Yearly Archives: 2021

PR Newswire

BANDAI NAMCO Group’s Co-creation Program, “GUNDAM x Future Technology,” to Face Social Issues; “GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION” Application Period Extended

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TOKYO, Sept. 24, 2021 — Special Content from Directors behind Yokohama’s "moving GUNDAM" Available through Official Website; New Application Period: July 15-October 15, 2021–

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BANDAI NAMCO Group has begun a GUNDAM-powered, sustainability project, "GUNDAM UNIVERSAL CENTURY DEVELOPMENT ACTION (GUDA)," and brought together fans worldwide along with many external partners to plan and take upon a variety of initiatives for the children of the future. As part of the initiative, "GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION" was established in an effort to gather new ideas and technologies that can face the many issues found within society such as population and global environmental problems. To further promote the initiative, a decision has been made to extend the application period for one additional month.

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Official Website: https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/guda/goi/en/

What is "GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION"?

"GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION" is a program to create future dreams and hopes by revisiting the similarities between the real world and the fictional era of GUNDAM, the "Universal Century," and merging "GUNDAM" with "future technologies" to face the social issues that exist in both worlds.

The vast world of GUNDAM is filled with untapped technologies and possibilities that have yet to become reality. Under the concept of bringing creativity, knowledge, and passion together to bring these fictional technologies and possibilities into reality, an open invitation is being extended to the public to gather innovative ideas and technologies under the theme and field of sustainability to face subjects pertaining to a futuristic society, such as population and global environmental issues, along with looking into space as a viable frontier.

An initial invitation for application was announced back in July this year, with the first-phase deadline set on Sunday, August 15, and a second-phase application deadline set on Wednesday, September 15. An overwhelming amount of applications was received, with many requests for an extended deadline. Under the concept of receiving as many ideas as possible, a third-phase deadline has been decided and set for Friday, October 15, with hope of seeing more ideas to come.

During this opportunity, BANDAI NAMCO would like everyone around the world to consider applying. The initiative is open to everyone worldwide as BANDAI NAMCO looks for a brighter place in the future.

"GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION" interview video by Chief GUNDAM Officer (CGO), Koji Fujiwara, and the directors of the Yokohama "moving GUNDAM"

An interview video is now available to the public, featuring BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Corporate Managing Director and CGO, Koji Fujiwara, who is hosting "GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION," and the directors behind the "moving GUNDAM" that was built last year in Yokohama: Akinori Ishii, Wataru Yoshizaki (Asratec Corp. Director and Chief Robot Creator), and Masaki Kawahara (NOMURA Co., Ltd. Content Integration Center/NOTORA Creative Director).

In the interview, Yoshizaki mentions that, should he participate in the "GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION" initiative, he would like to develop a machine that recreates the robotic movements depicted within the GUNDAM series such as Zaku’s dexterous and delicate finger motions.

Fujiwara makes mention that, instead of merely recreating the scenes from the GUNDAM brand, he would like to focus on matters that can lead to causes of good, while finding solutions to societal issues under the main objective of "GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION," which is to incorporate the charm of the GUNDAM brand so that its initiatives can spread throughout the world.

The interview also brings up what the future of GUNDAM holds and how BANDAI NAMCO pushed out the GUNDAM brand in the form of products and services. Fujiwara mentions that, by communicating with GUNDAM fans, he would like to grow GUNDAM from being an IP (Intellectual Property) into an SP (Social Property), an iconic figure for society.

Official "GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION" website: https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/guda/goi/en/

"GUNDAM OPEN INNOVATION" will be looking forward to many co-creative plans to bring about a vision that will create a sustainable future society with GUNDAM.

*The information herein represents the information according to the date of the press release. Information may be updated without notice after release.

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Related Links :

https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/

PR Newswire

Strategic Investment in proteanTecs from Industry Leaders MediaTek and Advantest Joined by Porsche Automobil Holding SE to Advance Electronics Health Monitoring

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Validates need for multi-segment visibility from production to system operation

HAIFA, Israel, Sept. 24, 2021 — proteanTecs, a global leader in deep data solutions for advanced electronics, announced today a $50 million extension to their Growth Equity Round, demonstrating accelerated market adoption of system health and performance monitoring across multiple verticals. The round extension was led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) and joined by strategic investors MediaTek and Advantest, together with Porsche SE, the major shareholder of Volkswagen Group, and Allied Group subsidiary Champion Motors, as well as current investors. This brings the company’s total funding to $150 million.

 

Based on deep data derived from Universal Chip Telemetry™ (UCT), proteanTecs provides cloud and edge enterprise SW solutions for electronics’ health and performance monitoring. Addressing end-to-end needs of mission-critical markets, the company serves some of the largest and most technologically innovative companies in Datacenter, Automotive and Communications.

proteanTecs onboards leading investors from multiple verticals
proteanTecs onboards leading investors from multiple verticals

The strategic investment reinforces the growing need for full lifecycle visibility, spanning all segments of the electronics industry. Eli Groner, managing director at KDT, commented: "Since KDT’s first investment in proteanTecs we’ve seen their continued success in scaling and developing their technology, and this new investment is a testament to our confidence in the company. The addition of leading strategic partners across multiple verticals will enable proteanTecs to continue to stay ahead of the curve in the exciting new world of real time electronics monitoring."

One of the main forces driving the paradigm shift to an integrative approach is the automotive industry, which is entering the next phase of its electrification, driven by rising customer demands for safety and connectivity.

Lutz Meschke, member of the board of management responsible for investment management at Porsche SE, said: "Due to the fast-paced technological advancements and the ever-growing requirements for new chip generations, we see an enormous market potential for proteanTecs’ technology leveraging predictive reliability, performance and power management. We see clear benefits and the necessity for the use of this technology across a wide range of industries including the automotive industry." 

Spurred by the progress of the digital revolution, and driven by complexities in design and manufacturing, advanced analytics are also transforming the way production testing is performed. Advantest, a leading manufacturer of automatic test equipment, is strategically reinforcing its core business by integrating traditional silos across the product lifecycle through cloud-based data.

"We are excited to add proteanTecs to our investment portfolio, and to welcome their collaboration in the Advantest Cloud Solutions’ open solution ecosystem", said Doug Lefever, president and CEO of Advantest America.  "The way we are addressing test today has changed. We are strategically transitioning to an integrated methodology, leveraging cloud and edge analytics based on multiple data sources. We look forward to working with proteanTecs on the next phase of semiconductor test, finding innovative and scalable ways to shape the future of test platforms."

Versatile deployment of advanced electronics is another key dynamic driving collaboration. MediaTek, a global semiconductor leader, enjoyed first mover advantage in AI and 5G, providing chipsets for smart home, connectivity, IoT and wearable, ASIC and smart mobile devices.

"The investment in proteanTecs aligns with our commitment to bring cross-platform technologies that help connect users to the world around them", said Brian Hsu, Managing Partner of MediaTek Capital. "Robust, high-efficiency and low-power-consumption ICs are key to driving a scalable digital future. We believe synergies from strong technology portfolios and proteanTecs’ predictive performance capabilities will grow product value and enable unique competitive advantages."

The addition of strategic investors comes on the heels of a momentous year for proteanTecs. In 2020-2021, the company onboarded key customers, including cloud hyperscalers, leading system OEMs, disruptive fabless startups, and ASIC houses, enabling the formation of a value-add solution portfolio. The extended financing will be used to fuel global expansion, accelerate product development, and pursue strategic collaborations.

"The investment will strengthen proteanTecs’ technological and market leadership", said Shai Cohen, CEO and co-founder of proteanTecs. "It solidifies our strategy of bringing together market leaders’ diverse view points to solve a cross-stake challenge, while validating the need for advanced monitoring solutions from design to field. We’re grateful for the existing and new investors’ support and shared vision to bring a common data language to the industry."

About Porsche SE

Porsche Automobil Holding SE ("Porsche SE") is a listed investment company and a major shareholder of Volkswagen AG, in which Porsche SE holds 53.3 percent of ordinary shares and 31.4 percent of capital. In addition to the core holding in Volkswagen AG, Porsche SE is a global investor in the mobility and industrial technology sectors. Porsche SE focuses on high-quality growth companies that thrive on strong macro trends and are led by excellent management teams.

About Advantest Corporation

Advantest (TSE: 6857) is the leading manufacturer of automatic test and measurement equipment used in the design and production of semiconductors for applications including 5G communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, smart medical devices and more.  Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world.  The company also conducts R&D to address emerging testing challenges and applications, produces multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, and offers groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tools.  Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest is a global company with facilities around the world and an international commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility.  More information is available at www.advantest.com.

About MediaTek Inc.

MediaTek Incorporated (TWSE: 2454) is a global fabless semiconductor company that enables nearly 2 billion connected devices a year. We are a market leader in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile device, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. Our dedication to innovation has positioned us as a driving market force in several key technology areas, including highly power-efficient mobile technologies, automotive solutions and a broad range of advanced multimedia products such as smartphones, tablets, digital televisions, 5G, Voice Assistant Devices (VAD) and wearables. MediaTek empowers and inspires people to expand their horizons and achieve their goals through smart technology, more easily and efficiently than ever before. We work with the brands you love to make great technology accessible to everyone, and it drives everything we do. Visit www.mediatek.com for more information.

About KDT

Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) is a unique investment firm, focused on empowering founders to create a could-be world. KDT provides a flexible, multi-stage investment approach which includes both traditional venture and growth stages. We work with principled entrepreneurs who are building transformative companies, disrupting the status quo, and creating new platforms. KDT is a subsidiary of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in the world with $110 billion in revenue and operating in more than 70 countries. KDT helps its partners unlock their full potential by bringing Koch’s capabilities and network to them, structuring unique capital solutions, and embracing a long-term, mutual benefit mindset.

About proteanTecs

proteanTecs develops revolutionary Universal Chip Telemetry™ (UCT) for electronic systems throughout their entire lifecycle, increasing their performance and reliability. By applying machine learning to novel data created by on-chip UCT Agents™, proteanTecs provides meaningful insights and visibility unattainable until today, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in New Jersey, California and Taiwan. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com.

Press Contact

Tamar Naishlos, Media Relations  

tamarn@proteanTecs.com

 

Related Links :

http://www.proteantecs.com/

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

The Xiaomi 11T Series Has Launched in Malaysia!

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Xiaomi just launched their new Xiaomi 11T series globally last week. This week, the new Xiaomi device is finally here. Well, it was not a long wait anyway.

If you haven’t known yet, the new Xiaomi 11T series is the latest flagship series coming from the Chinese giant. For eagle eyed viewers as well, you will be right in pointing out that the latest Xiaomi 11T does not carry the Mi branding anymore. The Xiaomi 11T series are the first devices not to carry the Mi branding as well.

As per the global launch, they launched the entire Xiaomi 11T line-up including the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. They also launched the Xiaomi Pad 5 tablet for good measure. At the same time, the launch comes with a few attractive deals.

Xiaomi 11T and Xiaomi 11T Pro

The new Xiaomi 11T series picks up where the Xiaomi Mi 11 left off. You get a very powerful 108-Megapixel main camera. You get a 2x telemacro lens as well alongside an ultra-wide-angle lens to work with. The new 108-Megapixel sensor also allows the Xiaomi 11T devices to shoot videos at 8K resolution with HDR10+ colours. At the same time the Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro are also equipped with a 6.67-inch Full HD+ 120Hz AMOLED TrueColor displays that can push 1 billion colours at HDR10+ standards. With up to 480Hz touch sampling rate, gaming should be quite an experience with this device.

Xiaomi 11T Pro

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The new Xiaomi 11T Pro packs a very powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 System on a Chip (SoC). Because it is a Qualcomm device, you also get speedy charging. It is not like any other fast-charging technology though. It takes fast charging technology to a whole new level. Instead of just charging at a measly 60W speeds, the Xiaomi 11T Pro charges at 120W. How Xiaomi achieves this speed, the Xiaomi 11T Pro splits its large 5,000mAh battery into two and each charge at 60W simultaneously. That results in a full charge in just 17 minutes from nothing. With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is an entertainment powerhouse, especially with SOUND by Harman Kardon tuned speakers.

Xiaomi 11T

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    Source: Xiaomi
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    Source: Xiaomi
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The Xiaomi 11T packs a MediaTek Dimensity 1200-Ultra chipset instead of the Qualcomm. It does not mean that the Xiaomi 11T is a much less powerful device though. The Xiaomi 11T is a 5G device still. While you do not get 120W in charging speed, the Xiaomi 11T still charges at 67W speed with a 36 minutes 100% charge.

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE

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The most budget friendly smartphone device of the bunch is the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. It does not look anything like the Xiaomi 11T, to be fair. It retains the Xiaomi Mi 11 look. It sports a 6.55-inch AMOLED DotDisplay with Full HD+ resolution with 10-bit TrueColor support with Dolby Vision that makes this Xiaomi 11 Lite an entertainment powerhouse still.

Out the back is 64-Megapixel main camera supported by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 5-Megapixel telemacro lens. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is still powerful enough for more AI camera effects and even cinema effects. Keeping all of these working on overtime is a 4,250mAh battery with 33W fast charging technology.

Xiaomi Pad 5

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    Source: Xiaomi
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    Source: Xiaomi
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The new Xiaomi Pad 5 is really an Android tablet that you can look at and ask; “should my Android tablet be more expensive than this?”. While it is not the most powerful Android tablet you can find in the market, it is still a formidable one. It also comes with a smart (Xiaomi Smart Pen) stylus like all the other Android tablets.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 comes with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC, a 7nm flagship class SoC that is still very capable despite its age. There is a 13-Megapixel camera out the back and an 8-Megapixel working out front for video calls and selfies, if you are into that kind of thing with a tablet. The display is a very fast 120Hz WQHD+ 11-inch display. The display is also a Dolby Vision display paired to Dolby Atmos quad speakers. All these are powered by a large 8,720mAh battery to keep them running all day.

Price and Availability

The Xiaomi 11T and Xiaomi 11T Pro will be available in Malaysia 2nd of October 2021 onward on Lazada and Shopee, in authorised Mi stores, and other authorised retailers in Malaysia. Xiaomi 11T Pro will start at MYR 2,099 and tops out at MYR 2,299. The Xiaomi 11T will start at MYR 1,699 and tops out at MYR 1,899. Both the Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro will be available in Meteorite Gray, Moonlight White, and Celestial Blue.

The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE will be available today onward via Lazada and Shopee as well. It will also be available in authorised Mi stores and other official retailers across Malaysia. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE will come in Truffle Black, Bubblegum Blue, Peach Pink, and a Snowflake White. You can get your hands on one for MYR 1,199 onward and tops out at MYR 1,599 (8GB + 256GB).

The Xiaomi Pad 5 will be available today onward as well on Lazada. Later, you can get the Xiaomi Pad 5 will be available in authorised Mi stores and other official retailers, including on Shopee. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is now available in Cosmic Gray and Pearl White. The Xiaomi Smart Pen is sold separately with no confirmed price and availability yet at this time.

The Xiaomi 11T series goes on pre-order today onward until 29th of September 2021 (11.59 p.m.) with various premium free gifts. Customers stands a chance to win a 43-inch Mi P1 TV when they buy the new Xiaomi 11T series from the 2nd of October to 4th of October 2021 onward. Customers who purchased the Xiaomi 11T series before the 31st of October 2021 will receive one free screen repair within the first six months of purchase on top of a 1+1 year limited warranty. Any purchase of the Xiaomi 11 5G NE will receive a free screen repair within the first six months of purchase.

More information on the Xiaomi 11T, 11T Pro, Xiaomi 11 5G NE, and the Xiaomi Pad 5 can be found on their website.

PR Newswire

The Korea Herald introduces: Korea’s Pyeongtaek to hold 2021 Global Peace and Security Forum to discuss ROK-U.S. alliance and coexistence

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PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, Sept. 23, 2021 — Following announcement covered by The Korea Herald, Pyeongtaek City will host the 2021 Pyeongtaek Global Peace and Security Forum from September 27 to 28 in Seoul, South Korea.

Under the slogan of "Opening A New Chapter of Peace And Security," the forum will take place in a hybrid format according to the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines – a minimum number of on-site participants invited or pre-registered are expected to attend the forum, and those who do not can view the discussions live-streamed on Arirang TV’s YouTube channel.

Pyeongtaek City minimizes the number of on-site guests as well. Only a few figures are expected to appear at the forum to deliver their congratulatory messages. They include Pyeongtaek Mayor Jeong Jang-sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong, Chairman of Pyeongtaek City Council Hong Sun-eui, and National Assembly members Yu Eui-dong and Hong Kee-won.

Song Min-soon, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, will also attend the forum to make his keynote speech about the "Peace Process in Northeast Asia and the Korea-U.S. Alliance." Vincent Keith Brooks, former U.S. military commander, will give a special address online in real-time.

Pyeongtaek City said that this peace and security forum, the first of its kind, will create an opportunity to discuss measures to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. With this goal, Jung Seung-jo, President of Korea-US Alliance Foundation (KUSAF), and Jeon In-beom, former South Korean Army Lieutenant General, will preside the two main sessions: "The Changing Role of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) According to the Korea-U.S. Alliance and Northeast Asian Security Environment" and "The Role of Pyeongtaek City for the Evolved Korea-U.S. Alliance in Pyeongtaek," respectively.

Since all sessions will be live-streamed on YouTube, those who want to participate in the forum from home and abroad can join the Q&A session and interactively communicate with the speakers in real-time through the video conferencing system.

Mayor Jeong Jang-sun said, "As the central city of the Korea-U.S. alliance, Pyeongtaek is making every effort to discover and lead the role of local governments in the diplomatic and security sectors by holding the Global Peace and Security Forum." He added, "The city will make thorough preparations for the forum to make it safe amid the unprecedented situation of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Computers, News

Microsoft Introduces their Largest Surface Pro Yet

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Microsoft’s Surface Pro has become somewhat of a signature device for the company. Over the years, it has not only changed the way we look at laptops but also changed the way we interact with our computers. It was one of the first devices to blur the line between laptop and tablet. With the Surface Pro 8, Microsoft is further refining its offering by bringing some of the most requested features to the device.

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The Surface Pro 8 has the largest display in the history of the lineup. It is equipped with a 13-inch PixelSense Flow Display – up from the 12.3 of the 7. According to Microsoft, the display is 11% larger, 12.5% brighter and 11% higher resolution than the Pro 7. It also supports Dolby Vision and Adaptive Colour Technology. More importantly, it’s the first Surface Pro to come with a 120Hz refresh rate. That said, the high refresh rate will only kick in when needed. It will work in tandem with Windows 11’s variable refresh rate setting to optimise this.

Design-wise, the Pro 8 takes a lot of its design cues from the Surface Pro X – which isn’t a bad thing. The new Pro is slimmer, more ergonomic thanks to some of the design choices. It also comes with a larger keyboard attachment with dedicated space to stow the Surface Slim Pen 2. Speaking of the Slim Pen 2, the stylus now charges in the base and comes with a new, improved haptic motor that is supposed to mimic the intricacies of writing with a pen or pencil. It comes with improved latency and better precision thanks to a redesign of the tip.

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On the inside, the new Surface Pro 8 comes with the latest generation Intel Core i processors. You will be able to choose between the i7 and i5. These will be paired with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB on internal storage. When it comes to connectivity, the Pro 8 does away with the ageing USB-A port and opts for two USB-C Thunderbolt ports. This is promising as it indicates that the Surface Pro can support external GPUs and multiple 4K displays. It is also Intel EVO certified.

Pricing & Availability

The Surface Pro 8 is available for pre-order already with units expected to ship starting October 5, 2021. Prices start from USD$1099.99 (MYR4,599.67).

Android, Mobile, News

vivo X70 Series Lands in Malaysia with TWS 2 Series Earbuds

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Less than a month ago, vivo announced their new flagship series: the vivo X70 series. The new flagship series is the first to come with vivo’s new in-house imaging processor, the V1 imaging processor. The new smartphone continues to push vivo’s aspirations of becoming the go-to brand when it comes to smartphone photography.

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    Source: vivo

The vivo X70 series packs a custom MediaTek Dimensity 1200 which gives the phones 5G connectivity. It also comes with the lineup’s signature Gimbal Stabilization for its ZEISS co-engineered cameras. This time all the series’ cameras come with ZEISS T* coating which promises better photography performance. The series is also one of the first to feature extendable RAM technology.

The vivo X70 and X70 Pro both come with quad-camera setups which allow users to get the most out of their partnership with ZEISS. The smartphones come with multi-sensor setups for their cameras. The vivo X70 has a triple camera setup with a 40-megapixel main sensor paired with two 12-megapixel sensors. The X70 Pro on the other hand comes with a quad-camera setup with a 50-megapixel main sensor paired with two 12-megapixel sensors and an additional 8-megapixel sensor. You can get the full details in our coverage of its initial announcement.

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Source: vivo

Together with the X70, vivo also announced their new entries into their true wireless earbuds: the TWS 2e and TWS 2 ANC. As the name suggests, the TWS 2 ANC comes with active noise cancelling so you can tune out the world. The 2e is your regular run-of-the-mill true wireless earbuds. Both come with touch capabilities and have aptX compatibility.

Pricing and Availability

The vivo X70 series will be available off shelves starting on 1 October 2021. The X70 will retail for MYR2,499 while the X70 Pro comes in at MYR3,299. There is no word yet on if and when the X70 Pro+ will be available.

They are now available for pre-order through their various dealers and online stores. Pre-orders of both will be entitled to vivo’s Protection Plus service which provides an extra year of warranty and 1-year screen crack protection worth MYR399. In addition, pre-orders of the X70 Pro will also receive a Bluetooth Soundbar and VIU TV membership card worth MYR400; while X70 pre-orders will be entitled to a Bluetooth speaker, high-speed car charger and VIU TV membership worth MYR200.

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vivo’s TWS 2 series earbuds are also available for pre-order. Those who pre-order the smartphones will also be able to take advantage of the purchase with purchase promo for the TWS 2 series. The TWS 2e will be available for MYR68 while the TWS 2 ANC will be available for MYR98 as a part of the promo. They will retail at MYR269 for the TWS 2e and MYR369 for the TWS 3 ANC.

Android, Mobile, News

Microsoft Updates the Surface Duo 2 with Snapdragon 888

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Microsoft’s Surface Duo made quite the splash in its initial outing. The smartphone rethought the notion of foldable devices with a more productivity centred approach. This year, Microsoft is doubling down on their approach with the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 which bumps the specs and functionality of the smartphone.

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The Surface Duo 2 comes with the Snapdragon 888 paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. Microsoft has also increased the size of the screens on the Duo 2 to 5.8 inches with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Both screens individually have a resolution of 1892×1344 pixels. When viewed side to side, it has an 8.3-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and resolution of 2688×1892 pixels.

The cameras on the Surface Duo 2 have also been updated. The foldable now comes with a triple camera array for its main camera setup. The array is made of a 12-megapixel wide sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. This is a big upgrade from the single sensor that was on the Surface Duo. On the front, the Duo 2 still sports a single 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 sensor.

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Aside from that, the Surface Duo 2 remains one of the thinnest smartphones in the market. It comes in at 11mm thick when closed and 5.5mm when opened. It supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth5.1 and has a fingerprint reader. It’s powered by a 4,449mAh battery with support for fast charging.

It’s Not Just About Hardware

Microsoft leaned into innovating technology which made an impact. With the Surface Duo 2, they are staying true. The focus isn’t just on the hardware, Microsoft has been working on the software of the Duo. They have optimised their version of Android 11 for the Duo 2 packing it with features that make sense for the dual-screen setup.

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They have created an extended experience that takes advantage of the slight curves of the Surface Duo 2’s screens when closed. With the Glance Bar, you will now be able to tell how many notifications you have when the screen is closed. The same feature can also be used to tell your battery capacity when charging.

Microsoft is also banking on a more seamless experience across its Windows 11 devices and the Surface Duo 2. They have updated the Microsoft launcher with a UI that is both familiar and utilitarian – similar to the one we see on Windows 11. These optimisations also include widgets that share the same approach.

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Aside from this, the Surface Duo 2 comes with a lift to wake feature. This wakes the screen as soon as you lift it making things feel snappier and quicker. Of course, Microsoft XBOX App with Game Pass also makes an appearance on the Surface Duo 2. In fact, it comes with optimisations that turn one screen of the Duo 2 into a controller. This will allow you to have an uninterrupted gaming experience across the two screens.

Pricing & Availability

The Surface Duo 2 will be available in select countries starting October 21, 2021. It will be retailing at USD$1,499.99 (MYR6,271.80) for the 128GB version, USD$1,599.99 (MYR6,690.38) for the 256GB version and USD$1,799.99 (MYR7,526.69) for the 512GB version. It will be available in two colours: Obsidian and glacier.

Pre-orders are starting today in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Japan. Units will start shipping on October 21, 2021.

There is no indication just yet if the Duo 2 will be making its way to other countries after its initial rollout.

PR Newswire

Coocaa is bringing the heat to Vietnam this summer!

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This summer, coocaa TV is bringing its latest variety of quality products at affordable prices to Vietnamese users for a new experience in Smart Home living!

HANOI, Vietnam, Sept. 23, 2021 — Established in 2006, coocaa has grown to become one of the largest smart TV brands in the world, bringing the latest in home-living to the world. With 9 production facilities and 6 R&D systems worldwide, coocaa is recognised in over 40 countries, and is now proudly the official partner for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020!

In light of coocaa’s partnership with AFF Suzuki Cup 2020, the #coocaaTVtiepluaAFF challenge was launched on Tiktok on September 7th, receiving raving interest from over 100 celebrities, joining the challenge on Tiktok ahead of the tournament. With tens of millions of users following the many influencers who have helped spread the challenge, coocaa has seen roughly 200 million impressions, with over 50,000 challenge participants, and more than 10 million interactions!

Coocaa is bringing the heat to Vietnam this summer!
Coocaa is bringing the heat to Vietnam this summer!

Coocaa has now hit the Best-selling TV brand on Lazada while coming 2nd on Shopee, thanks the best-seller S6G Pro Max, which boasts state-of-the-art technology in voice-activated entertainment TV.

Now, both the colour-vibrant Android 11-powered S7G TV, as well as the S3U TV which highlight the coolita OS, bringing the power of YouTube 2021, CC Plus, CC Cast, Swaiot Home, eye protection mode to your home!

Mr. Thinh Pham, Head of TV & Video at Lazada shared: "Thanks to the well-prepared product launch plan, Coocaa TV has been highly appreciated by Vietnamese consumers for its design and product experience. Products. As a strategic partner of Lazada, Coocaa TV hopes to spread its products to more Vietnamese families and young generations to create conditions for consumers to have a rich source of entertainment."

COOCAA TV – AFF SUZUKI CUP 2020 Official Partner
Immerse yourself in a magical Smart TV experience!
Follow us on Facebook @coocaa (VN) and Instagram @coocaavietnam!
#CooLife #AFFSuzukiCupOfficialSmartTV

About coocaa

coocaa is a registered trademark of the market-leading TV manufacturer. Since 2006, coocaa brings fun to the home – with TVs that inspire around the world. In doing so, coocaa not only promotes the innovation and development of advanced technologies, but also strives for product quality that will bring a smile to customers’ faces.

Business, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Microsoft Introduces the Surface Laptop Studio with Windows 11 – The Ultimate Windows 11 Content Creator?

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The content creator market is a hot one these days. Everyone wants a piece of the action in the content creator space. Of course, it is not like the Microsoft Windows platform was not an appealing platform for content creators in the first place. The Windows PC platform is still one of the most popular platforms in the content creation industry.

That was Windows 10 though. It was a versatile platform that could run anything you ask it to. It could do about anything you want it to with little compatibility issues. Because Windows 11 is pretty much Windows 10 in basic architecture, you should expect pretty much the same compatibility and versatility from Windows 11 devices.

Except, before we even see Windows 11 devices from manufacturers hitting shelves, Microsoft kind of jumped the gun a little and introduced their own Windows 11 devices. We want to say these could be reference devices, but it does not look like Microsoft is interested in creating references devices. Instead, these devices are built to compete and be as premium and powerful as Windows wants them to be for their purposes. The new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the very culmination of what Windows envisions a prefect creator class device should be.

First, it is powerful. You get to spec the new Surface Laptop Studio with up to an 11th generation Intel Core i7-11370H. You also get up to 32GB of RAM to work with, which is ample when it comes to video editing, photo editing, and even 3D workloads. On the graphics department, you can opt for a very powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU for an even more seamless workflow. You can store all the works of art in a 2TB SSD (up to).

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    Source: Microsoft
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    Source: Microsoft
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    Source: Microsoft
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    Source: Microsoft

Of course, you get the highest standards of Windows 11 experience for creators with the new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. The touch screen display does not just tilt open and close like the regular laptop you might be used to. There is a second hinge in the middle part of the display shell that allows the display to swivel a bit more. You can bring the display closer to you, for example, to have better access to the touch sensitive display. You could also use the Surface Slim Pen 2 to draw on it when you need to. Or use it as a tablet completely, when the mood takes you.

The display is not just some random cheap display too. It is a bright 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow Display that refreshes up to 120Hz, in case you are in the mood for gaming. It is a 3:2 aspect ratio displays at 2,400 x 1,600 pixels; odd, but it is a creator first display.  With Dolby Vision as well, you can be proud at whatever film edits you would want to show your clients on the display.

The webcam you get on the Surface Laptop Studio is capable of Full HD resolution for crisp looking video calls. For good measure, the Surface Laptop Studio also comes with Windows Hello face authentication feature on the Surface Laptop. Of course, the Windows 11 device must have far-field mics for voice command and crisp audio for video calls. It also packs four Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos certification. Of course, for smooth, uninterrupted video calls, you have WiFi 6 capabilities on the Surface Laptop Studio.

The new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with Windows 11 will be available in select regions 5th of October 2021 onward. Prices start from US$ 1,599.99 (MYR 6,703*) and tops out at US$ 3,099.99 (MYR 12,990*). There are no other colour options other than Platinum on the Magnesium and Aluminium built Windows 11. There are no confirmations on when the Surface Laptop Studio will arrive in Malaysia currently, but we are keeping our ears close to the ground. More information on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio can be found on their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.19 on xe.com as of 23/09/2021

Computers, News

HP Spectre x360 Gets A Big Refresh

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The HP Spectre lineup has been one of the lightest and sleekest laptops available in the market. The lineup’s signature thickness paired with the extended functionality makes it one of the more versatile laptop lineups out there. However, if there was one feature that was lacking – it would be the lack of graphics prowess. Yes – there are options with NVIDIA’s GTX graphics but that’s hardly enough for creators.

hp spectre x360 windows 11 lifestyle
Source: HP

The new HP Spectre x360 16 changes that with the inclusion of NVIDIA’s RTX3050 Laptop GPU. Yes – that’s right, the new laptop comes with an entry-level RTX 30 series GPU. It’s also the largest screen available in the lineup with a whopping 16-inch display. The 16:10 display has options that range all the up to a UHD+ OLED display. It comes certified with VESA True Black HDR and is calibrated for colour accuracy. It’s also near borderless with 91% coverage of the panel.

HP has also enhanced the camera of the Spectre x360 16. You’ll be able to use AI-enabled algorithms to touch up your appearance with Beauty Mode. You can also stay in frame when you need to get up to get the blood flowing again with the Auto Frame feature. The AI also enables a myriad of features that many will find useful; for instance, the device will lock as soon as you walk away and wakes when you return. It will also blur the active screen when someone is looking over your shoulder.

hp spectre x360 windows 11
Source: HP

Along with the graphics prowess, the new HP Spectre x360 16 comes equipped with Intel’s 11th generation Core i7 Processor. It also comes with support for the latest WiFi technology – WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. The best part? It comes with a full complement of ports with everything from microSD to HDMI to USB-C and Thunderbolt. It also has compatibility with the HP Pen.

Pricing & Availability

The HP Spectre x360 16 2 in 1 Laptop will be available starting in October 2021. It will be priced starting at USD$1,639 (MYR6,869.69).