Motorola Unveils MotoAI to Make Your Computers and Phones Smarter

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Motorola recently made big announcements at Lenovo Tech World 2023, including a new bendable concept phone and a new AI platform called MotoAI.

MotoAI – Motorola’s foray into AI

MotoAI is Motorola’s answer to AI personal assistants and is being developed to power its future PCs and smartphones. The platform is expected to include a variety of AI features, including personalisation unique to the user, a sophisticated personal assistant, and enhanced data privacy.

This AI model will never stop learning and is able to adapt to the user’s habits and preferences over time. This will allow MotoAI to provide users with more helpful suggestions on top of unique personalisation. Naturally, this means there will be enhanced data privacy to give users more control over their data.

It’s unclear when the MotoAI will be fully released to the public, but it will be interesting to see what Motorala has in store in the near future. With how they have been investing heavily into AI and other innovative tech like their bendable phones, it seems like Motorola aims to play in the same leagues as the other big AI players.

PETLIBRO Introduces the Glacier Fountain, The World’s First Crafted Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain with Human-Grade Ultrafiltration

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Leading US smart pet supply brand, PETLIBRO, has announced the latest addition to their automatic fountain lineup, the Glacier Fountain, the world’s very first crafted stainless steel pet water fountain with human-grade ultrafiltration functionality.

By employing filters made of BASF Ultrason® resins, ion-exchange fibers and activated carbon, the Glacier Fountain provides human-grade ultrafiltration that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria while being highly effective in removing heavy metals and bad odors.
By employing filters made of BASF Ultrason® resins, ion-exchange fibers and activated carbon, the Glacier Fountain provides human-grade ultrafiltration that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria while being highly effective in removing heavy metals and bad odors.

“Our main focus was how we could integrate human-grade ultrafiltration into a pet fountain, alongside giving pet owners the benefit of excellent craftsmanship, effortless maintenance, and an incredibly easy user experience,” said York Wu, Founder and CEO of PETLIBRO. “I’m proud of our team for managing to bring these qualities together into one innovative product.”

Following the slogan “Level Up With Ultimate Filtration,” the Glacier Fountain sets a new standard in PETLIBRO’s range. The human-grade ultrafilter includes advanced features such as:

  • Eliminates 99.9% of Bacteria with BASF Ultrason® Resins – High-performance membrane filtration, made with BASF Ultrason® material, efficiently filters out bacteria larger than 0.01μm due to the membrane’s narrow pore size distribution.
  • Filtration of Heavy Metals and Unpleasant Odors – Ion-exchange fibers and activated carbon make the Glacier Fountain highly effective in removing heavy metals like lead, as well as unpleasant odors, for fresh and clean water at all times.
  • Long Lasting Ultrafilter with 2-Month Lifespan – The human-grade ultrafilter is built to endure and lasts four times longer than most other pet fountain filters on the market, which means no more frequent filter replacements for users’ peace of mind.

The Glacier Fountain also features other benefits for an incredible user experience, including a spacious water tank that is completely dishwasher safe and easy to maintain, alongside user-friendly indicator lights to let users know when water and filter changes are needed. In addition, this cat fountain is designed to be cat-friendly in every detail, featuring a shallow water basin that prevents whisker-fatigue. However, small dogs and other similarly sized pets may also enjoy the Glacier Fountain, as the fountain features vacuum suction technology to safely separate electrical components from running water and chew-proof cables to ensure complete comfort for pet owners and their cherished companions.

Priced at $79.99 with the inclusion of one ultrafilter, the Glacier Fountain is available at PETLIBRO’s official website and Amazon.

About PETLIBRO

Since 2019, PETLIBRO has helped over a million families enrich the lives of their cherished companions with premium pet products, growing into one of the best-selling smart pet supply brands globally. These innovative products are designed with a clear focus on simplifying pet care and enhancing the bond between pet owners and their beloved companions. By prioritizing the needs of pet owners, they offer ideal solutions that are both highly effective and easy to use. Please visit www.petlibro.com for more information.

Media Contact
marketing@petlibro.com 

Ninety Plus and Hiroia Announce Exciting Collaboration, Bringing Coffee Connoisseurs the Ultimate Home Brewing Experience

PANAMA CITY, Oct. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ninety Plus, the renowned premium specialty coffee brand, is proud to announce further collaborations with Hiroia, the tech subsidiary of Hario. This new and exciting collaboration aims to redefine the coffee brewing experience for connoisseurs worldwide by introducing the Hikaru, an advanced automatic V60 pour over brewer designed for home use.

Ninety Plus and Hiroia Announce Exciting Collaboration with the Hikaru V60 Smart Brewer
Ninety Plus and Hiroia Announce Exciting Collaboration with the Hikaru V60 Smart Brewer

Joseph Brodsky, Founder of Ninety Plus, was deeply impressed by Hiroia’s latest product offering, the Hikaru. This state-of-the-art automatic brewer not only captivated him with its elegant design but also more importantly, with its remarkable ability to consistently brew exceptional coffee using Ninety Plus beans with ease.

Mr. Brodsky’s extensive testing of various automatic coffee brewing systems on the market revealed two common shortcomings: 1) the lack of precise temperature and ratio controls, and 2) under-extraction due to restricted water flows. Many existing systems fell short of his high expectations, failing to deliver the level of performance required for consistently brewing Ninety Plus coffee to perfection.

However, Hikaru stands out from the crowd. It employs an algorithm-driven jet stream through its showerhead design, enabling even saturation and sufficient agitation of the coffee grounds. This novel technique, adopted from its commercial-grade system – Samantha, ensures a precise and consistent brewing process, resulting in the full extraction of the rich spectrum of flavors inherent to Ninety Plus and their many competition-winning coffees.

Hikaru’s unmatched features make it the ideal companion for Ninety Plus coffee enthusiasts seeking a hassle-free brewing experience at home. The collaboration will soon see Ninety Plus introducing a range of coffee beans and packs specifically curated for use with the Hikaru system. This exciting development means that coffee aficionados around the globe can now enjoy the unparalleled quality and flavor profile of Ninety Plus coffee with the push of a button in the comfort of their own homes.

Joseph Brodsky expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “At Ninety Plus, we have always strived for excellence in every cup of coffee we offer, whether supporting the highest level of competition coffees or the discerning home coffee drinker. The Hikaru system by Hiroia aligns perfectly with our commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring that our coffee enthusiasts can experience the full depth of our flavors effortlessly. We are thrilled to be partnering with Hiroia on this exciting journey as we try to make our coffees more accessible.”

Hiroia’s President, Aaron Fujiki, also shared his enthusiasm, stating, “The collaboration with Ninety Plus represents a thrilling start to merge cutting-edge technology with one of coffee’s leading tastemakers and brands. Ninety Plus has been the forerunner in pushing the envelope of the quality of specialty coffee with an unparalleled track record of supporting world champion baristas and brewers. We are excited to help Ninety Plus in this endeavor to reach more customers in their homes and to have them as one of our first partners to redefine the home brewing experience.”

As the collaboration between Ninety Plus and Hiroia takes shape, coffee enthusiasts can anticipate a new era in home coffee brewing. The Hikaru system promises to provide the ingenuity, consistency, and quality that Ninety Plus customers have come to expect.

For further information, please contact:
marketing@hiroia.com
marketing@ninetypluscoffee.com 

About Ninety Plus:

Founded by Joseph Brodsky, Ninety Plus has become a globally recognized name in the coffee industry, celebrated for its world coffee championship performances, cloud forest, low density coffee estates, and innovation in coffee tastemaking.

About Hiroia:

Hiroia is the tech subsidiary of Hario, a leading name in the world of coffee and tea equipment. Hiroia is committed to innovation and technology, creating products that enhance the coffee brewing experience and meet the evolving needs of coffee enthusiasts worldwide.

Motorola’s Really Flexing with Its Concept Device

Motorola is definitely not a stranger to the smartphone world. In fact, at one point, the company was known for its innovations in the smartphone industry. Now, as a subsidiary of Lenovo, Motorola is flexing its chops again with an exciting and unique bendable phone concept at Lenovo Tech World. This groundbreaking device showcases a 6.9-inch flexible pOLED screen that can transform into various forms, promising a new era in smartphone technology.

This concept device boasts an adaptive display concept that redefines how we could use our smartphones. The 6.9-inch flexible pOLED screen is the star of the show. The FHD+ display is able to bend and flex into multiple configurations to suit your needs. When flat, it offers a full Android experience, exactly like what we’re used to in a standard smartphone. A little bending later, the phone is able to stand upright and is a standee or standing phone with a 4.6-inch display.

However, what truly sets this concept apart is its ability to be wrapped around your wrist, transforming into an oversized smartwatch. It’s reminiscent of those bendy slap-on watches that were all the rage back in the 90s. While the practicality and safety of this wrist-worn mode are yet to be proven, future possibilities are intriguing, to say the least.

Although the concept is intriguing, Motorola has been tight-lipped about specific details. Important information such as the device’s processor, battery capacity, and other key specifications are still shrouded in secrecy. While the device is not a market-ready product yet, it serves as an innovative glimpse into what the future of smartphones could hold.

CCTV+: Enamored by Jiangxi — Elegant Tea

BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — As a drink and a food, tea plays an important role in the life of the people of Jiangxi. With profound tea culture, Jiangxi Province is a famous tea-producing area in history. The superb, exquisite and unique tea-making skills reflect the craftsmanship of generations of tea makers. The long history of tea making has also nurtured the profound tea culture in Jiangxi.

Apple Subscriptions Get a Price Hike

Apple users, get ready for a minor change in your monthly fees. As a result of Apple’s recent price review, the company has raised the prices of Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple News Plus, and the Apple One packages. This change is in keeping with the industry-wide pattern of rising subscription costs.

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Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com

For international Apple users, prices are increased between USD$2 and USD$3. Moving forward, the prices will be:

SubscriptionOriginal Price (USD)New Price (USD)Increase (USD)
Apple TV+USD$6.99USD$9.99USD$3.00
Apple ArcadeUSD$4.99USD$6.99USD$2.00
Apple News+USD$9.99USD$12.99USD$3.00

This price hike also affects the Apple One packages, which bundles several of Apple’s services. Apple One has three tiers which all have been subjected to price raises as well.

SubscriptionBundled ServicesOriginal Price (USD)New Price (USD)Increase (USD)
IndividualiCloud+ (50GB)
Apple TV+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
USD$16.95USD$19.95USD$3.00
Family
(5-users)
iCloud+ (200GB)
Apple TV+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
USD$22.95USD$25.95USD$3.00
PremiumiCloud+ (2TB)
Apple TV+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
Apple Fitness+
Apple News+
USD$32.95USD$37.95USD$5.00

However, even with all the current price hikes, it is of note that other Apple services like Apple Music, Fitness+, and iCloud+ memberships are unchanged as of now.

The recent price hikes also affect Malaysian Apple users particularly those who use the Apple One subscriptions.  Apple One members in Malaysia will see a small rise in the monthly fee for the service.

SubscriptionBundled ServicesOriginal Price (MYR)New Price (MYR)Increase (MYR)
IndividualiCloud+ (50GB)
Apple TV+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
MYR29.90MYR34.90MYR5.00
Family
(5-users)
iCloud+ (200GB)
Apple TV+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
MYR39.90MYR44.90MYR5.00
PremiumiCloud+ (2TB)
Apple TV+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
Apple Fitness+
Apple News+
MYR78.90MYR84.90MYR6.00

Other well-known subscriptions like Netflix have also seen a price hike which is becoming a recent trend among other subscriptions too.  These price hikes are unfortunately necessary to cover the ever-increasing price of delivering excellent content and services to users.

Xiaomi 14 Announced; Runs on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 & Hyper OS

Xiaomi has just unleashed its latest flagship smartphone series known as the Xiaomi 14 series. Xiaomi’s latest devices have a new OS – Hyper OS – and is the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU.

Xiaomi 14 14 Pro

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is equipped with a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display. This screen is brighter than our future with an obscene 3,000nits brightness. It also comes with a 1440 x 3200 pixels resolution that gives it a pixel density of 522ppi and a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone itself comes with a durable Ceramic Glass finish. It also comes with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ compatibility. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also has Dolby Atmos stereo speakers for an immersive audio experience.

Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14 series comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It’s the first smartphone to have it hot off its announcement at the recent Snapdragon Summit. The processor is complemented with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

The series also supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC. It has a whopping 4,800mAh battery capable of fast charging of 120W. It also supports 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. Did we forget? It’s also got IP68 water- and dust resistance.  

Xiaomi 14 14 Pro 2

Xiaomi 14 Pro’s camera setup boasts one of the first to sport a breakthrough 50-megapixel “Light Hunter 900” primary sensor. The sensor is equipped with OIS and features a variable aperture and a Leica Summilux lens. The setup also includes a floating 40-megapixel telephoto lens with OIS and 3.2x optical zoom and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The front camera is a 32-megapixel sensor. Video lovers will adore the variable aperture’s f/1.42 to f/4 range and 8K resolution at 24fps.

The vanilla version of the Xiaomi 14 has a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits’ peak brightness as well as density pixels of 460ppi. The image resolution is 1200 x 2670 pixels. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers remain. This one is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance like the Pro and sports an under-display fingerprint scanner. It has a 4,610mAh battery that supports 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

The Xiaomi 14’s main camera is equipped with a 50-megapixel Light Hunter 900 sensor, a 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor, and a 50MP telephoto sensor with 3.2X optical zoom making. Its 32MP selfie camera supports 8K 24p video however unlike the Pro it does not come with variable aperture.

Pricing & Availability

The Xiaomi 14 series is currently priced only for the China region with 14 Pro costing:

Variant Price (CNY)Converted Pricing (MYR)
12GB RAM + 256 GB storageCNY4,999MYR3,266.38
16GB RAM + 512 GB storageCNY5,499MYR3,590.88
16GB RAM + 1TB storage CNY5,999MYR3,917.38

While the Vanilla version costs:

Variant Price (CNY)Converted Pricing (MYR)
8GB RAM + 256GB storageCNY3,999MYR2,611.27
12GB RAM + 256 GB storageCNY4,299MYR2,807.16
16GB RAM + 512 GB storageCNY4,599MYR3,002.83
16GB RAM + 1TB storage CNY4,999MYR3,264.00

Both series are available in Black, Jade Green, and White and the regular Xiaomi 14 has a Snow Mountain Pink while the Xiaomi 14 Pro has a Titanium edition.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Xiaomi 14 series especially when it comes to the international launch.

FTW: Games Free This Week – 23 Oct 2023 (Part 2)

If you caught our last FTW earlier this week, you might have snagged yourself a free copy of The Evil Within and Eternal Threads. But it seems like Epic Games is in the spirit of giving for Halloween as they’ve released a couple more awesome titles you can add to your library for the next few days.

Don’t miss out and check out the links below to grab your free games before 2 November!

The Evil Within 2 (Free on Epic Games till 2 November)

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For those of you who picked up The Evil Within earlier this week, here’s an opportunity to dive right back into a world of nightmares with The Evil Within 2.

Similar to the first game, you resume the role of Detective Sebastian Castellanos who once again traverses to a twisted world to save his daughter. Face off or stealth around around terrifying creatures using upgradeable weapons and traps in this intense psychological survival horror title.

Find The Evil Within 2 on the Epic Games store.

Tandem: A Tale of Shadows (Free on Epic Games till 2 November)

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In this unique puzzle platformer, uncover a mystery involving the disappearance of a famous magician as Emma and a teddy bear named Fenton. Solve puzzles and avoid enemies as you explore a series of Victorianesque worlds inspired by the likes of Tim Burton, Jules Vernes and Conan Doyle.

One of the standout experiences in this game is through the unique gameplay that features both top-down and side-scrolling POVs. While this isn’t exactly a “scary” title for Halloween, you’ll be sure to find yourself face-to-face with the strange and creepy in this narrative-driven adventure.

Find Tandem: a Tale of Shadow on the Epic Games store.

Don’t want to miss out on free games? Watch out for this space for more gaming deals and freebies on the next FTW.

Cisco Unveils Webex AI Strategy: Bringing Collaboration to the Next Level with AI Augmentation

Cisco is bringing a whole load of AI features to its cloud collaboration platform, Webex. Its new strategy which focuses on using AI to enhance real-time audio and video communications is touted to change the way companies collaborate in a world that is embracing a hybrid model of work. Unlike traditional AI applications limited to text or documents, Cisco’s Webex leverages AI for audio and video to tackle everyday challenges, ensuring crystal-clear calls and meetings even with low bandwidth.

The Webex AI Assistant

In the largest way, Cisco is introducing AI as a digital personal assistant to help augment and boost productivity when using Webex. The Webex AI Assistant is a powerful tool designed to boost productivity and accuracy. This new AI Assistant will be integrated across the entire Webex portfolio, which includes the Webex Suite, Cisco Collaboration devices, Webex Contact Center, Webex Connect, and Webex Control Hub. This approach is already being tested by renowned companies like McLaren Racing and Team DSM.

webex ass hero jpg

The Webex AI Assistant will offer a range of capabilities that empower users and reduce IT workload. These features include:

  • Change Message Tone, which provides suggestions to improve messaging tone, format, and phrasing.
  • Suggested Responses for contact centre agents responding to customers on digital channels.
  • Meeting Summaries to help users catch up on missed meetings with easily digestible summaries.
  • Message Summaries to recap unread messages or spaces.
  • Slido Topic Summaries for virtual and hybrid events to navigate trending topics.

According to Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Cisco Security and Collaboration, “We’re at the tipping point of a new era of hybrid work, with AI holding the key to helping us bridge the gap and enable us all to work and communicate to our full potential.”

AI For Better Quality Conferencing with Webex’s Real-Time Media Models (RMMs), AI Codec & Super Resolution

Cisco is also bringing Real-Time Media Models (RMMs) to Webex. These models will provide rich context for human interactions during meetings. They will enhance audio and video quality, enabling features like people and object recognition, and action analytics such as movement and gestures. RMMs enable audio and video channels to provide context for text-based capabilities like meeting summaries and highlights.

For example, in the future, Webex could recognize when a participant leaves a meeting and capture meeting notes to bring them up to speed upon their return.

AI assistant overview

In addition, Cisco is also introducing AI Codecs to resolve audio quality challenges caused by network impairments. Whether you’re in a car, a hotel room, or a rural area with poor connectivity, this AI Codec aims to deliver crystal-clear audio by ensuring that the audio quality remains consistent regardless of network conditions. The AI Codecs also include speech enhancement functions like noise removal and bandwidth extension.

Webex employs machine learning techniques to enhance video quality through Super Resolution. Super Resolution, in terms that AMD and NVIDIA use is a super sampling of graphical data to create an image that is larger than the resolution intended and then downsampling it to meet the intended resolution. With technologies like DLSS and FidelityFX, this technology is able to deliver more detail even at lower resolutions. In Cisco’s case, it will be used to deliver high-definition video quality, regardless of varying bandwidth conditions.

Responsible AI Framework & Rollout

Cisco adheres to a Responsible AI Framework that prioritizes transparency, fairness, accountability, privacy, security, and reliability. The Webex AI strategy and AI Assistant capabilities will align with this framework.

These innovations are set to roll out at various stages in 2023. Cisco is committed to delivering the best AI experience through a combination of best-of-breed models, both commercial and open source, with a focus on security, privacy, and human rights.

DJI Unveils the Osmo Pocket 3

DJI has unveiled the Osmo Pocket 3, a compact gimbal camera that packs a punch. This versatile camera offers a 1-inch CMOS sensor, a rotating 2-inch touchscreen, and seamless shifts between horizontal and vertical shooting.

Visual Prowess in a Compact Package

Osmo Pocket 3

The Osmo Pocket 3 is remarkably small but comes with a 1-inch CMOS sensor, that brings better image quality, even in challenging light conditions. It can shoot in 4K at 120 frames per second (fps). Even in low light, it enhances night shots, capturing authentic colours and sharp details. The camera also adapts exposure for different skin tones, ensuring everyone looks their best.

For those seeking professional-level results, it offers 10-bit D-Log M and 10-bit HLG colour modes. These modes unlock a world of colour possibilities, recording up to one billion colours in 10-bit D-Log M. The 10-bit HLG HDR recording brings more vivid visuals, especially when viewed on HDR-enabled devices.

Smart Features for Effortless Creativity

The Osmo Pocket 3 packs an array of intelligent features. Its 2-inch touchscreen provides intuitive control. It features fast focusing, ensuring sharp images even with fast-moving subjects. The Product Showcase mode is ideal for live streaming and product presentations. Its three-axis mechanical stabilization guarantees steady images during dynamic shooting.

The compact camera offers cinematic-level footage with ActiveTrack 6.0. It includes features like Face Auto-Detect and Dynamic Framing for tracking subjects. The built-in three-mic array reduces wind noise and captures immersive omnidirectional stereo sound. DJI Mic 2 compatibility supports dual-person recording for vlogs and interviews.

This compact camera boasts a 6000mAh battery, offering up to 116 minutes of 4K/60fps footage or 166 minutes of 1080p/24fps recording. Quick charging gets you to 80% in just 16 minutes.

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The Osmo Pocket 3 is a versatile creative tool. It serves as a high-definition live streaming device, a webcam for online meetings, and a timecode function that syncs footage seamlessly between different cameras.

Streamline Editing with LightCut

The LightCut app simplifies content creation. It uses AI recognition to highlight moments from your footage and generate shareable 4K videos. It offers diverse video templates for various themes like vlogs, travel, parties, and more. It also eliminates the need to download footage during editing, preserving smartphone storage.

Pricing & Availability

The Osmo Pocket 3 is available to order from DJI Experience Stores, Shopee and Lazada with shipping starting on 25th October 2023. It will be available in two packages the standard package which will include the standard accessories and the Osmo Pocket 3 and a creator’s combo which will include DJI Mic 2 Transmitter (Shadow Black), DJI Mic 2 Windscreen, DJI Mic 2 Clip Magnet, Osmo Pocket 3 Battery Handle, Osmo Mini Tripod and an Osmo Pocket 3 Carrying Bag.

The Osmo Pocket 3 will be retailing at MYR2,299 in Malaysia or USD$519 internationally. The Creator’s combo will be retailing for MYR2,959 in Malaysia or USD$669 internationally.