Over the weekend, word started spreading that ASUS was in the process of downscaling its operations in Taiwan and Mainland China amidst a massive restructuring of the company. According to the report from TechNews Taiwan, the Zenfone department was an unfortunate casualty of the restructuring.
Source: ASUS.com
However, that doesn’t seem to be the case as ASUS has officially commented on the issue and denied it flat out. In fact, it would be fair to say the official statement rubbished the claims. The company reiterated its commitment to the phone business. It highlighted the recent Q2 earnings call as proof thereof. The recent earnings call showed a marked growth in their revenue from the mobile phone segment; growing from under 1% to around 2% in the past quarter. While it’s still a minute segment of their overall revenue, ASUS sees it as enough of a justification to continue. ASUS even teases its upcoming 2024 product lineup.
Source: ASUS Press Room
The statement, issued through the company’s official press room, is pretty clear and direct with the company’s direction when it comes to mobile phones. “We will continue our two main phone business product lines, the ROG Phone and the Zenfone.”. It’s pretty clear that ASUS will continue to push their ROG Phone and Zenfone lineups moving forward.
However, as mentioned in our previous article, Malaysia hasn’t seen a Zenfone launch since the Zenfone 5 series. On the other hand, the Zenfone 10 is poised for release in countries like the United States of America in the coming weeks. It’ll be a welcomed addition to have the Zenfone series be announced for the Malaysian market once again.
If you pay attention to the Steam’s charts and survey, you will find that Full HD resolution is still the most common and popular gaming resolution available. While there are plenty of 4K resolution displays on offer, Full HD and 1440p gaming still offer the best value for the gaming community. While the biggest chunk of gamers; more than 60% of Steam users in fact, games at 1080p Full HD resolution, there are also more players moving on to the 1440p platform due to the decreasing costs of high-resolution monitors. We also think that 1440p resolution is quite perfect for PC gaming.
The thing is for you to game at 1440p resolution smoothly, you cannot rely on one of those entry-level GPU. Before you go off buying the highest end GPU for your PC though, you also want to take note that 1440p does not require you to spend that kind of fortune either. You can do more than enough with mid-range GPUs these days. That is the whole purpose of AMD’s latest Radeon RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT anyway.
The new AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT are made to replace the aging AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and RX 6800 XT with their own sets of improvements. While the older Radeon RX 6000 GPUs are proven to be capable mid-range to high-end GPUs for immersive 1440p gaming, they are based on old RDNA 2 technology announced in 2020. It is 2023, it is time to modernize.
AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 series GPU is not exactly new, but it was limited to the highest end GPU they have so far, the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX GPUs. These new RDNA 3 GPUs are made mostly for 4K resolution gaming, a little overkill for 1440p gaming. The new RDNA 3 GPU series GPUs do come with some practical benefits to gamers for the modern age though. HDMI 2.1 for example for high resolution and speedy displays. They also include AV1 transcoding capabilities for more multifaceted functions like high-speed, low-latency streaming.
Those technologies now trickle down to AMD’s mid-range GPUs in the RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT. Of course, the new GPUs also come with other improvements to make 1440p gaming better than ever before.
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Other than AMD’s RDNA 3 technology, and the HDMI 2.1 ports, and AV1 transcoding capabilities, the RX 7800 XT comes strangely with less compute cores than before at 60 compared to 72 units from the RX 6800 XT before. There are also 60 ray tracing accelerators on the new GPU compared to the 72 from its predecessor. There is now 120 AI cores on the GPU for even better upscaling performance with AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 (FSR 3 for short). With FSR 3, you can technically use the RX 7800 XT for 4K gaming too at up to 120 fps if you have a capable resolution.
Despite the lower core count, the Radeon RX 7800 XT’s 60 compute cores are capable of higher clocks. The GPU clocks at a minimum of 2,124 MHz over the 2,015 MHz of the older GPU. At boost, the RX 7800 XT clocks at 2,430 MHz over the 2,250 MHz of its predecessor. You get the same 16GB GDDR6 memory as before though, which means you will not get the benefit of a faster GDDR6X memory. Still, the faster clock speed from the GPU also means that it performs better than before at least according to AMD’s own tests.
Less compute scores also means that the Radeon RX 7800 XT consumes less power than its predecessor though. Instead of the 300W before, the new GPU consumes 263W, at least 10% less than before, meaning you can save a little bit on your monthly electricity bills. While DisplayPort 1.4a was a good and capable port, AMD also replaced it with DisplayPort 2.1 interface for future-proofing.
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT gets all the technologies that the RX 7800 XT. You get the HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, RDNA 3, and AV1 transcoding capability as the more premium GPU. The Radeon RX 7700 XT is a cheaper GPU though, so there are some trade-offs to settle with.
There are less compute units at 54 units instead of 60. It is more than the 40 units from the previous GPU though. There are more RT accelerators than before too at 54 compared to 40 of the RX 6700 XT. While that means a much more capable GPU over the older Radeon RX 6700 XT, the new RX 7700 XT picks up more power than before at 245W power consumption over the 230W from before.
There is still the same 12GB of GDDR6 RAM than you see on the previous RX 6700 XT, which is not entirely surprising. The slightly odd thing is that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT’s RDNA 3 compute units are clocked slightly slower than before at 2,171 MHz at base and up to 2,544 MHz at boost. Still, the extra cores should help the GPU trundle things along nicely.
Availability
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
AMD did not mention the exact pricing of the newly announced GPUs. They also did not mention anything about producing reference cards on their own. They mentioned that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT GPUs will be available from board partners like ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, Vastarmor, XFX, and Yeston from the 6th of September 2023 onward. More information the new GPUs can be found on AMD’s website.
Occupop, a leading recruitment software provider for Small and medium businesses, has introduced a new feature in its software of the same name. The groundbreaking new feature – ‘ChatGPT Prompt Library for Recruitment’ – aims to enhance and incorporate AI adoption in talent acquisition. This is done by simplifying integration by eliminating the need for extensive prompt creation with ready-to-use prompts which allows users to deploy AI tools, boosting efficiency and effectiveness.
This novel resource is tailor-made for talent acquisition professionals seeking to streamline their recruitment and HR activities. This is done through AI-generated prompts which access a library of HR and recruitment resources. The library boasts a curated collection of over 100 prompts, sourced from experienced recruiters and hiring managers, offering a versatile toolkit for integrating AI seamlessly.
Source: Occupop.com
“We know the effectiveness of AI tools, including ChatGPT, hinges on the quality of prompts employed. However, crafting these prompts can be a resource-intensive task. With the ‘ChatGPT Prompt Library for Recruitment’, our intent is to encourage the talent acquisition community to embrace AI tools without the need for extensive prompt crafting. This enables the user to quickly familiarise themselves with AI tools and strengthen their future endeavours.”
Orla Doyle, Marketing Director at Occupop
This innovative platform equips hiring managers with an expert-approved resource, elevating their AI-powered recruitment strategies. The library covers diverse aspects such as hiring strategies, recruitment marketing, and candidate sourcing and assessment. The introduction of the ‘Ultimate ChatGPT Prompt Library for Recruitment’ signifies a milestone in the convergence of AI and recruitment.
Gaming is quickly growing to become one of the largest industries in the world. However, gaming itself is on the verge of a revolution that could change the way we enjoy our blockbuster AAA games forever with Cloud Gaming. While not many companies have offerings, companies like NVIDIA and Microsoft are looking to cash in early with services like XBOX‘s GamePass and NVIDIA‘s GeForce NOW. NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW is about to get a little bit more interesting with XBOX’s GamePass in a new collaboration.
NVIDIA and Microsoft are further accelerating this trend with a groundbreaking partnership that extends access to Xbox’s PC Game Pass and select Microsoft Store titles to the GeForce NOW streaming platform. This partnership will bring AAA titles to a myriad of devices including Android smartphones and tablets.
GeForce NOW members will now notice a new Xbox button on supported PC games, enabling seamless launches of titles on different devices. This integration extends to those who have purchased standalone games through the Microsoft Store or hold active subscriptions to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. However, it’s important to note that not all PC Game Pass titles will be immediately available on the NVIDIA streaming service. While the integration is live, the complete library of Game Pass titles will be gradually introduced to GeForce NOW over time.
The synergy between NVIDIA and Microsoft reflects a commitment to enhance cloud gaming options for enthusiasts. The integration comes after Microsoft and NVIDIA solidified a decade-long Xbox games licensing agreement in response to concerns arising from Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year.
Among the initial wave of titles available on the service are WrestleQuest, Jumplight Odyssey, Blasphemous 2, Crusader Kings III, and No Man’s Sky. As both companies collaborate to onboard and test each game, NVIDIA assures members of a smooth streaming experience across all supported platforms, albeit with a slight delay due to testing requirements.
As cloud gaming continues to flourish, the NVIDIA and Microsoft partnership brings the Xbox PC Game Pass closer to gamers, expanding the options for an enriched gaming journey. With new games set to be added each month, this collaboration signifies a compelling leap forward in the world of cloud gaming. NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW was announced recently in Malaysia in partnership with YES 5G.
YTL Communications, better known by its telco name – YES, has revamped its 5G wireless broadband plans to bring faster, unfettered and affordable connectivity to the public. The mobile operator’s new plans redefine affordable connectivity with plans as low as MYR58. The new 5G wireless broadband plans have been simplified and streamlined into two offerings: “Gateway” and “Flexi”.
The “Gateway” plan brings YES 5G wireless connectivity to homes using the Infinite Gateway 5G WiFi 6 Router. This plan comes with unlimited 5G and uncapped 5G speeds. However, in places where there is no 5G coverage, users are able to use 4G connectivity which is capped at 150GB of data use. The Gateway plan comes with a 24-month commitment and contract. The plan is priced at MYR99 a month which is lower than the previous broadband plans that started at MYR148 a month for 120Mbps speeds.
The “Flexi” plan comes in at MYR58 a month with unlimited 5G data and speed. Similar to the Gateway plan, you will be able to fall back to uncapped 4G connectivity when outside the 5G network. However, the Flexi plan only comes with a SIM card. It doesn’t come with a router or a 24-month commitment and contract. You will need to get your own compatible CPE modem or a portable 5G modem to fully utilise the connectivity.
YES 5G‘s coverage is dependent on DNB’s current 5G network. Right now, that includes most urban areas in Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Putrajaya and selected areas in Selangor. You can check if your area is covered by the 5G network on the YES 5G website.
The ASUS Zenfone series of smartphones hasn’t really been a mainstay in the tech market. In fact, Malaysia hasn’t seen a Zenfone release since the Zenfone 5. However, the series has been making waves in recent years thanks to ASUS’s dedication to making it a rather compact flagship. That said, it looks like ASUS might be ending the Zenfone altogether.
According to a report from Technews.tw, the company has already inched closer to ending the Zenfone lineup with some internal restructuring. The internal restructuring has resulted in layoffs in the mobile phone department effectively shutting down the Zenfone division. The same report indicates that the mobile phone department is split into two divisions – ROG Phone and Zenfone. It seems like the ROG Phone lineup should stay its course for now. However, if reports of the shutdown of the department shutdown and layoffs are true, the recent Zenfone 10 from ASUS could mark the last Zenfone flagship ever.
In its heyday, the Zenfone series had more than just its numbered entries. ASUS had the Zenfone GO as an affordable option as well as the Zenfone Max and Zenfone Live for those who wanted the larger screen and live streaming respectively. The numbered Zenfone series rounded out the series with higher-end, flagship-class specifications. It was also one of the most experimental series with ASUS introducing features like the flip camera in the Zenfone Flip.
Source: ASUS Global
The Zenfone series seems to be a casualty of the ongoing restructuring at ASUS which was first reported sometime in June. While we are optimistic the company will come out better on the other end of it, it’s hard to say whether the Zenfone series will be the last casualty.
Dropbox is taking a significant step by redefining its storage policy to address misuse and ensure its business sustainability. Dropbox joins tech giants like Google and Microsoft in adjusting its offerings and policies to maintain a balanced and reliable platform.
The revision comes in light of a small subset of users who have been engaging in activities such as cryptocurrency mining, unauthorized sharing, and reselling storage space. The main plan that’s been affected is Dropbox’s highest-tier plan which offered unlimited storage space and was originally tailored for businesses seeking growth. The misuse led to disproportionate resource consumption and instability. Moving forward, Dropbox is shifting towards a metered approach to ensure fair usage and resource sustainability.
Source: Dropbox
New customers enrolling in the Dropbox Advanced plan will now receive an initial allocation of 15TB of storage. This storage capacity can house approximately 100 million documents or 7500 hours of HD video content. An extra 5TB of storage will be provided for each additional license added. The existing Advanced plan users who utilize less than 35TB per license will retain their current storage capacity. This covers about 99% of users using this plan. These users will also benefit from an additional 5TB for five years at no extra cost.
While this shift may seem unique to Dropbox, it mirrors a broader industry trend. Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft have all reevaluated their cloud storage pricing, moving away from unlimited offerings. However, Box remains an outlier and still continues to promote unlimited storage for its enterprise solutions.
Dropbox’s decision reflects its commitment to offering a reliable experience for all users. By addressing misuse and adapting to industry trends, Dropbox continues to evolve as a key player in the cloud storage landscape.
The upcoming wave of foldable devices from OPPO is starting to take shape, with clear glimpses into what’s to come. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer has begun teasing its Find N3 Flip and the Watch 4 Pro smartwatch on Weibo, setting a confirmed launch date for later this month on August 29.
The promotional content showcases the Find N3 Flip in a champagne-gold hue, giving us a sneak peek at its new circular triple-camera setup. This innovative departure from its predecessor, the N2 Flip, introduces a triple-camera arrangement, a first for flip-style foldables. The LED flash is positioned just below the Hasselblad-backed container.
Adjacent to the camera array is the external cover screen. This display, expected to measure around 3 inches based on rumours, is oriented vertically on the cover panel – a design choice unique to the Find N3 Flip.
A teaser video featuring Actress and Model, Shu Qi, gives us a glimpse of the upcoming foldable and its UI.
Together with the OPPO Find N3 Flip, OPPO also shared images of the Watch 4 Pro. It looks like the company will be keeping the Watch 3’s design, however, it does appear like the Watch 4 Pro boasts a slightly curved glass layer and features a physical button and rotating crown on its right side.
The Watch 4 Pro’s specifications have been teased, including confirmation of the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip – the same as its predecessor. The Watch 4 Pro is equipped with ECG, temperature, and SpO2 sensors that continue the line’s fitness and health focus. It’s also rumoured to come with over 85 apps and 2GB of RAM.
Rumours of the Find N3 Flip point to the foldable having a 6.8-inch internal display, akin to the OPPO Find N2 Flip. The circular triple-camera array is rumoured to comprise a 50MP primary camera, 8MP ultrawide, and a 32MP telephoto lens.
What sets the Find N3 Flip apart is the inclusion of the telephoto lens, a departure from competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Motorola Razr Plus, which omit such a feature.
Translation in next slide. (Translation done by Google Translate)
Translation in next slide. (Translation done by Google Translate)
It also looks like OPPO has already started pre-orders for the FInd N3 Flip on its Weibo page. Users in China are able to pre-order their device with a CNY1 deposit. The pre-order entitles customers to the Enco Air 3 Pro earbuds, a phone case, 2 years battery replacement, a 180-day 1 to 1 replacement, a trade-in value of up to CNY1,200 for your old device, and a CNY379 mystery gift.
In a nutshell, OPPO’s Find N3 Flip is looking to make waves with its advanced camera setup, while the Watch 4 Pro promises enhanced capabilities and performance. Stay tuned for more updates!
The new Threads homepage now sports a login page with a QR code which leads to the relevant app stores for the mobile app. Of course, it goes without saying that you will be logging in with your Instagram account details. You’re given the option to sign in with your email, username or phone number and your password. If you encounter a message instructing you to “set up your profile using the Threads app” while using your email, there’s no need for concern. If you’ve already completed this step, one of the alternative methods may serve as a suitable solution.
Threads’s web interface is pretty straightforward and minimal. The centre of the screen is emblazoned with your feed. At the bottom left, you have a toggle to switch between your “Following” and “For You” feeds. Of course, if you’ve been following the developments at Threads, you’ll know that the latter has content recommended by the algorithm included in the feed while the “Following” feed only contains content exclusively from accounts you follow.
Platform navigation is parked at the top. You’ll see quick navigation buttons for home, search, new post, notifications and your profile. Other options like logging out and reporting problems are in a dropdown menu on the top right. You also have the option to create a new post by simply starting to type in the space beside your profile image.
The new web version of threads will no doubt be a welcomed development for those managing multiple accounts. However, the one feature not yet available on the web version is the ability to switch between accounts. Knowing the team behind Threads, it’s probably already being worked on.
It feels like Threads is gearing up to do big things – but there’s one caveat to that – that activity on the platform continues to pick up. Meta’s answer to Twitter’s slow demise was initially all the rage with rapid adoption and increasing interactions on the platform, however, the platform hasn’t managed to stay top of mind. Time will only tell if Meta’s Threads will be able to stick its landing and expand its reach.
Hold onto your seats, gamers – Samsung has just dropped two new gaming monitors: the Odyssey Neo G9 57″ and Odyssey Ark 55″. Freshly unveiled at Gamescom 2023, these monitors are upping the ante for Samsung’s gaming offerings and also making things wider than ever before.
The Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch (G95NC) boasts the world’s first Dual Ultra-High-Definition (DUHD) screen. It offers an immersive 1000R curvature that envelops users in the game or content with an expansive field of view. This monitor features Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology that utilises the company’s award-winning Quantum Mini LED lighting, delivering deeper blacks and brighter whites while minimising the usual blooming effect.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 comes with The VESA DisplayHDR™1000 certification. This promises vivid clarity for HDR-enabled content with details even in the darkest shades for your competitive edge and viewing pleasure. It also indicates that HDR content is displayed vividly and authentically, with accurate colours and contrast. The monitor’s impressive 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms grey-to-grey (GtG) response time minimizes blurring, enabling seamless gameplay. It comes complete with AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro technology which allows high-resolution gaming without graphical tearing and smooth transitions as well as lag-free gaming.
(Source: Samsung) Full Specs of the Odyssey Neo G9
Connectivity options are robust, featuring VESA-certified DisplayPort (DP) 2.1, HDMI 2.1, and a USB hub. This streamlined setup caters to both gaming and multimedia needs.
Odyssey Ark 55-inch: Elevating Visual Engagement
The Odyssey Ark 55″ builds on its predecessor’s success as the world’s first 1000R curved gaming screen. With a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time, this monitor promises fluid visuals and minimal latency. The addition of Cockpit Mode introduces a fresh perspective with the Ark’s signature vertical orientation.
Samsung’s MultiView brings the ability to view streams from the three HDMI inputs and DisplayPort 1.4 at the same time; maximising the large 55-inch display of the Ark. This new enhancement improves split-screen capabilities, providing an organized setup for focused gameplay and advanced productivity.
(Source: Samsung) Full Specs of the Odyssey Ark
One screen to rule them all that is what the new Keyboard, Video, and Mouse (KVM) switch feature is built for. It turns the Odyssey Ark 55-inch into your command center, making it your central interface for multiple connected devices. It enhances multitasking across various devices, simplifying control with a single mouse and keyboard setup.
Gaming Beyond the Monitor: “Starfield” on Samsung Gaming Hub
It’s not all about the monitors for Samsung at Gamescom either. Bethesda Game Studios’ much-anticipated game, “Starfield,” will be accessible through the Samsung Gaming Hub with an Xbox Game Pass subscription starting September 6. This collaboration offers a new way to access and stream cloud games on supported 2023 TVs and monitors, including the Samsung Neo QLED 8K.
