Computers

Top 5 things to expect from Computex 2017

Published

May 16, 2017

Marvin Velasco

Now that GadgetMatch has confirmed its full participation at Computex 2017, we’re rounding up the biggest announcements we’re expecting at the multi-day tech convention in Taipei, Taiwan.

The event will run from March 30 to June 3, but you can anticipate most of the major news to pop up right before the start until midway through the official dates. Although there’ll be hundreds of brands at the showcase — from the major players to the most obscure startups — these expected launches should be the highlights.

Please don’t hold us accountable if we get a few (or all) of these wrong:

No next-generation ZenFone from ASUS

Despite rumors saying there’ll be a new generation of ZenFones to be announced during Computex, we’ve learned that only the ZenFone AR will be given the spotlight. Yes, it’s the same ASUS smartphone with augmented reality tech we got our hands on at CES last January, but this upcoming announcement will be for its regional pricing and availability.

Having a new ZenFone lineup this soon wouldn’t make much sense either. The ZenFone Live just came out, the ZenFone 3 Zoom is still reaching consumer hands, and the ZenFone AR (which is based on the ZenFone 3 design language) needs to build its own steam. Instead, expect ASUS to show off refreshed notebooks from its Republic of Gamers (ROG) and ZenBook lines like in earlier shows.

More on AMD’s Vega graphics cards

AMD has been feeding us leaks of its next-generation graphics cards bit by bit for the past few months, but with nothing more than possible specs to look at. We might be seeing something tangible at Computex with working units of the manufacturer’s high-end Vega line of GPUs. AMD better hurry, because NVIDIA has been eating up the hardcore gamer segment for a while now.

Another refresh from Acer?

Taipei may be Acer’s home turf, but the Taiwanese company already launched several of its Swift- and Predator-branded notebooks in New York last April. The Swift 1 and Triton 300, in particular, were the showstoppers Acer needed, but that leaves us with the question: What do they have left for Computex?

Notably absent from [email protected] was an update to the Swift 7, still the world’s thinnest laptop. This could experience a refresh. At the same time, we wouldn’t be surprised if Acer uses Computex as a springboard for IFA Berlin in September; IFA 2016, if you recall, became the stage for the humongous Predator 21 X.

Gigabyte and MSI turn up the RGB

Computex has traditionally been known as the breeding ground for PC components and accessories, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see local brands Gigabyte and MSI introduce several new motherboards and graphics cards to keep up. RGB lighting is still considered cool, so expect the pair and all blatant copycats to dish out all the colorful LEDs they can muster.

A possible bombshell from Intel

As surprising as it may be, the biggest announcement could come from Intel. Leaks have shown the chip specialist planning to release its most groundbreaking processor series to date, the Core i9 line. It’s been discussed ever since the first Core i7 launched in 2008, and now we may finally expect something concrete at Computex.

Based on a leaked presentation, the Core i9 series could see a processor with as many as 12 cores and another with as few as only six (still more than any present Core i7). This may seem like overkill considering how great Core i7 processors have been, but the extra compute power will be vital once 8K video and graphics rendering become the norm.

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Computers

Lenovo Legion 5, Legion Tower 5i coming to Philippines

IdeaPad Gaming 5i is coming too

Published

June 29, 2020

Kenrick Buduan

Last April, Lenovo revealed its latest additions to the Legion lineup. The Legion 5 is a gaming laptop featuring the latest Intel and AMD processor. Meanwhile, the Legion 5i is a desktop that aims to provide the best performance for gamers. All these are coming to the Philippines, along with the budget contender IdeaPad Gaming 5i.

To celebrate the arrival of new Legion computers, Lenovo is offering a promo this July. Customers pre-order any of the three new PCs from June 26 to July 11 will receive Legion accessories worth up to PhP 10,000. These new PCs are also entitled to an extended three-year warranty and support from Lenovo.

Legion 5

Legion 5 is Lenovo’s latest Legion line-up for the budget-conscious gamers. Despite its budget proposition, it didn’t skip on features. The base model has an AMD Ryzen 4800H processor coupled with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. It packs some serious graphics capabilities with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. The 15.6 FHD display features a 120Hz refresh rate and 1ms response times for buttery-smooth gameplay.

Every pre-orders for the PC comes with a free Recon gaming backpack (worth PhP 2,995), M300 gaming mouse (worth PhP 1,495), K300 gaming keyboard (worth PHP 2,495), and H300 gaming headset (worth PHP 2,995). Legion 5i starts at PhP 52,995.

Legion Tower 5i

Gamers looking for their first gaming rig should look no further than Legion Tower 5i. This gaming desktop is built to satisfy the needs and demands of the most demanding gamers. Lenovo packed the latest 10th-gen Intel Core processors on this rig and configured it for up to 64Gb of memory and 2TB of SSD storage. Powering this PC is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card built to handle the most graphically intensive games and apps.

It also features a sleek and minimalist chassis with a Legion LED logo on the front. Gamers don’t have to complain about ports since it has USB-C, USB-A, audio combo jack, and even an Ethernet port.

Lenovo is bundling the K500 gaming keyboard (worth PhP 3,995) and the M500 gaming mouse (worth PhP 2,995) on every pre-orders. The Legion Tower 5i exclusively available on Legion concept store at SM North EDSA and all VillMan and Complink stores nationwide. The baseline model will retail for PhP 72,995.

IdeaPad Gaming 5i

Meanwhile, those looking to dabble into PC gaming can get their hands-on on the IdeaPad Gaming 5i. Every pre-orders of the PC comes with an IdeaPad gaming backpack (worth PhP 1,995), IdeaPad Gaming M100 mouse (worth PhP 1,295), and K300 gaming keyboard (worth PhP 2,495). The best part about the PC is its low price: it starts at PhP 46,995.

What do you get for the price? Lenovo packed competitive specs for the IdeaPad Gaming 5i. There’s an Intel Core i7-10750H processor inside, along with 8GB of memory and 1TB HDD or 512GB SSD. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or 1650Ti provides decent graphical performance for the PC. Dolby Audio and 120Hz refresh rate deliver enjoyable gameplay on the 15.6 FHD laptop.

You can now pre-order these PCs and learn more about the bundled Legion accessories at this website. You can also follow Lenovo Legion on their Facebook account and website.

Computers

Acer announces new & improved Predator desktops and displays

Expanding the entire portfolio by adding a complete setup to build around

Published

June 25, 2020

Gab Orlina

Apart from the improved gaming laptops, Acer also unveiled exciting Predator desktops and peripherals. These desktops and peripherals are both a mix of new and improved models dedicated to bringing the best gaming experience. They’ve even dedicated this lineup to any and all types of gamers and content creators alike.

The powerful desktop builds

One of the new builds Acer introduced is the Acer Nitro 50, which combines practicality and performance. It comes with up to the latest Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA RTX 2060 SUPER GPU, providing much needed gaming power.

It also comes with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM for more optimal performance across the board. It even comes with a whopping 7TB of storage, split across a 1TB SSD and two 3TB HDDs. All that storage fit for all kinds of games!

From L to R: Acer Predator Orion 9000, Acer Predator Orion 3000

Along with the new Nitro 50, Acer released refreshed versions of their Acer Predator Orion 9000 and Acer Predator Orion 3000.

In the Predator Orion 9000’s case, it now comes with the latest Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition and dual NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti SLI GPUs inside. This alone already promises stellar gaming performance across the board. Meanwhile, the Predator Orion 3000 comes with up to the latest Intel Core i7 processors and an NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER inside.

Sleek and fast gaming monitors

No desktop is complete without the proper display for the best gaming experience. Acer unveils two new monitors that will surely provide the details you need to remain in the game. There’s the Acer Predator X25, a 24.5-inch FHD display with a whopping 360Hz refresh rate.

This display supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology, allowing you to play seamlessly without any experience of image tearing. It also comes with technologies that will adjust the brightness and color temperature depending on your environment.

From L to R: Acer Predator X25, Acer Predator XB3

Your other option is the Acer Predator XB3, which actually comes in four different sizes. Even in different sizes, the Acer Predator XB3 monitors all come with a 240Hz refresh rate and a resolution up to 4K UHD.

These displays also come with a wide 178-degree viewing angles, while maintaining crisp and bright images during gameplay. It also includes light sensors with various technologies that adjust to the gamer’s needs and wants in terms of design.

Most of these will come out during Q3 2020 to early Q4 2020. As of writing, pricing and availability for the Acer Predator X25 have yet to be announced. For the rest, pricing is as follows:

Acer Predator XB3 Series: starts at US$ 429.99
The Acer Predator Orion 3000: starts at US$ 999.99
The Acer Predator Orion 9000: starts at roughly US$ 3,154.53 (EUR 2,799)
Acer Nitro 50 Desktop: starts at US$ 799.99

Apps

WWDC 2020 Highlights

iPhone widgets, macOS Big Sur redesign, Apple Silicon, and more

Published

June 24, 2020

GadgetMatch

A lot of things happened during Apple’s WWDC 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Apple made this an online-only event.

There are a lot of announcements including the new iOS and iPadOS home screen widgets, macOS redesign, new watchOS features, and more. If you missed the chance to watch the whole 3-hour keynote, we made it shorter for you.

Watch our highlights video here.