Edifier X3 Review — Truly Underrated TWS With aptX

In this Edifier X3 review, we take a look at the company’s latest TWS product from their XEMAL series. Coming in with an affordable price tag, is it truly worth your money? Let’s find out.
Edifier X3 Unboxing
Edifier X3 review – Box and content
Inside the box, you’ll get the following items:
Charging caseEarbudsDocumentationmicroUSB cableExtra eartips
Appearance
Edifier X3 review – White charging case
For our review unit, we got the white colour variant of the Edifier X3. It comes with a matte finish, which I personally like.

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Edifier X3 review
As you can see, you can find the charging port behind the charging case. Unfortunately it still uses a microUSB port, which makes it feel a little bit outdated.
Edifier X3 review
Similar to the charging case, the earbuds come with a matte finish as well. You also see an ‘X’ mark on the back. It’s pretty small so it’s expected to disappear into your ears when you wear them. Don’t forget that you can change the eartips as Edifier has provided extras.
Edifier X3 Specifications
Drivers6mmHeadphone TypeTrue wireless, in-earConnectionBluetooth 5.0SBCaptXWireless Range10mNoise-cancellingCVC V.8.0 Noise-cancellationBatteryEarphonesUp to 6 hours playbackCharging case 3x Full Charge (total 18 hours)WeightEarphones8.1 gramCharging case24.1 gramColourWhite and BlackIngress ProtectionIP55 (dust and water proof)
Edifier X3 User Experience
Pairing
Edifier X3 review – Inside the case
As is the norm with other wireless earbuds in the market, all you need to do is take them out of the case and pair them with your device via Bluetooth. Once that’s done, it’ll automatically connect with your smartphone the next time you use them, provided that you have Bluetooth enabled.
Unfortunately there’s no wear detection for them. If you’re a fan of that feature, you won’t find that here.
Sound
Edifier X3 review
When it comes to the audio quality, the enjoyment of it is subjective. For me, I’d rather listen to the clarity and crisp sound of vocals and instruments, which is what the Edifier X3 managed to provide. If you are looking for that ‘punchy bass’ however, this will not be your cup of tea.
Audio quality in calls has been surprisingly good with the earbuds. The same can’t be said for gaming however as there is a noticeable delay when I was playing Call of Duty: Mobile. Given the affordable price however, it’s not really a surprise.
Comfort
Edifier X3 review
The charging case of the Edifier X3 is just nice in terms of size and can be easily brought around. It will barely take up space in your pockets. I for one have sweaty hands and to see that the X3 comes in a matte finish, this means that I will have no issues with it being slippery.
As for the buds themselves, they fit perfectly for me. I had no issues or discomfort after long periods of use and that’s pleasant enough for me. It also doesn’t feel loose when wearing them, so if you face this issue, just swap out the eartips.
For the tap controls, the Edifier X3 has the following:
Play / pause: 1x tap Skip song: 2x tapPrevious song: 3x tapVoice assistant: Hold for 2 secs
For me, this is the ideal gesture to have. There’s not a lot of products that come with the ability to move back to the previous song. Sometimes, you just want to listen to a song just one more time, or maybe that’s just me. There’s also no wear detection but then again I’m fine with that. The buds are already fitted directly in your ears, you would need to take them off to speak with people around you anyway.
Strangely, the product information for the Edifier X3 mentions that you can accept / reject calls. I couldn’t seem to find that function with this review unit. Despite that, I’m still fine without it as I often answer call directly on my phone.
Battery Life
Edifier has claimed that the X3 can last up to 6 hours and judging by my own usage, it isn’t far off. I managed to get roughly 5 hours and 47 minutes out of the buds. There are plenty of factors that could affect the battery consumption. In case you’re wondering, I had the volume set to 50%.
Edifier X3 Verdict
Edifier X3 review
All in all, Edifier has put in an attractive offer in the form of the Edifier X3. With a decent build, lasting battery life, generally nice audio on clarity and vocals, and aptX support, the Edifier X3 provides a great package at a relatively affordable price tag of RM129.
I would definitely recommend the earbuds if you don’t mind the weak bass production and the latency when it comes to gaming, both of which I don’t mind at all.
For that, I gladly give the Edifier X3 our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

A big thanks to Edifier Malaysia for providing the Edifier X3 that was used in this review!
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Razer Viper Gaming Mouse Review – Versatile, Featherweight Gaming Mouse

Razer Viper Gaming Mouse Review
Unboxing the Razer Viper Gaming Mouse

Inside the box of the Razer Viper gaming mouse, you are expected to get a few items:

A welcome note by Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan
User guide
The Razer Viper gaming mouse itself

Appearance

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The Razer Viper is no ordinary gaming mouse. I don’t mean that in the sense that it will give you superpowers but rather, its core design. It is an ambidextrous gaming mouse, making it a viable choice for both right-handed and left-handed gamers. For the most part, you can see that it has a matte plastic shell with some rubberized side grips on both the left and right sides. Not to forget, you also have the tactile scroll wheel here, which is said to be of “gaming-grade” quality.

When it’s not connected, the signature triple-headed snake logo seems to be almost invisible, blending in with the body.  Once connected, you get a good view of the logo in glorious RGB lighting. It’s a pretty neat design choice, kind of like it only ‘wakes up’ to get serious when connected to a PC.

Going back to the rubber side grips, it’s identical on both the left and right sides. You have two extra buttons on each side which are programmable. The idea here is that whether you use it with your left or right hand, the experience will be identical and you won’t be missing out on anything. The two extra buttons on both sides are a little glossy, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The DPI button can be found here.
As for the underside of the Razer Viper gaming mouse,  it looks pretty similar to the Deathadder, aside from equal curves on both sides due to the ambidextrous nature, with some of the written information positioned differently. As for the mouse feet, you have a long one on the top part, and a large one at the bottom which will offer a smooth glide over most types of surface. What’s unique here is the DPI button, which is situated right above the bottom mouse feet. There’s also a DPI Stage light indicator to let you know which DPI Stage you are currently on using colours.

As for the USB cable, it is a non-removable type and you can see it donning the signature green colour on the connector. The connector itself is compact so you don’t have to worry about it blocking access to adjacent ports. What’s interesting about this is the Razer Speedflex cable, which essentially eliminates drag, which we’ll talk at length in the User Experience section. It’s worth noting that it is light and pretty long at 2.1 meters.
Specifications

Body material
Textured rubber side grips, matte plastic shell

Sensor
Razer 5G Advanced Optical Sensor

DPI
Up to 16,000 DPI in 50 DPI increments, 5 DPI stages

USB report rate
125/250/500/1000 Hz

Switch type
Razer Optical Mouse Switches rated for 70 million clicks

Cable
2.1m, Razer Speedflex cable

Weight
69 g excluding cable

Dimensions
126.73 x 66.2 x 37.81 mm

User Experience

The Razer Viper is a plug-and-play gaming mouse, so you don’t actually have to install any software if you don’t want to. However, it is recommended to install the Razer Synapse software to get the most out of this mouse. It will ask prompt you to download and install the software soon after connecting it to your PC. It’s worth noting that by default, the five DPI stages will have the DPI value set at 400, 800, 1,200, 1,800, 2,400, and 3,200 DPI.
The Razer Synapse software does provide the Razer Viper gaming mouse with quite a bit of options. The sheer amount of it is great as it will allow gamers to easily tailor the settings accordingly with their own preference. You can:

Reprogram the eight buttons in Standard and Hypershift modes
Change from right-handed mode (default) to left-handed mode (switches left clicks with right clicks)
Customize DPI settings for all five DPI stages, including independent X and Y axis sensitivity
Adjust mouse polling rate
Adjust mouse RGB brightness
Switch between RGB lighting effects / create your own using Chroma Studio
Mouse mat surface calibration

The RGB lighting on the Razer Viper gaming mouse is nothing extravagant. The lighting is solely on the triple-headed snake logo and nothing more. There is another lighting on the underside of the mouse but that is solely to indicate which DPI Stage you are on. At 100% brightness, it is very bright but it would be nice if they added more RGB lighting to the mouse. Perhaps integrating it on the scroll wheel would be a good enough addition. Personally, would prefer more, perhaps surrounding the underside, for added RGB appeal.
Once again, the Razer Viper is an ambidextrous gaming mouse. As such, it is designed to be usable with both left and right hands. While I am a right-handed person, using this with my left hand is surprisingly more comfortable than I expected. Given its superbly lightweight body and the Razer Speedflex cable, I can effortlessly glide to whichever direction and it feels oddly similar to a wireless mouse. It’s comfortable for my large hands, it’s easy to grip, and there’s certainly less fatigue when using this. Lighter doesn’t necessarily feel better however, as this is subjective. Some of you may prefer a bit more weight to it. It all boils down to personal preference.

The Razer Optical Mouse Switches are an interesting piece of technology. The usage of infrared light beams to register a click yields some benefits. This includes the lack of debounce delay, longer lifespan, minimizing the chances of accidental clicks, and faster response time (0.2s). With that being said however, I personally don’t feel like I performed better / faster when gaming. The buttons and the scroll wheel feel just like any other gaming mouse, and the scroll wheel works quietly. The clicks themselves are audible, but definitely not loud. The side buttons have a more noticeable travel compared to the other buttons, but it’s nothing bad and I feel like it’s harder to accidentally press them this way.

As for the Razer 5G Advanced Optical Sensor, it does work great at 1000 Hz polling rate. I set my sensitivity settings at 700, 1250, 1800, 2400, and 3200 DPI. Personally, I don’t see why anyone would want to use past 3000 DPI. Regardless, I didn’t experience any jitter even at 16,000 DPI, but it is quite inaccurate, which is to be expected. If you have tracking issues with the mouse, you can easily adjust the lift-off range using Razer Synapse. For regular use, I tend to stick to 1800 to 2400 DPI as it’s pretty reliable then, and I only go for the lower two DPIs in specific gaming situations, like sniping or spray control in first-person shooters for example.
Razer Viper Verdict

The Razer Viper isn’t the best gaming mouse but it is still an excellent choice nonetheless especially given its ambidextrous nature. It’s lightweight, versatile, and it performs very well even for competitive gaming. The Razer Speedflex cable basically eliminates drag and it does make it feel like you’re using a wireless gaming mouse. Given its price at RM309, it can be more affordable but it’s hard to say no unless you don’t like a lightweight gaming mouse, need more RGB lighting, or you need something specifically designed for your dominant hand.
With that, I award the Razer Viper with our Silver Pokdeward.

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Intel Core i9 9900K runs on the Intel Z170 platform — and ran, it did

Intel has been called out for locking the 8th Generation Intel Core processors to the Intel Z370 platform, when they share the same LGA 1151 socket. Well Intel did a bit better with the 9th Generation Intel Core processors, with backward compatibility with the older Intel Z370 platform, despite launching along with a new Intel Z390 platform. They still don’t work with anything older than the Intel Z370 though. Or do they?

A YouTuber going by the name Luumi has managed to run the Intel Core i9 9900K at 5.5 GHz on an ASRock Z170M OC Formula motherboard. Notably this is really a top-of-the-line overclocking motherboard, and it really shows.
Intel has mentioned that the Intel Z390 and Intel Z370 motherboards come with optimizations to deliver better performance with the higher core count and subsequently increased power draw, but it seems like an over-engineered Intel Z170 motherboard like the ASRock Z170M OC Formula already has that down pat, all the way from 2015. Even if it was only designed to handle quad-core processors.

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The setup Luumi used isn’t entirely stable, but it was stable enough to complete the Cinebench R15 benchmark. Now the question is, would you be willing to go the lengths he did to run the latest 9th Generation Intel Core processors in your Z170 motherboard?
Pokdepinion: Well, proves that Intel is just full of baloney.
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Your Next PCIe Gen 5 SSD Can Get Very Loud If It Comes With A Fan

Since SSDs are physically very small, that limits the fan sizes for active cooling. With that, comes (a lot of) noise…
Image: @momomo_us (Twitter)
The first consumer PCIe 5.0 SSD didn’t exactly come from big OEMs, but rather a Japanese brand CFD Gaming. The SSD in question comes with a huge heatsink with a small fan sitting in the middle (which should measure 20mm or less given the M.2 form factor).
Image: @momomo_us (Twitter)
PCIe 5.0 SSDs have a common problem: they produce lots of heat due to the extreme read/write speeds they’re rated for. Some PCIe 4.0 SSDs already come with hefty heatsinks but most are manageable with a reasonably sized heatsink or just relying through whatever is provided by the motherboard. As the speeds go higher though, that pushes the controllers to do a lot of work which can produce significant amounts of heat, which is said to be upwards of 10 watts.

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To cope with that, CFD uses a small fan sitting in the middle to aid airflow for faster heat dissipation. We can’t say how much airflow is needed for effective cooling, but if the clip below (courtesy of @momomo_us) is anything to go by – they won’t be exactly silent…

ｷﾞｭ-ﾝ⬇ｷﾞｭ-ﾝ⬆ｷﾞｭ-ﾝ⬇ｷﾞｭ-ﾝ⬆ pic.twitter.com/JhCaRBJcDy
— 188号 (@momomo_us) February 5, 2023

That being said, this only happens if the SSDs doing write operations at full-tilt, which most systems won’t do under normal operations; those who does workloads that require lots of data access may need to pay attention, though. Performance-wise, it does what it says on the box, with CrystalDiskMark test shows up to 10GB/s sequential reads and writes. This SSD is currently sold in Japan at a price of $385 (with the 2TB version).
Image: @momomo_us (Twitter)
Source: Videocardz
Pokdepinion: Looks like PCIe 5.0 SSDs might not be as popular if this is the tradeoff.
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Kingston Releases New DataTraveler Kyson and DataTraveler Exodia USB Drives in Malaysia

Kingston has just announced the launch of two Type-A USB drives: the high-performance DataTraveler Kyson and a more budget-oriented DataTraveler Exodia. Both drives feature fashionable new looks and practical functionalities to fulfil the on-the-go storage needs.
DataTraveler Kyson

The DataTraveler Kyson is a high-performance Type-A USB flash drive that is made specifically for professional and business use. The USB flash drive features fast transfer speed of up to 200MB/s read and 60MB/s write which allows for quick file transfers. The DataTraveler Kyson also has up to 256GB capacity for extra data storage.

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It features a stylish and durable metal casing and key ring loop, with a capless design which saves you the trouble of losing a cap.
DataTraveler Exodia

The DataTraveler Exodia is the more value-driven option of the two new DataTraveler USB drives and features USB 3.2 Gen 1 performance (up to 10x faster than USB 2.0) and up to 256GB capacity. It sports a lightweight design and a selection of colourful key ring loops sorted by capacity. The DataTraveler Exodia is ideal for everyday use at work, home, school and wherever you need to take your data.
Both the Kingston DataTraveler Kyson and DataTraveler Exodia USB drives are backed by a five-year warranty, free technical support as well as Kingston’s famous reliability. Both drives are also available for Kingston Customisation Program, where you can customise said drives with logos, unique packaging, custom profiles, content loading and more.
Price and availability
The DataTraveler Kyson USB flash drives are available with four different storage capacities.

32GB – RM31 which can be purchased here.
64GB – RM52 which can be purchased here.
128GB – RM85 which can be purchased here.
256GB – RM185 which can be purchased here.

As for the DataTraveler Exodia USB flash drives, they are also available in four different storage capacities:

32GB – RM21 which can be purchased here.
64GB – RM35 which can be purchased here.
128GB – RM64 which can be purchased here.
256GB – RM180 which can be purchased here.

Pokdepinion: I like the look of the Datatraveler Exodia. Very colourful.
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Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 review — this is one fast beauty!

Introduction

Smartphones are having a difficult time differentiating from each other. As users demand ever bigger screens and ever smaller bezels, the shape of a smartphone is pretty much centered around the display. Which is why we have the rectangular smartphones everywhere, and a fruity company even went ahead to patent curved corners to prevent competitors copying its design. So how can we make a rectangular phone unique? How about a full-screen device? That was the original Xiaomi Mi MIX, which had a unique 17:9 display before Google agreed to any aspect ratio other than 16:9 and 4:3. It featured stuff like an piezoelectric ceramic driver under the screen for calls, and an ultrasonic proximity sensor to reduce the need for bezel space. That was back in 2016. In 2017, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 was launched, with a more conventional earpiece and an even smaller lower bezel. Still interested? Let’s go in for a closer look.
Unboxing

The top of the wide-but-flat box is blank except for the word MIX. Simplicity is beauty right here. Flip the box over and you see more blank space, with some Chinese text at the bottom and a sticker that lists the IMEI numbers, serial number and the variant you have. We have a Chinese 6GB/256GB variant from Gearbest, which is the largest storage option offered by Xiaomi. Inside, we find the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2. There is supposed to be a love letter from Lei Jun covering the device, but we received our unit without it. Does that mean Lei Jun doesn’t love us? :(

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The 18W QuickCharge 3.0 charger features China pins. We also find the included hard case, some documentation in Chinese, USB Type-C cable, Type-C to 3.5mm adapter and SIM tray ejector pin.
Design

The front of the device is literally a slab of glass. Minimal bezels here blend in very well with the screen area, making the device look like a 100% bezel-less device. The screen is pushed all the way to the top edge, and the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 features a chin instead of having both top and bottom bezels. The selfie camera is located on the said chin, while call speaker is just a small slit between the glass and metal frame, without having to take up any extra bezel area.

Ceramic is still quite a rare material to be used on smartphones. Few manufacturers have incorporated ceramic into their designs, but Xiaomi has been doing it time and again. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is actually a step backwards in terms of intricacy, as it features an aluminium frame, instead of a full ceramic body like the Xiaomi Mi MIX. Still, the ceramic back looks absolutely stunning with an surreal reflective sheen that makes the back appear to be in any shade of grey depending on your lighting. Throw in the 18K gold-plated camera ring and text inlay, and I am in love. I am no fan of protruding cameras, but you won’t see me complaining here.

A metal frame means that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 will tend to look a lot more conventional. And sadly it actually does. The curved metal sides look generic but are finished in nice deep black finish. I would have preferred it if the buttons here on the right had a textured finish to it, but sadly there is nothing of that sort. The SIM tray is over on the left side.

The USB Type-C jack is flanked by two arrays of holes. Just like its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 lacks a 3.5mm jack. There probably is space for it, as the top is entirely empty aside from the secondary microphone hole, but this is a “futuristic” device after all. One does not design a futuristic smartphone without extra loads of courage.
I would say the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 gives off a really premium vibe, especially the back of it. Premium materials and a unmistakable design. This is the way you make a truly premium phone, not just pay licensing to designer brands to add their logo to your smartphone.
Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (4 x Kryo 280 @ 2.45 GHz, 4 x Kryo 280 @ 1.9 GHz)

GPU:
Adreno 540 @ 710 MHz

RAM:
6GB dual-channel LPDDR4x

Display:
5.99″, FHD+ (2160 x 1080) 18:9 IPS display, DCI-P3 color gamut

Storage:
256GB UFS 2.1

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
12MP f/2.0, 5P lens, 1/2.9″ Sony IMX 386, 1.25µm pixel pitch, PDAF, OIS, two-tone flash, [email protected], [email protected], slow-mo [email protected]0
Front Camera
5MP f/2.0, Beautify

OS:
MIUI 9.2.3 based on Android 7.1.1

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2×2 MIMO, MU-MIMO)
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC
LTE Cat.16 4CA 1 Gbps DL, Cat.13 2CA 150 Mbps UL

SIM:
Dual nanoSIM

Battery:
Li-ion 3400 mAh (typical), 3300 mAh (minimum)

Weight:
185 g

Specifications wise, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 ticks all the right boxes except for the camera. It is quite far from flagship material, at least on paper. We have much bigger pixels used in lower end devices, and this is a single camera setup when most other flagships are running dual cameras setups now. With that said, the very same sensor is in the HUAWEI Mate 10‘s primary RGB camera, and we were impressed by it. There is no input from Leica or the really wide f/1.6 aperture here, but at least it shouldn’t be too bad. Or is it?
Performance
The Snapdragon 835 is last year’s flagship SoC from Qualcomm, but it is still a very potent chip. Instead of designing their own architecture from the ground up, Qualcomm has customized ARM Cortex cores for their flagship and upper-mid range chipsets. As we have yet to receive any devices with the Snapdragon 845 in it, let’s take a look at how the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 performs versus 2017’s and 2016’s flagship devices.

Here the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is the top dog, even besting the HUAWEI Mate 10 with its top-of-the-line Kirin 970 SoC. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 should still have plenty of life left in it, as the Snapdragon 821 devices are holding on to their high positions in our benchmark charts. We thought the Nokia 8 was as fast as it gets for the Snapdragon 835, but perhaps Xiaomi’s optimizations allowed the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 to come up ahead of it.

CPU performance of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 falls in just behind the Nokia 8, but it is certainly within the margin of error. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 offers performance that is on par with the Mate 10 in single-core performance, but drops behind when it comes to multi-core processing. Nonetheless, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 offers one of the strongest CPU configurations out there, and there isn’t anyone who can say otherwise, at least until the Galaxy S9/S9+ and Snapdragon 845 devices hit the deck.

Graphics performance is where it gets interesting. While the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 performs well above the 2017 flagships, it actually performed a fair bit worse than the Nokia 8. I noted that the performance disparity comes into play when the demo is played (which is part of our usual test anyway), causing the device to heat up before the actual benchmark tests and resulting in the lower scores. The ceramic body’s poorer heat dissipation as compared to the cold 6000 series aluminium of the Nokia 8 is probably to blame here. Turning off the demo run, the Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) and Sling Shot (ES 3.0) scores shot up to 3739 and 4859, respectively.

Work performance is stellar, but it comes in below the Nokia 8. The increased RAM should lend itself to better productivity, but PCMark’s scoring system says otherwise.

Battery life is one of the strong points of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2. Despite featuring a 3400 mAh battery, it manages to topple devices with huge 4000 mAh batteries like the HUAWEI Mate 10 and ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1.

Battery life under real usage conditions is also impressive, clocking in 5 hours and 25 minutes of on-screen time. This was with some mobile data combined with lots of WiFi over the 20 hours away from the plug. Charging up with the Quick Charge 3.0 charger was quick, with 50% juice in 30 minutes, but it still isn’t as fast as HUAWEI SuperCharge.
User Experience
Nice to see, better to hold!

It feels great in hand thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio and minimal bezels on every end. It is actually a bit shorter than my ASUS ZenFone 4, while being just as wide. Speaking of which, the bottom bezel is thicker than what most “bezel-less” devices sport, but then again few other devices have the screen pushed all the way to the top like the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2. The screen features a lower resolution than most flagships at just FHD+, but I had zero complaints. Hey, this display offers DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, which is definitely flagship worthy. Colors look a tad cold in the Increased Contrast modes, but the extra vividness may be appreciated by those accustomed to punchier colors.

The fingerprint is very intuitively positioned, but the whole back is a fingerprint magnet. A light touch is all you need for the fingerprint recognition, you don’t even need to press your finger down on it. It can be a bit too sensitive at times too, where it starts trying to scan my thigh when it is pressed a bit too tightly against me in my pocket.
Is MIUI for me and you?

Moving on, MIUI is one of the more colorful custom skins, further highlighting the color performance of the 18:9 IPS panel. Like most Chinese smartphones, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 has all its apps on the homescreen, no app drawer. A swipe to left brings up Smart Assistant, Xiaomi’s dabble into creating their own assistant. I would prefer to find Google Assistant here, but at least they didn’t dedicate a hardware button to it. Overall, the UI is very user friendly, and I didn’t have to hunt for features in the settings menu. The smoothness of it all is as expected from a smartphone with flagship specifications like the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2.

There are quite a lot of pre-installed system applications, most of which might not even see any use. Xiaomi thinks that offering their own browser is a good move, but I do appreciate having a file manager out of the box. Never know when you need to hunt for a file download a few months back.
Sounds good to me
Near-invisible earpiece for calls which also doubles as a secondary speaker for stereo audio.
The audio experience is decent thanks to the new earpiece doubling as a secondary speaker for stereo sound. Plugging in earphones via the USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter offered good sound, with the option for customization with Xiaomi Mi Sound Enhancer. A minor niggle but I have already moved on to relying on wireless audio when out and about. Speaking of which, AptX HD appears to be supported if we are to trust the official AptX portal, but connecting my AptX-capable Edifier S880DB and Edifier W293BT didn’t result in a popup informing me that the devices are connected via AptX.
A software issue that I noticed was that I couldn’t use custom ringtones in apps, or the notification wouldn’t come through. It has been reported as bug, and the suggested fix on some forums would require adding the audio file to the system files. I am not ready to root my device before finishing my review, so I had to live with Xiaomi’s own set of notification tones.
This shooter misses the mark

A sacrifice Xiaomi had to make to enable the tiny bezels on three sides was to move the selfie camera down to the lower right corner. While they aren’t the first to do it — Nokia did it back then too, with the Nokia N9 — but people are much more publicly vainer nowadays. Selfies are a mainstay and the position of the camera is definitely suboptimal for selfie fanatics. You can rotate the device with the stock camera, but try that in Instagram and you will be stuck. I definitely won’t be showing you my chin selfies on my Insta Stories. You can’t get too much with the front camera anyway, as the field-of-view is definitely smaller than most recent smartphones offer. The single rear camera is lonely, but Xiaomi did put a ring on it. I would too. The Sony Exmor RS IMX386 has proven pretty capable in HUAWEI’s implementations, but let’s see how Xiaomi fares.

The camera UI is about as basic as it gets. Which brings me to spot a few issues. Why in the world is a flagship-class smartphone not having auto HDR? Meanwhile, the Manual mode which even offers focus peaking is a whole 4 swipes away. That’s ridiculously slow! There is no quick way to fire it up. Instead, there is the much less useful Effects menu accessible on the sidebar. Priorities, Xiaomi, priorities.

The HDR mode is necessary to extract the most from the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2. It improves shots whether its daytime or night time. In low light, I found HDR consistently producing more interesting images than the Hand-Held Twilight (HHT) mode, making the latter redundant. The downer here is that the HDR mode is very slow for a flagship device, which was really disappointing to see. In lower light conditions, the slow processing in addition to the slow shutter speed results in shaky images even with OIS available. Sadly Xiaomi disabled Camera2 API, so I couldn’t test it with the acclaimed Google Camera. You can check out the full-sized samples over in our Flickr album.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 looks great, performs excellently in our benchmark chart and touts the intuitive MIUI 9 custom Android skin. We wished it had the IP68 rating found on other flagships, or a more capable camera software — we like the photos we got out of it, but the software was just too clunky to be in a flagship-class device — but in its current state, we award it our Silver Pokdeward. We recommend it, despite its less-than-ideal camera, because you will not find another flagship that offers all these premium hardware, at less than the price you would have to pay for an upper mid-range smartphone in 2017. How much, you ask? Just $639 (~RM2511) on Gearbest for a ceramic-backed, near bezel-less smartphone with 256GB of UFS 2.1 storage and the powerful Snapdragon 835.

Our thanks to Gearbest for providing us with the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 here. To support us, click on the button below to check out the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 on Gearbest:

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Enjoy OPPO Specials This Valentines – With An OPPO F5 For You To Win!

OPPO is making some special offerings to spice up the loving season. Main highlight would be, you stand a chance of winning an OPPO F5 through their Valentine’s Photography contest and their member’s day, where users can redeem gifts with member points.
OPPO Valentine’s Specials
First up is their photography contest, where you might just win yourself an OPPO F5. The contest, as you can see has already begun and will end on the 20th of February.
Here are the easy steps to participate in the contest;

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Couples are required to upload their sweetest photo to the contest link along with a creative caption. (Please do keep in mind that uploaded photos are subject to approval)
After it is approved, couples are required to share it through Facebook. Please check back after 1 day and share the link via Facebook.
Grand Prize winner will stand a chance in taking home a brand new OPPO F5.

To find out the terms and conditions of the contest, click right here to do so.
Here’s a small but cute gesture from OPPO. O-fans who purchase any OPPO devices from OPPO Concept Stores tomorrow (14th February 2018) will be getting free Ferrero Rocher Chocolates.
In addition, you can redeem gifts during OPPO’s member’s day, which is this 18th February 2018. Both new and existing consumers are entitled to trade in their member points to get gifts that includes KFC voucher, Shopee voucher, USB Cable, TGV Movie (2 Pax), Ollie neck pillow, Ollie doll, Now2 Smartband, car charger, and a power bank. O-fans may reserve their choice of gift by visiting concept stores beforehand to ensure its availability upon redemption.
Pokdepinion: Well if you want to join the contest, you’d need a pair…. Getting a Ferrero Rocher is cute, but it better be a large box of them! Don’t forget to redeem your points this member’s day!
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Xiaomi MIX 4 announced with under-display camera from 4999 CNY

Xiaomi technically did put a camera under the display with the Mi MIX 3, with a sliding mechanism to reveal the selfie camera. But this involves no moving parts, and its also a lot fancier. The Xiaomi MIX 4 finally achieves a true bezel-less design, which was the whole goal of the Xiaomi Mi MIX family back then.
Xiaomi MIX 4: finally, a full-screen device

While previous designs came with a somewhat visible patch on the display where visual quality is compromised, Xiaomi claims that their Camera Under Display technology provides for a uniform viewing experience, while not compromising on selfies.

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This is achieved by using micro-diamond pixels, a redesigned circuit area and transparent subpixel circuits. When you are using the 20MP selfie camera, Xiaomi promises that the Xiaomi MIX 4 will still offer a great imaging experience, thanks to the use of imaging algorithm.
The rest of the display is somewhat mediocre with a 1080p resolution, especially in this day and age where we have 1440p or higher resolutions. Aside from that, the Xiaomi MIX 4’s 6.67″ AMOLED 3D curved display flows over all edges seamlessly, and also supports 10-bit TrueColor and also goes all the way up to 120Hz refresh rate.

Over on the back we have beautiful ceramic, a signature of the Mi MIX family since the very first one. You can get the Xiaomi MIX 4 in Black, White and Gray, with the latter supposedly created by using rare earth metals and precise temperature control within 5°C. While the original Mi MIX and Mi MIX 2 had beautiful 24K gold camera rings, the Xiaomi MIX 4’s camera hump is decidedly more derivative.

You get a triple camera setup, with a rather uninspired 108MP Samsung HMX main camera shared with the Mi 11, a 13MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP 5x periscope zoom camera. It seems that Xiaomi focused their innovation on their ultra-wide camera, equipping it with a free-form lens to reduce distortion. The telephoto camera gets 50x digital zoom, letting you get closer to the action. Xiaomi could probably have done better if they used the Mi 11 Ultra‘s 50MP GN2 sensor, but I guess they didn’t want to further inflate the price.
Snapdragon 888+, Ultra-wide Band

This is Xiaomi’s first Snapdragon 888+ device, which is probably going to be hotter than the Snapdragon 888. Xiaomi probably learned a few things from the toasty Mi 11, so the Xiaomi MIX 4 now boasts several graphene heatspreaders, with a total surface area of 11588mm².

But a more important feature is probably the Ultra-wide Band (UWB) technology in the Xiaomi MIX 4. After much rumors, the Xiaomi MIX 4 will be the first to feature Ultra Wide Band technology, with the ability to connect by simply pointing it at compatible Xiaomi AIoT devices.
Xiaomi MIX 4 Specs

Snapdragon 888+, octa-core up to 2.995GHz, 5nm
Up to 12GB LPDDR5
Up to 512GB UFS 3.1 storage
6.67″ FHD+ 3D curved AMOLED display, CUP Full Screen Display
108MP main camera + 13MP ultra-wide + 8MP 5x periscope zoom
20MP CUP camera
4500mAh battery, 120W wired charging, 50W wireless charging
8GB+128GB: 4999 CNY (~RM3259)
8GB+256GB: 5299 CNY (~RM3455)
12GB+256GB: 5799 CNY (~RM3781)
12GB+512GB: 6299 CNY (~RM4107)

The Xiaomi MIX 4 will be available in China starting 16th August, with no mention of global availability. Considering that the Mi MIX Alpha and Mi MIX Fold weren’t exactly available here in Malaysia, I guess it would be wise to keep our expectations realistic for the Xiaomi MIX 4.
Pokdepinion: I am just sad that the design of the MIX 4 looks nothing like the original Mi MIX or the Mi MIX 2.
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Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds Set to Be Smaller Than Predecessors

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are set to replace their predecessors with a more compact design. Learn more about their features, charging capabilities, and release date right here.
Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds to Replace Predecessors with Smaller, More Compact Design

Sony is set to release a new and improved version of its WF-1000XM4 true wireless earbuds, which were launched in 2021. The FCC recently certified the new buds, and leaked images show that the WF-1000XM5 earbuds are more compact than their predecessors. This news will be a relief to many, as the size was one of the main issues with the M4s.

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Inside the case, the WF-1000XM5 earbuds have moved to two pins instead of three for charging. The case is also rated for 5V 230mAh, which is more than the M4’s case. Hopefully, this translates into faster charging. Wireless charging is also available.

The LED has been moved from inside the case to the front. While it’s hard to determine the exact size of the case from the leaked images, it appears to be smaller than the M4’s case.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are made in China, just like the LinkBuds S. With certifications underway and leaks starting to pop up, it is expected that the WF-1000XM5 earbuds will become official soon. Sony typically launches high-end Bluetooth headphones and earbuds around every two years.
Source
Pokdepinion: Can’t wait to see what they bring to the table but if it is more compact, one thing I’m not really expecting is a better battery life. Let’s see how it goes.
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Pre-orders For Ataribox Will Start December 14 – Price, release date and specs right here

It’s coming real soon!

When a mysterious website popped up back in June with a single video on it that teasing a brand new Atari console, people quickly dismissed it. Quickly assuming that it was an elaborate hoax made by some graphics student somewhere or just a person with too much time on their hands. But when Atari CEO Fred Chesnais went out in an interview during E3 2017 and confirmed that Atari was indeed working on a new console, people knew that this was real.
Atari was coming back.
He also revealed the name of this new console Atari’s working on, the Ataribox. He also revealed that the Ataribox will be based on PC technology. Pretty exciting stuff. (Well I was excited.)

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Then the following month, Atari released a bunch of new images of the Ataribox and it looked pretty spectacular, with the callback design of old Atari consoles. Also it was noticeably, how should I put this? Flat. It looked more like a TV box or something than a typical console, which suggests that it might be more of a Steam Link type of console.

Also in September, Atari released the specifications of the Ataribox as well as its price. The Ataribox is powered by a customised AMD processor together with Radeon Graphics technology as well as a customised Linux-based OS on board, reiterating Chesnais’ claims that the Ataribox will be based on PC technology. Atari stated that the console will keep the system “open”, meaning you can access and customise the OS as you see fit.
Atari have yet to announce any games coming to the Ataribox though. They did tease that some “new and current titles” from various studios would be coming their way but there’s real update on that claim. The only thing we know for sure is that you won’t be restricted to just the pre-loaded Atari games as the open nature of the OS allows you to access your other games from other platforms as long as it’s compatible with the OS and hardware.

You can start pre-ordering the Ataribox this coming December 14 via Indiegogo and will cost you somewhere around USD 249 – USD 299 (RM 1015 – RM 1220) depending on the specific editions and memory configurations.
Pokdepinion: I am looking forward to the Ataribox and I want it to succeed. I really do but if their games’ lineup don’t deliver than I fear that the Ataribox will be quickly forgotten by the gaming community.
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Razer Unleashes The New Razer Orochi V2 With Over 900 Hours Battery Life

Razer has just announced their new Razer Orochi V2 wireless mouse that the company claims can last over 900 hours with just a single AA battery. This new compact and ultra-lightweight wireless gaming mouse is equipped with ultra-low-latency Razer HyperSpeed Wireless technology and 2nd gen Razer Mechanical Mouse Switches.
Game anywhere with the Razer Orochi V2

Razer claims that Razer Orochi V2’s design is based on both their expert engineers as well as feedback from mouse enthusiasts which gives the mouse a symmetrical design, therefore, caters to many different grip styles.

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The tapered ends on the Orochi V2 provide a solid grip for quick, controlled flicks, while a raised back arch ensures a secure palm fit for less fatigue in extended sessions. Topped with a thumb-groove contour for stronger thumb grip and optimized side buttons for ease of access, the Orochi V2 allows users to dial in their focus on both work and play.

The Razer Orochi V2 weighs at just 60g and features a hybrid battery slot that can house either a AA battery or a AAA battery. The Orochi V2 can last over 900 hours on Bluetooth or 425 hours when used with Razer HyperSpeed Wireless. The mouse also features a true 18,000 DPI 5G optical sensor with 99.4% resolution accuracy with On-The-Fly sensitivity adjustment.
The 2nd gen Razer Mechanical Mouse Switches utilised by the Orochi V2 features gold-plated contact points which Razer says are less prone to degrading and have a longer lifespan of up to 60 million clicks. Additionally, the Orochi V2 features 100% PTFE mouse feet and an ultra-responsive 5G advanced optical sensor.

The Orochi V2 comes in either Black or White. The Razer Orochi V2 wireless gaming mouse will be available from 27 April onwards with a retail price of RM289 at major retailers and on the Razer website. For more information on the Razer Orochi V2, check here.
Pokdepinion: I really like the design of the Orochi V2. It’s very straightforward but it is sleek at the same time. The ergonomics of the mouse reminds me of the Logitech G304 which I am currently using and if it’s anything like that mouse then this would be a very comfortable mouse to use.
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U Mobile Wins Big At Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards — Recognized as Malaysia’s Mobile Data Service Provider Of The Year!

U Mobile won several awards at this year’s Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence awards with one of them being Malaysia’s Mobile Data Service Provider of the Year award.
U Mobile Wins Big At Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards
Besides being named Malaysia’s Mobile Data Service Provider of the Year, which they’ve won the award before, they’ve also won awards in Online Experience in Telecommunications Industry, Mobile Experience in Telecommunications Industry, as well as the Overall Experience in Telecommunications Industry.
Besides App-Onz, which their prepaid users can enjoy unlimited data for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the company is also the first in the country to offer free data for Waze and also the first to commercially launch 4.5G service on 1800Mhz and 2600Mhz. Not to forget, they also were the first to offer life microinsurance to their customers.

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For more details on U Mobile, you can check it out here.
Pokdepinion: Those are some awards won by them.. Any U Mobile users here? Are you satisfied with their service?
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Microsoft Now Allows You To Set Bing AI’s Personality

Be it human-friendly or the factual-minded, it’s up to you.

Microsoft has now added a new feature which allows users to pick which kind of personality they’d like to talk to, which will give varying tones in responses. Three options are available: Creative, Balanced, and Precise. The Creative option gives you the “original and imaginative” chatbot that talks more lively, whereas on the other end of the spectrum you have “Precise”, which in essence talks in a more ‘robotic’ way and gives out less feelings.

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By default, the chatbot uses the Balanced mode and should be available to most Bing AI users. This new feature should help with the recent anomalies which made the AI said some odd to nasty things. That made Microsoft put some tape on Bing’s imaginative mouths, and has caused a bit of unresponsiveness in conversations as a result. Though, the restriction has since been lifting off slowly as the model behavior gets patched up.
The latest update to Bing AI includes “significant reduction in cases where Bing refuses to reply for no apparent reason,” says Mikhail Parakhin, Microsoft’s Head of Web Services. This should mean less odd responses like the one we saw before – right on time as Bing AI is expecting more users when the feature is implemented straight into Windows 11’s taskbar and various Microsoft services.
Source: The Verge
Pokdepinion: Pretty neat upgrade, I personally would prefer Precise just to get straight to the point.
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If you’re reading this, then chances are that you are either looking for 60% keyboard, or simply a keyboard that can be as compact as possible without sacrificing on functionality. We recently reviewed the Razer Huntsman Mini and it’s pretty great if you like keyboards of this form factor.
However, you might be uncertain as to whether to go for the Razer Clicky Optical Switches or the Razer Linear Optical Switches, even more so if you have yet to try optical switches for keyboards. This should easily answer that question from both an objective and subjective standpoint, especially for those who aren’t familiar with optical switches.

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Razer Huntsman Mini Optical Switch Comparison
Razer Optical Switches
Razer Huntsman Mini Review – Optical switches
Compared to your usual mechanical switches, the Razer Optical Switch actuates via light instead of metallic contact from moving parts. It happens when a light beam passes through the switch stem, which subsequently send a signal to your PC for the appropriate action. This also eliminates bouncing issues as the signal is sent as soon as you actuate the key.
Razer also included a metal key stabilizer which allows for lesser moving parts in the switch when combined optical actuation technology. As a result, these optical switches have a better lifespan compared to your standard mechanical switches, at least withstanding 100 million keystrokes compared to 50 million for mechanical switches. Having less physical contact also mostly eliminates switch degradation.
The combination of a new stem shape and the key stabilizer bar, you also get to enjoy a more balanced keypress with no wobbles or misfires which typically happens when you press the edge of a key. It’s also worth pointing out that it has the same actuation and rest point, allowing for instant reset.
Razer Clicky Optical Switches

Switch
Razer Clicky Optical Switch
Standard Clicky Mechanical Switch

Key Feel
Light and Clicky
Tactile and Clicky

Actuation Method
Light Actuation
Metal contact point

Actuation Force
45g
50 to 60g

Actuation Point
1.5mm
2.0 to 2.2mm

Durability
100 million keystrokes
50 million keystrokes

Stability
Cross Stem with Stabilizer
Cross Stem

The Razer Clicky Optical Switch, which is purple in colour, isn’t the same as like a Cherry MX Blue apart from it being clicky, but it doesn’t feel completely world’s apart. It has a 1.5mm actuation distance, which is noticeably shorter than your standard clicky switches with just a 45g actuation force.
Razer Huntsman Mini Optical Switch Comparison – Razer Clicky Optical Switch
It feels noticeably lighter than any blue mechanical switch I have tried so far, but it’s just as enjoyable. There’s less fatigue when I’m typing on this, and I can also feel that I type faster. While it’s still rather noisy given the clicky nature of the switch, it’s actually softer, albeit slightly, than the Razer Green clicky switches and the Cherry MX Blue switches.
Razer Linear Optical Switches

Switch
Razer Linear Optical Switch
Standard Linear Mechanical Switch

Key Feel
Light and Instant
Linear and Silent

Actuation Method
Light Actuation
Metal contact point

Actuation Force
40g
45g

Actuation Point
1.0mm
1.2mm

Durability
100 million keystrokes
50 million keystrokes

Stability
Cross Stem with Stabilizer
Cross Stem

The Razer Linear Optical Switch, which is red in colour, and isn’t far off from your standard linear mechanical switch but feels vastly different. The actuation force is lighter by 5g, effectively putting it at 40g, and it also a shorter actuation point at just 1mm.
Razer Huntsman Mini Optical Switch Comparison – Razer Linear Optical Switch
As far as feels go however, it feels more like a membrane keyboard rather than a typical linear switch mechanical keyboard. The reason I say this is because there is a resistive sensation as you press it down. In comparison, the Cherry MX Red goes down perfectly smooth. Personally, I feel like Razer’s own mecha-membrane Ornata keyboard feels more like a mechanical keyboard than this.
Razer Huntsman Mini: Which Optical Switch To Go For?

At this point, I’m pretty sure you know which one I would personally recommend. The Razer Clicky Optical Switches are definitely the better choice, even if you are a fan of linear switches. It’s comfortable to type on, it works great for gaming, and it feels like a proper mechanical keyboard. The only downside, particularly for fans of quieter switches, is the clicky nature of the keyboard, but at least it’s more bearable compared to your standard clicky switches.
However, I wouldn’t tell you to completely look over the Razer Linear Optical Switches either. As this ultimately boils down to personal preference, my recommendation might not be the best for you and you might actually like it. While I will still recommend the other switch regardless, it would be best to stop by your local gaming or PC shop to try it out for yourself. That would be the clearest way to know whether you will enjoy it or not.
If you want to check out our review of the Razer Huntsman Mini, click right here.
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Antec KATANA DDR4-3200 CL16 Review — if looks could kill…

When I saw the Antec KATANA, I knew I had to have it. It looks downright awesome, and it was quite intriguing to see Antec, a brand better known for cooling solutions, make memory. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Unboxing

The packaging of the Antec KATANA is really quite exquisite, with a textured cover and chromed text and logo. The Antec KATANA we have here is clocked at 3200MHz, and it arrived as a 2x8GB kit. You can also get the 3600MHz CL18 kit if you want, but enthusiasts who need higher density kits are out of luck, as Antec is only offering 16GB kits.

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The back lists out the supported motherboard synchronization software, which includes just about every brand out there. The list of features highlights its aesthetics more than anything, and the specifications tables even lists the iF Design Award 2019 as a “feature”.

On top of the sweet finishing, the Antec KATANA’s box has a lid that can be opened up to show off a nice quote about the inspiration behind its design. The RAM is also showcased in a nice clear window with the branding and a cheesy tagline under it. It is as if Antec wants you to showcase this RAM in its box, instead of using it.

And here we have the Antec KATANA in a plastic tray, out of the box. Antec didn’t think you would need any sort of documentation, which I do agree with, but I think a case badge would have been nice to have. Especially if it was in the shape of a katana like on the front of the box.
Appearance

As you might have noticed, I really like the design of the Antec KATANA. It is very no-frills, matching a sleek chromed RGB light bar with an understated matte black heatspreader. There’s a tiny sliver of the chromed light bar peeking out from behind the heatspreader. To live up to its inspiration, there’s a little pointy extension on the bottom end of the Antec KATANA, which can look rather odd when viewed from this angle ,but you will rarely get to see it like this anyway.

The top down view is absolutely stunning with the chrome standing out against the black heatspreader. It also matches the silver of our motherboard here, which adds bonus points. But the monochrome finish of the Antec KATANA will fit right in with most motherboards anyway.

I am not exactly sure why the Antec KATANA’s heatspreaders are this thick. They are definitely the thickest we have seen, and I suspect it might have something to do with how Antec makes cooling hardware and they cannot underperform in this area. While thick, it is still well within clearance limits, although the height might get in the way of some bulkier air coolers.

When RGB is turned on, the colors are slightly less vivid than what I have seen from RAM kits with the standard white diffusers. Something which you would expect given the chromed finish, but I still commend Antec for not sacrificing on the brightness and smoothness of the RGB lighting here. The color changes very nicely and the diffusion is also impeccable.

And the sliver of light peeking out of the black heatspreader looks downright awesome! I guess instead of being a katana, this is now a light saber? I absolutely love the aesthetics of this RAM.
Specifications
Antec KATANA DDR4-3200 CL18

Memory dies
8Gb Hynix CJR

Frequency
3200MHz

Primary Timings
CL16-18-18-36

Voltage
1.35V

Capacity
8GB x 2

Dimensions
45.9(H) x 133.8(L) x 8.6(W) mm

Test System

CPU
Intel Core i9-11900K @ 5.1GHz

Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero

Memory
2 x 8GB Antec KATANA 3200MHz CL18

Storage
250GB Samsung 850 EVO SATA SSD
960GB Kingston UV500 SATA SSD
1TB Kingston KC2500 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD

Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition

Power Supply
Cooler Master V1200 Platinum

Monitor
BenQ EL2870U

GPU Driver
NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Drivers 466.61

Performance

Right off the bat, the XMP profile is perfectly stable on our bench rig. 3200MHz RAM isn’t exactly groundbreaking anyway, but as usual, we will be overclocking it to see how far we can go.

I didn’t manage to get DDR4-3600 CL16 to boot even with up to 1.45V, so loosening up my timings to close to the XMP profile of the DDR4-3600 version of the Antec KATANA was successful, at a lower voltage of 1.35V. It is actually slightly tighter than the XMP too, at 18-20-20-40 versus 18-20-20-44.

Pushing beyond that was slightly more challenging. This is DDR4-4000 19-23-23-42  at 1.35V which was bootable, and stable for more than 100% in Memtest. That’s why we test to 400%, as settings that were stable for 100% might not be fully stable for use yet.

Throwing on what I consider the highest “safe” voltage of 1.45V, we got 4000MHz to work, and I successfully tightened the timings down to 18-23-23-40. Performance is pretty impressive too, with a good 21% improvement overall in terms of bandwidth. The latency is increased, but that’s due to Rocket Lake’s memory gearing configuration.
Trying to go to DDR4-4266 didn’t result in a bootable setting, even with 20-25-25-45 2T timings on our kit. We have seen Hynix CJR kits go higher, but I guess we were luckier with those kits than with this. I would still consider these results pretty respectable though, as we just went from DDR4-3200 to DDR4-4000.
In terms of thermal, the heatspreaders were well below 50°C at all times even when running the memory tests at DDR4-4000 1.45V. The DIMMs themselves do not have temperature sensors though, but I guess it is absolutely fine as RAM do not really heat up much in normal use, unless your definition of normal use is hammering them with memory tests, which isn’t even a problem, as we discovered here.
Conclusion

The Antec KATANA isn’t the cheapest kit of memory we have tested. It’s a good RM469, but I guess considering the stunning aesthetics, the slight premium is worth it. You don’t always get memory that looks good both with and without its lighting on, but the Antec KATANA is one of them.
Even though the DDR4-3200 XMP profile is pretty standard, Antec probably binned them quite conservatively as I got from 3200MHz to 4000MHz easily enough, so I am quite happy. I think the main takeaway is that if you want to be less aggressive, you can most probably save a few bucks by getting the DDR4-3200 kit and just overclock it to 3600MHz yourself.
Not like the DDR4-3600 kits are significantly more expensive at RM499, but hey, RM30 can get you a nice meal. Overall, it is a nice kit of RAM with a beautiful sexy design and a nice bit of overclocking headroom, and I really look forward to what Antec has up their sleeves after this.

Our thanks to Antec Memory Malaysia for sending us the Antec KATANA for review. You can check out the Antec KATANA on Shopee via this affiliate link to help support what we do here on Pokde.net.

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New OPPO Reno6 Series Coming To Town Very Soon

The OPPO Reno6 series will be available in Malaysia soon, according to OPPO. The Reno6 series, which is centred on OPPO’s goal to produce a series of smartphones that capture the user’s emotions in every photo taken, comes with a host of capabilities that make it the portrait expert.
OPPO Reno6 Series coming to Malaysia soon

The OPPO Reno6 series includes Bokeh Flare Portrait, which transforms every shot into a work of art. Thanks to its Cinematic Bokeh Flare Portrait Video effect, videography aficionados may now turn memorable occasions or regular moments into a TV drama-worthy scene.

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The OPPO Reno6 series epitomises the ability to capture simple moments in life and transform them into amazing cinematic scenes. Stay tuned to the OPPO Official Website or Facebook page for more information about the Reno6 series and its impending release.
At the moment there is no word in regards to the specifications the Reno6 series will be packing. So stay tuned to us here at Pokde.net for more information on the new Reno6 series.
Pokdepinion: Wow it feels just like yesterday when the OPPO Reno5 launched here and now the Reno6 series is almost here. Not gonna lie, I feel kinda old.
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[IFA 2019] Motorola One Zoom is a Camera Powerhouse at an Affordable Price

If you’re more interested in the smartphone side of things, then this might just be something that will pique your interest. At Lenovo Tech Life @ IFA 2019 in Berlin, the Motorola One Zoom was officially revealed. There are a number of interesting things about the device, particularly the camera, so let’s take a look at it one by one.

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For starters, the Motorola One Zoom has a quad-camera setup. It consists of a main camera with a 48 megapixel sensor that’s capable of shooting quad-pixel 12-megapixel, 8 megapixel telephoto camera, 16 megapixel 117° ultra-wide camera, and a 5 megapixel depth-sensor camera.

Apart from that, it has a large 4,000 mAh battery capacity along with a TurboPower feature which is said to deliver hours of power in just minutes of charging. It is said that battery life will be up to two days on a single charge, though this will differ from user to user.

The Motorola One Zoom has a Full HD 6.4-inch Max Vision OLED display for the best viewing experience possible. It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC, giving it more of a midrange performance with great energy efficiency. For security, it has an under-display fingerprint scanner. For a detailed look of the specifications, check it out right below here:
Motorola One Zoom Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
Snapdragon 675 (2 x Kryo 460 Gold @ 2 GHz + 6 x Kryo 460 Silver @ 1.7 GHz)

GPU:
Adreno 612

RAM:
4GB

Display:
6.4″ FHD (1080 x 2340) Max Vision OLED display

Storage:
128GB(expandable via microSD)

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
48MP f/1.7, PDAF, OIS
8MP f/2.4, 3X Optical Zoom, OIS
16MP f/2.2, 117° ultra-wide
5MP depth sensor
Front Camera
25MP f/2.0

OS:
Android 9.0 Pie

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR

Battery:
4,000 mAh (non-removable)
15W fast charging

Dimensions:
158 x 75 x 8.8 mm

Weight:
190 g

But wait, there’s more.
Moto E6 Plus

There is also the affordable Moto E6 Plus, which has an emphasis on its display and camera. It features a dual-camera system with a 13 megapixel main camera and a 2 megapixel depth sensor camera for portrait shots. It also utilizes a 6.1-inch Max Vision HD+ display.

CPU/Chipset:
MediaTek MT6762 Helio P22 (8 x Cortex-A53 @ 2 GHz)

GPU:
PowerVR GE8320

RAM:
2GB / 4GB

Display:
6.1″ HD+ (720 x 1560) Max Vision display

Storage:
32GB / 64GB (expandable via microSD)

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
13MP f/2.0, PDAF
2MP depth sensor
Front Camera
8MP f/2.0

OS:
Android 9.0 Pie

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Hotspot
Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE

Battery:
3,000 mAh (non-removable)

Dimensions:
155.6 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm

Weight:
149.7 g

Both the Motorola One Zoom and Moto E6 Plus will be coming this 5th September 2019. It will be made available in selected European countries and the United States. The former will be priced at €429 while the latter will be significantly more affordable at €139. As for its release and pricing in Malaysia / Asia Pacific Region, that will be announced at a later date.
Pokdepinion: I already have my eyes set on the Motorola One Zoom. The camera looks like it would be pretty fun to play with.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Family May Get A New Member In The Form Of Tri-Fold

After Fold, comes Flip, then comes foldable display sandwich perhaps?
Image: Wccftech
Going by usual release plans, Samsung are expected to release the Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 somewhere in this year. However, rumor on the street is pointing out a potential third device under the foldable family which uses a brand-new form factor: tri-fold. The company has demonstrated this technology before (under their Samsung Display division), so it’s not entirely out of the picture for Samsung’s mobile division to release it to the market.
The leak comes from Yogesh Brar, who says that Samsung is working on a tri-fold device at the expense of a possible Galaxy S23 FE development. It’s pretty vague, but the leaker claims the device “might” launch within this year.

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There is no Galaxy S23 FE in the development chain unlike what the recent rumours have been pointing..
Samsung is instead working on the improved Z Fold 5 & Flip 5 along with a Tri-Fold that might finally ship this year
FE fans should look elsewhere…
— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) March 24, 2023

Do take this claim with great amounts of salt – as there are very little information out there that corroborate this claim. Meanwhile, the apparent demise of Galaxy S23 FE seems to go against the rumor on the street that it is in fact, in active development. We’re still a few months away from August where Samsung will likely host their second Unpacked event of the year – so things may and will definitely change by then.
Source: Wccftech
Pokdepinion: While a tri-fold device will definitely mean an even larger display, one does wonder how thick it’d be when folded.
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Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5″ SSD review

Introduction

The Samsung 850 EVO is by no means a new drive. It has been around for around two years by now, but it is still highly regarded as one of the fastest 2.5″ SATA SSDs you can buy now. We have here the 250GB variant which should offer just enough space for your OS, and some software that could benefit from the quick speeds of an SSD. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the SSD.
Unboxing

There really isn’t much to see from the packaging. I like that Samsung went with a more professional outlook instead of trying to attract gamers with garish graphics.

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In fact, it was too professional in a sense, without any speed rating or specifications on the box, instead telling you to visit their website.

Open the box and slide out the tray inside, and you will find the SSD. On the other side of the tray is where you find an envelope with the software installer CD (we still do CDs nowadays?) as well as the installation guide and warranty information booklets.
Appearance

The SSD itself features a professional look, with a sleek black aluminium enclosure devoid of any markings aside from the Samsung logo, an arrow pointing towards the connectors and a grey square.

Flipping it over reveals the model number, power rating as well as other miscellaneous barcodes. There is also the disclaimer that opening the enclosure will void the warranty but considering Samsung used a pentalobe screw here, not everyone would be able to open it anyway.
Specifications

Capacity
250GB (233GB usable)

Interface
SATA 3 6 Gbps

NAND Type
Samsung 128Gb TLC V-NAND

DRAM Cache
512MB LPDDR3

Controller
Samsung MGX

Rated speed
Read:
Up to 540 MB/s
Write:
Up to 520 MB/s

Dimensions
100 mm X 69.85 mm X 6.8 mm

Weight
< 55 gram

Included accessories
Software CD, installation guide, warranty information booklet

Testing Methodology
The Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD is tested as a storage drive on Pokde’s new benchrig. I ran several synthetic SSD benchmarks and real-time transfer speed to determine the performance.

Processor
Intel Core i7-5820K

Motherboard
ASUS X99-Deluxe

Memory
Avexir Blitz 16GB DDR4

Storage
Toshiba 1TB HDD

Power Supply
Cooler Master V850

Performance
Synthetic
For the synthetic benchmarks section, we will be running Anvil Storage Utilities, AS SSD and our favorite, CrystalDiskMark Shizuku Edition.

Naturally, with the Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD being one of the fastest SSDs on the market, it blazes through CrystalDiskMark, with sequential speeds that exceed Samsung’s claims. The 4K read and writes are also faster than the Western Digital Blue SSD 1TB we have previously reviewed. This is quite surprising considering that bigger SSDs usually score more in these benchmarks with more NAND chips to improve parallelism which gives SSDs the speeds they have.

We see the speeds tamed a little in AS SSD as it uses a different algorithm and incompressible data. Still, the Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD remains the fastest 2.5″ SATA SSD we have tested. The numbers that are of most interest are the 4K read numbers, as higher 4K read scores usually translate to a snappier user experience. At 35 MB/s it can already match lower end NVMe SSDs, which is really impressive.

Anvil Storage Utilities takes it a step further and tests everything from the IOPS to the response time of the drives in each respective test. It does respectably well here, with a score of 4954.96 versus the Western Digital Blue SSD’s 4426.86. For a smaller SSD to beat a larger SSD is rare, unless there are massive differences in NAND technology or controller, which is probably what we are seeing when comparing these two drives.
Real world performance

A disclaimer in the real world performance benchmark is that the files were copied from a slower Apacer AS510S Pro II 256GB 2.5″ SATA SSD. I noted that it bottlenecks the performance, which definitely reduced the scores. Yep, it’s that fast that the read speeds on another SSD can actually bottleneck its write speeds.
Cost per GB

All that performance comes at a premium, with the Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD costing more per GB than most 2.5″ SATA SSDs out there. At RM1.836 per GB, it is still cheaper than the Plextor MP8EY 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD or the industrial-grade Transcend SSD510K 128GB SSD but it is still far from affordable in comparison with the other SSDs in the market.
Conclusion
The Samsung 850 EVO family may not be offer the best value per GB out there, but looking at the performance figures, this is definitely the drive to get if you want snappy performance without moving up the ranks to a PCIe NVMe SSD. The cheapest Samsung 850 EVO 250GB I found on Lazada was going for RM459, pricier than certain planar MLC NAND drives. For the price, the Samsung 850 EVO 250GB is definitely worthy of a Silver Pokdeward. If only it didn’t command such a premium for the performance it offered…

The PokdeRig
We would like to thank our sponsors for our very own benchmarking rig – The PokdeRig. These companies believe in us and put their trust into what we do. They deserve all the love in the world!
Asus X99-Deluxe
Intel Core i7-5820K
CM MasterAir Pro 4
CM V850 PSU
Sandisk Ultra II
Avexir Blitz 16GB DDR4

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Microsoft Clamps Down On Emulation In Xbox Consoles

Users were able to download emulation tools despite the policy not allowing so.
Image: @gamr12 (Twitter)
Xbox Series X|S users who currently uses game emulation software likely has been locked out from accessing it – as Microsoft clamps down on the practice. This is despite the fact that policies has already banned such practice way before, however it’s the matter of enforcement in this case.
Gamecrater has noted that apps like PPSPP, RetroArch was in fact available in Microsoft Store prior to the policy change. Since then, users were able to continue downloading these tools through direct downloads in the Edge browser – much like how Windows users get their apps for the most part. When attempting to launch the apps, users will be greeted with this message: “Unable to launch this game or app. The game or app you’re trying to launch violates Microsoft Store policy and is not supported.”

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Game emulation, by itself, is technically not illegal – there are actual use cases for these tools, of which the use cases are well within the legal boundaries. Microsoft likely knows this, which is why they have left one option available for those who needs emulation access: by purchasing a Xbox developer license with a one-time $20 fee. However, this is not available on all regions, so that still left some of the emulation community rather miffed.

For the past 2 years, we've promoted legal emulation on a popular platform that people have genuinely enjoyed.
It's a true shame to see @Xbox crack down on emulation for those who can't afford Developer Mode, or don't have the means to purchase it. This is a shot in the face.
— 🇮🇪 gamr13 🇮🇪 (@gamr12) April 6, 2023

Microsoft has said in a statement to Kotaku: “We continually evolve our mechanisms for reviewing and taking enforcement actions on content distributed to the Store to ensure alignment with our Microsoft Store Policies.”
Source: PCMag | Ars Technica
Pokdepinion: One might wonder if Nintendo’s strict IP policies may have an effect to such decisions (since their games are most often played in emulation, which they are obviously unhappy about).
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New WhatsApp Vulnerability Leaves Users Open to MP4 Malware Threat

It looks like there has been an increase of threats in WhatsApp as of late. This isn’t a surprise given how popular the messaging platform is. Now, there is yet another one in the form of an MP4 malware threat, which Facebook quietly disclosed.
As revealed in the advisory notice on 14th November 2019, it appears that a specially-crafted MP4 file has the capability of infecting users’ smartphones with malware.
A stack-based buffer overflow could be triggered in WhatsApp by sending a specially crafted MP4 file to a WhatsApp userAdvisory Notice
There are multiple versions of WhatsApp across different platforms that are vulnerable to this MP4 malware threat. The versions listed are:

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Android versions prior to 2.19.274, iOS versions prior to 2.19.100Enterprise Client versions prior to 2.25.3Windows Phone versions before and including 2.18.368Business for Android versions prior to 2.19.104Business for iOS versions prior to 2.19.100.
The vulnerability which resulted in the MP4 malware threat on WhatsApp was said to be a result of the massive security breach that was revealed in May 2019. This was the one where hackers can easily takeover a smartphone simply by calling the device.
Users are advised to update WhatsApp to the latest version available in order to prevent the issue from happening.
Source: 7news
Pokdepinion: Well, I keep my apps automatically updated so I think I’m in the clear. Best to check the version running on your device as soon as possible.
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ASUS ROG STRIX SQ7 is an NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD That’s Coming Soon

ASUS ROG STRIX SQ7 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

It appears that we can expect to see a new high end SSD offering with the ASUS ROG STRIX SQ7 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage later this year. It will be launched in the standard M.2 form factor., in case you were wondering.
There isn’t much details available on the ASUS ROG STRIX SQ7 at the moment but the company did tease about in a poster. It will be their first PCIe Gen 4 storage device, and it will available with 1TB capacity as its lowest option. No word on exactly how many memory options will be available, but there is expected to be more than just a single 1TB option.

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Apart from that, it appears that there will be no heatsink included as well, at least based on the poster. We can expect to see it appear either on 17th May 2022 during their Boundless event, or at this year’s Computex. We will report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: It does seem a little odd since PCIe Gen 5 is here but I suppose this move would make sense if they’re looking to strengthen their foothold in the storage space, pun intended, before going in even deeper.
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Blizzard Launches New Halloween Terror 2021 Overwatch Event

The new Overwatch event, Halloween Terror is now live on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Cosmetic unlocks from previous events will also be available, alongside new rewards you can earn this year. The event will be available from October 12 through November 2.
Overwatch’s Halloween Terror event is now live
The Halloween Terror event will feature new content such as the Junkenstein’s Revenge weekly challenges as well as new Halloween-themed skins. In Junkenstein’s Revenge, players will have to play either 9, 18 or 27 games in either Quick Play, Arcade, or Competitive Play to earn rewards that include player icons and Epic character skins. A win during Junkenstein’s Revenge will count as playing two games. All Junkenstein’s Revenge missions will be available throughout the event (Vengeful Ghost, Volatile Zomnics, Mystery Swap, Frenzied Stampede, Three They Were, Shocking Surprise).
Check out the breakdown of the weekly challenges and their rewards down below:

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Week 1

Play 9 games and players will get a Skeleton Genji Spray
Play 18 Games and players will get a Skeleton Genji Player Icon
Play 27 Games and players will get a Skeleton Genji Epic Skin

Week 2

Play 9 Games and players will get an Einherjar Zarya Spray
Play 18 Games and players will get an Einherjar Zarya Player Icon
Play 27 Games and players will get an Einherjar Zarya Epic Skin

Week 3

Play 9 Games and players will get a Clown Roadhog Spray
Play 18 Games and players will get a Clown Roadhog Player Icon
Play 27 Games and players will get a Clown Roadhog Epic Skin

Apart from the weekly Junkenstein’s Revenge rewards, the Halloween Terror event will also feature five Legendary skins. These Legendary skins include:

Draugr Reinhardt
Satyr Lucio
Vampire Bat Echo
Coffin Bastion
Vampire Hunter Brigitte

Overwatch Halloween Terror in-game event is live now on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Head over here for more information on the event.
Pokdepinion: Personally I think it’s a bit of an ask for Blizzard to ask us to play 27 games to get the Epic skins. I mean, the wait time for each game is already atrociously long nowadays, how long do you expect us (and me) to spend just to get into one match. Even if you do happen to win every match you play, it’s gonna take 14 matches.
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POCO X2 With 120Hz Refresh Rate And Liquid Cooling To Be Launched On February 4

Beforehand there was teasers of the POCO X2. Now it seems that the company has confirmed of its release date as well as some interesting features of the smartphone.

An Xperience that will make you go, "Bruh, it's #SmoothAF". #POCOX2 is arriving on Feb 4th 2020.
Want to know if your smartphone is Smooth AF? Visit now: https://t.co/LQqSvTpgLz pic.twitter.com/BB5RFQ8lVO
— POCO – Madder By the Minute (@IndiaPOCO) January 27, 2020

The phone, which is scheduled to be unveiled on the 4th of February 2020 in India is said to have an “extreme refresh rate” display as well as liquid cooling to handle the thermals better.
It is also suggested that the phone will be featuring a Sony IMX 686 sensor and if reports are true, then the POCO X2 will be powered by a Snapdragon 730G chipset. In terms of memory, it could pack 8GB RAM that’s paired with 256GB of internal storage.

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Other than that, a 4500mAh battery is touted to be present and there’s also 27W fast charging support. Your traditional headphone jack is supposedly available too. As for the software, the phone is expected to run MIUI for POCO, which is based on android 10.
Pokdepinion: Well that was unexpected. I thought that they were releasing a flagship smartphone. Well regardless, let’s just hope that they keep the POCO DNA alive with the POCO X2 and make it affordable/value for money. I mean that made the brand famous in the first place with the original POCO.
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Steam Introduces New Off-Topic Reviews Due to Borderlands Series Review Bomb

Borderlands 2 is the first game on Steam to make use of the “off-topic reviews” marking. Over 4000 reviews are excluded from the rating calculation. pic.twitter.com/kUMN0Lqdx3
— Steam Database (@SteamDB) April 6, 2019

After the announcement of Borderlands 3, many gamers were excited for the highly-anticipated sequel. However, there were also many gamers who were unhappy as the game will be available exclusively on the Epic Games Store for the first six months of its launch. This resulted in Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel receiving waves of negative reviews out of nowhere.
Due to it spiraling out of control, Steam has implemented a system to try to separate the fair criticism from the criticism that doesn’t revolve around the specific game and Borderlands 2 is the first title to take advantage of it. It is known as the Off-Topic Review system, which is designed to separate the review bomb from actual criticisms toward a particular game. Thus far, there have been over 4,000 reviews that have been moved to this Off-Topic review system, which also excluded it from the overall game rating calculation.

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As of right now, the title’s Steam page states that the recent reviews have been very positive, but has an asterisk next to the text. If you hover over the text, a paragraph appears stating that the product has received some off-topic reviews recently. It is worth noting that the new system can be toggle withing your preferences if you would like to see all the reviews regardless of the review bombing.
What is also worth noting is how ineffective this tactic has been. Borderlands 2 peaked a little over 40,000 concurrent users the other day which put it as one of the top ten most played games on the platform that day. On top of that, The Handsome Collection is also currently a Steam top-seller. The review bombing tactic might have had the exact opposite result then what some people wanted.
Pokdepinion: If it means that the developer / publisher will make more money with each sale, I personally have no problems with it. It certainly is worth the hassle of downloading another game client.

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Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold has a PC Mode so good that it trounces all other foldables out there!

Foldables are still a very new segment for smartphone makers to explore, but some are definitely doing it better than others. The Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold may be a bit late to the game, but Xiaomi is apparently capable of doing some things better than what the incumbents like Samsung and HUAWEI are capable of. Take PC Mode that was added to the Mi Mix Fold in its latest V12.0.10.0 update.
While PC Mode might not be the first feature that comes to mind when discussing a foldable smartphone, when you see it, it does make a lot of sense. I mean, we have Samsung DeX on Samsung tablets, and we also have HUAWEI EMUI Desktop on HUAWEI tablets. But why didn’t they bring it to their foldables, considering that they usually unfold to about the size of a standard tablet anyway?

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Xiaomi’s PC Mode is very reminiscent of Windows 10’s interface, which makes its name perfectly apt. But aside from that, it also allows for significant improvements in multi-tasking, with the ability to use four apps at the same time with a PC-esque windowed interface. Ben Sin who was testing the feature did note that certain apps do have quirky compatibility issues, but I guess that’s more an Android problem than Xiaomi’s.
With all that said, Xiaomi still has some ways to go before being able to outright match the likes of HUAWEI EMUI Desktop. Xiaomi still lacks the ability to connect to external displays via USB-C, which is very peculiar. Given how every flagship from HUAWEI and Samsung offers that functionality, Xiaomi definitely has to play catch up in that area.

So yeah, while Xiaomi wins some, they also lose some. But I would also argue that having a PC mode on the device itself is definitely a lot more useful than having to connect to an external display to use it, but that might just be me.
Source
Pokdepinion: Too bad that the Mi Mix Fold is not available here… I would love to give it a spin.
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Lenovo Announces Updated ThinkPad and IdeaPad Models On MWC 2023

The laptop manufacturer commits further on sustainability with its latest laptop designs.

Following CES 2023, Lenovo has even more new products to announce and the MWC 2023 (Mobile World Congress) is the event of choice. This announcement unveils second-generation ThinkPad Z series, fourth-gen ThinkPad X series, ThinkPad T series and ThinkPad L series as well as fifth-gen ThinkPad E series to complete the company’s 2023 ThinkPad portfolio.

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The company reiterates its commitment in sustainability, with the use of sustainable fuel in shipping, renewable-energy factories, optimized manufacturing process and they are targeting to integrate post-consumer recycled (PCC) content in all of its PC products by 2025, two years from now.

The star of the show belongs to ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2, with a new woven Flax cover material (bonded to the 75% recycled aluminum) sourced from fully agricultural product by harvesting flax plant fibers. Under that panel is the latest AMD hardware featuring Ryzen 7000 series CPUs, with configurations maxing out at 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD.

Next up is ThinkPad X series, which comes with traditional clamshell form factor (X13) or 2-in-1s (X13 Yoga) both will feature Intel 13th Gen vPro CPUs – with the standard X13 provided with AMD Ryzen 7000 option. The laptop comes with a feature called “ultrasonic human presence detection” which the company claims can protect the user against over-the-shoulder eavesdroppers.

Meanwhile, ThinkPad T series will see a minor upgrade with a new optional 5MP camera, low-blue light display plus a 2.8K OLED panel available on T14, T14s and T16 Gen 4. The ThinkPad L series gets new display option for both of its 13-inch models, whereas the larger L14 and L15 Gen 4 can now be optioned with 2TB SSDs, doubling the previous generation.
ThinkPad E series will finally get the 16:10 display upgrade in the form of E14 Gen 5 plus an all-new E16 model. The laptop can be optioned with Intel 13th Gen CPUs or AMD Ryzen 7030 series CPUs – Furthermore, users can max out the specs at 40GB RAM and dual SSD storage slots “offering up to 2TB”.

On the IdeaPad side, the new IdeaPad Duet 3i features Intel’s new N-series processor and comes in at smartphone-level 8.95mm thickness with its tablet-focused form factor. The 11.5-inch display now comes at 2K resolution with touch capabilities and 100% DCI-P3 coverage on top of 400 nits of brightness; 5MP front + 8MP rear cameras; plus Lenovo Digital Pen support. Finally, the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook features a MediaTek Kompanio 500 series SoC under its 14-inch, 1.3kg chassis; FHD webcam as well as 13.5 hours of battery life.
Most models announced today won’t be available right away – with the product rollout beginning at April this year starting with ThinkPad L13 and L13 Yoga. The remaining models will follow suit in the span of few months with most models expected to launch in the mid-2023 period, going as far back to August launch. At this writing no local pricing info is available – so stay tuned for updates.
Pokdepinion: That’s a lot of products released in one go, but also interesting to see Lenovo chose a smartphone-focused event to announce their laptops.
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TM Unifi Users Facing Slowdowns in Sabah – Repairs Are Underway

TM Unifi Users Facing Slowdowns in Sabah

#unifiAlerts Insiden kebakaran kabel telah memberi kesan kepada sebilangan pelanggan unifi di Tawau dan Lahad Datu. Kerja-kerja baik pulih sedang giat dijalankan. Sebarang perkembangan akan dimaklumkan. pic.twitter.com/KrBeUV6jsM
— unifi (@unifi) February 12, 2019

If you’re a TM Unifi user in Sabah and you’re seeing some slowdowns with regards to your internet access, then this is definitely something you need to take note of. It appears that a cable fire incident has affected a number of users.
To be precise, the cable fire incident has affected TM Unifi users in the Lahad Datu and Tawau area. There is a chance that other areas may be affected as well but for now, they’ve only received reports for those two particular areas. While there was no mention as to exactly when this happened and how, the folks over at TM has reassured that repairs are underway.

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#unifiAlerts Cable fire incident has affected a number of unifi subscribers in Tawau and Lahad Datu. Restoration work is in progress. We will provide updates accordingly.
At the moment, we are uncertain as to how long reparations will take. As we do not know the extent of the damage from the cable fire incident, it would be hard to estimate as well. For now, just keep your eyes and ears peeled out for further updates.
Pokdepinion: Hopefully, this one won’t take too long to repair. I personally don’t know what’s more stressful; no internet access or slow internet speeds. What do you guys think?
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Chrome’s Memory Saver Feature Aims to Solve The RAM Hogging Problem

Google’s web browser has gained notoriety for its insatiable appetite of your system’s memory, and now the developers are offering ways to fix that.

If you’re one of those who remembered the early days of Google Chrome, you might’ve remembered the whole “Chrome Fast” ad campaign which has very well ingrained in most people’s minds. Now that comes at a cost – hogging your PC’s resources while leaving very little for your other tasks to work with. Low-end PC users will especially feel the effect, and many has switch to other Chromium-based browsers (i.e. Edge) for this reason.

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Google certainly took notice, and is testing a featured called “Memory Saver” in the development Canary channel in Windows, macOS and ChromeOS. What it does is similar to Microsoft Edge’s Sleeping Tabs – which deactivates unused tabs after a certain period to free memory from occupying the space until user re-access it by switching to that tab. This is currently an optional feature, and Google claims to save 40% less memory with the feature on.

Another feature, Energy Saver, is primarily designed for laptops – which automatically activates once the laptop’s battery level reaches 20% or lower. In this mode, Chrome will save power by “limiting background activity and visual effects for websites with animations and videos”, according to Google. Like the Memory Saver, you can turn this feature off should you need to.
Both features are set to roll out in stable release in the upcoming weeks for Windows, macOS and ChromeOS.
Source: Ars Technica / Google
Pokdepinion: For me who always has a habit of closing tabs as soon as I’m done, it’s probably not much to gain but it’s nice for those who open tens if not hundreds of tabs at a time.
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