News

Huawei Mate X will launch in late 2019, runs Kirin 990 Processor

Also with some design tweaks

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Huawei is on track to launch its 5G foldable phone, the Mate X before the end of the year, reps from the company told GadgetMatch during briefings at their Shenzen HQ earlier this week. 

We were told the phone will debut with the yet to be announced Kirin 990 processor, Huawei’s latest AI-based system on a chip (SoC) and the same quad-camera system as the P30 Pro

Mate X design changes

The Mate X team has been working overtime on last minute design tweaks. Ensuring the device can survive the rigors of real world use.

Huawei representaives told GadgetMatch, the durability of the display has been their top priority. Unlike its rival the Galaxy Fold from Samsung, the display on Mate X folds outwards, making it more usable, but also exposing it constantly to the elements. 

Mate X 5G that Huawei CEO Richard Yu was spotted using. Image from Weibo

To address this, Huawei is also working on a solution that can “protect the screen at all times.” It’s described as a screen protector of sorts that will go over the 5 layers that make up the display. 

Tweaks are also being made to the Falcon Hinge that supports the screen as it flexes and folds back into place. 

The latest iteration of the device features a new eject/release button that’s now flushed against the lipstick shaped handle that contains the majority of the phone’s internals, similar to what Mobile Group CEO Richard Yu was photographed with recently.

The design update corrects a flaw on the version of the Mate X we saw at MWC last February. That model had a protruding button which could sometimes trigger and unfold the display when placed, button down, on a table. 

Delay on foldables

The hype surrounding foldable phones took a hit last April when multiple reviewers of the Samsung Galaxy Fold exposed critical flaws that broke its display. The phone was effectively recalled, and its launch date pushed back. The delay has bought Huawei more time to fine tune its own foldable product. 

Recently Samsung announced it’s almost ready to reintroduce the Galaxy Fold, possibly some time in September in an effort to go head-to-head with the next iPhone. Apple is also rumored to be working on a foldable phone, but that won’t see the light of day until 2021 at the earliest. 

While very much an experimental, first generation product, it’s still interesting to see who wins this foldable phone war. Good news is that from the looks of it, we won’t have to wait long to find out. 

Gaming

Resident Evil Requiem will get a story expansion

There’s no word yet on when the story expansion will drop.

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Resident Evil Requiem, Pokémon Pokopia, and Slay the Spire 2. Between these three, gamers today are eating well and good. Or rather, they’re not, because of how addicting of a time sink these titles are. The latter two especially are built to be played over and over for weeks and months. Now, Resident Evil Requiem is working on something, so you also won’t forget about it in a few months’ time.

Via an official post on Resident Evil’s social media platforms, Capcom has confirmed that a story expansion is coming to the horror game. Currently, the base game doesn’t take long to beat, especially when compared to other RPGs today. The expansion should add more content to explore the story’s world.

Right now, Capcom can’t share a timeline for the update’s launch. However, in the meantime, the developers are cooking up a few minor updates to keep the game alive. For one, the game will receive performance updates to improve the smoothness of gameplay and fix bugs. It will also get a photo mode for all you Leon-holics out there.

Finally, in May, the base game will get a “minigame” added to the main game. There’s no word as to what this minigame is, so we’ll have to wait for when it drops.

Resident Evil Requiem is out now on all major platforms. The game features the survival horror style of the modern Resident Evil games, while serving up the classic action gameplay with the return of Leon S. Kennedy as a co-protagonist with Grace Ashcroft.

SEE ALSO: Resident Evil Requiem is out now

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Entertainment

Samurai Champloo is getting a live-action adaptation

The adaptation is coming from One Piece’s Tomorrow Studios.

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The live-action One Piece, which recently premiered its second season on Netflix, is one of the rare wins for the anime adaptation segment, especially after a string of misfires. Now, after the success of that series, things are getting bolder. Tomorrow Studios, which produced Netflix’s One Piece, will adapt Samurai Champloo into a live-action format.

Still from the brilliant mind of Shinichirō Watanabe, Samurai Champloo is often touted as the samurai version of Watanabe’s more popular Cowboy Bebop but with a more cohesive story and a hipper soundtrack. Since its first airing over two decades ago, the series has enjoyed a cult following, especially for those who enjoyed Cowboy Bebop.

First reported by Variety, Tomorrow Studios will adapt the show into a live-action series. Critically, Watanabe will be involved in the show’s production.

Because the show is still in early development, there’s no news beyond that. In fact, though it’s likely that Netflix will pick the series up, Tomorrow Studios hasn’t shopped the series to platforms yet.

Samurai Champloo is going to be a huge gamble for the studio. Previously, Tomorrow Studios crashed and burned with its Cowboy Bebop adaptation, which ended up getting canned soon after its premiere. Watanabe even criticized the series for changing the plot too much.

This time, however, Watanabe has given his blessing and will likely steer the adaptation to success. The studio has also promised an adaptation more faithful to the original’s story and soundtrack. Both of which were crucial to the original show’s success.

SEE ALSO: One Piece: Into the Grand Line unveils final trailer ahead of premiere

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Automotive

BYD is reportedly considering an F1 team

There is no decision yet.

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BYD is lighting up the electric vehicle segment. For a while now, the Chinese automotive brand has been offering affordable alternatives to the so-called giants of the market, in turn becoming a giant itself. The company has since entered other segments, including the luxury market, through its sub-brands Denza and Yangwang. Now, it’s reportedly considering an all-new venture: the world of Formula One.

The new Formula One season saw the debuts of Audi and Cadillac to the racing grid, proving that the sport isn’t averse to expanding beyond the usual ten teams. Naturally, entering the sport is not an easy process, but for the right brand, it could be a very lucrative opportunity.

According to a source from Bloomberg, BYD is currently evaluating an entry into Formula 1. Right now, the Chinese company has not made a decision, but it is an idea floating around.

Besides the rigorous entry process, owning an independent racing team can cost BYD hundreds of millions of dollars per year. It’s not a cheap sport.

That said, there are other ways for the brand to enter the grid. One of the more cost-effective options is to become a title sponsor of an existing team by providing funding and technical expertise without the stress of managing a team directly.

Alternatively, the brand can also skip the red tape by buying an existing team. Audi, for example, entered the current grid by buying the team from Sauber. Of the current grid, Alpine is reportedly considering putting the team up for sale, making it a potential target for newcomers.

Outside of F1, BYD might also have an easier time entering other competitions including the FIA World Endurance Championship.

SEE ALSO: This BYD car is now the world’s fastest car in the market

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