HTC BoomSound, Dedication to Quality

HTC definitely puts a lot behind the BoomSound audio system. I am also sure anyone who has tried the flagship HTC Ones will tell you that they really set the HTC One series apart from the crowd of glass slabs. And now HTC has shared with all of us a behind the scenes story.

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According to HTC, and rightfully so, most people do not really prioritize audio quality when picking a phone, especially the speaker quality, which on most phones are only used for notification sounds, any serious music listening is most probably done with earphones. But with BoomSound front-facing speakers, the speakers may actually be used for more than just blaring out your alarm and notification sounds. Through a partnership with Dolby bringing 5.1 surround sound to the One M9 (or One M9+ in Malaysia) and other select HTC devices, you can have a cinema-worthy surround-sound experience, without headphones or external speakers, right from your phone.
It appears a great deal of engineering was put into designing the BoomSound speakers given the compact size of smartphones. The shape of the speaker at the bottom end is quite normal, as the bottom is a lot less packed. Meanwhile, the speaker up top is shaped a lot more differently than what you might imagine.

As the upper part is already crowded with front-facing and back-facing cameras, the headphone jack, and more, they had to change the shape of the sound box for the speaker. The sketch you see above is the shape of the sound box on the upper side. They put a lot of thought into it, and one of the ideas was to change the material, so HTC started adding some filler to the sound box. The filler is made of a high-polymer material that is very much like a sponge. This “sponge” would slow down the speed of the air that travels into the sound box, thus slowing down the reflection and refraction of sound. The speed of sound refraction is really just fixed within a sound box that cannot get any bigger. However, if the sound that goes in has to travel through a greater distance, this simulates the space of a bigger sound box, tricking your ears into hearing louder music.
The assembly of the speakers posed a great challenge during manufacturing, as the material could easily be damaged, broken, or even scattered across the table like powder. They claim this is one of the reasons why few manufacturers attempt stereo front-facing speakers.
According to HTC, the reason why BoomSound speakers sound so good to us is that they are capable of outputting at least 90 decibels at a distance of 15-20cm from the user. Supposedly sounds greater than 90 dB will excite your physical senses and trigger your emotions, and this is the reasoning behind why audio coming out from BoomSound speakers is so much more enjoyable than your average smartphone speaker.
HTC also put a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) amplifier to use. The technology behind the DSP amplifier is in the installation of a sensor within the speaker that gives it real-time access to the state of the speaker’s vibration. With the addition of the DSP amplifier the speaker can play sounds while calculating which ones to amplify without sacrificing overall sound quality.This helped HTC achieve the perfect symphony of software and hardware working together to create a sensational user experience.

In the HTC One M9, stereo just got better. With smartphone speakers, however, because they live in such a tight space, your right ear would not only pick up sounds from the right but also from the left, and vice versa for your left ear. Because of this, the sound you hear would be far from ideal due to what’s called the crosstalk effect. That’s why HTC installed a function called crosstalk cancellation.
Crosstalk cancellation allows each audio channel to do two things: play audio through it and also play a reverse sound wave that essentially cancels the other channel’s audio. This effect makes the audio from the left channel “really left” and audio from the right channel “really right”. Add a little bit of surround-sound technology and what you get is really high-quality sound.
You can get the most out of this technology by putting the One M9 in Theater Mode. (Music Mode aims to achieve a balanced sound instead of surround-sound.) In Theater Mode, you really hear sounds as if they’re coming from beside and behind your ears, or even from behind your head.
Every generation of HTC BoomSound speakers faces challenges during the design and creation process. With the evolution of smartphones, be it a need for smaller size or better camera hardware, device manufacturers might sacrifice audio experience to boost other functions. But at HTC, they strive for breakthroughs and look for ways to revolutionize technology, especially when an idea seems impossible.

SOURCE: HTC Blog Pt.1, Pt.2

Pokdepinion: While HTC BoomSound really does offer much better sound quality than the average smartphone, I think it is still not really as useful as improvements on the output quality through the good ol’ 3.5mm jack. As a frequent user of public transport, I listen to music the most when travelling. I wouldn’t want to impose my taste in music with everyone on the bus or Monorail. When alone in my room, I usually listen to music with my laptop. BoomSound is good, but perhaps just not useful enough. For those who value loudspeaker(s) output quality in their phones, HTC BoomSound technology is definitely something. Share your opinion with me in the comments section!

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Crucial Is Back Offering Premium RAM Modules With The ‘Pro’ Lineup

While Ballistix is dead – its spirits lives on (somewhat).

Last year, Crucial suddenly pulled its Ballistix brand out of its RAM business leaving its DDR5 to the mainstream offerings. Ballistix ended its time with the world-record beating Ballistix Max DDR4 lineup that comes pre-overclocked up to a staggering 5,100MT/s.

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However, the company clearly wants to keep making high-performance modules, and with it comes the new DDR4 Pro and DDR5 Pro models that offers overclocking features such as XMP and AMD EXPO. That said, the new design is markedly less gaming-centric, with no RGB present; the PCB themselves follow the same design as their standard offering with green PCB for DDR4 and black PCB for DDR5 modules, with the addition of heatsinks.

This also means that Crucial didn’t fiddle with memory timings, leaving it to the standard JEDEC specifications. For example, the DDR5-5600 runs on CL46 at 1.1V – much looser timings than some overclocked modules out there offering timings such as CL32 or CL36, albeit with extra voltage given of course. That said, JEDEC also offers tighter CL40 timings for 5,600MT/s – so it’s probably Crucial’s decision to stick with less aggressive timings available.
Source: TechPowerUp
Pokdepinion: Still a bit of a shame Ballistix didn’t make it into DDR5 generation.
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When the Xbox brand was created, it’s no secret that Microsoft wanted to make a huge impact in the gaming industry. As part of the 20th anniversary of Xbox, Bloomberg recently published a story where they once approached Nintendo to buy over the company, and it’s certainly one that you would not have expected.
Microsoft Once Approached Nintendo to Buy Over the Company

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According to Bloomberg, Head of Business Development Bob McBreen told the story of how Microsoft once tried to acquire Electronic Arts but was declined. The then 3rd party relations director, Kevin Bachus, shared about the experience by saying that:
We met with EA a half-dozen times. They reminded us, Microsoft had a history of putting its toe in the water, and when things didn’t work out, they would abandon that market and pretend like it never happened.
They also failed to acquire a number of other notable companies including Midway and Squaresoft (prior to being Square Enix). The most interesting story of this is with Nintendo, with Kevin Bachus explaining that:
They just laughed their asses off. Like, imagine an hour of somebody just laughing at you. That was kind of howthat meeting went.
That wasn’t the end of it however as McBreen detailed their company visit in January 2000, where Microsoft wanted to show Nintendo the power of the Xbox in order to form a partnership. The idea here is that Nintendo would create the games and Microsoft will handle the hardware. Unfortunately, the conversation didn’t go far.
Nintendo does not talk about confidential discussions with other companies. In any event, nothing came of these discussions.
Howard Lincoln, Chairman of Nintendo of America
Given what has happened in the past, it’s interesting to see how well both companies are working together now. After all, we’ve seen Minecraft Steve and Banjo Kazooie showing up on Super Smash Bros Ultimate as DLC fighters, and a number of games like Ori and the Blind Forest coming to the Nintendo Switch. We might just see more notable Xbox games coming to Nintendo’s platforms, which will only serve to benefit us gamers.
Source
Pokdepinion: Imagine all the weird things we could have seen like Super Smash Bros on the Xbox One for example. It’s certainly interesting to think about, that’s for sure.
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As many of you may know by now, the Genshin Impact 1.6 update will be adding boats and a number of new islands, along with new character Kazuha. Then there’s also the summer skins for Barbara and Jean. Now, we’re looking towards Ayaka and Baal.
New Genshin Impact Leak Reveals More Details on Ayaka and Baal

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According to known leaker Sukuna, Ayaka is expected to be stronger than Xiao, which may seem vague but you at least have a rough idea where she stands among all the characters. After all, Xiao has one of the best DPS capabilities in the game. She’s expected to launch alongside the highly-anticipated Inazuma region.
Next up, we have the Raiden Shogun herself, Baal. She’s said to be a support character and miHoYo will be adding a new mechanic to Genshin Impact involving her abilities. Unfortunately, there is no information about what this new thing might be, but we do know that she’s expected to be more balanced than Venti.
For now, do take this information with a grain of salt. We will report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned. Genshin Impact is currently available for free on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and PC. A Nintendo Switch version will be coming sometime soon.
Source
Pokdepinion: So many waifus, so much money to spend…I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
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PS Plus Asia November 2020 FREE Games Lineup

We have learned about the official PS Plus Asia November 2020 free games lineup. There appears to be a small difference as there was no mention of the PS Plus Collection, at least not yet. If you’re wondering what’s coming your way, then let’s dive right into it.
PS Plus Asia November 2020
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

We start off the PS Plus Asia November 2020 free games lineup with Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. It is a spin-off game which takes place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Players will have to find a way to dominate Mordor from within using the Nemesis System which creates unique, personal stories with every enemy and follower. Eventually, players will face off against the Dark Lord Sauron and his Ringwraiths.

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Middle-Earth: Shadow of War will be available starting 3rd November 2020 to 30th November 2020.
Hollow Knight

Considered one of the best Metroidvania games by many gamers across the globe, Hollow Knight is a 2D platformer where players explore the vast underworld of Hollownest. You will fight against tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs.
Players can unlock new skills and adjust accordingly with your own playstyle as you play through the game. While the game may seem innocent enough, it’s one of the toughest games around that can test even the most seasoned of gamers.
Hollow Knight will be available starting 3rd November 2020 to 30th November 2020.
Bugsnax

Bugsnax is the very first PS5 game to be a part of the PS Plus free games lineup. Developed by Young Horses, Bugsnax is a first-person adventure game that follows an investigative journalist who has set out for Snaktooth Island, the home of the legendary half-bug half-snack creatures, Bugsnax. Track down and reunite the island’s inhabitants while also capturing all 100 critters on the island.
Bugsnax will be available exclusively to PS Plus members with a PlayStation 5 as part of the PS Plus November 2020 free games lineup starting 12th November 2020 to 4th January 2021.
Source
Pokdepinion: I hope the PS Plus Collection is included for the Asia region. It will give more reasons to subscribe, that’s for sure.
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HONOR MagicBook Pro And HONOR Watch GS Pro Confirmed For Malaysia Arrival

HONOR Malaysia has announced that both the new HONOR MagicBook Pro as well as the HONOR Watch GS Pro will be arriving in Malaysia real soon.
HONOR MagicBook Pro and HONOR Watch GS Pro coming soon

Sticking with their 1+8+N strategy, HONOR aims to expand their offerings here in Malaysia by bringing in both products.
The upgraded HONOR MagicBook Pro comes with pre-installed Windows 10 and HONOR has said that it offers “a greater boost in terms of software and hardware compared to its predecessor”.

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As for the HONOR Watch GS Pro, it is a rugged smartwatch designed especially for those outdoor lovers. It comes with a huge battery life where they claim can last up to 25 days, which is pretty long. It is also said to meet a total of 14 MIL-STD-810 (military-grade certifications) standard.
We should learn more about them real soon. For more on the latest news on tech and gaming plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Let’s see how much of an upgrade are they compared to their previous products and most importantly to see how they are priced.
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Ninja Thinks Better Parenting Needed To Combat Online Toxicity

The internet can be a toxic place to be in, there’s no quarrels about that. Famous streamer Ninja or his real name Tyler Blevins has said that it’s important for parents to play a part in creating a better online environment.
Ninja thinks parenting as the way to combat online toxicity

In a recent interview with The New York Times, the Twitch streamer was asked on whether he could do something about the negativity that surrounds the internet such as racism and toxicity. Blevins says that it isn’t his responsibility to fix the issue and suggest that parents should do more.

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“But it all comes down to parenting. You want to know who your kid is? Listen to him when he’s playing video games when he thinks you’re not” says Ninja.
He adds that it’s not his responsibility when it comes to educating the younger generation when it comes to matters such as racism. He adds “How does a white kid know he has white privilege if his parents never teach him or don’t talk about racism? If they’re gaming and their first interaction with racism is one of their friends saying the N-word and they have no idea what it is – what if it was on my stream? Is it my job to have this conversation with this kid?”.
Talking about these things is a big no, especially on a platform like Twitch. If found caught, you could even get your account banned, even if you didn’t even say anything about them (your viewers instead).
Source
Pokdepinion: I can see his point that it’s not his responsibility.. but seeing how huge his popularity is, I can’t help but feel that he could do something about the matter too, even how small of an act it is. We all should come together to combat online toxicity.
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Huawei’s Lightest 11-Inch Tablet and Latest Powerful Laptop Coming Soon

Here is the brand-new HUAWEI Premium Tablet. The newest premium tablet is your new gadget for an always-on, video-driven world, whether you’re seeking to work, create, study, sketch, or just tune out and rest.
The brand-new MatePad Pro 11 is perfectly built for the new era of connectivity and hybrid working environments as the company’s first flagship tablet running HarmonyOS 3. This new tablet is the company’s lightest, smallest, and most striking tablet to date, with the narrowest bezel ever seen in the MatePad series for more immersive tablet experiences.

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On the other hand, the next-generation flagship laptop, the MateBook X Pro, has a unique colour scheme and a luxury design. The flagship laptop weighs just 1.26 kg and is composed of magnesium alloy. The MateBook X Pro is powerful on the inside and exterior, powered by a lightning-quick 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU that is Evo Certified.
Do keep an eye out for the premium tablet and the laptop. For additional details and to learn about the features of the MateBook X Pro and the MatePad Pro 11, visit Huawei’s official website and Facebook page.
Pokdepinion: A brand new tablet and laptop coming soon to Malaysia. From the looks of it, it does seem to be a great device for work and study.
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TM Unifi Issues Statement on Blocked Game Servers – #WeAreGamersToo

#wearegamers too.
Hi everyone, recently we’ve received feedback that some unifi users, who are avid gamers, have had some problems accessing their favourite video game servers such as EA, Ubisoft and the PlayStation Network. Understandably, this has caused some frustration. pic.twitter.com/8AM6Hj7SsJ
— unifi (@unifi) February 18, 2020

Recently, a number of users have reported that they have trouble accessing certain game servers. Given that this happened mostly with TM Unifi users, it appears as if the ISP has blocked access to these game servers. Some of the game servers include EA, Ubisoft, and PlayStation Network.
TM Unifi has finally issued a statement via their official Twitter account. We’ve included the full thread at the top of this post. The statement acknowledges the issues faced by their user base, along with the frustrations that come with it. However, there is a huge confusion on the matter and they tried to shed some light on it.
For starters, TM Unifi clarified that they “do not block access to game servers”. Furthermore, they’ve stated that they have no reason to do so, and that their network caters to the demands of gamers.

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Our network comprises of 12 data centres, 20 submarine cables spanning the globe and over 560,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables to offer the best gaming experience for you. Our state-of-the-art network operations centre proactively monitors our network and continuously optimizes data routes to mitigate and eliminate congestions to further improve your gaming experience.
At the same time, we’re always adding the latest game consoles in our labs as part of our test program to find out how we can further optimize our network for the newest consoles. In addition, we have direct peering connections to some of the biggest game brands in the world.
All of that explanation could just sound like sweet whispers but it wouldn’t do a thing if you’re facing the problem. So what should you do now? For starters, it’s recommended to reach out directly to the game server provider and ask them to check. If that doesn’t work, TM recommends you to head over to the Unifi community, where users can help each other out especially on similar problems. There may already be a solution for it there.
As for users who have issues with the PSN Network Address Translation (NAT) configuration, they’ve already shared the solution in their community page. You can find the solution by clicking right here.
If you have more issues, and can confirm that it’s not a problem from the server provider, you are advised to reach out to TM on the matter as soon as possible.
Pokdepinion: My friends and family who are subscribed to TM Unifi aren’t facing the same issues. I am aware of a good number of people who are however. I’m personally curious about it.
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Marvel Studios’ Eternals Coming To Disney+ Hotstar Soon

If you are a big fan of Marvel Studios and a Disney+ Hotstar subscriber, well great news. Eternals is coming soon to the streaming platform soon.
Eternals coming soon to Disney+ Hotstar

The news was revealed by Disney+ Hotstar themselves recently where Eternals will start streaming exclusively on the 12th of January 2022.

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If you aren’t aware of the show, Eternals follows a group of heroes from beyond the stars who had protected the Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures called the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity once again.
Don’t know what Disney+ Hotstar has to offer? Why not check up on our review of the streaming platform right here. For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: I’m just glad that they are offering more and more of the latest movies to the platform. That being said, I haven’t had the time to watch any of the streaming platform these days, maybe it’s time..
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Steelseries Officially Acquires KontrolFreek – More Gaming Products Coming?

Whenever you hear of business acquisitions in the tech and games industry, it’s usually a significant one. Today’s no exception either as Steelseries has officially announced their acquisition of the gaming peripherals and accessories maker, Kontrolfreek.
Steelseries Officially Acquires KontrolFreek

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The folks over at Steelseries have officially announced their acquisition of Kontrolfreek, a well-known gaming peripherals and accessories maker. This is the 2nd biggest acquisition made by the company after A-Volute, the creators of Nahimic.
For those of you who aren’t aware, KontrolFreek is best known for their Performance Thumbsticks and Precision Rings for gamepads, most notably the DualShock 4 for PS4 and Joy Cons for the Nintendo Switch. They do make similar products for other platforms as well.
Interestingly, the acquisition of KontrolFreek will help bolster Steelseries’ presence as the former has a community of over 4 million gamers. Apart from that, they’ve also been endorsed by notable Esports figures and content creators like FaZe Clan, OpTic, Ali-A, and more.
For now, no details on how much the acquisition was worth, nor have both companies announced anything new aside from this. However, we do expect there to be new gaming-focused products coming in 2021 as a result of this. We’ll report more on this as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: I wonder if there will be more new Steelseries gaming products coming soon as a result of this acquisition. Would like them to have a more diversified business portfolio, that’s for sure.
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Apex Legends Isn’t Coming to the Nintendo Switch, At Least Not Yet

It’s no secret that EA and Respawn Entertainment’s battle royale game, Apex Legends, is very popular right now. It’s free, and the game feels great… aside from hackers / cheaters which Respawn has been actively addressing. With popular games, it’s normal to see people wanting it to be ported to more platforms. If you’re hoping for the game to be released on the Nintendo Switch, then we have some bad news for you.
In a new Wired interview with Drew McCoy, the Project Lead at Respawn Entertainment, the developer confirmed that while they have definitely heard the cries for a Nintendo Switch version, he’s “not making any promises.” While the full answer is a bit longer, that’s essentially the gist of it, but if you don’t believe me then you can check out the video at the top of this post at the 7 minute 15-second mark.
While I wouldn’t say this is exactly surprising, I’m sure a bunch of Apex Switch fans are pretty disappointed after hearing this news. I wouldn’t completely give up hope, as McCoy doesn’t outright say it’s not coming. However, I’d move on to a new game to want for now.

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Apex Legends is currently available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Origin, and it’s free to play.
Pokdepinion: Not really surprised, to be honest. After all, I’m sure the devs have something else they need to focus on with regards to the game. Perhaps somewhere down the road, it might happen.
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Lenovo LEGION Y920 Launched in Malaysia; Along with New Gaming Towers

The new line of gaming products by Lenovo LEGION has finally reached Malaysia. The Lenovo LEGION Y920, LEGION Y720, and LEGION Y520 Towers.
Lenovo LEGION Y920 Launched in Malaysia

We’ve seen some new products from Lenovo LEGION that debuted during Gamescom 2017 in Germany, as we’ve reported over here and here. Today, Lenovo Malaysia has officially launched the Lenovo LEGION Y920 gaming laptop, along with the LEGION Y720 and Y520 gaming tower PCs.

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Lenovo LEGION Y920 Gaming Laptop

The newly launched Lenovo LEGION Y920 gaming laptop is their high-end offering. It comes with NVIDIA G-Sync, 7th-gen Intel Core i7 (unlocked) CPU, and GeForce GTX 1070. What makes the machine interesting is that it doesn’t use a chiclet keyboard but instead, a mechanical keyboard with optional multicolour backlight.

As for the audio side of things, the machine has a 3W bass subwoofer and a couple of 2W JBL speakers with Dolby Home Theater. Pretty interesting, isn’t it?

The Lenovo LEGION Y920 gaming laptop will be retailing from RM12,999 (inclusive of GST), and will be available for purchase at Lenovo Exclusive Stores and Lenovo Multi Brand Stores.

Lenovo LEGION Y720 Tower

This gaming tower by Lenovo is powered by the 7th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU with up to GeForce GTX 1070 in the graphics department. This particular offering is meant to provide enough power for most gamers to enjoy today’s resource-intensive games without any problems. In case there’s a need, it also features a tool-less design for easier upgrading of storage, graphics, and memory.

The Lenovo LEGION Y720 tower PC will be retailing from RM7,799 (inclusive of GST), and will be available for purchase at Lenovo Exclusive Stores and Lenovo Multi Brand Stores.

Lenovo LEGION Y520 Tower

The Lenovo LEGION Y520 gaming tower is a rather adorable looking machine. It’s small, easy to carry around, but packs quite a punch in terms of power. It has a 7th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. It’s also said to be easy to swap out the storage and memory in the desktop. If you need a desktop that’s easier to bring around,, this is the one!

The Lenovo LEGION Y520 tower PC will be retailing from RM4,999 (inclusive of GST), and will be available for purchase at Lenovo Exclusive Stores and Lenovo Multi Brand Stores.

Khoo Hung Chuan, GM of Lenovo Malaysia and Singapore, said:
Lenovo continues to showcase our commitment to gaming innovation  and to the endless possibilities in the gaming sector with the introduction of three new Lenovo LEGION devices, the Lenovo LEGION Y920 laptop, Lenovo LEGION Y720 Tower, and Y520 Tower, in Malaysia. Lenovo has always been committed to elevating the gaming scene in Malaysia.

But Wait, There’s More!

Lenovo has announced that they are collaborating with Intel as the main sponsors of the 2nd series of the Southeast Asian League of Legends Champions Series II, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2018.
Furthermore, as part of their efforts to nurture the gaming community in Malaysia, they have formally introduced the newest members of the Lenovo LEGION community. The Lenovo LEGION influencers Tashbunny (Malaysian Twitch streamer), Geek Fam (Malaysian Pro DotA 2 Team), and Geraldine Read (up and coming race car driver).

Pokdepinion: Honestly, I’m very curious as to how the Y920 laptop performs. I want to see how far it can go, especially in our benchmarking suite. Only time will tell.
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Dell Unveils A Slew of Innovative Gaming Products Coming Soon to Malaysia

The folks over at Dell have unveiled a slew of gaming products that will be coming to Malaysia. To be exact, it’s a gaming laptop, two gaming monitors, and a mechanical keyboard. Without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
Dell Gaming G7 15 (7500)

We’re starting things off with the new Dell Gaming G7 15 gaming laptop, designed for both work and play. It has been redesigned to be slimmer but still packed with powerful performance, along with value-added features like customizable chassis light.

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It is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core CPU, up to an Intel Core i9, along with the NVIDIA GeForce graphics, up to an RTX 2070 Max-Q. As for storage, you have dual-drive options, with the M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD being the primary focus. The laptop will have a precision glass trackpad and a 4-zone RGB keyboard with a discrete “Game Shift” macro key which will boost the fan speed for improved performance. On the audio side of things, it will come with Nahimic 3D Audio with VoiceBoost and Sound Tracker radar features.

The Dell Gaming G7 15 is said to have dropped 4mm thanks to the new svelte 20.5mm hinge. It also has an all-metal, black anodized body. The bezels on display have shrunk from 9.5mm to 6.5mm for a more immersive experience.
Dell Gaming G7 15 (7500) Specs

CPU
Intel Core i5-10300H (4C / 8T @ up to 4.5 GHz), 8M Cache, 45W TDP, 14nm
Intel Core i7-10750H (6C / 12T @ up to 5 GHz), 12M Cache, 45W TDP, 14nm
Intel Core i9-10980HK (8C / 16T @ up to 5.3 GHz), 16M Cache, 65W TDP, 14nm

RAM
8 / 16GB 2933 MHz DDR4, up to 32GB

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6

Storage
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD (Class 35 / 40)

Display
15.6″ FHD (1920 X 1080) 144Hz / 300Hz WVA Anti-glare LED display with 300 nits brightness
15.6″ 4K UHD (3840 X 2160) 60Hz OLED display with 400 nits brightness

Keyboard
Spill-resistant 4-zone RGB keyboard, palm rest with fingerprint reader

Connectivity
Wireless:
802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi (Dual Band 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)
Intel AX201 / KILLER Wireless 1650 2×2 AC
Bluetooth 4.1 / 5.1
I/O:
3 x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen1 (1 x Powershare)
1 x RJ45 LAN (KILLER Ethernet E2500V2)
1 x HDMI 2.0
1 x USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode (GTX 1650 Ti model only)
1 x Thunderbolt 3 (GTX 1660 Ti model and above)
1 x miniDisplayPort (GTX 1660 Ti model and above)
1 x Wedge lock slot
1 x 2-in-1 SD card / MicroMedia card reader
1 x Proprietary Charging Port

Audio
2 x Tuned speakers with Nahimic 3D Audio
1 x Combo Audio Jack
Dual Array Digital Microphones

Power
56 Wh, 3-cell Battery (integrated), 130W Power Adapter
86 Wh, 6-cell Battery (integrated), 240W Power Adapter

Dimensions
357.2 x 267.7 x 18.3 mm

Weight
TBD

The Dell Gaming G7 15 gaming laptop will be available in Malaysia on 14th July 2020 onwards with retail prices starting from RM6,499 depending on the configurations.
Dell 27 Gaming Monitor (S2721DGF)

The Dell 27 Gaming Monitor (S2721DGF) is a 27-inch IPS gaming monitor with QHD resolution. It has a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time for a buttery-smooth gaming experience with minimal input lag. Moreover, it has support for NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering.

It is said to have a colour coverage of 98% DCI-P3, and even supports VESA DisplayHDR 400 for greater colour depth. Other than that, it has a unique 3-sided ultrathin bezel design for a more expansive view, and vents in the rear for enhanced heat dispersal. The stand itself is said to be sturdier while also maintaining a small footprint. For added versatility, you can adjust the height, tilt, swivel, and pivot.
The Dell 27 Gaming Monitor (S2721DGF) will be available in Malaysia on 28th July 2020. Prices have yet to be unveiled so we will report on that as soon as information becomes available.
Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF)

The Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF) on the other hand is a 27-inch Full HD curved gaming monitor using a VA panel. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms MPRT, and supports both NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium technology for a smooth, stutter-free gaming experience.

Just like the flat screen variant, it also has the 3-sided ultrathin bezel design, rear vents for enhanced heat dispersal, and a small yet sturdy stand. While not as versatile, you can still adjust the height and tilt for better comfort and viewing experience.
The Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF) will be available in Malaysia on 21st August 2020. Prices have yet to be unveiled so we will report on that as soon as information becomes available.
Alienware RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (AW410K)

If you’re looking to get yourself a new keyboard, this might be one to look forward to. The Alienware RGB mechanical gaming keyboard (AW410K) uses Cherry MX Brown switches with full-height keys for improved tactility while still being quiet and a 100 million keystroke lifespan. The floating keys with switches mounted directly on the metal top plate makes it easy to clean.

Apart from that, it features fully programmable keys for macros and key assignments, AlienFX per-key RGB lighting customizable up to 16.8 million colours, and 100% anti-ghosting with NKRO. For improved usability, you can easily adjust the height of the keyboard in 3 different angles and it has a passthrough USB port for you to use. It also comes with dedicated media control keys for added convenience.
The Alienware RGB mechanical gaming keyboard (AW410K) will be available in Malaysia on 4th August 2020. Prices have yet to be unveiled so we will report on that as soon as information becomes available.
Pokdepinion: Two things caught my eye here and that is the laptop and the keyboard. Can’t wait to try it out myself.

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Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Valuable Power

Unboxing the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Box

As usual with our review, we’re going to kick off our Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 review with the unboxing. The packaging seems to be the standard for Acer Predator gaming laptops, which comes in a large box with two smaller boxes inside; one for the laptop and the other for the charging brick. Inside the box, you will find the following items:

Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Box content

International Travelers Warranty Guide
Setup Guide
330W Charging Brick
Power Cable
The Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 laptop itself

Appearance
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Lid
The Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 has slight changes in design compared to its predecessor but overall, it’s about the same. From the lid, you can see the Predator logo, which can glow blue, which sits between two blue slits. The color scheme also retains as it’s their signature dark blue theme. One thing that hasn’t changed is that it’s still a bit of a fingerprint magnet but it’s not too bad.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Opened up
Open up the lid and you’ll be greeted with a 17.3-inch QHD 165Hz IPS display, a full-sized 4-Zone RGB chiclet keyboard complete with numberpad, and your usual trackpad below the keyboard. The bezels are relatively thin on 3 sides, with the bottom being the thickest as it holds the Predator logo. Above the F1 is a Turbo button, so you can instantly increase your fan speeds with ease.

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Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Ports
On the left side, you have a Kensington Lock, an air vent, RJ45 LAN port, two USB-A ports, and a combo audio jack. On the right side, you have a Thunderbolt 4 port, another USB-A port, an HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort, and another air vents. If you think that the charging port is missing, don’t worry as it’s located on the back, sandwiched between the two rear air vents.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Bottom
As for the bottom, you can see about 10 screws, four rubber stands, product stickers, speaker grilles, and a whole lot of air vents. You can easily spot the CPU / GPU fan here, and one screw is hidden behind an Acer sticker, which will void the warranty if it gets removed.
Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 gaming laptop only has a minor design change, most notably that the lid is shaped like a rectangle now as opposed to the slight curvature before on the top edges. The build quality is solid and it still looks pretty attractive unless you want something that screams “gamer”. Personally, I hope there will be a more notable design change for future iterations to freshen things up.
Specifications

CPU:
Intel Core i7-11800H @ 2.3GHz (up to 4.6 GHz Boost), 8C/16T, 45W TDP, 10nm SuperFIN

RAM:
16GB 3200MHz DDR4

GPU:
GeForce NVIDIA RTX 3070 GDDR6 8GB

Storage:
1TB NVMe PCIe SSD
1 x M.2 SSD slot (unused)
1 x HDD slot (unused)

Software:
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
PredatorSense

Connectivity:
Wireless
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i
Bluetooth 5.2
Wired
1 x Thunderbolt 4
1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (supports power-off charging)
2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
1 x RJ45 LAN (Killer Ethernet E3100G)

Display:
17.3″ QHD (2560 x 1440) IPS-level, 165Hz
1 x HDMI 2.1 ([email protected])
1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4a

Audio:
1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack
Array microphone

Power:
330W power adapter
57.5Whr battery

Dimensions:
398 x 275.3 x 26.55 mm

Weight:
2.9kg

Performance
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – CrystalDiskMark
Starting off our benchmark suite with CrystalDiskMark, the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 has a lightning-fast storage device as you can see from the score. This is certainly faster than most Acer Predator gaming laptops that we’ve tested thus far. In case, you’re wondering, this is the 1TB
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Cinebench R20
Moving on to Cinebench R20, but this time, the Intel Core i7-11800H powering the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 is certainly a powerful CPU. After all, it managed to beat another laptop running the same CPU, the Ryzen 9 5900HX, and isn’t far off from the Intel Core i9-11900H.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Unigine SuperPosition
As for Unigine SuperPosition in its 4K Optimized benchmark, the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 managed to perform admirably with a score of 8,676. This benchmark is more reliant on graphical power, and you can see that the higher scoring laptops have a stronger GPU with the RTX 3080, so it’s pretty much in line with expectations.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – 3DMark Time Spy
A similar pattern can be seen in 3DMark’s Time Spy as well. This is certainly showing that the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 is performing just as good as it should, and if you wanted anything better, you will need to consider a stronger GPU.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – 3DMark Port Royal
In 3DMark’s Port Royal benchmark for ray tracing, we weren’t surprised by its score. Given how resource-intensive ray tracing is, the RTX 3070 managed to perform well. Personally, I see this as an indicator that while you can use ray tracing with this, it might not be the best idea to do so as you will be sacrificing a lot of frames.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – PCMark 10
Lastly on PCMark 10, the scores show that the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 is a well-rounded machine across the board. It might be able to do better with a dual-channel RAM setup but this should still prove to be more than adequate for most users in most use case scenarios.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Gaming benchmark
When it comes to gaming, you may think that the scores listed above seem underwhelming but you need to keep two things in mind here. The first is that the games, except for the ones with specific labels on it, are running at 1440p resolution while the second thing here is that it’s in the highest quality setting possible.
If you want to push for high frames, you can either lower down the settings or play in Full HD resolution instead, which should still look great in games like Valorant and Apex Legends where high frame rates can matter a lot. For the other games, especially single player ones, stick with 1440p but balance out the graphical settings a little bit for a more consistent gaming experience.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Battery endurance test
As for battery life, PCMark’s Modern Office endurance test saw this machine getting 4 hours and 36 minutes (276 minutes) per full charge, which is an improvement over last year’s model but still within the realm of average for a gaming laptop. On the gaming endurance test, it managed to last 57 minutes, which isn’t surprising given how intensive it can get.
If you want to compare the performance with its previous iteration, click right here.
User Experience
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review
This newest iteration of the Acer Predator Helios 300 is quite a powerful gaming laptop. You get an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, 16GB single channel 3200MHz DDR4 RAM, and 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD. While the RAM capacity is adequate, it would benefit a lot from having dual-channel instead.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Warning sign
As for thermals, there are some things you need to keep in mind. When gaming with the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021, the CPU does suffer from thermal throttling as it frequently sits above the 90°C mark. That instantly disappears and will noticeably cooler if you set the fan speed to Turbo. However, it does get very noisy so I only recommend doing so in a more private setting with headphones on.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – QHD 165Hz
It uses a QHD (1440p) 165Hz IPS display with good viewing angles and colors for gaming. Realistically, you’d probably only be able to take advantage of the high refresh rate on Apex Legends, CS:GO, and Valorant by playing in Full HD and / or turning the graphics settings down a notch. You can open up the lid up to 145°, which adds more versatility.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Ports
The Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 has a good array of ports. You have a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port which supports power-off charging, two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, an RJ45 LAN port, an HDMI port, a Mini DisplayPort, and a combo audio jack. As it has both mini DisplayPort and HDMI, it makes a tri-monitor display setup easy to use. I wished it had a built-in memory card reader but given what you’re getting, it’s a fair compromise.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – 4-zone RGB keyboard
Given how good the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 is shaping up to be, I expected it to come with a per-key RGB lighting keyboard. Instead, they retained the 4-zone RGB keyboard, which still works great as it’s comfortable to type on with decent tactile feedback and minimal travel. I’m guessing they chose not to implement per-key RGB to keep costs down. The trackpad itself works fine and there’s nothing to boast about.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – PredatorSense
As expected from a Predator-series machine, it comes with the PredatorSense software. You can activate it by by pressing the Predator button on the Numpad or manually looking it up on Windows 10. You can do some simple overclocking, adjust fan speeds, customize hotkeys, and more. The only thing missing here compared to previous models is the CoolBoost option but other than that, it should still be the same software.
On the networking side, it is powered by the KILLER AX1650i Wi-Fi, which means you can enjoy Wi-Fi 6 support. While I don’t notice much difference in terms of speed as my home internet isn’t super fast to begin with, it’s more consistent compared to my Wi-Fi 5 devices like my other laptops, tablets and spare smartphone. For a better experience, you can always use LAN, which makes use of Killer Ethernet E3100G.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review – Webcam
For the speakers, the Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 is pretty much the same as its predecessor, with it being loud but lacking detail. The sound produced is rather hollow with bass being non-existent. It’s best to use your favourite pair of headphones for a more immersive experience.
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Verdict
Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 Review
The Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 brings a healthy update to its hardware, coming in more powerful as ever with some minor improvements here and there. If you are using a previous generation model or a different laptop with similar hardware like a 9th or 10th Gen Intel Core CPU and NVIDIA RTX 20-series GPU, there’s really no need to upgrade but if it’s any older, it’s worth considering, especially with an attractive price of RM8,999.
At the end of our Acer Predator Helios 300 2021 review, I award this gaming laptop with our Silver Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Acer Malaysia for sending us this laptop for the purpose of this review.
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Face Unlock Feature Comes To The honor View10

No face, no unlock

Ever since the iPhone X came out with FaceID the Face Unlock feature has become an increasingly popular feature with recent smartphones such as the ASUS Zenfone Max Plus, OPPO F5, Huawei nova 2i as well as honor’s own honor 7x all possessing the feature. Now the popular feature has officially arrived to the honor View10!

The Face Unlock feature will come to the award-winning honor View10 together with the latest HOTA (HUAWEI OTA) system update. Not only does the new feature allows you to unlock your device by just showing your face but it also enables a whole slew of new features such as the Smart Notifications and Smart Rotate among others. Here are the other features that will come together with the Face Unlock feature:

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Smart Notification: This feature allows users to enable the display of their notification contents only when the owner’s face is recognised.
Smart Rotate: This feature rotates the screen according to the orientation of your face.
Wakes your honor View10 up every time pick it up.
Keeps your phone screen on whenever you are looking at the screen.

The honor View10 has a 5.99 inch FullHD+ (2160×1080) display an 18:9 aspect ratio and runs on the high-end Kirin 970 which is the same chipset found on the flagship HUAWEI Mate 10 smartphone. Other than that the honor View10 packs a 6GB RAM as well as 128GB of internal storage under its hood. Powering the honor View10 is a 3750 mAh battery with honor’s fast SuperCharge technology.
The smartphone also features a dual camera setup with a 20MP monochrome sensor as well as a 16MP RGB sensor together with an f/1.8 aperture lens. The honor View10 can automatically recognize 13 different scenes and objects to give you the best shot with minimal effort. It also has a 13MP f/2.0 front camera.
The honor View10 is available for purchase now in stores for RM 2099 and is available in either black or blue colours.
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Xiaomi has a stockpile of Snapdragon 870 chips to use in 2022 budget flagships

If you were expecting the Snapdragon 870 to be left in 2021, you might be quite surprised to hear that we will be seeing quite a bit more of the Snapdragon 870 in 2022. Xiaomi and Redmi have apparently stocked up on the Snapdragon 870, and will be unveiling smartphones based on the two-year old chip next year.
Xiaomi to launch more Snapdragon 870 smartphones in 2022
One of the first smartphones rumored to feature the Snapdragon 870 include the Redmi K50, which is slated to come in a total of four other variants with different chipsets, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Dimensity 9000 and Dimensity 7000 chips under the hood.
Making things slightly awkward is that the Snapdragon 870 is already featured in the Redmi K40, which would mean Redmi K40 users have nothing to look forward to on the performance aspect. With that said, the Snapdragon 870 is still a pretty potent chipset, with recent rumors pointing towards it still outperforming the upcoming Dimensity 7000. It also marks a pretty interesting strategy for Qualcomm, as this will be the first time in recent memory that a Snapdragon 8 series chipset is marketed for more than a single year without any changes.

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Along with the Redmi K50, which is probably going to be marketed as a budget flagship, the other Snapdragon 870 smartphones are also expected to occupy the premium mid-range segment. We can also expect to see more tablets featuring the Snapdragon 870, which should make for some pretty awesome tablets.
Source
Pokdepinion: Well, that means that my POCO F2 Pro is still relevant in 2022. Yay! Also I wonder if we will see a Snapdragon 890 based on the Snapdragon 888?
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Phidisk WrathKeeper 960GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Review

Introduction

We have tested the Phidisk WrathKeeper 960GB SATA SSD, but the Malaysian brand actually has higher end PCIe NVMe SSDs. We got one of them, the 960GB Phidisk WrathKeeper 960GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. It sports a PCIe 3.0 x2 interface, so it won’t be the fastest PCIe SSD you have seen, but hey, it is going to be faster than any SATA drive out there, at the very least.
Appearance

We didn’t receive the retail package with the Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe SSD, but we expect that it won’t be all that fancy, given the size of M.2 SSDs. So the drive comes with a sticker, like almost every other M.2 SSD in the market. The graphics here is similar to the one on the WrathKeeper SATA SSD.

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The underside of the M.2 stick reveals the full glory of the blue PCB. There is nothing to see here.

Lifting off the sticker reveals the 1GB Micron DDR3L RAM, Phison PS5008-E8 controller, which is more popularly referred to as the Phison E8 controller. The NAND here are of the 256Gb Toshiba TLC 3D NAND variety.
Specifications
Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe 960GB SSD

Capacity
960GB (894GB usable)

Interface
PCIe 3.0 x2

NAND Type
256Gb Toshiba 3D TLC NAND

DRAM Cache
1GB DDR3L

Controller
Phison E8

Rated speed
Sequential:
Read: Up to 1700MB/s Write: Up to 1100MB/s

Endurance
N/A

Dimensions
80 X 22 X 3.5 mm

Weight
8 gram

Included accessories
None

Warranty
5 years

The Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe 3.0 x2 SSD is somewhat of an upgrade over the SATA variant, with much faster speeds. It will also be a nice option for gamers who prefer not having to run SATA cables in their system, for cable management reasons.
Pokde Benchrig

CPU
Intel Core i7-5820K @ 4.125 GHz

Motherboard
ASUS ROG Rampage V Extreme

GPU
ASUS ROG Strix RX 480 8GB

Memory
4 x 4GB Kingston HyperX Predator 3000 MHz CL15

Storage
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB
Plextor M9PeY 512GB

Power Supply
Cooler Master V850

Performance
Synthetic
As a PCIe 3.0 x2 drive, the performance of the Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe SSD is going to be limited by the interface rather than any of the other factors. So here we go.
          Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe 3.0 x2 Anvil Storage Utilities Benchmark            Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe 3.0 x2 AS SSD Benchmark            Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe 3.0 x2 CrystalDiskMark Benchmark
The performance is pretty good across the board for a PCIe 3.0 x2 drive. We do see slightly better performance across the board as compared to the Kingston A1000, albeit both of them sporting most of the same specifications. Overall, it offers a nice upgrade over SATA-based drives, although it will not be able to match higher end PCIe 3.0 x4 drives, or the even faster PCIe 3.0 x4 drives.
Real world

We aren’t really too surprised by these results. The Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe SSD does trail PCIe 3.0 x4 drives in most metrics, and the Samsung 850 EVO is one formidable drive even now, despite it being standard 2.5″ SATA SSD. Still, the Samsung 850 EVO is an outlier for SATA drives, rather than the norm, so anyone upgrading from SATA SSDs should still enjoy marginally faster loading speeds.

RM0.708/GB is great value for the speed, as Phidisk actually made it a bit cheaper than the SATA version at launch. However street prices for all the drives here may have changed since the time we reviewed.
Conclusion
The Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe SSD is a great first try from the local brand, and that price is also very reasonable. The RM680 SRP is a good price for a PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe SSD, and I say that is probably the most important point with this drive, considering the main target audience of the PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe SSDs are a very budget-conscious crowd. Overall, I am pretty impressed. If you hate cable management, have an empty M.2 slot on your motherboard, or you just want more storage, the Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe SSD is a great option without breaking the bank.
If you are after more performance, Phidisk still has even faster drives up their sleeves, and I am definitely waiting for the opportunity to take a look at them. In the meantime, this is a great value drive for almost everyone.

Our thanks to Phidisk Malaysia for providing us with the Phidisk WrathKeeper PCIe SSD for review.
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Digi Home Fibre now goes up to 1 Gbps for RM199/month

Digi’s Home Fibre plans has seen a pretty nice upgrade. While previously they were limited to just 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps plans, the new packages offer up to 1 Gbps speeds for just RM199 per month.
All plans are offered with unlimited quotas, and come with a included router. There’s also a 24-month contact to take note of, although those are pretty standard in the industry anyways. Here are the full details of the new plans:

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Download Speed
Upload Speed
Price

Digi Home Fibre 50 Mbps
50 Mbps
50 Mbps
RM99/month

Digi Home Fibre 100 Mbps
100 Mbps
100 Mbps
RM129/month

Digi Home Fibre 500 Mbps
500 Mbps
200 Mbps
RM159/month

Digi Home Fibre 1 Gbps
1 Gbps
200 Mbps
RM199/month

You can check the coverage for your Digi Home Fibre plans on their website, although they offered their service in very limited areas during the pilot phase.
You can find out more about the Digi Home Fibre plans here.
Pokdepinion: I think it is also time for Digi to readjust their pricing… 5x the speed for RM30 extra is really a no brainer…
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Xbox One S With No Disc Drive Reportedly in the Works

We’ve heard rumours of Microsoft wanting a fully digital version of their gaming console, though many were expecting this to be the next generation Xbox. It appears that we might be getting one for the current generation first.
There have been reports of Microsoft working on a Xbox One S with no disc drive. It is expected to be cheaper than any of their Xbox One offerings and the console will require owners to only purchase games digitally. This console is given the codename Xbox Maverick but is said to be called the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. Ain’t that a mouthful.

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While there has been no official announcements yet, it is said that pre-orders for this will be opening sometime in April 2019, with a formal release happening in May 2019. There has been no mention of pricing apart from it being cheaper than any Xbox One offerings available right now. We are still unsure if it will be exactly the same as the Xbox One S sans the disc drive.
With the next generation Xbox apparently ready to be shown off at E3 2019, it’s no wonder Microsoft is trying to push this out quickly. For now, do take this information with a grain of salt. We expect to hear more from them in the near future so stay tuned to Pokde.net for more juicy details.
Source: Windows Central
Pokdepinion: Together with the Xbox Game Pass, it would be an ideal time for a digital-only console. But I’m wondering if it’s too late for the current generation console.
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Back 4 Blood Open Beta gets NVIDIA DLSS

Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to the wildly popular Left 4 Dead franchise, is getting a nice performance boost from NVIDIA DLSS. You will get to experience the enhanced performance in the Back 4 Blood Open Beta now, with NVIDIA promising that performance will be further optimized until the 12th October launch of Back 4 Blood.
For all GeForce RTX gamers who have pre-ordered Back 4 Blood, you can now experience the open beta in the highest level of graphics and performance. DLSS improves the frame rates and also provides for more detailed visuals in games.

Back 4 Blood joins the currently growing list of games that support NVIDIA DLSS, with more games coming soon.

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Pokdepinion: More detailed blood splatter sounds like a good idea… Maybe?
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Grab Launches GrabVarsity – Special Benefits and Rewards for Students

In an effort to help empower the youths of today, Grab has launched GrabVarsity, a student-based programme with a number of interesting benefits and rewards.
Grab Launches GrabVarsity for Students

At a launch event in Universiti Malaya today, the e-hailing service Grab has announced the launch of GrabVarsity, a tertiary student engagement programme.

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Designed for students from institutions of higher learning, GrabVarsity  addresses the transportation needs of students, and looks at providing lifestyle benefits and rewards for the student community. It does this while also offering opportunities for them to glean real-life work experience.
Sean Goh, Country Head of Grab Malaysia, said:
We at Grab, are acutely aware of the role we play not just in moving the nation forward in transport and payments, but also in developing the country’s young minds. Learning and innovation is central to Grab’s culture and we are always on the lookout for initiatives that allows us to solve local problems whilst giving back to our community.
With GrabVarsity we are helping to create an ecosystem that goes beyond ride hailing benefits as we help bring meaningful long-term impact to tertiary students via economic opportunities to compliment their passion for learning.

Goh went on to share that GrabVarsity comprises of 4 pillars:

GrabVarsity Rewards: A university student-based reward programme with exclusive, curated benefits that are more relevant and interesting to them. These rewards include offerings from Shopee Malaysia, iflix, Photobook Worldwide, Honor, Digi and Pizza Hut.
Transport Partner: Grab is also trying to ease traffic congestion within and around the university by establishing designated pick-up and drop-off areas whilst providing exclusive promo codes for events  such as convocations, sports day, or festivals.
Hands-on Learning Opportunities: Students can apply for apprenticeship placements at Grab Malaysia and have the opportunity to work and learn from the best in developing their professional skills for the future.
Bridging Income Opportunities: Students can participate in a special short-term, student-only Grab driver programme  to earn supplemental income to help cover their education fees or student loans.

YB. Dato’ Seri Haji Idris bin Jusoh, Minister of Higher Education, said:
For our young ones to survive and succeed in this fast changing global economy, it is imperative for them to develop time and financial management, and entrepreneurship skills.
Therefore,  the Ministry is always supportive of initiatives from corporate companies that enable students to not only gain a degree, but also gain real-life experience that can help them carve a better future. We hope that there will be more world class businesses such as home-grown Grab, who will take up this challenge and impact students in a very real and tangible manner.

Currently, GrabVarsity is available in Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and University Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP). Grab is currently working towards taking this student-centric programme to as many universities as possible in the coming months.
If you wanna know more about GrabVarsity and what it’s offering, click here to find out more.
Pokdepinion: Well, anything to help the youths of today learn and improve their skills is great. There’s enough incentive to drive interest from them too.
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Sony Brings Two New Walkman Models, NW-ZX707 & NW-A306

Both features increased battery life, AI-assisted upscaling tech and enhanced DSEE support.
NW-ZX707. Image: Sony
NW-A306. Image: Sony
Sony today announces two new models under its Walkman family – NW-ZX707 and NW-A306. Both models are paired with S-Master HX digital amp, exclusively developed for Walkman models which is compatible with DSD format. Solder points are done with gold-infused reflow solder which the company says is “significant in the overall improved sound localization and wider sound space.”
DSEE Ultimate, a proprietary tech for real-time audio upscaling makes a feature here, now with AI enhancements to deliver higher quality samples. The feature is now available both to local playback, online stream and even through compatible wireless headphones. Battery life has been increased, Sony claims up to 25 hours playback for the NW-ZX707 and 36 hours for NW-A306, both with 44.1kHz FLAC playback. For online streaming, the figures stand at 22 and 26 hours, respectively.

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The bigger model, NW-ZX707, features a 5-inch display and Wi-Fi connectivity. Upgraded capacitors including FTCAP3 provides low signal resistance, oxygen-free copper is used for signal routing; a 8mm coil runs the balanced audio output, with DSD Remastering Engine resampling PCM audio to 11.2MHz DSD format. NW-A306 meanwhile is the smaller model, with 3.6-inch display and weighs at 7 ounces (~198g). Chassis is courtesy of milled aluminum frame for increased rigidity.
Both models will be available this month – the NW-ZX707 is priced at RM3,699 while the NW-A306 costs RM1,599.
Pokdepinion: Walkman, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while…
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One of the hottest things in the social media world is Clubhouse, an audio-based social networking platform that is currently available exclusively to iOS users via invitation only. It looks like Facebook has taken notice of their growing popularity as they are already making their own version of it.
Facebook is Already Creating Their Own Version of Clubhouse

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New reports have surfaced indicating that Mark Zuckerberg took notice of the new social networking hype, Clubhouse. As a result, a team within Facebook has been tasked at creating their own version of the audio-based platform. At the moment, it appears that they have only started experimenting on audio-only chatrooms but given how early in development it is, it could be subjected to major changes down the road.
This isn’t the first time Facebook has mimicked another popular social networking craze for their own gains. The most notable on is Snapchat’s stories features being integrated into WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. In other cases, they just buy over the company’s that they are interested in, with WhatsApp being a noteworthy example.
The most recent one before this would be the TIkTok clone, Facebook Reels, which isn’t exactly used as widely as many have thought it would. Given the circumstances, it’s no surprise that they are doing this. It’s pretty much a question of when, rather than if, at this point.
Source
Pokdepinion: Well, this isn’t the first time they tried to integrate something popular into their own, and it certainly won’t be the last.
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Olike Malaysia Launches New Sport-centric Smartwatches – Say hello to the “Hey 3S” and “XH3”

Begin with Heart

Olike Malaysia has partnered with WeLoop, a brand best known for their work in wearable technology to bring their newest fitness focused smartwatches to our shores, the Hey 3S and the XH3. You might be wondering, what’s Olike? Who are they? Olike Malaysia is the official accessories partner of OPPO Malaysia with accessories like phone cases, audio devices, power banks and chargers.
Marketed with the tagline “Begin with Heart”, both the Olike Hey 3S and XH3 aim to appeal to the more outgoing consumers and fitness nuts as it is primarily built with all sorts of fitness related features. Some of these features include a heart rate monitor, an activity tracker that calculates and stores your fitness stats like running distances and steps taken as well as an auto sleep tracker which helps monitor your sleep duration, pattern and duration.
The Olike Hey 3S and XH3 smartwatches have a tonne of other features worth noting, apart from the aforementioned heart rate monitor and fitness tracker, both smartwatches have similar squarish designs (which is very reminiscent of a certain, more popular smartwatch), both are 5 ATM water resistant, which means you can take the smartwatches underwater up to 50 metres deep, and they both have long lasting batteries with the Hey 3S lasting an average of 30 days of standard usage with a single charge while the XH3 lasts a litlle longer with 40 days of average use.

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Fitness focused features aside, the Olike Hey 3S and XH3 have a few other features you would expect from a smartwatch such as customisable watch faces, caller ID, smart notifications (for messages, calls and media alerts), schedule reminders and an Anti Lost Alert which buzzes you when your phone is out of Bluetooth range. Both of these smartwatches are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. While both smartwatches are similar in terms of specs and features, only the Hey 3S has a built-in GPS for real-time location tracking.

The Olike Hey 3S and XH3 retail at a very reasonable price with the smartwatches coming in at RM499 and RM399 respectively. The Hey 3S is available in Dynamic Black colour while the straps comes in two different colour variants, Dynamic Red and Youth Green. The XH3 comes in both red and black colour. Both these smartwatches are available from 31st August onward and can be purchased from any OPPO Concept Stores.
For more information on these and other Olike Malaysia products, please visit there website here. You can also check out our review of the Olike Hey 3S and read what we think of the device.
Pokdepinion: I think these are definitely worth checking out not just because of the devices’ hella affordable price tag. Even if you’re not a fitness or gym junkie, both these devices are definitely attractive options for anyone who’s looking for a daily smartwatch and are not looking to break the bank getting one.
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Upcoming Rainbow Six Siege Shifting Tides Update Will Possibly Introduce The Game’s Most Overpowered Gun

Rainbow Six Siege has changed down the years, with new operators, guns, and maps being introduced, affecting the game’s meta. Now with the game’s latest Shifting Tides update, the new operators will probably be picked a lot.

Shifting Tides will see the introduction of two new operators; Kali and Wamai. If you’re looking for a character that packs the firepower, Kali is definitely the one for you. Her CSRX 300 is a bolt-action rife where a single shot can penetrate seven layers of unbarricaded walls.
As you can see from the video, it is actually a sniper rifle, making Kali the second sniper around after Glaz. Aside from the power that her rifle offers, she differs by having 5x or 12x zoom for her weapon, making her the an operator to be wary about from long distances.

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Her drawback? Well her shots leave a straight bullet trail, which can notify defenders of where exactly she is. Though a shot to the body will instantly down an enemy, those who get shot by here will instantly turn and face the direction that she shot from.
Her gadget, the LV Explosive Lance also comes in handy. It acts like Ash’s Breaching Rounds, where it can stick to any surface and detonate after a short while. It can destroy most gadgets, even from the other side of the wall.

We then move on to Wamai, a defender that comes with MAG-NET, a gadget that acts like a…magnet. They will pull and attract grenades, throwables, Capitao’s arrows and more.
He acts as an alternative for Jaeger but with an advantage, his gadget refills over time, similar to Lesion. It’s worth noting that his gadget will only destroy a single object, so you will probably need to plant more than one in a place to prevent Fuze attacks.
Last but not least, the update will bring in a rework to the map Theme Park, where the trainyard has been completely cut off.
Pokdepinion: They will be picked often, especially Kali, I can guarantee that.
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T-FORCE Dark Z FPS DDR4 runs at 4000MHz CL16 for 20% more frames per second!

TEAMGROUP may have just announced their fastest kit of memory yet. The T-FORCE Dark Z FPS DDR4 runs at a whopping 4000MHz CL16. According to TEAMGROUP, the high frequency and tight timings provides for up to 20% higher FPS in PUBG than your run-of-the-mill DDR4-2133 memory.
T-FORCE Dark Z FPS DDR4
The T-FORCE Dark Z FPS DDR4’s heatspreader is pretty similar to the Dark Za DDR4, with an aggressive armor-like design. The memory does require a pretty high voltage of 1.45V to run at 4000MHz CL16, so I guess the heatspreader here will actually serve its purpose of keeping the memory ICs under it cool.

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A 16GB kit of the T-FORCE Dark Z FPS DDR4 will set you back $140 (~RM569), which is really reasonable for the performance you are getting out of them.
T-FORCE CARDEA IOPS SSD
Aside from memory, TEAMGROUP also announced the T-FORCE CARDEA IOPS SSD. It’s a PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD that boasts of 3400MB/s sequential read and 3000MB/s write speeds, but that’s not the main highlight. The IOPS figure is more significant when it comes to providing a nippy real-world experience, and this SSD boasts of 680K IOPS random read and 670K IOPS random write.

TEAMGROUP obviously optimized the drive to deliver on that metric, going as far as to brag about their achievement in the name of the product itself. To ensure that the T-FORCE CARDEA IOPS SSD can deliver its chart topping performance consistently, TEAMGROUP equipped it with a graphene heatspreader and aluminium heatsink.
You can only get the T-FORCE CARDEA IOPS SSD in 1TB capacities, priced at $165 (~RM670).
Pokdepinion: I wonder if the 4000MHz CL16 memory can help the Ryzen 5000 series to deliver even greater performance…
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PS Plus January 2023 FREE Games Lineup

After being subjected to rumours and alleged leaks, we now have the official PS Plus January 2023 free games lineup right here.
PS Plus January 2023

First up, we have Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which will be available in both PS4 and PS5 editions, is a highly anticipated addition to the service due to the release of its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, in March 2023. The game follows former Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis as he hides from the Empire.

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Fallout 76, which will only be accessible on the PS4, has seen significant improvements and is now a much more enjoyable experience for players. It offers a large amount of content for newcomers and could be a great choice for those looking for a game to occupy their free time.
Lastly, we have Axiom Verge 2, available on both the PS4 and PS5. It’s an underrated indie game with a focus on combat-based gameplay, designed for those who enjoy challenging 2D games.
All the games in the PS Plus January 2023 free games lineup will be available starting 3rd January 2023 so if you missed out on December’s lineup, you would have to wait until the PlayStation team offers it again.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’m still surprised that the leaks have been accurate for several months straight. It’s not necessarily a bad thing since the lineup is pretty solid, but someone might need to look into how these things get leaked in the first place.
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Acer Updates TravelMate Lineup Of Business Laptops
TravelMate P6 14

Acer has unveiled six new TravelMate models spanning across different sizes and form factors. Starting off with the leader of the pack, the TravelMate P6 14 features Intel Core vPro i7 with Evo certification, 16:10 2.8K OLED (2880×1800) panel with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, 32GB LPDDR5 and 65Wh battery with fast charging support. Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity are standard; on top of that, it also includes privacy displays that limits viewing angles down to 90° to protect against prying eyes.
          TravelMate P4 16            TravelMate P4 14            TravelMate P4 Spin 14
Next up is the trio of TravelMate P4 models. All three models, with two in clamshell form factor (P4 14 & P4 16) and one featuring 360° hinge (P4 Spin 14), features Intel Core i7 vPro processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 GPU based on the previous-generation Ampere architecture (as the RTX 30 series). Inside this magnesium alloy chassis packs a 2.2K 16:10 display, with the P4 Spin 14 also featuring Corning Gorilla Glass with its FHD+ touchscreen panel and a stylus for note-taking.

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          TravelMate P2 16            TravelMate P2 14
Then comes the entry-level TravelMate P2 series, again in two sizing options – 14-inch and 16-inch. Both models feature FHD+ IPS panels, Intel 13th Gen CPUs, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, up to 64GB DDR4 RAM, 180° display hinge, Wi-Fi 6E and 4G LTE connectivity support and various I/O, including Thunderbolt 4.
All six models will feature the company’s Dust Defender technology to minimize dust buildup over the lifespan of the laptops to maintain long-term performance. Aside from that, Acer Light Sensing detects ambient lighting and compensates display brightness and color temperature accordingly to provide more natural colors. All packaging are 100% recycled, with certainly parts of the laptops utilizing PCR plastic, and select models feature User Sensing to automatically lock the device when user leaves the laptop.
All models will begin rollout starting from China in May this year, and while no information is given on Malaysia’s release, it’s likely to arrive somewhere in the second half of 2023.
Pokdepinion: Not much difference between these models on paper, aside from display options really.
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MediaTek leads Qualcomm in smartphone chipset market share for Q3 2020

MediaTek has grown significantly in 2020 with a wide range of chipsets, now going as far as to oust Qualcomm as the leading smartphone chipset maker for Q3 2020. With 31% market share versus Qualcomm’s 29%, the lead might be pretty small, but it is quite a significant milestone for the Taiwanese chip vendor.
Counterpoint attributes MediaTek’s success last quarter to their strong offerings in the $100 to $250 price bracket. Entry-level to mid-range smartphones in this segment do move in rather large volumes especially in markets like China and India, and Qualcomm’s relative lack of focus in this segment may have helped MediaTek gain the upper hand here.

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On top of the surge in sales of mid-range devices, MediaTek’s success is also attributed to design wins, with Samsung, Xiaomi and HONOR using MediaTek’s chipsets in their devices. Xiaomi has reportedly tripled the share of MediaTek chipsets in their lineup from Q3 2019, which is really significant considering how many entry-level to mid-range smartphones that Xiaomi has on offer.
MediaTek also has quite a number of interesting premium chipsets this year in the Dimensity series, although the devices featuring said chipset seem to have not made it to our shores. Still, it does show that MediaTek has grown to be quite a formidable chipset maker in recent times.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm is the biggest 5G chipset vendor in Q3 2020, with 39% of 5G smartphones sold worldwide powered by Qualcomm. Qualcomm did apply a lot of emphasis on their 5G chipsets, with a huge selection of 5G chipsets in their arsenal. Counterpoint expects Qualcomm to regain its position at the top of the leaderboard in Q4 2020, as more and more smartphones are shipping with 5G capability.

It is nice to see that Qualcomm has some competition from MediaTek. Hopefully MediaTek can keep providing strong offerings to keep Qualcomm on their toes!
Pokdepinion: MediaTek chipsets did improve quite significantly, but their involvement in benchmark cheating does leave a sour taste in the mouth…
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5G in Malaysia: DNB claims Reuters report about telcos rejecting its offers to be “inaccurate”

While an earlier Reuters report claimed that Malaysian telcos turned down Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) offes due to various concerns, DNB has released a statement claiming that the report was inaccurate. According to DNB, they have yet to begin formal negotiations with local carriers about the cost of access to Malaysia’s 5G network, as they have yet to finalize the Reference Access Offer (RAO).
DNB has yet to begin formal negotiations with telcos
The RAO will cover matters such as access pricing and service terms, and it is slated to be completed by the end of the month. The RAO will also be published publicly, allowing the Malaysian public to know more about the cost of rolling out 5G in Malaysia. Once that’s available, DNB will enter into formal commercial negotiations with our local telco companies.
Long-term agreements are expected to be inked in early 2022, which means that telcos will most probably only start offering 5G services early next year, as mentioned in our earlier coverage of the issue. In the meantime, DNB will continue their rollout of their 5G network across Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, with 500 sites set to be online by the end of December 2021.

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DNB also argues that the Reuters report’s claim of higher costs and lower profitability to be false. DNB claims that the cost per GB that telcos will have to pay when using DNB’s infrastructure will be significantly lower than if the telcos had to independently manage their own 5G networks. The concerns of telcos losing up to RM45 billion was also rebuked as DNB noted that all the listed telcos have performed well even after the government announced the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) (that ended up being named DNB) responsible for rolling out 5G in Malaysia back in February this year.

In any case, it seems that while we will have 5G infrastructure in the aforementioned areas in Klang Valley, we won’t be able to use it until early 2022. Back in 2020 under the prior administration, local telcos were expected to tender for the 5G spectrums by Q1 2020, with deployment of their respective 5G infrastructure set for Q3 2020. After the change of government, the bands were later directly assigned to telcos, before being withdrawn for transparency’s sake. The following year, DNB was announced as the SPV to rollout 5G in Malaysia.
We are now more than a full year behind the original schedule, and counting.
Source
Pokdepinion: Well this changes nothing for us, right? We still are getting 5G later than our neighbors.
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Next NVIDIA cards to feature GeForce RTX naming? Turing-based RTX 2080 to be 50% faster than the GTX 1080!

The upcoming GeForce cards are to be part of the 20-series. That was revealed in a previous leak, despite many prior leaks pointing them to be part of the 11-series. Along with the new numbering, the higher end cards from NVIDIA will also feature a new branding: GeForce RTX.

The leak surfaced as NVIDIA has just recently registered the Quadro RTX and GeForce RTX trademarks. And a NVIDIA insider apparently revealed to AdoredTV revealed the new top-end card is not going to be the GTX 2080, but it will be the RTX 2080. The GeForce RTX branding will also be extended to the Titan series and RTX 2070.

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But that’s where it ends. The GeForce GTX name will still be used for the GTX 2060 and slower GPUs under the new architecture. And if the leaks are to be trusted, the new cards will be based on the Turing architecture, skipping both Volta and Ampere. That seems like a huge leap. The name NVIDIA Turing was also just recently trademarked, supporting this leak.
The cards are expected to be pricey, and offers some major gains over the previous generation. The GeForce GTX 2060 doesn’t seem nearly as interesting this time though, as the GTX 1060 6GB actually beats the GTX 980 from the previous generation.

The latest GPUs are expected to be fabricated on TSMC’s 12nm FinFET process, and we hope to hear more about them at SIGGRAPH 2018, which is starting on 13th August. Stay tuned till then, and take this piece of news with a lot of salt.
Source: VideoCardz
Pokdepinion: I can’t see myself affording any of these cards. Perhaps the current generation GTX 1070 will be a more interesting option for those on a budget.
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Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro To Land In Malaysia On 22 April

The folks at Xiaomi Malaysia has recently posted a teaser on their Facebook page of “Something Big 1S C0ming” to our shores on the 22nd of April 2020.
Xiaomi Malaysia Mi 10 Pro teaser

The teaser seems to be showcasing the company’s Mi 10 Pro which was previously launched globally. If you’re wondering, this is Xiaomi’s latest 5G smartphone, which is powered by the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset.
The Mi 10 Pro is set to be unveiled on the 22nd of April according to the post. Since it’s still in the MCO (Movement Control Order) period, we would probably see a live stream launch instead.

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Though there’s the global pricing of the Mi 10 series, we would probably have to wait come 22nd April to find out for the official pricing of the flagship smartphone. Till then, stay tuned to Pokde.net for more details.
Do check out in our previous coverage on the Mi 10 series to find out more on them.
Pokdepinion: Let’s just hope that the pricing will be lower than the global price..
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Sony Xperia 1 II Has Important New Camera Improvements Coming

It looks like Sony is doing some extra work before the launch of their newest flagship smartphone. The Sony Xperia 1 II is expected to receive some important new camera improvements via software update shortly after launch.
The update includes eye autofocus for the 16mm ultrawide camera, which ensures that human eyes are always in focus, Full HD 120 FPS slow-motion video recording, 4K 60 FPS video recording, and night mode for the primary 24mm camera. This will certainly beef up the camera’s capabilities overall.

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When Will the Camera Improvements for the Sony Xperia 1 II Arrive?
These new features are expected to arrive via a software update for the Sony Xperia 1 II shortly after the smartphone launches in April for Japan. In other regions where it’s expected to arrive later, the updates are expected to come right out of the box.
No word yet on when the smartphone will be launched in Malaysia, but we will be reporting more on that as soon as information becomes available so stay tuned.
What do you think of the improvements? Join the discussion right below here:

Source
Pokdepinion: I’m personally excited for the smartphone not just for the camera. I do hope it will be a significant improvement over its predecessor so it can compete against the other big names out there.
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Installing Pokemon GO? You might be installing malware too

Pokemon GO is a pretty sensational app, with tonnes of smartphone users downloading it to catch them all. While it’s only officially available in the U.S., New Zealand and Australia, through the App Store and Google Play Store, it has not stopped fans in other regions from downloading and installing the APK from third-party sources on their Android devices to play the augmented reality game. Well, it seems that they may have indirectly opened the door for the remote access tool malware, DroidJack, to enter.
Why Gastly? Because I hate Gastly. They are annoying, pretty much like malware.
Usually, Android is a pretty secure environment. If you don’t mess with the settings, you won’t be able to install third-party APKs of suspicious origin. But of course, to install the APK to play Pokemon GO, you will need to enable the “unknown sources” checkbox in the Settings menu. Usually it is fine, but when faced with opportunistic hackers, well, you know what happens.
According to Proofpoint, a pretty simple method to check if your device is infected would be to check the installed application’s permission. This can usually be accessed by first going to Settings -> Apps -> Pokemon GO and then scrolling down to the PERMISSIONS section. The outlined permissions have been added by DroidJack. Seeing those permissions granted to the Pokemon GO app could indicate that the device is infected, although these permissions are also subject to change in the future.

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Our only advice is to not install Pokemon GO from third-party sources. Please wait until it is available officially here. I also heard that Pokemon GO players who sideload the app onto their devices will get banned permanently, even when it is made available here? I don’t know. More reason not to do it then.

Pokdepinion: Obviously the take home point here is to be patient. We will definitely get it. Someday. Till then, try to avoid third party sources as you may be opening up your phones to a lot of malware.
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Win Yourself A Trip Worth RM2000 With Travelwithnova Selfie Contest

You stand a chance of winning yourself a trip that’s worth RM2000 when you show your best travel selfie this coming holiday with HUAWEI’s #Travelwithnova Selfie contest.
HUAWEI #Travelwithnova Selfie Contest
So to participate, it is quite simple actually. You just need to follow these four simple steps in order for you to win a RM2,000 worth of trip;

Take the most creative selfie using any of HUAWEI nova devices
Share it on your social media (Facebook or Instagram) and make sure your profile is set to public
Complete your entry with the most creative caption that begins with “HUAWEI nova 3i is my travel must have because…” (not more than 20 words)
Set the post to public and include these hashtags: #travelwithnova #huaweinova3i #novasuperstar so that you can be seen

The grand prize in the contest is a holiday geteaway voucher that’s worth RM2000, while the runner up will receive a HUAWEI 360 Camera. Last but not least, there will also be a consolation prize for five winners, where they will be walking away with a HUAWEI Tripod Selfie Stick.

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This contest will end by the 30th of September 2018. If you wish to learn more, you can click on the link right here to go to HUAWEI’s official website.
Pokdepinion: The contest is simple and pretty much straightforward. So if you do own any HUAWEI nova devices, why not have a go at it? You might just be the lucky winner.
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