Rarely today you get a product that is leaps and bound from its previous generation product that it would replace. Then again, there is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX, the new 12th Generation Intel Core Alder Lake processors, and even AMD’s Ryzen processors. Maybe a huge generational gap is not that unique after all. This DJI Mavic 3 though, is a special one.
The DJI Mavic 3 is meant to replace the DJI Mavic 2 series of drones. If you remember, the DJI Mavic 2 came in two flavours; the Pro and Zoom. The Pro variant comes with a Hasselblad engineered camera module while the Zoom variant comes with a camera module with optical zoom lens, you get the idea. The DJI Mavic 3 does not follow the same path with the Mavic 2 series though. Instead, DJI introduced one Mavic 3, and one Mavic 3 Cine edition.
An Aerial Video Powerhouse
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
The Mavic 3 series has more in common with the DJI Mavic 2 Pro than the Zoom variant. It packs a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad engineered camera. The only traces of the Zoom variant is its 28x hybrid zoom capability.
The camera module, to be fair, is not that big of an improvement compared to the older Mavic 2 Pro to be fair. It records videos at up to 5.1K resolution at 50 fps. The biggest improvement is on its 4K resolution recording though. Now you can record 4K videos at 120fps for even better-looking slow-motion videos. This is where the Mavic 3 stops and where the Cine edition starts.
The Mavic 3 Cine edition is truly a special thing. It offers Apple ProRes 422 HQ encoding for even higher quality videos for post processing. It is not RAW, but it is the first integrated drone system that can record at ProRes 422 HQ format. Of course, if you choose to record at that format, ou are going to run out of storage space pretty quickly if you use a humble SDXC memory card. The Cine edition has a 1TB internal SSD storage for all your recording needs though.
Longer, Smarter Flights
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
To ensure that your Mavic 3 does not get tumbled around mid-air, it has even more sensors than before too. It now packs omnidirectional sensors that can detect objects up to 200 meters away just so that it knows where and when to stop or how to avoid the obstacle. It is the easiest full-sized Mavic to fly. It is even cleverer too. It can track a subject, lose it if it goes out of frame, and pick it back up as soon as the subject comes back into the frame with ActiveTrack 5.0. It can even follow the subject wherever it moves. Of course, it also comes with the array of other precision sensors to ensure that it knows where it is at any given time. With the help of GPS, GLONASS< and BeiDou satellites too, it knows where to return to when you call it home or when its battery is running out.
It boasts 15km of remote range with DJI O3+. Even with interference, you are not going to lose remote signal or even clear video signal from 15km away. DJI boasts that this drone can transmit 1080p Full HD/60fps live feed over that distance without loss or lag. Of course, you might not fly the DJI Mavic 3 to that full range, but it is nice to know it can. What is more impressive is that DJI managed to extend the battery life of the Mavic 3 to up to 46 minutes instead of the mere 30 minutes the previous versions used to boast.
Price and Availability
The DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine edition is now available in Malaysia. You can get your hands on either from DJI’s authorised retailers across Malaysia or from DJI’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada. The DJI Mavic 3 starts at MYR 9,799, which is quite a little bit more expensive compared to the Mavic 2 Pro. The Mavic 3 Cine edition however starts at MYR 22,899. For that money you are getting the drone itself with a few extra ND filters, two extra Intelligent Flight batteries, a charging hub, and a special carrying bag. For more information on the DJI Mavic 3, you can visit their website.
Xiaomi is no stranger when it comes to home technologies. The company has made waves with their IoT lineup. It has also been in the news for investing and developing brands that push not only IoT products but regular home products as well. Dreame is one of the few that focuses on delivering household solutions to users.
Dreame has long been available via online platforms, however, the brand is finally making its official debut in Malaysia. Partnering with their sole local distributor, Uniqbe Sdn Bhd, their offerings will now be available through the official Dreame store on Shopee.
Source: Dreame
The first product officially arriving in Malaysia is the Dreame H11 series vacuums. The Dreame H11 and H11 Max both come with a two-tank design that allows users to vacuum and mop simultaneously. The cordless vacuum system comes with a 900ml clean water tank and 500ml dirt water tank. This allows the vacuums to simultaneously suck and vacuum the floor. During use, cleaning solution and clean water are continually sprayed on the roller brushes from the clean water tank. While in use, the rollers are also cleaned as the dirt separation system removes the dirt from the rollers and deposits it into the 500ml dirt tank. The H11 series comes with up to 30 minutes of active use.
The Dreame H11 Max comes with an added auto mode that intelligently adjusts the suction power according to the clean up needed. Both the H11 and H11 Max come with an LED display screen and intelligent voice prompts which Dreame claims will help with cleaning.
Source: Dreame
The H11 and H11 Max will be available from their official store on Shopee. The H11 will be retailing at MYR1,999 while the H11 Max will be retailing for MYR2,499. In conjunction with their launch, they will be selling 50 units each of the H11 and H11 Max at MYR1,388 and MYR1,788 respectively.
In addition, Uniqbe Sdn Bhd is also partnering with Make-A-Wish Malaysia to help make Dreame’s launch more impactful. From now until Chinese New Year, the company will be earmarking 11% of sale from Dreame products for Make-A-Wish.
When you think of the brand Razer, a few things might pop into your head. The first of many is the colour green, the signature green of the brand. You also might think of the three-headed snake logo that is associated with the peripherals manufacturer. Most of all, you think of gaming, since that is the brand’s entire portfolio. Not anymore though.
Razer realised something over the period of the pandemic, it seems. They developed some responsibility and somehow matured into a weird peripherals brand. Today, they announce their productivity line-up of peripherals.
Razer realised something while expanding their gaming peripherals empire and product offering. Over the pandemic, people who are stuck at home had to play at home, but they also had to work from home. That also means that the productivity peripherals market boomed. It also seems like workplaces are starting to realise that having a remote work structure could be more beneficial to them than having employees appear physically. That also means the work from home culture might be staying after all and demand for productivity peripherals will continue to rise.
Razer also realised that their position in the gaming peripherals industry gives them an edge in the general computing peripherals market. They know how to make great peripherals for the PC, in short. That is probably the reason why they introduced three brand new peripherals specifically for productivity.
Razer Pro Click Mini
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
They call them the Razer Pro peripherals. First up is the humble mouse. They call it the Razer Pro Click Mini. While the naming is a little odd, or a little bit of a no-brainer to some, the device is not. In its white clad, it is a wireless mouse that is built to accompany you on your work trips. It is rated for up to 15 million clicks.
It is also one of the most versatile mice that you can find from Razer. It can connect to up to four devices. Three on Bluetooth, and one via 2.4Ghz dongle that also comes with the mouse. Razer’s HyperSpeed technology that comes with the 2.4Ghz dongle is derived from Razer’s gaming peripherals, which also means that you might even be able to game with the Razer Pro Click Mini. Then again it does look an awful lot like the Razer Atheris wireless mouse clad in white.
Razer Pro Type Ultra
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Like the Click Mini, Razer’s new Razer Pro keyboard is a wireless keyboard. It also connects to up to four devices, three on Bluetooth and one via a provided 2.4Ghz dongle. Like the Click Mini, the 2.4Ghz technology opens up the keyboard to Razer HyperSpeed technology for lag-free, near instant input, seamless experience. They also claimed that the keyboard has up to 200 hours in battery life and that you can use a single dongle for both the Click Mini and Type Ultra keyboard.
Like many other keyboards, you can obviously plug it into your PC and use it as a regular wired keyboard. Like many of Razer’s keyboards, it is a mechanical keyboard. It features a soft-touch coat on the keycaps though for more comfortable typing experiences. There is also a plush wrist rest that comes with it to ensure you have the best and most comfortable typing posture possible. It packs silent mechanical switches for you to work with. In that case you get the bets mechanical keyboard typing experience without making your whole office sound like it is full of angry keyboard warriors.
Razer Pro Glide XXL
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
No desk set up is complete without a desk mat. Razer thought of that obviously and made the Razer Pro Glide XXL for the Razer Pro line-up. Its colour scheme not only matches both newly launched product, but also exudes class and elegance.
A desk mat is more than just aesthetics and protecting your desk and your peripherals. It also helps you in your productivity or even in intense gaming sessions. The Pro Glide XXL is designed to minimise fatigue typing on regular desk surfaces. The Pro Glide XXL absorbs most of the impacts you get on your fingers while typing. Who said gaming peripherals cannot be used for productivity?
Price and Availability
Razer’s Razer Pro Click Mini, Type Ultra, and Glide XXL products are now available via Razer’s authorised retailers and even Razer’s online store. You can get your hands on a Razer Pro Click Mini mouse for MYR 369, the Razer Pro Type Ultra keyboard combo at MYR 729, and the Razer Pro Glide XXL tablet mat for MYR 149. More information on the Razer Pro product line-up can be found on their website.
You might have not heard of the DJI Action. That is because there was no such product. It sounded like a DJI action camera though. That existed.
They called it the DJI Osmo Action and it looked almost like any other action camera that was popular at its launch. It was launched in 2019 and it was designed after the gold standard in action cameras for the longest time. It was modelled after the GoPro cameras that was so popular at the time. Say what you will, the GoPro cameras were the most popular for good reasons.
With DJI’s knowhow in making cameras on stabilisers, gimbals, drones, and even innovative film cameras, the Osmo Action was made to really take on the GoPro cameras and beat them. It shot at 4K 60p. It has two displays, one at the back and one in front making it a clever vlogging camera as well. It featured DJI’s know how in stabilising footages. It also featured slow motion modes. The only thing that GoPro had it beat was in its sheer namesake and pedigree in action cameras.
Two years on and we sort of thought DJI might have forgotten about the action camera market completely. We thought that DJI might have given up on the idea. Last week as well DJI just redefined the film maker industry with a brand-new camera on a 4-axis gimbal in a cinema camera body and guise. It was remarkable and it really will change the entire film industry.
They did not give up on the action camera market though. In fact, they just launched a brand-new action camera to replace the Osmo Action. This time also, they went with a slightly different philosophy over the old one. This time, they went modular.
The Tiny DJI Action 2
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
Source: DJI
They call it the DJI Action 2, and they did not bother introducing their latest action camera to the world through a launch event though. Rather they introduce the Action 2 to the world with a three-minute video on YouTube. We kind of think that this is the shortest launch gambit we have ever experienced. Short, but impactful.
It weighs only 56 grams, which is really nothing in the world of cameras. When we say it is modular, it means that you can attach the little camera cube to almost anything, anywhere. Of course, you need some help in the form of attachment struts, straps, and magnets that is suitable for whatever surface you want to attach it to. It also has other attachments that allows the camera to work as a vlogging camera as well, with added battery life.
It also has a small 1.79-inch OLED display at the back of the camera so that you still know what you are shooting even without using your smartphone to monitor your camera. The square display is also a touch sensitive display, which also means you can do all your set-up on the DJI Action 2 itself. The vlogging attachment also comes with its own 1.79-inch touch-sensitive square display as well.
The main bit of the DJI Action 2 shoots at 4K resolution. You also get up to 120fps in ultra-wide frame goodness for that beautiful slow-mo videos when it matters. It has something DJI calls the HorizonSteady technology that allows the camera to keep a level frame throughout the shot. With RockSteady 2.0, your shots are even more stable than before. For vlogging purposes, the Action 2 packs three microphones to record video from every direction. You can immerse it in up to 10m of water too, just so that you can even take videos when you go scuba diving.
Price and Availability
The DJI Action 2 will be available globally on the 2nd of November 2021 onward. It will set you back US$ 519 (MYR 2,156*). That package comes with the Front Touchscreen Module for you to work with it as a vlogging camera. It also comes with a slew of attachments for more mounting options. There will be a Power Combo that will come later in November. The Power Combo will retail at US$ 399 (MYR 1,657*) and will include the camera itself, a Power Module, Magnetic Lanyard, and Magnetic Adpated Mount. For more information on the DJI Action 2 action camera, you can visit DJI’s website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.15 on xe.com as of 28/10/2021
No matter what you say or whichever platform you say is better as a social voice chat platform, Clubhouse will still be ranked on top in terms of popularity and utilisation. It is also one of the platforms that consistently innovates in its space, even compared to the likes of Spotify Greenroom, or Facebook’s Live Audio Rooms. That is why, from time to time, Clubhouse introduces a new update that changes the way or expands the way you use clubhouse and interact with your friends on the platform.
With the most recent update, Clubhouse is making it possible for users to share external links. While this does not directly allow on-platform monetisation, it does allow some form of monetisation for plenty of users. For example, users now can pin Patreon links. There is even a possibility of linking Kickstarter and Indiegogo project links to the Clubhouse rooms that users create to talk about their latest projects, or pain points for example. For a lot of content creators, it is now possible to include their YouTube channel links, Podcast links, their own curated website, news portals, and even news articles.
Source: Clubhouse
There are of course limitations to what sort of links you can pin on the top of the room. Obviously, porn is frowned upon, so you cannot post links to porn websites to any rooms, even if you are talking about explicit subjects or the likes. Obviously as well, OnlyFans is one of those sites that are banned from Clubhouse link pinning feature.
As far as transactions that happens within the links, Clubhouse claims that they will not be taking any cuts or commissions from them. With that, Clubhouse is saying that they are working on multiple things to allow content creators on the platform to monetise their own contents on the app itself. The feature will be available soon on iOS and Android versions of the app. Clubhouse is available for free on both iOS and Android via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store respectively. For more information on Pinned Links feature on Clubhouse, you can find out more on their blog.
The Sony ALPHA 7, or rather the α7 marks Sony’s first foray into the high-end camera market with a full-frame DSLR that is a lot smaller and lighter than regular DSLR devices. While it is smaller and lighter than the regular full-frame body, it comes with its own sets of limitations, one of them is battery life. Ergonomics for the first α7 was not the best either with Sony placing more focus on making the camera as compact as possible. Because there is less space on the body for buttons, there is only so much Sony can do to give users a sense of finer control with physical knob and buttons.
The ALPHA 7 platform is a popular choice among content creators though. The third iteration was everything you could ever need from a mirrorless camera. It had sophisticated Autofocus system that was a lot more reliable than before, it had features that reduces the rolling shutter effect that plagued previous Sony α7 cameras, it was also bigger than the first iteration with better ergonomics and much longer battery life.
Sony just announced a replacement model though, its fourth iteration of the ‘Basic’ full-frame mirrorless camera. If you know Sony’s existing line-up of ALPHA 7 cameras though, you will not call them ‘basic’. The new one is even better.
The New ‘Basic’
Source: Sony
The ALPHA 7 IV, as they know it, is Sony’s interpretation to what the new ‘basic’ standard is for an entry-level full-frame camera. Apparently ‘basic’ means 33-Megapixel on the Exmor R CMOS full-frame sensor. That 33-Megapixel sensor packs sensitivity of up to ISO 204800 at its highest and ISO 50 at its lowest for 15-stops in dynamic range. That should mean that the Sony ALPHA 7 IV is an admirable performer in low-light conditions.
BIONZ XR Advantage
The impressive new sensor is assisted by a Sony’s latest BIONZ XR imaging chip, the same one you find on Sony’s range topping ALPHA 1 mirrorless camera. It allows the Sony ALPHA 7 IV to shoot at up to 10fps with AF/AE tracking. Thanks to BIONZ XR as well the camera has up to 759 phase-detection Autofocus (AF) points that covers up to 94% of the image area and tracks subjects in Real-Time Tracking as accurately as you can get cameras to track subjects. Of course, there is Real-time Eye AF function as well that now tracks birds and animal eyes in both photo and movie modes.
The Hybrid Cinematic and Still Shooter
Source: Sony
They call this a hybrid camera, a still and movie camera packed in one compact body. The ALPHA 7 IV now has S-Cinetone colour profile, something that was only reserved for Sony’s very famous Cinema cameras. That means you now get 10-bit 4:2:2 colour sampling for even better colours than before. It records at up to 4K 60 fps in Super 35mm mode, and up to 4K 30fps with 7K oversampling in full-frame mode. For the first time ever as well, the Sony ALPHA 7 IV features a new Focus Map that helps you with finding the right focus point while shooting videos. It also now features a Breathing Compensation feature to eliminate focus breathing and maintain a smooth, consistent focus change. You can turn off that feature too in case you want some focus breathing for creative contexts.
You still get Sony’s very famous 5-axis stabiliser built into the body of the compact mirrorless. The stabiliser allows for the camera to have up to 5.5 steps in shutter speed advantage. At the same time, the viewfinder is an even higher resolution one as well with 3.68 million dots compared to the ALPHA 7 III. For videos, content creators will appreciate the 3.0-inch vari-angle display.
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
On its body as well, the Sony ALPHA 7 IV features a clever dual layer mode dial to allow you to quickly switch from pure photo mode to movie recording mode, and S& Q mode. The top layer is now reserved to Auto/P/A/S/M and Memory Recall mode. It records to either a CFexpress Type A card, or a regular SDXC card too for ultimate convenience in recording medium.
Better Workflow
Source: Sony
The new camera is also much easier to work with than before. It now has 5GHz Wi-Fi for super-fast data transfers between the camera and your smartphone via Imaging Edge Mobile. You can even use Bluetooth for remote access this time. You can now use the Sony ALPHA 7 IV seamlessly with your PC as well as a Live Stream camera or use the PC as a remote. All these is done without using an additional software now and simply by connecting the ALPHA 7 IV via USB Type-C cable. In that case you can even make video calls with up to 4K 15p resolution, or even use the ALPHA 7 IV as an audio interface.
Pricing and Availability
Sony’s ALPHA 7 IV will be available in December 2021 onward. It will retail for about EUR€ 2,800 for its body only. If you opt for an ALPHA 7 IV with a kit lens, it will set you back EUR€ 3,000. It is not a bad kit lens though; it is a 28-70mm (SEL2870) lens. We can only speculate its pricing too at this point. More information on the Sony ALPHA 7 IV (α7 IV) can be found on Sony’s website.
The Google Pixel series has always been a much-loved series of devices. Google’s decision to move out of the flagship hardware space and into the mid-range segment was met with a lot of glee. Not because it was a funny decision, it was a decision that gave a lot of people access to what Google deems as the standard for their smartphones.
In the four iteration of the Google Pixel smartphone range, Google has always been relying on Qualcomm to supply their processing chips. While Google may not be able to complain much in terms of power, there are a few things that even today’s most powerful System on a Chip cannot solve. Google understands that and wants to solve that with their Pixel series. It starts with the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with what Google calls the Google Tensor System on a Chip (SoC).
We will talk about the Google Tensor chip as more information on it becomes more available, we promise. For now, we do want to focus more on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices. They are what you are here for, correct?
Still, if you must ask, Google Tensor is something that Google had been working on for a few years. It is nothing like the Qualcomm Snapdragons or Samsung Exynos chips that we have seen in other smartphones. It is specifically made for Google, with Google’s input, in solving real world problems that Google sees fit – linguistic programming.
Android 12
Source: Google
Of course, we have to start with Google’s latest and greatest in terms of operating system. We are not going to elaborate too much on Android 12 though because we have covered it before, and you can read all about it here. Google’s Android 12 is very much built for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, and you can tell. Material You on the Pixel 6 devices are meant to look natural and has even more functions than your average Android 12 devices. For security, the Pixel 6 series will pack Google’s own developed Titan M2 chip for best-in-class hardware level security. That also allows google to support the device for up to five years.
New Bigger, Better Camera
Source: Google
One of the biggest improvements on the Google Pixel though is in its camera. Where others have been struggling to find new ways to innovate, Google found a different path. Instead of piling on more Megapixel and more hardware power on the issue of photography, Google uses their know how of machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve the complex problems that comes with photography.
That said, it is not like Google did not improve the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro sensors. They now get a 50-Megapixel sensor that measures in at 1/1.3-inch. Its larger size also means that it can absorb 150% more light than before. Certain things just cannot be solved with software alone, and this is one of them; it simply is just a physics problem. More light also means that the photos you get comes with more detail and better colours.
Where the Pixel 6 stops at a 12-Megapixel Ultrawide camera, the Pixel 6 Pro comes with an additional 48-Megapixel telephoto camera. Both devices shoot videos at 4K 60fps of course. The Pixel 6 Pro sports an 11.1-Megapixel front camera that is also capable of shooting videos at 4K 30fps though.
Again, Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s camera improvements are more than just a hardware update. Thanks to Tensor, the camera on the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is in a class of its own. One of the updates comes in the form of an improved Super Res Zoom that allows you to get up to a 20x zoom photo with little loss to detail, even if it is captured by using a 4x zoom lens.
Source: Google
Source: Google
Source: Google
Then there is Magic Eraser. It is exactly what it sounds like, an eraser for your photos, and it is magic. You no longer need to go to a single site, take a lot of photos, load those photos on to Adobe Photoshop and combine them to create a photo with no human subjects, or to erase a certain object in the photo. Instead, you simply take a photo with your Google Pixel, tap on the subjects you do not want in your photo, and voila. The only other device that is known to do that is HUAWEI’s Mate 40 series. This is possible though, thanks to Tensor.
There is also a Motion Mode for more artistic Action Pan and Long Exposure photos, but without the hassle, hardware, or even skill. You simply take a photo of your subject, be it a fast-moving car, bicycle, or even your friend against a busy street or train station. The camera app cleverly understands your environment and subject, and then creates a stylish blurred background to simulate motion which adds an artistic flair to your photos, all without needing any extra gear or time.
The most important improvement in the Google Pixel camera though is in its Real Tone. The improvement in the colour science in smartphones comes a long way. That also means that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can reproduce much better and more accurate skin tones, especially with coloured skins. Thanks to Machine Learning as well, the improvements of recognising various skin tones also spreads to Google Photos.
Language Barrier? Not a Problem
Source: Google
Of course, Google has not forgotten that the smartphone is mainly a communication tool. The smartphone started its life as a regular mobile phone device that is used to make calls remotely and untethered. It was a revolutionary tool that brough people closer together, without being physically close. The next step is to bridge the gap between people of different cultures and languages.
The Google Pixel 6 series’s Live Translate now encompasses everything within the smartphone. It now allows you to text in different languages without even knowing the language. For example, you could type your message on your chat apps like WhatsApp in English and have it translated to Japanese, or Italian, or French, or even German. You do not even need to jump between Google Translate app and your messaging app just to figure out the right word. All of this is done on-site too, so you are not even relying on your network data, nothing leaves your device in all these processing.
In situations where conversing with someone is key and is of the essence, the Pixel 6 series is really your best friend. The device has something called an interpreter mode and you just need to activate Google’s Assistant and say, “Be my interpreter”. It allows you to converse in up to 48 languages without knowing the language. The next time you travel, you know what to do.
Its speech recognition goes beyond that though. The Google Pixel 6 device now understands that when you say ‘send’, or ‘clear’, or ‘accept’, or ‘decline’, you are referring to commands rather than words. In that sense, you do not have to say, “Hey Google,” whenever you want to pick up your smartphone. Your message does not have to say, “Hey, shall we arrange for a night out? Clear,” or “Are you coming home for dinner? Send”. You can even ‘stop’ and ‘snooze’ your alarms without even touching your device.
Annoying Answering Machine? Not a Problem Too, just Direct My Call
Source: Google
Google’s transcribing algorithm is also now implemented throughout the Pixel 6 device. They call it Direct My Call and that allows you to make calls to businesses and not feel the pain of interacting with the answering machine the regular way. Instead, Google Assistant now transcribes your call and displays your options in real-time on your screen for you to see. You can even select your next steps on your screen instead of pressing a number on your keypad.
Nothing is more annoying than having to wait endlessly for your call to get through when you need to speak to a representative though. That is when Wait Times and Direct My Call cleverly tells you the expected waiting time for when you make calls at each hour. Wait Times also allows you to see that particular data for the rest of the week, just so that you can plan your time better when you need to make the calls to the business line. The only downside is that all these technologies is only available in the United States (U.S.) and in English for now.
Prices and Availability
The new Google Pixel 6 series starts its pre-orders today in the U.S. and wills start at US$ 599 (MYR 2,490*). The Pixel 6 Pro will set you back US$ 899 (MYR 3,737*) but it will come with an extra camera sensor, a larger display, bigger RAM, and more storage. Google is expecting the first devices to hit the shelves in the U.S. on the 28th of October 2021.
You can also get the Google Pixel 6 with Pixel Pass. For US$ 45 (MYR 187*) a month, you get a Google Pixel 6 and subscriptions to Google One, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, and Google Play Pass and Preferred Care. The Pixel 6 Pro will set you back US$55 (MYR 229*) a month. Again, there are no confirmation on whether the Google Pixel 6 series will ever make it to Malaysia. We are hopeful though, but not entirely optimistic about its official Malaysian presence.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.16 on xe.com as of 20/10/2021
Acer is big on Chromebooks, if you have not yet realised. They have one of the most complete line-ups of Chromebooks that are available for your money. With the most recent launch, they could very well be offering the most complete Chromebook line-ups you can find in the market today.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
The new Chromebook Spin 514 is a 14-incher that is also a touch sensitive display. The touch sensitive display can also be tilted all the way to the back for some convertible action. It is only a Full HD panel though, so do not get ahead of yourself too much.
You still get a powerful 11th generation Intel Core i7 with the Chromebook Spin 514, which is actually a lot more power than you actually need to run a Chromebook. At the same time there is an Enterprise variant for this notebook, so a powerful CPU should not be a surprise. Oddly enough though, they designed the Chromebook Spin 514 without a fan, so the Intel Core i7 might have been tuned down anyway to keep thermals at an optimum.
Still, you are getting quite a powerful workhorse here. You have two speakers that faces upward for crisp and clear DTS Audio quality sound. For the best-in-class voice call experiences, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 comes with two microphones as well. At the same time, the MIL-STD 810H certified construction will ensure that your Chromebook will work in any conditions and after it takes on some abuse.
Acer Chromebook 515
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
If a large display is what you need in a Chromebook, then there is Acer’s Chromebook 515 that comes with a 15.6-inch IPS display. The 15-incher comes with a Full HD panel that should be ideal in most working requirements.
It also packs Intel’s latest 11th generation Core i7 processors complete with Iris Xe Graphics to boot. With up to 512GB in storage and 16GB of RAM, you should not be wanting more from your Chromebook. Considering, this is a high-end set-up for a Chromebook as well.
Of course, you also get DTS Audio for high-quality audio for your audio conferencing needs. It also packs two microphones to make your video conferencing experience the best it can be on a Chromebook. If you need some privacy, there is a webcam shutter.
Of course, the Chromebook 515 comes with MIL-STD 810H build standards. It is powerful and durable. A Corning Gorilla Glass on the touchpad should also ensure that the Chromebook outlasts any abuse you can throw at it.
Acer Chromebook 514
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
The Chromebook are never meant to be ultra-powerful notebooks to take on the likes of the gaming PCs or MacBook Pros in the market. Not yet anyway. But they are made to be some of the most reliable notebooks in the market that can run on nearly anything, even a MediaTek integrated chip.
The Acer Chromebook 514 runs exactly on that. Specifically, the Chromebook 514 runs on a MediaTek Kompanio 828 octa-core processor made for computing platforms. This one is for the content creators out there, apparently.
The integrated chip also means that the 14-incher offers a battery life of up to 15 hours on a single charge. The battery can be quickly charged up to 50% within just 40 minutes. Because there is so little in the way of components, it only weighs about 1.3kg and is just below 17mm thick.
Acer Chromebook Spin 314
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
If you need a device at home for your kids to start their school with, you can consider the budget friendly Acer Chromebook Spin 314. It is not just budget friendly though, it is also made partly with sustainable materials. It features an OceanGlass touchpad, a sort of glass surface type of material that is made up of recycled plastic you pick up from the ocean.
It features Intel’s latest generation processors. That also means that it is still powerful enough to work with when your kids need it most. The 14-inch Full HD IPS display allows your kids to have enough screen real estate to work with when it comes to their schoolwork, and even video conferencing. With 10-hours in battery life, your kids would not have any excuse for missing class too.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 will be available in the North American region starting January 2022. It will retail for US$ 699.99 (MYR 2,920*). In EMEA region the Chromebook Spin 514 will be available in October 2021 onward with prices from EUR€ 799 (MYR 3,880**). The Enterprise variant will be available for US$ 899.99 (MYR 3,754**) and EUR€ 1,049 (MYR 5,094**)in respective regions.
The Acer Chromebook 515 will be available in EMEA region starting in October 2021 onward. When it is available, it will set you back EUR€ 499 (MYR 2,423**). The Enterprise variant of the Chromebook 515 will be available in North American region in January 2022 with prices starting from US$ 649.99 (MYR 2,711*). It will also be available in EMEA in October with prices starting at EUR€ 799.
The Acer Chromebook 514 will be available in North American region in December 2021 onward. In EMEA region, the Acer Chromebook 514 will be available in October. Prices start at US$ 399.99 (MYR 1,668*) and EUR€ 399 (MYR 1,938**) respectively.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 convertible will be available in the North American region November 2021 onward. It will be available in EMEA region this month itself too. Prices start at US$ 499.99 (MYR 2,086*) and EUR€ 449 (MYR 2,181**) in respective regions.
There is no confirmation yet on when the new Chromebooks will be coming to Malaysia, there are no official pricing for the local market just yet too. For more information on Acer’s Chromebooks, you can access their website.
* Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = 4.17 on xe.com as of 20/10/2021
** Approximately based on exchange rate of EUR€ 1 = 4.86 on xe.com as of 20/10/2021
In the day and age where laptops are becoming a staple in the world of content creation and professional work requirements, there are two camps. On one camp is the one that supports the PC, on the other, the side that glorifies the MacBook Pro. There are a lot of obvious bonuses with the PC market before this. Get that, before this.
Apple introduced their Apple Silicon product, the M1 chip last year in 2020 and it broke the internet. Well, not really, but it did become a headline. It is Apple’s first step in stepping away from chip manufacturers like Intel, and obviously, AMD as well. The M1 chip in the MacBook line-up, especially the MacBook Pro was a popular choice though. Content creators that rely on their MacBook Pro with M1 chips swore by the performance of the chip on their tools. They managed to make the M1 chip equipped MacBook Pro even cheaper than what they could offer with and Intel badge.
The no brainer decision buys you into a platform that is still being tested though. It was an experimental platform at best with many developers still trying to adapt their apps to run natively on the M1 chip. You sometimes forget that the M1 chip architecture is so completely different compared to other processor’s construction that apps have to work with different command lines and codes to run natively on the M1 Chip.
A year on, and there are enough apps that runs on the M1 architecture. There are more apps being added in. There are also the new kids on the block, perfect timing.
Apple M1 Max/Pro
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Before we move on, this is a deeper coverage on the MacBook Pro devices. We will be separately talk about the new M1 chips in detail in the coming days.
The new chiplets are supposed to be bigger than the original M1 chip from last year though. That also means that the new chips pack more CPU and GPU cores. The M1 Max packs 10 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores. The M1 Pro packs the same 10 cores on its CPU end but only makes do with 16 cores in its GPU module.
The integrated architecture allows the M1 Max’s GPU and CPU to have direct access and enjoy 64GB of integrated RAM. The M1 Pro will only come with up to 32GB of integrated memory. All of these leads to a huge performance leap from the original M1 from 2020.
The Apple MacBook Pro
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
The Apple MacBook Pro is now available in two sizes, the 16-inch and 14-inch models. Both comes with either the M1 Pro or the M1 Max options of course. Both laptops feature a Full HD 1080p FaceTime HD camera. You also see the MagSafe 3 charging port making a comeback for magnetically attached chargers on a MacBook Pro. To be fair, it was one of the best features on a MacBook.
The MacBook Pro also packs an advanced six-speaker system with dual subwoofers for an audio experience on a laptop like no other. When people say Apple does not listen to its customers, the Apple MacBook Pro for the 2021 market proves them wrong. The annoying Touch Bar is now gone and replaced with tactile keys from a full-height magic keyboard that we are more used to.
Of course, there needs to be a lot of ports on what Apple calls a “pro notebook”. You have three Thunderbolt 4 pots on the Apple MacBook Pro. Two of them are USB Type-C ports. You also have one HDMI port on the MacBook Pro. That allows you to connect to up to four displays at a time for a five-monitor set up, as long as you have the space. You still have an SDXC card reader on the MacBook Pro too. If you have the money and space, the MacBook Pro is your best workflow powerhouse in this case.
Source: Apple
You get Retina XDR Mini LED panels on both the 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro. Of course, the MacBook Pro in 16-inch clad will feature more pixels than the 14-inch, Apple style. Both displays can project up to 10-billion colours (10-bit) on the panels though.
The added power of the new variants of the M1 chip allows the MacOS on the MacBook Pro to easily work with 4K ProRes videos or even 8K ProRes videos in Final Cut Pro with no hiccups. They say it is more powerful than the Mac Pro even with Afterburner. For the first time ever as well, users can colour grade in HDR on 8K ProRes 444 video formats, even on battery.
The Apple MacBook Pro is supposed to feature improved battery too. At 21 hours of video playback, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch trumps any pro-level notebook PC that you can find the market, on paper at least. The 14-inch is quoted to have up to 17 hours of video playback time too. If that is not enough, you can charge the MacBook Pro via MagSafe 3 and fast charge it up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Price and Availability
If you asked us a year ago about the MacBook Pro vs the PC laptops, we would have asked you to get the PC laptop. Right now, we are not so sure, we are tempted to get our hands on the M1 Max or M1 Pro versions of the MacBook Pro. If you are excited about it, you will be happy to know that the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inc and 14-inch will hit the shelves on the 26th of October 2021 onward. That is only the United States and selected countries though, so that is some bad news for some of us. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at US$ 1,999 (MYR 8,799*) while the 16-inch variant starts at US$ 2,499 (MYR 19,799*). There are no word on when the MacBook Pro will officially make its way to Malaysia, but we are guessing that it is pretty soon. More information on the MacBook Pro can be found on their website.
It does not really matter whether you like the Apple AirPods or not. It is, in its two generations, the best-selling Truly Wireless Earphones you can find in the market today. In its two generations too, there has not been much in terms of design changes. Until now of course.
The third generation Apple AirPods has just been unveiled in Apple’s event just last night (1 a.m. at +8GMT, Kuala Lumpur time), and it is the best AirPods you can buy today, second only to the AirPods Pro. The new earbuds feature a new design that is supposed to stay in your ears better now without needing a silicon tip. The changes are more than skin deep though.
The new AirPods feature Apple’s proven H1 chip for acoustic processing. Thanks to the H1 chip as well, Apple’s AirPods can now deliver Adaptive EQ with the new Apple AirPods. That also means that the AirPods ensures that users get the best aural experience with the AirPods no matter the fit.
The Dolby Atmos enabled AirPods now features Apple’s brilliant Spatial Audio technology too. That also means that you now get 3D virtual surround sound on Apple Music, Apple TV+, and other apps that supports Spatial Audio. Your audio experience is not just better, but it is now even more immersive and rich thanks to Spatial Audio.
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
At the same time, the Third Generation Apple AirPods can last even longer than before. It now offers 6 hours in listening time, more than enough for your gym sessions. Once you run out of juice, the case can charge the AirPods four more times for a total of 30 hours of music playback time. Of course, it offers wireless charging with MagSafe.
The Third Generation (3rd Generation) AirPods will be available in the United States and 26 other countries in the coming week. It will be available for US$ 179 (MYR 829*) on the 26th of October 2021 onward. There are no confirmations on whether or not Malaysia is included in the list of 26 countries. Considering that Malaysia got the iPhone 13 series quite fast this time round though, we might not have to wait all that long for the new Apple AirPods to arrive. More information on the Apple AirPods can be found on their website.
