Category Archives: Accessories

Accessories, Lifestyle, News

Bose Introduces the QuietComfort 45 – Its Best Just Got Better

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Bose is a big name in the world of audio solutions. The name sits among the best and the most popular in the industry. They are also the makers of one of the best Noise Cancelling headphones in the world, alongside Sony. Some might say that they make better Nosie Cancelling headphones than Sony, given that it was the Bose QuietComfort 35 II set against the Sony WH-1000XM2.

Sony has introduced two new Noise Cancelling headphones since the Sony WH-1000XM2 (Mark III and Mark IV), while Bose has been quiet (no pun intended). Then again, Bose did introduce a Noise Cancelling 700 headphone complete with a case that charges the headphone. Many regarded the Bose 700 noise cancelling headphone as the spiritual successor to the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and a direct competitor to the Sony WH-1000XM3 when it launched. Except, Bose did not really think that, because they just introduced their QuietComfort 45.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 is the proper successor to the older QuietComfort 35 series. It even features roughly the same design cues that would be familiar to any Bose QuietComfort 45 user. Sure, the thin cylindrical bars that acts as the support for the headphone over on the Bose 700 headphone looks stylish and high-end, it does not fit the QuietComfort look.

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Source: Bose

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II was dubbed as one of the most comfortable headphones you can find in the market with noise cancelling feature. The way Bose achieves this feat, while not all that different from Sony’s WH-1000X series, utilises different mixes of materials. Of course, the clamping force of the headphones play a lot of part in its comfort factor.

Still, the QuietComfort 45 is not really about improving materials, not as much as Sony’s WH-1000XM4 anyway. It is more about pushing the noise cancelling technology and improving the experience that is the QuietComfort 45. That starts with a longer battery life at up to 24-hours.

Instead of the old-school approach of charging the headphone via MicroUSB port, the new QC45 comes with a USB Type-C port for a full charge in two hours. Bose did not specify the size of the drivers the built-in battery powers for 24 hours of listening time. We are guessing that the QC45 will feature the same sized and constructed drivers as the QC35 II. That also means that the QC45 will feature the same frequency response and capabilities

What is definitely different though is the noise cancelling processor that the QC45 packs. Unlike some noise cancelling functions in other noise cancelling headphones, the QC45’s processor cannot be turned off though. You can only put the headphone in two modes – QUIET or AWARE.

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Source: Bose

The mode names are very telling of what each mode does. QUIET mode is really Noise Cancelling mode. It uses microphones fitted inside and outside the thick earcups to measure unwanted noise from around you and cancel all unwanted mid-range frequencies by pumping in “anti-noise”. AWARE mode not only cancels all of that process but turns the microphones into microphones that will feed everything around you into the earcups and to you.

The noise cancelation is not just for you though. You can use the noise cancelling technology to have a better video conference with your colleagues, or clients, or vendors, or even friends. The QC45 will cancel out noise that might interrupt your video calls around you for others in the call as well. Now you do not have to mute yourself just because your dog is making noise in the yard, or when your mum is baking in the kitchen.

There are no touch controls on any of the earcups though. Instead, Bose uses the traditional physical buttons to control the functions of the headphone. You have the regular volume up and down rocker, the power button, a Bluetooth pairing button, and a programmable function button to answer or end calls, or even play and pause music. There is another button on the left earcup to toggle between QUIET and AWARE modes. You can use the same button to mute the mic in calls too. Of course, you can customise a lot of these and more from Bose’s Music App for Android and iOS.

  • Large JPG QC45 TripleBlack 001 RGB
    Source: Bose
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    Source: Bose
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    Source: Bose
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    Source: Bose
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    Source: Bose
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The Bose QuietComfort 45 noise cancelling headphone will be available from the 23rd of September onward via Bose.com and select authorised resellers. We are not sure that includes Malaysia yet though, which means that we might not get it at the same time as the United States (US). It will be available in the classic White, or Black colour options when it is available. The Bose QC45 will set you back US$ 329.00 (MYR 1,366*)  and is now available for pre-orders.

* Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.15 on xe.com as of 01/09/2020

Accessories, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile

Netflix Now Supports Spatial Audio on Apple iPhone and iPad

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Spatial audio for Apple devices was announced back in 2020. It is Apple’s idea of a sort of 3D audio on Dolby Atmos. 3D audio was not really a new concept either at this point. Major electronic vendors like Sony have started experimenting with their own version of 3D audio with their 360 Reality Audio technology and their very own 3D Audio on the PlayStation 5. In a sense, if you want to describe Spatial Audio, it is like a virtual surround sound.

There is a sort of hardware limitation to the technology though. Not every audio hardware can support the technology at this time. That said, Apple’s latest TWS headphones line up like the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max supports the technology. Then you have a problem with the software side of things, not every software supports the technology yet. Why would you launch a technology that is not supported by any contents then?

There are no straight answers here. One of the answers is simply because they can. At the same time though, the announcement is a sort of signal to all the developers that are developing on the iOS platform. A sort of notice to tell people that Apple has the technology and developers can take advantage of the technology on their apps, with the right support of course.

Spatial Audio is not just beneficial for music or the illusion of live music though. It has the potential to really elevate your audio experience without spending thousands upon thousands of top dollars on top of what you already have. It is, in a sense, a cheap way to get immersive audio. Of course, the audio quality really depends on your audio hardware itself, and its tuning; you cannot defy the law of physics still.

This opens up the avenue for immersive entertainment experience on the go too. You can bring the cinema experience in your pockets. You can watch a movie on your Apple iPhone, for example, and feel like you are in the theatres while you are flying from Johannesburg to London.

Now, you can watch Netflix on iPhone and iPad with Spatial Audio. The first app that supported Apple’s Spatial Audio was Apple’s very own Music app in 2021. The support for Spatial Audio then extends to the Apple TV 4K as well at the same time.

Weirdly, Netflix is not the first third party app that received Spatial Audio treatment. Instead, apps like Disney Plus, and HBO Max are the first third party apps to receive the support. Of course, Apple would have equipped their Apple TV Plus app with Spatial Audio capabilities early on. In that sense, the support for Spatial Audio for Netflix is a long time coming. That is not to say that the update is not a welcome update though.

Users should expect to see the update rolling into their Apple iPad and Apple iPhone devices in the coming days. If you do not have Netflix, you can always try Apple’s Spatial Audio technology via Apple TV Plus app. Just make sure you have an Apple AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to go with your Apple iPhone and iPad. For Netflix users, you can turn on Spatial Audio from Netflix’s settings menu. If you do not see the option yet, you might want to check if your app is updated or wait for the latest app update from the Apple App Store.

Accessories, Health, Lifestyle, News

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds2 Bring Comfort & Premium Sound

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Compact, stylish, premium – those are words most commonly associated with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds. At unpacked, the company looked to add one more word to list – comfortable – with their new Galaxy Buds2. The new Galaxy Buds2 continues to inherit many of the features and design cues that made the previous Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds Live some of the most popular earbuds on the market.

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Source: Samsung

The wireless earbuds continue to sport a similar case as its predecessors – with one major exception: it only comes in white. Samsung has relegated the expression of colour in the Galaxy Buds2 to the insides of the case. The white exterior is accented on the inside by four colours: Lavender, Green, Black and White. The white exterior literally protecting it like a shell.

The Galaxy Buds2 is also smaller than before. Samsung is saying that the Buds2 will be comfortable for prolonged use. In their announcement, they claim that it can be worn for a day.

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Source: Samsung

Of course, like the Buds Live and the Buds Pro, the Buds2 comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and AKG Tuned sound. The new earbuds sport dynamic two-way speakers which is claimed to be able to deliver clear highs and boomy bass. It also comes with a new machine learning-based solution for better, clearer voice quality over calls.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy Buds2 will be available in four colour options: graphite, white, olive and lavender. It will be retailing for USD$149.99*.

They will also be available in a special Thom Browne limited edition.

Official Specifications

Galaxy Buds2 product specifications
Source: Samsung
Accessories, Gaming, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Razer’s New Hammerhead TWS Earbuds Comes with Razer Chroma RGB and ANC

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Razer is not exactly new when it comes to producing audio accessories. Of course, their core DNA has always been gaming. They have been creating gaming-centric accessories and hardware for years. What started out as a gaming mouse maker is now a major producer in other gaming peripherals, including gaming laptops for that matter.

The trend today, at least in terms of lifestyle accessories, is to go wireless. Razer understands that too, of course. Over the years too they have been expanding their wireless gaming peripheral line-up. The latest to join that line of wireless hardware is the new Hammerhead True Wireless (TWS) earbuds.

This is not technically a new product from Razer though. They launched their first iteration of their Hammerhead TWS earbuds back in 2019. The first-generation earphones took everything that were great from their Bluetooth iteration of the Hammerhead earphones and put them in a form factor that reflects the modern craze.

The shape of the earphones, in a sense, is very different from the Hammerhead earphones that we are used to though. Its shape mimics a certain other manufacturer instead, given, it was one of the most popular designs out there in the TWS earbuds market. Its charging/carrying case was designed a little differently though. It was designed to stand out a little bit in a more pill like case, while being a little more pocketable and compact than its competitors. After all, the name of the game in TWS earphones is portability and versatility.

The new TWS Hammerhead takes a slightly different approach compared to the first generation from 2019 though. The case and earbuds design mimics Razer’s own Hammerhead TWS Pro earbuds instead. That also means the case has a larger footprint compared to its predecessor. That is good news for its battery life though, with up to 32.5 hours in total battery life (RGB and ANC Off).

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    Source: Razer
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While the touch sensitive stem of the earbuds remains on the second-generation Razer Hammerhead, the tips are completely different. The new Hammerhead TWS earbuds features a proper earbud with replaceable silicon tips that should be a better and more secure fit in your ears. Its IPX4 certification means that you can take it out for your exercises and ensuring that you have a good seal and secure fit is important; you do not want to be running and losing your earbuds along the way.

On top of all of that, there are a few more reasons why you might want to ditch your first-generation Hammerhead TWS earbuds for the new one. For one, it now features Active Noise Cancelling technology. It also features Google Fast Pair, for an even quicker pairing and connection with your Android devices. At the same time, you get even more stable wireless connection with Bluetooth 5.2. The best part on the Hammerhead TWS though is its Razer Chroma customisable RGB. You can customise that from your smartphone app (available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, of course.

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    Source: Razer
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The new Razer Hammerhead TWS earbuds is now available from Razer.com, and authorised retailers across the nation. There are no funky colour options for you to choose from here. While it is only available in black, that also means that your RGB stands out a lot more. The TWS earphones is now available for MYR 629. For more information on the new Razer Hammerhead TWS earbuds, you can head over to their website.

Accessories, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Samsung Launches the Odyssey Neo G9 – The Future of Gaming by Samsung is Here

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Ultrawide monitors are amazing technologies. We love an ultrawide monitor because it eliminates the need for us to run two monitors at the same time. It is also sort of a more economical way of running multiple monitors in terms of space. Instead of having to fit two monitor stands, you only need one.

Ultrawide monitors are great for gaming too, in our opinions at least. You see more of the gaming world. You get more information from the environment around you. In games like Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, you get a little more immersion and situational awareness from an ultrawide view. When you go into racing games like Forza Horizon, or Assetto Corsa, or even Need for Speed titles for that matter, you get to go full immersive mode by putting yourself into the cockpit of the racing car and having all your information on one display. You only need to swivel your head to find information you need in your cockpit.

Imagine our excitement when Samsung first announced their Odyssey G9, a 49-inch gaming monitor that is a beast to work with. It packed dual 1440p displays to create a 32:9 aspect ratio that is quite unheard of. It also pushes the envelope of gaming with up to 240Hz in refresh rate, higher than any high-end monitor that boasts 1440p QHD in resolution.

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Source: Samsung

Samsung has upped the ante when it comes to the ultimate gaming monitor though. They have introduced the behemoth that is the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. To be fair to the monitor too, the technologies fitted to it sounds more like a high-end television than a gaming monitor.

It did not lose any heft and size at 49-inch. It has not lost that ultrawide magic too at 32:9 aspect ratio on the display. At 1000R, the curvature is exactly the same as the older Odyssey G9 too. In fact, side-by-side, the Neo G9 and the original G9 looks practically the same.

Dig deeper though, and you find a world of difference in the Odyssey Neo G9 compared to the original Odyssey G9. You now find a Quantum Mini LED panel to push the same 5,120 by 1,440 pixels (Dual QHD) out of the ultrawide 49-inch display. That means more brilliant colours and brighter display.

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Source: Samsung

You get 12-bit colour depth over the 8-bit on the original G9, far more colours also mean smoother colour gradients and better lighting control on the display itself leading to more realistic and accurate colour representation from the display. At 2,048 dimming zones compared to 10 in the previous generation G9 too, the Neo G9 ensures that there are no halos on your images sitting over dark backgrounds which adds to your immersion and image accuracy. At Quantum HDR 2000 with peak brightness of 2,000 nits and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, black and white on the display are as black and as white as they can get.

It is an impressive feat, fitting high-end television features to a gaming monitor. What is even more impressive is that the Odyssey Neo G9 is not just a regular high-end TV in a 49-inch ultrawide guise. It comes packing the latest HDMI 2.1 to take advantage of a higher data transfer bandwidth to fully take advantage of the 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time on the panel. It even has both NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro capabilities to ensure you get the best gaming experience on either platform.

To cap the whole thing off though, the rear of the monitor features a new infinity core lighting that features up to 52 colours with five lighting effects. It also comes with a new CoreSync feature that syncs the lighting system to your games to create a higher level of immersion in games. The only issue with that system is that you do want to be in a dark room and your monitor should be facing a wall to fully experience the capabilities of CoreSync.

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    Source: Samsung
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The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 with Quantum Mini LED will be available globally by the 9th of August 2021. Pre-order starts on the 29th of July 2021 and it will be priced at US$ 2,499.99 (MYR 10,575.26*). There are no colour options when it comes to the shell though, but if you place and use the Odyssey Neo G9 the right way, you will not be noticing the white coloured shell all that much anyway. More information on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 with Quantum Mini LED can be found on their website.

*approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.23 on xe.com as of 27/07/2021

Accessories, Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Google Just Revealed the Name of Their New Wearable Platform

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Nope, it is nothing revolutionary new. They call it the Wear OS 3, and nothing more. The name of the upcoming update to Google’s Wear OS is less revealing of the updates that is coming for Google’s wearable platform though.

Google Wear OS 3 can be seen as the biggest overhaul to the platform since its introduction. It started out, at least for us, when Google and Samsung announced their collaboration and commitment to smartwatches in the 2021 edition of Google I/O. The announcement from Samsung only means that the South Korean electronics giant is abandoning Tizen OS that they have developed and nursed over the years over Google’s Wear OS.

To be fair, while that is a huge commitment from Samsung, it is also a sensible move for them. It means that Samsung gets to merge their existing developer base to Google Wear OS’ larger developer base. It only means that they get more content and potentially more features for their Samsung Galaxy Watch platform too.

Source; Google

For Google, having a partner that is considered the best in the business with plenty more accolades than themselves means a lot more than just getting a helping hand. Sure, the extra hand in developing Wear OS is great. It is also a great way to understand how Samsung made the Galaxy Watch brand the brand that it is. Their partnership with Samsung is also quite natural in a lot of ways, since Samsung has been one of Google’s strongest partner brands in the Android smartphone world. Partly, it also means that Google have one less thing spend resources for development.

Samsung announced a few weeks ago that their upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, suspected to be launching in the August 11th Galaxy Unpacked event, will be the first in their line-up and the probably the world to be running this new mash up of Google’s Wear OS and Tizen OS. They called it their One UI; of course. But One UI is just an overlay of the Operating System (OS) that is the Wear OS. At that point, it was nameless.

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Source: Samsung

Google sort of announced Wear OS 3 about 15 hours ago. While it was not a revolutionary name, it is a significant update over the older Wear OS. They have started detailing which devices will get the update, for example. Most of the older generation hardware will not be getting Wear OS 3, unfortunately. In that case, if you are running a Wear device that has existed in the market for more than a year, you might want to consider retiring it and getting a new one. Of course, we will tell you to wait for the first Google Wear OS 3 devices to hit the market first before deciding.

One of Google’s biggest Wear OS device partners, Fossil has confirmed that they will be updating some of their latest generation smartwatches to Google Wear OS 3 in the coming months. They are also promising new generation wearables later on after the launch of Wear OS 3. While not officially available in Malaysia, you might want to consider looking at Mobvoi’s latest generation smartwatches if you want something that can be updated to Wear OS 3. Of course, if you can wait until September 2021, why not just get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4?

The next big update to Wear OS, the Wear OS 3 is expected to come to watches launching in this half of the year onward. You can expect Samsung to also be among the first manufacturers to boast Google Wear OS 3, albeit in their own One UI skin. Updates to current generation smartwatches to Wear OS 3 is expected to come in in the mid of 2022 onward.

Accessories, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Razer Barracuda X is Everything the Modern Gamer Needs

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Wires are a pain to deal with. While the world of electronics has given us amazing things like the television, video games, smartphones, and even the computer, cable management has always been the bane of electronics. You need electronics to be tethered to a wall socket at least though, for power obviously.

The advancements that made the electrical battery the technology it is today though has led to the very rapid development that is wireless technology. Things like your smartphones and laptops, and even Nintendo Switch will not happen unless there is the magical block of stuff inside your devices that is called the battery. Wireless technology has also given us wireless headphones like the new Razer Barracuda X.

While wireless technology does have its limitations in terms of certain sound qualities, battery life, and even latency, most of them has been solved and improved tremendously over the years. All that culminates in the Barracuda X that can be used in any way you can imagine, without the hassle plugging cables in and dragging your devices across the room when you need to go take a leak.

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Source: Razer

The Barracuda X is truly a versatile piece of kit. You can connect it to your PlayStation console, your PC, your smartphone, and even a Nintendo Switch at the same time. Of course, the Nintendo Switch requires a special HyperSpeed Wireless dongle that comes in the Barracuda X’s packaging.

Of course, there are a slew of cables, including USB-Type C extensions and cables for charging. Because nothing beats a wired connection in terms of sound quality and fidelity, there is a 3.5mm AUX cable included in the set too. For gaming, you get a detachable Razer HyperClear Cardioid microphone. There is a good reason why it is a detachable mic.

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Source: Razer

The Razer Barracuda X is made with not just gaming in mind. It is made for gamers to use everywhere. You can tell, because it does not feature the regular outrageous or striking look of the regular gaming headset from Razer. Gone are the green, or white, or red, or yellow accents; you do not even have RGB on the Barracuda X. It looks and feels like the more subtle OPUS headphones. It does not have the Noise Cancelling technology, but it does share the same stealth design so that you can blend in when you use it outside of home.

Hardware wise, it packs Razer’s immensely powerful TriForce drivers which measures in at 40mm. That large driver should deliver rich, clear, and detailed audio that is mostly tuned for gaming. That does not mean you cannot enjoy music with it too though. Anything designed with gaming in mind should sound good in other conditions as well, especially when the headphone is capable of producing 7.1 surround sound. The high-power delivery also ensures immersive experience with a lot of volume. That should also alleviate the lack of noise cancellation technology.

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    Source: Razer
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    Source: Razer
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At 250g, the wireless headphone is made with comfort in mind too. The lack of weight will allow you to be a lot more comfortable with the headphone in long gaming sessions and you are going to be gaming long and hard with the Barracuda X’s 20 hours of battery life. The memory foam ear cushion is designed so that it sits flush on the side of your heads and create a tight noise seal while remaining breathable. The overhead cushion is of course important in not just spreading the weight of the headphone properly, but to relief the pressure on top of your head.

The Razer Barracuda X is available now from Razer.com and authorised dealers across the nation. You can also get them from Razer’s Official Store on Shopee and Lazada. Unlike the Opus X, the Razer Barracuda X only comes in one colour option: black. At MYR 549 though, the headphone could be one of the best value for money gaming headsets from Razer. More information on the Razer Barracuda X can be found on from their website.

Accessories, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

TAG Heuer X Super Mario is a US$ 2,000 Smartwatch and We Are Not Sure About It

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TAG Heuer is a respectable watchmaker. They are one of the most recognisable brands in the world of watch makers and collectors. Sure, compared to brands like Patek Philippe, Hublot, and even Rolex, TAG Heuer seems to sit at a lower position. Still, they make watches that would still cost you anywhere from MYR 3,000 and above. They also made some of the most memorable collection pieces in the world of watch making.

TAG Heuer is a little different than most luxury watchmakers though. They are a little more adventurous with their branding. While plenty of watchmaking brands refrain from being title sponsors in the sporting world, TAG Heuer was aggressive in promoting their brand in the sporting world. Their most significant push was into the world of Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsports, as official timekeepers for the longest time.

They are also, to this day, the only luxury watchmaker that dabbles in the world of smartwatches. Of course, because Apple develops their own watch with a very guarded WatchOS, Samsung’s Tizen OS is also a brand exclusive, and FitBit’s interface is not exactly created for smartwatches, TAG Heuer is left with Google’s Wear OS. Then again, this is not TAG Heuer’s first Wear OS smartwatch.

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Source: TAG Heuer

The Connected series, as they call it is the watchmaker’s only Wear OS line-up. It is still currently the only luxury Google Wear device to hit the market. With prices starting at US$ 2,000, you can have your TAG Heuer Connected built with different materials to suit your taste. Now, you can look dorky with a new Super Maria limited edition too.

Yes, to be fair, the Super Mario collaboration from TAG Heuer is not really an announcement of a new product. It is merely an expansion, or a limited edition of an existing product line. The collaboration also brings with it new watch faces exclusive to the series. They are all Super Mario inspired. With the new watch faces, you also get new notification animations, especially when you hit a fitness goal let’s say.

While it is merely just a Google Wear OS device, there are some uniqueness to a Connected that makes it somewhat desirable. It has a proper crown that rotates and pushes in as a button for easier navigation of Wear OS. It has two very well-defined button too for more navigation work on your watch. Physical buttons and knobs on a smartwatch, we think, is the best way to navigate its interface still. The TAG Heuer x Super Mario Connected watch obviously has the very recognisable Mario branding on the crown. But all Connected smartwatches comes with TAG Heuer’s signature thick bezel look and stellar build quality; those are given because, TAG Heuer.

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Source: TAG Heuer

You can expect the TAG Heuer x Super Mario Connected smartwatch to cost north of US$ 2,000 (MYR 8,401*). It is a special limited edition after all. In a sense, the Super Mario smartwatch should also appeal to the younger crowd, which is what TAG Heuer wants anyway. There is a problem, however. That problem lies mostly with Wear OS.

Wear OS is in a weird place now. We want to say that Google’s Wear OS is undergoing a transformation journey, one that we cannot see. Google announced that they are partnering exclusively with Samsung to move Wear OS into the future. Samsung’s huge success with their Tizen OS means that they are a prime candidate to co-develop the next wearable OS with. Samsung will also be giving up Tizen OS for that matter but gaining a whole new community of developers in return.

There are rumours that the next Wear OS that is co-developed with Samsung will require a new set of hardware to properly run. That also means that older hardware like TAG Heuer’s Connected smartwatch might not be able to run Wear OS. While Qualcomm has claimed that older Snapdragon for wearables can run later versions of Wear OS, we cannot be sure until the next iteration of Wear OS hits devices.

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The TAG Heuer X Super Mario smartwatch comes with its own special edition case and obviously its own special straps. Its looks are subjective to its wearer, to be fair. To us, it looks like a regular smartwatch. It features whatever the regular Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch features too, including the current generation Google Wear OS.

It is a cool smartwatch to own if you have the money. At the same time, it might be a risky buy. Smartwatches are not statement piece material. A smartwatch must be functional as well, and of course, updated. In that case, the TAG Heuer x Super Mario Connected smartwatch’s price tag comes with a big ‘if’. It is great if it updates to the next Wear OS, it will be a glorified paper weight if it does not.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1=MYR 4.20 on xe.com as of 14/07/2021

Accessories, Mobile, News

HUAWEI Launches the FreeBuds 4, Available for Pre-Order Now for MYR 599

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Wireless earbuds are all the rage these days. The clean, cable-free feature of Truly Wireless (TWS) headphones really give a new meaning to the word “freedom” and redefined portability in the audio market. Of course, if you are a purist and audiophile, your response to all this will always be “but wired sound better”. We agree, but wireless audio products have come a long way since its introduction ages ago. Since Samsung introduced the world to their IconX TWS earphones too, TWS headphones have made huge strides and improvements especially in recent years.

With increased demands for TWS earphones too, more manufacturers are going to get involved to compete for market share. After all, it is not about who sells the best smartphones now, it is about who has the best and most seamless ecosystem. That also means that smartphone manufacturers like HUAWEI are sure to get into the game of creating accessories that accompanies the smartphones.

HUAWEI introduced their FreeBuds TWS headphones in 2018. They recently introduced the 4th generation of the FreeBuds in Malaysia. The new HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 comes with a slew of improvements that might make it one of the most compelling TWS headphones in the market.

HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 3
Source: HUAWEI

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 still features Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) 2.0 which is quite unique. That is because the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 is an open-fit earphone. Open-fit earphones typically do not completely seal your ears obviously, and that adds a layer of complexity for the job that is noise cancelling. Still, with Adaptive Ear Matching technology, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 will manage. The technology will automatically detect the 3D shape of your ear and determine the optimal noise cancellation for individual users.

For the first time ever, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 boasts dual microphone. Dual mics of course is used for noise cancellation in phone calls. With 32KHz in frequency range in voice calls too, you get crisp and clear phone calls.

The FreeBuds 4 packs an unusually large driver too for its headphones of its type. It has 14.3mm, slightly larger than the one you get on the older HUAWEI FreeBuds 3. At 40kHz as well, it has double the frequency range compared to most earphones in its category. That also means that it should sound quite stellar especially with Hi-Fi quality audio formats. Of course, with larger drivers, you get better low-end frequencies projected too, which means great thumping bass lines.

Of course, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 is not just for listening and making short work of phone calls. The TWS earbuds has a mic that can record at up to 48kHz audio, which also means you can technically use it to record vlogs or use it to record audio from the surroundings for an immersive video from your HUAWEI smartphone.

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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI

All of these sounds like you would need a larger package of an earbud to work with. Strangely though, it is no larger than a regular Apple Airpods earbud. The pair of earbuds comes packed in a portable case that can gives the HUAWEI FreePods 4 extra full charges for up to 22 hours of music playback (without ANC). All the great stuff is shoehorned in earbuds that weighs only 4.1g on each end.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 is now available for pre-order from HUAWEI Online Store, and partner stores such as Shopee, Lazada and Sen Heng until 21st July 2021. It is available in Ceramic White and Silver Frost colour options too. It will set you back MYR 599, which is a lot less than a lot of higher-end ANC enabled TWS headphones. More information on the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 can be found on HUAWEI’s website.

Accessories, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

HUAWEI MateView and MateView GT Launched in Malaysia – The Beauty and The Beast

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HUAWEI has grown from a little-known smartphone maker from China to become one of the tech giants of the world. Of course, the fact that they make great smartphones helped their rise to become one of the most recognisable electronics brands in the world. In the recent years, HUAWEI has also expanded its product range to just more than mobile devices. This is including smartphone peripherals like headsets and wireless speakers. They branched out into home appliances. They also branched out into making Windows laptops, which worked great if you own a HUAWEI device already. They even made smart TVs in the past two years.

It only makes sense then, when HUAWEI started making PCs and even smart TVs, that they start making PC displays. They started with the brand new MateView and MateView GT. As per the title, it really is like Beauty and the Beast. We are not really referring to how the monitors look though; we are referring to what they are made for.

HUAWEI MateView – The Beauty … of 4K+ resolution

HUAWEI MateView
Source: HUAWEI

The HUAWEI MateView is made for creators in mind and it shows in the colour accuracy rating of the display. It boasts ΔE<2 with 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. On the sRGB scale, it covers 100% of the colour gamut. That also means unparalleled colour accuracy, very important when you are colour correcting photos or even videos. At HDR 400 also, contents shine when displayed on the HUAWEI MateView. We have not even gone to its resolution.

The HUAWEI MateView displays all these colours at an extremely high resolution 4K+. You get 3,840 x 2,560 pixels from the 28.2-inch IPS panel. While that means that you get a very odd 3:2 display ratio, it also means you get more display real estate to work with, important when you only have one monitor to rely on when you work with videos. At 1.07 billion colours as well, colour gradients look natural even when you push the brightness to the maximum 500 nits the HUAWEI MateView is capable of.

It even boasts two 5W speakers on its integrated stand. While it may not be the most powerful speakers you can find in the market, the speakers should produce an acceptable audio, if you do not have an external speaker to work with. At the same time, with wireless projection, you can hook your HUAWEI devices up wirelessly and play your favourite music through the MateView’s speakers instead. For video conferencing, the HUAWEI MateView even packs four built in mics. You can even fire up Cortana on Windows 10 with the mics.

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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI

The HUAWEI MateView is also your friendly USB Hub. While it packs HDMI 2.0 (capable of 3,840 x 2,560 @50Hz) and a MiniDP port, you can hook your PC to the display via USB Type-C cable too. If you hook your PC up to the Display via the HDMI or the MiniDP port, you have an extra USB Type-C port to go alongside two more UBS Type-A ports on the integrated stand. The USB Type-C port also charges at 65W too, which also means your thin and light PC might not need to be plugged into a power source of its own.

HUAWEI MateView GT – The Beast … For Your Gaming Fix

HUAWEI MateView GT
Source: HUAWEI

To be fair, we could never have imagined a world where HUAWEI champions PC gaming five years ago. 2021 is a vastly different time compared to the world of 2015/2016 though. The world is in massive lockdown, and everyone is forced to work from home most of their days. One of the ways people spend their remaining time after work then is to game with friends, or publicly in competitive esports titles. Gaming peripherals has a newfound popularity in 2021, through 2020.

The HUAWEI MateView GT is a product of inevitability, at least in our humble opinions. If you can make an excellent 4K display, why not make a gaming display? That is how the HUAWEI MateView GT came about, we think.

It boasts 1440p (3,440 x 1,440) in resolution and the ultra-wide 21:9 display ratio is preferred here. Of course, all that is an influence of the most popular set-up a gaming PC has today. It refreshes at 165Hz as well, which is on par with some of the most advanced gaming displays of the modern world.  At 34-inch, the ultra-wide display will also pretty much take up your whole desk space. It is a curved display though, so you do not need to strain to see from edge to edge.

At a glance, you know it is made for gaming with a light strip along the base of the monitor. The slick and slim bars that holds the entire weight of the monitor is painted black too, just so you are not distracted from gaming. But there is more than meets the eyes with this monitor though.

Firstly, to make it fully immersive, HUAWEI ensures that it does not just pack a lot of pixels. The pixels has to display accurate colour information and must look great as well. The display covers 90% of DCI-P3 colour gamut. Its 1 billion colours is also displayed in HDR10 glory at 4000:1 contrast ratio for the best visual experience you can get in a display.

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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI
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    Source: HUAWEI

OIn top of all of that, the light bar that stretches the width of the base of the monitor is not just for show. It is a touch sensitive volume control bar for the sound bar that is the base of the monitor. It packs two 5W speakers, which may not sound like much, but it does provide with you with immersive stereo experience to go with your gaming. That also means that you do not need to get a separate headphone or speaker set-up to get going. There are even two built-in speakers on the MateView GT itself, for you to communicate with your team mates or rivals in heated gaming sessions.

If you have multiple gaming devices, you can hook up to four devices at the same time. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports, for you PlayStation, or Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. You have one DisplayPort for your gaming PC, and another USB Type-C port for your productivity machine. The USB port can also be used to charge your devices too.

Pricing and Availability

The HUAWEI MateView and MateView GT is now available for pre-order (7th – 21st July). You can pre-order yours now via HUAWEI’s Online Store. Of course, you can also head down to HUAWEI’s official store on Shopee and Lazada to pre order both the MateView and MateView GT. The HUAWEI MateView retails at MYR 2,988 while the MateView GT retails at 2,488 with MYR 100 rebate for each pre-order. Each pre-order also entitles you to a complementary HUAWEI WiFi AX3 Dual Core router capable of WiFi 6 networking.