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Microsoft Windows 10 devices highlights

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In what could be Microsoft’s most exciting event in years, the company launches a new set of devices including the HoloLens, Microsoft Band, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, the highly anticipated Surface Pro 4, and the surprise of the event – Microsofts first ever laptop – the Surface Book.

The event kicked off with what looked like a cool presentation of the HoloLens. Demoing a game codenamed Project X-Ray, Microsoft showcased what it calls ‘Mixed Reality’ gameplay.

Next up is the Microsoft Band 2. Like other wearables, it’s designed to be your quick access and fitness companion. But the most interesting about the band continues to be how it collects your fitness data, stores it in the cloud, and then shows you a graphic representation of that data. Talk about advanced analytics.

Then, Microsoft unveiled its first Lumia phones specifically designed to run Windows 10. The Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950 XL. The phones sport powerful processors, 20 megapixel PureView cameras, and for some reason, are equipped with a liquid cooling system. But the most impressive thing about the showcase was the Windows 10 feature called Continuum. With the help of the Microsoft Display Dock, a Windows 10 phone can give you a Windows desktop experience. Powerful stuff.

Another important announcement was Facebook backing Microsoft’s universal apps strategy by building universal apps for the Windows 10 platform. If other developers follow Facebook’s footsteps, good things are bound to happen for Microsoft.

[irp posts=”8643″ name=”Microsoft is bringing the feature we’ve always wanted to Windows”]

The most awaited device was the Surface Pro 4 – the tablet-laptop hybrid, essentially a category that Microsoft invented, that was inadvertently hyped thanks to Apple’s release of the iPad Pro and Google’s unveiling of the Pixel C. It turns out Microsoft was really onto something when they first released the Surface, and now the device-type is catching on.

Microsoft calls Surface Pro 4 the thinnest, lightest, and most powerful PC ever made. It also comes with an improved type-cover keyboard that now features a fingerprint scanner. The Surface Pro 4 also comes with a pen that actually has an eraser… *cough* Apple Pencil *cough*

And right when everyone thought Microsoft was done with announcing devices, they unveiled what they call ‘the ultimate laptop’ – the Surface Book. It’s a essentially a bigger, more powerful big brother of the Surface Pro 4. It is Microsoft’s first ever laptop. It’s 13-inch display supports both touch and stylus input so yes, the Surface Pen will work with the Surface Book. It also promises 12-hours of battery life.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella nicely caps off the event with this quote on why they make these devices. He said, “We make things, to help you make things, to make things happen.”

If this event was any indication, it looks like big things are in store for Microsoft.

News

Nothing is coming to over 500 Best Buy stores in the United States

Also available online

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As the newest kid on the block, Nothing hasn’t made it terribly easy to grab one of their phones. But that’s all part of the allure. After all, fashion shouldn’t be easy.

Thankfully, all that difficulty isn’t forever. Nothing, together with all its phones and accessories, are coming to over 500 Best Buys across the United States.

It’s been a long time coming. Last year, Nothing expanded first in Canada as part of its push to spread across the North American continent. Now, after all the wait, the brand is finally available in one of the other North American country’s biggest retailers for tech.

From coast to coast, fans of the fashionable brand can grab the Phone (4a) Pro, the Headphone (a), the Phone (3), and the Ear (3) at their nearest Best Buy branch. Alternatively, they can also order any of these devices online through BestBuy.com.

It’s been a quiet year for Nothing. Though the brand successfully launched the Phone (4a) Pro series earlier this year, it has no plans to launch a follow-up to last year’s Phone (3) yet, leaving the flagship market hanging by another year. That said, there’s still much to love about the brand this year, from its heavily notable designs to its capable specs.

SEE ALSO: Nothing Phone (4a) + (4a) Pro review

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India

TECNO’s POVA 8 5G is both futuristic and future-ready

8000mAh battery, Sony LYTIA 600 camera, Alive Matrix display, and more

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TECNO POVA 8 5G
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Four months after the POVA Curve 2 5G, TECNO adds the POVA 8 5G to their performance-focused arsenal.

Futuristic vibe

TECNO’s POVA 8 5G continues the series’ signature sci-fi-inspired design language. The latest smartphone features sharp geometric elements and a semi-transparent rear panel.

TECNO POVA 8 5G

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

One of its standout features is none other than the new Alive Matrix Display. It’s a customizable light panel on the back that can display up to 49 animations for incoming calls, notifications, charging status, gaming sessions, and more. Prospective users can also personalize the lighting effects to match their style.

Beside that LED display lies the 50MP main rear camera based on Sony’s LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) sensor. The said sensor offers improved light capture for brighter and more detailed photos. It also supports 2x lossless zoom. Up front, you’ll get a 13MP front-facing shooter.

Sony LYTIA 600

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Powering the device is MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 SoC. That’s paired together with TECNO’s in-house G1 Signal Enhancement Chip and SE1 Wi-Fi Enhancement Chip — making it a triple chipset smartphone.

TECNO says these chips help improve connectivity in challenging environments such as elevators and basements while boosting Wi-Fi reception.

The phone also features a 144Hz display with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification and military-grade durability.

Last but definitely not the least, its 8000mAh battery that can last as much as two days. For some measure, TECNO says the phone can last up to 85+ hours of music playback, 29+ hours of YouTube streaming, 26+ hours of WhatsApp, or 14+ hours of playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).

Future-ready

Aside from the beastly battery packed inside, TECNO is also bringing several practical AI tools to the POVA 8 5G.

Among them is AI YouTube Summary. This turns lengthy videos into concise notes with key points and timestamps. The device also features AI-powered noise cancellation that helps isolate the speaker’s voice during calls, recordings, and meetings.

8000mAh Battery

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

For photography, AI LightMaster 2.0 can remove unwanted reflections, lens flare, and shadows. The phone also supports uploading Live Photos directly to Instagram as Boomerang.

In select markets, users can even access AI Health features that estimate metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and respiration through facial scanning technology.

TECNO POVA 8 5G

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Further solidifying its future readiness, TECNO promises two major Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

The company is also bundling three years of FREE 256GB cloud storage for POVA 8 5G users. Eligible markets can also receive a 3-month Google AI Plus trial which includes 2TB of cloud storage.

Pricing and Availability

The TECNO POVA 8 5G debuts first in India and is available in 16-Bit White, Terminal Green, and Plasma Orange colorways.

Specific pricing and availability in global markets are yet to follow along these four color choices: Arc White, Graphite Black, Echo Green, and Helios Orange.

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Gaming

Nintendo officially announces Ocarina of Time remake

Coming in 2026.

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There are a few titles that an overwheling majority of gamers consider as an absolute must-play for other gamers. One of those titles is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Originally launched for the Nintendo 64, it’s not easy to play the iconic game today. But, later this year, the game is about to get much more accessible. Nintendo has officially announced a remake of Ocarina of Time.

Modern gamers might not realize the effect of the original Ocarina of Time on the RPG genre. Besides adding a third dimension to the then-fledgling Legend of Zelda series, the 1998 game also revolutionized the gaming world by popularizing targeting systems. That, and the refining of the formula in Majora’s Mask, makes Ocarina an essential in gaming history.

During today’s Nintendo Direct, the company capped off the hour-long presentations by announcing a remake of the game. Though the short, short trailer didn’t reveal any gameplay, it did confirm that the remake will retain the original’s more whimsical art style, as opposed to the realism put forth by the Breath of the Wild duology.

It’s not the first re-release for the game, though. In the past, Nintendo released remastered versions of the game for the GameCube and the 3DS. This is, however, the first official remake of the title for a much more modern system.

We didn’t know when the remake will officially launch, but it’s coming out within this year.

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