OPPO Find N2 Flip: Here Comes The Brand’s First Clamshell Phone

OPPO recently continues its foldable adventure by unveiling the Find N2 which is the follow-up to the brand’s first-ever foldable phone that was released last year. Interestingly, the company decided to add another foldable this year in the form of Find N2 Flip.

The new model is indeed the company’s first attempt at a foldable clamshell form factor. While the Find N2 Flip’s general shape may not look that different from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, you can easily tell it apart by the phone’s massive 3.62-inch AMOLED cover display that has a native resolution of 720 x 382 and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Inside the phone, OPPO has provided the new model with a 6.8-inch AMOLED Full HD+ screen with variable refresh rate capability that can go as high as 120Hz. Also equipped with the display is a 32MP f/2.4 auto-focus selfie camera.

As for the phone’s Hasselblad-branded main camera, it features a Sony IMX890 50MP f/1.8 autofocus camera which is accompanied by a Sony IMX355 8MP ultra-wide f/2.2 camera. Being a foldable clamshell phone with a poseable hinge, users can utilize the Find N2 Flip’s main camera and its huge cover display to capture selfies too.

 Unlike the Find N2 which is a Qualcomm Snapdragon-based device, its Flip counterpart is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ processor instead alongside LPDDR5 RAM and UFS3.1-based storage. The clamshell phone does not support a memory card though but it still carries the MariSilicon X image processing chip which was developed in-house by OPPO and has been previously used in Find X5 Pro as well as Reno8 Pro.

Completing the device’s general specifications, OPPO has opted to implement a split battery design into the Find N2 Flip which together delivered a total battery capacity of 4300mAh. 44W SuperVOOC fast charge tech is also a standard on the device but both its charging speed and battery life were not revealed by OPPO.

While the status of the oversea release for Find N2 is still murky at the moment, OPPO has generally confirmed that the Find N2 Flip will be making its way outside of China next year. That being said, the clamshell model was not shown at the OPPO Malaysia INNO Day Experience Event earlier this week which made us wonder whether it will actually be released in Malaysia or otherwise.

Then again, OPPO Malaysia was also not even able to confirm if Find N2 will make its way to this market even though it was the main star of the event. So, we have to wait until next year to see whether these new OPPO foldable devices will be made available in Malaysia.

Still, if you need an indication of its price tag, the Find N2 Flip with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage can be obtained in China for CNY5,999 (~RM3,806). The device is also available with 12GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB setups which are priced at CNY6,399 (~RM4,061) and CNY6,999 (~RM4,441), respectively.

New Samsung S4 Monitor Comes With Pop-Up Webcam And Windows Hello

Samsung has launched a new monitor focused on hybrid workers and students doing distance learning. The 24-inch Webcam Monitor S4 has 2W built-in speakers, microphones, and a stealthily-hidden pop-up webcam so users don’t need to have a bulky setup full of accessories.

The 2-megapixel FHD webcam comes equipped with an infrared camera that acts as a biometric sensor, making it Windows Hello certified. All you need to do is push down on the pop-up camera and it’ll immediately activate. Samsung claims that the monitor logs in the user and unlocks in as little as two seconds through facial recognition. Windows Hello also allows users to use the feature in lieu of passwords for Windows 10 devices, apps, and websites, similar to Face and Touch ID on Apple Devices.

The 24-inch IPS monitor only has a 1080p resolution with 250 nits of typical brightness and only runs at 75Hz but that should be enough for online meetings and even online classes. It also has a wide 178-degree viewing angle with flicker-free, low blue light features that Samsung claims will reduce eye strain. As a bonus for gamers, the monitor is compatible with AMD FreeSync.

You’ll be happy to hear that the VESA compatible stand is also height adjustable, as well as being able to tilt, swivel, and pivot for customisable ergonomics. As for peripherals, the Webcam Monitor S4 comes with three USB 3.0 type-A ports, Display Port 1.2, HDMI 1.4, audio out, and even a VGA port.

Local pricing and availability have not been revealed yet but it’s being sold in the US for USD$319 (~RM1327). For that matter, the S4 monitor is being made available in the US, Europe, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, which means we should be officially getting it soon. Keep in mind that even with the built-in webcam, you’ll still need to connect a desktop computer or laptop to use the monitor for video conferencing.

Monster Hunter Rise Comes To PC On 12 January 2022

Monster Hunter Rise was released for the Nintendo Switch earlier in March this year. One would think that it would be either six or 12 whole months before a PC port made an appearance. At the Tokyo Games Show, Capcom announced that it was neither, but closer to the latter. Specifically, the game will be available on PC from 12 January 2022 onwards.

The PC version of Monster Hunter Rise will come with all the extra features that you’d expect for the platform. Among them are things like widescreen support, 4K resolution, higher framerates and better higher resolution textures. It will also come with in-game voice chat support.

Being released so late in its life cycle, the PC version of Monster Hunter Rise will also come with all the DLC that’s available to the Nintendo Switch, at least up until November 2021. For those who want to experience the game earlier, Capcom also says that a demo for the game will be available on 13 October.

Prior to the PC release of Monster Hunter Rise, Capcom also announced an expansion for the game, Sunbreak, which is set to release in summer 2022. For those of us without four seasons, this means between late June and late September. And it will be a simultaneous release for both platforms. Which makes the timing of the base game’s PC port a little strange, if not outright late.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut Comes To The PS5 On 24 September

You’ve probably seen the E3 trailer for Death Stranding Director’s Cut. Yes, the trailer with all the Metal Gear Solid references. Kojima Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment has released a new trailer. It’s not only more grounded, but it also comes with a release date.

So what can you actually expect from Death Stranding Director’s Cut? A lot of the same things from the Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, actually. To start things off, there are additional story missions weaved into the game. And as you’d expect from a PS5 title, you get all the magic that the DualSense controller is capable of. This ranges from haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to 3D audio. There’s also the usual choice of Performance Mode for upscaled 4K and 60fps, or Fidelity Mode for true 4K and HDR, at the cost of frames.

Then there are the other stuff like new enemies, combat mechanics, tools and weapons. There’s even a firing range for you to test the latter category of new additions. And finally, there’s the Fragile Circuit series of races, the oddest of the bunch.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be out on 24 September with a price of RM209. If you want the Digital Deluxe Edition, then this goes up to RM249. Upgrading from the base PS4 version will set you back RM50. Unlike Ghost of Tsushima though, there’s no PS4 version of this Director’s Cut. You’ll have to transfer your save to the new console to experience the new stuff.

Razer Opus X Comes With Brighter Colours And A RM549 Price Tag

Razer first announced the Opus wireless headphones back in May last year. Now, the company is following up with the Razer Opus X. It’s got brighter, punchier colours, but probably more importantly, it has a smaller price tag.

As the name suggests, the Razer Opus X is quite similar to the base model. One notable difference here is the lack of the traditional wired connection via a 3.5mm audio jack. To make up for it, the company says that there’s a 60ms low latency mode that you can turn on. Also making up for the lost feature are a pair of microphones that you can use for voice chats or a good old phone call.

Beyond that, the Opus X sports the familiar 40mm drivers from the base model. It also runs Bluetooth 5.0 for its wireless tech. And it has very marginally shorter battery life with ANC on, rated at 30 hours as opposed to 32. With it off, it has the same 40 hour playback time.

To round it all off, the Razer Opus X comes in Mercury White, Quartz Pink, and its signature Razer Green. And accompanying it is a price tag of RM549. Razer says that its signature colour is only available via its online store.

Toshiba’s Potential Acquisition By CVC Capital Partners Comes To A Halt

Japanese electronics giant Toshiba indicated that a potential acquisition offer from CVC Capital Partners, a private equity and investment advisory firm, has been stymied by a lack of necessary information from the latter. Earlier this month, CVC offered to buy Toshiba for US$20 billion (~RM82.3 billion), Nikkei Asia reported.

Shortly after that, Toshiba was rocked with the sudden resignation of its CEO, Nobuaki Kurumatani, who reportedly had a tumultuous relationship with company shareholders.

Toshiba said the letter it received from CVC on Monday “contained no specific and detailed information capable of detailed evaluation: it merely stated that CVC would step aside to await our guidance as to whether a privatization of Toshiba would suit management’s and the Board of Directors’ strategic objectives.” And since Toshiba hasn’t gotten the information it says it needs from CVC, the Japanese firm claimed that it cannot evaluate the latter’s proposal.

CVC’s buyout offer has been controversial within Toshiba. According to Nikkei Asia, Kurumatani, the former CEO, had led CVC’s Japanese operations before joining Toshiba, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest. He was replaced as CEO by Satoshi Tsunakawa, the company’s board chairman.

Aside from CVC, Bloomberg said that KKR & Co. and Brookfield Asset Management have also explored buying Toshiba.

Line Comes Under Scrutiny After Chinese Engineers Reportedly Accessed User Data

The popular messaging app Line is now under investigation by the Japanese government after local media reported that it allowed Chinese engineers at a Shanghai company to access Japanese users’ data without telling them.

According to the report by Reuters, a government official has stated that investigations were ongoing and that they are unable to tell if Line violated any regulations yet. At the same time, a spokesperson from Line denied that the firm broke any laws or regulations.

But on its website, the company later apologised for causing any concern and for inadequately explaining its data management policies to users, adding that no inappropriate access took place.

Local media has reported that four Chinese engineers, tasked with system maintenance, were given access to Japanese servers from 2018 containing names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of users.

The alarm over the incident probably stems from Japan’s often choppy relations and historical unease with China. It doesn’t help that China-backed hackers were blamed for a recent massive breach of Microsoft Exchange email servers.

For what it’s worth, China has acquired a reputation for spying and hacking in the last few years.

Accordingly, researchers at Stanford University last month raised concern over social media app Clubhouse’s affiliation with Shanghai-based company Agora. Also, last month, TikTok settled a privacy lawsuit alleging that it sent user data to Chinese servers or certain locations in which China-based employees could access the data.

Beijing may not like it, but the very mention of China raises suspicion these days.

Here Comes The World’s Smallest Nintendo 64

For people who are interested in video games, they’d usually spend their time playing them. But someone in the state of Massachusetts took to modifying them instead. And in the process, his work got registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest modified Nintendo 64 console.

And indeed, the modified N64 is so small, it can actually pass as a handheld. While quite thick, the 3D-printed main unit is barely larger than a game cartridge for the original console. It even comes with a 3.5-inch screen, allowing you to play it without plugging it to a TV.

You don’t need to plug in a controller either, as this custom N64 comes with analogue sticks from the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. The one on the left replaces the dpad entirely, while the one on the right emulates the C buttons. Clicking down on the left stick presses the L button, while clicking down on the right stick toggles between analogue and dpad inputs for the left stick. The shoulder buttons are the R and Z buttons.

This tiny N64 may not need to be plugged in, but you won’t be able to play it for long without plugging it in. It has a battery life of only 1.5 hours, thanks to running a single 18650 rechargeable battery.

This modified console is made by Gunnar Turnquist. And his work is now officially the smallest modified N64, measuring 8.4 x 11.8 x 4.5 cm.