Afghanistan rulers are absent at the UN Human Rights Council meeting as Taliban are not recognised by the global body
For now, let's set our sights - and, more importantly, our ears - on the Desire 10 Lifestyle. As you may have heard, this new smartphone's key feature is its audio capability. Built with HTC's very own BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition, it has now been clubbed with 24-bit high-resolution audio as well. This, coupled with a treble speaker on top and a subwoofer below, promises crisp sound - which it actually delivers. Crank it up to max and you could find yourself stomping to the beat, or slap on your headsets and start bobbing along.
With a mid-ranger, you can expect lesser performance than the big boys in the field - but it's nowhere near what you'd call 'significantly sluggish'. A Snapdragon 400 processor is in place, plus a 2GB/16GB or 3GB/32GB RAM/storage combo. If either isn't enough for you, an up-to-2TB microSD slot is available. While videos do run smoothly, loading of certain apps - especially heavy games - will cause some lags.
The main camera produces good images, but snaps can be grainy in low-light situations. Good news for selfie maniacs though: its front shooter produces some pretty decent results.
The device's HD 5.5-inch screen clocks in at 720p, enough for a decent display and brightness, but it won't be able to rival higher displays, of course. Case in point: at its brightest settings, you could experience some difficulty peeking at it under direct sunlight.
HTC claims that you can enjoy up to eight hours of juice, watching videos on the handset. During my test, I watched a two-hour movie with full brightness and Wi-Fi on, and it snuffed out about 35 per cent of power, meaning that it was on pace for under six hours. During my normal gung-ho mixed-use, however, it lasted a little less than a day-and-a-half.
One final thing: the phone's design was inspired by the Art Deco movement. While not a major overhaul compared to other HTC devices, the move gives it a more premium look - though it does feel a bit thick in your hand. The black-with-gold-lining combo is quite appealing.
AND SO.
HTC is doing the right thing in trying to capture more of the mid-market segment. The Desire 10 Lifestyle ticks all the boxes for the vertical, with great sound as an added bonus. If you're not a heavy user and/or could care less about the crispness of the display, you've got a bargain here. You can test it out and listen to what it offers; afterwards, maybe you can listen to your wallet as well.
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, quad-core 1.6GHz
Platform: Android 6.0 Marshmallow (upgradeable) with HTC Sense
Memory: RAM - 3GB; storage - 32GB; up to 2TB microSD (2GB/16GB in other markets)
Display: 5.5" HD Super LCD with Gorilla Glass
Camera: Main - 13MP with autofocus; front - 5MP
Audio: HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi, Hi-Res-certified, Dolby Audio
Battery: 2700mAh, up to 50h audio, 8h video, 28d standby
Connectivity: Up to 4G LTE; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1; dual nano-SIM; micro-USB, 3.5mm jack
Price: Dh999
Pros: Affordable; decent performance; great sound
Cons: Not USB Type-C; battery could've been better; screen not as bright
Author's rating: 8/10
GAME ON
ReCore (Xbox One)
After 200 years of cryo-sleep, Joule Adams awakes to find that their terraforming plans on a planet called Far Eden didn't exactly pan out the way they wanted it to, and everyone - including her father - is gone. She's left with Mack, a dog-like "Corebot", who serves as her friend and combat ally.
Skilled in battle and armed with an upgradable laser-ball-firing gun, Joule can reel in enemy cores, and also upgrade Mack and other Corebots she discovers along the way. But not all Corebots are friendly.
The characters seem to lean towards the anime side. The game was executive-produced by Keiji Inafune - the Capcom legend responsible for the Mega Man series. ReCore's semi-open world setting is, therefore, what you would expect, although I find the deserts of Far Eden a bit boring.
There are also side missions in three types of dungeons, which will test your platforming, combat and puzzle-solving skills. (Far too many, I feel.) The real test, however, is the game's loading times; these are significantly longer than what you're used to.
It's an interesting game with a plot that will spike your curiosity and get tougher as you advance. Also, it only costs Dh169 here ($39.99). Why so cheap? Simple: ReCore is a new franchise, and wants to prove itself to gamers. An enjoyable game but, yep, a lot of proving to do.
alvin@khaleejtimes.com
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