Roundup #5: LG Mobile leaves the smartphone race

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Author: Justin Choo

Regular roundup of assorted stuff

by Justin Choo April 5, 2021

written by Justin Choo April 5, 2021

Amazon and Sharp spruce up their e-store offerings, Apple removes default voice option, Razer releases a new updated Kraken, while LG mobile calls it a day.

Amazon goes Gaming

Amazon Singapore now has a dedicated gaming section – it’s a one-stop shop for video games, consoles, accessories and more. Some of the offers now include 20 per cent off an **Xbox Wireless Controller (Robot White) ** when you buy an Xbox Series S , 15 per cent off any two Playstation hits and 15 per cent off games like RingFit Adventure, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi’s Mansion 3 & more with the purchase of any Nintendo Switch Console .

Upcoming iOS updates

In the grand spirit of diversity and inclusion, Apple has removed the notion of a default voice, so you get to choose the voice you want from the start. They’ve also introduced two new Siri voices.

Apple has also issued an update to address a calibration bug that affects the accuracy of battery health estimates on the iPhone 11 series of phones. The update recalibrates the battery health reporting system and includes the reporting for maximum capacity and peak performance capability. Our understanding is that recalibration usually takes some time so affected users should install the update ASAP and wait a couple of weeks for the algorithm to work out the numbers accurately.

SHARP’s first e-store

SHARP also has its first e-store , which also features a variety of online-exclusive products that will not be available offline at physical retail stores. The store will also carry a host of online-exclusive products such as the SHARP Face Mask available only in Taiwan, the SHARP 8-Speed Foldable Bicycle, exclusive audio products and the SHARP Dynabook Laptop. You can also pre-order popular products – such as the Plasmacluster Humidifier – directly from SHARP before they are made available in Singapore and without having to get them via proxy through Amazon and the like.

LG Mobile bids goodbye

LG has officially exited the mobile businesses, but its mobile products will continue to be sold until they are depleted. LG has stated that it will continue to honour its warranty obligations and maintain a supply of service parts to support the current user base. OS upgrades are still scheduled for select models, while LG has said that it will ‘do its utmost’ to provide software updates and patches to prevent customer inconvenience.

Razer drops Kraken V3 X

The popular Razer Kraken X gets an upgrade in the form of upgraded audio drivers (Razer TriForce 40mm) and Chroma RGB bling. The new Kraken V3 X gaming headset users the same driver design as the BlackShark V2, and is a keenly-priced at $109.90. Available at major retailers and on Razer.com .

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Justin Choo

Justin lives for gadgets, even if there isn’t a circuit board inside. From pool cues to nerf blasters to paper card stock, there’s nothing he won’t obsess about if curiosity gets the better of him. A self-professed master of useless information (his words, not ours), he has spent the greater part of 13 years writing about technology (and grumbling about it), having worked with PC Magazine, Gadget3, T3 (not the airport terminal), Stuff and NXT (not the wrestling one) among others. He has also written all manner of topics for non-tech publications like Spirited Singapore (not the ghostly kind), Active Age, and The Robb Report, to name a few. (Be warned: he’ll sidetrack every conversation.)