Huawei just released a lineup of new products

Huawei Consumer Business Group today hosted the Huawei Seamless AI Life New Products Global Launch event, where the company announced six new products that further enrich the 1+8+N all-scenario ecosystem.

The new products revealed during today’s keynote include: HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro and HUAWEI FreeLace Pro, new pro-variants of the highly acclaimed audio products featuring improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), new designs, and user-centric features; HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro and HUAWEI WATCH FIT, the latest entries to Huawei’s wearable product line-up with striking aesthetics, new fitness data tracking features and workout modes; and HUAWEI MateBook X and HUAWEI MateBook 14, two new lightweight notebooks that revolutionize mobile productivity with compact form factors and smart experiences enabled by the innovative Huawei Share feature.

During the keynote, Huawei also reaffirmed its commitment to the All-scenario Seamless AI Life Strategy and working with partners to nurture the 1+8+N ecosystem. The products launched today are all designed to bring a more cohesive connected experience to consumers in their everyday lives, in scenarios ranging from work, health and fitness to audio entertainment, echoing Huawei’s mission to build a better connected world.

Richard Yu, Executive Director and CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, said: “Great user experiences are always founded on innovation, but our journey of innovation always begins and ends with consumers. In the future, we will continue working with our valued partners to offer more smart and high-quality experiences to consumers worldwide.”

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro & HUAWEI FreeLace Pro: ANC and immersive audio on demand

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro are the world’s first true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones to support intelligent dynamic noise cancellation. Featuring hardware and software integrated solution, the new TWS earphones intelligently identify the type of ambient noise based on the user’s immediate surroundings and switch between three profiles – General, Cosy and Ultimate – to offer the optimal noise-cancelling performance. Further, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro delivers the best noise-canceling performance yet on a Huawei audio product with an industry-leading noise cancellation rating of 40dB. Dual Connection with Android, iOS, and Windows smart systems means users can seamlessly switch between devices without being tied to one brand, and the new gesture control enables users to easily take control of the earphones by performing a swipe or a pinch on the cubic earphone stem.

Also announced during the event, the new HUAWEI FreeLace Pro offers great audio and a stylish design. Supporting noise cancellation up to 40dB, the neckband earphones take advantage of industry-leading algorithms to provide stable noise-canceling performance in any situation. HUAWEI FreeLace Pro features a pair of 14mm aluminium-magnesium alloy dynamic drivers with bass tubes to offer the high fidelity audio for the ideal listening experience. Pairing and charging are as seamless as ever with HUAWEI HiPair, a Huawei-developed solution that lets users easily do both at the same time by plugging the earphones to a smartphone with a USB-C port. A five-minute charge gives enough battery to sustain five hours of music playback, and a full charge offers a full day’s use.

HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro & HUAWEI WATCH FIT: practical pro-grade features for everyday use

Huawei continues to expand the HUAWEI WATCH family with new products that are steeped in innovations that add scientific flair to make keeping fit and healthy easy.

The new HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro not only comes with features that consumers have come to love on the HUAWEI WATCH GT Series, but the elegantly modern smartwatch also offers up to two weeks of battery life, more than 100 workout modes, plus pro-grade fitness data tracking features.

Health tracking features are at their most advanced yet with the upgraded HUAWEI TruSeen 4.0+ providing more accurate heart rate readings. Huawei has introduced new workout modes including Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, and Golf Driving Range. These join the existing range to provide users with real-time performance tracking and analyses for professional sports.

The new flagship smartwatch launches with a rugged design featuring premium materials, including a sapphire watch crystal, titanium case, and skin-friendly ceramic case back that combines with another sapphire glass black to enhance monitoring accuracy and wearing comfort. Additionally, HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro supports apps to provide a convenient means for users to get even more features. Huawei also plans to further augment the smart experience on offer in the future.

Launched alongside the HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro, HUAWEI WATCH FIT is the first Huawei sports smartwatch to feature a rounded rectangular watch face design. The smartwatch combines a dazzling 1.64-inch AMOLED display, which lends itself to displaying more content and a better interaction experience.

At 34g, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT feels as light as a sports wristband. The watch features newly upgraded HUAWEI TruSeen 4.0 heart rate technology, which leverages Huawei’s own multi-sensor AI neural network algorithm and advanced PPG components to provide more accurate, 24-hour heart monitoring to track changes in blood oxygen, sleep and stress conditions. All the data is also analyzed to generate fitness advice that helps users lead better, healthier lives.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT is the first Huawei smartwatch to support Quick-workout Animations. By combining 44 standard fitness routines (including fat burn, shoulder muscle relief, body sculpting, and other routines) into 12 animations, this feature provides a quick and easy way for users to work out at a moment’s notice. HUAWEI WATCH FIT offers 13 running classes that are specifically tailored for jogging enthusiasts. Running pace is analyzed scientifically with results provided in real-time to help users optimize their workout. Further, as the ideal outdoor companion, the smartwatch comes with 96 workout modes, built-in GPS, and 5ATM water resistance.

While compact, the device supports up to 10-day battery in typical scenarios. HUAWEI WATCH FIT also supports Huawei’s fast charging technology. Five minutes of charging can provide enough charge to sustain the smartwatch for an entire day of typical use.

HUAWEI MateBook X & HUAWEI MateBook 14: mobile productivity redefined

The latest entry to Huawei’s flagship PC product line, HUAWEI MateBook X combines the flagship series’ iconic design and innovative technology with an improved lightweight design and smart features. Weighing just 1kg, the lightweight notebook measures just 13.6mm at its thickest part and is smaller than a piece of A4 paper, so users can easily slide it into a backpack and carry it with them wherever they go.

The new HUAWEI MateBook X is the first notebook to feature the 3K Infinite FullView Display, realized with a borderless design that offers an immersive viewing experience and stunning image quality. The display is also multitouch-enabled with gesture support such as Fingers Gesture Screenshot, which lets users quickly take a screenshot by swiping downwards on the screen with three fingers, as easy as it is on a smartphone.

Powered by a 10th Generation Intel Core processor, the new flagship notebook delivers the performances needed for daily tasks. The touchpad is 26-percent larger compared to the previous generation for better ease-of-use, and now features HUAWEI Free Touch to offer full haptic feedback. The new full-size keyboard features scissors switches that offer 1.3mm of key travel to make typing a joy, and comes with two tweeters and woofers forming a quad-speaker sound system that provides immersive surround sound right in front of the user.

Based on Huawei’s distributed technology, the improved Multi-screen Collaboration adds even more versatility to the HUAWEI MateBook X, allowing users to more seamlessly tap into the capabilities of multiple devices at once. Accessing the feature is easier than ever with the Huawei Share tag now embedded into the improved touchpad. Users can control both the PC and a paired smartphone on a single screen, make a video or audio calls on the notebook, transfer files between the devices, or even edit files saved on the smartphone directly using the PC. Huawei smartphone users can also take advantage of Instant Hotspot to connect their notebook to the Internet via tethering.

HUAWEI MateBook X is also the first Huawei notebook to support Wi-Fi 6, which features three times the data transfer speed of Wi-Fi 5 for faster connectivity and better productivity.

All these new innovations stem from Huawei’s insight into new user demands of this generation, which Huawei refers to as “mobile productivity 3.0.” In this era, users are no longer satisfied with hardware iterations. Instead, they demand PCs that offer cross-platform, smart, and high-efficiency features that synergize with other devices.


During the virtual launch, Huawei also unveiled HUAWEI MateBook 14, the benchmark of high-performance laptops in the era of mobile productivity 3.0. Featuring a highly portable design and powerful performance, HUAWEI MateBook 14 integrates the AMD Ryzen 4000 H Series processor, with HUAWEI Shark Fin Fans delivering superior thermal performance even under intense workloads. Besides performance, it has a 2K HUAWEI FullView Display and supports smart features including Multi-screen Collaboration to help consumers stay productive on the road.

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Mortal Shell review: A SoulsBorne game with its own appeal

08/26/2020

FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series and Bloodborne have already become a genre of their own. While they’re technically action role-playing games, they’ve become known as ‘SoulsBorne’ genre that combine stamina-based combats, a steep learning curve, and higher than average difficulty.

This kind of gameplay quickly formed a following so naturally, more similar titles came out. You have Nioh, Ashen, and Code Vein to name a few, with the recent one being Mortal Shell that was just released in mid-August of 2020.

It’s a SoulsBorne-inspired game at its core but promises some unique aspects in its gameplay. Join us in our review.

Story, Character Design, and Weapons

The swampy forest of Fallgrim serves as your main hub and connects three core dungeons of the game where you battle bosses and progress the story.

The game starts you off with an undead-like form that can barely take damage — basically, a single strike from an enemy will end your existence. Your survival depends on taking possession of the corpse of four dead warriors which you find scattered across Fallgrim.

Those bodies you possess will become your “shell” and these shells have different builds that you can explore and level up. Each of them has different attributes as well. For example, the first shell you possess in the game has very balanced attributes while other shells have higher stamina or higher health.

Early on in the game, you will arrive in Fallgrim Tower. This tower houses many of the game’s NPCs (non-player character) and you can interact, buy items, and unlock new abilities for your shell. In addition to that, this is a place to swap shells or weapons and even upgrade your weapons through a workbench.

The game’s environment is designed well. Various locations of the game have their own look and style and I was amazed at the size of the game’s world especially knowing that the game comes from Cold Symmetry — a small group with limited budget and manpower.

Character design for the game looks familiar to the Dark Souls series, but at the same time, have unique elements in them. Additionally, the game looks fantastic on Unreal Engine 4.

However, I was disappointed with the selection of weapons in the game as it only has four weapons to choose from. Although I usually stick to only one weapon when I play Dark Souls and Bloodborne, it’s still nice to have the option of choosing from an array of weapons to know which of these suits your play style.

Item familiarity and exploration

This game introduces a new but welcome mechanic for items. Whenever you loot, you initially wouldn’t know right away what its effects are and you first have to use it in order to discover its purpose. Plus, there’s a familiarity aspect that changes the item’s effects.

One example would be eating a poisonous mushroom. Consuming it for the first time damages your character because, well, it’s poison. But as you max out your familiarity on that item, you gain poison protection from it instead. It is an interesting and fresh mechanic that forces you to explore different areas of the game in order to find items and their effects. This also eliminates the tendency to hoard items throughout the gameplay.

In addition to that, you can collect other shells and switch up your play style by exploring Fallgrim. This game really encourages exploration and gives you great satisfaction every time you discover or familiarize your character with a fresh item. By curiously trying items for the first time and eventually learning all about its effects, you get a sense of accomplishment and it makes you want to do it more.

There were times when I spent hours just exploring Fallgrim’s tombs, shrines, and crypts looking for secret areas and items. I lost track of time admiring its mysterious and spooky environment and just completely forgetting about the story or combats altogether. There are simply so many things to discover that it was somewhat overwhelming in the beginning until you find your bearings.

This kind of game exploration is great, but not without faults. I personally find it frustrating that the swampy forest of Fallgrim looks the same everywhere I go. It doesn’t have any distinct markings or rock formations of any kind to familiarize yourself with. This results in me usually going around in circles just to find a new area. It could also well be intentional to add to the game’s difficulty but I’d say it could’ve been executed better.

Similarities and differences to Darks Souls and Bloodborne

It’s true that putting this game side-by-side the Dark Souls series or Bloodborne game has a lot of similarities when it comes to the game interface, art style, character, and design.

It has the same set of moves — a quick light attack, a slow heavy attack, and dodge that similar games have. And when you die, you’ll drop your experience points and will be left for you to pick it up in the spot where you last died.

Yes, it carries the SoulsBorne DNA, but to be fair to Cold Symmetry, they did add new interesting mechanics for the game to have a flavor of its own.

For one, your character does not have a Block command in its combat system. Instead, it has a Harden function that lets your body become invincible for one enemy strike. However, this has a cooldown before you can use it again to keep you from spamming it. It’s an interesting feature since it allows you to perform cinematic moves and combos like using Harden in between swings to deflect your enemy’s attack and then continue on with your combo flawlessly.

This ability is pretty useful during boss battles. But at the same time, it does make combat easier than what I am accustomed to from playing SoulsBorne games.

You also have the ability to deflect your enemies’ attack by timing it. Each successful deflect and counter-attack adds health to your life bar but, at the same time, each successful deflect decreases your Resolve meter. So it’s basically a balance of deflecting and using your weapon’s abilities.

I noticed that the enemy movement is slow and easy to predict. Again, making enemy encounters easier than Dark Souls or Bloodborne. Additionally, when you die, your undead form will be knocked out of your shell but if you can make it back without being hit by an enemy, you regain full health and serves as your second chance. But of course, you can’t exploit it as it’s available to use only once until you reach the next checkpoint or your character respawns from death.

But the game balances this out by making other aspects more challenging. It doesn’t have fixed health restoration items like Dark Souls’ Estus Flask. Instead, you can find healing items throughout Fallgrim but it only heals a small amount of your health.

Sester, the game’s checkpoint similar to Dark Souls’ bonfire, are placed far apart. If you die before reaching another Sester you’ll have to start over from your last Sester’s location. Furthermore, this game doesn’t give you the option to manual save and it forces you to only save your progress through autosaves — thus making it more difficult for the players.

Final Thoughts

Mortal Shell shares a handful of similarities to the Dark Souls series and Bloodborne game. Although, at the same time, adds its unique touch of gameplay. Despite its flaws, I can say the exploration aspect of this game is one of the best in its genre.

As the game only has four shells, four weapons, four main areas, four minor bosses, and four main bosses, my one big disappointment when I finished this game is the feeling of just wanting more — more shells, more weapons, more areas to discover, and more bosses to fight.

I couldn’t fault the small team of developers, though. Rather, I want to congratulate them since I’m impressed with how much quality content the game has and I’m actually excited to see more games from Cold Symmetry in the future.

If you’re looking for a solid action RPG with a reasonable price, I recommend checking this game out.  It’s not the greatest SoulsBorne game out there, but with just a price of US$ 29.99, its hard to ask for more.

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