Final Fantasy XVI Launching As Limited PS5 Exclusive On 22 June 2023

Square-Enix has shared the latest trailer for Final Fantasy XVI earlier during The Game Awards 2022. Apart from showcasing new in-game sequences, the video also included the much anticipated release date reveal for the latest installment of the publisher’s long-running role playing game series, which is now confirmed to be on 22 June 2023.

While the game itself has previously been confirmed to be available on multiple platforms, users on PC as well as Xbox Series X and S may have to wait a while longer before they’re able to sink their teeth in Final Fantasy XVI. As seen from the trailer, the game will first be released as a limited exclusive on the PlayStation 5, at least until 31 December 2023. In other words, gamers not on Sony’s current generation video game console will only get to play the game sometime in 2024, if not on the very last day of next year.

As for the latest trailer itself, shown are even more of Final Fantasy XVI’s fast-paced combat gameplay, with heavy emphasis on special moves, dodging, and summoning. While some scenes that were showcased are new, a majority of the video are things that we’ve already seen from the game’s past trailers from months back. And in case you missed our previous coverage, the 16th major installment of the series will also iinclude kaiju-scaled showdowns between summonable titans known, which are dubbed as “Eikons” in this particular entry’s lore.

Another interesting detail to highlight is that this is the third Final Fantasy title to receive an MSRB rating of M (Mature), and it is also the first numbered release to be classified as such. According to the game’s rating in Brazil, XVI’s mature direction will include explicit scenes and plenty of violence. Other games from franchise to score the same rating includes Final Fantasy Type-0 from 2011, and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin that was released back in March this year.

Microsoft To Retire Internet Explorer On 15 June 2022

Microsoft is already moving all of its internet browser resources from Internet Explorer into its Chromium-based Edge. It’s even integrated the former into the latter. And next year, the company will be retiring the 25-year old browser.

In a blog post, Microsoft said that it stopped supporting Internet Explorer come 15 June of 2022. It’s still quite a long way away, but the end of the browser itself has been a long time coming. The company goes on to explain why you should be moving on to its new Edge browser.

Though in all fairness, the average person has likely long shifted to a different browser. The only ones that are still using the old browser are the enterprise people, who have websites that are heavily invested into legacy apps. But since the new Edge browser has an IE mode, this should no longer be an issue either.

But companies should still start updating their websites to fit modern standards. This is because IE mode is also due to be retired further down the line, all the way in 2029. It’s fair to say that today, no one is a fan of Internet Explorer. Even Microsoft started telling users to stay away from it back in 2019.

Huawei To Launch New Smartphone OS In June

Huawei said it intends to launch its new Harmony smartphone operating system (OS) on 2 June, Reuters said. The event would obviously be a milestone in the company’s shift away from Google’s Android OS.

That being said, it’s currently unknown if the company intends to release new smartphones at the same time or if it’ll be providing updates for existing phones. The time frame for the rollout is also unclear.

For years, the Chinese firm was reliant on Android to make its smartphones work. But in 2019, former US President Donald Trump enacted sanctions that barred Google from giving technical support to new Huawei phone models and access to Google Mobile Services. That and a litany of other US actions have effectively crippled Huawei’s smartphone business.

The company was formerly the leading and largest smartphone maker in the world, but now has dropped to 6th place with a 4% market share in the first quarter of this year. Its financial results for 2020 showed discouraging figures for every market except China.

Earlier this year, the company acknowledged the damage it suffered from US sanctions while continuing to deny charges made by the US and other governments that it does the bidding of the Chinese government and military. While Trump has left office, the new US president, Joe Biden, has continued to put economic pressure on the company.

In an internal memo obtained by Reuters, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei told employees to shift their focus to software development in order to counter US sanctions. The company has notably also diversified into the automotive industry.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds And Charging Case Leaks; May Launch In June

Photos showcasing the various angles of Sony’s supposedly upcoming WF-1000XM4 earbuds as well as its charging case have recently surfaced online. This new insight seemingly corroborates with another leak back in February, where snippets of the device’s packaging was uploaded to Reddit.

Much like the earlier leak, the WF-1000XM4 is shown to feature a more compact and round design – breaking away from the oval form factor of its predecessor. For this set of images shared by The Walkman Blog, this particular model sports what appears to be a dark purple colour scheme, along with bronze or gold accents for the Sony logo and detailing. It’s also worth noting that the earbuds sometimes appear in black in some shots, therefore it could be possible that two or more colour selections may be available upon release. That, or its just the lighting condition when photos of the device were taken.

As mentioned earlier, the website also included photos showcasing the earbuds’ accompanying charging case. This time around, it exhibits a more compact design than its predecessor, which is likely attributed to the WF-1000XM4’s smaller form factor. It also appears that Sony has ditched the two-tone colour scheme ala the XM3’s case, and went with a single unified colour instead. Another noteworthy change is the location of the USB-C port, which is shown to be situated on the back of the charging case – unlike its predecessor, where it’s located at the bottom.

On a related note, Pocket-Lint discovered that the Xperia 1 III’s reverse wireless charging menu features a graphic that showcases the feature working with a charging case that suspiciously looks similar to the one belonging to the WF-1000XM4. This implies that the latter’s case will be equipped with wireless charging, a feature that wasn’t included with Sony’s 2019 model.

Another interesting tidbit worth pointing out are the manufacturing labels on both the earbuds and its charging case. Much like other portable audio products from Sony, it is revealed that the WF-1000XM4 are also manufactured in Malaysia. While that doesn’t necessarily guarantee an early local release, it’s a nice bit of trivia regardless.

Again, not much is known about the specifications of the earbuds, save for some details that were revealed on its leaked packaging back in February. As a quick recap, the leak alleged that the WF-1000XM4 features active noise cancelling (ANC) capabilities and up to six hours of battery life (24 hours via charging case). Interestingly, the bottom of the device’s charging case shows a 5V/140mA charging output rating which suggests a slightly faster charging rate.

Sony has yet to officialise the WF-1000XM4 earbuds and announce its release date. However, according to The Walkman Blog’s findings, the device’s supposed listing on FCC suggests that the brand might launch its new earbuds sometime in June.

Nothing Will Unveil Its Ear 1 True Wireless Earbuds This June

Nothing CEO Carl Pei has revealed that the brand will officially unveil the Ear 1 true wireless earbuds, its first ever product, later in June. Featured along with the announcement is an illustration of what appears to be the silhouettes of the device.

The supposed shape of the earbuds shown in the teaser does look pretty awkward. Basically at first glance, it looks as if it is intended to be an oblong-shaped earbud with what could be a circular light panel attached to a strangely large and lengthy stem.

But there’s a chance that we’re looking at it wrong.

Using the Concept 1 earbuds (shown above) that Nothing showcased back in March, it is possible that the silhouettes shown are just the visible interiors of the device. Meaning to say that the Ear 1 will feature a more traditional exterior shell, but made from transparent material. Nothing did note that the Concept 1 is an example of its product design language, in collaboration with Stockholm-based design firm Teenage Engineering.

“We believe the earphones market was begging for differentiation, a space where we can elevate design and deliver value from day one,” Carl Pei wrote in the blog, explaining Nothing’s decision to debut into the tech market with earbuds. That being said, the company did reveal previously that it plans to build up an ecosystem of interconnected devices, including smartphones. As you may recall from our earlier report in February, Pei’s new company had acquired the rights and patents of Andy Rubin’s Essential smartphone brand.

Hyping up a supposedly “revolutionary” design is one way of building excitement for a product. However, Nothing intends to sell earbuds – a device where practicality and function is key, while identifying defining elements such as design usually comes in second, or as a bonus. At this current time, the company has yet to detail the Ear 1’s specifications or whether its audio drivers are built in-house or otherwise.

Enthusiasts would agree that a pretty design is barely a silver lining to save any audio products that feature questionable or less than ideal sound capabilities. For Carl Pei’s sake, let’s just hope that the Nothing Ear 1 has more to offer than just aesthetics, especially in the audio department. Else, all of this hype building will all just come down to, well, nothing.

Next Battlefield Release Within Q4 2021; Announcement Coming In June

EA has the next Battlefield game locked for release within the last quarter of this year. This release window lines up with the release window of previous entries in the series. And it falls in the ever popular year-end holiday period.

In a set of presentation slides that accompanied its earnings report, EA has highlighted the games it plans to release for its financial year of 2022. In this, the company notes that a Battlefield game will be released in Q3 of its fiscal year. This lines up with Q4 of the calendar year of 2021. You can find this on page 13 of the slides, linked below.

The game will be developed by four studios. The company named EA DICE, DICE LA, Crterion and EA Gothenburg as contributing studios in its earnings call. In the same call, the publisher said that the game will be released for both previous- and current-gen consoles, as well as PC.

As for the game’s reveal to consumers, EA has the announcement for the next Battlefield game lined up next month. The company teased this via the official  Battlefield Twitter account, with no details as to the specific date that it will happen on.

Last month, the publisher announced a mobile Battlefield title is in development, bound for 2022. Considering the release schedule, it doesn’t look like it will show up until at least Q2 of next year.

Fitbit Luxe: A Fashion-Oriented Fitness Tracker, Coming To Malaysia This June For RM 648

Fitbit has recently unveiled the latest addition to its fitness tracker line-up in the form of Fitbit Luxe. In general, this particular model combines Fitbit’s digital health and wellbeing expertise with a fashion-oriented design which apparently is a first for the Google subsidiary.

Right off the bat, you may notice that the Luxe’s physical design is closer to a bracelet rather than a traditional wearable design. This was mainly done through gentler and softer design lines alongside fashionable watch bands.

With a battery life of up to 5 days, Fitbit also said that the Luxe is its first tracker that is equipped with an AMOLED colour touch screen and is two times brighter than any other Fitbit trackers. It is also water-resistant up to a depth of 50m and comes with Swim Mode that allows users to track their time in the swimming pool or out in the ocean.

In terms of functionalities,  the Luxe provides call & text notification together with heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), steps, distance, calories, sleep, stress, and menstrual health tracking. Since it doesn’t come with built-in GPS, users do have to connect Luxe to their phone if they want accurate data for their runs, hiking, and bicycle rides.

Priced at RM 648, the Fitbit Luxe will be made available in Malaysia this June at All IT Hypermarket, Best Denki, Flash Gadgets, Harvey Norman, Thunder Match, and Timekeeper as well as Fitbit’s official store on Lazada and Shopee. Each unit will be accompanied by a 6-month Fitbit Premium trial subscription.

Customers can also opt for the Fitbit Luxe Special Edition which features a gold-coloured stainless steel Parker Link Bracelet made by the jewellery brand gorjana. Available for RM 928 in the same month at select retailers, it is also being accompanied by an extra silicone-based Classic Band in peony colourway.

Apple WWDC Event To Take Place Virtually From 7 To 11 June 2021

Apple has announced that it will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from 7 until 11 June 2021. Much like last year, the event will be an online-only virtual keynote due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Unlike the company’s usual events that we’re accustomed to, WWDC usually covers Apple’s upcoming software offerings for the year.  These include updates and new features that are inbound to its iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS platforms. The Cupertino-based tech firm did not disclose what are the highlights to be expected from the event, but noted that it will be “the biggest and best yet.” 

New hardware announcements during a WWDC keynote are rare but not unheard of. Apple cunningly snuck in reveals of updated iMac and iPad Pro models in WWDC 2017, the then-new Mac Pro in 2019, and announced its Mac line-up transition to Apple Silicon chips in 2020.

On that regard, there have been plenty of rumours suggesting new Apple hardware that are planned to be unveiled this year. These range from redesigned iPad mini and MacBook Pro, a VR/AR/mixed reality headset, to the ever elusive Air Tags. Most of which were tipped to be revealed during a supposed “surprise” keynote on 23 March, which never happened.

As to whether Apple will announce a new piece of hardware remains to be seen. Regardless, we’ll eventually find out when WWDC 2021 kicks off in another two months time.

Leak Suggests Lite Variants Of Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 And Tab A7 Launching In June

Samsung has been offering consumers with more affordable variants of its flagship smartphones and tablets with the introduction of the Lite series, including those from the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Tab S6. It appears that the company is continuing to follow that approach again this year, as suggested by a recent leak of alleged promotional materials featuring the Lite variants of last year’s Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab A7.

Images of the materials are provided by leakster WalkingCat (@_h0x0d) via Twitter, which reveals only minor tidbits regarding the supposedly upcoming tablets. If what’s shown is to be believed, Samsung may debut both devices later in June – although no specific date was provided.

The Galaxy Tab S7 Lite is shown to feature a similar design and screen size as last year’s Plus variant. Specifically, the tablet is suggested to feature a 12.4-inch display with a front facing camera situated on its side. Unfortunately, no images of its rear design have been provided, so it’s uncertain what the Lite’s back panel may look like or whether it also features a dual camera setup as the original.Additionally, the alleged promotional materials reveal that the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite will support 5G connectivity and comes with Samsung’s Galaxy Continuity feature, which allows users to receive calls and messages from a connected and compatible Galaxy-branded smartphone. Given that this is intended to be a more affordable variant, it is expected that Samsung will downplay certain hardware such as cameras and other internal components. Using the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite as reference, it is possible that this upcoming tablet will feature an Exynos chipset instead of the Snapdragon 865.

Next up is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, which is shown to feature a “slim metal design” along with a screen size of 8.7-inches. The image suggests that it would also come with one-handed operation functionalities and provide “immersive entertainment” capability. It is not clear what the latter is trying to imply, but it is likely something related to the device’s display and onboard speaker system. Much like the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite, not much regarding the specifications of this model was provided in this leak.

Whether these promotional materials are authentic or not remains to be seen at this time, but WalkingCat does have a good track record of leaks. That being said, it will still definitely take a while until we find out since the suggested June launch window for the alleged Lite variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab A7 is still a couple of months away.