Samsung Galaxy Note 7: An enterprise-grade smartphone for professionals

Samsung Malaysia held an exclusive Galaxy Note 7 Enterprise Business Showcase yesterday for members of media, business professionals and government officials for the opportunity to explore and experience the latest Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for themselves.

Built as an enterprise-grade smartphone the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 bring the best-in-class features by combining security with intuitive and innovative features. On the exclusive event, the Galaxy Note 7 showcased its many solutions and features like the Knox security, iris scanning, water proof IP68 rating and new S-Pen.

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The latest Knox 2.7 is an industry validated security solution for enhanced biometric security. When paired with the iris scanning security feature and folder encryption, it provides security levels up to 200 times higher than the current standard of fingerprint authentication.

The the whole device are water and dust resistant based on the IP68 rating, and that rating also includes the new S-Pen. Aside from being impervious to dust and water, the new S-Pen also received an upgrade in the form of a smaller and more precise pen tip and can detect up to 4096 pressure levels.
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Available for pre-orders now, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is priced at RM 3199. Pre-orders will come bundled with a wireless charging stand worth RM279. Comes with four colours option Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, Gold Platinum and Blue Coral.
ARVE Error: need id and provider

Pokdepinion: Taking notes on a smartphone might be silly for some people, but if you’re on serious business track you know that taking a note was the important thing to do.
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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Trailer is Out and Here is What We Know

The New Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Trailer Feature New Pokémon and Four-Player Co-op

The Pokémon Company and developer Game Freak revealed the release date for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet recently. On November 18, the titles will be available on the Nintendo Switch which introduces something completely new to the series like a new location in the open-world game.

Scarlet and Violet will have multiplayer gameplay for up to four players. Trading and battling Pokémon are included and the game also features a multiplayer exploration of different regions within the region of these games.

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Furthermore, the games will transport players to a new, as-yet-unidentified territory where they will encounter both old and new monsters, including the newly unveiled Lechonk, Smoliv, and Pawmi.

The trailer also shows two new professors who will be your guides on your upcoming adventure and as it turns out that players can choose between two professors who are Professor Sada and Professor Turo.
Each professor has a distinct design, which may be influenced by their personal history. Scarlet and Violet appear to be set in a new region with Spanish elements, based on what we’ve seen of the games. Therefore, each professor has a little hint of Spanish influence in them. Turo’s name and futuristic appearance stem from the Spanish word “futuro,” which means “future.” Alternatively, “pasada” means “past”.

The end of the trailer reveals Scarlet and Violet legendaries, Koraidon and Miraidon where their designs are correlated to each game. The two serpent-like legendaries have unique characteristics that resemble motorbikes as Koraidon has wheels on its body whereas Miraidon is floating on turbo-like bottoms.
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Pokdepinion: New hot professors! New Pokémons! New region! New legendaries! I’m very excited about the new game as it is an upgrade from Sword and Shield. Definitely pre-ordering it!
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The GeForce RTX 2080 surfaces in 3DMark Time Spy — delivers performance just short of a NVIDIA TITAN Xp!

We must admit we are all pretty skeptical about the performance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX cards. Well that was back then. The silence about the cards’ performance in current-gen games during the launch was broken by a carefully curated list of games which shows the GeForce RTX 2080 delivering about 50% improvement over the GeForce GTX 1080 without DLSS.

Well it seems that’s about right on point. VideoCardz recently found an NVIDIA graphics card running at 2025 MHz. That’s a pretty huge overclock for the GeForce RTX 2080, as it runs at up to 1800 MHz for the factory-overclocked Founders Edition. The 8GB of 7000 MHz memory seems right, given that the RTX 2080 card feature 8GB GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gbps.

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Now on to the scores. The GeForce RTX 2080 scores a nice Graphics Score of 10 030 in 3DMark’s Time Spy. For comparison, a $1200 TITAN Xp scores a little more at just 10180. Meanwhile the older GeForce GTX 1080 scores 7330. 50% faster? Yep. Just for fun, the Radeon RX Vega 64 is also about 50% slower, which means AMD really has to release a card soon to stay relevant.

Well it seems that it is pretty much confirmed that the GeForce RTX 2080 is around 50% faster than the GTX 1080, a bit less if you account for the overclocking the former received. What do you think? Is this enough information for you to pre-order the GeForce RTX 2080?
Pokdepinion: 50% faster while being 50% pricier… Not great value for money but it’s just OK.
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[IFA 2019] There are two Kirin 990 variants just a bit too different for our liking

HUAWEI’s upcoming Kirin 990 chipset is quite a highly anticipated one. The Kirin 980 is pretty much obliterated by 2019 flagship smartphone processors from the competition, so the Kirin 990 is definitely what HUAWEI needs to level the playing field.
World’s first integrated dual-mode 5G modem
HUAWEI is not the first to the gate with a integrated 5G modem in their Kirin 990 5G chipset. Samsung managed to bag that honor with the curiously named Exynos 980. But they are the first to integrate a dual-mode 5G modem, capable of supporting both non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) modes as well as older 4G TDD/FDD full frequency bands.
Better efficiency, better performance

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In addition to the integrated 5G modem, the Kirin 990 5G also sees some impressive advancement in the CPU and GPU. Thanks to the 7nm+ EUV process by TSMC, HUAWEI clocks two Cortex A76-based cores up to 2.86 GHz. HUAWEI is adopting a 2+2+4 configuration for the cores, with a total of four “big” cores based on the Cortex-A76 architecture, and four Cortex-A55 “LITTLE” cores. HUAWEI calls their CPU cores “Cortex-A76 based” because they have optimized it with something they are calling SmartCache.

They also upgraded the GPU in the Kirin 990 to the Mali-G76 MP16, as compared to the Kirin 980‘s Mali-G76 MP10. HUAWEI claims that this will offer 6% higher performance and 20% better efficiency than the Snapdragon 855. It’s worth noting that Qualcomm claims 15% higher GPU performance with the Snapdragon 855+ though…
More efficient AI processing

Meanwhile on the AI front, the Kirin 990 5G will tout a dual-core NPU based on the Da Vinci architecture, featuring two large NPU core and one tiny NPU core. HUAWEI debuted the new NPU architecture on the Kirin 810, and it does seem pretty impressive. HUAWEI claims that this allows them to lower the power consumption when tackling light AI workloads, to the tune of 24x better efficiency than if there was just big cores.
In addition to an improved NPU, HUAWEI also upgraded the ISP with support for Block Match 3D filtering algorithm, promising a better photography experience with improved noise reduction filters.
But…
Now, the part that’s less pretty. The Kirin 990 exists as two different variants, the Kirin 990 5G and the Kirin 990 (non-5G). While you would expect HUAWEI to just use a different modem for the non-5G Kirin 990, that’s not exactly the case. It has slower cores, one less big NPU core and is manufactured on an older process.

Here’s the Kirin 990 5G stacked against the Kirin 990 and Kirin 980:
Kirin 990 vs Kirin 980 Specs

Kirin 990 5G
Kirin 990 (non-5G)
Kirin 980

CPU
2 x Cortex-A76 @ 2.86 GHz
2 x Cortex-A76 @ 2.36 GHz
4 x Cortex-A55 @ 1.95 GHz
2 x Cortex-A76 @ 2.86 GHz
2 x Cortex-A76 @ 2.09 GHz
4 x Cortex-A55 @ 1.86 GHz
2 x Cortex-A76 @ 2.6 GHz
2 x Cortex-A76 @ 1.92 GHz
4 x Cortex-A55 @ 1.80 GHz

GPU
Mali-G76MP16 @ 700 MHz
Mali-G76MP16 @ 700 MHz
Mali-G76MP10 @ 720 MHz

NPU
2 big + 1 small (Da Vinci architecture)
1 big + 1 small (Da Vinci architecture)
2 core (Cambricon)

Modem
Balong 5G
4G
4G

Process node
TSMC 7nm+ EUV
TSMC 7nm
TSMC 7nm

Offering the Kirin 990 in two variants is entirely fine, but I do wish that HUAWEI didn’t nerf the non-5G Kirin 990 with slower CPU cores, a lesser NPU and an older process node. Given the uptake of 5G, we might very possibly be getting the Kirin 990 (non-5G) here in Malaysia, and it will suck to get the short end of the stick.
What do you think?
Pokdepinion: I do hope there will a HUAWEI Mate 30 featuring the Kirin 990 5G here in Malaysia.
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YouTube Showcases Their Geeky Side – Celebrating the Age of the Geeks

Welcome to the GeekTube

We live in a time where geek culture is no longer the uncool thing you try to hide from other people. In a twist of irony, it is now something society considers to be cool and trendy. With the popularity of video games, comic books, and movies such as Star Wars hitting stratospheric levels in recent years it is safe to say that this is definitely the Age of the Geeks.
In celebration of all things geek, YouTube took four of Malaysia’s purveyors of geek culture or more affectionately referred to as “GeekTubers” to their Generation YouTube showcase and invited them to talk about their own personal journeys to reach where they are now. Among these four “GeekTubers” are toy collector AwesomeToys TV, retro gamer GamerZakh, gamer and voice actress Hamlet as well as pro mobile gamer MrCocan.

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Generation YouTube is an initiative done by YouTube Malaysia to showcase up and coming local content creators personally chosen by YouTube Malaysia based on their respective marks made on the popular video platform.
First up in the showcase is Peter Loo, the co-creator of the Awesome Toys TV channel (my personal favourite). This channel is now the main channel in Malaysia for anything toy or collectible related. In getting there Peter has said that they learned a lot by observing other toy creators and how they made their content.

Next up is Zakhren Yazid or more popularly known as GamerZakh plays a lot of retro games on his channel. He mentions that he is especially fond of games that came out during the mid-90s to early-2000s. Apart from playing classic games, his channel does newer and more recent games as well. Particularly sequels to games that he loves or games that evoke a sense of nostalgia in him.

The third YouTuber showcased is Hamlet. Amanda Yow, the creator of the channel is a gamer and a talented voice-over artist and often collaborates with other voice-over artists in her animated skits. Most of her dubs, animated videos and voice-overs are centered around the popular game Overwatch. She also does Overwatch “Let’s Play” videos and streams, among other games.

Lastly is Andi Basri bin Andi Sugiyanto (Andy) or better known by the name MrCocan. The story behind Andy’s creation of MrCocan is quite an interesting. He first created his channel back in 2008 with no plans of being a content creator. Only when he got himself in a motorcycle accident back in 2017 which limited his mobility that he turned to gaming. Apart from streaming his own games, he also does various product review videos as well vlogs.

Society nowadays love geek culture and it is so deeply ingrained in today’s pop culture and it shows. According to YouTube, 57% of millennials in Malaysia under the age of 25 care constantly searching for for the latest in everything through YouTube which also include stuff in geek culture.

Pokdepinion: Kudos to these local content creators and I hope we Malaysians will continue to support them. While you’re at it you can also check out our YouTube channel and support us too :P
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Acer Malaysia Brings New Predator Helios 300 to Malaysia

Last year, we saw the gaming-centric Acer Predator Helios 300, which was really attractive for the price it’s being sold. Now, a newer version of the laptop its out, with a brand new look and beefier hardware.
This gaming laptop is a mid-ranged gaming beast that fits perfectly for Esports. It’s powered by the 9th Intel Core i7-9750H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. There’s even a 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD for fast loading speeds, and 8GB DDR4 RAM. It manages to fit all of this in and shave off 3.8mm in terms of thickness from the previous iteration, effectively measuring it at 22.9mm.

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The power will certainly be put to good use as the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop utilizes a 15.6-inc Full HD IPS display with 144Hz refresh rate. For those who are geared towards competitive gaming, it has a 3ms response time so you can be sure of very minimal delays.

To ensure that the system will be able to in optimum temperature, Acer has equipped this with the new 4th Gen Aeroblade 3D Fans. It is said to give 45% more airflow and up to 35% less noise compared to traditional fans.
If you want to know more about the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop, check out the specifications right below here:
Specifications

CPU
Intel Core i7-9750H (6C / 12T @ up to 4.5 GHz), 12M Cache, 45W TDP, 14nm

RAM
8GB DDR4

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6

Storage
512GB NVMe PCIe SSD

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 X 1080) 144Hz IPS display (3ms response)

Keyboard
Chiclet Keyboard with NKRO, 4-Zone RGB

Connectivity
Wireless:
802.11ac (2×2) Wave 2 Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
I/O:
2 x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 1
1 x Type-A USB 2.0
1 x Type-C Gen 2
1 x Kensington Lock
1 x miniDisplayPort
1 x HDMI 2.0b
1 x RJ45 LAN
1 x SD card reader
1 x Proprietary Charging Port

Audio
2 x Speakers
1 x Audio Jack
1 x Mic Jack
Array Microphones

Power
58 WHrs, 4-cell Li-Ion Battery, 180W Power Adapter

Dimensions
361 x 254 x 22.9 mm (W x D x H)

Weight
2.3kg

The Acer Predator Helios 300 will be retailing from RM5,399 with a 2-year warranty + accidental damage / theft protection. It will be available starting today onwards at all Acer authorized dealers nationwide and Acer official online stores.
Pokdepinion: I remember liking the look of last year’s one, but was disappointed by its thermal performance. Hopefully, that has been solved in this new iteration.
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Garmin Malaysia Unveils The Lily Smartwatch Which Comes With Pregnancy Tracking

The folks at Garmin Malaysia has recently introduce the Lily, a smartwatch that’s designed specifically for women and comes in two variants; Classic and Sport.
Garmin Malaysia releases the Lily

The Garmin Lily features a 34mm watch case, T-bar lug style, subtle patterned lens, as well as available in several color options.

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Aside from coming with features such as menstrual cycle tracking and more, the Garmin Lily is currently the first fitness wearable that comes with a pregnancy tracking app.
It comes with a unique metallic patterned lens that reveals a bright liquid crystal monochromatic touchscreen display that disappears when not in use.

For the Garmin Lily Classic, it comes with an Italian leather band, stainless steel bezel and hardware. As for the Lily Sport, it comes with a silicone band instead.
The company claims that the Garmin Lily provides a battery life up to five days and comes with features such as smart notifications, Calendar view, safety and tracking, as well as sync with Garmin Connect app.
You can get the Garmin Lily Classic at RM1,150 and RM920 for the Garmin Lily Sport at Lazada, Shopee, AECO e-store as well as authorized resellers in the country.
For more of the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Seems like a fashionable smartwatch for women. They look rather elegant as well. Would you buy one of them? Let us know in the comments.
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Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – No Professional Setup Needed

Unboxing the Razer Seiren V2 Pro
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – Box

The Razer Seiren V2 Pro comes in your standard Razer packaging, clad in its signature black and green color scheme. Inside the box, you will find the following items:
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – Box content

User guide
Table stand
Wind sock
USB-C cable
Razer stickers
The Razer Seiren V2 Pro microphone itself

Appearance
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – Front
Internally, the Razer Seiren V2 Pro is very different from the other Seiren models since it’s a dynamic USB microphone as opposed to a condenser. Externally, the design does seem to be pretty much similar, which is a surprise as it can be hard for your average consumer to tell a difference.
Looking at the front, you have a mic volume dial, a gain dial, and a mute button. The sides have a knob which you can use the loosen / tighten the swivel arm in order for you to adjust the angle of the microphone. As you can see here, it has a metallic mesh grille to house the microphone capsule but if that isn’t enough for you, Razer does include a wind sock for free.

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Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – Rear
On the rear, you have a headphone jack for monitoring purposes and a USB-C port for data / power. It’s worth noting that the USB-C port has an odd shape to it, which perfectly complements the included USB-C cable but it might not necessarily fit other cables.
Overall, the Razer Seiren V2 Pro carries the same design formula as the other Seiren microphones with some minor differences here and there. The resemblance is especially uncanny if you attached it to the table stand included in the box. It still looks good, but it’s what is inside the microphone that truly matters.
Specifications

Frequency Response
20Hz to 20KHz

Sample Rate
96 KHz

Bitrate
24-bit

Capsules
30mm Dynamic Microphone

Polar Pattern
Cardioid

Power
5 V / 350 mA

Sensitivity
-34 dB (1 V / Pa at 1 kHz)

Max SPL
120 dB

Impedance
None

Power Output
None

THD
None

Signal-to-Noise Ratio
105 dB (A-weighted)

Connection Type
Type A to Type C USB Cable

User Experience
Setting Up
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – USB-C port
Setting the Razer Seiren V2 Pro up is pretty easy as all you have to do is connect it to your PC via USB-C. The included braided cable is pretty long, far more than any Razer mouse cable, so I’m sure most of you can easily integrate it to your existing setups without much issues. Keep in mind that you can attach it to the included table stand or a standard microphone scissor arm without adapters.
Due to its plug and play nature, software is optional. Simply plug it in and you’re good to go. We’ve also tested it with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE and it works perfectly fine. On the iPhone 13 with a USB-C to Lightning cable however, it doesn’t work and we suspect that it’s due to the iPhone not cable of supplying enough power.
Razer Synapse
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – Razer Synapse
While you can easily adjust the Razer Seiren V2 Pro using the on-board dials, you can also make use of the Razer Synapse software for that as well. The options are rather basic as you can simply do the following:

Adjust the gain
Adjust monitoring volume
Select the Sample Rate
Toggle High Pass Filter
Toggle Analog Gain Limiter

There’s also a Stream Mixer section where you can cross multiple audio sources into a single source or separate them. You can think of it as a more simplified Voicemeeter Banana with less tinkering involved. This would be useful for streamers and content creators who need to integrate multiple sources to overcome certain compatibility issues and to separate audio sources for post-production.
Need a webcam to easily complement this microphone? Check out our review of the Razer Kiyo Pro by clicking right here.
Sound

https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2021/12/Recording-24.mp3
Now for the main event, how does the Razer Seiren V2 Pro sound like? It can certainly record some nice vocals, making it ideal for livestreamers and podcasters. It can work great for people who sing but only if you can’t afford to cure your room with better soundproofing. ASMR content creators and livestreamers will need to look towards condenser microphones for that higher sensitivity.
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review – With stand installed
Keep in mind that since this is a dynamic microphone, you will have to talk to the microphone from the top and not on the sides. It’s also far less sensitive compared to your standard condenser microphone, so it will capture less environmental noise. Condenser microphones will tend to sound richer but you will need the right setup, whereas this one is more straightforward and easy to setup.
It’s worth noting that it has a built-in shock mount, which certainly helps in case there are accidental knocks.
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Verdict
Razer Seiren V2 Pro Review
The Razer Seiren V2 Pro is an excellent USB dynamic microphone that will serve livestreamers and content creators well. It doesn’t sound as good as the Shure MV7, which many considers to be the king of USB dynamic microphones but the difference is negligible. If you don’t plan on getting an XLR microphone and a mixer, or you’re simply starting out, this is a good investment to make.
At the end of our Razer Seiren V2 Pro review, I award this USB dynamic microphone with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Razer Asia Pacific for sending us this microphone for the purpose of this review.
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The iPhone 7 is compared to the iPhone 6S in a series of photos

The guys over at The Next Web have gotten themselves a dummy set of the iPhone 7, and has proceeded to compare its design to the current generation iPhone SE, iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Through this comparison there are a few pretty interesting things that we noted.

As rumored, the iPhone 7 will not feature a 3.5mm audio jack, and instead rely on the Lightning port for audio output. The antenna lines that marred (or enhanced) the look of the iPhone 6S is also minimized, to a single line along the edges.

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The minimized antenna lines allows the iPhone 7 to have a cleaner looking back. The camera bump is also different, looking slightly bigger and also the aluminium from the back wraps around the sides, instead of it sticking out like a sore thumb on the iPhone 6S.

Here the difference in size is even more apparent, which probably means upgraded camera hardware in the iPhone 7. The camera bump also looks sturdier, simply because it is surrounded by aluminium. For more images of the iPhone 7 compared with the other iPhones, check out the source link below.
SOURCE: The Next Web

Pokdepinion: The iPhone 7 isn’t such a huge leap as moving from the iPhone 5 to iPhone 6 was, at least in terms of external features. However I am pretty sure Apple fans would still queue up to be among the first to get their hands on the new iPhone.
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Xiaomi MIX 5 Pro may debut in-house Surge C2 chip and fancy new high-res camera setup

Xiaomi might be going with a pretty premium triple-camera setup that comprises of all high-res sensors for the Xiaomi MIX 5 series, as well as a new in-house ISP, the Surge C2, if these rumors are to be believed. The Surge C2 will be successor to the Surge C1 which arrived in the Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold, although it seems that the chip didn’t make its way to other devices.
Xiaomi MIX 5 series: Surge C2 ISP and new high-res camera setup?

According to reports, leaked source code has revealed that the Xiaomi MIX 5 Pro will feature Xiaomi’s in-house Surge ISP, although whether it’s the Surge C1 or Surge C2 remains to be seen. However rumors do seem to point towards Xiaomi working on the second generation of their ISPs, and it probably is fitting for the Xiaomi MIX 5 Pro to feature a cutting-edge new ISP to handle its new camera setup.

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The Surge C1 ISP in the Mi MIX Fold handled the autofocus, white balance and exposure, so we might see the Surge C2 ISP taking on more duties, which can include stuff like HDR processing, AI subject recognition and other camera-related features.
The report goes on to mention that the Xiaomi MIX 5 Pro will feature a 48MP selfie camera, as well as a new high-res triple camera setup on its back. There will reportedly be a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 48MP ultra-wide shooter and a 48MP 5x telephoto camera, also with OIS. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi MIX 5 Pro will share most of the cameras, except for the telephoto camera, as it is slated to feature a lesser 2X zoom. THe rumors are also unsure whether the Xiaomi MIX 5 will even feature the Surge ISPs.

The Xiaomi MIX family has always been about Xiaomi’s experiments. While previously we have Xiaomi striving to achieve a full screen-to-body ratio — and actually surpassing 100% with the Mi MIX Alpha — we now have a new area of exploration: the camera. I guess it goes without saying that coming up with great smartphone cameras is still the key focus for many smartphone vendors, and Xiaomi will be taking a new step forward with the Xiaomi MIX 5 series.
Source
Pokdepinion: I sure hope that the new camera hardware and Surge C2 ISP will allow Xiaomi to deliver more groundbreaking imaging experiences. The Xiaomi 12‘s cameras do seem to produce interesting results!
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Anthem Mysteriously Crashes and Bricks PlayStation 4 Consoles

EA and BioWare’s Anthem has had some rocky times since its launch. It was already bad enough with it being heavily criticized but now, they face their biggest issue yet for those on playing it on the PlayStation 4.
Recently, numerous reports have started emerging from Reddit that Anthem is causing their PlayStation 4 consoles to crash. Reddit user u/forthemasters mentioned on the official Anthem subreddit that the game is the only one they have that constantly causes their PS4 to crash.

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When encountering a crash or game error, sometimes I get booted to the main menu or out of the game completely to the PS4 dashboard. But twice now when trying to matchmake my PS4 has completely turned off.
The story was met with dozens of similar stories from others in the thread who have been playing Anthem on the PlayStation 4. “The worst part is when it shuts your console off, it does it as if you pulled the power plug out of the wall. The console has to fix itself as well as repair my external HDD,” responded one Reddit user in the thread. In a separate thread, one Redditor said that Anthem completely bricked their PS4.
My playstation has been completely bricked to the point of not even turning on because of Anthem.
It’s still uncertain just what the problem is with the game that is giving players this issue, but it has led to some players outright requesting refunds from Sony at this point if they purchased the game digitally. One Reddit user by the name of u/bluetidepro reports that Sony ended up refunding their purchase after calling the support helpline and explaining that Anthem has led their PS4 to crash multiple times.

We’re aware of a crashing issue some of you have been reporting for #AnthemGame. We’re investigating and ask that you share your crash data reports when prompted. If you have, we’ll be reaching out to gather info; if not, please reply to this thread on AHQ:https://t.co/36P21YFjYL
— EA Help (@EAHelp) March 4, 2019

At the moment, EA has mentioned that they are aware of the issue and that they are investigating the matter. If you plan on playing it, it’s best to stay away from the PlayStation 4 version and play it on PC or Xbox One instead.
Source: Kotaku
Pokdepinion: Yikes, and here I thought the situation with Anthem couldn’t get any worse. Clearly, I was wrong.
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iPhone 12 disappoints in Antutu, offers small gains in Geekbench

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have just appeared on both Antutu and Geekbench, both benchmarks which we rely on to gauge a device’s performance. While benchmark scores aren’t exactly indicative of real-world user experience, it does allow one to guesstimate it.
iPhone 12 Antutu Scores
Interestingly enough, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro’s A14 Bionic chipset falls behind the Snapdragon 865 in Antutu. The iPhone 12 Pro is slightly faster than the iPhone 12, which is what you would expect from a device offering pro-level features. The advantage seems to come from the 6GB RAM that the iPhone 12 Pro offers, instead of the 4GB that the iPhone 12 packs.
          iPhone 12            iPhone 12 Pro

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With the iPhone 12 scoring 564 899 points and the iPhone 12 Pro scoring 572 133 points, even a POCO F2 Pro offers higher scores at less than half the price. Antutu does note that the Antutu scores for Android and iOS versions are not directly comparable, so do not take this at face value. A more apt comparison would probably be against the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which scores 518 980 points. The newer iPhone 12 Pro is a meagre 10% faster, while the iPhone 12 is just 8% faster. So anyone who’s already using the iPhone 11 Pro can probably just wait for the next-gen iPhones to roll around.
iPhone 12 Geekbench Scores
Meanwhile in Geekbench, the iPhone 12 Pro Max post a more appreciable improvements over the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple managed to pack in a pretty sweet 18% uplift in single-core performance, although multi-core performance only sees a tiny 8% improvement.
Considering that the A14 Bionic is listed in Geekbench to run at up to 2.99GHz, versus the A13 Bionic’s 2.66GHz, we can probably assume that most of the advantage comes from the ability to clock higher thanks to the efficiency gains afforded by the newer 5nm process, and thus the higher performance in single-core performance. As a result, multi-core performance which is most probably held back by the A14 Bionic’s power limit, doesn’t see much improvement at all.

Apple may also have decided to set a more conservative power limit for the A14 Bionic, given how the addition of a 5G modem should have increased the total power consumption of the system. With that said, Geekbench does list the L1 Instruction and L1 Data caches to have grown from 96KB and 48KB in the A13 Bionic to 128KB and 64KB in the A14 Bionic, which hints at a newer architecture in play.

Versus the current king of Android smartphones, the ROG Phone 3 scores a mere 984 points for the single-core test, and 3417 points for the multi-core test. Apple definitely still has a very clear lead when it comes down to CPU architecture.

Would you be getting an iPhone 12 series, or would you reconsider the iPhone 11 series after seeing these benchmark scores? Let us know in the comments!
Source (1), (2), (3)
Pokdepinion: Iterative upgrades are pretty much the name of the game in the smartphone industry. Perhaps we should stop seeing yearly releases soon?
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Google quietly removes Android One’s main selling point?

Android One was a great solution for those who wanted a stock Android experience without getting a Pixel. Given that the Google Pixel devices aren’t actually officially available in a number of regions, aside from being somewhat overpriced for the hardware they pack, it is nice to be able to select from other devices which run stock Android.

Android One also brought with it a number of promises, among which includes faster updates to the latest Android version, faster delivery of the latest security patches and also a longer support duration. Android One devices were guaranteed to receive the latest Android version for at least 2 years, and security patches for 3 years, but it seems that Google has quietly removed one of those promises from their official webpage.

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This change was spotted by a redditor, who also noted that Google still kept the promise for monthly security updates for three years, but they deleted any reference to the guaranteed major Android version updates. It might mean that OEMs are now on their own supporting the Android One devices under their brand, which probably explains why the Mi A2 has just recently received Android 9 Pie.

As it stands, Android OEMs are still expected to deliver at least 18 months of Android updates, but few actually fulfill their promises, especially for their more affordable devices. Android One still remains as one of the most affordable ways to get a stock Android experience.
Now, the question is what differentiates ASUS’ “pure Android” in the ASUS ZenFone Max series from Android One now that the only major difference has been withdrawn?
Pokdepinion: Well, Google has to give you more reason to pick their Pixel, right?
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JOI Book Classmate 10 is the rugged laptop you can trust your child with

JOI Book Classmate 10 @ GLOO *Free shipping with FREESHIPMCO3
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ GLOO (Lazada) *RM100 Rebate
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ GLOO (Shopee)

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JOI Book Classmate 10 @ JOI (LazMall)
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ JOI (Shopee)
With the recent MCO, more likely than not you will be working from home. Your child will also be attending classes from home, and it might be hard to share your laptop with your young one when you need it for work too. The best solution is of course to get a new laptop for yourself or your child, but which laptop to get? If you plan on getting a new laptop for your kid, well, the JOI Book Classmate 10 might just be right up your alley.
Drop and water resistant

It’s not uncommon to hear of people tipping their drink onto their laptop and absolutely destroying it, but JOI has designed the JOI Book Classmate 10 to be ready for just about any eventuality that might befall the laptop. The JOI Book Classmate 10’s chassis is built to withstand drops from up to 2 feet, with sturdy bezels to protect the display from damage in a fall. It is also designed with water channels to be able to protect the electronics within from spills of up to 100mL. Needless to say, you can definitely entrust the JOI Book Classmate 10 to your child and not worry about him/her damaging it.
Built-in 360° webcam and a wide variety of ports

The JOI Book Classmate 10 is designed to facilitate online learning, and it would be amiss to not have a webcam. However JOI went a step further and made it a 360° webcam for added flexibility. On top of that, there are also a wide range of ports to let you connect external displays or peripherals to further improve your child’s learning experience better.
Nippy performance with support for SSDs
JOI designed the JOI Book Classmate 10 with 128GB of built-in eMMC storage, but it also supports SSD for quick boot times and also fast app loading. It supports up to 256GB SSDs, providing plenty of room for your child’s apps and also files. The efficient Intel Celeron Processor N4020 is also more than powerful enough to tackle any apps your kids might for learning, but it isn’t fast enough for gaming, so you can rest easy there.

Another advantage of the frugal Intel Celeron Processor N4020 is long battery life. JOI promises up to eight hours of typical usage, allowing your kid to attend classes wherever he/she is most comfortable, without being tethered to a wall socket.
Comes with Windows 10 Pro

While most laptops in this price segment will come with Windows 10 Home, JOI pre-installed Windows 10 Pro in the JOI Book Classmate 10 to provide the full Windows 10 experience. The JOI Book Classmate 10 comes with enhanced security as well as the ability to connect to a school network that your kid’s school might be using to make it easier to share files.
Priced at just RM1299

The JOI Book Classmate 10 is very affordable at just RM1299, making it a less painful purchase for your child. For all the ruggedized features, decent specifications and Windows 10 Pro support, it is definitely great value for money too! If you are interested, you can check out the JOI Book Classmate 10 via the following links:
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ GLOO *Free shipping with FREESHIPMCO3
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ GLOO (Lazada) *RM100 Rebate
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ GLOO (Shopee)
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ JOI (LazMall)
JOI Book Classmate 10 @ JOI (Shopee)
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Samsung Introduces Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G, Coming Soon To Malaysia

The two devices are quite similar in specs, though there are some minor but important differences.

The Galaxy A54 5G features a set of 50MP+12MP+5MP (wide, ultrawide, macro) camera array on the rear with 32MP front facing selfie camera; whereas the Galaxy A34 5G gets a still-respectable 48MP+8MP+5MP with 13MP sensor handling the selfie duty. Samsung touts its OIS and VDIS feature can provide clear video recording, with combined stabilization techniques.

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Both devices are listed with a single 8GB+256GB storage configuration for now – but that may depend on the region, so take this as a reference. Still, you get microSD expansion with up to 1TB if you got plenty of files to store somewhere. Another similarity is the battery, with both sporting the same 5,000mAh cell.
On the display side, the A54 and A34 measures at 6.4-inch and 6.6-inch respectively (yes, the A34 is the larger one) and supports for 120Hz refresh rate. The software support is highly extensive: Samsung says they’re providing up to 4 generations of OS updates (that’s up to Android 17) and 5 years of security updates to both devices – nearly matching Apple’s highly regarded software support for its devices.
The Galaxy A54 5G is available in Awesome Lime, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Violet, and Awesome White, while the Galaxy A34 5G comes in Awesome Lime, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Violet, and Awesome Silver. We haven’t got local pricing and availability just yet – with the local Samsung website noting “Coming Soon”, keep an eye out for the news when it arrives in the near future.
Pokdepinion: Both devices seems to be very similar and oddly enough the CPU and display specs seems to be in favor of A34. I guess we have to see the actual thing to find out.
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Final Fantasy 16 Will Be Coming to PC and Xbox But Here’s The Catch

As many of you know, Final Fantasy 16 is expected to launch exclusively for the PlayStation 5. Now, we know that it will indeed be coming to PC and Xbox, but there is a catch.
Final Fantasy 16 On PC and Xbox

Final Fantasy XVI is a timed PS5 console exclusive. At least according the official PlayStation site it is. https://t.co/Y4Pai3GjL6 pic.twitter.com/KV1BXP5btS
— Miraculous Maku (@RedMakuzawa) April 6, 2021

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At the moment, Square Enix announced Final Fantasy 16 as a PS5-exclusive game but recent discovery has changed that. On Sony Australia, the game is listed as “Not available on other consoles for a limited time.”
In case you you don’t understand what that means, it refers to the fact that the game is a timed exclusive game like how Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 15 was. After a certain period of time, the game will be allowed to make its way to other platforms, most likely PC and Xbox Series X.
It’s also worth noting that during the Future of Gaming PS5 showcase on 16th September 2020, Final Fantasy 16 was listed as a time-limited PS5 game. Later, Square Enix and Sony reuploaded the announced to remove every single mention of it being a timed exclusive, which made it seem like it will be a permanent PS5 exclusive.
Given that the game still has several parts of development that have yet to finish, we’re definitely far away from seeing a release date, which means the PC and Xbox launches will be even later. For now, Final Fantasy 16 is only officially confirmed for the PlayStation 5, with release date to be announced at a later time.
Source
Pokdepinion: If I had to put a guess, it would come to PC 2 years after the PS5 launch. Sounds late, I know, but think about how long it took its predecessor to come to PC.
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MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Stuck in the Middle

Unboxing the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Box

The 34″ MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR monitor comes in a large box. Inside the box, you’re expected to find the following items:
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Box content

DisplayPort cable
HDMI cable
USB Type-B cable
Power cable
Monitor stand
Monitor stand base
Screws for wall mount bracket
Mouse bungee
Quick Start guide
Warranty card
The MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR monitor itself

Appearance
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Front
The MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR is a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor, which is why it looks rather wide. Looking at the front, you have relatively thin bezels for the sides and the top, but thicker on the bottom, giving it a bit of a chin. You can find the MSI logo on the bottom bezel. It’s worth noting that if you plan on having a seamless multi-monitor setup with this, the side bezels will not make it look seamless.
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Stand
The stand isn’t pre-installed so you will have to install it yourself. The base is a sturdy piece of metal while the stand itself is plastic. You will need a standard Philips screwdriver to attach the monitor to the stand, but the overall process is very simple. It follows the same color scheme as the monitor itself, which is black.

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Unboxing the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR – Rear
Switching over to the rear, you have the MSI logo on the right with RGB lighting, an RGB light bar on the line crossing towards the top of the monitor on the left, navigation controls on the bottom-left corner, the mount on the center, and ports right below it. When fully assembled, the stand does have a cable routing hole in the rear, and you can install a headset hanger on the rear as well.
Overall, the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR monitor is an attracting gaming monitor with some design choices that will let you have a cleaner setup. The RGB is certainly a nice touch but while you’re using it, you won’t be able to enjoy it since it’s on the rear. Regardless, I would still prefer to have it and it gives it that much needed gamer aesthetic to enjoy.
Specifications

Panel Size
34″

Panel Type
VA

True Resolution
3440 x 1440 (UWQHD)

Display Viewing Area(HxV)
797.22mm x 332.72mm

Display Surface
Anti-glare

Pixel Pitch
0.23175 (H) x 0.23175 (V) mm

Brightness
550cd/m2 (max)

Contrast Ratio
3000:1

Viewing Angle (CR≧10)
178°(H)/178°(V)

Response Time
1 ms (MPRT)

Display Colors
1.07b (8-bit + FRC)

Color gamut
92.7% DCI-P3
117.8% sRGB

HDR (High Dynamic Range) Support
VESA DisplayHDR 400

Maximum Refresh Rate
165Hz

Low Blue Light
Yes

HDCP support
Yes

Viewing modes
Pro Mode
User, Anti-Blue, Movie, Office, sRGBGaming Mode
User, FPS, Racing, RTS, RPG

Adaptive refresh rate
Yes, AMD FreeSync 2

Signal Input
1 x DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4 mode)
2 x HDMI 2.0
1 x USB-C (DisplayPort 1.4 mode)
2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-B
1 x Audio line-out
1 x Network (RJ-45)

Earphone jack
No

Power Consumption
54W (Max)

Chassis Color
Black

Stand adjustments
Tilt: 5°~20°
Swivel: -30°~30°
Height: 0~100 mm

VESA Wall Mounting
100 x 100 mm

Weight
9.17kg, 12.9kg with stand

Performance
The brightness of the display when measured at 100% brightness in Standard mode was 546.7cd/m2, and it seems that the monitor was running at 50% brightness by default, which measures in at 254.2cd/m2. We conducted this test in the User mode, as it’s the one that doesn’t have any extras enabled by default.
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Screen uniformity test
As this is an ultrawide monitor, I decided to run the screen uniformity test in a 3×5 grid format for better understanding. 3 out of 15 areas here passed the recommended tolerance, 11 areas passed the nominal tolerance, with one exceeding nominal tolerance on the top-left corner. The center area isn’t counted as that is the area used for reference. If anything, I would say this is decent.
Color Accuracy

Standard
Standard mode, calibration with DisplayCAL

Whitepoint
6504K
7237K

Average ΔE*00
2.01
0.3

Maximum ΔE*00
5.86
0.86

By default, the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR doesn’t seem to have good colour accuracy. In fact, I can see it from my own eyes that colour look a little washed out. After calibrating it using Spyder5 and DisplayCAL, both the average and maximum Delta E figures see a significant improvement. This would indicate that you would need to optimize it yourself for the best experience possible.
Gamut

Gamut
Standard
Standard mode, calibration with DisplayCAL

sRGB
Coverage
92.4%
95.6%

Volume
99.9%
109.8%

Adobe RGB
Coverage
68.7%
72.9%

Volume
70.4%
75.7%

DCI-P3
Coverage
72.8%
77.8%

Volume
72.8%
77.8%

For the gamut coverage and volume, there does seem to be improvement after calibration but not a huge difference. Overall with 96% sRGB, 73% Adobe RGB, and 78% DCI-P3, it provides a decent enough experience that should suit most gamers easily. It’s still fine for content creation unless you really need accurate colors.
Looking for a solid gaming laptop to pair this monitor with? Check out our review of the MSI by clicking right here.

User Experience
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review
The MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR is designed for gaming, and the ultrawide aspect ratio lets you see more in games that support it. You do have HDR and FreeSync so you can take advantage of those features, especially the latter if your frames end up being below 60 so you can have a smoother experience.
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – Ports
For ports, you have one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB Type-A ports and one USB Type-B port. For a monitor designed for gaming, highlighting its prowess with console gaming especially the PS5, the use of HDMI 2.0 is a little disappointing since that console has moved to HDMI 2.1, which can transmit 4K 120Hz. Had this been launched a year ago, that would be fine but if you want to futureproof it for console gaming, this would not be ideal.
You can use the USB ports for charging but it will be slow as that is not the intended purpose. One plus point with the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR monitor is the convenient cable routing on the stand. This will let you have a cleaner setup without wires dangling everywhere.

Towards the bottom-left corner of the monitor’s rear, you have a power button and a navigational joystick. It’s simple and effective to navigate through the monitor’s OSD. The OSD itself is pretty straightforward to use, with my only confusion being how the viewing modes are presented. They are separated under Gaming and Professional, with each having their own modes under them. It doesn’t take long to get used to it.

MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review – RGB light bar
What’s cool about the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR monitor is that it comes with a set of features that can enhance your gaming experience. While some of it you most likely won’t use or even notice, I would like to draw your attention to 3 particular features; HDMI CEC, Mobile Projector, and Console Mode.
With HDMI CEC, you can use supported HDMI devices like the PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch to wake the screen up. There are even different modes for different devices. Mobile Projector can divide the screen to display both your PC and your smartphone simultaneously. Essentially, you get a 16:9 display for your PC, and the rest is to mirror your smartphone display.
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review
Lastly with Console Mode, this is where the PS5 is put into focus. As the next gen console can only play in either 4K or Full HD, this mode will allow the PS5 to still render everything in 4K and display on the monitor as 2K. This is better than other, similar resolution monitors as they would upscale Full HD to 2K, resulting in loss of visual detail. All 3 of those features are certainly a nice touch for gamers.

The MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR does offer some versatility in how you want to use the monitor as it can tilt, swivel, and is height-adjustable. The metallic stand itself gives some space so you comfortably place your smartphone while it’s charging. If you want, you can swap it out for a VESA mount as it supports the standard 100 x 100 mm mounting brackets.

MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Verdict
MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR Review
If you’re looking for an ultrawide gaming monitor, the MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR is certainly a solid choice for gamers. You get an ultrawide aspect ratio so you can see more, good viewing versatility with its tilt, swivel, and height increment, has VESA wall mount support, RGB lighting, has FreeSync support, VESA DisplayHDR 400, adequate ports, great curvature for added immersion, and a good stand implementation for convenience.
However, it’s a shame that it doesn’t use HDMI 2.1, bezels are thin but not thin enough for seamless multi-monitor setup, it’s not exactly fast enough for high-level competitive gaming, lacks colour accuracy for professional creative work, and it is pricey (RM3,999). If you’re not looking to do anything too serious and prefer an ultrawide gaming monitor, it’s still a good choice nonetheless.
At the end of our MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR review, I award this ultrawide gaming monitor with our Silver Pokdeward.

Big thanks to MSI Malaysia for sending us this monitor for the purpose of this review.
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WhatsApp Will Allow Users to Save Disappearing Messages

It appears that WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allows users to save disappearing messages. Yes, it means that people can choose to keep messages that were intended to only be displayed temporarily. However, there is a catch as the sender will be notified that the message has been saved.
This feature was previously found in the Android beta back in March and has since been spotted in the iOS and desktop beta. This would mean that the feature is currently being worked on enough to be considered for a public release. At the moment, it can work for both individual and group chats.

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In case you’re wondering, there are a number of other features being worked on for WhatsApp, including silent group exits, chat filtering, and a companion mode. As for the save disappearing messages features, there is no release date yet so we will report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: With this feature, it really makes me wonder what’s the point of having disappearing messages to begin with. It’s adding new tools and then newer ones after that to make the previous one rather redundant.
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New Edifier Airpulse A300 Pro Bookshelf Speakers Are Now Available In Malaysia

Edifier Malaysia has just released their brand new AirPulse A300 Pro, a premium hi-res Certify bookshelf speaker. The AirPulse A300 Pro is a reworked and improved version of the previous AirPulse A300 speakers.

The AirPulse A300 Pro speakers feature a 6.5-inch woofer that uses a high-strength magnesium-aluminum diaphragm and a premium underhung magnetic circuit design. They also feature a symmetrical power design which means that each speaker has a dedicated power supply and symmetrical speaker chamber, giving the listener identical audio quality from both channels.

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Furthermore, both of the speakers have been fitted with top quality components by Texas Instruments which include XMOS xCore200 multi-core processor and a DSP chip TLV320AIC3268 from Texas Instruments for its core signal processing. They also feature Class D amplifiers which are Texas Instruments’ top-of-line model TPA3251.

The A300 Pro’s wireless signal distribution between left and right speakers is built on the microchip’s proprietary technology known as KleerNet. The radio is transmitted over 5.2GHz and 5.8GHz spectrum and with a 22MHz radio bandwidth which Edifier claim will guarantee lossless transmission of the audio signal. KleerNet has lower bandwidth, lower latency, and high resistance to wireless interference when compared to Bluetooth connection.
With that said, the AirPulse A300 Pro features Bluetooth V5.0 with AptX HD high-fidelity codec.The speakers also come equipped with a USB digital audio interface that supports UAC2 digital audio application. ASIO audio driver is readily available for Windows users to send high-quality low latency signal sources to the A300 Pro.
AirPulse A300 Pro price and availability

The Edifier AirPulse A300 Pro speakers is available now for a retail price of RM5999 at all Edifier official sales channels including Lazada, Shopee and on their website.
Pokdepinion: These look pretty impressive speakers. A bit too expensive for me personally but if I could afford this, I would definitely get them.
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The Division Resurgence Mobile Game Coming Soon – Alpha Registrations Up

The Division Resurgence

Agent, a new chapter is beginning on mobile.
Will you rise to the challenge?
The Division Resurgence closed alpha launches soon.
Register now! ➡ https://t.co/HS44CQlOLI pic.twitter.com/RGEwZ1W4SD
— The Division Resurgence (@TheDivMobile) July 6, 2022

Ubisoft has officially unveiled The Division Resurgence, a brand new entry into the popular franchise and it’s coming as a mobile game for both Android and iOS. The game will see all Agents coming back to New York City for a new adventure.
The game features new factions and a standalone story, with you and other players bringing order back to post-apocalyptic New York City filled with hostile factions that that prey on civilians. To our knowledge, there will be no ties to main entries of The Division franchise despite players still working with Strategic Homeland Division.

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While there is no word on when the game will be coming, the Closed Alpha registration is currently open for everyone. Even then, there is no confirmation on when this phase will start either, but no harm in giving it a try. We do know that the game will be free-to-play, likely with in-game microtransactions.
Source
Pokdepinion: Well, it’s a free game so I have no worries about waiting for it. The chances to get into the Closed Alpha is low, but it’s still worth a shot.
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Lenovo Launches New Laptop Backpack Made From 34 Recycled Plastic Bottles

In conjunction with World Environment Day this 5th of June 2020, Lenovo has today launched a new limited edition laptop backpack that’s made of over 83% recycled materials and built with recycled polyester (equivalent to 34 plastic water bottles).
Lenovo Eco Pro Backpack
Lenovo Eco Pro Backpack
The backpack is called the Eco Pro and it joins a host of other Lenovo accessories that’s sustainable and produced with recycled materials.
It can store up to 15.6-inch laptops and the bag weighs 0.8kg. If you’d like another color instead, well tough luck as it only comes in green.

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Lenovo Eco Pro Backpack
If you are interested in the Lenovo Eco Pro Backpack, it is actually available now in the country. The price? Well it retails at RM383 and is available online. You can check it out by heading to the link right here.
You can check out the latest Lenovo offerings by checking out the link here and here.
Pokdepinion: Honestly, that doesn’t look bad at all. It’d be awesome if they had it in red.
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Introducing HTC Butterfly 2

Snapdragon 801, 2GB RAM, 5″ 1080p screen, HTC BoomSound™, and not to forget the arguably best Android skin there is, HTC Sense™. Sounds like a HTC One M8, yeah? Wait a second. 13MP f/2.0 with Duo Camera technology? Say hello to the new HTC Butterfly 2.
It seems like HTC is finally giving up on it’s UltraPixel technology. UltraPixel has always received a lukewarm reception by its users, some seem to think it’s godsent while some think it’s just plain horrible.
Available in several colors, the plastic-bodied Butterfly 2 isn’t light at 151g and 9.99mm. It is powered by a 2700mAh battery as compared to the One M8’s 2600mAh one and also supports QuickCharge 2.0. It has water resistant ratings of IPX5, IPX7 and is dustproof rated at IP5X.

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Slated to enter the Asian market starting with Taiwan by September 3 (which is on the same day as the Samsung Unpacked event to launch the Note 4), it will most definitely face heavy competition from the likes of the rumored Z3, aforementioned Note 4. Availability in Malaysia is confirmed though no launch date is mentioned. Pricing is not announced yet also. So is the change to a 13MP module good or bad news to you? Tell us in the comments section below :D
Source: HTC Blog
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Apple Secures Majority of TSMC’s 3nm Chip Supply for 2023

Apple’s influence in the chip market continues to grow as a new report indicates that the tech giant has secured a significant portion of TSMC’s 3nm chip supply for the year. TSMC, one of the leading semiconductor manufacturers, is expected to see its 3nm process technology dominated by Apple, with nearly 90% of the baseline 3nm capacity reportedly booked by the Cupertino company.
Apple’s Long-Term Strategy with TSMC 3nm Chips
Image: TSMC
Reports of Apple’s orders for 3nm chips from TSMC have been circulating since 2020, highlighting the company’s long-term vision for its devices. It is widely speculated that the highly anticipated iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the first smartphones to feature the 3nm chipset. This new technology is expected to deliver a substantial 35% improvement in power efficiency and a 15% boost in performance compared to the previous generation A16 chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple’s dominance in securing TSMC’s 3nm chip supply implies that future Apple devices, including iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads, will benefit from the advancements in power efficiency and performance. Users can anticipate an enhanced user experience with improved battery life and faster processing speeds. Speculations also suggest that the updated 13-inch MacBook Air and the new 24-inch iMac might be the first computers to feature the M3 chip, manufactured on the 3nm process.

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With Apple monopolizing a significant portion of TSMC’s 3nm chip capacity, other companies such as Qualcomm, Samsung, and MediaTek may face challenges in securing their share of the supply. It is likely that these companies will be left with the remaining 10% of TSMC’s capacity, potentially leading to constraints in the availability of top-of-the-line 3nm chips for Android phones. However, it is important to note that this is speculation, as TSMC could increase its capacity to meet the growing demand. The Android market will closely monitor how the chip supply landscape evolves in the coming months.
Apple’s stronghold on TSMC’s 3nm chip supply for 2023 underscores the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation. By securing the majority of the 3nm chip capacity, Apple ensures that its upcoming devices, including the highly anticipated iPhone 15 Pro, MacBook models, and iPads, will benefit from improved power efficiency and performance.
However, this dominance may have implications for the availability of 3nm chips in the Android market, potentially leading to supply constraints for other manufacturers. As the competition for advanced chip technology intensifies, the industry will be closely watching how TSMC and other companies adapt to meet the growing demand for cutting-edge
Source
Pokdepinion: This dominance may have implications for the availability of 3nm chips in the Android market, potentially leading to supply constraints for other manufacturers. As the competition for advanced chip technology intensifies, the industry will be closely watching how TSMC and other companies adapt to meet the growing demand for cutting-edge technology.
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Samsung develops the industry’s first LPDDR5X memory — 1.3X faster with 20% lower power consumption

Samsung has announced that they have developed the industry’s first LPDDR5X DRAM based on their 14nm process. LPDDR5X is designed for mobile implementations, bringing ever faster speeds and higher efficiency to enable various applications including 5G, AI and the metaverse.
LPDDR5X: 1.3X faster, 20% lower power consumption, twice the density
LPDDR5X DRAM is set to deliver speeds of up to 8.5Gbps, 30% faster than LPDDR5’s 6.4Gbps. Thanks to the use of the latest 14nm DRAM processor, it is also significantly more efficient, using 20% less power than LPDDR5. Last but not least, Samsung’s 16Gb LPDDR5X DRAM will enable up to 64GB per memory package, to meet the ever increasing demand for memory in mobile devices today.
Samsung expects to see LPDDR5X implemented in more than smartphones, with it set to be featured in AI-based edge applications like servers and also automobiles. The company also shared that they will be working with global chipset makers to enable a more viable framework for digital reality, with their LPDDR5X memory as a key component.

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On the consumer front, you can probably expect to see flagship smartphones to be first to feature LPDDR5X memory, followed by premium ultraportable laptops. However it is interesting that Samsung didn’t announce that their LPDDR5X memory is entering mass production, so we might still be a few months away from seeing LPDDR5X devices in the market.
Pokdepinion: I wonder which smartphone will arrive with LPDDR5X in tow first!
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OPPO Reno5 Series Launched With 64MP Quad Camera From RM1,899

We’ve previously reported on the OPPO Reno5 series and today marks the official launch for them here in Malaysia, where you can get them starting from the price of RM1,899.
OPPO Reno5 Series Malaysia launch

Both the OPPO Reno5 and Reno5 Pro comes with 64MP quad cameras at the back and a 32MP selfie camera at the front. Both of them comes with a 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charger right out of the box to power up the 4300mAh for the Reno 5 and 4350mAh battery for the Reno 5 Pro.

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While both runs on ColorOS 11.1 which is based on Android 11, The OPPO Reno5 sports a 6.4-inch AMOLED display while the Reno5 Pro has a bigger 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen. Both comes with 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate.
Aside from that, the OPPO Reno5 is powered by a Snapdragon 7765G chipset while the OPPO Reno5 Pro packs a Dimensity 1000+ SoC, where both are 5G-capable. In terms of memory, the OPPO Reno5 comes with 8GB RAM that’s mated with 128GB internal storage while the OPPO Reno5 Pro offer a larger 12GB RAM that’s paired with 256GB storage.
You can get the OPPO Reno5 for the price of RM1,899 and RM2,599 for the OPPO Reno5 Pro. Pre-orders for both devices has begin and will last until the 26th of January 2021. Those who order early will get free gifts worth RM397 where it includes an OPPO Enco W11, OPPO phone case worth RM129, and a complimentary 1 year extended warranty worth RM109. Adding to that, those who pre-order two units with a friend (or family) at any OPPO Sales & Service Center will receive a set of BFF friendship phone cases + RM100 rebate on their purchase.
We are in the midst of reviewing the OPPO Reno5 so do stay tuned for that to come out soon.
Pokdepinion: Based on the prices and specifications, it’s a bit high to my liking.. but stay tuned for our full review to know whether they are worth the price!
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[E3 2019] AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT to sport blower cooler?

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 Series was announced back at Computex 2019, but with very vague details. IPC gains, performance that’s better than a GeForce RTX 2070, yada yada. There really wasn’t any concrete specifications back then, but now the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has just been leaked out, and it seems to be pretty interesting.
For starters, we already know that the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT will be based on the Navi architecture, which brings RDNA to the limelight. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is going to sport 40 CUs, which translates to 2560 stream processors with 64 SP per CU. For reference, the AMD Radeon RX 590 has 2304 SP, so we are looking at a pretty significant increase there.

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Manufactured on the new 7nm FinFET process, AMD is apparently able to push clocks much higher than they were able to with the last generation’s 12nm FinFET manufacturing process. Interestingly, there is a new 1755 MHz “Game Clock” that sits between the lofty 1905 MHz Boost Clock and the 1605 MHz base clock. It seems like the new Navi GPU will be efficient enough to be kept cool by a blower-style cooler, if the leaked slide is anything to go by.
The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is set to deliver 9.75 TFLOPs of compute performance, which places it well between the GeForce RTX 2070 and GeForce RTX 2080. AMD’s GPUs conventionally have higher compute performance figures for the same performance in games, so do not take this number at face value.

Last but not least, it will sport 8GB of GDDR6, making this the first AMD card to sport GDDR6 memory. More details about the TDP and pricing should follow tomorrow, so stay tuned!
Pokdepinion: Seriously AMD? A blower cooler?
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TM Unifi is Apparently Down in Several Places Across Malaysia

It appears that TM Unifi is facing some form of network outage as users in various places in Malaysia are having trouble with internet access. Some are saying that they can’t connect at all while others are saying that it works, just a lot slower than it should be.
Plenty of users have gone on social media, especially Twitter, to voice their displeasure at TM for Unifi being down yet again. So far, the areas that we noticed are affected include, but not limited to, Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Johor Bahru, and Sabah. Some claim that the outage is affecting the whole of Malaysia but we can’t confirm that just yet.

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Is this a reason why unifi down?#UnifiDown #UnifiHasFallen #Kluang pic.twitter.com/PKZpAj1JuY
— Gangsta Gastino (@TrafalgarZul) September 18, 2019

One particular Twitter user found a document which suggests that Unifi is currently down due to restoration works to repair the submarine cable. We are uncertain if this is legit or not but it is a possibility. For now, TM has yet to comment on the network outage in any form or fashion. There’s no statement given on their social media platforms either.
We will be reporting more on the matter as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: I can see a big number of users growing frustrated by frequent outages in their area. We are uncertain why it’s happening but we do hope that it gets fixed sooner rather than later.
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Digi [email protected] Lets You and Your Family Stay Connected and Save Money

The masses are advised to stay at home as much as possible and minimize any outings. As such, getting frequent updates from your loved ones are important to ensure that everyone is safe. Even the government is using their online portals and channels to relay information to the masses. As such, staying connected is very crucial for times like this.
With that in mind, Digi has a wholesome solution to keep you and your family connected.
What is Digi [email protected]?

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Digi [email protected] is a special promotion that is applicable for a variety of their offerings. This includes the Digi Postpaid Family plan where each supplementary line gets to enjoy the same benefits as the principal line. With the plan, you will be getting unlimited calls and ultra fast, unlimited internet for the whole family, making it easier for everyone to stay connected.
Typically, a trip outside nowadays is rather short and “requires fast internet for speedy actions, such as checking in via MySejahtera. Any slowdowns may lead to prolonged exposure, which is an unnecessary risk. However, it’s not just when you’re outside as it’s also meant for home use with high flexibility. After all, children now spend most of their time with activities at home due to the pandemic.
High speed internet has become increasingly crucial to ensure the effectiveness of their activities regardless of whether it’s for leisure or education. This includes, e-learning, watching videos, social media, and online gaming. Let’s be real here, if the internet connection is slow or unreliable, the one that will be suffering the most is the parents.

This isn’t just for the children either as for us adults, our homes have evolved from simply being a place of comfort and shelter into a daily centre for living and working. As such, home internet now needs to be able to sustain work-based activities such as conference calls, communicating with colleagues, and more. Combine that with your family’s activities and it may end up being too much bandwidth for your home internet to handle.
To solve all of these issues, Digi is offering a complete plan that can cater to families of varying sizes with unlimited calls along with high speed and unlimited internet.
Digi [email protected] Deals

At this point, you might be wondering what the Digi [email protected] plan has to offer. For your ease of reference, we have created some tables so you know exactly what you can get and save at the same time:
Save More for the Whole Family

Savings of RM120 (RM10 x 12 months)
Switch to Postpaid Family. You can add on a supplementary line and enjoy up to 100GB high-speed Internet & unlimited calls, from only RM28/month.

Ultra-fast connectivity from RM90/month
Enjoy ultra-fast fibre of up to 1Gbps and unlimited Internet for you and your family, from only RM90/month.

Savings of up to RM240
Digi Mobile Broadband 65/month and up, you can get a FREE MobiFi for 12-months.

Save More with the Latest Devices and Postpaid Plans

Savings up to RM380
Free 2-months on plan fee on Selected smartphones from RM8/month.Enjoy 2x Internet GB + unlimited calls with Digi Phone Freedom 365

Save RM120 on Oppo,Vivo and More.
Get smartphones from as low as RM68 with up to 50GB high-speed Internet & unlimited calls with Digi Postpaid 58.

Savings of RM120 (RM10x12)
Enjoy Unlimited calls and Internet with Digi Postpaid 58 and 80
DP58 – 50GB internet + Unlimited calls! Now at RM48
DP80 – 110GB internet + Unlimited calls! Now at RM70
Applicable to all sign ups on Digi postpaid plans including Digi Postpaid 120, 160, and 190 SIM only plan

I’m really glad that Digi is empowering users from multiple angles, be it from Home or from Work, as a child or as parents. With the new Digi [email protected] Home, users now can enjoy better internet with even more savings with 5% off your monthly Digi bill Auto Billing using Mastercard and stand a chance to win RM1 Million Digi Store Online voucher giveaway! Find out more on the rewards and benefits at Digi [email protected] here!

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Intel Recommends 4-Spring 12VHPWR Connector Design Over Less Reliable 3-Dimple Designs

Both connector designs are featured in various 12VHPWR connectors, however the 3-dimple design is more prone to failures.
Image: Intel
The new 12VHPWR connector gained notoriety during its introduction with NVIDIA RTX 40 series GPUs causing some units having melted connectors due to excessive heat generated from improper contacts. Upon investigation done by various media outlets and NVIDIA themselves, it was concluded that the issue came from improper connection in various ways, including high degree of cable bending, unsecured connector clips (as the connector is proven difficult to be fully inserted).
Intel, being the company who introduces and maintains the ATX standard (including motherboard sizes, PSU specifications, connectors and more) has stepped in and recommends all future 12VHPWR connectors to use the 4-spring for each individual metal contacts:

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Crimp Contacts inside of the cable plug are recommended to use the 4 Spring design instead of 3 dimple design (as shown in below figure) which will increase the contact area for electrical current flow inside the 12VHWPR connector and reduce the temperature rise of each contact.
– Intel
The recommendation corroborates with the findings initially published by Igor’sLAB regarding the burned 12VHPWR connectors. In the report it mentioned two major designs of the connector contacts, the 3-dimple design (manufactured by Astron) and the 4-dimple design (manufactured by NTK).
Image: Igor’sLAB / NVIDIA
Source: Videocardz
Pokdepinion: That’s one less problem for the connector to deal with. That said, I’m not sure if there’s any updates to the connector that makes it easier to know if it’s seated (clicking sound).
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Dr. Dre Comes To GTA In The New GTA Online The Contract Update

Rockstar has just announced that the new GTA Online The Contract update will feature the return of GTA V’s Franklin Clinton in an all-new story. The update also includes the appearance of famous rapper Dr. Dre as well as new music and much more. The GTA Online The Contract update will be available for free this 15th December.
GTA Online The Contract coming to players this 15th December

GTA Online The Contract sees Franklin Clinton return, years after the events of GTA V with a new agency called F. Clinton and Partner. Franklin’s new venture is a “celebrity solutions agency” that caters to the needs of the Vinewood elite who require solutions to “high-society problems ‘. Franklin requires two things to get the agency up and running: a dependable partner and a large-ticket, high-profile client. With the support of your long-time LS contact — and newly aspiring cannabis entrepreneur — Lamar Davis, you may be the partner who helps Franklin take the business to the next level.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of town, DJ Pooh has been in contact with Franklin regarding a promising new client: his close friend Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre’s phone was lost in the shuffle on his trip to Cayo Perico last year, and it turns out it’s not just gone – it’s in the wrong hands. Not only that, but the phone includes the city’s trendiest property: new, unreleased songs from Dr. Dre himself. This could be the big break your company has been looking for.

Prepare for a wild and hilarious ride through Los Santos in GTA Online The Contract, from Franklin’s old neighbourhood to the city’s hottest parties, from debaucherous mansions to the FIB offices, and everywhere in between, as you join Franklin, expert hacker Imani, Chop the Dog, and crew to secure Dr. Dre’s precious tracks and return them to their rightful owner.

Stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for more information on GTA Online The Contract, which will be released on December 15 for GTA Online — including details on an eclectic new radio station with some very special guest hosts, massive first-of-their-kind updates to existing radio stations, including a tonne of new and unreleased exclusive tracks from Dr. Dre and a heavy-hitting line-up of artists, plus additional opportunities for agency work including choice hits for players willing to get their hands dirty, plus new weapons, vehicles, and much more.

Pokdepinion: Haven’t played GTA Online in a while but seeing Franklin again, I might just pick the game back up.
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Gintama Rumble Has New Trailer Up; Showcasing The 4 Devas Arc

A brand new trailer for Bandai Namco’s Gintama Rumble has appeared, showcasing Doromizu Jirochou and Tokumori Saigo in the 4 Devas of Kabukicho arc.

Gintama Rumble Has New Trailer Up

Bandai Namco Entertainment has released a brand new trailer for the upcoming samurai action game based on the Gintama anime, Gintama Rumble.

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The trailer is very brief, closer to a TV commercial-style format with only 15 seconds of footage, but they’re enough to show 2 more characters included in the game.
We get to see Kamakko club owner Tokumori Saigou and former Yakuza leader Jirochou Doromizu. Fans of the series will have an easy time finding a connection, as the trailer is dedicated to the Kabukicho Four Devas arc of the anime, that will appear in the game.
Minor spoilers, the Four Devas of Kabukicho arc dives into the history of Kabukicho, explaining why Gintoki protects Otose, as well as Otose’s backstory which involves somewhat of a love triangle between her, her late husband Tatsugoro and Jirochou himself. Check out the new trailer at the top of this post.
Gintama Rumble will release in both Japan and Asia on January 18th 2017, and the Asia version will come with handy English subtitles, allowing everyone to enjoy the game. There’s no region locks so gamers from other regions can freely pickup the Asia version if they want to play it and be able to understand what’s it about.
The Japanese version will be for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita, while the Asian release will be exclusive for the PlayStation 4.  A western release has not been announced for now, but even if it Bandai Namco decides not to launch in North America and Europe, importing the Asian version shouldn’t be a problem.

Pokdepinion: Not only is the addition of those 2 characters exciting, the inclusion of that major arc is gonna make the game even more entertaining. Can’t wait for the final release of Gintama Rumble.
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LG To Introduce Raindrop Camera Design To Ignore Square Camera Bump Trend

It seems that the folks at LG will be introducing a new camera design for an unnamed smartphone soon. The design is apparently called as the “Raindrop” camera module.
LG Raindrop Camera Design

We’ve seen a whole bunch of camera designs over recent times, with the square camera bumps being more of the recent ones, it seems that LG doesn’t want to follow the trend with the introduction of the new design.
It is said to be inspired by “the natural world” and according to the teaser that they’ve posted it appears that the new yet mysterious LG phone will be packing a triple camera configuration which is accompanied with an LED flash.  Taking a quick look at it, it really resembles a raindrop.

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Other than that, they’ve said to be introducing a new 3D Arc design, which is all about the curved edges of the front and rear of the smartphone, similar to the waterfall displays in other smartphones.
Here’s what the company has said on the matter:
This handset will be a first-look at the competitive edge we will bring to every LG smartphone going forward.Cha Yong-duk, Head of LG Mobile Communications Design Lab
It’s not yet confirmed yet of the specifications of the device but reports suggest that it will come with 5G connectivity while being powered by the Snapdragon 7-series SoC.
Source
Pokdepinion: Well it’s certainly different from the rest. I kind of like it actually.
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Redmi Note 10S Review — The Middle Child

Following the 5G variant, we take a closer look at the last entry of the Redmi Note 10 series in this Redmi Note 10S review. Wondering what’s different this time around? Read on to find out.
Unboxing
Redmi Note 10S Review – Unboxing
Inside the box, you can expect the following items to be included with the device:

Redmi Note 10S
Soft case
Charging brick
USB-C cable
Documentations
SIM ejector

Appearance
Redmi Note 10S Review – Front
On the front, you have a 6.43-inch AMOLED DotDisplay with a 13MP selfie camera right on the dot, pun intended. Bezels are noticeable but they are still within acceptable levels.

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Redmi Note 10S Review – Left

Redmi Note 10S Review – Right

As usual, you got the standard volume rockers and power button on the right side of the smartphone. As for the left side, you’ll find its SIM tray residing in solitude.
Redmi Note 10S Review – Bottom
Moving over to the bottom, you can find a 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, USB Type-C port and the speaker grille.
Redmi Note 10S Review – Top
As for the top of the device, you can find the second microphone, IR blaster, and NFC. The middle part is flat while the sides come with a curved design.
Redmi Note 10S Review – Back
Finally on the back, you can see that it comes with a glossy finish as it’s easy to see reflections. The usual Redmi branding is located on the bottom-left while on the top, you can find the 64MP quad camera setup.
Redmi Note 10S Specifications

CPU
MediaTek Helio G95 Octa-core (2 x 2.05GHz Cortex-A76 & 6 x 2.0GHz Cortex-A55) 12nm

GPU
Mali-G76 MC4

Memory
8GB LPDDR4X

Storage
128GB UFS 2.2

Display
6.43″ AMOLED DotDisplay (2400×1080)

Main Camera(s)
64MP f/1.79 PDAF
8MP f/2.2 Ultra-wide
2MP f/2.4 Macro
2MP f/2.4 Depth
HDR, AI, Panorama, Portrait, Night Mode

Selfie camera
13MP F/2.5
Portrait mode, HDR, AI camera

Connectivity
LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
NFC
IR blaster
Bluetooth 5.1
USB Type-C

Software
MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11

Battery
5000mAh
33W fast charging

Dimensions
160.46 x 74.5 x 8.29mm

Weight
178g

Ingress protection
IP53 Splash-proof

Performance
Before we begin the benchmark segment, the Redmi Note 10S wasn’t able to run the usual 3DMark tests that you would usually see in our review. This is a trend that you’d notice from several of Xiaomi’s recent devices that we’ve tested. On the other hand, PCMark has updated their version to PCMark Work 3.0 recently so we won’t be comparing the device against older devices because it would seem unfair.
Redmi Note 10S Review – Antutu V8
Out of all the Redmi Note 10 series that we’ve tested, the Redmi Note 10S achieves the highest score among the Redmi Note 10 series of smartphones and by quite a noticeable difference too. However, we can see that it falls behind other mid-range device like the Galaxy A52 and vivo V21.
Redmi Note 10S Review – Geekbench 5
We see a similar result in Geekbench 5, with the Redmi Note 10S coming out on top compared to its fellow siblings in both single-core and multi-core tests. We see that the Dimensity 800U in the vivo V21 performs slightly better than the Dimensity 700, which is to be expected.
While we won’t be comparing battery performance, in real-life usage, I would normally end up with 65% to 75% battery at the end of the day. Of course, this would depend on the usage itself. In my case, I’d use messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, Facebook, as well as watching a few videos on YouTube. It’s worth noting that the device doesn’t come with a higher refresh rate option so that will save the battery more.
If you’re wondering how fast the 33W charger is, this smartphone managed to charge from 29% to 64% within a span of 30 minutes. That seems decent enough, considering the fact that it has a whopping 5,000mAh battery under the hood.
User Experience
Redmi Note 10S Review – User Experience
Though the Redmi Note 10S has a nice feel on hand, I simply don’t fancy the glossy back as it attract fingerprint stains. I’d definitely recommend you to use the case that’s provided or get a different one if you don’t fancy the looks.
Another thing that I’m not satisfied is the lack of dual speakers, as is the case with the Redmi Note 10 5G that I’ve reviewed before this. Despite that, I’d say that I enjoyed using the Redmi Note 10S even more when it comes to media content. Why? Simply because it has an AMOLED panel. If you’ve tried it before, you’ll know that you get darker blacks and colours look crisp.
Some may question the device due to the lack of a higher refresh rate but I feel the panel itself makes it decent. One could argue that a good AMOLED screen without a fast refresh rate is better than a poor IPS panel with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate.
Redmi Note 10S Review – MIUI 12.5
The Redmi Note 10S is one of the first few devices that we’ve seen wielding the new MIUI 12.5 update. It has gotten my attention and I personally like it. Though there are new themes, sounds, and animations, the overall feel of it is quite similar to the previous version. Due to the lack of higher refresh rate, navigating through the phone isn’t buttery smooth. It’s not bad but not exactly the best either.
Redmi Note 10S Review – Camera UI
As for the camera UI, it has two of the features that I find lacking with the previous Redmi Note 10 5G; Pro mode and ultra-wide. It definitely feels more complete than the Redmi Note 10 5G in that sense. Other than that, you get a straightforward experience as everything is easy to access. If you don’t like the layout you can even customize it to your liking.

The Redmi Note 10S performs rather decently in good lighting, offering a decent dynamic range. For low-light shots, the Night mode does help in giving a clearer view but at the expense of some smudges, noticeably in the sky.
For the macro mode, I have mixed results with it. Certain times, it turns out alright but on occasions, the exposure was just too much. It may be due to the AI doing its thing in processing photos. If that’s not your thing, you might as well turn it off for a more natural look.
You can check out the full-sized images by heading to the link here.
Redmi Note 10S Verdict
Redmi Note 10S Review – Verdict
Would I suggest you to buy the Redmi Note 10S? It really depends. Out of all the smartphones in the Redmi Note 10S series, it sits right in the middle. It has all the essential features that the Redmi Note 10 Pro has, barring the chipset and lack of a higher refresh rate.
If you don’t mind missing out on those, I’d say that the RM899 price tag for the device is rather decent. For that, I award the Redmi Note 10S our Bronze Pokdeward.

We would like to thank Xiaomi Malaysia for providing the Redmi Note 10S that was used in this review.
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Reddit engineer: MacBook Pro with M1 Max will pay for themselves in 3 months

No, “Reddit engineer” is not a derogatory term for the armchair experts on Reddit. We are talking about Jameson Williams, Staff Engineer at Reddit, who posted some data on how the latest MacBook Pro with M1 Max can greatly accelerate developers’ workflow, and also save money in the long run for companies over existing MacBook Pros.
MacBook Pro with M1 Max compiles apps in half the time vs Core i9-powered MacBook Pro

He makes his case by saying that the new MacBook Pro powered by the M1 Max can compile the Reddit app for Android and iOS in half the time versus the last-gen Intel-powered one. This alone enables significantly higher productivity for Android and iOS developers.

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His formulae are as follows:

Net Cost ($) with 2019 i9 MBP =
(No upfront cost) + (Time lost waiting on builds with 2019 MBP) * (Hourly rate of an Engineer)
And

Net Cost ($) with 2021 MBP =
($31.5k up-front cost) + (Time lost waiting on builds with 2021 MBP) * (Hourly rate of an Engineer)

Williams estimates that getting the MacBook Pro with M1 Max for a team of nine will cost the company about $31500, but the new laptops will break even in 3 months via the savings on engineering costs. This is done by accounting for the cost of the developers’ time that’s spent just waiting on the slower laptop. Of course, it is difficult to really quantify the enhancement in productivity, as developers aren’t robots that will get on to the next task immediately as their current task is completed, but this is a pretty good estimation.
It seems that he isn’t the only one who believes that the new MacBook Pros are great for developers. Apparently Twitter and Uber are giving their software engineers the latest M1 Max-powered machines to accelerate their workflow.

You can check out Jameson Williams’ full Reddit post here, in case you want to create your own PowerPoint slides to convince your boss that you need a new MacBook Pro with the M1 Max.
Pokdepinion: Hmm, maybe I need to think of a way to convince my boss that I need a new MacBook Pro as well…
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