Category Archives: Editorial

The Acer TravelMate P6 (2022) In-Depth Review – Perfectly Average

November 9, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Working on-the-go is pretty much the name of the game in the modern corporate world. Thanks to the advances in technology too, the concept of working from anywhere in the world is made a reality. With laptops that offers battery life beyond a full workday, you can technically open your laptop from anywhere and get work done at any time.

To be fair, battery technology has not progressed all that much. The Lithium battery that we are used to today has been the same battery technology that we have seen over the past 10 years. What has progressed though is our understanding of silicon technology and how to make transistors smaller, more powerful, and even more efficient. With Intel’s modern Core processors at least, it finally happened, we have laptops that can run on battery longer than 10 hours on a single charge.

That leads us to this Acer TravelMate P6 made for the corporate world. It is also made for corporate employees who travel. In that sense, it is made to last for an entire day on a single charge. It is meant to be whipped out and get you productive anytime, anywhere.

At MYR 6,680, it is not exactly the most affordable laptop for corporate use. In fact, there are many thin-and-light laptops that cost less. The Acer Swift 5 for example, offers the same Intel Core i7, more RAM at 16GB, and better touch screen display while costing about MYR 600 less.

So, what makes this TravelMate P614P special? Why does it cost more than the Acer Swift 5? Is it worth its asking price? Should you get it? We dive right in.

Design

It looks just like any other laptops out there. It is rather unassuming. There is not much in terms of angles and tapers. It is just a rectangular piece of kit that is made mostly out of aluminium. You also get an Acer logo on the top right corner behind the display.

Even the colour is rather plain in its Navy Blue guise. The only other colour you can find on the device is the chrome strips that are also the hinges that holds the bottom and top half of the laptop together.

Then you open it up and the simplistic approach continues with the aluminium bezels surrounding a 14-inch Full HD display. The keyboard and trackpad are pretty much standard designs with the power button integrated into the layout instead of it being a separate button placed elsewhere. That way, you save same spaces on top for a slightly roomier keyboard and larger trackpad.

Because most of the laptop is made from aluminium, it feels solid with minimal flex all around. There is a little bit of play in the aluminium bezels, though not at alarming levels. We suspect that it was because the bezel also houses the webcam.

Hardware

The Acer TravelMate P6 we have here is not an entry-level device. You get a powerful 11^th generation Intel Core processor that powers Windows 11 Pro. There is no discrete GPU here though, just Intel’s Iris Xe graphics.

Specifications

ACER TravelMate P614-52	As tested
Processor (clock)	Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPU	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Display	14” IPS Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 aspect ratio
Memory	8GB LPDDR4X 1TB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections	Intel WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 2x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 1x Type-A 1x HDMI 2.0 1x MicroSD card reader 1x 3.5mm AUX Jack
Battery	Lithium Ion battery with up to 20 hours of battery life (quoted) 65W Type-C power adapter
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
Miscellaneous	HD camera Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Far Field Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Windows Hello with Facial Recognition

Features

Of course, at over MYR 6,000 you need some selling points. This one is a business specific laptop, which also means security is everything. Leaks at your work is not an option.

Windows 11 Pro

The Pro variants of Windows has always been the just a little bit better than the Home variants. There is no difference in terms of the user interface. Everything should be familiar to a Windows 11 home user, or even Windows 10 users.

Windows 11 Pro is designed with security in mind. On the Pro edition, you can set passwords on your drives with BitLocker. BitLocker also allows you to lock your PC remotely until you can recover it or forever, jus to make sure that your data is safe even when your device is not.

Windows Hello Security

Yes, all Windows PC comes with Windows Hello function. But that does not mean that every PC does what the TravelMate P6 does with Windows Hello.

Most Windows PC must settle with Window Hello Pin. The TravelMate P6 boasts facial recognition with IR blaster that allows you to use it in lower light condition too. You can use the fingerprint sensor if you want to, or if you choose to cover you webcam with the physical webcam cover.

There is also an added advantage to having an IR blaster right next to your webcam. Your PC knows if you are in front of the laptop or not. That way, the PC locks the moment you move away from the laptop to keep prying eyes from all your important documents. Once you come back, the TravelMate P6 unlocks in no time and you are back at it.

Simple Keys

Backlit keyboard is sort of expected. While it is a normal thing for modern laptops, it is still something highly appreciated, especially indoors and in low-light conditions. On the Travelmate P6, the backlighting is a soft backlight glow that does not attack your eyes.

In certain situations, we find the keyboard backlighting dim. The good thing is that we would have to turn the display’s brightness down a notch to match the backlit keyboard. That way you strain your eyes less.

There is an issue though. You cannot adjust the brightness of your keyboard backlight; it is either on, or off. The backlight also turns off on its own after about 30 seconds. We would appreciate some adjustments on the backlighting.

Acer has been really stepping up in their keyboard game, especially ones on their productivity laptops. The chiclet style backlit keyboard should be quite a familiar one if you have worked with Acer laptops before. You get pretty much the same layout with the power button still integrated into the layout on the Function rows. The power button now doubles as the fingerprint sensor but is not backlit. You can hardly mistake its position though.

While we have been complaining about this sort of layout, Acer sort of solved it by offering a power button that feels completely different than other keys. To hit your power button and get your Travelmate P6 going, it must be a deliberate press. It also prevents accidental turn offs.

The keyboard itself feels good, despite its limited travel. The bottom out feels rather solid but not harsh. They are not mushy either, just the right amount of tactility, bounce, and feedback. You can type long emails without getting too fatigued. The size of the keyboard is quite perfect for various hand sizes to get comfortable with.

Full I/O Ports

The slim form factor means that the Travelmate P6 is lighter and more portable than regular laptops. Its 14-inch display is just the right size that it is easily pocket able while remaining productive use cases. Its thickness is also perfect to work with when it comes to a full-sized USB Type-A and HDMI port.

Of course, the Travelmate P6 comes with two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 capabilities. That means you can connect with more than one monitor. This time, the Acer Travelmate P6 charges via either USB Type-C ports by default. There are no proprietary ports here, which also means that your bundled charger can also be used to charge all your USB Type-C devices.

On the other side is a MicroSD slot and a 3.5mm combo jack. While we appreciate a form of memory card reader, we think that a fully sized SD card slot would have been a better deal. Still, MicroSD cards are more accessible now, so it may not be such a bad thing.

WiFi 6 Connectivity

WiFi 6 is not technically an exclusive feature on the Acer TravelMate P6. It is technically a standard feature of all modern computing devices you see today. But it is worth talking about.

The current WiFi standard is still relevant. Many homes are still working with regular WiFi technology. Once you go on WiFi 6 though, you might not be able to downgrade.

We have a 500Mbps internet connection at home with our service provider’s default WiFi 6 router. In all our tests, we could constantly hit speeds well above 300Mbps. While the quality of the router does play a big role in the internet speed the signal can carry, the graph from Speedtest tells us that connection is rather stable, even at lower signal strengths, and that is important in work from home situations.

Performance – Intel’s 11^th Generation Core + Iris Xe Power

No, it does not have Intel’s Arc GPU to work with. It has Intel Iris Xe, one of Intel’s newer GPU implementations for mobile computing. This came before Intel’s new Arc GPUs, and there are currently not Arc GPU for the mobile platform just yet, be patient.

Multitasking & Productivity

While the Iris Xe is an integrated GPU, it is a proven platform for most productivity situations. It is even capable of light video editing work. Intel quotes 4K video editing capabilities, it is possible, but you need some patience. You are better off rendering your videos with older gaming laptops once you are done with your edits on the TravelMate P6.

If you are not hard pressed on working with videos with the Travelmate P6, it works well. The one we have here is Intel’s 11^th generation Core i7 processor. It is not the same one you will find in gaming or the latest laptops, but it is still potent. The only thing we think that might be holding back the Travelmate P6’s potential is its limited RAM at 8GB.

While 8GB of RAM is enough for Windows 11 Pro to work with, we think that it is at the edge of what is acceptable in terms of multitasking. The laptop does tend to struggle a little when we try to have too many tabs open at once on Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. We think that at its selling price, the Acer Travelmate P6 deserves a larger RAM as well with the option to expand.

In that sense though, you should not be left wanting too much more from the laptop. The Travelmate P6 is made for mostly Word processing, PowerPoints, emails, and viewing Excel sheets. In those functions, the device will cope well with no struggles.

Entertainment

It does most of the entertainment stuff well enough too. The display only does 1080p Full HD. Netflix and Prime Video app should work smoothly and have no trouble making use of the full 1080p resolution of the display with the provided hardware. If you have a 4K display, you can easily take advantage of that via the USB Type-C or HDMI ports and Netflix and app projecting at 4K resolution.

Battery Life

One of the biggest plus points of this Acer Travelmate P6 is its long battery life. In our typical use, with about 10 tabs open across Microsoft Edge and Firefox, three Microsoft Word documents open, and music streaming, the Travelmate P6 manages more than 12 hours of combined continuous use without charging. We did not wait for the battery to completely drain, but if we leave the laptop charged throughout the evening, we did not have to be break out our charger the next day.

Display and Audio

Like we mentioned that you get a 14-inch Full HD display. It is a 16:10 aspect ratio display, which is an aspect ratio we can fully get on board with. The aspect ratio is also why you can get a 14-inch display in a body that is no larger than a traditional 13-inch laptop.

We think that Full HD is adequate on a 14-inch laptop made for work. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel will not look any better on a higher resolution display. At the same time, a higher resolution display might mean that everything from your desktop icons to quick launch menu be even smaller than they are necessary, making navigation a pain.

For entertainment, the IPS display is not the most colour accurate display you can find on a laptop. It does not need to be though. Colours are vibrant enough for movies and videos to look good and immersive. You will not be wanting to do full colour grading work with the monitor, but at least you get a good and enjoyable colour range to entertain yourself with.

In terms of Audio, the Travelmate P6 comes packing DTS audio tuning. You still don’t want to expect big sounds from the tiny speakers from the laptop though. It is acceptable, the audio. The quality may not be the best. This laptop does not feature a subwoofer too, which means you get a rather tiny bass response from it.

For video calls, it works rather well. If you are not sitting in a crowded environment, the speakers are rather excellent. There are far-field mics as well on the laptop to ensure that it picks up your voice just as it sounds. While you are not getting the best video quality from the webcam, your audio, probably the most important thing in a video call, is clear.

The Acer Travelmate P6 – Not Perfect, But Quite Fitting

At MYR 6,680, the Acer Travelmate P6 is not what you would call budget friendly; it is an expensive laptop. For the same money, you can set yourself up with a mid-range gaming laptop. For less money, you can get yourself a high-end thin-and-light PC, albeit without Windows 11 Pro.

The extra money you pay to get this over other thin-and-light laptops buys you more security. It buys you a well thought fingerprint sensor and power button combo. It also buys you a webcam and IR blaster that does Windows Hello and cleverly locks your PC when you move away for a quick toilet break. You get convenience with a microSD slot, fully sized USB Type-A, and HDMI ports. That money also gets you a long-lasting battery life like no other. You can get to the office, work without charging your laptop, go home, and work some more before getting your charger out to ready the laptop for the next day.

You want to remember that this laptop is made to do work, to be worked on. It fulfils those duties reliably and more. In those regards, your MYR 6,680 is not necessarily spent on things you can measure. Your hard-earned money, or company’s money is spent on a reliable hardware that you can count on when it comes to getting your work done.

Business, Contributed, Editorial

Continuing the Pace of Government Innovation in a Post-Pandemic World

October 11, 2022 Eric Conrad Leave a comment

The unprecedented disruption the world faced during the past two years forced governments to rewrite the rulebook on how they serve their citizens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public sector organizations across Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) had to act quickly to find digital solutions to everyday challenges to keep citizens safe and productive. Enabled by cloud technology, digitized government agencies became better equipped to offer citizen, educational, and healthcare services, which helped improve and even save lives.

As we emerge from the crisis, the experience, momentum, and lessons learned have heightened potential for leaders to drive digitization as a priority to deliver their national agendas. Public sector organizations across APJ are pivoting from the pandemic and looking ahead to how digital transformation enabled by cloud can help to seize opportunities to deliver faster, more innovative, and modernized citizen services.

Scaling Digitization for Public Sector Organizations

According to a Gartner survey in 2021, digitally advanced government organizations realize more benefits of modernization, including higher efficiency, cost reductions, greater workforce productivity, compliance, and transparency. Research by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Economics shows that AWS customers in ASEAN – across commercial and public sectors – who migrated to AWS are seeing an acceleration in innovation, with an approximate 29% reduction in time-to-market for new features and applications, about 41% increase in employee efficiency, and an improvement of about 37% in operational resiliency through less downtime of services.

laptop technology ipad tablet — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In the last year, AWS has signed six government cloud services agreements across APJ to boost digitization, supporting these governments with our network of local partners as they move their customers and themselves to the cloud, including Malaysia, and Thailand in ASEAN. These initiatives help governments save lives, provide critical citizen services, and support learner outcomes – ultimately changing the way society engages, educates, and does business for good. They also enable opportunities for local businesses on the AWS Partner Network to work closely with public sector customers to solve some of the biggest community challenges.

Enabling Security, Resilience, and Continuity through the Cloud

Aside from accelerating the speed and scale of digitization, leveraging the cloud also ensures security, resilience, and continuity. This creates a safe and reliable environment for students to learn, employees to work remotely, and citizens to access government services and healthcare.

In Indonesia, when the Bali Provincial Government launched its Smart Island initiative to transform the Indonesian island into a digital province, the Communication, Information, and Statistics Agency of Bali (Diskominfos) migrated its data to AWS cloud from an on-premises infrastructure. Launching an attendance system using machine learning technology, it enabled 19,820 public service employees to sign in to the office virtually, saving almost 69% in monthly costs for its attendance system. Many of Bali’s other critical applications are also built using AWS solutions, including a traditional village census system, a health facility oxygen monitoring system, and an asset management system.

close up photo of mining rig — Photo by panumas nikhomkhai on Pexels.com

By digitally transforming on the cloud, the public sector can rapidly scale services to meet spikes in demand, wind-down operations to reduce costs, and innovate widely using the latest cloud technology.

More Digital Skills Needed to Support Digitization

As the digitization momentum accelerates, governments across APJ will also need to prioritize digital skills training for their workforce in order to unlock the cloud’s full potential. The recent “Building Skills for the Changing Workforce” report produced by AWS and AlphaBeta shows that Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea will need to train an estimated 86 million more workers in digital skills collectively over the next year to keep pace with technological advancements – equivalent to 14% of their current total workforce. The report also noted that three of the five most demanded digital skills by 2025 will be cloud-related.

In Thailand, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is collaborating with AWS to train more than 1,200 public sector employees with cloud skills, so they can implement cloud technologies at scale, make better data-driven business decisions, and innovate new services to drive improved outcomes for citizens. In Indonesia, its Information and Communication Technology Training and Development Center (BPPTIK Kominfo) worked with AWS to get its employees up to speed on cloud knowledge, in support of Indonesia’s goal of creating a pool of about 9 million digital professionals by 2030 as part of its national digital information agenda. And in Malaysia, AWS has worked to provide cloud training for the Malaysian Administration Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) to help accelerate their cloud use and fulfil mission-critical needs. This is in addition to the training of over 3.5 million users across Asia Pacific since 2018.

crop unrecognizable audio engineer working on console and using laptop — Photo by Dayvison de Oliveira Silva on Pexels.com

Looking ahead, we will need to move beyond business as usual to close the skills gap and create conditions for successful digitization. Governments, educators, and industries across APJ will need to collaborate more closely than ever to give all individuals the opportunity to build and deepen their digital skills that will support digitization momentum now and in the future.

Closer Collaboration Needed to Unlock the Potential of APJ

As societies and communities across APJ continue to evolve, organizations of all kinds – from governments to industries to non-profits – will need to come together to solve some of the biggest issues we are facing, from helping marginalized communities to addressing climate change.

This is why AWS launched Cloud Innovation Centers (CIC), to serve as a platform for public and private sector organizations to collaborate, solve challenges, and test new ideas with AWS’s technology expertise. In Singapore, AWS is partnering with East Coast Town Council and Accenture on a six-month pilot to deploy cloud-powered sustainability solutions in municipal estate management, to support Singapore’s move towards its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2040.

We encourage collaborations between governments, industry, and cloud services providers to enable long-term scaling of digital programs. The momentum has been established, so let’s continue to ride the wave and work together to keep digitization at the forefront of the region’s push for progress as we pivot from pandemic to prosperity.

Business, Contributed, Editorial

Edge Automation: Seven Industry Use Cases & Examples

September 20, 2022 Red Hat Leave a comment

Put simply, edge computing is computing that takes place at or near the physical location of either the user or the source of the data being processed, such as a device or sensor.

By placing computing services closer to these locations, users benefit from faster, more reliable services and organizations benefit from the flexibility and agility of the open hybrid cloud.

Challenges in Edge Computing

With the proliferation of devices and services at edge sites, however, there is an increasing amount to manage outside the sphere of traditional operations. Platforms are being extended well beyond the data- centre, devices are multiplying and spreading across vast areas, and on-demand applications and services are running in significantly different and distant locations.

woman in yellow long sleeve shirt looking at computer data — Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.com

This evolving IT landscape is posing new challenges for organizations, including:

Ensuring they have the skills to address evolving edge infrastructure requirements.
Building capabilities that can react with minimal human interaction in a more secure and trusted way.
Effectively scaling at the edge with an ever-increasing number of devices and endpoints to consider.

Of course, while there are difficult challenges to overcome, many of them can be mitigated with edge automation.

Benefits of Edge Automation

Automating operations at the edge can reduce much of the complexity that comes from extending hybrid cloud infrastructure so you are better able to take advantage of the benefits edge computing provides.

Edge automation can help your organization:

Increase scalability by applying configurations more consistently across your infrastructure and managing edge devices more efficiently.
Boost agility by adapting to changing customer demands and using edge resources only as needed.
Focus on remote operational security and safety by running updates, patches and required maintenance automatically without sending a technician to the site.
Reduce downtime by simplifying network management and reducing the chance of human error.
Improve efficiency by increasing performance with automated analysis, monitoring and alerting.

7 Examples of Edge Automation

Here are some industry-specific use cases and examples demonstrating edge automation’s value.

1. Transportation industry

By automating complex manual device configuration processes, transportation companies can efficiently deploy software and application updates to trains, aeroplanes and other moving vehicles with significantly less human intervention. This can save time and help eliminate manual configuration errors, freeing teams to work on more strategic, innovative and valuable projects.

beige and red train — Photo by Paul IJsendoorn on Pexels.com

Compared to a manual approach, automating device installation and management is generally safer and more reliable.

2. Retail

Establishing a new retail store and getting its digital services online can be complex, involving configuration management of networked devices, configuration auditing and setting up computing resources across the retail facility. And once a store is set up and open to the public, the IT focus shifts from speed and scale to consistency and reliability.

Edge automation gives retail stores the ability to stand up and maintain new devices more quickly and consistently while reducing manual configuration and update errors.

3. Industry 4.0

From oil and gas refineries to smart factories to supply chains, Industry 4.0 is seeing the integration of technologies such as the internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, analytics and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) into industrial production facilities and across operations.

One example of the value of edge automation in Industry 4.0 can be found on the manufacturing floor. There, supported by visualization algorithms, edge automation can help detect defects in manufactured components on the assembly line. It can also help improve the safety of factory operations by identifying and alerting hazardous conditions or unpermitted actions.

4. Telecommunications, media and entertainment

The advantages edge automation can provide to service providers are numerous and include clear improvements to customer experience.

For example, edge automation can turn the data edge devices produce into valuable insights that can be used to improve customer experience, such as automatically resolving connectivity issues.

antique broken cell phone communication — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The delivery of new services can also be streamlined with edge automation. Service providers can send a device to a customer’s home or office that they can simply plug in and run, without the need for a technician on site. Automating service delivery not only improves the customer experience, it creates a more efficient network maintenance process, with the potential of reducing costs.

5. Financial services and insurance

Customers are demanding more personalized financial services and tools that can be accessed from virtually anywhere, including from customers’ mobile devices.

For example, if a bank launches a self-service tool to help their customers find the right offering — such as a new insurance package, a mortgage, or a credit card — edge automation can help that bank scale the new service while also automatically meeting strict industry security standards without impacting the customer experience.

Edge automation can help provide the speed and access that customers want, with the reliability and scalability that financial service providers need.

6. Smart cities

To improve services while increasing efficiency, many municipalities are incorporating edge technologies such as IoT and AI/ML to monitor and respond to issues affecting public safety, citizen satisfaction and environmental sustainability.

Early smart city projects were constrained by the technology of the time, but the rollout of 5G networks (and new communications technologies still to come) not only increase data speeds but also makes it possible to connect more devices. To scale capabilities more effectively, smart cities need to automate edge operations, including data collection, processing, monitoring and alerting.

7. Healthcare

Healthcare has long since started to move away from hospitals toward remote care treatment options such as outpatient centres, clinics and freestanding emergency rooms, and technologies have evolved and proliferated to support these new environments. Clinical decision-making can also be improved and personalized based on patient data generated from wearables and a variety of other medical devices.

people woman sitting technology — Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

Using automation, edge computing and analytics, clinicians can efficiently convert this flood of new data into valuable insights to help improve patient outcomes while delivering both financial and operational value.

Red Hat Edge

Modern compute platforms powered by Red Hat Edge can help organizations extend their open hybrid cloud to the edge. Red Hat Edge represents Red Hat’s collective drive to integrate edge computing across the open hybrid cloud. Red Hat’s large and growing ecosystem of partners and open methodologies give organizations the flexibility they need to build platforms that can respond to rapidly changing market conditions and create differentiated offerings.

Computers, Editorial, Lifestyle, Video

[Video] Daily Driving a Chromebook – Is It Even Possible?

Video August 29, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Choosing a computer for your personal home use or even work is tough decision. You can save yourself a hassle and get an Apple MacBook. You could also go for value and get a Windows PC. But there is another option, a third option. You can buy a Chromebook.

The Chrome OS is a unique ecosystem by Google themselves that sort of bridges the differences between a smartphone interface against the PC interface. The approach to the interface is rather simplistic as well, straightforward enough that it can be familiar to any users within a few minutes of use. The best part about the Chromebook is that it will be the least costly option among the the ecosystems you choose from.

Thing is, can you really live with a Chromebook? What are its limitations? What can we do with it? Is it worth the money? Most importantly, can it be your main daily driver? We also have a comprehensive editorial series on living with a Chromebook. Check it out here.

Editorial, News

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Rumour Round-Up

August 8, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

With Samsung’s next Unpacked event around the corner, it’s time we looked at the rumours surrounding one of the devices we’re expecting to see – the Galaxy Z Fold 4. We rounded up the rumours surrounding the Flip 4 earlier this week, you can catch up on that here.

Unlike the Flip 4, there aren’t too many rumours surrounding the Z Fold 4. However, the first thing that has surfaced is a possible renaming of the lineup. It looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is getting a rename. Samsung will be streamlining the names and dropping the “Z”. So, moving forward, the Z Fold 4 will simply be the Galaxy Fold 4. While not official just yet, we hope it’s true. Dropping the “Z” simplifies the lineups and gives them both independent identities.
Update (8/8/2022): A new leak shows that Samsung is likely keeping the Galaxy Z moniker.

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock – A Story of Incremental Improvements

Samsung seems to be opting for a new tick-tock strategy when it comes to its smartphones. This year, we saw the Galaxy S and Galaxy A series retain nearly identical designs to their predecessors. That seems to be the case with the Galaxy Fold 4. Leaked renders from @evleaks and @Onleaks show the familiar design we saw with the Fold 3.

Fold 3 vs Fold 4 display aspect ratio 1024x615 jpg — Source: Twitter (@UniverseIce)

That said, there are minor changes in the sizes of the smartphone that have been rumoured. Of note, it looks like the Galaxy Fold4 will be sporting a different aspect ratio compared to the Fold 3. Up front, on the cover display, the Fold 4 is rumoured to get a slightly wider and shorter panel with a 23:9 aspect ratio. Inside, the main display will be sporting a 6:5 aspect ratio. That said, it looks like the sizes of displays aren’t changing. The Fold 4 will continue to sport a 6.2-inch HD+ AMOLED display on the cover and a 7.6-inch main QXGA+ AMOLED display. Both are rumoured to retain the 120Hz refresh rate. It will come in a tad smaller with its dimensions at 155 x 130 x 7.1mm.

Powerpacked Internals

The Galaxy Fold4 is also tipped to continue being a full-on flagship. It will be coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. It looks like this is being complemented with 12GB RAM and up to 512GB of internal. Doesn’t look like the Fold 4 will support memory expansion via a microSD card. There are rumours that the phone may also have an option with 1TB of internal storage. However, there has been no corroboration so far – so we’d take this particular rumour with a grain of salt.

pic.twitter.com/1kku5CAQdU
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 13, 2022

Source: Twitter (@evleaks)

The phone is also tipped to be incorporating a slot for the S-Pen. However, the renders that have surfaced show otherwise. That said, Samsung upped production of S Pens back in April 2022 which could point to it being included in the box with a Fold 4.

It looks like Samsung may be upping the ante when it comes to the fingerprint scanner on the foldable. If the rumours check out, the Fold 4 will be coming with an under-display fingerprint sensor. But this won’t be a normal one, instead, it’s rumoured that the fingerprint sensor will be two-sided. That is to say that one side will be under the cover display and the other under the same place on the main display. However, from the leaked renders, Samsung may have decided against this.

Better Cameras, Same Battery

Together with the updated specifications of the Z Fold 4, it looks like Samsung is finally giving the foldable good cameras. It’s expected that the camera setup for the Z Fold 4 will continue to be a triple camera array. However, it’s getting a bump in the main sensor with a 50-megapixel main sensor. This will continue to be complemented byh a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor. The latter is getting a bump from 2x to 3x this year. The underdisplay shooter is expected to make a return on the inner screen. It’s rumoured that this will be a 16-megapixel sensor. The cover display, on the other hand, is getting a 10-megapixel one.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 leaked render 4 jpg

Together with better cameras, the Z Fold 4 is also getting better protection with the rumoured inclusion of Gorilla Glass Victus+. However, when it comes to battery, it seems like we may bee gettingthe same 4,400mAh battery we saw last year. It also looks like the Fold 4 will be giving Samsung’s 45W charging a pass and sticking to the standard 25W charging.

Pricing & Availability

We’re expecting the prices of foldables to get more affordable this year. This could very well be spearheaded by the price point of the Z Fold 4 if rumours are true. Last year, the Fold 3 came in at USD$1,799 a USD$200 price drop from the previous year. This trend may just continue this year especially with rumours pointing to a price drop on b othe the Fold and the Flip.

Source: 91mobiles.com
Source: 91mobiles.com
Source: 91mobiles.com

Samsung has already been offering a an MYR200 voucher if you tune in to their website if you pre-register for a pre-order. The money can be used to redeem a discount on your purchase of their foldable smartphone. Since, this is the case, we expect that pre-orders will begin in select regions immediately after the Unpacked announcement. Given previous announcements and pre-orders, we’re comfortable assuming that Malaysia will be among the first regions to have pre-orders available. We’re expecting availability on the last week of August 2022.

Editorial, Gaming

Diablo Immortal’s Microtransactions Could Affect Diablo IV’s Success

July 4, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Diablo Immortal hasn’t been receiving the best post-launch coverage in the media. This comes as players have begun playing beyond the game’s story and into its open-world gameplay. Like Diablo III, the game brings a whole lot of additional content after its story including competitive modes, treasure hunting and more. However, it seems like Activision Blizzard has chosen to use gamers’ enthusiasm for the franchise as a means to rake in the money through microtransactions.

It’s not the first time that Blizzard has tried to take on microtransactions. In fact, the company had one of the biggest faux pas with their failed auction house in Diablo III. But that isn’t holding them back from giving it another go. This time, their attempt has them being the center of a renewed conversation about microtransactions and pay-to-win. In fact, even before it was available, it has already run afoul of gambling legislation in the Netherlands and Belgium. The list of countries in that list might grow as the conversation was already started when EA made a similar attempt a few years ago.

The Diablo Immortal Controversy – Diablo says “Gacha”

While there is nothing new about games and microtransactions, Activision Blizzard’s take on it in their first mobile Diablo game, Diablo Immortal, has fans saying that the company is Diablo incarnate. From reviews and forums, fans are claiming that these microtransactions have severely broken the gameplay in the game; at times making it unplayable particularly when it comes to PvP (Player v. Player)

DIMLaunch Rift Combat 04 — Source: Activision Blizzard

So, like all Diablo games, Diablo Immortal does have a story. Apparently, the story stays true to Diablo’s roots. It builds on the story between the events of Diablo II and Diablo III. However, as players progress beyond the current story, gameplay takes a severe turn for the worst.

Instakill by Paying

Like Diablo III, players are able to take on other players to test their character build and game prowess in PvP battle. However, Blizzard has made this portion of the game severely unbalanced as it focuses on a gacha mechanic. While players don’t pay for loot or equipment, they do pay for “gems”. These gems then give them boosts to their equipment. It’s these boosts that make the game so broken. In some online game plays, seasoned Diablo players – who have not paid for these gems – are instakilled when meeting players who are paying. The severe imbalance in the mechanic has made the game unplayable for players who aren’t paying.

Pay Exorbitantly and be Rewarded

It’s not that players are against developers monetizing their work. It’s Blizzard’s implementation of the mechanic in Diablo Immortal. In Diablo Immortal, there are five gems which players can pay to roll. For each gem, players can roll a version of it with up to five stars. Free to play players can do this by completing an Elder Rift. Each run of an Elder Rift will reward players with a Legendary gem. However, if you are less willing to wait you can “enhance” these rifts with a payment of up to USD$25 (MYR110.33).

The Legendary Gems make Diablo Immortal totally Pay2Win Heres jpg — Diablo Immortal’s Lootboxes. Source: latestgamestories.com

The drop rates of higher rated Legendary gems are estimated at about 1%. That said, the rate at which players are actually seeing higher tier gems are appalling. This is because players can actually pay good money to roll and re-roll gems with a slightly higher chance to get them. At the time of writing, there have been multiple estimates that place the cost of specc’ing out a single character at USD$100,000 (MYR441,303.30). This estimate excludes the cost of rolling and getting 5-star gems for each “awakened” legendary gem. Each awakened gem has five smaller gems for you to roll as well.

Still Raking in the Moolah

As much as the community has been up in arms, it doesn’t seem to have affected Activision Blizzard’s bottomline. The company has reported earned a whopping USD$24 million in the two weeks since its launch with over 5 million downloads of the game itself. It’s worth noting that the initial launch of the game has been delayed in the Asia Pacific region, including Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. It will only be making its debut on July 8. So, there may be more whales waiting to jump on the Diablo Immortal gacha machine. However, the initial success of the microtransaction laden game, may have bigger implications moving forward.

Diablo IV Could Receive the Brunt of the Retaliation

The severe imbalance of game play and Activision Blizzard’s attempt to cash-grab on a free-to-play version hasn’t affected the company’s bottom-line. However, it could spell an uphill battle for the upcoming Diablo IV. While the game is one of the more anticipated titles in the near future, the controversy surrounding Diablo Immortal has all but eclipsed the release date announcement at the Bethesda-XBox showcase. If you missed it, Diablo IV is set to release sometime in 2023.

With the conversation surrounding the franchise being about the broken gacha mechanic of Diablo ~~Immoral~~ Immortal, excitement about Lilith and the upcoming game has been damped. Instead, long time players and fans are more concerned about the microtransactions that will plague the new game. Developers behind the upcoming title has tried to distance the two games in a Twitter reply after its release reveal.

😀

D4 is coming out as a full price game built strictly for PC/console audiences. The game is huge & there will be tons of content after launch for all players. Paid content is built around optional cosmetic items & eventually full expansions. We will be sharing more info soon!
— Adam Fletcher (@PezRadar) June 12, 2022

The fact of the matter is, even with a small group of players airing their woes, Diablo IV has more to lose. With the immense coverage the issue has gotten on news sites, YouTube and Twitch, the issue is becoming top of mind when it comes to Diablo as a whole. This could result in less people purchasing the game at launch or at all. Diablo, as a franchise, is running the risk of not getting new players and losing casual ones.

Losing Momentum Early

Why is this bad? Well, casual players usually play the game to experience the story-telling that the franchise has become so popular for. They also play a part in driving the interest in the post game game-play. Hardcore fans will buy the game regardless of the press. However, they are a small fraction of the bigger picture. Activision Blizzard may cause casual players to be completely alienated by their cash grabbing in Diablo Immortal.

D4 TreasureBeast — Source: Activision Blizzard

As die-hard fans will undoubtedly get the game at launch, the game is depending on casual gamers to thrive after the initial boom. Casual fans are the ones that will buy the game months after its launch as the hype dies down. This continued sales is what Activision Blizzard has to lose. However, if they continue to bank of gacha mechanics and microtransactions driving their revenue, they will be dealing with another failure on their hands. Just like Star Wars: Battlefront II, players – even hardcore ones – will not continue to back a company that doesn’t respect them. As a Diablo fan, this one hopes that they realise before it’s too late.

Diablo Immortal in Asia – An Opportunity to Make Good

It’s not too late for Activision Blizzard. With their upcoming launch of Diablo Immortal in Asia, they have a golden opportunity to make things right. While they claim that the delay to July 8 was to commission resources for better game-play, we can’t but wonder whether they expected the initial backlash from “western” audiences.

That aside, the company does have the chance to alter their implementation of the gacha mechanic universally to ensure the longevity of Diablo Immortal and the franchise itself. Unlike Genshin Impact, it doesn’t have that “kawaii” factor to draw in new players as it continues to fumble. Of course, this may hurt early adopters, but if Diablo is worth anything to them, they should look to the future of the franchise.

They will also need to shift the conversation to Diablo IV sooner rather than later. Making things right will help with doing that. With the initial burst of outrage or praise, player sentiment will undoubted swing in the Diablo IV’s favour. In fact, it could shift the tone for the company altogether. Something it desperately needs overall.

Business, Computers, Editorial, Lifestyle, Mobile

[Editorial] Daily Driving the Chromebook Part 4 – It Can Be Done, at a Cost

June 27, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The past few weeks with the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 have been quite a journey. We got it at quite an opportune time as well. We got to be one of the first few people that managed to try Steam on Chrome OS. The experience, if you read our editorial last week, left quite a lot to be desired, to be fair. There was an inherent scaling issue, which would be quite expected since getting games to run on the Chromebook’s native resolution is problematic at the best of times.

This is the last part of the editorial series though, which we will sort of wrap-up the entire series. We will be summarizing our experience with the Chrome OS in the past four weeks with a video too, so do look out for that. But yes, all three parts of the editorial has been leading up to this – an answer to the question; “can the Chrome OS be a viable daily driver?”

There is no one simple answer to this question though. Choosing an operating system to work with is never a straightforward process. There is a lot to consider when you want to invest in a computing solution for your own personal use. You often must decide on a budget, you want to think about the main function of the device as well.

The More Budget Conscious Option

Sure, compared to a Mac, any PC option looks like a budget option. When it comes to the world of the Chromebook though, its starting price is usually much lower than what you can expect even compared to a regular Windows PC. That makes the Chromebook, by default, the most budget friendly computing solution option.

A Chrome OS may not look as versatile as a Windows PC or a Macbook. You cannot expect it to game given its specs. Beyond that, it browses the internet just like your regular PC does. It processes through all your documents and even play music like any Macbook does too. It is a as versatile in most use cases as a MacBook or a PC at a fraction of the cost.

The requirements of Chrome OS are low in most cases too. You do not need an ultra-powerful set-up to get Chrome OS running nicely and smoothly. You can work with the most basic of specifications and still have a nicely functioning Chromebook with no fuss. You can still sort of play mobile games on it too, if you so wish to. That is why a basic Chromebook can be made so cheaply and is highly popular for young learners in school.

Versatile Worker

You can work with Microsoft’s full 365 suite with Google Chrome browser. While some may see that as an inconvenience and downgrade, the web-based suite is closer in function and look to the full Windows/Mac version than what you get on the mobile version of the apps.

Microsoft’s 365 suite is not the only web app that works well for Chrome OS though. Tidal and Spotify works better on Chrome browser than their mobile app counterpart too in this case. The Chromebook is not meant to just run web-based apps though, it is also built so that the Android apps can also run on it.

In that sense, while there are plenty of Android apps that will not run on top of Chrome OS, many does as well. Adobe’s Lightroom for Mobile can work on the Chromebook, for example. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even Sony’s Headphones app can run on the Chrome OS. For apps like Sony’s Headphones app, you get a full suite of control on whatever Sony audio device that connects to the Chromebook just like you do on your smartphone.

You technically can even run mobile games on the Chromebook to a certain degree of success. Just remember that these games are designed with touch screen in mind, so you do want to use the touch screen functions that are in most Chromebooks for mobile gaming. Because the display is so expansive as well, you get to see everything down to their tiny details.

Because it is also effectively an Android tablet, many of the tablet applications can be scaled to the sizeable displays that Chromebooks usually come in. If you have a router that needs to be accessed with an app, for example, you can rely on a Chromebook and work on your router via the mobile app without going through too much of a hassle.

Not Really a Gaming Machine

Steam en Chrome OS — Source: Steam Addicts

Sadly, while there has been many rumours and hype surrounding Chromebook and gaming, there has not been any solid solutions for it. Steam is now on Alpha access for select Chromebook devices. That means that not everybody on Chrome OS gets access to Steam. We are lucky enough to have secured a unit that can support the Alpha version of Steam (Volteer).

The gaming experience, if you have read our previous editorial, is choppy at best. Sure, some games like Undertale should not take too much to run well. The scaling issue is something that is quite off-putting though.

The scaling issue does not just stop at Undertale too. It continues in titles like This War of Mine in our case. There is no denying that there is some potential to gaming on the Crhomebook, but for now it is just that, a potential.

The other option is to play mobile based games from Google’s Play Store. You can technically download games like Pokémon Unite and PUBG Mobile. We’ve only managed to play Pokémon Unite a few times with no issues. Most of the time the game failed to launch or just crashes halfway through matchmaking. PUBG Mobile should be quite an experience on the larger display. Unfortunately, the game will also assume that you are playing on an emulator and will only pair you with other players with emulators, so you technically will not get to play ever.

More like an Entertainment Powerhouse

The unit we have is a versatile worker with a display that is also the envy of PCs at its price range. While the display’s aspect ratio is a little odd, it is still a brilliant display. If not, you still get plenty of Chromebook devices with at least 1080p Full HD display which would be more than sufficient.

With at least 1080p Full HD resolution, you get to enjoy plenty of Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and even Amazon Prime Video. The Chromebook is prove that you do not need a high-end PC or TV to be entertained really, you have access to all of those contents and even more via the Chrome browser itself. You are technically doing the same thing with your regular PCs and Macbooks in this situation.

While the speakers are usually not great, you can easily get yourself decent Bluetooth speakers for not a lot of money. If you prefer an uninterrupted personal audio experience, there is the option of going for wired headphones or even Bluetooth headphones at that.

It Does Everything – So Why Not?

So, back to the question we first posed in the first part of our editorial; can the Chromebook be a proper workhorse? Can it be used as a reliable work device for the professionals? Can you call upon the Chromebook to be your trusted corporate device?

We want to say yes to all the questions we posed but take it with a pinch of salt. You cannot expect it to become your entertainment rig to game with. You cannot expect it to also be a workhorse that edits your videos too. You cannot have most of the apps and programs that you can get on Windows PCs and Macs.

But you can expect it to be reliable. You can expect it to work through the night with a single charge. You can expect the Chromebook to still work well outside of your workplace as long as you keep it charged.

Business, Editorial

Enabling Global Expansion Through An Agile & Adaptable Payment System

June 20, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

This article was written from a sit-down interview withYuval Ziv, President of Nuvei Corporation.

The world we know is ever-changing. With the advent of digital technologies and rapidly adapting legislation, it’s become even more challenging for businesses to grow across borders. Where it once was a matter of having an international website, it’s now a question of localisation and adaptation. This reality rings true even when handling international payments and transactions. However, companies like Nuvei provide a unique proposition of a single, modular interface to manage most, if not all, of the challenges of digitalisation when it comes to payments.

Paypal, VISA, iPay88, Stripe and even Apple Pay are some of the world’s most popular payment methods right now. However, when it comes to accepting these payment methods for businesses, it can be a long, tedious process. What’s more, there is also the added complication of regulatory compliance and knowing the lay of the land.

These hurdles don’t just delay global rollout and expansion. They, can, at times, be the factors that cause businesses and companies to lose momentum. In other words, they can be the straws that break the camel’s back. That said, a business’s aspirations should never be limited by uphill battles. Collaboration and onboarding of the right solutions will always be at the heart of any foolproof strategy. However, too many partners can also create more problems.

A Single Turnkey for Most Hurdles

The need for a single turnkey solution is more than just apparent; it’s imperative. That’s where Nuvei has chosen to develop its single API which brings together everything businesses need when it comes to payment solutions. The API is continually being developed by their in-house team of developers as the company continues to grow even through acquisitions.

In fact, Nuvei has most recently acquired Paymentez, Mazooma and Simplex. These acquisitions expand the reach and scope of services offered by Nuvei. The added features and services that they bring will be integrated seamlessly into the existing Nuvei API. Businesses that have deployed the API will then get an update which will give them access to these new markets and services. The company’s internal development team allows them to have the agility needed to bring new products to market as well as the freedom to adapt near instantaneously. What’s more, its core platform remains unchanged and flexible throughout.

close up photo of a man holding cellphone and a card — Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

It is this agile and adaptable approach that makes a viable single turnkey solution. With a continually evolving marketplace and changing legislative environment, partners need to be able to help alleviate some of the burdens of business without becoming a burden themselves.

Payments are just the beginning

Let’s just face the hard truth, dealing with payments across markets can be a headache. Aside from legislative and technological hurdles, the biggest choice a company can make is which payment platform they choose to support. This reality changes from country to country and perhaps even from region to region within a country. There is no single answer that can accurately predict the proliferation of a payment gateway or service.

That said, a business partner which can provide you with these insights would be invaluable. A business partner that can provide you with insights, as well as access to all the possible payment platforms, is pivotal. Nuvei is poised to be able to do this with access to numerous payment gateways as well as provide you with the insights needed to grow your business effectively. Of course, we’re talking about payment platforms here.

Take for instance, in Malaysia, we have Touch ‘N Go Wallet, Boost, GrabPay and ShopeePay. Each of these platforms is able to not only process digital payments but also bring a large number of potential customers. Choosing between them, if you really need to, could be the difference between success and failure. Without looking at any insights, you think that accepting TnG’s eWallet would be a safer bet when it comes to payment methods. However, factors such as time in the market as well as adoption could be different. In this case, both GrabPay and TnG’s eWallet are front runners perception-wise. That said, we can never 100% that the other methods may not be greater than what’s reported. Getting a dashboard where this information is available would allow businesses to make informed decisions.

Yuval Ziv President Nuvei — Source: Nuvei

“Every market, every user has their payment method… if we enable a merchant to collect or accept payments by only the minority or some of the payment methods, you will cause a merchant to lose users.”

Yuval Ziv, President at Nuvei Corporation

Nuvei’s platform not only allows businesses to see these vital insights but also gives them the freedom to adopt and choose between the payment methods available in the country and region. The flexibility and freedom for businesses to not only accept but also implement their preferred service through a single helps them grow on their terms with access to impactful insights.

Dealing with More than Just Implementation But Remaining Flexible

Today’s marketplace is no longer simply about market access or payments either. It’s about growing while mitigating risks and adapting to new realities as they emerge. Conventional solutions tend to always lock businesses into a single, inflexible mode of operations but it goes without saying, that a one-trick pony can be detrimental when it comes to business growth. In addition, streamlining allows business cost reductions that can be channelled elsewhere.

“The first challenge working globally… is understanding the user’s preferences and then enabling all of those payment methods in our checkout experience.”

Yuval Ziv, President at Nuvei Corporation

If that is true for general business practices, what more for payment solutions. Businesses are flung into a landscape where they will need to keep tabs on regulatory changes as will undoubtedly affect them. If the business has services rooted in the gig economy, it has the added complication of pay-outs.

These complex day-to-day activities can’t be avoided even if we try to. Businesses require visibility and peace of mind when they happen. Nuvei doesn’t just provide businesses with access to payment methods, its single, modular API brings along payment orchestration. Using this, merchants and businesses are able to integrate payments received and pay-outs into a single platform where they have eyes on everything. The platform is also able to generate unified reports that will allow businesses to get a complete picture of their business health.

black samsung tablet computer — Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com

In addition to this, Nuvei is constantly updating its business insights and practices. They have teams that are constantly monitoring markets for updates in legislation and impactful insights. The company not only updates their API with these new developments but also reacts to ensure that its client’s businesses remain unaffected. In fact, they also act to help mitigate and manage risk when changes happen and also when required by the client.

Peace of Mind in an Ever-evolving Landscape

There’s nothing better than having peace of mind when it comes to a business’s day-to-day activities. That’s essentially what Nuvei is promising with their Payment platform. However, the company has its eyes on the future as they continue to grow. With the emergence of digital banking and open banking worldwide as well as the continued influence of cryptocurrencies and the blockchain, the company is committed to ensuring that its platform remains one of the most flexible and robust.

Their platform already supports payments via cryptocurrencies and supports clients in the NFT space. In fact, the company sees the emergence of cryptocurrencies and the blockchain as opportunities. Implementation of blockchain and tokenization to increase the security of the platform could be in its future. However, for now, the company remains committed to providing a turnkey solution for customers when it comes to payment management, acceptance and orchestration.

Computers, Editorial, Gaming, Lifestyle

[Editorial] Daily Driving the Chromebook Part 3: The Entertainment Powerhouse

May 27, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The last round of this editorial series we explored the working capabilities of the Chromebook. We also compared it a little bit to Android tablets to find that the Chrome OS is plenty robust as a tablet as well. There are some workarounds that we must get to while working with the Chrome OS remotely and even at home. But all is good, we are happy with it so far and it looks like we can live with it at work.

There is an area where the Chrome OS lost out to both Apple’s MacOS and Microsoft’s Windows though. That area is gaming with the Chromebook. There is also a good reason we skipped entire weeks of the series. Steam has gone Alpha for Chrome OS. The bad news there is that not every Chromebook can support it. The good news is that the one we have, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, can. So, we went on to try it out.

Android Games on Chrome OS

Before we get to Steam, we do want to explore the native gaming capabilities of Chrome OS. There is no better way to do it other than through the Google Play Store, obviously. To be fair, while we did want to try the likes of PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends Bang Bang, we only managed to download and install Pokémon Unite.

At first it is a little odd, seeing a mobile game in a display that is many times the size of your smartphone. Playing it on a tablet is already a stretch, full screen on a laptop display is a whole other level. In this case we have a great 13.5-inch IPS display with a little over 2K resolutions on tap.

The game looks vibrant and beautiful on the display with so many colours on offer. You can see that the game is not really meant to be on such a large display though with some pixels popping up. Still, the game is rather pretty on the laptop.

The game is also made optimised for touch screens though, which also means you are also going to be using the touch screen control like you would on smartphones or tablets. Except, this thing weighs quite a lot more than a tablet, which also makes it a little unwieldy to play handheld. We put it on a table and turned it to a sort of tent, and off we go.

Playing Android games on the Chrome OS is not perfect though. Most of the time, games developed for smartphones are optimised for a smartphone or tablet’s SoC. In this case, because the main hardware is a little different, the experience can be different. While Pokémon Unite works smoothly, and can be enjoyable for short periods of time, other games may not launch or might not even run properly. We ran into a problem trying to launch Pokémon Unite the first few times we tried running it. The issue resolved itself somehow and we got solid sessions out of it.

Steam on Chrome OS? Really?

Steam on Chrome OS is something that has been dreamt of for a while now. Ever since Chrome OS gotten mainstream, many have asked the question on whether Chrome OS can even be a proper gaming machine. Most of them packs good enough hardware to at least run non-triple AAA titles, so why not?

The problem was, Steam was never available on Chrome OS before. Steam can run on most Linux interfaces though, with some tweaks. Even the upcoming Steam Deck is running on a version of Linux operating system. So why not on Chrome OS?

The problem is more complex than it looks. You technically can port Steam to Chrome OS. You can also try running Windows games on the Chrome OS. But you are going to have to compromise on the experience.

Before Steam was officially on Chrome OS (as we said, it is now on Alpha), the only workaround we saw to proper gaming with Steam on Chrome OS is to work with Steam Link. In that sense, you can technically play your PlayStation games on the Chrome OS with PlayStation’s Remote Play too. If not, the other alternative is cloud gaming, which we did not bother with. We did not try the PlayStation Remote Play too.

We tried Steam Link with the Chrome OS though. We figured out how to hook up our PlayStation DualShock 4 controller to the Chromebook via Bluetooth. We installed Steam Link from Google Play Store and we started gaming.

First, Steam Link

As mentioned, Steam Link is like PlayStation Remote Play. You need to have a Steam account, a gaming PC with Steam running, the Steam Link app from Google Play Store, a good and stable internet connection, a game controller, and you are good to go. In the case of the Chromebook, you can even use your keyboard as the game input, if you so want.

If you have used Steam Link on your Android smartphone, the experience on the Chrome OS is pretty much similar, albeit with a larger display available. Technically as well, with the Acer Chromebook 713, you get more resolutions to work with. Of course, the sort of resolution you get really depends on your host PC as well. In our case we successfully tested Need for Speed at 1440p resolution.

There is a noticeable black bar, just because of the aspect ratio difference between the host PC and the Chromebook. It does not take away too much from the immersion or the gaming experience from the Chrome OS though. If you have a stable LAN connection on both devices, gaming on the Chromebook feels as natural as gaming on a proper gaming PC. In this case, you can easily pull up titles like GTA V, or Horizon Zero Dawn, use your Chromebook’s keyboard, attach a mouse device and play your games like they should be played.

Then, We Tried Steam

Steam is technically still in its Alpha build for Chrome OS. To install Steam on Chrome OS takes a little bit of tinkering on Chrome OS’s settings itself. It required us to turn set the firmware settings to Developer Mode, which also means while you are getting the latest build of Chrome OS, there is a chance that it may be a little unstable.

With a guide, the process is not too difficult as well, should be easy and quick enough to follow even for beginners. Still, you still want to be cautious to ensure you do not brick your device. As with anything that is experimental and in their Alpha builds, you want to take some caution.

Once you get into the installation window though, the installation process feels and looks pretty much like you get on a regular PC. Even the Steam interface is exactly what you get on a PC, so you should be quite familiar with it. Of course, the difference is that you must start thinking about how much games you can install in the smaller storage space that the Chromebook has. In this case as well, we did not bother installing games like GTA V, because while the Chromebook might be able to run the game with little issues, you might not get a very good experience out of it. We stuck to Two Point Hospital, Undertale, and This War of Mine.

Two Point Hospital launched, but it took a rather long time to do so. It also froze in the loading screen before it even gets to the main menu. After a while, it just crashed together with Steam.

Then we tried Undertale which launched quickly. We could not get the window to resize or get it to post full screen to take advantage of the vast display of the Chromebook 713. The miniscule window means that we might not be able to enjoy the game very much, so we quit.

This Was of Mine took a little longer to launch than Undertale. It works in the most part, but it did not offer very high FPS count. Graphics look good though, but because we tried to put the game to full screen, it got confused a little and the windowing messed up and we could not accurately click anything to play the game. It was bad, but there is potential to make the device enjoyable.

The Other Stuff

Apart from gaming, the display is good for other stuff too. You can easily enjoy a good movie from Netflix or Amazon Prime Video if you so want to. You have the resolution, might as well put it to good use somewhere. At the same time, because they use clear glass on the display, colours pop and look rather vibrant.

To be fair, it does not really matter what Chromebook you get, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even Disney+ apps will easily work on them. If you prefer the web experience, just pop open Google Chrome and get to the said portals and you are good to go. The limitations are mostly on the hardware end, so it really depends on which Chromebook you got.

For the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, while the display is gorgeous, the speaker experience is not the best. The dual speakers sound very tiny and unimpressive at all. We had to connect our Bluetooth speakers to it just to get a decent sound performance. That, or we resorted to using headphones. Since it is so similar to Android, you can even connect your wireless headphones and work with the accompanying smartphone app with it. The Sony headphones app is a good example of that.

So, is Chrome OS a Valid Gaming Platform Now?

While Steam Link ran nicely on the Google Chromebook, Steam itself is still a little choppy. Certain games might not launch at your first try. Some games will refuse to launch at all until you restart your Chromebook. Some of them launches, but never got anywhere past the loading screen. Their FPS count was rather low too when they launch (except for Undertale). In short, there is still a lot to do for the Chrome OS to be a gaming contender.

More on Part 4

We have covered the working and gaming aspects of the Chrome OS. So far, while we question the gaming aspect of it, we are sold with using the Chrome OS as an entertainment platform, especially when it comes to streaming contents. 4K contents, while a little over the top, shines on the display of this Chromebook. Yes, the speakers are not great, but that is a simple fix.

We are quite sold with it being our primary remote working platform too. If you have read our part 2 of the editorial series, you would find that there are plenty of features on Chrome OS that could benefit a remote working environment. Phone Hub, while is not the most comprehensive phone companion app on a computing device, works well enough that it is currently, in our books anyway, the best Android companion app you can find today. The simplicity in its approach is also key to why we like it so much.

In the next part of the editorial, we are wrapping up our entire month of experience with the Chromebook and the Chrome OS. We will tell you if the Chrome OS is worth a daily drive or not, in our books anyway. We will also break down things we like about the Chrome OS and things we do not like so much with the platform.

In this case, stay tuned, maybe you might want to consider getting a Chromebook after this too. After all, it is the cheaper alternative compared to most Windows laptops packing the same hardware. In the meantime, let us know what you think about PC gaming on Chrome OS.

Computers, Editorial, Reviews, Writer's Choice

ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED (UX5400E) In-Depth Review – Eye Candy and Productivity with a Steep Learning Curve

May 13, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

It’s not every day that we see something new and interesting when it comes to laptops. We’re so used to seeing the mundane clamshell form factor with new insides, displays and ports. However, ASUS has been on a roll lately with a slew of laptops that bring fun, new features as well as new hardware that is truly revolutionary. Over the past year, they’ve been adamant about equipping their laptops with OLED displays which are certified for their colour accuracy.

With their Zenbook Duo lineup, they’ve brought an interesting approach to multiscreen productivity. But what happens when you take multiscreen productivity and fit it into a space once exclusively reserved for the trackpad? You get the hallmark feature of the ZenBook 14X’s hallmark feature: the Screen Pad. Does this new approach make sense? Is productivity enhanced or deterred by the feature and is it here to stay?

We’re looking to answer those questions and also the most pertinent one when it comes to any piece of tech, “Is it worth my money?”, in our in-depth review of the ZenBook 14X OLED.

Design

The ZenBook 14X OLED has its origins in the ZenBook’s early days as a flagship. It’s equipped with a machined aluminium body with a brushed finish and made of premium build materials; like any other ZenBook. However, the thing that makes the laptop stand out is the sheer sleekness and miniature form of the laptop overall. ASUS has made the ZenBook 14X OLED one of the smallest and sleekest laptops in its lineup. However, its minute stature isn’t where the story ends.

When it boils down to it, the ZenBook 14X OLED distinguishes itself with its brushed aluminium top. However, it doesn’t give in to the incessant need to be thin as paper. Instead, it’s thicker and more substantial than its predecessor and competition. Coming in at just under 17mm, the laptop strides the line of being just thin enough and being thick and chunky in this day and age. That said, the added thickness and sturdy build materials provide the top lid with added stability and rigidity. This also prevents the display from flexing which can be detrimental to the laptop.

That said, the ZenBook isn’t only sturdy, but it’s also well designed. ASUS has made sure that while the ZenBook 14X OLED is slim and light, it’s also well equipped for working on the go. It comes with a good range of ports – which we will elaborate on later in the review. That said, these ports don’t break the overall aesthetic of the laptop. Instead, ASUS has made them flush seamlessly into the aluminium chassis. The thickest point of the laptop is also used to house the largest ports: USB-A and HDMI ports.

The small body of the laptop doesn’t hinder ASUS from equipping the laptop with a tactile keyboard that emblazons the entirety of the main body. It’s only complemented by the chamfered dip which adds to the aesthetic of the laptop. That same aesthetic dip also highlights a change in materials as the top plate of the keyboard and ScreenPad isn’t made with the same aluminium. Instead, it feels a little more like plastic. That said, the plate is still encased within the aluminium frame.

Hardware

The ZenBook 14X OLED isn’t just about the aesthetics, it’s built for productivity. To achieve this, ASUS has packed the laptop with rather commendable insides which allow the ZenBook to stride the fine line between battery life and performance.

Specifications

ASUS ZENBOOK 14 \| UX5400E	As tested
Processor (clock)	Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPU	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450
Display	14” OLED 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution 16:10 aspect ratio Touch Panel anti-glare screen 550nits brightness
Memory	16GB LPDDR4X 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 x2 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections	Intel WiFi 6 with Gig+ performance (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 2 Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1 Standard HDMI 2.0 1 MicroSD card reader 1 Audio Combo Jack
Battery	63Wh lithium-polymer battery Up to 8.3 hours of battery life 100W Type-C power adapter (Output: 20V DC, 100W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal)
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous	HD camera ScreenPad Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Durability

Features

The mainstay of the ASUS ZenBook OLED 14X is undoubtedly going to be its ScreenPad. However, it’s not the only feature that comes with the laptop. It comes with a slew of software and hardware features that make this laptop a real contender if you’re in the market for a new one.

Almost everything you want for connectivity

ASUS has proven time and time again that compact, thin laptops need not be handicapped when it comes to connectivity. The Zenbook 14X OLED comes with all the connectivity options that you need – well – unless you’re looking to take over the internet. It comes with two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a single high-speed USB 3.2 Type A port, an HDMI 4.0 port, a combo audio jack and even a micro USB card slot. With these essential ports, you’re pretty much covered when it comes to plugging in. That said, you also charge with USB-C ports, so, if you’re charging the laptop, you’ll have one less USB-C port. The only physical port missing is an ethernet port but you have WiFi 6 connectivity with a high enough throughput that you can even do online gaming.

Since we’re already on the topic, the Zenbook 14X does come with all the bells and whistles when it comes to wireless connectivity on laptops. Aside from WiFi 6, it also comes with Bluetooth 5.0. So you’ll be able to stream and connect to your wireless keyboard, mouse or even headphones without much hassle.

ASUS ScreenPad

ASUS’s novel ScreenPad is definitely a unique feature of their Zenbook series. It brings a whole new level of productivity. You’re presented with an additional screen from the get-go when you purchase it and given the norm of having more than one screen nowadays, it’s a welcomed addition to a laptop purchase.

The ScreenPad brings an additional 1080p screen albeit a little smaller than we’re used to. It allows you to use apps on the track pad which makes so much sense especially if you’re working with a mouse. The extra screen real estate allows you to use the calculator more naturally, refer to a website or document or even control your media while keeping productive. ASUS has also integrated their multiscreen setup with Link to MyASUS more deeply. A lot of the functionality that we’ve come to expect from the Link to MyASUS app is now natively integrated into ScreenPad with the Screen Xpert software. You can get prompts for messages and phone calls on the ScreenPad while you work and even use the ScreenPad to mirror your smartphone.

While all that is fine and dandy, the ScreenPad comes with a steep learning curve. It brings a layer of complexity to functions that many people expect to “just work” on Windows. One of the most irritating issues that we faced during our time with the Zenbook 14X OLED was the fact that the ScreenPad added an additional screen when it came to projecting displays. This was due to Windows recognising it as a display but it not showing on the display setup in Windows’ settings menu. To make things work as you would expect, we had to put the ScreenPad into trackpad mode which turned off the screen functionality.

In addition to this, you also need to get used to a new set of gestures that allow you to use the ScreenPad more effectively. The most essential is a three-finger swipe that will allow quickly toggle the track pad function. However, this toggle is only temporary – a fact we found out in the most annoying way. Due to the track pad function being temporary, we would be toggling apps unintentionally. This became an irritating occurrence particularly when we were trying to get urgent work done.

While it does seem like a deal-breaker, we have to keep in mind that the Zenbook is one of the only laptops with the ScreenPad. This also means that we have a little bit of learning when it comes to the novel features of the laptop. After using the laptop for a week, the gestures and extended functionality became second nature.

That said, when it came to working on the go, we found ourselves turning the ScreenPad off all together. This was due to the fact that having it on while on battery had a significant impact on battery life. We noticed about 20-30% less battery life with it on. That equated to about 4-5 hours of battery but without it, we got about 8 hours.

AI Powered Clear Voice, Quick Sign In with Windows Hello & Linking Up

Hardware aside, ASUS has also bolstered the laptop with a whole bunch of AI enhancements. One of our favourites is the ClearVoice mic. With ASUS’s ClearVoice, the integrated microphones can intelligently suppress background noise and detect and enhances the speaker’s voice. So, you won’t be cut off by a passing vehicle or even a crying baby when you’re taking your video call. Given the work from anywhere reality that is quickly becoming mainstream, this is definitely a welcomed feature. In fact, during our review time with the laptop, the feature was so good that people didn’t realise that we took a call from a café as the background noise was so minimal.

The Zenbook 14X OLED also comes with an integrated fingerprint sensor in its power button. This has to be one of the most welcomed features on the laptop. With the integration, the laptop seamlessly powers on and signs in with one click. This is bolstered by the SSD in the Zenbook 14X OLED. It boots and is ready for use in a matter of seconds.

Of course, with the Zenbook 14X, you get multiple options when it comes to keeping connected with your smartphone. You have Windows Phone Link (previously Your Phone) and Link to MyASUS. The latter provides even more functionality in our opinion. The Link to MyASUS app not only integrates seamlessly with the ScreenPad, but it also allows you to use tablets and large phones as an external display. This allows you the flexibility of being able to have multiple screens on the go. The wireless connection does have a little lag when it comes to interactions but if you’re simply using it to refer to documents or even to play media while working, you won’t even notice it.

PERFORMANCE

ASUS’s commitment to creating powerful, versatile, thin and light laptops shines through in the Zenbook 14X OLED. The laptop doesn’t perform like your typical thin and light. The thought that ASUS put into the design and feel of the laptop allows it to be one of the most sturdy and powerful small form factor laptops out there. While it’s no gaming laptop, it’s able to handle nearly workloads we don’t typically expect from a thin and light.

During our review period with the Zenbook 14 OLED, we were editing video and even doing some light gaming on the laptop without much hassle. When it came to editing video, we had source footage at 1080p resolution. The edit had about 3 layers with subtitles and effects and it was exported to a 1080p video for YouTube. While it did send the fans into overdrive, the laptop was able to handle it without overheating. In fact, aside from a longer export time, it was very seamless.

Gaming on the Zenbook 14 OLED is best left for proper gaming laptops. It goes without saying that AAA titles really taxed the processor and the NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU of the laptop. However, if you’re playing games like City Skylines or even Star Craft 2, the Zenbook 14 can definitely handle the load. You may not be able to play on maxed out settings, but you will definitely have a good experience playing it.

Other than those taxing activities, the Zenbook 14 OLED was able to handle everything else. Word processing and even large Excel files were a breeze for the laptop. Even if there was some slowdown, it was only with active tasks. Once those were over, the laptop performance was seamless and back to being smooth as butter. It could even handle Firefox and Chrome with multiple tabs open at the same time. It didn’t slow down but it did get a little warm which kicked the fans into overdrive.

Battery life on the laptop is typical of one as small and power packed as the Zenbook 14 OLED. It lasted about 8 hours on a single charge without the ScreenPad on. However, when the ScreenPad was turned on, this generally dropped to about 4-5 hours. This is partially due to the extra power drawn by the ScreenPad’s screen. That said, the high resolution and luminance of the main display are also factors. However, if you’re running low on charge you’ll be able to use a USB PD compatible charger to get the charge up to about 50% in forty minutes. The Zenboook picks about its chargers, more often than not, it will ask that you plug it into its original charger, however, GaN (Gallium Nitride) chargers with about 85W capacity seems to work as well – keep in mind, that the original charger in the box is rated at 100W.

Display

The focus that ASUS has on bringing colour accurate OLED displays is really apparent in the Zenbook 14 OLED. This is partially because of the contrast between the screen quality of the main display and the ScreenPad’s IPS panel. However, the differences were mainly apparent when it came to viewing content and content creation.

The main display produced vibrant and saturated colours. While being saturated and vibrant, they were also relatively accurate colour reproductions. The accuracy was spot on and allowed us to colour grade video and photos when we were using the laptop on the go. The high resolution also gave us more visual real-estate when it came to doing programs like Adobe Illustrator. That said, the effect of this was relatively minute considering the 14-inch size of the display.

While 14-inches may seem like a very small screen, it actually strikes a balance when it comes to size and productivity. It feels close to what we can consider a goldilocks zone for compact laptops. It’s just enough real estate that you have enough detail and clarity while keeping the size of the laptop portable.

The ability to use touch to navigate brought an added simplicity to interacting with the PC. The touch input allowed us to scroll through websites in what felt like a more natural way and also interact directly with links and the like. It also complemented the ScreenPad as you didn’t need to have it in trackpad mode to get things done.

Taking Multitasking to a Whole New Level with a Steep Learning Curve to Boot

The Zenbook 14 OLED is a machine built for multitasking and for productivity. It excels at being a machine for productivity and creativity. It’s one that allows you the freedom of multitasking in a way that makes sense to you while having a beautiful screen and a complementary ecosystem with Screen Xpert 2 and Link to MyASUS. All in all, it’s a machine that dedicates most of its resources to enabling its users to be creative, productive and even let loose with some light gaming.

Design

Hardware

Specifications

Features

Windows 11 Pro

Windows Hello Security

Simple Keys

Full I/O Ports

WiFi 6 Connectivity

Performance – Intel’s 11th Generation Core + Iris Xe Power

Multitasking & Productivity

Entertainment

Battery Life

Display and Audio

The Acer Travelmate P6 – Not Perfect, But Quite Fitting

Scaling Digitization for Public Sector Organizations

Enabling Security, Resilience, and Continuity through the Cloud

More Digital Skills Needed to Support Digitization

Closer Collaboration Needed to Unlock the Potential of APJ

Challenges in Edge Computing

Benefits of Edge Automation

7 Examples of Edge Automation

1. Transportation industry

2. Retail

3. Industry 4.0

4. Telecommunications, media and entertainment

5. Financial services and insurance

6. Smart cities

7. Healthcare

Red Hat Edge

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock – A Story of Incremental Improvements

Powerpacked Internals

Better Cameras, Same Battery

Pricing & Availability

The Diablo Immortal Controversy – Diablo says “Gacha”

Instakill by Paying

Pay Exorbitantly and be Rewarded

Still Raking in the Moolah

Diablo IV Could Receive the Brunt of the Retaliation

Losing Momentum Early

Diablo Immortal in Asia – An Opportunity to Make Good

The More Budget Conscious Option

Versatile Worker

Not Really a Gaming Machine

More like an Entertainment Powerhouse

It Does Everything – So Why Not?

A Single Turnkey for Most Hurdles

Payments are just the beginning

Dealing with More than Just Implementation But Remaining Flexible

Peace of Mind in an Ever-evolving Landscape

Android Games on Chrome OS

Steam on Chrome OS? Really?

First, Steam Link

Then, We Tried Steam

The Other Stuff

So, is Chrome OS a Valid Gaming Platform Now?

More on Part 4

Design

Hardware

Specifications

Features

Almost everything you want for connectivity

ASUS ScreenPad

AI Powered Clear Voice, Quick Sign In with Windows Hello & Linking Up

PERFORMANCE

Display

Taking Multitasking to a Whole New Level with a Steep Learning Curve to Boot

Tech Your Way

Performance – Intel’s 11^th Generation Core + Iris Xe Power