WD My Passport SSD 1TB Review — pricey, but still worth it?

WD makes a variety of storage solutions, and one of the most popular ones has to be the My Passport series of portable external storage. Of course, to keep up with the times, WD has refreshed the My Passport lineup with SSDs in the aptly named WD My Passport SSD series. Today we are looking at the latest updated variant from them, and it is quite an interesting option for those who need a lot of fast portable storage with them.
Unboxing

Packaging wise, the WD My Passport SSD 1TB comes in a nice yellow-white box that puts the product image front and center. There’s a little emblem down there that probably is meant to allow people to understand that this is a portable drive but all that came to mind when I saw it is the Telegram icon. Sorry, WD.

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WD thoughtfully included a USB-A adapter dongle, which will come in handy if you plan on using the WD My Passport SSD 1TB with older systems. A lot of cases still do not have a USB-C on their front panels though, so this is definitely handy. Not to mention that there are quite a lot of PCs out there with the USB 3.2 Gen2 interface over a USB-A port. There’s also some basic documentation included here.
Appearance

As evident in our unboxing images earlier, we received the Gold color option for testing. It is a soft shade of gold, one which reminds us of smartphones from a few years back. There are ridges along the end that’s closer to the USB-C port, which are presumably there for grip. You can also see that it is very thin, barely thicker than a USB-C connector. The smooth curves around the edges should make it even easier to carry around with you.

WD only used metal on one side, while the other is made of plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap though as it sports a nice matte finish. I wished that WD tried harder to match the color here though as while the front side has a nice metallic sheen, the surface here is dull. For those who deplore the regulatory information manufacturers are obligated to print on their products, I guess there’s some reprieve here as WD printed them in a very similar shade to the rest of the finishing.
Specifications
WD Blue SN550 NVMe SSD 1TB

Capacity
1TB (931GB usable)

Interface
USB 3.1 Gen2 (10Gbps)

NAND Type
SanDisk BiCS4 96-layer TLC 3D NAND

DRAM Cache
N/A

Controller
WD custom controller

Rated speed
Sequential:
Read: Up to 1050MB/s Write: Up to 1000MB/s

Endurance
N/A

Dimensions
100.08 X 55.12 X 8.89 mm

Weight
51 gram

Included accessories
USB Type-C to Type-A adapter
WD Discovery
WD Backup
WD Security

Warranty
5 years

Test System

CPU
Intel Core i9-10900K @ 5.1GHz

Motherboard
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS MASTER

Memory
2 x 8GB T-Force Xtreem ARGB 3600MHz CL14

Storage
120GB Kingston UV400 SATA SSD
960GB Kingston UV500 SATA SSD
1TB Kingston KC2500 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD
1TB Seagate FireCuda SSHD

Power Supply
Cooler Master V1200 Platinum

Monitor
BenQ EL2870U

GPU Driver
NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Drivers 457.40

Performance
Under the hood, it is essentially a WD SN550 NVMe drive, connected to a PCIe to USB 3.1 Gen2 controller. If you check out the drive in CrystalDiskInfo, it reports it as a WD SN550E. The drive itself is plenty capable of faster speeds, so the only bottleneck is the USB 3.1 Gen2 interface. In a way, it is good, as it means that you will be able to experience the full 10Gbps speeds that USB 3.1 Gen2 is capable of.
Synthetic

CrystalDiskMark sees the WD My Passport SSD 1TB post sequential read and write speeds above what WD claimed.

In Anvil’s Storage Utilities, the speeds reported are significantly lower than what you would expect from a decent NVMe SSD, but that’s because of the bottlenecks induced by the USB interface. It posts good sequential read and write speeds though, of up to 978MB/s read and 923MB/s write.

In AS SSD, we see slightly higher sequential speeds. 4K random speeds are quite low, but once again, no one is really going to care about that on an external drive. Unless you plan on running software off the WD My Passport SSD 1TB. Which is exactly what we did in the following test.
Real World

We updated our bench rig recently to an Intel Core i9-10900K-based system, and it seems like that also has the knock on effect of accelerating our game loading times. In Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood which very conveniently reports loading times in its benchmark tool, we see very quick loading times, even besting the results we got with the WD Blue SN550 on our older bench rig.

With the source drive being the Kingston KC2500 which is the fastest PCIe 3.0 x4 drive we have tested to date, we can see that the WD My Passport SSD 1TB is a strong performer. The difference here can be related to the capability of the drive at handling more small files or fewer large files, and we can see that the WD My Passport SSD 1TB doesn’t do well at handling 16GB of documents, where we saw the speeds dip to 122MB/s on average. On the flip side, compressed files were shuttled into the drive at 719MB/s.
Interestingly enough, it only barely warmed up to 43°C after all 80GB of files was transferred into it, as reported by CrystalDiskInfo, and the enclosure was just slightly warm to the touch. Perhaps the aluminium half does work to help keep the innards cool? This is good news as cooler operating temperatures usually translate to longer livespans.

The only area that the WD My Passport SSD 1TB truly falters in the cost-per-GB metric. At RM1.069 per GB for the 1TB variant we are testing here, you would be paying close to 2X what you would for a 1TB WD Blue SN550. Even if you factor in the cost of a good USB enclosure, the WD My Passport SSD 1TB is still quite pricey. Of course, in comparison to the previous external SSD we tested, the HyperX Savage EXO, the WD My Passport SSD is a better deal, while also being nearly twice as fast.
User Experience

I guess WD will make up for it by offering more software features than you would usually get by throwing your usual PCIe NVMe SSD into an enclosure. One of the key highlights would probably be the password protection that WD offers with the WD My Passport SSD 1TB.

WD Security is accessible via two methods: the standalone app itself or WD Discovery. I would recommend installing WD Security, as it is a simple, no-frills way to add a password to your drive. The data within will be secured by 256-bit hardware encryption, which might be a boon for those who might want to move their data around more securely.

Curiously enough, the WD Backup app didn’t detect the WD My Passport SSD 1TB, and only allowed me to backup to Dropbox. Usually it should allow you to create a scheduled backup to whatever WD drive you have configured in the software, preventing you from facing catastrophic failure in the event of your system suffering a sudden storage failure.
On the hardware end, I do wonder why WD didn’t throw in an activity LED. It doesn’t even need to be intrusive, but I guess it would help to know whether the drive is active before you unplug it. I know, you are supposed to eject it from your PC before unplugging it, but some of us like to live life dangerously, but not this dangerously.
Conclusion
I personally find it hard to justify paying for the WD My Passport SSD 1TB, considering that RM1069 is quite a sum to pay for what’s essentially a PCIe NVMe drive in a USB enclosure. The included software does make it slightly more palatable, and I do think some will appreciate the reliability that you would expect from a finished product like the WD My Passport SSD 1TB.

For those who don’t like guessing whether this or that enclosure’s controller would work flawlessly with their PCIe NVMe SSD, this is a much better option. Buy it, and you are set. Easy as that. It is also more compact, in the way that it is actually shorter than most external PCIe NVMe SSD enclosures. If you find those points worth paying the premium WD is charging, then the WD My Passport SSD 1TB is a great choice for you.
On another note, can WD work on their naming? The WD My Passport SSD shares its name with its predecessor, despite looking absolutely nothing like it, and being twice as fast. Also, I must say I prefer the design of the older drive.
Our thanks to WD Malaysia for sending us the WD My Passport SSD 1TB for review.

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EA Gives First Look For FIFA 22

Electronic Arts (EA) has recently unveiled the first official look towards FIFA 22, showcasing some of the things that we can expect from the popular franchise.
FIFA 22 official first look

In the trailer, we can see several of the world’s best footballers such as Mbappe, Heung Min Son, and Trent Alexander Arnold kicking about and transition into gameplay of the game.
One of the new features that will be implemented in the game is HyperMotion technology. What does it do? Well it is said to make movement and actions in-game to be more realistic than ever.

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HyperMotion technology enabled the integration of the first-ever motion capture of 22 professional footballers playing at high intensity. Additionally, EA’s proprietary machine learning algorithm learns from more than 8.7 million frames of advanced match capture, then writes new animations in real time to create organic football movement across a variety of interactions on the pitch.
EA

Set for release on the 1st of October 2021, the game will be available for both last-gen and current-gen platforms. You can expect modes such as Career Mode, Volta, Pro Clubs, and FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) to be available.
Aside from that, it is said that they will be upgrading the goalkeeping system as well as a new “Create a Club experience” within Career Mode.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Source
Pokdepinion: For the FIFA franchise, I really hope that it feels different this time around. I’ve been playing their titles since FIFA 06. There is changes here and there over the years but in recent times, it just feels like the same game.. Hopefully the HyperMotion tech isn’t just a gimmick and actually brings something to the game.
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New Meditations Launcher Offers A Free Game Every Day

Now everyone likes free games right? What if we told you that you can get a game for free, every day in 2019? That’s is exactly what Meditations is offering.
The new launcher looks to provide “small, experimental, and minimalistic” games that should probably take you around five minutes to complete, so don’t get your hopes high. Still, the games that’s being offered took nearly six hours to produce (we’ve got to applaud the effort right?).

One morning in 2017, I played a short game that made me wish I had a new tiny game like it for every day of the year. So for all of 2018, I've asked hundreds of devs to make a small game. This launcher will serve you a new little game every day. https://t.co/uPfA18W59h
— Rami Ismail (رامي) (@tha_rami) January 1, 2019

Co-founder of Nuclear Throne, Rami Ismail was the one who announced that the new launcher was coming. It should be pointed out that the games that’s on offer will only be available to play for 24 hours, where the launcher will download one game every day at midnight GMT.

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As for genres of the games, he has said they range from “curious small puzzle games and challenging little platformers to personal games about life and loss and happiness and love and death and everything”.
You can click on the link here to check Meditations out.
Pokdepinion: Now, you might be put off by the fact that they aren’t offering AAA games, but hey it’s free. I wouldn’t mind checking them out one of these days when I’m bored.
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Setel Introduces New Deliver2Me And In-Store Cashless Payment Services At PETRONAS Stations

Setel has introduced new services for their e-payment app which allows you to enjoy delivery while you’re refueling through Deliver2Me as well as in-store cashless payment within the app.
Setel Deliver2Me And cashless payment

As you can see from the picture, Deliver2Me allows you to purchase selected items from participating Kedai Mesra outlets and it will be directly delivered to you while refueling your car.

If you prefer to go in and shop in the store yourself, Setel has introduced a cashless system that allows you to pay easily at 800 participating Kedai Mesra outlets in the country with your Setel Wallet. In addition to the ability to earn Mesra points, you can also redeem Mesra points directly via the app.

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The company has said that Deliver2Me is now available at six participating PETRONAS stations in the Klang Valley and will rolled out to all Setel-enabled stations in the country starting Q1 2021.
Setel is available to download for free on both Android and iOS devices through the Google Play Store, HUAWEI AppGallery, and Apple App Store.
Pokdepinion: While I think the cashless payment is nice to have, I don’t quite get the Deliver2Me feature.. I mean the store should be right in front of you when you refuel your car. Unless, if you’re rushing and still need to purchase something from the store, that would make sense.
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Edifier G4 TE Review — Audio Fit For Gaming

In this Edifier G4 TE review, we take a look at another one of Edifier’s headphone aimed towards gamers. Will it impress us? Let’s find out.
Unboxing

Right out of the bat, you can expect to find the following items:
HeadphoneDetachable micDocumentationPop filter (for the microphone)Sound card (connected to the headphone)
Appearance

From the left side, you can see the source of the braided cable, which happens to be non-detachable. Braided cables are definitely nice to have as you they typically last longer. The removable microphone is also slotted on this side as well.

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Here’s a closer look at the side, where you can see the ‘H’ symbol (which most likely refers to Hecate like the Edifier Hecate GM4). Aside from packing its 50mm driver inside, it’s also where the magic happens, the RGB lighting.

As you can see, the earpads are black. It’s more than big enough to fit your ears completely. They are more rounded than oval-shaped. Should you happen to want hinges or swivel, you won’t get that on the Edifier G4 TE.

What we have here is the included sound card for the headphone. It’s pretty simple as it acts as the RGB power switch and the mute / unmute control. Not to forget, there’s a scroller at the right side to control your volume for the Edifier G4 TE.
Overall, it is a simple, yet effective gaming headset design. Apart from the RGB lighting, it doesn’t really stick out that much in terms of design, but what matters most is the performance, which we’ll get into in a later section of this Edifier G4 TE review.
Edifier G4 TE Specifications
Drivers:50mm NdFeBFrequency Response:20Hz – 20,000HzImpedance:32 ohmSensitivity:101dBHeadphone Type:Closed-back, over-earMicrophone:Detachable micOmni-directional pick upConnectorUSBCable Length:2.5mNoise-cancelling:N/AColour: Black
User Experience

While the Edifier G4 TE offers multi-color lighting that the Edifier G2 II lacks, I still wasn’t satisfied with it as it seemed ‘soft’ when you compare it with several other offerings in the market. Again, it’s not a big deal but if you’re a fan of some RGB love, don’t expect too much here.
With the sound card already connected to the headphones, you can simply connect the headphone to your rig and start using it immediately.

When it comes to comfort, I can’t rate the headphone too highly. While the cushion itself was nice, I didn’t liked the fact that there’s no ability to extend the sides like the G2 II. Yes, the head strap expands to your head but I feel that it’s too tight when fitted in. I can’t say that it was a comfortable experience, even after a short period of time as I could feel the ‘warmth’ around my ears.
I couldn’t complain about the sound however as it’s definitely an upgrade from the G2 II. Thanks to the bigger earcups and the way that they fully cover your ears, you get more immersive sound. For games, I could hear footsteps clearly, something important in first person shooter titles.

Next is the microphone quality, which is not up the standard that the G2 II’s quality that I was impressed with. It works fine for voice chat but don’t expect anything much from it. You can listen to the sample below.

Personally I didn’t fancy the the mic quality as I feel that it picked up everything, including the sound of me breathing. This is kind of a subjective thing as I’ve tested both the G4 TE and G2 II on a Discord channel with friends, and they were split between the two as to which offers a better quality.

The software for the Edifier G4 TE can be downloaded from their website. It’s not the cleanest of UIs or the most intuitive of skins but it’s got what you’d expect. There are a couple of things that you can tweak to fit your preference, like EQ presets. Should you be lazy to customize your own EQ, I find that the ‘Metal’ preset sounds the best, at least for me personally.
Edifier G4 TE Verdict

At the price of RM219, the Edifier G4 TE is still a relatively affordable option in the gaming headphone market. The overall audio quality is decent but I wished that they’ve offered more in terms of comfort.
If you ask me, I would personally opt for the Edifier G2 II, just for the sake of the comfort that it offers. At the end of the day for a gaming headset, you’d want one that you can wear comfortably, especially for long gaming sessions.
We would like to thank Edifier Malaysia for providing the Edifier G4 TE that was used in this review.
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6GB RAM for smartphones incoming

While only a select few phones have crammed 4GB of RAM under the hood, among which are the ASUS Zenfone 2, Note 5 and its S pen-less sibling the S6 Edge+, Samsung has already begun mass production of even higher density LPDDR4 DRAM chips which will enable phones with more than the 4GB we see now. The memory modules are manufactured using a 20nm process and come with a capacity of 12 Gb (1.5 GB), offer 50% greater density than Samsung’s existing 8 Gb chips.
To cram 6GB RAM into a smartphone, manufacturers need only use 4 12Gb modules just like they currently do with 8Gb modules to pack 4GB RAM. While we may have not actually seen a need for 4GB of RAM, the technology is available for manufacturers to use. Manufacturers will also be able to make smaller phones with 3GB RAM as they will only need to pack in two 12Gb modules.
Aside from being higher density, Samsung also claims these new chips are 30% faster than existing 8 Gb modules, running at speeds at up to 4266 MHz, equating to 34 Gbps over a standard 64-bit bus. The new chips also consume 20% less power, which is great news for portable devices.

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SOURCE: TechSpot

Pokdepinion: The 4GB of RAM in the ASUS Zenfone 2 has enabled it to be quite a beast at multitasking, and I doubt we will find a need for more than 4GB other than for e-pen0r enlargement purposes, yet. But as mobile processors get even beefier, we should be able to utilize more RAM for heavier applications developed to take advantage of the processing power available.
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Far Cry 6 Final DLC Joseph Collapse Is Available To Download Now

Announced last week, Joseph Collapse, the third and final major DLC coming to Far Cry 6 as part of the Season Pass, is now available on Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Stadia, as well as Windows PC through the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store.
Joseph Collapse DLC is out now

To access Joseph Collapse, players must own Far Cry 6. The DLC will be playable in co-op, and owners of the new DLC will be able to invite another Far Cry 6 player (on the same platform) to join them for co-op play, even if the invitee does not own the DLC.

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In a twisted version of Hope County, Montana, players will take on the role of Joseph Seed, the iconic villain from Far Cry 5, for a brand-new experience inspired by the roguelite genre. Joseph Collapse, a game that combines intense action and storytelling, will allow players to enter Joseph’s tortured mind, face off against his former cult followers after his faith has crumbled, and eventually confront his family members as he struggles to overcome his inner demons.

To commemorate the launch, all Far Cry 6 editions are currently discounted by up to 40% across all digital stores. In addition, Far Cry 6 owners can save 25% on the Season Pass.

Pokdepinion: Joseph was definitely one of the highlights of Far Cry 5 for me. So seeing him again here in Far Cry 6 is something I look forward to.
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MSI Now The Official Gaming Partner For All Upcoming ESL One Events

MSI powering all players at ESL One

MSI has announced that they have partnered with ESL, the largest eSports company in the world and is now the official gaming partner for all ESL One events from now onwards. Starting from the ESL One Genting 2018 happening this weekend, they will now be providing all players with their best of the best gaming equipment lineup to ensure players the best experience.

Senior Vice President Product ESL, Ulrich Shulze had this to say regarding the two companies’ partnership,

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We always strive to deliver the best experience possible not only for attendees, but also for the teams and players competing at our events.
Our partnership with MSI aims to do just that, delivering technology of the highest quality to the players, so that they can fully focus on their performance in tournaments. We look forward to an exciting new year of esports.
Sam Chern, MSI Global Marketing Asssistant Vice President is also thrilled with the partnership and said that this is one giant leap for gaming industry into the future as well as fulfilling the famous company’s commitment to gaming and social media.
This weekend MSI will most assuredly be in Genting during the ESL One Genting 2018 with a booth where those who attend the event can meet and play with the world famous Dota 2 personality SirActionSlacks as well as Pinda Panda. Attendees can also head over to the Intel booth during ESL One Genting 2018 too as MSI will be showcasing some of their newest gaming technology there.

For more information you can check out either MSI or ESL’s Facebook page here and here as well as both their Twitter page here and here.
Pokdepinion: Personally I can’t think of a better pairing other than the two gaming behemoths. Will be looking forward to ESL One Genting 2018 this weekend.
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Huawei Watch 2 announced at MWC 2017, coming to Malaysia in May

The Huawei Watch 2 was hinted to be unveiled at MWC 2017, and true enough, it was revealed after the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus‘ announcement. The Huawei Watch 2 builds upon the classic circular design of the original Huawei Watch while introducing new innovations to enhance users’ active lifestyle.
The Huawei Watch 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor which features 4G connectivity and also features a built-in GPS chip, enabling users to use the smartwatch without it tethered to a smartphone. You can even use apps like Uber, Foursquare and Telegram right on the watch itself. If you prefer more basic communication options, the Huawei Watch 2 supports calls and SMS right on the smartwatch itself. Enjoy high quality calls with VoLTE support and dual-mic noise elimination.

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Active individuals will also find the array of sensors and advanced algorithms in the Huawei Watch 2 to complement their active lifestyle. Heart rate sensors help you stay in the optimum range while the GPS tracks your route. With the Google Play Music app, you can even enjoy music via the Huawei Watch 2, without having to carry a smartphone along with you.
The Huawei Watch 2 runs on Android Wear 2.0 which offers an on-watch Google Play Store to get the latest apps to make the most out of the smartwatch. Support for NFC and Android Pay technologies make life easier. The battery is claimed to last up to 2 days with normal use, up to 10 hours in “training mode”, and 3 weeks in “watch mode”.

Those who desire the best Huawei can offer might want something more, which is why there is the Porsche Design Huawei Smartwatch which complements the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 9. Combining the elite aesthetics only possible through the collaboration with the technological expertise Huawei is known for, the Porsche Design Huawei Smartwatch is the perfect smartwatch for the active professional.
Pricing for the Huawei Watch 2 starts from 329 EUR (RM1549.56). Malaysian pricing has yet to be announced, but we will find out by May 2017.
Pokdepinion: The Huawei Watch 2 features a round face which I very much prefer over the square or rectangular faces certain smartwatches sport. The Porsche Design Huawei Smartwatch also features a very timeless look even with all the modern hardware in it. I think I am in love.
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Irdeto partners VOXX Automotive to bring next-gen key management for fleet owners

Fleet owners, new car dealers and ride sharing companies are now embracing the digital transformation. Instead of having to deal with physical keys, driver authentication and other issues, Irdeto and VOXX Automotive have come together to bring a solution for these challenges related to car sharing.
Combining Irdeto’s Keystone and VOXX’s eFob technologies, you can eliminate the need for keys and fobs entirely. eFob enables no-key/no-fob vehicle start and drive, digital key sharing, tracking and controlling multi-user vehicles and more. The driver just has to approach their vehicle with their smartphones to unlock it.
But how to make sure all those features remain secure? That’s where Irdeto’s premium key management solution with built-in security comes in.

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Irdeto’s Keystone is a tamper-proof policy management to prevent potential vehicle hacks. Irdeto uses its experience in security architectures, ECU-side features and cloud services to ensure a robust security solution. There’s also a complete back-end management system with analytics to help operators stay on top of their business.
Keystone and eFob will work together to ensure that new fleet business models can flourish with the security and convenience enabled by these solutions.
Pokdepinion: I don’t think they offer these services for end users wanting to upgrade their cars, do they?
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GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX Review — great on paper, but not so much in practice…

GIGABYTE’s AORUS lineup of motherboards are usually quite good, with a strong focus on delivering on the key features that you would need from a gaming motherboard. The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX we are looking at today is probably less intended at enthusiasts, but it does still a lot of impressive features that some might find even more interesting than even GIGABYTE’s higher end boards. Without further ado, let’s get right into it.
Unboxing

GIGABYTE has a very consistent theme with their packaging, with a huge AORUS emblem on the front and the name of the motherboard emblazoned on the front of the box.

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Over on the back there’s an excellent spread of information about the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX. GIGABYTE is really proud of the VRM systems in their AORUS motherboards, so you have information on that here. The triple PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots have also been highlighted, which is definitely one of the unique points of this motherboard.

The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX comes with a pretty nice spread in the box. While we did say that the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX isn’t intended for the serious enthusiasts, it does come with two temperature sensors to more accurately readout the temperatures in specific spots that you would like to monitor. The rest of the contents are pretty much what you would expect, but there’s also a G-Connector to help you deal with the fiddly case headers more conveniently.
Appearance

The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX plays around with the black and gray tones very well, which makes it extremely easy to match any sort of build you might have in mind. It also actually matches the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 FE’s gunmetal gray finish, which is great if you are planning a build with that specific graphics card.

Over on the back, there isn’t much to see. GIGABYTE didn’t use any doublers for the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX, so the area around the socket is relatively clean. The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX touts a 6-layer PCB, and we can actually see a lot of the traces sticking out like veins running all across the motherboard. I think it looks pretty cool, but sadly it’s not a sight that you get to enjoy much.

The rear I/O for this board is quite well-stocked, with a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2x2 port leading the charge. There are also four USB 3.2 Gen2, four USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports to make for a total of 12 USB-A ports, which should be more than plenty for anyone. You also get WiFi 6 and 2.5GbE LAN for connectivity, as well as a DisplayPort 1.2 for display output from the integrated graphics. The I/O shield is also integrated, which is great for first time builders.
Overall, I would say the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX looks awesome. The simple monochrome color palette makes for a build that’s easy to match with any other component you have in mind, while all the straight edges also offer a clean aesthetic that I really dig.

RGB lighting is very minimal on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX, which is a rather stark departure from their blindingly bright motherboards of the past. Only the I/O shroud and the cover over the audio circuitry glow up with 16.7 million colors. I would have loved some RGB over the PCH as well, but as we found in our previous review, this is probably for the better.
Specifications
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX

CPU support
LGA1200
10th Gen Intel Core Processors
11th Gen Intel Core Processors
Pentium Gold G6, Celeron G5 Processors

Power
1 x 24-pin ATX
1 x 8-pin EATX 12V
1 x 4-pin EATX 12V
ISL69269 PWM controller (12-phase)
RAA22901 PWM controller
12 x ISL99390 (90A) smart powerstage for VCore
1 x Alpha & Omega BKU0 (60A) powerstage for iGPU

Chipset
Intel Z590

Memory
4 x DDR4 DIMM, max. 128GB un-buffered memory
Up to 5400MHz (OC)

Multi-GPU Support
2-way AMD CrossFire, quad-GPU CrossFire

Expansion slots
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 electrically – from CPU)
2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 electrically – from chipset)

Storage
6 x SATA 6 Gb/s, supports RAID 0,1,5,10
3 x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 – from 11th Gen CPU
1 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA – from chipset

Network
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1 x Intel I225V 2.5GbE LAN

USB
Rear I/O:
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C
4 x USB 3.1 (10Gbps)
4 x USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
4 x USB 2.0
On-board headers:
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps)
1 x USB 3.0 (5Gbps) (2 ports each)
2 x USB 2.0 (2 ports each)

Audio
Realtek ALC4080 CODEC
5 x audio jacks (rear)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x front panel audio connector

Display output
1 x DisplayPort 1.4

Other onboard connectors
1 x CPU fan header
1 x CPU_OPT fan header
3 x Chassis fan headers
2 x Water Pump/Fan header
2 x RGB headers
2 x ARGB headers
1 x TPM module connector
2 x Temperature sensor header

Overclocking features
Debug LEDs
Q-FLASH Onboard Button

Included accessories
User’s manual
APP Center user guide
Installation Guide
WiFi Antenna
G-Connector
RGB LED extension cable
2 x SATA 6Gbps cable
2 x Thermistors
3 x M.2 screws

Form factor
ATX (12″ x 9.6″)

Test System

CPU
Intel Core i9-11900K

Cooler
Cooler Master ML240R

Motherboard
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX (BIOS ver.F6d)

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition

Memory
2 x 8GB T-FORCE XTREEM ARGB DDR4-3600 CL14

Storage
Kingston UV400 120GB
Kingston UV500 1TB
Seagate FireCuda SSHD 1TB
Kingston KC2500 1TB

Power Supply
Cooler Master V1200 Platinum

Taking a Closer Look
 VRMs

The VRM heatsinks on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX definitely looks very good. Unlike most of the motherboards in the market, it actually has a fin stack to the left of the CPU socket. It is partially covered by the I/O shroud, but it will still offer plenty of surface area to dissipate the heat more effectively than the aluminium blocks that every motherboard offers.

GIGABYTE used the popular Intersil ISL69269 PWM controller for the main VCore rail, and they use it to its fullest. All 12 ISL99390 Smart Powerstages are fed directly by this controller, which enables an insane 1080A of power to the VCore rail. This is about as high-end as it gets for VRMs, and it’s pretty cool to see it here on a mid-range board.

Meanwhile the VCCGT rail is handled by a separate RAA229001 PWM controller and a single Alpha & Omega BKU0 60A powerstage. This is really quite overkill since most other motherboard makers designed their VRM to either run two powerstages in parallel for the VCore rail, but GIGABYTE decided to go with a Direct Digital Power Design instead for the VCore.

We have already established that the VRM heatsinks offer plenty of surface area on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX, but GIGABYTE actually made sure that the thermal transfer from the VRM modules to the heatsink is as efficient as possible with a direct heatpipe design. The thermal pads here are also in orange, which I am not exactly sure is because GIGABYTE specifically chose them to suit the AORUS branding, or LAIRD makes their 7.5W/mK thermal pads in this color and it is just a coincidence.
Audio

The audio capabilities on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX is powered by the Realtek ALC4080 CODEC that’s available on pretty much every high-end Intel Z590 motherboard launched recently. GIGABYTE differentiates themselves with the arrays of Nichicon and WIMA capacitors visible here on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX, which are supposed to provide for better audio than your standard run of the mill capacitors.
Storage

The first thing to note is that GIGABYTE went with tabs for the M.2 heatspreaders, which means that you will have to undo only one screw for the first M.2 slot and also the last, as one end is held down by a tab that inserts into the M.2 connector, instead of you having to screw down both ends. The center heatspreader that covers two SSDs require three screws. What makes things even odder is the last M.2 slot is only capable of up to PCIe 3.0 x4, but has more surface area than the first M.2 slot.

Speaking of which, You can probably spot the difference in thermal pad material here, with all the M.2 heatspreaders removed. The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX’s storage configuration is really quite unique, and is definitely something that I find to be quite unnecessary.
The first three slots are connected to the CPU, which allows you to have a total of three M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 SSDs, which takes away PCIe 4.0 lanes available to your GPU if used. I am not exactly sure why would you need this many PCIe 4.0 x4 SSDs, but if you do, the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX is the board for you. The effect on GPU performance should be quite minimal though, but I still don’t know why GIGABYTE decided to offer the option for this in the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX.

One unintended advantage of this configuration is probably that the M.2 slots do not share their lanes with the SATA ports. Since only the last M.2 slot is handled by the Intel Z590 chipset, the only way you can lose a SATA port is if you use a M.2 SATA SSD.
Connectivity

Networking on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX is handled by the ubiquitous Intel I225-V 2.5GbE LAN and the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200. Pretty standard stuff, but there’s also plenty of other fancy chips that GIGABYTE used to beef up the I/O available on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX.

These here are the redrivers along with the USB 2.0 hub controller. The PI3EQX2004ZHE handles the USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2x2 port, while the two NB7N1104 are in charge of the four USB 3.2 Gen2 ports. Last but not least, the GL850S is a 4-port USB 2.0 hub controller.

Further up the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX, we have the RTS5411E 4-port USB 3.0 hub controller. These are the chips that handle the impressive spread of USB ports on the rear of the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX. You can also probably spot the smaller MXIC MX25L4006E IC, which if I am not mistaken, enables the Q-Flash capabilities of the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX.
Performance

This is where it really gets interesting. While the VRM layout and the heatsink for the VRMs are equally overkill, running an Intel Core i9-11900K drawing about 280W managed to heat up the VRMs to 96°C. And it was still gradually rising towards the end of the 30-minute run of Realbench stress test! While I thought it was a issue with either HWiNFO or the board reading off a wonky sensor, the heatsinks are actually really hot too. The fin stack to the left of the CPU was actually measured at 75.7°C, while the block above the socket is 68.9°C.
Notably, this is in an open test bench which means little to no direct airflow over the VRM heatsinks, but this is still ridiculously hot for a VRM design that’s this overkill. Something is definitely wrong, and even buildzoid noted this issue with the VRMs on his sample of the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX overheating to the point of throttling as well, which is very disappointing, considering that it has a whopping 12 90A smart powerstages.

On the other hand, the huge block that’s the PCH heatsink does a great job. Unlike some designs which sacrifice functionality in favor of design, the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX’s large aluminium block keeps the Intel Z590 chipset cool at around 46°C throughout our testing. And you can’t even say it looks bad, with this nice faceplate over it. Kudos to GIGABYTE for getting their priorities right, at least with the PCH cooling.
User Experience
BIOS

GIGABYTE hasn’t changed the outlook of their BIOS, and I guess it is fine. Those who love GIGABYTE motherboards swear by their BIOS, and while I do prefer the simpler layout of ASUS’ UEFI BIOS, GIGABYTE’s BIOS isn’t exactly hard to navigate either. The font is pretty nice, and while the huge spread of settings to play around with might overwhelm beginners, once you know what you need to play with, it gets very simple.
Overclocking

I hope you like staring at red LEDs when trying to troubleshoot your system, as that’s all you will see on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX. GIGABYTE did not include a POST code readout with the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX. While I am fine with that, I do wish that GIGABYTE used different colored LEDs, as all the four LEDs smushed up into the lower right corner of the motherboard makes it nigh impossible to identify what’s going wrong with your system. I think that makes it quite clear that this isn’t a board intended for overclocking enthusiasts, and instead towards gamers. But which gamer needs a total of three M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 drives?

Somehow GIGABYTE also decided that the Q-Flash button should be on the motherboard itself, instead of putting a button on the rear I/O like most manufacturers. If you have it installed in a case, you will have to open up the case, and push the button. I guess there’s the argument to be made that you won’t ever need to use Q-Flash unless you are installing an unsupported CPU, and thus you will most probably have your PC case open to do that, but hey, since the USB port for the Q-Flash to work is on the back of the board, having a button there just makes more sense.
Software
          AORUS APP Center            AORUS APP Center          RGB Fusion 2.0              Fast Boot            EasyTune            System Information Viewer
GIGABYTE’s APP Center is probably the most hideous bit of software that’s bundled with a motherboard. It looks very outdated in the face of more recent versions of software suites that the other board vendors have pushed out, and I think it is due for a proper redesign. But all the things that you need are here, although you will install them through the APP Center, only to have them pop out in a separate window. Quite unintuitive, but it get the job done.
Conclusion
The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX is priced at RM1439, which makes it the most affordable Intel Z590 motherboard we have looked at thus far. On paper, it is also one of the most interesting ones, despite the fact that its capability of being able to support up to three PCIe 4.0 x4 SSDs being rather pointless to gamers, unless the gamer somehow have a need for a lot of fast PCIe 4.0 storage. The VRM is also very impressive, on paper.

What’s not so exciting is the temperatures that the VRMs hit. I can’t explain why it runs so hot, but such a beefy VRM configuration should not even be challenged, much less run so close to its thermal limits when handling a Core i9-11900K. I guess if you want a motherboard that will satisfy your craving for PCIe 4.0 storage, this is it. But if you want a board for its beefy VRM, this ain’t it. It was nice to have an actual fin stack for VRM cooling, but too bad it isn’t nearly as functional as I thought it would be.
Our thanks to GIGABYTE Malaysia for sending us the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX for review. You can purchase the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS PRO AX on Shopee here.
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CES 2020: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X to be on shelves from 7th February

If you have been holding out on your next CPU purchase to get AMD’s greatest desktop CPU yet, nay, the world’s greatest, there is a date on the horizon. On 7th February, just a day after my birthday, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is going to be made available worldwide. Is this Lisa Su’s birthday present for me?
The absolutely ridiculous processor will pack eight CCDs, each with eight cores each, for a whopping total of 64 cores. Thanks to simultaneous multi-threading, you get 128 processing threads. No idea how you can make use of all the cores, but AMD says the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X will be the definitive solution for digital content creation.

Since there’s absolutely nothing in Intel’s arsenal to compete with this many cores, AMD compared themselves against themselves. AMD boasts that the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X delivers up to 51% better performance in 3D Ray Tracing with MAXON Cinema4D Renderer versus their 32-core Threadripper 3970X.

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Specs
64 cores, 128 threads2.9 GHz base, 4.3 GHz max boost clocks4MB L1 cache, 32MB L2 cache, 256MB L3 cacheQuad-channel DDR4 3200 MHz support88 total PCIe 4.0 lanes, 72 usable280W TDP$3990 (~RM16375)
You have around a month to save up the money for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X. Oh and don’t forget to get a good AMD TRX40 motherboard to support it.
Pokdepinion: No idea what I would do with it but… WANT.
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Civilization III: Complete FREE for a LIMITED TIME; get the game and two expansion packs on Humble Bundle NOW

Anyone who dares to call himself/herself a fan of strategy games must have heard of the Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise. And would have most probably bought the games anyway. For those who haven’t gotten Civilization III, it is now free on the Humble Store.

Sid Meier’s Civilization III: Complete, the latest offering in the Sid Meier’s Civilization III franchise, provides gaming fans with Sid Meier’s Civilization III, the highly-addictive journey of discovery, combined with the updated and enhanced multiplayer expansion pack Sid Meier’s Civilization III: Play the World*, as well as all of the great new civilizations, scenarios, and features from Sid Meier’s Civilization III: Conquests! Sid Meier’s Civilization III: Complete provides more ways to explore, more strategies to employ, more modes of play, and more ways to win, all in one box!
The game isn’t really that pricey now, but a penny saved is a penny earned. It costs a dear RM12 on Steam with Very Positive reviews. You have more than a day to add this title to your Steam library, so do act quickly and head over to the Humble Store if you want it!
Pokdepinion: While it’s a really old game (launched in 2001), it is still garnering positive reviews even now.

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Qualcomm SM6225 and SM6375 are coming to the mid-range segment

Recently, we see Qualcomm focusing a lot more on their premium mid-range offerings with the Snapdragon 700 series chips, but we might see a few new Snapdragon 600 chips coming soon. Qualcomm’s SM6225 and SM6375 should revitalize Qualcomm’s competitiveness in the mid-range smartphone segment, which is dominated by MediaTek right now.
According to the leaks, the Qualcomm SM6375 was spotted with various CPU clock speed configurations, spanning from 2.1GHz, all the way up to 2.5GHz. Of course, that’s the clock of the fastest “Prime” core, while the rest of the performance cores are apparently going to be around 2.0GHz to 2.2GHz.  The GPU is reportedly slated to be clocked at around 800MHz to 960MHz, depending on the model.
WinFuture believes that Qualcomm will be unveiling two Qualcomm SM6375 SKUs, marketed as the Snapdragon 695 and Snapdragon 695G. The Snapdragon 695G would probably be coming with the higher clocks, targeting gaming-oriented smartphones. There’s also reportedly support for 144Hz displays on one of the developer platforms featuring the Qualcomm SM6375, which lends some credence to Qualcomm’s intentions to target the mid-range gaming smartphone market.

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The other chip leaked, the Qualcomm SM6225, is expected to appear in more affordable device, succeeding the Snapdragon 665 that was launched in 2018. This chipset is allegedly quite similar to the Snapdragon 765, indicating that Qualcomm is letting premium features trickle down to the mid-range segment. The developer platform featuring the Qualcomm SM6225 reportedly packed pretty common mid-range specs, which include 6GB RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 storage and a 90Hz FHD+ display. 5G is also slated to be among the features offered by the Qualcomm SM6225.

The leak also mentions that these chips are being manufactured at TSMC. Qualcomm might be using the 6nm process node at TSMC, the one used for the Snapdragon 778G, for this. This hasn’t been confirmed yet though. As usual, just stay tuned for more confirmed information, and take these rumors with a healthy dose of salt.
Source
Pokdepinion: A successor to the Snapdragon 665 would probably replace the ubiquitous Snapdragon 732G…
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POCOPHONE F1 gets Game Turbo with latest MIUI 10 Global 9.3.21 Beta update

GPU Turbo, Gaming+, Game Speed Booster… They all aim to deliver a better gaming experience with more consistent performance. The latest addition to the POCOPHONE F1‘s arsenal of gaming-oriented features is Game Turbo, which not only improves performance under the hood, but also adds a new UI overlay for you to quickly toggle settings.
Xiaomi definitely outdid themselves with the POCOPHONE F1’s Game Turbo. It can not only give you a quick way to toggle settings, take screenshots, record videos of your gameplay, take a quick glance at the CPU and GPU load as well as the frame rate, but also lets you open popup windows for WhatsApp, Telegram and more apps. Definitely a nifty feature, especially when your better half starts missing you.
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The feature has rolled out to the POCOPHONE F1 running the MIUI 10 Global 9.3.21 Beta update, which is currently the latest open beta version for the affordable Snapdragon 845 smartphone. You can enable the feature from the Security app, as it is a part of the Game speed booster feature that was already in the POCOPHONE F1 previously.
POCOPHONE F1 Specifications

Snapdragon 845, octa-core up to 2.84 GHz, 10nm FinFET
6GB LPDDR4x RAM
Up to 128GB UFS 2.1 storage (expandable via microSD card)
6.18″ FHD+ IPS display
12MP f/1.9 + 5MP f/2.0 depth sensor
20MP f/2.0 selfie camera
MIUI 10
4000 mAh battery
6GB + 64GB: RM1299
6GB + 128GB: RM1499
Armored Edition: RM1599

If you are on the stable releases, expect the update to hit your POCOPHONE F1 pretty soon too. For those of you on the MIUI 10 Global Beta channel, what do you think of Game Turbo?
[UPDATE]: This feature has arrived on the Global Stable update for the POCOPHONE F1
Game Turbo has been added to the Global Stable update for the POCOPHONE F1. The update is numbered MIUI 10.3.4.0, and it comes with a number of features including Widevine L1 support and 4K60 video recording!
Pokdepinion: The POCOPHONE F1 has definitely gotten more features via updates than most flagships can boast…
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GTAV and GTA Online Debuts March 15 on PS5 & Xbox Series Consoles

On March 15 this year, Grand Theft Auto V (GTAV) and Grand Theft Auto Online (GTA Online) will be released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, bringing the action-packed, blockbuster Story Mode adventure and the dynamic, ever-evolving world of GTA Online.
Both new and returning players will be able to experience playing on console with new graphics modes of up to 4K resolution with 60 frames per second (FPS), improved texture quality, HDR options, and ray tracing.

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GTAV

Experience all new levels of incredibly realistic visual detail, spanning the sun-drenched Los Santos metropolis and the backwoods of the Blaine County countryside with Franklin, Michael and Trevor. Players can choose from these additional graphical options to customise their in-game preferences:

Fidelity Mode is set to 30 FPS and is optimised for the best visual quality.
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X offer native 4K resolution with ray tracing enabled in this mode, but the Xbox Series S supports 1080p.
Performance Mode is designed to provide the most responsive gameplay experience possible, with a target frame rate of 60 FPS.
Performance RT Mode, a combination of Fidelity and Performance modes that supports upscaled 4K images and ray tracing, is available on the PS5 and Xbox One X.

Taking advantage of the game’s latest console hardware, the technical advancements offer faster loading times, immersive Tempest 3D audio, platform-specific feature support, and new environmental sensations thanks to Haptic Feedback and dynamic resistance via the DualSense wireless controller’s Adaptive Triggers.
GTA Online

This latest version of GTA Online contains a number of new automobiles as well as Hao’s Special Works. The latest addition to the Los Santos Car Meet includes best-in-class vehicle modifications, a Race class with specially modified cars, a weekly rotation of Hao’s Special Works Time Trials, and a Premium Test Ride where you enjoy a free ride in these freshly upgraded vehicles. A new Career Builder tool that’s built just for new players or those looking for a fresh start will also be released, granting players a sum to spend on in-game necessities.
And for the first time, GTA Online will be offered as a standalone title on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, in addition to being featured in GTAV. PS5 gamers can download GTA Online and retain it for free for the first three months after launch. Furthermore, the online game has a redesigned introduction and tutorial for new players, as well as a new front-end Main Menu that lets you to hop right into the game modes as well as stay updated with recent weekly event content.
Story Mode and GTA Online Character Transfers

Players on the PS4 and Xbox One will be able to migrate their GTAV Story Mode progress as well as their current GTA Online characters and progression with a one-time migration.
By uploading a save (one per platform) to the Rockstar Games Social Club, GTAV users may start transferring their Story Mode progress. Please keep in mind that saves will only be available for 90 days. Regardless of platform, all earned GTA$ will be transferred but may only be moved across systems that are part of the same family (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series).
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online will be released digitally on March 15 on the PlayStation 5 console shop and the Microsoft Store — with pre-order and pre-loading starting on March 8 — and in physical form in April. Keep an eye out for additional information.
Source
Pokdepinion: Given that GTA Online is free for the first 3 months and the Story Mode appears to be regular priced, there should at least be some sort of free upgrade for the version on PS5 as the game was both fully priced for its PlayStation predecessors.
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Should You Get the PlayStation 5 As Soon As It Launches? Maybe Not

Previously, we reported about the PlayStation 5 being confirmed for a Holiday 2020 release. In other words, it will be launching sometime towards the end of 2020. The question is, should you get the PlayStation 5 as soon as it launches? Well, it depends but from my standpoint, it would be safer to purchase it at least a little later. I am personally a big fan of the PlayStation consoles and I’m not here to tell you to not buy it at all. There are a number of reasons you should consider if you plan on buying it at launch.
Potential Hardware Defects

Like with any video game console, there’s a chance that there would be some form of hardware defect. It can be something minor that wouldn’t affect the entire system, or a complete breakdown.
One of the most prominent cases of hardware defects is the Xbox 360’s Red Ring of Death (RROD). There were a number of reasons why this happened but it’s usually the result of the failure of one or more hardware components. It could be due to overheating or power supply issues.

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The earlier iterations of the Xbox 360 was considered a rushed product and that Microsoft should’ve spent more time in development. The failure rate went as high as 54.2%, the highest we’ve seen in any console.
We’re not saying that this will happen with the PlayStation 5 but in case there may be similar issues, it would be wise to wait it out first. If there is a hardware defect, be it minor or major, it would definitely be addressed swiftly. If nothing like that pops up in the first few months, then you can safely buy it. Better safe than sorry after all.
It’s Always Priciest At Launch

We don’t have the official retail price of the PlayStation 5 just yet. We do have an inkling of what it could be based on previous console prices. Regardless of the price, it will always be priciest at launch.
Taking into account how powerful the PlayStation 5 is, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the cost alone to be rather high. It’s a machine that’s expected to support up to 8K resolution, and utilizes the speedy SSD for storage.
If you want to learn more about the PS5 specifications, click right here.
It’s common practice for Sony to sell their consoles at a loss to encourage gamers to adopt their system. Over time, the manufacturing costs will be lower and their losses will be minimized to the point of breaking even and eventually profit.
For consumers on the other hand, price cuts are only to be expected as the PS5 starts to age. At this point in time, it would be attractive to more gamers not just from a price point but also…
There’s Usually Only a Handful of Games At Launch

The key to a successful video game console launch is a solid lineup of launch titles. However, no matter how good these games are, there will only be a few games available to play at first. Game development is a process that can take a long time so it may take a while before the system is populated with a healthy number of games.
Taking the Nintendo Switch as an example, the only viable game it had at launch was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It is a great game but if you finished the game rather quickly, you had to wait for more games to be released.
Waiting it out at least for a bit would not only save you money with price cuts, you’d have more games to enjoy. At the moment, we don’t have an actual confirmed list of launch titles for the PlayStation 5 but we’ve heard rumours. The potential games to be released on the system at launch includes:
Ghost of TsushimaGrand Theft Auto VIGran Turismo VIIHorizon Zero Dawn 2Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2The Last of Us Part IIThe Elder Scrolls 6
DISCLAIMER: These games are only rumoured for release at launch, and have not been confirmed at the time of this writing.
Consider the Competition

The most important part to consider before you choose to get the PlayStation 5 is its competitors. In the console realm, you have the Xbox Series X and the Nintendo Switch. For cloud gaming, you have Google Stadia. Then you have the ultimate utilitarian machine for gaming, PC.
The Xbox Series X is expected to have around the same amount of power as the PS5, with the CPU and GPU being stronger, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the offering is similar. The Nintendo Switch may have a newer, stronger variant in the future but even without that, it has a unique selling point that could be more attractive to you.
Google Stadia offers a subscription-based service so you don’t have to purchase hardware. PC is a modular system with other uses and a rich library of games already present. If you can afford more than one system, this wouldn’t be a problem. If you can only choose one however, you should really consider your options.
We’ll be writing more on the PS5 and other upcoming consoles so stay tuned to Pokde.net.
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[UPDATE 1] HUAWEI slashes RM200 off the nova 2i’s SRP; the Selfie Superstar is now priced at just RM1099!

The HUAWEI nova 2i which was launched back in September 2017 is getting a rather large price cut of RM200. As more and more competition hit the deck this year, the price cut is an inevitable step to remain competitive in the very saturated smartphone market here in Malaysia.

Now priced at RM1099, down from RM1299, the HUAWEI nova 2i represents pretty good value for money. HUAWEI has just pushed updates to bring face unlock and AR lens to keep the device relevant in 2018. Whether it will receive an update to Android 8.0 Oreo remains to be seen though.

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The specifications of the HUAWEI nova 2i are decent, with a Kirin 659 chipset and 4GB of RAM to keep things going. The 3340 mAh battery should keep the device alive for a day or more, while EMUI 5.1 with machine learning algorithms promises an optimized user experience. And oh, that 18:9 5.93″ FullView display that offers an impressive 83% screen-to-body ratio.

If you get the HUAWEI nova 2i this Chinese New Year season, you will also be getting freebies worth RM499. It will be available in Graphite Black, Prestige Gold and the not-so-limited Limited Edition Aurora Blue at all authorized HUAWEI Experience Stores, Display Zones, telco partners and distributors across Malaysia.
[UPDATE 1]: Further RM100 reduction!

The HUAWEI nova 2i has just seen a further price reduction of RM100 for Mother’s Day. Priced at RM999 now, the HUAWEI nova 2i is a good buy made better. You may be thinking, what good is a device from September 2017? Well you may rest assured that this is one of HUAWEI’s best mid-range devices, as they have still yet to announce a device with a stronger chipset. Do get this for your parents for better selfies from them!
Pokdepinion: If you are really love taking selfies, this is a great option that does nice bokeh. However battery life appears to be a sore point due to the machine learning algorithms sucking up a fair deal of power.
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Intel Meteor Lake-S to Get 20 PCIe 5.0 Lanes, Z890 Chipset May Include Wi-Fi 7

The somewhat mysterious Meteor Lake-S family are also said to max out at a rather unusual 6P+16E core configuration.
Image: Intel
Hardware leaker going by the name of @leaf_hobby has dropped some info on the upcoming Intel Meteor Lake-S CPUs – in particular its PCIe 5.0 configuration. From the tweet, the leaker says these CPUs will get 4 extra PCIe 5.0 lanes – matching that of AMD Ryzen 7000 series (with X670E and B650E motherboards).

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MTL-S has additional 5.0 x4 from CPU(for M.2?)5.0 x165.0 x44.0 x4From CPU DirectNo AVX512
Z890 has additional 4.0 x4 from chipset, x24 Gen4 lanes totalWi-Fi 7 debut
It says support windows 12 on OS list(?)
Now only 6P+8E and 6P+16E, 8P under dev?That’s everything I know
— TLC (@leaf_hobby) February 25, 2023

Additionally, the tweet also claims that the 800 series chipset will also support Wi-Fi 7, which has seen relatively small rollout in smartphones at this time but should pick up in a year or two. Another very intriguing info is the apparent Windows 12 support – we don’t know if this may be a typo happening in the leak upstream, but it’d be rather odd for Microsoft to release Windows 12 just 2 short years after Windows 11’s launch.
The Meteor Lake-S will see a new socket replacing the two-generations-old LGA1700 with LGA1851, which is expected to last at least two generations forward. The physical socket size will remain identical, meaning all existing coolers with LGA1700 socket support will not require modifications to fit them into the new socket. Sources has claimed that Z890 may arrive only in 2Q 2024 – following the Raptor Lake refresh set for Q3 launch this year.
Source: Videocardz | TechPowerUp
Pokdepinion: 6 P-cores is an interesting choice for MTL-S. Perhaps Intel factored into die sizes and decided it’s better to use two P-core’s die area in exchange for 8 more E-cores.
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ZTE Released Blade V40 for RM599 in Malaysia

ZTE has just unveiled the Blade V40 Vita in Malaysia, with a retail price of RM599. The smartphone is the newest in the company’s Blade Series, which aims to provide the best smartphones in the budget smartphone market.
ZTE Blade V40 Vita Specifications

The Blade V40 Vita features a 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 22.5W fast charging technology that makes charging the battery quick.

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The 6000mAh battery capacity is one of the largest on the market today, making the Blade V40 Vita a suitable phone for people who are constantly on the go and depend on their device throughout the day.
The Blade V40 Vita runs on Android 11 and features has (4GB + 2GB) Fusion RAM + 128GB ROM, allowing users to expand the RAM by up to 6GB using the built-in storage. Fusion RAM is a memory fusion technique that uses unused ROM or storage to act as an extension of the smartphone’s RAM. This function allows users to boost device performance and responsiveness even further.
The phone also has UFS 2.2 Flash Memory for lag-free performance and a triple card slot that accommodates two SIM cards and a microSD card, which substantially expands its usability for its target market.

The rear triple camera system consisting of a 48MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera is a great addition to the kit, while the 8MP front camera is contained in a waterdrop notch. The most recent Blade series member also offers VoLTE and VoWiFi functionality, which perfectly meets the needs of consumers who frequently make calls with any instant messaging service through WiFi connections.
The ZTE Blade V40 Vita will be available in most major retailers in two colour options which are the Zeus Black and Pine Green, with a retail price of RM599 and will be available only at ZTE’s official Shopee store.
Pokdepinion: The phone seems really promising with a 6000mAh battery. The phone can definitely last the entire day.
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OPPO Reno 10x Zoom offers up to 60x digital zooming

Step aside, HUAWEI. OPPO is here with a new challenger. The OPPO Reno 10x Zoom is their flagship variant, with a periscope zoom lens offering a hybrid 10x. It seems like OPPO aren’t going to stop at just 10x zoom but go all the way to 60x via some digital zooming. This following video was shared by 沈义人Brian on Weibo.

https://pokde.net/assets/uploads/2019/05/OPPO-Reno-10x-60x-zoom.mp4

By comparison, the only other devices in the market that offer a similar amount of zoom would be the HUAWEI P30 Pro at 50x zoom and the HUAWEI P30 at 30x. It is worth noting however that OPPO uses a 13MP zoom camera while HUAWEI uses an 8MP sensor behind the telephoto lenses in the HUAWEI P30 devices, so OPPO should have the upper hand here.

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Here are the specifications of the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom:
OPPO Reno 10x Zoom Specifications

Snapdragon 855, octa-core up to 2.84 GHz, 7nm FinFET
Up to 8GB RAM
Up to 256GB storage
6.6″ FHD+ AMOLED display, 93.1% screen-to-body ratio
48MP f/1.7 + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide + 13MP f/3.0 telephoto
16MP f/2.0 selfie camera, sharkfin popup
ColorOS 6 based on Android 9 Pie
4065 mAh battery, 20W VOOC Flash Charge 3.0

It would be interesting to see how much OPPO will charge for the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom if and when and it arrives here in Malaysia. Given OPPO’s track record with their premium smartphones, it would be safe to expect a pretty hefty price tag.
Pokdepinion: What are we ever gonna do with that much zoom?
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Sony Launches Xperia XZ2 And XZ2 Compact – World’s First Smartphones With 4K HDR Movie Recording!

Sony has unveiled at their launching event today of their new Xxperia X72 and X72 Compact, which was first announced at this year’s MWC 2018, featuring to be the world’s first smartphones with 4K HDR movie recording capability.
Sony Xperia XZ2 And XZ2 Compact
The two new devices becomes the headline as the company’s latest flagship smartphones. Built on the concept of giving an immersive entertainment experience, they both offers huge features in terms of camera, display, audio, as well as a new design for users.
Xperia XZ2
First up is the Sony Xperia XZ2. Featuring a 5.7-inch HDR Full HD+ with a 18:9 ratio display, immerse yourself in movies and videos in exceptional color and contrast. The device also Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology, X-reality, which converts content to near High Dynamic Range so even when you’re streaming videos, you’ll get a movie like experience.

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Following that is the addition of Sony’s brand new Dynamic Vibration System, which analyses audio data and lets you feel the action (vibration) in your hands, similar to the concept with Sony’s PS4 DualShock 4 controllers. Making an appearance to the device is the S-Force Front Surround, which they claimed that they are the loudest Xperia speakers ever.
What’s certainly grabbed our attention is the Motion Eye camera, which allows the phone to capture 4K HDR Movie recording, which is a world’s first for a smartphone. Super slow motion recording has also been upgraded with now it being at 960fps, which is now available in Full HD.
While previously, the 3D Creator application had already existed, but now they have improved it and now it’s available to use without the help of a friend. That’s right, you can now use your selfie shooter to scan yourself.
Other specifications include, a Snapdragon 845 chipset, running on Android 8.0 Oreo, 4GB RAM paired with 64GB of internal memory (expandable to 400GB), a 3180mAh battery which features Smart Stamina, STAMINA mode, as well as Qnovo Adaptive Charging. There’s also the option of wireless charging for the device.
Built wise, it is built with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and comes with a metal frame for extra durability. The device is available in Liquid Silver, Liquid Black, Deep Green, and Ash Pink at a price of RM3,299.
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
Feeling that 5.7-inch is just too big for you? Well here’s where the XZ2 Compact comes in. It comes in at a smaller 5-inch display but still harness most of the capabilities of its bigger brother. Besides the screen size, it comes with anti-scratch hard-grade polycarbonate. Battery is also smaller due to its size with it being at 2870mAh. Price wise, the XZ2 Compact comes at a lower RM2899 price tag.
If you are planning on buying the XZ2, you’re in luck as Sony will be offering a special pre-order bundle exclusively for the XZ2 for Malaysia which starts tomorrow, 23rd March 2018. You stand a chance of getting gifts which is worth up to RM1,088, this includes a pair of SONY ZX770BN Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, a Hardshell Premium backpack, Sony Exclusive Touch n Go Card with RM100 pre-loaded, a phone case, as well as a screen protector.
Both XZ2 and XZ2 Compact will be made available Malaysian markets from mid of April 2018.
Pokdepinion: I was quite impressed with the device, especially the camera. Still bummed though with them not having a 3.5mm jack. You might want to pre-order it to get those special goodies, I think that’s a steal!
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New League of Legends: Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 Announced

The League of Legends: Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 is a significant Wild Rift esports competition organised by ESL, the world’s largest esports corporation, and Riot Games. This event is a direct continuation of the existing SEA ICON Series: Fall Season, in which 21 of Southeast Asia’s best teams will battle for a piece of the USD200,000 (RM847,100) prize pool presented in the Wild Rift SEA Championship, making it the pinnacle of Wild Rift esports in the region.
ESL Mobile Challenge presents League of Legends: Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021

The event will feature 21 teams from nine Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The Oceanic Qualifiers for the Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 also provide an opportunity for Australian and New Zealander teams to compete.

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The Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 is divided into three stages: Play-Ins, Group Stage, and the Main Event. To win the championship and the lion’s share of the prize pool, teams will have to compete their way through each level.

The Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021, in addition to the USD200,000 (RM847,100) prize pool, provides a platform for Southeast Asian teams to compete and grow via the Wild Rift esports ecosystem in their quest to be the greatest in the world.
The tournament will be broadcast live at each stage. The broadcast dates for each stage are as follows:

Stage 1 – Play Ins: September 14 – 19, 2021
Stage 2 – Group Stages: September 23 – 26, 2021
Stage 3 – Main Event: September 30 – October 3, 2021

The competition will be broadcasted live across three platforms in eight different languages. The English broadcast is available on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, while the Bahasa Melayu broadcast is available on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook.
Follow ESL Mobile on Twitter and ESL Asia on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.
Pokdepinion: Let’s go teams from Malaysia (whoever you are)! I’ll be rooting for you!
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PS Plus March 2021 FREE Games Lineup

Final Fantasy VII Remake, Maquette, Remnant: From the Ashes and Farpoint are your PlayStation Plus games for March: https://t.co/tQFJNoURI9 pic.twitter.com/cPOmwsKxHN
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) February 26, 2021

The PS Plus March 2021 free games lineup is finally here. This is a particularly special lineup given what’s included, as it’s a huge surprise for many gamers. If you needed a reason to subscribe, this might be the best one yet.
PS Plus March 2021 FREE Games Lineup

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The star attraction of the PS Plus March 2021 free games lineup is none other than Final Fantasy 7 Remake. As the name implies, it’s a remake of one of Square Enix’s most popular creations, with new content, added story elements, and a brand new way to play the game in high definition.
In case you weren’t aware, the game only covers up to the end of Midgar saga, so the rest of the game will be released in an episodic format. This is great since they recently announced a PS5-enhanced version of the game recently, and there’s a new DLC in the form of Intergrade, which sees our favourite bubbly ninja, Yuffie Kisaragi, play a major role. It’s worth noting that this free version is the PS4 version and will not entitle you to the free enhanced edition upgrade.
Apart from that, we are also getting Remnant: From The Ashes, Farpoint, and Maquette. It’s certainly a solid lineup of free games coming to PS Plus March 2021, but we know which game takes the spotlight. If you ever needed a good reason to subscribe, this would be a pretty solid one to start out with, especially if you have a PS5 console. Destruction All Stars is still free to claim until 5th April 2021.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’ve already made up my mind to replay the game from scratch just for the enhanced experience. Can’t wait to get back into the game.
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Major Changes to Developer ‘The Chinese Room’; They’re “Going Dark” For a Few Months

There’s some major changes happening to Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture’s developer, The Chinese Room. Sounds like there’s trouble brewing over there.

Major Changes to Developer ‘The Chinese Room’

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Dan Pinchbeck, co-director at The Chinese Room, who’s known for their works in Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and  Dear Esther ,announced that the studio had laid-off its staff following the development of its most recent title So Let Us Melt. Pinchbeck has not said that the studio is closed, only that it is “going dark”- for some time.
In a post on The Chinese Room’s blog, Pinchbeck goes into some detail explaining that this decision was made for financial reasons, health reasons, and as a result of the every day stresses from being a small developer. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Pinchbeck went into even further detail on why the studio would be taking some time off, alluding to some situations he found less than agreeable.
You’re sometimes in the position where you have to do things which are pretty horrible in the short-term to try and keep the long game going. Once you’re properly down and out you’re gone. That’s it. It’s very hard to come back from that.
In addition to those stresses, Pinchbeck says that running The Chinese Room has basically been in a “sprint” since 2012 for himself and co-director wife Jessica Curry. He says that the two are just “burnt out” at this point.
One reason for this might also have to do with the fact that The Chinese Room has not been able to secure funding for its upcoming games via a publisher, which Pinchbeck indicates is a result of his unwillingness to make another walking simulator. He notes that walking simulators tend to be a mechanical minefield.

The biggest problem with a walking sim is you don’t have mechanical systems you know are right.
90% of the game working or not working is atmosphere and immersion, and you need all the assets for that to happen. You’re running on faith a lot of the time.
Of course, Pinchbeck also mentions that his tastes as a gamer just aren’t aligned with the walking simulator genre, another big reason for not wanting to venture into the development of a new one. Instead, he’s interested in pursuing games with RPG elements or even first-person shooters, for which he claims to have a “PhD.”
Pinchbeck states that although The Chinese Room is closing its doors on this chapter, he expects that this phase may only last a few months. He and Jessica Curry will continue work on the 13th Interior until its at a point when it’s ready for a full team’s dedication, and Little Orpheus is a title he still wishes to pursue in the future.
On the bright side, Pinchbeck notes that much of The Chinese Room’s laid-off staff have now secured new positions with outside studios. If you’ve read this far and thought that we were being racist about the name at first, you should be able to understand by now that it’s actually the name the developers chose.

Source: Eurogamer

Pokdepinion: The videogame industry is no walk in the park. It can go great at one moment, and then completely downhilll in another. We can only hope that they will re-emerge stronger than ever after this.
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Logitech G Launches New Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset

Logitech G has just announced a brand new gaming headset with the Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset. The Logitech G335 is a lightweight headset that’s made to be accessible to all gamers.

The Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset is one of the lightest on the market, at only 240 grammes. The G335 features a thinner design than the award-winning G733 wireless gaming headset, for a smaller fit and greater comfort. It has an adjustable suspension headband and soft-fabric ear pads that adapt to your head for long-lasting comfort no matter how you play.

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The Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset has a 3.5 mm audio port for simple “plug and play” compatibility with nearly any gaming platform. Complete gaming-grade audio quality, built-in controls, a volume slider situated right on the ear cup, and a flip-to-mute mic allow players to focus completely on the game. The G335 is also Discord Certified for crystal clear audio and communication clarity.
Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset price and availability

The new Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset will retail for RM269 and will be available in either white or black colours. The headset can be gotten through official Logitech G stores on Shopee and Lazada as well as at all authorised resellers. For more information on the Logitech G335, head over to the official website here.
Pokdepinion: Oh wow I really like that white one! The contrast between the white and blue colours is just so aesthetically pleasing for me..
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Apple Released watchOS 9 with New Watch Faces and Wellness Functions

Apple watchOS 9 with New Innovative Features

Apple revealed the next watchOS 9 upgrade today at WWDC. The new version improves the watch faces, Workout app, sleep stages, the first-ever AFib History, and medication tracking.
The watchOS 9 comes with four new watch faces which are Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy are among them. The Portraits face now shows the depth effect on photographs of animals, dogs, and landscapes, and several of the classic watch faces, such as Modular, Modular Compact, and X-Large, now have changeable backdrop colours and gradients.

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The Workout app now displays more data and analytics. Furthermore, the custom workouts enable you to design an organized workout with custom work and rest times. New notifications can also be added, such as pace, power, heart rate, and cadence.

The Exercise app now includes a new Multisport workout type for triathletes that automatically transitions between any sequence of swimming, riding, and running sessions using motion sensors to analyze movement patterns.
The watchOS 9 now displays additional running metrics for runners, such as stride length, ground contact duration, and vertical oscillation, to help you maximize your running. Those who run routinely on the same routes can now compete against their prior best or last result.
A new pacer mode indicates the speed required for a specific distance and time objective. With the addition of sleep stages, Apple has improved sleep tracking, and not only that the software now includes a breakdown of REM, Core, and Deep sleep.

Furthermore, watchOS 9 includes AFib history for people who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The Apple Watch can now detect AFib by tracking your heart rate and displaying how regularly your heart rhythm shows indicators of AFib. In the Health app, users will receive weekly notifications as well as a complete history. A PDF of it can be obtained to share with your doctors.
Last but not least, watchOS 9 has Prescriptions, which allow you to manage and track your medications and vitamins, as well as set schedules and reminders. In the United States, you will also receive warnings if there are any potential critical interactions with the medications uploaded to the Health app.

Other additional features include kickboard detection and SWOLF score for swimmers and Home app support in Family Setup. Not only that, new Quick Actions, Apple Watch Mirroring for managing the watch through the iPhone’s assistive functions, and redesigned alerts are also available.
Later this year 2022, eligible Apple Watch models will be able to get watchOS 9.
Source , Source
Pokdepinion: Really nice to see new updates coming to the Apple watches. A lot of them are pretty helpful for people who are into fitness and health.
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MSI Updates AMD-Powered Bravo Laptops With RTX 40 Graphics

MSI has introduced its new Bravo 15 and Bravo 17 C7V to the market, featuring AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series GPU. Previous Bravo models only featured AMD Radeon GPUs forming an all-AMD laptop, however this time around the brand has diverted to use NVIDIA RTX GPUs instead.
The Bravo series is equipped with either RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 (with MUX available), as well as Ryzen 7035 series CPUs – which technically traces its lineage back to Ryzen 6000 series with Zen 3+ based cores. (Yes, AMD’s new naming scheme do get confusing at times.) Specifically, the Ryzen 7 7735HS and Ryzen 5 7535HS are available to choose from, which are basically a small refresh to 6800HS and 6600HS, respectively.

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All three available configurations – which includes two 17-inch models and a single 15-inch model – will feature a single 8GB DDR5-4800, 1080p 144Hz panel, 512GB SSD, blue-backlit keyboard, USB-C port, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 as available connectivity options. Prices start at RM4,699 and are now available in various retail channels.
Pokdepinion: Single-channel RAM, not a fan of that.
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Sony and Microsoft Are Working on Solutions for Increased Number of Gamers Online

In this COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are forced to stay at home to avoid contracting the virus and making the situation worse. As such, there is a massive increase in online activity, especially online gaming. Sony and Microsoft are working on solutions to ensure that as many gamers as possible can enjoy online gaming without issues.
Sony’s Solution on Sudden Increase in Online Gamers
According to a recent PlayStation blog post, CEO Jim Ryan stated that gamers in Europe “may experience somewhat slower or delayed game downloads but will still enjoy robust gameplay”. No specifics were mentioned but essentially, their limiting the speeds of their network so the server’s bandwidth won’t die out.

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Microsoft’s Solution on Sudden Increase in Online Gamers
As for Microsoft, they are currently “actively monitoring usage and making temporary adjustments as needed to ensure the smoothest possible experience” for Xbox gamers. Again, no specifics were mentioned but we do believe they’re taking a similar approach to Sony, albeit sounding more precise with how they go about it.
Both Sony and Microsoft join a growing list of companies are taking an active role in easing the rising internet demands. One of the other notable changes with this in mind is YouTube, where the platform will automatically default to 480p resolution for their videos globally, as we’ve reported here.
Are you have trouble gaming online? Join the discussion right below here:

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Pokdepinion: Was wondering if their game servers could handle the sudden influx of online gamers now. Hopefully there will be no major crashes happening.
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HONOR Band 3 review — keep track of your pulse at all times!

Introduction

There are really a number of fitness bands in the market, and most of them offer the same features. Activity tracking, notifications and heart rate monitoring, pretty common stuff nowadays. And the best part is that they are all pretty affordable. Today we will be taking a closer look at the honor Band 3.
Unboxing

The packaging of the HONOR Band 3 is pretty simple, and is obviously designed to attract consumers at a store hanging from a rack. The HONOR Band 3 itself is very visible through the clear plastic, and little icons line the front to make sure you know what it offers. We got a variant with Chinese labels, but rest assured official Malaysian units are a lot more understandable.

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Over on the back we have a list of more highlight features explained in more detail, once again in Chinese. I do not understand it. There’s a mention of NFC which works for public transport payment, but that feature won’t be available in Malaysia. Well, maybe we should get a Touch ‘n Go Edition?

There isn’t much inside the box, but you do get a microUSB cable, the charging cradle, and some basic documentation.
Appearance

In terms of appearance, the honor Band 3 looks pretty generic. There the long-ish main module which is made of clear glossy plastic, attached to a blue band with ridges. The sole button here features an engraved circle to help you find the button by touch easily.

The backside of the module features an optical heart rate sensor, as well as pogo pins for charging. Beside the pogo pins are divots which help the charging cradle lock onto the device.

The band here features two clips to help it grip better. And it doesn’t just rely on the clips, but also features a loop as a failsafe to prevent the HONOR Band 3 from falling off your wrist in case the clips disengage.
Specifications

Display
PMOLED

Water resistance
Up to 50m

Features
Continuous heart rate tracking
HUAWEI TruSleep
Step counter
Sleep monitoring
Activity reminder
Notifications

Sensors
PPG cardiotachometer
Infrared wear sensor
3-axis accelerometer

Battery
100 mAh
microUSB charging via cradle

Weight
18 g

User Experience

Pairing the HONOR Band 3 is very simple. You just have to download the app and follow the steps. Speaking of apps, you will only need the HUAWEI Health app, contrary to what the manual told us. We usually don’t RTFM, and the one time I RTFM it is wrong. Back to never reading the manual it is.

The HONOR Band 3 is quite comfortable to wear, and with the water resistance, you basically don’t have to take it off unless you are going diving or you need to recharge it. It fits me pretty well, and should fit most people just as nicely too with the huge number of holes on the band. After using two different smart bands with a single clip, I can vouch that two clips definitely helps secure the HONOR Band 3 on my wrist better than the smart bands with single clips. The band is removable simply by unscrewing two screws on the bottom, and a quick search on Lazada yields many third-party options to suit your fancy.

Charging the HONOR Band 3 is a pretty simple affair. Just remove the HONOR Band 3 from your wrist, and attach the charging cradle. A foreseeable problem would be the cradle’s plastic getting brittle and the clips snap off, but it works fine for now. It charges very quickly too, with 60% charged up in just 30 minutes. In terms of battery life, the HONOR Band 3 does very well, with 20% still in the tank after 17 days on my wrist without sleep monitoring and constant heart rate tracking on.
Turning TruSleep and the automatic heart rate measurement on, the battery life dropped to just 8 days before it hit the 20% mark. It collects frequent measurements of your heart rate, which is great for those who want to keep tabs on their heart rate, but not so great for the battery life. Unfortunately there is no setting to lower the frequency of the heart rate measurement to extend the battery life. Hopefully that will be in an upcoming update for the firmware/companion app which will enable this.

Speaking of the app, the user manual on our unit advised us to download a dedicated app to manage HUAWEI’s wearables. And to access the data, I had to download the HUAWEI Health app. Well apparently the manual is wrong. So all you need is the HUAWEI Health app, which is really quite intuitive. It’s pretty easy to take a look at whatever data you might need, from your heart rate throughout the day, or how many steps have you taken. You can set alarms in the watch itself, or have it vibrate when your phone’s alarm is ringing. It can also show you notifications as well. There are a number of other settings too, like being able to wake the watch with a flick of the wrist, or switch between screens with similar flicks.

Notifications on the HONOR Band 3 is pretty elaborate. You get an icon as well as the information from the entire notification. With the tiny screen on the HONOR Band 3, it takes way too many taps on the button (or twists of my wrists) to go through the entire notification. I would prefer if it just vibrated and showed the icon of the app. That would have sufficed, considering the minuscule screen here.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an affordable fitness band, the HONOR Band 3 is a great option to consider. The only issues that I have are with the strap, which isn’t as easily replaceable as some of the options in the market, and also the charging cradle which seems prone to snapping as time passes and the plastic becomes more brittle. But at its price, the entire thing is just so easily replaceable. RM119 for so many features is a good deal, and it makes a good tracker for the fitness-conscious, without needing to be recharged daily like most smartwatches. Definitely recommended for fitness buffs who just want a quick and easy way to keep track of their heart rate!

Our thanks to HONOR Malaysia for providing the HONOR Band 3 used in this review. You can stand a chance to win the HONOR Band 3 from our giveaway, or you can head over to hihonor.com.my to purchase it.
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