Category Archives: Entertainment

Business, Entertainment

Samsung Ups the Ante on TVs with AI Tech at 2024 Southeast Asia Tech Seminar

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Samsung just kicked off its 2024 Southeast Asia Tech Seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, showcasing its latest and greatest TVs that are packed with cutting-edge AI features. This isn’t your average “turn the TV on” situation – we’re talking smarter pictures, sharper sound, and even some cool lifestyle features you won’t find anywhere else.

Samsung SEA Tech Summit 03

Building on their 18-year reign as the go-to TV brand, Samsung is all about bringing that “Screens Everywhere, Screens for All” vision to life. Remember those amazing TVs it showed off in Frankfurt back in February? Well, the company showed them off along with some new lifestyle products that are sure to turn heads.

So, what exactly is all this AI buzz about? Let’s dive into the highlights:

  • Neo QLED 8K Gets a Brainy Boost: Brace yourselves for mind-blowing visuals! The 2024 Neo QLED 8K boasts the all-new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor. Imagine this: 512 neural networks (that’s eight times more than the previous version!) working together to deliver the most vivid and precise picture you’ve ever seen. Plus, features like 8K AI Upscaling Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro take things a step further, ensuring everything you watch looks smoother and sharper than ever before.
Samsung SEA Tech Summit 02
  • OLED Gets Glare-Free: Samsung’s 2024 OLED TV upscales content to a stunning 4K resolution, powered by the NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor. But here’s the real kicker: they’ve also introduced OLED Glare Free technology. Certified by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), this innovative tech cuts down on-screen reflection, letting you enjoy your favourite shows and movies without any annoying distractions.
  • Music Frame: Your Frame, Your Speaker: This one’s pretty cool. Imagine a picture frame that doubles as a speaker. That’s the Music Frame! Pop in a photo you love, hang it on the wall and enjoy high-quality sound that blends seamlessly with your décor. Plus, you can even pair it with another Music Frame for a true stereo experience.
  • Security Matters: Samsung hasn’t forgotten about security. Their Knox technology, now applied to Samsung TVs, has achieved a “Common Criteria” certification recognized by 31 countries. This means your TV is even more secure in terms of software and hardware, keeping your information safe and sound.
Samsung SEA Tech Summit 01

“We’re thrilled to showcase these cutting-edge AI TV technologies at the Tech Seminar,” said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “It’s not just about the tech – it’s about giving our customers the best possible viewing experience and making sure their information is always protected.”

So, whether you’re a die-hard movie buff or just looking for a smarter way to watch your favourite shows, Samsung’s latest AI-powered TVs are definitely worth checking out. Keep an eye out for more details on these innovative new products!

Entertainment, Lifestyle, News

Unifi TV Launches New Ruby Plus Pack with TVBAnywhere+ at RM30 a month

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Unifi TV has been busy creating a furore for the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities. This past weekend, the company brought two of the hottest Hong Kong celebrities – Katy Kung and Owen Cheung – to Malaysia for its Lunar New Year kick-off for the new Ruby Plus Pack. This was done in collaboration with TVB.

Unifi TV Ruby Pack Plus Launch Pavilion KL
Anthony SH Law (Head of Marketing & Sales, South East Asia, International Business TVB), Owen Cheung, Katy Kung, Jasmine Lee (Chief Commercial Officer, Consumer, Unifi), Andrew Pinto (Vice President, Brand and Marketing, Unifi), Ho Hock Doong (Head of Content, Unifi) launching the new Ruby Plus package at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. (Source: TM)

The new Ruby Plus pack brings the latest Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwanese entertainment to complement your high-speed broadband subscription. The offering comes as a part of Unifi’s digital lifestyle offerings in Unifi TV. The pack focuses on oriental entertainment bringing blockbuster series like Forensic Heros (法证先锋), Justice Sung Begins (状王之王) and more to your screens. The new Ruby Plus Pack comes with channels such as CCTV4, Celestial Movies, Now Jelli, and SETI.

TVB, one of the most successful Hong Kong broadcasters, is also making a big splash with the Ruby Plus Pack. Channels such as TVB Jade, TVB News and Xing He will be available to Unifi TV subscribers through the new pack. In addition, Unifi TV subscribers who also subscribe to the pack will be able to access the TVBAnywhere+ app. The app joins apps like Netflix, iQIYI, WeTV and Mango TV that are already available on the Unifi TV Box.

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Source: Unifi TV website

Together with the Ruby Plus Pack, Unifi TV subscribers will also be able to enjoy shows from a selection of over 40 premium channels such as tvN Movies, Warner TV, Nickelodeon, AXN and Unifi Sports. Unifi TV subscribers will also be receiving the updated Unifi TV Android TV 12 box worth RM480 for free. The Ruby Plus Pack itself will be priced at RM30 a month. This includes a subscription to TVBAnywhere+.

Entertainment, Feature, Lifestyle

10 Movies To Watch Before 2023 Ends

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Now that we are nearing the end of 2023, we wanted to compile a quick movie list for you to binge on the weekend. Here are some unique movies we think everyone should check out on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Amazon Prime.

1. They Cloned Tyrone

They Cloned Tyrone | Official Trailer | Netflix

Platform: Netflix

Initial release: June 14, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)95%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)100%
IMDB6.6/10
Metacritic74%
Google 91%

A clever sci-fi mystery led by the talented John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris will see an unlikely trio stumble upon a government conspiracy. Filled with absurdist humour and satire, this inventive movie is worth a look.

2. Rebel Moon Part One – A Child of Fire

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire | Official Trailer | Netflix

Platform: Netflix

Initial release: December 15, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)25%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)63%
IMDB5.7/10
Metacritic32%
Google 91%

If you love Zack Snyder’s works, especially the director’s cut of Justice League, you will enjoy this sci-fi space opera that is already getting an extended cut and a part two. Explore Zack Snyder’s fictional universe where a power hungry militaristic empire picks the wrong farming colony to terrorize and one villager who has decided enough is enough.

3. Leo

Leo | Official Trailer | Netflix

Platform: Netflix

Initial release: November 17, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)82%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)92%
IMDB7.0/10
Metacritic65%
Google 78%

It is an Adam Sandler movie, enough said! All jokes aside, this animated musical comedy is a fun idea about a classroom pet who wants freedom before he dies but ends up saving his class from a horrible substitute teacher. I think we all had one of those, shudders.

4. The Creator

The Creator | Official Trailer

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Initial release: September 29, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)66%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)76%
IMDB6.8/10
Metacritic63%
Google 78%

Many in the real world believe AI will take over the world and here is a movie that might show us what it would be like. This science fiction action flick will have you immersed in its spectacular visuals and solid writing. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the same director of the amazing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, prepare for a story that doesn’t play it safe and feels refreshingly exhilarating.

5. Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 3

Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | New Trailer

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Initial release: May 4, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)82%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)94%
IMDB7.9/10
Metacritic64%
Google 89%

Hands down the best of the MCU: Phase Five releases currently, this tear-jerker of a movie explores Rocket’s past. If you do not shed any tears or at least feel teary-eyed during this movie, you sir are either robots without an emotional chip or one of those “professional critics”.

6. Flamin’ Hot

FLAMIN' HOT | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Initial release: May 4, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)69%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)88%
IMDB6.9/10
Metacritic58%
Google 86%

A fun comedy-drama to balance against all the sci-fi movies on this list, Flamin’ Hot is one of those based on true story movies. Which generally is code for not historically accurate at all but still a super fun watch. Follow Richard Montañez’s retelling of how he as a janitor became an Executive who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. 

7. Air

AIR - Official Trailer - Warner Bros. UK & Ireland

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Initial release: April 5, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)93%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)98%
IMDB7.4/10
Metacritic73%
Google 87%

Batman, Ben Affleck, directs a biographical sports drama about how Sonny Vaccaro, Nike, and Micheal Jordan revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture. With a phenomenal casting for a movie about a business negotiation, that has no real right to be this fascinating, it is a clear slam dunk to watch.

8. Suzume

Suzume Trailer #1 (2023)

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Initial release: November 11, 2022

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)98%
IMDB7.7/10
MyAnimeList.net8.3/10
Google 96%

If you love Makoto Shinkai’s previous works, Your Name and Weathering with You, you will surely not have missed this movie. For those who haven’t heard of any of these, Suzume tells the riveting and beautiful story of a 17-year-old high school girl and a young stranger who must team up to prevent a series of catastrophes from happening around Japan. A must-watch for any anime fan.

9. Merry Little Batman

Merry Little Batman – Official Trailer | Prime Video

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Initial release: December 8, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)75%
IMDB6.4/10
Metacritic74%
Google 48%

An animated superhero film, Merry Little Batman will have us follow Damian as he takes on Joker’s plot to ruin Christmas in Gotham. A campy fun adventure, this movie will show viewers a nice fresh take on Damian that might make you like him.

Honourable Mention: The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか)

THE BOY AND THE HERON | Official English Trailer

Platform: In Cinemas Now

Initial release: July 14, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)89%
IMDB7.7/10
Metacritic91%
Google 88%

Hayao Miyazaki is back at it again with another anime that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. This time the film centres around a young boy, Mahito, who struggles to fit into a new town after his mother passes. However, he comes across a talking heron that tells him that she still lives. Follow Mahito on his quest to find his mother. This emotional journey might just give you the best closure to an eventful 2023.

Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Listeners May Soon Get AI-generated Playlist On Spotify

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Before you get all psyched and excited, step on your breaks first. The idea that Spotify users can easily generate a specially curated playlist according to a text prompt, making it much easier and simpler to find music and have it already in an instant playlist, would be a dream! However, this feature is not available to the public and is being tested on a few lucky chosen users.

TechCrunch first reported this new feature as they found out through Spotify that the music streaming company is working on this AI feature but had been tight-lipped on whether it will be publicly rolled out or how the technology works.

Beyond what was confirmed by Spotify themselves that they are working on this new feature, the only other evidence we have of this feature being performed in the wild by the few lucky users that managed to get this rolled out part is through a recent TikTok user by the handle of robdad, which showed a screen recording of them using the new feature and showcasing how it works and where it’s situated.

@robdad_

Since when did they have this update on spotify. Now they got chatGPT making our playlists… also wtf is Which House Exploration😭😭 #spotify #update #ai

♬ Heavy Metal Lover overlapped – jinxknsaudios

In their video, it shows that users who are randomly tested with this feature can find it by pressing the + button by Your Library and scrolling down to see a new addition at the very bottom called AI Playlist with a short explanation that reads “Turn your ideas into a playlist using AI. Currently available only in English” which from the text alone probably means that this feature is being tested in only western regions like UK, US, Ireland, and Canada as that is the similar pattern they did when Spotify first rolled out its first new AI featured known as the DJ which is a personalised Ai guide that will follow your music preference and generate a list to play for you while speaking to you similarly like a DJ would on the radio.

Following the video, when pressing the new option, it brings you to another page in Spotify that shares similarities too many other AI generative sites as it will ask at the top of the page, “What kind of playlist would you like?” and at the bottom has a text bubble where users can type in whatever they’re looking for or mood they are in. Suggested prompts are above the typing space, such as “Get focused at work with instrumental electronics” or “Fill the silence with background café music.”

From there, you can choose any of the example prompts or write in your creative wants, and the AI will process your request. Once it does, it will give you a ready-made playlist with songs that match the descriptions or wants you have written. Users can then have the choice to create the playlist immediately by pressing the start button on the top right, or they can swipe left on the songs to remove the pieces they don’t want within the playlist.

Just from the video alone, the feature looks amazing and will be a game changer for Spotify users, but as of now, Spotify has not given any other comments on the project. Hopefully, it will become available soon, and hopefully, Spotify DJ will come to the Malaysia region soon, too.

Entertainment, News, Social Media

Look out, Instagramers, and pop off your latest stories with the new AI-generated tool for backgrounds

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Get ready for some AI-generated fun thanks to Instagram’s latest feature. The new part, which was newly announced on Thread by Ahmad Al-Dahle, Metas+’s Generative AI Lead, is proud to showcase Instagram’s latest feature, which allows users to remove their backgrounds in their stories and have it replaced with anything they desire, thanks to the use of Generative AI.

Instragram AI Generative Background

The short video demonstration, shown on threads, showcases how the new feature is used. When the user is about to post a story and lands in the edit section of the process, they can see a new option just beside the text insert feature of Instagram. The button which has the image of a person and a background with a + sign, is where the magic happens.

Once pressed, the app will open into another section where it will automatically clear out the background of the said image used, and below there is a text box. Just above the text box are small recommendations or suggestions of prompts that the users can use to alleviate their story photos.

The prompt written down can be anything the user desires to be, “Be surrounded by Puppies” or “ Laying by the beach” anything the user can creatively think of to place in the background of your photo to make it pop and look more interesting. Of course, Instagram thought of everything as this feature can’t be used to trick people either as an automatic sticker and the feature will be placed on the post saying that the AI background feature was used and a sticker that allows other users to “Try it.”

Currently, this feature is only available to US Instagram users, and Instagram has not said anything when this feature will go out globally.

Android, Entertainment, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News, Social Media

Meta’s Threads Takes a Step Towards Openness with ActivityPub Integration & European Launch

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Meta’s competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter) – Threads – is making news in two areas: being able to work with other apps and expanding into Europe. In a surprisiong move, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, said Threads posts could be shared on Mastodon and other ActivityPub-enabled platforms as part of a test. This is a big step towards integration, which has been one of the main ideas behind the fediverse, a decentralised network of social media services, from the beginning.

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Photo by Viralyft on Unsplash

What does Integration with ActivityPub mean, and why is it good? With ActivityPub, you can choose where your content is seen and how people connect with it, unlike on traditional social media sites where you are limited to your home feed. It will also help you reach more people. Allowing you to gain new followers and take part in conversations in other groups. It also helps make social media more open and democratic by lowering the need for centralised sites like Meta.

This movement indicates that Meta remains committed to making all their services work together. This fits what Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, who thinks decentralisation is the key to getting the next wave of creators to join, has said.

In addition, Threads is finally getting ready to land in Europe simultaneously. The platform will finally go live on December 14th after being delayed because of regulatory issues.

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Photo by Julio Lopez on Unsplash

Threads is also adding “Tags” that work like Instagram Hashtags, but is less confusing or complicated. Tags can only be used once per post. This is meant to get people to talk about more specific topics and keep material at a managable level. Users can add tags by typing “#” or clicking a post UI button. Furthermore, Tags, unlike Instagram, don’t need to be added directly below the post with multiple hashtags, which can be confusing. Instead, it’s directly added to the post or words similar to a hyperlink. The chosen words will turn blue in the post, meaning it has been tagged with the specific topic or genre, or you can make a new one. This gives users more freedom and simplifies how they can add specific topics and genres to their posts to reach out to others looking for posts in their interest.  

Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, Gaming, Mobile, News

Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Now Available on Meta Quest

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Cloud gaming is about to leap into the future, so get ready, gamers! The launch of Xbox Cloud Gaming on Meta’s VR headsets is bringing a groundbreaking new method to play hundreds of titles, all without a console.

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You’ll be able to play various games with the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform, including AAA titles like Starfield and Forza Motorsport. All you need to start your new experience with VR is to ensure your Meta Quest software is updated. Of course, you’ll also need a fast internet connection and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

There is a catch, though, you can’t use the controllers that come with the Meta Quest. Instead, you’ll need to use controllers like the Xbox Controller, the DualShock 4 (PlayStation 4), or the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. As of now, the DualSense controller (PlayStation 5) is unsupported, but Meta has said support is on the way.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

When using the Xbox Cloud Games app on the Meta Quest, users will be interacting with the app on a big, user-customisable, 2D virtual screen. This screen will display app your games for you to launch and interact with. Meta Quest 3 and Pro players can access full-colour passthrough technology, letting them watch their real-world surroundings even as they stream and play their games.

This beta is only available to Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro headsets. So, those who have any of the older generation of Meta Quest Headsets will be unable to access Xbox Cloud Games.

Entertainment, iOS, Lifestyle, News

Apple TV gets a Major Makeover

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Attention all Apple TV fans! At long last, the time has come. Designed to make your viewing experience even more fluid and enjoyable, Apple has launched a new look for the Apple TV app after weeks of beta testing.

Apple TV app iPadOS App Store big.jpg.medium

Searching through seemingly infinite menus and categories is a thing of the past. With its redesigned user interface and convenient sidebar, the app is now easier than ever to use. Apple TV+ originals, Major League Soccer Season Pass, a vast collection of films and TV shows for sale or rental, and your favourite channels and apps like Disney+, Paramount+, and Max are all at your fingertips.

Browse categories like “New Shows & Movies,” “Top Charts,” “Trending,” and “For You” under the revamped “Home” section. Using this selected collection, you can be confident that you will always have access to the most recent releases, best sellers, and personalised suggestions.

The updated software is helpful for more than simply its users. With the new profile function, families with more than one Apple TV user can now get suggestions tailored to their tastes. Toggle between profiles on the tablet in your living room; you can find your recommendations and carefully selected the “ Up Next “list.

Exciting new features for the Store tab are also part of the redesigned Apple TV app. With the recent merger of TV shows and films, finding a new series to binge-watch has never been more straightforward. Discover many popular streaming services on your Apple TV by adding a specialised Add Channels & Apps shelf.

With this update, the standalone apps for iTunes Movies and TV Shows also end as users will be redirected to the Apple TV app instead if they purchase or rent out movies or shows. Rumours have built that Apple has plans on making Apple TV into a streaming Hub for everything and not just Apple TV Plus.

Android, Entertainment, Gaming, iOS, Mobile

Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link Coming to Mobile

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Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link, the latest instalment in Square’s hit RPG series, is making its way to Android and iOS devices. It’s set to go in 2024, with no definite date just yet. This mobile RPG will add to the Kingdom Hearts story with a new plot and play style.

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Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link isn’t an augmented reality (AR) game like Pokemon GO but it still uses real-world places in its gameplay. The game uses your smartphone’s GPS to determine where you are on the in-game map. This lets the player explore the virtual world based on where they are in real life. The announcement video teases that you might be able to “travel the world without leaving your house” which would be a new twist in the game systems.

While there is very little information on the game’s plot, Square Enix has been recruiting beta testers for a closed beta program. There are 3,000 spots available split between Android and iOS users. For iOS, the closed beta phase lasts from November 29 to December 8. The Android beta will start in January 2024.

KINGDOM HEARTS Missing-Link Teaser Trailer

The story takes place in the city of Scala and Caelum, which fans of Kingdom Hearts III will be familiar with. Players take on the part of a main character who has no name and moves between Scala and Caelum and the real world. Real-time fighting and interactions with Disney characters are hinted at through the teaser trailers available on Square Enix’s Official YouTube Channel.

Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link was first presented at the event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts, along with Kingdom Hearts IV. Currently, there is no announcement on the date for either game released.