Sleep has become a crucial factor in overall health over the past few years. In fact, doctors and other medical professionals have changed their blanket from 8 hours a night to a more general 6- to 8-hour range. As our understanding of sleep develops, so too has our appreciation of its role in health. This has become so crucial that we have been seeing more and more companies gather data for research and develop ways to measure and monitor the quality of sleep.
Fitbit has been one of the few fitness trackers and smartwatches which allow you to track your sleep in detail and view a breakdown of your sleep quality in a visual way. They’re also upping the ante when it comes to tracking by introducing a new feature for Fitbit Premium users called Sleep Profiles.
After much research and study of over 1,000 features of sleep, the company has determined that there are 10 key metrics that are beneficial to the user. Using these metrics which include pre-existing ones like sleep duration, restfulness and REM sleep, Fitbit has been able to develop a more holistic view of sleep. Additionally, they’ve also identified new metrics such as schedule variability, the time before sound sleep and disrupted sleep that help paint a better, month-long picture of overall sleep quality. Users will have access to a monthly report which breaks down each of these 10 key metrics with their personalised metrics as well as their ideal ranges.
In analysing over 1.87 million sleep logs, Fitbit was able to isolate numerous sleep archetypes. They’ve chosen six major archetypes which describe a vast majority of the profiles studied. To better communicate a user’s sleep pattern, Fitbit has chosen to represent each of the six profiles with an animal. Fitbit Premium users will be able to get their profile each month which will categorise them into one of six chosen animals: Giraffe, Bear, Hedgehog, Turtle, Dolphin and Parrot. These animals share similar traits to the six archetypes that Fitbit has identified.
There is no perfect profile, nor is a sleep profile fixed. Users will see it change from month to month. More importantly, Fitbit is also giving some feedback to help improve sleep quality with their profiles. This feedback can take the form of addressing REM sleep or sleep times to improve sleep quality.
Fitbit users with a Fitbit Premium subscription will begin to see these profiles starting on July 7. After the first report, profiles will be reported on the 1st of each month. However, the feature will only work with the Sense, Versa 3, Versa 2, Charge 5, Luxe or Inspire 2 at launch.
The past few weeks with the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 have been quite a journey. We got it at quite an opportune time as well. We got to be one of the first few people that managed to try Steam on Chrome OS. The experience, if you read our editorial last week, left quite a lot to be desired, to be fair. There was an inherent scaling issue, which would be quite expected since getting games to run on the Chromebook’s native resolution is problematic at the best of times.
This is the last part of the editorial series though, which we will sort of wrap-up the entire series. We will be summarizing our experience with the Chrome OS in the past four weeks with a video too, so do look out for that. But yes, all three parts of the editorial has been leading up to this – an answer to the question; “can the Chrome OS be a viable daily driver?”
There is no one simple answer to this question though. Choosing an operating system to work with is never a straightforward process. There is a lot to consider when you want to invest in a computing solution for your own personal use. You often must decide on a budget, you want to think about the main function of the device as well.
The More Budget Conscious Option
Sure, compared to a Mac, any PC option looks like a budget option. When it comes to the world of the Chromebook though, its starting price is usually much lower than what you can expect even compared to a regular Windows PC. That makes the Chromebook, by default, the most budget friendly computing solution option.
A Chrome OS may not look as versatile as a Windows PC or a Macbook. You cannot expect it to game given its specs. Beyond that, it browses the internet just like your regular PC does. It processes through all your documents and even play music like any Macbook does too. It is a as versatile in most use cases as a MacBook or a PC at a fraction of the cost.
The requirements of Chrome OS are low in most cases too. You do not need an ultra-powerful set-up to get Chrome OS running nicely and smoothly. You can work with the most basic of specifications and still have a nicely functioning Chromebook with no fuss. You can still sort of play mobile games on it too, if you so wish to. That is why a basic Chromebook can be made so cheaply and is highly popular for young learners in school.
Versatile Worker
You can work with Microsoft’s full 365 suite with Google Chrome browser. While some may see that as an inconvenience and downgrade, the web-based suite is closer in function and look to the full Windows/Mac version than what you get on the mobile version of the apps.
Microsoft’s 365 suite is not the only web app that works well for Chrome OS though. Tidal and Spotify works better on Chrome browser than their mobile app counterpart too in this case. The Chromebook is not meant to just run web-based apps though, it is also built so that the Android apps can also run on it.
In that sense, while there are plenty of Android apps that will not run on top of Chrome OS, many does as well. Adobe’s Lightroom for Mobile can work on the Chromebook, for example. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even Sony’s Headphones app can run on the Chrome OS. For apps like Sony’s Headphones app, you get a full suite of control on whatever Sony audio device that connects to the Chromebook just like you do on your smartphone.
You technically can even run mobile games on the Chromebook to a certain degree of success. Just remember that these games are designed with touch screen in mind, so you do want to use the touch screen functions that are in most Chromebooks for mobile gaming. Because the display is so expansive as well, you get to see everything down to their tiny details.
Because it is also effectively an Android tablet, many of the tablet applications can be scaled to the sizeable displays that Chromebooks usually come in. If you have a router that needs to be accessed with an app, for example, you can rely on a Chromebook and work on your router via the mobile app without going through too much of a hassle.
Not Really a Gaming Machine
Source: Steam Addicts
Sadly, while there has been many rumours and hype surrounding Chromebook and gaming, there has not been any solid solutions for it. Steam is now on Alpha access for select Chromebook devices. That means that not everybody on Chrome OS gets access to Steam. We are lucky enough to have secured a unit that can support the Alpha version of Steam (Volteer).
The gaming experience, if you have read our previous editorial, is choppy at best. Sure, some games like Undertale should not take too much to run well. The scaling issue is something that is quite off-putting though.
The scaling issue does not just stop at Undertale too. It continues in titles like This War of Mine in our case. There is no denying that there is some potential to gaming on the Crhomebook, but for now it is just that, a potential.
The other option is to play mobile based games from Google’s Play Store. You can technically download games like Pokémon Unite and PUBG Mobile. We’ve only managed to play Pokémon Unite a few times with no issues. Most of the time the game failed to launch or just crashes halfway through matchmaking. PUBG Mobile should be quite an experience on the larger display. Unfortunately, the game will also assume that you are playing on an emulator and will only pair you with other players with emulators, so you technically will not get to play ever.
More like an Entertainment Powerhouse
The unit we have is a versatile worker with a display that is also the envy of PCs at its price range. While the display’s aspect ratio is a little odd, it is still a brilliant display. If not, you still get plenty of Chromebook devices with at least 1080p Full HD display which would be more than sufficient.
With at least 1080p Full HD resolution, you get to enjoy plenty of Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and even Amazon Prime Video. The Chromebook is prove that you do not need a high-end PC or TV to be entertained really, you have access to all of those contents and even more via the Chrome browser itself. You are technically doing the same thing with your regular PCs and Macbooks in this situation.
While the speakers are usually not great, you can easily get yourself decent Bluetooth speakers for not a lot of money. If you prefer an uninterrupted personal audio experience, there is the option of going for wired headphones or even Bluetooth headphones at that.
It Does Everything – So Why Not?
So, back to the question we first posed in the first part of our editorial; can the Chromebook be a proper workhorse? Can it be used as a reliable work device for the professionals? Can you call upon the Chromebook to be your trusted corporate device?
We want to say yes to all the questions we posed but take it with a pinch of salt. You cannot expect it to become your entertainment rig to game with. You cannot expect it to also be a workhorse that edits your videos too. You cannot have most of the apps and programs that you can get on Windows PCs and Macs.
But you can expect it to be reliable. You can expect it to work through the night with a single charge. You can expect the Chromebook to still work well outside of your workplace as long as you keep it charged.
When you think of gaming peripherals, there is always one name that will never escape your shortlist – Razer. To be fair, Razer is not just a peripheral brand anymore. It is a household name in all things gaming now. It is more of a gaming lifestyle brand more than anything.
If you want to game, you want a fast mechanical switch. For work, you want something that gives you good feedback but also comfortable enough to type for a long time. If you want a multipurpose keyboard, well, there is always some form of compromise. You do want something that is fast and at the same time comfortable enough to work with for a long time. That is what the Razer Ornata is made for.
Source: Razer
The Razer Ornata is a little unique for a mechanical keyboard. For one, it is a mechanical keyboard, but it is also a membrane keyboard. They call the technology Mecha-membrane. It is clever mix of mechanical switches and membrane switches. While it does sound odd, it is quite a unique switch that combines the best of both worlds. The Ornata V2 was launched in 2017, which was five years ago. While keyboard standards hardly change, the Razer Ornata is due for an upgrade.
Why else are we talking about the Razer Ornata? There is a new one, the third version of the unique Mecha-membrane keyboard. It is smaller, lower profiled, and it is still a full-sized keyboard.
The Ornata V3’s switches have not changed much since the V2. It is still equipped with Mecha-membrane switches that combines the best of both mechanical and membrane switches. It gets the quick precision and tactile feel of mechanical switches, at the same time it also gets a cushioned feel for extended use.
The V3 is also equipped with ABS keycaps for durability. The ensure that the keycaps do not wear off too quickly, there is a UV coating to protect the letterings on the keycaps. At the same time, the Razer Ornata V3 comes with Razer’s proprietary Chroma RGB system with 10 lighting zones. It also features dedicated media keys with a magnetically detachable soft-touch wrist rest.
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
The Razer Ornata is now available via Razer’s online stores on Shopee and Lazada. You can also find it sold in all Razer’s authorized retailers. It will set you back MYR 329, which is a lot less than plenty of gaming keyboards and even custom keyboards you can find in the market. For more information on the Razer Ornata V3 keyboard, you can head over to their website.
Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2022 was a big success. We saw the Apple M2 chip being introduced to the world. We also saw the new MacBook Air that is no longer a wedge-shaped laptop. There is also new MacBook Pro with M2 chip in it, obviously.
According to Mark Gurman, the Apple guy at Bloomberg, who has also been a highly reliable source for all things Apple, WWDC 2022 is really a pre-cursor to what Apple has planned out for the rest of 2022. In that case, 2022 looks rather busy for Apple.
We know that Apple’s next new iPhone will be coming somewhere in September, and it will come with a new proprietary Apple chip. The new Apple iPhone models, four of them, will also be the most powerful iPhone devices you can get your hands on. That is also a given, and a known fact.
According to Gurman, the new iOS 16 that was announced at WWDC 2022 is a good indication of what is to come with the next-generation iPhone. The revamped lock screen points to an always-on display feature on the new Pro models of the iPhone. At the same time, the lock screen could display a lot more information than just the clock. It could tell you the weather, your calendar, stocks, activities, and other information. For the sake of privacy, you can also control how much of the information gets displayed on the always-on display.
While the EU has made regulation changes and enforces that every electronics manufacturer, including Apple, to start transitioning to USB Type-C standards in the coming years, the new Apple iPhone 2022 will not sport USB Type-C just yet. It will still feature Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for now. You can expect USB Type-C iPhones to come in 2023 though.
Then there will be the new iPads. Apple did not release the M2 for nothing. Like the M1 chip in the iPad Pro, you can expect the new iPad Pro launching later in the year to feature the M2 chip. In that sense, there will be new 11-inch and 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro models coming at the end of the year with M2 chips. The M2 chips should be able to take advantage of the new iPadOS 16’s Stage Manager multitasking functions too. There is also a chance, according to Gurman, that Apple will launch larger form factor Apple iPad Pro models. He expects Apple to launch 14 and 15-inch variations of the Apple iPad Pro.
Unlike how Apple took their time with M1 chips spreading across Apple’s range of products. The M2 might spread more like wildfire this time. Gurman expects Apple to start launching even more products equipped with the M2 chip. There is an M2 Mac mini, M2 Pro chips on the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro models. There could be the M2 Max, M2 Ultra, and M2 Extreme chips coming too, since Apple already has the knowhow on building even more powerful chips based on their original SoC design.
The HomePod is also something that Apple might be looking to upgrade in the coming months. Apple might be looking to update the new HomePod with new processing chips, like the new Apple Watches. There is also supposed to be some new optimization made to the smart speaker in terms of size and audio performance. There are also rumours about multi-touch functions. Gurman also expects new AirPods Pro to be launched with new updated processing chips and higher quality audio.
Remember that all these things are just speculations. There are no straight up confirmations from Apple that they will be launching these new products immediately or in their regular September launch. Until they do make their official announcements, we can only wait and watch.
Working on the go is a thing, there is no denying that. Working from home is also a huge thing now, since the pandemic hits in 2020. In this kind of environment, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture is stronger than ever. You have the choice of bringing your own laptop for work, you even use your own smartphone at work and for work. It is a headache to the IT team though.
If you are working as a part of the IT workforce in your own company, you want to limit the number of foreign devices accessing your system and network at work. You want standardized devices that you can monitor and service quickly. At the other end though, you want a device that is powerful enough and sleek enough to make it look like you mean business in the boardroom.
You get a standardized set of laptops for business use case of course. ASUS has some new ones for 2022. Specifically, they have the ExpertBook series for 2022.
ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip
We start with the most premium option of the bunch, the ExpertBook B7 Flip. It packs Intel’s latest 12th Generation Core i7 CPU for good measure. To ensure that it will multitask like a champion you can spec it with up to 64GB of RAM. To ensure you never run out of space, you have up to 2TB SSD. To ensure you get an entire day of work, the ExpertBook B7 Flip has a quoted battery life of 11 hours.
All of these is packed in a body that weighs just below 1.5kg. While that might not sound all that light, you must remember that the ExpertBook B7 Flip is a convertible laptop that can also quickly turn into a tablet. It is not a light tablet by any means in that case, but it also carries a large battery and proper keyboard to work with. Additionally, the shell that encases all the powerful internals is an MIL-STD 810H certified construction. That also means that it will withstand all kinds of drops, scrapes, and spills without too much of an inconvenience.
All that power also gets translated into Windows 11 on the expansive 16:10 14-inch screen. You can opt for QHD+ resolution too, if you want the best experience on the ExpertBook B7 Flip. If QHD+ is not enough for you, you can also get a 4K monitor and connect the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip via the Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port. The USB Type-C also supports PD 3.0. Speaking of ports, it has a full HDMI 2.0b port for good measure. If you need, there is also a Mini DisplayPort as well alongside a full-sized 3.5mm audio jack and an SD card reader. It even has a Nano SIM slot, if you need the constant connection. For all your teleconferencing needs, there is the 720p webcam that can be covered too with a quick flick of a latch above the camera module.
As mentioned, there is a Nano SIM tray. The ExpertBook B7 Flip supports 5G connectivity to make it the ultimate productivity machine wherever you go. At the same time, if it is available to you, the ExpertBook B7 Flip connects to WiFi 6E for an extra stable and fast internet connection. For all your wireless peripherals, Bluetooth 5.2 should be more than enough while maintaining a low power draw.
ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Sitting slightly below the premium B7 Flip is the B3 Flip. Just because the B3 Flip is not premium as the B7 Flip, does not mean you get a lot less for your money.
You still get to spec your ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip with up to Intel’s Core i7-1165G CPU. Similarly, you do not get a dedicated GPU here, just Intel’s Xe Graphics (up to). Pair the CPU and integrated GPU with up to 48GB of RAM though, and you are still getting a rather powerful multitasker.
You get a Full HD display that measures at 14-inch. The IPS panel is not a 16:10 aspect ratio screen though, it is a regular 16:9 aspect ratio display. There is nothing wrong with that. It is also a touch screen display with stylus support, understandable since it is a convertible.
In terms of port, you get two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports that both support 4K and USB PD 3.0. There are two full USB Type-A ports, a full-sized HDMI 2.0a port, and even an RJ45 LAN port for you to work with. It even has a microSD card slot that also doubles as a Nano SIM slot if you want one.
Inside, you will find up to 1TB SSD to store all you need to store in your ExpertBook B3 Flip/ You will also find that the ExpertBook B3 Flip has support for 4G LTE bands, WiFi 6 (up to), and Bluetooth 5.0. Dig further you will see two speakers and two microphones for crisp teleconferences. For video conferencing there is the 720p webcam that also has a handy shield to cover it when it is not in use. There is also another 13-Megapixel camera that sits on the keyboard, right below the display that faces away from you in tent mode.
All of these great things are packed in an aluminium body that weighs just over 1.6kg. It is not ExperBook B7 Flip light, but it is not too heavy considering all that it packs. At the same time, the body is an MIL-STD 810H certified body, so it can withstand almost anything you can throw at it.
ASUS ExpertBook B3 Detachable
If you need to be a lot more agile, a lot more mobile, ASUS has a solution for you. The ExpertBook B3 Detachable is technically a tiny Windows tablet that can get you working from anywhere and anytime.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform, the ExpertBook B3 Detachable is more like a tablet on paper than a laptop. It is still a Windows 11 device though, making it technically a proper PC. At the same time, because the B3 Detachable is powered by a highly power efficient processor, the portable workhorse offers a longer battery life like no other PC in its range can.
The display is not a big one for a PC, a 10.5-inch display that boasts WUXGA resolution. Yes, it is an ideal 16:10 aspect ratio display too for working. It is also an IPS panel which should boast vivid and accurate colours with up to 87% NTSC colour gamut coverage. The glass out front also houses a 5.0-Megapixel camera that can be used, and mostly will be used as a webcam. There is also a 13-Megapixel camera out the back for high-resolution photos when you need it.
The keyboard it comes with, as per its name, is detachable. There is still some tactility on the keyboard though with 1.5m of key travel. At the same time, it is a spill resistant keyboard. It comes with a matching back cover too that is rather clever. The back cover acts as a two-way kickstand. You can stand it in portrait mode, or even the regular landscape orientation in almost any angle you want.
Of course, this being more of a tablet, it only packs one USB Type-C port alongside a 3.5mm combo jack. It still has two speakers and two mics for crystal clear teleconferencing. Of course, you get WiFi 802.11ac connectivity on top of Bluetooth 5.1.
Price and Availability
These are notebooks made mostly for enterprise use. In that case, you might not find them listed or displayed in your favourite PC stores. You want to contact ASUS corporate representative to get your hands on one. If you are interested to get them for your company though, the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip will set your company back MYR 8,499. The ExpertBook B3 Flip costs MYR 4,499 while the detachable variant will set your company back MYR 2,099. For more information on the new ASUS ExpertBooks can be found on their website.
Choosing the right display for your set-up is rather important. You do not want to be spending a lot of money on your tower and forget buying other peripherals. While you can cheap out a little on audio peripherals in most cases, you do not really want to cheap out on your display. Your display is technically the window to your PC, and it is the thing that meets your eye every time you turn on your PC.
The MOBIUZ EX2710U and EX3210U 4K Gaming Monitors with HDRi and Eye Care Technology
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
If you want to get the best of the bets gaming displays, you want something with 4K resolution. At that, you also want a rather fast display. The new MOBIUZ EX series for 2022 are two 4K gaming monitors with up to 144Hz in refresh rate. The IPS panel used on the displays also boast up to 98% in DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage.
Both displays come with HDMI 2.1 support, you want that especially when you want to push 4K 144Hz to your display. As per the title, the MOBIOUS EX2710U and EX3210U also features BenQ’s patented HDRi technology for better colour reproduction and contrasts. At the same time, there is the Brightness Intelligence technology that adjusts the screen’s brightness according to ambient lighting conditions to protect your eyes, especially in low-light gaming conditions.
On top of all of that though the MOBIUZ EX monitors also feature 2.1 channel audio system they call the TreVolo Speaker system. This also means that you might not need to buy a secondary speaker at all to get decent audio. To really differentiate itself from other older models, it even comes in white colour. The only difference between the two models is their screen sizes at 27-inch and 32-inch respectively. Of course, price differs too.
BenQ Eye Care GW2485TC and GWS2785TC Productivity Monitors
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
You might already have a home office with a proper work-from-home corner. Since the pandemic hit early in 2020, most of us had to shift our work patterns and get used to working from home. We must have a proper work from home set-up going. But that was nearly two years ago now. You would have to grab whatever you can get your hands on and put together a working set-up. It is 2022 and you might be due for an upgrade.
In that case you need something that can ultimately protect your eyes in extended working condition. The BenQ GW2485TC and GW2785TC monitors do not boast 4K resolutions. They boast a rather humble Full HD 1080p resolution. Full HD 1080p is still more than enough to enjoy the likes of Netflix though.
What makes these monitors perfect for your work-from-home set-up though is BenQ’s clever Brightness Intelligence technology. The technology uses an ambient light sensor to adjust what you see on the monitor. It does not only detect the brightness level of your room or work area. It also detects the contrast levels of the images to be displayed on the display. The display will automatically and cleverly reduce or increase overall brightness and even optimise dark parts so that you can see enough details on it without compromising the brightness levels of the entire display.
The clever display also has a flicker-free technology that reduces or eliminates flicker across all brightness levels available to the display. Of course, to ensure that you can keep working on the displays in extended periods, the displays are made with lower than regular blue light emissions. The downside to that is the slight warm tinge you might find on the display.
Other features that should boost your productivity levels is the Daisy Chain feature that allows you to create a multi-screen set-up with just a single USB Type-C connection from your PC. Once you plug in the USB Type-C cable too, your thin-and-light notebook can also simultaneously be charged at 60W PD from the monitors. It is also designed with ease of use and flexibility in mind, so you can tilt the display into any orientation for your convenience. There is also a built-in mic paired with two 2W speakers on both the display models for you to work with in a video call environment.
Of course, as per their name, they come in different sizes. The GW2485TC comes with a 24-inch IPS panel with 75Hz refresh rate. The GW2785TC also comes in an IPS panel that measures in at 27-inch instead of a measly 24-inch. It also refreshes at 75Hz.
Price and Availability
The BenQ MOBIUZ EX2710U will be available a little later in the year. There is no official pricing for the 27-incher currently too. The BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U is now available on BenQ’s official Shoppe or Lazada stores at MYR 4,868. The new BenQ GW2485TC is now available also on their official store on Shopee and Lazada at MYR 1,149. For another MYR 100, you can get your hands on the larger GW2785TC monitor at MYR 1,249 on both Shopee and Lazada. For more information on the recently launched BenQ monitors, you can go to their website.
Before Samsung came with their 108-Megapixel behemoth of a camera sensor that is their ISOCELL camera sensor you find on the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 series, Sony was the go-to people for smartphone camera sensors. Their IMX sensors proved to be some of the versatile and best camera sensors for all kinds of mobile photography needs. Of course, not everyone feels like the sensors from Sony is adequate for them and their purpose. HUAWEI, for example came up with their own Red Yellow Yellow Blue (RYYB) sensor for more natural colours on their photos.
Samsung snagged the king of smartphone photography sensor title when they introduced the new sensor that went above 100MP for their flagship smartphone. Earlier this year, Samsung made another breakthrough in their mobile photography technology. They have introduced their ISOCELL HP1 200MP sensor, a sensor that hits 200-Megapixel. If estimations are correct, the sensor could make its way to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra model next year.
Sony is not backing down though. They are reported to be working on their own version of a smartphone camera sensor that is supposed to shoot at 100-Megapixel, rivalling the current Samsung ISOCELL sensors found in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Currently, reports points to the sensor as a part of the IMX8 series of sensors that are designed for mid-range and high-end smartphones. The sensor could also be larger than the ½-inch 64-Megapixel sensor that Sony already makes, currently found in the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ smartphones.
The idea of cramming more pixels into your smartphone camera is something that manufacturers have toyed with several years ago. Sony was the manufacturer of choice too when it comes to high-resolution sensors. For several years, the highest pixel count for a smartphone camera was 64-Megapixel until Samsung introduces their Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra last year with a behemoth of a 108-Megapixel sensor lodged in its body. We thought the Megapixel race was over, looks like we were wrong.
If you do not know who Fender is, we must ask; which universe did you come from?
Fender is one of the biggest brands in the world, if not the biggest, in electric guitars. Their products are the stuff of legends in the modern musician’s world. Any guitar nerd should know Fender and their signature Stratocaster model. The Fender Stratocaster, if you have not known, is iconic enough that it is what the general public will think of then they talk electric guitars.
If a guitar nut were to go to Florida, United States of America (U.S.A), they would want to stay in the guitar shaped hotel that is the Hard Rock hotel there. Hard rock hotels are not particularly known to be budget friendly options when you travel though. So where does that leave guitar nuts who cannot afford the hotel? Metaverse!
Fender has announced a partnership with Meta to create a virtual world in the Horizons metaverse platform. What will the Fender metaverse look like? A guitar, of course!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dU5hu0Lc8I
The world revolves around a giant Stratocaster shaped floating island. They fittingly name the metaverse the Fender Stratoverse and the entire purpose of this metaverse is for users to just jam together with legless avatars.
They designed the entire thing like a game too. After sliding down the guitar’s neck, Stratoverse will put you in a scavenger hunt to find hidden guitar chords embedded in guitar picks scattered across the floating island. Once the hidden chords are found, you get transported into something called the “Riff Maker” where you can create your own jams and riffs. That, or just go play an air guitar.
Of course, you can expect more than just music making features and mini games from Fender. A true Fender fan must also sport the iconic simple T-shirt with Fender’s iconic branding on the shirt. Since Balenciaga, Prada, and Tom Brown has announced that they will be selling their products in Meta’s avatar store, there is no reason that Fender may not do the same too. For all you know they could sell proper virtual collector guitars, or some form of NFT related item exclusive to Fender.
Samsung seems to be on a roll with all their products this year. The company has only just announced some of the most compelling lifestyle products with the expansion of their BESPOKE line up and their new Smart TV offerings. However, it looks like the company isn’t done just yet. Samsung has announced a brand-new, high resolution display with certified colour accuracy aimed at creators.
The new ViewFinity S8 brings 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut with 5ms gray to gray response times. The display seems to want to take on Apple’s Pro XDR display with high resolution IPS panels. The panels come with 1000:1 contrast ratios and a UHD resolution of 3840×2160 pixels.
It will be available in two sizes: 32-inch and 27-inch. Unlike Samsung’s Odyssey G8 monitors, the ViewFinity monitors are flat panels. However, they are made for productivity – particularly if you need colour accuracy. The display is certified by PANTONE and can even support the new 110 colours introduced in PANTONE’s SkinTone Guide. It is also HDR capable; with the 32-inch supporting VESA’s HDR 600 standard while the 27-inch supports HDR 400.
The ViewFinity S8 Monitors come with a matte display which is also UL certified to be Glare Free. The matte finish helps disperse glaring lights while preserving colour integrity and reducing eye strain. It also comes with Adaptive Picture which optimises settings to suit your content while preserving eye health and also Eye Saver mode which reduces blue light exposure significantly. The monitors are also flicker free to reduce eye strain.
When it comes to connectivity, the ViewFinity S8 comes with 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI port and 1 USB-C. Connecting via USB-C enables deeper colour accuracy and up to 10Gbps data transfers. It also comes with a USB Hub feature which allows you to connect USB interfaces to your computer via the monitor.
The monitors also come with an environmentally aware, ergonomic design. Samsung has developed and incorporated new materials made from ocean-bound plastics to help reduce marine waste. These plastics are not only used in the body of the monitor but also in some of the more crucial components of the monitor. They are also more power efficient than before with Samsung’s Eco Savings Plus technology which reduces pixel brightness in sections of the image with black pixels for up to 10% more power savings.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung ViewFinity S8 will be available in 32-inch and 27-inch sizes. It is currently available in South Korea for KRW820,000 (MYR2,794.88/USD$634.94) and KRW720,000 (MYR2,454.51/USD$557.60) respectively.
The monitors will be available globally according to regions starting in June 2022.
There were rumours that Telegram will start offering a “premium” plan that allows users to have access to a more powerful Telegram than regular users. That rumour is not a rumour anymore though. As of today, Telegram has made that rumour a reality for about US$ 5 a month (MYR 22.99*).
Now is the time to ask; “why do you need to pay for Telegram Premium?”
As paying users, you get access to upload files with up to 4GB in size. That means you can technically send out an entire Full HD movie out to your friends via Telegram. Regular users can upload files up to 2GB. Paying users also get to download their files faster than before, as fast as your internet connection can go, which means that a 4GB file might not be too big of an issue when you have high-speed internet.
You get your limits doubled too with Telegram Premium. You can follow up to 1000 channels and groups. You can pin up to 10 chats instead of five. Instead of two accounts in a single app, premium users get to work with up to four accounts. At the same time, you can now write a longer bio on your Telegram profile with links in it. At the same time, with up to 400 saved GIFs, responding to texts with witty images is faster than ever.
Paying users can also convert voice to text within the chat now. Instead of listening to a voice note, you can just get Telegram to convert voice messages to texts. It also improves over time with your rating and input.
At the same time, paying users get to have unique reactions to texts. You have exclusive stickers that is only available to paying users and over 10 new exclusive emoji to react to messages. Even your profile pictures can be animated now, alongside a premium badge on your profile so that others know you are paying for Telegram. If you want, you can even change your app icon on your smartphone. Of course, the other improvement to Telegram with Premium is that you do not get served ads in public channels.
To get Telegram Premium, you must update your app to version 8.8 which is currently only available on iOS for now. The 8.8 update is coming to Android devices very soon, so we should see some paying users from both the iOS and Android realms. More information and improvements on Telegram version 8,8 can be found on their blog.
