Category Archives: News

Android, Mobile, News

OPPO Steps Closer to Stock Android With Global ColorOS 12

Leave a comment

OPPO’s ColorOS has always been about customisability and self-expression. The company’s latest iteration: ColorOS 12 is no different but it does take a load off when it comes to OPPO’s visual customizations of the Android OS. OPPO said that the company’s decision to jump from ColorOS8 to 11 to match Android’s version number is a literal alignment of the OS with Android.

ColorOS is maturing as an OS. With ColorOS 12, the company is fine-tuning its approach to be able to adapt to multiple languages and layouts better than ever before. OPPO says the main theme of ColorOS this time around is “Inclusivity” and that changes made to the OS this round were mainly focused on catering to their 440 million users across 68 countries.

OPPO ColorOS 12
Source: OPPO

The biggest difference you will see in the approach is a reduction in OPPO apps and the use of many stock Android apps. The company has decided to reduce redundancy in its offerings by using Android’s built-in phone and messaging app and integrating more of Android’s built-in features for the new take on ColorOS. The company has “decoupled” the experience to allow users access to their own apps via an optional download from their app store.

Back to Basics with a Focus on Customization & Usability

However, that doesn’t mean that OPPO is leaving its own features to the wayside. Their approach to the design of the new iteration of ColorOS builds on their Infinite Design concept which carries forward from 11. Visually, the OS looks cleaner with more modern icons. On the backend, OPPO has optimised the OS to use a fraction of the resources it used before. ColorOS 12 sees a reduction of 30% of memory usage and 20% battery consumption – making it the most efficient ColorOS to date.

The efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of personalization. In fact, the latest iteration of ColorOS may be the most customizable yet. OPPO has enhanced customisation with more themes, icons and fonts in its theming engine. In addition, the company has also been working on optimising the OS further to be more intuitive and easier to use.

ColorOS 12 is focusing on the essentials. Instead of focusing on gimmicky features, OPPO has been working on enhancing more usable features like PC connect, FlexDrop and Phone Manager which allow users to have a more seamless experience across multiple devices. OPPO’s approach to providing a more seamless experience between phone and PC brings features like drag and drop, screen mirroring and even seamless file transfer between PC and phone. PC Connect only works with Windows for now.

OPPO is also focusing on device security. The company’s new OS brings Android’s privacy and security features front and centre. The OS makes features like Privacy Dashboard more accessible and comes with a better-optimised experience when to Approximate Location Sharing and Microphone and Camera Indicators. The company is also enhancing the security of their OS with in-house features such as private system, private safe, and app lock.

Open to Developers

OPPO is also committing to be open when it comes to the development of ColorOS. The company is making its camera SDKs openly available to developers moving forward. These SDKs will make some of the company’s best camera features such as Ultra Steady Video Shooting, HDR, and Super Wide-Angle available to developers.

OPPO Update
Source: OPPO

Timely Update Schedule

OPPO is committing to updating its devices consistently moving forward. This applies to devices released from 2019 onwards. Their flagship Find X series will be getting three major Android updates. The mid-range Reno, F- and higher-end A-series devices will be getting two major updates. Lower end devices will be getting a single Android update. According to the company, the single update is due to the lower memory specifications of lower-end A-Series models.

In addition to major updates, OPPO’s Find X series will also be getting four years of security updates. The Reno, F-, and A-series will be updated for three years.

Mobile, News

Nokia G50 5G Goes Live in the U.S.

Leave a comment

HMD has been pretty busy with new devices for their Nokia portfolio. Hot off their announcement of their first Android-powered tablet, the company is releasing another entry into their affordable smartphone lineup – the Nokia G50 5G. The new smartphone brings 5G connectivity to the sub USD$300 price point.

nokia G50 DTC ANDROID11 desktop
Source: HMD Global

The new addition to Nokia’s lineup brings a Snapdragon 480 5G processor paired with an Adreno 619 graphics processor. The processors are complemented with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. You can add on more memory with a microSD card. On the display side of things, it comes with a 6.82-inch IPS LCD panel with an HD+ resolution of 720×1560 pixels.

nokia G50 DTC CAMERA desktop
Source: HMD Global

On the camera side of things, the Nokia G50 5G comes with a triple sensor setup. The main sensor is a 48-megapixel sensor with a wide field of view and an aperture of f/1.8. It also has Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF). This is complemented by a 5-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the front is an 8-megapixel wide selfie camera. Both setups are able to shoot video in 1080p at 30 frames per second (fps).

When it comes to connectivity, the Nokia G50 comes with support for 4G LTE and 5G connectivity on both mmWave and Sub6 bands. It also supports WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/b/ac and WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and FM radio. It also has support for GPS with A-GPS, GALILEO and Beidu. HMD has also included a side-mounted fingerprint sensor in the G50. The G50 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. HMD continues to guarantee multiday battery life with its optimisations to Android.

Nokia G50 - A 5G future-proofed smartphone

The Nokia G50 continues HMD’s approach of bringing affordable smartphones with software support. The new smartphone is promised two years of OS upgrades and three years of monthly security updates. It will come with Android 11 pre-installed.

Pricing & Availability

The Nokia G50 is currently available in the US and other select countries with availability to increase in the coming months.

It’s available in Midnight Sun and Ocean Blue with pricing starting at USD$299 (MYR1,247.46).

Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

BenQ Launches the MOBIUZ Ultrawide – Everything a Gamer Needs in One MYR 4,688 Monitor!

Leave a comment

If you have been looking for a gaming monitor or even a secondary monitor for your gaming or work from home set up, BenQ will be one of those names that should come up quite often. This brand is one of the most recognisable names in the display market. They are known not only for their value offerings though. They also make very high-end displays that is regarded to be some of the best for the competitive gaming scene. Their Zowie series monitors have been a staple in Counter Strike: Global Offensive international stages, for example.

But some might say that the Zowie series has been built to cater to a niche market segment. In that sense, the Zowie is too purpose built for some. To be fair, it is marketed as such as well with its various technologies that gives its users an added advantage. What if competitive gaming is not what you are looking for. What if you are a casual gamer that enjoys the occasional competitive online gaming, but also enjoys the vast openness of single-player games like the Tomb Raider series? What if you are willing to trade some refresh rate performance for some added features that would save you the trouble of getting extra gear?

Welcome to the MOBIUZ series from BenQ. The BenQ MOBIUZ is really pretty much something made of dreams. The latest EX3415R especially, packs everything that a gamer wants in their AAA gaming PC.

c61790b4 2342 888a 3258 7226300ba3d3
Source: BenQ

If you cannot tell by its codename yet, the MOBIUZ EX3415R is a 34-inch display. It is also an ultra-wide monitor with 21:9 aspect ratio. It boasts 3,440 x 1,440 (WQHD) from its ultrawide panel. Of course, ultrawide also means it must be a little curved for your convenience. It has a pretty shallow 1900R curve, but it is enough for a good immersion for yourself.

At the same time, the IPS panel boasts 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. This is not just a gaming monitor anymore; it is a content creator’s dream set-up. It boasts HDR10 at 1000:1 contrast ratio and VESA DisplayHDR 400 at up to 400nits standards too, which also means that colour grading videos on the MOBIUZ EX3415R should be a piece of cake.

Of course, colour accuracy in a gaming monitor is really more of a bonus feature than its selling point. For a gaming monitor to be a gaming monitor you really want at least 120Hz in refresh rate. This has 144Hz.

You also want it to be a fast-reacting display for not just the best competitive advantage, but for the best immersion as well. The lower the numbers are here, the better. The BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R boasts 1ms MPRT and 2ms Gray-to-Gray response times. That also means that the display reacts almost instantly to any move you make on your joystick or mouse and keyboard. All of that, on top of a tear-free experience that is the AMD FreeSync technology.

e185d324 b713 b161 321f a04e1ba15800
Source: BenQ

For it to be an all-rounder, it now needs a powerful speaker set-up and be a USB hub. This does both of that too. It has two additional USB 3.0 ports so that you can plug in whatever USB devices to it. It also a BenQ treVolo set-up with dual 2W speakers with an additional 5W subwoofer for the widest possible dynamic range and sound staging from a monitor. In that sense, you do not need a headphone or additional speakers for the monitor.

The BenQ MOBIUZ EX3415R 34-inch ultrawide monitor with HDRi will be available for MYR 4,688. You can get your hands on one from their own official online store, Shopee, and Lazada. The eCommerce site quotes a shipping delay of 2-9 days after you order your unit though, so be patient. For this kind of money, you might be able to get yourself a decent TV. The gaming experience that you get from the MOBIUZ EX3415R is unlike any large 4K TVs though.

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

The ASUS ROG Phone 5s Series Soon to be Available in Malaysia for MYR 2,999 Onward!

Leave a comment

The ASUS ROG Phone 5s was launched in Taiwan just last month. Technically the device only became available in Taiwan very late last month on the 30th of September 2021. Then again, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate just landed in Malaysia not that long ago too.

Still, while the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate remains fresh, ASUS decided its time to launch their latest most powerful ASUS ROG Phone to date in Malaysia. If you have forgotten about the ASUS ROG Phone 5s, you get Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 888+ platform. Yes, it will be marginally more powerful than the ASUS ROG Phone 5 series.

  • Pre order ROG Phone 5s
    Source: ASUS Malaysia
  • ROG Phone 5s
    Source: ASUS Malaysia
  • ROG Phone 5s Accessories
    Source: ASUS Malaysia
  • ROG Phone 5s Pro
    Source: ASUS Malaysia

Other than the System on a Chip platform that differs from the ROG Phone 5s and ROG Phone 5, there is not much else that separates the two devices. They virtually look the same, and you might think that they might be the same devices put side-by-side. The ROG Phone 5s also comes one regular variant, and one Pro variant, very much like the older ROG Phone 5. There is no Ultimate variant for this though.

You can regard the 5s Pro as the replacement to the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate though. The Pro variant comes with an overkill 18GB of RAM space and 512GB of storage. That is alongside the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+. You also get the little customizable ROG Vision OLED display at the back of the device with the ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro.

VariantsRetail priceAvailabilityWarranty RemarkColour
SD888+/8GB Ram/128GB StorageRM2,999Oct-211 YearNot included: AeroActive cooler Phantom Black & Storm White
SD888+/16GB Ram/256GB StorageRM3,799Oct-211 YearNot included: AeroActive cooler Phantom Black & Storm White
Pro
SD888+/18GB Ram/512GB Storage		RM4,999Oct-211 YearIncluded: AeroActive cooler
ROG Vision: Coloured		Phantom Black
AccessoriesPriceAvailabilityWarranty
ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad
(for ROG Phone 5)		RM499Oct-213 Months
LIGHTING ARMOR CASE (ROG5)RM199Oct-213 Months
AeroActive Cooler 5RM149Oct-211 Year
ROG ClipRM149Oct-213 Months
ROG Phone 5 Screen ProtectorRM79Oct-21nil
ROG KUNAI 3 BUMPERRM69Oct-213 Months
ROG 1.8M USB-C TO C CABLERM59Oct-216 Months

The ROG Phone 5s series will be available in Malaysia from the 21st of October 2021 onward. The device will be available in two colours – Phantom Black and Storm White. The top-of-the-line Pro variant will be available only in one colour option though, the Phantom Black. You also only get the AeroActive cooler bundled with the Pro variant. The regular device starts at MYR 2,999 (8GB + 128GB). There is also a second option (16GB + 256GB) that retails at MYR 3,799. The range-topping Pro variant meanwhile will be sold for MYR 4,999. For more information on the ASUS ROG Phone 5s and its Pro variant, you can visit their website. Or, you can pre-order your ASUS ROG Phone 5s or ROG Phone 5s Pro now.

Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

Sony Launches the SRS-NS7, a Personal Dolby Atmos Experience

Leave a comment

What do you do when you want to have a personal audio experience at home? What if you think that soundbars are a little too much? What if you do not want to have a headphone weighing down your head? You have the Sony SRS-NS7 wearable wireless speaker.

The SRS-NS7 wearable speaker is a unique way of enjoying entertainment at home though. It is pretty much a sound bar you wear around your neck. With its wireless transmitter, you simply connect it to your TV or whatever media source you would like to experience with the SRS-NS7.

The WLA-NS7 wireless transmitter that comes with the SRS-NS7 does not only work with the speaker though. It also works with select headphones to achieve the same experience you would get from the SRS-NS7.

The SRS-NS7 is in a class of its own though paired to the WLA-NS7 and paired to Sony’s BRAVIA XR TVs. With Sony’s BRAVIA TVs, the SRS-NS7 can deliver Dolby Atmos experience to your ears from the neck. The combination of the Sony BRAVIA TV, wireless transmitter, and SRS-NS7 neck speaker you get access to Sony’s 360 Reality audio for some Spatial awareness, virtual surround sound if you haven’t understood yet. Of course, 360 Reality Audio also works with music form Deezer, and TIDAL when connected to your smartphone.

While it is not a headphone unit, the neck speaker unit allows you the immersive experience comparable to Sony’s soundbars without disturbing anyone else at home or filling the entire room with noise. The upward facing speaker is optimised to deliver rich immersive audio without the frills of disturbing your neighbours or even your loved ones in the other room.

  • SRS NS7 FrontWearing Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WLA NS7 Front Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WLA NS7 1000XM4 In situ Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WH 1000XM4 360SSP withLogo Mid
    Source: Sony
  • SRS NS7 Workfromhome Mid
    Source: Sony
  • SRS NS7 WearingComfort Mid
    Source: Sony
  • SRS NS7 WatchingTablet Mid
    Source: Sony
  • SRS NS7 Splashproof Mid
    Source: Sony

The wireless nature of the SRS-NS7 also allows you to enjoy immersive audio experience around the house without needing bulky and complex speaker set ups. At the same time, with IPX4 splash-proof design, you can take the Sony neck speakers anywhere around the house or out of it without worrying about water damage.

The Sony SRS-NS7 and WLA-NS7 in Malaysia January 2021 onward. The SRS-NS7 will be available for MYR 1,249. The WLA-NS7 wireless transmitter will be available at MYR 269. To know more about the Sony SRS-NS7 and WLA-NS7, you can check out Sony’s website.

Health, Lifestyle, News

Dual Screen, Wear OS-powered Mobvoi TicWatch Pro X Arrives in China

Leave a comment

Mobvoi has created a name for itself producing some of the better Wear OS-powered smartwatches out there. It looks like the company isn’t slowing down yet. It’s introduced it’s latest offering the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro X in China. The new smartwatch isn’t revolutionary but it packs specifications and features that many smartwatch users are looking for.

ticwatch x pro 4

The TicWatch Pro X is running on the Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. The smartwatch will be using Wear OS as its operating system. However, if you’re looking for Wear OS 3, you might have to wait for an update from Mobvoi.

That aside, the TicWatch Pro X seems to share a lot with the TicWatch 3 until you take a closer look. The Pro X may look like a run-of-the-mill smartwatch but it comes with what is essentially two displays. It has an AMOLED screen and also an FSTN display. The FSTN display allows the TicWatch Pro X to have an even longer battery life. The 1.39-inch AMOLED screen serves as the main display where you’ll be able interact with Wear OS and all its features. The FSTN screen will kick in when you’re not actively interacting showing you all the data you want without draining the battery.

ticwatch x pro

The watch comes with a 595maAh battery. In Smart mode, the watch will be able to run for 4 days on a single charge. However, if you kick it into “durable” mode, the watch will be able to last for a whopping 45-days.

Aside from that, the TicWatch Pro X is able to track over 20 sports routines. This includes yoga, walking, running, mountain climbing, cycling and more. It also comes with IP68 water and dust resistance which means you can take full advantage of its ability to track swimming as well. In addition, the Pro X comes with a heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor and even reminds you to get moving if you’re too sedentary.

ticwatch x pro 2

It comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity and also supports 4G LTE. It’s equipped with eSIM support, so you will also be able to take calls directly on the watch. The smartwatch also touts VoLTE support.

Pricing & Availability

The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro X is available for pre-order in China on JD.com (Jingdong) for ¥1,999 (MYR1,296.28). After pre-order, it will be priced at ¥2,399 (MYR1,555.32).

There is no word yet if the smartwatch will be available in more markets. However, do keep an eye on Shopee and Lazada.

Android, Mobile, News

HMD Enters Tablet Market with the Affordable Nokia T20

Leave a comment

HMD Global seems to be pushing more Nokia devices this year and even entering new spaces. The latest device to enter the Nokia portfolio is an Android-powered tablet – the Nokia T120. The tablet also marks the brand’s first entry into the tablet space since it was first relaunched. It’s also part of a resurgence in the Android tablet space which has been spearheaded by the likes of Lenovo, Samsung and Xiaomi.

nokia t20 hero

The Nokia T20 is a unique tablet. It comes with a UNISOC system on a chip. Never heard of them? Well, UNISOC is a Chinese semiconductor company. The specific SoC used is the UNISOC Tiger T610 which is an octa-core processor. It’s a 12nm chip with two high-performance Cortex A75 cores and six high-efficiency Cortex A55 cores clocked. The caveat, if you haven’t picked up on it just yet, is that the cores are relatively dated. The A75s were last used in Qualcomm’s 2017 flagship Snapdragon 845. However, that may be a boon to Nokia’s new tablet as it’s definitely a factor in keeping the price down.

The processor is complemented with either 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. If you need extra memory, there’s support for a microSD card. On the display side of things, the Nokia T20 comes with a 10.4-inch LCD with 2000×1200 pixel resolution and a 5:3 aspect ratio. It has “toughened glass” for protection. It supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 5.0. There is also a 4G LTE variant that supports 4G connectivity. On the camera front, it has a 5-megapixel selfie camera and an 8-megapixel main sensor. The Nokia T20 is powered by an 8,200mAh battery capable of 15W fast charging through a USB-C cable. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

  • Nokia T20 Landscape Side RHS
  • nokia t20 1
  • nokia t20 2
  • Nokia T20 Flipcover d001

The tablet itself will have an aluminium back which should give it some added durability. HMD is claiming that the battery will be able to last up to 15 hours on a single charge. The company has also committed to three years of security updates and 2 years of major Android updates for the tablet. The Nokia T20 will launch with Android 11.

Pricing & Availability

The Nokia T20 will be making its way to select markets starting on October 6, 2021. It will be priced at €UR199 (MYR961.49) for the Wi-Fi only version. The 4G LTE version will be priced at €UR239 (MYR1,154.78).

It will only be available in Nokia’s signature Ocean Blue colour.

Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Twitch Has Been Breached – Here’s What You Need to Know

1 Comment

Big tech and data breaches are becoming inseparable. We’ve been getting news of breach after breach since early this year. Nearly every tech space from Facebook to Neopets has been breached in the recent past. The latest platform added to that list is the popular streaming platform – Twitch.

Twitch’s data breach could be one of the largest to date. A whopping 125GB of data was uploaded to a (now removed) thread on 4Chan by an anonymous user. The data contained within the files date back to the early beginnings of Twitch. Everything from the platforms source code to their most recent Git commits has been uploaded. Together with this, payout information to the platform’s largest creators since 2019 have also been uploaded.

caspar camille rubin DrL cwqD6tM unsplash 1
Photo by Caspar Camille Rubin on Unsplash

In addition to this data, the leak also contains data on Twitch’s network backbone which runs on AWS. It apparently contains some proprietary SDKs (Software Development Kits) and also information on “Every other property that Twitch owns” including IGDB and CurseForge. It seems like an unannounced competitor to Steam called Vapor for Amazon Game Studios is also contained within the files. Basically, it seems like everything and anything related to Twitch is within the 125GB.

Some users who have been looking through the data have also found that encrypted passwords and user information. So, it goes without saying that you should change your Twitch password if you have an account and activate two-factor authentication. You can do this in the privacy settings on Twitch itself.

Screenshot 2021 10 06 at 17.43.13
Source: Ars Technica

The leaker made their motives crystal clear in their post. Noting, “Their community is also a disgusting toxic cesspool, so to foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space, we have completely pwned them.” The hackers also ended the post with #DoBetterTwitch. More worryingly, the 125GB of data was labelled as “part one” which indicates there could be more incoming.

It’s probably apt to mention that the leak comes in the wake of the #ADayOffTwitch protest by creators who are trying to get the platform to take hate raids more seriously. The platform has been plagued by users who have used the Raid and tags features to actively harass others. While Twitch has been trying to be proactive, the most it has done is provide streamers with tools to try to control raids and even sue perpetrators.

The breach has since been confirmed by Twitch itself on Twitter.

A cybersecurity firm, Acronis, has chimed in calling the breach “one of the most severe data breaches of late”. In fact, they say that there is, “a lot more damage now in store for Twitch”. Candid Wuest, Vice President of Cybersecurity Research at Acronis, also noted that “While [it is] yet unclear how the breach happened, it’s already harming Twitch on all the fronts that count – revenue, operations, users, influencers, market positioning.” He also noted that Twitch could be at greater risk as the availability of the source code will make it easier for malicious actors to attack the site. More importantly, the company is advising that users be wary and change their passwords as well as activate two-factor authentication on their accounts.

Candid Wuest Acronis
Candid Wuest, Vice President of Cybersecurity Research, Acronis

“Leaked data could contain nearly the full digital footprint of Twitch, making it one of the most severe data breaches of late. The 125 GB of data leaked so far might just be the start, according to the comments of the attacker. Internal network plans and marketing plans for future products could now be misused by attackers or sold to competitors. If the source code is exposed, we will see a spike in vulnerabilities discovered in related software. Having access to the source code makes it easy to find weak spots.“

Candid Wuest, Vice President of Cybersecurity Research, Acronis

Android, Gaming, News

Lenovo’s Secret Switch Competitor Breaks Covers

Leave a comment

Console gaming was given new life with the launch of the Nintendo Switch. Since then, it seems like the new normal for consoles is to walk the tightrope between being portable and being a full-fledged console. Only recently, we saw Valve announce a competitor to Nintendo’s most popular console with the Steam Deck. It seems like the Switch may have another competitor coming its way with the Lenovo “Legion Play”.

I know, I know – we don’t usually cover leaks here at techENT but this was too good to ignore.

We’re all familiar with Lenovo’s Legion brand. It’s the company’s lineup made for gamers. They have been releasing some of the best performing and looking laptops since their inception and, of course, the Legion Phone Duel lineup. It seems like they are looking to include hand-held consoles to their repertoire as well.

ezgif.com gif maker
Source: GBATemp.net

The Lenovo Legion Play was accidentally uncovered by users over at GBAtemp.net on Lenovo’s MWC 2021 website. That said, the Legion Play was never officially announced at MWC 2021 or Lenovo’s Tech World. Instead, the images that were discovered were pretty well hidden and their links lead to a blank page.

The Lenovo Legion Play seems to be an Android-powered handheld console. However, the write up indicates that this console may not support any physical media. Instead, it’s referred to as a “cloud-gaming console”. This could mean that Lenovo isn’t developing this alone. In fact, one of the renders features NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW front and centre. However, this clearly indicates that Lenovo is looking to take on the Steam Deck with cloud gaming.

lenovo legion play 03 780x322 2
lenovo legion play 04 780x90 1

While we don’t really know the full specs of the device, from what was stumbled upon, it looks like quite the machine. It comes with a 7-inch FHD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The display has HDR10 support and the Legion Play itself seems to have built-in controllers, dual speakers and dual vibration motors. It’s also powered by a 7,000mAh battery.

lenovo legion play 02 780x323 1
Source: Liliputing

From the renders, we can make out a D-pad, two analogue sticks, the A, B, X, Y buttons, and shoulder buttons. There may possibly be a few more buttons on the face of the console. The overall design looks really sleek – reminiscent of a PS Vita. Renders also show a custom interface atop Android. The interface seems to take a few cues from the Nintendo Switch. With games being front and centre while other apps take the backseat under them.

While we don’t really know much else, the Legion Play could have been a really interesting device to have in the market. It could also be priced more affordably than their Legion Phone Duel. However, we can’t be sure if the machine will ever see the light of day. Lenovo could choose to forgo launching the Legion Play indefinitely or we could see it launched in the next few months.

Gaming, News

Kingdom Hearts’ Sora Wraps Up Smash Bros. Roster & Kicks Off Celebrations for Kingdom Hearts’ 20th Anniversary

Leave a comment

The end of an era approaches as Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is ending its run on the Nintendo. No – the game isn’t shutting down but there won’t be any new content after the 11th and final character pack. The studio behind one of the most popular Nintendo Switch games isn’t letting the game go out quietly though – they’re bringing one of the most beloved characters to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Kingdom Heart’s Sora.

Screenshot 2021 10 06 at 13 11 12 Super Smash Bros ™ Ultimate – Battling with Sora – Nintendo Switch
Source: Nintendo YouTube

The character is one of the many non-Nintendo characters that have joined the game in the three years since its launch. Prior to this characters such as Terry Bogard of Fatal Fury, Sonic, Ryu of Street Fighter and Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid have all been introduced to the game. However, the characters introduced so far don’t share the popularity of Kingdom Hearts’ Sora. The character is the lead in the series which has spanned multiple console generations and also traversed across consoles. Kingdom Hearts is one of the only franchises to have entries in nearly every console since its introduction on the PlayStation 2.

Kingdom Hearts holds a unique place in many players hearts as it was the first time two popular franchises – Disney and Final Fantasy collided. Sora’s many adventures with the Heartless saw him team up with Goofy and Donald and interact with titular characters such as Squall Leonheart, Ariel, Jasmine and more from both worlds. That said, his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate doesn’t bring along his Disney partners. Instead, playing as Sora allows players to use his signature keyblade and his elemental powers in battle. Sora will be available starting 18 October 2021.

Part of a Bigger Celebration for the 20th Anniversary of Kingdom Hearts

Sora’s appearance in Super Smash Bros isn’t the only piece of Kingdom Hearts coming to the Nintendo Switch. Cloud versions of the three main installations of the franchise – Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3 – will be available for hybrid console.

KINGDOM HEARTS 20th Anniversary Trailer

Sora’s appearance in Smash and Kingdom Hearts’ availability on the Nintendo Switch comes on the heels of Square Enix’s announcement of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the franchise. The anniversary which falls on 28 March 2022 should be quite the extravangza with Square Enix announcing special merchandise as well an offline version of Kingdom Hearts: Union χ [Cross] for fans to relive the entire story in Theatre mode. Square Enix has only just teased the celebrations it has planned and is waiting to release more information at a later date.