MSI Collaborates with EVANGELION e: PROJECT to Create an Ultimate Gaming PC

MSI has teamed up with e-sports brand EVANGELION e: PROJECT (EVA e: PROJECT) to offer gamers and Evangelion fans something truly unique which is the opportunity to build an Evangelion Unit-01, also known as Eva-01 Test Type, themed PC that fans will admire. EVANGELION e: PROJECT is a new e-sports brand that integrates Evangelion’s concept and design into gaming devices and PC peripherals.

The EVANGELION e: PROJECT series is inspired by EVANGELION’s original EVA-01 TEST TYPE. MSI has combined the legendary EVA-01 TEST TYPE iconic purple and green colours into four items which are a motherboard, AIO liquid cooler, power supply, and PC chassis.

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MAG B660 TOMAHAWK EVANGELION e: PROJECT

A limited-edition MAG B660 TOMAHAWK EVA e: PROJECT motherboard has a unique EVA-01 TEST TYPE design and colour scheme.
The EVA-01 TEST TYPE logo is spread across the Extended Heatsink, while the chipset heatsink displays the famous NERV insignia. The stunning official font of EVANGELION can also be found all over the motherboard. MSI’s Mystic Light also has an exclusive EVA lighting effect for added flare, allowing you to connect all of your RGB with a single click to display the distinct EVANGELION colours.
MSI’s expanded PWM heatsink and improved circuit design let even high-end processors operate at full speed and with the latest DDR5 memory and MSI Memory Boost technology, DDR performance has been improved.
The motherboard also has the most recent generation of PCI-E and M.2 solutions, with up to 64GB/s bandwidth for maximum transfer performance. The Thermal M.2 accessory, protects M.2 SSDs while preventing throttling and allowing them to run quicker.
Furthermore, the latest wireless system supports 6GHz spectrum, MU-MIMO, and BSS colour technology, with rates reaching up to 2400Mbps. The motherboard features Premium 2.5G LAN with LAN manager for a better network experience and a built-in USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port that provides 20Gbps transmission speed, which is four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 1.
MAG CORELIQUID C240 EVA e-PROJECT

Another key component of this series is the MAG CORELIQUID C240 EVA e:PROJECT All-in-One (AIO) Liquid Cooler, which features the EVA-01 TEST TYPE as the main design.
The water block of the cooler mixes incorporates the ARGB lighting and purple accents to bring out the image of the EVA-01 TEST TYPE. Furthermore, the NERV emblem is prominently displayed on the water block.
The MAG CORELIQUID C Series liquid cooler supports LGA 1700 right out of the box. For sound damping and noise reduction, the pump has been integrated within the radiator and a split pathway through the radiator quickly dissipates heat, and then cooled liquid is pushed back into the loop.
A long-lasting three-phase motor at the heart of the pump produces minimum vibrations for long-term operation. Three layers of netted plastic tubing and a reinforced mesh exterior make up this structure.
MAG A650BN EVA e-PROJECT

The MAG A650BN EVA e:PROJECT Power Supply Unit (PSU) is equipped to power up your Gaming PC by providing EVANGELION fans with stability and exceptional power efficiency. It blends the iconic colours of the EVA-01 TEST TYPE into the power supply’s outside cover and fan grille.
The power supply offers players a safe, dependable, and efficient entry-level power supply solution. It has 80 PLUS Bronze certification, a DC to DC circuit design, a 12V single rail, an active PFC, and a low-noise fan.
MPG GUNGNIR 110R EVA e-PROJECT

The limited-edition MPG GUNGNIR 110R EVA e-PROJECT case has an elegant shape and a purple and green colour scheme that is reminiscent of the EVA-01 TEST TYPE. A beautiful tempered glass side panel displays the classic Evangelion official font, while the other side panel of the casing displays an illustration of the EVA-01 TEST TYPE.
The front panel’s LED light strip can display a wide range of colours and MSI Mystic Light fully supports the ARGB lighting on the PC case. To have more appealing ways to decorate your gaming system, the 1 to 6 ARGB LED control board is featured.
4mm thick premium-grade tempered glass ensures window durability and viewing capability and up to six fans can be mounted on the MPG GUNGNIR 110R EVA e-PROJECT. The magnetic filter on top is intended to make uninstalling and cleaning simple for users.
MSI will make these EVANGELION e: PROJECT Gaming PC components available in May 2022.
To add to the excitement, MSI worked with Intel and Kingston to create a powerful gaming machine for you to win, complete with the latest Intel 12th Gen processor and Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 RAM. Complete missions to be eligible for the grand prize!
For more information, please visit the MSI X Evangelion e: Project campaign website by clicking the link here.
Pokdepinion:  I know an Evangelion fan who would be super hyped for this collaboration. The design really sticks to the anime and the iconic purple and green actually go well with the setup.
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NVIDIA Introduces Max-Q for Gaming Laptops; Making Laptops Up to 3 Times Thinner, Quieter, and Faster

NVIDIA has introduced Max-Q, a new design approach that redefines gaming laptops from the ground up — making them thinner, quieter and faster.
When looking at laptops in the past, most people tend to favour performance over all else. After all, we want our laptops to last as long as possible and performance is the most straightforward way of future-proofing our purchase.
Fast forward to today, we have laptops that cater to various needs but in some ways, it appears that we have run into a brick wall of potential. NVIDIA has something in store that can break down that wall, and further improve on gaming laptops. Introducing the Max-Q concept.

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NVIDIA Introduces Max-Q for Gaming Laptops

NVIDIA is introducing a brand new concept design that they call ‘Max-Q’. It’s a new design approach that redefines gaming laptops from the ground up — making them thinner, quieter and faster up to three-folds.
Max-Q, an integral part of NASA’s mission to launch man into space, is defined as the point at which the aerodynamic stress on a rocket in atmospheric flight is maximized. Thus, the design of the rocket is precision-engineered around Max-Q. NVIDIA has applied a similar philosophy to designing gaming laptops, enabling OEMs to build laptops that are 3X thinner with up to 3x more performance of previous generation products.
The results; a high-performance gaming platform, that is as thin as 18mm, or as thin as a MacBook Air, with up to 70% more gaming performance than what is currently available in the market today.
The Marvels of Max-Q
At the heart of this performance is NVIDIA Pascal, the world’s most efficient gaming GPU architecture. To deliver more performance to thin laptops, NVIDIA has further optimised and configured Pascal for even higher efficiency. And with Max-Q, everything in the design is precision engineered — including the laptop, the GPU, the drivers, and the thermal and electrical components — to ensure peak efficiency. With its blend of rocket science and exacting design, Max-Q pushes PC gaming on laptops into another stratosphere:

Powerful GPUs at Max Efficiency: Based on the NVIDIA Pascal GPU architecture, GeForce GTX 1080 is manufactured on the leading-edge FinFET 16nm process, and features cutting-edge GDDR5X memory. Max-Q combines a new way of operating the GPU for peak efficiency, with optimisations such as a low voltage optimised clock curve that wrings out gaming performance while reducing power.
Optimal Playable Settings: In addition to efficient GPUs operating at max efficiency, the Game Ready drivers have been tuned to deliver optimal system efficiency while delivering a great gaming experience for every game on every system.
Advanced Thermal Solutions and Optimal Regulator Efficiency: To squeeze even more performance out of a system, these Max-Q designed laptops are engineered with sophisticated thermal and electrical design. New advanced thermal solutions, along with unprecedented regulator efficiency, enable dramatically higher performance and quieter operations in thin gaming laptops than in anything else currently available.

The Ultimate Gaming Laptop
With Max-Q designed laptops, gamers can experience high-fidelity gaming and high-resolution entertainment whenever and wherever they want it. Max-Q designed laptops support the entire GeForce gaming platform, which includes the latest gaming technologies, Game Ready drivers, NVIDIA G-SYNC display technology, VR, 4K gaming, and more.
Max-Q designed laptops are also ready for NVIDIA GeForce Experience, a complete software platform that provides automatic game profiles to ensure gamers are playing with the right settings out of the box, ensuring an optimal gaming experience every time.
Introducing NVIDIA WhisperMode Technology
NVIDIA also introduced its silent NVIDIA WhisperMode technology, which makes laptops run much quieter while gaming. WhisperMode intelligently paces the game’s frame rate while simultaneously configuring the graphics settings for optimal power efficiency.
This reduces the overall acoustic level for gaming laptops. Completely user adjustable and available for all Pascal GPU-based laptops, WhisperMode will be available soon through a GeForce Experience software update.
Availability
MaxQ-designed gaming laptops equipped with GeForce GTX 1080, 1070 and 1060 will be available starting June 27th 2017 from the world’s leading laptop OEMs and system builders, including:

Acer
Aftershock
Alienware
ASUS
Clevo
Dream Machine
ECT
Gigabyte
Hasee
HP
LDLC
Lenovo
Machenike
Maingear
Mechrevo
MSI
Multicom
Origin PC
PC Specialist
Sager
Scan
Terrans
Force
Tronic’5
XoticPC

Pokdepinion: It appears we are reaching a new evolution for laptops. It might be worth waiting on a laptop purchase and see how this new Max-Q concept by NVIDIA will work out.
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Aigo darkFlash DLM21 Review — not too shabby!

Introduction

Aigo is a pretty renowned brand by now for their affordable offerings that deliver great bang-for-buck. Today, the Aigo darkFlash DLM21 is listed as a Luxury M-ATX case although it is priced very affordably at just RM159. And it even comes with three RGB fans at that price! So where’s the catch?
Unboxing

The packaging is your regular brown cardboard box with black print. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Inside, the dugi is protected by a plastic bag, and is suspended by foam blocks to prevent minor shipping mishaps from messing it up entirely. The fact that this case was shipped to us via a courier and it arriving unscathed is proof that it works.

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Most of the contents, aside from the case itself, are inside the case. Excellent use of space. Commendable effort! Not like you get a lot, as you only get a small bag of screws, some zip ties and a user guide.
Appearance

The first thing that caught my eye was the angular patterns up front. It looks strongly inspired by a certain Swedish-made case, but Aigo had a slight twist on it. The Aigo darkFlash DLM21 does not have a mesh front panel. It’s just a solid plastic panel. That’s quite a bummer as it means there won’t be any airflow from the front.

On the left side, there’s a tempered glass side panel. As you can see, it features a simple hinge mechanism for you to easily swing it open for upgrades or whatever you need. There’s a small cloth tab to assist you with that. The PSU shroud sports the darkFlash logo.

Over on the other side, we have a regular metal side panel. The perforations you see here are all there is to let the front fans breathe. Yes, Aigo actually designed this case to fit fans behind the solid front panel.

Up top there’s room for two 120mm fans. There’s a magnetic dust filter here, which bodes well for easy maintenance. You will also find the status LEDs, audio jacks, USB ports, power and reset buttons all up here on the Aigo darkFlash DLM21. You get two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port. I would probably prefer two USB 3.0 ports instead of the current combination, but it’s alright. Not great, just alright.

On the underside of the Aigo darkFlash DLM21 are four rather tall feet that offer pretty substantial clearance for the power supply to intake cool air. There’s also a dust filter over the power supply vent, although this one is not magnetic and it’s held on by fiddly little tabs.
Specifications

Model Number
Aigo darkFlash DLM21

Available Color
Black/White

Materials
Steel, plastic, tempered glass

Dimensions (LxWxH)
All
376(L) x 208(W) x 425(H) mm

Motherboard Support
Up to mATX

Expansion Slots
4

Drive Bays
5.25″
N/A

Combo 3.5″ / 2.5″
2

2.5″
4

Front panel
USB 3.0 x 1USB 2.0 x 2

3.5mm mic-in3.5mm out

Pre-installed Fan(s)
Front
None

Rear
None

Fan Support
Front
120mm x 2

Rear
120mm x 1

Top
120mm x 2 / 140mm x 2

Liquid Cooling Support
Front
No

Top
Up to 240mm radiators

Rear
120mm radiators

Clearances
CPU Cooler
160mm

PSU
N/A

GPU
330mm

Dust Filters
Top, bottom

Power Supply Support
Bottom mount, ATX PS2

User Experience

One thing I have yet to experience even with pricier cases is the hinged tempered glass door. It opens all the way, and can be easily lifted off the hinge to make way for whatever you need to do inside the roomy interior of the case.

For those of you who are worried about whether the Aigo darkFlash DLM21 fits large cooler backplates, well you can now to sleep in peace tonight after ordering this case. There’s a huge cutout to accommodate even the bulkiest of cooler backplates. Aigo also thoughtfully included quite a number of cutouts into the motherboard tray for cable routing, although there are no rubber grommets anywhere. Not like we were expecting any at this price point anyways.

There’s room for two SSDs here on the motherboard tray, with a thoughtful raised area between the two mounting points to allow for cable management. You can also skip it and route the cables from the other side, although that won’t look nearly as pretty.

You find three screws on the rear end of the Aigo darkFlash DLM21, two for the aforementioned side panel and one for the PCIe shield. None of the screws are held in place so they all come out completely. The screw near the expansion slots is what irks me the most. Why do I need to undo an additional screw to add or remove cards?

There’s ample space behind the motherboard tray as well, giving you a slightly easier time routing the cables around. You would want to arrange the cables nicely though as the side panel does flex quite easily and won’t really work to compress your cables.

Round back, once we have removed the back panel, you find that the Aigo darkFlash DLM21 features a removable HDD cage under the PSU shroud, hiding away your slow spinning platter storage. It’s removable too if you need to use a longer PSU, giving you the flexibility you need. It’s also good that there’s plenty of room here, as the PSU has to slide in from the side here, instead of from behind.

The front of the case actually has multiple ways to mount fans. As you might expect, the frontmost mounting points won’t work as there is no mesh. You would just be choking the fans. The Aigo darkFlash DLM21 does share its frame with several other cases, so maybe one with a mesh intake is on the way. With this specific case you would be better off using the extra frame behind, which can fit two 120mm fans. The small intake over on the right side will give it some air to suck in, but I would still avoid relying on them for much airflow.

Now that we have gone over most of the case, let’s talk about what can you fit in them. A LOT. Yes, even the massive Noctua NH-D15 fits snugly in there. The rear end is extremely close to the 120mm fan behind, and the central fan had to be pushed down a tad to make it fit into the 160mm maximum height, but it fits! I didn’t expect such a tiny case to fit such a tall cooler! And of course, perfect support for long cards, even when it comes to triple fan designs like the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2070.

There’s ample space for just about anything, and yet the Aigo darkFlash DLM21 remains a pretty compact little build.
Conclusion
The Aigo darkFlash DLM21 is a compact little case that really satisfied me with its roominess. I am not so happy with some of the design sensibilities, like the solid front panel, or the considerably thin metal construction, but hey, it costs RM159. And if that’s not enough value for you, those RGB fans seen in the build are actually bundled with the case, for free!

They may not be the best fans you have seen, and they are powered by an antiquated Molex 4-pin connector, so there’s no fan control nor RGB controls, but hey, they still spin and push air around your case. Also while they look like ARGB fans, the LEDs don’t change color. They remain that way, all the time.
So would I recommend the Aigo darkFlash DLM21? If you are thinking of a budget mATX or ITX build, then go for it. If you have a slightly higher budget, or think you need more airflow to cool your parts, there are cases that offer more performance-oriented designs. The Aigo darkFlash DLM21 does serve its purpose as a very affordable case, while looking awesome.

Our thanks to Aigo Malaysia for sending us the Aigo darkFlash DLM21.
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Amnesia Collection FREE for Limited Time; Get It NOW Before It’s Too Late

Looking for something new to play but you’re on a tight budget? Well, how about this then. The Amnesia Collection is free for a limited time. We’re not responsible for nightmares or degradation of your sanity.
Amnesia Collection FREE for Limited Time

If 2018 has been going great for you, then allow me to add another wonderful thing to keep the positive vibes going…or completely shatter it if you don’t like horror games. It appears that The Amnesia Collection is currently available completely free of charge over at Humble Bundle.
For those of you who aren’t aware, The Amnesia Collection consists of 2 of the most popular horror games to have been released thus far; Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

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Amnesia: The Dark Descent Synopsis via Steam
Amnesia: The Dark Descent puts you in the shoes of Daniel as he wakes up in a desolate castle, barely remembering anything about his past. Exploring the eerie pathways, you must also take part of Daniel’s troubled memories. The horror does not only come from the outside, but from the inside as well. A disturbing odyssey into the dark corners of the human mind awaits.
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs Synopsis via Steam
The year is 1899 Wealthy industrialist Oswald Mandus awakes in his bed, wracked with fever and haunted by dreams of a dark and hellish engine. Tortured by visions of a disastrous expedition to Mexico, broken on the failing dreams of an industrial utopia, wracked with guilt and tropical disease, he wakes into a nightmare.
The house is silent, the ground beneath him shaking at the will of some infernal machine: all he knows is that his children are in grave peril, and it is up to him to save them.
If you want to claim the game, click right here to do just that. The offer ends on 28th January 2018 at precisely 1AM for those staying in Malaysia as well as the GMT+8 timezone.
Source: Humble Bundle

Pokdepinion: It may be a free game but if you’re the type that’s easily spooked, this might just be something to avoid. After all, just because something is free, doesn’t mean you have to take it. Choose wisely, my friends.
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Intel Malaysia to donate RM2 million to help fight COVID-19 outbreak here

When it comes to a pandemic, everyone has to pull their weight to help fight it. Whether it’s by [email protected] or 3D printing protection gear for our valued frontliners, we all have to do our part to overcome it. To that end, Intel Malaysia has committed RM2 million to help healthcare professionals in their fight against COVID-19.

The donations will be used to fight purchase test kits, ventilators, patient monitors and air purifiers by the General Hospitals and other government agencies in Penang and Kedah. In addition to that, they have also donated face masks and hand sanitizers to the General Hospitals, PDRM and other government agencies to protect them from the virus.

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Intel Malaysia’s donation is in partnership with the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).
Pokdepinion: Thanks Intel Malaysia for such a generous donation!
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Borderlands 3 Has the Smartest Co-Op Implementation We’ve Ever Seen Thus Far

We recently wrapped out our review of Borderlands 3, which we had plenty of fun with. Our review mostly focused on the single player aspect of the game but what about co-op? That’s what we’re going to be talking about right here.
If you want to check out our Borderlands 3 review instead, click right here.
The Game Knows Your Friends Can Be A Pain

At the start of your playthrough in Borderlands 3, the game lets you pick between two different co-op modes; Cooperation and Coopetition. The reason you have to pick it then and there is because your friends can join your game anytime they want.

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Cooperation: The Ideal Way of Playing

In Cooperation, the mode will be balanced accordingly to the player themselves. If you’re a Level 20 and your friend is a Level 10, both of you will see enemies with levels accordingly with your own level. In other words, you will see enemies at around Level 20 while your friend will see them at around Level 10.
This doesn’t mean the enemies will be easy however. It will still be dependent on what’s happening at how you go about it. Take for example a Badass-type enemy or a boss fight. For the Level 20 character, it may feel like you’re fighting against a Level 25 enemy whereas for the Level 10, it will feel more like a Level 15 character. Basically, it may be scaled accordingly but there will still be a good amount of challenge.

As far is loot is concerned, all of the loot that you come across will be unique to you even from the same chests. What you see is different from what others see. Each player will also be getting loot that is appropriate to their character level.
This basically means that you don’t have to compete over loot and it will never break the game balance by giving you an weapon that’s too powerful for your level. Even if you did receive something that’s above your level, you still have to level up to be able to use it anyway.
For those who prefer a more chaotic co-op experience, you can try the other mode instead.
Coopetition: Survival of the Fittest

Coopetition is essentially the classic co-op experience from the Borderlands series. Everyone will see the same loot and the game will not balance the playing field.
When it comes to looting, players will have to decide who will be taking which items, or apply the age-old tradition of “you snooze, you lose”. The game even outright warns you that your friends can be a pain in the buttocks, and that you can be the thorn in their cracks in this co-op mode.
With the game being unbalanced, the one that will suffer the most is the one with the lowest level. Enemies may end up being too tough to deal with and it will be easy to die. However, the weakest character will also have the most to gain. It’s a matter of whether you’re willing to power through the pain.
How to Change Co-Op Modes?

If at any point you regret playing a particular co-op mode or you just want to try something different, you won’t be stuck forever. You can easily change that anytime you wish.
To do that, simply head on over to the main menu and take note of your account name on the top right of your screen. Next to your account name, click on the gears icon and you can adjust a few settings. Simply change your Group Mode to Cooperation / Coopetition and you’ll be good to go.
Borderlands 3 Co-Op Verdict

Borderlands 3 is pretty fun on its own and it can be a lot more fun to play with friends. I say “can be” because it ultimately depends on what you want to do. If you want to focus more on the story elements, playing with friends can make it hard to focus on the story. If you just want to have fun in the game or level up your character, then you’ll definitely have a blast, figuratively and literally.
Cooperation mode is by far the smartest way a game has implemented co-op play in a game, at least as far as we’ve seen here at Pokde.net. To avoid unnecessary stress, this is definitely the way to go as it still doesn’t take the fun away from the game. If you and your friends are feeling competitive, there’s nothing wrong with Coopetition mode.
At the end of the day, just remember to have fun and enjoy the Borderlands 3 experience. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
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Spanish site reveals everything about the i7 9700K — faster than the Ryzen 7 2700X in x264 benchmark!

While Intel hasn’t formally announced the 9th Generation Intel Core CPUs, the Spanish site El Chapuzas Informatico has already published a full-length review of the Intel Core i7 9700K. Do take the following details with a pinch of salt though.
The review confirms most of the previous leaks, with the Intel Core i7 9700K proving to be the first octa-core CPU from Intel without HyperThreading. It also has a weird 12MB L3 cache. The boost clocks of the CPU is rather impressive, going up to a lofty 4.9 GHz. Base clocks are much more sedate at 3.6 GHz.

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When tested on an unnamed Z390 motherboard (so they decided to honor the motherboard’s NDA but not the processor’s?), the Intel Core i7 9700K also proves to be a strong overclocker, with the hallowed 5 GHz mark achieved with 1.4V (yes we know what the screenshot says. It’s a bug, according to the reviewer). That’s with all 8 cores running.

Speaking of performance, the Intel Core i7 9700K does better than the Ryzen 7 2700X at stock clocks in x264 Benchmark and also all the games the site tested, which includes Battlefield 1, DOOM, Far Cry 5 and Rise of the Tomb Raider.
The rumor of Intel reverting to solder for the Intel Core i7 9700K and i9 9900K might be true as well, as the site managed to achieve a cool 70°C when they fixed the voltage to 1.2V. The motherboard apparently pumps too high a voltage even at stock, pushing temperatures up to 95°C when running Aida64’s stress test.
The Intel Core i7 9700K seems like an interesting CPU but its expected price of 440 euros (~RM2121.28) might raise a few eyebrows. It’s not that much faster than the competition or even its predecessor, so here’s hoping Intel isn’t actually planning on selling it for that much money.
Pokdepinion: Now I am interested to see what can Intel bring to the table with the Intel Core i9 9900K!
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How to Counter These 15 Annoying Raya Situations with Help from Netflix

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just around the corner but this year, things are going to be very different from before. What will most likely not change is you getting stuck in some annoying situations during Hari Raya. Whether you’re gonna be on FaceTime, Zoom calls, or even Google Meet, you’re gonna need some mental preparation for that.
Whether it’s about putting on some weight or asking when you’re gonna get married, the folks over at Netflix have drawn inspiration from some of the most popular shows on the platform for answers. For some added bit of fun, you can print it out and send it to them if you know who and what they’re going to ask.
Without further ado, let’s check out the ways to counter 15 annoying raya questions with help from Netflix.

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1. When auntie weighs in on your physical appearance

2. When auntie asks about your future career plans that you haven’t thought about yet

3. When you’re deciding if you should say goodbye to that baju kurung from 8 years ago

4. That one uncle you see once a year who can never remember what you do for a living

5. When auntie compares your earning potential to your cousins’

6. When you’re 3 hours into your family Zoom call

7. When you have 60 cousins in the family and not enough cash

8. When your uncle kepoh your love life (again)

9. When auntie starts poking around your career progression

10. When auntie tries to find out if you have a boyfriend (for the 6th time today)

11. When you have a girlfriend (finally) and now you’re stuck with questions about your marriage plans

12. When you’ve been married for a year and auntie starts asking for a grand niece

13. When you’re taking a gap year to figure out what you want to do with your life

14. When you’re looking fly this Raya and don’t know how to handle compliments

15. When you’re really just not hungry at the moment

It’s a little bit early but we at Pokde.net, as well as our friends from Netflix, would like to wish you a Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir dan Batin. As Netflix puts it, “Semoga Raya Kita, Berbagai Cerita”. Be sure to stay tuned for the Hari Raya watch list by clicking right here.
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PS Plus Premium Users Get God of War Ragnarok Trial Access for 3 Hours

For those of you who have yet to play God of War Ragnarok, you can enjoy the first 3 hours for free if you’re a PS Plus Premium subscriber.
God of War Ragnarok Trial for PS Plus Premium

The PlayStation Store’s official page for God of War Ragnarok has been updated to include a new trial option, which allows PlayStation Plus Premium members to play the full game for up to three hours for free. If players choose to purchase the game after the PS Plus Premium trial, they can carry over their progress. Released in 2022, God of War Ragnarok was highly praised as an exclusive title for PlayStation.

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It joins other PlayStation first-party games, such as The Last of Us Part 1 Remake, Horizon Forbidden West, MLB The Show 22, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, in offering a trial option. It’s worth noting that game trials are exclusively available to PS Plus Premium members, but players can upgrade their subscription to Premium at any time by paying the difference in fees. In addition to game trials, a Premium subscription offers access to legacy titles from older PlayStation consoles.

God of War Ragnarok was a major success in 2022, and while it marked the end of the Norse mythology era for the series, it doesn’t necessarily mean the franchise is over. Game director Eric Williams clarified in a post-launch interview that it’s unlikely Santa Monica Studios will release a post-launch expansion for God of War Ragnarok. However, there is still potential for the game to expand its financial success with a future launch on PC, similar to its predecessor.
Although the game has been out for three months, God of War Ragnarok has yet to receive a discount. If you’re unsure about purchasing the game or are new to the series, the new trial option could help you decide whether to buy it. The next move for Santa Monica Studios is currently unknown. There were earlier rumors that Cory Barlog, the game director behind God of War (2018), was leading a new fantasy-themed IP in the studio, but it may take some time before any clear announcements are made about the studio’s next project.
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Pokdepinion: The PS Plus Premium exclusive trials are a good way to get people interested in the game. 3 hours in would definitely make it easier for people to buy but for those who chose not to, at least they can be sure that missing out on it is fine.
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SonicGear Airphone 300L review

One of the main reasons why I have never used wireless headphones is because of the pricing. Wireless audio devices are usually more expensive compared to their wired counterparts. All my hardware and gadgets also feature 3.5mm jacks. I also doubt the audio quality over a wireless connection. Recently LeapFrog Global Distribution send me a wireless headphone, the SonicGear Airphone 300L. Let’s see if it can put my prejudice to rest, shall we?

Unboxing

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A big picture of the product takes the stage on the front of the box with a little window to give you a little peek of the actual product. SonicGear Airphone 300L comes in three different colors, black, grey and red, which is the one we have here.

At the back we have detailed specifications of the headphone. The SonicGear Airphone 300L is the successor of the Airphone 200L, with a bigger battery, as well as a new design.

Inside the box we have the headphone itself, along with a micro USB cable to recharge the battery, a AUX cable to use it with devices with a 3.5mm jack and a user manual on how to pair the headphone with devices.

Appearance

The headphone has a relatively small size compared to the rest of my headphones/headsets collection.

Unlike the Airphone 200L which sports a foldable design that might have been more fragile, SonicGear changed things up and went with an adjustable headband design.

The on-ear pads are soft and the size will sit well on most ears but you can’t expect good noise isolation from these. Being equipped with on-ear pads, the SonicGear Airphone 300L does have a tendency of falling off your head. That said, the SonicGear Airphone 300L has adequate clamping strength to stay on your head, unless you decide to go head banging with it.

The headband is wrapped in pleather with the SonicGear branding on it. The headband size is small and the padding is not that thick, but it is still comfortable enough given that the SonicGear Airphone 300L is pretty light.

On the front edge of the right driver we have a full all in one control for the headphones. It might be quite difficult to get used to it, but it didn’t bother me much since I rarely found a need to use it. I do wish it was located on the back edge of the earpiece instead, for a clean look from the front.

Two ports on the SonicGear Airphone 300L allows for charging and 3.5mm input are at the bottom of each earpiece, along with a microphone hole and status LED. The SonicGear Airphone 300L have a built-in non-removable 300mAh battery that is touted to last up to 8 hours of continuous usage.

Specification

User Experience
Before we get to the audio quality, lets talk about the build quality first. SonicGear Airphone 300L is really light and sometimes I tend to forget that it is still on my head. It feels and looks kind of flimsy, but I don’t think it is that easy to break it. I used it as I use all my headphones, and it is still in one piece. The soft cushion on the ear pads are actually quite comfortable for long hour usage. Overall the build quality is fair for the price, but for me audio quality is the main concern.

I’m pairing the headphones with my smartphone and I have listened to many podcast and videos on YouTube. Pairing the headphone with the devices is very easy. The user manual covers everything you need to do, so read it. Something I like about the headphone is the audio notification each time you connect or disconnect.
The SonicGear Airphone 300L has decent audio clarity especially when i’m listening to audio podcasts. The bass is not that powerful as SonicGear claims, but it still there and for me, the amount of bass is adequate for casual usage. As it was never touted as high fidelity audio equipment, the audio quality on the SonicGear Airphone 300L is fair.
Battery usage is pretty good,. The 300mAh battery didn’t take much time to full charge for up to 8 hours usage. If it so happen the battery ran out, the 3.5mm auxiliary port allows you to continue enjoying music. If you’re going to use the 3.5mm audio jack frequently, it would be wise to get a more durable and better looking one

The only thing that bothers me is the all-in-one control. SonicGear should have positioned it on the back of earcup. It would be easier for me to use it if it’s on the back compared to the current position. It also help to improve the look from the from view.

Conclusion
SonicGear Aiphone 300L is actually a decent wireless headphone at its price. Its comfortable, offers good battery life and decent audio quality which are all in line with what I expect at this price range. Design wise, there is a lot that can be improved, such as the all-in-one audio control, for starters. SonicGear Airphone 300L might not suitable for people used to high quality audio, but for me the sound quality it produced are more than enough for normal end users. You can buy the SonicGear Airphone 300L directly from Leapfrog’s digital store on Lazada for RM99.90.
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2023 MacBook Pro 16-inch Review: M2 Pro Powerhouse – Performance, Battery Life & Display Brilliance Revealed

2023 MacBook Pro 16-inch with M2 Pro Chip Review: Unleashing the Power of Apple’s Top-tier Laptop

Choosing a laptop can be extremely trivial. You have one shot to pick a companion and there’s just so much you can identify based on quick hands-on. You’re juggling between portability, display size, performance, battery life, looks and of course, price. It’s almost impossible to get ticks on all of them; you win in some parts; you lose in others. For me, I’m willing to sacrifice price if I can get the checks in all of the rest; which is still not realistic.
To give a rough idea, my current companion is the beautiful ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 (GX550) since 2020 that set me back at RM20-grands, delivers heart pumping performance in a compact size, has a 15.6” UHD display with an additional productivity panel but constantly gives me what I call “battery anxiety”. So, price and battery life are still two items unchecked for it.

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Enter MacBook Pro 2023, Apple’s top range offering in portable high-performance machines in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. Considering the available variants, the highest configuration can go as high as RM26,799 which would only be applicable to you if you actually need 38-core GPU processing power. Even then, I would suggest opting for a desktop machine instead.
Unboxing the 2023 MacBook Pro 16-inch

Apple is known to keep things simple and standardized across the board. The MacBook Pro has had the same packaging for ages now. The whole package comes with;

The MacBook Pro itself
140W power adapter
3-pin power connector
Type-C to MagSafe 3 cable
User guide.

MacBook Pro 2023 Specifications

CPU
Apple M2 Pro chip
12-core CPU:
– 8 x P-core (Avalanche) up to 3.7GHz
– 4 x E-core (Blizzard) up to 3.4GHz
16-core Neural Engine

GPU
Apple M2 Pro
19-core integrated GPU

RAM
16GB (up to 32GB) LPDDR5-6400

Storage
1TB (up to 8TB)

OS
MacOS Ventura (13.2.1)

Connectivity
– Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
– Bluetooth 5.3
– 3 x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt
– 1 x HDMI 2.1
– 1 x SDXC Slot

Display
Liquid Retina XDR display
16.2-inch (diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display; 3456×2234 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch
 XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range)
Up to 1000 nits sustained (full-screen) brightness, 1600 nits peak brightness 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
Color
1 billion colors, Wide color (P3), True Tone technology
Refresh rates
ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

Audio
– High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers
– Wide stereo sound
– Support for spatial audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos on built-in speakers
– Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking when using AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max
– Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beam forming
– 3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
– HDMI port supports multichannel audio output

Power
100Wh Li-Po battery
140W USB-C Power Adpter
USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable

Dimensions
16.8×355.7×248.1 mm (HxWxD)

Weight
2.15 kg

MacBook Pro 2023 Performance
This is the first time we’re taking a MacBook Pro for a detailed review and most of our benchmark tools are either not compatible with MacOS, or they require Intel CPU instead of the Apple chip. So, I will provide the raw benchmark data here and explain each of them to give a perspective. I also did not install Rosetta or any Intel based framework to keep my data as consistent as it possibly can. The unique offering on this MacBook Pro lies in the Apple Silicon itself in its optimised behavior.
The MacBook Pro that I have at hands is running on Apple M2 Pro chip that is composed of 12-cores divided into eight P-cores (performance cores) and four E-cores (power-efficiency cores). The P-cores are capable of clocking up to 3.7GHz while the E-cores clock up to 3.4Ghz. The M2 Pro is manufactured in 5nm at TSMC. This is coupled to integrated 19-cores GPU and fast 16-cores neural engine. What does this give out?

For data consistency, I’m running MacOS Ventura v13.2.1 which is the latest version at the time of writing.

We start off with the SSD test. Since our usual CrystalDiskMark doesn’t have a tool for MacOS, we’re using BMP’s Disk Speed Test to run the synthetic benchmark. The 2TB SSD is blazing fast at 6522MBps Write speed.

Moving onwards, we have out Geekbench 6.0 test that stresses the CPU’s single core and multi-core. As we don’t have comparison data even against the previous generation M1 based MacBook Pro, we shall keep this data here for our future reference. But if you do need to do a comparison, Geekbench has an online profiling for all tested CPUs on their website, and at the time of writing, the top performing CPU scored 3069 on single-core and 21187 on multi-core which is the monstrous 13-Gen Intel Core i9-13900KS with 24-cores! The Apple M2 Pro here was sandwiched between AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX. Let me remind again, these are desktop CPUs, and we’re talking about the MacBook Pro *laptop*.
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Next is our Novabench Benchmark test which is the latest addition to our benchmark data set. Since we only have one machine to compare, I’m not going to highlight much here, but it should give you a perspective how fast the MacBook Pro is in pretty much all aspects.

If you are considering the MacBook Pro as your daily driver, high chances are that you are content creator. If you want to identify how this machine fairs against yours, I’ve added this bonus benchmark test for your comparison. This is Blender’s Benchmark that directs highly on polygon manipulation.
Battery Life: Real-World Test Results

Usually, we run our battery benchmarks using PCMark Battery test but since they do not have a tool for the MacOS (I mean, it’s called *PC*Mark), so instead of synthetic benchmarks, here’s some real-world tests for you. The battery life on the MacBook Pro is good. I mean, insanely good! Packing so much power and delivering this level of battery efficiency is something I would expect Apple to do it best. I charged the MacBook Pro to full on 25th February 2023 and I used it as my usual daily machine.
To give you a perspective, I’m a programmer, so it’s common for me to run webservers and IDE as part of my environment. Lately, I’m exploring Dart programming language and Flutter, so I have XCode and Android Studio running on idle in the background, together with VSCode as my primary IDE. I do need a lot of raw CPU and RAM for the most part as I run real-time compiler for Dart and Flutter. These are on top of the usual behavior running Chrome browser, Microsoft 365 productivity tools with Outlook always running and Adobe tools especially Photoshop always available. This MacBook Pro runs equally powerful like my previous machine, minus the battery anxiety! I don’t even remember ever owning a laptop that lasts this long.
The Good: Display, Audio, and MacOS Ventura Features

The MacBook Pro has so much to talk about. Moving around the machine, it has a total of 3 USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt capabilities, a full HDMI port, a 3.5mm auxiliary audio jack, and a super-fast MicroSD slot. The HDMI port itself is a 2.1 variant and allows up to 8K resolution at 60Hz on an external monitor. And if you’re plugging in a 4K display, the bandwidth is capable to pushing 240Hz. Since I’m using the M2 Pro variant, this MacBook Pro is able to output to 2 external displays as opposed to 4 external displays on the M2 Max.

Since the last generation, the TouchBar has been removed and I don’t think it’s missed here. The availability of physical Function keys is a bliss especially when you’re dealing with productivity tools like Microsoft Excel.

Speaking of keys, the MacBook Pro’s keyboard is definitely one to fall in love with. The keys travel distance is just perfect for long hours of typing and it feels extremely comfortable to type on. The TouchID key is built into the keyboard and allows quick access to the machine, but I think I’d appreciate FaceID more instead of this. The TrackPad is humongous and you can definitely appreciate the real estate it offers. It’s been years since I used a laptop and totally relied on the TrackPad without plugging in a mouse and I’m loving it.

The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display will definitely win your heart. The super thin bezels allow for maximum viewable area and is easy to appreciate. In fact, after all these years, some apps struggle to render properly on Windows based 4K machines, but Apple doesn’t have this problem at all. I thought the large display with such high density would set me back on the battery life, but as you have seen, the battery didn’t suffer at all!  The 120Hz ProMotion delivers really smooth refresh rates too. I can safely say, the MacBook Pro has one of the best displays on any laptops we have experienced so far.

What use is a beautiful display if it’s not coupled with good audio, right? The MacBook Pro comes with six-speakers sound system. It has ample bass to fit in just nice amount of lows and listening to music can really be a joy without headphones.

With Apple’s MacOS Ventura, the implementation of Stage Manager extends its ability. It allows you to focus on what you’re working on while giving you a quick perspective of other running applications. I’m still getting used to it, but I guess it will slowly sink into my usage behavior. The MacOS Ventura also brings about what Apple calls the “Continuity Camera”. You can use your iPhone as a webcam with this although I’m not so sure I would actually ever need to do it considering the MacBook Pro already has a built-in webcam which is 1080p FaceTime FHD Camera.
You can appreciate a lot of goodness with the MacBook Pro, but only if you have a full Apple ecosystem. As soon as you try to deal with any other OS, you’re likely to hit a wall for even the simplest task. But that’s just Apple. Universal Control allows you to move windows between your MacOS and iPad while using a single mouse and keyboard. Calls and Messages can be received on either of your iPhone or MacBook Pro. Universal Clipboard allows you to copy text and images from your iPhone or iPad and paste them into your MacBook Pro. Of course, AirDrop that allows you to easily share images, videos, files, web pages, or anything that has “share” function, across all your Apple devices seamlessly and quickly. Yep, Apple Devices.
The Bad: Design, Connectivity, and the Notch

For generations, Apple has retained the same look of their MacBooks and I think this one needs a revision. The simplicity does spark good looks, but it gets boring when you can’t immediately identify against even several generations ago. You do have an option to pick between Silver or Space Gray and I personally think the Space Gray wins in this segment.
I think the one thing that I’m really missing here is the lack of USB Type-A port. Suddenly all my peripherals require an additional accessory to be carried around which I’m not a big fond of. Even if there was just one USB Type-A port here, it would have been sufficient already. I’m not one who likes to carry unnecessary accessories when I’m moving around and this one is a huge bummer. At least for me who’s jumping off from a Windows based laptop as most Apple users are now conditioned with it.

I’m not a fond of notches and the MacBook Pro is no exception here. With such a beautiful display, the notch is definitely a turn off. I’m sorry Apple, this one really needs to go away. I’m very sure Apple is able to place the webcam in a more subtle way. It also doesn’t need any Dynamic Island that you would find on the iPhone 14 Pro series because multi-tasking is not really a problem on the MacBook Pro anyway.
MacBook Pro 2023 Verdict: Is it Worth the Investment?
Among many Apple devices, I definitely love their MacBook Pro the best. The 2023 MacBook Pro only made it better. It packs so much punch, hones an extremely beautiful display, and delivers beyond expectation battery life. Sure, the starting price of RM10,799 is hard to fork out, let alone the variant that I’m having at hand that has a price tag of RM14,799 with 32GB RAM and 2TB storage. But you didn’t came all the way to this article to read my review on the MacBook Pro not expecting its price. And if you really need my opinion, if I have to pick one machine to go with me everywhere in 2023, it definitely will be this MacBook Pro!
For the perfection that it carries, I just have to give it our highest Gold Pokdeward!

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New Nintendo Switch Models May Be Coming Sooner Than Expected, Insider Claims

After our initial report, more rumours have surfaced on an upgraded Nintendo Switch model launching this year. Could it actually be true?
Could the New Nintendo Switch Be Real After All?

A recent leak on 4chan about new Nintendo Switch models has stirred up rumours that a successor to the popular console may be released later this year. Notable industry insider Jeff Grubb has also added fuel to the fire with his recent comments on his YouTube channel and a Kinda Funny Games livestream. Although Grubb is not certain about anything, he claims to have heard rumours of a Switch 2 announcement in late 2023 with a “45% chance” of it being released in the same year.
According to Grubb, this upcoming model may not necessarily be a major jump as a Switch 2, but it could be stronger than what one would consider a ‘Switch Pro’. The hardware may “straddle the line” between the two, but it would “[continue] the generation” of the Switch. Grubb further stated that he saw things “lining up again to have something happen sooner rather than later, by the end of this year.”

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The 4chan leaker also claimed that the new Switch model would launch with the second wave of the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC, which is set to release in Winter 2023. If these rumours turn out to be true, it would come as a shock to many analysts and commentators, as the Nintendo Switch launched six years ago today. Although a six-and-a-half-year lifespan is not unusual for a console, many expect that its continued success will make Nintendo want to keep it afloat for a while longer.
It’s important to note that these rumours are not yet confirmed, but they are certainly exciting for Nintendo fans. As we wait for official announcements from the company, we can only speculate on what new features and upgrades the rumoured Switch models may bring.
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Pokdepinion: I’m still on the fence about this, mostly because I’m expecting an entirely new system. They could always figure out a way to make the new system still support Switch games anyway but we shall see.
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Something new is coming from POCO — will it come with the Snapdragon 855?

The POCOPHONE F1 made people question how much more are they actually getting by paying top dollar for the latest flagship, when they can get close enough with the POCOPHONE F1. Xiaomi isn’t going to rest on their laurels just yet though, as POCO India’s Twitter account just blasted a teaser:

The #NewPOCO is getting us all excited!
Jingle bells are rolling. The BIG #Christmas reveal happens tomorrow! Stay tuned for more. #MasterOfSpeed
— POCO India (@IndiaPOCO) December 24, 2018

What do you think is coming from them? A new #MasterOfSpeed? The only way you can top the POCOPHONE F1 in terms of speed is by bringing in the Snapdragon 855. So will it be the POCOPHONE F2? Or perhaps we are looking at it wrong, and the #NewPOCO is just going to be a new color variant, perhaps a Red and Green variant to celebrate the Christmas cheer?
Please let it not be the latter. It may seem a bit too soon for a POCOPHONE F2, as it will probably annihilate the competition if it is priced anything like the POCOPHONE F1. Whatever it is, we can’t wait for it!

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Pokdepinion: Imagine what a rick-rolling experience it would be if Xiaomi actually released a red POCOPHONE F1 with green accents. LOL.
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CoverScreen OS App Update Brings Mini Phone Functionality to OPPO Find N2 Flip

The latest update to the CoverScreen OS app by developer IJP adds mini phone functionality to the OPPO Find N2 Flip’s cover screen, allowing users to navigate, launch, and interact with apps just like on the main screen.
How Does CoverScreen OS Work on the OPPO Find N2 Flip?

IJP, the developer behind the popular CoverScreen OS app, has announced a new update that focuses on the OPPO Find N2 Flip. The app, which adds extra functionality to outer displays on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip phones, now supports the large cover display on OPPO’s latest flip phone.
What sets this update apart is that it turns the screen into a miniature phone, letting you navigate through, launch, and interact with apps just like you would on the main screen. The update also works with most third-party app home screen widgets and comes with quick toggles, navigation gestures, notifications, and a powerful media screen with multiple sessions and additional controls.

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According to the company, the latest update works smoothly, thanks to IJP ironing out the wrinkles from previous versions of their app. The app has been available since the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and later got an update for the Galaxy Z Flip 4. We will likely see support for other flip-style devices if it continues to do well.
If you own an OPPO Find N2 Flip and want to try out the app, the latest version is available in the Play Store. Watch the videos to see the app in action, and how the user swipes through apps, opens a YouTube video, and opens up Google Chrome to search for “OPPO.”
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Pokdepinion: This looks like a fun little app to add a bit more functionality to the outer display. I don’t foresee it replacing the main display, sure, but it does add a bit of inconspicuousness to using a smartphone. Your smartphone is your own business but remember, use this wisely and don’t be a creep about it.
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Sony Introduces the New α9 Mirrorless Camera; World’s 1st Full-Frame Stacked 24.2 MP CMOS Sensor

Think Sony’s camera lineup is beastly already? Introducing their newest monster, the Sony α9 Mirrorless Camera.
We’ve reviewed a couple of Sony cameras before here on Pokde.net. They were powerful cameras that not only performed admirably, but were also easy to use. Let’s be frank, we may be tech experts but in this particular side, full-fledged photographers are more suited for this.
Rumours have been circulating on the web of a new monstrosity by Sony that’s about to come out, and it looks like it’s coming true. Introducing the Sony α9 Mirrorless Camera.

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Sony α9 Mirrorless Camera

Sony has officially introduced the newest entry to their line of mirrorless cameras, the  Sony α9. It is claimed that this is the most technologically advanced camera that they’ve ever created, and its performance is simply unmatched by any camera in today’s world – mirrorless, SLR, or otherwise.
The Sony α9 is capable of high-speed, blackout-free continuous shooting up to 20fps, 60 AF/AE tracking calculations per second. a maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32,000 second and much more. This is made possible thanks to the 35mm full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor, which enables data speed processing up to 20x faster than any of their previous cameras.

Paired with a newer, upgraded version of the BIONZ X processor and front-end LSI, you can expect better performance overall and lesser noise in the images produced. The Sony α9 has 693 phase detection autofocus points, which covers roughly 93% of the frame so you can be sure that the AF system will be able to capture even the fastest moving subjects tracked across the frame.
Some of you may be wondering how big this camera is. Well, it’s not as compact as the A6300 or A6500 and sits closer to the A7 series. And just like the newer Sony models, the Sony α9 also has the 5-axis in-body image stabilization, which provides a shutter speed advantage of up to 5 steps, which will be incredibly helpful for low-light shots. It also seems to have adopted a touchscreen LCD, something that people have been clamoring about and only got it recently with the A6500.

One of the most common issues in a mirrorless camera, especially when compared to its SLR sibling, is the battery life. This new Sony α9 will utilize an all-new battery (NP-FZ100) which is said to give 2.2x the capacity of previous Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Not only is that doubled, it’s also capable of taking in 2 memory cards via 2 separate slots; with one specifically for UHS-II media.
Why UHS-II? Well, it can record 4K resolution videos after all. In fact, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 6K of information, oversampling it to produce high quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth. Additionally, the camera can record Full HD 120 fps at up to 100 Mbps, which allows footage to be reviewed and eventually edited into smooth 4x or 5x slow motion video files in Full HD resolution with AF tracking.
At the moment, no official price for the Sony α9 has been revealed yet. It is expected to be revealed when it becomes available in Asia Pacific countries from June 2017 onwards.

Pokdepinion: Sony is claiming that their new camera can do a lot but we can’t vouch for it just yet. We have to actually try out the camera as much as possible to see whether what they has truth in it or not. We are indeed looking forward to this new beast of a camera, that’s for sure.
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Get Layers of Fear on Humble Bundle for FREE! 14 hours more to go!

If you are a fan of horror games, then this might be the game for you. While I am a little too chicken to check this out, Layers of Fear + Soundtrack is free on Humble Bundle. It is rated Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, so this game should be a good addition to your library.

Here’s the synopsis on Steam
You take another drink as the canvas looms in front of you. A light flickers dimly in the corner. You’ve created countless pieces of art, but never anything like…this. Why haven’t you done this before? It seems so obvious in retrospect. Your friends, critics, business partners—soon, they’ll all see. But something’s still missing…
You look up, startled. That melody… Was that a piano? It sounded just like her… But, no—that would be impossible. She’s gone. They’re all gone.
Have to focus. How long has it taken to get to this point? Too long, but it doesn’t matter. There will be no more distractions. It’s almost finished. You can feel it. Your creation. Your Magnum Opus.
Dare you help paint a true Masterpiece of Fear? Layers of Fear is a first-person psychedelic horror game with a heavy focus on story and exploration. Delve deep into the mind of an insane painter and discover the secret of his madness, as you walk through a vast and constantly changing Victorian-era mansion. Uncover the visions, fears and horrors that entwine the painter and finish the masterpiece he has strived so long to create.
System requirements are pretty low, so anyone should be able to play this game. Layer of Fear’s Steam page lists the system requirements with a minimum of a Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400, 4GB RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 to be able to play this game. You can claim the game via the button below:
Get Layers of Fear + Soundtrack for FREE!
Be quick if you want this game, as it will be free for just another 14 hours. If you aren’t a fan of horror games, AC IV: Black Flag is still free on Uplay. Now that’s a game I can get behind more comfortably.

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Pokdepinion: Well I am gonna be playing Assassin’s Creed III if anyone is looking for me.
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ShotByMi Photography Challenge Is Back For The Third Year Running

It’s that time of the year again where Xiaomi brings their ShotByMi Photography Challenge, offering a chance for Mi Fans to capture life’s amazing moments simply with their Xiaomi smartphones.
ShotByMi Photography Challenge 2021
The competition was first launched in 2019 and this year they are encouraging more Mi Fans to tell their stories by shooting photos and videos surrounding the core theme of “Your Vision, Your Story”.
There are two independently themed episodes, each running for two months. The first will be centered around “Colorful Life”, where you can upload shots that reflect the theme, with no restrictions on the genre of the work. You can also record short videos to express your creativity to capture inspiring visual works.

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For prizes, a panel of judges will select outstanding entries from each episode, who will walk away with prizes such as the grand prize of US$5,000 creative fund and the latest Xiaomi smartphone models.
You can also participate in the judging and choose your favorite works on the ShotByMi website. The most liked photo and the most liked video will win prizes each. Submission ends on the 22nd of May 2021 and all winners of the first episode will be revealed on the 18th of June 2021.
If you are interested in participating and submitting your photos, you can head to the link right here. For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: I’ve checked out some of the past submissions and they are simply stunning. It’s awesome to think that you can capture breathtaking shots with just your smartphone these days. Think you’ve got what it takes to win?
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#MYCYBERSALE 2017 – Coming This 9 October!

MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy  has been hosting #MYCYBERSALE for three years straight since 2014. For this year’s edition, they will partner up with PIKOM to lead this year’s biggest online sale. Also joining are ShopBack, where they offer CashBack for more than 500 e-commerce in Malaysia.
#MYCYBERSALE 2017
To get an estimation of customers for this year’s #MYCYBERSALE, ShopBack Malaysia has conducted a survey and managed to gather information from 3982 correspondents.

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The survey found out that electronics was the most popular category of products, followed by health and beauty, home and living, and fashion. The Head Manager for ShopBack Malaysia, Alvin Gill, has encourage online stores in the country to take note of this finding and focus on this category.
The participants also voiced out their feelings on sales that have 50% off are the most attractive towards them. The second and third factor that attracts them into buying are promotional/discount codes and free delivery. Interestingly, they see the option of a 14-day refund policy as the least attractive.
In addition, 60% of the correspondents shop by using desktops and their smartphone devices. With 55% of the participants referred to Facebook and Google, as their source of information for #MYCYBERSALE 2017.
#MYCYBERSALE 2017 will be launching from 9 to 13 October 2017, covering from electronic gadgets to groceries. More information on the event itself will be made public on the 9th October. Around 20 e-commerce sellers will take part such as Lazada, 11Street, Qoo10, Taobao to name a few, and they will offer up to 40% CashBack on top of discounts of up to 97% through ShopBack Malaysia’s website and application.
To find out more on the event, you can do so by clicking here
Pokdepinion: What else I need to say? Prepare your wallets everyone!.
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MSI Force GC30 Review — All-rounder Gaming Controller

If you’re on the lookout for a controller that’s compatible with a variety of platforms, this could be something for you to consider. In this MSI Force GC30 review, we’re gonna see if it’s truly worth your money. Let’s find out, shall we?
MSI Force GC30 Unboxing
MSI Force GC30 review – Unboxing
Inside the box of the MSI Force GC30, you will find the following items:
MSI Force GC30 controllerDocumentationUSB dongleExtra D-Pad 2m USB cable30cm OTG cable
MSI Force GC30 Appearance
MSI Force GC30 review
As you can see, the GC30 has a similar layout to an Xbox controller, where it has X, Y, B, and A labeling for the buttons. There are four LEDs in the middle which shows what mode you are on. The D-pad can also be swapped with the extra one they gave from the package as they are magnetic, should you wish to do so.

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MSI Force GC30 review
At the top of the controller, you can find its microUSB port. The shoulder buttons and triggers are designed with lines for a better feel and grip. As for the back, there’s simply a sticker where it shows the the types of lighting and what modes they represent using the LED lights on the front.
MSI Force GC30 User Experience
Comfort
MSI Force GC30 review
When it comes to grip, the MSI Force GC30 feels like a solid gaming controller. I like the rubber texture that they’ve put on both sides, something you’ll appreciate if you have sweaty hands like me.
I’ve tested quite a number of controllers before. Some felt like they were really cheap and some offer you a premium feel. For the Force GC30’s case, it sits right in the middle. It’s overall design could do with some refinement but it has the right weight to it that doesn’t make it feel like a toy.
MSI Force GC30 review
However, I wasn’t satisfied with the back of the controller. I find that the shoulder area beneath the triggers doesn’t have the best of designs. Personally, I’m the type of player that rest my middle finger near that area instead of the triggers (I let my index finger do all the work). It certainly doesn’t feel the best in that area and it can feel rather annoying. If you rest your fingers on the triggers, then this won’t be an issue for you.
Performance
MSI Force GC30 review
Though the product’s manual only mentions that the GC30 is compatible for PC, PS3 and Android devices, I decided to test it out on the PS4. It did manage to detect and I was able to play Ghost of Tsushima but after awhile, it disconnected by itself. Something to take note of if you plan to use this with the PlayStation 4.
That aside, the buttons feels decent enough but I found that they need a little bit of force to trigger an input. The analogs on the GC30 feels like they need a little bit of adjustments.
I feel that they have little resistance when you push them around and this can easily affect your aiming in games, especially first person shooters. Not surprisingly, I had to adjust the sensitivity for each of the first person-based games that I’ve played.
If your smartphone is using a Type-C port, you won’t be able to use this right out of the box as the controller only comes with a microUSB to microUSB cable. In Bluetooth mode, there’s a bit of latency going on and it’s noticeable when I played Call of Duty: Mobile.
MSI has claimed that the controller can last up to 8 hours per full charge. While I didn’t play as long as that in one go (I still need to work, guys), I can say that it did just that. This is also dependent on the type of game you’re playing where the vibrations can drain the battery faster.
MSI Force GC30 Verdict
MSI Force GC30 review
Overall, the MSI Force GC30 is a decent gamepad option for its price of RM225. Sure, as mentioned in the review, it’s not the best gamepad out there but in terms of versatility, it offers a lot.
For those who want the best experience, especially for those who play first-person shooters, you might find yourself having to tweak a lot in the controller options. As for casual gamers, I see no problems in getting the GC30. For that, I award the MSI Force GC30 our Bronze Pokdeaward.

Our thanks to MSI Malaysia for providing the MSI Force GC30 that was used in this review!
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ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS Review — does this one hit the bullseye?

Introduction
We were given the opportunity to play around with the ROG Strix SCAR GL503VS that truly impressed us with the horsepower we can now pack into a laptop form factor. Fast forward a few months, and here we have the successor of the ROG Strix SCAR, the ROG Strix SCAR II. The new 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU should make things more interesting. As this is the SCAR variant, we are looking at a FPS-oriented gaming system here. Does it live up to its predecessor’s legacy in our hearts?
Unboxing

The ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS comes in a package that that is pretty standard for ROG gaming laptops. Interestingly the massive power brick comes with a ROG logo, something which is pretty much absent from every other gaming laptop I have come across. That would really help if you have multiple chargers and want to know which one to take when you are packing the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS for a trip. Aside from that, you also get some stickers, a little keychain of sorts and some basic documentation no one bothers about.

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Appearance

We are glad that they maintained the brushed metal finish on the lid, but this time, ASUS took it even further. Instead of just one finish, it features two finishes on the lid itself. The upper right features a hair-line brush finish, while the lower left is finished in anodized mystic black. ASUS calls this the SLASH dual surface treatment, and is supposed to represent the uncompromising statement about “winning” and “aesthetics”. Whatever it means, it looks damn good.

Unfortunately the plastic lower half is still carried over from the previous generation ROG Strix GL503. For those who want more aluminium, they will have to pony up some extra cash for the ROG Zephyrus or ROG Zephyrus M. On the bright side, there’s a good selection of I/O ports here on the left.

The additional cooling vent here took up some extra space that used to belong to a USB Type-A port here over on the left. So we are left with a USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) port and a SD card reader on this side.

Those who appreciate RGBae lighting effects would dig the light strip ASUS has added to the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS. The colors here aren’t the most vibrant we have seen, and ASUS hasn’t worked with game developers to allow users to use it functionally i.e. a  health status indicator in games, so its purely for show, at least for now.

The bottom of the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS features the diagonal SLASH motif heavily, with even the product label placed diagonally. The convenient D-Door is not carried over this time, so no easy access to your RAM and storage.

The ROG Strix GL504 laptops feature the latest 3-way slim-bezel displays, which finally gave me the answer to my question: “why don’t we have slim bezels on laptops when we have phones with nearly no bezels now?” Unfortunately there is no way to add a notch on a laptop, so ASUS moved the camera to the thicker lower bezel.

The full-sized keyboard is RGB-illuminated and thankfully the trackpad is position ergonomically this time. There are some camo patterns here to amp up on the FPS-oriented aesthetics too.
Specifications

CPU
Intel Core i7-8750H @ 2.2 GHz (up to 4.1 GHz Turbo Boost)

RAM
16GB (1 x 16GB SODIMM) 2666 MHz DDR4

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5

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

Software
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
ROG Gaming Center 2.5
ROG Aura Core 2.5
ROG Sonic Radar III
ROG Sonic Studio III
ROG GameFirst V

Connectivity
Gigabit Ethernet
Quad-antenna 802.11ac 2×2 Wave 2 WLAN
Bluetooth 5.0
2 x USB 3.0
1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen2)
1 x USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen 2)
SD card reader

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 144 Hz, 3ms GtG response time, 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
180W power adapter

Dimensions
361 x 262 x 26.1 mm

Weight
2.4 kg

Performance

The main upgrade over the previous generation is the new 8th Gen Coffee Lake CPU and 2666 MHz DDR4 RAM. The rest of the hardware is largely similar, with NVIDIA yet to release a new generation of GPUs for lack of competition. With more cores and a higher maximum boost, we are looking at a serious number cruncher here. Add on the additional fin array that pushes air out through the side, we are looking at not only increased burst performance, but probably better sustained horsepower too. Let’s put it to the test, shall we?

The Toshiba M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD offers fast storage, with the Seagate FireCuda SSHD offers the space you need for more games. Our unit’s Toshiba storage is definitely slower than the Samsung NVMe SSD ASUS used in our sample of the ROG Strix SCAR GL503VS, but it is still plenty fast.

CPU performance definitely took a leap forward with two more cores under the hood now. Single core performance didn’t really improve much, but the gains in multi-core performance is very substantial. We ran all the benchmarks with the fans in Overboost mode for maximum cooling performance from the new 12V fans ASUS is using in their ROG gaming laptops.

We see the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS score just a bit worse than its predecessor, but that can be attributed to variance between runs.

As a FPS-oriented gaming laptop, it would be ridiculous if it didn’t give a respectable frame rate here. 163 fps is definitely a good number, but the the thermals aren’t so hot, figuratively speaking. They are a bit too high for comfort, but we didn’t detect any slowdowns here in CS:GO. I also noticed that I am doing better now in CS:GO than I do on my own desktop, probably due to the more responsive display.

130 fps is really good, but once again, the temperatures are very worrying.

We get 79 fps maxed out, but to take advantage of the 144 Hz, you can definitely drop the graphic settings a tad to hit a higher frame rate. The temperatures recorded in PUBG are just as high, but we didn’t encounter any ill effects from the insanely high temperatures. There was no sign of throttling like stutter or sudden dips in frame rate though.

We get a great showing in Rainbow Six Siege too, but the CPU and GPU are a bit too hot for comfort.

For those of you who aren’t into FPS, the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS can deliver a great MOBA experience too. However the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS isn’t even trying here, as apparent by the rather low temperatures as compared to the other games.

Far Cry 5 pushes temperatures even further, casting doubt upon the new cooling system’s capability to handle the increased heat from the i7 8750H and its extra cores. Although the temperatures the hardware hit are really unappealing, the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS did not throttle and delivered great performance across the board. We would surely prefer lower temps for better longevity of all involved hardware here though.
Battery life is going to be a sore point, with 21% chewed out of the battery by simply watching some YouTube videos over WiFi with Microsoft Edge for half an hour. If you are planning on bringing this baby out, you will want to bring the charger.
User Experience

The slim bezels are definitely refreshing coming from other laptops. It does improve the portability by a bit, but don’t expect ultrabook-levels of mobility with this. It is still a gaming laptop first, and it is far from light at 2.4kg.

The screen isn’t the brightest I have seen, but it is definitely as smooth as I would expect from a 144 Hz panel. In fact I wasn’t noticing the missing G-SYNC at all when I was playing Overwatch which the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS handles with aplomb. Our unit actually came with rather serious backlight bleeding in all four corners, but we were informed that our unit is not a retail unit and the outgoing ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GSs may not have this issue.
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ASUS has included a whole suite of tools to make your gaming experience better on the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS. I really dig the ROG Gaming Center which looks like a whole command center. It doesn’t actually do much, but it looks good. The controversial Sonic Radar is also here.

The highlighted WASD cluster is designed to make it easier for gamers to identify where to put their hands, but if a gamer can’t find the WASD cluster by touch, I have bad news for them. The keys feature a subtle scoop for a better typing experience, and just enough travel to be comfortable to type on. The RGB illumination, which is controlled by ASUS’ AURA CORE software, could stand to be better as it just isn’t bright enough to impress me, nor does the 4-zone lighting blow my mind. It’s 2018 guys, we need per-key RGB backlighting. The touchpad is surprisingly usable on a gaming laptop too.
One thing to note is that despite the high temperatures recorded when we were gaming, the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS’s palm rests and keyboard doesn’t really heat up, so you can game comfortably over long periods. The new HyperCool Pro 12V fans going at full tilt sounds rather irritating and you would stand to perform better in games if you put on headphones. Trust me, I have never been annoyed by fan noise, but the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS definitely did it for me.
Conclusion
The Core i7 8750H and GeForce GTX 1070 are not easy to cool, and it seems that the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS just can’t keep up, despite having an extra vent on the side to push out more heat. I even tried putting a laptop cooler under the laptop, and it only managed to shave 2°C off. For RM8499, ASUS might be asking too much for too little here. The ASUS Zephyrus M (GM501GS) is thinner, uses more aluminium in its construction and also a G-SYNC display, all for just RM270 more… Unless you really want the extra portability with the slimmer bezels, the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS is quite far off the mark with the loud fans that are just unable to tame the heat properly. Or, if you still want the slim bezels of the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504, consider the GL504GM with the GeForce GTX 1060, which will surely be easier to cool than the GeForce GTX 1070.
Please check out the ROG Strix SCAR II GL504GS on Lazada via the following link to support us!

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Google Pixel Foldable Smartphone Reportedly in the Works

The world of foldable smartphones was to be an exciting and revolutionary part of technology in recent times. Well, it was certainly exciting but for the wrong reasons since the Samsung Galaxy Fold has been facing some issues. This hasn’t discouraged other companies from developing foldable smartphones however, as the Google Pixel foldable smartphone is said to be in the works.
According to an interview with the Head of Pixel Advancement at Google, Mario Queiroz, it has been confirmed that they are indeed working on foldable technology. However, he doesn’t believe that there’s a clear use case yet.

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Apparently, they’re prototyping foldable displays along with new hardware innovations. They don’t have any product statements to make at the time, but he did state his belief that folding phones should be able to offer more than just a bigger display.
I believe it requires to be more ingenious than that. The use case is going to require to be something where you go, “Hey, I definitely need to have this”. Now, you do not need to have a foldable. It’s kind of a ‘nice-to-have’.
For now, it doesn’t appear to be something that will be popping up in the near future. Google seems to be focusing on more budget-friendly devices, such as the Google Pixel 3A that we reported earlier. The upcoming Android Q is expected to offer native support for foldable smartphones.
On a side note, the Samsung Galaxy Fold’s release date is still unknown. If nothing of significance happens by 31st May 2019 for the device, it will be officially cancelled from release. If you want to read up more about what happened and why with the Galaxy Fold, click right here.
Source: CNET
Pokdepinion: It’s going to be a luxury device for the next 5 years or so before it becomes a common product that everyone will end up using. For now, just enjoy the ride and see what they have to offer.
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Recapping PlayStation Showcase 2021: Spider-Man 2, Wolverine, Star Wars KOTOR Remake, God of War Ragnarök

The PlayStation Showcase 2021 recently concluded last night where a bunch of new PS5 games were announced. Some of the new games unveiled during the showcase included Gran Turismo 7, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Marvel’s Wolverine, a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, God of War Ragnarök, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
PlayStation Showcase 2021 recap
Gran Turismo 7

The new entry into the Gran Turismo franchise promises a return of the GT Campaign mode which was missing in the previous Gran Turismo Sport. Livery Editor, which was first introduced in Gran Turismo Sport, also makes a return in Gran Turismo 7 alongside the return of notable maps such as Trial Mountain and High-Speed Ring. The game is expected to release March 4th, 2022.

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For more information on Gran Turismo 7, head over here.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

One of the bigger games showcased during the PlayStation Showcase 2021 is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The sequel to Insomniac Games’ 2018 smash hit brings back Peter Parker as he battles crime in the city of New York together with Miles Morales. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also sees the introduction of classic Venom voiced by none other than horror icon Tony Todd. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is due out sometime in 2023.

For more information on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, check out the official announcement here.
Marvel’s Wolverine

The biggest surprise announcement of the showcase definitely goes to Marvel’s Wolverine which is also being developed by Insomniac Games. Nothing much has been revealed about the game seeing how early in development Marvel’s Wolverine actually is. All we know is that the game is being spearheaded by the creative minds who developed Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. No release date for the game has been announced.

You can read more about Marvel’s Wolverine here.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

The remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has been on the rumour mill for a while now and for it to finally be confirmed is pretty great for fans of the original game. The original KOTOR has always been regarded as one of the best video games and RPGs ever to be released. The game is set some 4,000 years before the original Star Wars trilogy and introduces you to a new set of characters to help bring peace to the galaxy.
The KOTOR remake is headed by Aspyr who are no strangers to the series as they are responsible for many ports and re-releases of older Star Wars games including the Android and iOS ports of the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The remake is set to be a timed exclusive for the PS5 with a PC release due after that.

Head over here for more information on the KOTOR remake.
God of War Ragnarök

Santa Monica Studios revealed the first look at their upcoming game God of War Ragnarök. The trailer sees both Kratos and his son Atreus after the events of 2018’s God of War, after their confrontation with Baldur. God of War Ragnarök is set to release next year.

Read more God of War Ragnarök right here.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

The PlayStation Showcase 2021 also saw the announcement of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, a remastered bundle that includes Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The bundle is set to release on the PS5 sometime in early 2022 on the PS5 while the PC version (yes, it’s coming to PC as well) will release soon after.

For more information on Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, head over here.
You can also check out the PlayStation Showcase 2021 in full down below:

Pokdepinion: I am so very excited about all of these games especially Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Not only do I love the first game but he was my favourite comic book character growing up. Still is actually.
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Microsoft Defender coming to Android and iOS later this year

Microsoft Defender will be making its way to your smartphone as well later this year, with the software giant announcing their plans to secure both Android and iOS devices. Being one of our favorite antivirus suites (partly because it’s free and it requires zero effort to get it up and running), having it on mobile does seem pretty interesting too.
It is worth noting that iOS currently doesn’t allow apps to scan its memory and storage, which would make an antivirus pretty pointless. Android does, but Google has already implemented Googled Play Protect. Microsoft has apparently hinted that they would be focusing on phishing prevention, although how they would go about it is still unknown.
Microsoft has done a pretty good job with their Edge browser and Office suite for mobiles, but it still remains to be seen if they can make a good antivirus (or anti-phishing) for Android and iOS.

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Pokdepinion: I don’t really see the significance of having an antivirus on Android, and much less on iOS, but maybe there’s a market for it considering the wide selection available.
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Ubisoft Pulls The Plug Of Rainbow Six Siege Pro League Season XI But Makes Surprising Decision

Yeah Covid-19 has been the thing recently. Many events, tournaments, and gatherings had been cancelled due to the outbreak. It seems that the folks at Ubisoft is also pulling out their Rainbow Six Siege Pro League Season XI too, but they’re doing something unexpected.
Rainbow Six Siege Pro League Season XI cancelled

Ubisoft has released a statement on the cancellation of the Rainbow Six Pro League Season XI and understandably so. Despite that, they have revealed that they will be redistributing the associated prize pool of the tournament across the top teams of each region.
They’ve said “while we’re obviously disappointed that these events won’t be going ahead, we are excited for the continued growth of Rainbow Six esports and look forward to sharing more on our plans for 2020 and beyond soon”.

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Pokdepinion: That’s really nice of them. Great to see that Siege is getting bigger and bigger.
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ASUS Launches the ASUS Zenfone in Jakarta, Indonesia

I am today at Pullman Hotel Jakarta, where ASUS has just officially announced their ASUS Zenfone line-up. We are looking at three different versions here namely ASUS Zenfone 4, ASUS Zenfone 5 and ASUS Zenfone 6 which you might have automatically guessed reflect their sizes. These devices are carrying the “Zen” flagship name under the ASUS brand which puts them in ASUS’ luxury shelf alongside their Zenbooks.
The ASUS Zenfone 4 is the most affordable among all Zenfone devices
Forget about Tegras and Qualcomm for a moment and align yourself into the Intel mood because these devices are spotting the Intel Atom multi-core with hyper threading processors. Based on my previous experience with these processors, I was prepared to face the worse in all honesty, but trust me; I was proven wrong in its entirety this time.
ASUS Zenfone is a benchmark set together by ASUS and Intel in a whole new level, unravelling the myth that more cores are better. These dual core processors are monstrous and yield performance that will blow your mind. Imagine 60ms response time churning out from a dual core processor. Surprised? That is just the beginning. The ASUS Zenfone will continue to blow your mind as you continue exploring it.

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The ASUS Zenfone 5 is made for those who want a little more from their smarphones
As usual, I will not be going through each device because there are plenty of resources out there on the internet for that. Instead, I will only focus on the top-of-the-line device which is the ASUS Zenfone 6. Spotting a 6-inch IPS+ HD with 1280×720 wide angle display at 245ppi on a Corning Gorilla Glass 3, this device is even able to respond to your fingers while wearing a hand glove! No, it does not detect the empty tips of the glove but actually your fingers within the glove! Try it out yourself as words just can’t describe this!
2GB RAMs, 8GB storage with 5GB lifetime webstorage and SD card support will quench your storage thirst taken out from the 13MP f/2.0 PixelMaster lens which has a story to tell of its own. The camera functions beautifully under low light – even when there is less than 1lux lighting. Oh yes, this camera kicked the ass of my UltraPixel on the HTC M7 I was carrying with me.
The ASUS Zenfone 6 is for those who never have enough horsepower in their pockets
If that is not enough for you, we were spotting Android 4.3 Jelly Bean which has been scheduled for KitKat upgrade to unleash the beast down the road. Also, dual micro-SIM ar standard across all three devices and the battery spots a whopping 3230 mAh which your sorry low-end power banks have no chance to charge. Also, these devices carry the ASUS ZenUI that is stunning to the eyes. What did you say? SenseUI? Give yourself a break from HTC now because this ZenUI was indeed designed by the Sense team that is now acquired by ASUS.
The hardware itself is amazing. Each color has its own story to tell. The gunmetal black is shining smooth, the gold is brassive, the red is rubbery matte, and so forth. So don’t just make up your mind after seeing just the colors because you might change your mind as you touch the other colors.
The ZenUI Apps are beautifully crafted applications tightly integrated for an intuitive experience
Still not satisfied? Well then here’s the best bit of info that you have been waiting. The prices of these devices are RM299 for the ASUS Zenfone 4, RM599 for the ASUS Zenfone 5 and RM899 for the ASUS Zenfone 6. Do you really need any other reason to get these devices now? Performance and affordability were never married this way.
Okay, fine. I know you nut heads are always just looking for the flaws section. In my experience, there were just two things here that were missing. First, the LTE is missing in the entire line-up but hold your horses! The ASUS Zenfone LTE will be announced again within Q4 so this is bound to be resolved. Second, the back of these hardware are actually plastic coated with their respective materials. I have no problems with that because the aluminum on my HTC heats up and doesn’t feel pleasant anyway so be your own judge.
My verdict? Pretty simple. I’m now waiting for the LTE version before I trade my HTC One M7 for it. Bookings for my HTC One opens now :D
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