All posts by Jimmy Chua

Android, Mobile, News

5G Gets More Affordable with the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

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The latest generation of mobile network, 5G, is slowly making its way to the masses around the world. With that in mind, more major players in the mobile device market pumping out their own compatible devices. After introducing their 5G capable flagships, Samsung has announced another 5G device- the Galaxy A42 which is priced lower at $450 internationally and only MYR1,599 in Malaysia. It is equipped with all the innovation consumers have come to expect with the Galaxy A series, including a Quad Camera, Infinity-U Display and a long lasting battery.

The Galaxy A42 5G comes with the Snapdragon 750G which brings support for 5G on both mmWave and Sub6 bands according to Qualcomm. However, actual connectivity support has not been revealed by Samsung. The new smartphone comes with a 6.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U Display; which should provide ample viewing space for an immersive media experience. It also has a large 5,000mAh battery with support for Fast Charge which should keep you going for at least one full day. The sleek design of the phone is also ergonomic, with rounded edges to make it more comfortable to grip.

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Here comes the catchy features of the Galaxy A42 5G, a powerful multi role Quad Camera that captures images and records videos with enhanced clarity. This consists of 48MP main camera supported by a an 8MP Ultra Wide Camera, a 5MP Macro Camera and a 5MP Depth Camera to capture more detail. Plus, the front-facing camera is a 20MP Selfie Camera, a great addition for selfie enthusiasts. Other Galaxy A42 5G specs include 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A42 will be available in Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot White and Prism Dot Grey. It is available in Europe for €369 starting from 7 November and is already available in Malaysia via Samsung’s online store for MYR1,599.

Official Specifications

Galaxy A42 5G Product Specifications1

Display26.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED
Infinity-U Display
Rear CameraQuad Camera
Main: 48MP, F1.8
Ultra Wide: 8MP, F2.2
Depth: 5MP, F2.4
Macro: 5MP, F2.4
Front
Camera		20MP, F2.2
Body75.9 x 164.4 x 8.6mm
193g3,7
APOcta-Core
(Dual 2.2GHz + Hexa 1.8GHz)
Memory44/6/8GB RAM
128GB Internal Storage
MicroSD slot (up to 1TB)
Battery55,000mAh (typical)
15W Adaptive Fast Charging
Biometric AuthenticationOn-Screen Fingerprint
Colors6Prism Dot Black
Prism Dot White
Prism Dot Gray

1 All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this table including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.
2 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera cut out.
3 Device weight may vary by region and market.
4 Available RAM may vary by country and region.
5 Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,680mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this table including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.
6 Availability may vary by country. 
7The disclaimer for weight specifications has been revised on October 22, 2020 to provide more accurate information.

Computers, Consumer Electronics, News

Samsung Brings TizenOS to new Lifestyle Smart Monitors with Apple AirPlay 2

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Samsung is bringing TizenOS to its popular monitor line up. The South Korean company, Samsung has unveiled a brand new line of innovative Smart Monitors. It touts the new line up as a do-it-all screen that will be able to seamless transition from work to play; perfect for the realities of today’s work and education climate. The monitors can connect to PCs, mobile devices, and even work independently.

The new Samsung Smart Monitor comes in two variations: the 32-inch M7 model and the M5 line-up consisting of 27-inch and 32-inch models.

Built for Work & Learning

The Samsung Smart Monitor M7 comes with a 32-inch UHD display with 4K resolution. It supports HDR10 and has a 178-degree viewing angle. The M5 Smart Monitor line-up comes with a lower resolution FHD display. That said, it still sports HDR10 support.

Both models come with a variety of connectivity options. The M7, being the higher specc’d model comes with an additional USB-C port which supports data, display and power (65W). Aside from that, the Smart Monitor M7 and M5 share the same connectivity options which include HDMI 2.0 ports, USB 2.0 ports, WiFi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), and Bluetooth 4.2

Source: Samsung

Running on TizenOS, the Samsung Smart Monitor comes built in with wireless connectivity options that work well with smartphones as well. This includes Tap View, App Casting, and even Apple AirPlay 2. Samsung’s DeX can also work wirelessly with the Smart Monitors.

The monitor is able to work independently without input from a PC or smartphone source as well. When it comes to productivity, users will be able to run Microsoft’s Office 365 suite independently over WiFi.

Seamlessly Adapted for Entertainment

It’s not all work when it comes to Samsung’s new Smart Monitors. The display comes with Samsung’s Smart Hub to for all your content streaming needs. You can access apps such as Netflix, YouTube, HBO without a connection with your PCs or smartphones. You’re able to navigate the interface with the provided remote control or, if you so please, using Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant.

Source: Samsung

The Samsung Smart Monitors also comes with Adaptive Picture. This allows the monitor to intelligently optimize picture quality according to the environment. It will automatically adjust color temperature and brightness according to surrounding conditions to help reduce eye strain. The monitors also feature a special eye-saver mode to reduce blue light.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Smart Monitor is now available in United States, Canada and China with availability in other countries coming by the end of November.

The M7 will be retailing at USD$399.99 (MYR1,635.07) while the M5 will be retailing at USD$229.99 (MYR940.148) for the smaller 27-inch variant and USD$279.99 (MYR1,144.57) for the 32-inch version.

Official Specifications

Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Business, News

Get Your Groceries from Tesco on foodpanda

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Leaving your home can be daunting now with COVID-19 on the rise. While there are measures in place to help control the spread, there are some that are still wary of the risks. That said, there’s also a group of us who would rather have our groceries come to us. Well, there’s good news for both sides – Tesco has partnered with foodpanda.

With the partnership, you will be able to order from Tesco’s catalog of over 3,000 items on foodpanda’s delivery service. The items range from fresh produce to groceries. These items will be delivered to your doorstep within 40 minutes of your order being confirmed.

The partnership will complement Tesco’s online grocery service: Tesco Online. It will serve as a way for users to get urgently needed groceries on demand while larger monthly or weekly orders can still be done via Tesco Online. This partnership will let customer rely more on Tesco as Foodpanda is a well-known delivery service and strengthen the presence of the platform.

“With the Covid-19 pandemic, customers have begun to change the way they shop. Many are looking for options where they can feel safe to purchase their necessities. This partnership with foodpanda will not only be convenient for Tesco’s loyal customers, but it will also help to address those who are concerned with having to leave the safety and comfort of their homes for a grocery run,” said Product Director, Kenneth Chuah.

Kenneth Chuah, Product Director, Tesco Malaysia

The service is available in the Klang Valley area. Users can order groceries from Tesco Paradigm Mall, Kepong, Extra Cheras, Extra Puchong, Bandar Puteri Bangi, Kajang, Bukit Puchong, Shah Alam, Wangsa Walk, Setia Alam and Selayang. They are planning to bring this service online to other areas soon.

News, Social Media

Know Your Horoscope with Snapchat’s New Astrological Features

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You remember Snapchat right? Well, they have been improving and updating their app with new features to keep you more engaged and also ensure you’re connected with your pals even though you may not be meeting face to face.

It comes as no surprise that people love astrology and Snapchat is looking to make astrology even more accessible via their app. They are introducing a brand new feature called an Astrological Profile. With this new feature, you can find out your personality traits according to your horoscope. The app will bring up a detailed astrology profile based on your birthdate and horoscope.

In addition to your personal profiles, Snapchat is also allowing you to get to know yourself and your friends better with a compatibility reading between you and any other person you know who has set up their astrological profile. You’ll be able to tell if they have when you see a purple icon beside their Snap score. The readings will be presented in stories format and will take into consideration 10 different planetary dimensions.

Source: Snapchat

Snapchat has partnered with Cosmopolitan US’s astrologer, Aurora Tower, to ensure that the information provided in these features are accurate. Users who activate the feature will receive a daily analysis of your zodiac sign which is believed to factor into your personality and other dimensions of your life.

The Astrological profile will take into consideration ten different astrological elements: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, Uranus. The information is then condensed into an Astrology Profile Summary. You can send these snaps to your friends or post it up on your story.

This new features is available in the latest version of Snapchat on iOS and Android.

Android, Mobile, News

HONOR 10X Lite Unveiled With 5,000mAh Battery & Kirin 710A

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HONOR has released its newest model, the HONOR 10X Lite. The company’s latest offering for budget users brings together performance and features in a complete package that won’t break the bank. It carries the same promises for performance and long-life battery as its predecessors.

Source: HONOR

The HONOR 10X comes with a 6.67-inch display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It also has a 90.3% screen to body ratio for a more immersive display experience. The smartphone runs atop the HiSilicon Kirin 710A octa-core processor. This is support with 4GB RAM and 128GB of internal memory which is expandable with up to an additional 512GB with a microSD card.

Software-wise, the HONOR 10X Lite runs on Android 10 with EMUI 10.1. This also means that the smartphone will come with HUAWEI’s HMS platform which does not support Google Mobile Services. It also comes with an improved Multi-Window Mode and a new eBook mode.

In the camera department, the HONOR 10X Lite houses a quad-camera setup. This includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. The front camera is an 8-megapixel sensor housed within the punch-hole on the display.

The phone is powered by a 5000mAh battery that supports 22.5W SuperCharge. HONOR touts that the smartphone will be able to last up to 38 hours on 4G LTE connectivity with a single charge. SuperCharge will allow users to get fully charged in only 95 minutes.

Pricing & Availability

Source: HONOR

The HONOR 10X Lite will be available in three colours:  Midnight Black, Emerald Green, and Icelandic Frost. It is already available in Russia and other markets in Europe for €229.90 (MYR1118.93/USD$270.63). No news yet on when the phone will be making its way to Malaysia.

HONOR teamed up Wattpad to launch the Emerging Writers Program

Together with their new phone, HONOR also announced the Emerging Writers Program; an initiative to spur creativity among amateur and professional writers. In line with the brand’s vision of spurring self-expression and appealing to the younger generation, the Emerging Writers program looks to find up and coming writers and highlight the many features of HONOR’s latest smartphone in creating new experiences on screen and off. HONOR and Wattpad are planning to invite write across the globe to share their short stories about their dream and hope after this pandemic lock-down.

Gaming, News

Sony’s PlayStation 5 Won’t Support SSD Expansion at Launch

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According to The Verge, Sony has confirmed that the console will not support storage expansion at launch. This news comes despite the presence of a dedicated slot for an M.2 SSD. Sony clarifies that the slot will be enable in a future update and that storage expansion will be be reserved for a future update. This comes as confirmation as surfaced that the PS5 will reserve around 20% of the 825GB internal SSD storage for functional operations and the OS, leaving around 664GB usable storage.

In light of the new, it seems like early adopters should avoid buying additional M.2 SSDs to avoid being sorely disappointed. However, it’s not all gloom and doom as Sony confirms that the update will come once it has a list of supported SSDs. Testing for this list should be underway. The delay comes as the PlayStation 5 sports a lot of customised internals including its I/O system which complicates SSD compatibility. That said, the Sony PlayStation 5 supports up to two types of storage: internal and external storage. With internal M.2 SSD expansion delayed, users will still be able to use external USB drives for extra memory as we wait for the update to roll out.

Source: Sony

From what we know about PS5 titles – they aren’t small in any way with file sizes clocking in at 120GB. PS5 titles such as Demon Souls and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War are already reported to take up about 200GB. With only 825GB of internal storage, users will undoubtedly run out of storage in no time. However, the PS5 still supports storing games on USB-connected external drives however, this will only work for previous generation games.

What about the disc drive version of the PS5? Well, the Blu-Ray disc will only act as an installer for the game, allowing you to forgo an internet connection. Still, the PS5 will download game data from the disc on to the internal storage to facilitate seamless loading during gameplay.

Nevertheless, Sony has claimed that the PS5 will be more flexible when it comes to storage management; allowing users more control.

Editorial, Gaming

PlayStation 5 Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know About Sony’s New Console

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Sony has announced its newest PlayStation 5 and is ready to take on the market this holiday. The company has revealed some specs to give fans a brief look of just how powerful the machine will be. Looking at some of the things we already know, the new PlayStation 5 is shaping up to be one of the most revolutionary consoles in comparison to it’s predecessor, the PS4; and even next generation Xbox Series X and Xbox Series. The PS5 is set to change the playing field for consoles in the next generation.

Source: TechRadar

Powerful Insides with at least 60 fps Gameplay

The PlayStation 5 will be running on a customised build of AMD’s graphics and processing architecture. The GPU is based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture while the CPU is based on AMD’s Zen 2 architecture with 8-cores. The new processing unit will allow the PS5 to support ray tracing making it possible to have more realistic light textures and deeper realism built into the graphics. This is complemented by 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.

It will launch with native 4K resolution support which makes sense given the current landscape of TV ownership. However, there is evidence showing the PS5 will be able to support up to 8K resolution in the future. The console is able to reach 120fps in games but most of the game are guaranteed tor run at 60fps with stable gaming performance. We will probably see a few games reaching 120fps as the console generation progresses.

Speedy Internal Storage for Quick Load Times

The console will sport a customised solution when it comes to internal storage. Sony’s customised SSD solution will be its backbone for the lightning-fast loading times the company is promising for the PlayStation 5. It will support extra storage through an easily accessible slot for an M.2 SSD chip which is disabled at launch. However, Sony PS5 architect, Mark Cerny, has stressed that support will be enabled with a firmware update at a later date. The reason behind this staggered activation is to give the team enough time to test and ensure compatibility as not all M.2 SSDs will be able to interface correctly with the PlayStation 5’s I/O controller which can lead to slowdowns or worse. Out of the box, the PS5 comes with 825GB of internal storage, it will also support USB storage.

The PS5 will come in two flavours: a digital-only version and one sporting an optical drive. The latter will come with a 4K Blu-ray drive. This will be able to play actual physical PS5 games which will be released on Blu-ray discs. It will also play movies and DVDs. As the name suggests, this will be omitted in the PS5 Digital Edition.

The hallmark of the PS5 experience is the unique, immersive experience of the new DualSense Controller. It is being lauded as a leap forward in gaming. The resistive triggers are able to convey a different, more immersive textures which bring a depth to the gaming experience that we have yet to experience.

New PSN Experience & Backward Compatibility

The PSN web and mobile store have been overhauled in October. As part of this change, PS3 games, PS vita games, avatar and themes will no longer be purchase. Sony seems to be more focused on newer things. This has entailed the removal of themes and content for the PS3 and, the short-lived, PS Vita.

Sony has also revealed the PS5 UI in an official walkthrough video hosted by the head of Sony Worldwide Studios, Hermen Hulst. The UI drops the spartan approach that it used for the PS4. In its stead, the PS5 will sport a user experience-centric interface which brings games and the PSN community to the forefront. Even the in-game overlay is feature-rich and comes with easy access to the many in-game features that the PS5 has including the ability to get friends to help you in-game.

In addition to an overhauled UI, the PS5 comes with backwards compatibility with games from previous generations of PlayStations. For now, Sony has confirmed that 99% of PS4 titles are supported by the PS5 with more to come. However, compatibility with games from the PS3 and before is still up in the air.

Pricing & Availability

Both Editions of the PlayStation 5 will be available starting on November 12, 2020, in the U.S, UK, Japan, and a few other countries, with a global release starting on November 19. The disc drive touting PS5 will run you USD $499 while the digital only edition will cost $399.

In Malaysia, the PS5 will be laucnhing on 11 December 2020 with pre-orders already underway with e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada already taking orders. The PS5 Digital Edition will be available for MYR 1,869, and PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-ray™ disc drive will be available for MYR 2,299.

Android, Mobile, News

OPPO A73 Officially in Malaysia; Goes on Sale on 11.11

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OPPO has officially launched its newest model OPPO A73 which will make its official debut exclusively on Shopee Malaysia. The sensually sleek design of the model is the latest entry into OPPO’s affordable A series which brings the company’s selfie and camera technologies to a more affordable price point.

The OPPO A73 has been designed with sleek curves to help with the ergonomics and grip of the phone. Coming in at only 152g and 7.5mm, the phone is one of the thinnest and lightest yet from OPPO’s A series. OPPO has also decided to add a touch of variety with a matte, leather-like finish for a more unique, premium finish. What’s more, the finish makes it fingerprint and scratch-resistant.

Source: OPPO

The guts of the OPPO A73 is an octa-core Snapdragon 662 processor capable of speeds of up to 2.5 GHz with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory. The phone will be launching with OPPO’s ColorOS 7.2 which runs on top of Android 10. It’s powered by a 4,105mAh battery with support for 30W VOOC Flash Charge promising a full charge in only 55 minutes. OPPO has also introduced safety features which include five independent thermistors to prevent the overheating while charging.

The OPPO A73 sports a 6.44-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,4000×1080 pixels. The larger screen size provides users with a more immersive experience when it comes to consuming media and even gaming. It also comes with an under screen fingerprint sensor for quick unlock in addition to the face unlock features which come baked in to ColorOS.

A.I. Beauty Enabled Cameras

The main camera on the OPPO A73 is a quad camera setup OPPO calls a 16MP Ultra Wide-Angle quad-cam system. It consists of a 16MP main camera, a 119 degree 8MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP monochrome camera, and a 2MP retro camera. There are some optimized features which include filters and software enhancements to preserve skin tone. The cameras also come with OPPO’s now ubiquitous A.I. technology which it is calling A.I. Dazzle Color. This helps with advanced scene recognition and enhance captured pictures. For video recording, OPPO A73 come with a steady video feature to help stabilise your video recording for better quality with electronic image stabilization.

Source: OPPO

The front comes with a 16MP A.I. Beauty Beauty Camera to let you have the perfect selfie. Also, an ultra-sensitive f/2.0 aperture that offers you higher sensitivity and more clarity during low light conditions.

Pricing & Availability

Source: OPPO

The OPPO A73 will be available in three colours, Dynamic Orange, Navy Blue, and Classic Silver; priced at RM899 on the OPPO Official Online Store on Shopee and OPPO Official Website.

It will be available for pre-order from 3 to 10 November 2020. OPPO is offering free gift for the first 300 customers who purchase the OPPO A73. They will be entitled to a Weloop Neo Smartband worth RM389 and an OPPO Enco W11 that worth RM159. After this, the phone will be available for sale starting on 11 November, 2020 and will be available on the upcoming 11.11 sales.

Business, News

11.11 Deals Incoming with Lazada’s Biggest Ever Sale

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The annual 11.11 sale is back on Lazada. This year the sale will include hundreds of exclusive brands with up to 70 million items. Sounds really tempting right? Bet you can’t wait for the big 11.11 sale to happen. Lazada is promising some of the lowest prices ever in Malaysia this 11 November 2020.

“Following LazMall’s upgrade in September, we are excited that hundreds of international and local brands have chosen Lazada as their exclusive e-commerce partner this 11.11, offering amazing discounts across a variety of categories and products to satisfy a wide spectrum of our consumers’ wants and desires. This signifies a growing trust in our platform, and we are excited that we can bring some of the lowest price deals, ‘guaranteed’ this year, backed by our 11 times money-back guarantee. This year, especially during this challenging period, we want to ensure that we help our shoppers maximise their ringgit and get the best value for their money,”

Leo Chow, CEO of Lazada Malaysia

Customers can have the ultimate shopping experience on Lazada as the LazMall provides a variety of brands and products at a claimed unbeatably low price. LazMall brings together some of their largest partners such as OPPO, Lancome, Samsung, Dyson and more are prepared to give shoppers an unforgettable 11.11 experience with some of the lowest deals yet. For those looking for deals on tech, Lazada and their partners are gearing up to offer up to 50% discount on items such as Huawei Mate 30 8GB RAM + 128 ROM smartphone, Edifier X3 True Wireless Stereo Earphone, SUUNTO 9 Baro Copper, Asus 23 Eye Care Gaming Monitor! The deals aren’t ending there – there will be more offers across a large spectrum of categories available.

You don’t even have to wait that long to get your orders as Lazada is offerings a guaranteed 24 hours delivery for the first 50 thousand customers. This is made possible by Lazada’s data-driven logistics team running on Alibaba’s backbone which has helped ensure 50% more efficiency for the delivery time nationwide and particularly in the Klang Valley.

In an effort to keep shopping entertaining, Lazada is continuing their “Shoppertainment” programs filled with special surprises for shoppers. Shoppers will be able to be entertained while getting the best deals with The Lazada 11.11 Super Show and Lazada’s CDO Show. If that’s not enough, there will be multiple other activities in the app such as the Lazada Heartbeat Wallet Contest and LazGames while users can also get even more rebates and rewards with LazCoins.

Lazada is also launching an initiative for CSR programs with one of their brand partners, Colgate-Palmolive, to send smiles and support to those in need via The Lost Food Project. Upon payment, consumers will receive a special thank you note from Colgate, along with a Lazada voucher that can be used for their next purchase on the platform.

Business, Camera, News

Nikon Bids Malaysia Goodbye; Operations Cease on 1 January 2021

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When it comes to DSLRs and cameras one of the first names that you’d think of is Nikon. The company has become a staple name in the industry and there is nothing more iconic than their “I AM” campaign when it comes to photography and cameras. However, it seems like all good things must come to an end.

In a statement posted to their Facebook page, Nikon Malaysia revealed the sad announcement that the company has decided to cease its operations. Effective 1 January 2021, Nikon will no longer have an official presence in Malaysia with 31 December, 2020 being the last day of operations. Moving forward, their sales, marketing and after sales services will be handled by appointed third parties.

Official Statement on Nikon Malaysia’s Facebook

Their appointed third parties are: Futuromic Photo AV Sdn Bhd and QES (Asia-Pacific) Sdn Bhd. These companies will now take over the distribution and sales of Nikon branded cameras in the country. Operations for the company will continue as usual in the transition phase with the final day set on 31 December, 2020.