ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Strix Arion

External SSD enclosure offers screwdriver-free installation and delivers ultrafast data transfers with support for M.2 NVM Express SSDs and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity.
BERLIN, Germany, September 4, 2019 ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix Arion, an external solid-state drive (SSD) enclosure that lets gamers create their own high-speed mobile storage solution. Compatible with M.2 NVM Express® (NVMe) SSDs with 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280 form factors and featuring USB-C™ 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, ROG Strix Arion enables transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps for ultrafast performance when working with media and other large files. To ensure sustained performance with no throttling, the enclosure is made from aluminum alloy and features integrated thermal pads for effective heat dissipation.
ROG Strix Arion features an innovative design that lets gamers quickly and easily install an SSD without a screwdriver. Sporting futuristic looks with ASUS Aura Sync lighting effects, the enclosure blends perfectly with any gaming setup. ROG Strix Arion comes with a protective holder with a detachable hook for hanging as well as both USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables to ensure out-of-the-box connectivity with a wide range of PCs and devices.
Ultrafast performance and effective heat dissipation
ROG Strix Arion features USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity to ensure ultrafast performance with high-speed M.2 PCIe NVM Express SSDs. With data rates of up to 10 Gbps, USB 3.2 Gen 2 enables transfer of large 4K videos, game files and more in just seconds. Built from aluminum alloy with integrated thermal pads, ROG Strix Arion quickly dissipates heat, reducing its operating temperature for faster sustained transfer speeds and an extended SSD lifespan.
Easy SSD installation and ASUS Aura Sync
ROG Strix Arion has an innovative design that makes SSD installation quick and easy without the need for a screwdriver. The top cover of the enclosure opens using the included pin tool, and the SSD is secured with thumbscrews. Exclusive ASUS Aura Sync technology provides colorful ambient lighting that perfectly complements any gaming setup and lets gamers express their individual style.
Included protective holder and two USB cables
ROG Strix Arion comes with a protective holder that offers protection from bumps and drops to keep the SSD operating properly. A detachable R-hook lets gamers securely attach ROG Strix Arion to the inside or outside of their bag and bring it anywhere. It also includes both USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables for greater convenience and compatibility with a wide range of devices.

AGESA 1.0.0.4 to be released alongside Ryzen 9 3950X

Before the weekend we talked a bit about the 100 new features/fixes and updates to the pending 1.0.0.4 AGESA update from AMD. A few more details are now surfacing, the firmware update would become available in the same timeframe as the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X release. Next to that there will be updated boost tweaks.
The boost adjustments invoke the timing of Precision Boost 2 and Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO). And as noted there will be be improvements to CCX overclocking, ie the ability to use tools, for individual CPU core complexes tweaks. Our bud Yuri "1usmus" from the DRAM Calculator for Ryzen mentions AGESA 1.0.0.4 is expected to be released together with the Ryzen 9 3950X in November, and according to MSI holds more than 100 improvements or fixes. The MSI slide, however, is a marketing slide and as they always do, they love hype and virals - since the info already was labeled wrongly in the presentation dubbed 'fixes', I call it pure marketing from the EU team, I would not hold my breath on the accuracy on that one.

Apple iOS 13 Warning Issued For iPhone Users

Apple iOS 13 has had a disastrous launch. Not only is it full of bugs and security concerns but after three rushed updates in two weeks, it is still a no-go area. And now iPhone users running iOS 13 have a new problem they need to know about.
ChargerLab has revealed that Apple is quietly slashing the performance of third-party wireless chargers for iPhones running iOS 13. Moreover, there’s currently no guidance for manufacturers to avoid this so owners who have paid for expensive fast wireless chargers may find their money has been wasted.
What ChargerLab found specifically was that with the launch of iOS 13.1 many third-party wireless chargers rated at Apple’s 7.5W maximum wireless charging speeds were now operating at 5W. As you might expect, this lengthened wireless charging times substantially. For example, an iPhone 11 running iOS 13 would wirelessly charge to 80% in two hours but after installing iOS 13.1 it only achieved a charge of 55% in the same time period. That’s woefully slow.
The downgrade still exists in iOS 13.1.2 and, despite no official explanation from Apple, AppleInsider learned from a source within the company that the change is deliberate. “Any vendors who are fully compliant with the Qi charging spec and all of our guidance will see 7.5W charging," said their source.
As an attempt to protect customers, that would seem reasonable but AppleInsider discovered: “the issue is more complicated. Manufacturers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Apple has yet to give them any specific direction. Also, that they have discovered being fully compliant with Qi certification requirements does not appear to guarantee their products will avoid the 5W cap.”
And here’s where it gets worrying. ChargerLab’s tests found that all wireless charging pads sold by Apple Stores still worked at 7.5W. Apple calls this rate ‘Apple Fast Charging’ but it is actually just part of the Qi wireless charging standard (which goes up to 15W in rival products) so Apple shouldn’t be enforcing any sort of certification under its Apple MFi Program. If that has changed, fast wireless charger prices look set to increase for iPhone customers.
I have asked Apple for a statement and will update this article if one is received.
In the meantime, the company’s silence is concerning. Especially coming just a week after Apple decided to show lockscreen warnings to any iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max owner who damages their screen and doesn’t get it repaired at an official Apple partner. The company similarly locked down iPhone battery replacements in August in a move described as “user-hostile”. So it certainly seems like a pattern.
So no, iPhone owners didn’t need yet another reason to avoid iOS 13. But here it is. 

EMUI 10 (ANDROID 10) ARRIVES THREE HUAWEI SMARTPHONES

Last week, there were reports that Huawei will release the EMUI 10 based on Android 10 to 33 Huawei/Honor smartphones. These devices will get the update between October and December. Now, three smartphones from the list are now getting the beta update as scheduled. Presently, Huawei is recruiting EMUI 10 (Android 10) beta testers for Huawei Enjoy 10 Plus, Miamang 7 and nova 4e.
Huawei needs 2000 users for this beta. However, if the user details are not filled correctly, the update will not arrive. The recruitment time is between October 5 and mid-October. Please note that duplicate application is strictly forbidden. In addition, also ensure that you apply for the update once.
EMUI 10 (ANDROID 10) UPDATE NOTES
Read and understand the relevant instructions for internal testing activities before registration. Click here
This internal test activity only supports registration on smartphones only. It does not support registration on PCs.
Ensure that the pollen club app is the latest version before signing up. You can enter the application market to upgrade the “Pollen Club” app to the latest version or upgrade through “Pollen Club App > My > Test Update”
For the difference between internal test with log and no log version? Click here
Please select the corresponding internal activity registration. First-time internal testers have to fill in full registration details.

What’s taking eSIM so long to become mainstream?

eSIM has been available in smartphones for years now, see the Google Pixel 2 as an early example, yet the technology still hasn’t caught on in the mainstream. Only a handful of smartphones released each year include eSIM technology and even fewer carriers support the full range of devices. Furthermore, iSIM, eSIM’s eventual successor, doesn’t appear close to permeating the tech enthusiast lexicon, let alone mainstream consumers.
Ditching the old-fashioned analog SIM card for a smart digital alternative seems like a long-overdue change. Did you know that the first SIM card was developed in 1991 by Munich-based smart-card maker Giesecke & Devrient? However, consumers and the broader industry don’t appear to be sold on the move over to an embedded, digital alternative. Just what is taking eSIM so long to become mainstream?
eSIM problems and challenges
Asking consumers about eSIM always yields familiar concerns – will I be locked to a carrier, will it cost more than a standard SIM, will my details be secure? These are important questions and although there are good answers to them all, eSIM doesn’t offer persuasive enough solutions to entice users into making the switch.
While remote SIM provisioning and a tiny secure chip are supposed to solve these problems, there’s still the issue of practicality. Checking and comparing data plans is easy enough online, but there’s currently not a good way to apply said plans quickly to your eSIM. Customers often have to pop into stores or buy eSIM packs, scan QR codes and mess around in settings menus. This is arguably more inconvenient than ordering a standard SIM.
It’s also worth considering what happens if your eSIM phones breaks. It’s easy enough to swap a standard SIM into another phone, be it an old backup or a replacement. Transferring your eSIM contract to a new device is substantially more involved. Carriers need to simplify the eSIM experience, but that will require substantial backend investment.
Arm’s industrial survey, published in August, reveals a few key themes making the industry hesitant about adopting the technology. Only 44% of respondents believed that iSIM is as secure as a traditional SIM card. 40% are also worried about carrier lock-in, a fear shared by consumers who want the flexibility to easily move to more affordable tariffs.
However, the leading cause is resistance to the new technology (69%) and implementation complexity (40%). This likely stems from not wishing to invest in new expensive technologies when SIM cards are very well understood and affordable to implement. This is a key factor in affordable mid- and low-tier products.
eSIM technology accounts for just a fraction of the bill of materials in a flagship smartphone, such as Google’s Pixel or Samsung’s Galaxy S range. However, an extra $10 or even $5 whittles down the margins in more affordable products. When targeting products at a global audience, particularly growing and emerging economies, eSIM technology is an optional expense that’s almost guaranteed to be cut.
eSIM, iSIM, and the future
eSIM has its pros and cons, but it’s still likely to be the SIM technology of the near future. According to Arm’s survey, 80% of industry representatives surveyed believe it will eventually overtake traditional SIMs. The question is just how much longer we’ll have to wait.
Familiar SIM card shipments are gradually falling. A newly published paper from ABI Research expects that the SIM card market will contract from 5.2 billion this year to five billion in 2024. The industry isn’t expecting a sharp decline any time soon. Even then, the driving factor in SIM card decline is consumers keeping their phones for longer, rather than moving over to integrated SIM technologies.
Even so, there is gradual growth in the eSIM market. More and more carriers are supporting the technology around the globe, and not just in Western markets. Unfortunately, device support remains limited to expensive flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S10, Apple iPhone 11, and Google Pixel 3. However, IoT devices, SIM-enabled laptops, and automotive market growth are expected to drive broader adoption of integrated SIM technologies in the coming years.
eSIM and iSIM technologies remain a longer-term proposition and have a crucial role to play as more devices are connected to the internet. Data plans spanning multiple eSIM and iSIM devices, a so-called “Internet ID”, will be needed to managed various internet-connected devices, from your PC to your car. Carriers are gradually getting on board with eSIM and there are some bigger changes heading our way in the next five years. The implementation just has to catch up with the technology.

Gigabyte Guide Leaks OC feisty Ryzen 9 3950X specs incl Benchmarks

A guide from Gigabyte details AMD's upcoming mainstream flagship, you can get an all-core clock of 4.3 GHz. Gigabyte published an overclocking guide for its X570 motherboards. And the Ryzen 9 3950X, which is still waiting for its market launch, serves as a reference CPU. Gigabyte also leaks their own results based on Cinebench R15.
For the test, a X570 Aorus Master Mainboard was used with 16 GB DDR4-3200 memory, for the cooling of the CPU they used an EK-KIT P360. The Ryzen 9 3950X is a stable all-core overclock of 4.3 GHz at 1.416 Achieve volts (that's all 16 cores). The temperature of the used X570 chipset meanwhile climbed to 68 degrees.
In a Cinebench R15 benchmark, they scored a total of 4,384 points with the Ryzen 9 3950X. That translates to a difference of 452 points compared to the stock result of the Ryzen 9 3950X. The stock result of the Ryzen 9 3950X alone is 3,932 points, and the Intel Core i9-9980XE enters a value of around 3,700 points in the Cinebench R15.
The launch of the Ryzen 9 3950X was originally scheduled for September. Meanwhile, the market launch has now been postponed to the coming month of November. You can find the complete OC guide for Ryzen 3000 on X570 motherboards from manufacturer Gigabyte in PDF format here, directly from the Gigabyte servers.

LENOVO Z6 PRO 6GB+128GB PRICE PLUNGES TO 1999 YUAN ($280)

There is currently a special offer for the Lenovo Z6 Pro 6GB+128GB version which takes the price 1999 yuan ($280). This sale is currently active in the Jingdong mall. The Lenovo Z6 Pro was released in April this year. This smartphone comes with a 6.39-inch 2340 × 1080 waterdrop screen.
This smartphone uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 flagship SoC. In the camera department, the Lenovo Z6 Pro comes with a quad rear camera setup. It uses a 48MP + 16MP + 8MP + 2MP AI quad-camera. On the front, we have a 32MP camera. The battery capacity is 4000 mAh and it runs on ZUI 11 system based on Android 9 depth customization. After providing the ZUI 11.0 update for the the Z6 Pro, the Chinese company has released the ZUI 11.1 version which brings improvements to camera and performance. The update also provides enhancements for gestures and some system optimizations.
In addition, this smartphone comes with Dolby panoramic sound, which has a good transient response and a more realistic restoration of the music sound in the game scene. The sound positioning is accurate and the details are clear. Its output is immersive and it delivers a premium listening experience.