In this week’s techENT Download weekly news round-up, we have the two biggest names in tech. The two names are Apple and Google. They are also on the same page this time. Apple and Google, this time is collaborating on a very special project. They are developing a new API based tech for contact tracing. That also means that health institutes and governments could benefit by zeroing down on patient zero or sources of outbreaks in clusters.
That is not all that Apple did last week though, they launched a new iPhone last week too. It is the new Apple iPhone SE, a recycled name with new hardware. You go back to a 4.7-inch display and a fingerprint sensor. Inside though, you get a powerful A13 Bionic System on a Chip (SoC).
Speaking of powerful though, OnePlus launches their brand new 2020 flagship – the new OnePlus 8 series. The OnePlus 8 Pro packs Qualcomm’s most powerful Snapdragon 865 SoC. It also comes with a very familiar 6.7-inch 120Hz QHD+ display and a 48-Megapixel triple camera arrangement.
If you are not up for something so upmarket though, there is the realme 6i that just launched in Malaysia for MYR 699 onward. While not the most premium name or pricing, you still get plenty of power from a MediaTek Helio G80 Octa-core SoC and quad-cameras. Also, you get a large 5,000mAh battery that should last you a day and more.
Last week, two of the biggest tech companies, Google and Apple, announced that they would be working together to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the companies announced a cross-platform API that would allow for better contact tracing. The companies also mentioned that they would be working with government bodies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and other orgranisations to develop the APIs.
That effort may have just hit its first snag in the United Kingdom (UK). in report published by The Guardian, the NHSX, the digitization arm of the National Health Service (NHS), and Google and Apple are at an impasse. The main issue seems to be related to the way data is collected and access to the data. In their announcement, the two tech companies were adamant that the development of their API will keep user privacy intact. This would mean that the data that is collected in a decentralised way; limiting what data is visible and what can be done with it. The NHS, however, is looking to collect data with a centralised database.
While the two approaches seem to a menial issue when it comes to the bigger picture, a decentralised approach to collecting data will allow better user privacy by limiting who has access to the data. Essentially, this will keep the data within the same device. However, using the NHS’s approach of having a centralised database, the data can then be viewed in aggregate. It also means that data is continuously communicated over the internet which can lead to more security concerns.
That said, with the new APIs begin developed by Google and Apple for Android and iOS, these contact tracing applications would be able to run in a more power efficient way. With the current restrictions on the way device features are used on the operating systems, the NHS’s app would be rendered near useless as it would need to be “active” to be able to use features like Bluetooth. This would mean that the apps would, in essence, force devices to maintain an open Bluetooth connection to help do the contact tracing. The fact that the app would need to be active to effectively contact trace, introduces a potentially huge backdoor for hackers and malefactors to take advantage of. However, using the approach being used by the APIs, this wouldn’t happen. It would use operating system access to trigger the Bluetooth when needed.
It seems that the NHS was hoping that these limitations would be eased up on for contact tracing purposes. However, Apple and Google are adamant in maintaining their limitations. In fact, Google has gone on record to say that the limitations are being maintained to prevent the abuse of functionality; in particular for surveillance purposes. On the other hand, the limitations also pose a data collection conundrum for bodies like the NHS. The extra data that they get from their approach would allow tracking of population flows, “near misses” and even contacts from those who have opted to share their data.
Malaysia and Singaore have released their own contact tracing apps in the Apple App Store and Google Playstore. The MySejahtera app and TraceTogether respectively have been deployed by the governments in those countries to help with managing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease. However, the apps have seen limited adoption among the general public. The TraceTogether app is already known to use Bluetooth to Bluetooth communication to help with contact tracing. The data collected by the app is stored in a centralized server similar to how the NHS wants to implement its app. This could be one of the factors of the app’s limited adoption.
The HONOR brand has always been known for bringing devices with great value for money and killer specs. Their flagship devices always bring top of the line specifications with a price point that makes them even more compelling. This year, the company is looking to do this with the HONOR 30 Series. Their latest flagship which refocuses their line up on smartphone photography.
The HONOR 30 series consists of three devices: the HONOR 30, HONOR 30 PRO and the HONOR 30 PRO+. The new line up is HONOR’s first to carry the Kirin 990 and Kirin 985 processors. The new 7nm chipsets bring 5G capabilities and better power efficiency. In fact, the HONOR 30 is the first smartphone to carry the all new Kirin 985 processor. The HONOR 30 PRO and PRO+ will be running on the Kirin 990 processor.
When it comes to display, the HONOR 30 PRO+ is the only one in the range which comes with 90Hz refresh. Other than that, the HONOR 30 series comes with an OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The HONOR 30 comes with a smaller 6.53-inch display while the PRO and PRO+ come with a larger 6.57-inch display. Across the series, the displays have a Full HD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.
On the memory side of things, the 30 will be equipped with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM while the PRO will only come with 8GB of RAM while the PRO+ will come with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. The 30 and 30 PRO will be pairing their RAM with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage while the PRO+ will be only have 256GB of internal storage. This is expandable with HUAWEI’s proprietary NM card.
As mentioned earlier, the HONOR 30 range is refocusing the company’s flagship series on photography. The 30 is equipped with a quad camera setup. The camera setup consists of a 40-megapixel RYYB sensor, a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. However, the PRO and PRO+ versions of the HONOR 30 come with a 50-megapixel RYYB sensor for the main sensor; specifically the Sony IMX700. They also retain all the same telephoto lens but have a larger 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The PRO and PRO+ come with only a triple camera setup unlike the quad camera on the HONOR 30. All these devices are capable of 50x hybrid zoom.
On the front, the 30 PRO and PRO+ come with a dual sensor setup with a 32-megapixel sensor paired with an 8-megapixel sensor. The HONOR 30 is equipped with a single 32-megapixel sensor.
The HONOR 30 series is the company’s first to come with 5G connectivity. This includes mmWave and sub-6 connectivity. The series comes with dual SIM capabilities and is powered by a 4000mAH battery with support for 40W SuperCharge. Wireless charging is only supported on the HONOR 30 PRO+. It also supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 LE. The series will be running Android 10 with Magic UI 3.1.
Pricing & Availability
The HONOR 30 and 30 PRO will be available in three colours: Emerald Green, Icelandic Frost, Neon Purple and Midnight Black. While the HONOR 30 PRO+ seems to have an additional Titanium Silver edition with the brand inscribed. Pre-order have already begun in China with the device scheduled to be available starting on 21 April.
Fitbit has always been known for their wearables and health-centric devices. The company is arguably one of the first to pioneer health-centric gadgets such as fitness trackers. Just recently, Fitbit announced the availability of the new Charge 4 which brings much sought after features to one of their most popular fitness trackers.
This week, the company is focusing on their app; the place where all the magic happens. Fitbit devices, while good for tracking need a way to convey the data they collect in an easy to understand way; that’s where the App comes in. However, the app isn’t just about the data either, it has evolved over the years to become a community hub for Fitbit users around the world. Fitbit has also helped this along the way by introducing more ways to interact on the app.
More recently, the app saw the launch of a premium service where users are able to access personal training, nutrition advice and workout plans and videos for a monthly fee. This was further bolstered by the introduction of new app based features for the Charge 4. Now, in light of the current global pandemic, the company is introducing yet another feature – a COVID-19 Resource Hub.
The current pandemic is one of the first pandemics of its scale and the advent of social media has undoubtedly introduced a new dimension to how pandemics work. With a massive amount of information at our fingertips, it’s hard to discern what is real and what isn’t. The new COVID-19 resource hub is Fitbit’s way of helping the Fitbit community get access to verified information about the pandemic. The hub will feature information sourced from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help the community keep safe, informed and healthy. The resource hub will appear in app as a red cross on the quick access bar starting on April 10, 2020.
In addition to the Resource Hub, users in the United States will be able to get access to doctors virtually via the Fitbit app. The company will be working with PlushCare, an online medical consultation provider, to provide this service. Using PlushCare, users will be able to get access to board-certified doctors virtually. The doctors will be able to provide diagnoses and prescription refills for those who need it during the lockdown. They are also recognised by insurance providers in the U.S. so users will be able to charge their insurance or copay. However, if you’re uninsured, you will have to pay USD$99 on top of the monthly Fitbit Premium membership fee for each visit. We don’t have word on whether Fitbit is looking to bring the feature to other countries just yet.
These efforts come as a complement to Fitbit’s many research efforts. The company has already been collaborating with research organisations such as The Scripps Research Institute and Stanford Medicine to help use wearables to detect early signs of diseases. Their research has, so far, been limited to viral illnesses. The researchers are currently looking at using this research to help identify COVID-19 cases using activity, sleep and heart rate data. The company is inviting users to share their data to help contribute to this research and also help in the battle against the SARS-CoV-2.
Fitbit has also made their premium service free for 90-days during the pandemic. With access to Premium, users are able to access over 40 at home workouts, meditations, sleep tracks and more in the Fitbit app. This offer is only available to new Premium members as a free trial.
Smartphones have gone quite crazy these days. If you think about it, there are not many smartphones that you can buy at MYR 1,000. Thing is though, there are plenty of people that still does not want to or cannot spend above MYR 1,000 for a new smartphone.
In that space, there are even less players. Most established brands in the smartphone industry has gone above the MYR 1,000 line. That leaves only certain players staying in that market space. One of the most prominent one that kept within that line is Realme.
While the price range does not make it sound like a premium brand, they do make some compelling smartphones. Their realme 6 that just launched about a month ago for example, gives you best in class performance but at the same time has an asking price that is easily reachable for almost anyone who is looking for a smartphone. Today, they introduced another one, the realme 6i.
Source: realme
The first thing they teased, not teased, what was the right word? Rendered. They rendered two colours on offer for the Realme 6i – Green Tea and White Milk. But that is not all they are, they are not just pretty things. They pack some power too.
It is even more powerful than the Realme 6. It packs a MediaTek Helio G80 Octa-core System on a Chip (SoC) that clocks up to 2.0GHz. That is MediaTek’s most powerful SoC to date, and realme 6i is the first device to boast this kind of flagship power from MediaTek. You get up to 4GB of RAM with the SoC too, meaning multitasking should be no issue. You get up to 128GB
Out the back is a 48-Megapixel main camera that is supported by three other lenses, very much like any modern realme. You get an ultra-wide lens, a black and white lens, and a macro lens together with the 48-Megapixel main camera. They did not specify the amount of megapixel the other lenses pack though. Out the front is a 16-Megapixel camera for selfies. There is no telephoto lens here, which is a little out of the ordinary. Thing is, black and white lens does help with detailing on your final photo though. All this power and high-resolution photo are pushed to your eyes through a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with a small notch on top of the display.
To ensure that you can take photos all day long or even play games all day long or at the very least stay connected to the world for a whole day, the realme 6i packs a large battery. Larger than usual at 5,000 mAh. That is also one of the largest you can find in smartphones in its class. That 5,000 mAh battery can be charged at 18W fast charger. It can also charge your friend’s smartphone if your friends need some extra power. Now you can be your friend’s hero.
Source: realme
The Realme 6i is available in two colour variants, as mentioned earlier. It will be available in Green Tea and White Milk colour variants. The Realme 6i will be available from MYR 699 (3GB + 64GB) and MYR 899 (4GB + 128GB). From the 23rd of April onward, the 3GB RAM and 64GB storage variant of the Realme 6i will be available exclusively on Shopee. If you do get your device on first sale date, you can get your device at MYR 599. The 4GB + 128GB variant will be available two days later on the 25th of April 2020 in all Realme authorised dealers and retailers. For more information, you might want to check out their website.
Apple has announced the latest addition to their iPhone line up, the new iPhone SE. Yep. It’s not the iPhone SE 2 or the iPhone SE 2020, the company has simplified things by just naming it the iPhone SE. The new affordable iPhone will be replacing the iPhone 8 which will be halting sales after the new smartphone hits stores.
Apple hasn’t compromised much when it comes to the new iPhone SE. The company is packing it with some of the latest technology that comes with iPhone 11 series; making the new SE one of the most feature packed offerings in the market for its price point.
The iPhone SE comes with the new A13 Bionic processor that the company launched with its iPhone 11. The SE also comes in a familiar package retaining the iPhone 8’s design and chassis. That’s not all that it retains, it also brings back the home button and Touch ID sensor that Apple’s iPhone flagships have done away with since the iPhone X. The iPhone SE is also smaller overall. It comes with 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone which allows for a more comfortable experience with the smartphone. It has a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels in a familiar 16:9 aspect ratio. The phone also comes with Haptic Touch which enables the Quick Actions functionality in iOS.
On the camera front, the iPhone SE comes with a single 12-megapixel sensor. The sensor has an f/1.8 aperture and is equipped with a wide angle lens. Apple is touting the SE’s single sensor camera as one of the best on an iPhone yet. It enables some of the most used camera features nowadays such as Portrait mode with Apple’s six Portrait Lighting effects and Depth Control using the Neural Engine of A13 Bionic processor. This also translates to the front camera of the iPhone SE. The single, 7-megapixel sensor is able to take portrait pictures using machine learning and also what Apple calls monocular depth estimation. The main camera supports 4K UHD video recording of up to 60 frames per second (fps) while the front facing camera supports up to 1080p.
The SE will be running iOS 13 out of the box and will also be able to support augmented reality (AR) experiences available on apps in the Apple App Store. It also supports eSIM and dual SIM functionality.
Pricing & Availability
The iPhone SE will be go on pre-order starting from 5 a.m. on April 17, 2020. It will be available in stores and via carrier partners starting April 24, 2020 in the U.S. an in 40 other countries.
Source: Apple
It will be retailing at USD$399 for the 64GB version, USD$449 for the 128GB version and USD$549 for the 256GB version. The iPhone SE will be available in White, Black and (PRODUCT)RED. Proceeds from the sale of the (PRODUCT)RED version of the iPhone SE will contribute directly to the Global Fund to combat COVID-19.
No official availability has been announced for Malaysia just yet. However, the iPhone SE is listed on Apple Malaysia’s Website. The official Pricing in Malaysia is as follows:
The COVID-19 pandemic has been taking the world by storm. It has had an unprecedented affect on every country in the world and the world economy. The world is also beginning to realise the value of front liners such as doctors, nurses, scientists and janitors. That said, Google and Apple and lending a hand in fighting the pandemic by working together.
The companies announced a joint effort to help with the current pandemic. The effort comes in the form an APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) which will help with contact tracing. Contact tracing is becoming increasingly more important in the battle against COVID-19 to help with the mitigation of the viral spread. Countries which have started or have been doing contact tracing have shown better disease control in the current pandemic.
Apple and Google are looking to assist with Contact Tracing by using Bluetooth on smartphones. The APIs will work with together with operating system level technology to allow the tracking of potential spread of COVID-19. Essentially, authorised applications will be able to use Bluetooth on both iOS and Android smartphones to help identify individuals who have potentially come in contact with infected individuals. As of right now, it seems like these APIs will be made available to government and public health agencies to help mitigate the spread of the pandemic.
Apple and Google have both stressed that user privacy, transparency and security will be central to the development of these APIs. They are looking into broader, more robust applications of the APIs being developed which allow more individuals to participate, should they choose to via an opt-in. These broader application are being explored in consultation with other interested stakeholders. The effort comes after a number of public health authorities, universities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) around the world kick started an effort to develop opt-in contact tracing technology.
The APIs and its functionality will be rolled out in stages given the dire need for contact tracing in the current pandemic. The initial stage will be the rollout of the APIs in May which will enable interoperability between the mobile platforms. Official apps using these APIs will be available in the Google Play and Apple App Stores. After this, Google and Apple will be working to enhance and enable broader Bluetooth based contact tracing enabling more robust applications. The companies have stated that they will be openly publishing information their work to be analyzed by others during this process.
Last night was a special night. Last night (it is night in Malaysia, morning or daytime in wherever the OnePlus was launched) was the big launch of OnePlus’ highly anticipated follow up to the OnePlus 7 line-up. It is the launch night of the OnePlus 8 series.
The OnePlus 7 series was something quite special to us. We like it a lot. Then again, we have always liked the OnePlus brand. We loved the OnePlus 7T, launched later in the year is a big reinforcement of the OnePlus 7.
The OnePlus 7 Pro was also the first time we praised its camera when we tested it last year. For the first time, we liked the photo quality from a OnePlus. We think that that could be thanks to some expertise borrowed from OPPO. I doubt that they will give credits to OPPO for that though.
The OnePlus 8 then, the replacement to the OnePlus 7 series. They start with the display of the device. On the older OnePlus 7, they pushed boundaries with 90Hz in refresh rate. This year, after OPPO’s Find X2 launch, we suspected that the OnePlus 8 series will get the same sort of display. We guessed right on that one. It even has the same punch hole that fits a front-facing camera. Yes, they are ditching the pop-up mechanism as well. That also means that it is an IP68 rated device now.
Source: OnePlus
It is a 6.7-inch 120Hz QHD+ display, exactly same as the OPPO. It also boast 10-bit format display which produces 10-billion colours on the OnePlus 8 Pro. That 120Hz refresh rate is also paired to 240Hz in sampling rate. We loved the display on the OPPO Find X2 (review coming soon). It is ultra-responsive, ultra-smooth, and very beautiful. I personally used it for PlayStaion Remote Play for Death Stranding, and we can really appreciate its colours and resolution.
Then comes the camera, they fit a bigger camera this time too. It is a 48-Megapixel main camera that is flanked by another 48-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens on the side. Yes, it is sounding like the OPPO Find X2 Pto. It even has Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) to pair with. In that case also, you can expect this smartphone to impress your eyes with its photos.
Source: OnePlus
You also get the ultra-powerful, ultra-snazzy Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. Paired to the Snapdragon 865 is 12GB of RAM for even smoother and better multitasking. That is sort of where the similarities between the OnePlus 8 Pro and OPPO Find X2 Pro ends though.
Videos can go up to 4K. But this time, you get audio Zoom as well and 3D audio capture so you can add some dynamics to your videos. Smartphone videos have come a long way and some film makers are already starting to use smartphones in their arsenal of tools. Take us for example.
There is a new haptic feedback machine that is designed to give you more immersion during gaming. That is different from the OPPO’s haptic feedback vibration engine. It also has a wireless charging capability. Its 4,510 mAh battery is VOOC FlashCharge capable too, but you can wirelessly charge the OnePlus 8 Pro at 30W, fastest ever on a wireless charger so far. It even reverse charges other wirless charging devices.
Source: OnePlus
Other things that the device comes with are software based. You can do Live Captioning with audio and video recording, which is something else really. That is also thanks to OnePlus working with Google. In that collaboration as well, you get to take advantage of Google’s extra 100GB space of Google Drive for you. You can also access to selected Stadia titles on your OnePlus. Time to spend on a decent controller for your smartphone. It is also Amazon Alexa compatible should you prefer the Amazon based assistant.
Then there is the OnePlus 8, the regular one. It is just a slightly smaller version of the OnePlus 8 Pro. It packs the same Sony IMX586 sensor that pushes 48-Megapixel. Paired to it though is a 16-Megapixel ultra-wide camera. That is also supported by a Macro lens at the other side. It has a smaller display too, at 8.55-inch. The 8.55-inch is not a 120Hz display though. It is a 90Hz Fluid display that we saw on last year’s OnePlus. That also means that it is a Full HD+ display instead of a QHD+. Still a nice display though.
Instead of the 4,510mAh battery you get on the Pro variant, it makes do with a 4,300mAh battery. It is a smaller smartphone after all. At least you still get the 30W wireless charging capability. Both OnePlus 8 devices also support 5G out of the box, which is nice.
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro is available in three colour choices. One of which is called Interstellar White, which is claimed by OnePlus to be a pain for photoshoots. No, not its camera, it is a pain to other cameras because apparently it does not stay in the same colour in all sorts of angles. That is not good for us. But still, we might like it.
The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro will be available in selected markets April 2020 onward. The regular OnePlus 8 will set you back US$ 699 (MYR 3,028*) for the 8GB + 128GB variant, and US$ 799 (MYR 3,462*) for the 12GB + 256Gb variant. The OnePlus 8 Pro will set you back US$899 (MYR 3,895*) for the 8GB + 128GB variant and US$ 999 (MYR 4,329*) for the 12GB + 256GB variant. There are no word yet on when that device will reach Malaysia. If the OnePlus 7 series is any indication though, we are guessing that the distributor will start selling the OnePlus 8 by May 2020 onward. We can only wait though.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.33 as of 15/4/2020
If you are a gamer, it’s more than likely you already know who Double Eleven is. If you don’t, they are one of the UK’s largest game development studios. Yep, game development. They have produced a number of games including the Pixel Junk series on the PC, Goat Simulator on Xbox and Playstation) and the LEGO Harry Potter series.
“Malaysia’s high calibre talent and its great ecosystem between governments, universities and businesses are among key reasons for our entry. We’re excited to be taking our people first approach with this expansion and tapping into Malaysia’s highly capable local talents, hoping to become an integrated and active member of their burgeoning games industry,”
Lee Hutchinson, founder and CEO of Double Eleven
As the next step in their expansion, the studio has recently established an office in Bangsar South, Malaysia. Recruitment for the studio is currently ongoing. However, Double Eleven has officially opened its studios in Malaysia with the appointment of Ian Ng as the Studio Head of Double Eleven Malaysia. Ian Ng brings over 20 years of experience in game development. Previously, Ian worked at studios such as Tap4Fun, Ubisoft Singapore and LucasArts. He has been credited in a number of gaming titles including the Assassin’s Creed Franchise.
“I look forward to building a studio that embodies the same culture and values as the Double Eleven studio in the United Kingdom. After a number of years working in Bangkok and Singapore, I’m excited to make a positive impact on the fast-growing games industry in my home country of Malaysia”.
Ian Ng, Studio Head of Double Eleven Kuala Lumpur
The studio has been around since 2009 and was a Sony exclusive studio until 2012. The company has now grown and is expanding their global footprint to support more development. Having worked on big titles such as Little Big Planet Vita and the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the popular platformer LIMBO, the studio is now developing the popular game, Rust, for consoles, co-developing Minecraft Dungeons with Mojang and working with Paradox on Prison Architect.
“Malaysia has developed a vibrant and successful digital creative content industry over the past 15 years, with numerous international companies choosing to set up studios here. The current focus on realising the Digital Content Ecosystem Policy (DICE) reinforces Malaysia as the Heart of Digital ASEAN for animation and games content development.”
Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Vice President, Digital Creative Content, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
The establishment of Double Eleven’s new Malaysian studio comes after the announcement of Sony Interactive Worldwide and Lariat’s announcements late last year at the LEVEL UP Gaming conference in Kuala Lumpur. Double Eleven joins a growing number of game developers who are using Malaysia as a launch platform for their Asian presence. Malaysia’s government announced their Digital Content Ecosystem Policy which was spearheaded by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the Ministry of Technology. The new policy aims to make Malaysia the “Heart of Digital ASEAN”.
Sony has unveiled the final design for the upcoming PlayStation 5 controllers. The first thing to take note of: it’s not the DualShock 5. Sony is renaming its controllers to DualSense; and for good reason. The new controllers are pioneering new features we’ve not seen in any DualShock controller of the past. In fact, we may have not even seen them on any XBox or Nintendo controller to date.
The aesthetics of PlayStation controller of the past is also out the window with DualSense. The new DualSense controllers will now come with a two tone finish. A change that we are excited about. The new two tone finish puts a rather futuristic finish on what was once a drab single tone coloured design. However, we’ve seen Sony toy around with this idea in some of the later editions of the DualShock 4 controllers.
“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5. The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.”
Jim Ryan, President & CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Of course, aesthetics aside, we know that Sony is focusing on the gamer experience when it comes to the PlayStation 5. In fact, the company explained, at length, the technology in the PS5 which includes a new focus on audio called Tempest 3D AudtioTech. The same considerations for immersive gaming came into play with designing the PS5’s DualSense controllers. The new controllers will be the first from Sony to feature haptic feedback. The adoption of haptic feedback technology will allow developers to enhance the gaming experience by increasing the level of detail when it comes to touch. Sony touts the grittiness of driving a car through mud as one of the examples.
In addition, Sony has also brought some change to the design of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controllers. The L2 and R2 buttons will also have adaptive technology. Sony’s new adaptive triggers will allow developers to program finer details into the triggers. Resistance and perhaps multi stop functionality will probably come with the adaptive triggers. The angle of the triggers have also been adjusted for better ergonomics and to make space for the many components of the controller.
Sony has also replaced the Share button with a “Create” button. Sony claims that they are “…once again pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world..”. However, they didn’t elaborate on what they meant – yet. Sony has also included a built in mic array to make it easier for gamers to communicate. That said, the company said that the feature shouldn’t replace a proper gaming headset in the long term.
The new DualSense controller also features a redesign which takes the traditional DualShock design and throws it out the window. Gone are the rounded tops with conical protrusions. Instead, Sony has opted to go with a more boomerang like design that looks more ergonomic than previous designs. The company also reassures us that the controller is smaller than it looks. Another major change is the placement of the lightbar. Instead of being front and centre like the DualShock 4, the lightbar is now flanking the touchpad on either side. Smaller details such as the analogue control design has also been changed. According to PushSquare Sony has changed the analogue sticks to have a textured outer rim with a smoothed center section.
Overall, the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller builds upon the successful base of the DualShock 4. It also holds Sony’s intention of pushing “the boundaries of play” when it comes to their new console. The PS5 is set to launch later this year. To be specific – during Holiday 2020.
