Plantronics BackBeat 505 Wireless Headphones Review: The Average Joe of Audio

Our review of the Plantronics BackBeat 505 wireless on-ear headphones, a more affordable alternative of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. Could this be your next headphone?
In a world that’s becoming more and more mobile, we started to see less and less of wires in our usual gadgets, especially our everyday listening peripherals. Some of you may prefer headphones which look cool while others prefer earphones which are easier to carry around. What about those looking for something in-between? Today, we’re going to take a look at the Plantronics BackBeat 505 wireless headphones, which is supposed to bring the best of both worlds.
Unboxing the Plantronics BackBeat 505 Wireless Headphones

If you haven’t checked out our unboxing post from earlier on, you can check out our video just above here. We did have some extra details in our unboxing post as well so if you want to get up to speed with what we’ve done with the Plantronics BackBeat 505 wireless headphones prior to the review, you can check it out by clicking here.

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Appearance

The Plantronics BackBeat 505 is one of those headphones that look bigger in pictures but is surprisingly small when you see it in person. It’s a pretty simple-looking headphone with some on-ear controls that you can see on the left cup (previous song, play/pause, and next song), and the Plantronics logo on the right cup (PLT).

On the left cup, you’ll also have the volume buttons, micro USB port, and a 3.5mm jack. On the right cup on the other hand is where the power / pairing switch and equalizer button is located.

Aside from the metal construction connecting the ear cups to the headband itself, the Plantronics BackBeat 505 feels rather plasticky, with a bit of a rubbery touch on the plates of the ear cups where the logo and controls are located. It doesn’t make it feel super cheap or easily broken, and it can stretch a bit without the need to worry about damages unless you plan on doing some contortionist magic with the thing.
It’s worth noting that while you can turn the earcups so you can lay it flat on any surface or place it in your bag for easier storage, you can’t actually fold it. It’s a good thing the headphone is small so it shouldn’t take up much space but at the same time, it would make for a major plus if the emphasis of this headphone is something most people would want to easily bring anywhere and everywhere.

As for the padding on the Plantronics BackBeat 505, it’s comfortable to a certain degree. Most people should be able to wear it without damaging their ears but at the same time, long hours use will leave me feeling rather uncomfortable.
Plantronics BackBeat 505 Specifications

Drivers
40mm

Frequency Response
20Hz ~ 20KHz

Range
Up to 10 meters from Bluetooth Device

Impedance
32Ω

Bluetooth Version
4.1

Battery Life
Up to 18 Hours of Listening and Talk Time on Single Charge

On-ear Controls
Play/Pause, Skip Tracks, Adjust Volume, Answer Calls

Weight
155g

User Experience

Honestly speaking, I’ve always been more of a headphone person rather than an earphone person as I feel more comfortable and the listening experience for me has always been better. With the Plantronics BackBeat 505 however, I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I thought I would, and I have my reasons for this.

For one thing, the audio quality is only okay at best with a rather forward midrange but the bass is really weak and the treble often gets drowned by the lows. Also given the size of the headphone itself and mild clamping force, it’s to be expected that noise isolation isn’t great. To a certain extent, this is understandable given that it’s meant to be a more affordable alternative of the BackBeat Pro 2 but with this, I’d rather just wait it out and save up the cash to get the Pro 2 instead.
The Plantronics BackBeat 505 feels comfortable to wear and it’s very light, making it feel like you don’t have anything on your head… although somewhat conscious that you have something on your ears. However, it’s not really comfortable to wear for long hours as your ears will start to get warm and feel quite a bit of discomfort.

The buttons are easily accessible and I have no problems whatsoever with them. It takes a bit of time to get used to the placements of the switches and buttons but this is normal for all wireless headphones. Connecting to your device of choice is also very easy and straightforward whether you’re on Android or iOS. Your smartphones will remember devices that have connected to it before so the next time, it will automatically connect upon powering on.

The best part here is that you can connect it to 2 devices simultaneously, so if you need it to be listening to audio on one machine but still be kept on as a handsfree device for your smartphone at the same time, you’ll have no problems here. Speaking of which, using this as a handsfree device resulted in pretty good experience. I can hear the other person better than just using my iPhone 8 Plus directly, and the other person also said that they can hear my voice clearly. In other words, it does its job well as a handsfree kit.
The battery life that is being claimed here is up to 18 hours on a single charge and so far, it’s been pretty accurate. I don’t see myself charging it everyday and I was testing it by listening it to about 2 hours everyday, ending up by charging it about slightly more than a week later. Of course, you can always utilize the 3.5mm input on the Plantronics BackBeat 505 if you’re ever worried about low batteries.
Plantronics BackBeat 505 Verdict

The Plantronics BackBeat 505 wireless headphone is clearly meant for those who want to buy the BackBeat Pro 2 but can’t afford it. Problem with this is that I can’t seem to exactly justify why someone should buy this instead of just saving up for a better one, like the BackBeat Pro 2. Like, if you have no headphones to use whatsoever, I understand, but if you have an existing one and you’re just looking to upgrade, look elsewhere.
Especially when you consider that you can get the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 for not that much higher than the Plantronics BackBeat 505, in which the latter is priced at RM499. With that in mind, I really don’t think I can give the Plantronics BackBeat 505 wireless headphone with an award.
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Razer Releases New Fleet Of Wireless Gaming Peripherals

Razer has recently announced the launch of their new Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, DeathAdder V2 Pro, as well as the BlackWidow V3 Pro, their latest flagship wireless gaming peripherals.
Razer launches new wireless peripherals

First up is the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, which uses the same Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm Drivers that came with the BlackShark V2. With the updated version, it now comes with an additional speaker chamber, offering a clearer audio with ‘individually tuned high, mid, and low range frequencies’ as claimed by Razer.
Aside from that, it comes with THX Spatial Audio with Game Profiles, offering 360-degrees immersive audio. It also features the all-new 9.9mm Razer HyperClear Supercardiod Mic, where Razer has said can deliver ultra-clear voice quality for team communication.

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The BlackShark V2 Pro is priced at $179.99 (~RM748.85).

Then we have the new Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro, the successor to Razer’s most popular gaming mouse lineup. You can expect it to come with Razer HyperSpeed Wireless technology and it comes with three modes of connection, with up 120 hours of battery life through Bluetooth, 70 via Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, and finally through its Razer Speedflex cable.
It is a lightweight gaming mouse, with it weighing just 88g. Other than that, it offers the newly upgraded 2nd Gen Razer Optical Mouse Switch, where it is rated up to 70 million clicks.
Of course, you’ll get 8 programmable buttons which you can customize through the Razer Synapse 3 software, which also allows you to store 5 on-board memory profile to swap easily. Not to forget, it is compatible with the Razer Mouse Dock Chroma (sold separately). Its Razer Focus+ sensor offers up to 20K DPI and it comes with injection-molded side grips and 100% PTFE mouse feet.
For the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro, it retails at $129.99 (~RM536.70).

Finally we have the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro, where it is the first wireless gaming keyboard from the company. Coming in with Razer HyperSpeed Wireless technology, it offer a battery life of up to 200 hours.
The BlackWidow V3 Pro also comes with improved Razer Mechanical Switches plus Doubleshot ABS keycaps. You can see by the picture that the keyboard comes with Razer Chroma RGB.
They claim that the Razer Yellow Mechanical Switches are now quieter, with silicon sound dampeners in every key for a silent gaming experience.
Other than that, it comes with an aluminum frame and features dedicated media keys with multi-function digital dial as well as a plush wrist rest. Aside from the HyperSpeed Wireless connectivity, you can also pair it through Bluetooth or with its USB-C cable.
You can get the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro for the price of $229.99 (~RM956.87)
All three products are now available in the market where you can purchase from Razer’s website or authorized resellers.
Pokdepinion: I certainly wouldn’t mind having a go at the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro. Any of the three that has gotten your attention? Let us know in the comments.
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Hogwarts Legacy Fans Disappointed as Game Director Rules Out DLC for Now

For the foreseeable future, what you see is what you get as there are reportedly no plans for a Hogwarts Legacy DLC anytime soon.
No Hogwarts Legacy DLC For Now
Image Credit: Warner Bros
Hogwarts Legacy, the wizarding RPG developed by Avalanche Studios, has been a commercial success since its release. However, despite many players finishing the game and hoping for additional content, there are no current plans for DLC. Game director Alan Tew told IGN Fan Fest that the studio was focused on preparing Hogwarts Legacy for its full release and did not have time to work on extra content.
It’s important to note that Avalanche Studios may still support Hogwarts Legacy post-launch, as the game has already received updates addressing bug fixes and performance issues. While it’s disappointing that additional content isn’t planned for the near future, it’s understandable given the amount of content already included in the game.

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Despite lacking the Harry Potter IP, Hogwarts Legacy received a positive reception, with its concurrent player count peaking at 879,308 on Steam, making it the most concurrent player count for a single-player game, behind Cyberpunk 2077. The game also broke records for the most streams of a single player game with 1.28 million during its early access launch. The success of the game has even led to the release of a Hogwarts Legacy-themed DualSense controller decorated with the golden motifs of Ancient Magic.
While some players have suggested that without the Harry Potter IP, Hogwarts Legacy would be just another standard RPG, it’s clear that the game has achieved great success in its own right. Currently available on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the game has already made its mark in the gaming world.
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Pokdepinion: Well, if I’m expecting anything, I’d say Christmas this year would be a good time. Even then, that would be the earliest I would expect anything if the developers will actually plan for DLC content.
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Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Gaming Headset Review – Delivering true surround sound on a budget

The Abkoncore CH60 7.1 gaming headset features true 7.1 surround sound, with eight independent sound drivers in both the right and the left earcups. It also has a vibration motor built inside for a more immersive experience. Plus, it’s got RGB. All that with a retail price of just RM 219.
The question is, with all its bells and whistles, is the Abkoncore CH60 really worth it?
UNBOXING
The Abkoncore CH60 7.1 gaming headset comes in a nice black and red box with the model name and colour emblazoned on the front. You can also see a close-up of the CH60 and selected features displayed.

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Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Box
Inside the box, you will find the headset itself as well as a CD containing the headphone drivers and a user manual.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Gaming Headset, User Manual, Driver CD
APPEARANCE
Right off the bat, the Abkoncore CH60 has a very noticeable plasticky appearance especially with the red glossy plastic outer shell with a metal wire mesh that features the Abkoncore logo in the centre. In between the plastic outer shell and the wire mesh is a white translucent plastic ring where the RGB lights are housed. I like the two-tone design they’re going for with the red and black with the earcups. I just wish they had more of a matte finish rather than the glossy, plasticky look here. Furthermore, it has a non-detachable microphone on the left earcup.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Gaming Headset
The earcups themselves are soft and made out of faux leather material. There are no swivels present at the earcups and neither can they be extended. Instead, you have two rubber-encased metal tubes and a cushioned headband that is adjustable. The cushioned headband is also made of the same faux leather material as the earcups.

You will also find a controller down below with multiple volume sliders at the top and sides of the controller. Each of the sliders controls various speaker volumes which we will talk about in a bit. In terms of connectivity, the Abkoncore Ch60 uses a USB connection.
SPECIFICATIONS

Driver Diameter
Front/Centre: 40.00mm
Rear: 30mm
Sub: 20mm

Frequency Response
20Hz – 20KHz

Impedance
32 ohm

Sensitivity
118±3dB

Headphone Type
Closed-back, over-ear

Microphone
Omni-directional pick up, non detachable

Connector
USB

Cable length
2.15 m

Noise-cancelling
N/A

Colour
Red

USER EXPERIENCE
Seeing that the Abkoncore CH60 7.1 gaming headset is heavily advertised as having true 7.1 surround sound, we’ll be taking a look at that first. I’m happy to report that, yes, the Abkoncore CH60 does indeed have surround sound and boy do they sound good.
Using the CH60 really puts you in whichever game you are currently playing. In-game sounds are very crisp and clear with the direction of the sounds easily pinpointed due to the surround sound capabilities of the headphones. You can even hear minute sounds such as footsteps quite clearly and at times where it’s coming from which will seriously help if you play a lot of FPS games. The bass on this thing is also quite punchy and with the vibration motors built-in, you’re sure to feel the bass hit you. However, that does mean that if you were to listen to particularly bass-heavy music, your ears will be rocked with frequent vibrations.
The microphone quality on the other hand is a bit underwhelming for me. It’s usable but at times I find myself having to raise my voice just so that my friend can hear me speak. Some even said that my laptop’s built-in mic sounds better and clearer.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Microphone
Here’s a microphone audio example just to show you how it sounds.

https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2020/05/Abkoncore-CH60-7.1-mic-test.mp3

The earcups are quite soft and fairly comfortable. However, I do wish that the earcups were made slightly bigger as I did experience some pinching in the ears after long periods of gaming. Then again that could be due to my own ear size but it’s still something worth noting.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Earcups
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 RGB
The Abkoncore CH60 sports some very basic RGB lighting with no way in terms of customisation. Even though it’s basic but it does look good, still.
The cable length runs at around 2 metres in length and is a very strong and robust rubber cable. Personally, however, I do think that the cable is a little on the short side.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Controller
Seeing that the CH60 houses eight different speakers inside, the built-in controller enables you to control the main volume of the headphones as well as the volume of various areas of the headset individually. In this case, the rear, side, front, centre and subvolume of the headphones. You can also use the controller to turn your microphone on and off as well as the RGB lights. One feature I really like and find incredibly useful with the Abkoncore CH60 is that the tip of the microphone lights up when it’s turned on.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 software speakers section
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 software microphone section
The software that the CH60 comes with is pretty basic. There’s one section to control the headphone’s speaker volumes and another section to control the volumes of the volumes of the microphone. Pretty much a more detailed version of what you can do with the built-in controller. In addition to that, there is an option to select preset modes ie gaming mode, movie mode, music mode and so on.
Abkoncore CH60 7.1 Gaming Headset VERDICT
Would I recommend the Abkoncore CH60 7.1 gaming headset now that I have taken it out for a spin myself?
Yes. Yes, I would.
Sure the CH60 is not perfect by any means. The design and microphone quality of the headphones are some of the drawbacks that come to mind but its superb 7.1 surround sound and built-in vibration motors pretty much make up for its shortcomings. The price to performance ratio you get from the CH60 is pretty amazing considering how relatively cheap the darn thing is! Where to get you might ask? You can purchase the Abkoncore CH60 7.1 gaming headset at either Shopee or Lazada.
And with that, I award the Abkoncore CH60 headphones a solid Silver Pokdeward.
If you want more reviews like this you can check out our previous review of the Edifier G2 II right here.

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Insomniac Games Reveals Stormland — Open World VR Game Exclusive To Oculus Rift

Remember the folks from Insomniac Games? The same people that brought you the PS4 exclusive Spider-Man has reveal of a new game called Stormland. The game will also be an exclusive, but this time for the Oculus Rift on PC.

Stormland is a open world VR game, where you’ll live at a place where robots used to thrive, where they were terminated by The Tempest. In the trailer, we can see the game’s shooting and shielding mechanics where timing of your movement is definitely important. Apparently you’ll be able to fly through the game, where you’d need to extend your arms to the front just like Superman does.
This isn’t the first time that they’ve produce a VR game, where previously Insomniac released games such as The Unspoken, Feral Rites, and Edge of Nowhere. The game is set to come out this year but both Oculus and Insomniac have not announce any specific dates just yet. Taking into account that the new Oculus Rift S is set to launch soon, it could join in on the launch and be available by then. You can check out our previous post here to find out more on the Oculus Rift S.

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Pokdepinion: I don’t know about you, but the graphic looks similar to Apex Legends. The game seems interesting enough, especially that flying part! I wouldn’t mind giving the game a go, but first I’d need an Oculus Rift headset…
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These Could Be the Three Different Display Sizes for the Samsung Galaxy S10

A case manufacturer’s expectations for the Galaxy S10 lineup: pic.twitter.com/lrExjvalcb
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) December 8, 2018

As we draw closer to its release, it’s normal to hear more about the next big device by the folks over at Samsung. In this case, it happens to be on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10, and that these could be the three different display sizes being offered for that model, courtesy of @evleaks.
The biggest one of the bunch with a 6.4-inch display is said to be the Galaxy S10+ while the smallest one with a 5.8-inch display is the Galaxy S10 Lite. The one sitting middle with a 6.1-inch display is the base model Galaxy S10 smartphone.

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It certainly does seem to remind us of Apple’s newest devices; the iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, and the iPhone XR. Those three devices have a display size of 6.5-inches, 5..8 inches, and 6.1 inches respectively. This would certainly make it easier to make Samsung’s upcoming flagship more appealing to a wider audience.
For the Galaxy S9, it had a 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch option, which shows that the Galaxy S10 will indeed see a size increase. This may also indicate a size increase for the next Galaxy Note device. Either way, do take this piece of news with a grain of salt until it has been officially announced.
Pokdepinion: Hey, I’m a fan of big displays on smartphones so no complaints here. If anything, I would prefer if the biggest one in the line is bigger than what is being mentioned here.
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AirAsia Food Offering Delivery From Penang to Klang Valley

I’m sure many of you out there have travelled to Penang for the sake of food at some point in your life. For those staying in Klang Valley, you don’t need to travel all the way there for food any longer at AirAsia Food has announced a new intercity food delivery offering, with your order being air-flown to you.
This isn’t as simple as ordering food from restaurants within your area however, which is understandable given the sheer distance. For starters, the number of restaurants taking part in this new service are very limited. Furthermore, the items you can order are also much fewer than expect, with most of them only offering one specific item.

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Lastly, these food deliveries will only be done once a week on every Wednesday, with orders closing at 5PM on every Tuesday. You can always pre-order food in advance, up to 30 days max. Surprisingly, the delivery cost is quite cheap as it’s RM5.99 per order consisting of RM2.99 for standard delivery and RM3 for intercity delivery.
Unfortunately, those who are in Penang cannot order food from Klang Valley, at least for now. We also expect to see more restaurants and items being added as time goes by so for now, your option are rather scarce.
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Pokdepinion: If this pans out well enough, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the possibility of getting food from that far away within a matter of hours, on the same day you order the food. It might not be so soon, but it can happen.
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Spotify Reveals Most Included Songs For Mother’s Day

As you might have known, Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Spotify is celebrating the occasion by revealing some of the top artists and top songs, especially for the period.
It seems that Spotify’s global list of most-streamed moms is topped by Cardi B, while Beyonce is behind her at second place. Following them are Adele, P!nk and Shakira. Spotify has noted that their users have started a trend where they create their own personalized playlist just for mom. Overall, users have created more than 7.8 million mom-themed playlists.
Wondering on what’s the most added song to a Happy Mothers Day playlist? Well it’s none other than “A Song for Mama” by Boyz To Men, which is followed by Meghan Trainor’s “Mom”. Additionally, it appears that ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” are a hit as well. Here’s the full list:

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A Song For Mama – Boyz to Men
Mom – Meghan Trainor, Kelli Trainor
Dear Mama – 2Pac
Mama – Spice Girls
Hey Mama – Kanye West
Happy – Pharell
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood
Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrisson

Don’t have the time to create your very own mother’s day-themed playlist? Well you can check out the one that Spotify has prepared.
Pokdepion: Well I can agree to that. There’s definitely no better mom-themed song than ‘A Song For Mama’.
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Grab Kicks Off Better 365 Campaign – Improving Driver’s Experience!

Grab today announce of their new Better 365 campaign, which is aimed to provide better welfare care for it’s drivers covering on four fronts; better support, increased earnings, better tools, and a stronger community.
Grab’s Better 365 Campaign
Sean Goh, Country Head of Grab Malaysia
According to a survey published in June 2017, which more than 1.8 million driver-partners rely on Grab as a source of income, they earn 32% more income on a per-hour basis compared with average worker wages across all of Grab’s markets.
At Grab, our driver-partners are at the heart of our shared vision to improve the way people travel and bring people closer to things that matter to them. We want to ensure our driver-partners’ hard work pays off and that they have the right tools to make their jobs easier and increase their income. Through these new initiatives, Grab is working to make mobility safe and accessible for all its users, especially our driver-partners who are not only driving Grab as a source of income, but are a fundamental piece of our service Sean Goh, Country Head of Grab Malaysia
With the introduction of the campaign, it introduces a series of features such as;

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Trip rating: Grab drivers now can provide feedback about their overall trip experience and passengers as either ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ and choose from several reasons of as to why.
Simplified driver incentives: Featuring a simplified screen featuring incentive progress bar, making it easier for drivers to keep track of their efforts
In-app Help Center for drivers: Assisting drivers to manage their account and obtain answers to their questions without having to call the Grab support line.
GrabAllStars: A driver loyalty program that rewards drivers with discounts and promotions from brands such as PETRONAS, Tesco, Celcom, Texas Chicken, and many more
Grab Driver Centers: A support center to cater to inquiries, registration, and training sessions for drivers.
Town hall and ‘teh tarik’ sessions: A series of meet-the-drivers and teh-tarik sessions to engage and have open dialogue session with drivers.

Besides that, the campaign will also introduce in-app training videos for drivers to learn on the processes in driving with Grab. Another feature is My Destination, which helps log in their final destination for the day and pick up a few rides on route there.
Daily cash-out is now available, where drivers can now receive a faster payout for their bookings, instead of having to have to wait until the end of the week. Last but not least, Selfie authentication is implemented as well. It provides drivers a more secured authentication and prevent fraud attempts.
Pokdepinion: There are a lot of Grab drivers that I know that will appreciate this move from Grab.
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YouTube is always growing and changing, sometimes new additions work and sometimes it doesn’t. In this particular case, they are running tests on hiding the dislikes on videos based on feedback that they have received.
YouTube May Consider Hiding Dislikes on Videos With This New Test

👍👎 In response to creator feedback around well-being and targeted dislike campaigns, we’re testing a few new designs that don’t show the public dislike count. If you’re part of this small experiment, you might spot one of these designs in the coming weeks (example below!). pic.twitter.com/aemrIcnrbx
— YouTube (@YouTube) March 30, 2021

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YouTube has officially announced that they have begun testing a big change to their video sharing platform; hiding dislikes on videos from public view. They will be trying out a few different designs where the dislikes will be hidden, but the button itself will still be present.
The idea here is that they aren’t removing the ability to dislike a video and that it will still influence the recommendation algorithm. Instead, the move is done based on creator feedback.
We’ve heard from creators that the public dislike counts can impact their well-being and may motivate a targeted campaign of dislikes on a creator’s video. So, we’re testing designs that don’t include the visible like or dislike count in an effort to balance improving the creator experience, while still making sure viewer feedback is accounted for and shared with the creator.
YouTube announcement

Typically, the Like and Dislike feature is often used by many viewers as an indication of whether the video could be spammy, clickbait, or simply misleading. This is certainly helpful but when mob mentality comes into play, some videos that do not fall under the aforementioned factors will suffer as a result.
If the new design appears on your account while on YouTube, there is no way to opt out of the test and instead, you’ll only be able to share your feedback. This is in no means an indication that they are committing to hiding dislikes, but the feedback could result in it being permanent in the future. They will also need to figure out a way to present it in a fair and effective manner as well.
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Pokdepinion: Hiding it is fine, as long as they don’t remove the function completely. That would be detrimental to the whole system, at least that’s how I feel about it.
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Sony Hits Another Milestone with 50 Millions PlayStation 4 Consoles Sold Worldwide

PlayStation 4 sales are doing pretty well, especially with the release of the new PS4 Pro.
There are many people out there who thought that videogame consoles will not sell well, especially after the last generation of consoles. We’ve seen high console counts in the past before but it would definitely be tough to beat that record.
Well, it seems like the PlayStation 4 is doing pretty damn well, and here’s what happened.

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50 Million PlayStation 4 Consoles Sold Worldwide
Image source: Giantbomb.com
According to Sony Interactive Entertainment Hong Kong Limited Singapore Branch (SIES), the PlayStation 4 has reached yet another milestone with total sales of the console surpassing the 50 million mark as of December 6th 2016…fun fact, just a day before my birthday.
Now this sales number includes the PS4 Pro, so it’s not just the regular version of the console. Sony attributed its success to the recently passed Black Friday sales, where a lot of consumers seem to have picked one up for themselves. With Final Fantasy XV recently being released, I’m not surprised that sales of the console had a sudden boost.
Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said:
We’re truly delighted that the PS4 community continues to flourish since launch three years ago. With tremendous support from our fans and partners across the globe, this year we were able to deliver an unprecedented lineup of hardware such as the new slimmer PS4, PS4 Pro and PlayStation VR. We will continue to provide the best gaming experiences available through our ground-breaking software lineup and network services, as we focus on accelerating our business and expanding the PS4 ecosystem.”
SIES has gone on record saying that the PlayStation 4’s software portfolio will continue to grow for a long time. They’re not just talking about the big scale developers’ games but also the ones from independent studios.

Pokdepinion: I personally own the console and I have to say that as of right now, the PlayStation 4 has the more solid videogame library among all consoles. I play games on both the PC and the PS4 and at this time, I have more games in the PS4 that I’m interested in. In fact, I only play Overwatch on PC. If you’re a gamer, you wouldn’t regret getting a PS4 unless you’re into all that 4K/60 FPS/120FPS stuff. Remember, gameplay is always more important than visuals.
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Acer Vero Products Announced at [email protected] 2022

Acer today launched new eco-friendly Vero products, highlighting its goal of a more sustainable future by providing consumers, organizations, and institutions with more ways to lessen their environmental imprint. The new Vero laptops and AIO desktops, as well as monitors, projectors, and peripherals, contain PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) plastic, OBP (Ocean-bound Plastic), and recyclable packaging.
Aspire Vero Laptops

The Aspire Vero (AV14-51) has a 14-inch Full HD display and all of the environmental advantages of previous models, but it is powered by the newest 12th Gen Intel Core CPU. In addition to the iconic Cobblestone Grey, it is now available in the stunning Mariana Blue.

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It’s built for creating and connecting, and it comes with plenty of connections, including a Thunderbolt 4 or USB Type-C and two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, one of which can be used to charge mobile devices even when the system is switched down.
The Aspire Vero (AV15-52) features a 15-inch Full HD display and, like the AV14-51, is powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs to handle the current productivity and entertainment software. It provides quick connectivity and can charge mobile devices when the laptop is turned off, thanks to two USB 3.2 Type-A Gen1 ports and a Thunderbolt 4 or USB Type-C port.
It’s available in both Starry Black and the classic Cobblestone Grey. A Full HD camera allows for high-quality videoconferencing to connect and collaborate.
The 14-inch and 15-inch Aspire Vero models both have OceanGlass trackpads created from ocean-bound plastic. Both new Aspire Vero chassis, like previous versions, use 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, which is sturdy and rigid and saves 21% in carbon emissions.
The screen bezel of the laptop is made of 30% PCR plastic, and the keycaps are made of 50% PCR plastic, further lowering the computer’s footprint, while the chassis is not painted. To extend the lifespan, the bottom cover is simply removed with normal screws for replacing the RAM and SSD, making maintenance and upgrades simple.
The Acer Aspire Vero (AV14-51) 14″ laptop will be available in September 2022, with prices beginning at USD749.99, in Europe in August 2022, with prices beginning at EUR899, and in China in August 2022, with prices beginning at RMB4,999.
The Acer Aspire Vero (AV15-52) 15″ laptop will be available in the United States in September 2022, with prices beginning at USD749.99, in Europe in August 2022, with prices beginning at EUR999, and in China in August 2022, with prices beginning at RMB4,999.
Acer Veriton Vero All-In-One

The Veriton Vero all-in-one desktop computer (VVZ4694G) was designed for environmentally conscious enterprises, including work-from-home customers, who require powerful computing in a compact design.
It is sleek and stylish, with a 24-inch Full HD IPS display that supports wide viewing angles and an amazing 88% screen-to-body ratio thanks to the thin-bezel design. It may also be VESA wall-mounted to save even more workspace.
The Veriton Vero AIO is built of 30% post-consumer recycled material and comes with a keyboard and mouse made of PCR material. The packaging is 100% recyclable, and the screwless rear cover may be readily removed for upgrades or repairs to extend the lifecycle.
The Veriton Vero features the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i9 CPUs, NVIDIA GeForce MX550 GPUs, and up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR4 3200 MHz memory, providing ample power to serve the newest entertainment and productivity software.
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) provides a dependable connection for continuous communication, and the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C ports offer 20 Gbps high-speed data transfer for rapid downloads. Two M.2 SSDs allow for up to 2 TB of storage. BlueLightShield offers three levels of blue light filtering, with the highest decreasing up to 30% of blue light emissions to help protect the eyes.
The Veriton Vero comes with Windows Hello, which uses an IR scanner for facial recognition, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 for added protection. In addition, if another user attempts to view the screen, an inbuilt Tobii Aware smart sensor locks and blurs it. The integrated 5 MP webcam includes a shutter that closes to conceal sensitive data. This camera can be pointed at the user for video chats or at the room for group videoconferences to show a group rather than an individual.
The Acer Veriton Vero (VVZ4694G) AIO will be available in the United States in October 2022 for $799, and in Europe in July 2022 for EUR919.
Vero Monitors

The Vero IPS monitors, the 27-inch FHD Acer CB273, and the 23.8-inch FHD Acer B247Y G are made of 85% PCR plastic and 5% ocean-bound plastic (OBP).
The 27″ Acer CB273 has a Delta E1 rating and produces rich, realistic colours. The TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe-certified panel minimizes high-energy blue light to protect the eyes while keeping the colour integrity of the screen. The Acer CB273 also includes a KVM switch, which allows you to seamlessly switch between several computers while using the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This USB Type-C monitor can supply up to 90 W of electricity to devices.
The Acer Vero CB273 27″ monitor will be available in Q3 2022 for USD349.99 in the United States, EUR399 in Europe, and RMB2,499 in China.
The Acer Vero B247Y G 23.8″ monitor will be available in Q3 2022 in the United States starting at USD199.99, in EMEA starting at EUR269, and in China starting at RMB1,499.
Vero PD2325W Projector

The Acer Vero PD2325W is an energy-efficient projector with a minimal environmental effect that contains 50% PCR plastic in the chassis and 85% recycled paper packaging to reduce waste. Its LED light source has a 30,000-hour lifespan and saves nearly 50% of the energy used by standard mercury-containing lamp projectors. This not only makes it more environmentally friendly but also lowers the total ownership costs.
The projector displays presentations with clarity and precision thanks to its high contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, 2,200 lumens, and WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution. It also has a 125% REC 709 wide colour range, which is 1.5 to 2 times greater than that of standard lamp-based projectors. The projector’s Auto Keystone Correction automatically corrects vertical distortions, and it may be installed on the ceiling. Furthermore, integrated BlueLightShield allows for blue light filter settings to decrease exposure.
The projector also includes an integrated 5 W speaker for displaying videos, music, and movies without the need for an external speaker. It also supports continuous use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Acer Vero PD2325W projector will be available in Q3 2022, with prices starting at USD559 in the United States, EUR549 in EMEA, and RMB3,799 in China.
Vero Mouse & Keyboard

The Vero Mouse and Keyboard are meant to reduce waste, carbon emissions, and noise. The outer covers of both peripherals are made of PCR plastic, while the bottom covers are constructed of OBP. An extended life cycle is essential for reducing waste where the mouse has an 18-month battery life and the Vero keyboard has a 5-million-click lifespan.
The Acer Vero keyboard and mouse combo will be available in the United States in November 2022, with prices beginning at USD79.99, in Europe in November 2022, with prices beginning at EUR69.99, and in China in October 2022, with prices beginning at RMB399.
The Acer Vero mouse will be available in the United States starting in November 2022 for $29.99, in Europe starting in November 2022 for EUR24.99, and in China starting in October 2022 for RMB199.
Acer Earthion

Earthion, Acer’s commitment to harness its capabilities, supply chain partners, customers, and employees to develop creative and integrated solutions to help tackle environmental concerns for a more sustainable future, inspired the Vero product selection. Acer’s RE100 commitment to source 100 percent renewable energy by 2035, more eco-friendly product designs and a reduction in Acer’s supply chain carbon footprint are among Earthion’s goals.
To learn more about Earthion, feel free to visit their website by clicking on the link here.
Pokdepinion: Acer’s green initiative is really impressive and they have my respect for trying to create sustainable and innovative technology for a better future.
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Sony’s LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker Now Available In Malaysia

Sony Malaysia has revealed that the new LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker is now available in the country, coming in with a minimalist yet elegant design with quality sound.

The Sony LSPX-S2 comes with the company’s unique Advanced Vertical Drive Technology that allows the speaker to reproduce 360-degree sound. With it being Hi-Res Audio compatible, you are assured of hearing the music the way artists intend them to be heard.
Its organic glass tube tweeter has a wider surface (compared to conventional speakers) to create crystal clear sound with minimal loss of volume. It also features a candlelight mode, which illuminates the room, setting up a relaxing environment.

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Coming in a more compact body compared to its predecessor, the Glass Sound Speaker offers 8 hours of battery life. In terms of connectivity, it comes with Bluetooth so you can pair your smartphone to the speaker. It is also NFC One-Touch compatible for even faster and convenient pairing.

Thanks to its Push & Play function, you can simply press a button on the speaker to stream songs through Spotify Connect, with no need to go through your phone to access your music. You can use Wireless Multi-room to connect with up to 10 other compatible Sony audio devices over Wi-Fi.
The Sony LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker is now available in Sony Stores KLCC and The Curve as well as selected authorized dealers in the country for the price of RM2,599.
Pokdepinion: Not everyone will be buying this for their home.. but hey, at least it’s something that makes your interior pretty while also having a function.
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Fallout 76 Is NOT Coming to Steam – Here’s Most Likely Why

One of the most highly anticipated titles of 2018, Fallout 76, has been confirmed to not be coming to Steam. Developer Bethesda explains their action.
Fallout 76 Is NOT Coming to Steam and Here’s Most Likely Why

Among the big game releases this fall, the upcoming Fallout 76 is definitely one of the most highly anticipated titles. While the game will be on PC like the previous Fallout games, Bethesda has confirmed that those looking to play Fallout 76 will have to turn to Bethesda.net to play the game, as opposed to other PC game marketplaces.
According to PC Gamer, Bethesda Softworks confirmed that Fallout 76 will be available exclusively through the company’s Bethesda.net launcher instead of releasing through other digital marketplaces for PC games, most notably Steam.

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While no specific reason was given as to why Bethesda is opting for its own launcher for gamers to buy and play the game, one of the more obvious reasons would be that Bethesda may be looking to maximize potential profits from Fallout 76 by making the game exclusive to its own platform. If it’s on Steam, some of the revenue will have to be shared.
Bethesda also mention that this will apply to both the full game and the upcoming B.E.T.A., which will allow players to try out the full game in October ahead of its launch, and will also give players the ability to carry over progress from the trial period into the full game.
If you’re looking to download their specific launcher, click right here to do just that.
Fallout 76 will release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on 14th November 2018.
Source: PC Gamer
Pokdepinion: Well, guess that’s another game launcher to add to my PC, not like there wasn’t enough anyway. I might just even play it on the PlayStation 4. We’ll see how it goes.
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Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Close to Perfection

Unboxing the Dell XPS 13 2020
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Box

Inside the Dell XPS 13 box, which is surprisingly small might I add, you will find the following items:
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Box content
Preview(opens in a new tab)
45W Power adapterPower cableUSB-C to USB-A adapterUser guideSafety and Regulatory Information guideThe Dell XPS 13 2020 laptop itself
Appearance
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Lid
The Dell XPS 13 2020 laptop has had a redesign from its previous generation models. It’s now smaller and sleeker by a noticeable amount compared to its predecessor while still retaining classy, minimalist design. As for the materials, it’s made out of machined aluminum, carbon fiber, woven glass fiber, and hardened Corning Gorilla Glass, making it a solidly built laptop. Looking at the lid, you have the Dell logo in the center surrounded by its clean white colour scheme.

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Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Open up the lid
Open up the lid, which can be easily done with one hand, and you get a clear view of its 13.4-inch 4K UHD+ InfinityEdge touchscreen display, the chiclet keyboard with white backlighting, and the trackpad. In case you’re wondering, the display has an aspect ratio of 16:10, raising the height by a little bit for added screen real estate.
Dell has shaved off the bottom bezel so all four sides have almost no bezels. The webcam is still located at the top bezel, which is surprising given how little space there is. It’s also worth noting that the keyboard and trackpad grew in size, with the former now stretching across the laptop for added typing comfort.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Ports
On the left side, you have a USB-C port and a MicroSD card reader. On the right side, you have another USB-C port and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. There is nothing on the rear except for a clear view of the hinges. If you’re unfamiliar with this line of products, the lack of a USB-A port may seem surprising, but we’ll touch more on that in the User Experience section.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Bottom
Moving to the bottom of the Dell XPS 13 2020 laptop, you have two long rubberized stands to give it a bit of a lift for improved airflow, a stretched out air vent, and what looks like four speaker grilles. In actuality, it’s a stereo 2.5W speaker setup, most likely done this way for improved aesthetics and audio travel.
Overall, the Dell XPS 13 2020 is a solidly built laptop with a clean, classy look. It’s very portable, even within 13-inch laptop standards, as the body feels more like an 11-inch laptop. This is surprising given the upgraded display but that problem was most likely alleviated with the bottom bezel being shaved off. It only weighs 1.2kg, but it can feel heavier than that as its mass is concentrated on a smaller surface area.
Specifications
CPU10th Generation Intel Quad Core i7-1065G7 (8MB cache, up to 3.9GHz)RAM16GB LPDDR4X Dual-channel @ 3733 MHzGPUIntel Iris Plus GraphicsStorage1TB PCIe g3x4 SSD (SK Hynix PC611)SoftwareMicrosoft Windows 10 Home 64-bitDell Mobile ConnectDell CinemaColorDell Digital DeliveryDell UpdateDell Power ManagerConnectivityWirelessKiller Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2)Bluetooth 5.0Wired2 x Thunderbolt 3 (DisplayPort and Power Delivery)1 x microSD card reader1 x Type-C to Type-A v3.0 adapterDisplay4K UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge touch display, with 100% sRGB + 90% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 1500:1 contrast ratio, 0.65% anti-reflective, anti-smudge, 91.5% screen-to-body ratioDolby Vision, 178° wide viewing angleEyesafe technologyAudio2 x 2.5W speakersWaves MaxxAudio Pro1 x 3.5mm combo audio jackDual-microphone arrayPower45W power adapter (USB-C)52 WHr integrated batteryDimensions295.7 x 198.7 x 14.8 mmWeight1.2 kg
Performance
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – CrystalDiskMark
Kicking things off with CrystalDiskMark, the 1TB NVMe SSD in the Dell XPS 13 is really fast. What you’re getting here is a speedy and big capacity storage drive that you can rely on. Loading speed and boot up times will be minimal, and this works great as it allows you to take better advantage of the new features that come with the 10th Gen Intel Core CPU. In case you’re wondering, it’s using the SK Hynix PC611 NVMe SSD.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Cinebench R15
Moving on the Cinebench R15, the Intel Core i7-1065G7 does well enough for single core performance, but the multi-core performance is a little lacking. This isn’t a surprise given the CPU is built for efficiency. It seems to be on par with the Intel’s own i5-10210U.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Cinebench R20
A similar pattern can be seen in Cinebench R20, as it does well in single core yet but lacks in the multi-core department. For work / productivity, it should be fine but if you’re planning to run anything intensive, it might not be the best.
Typically, this will be the part where I show you how it performs in Unigine SuperPosition’s 4K Optimized benchmark. For some odd reason, it couldn’t manage to run the test, even after reinstalling and making sure all the necessary updates are there. We suspect that this is because it uses Intel Iris Plus Graphics, and the test is too much for it.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – 3DMark Time Spy
In 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, it only managed a measly score of 909. This isn’t a surprise as it doesn’t have a discrete GPU. For graphics, it will be relying on the Intel Iris Plus Graphics, which isn’t too bad, but definitely not one for gaming.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – PCMark
As for PCMark, the Dell XPS 13 2020 did fairly well. While it may be far from the best for content creation, it’s still a solid laptop for productivity and other uses like web browsing and entertainment. It’s not that you can’t do content creation on this, just that it’s best to stick to the simpler things. Photoshop should be perfectly fine, but I wouldn’t use this for video editing.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Light gaming benchmark
I personally got curious as to how well the Intel Iris Plus Graphics can perform, so I decided to try a couple of mainstream games, at their highest settings, that aren’t too taxing to run. Given the nature of the integrated graphics, I ran the game in Full HD+ instead of its native 4K UHD+ resolution for obvious reasons. While 30 FPS is kinda choppy, it’s not too bad. You can dial down the graphics settings and have a decent gaming experience with this, provided the games themselves are light.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – PCMark Modern Office endurance test
Lastly, we have PCMark’s Modern Office endurance test. The Dell XPS 13 2020 lasted 457 minutes (7 hours and 37 minutes) from full charge. As for the gaming endurance test, it had the longest score in our list of benchmarked laptops, lasting 210 minutes (3 and a half hours).
The battery life is still pretty good, but I believe its strong point is its standby time, as I never shut down the laptop and after 24 hours, the battery life didn’t seem to be affected most of the time. As this is the 4K UHD+ variant, the Full HD+ variant may have a better battery life.
Looking for a gaming laptop instead? Check out our review of the Alienware M17 m2 by clicking right here.
User Experience
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review
The Dell XPS 13 2020 isn’t meant to be a laptop excels in power. It’s designed for productivity and portability while still having relatively good performance. It’s powered by the Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, which has Intel Iris Plus Graphics integrated, 16GB dual-channel LPDDR4X RAM, and speedy 1TB NVMe SSD storage. If you’re not concerned about gaming or running highly intensive tasks, this packs more than enough firepower.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – 4K UHD+ touchscreen display
It uses a 13.4-inch 4K UHD+ 60Hz display with touchscreen support. The size may sound odd but that’s because the aspect ratio is 16:10, making it a bit taller than most widescreen displays on a laptop. Both the colours and viewing angles are great, so even professionals will have a good time with it. You can open the lid only up to 135°, which may seem a bit odd given the touchscreen support, but it’s most likely done to not cannibalize their 2-in-1 laptops.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review
If you’re not familiar with the Dell XPS series of laptops, you may find the included ports surprising. It is similar to recent MacBooks, where you don’t get USB-A ports and you only get USB-C ports. On the plus side, you get two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one for charging, and Dell even included a USB-C to USB-A adapter so you can use your mouse without issues.
Personally, I’m okay with the ports on the Dell XPS 13 2020. You also do get a MicroSD card reader and a combo audio jack. If you want a better experience, such as the ability to output display more flexibly or use a wider array of USB devices, I would recommend getting a USB-C hub. It wouldn’t add much bulk given how portable the laptop is anyway, and you wouldn’t need to sacrifice the ability to charge it while using the hub.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – White-backlit keyboard
The keyboard on the Dell XPS 13 2020 is comfortable to use. You get low travel distance with decent tactility, and it’s spaced out well for its compact size. I also like the fact that it does have white backlighting, which helps a lot when using in the dark. The trackpad itself works fine and there’s nothing to shout out about. I just wished that this one came with a fingerprint scanner for an easier, more secure login method.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – My Dell
As this is a Dell machine, it does come with a suite of Dell software that you can make use of. This includes My Dell, Dell Power Manager, Dell CinemaColor, Dell Update, and Dell Digital Delivery. All of these are designed to make your life easier, such as optimizing your viewing experience, serving as a hub to get important software and driver updates, battery maintenance, and more.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Dell Mobile Connect
My personal favourite software that comes with every Dell machine is Dell Mobile Connect. The software lets you connect your smartphone to the Dell PC wirelessly via Bluetooth to transfer files, check notifications, answer calls, and even mirror the device for easier interactions. Now, the software has support for both Android and iOS. This is by far the cleanest, easiest and most robust software for using your smartphone via a Windows PC that I have ever experienced.
If you want to read more about other new features available in Dell Mobile Connect aside from iOS support, click right here.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – Waves MaxxAudioPro
In the sound department, the speakers on the Dell XPS 13 2020 are decent at best. While they can get surprisingly loud, the sound quality tends to get a bit muddy. It can pump out a decent amount of bass, which is surprising for built-in speakers. The Waves MaxxAudioPro can only help so much, so I’d recommend using your favourite pair of headphones on this laptop. At least the software can optimize your listening experience better this way, especially on adding 3D audio.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review – KILLER Control Center
As for networking, you can optimize your experience using the KILLER Control Center. If you ever need to prioritize bandwidth for specific applications or even for gaming, it’s particularly useful to have. Furthermore, having support for Wi-Fi 6 means you get to enjoy a more reliable wireless networking experience. While you may not be able to make full use of it yet, it’s a good futureproof feature to have with benefits that you can enjoy immediately.
Dell XPS 13 2020 Verdict
Dell XPS 13 2020 Review
The Dell XPS 13 2020 is a great laptop if you need one solely for productivity. It’s very portable, it has a great display with touchscreen support, good battery life, Wi-Fi 6 support, two Thunderbolts 3 ports, useful software suite, and excellent build quality. If you feel that 4K UHD+ is overkill for this, there is a Full HD+ variant that you can consider.
It’s not perfect by any means however. It would be so much better with a discrete GPU like a GeForce MX250 / MX350, subpar speakers, a USB-C hub is a must if you need specific / additional ports, and is pricey. If all of these aren’t an issue for you, this could very well be the perfect laptop for you. Personally, I would like the display to be bigger, but that’s just me.
With that, I award the Dell XPS 13 2020 with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Dell Malaysia for letting us use this laptop for the purposes of this review.
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Second Beta for Metal Gear Survive Announced; Here’s the PC System Requirements

The second beta for Metal Gear Survive has been confirmed, and it will also be available for PC gamers. If you’re not sure whether your PC can run it or not, we have the system requirements inside.
Second Beta for Metal Gear Survive Announced

Today, Konami unveiled new information regarding its upcoming title Metal Gear Survive, which is set to hold another beta this month across all platforms.

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According to the press release, the second beta will commence on Friday, February 16th and will conclude on Sunday, February 18th, a couple of days before the game is set to officially launch. Additionally, this marks the first time PC gamers will have a chance to play the game early.
During the duration of the beta, players will have the opportunity to team up with friends to tackle missions on select maps. Those who partake in the beta will earn in-game bonus items which will be made available when the game officially launches; this includes a FOXHOUND nameplate and one Metal Gear Red head accessory to name a few.
Metal Gear Survive is currently being developed by Konami Digital Entertainment and is the first game in the series after the series’ creator, Hideo Kojima departed from the company in 2015. Initially, the game had a 2017 launch window. However, last June, Konami announced the game was delayed to 2018.

If you are interested in playing the beta (or the full version of the game even) on PC, check out the system requirements just below here, as provided by Steam:
Minimum System Requirements

OS: Windows 7×64, Windows 8×64, Windows 10×64 (64-bit OS Required)
Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 (3.40 GHz) or better; Quad-core or better
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 (2GB) or better (DirectX 11 card Required)
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 20 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

Recommended System Requirements

OS: Windows 7×64, Windows 8×64, Windows 10×64 (64-bit OS Required)
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790 (3.60GHz) or better; Quad-core or better
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (DirectX 11 graphics card required)
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 20 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card (Surround Sound 5.1)

Metal Gear Survive is set to be released on February 20th 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
Pokdepinion: Well, getting a glimpse of a game before it’s finally released is not a bad thing. Would definitely be a good way to convince the game if they don’t hate the developer too much.
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Realme 3 coming soon to Malaysia? Gets spotted on SIRIM’s website

Realme is a sub-brand of OPPO, focused on delivering maximum value for money at any price point. Their devices offer a stark contrast when pit against OPPO’s pricey devices. It has just recently arrived in Malaysia, but yet Realme has seen prolific growth due to their value proposition across their product lineup.
In India, the Realme U1 was launched as the first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Helio P70. We did approach Realme Malaysia regarding the Realme U1, but they mentioned that they would like to focus on their current lineup and they aren’t planning on adding any new devices. Yet.

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A Realme RMX1821 has been spotted on SIRIM, with the registration dated a few days ago. The Realme RMX1821 model number has been linked to the Realme U1 as well as the Realme 3, so it might be announced as one or the other here in Malaysia.
Key Realme U1 Specifications

MediaTek Helio P70, up to 2.1 GHz, 12nm FinFET
Up to 4GB RAM
Up to 64GB storage
6.3″ FHD+ display, 90.8% screen-to-body ratio
13MP f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor
25MP f/2.0 selfie camera
ColorOS 5.2 based on Android 8.1 Oreo
3500 mAh battery
3GB + 32GB: Rs 11 999 (~RM691)
4GB + 64GB: Rs 14 999 (~RM864)

What do you think of the Realme 3/Realme U1?
Pokdepinion: Well if the performance is better than the Realme 2 Pro, why not, right?
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Malaysian telcos to tender for 5G bands by Q1 2020

5G is going to be the next big thing in 2020, with most flagship smartphones expected to tout it as one of the big upgrades from this year’s devices. With that in mind, the MCMC has outlined the 700 MHz, 3.4 to 3.6 GHz (3.5 GHz band) and 24.9 to 28.1 GHz bands to be the “pioneer spectrum bands” in Malaysia.
The latest report by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced that they will be making 2 x 30 MHz of the 700 MHz band and 100 MHz of the 3.5 GHz band as a single package via tender to a single entity which will comprise of multiple licensees in a consortium. This is to accelerate 5G rollout via sharing of resources between the multiple licensees.
Meanwhile a total of eight blocks, 400 MHz each, will be available in the 24.9 GHz to 28.1 GHz spectrum. 1600 MHz (4 blocks) of bandwidth in the 24.9 GHz to 26.5 GHz spectrum will be made available to licensees nationwide via a tender process, while the remaining four blocks in the 26.5 GHz to 28.1 GHz band will be open to any party for localized or private networks on a first-come first-served basis.

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The tender process for the available 5G bands is expected to commence in Q1 2020 for all the bands, with commercial deployment by Q3 2020. All the assignments will be done via apparatus assignment (AA) which is meant to encourage network deployment by service providers.
Pokdepinion: Well seems like we will be seeing 5G pretty soon after all!
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How the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Precision Boost Overdrive Works

The AMD Ryzen 3000 series CPU is expected to come with a ton of new features that will make it a significant upgrade over the previous generations. One such feature is the newly improved Precision Boost Overdrive technology specifically for this new generation.
It’s not a brand new feature by any means. In the AMD Ryzen 2000 series, the Precision Boost Overdrive technology is designed to give more power to the AMD CPU which enables higher boost clock speeds to all cores. This is of course if specific power and cooling conditions have been met, which essentially allows for a form of CPU overclocking within AMD specifications.
In the AMD Ryzen 3000 series however, it gets a lot better without being overly complicated. It can now use Precision Boost Overdrive to enable higher single-core boost clocks, up to 200MHz higher, maximizing single-threaded performance while also delivering boosted all-core clock speeds. With this, the new generation Ryzen CPU is capable of offering noticeable boosts in both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance.

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If that seems a bit too simple to believe, or you’d want to know more about it, AMD’s own Robert Hallock has made an explanation video for their Precision Boost Overdrive technology, and how it’s better than what they’ve offered in the previous generation. You can check out the video at the top of this post.
We might just do a post or a video ourselves showing how the technology works and what sort of improvements you can expect from it. It may sound simple but the benefits can be quite significant depending on what you plan on running, be it for gaming or productivity. If you’d like to see us at Pokde.net do that, be sure to let us known in the comments.
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Troy Baker Says “You Aren’t Ready” For Last of Us Part II

While it has been quite some time since Sony Interactive Entertainment unveiling The Last of Us Part II, there was no details on when it will come out. but when it does, it will be more than what you’d expect. At least, that’s what Troy Baker, the voice actor for Joel has to say.

Baker has warned gamers that are waiting for the highly anticipated game that they aren’t ready for it.
He said “There is nothing about this game, nor the reveals, that hasn’t been one hundred percent carefully crafted and methodically curated. All I can tell you is that as much as you’re clamoring for it, you’re not ready”.

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Simply put, he’s trying to say that the game will blow our expectations away, when it finally comes out. The original Last of Us took gamers on a emotional roller coaster ride, where it featured dark and mature themes. So it’s best to assume that we can expect even much more than that.
The Last of Us Part II is currently in development for the PS4 and is reported to be made available for the upcoming PS5 as well.
Pokdepinion: Believe me Mr. Baker, I’m ready for it. Just give us the release date already.
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Google Chrome Adds New Tool That Ensures Your Passwords Are Secure With Ease

Cybersecurity is a concern that never stops. There is a risk for everyone and now, Google Chrome has a new feature that will ensure your passwords remain secure, but you need to play your part to keep it safe as well.
Google Chrome 88’s New Password Manager
GIF credits: TNW
Google’s popular web browser already has a password manager to begin with but in Google Chrome 88, it can now do a lot more things. For starters, it can audit your passwords so you will not if it’s part of a data breach or if it’s a relatively weak password, which would then recommend you to change it as soon as possible.

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It doesn’t exactly give you advice on what to do but it will tell you the websites that you should change your passwords. This makes the whole process a lot easier just in case you fear that you might be vulnerable in one platform or another. Having a strong password has become the norm for online security but keeping track of these can be tricky. These password managers make it a lot easier to manage as you just need a single master password for it.
If you want to make use of the new feature, simply get the Google Chrome 88 update, then click on your profile picture on the top right. There will be a key icon there which will take your to the password manager as soon as you click it. You will have the option to check passwords, which will lead to the browser cross-checking it against any breaches and see how strong it is.
This feature is only available on Windows PC, and iOS. The Android version of the browser will be receiving the feature sometime in the future.
Source
Pokdepinion: So basically, they’re doing their own built-in version of LastPass and further improving it. Not gonna complain but since I’m already using LastPass, I’m just going to stick to it.
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GTA 6 Likely Launching In 2024, As Hinted By Publisher

The big one. The BIG one. THE BIG ONE!

We’ve seen the clickbaits, then the actual leaks, and Rockstar confirming the existence of the game – but final question remained: when is GTA 6 launching? Looks like we may have a clue based on the yearly earnings report published by Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive.

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The conference call transcript, which contains T2’s projections for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 (which begins in April 2024), reads:
“Looking ahead, Fiscal 2025 is a highly anticipated year for our Company. For the last several years, we have been preparing our business to release an incredibly robust pipeline of projects that we believe will take our company to even greater levels of success. In Fiscal 2025, we expect to enter this new era by launching several groundbreaking titles that we believe will set new standards in our industry and enable us to achieve over $8 billion in Net Bookings and over $1 billion in Adjusted Unrestricted Operating Cash Flow. We expect to sustain this momentum by delivering even higher levels of operating results in Fiscal 2026 and beyond.”
For context, the net booking in the previous fiscal year was $5.3 billion, and that was after the acquisition of Zynga, a major mobile games developer, which help boosted the figures. Prior to the acquisition the figure has largely stayed at $3 billion, so a jump such huge is unlikely to be contributed to just several new game releases – unless it is of course, GTA 6. The game is said to be the most expensive to date with development budget costing up to $2 billion, nearly 4 times more than Red Dead Redemption 2 ($540 million) and 8 times over GTA V’s original release ($265 million).

IGN asked Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick for comment, however he declined to confirm nor deny as the official stance on the matter is that Take-Two do not talk about unannounced titles in earnings reports such as this one. It remains to be seen if the marketing for GTA 6 may kick off as soon as next month’s Summer Game Fest, enough time for the studio to hype up what is arguably the biggest game release of the decade so far. The game is said to be set in a Miami-based map, much like Vice City two decades ago, and feature a couple protagonist based on Bonnie-and-Clyde style plot.
Source: IGN
Pokdepinion: Knowing past GTA releases, let’s see what kind of new standard they can set this time around.
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HONOR MagicBook 14 To Land In Malaysia On 6 July

The folks at HONOR Malaysia has confirmed that their HONOR MagicBook 14 will be coming soon to Malaysia on the 6th of July 2020.
HONOR MagicBook 14 coming soon

The HONOR MagicBook 14 weighs in only at 1.38kg and it offers up to 10 hours of battery life, or so HONOR claims. It comes with a FullView display and there’s a Type-C 65W charger which they said can give you 46% juice in just 30 minutes.
There’s also Magic-link 2.0 so that you can pair your smartphone with the laptop seamlessly. Other than that, it includes a AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor, Radeon Vega 8 graphics, 8GB of DDR4 RAM (dual channel) as well as either a 256GB or 512GB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

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The price? Well we’ve got to wait until the 6th of July itself. Don’t worry, we’ll sure to keep you updated on it once it gets out. Till then, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Previously we’ve reviewed the HONOR MagicBook, do check our full thoughts right here.
Pokdepinion: I wonder how HONOR’s going to price the laptop… Hopefully it’ll come with an attractive price.
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HUAWEI gives out powerbanks to Apple fans — “You’ll need it”

Well Singporean iPhone fans are really lucky! They actually got themselves a powerbank from HUAWEI while they were lining up for their new iPhones, which were put on sale earlier today. Of course, HUAWEI had to be a little naughty to even pull this off about it. The powerbank comes in an envelope with the message “Here’s a powerbank. You’ll need it.”

Apparently even iPhone fans aren’t averse to a little extra free stuff, as HUAWEI Singapore only gave out around 200 units before they ran out of stock. And the people there in the queue were apparently chasing after the staff for a free powerbank too.

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And these are really good powerbanks! They cost a fair sum and support HUAWEI SuperCharge. Not your regular free powerbanks. We see HUAWEI treat Apple fans well, what about their own fans?
Source: HardwareZone FB
Pokdepinion: If the HUAWEI Mate 20 does not come with a free powerbank, we are boycotting it. That’s it.
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Acer Aspire Vero 2022: How Sustainable Laptops Have Come a Long Way

When you think of eco-friendly sustainable laptops, you might be thinking of something cheap or weak in comparison to the standard machine. With the Acer Aspire Vero 2022, it shows how far this type of laptop has come and how promising it can be. Let’s dive right into it.
Eco-friendly Inside and Out

The Acer Aspire Vero 2022 is said to have cut CO2 emissions by 21%, but how is that possible? For starters, it’s made with post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR), an eco-friendly material that is more sustainable than your average plastic which is expected to make a dent in the reduction of landfill waste. In fact, any scrap material from the production of this laptop gets recycled and then reused.

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The top and bottom cover, screen bezel, and operating surface consist of 30% PCR materials while the keycaps are made up of 50% PCR. Furthermore, the OceanGlass™ touchpad is built using ocean-bound plastic, which is surprising as certainly doesn’t feel like plastic when you touch it. To encourage a longer lifespan and use, they’ve designed the laptop for easy maintenance by using standard screws, so you can easily repair, upgrade, and recycle it.

To really nail down its eco-friendly message, the R and E keys on the laptop have a special styling to it to convey the message of “reduce, reuse, and recycle”. Moreover, each colour variant is also conveying a specific message on what they are trying to protect, with the chassis itself being paint-free to lower the negative impacts of VOCs:

Mariana Blue – Designed to evoke considerations for our oceans, such as the Mariana Trench.
Starry Black – A reminder of what we will miss if air pollution overtakes the atmosphere and hides the stars away.
Cobblestone Grey – The name itself implies what Vero’s purpose is – to act as a building block for sustainability.

It’s not just the laptop that has an environmentally-friendly design as the packaging is also recyclable to minimize our carbon footprint. To be precise, the laptop bag and keyboard sheet are made with 100% recycled polyester. Interestingly, the packaging is made up of 90% recycled paper, and it can be transformed and reused as a laptop stand.
Reliable Performance with Intel® Evo™

Any laptop that has the Intel® Evo™ certification means that it has passed a strict standard for on-the-go productivity. The Acer Aspire Vero 2022 is Intel® Evo™ certified, which means that it’s a reliable laptop in terms of performance, all-day battery life, and usage with Instant Wake capabilities.
For starters, it is powered by the 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1255U consisting of two P-cores and eight E-cores with a healthy turbo clock speed of 4.7GHz. This works in tandem with up to a dual-channel 16GB LPDDR4X RAM for optimized performance, especially when used in Performance or Balanced modes within VeroSense.
Then, we have Intel® Evo™ Verified long-lasting battery life, lasting about 11 to 13 hours per full charge, which makes it easy to bring it around even without a charger. If that’s not enough, the Acer Aspire Vero 2022 support fast charging, with a 30-minute charge giving you 4 hours of use. Coupled together with VeroSense, you can keep the laptop running for even longer thanks to the Eco and Eco+ modes.
Intelligent Features

With the Acer Aspire Vero 2022, you get a low power Full HD display with 100% sRGB and a 16:9 aspect ratio. You get the choice of either 14-inch or 15-inch display depending on how compact you want to go. It also come with Thunderbolt 4 support, which can handle data transfers up to 40Gbps, doubles as a charging port, and can be used to connect to peripherals such as a monitor or an external dock for more connectivity options.
In case you weren’t aware, it is powered by Windows 11, which means you can have an easier time multitasking via the Snap Layout feature. By pressing Win + Z, you can easily arrange all of your open windows with a variety of layouts in just a “snap”.
The use of Acer PurifiedVoice with AI Noise Reduction brings improvement to your microphone audio quality for conference calls so it can capture your voice clearly even in unfavourable situations. Coupled together with a Full HD front camera complete with Acer’s Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) technology, you will be able to enjoy pristine video calls no matter where you are.
It’s worth noting that Malaysia will only be getting the 15-inch Acer Aspire Vero AV15-52 model only. Stay tuned to the review of the Acer Aspire Vero 2022, right here on Pokde.net.
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HyperX QuadCast S Review – A Symbol of Excellence

Unboxing the HyperX QuadCast S
HyperX QuadCast S Review – Box

Starting off our HyperX QuadCast S review with the unboxing, the packaging is kind of a tall box, which should give you an idea as to how big the microphone is. It also dons the signature HyperX colour scheme. Inside the box, you can find the following items:
HyperX QuadCast S Review – Box content

User guide
USB-C to USB-A cable
Microphone stand adapter
The HyperX QuadCast S microphone itself

Specifications

Frequency Response
20Hz to 20KHz

Noise (RMS)
≤-95dBFS (A-weighted)

Bitrate
16-bit

Capsules
3 x 14mm electret condenser capsules

Polar Pattern
Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, Bidirectional

Power
5 V / 245 mA

Sensitivity
-36 dB (1 V / Pa at 1 kHz)

Sample Rate
48kHz

Impedance
None

Headphone
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Maximum power output: 7mW
T.H.D: ≤ 0.05% (1kHz/0dBFS)
SNR: ≥ 90dB (1kHZ, RL=∞)

RGB
Yes, 2 zones, 16m colours

Connection Type
USB-C, 3.5 headphone output

Weight
254g (mic)
360g (with shock mount)

Microphone Sound Test

https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2022/12/Recording-2.mp3
https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2022/12/Recording-3.mp3
https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2022/12/Recording-4.mp3
To give you a clear idea of how the HyperX QuadCast S sounds, I recorded a few samples talking directly to the microphone at 100%, 75%, and 50% sensitivity levels (on PC) so you will know what sensitivity you should set for what you want do with it. The distance between my face and the microphone is about 18-20cm apart.
Personally at 100%, it does sound a little bit soft but that can be alleviated with by using the gain dial on the microphone or bringing the microphone a little bit closer to my face. As it is, I do like how clear my voice comes out with no background noise. For context, I had an air conditioner running at full speed right above my head.

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This microphone would be a good fit for livestreamers and content creators whether it’s for gaming or music provided you don’t plan on using one microphone to capture a lot of people voices. A smaller room for 2 or 3 people is still doable with the right polar pattern setting but ideally, it’s meant to be used solo with the microphone right in front of the person. Anything better than this and you’d best look into XLR mics instead.
Looking for an affordable wireless gaming headset to go along with this? Check out our HyperX Cloud Core Wireless review by clicking right here.
The Good
HyperX QuadCast S Review – RGB
For starters, the best thing about the HyperX QuadCast S is the first thing you would notice as soon as it’s powered up, which is the RGB lighting. This is the kind of thing that would make a perfect spectacle and decor for a livestream or even a YouTube video but if you’re not a content creator, I’m sure you’ll find yourself mesmerized by it from time to time. It’s also an upgrade from the QuadCast as the RGB has a dynamic colour scheme.
In case you’re wondering, the HyperX QuadCast S has a built-in pop filter, which works pretty decent. It does a decent job with plosives (P-sounds, T-sounds, etc.), but it does have a bit of trouble if you’re talking too close to it. Using this without an external pop filter is indeed a viable option, which is a good thing to have.
HyperX QuadCast S Review – Polar patterns
The HyperX QuadCast S is rather versatile as it has a total of four polar patterns for you to use; Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Bidirectional. While most people would stick to Cardioid pattern, if you ever want to record something happening in the room or with multiple people, you can change the pattern to a more fitting one and you’re good to go. Just keep in mind of the limitations I mentioned in the mic test section.
If you’re ever wondering how the microphone sounds like, you can do so quickly with the built-in headphone monitoring jack. Just plug in your 3.5mm headphones / earphones and you’re good to go. It’s also low latency, so you shouldn’t be experience any odd delays while fiddling around with the gain dial to see where you should set it on.
HyperX QuadCast S Review – Mute button
Initially, I was disappointed thinking it didn’t have a mute button but as it turns out, it has a touch-sensitive one on the top. All you have to do is touch it once to mute it, and touch it again to unmute it. You will know if you’re muted if the RGB lighting gets disabled. It’s a smart use of the RGB lighting, which already looks great as is.
Lastly, the use of USB-C here is great as it’s an upgrade over the mini USB used in the previous QuadCast and you can easily swap it out for another USB-C cable if it ever dies out on you since so many gadgets are using the same standard. In my experience with USB microphones, microUSB is the most problematic, and that is the biggest pain to replace in today’s world since it has been succeeded by USB-C.
The Bad
HyperX QuadCast S Review – USB-C and headphone jack
The first drawback of the HyperX QuadCast S is the Ngenuity software. Practically speaking, it’s only really ever used for customizing the RGB lighting and nothing more and it doesn’t really have options to adjust the audio, such as using a high-pass / low-pass filter, voice effects, and more. On the plus side, this also means that you can make do with it without a software as it does work as a plug-and-play microphone.
Unlike some of its competitors, this one doesn’t have XLR connection des. This will limit its use if you ever come to a point where you need something more, like more controls among other things when used with a mixer. It’s a shame too since it limits the potential of the mic given how great it is as is.
HyperX QuadCast S Review
The next drawback may not come as an issue for a number of users but it’s worth pointing out anyway, which is the non-removable shock mount. It works fine as is for its intended purpose but if you ever wanted to bring it out, it’s rather cumbersome as a result. This isn’t to be confused with the inability to use with microphone stands, assuming you don’t want it sitting on the table, as it does come with an adapter for it.
HyperX QuadCast S Verdict
HyperX QuadCast S Review
The HyperX QuadCast S is an excellent USB condenser microphone even until today. Its drawbacks are minimal at best and can be easily worked around with. It’s just a matter of whether you need a condenser or dynamic mic, if you need something more portable, or if you need that XLR upgrade potential.
With a price tag of RM659, it’s easy enough to look past those issues given that you’re getting a microphone that certainly looks just as good as it sounds. At the end of our HyperX QuadCast S review, I award this USB condenser microphone with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

Big thanks to HyperX for sending us this microphone for the purpose of this review.
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Get your honor 8 on 8.9.16, priced from RM1699!

honor Malaysia has just launched the honor 8 here today, sharing with members of the media, fans and dealers the awesomeness that is the honor 8. The honor 8 is truly a thing of beauty with the performance to boot. Following its global launch in Paris less than a month ago, Malaysians will be one of the first few in the world to be able to experience the honor 8 in all its splendor.

honor Malaysia aims to satisfy the demands of young digital natives who need devices that are both impressive outside and inside. With the honor 8, honor fans do not have to choose between great looks and performance. And all that without having to sell a kidney (or two) to afford one.

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One of the highlights of the honor 8 is the dual-camera system on its back. With its dual monochrome+color Sony IMX298 sensors, the honor 8 captures the beauty of life in any condition. Users can also redefine the focal point after the image is taken. However while it seems to share much of its specifications with the Huawei P9, it does not feature the Leica branding.

The rest of the specifications are no less impressive. A Kirin 950 SoC is mated to 4GB of DDR4 RAM, with a 2.5D curved glass over a 5.2″ FHD display on the front and a 15-layer “aurora” glass back, the honor 8 promises performance that matches its premium appearance.

The honor 8 will be available on the 8th of September from honor Malaysia’s partners Vmall Malaysia, Lazada Malaysia, DirectD and SenHeng Malaysia, priced at RM1699 for the variant with 32GB and RM1899 for the 64GB version. If you are among the first 100 buyers from each of the channels, you will also be able to get exclusive freebies worth up to RM500!

Better be quick if you want to get these great freebies!

One more thing. If you have a tighter budget, honor Malaysia also launched the honor 5A which comes with a more affordable price tag. The honor 5A packs the octa-core 64-bit Kirin 620 chipset, mated to 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage with support for microSD cards up to 128GB. It runs on Android 5.1 out of the box, with a 5.5″ HD (720p) display and is powered by a 3100 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the honor 5A packs a 13 MP camera on the rear, with an 8 MP one on the front.

The honor 5A comes in Black and White, priced at RM599, while the Gold variant is priced at RM629. The honor 5A will be available starting 20th August.

Pokdepinion: The honor 8 is a very impressive device, and we actually have a unit in our labs right now. Stay tuned for our review coming out real soon!
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LIANLI Thanks Their Fans For 2018 With Global Giveaway

LIANLI, the manufacturer of aluminum chassis for enthusiasts, custom OEM/ODM case solutions and case accessories is celebrating with their fans around the world by hosting a global giveaway to commemorate their 2018 products and welcome another year of innovation.
Want to be a part of the giveaway? Well all you need to do is follow the following steps:

Like and follow LIANLI on Facebook
Vote on the link for your favorite 3 items and LIANLI will randomly select a winner
Winners will win the items that they’ve voted for

The giveaway is already up and running and the winner will be announced on the 25th of February 2019.

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Pokdepinion: That seems easy. All you need to is simply like the page and vote for your favorite products. Straightforward right?
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Here’s How to Get One Year Nintendo Switch Online for Free

If you’re a Nintendo Switch owner and you’ve clicked here, then chances are that you’ve been considering to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online but have not gotten around to it yet. Whether that’s price or uncertainty on whether you’ll truly benefit from it, there could be a good number of reasons why you haven’t done so yet. Now, there’s a way subscribe for free, up to one year.
Twitch has partnered up with Nintendo to give away up to a year of free access to Nintendo Switch Online. Twitch Prime members can claim three months of Nintendo Switch Online via the Twitch Prime website straight away. However, you will need to then wait for 60 days after your initial claim to manually grab the remaining nine months of service. This seems to be more of a safeguard so people don’t just sign up for the trial, grab the free offer, and then leave Twitch / Amazon to eat their dust.

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You have plenty of time to make use of this offer as you’ll have until 24th September 2019 to claim the three free months of Nintendo Switch Online and until 22nd January 2020 to claim the nine additional months. At the moment, a year’s worth of subscription costs USD $19.99.
To find out more information about what’s included and if existing Nintendo Switch Online members are eligible, click right here.
Pokdepinion: Well, if you’re already an active Twitch Prime user, might as well take advantage of this deal.
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Here’s What You Can Expect From 11.11 Digi Sale

In case you’ve wondered what Digi has prepped up for 11.11, well you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find the deals to be running from now till the 15th of November 2021.
Digi 11.11 Sale

In the promo period, you can expect multiple offers across Postpaid, Prepaid, and Mobile Broadband products with up to 50% savings or 50% extra data quota.

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For prepaid users, you can keep your line active for 6 months at RM34 during the period through the MyDigi app (selected prepaid plans).
There’s also the vivo Y20 (2021) that you can get for only RM99 with their Pakej PowerJimat plan. Customers can enjoy a RM550 discount and pay only RM99 for the device this 11.11 and also get 30GB internet access with unlimited calls on Digi Postpaid 60 when you sign up. You’ll find this offer to be available exclusively on the Digi Store Online.
Aside from that, customers who subscribe to the Digi Broadband 105 plan during this 7-day sale period can enjoy 50% extra internet quota. You will get 150GB mobile data to use anytime and anywhere at RM105 per month for 12 months. That being said, it is offered for new sign-ups through the Digi Store Online.
In case you are already an existing user, customers on Digi Postpaid 60 plan and above will enjoy an extra lifetime rebate of RM10 per month when you subscribe to the plan.
Not to forget, they are also offering 50% off for a Gadget SIM. At RM5/month for a period of 12 months, Digi Postpaid 60 plan and above can take advantage of the deal. The Gadget SIM helps you to connect your other smart devices and share the Internet quota from your main postpaid line.
For more details on their offerings, you may head to the link right here. Stay tuned to Pokde.net for the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews.
Pokdepinion: What I like about their promos is that they’ve prepared a range of deals, instead of just focusing on one service such as Postpaid only. So that’s nice to see. Other than that, they do seem like the offer to take advantage of. Any of them that you fancy?
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