HONOR 20 Series Sees Price Drop — Lowered Up To RM300

HONOR Malaysia has revealed of a new price update for their HONOR 20 series, which includes the HONOR 20 PRO, HONOR 20, and also the HONOR 20 Lite.
With the new price change, you can get the HONOR 20 PRO at just RM1,999 (8GB+256GB), originally RM2,299. HONOR 20 (6GB+128GB) is now priced at RM1,399, previously at RM1,699.
Last but not least is the HONOR 20 Lite, which is cheaper by RM150 being at RM799.

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If you purchase the HONOR 20 PRO or HONOR 20 from now until 31st of December 2019, you will be receiving a 1+1 year warranty (2 years of warranty) for free. It can be redeemed through the HiCare app, though you will have to do so within seven days of your purchase.
 Pokdepinion: Will you be getting one of them? Let us know in the comments.
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USB4 to Launch with Thunderbolt 3 Speeds and Backwards Compatibility

If you think that the USB naming conventions are confusing as it is, then get prepared for one more thing that might blow your mind…arguably for different reasons. The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced USB4 and its specifications.
From what we know thus far, USB4 seems to be very similar to Thunderbolt 3. There are confusions as to what the name actually is but USB-IF is referring to it as USB4 rather than USB 4, despite earlier referring to it as the latter with the spacing.

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The USB Promoter Group today announced the pending release of the USB4 specification, a major update to deliver the next generation USB architecture that compliments and builds on the existing USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 architectures. The USB4 architecture is based on the ThunderboltTM protocol specification recently contributed by Intel Corporation. It doubles the bandwidth of USB and enables multiple simultaneous data and display protocols […]

Even as the USB4 specification introduces a new underlying protocol, compatibility with existing USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3 hosts and devices is supported; the resulting connection scales to the best mutual capability of the devices being connected.

The important things to take note of is the 40Gbps speed, dual-lane operation, and backwards compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 as well as earlier versions of USB. It is expected that it will have a Type-C connector, just like Thunderbolt 3, so all Thunderbolt 3 cables should be able to work with it. Furthermore, it is expected that it should be able to support the same power delivery options.
While USB4 will integrate features from Thunderbolt 3, Intel mentioned that the two standards are separate and will coexist. USB4 is open whereas Thunderbolt 3 isn’t so Intel requires manufacturers to be certified in order to use it. Manufacturers are offered more support with reference designs and technical supports. While USB4 may have similar specifications, Intel does provide other Thunderbolt 3 services beyond the hardware itself.
The announcement for it today is still a draft version, and the final version is slated to be confirmed sometime in the middle of this year. Given the compatibility statement, there’s a very low chance of there being significant changes then.
However, don’t expect any USB4 devices soon as it will take quite sometime for manufacturers to adopt this. The earlier we would most likely see it, unless a huge surprise comes our way earlier, is sometime in 2021. For now, we’ll just have to look forward to USB 3.2.
Source: Developer Update
Pokdepinion: I wonder if they’re gonna do USB4.1, 4.2, and so on. It’s gonna be confusing for sure but that’s what’s been happening already.
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The Nintendo Switch 6.0.0 firmware has many people looking forward to their online service, but there’s more to this firmware update than meets the eye.
There’s More to the Nintendo Switch 6.0.0 Firmware Than Just the Online Service

While the main highlight of the latest 6.0.0 firmware for the Nintendo Switch is the online service, there is certainly more to this update than you’ve expected.

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Your Nintendo Switch console was originally designated the “active console,” but now it’s your “primary console”. What difference does it make? Well, now can now play your games on other “non-primary consoles.”
What that means is that you can log into your Nintendo Account on someone else’s Nintendo Switch console, and through that account, download digital games from your primary console onto this other one. Of course, there are restrictions, such as the game can only be played through that same account and will require internet connection.

The games can only be played on one console at a time from the same account. Trying to play the game on two consoles will pause the game on one of them. Either way, this will be handy in a household with multiple Nintendo Switch consoles or if you’re heading to a friend’s place, one who owns one as well, and want to play a specific game.
Other than that, new features from the firmware update include the ability to post up to four pictures from your console at once to social media platforms, as well as new profile icons from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
Source: Nintendo
Pokdepinion: This is gonna come in handy when I’m going over to some of my friends’ places, that’s for sure.
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HyperX Predator DDR4 at 7156MHz sets world record with 11th Gen Intel Core CPU

Kingston has just announced that their HyperX Predator DDR4 memory was used to set a new overclocking world record for the fastest DDR4 memory frequency. Pushed to a blistering 7156MHz, the mindblowing overclock was done on the MSI MEG Z590I UNIFY with an 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900KF.
Interestingly enough, the HyperX Predator DDR4 memory used was the 8GB 4600MHz variant, instead of HyperX’s faster 4800MHz offerings. The HWBOT submission reveals that it packed Hynix DJR memory ICs, which are increasingly common in performance memory recently.

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The overclock was achieved with both the CPU and RAM under liquid nitrogen, so it won’t be practical for normal use anyway. However it does hint at the improved memory overclocking performance possible with the Gear 2 mode introduced with the 11th Gen Intel Core processors.
This new world record by Kovan Yang is just 46MHz faster than the current second place, which sits at 7110MHz. We will probably see a new wave of memory overclocking again, with the new 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs promising an improved IMC better suited for pushing higher memory frequencies.

Currently the top 10 rungs are dominated by overclockers using the latest 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs for their record-breaking endeavors. You can read our review of the 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900K here.
Pokdepinion: Make RAM watercooling loops great again!
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Nintendo Switch to Have Two New Models Coming This Year
Current Nintendo Switch model.

The Nintendo Switch has been out since March 2017 and it has seen a much better life compared to its predecessor, the Wii U. There have been rumours of a newer version of the hybrid console in the works and now, it appears to be a very real possibility.
According to a report on The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo is said to be working on two new variants of the Nintendo Switch. One of them is a more affordable variant even compared to the current one, and the other one is said to have “enhanced features targeted at avid video gamers.”
From what we know thus far, the affordable variant will lack some features in order to make it as a cost-efficient possible. While we have no specifics on what features will be cut, vibration is said to be one of them and it might not have built-in Joy-Cons / controller like a typical handheld. This variant is said to be a successor of sorts and to encourage people to move from the aging Nintendo 3DS platform.

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As for the more powerful variant of the system, there isn’t much concrete details either. It is said that it’s more than just a simple performance boost but we’re uncertain what that could mean. We certainly doubt that it would be a very important feature added on as that would defeat the purpose of having the cheaper variant as well as anger current owners. One thing’s for sure, it will not be as powerful as the PS4 Pro or the Xbox One X.
The official reveal is set for E3 2019 later this June 2019 so stay tuned for further updates.
Source: WSJ
Pokdepinion: I’m wondering if the more powerful version will be worth upgrading from the current model or no. Truth be told, the only issue I have with the current one is just the battery life, everything else is great for me.
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ROG phone teaser — ROG Phone to feature a dedicated gaming dock?

Any phone can be used for gaming, just like any smartphone can be used for photography. However to get the best experience for anything, you will want something dedicated. Like a proper gaming phone. We have seen Razer try their hand with the 120 Hz display in the Razer Phone. Or Xiaomi’s Black Shark which supports an analog joystick along with liquid cooling for more consistent performance. Now, we are going to have the venerable Republic of Gamers try to design a gaming phone worthy of the esteemed branding.

While the ROG Phone was rumored for MWC 2018, it didn’t make an appearance there. We now have a sneak peek at the device, and we can see that it will come with a dock. The connectors leading to the dock is also none other than a USB Type-C and 3.5mm connectors, which could mean that it will come with a gaming controller. We will have to see what the dock will connect to when it arrives on 4th June, a day before COMPUTEX 2018 officially starts. The ROG GX700 and GX800 gaming laptops came with docks which enhanced cooling, which would be really awesome to see here too.

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There shouldn’t be much guessing left in terms of hardware — the flagship Snapdragon 845 is pretty much a given, while at least 6GB of RAM can be expected. Rumors are floating around about a 144 Hz display, which will let the ROG Phone one-up Razer’s gaming smartphone which tops out at 120 Hz. We hope they do go with a more elegant look than Xiaomi did, and notches are definitely not welcome on a gaming smartphone. We will have to patiently wait until 4th June to see more details though.
Pokdepinion: A gaming dock sounds meh, but we have to see what they can do with it before passing judgement.
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AMD Zen to support GCC compiler — still a long journey

Everybody is still waiting for AMD Zen news but lately there’s not much news about it. But recently there’s a little good news for you guys. A source stated that AMD will enable the GCC compiler on the upcoming AMD Zen processor.

It’s started when AMD’s Venkataramanan Kumar sent out the znver1 enablement patch for Zen again this past week on the GCC mailing list and then upstream GCC developers have responded positively towards the patch and has given an okay sign.

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As a recap, AMD Zen is the latest AMD architecture, built new from the ground up and is the successor to AMD Excavator architecture. We learned that the AMD Zen will featured High Performance Computing AP with up to 8 Zen cores and 12MB of L2 and L3 cache.

It’s also to be said that it have a 40% IPC improvement that would put Zen on par with the Haswell-based Intel i7 5960X Extreme. AMD Zen is speculated to be available to the market on Q3 2016 but we still have no idea whether it will be using 14nm or 16nm manufacturing process or an even smaller process node by then.

Source : Phoronix link 1
             Phoronix Link 2

Pokdepinion : AMD Zen is still a long way away though. There’s a lot risks involved for AMD. The AMD Zen will be their trump card to solve the financial issue they’re facing right now. AMD Zen will be either AMD’s success or doom. I just hope the PR department will do a better job for the AMD Zen, not like what they did for the Bulldozer. For me it might end in a happy ending for AMD since AMD Zen will be using SMT design and focus on greater per-core performance.

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Canon Malaysia Launches Entry-Level Cameras – EOS M50, EOS 1500D, EOS 3000D, and Speedlite 470EX-AI

Canon Malaysia deepens its commitment to empower photography for everyone with the EOS M50, EOS 1500D, EOS 3000D, and the AI-based Speedlite 470EX-AI.
Canon Malaysia Launches Entry-Level Cameras and AI-based Speedlite
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
At a launch event in KDU’s Glenmarie campus, Canon Malaysia has released a slew of new products catered to entry-level users that strikes a balance between performance and affordability. It is the mirrorless Canon EOS M50, DSLRs EOS 1500D and EOS 3000D, and an A.I. Speedlite 470EX-AI.
Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
The Canon EOS M50 is their first 4K mirrorless camera. It’s powered by the DIGIC 8 image processor paired to a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor. With its improved Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus and 3-inch 1.04 million dot Vari-angle LCD touchscreen, it is something that vloggers will certainly love. In case you’re wondering, yes, it does have a microphone jack.

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If you wanted to capture a scene in the frame while you’re recording a video, the 4K Image-Grab function will allow you to grab the frame and convert it into a high-res image. The Touch and Drag autofocus feature will allow you to switch the focus of your subject simply by dragging your finger on the LCD touchscreen.
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
In an era where social media is the norm, many of us want to share the pictures and videos we take on our cameras but transferring to our smartphones can be a hassle. Well, they’ve made it easier for you as you can transfer images and videos from the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera to your smartphone via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or NFC.
Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Specifications

Dimensions
116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7 mm

Weight
Black: 387g (351g body only)
White: 390g (354g body only)

Image Sensor
24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor

Imaging Processor
DIGIC 8

ISO Speed
100 – 25600 (expandable to 51200)

Continuous Shooting Speed
Approx. 10 FPS (One-Shot AF), 7.4 FPS (Servo AF)

Max Video Quality
4K (25p)

Autofocus
Max. 143/99 points (Switches automatically depending on lens)

Connectivity
Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth

LCD
3-inch, 1.04 million dots Vari-angle Touchscreen

The Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera will be available at all Canon Malaysia retailers, dealers, Canon Image Square stores, and the Canon official store on Lazada Malaysia. It will be retailing for:

Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless (Body Only) = RM2,799
EOS M50 + EF-M 15-45mm = RM3,199
EOS M50 + EF-M 15-45mm + EF-M 55-200mm = RM4,299

Canon EOS 1500D & EOS 3000D DSLR
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
Next up, we have the affordable entry-level DSLRs, the Canon EOS 1500D and EOS 3000D. Both cameras are powerd by the DIGIC 4+ image processor paired to a 24.1 MP and 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor respectively. The ISO can go from 100 to 6400 (expandable to 12800), and both are capable of full HD video recording.
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
To aid photography beginners in learning their craft, Canon has included a Features Guide on these DSLRs, which helps users improve on their techniques with hints, tips, and different Scene Modes including portrait, landscape, night, and food mode. It will also help them optimize their shooting settings accordingly.
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
Just like the EOS M50 mirrorless camera, the EOS 1500D and EOS 3000D DSLRs have Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. Canon Malaysia highlighted that you can use a smartphone to remotely control the cameras via Live Remote Shooting using the Canon Camera Connect app.
Canon EOS 1500D DSLR Specifications

Dimensions
129 x 101.3 x 77.6 mm

Weight
427g (Body Only)

Image Sensor
24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor

Imaging Processor
DIGIC 4+

ISO Speed
100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800)

Continuous Shooting Speed
Approx. 3 FPS

Max Video Quality
Full HD 30p / 25p / 24p

Autofocus
9-point (All AF points supports f/5.6. Cross-type AF with center AF point)

Connectivity
Wi-Fi, NFC

LCD
3-inch, TFT (approx. 920,000 dots)

Canon EOS 3000D DSLR Specifications

Dimensions
129 x 101.6 x 77.1 mm

Weight
389g (Body Only)

Image Sensor
18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor

Imaging Processor
DIGIC 4+

ISO Speed
100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800)

Continuous Shooting Speed
Approx. 3 FPS

Max Video Quality
Full HD 30p / 25p / 24p

Autofocus
9-point (All AF points supports f/5.6. Cross-type AF with center AF point)

Connectivity
Wi-Fi

LCD
2.7-inch, TFT (approx. 920,000 dots)

The Canon EOS 1500D and EOS 3000D DSLRs will be available at all Canon Malaysia retailers, dealers, Canon Image Square stores, and the Canon official store on Lazada Malaysia. It will be retailing for:

Canon EOS 1500D DSLR + EFS 18-55 IS II = RM2,349
Canon EOS 3000D DSLR + EFS 18-55 DC III = RM1,799

Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI
Picture Taken with Canon 80D
What is arguably the most interesting thing Canon Malaysia had in store during today’s launch event, the Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI is the first auto-intelligent flash in the world.
It uses auto-intelligent bounce technology, which means that the motors and sensors automates the adjusting, configuration, and tweaking of the conventional flash so it can provide users with the optimum angle and perfect light without you setting it yourself. It is meant more for beginners but even professionals can benefit from this.
The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI comes in 2 modes; full-auto and semi-auto. Full-auto adjusts itself according to your surroundings and provides you with the illumination you need without thinking about it. The semi-auto mode is for intermediate and advanced users who wants to prioritize their control of light by changing the angle they want the flash to be, and the flash will remember it no matter how you hold it later on.
Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI Specifications

Guide Number (ISO100 in meters/ft)
47/154

Zoom Range
24 – 105mm

Flash Coverage Angle
14mm to 105mm

Bounce Function
Auto / Semi-Auto / Manual / Slave

Bounce Angle
120 Degree Upward, 180 Degree Horizontal (Left and Right)

Wireless Flash Function
Optical Transmission (Receiver)

Power Source
4 X AA-size Alkaline / Ni-MH Batteries

The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI will be available in Malaysia end May 2018. The retail price for it has not been announced. We’ll be reporting it on Pokde.net as soon as information becomes available.
Pokdepinion: I suddenly feel like replacing my Canon 80D with the EOS M50. I mean, it’s a bit of a downgrade but I definitely do want a smaller camera. Maybe I’ll go ask my boss if he could get me one.
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Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 Is A New Rugged Phone Built For Tough Environments

The new Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 is a tough yet intelligent gadget built to handle tough jobs while meeting the demands of an increasingly mobile workforce. The Galaxy XCover 5 is designed for the field and factory, combining durability with comfort for a sleek and easy-to-hold product that is sturdy enough to resist harsh industrial settings. It’s designed to keep up with today’s mobile business, with increased touch sensitivity for usage with gloves and a replaceable battery for all-day productivity.
Introducing the rough and tumble Samsung Galaxy XCover 5

The Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 meets MIL-STD 810H standards for dust and water resistance and is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. This means it can withstand drops of up to 1.5 metres and can be submerged in over a metre of water for more than 30 minutes while being dust-free. The XCover 5 also has a function called Glove Touch, which boosts touch sensitivity and allows users to control the tablet while wearing gloves.

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The hardware of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 is safeguarded by Samsung Knox, the company’s defence-grade security platform that provides genuine end-to-end protection by embedding security into every layer of the device. Samsung Knox safeguards sensitive corporate data in real-time and responds to increasingly sophisticated viruses and dangerous threats in advance.

The Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 also includes the ability to integrate the walkie talkie function in Microsoft Teams. The push-to-talk feature allows users to keep in touch with anyone at any time of the day by just pressing a button. You can also choose which apps can be launched with the XCover Key, a customised feature that allows you to launch your most commonly used apps with a single touch, such as the LED flashlight, emergency calls, or navigation.
Under the hood, you can find the powerful Exynos 850 processor, 4GB RAM and up to 64GB internal storage. It also features a 3,000mAh replaceable battery that supports 15W fast charging either through USB or POGO pins. As for the camera, the Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 touts a single 16MP (F1.8) rear camera and a 5MP (F2.2) front camera.
The pricing details of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 is unknown at this time as the device is only available through enterprise. If you’re interested in getting the XCover 5, you can contact Samsung directly here.
Pokdepinion: This is a pretty rugged phone which I know will find an audience in something like the construction sector.
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What TM giveth, TM taketh away; UniFi lite for RM99 offer withdrawn until further notice

The interwebs were hot with news of TM’s latest promotion for UniFi lite which offered 10 Mbps for just RM99 per month (normal price: RM129/month). New registrations for the UniFi lite plans from 20th October until 31st December 2017 were supposed to enjoy the discounted rate for 24 months. That’s RM720 saved over two years!

Hi. Ya. Promosi sah hingga 31/12/2017 dan harga promosi RM99/sebulan sah hingga tempoh 24 bulan.
— TMConnects (@TMConnects) October 20, 2017

Translation: Hi. Ya. Promotion is valid until 31/12/2017 and the promotional price of RM99/month is valid for a duration of 24 months.

Hi! Atas sebab-sebab yang tidak dapat dielakkan, kami akan menangguhkan kempen UniFi lite RM99. Kami mohon maaf di atas kesulitan ini.
— TMConnects (@TMConnects) October 21, 2017

Translation: Hi, for unavoidable reasons, we will be postponing the UniFi lite RM99 campaign. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

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However almost as sudden as the announcement was made, the promotion was cancelled until further notice. Or in the words of TM’s Twitter administrator “postponed“. I guess this is fairer for current customers, as they do not get to enjoy the promotional rates. That could very well be one of the reasons this current campaign is withdrawn is because it is half-cooked and left out TM’s existing customers.

ianya 1 pengkhianatan terhadap loyal customer TM. pakej ini hanya dituju pd new customer.false marketing pun 1 hal.
— Muhammad Firdaus (@Fird_Byakuchi) October 21, 2017

Translation: It’s a betrayal of TM’s loyal customers. This package is only targeted at new customers. False marketing is also another issue here.
The above tweet definitely put what current customers must feel into perspective. What do you think? Were you one of the few who managed to sign up for the UniFi lite RM99 promotion, or are you a disgruntled existing customer? Let us knows in the comments section!
Too bad “seemless” surfing is not going to be as affordable now…
Source: Amanz
Pokdepinion: 10 Mbps for RM99 is a great deal, but in all honesty RM129 for 10 Mbps isn’t that bad after all. There are some that are paying more (myself included) for just Streamyx 4 Mbps. It is the fact that TM announced a promotion like this, and withdrawing it after just one day, will definitely draw the ire of the public.
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EA Play 2020 Will Still Be Taking But in Full Digital Format

EA Play Live goes digital in 2020!
See you on June 11th at 4pm PST… World premieres, news and more! https://t.co/ShTNzjqJ3D pic.twitter.com/xqmYfGBWfs
— Electronic Arts #stayandplay (@EA) May 4, 2020

A number of major gaming events this year had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Naturally, we expected Electronic Arts’ EA Play 2020 to not take place as well but lo and behold, it’s still going to happen, but in an all-new digital format.
It was first announced on the company’s official Twitter, where it was revealed that EA Play 2020 will be taking place on 11th June 2020 at 4PM PST. That is the equivalent of 12th June 2020 at 7AM in Malaysia (GMT+8).

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What to Expect at EA Play 2020

As usual with the annual show, we’re expected to see some major announcements, “world premieres”, and more. However, there’s no telling as to exactly what the company has up their sleeves. For existing games, we could expect some announcements related to Apex Legends, FIFA, Madden, and Star Wars.
For new game announcements, it’s really hard to say. While we are certain that the company is currently working on games like Battlefield 6 and Dragon Age 4, those games won’t be releasing this year. Usually, they would focus on games that will be coming within the current fiscal year. With that being said however, it would still be possible to see teasers for those games.
For now, we will just have to wait and see. We will be reporting more on it as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned for our summary of EA Play 2020.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’m kinda hoping for some big announcements for Apex Legends, something that can really help shake up the game some more. Just a way to make it less stale, especially since we would be well into Season 5 by then.
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HMD Global Launches New Nokia X20 In Malaysia For RM1,599

HMD Global is all set to bring in a slew of new Nokia smartphones and feature phones to Malaysia which include the Nokia X20, Nokia G10, Nokia C20, Nokia C01 Plus, Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 105 4G.

Nokia X20

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The Nokia X20 comes with a three-year guarantee, as well as software and security upgrades. With the growing usage of mobile banking and e-wallets in Malaysia, the extra upgrades provide improved security to users, making the Nokia X20 a reliable partner for online transactions.
The Nokia X20 also has a quad-camera with ZEISS Optics, which comprises a 64MP primary lens, a 5MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. It also has a 32MP selfie camera. Aside from that, the Nokia X20 has a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD punch-hole display with Gorilla Glass 5. Powering the device is a 4470mAh battery and features a Snapdragon 480 SoC, 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage with microSD support of up to 512GB. It also has 5G connectivity and a Type-C USB port. Furthermore, the Nokia X20 comes with a 100% biodegradable case in the box.

The Nokia X20 is available for pre-order for RM1,599 from now until 18th October exclusively on the Nokia store on Shopee. The Nokia X20 will go on sale at participating Nokia mobile retail stores starting from 25th October. In conjunction with the release of the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, those who pre-order the Nokia X20 will receive limited edition No Time To Die Insulated water bottles and phone card
wallet.
Nokia G10

Releasing alongside the Nokia X20, Nokia claims that the Nokia G10’s 5,500mAh battery carries a 3-day battery life, the longest yet to be seen on a Nokia smartphone. The Nokia G10 touts a 6.5-inch HD+ screen and features a triple camera system with a 13 main camera, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro camera. There’s an 8MP selfie camera nestled in the waterdrop notch. Under the hood, you’ll find the MediaTek Helio G25, 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage with microSD support up to 512GB.

Furthermore, the Nokia G10 guarantees three years of monthly security updates and two years of free operating system updates. This is complemented by Nokia’s enhanced security as a result of face and side fingerprint unlock. The Nokia G10 will be available for purchase from the official Nokia stores on both Lazada and Shopee starting from the end of this month for a retail price of RM599.
Nokia C Series

The Nokia C series released includes the Nokia C20 and Nokia C01 Plus. The Nokia C20 comes with a 6.5-inch HD screen with a single 5MP rear and front-facing camera. It also comes with 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage with MicroSD card support up to 256GB and 3,000mAh battery. The Nokia C01 Plus on the other hand touts a 5.45-inch HD+ screen with a 5MP rear and front-facing camera. The Nokia C01 Plus comes with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage with MicroSD card support up to 128GB and 3,000mAh battery.

The Nokia C20 retails for RM399 while the Nokia C01 Plus retails for RM359. Both phones are available now in the official Nokia stores on both Lazada and Shopee.
Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 105 4G feature phones

HMD Global is also releasing two new feature phones in Malaysia, Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 105 4G. Both versions have HD voice calls, redesigned menus, and a collection of applications and games. Nokia’s feature phones are great gifts for the silver generation or even a device to keep connected to loved ones while you seek adventurous adventures in distant regions, thanks to VoLTE HD calls, enhanced connectivity, and improved battery life.
Both the Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 105 4G are available now in the official Nokia stores on both Lazada and Shopee for a retail price of RM159 and RM139 respectively.
Pokdepinion: As weird as it sounds, I want to get the Nokia 110 4G. Mainly because I think feature phones are pretty useful things to have especially as a backup communication devices and also feature phone are still pretty cool in my book.
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One God of War Ragnarok Composer Was Left Out Of the Credits

Looks like not all is great with blockbuster PlayStation game God of War Ragnarok as one composer has been left out of the credits, and here’s why.
God of War Ragnarok Composer Left Out Of Credits

better get this out before Twitter dies.
i’m so happy to see so many folks enjoying God of War Ragnarök! i worked on the editing/arrangement/implementation of the Freya chase scene and Thor boss fight music. you can hear to a bit of each scene’s music in this video!
(short 🧵) pic.twitter.com/I2wCbX3UYx
— jessica mao 🍂✨ (@jmaomusic) November 18, 2022

On Twitter, composer Jessica Mao mentioned that she didn’t get credited in God of War Ragnarok for her work, and it’s not possible for it to be changed with an update. The reason for that is because her contributions needed to reach a “minimum criteria” and she didn’t meet that.

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For those of you who aren’t aware, Jessica Mao was a music production intern who only worked on the game in Summer 2021, specifically from June to August. This is two to three months in a game that was developed over the course of four years.

Regardless, she did put in the work, and she claims that her work was significant. To be precise, she rearranged part of the final mix of the Thor boss fight since it was “too fully orchestrated”. She took certain instrumental stems, combined, and reordered them to help tone down the theme in order to “make room to grow in later phases”. She also did something similar in a chase scene in the game.
Given how extensive development of AAA games can be, you would see a huge number of people play a role in its creation behind the scenes. From temporary contract workers to outsourced studios, there are bound to people who do not get the credit they deserve. Jessica Mao is one of those cases, unfortunately.
Source
Pokdepinion: I do wonder what this minimum criteria is like, but I can also understand the need for having it. Without it, every credits scene ever would be nearly endless.
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Maxis Offers Free Access To Hotlink Postpaid Plans For Frontliners

The folks at Maxis has revealed that they will be offering three-months free access on Hotlink Postpaid 60 plans for healthcare frontliners that are battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maxis gives free Hotlink Postpaid plans for frontliners
With the initiative, Maxis is offering a promotion dedicated to healthcare workers across 86 public and private hospitals nationwide with a three-month free access to their Hotlink Postpaid 60 plan.
Each activated SIM card comes with 10GB mobile data, free 10GB for YouTube, as well as unlimited calls and SMS to all networks in the country.

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We know that our frontline heroes continue to dedicate their time to help the nation contain and overcome COVID-19, risking their health and safety under difficult circumstances on a daily basis.As such, we want to continue to acknowledge their efforts and support them with this special three-month offer. We look forward to working with hospitals across the country to facilitate the distribution of this offer.Paul McManus, Maxis Chief Enterprise Business Officer
Maxis will be working with the respective hospitals, who will then distribute the promo to their hospital staff as the offer is on a first-come-first serve basis and limited to a total of 5,000 SIM packs. Those who qualify will just need to walk into any Maxis Centre to register and collect their SIM packs. They can can then choose to continue to use the SIM once the three-month free access finishes.
Pokdepinion: It would’ve been better if they’ve announced this earlier but hey, better late than never right?
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Maxis Partners With sooka In Bringing Sports And Entertainment Bundles

The folks at Maxis has recently partnered up with sooka in bringing sports and entertainment mobile bundles which you can catch live sports such as the Premier League, BWF Badminton World Championships, Formula 1 and more.
Maxis and sooka partnership

They’ve got packages for both of their Postpaid and Prepaid plans as you can see from the image above, where it starts with the Hotlink Prepaid Unlimited 60 plan at RM85, up until the Maxis Family Plan 299 at RM324.

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As you might have known, sooka was launch in the middle of last year in 2021. Aside from global live sports actions, they also offer local entertainment for you to catch.
The sooka app is available on both Android and iOS devices. If you are looking to subscribe to the packages mentioned earlier, you may head to the link right here. For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Seems like a plan if you’re already subscribed to Maxis and always on the go but still want to catch your favourite sport. Personally I have no issue with the latter.
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ASUS ROG Flow Z13 now available in Malaysia from RM7999

The much-awaited ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has just been officially announced in Malaysia in The Rise of Gamers Product Launch earlier, offering gamers an all-new form factor to get their gaming fix on. Well, all-new, unless you consider the ROG Mothership as a tablet… Which it technically is one… But not really…? Anyway, the ROG Flow Z13 is now here, and the prices are starting from RM7999, which is pretty cool, considering just how unique this machine really is.
ROG Flow Z13 is an ultraportable gaming tablet priced from RM7999

ASUS designed the ROG Flow Z13 to not only be the world’s most powerful gaming tablet, but also probably the most portable gaming machine yet. It weighs just 1.1kg and measures a mere 12mm thin. The 13.4″ display also makes it perfect to slip right into your backpack, or the included sling bag. And of course, it features a design that you will want to show off, complete with a window on the back to flex on the plebs using lesser devices.

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But what’s even more interesting is that even with it being that compact, the ROG Flow Z13 packs up to an Intel Core i9-12900H and the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti for some serious gaming performance when on the go. Cooling is courtesy of a large vapor chamber that wicks heat away from the CPU and GPU effectively, while two fans expels all that heat out of the chassis. Given that the fan intakes are right behind the upright display, airflow is unhindered, allowing for maximum cooling efficiency.

Still think it needs a bit more oomph for your games? Well, that’s where the ROG XG Mobile comes in. The ROG Flow X13 debuted support for the ROG XG Mobile, an external GPU solution that overcomes most of the shortcomings of ultraportable gaming machines. Not only does it add extra GPU performance, it also serves as an I/O hub to add more connectivity options than what you would find on even desktop replacement gaming laptops.
ROG Flow Z13 Specs and Price Malaysia

GZ301Z-CLD132W
GZ301Z-ELD236W
GZ301Z-ELC214W

Processor
Intel Core i7-12700H, 14C (6P + 8E) @ up to 4.7GHz, Intel 7
Intel Core i9-12900H, 14C (6P + 8E) @ up to 5.0GHz, Intel 7

RAM
16GB LPDDR5-5200, on-board, dual-channel

Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU 4GB GDDR6, max 40W TGP
MUX Switch
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU 4GB GDDR6, max 40W TGP
MUX Switch

Storage
512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD (M.2 2230)
1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD (M.2 2230)

Display
13.4″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 120Hz IPS display
Adaptive Sync, 100% sRGB, Pantone Validated, Dolby Vision HDR, touch and stylus support
13.4″ WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) 16:10 60Hz IPS display
Adaptive Sync, 85% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, Dolby Vision HDR, touch and stylus support

Connectivity
WiFi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2
ROG XG Mobile interface (PCIe 3.0 x8 + USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-C)
Thunderbolt 4
USB 2.0 Type-A
1 x microSD card reader, UHS-II
1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack

Power
56WHr, 4-cell Li-ion
100W USB-PD power adapter

Dimensions
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.2 cm

Weight
1.18kg

Price
RM7999
RM8799
RM15 999

Availability
Now
April 2022

Bundled items
ROG sleeve bag
ASUS Pen (SA201H)
ROG Impact mouse
ROG sleeve bag
ASUS Pen (SA201H)
ROG Chakram Core mouse
ROG Delta Headset
ROG XG Mobile GC31S

If you plan on getting the ROG Flow Z13 and taking full advantage of its unique design with the ROG XG Mobile, the only way you can do that is by getting the highest specced bundle, as the ROG XG Mobile is not sold separately. Hopefully ASUS Malaysia will come around to that, but don’t keep your hopes up as the ROG XG Mobile was introduced last year with the ROG Flow X13, and we have yet to see it available for purchase aside from as part of a bundle.

For the other laptops announced during The Rise of Gamers launch, you can check out the following articles:

ROG Zephyrus M16 (2022), ROG Strix G series (2022) in Malaysia
ROG Strix SCAR (2022) series in Malaysia

Pokdepinion: Never have I thought that I would be able to see a Windows gaming tablet in my lifetime…
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Raya Dengan Shopee Begins Today With Discounts Running Until 6 June 2019

Shopee has brought Hari Raya closer as they are hosting their Raya Dengan Shopee campaign, offering deals and discounts of up to 80% from 600 brand on the e-commerce platform.

Up and running already, the event will last until the 6th of June 2019 with deals to help you prepare for the upcoming festive season.

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Some of the offers include 200% cashback daily, Shocking Sale, Goyang Shopee, as well as Shopee Live and Shopee Quiz, where winners will win a pool of up to 2million Shopee Coins by answering eight trivia questions.
Additionally, at the event launching, Isetan’s Official Store on the app has been officially announced, where first 500 users will enjoy 20% off with a minimum purchase of RM50 when they apply the code ISETANRY.
Shopee also revealed that they are offering properties on the platform, which includes ready-to-shift-in apartments, double-storey terrace abd superlink houses.

Not forgetting, you can now purchase vehicles from Shopee AutoMall, where it allow you to purchase a wide range of cars and motorbikes. Shopee has prepared an exclusive deal for buyers, that includes booking fees from as low as RM1, lowered interest rates starting from 1.81% per annum, rebates, plus mor on AutoMall.
Pokdepinion: Okay… It’s that time of the year again.. I’m scared for my wallet.
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Picture credits: Hot Hardware

Doom is arguably one of the most popular game franchises in the world today. In fact, the first two games were released in 1993 and 1994, nearly 30 years ago today. Now, Bethesda has released an update for those games which adds 120Hz and widescreen support for Android and iOS.
Doom and Doom II Gets 120Hz and Widescreen Support on Mobile
Picture credits: Hot Hardware
Doom and Doom II has received an update which included 16:9 widescreen support, which works without letterboxing, and results in a wider field of view so you can see more of what’s happening in the game. Then there’s also a new title screen, intermission screen, and ending screens.
The most notable part of the update is the increased refresh rate cap to 120Hz for Android and iOS. This means that if you’re using a smartphone with a refresh rate higher than the standard 60Hz, you’ll be enjoying a smoother gameplay experience in both those games. It’s clear that the feature would be more beneficial to Android users given the increased number of devices with 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate displays.

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If you’re on iPhone however, do not fret. Bethesda has also added a gamepad support. If your device is running on iOS 13 or newer versions, you can use a DualShock 4 and Xbox One gamepad to play the game.
Source
Pokdepinion: Didn’t think I’d see 120Hz shooters from a major franchise so soon. I’m definitely gonna give it a try and see how it’s like.
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The ASUS X570ZD packs a GeForce GTX 1050 for less than RM3000!

ASUS combines an AMD processor and an NVIDIA graphics card in the new ASUS X570ZD to deliver the best bang-for-buck they can muster. The ASUS X570ZD packs an AMD Ryzen 5 2500U processor and a GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5 into a sub-RM3000 price tag.

Notably, ASUS focused their budget to offer a powerful processor and graphics card, with the rest of the specifications being a lot more pedestrian. You will be looking at a standard 15.6″ FHD display, and also some pretty basic specifications like 4GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB 5400 rpm HDD under the Reaper Black finish.

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On the bright side, both the RAM and storage is upgradeable. There is a free RAM slot accepting up to 8GB SODIMMs, and there is also a vacant M.2 SATA SSD slot. Keeping the ASUS X570ZD alive when you are away from home base will be the 48WHrs 3-cell battery. Given the portable 1.96 kg weight, you might find yourself carrying it around to work on the go quite a bit.

The best part of course is the price. The ASUS X570ZD is priced at RM2899, and is backed by a 2-year global warranty from ASUS.
Key ASUS X570ZD Specifications

AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, 4C/8T, up to 3.6 GHz
4GB DDR4 2400 (one slot vacant)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5
15.6″ FHD anti-glare display
1TB 5400 rpm HDD (M.2 slot vacant)
802.11ac 2*2 dual band WiFi
2-year global warranty
1.96 kg

Oh, and it comes with a free backpack too! Availability commences February 2019.
Pokdepinion: This would make a pretty decent entry-level gaming laptop with some minor upgrades.
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Here’s Some Of The Features That The OPPO Reno7 Series Offers

As you might have noticed from our Facebook page, we got our hands on the new OPPO Reno7 Pro. If you’re curious on what the Series has to offer, you’ve come to the right spot.
OPPO Reno7 Series

The company claims that the OPPO Reno7 Series comes with “excellent DSLR-like portrait” where it’s available through adjustable Portrait Mode and Bokeh Flare Portrait, which are features that came from the previous Reno6 Series.

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You have the ability to adjust the depth of field to alter size and properties of bokeh lights with up to 25 levels of adjustable aperture sizes.
Thanks to OPPO’s AI algorithms, image analysis and recognition can be carried out, where it automatically distinguish the human subjects, making them stand out more.
In addition to that, they’ve mentioned of a Dual-Flagship Portrait Camera System that’s built in with the Sony IMX709 sensor customized by OPPO, allowing to capture brighter night time selfie videos with 60% more light. As for the back, they’ve collaborated with Sony in developing the IMX766 sensor.
We should learn more about the Series soon enough when they arrive to the country. Till then, stay tuned to Pokde.net for more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews.
Pokdepinion: If you’re curious on the OPPO Reno7 Pro, be sure to check out our full review soon as we are in the midst of reviewing it.
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Gamecube Gamepad-style Joy-Cons May Be Coming to Nintendo Switch

I made the gamecube joycons we all wish existed. This isn't concept art, these are real and fully functional. pic.twitter.com/266tiYmzsG— Shank (@ShankMods) January 11, 2020

The Nintendo Switch Joy-cons are an innovative piece of technology, but it’s not exactly the most comfortable to use. If you often play Super Smash Bros Ultimate on the system, then I’m sure you miss the comfort and bulk of the Gamecube controller. You may be able to have both of that sometime in the future.
ShankMods have apparently built a working pair of Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons out of a Gamecube controller. It may seem like a simple concept art at first but Shankmods have demonstrated a video of it being fully functional, even the C-stick.

Obviously, these aren’t as portable as the original Joy-cons given the size. If you’re looking at it solely for comfort, then I’m sure this will hit the mark just fine. With the original, the best you can do is slap on some aftermarket grips to make it more comfortable, but it’s nowhere close to the feel of Gamecube controllers.

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There is no word yet on exactly when, and if, Shankmods will be selling these Nintendo Gamecube-style Joy-cons. If they do, chances are that the price will be dependent on whether it will be mass produced or sold as limited edition peripherals. For now, you can check out their YouTube channel to see more of their monstrous creation.
Source: Shankmods
Pokdepinion: If this was ever released, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I really love the old Gamecube controller, especially for Smash Bros.
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Intel’s roadmap until Q2 2018 leaked; cheaper motherboards are to come next year

In just a few days, Intel’s Coffee Lake CPUs will be available at retail stores. While the current crop looks competitive against the AMD Ryzen lineup, and there’s nothing that Intel wants more at the moment. However there are quite a few areas that Intel has yet to fill with their latest Coffee Lake CPUs.

One of the most apparent is that there are no other 300-series motherboards around except for the Z370 motherboards. The Z370 chipset allows enthusiasts to squeeze the most performance out of the unlocked K CPUs, but if you get a locked CPU, it doesn’t too much aside from SLI support. For those who want cheaper boards, the Intel H370, H310, B360 chipsets will appear in Q1 2018. That’s a mighty long wait, with AMD Ryzen 2 peeking around the corner.

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Intel will also be releasing their lower-powered S variant of the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs in Q1 2018. Those will come with TDPs of 65W and 35W, featuring anything from 2 to 6 cores.

Intel will be debuting their Intel Pentium Silver and Intel Celeron Gemini Lake processors soon in October 2017, with quad and dual core 10W SOC parts. They will only be available as BGA packages. For professional users who need Intel’s vPro technology, they will have to wait even longer, all the way until Q2 2018 for the Coffee Lake CPUs with vPro as well as the Intel Q370 and Q360 chipsets.
Source: GamersNexus
Pokdepinion: Intel’s roadmap looks a little dragged out, with budget boards being so far out. Hopefully Intel will bring forward the launch of their budget boards to help keep the Coffee Lake platform more affordable since you need new motherboards to use the 8th Gen CPUs.
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Tetris Effect Malaysian Release Date Confirmed

The folks over at Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore has reached out to us via a press release, announcing the availability for Tetris Effect for the PlayStation 4 in Malaysia.
Pre-orders for Tetris Effect will effectively start on 16th October 2018 onwards, and the game will be available in digital and physical Blu-ray disc. Pre-orders for both version will come with the following extras:

Tetris Effect Original Soundtrack Sampler (7 Tracks)
Exclusive PlayStation Network Avatars
“Yours Forever” PS4 Dynamic Theme

The digital copy of the game will be retailing for RM129 whereas the physical Blu-ray copy will be retailing for RM139. The game will officially be released for the PlayStation 4 on 9th November 2018.

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Pokdepinion: Tetris has definitely withstood the test of time and I’m surprised we’re still seeing new releases for the game. Guess this is going to be the puzzle game unlike anything ever seen before, in a much grander and colourful scale.
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HONOR Unveils Industry’s 1st Silicon-Carbon Battery for Smartphones

HONOR is making strides in smartphone technology evolution with their first silicon-carbon battery, bringing higher energy density than lithium batteries.
HONOR Silicon-Carbon Battery

In a world where smartphone technologies are advancing rapidly, battery capacity has been a slow area of development – until now. HONOR, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has recently revealed a solution to this issue – the industry’s first silicon-carbon battery. This battery boasts a 12.8% higher energy density compared to the standard lithium batteries, which use graphite for one of the electrodes (the anode).

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The HONOR Magic5 Pro smartphone, for instance, has a standard 5,100mAh battery, but if it used the new silicon-carbon battery instead, it would have a capacity of 5,450mAh. CEO George Zhao briefly explained the benefits of the new battery, showcasing a couple of charts that demonstrate why it is superior. A standard lithium battery tends to lose much of its capacity once its voltage drops to 3.5 volts. In comparison, the silicon-carbon battery has 240% more capacity left at 3.5V than the standard battery, leading to an overall improvement of 12.8%.

Interestingly, the HONOR Magic5 Pro in China is listed as having a 5,450mAh battery, suggesting that the new battery technology is already being used. However, the international model is launching with a standard 5,100mAh battery, so it’s unclear if the Chinese model indeed features the silicon-carbon battery. Regardless, this development is an exciting step forward in smartphone battery technology, and it remains to be seen how it will shape the future of smartphones.
Source
Pokdepinion: Anything that helps any gadget, especially a smartphone, last longer is always a great step forward. I’m hoping for the next couple of years, we’ll see a bigger focus on energy efficiency rather than performance.
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realme 5 vs vivo Y12 — by the numbers

The realme 5‘s main calling cards are its massive 5000 mAh battery and also its quad camera setup. Priced at RM599, there are few smartphones that offer such a feature set in this price bracket. The vivo Y12 is one of the few, and it offers a similarly large 5000 mAh battery, and a triple camera setup. How do they stack up against each other?
Performance
Snapdragon 665 vs Helio P22
There really isn’t much of a comparison here. The Snapdragon 665 in the realme 5 walks all over the vivo Y12’s Helio P22. realme uses the Helio P22 in their entry-level realme C2, so you can quite clearly see which phone has the upper hand when it comes to performance. It also has quite an edge when it comes to the manufacturing process, with the Snapdragon 665 manufactured on a newer 11nm node than the Helio P22’s 16nm process.

Obviously everything from daily tasks to gaming would be more enjoyable on the realme 5 with better performance.

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Winner: realme 5
More storage
64GB of storage comes standard with the realme 5, while the vivo Y12 comes with just 32GB of storage for almost the same price. Once again, a pretty clear advantage is visible with the realme 5. The realme 5 also supports expansion via microSD cards, giving you plenty of room for your photos and anything else you need to keep on your phone.
Winner: realme 5
Display

The realme 5 comes with a large 6.5″ display, while the vivo Y12 packs a 6.35″ display. Both devices sport a 720p resolution, which isn’t great given their large size. The larger display of the realme 5 will offer a better experience when watching video content or browsing the web, but the slightly higher pixel density of the vivo Y12 might make it look a bit better. This is pretty much a tie between the two.
Winner: Tie
Camera

Quad camera versus triple camera, not such a fair comparison, yes? Well, even when we drill further down into the specifications, the realme 5 does tout the better camera setup. Even if we ignore the additional 2MP macro camera which gives you close up capabilities that the vivo Y12 lacks.

The realme 5’s primary camera is a 16MP one, which when backed by software features like Chroma Boost and Nightscape, puts it well ahead of the vivo Y12’s 13MP shooter which doesn’t come with such software features. Both the realme 5 and vivo Y12 pack an 8MP ultra-wide angle camera, but once again the realme 5’s Nightscape mode which is also available for the ultra-wide angle camera gives it an advantage versus its peers. It’s also worth noting that few smartphones, even much pricier ones, offer the ability to use their respective night modes with the ultra-wide angle cameras.
Winner: realme 5
Value
The realme 5 wins in most categories we looked at, but is it the better buy? The vivo Y12 is slightly more affordable now at RM499 after a recent price slash, but it still delivers less storage, an inferior chipset and a weaker camera configuration. For just RM100 more at RM599, the realme 5 comes in with 64GB storage, the Snapdragon 665 chipset and a quad-camera setup backed by solid software.
Winner: realme 5
So I guess by now it’s pretty clear which one is the better 5000 mAh smartphone at below RM600. And please try your best to get it early, because if the realme 5 Pro’s initial sales were anything to go by, the realme 5 will also be sold out quite quickly!
This is an exclusive article for realme Malaysia.
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Gran Turismo Sport LIMITED TIME Demo Announced; Special Demo Before Release

The folks over at Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore has announced a limited time demo for Gran Turismo Sport. Experience the game before its release.
Gran Turismo Sport LIMITED TIME Demo Announced

Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore has officially announced that they will be running a Limited Time Demo for upcoming game, Gran Turismo Sport, for PlayStation gamers in the Asia region. It will be happening from October 9th (Monday) to October 12th 2017 (Thursday), ahead of the game’s October 17th 2017 release date.

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In the Gran Turismo Sport Limited Time Demo you can get the chance to experience the features from the main game, including the Campaign Mode, Sport Mode, Arcade Mode, Scapes, and the Livery Editor among many others. You will also be able to carry over in-game credits and cars you earn in the Limited Time Demo into the retail game. Though, keep in mind that you can only carry over up to 1 million in-game credits.
We actually gave it a try during our visit at PlayStation Experience SEA 2017 and it was surprisingly good. It felt very realistic and I could see myself actually playing that game for a while. Of course, this is only if I actually have the racewheel kit. I don’t think I’d be entertained for long with just a DualShock 4 controller.
There are no requirements or registrations required for this. So yeah, if you’re a big Gran Turismo fan or you’re just into automotive games, mark October 9th 2017 on your calendars and enjoy the game to your heart’s content…that is, until the game is actually released.
Note: Game data for the Gran Turismo Sport Limited Time Demo will be available to download from the PlayStationStore from 11:00 (GMT +8) on October 9th 2017 (Monday) until 11:00 (GMT +8) on October 12th 2017 (Thursday).

Pokdepinion: Guess they’re trying to get the hype train going for Gran Turismo Sport. Well, no complaints here, it will give gamers a taste of what’s coming in the actual game, and it will help ease the uncertainty for some gamers looking to purchase one.
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Microsoft Sends Windows 11 Upgrade To Unsupported Systems By Accident

Even if you agree to install, the actual limitations on the hardware will stop it from upgrading anyway.
Image: @PhantomOnEarth (Twitter)
Microsoft recently has been accidentally sending Windows 11 upgrades to old, unsupported hardware as spotted by Twitter user @PhantomOfEarth. Some people reported receiving the upgrade notice on their PCs, but if they chose to click the upgrade button – the process won’t go through as the underlying limitation on the hardware simply won’t be compatible with Windows 11’s requirements.
One user reported even their school computer which runs on arguably ancient hardware at this point – 2GB DDR3, 1.12GHz CPU and the likes – somehow got the upgrade notice from Microsoft as well. They noted that even Windows 10 proved to be struggling on this hardware.

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Of course, with Microsoft laying out strict requirements since the inception of Windows 11, it’s not the intention of the company to offer these legacy systems the upgrade. One of them in particular, TPM 2.0, ruled out many relatively newer systems as well which has irked some of its users. While workarounds exist – compatibility issues are almost a given.
Microsoft has since posted a follow-up noting the mistake has been fixed – users won’t need to do anything for the fix to manifest itself.
Source: Windows Central
Pokdepinion: I guess this bug is likely slipped from the original intention of pushing even more aggressive upgrade notices to qualified Windows 10 systems, though my PC in particular hasn’t seen it yet (likely because I rejected the upgrade once before).
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realme 3 Pro To Pack Snapdragon 710 And VOOC 3.0 Reportedly

realme’s upcoming device is set to be the realme 3 Pro, where it comes as the successor to the previous realme 2 Pro. The device was recently leaked in India, also the place where the device will be launching in this month as well.
According to the leak, the phone will still be made out of High Quality Plastic, instead of moving to a metal body like some of the competitors in the market. It will come with an upgrade by offering the latest VOOC 3.0 fast charge technology from OPPO.
Other than that, it is said that the realme 3 Pro will come Sony IMX519 camera sensor. In terms of chipset, they are set to offer a higher mid-range chipset in the form of the Snapdragon 710. It seems that the phone will come out in three storage variations; 4GB+32GB, 4GB+64GB, and 6GB+64GB.

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realme 3 Pro is set to launch in India later in this month, according to the leak. We should learn more as reach towards the end of the month. Until then, stay tuned.
Pokdepinion: Hmm, interesting combo I’d say. Efficient chipset with a super fast charge. Hopefully the battery is big too. Seeing how realme usually price their devices, I can’t wait to learn more on the realme 3 Pro!
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Konami Rebrands PES Into eFootball, A Free-To-Play Game With Cross-Platform Support

KONAMI has just announced a new football game called eFootball which will release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam with iOS and Android to follow soon after. eFootball is a rebrand of Konami’s popular long-running football game franchise Pro Evolution Soccer or PES and Winning Eleven.
Goodbye PES, Hello eFootball

KONAMI’s new football simulation game will be a free-to-play title completely rebuilt in Unreal Engine and will feature cross-platform support on PC, consoles, and mobile. The game will be completely digital and KONAMI says that the game will receive regular content when it launches this Autumn.

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Local matches featuring popular teams such as Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus, and Bayern Munich will be available at launch for free. KONAMI also says that you’ll have to pay for certain game modes so that it gives “players the freedom to build an experience that follows their interests”. Right.
The animation system has also been updated, thanks to the much-improved football game engine. “Motion Matching” is a new technology that translates the enormous range of movements that players make on the field into a series of animations and selects the most correct one in real-time. The system now has over four times the number of animations as before, resulting in extremely realistic movement. All platforms, including last-gen consoles, PCs, and mobile, will use “Motion Matching.”

To provide open and transparent communication, KONAMI has released the first eFootball roadmap, which includes preliminary data regarding the launch content as well as what will be added in the months ahead.
Early Autumn

All-new gameplay experience, powered by Unreal Engine
Cross-generation matchmaking (i.e. PlayStation 5 vs. PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S vs. Xbox One)
Local Matches featuring FC Barcelona, Juventus, FC Bayern, Manchester United and more

Autumn

Cross-platform matchmaking between consoles and PC (i.e. PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5 vs. Steam, etc.)
Team Building Mode (Name TBC) opened – build your own team by acquiring players
Online Leagues (Name TBC) opened – take your original team and compete in a global, competitive league
Match Pass system – earn items and players by playing eFootball

Winter

Mobile controller support added
Full cross-platform matchmaking across all available platforms including mobile when using a compatible controller
Professional and amateur esports tournaments kick-off

Superstar players Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr will be the game’s official global ambassadors. The makers are also said to have worked with Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Piqué in working eFootball’s offensive and defensive gameplay.
For more information, you can check out the eFootball website right here.
Pokdepinion: Don’t really know how to react to this. On one hand, it makes for KONAMI to turn PES into this but on the other, PES is a real nostalgic franchise for me. I first started playing football games with Pro Evolution Soccer 4 on the original Xbox before gradually moving to FIFA. Hope they don’t really compromise too much on the gameplay experience in place of in-game purchases.
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Razer Barracuda Pro Review – Good with Some Rough Edges

Unboxing the Razer Barracuda Pro
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – Box

Starting off the Razer Barracuda Pro review with the unboxing, the packaging has your standard design from the triple-headed snake company clad in its signature black and green colour scheme. Inside it, you get an eco-friendly cardboard box, with further inside holding:
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – Box content

Protective carrying case
Wireless dongle
Quick start guide
Razer stickers
1.5m USB-A to USB-C cable
1.5m USB-A to USB-C extension cable

Specifications

Frequency Response
20Hz – 20kHz

Impedance
32 Ω (1 kHz)

Sensitivity
96 dBSPL / mW @ 1 KHz (HATS)

Connectivity
Razer SmartSwitch Dual Wireless:
USB-C RF Wireless (2.4GHz)
Bluetooth

Drivers
Razer TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50mm Drivers

Noise Cancelation
Hybrid ANC

Microphone
Razer Dual Integrated MEMS Beamforming Mic
Noise-canceling
Omnidirectional
Advanced mic control features

Isolation
Advanced passive noise cancellation

Earcup
Pressure-Relieving Memory Foam

RGB
No

Audio Technology
Razer HyperSense haptic technology
THX Spatial Audio
THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier
Advanced audio control features

Weight
344g

Mic Test

https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2022/10/Recording-6.mp3
Given that it doesn’t come with a boom mic, I wasn’t expecting much out of the microphone quality of the Razer Barracuda Pro, and I was right. Your voice can come off sounding rather muffled, and the quality is subpar. In fact, I’m pretty sure the quality is better on its predecessor, the Barracuda X, but given that this is the design they’re going for, changes were necessary.
The Good
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – It can be laid flat
The Razer Barracuda Pro is a well-built pair of headphones. It’s lightweight and very comfortable to use, making it ideal for long hours use as it doesn’t get too hot and there’s no odd pressure on the top of your head. The cushions are plush and it has a nice snug fit on my head. All of the buttons and controls are easily within reach, it’s just a matter of remembering which one is for what action. There is no RGB lighting but let’s be real; it’s adding heat and reducing the battery life for something you can’t see anyway.

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Another great thing with the Razer Barracuda Pro is its dual wireless connectivity option. You can use the USB dongle included in the box or connect it to devices via Bluetooth. Just keep in mind that the latter has latency. You can even connect it to two devices using both connections simultaneously thanks to the Razer SmartSwitch Dual Wireless system.
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – Free protective carrying case
To aid with its portability, the Razer Barracuda Pro comes with a protective carrying case. This makes it easy for you to store and bring it around wherever you go. Granted, many of us are probably going to leave it hanging around our neck but when we don’t plan on using it for a while when we’re outside, it’s great to have while keeping it protected from any potential damages.
The sound quality you get with the Razer Barracuda Pro is quite balanced. It has a rather punchy, but not overwhelming bass with some nice mids and highs. It works well for music but it’s true strength lies in game audio, especially with its THX Spatial Audio. It may be virtual surround but it does a good job in separating audio, especially in FPS games so you can easily identify your surroundings. If I were to summarize it, it’s like the opposite of the Sony WH-1000XM4, where that one excels in audio outside of games.
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – Plush ear cushions
To my surprise, the battery life on this headphone is spectacular. Razer advertised it for about 40 hours per full charge but I actually managed to get about 45 to 46 hours with ANC enabled. You can definitely get more if you disable it but generally speaking, I would just leave it on unless you want to be more aware of what’s happening around you.
Looking for a lightweight gaming mouse? Check out our review of the Razer Viper V2 Pro by clicking right here.
The Bad
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – USB-C dongle
As good as the Razer Barracuda Pro sounds, it has its fair share of drawbacks. For starters, it doesn’t have a wired option, not by 3.5mm headphone jack and not by USB-C either. The USB-C port here is purely meant for charging so if the battery is dead, you’re out of luck.
Secondly, the USB-C dongle’s design poses some potential compatibility issues. It’s a bit too wide that it might end up blocking other ports depending on the device you’re using. Sure, it does come with a USB-C to USB-A adapter but it would be much better if they designed a more compact dongle instead.
Razer Barracuda Pro Review – Controls on the earcup
Lastly, while the Razer Barracuda Pro has Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the execution is rather poor. It can make music, movies, and game audio sound hollow or distorted. It does a decent job at cancelling external noise like your air conditioner or PC but if it comes at the cost of audio quality, then it’s a poor implementation. It’s passive noise isolation is great however, so you don’t have to feel too bad about disabling ANC.
Razer Barracuda Pro Verdict
Razer Barracuda Pro Review
The Razer Barracuda Pro is a good attempt at moving a gaming headset to cater to a more general lifestyle audience. However, it does have some rough edges that it needs to address before it can truly succeed in this area. I do have high hopes for its successors but for what it is, you might be better off with their other headsets given its hefty pricetag of RM1,399.
At the end of our Razer Barracuda Pro review, I award this headphone with our Bronze Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Razer Asia Pacific for sending us this headphones for the purpose of this review.
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ASUS Z490 motherboards start from RM849 in Malaysia

ASUS has just announced the pricing for their lineup of Intel Z490 motherboards. Available from RM849, the latest ASUS Z490 boards offer support for the 10th Gen Intel Core processors, and overclocking on the unlocked K-SKUs too.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Series
As the premium lineup for ASUS’ product stack, we are looking at an absolutely overkill set of features with the ROG Maximus XII Series. That includes up to 16 90A power stages and MicroFine Alloy chocks to deliver stable power to the 10th Gen Intel Core processors. ASUS also implemented ASUS OptiMem III and its daisy-chain topology to deliver higher memory clocks of 4800 MHz and above.
ASUS Malaysia will be bringing in the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme, ROG Maximus XII Formula and ROG Maximus XII Hero (WiFi).

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ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme
As the flagship of the ROG Maximus XII family, it comes with the aforementioned 16 90A power stages. All of that feeds the CPU cores, as there is no support for the integrated graphics on the ROG Maximus XII Extreme. There are also a slew of on-board buttons, allowing you to overclock on open benches without breaking a sweat.

For connectivity, you get a nice assortment of ports including a next-gen USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port that can deliver up to 20 Gbps of bandwidth. There is also a Marvell 10 GbE LAN controller along with an Intel Ethernet I225-V for 2.5 Gb Ethernet. The ROG Maximus XII Extreme will also be bundled with a ThunderboltEX 3-TR card to enable you to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3 devices. The ROG Maximus XII Extreme is priced at a whopping RM4379 here in Malaysia.
ROG Maximus XII Formula
For those who want to setup a custom liquid cooling system, well the ROG Maximus XII Formula is the board to get. It offers a CrossChill EK III waterblock over its VRM developed in partnership with EK Water Blocks. This allows the 16 70A power stages on the ROG Maximus XII Formula to be cooled a lot more effectively than on regular air-cooled designs.

Most of the overclocking features are similar to the ROG Maximus XII Extreme, and the connectivity options are similar too. You even get an OLED display on the  You don’t get the Thunderbolt 3 add-in card though, which might be a bummer for those who just prefer the sleeker aesthetic of the ROG Maximus XII Formula. The ROG Maximus XII Formula will be available for RM2529.
ROG Maximus XII Hero (WiFi)
The “baby” of the ROG Maximus XII family, the ROG Maximus XII Hero (WiFi) is the entry-level ROG board for this generation. Of course, an entry-level ROG board is equivalent to many premium boards from the competition, so don’t overlook this one just yet. Power delivery is courtesy of 14 +2 power stages, with the two going to the integrated graphics. Yes, the ROG Maximus XII Hero (WiFi) also stands out as the only ROG board to support the integrated graphics on the 10th Gen Intel Core processors.

Connectivity is pared back a little, with a 1GbE Intel I219-V controller paired with a Marvell AQC111C 5GbE controller. You still get WiFi 6 with an Intel WiFi 6 AX201, so I guess all is well? It is the most affordable ROG Maximus XII board thus far, priced at RM2089.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490 Series
Moving further down the stack we see the ROG Strix boards. We will be getting two models here as part of the first wave, with the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming and the ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming (WiFi).
          ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming            ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming WiFi
All the ROG Strix Z490 boards offer support for integrated graphics which will let you take advantage of the integrated graphics for some basic computing without a dedicated GPU or QuickSync. The ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming serving up 14+2 power delivery system, while the mATX ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming offering a 12+2 power stage design. The ROG Strix Z490 motherboards are priced as follows:

ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming – RM1876
ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming (WiFi) – RM1209

ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (WiFi)

Designed for endurance, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (WiFi) features 12+2 teamed power stages with DrMOS components, TUF capacitors and ProCool solid-core power connectors. The LAN port comes with TUF LanGuard too to protect it from surges damaging it over the LAN connection. You can also use WiFi with WiFi 6 built into the ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (WiFi). The ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (WiFi) is priced at a pretty affordable RM999.
ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G
The ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G is a creator’s dream motherboard, with additional connectivity features baked into the motherboard. Two Thunderbolt 3 Type-C are integrated into the rear I/O, powered by Intel’s latest “Titan Ridge” controller. Each port is capable of handling 40 Gbps speeds, which lets you connect all kinds of peripherals including external GPUs and high resolution displays.

Then there’s the LAN connectivity. One 2.5 GbE is integrated into the board, with a 10 GbE add-in card included with the ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G. Unfortunately WiFi 6 is not a part of this package. This creator-centric board will be offered for RM1742.
ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus

ASUS’ most affordable Intel Z490 board yet comes in at RM849. The ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus makes do with an 8+1 DrMOS power delivery system. But make no mistake, ASUS made sure that this is sufficient to power the latest 10th Gen Intel Core processors. Optimem trace allows you to push memory speeds up to 4400 MHz, letting you take full advantage of the improved memory speed support on the 10th Gen processors. The rear I/O offers DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI outputs, letting you connect almost any modern display directly to the motherboard.
ASUS Z490 Specs and Pricing in Malaysia

ROG Maximus XII Extreme
ROG Maximus XII Formula
ROG Maximus XII Hero (WiFi)
ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming
ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming (WiFi)
TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (WiFi)
ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus
ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G

Form Factor
EATX
ATX
ATX
ATX
mATX
ATX
mATX
ATX

VRMs
16+0 (90A)
16+0 (70A)
14+2 (60A)
14+2
12+2
12+2
8+1
12+2

RAM support
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4800
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4800
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4800
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4800
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4800
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4600
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4400
Up to 128GB DDR4, up to 4800

Storage
4 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
8 x SATA 6Gb/s
3 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
6 x SATA 6Gb/s
3 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
6 x SATA 6Gb/s
2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
6 x SATA 6Gb/s
2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
6 x SATA 6Gb/s
2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
6 x SATA 6Gb/s
2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
5 x SATA 6Gb/s
2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
6 x SATA 6Gb/s

Display output
No
No
HDMI 1.4b
DisplayPort 1.4
HDMI 1.4b
DisplayPort 1.4
HDMI 1.4b
DisplayPort 1.4
HDMI 1.4b
DisplayPort 1.4
HDMI 1.4b
DVI-D
DisplayPort 1.4
HDMI 1.4b

Networking
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Marvell AQtion AQC107 10GbE
Intel I225-V 2.5GbE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Marvell AQtion AQC107 10GbE
Intel I225-V 2.5GbE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Marvell AQtion AQC111C 5GbE
Intel I219-V 1GbE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Intel I225-V 2.5GbE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Intel I225-V 2.5GbE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Intel I219-V 1GbE
Intel I219-V 1GbE
Intel I225-V 2.5GbE
HYPER 10G LAN Card

Price
RM4379
RM2529
RM2089
RM1876
RM1209
RM999
RM849
RM1742

Which of these ASUS Z490 boards would be your pick? Let us know!
Pokdepinion: Wow is the ROG Maximus XII Extreme setting a new pricing record for motherboards in the mainstream Intel platform?
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Global Developer Service Alliance set to offer an alternative to Google’s Play Store

China’s big players in the smartphone industry are championing a new platform for app developers to publish their apps on. Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo are already on board, while HUAWEI is reportedly in talks to join the Global Developer Service Alliance (GDSA) too.
While most of the world uses the Play Store to download apps, Google isn’t available in China, and most smartphone brands offer their own app store. That’s where the GDSA comes in as it allows developers to distribute their apps via a single channel and reach out to more users. The GDSA has been in the works since late 2019, although none of the members has announced their participation.

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It’s worth noting that Xiaomi has revealed that the GDSA isn’t intended to compete against Google’s Play Store, and also denied HUAWEI’s involvement. There’s really no reason for the GDSA’s current members to pick a fight against Google, considering Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo all have full access to Google’s services.
However it would be reasonable to assume that HUAWEI would want to get in on the GDSA too considering they do have a strong presence in China. The developers would also be set to benefit from HUAWEI’s participation as they would have a larger pool of users who would actually use an alternative app store, with HUAWEI officially unable to tap into Google’s Play Store.

For now, most of the alternative app stores are relatively limited when compared to the mature Play Store Google has cultivated. Analysts predicts that while the GDSA isn’t going to directly compete against Google, it will be a strong bargaining chip when it has the capability to do so. What would they negotiate for remains to be seen, but it is good that we have choice.
The GDSA currently has a list of regions where Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo will tap into the GDSA. And so far, OPPO seems to be championing it by bringing the platform to Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, while all three members are targeting India and Indonesia.
On Android, there are quite a number of third-party app stores already, with APKPure, Aptoide and Uptodown among those I have used. Due to the fact that the Play Store is pre-installed, few of us, including myself, have explored other options. Perhaps with the GDSA we will have a reason to?
Pokdepinion: Color me interested…
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Denuvo not necessary for sales — 10 million copies of Witcher 3 sold

Many publishers have turned to Denuvo, a DRM technology that keeps games out of non-paying pirates. Hackers have been working on cracking Denuvo, with 3DM claiming to be near succeeding. However we have yet to see anyone actually succeeding and releasing new cracks for pirates to download. Well CD Projekt Red, the developer of the Witcher series, has shown that it is not necessary to use Denuvo or any form of anti-tamper technologies to make sure people buy your games.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has sold close to 10 million copies across all three gaming platforms, despite not having any copy protection. You could literally just copy it from someone who has the game and install it on your PC and play.  What’s even more interesting is that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt doesn’t have a multiplayer component, which means that you get the full experience even if you pirate it. According to the CEO of CD Projekt Red, Marcin Iwinski, most of the sales were on the PC, which meant that despite having the choice of pirating the game, gamers still decided to pay to get it.

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At infoShare 2016, Iwinski said that The Witcher 3 practically doubled the total sales of the Witcher series. The Witcher series has sold over 20 million copies, nearly half of which is from The Witcher 3.
So to all the game developers and publishers out there, please do focus on making a great game instead of thinking how to stop people from getting your games through piracy. A good game will get players to pay, irregardless.
Source: TweakTown

Pokdepinion: The Witcher 3 is a really awesome game. I didn’t pay for mine, but I got it at an ASUS ROG event I attended. I really enjoy the game, but to fully enjoy it, I need a much more powerful graphics card than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M in my Lenovo Y50.
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Get THREE Free Games When You Purchase A Radeon RX Vega, RX 580 Or RX 570 Graphics Card

It seems that AMD are hosting something special when you purchase one of their Radeon RX Vega, RX 580 or RX 570 graphics card. With each purchase, you’ll get a total of three upcoming games including Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for free.
Free Games With Purchase of AMD Graphics Card
First up is Star Control: Origins. Set in the year 2086, you are to join the galactic community and feel the thrill of ship-to-ship battle. The game will be available on September 20th 2018.
Joining it will be Ubisoft’s newest addition to the Assassin’s Creed family, Odyssey. Forge your destiny and define your own path in war-torn Ancient Greece as you live an epic adventure in the game. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be available on October 5th 2018.

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Last on the list is Strange Brigade. Available on the 28th of August, you are tasked in standing against an ancient forgotten evil power.
Note that this promotion is available worldwide, with the exceptions of China, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Sudan and Iran. For more details on the promo, you can checkout AMD’s official website here.
Pokdepinion: The games that are on offer are not bad. It’s not like they decided to put some cheap indie games in it.

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[CES2019] BioWare’s Anthem to Support NVIDIA RTX DLSS Technology

A brand new trailer for the upcoming BioWare game, Anthem, has been released. The CES 2019 trailer shows off a customized Javelin gear, enemies, and environments in beautiful 4K graphics.
Alongside the trailer, NVIDIA has announced during their CES 2019 keynote that Anthem will come with support for the RTX DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology. This will ultimately lead to improved visuals that NVIDIA GeForce RTX card owners will be able to enjoy thoroughly.
Check out the latest exclusive 4K Anthem gameplay revealed at our CES 2019 keynote! It features never-before seen Javelin, enemies, and environments. The team is happy to announce that DLSS is coming to Anthem thanks to the hard work of Bioware and NVIDIA.
Be ready for the PC launch on February 22nd, 2019! For a limited time you can receive a free copy of Anthem with the purchase of select GeForce RTX graphics cards, laptops and PCs as part of our new Game On bundle.
There will be an open demo for Anthem happening on all platforms starting 1st February 2019. There will also be a VIP demo happening earlier, from 25th January to 27th January 2019, which is only applicable to those who have pre-ordered the game, are an EA Access subscriber, or an Origin Access subscriber. Those who participate in the VIP demo will receive an exclusive VIP demo item.

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Anthem will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on 22nd February 2019, with Early Access starting on 15th February 2019.
Source: wccftech
Pokdepinion: I am excited about the game but still rather on the fence as I have a feeling it may be a disappointment. Well, only one way to find out.
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Valve is Developing 4 Unannounced Games According to Alleged Leak

Despite popular belief amongst gamers online, a recent datamined leak reveals that Valve is allegedly working on 4 unannounced games. Here’s what we know thus far.
Valve is Developing 4 Games in Secret?

According to dataminer Tyler McVicker in a recent YouTube video, some interesting details have allegedly surfaced on the game Citadel!, the squad-based FPS-RTS hybrid game.

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The game has a top-down view, typical of an RTS, where you can deploy squads known as Bots. Each group has different abilities and can be controlled individually or follow a single order based on the commander (which is you). If you switch over to any of the Bots, the game will then change its perspective, resulting in an FPS experience. The game is expected to have a single player campaign for gamers to enjoy.
Apart from that, there are some interesting hints in the recent free game that functions as a Steam Deck Tutorial, Aperture Desk Job. It allegedly points toward a sequel or expansion to Half-Life Alyx, a Source 2 port of CS:GO, and a recreation of a canceled Portal paint game.
Given the sheer amount of details on Citadel! within Aperture Desk Job data, it doesn’t seem to be a mere coincidence. There is a chance that Valve might have wanted people to discover it. For now, we will report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
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Pokdepinion: I can already see so many gamers online going crazy with speculations. Most likely, people are expecting the proper 3rd entry in a number of Valve franchises, including the likes of Portal, Half Life, and more.
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