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Software

Crossbeats Unveils Monarch Smartwatch

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Crossbeats launched its latest revolution, the Monarch Smartwatch. 

Priced at  INR 2999, The Monarch Smartwatch sets a new standard for smartwatches, offering a remarkable blend of style, functionality, and cutting-edge technology. It is available in four different colors: Black, Gold, and Silver with Green Bezel and Silver. Its 1.43”(3.63cm) AMOLED Display, Sharp 360 x 360 Resolution with a brightness of 700 nits, provides a crystal-clear viewing experience even in direct sunlight and it’s always on display adding a splendid feature to the watch.

The Monarch Prides itself on seamless connectivity with Advanced Bluetooth Calling, powered by ClearComm technology. It features an eccentric voice assistant, enabling users to multitask effortlessly. With a battery playtime of up to 10 days and 20 days on standby, powered by a 240 mAh battery, the newly launched Monarch Smartwatch keeps you miles away from recharging trouble. Its aerospace metal case and the water resistance feature watch guarantee durability. Powered by AI health tracking and 125 sports modes, it keeps you fit and tracks real time progress. Plus, the device has a voice assistant authorized with Siri and OK google integration. Fitness enthusiasts will be pleased with the AI data tracking, which provides real-time workout metrics for over 123+ activities. 

Monarch also houses over 150+ fashionable watch faces to match your mood and vogue. Adding to more on this premium smartwatch, Monarch boasts the 4th gen biosensor chip capturing accurate data of heart rate, blood pressure, SpO2, and sleep patterns. 

Mr. Abhinav Agarwal, Co-founder of Crossbeats, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We are excited to introduce the Monarch smartwatch, which offers a unique combination of style and functionality to the working professionals. Our team has put immense effort into designing a product that not only looks premium but also delivers top-notch performance, making it the ultimate smartwatch experience for our customers.”

 AMD Radeon Launches RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT Graphics Cards 

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AMD  unveiled  the AMD Radeon™ RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7700 XT. AMD also announced availability of AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution 3, the next generation of the popular upscaling technology that is designed to offer massive performance boosts in supported games.

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7700 XT graphics cards also offer 16GB and 12GB of high-speed GDDR6 VRAM, respectively, and up to 50% higher memory bandwidth than the competition for high-resolution gaming. They also support advanced features that take performance and visual fidelity to the next level, including the all-new AMD HYPR-RX technology.  

“Gamers today are choosing 1440p displays more than any other display resolution,” said Scott Herkelman, senior vice president and general manager, Graphics Business Unit at AMD. “Today’s high-refresh 1440p displays deliver the incredibly vibrant visuals and smooth, fluid gameplay gamers expect. We’re excited to offer a new class of graphics cards delivering the performance and visual fidelity that allows gamers to elevate their gameplay and truly enjoy today’s and tomorrow’s games the way they were designed to be experienced.”

Boosting Framerates and Visual Fidelity

AMD also announced availability of the next-generation AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) temporal upscaling technology, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3. AMD FSR 3 features frame generation leveraging AMD Fluid Motion Frames technology  and game motion vector data to dramatically improve FPS. AMD FSR 3 is expected to come to Forspoken by Square Enix and Immortals of Aveum by Ascendant Studios and Electronic Arts Inc. in early fall with an additional 10 games expected to add support in the coming months. 

“We’re thrilled for Immortals of Aveum to be one of the first games to feature AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 and its Fluid Motion Frames technology,” said Mark Maratea, CTO at Ascendant Studios. “FSR has been an integral part of Immortals at launch, allowing more players to enjoy our fast-paced magic shooter experience across a broader range of hardware configurations. AMD FSR 3 with frame generation boosts our game’s performance that much more, while still maintaining its beautiful visuals.”

New Software Features 

AMD announced the latest release of the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ application, bringing new performance and feature enhancements to enable next-level gaming experiences. Expected to be available September 6, 2023, this new release features AMD HYPR-RX technology, which simplifies and manages simultaneous interoperation of AMD Radeon Super Resolution (RSR), AMD Radeon Anti-Lag and AMD Radeon Boost technologies to achieve a performance-stacking effect. AMD HYPR-RX includes the new AMD Radeon Anti-Lag+ technology, which takes responsive gaming to the next level by introducing Anti-Lag on a per-game profile basis, allowing users to minimize input lag. 

AMD HYPR-RX and AMD Radeon Anti-Lag+ support AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series graphics. 

Availability 

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7700 XT graphics cards will be available from leading board partners including ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, Vastarmor, XFX and Yeston beginning September 6, 2023. AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics cards will also be available from AMD.com beginning September 6, 2023. 

ASUS Introduces Never Stop Gaming Event at Gamescom 2023

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ASUSRepublic of Gamers (ROG) announced news of its ongoing Never Stop Gaming event, which is currently being held August 22–23, at E-Werk in Cologne, Germany. The event includes exciting new ROG gaming products, plus loads of fun activities on the side such as a press event, product showcases, ROG Talk, and ROG Party. Gamers and ROG fans have been treated to refreshed Z790 motherboards, OLED gaming monitors, and the latest ROG x Evangelion co-branded products.  

ASUS Z790 motherboards

During the event, ASUS unveiled the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero, ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II, and TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi motherboards which support Intel® Core™ 12th Gen, 13th Gen, and Next-Gen processors. These motherboards offer PCIe® 5.0 and DDR5 memory support, providing users with enhanced connectivity, performance tuning capabilities, efficient cooling solutions, and a host of other features.

The ROG Z790 Dark Hero and the Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II feature Intel WiFi 7 technology and the latest ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna, both of which enable significantly faster speeds by packing more data into each transmission. Specifically, the ROG Z790 Dark Hero offers up to 320 MHz bandwidth, while link speed can reach up to 5.8 Gbps. The TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi offers WiFi 6E support and includes the latest ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna for enhanced wireless performance and convenient setup. 

These motherboards are packed with ASUS-exclusive technologies including AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation, and ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile II (AEMP II) to simplify setup and improve performance. The boards feature numerous USB ports and fast-charging support on the 20 Gbps USB Type-C® front-panel connector with USB Wattage Watcher. Plus, installation is simple as these motherboards include DIY-friendly features including Q-Antenna, Q-LED, PCIe Slot Q-Release, and M.2 Q-Latch.

ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM

The ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM is the world’s first 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor, and it features a superfast 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 (GTG) response time. It takes advantage of QD-OLED technology to provide a peak brightness of 1000 nits, outstanding color performance, a wide gamut, exceptional contrast, and an improved sub-pixel layout for clearer, easily legible text. The PG32UCDM features a superb cooling design including a custom heat sink and graphene material to protect the OLED panel by reducing the risk of burn-in. The Smart KVM switch allows users to control two devices with one keyboard and mouse, without the need for additional hardware or software. Users can use PIP mode with keyboard hotkeys to switch devices by controlling with one keyboard and mouse. Lastly, the PG32UCDM offers rich connectivity options including DisplayPort™ 1.4, HDMI® 2.1, and USB Type‑C with power delivery. Its estimated on-the-shelf date is around Q1 2024.

ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM

The ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM is a 34-inch ultrawide (3440 x 1440), 800R curved OLED gaming monitor offers a 240 Hz refresh rate, 0.03 ms gray-to-gray (GTG) response time and includes a custom heatsink to lower operating temperatures and reduce the risk of burn-in. The PG34WCDM has a peak brightness of 1300 nits and is DisplayHDR™ True Black 400-compliant, while its G-SYNC compatible ensures supersmooth, tear-free visuals with low latency. The built-in Smart KVM allows users to control two devices with a keyboard and mouse, with USB 3.2 connectivity enabling superfast file transfers across two input sources. The PG34WCDM offers extensive connectivity including DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB Type-C with 90 W power delivery. This model is expected to be available in Q1 2024.

ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD

The ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD monitor is a 49-inch super-ultrawide (5120 x 1440) gaming monitor, featuring an 1800R QD-OLED panel with 144 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms response time for immersive gaming experiences. For improved performance and to ensure the longevity of the QD-OLED panel, the PG49WCD includes a custom heatsink and graphene film for better heat dissipation to reduce the risk of burn-in and boost peak brightness up to 1000 nits². The built-in Smart KVM allows users to control two devices with a keyboard and mouse, all without the need for specialized software or additional hardware. Users can even transfer files across between the two input devices via superfast USB 3.2 connectivity. The monitor offers a range of connectivity including a USB Type-C port with 90 W power delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, and HDMI 2.1. The PG49WCD will be available in October 2023 and will retail at US $1499.

ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro WiFi 7 gaming router

The ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro is the world’s first WiFi 7 quad-band gaming router, and it leverages the full potential of WiFi 7 with 320 MHz channel support in the 6 GHz band to provide up to 160% faster speeds than previous-generation WiFi 6. In addition, 4K QAM modulation packs more data into transmissions, resulting in up to 20% higher peak data rates to deliver incredible speeds of up to 30,000 Mbps.

Furthermore, with two additional revolutionary features – Multi-Link Operation and Multi-RU Puncturing – the GT-BE98 Pro can deliver faster and more efficient wireless connections. The GT-BE98 Pro comes with gaming features including triple-level game acceleration, gaming port, and QoS that reduce lag and latency for gaming. Using GT-BE98 Pro with systems featuring WiFi 7 Z790 motherboards allows users to take advantage of the latest WiFi 7 features.

ROG x Evangelion collection

ROG has recently unveiled the latest ROG x Evangelion co-branded products centered around the EVA-02 and Asuka characters from the renowned Evangelion anime series. PC DIY builders and anime lovers can now have premium ROG components and peripherals decked out in the classic EVA-02 red-and-orange livery with custom Evangelion-themed decals and graphics. These include an ROG Maximus Hero motherboard, ROG Strix GeForce RTX™ graphics card, ROG Ryujin AIO cooler, ROG Hyperion gaming case, graphics card holder, peripherals, and other gear.

ROG Hyperion GR701 White Edition chassis

The ROG Hyperion GR701 White Edition is an E-ATX computer case that offers 420 mm dual radiator support, four 140 mm fans, a metal GPU holder, component storage, ARGB fan hub, and dual front panel USB Type-C ports with 60 W fast charging. With its white aluminum finish to its internal wiring, the White edition offers a complete visual overhaul of the original GR701 Hyperion to complement other White edition ROG components and products. The event during Gamescom 2023 also showcased the new ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB White Edition and the ROG Strix 1000W Gold Aura White Edition.

ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card

The ROG Matrix Platinum GeForce RTX™ 4090 incorporates the industry’s first liquid metal thermal material on the graphics card’s GPU die, for breakthrough temperatures, superior sustained performance and less noise. Plus, a 360 mm radiator with innovative magnetic daisy-chainable fans, a more powerful pump and a larger full-covered coldplate on the graphics card also come together to deliver unrivalled performance and the highest out-of-the-box GPU boost clock. What’s more, this card features an incredibly bold and modern design, perfect for the most advanced gaming build setups.

ROG Loki SFX-L 1200W Titanium

The ROG Loki 1200W is a high-performance SFX-L PSU designed for small-form-factor (SFF) builds. With large ROG heatsinks for efficient cooling, it achieves 80 PLUS Titanium certification, offering over 90% efficiency from low to maximum loads. The axial-tech fan and ARGB lighting add style and functionality, harmonizing lighting effects across the system. Fully modular and ATX 3.0 ready, the Loki 1200W includes a 16-pin 12VHPWR cable for powerful graphics card support. With a 10-year warranty, it assures reliability and confidence, making it the backbone of any SFF build.

ROG NX Storm Mechanical Switches

ROG NX Storm mechanical switches utilize composite polyoxymethylene (POM) material for the stem and polycarbonate (PC) housing to provide ultra-smooth and tactile keystrokes. The walled stem design enhances stability and prevents dust intrusion. These switches are specially tuned and pre-lubed at the factory to ensure crisp and clicky keystrokes coupled with that familiar ‘clacky’ sound. ROG NX Storm switches are compatible with the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless and ROG Strix Scope II gaming keyboards.

ROG Moonstone Ace L

The ROG Moonstone Ace L is a tempered glass gaming mouse pad that offers super swift glides and effortless mouse movements. Made from 9H tempered glass, the surface of ROG Moonstone Ace L offers exceptional durability and tensile strength. An additional coating on the glass surface reduces sound so movements across the mouse pad stay quiet for distraction-free gaming. A fully silicone base complete with stylish ROG markings ensures the mousepad stays firmly in place.

ROG Raikiri Pro

The Raikiri Pro is a highly-customizable controller for maxed-out gaming experiences. It offers versatile tri-mode Bluetooth®, 2.4 GHz RF, or wired USB-C® connectivity to ensure compatibility with PCs and laptops, and can even be used with Xbox® via a wired connection. The built-in OLED display can be programmed to show custom animations and status indicators, or to switch controller profiles ― even while gaming. Additional intuitive rear controls include four left and right buttons that can be programmed for in-game commands or to make on-the-fly joystick sensitivity shifts, with dead zones customizable in the Armoury Crate software. The left and right triggers can also be set to short- or full-range modes.

BTF motherboard innovations

Never Stop Gaming attendees were also able to see revolutionary hidden-connector solutions with the TUF Gaming B760M-BTF WIFI D4 motherboard, TUF Gaming Z790 concept motherboard, and ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 BTF concept graphics card. The hidden-connector designs simplify cable routing for first-time builders and enhance overall aesthetics.

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 BTF graphics card boasts a design that eliminates the need for traditional 8-pin or 16-pin external power connectors on the card. It adds a new connector that allows power to be passed directly from the motherboard’s high-power graphics card slot. When combined with a hidden-connector motherboard and chassis, the build process and cable management are greatly simplified by eliminating visible cables on the front of the PC.

TUF Gaming LC II 360 ARGB

The TUF Gaming LC II 360 ARGB series of durable liquid CPU coolers delivers the performance and features needed to bring the best out of mainstream gaming builds. Coolant flows through an illuminated cold plate and reinforced 400 mm sleeved tubing before arriving at a high-capacity radiator cooled by three 120 mm ARGB fans – which are groove-bladed for optimal airflow and reduced noise.

Review: BlueStacks 5 Android Emulator

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With a year under lockdown and work from home, you would have equipped yourselves with a decent laptop or a desktop. And if you are a gaming enthusiast, you might be lamenting the high cost of games for your device. The best solution would be an Android emulator that can be installed on your Windows or Mac. BlueStacks has unveiled the 5th iteration of their popular emulator that supports multi-instance feature along with other advanced features. Though this emulator is mostly used for gaming, it can also be used to install and run any Android app that is supported by up to Android Nougat. It supports both Windows and Mac OS.

The final rollout of this edition (GA) uses significantly less RAM and processing power. In fact, BlueStacks claims that the latest version uses up to 50 percent less RAM than the previous version. You can download BlueStacks 5 exe file from the BlueStacks website. Installation was quite smooth and took only a few minutes in our case. The software can run smoothly on a medium level PC with as low as 2GB RAM. However, we would recommend 8GB RAM, SSD and at least a mid-level graphics capability (onboard or discrete). We used both a dedicated gaming laptop and a Ryzen 5 laptop with Vega 8 graphics to try out the platform.

The emulator features Eco Mode that lets you reduce CPU usage by 87 percent and GPU usage by up to 97 percent. It also supports multi-instance, which allows you to create more than one instance of BlueStacks to play or access multiple apps. It supports gamepads and popular game controllers for a console-like experience. Macros can be recorded and played right from the sidebar. Smart Controls allow you to focus on the game without bothering too much with the controls. Game controls can be customised and keys mapped to touch points.

If you are using an Android emulator for the first time, you might find the controls somewhat difficult in the beginning, but only till you get used to it. We tried Call of Duty and Modern Warships along with racers like Asphalt 9, and the gameplay was quite smooth in every instance without any drop in fps observed. The sheer number of games to choose from the Play Store makes it worth the time and effort.

RATING

★★★★★

WE’RE IMPRESSED Smooth gameplay, Works on mid-level machines

WE’D IMPROVE Support for latest Android versions

THE LAST WORD If you are looking for an Android emulator that allows you to customise game controls and consumes less system resources, BlueStacks 5 certainly deserves a look. However, it supports only up to Android Nougat and this could make some later games incompatible.  

Indian Fitbit Sense users will be able to use the Fitbit ECG app, tentatively from November

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Earlier this week, Fitbit announced that their ECG app that helps to assess heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation (AFib) has received clearance from the FDA and CE for use in the United States and the European region respectively. This means that Fitbit Sense users in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Romania, Ireland, Italy, Spain, France and Hong Kong will be able to use the Fitbit ECG app.

Interestingly, India is also on the list, which means if you buy the Rs. 34,999 Fitbit device, you will be able to measure the electrical activity of the heart, read the heart rhythm quickly for atrial fibrillation (AFib). Fitbit expects it to work by November, coinciding with the launch of the device.

Fitbit Sense is Fitbit’s most advanced smartwatch yet that comes with the world’s first electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor that helps to track and manage stress and an on-wrist skin temperature sensor.