Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ Available for Pre-order

This is it people. The moment you’ve all been waiting for.

Ever since Samsung finally lifted the lid off the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ a few days ago consumers and fans alike have been clamoring to find out when they can get their hands on Samsung’s latest flagship device. Well, guys (and gals) Christmas has indeed come early as Samsung has just announced that a three-day pre-order promotion for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available starting from 11th April 2017. You can place your pre-orders on Samsung Malaysia’s pre-order page when it goes live at 10.00A.M. on 11th April 2017.
Those who pre-ordered will get some pretty neat and exclusive stuff bundled together with their device courtesy of Samsung that’s worth RM900. Those exclusives include a Limited Edition Starter Kit that consists of a clear cover, a screen protector, a wireless charger stand, and a USB Type-C cable. They’ve also thrown in a cool 5,100mAh battery pack for those who need the extra juice.
To sweeten the deal even further, all pre-orders of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ also comes with the Samsung Protection Plus, where users get a one-time accidental screen crack protection and an additional 1-year extended warranty.

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available in three colours – Midnight Black, Orchid Gray or Maple Gold. To pre-order your device just visit www.samsung.com/my/s8preorder from 10:00am 11th April until 11:59pm 13th April 2017 and  pay a deposit of RM300 online via debit or credit card. Choose your preferred colour and location to collect your brand new Galaxy S8 or S8+. You’ll be able to collect your device on 4th May 2017 – a day earlier than everyone else.

To find out more, visit www.samsung.com/my/s8preorder. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ check out what we wrote about it right here.
Also check out other Galaxy S8 and S8+ pre-order promotions by Celcom, Digi, Maxis, U Mobile and Yes; e-commerce retailers Lazada and 11street; as well as major retailers Courts Mammoth, Harvey Norman and Senheng.

Pokdepinion: The Galaxy S8 and S8+ is going to be a monster to compete against. Especially with those rewards lined up, it’s gonna be interesting to see how the others fare with the arrival of Samsung’s newest beast.
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As some of you may know by now, the Apple Independent Repair Provider (IRP) program is being expanded. Malaysia has apparently been listed as part of the first of wave of expansions.
Malaysia In First Wave of Apple Independent Repair Provider Expansion

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Malaysia has been listed as part of the first wave of expansions for the Apple Independent Repair Provider (IRP) program. Registration for it will be opening later this week and for the countries that weren’t listed, it’s expected to be made available at a later time.
For those of you who aren’t aware, the IRP designation is given to companies that have been authorized by Apple to repair iPhone and Mac that are out of their warranty period. For those that are within warranty, it can only be done by Apple Authorized Service Providers, and they are also able to repair other Apple products such as the Apple Watch.
The Apple Independent Repair Providers do have direct access to genuine spare parts, tools, and diagnostics. These people also have the proper training, service guides, and other resources to help them execute the repairs and maintenance properly so there’s nothing to worry about. The technicians will have to pass Apple Certifications exams through Authorized Testing Centers in order to be certified.
If you want to know whether your service provider is a verified Apple Independent Repair Provider or Apple Authorized Service Provider, you can click right here. For companies that want to be certified, you can keep an eye out on this page instead.
Source
Pokdepinion: Here’s to having more certified technicians outside of Apple’s own authorized dealers and official stores. It’s only going to be better for iPhone and Mac users nationwide.
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[UPDATE 1] The OPPO Find X is coming to Malaysia — Arrives in Malaysia this 17th July!

The OPPO Find X is a pretty device with a unique motorized hidden camera. Aside from its unique design, it also marked a new threshold for OPPO’s pricing. It was launched in Paris at 999 euros (~RM4629), with the uber-premium Find X Automobili Lamborghini Edition priced at 1699 euros (~RM7873). Those are definitely uncharted waters for OPPO, as they have never released a smartphone that expensive. And it’s coming to Malaysia soon!

OPPO Malaysia sent us a teaser that didn’t reveal much aside from that the Find X is coming to Malaysia, and we should stay tuned. What do you think will be the appropriate pricing for OPPO’s latest flagship?

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[UPDATE 1] OPPO Find X Launch Date Confirmed
The most anticipated phone from OPPO is confirmed to arrive in Malaysia 17th July. Are you looking forward to getting the OPPO Find X?
Pokdepinion: I hope it doesn’t cost more than RM3000, although that seems very possible…
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All Celcom & Digi Stores Nationwide Opens 365 Days Moving Forward, Says CelcomDigi

Effective tomorrow (15 July 2023), all stores under CelcomDigi umbrella, which consists of 50 Celcom Bluecubes and 27 Digi Stores nationwide will operate 7 days a week following standardized operating hours. This new policy will see all 77 stores operate in weekends as well as public holidays, and operates at 10am – 6:30pm daily (10am – 10pm for shopping mall branches).
The group says this change is their commitment to “deliver top-notch customer experience across its touchpoints”, which it expects to serve up to 20 million customers nationwide. The staffs within these stores has also been given a new name: “CD Champions”. Not to be confused with the disc-shaped ones.

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CelcomDigi’s Chief Sales and Retail Officer, Cheng Weng Hong said: “This initiative is part of CelcomDigi’s efforts to realise a bigger retail ambition that is to build a world-class customer experience.  We are laying a solid foundation that we can build on – unbeatable retail experience supported by our team of experts and passionate CD Champions.”

Customers can also get offers when they sign up for Family Lines in any of the 77 CelcomDigi stores, and be eligible for 50% off – Celcom users will get RM20/month rebate for six months whereas Digi users get RM22.50/month rebate for the same time period. The company reiterates that all Celcom Bluecubes and Digi Stores, along with partner touchpoints can simultaneously serve both Celcom and Digi customers for various services.
Pokdepinion: This should make your next visit to either stores a lot easier.
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GPS Week Rollover on 7th April 2019 may mess up your GPS

Your GPS may be a bit wonky this Sunday. Or it may not. In an event reminiscent of Y2K, at 7.59am (GMT +8) 7th April 2019, the GPS satellites will reset their weeks counter which has been running since 21st August 1999. This is called the GPS week rollover. Why does this happen though?
Well GPS systems count the time in weeks and the number of seconds into the week. It is the receiver’s duty to convert that data into the usual format we are used to: hour, minute, seconds… you get the idea. This is how your hardware calculates the exact time when you enable “calibrate time based on GPS. Week rollover happens because the field that contains the week number is a 10-bit binary number. It can record 1024 total weeks, or week 0 to week 1023, before having to be reset.
One of the many GPS-enabled devices we use nowadays.
GPS week zero started in 6th January 1980, and the 1024th week happened in 1999. And the first rollover happened back then. This Sunday will be the second GPS week rollover that has ever happened, so hopefully our consumer devices will not be baffled by the change in the week counter. Almost everyone involved with GPS systems has been informed about the rollover from more than two years ago, so updates should have prepared our devices for the week rollover.

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This may be the very last time in our lifetimes we will see a GPS week rollover though. Satellites today have 10-bit storage for the week counter, but they are already being upgraded to 13-bit storage, enough for 8192 weeks, or a bit more than 157 years.
Pokdepinion: Well if I so happen to not have GPS, I will just not leave my house.
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Transcend Offers New JetRam DDR4 Memory Modules

Transcend has announce the launch of their JetRam DDR4 memory module series, albeit in the Philippines. It includes capacity 4Gb/8GB, meant for budgetary PC and DIY market.
Transcend New JetRam DDR4
It is built with DRAM chips that’s able to deliver stable performance and durability. With DDR4, it allows capacity option ranging from 4GB to 8GB and offers transmission speeds of 2400MHz and up to 19GB/s of memory bandwidth.
The JetRAM DDR4 has a low operating voltage of 1.2V, reducing the electrical load of the memory bus and consume up to 40% less power compared to 1.5V standard DDR3 DIMMs.

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They come in two majority DIMM Type, U-DIMM/SO-DIMM. So it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a laptop upgrade or a PC DIY, you can find a suitable solution with them.
In addition to that, the modules comes with excellent compatibility and fully-tested reliability. Rest assured that it comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Feeling like getting one? Well the Transcend JetRam DDR4 memory module is now available at the Transcend Official Store on Lazada. It comes in two storage variants, 4GB and 8GB. With also the difference in DIMM Types.
Pokdepinion: So if you’re looking for a RAM upgrade, you know where to look. Checkout their official Lazada store to find out more.
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[CES 2023] ASUS Brings RTX 4070 Ti Under ROG STRIX and TUF Gaming Lineup

ASUS Brings RTX 4070 Ti Under ROG STRIX and TUF Gaming Lineup

Four models are priming for launch – two for each lineup.

The first two models fall under the ROG STRIX branding – which differs in clockspeeds but are otherwise sharing the same design. The ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (and its OC variant) measures at 3.15-slot and 336mm with new 11-blade fan providing 31% more air and 56% more static pressure over the preceding RTX 3080 designs, ASUS claims. Dual-BIOS, two FanConnect II headers and AURA Sync RGB continues to be the feature for these designs.

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On the more mainstream TUF Gaming lineup comes the same chip – both standard and OC variants. The TUF cards are shorter in length at 305mm but measures slightly thicker at 3.25-slot, which should provide better case compatibility. ASUS says the unibody die-case shroud maintains the same structural strength as its RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 counterparts, and AURA Sync RGB is also available with a small light strip near the end of the GPU shroud. Both ROG and TUF models feature a second HDMI port on top of the existing 3x DP + 1x HDMI I/O configuration.
The pricing for ROG STRIX models are RM4,899 (OC) and RM4,799 (Standard) while the TUF Gaming models are priced at RM4,399 (OC) and RM4,150 (Standard).
Pokdepinion: Not a fan of that price but that’s what NVIDIA says…
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Grim Fandango Remastered Is now FREE ; Grab This Classic While You Can!

Grim Fandango was originally released back in 1998, and then had a remastered edition in recent times. Well, now’s your chance to to experience the game (if you haven’t played it already) and grab it for FREE as GoG are giving it out at their website.
Grim Fandango Remastered Is FREE
For those retro gamers out there, this game needs no introduction. But for the sake of those who haven’t, here’s a brief introduction on Grim Fandango Remastered. The game is an adventure game that is set in the World of the Dead. Without giving too much away, you play as Manny Calavera, where you’re a travel agent for the dead and end up going through 4 different acts.

The game is filled with puzzles and witty jokes. Solve your way into the conspiracies around you. Better act fast though as this offer is only until tomorrow. To claim the game, which you SHOULD, you can do so by going to their website by clicking here.

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If there’s more free games, we’ll be sure to keep you updated. So stay tuned!
Pokdepinion: It was an awesome game back then, and it is still today. I don’t think the game received the recognition it should have. It’s a great game, but I think that their commercial side wasn’t too big of a success. Plus, it was out when there was a transition going on, from point and click to free roaming. Another fan favorite for me was Monkey Island. Damn, I miss that game.

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Telltale’s The Walking Dead Final Season Back in Development at Skybound Entertainment

Earlier this year, we saw Telltale Games announcing that they plan to close up shop. This resulted in many of their projects to come to a grinding halt. Any hopes for a sequel to The Wolf Among Us and other games were killed off immediately, but many expected The Walking Dead Final Season to at least finish up.
Later, Skybound Entertainment announced plans to finish work on Telltale’s The Walking Dead Final Season to see Clementine’s journey through to end. They will also be doing so with the original developers to ensure a more consistent experience with the  previously released two episodes.

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Skybound Entertainment has since offered an update on their official website that announces the resuming of development for the final episodes of the game. The news comes after recent sightings of old Telltale games disappearing from Steam and other platforms as a result of reported asset liquidation.
It’s been a ton of work logistically and legally to get us to a place where we’re able to roll up our sleeves and get to the actual work. […] We’re excited to let you know that many of the talented, passionate team members who originally worked on the game are resuming development efforts today!
According to the company, the release dates of both episodes will be revealed shortly and they assure that those who have already purchased the entire season prior to the studio’s closure will not have to buy the episodes again.
Source: Official Website
Pokdepinion: This whole scenario has been an emotional rollercoaster for fans but it’s going to be even more emotional when we finally get our hands on the final two episodes, that’s for sure.
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New ASUS GeForce GTX 950 does without power connectors

Good news for HTPC users: the new ASUS GeForce GTX 950 drops the power connector. This shows that NVIDIA has managed to tweak the core to be even more efficient than before. Improving on the already efficient 90W TDP that the GTX 950 was launched with, the new GTX 950 will sport a lower TDP of only 75W, which is the maximum power delivered by the PCIe 3.0 x16 connector.

The core inside the ASUS GeForce GTX 950 is still the same GM206 core with 786 CUDA cores, 64 TMUs and 32 ROPs. This is an NVIDIA reference design card with 2GB of GDDR5 @ 6.6GHz on a 128-bit memory bus. Basically nothing has changed aside from the fact that it now features a lower power consumption. What’s interesting is that while sporting lower TDP figures, the ASUS GeForce GTX 950 actually has a higher core clock (1051 MHz) compared to the 1024 MHz core clock on the reference GTX 950.

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There really isn’t anything to shout about aside from the lower TDP ratings, as it is still based on the Maxwell architecture, built on the 28 nm TSMC manufacturing process. We are looking forward to the upcoming AMD Polaris and NVIDIA Pascal GPUs, which should both be revealed pretty soon, with Computex 2016 coming up.

Pokdepinion: This piece of news shows that NVIDIA can still tweak their GPUs to consume even less power. The GTX 980 was tweaked to fit into high-end gaming notebooks, so this should come as no surprise. However I do wonder why didn’t NVIDIA launch the GTX 950 with these TDP specifications from the beginning, as now maybe a little too late.

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Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition; enhanced Radeon Overlay and AMD Link for seamless monitoring!

Non-stop epinephrine with Adrenalin Edition

Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition has just been released to deliver gamers an immersive gameplay experience while staying connected to today’s social, connected gaming. Adrenalin Edition is the gateway to an excellent gaming experience while being able to boast your in-game achievements live with your friends on social media.
New Radeon Overlay

The all-new Radeon Overlay allows gamers to monitor your GPU’s performance and other info about your system, keeping you informed while you game. It also enables gamers to share their greatest gaming with one-click access to Radeon Relive, as well as quick tweaks via Radeon Chill, Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC), Radeon FreeSync and Color Settings.

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AMD Link

The new AMD Link also enables you to keep your gaming screen clear, shifting the monitoring and streaming features with Radeon ReLive to your mobile device. Regardless if you are using an Android or iOS device, AMD Link lets you stream and replay with Radeon ReLive, or monitor your system while away from home.
Radeon ReLive, WattMan and Enhanced Sync updates

Radeon ReLive has also been reworked with chat integration to make it easier for streamers to interact while streaming on Facebook, Twitch, Mixer, YouTube, Weibo and more. The updated Radeon WattMan allows you to save custom profiles for better power management of your AMD GPU, and even share it with the Radeon user community. Enhanced Sync now has extended support for Vulkan API-based games, Radeon GCN-based products, hybrid graphics, Multi-GPU and AMD’s Eyefinity for a smoother gaming experience.

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Samsung XR Headset Launch Delayed: Reviewing Specs and Design

The highly anticipated Samsung XR headset, initially expected to launch in February 2024, has encountered a delay of 3-6 months, according to a report by SBS Biz. The Korean publication suggests that Samsung has decided to review the specifications and design of its XR headset, which has been influenced by the features of Apple’s Vision Pro, resulting in a postponement of its release.
Samsung XR Headset Launch Delayed

Samsung had originally planned to commence mass production of its XR headset in early 2024. However, the Korean conglomerate has opted to reassess the specs and design of the device in response to the specifications revealed for Apple’s Vision Pro. This decision has caused a shift in the timeline for the Samsung XR headset launch.

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While Samsung works on refining its XR headset, Apple is also facing challenges with its Vision Pro. Reports indicate that Apple is encountering production issues, leading to a reduction in its sales target of 1 million units during the first month of availability. Additionally, Apple is reportedly planning a gradual rollout strategy for the Vision Pro, making it available for purchase through appointments only.
As Samsung takes the time to fine-tune the specifications and design of its XR headset, it demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering a high-quality product. The influence of Apple’s Vision Pro has sparked a reevaluation process, highlighting the competitive nature of the XR headset market. While the delay may disappoint eager consumers, it also presents an opportunity for Samsung to enhance its offering and ensure a more polished and refined product upon launch.
Source
Pokdepinion: The delay in the Samsung XR headset launch is an indication of the company’s dedication to producing a top-tier device. By reviewing the specifications and design influenced by Apple’s Vision Pro, Samsung aims to create an XR headset that exceeds expectations. As consumers eagerly anticipate the arrival of both Samsung’s XR headset and Apple’s Vision Pro, it remains to be seen how these two tech giants will shape the future of extended reality experiences.
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BeOne Prepaid Provides Data And Unlimited Calls From RM10 Per Month

BeOne Prepaid has been recently launched which offers a mobile data plan catered for those who appreciate unlimited calls at a low monthly rate.
BeOne Prepaid

Aside from getting free unlimited calls (within the BeOne network), you will also get 1GB of high-speed data and 10GB of basic internet. They’ve stated that calls to other networks cost 16 sen per minute.

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In case you need more than just that, they also offer unlimited calls to all networks, unlimited music streaming (JOOX, Spotify, Hungama Music, and radio stations), 10GB data for video streaming via RedVideo, 10GB data for social media app including Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, and WhatsApp plus 100 SMS to all networks (unlimited SMS within BeOne). You can add those for an additional price of RM10.
Aside from that, RedOne also offers a package at RM30 per month that offers 8GB of high-speed data, 10GB social data, and 15GB data for video streaming. Should you need more, you can also opt to add 10GB for another RM10 with their RedData Plus add-on.
If you were wondering, BeOne Prepaid is launched in partnership with RedOne Network, an operator that uses Celcom’s coverage.
For more of the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
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Pokdepinion: While the plan is cheap, I don’t think I can survive with that overall package (at RM10/month). Seeing that they are using Celcom’s network however, I’m sure the coverage is decent, at least in my area.
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Dell XPS Lineup Updated With Latest Processors and GPUs

The update includes XPS Desktop, XPS 15 and XPS 17 refreshes.
Dell XPS Desktop (8960). Image: Dell
The Dell XPS Desktop 8960 is touted as the “most powerful XPS desktop yet”, with specs to match. The CPU and GPU respectively can be optioned with flagship Core i9-13900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, or alternatively if you’re looking for Team Red hardware, there’s the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT as well. Memory is courtesy of dual-slot DDR5 with 64GB available as an option, though those who need more (such as 96GB) may need to get the modules separately.
On the cooling department, there’s both air cooling and water cooling option, the latter of which uses a single 120mm radiator to manage the CPU’s heat. In both cases, these are strictly for Intel’s stock 125W TDPs – don’t expect to push more beyond that. There’s new side venting for extra cooling as well, Dell noted. The XPS Desktop will be available in March this year – pricing is still TBC at the time of this writing.

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Dell XPS 17 (left) and XPS 15 (right). Image: Dell
Up next is Dell XPS laptops, with 15-inch and 17-inch flavors available. Both gets the latest Intel 13th Gen and NVIDIA RTX 40 series hardware, though on the entry level specs you get to choose Intel’s own Arc A370M as the discrete GPU. Both models gets quad speaker setup tuned by Grammy-winning producer Jack Joseph Puig for the “immersive 3D sound experience”, the company says. Another common feature is the AI-based optimization software which fine-tunes an assortment of features including audio and performance.
On the top end, you get Core i9-13900H + RTX 4080 (60W) combo for the XPS 17 whereas the smaller 15-inch model can be specified up to Core i9-13900H + RTX 4070 (40W). Both models will launch in Malaysia in this April, however no local pricing has been announced just yet.
Pokdepinion: That XPS Desktop sure needs to deal with a lot of heat with those components.
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OPPO A53 With 90Hz And 5000mAh Battery Available At RM699

In a mid-range market that’s super competitive these days, it appears that OPPO has released their latest OPPO A53 smartphone to the segment, where it is available at RM699.
OPPO A53 now available

The new OPPO A53 comes with a 90Hz Neo-Display, where it also comes with a 3D-curved Iridescent Wave Design. Other than that, it offers a big 5000mAh battery under the hood which you can charge with its 18W fast charger.
Other specifications include a Snapdragon 460 chipset, 4GB RAM that’s paired with 64GB of internal storage. At the back, it sports a triple camera setup that consists of a 13MP main camera, 2MP macro lens, as well as a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it offers a 16MP camera for your selfies.

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Should you be interested in getting the OPPO A53 (2020), you can find the smartphone at OPPO Brand Stores, OPPO Online Store, OPPO Official Dealer stores as well as their ecommerce partners in Shopee and Lazada.
Previously we’ve reviewed the OPPO Reno4 series, do check them out at the link right here.
Pokdepinion: Seems like decent enough specs.. but the price however.. well that seems a little bit high.
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We recently managed to get our hands on the the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. While the review will still take some time, we wanted to give all of you a taste of this affordable tablet. Without further ado, here is our Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE first impressions.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE First Impressions

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is the company’s first ever Fan Edition tablet. If you’re not familiar with the branding, Samsung would take an existing flagship product and make it more affordable. There are two configurations to this tablet, a Wi-Fi only Snapdragon 778G and a 5G-capable Snapdragon 750G. As for memory, you can have either 4GB RAM with 64GB storage or 6GB RAM with 128GB storage.

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Inside the box, you do get a complete set of accessories. In case you were wondering, they are still including chargers for this. Apart from that, you will also be getting the:

Charger
USB-A to USB-C cable
User guide
Warranty card
SIM Ejector tool
S Pen
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE itself

For our review unit, we received the Mystic Silver color variant. It has a metallic back with a matte finish, which doesn’t easily attract fingerprints and smudges. You can also see its camera system here as well. The sides are metallic and, obviously, the front is glass as the display is there. It looks and feels very similar to the Galaxy Tab S7+, having a more premium build quality.

Moving on to the display, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE uses a 13.4-inch TFT display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and relatively thick bezels given today’s day and age. Because of that, there is no notch for the selfie camera, which is a 5MP shooter on the side as it’s meant to be held / placed horizontally for video calls. In case you’re wondering, there is no high refresh rate option here.
Based on initial usage, it performed pretty well despite not using a flagship-level SoC as my experience is smooth throughout. The stereo speakers and display quality is certainly more than adequate for an immersive, enjoyable multimedia experience, and the 16:10 aspect ratio lets you see more while still fitting well with most visual content. It’s definitely easy to enjoy mobiles games and videos on this. In case you’re wondering, there is no headphone jack here.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn’t a compact tablet by any means as it’s relatively large. However, it’s still very light and easy to bring around, especially if you need a laptop replacement or a secondary device to complement your phone on the go. You definitely need to use two hands with this but gesture navigation does make it easier to use in general. Furthermore, S Pen support increases its versatility.
For additional reference, our review unit of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is running on Android 11 with the One UI 3.1.1 skin.
Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (2 x 2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6 x 1.8 GHz Kryo 570), 8nm

GPU:
Adreno 642L

RAM:
6GB

Display:
12.4″ (1600 x 2560) TFT Display, 16:10 aspect ratio, 84.6% screen-to-body ratio, 243 ppi
S Pen support

Storage:
128GB UFS 2.1 (expandable up to 1TB via MicroSD)

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
8 MP Auto Focus (AF)
Front Camera
5 MP

OS:
Android 11 with One UI 3.1.1

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE
USB-C 3.2

Audio:
Stereo speakers
Audio Tuned by AKG

SIM:
Nano-SIM

Battery:
10,090 mAh,
45W fast charging

Dimensions:
284.8 x 185 x 6.3 mm, 608g

Color:
Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, Mystic Green, and Mystic Pink

For now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is in the middle of benchmark tests. I’ll be publishing my review of it as soon as I’m done with my testing so stay tuned for that.
Looking for a more affordable tablet? Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy A7 Lite by clicking right here.
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PS5 Scalper Claims The Act Is Creating “Entrepreneurs”

It’s been some time now since the PS5 was launched to the market and yet it’s still hard to get one. Due to that, several resellers have raised the price of the machine just because they are high in demand. This of course has angered consumers everywhere but according to Aftermarket Arbitrage owner Jack Bayliss, PS5 scalping has given their employees a good way to earn money.
PS5 scalping is making entrepreneurs?

The owner of the company which is located in the UK, Jack Bayliss says that what they are doing is nothing wrong. Here’s what he has said:

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What they’re doing is they’re being entrepreneurs, they’re going out, creating a side income, and they’re doing something that 90% of the population can’t be bothered to do.
Jack Bayliss, Aftermarket Arbitrage owner
On top of that, he has said that “95% of Aftermarket Arbitrage’s members don’t use bots, relying instead on manual purchases”. He adds that a lot of his staff has found success since joining the company by selling PS5s at a higher retail price.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Source
Pokdepinion: While he does have a point (in some way), is it ethical? Well I’ll leave that for you to decide.
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Microsoft reportedly in talks to buy Discord for $10 billion

Discord, our favorite gaming chat software might possibly be owned by none other than Microsoft soon. Xbox head Phil Spencer is reportedly trying to work out a deal to acquire the company.
If Microsoft acquires Discord, it might get pretty exciting, as Discord might become the de facto gaming voice communications platform on both Xbox and Windows. Integrating it into the increasingly feature-rich Xbox Games Bar will be quite interesting as well, but perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves.
Discord is allegedly looking at a sum greater than $10 billion with multiple potential suitors, although it might be an attempt to gauge the value of the company. Some reports also point towards the company having a higher probability of going public than selling itself, considering how it has turned down a number of offers ranging up to $6 billion back in 2018.

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It is also worth mentioning that Discord isn’t profitable yet, despite boasting 140 million users monthly and a great $130 million in revenue in 2020, up from $45 million in 2019. But then again, the user base is probably worth more than what they earn, as Discord only charges an optional $9.99/month for the Nitro subscription.
Source
Pokdepinion: I have been using Discord since Dolby Axon was shut down. Hopefully this acquisition won’t result in huge privacy changes that will force me to move to another voice chat platform.
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Travel and Vacations Dominate The Charts As Spotify Reveals New Social Distancing Trends

Hit the road with Spotify

Spotify has just revealed the newest trend happening over on their platform. While there was gardening, DIY haircutting, baking, dalgona coffee and home workouts in the last few months, this time the trend skews more towards road-tripping and Staycations.

This comes with a certain pinch of irony as there is now more than 1.3 million quarantine themed playlists on Spotify globally. Some of the more popular tracks included in these playlists between May 5 to July 30 are:

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Stuck With U by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber
Bored In The House by Tyga and Curtis Roach
Be Kind (with Halsey) by Halsey and Marshmello
Lockdown by Anderson Paak
exile by Taylor Swift and Bon Iver
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston

Spotify also listed other trends that they saw around the world. These trends tend to shift according to the listeners’ overall moods or vibes, as Spotify would put it. They noticed that music listeners played more upbeat tunes during the month of July. They also pointed out that the month of July was the happiest music listeners have ever been compared to the general mood of listeners in the month of April as the month where more people were streaming sadder or more downtempo tracks.

Moreover, from the month of June to July, Spotify has seen a 92% increase in the creation of road-trip themed playlists. Most of these playlists were made by listeners in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Germany. This also shows that many listeners are on the move, as many users are seen streaming music and podcasts in offline mode more in July compared to other months, with a 24% increase. Some of the tracks featured in these playlists include:

Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles
Here Comes The Sun by the Beatles
Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
Hey Ya! by OutKast
Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts.

Interestingly, there’s also been nearly a 120% increase in the creation of “Staycation” themed playlists from the month of June to July. More for those who are in the holiday mood but just can’t get out of the house I guess. The United States takes the top spot again in creating “Staycation” playlists, followed by the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada and Ireland. Some of the tunes on these playlists include:

Summer Clothes by Marc Scibilia
Island In The Sun by Weezer
Summertime Magic by Childish Gambino
Kokomo by the Beach Boys
The Boys Of Summer by Don Henly
Paradise by Bazzi
Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Take Me Home by Bryce Vine
Señorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes

On the other side of the spectrum, however, more than 127,000 playlists have been created with “bored” or “boredom” in the title between the month of May 5-July 30. Top songs included in these playlists are:

I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber
when the party’s over by Billie Eilish
High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala

If you’re interested in learning more about the music trends happening on Spotify, you can check out their official blog right here.
Pokdepinion: Well, looking at these popular tracks just reminds me of how old my musical taste is. I can recognise 8 songs out of the whole list.
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Samsung Starts Production In New EUV Line For 7nm Chips

The folks at Samsung has already started production of their new EUV (extreme ultra violet) semiconductor line, which will be making 7nm chips, or even smaller.
Samsung’s V1 facility is their first semiconductor production line, dedicated to EUV lithography tech will be the one to produce the chips.
What’s surprising is that Samsung has said that they will aim to create chips as small as 3nm.

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Along with technology leadership and design infrastructure, manufacturing excellence is one of the most important elements of the foundry business. As we ramp up production, the V1 line will enhance our ability to respond to market demand and expand opportunities to support our customers. Dr. ES Jung, President and Head of Foundry Business Samsung Electronics
With the V1 line, it means that Samsung now has a total of six foundry production lines in South Korea and the United States.
Samsung has said that by the end of 2020, the cumulative investment in the V1 line will reach USD 6 billion, where the total capacity from 7nm and below process node is expected to triple from that of 2019.
Pokdepinion: Well look at how far we’ve come. Chips as small as 3nm? That’s just insane.
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ROG Zephyrus G14 unveiled, featuring AniMe Matrix

The ROG Zephyrus series needs no introduction. Ever since it surfaced, it has made headlines after headlines, wowing us every time. Today was no different as we got to see the ROG Zephyrus G14 up-close and personal at its home in Taipei, Taiwan.

What was first sighted at the CES 2020, made its debut today as ASUS invited some of the selected key media from APAC to have a personal experience with what is touted to be the most innovative machine of the year. The highlight of the ROG Zephyrus G14 is definitely its AniMe Matrix LED personalization on its lid that lets you show custom graphics, animations and effects through over 6500 precision-cut holes.

At only 17.9mm thinness and weighing only 1.6kg, it makes it hard to believe what ASUS has managed to cram into such chassis. For the first time ever, the ROG Zephyrus series has been transplanted with the AMD Ryzen 4000 Series mobile processors featuring world’s first x86 8-core and 16-thread CPU built on the groundbreaking “Zen 2” core architecture combined with the industry leading 7nm FinFET process technology. This has been coupled with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPUs.

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The result? The ROG Zephyrus has evolved into a machine that we have never seen before. It’s a breath of fresh air without the bottom intake lift or unusually positioned touchpads, yet retaining the slim profile and bringing breathtaking performance to the table.

There will be several variants of the ROG Zephyrus G14 with choices of either 120Hz refresh rate displays or WQHD resolutions optimized for gaming and content creation. While we have information that the ROG Zephyrus G14 will be making its way to Malaysia, the final specifications for our local model will be announced later. We will definitely be reviewing this piece of marvel, that’s for sure.

Pokdepinion: Don’t ask me! I’m already having sleepless nights here!
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[LEAKED]ASUS Malaysia to bring in device with 18:9 display; codenamed ZB570TL

ASUS Malaysia is preparing to offer the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL), known over in the mainland as the Pegasus 4S, at a really affordable price!
ASUS’ first 18:9 device!

We have just heard rumors that ASUS Malaysia will be bringing in the a device with an 18:9 screen. This comes as no surprise as the ASUS X018DC has been spotted on TENAA more than a month back. The device will feature an 18:9 display and a huge battery. Leading us to dub it the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro v2. It will most probably be called the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL) here.

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It is known in China as the Pegasus 4S, but ASUS Malaysia has never brought in a device with the name “Pegasus” so we know that will not be the name here in Malaysia.. Specs wise, it will be placed firmly in the entry-level with a MediaTek MT6750T processor, 4GB RAM, and a choice of 32GB or 64GB storage. The device runs Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.1, but Oreo has been promised for the entire ZenFone 4 and ZenFone 3 series so do not get worried about the OS.

The 5.7″ 18:9 display features a modest 1440 x 720 resolution while the 4130 mAh battery is a slight downgrade from the currently available ZenFone 4 Max Pro with its 5000 mAh battery. There will be a dual 16MP standard + 8MP wide angle camera which should offer better photography prowess than the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s 16MP+5MP configuration.
Our sources point to the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL) being a wallet-friendly offering from ASUS Malaysia.We will definitely update this post when we get more juicy details!
Pokdepinion: Can’t wait to see the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 (that’s a really long name) and it’s 18:9 display here! If only the specifications could be just that bit beefier..
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ARMAGGEDDON SwiftSpectra AK-333s review — a chiclet gaming keyboard

We have reviewed two chiclet keyboard before this, the Logitech K780 and the K480. Both of them are wireless desk keyboards designed to be connected to up to three devices simultaneously, and are not meant for gaming. ARMAGGEDDON sent us their new gaming keyboard, the ARMAGGEDDON SwiftSpectra AK-333s which features silent chiclet keys and spectrum LED backlighting. This is definitely a clear departure from the noisy Kailh Blue mechanical switches the other ARMAGGEDDON gaming keyboards we have reviewed, so let’s take a closer look at it.
Unboxing

The ARMAGGEDDON SwiftSpectra AK-333s comes in the usual black and yellow packaging, with the main features highlighted on the front of the box. SwiftSpectra AK-333s features chiclet keys with multicolor backlight LED, which ARMAGGEDDON claims are designed for fast actuation and silent keystrokes.

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The back of the packaging pretty much repeats what was found on the front of the box.As quality assurance, the SwiftSpectra AK-333s comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

Inside the box there is no documentation or anything except the keyboard itself. The SwiftSpectra AK-333s is a plug-and-play gaming keyboard which means no software or drivers are needed.
Specification

Body material
Full plastic body build

Keycap
Chiclet plastic keycap with UV coating

Switch type
Membrane

Cable
1.4m, non-detachable

Weight
N/A

Features
Soft and silent chiclet keycap

Backlight
Red, Blue, Purple

Warranty
2 years

Appearance

The SwiftSpectra AK-333s is a standard full-size keyboard, which means there are 104 chiclet keys. As usual for chiclet keyboards, the SwiftSpectra AK-333s features square keys with decent spacing to prevent accidental actuation of the adjacent keys. Unlike the ARMAGGEDDON AK-566i Kalashnikov which I recently reviewed, I’m glad that ARMAGGEDDON SwiftSpectra AK-333s comes with a standard US keyboard layout.

There is nothing much to see on the underside of the keyboard. Surprisingly, the SwiftSpectra AK-333s lacks adjustable keyboard feet and it only have two rubber feet to help it grip the surface. You are essentially stuck with a single height for this keyboard unless you mod it or put something under it to raise it.

It’s quite thick for a chiclet keyboard, but the full plastic construction allows the keyboard to still remain very light.

The SwiftSpectra AK-333s has backlight LEDs which illuminate in spectrum color mode unlike the SWIFTSTALKER AK-333I which only has blue color LEDs. The backlight can only be turn on or off with no extra lighting effect. Also worth noting is that unlike the usual spectrum color modes, the colors are static and do not run across the keyboard.
User Experience
The SwiftSpectra AK-333s keycap are UV coated to make the keycaps and the legends more durable for a long-term usage. You shouldn’t need to worry even if you have sweaty or oily hands, since the font should not fade for at least a year.

They keycaps are very thin, and it quite difficult to take it off without damaging it. You are rarely going to remove the keycaps anyway, since the keycaps are not MX compatible, which means no third party keycap support. To be honest, I am not really satisfied with the sloppy paint job here around the edges of the keycaps. On a brighter note, I really love the multicolor LED backlight and it illuminated the keys very well for easy visibility, especially in darker working conditions.
The actuation point of this keyboard is pretty early with adequate key travel, and it also offers a rather silent typing experience, typical of chiclet keyboards. However the keyboard does randomly make annoying squeaking noises when typing, especially when tapping the space bar which was quite frustrating to hear. In terms of build quality, this keyboard is definitely far from rage-proof. I am highly confident that could snap it in two with my bare hands if I tried to.

I used the SwiftSpectra AK-333s for several games in Overwatch and DOTA2, and there is no input delay whatsoever to speak of. But I can’t guarantee you can macro well when using Invoker or Meepo in DOTA2. This keyboard does not feature NKRO and it also lacks anti-ghosting. Overall, this keyboard is acceptable, but I preferred the typing experience on the Logitech K780 which felt more solid.
Conclusion
The SwiftSpectra AK-333s is very affordable, priced at only RM50 on most online retailer, similar to the SwiftStalker AK-333i. However It’s hard for me to recommend the keyboard when you have become a die-hard fan of mechanical keyboards. Yet, it still a good deal if you want a cheap gaming-oriented keyboard with colorful backlighting.

ARMAGGEDDON SwiftSpectra AK-333s is an affordable gaming keyboard but it still need a lot of improvements in term of build quality as well as the paint job. Typing experience wise, it is acceptable but it could definitely be better if it feels more solid. Also, removing the squeaking sound during keypresses would be greatly appreciated. It definitely needs to be improved in many ways before it is worthy of its tagline — The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard. In fact, it doesn’t have much gaming-oriented features, as it doesn’t even feature anti-ghosting.
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Acer Launches New Acer Chromebook 311 – Has military grade durability and spill resistance

Acer’s Chromebook is stronger than me!

Acer has just revealed their newest line of products at their ‘The Next Pinnacle’ earlier today and one of the products launched is the Acer Chromebook 311. The Acer Chromebook 311 has a 11.6 inch HD (1366×768) display with a 180 degrees hinge and features a low power consumption processor in the Intel Celeron Quad-Core N4100 which should allow you up to 12 hours of battery life with a single charge so you don’t have to carry your laptop charger around.

Other specifications include 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 32GB eMMC storage, two USB Type-C ports, two USB 3.1 ports as well as microSD card reader. In terms of connectivity, the Acer Chromebook 311 features Intel Gigabit WiFi and 802.11ac wireless antenna with 2×2 MU-MIMO technology for wireless speeds. Also this laptop runs Chrome OS – hence the name. In terms of audio, this laptop packs HD stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The laptop also features an HD (1280 x 720) webcam with an 88 degree wide angle lens and supports HDR.

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The durability department of the Acer Chromebook 311 is something of an amazement. It has a rugged design and is compliant with a very stringent U.S. Military Standard (MIL-STD 810G). This rugged and reinforced design is what makes the Acer Chromebook 311 able to withstand drops of up to 122cm and 60KG worth of downward pressure. In addition to it’s rugged design, the Acer Chromebook 311 is resistant to accidental spills pf up to 330ml of water due to it’s keyboard design that routes water away from key internal components and instead drains them out from the bottom of the chassis.
The Acer Chromebook 311 will retail for RM 1,299 and will be available for purchase sometime in May 2019 at all Acer official online stores and authorised resellers across the country.
Pokdepinion: I like the look of this laptop. It’s durable, it’s cheap and looks like it’s perfect for normal work with it’s impressive battery life. If I didn’t have my own laptop already I wouldn’t hesitate in getting this.
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HONOR Malaysia celebrates 6th Anniversary with awesome deals!

HONOR Malaysia will be turning six this year, and to celebrate it, they are giving out pretty nice discounts on their products. From 12th June until 30th June, there are some awesome deals on their products to thank fans for the support over the years. HONOR’s 6th Anniversary Deals will be available both online on Hihonor as well as offline at HONOR Experience Stores and partner stores.
HONOR 6th Anniversary Deals on Hihonor

From 16th to 30th June, HONOR will be offering discounts and freebies on most of their products, including the popular HONOR 20 and HONOR 9X series. You can check out the following promotions on their products:

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Price
Freebies

HONOR 20
RM1099
HONOR band 5 Sport / HONOR Scale 2

HONOR 20 Pro
RM1599
HONOR band 5 Sport / HONOR Scale 2

HONOR 9X Pro
RM999
HONOR Band 5i

HONOR 9X
RM899
HONOR Band 5i + Gift Box

HONOR 9X Lite
RM699
HONOR Power Bank

HONOR 8X MAX
RM739 (SRP: RM829)
RM30 Voucher

HONOR 20 Lite
RM646 (SRP: RM699)
RM30 Voucher

HONOR 8A
RM469
32GB SD Card

HONOR 7S
RM299
32GB SD Card

HONOR 8S
RM369
32GB SD Card

HONOR Band 5
RM109 (SRP: RM129)

HONOR Sport Pro
RM249 (SRP: RM299)
RM30 Voucher

HONOR Watch Magic
RM379 (SRP: RM399)

HONOR Magic Earbuds
RM399 (SRP: RM499)
HONOR Scale 2

HONOR Scale 2
RM99
RM10 Voucher

HONOR Backpack
RM179 (SRP: RM199)

HONOR MagicWatch 2 46mm (Charcoal Black)
RM649 (SRP: RM699)
HONOR Waterproof Bag

HONOR Magic Watch 2 46mm (Flax Brown)
RM699 (SRP: RM749)
HONOR Waterproof Bag

HONOR MagicWatch 2 42mm (Charcoal Black)
RM549 (SRP: RM599)
HONOR Waterproof Bag

HONOR MagicWatch 2 42mm (Sakura Gold)
RM749 (SRP: RM799)
HONOR Waterproof Bag

For those of you who want to dive into the HONOR ecosystem, HONOR is also offering bundles for you to get multiple HONOR devices at a more affordable price tag.
HONOR 6th Anniversary Bundles

6th Anniversary Bundle Price
RRP

HONOR MagicWatch 2 46mm (Charcoal Black) + HONOR Magic Earbuds
RM956
RM1198 (RM699 + RM499)

HONOR 8A + HONOR Band 5i
RM529
RM588 (RM469 + RM119)

HONOR 8X MAX + HONOR Watch Magic
RM1066
RM1328 (RM829 + RM499)

HONOR Scale 2 + HONOR Band 5i
RM166
RM218 (RM99 + RM119)

And of course, as customary, there will be daily flash deals on a number of their products including the HONOR 20 Pro. The flash deals will be revealed at 12pm daily, so make sure to check in to Hihonor everyday.
HONOR fans can win more freebies through Hihonor’s Spin & Win game. Stand a chance to win HONOR FlyPods Lite, HONOR Powerbank and Vouchers worth up to RM100. Registered users on Hihonor can also grab vouchers up to RM606 to use on their next purchase. Submitting reviews on your new HONOR Magic Earbuds, HONOR Scale 2 or HONOR 9X Lite can also net you a chance to win HONOR Band 4 Running. Even commenting on an existing review will put you in the running to win an HONOR Band 4 Running too!

From today until 15th June, you can head on over to Hihonor to win a RM80 voucher to be used on an HONOR MagicWatch 2 46mm (Black), a RM70 voucher for the HONOR Powerbank or a Free Shipping Voucher, simply by subscribing to HONOR’s newsletter.
Check out Hihonor now!
HONOR 6th Anniversary Deals on
HONOR Experience Store

If you can’t wait for the deals on Hihonor, you can also head on over to HONOR’s physical outlets, with freebies for the latest HONOR smartphones.

Free Gifts

HONOR 20 Pro
HONOR Fitness Band

HONOR 20
HONOR Gift Pack

HONOR 20 Lite
HONOR Powerbank

HONOR 8A
HONOR Umbrella

HONOR 8S
HONOR Umbrella

HONOR 7S
HONOR Mini Phone Holder

HONOR 9X Pro
HONOR Band 5i

HONOR 9X
HONOR Band 5i

Pokdepinion: I hope I can snag one of those HONOR 20 Pro’s in the flash deal…
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March 9th: What’s Happening This Week on PlayStation Network? Game Discounts, Pre-Order Bonuses, and More!

So, what is happening on the PlayStation Network this week?
We’ve done something similar to this before but this time, it’s March 9th edition. Every now and then, something new pops up on the PlayStation Network and we don’t know about it. They don’t give us a notification unless we subscribe to a newsletter or something after all.
Well, don’t you worry about that. We’ve got you covered on that. Here’s what Sony Interactive Entertainment has in store for us on the PlayStation Network.

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What’s Happening This Week on PlayStation Network?
Ghost Recon Wildlands: “The Ghosts” Are on the Move

PlayStation 4 Shooting Game Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is now available on the PlayStation Store! (Digital Deluxe Edition RM240, Digital Gold Edition: RM350)
In this latest title of the “Ghost Recon” series, player will become a member of the special operation unit – “The Ghosts”, travelling through the largest open world of the series, and take down the Santa Blanca Cartel. You may play solo or join your friends online to accomplish the challenging missions!

Building Wonderful and Unique Worlds in LEGO Worlds

Have you ever played Minecraft and thought to yourself that this is what LEGO would be like videogame? What if LEGO was LEGO in a videogame? That’s LEGO Worlds, and it’s finally here on the PlayStation Store for RM129.
LEGO Worlds is a galaxy of imaginative worlds made of digital LEGO bricks where players can explore, discover and create together. In LEGO Worlds, players embark on a creative adventure to become a Master Builder and uncover hidden treasures.  Environments and creations are brought to life in any way fans can imagine, either by building brick by brick, placing down enormous pre-built LEGO structures, or by using tools that let them paint and shape the landscape.

NieR: Automata Pre-Order Bonus

If you’re looking forward to NieR: Automata but haven’t pre-ordered it yet, you should do it by April 26th. Apparently, you will receive some special bonuses for the game by doing that.

EA Games Sales: Up to 80% Off

Need more games to sink your teeth in? Don’t wanna overspend on videogames? Well, head on over to the PlayStation Network games by EA has been slashed…in price I mean. Up to 80% off for their games and if you’re a PS Plus subscriber, you are eligible for an additional 10% discount. Pretty sweet, huh?

PlayStation Music Highlight: Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn came out and it’s pretty epic. If you wanna just listen to the music, now’s your chance.
If you don’t know what’s March 2017’s free games lineup for PS Plus, click here to find out. Just be warned, Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps is one of the games in the lineup.

Pokdepinion: It’s nothing to brag about but it sure is nice to know what’s happening on the PlayStation Network in case something interesting pops up. I sure hope they do something really good soon, like how Tales of Zestiria suddenly became free for PS Plus subscribers. If that happens, you can be sure that we’ll be reporting it here on Pokde.net
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Edifier CineSound B1 Soundbar review

Introduction

TV sets nowadays feature really amazing displays, but all these brands have a weird obsession to be size zero for some reason. Thin is good, but let’s not forget that TVs need to produce sound as well, and thin means less space for proper speakers. Notably, most TV manufacturers also have their own audio systems which will augment the sound quality of the TV, which is probably why they are skimping on the speakers in the TVs themselves to make you buy their audio systems. Speaking of which, Edifier has a series of soundbars to complement your home entertainment audio setup, and we have here the entry level Edifier Cinesound B1 Soundbar to put through its paces.
Unboxing

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As what seems like customary of recent Edifier products, the Edifier CineSound B1 comes in a brown cardboard box with a few color images of the printed pasted onto the packaging. The highlight features are also listed here, like the DSP, electronic crossover and input options offered.

Two chunky blocks of polystyrene suspend the Edifier CineSound B1 in the box.

You get a plastic gasket to guide you when mounting the Edifier CineSound B1 to the wall if you so prefer, a 3.5mm to RCA cable, 3.5mm female to RCA adapter, the standard set of documentation and also an infrared remote.
Appearance

There isn’t much to see of the Edifier CineSound B1. It is a really long bar measuring in at 1m so make sure you have the space for it before you get it. The black fabric mesh protects the six drivers behind it, with a status LED peeking out under the metallic Edifier logo. The status LED turns red when the AUX input is used and green when the RCA inputs are used. It also blinks when you adjust the volume or change the sound modes, which we will talk about in a bit.

On the right end of the bar are four buttons with easy to understand icons. The remote control is capable of handling all the controls on the Edifier CineSound B1, so these buttons are last resorts when the remote control inevitably runs out of battery.

The left end is a plain plastic panel with the words “A Passion for Sound”. We know Edifier really has that in mind, so I am fine with this.
Specifications

Power output:
 RMS 70W

Signal to noise ratio:
≥85dB(A)

Frequency response:
70 Hz – 20 KHz

Input sensitivity:
Line in: R/L: 500 ± 50 mV
AUX: R/L: 350 ± 50 mV

Input type:
Line in, AUX

Dimensions:
1066 x 79 x 80 mm

Source: Zorloo ZuperDAC connected to a Lenovo Y50-70
User Experience

Being the entry level member of the Edifier CineSound soundbar family, the Edifier CineSound B1 notably has very few input options. You will have to move up the ranks to the Edifier CineSound B3 for Optical, Coaxial and Bluetooth input options. I would say the current input options do suffice actually, since this is something you want to pair with your TV anyway. It does however have a sub out, so if you have a spare subwoofer lying around you can put it to good use. It has been tested to work with certain 2.1 speaker systems, but it just wouldn’t work with the THX-certified Edifier M3600D in our collection.

The Edifier CineSound B1 comes with three audio presets, which are News, Movie and 3D. Basically the difference boils down to a balanced sound signature in the Movie preset, boosted mids in News mode to hear your newscaster more clearly, and last but not least, a V-shaped equalizer in 3D mode to emphasize the bass and higher frequencies while supressing the mids. While a balanced sound signature may seem is what you want when listening to music, wait till you try 3D mode with movies or games that are explosion-heavy (Michael Bay?). I have never thought I could have so much fun from just a soundbar, but the bass was definitely a lot more present for a much more immersive experience. I did not notice an enhanced soundstage though, which was what I expected from the 3D mode at first.

In the balanced Movie mode, the Edifier CineSound B1 sounds good enough to use as my everyday speakers. Considering that the Edifier CineSound B1 features two mid-range drivers per channel to handle the lows and mids while a dedicated silk-dome tweeter handles the highs, it does a pretty good job of reproducing the entire audible spectrum. It would be nice to have a little sub-bass extension, but that’s going to be quite difficult with the space constraints of a soundbar design. Removing the grille improves the perceived clarity, but it definitely won’t look good with the huge plastic panel in the center and myriad of holes exposed.
Not exactly a looker with the grilles off…
If you are worried about loudness, this thing can easily fill a small-ish studio apartment with sound. It is rated at RMS 70W afterall. Considering the usual distances between viewers and TVs, the Edifier CineSound B1 can easily go up to uncomfortable sound pressure levels.
Conclusion
The Edifier CineSound B1 is something you can consider to enhance your audio experience with your TV, or even use it as a multimedia speaker if you want to. It isn’t too expensive at just RM259 now on Lazada (SRP RM369), sounds good with its three sound modes doing a good job of complementing your TV or even your PC. The clean design may even be a plus point for those who do not want to have traditional speaker cabinets on their desks. I had an easy setup experience and zero complaints when using it to watch movies or the casual music listening session, which is why I will award it our Silver Pokdeward.

Our thanks to Edifier Malaysia for the Edifier CineSound B1 in this review.

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POCOPHONE F1 review — the gaming phone to beat

Introduction

There seems to be a barrage of “flagship killer” smartphones recently. If you are unfamiliar with the term, these devices are supposed to annihilate all other flagship smartphones by offering top-of-the-range specifications at affordable prices. OnePlus used to be the leader in this game, but they have been slipping up and are releasing increasingly expensive devices year after year. ASUS stepped up to the plate with the ASUS ZenFone 5z, a device which was a pretty compelling package and a beastly chipset for its price. Today we will be taking a closer look at the POCOPHONE F1. A beefy chipset in a device that costs 1/3 of the latest flagships. Sounds too good to be true?
Unboxing

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The POCOPHONE F1 comes in a striking black and yellow packaging. Yes, you don’t have to remind us of that song. The yellow extends inside the packaging as well, with the yellow so bright it blinds us. The contents here are standard for a Xiaomi device, with a 18W QuickCharge 3.0 charger to remind us of its support for the fast charging standard. Somewhat of a surprise, but yeah, a fast charger with a device that costs less than RM1500 is indeed a nice touch.

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Appearance

We requested the Blue Steel variant to play around with because Graphite Black was just too mainstream. The back is made of polycarbonate, a cost-saving measure to keep the price point low. I wish the back had a coarser finish for a better grip and also a more unique feel. It gets smudged up quite easily if you have sweaty hands, but this is still a lot easier to keep clean than glass though. The dual camera setup is positioned along the center line, above the fingerprint sensor. Xiaomi’s recent design trend is to move the camera to the top left corner, so this is a nice shake up.

On the front, we see a notch that’s bigger than what most recent flagships sport. It houses an infrared emitter and an infrared camera for better facial recognition even in the dark, which we will talk about later. The lower bezel is thicker than we whould like, and we also spot rounded corners which will an issue in apps with elements in the extremities.

Along the bottom we see a USB Type-C port, which is a nice touch given the price range it’s occupying. It is flanked by two arrays of six holes which hide the loudspeaker and primary microphone.

Over at the top is a 3.5mm jack, which is again a feature that puts the POCOPHONE F1 in stark contrast to the currently outgoing Xiaomi flagships. Xiaomi has removed the 3.5mm jack from most of its higher-end devices, and to see it here is quite surprising.

The physical buttons are all here on the right side as they usually are, and the SIM tray is over on the other side. You will find the SIM tray offering support for microSD cards as well. Storage expansion is not available in both the Snapdragon 845-touting devices in Xiaomi’s lineup.
We actually see the POCOPHONE F1 surprise us with a fresh design, especially when compared with their recent releases. The characteristic prominent camera hump in the left corner has been dropped, and we see a 3.5mm jack. The polycarbonate unibody is also done rather elegantly, without trying to look like something its not.
Specifications

CPU/Chipset:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4 x Kryo 385 Gold @ 2.8 GHz + 4 x Kryo 385 Silver @ 1.8 GHz), 10nm FinFET

GPU:
Adreno 630 @ 710 MHz

RAM:
6GB LPDDR4X

Display:
6.18″, 18.7:9 FHD+ (1080p) IPS display, 500-nits brightness, 84% NTSC color gamut

Storage:
64GB UFS 2.1 (expandable via microSD card)

Camera:
Main Camera(s)
Primary: 12MP f/1.9, Dual Pixel AF, 1/2.55″ Sony IMX 363 sensor, 1.4μm pixel pitch
Secondary: 5MP f/2.0 depth detection, 1.12μm pixel pitch
Dual LED flash, HDR, portrait mode, AI scene detection (206 scenes), AI Beautify, hardware multi-frame noise reduction, filters, Pro mode, EIS (videos only), [email protected] videos
Front Camera
20MP f/2.0
AI portrait mode, AI detection (10 scenes), face recognition, screen flash

OS:
MIUI 9.6 for POCO, based on Android 8.1 Oreo

Connectivity:
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), supports WiFi 2×2 MIMO, MU-MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0 (AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, LDAC support)
LTE-FDD: Band 1/3/5/7/8/20

SIM:
Dual nanoSIM (second nanoSIM slot shared with microSD slot)

Battery:
Li-ion 4000 mAh (non-removable)

Dimensions:
155.5 x 75.2 x 8.8 mm

Weight:
182 g

The first things most will notice is the list of flagship hardware here. We aren’t only looking at the Snapdragon 845, but also the 4000 mAh battery. Few recent flagships feature such a huge battery, and this is definitely a commendable move by Xiaomi. The camera may not be the most interesting in recent times, but it will have to suffice. The camera hardware is very similar to the mid-range Redmi Note 5‘s, but since this is targeted at the gaming crowd, picking lesser camera hardware may be a good way to cut costs and fit the highest end chipset, RAM and storage into the POCOPHONE F1.
Performance

It is dubbed Master of Speed by its makers, but we are seeing it score less than most of the Snapdragon 845 devices we have tested, except for one.

In Geekbench we see top notch CPU performance, besting even Xiaomi’s current flagship.

GPU performance is where we see the POCOPHONE F1 falter. It’s a whopping 16% slower in Sling Shot, which means Xiaomi might have throttled the GPU performance for some reason.

PCMark performance is good, once again coming ahead of the Xiaomi flagship. With the OPPO Find X being the sole exception, the POCOPHONE F1 dominates this benchmark.

Battery life is yet another area the POCOPHONE F1 wins big. With a large battery and a 10nm chipset, the POCOPHONE F1 comes ahead of the recent flagships we have tested.

Performance in daily usage was perfect, without any sign of slowdowns or stutter. It was also great to game on the device, with the spectacular performance that the Snapdragon 845 is capable of, and also excellent cooling that Xiaomi has fitted the POCOPHONE F1 with. Battery life in normal usage can easily exceed a full 24 hour away from the plug, while a full round of PUBG Mobile will just take around 10% of the battery. Charging it for just 30 minutes gives me 34%, which is great considering the size of the battery here.
User Experience

The POCOPHONE F1’s polycarbonate chassis does not feel cheap, but it does feel different from the slew of glass-backed flagships we have lying around our office. For one, it doesn’t get as cold as glass or metal-backed devices would. Its weight in hand lends a sense of sturdiness you won’t expect from a plastic device, and the weight balance towards the lower half helps you hold it securely in your hands. The curvature along the sides help with ergonomics, keeping the device in your hand and away from the floor.
The display’s specifications might not seem all that impressive with 84% NTSC coverage and a 1500:1 contrast ratio, but it is actually pretty good. Colors are just slightly less vibrant than what you would expect from a flagship, while the 500-nit brightness is more than enough for perfect legibility even under direct sunlight. The POCOPHONE F1’s earpiece also doubles as a secondary speaker, giving you a stereo effect when consuming multimedia or gaming. The rounded corners can get in the way of certain elements in the extreme corners, but then again this is an issue shared with many notched smartphones out there. It didn’t affect my experience in PUBG Mobile or Honkai Impact, so I will give it a pass.

While we aren’t looking at IR 3D mapping like on the iPhone X, the infrared facial recognition system here allows you to unlock your device even in pitch black darkness. It’s fast and it works every single time.You will get a warning that this is not the most secure unlocking method on the device, so if you are a stickler about that, you might still want to rely on the good ol’ rear fingerprint scanner, which is also very quick.

The POCOPHONE F1 comes with three preloaded themes, the standard Default and Limitless themes that come with all Xiaomi devices, and a new POCO theme. The POCO theme is a step closer to stock Android, complete with an app drawer which has always been missing from MIUI. One of my favorite additions is the ability to long press on app icons for the popup menu, something which was sorely missed in MIUI. It’s still MIUI at its core though, so you get some niceties like MIUI’s excellent optimization, superb gesture navigation and their new AI camera.

The camera software is shared with Xiaomi’s flagship, so it means that the POCOPHONE F1 gets AI scene recognition to make it easier to get good shots of recognized scenes. With 206 recognized scenes, you should be pretty well set. While the hardware is pretty similar to the Redmi Note 5’s, the software here offers a fully fledged manual mode, complete with focus peaking to help with manual focusing.

If you don’t expect too much out of the POCOPHONE F1, you would be well-served by the camera. The camera delivers excellent results in good lighting, with decent performance in lower light performance. We enjoy snappy autofocus, pretty good colors when the lighting allows it, but once the light gets low, images can turn out quite smudged. The software is smart enough to not use lower shutter speeds considering the lack of OIS here, but compensates with higher ISO and less details. For the full-sized samples, check out our Flickr album here.
Conclusion

Priced at just RM1237 (or RM1299 after SST kicks in), I was sold when I saw the chipset when it was launched. If you need more storage there is also a 128GB variant going for around RM200 extra. The GPU performance may be a hair lower than what I have come to expect from the Adreno 630, but this is also the lowest priced device out there with a Snapdragon 845 under its plastic hood.
If you really want to pit it against recent flagships, you will notice a list of shortcomings. There is no NFC, the camera isn’t all that great, and you might find the polycarbonate body to be less premium than the competition. You don’t get any form of resistance against the elements, and you don’t get to enjoy wireless charging. The notch is also wider than most, and the corners of the displays are just a bit too rounded. It all boils down on what you are willing to sacrifice for the beastly performance offered by the POCOPHONE F1 at this price. I can say I can forgo all of that, because the POCOPHONE F1 does everything I need with aplomb. And with an asking price that undercuts many a mid-range smartphone, I can definitely forgo all of that.
If you want a gaming smartphone without breaking the bank, this is the device for you. Great battery life, expandable storage and an IR facial recognition setup that was quick and seamless to use, and the increasingly rare 3.5mm jack seals the deal for me, positioning the POCOPHONE F1 as an affordable gaming smartphone that delivers flagship-class performance for a mid-range price tag. This is the gaming phone to beat. Oh and Xiaomi, the red rings around the rear lens? Perfect.

Our thanks to Mi Malaysia for providing the POCOPHONE F1 used in this review. To support us, check out the POCOPHONE F1 on Lazada via the following link, where it will be restocked on 6th September with pre-SST pricing!

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LG Introduce TWINWash At IFA 2017 – Say Goodbye To Your Washing And Drying Problems!

LG Electronics will feature their new TWINWash washing machines at this year’s IFA awards. It will join a host of their line up of innovations in clothing care technology.
LG’s TWINWash
The new line up consists of models of different sizes. Ranging from large 27-inch units to a more affordable 24-inch options. The LG TWINWash boasts of being the world’s first twin-load washing machine. It offers features such as TrueSteam and TurboWash to eliminate almost all allergens, wrinkles, odors, and soften clothing, while offering a powerful wash performance.
Along with its washing machine, LG is also offering a drying solution for customers who prioritize energy efficiency and convenience. Packed with LG’s Inverter Heatpump, LG’s New Dryer minimizes fabric damage by maintaining a low drying temperature. It also features Eco Mode and Turbo Mode. The former saves energy while the latter doing what its named for, ensuring a quicker dry time.

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Lastly, the LG Styler delivers the final step in the clothing care process. The Styler uses TrueSteam to sanitize clothes while reducing wrinkles and odors. It’s core feature, the Moving Hanger, gently shakes clothes to further reduce wrinkles formed during the steam process. So say goodbye to those trips to the dry cleaner.
LG’s vision for total clothing care, with washing, drying, and styling solutions to meet laundry needs from start to finish, is exemplified by the company’s latest home appliances which we’ll be showing at IFA. By incorporating our groundbreaking TWINWash technology in a diverse range of new products, we are perfectly positioned to meet the demands of different households with different lifestyles and needs Song Dae-hyun, president of LG’s Home Appliance & Air Solution Company
Pokdepinion: LG is really taking the IFA awards seriously. With loads of products that are already unveiled there. The public surely have more options now on what to buy next for their homes.
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ViewSonic introduces the VP3881; a curved, ultra-wide, pre-calibrated IPS display!

If you work with images professionally, you might want a display with calibrated colors. That’s what the ViewSonic VP3881 is all about, a monitor in ViewSonic’s VP series of professional monitors, built for color critical applications.

The ViewSonic VP3881 is huge, measuring 38″ diagonally across its 21:9 aspect ratio panel. As cinematic content is usually presented wit h a 21:9 aspect ratio, this monitor allows users to enjoy a screen-filling view instead of staring at black bars. The display also features a 2300R curvature to provide a more immersive experience, regardless if you are working or chilling. The beauty of the display is further enhanced by not having a frame on the top and sides.

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Designed for color accuracy, it is calibrated out of the factory with a Delta E<2 value. A smaller Delta E value denotes more accurate colors. The SuperClear IPS panel is also designed to deliver uniformity from edge-to-edge. The ViewSonic VP3881 covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, and also offers HDR10 support for richer colors. It also works with the Colorbration Kit to ensure color accuracy at all times. The high resolution of 3840 x 1600 also means you have the sharpness you need to work with fine details.

Aside from accurate colors and a pretty design, you will be getting a USB Type-C input to deliver video, data and power to the built-in 4-port USB hub over a single connector, as well as two HDMI 2.0 and a DisplayPort 1.4 HDR-ready inputs.

As this is a panel designed for prosumers, downtime is unacceptable. ViewSonic is offering their ViewCare program that offers customers a Zero Bright Dot (ZBD) coverage for a year. You can also take advantage of a free one-time X-Rite calibration for your ViewSonic VP3881. Premium Service coverage also means you just have to call a service center to have another monitor shipped to you, while your monitor is serviced. The ViewSonic VP3881 is covered by a 3-year warranty.
The price? A reasonable RM4999. You will be getting a great display that you can confidently use for your color sensitive work and great service. If you are interested in the ViewSonic VP3881, check out the link below:

Pokdepinion: RM4999 isn’t that expensive for a monitor that offers this kind of color accuracy and professional support. Wouldn’t mind one on my desk!
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NEO The World Ends With You Is Coming To PS4 And Nintendo Switch This July

SQUARE ENIX has just announced that NEO The World Ends with You will officially release this coming 27 July. The action RPG sequel to 2007’s The World Ends with You, will be coming to PS4 and Nintendo Switch as well as on PC through the Epic Games Store this summer. The company also revealed that pre-orders for the PS4 version of the game is available starting today.
NEO The World Ends with You: pre-orders are open now!
NEO The World Ends with You follows protagonist, Rindo, as he explores the heart of Tokyo to uncover the mysteries behind the sinister “Reapers’ Game,” a life-or-death battle for survival in which he has been forced to take part. SQUARE ENIX also released a brand new trailer for NEO The World Ends with You that offers an introduction to a new cast of characters, a vibrant and fashionable equipment system, the game’s hyper-stylish action battle system, and more. You can check the trailer out below.

Here’s a brief synopsis of NEO The World Ends with You:

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It was just another seemingly ordinary day in Shibuya, but not for Rindo. He could tell something about the city felt different. A girl with an ominous aura appears before him, identifying herself as a so-called Reaper. With some trepidation, Rindo decides to play along with this Reapers’ Game, but something is weird…
Battles with monsters called “the Noise”, pins that grant mysterious powers, and a place called Shibuya UG (Underground) to set the stage for the Game— it isn’t long until Rindo starts to have second thoughts on his decision.
Introducing the characters of NEO The World Ends with You
Rindo (voiced by Yuma Uchida)

One of the newest Players in the Reapers’ Game, Rindo is a high schooler to whom searching for info on his phone is second nature. He prefers to go with the flow, and although he doesn’t go out of his way to interact with others, he won’t turn them away if they come to him first.
Fret (voiced by Chiharu Sawashiro)

Rindo’s happy-go-lucky classmate and fellow Player in the Reapers’ Game, Fret boasts the ability to get along with just about anyone. While he styles himself as a natural conversationalist, he prefers to keep things light, subconsciously avoiding subjects that are too serious. He enjoys walking around town with his buddy “Rindude.”
Nagi (voiced by Mina Katahira)

Another Player in the Reapers’ Game, Nagi is a college student whose youthful appearance leads others to mistake her for a middle schooler. She is deeply passionate about her pastimes, devoting all of her time and energy to her favourite games. Highly perceptive, she is acutely aware of others’ emotions, and shows disdain toward those she deems superficial and disingenuous.
Minamimoto (voiced by Takayuki Fujimoto)

A fellow Player in the Reapers’ Game, Minamimoto puts his impressive psychic powers to use when he saves Rindo and the gang from a tight spot early on, then forces himself onto their team. He calculates every possible future using his own unique formulas and acts in accordance with the values he discovers, but he remains a mystery to all around him. He seems to have his sights set on something greater than Rindo and the gang.
Shiba (voiced by Daiki Hamano)

Shiba currently ranks number one among the Reapers in the Shibuya UG, having worked his way to the top within a year of his arrival. He also serves as the Game’s Master, arbiter of its rules, and encourages its Players to keep things hot. His psychic powers far surpass those of his fellow Reapers, ensuring that none dare disobey him.
NEO The World Ends with You Pre-order and Early Purchase bonuses

NEO The World Ends with You will release this 27 July on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as well as on PC through Epic Games Store which is due out this Summer. Furthermore, as a digital pre-order bonus for PlayStation Store, players will get an avatar set that can decorate their PlayStation Network profile.
There are also early purchase bonuses for both the digital and physical versions of NEO The World Ends with You on both PS4 and Nintendo Switch. These bonuses include:

Legendary Threads Set (Digital Version. Available until 26 August)
– Legendary Headphones Ability: Increases Attack when the enemy’s remaining HP is high.
– Legendary Tank Top Ability: Greatly increases Attack.
– Legendary Shorts Ability: Shortens the duration the wearer is knocked down.
– Legendary Sneakers Ability: Increases movement speed during combat.
– Legendary Music Player Ability: Enormously increases HP.
Reapers’ Game Survival Set (Physical Version)
– Pin: UFO Rescue Effect: Hold the button to slowly restore your team’s HP.
– Threads: Virupaksa Hoodie Ability: Greatly increases HP.
– CD: Twister (NEO Mix) Effect: Adds ‘Twister -NEO MIX-‘ as a main menu music option.

Check out the official website here for more information on NEO The World Ends with You.
Pokdepinion: I still can’t believe SQUARE ENIX made a sequel to The World Ends with You after more than 10 years after its original release. While the game isn’t the best in the genre, it was still a fun game and an underrated one at that. I wholly suggest those who haven’t played the first one to try it out.
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AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Review – Long Live 3D V-Cache!

3D V-Cache. Once thought as just a mere novelty, this technology has since become the dark horse of CPUs – for the games that could use with extra cache, the performance boost it provides is huge. Now in its second iteration, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is picking up where the Ryzen 7 5800X3D left off: can AMD continue to assert gaming dominance against Intel’s best offerings?
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Basic Specifications

Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Core Configuration
8 cores, 16 threads (1 CCD, with 3D V-Cache)

Process Node
CCD: TSMC N5
IOD: TSMC N6
CCD: TSMC N7
IOD: GloFo 12nm

Microarchitecture
Zen 4 “Raphael”
Zen 3 “Vermeer”

Boost Clock
5.0GHz
4.5GHz

Base Clock
4.2GHz
3.4GHz

Cache (L2+L3)
8+96MB
4+96MB

TDP
120W
105W

Memory Support
DDR5-5200
Max. 128GB dual-channel
DDR4-3200
Max. 128GB dual-channel

Onboard Graphics
AMD Radeon Graphics
2 CUs (RDNA2) @ 2.2GHz
None

PCIe Lanes Configuration
28x PCIe 5.0
24x PCIe 4.0

Socket
Socket AM5 (LGA1718)
Socket AM4 (PGA1334)

Chipset Support
AMD 600 Series
AMD 300*, 400, 500 Series
(Select 300 series M/Bs only)

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D gets all the stuff you expect from the AM5 platforms, however there are some minor differences aside from the presence of 3D V-Cache. The TDP is “raised” to 120W, and clockspeed reduced to accommodate the more sensitive parts of the 3D V-Cache (for reference, the standard Ryzen 7 7700X boosts up to 5.4GHz single-core).
Test System

Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Cooler & Thermal Paste
ASUS Ryujin II 360 AIO
Cooler Master MasterGel Maker

Motherboard
MSI MPG X670E CARBON WIFI (BIOS ver. 7D70v16)

Graphics Card
NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Founders Edition
Driver Version 531.29

RAM
Kingston FURY BEAST DDR5-6000 (16GB x2)

Storage
Samsung SSD 980 PRO 256GB (Boot)
Kingston NV1 1TB

Power Supply
Cooler Master MWE Gold 1250 V2 Full Modular 1250W

Case
VECTOR Bench Case (Open-air chassis)

Operating System
Windows 11 Pro 22H2

Benchmarks
For the gaming tests – Resizable BAR is turned ON, and VBS (virtualization-based security) is turned OFF. All tests are conducted in out-of-the-box configuration, unless otherwise specified.

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Cinebench R23

Given that we know the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a slightly downclocked chip with lower clockspeeds overs its equivalent 7700X counterpart, it’s no surprise here that both in single-core and multi-core workloads it loses out slightly, generally in line with the expectations from the specs.
Despite the official TDP rating of 120W, keep in mind that AMD uses the rating very loosely here. Just like Intel, the TDP rating is more of a guidance for coolers rather than its actual power draw – and in practice, we’re seeing power draw equivalent to the company’s low-power 65W-class chips, like the Ryzen 7 7700 non-X model (both runs on 88W PPT).
Why the 120W rating then? It turns out that having a 3D V-Cache sitting on top of the core itself traps a fair amount of heat – despite pulling the same power, the X3D chip is hovering at a rather hot 81°C as opposed to a mere 68°C on the Ryzen 7 7700, so AMD is basically advising to use slightly beefier coolers to account for less conductive heat transfers in-chip.
7-Zip

Moving on to the next test, 7-Zip. Same trend here, with the X3D chip losing out on decompression slightly (clockspeed is a factor), however the compression performance is virtually identical on both the X3D and Ryzen 7 7700X. Given the power draw however, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D easily wins on the efficiency department here.
3DMark Time Spy

3DMark Time Spy is not the kindest to AMD processors – still, comparing against the same family we can see the Ryzen 7 7800X3D once again gets edged out by the conventional Ryzen 7 7700X thanks to that chip’s 400MHz higher clockspeeds. Though, in practice the difference between the two are negligible – but when it comes to gaming, hold your judgement first.
Handbrake

Here’s a multi-core focused workload where we feed a 10-minute 4K clip and let Handbrake do the work to generate a 1080p MKV video from it. As expected again, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is slightly slower than its non-X3D counterpart at a 20-second deficit.
Gaming

And here’s the main event. You don’t buy AMD’s X3D chips for productivity (unless it requires huge cache pool), so when it comes to this chip’s home ground, it leaves even the Intel Core i9-13900K in the dust on certain cases, like the CPU-heavy Shadow of The Tomb Raider. On the contrary, in GPU-heavy games like Red Dead Redemption 2, the extra cache likely remained unutilized so the clockspeed matters more, and that gives it a slightly disadvantage due to lower clockspeeds at disposal.
Forza Horizon 5 is a bit of a mixed workload where it gives the Ryzen 7 7800X3D a small victory against all chips; while F1 2022 – another GPU-heavy scenario with ray tracing in use, points the bottleneck back to GPU so it makes largely no difference across all chips. The usefulness of the extra cache really boils down to each game, some games rely on it heavily, such as MOBAs; whereas others like sightseeing games are more often than not bound to GPU horsepower so the cache remains largely unused to exploit the chip’s potential.
Conclusion

Unsurprisingly, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D continues to outrun every CPU on the market when it’s given the chance to flex its cache size. Pair it with the power draw, and you’re witnessing what is probably the most efficient gaming CPU in the world right now, at this time. The general performance is at a deficit against the regular Ryzen 7 7700X, but that is expected behavior due to limitations that come with adding a physical, heat-insulating layer on top of the cores.
At RM2,199, there is some price premium added over the Ryzen 7 7700X (with RM1,899 MSRP). To some people who solely game, having another RM300 added on top of the mid-range chip to turn it effectively into world’s fastest gaming CPU sounds like a no-brainer – and you don’t even need high end hardware to harness all that performance (aside from GPU, of course). You can run it on even the A620 motherboards with some decent air-coolers and it’ll rip every chip a new one without breaking a sweat (and your wallet).

The only competition it’ll be facing is in fact, its very predecessor – the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. That chip is currently priced at around RM1,500 or so – pair it with the ever-cheaper AM4 motherboard plus DDR4 RAM, and it’ll still give all the best chips in the world a run for their money. So it really boils down to this: Do you want the X3D Lite option, or the X3D Premium option?

Special thanks to AMD for providing the Ryzen 7 7800X3D used in this review.
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