Monthly Archives: July 2022

Accessories, Computers, Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

Samsung’s Freestyle is Now Available in Malaysia for MYR 4,999!

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Samsung, back in CES 2022, announced a bunch of very interesting products. One of them is a particularly odd-looking projector with rounded body and an odd foot. It certainly does not look like the typical traditional projector.

They call it the Freestyle, and it is not really a portable projector in any case. It does not pack a battery pack within the body. It is a regular projector that requires a power adapter plugged into a wall socket. It is not technically an LED projector either. So, the only thing that is unique about this product could be its striking visual.

Except, it is not just its odd visuals that could make this a projector you want at home. While it is not a portable projector with a battery packed in, it is still a rather light device. At 830 grams, it is one of the lightest, if not the lightest projector of its kind. That also means that if you have a wall socket nearby, you can take this projector and turn any room or space within your home into and entertainment hub. Either that, or just hop it up with an external USB power source capable of pushing 50W/20V output. If you have a powerbank that powerful, you essentially have a portable projector here.

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Source: Samsung

Projection wise, you are getting a Full HD image out of the Freestyle, which is actually pretty good. You can get up to 100-inch of projection with no issue too with the Freestyle. With the 180o articulation, even your ceiling can be your cinema display. At the same time, you can technically prop the Freestyle on any surface and its auto keystone function will automatically level your images. It even features its own Smart Calibration in case you are projecting on a wall that is not black or even white.

Surprisingly enough, you can still find a speaker on the compact projector. It packs a 5W 360-degree radiation speaker that should distribute audio evenly in the room. They say that the 5W speakers should also offer cinema-quality sound experience.

It is not just a plain projector that you have to connect your media source to. Even without connecting the projector via cables to your smartphone or PC, it is a smart projector that comes with the Tizen OS for TVs. That also means that you get access to the likes of Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and even Apple TV+. If not, you can always just mirror your smartphone’s contents on the projector wirelessly when you want. It also comes with Samsung’s Bixby smart assistant, so you technically may not need a remote for the Freestyle.

Once you are done with the Freestyle, you technically do not have to turn it off. You can use it to set the mood for your room with ambient mode. It can be an additional lighting source, or it can also display a scene and even become your large format photo frame if you want it to be. Of course, that is going to take up some of its lamp’s life.

  • my the freestyle lsp3b sp lsp3blaxxm 531006998
    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
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    Source: Samsung
  • my the freestyle lsp3b sp lsp3blaxxm 531006999
    Source: Samsung

The Samsung Freestyle is available now from Samsung’s Malaysia Online Store, Shopee, and Lazada. You can also find one in your nearest Samsung authorized resellers and concept stores nationwide. It will set you back MYR 4,999, which is a lot of money for a projector still. If you get the Freestyle before 31st of July 2022 though, you are entitled to complementary accessories like the Freestyle Case (Dark Green) and Freestyle Skin (Forest Green) that is worth up to MYR 498 in total. More information on the Samsung Freestyle can be found on their website.

PR Newswire

Fraud Costs Increased More Than 10% over Pre-Pandemic Levels for APAC Businesses, According to LexisNexis Risk Solutions Study

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Each Fraudulent Transaction Costs Nearly U.S. $4 for Every $1 Lost to Fraud

SINGAPORE, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — LexisNexis® Risk Solutions released the latest Asia-Pacific edition of the LexisNexis® True Cost of Fraud™ Study, which surveyed 387 risk and fraud executives in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The study analyzed fraud trends in retail, ecommerce, financial services and lending industries and spotlights key pain points related to new digital payment methods and transaction channels.

The study found the cost of fraud rose 10% – 16% across APAC from 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The LexisNexis Fraud Multiplier™ determined that for every U.S. $1 lost to fraud costs the organization an average of $3.99, compared to $3.50 in 2019. The cost of fraud per transaction was higher than average, costing digital banks and alternative lenders $6.33. Other new payment channels, such as buy now pay later (BNPL) and digital wallets, cost businesses $4.75 for every dollar lost to fraud.

Fraudsters evolved tactics in parallel with the changes in consumer behavior brought on by the pandemic. A recent Cybercrime Report showed consumers made a significant shift to mobile transactions, which now accounts for 75% of all transaction traffic globally. While in-person transactions remain the most popular point-of-sale channel, fraud occurs more in online channels than mobile channels. Within the mobile channel, 34% of fraud occurs through mobile web browsers.  

Key findings from the True Cost of Fraud Study – APAC edition:

  • Fraudsters Target Alternative Finance Providers – Competition in the BNPL market is accelerating globally, led by local, homegrown players across markets, according to the study. BNPL providers recorded a 65% jump in new account creations, which aligns with the strong growth in remote online and mobile transactions. However, BNPL providers also account for more than one-tenth of payment losses, which is disproportionately higher than the average volume of transactions through other payment channels.
  • Identity Verification Challenges – The top contributor to fraud losses for businesses remains the inability to identify synthetic identities and verifying and authenticating identities using attributes such as phone numbers, email addresses, behavioral analysis and devices. Ecommerce merchants in particular find identity verification challenging since it requires finding a balance between providing a seamless customer experience and implementing step-up authentication and security measures.
  • Adoption of a Fraud Management Framework – Almost all digital banks and alternative finance providers including BNPL and digital wallets have not yet fully integrated cybersecurity and operations into fraud prevention processes. Findings also show that organizations are not widely using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models for fraud detection, weakening mitigation efforts. Percentage of organizations using various capabilities to fight fraud:
    • Rules-based Approaches – 52%
    • Crowdsourcing – 36%
    • Social Media Intelligence – 33%
    • Cybersecurity Alerts – 25%
    • AI/ML Models – 21%

“Organizations are fighting a tough battle against fraudsters in the new normal,” said Thanh Tai, director of fraud and identity strategy, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “Fraud is sophisticated and evolving exceedingly fast. We are seeing a high volume of fraud attempts following a continued shift towards digital channels spurred by the pandemic. This means businesses must integrate a fraud detection and prevention approach with both physical and digital identity attributes to enhance customer experience, stay competitive and avoid losses.”

Methodology
The True Cost of Fraud APAC study surveyed 387 risk and fraud executives in retail, ecommerce and financial services/lending across Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Data collection occurred during February/March 2022 and survey questions reference the past 12 months.

Download a copy of the True Cost of Fraud Study – APAC Edition or register to attend the LexisNexis Risk Solutions True Cost of Fraud APAC webinar on Tuesday, 19 July, 11am SGT to learn more.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions 
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com and www.relx.com.

Media Contact:
Joyce LEE
+852 9883 9321
joyce@montiethsprg.com.hk

PR Newswire

Macronix OctaBus™ Flash Memory Selected for Renesas VC4 Automotive Computing Development Platform

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Macronix OctaBus MX25UW51245G NOR Flash Provides Boot Memory to Renesas R-CAR S4 SoC-based VC4 Vehicle Computer Reference Designs

TAIPEI, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Macronix International Co., Ltd. (TSE: 2337), a leading integrated device manufacturer in the non-volatile memory (NVM) market, today announced that its MX25UW51245G Serial NOR Flash memory has been selected by Renesas Electronics Corporation for reference designs based on the Vehicle Computer Generation 4 (VC4) chipset. The high-performance MX25UW51245G will provide the VC4 platform, based on Renesas R-Car S4 system on a chip (SoC), with critical memory that enables fast boot-up times in automotive-computing designs.

Fast, reliable flash memory is essential to rapidly booting VC4-based systems, allowing them to adhere to real-time computing requirements. The MX25UW51245G, which can achieve up to 400MB/s read throughput and features low random latency, provides VC4 reference boards the flash storage needed for initial boot of the R-Car S4 SoC.

“Macronix and Renesas continue to enjoy a collaborative relationship, and we’re once again joining forces to bring our respective technologies together and empowering designers with advance automotive-electronics solutions,” said Macronix Vice President of Marketing F.L. Ni. “The VC4 evaluation platform featuring our MX25UW51245G will help unleash the power of the R-Car S4 SoC and VC4 in next-generation automotive systems.”

“The Renesas VC4 evaluation platform streamlines the development of automotive gateway and zone controller systems that can leverage the performance and safety features in both R-Car S4 SoC and MX25UW51245G,” said Takashi Yasumasu, Vice President of Automotive Core Technology Development Division at Renesas.

A core member of Macronix’s highly efficient NOR flash memory line featuring its OctaBus™ interface, the MX25UW51245G features 512Mb density, an Automotive Grade 1 temperature range of -40 ℃ to +125 ℃ and provides functional safety up to Automotive Safety Integrity Level D (ASIL D). The memory’s quality and performance are enhanced substantially by Macronix’s high efficient technology and know how.

The VC4 system is based on a complete Renesas chipset, the centerpiece of which is the R-Car S4 with 8x Cortex®A55 cores which features 8MB of SRAM, advanced cybersecurity and a rich selection of automotive interfaces. The VC4 provides functional safety up to ASIL D, along with the capability for simulating a wide range of connectivity inside the vehicle thereby allowing developers a rich environment for rapid prototyping. It offers an three-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and an integrated RH850 MCU functionality, which drastically reduces the customer’s bill of material.

Macronix and Renesas have a rich history of complementary products and evaluation solutions. Macronix is also a member of Renesas RZ Partner Ecosystem Solutions program and the R-Car Consortium, and a broad range of its flash memory products are represented in several Renesas RZ evaluation boards, including the OctaBus, ArmorFlash™ and e.MMC™ families.

For more information on the Macronix MX25UW51245G, please go to https://www.macronix.com/en-us/products/NOR-Flash/Serial-NOR-Flash/Pages/spec.aspx. For more information on the Renesas Vehicle Computer Generation 4, please go to www.renesas.com/eu/en/application/automotive/gateway-domain-control/vehicle-computer-generation-4#overview.

About Macronix

Macronix, a leading integrated device manufacturer in the non-volatile memory (NVM) market, provides a full range of NOR Flash, NAND Flash, and ROM products. With its world-class R&D and manufacturing capability, Macronix continues to deliver high-quality, innovative and performance-driven products to its customers in the consumer, communication, computing, automotive, networking and other market segments. Find out more at www.macronix.com.

OctaBus, ArmorFlash and e.MMC are trademarks of Macronix International Co., Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Editorial contacts

Macronix HQ:
Michelle Chang
Director, Corporate Communication Office
Macronix International Co., LTD.
Tel: +886-3-578-6688 ext. 71233
Fax: +886-3-666-3169
Email: michellechang@mxic.com.tw

US:
Jerry Steach
CommonGround Communications (for Macronix)
Tel: +1-415.222.9996
Email: jsteach-cgc@att.net

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Accessories, Gaming, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

ASUS ROG Unleashes Latest Headsets with Dual-Mode Connectivity

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Before we go ahead with the report, we must give you a little bit of a disclaimer. Not all the new headsets that ASUS ROG just introduced are built with dual-mode connectivity. Among the four options, you only have two headphones that gives you two connectivity options.

We are talking about wireless headphones here, the trend of the decade. Ever since audio solution providers started working with speakers that can be connected to devices via Bluetooth, the demand for wireless audio gear has skyrocketed. The number of products that cater to variety of wireless audio needs have also has exponentially multiplied over the years.

If you were to go out today and said you wanted a Bluetooth enabled headphone, you will be pressed for choices. There are too many out there to count from the budget options to the premium options. If you want the best of the best though, you had to have something like a Sony in mind. However, the current best-of-the-best from Sony is not really made for gaming.

In that case, you do want to turn to the gaming brands. You want to turn to the likes of ASUS’s ROG for example, the gaming skunkworks of the Taiwanese computing giant. They already make brilliant smartphones, the ROG Phone 6 is currently one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful smartphone in the world at launch. If they can do that, what about gaming headsets?

ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro & True Wireless

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    Source: ASUS
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    Source: ASUS
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    Source: ASUS

We start with the most unique one in their range of new audio solutions, the Cetra True Wireless Pro. Yes, this one is the one where you get dual-mode connectivity built into the device. It is also a True Wireless (TWS) earphone, the little in-ear ones, not over-ear headphones; that is why it is such a big deal.

At its most basic form, the Cetra True Wireless Pro works as a Bluetooth headset. To ensure that users get the best audio experience, there is a built in Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound chip that lowers latency. The chip also allows for a high-quality 24-bit, 96 kHz streams to get through via Bluetooth. If you put the earphones into gaming mode, the ultralow-latency hits 45ms to ensure that you get near instant feedback from your games. The chip also facilitates the multiple ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) modes that you can choose from with the headset.

Rather than being a pure True Wireless headset, you can use it via a USB Type-C connection as well. To eliminate latency, wired headsets are always preferred. With smartphones today though, 3.5mm AUX tips are no longer a good option. So, you go with USB Type-C, which also allows ROG to pack more features into the headphone via the cable.

Within the cable is a hi-f- grade ESS 9280 DAC. That also means that the bundled cable is good for lossless audio with rather rich detailing and even spatial sound. It can process up to 130dB signal-to-noise ratio to ensure that you are not only getting the most accurate sound representation of any media you are listening to, but it also allows you to really pinpoint where sounds are coming from in your games.

The Cetra True Wireless Pro’s mics can filter over 500 million types of background noise. Its integrated AI Noise-Cancelling Microphone reduces up to 95% of noise while still allowing you to have clear communication with your teammates. Additionally, there are microphones inside your ears on the headset too to make for better ANC experience.

RogCetraTrueWireless 01
Source: ASUS

With the ROG Cetra True Wireless, you get everything that the Cetra Wireless Pro gets, except for the USB Type-C cable and the dual-mode connectivity function. It is still a rather compelling option for mobile gamers though. You get to push it to low-latency mode too with Gaming mode. It still features Hybrid ANC technology to ensure that you are not distracted by what is happening outside your game time.

ROG Delta S Wireless

  • Delta S wireless 01
    Source: ASUS
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    Source: ASUS
  • Delta S wireless 03
    Source: ASUS

If you prefer something that is more wholesome, something you want to use at home, something that covers your entire ears for a more comfortable fit and better seal, you go for an over-ear headset. What if you hate cable managing? What if your PC is placed in an odd location and plugging your cables in and out of the thing is a hassle? What is your console is far away from you? You get an ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset.

The ROG Delta S Wireless is also a dual-mode headset. Instead of giving you the option to either having a wireless or wired connection though, it is dual-mode wireless connection. It offers the low latency, near instant, highly stable 2.4GHz wireless connection. At the same time, it offers the convenience of Bluetooth connection for you to work with for smartphones, if you wish to.

The idea of using 2.4GHz connection for your audio gear with a dongle is not only for the PC gamers, but also for the console gamers. Since it is made to handle up to 25m in distance, there should be little worry about where you place the connected PC or console within your house.

ROG Delta S Wireless 04
Source: ASUS

It is a gaming headset, so there is naturally a built-in mic for team communications. It is not like any other mic that might feel like an afterthought in gaming headphones though. There are AI Beamforming mics that is hidden on the headphone that targets a good portion of area in front of the user’s mouth to pick up the user’s voice. The AI Noise Cancellation algorithm also ensures that the mics only pick up your voice and nothing of much else for clear team communications.

The Delta S Wireless packs a rather large driver too. At 50mm, it is larger than most regular over-ear headphones you can find in the market. There are 60mm drivers too, in the market to be fair. The ASUS Essence drivers, at 50mm, should be enough to deliver highly detailed and punchy low-frequency sounds though. They say also that the drivers should be able to facilitate highly detailed audios for all sorts of use case too with a 12o tit on the drivers in an airtight chamber. At the same time, there is ROG’s Hyper-Grounding technology to ensure that there is as little electromagnetic interference as possible on the audio signals to ensure that noise is minimized.

ROG Delta S Core

  • ROG Delta S Core 01
    Source: ASUS
  • ROG Delta S Core 02
    Source: ASUS
  • ROG Delta S Core 03
    Source: ASUS

Again, if you prefer something more regular, more grounded, more basic solution with the least latency, wired connections are the way to go. In that case, the ROG Delta S Core is the one for you. The Delta S Core offers a universal 3.5mm AUX tip that is compatible with PCs, major gaming consoles like the PlayStation, the Nintendo Switch, and even the Xbox.

It still features the same 50mm drivers you find in its wireless sibling. Because there is no battery to weigh it down, it weighs only 270g. The ergonomic D-shaped earcups that is designed to closely match the shape of regular ears also ensures that you can game for extended hours without feeling fatigued.

The wired connection also allows for the headphone to pack virtual 7.1 channel surround sound with Windows Sonic. With virtual surround sound too, you can accurately place your enemies or teammates within your game just via audio signals. At the same time, the built-in microphone that are Discord and TeamSpeak certified ensures that you always have a clear line of communications with your teammates.

Price and Availability

The ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro is not available now. Currently, there are no confirmations on when it will be available in Malaysia. There is no information on its official pricing for the region yet too. Its regular counterpart, the Cetra True Wireless headset will be available in Malaysia soon for MYR 515. The two Delta S series headphones that are just announced will also be making it to Malaysia soon. The ROG Delta S Wireless headphone with dual-mode wireless connectivity will be available for MYR 899. The ROG Delta S Core will be available for MYR 388. More information on ROG’s latest gaming headsets can be found on their website.

PR Newswire

Precision Immersion Cooling Specialist, Iceotope Technologies, Secures £30m Funding from Global Syndicate Led by Impact Investor ABC Impact

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  • Singapore impact private equity firm, ABC Impact, is investing in Iceotope to drive the reduction of carbon emissions from data centres and contribute to the achievement of net-zero emissions for the sector
  • Syndicate includes nVent, a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions, and the SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust plc, a FTSE 250 investment company, as strategic investors

LONDON, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Iceotope Technologies Limited (“Iceotope”), the global leader in precision immersion cooling technology, today announced that it has closed a £30m funding round from a global investment syndicate led by Singapore impact private equity firm ABC Impact. Iceotope’s environmentally efficient technology reduces the energy and water required to cool data centre servers and contributes toward the achievement of net-zero emissions for the data centre industry.

Iceotope Technologies Secures £30m Funding from Global Syndicate, Led by Impact Investor ABC Impact
Iceotope Technologies Secures £30m Funding from Global Syndicate, Led by Impact Investor ABC Impact

The global syndicate includes strategic investments from nVent – a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions, as well as FTSE 250 investment company, SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust plc. Other investors in this round include Northern Gritstone, British Patient Capital, Pavilion Capital, and existing investor, Edinv.

As part of a strategic alliance with Iceotope, nVent will offer new modular integrated solutions for data centres, edge facilities, and high-performance computing applications. This alliance will further drive the rapid deployment of Iceotope’s technology globally through its holistic suite of data centre solutions.

Tan Shao Ming, Chief Investment Officer at ABC Impact said: “Climate and water solutions form a key investment theme for us. Given that a large share of data growth in the coming years is expected to come from Asia with the advent of IoT and the 5G rollout, data centres in the region are set to proliferate. Iceotope’s precision cooling solutions enable data centres to transit to a more sustainable infrastructure with a reduced environmental and real estate footprint. By increasing efficiency in their use of energy and water, data centres can contribute to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. We see vast potential to deploy this technology in Asia, especially regions with tropical climates, and we look forward to working with Iceotope to scale its positive impact.”

David Craig, CEO of Iceotope Technologies said: “This significant investment, one of the largest amounts recently invested in liquid cooling, is a testament to the great work of our designers for our customers across the globe, as well as the many technology and channel partners that have placed their trust in our ability to cool data centre servers more efficiently in a vertical rack form factor. Given the global importance of the data centre sector, which can only increase as edge facilities proliferate and extend to the far reaches of civilization, we look forward to accelerating our global deployment plan with the help of our new and existing investment partners.”

While liquid cooling is long-established and has become the standard in high-performance computing (HPC) applications, air-cooling had been the preferred approach in cooling large data enterprise, co-location and cloud data centres. This situation is changing rapidly as the adoption of liquid cooling accelerates, with the global data center liquid cooling market expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.8%[1] to $6.4 billion by 2027.

Engineered to cool the whole IT stack, in every use case, from Hyperscale to the Extreme Edge, Iceotope’s patented Chassis-level Precision Immersion Cooling offers up to 96% water reduction, up to 40% power reduction, and up to 40% carbon emissions reduction per kW of ITE[2]. 100% sealed at chassis level, Iceotope’s liquid cooling solutions offer extreme cooling performance whilst isolating and protecting the critical IT from the surrounding environment and atmosphere. Industry-standard form factors allow simple maintenance and hot-swapping to be carried out – in any location – with ease, without mess, nor the need for heavy lifting gear.

Joe Ruzynski, nVent President of Enclosures said: “I’m excited to deepen our relationship with Iceotope. Together we’ve created sustainable, innovative cooling solutions that efficiently solve for heat and avoid downtime in data centres. Moving forward, we have the opportunity to build on our success and drive the next phase of precision immersion cooling solutions in an exciting and growing space.”

Jonathan Maxwell, founder and CEO of Sustainable Development Capital LLP, SEEIT’s investment manager said: “The data centre market is one of the fastest growing sources of demand for power and cooling globally. We are delighted to be supporting Iceotope in its efforts to expand the use of its innovative energy efficient technology in this dynamic sector.”

In the last 18 months, Iceotope has been widely recognised for innovation with Edge Computing Product of the Year DCS Award 2021, Data Centre Magazine Top 10 Most Innovative Cooling Companies, STL Partners 100 Edge Companies to Watch 2022, and most recently Electrical Review and Data Centre Review Excellence Awards in London winning Data Centre Design & Build Product of the Year and Data Centre Cooling Product of the Year 2022.

  1. Research and Markets; Global Data Center Liquid Cooling Market by Component, End User, Data Center Type, Type of Cooling, Enterprise and Region – Forecast to 2027: https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5610635/global-data-center-liquid-cooling-market-by?
  2. Independently verified by Cundall: Desktop Study Report- Liquid and Air-Cooling Compared

About Iceotope

Iceotope’s chassis level precision immersion cooling solutions are engineered to cool the whole IT stack, in every use case, from Hyperscale to the Extreme Edge. By removing the need for fans and air-cooling infrastructure, Iceotope’s technologies operate in near silence — bringing game-changing reduction in energy and water consumption, and significant cost reductions in the design, build and operation of data centres. For more information, visit: www.iceotope.com.

About ABC Impact

ABC Impact is a Singapore-headquartered and Asia-focused private equity firm dedicated to impact investing. We invest in companies that drive positive change by addressing the world’s most pressing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and deepening inequality. Our investment themes include financial and digital inclusion, better health and education, climate and water solutions, sustainable food and agriculture, and smart and liveable cities.

We believe that investing with an impact lens demonstrates the positive power of private capital and can help to foster more innovative and resilient companies that deliver societal and environmental benefits. We are a disciplined investor with a rigorous and evidence-based impact assessment approach that aims to generate positive and measurable social or environmental outcomes, alongside a compelling risk-adjusted return for our investors.

Our investment themes are aligned with the ABC Framework for an Active Economy, a Beautiful Society, and a Clean Earth. The ABC Framework was established by Singapore investment company Temasek and builds on the ideals of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Our inaugural S$405 million fund includes investors such as Temasek Trust, Temasek, Pavilion Capital, Mapletree Investments, Seatown Holdings, Sembcorp Industries, and Singapore Power.

Visit www.abcimpact.com.sg for more information. Our latest Impact Report, “Inspiring Impact”, is available at www.abcimpact.com.sg/impactreport2021.

About nVent 

nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world’s most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of enclosures, electrical connections and fastening and thermal management solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF and TRACER. Learn more at www.nvent.com.

nVent, CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF and TRACER are trademarks owned or licensed by nVent Services GmbH or its affiliates.

Media Contacts

Iceotope Technologies Ltd
Damien Wells, Spa Communications
e: dwells@spacomms.com
m: +44 (0) 7900 302102

ABC Impact Media Contact
e: media@abcimpact.com.sg

PR Newswire

GIGABYTE Added 54.6-inch S55U to the 4K Gaming Monitor Lineup

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TAIPEI, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — GIGABYTE, the world’s leading gaming hardware brand, announced the launch of the GIGABYTE S55U gaming monitor, the newest addition to GIGABYTE’S 4K monitor family.

GIGABYTE Added 54.6-inch S55U to the 4K Gaming Monitor Lineup
GIGABYTE Added 54.6-inch S55U to the 4K Gaming Monitor Lineup

The S55U opens up a new segment of gaming monitors with its massive 54.6-inch UHD quantum dot display. Besides delivering incredible picture sharpness and clarity, the S55U steps up the game with the esports-grade 120Hz refresh rate, 2ms GTG response time, and HDMI 2.1 connectivity that promises an immersive, silky-smooth gaming 4K experience on a big screen. The S55U is also android-powered with built-in apps such as YouTube, Netflix, and Chromecast for streaming, making it ideal for home entertainment as well.

GIGABYTE has been at the forefront of delivering best-in-class 4K gaming monitors since it introduced its first-ever 4K display last year. The entire family boast the industry-leading HDMI 2.1 support and exclusive tactical gaming features, which set a new standard for 4K gaming displays. GIGABYTE 4K gaming monitors have also been well received by media and communities worldwide. The FV43U was named the king of 43-inch gaming monitors by the world-renowned media Tom’s Hardware for its class-leading color and contrast. The 47.53-inch FO48U featuring an OLED panel won the iF Design Award honor in 2022 for its unmatched aesthetics and display performance. Last but not least, the GIGABYTE M series was highly praised by the monitor-focused tech media Rtings as the best 4K gaming monitors they have reviewed.

GIGABYTE now delivers a wide variety of 4K gaming monitors ranging from 28 to 54.6 inches for gamers to choose from. The newest S55U offers a brand new dimension for those looking for a completely immersive viewing experience on a large gaming monitor for both gaming and home entertainment.

GIGABYTE 4K gaming monitors are available now. For more product information, please visit: https://bit.ly/4KMONITOR

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Computers, Lifestyle, News

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Has Landed in Malaysia for MYR 3,488! 

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Thin-and-light notebook PCs are some of the most popular choices today in the laptop market. The appeal of a thin-and-light notebook is technically in its name; it is thin, and it is light. You can take it anywhere and set it up anywhere you want to and get productive whenever. You don’t have to break your back carrying lugging your work set-up around. In the current pandemic situation, where remote working is a norm, this format of computing solution has proven to be the most versatile for the general workforce too. 

Choosing the right thin-and-light notebook is not as crucial as making a life-and-death decision. But choosing the right one will not only help with your productivity, but it could also save you from a lot of trouble. It could also be the difference between taking hours to set-up or getting work done whenever you need to. So, what do you get? 

You could consider this, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.  

Microsoft should know a thing or two about making laptops for Windows 11. They are the makers of Windows 11 operating system, after all.  

To recap, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is Microsoft’s take on what a thin-and-light laptop for the discerning professional. It weighs just a little over 1.1kg and is entirely made from aluminium. It looked good too in its Platinum metal finish.  

Open its sleek metal clamshell and you are met with a 3:2 12.4-inch PixelSense display that is also touch sensitive. Above the display is also an HD camera with dual Studio mics for crystal clear video calls.  

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

Underneath the large trackpad and keyboard is a very powerful 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor. The processor is paired with an 8GB RAM and up to 256GB in SSD storage. Of course, there are no discrete GPU within the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. Instead, it has Intel’s Iris Xe graphics to ensure that the laptop can still edit 4K videos.  

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is now available in Malaysia via Microsoft’s commercial authorised reseller. You can also get your hands on one from Maxis and Microsoft’s authorised retaliers across the nation. It starts at MYR 3,488 for a 128GB SSD variant and up to MYR 3,788 for a 256GB SSD variant. More on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 can be found on their website.  

PR Newswire

BRV China-backed Service Robot Company Wissen Technology Completes US$10 Million Pre-A+ Series Financing

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BEIJING, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Wissen Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (Wissen Technology), a leading service robot innovator, raised close to US$10 million in a Pre-A+ Series financing led by BlueRun Ventures China (“BRV China”). The funding will go towards reinforcing Wissen Technology’s technological edge in the development of collaborative robots (‘cobots’) and boosting its efforts across talent acquisition and commercialization of applications. Wissen Technology is the only cobot provider with a full-stack technology offering all-in-one smart robot solutions utilizing light, flexible robotic arms.

Founded in 2019, Wissen Technology has dedicated itself to redefine the industry of cobots by reaching new standards in flexibility, agility, elasticity and safety. The KT200 Dual-arm Field Operation Robot, equipped with a variety of end-execution tools, was awarded Contemporary Good Design Award 2021 by Red Dot Design Awards, one of the world’s largest design competitions, and is now fully functional across social and public services.

Cobots have grown rapidly in recent years. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, China is a core driving force within the world’s robotics industry having created more than RMB100 billion in total revenue over the past year. Further, industrial cobots have been put into use in nearly 200 industries and sectors in China and have proved their competence across education, healthcare and agriculture.

Despite rising demand, cobots face considerable barriers. It requires technological breakthroughs in every stage whether in hardware components such as the base, rotary joints and end-of-arm tools or in terms of software programming such as navigation, visual image analysis and movement control. Only when all elements are perfectly in place can cobots function properly. 

“The investment is meant to lift robotics innovation to a new level,” said Wei CAO, Partner of BRV China. “Currently, labor shortage due to an ageing population has led to skyrocketing demand for interactive operation robots in order to carry out unmanned operations across industries.”

“There is a need for comprehensive solutions in the form of collaborative robotic arms that are safe, agile and cost-effective. As such products get widely applied across public services, the utility sector, health and sanitation industries, intelligent parks and other areas. We look forward to Wissen’s efforts to drive the technology industry forward,” added Mr. Cao.

The founding team of Wissen Technology said: “We are determined to deliver a brand-new user experience and expand the utility of elastic robots. With the funding round, Wissen is keen to move towards the mass production of well-rounded collaborative service robots that can safeguard frontline workers and boost operational efficiency.”

About BRV China

BlueRun Ventures China (BRV China) is a leading early-stage venture firm in China with offices in Beijing and Shanghai. Having its heritage in Silicon Valley since 1998 and entered China in 2005, BRV China has managed over $2 billion through multiple USD and RMB funds, with over $1 billion cash distributions. BRV China focuses on investing in entrepreneurs who create a sustainable impact through technological innovations across enterprise services, transportation and smart machine, digital healthcare, and consumer technology sectors in China. The firm has invested in more than 150 portfolio companies, including Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), QingCloud (688316.SH), WaterDrop (NYSE: WDH), Energy Monster (NASDAQ: EM), Mogujie/Meilishuo (NYSE: MOGU), Qudian (NYSE: QD), Ganji/58.com, PPTV, Guazi, Meishubao, Nanyan, Shanzhen, Gaussian Robotics, Yi Auto, Pinecone, etc. The firm has been recognized as the “No.1 Early-Stage Investment Firm” in China by Zero2IPO and ChinaVenture, and “Consistent Performing Venture Capital Fund Manager” by Preqin. For further information, please visit https://www.brv.com.cn/en/.

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brv-china-backed-service-robot-company-wissen-technology-completes-us10-million-pre-a-series-financing-301580313.html

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

The ROG Phone 6 series Officially Here For Those Who Dare

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ASUS’s smartphone offerings were bolstered by the initial release of the ROG Phone back in 2018. The unique, gamer-centric smartphone not only brought a more performance-centric smartphone, but it also brought along a whole ecosystem focused on extending the mobile gaming experience. This year, the company is announcing the new ROG Phone 6 series which brings an offering for every price point and continues to keep gamers front and centre.

Power-packed Entries Staying True to ROG’s Gamer-first Ethos

The new ROG Phone 6 series consists of two smartphones: the ROG Phone 6 and the ROG Phone 6 Pro. These smartphones continue to offer the highest-end performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The new processor brings improvements in power efficiency and performance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This is enhanced by ROG’s X mode which unlocks performance on the smartphone. In X mode, the ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro are able to average 59.4 fps on Genshin Impact – one of the most demanding games on mobile right now. On the ROG Phone 6, the processor is complemented by up to 16GB RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. The Pro, on the hand, comes with a whopping 18GB of RAM with 512GB of storage.

ROG Phone 6 Series

On the display side of things, the ROG Phone 6 series comes with a Samsung AMOLED display made of E4 materials. This allows for increased brightness and high refresh rates. Speaking of, the 6.78-inch display comes with a 165Hz refresh rate and 720Hz touch-sampling rate giving users an edge when it comes to games. The display is also colour accurate coming with a ΔE below 1 which means that the colour accuracy is virtually indiscernible from real life. It’s also got a 111% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and always on HDR technology. The graphical performance is also enhanced by the Pixelworks i6 image processor. It’s also got HDR10+ compatibility.

Completing the Mobile Gaming Experience

The ROG Phone 6 Series brings back some of the features that we’ve come to expect with the series. One of which is the Air Triggers. These Ultrasonic Buttons enable more robust controls in-game. It does this by acting like triggers we’re used to on controllers; allowing users to tap and enable mapped functions in game. This allows for a more natural gaming experience on the smartphone itself. It’s also bringing a a whole slew of gestures that are aimed at making mobile gaming more intuitive.

ROG Phone 6 Pro with accessories

Together with the improved Air Triggers and gestures, the ROG Phone series is once again bringing back its ecosystem. The new ROG Phone 6 Series also comes with a slew of accessories that make it a portable console. The ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad allows players to pair a more complete controller to the smartphone akin to the Nintendo Switch. The newer design brings slight refinements which make the Gamepad more natural and ergonomic.

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Of course, an ROG Phone wouldn’t be an ROG phone without its signature AeroActive Cooler. The new AeroActive Cooler 6 has been improved with more robust design. It comes with features that not only make it more conductive but cool more efficiently. The AeroActive Cooler 6 now comes with a thermal conductive pad and copper plate to better conduct heat with a Peltier Element, Cooling fins and a centrifugal fan for better heat dissipation. ASUS touts that these elements allow the cooler to reduce heat by up to 25°C on the back cover. On top of that, the cooler now comes with 4 physical triggers to help make gaming a little more immersive while using it.

Deepening Immersion while Empowering Personal Expression

It also incorporates better, more immersive sound with its Dirac Virtuo spatial audio system and dual speakers. This allows for more immersive sound dynamics with higher clarity and contrast as well as deeper bass. It also brings an Audio Wizard and Equalizer to customise the sound for your personal tastes. It also comes with a special low latency mode for better fidelity over Bluetooth. This comes in addition to support for Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive and Hi-Res Audio.

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The ROG Phone 6 series comes with a more robust ROG Vision display on the back. On the 6 Pro, the ROG Vision display is a PMOLED display. This allows users to express themselves with full RGB visuals. Users are able to customise this on the smartphone itself with their own visuals or with a myriad of preset animations. On the regular Phone 6 this is replaced by an illuminated RGB ROG Logo.

S.Y. Hsu Kris Huang and Sascha Krohn Present

In addition to all the gaming features, ASUS is also equipping the ROG Phone 6 series with pretty respectable camera sensors. On the back is a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixle Sony IMX766 main sensor complemented by a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 13-megapixel macro sensor. These cameras will be front and center as gamers look to capture meaningful moments or create content. On the front is a 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 camera.

Pricing & Availability

The ROG Phone 6 will be available in Storm White and Phantom Black. The phone will be available in two variants: 12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB. The 12GB + 256GB will be retailing at MYR3,599 while the 16GB + 512GB will retail at MYR4,399. The ROG Phone 6 will be available starting in September 2022 in Malaysia.

The ROG Phone 6 Pro will only be available in Storm White with 18GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. This will be retailing for MYR4,999 starting in September 2022.

ROGPhone6 PWP Promo with ROG Slash
ROG Phone 6 Official Early Promotion

Pre-orders of the ROG Phone 6 will start on 6th July 2022. You can pre-order online at ASUS’s official Shopee store or at participating retailers. Pre-orders will be entitled to freebies worth MYR548. This includes 1 year extended warranty worth MYR199 and the AeroActive Cooler 6 worth MYR349. Online pre-orders are also entitled to a 10% discount on the ROG Slash Hip Bag which retails at MYR499 and the ROG Slash Crossbody Bag which is priced at MYR399.

Health, Lifestyle, News

Fossil’s new Gen 6 Hybrid Smartwatches Are Official

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Fossil has been one of the foremost companies when it comes to adopting and pushing smartwatches. The brand also has a more unique offering that brings the best of analogue watches and smartwatches into one sleek, customisable hybrid experience. These Hybrid watches – as the company calls them – bring all the benefits of having a smartwatch with the complexities stripped. The new 6th Generation Hybrid smartwatches are the company’s sixth iteration of their successful lineup.

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Fossil Stella / Source: Fossil

The Hybrid Smartwatch lineup will consist of two smartwatches: the Fossil Machine and the Fossil Stella. Both come with similar specifications but are aesthetically designed with different appeals. The Fossil Machine is a more rugged, hardy device aesthtically. It comes with a very industrial finish with a machined metal finish with an industrial, bevelled ring around the watchface. It’s also bigger with a 45mm stainless steel case. The Stella, on the other hand, has a more refined finish with smooth bezels. It also comes with crystal studding for those of us that need some bling. The Fossil Stella is also smaller with a 41mm stainless steel casing. Both come with silicone, leather and stainless steel options for the strap.

Fossil Machine Hybrid Smartwatch Gen 6 2
Fossil Machine Hybrid Smartwatch Gen 6 4
Fossil Machine Hybrid Smartwatch Gen 6 3
Fossil Machine Hybrid Smartwatch Gen 6 1

The new sixth generation of Fossil Hybrid Smartwatches bring an improved SPO2 sensor for better blood oxygen monitoring. They also come with an E-Ink display which is always on in the center of the watch face. The Stella comes with a smaller 0.94-inch display while the Machine comes with a 1.1-inch display. The display will display your activity tracking and also notifications. In addition, the hyrid smartwaches are water resistant up to 3ATM.

Fossil Stella Hybrid Smartwach Gen 6 1
Fossil Stella Hybrid Smartwach Gen 6 2
Fossil Stella Hybrid Smartwach Gen 6 3
Fossil Stella Hybrid Smartwach Gen 6 4

It’s worth noting that these Fossil Hybrid Smartwatches are not running on Google’s Android based Wear OS. They have, and continue to be, running on Fossil’s own proprietary software which comes with connects to your smartphone via a Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch app which is available on both iOS and Android. This also means that their features are very stripped down. They don’t provide the robustness of functionality we expect in smartwatches. However, they do provide a way for you to consciously disconnect. You can’t interact with your smartphone nor reply messages but you will get notifications.

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Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch App / Source: Fossil

This generation of the Fossil Hybrid Smartwatches also brings compatibility with Amazon’s Alexa. This will allow you to use voice commands to interact and get things done on your phone.

Pricing & Availability

The Gen 6 Hybrid Smartwatches are already available in Malaysia and the rest of the world. The Stella and the Machine costs MYR1,079/USD229 for the Silicone and Leather strap versions. The stainless steel band version costs MYR1,129/USD$249.