CES 2021: Acer Announces Updated Predator Triton and Helios Series Gaming Laptops

Acer has announced new updates to three of their laptops. These include the Predator Triton 300 SE, Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptops. The Predator Triton 300 SE and Acer Nitro 5 now feature the new 11th Gen Intel Core H35-series processors.
Meanwhile, the Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop has been refreshed with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs as well as a host of new upgrades such as increased display refresh rates and better cooling technology.
Predator Triton 300 SE

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The updated Predator Triton 300 SE now features up to the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 H35-series Special Edition processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs into its clean and Spartan-like all-metal chassis.
It also comes equipped with a dual-fan cooling system with the latest 5th Gen AeroBlade Fan and Acer’s Vortex Flow technology to keep temperatures cool. The new all-metal Aeroblade Fan features wingtips that increase air intake and a wind guide that minimalises turbulence and redirects airflow to critical components.
While Acer’s Vortex Flow is a design concept that serves to create an aerodynamic flow inside the chassis, consisting of heat pipes, exhaust vents and a pair of fans that enhance cooling on the CPU, GPU and other critical components,
The Predator Triton 300 SE also features a thin bezel 14-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Other features include a backlit 3-zone RGB keyboard, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and HDMI. The Predator Triton 300 SE also features PredatorSense and a Turbo key real-time control over the laptop’s fan speed.
The Predator Triton 300 SE will be available in North America in March starting at USD1,399.99 (RM5648.46) and in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) in February starting at EUR1,499 (RM7403.13).
Predator Helios 300

The Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop now includes the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU and up to 32 GB of DDR4 memory. It also features a 240Hz IPS display with a 3ms response as well as DTS:X Ultra audio and 3D simulated surround sound for an immersive audio experience.
The Predator Helios 300 also comes with two fans, including one of Acer’s custom-engineered AeroBlade 3D Fans, while Acer’s CoolBoost technology enables the fans to adjust in order to keep critical areas continuously cooled.
The Predator Helios 300 will be available in North America in February starting at USD1,249.99 (RM5046.83), in EMEA in February starting at EUR1,499 (RM7403.13) and in China in February, starting at RMB9,999 (RM6265.25).
Acer Nitro 5

The new and updated Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop has now been fitted with 11th Gen Intel Core H35-series processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs and up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM. It also comes in two screen sizes; 15-inch and 17-inch; and features a 144Hz refresh rate and 3 ms response time.
In terms of thermals, the Acer Nitro 5 features a pair of fans and a quad-exhaust port design. The built-in Acer CoolBoost Technology increases fan speed by 10% and CPU/GPU cooling by 9% compared to auto mode.
On top of that, slight tweaks in the laptop’s design have also been made with the charging port being moved to the back of the chassis so the power cord is out of the way, while USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 support and Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) ensure speedy connections. The keyboard has 4-zone RGB, letting users spice things up to suit their preferences.
The 15-inch Acer Nitro 5 will be available in EMEA in March starting at EUR999 (RM4933.77) and in China in June, starting at RMB5,999 (RM3758.90). While the 17-inch Acer Nitro 5 will be available in EMEA in March starting at EUR999 (RM4933.77) and in China at a starting price of at RMB6,499 (RM4072.20).
No news in regards to these laptops’ price and availability in Malaysia. We’ll update accordingly as soon as we know more about that. For more information, do head over to Acer’s official website right here.
Pokdepinion: The newly updated laptops are priced pretty well IMHO. I wonder if I should think about upgrading my laptop right about now?
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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X now available for $899 — 32 processing threads running at 4.4 GHz!

The latest addition to the 2nd Generation Ryzen family is now here. The Ryzen Threadripper 2950X builds upon the Threadripper 1950X with some cool improvements that allow it to deliver up to 25% better performance versus its predecessor.

First off, the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X features a higher boost clock of 4.4 GHz versus the 4.0 GHz its predecessor delivers out of the box. Even the base clock has been bumped up by 100 MHz to 3.5 GHz. All of these gains are thanks to the optimized Zen+ architecture and 12nm manufacturing process.

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When compared against the older 16-core, 32-thread processor, the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X delivers gains anywhere from 7% to 25%. That’s pretty cool when you are considering that the Threadripper 1950X was already one of the most powerful processors you can get in the market.

The Ryzen Threadripper 2950X comes in at $899 (~RM3725), $100 less than the Ryzen Threadripper 1950X’s launch price. Cheaper yet more powerful? Yep.
Pokdepinion: I bet Intel must be literally quaking in their boots right now.
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Alcatel To Host Special Deals For Alcatel 1 And Alcatel 5V This 12.12

Alcatel has revealed that they will be having a special 12.12 promotion where you can get the Alcatel 1 for just RM99 (originally RM298) and RM399 for the the Alcatel 5V (previously RM898).
This promo will only last for one day only and will start from the 12th of December 2018 at 12am and will be available exclusively on 11street.
For those who purchase the Alcatel 1 will get a screen protector as well as a casing. On the other hand, with the Alcatel 5V, you will be getting a screen protector, casing, and a mystery gift box.

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The Alcatel 1 is an entry-level smartphone that comes with 18:9 ratio display and packs 1GB RAM that’s paired with 8GB of internal memory. It offers a 8MP main shooter and 5MP front camera.
You can check out our previous post where we covered the launch event of these two devices. If you’d like to know more on Alcatel’s current flagship, the Alcatel 5V, well you can check out our full hands-on review here.
Pokdepinion: Well they aren’t the most exciting devices in the market but hey, RM99 for a smartphone is pretty cheap. Possibly one for your parents?
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[CES 2022] New Lenovo Yoga Laptops Bring New Look and Eco-Friendliness

Lenovo introduced three new Lenovo Yoga laptops, bringing in a new eye-catching design with one in particular being more eco-friendly. Here’s what you need to know.
Lenovo Yoga 9i

Starting off with the Lenovo Yoga 9i, it’s a 2-in-1 laptop running Windows 11 OS. It’s powered by the 12th Gen Intel Core CPU (up to i7-1260P) with Intel Iris Xe graphics and is Intel Evo certified. The laptop uses a 14-inch 4K OLED touchscreen display with VESA DisplayHDR 500. Moreover, you get added vertical screen real estate with its 16:10 aspect ratio.

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For connectivity, it makes use of Thunderbolt 4 and Intel Wi-Fi 6E for fast data transfers. To nail down the entertainment factor, you can enjoy its marvelous display with the Rotating Sound Bar with 4x Bowers & Wilkins speakers. It’s worth noting that the touchpad is now 45% larger to accommodate larger hands.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i will be retailing from USD $1,399 starting Q2 2022. No word yet on availability and pricing in Malaysia but we will be reporting more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Lenovo Yoga 7i

The Lenovo Yoga 7i has more variety as it comes in both 14-inch and 16-inch size options. Like the Yoga 9i, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is also powered by up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P with Intel Iris Xe graphics. The display is different however, as it comes with a 2.8K OLED touchscreen display for the 14-inch variant whereas the 16-inch one gets a 2.5K LCD touchscreen display.
To further boost its capabilities, it comes with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. To juice it all up, you get a sizable 71WHr battery whereas the 16-inch gets a monstrous 100WHr battery. Both of them will support Rapid Charge Express so you don’t have to glue yourself to a wall outlet for too long when it needs a charge.

The 14-inch and 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i will be retailing from USD $899 and USD $949 respectively starting Q2 2022. No word yet on availability and pricing in Malaysia but we will be reporting more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Lenovo Yoga 6

As for the Lenovo Yoga 6, this one is noticeably different than the other two as it’s more focused on environmental sustainability. It’s built with recyclable materials such as aluminum and plastics, with the power brick itself being made up of 30% recycled plastics.
Apart from that, it meets the ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Silver standards while also being free of harmful substances such as mercury. The Windows 11-powered Lenovo Yoga 6 can be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U with Radeon graphics.

The Lenovo Yoga 6 will be retailing from USD $749 starting Q2 2022. No word yet on availability and pricing in Malaysia but we will be reporting more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: That Lenovo Yoga 9i looks like what I would want for a comfortable everyday laptop. I just hope the speakers are really a step ahead compared to most consumer laptops as it sounds enticing, but I’m not sure how it will be like in reality.
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Celebrate The Upcoming Festive Season With HONORaya — Offers Free Gifts And Limited Edition HONOR X Moschino Merchandize

The folks at HONOR Malaysia is running their HONORaya promotions, from now until 9th of June 2019, offering free gifts with selected purchases at participating HONOR experience and partner stores. You can also stand a chance to win limited edition HONOR X Moschino merchandize and HONOR flagship smartphones.
HONORaya promo
So if you’re wondering what devices offers freebies and what exactly they are, you can have a look below:

HONOR 20 Lite – Free food container
HONOR 8C – Free HONOR 8C cat tote bag
HONOR View20 – Free HONOR backpack + up to RM300 cashback
HONOR 8X – Free food container
HONOR 10 Lite – Free 32GB microSD card
HONOR 7S – Free RM10 KFC voucher

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In addition to the freebies, HONOR Malaysia is offering you a chance to win the upcoming HONOR 20, which comes with a Moschino Phone Case and Moschino handbag for the grand prize. Second place will see two lucky winners walk away with the HONOR View20 plus the Moschino Red Bag each. Third place sees 10 winners getting themselves a Moschino Red Bag each.
All you need to do is simple; buy, submit, and win. For the full steps, you can follow these steps:

Visit the link here
Key in the IMEI into the space provided

Pokdepinion: Wow, the phone is not even out yet but they are offering it already in the promo. That’s one weird looking handbag though…
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Fortnite: The Curious Case of the Missing Gold Bars

Fortnite still remains to be one of the most popular games today. Recently, numerous players have reported that their gold bars are missing. Here’s what went down.
Why Did the Gold Bars Go Missing in Fortnite?

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As of late, a good number of Fortnite players have reported missing gold bars in their account. This can be a rather annoying problem as it takes time to gain these gold bars. Apparently, the issue is caused by a glitch and it’s unintentional.
For those of you who aren’t aware, gold bars are used to purchase weapons, upgrades and other services from allies. It’s gained by killing other players in the game, finishing bounties, and by looting around the place. Regardless of how games end, players get to keep these gold bars for later use.
At the moment, Epic Games is said to be investigating the issue and and a fix will be issued via an update as soon as possible. This goes for both missing gold bars that were already owned by players as well as the ones earned in each game. Be sure to check if the game has a pending update as it may just be the solution to fixing this issue.
Fortnite is currently available for free on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and PC.
Source
Pokdepinion: I was surprised to learn about this at first as friends complained about it. Initially, I thought it was just an issue affecting a few players but as it turns out, it’s on a far bigger scale than expected. They definitely need to fix this as soon as possible.
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New HUAWEI nova 8 Is Coming To Malaysia This 27 August

HUAWEI has just announced that their new addition to the youth-focused HUAWEI nova series, the HUAWEI nova 8 will be arriving at our shores this 27 August. With a 90hz Refresh Rate Curved OLED Display, an all-rounder AI Quad Camera with Iconic Nebular Camera System Design, and a 7.64mm Ultra Slim Body Design with 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology, this smartphone is a must-have.
HUAWEI nova 8 coming on 27 August

The HUAWEI nova 8 offers a 6.57-inch curved OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The display also has a pixel density of 391 PPI and 10-bit colour depth that delivers 1.07 billion colours.

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Furthermore, the new nova 8 also features a camera design that HUAWEI calls an Iconic Nebular Camera System Design. It has an oval design at the rear of the smartphone that houses all of the cameras and the flashlight, giving it a unique appearance. In terms of the phone’s cameras, it features a rear quad-camera system that includes a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera, a 2MP Macro Camera and a 2MP Depth Camera.
As for selfies, the HUAWEI nova 8 comes with a Super Selfie 32MP AI Front Camera that comes with the Super Night Mode Camera feature. HUAWEI says that this feature allows users to take selfies without the presence of natural light. The Dual-View Video feature further improves the user’s video-taking experience, making it ideal for vloggers.
The HUAWEI nova 8 is also thinner and lighter than before and measures 7.64mm and weighs just 169g. It also supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology that can charge the phone up to 60% with just 15 minutes of charging. The phone can also be fully charged in just 35 minutes, perfect for those who are constantly in a rush.
Moreover, the HUAWEI nova 8 features support for HUAWEI Mobile Service. HUAWEI AppGallery allows users to access all of their apps. Users can also use Petal Search and Petal Maps to search the internet and navigate. HUAWEI Music, HUAWEI Videos, HUAWEI Books, and HUAWEI Themes are available for entertainment and customisation. HUAWEI customers may also track their health with the HUAWEI Health App, which allows you to track your activity in over 100 sports.
HUAWEI has yet to reveal the pricing of the HUAWEI nova 8 of which we will most likely see come the arrival of the phone in Malaysia this 27 August. Till then, you can read our review of the nova 8’s sister phone, the HUAWEI nova 8i right here.
Pokdepinion: Interesting to see how the nova 8 will fare and how much it will be priced when it arrives here. The HUAWEI nova 8i was a pretty decent smartphone so will the nova 8 be better?
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A RTX 3070 Modded With 16GB VRAM Proved It Needs More VRAM

In retrospect, 8GB simply wasn’t enough to handle the latest titles at maximum settings, even if the silicon itself could.

Brazilian YouTuber Paulo Gomes recently published a video with a modified version of NVIDIA’s RTX 3070 that he himself worked on. This particular customer unit has its VRAM doubled from 8GB to 16GB and with it brings some pretty significant performance boosts.

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To mod this card, it’s not just a simple DRAM chip swap: before that Gomes has to ground some specific resistors in order to trick the GPU into supporting 16Gbit memory chips instead of the default 8Gbit ICs. After that, the usual process goes – desolder the old ones, and in comes the new Samsung 16Gbit (2GB) memory ICs which totals in 16GB of VRAM. The card subsequently fired up normally aside from minor flickering issue that is solved by simply switching to high-performance mode.

So what does all these extra VRAM capacity equate to? For VRAM-hungry games like Resident Evil 4, the improvement is substantial. In it’s original 8GB configuration, the game is shown running at just one frame per second on both 1% and 0.1% lows (effectively stuttering). That number gets boosted to 60FPS on 1% low and 40FPS 0.1% low with the new 16GB VRAM installed, and even the average framerate increased as well.
In retrospect, 8GB VRAM is too little for modern games these days – as many titles can often breach that limit when the graphics effects gets cranked high enough (regardless of resolution). It’s part of the reason why AMD offers more VRAM in comparison to NVIDIA’s equivalents, and cases like this may gave RX 6000 series cards more advantage against RTX 30 series GPUs thanks to its bigger pool of video memory at disposal.

Source: Tom’s Hardware
Pokdepinion: 12GB would’ve made more sense for the RTX 3070 – though I guess either a 192-bit or 384-bit bus just don’t quite make sense in performance and cost respectively (RTX 40’s a larger L2 cache likely alleviates this issue).
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Acer Malaysia Offering Discounts Of Up To 50% During This 11.11 Season

11.11 season is getting really close now and Acer Malaysia is getting in on the action with discounts up to 50% off of their products. Not only that, they are also offering vouchers of up to RM 100 redeemable gifts to help families and individuals get better equipped for work from home and learn from home environments.

Save more this 11.11 with Acer Malaysia

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Some of the products include the Acer Aspire 3 (A314-22-A9WP) which features a 14-inch display, AMD A3020e dual-core processor with 4GB RAM and 256GB SSD. The Acer Aspire 3 will be available at RM 1,399 (discount 20%) during the Shopee 11.11 sales on 10 and 11 November 2020. Acer Malaysia is also providing free Acer Supercare 2 warranty extension with accidental damage and theft protection worth RM 339 to customers who purchase during the promotion period.

All-in-One desktops are also on offer during 11.11 which include the Acer Aspire C22 (C22963-1005G1W10 and C22960-10110W10). They come equipped with a 21.5-inch Full HD display, 10th Gen Intel Core i3 processors, 4GB RAM and the option of 256GB SSD or 1TB HDD. These Acer All-in-One desktops will be available at the discounted price starting at RM 1,899.

Furthermore, Acer Malaysia is offering up to 25% discount on monitors and projectors. The products available in the promotion include the popular portable projector – Acer C250i priced at RM 1,399 (RM 300 off the retail price), the basic 19.5-inch monitor – K202HQL priced at RM 259 and the overclockable up to 165Hz refresh rate AOpen 27HC5RP 27-inch gaming monitor priced at RM 639.

Lastly, the newly introduced ergonomically shaped Predator gaming chair that comes with 4D armrests will be available at a special promotional price of RM 999 on 10 and 11 November 2020. On top of that, Acer Malaysia is also making the Predator gaming chair available during Shopee’s shocking sale with 50% off or priced just at RM 659 on 10 and 11 November 2020 on Shopee.
For more information on Acer products, do check out Acer Malaysia’s Facebook page or contact their Product Infoline at 1800-88-1288 from 9AM to 6PM on Mondays to Fridays. You can also opt to email them at [email protected] for more information.
Pokdepinion: I’m so tempted to get the Predator gaming chair during shocking sale.
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AMD Radeon RX 6000 series to get 18Gbps GDDR6 refresh?

The AMD Radeon RX 6000 series might be getting a refresh, with faster memory. AMD is definitely no stranger to releasing rehashed SKUs of their graphics cards, but this time it might be with a more significant change than they usually did in the past. AMD is reportedly mulling throwing in 18Gbps GDDR6 memory, up from 16Gbps, into a refreshed Radeon RX 6000 series.
AMD Radeon RX 6000 series to get 18Gbps GDDR6?

AMD seems to be preparing a new version of the RX 6000 series, I don’t know the details, maybe an upgrade to 18Gbps?
— Greymon55 (@greymon55) January 17, 2022

With the exception of the liquid-cooled AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT LC, all AMD Radeon RX 6000 series cards were paired with 16Gbps memory or slower. AMD can get away with lower memory bandwidth due to the fact that the AMD Radeon RX 6000 series features an Infinity Cache, which reduces the need for data to be shuttled between the GPU and memory.
That’s also why I think that an upgrade to 18Gbps memory isn’t going to improve performance by much, except maybe at higher resolutions. With that said, AMD is already offering plenty of VRAM on their higher end cards, which will only come in handy at higher resolutions anyway, so perhaps the faster memory will help them deliver a touch more performance to the gamers who are gaming at 4K.

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It might also bring a slight boost to the lower-end cards like the Radeon RX 6600 series, which is only endowed with a narrow 128-bit memory bus and a mere 32MB of Infinity Cache. The faster memory might allow gamers to play at slightly higher resolutions, although the effect might not be applicable to all games and probably not at all resolutions.
Another change that AMD might be considering for the refresh is to transition to the new 6nm node, like they did with the Radeon RX 6000S series. I am not exactly sure if moving to a new node mid-cycle is what AMD needs to satisfy the market, which will probably be happier to see better GPU supply, rather than slightly higher performance for the few who can get it.

In any case, the refresh does sound rather probable, and it might allow AMD to close the gap between the MSRP and the market price of their GPUs, by raising the MSRP of the refreshed lineup. Not something we will want to see as consumers, but hey, it’s a business.
Pokdepinion: Well, we haven’t seen AMD refresh stuff since Polaris… I wonder if they will regain their cadence with RDNA 2.
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TM Unifi May Be Offering 30Mbps for RM39 Per Month and 100Mbps for RM79 Per Month

[UPDATE 9PM, 4th June 2020] TM Clarifies on Deal
The folks over at TM has contacted us to clarify in this affordable new deal. Apparently, it is an offer based on existing Unifi plans that are designed to allow non-Unifi subscribers the freedom to switch over from their service provider in a worry-free manner.
Essentially, TM is converting the penalty fee from a customer’s existing subscription contract into savings in their monthly subscription fees. This means that ultimately, customers are paying the same amount as regular TM Unifi customers, just that the lower prices will only be applicable until it makes up for the cancellation fee amount.

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TM has also clarified that if a customer is not subjected to a penalty fee, they will be paying the regular amount, which is RM89 per month for their most affordable plan, instead of RM39 per month. This is just one of the many ways TM is making it easy for new customers to subscribe to Unifi, just like the 30-day free trial.
Original Post
Looking for more ways to save money? If monthly expenditure is what you’re looking to cut, then you might be able to cut down on your internet bill soon. New details have surfaced online which shows that TM Unifi may be offering their 30Mbps plan for as low as RM39 per month.
It’s not just that however as their 100Mbps plan appears to be offered at RM79 per month and their 300Mbps plan for RM149 per month. It’s interesting as the 100Mbps plan is cheaper than what TIME Internet is offering, which is RM99 per month.
The image appeared in a Lowyat forum thread, where one user claimed that TM denied offering this deal but they are in the midst of negotiating with them. The same user also noted that they are uncertain what the terms and conditions of the deal are and claims that TM is offering this deal only for selected customers.
Is It A TM Unifi Plan for Specific Customers Only?
Looking at the image itself, it looks like they may be offering this specifically for customers who plan to jump ship or have already jumped ship to another service provider. This is especially the case with the message on the top part which reads “Hello again, we miss being the bridge that keeps you connected.”
For now, there has been no official announcements from TM on this deal. We also have no proof on whether they are offering this secretly or if it’s an elaborate hoax. The picture does seem legitimate but until the company gives their side of the story, it’s hard to say for sure. For now, be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled.
We will be reporting more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source:
Pokdepinion: Yo, that’s like really cheap for a monthly fibre internet plan. I do hope this TM Unifi price change is real because it will really turn some heads around.
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OtterBox Malaysia brings in full lineup of protective cases for iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR

If you talk about protective cases, the brand OtterBox definitely comes to mind. That’s because they are the No.1 most-trusted in cell phone case protection. And now you can get their cases for your new iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max or iPhone XR.
The full range will be available in Malaysia, from the stylish Symmetry series to the tough Defender series, the Otterbox cases are available in Malaysia from now. Considering that the new iPhones are going to be made available here in Malaysia very soon, this is about the right time to buy a case for it.

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Each OtterBox case undergoes at least 24 tests over more than 238 hours to receive the OtterBox Certified Drop+ Protection seal. The broad range of cases cater to a wide range of users, with cases like the Pursuit series which features a sealed camera opening to further protect the camera lens. All OtterBox cases are also compatible with Alpha Glass, ruling out unsightly lifted corners when you use a case with an incompatible screen protector.
The pricing varies depending on which iPhone you are getting it for:

Symmetry – RM169~RM239
Defender – RM239~RM289
Pursuit – RM298~RM319
Strada Folio – RM219~RM259
Commuter – RM129~RM169
Alpha Glass – RM139~RM159

All of these are available for the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, while the iPhone XR variants will be here very soon. Head over to otterbox.asia for more information.
Pokdepinion: I was always interested in getting my hands on an OtterBox case, but I never used any phones that OtterBox has made cases for…
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Dell Malaysia is reportedly in the midst of a huge change in how they conduct business in the country. Sources have indicated that they plan to stop selling products through retail physical stores moving forward.
Dell Malaysia Will No Longer Sell Products in Physical Stores

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In a new, strategic move that will change how you get purchase their products, Dell Malaysia will no longer be selling their products and services through physical stores. The move will also be affecting Singapore as well moving forward.
According to an anonymous tipster via Lowyat.net, there was an internal announcement sent to retail partners in both Malaysia and Singapore late last month. The announcement reveals the company’s decision to pull out from the retail segment of both market after they have reviewed their presence across several regions in the world.
This means that Dell Malaysia, as well as Singapore, will no longer be accepting new orders from local retailers from now onwards. However, the company will still be honouring any existing contractual obligations with their retail partners and customers.
Dell has given a statement to Lowyat.net, which reads:
Dell Technologies has announced plans to transition out of the retail market in Singapore and Malaysia. Customers will still have access to the full complement of our products and services through Dell direct.
In case you were worried, Dell will still be officially available in Malaysia and they’re not leaving the market completely. It’s just that if you want to get their products or services such as the latest Dell Inspiron laptops powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core CPU, you will need to buy them directly on the Dell Malaysia website.
You can check out their official website by clicking right here.
Source
Pokdepinion: It’s a smart, cost-efficient move. After all, most consumers nowadays make purchases online, especially given that online prices are typically lower than in physical stores.
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AMD Clears Up Ryzen 7000 Mobile APU Naming Convention With New Label Sticker

Looking for latest-and-greatest? Check for the orange sticker.
Image: AMD / Videocardz
AMD has transitioned to a new naming system for its Ryzen 7000 mobile APUs, to which it gained some criticism over the complicated numbering – which is intended for covering Zen 2, Zen 3, Zen 3+, Zen 4, RDNA 2, RDNA 3 and Vega architectures all under one single model family that releases on the same year. With all the numbers spanning from 7020, 7030, 7035, 7040 and 7045, the chipmaker has provided a way for easier identification if consumers are looking for the most up-to-date hardware.
Basically, all Zen 4 family products (Ryzen 7040, 7045 series) will use the new orange-colored sticker that visually looks similar to AMD Radeon sticker on laptops. Any refreshed hardware (prior generations such as Ryzen 7020, 7030 and 7035 series) will instead use the old version of the sticker. Here’s a cheat sheet on what each family of Ryzen 7000 APUs are designed for:

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Image: AMD
Since Ryzen 7040/7045 series APUs are still very new, with models still on its way into Malaysia – for now there isn’t much sighting on laptops powered by these chips. Though, Notebookcheck has got themselves two models (both from ASUS) that is seen with the new sticker:
Image: Notebookcheck
Source: Videocardz
Pokdepinion: This should at least clear up the most concerning part of the Ryzen 7000 mobile naming.
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These ASUS X470 and B450 boards support PCIe 4.0!

There has been rumors of AMD X470 and B450 boards supporting PCIe 4.0. And certain manufacturers actually released BIOSes for the older boards, adding support for the faster interface on them. But then AMD themselves explained that they won’t be enabling PCIe 4.0 officially on the older boards, citing questionable reliability and the more stringent requirements that PCIe 4.0 imposes upon the motherboards. But, if you still want to, you can.
Awesome future proofing?
ASUS has apparently published a list of their boards, some of which support PCIe 4.0 on their primary M.2 SSD slots, while some even supporting the full set: PCIe 4.0 x16 on the primary PCIe slot and PCIe 4.0 x4 for SSDs. For most users at this point in time, the latter is of more value, because GPUs are far from being bottlenecked by the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. Not to mention the only consumer GPUs supporting PCIe 4.0 are the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT and AMD Radeon RX 5700, which are mid-range cards.
So here’s the full list of ASUS’ X470 and B450 motherboards supporting PCIe 4.0, as well as the BIOSes you need to enable the support:

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ASUS PCIe 4.0 support

Chipset
Motherboard
BIOS
PCIe x16_1 slot
M.2_1 slot

X470
ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
2406
No
PCIe 4.0 x4

ROG Crosshair VII Hero
2406
No
PCIe 4.0 x4

ROG Strix X470-I Gaming
2406
No
PCIe 4.0 x4

ROG Strix X470-F Gaming
5007
PCIe 4.0 x8
PCIe 4.0 x4

Prime X470-Pro
5007
PCIe 4.0 x8
PCIe 4.0 x4

TUF X470-Plus Gaming
5007
PCIe 4.0 x16
No

B450
ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
2406
No
PCIe 4.0 x4

ROG Strix B450-F Gaming
2406
No
PCIe 4.0 x4

ROG Strix B450-I Gaming
2406
No
PCIe 4.0 x4

TUF Gaming B450M-Plus
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

TUF Gaming B450M-Pro
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

TUF Gaming B450-Pro
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

TUF Gaming B450-Plus
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

Prime B450M-A
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

Prime B450M-K
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

B450M-Dragon
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

B450M-D3V
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

Prime B450-Plus
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

Prime B450M-Gaming/BR
1607
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe 4.0 x4

For some reason, ASUS’ more affordable B450 boards offer better support for the PCIe 4.0 standard than even their flagship ROG Crosshair VII Hero. Do note that ASUS won’t be able to continue supporting these features in upcoming BIOS versions since AMD has already issued the directive to not support PCIe 4.0 on older platforms. When AMD releases newer AGESA updates to improve performance on the 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen processors, you will have to choose whether PCIe 4.0 is more important to you, or better CPU performance.

Meanwhile, here’s a tempting screenshot of a PCIe 4.0 SSD running at 5GB/s on a TUF Gaming B450M-Pro.
For the less ambitious of y’all, ASUS has also released BIOS updates to the X370 and B350 boards to support the AMD Ryzen 3000 series CPUs. No PCIe 4.0 support, but not every vendor is supporting the latest CPUs on the aging platforms, which celebrated its 2nd birthday back in March. If you own any of the older ASUS boards, you are in luck. The 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen processors are just a drop in upgrade for you.
Pokdepinion: I was planning on getting the ROG Crosshair VII Hero with my Ryzen 7 3700X… I guess I have every reason to do so now!
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There’s Ninja Orcs in Middle-earth: Shadow of War? No Rasengans or Sharingans Here

In a brand new trailer, a new tribe is being showcased in Middle-earth: Shadow of War and it involves, and it’s hard to say this correctly, ninja orcs?
Excited for the upcoming Middle-earth: Shadow of War game? Well, the release date isn’t too far off but if you can’t wait, here’s some new details about the game that was recently revealed.

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There’s Ninja Orcs in Middle-earth: Shadow of War?

Monolith Productions and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released a brand new trailer of Middle-earth: Shadow of War today. It introduced another of the tribes of orcs which will be included in the game.
It’s rather obvious that the good folks at Monolith took inspiration from various sources to design their Uruk tribes, and this one certainly seems to be inspired at least in part by Japanese Shinobi. The Dark Tribe appears to enjoy using stealth to stalk their enemies, using fast and agile weapons, and they even can disappear and reappear somewhere else after throwing a smoke bomb on the ground. Sounds familiar? Well, it is.
Adept at ambushes, double-crosses and battlefield trickery, the Dark tribe wields power beyond what their numbers would suggest, favoring treachery and betrayal to get the job done.
This is the fourth tribe introduced this way, as we also saw other trailers showing the Marauder tribe,  the Terror Tribe, and the Machine tribe.
If you want to see more about the game, check out our previous post which showcased the new Terror tribe and the expectation of new monsters in the game. Middle-earth: Shadow of War will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 10th 2017.

Pokdepinion: Classic ninjas, I got no problems with. If they had made like Naruto-based orcs with Rasengans and other weird stuff, I would immediately just give up on life completely.
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Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 Review

We are earthlings and over the years, we have understood that we are just different from one another. We have different taste and we react differently to different matters. Period. This is the baseline that Asus taps into and provides options to their end-users. As a person who meets with key personnels of large enterprises and corporations, I can assure you that providing options is really not an easy task. For each options, you have to allocate differences that are ample enough to touch the users sweet thinking spot, exploring areas that sometimes the users themselves probably didn’t realize it.
What’s the correlation to this article, you ask? We have reviewed the award winning Asus Zenfone 2 which by itself comes it’s own breakdown of options, followed by the Asus Zenfone Selfie for the selfie lovers, Asus Zenfone 2 Laser which is a toned down version of the Selfie, announced the availability of Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe for those who like a little fluff on their phones, the introduction of Asus Zenfone MAX for those with a busy life and the introduction of the Asus Zenfone Zoom for those who appreciate photography and technology innovation.
The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 (left) compared to the Asus Zenfone 2
Asus didn’t want to stop spoiling their customers with choices and here we are with the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 tagged with the code ZE601KL. The most significant option in this device is that it’s a 6.0″ phablet with a very good price tag. It carries the same aesthetics from the earlier Asus Zenfone 2 Laser and yet it feels totally different in the palms. If you are the type that likes more screen area to play with, this device might just be something that you would want to spend your precious money on.

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Appearance
At first glance, the Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 looks exactly like it’s sibling – the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser so if you already have any of the Zenfone 2 series before, this will not be an alien device to you. The buttons positioning are at the same place they were before. And why not? Don’t fix if it’s not broken. I think the Zenfone 2 series have positioned their appearance in a very pleasant way removing all unnecessary side buttons, providing form and functionality at it’s best.

The curved back cover is intact. The same brushed metal pattern is still etched to the cover, retaining the exquisite finishing yet at the same time not jeopardizing the signals of the device. The speakers are still at the bottom of the device, combined with the laser drilled holes to deliver music to your ears. The camera is symmetrically positioned with the LED flashlight placed across the Laser sensor, just above the volume buttons – that double as the camera shutter button (or zoom if you want to customize it).

Beautiful and graceful. That’s the definition I like to give to the outlook of the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 but does it have what it takes to rival it’s siblings?
Specifications

CPU:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53

RAM
3GB

Display:
6.0″, FHD (1080p) IPS LCD 16M colors at ~367ppi

Storage:
16GB internal (expandable with microSD up to 128GB)

Camera:
13MP f/2.0 PixelMaster with Toshiba sensor, 5P Largan (rear),
5MP f/2.0 (front)

OS:
Android 5.0.2 with ZenUI

SIM:
microSIM (dual SIM support) with LTE

Battery:
3000 mAh Li-Po (removable)

Performance
That leads us to under the hoods of this device. This time around, Asus decided to give the device a little more punch than it’s younger brother. The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 chipset with an Octacore processor (Quad-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex A-53 CPU) coupled to a 3GB DDR3 RAM. For the graphics, we are spotting a decent Adreno 405 GPU and all this will be churned out by the Android v5.0 Lollipop. With all that horses, I had some bad perceptions on the battery heat dissipation and consumption – to which I was actually proved pretty wrong! Kudos to Asus for picking the Snapdragon 616 rather than the Snapdragon 615 that I like to call the “dragon’s breath”.
Yep, that score is easily 30% higher than it’s 5.5″ sibling!
The 3000 mAh Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) battery does deliver it’s promises, providing you with enough juice to get through the day. While the quick charger was missing and I don’t usually whine about the speed of charging if the device manages to pull through the day, I’m much more interested at hinting Asus to start moving towards wireless charging technology instead – which has been a missing feature in every Zenfone series device so far.
877MB RAM available on load!
Well at least, they heard us the last time and have started making LTE standard in their devices now. Browsing is snappy with speeds fair enough for above average uses – even online gaming. The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 can really deliver a punch!
User Experience
So how much overall weight does the extra inches contribute to the device? Unlike it’s 5.5-incher sibling that was about 170g in weight, the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 weighs around 190g. That’s a pretty sweet figure considering most 6 inch devices are pretty heavy otherwise. The signature curve at the back feels just pleasant to hold this device, but it makes it harder to reach the far edges of the device – for which you can switch to one-hand operation mode instead. The NCVM (Non-Conductive Vapor Metallization) coating provides grip, is affordable, and doesn’t mess with your device’s signals. Asus proves that innovation doesn’t always have to be fancy, but rather practical.
Check out that symmetry!
The front face of the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 is donned by a 6-inch (duh) IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen that is capable of showering 16M colors at 1080 x 1920 resolution with a 367ppi pixel density. It is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and multitouch comes standard. The device itself is only 3.9mm thick at it’s thinnest edge. The iconic Asus concentric-circle design are still present on both front and rear keys with a precision of 0.13mm pitch that gives the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 it’s premium look. The Zen design has won the 2015 iF Design Award – which to be honest, comes at no surprise looking at how beautifully this device is crafted.
The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 harnesses insanely incredible engineering where the screen-to-body ratio is 72%. Well, the reason why you are opting for a 6″ device is because you want more visual area, so Asus is giving you what you want. There are several colors to pick from (mine is the Sheer Gold), there’s Glacier Gray and Glamour Red too. What I like the most about the color section here is that your device will come pre-set with the theme to match your color of choice. You can change it anytime, in fact you can even change the case and no one will ever know which one did it came with. But the fact that Asus actually cared to set the theme accordingly shows how much attention Asus puts into the tiniest details.
There are some things in smartphones that, once implemented, should not be removed as it breaks the “connection” with the users. For example, in some brands, their earlier versions don an SD card slot, they omit it in a later model, and then they bring it again in the next version. Same goes to dual-SIMs too. If I am given the option to have dual-SIM and now that you have decided to spoil me in carrying two sims, DONT remove it from your next generation because I will not spend more money to revise my behaviors. This is the part that keeps me into supporting Asus products. They have kept some of these “essentials” in the pocket of their devices so consistently, I have stopped questioning their availability. That said, yes, the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 comes with a microSD slot for storage expansion up to 128GB and dual SIM, dual standby. I really don’t have to elaborate this anymore. It’s spot on, and some users are already sold at this point, let us know if you are one.
Apparently these are the loudest speakers, proudest and greatest smartphone dual speakers.
Five Magnet speakers construction
As far as the sound is concerned, Asus proudly declares that the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 bears the loudest, proudest and greatest smartphone dual speakers. The dual-driver audio chamber is 50% larger, is built with five-magnet construction and metal voice coil to deliver powerful, emotional sounds in every scenario. This is based on their testing of up to 97.4dB where the frequency response measure result surpassed some of the key brands in the market. It’s 41% louder, has 14% low-frequency extension and 12% less distortion. I won’t elaborate this here. You should visit your nearest Asus concept store and check it out yourself. To make things even more insteresting, Asus has included their AudioWizard so you can select different modes to satisfy your eardrums in different environments. You might want to try the “gamming” mode too just to see if it’s sticky :P
Audio Wizard with gamming mode :P
Now let’s move to the part that you have been waiting for. The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 has a 13MP PixelMaster camera with an f/2.0 aperture lens on it’s rear. It’s constructed with 5P Largan lenses, encases a Toshiba Sensor, is assisted by Laser for quicker Auto-Focusing and provides you the option to snap with a dual LED Real Tone Flash. So what does this mean? You can start capturing high-resolution photos with zero shutter lag to begin with. The laser auto-focus helps in focusing rather than using the conventional digital focus in which the focusing speed is now at 0.03 seconds. Now, a tap is all it needs to immediately switch the depth-of-field of your image to a different target object – and it does this in a split second! Not just that, under dim light conditions, conventional focusing struggles really hard (nearly impossible) while the Laser is not affected at all. In close-up photography, the laser auto-focus accelerates photography, compensating the extra distance created by the lens receding during framing. If you are familiar with Infrared Spectrometry, the concept is almost the same. The infrared laser “fires” a wavelength of red light and waits for the return signal to measure the distance from the sensor. Basically, triangulation sensors measure the location of the spot within the field of view of the detecting element to achieve accurate distance estimations. Yeah, it was not easy for me to digest it too :P
The colors are beautiful, and look at the details of the fur!
Another sample with object focus for depth of field
What is standard in the camera? PixelMaster! Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 carries the PixelMaster badge providing industry-leading Low Light mode by employing pixel-merging technology to capture up to 400% brighter photos in dim lighting – without a flash. The SuperHDR mode lets you see clearly through daytime shadow and Super Resolution mode helps you to capture ultra-detailed images at resolutions of up to 52MP. The front camera is a 5MP f/2.0 with selfie panorama capabilities. Your main goal was not selfie when you got this phone – we have the Zenfone Selfie for that, so I’m not going to elaborate it further.
I’ve talked endlessly about the ZenUI and I really don’t want to make this long post any longer. However, there is a new addition to the ZenUI family – the Laser Ruler which blew my mind into how Asus uses innovation into various ways! I tested out the Laser Ruler and I was really surprised with the accuracy that it managed to achieve. If Samsung implemented the digital ruler in their Note Edge back in the days, Asus totally changed the game by using the Laser to measure. Also, if you buy this device, you can enjoy 100GB of FREE Google Drive Storage for 2 years! This offer is valid until April 1, 2018.
Laser Ruler! Talk about innovation!
Conclusion
For the wide screen lovers, the price tag of this device is definitely eye catching. The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 is densely packed with features and delivers what it promises. Asus has always been all about innovation and I would love to see how they start adding the still missing puzzles like wireless charging and how they can turn it into a mind blowing feature. The camera has a LOT of potential but it’s time for Asus to up the ante and rival their cameras with makers like Apple, Samsung and Huawei. The technology is here, but it’s still not fully-utilized in my humble opinion.
Additional Note: Perhaps there could be a little more significant naming convention to this device. When we went to the shops to purchase a screen protector, some of the shops actually argued with us calling it a Zenfone 6. LOL
Well, we’re giving a chance to Asus for converting our Silver to Gold! :)

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ROG Huracan G21 is finally launched here in Malaysia

The ROG Huracan is one beautiful gaming desktop. When I say beautiful, I don’t mean just the aesthetics. But also how ASUS managed to cram an Intel Core i9 9900K and a GeForce RTX 2080 in the limited 13-liter chassis. And it still comes with ROG Aura lighting effects.

ASUS has intelligently designed the chassis to be able to deliver higher performance when thermal conditions allow for it. Unlike any compact gaming desktop in the market, there is a magnetically-secured side cover which lifts up to reveal air intakes.

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Sensors detect the open side panel and will then boost the CPU and GPU performance by 11% and 8% respectively to take advantage of the extra airflow. It will also fire up the integrated Aura effects, giving you a better view of the innards.

Despite the compact dimensions, the ROG Huracan is still very upgradeable. The side panels can slide off for you to install upgrades or just for maintenance. Since the graphics card here is connected via a regular PCIe 3.0 interface and standard PCIe power connectors, you can upgrade it in the future as well. It’s smaller, yet more upgradeable than a Mac Pro 2019. And there’s also a hot-swap 2.5″ SSD bay at the top for either a semi-permanent upgrade, or just to transfer files between your systems.
ROG Huracan G21 Specs

G21C-XMY003T
G21C-NDMY003T

CPU
i9 9900K, 8C/16T @ up to 5 GHz
i5 9400, 6C/6T @ up to 4.1 GHz

Chipset
Intel Z390
Intel H370

Memory
2 x 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz (DDR4-SODIMM)
1 x 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz (DDR4-SODIMM)

GPU
GeForce RTX 2080 8GB GDDR6
GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6

Storage
SuperMulti DVD RW
512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD
2TB 3.5″ HDD
256GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD
2TB 3.5″ HDD

Connectivity
WiFi 802.11ac (2×2, Wave2)
Bluetooth 5.0
Front:
2 x USB 2.0
2 x USB 3.1
1 x SD card reader
Rear:
2 x USB 2.0
4 x USB 3.0
2 x USB 3.1
1 x RJ45 LAN
1 x HDMI 2.0
2 x DisplayPort 1.4
1 x USB Type-C
WiFi 802.11ac (2×2, Wave2)
Bluetooth 5.0
Front:
1 x USB 3.0 (Type-C)
2 x USB 3.1
1 x 3.5mm output
1 x 3.5mm mic
Rear:
4 x USB 3.0
1 x RJ45 LAN
2 x HDMI 2.0
2 x DisplayPort 1.4

Power
280W + 280W
230W + 180W

Accessories
ROG Strix Flare, ROG Gladius II

Warranty
3 Years On Site Warranty

Price
RM11 999
RM6 299

The ROG Huracan G21 will be available in Malaysia soon, with it expected to arrive in August 2019.
Pokdepinion: The ROG Huracan G21 would be an amazing replacement for my mid-tower desktop… You do have to pay a premium for the compact dimensions though…
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Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium – Comes With Upgraded Camera, Display, And Battery!

Remember when we wrote on the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact? Well it turns out that Sony is releasing a new variant, the Xperia XZ2 Premium.
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

So what’s new with the Premium edition? For starters the camera is upgraded. Featuring dual-lens, it marks as a first for a Sony smartphone. It uses a 19MP color sensor on one side, paired with a 12MP monochrome lens. It’s selfie shooter also received a boost, being at 13MP compared to the previous 5MP.
Besides that, the display has received an upgrade, being a 5.8-inch 4K HDR display. Those who prefer the wider 18:9 aspect ratio will be disappointed though, as Sony decided to revert to a 16:9 panel here. Its has a larger dose of RAM though, with 6GB instead of the XZ2’s smaller 4GB.

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Although the XZ2 Premium receives a bigger battery at 3540mAh, it doesn’t mean that it totally superior compared to its brothers. This is because with a larger screen (also the 4K HDR display), the battery consumption will most probably be affected as well. However we will not pass judgement until we test it for ourselves.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
Snapdragon 845 (4 x 2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold + 4 x 1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)

GPU:
Adreno 630

RAM:
6GB

Display:
5.8″,IPS LCD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 HDR10, Triluminos display,X-Reality Engine

Storage:
64GB (expandable with microSD up to 400GB)

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
19 MP (f/1.8, 25mm, 1/2.3″, 1.22µm)
12 MP monochrome (f/1.6, 1/2.3″, 1.55µm)
Predictive phase detection and laser autofocus, LED flash
Front Camera
13 MP (f/2.0, 22mm, 1/3″, 1.12µm)

OS:
Android 8.0 Oreo

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0

SIM:
nanoSIM (dual)

Battery:
Non-removable Li-ion 3540 mAh

While the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium hasn’t been officially announce here in Malaysia and no confirmation of the price has been released just yet, I think it’s safe to say that it will be priced higher than the standard Xperia XZ2 variant, which costs RM3,299. Until it finally comes out, we will have to play the waiting game for more details on it.
Pokdepinion: Well since the Xperia XZ2 was already at RM3,299, I just hope that the Premium doesn’t go over RM4K. Still, the upgrade is really something.
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ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition review; beastly performance in a portable package!

Introduction

If you have been following ASUS’ development of the ASUS ROG Strix GL503 series, you will know that they have a SCAR Edition and a HERO Edition. We have here the former, which is developed with fast-paced FPS games in mind, so things like high refresh rate displays come standard in this edition. The HERO Edition is designed for MOBA games, so ASUS decided that color accuracy is of more importance than sheer speed there. We actually have the highest end ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition which comes with a 144 Hz G-SYNC display and a GeForce GTX 1070 to be able to deliver the frames quickly enough to take full advantage of the display. With that said, let’s not waste time here, and get down to the laptop itself.
Unboxing

The ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition comes with a very minimal package, which is disappointing given its rather high asking price. Would throwing in a free mouse kill you, ASUS? You will, however, get a nice ROG bag with your laptop, which unfortunately we did not receive with our review unit.
Appearance

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Man this laptop is sexy! Call me a sucker for brushed metal, but this laptop looks absolutely stunning! I know brushed metal can be a pain to keep fingerprint-free, but this is a laptop I want to be seen carrying around! The “katana-cut” across the lid adds to the aggresive outlook of this laptop. And that mirror-finish ROG emblem? Perfection.

Sadly the enthusiasm I had for the lid is not continued when I take a look at the sides, as this is all plastic. It does feature an okay-ish brushed texture though. The ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition comes with a pretty nice array of I/O options too. Here on the right we find two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and mini DisplayPort for additional displays, Gigabit LAN and a combo 3.5mm jack.

The right side is home to 2 USB 3.0, a USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 port and a SD card reader.

The rear is where you will find the exhaust vents. The  fans in this baby are 12V ones, which means they can spin much faster and push more air through the heatsinks to remove heat from the laptop.

The bottom is also plastic, but it has a pretty fancy texture. The intakes are mere slots that could probably be bigger to amp up the fearsome appearance of a beastly gaming laptop, but I guess ASUS has decided these mere slots would suffice to cool the hardware inside. The side-firing speakers can be seen near the front edge, most probably designed to enhance the spatial positioning of audio cues when gaming. You can also see the cutout which will be the D-Door, designed for easier upgrading.

Opening up the lid, we are greeted with a full-sized keyboard. The spacebar is oversized too for easier actuation in the heat of gaming. Four hotkeys are arranged above the keyboard, with quick access to volume controls and the ROG Gaming Center, which we will talk about later. The ROG logo under the display engages you in a staredown, but unfortunately isn’t illuminated.
Specifications

CPU
Intel Core i7-7700HQ @ 2.8 GHz (up to 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost)

RAM
16GB (1 x 16GB SODIMM) 2400 MHz DDR4

GPU
Intel HD Graphics 630 (disabled for GSYNC)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5

Storage
256GB Samsung PM961 M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD
1TB 5400RPM FireCuda SSHD

Software
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
ROG Gaming Center
ROG Aura Core
ROG Sonic Radar III
ROG Sonic Studio III
ROG GameFirst IV
ASUS Giftbox

Connectivity
Realtek RTL8111 Gigabit Ethernet
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
Bluetooth 4.2
4 x USB 3.0
1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen1, Thunderbolt 3)
SD card reader

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS-level, 144 Hz G-SYNC, anti-glare display
1 x HDMI 2.0 ([email protected])
1 x mini Display Port 1.2

Audio
2 x 3.5W speakers with Smart AMP technology
1 x 3.5mm combo jack

Power
230W power adapter
62 Wh battery

Dimensions
384 x 262 x 25.4 mm

Weight
2.7 kg

Performance
Hardware wise, the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition doesn’t disappoint, nor does it offer any surprises. It comes with a Kaby Lake i7 7700HQ which isn’t Intel’s fastest mobile CPU, but it should suffice for most gamers. The GeForce GTX 1070 is much more powerful than the popular GTX 1050 used in mainstream gaming laptops, which also explains the much higher price that the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition commands. Let’s not talk any more, and take a look at the performance.

Let’s first take a look at the storage speeds. ASUS is quite infamous for cheaping out with slow storage, but you can definitely get a boner with the speeds out of the 256GB Samsung PM961 M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD in here. Clocking in read speeds in excess of 3000 MB/s and read speeds of 1193 MB/s, this is a beast alright. It boots in mere seconds and games load insanely quick too.
The Seagate FireCuda SSHD is no slouch either, clocking in pretty decent speeds for a hybrid drive. We have tested the FireCuda drives on our test bench before, and it is definitely an impressive drive. What’s even more impressive is that it is used for just bulk storage here. Interestingly, even the lower-end ROG Strix GL503VM SCAR Edition will also enjoy this fast storage configuration. Good step forward, ASUS!

Cinebench is our go-to benchmark for CPU performance, and the i7 7700HQ in the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition poses no surprises. Numbers are in line with other laptops packing the i7 7700HQ. We wish ASUS could have thrown in a more powerful CPU than the rather common i7 7700HQ, but that’s just wishful thinking. The i7 7700HQ can handle any game you can throw at it, and then some.

Heaven is our choice of a synthetic benchmark for the GPU. It does well with more than 100 FPS. This is a rather old benchmark, but it can still bring many a modern GPU to their knees when running the Extreme preset.

Moving on, let’s start with the FPS games. CS:GO is handled with gusto, with an average of 165 frames per second. Do note we have disabled G-SYNC to see how far can the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition go in these games. Of course, CS:GO is not a taxing game at all, and most probably the numbers here are bottlenecked by the CPU more than the GPU.

Overwatch, my favorite game in 2017, is also handled well, with 95 frames per second on average, on the Epic preset, no less, which sees the graphics quality turned up to 11. Gameplay was silky smooth thanks to the high refresh rate display and insanely fast storage, and I am saying this without G-SYNC enabled. With G-SYNC, the experience only gets better.

I must admit, I suck at Rainbox Six Siege. However the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition doesn’t. Clocking an average 123 frames per second at maximum graphics, the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition handles this game very well.

Moving on, I just had to benchmark Hitman, which is the only DirectX 12 game in my library. Turning up all the graphics options, the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition manages an impressive 79 frames per second, which is plenty playable and all the more playable when you throw in G-SYNC. This is a very pretty game, and if you actually sneak around instead of killing everything that moves like I shamefully do, you will have the time to take in the stunning details baked into the environment of this game.

Still one of our most graphics-intense games, The Witcher 3 does push the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition to its limits. With an average frame rate of 63 fps, the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition is capable of delivering the awesome visuals this game has in store. Enjoy Geralt and Yennefer’s silky NVIDIA HairWorks-enhanced hair and lush greens with the fluid tear-free gaming thanks to G-SYNC.
1 hour 42 minutes before dropping below 15%, and this was on the “Better Battery” power mode means that the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition isn’t the most portable machine you can get in the market. But this is expected since NVIDIA Optimus is disabled to make way for G-SYNC support. Still, I think ASUS missed out on the opportunity to include a button to quickly switch between the Intel iGPU and the beastly GeForce GTX 1070. Sure, it will take a restart like on the MSI GT72s 6QE Dominator Pro G, but at least it will allow you to eke out a bit more battery from the laptop when away from a wall plug.
User Experience
The ROG logo lights up when the laptop is on!
The ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition is not going to be the most portable gaming laptop you can find. It’s not exactly heavy for a gaming laptop, weighing in at 2.5 kg. We have seen thinner and lighter laptops but this is perfectly acceptable, and the plastic bottom shell is nicely textured to allow you to carry it by hand quite easily.

As expected of an ROG laptop, it comes with the full suite of ROG software to enhance your gaming experience. We will first start off with the ROG Gaming Center which is an awesome piece of software that unifies their whole software suite. You can also monitor your laptop from your smartphone, but try as I might I couldn’t get it to work on my ASUS ZenFone 4 (ZE554KL) running Android 8.0 Oreo.

The ROG Sonic Studio III is a great way to customize the audio output from the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition. While ASUS may not have partnered with ESS Sabre to handle the audio in their gaming laptops, the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition is capable is plenty capable of good sound through the combo 3.5mm jack. It is somewhat disappointing to not see the microphone and output jack separated, considering that most serious gaming headsets will not use a combo jack. But then again, USB headphones like the ROG Centurion are the future.

This is a somewhat controversial gaming application, as Sonic Radar III turns audio cues into visual ones by some trickery. This means you can actually see where your enemies are coming from based on the sound. This can give an advantage in FPS games, but it won’t help you if your aiming still sucks anyway, like in my case.

This is a nifty bit of software if you have really limited bandwidth or using a data plan to game. It can immediately terminate bandwidth usage, set the priority and monitor your bandwidth usage. With fibre connections being as fast as they are, this is a pretty useless software now, unless you really want to use all the bandwidth for your game, for that placebo effect.

ROG Aura Core is where you play around with the RGB keyboard. Sadly there aren’t really that many options to play around, but you can customize the keyboard to shine in any of the 16.7 million colors.

Without per-key backlighting, the illumination is pretty bright but very limited in terms of customizability. I can’t get the colors to run in a wave across the keyboard, which is one of my favorite lighting effects. The keyboard is pretty good, with decent key travel and and oversized space bar. Also worth noting is that the palm rests and keyboard do not warm up substantially even when gaming, which means comfortable gaming even for extended periods.

The VA-panel offers wide viewing angles and great color response, but the main attraction of the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition’s display is the fast 144 Hz G-SYNC. I have yet to experience such a quick display in a laptop, and everything from moving the cursor to gaming is a transcendental experience. It’s just so smooth! The 1080p resolution may seem a bit dated, but it’s just nice for the GeForce GTX 1070 to push to 144 Hz and beyond. 1440p would have been ideal though.

The offset speakers do a pretty good job pumping out tunes, but bass is understandably lacking from these smallish speakers. A mini subwoofer would have greatly improved the situation, but that’s not here. The stereo effect is better than most laptops due to their placement. They go very loud too without suffering from any distortion.

Now, back to the D-Door. It’s basically a single screw holding down a panel that lifts off to show you your storage and RAM slots. As you can see, there is an empty RAM slot waiting for you to throw in another 16GB to make up the grand total of 32GB RAM, while the occupied RAM slot and the blazing fast M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD are hidden for some reason. ASUS has done well to offer access to everything that is user-upgradeable here.
Conclusion
Is the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VS SCAR Edition worth your RM9299? Well, it does seem like it. A similar setup with a GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, 144 Hz G-SYNC VA display, blazing fast SSD and not to mention, the very sexy aluminium lid, will set you back quite a sum regardless of your brand of choice. If you can’t foot out the moolah, there is a more affordable variant with a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB and a 120 Hz display for RM7599. But if you have the money, this is definitely the one to get. This is a gaming laptop worthy of our Gold PokdeWard.

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Acer Launches Avengers Infinity War Special Edition Laptops

Avengers assemble!

Can’t wait for the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War that’s releasing here next week? Well, Acer has got a special treat for all you Marvel fanboys out there! In collaboration with Marvel, Acer has just released three new Avengers: Infinity War limited edition laptops. These special edition laptops include a Acer Aspire 6 Captain America edition, an Acer Swift 3 Iron Man edition as well as a badass looking Acer Nitro 5 Thanos edition.
Acer Aspire 6 Captain America Edition
The Captain America edition of the Acer Aspire 6 has a Cap’s big iconic star logo proudly located right in the middle of the laptop’s aluminum cover. The laptop is decked in navy blue with some silver trimmings here and there – much like Captain America’s superhero costume, which makes the laptop look super classy and might I say heroic.

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The Acer Aspire 6 Captain America edition is powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U processor as well as an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics. The special edition Acer Aspire 6 also comes with 4GB DDR4 RAM and is user upgradeable up to 16GB. It also comes with a 1TB SATA HDD storage as well. There’s also an HD camera with HDR and Dolby Audio Premium speakers for a complete entertainment experience.

To further enhance the whole multimedia performance, the special edition Acer Aspire 6 features a 15.6 inch IPS FHD display that provides consistent colours and wide-angle viewing. It also features Acer’s TrueHarmony technology which delivers lifelike audio, and Acer Purified.Voice for a great Cortana with Voice experience using two digital microphones found on the laptop.

Other features found on this particular laptop are a USB 3.1 Type-C, a USB 3.0 port that supports power-off charging as well as two additional USB 2.0 ports.
The Acer Aspire 6 Captain America edition retails at RM 3,299.
Acer Swift 3 Iron Man Edition
Continuing with the design theme, the Acer Swift 3 Iron Man edition is in hot rod red and has the Arc Reactor logo in the middle of the laptop’s aluminium cover – just like Iron Man’s suit. You’ll definitely like this special Acer Swift 3 if you’re a fan of Tony Stark.

The Acer Swift 3 Iron Man edition is powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U processor mated with 8GB DDR4 RAM as well as NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics. Other features sported by the Acer Swift 3 include a 14 inch IPS Full HD anti-glare display, a 256GB SSD, an HD camera with Super High Dynamic Range and a backlit keyboard.

It also has a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports as well as 802.11ac 2×2 MU-MIMO wireless technology for better and faster internet connectivity. It is also the smallest laptop and lightest laptop you’ll find here as it weighs in at only 1.6kg and is only 17.95mm in height.

The Acer Swift 3 Iron Man edition will retail at RM 4,399.
Acer Nitro 5 Thanos Edition
Now on to the biggest and baddest of the bunch. Here is the new Acer Nitro 5 Thanos edition and is part of Acer’s Nitro product line for casual gaming. The whole laptop is shrouded in matte black and finished with gold trimmings here and there and features a menacing portrait of the Mad Titan himself decorated by an IMR (In-Mold Roller) finish at the top of the laptop’s aluminium cover. There are also curious gold splatters which I assume are blood of some sort?

The Acer Nitro 5 Thanos edition is powered by a 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7300HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics with 4GB of GDRR5 VRAM as well 8GB DDR4 RAM that is upgradeable yo 16GB. The special edition Acer Nitro 5 also packs a fast 128GB SDD that is paired with a 1TB HDD for storage.

The Acer Nitro 5 Thanos edition features a 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display with Dolby Audio Premium as well as Acer TrueHarmony technology to provide immersive experiences from either gaming or just from watching movies. The Nitro 5 also features a dual fans with Acer Coolboost technology that delivers heightened fan speeds and cooling ability.

The Acer Nitro 5 Thanos edition will come with a retail price of RM 4,299.
Pricing and availability
All three of Acer’s Avengers: Infinity War special edition laptops are available for purchase now at select Acer resellers across the country but only between 17th April to 30th June 2018, as these laptops are limited edition laptops. That’s not all though. If you purchase any of the Avengers: Infinity War special edition Acer laptops at select Acer resellers nationwide between 17th April and 30th June 2018, you’ll receive an Avengers 16GB USB flash drive as well as an Acer premium backpack that’s worth RM 399.
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Sony Xperia 1 II is the only Sony device to get Android 11 update this year

Sony has announced their roadmap for the Android 11 update rollout, and it doesn’t look too good. Sony is only updating five of their most recent models to Android 11, and even then the timeline isn’t exactly ideal. Sony’s plans sees most of their smartphones getting the Android 11 update in 2021, save for the Xperia 1 II which will be getting it this month. Here’s the roadmap as published by Sony Germany:

Xperia 1 II – from December 2020
Xperia 5 II – from late January 2021
Xperia 10 II – from late January 2021
Xperia 1 – from February 2021
Xperia 5 – from February 2021

It appears that they will only be updating their latest premium lineup of devices, with cheaper devices like the Xperia 10 and Xperia L4 being left out of the fun, despite the latter being announced in February 2020. The Xperia 5 II’s update coming in January 2021 is also very peculiar, but I guess some will consider it to be fine as the device will only be available here in Malaysia next year.
On top of the niceties that stock Android 11 will bring, Sony will also be adding the 4K HDR 120 FPS video recording capability to the Xperia 1 II, which was already available in the Xperia 5 II from launch. It isn’t much, but it is something. I do honestly wonder why Sony doesn’t update more of their devices though, or maybe go about it faster, considering how they are basically running stock Android with a light skin on top. The changes in Sony’s UI aren’t as even in-depth as MIUI, and cheap budget devices like the POCO F2 Pro have already received their Android 11 updates.

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I guess Sony probably has more to report when they decide to share their opinion on why they aren’t doing so hot in the smartphone market.
Pokdepinion: It appears that Sony not only delays their product releases in markets like Malaysia, they also delay their updates.
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LG Showcase New OLED 4K TV

LG Malaysia today had a showcase event today, where they showed their brand new OLED 4K TV. It comes with a super slim design and also offers an interesting feature.
New LG OLED 4K TV
The model we’ve tested and tried was the LG OLED65W8 4K TV. As you can tell from the name, it features a 65-inch OLED 4K display. It features an α9 intelligent processor, and offers 4K Cinema HDR as well as 4K high frame rate. Also on offer is a perfect viewing angle, meaning that you can still enjoy viewing the TV no matter from what angle you are looking from (just don’t watch it upside down!).
An interesting feature that we like when we tested it out was its ThinQ AI feature. With it’s remote control, you can actually give commands and the TV will then try to fulfill your command, whether it being opening up Youtube, searching for something on Google, asking on what’s the weather will be like later and so on. We noticed that with the voice recognition, you’d need to speak in a clear and slow manner so that it can clearly detect your voice.

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At the moment of time, LG has said that the voice command only understand English but they then added that additional languages will be added soon.
Prices for different models will differ of course. The one on hand here costs RM34,999. Lowest in the LG OLED 4K TV lineup starts at the RM11,319.81 price tag  and the highest model (OLED77G7) comes at the price of RM75,470.75.
A Dolby Atmos soundbar is included in each of the LG OLED  4K TV, so be rest assured of having good sound quality for your viewing pleasure.
Besides the OLED 4K TV, they also showcased their TWINWash washing machine, which was launched earlier in the year. You can click here to read more on that.
Pokdepinion: Yes, not everyone will be able to afford their 4K OLED TVs, but nonetheless they look stunning. Maybe it’s time for me to start saving money for one of them? What do you think of the TV? Let us know as usual.
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Google’s Tensor SoC is apparently the Samsung Exynos 9855

Google’s new Tensor SoC is probably a huge step up for Google. While they have previously relied on OEMs to make their Nexus devices, they have since become more self-reliant. However they still use Snapdragon chips, up until now. The new Tensor SoC is supposedly a custom chip by Google, but apparently it is co-developed by Samsung.
This isn’t to say that Google is just doing a simple rebadging process, as they contributed to the design of the Tensor SoC. Google has reportedly decided to adopt their own ISP and Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), as well as an integrated security chip codenamed “Dauntless”.
The only thing tying it to Samsung is its codename “Whitechapel”, which is apparently the unreleased Samsung Exynos 9855. The internal code number for the Exynos 2100 is the Exynos 9840, so the Tensor SoC should probably be on equal footing, if not slightly faster than the Exynos 2100 in the latest Galaxy S21 series.

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Reports have pointed towards a slightly different core configuration, with the lack of a Cortex-X1 core. This might be for the better as apparently the Cortex-X1 core is the reason why the Snapdragon 888 is such a hot mess. Instead, Google might be going for two Cortex-A78 plus two Cortex-A76 cores for the performance cluster, and four Cortex-A55 cores for the efficiency cluster.

I must say that it is kinda odd that Google will use the outdated Cortex-A76 cores, so do take it with a pinch of salt. They could just as easily go with four Cortex-A78 cores and deliver better performance and efficiency. On the graphics end, Google’s Tensor SoC might be equipped with a 20-core Mali GPU, like the Exynos 2100. Samsung is also slated to be manufacturing the chip on their 5nm process.

I do look forward to see if Google can bring the fight to Apple now, since that they have their own custom SoC solution, just like Apple. It might probably take a few more years before Google can compete directly against Apple’s custom CPU and GPU architectures, but at least Google probably has a better chance of optimizing the user experience on their upcoming Pixel 6 series, since they developed both the hardware and software.
Source
Pokdepinion: Hopefully Google doesn’t get too reliant on Samsung and develops their own custom CPU and GPU cores for their next generation chips to compete against the likes of Apple.
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[UNBOXING] ASUS ROG Zephyrus S Gaming Laptop

Unboxing the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S

Want some serious gaming hardware on-the-go but don’t want something large and heavy to lug around? ASUS managed to do that with their ROG Zephyrus line of laptops and now, we have the latest one in our hands and it’s known as the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S gaming laptop.
There are two variants of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S gaming laptop; one with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q and the other with the regular GTX 1060. The unit we have is the GTX 1060 variant but, it’s also worth noting that in Malaysia, only the GTX 1060 variant will be officially available.
Clearly, the folks over at ASUS are gearing up to fight against the ultra-thin MSI GS65 Stealth Thin 8RF gaming laptop with this one. This will prove to be an interesting laptop to review as our big boss Superdaddy is actually using that very same MSI laptop.

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Be sure to check out our ASUS ROG Zephyrus S unboxing video at the top of this post. If you’d like to know more about this gaming laptop, check out the specifications right below here:
ASUS ROG Zephyrus S Specifications

CPU
Intel Core i7-8750H (6C / 12T @ up to 4.1 GHz), 9M Cache, 45W TDP, 14nm

RAM
16GB 2666MHz DDR4

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5

Storage
512GB PCIe G3X4 SSD

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 X 1080) 144Hz IPS-level display (3ms response, 100% sRGB)

Keyboard
Desktop-style 4-Zone RGB keyboard with Aura Sync (NKRO)

Connectivity
Wireless:
Intel 802.11ac (2×2) Gigabit Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
I/O:
2 x Type-A USB 2.0
1 x Type-A USB 3.0
1 x Type-C Gen 1
1 x Type-C Gen 2 with DisplayPort 1.2 and Power Delivery
1 x HDMI (supports 2.0)
1 x Kensington Lock
1 x Proprietary Charging Port

Audio
2 x Speakers (Stereo)
1 x Combo Audio Jack

Power
50Whr 4-cell Li-Polymer Battery

Dimensions
360 x 268 x 14.95~15.75 mm (W x D x H)

Weight
2.1kg

At the moment, we are in the midst of reviewing the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S gaming laptop but it will be published on our website very soon. Be sure to stay tuned to Pokde.net for the complete, in-depth review of this machine :)
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Epic Games Store Dismisses Any “Crappy” Games To Be On Their Platform

Launched at the end of last year, the Epic Games Store seems to be picking up the pace these days. In a recent interview, the company’s CEO, Tim Sweeney has explained on their thoughts on allowing “crappy games” on their store.
He said that the Epic Games Store will not distribute low-quality video games and they’ll have a vetting process to make sure that only “reasonably good quality games, of any scale, whether small indie games to huge AAA games makes the cut”. The CEO then added “We’ll have a quality standard that doesn’t accept crappy games. We’ll take everything up to, like, an R-rated movie or an M-rated game”.
In addition to the statement, he said that the Epic Games Store won’t be a place for porn games, or bloatware, or anything that comes close to the sort.

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Since the platform’s launch, they’ve unveiled a couple of exclusive game titles such as Metro Exodus and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. To attract more gamers, they also release a free game every two weeks since launch, with the latest being Oxenfree.
Pokdepinion: In a way, it seems like they’re doing quality control over what’s offered in their store, but I wonder how exactly will they do it? How can you tell if a game is good or not? Not everyone has the same taste.
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HUAWEI Trademarks MATEDRIVE & MATEAUTO – HUAWEI car incoming?

HUAWEI has reportedly registered the trademarks MATEDRIVE and MATEAUTO on 28 January under “scientific instruments and transportation tools”. The trademark registrations carry the application numbers 53374978 and 53370725. The description of the trademarks mentions “driving, transmission (or drive) device” which confirms that the trademarks are related to cars.
MATEDRIVE and MATEAUTO: HUAWEI’s getting serious about cars
This isn’t the first time the company has dabbled in a car-related activity. Back in 2018, HUAWEI demonstrated how the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro uses its AI capabilities to successfully drive a car.
According to sources, the company has seen increased activity in regards to car driving. Last July, HUAWEI began testing autonomous driving to achieve safe driving based on drivers’ behavioural data and environmental data.  Furthermore, HUAWEI established Huawei Digital Communication Autonomous Driving Network Joint Laboratory just last year.

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You can check out both the MATEDRIVE and MATEAUTO trademarks down below:

There isn’t much else in regards to this and we reckon that the first “HUAWEI Car” is several years away from being a reality. Until then, stay tuned to us here at Pokde.net.
Source 1, Source 2
Pokdepinion: A HUAWEI Car eh? If it is true, I wonder if it will ever come to Malaysia?
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ASUS announced Gong Yoo as brand ambassador – Kicking off partnership for the new ZenFone 4 family

Popular South Korean actor and entertainer, Gong Yoo has been officially announced as the brand ambassador for ASUS’ ZenFone 4 family in Asia-Pacific region covering Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. This will mark as Gong Yoo’s first ever international brand ambassador for an international technology company.
Gong Yoo has a successful portfolio in his career line as an actor, featured in popular television dramas and films such as Silenced (2011), Train to Busan (2016) and The Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016-2017). Choosing ASUS as his international brand ambassadorship shows that Gong Yoo shares the passion expressed in the ASUS In Search of Incredible brand.
When the ASUS team showed me their ZenFone AR, I was completely stunned how such a small device could possess so much technological innovation and produce a whole new world of imagination and creativity with its AR and VR features. It was then that I realized I wanted to collaborate with ASUS to see what new possibilities we could discover together. I am looking forward to embarking on this adventure with the new ZenFone 4 family. Gong Yoo
The tenure kicks off at the We Love Photo press event that will be held in Taipei on August 17 which we will also cover extensively. Watch this space.

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Godfall raytracing available only on AMD Radeon RX 6000 series, for now

While raytracing was exclusive to NVIDIA two years back, it is now the industry standard. Both AMD and NVIDIA offer cards with hardware-accelerated raytracing now, but it seems like AMD might want to turn the tables on NVIDIA for a bit. At least, when it comes to Godfall.
Godfall’s latest update brings raytracing to the already pretty gloriously lit game. If you own one of the latest AMD Radeon RX 6000 series cards, you can play Godfall with raytracing on. However if you are in the Green camp, well, the wait continues.

Update 2.0.95 has just been deployed to the PC version of Godfall and is now available for users to download. This update enables ray tracing while using applicable AMD GPUs.
📝 https://t.co/X3p7LRdgbc pic.twitter.com/7l36lig4Iv
— Godfall (@PlayGodfall) November 18, 2020

This is a pretty weird decision, as both AMD and NVIDIA work with DirectX Raytracing (DXR), which is a part of the DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set. With that said, Godfall is an AMD-partnered title, which might have made it easier for developers Counterplay Games to optimize for AMD first, making it available on both next-gen consoles and PCs. Counterplay Games has promised that NVIDIA cards will also be getting raytracing support in Godfall soon.

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If this trend continues, it paints a rather bleak future for gamers though. NVIDIA exclusivity when it came to raytracing in games was simply due to the fact that AMD didn’t offer support for it. Meanwhile this time around, despite both parties offering RT capabilities with the same support for DXR, AMD gets first dibs for no obvious reason.

AMD may have the upper hand when it comes to optimization, because of how both the major consoles in the market right now pack RDNA 2 GPUs and Zen 2 CPUs. That alone should motivate more developers to optimize their titles for AMD’s GPU architecture. But in the PC scene, there probably is no reason to limit features like raytracing which is enabled via the same API that’s supported by both AMD and NVIDIA. It might run slower on NVIDIA, but it should still be able to run on NVIDIA regardless.
NVIDIA has claimed that they won’t be keeping their upcoming partnered titles to themselves, as they are fully supporting Microsoft’s DXR and the upcoming Vulkan RT APIs. Well, we will see if upcoming games like Cyberpunk 2077 which has partnered up with NVIDIA will offer NVIDIA-exclusive raytracing when it finally arrives.
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Pokdepinion: I do hope that AMD-exclusive raytracing won’t be a thing in upcoming games, even if they are better optimized for RDNA 2 than Ampere.
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Clash of Clans Spring 2021 Update adds Town Hall 14 and more upgrades!

The new update for Clash of Clans is out, adding Town Hall 14, which adds a few new features to shake up the gameplay of the game that has been around for close to a decade by now. As usual, upgrading to Town Hall 14 will also unlock more structures for you to reinforce your base against attacks.
Town Hall 14 now has the ability to not only attack enemies when it is still standing, but also drop an Ancient Poison to damage raiding enemies after it is destroyed. Aside from that, upgrading to Town Hall 14 will also add 25 more wall pieces, along with more traps to stop attackers from getting to your gold and elixir storages.
You will also unlock new levels for the other structures in your base to further enhance your defense and also upgrade your attack capabilities with upgraded troops. There is quite a few updates to balance the game too to make it more fun for everyone.

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You can head on over to this link here to check out more of the changes that the first major update for Clash of Clans in 2021 will bring!
Pokdepinion: I am actually quite surprised that Clash of Clans still has updates after this many years. Great job, Supercell!
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