Monthly Archives: February 2022

Android, Mobile, News

Samsung Unveils New Galaxy S22 & Galaxy S22+

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Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been the company’s hallmark Android touting series since its first foray into smartphones. This year it looks like the company is turning its formulaic approach on its head by bringing some of the signature design and features of its Note line up to the flagship. The new Galaxy S22 series not only builds on features of the Galaxy S21 and the new 4nm chipsets, but it’s also set on redefining the Galaxy S series moving forward.

Samsung Galaxy S22 series Unpacked 06

This year’s Galaxy S22 series will be coming with three versions as it has before – the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, Samsung is changing things up when it comes to the features and differentiation between the smartphones in the series. While the biggest change in their approach this year is with the Ultra, we’re zooming in on the Galaxy S22 and S22+ here.

Designed for Functionality & Durability

Samsung is reigning things back a little bit when it comes to the design of the S22 and S22+. It’s keeping things familiar with design cues we’re used to seeing in the Galaxy S series thanks to the S21. However, they’ve done away with the multicoloured colourways which left a lasting impression – at least for now. The smartphones are now flat. The curved screens we’re used to on the Galaxy S series are no more.

2 58 Galaxy S22 Plus Front1 Green LI
2 55 Galaxy S22 Plus Back1 Green LI
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That said, Samsung has focused on making the new S series devices are sturdier and more functional. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ come with Armour Alumunium which made its debut with the Fold3 and Flip3. It gives added strength and rigidity to the frame of the phone and to the camera modules under the metallic camera hump. This is sandwiched by Gorilla Glass Victus with a matte coloured finish.

It’s not a question of “how thin can you go” for Samsung anymore, they’ve focused on making their phones last longer and feel more ergonomic in hand. The S22 and S22+ have thicker silhouettes but hold larger 3,700mAh and 4,500mAh batteries respectively. The thicker form also allows you to hold the phone with a firmer grip.

Camera, Camera and more Galaxy AI

The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are sticking to the Galaxy S formula. They’re looking to build on the camera features with their new release. Samsung’s focus this year is very much on their improved Galaxy AI implementation and also bringing features that make sense. The S22 and S22+ come with the same camera setup. They have a triple sensor setup. The main sensor is a 50-megapixel (f/1.8) wide sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and an 85° field of view (FOV). This is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 120° FOV and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor capable of 3x optical zoom with an f/2.4 aperture and 36° FOV. On the front is a 10-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80° FOV.  While it may seem like the S22 and S22+ is taking a step back when it comes to the telephoto sensor, Samsung is claiming that they are able to achieve better performance with a larger main sensor and the 12-megapixel telephoto sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S22 series Unpacked 04

The mainstay of the new camera is the improved VDI that comes with the 4nm processors that Samsung is using in their flagships. The improved processing of images allows them to bring better low light performance as well as imbue its camera with more Galaxy AI features for better pictures. Samsung’s buzzword this year is “Nightography”. With “Nightography”, the company is highlighting their new approach to low light photography on smartphones. In particular, how Galaxy AI composites 20 different versions of the same image for better low light results. It also improves dynamic range and creates a more detailed picture. Of course, this works in tandem with the nona binning technology that we’ve seen in Galaxy S smartphones before. When taking low light video, Galaxy AI will also adjust the frame rate of the video to ensure the best result.

1 12 Galaxy S22 Plus Pet portrait LI
Source: Samsung

Galaxy AI also brings features like Auto Frame which intelligently adjusts the camera’s framing to ensure that the person or object of interest is constantly in the frame. Even when it comes to moving subjects, Galaxy AI is able to adjust for the best framing. With the version in the Galaxy S22 and S22+, you’ll be able to automatically track up to 10 subjects. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are also able to shoot in 16-bit RAW format. This will allow you to have more flexibility when it comes to posting processing shots taken on the smartphone.

In addition to this, Galaxy AI is also taking charge of the frame rate of your phone. While the new smartphones come with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, they will not be running at 120Hz all the time. Galaxy AI will dynamically adjust the screen frame rate for better battery performance according to the content on the screen. It will go all the way down to 1Hz when viewing still images.

Pricing & Availability

Samsung Galaxy S22 series Unpacked 10

The Galaxy S22 and S22+ will be available in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green and Pink Gold. They will be available with either 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory. All Galaxy S22 and S22+ models will be available starting February 10, 2022.  

Prices in Malaysia are as follows:

ModelsRRP
Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 256GBRM 4,299
Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 128GBRM 4,099
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 256GBRM 3,699
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GBRM 3,499

Official Specifications

S22 Spec sheet LI
Accessories, Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Sony Launches Two New Premium Walkman Music Players – Yes, Walkman is Still a Thing

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When you talk about portable music, 20 years ago you would be looking at something like a Sony Walkman player that played cassettes and later, CDs. Mind you this was the time before MP3 players was a thing. This was way before Apple’s iPod came into the market too.

To be fair, the Sony Walkman brand has existed since 1979 and they were one of the pioneers of portable music. They were so popular until the 2000s that their brand name is synonymous with portable music. The millennium changed, and times changed with that too. Apple introduced the Apple iPod, a digital music player that holds 1000 songs within a premium shell that is packaged smaller than the smallest cassette player Sony could make. It also holds more songs than any single CDs, at the same time you can just change your loadout at any given time eliminating the need to lug around CD cases with you.

The Apple iPod revolutionised portable music and marks the beginning of digital music players. Sony’ Walkman had to evolve. To their credit though, they have evolved and progressed by quite a lot since.

Sony’s Walkman are still makers of portable digital music players. But they are not just any music players. They are some of the most premium digital music players in the market, and there are two new ones.

Welcome to the NW-WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 high-resolution portable digital audio players.

Sony Walkman NW-WM1ZM2

  • WM1ZM2 front UI Play Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WM1ZM2 Ofc chassis Mid
    Source: Sony

They call this one the ‘Signature Series’. There is a very good reason for that. This is the more premium one between the two, and you can tell just by looking at it too. The NEW-WM1ZM2’s chassis is made of 99.99% purity (4N) Gold-Plated Oxygen-Free Copper plates. This is not done just to make it look impressive, it is proper material science here. The superior digital grounding from the material combination ensures cleaner electrical signals from the internal components to produce cleaner, richer, expansive, and more accurate sounds. Of course, the chassis is also made with rigidity in mind.

Sony Walkman NW-WM1AM2

  • WM1AM2 front UI Play Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WM1AM2 Aluminium chassis Mid
    Source: Sony

It does not get space age material like its more premium brother. But it is still a solid aluminium alloy frame that is resistive to electrical noise to ensure that you still get a high-quality audio reproduction. That, on top of Oxygen Free Copper cables that runs from the same state-of-the-art amp as the NW-WM1ZM2 to the AUX jack should still provide you with a highly accurate and immersive audio experience with low distortion and noise.

State-of-the-art Technology

  • WM1ZM2 Explosion cut Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WM1AM2 Explosion cut Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WM1AM2 Large solid high polymer capacitor Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WM1ZM2 KINBER KABLE Mid
    Source: Sony
  • WM1AM2 OFC cable Mid
    Source: Sony

The new music players have something called an S-Master HX amp technology. It is a full amplifier that is manufactured and made to fit inside the tiny bodies of the new music players. The result of that is a powerful amp that is capable of reproducing sounds at a greater dynamic range. To ensure that you get the purest of sounds, Sony fitted various FT CAP3 capacitors paired with a large solid high polymer capacitor that offers large electrical capacitance and low resistance.

From the amp to your headphones is a thick KIMBER KABLE (NW-WM1ZM2) wiring from the amp to the headphone jack. To ensure that you get the best audio experience you can have, Sony also includes a dual clock and fine sound register within the Walkmans. They went an extra mile with manufacturing as well this round by using reflow solder with gold in it.

Sony’s DSEE Ultimate is a world renown upscaling technology they extensively use in all their premium audio products. The algorithm allows any sort of music file you put into the player to be played at CD-quality (16 bit 44.1/48kHz) lossless audio. The algorithm fills the gaps that has been created when music is compressed and restores all the acoustic subtleties and dynamic range lost due to the compression. Of course, you get the benefit of Balanced Connection and High-Res Audio support with the new Sony Walkmans so that you can hear music the way the artists intended them to be.

Just Like Your Smartphone, But Just Better for Music

  • NW WM1ZM2 MDR Z1R Situation01 Mid
    Source: Sony
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    Source: Sony
  • NW WM1AM2 MDR Z7M2 Situation02 Mid
    Source: Sony
  • NW WM1AM2 Situation04 Mid
    Source: Sony

Both the new music players work like regular smartphones, to make your life easier. They are also Wi-Fi compatible now, which also means you have access to music streaming services now, should you choose to use them instead of loading your own music files into the device. All of these are accessible via the large 5.0-inch HD 720p touch sensitive display.

If you are in for a long travel plan, you are going to appreciate its extensive battery life. You can continuously play 96kHz FLAC High-Resolution codec files for up to 40 hours on a single charge. Of course, you charge via a modern USB Type-C port that doubles as data transfer port. To ensure you have enough music to play for 40 hours, you get up to 256GB (128GB for NW-WM1AM2) in built-in storage. If that is not enough to hold all your collection, there is a MicroSD card slot to expand your library.

Availability

The NW-WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 will be available in Malaysia from April 2022 onward. Pre-orders are supposed to start from the 17th of March 2022 onward. They have not announced the official pricing of the item yet though. We expect the prices to be announced nearer to the pre-order dates. More information on the new Sony Walkman devices on their website.

PR Newswire

Last Chance to Register for NFTs of the digital Kiss by Gustav Klimt for Valentine’s Day

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VIENNA, Feb. 9, 2022 — The Belvedere museum in Vienna and the NFT investment fund artèQ are in the process of launching an exceptional NFT drop: Whitelisting ends on Thursday, 10 February, midnight (Central European Time), Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece The Kiss will be available for sale in a limited number of 10,000 digital excerpts.

A high-resolution digital copy of the most famous depiction of a pair of lovers has been divided into a 100 x 100 grid, resulting in 10,000 inimitable individual pieces that are currently offered as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. The "whitelisting" phase, when interested parties can register to purchase on the thekiss.art platform, started 26 January 2022 and will close this Thursday night, 10 February, at midnight or 00.00 am, Central European Time. If the sale is oversubscribed, allocation of the 10,000 NFTs will be decided by lottery. From 11 February, whitelisted buyers can complete the transaction within 24 hours. If any pieces are left after the whitelisting phase, they may be purchased from 12 February at thekiss.art. Each NFT can be purchased at an retail price of 1,850 euros (incl. minting costs and VAT), respectively 0.65 Ethereum (excl. minting costs, incl. VAT). The drop, or official release of the NFTs, will take place on Valentine’s Day, 14 February. The NFT may be dedicated to a loved one on the official site – a most romantic digital declaration of love!

The press kit is available here for download.

For more information please contact: presse@belvedere.at.

Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

Contact
Belvedere Press
T: +43 (01) 795 57-185
M: presse@belvedere.at
www.belvedere.at

PR Newswire

LeanIX Launches Free Academic Edition of Enterprise Architecture Management Tool

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Company empowers enterprise architects of the future by providing its industry-leading and ready-to-use Enterprise Architecture Management tool to universities and teaching institutions

BONN, Germany and BOSTON, Feb. 8, 2022 — LeanIX, the platform to plan and manage continuous transformation across the enterprise, has launched LeanIX Academic Edition, which provides universities and teaching institutions free access to the company’s Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) tool. The LeanIX Academic Edition makes it possible for students to learn enterprise architecture fundamentals using the EAM tool’s core Application Portfolio Management and Technology and Risk Management modules.

With the release of the Academic Edition, LeanIX aims to support the growing enterprise architecture field by introducing students to the discipline through intuitive, cutting-edge software.

To register for LeanIX Academic Edition or to learn more about the program, please visit: https://www.leanix.net/en/products/enterprise-architecture-management/academic-edition

With the Academic Edition, teachers and students can:

  • Put academic theories to practice using an industry-leading EAM tool.
  • Explore best practices with a data model trusted by IT architects at some of the biggest brands in the world.
  • Leverage LeanIX collaboration-based features and explore the many possibilities of the tool.
  • Get students ready to communicate with business leaders and bridge the gap between business and IT.

"Every future digital leader should understand the fundamentals of enterprise architecture," said LeanIX CEO and co-founder, André Christ. "We are thrilled to offer LeanIX EAM tools for free to those teaching these leaders of the future and I’m proud of the amazing program the LeanIX team has put together."

To learn more about the LeanIX EAM product and review its extensive product documentation, please visit: https://www.leanix.net/en/products/enterprise-architecture-management. 

About LeanIX
LeanIX’s Continuous Transformation Platform® is trusted by Corporate IT and Product IT to achieve comprehensive visibility and superior governance. Global customers organize, plan and manage IT landscapes with LeanIX’s automated and data-driven approach. Offering Enterprise Architecture, SaaS, and DevOps Management, LeanIX helps organizations make sound decisions and accelerate transformation journeys. LeanIX has hundreds of customers globally, including Adidas, Atlassian, Bosch, Dropbox, Santander or Workday. The company is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, with offices in Boston, San Francisco and around the world.

Contact:
Jeremy Douglas
Catapult PR-IR
303-589-1941
jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com

Business, Computers, Mobile, News

[UPDATED] NVIDIA + ARM Deal is Not Happening After All!

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[UPDATE on 09/02/2022] NVIDIA and SoftBank has officially announced that the ARM acquisition bid from NVIDIA will not go through! Read SoftBank’s statement here.

NVIDIA, the world’s largest graphics chip maker, expressed their interest in acquiring ARM, the people behind some of the world’s most powerful mobile chips currently, back in 2020. It was not just an expressed interest though; they really started the whole process of acquiring the chip designers from 2020 onward. It became a whole thing too through 2021.

To be fair, the concerns that were raised by multiple parties regarding the acquisition efforts were not baseless. Companies like Qualcomm, Microsoft, even Samsung and Apple rely on ARM’s chip architecture and designs for their processing chips. It makes sense then that Qualcomm and even Microsoft would have objected the acquisition efforts. The purchase could have led to a massive imbalance in the chip business, since ARM is a key player in the chip making industry. If the purchase went through, it would have been the biggest ever in the chip business too with Softbank selling it at US$ 66 billion.

There were also a lot of regulatory issues that were raised prior to 2022 regarding the purchase. Investigations were also launched by United Kingdom, United States, and European Union as well regarding the acquisition. They raised concerns of anti-competition efforts and market monopoly despite NVIDIA promising that ARM’s deal with all its customers will still be honoured and it will be business as usual.

There are no official announcements just yet on the deal not going through. NVIDIA, ARM, and SoftBank have not commented on the reports that first broke on Financial Times. According to early reports too, SoftBank, ARM’s owners will be receiving US$ 1.25 billion from NVIDIA for failing the acquisition bid.

The falling through of the deal should be a relief to many in the tech industry. It means that Apple, Qualcomm, Intel, Samsung, and plenty of other key chip manufacturers can sleep soundly as their deal with ARM continue without NVIDIA’s intervention. Their relief is another person’s headache though, in this case probably two. SoftBank is still selling ARM, but given the significance of ARM in the industry, selling the chip designers will be a tall order. As for NVIDIA, their stock prices might tank once the fall through is official, but it is NVIDIA after all, they should bounce back quickly enough. If you want to know more about the acquisition bid, you can head over to NVIDIA’s blog.

Source: 9 to 5 Mac, ars Technica, The Verge

PR Newswire

LG Energy Solution Announces Fourth Quarter and FY 2021 Results

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  • Reports quarterly revenue of KRW 4.44 trillion, 10.2 percent higher than previous quarter; operating profit at KRW 76 billion
  • Targets revenue goal of KRW19.2 trillion with plans to spend KRW 6.3 trillion in capital expenditures for 2022

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 8, 2022 — LG Energy Solution (LGES; KRX: 373220) today reported solid performance in the fourth quarter of 2021, with consolidated revenue of KRW 4.44 trillion, up 10.2 percent from the previous quarter. The quarterly revenue growth was mainly driven by robust demand of pouch and cylindrical battery cells for electrical vehicles and small-sized pouch batteries for IT devices. The company posted consolidated operating profit of KRW 76 billion, since turning to profit in the fourth quarter.

For the full year, LGES reported KRW 17.85 trillion in revenue, up 42 percent from 2020. Annual operating profit was at KRW 768.5 billion while operating profit margin was 4.3 percent. The booming performance comes on the back of solid demand for electric vehicles as well as cylindrical batteries for EVs and light EVs.  

The annual earnings result took multiple factors into account, including a voluntary recall with General Motors for Chevrolet Bolt EV batteries, a recall of batteries for energy storage system (ESS) and a lump-sum payment of license fee from another industry player. Were it not for these one-time factors, LG Energy Solution’s annual revenue would stand at KRW 16.86 trillion, its operating profit at KRW 917.9 billion.

In 2022, LGES expects its revenue to reach KRW 19.2 trillion, up 8 percent on-year, over expectations of steady EV market growth. Without the aforementioned one-off factor, the revenue would be 14 percent higher, on-year.

In 2022, LGES plans to steadily expand its manufacturing capacity as its major partnering automakers plan to introduce new lineups of electric vehicles. LG Energy Solution is forecasting to see an improved market condition as the global chip shortage is expected to ease in the latter half of the year.

In preparation of the upcoming boost in global EV sales, LG Energy Solution is putting KRW 6.3 trillion in capital expenditures, up 58 percent compared to last year. With it, LGES aims to finance capacity expansion at its global manufacturing facilities including JV plants with GM.

"LG Energy Solution will excel by prioritizing the fundamentals of quality and securing profitability," said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. "LGES will continue to move forward with bold investment plans needed in the long run. We are confident our business model of preparing for the future will definitely help us lead the industry."

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About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) is a global leader delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries for Electric Vehicles (EV), Mobility & IT applications, and Energy Storage Systems (ESS). With 30 years of experience in advanced battery technology, it continues to grow rapidly towards the realization of sustainable life. With its robust global network that spans the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia, LG Energy Solution is more committed than ever to developing innovative technologies that will bring the future energy a step closer. Under its ESG vision "We CHARGE toward a better future," LG Energy Solution is doing its utmost to prioritize environment, fulfil social responsibilities and shape sustainable future. For more information, please visit https://www.lgensol.com.

Contact:
Sally Seung Yeon Lee
Global Communications Team / LG Energy Solution
lsyciel@lgensol.com
+ 82 2 3773 6571

Ashlee Semin Shin
Global Communications Team / LG Energy Solution
ashin0@lgensol.com 
+ 82 2 3773 4381

PR Newswire

Tim Mackie, VP Worldwide Channel at Armis, Captures Coveted 2022 CRN Channel Chief Recognition

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 8, 2022 — Armis, the leading unified asset visibility and security platform provider, is pleased to announce that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has included Tim Mackie, VP Worldwide Channel at Armis, in its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN’s annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence, and innovation in channel leadership.

For the second time, the panel of CRN editors has selected Mackie as an honoree in the category due to his channel dedication, industry stature, and accomplishments as a channel advocate. This accolade reinforces his position as an influential leader who continues to shape the IT channel with ingenious strategies, programs, and partnerships.

Armis appointed Tim Mackie in 2021 to direct this key function as part of the company’s commitment to its partner community and the increasing demand for businesses to collaborate with it. Since then, Mackie led the creation and launch of the Armis Partner Experience (APEX) Program, allowing partners to tap into the market opportunity of securing managed and unmanaged IoT, IoMT, and OT/ICS devices.

"The creation of the APEX program marks Armis’ transition from a hybrid-channel model to a channel-first model. The program is flexible and evolves as Armis and our clients grow. We are investing our resources, tools, training, and value to make sure we create long-term relations with our partners and have even shifted the business strategy to ensure the channel is being involved in all opportunities," said Tim Mackie, VP Worldwide Channel, Armis. "We are on our way to reaching our goal of 90% participation of the channel in all Armis opportunities. Our key to success is working with our partners and educating each other in order to co-create new opportunities to drive our pipeline."

"CRN’s 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "We’re thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success."

CRN’s 2022 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs.

Discover how the APEX program can help your company thrive in your areas of business expertise and expand to other areas that help drive your go-to-market model. Apply today to be part of the Armis Partner Experience Program.

About Armis
Armis is the leading unified asset visibility and security platform designed to address the new threat landscape that connected devices create. Fortune 1000 companies trust our real-time and continuous protection to see with full context all managed, unmanaged, and IoT devices, including medical devices (IoMT), operational technology (OT), and industrial control systems (ICS). Armis provides passive and unparalleled cybersecurity asset management, risk management, and automated enforcement. Armis is a privately held company and headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

About The Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com 

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

© 2022. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC.  All rights reserved.

Media Contacts: Armis
Dillon Townsel
Sr. Director, Public & Media Relations
dillon@armis.com
512-571-3455

The Channel Company
Jennifer Hogan
The Channel Company
jhogan@thechannelcompany.com

 

PR Newswire

Klaytn, Kakao-backed blockchain, announces 5 key partnerships for global expansion in 2022

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SINGAPORE, Feb. 7, 2022 — Klaytn, a public blockchain platform developed by internet giant Kakao Corp(KRX: 035720), has signed 5 key partnership deals to pursue its global expansion plans. Its mandate for 2022 is to be the blockchain of choice gaming and metaverse projects, while pursuing continued integration with the defi ecosystem.

Klaytn announces 5 key partnerships for global expansion in 2022.
Klaytn announces 5 key partnerships for global expansion in 2022.

Released in 2019, Klaytn is the dominant blockchain in Korea, having secured the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project with the Bank of Korea. Klaytn is also integrated with super app KakaoTalk via its crypto wallet Klip, and accessible to the 45 million KakaoTalk users in the country.

Since its international launch in August 2021, Klaytn has signed 5 strategic partnership agreements with the following companies:

  • Japanese tech giant GMO Internet Group to explore blockchain use cases on Klaytn, including a JPY-pegged stablecoin
  • Indonesia’s Innovation Factory, the digitalisation arm of Salim Group, to explore blockchain-based applications, including asset management solutions, supply chain traceability as well as NFT use in gaming and entertainment
  • Asian NFT marketplace East NFT, to harness the global LGBTQ crypto economy with NFTs based on Y Series content and to widen the horizon through collaborations with the world’s largest partners in the art, music and entertainment space
  • US-based entertainment group Animal Concerts to mint NFTs for A-list celebrities, starting with an NFT auction for a household name artiste in Q1 2022
  • Global fintech accelerator F10 to create an incubation program for blockchain startups in Singapore

"We have built tremendous momentum over the past 3 months and are well positioned to ride the metaverse wave in 2022. These strategic partnerships in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, US, and Singapore are core components of our international expansion roadmap. More partnerships with leading gaming companies are in the pipeline," says David Shin, head of global adoption at Klaytn Foundation.

About Klaytn
Klaytn is a public blockchain focused on the metaverse, gamefi, and the creator economy. Officially launched in June 2019, it is the dominant blockchain platform in South Korea and is now undergoing global business expansion from its international base in Singapore.

These business expansion activities are supported by the US$500m Klaytn Growth Fund, which aims to grow the ecosystem of companies built on Klaytn. The fund is managed and disbursed by Klaytn Foundation, a Singapore-based non-profit organization established in August 2021.

Business, Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

Samsung’s Future Devices Will Contain Recycled Materials, that is a Good Thing

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Two years ago, we see major phone makers deciding that they are excluding charging adapters. That stunt was said to be in the name of environmental friendliness. More recently, we see major PC builders starting to launch products that are supposed to be more eco-friendly than ever.

To be fair, all these environmental sustainability program from corporation are nothing new. Manufacturers have been looking for ways to make their products more sustainable and more environmentally friendly. One of the most common practices for a long time was to design and manufacture their product’s packaging from recyclable materials with environmentally friendly printing substances. In a lot of cases as well, they even use recycled papers as the tray that is being used within the packaging as well.

Last year, we saw Samsung announcing their own sustainability program. They call it the “Galaxy for the Planet” initiative and they aim to do a few things with it leading up to 2025. With the initiative, Samsung aims to minimise waste from their own products by 2025. With that, they are also planning to reduce plastic usage in the same time frame. At the same time, Samsung is also planning to make their chargers more efficient while providing same charging speeds.

In accordance with their announcement, they made another announcement just ahead of Samsung’s most anticipated event in the beginning of the year, the Unpacked 2022 event; the same event that we expect to see Samsung launching their flagship candy bar, the Galaxy S22. Ahead of the Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung has mentioned that they are going to be starting to use discarded fishing nets as part of their source of materials for their devices. Effectively, Samsung is also saying that they are going to be incorporating plastics that are recycled from the oceans into their material lists.

Why Fishing Nets?

Ocean bound plastics main2
Source: Samsung

Of course, Samsung is not the first company to start using ocean plastics in their manufacturing, they are the first to deviate from what other manufacturers choose to work with. They are the first company to specifically use abandoned and discarded fishing nets from the ocean. It is a bigger problem than you think.

The fishing industry has been one of the most important industries for humanity. Fishing has kept humanity sustained since the beginning of time. But fishing has also caused a lot of pain, not for humanity directly, but for the ecology that has kept humanity surviving for many lifetimes.

Plastic based fishing nets have been around for centuries. While it is cheap and durable to work with, it does more harm than good when left alone. While environmentalists hardly speak of abandoned fishing nets or ‘ghost nets’ as a common problem, it is a problem. When fishing nets are left alone, it can still trap marine life, damage coral reefs, and eventually destroy the ecology that has kept humanity surviving for many centuries.

It is estimated that there is about 640,000 tons of fishing nets that are abandoned and discarded every year in the ocean. It is also said that fishing nets make up about 10% of the total 12 million tonnes of plastic waste that finds their way to the ocean.

Galaxy With a Twist in the Future

Screenshot 2022 02 07 164644
Source: Samsung

Samsung ends the announcement with; “Learn more about our vision for a sustainable future at Unpacked”. Currently there are no confirmed products that will feature PCM (Post Consumer Materials) in Samsung’s line-up. While we have a good idea of what the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 will look like, Samsung has not shared the materials that they will be using.

Before this announcement we assumed that Samsung will be using the same materials as before; mostly aluminium, or glass, and some plastics. After the announcement though, we are not entirely sure. The Samsung Galaxy S22 devices and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 could feature some PCMs within its build. What we are sure of though is that future Samsung devices will contain a percentage of PCM in their build.

What we are sure of as well is that we will find out more in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event. Find out what you can expect from Samsung’s flagship in their upcoming launch in our write up. For more information on Samsung’s latest initiative, you can also visit their newsroom.

Consumer Electronics, News

PRISM+ Launches New Q86 PRO Quantum Edition in Malaysia

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When it comes to Android TVs, we’re used to spending thousands on getting the best of both software and hardware. This rings especially true with technologies like Quantum Dot or Full Array LEDs, however, PRISM+ is looking to change that with a series of affordable smart TVs running on Android TV. The company isn’t new to displays, in fact, the Singaporean company has made its name making some of the most affordable monitors on the market. They’ve only recently launched their Q-series Android TV.

Lifestyle5
Source: PRISM+

PRISM+ is expanding the Q-series line up with a supersized 86-inch Android TV with a Quantum IPS Display panel. The new PRISM+ Q86 PRO Quantum Edition comes with 4K Ultra HD resolution and a bezel-less design. The new large TV comes with support for HDR10, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and DTS Tru Surround. This will allow users to see more details in the content they’re viewing as well as enjoy a truly immersive experience overall.

In addition to this, the TV also comes with built-in screencasting thanks to its built-in Chromecast. The PRISM+ Q865 PRO Quantum edition comes with support for Bluetooth 5.0 and has access to over 5,000 optimised via the Google Play Store. It ships with Android TV OS 10.0. These include apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO and Disney+ Hotstar. The TV also supports Google Assistant and Hands-free voice control allowing users to control their TVs with a simple “Hey Google” prompt.

Pricing & Availability

Lifestyle2
Source: PRISM+

The PRISM+ Q86 PRO Quantum Edition is currently available online via the PRISM+ official website, LAZADA and Shopee. It retails for MYR8,999 and comes with 2 years on-site warranty.

Official Specifications

ModelQ86 PRO QE
PriceRM8,999
Resolution4K Ultra HD 3840×2160
Bezel-lessYes
HDR10Yes
Quantum IPS PanelYes
Display Colors1.07 billion with Dolby Vision
Dolby AtmosYes
DTS TruSurroundYes
Digital TVYes
Bluetooth5.0
Android TV OS10.0
Google PlayStoreYes
Inbuilt ChromecastYes
Google AssistantYes, Hands-Free Voice Control
Warranty2 Years Full Onsite