Xiaomi Mi 9T Review — a terrific budget alternative to the already affordable Mi 9!

Introduction

I loved the Mi 9. It offered top-notch performance, a great camera setup, and it was also quite the looker. When Xiaomi announced the Mi 9T, I was honestly expecting it to be quite a bit pricier than the RM1199 starting price. It made the Mi 9 SE look quite obsolete with better specifications at a lower price, but is there more than what meets the eye? Did Xiaomi cut corners to give us better specifications on paper, or did Xiaomi pull off yet another amazing package offering extraordinary value?
Unboxing
When it comes to the packaging, the Mi 9T comes in a starkly less premium packaging than the Mi 9. I really fancied the shimmery Mi 9 box. But then again, the box is the least of my concerns when picking my next smartphone.

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The contents of the box is infinitely more important, and Xiaomi definitely nailed it. The case here is not like the TPU cases you get with most of Xiaomi’s lineup, but it is a hard case with a soft-touch finish, which is similar to the cases included with the Mi MIX series. Cool stuff. That does amp up the premium factor by quite a bit. Aside from that, you also get a QC 3.0 18W charger, which is what you get in the box even when you get Xiaomi’s flagships.
If you are looking for value, the included accessories that come with the Xiaomi Mi 9T is just downright awesome.
Appearance

The screen on the Xiaomi Mi 9T is beautiful. It’s one of the most affordable smartphones packing an AMOLED panel, and it is definitely the most affordable one to not sport a notch on the OLED panel.

On the back we are feted to even more beauty, with a psychedelic refractive finish that only lines the sides of the phone. The center portion is kept dark and mysterious. Our Glacier Blue sample looks amazing, and we are actually quite interested to see the other color options in action.

The side of the phone features a pretty interesting twist. The power button is finished in red. It really stands out in stark contrast to the rest of the blue Xiaomi Mi 9T. But then again, this whole phone’s design is meant to stand out. Over on the other side, we don’t find an AI button, which might just be a blessing in disguise. Also here we see that the camera hump is much less substantial than the one on the Xiaomi Mi 9, so those who are particular about scratches would be much more at ease with the Xiaomi Mi 9T.

The SIM tray is over on the bottom of the phone, along with the loudspeaker and USB-C port. The loudspeaker here will be the sole source of sound on the Xiaomi Mi 9T, because Xiaomi decided that stereo configurations aren’t worth their time.

Over on the top we find the long lost 3.5mm jack and the popup camera. The popup camera module also doubles as a notification light, as the thingamajig can glow. The Xiaomi Mi 9T does lose the IR blaster though, so you can’t control the TV at the mamak.

While I would have been much happier if the glow was white, which would probably mean it could serve as a softlight for better selfies. But it can’t. It glows in blue. It works as a notification light. And it is also very cool to see that thing extend and glow blue. But that’s about it. Xiaomi, please consider making your next popup camera module feature a built-in softlight. 10/10 innovation. If you have vacancies in your R&D team, you know who to call.
Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
Snapdragon 730 (2 x Kryo 470 Gold @ 2.2 GHz + 6 x Kryo 470 Silver @ 1.8 GHz), 8nm FinFET

GPU:
Adreno 618 @ 610 MHz

RAM:
6GB LPDDR4x

Display:
6.39″ FHD+ (2340 x 1080) AMOLED display, 103.8% NTSC, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Storage:
64GB UFS 2.1

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
48MP f/1.75 + 8MP f/2.4 2x telephoto + 13MP f/2.4 ultra wide-angle
Night Mode, Pro mode, Portrait Mode, 4K30 video, 1080p960 slow mo, AI Beautify, face recognition, 48MP HD, super macro
Front Camera
20MP f/2.2
AI Beautification, HDR, AI lens flare, AI make up, AI portrait mode, AI studio light, 1080p30 video

OS:
MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie

Connectivity:
LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28/38/40
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC

SIM:
Dual SIM

Battery:
Li-Po 4000 mAh (non-removable)
18W Quick Charge 3.0 support

Dimensions:
156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm

Weight:
191 g

Performance
This is the first time we have tested the performance of a Snapdragon 730, so we are quite excited to see how the Mi 9T fares as well.

The Antutu benchmark shows that the Snapdragon 730 is a real beast. It even tops the Kirin 970 which was HUAWEI’s flagship chipset for the first half of 2018.

On the CPU front, it offers quite a bit of grunt too. The Xiaomi Mi 9T comes out ahead of the Snapdragon 845-powered POCOPHONE F1 because of its impressive single-core performance. It does have two fewer big cores, which is why we see the multi-core performance fall back in line with the other mid-range chipsets in the market.

GPU performance is what separates a flagship chipset from the mid-range nowadays, and the Xiaomi Mi 9T is exactly at the line which separates the mid-range from the flagships.

The PCMark performance tests reveal an impressive amount of grunt under the hood too, although for some reason the Mediatek P70-packing OPPO F11 Pro comes out on top.

With a 4000 mAh battery, the Xiaomi Mi 9T comes up ahead of the other devices compared here. The 8nm process apparently makes quite the difference, especially since the other smartphones here were on 10nm or older processes.
In daily use, performance was as fluid as they come. The Snapdragon 730 holds up well to casual use, but gaming on it is still somewhat limited, with PUBG Mobile capped at Smooth-Ultra which is just 40 fps. Honkai Impact runs at around 55 fps on max settings, which means that the low FPS cap in PUBG Mobile was not because of the hardware.

Battery life in practical use was also pretty good, with 5 hours 47 minutes of on-screen time and close to two days away from the plug. It was pretty quick to recharge, with 38% of juice in just 30 minutes.
User Experience

The Xiaomi Mi 9T snuggles well into my palms. The thicker body helps it to feel a lot more secure in my hand than the Mi 9. I guess Meghan Trainor was on to something when she sang “Boys like a little more booty to hold at night” in All About That Bass. Thicker phones do feel better to hold. The screen here is just amazing especially at this price point, and the lack of any sort of notch or holes marring the beauty of it makes it just so much better.
Watching movies on the Xiaomi Mi 9T is great with the awesome display giving you the deep blacks you want, but you will want to make use of the 3.5mm headphone jack. The single speaker on the bottom is pretty good, with excellent loudness but definitely lacks bass.
The one grouse I have with the Xiaomi Mi 9T is that the in-display fingerprint scanner could be faster. However I do strongly believe it will be solved in future software updates, as the Xiaomi Mi 9 I use as my daily driver now unlocks as quickly as any smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. For now, it takes a second or two, and sometimes even longer if I had grubby thumbs or just didn’t place it optimally on the sensor.

MIUI 10 is one of the best Android skins out there in the market, so once again I am very happy with it. There are some curious decisions like where the options are located in the settings menu and what not, but overall it is quite well designed. Those who still prefer an app drawer would have to download a third party launcher, but otherwise it is perfect for all purposes.

Moving on, let’s take a look at the camera. The rear camera setup is pretty similar to the Mi 9 SE, and it is one that matches flagships on paper, at least. You get three cameras, a 13MP ultra-wide one, a wide-angle 48MP one and a 8MP 2x telephoto one. Sounds pretty good?
          Ultra-wide angle (indoors)            Selfie!            Primary camera              Ultra-wide angle            2x Telephoto            Primary camera            48MP Mode            Ultra-wide angle              2x Telephoto            Ultra-wide angle              2x Telephoto            Ultra-wide angle              Ultra-wide angle (Low light)            Primary camera (Night Mode)          Ultra-wide angle (Low light)              Primary camera (Night Mode)
The image quality out of the Mi 9T is just as good as the Mi 9’s, especially from the main camera. The ultra-wide doesn’t have autofocus, but it works great for the main purpose of an ultra-wide lens: awesome landscapes. Xiaomi also gives you the ability to reduce the distortion of the wide-angle shots, making them look a lot more natural especially if you have human subjects in the shot. The telephoto camera is OK, and at times the colors actually look better than the Mi 9’s 12MP zoom. There is no need to talk more about the 48MP camera’s low light performance. It’s just awesome. The zoom and wide-angle, not so much. You can take a look at the high-res samples here.
Conclusion
For RM1199, the Xiaomi Mi 9T is a great phone for all purposes, particularly if you want a smartphone with a good camera. It is also one of the best smartphones overall in this price range, unless you want to consider the Mi MIX 2S or POCOPHONE F1, both of which offer a more impressive Snapdragon 845, but a less impressive camera setup.
Now, to answer the question we posed in the beginning. Xiaomi didn’t really cut that many corners as far as I can see. The auxiliary cameras aren’t all that great, but most of the competition at this price range only offer depth sensors to make up their “dual camera” setups. The large battery is welcome, and the headphone jack is an old friend we will always love to see. I wholeheartedly recommend the Xiaomi Mi 9T if you are in the market for a mid-range device.
Our thanks to Xiaomi Malaysia for providing us the Xiaomi Mi 9T for our review purposes. You can also check out the Xiaomi Mi 9T which is featured in Lazada Mid-Year Festival sales!
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LazMall Super Brand Day 2021 Sees Exclusive Deals On Samsung Products

On September 23rd, Samsung and Lazada will collaborate for the fourth edition of LazMall Super Brand Day, a one-day-only shopping event.
Take advantage of promos on Samsung products during LazMall Super Brand Day 2021

Consumers can purchase their favourite Samsung products with significant discounts on LazMall’s Samsung Official Store and Samsung Authorized Partners’ stores for one day only. They can also engage in activities on Samsung’s social media platforms. Customers will be rewarded with discounts on a variety of Samsung smartphones, wearables, TVs, and digital appliances, including the Samsung Galaxy M32, which is only available on Lazada.

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The Samsung Galaxy M32 was launched early last month and has a 64-megapixel quad-camera for capturing everyday moments, as well as a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display and a 5,000mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy M32 will be sold for RM849 (retail price RM1,099) on LazMall during the LazMall Super Brand Day, exclusive to the Samsung official Lazada Store.
Below are some of the highlights consumers can expect this September 23rd:

Exciting deals and promotions
– Flash Sale up to RM1,900 off from 12AM-2AM
– Flash Voucher RM20 off from 12AM-2AM
– Samsung Galaxy M02 at only RM299 (retail price RM399)
– Samsung Galaxy A12 at only RM619 (retail price RM799)
– Samsung Galaxy Z Flip at RM2399 (retail price RM3999)
– 50-inch AU7000 4K UHD Smart TV (2021) at RM2459 (retail price RM2999)
– 55-inch AU7000 4K UHD Smart TV (2021) at RM2869 (retail price RM3499)
– 32-inch Smart Monitor – M7 Black with free keyboard
Up to RM200 off for Citibank credit card holders
Samsung x LazMall Super Brand Day Social Contest

For more information, visit the Samsung Official Store on LazMall.
Pokdepinion: The Samsung Galaxy M32 looks like a pretty decent smartphone especially with that price. Also, the Z Flip really cheap now! How I wish I can afford that right now…
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HONOR V40 Could Come With Google Mobile Services At Launch

New reports are suggesting that the upcoming HONOR V40 will arrive with Google Mobile Services out of the box – the first HONOR device to since the HUAWEI ban in 2019. Many have speculated that Google services would make a return to HONOR phones after its sale by HUAWEI last year and the HONOR V40 might just be that device.
GMS coming back to HONOR V40?
Image credit: Weibo
The HONOR V40 was expected to be announced on 18 January but has since been delayed to 22 January. HONOR explained that issues in regards to venue scheduling and equipment were the cause for the delay. There is, however, speculation that the actual reason HONOR delayed the launch of the V40 is so that they could package the devices with Google Mobile Services out of the box.
There is no official spec sheet for the V40 as of yet but according to leaks, the upcoming HONOR device will feature a MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC, a 6.72-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 8GB LPDDR4x memory and up to 256GB of UFS 2.1 storage.

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In terms of its cameras, the V40 is said to sport a primary camera with either a 50MP RYYB Sony IMX766 sensor or a 64MP sensor, 8MP ultra-wide angle camera, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor.
The HONOR V40 is set to be announced in China on 22 January and will be renamed as the HONOR V40 View when it releases in the Western markets not long after.
Source
Pokdepinion: Personally, I’ll be glad if the HONOR V40 does indeed see Google Mobile Services make a return. HONOR phones have been pretty great in my book and seeing Google back might see hit the heights they once did.
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Mozilla Firefox Future Update Set to Prevent Cryptojacking Scripts

Cryptocurrencies have been the craze for the past few years, and despite the falling value of most cryptocurrencies, it still has a thriving community of enthusiasts. It’s not exactly easy to mine them and we’ve seen people try to mine using other PCs through cryptojacking. If you’re ever worried that someone is doing that, or has already done that on your PC, then this would be something to look forward to.
The Nightly and Beta builds of Mozilla Firefox will have have the ability to block cryptojacking scripts. The new blocking system includes the likes of CoinHive and about twenty other cryptojacking scripts. Mozilla has also given users the option to turn the feature on or off.

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To enable the new feature, users can do so by simply heading to preferences and click on the “Privacy and Security” tab. The feature will be listed under the “Content Blocking” setting. The feature is to be turned on by default within Nightly in the near future.
Keep in mind that this is still in development so it may not work exactly as intended just yet. In fact, the feature may end up blacklisting certain websites accidentally, as mentioned by Mozilla themselves. If users are to experience any issues using the feature, they are advised to report the problem by clicking on the “Tracking Protection” shield within the browser itself.
Aside from that, Mozilla Firefox also includes prevention measures for fingerprinting scripts. For those of you who aren’t aware, fingerprinting scripts harvest snapshots of computer configurations that can be used to track a users internet usage.  The company stated, “In collaboration with Disconnect, we have compiled lists of domains that serve fingerprinting and cryptomining scripts.”
It will be a while before we got to see this in public builds of Mozilla Firefox, but it’s good to know that they are taking measures to protect users.
Pokdepinion: If you’re ever worried, or have been a victim of cryptojacking, just wait for this update for that added peace of mind.
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ASUS ROG STRIX G G531 and Zephyrus S GX502 to Have Glacier Blue Variant

If you’ve been looking for a gaming laptop to call your own but have been putting it off as you want that added bit of aesthetic appeal, then this might be something for you. ASUS Malaysia will be introducing a new Glacier Blue colour option for the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX502 and STRIX G G531 gaming laptops.
The Glacier Blue colour is said to have been inspired by science fiction. It is said that the brighter appearance helps mask fingerprint and blemishes while also blending in with more mainstream and professional laptops. If you’re wondering about the two gaming laptops with this new Glacier Blue colour options, we’ve listed the specifications right below here:
ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX502 Glacier Blue variant
ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX502 Specifications

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

RAM
16GB 2666MHz DDR4 (Onboard)

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6

Storage
512GB NVMe PCIe SSD

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 X 1080) 240Hz Anti-Glare IPS display with G-Sync (3ms response, 100% sRGB)

Keyboard
Chiclet Keyboard with NKRO, Per-Key RGB and Aura Sync

Connectivity
Wireless:
802.11ac (2×2) Wave 2 Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
I/O:
2 x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 2
1 x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 1
1 x Type-C Gen 2 with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery
1 x Kensington Lock
1 x HDMI 2.0b
1 x RJ45 LAN
1 x SD card reader
1 x Proprietary Charging Port

Audio
2 x Speakers with Smart AMP technology
1 x Audio Jack
1 x Mic Jack
Array Microphones

Power
76 WHrs, 4-cell Li-Ion Battery, 230W Power Adapter
Supports Type-C PD up to 65W

Dimensions
360 x 252 x 18.9 mm (W x D x H)

Weight
2kg

ASUS ROG STRIX G G531 Specifications

CPU
Intel Core i5-9300H (8C / 16T @ up to 5 GHz), 16M Cache, 45W TDP, 14nm

RAM
4GB 2666MHz DDR4

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5

Storage
512GB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 X 1080) 120Hz Anti-Glare IPS display (25ms response)

Keyboard
Chiclet Keyboard with NKRO, All-Zone RGB keyboard with Aura Sync

Connectivity
Wireless:
802.11ac (2×2) Wave 2 Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
I/O:
3 x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 1
1 x Type-C Gen 2 with DisplayPort 1.4
1 x Kensington Lock
1 x HDMI 2.0b
1 x RJ45 LAN
1 x Proprietary Charging Port

Audio
2 x 4W Speakers with Smart AMP technology
1 x Audio Jack
1 x Mic Jack
Array Microphones

Power
66 WHrs, 4-cell Li-Ion Battery, 230W Power Adapter

Dimensions
360 x 275 x 26 mm (W x D x H)

Weight
2.395kg

The Glacier Blue ASUS ROG Zephyrus S will be retailing for RM8,899 with a 2-year warranty period, and will come with an ROG Backpack and ROG STRIX Impact gaming mouse as free gifts. As for the Classic Black variant, it retails at a lower RM8,699.
As for the Glacier Blue ASUS ROG STRIX G G531, it will be retailing for RM3,899 with a 2-year warranty period, and will come with an ROG Backpack as a free gift. Meanwhile, the Classic Black version starts from a price of RM3,499.
Both gaming laptops will be available in Malaysia starting end of August 2019.
Pokdepinion: Anything with the colour blue will be a huge thumbs up for me.
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[WWDC 2021] Apple is Improving AirPods for Easier Communications

AirPods has always been a popular audio gadget, given how ubiquitous it is to the iPhone. As such, Apple is looking to improve the user experience by boosting its communication capabilities.
[WWDC 2021] Improved AirPods for Easier Communications

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At the WWDC 2021 keynote, Apple has officially announced that the AirPods will be getting some notable improvements together with iOS 15. With the Conversation Boost feature, they will isolate the voice of the person and minimize ambient noise so you can hear people talk clearer and louder. It’s designed for people who have a hard time hearing other people when talking.
Apart from that, Apple is adding the ability to read out more notifications for the AirPods. Previously, they can be used used to read out texts and other messages but now, they have expanded the functionality. As mentioned during the announcement for other parts of the keynote speech, it will support spatial audio for FaceTime, Mac, and Apple TV.

Given the number of people who have misplaced their AirPods, Apple has improved the “Find My” abilities. It now has a proximity view similar to the AirTags to let you know how far you are from it. In case people may have accidentally left it behind, there will be an alert sent to you when you’re past a certain distance.
Pokdepinion: Any functional improvement is a great addition for me. Though it’s a little weird for me since that means the hardware was capable of it to begin with.
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New UI design for Windows 10 build 9901

The new leaked UI design for the upcoming Windows 10 is really nice to be honest. We could say that this is the most refined UI design ever released by the Microsoft team.

Small updates, as we can see through the modern looking close, minimize and max button.

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Not just that, hamburger button is also available.

But the most major change for the UI that we can clearly see is the borderless window, former Windows 7 user who love to use custom borderless theme might want to pay attention to the new Windows 10 UI.

No transparent taskbar and header bars, now it has a more modern look with darker color.

Source : neowin.net
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Acer unveils the Aspire R 11

Acer Malaysia just recently announced the latest addition to their line-up of convertible computers, the Acer Aspire R 11, on the 6th of August. The Acer Aspire R 11 is a 11.6″ mobile PC that has a unique 360-degree dual torque hinge allowing it to be used comfortable in various configurations according to the user’s needs. It’s also the very first device to come pre-installed with Windows 10 in Malaysia.

Jeffrey Lai, Product Manager of Mobile Notebook and Smart Handheld at Acer was proud to share with us Acer’s attention to details to design and engineer the Aspire R 11, chiefly the engineering put into designing the dual-torque hinge, allowing the user to use the touchscreen without the screen wobbling like on most other touchscreen laptops, and also offers smooth movement when opening the laptop.
Models with the Acer Aspire R 11
The models were able to model the laptops effortlessly, as the laptops only weigh a meagre 1.5 kg. Besides the light weight, the compact dimensions also makes it a lot easier to carry and use, not only for the models but also for users as well. :P

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Dancers with the Acer Aspire R11
To highlight the versatility and flexibility of the Acer Aspire R 11, Acer actually conveyed the message through a breakdance performance. The Acer Aspire R 11 can be used in 4 modes, display, tablet, laptop and tent mode. The 4 modes allow the user to make use of the 11.6″ 1366 x 768 touchscreen whichever way they prefer.

The other specifications of the Acer Aspire R 11 include a Intel Pentium N3700, 4GB DDR3L RAM, 500GB hard disk, Zero Air Gap display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and Acer TrueHarmony.

Besides the Acer Aspire R 11, Acer Malaysia also showcased the rest of their line-up, which includes some compact desktops, a curved monitor and the various laptops and tablets in their range of products.
The Acer Aspire R 11 will be available in all Acer Authorized Resellers nationwide at RM1499. Customers also stand a chance to win a Mazda 3 through their on-going Why Not Win a Mazda3 contest, along with other attractive prizes.

Pokdepinion: I believe the Pentium N3700 is a little underpowered, and the usage of a HDD is not really suitable for on-the-go applications since HDDs are prone to shock damage. Acer should have used an SSD for a device built for mobility, but given the pricing, certain corners had to be cut.
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Canon nurtures young photographers on National Camera Day

Canon treated children from three orphanage homes to a hands-on photography experience last National Camera Day, which falls on 29th June every year. The 38 children were each provided with a unit of Canon EOS mirrorless cameras to put their photography skills to the test.
They were first taught the fundamentals of photography by the Canon EOS Youth Ambassadors beforehand. They were then given the opportunity to go around KL Performing Arts Center (KLPAC) and capture scenic or portrait-themed photos. The teams with the top 3 most creative and inspiring photos took home prizes.

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The participants praised the Canon mirrorless cameras’ ease of use:
“I wasn’t sure how to use the camera at first, but the ‘Abang’ taught us how to use them. He took a few shots and showed us how a good photo looks like. Today’s programme is fun, I
wish it could be longer!” said Imran, one of the participants. When asked about his winning shot, he said “I am happy that I manage to get a good photo of my friends, especially when they are laughing. I know it’s a good photo and it took me only 2 clicks!”
Canon believes that the love of photography should be embraced by everyone, and also wants to make photo taking and storytelling easier for anyone armed with a Canon camera.
Pokdepinion: That’s pretty sweet of Canon!
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Malaysians Have Been Changing Telcos Since 2020 — U Mobile Sees Major Drop In Users

It’s undeniable that telcos have been an essential part of our life since the pandemic began. Well the folks at Opensignal has shed some light on how and why Malaysians are changing their mobile operators since then.
Malaysia’s trend of telco change in 2020

The company has said that users who changed their mobile operator on average had a worse mobile experience before they switched compared to the typical experience on their original network.

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Seeing the chart, it seems that Celcom and Maxis have seen the biggest rise out of all the telcos in the country. On the other hand, U Mobile seems to be losing a significant number of users.
While telcos in the country have offered free/cheaper data packages, Opensignal claims that the quality experience (of each telco) is the differentiating factor for consumers.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Seeing the chart, I’m not surprised that U Mobile is losing their users. I’ve heard complaints about their network quality and even one of my colleague is looking to port to another telco.
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HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review — Enduring Battery With ANC

It’s been some time since we took a look at HONOR’s products. This time around, we are checking out their latest earbuds in this HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite review. What’s it all about? Let’s get started.
Unboxing
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Unboxing
From the box, you can expect the following items:

Charging case (earbuds inside)
Extra ear tips (S and L)
Documentation
Warranty
USB Type-C cable

Appearance
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Charging case
We’ve got our hands on the Glacier White version of the HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite as you can see here. It’s made out of plastic and comes with a glossy finish. On the front, you can see the HONOR branding accompanied by an LED indicator just above it.

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HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Function Button
At the right of the case is where you’ll find the Function button. You can simply hold it down for two seconds for it to go to Pairing Mode (white LED blink) and connect the earbuds with your device.
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Charging port
Down below is where you’ll find the USB-C port to juice up the charging case.
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Earbuds
The earbuds come in an in-ear design and the ear tips are exchangeable with the ones that they’ve provided. If these don’t fit you well, give the spares a try.
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Specifications

Drivers
10mm dynamic drivers

Frequency Response
20 Hz – 20,000 Hz

Sensitivity:
N/A

Impedance:
N/A

Headphone Type
True wireless, in-ear

Connection
Bluetooth 5.2

Wireless Range
10m

Noise-cancelling
ANC available

Battery
Earphones
Up to 10 hours playback
Charging Case
3x Full Charge (Up to 32 hours total)

Weight
Earphones
5.5g x 2
Charging Case
41g (without earpieces)

Colour
Glacier White

User Experience
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – User Experience
Let’s begin and talk about the comfort first. Time and time again, I’ve stated on my view about glossy finishes and how I simply don’t like them. That is the case right here with both earbuds and charging case. Yes, they may look nice on the eyes but I find it annoying when I see fingerprints or stains on them, especially coming from a person that has sweaty hands.
When it comes to putting the earbuds on, the default ear tip feels a bit big in my ears and I find it uncomfortable after a couple of hours listening with it. You could however negate that with the extra ear tips that they’ve provided in the box. Find the right size for you and you should have a better experience.
The design in itself isn’t something unique but one good thing that it has is an AirPod-esque approach so you can easily pull it out from your ears without accidentally entering a touch command to it, which happens to me sometimes while using TWS earbuds in general.
Pairing is pretty straightforward and similar to most earbuds that I’ve tested. You can simply pull them out for it to enter Pairing mode or press the Function button to do it manually.
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Sound
To be frank with you, I wasn’t expecting much in terms of sound quality from the earbuds. However, they did surprise me on how good they sound. You might have noticed in my previous reviews on audio products that I simply do not enjoy overly-powered bass and this fits well with me.
I find that the EQ preset is well balanced where clarity is there and the bass is at an adequate level. There is a noticeable delay when I played mobile games with them but that is to be expected. You’d be better off with wired options if you’re looking to use for your games competitively.
Aside from that, call audio quality is good if you’re listening with it. Testing it with a friend of mine, I had no issues in hearing the conversation but it wasn’t really clear for my friend to hear what I was saying as it gets rather noisy.
The Active Noise Cancelling is pretty good. While the noise isolation is good enough on its own, the ANC does it’s job fairly well. Unfortunately we can’t travel now with the lockdown situation to test it out for situations like on the train, but they definitely performed as well as they should.
Heading to the touch controls, the earbuds’ preset setting is basic: Play/pause music (2x tap either side) and switching noise cancellation mode (hold the earbuds). You can customize it by downloading the HUAWEI AI Life app but I wished that they could’ve added the usual settings such as skip, rewind, and volume control by default.
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Battery
HONOR advertised that the earbuds can last up to 10 hours (with ANC off) and up to 32 hours with the charging case. From my own experience of using it, they lasted nearly as long as they’ve claimed. Of course, this is down to usage such as volume setting and whether noise cancelling is turned on or off but in the end, I wasn’t disappointed. It is definitely long enough to last through the day.
HONOR Earbuds Lite 2 Verdict
HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite Review – Verdict
While there are quite a number of things that I wasn’t too satisfied with the earbuds as mentioned earlier, I still find the overall sound quality and long-lasting battery life to warrant it at least an award. At the end of the day, if you’re looking for audio products, audio should be the top priority.
I kind of wished HONOR would’ve put the price tag a little bit lower instead of the RM299 price that they settled on. If you find a discount or deal for it, I believe it’d be more worth it. With all things said, I award the HONOR Earbuds Lite 2 our Bronze Pokdeward.

Our thanks to HONOR Malaysia for providing the HONOR Earbuds Lite 2 that was used in this review.
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Massive Twitch Hack Sees Source Code And User Payout Information Leaked On 4chan

Seems like Twitch has just experienced a massive breach when an anonymous hacker leaked over 128GB worth of data on 4chan. The leak included a torrent file to what the hacker claims to be the live-streaming service’s source code as well as details pertaining to the payout amount of many high-profile creators including Shroud and Tyler1. The hacker claims that the purpose for the leak was to “foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space” because “their community is a disgusting toxic cesspool”.
Twitch suffers data breach

Video Games Chronicle confirms that the data leak on 4chan is indeed legitimate. It is also believed that the data leak is quite recent as the hacker is said to have obtained the data from as recent as last Monday. The leak reportedly includes:

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The source code for the entirety of Twitch including comment history “going back to its early beginnings”
Payout information for creators dating back since 2019
Information on the mobile, desktop and console Twitch clients
Information on the proprietary SDKs and internal AWS services used by the live streaming platform
Information on an unreleased Steam competitor developed by Amazon Game Studios codenamed Vapor
Internal tools used by the Twitch internal team for security
Information on “every other property owned by Twitch” including IGDB and CurseForge

Video Games Chronicle also says that Twitch is indeed aware of the leaked data on 4chan. However, the live streaming service has yet to make any formal announcements (at the time of writing) to the public in regards to the subject. The hacker also claims that this leak is just “Part One” of his plans of data leaks. He claims to have more information on hand but he did not reveal what sort of information he intends on leaking.
We highly recommend that all our users who are on Twitch to immediately turn on their two-factor authentication as soon as possible if you have not done so already.
Source
Pokdepinion: My God this is absolutely scary. So far I don’t see any user information included in the leak but who’s to say that won’t be revealed by the hacker in “Part Two” of his plan?
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CES 2020: Razer Introduces The Razer Kishi Universal Mobile Controller And The Compact Razer Tomahawk Gaming Desktop

Razer also joined in on the fun at this year’s CES 2020 where they’ve unveiled a couple of their new products, catered for both mobile and PC gamers.
Razer Kishi
When it comes to mobile gaming controllers, Razer isn’t new to the game. Now they’ve unveiled their latest addition, the Razer Kishi. Built for both Android and iOS, the Razer Kishi provides clickable analog controls and thumbsticks on both sides of the controller.
They claim that the Razer Kishi offers ultra-low latency as well as cloud game control, thanks to a hidden USB-C or Apple Lightning connection that allows for device charging during gameplay.

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The Razer Kishi mobile controller is set to be out in early 2020.
Razer Sila 5G
They’ve also introduced the Razer Sila 5G Home ORouter, a high-speed networking device tailored for those who want ultra-low latency for both stationary and mobile gameplay that features Razer’s FasTrack engine.
It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery so that you can take it on the road, should you need to. They claim that you can game online with no interruptions with its Gaming Mode.
In addition to that, you can choose between the hardware that you prefer, meaning that you can prioritize the network on your PC than your console, or vice versa. A manual indicator is available to notify you should the priority of connection has changed.
The router can be controlled through app from both Android and iOS where it also allows you to quickly adjust the settings of guest networks, set security protocols, and adjust the device priorities.
Razer Tomahawk N1 Gaming Desktop
Next on the list is the compact Razer Tomahawk N1 Gaming Desktop. In partnership with Intel, Razer has come up with the first truly modular desktop system, which of course comes with the compact Razer Tomahawk N1 chassis.
Its all-aluminum body is covered by tempered glass on both sides where they highlight the vertically mounted graphics card.
Breakdown of the Razer Tomahawk N1 Gaming Desktop
As for the specifications, the Razer Tomahawk N1 Gaming Desktop features up to an Intel Core i-9 processor, 64GB DDR4 RAM, as well as an RTX 2080 SUPER graphics.
You can choose to upgrade both the RAM and SSD modules on the NUC card, along with the fans, GPU, and NUC itself.
The Razer Tomahawk N1 Gaming Desktop will be available in the first half of 2020, where the Tomahawk N1 case will also be available as a standalone product for those looking to built their own compact PC.
Razer Eracing Simulator concept
Last but not least, Razer has brought in the concept for their Razer Eracing Simulator. Razer brought together some of the biggest names in sim racing to offer a demo of the future of eracing.
The center core sits on a motion platform which is powered by two actuators and a gaming control box for a professional racing training setup that maps terrain surfaces, G-force, and sound into motion for a complete immersive experience.
Coming with real surround sound provided by Simpit, there two Full-HD projectors beaming onto a 128″ custom black projection surface.
As for the materials, the sterring wheel is made out of carbon fiber that’s sheathed in smooth leather. It also comes with magnetic paddles, and adjustable buttons for gear shifting, and you know what that means, it comes with a three-pedal system down below.
Pokdepinion: Realistically, I can only see the Razer Kishi and the Razer Tomahawk N1 the only ones to come to Malaysia. Hopefully they do. It’d be interesting to see how they are like.
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GIGABYTE Introduces New RTX 4070 GPUs In Five Variants

All models feature triple-fan designs.

GIGABYTE formally announces the availability of five new RTX 4070 models, including AORUS MASTER, AERO OC, GAMING OC, EAGLE OC and WINDFORCE OC model. These cards are eligible for 4 years of warranty – higher than industry-standard 3 years.

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Leading the pack is the AORUS MASTER model with 2595MHz boost clock, a solid +120MHz over stock. This is also the largest card of the bunch, measuring at 342mm and requires 12VHPWR connector for power; it remains the sole model to come with anti-sag GPU bracket in box. Down the line comes two visually different but functionally and dimensionally (both 300mm) identical pair of AERO OC and GAMING OC models – both are overclocked to 2565MHz and require 12VHPWR connection as well.
The remaining two models are the standard variants that do not require the use of 12VHPWR connector – instead, in its place is the venerable PCIe 8-pin connector. The second-lowest of the stack, EAGLE OC, features 2505MHz boost clock (with a small +40MHz over stock) and is identical in size to the entry-level model, WINDFORCE OC. The bottom of the five still gets a minor clockspeed bump, with a modest +15MHz over stock 2475MHz per NVIDIA’s specs.
The pricing for the new models are as follows:
GV-N4070AORUS M-12GD – RM3,549
GV-N4070AERO OC-12GD – RM3,439
GV-N4070GAMING OC-12GD – RM3,349
G V-N4070EAGLE OC-12GD – RM3,229
GV-N4070WF3OC-12GD – RM3,039
Pokdepinion: Oddly enough there’s no dual-fan versions given this silicon should be pretty easy for those to handle.
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Top 10 Mask Designs Announced For The Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition

Kingston has announced the Top 10 mask designs of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition. The competition is a collaboration between Kingston CSD, a leading brand of face masks, was announced back in November last year and is centred around the theme of ‘There’s Strength in Memory’. The Top 10 designs were chosen from over 3,100 entries across all APAC regions. Two Malaysian designs, Monster Nation by Yman.S and Love Memories Forever by Lilo Jong were among the Top 10 designs.
Malaysians listed in the Top 10 of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition

The contestants consisted of APAC’s top artists and designers from various fields. ranging from product, textile, visual and multi-media designers, to illustrators, art students and professors. The design entries reflected the designers’ memories, concepts regarding people’s interaction, compelling and memorable life events and reflections on 2020. Lilo Jong from Malaysia portrayed the strong bond she has with her family, while Wu Bo Yi from Taiwan found inspiration from a childhood snack; Tsuyoshi Artman, from Japan, depicted the beauty of nature to highlight the act of breathing.

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Among the Top 10 designs of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition, 5 designs each were judged based on two different criteria; the “3-Colors” group emphasised on creative patterns consisting of only three colours, whereas the “Unlimited Colors” group stressed on how well contestants play with their colours.

The two Malaysian designers shared their thoughts on being listed among the Top 10 of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition. Yman.S, a Senior Packaging Designer from Malaysia, said “Kingston and CSD have come-up with one of the best platforms for the artists to delve deeper into their memories and create something unique out of it. Through my artwork, I have paid a homage to the people’s fighting spirit and hence have turned the scary monsters we all dread in our childhood memories, which now also represent the day-to-day hardships we face, into cute little monsters. I want to incite the spirit of positivity through my design.”
Lilo Jong, a multi-media designer said “I have always yearned to create an artwork which is intertwined to my precious memories. This opportunity enabled me to bring alive my deep-rooted emotions. My artwork depicted the inevitable feeling I have when missing my family, and I have used each storage device from different periods to represent my family members. I look forward to the support of the design aficionados of Malaysia and hope that I reunite with my family members, just like in my artwork in the near future.”
You can now vote for your favourite designs and determine who will be the winner of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition here. Online voting starts 27 January 2021 and will end on 7 February 2021. Winner will be announced online at a later date.

Not only that, Kingston is also doing a giveaway where one lucky viewer will get a chance to win an exclusive Memory Box with facemasks of the top 10 designs. All you have to do is comment and share the top 10 finalist’s video here and other related social posts on Kingston’s social channels for a chance to win.
Pokdepinion: Great to see Malaysian designs feature in the Top 10 finalists of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition. Make Malaysia proud guys!
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ASRock B450M Steel Legend Review — affordable yet premium, if that makes any sense

AMD Ryzen 3000 series has become the new mainstream processor  and proven itself to be relevant to gamers, professional users and content creators alike. As we are always searching for products that offer the best bang for buck, we constantly ask ourselves what is the absolute minimum we can spend without sacrificing on the quality of the components. Among all the available boards in the market, we were genuinely impressed by what the ASRock B450M Steel Legend has to offer, and we just had to get our hands on one.
In the Box

ASRock is very generous so far and more of the same can be said about its accessories. Other than the usual IO shield, 2 SATA cables and 1 M.2 screw were provided. There are also 2 manual books with 1 of them as thick as a paperback novel. There’s the inclusion of a CD with drivers and utility software too, which we do think is somewhat unnecessary but it does work as a backup plan in case you have no internet.

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Appearance

Off the bat, we were greeted with a camo pattern. Here’s a fun fact: this camo design is similar to the MARPAT winter digital camo with ASRock’s twist. Be careful as if you drop this board in a snowy environment, you’re going to lose it. Jokes aside, the ASRock B450M Steel Legend is quite a unique looking board with a lot of features available only in more premium offerings.

First thing you will see (aside from the very obvious camo pattern) are the three blocks of aluminium which are the heatsinks for the VRMs and also the B450 chipset. This is followed by the two M.2 slots, four RAM slots (a welcoming sight for this price range), two RGB header and one ARGB header, an extra RGB header labeled AMD Fan LED Header, a bunch of fan headers, and finally a reinforced PCI-E slot.

The primary PCI-E 3.0 slot runs at full X16 speed. ASRock has fitted the slot with their Steel Slot reinforcement, strengthening it physically while also discouraging signal interference. The secondary slot is a PCI-E 2.0 X16 slot running at x4 speed. The two PCI Express slots support CrossFire but it is hard for us to recommend using it nowadays as it since the 5700 series AMD has dropped the support for CrossFire. Above the main PCI Express slot is a PCI-E X1 slot, perfect for stuff like NICs, WiFi adapters, sound cards or other expansion.

For internal I/O, other than your usual front panel headers, there’s also one front USB 3.0 header, two USB 2.0 headers, and four SATA 3 (6 Gbps) connectors. One thing that also stands out from the board is the generous amount of fan headers, especially if you consider its size. There are a total of five fan headers here: one CPU fan header, one water pump/AIO fan header, and finally three case fan headers.

We have a total of four RAM slots here and they, as you might expect, support dual-channel configurations. As usual, depending on which generation of Ryzen you’re using with this board, the max supported speed varies but ASRock claims the ASRock B450M Steel Legend supports up to DDR4-3533+ when running with Zen 2 CPUs. As we are using a Ryzen 3200G for this review here, we ran our RAM at the maximum supported speed of 2933 MHz, even though the RAM is rated for 3200 MHz.

At the back of the motherboard, there is nothing much to see except a lone IC chip. The chip is a PI3EQX1004B1, a 2-port USB 3.1 linear ReDriver™. Designed to handle the 10Gbps bandwidth over the USB 3.1 protocol, this chip is likely used to drive the 2 USB 3.1 port at the back IO.
Rear I/O

We have quite a good spread of I/O here, with a total of seven full-size USB ports here with most of them being USB 3.0 ports, along with two USB 2.0 ports, and a lone USB 3.1 ports. There’s an interesting addition of USB Type-C here, with it supporting the USB 3.1 protocol allowing for 10 Gbps transfer speeds. There’s also a HDMI port and a DisplayPort here, perfect for those who decided to use the IGP. In addition to that, there’s also a Combo PS2 port for the ol’ school peeps, 7.1-channel audio with gold-plated ports, and also a Toslink audio jack.
VRM

The B450M Steel Legend utilizes a 4+2 Power phase design. The PWM controller is an uPI uP9505P, with Sinopower SM4337 on the high-side, with Sinopower SM4336 as the low-side. This VRM design is far from high-end but it should handle most, if not all, Ryzen CPUs at stock configuration just fine.

I would generally avoid too much overclocking with this motherboard although you might be able to have some fun with it if you allow for sufficient airflow around the VRMs and stick to lower-end CPUs like the 6-core or APUs.
Audio

The audio on this board is powered by a Realtek ALC892 7.1 channel audio codec. It sits on separated PCB layers, with further isolation done by separating the left and right channels on different PCB. It also features Nichicon “Fine Gold Series” audio caps.

Nichicon is known to produce good quality capacitor, and the one featured on the board is part of the Nichicon leading Fine Gold MUSE acoustic series. It generates a “brighter” sound signature and rich sound in the bass register with clearer high-end frequency. The word on the internet suggests that enthusiasts do recommend using Nichicon’s caps in audio devices. While we have no way to objectively measure their quality, it gave us peace of mind knowing that ASRock used high-quality audio caps.
Storage

For storage, the Steel Legend comes with two M.2 slots and four SATA 3 ports. The top M.2 slot is what ASRock called an Ultra M.2, which is essentially a PCIe Gen3 x4 NVME slot with support for speeds up to 32 Gbps. The lower M.2 slot only supports M.2 SATA drives, and it shares bandwidth with the 3rd SATA 3 port so if either one is in use the other one will be disabled. The SATA 3 ports are angled for easier cable routing, an extremely rare feature in this price range.
Specifications
ASRock B450M Steel Legend

CPU support
AMD AM4
2nd, 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen processors (AMD Ryzen 2000 and Ryzen 3000 series)
1st, 2nd Generation AMD Ryzen Processors with Radeon Vega Graphics (AMD Ryzen 2000G and Ryzen 3000G series)

Power
1 x 24-pin ATX
1 x 8-pin EATX 12V
uPI uP9505P PWM controller (4 + 2 phase config)
4 x (1 x SM4337 Hi-side, 2 x SM4336 Low-side) for VCore
2 x (2 x SM4337 Hi-side, 2 x SM4336 Low-side) for VSoC

Chipset
AMD B450 (Promontory)

Memory
4 x DDR4 DIMM, max. 64GB un-buffered memory

Multi-GPU Support
2-way AMD CrossFireX

Expansion slots
PCIe 2.0 x1
PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 electrically)
PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 electrically)

Storage
4 x SATA 6 Gb/s, supports RAID 0,1,10
1 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 (Ultra M.2)
1 x M.2 SATA

Network
Realtek Gigabit LAN

USB
Rear I/O:
1 x USB 3.1 (10 Gbps)
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C (10 Gbps)
4 x USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)
2 x USB 2.0 (480 Mbps)
On-board headers:
1 x USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) (2 ports each)
2 x USB 2.0 (2 ports each)

Audio
Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec (7.1-channel HD audio)
5 x gold-plated audio jacks (rear)
1 x front panel audio connector

Other onboard connectors
1 x CPU fan header
1 x CPU/Water Pump fan header
3 x Chassis fan headers
1 x Temperature sensor connector
1 x RGB header
1 x ARGB header
1 x AMD Fan LED Header
1 x TPM header
1 x COM Port header
1 x Chassis Intrusion Header

Overclocking features
N/A

Included accessories
Quick Installation Guide
Support CD
I/O Shield
2 x SATA Data Cables
2 x M.2 screws

Form factor
mATX (9.6″ x 9.6″)

System

CPU
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, 4C/4T @ up to 4.0 GHz, 12nm FinFET

RAM
2 x 8GB T-FORCE DELTA TUF Gaming Alliance RGB DDR4, 3200 MHz CL16

Motherboard
ASRock B450M Steel Legend

GPU
Radeon Vega 8 Graphics @ 1250 MHz

Storage
1 x 480GB Phidisk The Keeper PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD

CPU Cooling
Wraith Stealth

Case
Cooler Master NR400

PSU
Cooler Master V750

Monitor
N/A

User Experience

With it being a standard mATX board, we found no problem installing the ASRock B450M Steel Legend into our Cooler Master NR400. The experience is as seamless as we hope it to be. The screw areas were all exposed, and the layout of headers are positioned right at the edges of the board to allow easy cable management.

The 4 slot RAM slots support a maximum of 64GB. To enable dual channel memory configs, you are recommended to install memory sticks in the A2 and B2 slots. It is likely the max speed supported will dip when all four slots are populated, but the maximum speed of DDR4-3466+ is more than sufficient for all Ryzen CPUs at stock speed.

The built-in in RGB lights up beautifully when power is supplied to the board. The RGB colors and patterns can be changes with the ASRock Polychrome Sync software, which enables the onboard RGB light to sync with other components, a nice touch considering the price point of the ASRock B450M Steel Legend.
BIOS

The last ASRock UEFI bios I used was on the Z77 Extreme 4, which I vividly remember was designed for more advanced users and I spent a good amount of time trying to understand it. It comes as a pleasant surprise the UEFI still retained most the same looks and design. While it is feature-rich, I am generally more comfortable OC in Windows with the Ryzen Master tools available.
Overclocking
After OC
With the absence of OC presets in the BIOS, we use Ryzen Master to gauge how well this motherboard can accommodate overclocking. We hit 4000 MHz on all cores without breaking a sweat, while the thermal sits at 90°C, the system stayed stable as a rock during our whole 1-hour stress test.  Over in the GPU department, we were able to push the Radeon Vega 8 Graphics from a stock 1250 MHz to 1500 MHz easily. And to test for stability, we ran Furmark for 1 hour.
Before OC
Conclusion

Feature-packed and with good build quality, we found this board offered a taste of every feature we want in premium boards. It may not have the beefiest VRM out there, but it does make up for it with other niceties like the ARGB header, dual M.2 ports, and abundance of fan headers, making the B450M Steel Legend ready for much bigger things than its price suggest.
Priced at around RM359 after discounts, it is less then what we would expect to pay for a board like this. Such value is reminiscent of the great value ASRock offered with their Z77 Extreme 4 motherboard back in 2012. We wholeheartedly recommend the ASRock B450M Steel Legend for your next AMD build.

We purchased our ASRock B450M Steel Legend from Rextech. Check it out on their Shopee store.
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[UPDATE] HUAWEI releases HMS Core 5.0 framework update global

HUAWEI has just released HMS Core 5.0, the latest update to their framework which is supposed to rival Google’s GMS. In version 5, HUAWEI adds a number of new features to HMS. Do note that HMS Core 5.0 might not be available to download on your device just yet.

HMS Core 5.0 adds the following features:

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New audio visual, imaging, graphics engine, computer-generated graphics, AR and other capabilities
Positioning services: supports crowdsourced location and geofencing capabilities
Push services: support location-based service (LBS) and context-based push
Optimized service experience

The updated framework should open up more capabilities to developers, as HUAWEI strives to match Google’s offerings for both end-users and also developers. HUAWEI has invested a lot of money into developing the HMS ecosystem. Adding more features does seem like the right way to go.
Source
[Update] HMS Core 5.0 launched for global developers
The folks at HUAWEI Malaysia has updated us that the HUAWEI Mobile Services (HMS) Core 5.0 has been recently launched for global developers on the official HUAWEI website. It introduces the feature services such as App Services, Graphics, Media, AI, Smart Device, Security, and System for developers to make the most out of HUAWEI’s “chip-device-cloud” capabilities.
Pokdepinion: Well I can’t get it on my HONOR V30 Pro yet.
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Here’s How You Can Use Your Windows PC To Accept Android Phone Calls

Some of us sigh at the fact that when there’s a call while we’re fully focused on our PC, and who could blame them? Well it seems that Microsoft has found the answer where you can utilize your Windows PC to answer and make calls directly.
The feature is called Calls and it’s a part of a Windows 10 Insider Preview. As you might’ve guessed, you will need to be a part of the program to test the feature out. In addition to that, you will also need an Android device that’s running on Android 7 or newer.
If you fit the above criteria, you will need to link your Android phone and Windows PC first. Here’s how:

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 On Windows 10 Insider Preview, open the “Your Phone” app and select “Continue”
Enter your mobile number and then tap “Send” that will give you a link that’ll allow you to connect your Android smartphone to your Windows PC
Open your Android device, open the text message and tap the message link, which will then bring you to the app page in Google Play
Once installed, choose “Install” and then tap “Open”
Fill in your Microsoft account details and login from the app
Continue and allow the app to access your contacts, manage phone calls and the likes
You can choose to allow the app to run in the background
Tap Allow to enable your Android device to connect with your PC and once more Continue and tap Done.
On your PC, you will need to give Your Phone app permission to make calls.

Once all of the steps are done, you can now begin to make and receive calls from your PC. Just like in a smartphone, you can decide to accept or decline a call or even message should you decide not to accept the call.
It seems that Microsoft is planning to roll out the new Calls part of Your Phone one step at a time, so don’t expect the feature to be out in the public too soon.
Pokdepinion:  This is definitely a handy feature. Especially when you’re too focused on your PC and have your headphones on :P

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realme Sold 500 Units Of Their realme C2 In 30 Minutes — Become The Best Selling Smartphone Brand On Shopee

You may have known that realme Malaysia hosted an exclusive smartphone sales just recently to celebrate the Merdeka month in Malaysia. Well yesterday, they managed to achieve an admirable result as 1000 units of their realme C2 smartphones were sold, where 500 units of them were sold in just 30 minutes.
In addition to the promo price of RM349, the first 50 customers of the phone got their hands on a free SD card as well as realme merchandise during the sale. The realme Day was in conjunction with the Shopee Brands Festival that’s taking place from now until the 18th of August 2019.
Bummed out that the free 32GB microSD card and merchandise has now gone away? Well you might be pleased to know that you can still get the realme C2 at the promotional price. If the realme C2 is not the device that you’re looking for, they’ve also prepared several other smartphones on hand such as the realme 3 Pro and realme 3.

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If you are interested to check out their offers, you may head to the link right here.
Pokdepinion: Good to see that they are doing great here in Malaysia, considering the fact of how much value their smartphone offers!
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CES 2021: New ASUS ZenBook announced with a mix of 11th Gen Intel Core and Ryzen 5000 series CPUs

ASUS has just announced the ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED along with the ZenBook Flip 15 and ZenBook 14. The ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED is probably the most interesting of them all, featuring a choice of either the 11th Gen Intel Core or the new AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors crammed into the 1.14kg light package.
ASUS Zenbook 13 OLED
Most OLED laptops are reserved for the premium segment, so we don’t expect the ZenBook 13 OLED to be priced that affordably. But what makes the ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED different from all the OLED laptops that ASUS released in the past is its FHD resolution. The ASUS ZenBook Flip S shares a similarly sized 13.3″ OLED panel, but it touts a 4K resolution which will definitely tout a higher  power draw and thus limit the battery life.

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ASUS promises up to 13 hours of battery life with the Intel variant, although they didn’t mention anything about the AMD option. ASUS will be offering both the AMD Zen 2 and Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 processors, which should make things quite interesting. Regardless of your choice of processor, the ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED packs the same 67WHr battery, which is also shared with the ASUS ZenBook 13/14 that was previously announced.
Another major difference between the AMD and Intel variants is connectivity. As you would expect, the Intel version comes with support for Thunderbolt 4, while the AMD version has to settle for USB 3.2 Gen2. Neither option will come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can check out the breakdown of their specifications below:
ASUS Zenbook 13 OLED Specs

ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED (UX325)
ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325UA)
ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325SA)

Processor
11th Gen Intel Core
Intel Core i7-1165G7, 4C/8T @ up to 4.7GHz
Intel Core i5-1135G7, 4C/8T @ up to 4.2GHz
Intel Core i3-1115G4, 4C/8T @ up to 4.1GHz
AMD Ryzen 5000 (Lucienne, Zen 2-based)
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 8C/16T @ up to 4.3GHz
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 6C/12T @ up to 4.0GHz
AMD Ryzen 5000 (Cezanne, Zen 3-based)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, 8C/16T @ up to 4.4GHz
AMD Ryzen 5 5600U, 6C/12T @ up to 4.2GHz

RAM
Up to 32GB LPDDR4X-4266
(Core i3 to come with LPDDR4X-3733)
Up to 16GB LPDDR4X-3733

Storage
Up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD / 1TB Intel Optane H10 (32GB Intel Optane + 1TB NAND)
Up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD

Display
13.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) NanoEdge display
400 nits brightness
100% DCI-P3
VESA DisplayHDR True Black certified
88% screen-to-body ratio

Connectivity
2 x Thunderbolt 4
1 x USB 3.0 Type-A
1 x HDMI
1 x microSD card reader
2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 (20Gbps) Type-C
1 x USB 3.0 Type-A
1 x HDMI
1 x microSD card reader

Power
67WHr 4-cell Li-Po battery
65W USB-PD power adapter

Dimensions
304 x 203 x 13.9 mm

Weight
1.14kg

ASUS ZenBook 14 (UM425)

ASUS also refreshed the ASUS ZenBook 14 we loved with AMD processors. Once again, there’s a choice of both AMD Lucienne and Cezanne processors to choose from, which will make for an interesting case for those looking to get the most bang for their buck. This time around, ASUS also apparently decided to try to cram a 45W Zen 3 APU into the laptop. ASUS will also be giving you the choice of getting the GeForce MX450 in the ZenBook 14 (UM425).
ASUS ZenBook 14 (UM425) Specs

ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED (UM425UA/UG)
ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325QA)

Processor
AMD Ryzen 5000 (Lucienne, Zen 2-based)
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 8C/16T @ up to 4.3GHz, 15W
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 6C/12T @ up to 4.0GHz, 15W
AMD Ryzen 5000 (Cezanne, Zen 3-based)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H @ up to 4.4GHz, 45W
AMD Ryzen 5 5600H, 6C/12T @ up to 4.2GHz, 45W

Graphics
AMD Radeon Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce MX450 (optional)

RAM
Up to 16GB LPDDR4X-4266

Storage
Up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD

Display
14″ FHD display, 100% sRGB
90% screen-to-body ratio

Connectivity
2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 (20Gbps) Type-C
1 x USB 3.0 Type-A
1 x HDMI
1 x microSD card reader
1 x combo audio jack

Power
67WHr 4-cell Li-Po battery
65W USB-PD power adapter

Dimensions
319 x 210 x 14.3 mm

Weight
1.22kg

ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 (UX564)
If you need even more viewing space, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 offers a large 15.6″ FHD panel, complete with a 360° hinge for extra flexibility on how you want to use your display. Unlike the ASUS ZenBook Flip S, ASUS will be cramming in  the latest Intel Tiger Lake H35 processors, taking advantage of the additional footprint for more cooling afforded by its larger size.

ASUS will also be cramming in a GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q in there for extra performance. The extra room under the hood will also be used for a large 96WHr battery, promising longer battery life even with the relatively powerful hardware.
ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 (UX564) Specs

Processor
11th Gen Intel Core H-Series (H35)

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q

RAM
16GB DDR4-3200

Storage
1TB PCIe NVMe SSD

Display
15.6″ FHD NanoEdge display
PANTONE Validated

Connectivity
2 x Thunderbolt 4
1 x USB 3.0 Type-A
1 x HDMI
1 x SD card reader
1 x audio combo jack

Power
96WHr 6-cell Li-Po battery
120W power adapter

Dimensions
356 x 230 x 19.9 mm

Weight
1.9kg

As with all the previous CES 2021 announcements, the availability and pricing of these next-gen ASUS ZenBooks in Malaysia is still unknown. Stay tuned for that!
Pokdepinion: I think we need a ZenBook 14 OLED… I personally find 13″ laptops are just a smidge too small for use…
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Snapdragon 898 will be 20% faster, but just as hot as Snapdragon 888?

It seems that Qualcomm won’t be solving their heating issues anytime soon. While they are reportedly going to use a newer 4nm manufacturing process by Samsung, the next-gen Snapdragon 898 is reportedly going to be just as toasty as the current-gen Snapdragon 888.
Snapdragon 898: 20% faster, but just as hot

According to serial leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the Snapdragon 898 will offer about 20% higher performance, but will still run rather hot like the Snapdragon 888 chipset. He also goes on to joke that it is a good thing that the Snapdragon 898 will be unveiled during winter. I guess you can buy a smartphone that doubles as a hand warmer.

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The improved performance is probably thanks to the new architectures at play: the “prime” Cortex-X2 core, Cortex-A710 performance cores, and the Cortex-A510 efficiency cores. The Cortex-X2 architecture promises about 16% faster integer performance and twice the machine learning performance of the last-gen Cortex-X1.
While it goes without saying that Qualcomm is going to pack an even faster GPU in the Snapdragon 898, they might lose their lead in graphics performance though. Samsung partnered up with AMD to use the RDNA 2 graphics architecture in their upcoming Exynos chipsets. Leaked 3DMark results have revealed an Exynos chipset with the RDNA 2 GPU delivering 40% higher scores than the Snapdragon 888’s Adreno 660, even in early testing with a chipset featuring outdated Cortex-A77 CPU cores.

In any case, stay tuned for the Snapdragon Tech Summit that should be happening this December to find out more about the Snapdragon 898, or whatever Qualcomm decides to call their next-gen flagship chipset.
Source
Pokdepinion: Hopefully OEMs are willing to throttle more conservatively for a good user experience, instead of targeting flat out performance.
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LG mobile business officially shuttered

It is finally official. LG has announced that they are closing down their mobile business, which was a huge loss making division of the South Korean tech giant. While they had previously tried to sell it off, the bid was evidently unsuccessful.
LG has stopped all production of new smartphones but all available stocks will still be offered on a while stocks last basis. A major concern would probably software updates and after sales services, but LG has committed to honoring warranties and also pushing out the Android 11 and upcoming Android 12 updates to “selected models.”
You can refer below for the full announcement message regarding LG’s mobile business:

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LG has recently made the difficult decision to close its mobile business to focus on other businesses that will provide new experiences and value for the consumers.
Our mobile products will continue to be available while supplies last, which will vary from country to country.
We will fully honor our product limited warranties, and will also continue to provide software and security updates as well as replacement parts in accordance with applicable regulations and contractual obligations.
We want to THANK YOU for your loyalty and support of LG Mobile. We hope that you will embrace our other smart technologies, as LG continues to deliver a wide range of innovative products and services that make life better.

LG also posted a FAQ along with the announcement, so you can head on over there if you are interested.
Pokdepinion: Sad to see LG go. They were a truly innovative smartphone company, held back by lackluster marketing. Just like HTC…
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Xiaomi launches new variant of the Redmi Note 5 — more storage for the same money!

We don’t always get to see free upgrades. But this is one of them. Xiaomi has just launched a 128GB variant of the popular Redmi Note 5, but prices it exactly the same as the 64GB version which was previously available.

This new variant comes with 6GB of RAM, which is not offered here in Malaysia, unfortunately. Priced at 1699 yuan (~RM1017), it now offers double the storage of the Redmi Note 5 6GB + 64GB which was available before this.

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This makes the Redmi Note 5 an even better deal than it already is, now with more storage. For the uninitiated, the Redmi Note 5 is equipped with a Snapdragon 636 chipset, 12MP + 5MP rear cameras and a 5.99″ 18:9 FHD+ display.

The Redmi Note 5 offered here in Malaysia is offered in two variants, a 3GB + 32GB one and a better-specced 4GB + 64GB version. Will you get the Redmi Note 5 with 6GB of RAM, if it makes it to Malaysia?
Pokdepinion: Actually, bringing in a 128GB variant to Malaysia makes sense now, especially as HUAWEI is also offering the nova smartphones with 128GB of storage…
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Genshin Impact To Arrive On PS5 This 28 April

miHoYo has recently showcased the PlayStation 5 version of their popular open-world action RPG title, Genshin Impact, which is set to arrive on the platform this 28th of April 2021.
Genshin Impact arriving soon to PS5

The game will run in native 4K resolution, enhanced textures and offer a smoother adventure experience for both new and existing Travelers.
In the video, they’ve revealed several ways how the game benefits on the PlayStation 5 platform where they’ve said that enhanced textures and a new graphics library created from scratch add a new depth of detail to the game world, bringing Teyvat to life in richer and sharper detail than ever.

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Aside from that, it seems that a tailor-made file-loading system takes advantage of the powerful SSD that the PlayStation 5 offers, achieving much faster loading times to offer a seamless adventure traversing the vast and diverse in-game environments.
To top it all off, miHoYo has also confirmed their plans to take the functionality of the PS5 even further in the future, which includes providing additional support for the DualSense Controller features.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Well what can I say? If you own a PS5 and have been waiting for Genshin Impact to come out for the platform, well the wait isn’t long now. It definitely looks better than before, I’ll give them that.
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Samsung Releases PyeongChang 2018 Limited Edition Galaxy Note 8 – Everyone In The Winter Games Gets One!

With PyeongChang Olympics coming up soon within less than a month, Samsung Electronics has unveil their Galaxy Note 8 PyeongChang Olympics 2018 Limited Edition.
Galaxy Note 8 PyeongChang Olympics 2018 Limited Edition

With Samsung Electronics Co being a Worldwide Olympic Partner, it is inevitable that they would do something special for the upcoming Winter Olympics with the introduction of the new special edition of their Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

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To further extend their Olympic legacy of supporting athletes and and the Olympic family, Samsung will deliver over 4,000 devices to all Olympians as well as the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic family, allowing them to experience that ‘Samsung Note’ experience.
The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games Limited Edition Note 8 will feature celebratory pre-loaded with PyeongChang 2018 themed wallpapers. In addition, several apps will also be pre-installed for that Olympic Games experience.

Olympians aren’t the ones that are getting the special edition Note 8, as Paralympians will also be getting a taste of the device. Safe to say, everyone in the Olympics will be getting something.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 was released back in August 2017. It features a 6.3-inch Quad HD plus Super AMOLED Infinity Display. It comes with the ever iconic S Pen and a dual camera setup namely the Live Focus mode and a Dual Capture mode. Powering the device is an Exynos 8895 octa-core 10nm processor, 6GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage. Under the hood, it packs a 3,300mAh battery that supports fast charging using USB Type-C or even by wireless charging.
Pokdepinion: To be honest, I really like the camera on the Galaxy Note 8. As for the PyeongChang special edition, I think that it looks sleek. It’s nice to see that Paralympians will also be getting the device, meaning no one will be left out. What do you think of the new Note 8 Limited Edition? Let us know in the comments!
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Garmin launches the brand-new Garmin Fenix 5 series – For fitness, adventure and style

A momentous evolution from its acclaimed predecessor, Garmin Malaysia today officially launched the Fenix 5 series, comprises five distinct models which are Fenix 5, Fenix 5 Sapphire, Fenix 5S, Fenix 5S Sapphire, and Fenix 5X. The Garmin Fenix 5 series were crafted in varying sizes to fit every wrist and every workout. All of them are designed to be lighter, sleeker, and more compact than the competition.

The new Garmin Fenix 5 series includes Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology which gives users around the clock heart rate monitoring, without the need of a chest strap. In addition to counting steps and monitoring sleep, the watch uses heart rate to provide calories burned information, and quantify the intensity of the user’s fitness activities.

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Garmin Fenix 5S

Measuring 42mm in diameter, Garmin Fenix 5S is catered to female users preferring to don a watch that flatters their petite form. Both stylish and functional, the Garmin Fenix 5S is available in silver with white silicone band with a super solid mineral glass lens. Meanwhile, the Garmin Fenix 5S Sapphire is furnished with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and is available in black with metal black band.

Specification

Garmin Fenix 5

In term of specifications, it similar like the 5S, but the Garmin Fenix 5 has a bigger screen at 47mm and rugged design. The glass screen edition will come with a silicone wrist band while the sapphire version available with metal band.

Specification

Garmin Fenix 5X

The highest specs in the Garmin Fenix 5 series, the Fenix 5X is preloaded with topographic (TOPO) mapping, roundable cycling maps, and advanced navigation features such as Round Trip Run and Round Trip Ride.

Specification

Additionally, users can opt for the Around Me map mode, which conveys the different points of interest, waypoints and other objects within the user’s range, thus increasing awareness of their surroundings. The Garmin Fenix 5X, measuring at 51mm in diameter, is available with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens.

All Garmin Fenix 5 series uses high resolution, full-colour Garmin Chroma Display™ with LED backlighting. There’s also an option to pair the Fenix 5 with a compatible heart rate chest strap such as the Garmin HRM-Run™. This added feature provides metrics on vertical oscillation and ratio.
Pokdepinion: It would have been more awesome if Garmin had used Android Wear 2.0 here, for more functionality that can be added via the Play Store.
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YouTube Plans To Let AI Dub Your Videos In Other Languages

Video dubbing isn’t new – but it’s so far only existed in film or online streaming services like Netflix. However, YouTube wants to automate the entire process by introducing AI into the mix – letting users dub their videos in any languages. The Google subsidiary is bringing the team from Aloud – one of the teams under Google’s Area 120 incubator program (where experimental ideas are developed and ‘graduated’ into Google services).
The way it works is fairly straightforward: Aloud will first generate a transcription of a video and hand it off to the user to make changes if needed. Then, it’ll handle the translation and AI will generate the dubbed audio that syncs with the original clip. In a statement to The Verge, YouTube VP of Product Management Amjad Hanif said Aloud currently supports a few languages (which includes Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian and Portuguese based on the website), with “more to come”.

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Videos with dubs is already available, including this clip from Amoeba Sisters channel that currently contains English and Spanish audio tracks. You can switch between native audio and dubs by clicking on the Settings menu and hear for yourself.
The dub as it is right now isn’t the best when it comes to audio quality, though YouTube says that is in the works for further improvements which will make the dub “sound like the creator’s voice, with more expression, and lip sync,”. The timeline is currently set for 2024 as far as these features go.
Pokdepinion: This should save a lot of work for small-time creators that may not have the resources to hire voice talents.
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Get Unlimited Snapchat Access With New Limited Edition Xpax Prepaid Plan

Snap for FREE with Celcom Xpax

Celcom Xpax has partnered with social media giant Snap and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) in conjunction with International Youth Day. The intention is to provide Malaysian youth with greater access to the digital realm and to embrace fun digital lifestyles.
Beginning today, Calcom Xpax will offer FREE unlimited access to Snapchat for 3 months to all new and existing users. All users have to do is to simply go on to the Celcom Life App and redeem their free 3-month Snapchat access, which will end on September 16.  Furthermore, Celcom Xpax will soon be introducing specially designed Snapchat filters and AR Lens that users will be able to enjoy to celebrate the upcoming Merdeka and Malaysia Day festivities.

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The world and potential of Augmented Reality became the key reason for this campaign. Snap is a leader in AR with over 170 million Snapchatters engaging with AR on the platform nearly 30 times every day. The company has also democratised the creation of AR experiences through the introduction of its powerful Lens Studio desktop app, which is free to download by anyone. Today there are tens of thousands of creators using and they have created over one million Lenses.
For more information about the Celcom Xpax’s unlimited access to Snapchat, head over to the official website right here.
Pokdepinion: This is a good move by Celcom. Even though Snapchat isn’t as popular as it was before, it still has a huge following and the Xpax users who use Snapchat will definitely be thrilled by this.
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NVIDIA DLDSR is bringing AI downsampling on GeForce RTX graphics

NVIDIA’s upcoming drivers will be bringing several new stuff to gamers, and one of them is support for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. NVIDIA is also adding support for new G-SYNC Compatible monitors, NVIDIA Deep Learning Dynamic Super Resolution (DLDSR) and optimized performance in new games.
NVIDIA DLDSR for AI downsampling
How DLSS works
I would say that the biggest addition to NVIDIA’s latest drivers is NVIDIA DLDSR. But first, let’s go over what’s Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR). While DLSS is used to upscale a lower resolution render into a higher-res image with the power of AI, DSR is used to enable higher visual quality by telling the graphics card to render a higher resolution image and downsampling (or supersampling) it to the resolution of your display. This enables better detail, smoother edges and less shimmering in thin moving objects.

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DLDSR uses AI to lessen the load on your graphics card, inferencing detail and allowing you to get comparable results with DLDSR 2.25X versus regular DSR 4X. So instead of rendering a 4K image to downsample to 1080p, your graphics card will only now have to render a 1620p image, which will enable significantly higher FPS. DLDSR is enabled in the driver, so you can enjoy DLDSR in all games, as long as you have a GeForce RTX graphics card, as it requires Tensor cores to work.

Along with NVIDIA DLDSR, NVIDIA is also adding three new advanced, depth-based Freestyle filters: SSAO, Dynamic DOF and SSRTGI to the GeForce Experience in-game overlay. These were developed in partnership with Pascal Gilcher, a popular ReShade Author, to bring enhanced graphics experiences in games that support Freestyle filters. This can deliver a remastered-like experience in games that aren’t, well, remastered.
Eight Newly Validated G-SYNC Compatible displays
NVIDIA validated eight new G-SYNC Compatible displays that can deliver a baseline Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) experience for a smoother gaming experience. More options for gamers to choose from is always nice to have.

MANUFACTURER
MODEL
HDR
SIZE
LCD Type
Resolution
VRR Range

AOC
AG275QG3R4B+
Yes
27″
IPS
2560×1440 (QHD)
48-170Hz

AOC
Q32G3WG3
Yes
32″
IPS
2560×1440 (QHD)
60-165Hz

AOC
AG275QXE
Yes
27”
IPS
2560×1440 (QHD)
48-170Hz

Dell
G2723HN
No
27″
IPS
1920×1080 (FHD)
48-165Hz

HP
OMEN 27i IPS
No
27″
IPS
2560×1440 (QHD)
48-165Hz

MSI
MPG321UR-QD
Yes
32″
IPS
3840×2160 (4K)
60-144Hz

Philips
24M1N3200ZA
No
24″
IPS
1920×1080 (FHD)
48-165Hz

ViewSonic
VX3220-4K-Pro
Yes
32”
IPS
3840×2160 (4K)
48-144Hz

Optimized performance in the latest titles

The GeForce Game Ready driver that’s coming later today will bring NVIDIA DLSS and Reflex to Rainbow Six Extraction, God of War and GRIT for lower latency and higher frame rates. Optimized performance in HITMAN III and The Anacrusis is also coming in this driver, the latter which also features DLSS for better performance.
To enjoy all the benefits, just download the new drivers that will be available later today!
Pokdepinion: New drivers, more features to play with. Just the way I like it.
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Don’t send a featherweight to do a heavyweight’s job — the ROG Chimera G703 makes zero sacrifices on performance

We are seeing a barrage of laptops that opt for thinner bezels, thinner chassis, in an attempt to be more portable. While I am a fan of better mobility while still having enough performance to game, enough is not something everyone can accept. Which is why the good ol’ behemoths like the ROG Chimera G703 still brings a smile to my face, with its sheer excess of performance.

To recap, the ROG Chimera G703 packs an Intel Core i9 8950HK 6-core CPU which has an unlocked multiplier, and a GeForce GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5X. No MaxQ tomfoolery here, it’s a desktop-class GeForce GTX 1080, that sports clocks higher than the official boost clocks specified for the GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition. Desktop-class performance? Yep.

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To challenge this beast, we hand-picked 11 games that can put the hardware here to test. We won’t be using the benchmark tools with these games, but we will play them as any gamer would. I mean, why would I be wasting precious time benchmarking this baby when I can game on it? The games we picked out are:
ARK: Survival Evolved

This game is as graphically impressive as the dude who forgot leg day here. ARK: Survival Evolved brought gamers to an island to try and survive as long as they can well before the unknown player who goes by Player Unknown ever did. The huge open maps let us live out our Jurassic Park dreams. And die like any side character in the Jurassic movies.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

This is probably one of the better optimized Assassin’s Creed titles. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean that it isn’t graphically demanding. The pretty graphics lets you enjoy sightseeing in the ancient Egyptian setting if that’s your kind of thing. And Assassin’s Creed Origins is also unique in the way that it keeps track of the frame rate while you are busy killing Egyptian scum, so you don’t actually have to rely on third-party apps like Fraps.
Settings we used for AC Origins
Battlefield 1

Not a fan of WW1 shooters, as I prefer the spray and pray approach which is very rare in WW1. But I cannot discount the fact that this is one pretty looking game. Battlefield 1 may not be the best game in the franchise, but it surely is the best looking one. At least until Battlefield V hits the ground.
Graphics settings for BF1
DOOM

DOOM is kinda weird in a sense that you press Shift to walk, instead of the other way around. It’s just that fast-paced. You don’t really have time to take in the graphics, but when you do, you will realize that the reflections on this game is really on point, and the gore, well, so detailed that it can turn one’s stomach. Good thing that everything happens so fast, you are sort of desensitized to it all. Stop a moment and take in the gore, and you will see that everything is rendered so prettily, and yet we are still hitting the frame rate cap at maxed out graphics settings.
Graphics settings for DOOM
Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition

This is an NVIDIA GameWorks title, with all the bells-and-whistles one would expect from one. Final Fantasy XV is a large, open map RPG, and what better way to enjoy the world than through the eyes of a bunch of dudes with impossibly styled hair that actually looks soft to touch? With NVIDIA HairWorks, their hair looks better than real life!
Settings we used for FF XV
HITMAN

A bald guy stalking his prey might be a lot less impressive visually than the pretty boys and their fancy hair in Final Fantasy XV, but this game definitely does not fail to look fancy. And since you are expected to take your time and explore your surroundings to find the best approach to terminate your target, you get the chance to take in all the amazing attention to visual detail IO Interactive baked into the game. DirectX 11 is used here.
Graphics settings for Hitman
Monster Hunter: World

Probably one of the most hyped up games of 2018, Monster Hunter: World was selected simply because of its weak optimization for PC. This game will show how the ROG Chimera G703 handles poorly optimized games with its pure brute performance. At maximum settings, this game looks great, and really helps with immersing into the vibrant world of Monster Hunter.
Graphics setting for Monster Hunter: World
Need for Speed (2016)

We wouldn’t want to leave our driving game fans out, would we? Need for Speed titles aren’t famous for being all that great to test graphics performance with, but we decided, why not? At least this one does not have a capped frame rate. We love fast cars, and we can’t afford them. At least with this laptop we can race them with all the pretty graphics the ROG Chimera G703 can deliver.
Graphics settings for Need for Speed (2016)
SCUM

This game is probably a lot better than its name. There is a story behind, but what you are supposed to do is out-survive people on an island. Sounds familiar? Well, it is yet another open world survival game that made the list, and coincidentally comes with really great graphics too. The latter is the primary reason we picked it too. Performance is also uncertain at the moment because this is an early access title, so performance may be a little different once the game is finalized.
Graphics settings for SCUM
Shadow of the Tomb Raider

The latest installment to the Tomb Raider franchise, Shadow of the Tomb Raider comes with a long list of graphics settings that you can play around with. In fact it was showcased as one of the games with real-time raytracing at the launch of the GeForce RTX cards. We set the graphics to the highest preset, switched over to DirectX 12 and enjoyed skulking around in the darkness.
Graphics settings for Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Tom Clancy’s The Division

The Division was criticized for being a terrible game at launch, but after multiple updates, it is shaping up to a pretty good one. It’s an open world third-person shooter RPG. No, you won’t be firing rocket propelled grenades (RPG) all the time, it’s an role playing game RPG. The game doesn’t look half bad even though it was launched more than 2 years ago, and that’s why it made the cut. We won’t be using DirectX 12 here, as it introduced some weird flickering textures into the sky, and also brought about worse performance.
Graphics settings for The Division
ROG Chimera G703 performance

Performance is exceptional. As a casual gamer, I would consider anything above 60 fps playable, and the ROG Chimera G703 does it without breaking a sweat. It does a steady 200 fps in DOOM. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy XV does a decent 71 frames per second even with all the bells and whistles enabled. Even Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which represents next-gen gaming graphics, is handled with aplomb. The ROG Chimera G703 touts a G-SYNC display, so anything above 40 fps should still look pretty fluid. You know what that means? Smooth gaming even in future AAA titles that can bring a GeForce GTX 1080 to its knees. Thermals were also pretty decent, as you will see in the following graph.

These are the average temperatures of the CPU and GPU in every game tested, respectively. The GPU is really well cooled, but the CPU’s cooling isn’t too shabby either. We would love to see some lower temperatures for the CPU, but the Core i9 8950HK maintains a minimum of 4.2 GHz on average throughout the games, while the GeForce GTX 1080 boosts to 1847 MHz and maintains those clock speeds in every game.
Conclusion
The performance of the ROG Chimera G703 is everything a gamer can wish for in a laptop. Yes, the portability is on the low side, but would you rather sacrifice performance for portability, or would you prefer to game in glorious maxed-out graphics settings anywhere you can find two wall sockets? Thought so. With the impressive thermals and fluid frame rates in every game we tested, the ROG Chimera G703 is ready for any game you can throw at it, and most probably even upcoming titles, as technologies like DirectX 12 when implemented properly will definitely make it easier for the powerful hardware in the ROG Chimera G703 to deliver a fluid gaming experience. Not like it needs it, with all that raw horsepower under the hood. Speaking of upcoming titles, ASUS ROG is collaborating with Activision to bring COD: Black Ops 4 to new owners of ROG laptops. And I guess it goes without saying, but you can also get a free copy of the game if you get yourself a ROG Chimera G703! Fire away!
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