Tag Archives: GeForce NOW

News

There’s Finally a Chromebook for Gamers! Meet the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

May 29, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Google has announced the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, a Chromebook designed specifically for unleashing your inner gamer on cloud platforms. This marks a significant shift for Chromebooks, traditionally known for lightweight tasks and web browsing.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE boasts specifications optimized for smooth cloud gaming experiences. Here’s a detailed look at what we know:

The 516 GE boasts a large 16-inch display with a sharp WQXGA resolution, ensuring crisp visuals during gameplay. The display’s 120Hz high refresh rate further enhances the gaming experience by delivering smooth and responsive visuals, especially during fast-paced action sequences. Under the hood, a powerful 13th Gen Intel Core processor tackles demanding games and applications with ease.

Immerse yourself in the game with the Chromebook Plus 516 GE’s high-quality DTS audio system. Two upward-firing and two downward-firing speakers create a captivating soundscape, drawing you into the action. The gaming keyboard features a 4-zone RGB backlight, adding a touch of personalization and visual flair to your gaming setup. Anti-ghosting technology ensures your keystrokes register accurately, even during intense gaming sessions.

The Full HD 1080p webcam and integrated AI-powered video streaming tools allow you to stay connected and share your gaming moments with friends across any app. Fast and secure Wi-Fi 6E ensures a reliable and lag-free connection for seamless cloud gaming, whether you’re at home or on the go.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE - Chromebook Gaming Unleashed | Acer

The 516 GE offers ample storage options, with configurations reaching up to a whopping 2 TB. Additionally, up to 16 GB of fast memory keeps things running smoothly during gameplay and multitasking. Enjoy extended gaming sessions with a long-lasting battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Enhanced Gaming Experience with Chromebook’s Game Dashboard

Beyond just playing the games you love, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE leverages ChromeOS’s built-in Game Dashboard to elevate your entire cloud gaming experience. Game Dashboard acts as a one-stop shop for customizing your controls and sharing your gameplay triumphs.

Game Controls: This feature lets you transform touch-centric Android titles into keyboard-controlled experiences. Map keyboard keys to touch or controller actions, allowing you to play games that were previously limited to touch controls.
Game Capture: Don’t just play, capture and share your gaming moments! Record your gameplay, take screenshots, and upload them directly to YouTube or share them with friends, all without leaving the action.

Pricing and Availability

Specific details on pricing and availability for the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE are yet to be revealed. However, based on leaked specifications, we can expect it to be priced competitively within the cloud gaming Chromebook market. Early estimates suggest a starting price of around USD $649 (approx. RM 2,833), with potential variations in price depending on storage and RAM configurations

Stay tuned for further details on the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE and Google’s plans for cloud gaming on Chromebooks. With these specs in mind, we can expect the 516 GE to be a powerful and versatile cloud gaming Chromebook, potentially shaking up the accessibility landscape for cloud gamers.

Gaming, News

XBOX Game Pass Comes to NVIDIA GeForce NOW

August 28, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

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.

Gaming, News

Just Say YES! Cloud Gaming Comes to Malaysia with NVIDIA GeForce NOW

June 12, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Cloud Gaming is becoming more mainstream with the rollout of faster broadband and 5G worldwide. In fact, certain games on platforms like the Nintendo Switch already use this technology to deliver stunning graphics with their limited hardware. However, until now, there has been no option in Malaysia. Yes, one of Malaysia’s telecommunications providers, is looking to change that with their partnership with NVIDIA to bring GeForce NOW to Malaysia.

Gamers can rejoice as their mobile devices from smartphones to tablets become top-of-the-line gaming platforms. GeForce NOW allows gamers to use their mobile devices to play AAA titles by offloading the monster’s share of graphics and processing to Cloud servers. NVIDIA’s latest GPUs power these servers’ technology and provide features like ray tracing for eye-melting graphical quality. In Malaysia, Yes 5G will be home to these servers. The company has commissioned the hardware from NVIDIA to run on their 5G network.

This technology allows all of your devices to become gaming devices. With the GeForce NOW app on the Google Play and App stores, you’ll be playing AAA games available on PC on your smartphones and tablets. That’s not all, Smart TVs can do the same all without the need for a console. You will have access to a plethora of games optimised for GeForce NOW from the Steam, Epic and Ubisoft game stores.

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Yes is not only the home to the powerful NVIDIA Grid servers, their network has been proven to be able to support it. In fact, Yes was recently awarded the title of Malaysia’s fastest mobile network by OOKLA and nPerf. The telco is leveraging its network to be the first member of the NVIDIA GeForce NOW Alliance in Malaysia.

GeForce NOW memberships are available exclusively through Yes at cloudgaming.my. Yes is providing GeForce NOW for only RM50 a month or RM500 a year. This plan entails gaming sessions of up to 6-hours of continuous gameplay and access to free games. Additional games can be played by linking your Steam, Epic Games and Ubisoft accounts to GeForce NOW. Linking these platforms will also give you access to the growing number of games that are being optimised for Cloud Gaming.

One of Yes 5G’s catchphrases is “Good things happen when you say YES”. This rings true for the telco’s subscribers. Yes 5G subscribers will get to enjoy a steep 40% discount on the service at RM30 a month or RM300 a year.

So, are you joining the Cloud Gaming revolution?

Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

Samsung Augments TV & Soundbar Offerings with NFTs, Game Streaming & More

January 4, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung has been busy over the last year learning from the release of its Neo QLED, Lifestyle and Micro LED screens. They’ve been looking at trends and features that will help augment and enhance the user experience across the board when it comes to their displays. It looks like they’ve also taken some user and review feedback into consideration in the upcoming generation of displays. Also, Samsung has created one of the slimmest soundbars coming to a store near you.

Samsung’s Micro LED TVs Get Better Colour Accuracy, Slimmer Bezels and Better Brightness Control

Samsung’s Micro LED TVs are leading their line up with new enhancements that bolster the viewing experience of the TVs. The TVs come with better colour accuracy and more accurate control of brightness and colour levels. The new generation of Micro LED TVs come with over 1 million steps of brightness and colour levels. This improvement will be crucial in providing an even more true to life experience when viewing HDR content. In addition to this, the lineup covers 100% of the DCI and Adobe RGB colour gamuts. Samsung is also upping the ante when it comes to bezels as the new generation comes with a 99.99% screen-to-body ratio. That’s virtually no bezel!

The hardware enhancements are just the tip of the iceberg, the new generation Micro LED TVs will also be coming with Art Mode which we’ve seen exclusively in the company’s lifestyle TVs until now. Users are able to make their TVs blend seamlessly into their decor by turning the screen into stunning art pieces. It will also have an improved Multi View mode which allows users to view content from multiple HDMI slots in 4K resolution at up to 120fps.

The new lineup of Micro LED TVs will be available in three sizes, 89-, 101- and 110-inch.

Neo QLED TVs Get A New Neo Quantum Processor & More Immersive Sound

Samsung’s Neo QLED TV offerings are getting a new processor which allows its Neo QLED TVs to provide an even more immersive experience. The new Neo Quantum Processor brings a few more features that elevate the viewing experience. All the features address issues that were raised in the past by reviewers and customers.

The new Samsung Neo Quatum Processor is introducing advanced contrast mapping with back-light unit (BLU). This allows for finer control of brightness levels; increased from a 12-bit gradation to a 14-bit gradation. This translates to 16,384 steps or quadruple the 4096 of the previous generation. The increased control of the Quantum Mini LEDs will ensure your eyes don’t get blown out by the sudden whiteouts in movies while watching.

Together with this, the new processor also enables what Samsung calls “Shape Adaptive Light”. This feature will utilise the Neo Quantum Processor to analyse lines, shapes and surfaces to control the shape of light from the Quantum Mini LEDs. This will, supposedly, increase the brightness and accuracy of shapes on screen enhancing the HDR experience on Neo QLED TVs. The TVs will also feature a Real Depth Enhancer, an multi-intelligence algorithm that will make things appear more realistic on screen.

Samsung is also leveraging AI technology to help reduce eye strain. It’s EyeComfort mode automatically optimises the screen’s brightness using data from the built-in light sensor and sunset-sunrise information. This allows the processor to lower brightness based on ambient light information and decrease blue light emissions accordingly. Samsung has also improved Object Tracking Sound (OTS). OTS Pro incorporates a new set of upfiring speakes to create a more immersive soundscape.

Together with the new lineup of Soundbars, Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs will provide an immersive soundscape that will immerse viewers in their content. Q Symphony will also be supported wirelessly in 2022. The wireless Dolby Atmos connectivity will allow for a more adaptable setup for any room. The new HW-S800B spearheads the soundbar offerings as the first Ultra Slim soundbar.

Lifestyle TVs Mattified

Samsung’s line up of Lifestyle TVs are all getting matte displays. The new display finish reduces smudges, glare and reflectivity of the screens allowing for a more comfortable experience. In fact, The Sero, The Frame and The Serif are all triple certififed from UL (Underwriter Laboratories) for being ‘Reflection Glare Free’, ‘Discomfort Glare Free’ and ‘Disability Glare Free’. Multi View on The Sero is getting an upgrade. It will now work even in vertical mode. This will allow you to simulataneously view two sources on the top and bottom portions of the screen.

The Serif is getting a larger, 65-inch option in addition to its 43-inch and 55-inch options. The Frame is available in sizes ranging from 32-inches to 85-inches.

SmartHub Brings Game Streaming, NFTs & Emotional Connection

SmartHub is getting a little bit of a redesign this year. The redesign brings the focus back to content curation with content discovery front and center. The sidebar is also more streamlined. Users will be able to seamlessly jump between Media, Gaming Hub and Ambient sections to navigate their content. Together with this, SmartHub is also getting smart calibration which will optimise your settings for the best picture quality. Basic calibration will take 30 seconds while Professional mode will optimise in about 10 minutes.

The visual upgrade also brings along a new NFT platform where you’ll be able to display, discover and purchase NFTs. Gaming Hub is also getting a new upgrade with more content coming to the platform. Samsung has partnered with NVIDIA GeForce Now, Google Stadia and Utomik to bring AAA titles and other top tier games to their TVs. You’ll also be able to take advantage of higher refresh rates in Neo QLED TVs. You’ll also be able to watch your favourite shows while on video chat with your loved ones – making the distance between that much closer.

Together with the additions to SmartHub, Samsung’s TV catalogue is getting a new Auto Rotating Wall Mount and Stand. This will bring the viewing experience of The Sero across all the whole TV line up for 2022. The mount will allow you to mirror vertical screens seamlessly. The accessory is also getting a dedicated rotate button on Samsung’s remote control.

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