’s Lower Manhattan map refer to Battery Park, Civic Center, Two Bridges, and Financial District. If you’ve been to the area before, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were hit by an odd sense of nostalgia or déjà vu.
The Division 2: Warlords of New York expansion will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on 3rd March 2020.
Source: Dualshockers
Pokdepinion: While a good number of gamers may not be too intrigued by this, anyone who has been to the area or are looking to go there will certainly find this interesting.
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Full List of Destiny 2 Known Issues Published; Bungie Not Fixing It Yet

Can’t seem to enjoy Destiny 2 because of some issues in the game? Bungie revealed a full list of issues that they are aware of in the game.
Full List of Destiny 2 Known Issues Published

Have you been trying to enjoy Destiny 2 but just can’t seem to because things that weren’t supposed to happen actually happened in the game? It looks like Bungie has officially acknowledged the issues that are currently present in the game.
First and foremost is a issue found on the planet Nessus. Sometimes, when falling off a certain cliff in Sunken Caverns, the player’s ghost will spawn in a place that will prevent them from continuing. Another major problem is that, should you join a Nightfall strike in progress, the Activity completion will not be counted.
Furthermore, there are also a couple of other complications, including the inability to skip cutscenes if you are not a Fireteam leader, small user interface problems, and other minor bugs. You can check out the full list of issues that Bungie is aware of, and working on fixing, just below here:
BNET 503 Errors: We are investigating issues causing players to occasionally encounter 503 errors on Bungie.net
Cabbage Errors: We are investigating player reports of CABBAGE error codes. For specific updates on this issue, please stay tuned to this thread: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/230497141
PS4 Pro Crashes: We are aware of reports of some PS4 Pro players encountering crashes and are working with our partners to investigate the issue.
Xbox Displayed Release Date: While the Xbox Dashboard may be displaying the wrong date, Destiny 2 will become available September 6, 2017. If you experience any issues accessing Destiny 2 licenses on September 6, you may need to contact Xbox Support for assistance.
Destinations
• Nessus: If players proceed to fall off of a cliff on Nessus in the Sunken Caverns area, their Ghost may be placed in an area that blocks progression of activities. Players may be required to return to orbit and relaunch the Destination.
Cinematics
• Skipping Cinematics: Non-Fireteam Leaders cannot skip in-game cinematics. Fireteam Leads must manually skip the cinematic if the Fireteam desires to.
Armor Perks
• Linear Actuators: The functionality of this perk does not always trigger upon the correct requirements.
Activities
• Nightfall: Fireteam members who attempt to join a Nightfall Activity in progress will not always qualify for Activity completion. We recommend that all members be within the Fireteam when initially launching the activity.
Memorialization
• Emblems: The Lore Scholar emblem will only be awarded to players who have opened the Age of Triumph Record Book within Destiny 1 prior to August 1, 2017.
Inventory
• Storage: The first item of Inventory categories cannot be played within the Vault. For example, if a player wishes to place the first Shader present within their inventory into the Vault, they will need to select an alternate sorting for the Shader to be moved from the first slot, then they may proceed to store the item within the Vault.
Subclasses
• Sentinel: If a player has swapped their Shoulder Buttons and is guarding when the Titan Sentinel Super ends, they will be temporarily suspended aiming down sights. To resolve the issue, players will need to tap their left bumper.
User Interface
• Waypoints: Tracking a Vendor during an activity will not present a waypoint to players.
• Infusion: When an Exotic Weapon or Armor piece is equipped, eligible exotic items under the Infusion tab will be grayed out due to Exotic equipment limits. The item may still be infused as desired.
• Player Inspection: Destiny 2 Currencies, such as Glimmer or Bright Dust, will display as “0” when inspecting an alternate player.
• Roster: Adding or removing a friend on Xbox Live will temporarily remove all friends from the Director Roster on Xbox One.

As of the time this article has been published, there is no timetable on when Bungie will fix these issues. Earlier today, it was announced that the game’s clan features will not be available for the next several days, which allows players to team up with fellow Guardians in order to tackle anything from story missions, to the Nightfall strike.
Destiny 2 was officially released today, September 6th, 2017, and is currently available on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A PC version will hit retail stores and Blizzard’s Battle.net on October 24th, 2017.

Source: Bungie

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Pokdepinion: I’m hoping that this is something that can be salvaged and not end up being a massive headache for everyone. Many people are already feeling negative about Destiny since Destiny 2 wasn’t mean to be created as we were promised that the initial game will see continuous updates instead of a full-blown sequel. We’ll see how things will develop from this point onwards.
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Edifier ED041 headphone stand — affordable, no-nonsense, all-metal

The Edifier ED041 headphone stand made its first appearance on our Sony MDR-1000X review, and there are some people asking me where to get headphone stands and how much do they cost. While a headphone stand seems pretty basic, they don’t necessarily come cheap, as there are some with price tags of over RM100. Let me introduce you to the Edifier ED041 headphone stand, one which doesn’t cost a sen over RM50.
Unboxing

The retail box looks very simple, there is no information regarding the product except for the diagram of the product.

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Inside the box, there is nothing else except for the Edifier ED041 headphone stand wrapped in bubble wrap. This is what the Edifier ED041 headphone stand looks like.
Appearance

The Edifier ED041 is definitely as minimalist as you can get. There is nothing to see from the front except for the Edifier logo.

Over on the back the Edifier ED041 is absolutely blank. It stands out like a monolth of silver metal on our table. On the bright side, you can always add stickers to bling it up. Or just wrap it with some LED strips for some RGB love.

I wonder if it can be used as a boomerang… However neither Edifier or I will take responsibility for any death caused by using the stand as a weapon. Even in a zombie apocalypse. You are on your own there my friend. If you are using it as a headphone stand, well it works perfectly. The length of the arm is just nice for one headphone, and it’s height means that you won’t have an issue of your headphones touching the table even if you have your headphones fully extended.

The Edifier ED041 has no other goal in life except to hold your headphone, which is what anyone would expect a headphone stand to do. To that end, there is no problems at all as you can see the MDR-1000X hanging out on the Edifier ED041 very comfortably here.

Edifier doesn’t waste time claiming that their headphone stand is “designed for headphones” or any of that marketing lingo because what else will a headphone stand be designed for? If I were to nitpick, I would comment on the flat arm, as a rounded one would have been better as all headphones feature rounded headbands.
Conclusion

As I have mentioned before, I just make this entry because there are some people asking me about the headphone stand I used in the Sony MDR-1000X review. The Edifier ED401 doesn’t look fancy or claim to be fancy with bombastic words, but it just does it job without a fuss. When first launched, if I’m not mistaken the price was around RM55, but now you can get it at a very affordable price, around RM32 on Lelong or RM42 on Lazada. So, if you are in need of a headphone stand, this is a pretty good deal for you (while stocks lasts).
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CES 2021: New Lenovo ThinkBook Laptops Refined for Mobile Professionals

If you’re looking for something geared towards productivity, these new Lenovo ThinkBook laptops unveiled at CES 2021 might just be right up your alley. Without further ado, let’s check them out.
ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i

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The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i is said to have been improved in almost every way. Some of the notable changes include a larger e-ink display which covers 68% screen-to-body ratio (up from 48%), effecting giving you a larger 12-inch screen real estate on the top cover, which also matches the main resolution’s display of 2560×1600. Speaking of the main display, it now has a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 90% screen-to-body ratio, effectively giving it a near borderless experience.
Furthermore, the e-Ink User Interface has been redesigned for a more intuitive access to most used information. You can now run productivity apps without even opening the lid. Touch-based interactions have also been further improved as the new garaged pen will automatically launch selected applications for better usability. Apart from that, it is also thinner and lighter now at 13.9mm and 1.3kg respectively.
As for connectivity, you have access to Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and an optional ThinkBook Charging Mat powered by Energysquare’s Power by Contact technology. This lets you wirelessly charge the laptop, with the battery life lasting 15 hours of regular use and up to 24 hours if you only use the e-ink display.
ThinkBook 13x i

If you’re looking for something easier to carry, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x i might just be the one for you. It is a 13-inch ultraslim laptop measuring in at just 12.9mm thin and 1.2kg in weight. It essentially shares all the attributes of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i with the exception of the e-ink display. This includes Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Powered by the Intel Evo platform, it’s an energy-efficient laptop thanks to the 11th Gen Intel Core CPU so you can enjoy reliable performance with all-day battery life. Apart from that, it has Wi-Fi 6, and a 53Whr battery capacity. This laptop will be available in Storm Gray and Cloud Gray colour options.
ThinkBook 14p and 16p Gen 2

The last two laptops is for those who prefer AMD’s offerings instead as the Lenovo ThinkBook 14p and 16p Gen 2 laptops are powered by the latest AMD Ryzen CPUs. The former comes with up to a 14-inch 2.8K OLED display with VESA DisplayHDR True Black display whereas the latter has a 16-inch display with a resolution of 2560×1600 which can be configured with X-Rite Pantone certified calibration. The latter laptop will include the additional choice of a next generation NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU for better performance.

Both laptops have the option of having a Full HD webcam with ThinkShutter physical covers, larger Touchpad, and ambient light-sensing backlit keyboard with quick access to conference call keys. Moreover, these laptops have smart functions designed to enhance collaborative efforts, including an AI-based noise cancellation algorithm, Shared Mode for group calling, and Environmental Mode for users that want to share sounds from other devices.
Lenovo Software Improvements
There are also improvements on the software end as Lenovo Vantage will be getting updates catered to SMB users, specifically those who selected that it will be used for work. The updates will include new dedicated pages like Meeting Manager and Creator Center for easier management of online meetings, creative work, and applications.
The Vantage Smart Performance Services will also be expanded to grant more users access to one-click scans, malware fixes, and more. Thanks to the new progressive web app caching, it is said to allow users access to new and existing Lenovo Vantage features faster regardless of where you are in the world.
Pricing and Availability
All of the laptops will be making their way to Malaysia sometime in the future, with retail prices expected to be announced at a later date. For now, these are the retail prices given:

ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i = starting at $1,549
ThinkBook 13x i =, starting at $1,199
ThinkBook 14p = starting at $849
ThinkBook 16p = starting at $1,299

Pokdepinion: Given how much I enjoyed the previous ThinkBook Plus, I’m looking forward to trying its successor.
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Kingdom Hearts 3 Critical Mode to Be Extremely Difficult

Earlier this year, we finally saw the release of Kingdom Hearts 3. While there was a mixture of reactions on the game and its convoluted storyline, we can safely say that many people had some fun with the game. However, there were many who deemed the game to be easy to play. That may soon change with the addition of Critical Mode.
During an interview with Gamereactor, co-director Tai Yasue revealed some more insight into what the team is working on, including the aforementioned Critical Mode.

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We wanted to do it the right way. It’s not just superficial, like just increasing enemy HP bars. We added new abilities for Critical Mode.
The current available difficulty modes in Kingdom Hearts 3 lets the players choose how they wanted to play, from casting spells to button-mashing your enemies into oblivion, with few reasons to consider what the situation called for. But, with this new mode, you won’t be able to go into battle any way you like. Critical Mode will have players thinking strategically about how they want to approach battles, before jumping in.
One possibility is having a heavier focus on the cooking system. As you may know, cooking food for Sora and the crew will improve their stats and thus, make them more formidable in combat. Depending on the food you cook, you can see boosts in HP, strength, magic, and more. Unfortunately, there was no news on when we can expect the Critical Mode update to roll out.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is currently available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Source: Gamereactor
Pokdepinion: Not gonna lie, Proud Mode felt kind of like a cakewalk so I’m very tempted to give Critical Mode a try.
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Sharp AQUOS Zero 2 with 240 Hz OLED display announced in Taiwan for ~RM3185

While flagships today are offering up to 120 Hz, and certain gaming phones coming with 144 Hz panels, Sharp has leaped all the way to 240 Hz. It’s worth mentioning that Sharp actually announced the Sharp AQUOS zero 2 with a 240 Hz OLED display in September last year, with availability slated to commence in December, but delays have led to the device being only available in Taiwan now.

The rest of its specifications were a little outdated even at the time of its announcement, touting a Snapdragon 855 chipset when the Snapdragon 855+ was already available. The battery is also relatively tiny at 3130 mAh, and the dual-camera setup definitely looks a bit antiquated in the face of the quad and penta-cameras setups of last year.

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But the display is probably the main highlight here, and it looks pretty impressive, even when you disregard the chart-topping refresh rate. Sharp plumped up for a 6.4″ OLED panel here with 10-bit color as well as support for Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Atmos. It is backed by a 240 Hz touch polling as well, to ensure a top notch gaming experience.

Now speaking of gaming, the Sharp AQUOS zero 2 doesn’t exactly go toe-to-toe with recent gaming phones. There are no shoulder triggers nor is the display pressure-sensitive, but Sharp engineered the device to be really light for maximum comfort over long gaming sessions, unlike all the gaming smartphones in the market. Boasting of a magnesium alloy frame, the Sharp AQUOS zero 2 weighs just 141 grams, making it the lightest smartphone in the world with such a large display and battery. Notably the latter isn’t exactly big by today’s standards, but hey, those phones are pretty heavy.
Sharp AQUOS zero 2 Specs

Snapdragon 855, octa-core up to 2.84 GHz, 7nm
8GB LPDDR4x
256GB UFS 3.0 storage
6.4″ FHD+ OLED display, 240 Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color
12MP f/1.7 + 20MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera
8MP selfie camera
3130 mAh battery, USB-PD 3.0 charging
21 990 TWD (~RM3185)

The Sharp AQUOS zero 2 sports a brushed metal finish on its back, and appears to be available in only a dark blue color option. It is IP65/68 rated, so you can safely bring it into the shower with you, if you are into that kind of thing. The Sharp AQUOS zero 2 is available in Taiwan now but global availability is still a question, as always for Sharp’s smartphones.
Pokdepinion: Even my desktop monitor doesn’t run at 240 Hz…
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Xiaomi Has Supposedly Partnered With Leica — To Feature In Upcoming Smartphone

Earlier in the year there was talks on Leica to be partnering with Xiaomi and HONOR. According to new reports, that has seen a development, where Xiaomi seems to have struck a deal with the company.
Leica partners with Xiaomi?

The news comes from Digital Chat Station on Weibo Leica, where it is said that both companies has sealed the deal with the upcoming Xiaomi 12 Ultra. This would mean that the device to feature Leica branding on the cameras.

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We could see the smartphone to be introduced in Q1 of next year, but it’s not really certain on what Leica will be contributing to the camera setup.
Leica has famously worked with HUAWEI previously and it will be interesting to see what they can conjure up with the partnership between them and Xiaomi.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
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Pokdepinion: The previous Xiaomi 11 Ultra was an interesting device and it wasn’t exactly cheap.. I wonder if the Leica branding would jack up the price for the upcoming Xiaomi 12 Ultra.
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PS Plus Asia April 2021 Free Games Lineup

[Malaysia and Indonesia only]It is Freaker killing season this April as Days Gone, X-Morph: Defense, Oddworld: Soulstorm (PS5) and LEGO Worlds are free for all PS Plus members starting 6 April! pic.twitter.com/X0Zn6S4Mbc
— PlayStation Asia (@PlayStationAsia) April 1, 2021

If you are wondering on what games you’ll be getting for free this month, here are the PS Plus Asia April 2021 free games lineup.
PS Plus Asia April 2021 FREE Games Lineup
It appears that PS Plus Asia subscribers will be getting a little bit more than the US counterpart as we will be receiving 4 games instead of the three that was published earlier. Days Gone and Oddworld Soulstorm makes their way to the list however.
Unfortunately Zombie Army 4 Dead War didn’t make it to subscribers here and instead we will be getting Lego Worlds and X-Morph: Defense.

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In Lego Worlds, uncover hidden treasures in environments that range from the fun to the fantastical. Make your Worlds come to life with customizable characters, both friendly and fearsome.
As for X-Morph: Defense, the game is a fusion of a top-down shooter and tower defense strategy where you play as the invader. Use destructive weapons or lead your enemies into a maze of towers. Carefully pick various types of alien towers or throw yourself right into the heat of battle.
You can claim the games starting from the 6th of April 2021 and until the 5th of May 2021. For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Kind of bummed that they took out Zombie Army out but I guess Lego World is something to spend time with. It would’ve been awesome if the game came with more than 2-player coop support.
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Waze To Install Bluetooth Waze Beacons Across Tun Razak Exchange

Waze has announced of their partnership with TRX City Sdn Bhd where they aim to install Bluetooth-enabled Waze Beacons which will help drivers in limited GPS signal.
Waze Beacons in TRX

They’ve said that they will prepare the Waze Beacons across TRX’s (Tun Razak Exchange) basement roads leading to car parks in the development.
The initiative aims to leverage Bluetooth connectivity underground where it will help provide better location services, “increased driver safety”, and better visibility of real-time traffic events while drivers are driving underground in TRX.

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Here’s what Dato’ Azmar Talib, CEO of TRX City Sdn Bhd. had to say about the partnership:
We are thrilled to partner with Waze, to be the first in Southeast Asia to put Waze Beacons to the test. Our underground roads are an ideal test ground as they out to key exits, and we look forward to enhancing TRX’s level of services. Ensuring seamless connectivity is critical to support TRX’s status as an international financial hub.Dato’ Azmar Talib, CEO of TRX City Sdn Bhd
Waze has said that these installments are set to serve as a pilot-scale project for other parts of Kuala Lumpur.
They’ve also said that they do not collect data and work by emitting a signal that can aid navigation apps.
Pokdepinion: Seeing that Waze Beacons has been rolled out in a lot of countries, let’s hope that it will do just fine here in Malaysia. No one likes that moment you get disconnected while driving in a tunnel man.
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Donald Trump’s YouTube Suspension Will Be Lifted

It has been a dark place on social media for former US president Donald Trump, where has been banned from multiple platforms. Now it seems that YouTube will be looking to release him from his suspension.
YouTube to lift Donald Trump’s suspension

Originally, Donald Trump was suspended from YouTube in January where he had encouraged his supporters to overturn the 2020 presidential elections results, which happened before the attacks on the US Capitol.
Susan Wojcicki, YouTube’s CEO has said that they will be lifting former President Donald Trump’s account from suspension, should they observe that the risk of him inciting violence decrease.

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She has said “We will lift the suspension of the Donald Trump channel when we determine that the risk of violence has decreased. That’s per our policies, that’s how our three strikes system works”.
Should the YouTube account happen to disobey the rules of the platform for a third time, the channel will then be removed permanently.
We’ve previously reported that Trump is permanently banned from Twitter, even if he gets re-elected as the President of the United States of America. Head to the link here to find out more.
For more of the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
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Pokdepinion: Considering how the rest of the social media platforms have acted against him, I’d say YouTube’s decision is pretty lenient. Do you think that they are being fair to him? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
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AMD announced the new LiquidVR™ Technologies

Today, at the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) announced an initiative to deliver the best possible VR experience for developers and users through new AMD technologies and partnerships. The first output of AMD’s initiative is LiquidVR™, a set of innovative technologies focused on enabling exceptional VR content development for AMD hardware, improved comfort in VR applications by facilitating performance, and plug-and-play compatibility with VR headsets.
In virtual reality, the concept of ‘presence’ is described as the perception of being physically present in a simulated, nonphysical world in a way that fully immerses the user. A key obstacle to achieving presence is addressing motion-to-photon latency, the time between when a user moves their head and when his or her eye sees an updated image reflecting that new position. Minimizing motion-to-photon latency is critical to achieving both presence and comfort, two key elements of great VR.
Reducing latency involves the entire processing pipeline, from the GPU, to the application, to the display technology in the headset. AMD GPU software and hardware subsystems are a major part of improving that latency equation, and with LiquidVR™, AMD is helping to solve the challenge by bringing smooth, liquid-like motion and responsiveness to developers and content creators for life-like presence in VR environments powered by AMD hardware.

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“Achieving presence in a virtual world continues to be one of the most important elements to delivering amazing VR,” said Brendan Iribe, CEO of Oculus. “We’re excited to have AMD working with us on their part of the latency equation, introducing support for new features like asynchronous timewarp and late latching, and compatibility improvements that ensure that Oculus’ users have a great experience on AMD hardware.”
“Content, comfort, and compatibility are the cornerstones of our focus on VR at AMD and we’re taking a big step in all three areas with the introduction of LiquidVR™ today. With LiquidVR we’re collaborating with the ecosystem to unlock solutions to some of the toughest challenges in VR and giving the keys to developers of VR content so that they can bring exceptional new experiences to life,” said Raja Koduri, corporate vice president, Visual Computing, AMD. “AMD will continue to collaborate closely with the VR ecosystem to deliver new LiquidVR technologies that aim to make the virtual world every bit as accurate as the real world.”
Significant features of version 1.0 of the LiquidVR SDK include:

Async Shaders for smooth head-tracking enabling Hardware-Accelerated Time Warp, a technology that uses updated information on a user’s head position after a frame has been rendered and then warps the image to reflect the new viewpoint just before sending it to a VR headset, effectively minimizing latency between when a user turns their head and what appears on screen.
Affinity Multi-GPU for scalable rendering, a technology that allows multiple GPUs to work together to improve frame rates in VR applications by allowing them to assign work to run on specific GPUs. Each GPU renders the viewpoint from one eye, and then composites the outputs into a single stereo 3D image. With this technology, multi-GPU configurations become ideal for high performance VR rendering, delivering high frame rates for a smoother experience.
Latest data latch for smooth head-tracking, a programming mechanism that helps get head tracking data from the head-mounted display to the GPU as quickly as possible by binding data as close to real-time as possible, practically eliminating any API overhead and removing latency.
Direct-to-display for intuitively attaching VR headsets, to deliver a seamless plug-and-play virtual reality experience from an AMD Radeon™ graphics card to a connected VR headset, while enabling features such as booting directly to the display or using extended display features within Windows.

AMD released the alpha version of LiquidVR SDK 1.0 to registered developers today.

Learn more about AMD LiquidVR here.
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Corsair RAPIDFIRE mechanical keyboards coming to Malaysia

Remember all the hype Corsair was churning up to build anticipation for its latest exclusive switch from Cherry? Well we know it was the Cherry MX Speed switches, and they will be featured in the Corsair RAPIDFIRE series of mechanical keyboards.

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The Cherry MX Speed switches feature a much shorter actuation distance, which means you have to press it less for it to actuate. With the light 45g actuation force, we should be looking at really quick actuations.

As it builds upon the already well-known K70 and K65 keyboards, you get everything that was good in the keyboards with the new RAPIDFIRE series. You get the nice anodized brushed aluminium frame, full anti-ghosting (NKRO), excellent lighting, detachable wrist rest, USB pass-through and also dedicated multimedia controls. FPS and MOBA-optimized keycaps are also included with the Corsair K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE and Corsair K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE.

The full-length Corsair K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE will retail for RM619.

For fans of more compact keyboards, the Corsair K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE is also available for RM560.

Pokdepinion: I am sure when the Corsair RAPIDFIRE series was announced with a new exclusive switch, many of you out there thought that Corsair would price it ludicrously, simply because it’s exclusive. Well with these pricing I think it is quite reasonable as they are quite similar to the pricing of the keyboards with the older switches. We are just waiting until we can get our hands on them to see how much faster they are compared to the usual Cherry MX switches.
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