Monthly Archives: April 2021

Computers, Gaming

Dell & Alienware Ryzen to the Occasion with All-new AMD Powered Line up

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It’s been over a decade since Alienware has released an AMD powered gaming laptop. Over a decade since the original Alienware Aurora mALX. In that time, gaming has taken a quantum leap with new experiences being more immersive than ever. That changes today with both Dell and Alienware announcing new AMD powered laptops.

The new laptops marry AMD’s revolutionary, performance and efficiency centered Zen 3 microarchitecture with NVIDIA’s graphics prowess to bring their best gaming experience yet. The Dell G15 Ryzen Edition and the redesigned Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition bring together some of Dell and Alienware’s best design with top of the line performance for gaming.

Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition

Alienware super charges their m15 line up with their signature technological features such as voltage gated cooling with the performance combo of AMD’s Ryzen 5000-H processors and NVIDIA’s RTX30 series graphics. All this power is packed into a slim 15-inch body with options to fit any gamers’ needs. On the display front, users get to choose from options including a QHD with 240Hz refresh rate and an FHD display wiht 360Hz refresh rate.

Smooth visuals and power packed performance is just the tip of the iceberg. The new Alienware m15 is also the first to come with Alienware’s new Legend 2.0 design language which features a sleeker silhouette and a new design feature called Dark Core. This darkens the interior shade of the laptop helping you focus on the game; while the new Silky-smooth High-Endurance paint formula will keep things clean and sleek. It is also the first 15-inch Alienware laptop to come with user upgradable 3200MHz DDR4 RAM. Of course, it will also feature the option for the new mechanical keyboard co-developed with Cherry MX with per key RGB lighting.

Dell G15 Ryzen Edition

Dell’s foray into AMD powered gaming laptops comes in the form of the Dell G15 Ryzen Edition. The new gaming laptop comes with Alienware inspired thermals which maximise airflow and improve cooling. Of course, the laptop comes with Dell Gaming’s signature “Game Shift” button which kicks the laptop into high gear. Similar to the Alienware m15, the Dell G15 Ryzen Edition comes with performance centric combination of AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors, NVIDIA’s RTX 30 Series graphics and user upgradable 3200MHz RAM. On the display front it will be coming with low blue light emitting displays with options for 120Hz or 165Hz refresh rates. Additional options for 360Hz displays will be coming later this spring according to Dell.

Pricing & Availability

Dell and Alienware haven’t announced the pricing for the laptops just yet. However, the Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition will be available in early May 2021. The Dell G15 Ryzen edition is expected to be available at the same time.

Business, Computers, Lifestyle, News

Google I/O 2021 is Happening Online and Completely Free in May 2021!

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Last year, plenty of conferences and keynotes did not happen. One of the most anticipated conferences that did not happen last year was Google’s I/O conference. We expected Google to launch a new line-up of Pixel smartphones as well in the 2020 edition of Google I/O. Of course, that did not happen.

This year is a year where all these big conferences are making a comeback though. Apple and E3 have made a commitment for an all-virtual WWDC 2021 and E3 2021 this year. They are also making the event available to attend completely for free. Google has just done the same.

Source: Google

As with any other year, Google is a little cryptic with their Google I/O conference and its event date. This year you have to solve some puzzles over in Google’s event page. They call it the punch card, and it is exactly that. With some guidance from 9To5Google, you should be able to breeze through the Punch Card puzzle and reveal the Google I/O dates.

Google’s I/O event for 2021 is also confirmed by Google’s own CEO, Sundar Pichai to be happening from the 18th May 2021 to the 20th May 2021. As with any other virtual conferences happening in 2021, Google I/O 2021 can be attended online completely free. You should be able to sign up right after you complete the puzzle for Google I/O.

We are still expecting a Google Pixel announcement out of Google I/O 2021’s keynote. Other than that, the three-day conference is filled with workshops and learning experiences. The best part of all of that, of course, is that they are all completely free. All-virtual also means that you can take your learning all from the comfort of your homes.

There are also some rumours of Google working on their own new-generation TWS earphones in the Google Pixel Buds A. Not much is known yet about the new TWS earphones from Google though. Of course, the TWS earphones will be compatible with Google Assistant and probably come with more functions than your average TWS earbuds.

As mentioned, Google I/O 2021 is happening May 18th, 2021 to May 20th, 2021 onward. The event will be held completely online, and attendance is free. The only catch is completing their puzzle.

PR Newswire

D-Link Secures Three Red Dot Awards for Outstanding Product Design

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D-Link unmanaged switch and two mydlink cameras win the Red Dot Award 2021

TAIPEI, April 8, 2021 — D-Link Corporation today revealed that their DMS-106XT Multi Gigabit Unmanaged Switch, DCS-8635LH 2K QHD Pan & Zoom Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera, and DCS-8526LH Full HD Pan & Tilt Pro Wi-Fi Camera received the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021. The DMS-106XT is D-Link’s latest unmanaged switch with five 2.5G Ethernet ports for uninterrupted, efficient connectivity, as well as one 10G Ethernet port for uplink or NAS connection. Its Smart Turbo Mode delivers Quality of Service and port-based priority for simultaneous multi-media services such as gaming and 4K streaming with just one click. The DCS-8635LH is an IP65 weather-resistant camera with 2K QHD resolution and 360-degree coverage with its motorized pan feature. AI-based features such as person detection, vehicle detection, and auto-person tracking ensure precise surveillance and protection of the home. D-Link’s DCS-8526LH is a surveillance camera with 360-degree views in true full HD quality and advanced features such as pan and tilt technology, edge-based person detection, auto-tracking motion, and panoramic viewing. The camera is also a 2021 Taiwan Excellence Award and 2020 iF Design Award winner.

"D-Link is honored and grateful to receive three product design awards this year from the internationally renowned Red Dot Award," expressed Mark Chen, President of D-Link. "This recognition further motivates us to continue producing products of the highest quality and innovation."

About The Red Dot Award

Dating back to 1955, the annual Red Dot Award: Product Design is awarded to products of out-standing design quality in roughly 50 different categories. 50 international experts judge the entries based on aesthetic appeal, function, intelligence, and innovation.

About D-Link

D-Link is a global leader in connecting people, businesses, and cities with our computer networking solutions and technology. Our innovative products and services meet the needs of digital home consumers, small to medium sized businesses, enterprise environments, and service providers. D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in switching, wireless, broadband, IP surveillance, and cloud-based network management. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer for over 30 years, D-Link has grown from a group of friends in Taiwan into a global brand with over 2,000 employees in 60 countries.

For more information, visit https://www.dlink.com/.

PR Newswire

Spinnaker Support Announces Full Year 2020 Performance Results

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DENVER, April 8, 2021 — Spinnaker Support, the world’s highest-rated provider of Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce support services, today announced performance highlights for its full fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. The continued strong growth of Spinnaker Support’s revenue, clients, staffing, and customer satisfaction present solid confirmation of its market appeal and recognition of its award-winning combination of third-party support and managed services.

Spinnaker Support is the fastest growing provider of third-party maintenance and managed services for Oracle and SAP applications
Spinnaker Support is the fastest growing provider of third-party maintenance and managed services for Oracle and SAP applications

2020 Highlights

  • Record Growth, Healthy Financials: Net new sales deals increased by 39.1% and revenue by 22.3% compared to FY 2019. The company retained a strong balance sheet and extended its streak of profitability to 48 quarters.
     
  • Satisfied, Loyal Customers: Annual customer satisfaction ticked up to 98.7%, and Net Promoter Score (NPS) reached 79. For 2020, the company earned a 4.9/5.0-star overall rating on Gartner Peer Insights, based on independent, verified customer reviews. 
     
  • Expanded Staffing: Employee count grew by 36% in 2020, with support resources added in all eight global support centers. Key leadership roles were filled in all areas. Employees rate working for the company with 4.9/5.0 stars on Glassdoor and demonstrated their loyalty with retention rates exceeding 92%.
     
  • New & Improved Services: Launched new managed service offerings for Salesforce CRM and SAP Business Intelligence. Innovative tools and technologies to improve enterprise security and decrease issue resolution time included Artificial Intelligence (AI) and proactive monitoring.

"2020 was another exceptional year for Spinnaker Support," said Matt Stava, CEO at Spinnaker Support. "We excelled in revenues, new customer acquisitions, existing customer retention, and the continuous building of our employee base and hiring key executive leaders. I am extremely proud of our accomplishments, which occurred despite unprecedented global pandemic and economic turbulence. Because we prioritize customers and take a flexible approach to contracting, we lost zero customers to the global downturn while earning a Stevie Award in recognition of our impressive COVID response customer service."

Record Revenues from More Global Customers

In 2020, Spinnaker Support’s customer count rose to just over 1,300. New customers included highly recognized and respected global brands spanning many industries, with 34% of new customers from enterprises headquartered outside of the United States. Additionally, existing customers consolidated their service requirements with Spinnaker Support, where 30.7% contracted for two or more of the company’s support services.

Eleven organizations switched to Spinnaker Support from rival third-party support vendors, citing a stronger security program, more flexible commercial contracts, and lack of legal risk. "It was easy to switch to Spinnaker Support. We gained contract flexibility, improved service quality with our own assigned support team, and now enjoy a friendly and collaborative relationship," said an Oracle Database Customer in the Environmental Services industry.

New and Enhanced Services to Meet Customer Demand

Spinnaker Support added and enhanced significant services to meet the evolving needs of its clients.

  • The SAP practice launched SAP Business Intelligence managed services packages and enhanced its Basis services offering, two critically underserved areas in the market.
  • The company announced the availability of Salesforce® application management and consulting services, immediately onboarding the first customers. Reviews on the Salesforce AppExchange are high and sales pipeline continues to expand.
  • The JD Edwards practice enhanced its existing managed services with a new 24/7 monitoring solution designed to proactively address emerging technical issues. "With our limited resources, it is reassuring to have Spinnaker Support’s 24/7 CNC managed services and monitoring working with us," said Roxanne Sikraji, Director of Technology, Jacobus Energy. "Through automated alerts, their global JD Edwards team often fixes a CNC issue before we’re even aware of it."

For the excellence of its existing and new services, Spinnaker Support’s operations teams received a record five Stevie Awards in 2020, including Customer Service Department of the Year, Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year, and Woman of the Year in Customer Service.

Building Towards the Future

Spinnaker Support onboarded a record number of new employees in all regions and nearly doubled the global tax and regulatory compliance team size.

To embrace growing market demand, Spinnaker Support appointed key executives with decades of industry experience. These included:

  • Chad Stewart, a veteran Salesforce consultant and team leader previously with Slalom Consulting, as the first Vice President of Global SaaS Support Services
     
  • Martin Biggs, former IBM executive as Vice President and General Manager of the EMEA region responsible for driving sales and operational management
     
  • Shaun Forshey, Vice President, Customer Success, formerly with Oracle and Microsoft and responsible for customer lifecycle management and delivering WOW customer experiences
     
  • Megan Morris, Vice President, Human Resources, a senior leader charged with helping Spinnaker Support rapidly scale its HR backbone during this period of immense growth
     
  • Brian Stanz, Vice President, JD Edwards Global Support Services, an operational leader with 30 years of development and business management experience for Oracle and JD Edwards

Customer Satisfaction Rises Again

Overall satisfaction increased to 98.7% in the annual customer survey, with high marks for service quality, technical and functional knowledge, and the understanding of customer’s business and unique environment. Customer loyalty remains unrivaled in the space, with a Net Promoter Score of 79, nearly twice the service industry average. Customer willingness-to-recommend exceeded 91%, illustrating the high regard of the growing customer base.

Customers cite the comprehensive, responsive service, which averaged <5-minute response time. "With SAP’s support, we never spoke with anyone," said Craig McBroom, Business Analyst at BancTec. "Now, with Spinnaker Support, it’s 3-4 times better than SAP was. We talk to real people who deliver real resolutions. It’s like you found the switch to the light in a dark room."

86.3% of annual survey respondents view Spinnaker Support as Critical or Important to the work they do. Korean-based Hanssem agreed: "Spinnaker Support is a partner that is verified and trusted from various angles. We are receiving professional support services, cutting costs, and have reallocated human resources. Even in the coronavirus era, we have been able to strengthen our core capabilities and improve our cash position."

"Since founding in 2008, we have not wavered from our mission of delivering ‘supportive support’ with integrity," said Stava. "We reinvest a high percentage of revenues into continuous improvement of service capabilities and value, exemplified by the fact that over 70% of employees work in customer-facing service roles. With an outstanding year like 2020, we invest more in the services that drive our customers’ business success. Our high customer satisfaction and loyalty scores reflect that level of dedication and outcomes."

About Spinnaker Support

Spinnaker Support is the leading global provider of third-party enterprise software support, managed services, and consulting for mid-size to Fortune 100 global enterprises. Recognized and respected brands that run Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce customers benefit from more responsive, comprehensive, and affordable services for their enterprise applications and technologies. Since 2008, our award-winning services, exacting standards, and unparalleled expertise have earned us the trust and loyalty of more than 1,300 organizations in 104 countries. To learn more about Spinnaker Support, visit our website.

Michelle Wilkinson
1-720-4575442
mwilkinson@spinnakersupport.com

Logo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/spinnaker-support-announces-full-year-2020-performance-results.jpg

PR Newswire

EV Carnivals – Ionix Technology gained two strategic partners in the field of electric vehicles

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LAS VEGAS, April 7, 2021 — Ionix Technology, Inc. (OTCQB: IINX), ("Ionix Technology", "IINX" or "the Company"), a business aggregator in photoelectric display and smart energy fields, today announced one of its subsidiaries, Huixiang Energy Technology  ("Huixiang") has entered strategic cooperative agreements with Gongjue Electric Vehicle("Gongjue") and HiBoss Electric Vehicle("HiBoss").

Huixiang was incorporated to focus on producing safe, fast charging and long life cycle Electric Vehicle ("EV") batteries, as well as developing its own online sharing platform. Gongjue and HiBoss will purchase power battery and battery packs from Huixiang according to the agreements. Huixiang will cooperate with Gongjue and HiBoss to develop the next generation batteries for EV with faster charge (10 mins charge, 600 KM performance), safer, longer endurance mileage and lower cost performances. Total investment in this project is estimated to be more than a billion RMB Yuan, of which approximately 25% will be necessary in the first phase and which is anticipated to give annual output of 50,000 vehicles. Gongjue and HiBoss will also engage the online sharing platform developed by Huixiang, which will offer online EV sharing services and EV sale services.

Mr. Zhou Xiang, Gongjue’s CEO, expressed the confidence in achieving next generation EV with Huixiang’s faster charging, lower cost and higher energy density power battery packs. HiBoss’s CEO, Mr. Chen Guofu, says "we will explore the urban-rural EV consumer market with batteries and battery packs produced by Huixiang".

Backgrounds: Jiangsu Gongjue Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd was founded in 2011 in Jiangsu Province. It is a high-tech enterprise in EV R&D and manufacture. With core innovation techniques and new materials and processes, Gongjue has developed lightweight EV and fast charging technology. HiBoss EV is a core industrial platform dedicated to the innovation of new energy automobile industry and the link of digital lifestyle. The company sets up Global Intelligent Travel company as the value bearing, establishing electric sport sedans, electric trucks, minicars and two-wheel eletric vehicles, to link urban and rural EV market.

Since 2021, the auto industry will be dominated by A-class, and new EV manufacture enterprises, according to Mr Cheng Li, CEO of IINX. He also said:" the participation of Gongjue and HiBoss will boost IINX to build up an ecological new energy vehicle closed-loop industry chain. We will jointly launch faster charging; longer endurance and lower cost energy vehicles to make our due contribution to the resolution to the issues of "Carbon Peaking" and "Carbon Neutral" faced by the world. We firmly believe IINX will have deeper existence space and larger market share in new energy automobile."

About Ionix Technology, Inc.

Ionix Technology, Inc. is a holding company that is principally engaged in the photoelectric display and smart energy industries. The company has seven operating subsidiaries: Changchun Fangguan Electronics Technology Co., Ltd, a company which has been focusing on R&D, manufacturing and marketing LCM and LCD. Changchun Fangguan Photoelectric Display Technology Co., Ltd, a company which specializes in developing, designing, and selling TN and STN LCD, STN, CSTN, and TFT LCD modules as well as other related products; Shenzhen Baileqi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, a company which specializes in LCD slicing, filling, researching and designing, and selling of LCD Modules (LCM) and PCBs; Lisite Science Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the marketing and selling of intelligent electronic devices; and Dalian Shizhe New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the new energy support service, and operating the photovoltaic power generation, electric vehicles and charging piles with corresponding operation and maintenance and three dimensional parking. Shijirun (Yixing) Technology Co., Ltd, a company engaged in new energy intelligent manufacturing and intelligent equipment industry. High intelligence of the equipment is a guarantee of high stability and consistency for EV and Energy storage battery. Huixiang Energy Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, engaged in R&D of next generation advanced battery technologies, manufacture and sales of relevant battery products, including the solid state rechargeable lithium ion battery for next generation EV and energy storage systems. Also operation of battery packs, battery systems and electric vehicles sharing business with its own internet sharing platform. Currently, IINX has embarked on the layout of industrialization and marketization of front end materials and back end modules of liquid crystal displays and applications of flexible folding display technology by taking Fangguan Electronics as production bases, to seize the market share of OLED high technology.

To learn more, please visit our website: www.theiinx.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. Ionix Technology assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Ionix Technology believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Ionix Technology’s annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lifestyle

Samsung Brings Its Newest TV Line Up To Malaysia

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Samsung’s new line up of Smart TVs and home entertainment systems was just recently announced internationally just recently. The line up, spearheaded by a new generation of Samsung’s Neo QLED equipped televisions is looking to fill up multiple niches in entertainment and fitness in the home. From TVs which adapt to content from your mobile phone to ones that blend into your decor to ones equipped for the ultimate entertainment experience, the new line up is built to address anyone.

Ultimate Entertainment with Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs & Brand New Micro LED TVs

The Neo QLED Televisions are built with ground breaking technology that not only allows for better picture quality but also for more energy saving benefits. The new micro layer light source allows for blacker blacks and brighter whites. This also creates better dynamic contrast and sharper, more realistic images. Paired with the latest generation of Samsung’s Neo Quantum 8K processor, the Neo QLED TVs will deliver every pixel of detail even from resolutions below 4K and 8K. This processor also allows users to get the best gaming experience optimising image quality and dynamic range for every detail on the screen. The Neo QLED TVs also bring 120Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution for smooth video transitions and quick response when gaming. The TVs are also capable of low latency mode, variable refresh rates and come with a treasure trove of other gaming centric features.

Of course, sound is important for complete immersion, Samsung’s new Neo QLED TV also come with Q Symphony which enhances the sound experience when used in tandem with a Samsung Soundbar. It immerses the user in object centered sound allowing you to hear sounds coming from all around you.

Source: Samsung

Sometimes bigger is better. Drawing its inspiration from Samsung’s The Wall LED panels, the new Micro LED TVs from Samsung stay true to a large form factor. Coming in 99-inch and 110-inch sizes, the Micro LED TVs are looking to bring a cinematic experience to homes. Its edge to edge design is made to immerse viewers in their content. The Infinity Screen also ensure that there are no jarring designs which may take away from your home’s design. You can even view multiple pieces of content with “4Vue”. With 4Vue you can have a game tutorial playing while you try to traverse that unbeatable stage or even keep an eye on all your Premiere League games at one go!

Seamless Integration with the Latest Lifestyle TVs

Samsung’s latest line up is completed with a slew of refreshes and improvements to their lifestyle TV line up. This year, the Frame takes center stage as it gets a much needed update and refresh. The Frame now comes with more options for its bezels allow it to blend into the decor better. If you need more functional space around the Frame, it also comes with more mounting options including the new Slim Fit Wall Mount. It is also slimmer this year coming in at half the thickness of previous iterations of The Frame.

Source: Samsung

It also brings a wider, more diverse selection of art in its Art Store with artwork now available from places like NAVA Contemporary and Etsy. It can also learn the artwork you like thanks to the new AI-based auto curation technology. This AI will recommend artwork based on your previous selections allowing you broaden your horizons and curate your own art pieces.

Keeping with the times, Samsung is also bringing its first triple laser projector. The aptly named The Premiere brings 4K resolution for your home cinema setup; the best part – you don’t have to have an unsightly chunk of machinery dangling from the ceiling. Samsung has designed a compact, minimalist body for the projector with a fabric finish to blend in with your interior. It’s also a short throw projector requiring at least 5-inches for projection.

Pricing & Availability

The new Samsung TV line up is available at Samsung Experience stores and retail partners. Prices are as listed below.

Neo QLED

SeriesModel       CategorySize (inch)RRP (RM)
QN900AQA85QN900AKXXMNEO QLED 8K8549,999
QN900AQA75QN900AKXXMNEO QLED 8K7536,999
QN900AQA65QN900AKXXMNEO QLED 8K6524,999
QN800AQA85QN800AKXXMNEO QLED 8K8532,999
QN800AQA75QN800AKXXMNEO QLED 8K7524,999
QN800AQA65QN800AKXXMNEO QLED 8K6518,999
QN90AQA85QN90AAKXXMNEO QLED8526,999
QN90AQA75QN90AAKXXMNEO QLED7519,999
QN90AQA65QN90AAKXXMNEO QLED6513,999
QN90AQA55QN90AAKXXMNEO QLED559,999
QN85AQA85QN85AAKXXMNEO QLED8522,999
QN85AQA75QN85AAKXXMNEO QLED7516,999
QN85AQA65QN85AAKXXMNEO QLED6511,999
QN85AQA55QN85AAKXXMNEO QLED558,499

Micro LED

SeriesModel       CategorySize (inch)RRP (RM)
MS1MNA110MS1ACXXMMicro LED110599,999
MS1MNA99MS1ACXXMMicro LED 8K99519,999

The Frame

SeriesModel       CategorySize (inch)RRP (RM)
LS03QA75LS03AAKXXMFrame 7513,499
LS03QA65LS03AAKXXMFrame 659,499
LS03QA55LS03AAKXXMFrame556,999
LS03QA50LS03AAKXXMFrame505,799
LS03QA43LS03AAKXXMFrame434,999
LS03QA32LS03TBKXXMFrame322,999

The Premiere

SeriesModel       CategorySize (inch)RRP (RM)
LSPSP-LSP9TKAXXMPremiere90~12039,999
LSPSP-LSP7TKAXXMPremiere100~13024,999
Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

SONOS and IKEA Developing New Hide-in-Plain-Sight Symfonisk Speakers

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If you are looking for a home audio solution today, SONOS will be one name you come across. The American based home audio solution has proven to be one of the most popular home audio brands today with innovative and high-quality products in their stables. They also make some of the best and minimalist looking speakers in the market currently.

IKEA should not be a name that is new to anyone too at this point. They made flat-packed furniture a thing. They are also currently the largest furniture retailer and manufacturer in the world. Every home in Malaysia will haven IKEA product no matter how small. I know my house has a few IKEA stuff. Heck, our office is filled with IKEA furniture.

The partnership between IKEA and SONOS is nothing new too though. IKEA and SONOS produced their first collaboration product, the SONOS Symfonisk Bookshelf WiFi speakers back in 2019. The only issue is that we do not get a lot of IKEA x whatever brand collaboration products in Malaysia.

SONOS and IKEA is back in collaboration to update their Symfonisk WiFi Speaker. This time though, it is not just a WiFi wirelss speaker. This time, the Symfonisk for 2021 is a table lamp too combined with an Apple HomePod lookalike speaker unit. The new Symfonisk speakers are not available in Malaysia at this time. If you have family members or friends in Singapore though, they can order it at SG$ 299 per piece and in either white or black colour options.

Apparently though this is not the only thing they have in their collaboration product pipeline. They are also making an art piece together that is supposed to double as an art piece you can hang on your home walls, or office walls for that matter. This is not the first art piece speaker per say, but of course IKEA will make it more affordable and more flat-pack friendly than anything that came before.  

Those are also the only details anyone cares to share on their current collaboration products. Of course, if you already have SONOS products at home, you can pair them to the Symfonisk speakers for surround sound purposes or as connected speakers throughout the home. There are also no details yet on whether the Symfonisk speakers will ever make it to Malaysia. With SONOS making a big push in the region, here is hoping that IKEA Malaysia starts bringing in the SONOS x IKEA Symfonisk products.

Accessories, Consumer Electronics, News

LG Launches 2021 Soundbars – Apple AirPlay 2, AI Sound Pro, The Lot

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We are still reeling from LG’s big announcement with their mobile business unit. Yesterday they told the world that they are backing out from the smartphone market. They are still active in other areas though. For example, they are still a strong player in the home audio market.

They have just introduced their new line-up of soundbars for 2021. Of course, they come with even more features and before to really complete your audio experience. They also still come with everything that made the older soundbars great too. For one, you still get Meridian technology.

LG’s new 2021 soundbars introduces Meridian’s Horizon technology though. The technology cleverly mixes regular dual channel to virtually create a multichannel experience for true immersion when it comes to music and even movies regardless of their position. Meridian’s technology and tuning also shines in the soundbar’s Music Mode.

The LG soundbars for 2021 now supports Dolby Atmos and DRS:X audio. That also means you get more dynamic audio and immersion from the soundbars. If you have a Dolby Vision certified 4K TV, the soundbars adjust themselves to optimise audio and picture experience. Your Netflix set-up at home just got even better.

What is a modern soundbar without its smart features? The 2021 soundbars is compatible with Google Asisstant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri. With support for Apple AirPlay 2, the soundbars can now control their favourite contents directly from their Apple iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.

To make your audio experience even more immersive and even better is LG’s clever AI features on the soundbar. The new 2021 soundbars packs their own clever Room Calibration tool that utilises its AI to optimise your audio experience no matter the kind of room you work with. Using a combination of its multiple mics and speaker units, the AI measures it own space and adjusts itself according to the room. In combination with the AI Sound Pro feature, the soundbar cleverly adjusts its frequency range and field extensions depending on contents to optimise your audio experience even more.

The 2021 LG soundbars are Hi-Res Audio certified supporting 24-bit/96kHz audio playback. The soundbars get HDMI eARC compatibility as well for high bitrate, high-resolution content playback and of course, Dolby Atmos audio. There is also USB playback as well as Bluetooth connectivity for a wider flexibility in terms of audio sources.

The new 2021 LG soundbar line-up will be available in Europe and North American market this month onward. There is no official pricing announced just yet even for the key markets. There are also no local (Malaysia) availability information yet for the soundbars. We are looking at a third quarter availability in Malaysia though. The new product line-up includes SP11RA (7.1.4), SP9WA (5.1.2), SP8YA (3.1.2), SP7Y (5.1), and SPD7Y (3.1.2). For more information on LG’s 2021 line-up of soundbars, you can head over to their website.

PR Newswire

TMRW launches TMRW Creators Camp to help millennials with a passion for content creation make tomorrow theirs

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BANGKOK, April 7, 2021 — TMRW by UOB, the first mobile-only bank for ASEAN’s digital generation, has launched TMRW Creators Camp, to equip millennials with skills and knowledge to further their dream career of being a content creator.

Mr Natee Srirussamee, Head of Retail Digital, UOB Thailand
Mr Natee Srirussamee, Head of Retail Digital, UOB Thailand

TMRW, in collaboration with RAiNMaker, Thailand’s leading content creator community, and a day magazine, Thailand’s cutting-edge content publisher, will organise a series of training workshops on digital content creation from May to June 2021. The TMRW Creators Camp is open to anyone who is currently pursuing a career as a professional content creator. Applicants must have their own YouTube or Facebook channel with at least 1,000 followers.  

Mr Natee Srirussamee, Head of Retail Digital, UOB Thailand, said, "As a mobile-only bank designed specifically for ASEAN’s digital generation, our goal from day one has always been to support our customer’s aspirations. From smart financial solutions to initiatives such as the TMRW Creators Camp, we want to give our customers a leg-up as they pursue their ambitions.

"With Thai consumers close to three hours on average on social media channels such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok[1] and as more companies and businesses redirect their advertising spend on digital channels[2],  a career as a digital content creator can be a dynamic and sustainable one. We hope that through the TMRW Creators Camp, participants will be able to develop or enhance their digital skills and learn how to engage their audiences better to succeed in their chosen career path."

TMRW Creators Camp is open for application from 1 April to 20 April 2021. Applicants should send a short video introducing themselves and why they wish to join the TMRW Creators Camp through TMRW website.

Up to 100 successful applicants will be invited to attend four virtual workshops that cover the main elements of digital content creation including storytelling, creativity in content, creating video content and conducting a live steaming. They must attend all workshops and complete all assignments on the given topics. The workshops are hosted by prominent content creators in Thailand namely Aou Spin9, Ayashi Channel, Boom Tharis, Cee Chatpawee, Codie, Eddy, Ken Nakarin, and Softpomz.

At the end of the four workshops, ten finalists who have had that highest grade in their assignments based on the creativity, engagement and production quality, will be invited to join a masterclass. During this masterclass, they will have the opportunity to learn from legendary content creators such as Nong Wongtanong, co-founder of a day magazine and The Standard, Rawit Hanutsaha, a successful entrepreneur behind the famous blog "Mission to the Moon", and Suthichai Yoon, one of the most established and influential journalists in the country.

The winner will be awarded cash and content production equipment such as a digital camera, laptop and wireless microphones worth about 1 million baht to support their own professional content creation careers.

For more information about the TMRW Creators Camp and application criteria, please visit www.tmrwbyuob.com/tmrwcreatorscamp  and TMRW Thailand Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tmrwthailand.

[1] Source: ‘Digital 2020: Thailand’, We Are Social and Hootsuite, 2020

[2] Digital advertising spend in Thailand has grown by double digits over the last five year. In 2020, Facebook received the highest proportion of advertising spend (32 per cent), followed by YouTube (21 per cent). Source: Digital Advertising Association (Thailand), 2020

 

Related Links :

http://www.uobgroup.com

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WhatsApp Finally Looks Into Moving Messages between iOS & Android

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You know that age-old question: “How do I get my WhatsApp messages?” especially when your friends move from an Android smartphone to an iPhone or vice versa? Well, it looks like that may become a thing of the past with an upcoming update to the Facebook-owned app. The new feature was first reported by WABetaInfo which also reported the emergence of multi-device support earlier.

The new feature seems to be under development for a future update. However, like a few updates that have been tracked in the past, there’s no guarantee that the feature will come to the app. That said, the update seems to be built on top of the multi-device feature that seems to be making its way to the app soon. It wouldn’t be hard to see the feature being rolled out after the multi-device feature debuts or together with the feature. It looks like the interplatform synchronisation will be implemented as a real-time chat migration which might indicate that users may need to be signed in to both devices for migration to be done.

Source: WABetaInfo

Chat migration between Android and iOS isn’t impossible at the moment. However, it requires the use of third-party apps that may put user data at risk. In addition, migration of the messages itself is a violation of WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. Before, backing up chats and migrating between the platforms wasn’t such a complicated process. In fact, users could back up or restore messages from Google Drive or other cloud storage services. However, the feature was limited to Apple’s iCloud when Apple and WhatsApp tightened data protection policies on their platforms.